The wars of Alexander: an alliterative romance translated chiefly ...

Dublin.] HE MEETS WITH A STOUT RESISTANCE. 61
What of fing, wliatt of o\iir • ofte bys oste plenys,
For wele trowde J;ai |)an none • to wynne to pe cite, 114:8
It was so stifFe & so strange & so stalworthly wroglit,
'
And so hydusly bye *
fat was A grett woudre,
Tyldet fuH of torrettes & towrez of defencez,
•
Eateld & britagett • abowt as a casteH. 1152
The wawes of Je wilde see • vpon ]e walle betyil,
The pure populand perle • passyd it vmbe,
It was enforsed so wele * with flodez & other, 1155
Jjar semed neuer sege vnder Jje son by sawte • it to wynne.
Than eteUez bym sir alexander & ' als belyue makes
Besyde Jje cite in fe see • to sett vp a loge,
A bye tylde as a towre • tyldet of shippes,
Jjat might no navy for fat note • negb to fe haven. 11 GO
When he fis basteit bad byggyd
•
nere J>e burgh walles,
And tight hym as tyme was • fe burgh to assaylle,
Such mischefe in fe meynne tyme • vppon fe men fallez,
For megcr & for metelesse • wer mr.}-\e\l to telle. 1161:
Thare wer princez in pUte • to perisobe for euer,
AH in dowte to [be] dede • dukez & Ereles,
In fere to be famysbyd • mony ferce knyghtez,
For par is [na] wa in werld • to fe wod hunger. 1168
Than rewys hym fe prouude kyng • fe pyte of bys men,
And sendys forth sendesmen with • selett lettres, [FoI. 9 1.]
To leiusalem to lawdez • fat fe lewes tecbes, Epiatoia.
j)at of fat burgh was byshop brevyd • in fo dayes ; 1172
He monyshytt bym as a minister bym manly to sende
•
Fresh folk for fe fight & fode • for fe folke,
And an fair truage tyte to hym wayfe.
•
That he to Darius of dew • was dangert to pay. 1176
And jit coimand he f is clerke • fe kyng in bys Avrittez,
For any richez be redes rather to chese
•
The mayntenaunce of massidons & of • f e mony grekez.