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

;
;
Dublin.] MELEAGER RECOVERS THE CATTLE. 6»1
j)ar mates faime a miclie fulke • fe maister of fe
playnes,
The duke of pe drafes & of • fe derfe fellys,
One teosellus a tulke • jjat tenyd Jiaim vnfaire. 1212
He girdes in with a gyfi • grathed in j^laythes,
AH to-brountes fes bernes • & wykydly Jjaim woundes,
Felles mony fey at a frush • fast to fe grunde,
And mony renke Jjat he oue'-rade • rase neuer aftir. 121G
Than was sir nieliager amoved & manly debates,
•
Flyngez forth on a fole with a • fele spere,
And beres mony grett syre jjorow thike males, 1219
•
AH feH bernes at [a] brayde whilse *
his breth lastez.
And Sampson on ane other syde • settez on belyue,
Brushes forth on a blonke • brathly lie smytez.
•
Betes on wa// a brande for brokyn was hys launce,
Hewes doun on ]>e herdez & liurtez • Jiaim vnfaire. 1224
*
Then arestes, an atheH man &^ ay elike feghtez,
Sparres forth w/t7( a spere & * spedci' hys mightez,
Mony bald or he blan broght owt of • lyfe. 1228
Than Caulus, an other knyght on a ked stede,
•
On thoosellus in twa hys tembre he brekys
•
And ]>en be dryffes to pe duke • als telly s me J)e texte,
Bot ^yith a swyng of a swerde swappez of hys heued.
•
AVhen he was drepyd |)us & dede & • fe drawes jemyd,
J3e prekers of jje pasturs & of • ))e prouud Landez,
AH pe folk of hys affinite • ])at frehsse 2 wer vnwoundet,
\)at other fote bed or fole • to pe fly3t foundez. 1236
Thus meliager -with hys meii • jje menske \>ar acheuett,
Fellyd ])e feirare ^ of far foes and • ))e feld wonnez * ;
And rachen with fair route & ryden bott a while,
•
Bot \iar neghyd faim ane oper note • als new as before
par was a maister of fe marche • fe myghtiest of other.
One beritinMs, a berne • als fe buke telles, 1242
Come girdand furth of gaders • owt of Jje grete cyte,
'
Better omitted. * Sic. ' MS. feirliair. *
Bead wonn.
ALEXANDER.
K