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

&
66 SAMPSON IS SLAIN, [Ashmole.
With pe selcuthest soume pat semblid was • euire. 1244
*
Slik a mynd vfi-to^ me ware meruaiii to reken,
30,000 foes attack Thretti thousand in thede • of thra men of armes,
the Greeks,
Slike as was buskest on blonkes • in brenys & plats,
And othire folawand on fote • fele witA-oute* nounbre.
Jje multitude was sa mekiH as mynes vs pe • writtf*^,
Of wees & of wild! horsis & wapened • prenys,
Sa stitlie a steuyn in pe stoure • of stedis & ellis,
As it was semand to si^t • as all pe soyle trymblidf. 1252
•
The Macedonians J5an Ware pe IMessedones amayd quen Ja see^ sa many;
ire dismayed. •
n i- t r t
Sire Meuager [wasj m •
•
gret mynd a man out to sende
To ser Alexatider belyue • faire allire maister, 1255
To come & help with his here • or jjai to hande ^ode.
None like to go on jjare was naue pat was glad! • pat message to gange,
a message to
Alexander, Bot ilka lathire & othire • to leue Jjaire frynde,
Fest par forward in-fere pat fewe * at pa,! ware,
To do as drijten wald deme & dyi aH to-gedire; 1260
•
[Foi. 22 ] To telle paire torfere entyre • it taryed me swythe.
Sir Meieager kills Bot SO Jie mode Meliagg;' • &
eii
inus,
his men fejtis,
^^^ ^^^ Beritinws pe bald' • fai bretned to dethe,
And Sampson on )is side was • slay J)ar-agaynys. 1264
maynten him ^erne,
]\Iakis par mane for pat man & many • othire noble,
bnt Sampson is Jjeu moumes aH pe Messedones • &
Many Greeks are Yov maistris & mvnistris menere & grett/r, 1267
killed.
\)at was in morsels magged' & martrid a hundreth.
•
And pat left ware on lyfe bot a • litiH me3ne,
•
Ware als malstrid^ & mased matid of paire strenthes,
Sa waike & so wyndles & wery • for-fo3ten, 1271
"^ °
j)at J)ai were witi: in fis werd • qwat fai worths suld'.
Sir •
Meieager is Sire Meliager & othire maa mayned were sare,
AH be-bled & to-brissid pat • ne'^e par breth fades,
)pai were sa feble & sa faynt • &
fuH of pai/n-selfe,
pat all in fere was in iouriae • pe fild for to 3eld!, 1276
Arestes goes to j^aii aires him forth Arestes • was augrily wondid',
tell Alexander.
m i . , 7 i ._ » ii-
10 Alexa2aer onone • ])as auntirs hmi tellis,
'
to added in margin. * see added in manjin. ^ Sic.