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

;
Dublin.] MELEAGER IS WOUNDED. C7
"With \)e selcouutest soume • pat semblyd was euer, 1244
With a mynd to rae • wer merveH to rekyn, [F"1- lo '-•]
A threti thouusand in thede • of thro men of amies,
Suche as wer on blonnkes • in brenys & platez,
And other folowand on fote • fele owt of nowmbre. 1248
The multitude was so much • as menys vs ])e writtez,
Of wyes & of wild hoi-se & • of wapenned bernes,
So styf a steuen in ))e stoure • of stedes & enmys,
As it was semand [to sijt] • as )»e son tremblyd. 1252
)jen wer jje masydons ameved * when Jjai so mony seen
Sir meliager was in grete mynd • a man owt to send
To alexander als belyue • jjaire aller maister, 1255
To Come to help w/t/i hys heir • or fai to hand rydyii.
Bot par was nane J)at Avas made ' J)e message to fannge,
Bot ilke lede elike loth • to leven fair frendes,
And festned ))air forwardez in-fere • J)e few pat \)ar wer,
To do as drighten wald deme & dye * all to-geder; 12G0
To teH pair torfer in tere • it wald tary me to lang*.
Bot so pe mody meliager & hys men foghten,
•
)3at Sir bertinus pe bald pai brityned to dede,
•
And Sampson was of hys syde slayn pa--agayns. 12C4
•
Jpen m^/rned ail pe masydons & meynyd hym swyth,
•
'
;Made grett mone for pis man & mony oper noble,
For maisters & ministers meyner & • gretter, 12G7
\)at wer in morsellys made & martyred by hundrethis.
•
And pat left wer on-lyue bot • a lytett meynhe,
"Wer also maistrett & masyd & mated of pair strennthes,
•
So wake & so wyndles & wary for-fouughten,
•
pai pai wer wille in pe werld • qwat pai worth suld. 1272
Sir meliager & oper mo • mayned wer sare,
AH to-bled & to-brysed • pat nere pair breth fayled,
Thai wer so feble and so faynte and fuH of paim-seluefi,
*
\)at aH in fere & in forme pe feld for to jeld. 1276
Than ayres hym forth aristes was augerdly woundett,
'
To alexancZer anone • pees aunters hym tulles,