1Now is þe kyng wrooþ and grym,
2Who shulde be kyng after hym -
3His son Philippe, oiþer Alisaundre,
4Of whom he bereþ swiche sklaundre.
5He dooþ his temples alle bihonge
6Wiþ baudekynes, brode and longe.
7Oxen, sheep, and ek ken,
8Many on he dude slen,
9And after he bad his goddes feyre
10He most wyte of his eyre,
11Of Alisaunder and Philippoun,
12Who shulde haue þe regioun.
13A voice ansuered in an ymage,
14'Kyng, þou hast a colt sauage.
15Who so may þere-on skippe,
16Be it Alisaunder, be it Philippe,
17He shall of Corinthe toun
18After þee bere coroun.'
19Þe kyng herd wel þis soun;
20So dude many gentil baroun.
21Þe kyng in to court wendeþ.
22Þe children sone he ofsendeþ.
23Bulcifal nayȝeþ so loude
24Þat it shrilleþ in to þe cloude.
25Þai wenten alle to þe stable
26Þere it was tyed jnne, saun fable -
27For a þousande pounde of golde
28Philippoun it neiȝen wolde,
29Ac Alisaundre lep on his rygge
30So a golfynche dooþ on þe hegge.
31He it vntyed and lete gon
32So of bowe fleiȝeþ þe flon;
33Fast he sitteþ, and halt þe rayne.
34Vp and doune he it may demayne,
35And dooþ in tourne in a ȝerdes lengþe,

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36And a-forceþ it wiþ strengþe.
37Nys he bot of twelue ȝer olde -
38His dedes weren stronge and bolde.
39Fele weren at his liȝttyng þare
40Þat reuerence gret hym bare,
41And seiden it was worþi þing
42He were þe nexte crouned kyng.

43Mery tyme is wode sere:
44Þe corne rypeþ in þe ere,
45Þe lefdy is rody in þe chere,
46And maiden briȝth in þe lere.
47Þe kniȝttes hunteþ after dere,
48On fote and on destrere.
49Kyng Philippe sitteþ in his halle,
50Amonge his dukes and barons alle
51Þat he haþ somouned wyde
52To ben bifore hym on þat tyde,
53For he wolde in Corinthe toune
54Alisaundre his son coroune
55(Þat is, forto sigge ariȝth,
56Ȝiue hym armes and maken hym kniȝth,
57And maken couþ to alle gyng
58After hym he shulde be kyng).
59Kyng Philippe þat was his lorde
60Girde hym wiþ riche swerde,
61And ȝaf hym þe colee ariȝth,
62And bad he shulde be gode kniȝth.
63At þe yssue of þe doren
64Tholomeus dude on his sporen.
65Dubbed weren an hundreþ kniȝttes
66For his loue myd hym þere-riȝttes.
67After þe seruise of þe dubbyng,
68He gooþ to mete wiþ þe kyng.
69Wel men mowe wite þere was plente
70Of mete and drynk and grete deynte.
71Ac after mete, onon-riȝttes,
72Þe kyng of-cleped gentil kniȝttes

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73(Jch woot it weren his tresorers);
74He hete hem charge seuen somers
75Wiþ riche rede jtried golde,
76And Alisaundre he ȝiuen it sholde.
77Þai duden her lordes comaundement,
78And afenge faire þat present,
79And departed on gentyl wyse,
80Sum to kniȝttes of heiȝe seruise,
81Sum mareschales, and botlers,
82To ȝoman, page, and joglers.
83Alle þoo þat fongen wolde
84Ynouȝ hadden of rede golde.
85Alisaundres gode loos
86Of Þat ȝyuyng first aroos.

87A Kyng þere was, sumdel fer þenne,
88þat had greued mychel his kynne;
89He was yhoten Nicholas.
90Alisaundre his ooþ made has,
91He wil to hym wende onon,
92And wreke his fader of his fon,
93And grad aloude wiþ word kene,
94'Who me loueþ now worþe ysene!'
95Þe stronge kniȝttes of þe halle
96Quyk ronnen to armes alle,
97And trusseden her somers,
98And lepen vpon her destrers.
99Wiþ her atyre shippes and barge
100Þai gonnen many forto charge.
101And olyfauntz, and ek camayles,
102Boþe hij charged wiþ vitailes.
103Alle to water þai don blyue,
104Þe þrid day and comen to ryue.
105Þai swymmeþ wiþ spreet, draweþ wiþ honde,
106And þe shippes bryngeþ to londe.
107Many kniȝth, wiþ armes shene,
108Quyk þere lepen on þe grene,
109And maden many pauylouns

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110To Alisaundre and hise barouns.
111Þere-whiles Alisaundre hym diȝttes
112Mid a partye of his kniȝttes,
113And wandred vpon a stronde,
114And mette þe kyng of þe londe,
115Þat hiȝ Nicholas of Cartage,
116Hardy man, stout, and sauage,
117Þat seide to Alisaundre onon,
118'Who ȝaf þee leue here to gon?
119Now quyk do þee hennes sone,
120For þou ne hast nouȝth here to done.'
121Alisaundre loked a-skof,
122As he ne had yȝoue þere-of.
123Nicholas hym ennoyede,
124Wiþ wraþþe and to Alisaundre seide,
125'What doostou here, þou mysbiȝete gome?
126Bot for þine harme hider artou come.
127Fy, vyle ateynt hores sone!
128To mysdon was ay þi wone.
129Quyk take me þi wed for þis disray.'
130Alisaundre ansuered, 'Nay!
131Wed ne shaltou habbe of me,
132Ac Ich wil habbe wed of þee.
133Al þis londe þat þou telles þine
134And þi coroune so shal be myne.
135Ȝif þou wilt of londe fle,
136Þe may þe better sumdel be.'
137'Fy on þee!' quoþ Nicholas,
138And spat on hym amyd þe face.
139'Mowe Ich þee fynde after þis,
140J shal þe don bynde, jwys.
141Þou shalt ben honged and todrawe,
142And quyk of þine hyde yflawe.
143Afterward þou worþest ybarned.'
144And quyk away he is y-arned;
145For had he abiden, any þing,
146He had abouȝth his spaityng.
147Alisaunder was sore awhaped

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148Þat he was so sone ascaped,
149And suore he shulde sore abugge,
150And his hede for þat gilt legge -
151For al þe golde of Cartage
152Nolde he take oþere gage.
153Her eiþer to oþere ost is went,
154Ful of yre and mautalent.
155Þe niȝth þai resteþ litel, forsoþe,
156Bot as men þat ben wroþe.
157Wel warded þai weren boþe þat niȝth,
158Al forto spronge þe dayes liȝth.

159Cler and fair is day-springyng,
160And makeþ many departyng
161Bituene kniȝth and his suetyng.
162Þe sonne ariseþ and felleþ deveyng,
163Of nesshe clay and makeþ clyngyng.
164Many ben jolyf in þe morowenyng
165And þolen deþ in þe euenyng.
166Nis in þis werlde non so siker þing,
167Þe tyme neiȝeþ of her wendyng.
168Alisaunder in þe daweyng
169Quyk had armed al his gyng -
170Wiþ mychel ost he is comyng.
171Þere was trumpyng and tabournyng,
172Lepyng of stedes and nayȝeyng.
173Many a riche gilt shelde
174Þat day shoon vpon þe felde,
175And many banere ygilt of ynde
176Þat day rateled in þe wynde.
177Wiþ cryeyng and þretyng wordes
178Hij metten, wiþ speres ordes.
179Many douȝtty ȝonge kniȝth
180Þat ilk day assayed his miȝth;
181Vche on oþere, wiþ grete mayn,

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182Tobrusten her launces in þe playn.
183Summe hadden perced þe þarmes
184Þorouȝ þe shelde and her armes,
185Somme þe þrote, summe þe hertes
186Hadden perced and storuen, certes.
187After launces, swerdes þai drowe,
188And many kniȝttes oþere slowȝe.
189Many þere weren þat yuel sped,
190For þai laiden heuedes to wed.
191Summe armes and hondes loren,
192And summe legges, wiþ þe sporen.
193Many kniȝth, in litel stounde,
194Laghȝtte þere dedly wounde.
195Many kniȝth starf þere in þe prees;
196Many childe was faderles;
197Many lefdy lees her amoure,
198And many maiden her gent socoure.
199Many steden drowen her bridel -
200Who-so wolde, he miȝth ryde,
201Wiþouten siluer, wiþouten golde,
202Whider-wardes so he wolde.
203On boþe half, in litel stounde,
204Was many a kniȝth yleid to grounde,
205Ac þe descounfyt and þe damage
206Fel vpon hem of Cartage.
207Nicholas ysawe al þis,
208And made a newe justes, jwys,
209And slouȝ of Alisaunder men
210Moo þan J ȝou telle can.
211Þoo Alisaundre seiȝ þis greuaunce,
212He took on honde a styf launce,
213And amydward þe place
214He mette wiþ Nicholas.
215Heiȝe he bare his sharp spere -
216Þorouȝ he shelde he gan hym bere,
217Ac þe armes weren so stronge
218Þe spere nolden hij nouȝth fonge.
219Alisaunder þe spere forlete,

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220And drouȝ his swerd, also skeete.
221Nicholas he took in þe swere,
222Þat he leide his heued to hyre,
223And seide to hym, also skeet,
224'þis Ich þe ȝesterday byheet,
225Þoo þou spytted in my visage.'
226Þe oþere slowen wiþ grete rage.
227Þe spoyle þai token of þe dede,
228Hors and armes gode at nede.
229Alisaundre quyk wiþ alle
230Of Cartage felde þe walle,
231And slouȝ doune-riȝth, wiþoute pyte,
232And took þe spoyle of þe cite,
233And þe coroune of þe londe,
234And bare it away jn his honde.
235Golde, and siluer, alle oþere þinges,
236Hij trussen to her shippynges.
237Þe wynde is riȝth good, saun faile -
238Hij setten mast and halen sayle,
239And wendeþ toward her londe.
240Jesus Crist vs sende his sonde.

241Whiles Alisaundre was in medleye,
242And slouȝ folk in oþere cuntreye,
243Comen folk of Grece and Alisaundre,
244And on Olympyas leiden sklaundre,
245And seiden wiþ wrong she was quene,
246For she hore had ybene;
247And sworen, and seiden veire
248Alisaundre was fals ayre.
249For þis sklaundre þat was so vyle,
250And also of grete peryle,
251Kyng Philipp, by al his regioun,
252Of-sent erle, duk, kniȝth, and baroun,
253Þat juggeden alle hem bitwene
254Olympyas ne shulde be quene.
255Ac miȝth she wers, miȝth she bett,

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256Jn a castel she was yshett,
257And was assigned lyueresoun
258Skarslich and nouȝth a foysoun.

259Þe kyng dude by his conseile,
260And sent to Asserye saunz fayle,
261To Cleopatras, þat riche quene,
262Þat she shulde his spouse bene.
263Þe messagers weren gent barouns;
264Þe lefdy leued her rounes,
265And granted by conseilyng
266To ben yspoused to Philippe þe kyng.
267Þe day was sette, wiþouten essoyne -
268Þe þrittenþe day at Macedoyne.
269Þoo þis message was hom ycome,
270Þere was many a bliþe gome.
271Of olyue and of muge-floures
272Weren ystrewed halle and boures.
273Wiþ samytes and baudekyns
274Weren curtyned þe gardyns.
275Alle þe jnnes of þe toun
276Hadden litel foysoun
277Þat day þat com Cleopatras,
278So mychel poeple wiþ hir was.
279She rood on a mule white so mylk;
280Her herneys was gold-beten sylk.
281Þe prince hire led of Candas,
282And of Sydoyne Sir Jonathas.
283Ten þousande barons hir comen myde,
284And to chirche wiþ hire ryde.
285Yspoused she is and set on deys.
286Nov gynneþ gest of gret nobleys.

287At þe fest was harpyng,
288And pipyng and tabournyng,
289And sitollyng and trumpyng,
290Knijf-pleyeyng and syngyng,
291Carolyng and turneieyng,

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292And wrestlyng and skirmyng.
293Þe gamen ne geþ nouȝth al by lyne -
294Þere summe leiȝeþ and summe whyne.
295Olympyas she hereþ þis,
296Jn þe toure whare she shet is.
297She wepeþ and syngeþ 'Weilaway!'
298Þat she euere abode þat day.
299She clepeþ hire self often wrecche;
300She biddes deþ þat he hire fecche,
301And seide, 'Son, O Alisaundre!
302Jch abygge of þee þe sklaunder.
303Sore ofþinkeþ me þis cas
304Þat þou fiȝttes wiþ Nicholas.
305Haddestou leued in þis londe,
306Ne had Ich þoled swiche shonde.'
307Miȝth she haue yfounde a knijf,
308She had yspilt sone her lijf.
309'Allas', she seide, 'J nere aqueld!
310For men me clepeþ quene afeld.
311Ne may Ich neuer of honour ȝelp,
312Alisaunder, bot þou me help.'
313Þus she grad 'Weilaway!'
314Tyl þe tyme of heiȝe mydday.

315At none riseþ hire worschipes:
316Aryued ben hire sones shippes.
317He noot nouȝth of þis bridale,
318Ne noman telleþ hym þere-of tale.
319He greiþes hym in riche weden,
320And dooþ drawen a-londe his steden.
321He lepeþ vp myd ydone
322On a stede of Nerebone.
323He dassheþ forþ vpon þe londe,
324Þe riche coroune on his honde
325Of Nicholas þat he wan.
326Biside hym rideþ many a gentil-man.
327To þe paleys he comeþ ryde,
328And fyndeþ þis feste and al þis pride.

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329Forþ gooþ Alisaundre, saunz fable,
330Riȝth vnto þe heiȝe table,
331And þe coroune, wiþ golde biweued,
332He setteþ on his fader heued.
333His fader praiseþ his prowesse,
334Of þe coroune and þe richesse.
335Alisaundre gynneþ aboute seen,
336And seeþ corouned a straunge quen,
337And he ne seiȝ nower Olympias,
338Þat his owen moder was.
339Jn herte he gynneþ fecche mood,
340And lokeþ as he were wood,
341And seide, 'Fader, whan my moder is quene,
342Þou shalt at hir bridale bene.'
343He wassheþ and sitteþ at þe fest;
344Men hym serueþ of þe best.
345A duk þere was, hoten Lesyas;
346To Alisaundre he com gode pas,
347And ramproned hym of Olympias.
348Alisaundre so anoyed was
349Ouer þe table he gan stoupe,
350And smoot Lesyas wiþ þe coupe
351Þat he fel doun in þe flette -
352His eiȝen out of his heued shette.
353Hym to awreke kyng Philippe
354Ouer þe table gan to skippe,
355Ac he lauȝtte sone swiche qued
356He was jn borne for neiȝ ded.
357Alisaundres folk com flynge,
358Fyue hundred vpon a rynge.
359Þe tables weren ouerþrowen,
360And many kniȝttes wel sone yslawen.
361Alisaundre name Cleopatras,
362And out hire harshede, grete pas,
363And sette hire quyk vpon a mule,

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364And droof hire out of toun foule.
365Vilenye gret to hire was shape,
366Bot þoo þat miȝtten her deþ scape.
367Cleopatras fleiȝ to hire londe,
368Wiþ mychel shame and mychel shonde.
369Alisaundre had þat best
370Þat was purueied to þat fest -
371Golde, and siluer, and riche cloþe
372(Þai þat it loren weren wroþe!).
373Þus it fareþ at fest wiþ vnwise:
374After mete cuntek ariseþ.
375Wel is þe moder þat may forþ fede
376Childe þat helpeþ hire at nede.
377Olympias is now awroke,
378Ac ȝut she is in walle biloke,
379And noot here-of noþing,
380Of Alisaundres contekyng.
381Ac Alisaundre sone vnderstant
382Hou al þis contek is ywant.
383Jt nys non nede here to duelle,
384Ne longe tales here to telle.
385His fader he sett a raysoun;
386He is biknowe he is his son,
387And þat he is riȝth heir
388After hym to regne, veir.
389Al he makeþ his dames pes,
390And al sklaunder he makeþ les.
391To hir he haþ þe waye ynome.
392Joyeful is she of his come.
393She wolde hym telle al her ylle,
394And he hire hoteþ helden stille:
395She shulde hire pleynt do to noþe,
396For he wyst wel þe soþe.
397Quyk he led hire hom;
398Hym folowed many kniȝth and grom.
399Þere was agonne newe fest,

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400And of glev-men many gest.
401Kyng Philippe was a male eys.
402Alisaundre helde þe deys;
403He dude seruen Olympias
404Jn golde, in siluer, in brus, in glas.
405So riche fest no man ne say
406So Alisaunder held þat day.
407Kyng Philippe þere-myd was,
408And acorded wiþ Olympias.
409Also þai seten at þis gestenyng,
410Comen messages to Philippe þe kyng.

411Mery swiþe it is in halle
412Whan þat berdes waweþ alle.
413Messagers comeþ flynge
414Jn to þe halle tofore þe kynge,
415From a cite, on hors and fote,
416Þat was Mantona yhote.
417Þai seiden hym, at on word,
418Þai nolden hym more to lorde,
419For hem defenden he ne miȝth.
420Her kniȝttes and her dukes wiȝth
421Nolden more of hym helde.
422Þe kynges veynes wexen chelde,
423And nyst what he done miȝth,
424Ac by conseil of his kniȝttes
425He takeþ Alisaunder þis disray,
426Forto amende it ȝif he may.
427Alisaunder it haueþ afonge,
428Wharfore at table hym þinkeþ longe.
429After mete, demeyntenaunt,
430To mouþe he sett his olyfaunt;
431He bloweþ smert and loude sounes.
432Kniȝttes hem armen in court and tounes -
433Hij vnderstonden þat it be nede.
434Þere comeþ to hym armed on stede
435Ten þousande, al prest and ȝare
436Jn to bataile forto fare,

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437And fiftene þousandes on ladden
438Þat swerdes and boklers boþe hadden,
439And axes, speres, forkes, and slynges,
440And alle stalworþe gadelynges.
441Alisaundre was swiftest and ȝep,
442And on Bulcyfal lepe,
443And touched hym myd þe spore,
444And he sprong out at þe halle-dore.
445Ne shulde foule, gret ne smal,
446Haue ysiwed Bulcyfal.
447He brouȝth al to wille aȝen,
448And hardyed alle his men.
449He touched his horne and forþ ride;
450Many man hym went mide.
451Her waye so riȝth hij nome
452Þat þai to þe cite come.
453Her drawebrigge hij drowen whate,
454And shetten fast her gate.
455Alisaunder hem asailed fast,
456And wiþ mangenels hem gan gast.
457Þai wiþinne to þe walles stowe,
458And defended hem wiþ bowe,
459Wiþ arblastes, and wiþ stones -
460Hij slowȝen men and breken bones.
461Wiþ hote water and oþere engyne
462Hij defended hem wiþinne.
463Ac Alisaundre quyk hete his hynen
464Vnder her walles forto mynen,
465Wiþ stronge gynnes and deþ werres
466Þerewhiles þe myners.
467Ac by strengþe ne by gynne
468Ne may he þem þat day wynne,
469Ne þat oþere, ne þat þrid,
470Ne þe fierþe he ne sped.
471Ac þoo Alisaunder seiȝ þis,
472He forstopped her wayes, jwys,

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473Þat þere ne miȝth nouȝth to her fode
474Entren jn, for none gode,
475Ne kniȝth, ne sweyn, ne her stren
476None wayes ne miȝtten flen.
477Þe folk and þe pouerayle
478Weren enfamyned, saunfaile,
479And on þe richer alday gradden.
480Þe riche of hem reuþe hadden,
481And seiden hij hadden sikerlich
482Leuer to steruen orpedlich
483Þan to þolen suiche woo and sorouȝen,
484And token conseil on þe morowen
485Chaumpe bataile to wenden to.
486Riche and pouer alle wolden so.

487Alisaunder tofore is ride,
488And many a gentil kniȝth hym myde,
489Ac forto gadre his meigne free
490He abideþ vnder a tree.
491Fourty þousande of chyualerie
492He takeþ in his compaignye.
493He dassheþ hym þan fast forþ-ward,
494And þe oþer comen afterward.
495He seeþ his kniȝttes in meschief -

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496He takeþ it gretlich a-greef.
497He takes Bulcyphal by þe side;
498So a swalewe he gynneþ forþ glide.
499A duk of Perce sone he mett,
500And wiþ his launce he hym grett.
501He perceþ his breny, cleueþ his sheld;
502Þe herte tokerueþ þe yrne cheld.
503Þe duk fel doune to þe grounde,
504And starf quykly in þat stounde.
505Alisaunder a-loude þan seiede:
506'Oþere tol neuere Ich ne paiede!
507Ȝut ȝee shullen of myne paie,
508Or Ich gon more assaie.'
509Anoþer launce in honde he hent -
510Aȝein þe prince of Tyre he went.
511He smoot hym þorouȝ þe breest þare,
512And out of sadel ouere croupe hym bare,
513And J sigge, for soþe þing,
514He braak his nek in þe fallyng.
515Oxeatre, wiþ mychel wonder,
516Antiochun hadde hym vnder,
517And wiþ swerd wolde his heued
518From his body habbe yreued.
519He seiȝ Alisaunder, þe gode gome,
520Towardes hym swiþe come -
521He lete his pray and fleiȝ on hors,
522Forto saue his owen cors.
523Antiochus on stede lep.
524Of none woundes ne took he kep,
525And ek he had foure ford,
526Alle ymade wiþ speres ord.
527Tholomeus and alle hise felawen
528Of þis socour so weren wel fawen.
529Alisaunder made a cry hardy:
530'Ore tost, a ly! a ly!'
531Þere þe kniȝttes of Achaye
532Justed wiþ hem of Arabye,
533Þoo of Rome wiþ hem of Mede -

page I,215

534Many londe wiþ oþere þede.
535Egipte justed wiþ hem of Tyre,
536Symple kniȝth wiþ riche syre.
537Þere nas foreȝift ne forberyng
538Bituene vauasoure ne kyng.
539Tofore men miȝtten and byhynde
540Cuntek seke and cuntek fynde.
541Wiþ Perciens fouȝtten þe Gregeys.
542Þere roos cry and grete honteys!
543Hij kedden þat hij neren nice -
544Hij braken speres al to slice.
545Þere miȝth kniȝth fynde his pere,
546Þere les many his destrere.
547Þere was quyk in litel þrawe
548Many gentil kniȝth yslawe,
549Many arme, many heued
550Sone from þe body reued.
551Many gentil lauedy
552Þere lese quyk her amy.
553Þere was many maym yked,
554Many fair pensel bibled.
555Þere was swerdes liklakyng,
556Þere was speres baþing.
557Boþe kynges þere, saunz doute,
558Beeþ in dassht wiþ al her route,
559Þe on to don men of hym speke,
560Þe oþere his harmes forto wreke.
561Many londes, neiȝ and ferre,
562Lesen her lorde in þat werre.
563Þe erþe quaked of her rydyng;
564Þe weder þicked of her crieyng.
565Þe blood of hem þat weren yslawe
566Ran by flodes to þe lowe,
567And J ȝou sigge, sikerlich,
568Darrie fauȝt wel douȝttilich,
569And dude swiþe mychel woo.
570To on syde he drouȝe hym þoo -

page I,217

571He blew an horne quyk, saunz doute.
572His folk hym com swiþe aboute,
573And hem he seide, wiþ voice clere:
574'Jch bidde, frendes, þat ȝe me here!
575Alisaunder is comen in þis londe,
576Wiþ stronge kniȝttes, wiþ miȝtty honde.
577Ȝif he passeþ wiþ honoure,
578Oure is al þe dishonoure.
579Jch am of Perce deshereted,
580Of Mede and Assire acquyted;
581Ac ȝif þere is amonges vs
582Any kniȝth so vertuous
583Þat Alisaunder mowe slen,
584We shullen parten vs bitwen
585Alle myne londes euen atwo.
586And ȝut he shal haue þerto
587Cristallyne, my douȝtter floure,
588And þorouȝ and þorouȝ half my tresoure.'
589Non ne had flesshe so hardy
590Þat it hym durst ensury.
591Hij þouȝtten þere-on, naþelas,
592Ȝif he miȝth come on cas
593Whare hij hym miȝth so hound abaye,
594Oiþer agilen oiþer atraye.
595Lorde Crist, what þis wordeles iȝth
596Js leef to duk and to kniȝth!
597Þere nys non so slowe wiȝth jnne,
598And he wene mychel wynne,
599Þat he ne wolde for grete tresure
600Done hym-self in auenture.
601Amonge hem of Perce was a kniȝth,
602Hardy, stalworþe, queynt, and wiȝth.
603A kniȝth of Grece sone he slouȝ,
604And his armes sone of-drouȝ,
605And quyk armed hym þere-inne,

page I,219

606And neiȝed Alisaunder bi gynne.
607Alisaunder nouȝth of hym shroof,
608Ac Perciens tofore hym droof.
609Somme he kytt of þe arme,
610Somme þe heued, and dude hem harme.
611He bad his folk fiȝtten hard,
612Wiþ spere, mace, and wiþ swerd,
613And he wolde after fiȝth
614Roume londes to hem diȝth.
615Þis forseide kniȝth riȝth hym by,
616Als it were his amy.
617Whan he Alisaunder besy seeþ -
618To Perciens sanchip deþ -
619He took a launce, so J fynde,
620And riȝth on Alisaunder byhynde.
621He smyteþ hym hard on þe hauberk,
622Þat was ymade of stronge werk.
623He helde fast - þe spere to-brast.
624Þe kyng was sumdel agast;
625He sat fast and loked aȝan,
626And sey on armed as it were his man.
627'Fitz a puteyne!' he seide, 'lecchoure!
628Þou shalt sterue so a tretoure!'
629'Certes,' quoþ þe aliene kniȝth,
630'J am no traitour - at al my miȝth
631J dude and engyned þee to slen,
632And ded þou haddest forsoþe yben,
633Ac auenture for þe fiȝth:
634Þis victorie is þee ydiȝth.
635Of Perce Ich am, fer of by est -
636Þis hardynesse J dude for a byhest,
637Þat Darrie bihete to whom þat miȝth
638Þee, kyng, slen in þis fiȝth,
639He shulde haue half his kyng-riche,
640And his douȝtter, sikerliche.

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641Þis was, kyng, al my chaysoun;
642Ne miȝttou fynde her-jnne traysoun,
643Ac þat Ich me pylt in dedly cas,
644Forto habbe þat faire byhas.'
645Þe kyng by þe chyn hym shook,
646And his sergeauntz hym he tok,
647And bad hym loken in presoun.
648Nolde he hym slen bot by raysoun.
649He was ydo in gode warde,
650And bounden fast in bondes harde.
651Þe kyng brocheþ forþ Bulcyphal,
652And mette of Perce on admiral.
653He smyt hym þorouȝ body and shelde
654And cast hym ded in þe felde.
655Þere miȝth man in herte rewe
656Hou noble kniȝttes ouer-þrewe!
657Horses totraden alle þe boukes
658Of noble barouns and of dukes.
659Mede, and felde, hylle, and lawe
660Þick weren ystrewed of kniȝttes yslawe.
661Non ne see miȝth hem bitwen
662Who þat shulde maister ben.
663On boþe half wiþ swerd and spere
664Was ydon wel grete lere.

665Many is þat day faire kniȝttes slauȝtt,
666Hors þorouȝ-corue, hauberk þorouȝ-rauȝt,
667Many fair eiȝe wiþ deþ yblent,
668And many soule to helle ywent.
669Þe day faileþ , þe niȝth is ycome -
670Wery beþ þe gentyl gome.
671On boþe half þe mayne gentes
672Wennten hom to her tentes,
673And token rest al forto amorowe,
674Makande wel grete sorowe
675For her lordes, for her ken,

page I,223

676Þat layen yslawe in þe fen.

677Alisaunder arisen is,
678And on his deys sitteþ, jwys.
679His dukes and his barouns, saunz doute,
680Stondeþ and sitteþ hym aboute.
681He hete brynge forþ þat felawe
682Þat hym wolde haue yslawe.
683He is ybrouȝth, and þe kyng
684Gynneþ hym ȝiue swiche acusyng:
685'Þou' he seide, 'als a traitoure
686Ȝister-day com in oure atoure,
687Y-armed wel as on of myne,
688Me bihynde at my chyne,
689And smoot me wiþ þi spere.
690Ne had myne hauberk ben þe strongere,
691Þou haddest me vilely yslawe!
692Þou shalt ben honged and to-drawe,
693And forbrent al to nouȝth,
694For þou swiche traisoun þouȝth!'
695'Sir!' quoþ þe Percien kniȝth,
696'Ȝif ȝee me don lawȝe and riȝth,
697Ne worþe Ich to-drawe ne anhonge,
698For it were al wiþ wronge.
699Darrie bihete to vche of his
700To make pere to hym, jwis,
701Who þat miȝth þe ywynne,
702Oiþer wiþ gyle oiþer wiþ gynne.
703Darrie was my riȝth lorde -
704Jch fonded to don his worde,
705His foo to quelle on vche manere,
706And of traisoun me wil J skere.
707Ȝif any man wil oþere proue,
708Loo, here aȝeins hym þe gloue!'

709Antiochus seide: 'Þou ne miȝth þe skere,
710For þou hast demed þi-self here,
711Þoo þou for mede and bihotyng
712Stale byhynden on oure kyng,

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713Hym to slen so þeefliche!
714Brende þou shalt ben openliche!
715Þou shalt sterue on swiche deþ hard -
716Þe dome Ich ȝiue to award.'

717Tholomeus þe mareschal vp stood,
718Wiȝth in bataile, in conseil good,
719And seide: 'Þe kyng may don his wille -
720Sauen þat Percien, oiþer hym spille;
721Ac he ne haþ no riȝth chesoun,
722For he ne dude no tresoun.
723His dede ne was bot honest,
724For he dude his lordes hest.
725Euery man to slen his foo
726Dyuers gynne so shal do.
727For his lorde (nymeþ gode cure!)
728He dude his lyf on auenture.
729He nas nouȝth sworne to my lorde,
730Bot wiþ swerd and speres orde -
731Leeflich it is to euery foo
732Hou so he may oþer sloo.
733Ȝee mowen to wille brenne and honge,
734Ac Ich sigge it were wiþ wronge!'

735Up stood Sir Mark of Rome,
736And entremeted of þis dome:
737'Certes', he seide, 'he dude wouȝ,
738Þat he a knyȝt of Grece slouȝ,
739And despoiled hym of his armes,
740By traisoun, and to oure harmes,
741And joyned hym vs among,
742Als on of vs - al þis was wrong -
743And so stale on oure kyng,
744Hym to brynge to his endyng.
745J jugge he shal anhonged be.
746Barouns of court, what seie ȝee?'
747Eueryche seide: 'He shal be slawe,
748Forbrent, anhonged, and todrawe!'

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749Non ne spaak hym on word fore,
750Bot þat he shulde be forlore.
751Þoo Alisaunder seiȝ al þis,
752Yhereþ what he dude, jwis!
753Jt is ywrite þat euery þing
754Hym-self sheweþ in þe tastyng.
755So it is of lewed and clerk -
756Hym-self sheweþ in his werk.
757Þe kyng seeþ þat no kniȝth hende
758Nylle more þat Percien defende,
759And seiþ: 'Kniȝth, he were wood
760Þat wolde þee don ouȝth bot good!
761Trayson þou ne dedest ne feyntise,
762Ac hardy dede in grete queyntise.
763For þat dede, by myne hood,
764Ne shaltou haue bot good!'
765Richelich he dooþ hym shrede
766Jn spannewe kniȝtten wede,
767And sette hym vpon an heiȝe chaceoure,
768And ȝaf hym mychel of his tresoure,
769And lete hym to Darrie wende hom -
770Ne ȝaf he hym non oþer dom.

771Mery it is in þe day graukynge,
772Whan þe foules gynneþ synge,
773And jolyf herte so gynneþ sprynge.
774To sone it þencheþ þe slow gadelynge!
775Jn mychel loue is grete mournynge;
776Jn mychel nede is grete þankynge.
777A ferly þouȝth is wiþ þe kyng -
778Erly he riseþ, and makeþ boost,
779And hoteþ quyk armen al þe ost.
780Hij ben y-armed quyklich,
781And alle hym siweþ, sikerlich,
782Ouer a water, in to a forest,
783And alle don quyk her lordes hest -

page I,229

784Bowȝes of dyuers trees hij kytten,
785And to her horses tales knytten.
786To Darrie ward alle hij fareþ;
787Þe bowȝes þe dust heiȝe arereþ.
788Of þe draweyng of bowȝes and stykke
789Þe eyre bicom trouble and þicke,
790Þat to Darries folk it ferde,
791Als on hem com þe myddelerde.
792Quyklich hij telden it Darrie,
793And baden hym he shude hym wardie,
794For Alisaunder com wiþ his preye -
795His folk wreiȝ al þe contreye.
796Darrie hete alle his men
797Remuen his tentes of þe fen,
798And setten hem bisides Estrage
799(A colde water and a sauage).
800A castel he had vpon þe ryue -
801Nas non strenger in þis lyue.
802Quyk was al Darries ost
803Yloged Estrages acost.
804Þere hij wolden fonden aspye
805Al Alisaundres felonye.
806Alisaunder þis tellen herd,
807And after wiþ his ost ferd,
808And alle hem logeden an-ouen-on
809Þere Darrie had ben arst vpon.
810Now is ywryen al þe countreie.
811Bitwene hem is foure myle weye -
812Often þere was bitwene ridynge,
813Many awayt and bataillynge.
814Þerwhiles of Alisaunder þe kyng
815Lestneþ now a selcouþ þing!

816Jn a morowen-tyde it was,
817Þat dropes hongen on þe gras,
818And maidens loken in þe glas,
819Forto atyffen her faas.

page I,231

820Kyng Alisaunder is out yride -
821Þre noble kniȝttes ben went hym myde,
822Pryuelich, in one myst
823(His grete ost it ne wist).
824He dooþ þoo þre in sooþ treuþe
825Pliȝtten to hym her treuþe
826Þat hij ne shullen hym biwreye
827Of þing þat he wil to hem seie.
828Hij dooþ his wille - he gynneþ hem telle
829Þat he wil wende, swiþe snelle,
830Forto see þe countenaunce
831Of Darries court, saunz demurraunce.
832No kniȝth ne roode þoo wiþouten stede,
833Ne wiþouten yrnen wede.
834To þe water hij comen riȝth -
835Of his stede þe kyng aliȝth,
836And of-dude al his armure,
837And dude on a robe wiþ pelure.
838Vpon a palfray he leep,
839And seide: 'Kniȝttes, ȝiueþ kep
840To Bulciphal my destrere,
841And abideþ me riȝth here.
842Jch wil come whan J maye.'
843Quyk he dooþ hym in þe waye.
844Þe þre kniȝttes of whom J seide
845(Þe on hiȝth Aymes of Archade,
846Þe oþere hiȝth Philotas,
847And þe þrid hiȝth Perdicas -
848Þere neren better kniȝttes þree
849Jn al þe kynges meignee)
850Þise Alisaunder so willen abide,
851Wel y-armed, by þe water-syde.

852Now sytt Darrie on an hylle,
853Þe folk of his ost for to telle.
854Alisaunder comeþ on hym skeet,
855And seiþ þat 'Kyng Alisaunder þee gret!

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856He is comen to parlement,
857Forto ȝelde þee þi rent.
858Twies he haþ þee ouercome,
859Þi wijf and þine childre ynome;
860Fele þou hast yslawe of his.
861He sente þee siggen þus, jwis -
862Jt shal be wel dere abouȝth,
863Þe tol þat was in Grece souȝth.
864Greiþes armes, ȝarkes sheldes!
865He ȝou abideþ in þe feldes.'
866Darrie was wel sone anoyede
867Of þat Alisaunder had hym seid,
868And seide: 'Of tale þou art smart!
869Alisaunder þi-self þou art.'
870And Alisaunder seide: 'It is nouȝth so!
871He is whitter, wiþouten no,
872And his lockes beeþ nouȝth so crulle,
873Ac he is waxen more to þe fulle.
874Ac Ich am hoten Antigon,
875Þat many message haue hym ydon.'
876Darrie seide: 'Messagere, aliȝtte!
877And gowe eten onon-riȝtte,
878And after mete þou shalt bere
879To þi lorde aȝein ansuere.'
880Darrie to mete ȝede onon,
881Wiþ his barouns euerychon.
882Alisaunder, wiþouten fable,
883He setteþ at his owen table.
884Hij weren yserued wiþ grete plente,
885Wiþ fresshe and salt, of vche deynte,
886And dronken wyne and ek pyement,
887White and red, at her talent.
888Þere weren coupes riche ywrouȝth,
889And Alisaunder hym biþouȝth
890Hou he miȝth do sum þing
891Of to speke wiþouten endyng.
892Þe kyng to hym of a coupe drank,

page I,235

893And he it afenge wiþ mychel þank,
894And drank after þat wyne rede,
895And putte þe coupe vnder his grede
896(Þe coupe was of rede golde).
897Þe boteler it haþ al byholde,
898And telleþ Darrie al þe soþ,
899And he bicom riȝth fyne wroþ,
900And seiþ: 'Haue he don me þat shonde,
901Men shullen speke, of Grece londe,
902Of þe vengeaunce þat he shal þole
903And he haue my cop ystole!'
904Þe boteler takeþ vp his grede,
905And fyndeþ þe coupe of golde rede.
906Darrie to Alisaunder gan sigge:
907'Eye! vile þeef, þou shalt abygge!
908J sette þee at tabel myne,
909For reuerence of lorde þyne.
910Myne coupe þou haste ystole,
911And vnder þine grede yhole!
912Þou art ynome honde-habbynde -
913Þou shalt quyk honge in þe wynde!'
914Quoþ Alisaunder þe kyng, so hende:
915'Of þeft Ich wil me defende,
916Aȝeins kniȝt, aȝeins baroun,
917Þat J was neuere no laroun.
918J com riȝth on my lordes message,
919And wende ȝee hadden al swiche vsage
920As haþ my lorde in court his,
921For þi richesse and for þi prys,
922Þat þou hast oþer tofore.
923Bot þat honour þou hast forlore;
924For sende þere kyng oiþer kaysere
925To my lorde a messagere,
926And he be worþi, saunz fable,
927He shal sytte at his table,
928And whan þe kyng hym krynkeþ to,

page I,237

929Þe coupe he shal at his wille vp do!
930Jch wende ȝee vseden also here
931Of oure court þe manere -
932J me repent, siþen ȝee ne dooþ;
933For qued ne dude Ich it nouȝth, for sooþ.'

934Darrie, þouȝ he were agramed,
935Of his ansuere he was ashamed.
936Stille seten ȝonge and elde
937And fast bygonnen hym byhelde.
938A kniȝth þere was þat hiȝth Parsage
939Þat Alisaunder knew in þe visage,
940For he had ben in message
941At Kyng Phelippe for trowage -
942He seiþ it Darrie vnder his hood.
943Wel Alisaunder it vnderstood.
944Jt ran in Alisaunders corage
945Þat qued of hym rouned Persage,
946And þat he to Darrie of hym spaak,
947Ouer þe table he lep, gode rak -
948Quyk in his waye he hym diȝth,
949And Darrye after, wiþ al his miȝth.
950A swerd Alisaunder had, cert,
951Þat was to hym fast girt;
952Out he it braided in his honde.
953Non wolde in his waye stonde.
954He meteþ a kniȝth wiþ a speruere,
955As God wolde, on a destrere.
956He took hym swiftly in þe swire,
957Þat he leide his heued to hire.
958He shoof hym quyklich adoune,
959And lep hym-self in to þe arsoune.
960He smoot þe stede and he forþ glyt,
961And Alisaunder quyk away rytt -
962Þat day ne shullen hij hym atake!
963Darrie gynneþ after rake;
964Prynce and duk, kniȝth, and sweyn,
965Dasshen after wiþ grete meyn.
966Euerychone hij don for nouȝth -

page I,239

967Alisaunder haþ þat water cauȝth.
968Jt was brood and hiȝth Estrage -
969Depe stremes and swift o rage.
970He smoot þe hors and it jn lep;
971Jt was swift, brood, and dep.
972Hors and kyng, wiþ alle his hater,
973Weren a met-ȝerd vnder þe water.
974Alisaunder tofore ne seeþ -
975Was sore adrad of his deþ.
976Narþeles his hors was good,
977And keuered vp abouen þe flood,
978And swam to þe oþer syde,
979Þere his kniȝttes hym deden abyde.
980Hij holpen hym vp and his stede,
981And quyk chaungeden his wede,
982And ȝut he had þe coupe on honde
983Þat he on Darries table fonde.
984To his ost he fareþ, gode skoure,
985And telleþ hem his auenture.
986Þe ȝonge þere-of hadden game;
987Þe elde wise it nomen agrame,
988And seiden wel þat swiche cas
989Of woodhede and foly was.
990Darrie haþ ylore his praye -
991For sorouȝ neiȝ he wil daye.
992Was hym neuere er so woo,
993For he haþ ylore his foo.
994Aȝein wenden lesse and more,
995And bymeneþ his skape sore.
996Niȝth it is - hij takeþ rest.
997Amorowe ariseþ newe gest.

998Þe sonne ariseþ, þe day spryngeþ,
999Dewes falleþ, þe foules syngeþ.
1000Þe oost arist on erne-morowe
1001Þat haþ had a niȝth of sorowe.
1002Nov it is ypassed hij ne don þere-of,
1003Bot gamenen togedres and ek scoff.
1004Þe kyng forþ went to Baudas,
1005Nouȝth fer þenne to a Bocas.
1006He þere was a litel while.
1007Nou listneþ of a queynt gyle.

1008Porus þe kyng had wille wiþ þe mest
1009To wite of Alisaunders estre;
1010To wite his estre and his beyng
1011Grete wille had Porus þe kyng,
1012So þat þe tale and þe sklaunder
1013Com to Kyng Alisaunder,
1014And swore onon, so most he þee,
1015He wolde wite who was he.
1016Þe kyng dude of his robe furred wiþ meneuere,
1017And dooþ on a borel of a squyer
1018And a liȝth tabard, als J fynde.
1019And trusseþ a male hym bihynde.
1020Vpon a mule he went forþ onon,
1021And gynneþ flynge gode scour hir vpon,

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1022Forto he com to Baudas,
1023Þere þe kyng Porus was,
1024Jn þe strete conseilynde
1025Wiþ his riche folk of Ynde.
1026Alisaunder comeþ vpon his mule,
1027Bishiten and bydagged foule,
1028His mules sides al blody,
1029And flyngeþ gode scour hem forby.
1030Kyng Porus by his man
1031Dude hym swiþe clepe aȝan,
1032And asked hym whennes he was and whennes he com,
1033And he swore, bi Goddes dom,
1034Þat he was of Grece a swayn
1035And þe kyng Phelippes chaumberlayn,
1036Wexe to bygge in þe cite,
1037Of whiche hij hadden scarsete.
1038'Saye,' quoþ Porus, 'what man is Alisaunder
1039Þat of loos bereþ so gret sklaunder?'
1040And he ansuered, verrayment,
1041Þat he was hendy, wiȝth, and gent,
1042And he was a litel man and an elde,
1043And had on at þe mete for þe chelde
1044Twoo þik mantels, yfurred wiþ grys.
1045'Certes!' quoþ Porus, 'Ich am vnwys!
1046Ne habbe Ich ytake cite and toune
1047To his wille in baundoune?
1048Often ar þis me agroos,
1049For man leide on hym swiche loos.
1050Ac now ne shal J bliþe be
1051Forto Ich hym mowe mete and see
1052Wiþ suerd and shelde in batayle,
1053To proue his wiȝtnesse, saunz faile.'
1054To hym þat rood he seide þoo:
1055'Jch me awonder, by seint Bardo,

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1056Siþþe þat Alisaunder is so elde,
1057Hou he dar and is so belde,
1058And hou he may and is so hardy
1059Oþer kynges to done foly -
1060Nouȝth on, ne two, ne þre, ac alle,
1061Nymeþ par force and makeþ hem þralle.'
1062Þe folk seide þat abouten stood
1063He ne had neuer so hardy blood
1064Þat he durst þe kyng ysee.
1065'Ȝis,' quoþ he þat rode, 'so mote J þee,
1066He dar wiþ þee speke and ek yseen!'
1067Quoþ þe kyng Porus: ' Jeo crey ceo ben!
1068Jch wil þee ȝiue of golde a mark,

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1069And a stede stronge and stark,
1070By so þou wil wiþouten ansuere
1071To ȝoure kyng a lettre bere.'
1072And he hym graunted, God it wyte.
1073Þe lettre was onon ywrite -
1074Kyng Alisaunder it vnderfynge,
1075And golde and siluer to medyng.
1076He smoot his mule wiþ sporen whate;
1077Bot whan he com to þe gate
1078To þe porter he ȝaf þe golde,
1079And lete þe mule gon where he wolde.
1080On þe destrer onon he slang -
1081Als arewe of bowe forþ he sprang.
1082To his folk he com ful swiþe,
1083And of his comyng hij weren bliþe.
1084He liȝtte and tolde his auenture -
1085Hij lowȝen and maden enuesure.
1086Alisaunder þe wryt bihelde,
1087And sauȝ þere-inne þretyng belde
1088And defyeaunce þe þrid day -
1089Þat was his gamen and his play.
1090Þe þridd day wel sone cam.
1091Kyng Alisaunder his armes nam,
1092And armed hym ful wel
1093And al his folk in jrne and steel.
1094So dude kyng Porus, saunz faile,
1095And comen hem to chaumpe bataile.
1096Þere was displayed many gounfanoun
1097Of riche sendel and cyclatoun.
1098Þere was many riche stede,
1099And many kniȝth wel ful of pride.
1100Þere was many faire justynge,
1101Assailynge and defendynge,
1102Ac naþeles kyng Alisaunder wiþ his man
1103Of Porus kyng þe maistrie wan.
1104Kyng Porus ȝalde his swerd to his honde,
1105And to his wille al his londe.

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1106Kyng Alisaunder was hym curteys,
1107And graunted hym his loue and pays.
1108Now ben þe kynges men euerychon
1109And ek Porus al at on,
1110Ac Porus and al his folk, parde,
1111Ben of Kyng Alisaundres meignee.
1112Now went Porus, so J fynde,
1113Wiþ Kyng Alisaunder ouere al Ynde,
1114To shewe hym þe merueilynges
1115Of men, of bestes, of oþer þinges,
1116And helpen wynne vnder his honde
1117Alle þe naciouns of þe londe.
1118Of Baudas wenden þise kynges of prijs.
1119Wiþouten noumbre her poeple is;
1120Neuer, in al þis myddelerde,
1121Nas so myche folk in on ferde.
1122Hij passeden dales, hij passede pleynes,
1123Wildernesse and mounteynes.
1124Hij comen to þe on werldes ende,
1125And þere hij founden þing of mynde:
1126Of pure golde two grete ymages
1127Jn þe cee stonden on brasen stages.
1128After Ercules hij weren ymad,
1129And after his fader, of golde sad.
1130Ercules was whilom a man
1131Þat non ne miȝth stonde aȝein.
1132Þider he wan þe middelerde,
1133By maistres, be werres he conquerde.
1134He sette þere ymages of moundes
1135Þat men clepeþ Ercules boundes.
1136Þe kyng and his folk, saunz faile,
1137Þere-of hadden grete merueile.
1138Kyng Alisaunder asked onon
1139Ȝif hij miȝtten forþer gon.
1140A cherle hym ansuered aȝeinward

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1141(To his nauel henge his berd;
1142He was also blak as pycche,
1143And had a face wel griseliche):
1144'Sir,' he seide, 'south hiderward
1145Js þe ende of myddelerd.
1146A west half, ȝee mowen ysee,
1147Þe waye liþe in to þe Rede Cee.
1148A north half ne mowen ȝee nouȝth ypasse
1149For deserte and wildernesse;
1150For tygres, beres, and lyouns,
1151Addres, culures, and dragouns,
1152Wolden þis folk, mychel and lyte,
1153Envenymen and abite.
1154Ac hiderward, sir, in to þe est
1155Þe waye is sikerest and best.
1156Þiderward is Est Ynde -
1157Foure and fyfty kynges þou miȝth fynde,
1158Þat noiþer of þee ne of Pore
1159Ne helden tale, lesse ne more,
1160Wiþouten ydles þat þere ben jnne,
1161Þat qued and stronge ben to wynne,
1162Noiþer for Ercules ne for Liber,
1163Ne dursten neuere comen þer.
1164Two somers and two wyntres in on ȝare
1165Verreyement hij habben þare.
1166Ypereus hatte her hauene.
1167Alle gorgeien as a rauene;
1168Grete men and blake hij ben.
1169Ȝif þou desirest merueiles to sen,
1170Þere ȝee mowen merueile yfynde
1171More þan ower elles in Ynde.
1172Þe wynde ȝou may þider blawen
1173Jn lesse þan in twenty dawen.
1174An emperoure yhote Lybertyne,
1175A stronge kniȝth and hardy a-fyne,

page I,295

1176Þider passed and al þis fonde.
1177Al it is sooþ, Ich vnderstonde.'
1178Kyng Alisaunder onon heet
1179Greiþen his shippe swiþe and skeet.
1180Dromuns, botes, and barge
1181Wiþ man and beest he dude charge,
1182And seileden wel swyftely est.
1183Al þe cee ferd as a forest.
1184Þe fourtenþe day hij comen to Yperoun;
1185Þere hij founden a fair cite-toun,
1186Þere hij founden folk of strengþe,
1187Þe londe is seuen þousande mylen of lengþe,
1188And foure þousande mylen of brede.
1189Þe kyng of þe londe dude by rede,
1190And made wiþ kyng Alisaunder peys,
1191And ȝaf hym ȝiftes of nobleys.
1192Verrayment, þere ne groweþ no whete,
1193Ne oþer corne bot spyces swete.
1194Þere-of hij maken her breed,
1195And drynken wyne, white and red
1196Eueryche man and eke womman
1197Of þe londe of Taproban
1198Of an hundreþ wyntres ful-libbeþ þe dawe,
1199Bot hij ben of fomen yslawe.
1200Hij ben ycloþed, in alle wones,
1201Jn golde and siluer and precious stones.
1202Jt is boystous folk, naþelas,
1203Michel folk and griselich of faas.
1204Þe kyng had wiþ hem many fest,
1205Swithe riche and ek honest.
1206Forþer þan in to þe est
1207Nas no wonyng bot wilde best,
1208Addres wiþ foure hedes, and dragouns,
1209Gripes, tygres, and lyouns,
1210And a maner folk þere is yfounde
1211Þat men clepeþ cee-hounde.

page I,297

1212Þe addres shiteþ preciouse stones -
1213Listneþ now for þe nones!
1214Jn shynyng of þe sonne, whan Marche blaweþ,
1215Þe addres vpward hem þraweþ,
1216And tocleueþ wombelyng
1217Aȝeynes þe sonne shynyng,
1218And conceyueþ of þe sonne, veire,
1219By nature of þe wynde and eire.
1220And ȝif of fele hiwe is þe eyre,
1221So shullen þe stones ben in veyre.
1222Swich is þis addres kyndlyng -
1223Preciouse stones, wiþouten lesyng,
1224Jacynkte, piropes, crisolites,
1225Safyres, smaragdes, and margarites.
1226Biȝonde þe dragouns, gripes, and beste,
1227Paradys terrene is riȝth in þe est,
1228Where God almiȝtty, þorouȝ his grace,
1229Fourmed Adam, oure fader þat was.

1230Þe kyng þennes went forþ
1231Aȝein in to Ynde in þe norþ,
1232Þat is ycleped, als J fynde,
1233Jn þe book þe vpper Ynde.
1234Þoo he com wiþ his compaignye,
1235Al þe londe he fonde ywrye
1236Wiþ armed men, riche and pouer,
1237Kynges, dukes, on and oþer,
1238Þat hym and hise wiþ swerd gretten
1239And wiþ sharpe launces metten,
1240And of ȝonge kniȝttes slouȝen þe floure.
1241Þe kyng þerfore was in doloure.
1242Hij maden her armes envenymed -
1243He þat was taken of deþ was lymed.
1244Alisaunder wexe wrooþ and gan hym bistere,
1245And eke alle hise gode fiȝtteres
1246Þise folk to-hewe and slouȝe
1247Mo þousandes þan ynowe,
1248And ouercomen hem at þe last.

page I,299

1249Þe remenaunt þan fleiȝ on hast
1250Bisiden in to a riche cite
1251Þe kyng hem bishette wiþouten pite,
1252And in on niȝth, by on metyng,
1253Ȝaf al his folk botyng.
1254Onon after þat cite he feld
1255And al þat folk anon queld.
1256Childe in credel, man ne wijf,
1257Ne lete he neuere on a-lijf.

1258Forþ went þe kyng wondres sekynde.
1259A griselich best he gonne fynde -
1260So mychel seiȝ he neuere ne non swiche.
1261Two heuedes it had wel ferlich;
1262To a cokedrille þat on was liche,
1263Þat oþere þe mone selcouþ liche.
1264His rigge was bristled as wiþ sharp siþen;
1265Teeþ he had so wreþen wriþen.
1266Eiȝen he had so brennyng bronde,
1267And two kniȝttes of Grece londe
1268At þe first assauȝt it slouȝ.
1269Þe kyng ne non of his ne louȝ,
1270Ac hij it smyten, myche and lyte,
1271And non arme nolde byte
1272Jn þat beeste, so mote J lyuen,
1273And hij it away tofor hem dryuen.
1274Forþ went þe kyng þennes wiþ hij.
1275Of þe forme warde he herd grete cry,
1276For hij weren assailed of olifauntz.
1277Þe kyng hiȝed and his sergeaunz,
1278Ac, so J fynde on þe book,
1279By Porus conseil hogges hij took,
1280And beten hem so þat hij shriȝtte.
1281Þe olyfauntz away hem diȝtte,
1282For hij ne haue so mychel drade
1283Of noþing as of hogges grade.

page I,301

1284Nyne hundreþ and eiȝtte hij slowȝe,
1285And quyk þai lokeden þerof ynowe
1286To seruen hem in batailles,
1287And to beren her vitailles.
1288Þe sonne loweþ and west helt;
1289Þe kynges pauylouns þere men telt,
1290And token hem þere herberewe,
1291Forto þe sonne ryse amorowe.
1292God make alle sory bliþe!
1293Who-so wil lystne and liþe,
1294Þe most wonder ȝe mowen vnderstonde
1295Þat ben yfounden in Ynde londe.

1296In tyme of heruest mery it is ynouȝ -
1297Peres and apples hongeþ on bouȝ,
1298Þe hayward bloweþ mery his horne,
1299Jn eueryche felde ripe is corne,
1300Þe grapes hongen on þe vyne.
1301Swete is trewe loue and fyne!
1302Kyng Alisaunder a-morowe arist -
1303Þe sonne dryueþ away þe myst.
1304Forþ he went ferre in to Ynde,
1305Moo merueiles forto fynde.
1306Hij founden many lake and pett,
1307Wiþ trowes and þornes byshett,
1308Wiþinne greue and mychel weed,
1309Water-kressen and heiȝe reed.
1310Þere hij seiȝen men, Ich wil avowe,
1311And wymmen as beres rowe.
1312Bristled hij weren as hogges
1313And stynken as water-dogges.
1314Jn þe water hij swymme and ȝede -
1315Ypotami hem leued myde.
1316Alle hij lyueden by raw fyssh.
1317So hij seiȝe þat folk, jwys,
1318Hij plumten doune as an doppe
1319Jn þe water at on scoppe.

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1320Þoo hij plumten þe water vnder,
1321Þe folk had of hem grete wonder.
1322Forþ went þe kyng and al his folk apert
1323Wondres to seen in þe desert,
1324And entreden toward þe west
1325Jn to a swiþe fair forest,
1326And founden appel-trowes and fygeres,
1327Peryes, cypres, and olyuers,
1328Þat weren þre hundreþ feet longe.
1329Þere was mery foules songe.
1330Þe shadewe cast two mylen wayes -
1331Þoo weren trewes of nobleyes.
1332Þere-biside, wiþouten lees,
1333Hij founden a water yhoten Ganges.
1334Þere ben jnne eles stronge
1335Þat beþ þre hundreþ fet longe.
1336Hij habbeþ in hem hondes two,
1337Wiþ whiche hij don mychel woo.
1338Olyfauntz and kniȝttes jn hij drowen
1339And in þe water sone slowen.
1340Þere hij seiȝen a selcouþ folk,
1341Alday pouren in þe walken,
1342And alday on on fote stondynde,
1343And neuere wery, so J fynde.
1344So hij ben delited in þat art
1345Þat wery ne ben hij neuere, cert.
1346Þe kyng and hise wenten forþ,
1347Jn to þe est, in to þe north,
1348Als fer as hij for water miȝth,
1349Ac of wondres nadden hij more siȝth
1350Þat any tale be of to telle,
1351Bot of bestes and wormes felle,
1352And of þe wederes stronge and tempestes,
1353Þat hem duden grete molestes.
1354Þe kyng lete þe waye of þe est
1355And by a ryuer tourned west.
1356He was war of a cite walle,

page I,305

1357Swiþe fair and stronge wiþ alle.
1358Þider hij drowen, lesse and more,
1359Hem of vitaile to astore.
1360Ac þe men of þat cite
1361Weren ful of iniquite,
1362And ronnen to her gates fast
1363And hem shetten wel on hast.
1364Alisaundre and his meygnee
1365Comen and badden hem entree,
1366Ac non ne wolde ansuere a word,
1367Neiþer to man ne to lorde.
1368Þe kyng of his stede aliȝth,
1369And steeȝ on þe wal anon-riȝth
1370And loked ouer what hij dede.
1371Hij weren redy in þat stede,
1372Als J fynde on þe boke,
1373And pliȝtten hym jn wiþ yrnen hoke,
1374And laiden hym on wiþ swerd and batt -
1375Þe kyng was neiȝ al to-flatt
1376Er he wist where he was.
1377Þe kyng rekeuered, naþelas.
1378Vnder shelde he gan hym were,
1379And wel swiftely hym bistere -
1380Smoot and leide on wiþ mayn,
1381And slouȝ a-rawe two duzeyn,
1382And, maugre þe teeþ of hem alle,
1383Sette his rigge to þe walle.
1384Þat folk grete assauȝt hym ȝaue -
1385Wiþ swerdes, axes, stones, and staue,
1386Woundeden, felden and sore hym hirten.
1387His woundes bledden, his dyntes smerten,
1388Þat he grented als a bore,
1389And deled many a dynt sore.
1390Of summe he karf heued of, of summe arme!
1391Of summe foot and legge - it nas non harme!

page I,307

1392He slowȝ an hundreþ in a rawe,
1393Þat at his feet laien yslawe.
1394Þe prince of þe cite seiȝ þis,
1395And com flynge onon, jwis,
1396Wiþ a launce on his hors
1397And smoot Alisaunder þorouȝ þe cors,
1398And braided hym doune on knee to grounde.
1399Þe kyng swoȝened for þat wounde,
1400And hastilich hym-self aweiȝtte
1401And þe launce out pleiȝtte,
1402And lepe on fote, wiþ swerd of steel
1403And gan hym were swiþe wel,
1404Ac vnneþe on his feet he stood -
1405He had bled so mychel blood -
1406And þe folk hym leide on ay þe lenge þe more,
1407By-hynde and biside, and also bifore.
1408Jn þe ost wiþoute a noble duk was
1409Þat was yhote sir Perdicas.
1410Þis on þe wal steiȝ on heiȝ,
1411And al his lordes tourment seiȝ.
1412Anon he lepe doun of þe walle
1413Amonge þe kynges fomen alle,
1414And wiþ his swerd sharp ygrounde
1415He ȝaf many a dedly wounde.
1416Sexty swiþe and þerto fyue
1417He byname þe dayes of lyue;
1418Ac, forsoþe, ne had he so ycome,
1419Þe kyng had ben sleyn oiþer ynome.
1420Wharfore kyng Alisaunder ouer þan
1421Loued sir Perdicas ouere alle his man,
1422And made hym his heire seþe
1423Ouere al Grece in his deþe.

page I,309

1424Þe kyng is bicomen fiers and liȝth
1425And wiȝtly aȝeins his fomen gan fiȝth,
1426And Perdicas feyned nouȝth,
1427For als a wode lyoun he fauȝth.
1428Þe kynges oost þat wiþouten was
1429Hadden aspyed al þis cas,
1430And brouȝtten gynnes to þe walle -
1431Houen, shouen, and drowen alle,
1432And, maugre Picard and Bretoun,
1433Breken þere þe wal adoun,
1434And in flunge in litel stounde,
1435And leiden al þat folk to grounde.
1436Ac Alisaunder, his owen honde,
1437Biheueded þe prince of þe londe,
1438And siþen, wiþouten any pyte,
1439Sette on fyre þat cite,
1440And forbrent it, more and lesse,
1441And made þerof wildernesse.
1442Þere-biside his pauylouns
1443Weren ytelde, by dales and dovnes.
1444Þe kyng þere soiourned to he was hoole.
1445TohardyTo hardyEdition: Tohardy man wel ofte is fole!
1446So had þe kyng yben neiȝ,
1447Ac God hym sent help from heiȝ.

1448Þo þe kyng was hool and wel ydouȝth,
1449Mo wondres he haþ ysouȝth.
1450Euerych ydle, euerych contrey,
1451He haþ ysouȝth, par ma fey.
1452An ydle he passeþ yhote Prasiens,
1453And Gangerides and Gangiens,
1454An ydle yhote Cormorans,
1455And a stronge ydle yhote Bramans.
1456Mychel he hym pyned er al þis londe
1457He haueþ ywonne vnder his honde.
1458Jch wil ȝou telle what men ben in Bramande,
1459Ȝif ȝee willen vnderstande.

page I,310

1460Hij ben men, wiþouten doutaunce,
1461Of hard lijf and stronge penaunce.
1462Hij ne eten bot gresses rote
1463And fruyt of trees and herbes swote.
1464Þynnelich hij beþ yhatered,
1465And drynken of þe broune water.
1466Hij ne eten of oxe ne of swyne;
1467Hij ne drynken of ale ne of wyne.
1468Ne hij ne han boures ne halles,
1469Ne casteles wiþ heiȝe walles,
1470Bot in trowes and in denne
1471And in roches holed wiþinne -
1472Þere-inne is her wonyȝing.
1473Hij ne eteþ non oþere þing
1474Þan þe erþe ȝeueþ wiþouten tellyng.
1475Jn penaunce, sikerlyk,
1476Hij don hem brenne also quyk,
1477For her mysdede and for her synne,
1478Þe ioye of Paradys to wynne.

1479Good it were to ben kniȝth,
1480Nere tourneyment and dedly fiȝth.
1481Wiþ marchaundes to ben it were hende,
1482Neren þacountes at bordes ende.
1483Swete is loue of damoysele,
1484Ac it askeþ costes fele.
1485Better is litel to habbe in ayse
1486Þan mychel aghȝtte in malayse.
1487Who-so is of dedes vntrewe,
1488Ofte it shal hym sore rewe.

1489Alisaunder is comen a-feld,
1490Wel y-armed vnder sheld,
1491On a stede wel ydiȝth,
1492And sitteþ as a noble kniȝth.
1493He rideþ his spere braundynde;
1494Þe pensel rateleþ wiþ þe wynde.
1495Porus also comeþ flynge,
1496Ygraiþed als a riche kynge,
1497Y-armed wel on kniȝttes wise.
1498Nis it no nede her armes deuyse,
1499Ac her aiþer lete go þe reyne,
1500And dasshen togedre wiþ grete meyne.
1501Þe speres to-brosten aȝeins þe sheldes.
1502Hij dasshen ouer in þe feldes -
1503Hij turnen aȝein quyklich.
1504Wiþ drawen swerdes, sikerlich,
1505Aiþer oþere legeþ on,

page I,401

1506Als þe mason on þe ston,
1507Ac als hij skirmeden to þe cors
1508Her aiþer slouȝ oþeres hors.
1509Þoo hij mosten on fote beye
1510Disreynen her medleye.
1511Gayneþ it nouȝth of rest preche -
1512Her aiþer gynneþ oþer seche,
1513Wiþ assailyng, wiþ smytynge,
1514And kepen hem wiþ wrieynge.
1515Wel hij fiȝtten on þe pleyn,
1516Wiþ tresget, wiþ reremeyn,
1517Wiþ ouerheued and wiþ stook.
1518Aiþer on oþere þe swerd so shook,
1519Nyste noman hem bitwene
1520Ȝut who shulde maister bene,
1521For her armes, riche of mounde,
1522Weren ȝut hole and sounde.
1523Ac eft now, after restynge,
1524Hij bigynnen togedres dynge,
1525To-keruen her armes and her shelde -
1526Þe peces wounden in þe felde.
1527Ne seiȝ man neuere kniȝttes two
1528So manlich togedres goo!
1529Her aiþer fast gynneþ aspye
1530To don oþer vilanye
1531Oiþer wiþ stoke oiþer wiþ dynte -
1532Þat is al hir entente.
1533Whiles hij weren in swiche mangle,
1534Þe Yndyens bigonnen jangle.
1535Porus bigan a-bacche reme,
1536And name þiderwardes ȝeme
1537And loked toward her cry,
1538Ac Alisaunder was sone hym by,
1539And smoot hym in þe discouerte
1540Wiþ a stooke al to þe herte,
1541Fast by þe chyne-bon;
1542Porus fel ded onon.

page I,403

1543Yndyens comen wiþ drawen swerd
1544To socouren her lord.
1545Alisaunder gan loude crye:
1546'Be non of ȝou so hardye
1547Aȝeins couenaunt me to assaile,
1548Bot ȝee willen newe bataile
1549And ȝoure ostages todrawe,
1550And ȝou self to deþ yslawe.
1551For ben ȝee sele, ben ȝee wroþe,
1552Ynde and Perce ben myne boþe.
1553Ȝeldeþ me homage alle,
1554Oiþere ȝou shal qued bifalle!'
1555Princes and dukes token her red,
1556Þoo hij seiȝen Porus ded,
1557And token Alisaunder by þe honde
1558And ȝelden hym þe coroun of Ynde londe.
1559Hij duden hym alle feute,
1560And sworen to hym also leute.

1561Now is ded þe kyng Porus -
1562Alisaunder is kyng glorious.
1563He ȝiueþ londes, he ȝiueþ rentes,
1564Stedes, tresores, warnementes,
1565Makeþ justise and conestable,
1566And ouer al his lawȝe stable,
1567And wendeþ out of Faacen
1568To newe Alisaunder wiþ alle his men,
1569And dooþ ful-make þe stronge walles,
1570Castels, toures, boures, halles,
1571Makeþ þe strete brode and riche,
1572Þat non oþer hir nys liche.
1573On a day sone after þan,
1574Com Candulek, a gentil-man -
1575Candaces son, kyng of Brye -
1576Wiþ wel faire chyualrye,
1577And wolde wiþ Alisaunder speke,
1578Forto ben þorouȝ hym awreke
1579Of a prynce þat by strijf

page I,405

1580Had bynomen hym hys wijf.
1581Ac Alisaunder had a wone,
1582Þeiȝ to court com kyng oiþer his sone,
1583Prynce, oiþer duk, oiþer gret caiser,
1584Kniȝth oiþer sweyn, oiþer messagere,
1585He ne shulde nouȝth þe kyng ysee
1586Bot it were by atturne.
1587Now is hym tolde þat wiþ hym speke
1588Wolde þe kyng Canduleke.
1589Tholomew, þat is nexte þe kyng,
1590So hym seiþ þis tydyng,
1591And Alisaunder makeþ a stille cry
1592Þat non ne be so hardy
1593To ben aknowe to Candaces son
1594Who be þe kynges person,
1595Ac þat hij shulden euerychon
1596Clepen þe kyng Antygon.
1597He dude on Tholomew, verrayment,
1598Quiclich his vestement.
1599And sette hym in þe kynges deys,
1600And he took Tholomeus herneys,
1601And made hym in heiȝ mester
1602Þe kynges first conseiler.
1603Hij clepen and siggen Canduleke
1604He shulde wiþ þe kyng speke.
1605He comeþ quyk on boþe his knewes
1606And kneleþ tofore Tholomewes,
1607Ac for he was a gentyl gome
1608He was sone vp ynome.
1609His pleynte he telleþ in þe manere
1610Als ȝee mowen now yhere.

1611'Alisaunder, riche caysere,
1612Þou ne haste on erþe no pere!
1613Many is þe riche londe
1614Þou hast ywonne to þine honde.
1615On þee hij ben wel bysett,
1616For þou art ful of þewes pett.

page I,407

1617Þou batest wronge, þou hauntest riȝttes;
1618Þou art fader of alle kniȝttes.
1619Þou louest alle gentil-manne
1620And abatest alle tyranne.
1621Þou art caiser of þis londe -
1622Jch me ȝelde to þine honde,
1623And amendyng J bidde þee to
1624Of vnriȝth þat is me do!'
1625'Telle on þi wronge,' quoþ Tholomay,
1626'We shulle þe helpe ȝif we may.'
1627'Sir, graunt mercy! þerwhiles J was fare
1628On pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Yndare,
1629Þe duk Hirtan, a tyraunt of Brye,
1630Com wiþ grete chyualrie,
1631Robbed my make Blasfame,
1632Also fair as was Dyane.
1633She is my quene, Ich hire chalenge.
1634Of þis despyt helpe me avenge!'
1635'Hou fele kniȝttes, as þou wenes,
1636Miȝtten awreken þine tenes?'
1637'Of foure þousande Ich had ynowe
1638To awreken myne wowe.'
1639Tholomeus gynneþ grade onon:
1640'What seistou here-of, Antigon?'
1641Alisaunder seide: 'For þat þis gome
1642Js to vs from fer ycome
1643And to ȝoure frenderede trest,
1644J rede ȝou þe conseil best,
1645Þat ȝe lene to his socoure
1646Swich folk þat ben to ȝoure honoure,
1647And faileþ hym nouȝth at þis nede.'
1648'Nay,' quoþ Tholomeu, 'so God me fede,
1649Wende wiþ hym,' he seide, 'Antigon,
1650And hym wreke on his fon,
1651For þou art wiȝth, hardy, and stronge -
1652Not Ich better vs amonge.

page I,409

1653J þee biteche þe bayllye
1654My folk wiþ hym to conduye.'
1655Alisaunder hem fawe afongeþ.
1656Ne wolde he bileue longe -
1657Ygreiþed ben his foure þousynde
1658Quyklich and on hors wende.
1659Wiþ Canduleke he wendeþ swiþe.
1660His kniȝttes maden chere bliþe,
1661For her lorde in tapynage
1662Was ywent in þat veiage.
1663So he rideþ dales and doune
1664Þat he seeþ þat cite-toune
1665Where hym heldeþ þe duk Hirtan,
1666Þat haþ Canduleke lemman.
1667Canduleke seiþ: 'Sir Antygon,
1668Hou shullen we now taken on?'
1669Bote quoþ Alisaunder, 'Here and þere
1670Tofore vs sette al on fyre,
1671Forto hij comen to vs a-felde,
1672Oiþer þat lefdy to vs ȝelde.'
1673Hij setten a-fyre, wiþouten pyte,
1674Al þe londe to þe cite,
1675And bysetten it aboute
1676Þat hij ne miȝtten jn ne oute.
1677Þe burgeys seiȝ her wynes barne -
1678Eueryche oþer harme gan warne,
1679And seiden wel her was þe gylt
1680To ben forbarnd, to ben forswelt,
1681Þat suffreden þe duk Hirtan
1682Haue in demayne oþere womman.
1683Alle þe burgeis of þe toun
1684Duden by on red commune -
1685To þe palays hij wenten alle
1686And quyk beten doune þe walle,
1687Jn cuntek and slouȝen Hirtan,
1688And ȝulden to Candulek his womman.

page I,411

1689Þus comen þise burgeis,
1690And han of her werre peis.
1691After soiour of fourtene niȝth,
1692To kynges court hij done hem riȝth,
1693And fynden Tholomeu, als he was bede,
1694Sette in Alisaunders stede.
1695Candulek on knowe hym sett,
1696And þe kyng of he grett,
1697And þanked hym of his socour,
1698Þorouȝ whiche he had his honour
1699Yconquered and his quen.
1700He was vptaken of gentil-men,
1701And ysette on heiȝe benche,
1702And wyne and pyement gynneþ shenche,
1703And wyne clarre and wyne Greek,
1704And þoo seide Tholomeu to Candulek:
1705'Sir', he seide, 'men tellen me
1706Þou hast a moder fair and fre.
1707She is yhote dame Candace;
1708Fair and briȝth is hir face -
1709Nis in þis werlde so fair quene.
1710Fayn Ich wolde hir ysene,
1711Her castels and ek her toures,
1712Ȝif hij weren to myne honoures.'
1713Quoþ Candulek: 'Leue sire,
1714Also mychel she ȝou desireþ -
1715Jch ȝou sigge, by Goddes ore,
1716She desireþ noþing more
1717Þan to ben to ȝou aqueinte.
1718Ne habbeþ now none herte feinte -
1719Now is tyme it to done.
1720Jch wil ȝou brynge þider sone.
1721Ne be it ȝou for my broþer looþ,
1722Þeiȝ he be wiþ ȝou wrooþ
1723For ȝee duden Porus of lyue,
1724Whas douȝtter he haþ to wyue.
1725For on honde Ich wil hym take
1726Þat he shal don ȝou no wrake.'

page I,413

1727Tholomeus ȝaf ansueryng
1728Jn þe name of þe kyng,
1729And seide: 'J nyl nouȝth comen hir ner,
1730Bot by a speciale messager
1731J wil hir sende loue-drurye,
1732And her estres ek aspye',
1733And cleped Alisaunder 'Antygon',
1734And bad hym wende wiþ hym onon,
1735And rouned wiþ hym a grete while.
1736Ac al þat was for gyle!
1737After þis queynt rounyng,
1738Alisaunder spedde in þis doyng.
1739Quyk on hors went wiþ hym ek
1740Þoo þat he had myd Candulek.
1741Candulek was wel bliþe -
1742Quyk he ladde hem and swiþe.
1743Whan hij in to Saba come,
1744To þe paleys waie hij nome.
1745Þe lefdy wandreþ in a plas,
1746And syngeþ of Dido and Eneas,
1747Hou loue hem ladde by strange bride.
1748Comeþ Candulek tofore ride,
1749And seiþ: 'Ma dame, beeþ redy,
1750And welcomeþ here myne amy,
1751Kyng Alisaunder messagere,
1752Noble kniȝth of gent manere.
1753He haþ ȝolden me my wyf,
1754And duk Hirtan brouȝth of lyf.
1755Kyng Alisaunder ne haþ to gye
1756Non foller of chyualerye.'
1757Ar her tale were at þe ende
1758Kyng Alisaunder com hem hende.
1759Quyk hij ben of horses aliȝth -
1760Þe lefdy comeþ onon-riȝth,
1761And clippeþ hym in armes tueye,
1762And he hir, wiþ grete joye.
1763She hym þankeþ of Candulek,

page I,415

1764And of his gentil wyue ek,
1765And he hire bryngeþ many gretyng
1766On Alisaunder halue þe kyng.
1767'Do way!' quoþ þe quene Candace,
1768'Jch vnderstonde by þi face
1769Þat þou Alisaunder be.
1770Ne hele þou nouȝth, sir, for me!'
1771'Nay', he seide 'by Goddes ore!
1772Alisaunder is wel more,
1773Redder man on visage,
1774And sumdel more of age,
1775And þou shalt certeyn ben,
1776Sumday whan þou shalt hym sen!'
1777'Depart-dieux!' quoþ þe quene,
1778'Go we now myne estres sene.
1779Oure mete shal þerbituene
1780Ygreiþed and redy bene.'
1781She led hym to chaumbres of nobleys -
1782Þere he dude of his herneys.
1783Of Troye was þere-inne al þe story,
1784Hou Gregeis hadden þe victory.
1785Þe bemes þere-inne weren of bras,
1786Þe wyndewes of riche glas.
1787Þe pynnes weren of yuory.
1788Þe kyng went wiþ þe lefdy,
1789Hym-self al one from boure to boure,
1790And seiȝ wel mychel tresoure,
1791Gold, and siluer, and preciouse stones,
1792Baudekyns made for þe nones,
1793Mantles, robes, and pauylouns,
1794Of gold and siluer grete foysouns.
1795And she hym asked, par amour,
1796Ȝif he seiȝ euer swiche tresour;
1797And he seide in his contreye
1798Tresour he wist of swiche nobleye.
1799She þouȝth more þan she seide,

page I,417

1800And ledde hym to anoþer stede,
1801To hire owen chaumbre þat was -
1802Jn al þis werlde fairer non nas.
1803Þe atyre was þere-inne so riche
1804Jn al þis werlde was non it liche.
1805She led hym to one stage,
1806And shewed hym an ymage,
1807And seide: 'Alisaunder, yleue me!
1808Þis ymage is made after þee.
1809J dude it an ymageoure
1810Casten after þi vigoure,
1811Þis oþere ȝer þoo þou nolde
1812To me come for loue ne golde.
1813Jt is þee als liche, my leue broþer,
1814Als any peny is anoþer.
1815O, Alisaunder, of grete renoun!
1816Þou art ytake in my prisoun!
1817Al þi strengþe ne gayneþ þe nauȝth,
1818For a womman þee haþ ycauȝth.
1819A womman þee haþ in her laas!'
1820'O!' quoþ Alisaunder, 'Allas,
1821Þat J nere y-armed wel,
1822And had my swerd of broun steel.
1823Many an heued wolde J claue
1824Ar J wolde in prisoun laue.
1825Ac noman ne may hym waite
1826From þise wymmens dissaite.'
1827'Alisaunder', she seide, 'þou seis sooþ.
1828Ne be nouȝth adradde ne þerfore wrooþ -
1829Myne tale þou miȝth yleue.
1830Adam was biswike þorouȝ Eue,
1831And Sampson also, þe stronge,
1832Dalida hym dude wronge.
1833And Dauid was brouȝth in exyl
1834Þorouȝ his wijf Abygayl.

page I,419

1835And Salomon, for wommans loue,
1836Forlete his lorde þat is aboue.
1837And þou art fallen in hondes myne,
1838Þee to solas and to no pyne,
1839For here, vnder þis couertoure,
1840Jch wil haue þine amoure,
1841To my baundon, leue sire!
1842Longe it haþ ben my desire.
1843Ne shaltou haue oþer skaþe,
1844Bot me to baundon late and raþe.'
1845Þoo Alisaunder gan ysee
1846Þat it most so nedes be,
1847He dude al þe lefdyes wille
1848Vnder couertoure stille.
1849Many niȝth and many day
1850Þus hij duden her play -
1851Jn halle at table he sat hire by,
1852Jn chaumbre gest, in bed amy.
1853Antygon he hiȝth in halle,
1854And Alisaunder vnder palle.