Alex--6632-6717
Amy C--6718-6803
Dawn--6804-6889
Keith--6890-6975
Amy K--6976-7061
Kristin--7062-7147
Nora--7148-7233
KK--7234-7733
6632 Now haþ Alisaunder
agrope
6633 Alle þe merueiles of Ethiope,
6634 And taken feute of þo men;
6635 To Ynde yut he wil ayein.
6636 Bliþe þerof is kyng Porus.
6637 His baner takeþ Antiochus,
6638 On stede lepeþ Philotas;
6639 His spere takeþ Perdicas,
6640 His [mu]l[e] sporeþ Ennidus.
6641 His [sheld] enbraceþ Antigonus,
6642 His destrer prikeþ sir Clitoun;
6643 Nouyth byhynde is Salamoun.
6644 Duk, and prince, erle, and kniyth
6645 To Ynde ward so dassheþ riyth
6646 To Faacen ward and heldes,
6647 By wayes and wodes, ouere feldes.
6648 Hij passeden by a quenes londe
6649 Þat hiyth Candace, J vnderstonde.
6650 Of al þe werlde she was richest;
6651 Of alle wymmen she was fairest.
6652 She loued Alisaunder pryuelik,
6653 And he hire, sikerlyk.
6654 Ac non of hem ne had oþere yseie,
6655 Jn halle, ne in boure, ne in weie.
6656 Jn þis viage he had yment
6657 Þat he wolde to hire haue went,
6658 Ac he lete for suspecioun
6659 And yet more for tresoun,
6660 And forþ he went, Ich vnder-stonde,
6661 And passed þe quenes londe.
6662 Þoo þe quene þis vnderstood
6663 For fere of loue she brast neiy wood.
6664 She greiþed noble messagers,
6665 And sent hem on heiye destrers
6666 And took hem lettre and bad hem bere
6667 To Alisaunder, and bryngen ansuere.
6668 Þe messagers to þe kyng went
6669 And t[o]ken hym þe lettre þat
she sent.
6670 Hij weren swiþe welcome---
6671 Þe kyng þe lettre on honde
haþ ynome.
6672 He braak þe seal and þe lettre
seie---
6673 Þis was þe tenure, par ma feie:
6674 'To Alisaunder þe Emperoure,
6675 Of caysers prince, of kniyttes floure,
6676 Þe quene Candace, wiþ al honoure,
6677 Sendeþ gretynges, par amoure.
6678 Alisaunder, dere sire!
6679 Ouer alle men J þee desire.
6680 Nyme me fore [alle] to þi quene.
6681 Riche shal þi mede bene---
6682 Jch wil chargen, saunz faile,
6683 Wiþ besauntz a þousande camayle.
6684 Jch wil yiue þee yymmes and biyes,
6685 Ten þousande carreyes.
6686 Jch wil chargen alle þine beestes
6687 Wiþ pelles and ciclatounes honestes.
6688 Jch wil þee yiuen of gentyle-men
6689 Ten þousande wiyth Ethiopien,
6690 Yunge kniyttes flumbarlynges,
6691 Wiyth in euery batayllynges,
6692 And an hundreþ þousande noble
kniyth,
6693 To þi seruise, stronge and wiyth,
6694 And of rede golde a coroune briyth
6695 Ful of preciouse stones ypiyth;
6696 Golde ne siluer, als Ich sigge,
6697 Ne miyth þe stones to worþ
bigge.
6698 Yut þou shalt habbe sex hundreþ
rinoceros,
6699 And fyue hundreþ olifauntz and sex
hundreþ perdos,
6700 And two hundreþ vnicornes,
6701 And fyue hundreþ boles wiþ
one horne,
6702 And foure hundreþ lyouns white,
6703 And a þousande þat wel connen
byte,
6704 Olyfauntz and lyouns on playne,
6705 Stronge houndes of Albayne,
6706 And fyue hundreþ ceptres of golde,
6707 And my londe al to wolde,
6708 And an hundreþ þousande gentil
squyers
6709 Þat connen þee serue in alle
mesters,
6710 And þritty þousande maydens
briyttes
6711 Forto seruen þine kniyttes,
6712 Alle erles douyttres and barouns,
6713 Fulle of swiþe curteise wones.
6714 Oo, Alisaunder, þou riche kyng,
6715 Bee my lorde and my derlyng!
6716 Jch wil þee serue to honde and to
fote
6717 By niyth and day, yif Ich mote.'
6718 Of þis lettre was mychel prijse
6719 Wiþ Alisaunder and alle hise.
6720 Þe messagers ayein he shiftes,
6721 And yaf hem swiþe riche yiftes,
6722 And wiþ wordes debonaire
6723 Her ansuere swiþe faire.
6724 Þere was ycome wiþ þe
messagers
6725 A queynt man, a metal yeters,
6726 Þat couþe cast in al þing,
6727 And he avised wel þe kyng.
6728 And þoo he com hom, sikerliche,
6729 He cast a fourme þe kyng liche
6730 Jn face, in eiye, in nose, in mouþ,
6731 Jn lengþe, in membres---þat
is selcouþ!
6732 Þe quene it sette in her boure
6733 And keped it in grete honoure.
6734 Now rideþ Alisaunder his iourneiyng
6735 Wiþ mychel pride, wiþ mychel
syngyng,
6736 Jn grete [delit], in solaceyng.
6737 Listneþ now of his metyng.
6738 Als þe kyng rode
wiþ dukes and erles,
6739 He mette two hore cherles;
6740 To þe nauel her berde hyng,
6741 And þus aresoned hem þe kyng;
6742 'Seieþ me mow, yee olde hore!
6743 Many day is yee weren ybore.
6744 Wyten yee ouwhare, by any waies,
6745 Any merueiles in þis cuntreyes
6746 Þat Ich miyth don in storye,
6747 Oþere men to haue of memorie?'
6748 'Ye, par fay!'! quoþ hee,
6749 'A gret merueille we tellen þee,
6750 Þat is hennes an euen weye
6751 Þe mountaunce of ten journeye.
6752 Þou shalt fynde trowes two---
6753 S[ey]n[t]e[s] and hol[y] hij ben boo.
6754 Here and in oþere cuntrees alle
6755 Arbre sek men done hem calle.
6756 Yif þou wilt þee þider
diytten,
6757 Þou miyth wiþ þee lede
fourti þousande kniytten;
6758 Wiþ hem þou miyth þee
wel werye
6759 Þat wilde beestes ne shullen þe
derye.
6760 Moo ne miyttou leden, saunz dotaunce,
6761 Bot þee failed sustenaunce.'
6762 'Sir kyng,'! quoþ þe on, 'by
myne eiye,
6763 Aiþer tree is an hundreþ feet
heiye---
6764 Hij stonden vp to þe skye.
6765 Þat on to þe sonne is sacrifyed;
6766 Þat oþere, we þee tellen
nov,
6767 Js sacrified in þe mones vertv.
6768 Goo to hem and aske in herte
6769 Al þat þou wilt wite certe
6770 Of þee, oiþer of frende, oiþer
of kynne,
6771 Oiþer of oþer straunge menne,
6772 And þou shalt here þe soþe
onon,
6773 Yif þou wilt þider gon.'
6774 Þe kyng by conseil of his beste
6775 Diytte hym þiderward in haste,
6776 And sent wiþ Porus alle his men
6777 Jn to þe cite of Faacen.
6778 Bot fourty þousande wiþ hym
he took,
6779 Als we fynden in þe book.
6780 Alisaunder so rideþ and wendeþ
6781 Þat he is comen þe trowes hende.
6782 Þe note-muge and þe setewale
6783 On hym smelleþ and þe galyngale;
6784 Þe caneil and þe lycorys
6785 Swete flauour yiueþ, jwys,
6786 Þe gylofre, quybibbe, and mace,
6787 Gyngyuer, comyn, yauen odour of grace,
6788 And vnder sonne of alle spyce
6789 Hij hadden sauoure wiþ delice.
6790 Þat londe was holy, hij vnderstoode,
6791 And aliytten of her destreres gode,
6792 And yeden on feet and many hij mette.
6793 Eueryche oþere faire grette.
6794 Of lyouns and panteren
6795 Alle her wedes, certes, weren.
6796 Habbeþ hij no wille to spynne---
6797 Her cloþes ben of bestes skynne.
6798 Þe bisshop þat was of þat
londe
6799 Of þe kynges come haþ sonde.
6800 He graiþed hym and went þe
kyng ayan.
6801 Hereþ now of a selkouþ man!
6802 Þe bisshop hiyth Longys, sikerlich;
6803 He was boþe blak and griselich,
6804 And rouy and shuldred also.
6805 His oo foot was more þan þe
oþere two.
6806 He had bores tosshes and wide mouþ.
6807 Þe kyng of hym had selcouþ!
6808 He had of lengþe ten grete feet.
6809 Jn a lyouns skyn he was yshred;
6810 Of a beest þat hiyth pantere
6811 His hood was, and henge aboute his swere.
6812 Þe kyng wel faire þere he grett
6813 Also sone as he hym mett,
6814 And þe kyng hym seide, by gode reisoun,
6815 Of his comyng þenchesoun.
6816 What helpeþ it al to telle?
6817 Þe bisshop graunted al his wille,
6818 And shryueþ hym and alle þoo
6819 Þat shullen wiþ hym to þe
trowes goo.
6820 Now is þe sonne ygon vnder.
6821 Þe bisshoppe ledeþ þe
kyng to þis wonder,
6822 And þre þousande knyyttes hym
myde
6823 To þe trowes after yede.
6824 Ne sauye he neuere so fair atoure,
6825 Ne ne smelled so swete odoure.
6826 At þe trowe of þe sonne
6827 Her sacrifise hij agonne.
6828 Þe bisshopp to þe kyng seide
6829 And to al his felaurede:
6830 'Kyng,' he seide, 'þis trowe honeste
6831 Askeþ offryng of none beeste,
6832 Neiþer of broches ne of rynges,
6833 Ne of mouþ crieynges.
6834 Bot in þine herte þenke al
þi wille,
6835 And þou it shalt wite snelle.
6836 For, biholde! vp riyth þi steuene
6837 Js yherd in to heuene.'
6838 Þe kyng seiy a leem so fire-bronde
6839 From þe trow jn to heuene stonde.
6840 A-knowe he gan onon falle
6841 Adoune þere wiþ his kniyttes
alle,
6842 And þouyth yif he shulde þe
werlde wynne forth,
6843 Est and west, south and north,
6844 Yif he shulde to Grece ayein wende
6845 To seen his moder and his frende.
6846 Þe tree hym ansuered ayein,
6847 Jn langage of Yndyen:
6848 Kyng Alisaunder, Ich telle þee cert,
6849 Of al þe werlde þe þrid
part
6850 Þou shalt wynne and ben of kyng.
6851 Ac selcouþ worþe þine
endyng.
6852 To my langage vnderstonde!
6853 Ne comestou neuere in Grece londe;
6854 Moder ne suster ne þi kyn
6855 Ne shaltou more in Grece yseen.
6856 [Er] þou ware in þi be[yetynge],
6857 Of godes it was þin destenyng.
6858 For al þe werlde, Ich sigge þee,
6859 Oþer wise ne miyth it bee.'
6860 Þoo þe kyng yherd þis,
6861 For doel he chaunged colour, jwys;
6862 Woo was hym for þat ansuere
6863 And þat it had yherd so fele,
6864 Ac þoo men miytten seen ynowe
6865 Dukes and barouns falle aswowe!
6866 Here her teren lesse and more,
6867 Beten ho[n]den and wepen sore,
6868 And byweileden his prouesse,
6869 His yongþe, his strengþe, his
largesse.
6870 Þe kyng gan sighye swiþe sore,
6871 And bad hem stille lesse and more.
6872 He hem solaced and bad ben stille---
6873 He most nedes suffre þe goddes wille.
6874 He hiyth hem auytte and grete nobleis:
6875 Hij shulden it hele and ben in peis.
6876 He took þe bisshopp onon-riyth,
6877 For it was after þe myd-niyth,
6878 And wenden hem also sone
6879 To þe tree of þe mone.
6880 Þre kniyttes he dude wiþ hym
goo
6881 Of his pryueest and nomoo,
6882 Þat hiytten Dytonas, Philotas and
Perdicas;
6883 Þere ne weren moo ne las.
6884 Þe kyng and his kniyttes kneleden,
certe,
6885 And þus he seide in his herte:
6886 'Tree fair, J bidde þee,
6887 By þi leue telle þou me
6888 Whan J shal sterue, in gode fey,
6889 Where and in whiche cuntrey?'
6890 Þe tree hym ansuered in Gru resoun:
6891 'Þou schalt sterue in Babiloun,
6892 Þorouy envie and by tresouns
6893 Tofore alle þine barouns.
6894 Jn þe nexte yer here-afterward
6895 Þou shalt suffre deeþ wel hard!'
6896 Þoo wepe þe kyng and hise yfere
6897 And maden swiþe reuly chere.
6898 His wytt he foryate for sorouy
6899 And yede ligge forto a-morouy.
6900 His kniyttes of Grece and of Perce
6901 Woo and sorouy gonnen reherce,
6902 Wepen and her cloþes totare---
6903 Noman ne seiy neuere swiche care!
6904 Philotas þoo to þe kyng cam,
6905 And þe tale for hem alle nam.
6906 'Sir,' he seide, 'vnderstonde!
6907 We ben wiþ þee in stronge londe.
6908 Jt beeþ nouyth alle oure frende
6909 Þat vs ben now yhende.
6910 We habbeþ many pryuee foo,
6911 Þat wolde of on harme twoo,
6912 And willen fonde to greuen vs,
6913 Bot þou þee make vigourous.
6914 Þat þou herdest is fayrye---
6915 Ne hastou herte and flesshe hardye?
6916 Lete be, sir, swiche mournynge,
6917 And goo conforte þine gynge.'
6918 Kyn Alisaunder, þouy hym were woo,
6919 Þoo took gode herte hym to.
6920 Vp he rist, and to his folk gooþ,
6921 Makeþ hym bliþe, and noþing
wrooþ,
6922 Eteþ and drynkeþ, plaieþ
and scoff
6923 Als he ne yaf noþing þerof.
6924 For he made hym bliþe and liyth,
6925 Michel ioye maden his kniytt.
6926 Al was foryeten sorouy and care---
6927 Þat day hij leten forþ fare.
6928 Þoo it was eft-sones niyth,
6929 Þe kyng com to þe bisshop riyth,
6930 And seide he had foryete
6931 Þing þat he wolde wyte,
6932 And þe þrid tyme to hym seide
6933 He shulde hym to þe tree lede
6934 Þat was cleped of þe sonne,
6935 For more fayn he wolde conne.
6936 Þe bisshope graunted hym his wille,
6937 And led hym þider swiþe stille.
6938 Creature non wiþ hem was,
6939 Bot þe trew Perdicas,
6940 And þoo he com vnto þe tree,
6941 He fel sone vpon his knee,
6942 And þouyth þus, in grete feye:
6943 'Tree, Ich bidde to me þou seye
6944 Whan Ich shal hennes teen,
6945 And who shal my traitour been?'
6946 Þe tree ansuered, wiþ grete
jre:
6947 'Parfay! þou art a selcouþ
sire,
6948 And askest þing ayeins skyl.
6949 Now is þe tyme of Aueryl---
6950 Þou shalt libbe al þis yare,
6951 Bot nouyth wiþouten grete care.
6952 Þou shalt al wel ouerecome.
6953 A[c] þine endyng shal ben nome
6954 Jn þe nexte yer, als Ich þe
tache,
6955 Þe foure and twentiþe day of
Marche.
6956 Þou shalt deþ by poysoun þole---
6957 Þi traitour shal ben for-hole.
6958 Ne miyttou nouyth wite þi foo,
6959 For Cloto, Lachesis, and Antropo,
6960 Þe sustren, it shopen þee.
6961 Nomore, Ich hote þee, aske þou
me!
6962 Goo out of oure wode snelle,
6963 For nomore nyl J þee telle.'
6964 Þoo þe kyng þamonestment
herd,
6965 Quyklich þennes he ferd
6966 And, als we fyndeþ on þe book,
6967 At þe bisshope his leue he took,
6968 For he woot his certeyn day.
6969 He wil fonde yif he may,
6970 Þeiy it be to hym yshape,
6971 On sum manere forto a-skape.
6972 He went vnto his ost honest
6973 And makeþ hym a riche fest,
6974 And cryeþ loude and dooþ crye
6975 Noman ne leue þat fayrye,
6976 Ac eueryche man it nyme a-skoff,
6977 For he ne telleþ no tale þerof.
6978 Þoo þou miyttest on many wise
6979 Yseen solace and game aryse,
6980 Leighyen, syngen, and daunces make,
6981 Dysoures talen and resouns crake.
6982 Swiche chaunce þe werlde kepeþ---
6983 Now man leigyeþ, now man wepeþ!
6984 Now man is hool, now man is seek;
6985 Nys no day oþer ylyk.
6986 Noman þat lyues haþ borowe
6987 From euene libbe forto amorowe.
6988 Averille yiues mery shoures;
6989 Þe foules syngen and springen floures.
6990 Many hokett is in amoures!
6991 Stedfast seldom ben lecchoures.
6992 Hote loue often after wil soure.
6993 Fair juel is gode neiyboure.
6994 Þe best þing is God to honoure.
6995 Alisaunder nyl nomore loure---
6996 He hoteþ quyklich alle his men
6997 Trusse to grete Faacen,
6998 And seide: 'Lordynges, makeþ no tale
6999 Of þe trowes wode gale.
7000 Yee witen wel þat Pore, certe,
7001 Bereþ to me yuel herte.
7002 He bereþ to me non amoure,
7003 For Ich byname hym his tresoure.
7004 Queed and harme he wil me spye,
7005 Oiþer par auenture me defye,
7006 Yif he woot of þis trigoldrye
7007 Þat þise trowes connen lye.
7008 Alle þoo men þat ben of Ynde
7009 Wenen me a god to fynde;
7010 Þerfore hij nyllen, saunz fayle,
7011 Ayeins me taken batayle.
7012 Yif hij wenden þat Ich man ware,
7013 Ayeins me fiytten hij weren yare.
7014 Þerfore heldeþ you stille,
7015 And yee shullen haue al youre wille.'
7016 Forþ hij wenten, grete and smale,
7017 Passeden dounes and many dale,
7018 And in þe valey of Jordon
7019 Hij founden addren, many on.
7020 Grete dragons also þere waren,
7021 Þat emeraudes in mouþes baren.
7022 Of hem is wel gret ferly---
7023 Þe white peper hij libben by.
7024 [Here herd] Pore [to] hy[m] vnwreen
7025 Þat Alisaunder ne shulde Grece seen,
7026 And on þis tiþing took conseile
7027 Þat hym nas noiþere good ne
heile,
7028 For þorouy þis ilk tydyng
7029 He forsook Alisaunder þe kyng.
7030 Alisaunder suffred grete
peynes
7031 Jn valeyes and vpe mountaynes.
7032 Þe paaþ on mount was narewe
and steep;
7033 Jn dales he was, derk and deep.
7034 Þe waye was euere vp and doune,
7035 Amonge þe addres and dragoun.
7036 At þe seuen niyttes ende
7037 He fonde a folk gentil and hende---
7038 Sereses is her name.
7039 Ne connen hij of no shame;
7040 Hij ben trewe and stedfast,
7041 Mesurable, boneire, and chast.
7042 Ne shal þere non oþer yknawe,
7043 Bot it be by riyth lawe.
7044 Her mete is bred, herbe, and water;
7045 Naked hij gon, wiþouten hater.
7046 Nis þere non of oþer agramed,
7047 Ne for þair nakedhede ashamed.
7048 Wiþouten lust of synne hij streneþ.
7049 Alisaunder hem bymeneþ
7050 Þat hij ne hadden werldes manhede
7051 To her oiþer godhede.
7052 Þise vnderfengen þe emperoure,
7053 And duden to hym alle honoure,
7054 And founden to hym al despense
7055 Jn mete and drynk wiþ reuerence,
7056 And leden hym by siker paas
7057 Al to þe gates of Caspyas.
7058 Þise Sereses, als J fynde,
7059 Þe vppest folk ben of al Ynde.
7060 Hij habben sylk, grete plente,
7061 And maken cloþes of grete deynte,
7062 And gon hem-seluen liche bare.
7063 Þis is now a selcouþ fare!
7064 Whan þere comeþ marchaundise,
7065 Wiþ corne, wiþ wyne, wiþ
steel, wiþ yse,
7066 To her londe any shippe,
7067 To house hij willen sone skippe.
7068 Ac þeiy þe marchaunt sette
out his ware
7069 Jn þe strete and away fare,
7070 And a-morowe come þider ayene,
7071 Al away he shal fynde it clene.
7072 Ac of pelys and baudekyn,
7073 And riche cloþes of sylk fyn,
7074 He shal fynde worþ trebble prise
7075 For his owen marchaundise.
7076 To shippe he may hem beren and teen---
7077 More ne shal he of hem seen.
7078 Alisaunder is at Caspias,
7079 And þere he agynneþ a selkouþ
pas,
7080 For þere he fyndeþ latymers
7081 Þat leden hym to heiye rochers,
7082 To rochers and to wildernesse.
7083 He fonde hard waie and grete destresse---
7084 Þere he fonde addren and monoceros,
7085 And a fel worme, cales, and manticeros,
7086 And broune lyouns and ek white,
7087 Þat wolden fayn his folk abite.
7088 Vnicornes hij founden in þat wastayne,
7089 Felle beres and ek wilde swyne,
7090 And croched dragons, saunz fayle,
7091 Þat yauen hem alle stronge batayle.
7092 Þeiy men slouyen fele of hem,
7093 Hij slowyen fele of þe kynges men.
7094 Bestes þere weren þat cades
heten,
7095 Þe kynges men þat fast freten.
7096 Alisaunder, als J fynde,
7097 Lese þere þritty þousynde
7098 Of hise kniyttes and moo ynowe,
7099 Þat wilde bestes to-drowen and slowye---
7100 Fyue hundreþ also fyfty and fyue
7101 Þat þere leten her lyue,
7102 For cades was a ferly beste.
7103 Þries shett teeþ weren in his
teste;
7104 Al þat he oftook he shent---
7105 Slouy and frete oiþer al to-rent.
7106 Alisaunder of his folk al
7107 Ne had nouyth þe fierþe dal,
7108 For he had on þat rocher
7109 Ylore many a conseiler,
7110 Many duk, prince, and erle,
7111 Many baroun, kniyth, sweyn, and cherle.
7112 Alle lyggen in þe wastyne,
7113 Yslawye wiþ bestes and vermyne.
7114 Þe kyng ne þoled so gret damage
7115 Neuere er in al his viage.
7116 To a wood he fleiy vnneþe,
7117 Forto askape þere þe deþe.
7118 Þere he dude his meignee alle
7119 Abouten þe diches maken walle,
7120 And holde hem wiþinne wiþ grete
wardynges,
7121 For doute of þe foule þinges.
7122 Whiles þe kyng in his tapynage
7123 Sent after Antioche þe ostage
7124 And his marshal Tholomeu,
7125 Þat many prince wyde kneu,
7126 And bad hij shulden bryngen onon
7127 To hym his meignee euerychon,
7128 And tolde hem by wrytt his damage
7129 Þat he had þoled in þat
syluage.
7130 Whan þe kyng haþ message sent,
7131 Þe cuntre to seen he is went.
7132 On his honde stant a speruers.
7133 He seeþ faire medes and ek ryuers,
7134 Large wodes and ek heiye,
7135 Gode londe, aysee cuntre.
7136 On a pleyne he cheseþ a place
7137 Þat biclippeþ a mychel space.
7138 Sex and sexty milen aboute
7139 Jt contened, saunz doute.
7140 Abouten he maked a wal stronge
7141 Þat sex and sexty milen was longe.
7142 Wiþinne þe walles he dude house
7143 And made þe stretes merueillouse.
7144 Of his gentyl-men he herited þare,
7145 And þo þat of þe londe
ware,
7146 And yaf þe toun a name of prys---
7147 Alisaunder, after hym-seluen, jwys,
7148 Þat is now cite þe noblest
7149 Of Ynde londe, and þe best.
7150 Now is comen þe
tidyng
7151 To Tholomew from þe kyng.
7152 Mychel doel hij maken alle,
7153 And trussen boþe in boure and halle,
7154 And in þe next daweyng
7155 Done hem toward her kyng.
7156 So hij riden from day to niyth
7157 Þat neiy þe kyng hij ben ytiyth.
7158 Þoo hij to Alisaunder weren come,
7159 More and fairer þan is Rome,
7160 And whan þe kyng it vnderstood,
7161 Michel blisse was in his blood.
7162 He made hem faire welcomeynge.
7163 Þere was clyppyng, þere was
kyssynge!
7164 Þere was ostel lyuerynge,
7165 Of al newe byggeynge.
7166 Ayþer telleþ oþer tiþing
7167 Of her fare, of her libbyng.
7168 Hij resten hem by longe tydes,
7169 And wel ofte on ryuer rides.
7170 Porus bileueþ at
Faacen
7171 And ofsendeþ alle his men,
7172 Boþe dukes and barouns,
7173 Of al Ynde regiouns,
7174 And seide: 'Ich pleyne me, lordyng,
7175 To you of Alisaunder þe kyng.
7176 He haþ afelled al myne honoure;
7177 He haþ robbed my tresoure.
7178 He haþ taken myne castels;
7179 He haþ afelled myne tourels.
7180 Now hym is fallen chaunce hard---
7181 He haþ neiy lorne al his ferd.
7182 Wilde bestes habbeþ yslawe
7183 His gode kniyttes and to-drawe;
7184 Fourty þousande al-mast
7185 Hij han yslawe in wilde wast.
7186 Now Ich wil hym defye,
7187 And haue of hym þe maistrie---
7188 Wiþ swerd hym slee oiþer wiþ
knyue,
7189 Oiþer out of my londe hym dryue.
7190 J þe hote, dan Thorolde,
7191 And þou, Phares, þat art so
bolde,
7192 Yeldeþ hym my feute.
7193 J ne kepe wiþ hym no leute---
7194 Siggeþ hym Jch hym defye,
7195 Wiþ swerd and hardy chyualrye!
7196 Of hym more helde J nelle.
7197 Jch hym defye, gooþ hym telle!'
7198 Þise dukes riden in her waye
7199 By dounes, by dales, many journeye.
7200 Alisaunder romeþ in his toun,
7201 And deuiseþ to his masoun
7202 Þe toures maken and þe torels,
7203 Vavtes, alures, and þe kirnels.
7204 Þan comen þise dukes swiftly
flynge,
7205 And brouytte Alisaunder tydynge.
7206 Hij weren men of gent parage,
7207 And hadden sexty wynter of age.
7208 Togedre hij nymen her hondes,
7209 And wenden þere þe kyng hym
stondes,
7210 And seiden first, wiþ mourny[n]g
cheres:
7211 'Sire, we beþ ymade messangers.
7212 We ne shullen, by riyth lawe,
7213 No qued habben for oure sawe.'
7214 Kyn Alisaunder knew ades
7215 Boþe Thorold and Phares,
7216 And seide to hem: 'Frendes honeste,
7217 Telleþ me youre lordes heste.
7218 Be he fole, be he wijs,
7219 Yee ne shulle non harme haue, jwis.'
7220 Thorold seide: 'Porus wrooþ is,
7221 And seide yee don mychel amys
7222 Þat yee you make lorde and sire
7223 Neiy and fer of his empire,
7224 Citees makeþ, walles rare,
7225 He dredeþ hym al to his care.
7226 Yee haue hym twyes y-ouercome,
7227 And al his tresore hym bynome.
7228 He wiþclepeþ al homage,
7229 And sendeþ you by sonde gage,
7230 And defyaunce by oure honde,
7231 And hoteþ you remve out of his londe.'
7232 Alisaunder gynneþ leighye smale,
7233 And þus he gynneþ to hem his
tale:
7234 'Jch wil proue wiþ spere and swerd
7235 Of þis londe þat Ich am lord.
7236 Porus weneþ Ich be amayed,
7237 For his gyoures me han bitrayed
7238 And of my poeple haue forlore;
7239 And jn þat he is forswore.
7240 Al þe lere in hym Ich rette---
7241 J shal yelde ful wel his dette!
7242 Yut Ich habbe lyues, saunz fables,
7243 Alle myne twelue conestable.
7244 He haþ ysponnen on þrede
7245 Þat is ycome of yuel rede.
7246 Yut Ich habbe an hundreþ þousynde---
7247 None better kniyttes ne ben in Ynde---
7248 Redy to proue wiþ vigoure
7249 Þat he is a traytoure.
7250 And yif he dooþ als Ich wille,
7251 Hise ne myne ne shullen spille,
7252 For aqueyntaunce þat haþ ben
7253 Fer and neer hem bitwene,
7254 A[c] take we boþe swerd and sheld
7255 And flyngen on stedes in þe feld,
7256 And þere don boþe strengþe
and gynne
7257 Who þat wil oþer wynne.
7258 For his barouns and for myne
7259 Þis were þe riyttest lyne.'
7260 Wel he knew þoo barouns tweye,
7261 And shewed hem al þe cuntreye,
7262 Of his folk þe pyte,
7263 And þatyre of þat cite.
7264 He held hem þare dayes foure,
7265 And sent hem hom wiþ gret honoure.
7266 Þe messageres so
swiþe wendeþ.
7267 Alisaunder his barouns ofsendeþ
7268 And þis defyeyng gynneþ hem
telle,
7269 And hij hym conseileþ also snelle:
7270 'Wendeþ swiþe after hem,
7271 Þat [ye] weren at Faacen.'
7272 Hij trussen alle in þe daweynge,
7273 And maken swiþe after wendynge.
7274 Torold and Phares ben comen hom---
7275 Ayeins hem comen lorde and grom,
7276 Forto heren what tidyng
7277 Hij brouytten from Alisaunder þe
kyng.
7278 Þe messageres ben comen to halle
7279 Tofore Porus and þe barouns alle,
7280 And seiden: 'Porus, we ben ycome
7281 From Alisaunder þe riche gome,
7282 And ha[þ] afonge þi defieyng.
7283 He sent þee by vs tidyng
7284 He nylle þat youre barouns ne his
7285 Ne beren carke of al þis,
7286 And yut he may to bataile fynde
7287 Of douytty kniyttes twenty þousynde.
7288 Ne wil he nouyth þine amere,
7289 Ne þat þine hise dere,
7290 Ac yee two wiþ hors and sheld
7291 Comen y-armed wel on feld.
7292 Yif he wynneþ þere þe
maistrie,
7293 On vs is þe disconfiterie.
7294 Yif þou hym by force aquelle,
7295 His folk willen don þi wille.
7296 Yee þat chalangeþ al to habbe
7297 Bituene you deleþ it wiþ dabbe
7298 And wiþ spere and swerdes dynt.
7299 Þis is Alisaunders juggement.'
7300 Prince and duk, baroun
and kniyth,
7301 Seiden þe juggement was riyth,
7302 And þat it nas neuere ydiyth
7303 Wiþouten herte of noble kniyth,
7304 And who-so were þere-ayan,
7305 He ne haþ herte of no wiyth man.
7306 Porus stant and is agramed;
7307 He nolde nouyth ben yblamed.
7308 Colour he chaungeþ sumdel for drede,
7309 And wiþ grete yre to hem se[i]de:
7310 'Lordynges, yif yee weren gent,
7311 To me fel þe juggement.
7312 Ac for yee recchen of me lyte,
7313 Of me yee habbeþ you aquyte.
7314 Ac naþeles Ich woot, j-wys,
7315 Stronger Ich am þan he is,
7316 And more in euery bon also.
7317 Ayeins hym J dar go,
7318 Falle it to nesshe oiþer to hard;
7319 Ne shal Ich neuer be coward.'
7320 By þat þis was fullich seide
7321 Alisaunder was in a mede
7322 Ycome boldelich wiþ alle his men
7323 Tofore þe cite of Faacen.
7324 Þere was quyk many tent ysett,
7325 Many corde to pauyloun knett,
7326 Many banere out ypylt,
7327 And many shelde wiþ bestes ygilt.
7328 Eteþ and drynkeþ on ayse apliyth
7329 And resteþ hem þat ilk niyth,
7330 And ben so warded al aboute
7331 Þat hem ne stondeþ none doute.
7332 Amorowe, als Ich haue ysade,
7333 Þis couenaunt was bituene hem made
7334 Þat þe bataille shulde ben
7335 Porus and Alisaunder bitwen.
7336 Who-so oþere wynne miyth
7337 Jn batayle, wiþ strengþe of
fiyth,
7338 He shulde haue al Ynde lande,
7339 And al þat folk vnder his hande.
7340 Alisaunder hym gan affye
7341 Jn his owen chyualerie,
7342 And wist wel in sooþ forhole
7343 Þat he ne shulde þe deþ
þole.
7344 Porus affied in his strengþe,
7345 Jn his mychelhede and in his lengþe.
7346 Þis disrayne by þe barouns
7347 Ymade is of boþe regiouns---
7348 Habbe who þe maystry may,
7349 Afermed fast is þis disray.
7350 Ostage is taken and treuþ ypliyth.
7351 Now hereþ of þise kynges fiyth!
7352 Good it were to ben kniyth,
7353 Nere tourneyment and dedly fiyth.
7354 Wiþ marchaundes to ben it were hende,
7355 Neren þacountes at bordes ende.
7356 Swete is loue of damoysele,
7357 Ac it askeþ costes fele.
7358 Better is litel to habbe in ayse
7359 þan mychel aghytte in malayse.
7360 Who-so is of dedes vntrewe,
7361 Ofte it shal hym sore rewe.
7362 Alisaunder is comen a-feld,
7363 Wel y-armed vnder sheld,
7364 On a stede wel ydiyth,
7365 And sitteþ as a noble kniyth.
7366 He rideþ his spere braundynde;
7367 Þe pensel rateleþ wiþ
þe wynde.
7368 Porus also comeþ flynge,
7369 Ygraiþed als a riche kynge,
7370 Y-armed wel on kniyttes wise.
7371 Nis it no nede her armes deuyse,
7372 Ac her aiþer lete go þe reyne,
7373 And dasshen togedre wiþ grete meyne.
7374 Þe speres to-brosten ayeins þe
sheldes.
7375 Hij dasshen ouer in þe feldes---
7376 Hij turnen ayein quyklich.
7377 Wiþ drawen swerdes, sikerlich,
7378 Aiþer oþere legeþ on,
7379 Als þe mason on þe ston,
7380 Ac als hij skirmeden to þe cors
7381 Her aiþer slouy oþeres hors.
7382 Þoo hij mosten on fote beye
7383 Disreynen her medleye.
7384 Gayneþ it nouyth of rest preche---
7385 Her aiþer gynneþ oþer
seche,
7386 Wiþ assailyng, wiþ smytynge,
7387 And kepen hem wiþ wrieynge.
7388 Wel hij fiytten on þe pleyn,
7389 Wiþ tresget, wiþ reremeyn,
7390 Wiþ ouerheued and wiþ stook.
7391 Aiþer on oþere þe swerd
so shook,
7392 Nyste noman hem bitwene
7393 Yut who shulde maister bene,
7394 For her armes, riche of mounde,
7395 Weren yut hole and sounde.
7396 Ac eft now, after restynge,
7397 Hij bigynnen togedres dynge,
7398 To-keruen her armes and her shelde---
7399 Þe peces wounden in þe felde.
7400 Ne seiy man neuere kniyttes two
7401 So manlich togedres goo!
7402 Her aiþer fast gynneþ aspye
7403 To don oþer vilanye
7404 Oiþer wiþ stoke oiþer
wiþ dynte---
7405 Þat is al hir entente.
7406 Whiles hij weren in swiche mangle,
7407 Þe Yndyens bigonnen jangle.
7408 Porus bigan a-bacche reme,
7409 And name þiderwardes yeme
7410 And loked toward her cry,
7411 Ac Alisaunder was sone hym by,
7412 And smoot hym in þe discouerte
7413 Wiþ a stooke al to þe herte,
7414 Fast by þe chyne-bon;
7415 Porus fel ded onon.
7416 Yndyens comen wiþ drawen swerd
7417 To socouren her lord.
7418 Alisaunder gan loude crye:
7419 'Be non of you so hardye
7420 Ayeins couenaunt me to assaile,
7421 Bot yee willen newe bataile
7422 And youre ostages todrawe,
7423 And you self to deþ yslawe.
7424 For ben yee sele, ben yee wroþe,
7425 Ynde and Perce ben myne boþe.
7426 Yeldeþ me homage alle,
7427 Oiþere you shal qued bifalle!'
7428 Princes and dukes token her red,
7429 Þoo hij seiyen Porus ded,
7430 And token Alisaunder by þe honde
7431 And yelden hym þe coroun of Ynde
londe.
7432 Hij duden hym alle feute,
7433 And sworen to hym also leute.
7434 Now is ded þe kyng
Porus---
7435 Alisaunder is kyng glorious.
7436 He yiueþ londes, he yiueþ rentes,
7437 Stedes, tresores, warnementes,
7438 Makeþ justise and conestable,
7439 And ouer al his lawye stable,
7440 And wendeþ out of Faacen
7441 To newe Alisaunder wiþ alle his men,
7442 And dooþ ful-make þe stronge
walles,
7443 Castels, toures, boures, halles,
7444 Makeþ þe strete brode and riche,
7445 Þat non oþer hir nys liche.
7446 O[n a] day sone after þan,
7447 Com Candulek, a gentil-man---
7448 Candaces son, kyng of Brye---
7449 Wiþ wel faire chyualrye,
7450 And wolde wiþ Alisaunder speke,
7451 Forto ben þorouy hym awreke
7452 Of a prynce þat by strijf
7453 Had bynomen hym his wijf.
7454 Ac Alisaunder had a wone,
7455 Þeiy to court com kyng oiþer
his sone,
7456 Prynce, oiþer duk, oiþer gret
caiser,
7457 Kniyth oiþer sweyn, oiþer messagere,
7458 He ne shulde nouyth þe kyng ysee
7459 Bot it were by atturne.
7460 Now is hym tolde þat wiþ hym
speke
7461 Wolde þe kyng Canduleke.
7462 Tholomew, þat is nexte þe kyng,
7463 So hym seiþ þis tydyng,
7464 And Alisaunder makeþ a stille cry
7465 Þat non ne be so hardy
7466 To ben aknowe to Candaces son
7467 Who be þe kynges person,
7468 Ac þat hij shulden euerychon
7469 Clepen þe kyng Antygon.
7470 He dude on Tholomew, verrayment,
7471 Quiclich his vestement.
7472 And sette hym in þe kynges deys,
7473 And he took Tholomeus herneys,
7474 And made hym in heiy mester
7475 Þe kynges first conseiler.
7476 Hij clepen and siggen Canduleke
7477 He shulde wiþ þe kyng speke.
7478 He comeþ quyk on boþe his knewes
7479 And kneleþ tofore Tholomewes,
7480 Ac for he was a gentyl gome
7481 He was sone vp ynome.
7482 His pleynte he telleþ in þe
manere
7483 Als yee mowen now yhere.
7484 'Alisaunder, riche caysere,
7485 Þou ne haste on erþe no pere!
7486 Many is þe riche londe
7487 Þou hast ywonne to þine honde.
7488 On þee hij ben wel bysett,
7489 For þou art ful of þewes pett.
7490 Þou batest wronge, þou hauntest
riyttes;
7491 Þou art fader of alle kniyttes.
7492 Þou louest alle gentil-manne
7493 And abatest alle tyranne.
7494 Þou art caiser of þis londe---
7495 Jch me yelde to þine honde,
7496 And amendyng J bidde þee to
7497 Of vnriyth þat is me do!'
7498 'Telle on þi wronge,' quoþ
Tholomay,
7499 'We shulle þe helþe yif we
may.'
7500 'Sir, graunt mercy! þerwhiles J was
fare
7501 On pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Yndare,
7502 Þe duk Hirtan, a tyraunt of Brye,
7503 Com wiþ grete chyualrie,
7504 Robbed my make Blasfame,
7505 Also fair as was Dyane.
7506 She is my quene, Ich hire chalenge.
7507 Of þis despyt helpe me avenge!'
7508 'Hou fele kniyttes, as þou wenes,
7509 Miytten awreken þine tenes?'
7510 'Of foure þousande Ich had ynowe
7511 To awreken myne wowe.'
7512 Tholomeus gynneþ grade onon:
7513 'What seistou here-of, Antigon?'
7514 Alisaunder seide: 'For þat þis
gome
7515 Js to vs from fer ycome
7516 And to youre frenderede trest,
7517 J rede you þe conseil best,
7518 Þat ye lene to his socoure
7519 Swich folk þat ben to youre honoure,
7520 And faileþ hym nouyth at þis
nede.'
7521 'Nay,' quoþ Tholomeu, 'so God me
fede,
7522 Wende wiþ hym,' he seide, 'Antigon,
7523 And hym wreke on his fon,
7524 For þou art wiyth, hardy, and stronge---
7525 Not Ich better vs amonge.
7526 J þee biteche þe bayllye
7527 My [folk] wiþ hym to conduye.'
7528 Alisaunder hem fawe afongeþ.
7529 Ne wolde he bileue longe---
7530 Ygreiþed ben his foure þousynde
7531 Quyklich and on hors wende.
7532 Wiþ Canduleke he wendeþ swiþe.
7533 His kniyttes maden chere bliþe,
7534 For her lorde in tapynage
7535 Was ywent in þat veiage.
7536 So he rideþ dales and doune
7537 Þat he seeþ þat cite-toune
7538 Where hym heldeþ þe duk Hirtan,
7539 Þat haþ Candulek[e] lemman.
7540 Canduleke seiþ: 'Sir Antygon,
7541 Hou shullen we now taken on?'
7542 Bote quoþ Alisaunder, 'Here and þere
7543 Tofore vs sette al on fyre,
7544 Forto hij comen to vs a-felde,
7545 Oiþer þat lefdy to vs yelde.'
7546 Hij setten a-fyre, wiþouten pyte,
7547 Al þe londe to þe cite,
7548 And bysetten it aboute
7549 Þat hij ne miytten jn ne oute.
7550 Þe burgeys seiy her wynes barne---
7551 Eueryche oþer harme gan warne,
7552 And seiden wel her was þe gylt
7553 To ben forbarnd, to ben forswelt,
7554 Þat suffreden þe duk Hirtan
7555 Haue in demayne oþere womman.
7556 Alle þe burgeis of þe toun
7557 Duden by on red commune---
7558 To þe palays hij wenten alle
7559 And quyk beten doune þe walle,
7560 Jn cuntek and slouyen Hirtan,
7561 And yulden to Candulek his womman.
7562 Þus comen þise burgeis,
7563 And han of her werre peis.
7564 After soiour of fourtene niyth,
7565 To kynges court hij done hem riyth,
7566 And fynden Tholomeu, als he was bede,
7567 Sette in Alisaunders stede.
7568 Candulek on knowe hym sett,
7569 And þe kyng oft he grett,
7570 And þanked hym of his socour,
7571 Þorouy whiche he had his honour
7572 Yconquered and his quen.
7573 He was vptaken of gentil-men,
7574 And ysette on heiye benche,
7575 And wyne and pyement gynneþ shenche,
7576 And wyne clarre and wyne Greek,
7577 And þoo seide Tholomeu to Candulek:
7578 'Sir', he seide, 'men tellen me
7579 Þou hast a moder fair and fre.
7580 She is yhote dame Candace;
7581 Fair and briyth is hir face---
7582 Nis in þis werlde so fair quene.
7583 Fayn Ich wolde hir ysene,
7584 Her castels and ek her toures,
7585 Yif hij weren to myne honoures.'
7586 Quoþ Candulek: 'Leue sire,
7587 Also mychel she you desireþ---
7588 Jch you sigge, by Goddes ore,
7589 She desireþ noþing more
7590 Þan to ben to you aqueinte.
7591 Ne habbeþ now none herte feinte---
7592 Now is tyme it to done.
7593 Jch wil you brynge þider sone.
7594 Ne be it you for my broþer looþ,
7595 Þeiy he be wiþ you wrooþ
7596 For yee duden Porus of lyue,
7597 Whas douytter he haþ to wyue.
7598 For on honde Ich wil hym take
7599 Þat he shal don you no wrake.'
7600 Tholomeus yaf ansueryng
7601 Jn þe name of þe kyng,
7602 And seide: 'J nyl nouyth comen hir ner,
7603 Bot by a speciale messager
7604 J wil hir sende loue-drurye,
7605 And her estres ek aspye',
7606 And cleped Alisaunder 'Antygon',
7607 And bad hym wende wiþ hym onon,
7608 And rouned wiþ hym a grete while.
7609 Ac al þat was for gyle!
7610 After þis queynt rounyng,
7611 Alisaunder spedde in þis doyng.
7612 Quyk on hors went wiþ hym ek
7613 Þoo þat he had myd Candulek.
7614 Candulek was wel bliþe---
7615 Quyk he ladde hem and swiþe.
7616 Whan hij in to Saba come,
7617 To þe paleys waie hij nome.
7618 Þe lefdy wandreþ in a plas,
7619 And syngeþ of Dido and Eneas,
7620 Hou loue hem ladde by strange bride.
7621 Comeþ Candulek tofore ride,
7622 And seiþ: 'Ma dame, beeþ redy,
7623 And welcomeþ here myne amy,
7624 Kyng Alisaunder messagere,
7625 Noble kniyth of gent manere.
7626 He haþ yolden me my wyf,
7627 And duk Hirtan brouyth of lyf.
7628 Kyng Alisaunder ne haþ to gye
7629 Non f[o]ller of chyualerye.'
7630 Ar her tale were at þe ende
7631 Kyng Alisaunder com hem hende.
7632 Quyk hij ben of horses aliyth---
7633 Þe lefdy comeþ onon-riyth,
7634 And clippeþ hym in armes tueye,
7635 And he hir, wiþ grete joye.
7636 She hym þankeþ of Candulek,
7637 And of his gentil wyue ek,
7638 And he hire bryngeþ many gretyng
7639 On Alisaunder halue þe kyng.
7640 'Do way!' quoþ þe quene Candace,
7641 'Jch vnderstonde by þi face
7642 Þat þou Alisaunder be.
7643 Ne hele þ[ou] nouyth, sir, for me!'
7644 'Nay', he seide 'by Goddes ore!
7645 Alisaunder is wel more,
7646 Redder man on visage,
7647 And sumdel more of age,
7648 And þou shalt certeyn ben,
7649 Sumday whan þou shalt hym sen!'
7650 'Depart-dieux!' quoþ þe quene,
7651 'Go we now myne estres sene.
7652 Oure mete shal þerbituene
7653 Ygreiþed and redy bene.'
7654 She led hym to chaumbres of nob[l]eys---
7655 Þere he dude of his herneys.
7656 Of Troye was þere-inne al þe
story,
7657 Hou Gregeis hadden þe victory.
7658 Þe bemes þere-inne weren of
bras,
7659 Þe wyndewes of riche glas.
7660 Þe pynnes weren of yuory.
7661 Þe kyng went wiþ þe lefdy,
7662 Hym-self al one from boure to boure,
7663 And seiy wel mychel tresoure,
7664 Gold, and siluer, and preciouse stones,
7665 Baudekyns made for þe nones,
7666 Mantles, robes, and pauylouns,
7667 Of gold and siluer grete foysouns.
7668 And she hym asked, par amour,
7669 Yif he seiy euer swiche tresour;
7670 And he seide in his contreye
7671 Tresour he wist of swiche nobleye.
7672 She þouyth more þan she seide,
7673 And ledde hym to anoþer stede,
7674 To hire owen chaumbre þat was---
7675 Jn al þis werlde fairer non nas.
7676 Þe atyre was þere-inne so riche
7677 Jn al þis werlde was non it liche.
7678 She led hym to one stage,
7679 And shewed hym an ymage,
7680 And seide: 'Alisaunder, yleue me!
7681 Þis ymage is made after þee.
7682 J dude it an ymageoure
7683 Casten after þi vigoure,
7684 Þis oþere yer þoo þou
nolde
7685 To me come for loue ne golde.
7686 Jt is þee als liche, my leue broþer,
7687 Als any peny is anoþer.
7688 O, Alisaunder, of grete renoun!
7689 Þou art ytake in my prisoun!
7690 Al þi strengþe ne gayneþ
þe nauyth,
7691 For a womman þee haþ ycauyth.
7692 A womman þee haþ in her laas!'
7693 'O!' quoþ Alisaunder, 'Allas,
7694 Þat J nere y-armed wel,
7695 And had my swerd of b[r]oun steel.
7696 Many an heued wolde J claue
7697 Ar J wolde in prisoun laue.
7698 Ac noman ne may hym waite
7699 From þise wymmens dissaite.'
7700 'Alisaunder', she seide, 'þou seis
sooþ.
7701 Ne be nouyth adradde ne þerfore wrooþ---
7702 Myne tale þou miyth yleue.
7703 Adam was biswike þorouy Eue,
7704 And Sampson also, þe stronge,
7705 Dalida hym dude wronge.
7706 And Dauid was brouyth in exyl
7707 Þorouy his wijf Abygayl.
7708 And Salomon, for wommans loue,
7709 Forlete his lorde þat is aboue.
7710 And þou art fallen in hondes myne,
7711 Þee to solas and to no pyne,
7712 For here, vnder þis couertoure,
7713 Jch wil haue þine amoure,
7714 To my baundon, leue sire!
7715 Longe it haþ ben my desire.
7716 Ne shaltou haue oþer skaþe,
7717 Bot me to baundon late and raþe.'
7718 Þoo Alisaunder gan ysee
7719 Þat it most so nedes be,
7720 He dude al þe lefdyes wille
7721 Vnder couertoure stille.
7722 Many niyth and many day
7723 Þus hij duden her play---
7724 Jn halle at table he sat hire by,
7725 Jn chaumbre gest, in bed amy.
7726 Antygon he hiyth in halle,
7727 And Alisaunder vnder palle.
7728 Longe hij han þus
ypleiede.
7729 On a day it was yseide
7730 To Candidus by on stodmere,
7731 Candaces son þe yongere,
7732 Þat had Porus douytter to spouse,
7733 A fair lady and delitouse,
7734 Þat Alisaunder sat at his boord,
7735 Þat had yslawe Porus his lord,
7736 And dude hym clepen Antigon.
7737 To þe quene he stirte onon,
7738 And seide: 'Ma dame, þou hast wrong
7739 Þou heldest here Alisaunder so long.
7740 He haþ yslawye my lorde Pore---
7741 Myne honde ne skapeþ he neuermore!'
7742 'Pes!' quoþ Candace, 'þou congeoun!
7743 Jt is Antigon, a gent baroun,
7744 Þat is ycome to message.
7745 Ne bede þou hym non outrage!
7746 Yif þou doost, by God aboue,
7747 Þou shalt for-lese myne loue!'
7748 'Dame, whom so Ich euere serue,
7749 Of myne honde he shal sterue.
7750 Alisaunder hym-seluen it is,
7751 And haþ ychaunged name his.'
7752 'Nartou so hardy' quoþ Candace
7753 'More to seen Candulekes face.
7754 And þou dude hym ouyth bot good,
7755 He wolde sen þine herte blood,
7756 And Ich my-self, for þat wronge,
7757 Heiye wolde þee don anhonge.
7758 For messagere to me ysent
7759 Ne shal here fynde encumbrement.'
7760 Candidus wrooþ went away,
7761 And com ayein nouyth many a day.
7762 Þo þe table was ydrawe
7763 Þe wayte gan 'A choger!' blawe.
7764 Alisaunder and Candace
7765 To chaumber token her trace,
7766 And, als we fynden on þe book,
7767 Þat niyth þe kyng his leue
took,
7768 And went to Ynde to his barouns,
7769 By wodes, by dales, and by douns.
7770 Leue he had wiþ mournyng,
7771 And went forþ in a daweyng
7772 By an heiye waie þat he knew,
7773 Forto he com to Tolomew.