<B CMALISAU>
<Q M2 NI ROM KALEX>
<N K ALEX>
<A X>
<C M2>
<O 1250-1350>
<M 1250-1350>
<K CONTEMP>
<D EMO>
<V VERSE>
<T ROMANCE>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z NARR IMAG>
<S SAMPLE X>



[^KYNG ALISAUNDER, VOL. I.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, 227.
ED. G. V. SMITHERS.
LONDON, 1952.
BODLEIAN MS LAUD MISC. 622 (B):
PP. 45.753   - 71.1238    (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 211.3772 - 239.4282   (SAMPLE 2)
PP. 286.5447 - 310.5927   (SAMPLE 3)
PP. 399.7352 - 423.7776   (SAMPLE 4)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P I,45>
   Now is +te kyng wroo+t and grym,
Who shulde be kyng after hym - 
His son Philippe, oi+ter Alisaundre,
Of whom he bere+t swiche sklaundre.
He doo+t his temples alle bihonge
Wi+t baudekynes, brode and longe.
Oxen, sheep, and ek ken,
Many on he dude slen,
And after he bad his goddes feyre
He most wyte of his eyre,
Of Alisaunder and Philippoun,
Who shulde haue +te regioun.
A voice ansuered in an ymage,
'Kyng, +tou hast a colt sauage.
Who so may +tere-on skippe,
Be it Alisaunder, be it Philippe,
He shall of Corinthe toun
After +tee bere coroun.'
+Te kyng herd wel +tis soun;
So dude many gentil baroun.
+Te kyng in to court wende+t.
+Te children sone he ofsende+t.
Bulcifal nay+ge+t so loude
+Tat it shrille+t in to +te cloude.
+Tai wenten alle to +te stable
+Tere it was tyed jnne, saun fable - 
For a +tousande pounde of golde
Philippoun it nei+gen wolde,
Ac Alisaundre lep on his rygge
So a golfynche doo+t on +te hegge.
He it vntyed and lete gon
So of bowe flei+ge+t +te flon;
Fast he sitte+t, and halt +te rayne.
Vp and doune he it may demayne,
And doo+t in tourne in a +gerdes leng+te,
<P I,47>
And a-force+t it wi+t streng+te.
Nys he bot of twelue +ger olde - 
His dedes weren stronge and bolde.
Fele weren at his li+gttyng +tare
+Tat reuerence gret hym bare,
And seiden it was wor+ti +ting
He were +te nexte crouned kyng.
   Mery tyme is wode sere:
+Te corne rype+t in +te ere,
+Te lefdy is rody in +te chere,
And maiden bri+gth in +te lere.
+Te kni+gttes hunte+t after dere,
On fote and on destrere.
Kyng Philippe sitte+t in his halle,
Amonge his dukes and barons alle
+Tat he ha+t somouned wyde
To ben bifore hym on +tat tyde,
For he wolde in Corinthe toune
Alisaundre his son coroune
(+Tat is, forto sigge ari+gth,
+Giue hym armes and maken hym kni+gth,
And maken cou+t to alle gyng
After hym he shulde be kyng).
Kyng Philippe +tat was his lorde
Girde hym wi+t riche swerde,
And +gaf hym +te colee ari+gth,
And bad he shulde be gode kni+gth.
At +te yssue of +te doren
Tholomeus dude on his sporen.
Dubbed weren an hundre+t kni+gttes
For his loue myd hym +tere-ri+gttes.
After +te seruise of +te dubbyng,
He goo+t to mete wi+t +te kyng.
Wel men mowe wite +tere was plente
Of mete and drynk and grete deynte.
Ac after mete, onon-ri+gttes,
+Te kyng of-cleped gentil kni+gttes
<P I,49>
(Jch woot it weren his tresorers);
He hete hem charge seuen somers
Wi+t riche rede jtried golde,
And Alisaundre he +giuen it sholde.
+Tai duden her lordes comaundement,
And afenge faire +tat present,
And departed on gentyl wyse,
Sum to kni+gttes of hei+ge seruise,
Sum mareschales, and botlers,
To +goman, page, and joglers.
Alle +too +tat fongen wolde
Ynou+g hadden of rede golde.
Alisaundres gode loos
Of +Tat +gyuyng first aroos.
   A Kyng +tere was, sumdel fer +tenne,
+tat had greued mychel his kynne;
He was yhoten Nicholas.
Alisaundre his oo+t made has,
He wil to hym wende onon,
And wreke his fader of his fon,
And grad aloude wi+t word kene,
'Who me loue+t now wor+te ysene!'
+Te stronge kni+gttes of +te halle
Quyk ronnen to armes alle,
And trusseden her somers,
And lepen vpon her destrers.
Wi+t her atyre shippes and barge
+Tai gonnen many forto charge.
And olyfauntz, and ek camayles,
Bo+te hij charged wi+t vitailes.
Alle to water +tai don blyue,
+Te +trid day and comen to ryue.
+Tai swymme+t wi+t spreet, drawe+t wi+t honde,
And +te shippes brynge+t to londe.
Many kni+gth, wi+t armes shene,
Quyk +tere lepen on +te grene,
And maden many pauylouns
<P I,51>
To Alisaundre and hise barouns.
+Tere-whiles Alisaundre hym di+gttes
Mid a partye of his kni+gttes,
And wandred vpon a stronde,
And mette +te kyng of +te londe,
+Tat hi+g Nicholas of Cartage,
Hardy man, stout, and sauage,
+Tat seide to Alisaundre onon,
'Who +gaf +tee leue here to gon?
Now quyk do +tee hennes sone,
For +tou ne hast nou+gth here to done.'
Alisaundre loked a-skof,
As he ne had y+goue +tere-of.
Nicholas hym ennoyede,
Wi+t wra+t+te and to Alisaundre seide,
'What doostou here, +tou mysbi+gete gome?
Bot for +tine harme hider artou come.
Fy, vyle ateynt hores sone!
To mysdon was ay +ti wone.
Quyk take me +ti wed for +tis disray.'
Alisaundre ansuered, 'Nay!
Wed ne shaltou habbe of me,
Ac Ich wil habbe wed of +tee.
Al +tis londe +tat +tou telles +tine
And +ti coroune so shal be myne.
+Gif +tou wilt of londe fle,
+Te may +te better sumdel be.'
'Fy on +tee!' quo+t Nicholas,
And spat on hym amyd +te face.
'Mowe Ich +tee fynde after +tis,
J shal +te don bynde, jwys.
+Tou shalt ben honged and todrawe,
And quyk of +tine hyde yflawe.
Afterward +tou wor+test ybarned.'
And quyk away he is y-arned;
For had he abiden, any +ting,
He had abou+gth his spaityng.
Alisaunder was sore awhaped
<P I,53>
+Tat he was so sone ascaped,
And suore he shulde sore abugge,
And his hede for +tat gilt legge - 
For al +te golde of Cartage
Nolde he take o+tere gage.
Her ei+ter to o+tere ost is went,
Ful of yre and mautalent.
+Te ni+gth +tai reste+t litel, forso+te,
Bot as men +tat ben wro+te.
Wel warded +tai weren bo+te +tat ni+gth,
Al forto spronge +te dayes li+gth.
   Cler and fair is day-springyng,
And make+t many departyng
Bituene kni+gth and his suetyng.
+Te sonne arise+t and felle+t deveyng,
Of nesshe clay and make+t clyngyng.
Many ben jolyf in +te morowenyng
And +tolen de+t in +te euenyng.
Nis in +tis werlde non so siker +ting,
+Te tyme nei+ge+t of her wendyng.
Alisaunder in +te daweyng
Quyk had armed al his gyng - 
Wi+t mychel ost he is comyng.
+Tere was trumpyng and tabournyng,
Lepyng of stedes and nay+geyng.
Many a riche gilt shelde
+Tat day shoon vpon +te felde,
And many banere ygilt of ynde
+Tat day rateled in +te wynde.
Wi+t cryeyng and +tretyng wordes
Hij metten, wi+t speres ordes.
Many dou+gtty +gonge kni+gth
+Tat ilk day assayed his mi+gth;
Vche on o+tere, wi+t grete mayn,
<P I,55>
Tobrusten her launces in +te playn.
Summe hadden perced +te +tarmes
+Torou+g +te shelde and her armes,
Somme +te +trote, summe +te hertes
Hadden perced and storuen, certes.
After launces, swerdes +tai drowe,
And many kni+gttes o+tere slow+ge.
Many +tere weren +tat yuel sped,
For +tai laiden heuedes to wed.
Summe armes and hondes loren,
And summe legges, wi+t +te sporen.
Many kni+gth, in litel stounde,
Lagh+gtte +tere dedly wounde.
Many kni+gth starf +tere in +te prees;
Many childe was faderles;
Many lefdy lees her amoure,
And many maiden her gent socoure.
Many steden drowen her bridel - 
Who-so wolde, he mi+gth ryde,
Wi+touten siluer, wi+touten golde,
Whider-wardes so he wolde.
On bo+te half, in litel stounde,
Was many a kni+gth yleid to grounde,
Ac +te descounfyt and +te damage
Fel vpon hem of Cartage.
Nicholas ysawe al +tis,
And made a newe justes, jwys,
And slou+g of Alisaunder men
Moo +tan J +gou telle can.
+Too Alisaundre sei+g +tis greuaunce,
He took on honde a styf launce,
And amydward +te place
He mette wi+t Nicholas.
Hei+ge he bare his sharp spere - 
+Torou+g he shelde he gan hym bere,
Ac +te armes weren so stronge
+Te spere nolden hij nou+gth fonge.
Alisaunder +te spere forlete,
<P I,57>
And drou+g his swerd, also skeete.
Nicholas he took in +te swere,
+Tat he leide his heued to hyre,
And seide to hym, also skeet,
'+tis Ich +te +gesterday byheet,
+Too +tou spytted in my visage.'
+Te o+tere slowen wi+t grete rage.
+Te spoyle +tai token of +te dede,
Hors and armes gode at nede.
Alisaundre quyk wi+t alle
Of Cartage felde +te walle,
And slou+g doune-ri+gth, wi+toute pyte,
And took +te spoyle of +te cite,
And +te coroune of +te londe,
And bare it away jn his honde.
Golde, and siluer, alle o+tere +tinges,
Hij trussen to her shippynges.
+Te wynde is ri+gth good, saun faile - 
Hij setten mast and halen sayle,
And wende+t toward her londe.
Jesus Crist vs sende his sonde.
   Whiles Alisaundre was in medleye,
And slou+g folk in o+tere cuntreye,
Comen folk of Grece and Alisaundre,
And on Olympyas leiden sklaundre,
And seiden wi+t wrong she was quene,
For she hore had ybene;
And sworen, and seiden veire
Alisaundre was fals ayre.
For +tis sklaundre +tat was so vyle,
And also of grete peryle,
Kyng Philipp, by al his regioun,
Of-sent erle, duk, kni+gth, and baroun,
+Tat juggeden alle hem bitwene
Olympyas ne shulde be quene.
Ac mi+gth she wers, mi+gt[{h{] she bett,
<P I,59>
Jn a castel she was yshett,
And was assigned lyueresoun
Skarslich and nou+gth a foysoun.
   +Te kyng dude by his conseile,
And sent to Asserye saunz fayle,
To Cleopatras, +tat riche quene,
+Tat she shulde his spouse bene.
+Te messagers weren gent barouns;
+Te lefdy leued her rounes,
And granted by conseilyng
To ben yspoused to Philippe +te kyng.
+Te day was sette, wi+touten essoyne - 
+Te +tritten+te day at Macedoyne.
+Too +tis message was hom ycome,
+Tere was many a bli+te gome.
Of olyue and of muge-floures
Weren ystrewed halle and boures.
Wi+t samytes and baudekyns
Weren curtyned +te gardyns.
Alle +te jnnes of +te toun
Hadden litel foysoun
+Tat day +tat com Cleopatras,
So mychel poeple wi+t hir was.
She rood on a mule white so mylk;
Her herneys was gold-beten sylk.
+Te prince hire led of Candas,
And of Sydoyne Sir Jonathas.
Ten +tousande barons hir comen myde,
And to chirche wi+t hire ryde.
Yspoused she is and set on deys.
Nov gynne+t gest of gret nobleys.
   At +te fest was harpyng,
And pipyng and tabournyng, 
And sitollyng and trumpyng,
Knijf-pleyeyng and syngyng,
Carolyng and turneieyng, 
<P I,61>
And wrestlyng and skirmyng.
+Te gamen ne ge+t nou+gth al by lyne - 
+Tere summe lei+ge+t and summe whyne.
Olympyas she here+t +tis,
Jn +te toure whare she shet is.
She wepe+t and synge+t 'Weilaway!'
+Tat she euere abode +tat day.
She clepe+t hire self often wrecche;
She biddes de+t +tat he hire fecche,
And seide, 'Son, O Alisaundre!
Jch abygge of +tee +te sklaunder.
Sore of+tinke+t me +tis cas
+Tat +tou fi+gttes wi+t Nicholas.
Haddestou leued in +tis londe,
Ne had Ich +toled swiche shonde.'
Mi+gth she haue yfounde a knijf,
She had yspilt sone her lijf.
'Allas', she seide, 'J nere aqueld!
For men me clepe+t quene afeld.
Ne may Ich neuer of honour +gelp,
Alisaunder, bot +tou me help.'
+Tus she grad 'Weilaway!'
Tyl +te tyme of hei+ge mydday.
   At none rise+t hire worschipes:
Aryued ben hire sones shippes.
He noot nou+gth of +tis bridale,
Ne noman telle+t hym +tere-of tale.
He grei+tes hym in riche weden,
And doo+t drawen a-londe his steden.
He lepe+t vp myd ydone
On a stede of Nerebone.
He dasshe+t for+t vpon +te londe,
+Te riche coroune on his honde
Of Nicholas +tat he wan.
Biside hym ride+t many a gentil-man.
To +te paleys he come+t ryde,
And fynde+t +tis feste and al +tis pride.
<P I,63>
For+t goo+t Alisaundre, saunz fable,
Ri+gth vnto +te hei+ge table,
And +te coroune, wi+t golde biweued,
He sette+t on his fader heued.
His fader praise+t his prowesse,
Of +te coroune and +te richesse.
Alisaundre gynne+t aboute seen,
And see+t corouned a straunge quen,
And he ne sei+g nower Olympias,
+Tat his owen moder was.
Jn herte he gynne+t fecche mood,
And loke+t as he were wood,
And seide, 'Fader, whan my moder is q[{ue{]ne,
+Tou shalt at hir bridale bene.'
He wasshe+t and sitte+t at +te fest;
Men hym serue+t of +te best.
A duk +tere was, hoten Lesyas;
To Alisaundre he com gode pas,
And ramproned hym of Olympias.
Alisaundre so anoyed was
Ouer +te table he gan stoupe,
And smoot Lesyas wi+t +te coupe
+Tat he fel doun in +te flette - 
His ei+gen out of his heued shette.
Hym to awreke kyng Philippe
Ouer +te table gan to skippe,
Ac he lau+gtte sone swiche qued
He was jn borne for nei+g ded.
Alisaundres folk com flynge,
Fyue hundred vpon a rynge.
+Te tables weren ouer+trowen,
And many kni+gttes wel sone yslawen.
Alisaundre name Cleopatras,
And out hire harshede, grete pas,
And sette hire quyk vpon a mule,
<P I,65>
And droof hire out of toun foule.
Vilenye gret to hire was shape,
Bot +too +tat mi+gtten her de+t scape.
Cleopatras flei+g to hire londe,
Wi+t mychel shame and mychel shonde.
Alisaundre had +tat best
+Tat was purueied to +tat fest - 
Golde, and siluer, and riche clo+te
(+Tai +tat it loren weren wro+te!).
+Tus it fare+t at fest wi+t vnwise:
After mete cuntek arise+t.
Wel is +te moder +tat may for+t fede
Childe +tat helpe+t hire at nede.
Olympias is now awroke,
Ac +gut she is in walle biloke,
And noot here-of no+ting,
Of Alisaundres contekyng.
Ac Alisaundre sone vnderstant
Hou al +tis contek is ywant.
Jt nys non nede here to duelle,
Ne longe tales here to telle.
His fader he sett a raysoun;
He is biknowe he is his son,
And +tat he is ri+gth heir
After hym to regne, veir.
Al he make+t his dames pes,
And al sklaunder he make+t les.
To hir he ha+t +te waye ynome.
Joyeful is she of his come.
She wolde hym telle al her ylle,
And he hire hote+t helden stille:
She shulde hire pleynt do to no+te,
For he wyst wel +te so+te.
Quyk he led hire hom;
Hym folowed many kni+gth and grom.
+Tere was [{a{]gonne newe fest,
<P I,67>
And of glev-men many gest.
Kyng Philippe was a male eys.
Alisaundre helde +te deys;
He dude seruen Olympias 
Jn golde, in siluer, in brus, in glas.
So riche fest no man ne say
So Alisaunder held +tat day.
Kyng Philippe +tere-myd was,
And acorded wi+t Olympias.
Also +tai seten at +tis gestenyng,
Comen messages to Philippe +te kyng.
   Mery swi+te it is in halle
Whan +tat berdes wawe+t alle.
Messagers come+t flynge
Jn to +te halle tofore +te kynge,
From a cite, on hors and fote,
+Tat was Mantona yhote.
+Tai seiden hym, at on word,
+Tai nolden hym more to lorde,
For hem defenden he ne mi+gth.
Her kni+gttes and her dukes wi+gth
Nolden more of hym helde.
+Te kynges veynes wexen chelde,
And nyst what he done mi+gth,
Ac by conseil of his kni+gttes
He take+t Alisaunder +tis disray,
Forto amende it +gif he may.
Alisaunder it haue+t afonge,
Wharfore at table hym +tinke+t longe.
After mete, demeyntenaunt,
To mou+te he sett his olyfaunt;
He blowe+t smert and loude sounes.
Kni+gttes hem armen in court and tounes - 
Hij vnderstonden +tat it be nede.
+Tere come+t to hym armed on stede
Ten +tousande, al prest and +gare
Jn to bataile forto fare,
<P I,69>
And fiftene +tousandes o[{n{] ladden
+Tat swerdes and boklers bo+te hadden,
And axes, speres, forkes, and slynges,
And alle stalwor+te gadelynges.
Alisaundre was swiftest and +gep,
And on Bulcyfal lepe,
And touched hym myd +te spore,
And he sprong out at +te halle-dore.
Ne shulde foule, gret ne smal,
Haue ysiwed Bulcyfal.
He brou+gth al to wille a+gen,
And hardyed alle his men.
He touched his horne and for+t ride;
Many man hym went mide.
Her waye so ri+gth hij nome
+Tat +tai to +te cite come.
Her drawebrigge hij drowen whate,
And shetten fast her gate.
Alisaunder hem asailed fast,
And wi+t mangenels hem gan gast.
+Tai wi+tinne to +te walles stowe,
And defended hem wi+t bowe,
Wi+t arblastes, and wi+t stones - 
Hij slow+gen men and breken bones.
Wi+t hote water and o+tere engyne
Hij defended hem wi+tinne.
Ac Alisaundre quyk hete his hynen
Vnder her walles forto mynen,
Wi+t stronge gynnes and de+t werres
+Terewhiles +te myners.
Ac by streng+te ne by gynne
Ne may he +tem +tat day wynne,
Ne +tat o+tere, ne +tat +trid,
Ne +te fier+te he ne sped.
Ac +too Alisaunder sei+g +tis,
He forstopped her wayes, jwys,
<P I,71>
+Tat +tere ne mi+gth [{nou+gth{] to her fode
Entren jn, for none gode,
Ne kni+gth, ne sweyn, ne her stren
None wayes ne mi+gtten flen.
+Te folk and +te pouerayle
Weren enfamyned, saunfaile, 
And on +te richer alday gradden.
+Te riche of hem reu+te hadden,
And seiden hij hadden sikerlich
Leuer to steruen orpedlich
+Tan to +tolen suiche woo and sorou+gen,
And token conseil on +te morowen
Chaumpe bataile to wenden to.
Riche and pouer alle wolden so. 

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P I,211>
   Alisaunder tofore is ride,
And many a gentil kni+gth hym myde,
Ac forto gadre his meigne free
He abide+t vnder a tree.
Fourty +tousande of chyualerie
He take+t in his compaignye.
He dasshe+t hym +tan fast for+t-ward,
And +te o+ter comen afterward.
He see+t his kni+gttes in meschief - 
<P I,213>
He take+t it gretlich a-greef.
He takes Bulcyphal by +te side;
So a swalewe he gynne+t for+t glide.
A duk of Perce sone he mett,
And wi+t his launce he hym grett.
He perce+t his breny, cleue+t his sheld;
+Te herte tokerue+t +te yrne cheld.
+Te duk fel doune to +te grounde,
And starf quykly in +tat stounde.
Alisaunder a-loude +tan seiede:
'O+tere tol neuere Ich ne paiede!
+Gut +gee shullen of myne paie, 
Or Ich gon more assaie.'
Ano+ter launce in honde he hent - 
A+gein +te prince of Tyre he went.
He smoot hym +torou+g +te breest +tare,
And out of sadel ouere croupe hym bare,
And J sigge, for so+te +ting,
He braak his nek in +te fallyng.
Oxeatre, wi+t mychel wonder,
Antiochun hadde hym vnder,
And wi+t swerd wolde his heued
From his body habbe yreued.
He sei+g Alisaunder, +te gode gome,
Towardes hym swi+te come - 
He lete his pray and flei+g on hors,
Forto saue his owen cors.
Antiochus on stede lep.
Of none woundes ne took he kep,
And ek he had foure ford,
Alle ymade wi+t speres ord.
Tholomeus and alle hise felawen
Of +tis socour so weren wel fawen.
Alisaunder made a cry hardy:
(\'Ore tost, a ly! a ly!'\)
+Tere +te kni+gttes of Achaye
Justed wi+t hem of Arabye,
+Too of Rome wi+t hem of Mede - 
<P I,215>
Many londe wi+t o+tere +tede.
Egipte justed wi+t hem of Tyre,
Symple kni+gth wi+t riche syre.
+Tere nas fore+gift ne forberyng
Bituene vauasoure ne kyng.
Tofore men mi+gtten and byhynde
Cuntek seke and cuntek fynde.
Wi+t Perciens fou+gtten +te Gregeys.
+Tere roos cry and grete honteys!
Hij kedden +tat hij neren nice - 
Hij braken speres al to slice.
+Tere mi+gth kni+gth fynde his pere,
+Tere les many his destrere.
+Tere was quyk in litel +trawe
Many gentil kni+gth yslawe,
Many arme, many heued
Sone from +te body reued.
Many gentil lauedy
+Tere lese quyk her amy.
+Tere was many maym yked,
Many fair pensel bibled.
+Tere was swerdes liklakyng,
+Tere was speres ba+ting.
Bo+te kynges +tere, saunz doute,
Bee+t in dassht wi+t al her route,
+Te on to don men of hym speke,
+Te o+tere his harmes forto wreke.
Many londes, nei+g and ferre,
Lesen her lorde in +tat werre.
+Te er+te quaked of her rydyng;
+Te weder +ticked of her crieyng.
+Te blood of hem +tat weren yslawe
Ran by flodes to +te lowe,
And J +gou sigge, sikerlich,
Darrie fau+gt wel dou+gttilich,
And dude swi+te mychel woo.
To on syde he drou+ge hym +too - 
<P I,217>
He blew an horne quyk, saunz doute.
His folk hym com swi+te aboute,
And hem he seide, wi+t voice clere:
'Jch bidde, frendes, +tat +ge me here!
Alisaunder is comen in +tis londe,
Wi+t stronge kni+gttes, wi+t mi+gtty honde.
+Gif he passe+t wi+t honoure,
Oure is al +te dishonoure.
Jch am of Perce deshereted,
Of Mede and Assire acquyted;
Ac +gif +tere is amonges vs
Any kni+gth so vertuous 
+Tat Alisaunder mowe slen,
We shullen parten vs bitwen
Alle myne londes euen atwo.
And +gut he shal haue +terto
Cristallyne, my dou+gtter floure,
And +torou+g and +torou+g half my tresoure.'
Non ne had flesshe so hardy
+Tat it hym durst ensury.
Hij +tou+gtten +tere-on, na+telas,
+Gif he mi+gth come on cas
Whare hij hym mi+gth so hound abaye,
Oi+ter agilen oi+ter atraye.
Lorde Crist, what +tis wordeles i+gth
Js leef to duk and to kni+gth!
+Tere nys non so slowe wi+gth jnne,
And he wene mychel wynne,
+Tat he ne wolde for grete tresure
Done hym-self in auenture.
Amonge hem of Perce was a kni+gth,
Hardy, stalwor+te, queynt, and wi+gth.
A kni+gth of Grece sone he slou+g,
And his armes sone of-drou+g,
And quyk armed hym +tere-inne,
<P I,219>
And nei+ged Alisaunder bi gynne.
Alisaunder nou+gth of hym shroof,
Ac Perciens tofore hym droof.
Somme he kytt of +te arme,
Somme +te heued, and dude hem harme.
He bad his folk fi+gtten hard,
Wi+t spere, mace, and wi+t swerd,
And he wolde after fi+gth
Roume londes to hem di+gth.
+Tis forseide kni+gth ri+gth hym by,
Als it were his amy.
Whan he Alisaunder besy see+t - 
To Perciens sanchip de+t - 
He took a launce, so J fynde,
And ri+gth on Alisaunder byhynde.
He smyte+t hym hard on +te hauberk,
+Tat was ymade of stronge werk.
He helde fast - +te spere to-brast.
+Te kyng was sumdel agast;
He sat fast and loked a+gan,
And sey on armed as it were his man.
'Fitz a puteyne!' he seide, 'lecchoure!
+Tou shalt sterue so a tretoure!'
'Certes,' quo+t +te aliene kni+gth,
'J am no traitour - at al my mi+gth
J dude and engyned +tee to slen,
And ded +tou haddest forso+te yben,
Ac auenture for +te fi+gth:
+Tis victorie is +tee ydi+gth.
Of Perce Ich am, fer of by est - 
+Tis hardynesse J dude for a byhest,
+Tat Darrie bihete to whom +tat mi+gth
+Tee, kyng, slen in +tis fi+gth,
He shulde haue half his kyng-riche,
And his dou+gtter, sikerliche.
<P I,221>
+Tis was, kyng, al my chaysoun;
Ne mi+gttou fynde her-jnne traysoun,
Ac +tat Ich me pylt in dedly cas,
Forto habbe +tat faire byhas.'
+Te kyng by +te chyn hym shook,
And his sergeauntz hym [{h{]e tok,
And bad hym loken in presoun.
Nolde he hym slen bot by raysoun.
He was ydo in gode warde,
And bounden fast in bondes harde.
+Te kyng broche+t for+t Bulcyphal,
And mette of Perce on admiral.
He smyt hym +torou+g body and shelde
And cast hym ded in +te felde.
+Tere mi+gth man in herte rewe
Hou noble kni+gttes ouer-+trewe!
Horses totraden alle +te boukes
Of noble barouns and of dukes.
Mede, and felde, hylle, and lawe
+Tick weren ystrewed of kni+gttes yslawe.
Non ne see mi+gth hem bitwen 
Who +tat shulde maister ben.
On bo+te half wi+t swerd and spere
Was ydon wel grete lere.
   Many is +tat day faire kni+gttes slau+gtt,
Hors +torou+g-corue, hauberk +torou+g-rau+gt,
Many fair ei+ge wi+t de+t yblent,
And many soule to helle ywent.
+Te day faile[{+t{] , +te ni+gth is ycome - 
Wery be+t +te gentyl gome.
On bo+te half +te mayne gentes
Wen[{n{]ten hom to her tentes,
And token rest al forto amorowe,
Makande wel grete sorowe
For her lordes, for her ken,
<P I,223>
+Tat layen yslawe in +te fen.
   Alisaunder arisen is,
And on his deys sitte+t, jwys.
His dukes and his barouns, saunz doute,
Stonde+t and sitte+t hym aboute.
He hete brynge for+t +tat felawe
+Tat hym wolde haue yslawe.
He is ybrou+gth, and +te kyng
Gynne+t hym +giue swiche acusyng:
'+Tou' he seide, 'als a traitoure
+Gister-day com in oure atoure,
Y-armed wel as on of myne,
Me bihynde at my chyne,
And smoot me wi+t +ti spere.
Ne had myne hauberk ben +te strongere,
+Tou haddest me vilely yslawe!
+Tou shalt ben honged and to-drawe,
And forbrent al to nou+gth,
For +tou swiche traisoun +tou+gth!'
'Sir!' quo+t +te Percien kni+gth,
'+Gif +gee me don law+ge and ri+gth,
Ne wor+te Ich to-drawe ne anhonge,
For it were al wi+t wronge.
Darrie bihete to vche of his
To make pere to hym, jwis,
Who +tat mi+gth +te ywynne,
Oi+ter wi+t gyle oi+ter wi+t gynne.
Darrie was my ri+gth lorde - 
Jch fonded to don his worde,
His foo to quelle on vche manere,
And of traisoun me wil J skere.
+Gif any man wil o+tere proue,
Loo, here a+geins hym +te gloue!'
   Antiochus seide: '+Tou ne mi+gth +te skere,
For +tou hast demed +ti-self here,
+Too +tou for mede and bihotyng
Stale byhynden on oure kyng,
<P I,225>
Hym to slen so +teefliche!
Brende +tou shalt ben openliche!
+Tou shalt sterue on swiche de+t hard - 
+Te dome Ich +giue to award.'
   Tholomeus +te mareschal vp stood,
Wi+gth in bataile, in conseil good,
And seide: '+Te kyng may don his wille - 
Sauen +tat Percien, oi+ter hym spille;
Ac he ne ha+t no ri+gth chesoun,
For he ne dude no tresoun.
His dede ne was bot honest,
For he dude his lordes hest.
Euery man to slen his foo
Dyuers gynne so shal do.
For his lorde (nyme+t gode cure!)
He dude his lyf on auenture.
He nas nou+gth sworne to my lorde,
Bot wi+t swerd and speres orde - 
Leeflich it is to euery foo
Hou so he may o+ter sloo.
+Gee mowen to wille brenne and honge,
Ac Ich sigge it were wi+t wronge!'
   Up stood Sir Mark of Rome,
And entremeted of +tis dome:
'Certes', he seide, '[{he dude{] wou+g,
+Tat he a kny[{+g{]t of Grece slou+g,
And despoiled hym of his armes,
By traisoun, and to oure harmes,
And joyned hym vs among,
Als on of vs - al +tis was wrong - 
And so stale on oure kyng,
Hym to brynge to his endyng.
J jugge he shal anhonged be.
Barouns of court, what seie +gee?'
Eueryche seide: 'He shal be slawe,
Forbrent, anhonged, and todrawe!'
<P I,227>
Non ne spaak hym on word fore,
Bot +tat he shulde be forlore.
+Too Alisaunder sei+g al +tis,
Yhere+t what he dude, jwis!
Jt is ywrite +tat euery +ting
Hym-self shewe+t in +te tastyng.
So it is of lewed and clerk - 
Hym-self shewe+t in his werk.
+Te kyng see+t +tat no kni+gth hende
Nylle more +tat Percien defende,
And sei+t: 'Kni+gth, he were wood
+Tat wolde +tee don ou+gth bot good!
Trayson +tou ne dedest ne feyntise,
Ac hardy dede in grete queyntise.
For +tat dede, by myne hood,
Ne shaltou haue bot good!'
Richelich he doo+t hym shrede
Jn spannewe kni+gtten wede,
And sette hym vpon an hei+ge chaceoure,
And +gaf hym mychel of his tresoure,
And lete hym to Darrie wende hom - 
Ne +gaf he hym non o+ter dom.
   Mery it is in +te day graukynge,
Whan +te foules gynne+t synge,
And jolyf herte so gynne+t sprynge.
To sone it +tenche+t +te slow gadelynge!
Jn mychel loue is grete mournynge;
Jn mychel nede is grete +tankynge.
A ferly +tou+gth is wi+t +te kyng - 
Erly he rise+t, and make+t boost,
And hote+t quyk armen al +te ost.
Hij ben y-armed quyklich,
And alle hym siwe+t, sikerlich,
Ouer a water, in to a forest,
And alle don quyk her lordes hest - 
<P I,229>
Bow+ges of dyuers trees hij kytten,
And to her horses tales knytten.
To Darrie ward alle hij fare+t;
+Te bow+ges +te dust hei+ge arere+t.
Of +te draweyng of bow+ges and stykke
+Te eyre bicom trouble and +ticke,
+Tat to Darries folk it ferde,
Als on hem com +te myddelerde.
Quyklich hij telden it Darrie,
And baden hym he shude hym wardie,
For Alisaunder com wi+t his preye - 
His folk wrei+g al +te contreye.
Darrie hete alle his men
Remuen his tentes of +te fen,
And setten hem bisides Estrage
(A colde water and a sauage).
A castel he had vpon +te ryue - 
Nas non strenger in +tis lyue.
Quyk was al Darries ost
Yloged Estrages acost.
+Tere hij wolden fonden aspye
Al Alisaundres felonye.
Alisaunder +tis tellen herd,
And after wi+t his ost ferd,
And alle hem logeden an-ouen-on
+Tere Darrie had ben arst vpon.
Now is ywryen al +te countreie.
Bitwene hem is foure myle weye - 
Often +tere was bitwene ridynge,
Many awayt and bataillynge.
+Terwhiles of Alisaunder +te kyng
Lestne+t now a selcou+t +ting!
   Jn a morowen-tyde it was,
+Tat dropes hongen on +te gras,
And maidens loken in +te glas,
Forto atyffen her faas.
<P I,231>
Kyng Alisaunder is out yride - 
+Tre noble kni+gttes ben went hy[{m{] myde,
Pryuelich, in one myst
(His grete ost it ne wist).
He doo+t +too +tre in soo+t treu+te
Pli+gtten to hym her treu+te
+Tat hij ne shullen hym biwreye
Of +ting +tat he wil to hem seie.
Hij doo+t his wille - he gynne+t hem telle
+Tat he wil wende, swi+te snelle,
Forto see +te countenaunce
Of Darries court, saunz demurraunce.
No kni+gth ne roode +too wi+touten stede,
Ne wi+touten yrnen wede.
To +te water hij comen ri+gth - 
Of his stede +te kyng ali+gth,
And of-dude al his armure,
And dude on a robe wi+t pelure.
Vpon a palfray he leep,
And seide: 'Kni+gttes, +giue+t kep
To Bulciphal my destrere,
And abide+t me ri+gth here.
Jch wil come whan J maye.'
Quyk he doo+t hym in +te waye.
+Te +tre kni+gttes of whom J seide
(+Te on hi+gth Aymes of Archade,
+Te o+tere hi+gth Philotas,
And +te +trid hi+gth Perdicas - 
+Tere neren better kni+gttes +tree
Jn al +te kynges meignee)
+Tise Alisaunder so willen abide,
Wel y-armed, by +te water-syde.
   Now sytt Darrie on an hylle,
+Te folk of his ost for to telle.
Alisaunder come+t on hym skeet,
And sei+t +tat 'Kyng Alisaunder +tee gret!
<P I,233>
He is comen to parlement,
Forto +gelde +tee +ti rent.
Twies he ha+t +tee ouercome,
+Ti wijf and +tine childre ynome;
Fele +tou hast yslawe of his.
He sente +tee siggen +tus, jwis - 
Jt shal be wel dere abou+gth,
+Te tol +tat was in Grece sou+gth.
Grei+tes armes, +garkes sheldes!
He +gou abide+t in +te feldes.'
Darrie was wel sone anoyede
Of +tat Alisaunder had hym seid,
And seide: 'Of tale +tou art smart!
Alisaunder +ti-self +tou art.'
And Alisaunder seide: 'It is nou+gth so!
He is whitter, wi+touten no,
And his lockes bee+t nou+gth so crulle,
Ac he is waxen more to +te fulle.
Ac Ich am hoten Antigon,
+Tat many message haue hym ydon.'
Darrie seide: 'Messagere, ali+gtte!
And gowe eten onon-ri+gtte,
And after mete +tou shalt bere
To +ti lorde a+gein ansuere.'
Darrie to mete +gede onon,
Wi+t his barouns euerychon.
Alisaunder, wi+touten fable,
He sette+t at his owen table.
Hij weren yserued wi+t grete plente,
Wi+t fresshe and salt, of vche deynte,
And dronken wyne and ek pyement,
White and red, at her talent.
+Tere weren coupes riche ywrou+gth,
And Alisaunder hym bi+tou+gth
Hou he mi+gth do sum +ting
Of to speke wi+touten endyng.
+Te kyng to hym of a coupe drank,
<P I,235>
And he it afenge wi+t mychel +tank,
And drank after +tat wyne rede,
And putte +te coupe vnder his grede
(+Te coupe was of rede golde).
+Te boteler it ha+t al byholde,
And telle+t Darrie al +te so+t,
And he bicom ri+gth fyne wro+t,
And sei+t: 'Haue he don me +tat shonde,
Men shullen speke, of Grece londe,
Of +te vengeaunce +tat he shal +tole
And he haue my c[{o{]p ystole!'
+Te boteler take+t vp his grede,
And fynde+t +te coupe of golde rede.
Darrie to Alisaunder gan sigge:
'Eye! vile +teef, +tou shalt abygge!
J sette +tee at tabel myne,
For reuerence of lorde +tyne.
Myne coupe +tou haste ystole,
And vnder +tine grede yhole!
+Tou art ynome honde-habbynde - 
+Tou shalt quyk honge in +te wynde!'
Quo+t Alisaunder +te kyng, so hende:
'Of +teft Ich wil me defende,
A+geins kni+gt, a+geins baroun,
+Tat J was neuere no laroun.
J com ri+gth on my lordes message,
And wende +gee hadden al swiche vsage
As ha+t my lorde in court his,
For +ti richesse and for +ti prys,
+Tat +tou hast o+ter tofore.
Bot +tat honour +tou hast forlore;
For sende +tere kyng oi+ter kaysere
To my lorde a messagere, 
And he be wor+ti, saunz fable,
He shal sytte at his table,
And whan +te kyng hym krynke+t to,
<P I,237>
+Te coupe he shal at his wille vp do!
Jch wende +gee vseden also here
Of oure court +te manere - 
J me repent, si+ten +gee ne doo+t;
For qued ne dude Ich it nou+gth, for soo+t.'
   Darrie, +tou+g he were agramed, 
Of his ansuere he was ashamed.
Stille seten +gonge and elde
And fast bygonnen hym byhelde.
A kni+gth +tere was +tat hi+gth Parsage
+Tat Alisaunder knew in +te visage,
For he had ben in message
At Kyng Phelippe for trowage - 
He sei+t it Darrie vnder his hood.
Wel Alisaunder it vnderstood.
Jt ran in Alisaunders corage
+Tat qued of hym rouned Persage,
And +tat he to Darrie of hym spaak,
Ouer +te table he lep, gode rak - 
Quyk in his waye he hym di+gth,
And Darrye after, wi+t al his mi+gth.
A swerd Alisaunder had, cert,
+Tat was to hym fast girt;
Out he it braided in his honde.
Non wolde in his waye stonde.
He mete+t a kni+gth wi+t a speruere,
As God wolde, on a destrere.
He took hym swiftly in +te swire,
+Tat he leide his heued to hire.
He shoof hym quyklich adoune,
And lep hym-self in to +te arsoune.
He smoot +te stede and he for+t glyt,
And Alisaunder quyk away rytt - 
+Tat day ne shullen hij hym atake!
Darrie gynne+t after rake;
Prynce and duk, kni+gth, and sweyn,
Dasshen after wi+t grete meyn.
Euerychone hij don for nou+gth - 
<P I,239>
Alisaunder ha+t +tat water cau+gth.
Jt was brood and hi+gth Estrage - 
Depe stremes and swift o rage.
He smoot +te hors and it jn lep;
Jt was swift, brood, and dep.
Hors and kyng, wi+t alle his hater,
Weren a met-+gerd vnder +te water.
Alisaunder tofore ne see+t - 
Was sore adrad of his de+t.
Nar+teles his hors was good,
And keuered vp abouen +te flood,
And swam to +te o+ter syde,
+Tere his kni+gttes hym deden abyde.
Hij holpen hym vp and his stede,
And quyk chaungeden his wede,
And +gut he had +te coupe on honde
+Tat he on Darries table fonde.
To his ost he fare+t, gode skoure,
And telle+t hem his auenture.
+Te +gonge +tere-of hadden game;
+Te elde wise it nomen agrame,
And seiden wel +tat swiche cas
Of woodhede and foly was.
Darrie ha+t ylore his praye - 
For sorou+g nei+g he wil daye.
Was hym neuere er so woo,
For he ha+t ylore his foo.
A+gein wenden lesse and more,
And bymene+t his skape sore.
Ni+gth it is - hij take+t rest.
Amorowe arise+t newe gest. 

<S SAMPLE 3>
<P I,286>
   +Te sonne arise+t, +te day sprynge+t,
Dewes falle+t, +te foules synge+t.
+Te oost arist on erne-morowe
+Tat ha+t had a ni+gth of sorowe.
Nov it is ypassed hij ne don +tere-of,
Bot gamenen togedres and ek scoff.
+Te kyng for+t went to Ba[{u{]das,
Nou+gth fer +tenne to a Bocas.
He +tere was a litel while.
Nou listne+t of a queynt gyle.
   Porus +te kyng had wille wi+t +te mest
To wite of Alisaunders estre;
To wite his estre and his beyng 
Grete wille had Porus +te kyng,
So +tat +te tale and +te sklaunder
Com to Kyng Alisaunder,
And swore onon, so most he +tee,
He wolde wite who was he.
+Te kyng dude of his robe furred wi+t meneuere,
And doo+t on a borel of a squyer
And a li+gth tabard, als J fynde.
And trusse+t a male hym bihynde.
Vpon a mule he went for+t onon,
And gynne+t flynge gode scour hir vpon,
<P I,287>
Forto he com to Ba[{u{]das,
+Tere +te kyng Porus was,
Jn +te strete conseilynde
Wi+t his riche folk of Ynde.
Alisaunder come+t vpon his mule, 
Bishiten and bydagged foule,
His mules sides al blody,
And flynge+t gode s[{c{]o[{u{]r hem forby.
Kyng Porus by his man 
Dude hym swi+te clepe a+gan,
And asked hym whennes he was and whennes he com,
And he swore, bi Goddes dom,
+Tat he was of Grece a swayn
And +te kyng [{Phelipp{]es chaumberlayn,
Wexe to bygge in +t[{e{] cite,
Of whiche hij hadden scarsete.
'Saye,' quo+t Porus, 'what man is Alisaunder
+Tat of loos bere+t so gret sklaunder?'
And he ansuered, verrayment,
+Tat he was hendy, wi+gth, and gent,
And he was a litel man and an elde,
And had on at +te mete for +te chelde
Twoo +tik mantels, yfurred wi+t grys.
'Certes!' quo+t Porus, 'Ich am vnwys!
Ne habbe Ich ytake cite and toune
To his wille in baundoune?
Often ar +tis me agroos,
For man leide on hym swiche loos.
Ac now ne shal J bli+te be
Forto Ich hym mowe mete and see
Wi+t suerd and shelde in batayle,
To proue his wi+gtnesse, saunz faile.'
To hym +tat rood he seide +too:
'Jch me awonder, by seint Bardo,
<P I,288>
Si+t+te +tat Alisaunder is so elde,
Hou he dar and is so belde,
And hou he may and is so hardy
O+ter kynges to done foly - 
Nou+gth on, ne two, ne +tre, ac alle,
Nyme+t par force and make+t hem +tralle.'
+Te folk seide +tat abouten stood
He ne had neuer so hardy blood
+Tat he durst +te kyng ysee.
'+Gis,' quo+t he +tat rode, 'so mote J +tee,
He dar wi+t +tee speke and ek yseen!'
Quo+t +te kyng Porus: ' (\Jeo crey [{ceo{] ben!\)
Jch wil +tee +giue of golde a mark,
<P I,289>
And a stede stronge and stark,
By so +tou wil wi+touten ansuere
To +goure kyng a lettre bere.'
And he hym graunted, God it wyte.
+Te lettre was onon ywrite - 
Kyng Alisaunder it vnderfynge,
And golde and siluer to medyng.
He smoot his mule wi+t sporen whate;
Bot whan he com to +te gate
To +te porter he +gaf +te golde,
And lete +te mule gon where he wolde.
On +te destrer onon he slang - 
Als arewe of bowe for+t he sprang.
To his folk he com ful swi+te,
And of his comyng hij weren bli+te.
He li+gtte and tolde his auenture - 
Hij low+gen and maden enuesure.
Alisaunder +te wryt bihelde,
And sau+g +tere-inne +tretyng belde
And defyeaunce +te +trid day - 
+Tat was his gamen and his play.
+Te +tridd day wel sone cam.
Kyng Alisaunder his armes nam,
And armed hym ful wel
And al his folk in jrne and steel.
So dude kyng Porus, saunz faile,
And comen hem to chaumpe bataile.
+Tere was displayed many gounfanoun
Of riche sendel and cyclatoun.
+Tere was many riche stede,
And many kni+gth wel ful of pride.
+Tere was many faire justynge,
Assailynge and defendynge,
Ac na+teles kyng Alisaunder wi+t his man
Of Porus kyng +te maistrie wan.
Kyng Porus +galde his swerd to his honde,
And to his wille al his londe.
<P I,290>
Kyng Alisaunder was h[{ym{] curteys,
And graunted hym his loue and pays.
Now ben +te kynges men euerychon
And ek Porus al at on,
Ac Porus and al his folk, parde,
Ben of Kyng Alisaundres meignee.
Now went Porus, so J fynde,
Wi+t Kyng Alisaunder ouere al Ynde,
To shewe hym +te merueilynges
Of men, of bestes, of o+ter +tinges,
And helpen wynne vnder his honde
Alle +te naciouns of +te londe.
Of Baudas wenden +tise kynges of prijs.
Wi+touten noumbre her poeple is;
Neuer, in al +tis myddelerde,
Nas so myche folk in on ferde.
Hij passeden dales, hij passede pleynes,
Wildernesse and mounteynes.
Hij comen to +te on werldes ende,
And +tere hij founden +ting of mynde:
Of pure golde two grete ymages
Jn +te cee stonden on brasen stages.
After Ercules hij weren ymad,
And after his fader, of golde sad.
Ercules was whilom a man
+Tat non ne mi+gth stonde a+gein.
+Tider he wan +te middelerde,
By maistres, be werres he conquerde.
He sette +tere ymages of moundes
+Tat men clepe+t Ercules boundes.
+Te kyng and his folk, saunz faile,
+Tere-of hadden grete merueile.
Kyng Alisaunder asked onon
+Gif hij mi+gtten for+ter gon.
A cherle hym ansuered a+geinward
<P I,293>
(To his nauel henge his berd;
He was also blak as pycche,
And had a face wel griseliche):
'Sir,' he seide, 'south hiderward
Js +te ende of myddelerd.
A west half, +gee mowen ysee,
+Te waye li+te in to +te Rede Cee.
A north half ne mowen +gee nou+gth ypasse
For deserte and wildernesse;
For tygres, beres, and lyouns,
Addres, [{c{]u[{l{]ures, and dragouns,
Wolden +tis folk, mychel and lyte,
Envenymen and abite.
Ac hiderward, sir, in to +te est
+Te waye is sikerest and best.
+Tiderward is Est Ynde - 
Foure and fyfty kynges +tou mi+gth fynde,
+Tat noi+ter of +tee ne of Pore
Ne helden tale, lesse ne more,
Wi+touten ydles +tat +tere ben jnne,
+Tat qued and stronge ben to wynne,
Noi+ter for Ercules ne for Liber,
Ne dursten neuere comen +ter.
Two somers and two wyntres in on +gare
Verreyement hij habben +tare.
Ypereus hatte her hauene.
Alle gorg[{ei{]en as a rauene;
Grete men and blake hij ben.
+Gif +tou desirest merueiles to sen,
+Tere +gee mowen merueile yfynde
More +tan ower elles in Ynde.
+Te wynde +gou may +tider blawen
Jn lesse +tan in twenty dawen.
An emperoure yhote Lybertyne,
A stronge kni+gth [{and{] hardy [{a-{]fyne,
<P I,295>
+Tider passed and al +tis fonde.
Al it is soo+t, Ich vnderstonde.'
Kyng Alisaunder onon heet
Grei+ten his shippe swi+te and skeet.
Dromuns, botes, and barge
Wi+t man and beest he dude charge,
And seileden wel swyftely est.
Al +te cee ferd as a forest.
+Te fourten+te day hij comen to Yperoun;
+Tere hij founden a fair cite-toun,
+Tere hij founden folk of streng+te,
+Te londe is seuen +tousande mylen of leng+te,
And foure +tousande mylen of brede.
+Te kyng of +te londe dude by rede,
And made wi+t kyng Alisaunder peys,
And +gaf hym +giftes of nobleys.
Verrayment, +tere ne growe+t no whete,
Ne o+ter corne bot spyces swete.
+Tere-of hij maken her breed,
And drynken wyne, white and red
Eueryche man and eke womman
Of +te londe of Taproban
Of an hundre+t wyntres ful-libbe+t +te dawe,
Bot hij ben of fomen yslawe.
Hij ben yclo+ted, in alle wones,
Jn golde and siluer and precious stones.
Jt is boystous folk, na+telas,
Michel folk and griselich of faas.
+Te kyng had wi+t hem many fest,
Swithe riche and ek honest.
For+ter +tan in to +te est
Nas no wonyng bot wilde best,
Addres wi+t foure hedes, and dragouns,
Gripes, tygres, and lyouns,
And a  maner folk +tere is yfounde
+Tat men clepe+t cee-hounde.
<P I,297>
+Te addres shite+t preciouse stones - 
Listne+t now for +te nones!
Jn shynyng of +te sonne, whan Marche blawe+t,
+Te addres vpward hem +trawe+t,
And tocleue+t wombelyng
A+geynes +te sonne shynyng,
And conceyue+t of +te sonne, veire,
By nature of +te wynde and eire.
And +gif of fele hiwe is +te eyre,
So shullen +te stones ben in veyre.
Swich is +tis addres kyndlyng - 
Preciouse stones, wi+touten lesyng,
Jacynkte, piropes, crisolites,
Safyres, smaragdes, and margarites.
Bi+gonde +te dragouns, gripes, and beste,
Paradys terrene is ri+gth in +te est,
Where God almi+gtty, +torou+g his grace,
Fourmed Adam, oure fader +tat was.
   +Te kyng +tennes went for+t
A+gein in to Ynde in +te nor+t,
+Tat is ycleped, als J fynde,
Jn +te book +te vpper Ynde.
+Too he com wi+t his compaignye,
Al +te londe he fonde ywrye
Wi+t armed men, riche and pouer,
Kynges, dukes, on and o+ter,
+Tat hym and hise wi+t swerd gretten
And wi+t sharpe launces metten,
And of +gonge kni+gttes slou+gen +te floure.
+Te kyng +terfore was in doloure.
Hij maden her armes envenymed - 
He +tat was taken of de+t was lymed.
Alisaunder wexe wroo+t and gan hym bistere,
And eke alle hise gode fi+gtteres
+Tise folk to-hewe and slou+ge
Mo +tousandes +tan ynowe,
And ouercomen hem at +te last.
<P I,299>
+Te remenaunt +tan flei+g on hast
Bisiden in to a riche cite
+Te kyng hem bishette wi+touten pite,
And in on ni+gth, by on metyng,
+Gaf al his folk botyng.
Onon after +tat cite he feld
And al +tat folk anon queld.
Childe in credel, man ne wijf,
Ne lete he neuere on a-lijf.
   For+t went +te kyng wondres sekynde.
A griselich best he gonne fynde - 
So mychel sei+g he neuere ne non swiche.
Two heuedes it had wel ferlich;
To a cokedrille +tat on was liche,
+Tat o+tere +te mone selcou+t liche.
His rigge was bristled as wi+t sharp si+ten;
Tee+t he had so wre+ten wri+ten.
Ei+gen he had so brennyng bronde,
And two kni+gttes of Grece londe
At +te first assau+gt it slou+g.
+Te kyng ne non of his ne lou+g,
Ac hij it smyten, myche and lyte,
And non arme nolde byte
Jn +tat beeste, so mote J lyuen,
And hij it away tofor hem dryuen.
For+t went +te kyng +tennes wi+t hij.
Of +te forme warde he herd grete cry,
For hij weren assailed of olifauntz.
+Te kyng hi+ged and his sergeaunz,
Ac, so J fynde on +te book,
By Porus conseil hogges hij took,
And beten hem so +tat hij shri+gtte.
+Te olyfauntz away hem di+gtte,
For hij ne haue so mychel drade
Of no+ting as of hogges grade.
<P I,301>
Nyne hundre+t and ei+gtte hij slow+ge,
And quyk +tai lokeden +terof ynowe
To seruen hem in batailles,
And to beren her vitailles.
+Te sonne lowe+t and west helt;
+Te kynges pauylouns +tere men telt,
And token hem +tere herberewe,
Forto +te sonne ryse amorowe.
God make alle sory bli+te!
Who-so wil lystne and li+te,
+Te most wonder +ge mowen vnderstonde
+Tat ben yfounden in Ynde londe.
   In tyme of heruest mery it is ynou+g - 
Peres and apples honge+t on bou+g,
+Te hayward blowe+t mery his horne,
Jn eueryche felde ripe is corne,
+Te grapes hongen on +te vyne.
Swete is trewe loue and fyne!
Kyng Alisaunder a-morowe arist - 
+Te sonne dryue+t away +te myst.
For+t he went ferre in to Ynde,
Moo merueiles forto fynde.
Hij founden many lake and pett,
Wi+t trowes and +tornes byshett,
Wi+tinne greue and mychel weed,
Water-kressen and hei+ge reed.
+Tere hij sei+gen men, Ich wil avowe,
And wymmen as beres rowe.
Bristled hij weren as hogges
And stynken as water-dogges.
Jn +te water hij swymme and +gede - 
Ypotami hem leued myde.
Alle hij lyueden by raw fyssh.
[{S{]o hij sei+ge +tat folk, jwys,
Hij plumten doune as an doppe
Jn +te water at on scoppe.
<P I,303>
+Too hij plumten +te water vnder,
+Te folk had of hem grete wonder.
For+t went +te kyng and al his folk apert
Wondres to seen in +te desert,
And entreden toward +te west
Jn to a swi+te fair forest,
And founden appel-trowes and fygeres,
Peryes, cypres, and olyuers,
+Tat weren +tre hundre+t feet longe.
+Tere was mery foules songe.
+Te shadewe cast two mylen wayes - 
+Too weren trewes of nobleyes.
+Tere-biside, wi+touten lees,
Hij founden a water yhoten Ganges.
+Tere ben jnne eles stronge
+Tat be+t +tre hundre+t fet longe.
Hij habbe+t in hem hondes two,
Wi+t whiche hij don mychel woo.
Olyfauntz and kni+gttes jn hij drowen
And in +te water sone slowen.
+Tere hij sei+gen a selcou+t folk,
Alday pouren in +te walken,
And alday [{o{]n on fote stondynde,
And neuere wery, so J fynde.
So hij ben delited in +tat art
+Tat wery ne ben hij neuere, cert.
+Te kyng and hise wenten for+t,
Jn to +te est, in to +te north,
Als fer as hij for water mi+gth,
Ac of wondres nadden hij more si+gth
+Tat any tale be of to telle,
Bot of bestes and wormes felle,
And of +te wederes stronge and tempestes,
+Tat hem duden grete molestes.
+Te kyng lete +te waye of +te est
And by a ryuer tourned west.
He was war of a cite walle,
<P I,305>
Swi+te fair and stronge wi+t alle.
+Tider hij drowen, lesse and more,
Hem of vitaile to astore.
Ac +te men of +tat cite
Weren ful of iniquite,
And ronnen to her gates fast
And hem shetten wel on hast.
Alisaundre and his meygnee
Comen and badden hem entree,
Ac non ne w[{o{]lde ansuere a word,
Nei+ter to man ne to lorde.
+Te kyng of his stede ali+gth,
And stee+g on +te wal anon-ri+gth 
And loked ouer what hij dede.
Hij weren redy in +tat stede,
Als J fynde on +te boke,
And pli+gtten hym jn wi+t yrnen hoke,
And laiden hym on wi+t swerd and batt - 
+Te kyng was nei+g al to-flatt
Er he wist where he was.
+Te kyng rek[{eue{]red, na+telas.
Vnder shelde he gan hym were,
And wel swiftely hym bistere - 
Smoot and leide on wi+t mayn,
And slou+g a-rawe two duzeyn,
And, maugre +te tee+t of hem alle,
Sette his rigge to +te walle.
+Tat folk grete assau+gt hym +gaue - 
Wi+t swerdes, axes, stones, and staue,
Woundeden, felden and sore hym hirten.
His woundes bledden, his dyntes smerten,
+Tat he grented als a bore,
And deled many a dynt sore.
Of summe he karf heued of, of summe arme!
Of summe foot and legge - it nas non harme!
<P I,307>
He slow+g an hundre+t in a rawe,
+Tat at his feet laien yslawe.
+Te prince of +te cite sei+g +tis,
And com flynge onon, jwis,
Wi+t a launce on his hors
And smoot Alisaunder +torou+g +te cors,
And braided hym doune on knee to grounde.
+Te kyng swo+gened for +tat wounde,
And hastilich hym-self awei+gtte
And +te launce out plei+gtte,
And lepe on fote, wi+t swerd of steel
And gan hym were swi+te wel,
Ac vnne+te on his feet he stood - 
He had bled so mychel blood - 
And +te folk hym leide on ay +te lenge +te more,
By-hynde and biside, and also bifore.
Jn +te ost wi+toute a noble duk was
+Tat was yhote sir Perdicas.
+Tis on +te wal stei+g on hei+g,
And al his lordes tourment sei+g.
Anon he lepe doun of +te walle
Amonge +te kynges fomen alle,
And wi+t his swerd sharp ygrounde
He +gaf many a dedly wounde.
Sexty swi+te and +terto fyue
He byname +te dayes of lyue;
Ac, forso+te, ne had he so ycome,
+Te kyng had ben sleyn oi+ter ynome.
Wharfore kyng Alisaunder ouer +tan
Loued sir Perdicas ouere alle his man,
And made hym his heire se+te
Ouere al Grece in his de+te.
<P I,309>
+Te kyng is bicomen fiers and li+gth
And wi+gtly a+geins his fomen gan fi+gth,
And Perdicas feyned nou+gth,
For als a wode lyoun he fau+gth.
+Te kynges oost +tat wi+touten was
Hadden aspyed al +tis cas,
And brou+gtten gynnes to +te walle - 
Houen, shouen, and drowen alle,
And, maugre Picard and Bretoun,
Breken +tere +te wal adoun,
And in flunge in litel stounde,
And leiden al +tat folk to grounde.
Ac Alisaunder, his owen honde,
Biheueded +te prince of +te londe,
And si+ten, wi+touten any pyte,
Sette on fyre +tat cite,
And forbrent it, more and lesse,
And made +terof wildernesse.
+Tere-biside his pauylouns
Weren ytelde, by dales and dovnes.
+Te kyng +tere soiourned to he was hoole.
Tohardy man wel ofte is fole!
So had +te kyng yben nei+g,
Ac God h[{y{]m sent help from hei+g.
   +To +te kyng was hool and wel ydou+gth,
Mo wondres he ha+t ysou+gth.
Euerych ydle, euerych contrey,
He ha[{+t{] ysou+gth, par ma fey.
An ydle he passe+t yhote Pra[{s{]iens,
And Gangerides and Gangiens,
An ydle yhote Cormorans,
And a stronge ydle yhote Bramans.
Mychel he hym pyned er al +tis londe
He haue+t ywonne vnder his honde.
Jch wil +gou telle what men ben in Bramande,
+Gif +gee willen vnderstande.
<P I,310>
Hij ben men, wi+touten doutaunce,
Of hard lijf and stronge penaunce.
Hij ne eten bot gresses rote
And fruyt of trees and herbes swote.
+Tynnelich hij be[{+t{] yhatered,
And drynken of +te broune water.
Hij ne eten of oxe ne of swyne;
Hij ne drynken of ale ne of wyne.
Ne hij ne han boures ne halles,
Ne casteles wi+t hei+ge walles,
Bot in trowes and in denne
And in roches holed wi+tinne - 
+Tere-inne is her wony+ging.
Hij ne ete+t non o+tere +ting
+Tan +te er+te +geue[{+t{] wi+touten tellyng.
Jn penaunce, sikerlyk, 
Hij don hem brenne also quyk, 
For her mysdede and for her synne,
+Te ioye of Paradys to wynne. 

<S SAMPLE 4>
<P I,399>
   Good it were to ben kni+gth,
Nere tourneyment and dedly fi+gth.
Wi+t marchaundes to ben it were hende,
Neren +tacountes at bordes ende.
Swete is loue of damoysele,
Ac it aske+t costes fele.
Better is litel to habbe in ayse
+Tan mychel agh+gtte in malayse.
Who-so is of dedes vntrewe,
Ofte it shal hym sore rewe.
   Alisaunder is comen a-feld,
Wel y-armed vnder sheld,
On a stede wel ydi+gth,
And sitte+t as a noble kni+gth.
He ride+t his spere braundynde;
+Te pensel ratele+t wi+t +te wynde.
Porus also come+t flynge,
Ygrai+ted als a riche kynge,
Y-armed wel on kni+gttes wise.
Nis it no nede her armes deuyse,
Ac her ai+ter lete go +te reyne,
And dasshen togedre wi+t grete meyne.
+Te speres to-brosten a+geins +te sheldes.
Hij dasshen ouer in +te feldes - 
Hij turnen a+gein quyklich.
Wi+t drawen swerdes, sikerlich,
Ai+ter o+tere lege+t on,
<P I,401>
Als +te mason on +te ston,
Ac als hij skirmeden to +te cors
Her ai+ter slou+g o+teres hors.
+Too hij mosten on fote beye
Disreynen her medleye.
Gayne+t it nou+gth of rest preche - 
Her ai+ter gynne+t o+ter seche,
Wi+t assailyng, wi+t smytynge,
And kepen hem wi+t wrieynge.
Wel hij fi+gtten on +te pleyn,
Wi+t tresget, wi+t reremeyn,
Wi+t ouerheued and wi+t stook.
Ai+ter on o+tere +te swerd so shook,
Nyste noman hem bitwene
+Gut who shulde maister bene,
For her armes, riche of mounde,
Weren +gut hole and sounde.
Ac eft now, after restynge,
Hij bigynnen togedres dynge,
To-keruen her armes and her shelde - 
+Te peces wounden in +te felde.
Ne sei+g man neuere kni+gttes two
So manlich togedres goo!
Her ai+ter fast gynne+t aspye
To don o+ter vilanye
Oi+ter wi+t stoke oi+ter wi+t dynte - 
+Tat is al hir entente.
Whiles hij weren in swiche mangle,
+Te Yndyens bigonnen jangle.
Porus bigan a-bacche reme,
And name +tiderwardes +geme
And loked toward her cry,
Ac Alisaunder was sone hym by,
And smoot hym in +te discouerte
Wi+t a stooke al to +te herte,
Fast by +te chyne-bon;
Porus fel ded onon.
<P I,403>
Yndyens comen wi+t drawen swerd
To socouren her lord.
Alisaunder gan loude crye:
'Be non of +gou so hardye
A+geins couenaunt me to assaile,
Bot +gee willen newe bataile
And +goure ostages todrawe,
And +gou self to de+t yslawe.
For ben +gee sele, ben +gee wro+te,
Ynde and Perce ben myne bo+te.
+Gelde+t me homage alle,
Oi+tere +gou shal qued bifalle!'
Princes and dukes token her red,
+Too hij sei+gen Porus ded,
And token Alisaunder by +te honde
And +gelden hym +te coroun of Ynde londe.
Hij duden hym alle feute,
And sworen to hym also leute.
   Now is ded +te kyng Porus - 
Alisaunder is kyng glorious.
He +giue+t londes, he +giue+t rentes,
Stedes, tresores, warnementes,
Make+t justise and conestable,
And ouer al his law+ge stable,
And wende+t out of Faacen
To newe Alisaunder wi+t alle his men,
And doo+t ful-make +te stronge walles,
Castels, toures, boures, halles,
Make+t +te strete brode and riche,
+Tat non o+ter hir nys liche.
O[{n a{] day sone after +tan,
Com Candulek, a gentil-man - 
Candaces son, kyng of Brye - 
Wi+t wel faire chyualrye,
And wolde wi+t Alisaunder speke,
Forto ben +torou+g hym awreke
Of a prynce +tat by strijf
<P I,405>
Had bynomen hym hys wijf.
Ac Alisaunder had a wone,
+Tei+g to court com kyng oi+ter his sone,
Prynce, oi+ter duk, oi+ter gret caiser,
Kni+gth oi+ter sweyn, oi+ter messagere,
He ne shulde nou+gth +te kyng ysee
Bot it were by atturne.
Now is hym tolde +tat wi+t hym speke
Wolde +te kyng Canduleke.
Tholomew, +tat is nexte +te kyng,
So hym sei+t +tis tydyng,
And Alisaunder make+t a stille cry
+Tat non ne be so hardy
To ben aknowe to Candaces son
Who be +te kynges person,
Ac +tat hij shulden euerychon
Clepen +te kyng Antygon.
He dude on Tholomew, verrayment,
Quiclich his vestement.
And sette hym in +te kynges deys,
And he took Tholomeus herneys,
And made hym in hei+g mester
+Te kynges first conseiler.
Hij clepen and siggen Canduleke
He shulde wi+t +te kyng speke.
He come+t quyk on bo+te his knewes
And knele+t tofore Tholomewes,
Ac for he was a gentyl gome
He was sone vp ynome.
His pleynte he telle+t in +te manere
Als +gee mowen now yhere.
   'Alisaunder, riche caysere,
+Tou ne haste on er+te no pere!
Many is +te riche londe
+Tou hast ywonne to +tine honde.
On +tee hij ben wel bysett,
For +tou art ful of +tewes pett.
<P I,407>
+Tou batest wronge, +tou hauntest ri+gttes;
+Tou art fader of alle kni+gttes.
+Tou louest alle gentil-manne
And abatest alle tyranne.
+Tou art caiser of +tis londe - 
Jch me +gelde to +tine honde,
And amendyng J bidde +tee to
Of vnri+gth +tat is me do!'
'Telle on +ti wronge,' quo+t Tholomay,
'We shulle +te helpe +gif we may.'
'Sir, graunt mercy! +terwhiles J was fare
On pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Yndare,
+Te duk Hirtan, a tyraunt of Brye,
Com wi+t grete chyualrie,
Robbed my make Blasfame,
Also fair as was Dyane.
She is my quene, Ich hire chalenge.
Of +tis despyt helpe me avenge!'
'Hou fele kni+gttes, as +tou wenes,
Mi+gtten awreken +tine tenes?'
'Of foure +tousande Ich had ynowe
To awreken myne wowe.'
Tholomeus gynne+t grade onon:
'What seistou here-of, Antigon?'
Alisaunder seide: 'For +tat +tis gome
Js to vs from fer ycome
And to +goure frenderede trest,
J rede +gou +te conseil best,
+Tat +ge lene to his socoure
Swich folk +tat ben to +goure honoure,
And faile+t hym nou+gth at +tis nede.'
'Nay,' quo+t Tholomeu, 'so God me fede,
Wende wi+t hym,' he seide, 'Antigon,
And hym wreke on his fon,
For +tou art wi+gth, hardy, and stronge - 
Not Ich better vs amonge.
<P I,409>
J +tee biteche +te bayllye
My [{folk{] wi+t hym to conduye.'
Alisaunder hem fawe afonge+t.
Ne wolde he bileue longe - 
Ygrei+ted ben his foure +tousynde
Quyklich and on hors wende.
Wi+t Canduleke he wende+t swi+te.
His kni+gttes maden chere bli+te,
For her lorde in tapynage
Was ywent in +tat veiage.
So he ride+t dales and doune
+Tat he see+t +tat cite-toune
Where hym helde+t +te duk Hirtan,
+Tat ha+t Candulek[{e{] lemman.
Canduleke sei+t: 'Sir Antygon,
Hou shullen we now taken on?'
Bote quo+t Alisaunder, 'Here and +tere
Tofore vs sette al on fyre,
Forto hij comen to vs a-felde,
Oi+ter +tat lefdy to vs +gelde.'
Hij setten a-fyre, wi+touten pyte,
Al +te londe to +te cite,
And bysetten it aboute
+Tat hij ne mi+gtten jn ne oute.
+Te burgeys sei+g her wynes barne - 
Eueryche o+ter harme gan warne,
And seiden wel her was +te gylt
To ben forbarnd, to ben forswelt,
+Tat suffreden +te duk Hirtan
Haue in demayne o+tere womman.
Alle +te burgeis of +te toun
Duden by on red commune - 
To +te palays hij wenten alle
And quyk beten doune +te walle,
Jn cuntek and slou+gen Hirtan,
And +gulden to Candulek his womman.
<P I,411>
+Tus comen +tise burgeis,
And han of her werre peis.
After soiour of fourtene ni+gth,
To kynges court hij done hem ri+gth,
And fynden Tholomeu, als he was bede,
Sette in Alisaunders stede.
Candulek on knowe hym sett,
And +te kyng of he grett,
And +tanked hym of his socour,
+Torou+g whiche he had his honour
Yconquered and his quen.
He was vptaken of gentil-men,
And ysette on hei+ge benche,
And wyne and pyement gynne+t shenche,
And wyne clarre and wyne Greek,
And +too seide Tholomeu to Candulek:
'Sir', he seide, 'men tellen me
+Tou hast a moder fair and fre.
She is yhote dame Candace;
Fair and bri+gth is hir face - 
Nis in +tis werlde so fair quene.
Fayn Ich wolde hir ysene,
Her castels and ek her toures,
+Gif hij weren to myne honoures.'
Quo+t Candulek: 'Leue sire,
Also mychel she +gou desire+t - 
Jch +gou sigge, by Goddes ore,
She desire+t no+ting more
+Tan to ben to +gou aqueinte.
Ne habbe+t now none herte feinte - 
Now is tyme it to done.
Jch wil +gou brynge +tider sone.
Ne be it +gou for my bro+ter loo+t,
+Tei+g he be wi+t +gou wroo+t
For +gee duden Porus of lyue,
Whas dou+gtter he ha+t to wyue.
For on honde Ich wil hym take
+Tat he shal don +gou no wrake.'
<P I,413>
Tholomeus +gaf ansueryng
Jn +te name of +te kyng,
And seide: 'J nyl nou+gth comen hir ner,
Bot by a speciale messager
J wil hir sende loue-drurye,
And her estres ek aspye',
And cleped Alisaunder 'Antygon',
And bad hym wende wi+t hym onon,
And rouned wi+t hym a grete while.
Ac al +tat was for gyle!
After +tis queynt rounyng,
Alisaunder spedde in +tis doyng.
Quyk on hors went wi+t hym ek
+Too +tat he had myd Candulek.
Candulek was wel bli+te - 
Quyk he ladde hem and swi+te.
Whan hij in to Saba come,
To +te paleys waie hij nome.
+Te lefdy wandre+t in a plas,
And synge+t of Dido and Eneas,
Hou loue hem ladde by strange bride.
Come+t Candulek tofore ride,
And sei+t: 'Ma dame, bee+t redy,
And welcome+t here myne amy,
Kyng Alisaunder messagere,
Noble kni+gth of gent manere.
He ha+t +golden me my wyf,
And duk Hirtan brou+gth of lyf.
Kyng Alisaunder ne ha+t to gye
Non f[{o{]ller of chyualerye.'
Ar her tale were at +te ende
Kyng Alisaunder com hem hende.
Quyk hij ben of horses ali+gth - 
+Te lefdy come+t onon-ri+gth,
And clippe+t hym in armes tueye,
And he hir, wi+t grete joye.
She hym +tanke+t of Candulek,
<P I,415>
And of his gentil wyue ek,
And he hire brynge+t many gretyng
On Alisaunder halue +te kyng.
'Do way!' quo+t +te quene Candace,
'Jch vnderstonde by +ti face
+Tat +tou Alisaunder be.
Ne hele +t[{ou{] nou+gth, sir, for me!'
'Nay', he seide 'by Goddes ore!
Alisaunder is wel more,
Redder man on visage,
And sumdel more of age,
And +tou shalt certeyn ben,
Sumday whan +tou shalt hym sen!'
'Depart-dieux!' quo+t +te quene,
'Go we now myne estres sene.
Oure mete shal +terbituene 
Ygrei+ted and redy bene.'
She led hym to chaumbres of nob[{l{]eys - 
+Tere he dude of his herneys.
Of Troye was +tere-inne al +te story,
Hou Gregeis hadden +te victory.
+Te bemes +tere-inne weren of bras,
+Te wyndewes of riche glas.
+Te pynnes weren of yuory.
+Te kyng went wi+t +te lefdy,
Hym-self al one from boure to boure,
And sei+g wel mychel tresoure,
Gold, and siluer, and preciouse stones,
Baudekyns made for +te nones,
Mantles, robes, and pauylouns,
Of gold and siluer grete foysouns.
And she hym asked, par amour,
+Gif he sei+g euer swiche tresour; 
And he seide in his contreye
Tresour he wist of swiche nobleye.
She +tou+gth more +tan she seide,
<P I,417>
And ledde hym to ano+ter stede,
To hire owen chaumbre +tat was - 
Jn al +tis werlde fairer non nas.
+Te atyre was +tere-inne so riche
Jn al +tis werlde was non it liche.
She led hym to one stage,
And shewed hym an ymage, 
And seide: 'Alisaunder, yleue me!
+Tis ymage is made after +tee.
J dude it an ymageoure
Casten after +ti vigoure,
+Tis o+tere +ger +too +tou nolde
To me come for loue ne golde.
Jt is +tee als liche, my leue bro+ter,
Als any peny is ano+ter.
O, Alisaunder, of grete renoun!
+Tou art ytake in my prisoun!
Al +ti streng+te ne gayne+t +te nau+gth,
For a womman +tee ha+t ycau+gth.
A womman +tee ha+t in her laas!'
'O!' quo+t Alisaunder, 'Allas,
+Tat J nere y-armed wel,
And had my swerd of b[{r{]oun steel.
Many an heued wolde J claue
Ar J wolde in prisoun laue.
Ac noman ne may hym waite
From +tise wymmens dissaite.'
'Alisaunder', she seide, '+tou seis soo+t.
Ne be nou+gth adradde ne +terfore wroo+t - 
Myne tale +tou mi+gth yleue.
Adam was biswike +torou+g Eue,
And Sampson also, +te stronge,
Dalida hym dude wronge.
And Dauid was brou+gth in exyl
+Torou+g his wijf Abygayl.
<P I,419>
And Salomon, for wommans loue,
Forlete his lorde +tat is aboue.
And +tou art fallen in hondes myne,
+Tee to solas and to no pyne,
For here, vnder +tis couertoure,
Jch wil haue +tine amoure,
To my baundon, leue sire!
Longe it ha+t ben my desire.
Ne shaltou haue o+ter ska+te,
Bot me to baundon late and ra+te.'
+Too Alisaunder gan ysee
+Tat it most so nedes be,
He dude al +te lefdyes wille
Vnder couertoure stille.
Many ni+gth and many day
+Tus hij duden her play - 
Jn halle at table he sat hire by,
Jn chaumbre gest, in bed amy.
Antygon he hi+gth in halle,
And Alisaunder vnder palle.
   Longe hij han +tus ypleiede.
On a day it was yseide
To Candidus by on stodmere,
Candaces son +te +gongere,
+Tat had Porus dou+gtter to spouse,
A fair lady and delitouse,
+Tat Alisaunder sat at his boord,
+Tat had yslawe Porus his lord,
And dude hym clepen Antigon.
To +te quene he stirte onon,
And seide: 'Ma dame, +tou hast wrong
+Tou heldest here Alisaunder so long.
He ha+t yslaw+ge my lorde Pore - 
Myne honde ne skape+t he neuermore!'
'Pes!' quo+t Candace, '+tou congeoun!
Jt is Antigon, a gent baroun,
+Tat is ycome to message.
Ne bede +tou hym non outrage!
<P I,421>
+Gif +tou doost, by God aboue,
+Tou shalt for-lese myne loue!'
'Dame, whom so Ich euere serue,
Of myne honde he shal sterue.
Alisaunder hym-seluen it is,
And ha+t ychaunged name his.'
'Nartou so hardy' quo+t Candace
'More to seen Candulekes face.
And +tou dude hym ou+gth bot good,
He wolde sen +tine herte blood,
And Ich my-self, for +tat wronge,
Hei+ge wolde +tee don anhonge.
For messagere to me ysent
Ne shal here fynde encumbrement.'
Candidus wroo+t went away,
And com a+gein nou+gth many a day.
+To +te table was ydrawe
+Te wayte gan 'A choger!' blawe.
Alisaunder and Candace
To chaumber token her trace,
And, als we fynden on +te book,
+Tat ni+gth +te kyng his leue took,
And went to Ynde to his barouns,
By wodes, by dales, and by douns.
Leue he had wi+t mournyng,
And went for+t in a daweyng
By an hei+ge waie +tat he knew,
Forto he com to Tolomew. 
<P I,423>
He was welcomed many a si+te - 
Al his ost was wel bli+te
+Too hij hadden of hym si+gth. 



