21

Darius's letter to Alexander. 21

write a lettvQ and sent it till Alexander. And bare-wit he sent portrait

hym a handball: & o]>er certane lape^ m scorne. And f>i3 is )?e spises him

ienour of J^e k^^re f>at he sent till hym. short^sta-

"^ ^ ' Darii^s, kyng of kynges, and lord' of all erthely lordes euen) t^re.

like vnto sonne schynande, wit J^e godde3 of Perse, vntill ^rites^to

Alexander oure seruand? we send". We hafe vnderstanden) now Alexander,

telling him

on late, Avhare-of we meruelle vs gretely, pat you ert so raysea how he has

8 in pride and vayne glorye, \ai \o\x hase semblede togedir j^^^^a^^j of

a company of robbot^rs and thefe^ oute of be weste parties, and thieves and

r o D u 6 rs

caste5 )?e for to coin) in-till oure partie^, supposynge thurgH and that

f»am) for to ouer-sett and constreyne ]>e grete myghte & J)e ^^^er^o^er-

1 2 V(2rtue of J?e p^rcyens, whase stienghte J^ou may neuer sloken) ne come the

ouercome, suppose J'ou gadirde & sembled" togedir alt )?e werlde. persia.
For I do J)e wele to wiete J)ou myghte nerehand? alsonne nommer
\>e sternes of heuen), as J^e folke of J?e empire of Perse. Oure

i6 godde^ also^, "^^by whaym) all jjis werlde es gouerned' & sus- *Leaf7bk.
tened] praysse5 & commende^ oure name pasayng alt 6\)&r

nacyons. 'Bot no5te wit-standynge ]:>is; ]:)ou as a littitt bisne & jj +11 ai

a dwerghe, a halfe man) & orte^ of atte men), desyrand" to ouer- anderofhis

,.,.,,.,, . , , p 1 • 1 1 meanness and

20 passe pi littmnesse, ri^te as a mouse crepe3 oute 01 hir hole, so wretchedness

Jjou ert cropen) out of \)Q lande of Sethym), wenynge w^t a few y^^ wishes,

rebawde3 to conquere & optene ])q lande^ of Perse brade & lange, mouse crept

& to ryotte & playe the in thaym) as my^sse douse in ]:>e house when the cat

24 whare na cattes ere. Bot I bat prmaly hase.aspied" thi gates, is gone, ta

J ••■ "^ ■■■ 0:7' dispart him in

when) ]>o\\. wenej moste seurely for to stertle abowte, I salt sterte the broad

apoiD J»e & take J^e ; & so in wrechidnes salt thi dayes fouly gja. But Da-

hafe afD ende. * A grete Folv bou dide for to take apon) the ^^^^^ ^^^^^

° "^ -^ , , -^ pounce upon

28 swylke a presumpcyon. It ware full faire to J^e, if J^ou myghte him when

•I' ir*j. 1 1 •+4-11 r least awaited.

bi oure leie, w^t oure beneuolence, ocupie an anely be rewme of

J It were a great

Macedoyne, 5eldynge par^iore tin vs 3erely a certane tribute, if gift to leave

all: \>o\x couetid* nojte oure empire, pare-fore it es gude fat donia'alone

32 ^po\x lefe thi fonned" pttrposse, and wende hame agayne, and sett binder tribute.

the in thi moder knee. And lo, I sende the here a littitt balle, go home to his

wit f e whilke als a childe ]>o\x may play the. For fou ert bot He^g^nds Mm*

a childe. It es mare semely bat ]:>ou vse childe 3 gamme3 ban a play ball as

36 dede3 of armes. * We knawe wele thi pouert and thi nede, and ing him.

•«

' Four half lines and miniature D with written in large characters indistinctly
a king's head within. , . . Jajchyn ys att a Rio , , .

^ At bottom of leaf 7, first side, are