22

22

Alexander and the ambassadors of Darius,

that thou. hast [vnnethes] wherewith thou may sustain thy [caytyfde
corse. Wene^ thou than], to bring under thy [subjection?] the
empire of Darius. I say that by my Father Saule, that in the
room of Persia there is so great plenty of gold, that, & it were
gathered together on a heap, It should pass the [clearness?] of the
son. Wherefore we command them, and straightly enjoin them,
that thou. leave thy full pride and thy vain glory, & turn home
again to Macedoyne. And if po\i witt no5te soo, we shall send
to the a multitude of men) of arms [swilke] ane saw pou. never, pe
which shall take them, and hang them high off a gibbet as a traitor
and a master of thief: and not as the son of Philippe.'

When the messengers that were sent for Darius come to king Alexander, they gave him the letters, and the bane & other
certain lapes, that the emperor sent him in scorn. And
Alexander took the letters, and the Great read it openly before all men, and Alexander knights when they heard the tenor of the letters were greatly astounded and wonder [heuy]. And when Alexander saw them so [heuy] because of the letters, he said unto them: * a a, my worthy knights,' quoth he, ' are the feared" for the proud words that are contained in Darius letters, [wate 3e noghte welk that hunde, that berkes * mekill, bytej men noghte
so sone, als does hundes that comes one man without breaking. We [trewe] well the letter says [sothe] of something, that is to say, of the great plenty of gold, that Darius says he has. And therefore let us manly fight with him and we shall have that gold. For the great multitude of his gold, as methink, should [gare] us be bold and hardy for to fight with him manly.'

When Alexander had said their words, he bade his knights take the messengers of Darius and bind their hands behind them and lead them forth to the gallows-ward, and then the messengers began for to cry ruefully until Alexander said: "A, A worshipful lord & king', quoth they, 'what have we trespassed, that we shall be hanged for our king's death'. And then king Alexander answered': 'the words of our Emperor', quoth he, [augurs?] me do this, that sent thou unto me, as unto a thief, as the

22

Alexander and the ambassadors of Darius,

that thou. hast [vnnethes] wherewith thou may sustain thy [caytyfde
corse. Wene^ thou than], to bring under thy [subjection?] the
empire of Darius. I say that by my Father Saule, that in the
room of Persia there is so great plenty of gold, that, & it were
gathered together on a heap, It should pass the [clearness?] of the
son. Wherefore we commande them, and straightly enjoin them,
that thou. leave thy fole pride and thy vain glory, & turn home
again to Macedoyne. And if po\i witt no5te soo, we shall send
to the a multitude of men) of arms [swilke] ane saw pou. neu^r, pe
whilke salt take pe, and hang them high off a gibbet as a traitor
and a master of thief: and nojte as the son of Philippe.'

When the messengers that were sent [fra] Darius come to king Alexander, they gave him the letters, and pe bane & oper
leUer? His certane lapes, that the emperor sent him in scorn. And
knights, hear- Alexander took the letters, and gert read it openly before all

ing it read, are i a i i i i

astounded and men), and Alexander knights when they heard the tenor of the
oast down. le^^res ware gretly astonayde and wonder heuy. And when)
Alexander sawe J?afrD so happy because of the letters, he said unto them : * a a, my worthy knights,' quoth he, ' are ^e fered" for the
proud words that are contained in Darius s letters, wate 3e 20
noghte wele ]^at hunde^, pat berkes * mekill, bytej men) noghte
so sone, als doej hundes pat comme^ one men) we^-outten
berkynge. We trewe wele pe lettre says sothe of some thynge5,
f)at es to ^ saye, of pe grete plentee of golde, pat Dariws sals he 24
hase. And parefore late vs manly feghte wit hym and we salt
hafe pat golde. For J^e grete multitude of his golde, als me
thynke, schulde gare vs be balde and hardy for to fighte wit
hym manly.' 28

When Alexander had' saide thir word 65 he bade his knyghtis
take the messangers of Dariits and bynd^ Jjaire hande^ bi-hynde
]:)am), & lede ]:?am) furthe to the galowes, & hynge ]?am). And
psij tuke pe messangers & baude J)am), and began for to lead
them further to the gallows-warde and )?an) pe messengers bigan)
for to crye rewfuUy vntitt Alexander & sayd?: ' A, A wirchipfutt
lorde & kyng'e ', quop fay, ' whate hafe we trespaste, pat we
schatt be hau?igede for oure kynges dedis '. And J^afD kyng 36
Alexander ansuerd": ' f»e worde^ of ^our Emperor', quop he,
* gers me do ]?is, J^at sent 50W vn-to me, as vnto a theeffe, as pe