67

Alexander marches against Porus through a desert.

as we [lufe] your conversation we counsel that thee come forth of your [ile] and your husbonds with thou, and appear in our presence. For we swear thou by god Amon our Father, & by all our gods that thee shall have no disease of us. [Bot gyffez] us somewhat in name of tribute and we shall find thou and your Amazons that come with thou horse [ynowe]. And when thou [listees] for to wende home again, thee shall have good leave.' And when the Amazons had read this letter, they went to counsel, and thought it was best for to ascent unto him. And then they sent him x steeds the best that might be found in any country, and x other horse the best that might be gotten, and a great sum of gold. And Talifride herself and other ladies with her went unto him, and accorded with him, and went home again, wonder glad and blithe.

In the meantime it was told Alexander, that Porus, the king of India, was in Bactricen, and assembled a great Army for to fight always with him. And when Alexander heard this, he removed his Army, and chased out [c.l. of duyercs] that knew the country, for to have the governance of his Army, and to lead them surely through that strange country. In the Month of August, when the sun is most hot, they began for to take their journey. And they went through a dry country, sandy, & without water. And [nedlyngez tham byhoued] went armed, there was so great plenty of [adders?], and cruel wildebeasts. For these foresaid guides were more favorable to Porus, than to Alexander & his Army, and therefore they lead them through such barren and perilous countries. And when Alexander saw it [schope] thus, and that his counsel before had said [the sothe], that is to say, both his own friends and men of Capian, that counselled him that he sould not [hye] him overfaste, nor [tryste] too much to strangers; then he commanded that all men should go armed; & so they did. And then all the Army shone right as it had been [sternes], for some of their armors were of gold, sum of silver, and some of precious stones. And when Alexander saw the array of his Army, and their banners before them Shined so fair, he was right glad. Nevertheless great disease he had, that neither he, nor his men, might find no water.

Alexander narches against Porus through a desert. 67

als we lufe yiur co/iu«rsacioiD we conselt j^at ^e come ^ fortlie of He sum-

5owr He & ^^our husbonde^ wit 30W, and appere in oure t^fore^hlm

presence. For we swere 30W bi god* Amofi) oure Fader, & by and ad-

4 all oure godde5 \>ai je satt hafe na disesse of vs. Bot gyffej vs to give tri-

sumwhat m name of tribute and we schatt fynd 50W and ^oure " ^'

Ama^on^is f)at come * wzt 30W horse ynowe. And when) 30W * Leaf 27.
listees for to wende hame agayne, 50 schatt hafe gude leue.'

8 And whefD J?e Amazons hadd? redd" J^is k^^re, J)ay went to The Ama-

conselt, and thoghte it was beste for to ascent vn-titt hym. to^he^^^'^

And })an) }?ay sent hym x stedes )?e beste \)at my3te be funden) terms of

wIlB lotto F»

in any cuntree, and x o)?er horse f)e beste f)at my^te be geten),
12 and a grete sum) of golde. And Talifride hir selfe and oj^er

ladys wzt hir went un-titt hym), and accorded? wit hyr/i, and

went hame agayne, wonder glade and blythe.

' In J?e mene tyme it was talde Alexand^er, ]?at Porws, J?e kyng Alexander
i6of Inde, was in Bactricen), and assembled" a grete Oste for to army

feghte eftsoiiTzs yvit hym. And when) AXeyiander herde this, he a^gainst

® . -^ ' Porus

remowede his Oste, and chese owte c.l of duyercs ])at knewe ]:>e through

cuntree, for to hafe f>e gouernance of his Oste, and to lede J?am) i^^the^^^

20 seurly thurgh J)at strange cuntree. In f)e Monethe of Auguste, "f^oi^tii ^f

when) ]?e son) es maste hate, ]?ay bigan) for to take )?aire iowrnee. The desert

And thay went thurgti a dry cuntree, sandye, & wit-owtten) and^fuHo?

wat«r. And nedlynge; bam) byhoued" wende armede, hare was snakes and
PIT 1 M.<»iii -r-i wild beasts,

24 so grete plentee of neddirs, and crueil ^ wylde bestes. For for the

thies forsaid gyde^ ware mare fauorable to Vovus, J)an) tilt favourable^

Klexander & his Oste, and fare-fore J^ay ledd" J^am) thurgh *» Porus.

swilke barrayne and periloi^s cuntree3. And when) AXexander then re-

28 saw it schope thus, and that his consett byfore had sayd J)e sothe, ^^'^j^^^

\>ai es at say, bathe his awnn) frende^ and men) of Caspy, J?at words of

conseld" hym \>at he suld no3te hye hym ou^rfaste, ne triste to They all go

mekitt to stran5gers ; ]:>an he commanded? \>2ii att men) schulde fj^t^fh^^

32 wende armed": & so Jjay didl And ]?an) att f)e Oste schane ri3te whole

as it had" bene sternes, for sum of J»aire armo^^rs ware of golde, gleams like

suin) of siluer, and sum) of precious stanes. And when) Khs^ander *he stars,
' ^ ^ _ with ban-

saw ]?e araye of his Oste, and )^aire baners bi-fore J?am) ners and a

36 Schynande so faire, he was ri3te gladde. Neu€r-]:>e-les grete mail! ^

disese he hadd", \>ai nowj^er he, ne his mefi), my3te fynde na water.

^ MS. cone. its foliage three-quarters of the margin.

'^ Six lines with miniature J, covering with ' wA turned into w^.

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