40
ALEXANDER REPLIES AGAIN.
1059Þat a gome for his gilt · goodly by-wepeþ.
For ho so woneþ in þis word · & wol nouh[t] y-knowe
He who ignores death should be struck down by lightning, Þat him is demed to deie · & doom schal abide,
Hit is riht þat þe rink · be reufully ended,
& smite to þe smeþe ground · wiþ a smart poudur;
1064as Saloneus was." As on sinful was weie · þat salonienus hiȝte,
& euyl endid on erþe · and wrout ful foule.
For þe lud on his lif · a-losed him so noble,
Þat he heuene hadde miht · with handus to reche;
1069For-þi[1] boþe for hur bost · ben y-brend nouþe,
Wiþ fir in þe fir-hil · to fendus by-tauhte.
Þus mowe ȝe finden in fablus · of philozofrus olde,
Þat spoken how þo spild men · spenden hur time."
1072This was Dindimus' last letter Þus was þe lettere of þe lud · þat he last sente,
& mascedonius mihty king · menskliche hit radde.
Whan he þe sonde hadde seye · he sent forþ newe,
Þat was to bragmanye brouht · & prest for to rede.
1076Alxander thus replies. Þanne radde cofly þe king · þis karied sonde,
Þat þus tiþinge tolde · & tauhte þis wordus:—
For ho so woneþ in þis word · & wol nouh[t] y-knowe
He who ignores death should be struck down by lightning, Þat him is demed to deie · & doom schal abide,
Hit is riht þat þe rink · be reufully ended,
& smite to þe smeþe ground · wiþ a smart poudur;
1064as Saloneus was." As on sinful was weie · þat salonienus hiȝte,
& euyl endid on erþe · and wrout ful foule.
For þe lud on his lif · a-losed him so noble,
Þat he heuene hadde miht · with handus to reche;
1069For-þi[1] boþe for hur bost · ben y-brend nouþe,
Wiþ fir in þe fir-hil · to fendus by-tauhte.
Þus mowe ȝe finden in fablus · of philozofrus olde,
Þat spoken how þo spild men · spenden hur time."
1072This was Dindimus' last letter Þus was þe lettere of þe lud · þat he last sente,
& mascedonius mihty king · menskliche hit radde.
Whan he þe sonde hadde seye · he sent forþ newe,
Þat was to bragmanye brouht · & prest for to rede.
1076Alxander thus replies. Þanne radde cofly þe king · þis karied sonde,
Þat þus tiþinge tolde · & tauhte þis wordus:—
How alixandre sente dindimus anoþur letter.
[A picture. VIII.]
[A picture. VIII.]
"Alexander, "Þe emperour alixandre · of armus a-losed,
Þat noble is & name-kouþ · & neuere man dradde,
1080[Fol, 215, back] By godus chance þat ys chose · chef ouur kingus,
& of burnus y-bore · baldest of mihte,
sone of Ammon, to Dindimus Þat amon þe grete god · in graciose timus
By-gat on olimpas · þe onurable quene,
1084By-kenneþ king dindimus · in kiþ þere he dwellus,
His a-seled[2] sonde · & saith in þis wise.—
Ȝe sain, burnus, þat ȝe ben · best echone,
Þat noble is & name-kouþ · & neuere man dradde,
1080[Fol, 215, back] By godus chance þat ys chose · chef ouur kingus,
& of burnus y-bore · baldest of mihte,
sone of Ammon, to Dindimus Þat amon þe grete god · in graciose timus
By-gat on olimpas · þe onurable quene,
1084By-kenneþ king dindimus · in kiþ þere he dwellus,
His a-seled[2] sonde · & saith in þis wise.—
Ȝe sain, burnus, þat ȝe ben · best echone,
quanto maiori quantitate habetur, tanto magis illud habendi cupiditate augmentatur.
Responsiua alexandri didimo regi bragmanorum.
[R]Ex regum ed dominus dominantium Alexander filius dei Hamonis et regine Olimpie Didimo dicendo mandamus. Quoniam in talia
