36
& in menskinge of mouþ · mirþe we hauen,
952In tendere touchinge of þing · & tastinge of swete.
We enjoy fruit. & sin we frekus ben so fre · þat we frut hauen,
& al þat growus in þe ground · of graciouce þingus;
We finde fihch in þe se · þat vs fedeþ alle;
956 We lachen likinge y-now · of þe lof briddus;
& ȝif ȝe wonde pf þat won · to winne ȝoure fode,
Ȝe schulle be demed þat ȝe don · dispit to þo kindus.
Ye dishnour the Creator. Þanne schewe ȝe to hur schappere · schame for his sondus.
Þat so schinden his schap · þat e ȝou scheweþ here.
961 Or ȝe han hertely hate · to oure hole peple,
For we ben beture of our lif · & swich bote finden;
Sin swiche godus as we sen · ben sen[t] to us alle,
964& nouht so to[1] ȝou now · nedful burnus.
Your deeds are fully." Alle þe dedus þat ȝe don · y deme þat it turnus
More to folie þan to faiþ · of any ful witte."
His sonde þat y said haue · sire alixandre riche
968Let bringe wiþ his brode sel · to bragmanus prince,
& raþe wahn hit rad was · ful redy wiþ oþur
Dindimus replies. To þis adoutede duk · dindimus sente.
Whan hit was sent to þe seg · he dide hit sone red;
972hear his reply! No how hit goodly by-gan · men, giuus tente!
952In tendere touchinge of þing · & tastinge of swete.
We enjoy fruit. & sin we frekus ben so fre · þat we frut hauen,
& al þat growus in þe ground · of graciouce þingus;
We finde fihch in þe se · þat vs fedeþ alle;
956 We lachen likinge y-now · of þe lof briddus;
& ȝif ȝe wonde pf þat won · to winne ȝoure fode,
Ȝe schulle be demed þat ȝe don · dispit to þo kindus.
Ye dishnour the Creator. Þanne schewe ȝe to hur schappere · schame for his sondus.
Þat so schinden his schap · þat e ȝou scheweþ here.
961 Or ȝe han hertely hate · to oure hole peple,
For we ben beture of our lif · & swich bote finden;
Sin swiche godus as we sen · ben sen[t] to us alle,
964& nouht so to[1] ȝou now · nedful burnus.
Your deeds are fully." Alle þe dedus þat ȝe don · y deme þat it turnus
More to folie þan to faiþ · of any ful witte."
His sonde þat y said haue · sire alixandre riche
968Let bringe wiþ his brode sel · to bragmanus prince,
& raþe wahn hit rad was · ful redy wiþ oþur
Dindimus replies. To þis adoutede duk · dindimus sente.
Whan hit was sent to þe seg · he dide hit sone red;
972hear his reply! No how hit goodly by-gan · men, giuus tente!
How dindimus sendyd an answere to alixandre by letter.
[A picture. VII.]
[A picture. VII.]
"Dindimus "Dindimus þe dere king · the docktour of wise,
Þat lord of bragmanus land · & ledere is holde,
Þat lord of bragmanus land · & ledere is holde,
et per gustum alia saporamus. De terra etiam omnes fructus attrahimus, de mari pisces, de aere volucres, et auium deliciis gratulamur. Si autem ab his uolueritis [ed. nolueritis] abstinere, aut superbia vos tenebit aut inuidia contra nos torquebimini, eo quod nobis et non vobis ista sunt donata. Ego autem secundum oppinionem meam iudicio quod mores vestri ad stulticiam magis quam ad sapientiam retrahuntur--Recepta epistola dindimus legit, et statim alexandro secundo more scripsit hoc modo.
[D]Idimus bragmanorum didascolus Alexandro salutem. Non
- ↑ MS. 'do'
