42
ALEXANDER BUILDS A MARBLE PILLAR.
It is for us to mourn for you & to make for ȝoure mischef · mour[n]inge sichus.
1116For wers faren no folk · founde vp-on erþe.
Þan frekus þat no frut han · frely to libbe.
God has decreed your pain hereafter. God þat iuge is of ioie · haþ iugged ȝou alle
To lenge aftur ȝour lif · in lastinge paine;
1120and misery in the present life. & he haþ marked ȝou men · mischef on erþe,
Þouh ȝe wene ȝou wise · & wittie of lorus!
Þere-fore, seggus, as y saide · for sake of ȝour dedus
Mede mowe ȝe of god · in no manere fonge;
1124Ȝe ben vn-blessed of lif · for, burnus, y warne
Your deeds are but misery to you." Þat ȝe holden so her · holsome dedes
Gret wante is of wo · & wikkede paine,
Þe whiche þe heie godus haten · & hure hole peple
1228Now tende we to touche more · of þis tale aftur;
Thus ends the letter. For of þis egre emperour · þus endeþ þe lettere.
What þis makelese man · þat most was adouted,
Þe romme riden alixandre · richest of kingus,
Hadde le[n]gged þere longe · & lettrus þe while
Endited to dindimus · as him dere þoute,
Alexander bids his men build a pillar of marble; Þere his burnus he bad · bulden of marbre
A piler sadliche i-picht · or he passe wolde;
& þat þei wrouhten a wrȝte · & writen þer-aboute:—
"Hidur haue ich, alixandre · wiþ myn help fare"
Whan graue was þe graie ston · þe grime king rydus,
1139and departs them & alle meven his men · fro þe marke euene.
How alixandre picht a pelyr of marbyl þere.
[ A picture. IX.]
1116For wers faren no folk · founde vp-on erþe.
Þan frekus þat no frut han · frely to libbe.
God has decreed your pain hereafter. God þat iuge is of ioie · haþ iugged ȝou alle
To lenge aftur ȝour lif · in lastinge paine;
1120and misery in the present life. & he haþ marked ȝou men · mischef on erþe,
Þouh ȝe wene ȝou wise · & wittie of lorus!
Þere-fore, seggus, as y saide · for sake of ȝour dedus
Mede mowe ȝe of god · in no manere fonge;
1124Ȝe ben vn-blessed of lif · for, burnus, y warne
Your deeds are but misery to you." Þat ȝe holden so her · holsome dedes
Gret wante is of wo · & wikkede paine,
Þe whiche þe heie godus haten · & hure hole peple
1228Now tende we to touche more · of þis tale aftur;
Thus ends the letter. For of þis egre emperour · þus endeþ þe lettere.
What þis makelese man · þat most was adouted,
Þe romme riden alixandre · richest of kingus,
Hadde le[n]gged þere longe · & lettrus þe while
Endited to dindimus · as him dere þoute,
Alexander bids his men build a pillar of marble; Þere his burnus he bad · bulden of marbre
A piler sadliche i-picht · or he passe wolde;
& þat þei wrouhten a wrȝte · & writen þer-aboute:—
"Hidur haue ich, alixandre · wiþ myn help fare"
Whan graue was þe graie ston · þe grime king rydus,
1139and departs them & alle meven his men · fro þe marke euene.
How alixandre picht a pelyr of marbyl þere.
[ A picture. IX.]
sustinetis. Unde fit vt qui a vobis sapiens dicitur apud nos iudicio resu appelatur. Uere itaque non beatitudine sed miseria potest vita vestra decorari. Sed per deos immortales iuro quod si ad vos ingredi possemus, vestra miseria derelicta faceremus vos armis et equis miltaribus decorari.
Qualiter alexander fecit ergi columnam marmoream in signum victorie.
[I]Nterea precepit alexander vt in eodem loco columna marmoreamire magnitudinis figeretur, et iussit in eam hunc titulum literis grecis latinis et indicis conscribi: 'Ego alexander philippi Macedonis post obitum darii vsque ad hunc locum expugnando veriliter militaui.'
