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Alexander destroys the Thebeans.

us in suppoellyiig of us.' And when the Thebeans heard their words,
they [spered] the gates of the city, for to withstand Alexander, and went to the walls and cried loud that Alexander might hear: 'Alexander,' quoth they, 'but if thou go [hethyn] from us, we shall do thee a villainy and thy knights also,' When Alexander heard this, he smiled & said,: 'The Thebeans,' quoth he, 'that are so much praised & commended of strength, [Spere] ye your gates & say ye will fight with me; there is no doubty man of arms that couldst for to have worship and lose; that will close him whthin walls, but fights with his enemies manly in the field.' When he had said their words, he bade that four thousands archers should go aboute the city with their bows & lay upon them with arrows that stood upon the walls. And he bade two hundred men of arms go to the walls, and [myne] them down, and a hundred he bade take firebrands, & go to the gates & burn them. And he ordained other four hendred men, for to [bett] down the walls with [Sewes] of war, Engines and Guns & other manner of Instruments of war. And himself, and the remnant of the oste lay near them to succor them when they had need. And [belyfe] from they had given assault to the city, the gates were burnt, & much folk was slain within the city, Some with arrows, some with [stanes] of Engines; the Fire also began for to set in houses within the city, & raise a great [lowe]. In the Oste of Alexander was, the same time, a man the [whilke highte] Cisterus, a great enemy to the city. He, when he saw the city burn, made right merry. But a man of the city that [highte] Hismon, when he saw his country [pusgates] be destroyed, come and fell on knees before Alexander, and began for to sing a song of music & of mourning with an Instrument of Music, Supposing thereby for to draw Alexander's heart to Mercy, & stir him to have [rewthe] on the city. Alexander beheld him, & said: 'Maister,' quoth he 'whereto sings thou me this song?' 'A A lord,' quoth Hismon, 'to look [zife] I might stir thy heart to have mercy on the city.' And then Alexander was wonder wrath, and bade [dynge] the walls of the city down to the hard earth. And when they had so done they removed & went their way, and one of the worthiest men of the city, the [whilke hyghte] Clitomarus, went with them in company. But the Thebeans that were left after the burning

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