39

Alexander puts his Physician to the test.

"worshipful Emperor,' quoth the, 'be nothing feared but drink the medicine boldly,' and then anon Alexander took this drink, & showed Philippe the letter. And when Philippe had red the letter, he said to Alexander: 'Now forsooth, my lord,' quoth he, 'I take our gods to witness that I am not guilty of this treason, that here is written.' Alexander then was all hale as ever he was, & called unto Philippe his physician & embraced' him in his arms & said: 'Philippe,' quoth he, "knows thou how much love & trust I have in thee. First I drank thy medicine, & [syne] I showed thee the letter that was sent me against thee.' 'My lord,' quoth Philippe, 'I beseek thou that thee will vouchsafe to send after my acuser, and do him come before your presence that this letter sent unto thou, and has [lered] me for to do such a high treason. [Be-lyfe] then great Alexander send after Parmeny for to come unto him, and [gerte the sothe] be searched, & found that he was worthy the deed. And then he [gert girde] of his [heued.']

^ Fra beine kyng Alexander remowed" his Oste titi hermony be Alexander

■• t/ o ^ ^ ... conquers

mare & onane he conquered" it, & put it vnder his subiecciofD. Armenia

20 And fra f>eine he trauailed" many a day * wit his Oste, and at pe * ^^^^ »5

laste come titt a cantre wonder drye, & futt of creuesce^ of ,, ^ ,

cauerne^, & aide cisternes whare na water myghte be funden). and

And Fra J^eine puj passede thurgti a cuntree, j^at es called" through

24 Andrias, to pe Reuere of Eufrates. And J^are fay lugede psiin). th^^E^^ *^

pan Alexander garte brynge many grete tree^, for to make phrates.

a brygge of ouer J'at water, appon) schippe;, and garte tj^e Jjam) bridge of

SamefD w^t chenys of Iren) & ireiD nayle^. And when) pe brigge J'^^^^s a^<^^

28 was att redy, he badde his knyghtes wende ouer apofD it. Bot his knights

T _^ , 1 . -n 1 1 •,! fear to cross

when) pay saw pe grete reuer ryne so swiitely and with so it because

a grete a byrre, thay dred ]:am) pat pe brygge schulde fatte. ^^^^

For paj supposede pe chenys schuld breke be-cause of grete of the

32 weghte. And, when Alexander saw J^ain) dredand* on this Alexander

wyse, he gert hirde-men), pat were J>are kepand" katett, wend' ?f^^^

ouer before, and warnede pat pe Oste schulde folowe J^am). over, yet

Bot jit pe knyghtis ware ferde & durste noghte wende ouer. durst^not ^

36 Than) was Alexander ri:tc wrathe and callede vntilt hym alt follow.

** , r» 1 Alexander

his prynces, & grete lorde3, and firste he went hym selfc ouer then goes
* MS. repeats for to do twice, ^ Three lines with miniature F.