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The letter of Darius to Alexander.

known unto the wretched man, what should fall to him afterward, he should have little thought of the time present, but on the time to come should his thoughts be. In a [poynte] of a day it falls, that the meek is raised up to the clouds, and the [prowde] is put to naught.' And when he had said these words, he raised up, & sat & wrote a letter unto Alexander, saying on these ways.

'To his lord Alexander, king of Macedonia, Darius, king of Persia, greeting & Joy. We have well understood by that that we have heard of thou and seen, that thee have in thou great wisdom & a high wit; so that not only thee know things that are present or past, but also things that are for to come, and therefore all things, that thee do: thee do it without any lack or reprieve. Nevertheless have in mind that right as we were, so were thee begotten & borne of a fleshly woman. And therefore raise not your heart to hie because of your prowess & your doubty deeds, so that forgets your last end. For oftimes, we see that the later end of a man discords with the first. It suffices to a warrior for to get the victory of his enemies, [those?] all he show not all the malice that he may. Remember thou of the worshipful king Xerxes our progenitor, that many victories gotten & [schane] in all prosperities, Before he raised he hear in pride [passand mesure]. All the worship that he had won before, he lost in Ellada, therefore remember thou, that all the worships & the victories that thee have gotten by the foresight of godd

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ye got this victory. To us then who beseech grant your mercy. Yield us our mother, our sons, and wife, and we will render unto you the treasures we have in Aydem and Susa and Batram, the which our fathers hoarded and hid in earthen cellars. And we will give you the kingship of the Medes and Persians, that thus ye may have and keep what victory Jove the almighty hath granted you.'

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