68

The unwholesome river.

So it fell that a knight of Macedonia that [hyzte zephilus] found water standing in a hollow stone, that was gathered thereof the dew of the heaven, the which this forsaid knight pt in his basinette, & brought it to Alexander for to drink. And Alexander said unto him, 'I suppose,' quothe he, 'that I drink this water, shall the Madeconians & the persians be anything refreshed thereby, or I shall have all the refreshing by myself.' And he answered, & said, 'Thou all one lord,' quoth he, 'shall be comforted thereby.' Quoth Alexander then, 'And if thee shall all perish [trowes] though that it should be likened to me, for to leave in sorrow & disease saying the dead of the Macedonians & the persiand?' And . . .