102

102 Alexander's stratagem and 2^arting. The cave of the Gods.

combat by
his wit, so
that either
slay not
other.
Alexander
promises to
do so.
Alexander
offers to
betray
Alexander
to Carator.

Carator

assents.

Queen
Candace
parts from
Alexander
with many
gifts.

* Leaf 43
bk.

Alexander
and Can-
deolus
come to
a cave.
Alexander,
sacrificing,
goes in.
He sees a
great god
sittingwith
eyes like
stars.
The god
greets him.

qudp scho, ' whi wilt f»ou no^te schewe thi witt, and helpe
thurgti thi wisdom) )?at my sonnes slaa ii05t ayther of f)am)
o\)er 1 ' And Alexander answerde and said": * Late me goo
speke wit J>am/ quolp he. And echo lete hym goo. And 4
he went to J)ani) and sayde vn-to Carator : * For sothe, Carator,'
quo]) he, ' I late J^e wite pat if ]:»ou slaa me, J>ou salt wynne bot
lyttitt wirchipe Ipareoffe. For I say J^e, kyng Alexander hase
many worthyer knyghtis wit hym ]?an) I am) ; And pare-iove he s
witt hafe littilt sorowe for my dede. Trowes pon f>at and
Alexander hadd" lufed me wele pat he walde hafe sent me hyder
to be killed" amange^ 5owe. Bot if ):ou witt )?at I beken) the
Alexander pe slaere of J'i wyfe fader & bryng hyw bi-for the, 12
Swere me f)at what so I asche pe, pon satt graunte mee it, And
I sure pe bi pe faythe of my body, I satt bryng Alexander in-to
J)is palace be-fore pe.' And when) Carator herde this, he was
ri5te glade, and trowed f>at that Alexander saidl And so ware 16
pe twa brej^^r pesede, And highte Alexander f)at his askynge
sulde be fulfilled' als ferforthe als p&he powere reched', if so ware
pat he helde couenant. pan) queue Candace leedd Alexander on
syde & sayd'vn-titt hym in preuatee : 'Wele ware me,' quop scho, 20
' myghte I ilke day hafe pe present be-fore myn) eghne as I hafe
myn) awenii) childere. For thurgh the sulde I ouercome att
myn) Enemys.' And f)an) [scho] gaffe Alexander a coroun) of golde
sett futt of precyous dyamande5, and a mantitt Imperiatt 24
of a clathe of golde * wit sternes wofen pare-\i^, and sett futt of
pr^cyouse stanes. And ]^an) scho kyssed' hym & oj^dr preuee
thynge^ didd" titt hym, And badde hyw goo in hir blyssynge.

^ Than kyng Alexander and Candeolus went furthe att that 28
daye. And come titt a grete speluyic, and J?are f)ay herberde
J^am). And Candeolus saide titt Alexander : ' In this spelu^ic/
quop hee, ' J^at you here see^ att godde^ ere wount for to ete and
halde ]?aire consaitt.' And })an) onane Alexander made sacra- 32
{jce'^ titt his godde^ and enterde in-to pe caue by hym ane.
And ]?are he sawe a myrke clowde, & in ]:>at myrknesse, he sawe
as it ware bryghte sternes, and amange5 J?ase sternes he saw
a grete godd'sitt, And his eghne lyke twa lanternes. And when) 36
Alexander saw hym) he was so fered" pat he was as it hadd? bene

I

^ Red capital T in four lines space and small t in margin.