The storie of Alisaundre is so comune, (641)
That every wight that hath discrecioun
Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
This wyde world, as in conclusioun,
He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun 3825
They weren glad for pees un-to him sende.
The pryde of man and beste he leyde adoun,
Wher-so he cam, un-to the worldes ende.
3827. beste] Hl. bost.
Comparisoun might never yit be maked
Bitwixe him and another conquerour; 3830
For al this world for drede of him hath quaked, (651)
He was of knighthode and of fredom flour;
Fortune him made the heir of hir honour;
Save wyn and wommen, no-thing mighte aswage
His hye entente in armes and labour; 3835
So was he ful of leonyn corage.
3830. E. Hn. Bitwixen. 3832. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ was. 3834. E. man:
_rest_ thing.
What preys were it to him, though I yow tolde
Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo,
Of kinges, princes, erles, dukes bolde,
Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem in-to wo? 3840
I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, (661)
The world was his, what sholde I more devyse?
For though I write or tolde you evermo
Of his knighthode, it mighte nat suffyse.
3837. Cm. preys; E. Hn. pris: Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. pite. 3843. Hl.
_omits._
[265: T. 14573-14604.]
Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee; 3845
Philippes sone of Macedoyne he was,
That first was king in Grece the contree.
O worthy gentil Alisaundre, allas!
That ever sholde fallen swich a cas!
Empoisoned of thyn owene folk thou were; 3850
Thy _sys_ fortune hath turned into _as;_ (671)
And yit for thee ne weep she never a tere!
3851. E. Hn. Cm. aas; Cp. Pt. Hl. an aas; Ln. an as. 3852. E. Hn. Cm.
_omit_ yit; Hl. _has_ right.
Who shal me yeven teres to compleyne
The deeth of gentillesse and of fraunchyse,
That al the world welded in his demeyne, 3855
And yit him thoughte it mighte nat suffyse?
So ful was his corage of heigh empryse.
Allas! who shal me helpe to endyte
False fortune, and poison to despyse,
The whiche two of al this wo I wyte? 3860