44 Letter of Alexander. Another defat. Porus' letter.

44

Letter of Alexander. Another defeat. Porus' letter.

make us of them clothing, and shoes; and with camels that have at Alexander [gerre] carry them to thee water of Euphrates.' In the meantime a prince of Darius, Nostande by name, wrote to Darius on his way.

To Darius the worshipful great god has servant Nostande loyal service. Me ought not to send such things to our royal majesty, but great need [gers] me do it. Therefore be it known unto our high lordship, that the great prince of ours, and I, have fought with king Alexander, and him is fallen thee victory,
and slain he has their two worthy princes, and I killed other folk, and I fled grievously wounded. And many worthy knights of ours have forsaken our lordship and joined him to Alexander oste, the which he has worshipfully, and has given great lordships of ours. And when Darius had read this letter, he sent in haste till Nostand and commanded him for to ordain a great Oste; and manfully withstand the folk of Macedonia. He also sent a letter to Porus king of Ynde, praying to him to help him against Alexander, and Porus wrote again in this manner.

Porus, king of Ynde, unto Darius, king of Persia, greeting. For thou has prayed for us to come to thee in helping of thee against thine enemies, we let thee [wete], that we are ready and always have been, for to come to help you. But at this time we are [leted] to come to thou, because of great sickness that we are stood in, Nevertheless, [secretly?], it is right [heuy] unto us, and grievous, unto us to hear of thee great injury that is done unto thou. And therefore we let thou [wete], that within short time, we shall come for to help thou with ten legions of knights.' But when Rodogorious, Darius mother, heard tell that Darius her son ordained him for to fight again with king Alexander she was right sorry and wrote a letter unto him that contained
this sentence.

To king Darius, her most beloved son, Rodogorius, his
mother sends greetings and joy. I have understood that he has
assembled our men, and much other folk also, for to fight

44

Letter of Alexander. Another defeat. Porus' letter.

make us of them clothing, and shoes; and with camels that have at Alexander [gerre] carry them to thee water of Euphrates.' In the meantime a prince of Darius, Nostande by name, wrote to Darius on his way.

To Darius the worshipful great god has servant Nostande loyal service. Me ought not to send such things to our royal majesty, but great need [gers] me do it. Therefore be it known unto our high lordship, that the great prince of ours, and I, have fought with king Alexander, and him is fallen thee victory,
and slain he has their two worthy princes, and I killed other folk, and I fled grievously wounded. And many worthy knights of ours have forsaken our lordship and joined him to Alexander oste, the which he has worshipfully, and has given great lordships of ours. And when Darius had read this letter, he sent in haste till Nostand and commanded him for to ordain a great Oste; and manfully withstand the folk of Macedonia. He also sent a letter to Porus king of Ynde, praying to him to help him against Alexander, and Porus wrote again in this manner.

Porus, king of Ynde, unto Darius, king of Persia, greeting. For thou has prayed for us to come to thee in helping of thee against thine enemies, we let thee [wete], that we are ready and always have been, for to come to help you. But at this time we are [leted] to come to thou, because of great sickness that we are stood in, Nevertheless, [secretly?], it is right [heuy] unto us, and grievous, unto us to hear of thee great injury that is done unto thou. And therefore we let thou [wete], that within short time, we shall come for to help thou with ten legions of knights.' But when Rodogorious, Darius mother, heard tell that Darius her son ordained him for to fight again with king Alexander she was right sorry and wrote a letter unto him that contained
this sentence.

To king Darius, her most beloved son, Rodogorius, his
mother sends greetings and joy. I have understood that he has
assembled our men, and much other folk also, for to fight