60
The letter of Darhis to Alexander.
He writes
to Alex-
ander.
He praises
the great
wisdom of
Alexander,
who even
knows
what is to
come.
Neverthe-
less he re-
minds him
of his
earthly
birth, and
warns him
against
pride. For
often the
end of a
man ill
accords
with the
beginning.
He reminds
him of the
fate of
Xerxes.
Darius de-
mands his
mother,
wife, and
children,
offering
therefor
his trea-
sure and
the king-
ship over
the Medes
and Per-
sians.
knawefD vn-to J)e wreched maii), what schulde falle tift hym
after-wardej, he schulde hafe littitt thoghte of f)e tyme presentt,
bot one J?e tyme to come solde his tho^te be. In a poynte of a
daye it falles, Jjat ]>q meke es raysede vp to J^e clowdde3, and Jjc 4
prowde es putt to no3te.' And whefD he hade saide thir wordes,
he rase vp, & satt & wrate a k^re vn-till Alexander, sayande
on this wyese.
^ ' Tilt his lorde Alexander, kyng of Macedoyne, Dariws, kyng 8
of Perse, gretyng & Joy. We hafe wele vndirstanden by )?at
that we hafe herde of ^owe and sene, J^at ^e hafe in ^ow grete
wysedom) & a hye witt : so ]>at no5te allanly 5e knawe
thynges ])at are present or passede, bot also thynge3 ]?at ere 12
for to come, and f)are-fore alt thynge^, J>at je doo : ^e do it
wtt -owtefD any lakke or repreue. Neuer-J)e-lesse hafe^ in
mynde })at ri^te as wee ware, so ware 56 geten) & borne of a
fleschly womafD. And ^are fore rayse no^te "^our herte to hye 16
bi-cause of 50wr prowesche & ^our doghty dedis, so fat 5e
forgete '^our laste ende. For ofte tymes we see \>9.i fe lattere
end of a man) discordes wet J)e firste. It suffice5 titt a wer-
ryonre for to gete J>e victorye of his enemys, |5ofe att he 20
schewe nojte atte fe malice f)at he may. Kemembre 30W of J^e
wirchipfutt kyng ^erses oure progenytowr, f>at many victoryes
gatt & schane in alte prosperiteez. Be-fore he raysed' his hert
in pride passande mesure. Alte \>q wirchippe J?at he hadd 24
wonn) be-fore, he loste in Ellada, Ipare-fore remembre 50W, fat
alt J>e wirchipes & pe victoryes fat je hafe geten) by fe
forluke of '^godd'
ye got this victory. To us then who beseech grant your 28
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 32
Persians, that thus ye may have and keep what victory Jove
the all-mighty hath granted you.'
I
^ Four lines space with decorated minia-
ture T.
2 ' by j)e forluke of godcT ' is written at
the bottom of leaf 18 bk. Between this
leaf and what is now numbered leaf 20
a whole leaf is missing ; and we are plunged
into the middle of quite a different letter
of Darius on leaf 20, which is addressed
to Porus.
EN