31

Clitomarus by wrestling rebuilds his city.

of the city went to the temple of Apollo, and asked whether evermore their city should be repaired again. Apollo answered, & said, 'he that shall build this city again shall have three victories. And when he has gotten three victories, he shall anon come & repair this city, and build it again, also well, as ever it was.

^ Alexander from the city of Thebe, went to Corynthe, and there come to him certain lords, praying him that he would come & see a wrestling. And he granted them. And to this [ilke] wrestling there come folk without number. And when all men were gathered, Alexander said: 'Which of thou,' quoth he, 'shall go & begin this play.' Clitomarus then, of whom I spake before, kneeled before the king, & said: 'Lord,' quoth he, '& ye will vouchsafe to give me leave, I will begin.' And Alexander bade him go to. And Clitomarus went into the place, and the first man that come in his hand, at the first turn, he threw him wide open. And Alexander said unto him: 'Cast three men,' quoth he, '& thou shall be crowned.' Then there come another man to Clitomarus and [vnnethez] he come in his hands, when he was casten wide open. And in the same ways, he served the third. And then Alexander Great set on his head a precious crown, and the kings surrounds spurred him what his name was. 'My name,' quoth he, 'is without city.' When Alexander heard that he said unto him: 'Thou noble restler,' quoth he, 'why art thou called without city?' 'Worshipful emperor,' quoth he, 'before that ye were the emperors Dyademe, I had a city full of folks & of riches. But now, since ye come to this estate & this dignity, I am spoiled & proud of my city.' And when [he] heard this, he [wiste] well that he [ment] of the city of Thebe. And then he [garte] his sergeants make a cry that he had given Clitomarus leave for to repair the city of Thebes. From Corinthe, Alexander and his oste removed to a city that [highte] Platea, of the which a man that [highte] Scrassageras was prince. And Alexander went to the temple of Diane, and found there a women [preste], the which was a maiden, & so was arrayed like priests of that time. And when she saw Alexander, she said unto him: 'Alexander,' quoth she, 'thou

Clitomarus hy lurestling rebuilds his city. 31

of f>e citee went to ]>e temple of Apollo, and askede welper euer an oracle of

• • TT1 '11 An 1 Apollo as to

mare J^aire citee sulde be repaireld agayne. Apollo ansuerde, whether

& said; 'he fat schalt hygge pk citee agayne sail hafe thre gjjouidever

4 victories. And whefD he hase geten) thre victories, he salt ^e rebuilt.

. . II- . 1 The answer

onane come & reparen this citee, and bigge it agayne, also is, it shall

wele, als euer it was.' l;7\iL

^ Alexander fra Ipe citee of Thebe, went to Corynthe, and Ipare fold victor.

8 come till hym certane lordes, prayand' hym ]?at he walde come ^ invited^

& see a wrestillynge. And he graunted? J^ain). And to pis like to a wrest-

wrestillynge pare come folke witowtteiD nowmer. And when) jje'asks

alt men) were ffadirde, Alexander saide : ' whilk of 5owe,' quob who will

he^'iii.

12 he, ' salt gaa & be-gynn) J>is playe '. Clitomarus ]5an), of whaym)

I spake bifore, knelid' bi-fore pe kyng, & saide : * lorde,' quop Clitomarus

he, *& 50 wolle vouche-saffe to giffe me leue, I wilt be-gyn).' favour of

And Alexander bad hym ga to. And Clitomarus went in-to J^e ^^ ^^^^'

16 place, and pe firste man) pat come in his hande, at the first He wins
towrne he threwe hym wide open). And Alexander said vntitt Alexan-
hyin: 'Caste thre men)/ quop he, '& pou. salt be coround". de^'s pro-
pan) pare come ano)?er man) to Clitomarus and vnnethe^ he come He wins

30 in his hande3, when) he was castefD wyde open. And one pe jj^ ^j^^g

same wvse he seruede be thirde. And ban Alexander gart sett thnce.

*' ■■ J tj Crowning

ofD his heuede a precious corourD, and pe kyngej seruaunde'^ him they

spirrede hym what his name was. * My name,' quop he, ' es wit j^^g ua^e.

24 owttefD citee '. AVhen Alexander herde pat he saide vn-tilt H®

^ , answers,

hym : * Thou noble wristiller,' quop he, ' whi arte pou callede wit ' One with-

owttefD citee.' ' Wirchipfult empero^(.r,' quop he, ' be-fore ]:)at je ^^^ it"be-

werede be emperoi^rs Dyademe, I hadde a citee full of folke; t^}^ ^^^^^

i ^ " ^ ■> his answer.

28 & of reches. Bot now, sene je come to this astate & f>is
dignytee, I am spoylede & priuede of my citee.' And when)
[he] herde this, he wiste wele J>at he ment of pe citee of

Thebe. And ]:>an he garte his sergeante5 * make a crye that * Leaf 12.

32 [he] hadd" giffen Clitomar^^s leue for to repairelle pe citee

of Thebes. Fra Corinthe, AlexmicZer and his oste remowed' tilt From

a citee pdX highte Platea, of pe whilke a man) pdX liighte Scrassa- they go to

geras was pry nee. And Klexander went to pe temple of Diane, -^^^^^^ ^^^

36 and fande pare a woman) preste, pe whilke was a mayden), & scho pie of

was araied" lyke prestej of poX tymme. And when) [scho] sawe The'^maid-

Alexawc/er, scho saide vn-titt hym : ' AlexawcZer,' qwof scho, ' pou ®^ Priestess
^ Five half lines space with miniature A, with knight within.