52

52

Darius writes to Porus; the evil plot.

the noise of the armed men cried out to Alexander, who
hearing their cries, bade them be taken thence. And seeing
them was struck with ruth and wept, and bade each one be
given ten thousand drachmas, and be restored every one to
his own. For Darius kept them in prison, since they were of
noble birth, and awarded all their possessions to his thralls.
In the meantime the messengers from Alexander to Darius
told all that Alexander had said. And Darius hearing this
began to get ready for the fight. And he wrote another letter
to Porus King of India, which runneth as follows : —

The Letter sent by Darius to Porus King of India.

Darius King of the Persians to Porus King of Our Indians joy. We asked but lately of you, and again we ask you to come and help against those who strive to overthrow our palace. We know well also that the like harm will light on you. For this Alexander, who fighteth thus, hath an unquenchable and wild soul, which like a lion ceaseth not, and is like the sea when stirred by mighty winds. Furthermore, unwillingly though it be, we have gathered numberless races, and we have taken our counsel to fight with him to the very death.

*better us is for to die manyly in the field than for to see mischief of our people & the desolation of our [rewme]. Wherefore, [hafand] reward and compassion of our disease, we beseech thou, that thee let our prayers settle in your heart, & help for to succor us now at our need, [hafand] in your mind the great nobility of our pregenitors. And I assure thou that [I shall] give each footman that comes with thou, three pieces of gold, And each horseman, five pieces of gold, And also meat & drink enough to thou & all your men. And whereso thee [lugge] thou, ye shall find thou a hundred & fourscore tents curiously wrought. And also we shall gift though Alexander horse Bucephalus, and all apparel, & the array that [belongs?] to Alexander [happily?] shall be yours and also all the spoil of his folk shall be dealt amongst your folk. Wherefore we beseech thou that also as soon as this

52

Darius icrites to Poms; the evil plot.

They be-
seech
mercy of
Alexander,
who re-
stores them
to their
own.
For they
were nobles
dispossess-
ed by
Darius.

Darius'

letter to
Porus,
King of
India.

He asks
him again
for help
against
Alexander,
since he
has re-
solved to
fight to the
very death.

For it is
better to
die in the
field than to
see the end
of his king-
dom and
people.
* Leaf 20.
Darius
writes to
Porus to
succour
him for the
sake of
himself, his
dynasty,
and his
people,
promising
him help
and the
spoils of
Alexander.
He warns
him that as
Alexander
had done
to him, so
would be
done to
Porus.

the noise of the armed men cried out to Alexander, who
hearing their cries, bade them be taken thence. And seeing
them was struck with ruth and wept, and bade each one be
given ten thousand drachmas, and be restored every one to 4
his own. For Darius kept them in prison, since they were of
noble birth, and awarded all their possessions to his thralls.
In the meantime the messengers from Alexander to Darius
told all that Alexander had said. And Darius hearing this 8
began to get ready for the fight. And he wrote another letter
to Porus King of India, which runneth as follows : —

The Letter sent by Daeius to Porus King of

India.

' Darius King of the Persians to Porus King of Our Indians
joy. We asked but lately of you, and again we ask you to 12
come and help against those who strive to overthrow our
palace. We know well also that the like harm will light on
you. For this Alexander, who fighteth thus, hath an un-
quenchable and wild soul, which like a lion ceaseth not, and 16
is like the sea when stirred by mighty winds. Furthermore,
unwillingly though it be, we have gathered numberless races,
and we have taken our counsel to fight with him to the very
death. 20

* better vs es for to dy manly in J^e felde fan for to see }?e
mescheffe of oure pople & \>q dissolacion) of oure rewme.
Whare-fore, hafand' reward* and compassion) of oure disesse,
we be-seke 50 w, J?at 50 late oure prayeres sattelt in jowr hert, 24
& helpe for to succowr vs now at oure nede, hafand* in ^oure
mynde J?e grete noblaye of oure progenytowrs. And I seure
50W f>at [I sail] gilfe ilke a fote-man) ]?at comej wit 50W, thre
pecej of golde. And ilke a horse-mafD, fyve pece3 of golde, 28
And also mete & drynke ynoghe to 50W & alt jowr mefD.
And whare so ^e lugge 50W, we schatte fynde 30W a hundreth
& fourscore tentes curyously wroghte. And also we schatt
gyffe 50W AlQ^ander horse Buktyphalas, and alte appairailt, 32
& J3e araye fat langes till AX^xander hallely schatl be 50^7*5
and also att fe spoylle of his folke satt be dalte amange5
joure folke. Where-fore we beseke 30W fat also son) als this