The Monk's Tale
Folio 235v
18 of 21 folios
530
That in his body wicked wormes crept
And þer with al he stonk so orribly
That noon of his meyne þat him kepe
Wheþer þat he wook or elles slepte
Ne mighte nought þe stynk of him endure
535
In þis meschief he weyled and eek wepte /
And knew god lord of euery creature
To al his host and to himself also
Ful wlatsom was þe stynk and þe carayne
No man migħt him bere to ne fro
540
And in stynk and orrible payne
He starf ful wrecchedly in a mountayne
Thus haþ þis robbour and þis homicide
That many a man made wepe and playne
Swich guerdoun is þat longeþ vnto pryde
545
The story of alisaunder is so comune
That euery wight þat haþ discrecioun
Haþ herd som what or al of this fortune
This wyde world as in conclusioun
He wan by strengþe or for his heigħ renou~
550
Thay were glad for pees vnto him sende
The pride of man and bost he layd a doun
Wher so he cam . vnto þe worldes ende /
Comperisoun ȝit mighte neuer be maked
Bitwen him and noon oþer conquerour
555
For al þis world for drede of him haþ quaked
He was of knyghthod and of fredam flour
Fortune him made þe heir of hir honour
Saue wyn and wȳmen no þing migħt aswage
His heigħ entent in armes and labour
560
So was he ful of lumyne corage
What pite were it to him þough I ȝow tolde /
Of Darius and an hundred þousand mo
Of kynges princes Dukes and eorles bolde /
Which he conquered and brouȝt / vnto wo
565
I say as fer as men may ryde or go
The world was his what schold I more deuyse
Of his knighthood it mighte nouȝt suffise /