The Monk's Tale
Folio 236r
19 of 21 folios
Twelf ȝer he regned as saith machabe
570
Philippes son of Macedon he was
That first was king . in Crece þat contre
O worþy gentil alisaundre alas
That euer schulde falle such a caas
Empoysoned of þin oughne folk þou were
575
Thyn fortune is torned in to an aas
And right for þe ne wepte sche neuer a teere
Who schal me ȝiue teeres to compleigne
The deþ of gentiles and of fraunchise
That al þe worlde had in his demeigne
580
And ȝit him þougħt it migħte nouȝt suffice
So ful was his corage of high emprise /
Allas who schal helpe me to endite /
Fals infortune and poysoun to deuyse
The whiche two al þis wo I wyte
585
By wisedom manhod and gret labour
Fro humble bed to royal mageste /
Vp roos he Iulius þe conquerour
That wan al thoccident by land and see
By strengþe of hond or elles by trete
590
And vnto Rome made hem contributarie
And siþþe of Rome þemperour was he
Til þat fortune wax his aduersarie /
O mighty Cesar þat in Thessalie /
Agains pompious fader þin in lawe
595
That of þe orient had al þe chiualrie
Als fer as þat þe day bigynnes to dawe
Thorugħ þi knighthod þou hast him take and slawe
Saue fewe folk þat wiþ pompeus fledde
Þurgħ which þou puttist al þorient in awe
600
Thanke fortune . þat so wel þe spedde
But now a litel while I wil bywaile
This pompeus þe noble gouernour
Of Rome which þat flowe fro þis bataile
Alas I say oon of his men a fals traitour
605
His heed of smoot to wynne his fauour
Of Iulius and him þe heed he brouȝt