dar under blumen unde gras.
do die none liden was
do sunken di boume nider.
uf den boumen wohs gut fruht;
da begine ih groz unzuht;
ih gebot minen knechten.
groz not in dar vone bequam
svilich irre daz obiz nam,
der wart so zebluwen
daz ime das moste ruwen
daz er ie geboren wart
si worden ouh an der vart
mit geislen sere zeslagen
sine wisten, uber wen doh clagen
wande si ne gesahen niemanne;
doh horten si eine stimme,
di gebot unde sagete,
daz nieman ne scadete
dem obize noh den boumen;
daz si des namen goume
neweder wafen noh man.
wurdiz ubir daz getan,
dar umbe solde liden not
unde den bitteren tot
oder scaden vil groz,
der des obezis ni ne genoz.
Ouh sahe wir dar
cleine fugele, daz ist war
di waren samfte gemuot
unde ne forhten niwit den tot.
groze not er liden solde
sver in scaden wolde,
den brante daz himelfiur
dem ward daz leben vil sur."
|
Then we pitched our tent
Upon a broad field
A great wonder I saw there;
In the morning, when day came to us,
I then saw trees grow--
Of it I took good heed--
Which grew very finely
Out of the earth until noon;
Thereunder (were) flowers and grass
When noon was past
Then sank the trees down
Deep under the earth again.
On the trees grew good fruit;
Then I did a great evil
I ordered my servants
To break off for me some of the fruit.
A great peril came of it.
Whoever rashly took the fruit,
He was so severely beaten
That it must repent him
That ever he was born.
They were also upon the way
With whips severely struck.
They knew not whom to accuse,
since they saw no one.
But they heard a voice
Which commanded and said
That no one was to harm
The fruit nor the trees;
That they should take heed of it,
Both as to weapon and man.
If aught were done against this,
The man would suffer pain for it
And bitter death
Or very great harm,
And still would not taste the fruit.
We also saw there
Little birds--it is true--
Which were of gentle mood,
And feared death no whit.
He was to suffer great pain
Whoever should harm them;
Heaven's fire should burn him;
Life should be very bitter for him.
|
Abstract of the contents of fragment B.
§ 14. The general contents of fragment B may be briefly described. After Alexander had slain Porus, king of India, he came to the country of the Oxydracae, the people of which go naked, and are called Gymnosophists. Their king sends a letter to Alexander, representing that he has nothing to gain by subduing them. Alexander offers them peace, and promises to grant them a boon; upon which they ask him, by way of taunt, to give them everlasting life. He replies that he cannot do that, but must fulfill his destiny. Next he sees the wonderful trees which only grew during sunlight, and at sundown disappear. These trees were guarded by birds that spat
