2
THE GYMNOSOPHISTS.
Their king sends a letter to Alexander, Þanne weies of worschipe · wittie & quainte
Wiþ his lettres he let · to þe lud sende.
Þanne southte þei sone · þe forsaide prynce,
20& to þe schamlese schalk · schewden hur lettres;
which he reads Þanne raþe let þe rink · reden þe sonde,
Þat newe tiþinge [tid] · it tolde in þis wise.
"The Gymnopsophists greet Alexander. "Þe gentil genosophistiens · þat goode were of witte,
24To þe emperour alixandre · here answeruus wreten,
Þat is worschipe of word · worþi to haue,
& is conquerour kid · in contres manie.—
Vs is sertefied, seg · as we soþ heren,
28If you come to fight us, you will get nothing by it. Þat þou hast ment wiþ þi men · amongus vs fare.
But ȝif þou king, to us come · wiþ caire to fiȝhte,
Of us getist þou no good · gome, we þe warne.
For what richesse, rink · vs miȝht þou bi-reue
Whan no wordliche wele · is wiþ us founde?
We ben sengle of us silf · & semen ful bare,
Nouht welde we now · but naked we wende;
We have nothing to lose. & þat we happili her · haven of kynde
36May no man but god · maken us tine.
Þei þou fonde wiþ þi folke · to fiȝhte wiþ us alle,
We schulle us kepe oncauȝt · oure cauus wiþinne;
Neuere werrede we · wiþ wiȝth up-on erþe,
40We shall hide in our caves." For we ben hid in oure holis · or we harm lacche."
Þus saide soþli þe sonde · þat þei sente hadde;
& al so cof as þe king · kende þe sawe,
Newe lettres he let · þe ludus bi-take,
& wiþ his sawus of soþ · he sikurede hen alle,
Þat he wolde fare wiþ his folk · in a faire wise
Wiþ his lettres he let · to þe lud sende.
Þanne southte þei sone · þe forsaide prynce,
20& to þe schamlese schalk · schewden hur lettres;
which he reads Þanne raþe let þe rink · reden þe sonde,
Þat newe tiþinge [tid] · it tolde in þis wise.
"The Gymnopsophists greet Alexander. "Þe gentil genosophistiens · þat goode were of witte,
24To þe emperour alixandre · here answeruus wreten,
Þat is worschipe of word · worþi to haue,
& is conquerour kid · in contres manie.—
Vs is sertefied, seg · as we soþ heren,
28If you come to fight us, you will get nothing by it. Þat þou hast ment wiþ þi men · amongus vs fare.
But ȝif þou king, to us come · wiþ caire to fiȝhte,
Of us getist þou no good · gome, we þe warne.
For what richesse, rink · vs miȝht þou bi-reue
Whan no wordliche wele · is wiþ us founde?
We ben sengle of us silf · & semen ful bare,
Nouht welde we now · but naked we wende;
We have nothing to lose. & þat we happili her · haven of kynde
36May no man but god · maken us tine.
Þei þou fonde wiþ þi folke · to fiȝhte wiþ us alle,
We schulle us kepe oncauȝt · oure cauus wiþinne;
Neuere werrede we · wiþ wiȝth up-on erþe,
40We shall hide in our caves." For we ben hid in oure holis · or we harm lacche."
Þus saide soþli þe sonde · þat þei sente hadde;
& al so cof as þe king · kende þe sawe,
Newe lettres he let · þe ludus bi-take,
& wiþ his sawus of soþ · he sikurede hen alle,
Þat he wolde fare wiþ his folk · in a faire wise
"[C]Orruptibiles gimnosophiste homini Alexandro scribimus. Audiuimus quod super nos venis pugnaturus, de quo miramur non modicum, quia nihil a nobis poteris extorquere. Nam cum nihil habemus vnde corpora nostra sustentantur, quid a nobis eripies? Quod si nobiscum pugnare volueris, simplicitatem nostram nullatenus dimittemus."
Qualiter alexander scripsit gimnosophiste.
[P}Erlecta igitur, alexander epistolam misit illis dicendo quod ad
