6
ARRIVAL AT THE GANGES.
Þe tres spradden hure spraies · & spronngen on hiȝþe,
124& grete grouuede frut · on þe grene braunchus.
He sends for some of the fruit Þan comaundede þe king · cofli to feche
Of þat freliche frut · þat þe frekus sie.[1]
Þan [buskede][2] a bokd kniht · & to a bow stirte,
128ÞE sote-sauered frut · sone to pulle.
But al[3] so raþe as þe rink · gan þe ris touche,
The man who attempts to pluck it is slain Doun fel he wiþ dul · ded in þe place;
& siþen sent was a vois · son fro heuene,
132Þat non trinde þe tres · last þe taried were!
In each tree sat a bird. For eueri grene growe tre · that on þe ground spronge
Hadde bremliche a brid · þe braunchus alofte,
Þat whan þer buskede a burn · a bow for to touche,
136 that spaarks of deadly fire Þei spatten sparclus of fir · and spilden him raþe.
124& grete grouuede frut · on þe grene braunchus.
He sends for some of the fruit Þan comaundede þe king · cofli to feche
Of þat freliche frut · þat þe frekus sie.[1]
Þan [buskede][2] a bokd kniht · & to a bow stirte,
128ÞE sote-sauered frut · sone to pulle.
But al[3] so raþe as þe rink · gan þe ris touche,
The man who attempts to pluck it is slain Doun fel he wiþ dul · ded in þe place;
& siþen sent was a vois · son fro heuene,
132Þat non trinde þe tres · last þe taried were!
In each tree sat a bird. For eueri grene growe tre · that on þe ground spronge
Hadde bremliche a brid · þe braunchus alofte,
Þat whan þer buskede a burn · a bow for to touche,
136 that spaarks of deadly fire Þei spatten sparclus of fir · and spilden him raþe.
How alixandre remewid to a flod þat is called phison.]
[A Picture I.]
[A Picture I.]
Alexander comes to the Pison, As sone þe king sai · þat it so ferde.
He dide him forþ to flod · þat phison is called,
þat writen is in holi wriht · & wrouht so to name.
140a river of Paradise From perlese paradis · passeþ þe stronde;
also called the Gangees. In cost þer þe king was · men called hit gena,
As was þe langage of þe lond · wiþ ludus of inde.
He dide him forþ to flod · þat phison is called,
þat writen is in holi wriht · & wrouht so to name.
140a river of Paradise From perlese paradis · passeþ þe stronde;
also called the Gangees. In cost þer þe king was · men called hit gena,
As was þe langage of þe lond · wiþ ludus of inde.
terram viderentur. Et quottiedie fructus amenissimos conducebant. Has cum vidisset, Alexander precepit cuidam militi vt sini de ipsis frondibus portaret. Ille vero, dum domini sui mandatum vellet implere, mox percussit eum spiritus malignus, et, presentibus omnibus, expirauit. Et audierunt vocem in aere dicentem, "Quicunque istis arboribus propinquus accesserit, morte velocissima morietur." Erant autem in ipso campo aues mitissime super volantes, et cum aliquis tangere vellet eas, coninue exibat ex eis ignis et eum crudeliter incendebat.
