10
THE PARABLE OF THE TORCH.
any one to impart knowledge. To carpe of his konninge · & kenne hit til oþure
For þe wers is no weih · wis ȝif he seme,
233 Þouȝ he finde oþur folk · folewen hi dedus.
Take the case of a torch;
Its light is not lessened, though it lights others." Of a torche þat is tend · tak an en-sample;
Þat þouy ludus of þe lem · lihtede an hundred,
Hit scholde nouht lesen his liht · no þe latur brenne,
236 While þe weke & þe waxe[1] · vn-wasteþ lasteþ.
& so it farus bi folk[2] · þat fain is to teche;
Hit wasteþ no wisdam · weihes to lere.
For-þi busiliche, burn · we bidde þe nouþe
240Wiþ-oute tariginge of time · tiþinge sende.
To witen of þe wisdam · þat ȝe wiþ faren."
Whan dereworþe dindimus · þe enditinge hurde
244Dindimus reads the letter, Of alixandre askinge · as he write hadde,
Oþir lettrus he let · of hur lif write,
and sends an answer. & agyn to þe gome · goodliche he sente.
As cof as hit come was · þere þe king dwelde,
248In þis manere dide þe man · þe massage arede.
For þe wers is no weih · wis ȝif he seme,
233 Þouȝ he finde oþur folk · folewen hi dedus.
Take the case of a torch;
Its light is not lessened, though it lights others." Of a torche þat is tend · tak an en-sample;
Þat þouy ludus of þe lem · lihtede an hundred,
Hit scholde nouht lesen his liht · no þe latur brenne,
236 While þe weke & þe waxe[1] · vn-wasteþ lasteþ.
& so it farus bi folk[2] · þat fain is to teche;
Hit wasteþ no wisdam · weihes to lere.
For-þi busiliche, burn · we bidde þe nouþe
240Wiþ-oute tariginge of time · tiþinge sende.
To witen of þe wisdam · þat ȝe wiþ faren."
Whan dereworþe dindimus · þe enditinge hurde
244Dindimus reads the letter, Of alixandre askinge · as he write hadde,
Oþir lettrus he let · of hur lif write,
and sends an answer. & agyn to þe gome · goodliche he sente.
As cof as hit come was · þere þe king dwelde,
248In þis manere dide þe man · þe massage arede.
How king dindimus sente lettrus to king alixandre.
[A picture. II.]
[A picture. II.]
[Fol. 210, back] Þe dere king dindimus · þe doctour of wise,
Þat lord of bragmanus lond · alosed is þare,
"King Dindiums to Alexander, greeting. "To emperour alixandrre · egrest of princis,
252Þat is grimmest igrowe · and grettest of kingus,
Sendeþ letteres of lowe · & to þe lud writes
Miche gretiþinge of grace · & grauntinge of ioie.—
Þat lord of bragmanus lond · alosed is þare,
"King Dindiums to Alexander, greeting. "To emperour alixandrre · egrest of princis,
252Þat is grimmest igrowe · and grettest of kingus,
Sendeþ letteres of lowe · & to þe lud writes
Miche gretiþinge of grace · & grauntinge of ioie.—
quoque ex vestris manibus comprehendere bonitatem. Nec vestra sapientia in aliquo minuetur. Talis enim est solicitudo sapiente, qualis natura accense facule comprobatur; a qua cum plures facule ignem recipiant, nihilominus ipsa candet que facit alios coruscare.
Responsiua regis Bragmanorum missa Alexandro.
[D]Idimus Bragmanorum didascolus alexandro--Salutatem; per tuarum tenorem cognomovimus literarum, quod animus tuus cupit vera
