c. 1330 CE
summarized by P. G. Thomas
1924
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NOTE |
The Alexander Romance is often described as Antiquity's most successful novel. The Romance is a collection of legendary narratives about Alexander the Great that blend history, myth, and fantasy into a highly imaginative biography. Probably originating in the Hellenistic period, but certainly before the Latin translation of 334 CE, and later attributed falsely to Callisthenes (hence the “Pseudo-Callisthenes”), the text recounts Alexander’s miraculous birth, his conquests across the known world, and a series of fantastical adventures—such as encounters with strange peoples and monsters, journeys to the ends of the earth, and even ascents into the sky and descents beneath the sea. Over centuries, the work was translated and adapted into numerous languages. King Alisaunder is an anonymous Middle English poem of around 4,000 lines extant in two recensions. It retells the Alexander Romance from the French Roman de Toute Chevalerie. As the original text is in Middle English and has not been translated into modern English, I give a summary of the contents made by P. G. Thomas in 1924.
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King Alisaunder
After a prologue of forty lines, in four-beat metre, which promises matter “delicious to listen to,” the author introduces the wizard, Neptanabus (the Nakhtenephen of ancient Egypt), attempting to discover, by sortilege, the prospects of the Persian invasion. Then follows an account of the wizard’s relations with Phillip’s queen, leading up to the mysterious birth of Alexander. The boy soon displayed his dexterity by taming Bulsifal (Bucephalus), and, afterwards, effectively avenging his parents upon Neptanabus. During a military expedition against Carthage, Alexander learnt of his mother’s relations with Pausanias, and, returning, slew her paramour. Having succeeded to his father’s dominions, Alexander inaugurated his career of conquest by an expedition against Thrace and Italy. At Tripoli, he saw the image of Neptanabus, and, definitely, learnt his parentage, for the first time. During the siege of Tyre, he was insulted by the inhabitants, and, shortly afterwards, Darius sent him a number of childish presents, a top, a scourge, and a purse. The completion of the war with Darius was delayed by a progress through Greece, during which Alexander conquered Thebes and received the submission of Athens, but, returning to the East, he, finally, defeated Darius. So ends the first part.
In the second, Porus takes the place of Darius. The interest turns upon the wonders of the East, the fauna and flora, as well as the peoples, described being closely akin to those in Sir John Mandeville:
Another folk there is biside;
Houndynges men clepeth hem wide.
From the brest to the grounde
Men hy ben, abouen houndes.
Berkyng of houndes hy habbe.
Her honden, withouten gabbe,
Ben yshuldred as an fysshe,
And clawed after hound, iwisse (11. 4962-69).
During an interval of peace, Alexander journeyed with Porus to the world’s end, where he saw two golden images, identified with the pillars of Hercules. The terrestrial paradise is alluded to, but briefly. The sole love-element is provided by the Queen Candace episode, which occupies considerable space. With much detail, the author describes the trees of the sun and moon, and from these Alexander learnt the exact nature of his death:
Forth Alisaundre gan wende,
Til he come to theo trowes ende.
Notemugge, and the sedewale,
On heom smullith, and the wodewale,
Theo canel and the licoris,
And swete savour ymeynt, ywis (11. 6790-95).
After the founding of Alexandria, the campaign against Porus was brought to a successful termination, the romance concluding with an account of Antipater’s treachery and the death of Alexander.
In the second, Porus takes the place of Darius. The interest turns upon the wonders of the East, the fauna and flora, as well as the peoples, described being closely akin to those in Sir John Mandeville:
Another folk there is biside;
Houndynges men clepeth hem wide.
From the brest to the grounde
Men hy ben, abouen houndes.
Berkyng of houndes hy habbe.
Her honden, withouten gabbe,
Ben yshuldred as an fysshe,
And clawed after hound, iwisse (11. 4962-69).
During an interval of peace, Alexander journeyed with Porus to the world’s end, where he saw two golden images, identified with the pillars of Hercules. The terrestrial paradise is alluded to, but briefly. The sole love-element is provided by the Queen Candace episode, which occupies considerable space. With much detail, the author describes the trees of the sun and moon, and from these Alexander learnt the exact nature of his death:
Forth Alisaundre gan wende,
Til he come to theo trowes ende.
Notemugge, and the sedewale,
On heom smullith, and the wodewale,
Theo canel and the licoris,
And swete savour ymeynt, ywis (11. 6790-95).
After the founding of Alexandria, the campaign against Porus was brought to a successful termination, the romance concluding with an account of Antipater’s treachery and the death of Alexander.
Source: P. G. Thomas, English Literature Before Chaucer (London: Edward Arnold & Co., 1924), 87-89.
