c. 12th century CE or earlier
summarized by R. L. Græme Ritchie
1925
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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.
Included by Alexandre de Bernay in the twelfth century as part of his Li romans d’Alixandre, Li Fuerres de Gadres or Foray of Gaza, runs 120 pages and 5,000 lines and interpolates material originally from an Eastern epic into the larger story derived from the Latin translation of Pseudo-Callisthenes. The influential text, of uncertain origin, was reused in many medieval poems and later circulated as a standalone poem. R. L. Græme Ritchie, a scholar of French language and literature, published the French text along with its medieval Scottish translation in the first volume of his edition of the Buik of Alexander, and in so doing he also provided an 1,100-word summary of Li Fuerres de Gadres, summarizing each “laisse” or stanza of the poem. His summary forms the most complete description of the poem available in English. |
ARGUMENT OF ‘LI FUERRES DE GADRES.’
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N.B.--The “laisses” are given here in the order in which they are translated in the ‘Buik of Alexander.’ The numbers indicate their order in MS. P. “Laisses” found only in MSS. H or I are enclosed in square brackets.
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When Alexander laid siege to Tyre, the city withstood his assaults so long that, finding himself in straits for food, he sent a band of forayers to the Vale of Josaphas under Emenidus, his lieutenant, with Perdicas, Lyone, Caulus, Licanor, Filote and Samson, while he kept Cliton and Tholomer by him for the siege (1). The forayers rode away (2), and early on the morrow came to Josaphas, and there found kine enough to feed the besieging host for many a day. But they that tended them were no herdsmen but knights in armour, and when Emenidus pricked forward (3) and seized the kine [i.e., cows], Otheserie, their keeper, blew a blast upon his horn, assembled his men, and, slaying seven of the forayers, rescued the beeves (4). Wroth was Emenidus when he saw his men undone. He charged the foe and a fight ensued (5), wherein Caulus slew Licanor and Lyone slew Otheserie, whose followers broke and fled, abandoning their kine (7).
The forayers were riding back with the beeves when they came on Betis, Duke of Gadres, marching with a mighty host to the relief of Tyre (8). Emenidus, for his men were few against so many, resolved to send a knight to Alexander for help. But Licanor would not go, before taking toll of the enemy (9), nor Filote (10), Lyone (11), Perdicas (12), Caulus (13), Aristé (14), Antigonus (15), Antiochus (16), nor Samson; for how could they ride away and leave their brother knights in mortal peril? (17). Then Emenidus in his despair begged Corineüs to bear the message. But he, although he was a man of little substance, would not, for promise of gold (18) ; nor would Festion go (19), nor a poor and unknown knight in sorry armour, who had been held thirteen years a hostage by Darius and had come but three days since to Alexander (20), nor yet [Caunus (H) nor] the cousin of Aristé. At last, as the unequal battle opened, Aristé consented to bear the message, but not till battered helm and splintered spear and bleeding body should show to Cliton and Tholomer at Tyre that he came fleeing from no coward’s ploy (22).
The Greeks were but seven hundred against thirty thousand (23). Samson died by Betis’ hand (24), but Emenidus slew Salahaton, Archbishop of Gadres (25), Festion slew a mighty Duke (77), and Caulus slew the Prince of Corinth (32); while Licanor and Filote, brothers clad in like armour (31)-and with them Aristé, dealt death around them (44). Perdicas fell from his steed, and had been overpowered but for Emenidus (34). A kinsman of Betis was slain by Corinëus (28); an Arab by Antigonus (30); another, who held Jordan in fee, by Androyne (30), and Maudras by Lyone (33).
[The Poor Knight, having donned the fair armour of a vanquished foe and saved Emenidus from death, proved to be none other than Emenidus’ own cousin, Pirrus of Monflour (I).] This Pirrus was a perfect knight (35); he slew Gastinel (36) and many more (37), and won the highest praise from Emenidus his uncle (38); but at the last Gadifer came up with a great company (39), slew Sabilot (40), and learned that his own nephew had been slain by Pirrus (41), whom he therefore most furiously attacked and slew. Thus, nephew for nephew (42), did Gadifer and Emenidus suffer bitter and equal loss.
Grieving for Pirrus (43) and bitterly avenging his untimely end (45), Emenidus performed wondrous prowess as he rode to and fro on Ferrand his charger (48), while his Greeks, under the great banner of Macedon, stoutly held their ground (49). Salatin (51) fell by the hand of Licanor (52), whose brother Filote, jousting with Murmigalés, was flung from his saddle, and lay in peril (53) till his friends reached him (54), and set him on his steed again. In the thick of that affray Emenidus was wounded by a bludgeon (55); seeing this, Betis came at him, but was unhorsed (56), and with difficulty succoured by his men; meanwhile Emenidus withdrew with a broken rein (57). Betis and Emenidus cheered their followers with brave words (58), and fiercer waxed the fight. Licanor was wounded by Betis, Caulus and Aristé were struck from their steeds (61), certain Greeks even fled; but Emenidus fought the harder with Gadifer, till both were unhorsed (64). Men rallied to their fallen leaders, who, being remounted, fought again (65). Then, but not till then, Aristé, wounded sore and moved with pity for the Greeks, rode from the stricken field (66).
When Alexander beheld Aristé in such evil case and heard his ill tidings, he called to horse (67), and as the Greeks saw him approach they took heart, but Betis uttered defiance (68). The forayers had suffered so grievous loss that of seven hundred, ten alone remained (69). Alexander pressed forward and slew Calot, but Betis with five men assailed him, and laid him flat on Bucifal his steed. But when Cliton and Tholomer came up (70), the foe withdrew to a hill, whence they made great slaughter with their arrows. Cliton took Nasel prisoner (72), Tholomer overthrew Betis and led away his steed (73), and scarce had Betis mounted another when Aristé and Caulus struck him down again. But when Murmigalés talked of defeat, Betis upbraided him (74). Gadifer overthrew Cliton, with such violence that his helm clave to the ground (76), while Betis told his men that of all their foes he most feared Emenidus. The battle waxed fiercer (78). Emenidus, lest the newcomers might outdo him (79), charged Betis and unhorsed him, and won praise of Alexander (80); Gadifer and Tholomer jousted (81), and when both were remounted (82), Gadifer worsted Tholomer and seized his charger (83).
But now must Betis and Gadifer retreat (84), and right sorrowfully they left the field. Ever and anon would Gadifer turn on the pursuers; one of them, Corineüs, paid for his insults with his life (85), and even Alexander himself was held at distance (86). Gadifer might have won home to Gadres, had he not tarried to protect his men (87). Once he turned on Alexander and stunned him, and when the King came to himself he praised his bravery to Cliton and Tholomer (88). But hardest after Gadifer rode Emenidus (89), who, mindful of the havoc he had wrought, determined to fight him (90) to the death (91), and slew him with his spear. Then he made lamentation over him as the bravest of knights (92), and swooned, for he too had been sore stricken. Alexander feared for him, and bade his own leech bind up his wounds (93); and when he had been tended, the Greeks rejoiced in victory, grieving no more for Samson and Pirrus, and rested for the night upon the field (94).
The forayers were riding back with the beeves when they came on Betis, Duke of Gadres, marching with a mighty host to the relief of Tyre (8). Emenidus, for his men were few against so many, resolved to send a knight to Alexander for help. But Licanor would not go, before taking toll of the enemy (9), nor Filote (10), Lyone (11), Perdicas (12), Caulus (13), Aristé (14), Antigonus (15), Antiochus (16), nor Samson; for how could they ride away and leave their brother knights in mortal peril? (17). Then Emenidus in his despair begged Corineüs to bear the message. But he, although he was a man of little substance, would not, for promise of gold (18) ; nor would Festion go (19), nor a poor and unknown knight in sorry armour, who had been held thirteen years a hostage by Darius and had come but three days since to Alexander (20), nor yet [Caunus (H) nor] the cousin of Aristé. At last, as the unequal battle opened, Aristé consented to bear the message, but not till battered helm and splintered spear and bleeding body should show to Cliton and Tholomer at Tyre that he came fleeing from no coward’s ploy (22).
The Greeks were but seven hundred against thirty thousand (23). Samson died by Betis’ hand (24), but Emenidus slew Salahaton, Archbishop of Gadres (25), Festion slew a mighty Duke (77), and Caulus slew the Prince of Corinth (32); while Licanor and Filote, brothers clad in like armour (31)-and with them Aristé, dealt death around them (44). Perdicas fell from his steed, and had been overpowered but for Emenidus (34). A kinsman of Betis was slain by Corinëus (28); an Arab by Antigonus (30); another, who held Jordan in fee, by Androyne (30), and Maudras by Lyone (33).
[The Poor Knight, having donned the fair armour of a vanquished foe and saved Emenidus from death, proved to be none other than Emenidus’ own cousin, Pirrus of Monflour (I).] This Pirrus was a perfect knight (35); he slew Gastinel (36) and many more (37), and won the highest praise from Emenidus his uncle (38); but at the last Gadifer came up with a great company (39), slew Sabilot (40), and learned that his own nephew had been slain by Pirrus (41), whom he therefore most furiously attacked and slew. Thus, nephew for nephew (42), did Gadifer and Emenidus suffer bitter and equal loss.
Grieving for Pirrus (43) and bitterly avenging his untimely end (45), Emenidus performed wondrous prowess as he rode to and fro on Ferrand his charger (48), while his Greeks, under the great banner of Macedon, stoutly held their ground (49). Salatin (51) fell by the hand of Licanor (52), whose brother Filote, jousting with Murmigalés, was flung from his saddle, and lay in peril (53) till his friends reached him (54), and set him on his steed again. In the thick of that affray Emenidus was wounded by a bludgeon (55); seeing this, Betis came at him, but was unhorsed (56), and with difficulty succoured by his men; meanwhile Emenidus withdrew with a broken rein (57). Betis and Emenidus cheered their followers with brave words (58), and fiercer waxed the fight. Licanor was wounded by Betis, Caulus and Aristé were struck from their steeds (61), certain Greeks even fled; but Emenidus fought the harder with Gadifer, till both were unhorsed (64). Men rallied to their fallen leaders, who, being remounted, fought again (65). Then, but not till then, Aristé, wounded sore and moved with pity for the Greeks, rode from the stricken field (66).
When Alexander beheld Aristé in such evil case and heard his ill tidings, he called to horse (67), and as the Greeks saw him approach they took heart, but Betis uttered defiance (68). The forayers had suffered so grievous loss that of seven hundred, ten alone remained (69). Alexander pressed forward and slew Calot, but Betis with five men assailed him, and laid him flat on Bucifal his steed. But when Cliton and Tholomer came up (70), the foe withdrew to a hill, whence they made great slaughter with their arrows. Cliton took Nasel prisoner (72), Tholomer overthrew Betis and led away his steed (73), and scarce had Betis mounted another when Aristé and Caulus struck him down again. But when Murmigalés talked of defeat, Betis upbraided him (74). Gadifer overthrew Cliton, with such violence that his helm clave to the ground (76), while Betis told his men that of all their foes he most feared Emenidus. The battle waxed fiercer (78). Emenidus, lest the newcomers might outdo him (79), charged Betis and unhorsed him, and won praise of Alexander (80); Gadifer and Tholomer jousted (81), and when both were remounted (82), Gadifer worsted Tholomer and seized his charger (83).
But now must Betis and Gadifer retreat (84), and right sorrowfully they left the field. Ever and anon would Gadifer turn on the pursuers; one of them, Corineüs, paid for his insults with his life (85), and even Alexander himself was held at distance (86). Gadifer might have won home to Gadres, had he not tarried to protect his men (87). Once he turned on Alexander and stunned him, and when the King came to himself he praised his bravery to Cliton and Tholomer (88). But hardest after Gadifer rode Emenidus (89), who, mindful of the havoc he had wrought, determined to fight him (90) to the death (91), and slew him with his spear. Then he made lamentation over him as the bravest of knights (92), and swooned, for he too had been sore stricken. Alexander feared for him, and bade his own leech bind up his wounds (93); and when he had been tended, the Greeks rejoiced in victory, grieving no more for Samson and Pirrus, and rested for the night upon the field (94).
Source: R. L. Græme Ritchie, The Buik of Alexander, vol. 1 (Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1925), cclxxxii-cclxxxiv.
