Medieval Romance

Kyng Alisaunder

14th century Middle English, Bodleian Library, Auchinleck Manuscript, Library of Lincoln's Inn, London, based upon | 13th century, Anglo-Norman French, Roman de Toute Cheualerie by Thomas of Kent.

Alexander gave his robe to Ptolemy, sat Ptolemy on the throne and dressed himself in Ptolemy's clothes.

Alexander was told that King Candulek wanted to speak with him, about some help he wanted in avenging someone who had stolen his wife from him.

But Alexander had a custom, that no matter who arrived at his court, be he king, emperor, duke or commoner, he must communicate with him only through a third party. Ptolemy told him that King Candulek wanted to see him. Alexander forbade anybody from letting King Candulek know which of them he was, and that they should address him as King Antigon. He gave his robe to Ptolemy, sat Ptolemy on the throne and dressed himself in Ptolemy's clothes.

Story fragment recounted from: Smithers, G. V., 1952, reprinted 1961. Kyng Alisaunder. Published for the Early English Text Society by Oxford University Press. Text from MS Laud Misc. 662 of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, in Middle English. Translation and retelling of lines 7447–73.

King Alisaunder – Wikipedia

King Alisaunder – Database of Middle English Romance, University of York

Complete Middle English text of the 14th century Middle English verse romance Kyng Alisaunder, edited by G V Smithers with an introduction, commentary and glossary in a separate volume, 1952, reprinted 1961, available through the Early English Text Society (EETS)

…or direct from Oxford University Press