Mr. Prime’s Alexander Tapestries 
from paintings by Charles Le Brun in the last half of 
the seventeenth century. There are two important 
sixteenth century Alexander suites in the Imperial 
Austrian collection at Vienna, which it would be 
interesting to compare with the set before us. 
The legendary history of Alexander, which tap¬ 
estry designers usually followed, is much more thrill¬ 
ing than the real one. 
It came from Persian and Egyptian sources, was 
composed in Greek in Byzantium about the eighth 
century, and being translated into Latin spread 
through Western Europe. About the middle of the 
twelfth century, when the romances of Charlemagne 
flourished most, a French poet, Alberic de Besan^on, 
introduced Alexander into the vernacular. Of his 
poem only 105 lines remain. Towards the end of 
the twelfth century a long romance in lines of twelve 
syllables—from which the name of Alexandrine for 
this form of verse—was started by Lambert li Tors 
and finished by Alexandre de Bernay. In a few 
years the Alexander saga was found in various poetic 
forms. 
Of Alexander’s supposed meeting with the high 
priest of the Jews, Josephus, the Jewish Historian of 
the first century, says: 
“When Alexander saw the multitude at a distance 
in white garments, while the priests stood clothed 
with fine linen, and the high priest in purple and scar¬ 
let clothing, with his mitre on his head, having the 
golden plate whereon the name of God was engraved, 
he approached by himself and adored the name and 
first saluted the high priest. Ehe Jews also did 
altogether with one voice salute Alexander and en¬ 
compassed him about; whereupon the kings of Syria 
and the rest were surprised, and supposed him dis¬ 
ordered m his mind. However Parmenio alone 
went up to him and asked how it came to pass that, 
when all others adored him, he should adore the 
high priest of the Jews. I'o whom he replied, “I 
did not adore him, hut God who hath honored him 
with his high priesthood, and 1 believe that I bring 
this army under his divine conduct.” 
1 should like also to explain that Clitus, whose 
funeral is pictured, was Alexander’s close friend and 
had saved his life at the battle of the Gramcus, hut 
was slain by him in a fit of passion at a hantjuet. 
AI.HXANDKR ON THE TAMED BUCEPHALUS 
99 
