her selfe and to that end Determining him home againe to call A messenger with speed to him did send And to him by her letters signified That whereas she had wrongtully deny'd Him enterance into his Land when he Returned from the siege of Troy she said That she with all her whole Nobilitie Submissiuely for pardon crau'd and praid Him to come home againe into his land Which news when he from her did vnderstand Remitting all offences whatsoere Vnto him done he was content to do As she desir'd and with her fault to beare As being more of mercy mou'd thereto Then iustice which doth wrongs with force requite And as he was a wise and courteous knight When he did by her letters vnderstand Her meaning and intent he thought it best To stint all strife therefore out of hand Did willingly graunt vnto their request And speedily returned home agene And reconcild was vnto his Queene And for his part all wrongs forgotten were And pardoned to his Nobility And after that he liued long time there In high estate and great felicity And with his Queene a happy life did lead But cause no more of him I further read I will leaue off to speake of him as now And vnto Duke Aeneas turne my stile And of him briefely tell vnto you how When he in Troy remained had a while To aid them with Diomed spent Some time therein with many men he went Aboord his Troian ships well furnished Of all things that for him were necessary And hoysing sayles put vnto sea with speed And prosperous wind till it began to varry And made the seas to storme waues to rise And mount aloft almost vnto the skies And hauing many dangers ouerpast And sayled many miles along the coast He did ariue at Carthage at the last When he his wife by Fortune strange had lost But to declare all that to him befell And seuerally vnto you here to tell How that Queene Dido loued him and gaue Him treasure gold costly jewels store With all things els that he desir'd to haue And how for all the loue she to him bore He shewd himselfe to her so much vnkind That as you shall at large in Virgill find He secretly from her did steale away And got into his ships ere she it knew By night when she in bed fast sleeping lay For which in desperate wise her selfe she slew And sayled into Italy whereas He did through many hard adventures pas And diuers battailes fought and at the last Did conquer it and therein raigned King With all his long and tedious trauailes past It needles were for me sith every thing Declared is by Virgill long before I wrote this Booke which of him speaks no more But sheweth how Horestus to requight His Fathers death on them that had him kild Did find the meanes as equitie and right Requires that blood by murther falsely spild Should by the King of kings most iust decree Without all doubt at last revenged bee For blood by murther shead or violence Doth neuer cease for vengance loud to call On him that hath committed such offence Which on him at the last will surely fall And giue him that reward he hath deserud For none can scape the doome that is reseru'd For murthers by God that sits on hie And doth behold downe from his heavenly throne All actions good or bad with equall eie Who though a while he letteth them alone And makes a shew to winck at faults forepast When he sees cause he le punish them at last At such time as they little thinke thereon The which he doth full often for our good As for the murther of Agamemnon He made one that was next to him of blood Horestus his owne Son his substitute His iudgement in that case to execute And vnto him procured meanes might By aid of freinds to bring the same to pas Who when he had been made dubbed knight By Idumeus King of Creet when as He had attaind to twenty foure yeares old And was of body strong and courage bold And therewithall both wise and provident And calling vnto mind the iniurie He had sustaind was resolutely bent If Fortune vnto him did not deny Her ayd to proue if that he could obtaine His kingdome and his heritance againe The which by force Egistus from him held And wrongfully possest by false pretence Of wedlocke thereby had him compeld For safegard of his life to flie from thence For which he did protest while he had breath To be revengd and also for the death And murther fowle of King Agamemnon His father on all those that had conspird And traitrously procurd it to be don And to that end most earnestly desird Idumeus King of Creet to stand his friend Some ayd some reliefe to him to lend To helpe him to assaile his enemie By whom he did such iniurie sustaine Which his request the King would not denie But willing his iust quarrell to maintaine Ordained that a thousand Knights should goe With him to fight against his cruell foe Egistus that by force and violence So long time vnto him had done such wrong Which done Herestus by his diligence In little time did make himselfe so strong That he another thousand knights did win To go with him and therewith did begin With all his power to march and in the way As he along did through the countrey pas The first place where he did incampe and stay To victuall and to rest his army was Within a towne Troyesa cald where he Was welcomed with great solemnitie By Forence King thereof who hated sore Egistus for his barbrous cruelty In murdering King Agamemnon but more Because of great deceit and trechery He had vnto him done when as the king That loud him well him so much honouring Vnto him gaue his daughter young of age To be his wife but he respecting not The Kings good will nor breach of mariage When he had her virginitie once got Car'd not for her but quickly changd his mind And shewd himselfe vnto her so vnkind That he without a cause her cleane forsooke And gainst the lawes of equitie and right Committed fowle adulterie and tooke Clytemnestra to his wife when he by night With her consent had slaine Agamemnon And of Methena Crowne bereft her Son And for that hatefull false conspiracle By her and him so mischieuously wrought Committing murther and adulterie King Forence that by all occasions sought To be revenged on him for the â—ame Assoone as Prince Horestus to him came He did not onely offer him some ayd To helpe him in his need against his foe But in most friendly wise vnto him sayd That he himselfe would also with him goe And with foure hundred Knights well furnished Vnto Methena land accompanied Him all the way but ere they entered Into the same Horestus first did go Into the Temple where he offered A sacrifice vnto the Gods to know How he should speed
theÌ„ce coÌ„â—ay The streets were smothly pau'd in chequer wise With pollisht stories of colourred and white And any Trade whatsoere man could devise King Priam vsd and sought all meanes he might To bring 't into the towne where men did see Each severall Art in severall streets to bee That so they might for more commoditie And better meanes to sell and vent their ware Worke by themselues at their one libertie As goldsmith rich that seâ—lles the jewels rare Th'imbroderer and weauers of each kind The Mercers in whose costly shops men find Rich cloth of Gold of Arras Tapistrie Of sendall and of Taffetie most faire And every other stuffe which vsually The weauers make and commonly men were Smiths also that could make and forge full well Darts Daggers swords speares of perfect steele Pollaxes billes and kniues most sharpely ground And arrowe heads with other weapons more That in the fields are vsd were therein found Of Bowyers and of fletchers eke great store And such as make coat armors faire and braue And ensignes which in field men vse to haue And euery other kind of furniture For Marshall men which commonly we see Worne in the warre and dayly put in vre And euery other Art that nam'd may bee Was in that towne most plentifully found So much it did in every thing abound And through the towne a Riuer swift and cleare Did passe along deviding it in twaine Which on each side great store of Milles did beare In time of need to grind each kind of graine The name whereof was Xaâ—tas as I find Which did abound with fish of euery kind Which River was so cunningly conuaid That in the arches built vpon the same Great store of pipes of lead were closely layd Whereby into the houses water came And serued many Conduits in the towne And scowr'd the filth away as it ran downe In channels which did run cleane vnder ground Whereby they were washt and scowred cleane That neither filth nor durt was to be found Nor in the towne could any way be seene And was convaied thence so secretly That no man could the passage thereof spie Wherby you might haue gon throughout the street And neither durt nor dunghill once haue seene Which made the Towne so pleasant and so sweet Because that it was kept so faire and cleane That it was void of all corruption Pestiferous aire and fowle jnfection Which often by their force and violence Doe breed continuall fowle and noysome smels And are the onely cause of pestilence A River like to this as Virgill tells Within the towne of Roome devised was Cald Tiber which through the midst therof doth passe To people this so great and famous towne The Troyans being but in number small King Priam sent to each place vp and downe In countreys farre and neere to moue and call All men to come and to jnhabite there Respecting not from whence they came or were And made them free to trafficke and to deale Within the Towne as natiue Countrey-men By that meanes to enrich the common-weale Of his new Towne Which being done and when It did begin with people to increase And that they liu'd in pleasure wealth peace King Priam moued with gseat affection Which vnto Mars the God of warre he had Determined of pure devotion In honour of his name there should be made A yeerely Iusts where valiantly on horse Each Knight should shew his power strength force Within the towne to win renowne and fame And to that end a place he did ordaine All raild about of purpose for the same Which halfe a mile in circuit did containe To wrastle in and at the Barriers fight With playes in the Isle of Greet of ancient right Were long since found and onely dedicate To Mars their God for they did then beleeue By doing so he would preserue their state And in their need would aid them and releeue The like did noble Priamus furâ—ise And to that end-those triumphs did devise Men sayd within this towne was first found out The game of Chests so subtill and so wise Which who so plaies beleeue it without dout Must driue out of his head all fantasies It is so full of shifts and subtiltie And more and more a man may still devise Whereby if men should study all their daies To learne the skill of this so curious game He neuer could remember halfe the plaies That are and may be vsed in the same It doth consist of such diuersitie Of wards found out by skill and subtiltie Of Troians as mine Author testifies Which his supposed meere oppinion Iacobus de Vitriaco denies And in his Booke for truth makes mention How that a graue Philosopher and wise Cald Philometer first did it devise In Caldea with pollicy he wrought To stay a tyrants fierce and furious mind And though froÌ„ thence it into Greece was brought They say likewise the Troians first did find The playes of dice and tables dayly vsd Which since that time had been so much abusd For that in them there is so great deceit By false and cousning dice and wrangling play Which many vse the simple sort to cheat That much debate ariseth night and day Mongst ihose that dayly excercise doe make Of play and game and pleasure therein take For if the dice doe favor men a while And giue them leaue to win by happy chance An other time againe they â—them beguile Which makes the players fall at variance For that when as they thinke to mend their state By play at dice they proue vnfortunate And many that are plunged in distresse And by their play made needy poore and bare By playe sometime attaine to great riches And some mans joy procures an others care And by a chance at hassard or passage Ones glad and laughes an other he doth rage For if one win another doth contrary Like as the bones are throwne out of the hand An Hundred times a day th' are seene to varry And no man can his chance at them withstand Wherefore I wish each man such play to shunne Least that he loose and so may be vndone In Troy likewise they vsed comedies In Theaters for pleasures and delight And many strange and stately Tragedies Which vsually were playd both day and night The difference whereof that you may know I will in briefe the same vnto you show A Comedie doth many times begin With actions that dislike at first doe cause But at the last as men proceed therein They end in joy with gladnesse and applause And onely speakes of men of meane degree And such as fallen are in povertie A Tragedy contrarily doth treate Of matters which doe prosperously proceed And showes the liues and hearts of persons great As Princes which in honour doe exceed But ends with sorrow griefe and miserie That happeneth vnto them before they die And also tells how fortune doth beguile Full nany Kings and Emperors of fame Whose acts she seemes to favor for a while
Within the Isle and presently he road Vnto their Court which was not very far And there he found thē both to whom with speed He shewd the cause that made him to repaire To them as then and so gan to proceed With words most graue and courage bold stout To tell his mind without all feare or doubt And said my Lords whose power here extends For to command may 't please your Graces both To know that Priam King of Troye me sends To you in Princely wise as being loth To giue offence your ayd and helpe to haue T' obtaine a suite that he would gladly craue Of Telamon who gainst all equity Doth hold his Sister Princesse Exion As Concubine with great indignity Whose liberty and restitution To him againe is onely his desire Which to effect he humbly doth require You would vouchsafe your ayd therein t' afford Not doubting but as y' are discreet and wise That by your mediation and good word King Telamon will follow your aduise And Exion shall to him restored be Out of her long and hard captiuity Which his request he praies you not deny As you are Kings for valour high renownd Discreet and wise and of great maiesty And he shall thinke himselfe to you much bound And all his former wrong he will suspend For that to liue in peace he doth intend As he that is right prudent and discreet Forecasting what may after come to passe And seeth what perills and what dangers great Doe follow warre which neuer is nor was Without confusion misery and woe As Histories vnto vs plainly shoe Which to eschew he thinketh it the best And wisest way for euery man t' auoid The hatefull path of strife and it detest For by it many a Country is destroid Which by this meanes he is in hope to shun And that hath made him doe as he hath done In peace to craue your aid that Exion May be with speed sent home to him againe And thogh you may suppose that cause ther 's none Why he should you request to take this paine In his behalfe let this be his excuse That Princes ought to punish all abuse And by all meanes should seeke the same to stay He in like case desires your Princely aid And hopes you will it not to him denay And he will thinke himselfe full well apaid This is the summe of his petition Which he referres to your discretion When both the Kings Castor and Polux had Attentiuely heard what Anthenor spake King Castor sodainlie like one halfe mad Into such choller and impatience brake That by no meanes he could his furie stay But in most wrathfull wise to him did say I know not friend why thou of vs shouldst craue To haue amends for trespasse by vs done Vnto the King to whome we neuer gaue Cause of offence But when Laomedon First offring wrong to vs we did inuade And of his Towne a noble conquest made Wherein we did but right and equitie For had not he first offered offence To vs and ours with great indignitie We nere had sought for any recompence Nor he nor his been brought vnto their ends For which if that thy Master aske amends At our hands tell him 't is all too late For we with him desire no vnitie Peace nor accord but rather mortall hate Dissention strife and vtter enmitie Which he may chance hereafter for to feele If that he dare presume with vs to deale For we so little do his friendship prise That what he saith or doth I doe not care Therefore if that he 'le follow our aduise Let him prepare to enter into warre And it may chance to breed his owne decay And so from vs thou maist vnto him say And for thy selfe it seemeth vnto me Thy Lord and Master Priam loues thee not That sent thee messenger to vs to be And thou thy selfe hast foolishly oreshot To take on thee so perillous a thing As to the Grecians tydings such to bring Whereby thy life thou hast indangered But be thou rul'd by me if thou be wise Vnlesse thou art cleane voyd of feare and dread And get thou out my sight I thee aduise For if thou stayst mine anger is so bent That thou mayst chance thy follie to repent Anthenor to auoid the Court was glad And presentlie with speed from thence did goe And entring ship such hast from thence he made That though the wind contrarie then did blow He put to sea and failed prosperouslie To Pilon where Duke Nestor then did lie And there did hold a sumptuous Princelie Court Of whome he craued leaue submissiuelie To shew the cause that made him then resort To him and there withall to signifie King Priams mind as he had gin him charge From point to point as fullie and as large As he had done to other men before And all to one effect so that in vaine It were for me to show it any more Or to recite it word for word againe For his conclusion ended still in one As you haue heard concerning Exion Whereat Duke Nestor did so fret and fume And in so great a choller then did grow That all the bloud did presentlie consume Out of his face and he as pale did show As ashes and so grieued was in heart And therewithall did feele such inwardsmart Through wrath and ire that so possest each vaine And ioynt he had that he did seeme to shake Like Aspen leafe and hardlie could refraine Vpon Anthenor straight reuenge to take Like Lyon fell that hunteth after pray Whose furious course no man as then can stay So much his mind from him was alienate That t'yeeld himselfe by no meanes then he might And at his heart he was so passionate Which boyled with such ranchor and dispight That all that him beheld would iudge him mad So strange a looke and gesture then he had At last in midst of this perplexitie Into a sodaine choler out he brake And with a voice distraind from crueltie Vnto Anthenor furiously he spake With countenance so gastlie to behold That sure to make a man to feare it would Saying thou friend that canst so smoothly glose I think thou knowst not well whom thou hast told Thy needlesse tale nor yet dost thou suppose Who that I am that darest be so bold Thus to presume mine eares so to offend Pretending that King Priam did thee send Vnto the Greekes to aske them in his name Redresse for wrongs that nere by vs was done And turnst on vs the merit and the blame For iniuries wrought by Laomedon To vs and ours and in presumptuous wise Accusest vs with most notorious lies Which thy abuse most odious in mine eare So much doth fret and anger me at heart That by no meanes I can endure 't to heare And but I know a messenger thou art And that I do mine honour more respect Then thee I would in cruell wise correct And chastise thy so great temerity For by the rigour of our ancient law
Nor iudge thereof vnlesse they naked there Before me stood that at my libertie I might behold if everie member were As faire in all respect and each degree As outwardlie their faces faire did show And then my doome they presentlie should know When they had heard me speak they gaue consent And did agree my mind therein t' obay And straight to strip themselues were all content The which to do they made no long delay For they had all decreed before they came That in no point they would denie the same When naked all before me there they stood And that I did behold them at the full And vewed everie part it did me good To see their bodies faire and beautifull But when mine eies on Venus bright I cast For her without delay my iudgement past And vnto her the Apple gaue with speed As fairest of them all excepting none And as at first it was by them decreed I should not partiall be to any one So did I iudge her beautie great to be Much more then th' others two in each degree For as me thought her eies most faire and bright That cast forth streames so cleare and delectable Were like the starre that shines to vs by night Cald Hesperus and so most amiable Faire Venus shewd her selfe ye t' was true I could not choose but giue to her her due Whereat this Goddesse faire did much reioyce And in her heart therewith did seeme to glorie That of her beautie rare I made the choice T' excell the rest and that the victorie By iudgement vnto her as then did fall To be the fair'st and beautiful'st of all And as the winged God to me did say What should be my reward of Venus part She said she would performe without delay And from his vowe and promise neuer start And saying so the Goddesses all three Did vanish and depart away from me And Mercurie with wings began to flie And soaring vp with speed his waie did take Directlie to the cleare and cristall skie And sodainlie therewith I did awake Out of my deadlie sleepe and vp I start And mounting horse from thence did straight depart Now my good Lord whom I both loue dread I ft please your Grace your selfe herein t' advise And vnto that which I haue said take heed You will it not esteeme nor yet surmise To be in vaine by Venus to me said And therefore I wish you not to be afraid But boldlie let me goe to Greece in hast With some great power of men about the thing Which I haue said and ere long time be past I doubt not but the same to passe to bring And as by Venus I am promised Of some faire Ladie certainlie to speed That by exchange of her you may obtaine An easie and a most assured way To get your Sister Exion home againe This is said he all that I haue to say For my advise and counsell to your Grace And so sate downe againe into his place But Priam what should cause thee to forget Thy selfe so much that thou shouldst be so vaine Thy hope and trust vpon a dreame to set I cannot choose but needs must tell thee plaine That shallow was thy wit and thy discretion To trust vnto a false illusion As that thou all care hadst set aside To follow after dreaming fantasie T' is sure that reason then was not thy guide That thou vpon meere follies wouldst relie As Paris did that Pallas did neglect And sacred wisedome wilfullie reiect And some also carelesly reâ—us'd With riches and with all her offers great And she that hath all men so much abus'd And at whose hands their 's nothing els to get But pleasure and the fond delights of loue Which onely doe a man to folly moue Faire J'enus cal'd the blacksmith Vulcans wife Whose seruice though it doth nought els procure Vnto a man but bloody warre and strife By him preferred was but t is most sure That Paris in his judgement was vniust And that his mind was wholy set on lust Whereby the great and famous Troian Towne When it had long been vext with bloudy warre Was in the end brought to confusion By Paris meanes that had so little care When it was offred him his choise to make Of wisedome gold and valor and to take A Woman that was cause of all the woe Which vnto Priam afterward befell Aâ— in this Booke hereafter I will shoe And now on dreames I will no longer dwell But to my matter seriously proceed And shew you what by Priam was decreed Vpon the dreame by Paris then declard But first of all in briefe I 'le let you know What Diophebus sayd who having heard His brothers speech stood vp his mind to show And grauely with a countenance benign Obedience made and spake vnto the King And sayd my Lord if every man should doubt And in his mind forecast and deepely way Concerning future things what might fall out It would be cause to make men often stay All actions whatsoere and neuer bend Their wits nor wils to bring them to an end Nor would they seeke their valours forth to show For he that doubts dares nothing vndertake For if a man before that he doth throw His Corne into the grouÌ„d should recknoning make How many grains thereof consum'd would be By Birds or by some other Casualtie I'would make him feare his ground to sow againe Let vs lay all such foolish doubts aside For I esteeme and hold them meerely vaine And counseil now no longer to abide Nor slacke the time but with a Navy strong Send Paris into Greece for to revenge our wrong This I dare affirme and boldly say That he hath counselled you and vs full well Which no man to speake truth can well denay So that I thinke and must you plainely tell Great error t' were his purpose to contrary And therefore let him now no longertarry But thither with a warlike Navy goe That we may quit them for the villany Which they vnto vs and ours did show In former times with extreame cruelty And for the better execution And getting of our Aunt faire Exion Whom they doe hold from vs by force and might And long haue done to our no little shame And that against all equitie and right Which wounds my heart to thinke vpon the same For remedy whereof I must needs say There is no better meanes nor readier way Then to send forth a strong and warlike band With him to Greece that forcibly he may Some Lady take within the Grecians land And mauger all their might her thence conuay And bring her vnto Troy with present speed By which so braue exploit and warlike deed You may haue meanes to satisfie your mind By changing her for Princes Exion This is the readiest way that I can find For to procure her restitution Which my good Lord I hope you do intend Quoth he my counsell I will end Which sayd his brother Helenus did rise Out of his seate
best deserued had And ventured life and lim for honors sake But he himselfe no part thereof would take As having more desire to win their hearts Then t' haue their goods for he that 's liberall And mongst his souldiers willingly imparts His treasure into danger nere doth fall And bountie wins their hearts doth them moue Their Generals to honor and to loue CHAP. X. ¶ How Agamemnon assembled all the Nobles â—â—â— chiefe Commanders of the Grecians where vpâ—â— deliberation taken amongst them they sent 〈◊〉 and Diomedes Ambassadors onto Priam Kiâ—â— of Troye to demaund restitution of Queen Helena and the domages done by Paris in the Temple of Cithera THe treasure dealt among them as you heare Commandment was by Agamemnon made That gainst next day the Princes should appeare Before him to conferre and when they had Tane rest a while and that the radiant light Of Phebus glistring face did shinemost bright Vpon the earth The Grecions on the land And Agamemnon plast in royall seat With all his power which bout him then did stand And all the Princes there together met And placed were each one in his degree Silence once made and oportunity Then offered The King with princely grace And pleasing tearmes as being eloquent And very wise rose vp out of his place And shew to them his will and his intent Th' effect whereof in substance doth appeare Hereafter as you presently shall heare My Lords said he you know and must confesse That we of right and meere necessity Compelled are at this time to redresse A wrong to vs done by the cruelty Of Troyans vnto whome we gaue no cause To breake the ancient God of peace's lawes True t is that we as all the world doth know Are of sufficient power force and might And are esteemd and knowne of hie and low To be the men that able are to right All wrongs whatsoere both by sea land T' effect such things as we shall take in hand Despight of all that gainst vs will resist Yet I suppose and 't ever hath been seene That power which in it selfe doth not consist Nor is puft vp with pride hath alwaies beene And to the Gods is most acceptable And longest doth remaine vpright and stable For is there any one amongst vs all But knows for truth and can full well expresse What harmes and griefs do oftentimes befall By envie pride and diuellish wilfulnesse And when by pride men take a thing in hand The Gods incenst their actions do withstand And crosse all those that are superbious For truth to say it is avice abhord Of every man and held most dangerous For pride nought else but mischiefe doth afford Yet must we not for pride esteeme or hold The valor in a man of courage bold For he that vnto pride his mind doth giue Or doth converse with one that 's proud in heart And takes delight with such a man to liue Can neither will nor chuse but haue his part Of all such crosses as to pride befall Which commonly despised is of all And nothing doth impaire mans honor more Of what estate so euer that he bee Then pride Wherfore let vs the same abhore And from it as from cruell viper flee And wholly race it out of heart and mind And so we shall the Gods more gracious find Especially when as our quarrel 's iust And that we ground it vpon equity But if that pride and envie should vs thrust Into a warre without necessity Or lawfull cause but onely of meere hate The end thereof would proue vnfortunate But all you know that we as now are here With full consent within the Troyan land To be revengd for wrongs that long since were By Priam done to vs and for to stand Vnto the triall of our cause by might Wherein we know we do nought else but right And to that end we haue begun t nvade And wasted spoyld and over-run his lands Destroyd and rane his Castles strong and made Occision of his men with warlike bands And many other harmes committed haue Whereof himselfe the first occasion gaue So that if he did hate vs heretofore As by fore passed actions it appeares I dare well say he hates vs now much more And that if to revenge himselfe it were Within his power you presently should see What strange revenge by him would taken bee And yet t is sure that they full well do know And heare of our arrivall in their land Although thereof they seeme to make no show And what by vs is done they vnderstand For that as yet it 's fresh in memory So that if they were strong vs to defie They would soone march to meet vs in the field Yet certaine t is their towne is huge and great And by all men invincible is held And fild with Knights therein together met Of their allies so that ere we begin I know we shall small vantage gainst them win For he that in a quarrell iust doth stand And fighteth to defend his Countreâ— Within a towne in his owne natiue land And hath great store of faithfull friends that be To him allied more vantage hath thereby To ayd himselfe then hath his enemy For oftentimes the Raven doth withstand And fights long with the Fawlcon in his nest Before the Fawlcon gets the vpper hand And hath the meanes to flie and take her rest While that the Fawlcon doth for her attend For birds will in their nests themselues defend I speake not this and so I pray conceaue To put your valiant hearts in any doubt Or once your minds of hope for to bereaue Of bringing this our enterprise about Which is to spoile and vtterly confound The Troyans and their towne though it abound With men and meanes against vs to resist And to defend themselues for certaine time For â—re we from our enterprise desist Which now you see is meerely in the prime We make no doubt but to destroy them all And bring them to their ends what ere befall But th' only cause why I these words nowvse Is to diswade you from presumption And pride of heart least that you should abuse Yourselues herein by indiscretion And wisely in this case so well provide That reason and not will may be your guide And ere we stirre from hence such order take That we may reape great commendation And of our wars a happy end soone make For th'onor of the Grecian Nation For oft we see the want of good foresight I speciall cause to breed a man despight When as he vndertaketh any thing Without forecasting what thereof may fall And in the end doth him to ruine bring It stands vâ—then vpon in mind to call What issue may ensue of our intent Least that in fine it maketh vs repent You know how first King Priamus did send To vs to haue his sister Exion By faire meanes and to peace did seeme to bend Who yet is holden by King Tolamon And how that we with one consent
Both thou and thine to die by Grecians swords Thy towne destroid and all that longs thereto Although thou seemst to vse such hautie words And with thy tong speak'st more thē thou canst do But better t' were such boasting speech to leaue And vnto our good counsell credite giue When Diomedes proudlie with disdaine Had spoken thus some Troyans in a rage Drew out their swords would him straight haue slaine But Priamus their furies to asswage Rose vp and with a countenance seuere On paine of death commanded them t'forbeare From wronging such as for Embassadors were Sent vnto him or t'offer them offence For though said he a foole will not forbeare To speake without discretion wit or sence A wise man must from rash attempts surcease And wincking at such follie hold his peace For if a foole speakes vnadvisedlie And by that meanes doth moue dissention A wise man should not hastilie replie Nor shun no kind of indiscretion For vnto fooles it properlie belongs For to bewray their follie with their tongues And wise men should be wary what they say And well advis'd in all their actions And both their hands and tongs discreetly stay From giuing cause to nourish factions For fooles by custome indiscreetly speake And oftentimes into great choller breake But wisemen can dissemble what they heare And till that time and place convenient bee With th'vnadvised rage of follie beare Which lasts not long as commonlie we see And for my part I do you all assure That rather would I wrong my selfe endure Then to permit the least offence that is For to be done by any man what ere For things which they suppose to be amisse To any messenger that now is here Within my Court for t is not fit that we For everie small offence reveng'd should be For many times wrongs rashlie offered When little cause or none to do 't there is Whereof some great revenge hath followed For hastiemen of woe doe neuer misse Wherefore I charge you everie one sit downe And see that no man by presumption Attempteth for to wrong in any wise Th'Embassadors of Grecia hither sent Nor furiously in malice gainst them rise But let them freelie shew the whole intent And scope of their embassage whatsoere And sit you still while we with silence heare With that Aeneas rose out of his seat Which next on th' one side of King Priam was And in a furious rage and choller great Said to the King with licence of your Grace I thinke when one without advise doth speake That he not onlie well deserues a cheake But punishment that men by him may take Example how in open audience Such vproares and dissentions they do make Thereby t' offend your roiall Excellence And truth to say it might so come to passe That I the bounds of reason might surpasse In this respect and hastilie commit A great offence whereby your royall Grace Might censure me to die therefore but yet I ft were not for your presence in this place I would revenged be vpon these twaine That haue so proudlie spoken in disdaine Of you for t is a most vnseemely thing To heare a foole with great presumption In presence of a high and mightie King Take on him without all discretion To speak that which to him might breed offence And preiudice to his magnificence To teach him how in better sort to learne To vse his tongue and when to hold his peace And of the persons better to discerne To whome he speakes and not with such excesse As he hath done that now before your Grace So prowdly spoken hath to your disgrace For which I counsell him if he be wise Out of your Graces sight with spreed to goe And not to stay long here vpon surmise That what so ere presumption he doth shoe The law of armes is his protection For if he do he 'le feele the smartfull soone Wherewith Diomedes disdainfully In proud and hawty words and yet but few Did to Aeneas sodainlie reply Saying thy speech sufficientlie doth shew That without doubt thou art exceeding wise And that the Prince that followeth thine advise Or vnto thee his secrets doth impart Can never erre nor do ought that 's amisse Because thou of so good a iudgement art That wilfullie without all good advise Prouok'st thy Prince the laws of armes to breake But would to God I might once with thee speake Alone when oportunitie doth serue That I might thee requite for thy great skill And curtesie as thou dost well deserue Which if I liue assuredly I will And thereof make account for if we meet In field with other tearmes I will thee greet But wise Vlisses rising vp then spake And seeming Diomedes speech t' excuse Vnto him said now further words to make Or longer here more arguments to vse Meere follie t' were for vs and to the King He said sith thou wilt do no other thing Nor make no further answere then thou hast Wee le stay no longer here but straight be gone And make relation what twixt vs hath past Vnto the Grecian Princes every one And how we find thee obstinately bent To hearken or to grant to their intent And so without delay to horse they mount And to the Grecians armies road in hast And there to Agamemnon did recount All what King Priam said and what had past Twixt them in Troye wherby the Greeks did see The Troyans purpose and intent to bee Not once to yeeld Queene Helena to send To them againe but valiantly to fight And gainst their foes their Citie to defend And if they could by valour and by might Driue them frō thence which though it pleasd thē not Yet sith they saw that such had been their lot To vndertake that hawtie enterprise And that there was no other remedie They did consult what waies they should devise To helpe themselues in their necessitie Of victuals and all other things beside Whereof in hast they did themselues provide But first before I shew what meanes they made To helpe themselues whil'st they fore Troye did lie I must declare what 's of Aeneas said By Guido who for truth doth certifie His father Duke Anchises was and that He on the Goddesse Uenus him begat And how that after Troye was cleane defast And overthrowen he sail'd from thence by seas And having past by many Coasts at last At Carthage did arriue where for to ease Himselfe he stayd and then tooke ship againe And sail'd so long that with great toyle paine His ships arriu'd in Italie in th' end The which by him was wholly conquered And that Augustus Casar did descend From him that was so highlie honored For many Conquests valiantly atchiu'd By him while on this earthly mowld he liu'd And Iustine that was Emperour a while Within his booke Autentikes cald by name The Rubrikes of Aeneas did compile In memory of him because he came So long a iourney into Italie And conquered it for his posteritie Which long
he bore And for that cause he made no more delay But arm'd himselfe againe with full intent Against his fathers will that bad him stay To go into the field and forward went For feare whereof his wife did cry shout And with her child in both her armes ran out And did to him most pittiously complaine Beseeching him her sorrow to behold And of his Princely loue to ease her paine By granting her request and that he would Not onely pittie her but haue a care Of his yong Son which in her armes she bare Who all the while would not from crying keepe By any meanes what so euer that she made When as he saw his wofull mother weepe And kneeling on her knees vnto him said Alas my Lord haue pittie now on me And on this tender babe whome here you see So wofully before you weepe and crie And be not so hard hearted and vnkind T' abandon vs and suffer vs to die Let Troy some mercy at thy hand now find Mine owne deare Lord least it and we each one Be put to cruell death when thou art gone For want of aid Thus did Andromecha Her Husband Hector mournfully desire To stay at home The like Queene Hecuba His mother also of him did require Together with his Sisters Cassandra And Policene with faire Queene Helena Who all at once downe at his feet did fall And pittiously their haire did rent and teare And lowdly cri'd and dolefully did call On him that he would for that day forbeare To go into the field and of the towne With them and her to haue compassion And to behold their sad and pittious mone For that he was the bulwarke and the wall And chiefe defender of the towne alone And th' only true supporter of them all In whome their onely safety and good With all their weale especially then stood But all this could not moue his heart to stay Nor grant to their request yet still they kneel'd And him with many brinish teares did pray Vnto their cries and woefull sute to yeeld And that they might some sparks of grace theÌ„ feele To come out of his heart as hard as steele By pittying them and on their woe to rew Which likely was to their destruction And overthrow still dailie to renew For that of their most famous Troyan towne His death would be the ruine and decay Yet all this could by no meanes make him stay But forth he would with heart couragious Which was inflam'd with extreame wrath rage And like a Lyon fierce and furious Would by no meanes his crueltie asswage For neither crie nor lamentation Could him withdraw from his opinion For casting everie danger cleane aside And all perswasions what so ere were made He spurd his horse and forward gan to ride Wherewith his wife such extreame dolor had Within her heart that with face pale and wan In furious wise vnto the King she ran So sore amaz'd and in such wofull case That she could hardly tell where she did go And with salt teares be-dewing all her face So strangely lookt that no man could her know And in that sort with great perplexitie She fell before King Priam on her knee And vnto him her wofull case did shoe Desiring him to put his helping hand To stay her husband Hector that would goe Out of the towne whom no man could withstand Vnlesse't were he who presentlie did bid One bring his horse and forth in hast he rid And pittying her estate did for her sake Set spurs vnto his horse with so great hast That he did Hector speedilie oretake Before that he out of the gate was past And straight laid hold vpon his horses reine And made him gainst his will turne back again Wherein he would his father not gaine say Although he was full loath the same to doe And by that meanes intreated was to stay And partly was by force constraind thereto And so he did downe from his horse alight With heart so full of ranckor and despight Melancholie and hot and burning ire That his couragious heart did boile in blood And with disdaine was set on such a fire That like a Tygar fierce or Lyon wood And furious depriued of his pray He did behaue himselfe all that same day Or like a Bore that as he goes doth whet And grind his tuskes still walking vp and downe While that the Greekes they of Troy did meet Where at the first yong Troyelâ—â— fore the towne In furious wise vpon his gallant steed By chance did meet with fierce King Diomede And both of them so furiously assaild And set vpon each other with such might That neither armes nor weapons had preuaild But one or both of them in that hard fight Had died if that King Menelaus had not beene That sodenly came riding them betweene And made them part and after valiantly Did spurre his horse and ran at Mereon The Phrigian King and him most cruellie With sword in hand assaild and set vpon And at him stroke a blow with so great force That with the same he feld him off his horse And at that time he surely had bin tane Or lost his life the Greeks so mightily Assaild and set on him and on the plaine Enclos'd him round about and furiously Pluckt off his helme and band vpon him laid And had him led away If to his aid Pollidamas had not come sodenly With many valiant knights with him and when He saw King Mereon in extreamitie And mongst a troope of Grecians prisoner then In furious wise he did vpon them set And him out of their hands by force did get But ere he could relieue him cleane from thence On either side there was such mortall strife For that the Greeks gainst him made great defence That many a valiant knight then lost his life For rather then he should from them be tane They swore vowd that he shold first be slaine And by that meanes he was in danger great But sodainly to free him from the same Yong Troyelus vpon the Grecians set And at the first as he amongst them â—aâ—â—e He did behaue himselfe gainst them so well And in such furious wise vpon them â—ell That in despight of them and all their traine Most valiantly he holpe king Mereon And him restor'd to libertie againe And then into the field came Thelamon That of three thousand knights the leader was And sodenlie vnhorst Pollidamas And him in midst of all his knights cast downe Vnto the ground But worthy Troyelus T' encrease his hautie fame and great renowne Despight of them with courage furious Holpe him perforce vnto his horse againe But at that time the Troyans were so slaine And beaten downe by Greeks on euery side For fierce Achilles then so cruelly Pursued them that they could not abide Before his face but of necessitie Constrained were perforce to flie away And by no meanes within the field would stay But fiercelie chast by him vnto the towne Close by
Without all doubt or contrariety For in her was his whole felicitie And when the three daies foresaid ended were Achilles vnto Hecuba straight sent His messenger againe of her t' inquire What Priam sayd concerning his intent To whom she told at large what had been don And how that she the King thereto had won And Paris likewise to consent thereto As also that her selfe well willing was With them t' agree and graunt it should be so If he could find the meanes to bring 't to pas That peace betweene them as he said he would Perpetually for euermore should hold The which she sayd he must first bring about And sure and perfect make in each condition And then he should not need to stand in dout Of speeding in his loue with expedition Wherewith Achilles messenger content Out of the towne vnto his maister went To whom he told the answere that was made By Hecuba to him wherewith well pleas'd And seeing that no other way he had But peace whereby he might of griefe be eas'd He purposed to bring the same t' effect And did no time nor any meanes neglect To find a way t' impart the same vnto The Greeks the which while he did goe about Supposing certainely that they would do The same for him and yet thereof did doubt At last into a desperate mind he fell And did perswade himselfe in heart full well That he the power had to worke his will And that without all cause of doubt or feare The Grecians would most redily fulfill His mind and graunt to that he should require And in that sort he did himselfe perswade All should fall out as he devised had According to his will and fantasie As louers vse to doe Who whatsoere They take in hand thinke it must certainely Fall out though nere s'impossible it were So much their minds with folly are possest And so Achilles did set downe his rest And was in hope his mind to satisfie Supposing that for his great worthines His mighty strength and his actiuitie His high renowne and passing valiantnes Whereof with no small pride great boast â—â—e made And in himselfe therefore much glory had The Grecians would be in dispaire and feare For euer winning Troy if he withheld His helping hand and that by him they were Forsaken when they went into the field And would at last and onely for his sake The siedge of Troy and all their warre forsake Vnlesse that he among them still did stay To helpe them till that they had made an end And for that cause he made no more delay But did procure Pallamides to send For all the Lords vnto his tent to know What vnto them he did intend to show And when that they assembled were together Achilles spake and sayd as you shall heare My Lords sith it hath pleas'd you to come hither And that at my request you summond were Let me desire you without offence To tell my mind before this audience I know sayd he that for the prouidence The wisedome and the great discretion The valor mighty force and sapience The honour wealth and excellent renowne Wherewith you are endowed your worthy name From East to West is spread by trompe of Fame But nerethelesse that these things doe belong Of right to you yet this I must you tell That though that you be nere so huge and strong As truth to say you doe in force excell All Nations yet if you doe consider The very cause wherfore you are come hither You must confesse and so it will be found That you in this your quarrell had no right Nor reason wherevpon you might it ground For sure it is most euident to sight Of euery man that beares an vpright hart That you herein did play a foolish part Without forecasting with advisednes What cause you had to make this mortall warre For when as we by foolish hastines Did come out of our countries so farre Into the Troian land our liues to venter Against our foes The quarrell we did enter At that same time into as euerie one Of vs well knows was for the iniurie And to revenge the priuate cause alone Of Menelaus for who can it denie That th'ravishing of Helena his wife Was th' onely cause of all the warre and strife Betweene vs and the Troyans which as now We do maintaine with great hostilie And for the which we all haue made a vow To sacke the towne of Troy with ieopardie Of life and goods and for that cause haue left Our Countries and our Cities and bereft Our children and our wiues of all delight And ioy make them mourne in great distresse While we remaine here in the field to fight Against our foes in griefe and heauinesse Assailed and enclos'd on every side With enemies and nought but death abide For sith the time that this our warre began Which onely of meere pride we do maintaine It hath vs cost the life of many a man Of great and meane account that now are slaine Who might haue liu'd at home in wealth ioy If they had not come hither vnto Troy To loose their liues by their owne wilfulnesse Here in this place with great extreamitie And for my part I must in truth confesse That by the Troyans force and crueltie So much bloud I haue lost since we began This warre that it hath made me pale wan And not long since I had a wound againe Which Hector with a Dart did giue to me Vpon the thigh that day that he was slaine Which put me to so great extremitie That it hath made me long in bed to lie To heal't and yet I doubt thereof to die I ft be not quickly cur'd for t is yet greene And very sore and puts me to great paine With many other wounds that yet are seene Vpon me still which make me oft complaine And truth to say if it considered were We should not buy Queene Helena so deare As for her t'hazard life and lim and all Our honors and our worldly goods and fame The which vnto vs quickly may befall If we haue not regard vnto the same And in our minds consider not how much This doubtfull warre for Helen doth vs tuch For if that we our reckning rightly make And call to mind what alteration Hath falne since we the same did vndertake And what destruction of our warlike Nation Hath for her sake been made yet much more Dishonor we are like to haue therefore And to incurre for as it doth appeare Although we do still hold this siege so long In fine if that we do continue heare It will to vs because of greater wrong And more and more redownd vnto our shame If order be not taken for the same Which may be if that we on either side Together would agree with one consent That Helena in Troy shall still abide And that King Menelaus would be content To take another wife and let her go That to him doth her selfe vnfaithfull
manner still did hold His enemies in chase and beat them downe All that day with couragious heart and bold And brought them vnto great confusion So long till that the Sun withdrew his light And euening when it waxed toward night That he returnd to Troy victoriously And seven daies ensuing without rest He did assaile the Greeks so cruelly And in such furious manner them opprest That they could not his puissant force sustaine But forced were to flie out of the plaine T' avoyd the strong and mighty blows which he Amongst them dealt for where so ere he past He put them to so great extreamitie That they shrunke backe and were in heart abasht To see the field all dy'd and coloured red With bloud of Greeks that on the plaine lay dead And were that day oppressed in such wise That next day after they did all agree Betimes assoone as ere the Sun did rise To fend a messenger to Troy to see If Priamus vnto a truce would yeeld For two months space wherwith king Priam held A counsell of his Lords to that intent And by consent of them he did agree Vnto the Greeks desire and was content That peace for two months time should holden be Which done the Greeks out of the towne straight went And comming vnto 〈◊〉 tent Declared vnto him what was decreed By Priamus concerning his desire And after that their Generall with speed Sent messengers to pray and to require Achilles who was obstinately beâ—t And resolutely held in his intent Not to relieue nor aid the Grecians In any wise what need so ere they had Against their mortall foes the Troyans According to the vow he then had made To mollifie his anger and t' agree With them t'assaile their Troyan enemie As he had done before the which to doe Ulisses Diomede and Nestor were Appointed to perswade him therevnto That they might not such losse damage beare As daily they endur'd and specially Because he did to them his aid deny And would not with them in the field appeare Whome when Achilles saw he did receaue And welcome them with ioy full heart and cheare And when they had of him desired leaue To speake their minds according to their charge Ulisses their Commission to discharge An eloquent discourse vnto him made And following his first instruction In this sort did begin him to perswade And said my Lord Achilles whose renowne Exceeding might and glory passing great For memory perpetually is set Within the Booke and register of fame And who the truth to say doth certainlie At this time well deserue to beare the name Of all that vnderneath the christ all skie Do liue and breath for knighthood to excell Be not displeas'd I pray you that I tell My mind to you nor be it none offence At all vnto your honor that I say For this is sure it is my full pretence To tell the truth as neere as ere I may As well your Lordship shall perceiue and see If you but marke what shall be said by me You know full well if you to mind will call The chiefest cause and reason why that we With all the Grecian Princes which excell For puissant strength and power that now be Assembled here whereof your selfe was one Of those that first did make the motion Was by a full consent and will t' invade Besige and to destroie the puissant towne Of Troy and when that we performed had Our wills therein to raise and cast it downe Vnto the ground to our e'relasting fame But now my Lord you varrie from the same And so denlie haue altered your mind And to that end do vtterlie denie To aid vs in our warre the which we find To be exceeding strange especiallie When you should thinke vpon the mightie wrong Done vnto vs in Greece and that not long Nor many yeares agoe by Troyans That sent a mightie force out of their towne And therewith slew and kild the Grecians And entring into Cithera beat downe Our Castles and our houses and did beare Our treasure thence and not contented were With all that spoile but to our great despight Did ravish faire Queene Helena and made Her go with them and hold her still by might And would not once confesse the wrong they had Then done and now still vnto vs procure But in the same do obstinate endure And since our being here in siege haue wrought So much and so great hurt and iniurie To vs by burning of our ships and brought So many Greeks vnto their ends that we Cannot but muse at your great carelesnes That will not now when they as we confesse By your exceeding might and valor great Are brought vnto most hard extreamitie Sâ—th you haue Hector slaine in whome they set Their speciall trust and chiefe securitie And he who onlie did their towne sustaine And sith Deiphobus likewise now is slaine And they by likelihood continuallie And day by day to fall into despaire Now fortune on them casts a lowring eie And vnto vs doth shew a countnance faire Even now I say when you are so renownd And that your praise by trump of fame doth sound Through euerie Land and Nation far neare Take time while it doth serue t' extoll your praise And by dame Fortunes aid which doth you beare So great good will to worke by all assaies To bring your long desired wish t' effect For 't were great wrong in you so to neglect Dame Fortune when to you she is so kind And obstinately to refuse her aid When you do her so friendly to you find And so extols your fame as I haue said That she puts victorie into your hand And vnexpectedly your foes withstand So that you need no helpe of her to craue Why then should you so wilfullie let fall The noble fame which at this time you haue And suffer that men should 't in question call When as it is now in the highst degree Me thinks you should much better thereto see And haue a greater care the same to keepe For euerie knight that is of valiant mind Would grieue thereat with great sighs deepe Lament to see you proue so much vnkind Vnto your selfe as to abase your state When fame doth it so highlie eleuate Wherefore we you desire heartilie To haue remorse of conscience in your mind And that you would vnto vs not denie Your aid but let vs so much favor find At your hands to helpe vs in our need T' effect the thing which we haue all decreed To bring to passe ere we leaue off the same That your renowne may still be magnified Throughout the world to your perpetuall fame And still encrease and be reedified And that the trivmph of our victorie May evermore be had in memorie And so recorded that forgetfulnesse May not your fame valor greatt deface Nor power haue by malice to suppresse The same which now doth shine in euerie place Without ecclipse as we must needs confesse Which to
preserue you seeme with carelesnesse Not to respect and to obscure the light Of your renowne which euer was so cleare And through the world did shine exceeding bright In field to fight with vs you do forbeare Remember how the Grecians haue been slaine Before your tent and also in the plaine In cruell wise and euery place throughout The field and you no pittie on them take Why should you then refuse and be so stout Without a cause them whollie to forsake Who vntill now haue been their Champion Their chiefest helpe and their protection And for their sakes haue osten shedyour blood Against their foes when they with theÌ„ haue fought And by your aid not onely them withstood But their confusion valiantlie â—aue wrought And mightilie their enemies did assaile Without whose aid they may not long prevaile Against their foes no more may any one Of vs how stout and strong so ere we bee For t is you onlie that can do 't alone If that you will vouchsafe with vs t' agree To fight against the Troyans and thereto Lend vs your aid as you were woont to do And as we doubt not but you 'le grant the same To succour vs in our necessity Nâ—◠〈◊〉 for your owne perpetuall fame But to redeeme vs from extreamitie And to that end we come to you as now To craue of you your mind herein to show Whereto Achilles presentlie began Assoone as ere Ulisses ended had His tale to speake with visage pale and wan For angâ—â— and in this sort answere made Ulisses if so be our meaning were As you to me at this time do declare Of purpose and with one entire consent The famous towne of Troy to overthrow And vtterlie to spoile't and that we bent Our minds thereto and thereby meant to show Our power and might I must you plainly tell That we of truth therein haue not done well To put cur selues by indiscretion So carelesly without advisednes Into so dangerous an action To hazard the estate and happines With liues and goods of all the Chivalry Of Greece that put the same in ieopardy For little cause or none the truth to tell For hath â—ot many a worthie King and Knight Who both in fame and honor did excell Consum'd his wealth and lost his life in fight Here in this siege that might haue liu'd in peace And honor still if he had staid in Greace For hath not King Pallamides been slaine But now of late whose life was of more worth Then all the cause for which we here remaine And hold this dangerous siege to tell the troth And many other Knights and Princes great That on both sides are here together met To shew their puissant valor and their might And to attaine to honor and to fame Haue lost their liues vnhappily in fight And many more are like to do the same If that long time this cruell warre doth last For euery day the number lesneth fast Both on the Greeks and Troyans side likewise So that if this most cruell rage and mood Continue long and in such furious wise If that it be not otherwise withstood It 's likely that it will such hauocke make Of Princely bloud that clownes will vndertake To rule and gouerne here vpon the earth And of the same haue sole dominion And such as are of no degree nor birth Will Lords become when Princes there are none For is not Hector that most valiant Knight That was the onlie mirror and the light Of Chivalrie vnfortunatelie slaine In this same warre and so may I likewise Perchance be kild that neuer shall attaine To Hectors worth while light is in mine eâ—es For there 's no way deaths furious dart to shun If we vpon the point thereof will run And seeke it of our selues while we are here And therefore such a motion now to make Concerning this our warre as you require Is but in vaine for I do meane to take Another course and in this bloudy strife No more to stand in hazard of my life For I had rather to impaire my name Then wilfully to die or to be slaine Thereby to be eternized by fame For honor after death is but a vaine And needlesse thing and soone is set aside For though that fame be spred both far wide Obliuion and forgetfulnes may soone Impaire't by tract of times length of daies And make thereof a wrong conclusion For that the fame of Knighthood and the praise Of honor wisedome and of worthines Of freedome bounty and of gentlenes Of vertue and of euery other grace Wherewith a man is in this world endowd Forgetfulnesse can darken and deface And in oblivions mantle doth them shrowd And with a false report maliciously Doth crop the Palmâ— of worthy Chivalrie And therefore for my part I do intend Such folly now to leaue and henceforth liue In peace and all mine actions thereto bend And for that cause this counsell to you giue To make a peace with Troyans if you may And therein do no longer time delay Before that further mischiefe doth arise And cruell death should chance to be your share And therefore good my Lords if you be wise Of this my counsell see you take some care This is said he my purpose and intent Which you may show to him that hath you sent With which his resolute conclusion Ulisses Diomede and Nestor went Vnto their Generall Agamemnon And vnto him declared the intent And answere of Achilles which he made To them as I before vnto you said And there vpon he presently did call The Princes of the Greeks vnto his tent And when they were assembled to them all Did show whereto Achilles mind was bent And that he was desirous of a peace With them of Troy that all their warre might cease Refusing flatlie t' enter in the field With them against the Troyans any more And for that cause a counsell with them held To know of them what will thereto they bore And what therein they did intend to do Sith that the case with them as then stood so Whereto the first of them that did reply Was Menelaus who with an angry mood Began to chafe and flatlie did denie To make a peace and therein boldlie stood And said that it was never his intent By any meanes thereto to giue consent Sith that the towne of Troy was in such need And at the brinke of their destruction Now Hector and Deiphobus both were dead That whilome were their sole protection So that they might all comfort cleane reiect And nothing else but cruell death expect And therefore flatlie said without all feare Though that Achilles will vs helpe no more The burthen of our enterprise to beare We need not any whit to doubt therefore But that without him we shall overthrow Our enmies by our force as well I know Whereto Ulisses speedilie repli'd And Nestor both of one opinion And gainst his false assertion iustifi'd That touching peace whereof the motion As
be the way T' appease them and their furious course to stay Which hauing said Amphimachus arose Vpon his feet who grieued much to heare Anthenor speake of treatie with their foes In manner as you heard could not forbeare In presence of King Priamus t' vpbraid Him openly with treason and thus sayd Anthenor by thy speech I well perceiue That we haue little cause to trust in thee For ayd in need that so much dost deceiue Our expectations for we plainely see That Faith and troth from thee are banished And thou in 't falshood art by error led When as thou dost so variable show Where is become thy faith vnto thy Lord And due alleigance thou to him dost ow Where are thy oaths thy promises and word Which thou didst make protest and giue to be True vnto him and his posteritie All fled and gone In steed whereof thou hast Retained mutability and change Of mind opinion and of will and past The bounds of thy fidelity to change At liberty from all affection Which thou sholdst beare to him to this towne To liue and die for it if need should bee For neither faith nor troth nor sparkes of loue In thee remaines as now we plainely see When thou darst be so bold t' excite and moue The King by thy perswasions to giue eare To that which to his great dishonor were Which is to seeke a peace as if that he Did feare his foes Thou rather shouldst haue been The first that should haue proferred him to be A chiefe protector of the Citie when So ere the Greeks should seeke t'assaile the same With losse of life and lim to keepe the same But know thou well and so I thee assure That whatsoere thy meaning is to do Before we will this iniurie endure And ere they shall so far proceed thereto It shall the liues of twenty thowsand cost And many more before this towne be lost I hold thy words to be no prophesie But rather do esteeme them by good reason To be the signes and marks of trechery Of fained faith of falsehood and of treason To bring vs in subiection to our foes But though thou setst on them so faire a glose And outward show they are but meere deceit And Syrenes songs t' entrap and to beguile Vs and this towne till that our foes it get In this sort did Amphimachus reuile Anthenor for his counsell knowing well That t' was nought els but treason Till full well To pacefie his choler and to stay Them from proceeding further to a brawll Aeneas with faire words to make the way More open for their purpose and withall To smooth the matter so as if they ment Nought els but troth but t' was with false intent For he spake cleane contrary to his thought Intending onely to appease them twaine Till that he had by policie so wrought That they from futher speeches did refraine And when he saw them somewhat pacified To cloake Anthenors speeches and to hide His owne dissimulation in like ease When he had pausd a little while he sayd Vnto the King with smooth and flattering face That touching help reliefe or any ayd To be expected for the towne he thought There was none to be found that it nought Availed them to hope thereon sith they Besiedged were soclosely and so hard That they could haue no victualls any way To comfort them and wholy were debard From issuing forth as hauing not the might Against the Greeks for want of force to fight For as you know said he while that this warre Endured hath we haue consumd such store Of famous and most worthy knights that were A terror to our foes that now no more We can nor dare not issue out to fight And which is more vnto our great despight The people are so full of feare and dread That they are all perswaded ther 's noway For them but euery one to lay his head Vpon the blocke to die therefore I say Sith that the Fates for vs haue so decreed And that we now are driuen to such need If that you will be ruld by my aduise I thinke the safest way for vs wil be To parle with our foes and not be nise To make a peace with them though that it be Vnto our losse t' avoid th'extremety We may fall in sith ther 's no remedy But Priamus with face for anger pale And countnance sterne he was so moud in miâ—d Cut of Aeneas long and flattering tale And fretting at the treason he did find Lie hiden vnder it Could not refraine In furious wise to speake vnto them twaine And sayd Anthenor and Aeneas both I muse why you two should so hardy be And bold as that with breach of faith and troth You dare inuent such treason to bring me And all my subiects into extreame thrall And danger of our foes and therewithall Into dispaire by false suggestion How can or may you in your conscience find If that you well considered thereon Against your facts and oathes to be vnkind To me that of my secret counsell were And so well thought on by me that whatsoere Did passe therein it was not don without You were in presence to agree thereto But now I cannot muse how it falles out That you decline in this sort as you do From me that am of all my soones bereft And desolate of friends in manner left It makes me grieue to thinke vpon the same And much to muse that any of you can Be so vntrue and haue so little shame To do it how should I trust any man When you two are so faithlesse vnto me That ought my chiefest counsellors to be You should remember how with your consent And chiefely by your counsell and aduise Paris by me was into Grecia sent With many ships and men in warlike wise And thou Anthenor knowst full well also That fore he went thou didst Ambaster go Vnto the Greeks to fetch home Exion If by faire meanes we could bring them thereto And after that thou madst the motion And was the cause that Paris then did go With warlike force to Greece and this is true For thinke you that without aduise from you I would with such a power haue sent him thither Or haue assayld the Grecians in their land Vnlesse that you had mou'd me to 't together No surely it had nere been tane in hand And you your selues if you be well aduisd Cannot deny but that it was deuisd And put in execution through you twaine Especially for when as Paris went To Cithera for Helena its plaine Aeneas thou wast cause that he was sent And th' onely man that readiest was and sought To welcome her when she to Troy was brought For t is most sure she neuer had come here If thou hadst been vnwilling therevnto Although as now thou makst as though thou nere Hadst knowne thereof nor giuen consent thereto And now my sons are dead and I bereft Of my best Knights and without comfort