enemies contend But onely euer after while we liue Be sure of mortall warre and enmity Sorrow and griefe and all extreamity My counsell therefore is that we endure Our wrongs forepast without contention And not vnto ourselues more hurt procure For t is a point of great discretion Think not my Lord I speake thus much for feare Or cowardise but yet I say that t' were Great folly to commit our happinesse Sith that we now â—iue in security To fortunes hands so full of doublenes And barre our selues of all felicity This is said he all that I did pretend To say to you and so his speech did end When Hector thus his mind declared had And with most graue conclusion so did close The wise discourse which be to them had made His second brother Paris therewith rose And to the King along discourse did make Which in these words with courage bold he spake And said my Lord if 't like your Grace to heare And giue me leaue to speake then must I say And will it proue you haue no cause to feare Nor would I wish you long the time delay With braue and valiant heart to vndertake Vpon the Greekes asodaine warre to make Therewith their pride and malice to confound Sith that you know yourselfe to be so strong Of valiant Knights and that we do abound With plenty of each thing that doth belong Vnto the warres and how our towne most wide Is able all their proud assaults t' abide And which is more invincible to win Besides all this great Princes many aone Our friends so were this warre with them begun Will vs assist to their destruction Let them therefore be nere so bold and stout I see no cause at all why we should doubt Nor reason why we should our selues dismay Therefore if you my counsell now will take I thinke it best you should no time delay Your Nauie to prepare and if you 'le make Me Generall thereof I you assure That I will such a speedy meanes procure That Exion shall recouered be full soone And in such sort it shall by me be wrought That I esteeme it easie to be done For I deuised haue within my thought By Knightly force with strong and mighty hand To rauish some faire Lady in that Land Of high estate and without tarrying Despight of them when as I haue her wonne With all the speed I can to Troy her bring That so you may haue restitution By change of her whom you long so to see And this shall soone by me dispatched be All were the Grecians nere so strong bold And that hereof you may be out of doubt I will in briefe to you the meanes vnfold How I with ease will bring the same about And hope thereby your mind so to content That you 'le reioyce that I was thither sent For that the Gods of their benignitie Haue shewed to me by reuelation Which way the same may well effected be And to that end I had a vision Not long agoe as in a sleepe I fell Which if you marke and it consider well You need not feare to faile nor yet to care To get her home whome you so much desire The manner of my dreame I will declare And in most humble wise your Grace require With patience to abide till I haue done And I will it in briefe soone over-run Your Grace remembreth well to what intent By your command and with commission large Into the Indian land of late I went For things that are committed to my charge And I as then tooke on me to effect Which that I might the time no whit neglect When Titan with his beames most faire and cleare From Gemeny his furious steeds did chace And in the signe of Cancer gan apeare Which called is Lucinaes mancion place When as the Sun was in the highest degree Which in the midst of Iuno we find to bee At that same time as soone as day I saw When Phoebus gan to shew his radiant light Commanding Pirrous vp his wane to draw And Dame Aurora beautifull and bright Began her face out of the East to shew And cast on hearbs and flowers her siluer dew I rose out of my bed with present speed And full intent on hunting forth to goe For that within my heart I had decreed Some honour vnto Cupid then to show And Ladie Venus that day magnifie Which called is the Queene of Venerie And reverently the ancient rights obserue Of Cinthia nam'd the faire bright shining Moone And her in all submissiue wise to serue The which by vs the better to be done My mates and I for pleasure and delight Determined to rest and stay till night Within a wood to play and make some sport As best beseemeth men of youthfull mind And pleasantly our selues to recomfort For that day vnto Venus was assign'd And hallowed to her sacred deity With honour and with soueraigne Maiesty Which euery one obseru'd both small and great For on a Friday t' was when forth we went And when within the pleasant woods we met To hunt for game as t' was our sole intent With labour great we rode both too and froe So long till many a fearefull Bucke and Doe By strength were kilâ— as we them chanst to find And mongst the dales and vallies steepe and low With hounds did chase the Hart tripping Hind Till Phoebus glistring in his chaire did show Iust in the midst or the Meridâ—en When as the beames most burning hot did shine And we vpon our chase most busied were As I by chance strayd from my companie Who in the woods were scattered here and there A mightie Hart did start forth sodenlie From out the thickets hasting to the greene With most swift pace which when that I had seen I spyed my horse and after gallopt fast Vp hils downe dales through bushes thick thin And yet for all I made as then such hast I could by no meanes ground vpon him win But maugre all I did to my despight In little space t' was gone out of my sight Into a wood that Ida had to name Wherewith I waxt so faint that I did stay To rest my selfe and so left off the game And for because that I had lost my way And that my horse whereon I then did ride Foam'd at the mouth and swet on euery side And all his flankes in every place were staind With bloud that with my spurs from him I drew So hotly in the chase I him constraind The Hart that ran so swiftly to pursue With hope in th' end he should by me be caught But all that I could do availd me nought When a mongst the thick lofty trees so greene I found by chance a sweet and pleasant shade As smooth and plaine as ever man had seene I lighted off my horse and fast him made Vnto a tree and wearie as I was I â—ayd me downe vpon a tuft of grasse Hard by a riuer side whose streames most cleare
were one of your Royall blood The which I know for all your worldlie good You would by no meanes wish nor gladlie see Wherefore by mine aduise I thinke it best That Thoas should well kept and garded bee Within this towne and quietlie let rest Least as I said to you before it may Fall out that one of vs another day Might hap into their hands and prisoner be And so for him we might haue ours againe Which otherwise if with extreamitie We do proceed we never should obtaine This is my counsell in this case said he And such as I do thinke the best to be Whereto most worthy Hector did consent And with him was of like opinion And said that he no will had nor intent That any wrong to Thoas should be done While he in Troy then prisoner was though he Nere had deseru'd of them well vs'd to be Paris King Priams second son likewise When as his brother Hector had declar'd His mind said vnto them that his aduise Was that he wisht King Thoas should be spar'd And not put vnto death although he said To doe the same they need not be afraid But Deiphobus of cleane contrarie mind Vnto his brethren twaine did say he saw No cause why Thoas should such favor find At Troyans hands who by their marshall law Might iustlie for his merits make him die Being as he was their vtter enemie Whereto with courage bold youthfull heart Prince Troyelus did seeme somewhat t' agree With Deiphobus and said that for his part He did no cause nor any reason see Why they should spare their enemie that sought Their overthrow and to that end had brought His forces fore their towne as fullie bent To worke their vtter ruine and decay But yet said he it is not my intent To counsell you to deale with him that way Least as my Lord Aeneas saith we might Perchance thereby procure our owne despight Whose counsell Lord Anthenor did commend And said that to shew such extreamitie Of marshall Law and rigor to extend To him could not be done advisedlie For that said he there is none of vs all But may into our foes hands chance to fall And with the selfe same rigor vsed be That vnto him we shewd Wherefore I say If that by my advise you 'le ruled be It 's best to let him safe in prison stay And vse him well that we like curâ—esie May haue when need requires of th' enemy Pollidamas his sonne with all the rest Of those that in their Counsell chamber were With one consent did say they thought it best That he should still be kept a prisoner And as Aeneas said be vsed well Till they saw how fortune with theÌ„ would deale But Priamus to wrath and furie bent Did not agree to their opinion And would by no meanes therevnto consent But still maintain'd his first conclusion And said that if the Greeks should once perceiue That we of life do Thoas not bereaue But spare him though vnto that end it were They would report to our no little shame That we dare not attempt to do 't for feare We haue of them and so will vs defame But nere the lesse said he sith you 're content I will though loath vnto the same consent And therewithall their counsell vp they brake And then Aeneas and Anthenor went With Troyelus into the hall and spake With Helena whereas some time they spent With her and with Queene Hecuba that bare Her company with many Ladies faire That with her the Queene then present were Where Troyelus and Aeneas did perswade Queene Helena to set aside all feare Which by the meanes of war that great she had And she although much discontent she were In outward shew did seeme with ioyfull cheare And countenance demure being glad To welcome them as to their state was fit But Hecuba that nere her equall had For vertue bountie eloquence and wit While they vnto Queene Helena so spake Desired them for that faire Ladies sake And for the weale and safety of them all And of the towne that they would not adventer Themselues in field what ever might befall Too farre among the enemies to enter Nor put themselues in danger carelesly And yet besought them to fight valiantly To saue and keepe the towne from that distresse Which th' enemy did seeke to bring 't into The which she said she fear'd she must confesse Although she hope 't they should it never do And so of her and of the Ladies all The knights tooke leaue went out of the hall Meane time the Greeks that morning as I said While Priam in the towne a counsell held Did murmure great sorow mongst them made As in their tents they lay in th' open field To thinke vpon the losse which they sustaind And all of them together much complaind And grieued for the death of many a man Of great account slaine by the cruelties Since that most cruell deadly war began And valor of their Troyan enemies And for the hunger cold and thirst also With sorow thought vnquietnes and woe Which they had had and felt all for nought Or at the least for causes very small If that the ground thereof were truely sought This was the speech and words in generall That through the Grecians campe at that time ran And currantly did passe from man to man But specially amongst the poorer sort Of soldiers who in war most commonly Constrained are t' endure and to support The brunt of all and haue no remedy For though they do find fault grieue therfore Yet are they not relieued nere the more And so they did complaine make great mone To thinke vpon the mischiefe they endured And which to them the Troyan knights had done Thogh't were theÌ„selues that had the same procured Vnto their owne decay and might it shun If they had not that bloudy war begun Which to encrease the next ensuing night So cloudy darke and thicke as pitch became That neither Moone nor star appear'd in sight And such a storme did happen on the same Of thunder lightning wind raine that fell Vpon them as if all the fiends of hell Conspired had their vtter overthrow And therewithall the waters did so rise That all the field and plaine did overflow And with the wind that blew in furious wise Their tents were overthrowne they compeld To leaue the place which all that while they held By reason that the water grew so hie And in that sort the Greeks in great distresse Compelled were all that same night to lie With hearts repleate with griefe and heauinesse In that great storme of thunder wind raine Vntill the water did go backe againe The wind appeas'd and day began t' appeare Next morning when the Sun began to rise Which made the aire shew beautifull and cleare And draue away the clouds out of the skies And with the force and feavor of his heat Dried vp the ground which was
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Hector ONE AND THE FIRST OF the most Puissant Valiant and Renowned Monarches of the world called the Nyne worthies Shewing his jnvincible force together with the marvailous and most famous Acts by him atchieved and done in the great long and terrible Siege which the Princes of Greece held about the towne of Troy for the space of Tenne yeares And finally his unfortunate death after hee had fought a Hundred mayne Battailes in open field against the Grecians The which heerein are all at large described Wherein there were slaine on both sides Fourteene Hundred and Sixe Thowsand Fourscore and sixe men Written by Iohn Lidgate Monke of Berry and by him dedicated to the high and mighty Prince Henrie the fift King of England AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Purfoot Anno. Dom. 1614. THE EPISTLE AS IT vvas dedicated vnto the high and mightie Prince HENRY the Fift MOST puissant Prince whose fame is knowne so well And whose renowne so farre abroad doth shine That it is found all others to excell And equall with that of the worthies Nine Borne by discent of right Paternall line To be the heire and thâ—onor to obtaine To weare the Crowne of mighty Kingdomes twaine Who even as farre as Phoebus in the spheare Celestiall doth spread his beames most bright And as Lucina with her face most cleare The world doth compasse round cast her light Art held to be the most renowned knight And worthy for the honor of thy name To sit on high in throane of Lady Fame And â—hold the palme of honor in thy hand In triumph for thy noble victory For which thou feared â—â—â—t by sea and land And ever with perpetuall praise and glory Shalt for thy conquest fresh in memory Sit opposite before her to be seene With wreath about thy head of Lawrell greene In former time for Conquerors ordain'd That constantly persever'd to the end And valiantly warre once begun maintain'd For causes iust and did their right defend And therevnto their forces did only bend Whose fame's still spread was long time agone Among whom thou by right mayst sit for one For through the world it 's known to every one And flying Fame reports it farre and wide That thou by naturall condition In things begun wi lt constantly abide And for the time dost wholly set aside All rest and never carst what thou dost spend Till thou hast brought thy purpose to an end And that thou art most circumspect and wise And dost effect all things with providence As Iosua did by counsell and advise Against whose sword ther 's none can make defeÌ„ce And wisedome hast by heavenly influence With Salomon to iudge and to discerne Mens causes and thy people to governe For mercy mixt with thy magnificence Doth make thee pitty all that are opprest And to withstand the force and violence Of those that right and equity detest With Dauid thou to piety art prest And like to Iulius Caesar valorous That in his time was most victorious And in one hand like worthy Prince dost hold Thy sword to see that of thy subiects none Against thee should presume with courage bold And pride of heart to raise rebellion Thereby to shake off thy subiection And in the other Scepter to maintaine True iustice while amoÌ„gst vs thou dost raigne Then sith thou art adorn'd with Maiestie Grace wisedome pitie and benignitie With humble heart I craue submissiuelie That thou wilt not disdaine but pleased be T' accept this Booke though rudely done by me Thereby thy great and Princely mind t' expresse By taking pitie of my simplenesse And in thy high and magnanimious hart With naturall jngrafted Sapience Remember Christ accepted in good part The wido wes almes of two poore single pence When she without expecting recompence Gaue to the poore with willing heart and glad That little gift being all that ere she had Let this if that it may thee not offend Example be vnto thy Noblenesse And of thy great benignitie extend Thy favor vnto me with gentlenesse Not to disdaine me for my barrennesse Of wit and though I haue no skill in muse Let my good will and meaning me excuse More then good heart none can whatsoere he bee Present or giue to God nor vnto man Which for my part I wholy giue to thee And ever shall as farre foorth as I can Wherewith I will as I at first began Continually not ceasing night and day With sincere mind for thine estate thus pray First that thou maist Gods mercy so procure Vnto thy selfe that he may still advance Thine honor and that thou maist here endure Thy raigne ore vs with long continuance And all thy Subiects true obeysance And that he will vouchsafe to giue to thee All vertues whatsoere may reckned bee Lenvoy GO forth my Booke vaild with the Princely Grace Of him that is extold for excellence Throughout the world but do not shew thy face Without support of his magnificence And whosoere against thee takes offence Be thou not stubborne with presumption But see thou arme thy selfe with patience And gently yeeld to their correction The Translator to his Booke ANd sith thou art not limb'd with trees not flowers Of Eloquence but clad in white and blacke Thou must prepare thy selfe t' abide the showers Of them that of dislike occasion take And when thou likeliest art to go to wracke Seeme not gainst them thine error to defend But rather yeeld a little and giue backe And pray them that they will thy faults amend THE PREFACE TO The READER MY Muses subiect tending to intreate Of ancient warres and acts of Chivalrie Whereby renowned Knights much honour get And with Eternall parises deifie Their names and fames is forced to require Thee mighty Mars with Art him to inspire Whose fiery nature bent to wrath and thrall As being of complexion hot and drie Melancholicke and furious withall For in thy bowels chollor hid doth lie Doth rightly cause all Poets sound thy fame And thee the God of warres in stories name Sith then thou art of warlike influence And that my stile of battailes must indite Assist me with some Marshall Eloquence That I may frame my hand and pen aright With words of Art and arteficiall phrase Of valiant Knights to sing th' eternall praise And if at my request thou dainst to list Or graunt the thing which I of thee do craue Yet for her sake that lovingly thee kist Blacke Vulcans wife and further fauour gaue Vouchsafe thy ayd my verse so to infuse That I therein fit tearmes and phrase may vse Els truth to say so barren is my wit And void of Aureat liquord Eloquence That I confesse my selfe to be vnfit Or able to accomplish my pretence Helpe then God Mars for faire Bellonaes sake And of my worke vouchsafe protection take And thou sweet Clio with thy sisters deare Whose chiefe aboad is on Pernassus hill By Helicon the fountaine faire and cleare Lend me thine ayd and giue
thou thy malice to vnfold The ashes of discord againe to sift And causing a new debate to rise of old And halfe forgotten enuie But thy drift Is onely to procure the woe and fine Of those that to thy nature doe incline Why hast thou wak't King Priam from his rest And with thy poyson fowle incenst his braine That he in mind and heart should so detest A quiet life and through perswasions vaine Procured him to seeke revenge in hast Vpon the Greekes for harmes so long forepast For where as he in peace did rule and raigne With honour great and no man him annoyd The Serpent Enuie entring in his braine By no meanes would from thence againe avoyd But with such deepe impression there did rest And did so much inflame his furious brest With his inveterate malice new reviu'd That by no meanes he could the same forget Whereby for ever after while he liu'd He brought on him and his such trouble great That wheretofore h'enioy'd a happy life His blisse was turn'd to bloody warre and strife For Priam in his riches glorying Wherein as then he tooke no small delight Imagining his state so flourishing His Towne of so great puissance and might His war-like Knights so many and so strong That no man could noâ— durst him offer wrong Was so possest with Enuie and with Pride That hap what would he had in heart forecast To take no rest vntill that he had tride How he might be reuengd for wrongs forepast Which to effect with full intent and mind He did a time and fit occasion find To summon all his Lords and Knights each one To make repaire all scuses set aside Vpon a day perfixt at Ilion Which his command not any one denide But there with speed did presently appeare Where all his sonnes likewise assembled were But Hector Who from Troy as then was gon Into the Province of Panomie Which Priam held in his subiection A new rebellion there to pacifie The which not long before was rais'd among The Countrey people there for certaine wrong But Hector well advis'd and patient Loth to reuenge where mercie might take place With curtesie so wanne them to content That he appeased them and offring grace And pardon vnto all that did repent Each one with satisfaction home he sent Such was the great and noble princely mind Of that most braue renown'd and valiant Knight Alwaies vnto his subiects iust and kind And rather did in mercie more delight Then vse the force and rigor of the law When as in them no great offence he saw Meane while the King that held an open court With entertainment great and Princely cheare Did wellcome all that thither did resort Which being done and they assembled were In open hall he did with courage bold And words most graue his mind began t' vnfold And sayd my Lords assembled heere as now Whose loyalty I haue no cause to doubt I am assurd not any one of you But well doth know what vnto vs fell out When as the Grecians causeles did inuade Our Towne and what a spoile therof they made And how with extreame barbrous crueltie They murthered our Subiects every one The memory whereof cannot but lie As fresh within your thoughts as it were done But th' other day for 't may not out your mind If to your Countrey you be kind For sure in my oppinion I suppose Nought can you moue vnto forgetfulnesse Of harmes forepast by your most deadly foes Nor can you be without great heavines To thinke thereon for I must plainely tell Out of my heart I can it not expell For yet me thinks I see it with mine eie So fresh it is and yet doth still remaine within my brest and ever there shall lie The which I hope you likewise doe retaine To thinke how they haue slaine our Ancestors If while they liu'd were valiant warriors Our Cittie burnt and brought vnto decay And left it wast like to a wildernes And borne and taken forcibly away All that they found our goods and our riches And slayne my Father King Laomedon Without all cause or just occasion Amends whereof we lawfully may craue And both with reason and with conscience Which all the Gods I trust will let vs haue Sith that by vs was offered none offence But mongst all their so extreame crueltie One thing there is which chiefly grieueth me When as I call to mind their villany In offering such wrong to Exion With whom as with his concubine doth lie The proud and hautie Grecian Telamon Abusing her with great dishonestie Not caring for her state nor high degree Nor if she was the daughter of a King Which vnto me can be no little scorne But they as seemes respect not any thing Iudge then if she that is so highly borne Be vsed so with what extreamitie Poore wiues and mayds of them abus'd shall be With others of your friends and your alies Within their hands as captiues then did fall Assure your selues what wrongs they can devise To doe to them to vex you therewithall They will not spate to vse them in their lust For in the Greekes there is no truth nor trust For neither bewtie age ne high estate Doe they respect but all like slaues doe liue So that in heart I cannot chuse but hate Their cursed race and you likewise must grieue As well as I for you as well as me It doth concerne Therefore reueng'd to be Should be your care and bend your onely thought To find the meanes your wrongs for to redresse For long ere now the same we should haue sought And haue relieu'd our friends from their distresse Let vs therefore joyne all with one consent And in our hearts jmprint a firme jntent Of all their malice rapes and crueltie To be reuenged for if that we vnite Our minds in one it cannot chuse but be A doubling of our strength and we shall fight With courage bold for vengeance doth belong As reason is to him that offereth worng And though till now wee haue deferred it Yet doubt I not but wee a time shall find To yeeld to them such measure as they mete And vse both them and their in selfe same kind And all the Gods I hope will vs assist In our just cause and the in wrong resist You know our Towne is strong and walld about With high and mightie Towers for the warre The like whereof in all the world throughout Is not to find that with it may compare So that we may be well assur'd therein That th' enemy by force shall never win Of men and valiant Knights we haue no want For all you know what number we can make Our store of victualls also is not scant And whensoeuer we shall vndertake To enter warre we need not be afraid But we shall likewise find some forren aid To help vs to revenge our open wrong Wherefore I thinke that now the time is fit Sith that we know our selues to be so
write So much they did in heart and mind delight That Paris safely home returned is And in his voyage sped so luckily And of his men not any one did misse But all had scaped death most happily And to fulfill their ioy vpon next day As Guido in his Latine verse doth say They did the time no further off prolong But with all speed t' Apolloes Temple went And fore the Larke that morne begun his song Together did with full and free consent Giue faith and troth knit the wedlocke band Betweene them two for euermore to stand Whereto the King himselfe did giue consent And all his Lords and Nobles in likewise The Commons also were therewith content And greed thereto in favour of Paris And so the wedding feast most royally Continued was with great solemnity Within the towne of Troye for eight daies space To write each kind of revell sport and dance The severall sorts of mirths that then there was The braue attire and lofty countenance Of Courtiers proud and lovers amorous The privie grutching of the jealious The runnings and the tilts on every day The divers courses serued at the feast The seuerall kinds of musicke that did play The Largis given the overplus did rest When all was done whole thousands to suffice My English will not serue for to devise Such tearmes and phrases as sufficient were To shew the same But when the certainty Thereof did come vnto Cassandraes eare A thousand sighs she fetcht and gan to cry And woefully did teare and rent her haires And in this sort her face all wet with teares Said wretched Troye why erst thou in this case And giu'st consent vnto this villanie Why art thou now become so voyd of grace As to maintaine so foule adultery And suffrest Paris thus to wed and wiue Queene Helena whose husband is aliue Oh woefull Troye too cruell is thy fate The time is come thou shalt destroyed be To shun the same it is now all too late For many Fathers shall their children lee This day in health the next day shall be slaine And midst the fields lie wounded in great paine And many wiues in sorrow great shall weepe To see their husbands lie in open field Their bodies pierst and cut with wounds full deepe And there in grieuous wise their breaths to yeeld Alas how can they chuse but sore complaine And yet must be content and this sustaine Oh wretched Mother woefull is thy case To loose thy children without remedy And see them slaine each one before thy face And shall not help't though nere so lowd thou cry Alas good Queene what griefe shall thee surpresse And yet shalt and no ease in thy distresse Oh Troyans blinded with security Why will you not be rul'd by my aduise And to avoyd the Grecians cruelty With speed make seperation twixt Paris And Helena and their foule act abhorre And her againe vnto her Lord restore What thinke you that his theft and cruell deed The Grecians will forget and not require No no assure your selues without all dread The sword of vengeance shall most sharpely bite For his offence and will endure the smart When as we shall behold in spight our heart Our Pallaces and houses all cast downe And cruelly destroyd before our face And lastly the subversion of our towne Which at the Grecians hands shall find no grace Alas alas most wretchlesse Queene Helaine Vnhappy woman causer of our paine Bold misadvis'd and meerly without grace Thou onely art procurer of our care And sole disturber of our happie peace And kindled hast the brand of cruell warre For thou alone art ground and root of all The mischiefe that on vs is like to fall And shall see many a dolefull funerall And mournfull feasts held herewithin this towne Thus did Cassandra loudly cry and call To every one as she went vp and downe Throughout the streets boldly to them told What by that meanes vnto them happen shold Still crying out alas and welaway Are you so hard of heart that you nought feare And no man could her furious course then stay Till Priamus the King thereof did heare Who that she might no more such crying make About the Towne he did her cause to take And being bound with chaines in prison cast Where she remain'd long time in miserie And no man for her words and counsell past But liued all in great securitie Where I will let her lye to weepe and mourne And to the Greekes my stile againe retourne The most vnhappy time being come and while That fortune wild the Troyans to be glad And with dissembling face on them did smile For which great ioy and triumph then they made Supposing that all things would fall out wee le Not thinking on the turning of the wheele Of her that is as wavering as the clocke And when men trust her most will turne aside And sodainly vnto them giue a mocke For in deceit she hath her onely pride And loues to hide her beauty vnder cloud Against whose might ther 's no man can him shroud For when she fawnes she 's least to trust vpon For in her smile the Troyans little thought That she pretended their confusion And by that means which they as then had sought For they suppos'd of that to be secure Which they desir'd should the Greeks procure To yeeld vnto their wills and not resist Supposing by that thing by Paris done They should be forst to doe what ere they list But when report thereof abroad did runne And tydings vnto Menelaus was brought Of all the wrongs gainst him by Troyans wrought Whil'st he with Nestor did at Pirrha stay Where he receaued newes most certainly What they had done in th' Island Citheray And what exceeding rage and tyranny They did vpon his men there execute As also of th' assault and hot pursute That on the Greekes they made that fled away And how they spar'd no man nor woman-kind But killed some and tooke the rest as pray And all the gold and treasure they could find And when he heard how they had tane his wife Whome he did loue as dearely as his life And more if more might be a thousand fold His face did looke with pale and deadly hue And therewithall his heart did wax so cold With sorrow which therein did still renue That with much griefe being cast into a sound Like sencelesse corps he fell vnto the ground And could vpon his feet no longer stand Which when Duke Nestor mark't saw him striue Twixt life and death he tooke him by the hand And speedilie did him againe reviue Wherewith he sigh'd and said now woe is me That of my wife I should bereaued be Which was my onely ioy and my delight Come death I say and with thy cruell dart Sith fortune hath to me done this despight In pieces twaine now cleaue my wofull heart For I cannot indure that Helena My Queene should thus frō me be borne away Farewell my
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
t' endure Which when the Troyans heard they were content And willingly the same did them assure In hope the plague whereof they dyed so fast Would be a meanes to kill them all at last CHAP. VI. ¶ How Andromecha in a dreame was foreâ—arâ—ed of her Husband Hectors death if he the next day following entred into the field and how he refusing her counsell was the next day slaine in the battaile by Achilles WHen as the plague among the Greeks did cease And time of truce likewise was at an end The Grecians that in courage did encrease Determined and fully did intend T' assaile and set vpon the Troyan foes Betimes next day assoone as Phoebus rose But as the storie saith the night before Andromecha Prince Hectors louing wife That vnto him two Princelie children bore Whome he did loue as dearely as his life The eldest cald Laomedon the other Astionax much lesser then the other For he as then was small and very yong And onely with his mothers pap was fed And neither had the vse of foot nor tong As she lay fast a sleepe within her bed Was troubled with a sodaine vision Or as men say a revolution By dreame as hapned to King Scipio Whether it were by divine Oracle Or that the Gods did then vnto her shoe And giue her warning as a miracle Wherein she thought that one to her did say That if that Hector issued forth next day Out of the towne his Grecian foes t'assaile That he should not escape but certainlie Fell fate would then so much gainst him preuaile That she would him in trap and finally Fierce Atropos that foule and divellish fend The thrid of her deare husbands life would end Thereby to shew her cruell force and might If he that day into the field did goe Wherewith she fell into so great a fright And thought that she did feele such extreme woe That waking of a sodaine vp she start And for her dreame was grieued at the heart And lay and sighted sore and could not sleepe By reason of the extreame griefe and sorrow She had conceau'd and pittiously did weepe But specially the next ensuing morrow When she beheld the worthy famous knight Hector put on his compleat armour bright And ready was to go out of the towne To whome with flouds of teares within her eies She ran in hast and on her knees fell downe And vnto him declar'd with woefull cries The fearefull dreame she had the night before But he esteem'd it not but was therefore Offended and with indignation Affirm'd and said that folly great it were For men that are of good discretion Such peeuish fond and idle dreames to feare Or trust vnto so foolish fantasies Of visions that most commonly are lies And full of iests and false elusions Whereof the end is onely to delude Such as do trust to their conclusions Although the common people grosse and rude Are mooued with most fond affection To iudge by them in their opinion What may ensue and what they signifie Which many times falls out as they suppose But oftner times do hap cleane coâ—â—â—arie Whereat with wringing hands straight vp she â—â—se But downe againe she fell and there did lie A while as in a trance and then did crie And said alas my loue and Lord most deare Why will you not belieue nor thinke vpon Your louing wife but her refuse to heare That with good will and true affection Desires and wisheth you all good she can And vp she rose like one that 's mad and ran To Priamus and Hecuba that sat Together at that time and downe she fell Vpon her knees but long it was ere that For sobs and sigthes she could vnto them tell Her woefull case till at the last she tooke Some courage and with sad and heavie looke Vnto them shewd the fearefull dream she had The night before when as she waâ—◠〈◊〉 And to them there a full discourse then made Thereof in euery point with sighs most deepe Affirming that for certaine't would fall aur So as she said if Hector did goe out That day into the field sor't was ordaind By fortunes false and mischieuous decree And therewith in most pittious wise complaind And weeping prayd King Priam on her knee Of her and hers to haue compassion And with all speed to giue direction That Hector her deare Lord might not go out That day into the field and therewithall With weeping teares she turn'd her selfe about And in a deadly sound began to fall And with exceeding pale and woefull cheare Cry'd out said helpe help sweet mother dere And of your great benignity and grace Find meanes that my Lord Hector may not go This day into the field to fight noâ— passe Out of the gates and to perswade him so That he this day vse neither speare nor shield But vnto your desire get him to yeeld Whereto they both did willingly agree And readilie did grant to her request And to that end with speed went downe to see When all the battailes readie were and prest To issue forth where Troyelus first of all Appointed was vpon the Greeks to fall And next to him his brother Paris went And after him Aeneas forth did passe And then in order brauelie plast were sent King Sarpedon and braue Pollidamas King Erioâ—â— and King Epistrâ—phus And after them a King cald Forcius All richly arm'd in harnesse bright and cleare And last of all went out King Philomene With all the Kings Lords that then were there To aid King Priamus Who hauing seene Them all before him passe out of the towne Himselfe in person with them did go downe A little way and them in order plast Which having done he bad them forward goe And willed them couragiously to hast And set vpon the Greeks and there to shoe Their valors great gainst them with all their might That ready were and prest with them to fight And proudly stood all armed in the plaine With ensignes spred in braue and warlike shoe But Priamus with speed went backe againe And vnto Hector purposely did goe To will him not to â—â—ue forth that day Into the field but in the towne to stay For which he was sore grieued in his mind And when he saw the battailes all go forth Into the field and he was staid behind He did begin to be exceeding wroth And laid the fault thereof vpon his wife That seemd to be so tender of his life Imposing vpon her th' occasion That he vnto his great disgrace and shame Constrained was to stay within the towne But that it might not derogate his fame Nor giue men cause by false report to say That he for feare did stay within that day He did protest and with an oath it bound That happen life or death he would go out Into the field and therein would be found Yea though he were assured without doubt That he should die a thousand deaths and more So stout a heart within his brest
That I am proud of this my great estate To see my selfe so highly eleuate And that I seeme because of my degree Of Generall t' extoll and magnifie My selfe too much It is so farre from mee That for to proue and show the contrarie And put you cleane out of suspition I will thereof make resignation Vnto you now my selfe thereby t' excuse And for that cause I doe aduise you all Against to morrow in the morne to chuse Whom you will haue to be your Generall For I therein will make no more delay And so their counsell ended for that day And they went to their tents to rest all night And next day in the morning ere the sun Began with radiant beames to shine most bright They met againe for the Election And when they were assembled all together And knew the cause why they did then come thither Agamemnon with sober smiling cheare Rose vp vpon his feet and to them spake And sayd my Lords that are assembled here I need no long discourse vnto you make To show how I with heart and good intent Haue laboured in this my gouernment To see that all things might be done so well That they vnto your good would wholy tend And for th' aduancement of your common weale By ayd of Gods and Fortune that did lend Their grace and helping hand therein to me Whereby your state as yet doth seeme to be Maintaind in honor great and noblenesse So that while you do flourish and vphold The same entire and in great happinesse I thinke it best for me that now I should My gouernment vnto you all resigne While Fortune to the same is so benigne For of so many that here present are I know my selfe most insufficient Alone to take so great a charge and care On me and for that cause t is my intent To leaue the same for he may ouerwhelme A ship that knowes not how to guide the helme My whole desire therefore is that you would Giue leaue to me t'resigne my gouernment And charge which I of all this hoast do hold So that no man therewith be discontent And let vs now with one intention Without all strife and all dissention Amongst vs find and chuse out such a one As we do like and is most fit and meet To gouerne vs by good discretion And in the place of Generall to set Whereto they all agreed with one consent And as he sayd to chuse one were content Here you may see that t is a vsuall thing With men to take delight in novelties And that there thoughts are alwaies wauering And led away with foolish fantasies In them most sure ther 's no securitie For all their minds are on varietie And their delights in alteration And change of state and neuer are content Nor seldome hold in one opinion To day to loue some one man they are bent Next day they le hate that man as much againe And neuer doe in constant mind remaine For in a vaine of meere new â—anglenes Which at that tâ—me mou'd their affection With great oresight and much vnthankfulnes In steed of valiant King Agamemnon They all agreed with one consent and voice Of King Pallamides to make their choice To beare the rule and gouernment of all The Grecian hoast and with most great applause Gaue him the state and name of Generall To rule and gouerne them by Martiall lawes Like as the worthy King Agamemnon Had done before with great discretion Which done they brake vp counsell for that day And euery man vnto his tent did goe But when Achilles who then wounded lay Sore sicke within his tent thereof did know And heard how they all with one will and voice Of King Pallamides had made there choise He was much grieu'd thereat and flatly sayd Agamemnon in his opinion Much fitter was the place still to haue had Then th' other and that their Election In that case was not good nor commendable Nor by their Martiall law available Because t' was done without consent of all The Princes in the hoast he being one Whom they did neither summon nor yet call To be with them at their Election And did esteem't to him a great offence That they did make that choise in his absence And for that cause he was exceeding wroth And chaâ—ed sore but t' was to little end For whether he therewith was leefe or loth They would no eare vnto his speeches lend For no Election more the Grecians would For that time make But sayd it should so hold CHAP. II. ¶ How King Priamus in person issued out of Troy with a puissant â—â—ast to reuenge Hectors death and fought most valiantly against the Grecians THe time of truce aforesayd being out The next ensuing morrow Priamus Though old in yeares yet valorous and stout Of heart was in his mind desirous Against the Grecians valiantly to fight T'reuenge the death of Hector if he might Which when the Troians knew and did behold Their aged Kings great courage and his might They were exceeding glad and sayd they would Aduenture life and lim with him to fight Against the Greeks and therefore euery one Did arme himselfe with resolution That day to issue forth with Priamus And those of Troy that armor bare as then Were as my Author Dares â—elleth vs An hundred and iust fiftie thousand men Besides all those of other countries That ayded him against his enemies And first into the field went Deiphobus And after him his brother Paris led The second ward the third King Priamus Then Menon and Aeneas followed And last of all Pollidamas did goe The rere-ward to conduct in warlike shoe And that same day vpon the Grecians side With mighty troopes all in good order set Pallamides with heart replcat with pride The Troians in the field most brauely met And when the Battailes ioynd on either side King Priam to Pallamides did â—ide And like a worthy Prince of great renowne Most valiantly vnhorst him with his launce And cleane out of his sadle bare him downe Vnto the ground and forward did aduance Himselfe and road among the Grecians And with his trenchant blade in both his hands So heawd beat downe and mightily ore-run The Grecians in the field where he did ride That they for feare his puissant blowes did shun And durst not in his furious sight abide And them so fast and cruelly did slay That wheresoere he road they made him way And shund his sword he was so furious For all that day he fought so valiantly And shewd himselfe so strong and valorous That wonder t' was he could so puissantly And long in field against his foes endure Being of so great an age for t is most sure That by his valor great and puissant might Which he that time couragiously did shoe He put the proud and haughtie Greeks to flight His Sonne Deiphobus valiantly also That followed him so fiercely on them set That he did kill and beat downe all he met King Sarpedon
their faces faire With flouds of teares t' expresse their heauinesse Were vnto me a thing impossible And yet in truth it was not comparable To that which faire Queene Helena did make Who with a deadly cheare and wofull face Cast forth most dolefull cries for Paris sake And running furiouslie vnto the place Whereas his body lay fell flat thereon And though that it was cold as any stone Embrast it in her armes and wofully Lamenting on the same fell in a sound And likely was in that extreamitie To die and t' haue beene laid into the ground With him if those that were with her by force And strength had not pul'd her off froÌ„ the corse Wherewith she rent and tare her golden haire Like one that 's mad waxt so pale and wan That her most comelie face which was so faire Chang'd in such sort that it therewith began To looke and show like vnto ashes cold And with her hands which she did ring fold Together smote her white and deadly face And sounding fell againe vpon the ground And in her armes did Paris corse embrace And with her brinish teares did fill his wound And was so much perplexed in her mind That she could neither ease nor comfort find But rather seem'd to wish with great desire To die with him in whome her sole delight Was placed and in that most furious ire To end her daies with her most louing Knight And liue no more sith that she was bereft Of him and in such great discomfort left So that I may well say that neuer any Poore woman felt the like nor more distresse Although I could rehearse and tell of many That haue been plunged in great heauinesse As Cleopatre going to her graue And Thesbie that did come out of the caue And smote her selfe for griefe into the heart And Oristilla who no sooner spied Her Lord take shipping and from her depart Sore grieu'd for loue of him fell downe and died And Iulia that lou'd her Lord so well That sodenly dead on the ground she fell When she beheld his cloaths all dasht with blood And Portia that was so true a wife To Brutus that when as she vnderstood That he was slaine because she had no knife In readinesse to kill herselfe withall To show her loue into the fire did fall And burnt herselfe And that most noble Queene Cald Arthemisia who when she had found Her Knight Mausalus graue and there had seene His bones did take them vp out of the ground And with an heart repleat with griefe and care Vnto her Pallace solemnly them bare And beating them to powder every day Did drinke thereof till it was cleane consum'd Who with the rest aforesaid I must say And as in truth it is to be presum'd No doubt great griefe endur'd but not so much As faire Queene Helen did nor nothing such Who would haue kild her selfe for Paris sake Desiring to her graue with speed to go And rather of her life an end to make Then to liue after him she loued so And languishing in woe long time remaind And never could from weeping be restaind He that doth say that women cannot cry Deceaues himselfe for t is a thing most sure They can by nature doo 't and certainly Though they no griefe nor sorrow do endure Yet they can false and fained teares distraine Out of their eies without cause complaine I say not this Queene Helena t' accuse Of fained teares whose heart with woe was fild For then I should you with vntruth abuse For she for griefe her selfe would faine haue kild And yet it seemes she was not in such hast As she made shew for when the storme was past She soone forgot the great extreamitie That she was in for all things haue an end And every woe how great so ere it be Must passe away for follie't were to spend Long time in that which may be remedied For though that faire Queene Helen would haue died For Paris sake as then yet afterward She did repent for nature did her moue And told her that it was a thing too hard For her so soone to kill her selfe for loue She was a woman what would you haue more She thought it folly great to die therefore But I will speake no more hereof as now For it would be too long and teadious For me to shew and to declare to you Her grieuous woe and passions furious And all her dolefull lamentation The which would moue vnto compassion The hardest heart aliue to heare it told For Priam and Queene Hecuba likewise Such pitty had to see and to behold Her shead such flouds of teares out of her eies And in such fort to grieue and to complaine That they almost endured as much paine Within their hearts for her as she had had For Paris but there was no remedy But to conclude when they an end had made Of all their woe King Priam speedily Did cause a rich and costly sepulchre To be set vp in Iunoes Temple where Most sumptuóusly and in their Paynim wise His bodie was entomb'd but to declare The manner of the great solemnities Then vsed at their funerals which are So many and so diuers it would be Too long to be declared now by me CHAP. VI. ¶ How Panthasilia Queene of the Amazons comming to ayd the Troyans against the Grecians shâ—â— obtained great honor and was slaine by Pyrrhus the Soâ—â—e of Achilles KIng Priamus in doubt of his estate And brought into most great extreamity By fortune and his hard and cruell fate When he perceiu'd no other remedie Shut fast the gates of Troy and day and night Kept watch and ward as strongly as he might For all the Troyans generally were So much abasht and did such sorrow make For Paris death that they could not forbeare To weepe and waile and durst not vndertake Against the Greeks to fight nor issue out But kept within the towne in feare and doubt Expecting nought but finally to end Their daies in woe Which when the Greeks did see Agamemnon to Priamus did send A messenger t' intreat with him as he Before had done to issue with his might Out of the towne against the Greeks to fight But Priamus the motion did detest And flatly said it was not his intent To issue out of Troy at his request And that he was most resolutely bent Not once to set one foot out of the towne But when he list without compulsion And yet the cause why he so long time staid From issuing out against the Grecians Was for because he did expect some ayd From Panthasilia Queene of Amazons Who at that time was comming with great speed And mighty force to helpe him in his need Whose Countrie as some Authors say did stand Farre distant in the orientall part Twixt Asia and Europe In which Land None else but women-kind did dwell whose art And chiefe delight and onelie exercise Was managing of armes in warlike wise And valiantly into
bent Before them all said flatly she should haue Her head cut off and suffer deadly paine Because for her so many had beene slaine And by that meanes King Thelaphus was crost And put besides Palladion gainst his will For which he swore thogh deare it shold him cost Ere long time past he would Vlisses kill And one day likewise be reveng'd vpon King Menalus and king Agamemnon And therewith in a mighty rage he went With all his knights and left the company Who with him in their hearts were fully bent When they a fit occasion might espie In cruell wise ere long reveng'd to be Vpon their foes but chiefly on those three And for that cause such hatred to them bare That nothing but their deaths could thâ— content But they that of his purpose were aware With policie his furie to prevent Did cause their knights about them to attend If that occasion serued to defend And keepe them from the furie of their foes And likewise soone to rid them of that doubt For earely in the morne ere Phoebus rose The matter was so quicklie brought about King Thelaphus that braue and worthy knight Most cruelly was murthered in the night And in the morning bleeding sore was found Within his bed whereas his body lay Sore mangled hewd cut with many a wound Which thing when as the Grecians heard next day They did abhorre that act so horrible And cause to God and man t was odible They could not choose but for his murther weepe And grieue to thinke how foule and traiterously He had been kild when he was fast asleepe And mong them then there rose so great a cry Throughout the hoast for that most wicked deed That all his friends within their hearts decreed His death should be revenged vpon those That had that cruell murther brought to passe The which although no man would it disclose Yet every one that in the hoast then was For it had most and great'st suspicion On Menalus and King Agamemnon But chiefly on Vlisses vnto whome By common voice of them in generall His sodaine death imputed was and some Did vow and sweare what euer did befall Mong whom yong Pyrrhus specially was one They would revenge the death of him full soon Vpon Vlisses who by treachery Had falsly wrought the same but to preuent And scape from Pyrrhus furie sodainly Aboard his ships next morning straight he went And hoising saile in hast from thence he fled And left the jmage with King Diomed. And of the fact in heart had great remorse Who in that sort thus fled away and gone Yong Pyrrhus tooke his bloudy mangled corse And made a fire and laid the same thereon In presence of the Greeks that it beheld And burnt it vnto ashes in the field And afterward the ashes being cold He tooke them vp and did them safely put With reverence great into a box of gold The which with his owne seale of armes he shut And sent them to be buried there whereas While he did liue the soveraigne Prince he was And hauing all the ceremonies vs'd For him in every point most orderly He still vpon the cruell murther musd Which vnto him was done so traitrously And sware and vowd it should be dearly bought By them that it so wickedly had wrought And for that cause great hatred bare vnto King Menalus and King Agamemnon Who well advis'd and taking heed thereto For feare thereof nere went abroad alone But strongly garded daily did attend What issue would ensue thereof in th' end Which Pyrrhus likewise did and would not cease By all the meanes he could to seeke some way T' intrap them and his wrath would not appease And in that sort they three from that same day Were sterne and deadly foes each vnto other And while that they in such wise iar'd together And enviously each other did pursue Still more and more their malice did encrease And hatred great on each side did renue Till Anthenor their furies to appease By policie did cut of all disdaine On either side and made them friends againe And to that end prepard a royall feast And did invite the Grecians to the same And to intreat and pray them never ceast Till they three with the rest vnto it came That all the Princes of the hoast might see They had their anger left and did agree Together like good friends as ere they were To write the great and sumptuous fare they had With all the severall dishes that were there As also what rich Presents then were made And by Anthenor given liberallie Vnto the Greeks it 's no necessitie Let it suffice they wanted nothing that Might please and giue contentinent vnto man And while at table they together sat Some one among them enviously began To speake against Aeneas and t' accuse And charge him with most great and vile abuse Especially because he did conceale And hide away the Princes Pollicene And would by no meanes tell them noâ— reveale What was become of her that cause had been Of fierce Achilles death and for the same They did impose vpon him so much blame That they did all with one consent agree He should therefore be banisht out of Troy Contrary to their former grant that hee The freedome of the Towne should still enioy But nere the lesse they did with one consent Comdemne him to perpetuall banishment The causer of the same I cannot tell But sure it is Anthenor and none other Within the Towne of Troy did know it well And secretly betraid his traiterous brother That with him holpe to bring that thing to passe Which in the end the Townes destruction was Which when Aeneas knew and saw no way For him by any meanes to mollifie The Grecians hearts to giue him leaue to stay He humblie praied them of courtesie That of their princely favor and their grace They wold vouchâ—afe to grant him 4 months space To stay in Troy while he provided had All things that should for him be necessaire And further vnto them petition made That he from thence might also with him carrie The ships that into Cithera did go With Paris iust number twentie two Which being by the Grecians full consent Vnto him given with licence for the space Of time he askt to stay to Troy he went With heavie heart to see 't in such a case And specially when he to mind did call That all the woes which on the same did fall Came onlie by the treason he had wrought Against the Towne and also to remember That he could not enioy the thing he sought But must of force depart and stay no longer Where he had liu'd sometime in great estate And cursed his most hard and cruell fate To see him selfe so plung'd in that distresse And banisht by the Greeks and knew not why Nor who had sought his fall till he did gesse And saw by signes Anthenor subtilly To get him out of Troy procured it For which he sware
they returnd from Troy and for to show That whatsoeuer man doth take in hand The issue doth vpon Gods will depend For he tis giues an ill or happy end Which is well proved by this Historie Wherein you see that though the Greeks did win And had a most triumphant victorie Against the Troians and their Towne wherein They did obtaine that which they did desire Which was their wilâ— and t'honor to aspire Yet cause the warre which they with Troy began Was done of pride and in an envious vaine Without just cause they rather lost then wan For that vpon their side more men were slaine Then on the Troians part for all they lost Their towne so that they had no cause to boast Considering that besides their losse fore Troy When they were into Greece returnd most part Of them that liu'd did not long time enioy Their victorie for that with envious heart Each th' other did destroy and sought to kill By trecherie the Proverbe to fulfill That blood with blood alwaies reveng'd will be Troyes fall doth teach all Princes to take heed When as they liue in great prosperitie Not to be too secure least that they speed As Priam did who would not be content When he did liue in peace but t'envie bent Old quarrels with his Grecian foes renew'd Supposing that's his wealth and power great He could do what he list But what ensu'd Thereof the storie plainelie downe doth set Which saith that he therby wrought's owne decay To shew that man hath here no certaine stay THus haue you heard as much as I can tell Of all the Troian warre as it 's set downe By Dares Frigius who therein did dwell And wrote the storie thereof in the Towne And every day a view thereof did take Who of this same an end herewith doth make With whom the Grecian Ditus doth agree And in like sort his Historie doth end Twixt whom in truth no difference I can see For both their works vnto one purpose tend Which is the true proceedings to expresse Of that whereof they were eie witnesses Though not in verball forme yet in effect And meaning both alike and true they are Which is the thing men chiefely should respect But that the Grecian Ditus doth declare And saith that while the siege did there remaine The number of the Greeks that there was slaine Amounted to eight hundred thousand men And of the Troiaus side as Dares shoe Six hundred thousand seaventy and sixteene Then lost their liues moÌ„g whom are reckned those That to the Towne from other countries came And there were kild by ayding of the same For that of hundred thousands that did aid King Priam and of diuers countries were It is not found as it before is sayd Though they behaud theÌ„selues most brauely there So many of them in that warre was slaine That there did go fiue hundred home againe And both of them in this point do agree That full ten yeares six moneths 12. daies more The siege did last with great hostilitie And losse of men on either side before The Greeks for all that ever they could do Could win the towne oâ— enter thereinto Till Synon by his craft did it betray As it at large declared is before And further of the same I cannot say Because mine Authors thereof say no more And for to adde more then they write thereto Were in me great presump'ion so to do The time when I this worke had fully don By computation just was in the yeare One thousand foure hundred twenty one Of Iesus Christ our Lord Saviour deare And in the Eight yeare compleat of the raigne Of our most noble Lord and Soveraigne King Henrie the fift who in despight Of all his foes Brutes Albion doth maintaine In honor great for by his puissant might He conquered all Normandie againe And valiantly for all the power of France Hath won from them his owne inheritance And forced them his title to renew To all the Realme of France which doth belong To him and to his lawfull heires by true Discent the which they held from him by wrong And false pretence and to confirme the same Haue given him the honor and the name Of Regent of the Land for Charles his life And after his decease they haue agreed Thereby to end all bloody warre and strife That he as heire shall lawfully succeed Therein and raigne as King of France by right As by records which extant are to light It doth appeare And then I hope we shall Enioy againe the time so prosperous And fortunate the which men vse to call The good and golden world and that to vs God will afford his blessing and his grace That Mars no more our countrey shall meâ—â—â—ce Nor with his countnance furious and wood Moue war and strife between these countries twaine Nor be the cause of sheading of their blood Whereof till now they both may well complaine And that our noble King will so provide By wisedome and by power that either side Shall liue in peace and henchforth so agree That both the realmes of England and of France By one Prince ruld shall seeme all one to bee And ever more liue without variance And from their hearts all hate and malice chase By th' influence of Gods most mighty grace And heavenly power which ruleth every thing And who by his great providence divine Hath such an alliance made betweene our King And France by marying Lady Katherine The French Kings daughter that we hope it shall Procure vs peace and joy perpetuall And that the Royall issue of them twaine Will be a meane and way without all feare That England shall for evermore obtaine The sole command of those two Realmes weare Their Diadems imperiall both together And that the faire Queene Katherines coÌ„ming hither Will nourish so great loue and vnitie On both sides that we never shall haue need Nor cause to feare nor feele adversitie And that it will be th' only meanes to breed Our honor joy and great prosperitie Wealth pleasure peace and all felicitie And driue away all mischiefe whatsoere Out of this Land So that with heart thought We shall haue cause with voices lowd and cleare To pray for her that hath it to vs brought And him that by his valor great and might Hath shew'd himselfe so puissant a Knight That he hath won and cleerely doth possesse All that to him belongs and now it 's set Accompanied with his faire Emperesse Victoriously with praise and honor great In his most Royall throne to whom God giue As long as he vpon the earth shall liue And doth enioy the full fruition Of all that vnto him belongs of right And holds the same in his subiection Encrease of comfort pleasure and delight And t'send him home with triumph with honor As great as ere had any Conqueror And long time after grant him to possesse His kingdomes and his Regall Dignitie With his faire Queene
Owle by night to flie and slay Young children or to beare them cleane away And changlings in their cradles vs'd to leaue The singles of a greedy Wolfe that can As some report himselfe of shape bereaue And when he list take on him forme of man The slimes of water-snailes the which she found With labour great within the Indian ground The liuer of a Hart that liues so long And of a Crow that loathsome carrion beast The which by cause the nature was so strong Had liued then Nine hundred yeares at least The head and bill of all which when she had An admirable composition made To lengthen Aesons aged yeares withall A withered bough the which not long before Downe from an Oliue tree did chance to fall In hand she tooke and with the same did pore And stir the liquor till the sticke waxe greene And sodainly both leaues and buds were seene To spring thereon straight did berrieâ— beare And where the fire the skum thereof did throw Vpon the earth where it had dropâ— euen there The ground began as fresh and green to show As it in summer did and flowers to rise Out of the same Whâ—h whâ—â—n Medea spies She tooke a knife and with a courage stout Did cut old Aesons throat where presently His aged bloud did all come gushing out And with the boy ling iuce did new supply Which when to Aesons corps she had powr'd in His haire that was so gray did straight begin To turne and wax as blacke as any coale His leane pale withered skin grew faire and fresh The wrinckles in his face and euery hole Therein were fild with yong and lusty fresh His limbs waxt lith and all his ioynts did grow So supple that he plainly then did show To be a man of yong and youthfull yeares At which when to his sences Aeson came He was abasht but casting off all feares He knew at forty yeares he was the same And as backe from old age to youth he drew A youthfull spirit did in his heart renew By which so strange deuise she did restore King Aeson vnto strength and former youth With wit and reason as he had before In each respect as much if it be truth But be it true or false I haue not spar'd To write it as the story hath declar'd And after on his wife he did beget A valiant Sonne that Iason had to name In whose creation nature did not let To shew hir skill and to incurre no blame For neuer man mord perfectly was form'd Nor with more graces inwardly adoâ—n'd If I should striue here to describe at will His strength his beauty and his comlinesse His good behauiour and his perfect skill His wisedome vertue and his gentlenes To all and euery one both high and low Like as mine Author plainly doth it show My art and wit therein would be to little His qualities so pleased mens desire That he obtained praise of all the people For young and old each one did him admire Iudge then what he would proue in elder yeares That in his childhood such a one appeares But while he was of age and stature small And far vnfit as then to rule the Land His Vnckle Peleus by consent of all Still held the Crowne and Scepter in his hand From whom in ought he neuer seem'd to vary Nor his prcepts at any time contrary So diligent was he in euery thing To please and serue his Vnckle at a becke As is the child held vnder tutors wing And seareth to incurre his Maisters checke In heart noâ— outward shew whats'ere him toucht He neuer did repine nor at it grutcht And though his Vncle held his heritage And rul'd his Princely Scepter at his will While he remained still in tender age Yet was he neuer mooued vnto ill Nor once of him a bad conceite to haue In any wise his honour to depraue But Peleus he contrarie mind did beare And â—ullie had his heart to enuie bent Dissembling that in face and outward cheare Which inwardly was whollie his intent Like Adder lurking closely in the grasse To sting all those that throgh the same doth passe His heart and tongue contrary each to other For with pretence of faire and friendly show He seem'd to loue the Son of his deare Brother When inwardly his heart did ouerflow With malice though not outwardly espy'd So cunningly he did his malice hide For no man could by any meanes perâ—â—auâ— That he to Iason bare an enuinous eie No cause he had but feare he should bereaue Him of his Crowne and regall dignitie And at the time of riper yeares obtaine The right succession of his fathers raigne Which he as then vnjustly occupied And daily did devise how that he might On Iason whome in heart he envied Worke his pretended malice and despight Which made him oft build Castles in the aire Like one that liu'd in feare and great despaire Still compasing some way or meanes to find T' intrap and take his Nephew in a snare Which secretly â—e kept still hid in mind Yet ceased not his engins to prepare Like Sathan cuery minute day and hower Deuising how mans soule he may deuour And as the Sun shines hot when raine is past So did his enuie burne more feruently And vext him sore till he deuis'd at last To execute his wilfull trechery A Lambe in shew a Lyon in his heart Fell Tiger like to play a double part A sugred face but false and bitter mind None might of him conceaue suspition That he should to his Nephew be vnkind And priuily worke his destruction Pretending loue but hatred was the end Description true of foule dissembling frend His bad intent disclosed might not be It was so well conceal'd within his heart So is all close and priuy enmity And yet although he playd so well his part His enuy still encreasing more and more Did inwardly torment and vexe him sore Attending time t' effect and bring about That which he did in heart so much desire And so to be cleane freed from care and doubt The only ioy that enuy doth require But Iason he did not conceaue in mind His Vncle would vnto him proue vnkind Their thoughts were cleane contrary in effect The Cousin simply seeking Vncles good The Vncle he all friendship doth reiect Deuifing how to shead his Nephews blood Proâ—ok't by malice and desire of gaine The roots of mischiefe sorrow woe and paine For many Realmes and Cities old do feele The poyson of the serpent Avarice But let all those that cruelly will deale Learne this of me and thinke it good aduicâ— That what so euer mischiefe they intend It 's sweet at first but bitter in the end And though the world doth flatter for a while Let not the enuâ—ous man be proud withall For he that thinks another to beguile Perhaps may chance in selfe same pit to fall But let vs enuy leaue as fiend of hell And of King Peleus further to you tell Who all this
while imagined and sought Meanes how he might attaine vnto his will Till at the last strang newes to him was brought Which did his heart with admiration fill And thereby taking some occasion He purposed in mind to worke thereon The newes which at that time vnto him came Though strange it were to heare to be told Was that in Colchos jsâ—e there was a Ramme Which bare a fleece of pure and finest gold And for it was so rich esteem'd to bee They kept it close that no man might it see Within that Isle a King of worthy fame Long had remain'd and yet therein did dwell Well stricken in yeares and Oeta had to name Who in his daies as antient Authors tell Most noble acts archieued had and done Wherby much honor to himselfe he wonne His Pedigree as Poets list to faine Doth shew he was the Sonne of Phebus bright Of whom they say he did the grace obtaine For to become a braue and valiant Knight Let this suffice his Ancestor to know And of the Ram now will I further show That to be kept where no man should it find By Magicke art was shut within a tower Whereas two Bulls of fierce and sauage kind With Brasen feet attended day and hower To gard the place that no man might go neere Out of their mouths still casting flames of fier Their eyes like burning fournace shining bright From whence great streams of lightning seem'd to start So terrible that at the very sight It stroke a feare and terror to the heart Of those that boldly ventur'd to assay To winne the golden Ram and bear 't away For who so would that conquest take in hand Must first of all those furious Buls assaile And both of them by force strength withstand Else could he by no meanes therein preuaile And make them came and gentle as a Cow And being yok't force theÌ„ the ground to plow That done he must a second combat make As dangerous and fearfull as the first The which to thinke vpon might cause him quake Yet must he not refuse to doe his wooâ—st Against a Serpentâ—gly huge and fell Much like a fiend that commeth out of hell Which had so â—oule and vâ—nomous a breath That it infected all the aire about And who so ere it felâ— was sure of death All were he ne're sovaliant strong or stout With scales vpon his backe as hard as steele That blow of sword or Lance he could not feele And to conclude he that did vndertake That enterprise to bring vnto an end Ere he began a full account must make Of cruell death vnlesse himselfe defend And well resist he could in open field That monster and by force make him to yâ—eld Which done and so the Serpent being dead The story sayth it was ordain'd by law That he that did it slay should take the head And all the teeth out of the mouth must draw And after cast and sow them in the field The which the furious Buls before had tild Whereas vpon a sodaine men beheld Out of the ground a troope of Knights arise And euery one well arm'd with speare and shield Who valiantly in braue and war-like wise Stayd not but met most furiously together And fiercely kild beat downe each th' other And in that sort dide presently againe In selfe same place where first they gan to liue For so the fatall furies did ordaine And to each one his desteny did giue That none should longer life on earth possesse But all together die in that distresse By this same way so strange and perillous Who so would seeke the Ram of gold to gaine And with the same returne victorious He must aduenture with no little paine And take his chance although t were nere so bad For remedy therein might not be had For by a law the King did so ordaine That who so ere aduentuâ—'d to assay To proue his force in hope the same t' obtaine Might not turne backe nor take another way But forth must goe though his heart did faile His cowardise should him no whit preuaile Some menaffirme which of this Ram entreat That by the same was meant great store of gold Which Oeta valiantly in time did get And by inchantment did so closely hold That who so euer sought to winne the same Must first begin those Monsters fierce to came The fame whereof did spread both far neare Which made full many ventrously desire To winne the same although it cost them deare For gold doth set a greedy mind oâ—fiâ—â— Through vaine report their honouâ— to adâ—ance Respecting not what vnto them might chance For neither wit nor hardines of armes In that pursuit could any whâ—â— avâ—â—â—â— Gainst such accurst and fowle infernall charmes Which made full many Knights therein to faile But he that sets his mind on greedy gaine To haue his will regards not death nor paine This news so brought to Peleus pleas'd him well Intending secret vse thereof to make And of his hidden malice truth to tell The hard and heauy burthen off to shake For he the reby did sodainly surmise Some bad pretence his Nephew to surprise For by that meanes he had a hope to moue Young Iason valiantly to vndertake The conquest of the golden Ramme to proue And presently a voyage thither make Supposing he nere should returne again And he thereby be easde of inward paine Concluding thus he doth pretend a show Of outward ioye yet inwardly did hide The treason of his heart that none might know What mischiefe he full smoothly did prouide Still spying time conuenient and fit In painted shew his malice out to spit With words of Art and eloquence refin'd Perswading men he meant nought else but good As knowing well his Nephews willing mind In such a cause to shead his dearest blood And for to bring his purpose to effect He doth no longer time therein neglect But straight throughout the land of Thessalie Commission sends forth presently to call His noble Peeres and all his Baronny Commanding them what euer might befall Without delay t' assemble and to meet At Eagee Towne in parliament to sit For three whole daies Where with a fained face And sugred words he doth vnfold his mind And openly before them in the place Makes shew to be most louing and most kind To Iason who as then he did commend That none might deeme he would his death pretend And said the cause that mou'd him to the same As also that assembly there to make Was specially t' aduance his Nephews name If so he would that voyage vndertake And then at large declar'd it in such wise That no man once his treason could surmise With countenance so glad and ioyfull show Of fained faith as after did appeare That they thâ—â— were in presence could not know But that he lou'd his Cousin very deare For which they all to praise him do begin Full little knowing his intent within Which hauing done with faire smiling
and winds did not too much prevaile And when the greekes with trauell overprest Had long on Seas been tossed too and fro Desiring to relieue themselues and rest Their wearied limmes they sought on land to go And being cast vpon the Trâ—iâ—â— soyle They lande there to ease their wearied toyle CHAP. IIII. ¶ How Iason â—â—â—is Voyage to Coâ—chos by fortune was cast vppon the câ—â—st of Troy where he were on Land to refresh himselfe and his company THe Ship at anker by the Frigian coast Vntill the weather waxed cleare and faire The Greekes that had so long on Seas been tost Went all on shoare to walke and take the aire Glad to relieue their wearied lims of paine And after to returne to ship againe At Syâ—eonâ— a haven hard by Troy Where they did stay and ment there to abide Not hurting any Woman Man or Boy A day or two attending time and tide To hoyse vp Sayle and toward Colchos wend Where first to go they onely did pretend Not once jntending treason hurt or guile In any wise nor troublesome to bee Vnto the countrey people all the while They staied there for their necessitee For that as long as on the shoare they lay They did nought els but sport theÌ„selues play But Fortune that so swiftly turnes about Delighting men of pleasure to bereaue Was th' onely cause though causeles without doubt To make the Troians falsely to conceiue The Grecians sodaine landing did pretend Some mischiefe to their countrey in the end For by such bad and false suspition Most puissant Kings and Princes of great fame Haue brought themselues vnto destruction And been the onely causes of their shame Let Troyes example for this time suffice Which first did breed vpon a bare surmise Which was the cause and chiefe occasion As in the ancient Historie is found Of that most famous Townes destruction Whose mightie walles were rais'd vnto the ground And many men and many a worthy Knight Did loose their liues in that most bloody fight And many Ladies proper fine and faire Their Husbands and their Children being dead Were heard lament their losse in great dispaire And Mayds in tender yeares by Grecians led As slaues in bondage to their paine and griefe Did liue without all comfort or reliefe And onely for that fortune doth delight To shew her power and her majestie And make it knowne vnto each mortall wight In taking vengeance with such crueltie As on that famous Citie shee did shoe To their destruction miserie and woe Great pittie t' was that men of such estate Both on the valiant Greekes and Troian side For little cause should fall at such debate But truth it is and cannot be deni'd That envy having entred in the hart From thence doth not so readily depart For from a little graft doth oft arise A faire and goodly tree both huge and tall And he that climeth high may well surmise If that he slip to haue the greater fall And of a sparke full small wee often see And find that mighty fiers kindled bee And as a gnat that 's but a little thing Doth often cause the flesh of man to rise And swell abroad with pricking of his sting So many Princes mighty strong and wise And famous Townes at mortall warres do fall For slight or else for causes very small But if they had been well advis'd in time When sparks of envy first began to show And sought to quench and kill them in the prime Full many Cities now that lie full low Would haue stood still and flourisht till this day Which hatefull malice brought vnto decay For when the flame of envy spreads so wide That it embraceth heart and head and vaine And makes them bnrne so hot on either side There is no meanes to remedy that paine But fowle and cruell murther warre and strife Bereaving each the other of their life And thus death is the â—ine of enmetie And though the first beginning be but small Th' encrease doth breed to such extremitie That th' end bereaueth joy and pleasures all As vnto Troy wee read it so befell Which makes me sigth the truth thereof to test That for small cause such vengeance shold proceed Vnles it were by providence divine And heavenly wisedome secretly decreed Their fall should cause a greater joy in â—ine For Troy destroy'd by such occasion And finally brought to destruction Was th' onely meanes that th' ancient Citie Roome Receav'd her first beginning from the race And offspring of Aeneas that did come From Troy when Grecians banisht him the place Which Towne of Roome as Authors plainely say Of all â—he world once bare the chiefest sway Troy likewise brought into so great distresse And vtter ouerthrow of ancient fame Was cause that many Cities did encrease And divers Countries first obtain'd their name For Troiaus wanting habitation By force did enter many a Nation And after long and weary toyle orepast Aeneas many Countries Sayling by With all his ships did chance t' ariue at last Vppon the pleasant coast of Italy Who wan the same by conquest and by might And made himselfe the Prince thereof by right And after him his Sonne Ascanius Succeeded and as lawfull heire he raign'd Who beeing dead his sonne Prince Siluius The Diadem of Italy obtaind Of whom did come by right discent and true Most worthy Brute that Albion did subdue Wwo having woon't by force from Giants fell And conquest braue did thereof change the name And cal'd it Britaine as our stories tell And was the first inhabited the same With this Aeneas from the Troian towne Came Francus also Lord of great renowne Who afterward his honour to advance Did build a towne both stately faire and great Cald Parris whieh doth stand in midst of France The which he made his chiefe and Princely seat And first gaue name of France vnto that land Which he did win by strong and valiant hand And Anthenor a Lord of Troian race Began the towne of Venice to erect Where during life he made his resting place And Sicanus in whom was no defect Of Troian blood as Cronicles doe tell Won Cicile and long time therein did dwell And after him a Prince of worthy fame His Valiant brother Siculus did raigne Within that I le of whom it tooke the name Of Cicile as records therein explaine Aeneas hauing conquered Italy Did not himselfe therewith so satisfie But into Tuscan entred which he wan And in the I le of Cicile to his praise The regall Towne of Naples first began Which flourisheth so much in these our dayes With braue and welthie Marchant men of fame Who throgh their traffick great inricht the same And of the Greekes that Troy did helpe to spoyle King Diomed who with most great desire When he had spent his time with paine and toylâ— Ten yeares in warre and thought home to retire And there to liue and rest secure from harmes He found his men and countrey vp in armes With full intent
take offence what ere fell out Although it vext and grieu'd him at the hart But stood as mute at last he turnd about And vnto all his fellowes did jmpart What message Laomedon had him sent And how to him and them he seemed bent And willing them about him to draw neare He thus began his words and speech to frame My friends and fellowes whom I loue so deâ—â—e Know that King Laomedon doth vs blame For entring as he saith within his land Before we craved licence at his hand And for that cause a messenger hath sent With threatning words to let vs know his mind That to driue vs from hence is his intent If here we stay Wherefore he doth vs bind And straightly charge eft-foones without delay All scuses set apart to packe away Behold said he what blindnes he dothâ—â—e And how he doth on honor set his mind That vnto wearied strangers doth refuse To giue them leaue a little ease to find In their distresse who nothing lesse pretend Then him or his in any wise t' offend But where is antient libertie become Is neigher loue nor kindnes to be found Both which in Princely harts should haue a roome And where is honor gon that vs'd t' abound In Princes minde who of an antient right Still mooved them with care and great delight To entertaine all strangers that resort Vnto their Courts or countreys whatsoere That afterward they might of them report What Princely and what noble minds they beare But neither loue nor libertie are found In this Kings Court or countrey to abound For if he were of noble heart and kind He could not chuse â—ot in them both delight And to shew forth his great and Princely mind He would command his subjects to their might To succour men opprest with woe and griefe And not haue sent vs hence without reliefe For if that he had chanced from the seas By fortune or adventure whatsoere T' ariue and set his foot on shoare for ease Where any Grecian Prince doth Scepter beare With much more honor like to his degree He should not faile by vs receau'd to bee But sith that he for ought I can espie Hath banisht out of mind and doth disdaine All freedome honor and humanitie And cleane contrary vices doth retaine We must and will his mind herein fullfill Because as now our power 's not like our will For this is sure and so it shall be found That this disgrace which to vs now is don In th' end may chance vpon himselfe rebound Sith that he hath of malice thus begon And peradventure it may chance fall out Ere Phebus thrice the Zodâ—ack runnes about For let him trust and thereof be assurd We will him serue with such as he hath sent And if I liue and what he hath procurd He shall not faile thereof by my intent Albeit now I set no time nor tide Sith longer here I mindd not to abide Till I haue better leisure to soiorne And so with stearne and yet with liuely cheare At that same word began about to turne And suddenly vnto the messenger That from the King as then to him was sent In this wise he declared his jntent My friend quoth he know well and vnderstand The message which as now thou bringst to me From Laomedon King of Trâ—iâ—â— land Vnfit doth seeme from such a Prince as he For by each point thereof I doe perceaue How he doth vse of strangers to conceaue And cannot chuse but deepely in my mind Thinke much on his great favor to vs showne And of his liberalitie so kind And gifts which on vs now he hath bestowne Nor can I well let slip out of my thought The least reward that thou to vs hast brought For trust me well I can it not forget But needs must deepe jmprint it in my mind How by his honor he so much doth set As that he studieth onely to be kind That by thee now doth send vnto vs here Such intertainment great and dainty cheare Cleane contrary to that we did expect From such a worthy famous Prince as he But god which doth all secrets deepe detect Can beare vs witnes jnnocents to be From any hurtor any bad pretence That we ere ment gainst him to cause offence And Gods to record in this case I call With my whole heart to justifie the same Whatsoever may hereafter chance to fall We haue not once deserved any blame Nor violently taken any thing From man or boy so mayst thou tell the King But being forst by great and stormy wind Necessity compelled vs to land Vpon this coast some succour here to find And rest our wearied limmes vpon the strand Intending but a day or two to stay And then againe with speed to go away Vnto the place where we desire to bee Which thou vnto thy Lord for truth maist say And further that the time he shall once see When as perchance more thanks receiue he may From vs or els it may be from some other So go thy waies and farewell gentle brother When Iason thus an answere had returnd And bad the Trâ—â—an messenger depart The noble Knight stout Hercules that burn'd With rage and fury inwardly in hart As he was gonâ—â—ad him againe turne backe Disdainefully and thus to him he spake Good fellow thou that art the messenger Of thy good Lord who hath thee hither sent Content thy selfe and stand thou not in feare That here to stay is ought of our jntent For that before the Sunne shall rise againe We will be gon and so I tell thee plaine And not a man of ours on shoâ—re shall be To morrow at this time what eâ—e befall And therevpon my troth I pledge to thee And Gods to witnes to the same I call For we intend no longer here t'soiorne But to our ships againe with speed returne As soone as it is dawning of the day On paine to suffer fowle reproch and blame But ere three yeares shall fully passe away Who euer saith contrary to the same We will returne againe into this land And cast our Ankors here vpon this sand Take heed thereof and note full well the time And let this now suffice and warning be That some new change shall follow of this Prime Which if Iliue thy King shall plainely see And when his power gainst vs shall not extend For his safe conduct we will scorne to send And then I tell thee plainely for no lie We will no more regard him then a straw Nor of his words nor threats that are so hie The least of vs shall stand in any awe Till when because we will him not deceaue We mind not once of him to take our leaue For that of vs he seemes to make a jest As though we were not worthy better cheare But though he now doth thinke to liue at rest I sweare by God he shall abide it deare Which in the end shall turne vnto his shame And see that to the King you tell
in princely sort For presently as he did vnderstand Th'ariuall of Prince Iason and his traine Of worthy grecian Knights within his land He did not seeme their comming to disdâ—â—â—â— But rising from his chaire without delay In person went to meet them on the way Receaving them with glad and joyfull cheare In stately wise as it becomes a King And that his bountie might the more appeare Vnto his royall court he doth them bring With charge vnto his officers to see They should be seru'd each one in his degree And that not any thing what ere should want That might procure their pleasure or their ease Nor any one in duty should be scant To honor them if him they sought to please That don he leads them to his Royall place Where he doth welcom theÌ„ with Princely grace And passing through a Marble paved yeard He went into a stately sumpteous hall Wherein no cost of any thing was spard That might adorne and beatifi't withall The walles beser with Images of gold And hangd with Arras costly to behold Where being entred in and he set downe He doth them all in hearty manner greet And welcome bids to Iacomtes towne Each one in his degree as he thought meet Commanding straight great store of wine bear To be broght forth their wearied limbs to chear The King thus set and plast in Royall chaire All hang'd with rich and costly cloth of gold And gilt and set with pearles very faire Most sumptious and most stately to behold Environed with Lords and Knights that were At his command then summond to be there Beholding with a gracious countenance Prince Iason and his fellow Hercules Their honors more t' encrease and to advance Willd them to sit downe by him for their ease But Iason would no longer time let pas To shew the King wherefore his comming was Which he in words but few yet wisely told Began to tell with such a comely grace And so demurely as full well he could That all that were then present in the place Admird his wit his memory and tongue To be most perfect in a Prince so young But ere he did begin his tale to frame With good advise and great discretion He did in mind premeditate the same And to each sentence gaue direction And did his meaning then so wisely say That Oetes his request could not denay And so with stoâ—â— and princely courage bold He started vp with due obedience And kneeling fore the King began t' vnfold Wherefore he came and shewed the full pretence Of his so strange and valiant enterprise Which in this manner thus he did deuise Most puissant Prince and King of Colchos land May 't please you of your high and speciall grace Beningly now to heare and vnderstand The cause of my repaire vnto this place And in good sort not taking of offence Vouchsafe therein to giue me audience To vse long speech and many words were vaine And might perhaps breed cause of tediousnes Or moue offence but soothly to be plaine Reiecting rethoritian curiousnesse In briefe t' vnfold the some of mine intent I must confesse that honour hath me bent To trie th' adventure of the golden fleece And win the glory to atchiue the same And for that cause I passed out of Greece In hope t' augment my valor and my fame Which if your grace will giue me leaue t' assay I doubt not but to beare the prise away And though I know what ever men pretend And vndertake in hope of victory Vnlesse the gods some savour to them lend In whom consisteth all felicitie It were in vaine for any man to venter Or on him take in perill great to enter For peace and warre dishonor eke and fame Doe all vpon their willes and mights depend And no man can withstand them in the same What ever fortune shall vnto me send I will not spare th' adventure now to trie And doe my best for once I can but die If that your Grace thereto will giue consent And grant me leaue my force therein t' assay Vnto your lawes therein is my intent In each respect to yeild and to obay And craue no favour whatsoere betide Hap good or ill I will it all abide Most humbly craving that without delay My mind heerein your grace will not withstand But rather flatly bind me to a day The same t'achieue if so I tak 't in hâ—nd Speake gracious Prince grant to my request And loe your Knight at your command is prest While Iason thus his mind did boldly say The King that full attentiuely the while His speech had mark't with silence seem'd to stay Before he spake at last he gan to smile And friendly him beholding in the face Vnto him sayd with glad and cheerefull grace Young Knight although thy mind be fully set And wholly bent vpon this enterprise So dangerous that no man can thee let Nor hold thee from 't yet follow my advise And wisely with thy selfe resolue in mind Ere thou begin't what danger thou shalt find For know thou must though valiant be thy hart That this adventure is so hard to win As being wrought and fram'd by magicke Art That strength of man can not prevaile therein But he that dares the same once vndertake To end his life a full account must make No favor nor no hope for him is left That doth presume to take the same in hand For by the law he is thereof bereft Which by no means he may in ought withstand As having choise before he gines to venter To leaue the same and not therein to enter But once begun he must therein proceed For backe he may not turne what ere betide And though he stand in never so great need His dome is past he must his chance abide For death is his reward that doth begin And take in hand the golden fleece to win So strickt a law binds him that this will trie Which vnto thee yong Iason I must tell I can by no meanes change nor yet deny To any one therefore advise thee well Before thou ventrest t' vndertake the same Least afterward on me be layd the blame Of thy so desperate destruction Wherefore for my discharge I thee require With hearty and with true intention To leaue the same and let not high desire Procure thee to incurre thine owne decay By this so hard and vnexpected way Sith then thou seest what danger lies therein For that from point to point I haue thee told The truth of all before thou dost begin Let reason rule and be not overbold To take in hand while time thou hast to chuse Least when thou wouldst thou canst it not refuse The time doth now afford thee space to take Or to refuse th' adventure which you will For looke what law God Mars himsefe did make I must the same in all respects fulfill What ere he be that venters in this case Let him be sure he gets no other grace Thus youthfull Iason
whatsoere betide I haue thee told and openly let know What danger thou art sure thereby t' abide Which if I could I would haue kept thee fro But truth to say I can it not deny To any man that sekes the same to try Then to conclude sith now thou dost perceiue What danger lies herein take heed in time Of her that turnes the wheele least she bereaue Thee of thy life while it is in the prime Doe as thou wilt thou getst no more of mee Of weale or woe the choise consists in thee With that the King did rise out of his seat When time drue neare for dinner to provide Whereto the preparation was so great That care of all things els being set aside Each Officer was busied to see That nothing whatsoere should wanting bee The tables couered stately to behold And Cubbards well and costly garnished With store of plate of silver and of gold Whereof the King was richly furnished And Trumpets sounding every man to call When as the meat was brought into the hall The King set downe with in his Royall seate With Hercules and Iason at his bord Great store of sundrie kinds of dainty meate Were served in as time did then afford That done the Marshall placed all the rest Each one in his degree as he thought best Where every man was entertaind so well That wonder t' was to see their costly fare Which in each thing did there so much excell By reason that the King no cost did spare That all the Court admir'd his noble mind Cause he to strangers shew'd himselfe so kind And more for to delight their minds withall Musitions never ceased still to play On Citern Lute Bandore and Base-Viall Cornet and Flute to passe the time away With pleasant notes and in such stately wise As it had been an earthly Paradize For truth to say such plenty there was found That Oetaes liberalitie was prays'd And so extold in all things to abound That his great fame vnto the skies was rays'd For entertaining strangers in such wise By all the wayes and meanes he could devise To tell each severall kind of meate by name Or halfe thereof in order to descrie Impossible it were to do the same There was so much and great diversitie It shall suffice to say such was the store That wit of man could well devise no more And to be briefe the King did so excell In every point of liberalitie That rightly might be sayd in him did dwell The patterne of true magnanimitie No marvell then as it did well appeare He made the Greekes so great and royall cheare And more for to augment his fame withall He caus'd his onely Daughter to be brought Out of her chamber downe into the hall Whose beautie if the world throghout were sought Could not be matcht so much it did excell That to describ't were hard for me to tell Whose Princely presence wrought no smal delight Within the hearts of all the company When in most stately wise each Grecian Knight She gan salute and no man did deny Hir courteous entertainment to afford As she did passe along from bord to bord And chiefely to behold hir comely face For whitenes like to Alablaster cleare With Roseat cheekes yet mixed with such grace That no accesse of colour did appeare Wherein dame Nature plaid so kind a part That well she proved mistresse of her Art This Princesse cald Medea as we read Was th' only child King Oeta had aliue And rightly in his Kingdome should succeed If she her father chanced to suruiue So ripe of yeares and gallant to behold That nature neuer fram'd a finer mold But notwithstanding this her beauty rare And youthfull yeares sufficient to inspire Her heart with loue yet was her onely care To read and study with no small desire All kind of books that might or could be found Whereby she learn'd of euery Art the ground So perfectly that neuer yet was found A man that did attaine vnto her skill Her learning was so great and so profound For to discusse of euery thing at will And nothing what so e're but she could tell Concerning things in heauen earth and hell No secrets of the earthly globe so round But she could well disclose them at her will The course of Starres and Planets she had found And did attaine vnto so lofty skill That by their motion she could truely show What should befall vpon the earth below She was so learned in Astronomie The Nigromancian Art she knew so well And thereto did her mind so well apply That by her charmes she called out of hell Th' infernall spirits and forst them to obay Her word and will they durst it not denay With words shee vsd to say in sundry wise First casting incense sweet into the fire And doing of some diuelish sacrifice With Goat horns milke bloud her whole desire She could attaine when time conuenient She knew would be to worke Inchantement Such was her skill and eke so well she had The heauenly and celestiall bodies found How to discerne that times both good and bad By them she chose to make and to compound Her drugs wherby she brought to passe her will In euery thing what euer good or ill She could command the winds to storme blow And make the ground to freeze in euery vaine And cause it thunder lighten haile snow And when she list it sodainly should raine And turne the day full cleare to vgly night And then againe cause Sun to shine most bright She could the waters make to rise and rage With huge and lofty billoes to the skye And then againe make calme eke asswage The tempest were it nere so great and hie She could yong trees dry vp both root rind And them reuiue againe in selfe same kind And in the deepest time of Winter cold When buds and blossomes wither and decay And euery thing doth fade and waxeth old She could the earth make greene eke array The fields with flowers of euery seuerall kind And colours as in Summer we them find And when she list she could the Summer cleare Cleane alter and convert to Winter cold And make it looke with darke glooming cheare Strange woonderfull and vgly to behold Old men she could to youth againe restore And make them fresh and lusty as before And yong men that no haire on face could show Soone would she cause appeare both gray and old Such was her skill that bought on earth below But she could change and secrets all vnfold And trees with fruit she would at will make bare Of barke and leafe a secret strange and rare She could the Sun and Moone ' gainst nature stay And cause ecclipses out of time by force For no man that is learned can denay But they are tyed vnto a certaine course As by the Lord ordain'd at first it was The which they may nor can by no means passe For till the Sun with glistering beames
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
wrongs done long agoe And still haue borne it in thy memory That dailie by experience we doe see That while men seeke reuenge for iniury Done long before they oft deceaued be And with a double harme ere th' are aware Fall sodainly into another snare And wrongs that cleane forgotten were and dead Renewed are by trump of flying fame Through salse report rumor that is spread And often hurt mans honor and good name Especially when he doth rashly run Vpon reuenge not carring how 't is done And by his pride and ouer-hasty mood Doth worke his own destruction and decay Remembring not the prouerbe old and good Which vnto men discreet and wise doth say Let him that 's well be sure to keepe him so Least afterward he doth himselfe beshrow And he that walkes on plaine and euen ground Needs not to feare nor doubt a stumbling cast Vnlesse of carelesnes as oft is found He ouerthrow himselfe by too much hast And wilfullie aduentures t' haue a fall As hauing of his state no care at all So must I vnto thee King Priam say That all too retchlesse thou hast euer been The care on fickle fortune so to lay Of thy secured peace for it is seen And knowne to be her custome commonly That when a man trusts most assuredly In her that is so blind and so vnstable She will to him then most inconstant be And as she alwaies was deceaueable Bereaue him soone of regall dignitie And with a trice downe from her wheele him throw Her power and force vnto the world to show Against the which it nought availes to striue For when a man thinkes his estate most sure And that in peace and welfare he doth liue She can when he thinks least his fall procure Therefore let no man hope for happy chance At fortunes hand so full of variance Nor hazard his estate vpon her wheeles Vnlesse he cares not how the same doth goe Nor whether well or ill with him she deales For neuer man did her so constant know That he might say he had continued In one estate and neuer varied Let Priam King of Troye vnfortunate Example hereof be that wilfully Without aduise orethrew his owne estate And brought himselfe into such misery That he his wife and all his Sons being â—laine His noble Citie was destroyd againe And all his Country round about laid wast And whollie brought vnto confusion The memorie whereof while world doth last From age to age and by succession Shall both in bookes and songs recorded be That men thereby may learne plainly see What comes of rash conceit and wilfulnesse When men will run vpon extreamitie And put their happy state in doubtfulnesse By warre wherein there 's no securitie For he that therein seemes most fortunate Oft vnawares doth soon'st receaue the mate For harme once done too late is to amend And sieldome doth a wrong of hatred done Procure to him that doth it happie end Let men therefore be wise and seeke to shun King Priams course and so their steps direct That they in time their error may correct To shew how he into this error fell Which bred his vtter ruine and decay Then must you know that wrath and envie fell Burnt so within his breast both night and day Vpon the answere that Anthenor brought That he could neuer rest till he had wrought The meanes to be reuenged if he might Vpon the Greekes and so in hast he sent For all his Lords and many a noble Knight To summon them vnto a Parliament Commanding them therein to make no stay But with all present speed to come away Where being come and all together met The King with words most graue courage bold When euerie man in his degree was set His will and his intent gan to vnfold What caus'd him that assembly there to make And in this sort vnto them then he spake And said my Lords I know your minds so well That long discourse at this time shall not need The cause of our assemblie for to tell And therefore to the point I will proceed And vnto you as brieflie as I may Declare th' effect of that I haue to say You know full well how that not long agoe By counsell of you all I sent to Greece Anthenor on embassage for to shoe That my desire was with loue and peace To haue my sister Exion home againe But all my suite and labour was in vaine For that the Grecians most vncourteously With threatning words and speeches full of dread Receau'd and vs'd him so despightfully That hardlie he escaped with his head Desying vs most proudlie for the same To our no small dishonour and our shame Which dailie more and more will still encrease Vnlesse that we some remedie procure For whereas we do seeke for loue and peace And all our wrongs would patientlie endure They offer war and flatlie vs denie A small request to grant or satisfie And for the harmes that they to vs haue done They say they will no other order take But for amends our Countrie t'ouer run And bloudie war on vs and ours to make Which their desire increaseth our despight But would to God their hearts were so contrite To cease all strife and friendly to accord That all the mischiefe and the crueltie That bloudie wars doth commonlie afford Might be converted into amitie But they alas are so possest with pride That they disdaine all peace and vs deride Still threatning vs in most despightfull wise But God forbid that all on vs should light Which they suppose and gainst vs do surmise But sith they seeme to shew so great despight And vnto vs pretend such crueltie We must be forced of necessitie By helpe of God their furiousnes to stay And in our owne defence most boldlie stand Sith that our cause is iust Which that we may The better do let vs with heart and hand Ioyn'd all in one most firme and full decree On them with might and maine reueng'd to be Which if we do we doubt not to preuaile For where mens minds agree not in consent Of victorie they shall be sure to faile But when vnto an vnitie th' are bent They cannot choose but nappilie proceed And helpe each other when they stand in need My counsell therefore is that we agree And ioyne in one consent for to withstand The Grecians and the more assur'd to bee Before that we begin to take 't in hand I dare affirme our strength and forces far Exceeds the Grecians power what ere they are Our skill in armes is great as well you know Our Knights they are most valorous and stout Great store of horse and foot-men we can show Well arm'd for war and this we need not doubt But that our towne is most invincible And for our foes to win 't impossible Therefore I do intend by your consent With all the speed I can for to prepare A Navie well appointed to be sent Into the Grecian Land which shall not
spare In our behalfe and to defend our right T' invade the same and with our force might To burne their townes lay their Country wast And vse them as they well deserued haue At our hands for iniuries forepast For by my will they shall not one man saue But cruelly put all vnto the sword For they the like vnto vs did afford And let not their forepassed victory Against vs woone be cause to make vs doubt For they that oft in field are forst to flie Do many times with courage bold and stout Couragiously turne backe and fight againe And in the end the victory obtaine Such is the chance of warre wherein there is No certaintie but oftent mes it 's seen That he that this day victory doth misse The selfe same day the Conqueror hath been And he that held the field victoriously By him that fled before been forst to flie For no man may in warre himselfe assure So fickle and vnconstant it is found For Mars this day will to a man procure A conquest great and cause his honor sound By trumpe of Fame throughout the world so wide And when he list he can for him prouide A sodaine fall and like the summer flower That vadeth with a blast and is consum'd And cleane distroyd in minute of an hower His honor stain'd which he at first presum'd Could never faile and cause it to decay And all within the space of one short day And where before his name was magnifide Even as the ebbe doth follow floud apace As by experience oft it hath been try'd Full sodainly he can't as much abase For though this day the Sun doth shine most clear Next day to vs perhaps t' will not appeare When thick mistie clouds the Sun doth trouble And for a time obscure his radiant beames Even so of Mars the chances are most double And mixed with a number of extreames Now vp now downe now low then aloft As fortune will whose mind doth change full oft For when she list she 'll make a man ascend Vpon her wheele his honour to advance And sodainly she 'll cause him to descend And much againe by some vnhappy chance This day she will exalt him to the skie And next abase in twinckling of an eye Turning her wheelevnstable like a ball She smiles on some and others she doth flout And while one mounts another hath a fall For every man when it doth turne about Must take the chance that she on him will thrust But he that knowes her frauds wiles vniust Will soone perceiue sweet hony mixt with gall In all her actions what so ere they be For honour and renowne mischife and thrall Peace bloudy warre and every dignitie Are at her will and pleasure for to grant Let no man therefore in his fortune vaunt For though the Grecians gainst vs did preuaile When they my Father slue it may so chance That now they shall of their good fortune faile Therefore let every man himselfe advance And as you are renown'd for hardinesse Valour and might shew forth your worthines And vnto fortune do your selues commend And let no feare your manly hearts possesse But boldlie fight your Country to defend As I perswaded am you 'le do no lesse Now let me heare your answeres herevnto And what for me and mine you meane to do This said the Nobles all with one consent Made answere vnto him and did reply That they with hearts and minds were fully bent In his and their iust quarrell for to die And venture goods and all that ere they haue The honour of their Country for to saue For which the King did thanke them heartily And gaue them leaue each one for to be gone And went into his chamber presently Where solitarilie and all alone He sat still musing how to bring to passe The thing that wholly his desire was For he thereon did onely set his thought So much his mind vpon revenge did run That though his own decay thereby were wrought Yet would he not the danger thereof shun And so resolu'd made this conclusion With present speed and resolution To send for all his Sons legitimate And those likewise that basely borne were To take advise of them 'bout his estate And none but they alone that he might heare What counsell they to him as then would giue His troubled mind with comfort to relieue Concerning his pretence of warre to make Vpon the Grecians for their cruelty Which he did mind in hast to vndertake Who being all assembled priuately And every one set downe as his degree And age required the flower of Chiualrie Prince Hector who as then returned was Out of the Prouince of Panomie Next to the King in order tooke his place Whome when he did behold with watrie eye And sighes full sore and deepe from out his heart He did vnto them all his mind impart But ere that he as then a word would speake A floud of teares from out his eyes distild Fast trickling downe vpon his aged cheake So much his heart with griefe as then was fild At last as 't were a man with sobs dismaid With heavy heart these words vnto him said My deare and louing sonnes as I suppose You all record and freshly beare in thought How that the Greekes our old possessed foes In cruell wise their furies on vs wrought Slaying my Father King Laomedon Burnt euen with the ground his ancient towne Put all his subiects to the sword not one Escapt their rage and in captiuitie Led wiues and maids and mongst them Exion My sister deare who in extreamity Still there remaines to our no small offence And your reproch that fetch her not fro thence The which to shun nature me thinks should moue And cause you in your hearts to feele much griefe That she whom you cannot all choose but loue Should there remaine so long without reliefe And with most great dishonour of her name Indure th' abuse she doth vnto your shame Alas my Sons why seeke you not the way To be reueng'd for this great jniurie Vpon our foes and that without delay And her relieue in her extreamitie In truth me thinks sith that you are so strong You are to blame to driue it off so long And thus from day to day the time deferre By Knightly force and valor great t' assay With might and maine vpon them to make warre It grieueth me you seeme so long to stay To grant to my request whose whole desire And heart gainst the doth burne like flaming fire With hatred as you plainely may behold Till that I be reueng'd with present speed The which if you regarded as you should And resolutely in your hearts decreed While you haue strength and valor so to do You would not be so hardlie drawne thereto Remember how t' was I did you beget And fostred you with care as tenderly As I could do and now you are thus great And held to be the flower of Chiualrie You
and cry Against him in most fierce and furious wise And raâ—l'd at him and at the Prophesie His Father told and sayd t' was all but lies Which after proved in conclusion To turne vnto their owne confusion For that 's before ordain'd shall sure fall out And state of things with fate is so inglewd That whatsoere must be without all doubt Will come to passe and may not be eschewd Which cauâ—d them all t' agree in one consent That Paris into Greece should straight be sent Their destiny was such they could't not shun And hauing all agreed thereon they rose And for that time their counsell it was don But when t' was knowne abroad as Guydo shoes Like woman cleane distraught of wit she far'd And wise and learn'd Cassandra thereof heard And sayd alas what will you doe And in most dolefull wise began to weepe And sayd shall Paris thither goe Which words she did pronounce with sighes full deepe And falling in a swound with extreame paine Infurious wise began sore to complaine And woefully gaue many a grieuous groane And for to die she could not then with hold To mourne and make great lamentation And tare her haire and both her hands did fold And said alas a hundred times and more Oh fortune fell why is thy rage so sore Against vs bent that with most angry frowne Thou weau'st the webbe of our adversitie And plotting the vtter ruine of our Towne Procur'st our deaths with great extreamitie By sword of vengeance worse then pestilence Increasing of hate and extreame violence Oh woefull Troy what is thy guâ—lt alas That thou must be destroid brought to nought What hast thou done or what is thy trespasse That for the same such vengance shold be wrought Oh Priam noble King what fault hast thou Committed gainst the Gods that they as now Provoked are such vengeance great to throw On thee and on thy whole posteritie Oh Mother deare Queene Hecuba also Tell me I thee beseech the certaintie What manner crime and other great offence Hast thou committed t' haue such recompence For to behold the daies so terrible When all thy sonnes in cruell wise shall die By dint of sword and death most horrible Why will you not alas your minds applie To hearken to my counsell now in time And seeke how to prevent while t' is the prime These dangers great before they doe proceed Vnto the full effect and period Which by the Gods is certainely decreed And by no meanes nor way may be withstood Vnlesse that wee another course will shape The doome of th' incensed Gods t' escape The memory whereof doth so torment My grieued mind that I cannot jndure The woe I feele And therewithall she went To Priamus her Father to procure Some remedy and fell vpon the ground And wept as fast as if she should haue dround In flouds of teares which trickled downe her face And as her paine would her permit she spake To him and cried in that most woefull case Beseeching him some remedy to take In that extreame as she that too well knew What danger by the same there would ensue But all her teares and cries did nought preuaile For Priam would no answere thereto make For as men say what shall be cannot faile But in due time the full effect will take And fortune with her smoth dissembling face Offended as it seemes with Troian race With malice did in heart against them burne And waighting to intrap them by a wile Vpon a sudden gaue her wheele a turne And that she might the sooner them beguile She hastened them to their confusion With wilfulnesse and jndiscretion Against the Greeks a quarrell to vndertake And therevpon their counsell they did hold And did agree that voyage then to make Into the Grecian land fall out what would But if they had been rul'd by good advise Of those that did perswade them to be wise And followe Hectors counsell which he gaue And Helenus advise retaind in mind And well obserud Percheus sentence graue Which after they to be most true did find And lastly to Cassandraes Prophesie Had bent their â—ares and holden't for no lie They had not fallen into such miserie As afterward they did but had liuâ—d still In honor and in great felicitie But Fortune that will alwaies haue her will Who ere sayth nay was cause that mou'd themso In hast vpon their voiage for to goe And with lookes smoth and full of flatterie And sugred words with venomous intent To show her double heart and trecherie Pretending good but vnto mischiefe beâ—t And watching time against them to preuaile With Faith in face but fraud within her tayle So much intised them to giue consent That Paris should in hast to Grecia goe That by no meanes they could themselues content Till that they had agreed it should be so Whose Voyage in the chapter doth ensue I will at large declare and show to you CHAP. IIII. ¶ How King Priam sent Paris Diophebus and others into Greece to be revenged for the rauishing of his Sister Exion and how they being in Grecia rauished faire Helena wife to Menelaus and brought her with them to Troy WHen time approacht that Titan gan to lead His chariot twixt the starres of Hiades Which haue their seate in Taurus horned head And in the glistring starres cal'd Pleiades Whereof six doe continually appeare Vnto our sight the Seauenth for shame feare Doth hide her head still thinking on her crime And therefore dares nor show her beames so cleare But keepeth backe and will not in due time With her faire sisters openly appeare Because that she with an earthly God did lie And was found with him in adulterie And since that time she hath so bashfull beene And for her fact asham'd as doth appeare That seldome in our sight she wil be seene And when the Sun in the celestiall spheare Betweene these starres in full sixteenth degree Of Taurus heat was iustly found to bee And in the sweet and pleasant moneth of May When Flora fills each medow hill and dale With faire and dainty flowers fresh and gay And Zephyrus with his most pleasant gale Doth ayd to cloth them there in liueries new And makes their blossomes show with liuely hew And bid vs to be merry light and glad That they new fruit vpon them gin to beare Gainst Antumne when as haruest in his had And ripened grapes vpon each Vine appeare In that same moneth when men for their disport Doe walke abroad themselues to recomfort Reioycing to behold the trees so full Of blossomes sweet in hope that they will beare Good store of fruit to gather and to pull In ripening time and season of the yeare In midst of the fresh and pleasant spring When little Birds delightfull notes do sing Paris and Deiphobus that were gon In hast into Panomie purposely To mustar men and make provision And all things for the Navy speedily Returne to Troy and in their company
on him by stealth did cast an eye Though outwardly none could her well espie For as she thought she never saw his peere Mongst all the men that on the earth did liue For comelinesse and beautie passing cleere Nor that to her contentment more did giue So that on nothing else she set her mind But how she might a fit occasion find And haue the meanes and opportunitie Conveniently with him a word to speake In other place at better libertie Which was the onely thing that she did seeke And stil her countenance chang'd For Cupids fire In both their hearts had kindled like desire And cloathed them with Venus liverie And yet no message twixt them then there went But privie lookes glauncing from the eâ—e Assured them what each to other ment And made them wish in heart that secretly An amorous combate twixt them they might try And their desires vnto each other shoe At last as Paris by degrees him gat Vp higher and vnto the place did goe Whereas the faire Queene Helena then sat In secret wise together they did speake And as they might their minds to other breake Declaring what did punish them at the heart But this was done least that it should be spied When as the presse of people did depart And such as stayd were busie occupied To stare vpon the temple and to gase About the same as people in a mase To see it so adornd in sumptuous wise And while they spake not any one might heare A word that past least that they should surmise That twixt them any bad intent there were Nor what their secret speech as then should meane At last it was agreed by the Queene And Paris with one full and free consent What time they should together meet againe And so they both out of the Temple went Though loath with hearts repleat with louers paine And that they might avoyd suspition When Paris from Queene Helena as gone With present speed vnto his ship he went Where hauing staâ—d a while without delay For all the Troyan Lords and Knights he seat To whome in pithie words he gan to say My Lords and friends in briefe to you to tell The cause vnto you all is knowne full well Wherefore to Greece my Father hath vs sent And what Commission to vs he did giue You know it was the full of his intent That we should seeke to take and to relieue My noble Aunt the Princely Exion Out of the hands of proud King Telamon The which to do I can deuise no way How it by vs should well effected be For no man can this vnto me denay That he is mighty strong in his Country And well alied with friends on everie side And hath an heart abounding with such pride That to leaue her by force he doth disdaine The best way then that I can now deuise Sith with him so to deale it is in vaine And that our power thereto doth not suffice Because we are not able to withstand His force nor with him fight within his Land Is sith that fortune hath vs hither brought And caus'd vs by adventure here to land When as God knows it was not in our thought At Venus home that not far hence doth stand And wherein at this time there is great store Of Iewels Gold and other treasures more The which the Greekes vnto it hither bring By sea and land and there both rich and poore To Uenus vse to make their offering And her therein most solemnly adore And that the faire Queene Helen now is there I thinke that it the best course for vs were To beare her hence by force and prisoner make And having put the Grecians to the foile Their gold and treasure forcibly to take And them of it and of their liues to spoile Which hauing done without all tarrying The same into our ships this night to bring Whereof we cannot faile who ere saith nay And to that end said he let 's ready make And without further respect or delay Our armours and our weapons to vs take To set on them with all our force and might Which said within their ships they staid till night Till Phebus did on earth no more appeare But was gone downe as t' was his woonted guise And glistring stars did shine most bright cleare Before the Moone that time began to rise They all went forth their ships in braue array And to the temple straight did take their way Intending not long in the same to tarry And so in hast they entred Citheron Where going straight vnto the Sanctuarie Without all manner of devotion To Venus done in her Oratorie For it was then out of their memorie To worship her they had no such intent But onely for to rob and spoile the same Whereto as then their minds were wholly bent All what so ere vnto their hands then came They tooke and bore away and nothing left Within the Church nor I sle but them bereft Of all their Iewels precious stones and gold Their reliques and their vessels sacared And every other thing what ere they could Were it prophane or were it hallowed They made it prey and in their furious mood Did kill and slay all those that them withstood And many that with gastly wounds did bleed Which they receaued had to saue their right As prisoners to their ships with them were led Not able to withstand their puissant might Which after liu'd in long captiuity With sorrow griefe and great extreamity While Paris earnestlie for Helen sought Whom when he found in courteous wise he kist And ioy fullie within his armes her caught For she seem'd not to striue nor to resist But yeelded vnto him without delay For 't had been but meere follie to say nay Her heart being woone before that he came there She could not striue for women t is not fit And for that cause to yeeld she had lesse feare And he with such good words as then were meet Did comfort her and therewith did her beare Vnto his ship and letting her stay there Well guarded by his men returnd againe To make an end of his desired pray Not far from thence within a pleasant plaine A Castle stood where many souldiers lay To keepe the same who waking gaue a shout And sodainly at once did issue out Andran in hast to rescue Citheron But ere they came the Troyans had their pray And with the same vnto their ships were gone Wherewith the Greekes did make no long delay But followed them and then began to fight On either side with all their force and might And Tygar like each other slew and kild Till many dead within the field did lie For neither vnto other then would yeeld But at the last the Greekes were forst to flye For that the Troyans doubled them in nomber With multitudes and did them fore incomber And made them run backe to the Castle gate In hope to saue themselues therein by flight But all in vaine for them for
to take vengeance As rite requires and so iust cause allowes Vs for to seeke revenge vpon our foe And therefore let vs now performe our vowes And valiantly with courage gainst them goe That wee such terror in their hearts may strike That they shall ever feare to doe the like In time to come if by our patience We should as now with their great folly beare And overslip this notable offence For never yet wast knowne no man did heare That Grecians wronged were in name or fame Or any thing done gainst them to their shame But they acquit it to their enemies griefe And now to speake the truth in this respect I must in few words tell you and be briefe It stands not with our honors to neglect Or overslip the offence so lately past Least in our teeth heereafter it be cast And to our heires reproach it might be sayd Their Fathers durst not once reuenge their wrong And of the Troians forces were afraid Which may not be sith that we are so strong And all agreed with one consent and will Our whole desire in this point to fulfill And therewith of such puissant power and might That no man can nor may with vs compare Nor ever durst presume gainst vs to fight But they were sure in time the losse to beare But lately when the Troians made a venter And sodainly within our land did enter Vnwares to vs and with great spoile then went To Troy againe with their presumption I doubt they shall full hastily repent For it is knowne to all and every one How that of late the Greeks with number small Vpon the Troians for cibly did fall When as their King Laomedon was slaine That father was vnto King Priamus Who now within the Towne of Troy doth raigne Which at that time was cleane destroid by vs And all we found therein put to the sword And those to whom we mercy did afford And sau'd their liues and from death them did spare Yet liu'd in woe and may not be recur'd Still mongst the Greeks in servitâ—de and care How cap they now gainst vs be aâ—hurd And hold vs fight with all their chiualry When as we haue so huge a company For if so small a number did prevaile Gainst them as then it 's likely now we be So many thousands we shall noâ—es â—aâ—â—â— To win on them anoble victorie And yet I know the Troians do not spare Their forces gainst our commings to prepare By all the meanes they can for to withstand Vs and our power if that they may indure Gainst vs to let our entry in their land And to that end their friends they doe procure In every place whereas they are aâ—ed Determining the vtmost to abide And therefore sith w' are like to find them prest And ready to incounter in battaile My counsell is and so I thinke it best That ere that we out of this Haven sayle To th' end this iourney may be prosperous And fall out well and happily for vs. To send to Delos Isle which little space From hence doth lie so offer sacrifice Vnto Apollo Patrone of this place And there to craue his answere and advise To know how we in this our warre shall speed If that you all thereto be so agreed This counsell given their full conclusion Was t' agree thereto not one sayd nay Nor gainst the same made contradiction Determining as soone as ere they may To do it with as much conuenient speed As well they might and therein did proceed CHAP. VIII ¶ How Achiâ—â—es and Patroclus â—â—â—e sent to Delos to re-ceiue answere from their God Apollo to know how they should speed against the Troians WHen Agamemnon in such wise had sayd His mind as you haue hard the Greeks agre'd With one consent no time should be delaid And presently amongst themselues decre'd Achilles and Patroclus both should goe That God Apollos answere for to know And with all speed they sayâ—d to Dâ—â—â—â— Isle Where hauing wind and weather prosperous They did arriue within a little while Which Iland as the stoty telleth vs Doth lie among the Câ—â—lâ—dâ— I sleâ— whereas The sayâ—ers fâ—nd so many rocks to pâ—â—se And in the Sea cald Hellespont doth stand Whereof to make a full description Like as mine Authour Guydo takes in hand I must awâ—ile make some dâ—gression And from the sequell of my 〈◊〉 vary Although I meane therein not longe â—â—â—y Within this Isle as Iâ—ydore doth wright Latona did two goodly children beare By Iupiter her friend who in despight Of Iuno when as they in discord weare Got hir with child as Ovid testifies If that we may giue credit to such lies Whose names Apollo and Diana weare And after men therin did dedicate A temple that Apolloes name did beare And vnto to him was wholly consecrate Where from the time of the foundation They honored him with great devotion Because his beames that are so bright and cleare Noes flood orepast which all the world oreflow'd In that same Isle were first seene to appeare Diana likewise first her selfe there shew'd And to the world did giue her glistring light With radiant streams horns most sharp bright Of which their apparition as men say This Isle that is thereby so great of fame Was Delos cal'd by Grecians at that day And euer since that time hath borne that name Which word in Greeke doth signifie to show Or to appeare as learned Clarkes well know And thus Apollo first was honoured And by the Greeks great reverence to him done Who with devotion likewise worshipped His sister faire Diana cald the Moone That was by them a Goddesse held to bee And did in hunting take felicitie And so Diana faire that shin'd so bright And 〈◊〉 in that Isle were worshipped Because the first appearance of their light Vpon that place by radiant streames was spread And mongst the Pagans honord and esteem'd And great mighty Gods by them were deem'd Vnto this Isle is given another name For by the Greeks it 's cald Ortigia Cause Curlewes first were seene within the same For by the word Ortigias as they say The Grecians doe a Curlew vnderstand That first engendred were within that land Some doe Apollo Titan also name Who long before that he was made a staâ—â—e So much and such high honor wan and same When he against great Iupiter made warre By other some likewise he 's cald 〈◊〉 And many giue him name of Phitoâ—s For that vnto his honor great and glory He slew the serpent Phiton with his bow And of him wan a noble victory When they two fought here on the earth below For which his conquest Cupid did so rage That by no meames his wrath he could asswage But in dispight an arrow did discharge At him wherwtih he peirst cleane through his sidâ— And in his heart did make a wound most large That caused him much sorrow to abide And of Phiton thus brought vnto his end Men say the Phitonesses
as to you I now am bound I will not spare to giue you counsell true Remember then I say how you haue found The Gods to favour you in this respect And still will do 't if you do not neglect Their grace and by your great ingratitude And sloathfulnesse provoke them to agree An other doome against you to conclude For if that they do you so carelesse see Think it not strange if they do change their minds And vnto you at last should proue vnkind I counsell you therefore now to be gone And see that you no longer tarrie heare And ere the time of harvest doth come on While that the weather is both faire and cleare And pleasant Summer bideth in his heat And fore the Winter comes that's cold weat In season fresh and greene put to the seas And in the name of all the Gods proceed This is my counsell take it as you please For sith thereon you fullie haue decreed Make no delaie but each man go to ship And let no longer time thus over-slip CHAP. IX ¶ How the Grecians Nauie putting from Athens were distressed by tempest at Sea and how they tooke the Castle of Saranaba belonging to the Troyans CAlchas thus hauing spoken as you heare The Grecians thinking his advise so given To be most true all that assembled were Agreed vpon the selfe same day at even To enter ship and Agamemnon then By sound of Trump did summon all his men To make all hast they could to part away Who being also willing to be gone Did speedilie take ship without delay And having pleasant wind at will full soone Put forth to sea with all their warlike band And presentlie were out of fight of land To tell how many ships they had were vaine Because it hath alreadie beene declar'd But sure it is most evident and plaine That nere tofore of like fleet hath been heard Nor such a number of most valiant men As in their hoast assembled were as then And being on the seas in weather cleare Full sodainelie the wind began to rise The aire waxt darke they therewith did heare Huge thunder-claps â—ebound out of the skies Which with such furie on their ships then stroke That many Masts and Yards in sunder broke The waues likewise did rise so huge and hie And such a storme of raine and haile did fall Vpon the Seas that it did make the skie To shew as blacke as pitch and there withall The lightning in their fearefull faces flasht So mightily that they were sore agast And every man began to call and crie Vnto their Gods in that most fearefull case And made account assuredlie to die But Colchos who in knowledge did surpasse When he had made and said some Orasions By divelish charmes and inchantations Did cease the storms cause the Sun shine cleare Which made their heauie hearts exceding glad And told them how the cause of that great feare And tempest sore which they endured had Was for that faire Diana discontent With them because their course to Troye they bent And put to sea ere they did her adore Or offer'd any sacrifice at all Vpon her Altars or her aid implore Which made her in so great a rage to fall That if he had not found the meanes t' appease Her wrath she would haue drownd theÌ„ in the seas Wherewith King Agamemnon presently Belieuing Colchos counsell with all speed Perceiving that his fleet not farre did lie From th' Isle Aulides sodainlie decreed To land therein where by good fortune he A little Chappell found therein to be That was vnto Diana dedicate Whereto with all the speed he could he went To offer sacrifice thereby t' abate Th' incensed Goddesse Wrath and after spent Long time in prayer vntill that it appear'd The seas of storms tempests all were clear'd But some men say and for a truth declare As Ouâ—d long discourse thereof doth make That Agamemnon did as then not spare His daughter Effigenia to take And on the Altar naked did her laye Supposing with his virgins blood to stay Diana's wrath and he therewith would be Appeased with them but she loath to behold The virgin put to such extreamitie The bowels of her mercie to vnfold Invisibly from thence did take the maid And in her steed a Hart on th' Altar laid Which Agamemnon thereon offered And with the same the Goddesse satisfied Which having done and all things finished That therevnto belong'd in hast he hyed Vnto his ship and having weather cleare Put to the sea againe without all feare And by her aid and helpe whome some do say To be mans guide and chiefe direction When on the sea or land by night or day He travaileth and her protection By such as skill haue in Astronomie And seeke her fame t' extoll and magnifie Reported is and found most strong to be When as she keepeth this her scituate Within his tents and twelfth house by degree For in those two she is most fortunate And doth her clearest light on earth reflect If that she be conioynd with good aspect Of any other faire and happie starre Which vnto men that travell is bening And in short time saild on the seas so farre With wind so good that soone it did them bring Vnto the coast of Troye where on the strand A Castle strong at that same time did stand Ditcht round about and wal'd exceeding hie With divers Towers therein both round square And hard by it a haven there did lie Which many faddomes deepe of water bare Where ships might safely anker and abide And gainst all wind and weather safely ride Which Castle though that Dares hath forgot To name it yet some Authors do it call Saranaba where Grecians failed not To enter and their ankors there let fall Despight of all that offered to resist For at that time they might do what they list Which onely were the garrison of men That in the fort to keepe and hold the same Were placed by King Priamus as then Who valiantly to their eternall fame Assoone as they espyed the Grecians enter Came forth and to resist them did adventer With full pretence their landing to jmpeach With all their power if that it might preuaile But t' was as then too farre aboue their reach For then the Greeks did them so farre assaile That they could not against them long endure Though they suppos'd did themselues assure Because the Grecians long at sea had laine And wearied with sailing too and fro The victory with ease they should obtaine But yet they did not find it to be so For it fell out with them vnhappily Because they did it vnadvisedly For when that they together fiercely met With pikes and other weapons for the warre And that their powers vpon each other set The Grecians did exceed the Troyans farre In number and as then did plainlie shew That Troyans to withstand them were too few And had a farre vnequall match then found To fight
within the same Which were so many and so great a number That for to thinke theron t would make men woÌ„der And more if that it be considered right It is most sure that since the worlds creation Or Phoebus on the earth did cast his light There ne're was seen in any Nation So many Kings and Princes met together As on both sids at that same time were come thither For all the flower of chiualry was there Kings Princes Dukes Earles Barons Knights Squien And all their power of men that armes could beare With full intent and resolute desires Within the towne for to defend their right Without the towne to win it if they might Let them that read and doe peruse this booke Consider for what cause this warre began And if without vnpartiall eies they looke They shall perceiue that many a valiant man For small or no occasion lost his life In that so needlesse strange and bloody strife For truth to say for nought this warre began And nought there was on either side obtain'd For though the Greeks the towne of Troy then wan Yet if it be considered what they gain'd The storyshewes that when that all was don Their reckoning made they lost more theÌ„ they won For many thousands of them there were slaine And lost their liues before the towne of Troy And neuer did returne to Greece againe The honor of their victory to enioy And those that liu'd and backe to Greece did goe Did after end their daies in griefe and woe And on each side the flower of Chivalry Most woefully did end their fatall daies With hundred thousands in their company And altogether as the storie sayes That bloody quarrell then did vndertake For nought but for a sillie womans sake Great pittie t' was so many Knights should die And headlong run vnto destruction To end their daies in extreame miserie For small or rather no occasion Bettet it were at first to end or cease A quarrell of no moment then t' encrease In malice and reuenge for nought to take For wise men shold forecast what harmes might hap nd seeke an end of small debates to make Ere that they fall in wauering fortunes lap And so procure their owne decay perforce And after wish they had tane another course It is a vse mongst men when fier doth take In any house or place to ring a bell Or els some other noyse or signe to make Thereby to warne such as about them dwell To lend their ayd in that extremitie And speedily to seeke for remedie Before it doth increase to greater fier T' were then too late and folly in a man That comes to helpe to aske or to inquire Which way the fier in the howse began And to neglect the quenching of the same When time doth serue for which he thither came For danger doth require no delay And he that 's wise doth commonly forecast Such dangers as may fall in time to stay For t is too late when as the time is past But now I le leaue the Troians for a while And to the Grecians armie turne my stile You heard that while the Grecians did abide At Tenedon how that they all decreed To send to th'isle of Messa to provide Such victualls as their puissant hoast should need While they made warre within the Troian laud And how Achilles tooke that charge in hand Now while that he was gone and staied there The noble King Palamides ariued At Tenedon with thirtie ships that were All fild with valiant Knights the which reuiu'd The Grecians hearts as glad to see him there For that not any one of them but were Sore grieued that he staied so long behind As one they much esteem'd and honoured And many of them great fault with him did find That he had not at Athens mustered Suspecting him of partialitie But he to cleare himselfe and satisfie Their minds declard in open audience The cause whie he to Athens did not goe According to his promise and pretence And for to proue the same to them did show That sickenesse onely had procur'd his stay And forst him to absent himselfe away So long from them where with they satisfied Excused him for that which he had showne And for because they much on him relied And honoured him as second vnto none Mongst all the Greeks for bounty power wit As being one for all attempts most fit For whatsoere he once did vndertake Most valiantly he would the same effect And spight of all that could resistance make Nere leaue it off nor any wise neglect Tell that he had acchieu'd his enterprise And in regard they knew him to be wise And of the greatest reputation Amongst the Greeks that then assembled were They did intreare and pray him to be one Of those that sit in counsell for the warre Which he accepting they straight waies agreed For to besiedge the towne of Troy with speed But mongst theÌ„ questioÌ„ grew what time they might Vnto the towne of Troy most safely goe Some sayd they thought it best when it was night In secret wise to hoyse their sayles that so Without resistance of the enemy They might take land with most securitie But others sayd great dangers might ensue To them to sayle the River in the night And specially because they hardly knew The ready course and that by chanâ—r they might For want of light out of the channell stray And so cast both their ships and men away Thus being of contrary minds they stayd And for that time made no conclusion But put it off and still the same delaid And tooke not any resolution What they would doe but lay still where they were As if their hearts had been possest with feare Till valiant Diomedes grieu'd to see Them lie so long at rest in Tenadon And that they could not mongst themselues agree Nor fall to any resolution For to besiege the towne of Troy with speed As they at first and firmely had decreed Sayd vnto them my Lords whose worthy fame Throughout the world both farre neare doth flie I cannot chuse but needs I must you blame And discommend your great prolixitie That let the time thus passe as you haue don For now a yeare is almost over-run And yet you stir not hence in any wise But still lie here and giue your enemies cause To thinke you do 't for feare and cowardise And which is worse allow them time to pause On their affaires and at their libertie Taugment their strength with opportunitie Vs to withstand and valiantly resist Whereof assure your selues they will not faile For they not any day nor howre haue mist To seeke for ayd against vs to prevaile And bar their gates make their walls most strong For to withstand asiedge both great and long And which is more they haue their spies to see And hearken what we doe here in our hoast And doe affirme and boldly say that wee Dare not effect the thing whereof we
blow which was of mighty force Both man and horse vnto the ground he cast But presently Ulisses rose againe And mounting on his horse road through the plaine And on the Troians set so furiously That many of them as then by him were slaine Which when as King Philomen did espie He tooke a lance and ran at him againe So mightily and such a blow him gaue Therewith that it his shield in sunder claue And pierst his armor through but burâ— him not And yet the blow vnto the ground him stroke But presently vpon his horse he got And in his hand a mighty lance he tooke And therewith at King Philomen did run So swiftly that ere he the blow could shon He pierst cleane throgh his shield and armor bright And in his brest did giue him such a wound That sideways from his horse he fell and light Vpon his head which first did touch the ground And therewithall most grieuously he bled Wherewith his men suppos'd he had been dead And tooke him vp and layd him on a shield Whereon with danger great they did him beare Cleane through the Grecians hoast out of the field Whereof when as the Troian Knights did heare They were abasht because they did beleeue He had been dead and for him much did grieue For if that mighty Philomen had not Been wounded so by fierce Vlisses hand Without all doubt the Grecians had not got So easily out of their ships to laud Nor yet so many Troians had been slaine As then lay dead both on the strand and plaine For while that they the fight did long maintaine And valiantly the Grecians did assaile And sought to driue them to the strand againe Ere that they could by force therein prevaile More Grecians in great number got to land And forcibly the Troians did withstand Conducted by foure Kings of great renowne The first King Agamemnon generall Of all the Greeks and proud King Thelamon King Thoas and King Menclaus cause of all That deadly warre at whose aproach you might Behold the death of many a valiant Knight And at that time the broken lances flew Into the aire and clouen shields did lie Vpon the ground and then they did renew The fight so hotly strong and furiously That in short space the strand and all the plaine Lay full of Knights and men that then were slain And though the Greeks at that time did abide Great losse of Knights yet cause they were so stroÌ„g The greatest losse fell on the Troians side Who nere the lesse fought valiantly and long And held the Grecians â—â—ort for all their might Till that the valiant fierce and worthy Knight Prothesilaus Who all that day had fought Couragiously and many Troians slaine And with his sword in cruell wise had wrought Them great despight both on the strand plaine To rest himselfe and take the ayre did ride Out of the field vnto the water side Where when he did off from his horse alight And saw his men he dead vpon the ground Who at their landing had been slame in fight And others by the raging waues then drownd He could not chuse out weepe to thinke thereon And for a while sat musing still alone And more he them beheld the more he grieu'd Till at the last when he by proofe did find That by â—â—â— griefe they were no whit relieu'd Nor he himselfe the qâ—uetter in mind Such suâ—â—aâ—ne ireâ—â—s valiant heart possest That from that time he could not be in rest But vow'd to be revenged if he might And to require their deaths vpon his foes Orels as it becomes a valiant Knight Couragiously his life with them to lose And â—o resolu'd Ieapton his horse againe And furiously road straight vnto the plaine And entring mongst the thickest of his foes Assayled them with trenchant bladeâ—â— hand And valiantly beat downe and kild all those That met with him or durst against him stand And in short space he did so many stay That every man was glad to run away Like sheepe before the wolfe their hues to saue But he still wounded kild and beat them downe And like a stout and valiant Champion draue And followed them all most vnto the towne And by that meanes the Greeks then victors were And Troians fied before them in great feare Till Persius King of Ethiopia Out of the towne with many a valiant Knight Came ryding in great bast and made them stay And then began a fresh and furious fight Wherein great store of Grecians then were slaine And many of them lay wounded on the plaine The Troians at that time so siercely fought When by the Ethiopian Knights they were Relieu'd so that where as before they sought To flie away to saue their liues in feare They made the Greekes loose all the ground again Which they before had won vpon the plaine And with their horse and foot-men did assaile Their enemies so strongly and so close That all the Greekes could doe might not prevaile But that at last they were constrain'd to lose Their ground and backe vnto the strand to flie In great despaire and much extremitie And without doubt had there been drown'd â—â—â—â— Had not the valiant King Palamides With new supply refreshed them againe And thereby did their heavy hearts appease Who at that time with all his Knights tooke lâ—â—d Where hauing horsed them vpon the strand And ranckt his men he entred valiantly With so great force amongst the Troians And them assaild with such dexterity That where before they slew the Grecians And draue them downe before them to the shoâ—â— He kild and wounded many of them so sore And kept them to 't so close that neither side As then advantage had and so it held Vntill that King Palamides espied Stout Sigamond in middest of the field Who all that day most like a valiant Knight Behau'd himselfe against the Greekes in fight Couragiously and beat them downe so fast That glad they were to shun his blowes and flie And by his prowesse only where he past Great store Grecians slaine by him did lie To whom he road and furiously when as Amongst the thickest of the Greeks he was He gaue him with his lance so great a wound Into his side that being deadly hurt He fell off from his horse vnto the ground And there all groueling in the mire and durt His armor with his blood cleane covered read He left him mongst the Troians pale and dead And forth he road and kild and wounded sore All those he met or that before him stood And like vnto a wild and cruell Bore With sword in hand dyed in the Trâ—â—â—â—â— blood He made them leaue the water side againe And draue them all before him to the plaine Where with his Knights that still about him â—â—â—â— He did assayle them in such furious wise And by his valor put them in such feare That mongst them there was heard great noyse and crâ—â— Of those that wounded sore could not withstand The
not greatly care Though rude I be vnto you to declare In simple tearmes such as my wit doth yeeld Which to say truth are rusticall and plaine What order Agamemnon in the field That day did take his battaile to ordaine On Grecians side as having no intent That any man should find him negligent For t' was no time as then for him to sleepe Therefore with all the speed he could devise He did prepare that day the field to keepe As he was valiant politicke and wise Against his foes twentie six battailes great Which he in ranks most orderly did set The government whereof he did commit Vnto such puissant Kings and Princes braue As he for valor thought to be most fit To take that charge the first whereof he gaue Vnto a Prince of honor great and fame Which Gâ—idâ— saith Patroclus had to name Which was compos'd of Myrmidons most strong And puissant Knights that came from Thessalie And onely to Achilles did belong And with them ioynd the same to fortifie Such Knights as he himselfe did thither bring All strongly arm'd And with this valiant wing He was the first that on the Grecians lide Began the fight against their enemie The cause why he the Myrmidons did guide Was for because Achilles then did lie Sore wounded in his tent and came not outâ— That day for that his Surgions were in doubt If he should stirre his wounds that were so sore And very greene would festar ranckle bleed And trouble and torment him more and more Which to prevent it was by them decreed To keepe his bed and for to ease his paine To lie therein till they were whole againe And so vnto Patroclus did commend His Knights because he was of royall bloud And his assured true and perfect friend Exceeding rich and much esteemd for good And great discretion wit and curtesie And one in whom he wholly did relie For twixt them both there was such entire loue Affection great and perfect amitie That nothing could out of their hearts remoue The constant and assur'd fidelity Which mutually they did t'each other beare Whereby their hearts together linked were And knit in one as they were bound together For will and wealth was one betwixt them both And what so ere the one did or the other It was confirmd on either side as loath To moue dislike or discontentment breed Twixt them that had resolu'd full decreed To liue die true friends in heart mind Which to their ends they strictly did maintaine The second ward to Menon was assignd Who in that war great honor did obtaine And to the worthy King Idumenes To whome was ioynd a Duke cal'd Menestes With full three thousand men well furnished And all th' Athenian Knights in armour bright The third by King Ascalaphus was led And Philomene his Son a worthy Knight Who both in proud and stately wise together Conducted those that froÌ„ Cuman came thither King Archelaus the fourth ward did command And with him was Securidan the stout And Prothenor who with that warlike band All three together valiantly went out Against their foes had within the same None but the Knights that from Boâ—tia came King Menelaus a worthie Prince was made Conductor of the ward next following And lift in talâ— which in it onlie had The Knights which he did thither with him bring From Sparta and the Isles about the same Who likewise as his subiects thither came And of the battaile next and sixt the King Epistrophus was chiefe Commander made And with him stout King Gelidus to bring The same into the field which in it had The Knights that came out of the famous Isle Which by the Geeekes is called Fordessle The seventh battaile next ensuing led By worthie famous Thelamon Aiax King Of Salamine was onely furnished With Knights that he vnto the siege did bring And with them were foure Earles of high degree Whose names I find the storie saith to bee Theseus the first the next was Doxeus Polixarie the third the fourth was he That all men called stout Amphimacus The eight ward Agamemnon did decree Should by the King cald Thoas forth be led With many Knights well arm'd and furnished The ninth ward Cileus Aliax did command The tenth was led by King Philoctetes Th'eleaventh the which next orderly did stand The most renowmed King Palamides King Naulus son of whome the Greeks did make So great account into his charge did take Before the twelfth Duke Nestor full of pride And melancholy humors in his mind A very stout and valiant Knight did ride The thirteenth to King Honux was assign'd That was Maâ—berethes Son by true dissent Who with it to the field most proudly went The fourteenth battaile that day for to guide The subtill King Ullsses was sent out And with the fifteenth ward to field did ride King Humelus a worthy Prince and stout The sixteenth vnto Duke Caribulus A Knight of great account and valorous Committed was to lead and in that band The Knights of King Prothesalus did go Whom Hector slew that day the Greeks did land T' incourage them to be reveng'd And to King Rodus was assignd the seventeene The eighteenth to the King of Occeâ—ene And of the nineteenth stout King Zanâ—â—ppus Of Lidia leader was The tweentith band Commanded was by King Amphimacus Philoctetes King of Lariffia Land The one and twentith band with him did lead The two and twentith by King Diomed. The three and twentieth Agamemnon gaue Vnto Aeneas King of Cyparie The leading and command thereof to haue That day against their Troyan enemie And with the foure and twentith ward did ride Prothecatus a King the same to guide King Carpenor of Carpadie was made Conductor of the fiue and twentith band A noble Prince that great experience had In warre and peace both on the sea and land And valiantly himselfe he did defend Vntill the Troyan warres were at an end The six and twentith battaile and the last That was sent out against the enemie King Agamemnon Generall of the hoast A puissant Prince of great authoritie Reserued for himselfe and in it led Great store of armed knights well furnished The battailes thus ordain'd the Greeks were led In order to the field where as they staid Each Prince and chiefe Commander at the head Of every band with ensignes rich displaid And streamers wavering in the wind that shone In braue and warlike wise against the sun At which time many a creast and helmet faire And richly gilt and graven there were seene Wherein great store of strange devises were And plumes of feathers yellow red and greene Blacke blew and white with other colors more And some that day for loue of Ladies bore Their favors on their Crests for to be seene And to encourage them that day to fight Couragiously as if that they had beene In presence and before their Ladies sight And dolefull noyse of Drums trumpets shrill Which with a fearefull sound the aire did
the ground Wherewith Ulisses fiercely did assayle Him as on foot he stood when he him found Among the horses feet but he did faile For Troylus brauely met in the beard And furiously with shorpe and trenchant sweard Wrought him so strong and puissant a blow That in his face a cruell wound he made From whence the blood like to a spring did flow But King Ulisses nought therewith dismaid Made small or no account thereof at all And to revenge himselfe did fiercely fall On Troielus and with his sword did race His helmet from his head and to him gaue A deepe and cruell wound vpon the face Wherewith the Greeks began againe to haue More courage and were in good hope to see The Troians shortly brought t'extremite And cleane orethrowne they were so sore opprest If Hector with a valiant troope of men And Deiphobus Paris and the rest Of his most stout and worthy bretheren And Troielus likewise for all his wound That euer more a valiant Knight was found Had not together ioind and fiercely ran Vpon the Grecian troopes and first of all Hector the most renowned Knight began With sword in hand so furiously to sall Vpon the Greeks and with such cruelty To kill them that from him they all did flie Like to the sillie fearefull sheepe in field That from the rauening woolfe themselues do hide And run away for feare they should be kild For none of them before him durst abide For still he did them fiercely hac and new And more and more the slaughter did renew So that as then their harnaâ—les were staind With drops of blood which he that day did shed As thicke as if that blood from skies had raind And still like vnto swarmes of bees they fled Before his face and by no meanes would stay For glad was he that got out of his way And as the story saith of him that day He alwaies was the foremost in the field And at the head of all his troopes did stay T' abate the Grecians pride till he beheld The Knights that to the battaile he had brought Were scattred and cleane out of order fought And when he had fought valiantly and long And saw the Greeks did still renew their force And by that meanes began to wax more strong In hast he clapt his spurres vnto his horse And to his Troian Knights againe repair'd Who at that time in manner all dispair'd For want of him but when they did him see Full soone againe they were all comforted And with great signes of ioy and amitie With all their hearts him gladly welcomed Which at their hands he thankefully did take And vnto them in courteous wise he spake And praid them in their valiant minds to way And wisely to consider and forecast What iniurie the Greeks from day to day Vnto them did and had done long time past And how that if the victory should fall That day to them they might bid farewell all The Troians honor glory and renowne For then sayd he nought els would be our lot But th' overthrow of vs and of our towne And all the ancient honor we haue got Vnto our selues and our posteritie In former times would cleane Ecclipsed be Vulesse this day you show your selues like men That well deserue the honor you haue got Wherefore I hartely pray you all that when Against your Grecian foes you fight giue not The smallest cause for them in any wise T' vpbraid you with the fault of cowardise But valiantly assayle them all together And shrinke not backe for feare least you shold die For die you must at one time or at other Whereto they all consented willingly And without more delay past through a vale And vnawares vpon the Greeks did fall Where Hector spard not one what ere he was But kild and manned all without remorse That with him met wheresoeuer he did passe And mauger all their pride and might did force Them to recule and flie out of his â—ihgt Till that the most renownd and valiant Knight King Theas to the field came in againe And furiously vpon the Troians ran Who that same day in cruell wise had slaine King Priams bastard sonne Cassibelan But as he busied was on them to set By fortune he with all his brethren met Who all at once and with one full consent Inclosed him on every side and were Vnto his vtter ruine wholy bent And hauing throwne him off his horse did teare His Helmet from his head and ment to â—â—ight It off if that the fierce and valiant Knight Menestes Duke of Athens had not been Who with his Knights came riding hastily And him out of the danger he was in Set free and to procure his liberty With speare in hand directly as a line He tooke his course and ran at Quintiline That busi est was King Theas to haue slaine And with the strength and puissance of his blow Which Quinteline as then could not sustaine Cleane off his horse he did him overthrow And made his brethren also to withdraw Themselues from him the which when Paris â—aw He bent his mighty bowe and fiercely shot At Menestes and hit him in the side Vpon a rib which though it kild him not He had a wound thereby both large and wide Which hurt him sore and grieuously did bleed And yet thereof he tooke but little heed Cause he as then was bent so earnestly To ayd King Thoas standing on the ground Amongst the horses feet and like to die His body bleeding sore with many a wound And without helmet bare vpon his head But Menestes cleane void of feare or dread Deliuered him from that extremitie And sau'd his life when out of hope he was But Hector full of wrath and enmitie As he that for his valor did surpasse All whatsoere made such destruction Of Greeks that day as he road vp and downe That all men sore abasht from him did flie For they vpon his face did feare to looke Whose valor when King Humerus did espie Into his hand his mighty bow he tooke And â—yming right shot Hector in the face But ere that he could get out of the place Hector for to requite him for his paine Ran straight at him and gaue him such a blow That with his sworâ— he claue his head in twaine Whose death when as the Grecian knights did know They blew a horne which made so great a sound That presently there were together found Seuen thousand Knights that all on Hector fell And him in clos'd but he without abode As one that did in valor great excell Despight of all their power through them road And â—lew all those that in his way he met Or that durst venter him therein to let And never staid but hastely did ride Vnto the place where Priam all that day Did with his troope without the towne abide Whereas he purposely with them still lay Till by advise from Hector he did know When he with them into the field
them valiantly And put them to most great extreamitie And till we haue destroid them neuer cease Meane time we le send vnto King Priamus A messenger for to entreat with him for peace For two moneths space if he will graunt it vs Whereto I doe not doubt but he 'le agree Sith for his good as well as ours t will bee For he thereby may libertie obtaine To celebeate the funeralles of those Dead Troians that within the field lie slaine And serue for food to beast and carrion Crowes And such a shincke into the aire doe cast That t'cannot chuse but breed the plague at last And we the while may doe the same likewise And heale our wounds and giue our bodies rest And so when they had all agreed by good aduise Considered of his speech and found it best For them to do 't They did thereto consent And presently a messenger was sent To Troy for truce which graunted was full soone By Priamus and he returned againe With speed and made to them relation What he had done while he did there remaine And for that truce their counsell brake vp so And euery one vnto his tent did go And while the truce endur'd and they lay still And leisure had to thinke on their estate Pallamides whose heart began to fill And swell with pride disclaine and deadly hate Grutch in his mind that King Agamemnon Because he had the sole dominion And ore the Grecian house was Generall And for that cause did envy him so much And into such a great conceit did fall Of his owne worth that he began to grutch And murmured with indignation At him and in his furious passion Did seeme to vse such tearmes to his disgrace That all that heard the same might easily know What he did meane and yet he let it pas As thought he made no account thereof in show Till in the end that King Agamemnon Who was a Prince of great discretion Did heare thereof and knowing his intent Determind with him selfe to moue the same Vnto the Grecian Princes in his â—enâ— And when they all together thither came And orderly were set That worthy King Agamemnon a Prince in euery thing So cercumspect so wise and prouident So temperate demure and vertuous So prudent well advisd and patient And neuer giuen to be malicious Although he knew Pallamides intent And saw how much his heart to pride was bent With decent tearmes and great discretion As he that could well frame and tell his mind And so restraine the same from passion And hastines or any other kind Of bad behauiour or vnseemelinesse That nothing past but with advisednesse Out of his mouth as first considered Within his heart with great sincerity And neither for affection nor for dread Would seeme to breake the bonds of modesty Nor in his speeches superfluously let pas One word or sentence that vnseemely was He first saluted all his company And when he had causd silence to be made In seemely wise and in great curtesie He spake vnto Pallamides and sayd You need not King Pallamides said he As I suppose if you advised be To muse oâ— grutch that I am Generall Of our great hoast if you considered How I attaind thereto by choise of all The Princes here and that t' was offered To me by full and free Election And not hy any composition By me or any for me to procure The same in my behalfe once giuen or made For there of in my heart I am most sure No such ambitious thought I euer had Nor neuer dreamt of any such pretence But am most cleare thereof in conscience Which neuer moued was with such vaine glory As to aspire or any waies contest For this estate which is but transitory Though I must say that I haue done my best To see and looke that all things might be well And for the good of this our common wele And also that I had a speciall care As t is my charge while I the same do hold Of every mans estate particular And euer an indifferent eye did hold To all degrees of persons high or low To help them in their need when I did know That they had need of ayd and day and night Was alwaies moued with great carefulnes And speciall heed as much as ere I might To see that none did fall into distresse And such a iealous eye thereto I had That in my heart I was exceeding glad To do the best I could to please each one And that no man should at me take offence Nor haue in me the least suspition Of envy sloath or any negligence In my estate but euer more desir'd To doe my best as time and place requir'd For euery man without exception And therefore I assure my selfe full well That in the hoast there is not any one Of high or low estate that I can tell That can or may accuse me certainely Of falsehood or of partiality In his behalfe for I haue alwaies had So great a care to nourish vnitie And friendship mong you all that I was glad To see you liue in loue and amitie So that till now I am full well assur'd That while I in this office haue endur'd No such occasion hath been ministred And all the Gods well know I neuer feard Nor cared though you had determined An other in my place to haue preferd And giuen him the soueraintie And let me liue at ease and libertie In quietnes of mind as many more Great Lords and Princes here amongst you may That I might with my whole desire and power Fight for our common weale both night and day And ere in this our quarrell if so be It please the Gods it should so hap to me Which for my part I speake and doe not faine For t' were no boot for me herein to lie And where you say and thereof do complaine That I was chosen without your priuitie T is true indeed as euery man can tell You were not here if you remember well Nor came not hither vnto Troy well nere After that we our voyage had begun And planted this our siedge in two whole yeare And for to let so long time ouer-run To stay till you had come it might perchance Haue been to vs a mighty hinderance And extreame hurt for if that we had staid And laine so long at Athens still for you As by your selfe it cannot be denaid It 's like we had remained there till now And where you did esteem't vncredible And held it for a thing impossible For Grecians to presume in any wise Without the ayd and helpe of yours and you To take on them so great an enterprize It 's nothing so as you see plainely now For they without offence to you be 't sayd By force and power without you or your ayd Performed haue with most victorious hand And by their valor great and worthines Great matters both by water and by land And where you thinke and say of me no lesse
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
Soone did arriue before the Troyan coast Where safely landing all his ships together He presently relieu'd the Grecian hoast With victuals who thereof had then great need And thankt him that he broght it with such speed The Grecian host relieu'd as you haue heard Palamedes went to their ships to see If they had any need to be repair'd And what so euer requisite to bee Bestowd on them was found he did with care Cause to be done And likewise did not spare Of every thing what so ever it did cost To see prouision made and to supply All things that needfull were within the host The which he did performe most carefully While time of truce endur'd was out-run And that their bloudy warre againe begun Which many on each side most dearely bought Whereof to write at large is my pretence And shew how they together fiercely sought Each th' other to destroy in their defence And still continued in their deadly hate The which they held between the without date Vnto the great destruction and decay Of many valiant knights while it did last For as they were accustomed next day Ensuing after that the truce was past In warlike wise well arm'd with speare shield They entered againe into the field Where with their banners wavering in great pride And drums and trumpets sounding fearefully They met together brauely on each side And at the first encounter valiantly Deiphobus like a Lyon furious Met with a Grecian King cald Creseus And with his strong puissant speare in rest Ran at him with so great and mighty force That he did pierce him deepe into the brest Wherewith starke dead he fell off from his horse Whose death so much the Greeks did terrifie That sore amaz'd they did begin to flie Vnto their tents as fast as ere they could To saue themselues with mighty feare and dread The which when as the Troyans did behold They chased them till that King Diomede And with him also King Palamodes With most despightfull hearts and merciles With twenty thousand knights accompanied Vpon the Troyans sodainly did set And where the Grecians then before them fled They did so fiercely kill cast downe and beat The Troyans that their furious 〈◊〉 vs to shun Then made them fore the Greeks as fast to run And at that time came Thelamon Aiax in Conducting of another Grecian band At whose approach such slaughter did begin On Troyans side by his victorious hand That many of them then were fiercely kild And all the plaine with Troyans blood was fild And as he thus in furious wise did set On them and like a Lyon fierce for pray Did range about the field by chance he met The worthy knight Sicilian in his way A bastard Son of 〈◊〉 whome he Assailed with such extreame crueltie That with his sword he cut his arme in twaine And he therewith fell dead within the field Whome when Deiphobus saw so fiercely slaine By Thelamon and his dead corps beheld With speare in hand he smote so great a stroke At Thelmon that his Launce on him he broke And yet did hit him with so great a might That with the trunchion which did whole remaine He did him cleane out of his sadle smight And laid him all along vpon the plaine Which stroke when King Pallamides beheld And saw how he vnto the ground was feld He was therewith so vexed at the heart That to revenge King Thelamon he sware On Deiphobus and ere he thence did part With mighty speare which in his hand he bare He ran and smote Deiphobus such a stroke That therewithall he pierst his brest broke The speare within the same and therein left The trunchion and the head still sticking fast Wherewith he was of vitall breath bereft But ere the same out of his body past Which long within his breast could not abide It was his brother Paris chance to ride That way where he lay in a manner dead Whome when he did behold in such a case He was therewith so much astonished That he did looke with pale and deadly face And for him grieu'd and wept most bitterly And bad his knights conuay him speedily Out of the field and prease wherein he lay Aside into a place to take the aire Who presently did beare him thence away Vpon a shield with easie pace and faire And with great griefe sorrow laid him downe Hard by the wall close vnderneath the towne Where when he had a little while still laine With heauie cheare he lifted vp his eies And being in extreamity of paine Vnto his brother Paris softlie cries And said good brother let me one thing craue Of thee that thou wilt pittie on me haue And kindly and for lone and brother hood Remember what to thee I now shall say Sith that thou canst do mono other good Because I must depart from thee away Thou seest what woefull case I here lie in For Atropos will now no longer spin My thread of life nor favor to me shoe Good brother let me craue so much of thee Before that I out of the world hence goe That by thy meanes I may revenged bee Of him that hath bereau'd me of my breath And in this sort hath giuen me my death That I may be assur'd before I die That he is slaine and first gone downe to hell And in that soule inâ—ernall lake doth lie With Pâ—â—â—to there eternally to dwell Amongst the damned soules in griefe woe The which wheÌ„ my poore dying hart shal knoâ— I shall depart contentedlie and glad Out of this world and will esteem 't a blisse To me that he his death before me had And that with me thereof he did not misse Wherein I pray thee do me not denie And then pull out this speare and let me die Which his desire t' accomplish Paris went With speed into the field in mightie griefe Sore weeping to revenge with full intent His brother who meane time without reliefe Lay languishing and drawing on to death Expecting everie hower to yeeld his breath And seeking vp and downe he came whereas Pallamides was fighting hand to hand With Sarpedon a valiant King that was Come vnto Troy to Priam with a band Of valiant Knights to aid him gainst his foes And while that they together fiercely close And each the other furiously did smight For Sarpedon was valorous and strong And shewd himselfe to be a puissant knight Pallamides when they had â—ought so long That both of them were wearie puissantly Stroke Sarpedon a blow vpon the thigh And cut it cleane a sunder wherewithall King Sarpedon not able to endure Vpon his horse dead on the ground did fall Whose death vnto the Troyans did procure Such feare that they were forced to retire For that with heart repleat with wrath me Pallamides slew them so furiously That they durst not abide before his face Whose cruelty when Paris did espie And thought vpon his brothers woefull case He bent his bow that
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
may be â—eard And that you with reason iudge and be Vnpartiall in this case twixt him and me And first consider well and way withall That while you here so long in siedge did tarry I onely out of Messa brought you all Prouision that for you was necessary That you no want of victuals might sustaine By any meanes while you did here remaine And further as concerning feats of armes Performed in the field in Knightly wise I euer ready was at all alarmes And daylie fought against our enemies And as I am assurd full well kild more Of them then those that greater countnance bore You also know that I slew Philomen To whom King Priam sent his youngest Son To keepe with store of treasure great and when I had him slaine and all that riches won I brought it vnto you and therewith did Relieue you much and did supplie your need And sor your sakes I slew the Frizian King And store of gold and treasure from him won And all those spoiles vnto the Campe did bring You likewise further know what I haue don T' augment and to aduance your soueraignty By conquering two kingdomes valianly While you in siedge here lay and did them ad Vnto your puissant Empire and likewise The prouinces to Troy annexed made All Subiect vnto you What otherwise I with Achilles did t' increase your fame I know that you cannot forget the same And therefore needles t were for me to say Or shew you all I could produce to proue My merits more then his do euery way Deserue a greater recompence and loue Of you And therefore whatsoere he saith No right vnto Palladion he hath The iudgement in this case I do referre Vnto you all the which that you may know The better how to giue you first shall heare His qualities which I will to you show In him there is no manner worthines Knight-hood valor nor yet hardines For when time serues that he should in a need Shew forth his might he dates not enterprize That which he boasts but proues as he 's indeed A coward right as plainely with your ciâ—s You see ther 's iâ— him nought but craâ—tines Words many falsehood decâ—â—â—fulnes For he is still in heart imagining How to effect by craft and subtilty His purpose and the same to passe to bring T' intrap and to deceaue his enemy For never any thing as yet there was By him archieu'd nor fully brought to passe For which he well deserued praise or laud But it was done it's knowne vnto you all By some devise of treachery or fraud For like vnto a goodly painted wall He makes a faire and pleasing outward show But no man can his inward meaning know And by such sleights deceit and pollicy He got the Image cald Palladion And thereby to our shame and villany It may be said the conquest we haue woone Vpon the towne by treason gotten was And not by our great knighthood brought to passe The onely cause whereof as I haue said Ulisses is for he vnto our shame This stumbling blocke hath in our honor laid And thereby much ecclipsed all our fame The truth thereof sith all of you do know I le leaue for this time more of him to show And of you all my Lords together craue You iudgements which of vs deserveth best For his deserts the jmage faire to haue That for the same we may no more contest Which words thus vsed by King Thelaphus Ulisses having heard with mind suspicious And seeing how with envie great he was Incenst and mou'd gainst him with good advise He bare with him a while and let ore-passe His choller and as he was passing wise Determing no iest thereof to make To answere him on this wise to him spake And said with countance bold before his face My Lords if that I may haue leaue to speake I hope before we part out of this place And yet intend no peace thereby to breake To proue directly that with equitie The jmage onely doth belong to me Which I will keepe and hold while I do liue Despight of all that thereto dare say nay And first for proofe this instance I do giue That at the siege wherein so long we lay In double wise I did my selfe acquit As well by valor great as by my wit For by advise I was the onely man T' intrap them in a snare and for your good Devis'd the meanes and way whereby we wan The towne of Troy which otherwise had stood And flourisht to this day and truth to tell As it is not vnknowne to all full well If you will speake vprightly and with reason I dare avouch though Thelaphus saith no I was chiefe cause of their confusion How often of Embassage did I go To make the treatie with them in such wise As I for our advantage could devise And when I saw that all that we had done Was but in vaine the towne of Troy to win And that for vs advantage there was none While that the holy Image was therein By my advise so subtillie I wrought That I to you Mineruaes Image brought Which Thelaphus maliciously doth say That to your great dishonour and your shame By treacherie I brought it thence away And thereby much imblemished your fame But sith you are so wise I pray you take The quarrell now in hand and thereof make An end betweene vs twaine and so prouide That th'jmage at this time may iudged be All fauour whatsoever laid aside To him that it deserues and as for me I le stand to your award Which having said He paused and from speaking further staid Whereat with courage great King Thelaphus In heart and mind exceeding lie much mou'd Respecting no man there in furious And raging wise despightfullie reprou'd And chafed at Vlisses with disdaine And he at him replide with like againe Whereby they two great enemies became And into hard and bitter tearmes did fall And threatning each the other for the same King Thelaphus in presence of them all Said that before they two did end that strife It should vnto Vlisses cost his life By his hands if he did not well defend Himselfe Which when the Grecian Princes heard The quarrell grown between them two to end The matter was by all of them deferd And wholly put to th'arbitration Of Menalus and King Agamemnon Which afterward did breed a mortall iarre For when they two considered had thereon They iudged cause Ulisses t'whom they bare Affection great the jmage faire had woon He should possesse the same as his reward And Thelaphus from claime thereof debard The reason that made them therein preferre Ulisses and King Thelaphus to thwart Was for because they both beholding were To him for that he friendly tooke their part When as the Greeks bout Helen were at strife To haue her kild and he to saue her life Perswaded them so well that they content To let her liue to Menalus her gaue When Thelaphus with furie gainst her
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
To grieue his head was fild with fantasies And deepe conceits t' imagine and to see If he could find or shape a remedie By any meanes to shun that would not bee But yet for all his policie and wit He could not reach vnto the depth of it For thinking that he would the same prevent De did suppose that no man but his son Was he that should it do and therefore sent With all the speed he could for Thelamon And cast him into prison so to shun That which the Fates decreed should be dun Remembring not the speare with steeled head Nor yet the flag thereon with azure fild With fishes on 't which in the seas do feed Nor Circes faire who in her hand it held Which signifi'd nought but hostility Nor yet the Crowne and regall dignity Of one that raign'd within an Isle that stands In middest of the sea that should be hee Who gainst his will should slay him with his hands And execute thereby the iust decree Of God the which Ulisses thought not on But onely did suspect Prince Thelaemon Whom he then held close prisner in a tower And to prevent all other meanes what s'ere He never ceast to muse thereon each hower And at the last grew thereof in such feare That he did cause a Castle to be made And built of Marble stone the which he had Devised in such sort that there was none Like vnto it in all the world throughout For strength and had no gates in it but one To enter in the same and round about A ditch most deepe and broad on every side Did compasse it Wherein he did abide And closely kept himselfe from sight of all The world but those which on him did attend And ever held a watch vpon the wall Both day and night most strictly to the end That no man should so hardy be to venter Without his leaue into the same to enter Vnlesse it were those that therein did lie Now as the storie vnto vs doth tell Ulisses had a Sonne begotten by Queene Circes who in valor did excell So much that he was comp'rable to none In all that land whose name was Thelagon Borne in an jsle among the furious rage Of foming seas that compast it about Who at that time attained had to th'age Of twenty fiue yeares old who stood in doubt What man did him beget or who should be His father whome he longed much to see And having great desire the same to know He fell before his mother on his knee And did intreat her earnestly to show The truth to him who might his father bee And what he was where he then did dwell But she long time by no meanes would it tell But put him off and fed him with delay Till when she saw she could not be at rest For him that did torment her every day And would not cease till he had his request She shewd him that Vlisses was his sire And where he dwelt who with most great desire To see him tooke his leaue of her with speed And told her that he straight froÌ„ thence would go But when the Queene perceau'd he had decreed To go to seeke Vlisses and that no Perswasion in the world could him withhold From doing it her heart it waxed cold And in her breast she felt exceeding paine And when she saw he would by no meanes stay She prayed him to come with speed againe Home vnto her And so the selfe same day He put to sea and saild so long till he He arriued where he did desire to be And when he was within Achaia land He never ceast to ride from place to place And rested not till he did vnderstand Where king Vlisses royall Pallace was Which when he knew he made no more aboad But speedily vnto the Court he road Whereas the king within his Castle stayd And early on a Munday morning came Vnto the gate and draw-bridge where he prayd The Porter who at that time kept the fame To giue him leaue a word or two to speake Vnto the king who to him gaue a cheake And churlishly did thrust him from the gate And proudly said he should not enter in And with some other speeches told him that He must be gone whereat he did begin To be in such a rage that there with all He did vpon the Porter fiercely fall And furiously did take him by the beard And gaue him such a blow that there with all He fell dead on the bridge which when they heard That were within they issued and did fall On him but he so hotely them withstood And fought with such a fierce surious mood That many of them cleane ore the bridge he cast And when as more vpon him issued forth And on all sides began t'assaile him fast He did begin to be exceeding wroth And with his sword about him made such way That he therewith did fifteene of them slay And fought so long that he was out of breath And scarce could hold himselfe vpright so that Sore wounded he expected nought but death Wherewith Vlisses came vnto the gate And when vpon the bridge he did espie His men on heaps dead on the same to lie Sore mou'd thereat he tooke a dart in hand And there with all in furious wise did throw At Thelagon who then did leaning stand Vpon his sword but it did light too low And hurt him not at all but Thelagon Straight stooped down laying hands theron Did throw it at Vlisses in great hast And there with all did strike him such a blow Into the breast that through his ribs it past And gaue him his deaths wound but did not know That 't was the king nor that he so had slaine His father deare who then could not sustaine Himselfe vpright but to the ground did slide With pale and deadly face and so he lay Amongst his men that stood on either side And busie were to beare him thence away Supposing that he verily was dead But sodainly he lifted vp his head And having still a perfect memory He cald to mind the vision he did see And how that he was told assuredly That one of his ner'st kinsmen should be hee That with a dart of life should him bereaue And for because â—â— could not well conceaue Who it should be He bad his men to bring The young man that before the gate then stood With speed to him without once offering To wrong him for so sheading of their blood And when that he was brought into the place Whereas he lay he look't him in the face And marking well his countenance began To aske him for what cause he did come thither And what occasion moved him as than T' assaile his guard that he and they together Had fought and he had slaine them so whereby Himselfe sore wounded was and like to die To whom with courage bold he spake and sayd The onely cause why I came hither was To see the King but by the
in joy and quietnes If possible it were perpetuallie And I will never cease both night and day Withall my heart vnto the Lord to pray For him by whose commandement I tooke On me though farre vnfit to do the same To translate into English verse this Booke Which Guido wrote in Latin and doth name The siege of Troy and for his sake alone I must confesse that I the same begon When Henrie whom men fourth by name did call My Princes Father lived and possest The Crowne And though I be but rusticall I haue therein not spard to do my best To please my Princes humor Though A thing that I should not haue tane on me Which am a Monke by my profession In Berry cald Iohn Lidgate by my name And weare a habit of perfection Although my life agrees not with the same That meddle should with things spirituall As I must needes confesse vnto you all But seing that I did therein proceed At his command whom I could not refuse I humbly do beseech all those that reade Or leysor haue this story to pervse If any fault therein they find to bee Or error that committed is by mee That they will of their gentlenes take paine The rather to correct and mend the same Then rashly to condemne it with disdaine For well â—â—vot it is not without blame Because I know the verse therein is wrong As being some too short and some too long For if with faults men should not sometime beare But all for some seeme wholy to refuse Then must I say in vaine my labor were Let ignorance and rudenes me excuse For though my verse for harshnes you reiect Yet if you to the some haue good respect I doubt not but that you therein shall find That all the substance of the matter is Set downe that Guydo wrote to please your mind And if that any word be plast amis I pray you mend the same in curtesie For to condemne an error vtterly Which is not made nor done with bad intent No commendation to him that 's wise For no man vnto scoffing more is bent Behind mens backs nor sooner will surmise A lie then he that hath no wit at all He treadeth sure that neuer hath a fall I oft haue read in Authors new and old Which write of mens behaviors good and ill That no man is more foolish and more bold Then he that is an Idiot without skill For that blind Bayard feares nothing at all Till in a ditch he sodainlie doth fall And none so ready is to prate and prattle Nor sooner will condemne a man then he But for all those that vse such tittle tattle I care not what they say or speake of me For I do not to them direct my Booke But vnto such as with a sincere looke Pervse the same and with mens falts do beare And can amend an error without blame To him that writes and tell not what they heare To hinder or impeach a mans good name But vsed are to speake well of their friend Whereto all honest men their wits should bend For Chawcer that my master was and knew What did belong to writing verse or prose Nere stumbled at small faults nor yet did view With scornefull eie the works and Bookes of those That in his time did write nor yet would taunt At any man to feare him or to daunt His courage in that kind of exercise But rather vse their weaknes to support And as he was well learned and very wise And able to instruct and to exhort Such as did use to write would winke and smile At faults and yet say nothing all the while So that if to describe him I should striue I must needs say vnlesse from truth I varry That never any man as yet did liue Vntill this day that worthy was to carry His inckhorne in respect of Poetrie But if within this Land or Realme there be Such men as able be his steps to trace To them it is that I direct my Booke And wholy to their skills referre my case With their judiciall eies thereon to looke Beseeching them to mend what is amis And t'adde or to diminish all that is Superâ—â—uous or else wanting And although They find therein no phrases that are new Nor Eloquence as they suppose enough Yet I do hope that they shall find all true In substance as mine Author wrote the same Wherein I know I shall incurre no blame ANd he that list and doth desire to see The wavering state and infelicity Of ages past may here instructed be And find how Fortunes mutability Hath alwaies been so great that no man could Put trust in her And therewithall behold How Princes cleane bereft of Royalty Were sodainely brought into great distresse And Kings redu'st to such extremity That poverty and want did them oppresse Great slaughters made in kingdomes enviously Murthers committed by conspiracie False treason secret ambushes despight Subversion of whole kingdomes sodainely The ravishing of women for delight The root of warre and great hostility Maintaining of most fowle adulterie Which caused many Princes great to die To shew thereby that since the cause of all Such wickednes receiues reward most iust Which sodainely vpon mankind doth fall For that in worldly ioyes there is no trust And in this Booke examples you shall find If you consider well thereof in mind How every man must vnto nature yeild When time doth serue both young and old of age And wither like the grasse within the field For here our life is but a Pilgrimage Repleat with sorrow miserie and woe Which if men mark't tooke good heed therto And wisely would consider of their end They would esteeme all pleasure but a toy And no more time therein so vainely spend Nor take so much delight in worldly joy For by Troyes fall it plainely doth appeare That neither King nor Emperor hath here A permanent estate to trust vnto Therefore to him that died vpon the rood And was content and willing so to do And for man-kind did shead his precious blood Lift vp your minds and pray with humble 〈◊〉 That he his aid vnto you will impart For though you be of extreame force and might Without his helpe it will you nought availe For he doth giue man victorie in fight And with a few is able to prevaile And overcome an armie huge and strong And by his grace makes kings and Princes long To raigne here on the earth in happinesse And Tyrants that to men do offer wrong And violence doth sodainly suppresse Although their power be nere so great strong And in his hand his blessings all reserveth For to reward each one as he deserueth To whom I pray with humble mind and hart And so I hope all you wil doe no lesse That of his grace he would vouchsafe t' impart And send all joy wel fare and happines Health victory tranquilitie and honor Vnto the high and mightie coqueror King Henrie the Fift that his great name May here on earth â—'extold and magnified While life doth last and when he yeilds the same Into his hands he may be glorified In heaven among the Saints Angels bright Therein to serue the God of power might At whose request this worke I vndertooke As I haue sayd And now that I haue don And with great labour finished my Booke I doe intreat all those that looke thereon T' accept thereof and tak 't in as good part As I it send to them withall my hart FINIS