had made the reuereÌ„ce vnto the king his fader and to the other nobles he declared alle playnly in the halle that he had neuer comen to the chief of thys conqueste ne had ben the counceylle the ayde and adresse of Medea whiche was there preseÌ„t therfore said he j haue renoÌ„ced the loue of my lady Mirro and haue ê“mysed to this lady that she shal be my wyf and my felaw and thus I will espouse and wed her at the thirde day wherfore I pray alle noble men and other ladyes and damoiselles that eche persone do to her honour as it apperteyneth to do vnto a noble lady ¶ whan Peleus had vnderstandeÌ„ that the fayr Medea had ben cause that Iason was comen â–ª to the aboue of his enterpryse without dauÌ„ger of deth that withoute the ayde of her he had ben deuoured he chaÌ„ged colour becam alle dede aÌ„d as wel aduised saide nought therto but alwai for to holde jason in loue he sayde to hiÌ„ that he wolde take the charge for to make the fest aÌ„d furthermore he wold seÌ„de for to pray his parentis frendes for to be therat Among thise thinges the preu jason sente Theseus Mopsius vnto the poorte of deseire charched them expressely that they sholde go burie wyth alle solempnite aÌ„d reuerence the body of the noble quene Isiphile The twoo knightes went with good herte aÌ„d acquyted them of thys charge For tabregge the historie Cypriane hadde in garde the fayr medea vnto the daye that jason had sette for tespouse Castor polux Nestor with many ryche Dukes came thenÌ„e to pintaquo what shall I make long reher saille jason espoused the fayr medea after the lawe that tyme vsed in grece wyth moche grete honour reuerence As in any wyse to hym was possyble a dounÌ„ ¶ For he dide to her asmoch grete honour as lady might receyue The feste was noble and fayr and hit was full and plenteuously seruyd of alle thinges But of the metes and entremetes wyth how many course how many disshes at euery cours there were seruid I wille make no mencyon at this tyme. But thus moche wille I saye that Peleus Cypriane and her doughters made right grete poâ—pes And peleus ordeyned this feste suÌ„ptuous and costlewe of ryche metes and beuurages or driÌ„kes The daye passed and the feste in daunces carolles esâ—atements The euen cam and after the night that Iason medea laye to geder Alway thys feste endured xv dayes hole duryng this feste the noble aÌ„d ryche slees of golde was ordynantly hanged vp in the halle in the sighte of all the worlde and there myght come euery maÌ„ that wolde to beholde hit bi grete admyracioÌ„ And ther cam peple so ferre nigh in suche multitude that hit semed a veray ê‘cession for whyche cause Iason was meruayllously renommed in many a couÌ„tree for his hyghÌ„ vasselage for this so glorioê° conqueste AT th ende of .xv. dayes aÌ„d of the hye solempnite of these espousaylles as the noble prynces BaronÌ„s aÌ„d noble men were vpon the poynt for to retonre to theire conÌ„trees Iason and hercules assembled them and there recouÌ„ted to them the rudesse that the king LaomedonÌ„ hadde donÌ„ to Iason and to the knightes of thys coÌ„panye in reffusing to them fresshe water vytaylle for their money For the whiche cause they had ben in daunger paril of deth ThenÌ„e the princes and varonÌ„s of grece heering the grete doleance of jason and Hercules ê‘mised prestly and swore that they wolde auenge this deffaulte and â—muâ—ie They were aspre hoot and hasty iÌ„ vengeaÌ„ce And after these couenauÌ„tes thê° made they gaf charge to Argos to make aÌ„d sette vp an honderd shippes of warre for to bringe fyfty thousand menÌ„ to fore Troye or atte lest fourty thousaÌ„d Argos that was well connyng in that werke enterprysed the charge promysed that wyth in thre yere alle thyse shyppes shold be redy to helpe hem And whaÌ„ they hadde take a conclusion vpoÌ„ all thise thinges aÌ„d that they had made to Medea alle the honour and reuerence of the world by space of tyme they departed alle thens and euery man retourned into his couÌ„tre leuyng Iason and the fayr Medea in their reste ê‘Eleus wente vnto Elsebee bare dueyll and ranconâ— in hys courage more thenÌ„e nede was for somochÌ„ as he sawe jason so triuÌ„phe aÌ„d that he knewe not how he myghte make him to deye And Iason whiche entended to nothing sauing to make his plaisir lete hym yet gouerne hys Royaume and so acquitte him in the dette of mariage ayenst the fayr medea in suche faoÌ„n that she conceyued of hym a ryght fayr sone whyche at th ende of ix moÌ„thes was deliuerid and was named jason after hys fader The king Getes fader of medea cam thenÌ„e to Pintapuo wyth a priue meyne litill coÌ„panye as he that loued Medea like as the fader loueth the childe And whan he vnderstode knew the grete honour that the preu jasoÌ„ had donÌ„ to her he was coÌ„tent wyth him with his doughter And withoute exploiting of ony other thing he retorned into his couÌ„tre moche yoyoê° And hit was not long after these thinges thus befalleÌ„ that the olde maistresse of medea departed out of this worlde and deyde But whan it cam vnto the article of dethÌ„ she taught Medea a grete part of the arte of nygromancye of many other sciences where in she was exê‘te And also she taughÌ„t her among other sciences and art and crafte for to make olde peple to become yong of the aage of .xxxij. yere But the lyf and destynee for to deye myght not be lengthid vnto suche ê‘sones by the vertu of the scieÌ„ce ne other wyse for asmoche as it is predestinqcion naturell ¶ How Medea chauÌ„ged the king Eson in to yong aage And of the deth of Peleus After the deth of the maistresse of the fayr Medea Iason demaÌ„ded Medea whaâ—… thoughte best to ddo She answerâ—e to him that she had lost grete felauship and priuaulte by the deth of her maistresse To whom the noble preu jason ansuerde and saide that ther was nothiÌ„g so certain for euery creature as the deth And that the goddes wolde take her soule After many dayes medea toke hede that amoÌ„g alle other sciences she had one for to make olde peple to become yong and specially men And syn she behelde also that the good king Eson was passing auncient and old for whiche cause she considered that she my t gete a grete loos an hye renoÌ„â—ice if she renewed his aage wherfore she called on a daye her lord jason saide to him that by her scieÌ„ces she coude do somoche that his fader the good kiÌ„g EsoÌ„ sholde recouure newe youth in suche wyse as he sholde seme non older but .xxxij. yere olde WhaÌ„ jason vnderstode this that said 〈◊〉 he meruaillously abasshid aÌ„d not without cause
The veray trew history of the valiauÌ„t knight IasoÌ„ How he conqueryd or wan the golden fles by the Counsel of Medea and of many othre victoryouse and wondrefull actis and dedys that he dyde by his prowesse and cheualrye in his tyme. â—Or asmoche as late by the commauÌ„dement of the right hygh noble princesse my right redoubted lady margarete by the grace of god Duchesse of Bourgoyne BrabaÌ„t c I translated aboke out of frenssh in to englissh named recuyel of the histories of Troye in whiche is comprehended how Ladye was thries destroied â–ª And also the labours and historieâ— of 〈◊〉 Tytan Iubyter 〈◊〉 aâ—â—â— hercules other 〈…〉 but as to the histoâ—â—â— of 〈◊〉 towchyng the coÌ„queâ—â—e â—…e goldeÌ„â—â—â—se â—yn auctor hath 〈…〉 his boke but breueâ—â— aâ—â— thâ—â—ausâ—â—s 〈◊〉 asmoche as 〈…〉 aboke of the â—…che he pÌ„senâ—ed 〈◊〉 thâ—… â–ª Prynce in his 〈…〉 of Bourgoyne â—…ke shulde haâ—…ad sett the saiâ—…ke sor it conâ—cyâ—…torie of jaâ—on â—…or aâ—â—oche as this said â—…newe made aparte of alle thistorâ—â—â— os the sayd Iason the historie of hiâ— whiche that Dares 〈…〉 Guido de coâ—â—pnys wroâ—â—â—â—â— the begynnyng of their bokes touchyng the conqueste of the sayd golden fâ—ese by occasioÌ„ wherof grewe the cause of the seconde destruction of the sayd cite of troye is nott sett in the sayd boke of Recuyel of thistories of troye Therfore vnder the â—tectioÌ„ suffraunce of the most hyghe puissant and xpÌ„en kyng my most dradde naturel liege Lord Edward by the grace of god kyng of englond and of fraunce and lord of Irland I entende to traÌ„slate the sayd boke of thistories oâ— jason folo wyng myn auctor as nygh as j can or may not chaungyng the senteÌ„ce ne presumyng to adde ne mynusshe ony thing other wyse than myne auctor hath made in FreÌ„sshe And in somoche as the grettest fame aÌ„d renomme standeth resteth in the conquest of the fâ—ese of gold where of is founded an ordre of knightes Wherof oure sayd souerayne lord is one hath taken the profession therof howe well somÌ„e persones afferme and saye that the sayd ordre hath taken his origynal of the fâ—ese of Gedeon where in I will not dispute But well wote I that the noble due Philippe firste foundeur of this sayd ordre dyd doo maken a chaÌ„bre in the castell of hesdyn where in was craftyly and curiousâ—â— depeynted the conqueste of the golden fâ—ese by the sayd Iason In whiche chambre I haue ben seen the sayd historiâ— so depeynted iÌ„ remeÌ„branÌ„ce of medea of her connyng scieÌ„ce he had do make in the sayde chaÌ„bre by subtil engyn that whaÌ„ he wolde it shuld seme that it lichtend and after thondre snowe rayne And all within the sayde chambre as ofte tymes whan it shuld please hym which was al made for his singuler pleasir ThenÌ„e for the honour worship of our sayd most redoubted liege lorde whiche hath taken the sayde ordre I haue vnder the shadowe of his noble protection enterprised taccoÌ„plissh this sayd lytil boke not pÌ„sumyng to â—sente it vnto his highnesse for asmoch as j doubte not his good grace hath it in freÌ„sh which he wel vndstandeth but not displesing his most noble grace â—â—ntende by his liceÌ„ce congye by the supportacionÌ„ of our most redoubted liege lady most â—â—â—elleÌ„t princesse the Quene to presente this sayde bokâ—â— vnto the most fayr and â—y moâ—sâ— redoubted yoÌ„g lorde My lord priÌ„ce of Wales ourtocomyng sonerayne torde whom I praye god saue encrease in vertue bryng him vnto asmoche worship and goode renoÌ„ me as euer had ony of his noble ê“genytours to theÌ„ tent he may begynne to lerne rede englissh not for ony beaute of good Endyting of out englissh tonge that is therin but for the nouelte of the histories whiche ns I suppose hath not be had bifore the translatioÌ„ herof Moost humblie besekyng my sayd most drad souerayn naturel liege lorde the kyng and also the Quene to pardon me so presumyng And my sayd tocomyng sonerayne lord My lord the Prince to receyue it in gree thaÌ„ke of me his humble subgiett seruauÌ„te and to ê‘done me of this my simple and Rude translacion and aâ—â— other that luste to rede or hereâ—t to correcte where as they shalle fynde defaulte ¶ Here endeth the prologue of the translatour â–ª ¶ The prologue of thauctor THe galeye of myn engyn floting not loÌ„g syn iÌ„ the depnes of the sees of diuerce auÌ„cient histories iÌ„ suche wyse as I wold haue brought myn esperite vnto the porte or haueÌ„ of rest Sodaynly apperid by me a ship coÌ„duited by one maÌ„ only This manÌ„ anonÌ„ behelde my regarde contenanÌ„ce Which gaue me title and cause of thought and of abasshement for asmoch as I saw his visage trist heuy desolate wherof smytonÌ„ with coÌ„â— passion of his enuye greef Assone as he rceyuid that j so behelde him by grete desir He helde him still and sayde to me in this wise Man of rude eÌ„gyn what meruaillest thou Ancre thy galeye here take thy penÌ„â— for to write put in memorie my faites dedes The king jupyter of crete was myn olde bele fader and he engendrid Lacê° king of mirmidone This cacus engendred my fader Eson I am jason that conquerd the flees of golde iÌ„ the yle of colchos And that dayly laboure in sorowe roted in tristresse for the dishonÌ„eur that some persones hurte eÌ„pesshe my glorie jnposing to me not to haue holden my promys aneÌ„st medea wherof thou hast red the trouthÌ„ ThenÌ„e I pray the that thou do make aboke vnto them that dayly speke impugne my glorie maye knowe their indiscrete iugement And for taccoÌ„plisshe the same j haue chosen the to th ende that thou presente this present writing vnto the fader of writars of histories whiche yâ— vnto Philip fader louer of all rertues in his tyme Duc of bourgoyne and of Brabant cet The whiche hath ben in all his tyme enclyned and of grette affection to here and see red the auncient histories And to here tolde the faites of the worthy and noble somtyme flourisshing in vertues in vailyance and prude ce for his singnlier passe temps Thyse wordes accomplisshid rhe shippe Iason vanisshed away and j abode there pensyf But in th ende desiring to shewe the honour and declare the vertues of the sayde jason I ancred my galeye aÌ„d put in wrytyng hys faytes as here after shall be declared plainly a long so thaÌ„ I pÌ„seÌ„te my lytil book vnto the right hye and right redoubted Duc of bourgoyne not presuming myn ineloquence but psentyng myn right humble indigne seruice ¶ Thus â—â—deth myn auctor his prologe And how wel that hit is sayd afore this prologe that EsoÌ„ was sone to Lacê° Yet bochace saith in the genelagie of goddes that he was sone to Erictheus the xxx sone of jupyter As ye may see more playnly in
alle thise thinges considered and the grete daunger that myght ensiewe to vs that for me sholde be the bataill mortall bytwene you aÌ„d him in whiche withoute remedie he shold be slaynÌ„ or takeÌ„ by his hye vaylliauÌ„ce seen that vnto deâ—h he wold abandonne him selfe for to recouuere me and to th ende teschewe more grete paryll and dommage for him I haue taken his owen sone which is my broder aÌ„d haue coÌ„manded to put hiÌ„ in the state as ye see for to caste at this tyme abrode iÌ„ to the cours of the see here and there And to gyue empechement vnto the ship of my fader whych thenÌ„e shall tarye whaÌ„ he shalle see his sone absirthius thus dismeÌ„brid flotyng vpon the water for to garde and recuyelle the pieces as ye shall seen playnly anonÌ„ ¶ Wyth thachieuemeÌ„t of these deuises the kiÌ„g oetes approched in suche manere the shippe of the grekes that ther was no more distanÌ„ce but a stone caste ThenÌ„e the fayr medea and the olde woman fylled theyr haÌ„des with the membris of the noble child absirthius in shewyng them to the king oetes his menÌ„ For assone as the oolde quene sspyâ—d the king she escryed these wordes folowyng aÌ„d sayd thus Kyng in no wyse come no nere wenyng to recouure thy sone ne thy doughter As to the regarde of thy doughter thou losest thy time for she is maried vnto jasoÌ„ But atte lest we shall reÌ„dre to the thy sone slayn aÌ„d detreÌ„ched by pieces the whiche we caste into the see to th eÌ„de that thou maist haue thy lyf saued for but If he cansed the to haue occupacion for to recuyelle hys propre membres for to do burye theÌ„ as hit apperteyneth to the sone of a kiÌ„g knowe thou that thou sholdest haue the bataill ayeÌ„st the knightes of grece which ben of so hye vaylliaunces that ther ne is anymal monstre serpent ne tyranÌ„t but that they brynge to destrucâ—yon thenÌ„e hit ought to be bileuyd that the victorye of the bataill shold abyde wyth them aÌ„d certes thou sholdest receyue thy deth so alle thing well ouerseeÌ„ hit is better to the that thou retourne vnto the cite thenÌ„e tapproch more ner for to receyue thy deth aÌ„d wel oughtest thou to haue grete yoye for to see thy happy sone be ded and detrenched by pyâ—ces bi the which thy lyf is respyted for thou art not very ne naturell fader if thou take not hys membreâ— out of the see and if thou so doo thy lyfe shall be saued and all they of thy companye WIth these wordes the olde woman aÌ„d Medea caste in the see the membres of the yong childe absirthius and the kiÌ„g Oetes and hys peple heeryng and seeyng the grete inhumanite cruelte began to escrye ryght pyetoussy aÌ„d dolorousâ—i And were so sore vexed and trobled of thys meruailloê° aueÌ„ture that they wist not what to doo som ther were that begaÌ„ to wepe tenderli the other smote them self on the brestes som began to araye hem to goo to bataylle and escryed to deth the knightes of grece shoting on theÌ„ arowes other trait by grete corage for tanenge them but whan the king sawe that â— no wyse he myght recouure the deth of hys dere sone he made to cesse the escarumssij sayd to his cytezels certes fair siresj pray you to trauaile you nomore for to recouure medea shehath murdrid her ê“pre brod absirthiê° whiche was my sone he that â— time to come sholde haue beÌ„ your naturell lord certes j haue louid wy t all my herte her alle her lyfe that wy t her dissoyall will hath brouht to me one so dolorouse guerdonÌ„ or reward Ha a meda said the kiÌ„g all on hyghe j shal neuer sech ne desire to mete wy t the for cause of so cruell and disnaturell a dede that â–ª thou hast â— my sed to thy propre blode and therfore fayâ— lordes late her aÌ„d alle them that ben with her goo where the goddes will suffre hiÌ„ but knowe ye for certayn that yf j now had her at my liberte I sholde make her to deye a cruell deth howe wele that sholde sourdre therof to me a new sorowe wherfore hit is better that she goo that we enteÌ„de to reassemble the meÌ„bres of my sone whyche floteÌ„ as ye may see vpoÌ„ the wawes of the see to th ende that his flesshe be not pasture to the byrdes ¶ WhaÌ„ thenÌ„e the nobles bourgeyses of the cyte vnderstod their king alle they began to sech the membres of absirthius iudemenyng the moste grete sorow of the world aÌ„d thê° they disposed them to complaire the kyng nomore tassayle their ennemyes And whan they had fysshed the membres of the child they retoraÌ„d vnto the cyte by space of tyme right sorowfull disconforted for the deth of Absirthiê° and for asmoche as medea also was goonÌ„ with jason Medea was thenÌ„e well ioyous aÌ„d more assured thenÌ„ to fore whan she apperceyuid that her fader his meÌ„ taried for to fisshe the meÌ„bres of his sone Certes jason seyng this that sayd is wist not what to thinke aÌ„d Argos the goode maronner rowed alle way in withdrawing from the poorte aÌ„d the yle of Colchos as moche as he myght in so moche that in alytil while he had lost the sighte of the king Oetes of his galeyes aÌ„d that he cam into the hyhe see where the wind blewe aroose that anonÌ„ they desployed their sayle which they woÌ„deâ— vp an hyghe wherfore the shippe made good way wherof argos was moche yoyous and thenÌ„e he sayd that euery man myghte leye dounÌ„ his harnoys frely promysing them to be oute of all parilâ— for that time Iason at this tyme was ryght pensyf for the cruelte inhumanyte that he had seen this daye and spak not one worde and semed by coÌ„parisonÌ„ more triste thenÌ„e joyous not withoute cause Whan medea had vnderstande that Argos assewryd alle the companye for that tyme froÌ„ alle parils that they had ben in was thoo conforted gretly but she behelde her handes that yet were all foule of the blood of her brother Absuthius she wente wasshed hem aÌ„d made hem clene after she caÌ„ sette her dounÌ„ by Iason seyng that he was moche pensyf sayde to hiÌ„ by a gracious curtays manere My dere loue wheron thinke you Certes jason answerde not one worde And whan she sawe that she sayde to hiÌ„ agayn the same word My dere loue jason wheron thinke yow ThenÌ„ Iason answerde to her thus Lady syn that ye desire to knowe wheron I thinke knowe ye for trouth that yf it were not for the grete loue that I haue in yow and for that I haue promysed to wed yow and bryng yow into Grece I wolde not do it wherfore kepe from henssorward that ye do no suche thing as dere as ye will haue pees bytwene yow aÌ„d me Vpon thise wordes Medea excused her the
hydoâ—se feates I renonÌ„ce yow in alle poyntes your companye and coÌ„mand you vnto the goddes After these wordes jason departed from the chaÌ„bre sore disconforted and without takyng leueof the king his faderne of other persone he departed allone vpon his hors fro the castell of Pintaquo ¶ Whan Medea had vnderstande that jason to whoÌ„ she had do so moche as her semed of honour other thinges renonÌ„ced her ê¯panye and that she apyceyued that he had taken his hors â–ª was allone departed oute of the castell She toke her yongest sone in her armes and twoo of damoiselles in her companye And in this wise went after jason thinking to repease him by fayre wordes â–ª but the preu jasoÌ„ was in ouer grete trouble and anger rode alle way forth to fore hym so long that he entrid into a forest And ê¯tinuelly had his veu aÌ„d sight to ward the erthe â–ª thinkng on the malefetes of Medea of her inhumanytes aÌ„d murdres And he weÌ„te so ferre in the woode that medea knew not where he becam how weâ—e she retorned not to Pintaquo but sought alway jason as long as the day endured And at nyght she â–ª her childe her two damoiselles laye vndre a tre for the better wyth sore bewayling The king Eson dide do burye thys night his broder peleus hys twoo doughters honourably â–ª and made a meruaâ—lloê¯ sorow for their deth but whan it cam at the euen that Medea ne jason his sone cam not to him as they were acustomed his sorow doublid in grete anguissâ—e and iÌ„ grete displaisir cessed not al the nyght to be in grete thought melancolye Whan the mornyng was comeÌ„ â–ª he sente out his men into the woode for to seche jason medea but they that so were sent coude woot finde theÌ„ ne here no tydinges of them And the preu jason wente alwaye forth also pensif as he myght be his auenture was suche that after many iourneyes many wayes aÌ„d champaynes trauersid as he that tode by day in the nyght restid lete hys hors bayte pasture in the feldes aÌ„d medo wes he arryued in the cyte of Corinthe â–ª where as waste king of that countre named Creante the which had thenÌ„e a fayre doughter named Creasa Iason went vnto thys creaÌ„te aÌ„d gaf him to knowlech what he was â–ª but creante assone as he hadd knowlech of hym dide hiÌ„ moche grete honour for the loos goode renoÌ„mee that he had goten by his ryght hye valiauÌ„ce in many a royame aÌ„d countre In cormthe theâ—e Iason dweld and abode a certam space of tyme Lteusa that was a right fayr lady â–ª beheld ofte tymes Iason And desired wy t goode wille to be accoÌ„panyed wyth him â–ª but jason was so empesshid wy t sorow of melaÌ„colye â–ª that he might take none hede of hit And furthermore he was so charmed that in no wyse he might loue none except medea Whan the king creante apperceyued the maintene of Iason and that he made no joye by ê¯tinuaunce of time â–ª he caÌ„ to him on a daye â—iured hi that he shold telle hiÌ„the cause of his anoye grief And how well that jason excused him alle way the king oppressid him more more dide somoche by fayr wordes Iason confessid to him the auentures that were befalleÌ„ betwene him medea â–ª aÌ„d sayd to him also how he was departed fro his countrey more for to withdrawe him fro Medea to forgete her thenÌ„ for ony other cause â–ª but he coude not finde the manere ne me ne for to come to his aboue The king Creante whyche was a wise prince knowing the caas of jason by thys that he gaf him knowleche wolde be his cordyall frende for be counceylled him that assone as he myght he sholde take wedd a new wyf saying that the loue new acqueyntanÌ„ce of a new wyf shold make â–ª him lyghtly to lose and forgete the thoughtes Imaginacyons of loue and the plaisits that he hath had in the firste WhaÌ„ jason had vnderstaÌ„de that the king counceilled him wisely that he saide to him the secrete of the caas he thanked him moche and sayde that he wolde marie him if he coude finde a wyf after his estate And therwith he toke leue of the king and wythdrew him into his logys it was not long after that he ne retorned vnto the palays of the king for to see the ladyes among all other de began to beholde the fair Creusa And approched to her weniÌ„g to requyre her of loue but whaÌ„ it cam to the openyng of hys mouth certes the souuenauÌ„ce of medea cam to fore him that toke awaye all hys enteÌ„demeÌ„ts in al poyntes Whan jasoÌ„ saw this that sayd is â–ª he arose vp froÌ„ theÌ„s entrâ—oÌ„ into a gardyn where he fonde him self so melancoliod troubled in his courage that he knewe not what he might do best ThenÌ„ it happend that the kyng anone after came into this gardyne for to reclayme a sperhawke of his â–ª but he foÌ„ de jason sett vnder the tree Then he wente to him for to resone wy him â–ª and jason arose incontineÌ„t as he sawe hym come and thenÌ„e the kyng aâ—ed him how hit was how he felte him Certes syre answerde thenÌ„ Iason me semeth that I am alwaye in one poynt â–ª after sayde to hym in this wyse Sire j remeÌ„bre well how ye haue couÌ„ceylled me for to absteyne me to thinke on Medea the whiche is contynuelli in myn enteÌ„demeÌ„t for to take to wyf som newe Lady Wherfore I requyre yow aÌ„d praye wyth all my hert that ye wyll gyue to me creusa youre doughter to spouse and felawe ye so doyng shal do to me the grettest honour playsâ— that may come to me For yf it be other wyse I am the most euyl fortuned knight that is in the remenauÌ„t of the world Incontinent as the geÌ„tyll king had vnderstondeÌ„ the requeste of Iason as a prince ryght yoyous answerde to hym aÌ„d sayde Certes jason ye do to me and to al our how 's grete honour whan ye requyre for your felawe and wyff my dere doughter I gyue to yow my doughter And she is well destyneed and comen in to thys worlde for you Certes sire I â—â—corde youre requeste and gyue her to yow With these wordes the kiÌ„g â—â—nte for the guene â–ª his doughter â–ª and for the baronÌ„s and knightes of hys court The â–ª ladies aÌ„d damoiselles as well of his palais as of his cyte were sente fore â–ª and in the presence of alle theÌ„ that there were he made Iason aÌ„d his doughter to promise that they sholde wedde and espouse eche other within a certayn termeâ—that was tho said aÌ„d after these thinges by thauis of his baronÌ„s knightes aÌ„d the ladies the day of their espousaylles was ordeyned and dyd do make ther a feste so fayr
messager of his fader he callyd hym aÌ„d sayde to him in this maner Syr messager I haue vnderstand thought for taÌ„swere vpoÌ„ that my fader hath sente me by you on that other syde I see how he is here comen with puissaunce in armes Thise thinges considered I wote not what is hys entencoÌ„n ne wylle Wherfore j am not for this present counseiled to put me in his handes how well that I am alwai bouÌ„deÌ„ bi al right holdeÌ„ to serue him obeye his coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„ts aÌ„d that oute of furour he shal not fynde me other disposed The messager hering the discret answer that Iason gaf him he acertayned hi therof wold abyde in hostage that if jasoÌ„ wolde take agayn medea as by vertu of his fayth he was holden by the promesses that they had made one to that other that he sholde finde his traittye peas with the king his fader ThenÌ„e jason answerde to the messager that if the kiÌ„g his fader were comeÌ„ theder therfore in suche ordenanÌ„ce vpoÌ„ that enteÌ„cion he abused him gretly that Medea by her enchaÌ„temeÌ„ts shold neuer deceyuehi more duryng her lyf whaÌ„ the messager had vnderstaÌ„d the wille answere of jason he toke leue of him deê‘ted from the palays retorned vnto the kiÌ„g his lorde whiche abood hi at foot of his teÌ„te told to hi to medea all this that he had exployted with hys sone jason The king the lady Medea heering hys volente wille that he was not a man to be meuid torned from his corage had a meruayllous sorowe â–ª ThenÌ„e the king Eson sware that he ne hys siege shold neuer deê‘te from thens for cold ne for heete for froste ne snowe for rayne ne for teÌ„peste that might comen vpon him vnto the tyme that he had subiuged the cyte of Olyferne with that medea whan she had herd thise wordes she toke leue of the kiÌ„g retorned its her teÌ„te theÌ„ she begaÌ„ to studye in her eÌ„chaÌ„temeÌ„ts sortes where in she waâ— moche lerned in such wise exployted that in a moment she made her to be born within oliferne dyde her to be sette in the ppre halle where jasoÌ„ aÌ„d â–ª mirro the quene were at a windowe spekâ—g to gydre of theire werkes in especial of theÌ„terprise that the kiÌ„ge soÌ„ made vpoÌ„ theÌ„ of which they haâ— grete meruaile so they wyst not what to thinke sauyng that hit were nede for tenteÌ„de to forteâ—ye the muraillelwalles of the cyte the tours yates to garnisse with stones wy t shotte to deffeÌ„de their streÌ„gth wy t all their power But jasoÌ„ mirro had the gretest meruaile of the worlde not wy t oute cause whaÌ„ so sodaynli they saw Medea ther appere in their preseÌ„ce ThenÌ„e medea opeÌ„d this that she had in wylle to saye declare playnli and sayde in this maner â—aâ— Alas sir Iason haue ye not entencioÌ„ tame de your lyf which is moche reprochable tofore the goddes aÌ„d the worlde cursed be the oure aÌ„d theday that j saued waraÌ„ted you fro the deth whaÌ„ for my reward aÌ„d gwerdoâ— I muste suffre somoch in so many maners as I doo aÌ„d that in that tyme and iÌ„ place ye knowe not her to whoÌ„ ye be so gretly bouÌ„deÌ„ and holdeÌ„ Dame aÌ„swerde thenÌ„e jasoÌ„ shal your sortes ne enchaÌ„tementes neuer cesse I can not thinke howe ye haue the hardinessâ— to comÌ„ to fore myn eyenÌ„ seen that iÌ„ my pÌ„seÌ„ce ye haue murdred one of my sones how aÌ„swerd thenÌ„e medea Am I alady bornÌ„ in so vnhappy an oure so iÌ„ fortunat that in no maner I dare be foundeÌ„ to fore myn espouse husbond hym that holdeth hye lyfe of ony other but by me A jasoÌ„ sayd yet the lady the grete goodnes that I haue donÌ„ for yow tofore thys tune is lytyll remeÌ„bryd and knowen by yow whiche I did all of good herte and if I haue sâ—aynÌ„ your chyld ye be only culpable for ye do to me so many displaisirs anoyanÌ„ce that I can not thinke how the herte of ony lady so desolate as I am may so long endure Certes dame answerde thenÌ„ Iason I holde no thing that â— haue don to you despleisiâ— ne anoye in no wise y e haue â—mysed made many enorme and ryght euyl caas For whiche I may lawfully repudie and abaÌ„doÌ„ne you in all poyntes how wel that for the loue of me ye haue douÌ„ that I ne maintene not and of that other side speke nomore to me lo here the noble lady that I had â—mysâ—d to fore that I arryued in your countrey and during the tyme that I haue ben wyth you ye with me ye put me bi your enchauÌ„â—emeÌ„ts in suche poynt that I had al forgeteÌ„ her thought on none other but on you whether ye were fer or nyghe in thys astate was I a loÌ„g space of tyme til that the goddes haue resemblid this lady me by your grete defaute The whichâ— haue now espoused this is my lady j am her lorde husboÌ„de as long as the sowle shal abyde iÌ„ my body j shal be beers â–ª shal not withdrawe me from herâ—ner shal toke other then her for nothing that may befall me otherwise ye shal not finde it therfore abyde no lenger here for yf yedide it shulde be alle tymeloste for more to poursie we this enqueste Medea wy t thys conclusion made her to be bornÌ„ from thens also sodaynly as she was comen And in that same nâ—ght she was delyueryd aÌ„d rendryd at pintaquo in the chambre where her lytyll sone Iason was nourysshed â–ª aÌ„d there she beyng fulle of a Ryght tiers and demanded 〈…〉 had seen him aÌ„d ther 〈…〉 answerde for certaÌ„yn that at the oure of mydnight jasoÌ„ was yssued out allone by that gate more he knew not WhaÌ„ the nobles of olyferne knewe thise tydiÌ„ges they were sore trobled not without cause for thei behelde that they had no lord ne lady And that therfore ones they muste submyse them vnto the king Eson and toke heeir counceyll to gyder aÌ„d concluded to yeld them aÌ„d the tounÌ„ sauâ— their lyues their goddes ThenÌ„ they chese twayn of the moost noble knightes of the cyte aÌ„d moste propice to the erande And sent hem vnto the noble king Eson that made with alle dyligeÌ„ce his thinges redy for tassaile the Cyte in many places And whan they were comen to fore hym salutacyon made they told hiÌ„ fyrst that the quene her lady was dede aÌ„d putt in sepulture Secondly they said to hym that Iason was goonÌ„ out of the cyte wyste not into what place Thyrdly that the cyte was withoute lorde fynably they sayde to hym that fortune was suche for theÌ„ that they of the Cite demanded but pees that they were content to constitute hym king vpon them by condicion
geant he was so soroufull that of alle the eueÌ„ after he â—…notâ—… d For he had grete 〈…〉 strengthe in his grete hardynesse 〈◊〉 in hyr entrepryse ORete and meruayllous was the sorowe that the king of Esclauonie and hys men demened for the deth of the stronge Geant Corfus And on the contrarye the noble Quene Mirro alle they of the Cyte of oliferne demened grete ioye and made ryght joyous chiere for the noble victorye of the vaylliaunt Iason Than the noble quene Myrro accoÌ„payned of a grete nombre of ladies and of damoyselles of knyghtes aÌ„d sâ—nyers cam to the gate ayenst Iason esprysed with suche gladnes aÌ„d consolacionÌ„ that hit can not bespokeÌ„ And anon as the noble knight Iason espyed her he sprang doun of hys horse and made to her the reuerence and after presented to her the swerd of the geant Corfus aÌ„d sayd Madame â—o here is the swerd that your knightes hane so moche doubted here to fore beholde hit wel aÌ„d doo with alle your plaisir Than the noble fayre lady aÌ„swerd to jason Ryght exellent knyght thanked be the godd that by your hyhe eÌ„tre prise vaillanÌ„ce haue this day deliuerid the cyte all the peple of olyferne of a meruailloê° drede fere syn that the crymynuell Geant corfus is dede Alle the remenaunt as who saythÌ„ is as goodes as vaynquissijid and therfore come ye vnto our palays we shal â–ª doo visite your woundeâ— by our Surgyens which shall ordeyne right wel and diligently for your helthe ThenÌ„e was the noble jasoÌ„ brought vnto the palays with grete louiÌ„g preisinges of the ladyes damoiselles of the knightes and of the peple of the cyte of Olyferne The wedowes be wailed gretly because he was not erst comen for the losse of her husâ—ondes they that were maâ—ed reioysed and were glad of his coniyng They that were discoÌ„forted and desolate recoured their corage alle newe For in the vaillauÌ„ce and in the hyghe vertues of jasoÌ„ rested all their hope In his streÌ„gth they toke affianÌ„ce jn his witte they trusted In his vaylliauÌ„ce they weâ—e reconforted And in his goode fortune consolate Eertes hit semed to thei thenÌ„e that thei were delyuerid from the paynes of helle and brought into paradys ¶ What shal j more saye the fayr Mirro thoughre and dremed oft tymes of jasoÌ„ as of the knyght that she lonyd most of the worlde The preu Iason was thre dayes long in the palays wythout ony armes beryng And during these thre dayes the fayr Mirro wente ofte tymes vnto hym hoping that Iason shold haue requyred her of loue whithe he hadde gladly doonÌ„ but as cremetous and doubting the recountres of reffuse durstei no manere touche that materene make ony semblaunt to her ne to none other On the fourte daye than whan the nobles of Oliferne kne we that jasoÌ„ was hole of his hurtes and myght well bere armes they assembled cam vnto the Quene Mirro sayd to her Madame ye haue wel cause for to reioye your self yf a herte ifortunat after grief vpon grief may resourdre whan fortune wyll fauoure and ayde We and your couÌ„ceylle haue often tymes beholde and â—eeÌ„ the ryght hygh prowesse and discrete conduyte of your knyght Iason Certes hyt may wele be sayd that hys lyke was neuer founden hyt semetsyto vs. that fortune hath brought hym vnto your haÌ„des for to resuscyte and Reyse yow for to take vengaunce of the ouer grete euyllis and meschyeues that hath ben dooÌ„ to yow and your men duryng this warre And for many raysons we counceylle yow that ye ordeyne aÌ„d consiytute the sayde noble Iason capitayne of this Royaume and chief of your warre For we thiÌ„ke so moche noblesse vertu in hym that he shalle neuer haue reste in hys corage vnto the tyme that he haue chassed awaye youre mortell enemyes oute of yonr Royaume aÌ„d brought them to disconsiture â—Itâ—s to wete whether the noble quene Myrro was right joyous in her herte whan she herd so hygly recoÌ„mended him that she moâ—â—e louid aboue alle the men of the world hit is no meruaille thawh she so were debonayrly she accorded the requeste that the nobles her conceyll hadde made to her And forthwyth she sente for jason and in the presece of theÌ„ that had made the requeste as afore is sayd she constitued hiÌ„ Capitaine geuerall of all her royaume ThenÌ„e jason remercyed thaÌ„ked the noble Quene Myrro of the honour that she had donÌ„ to hiÌ„ â–ª also the nobles her couÌ„ceyll for theyr goode pourchare Inexcusing gretly him self of nonhabilite Sayng that he was not propice ne worthy of so hye charge honour to enterpryse But all they that there were pÌ„sent sayde That notwithstanding hys excusacions they wolde haue none other capyâ—â—yne but hym and that he sholde be it as ferre as he wolde not disobeye the noble quene Mirro They shewid hym so many demoÌ„strauÌ„ces that he enterprised and toke vpon hym the charge and that same oure the noble quene Myrro deliuerid vnto the noble damoiseau Iason all that was necessarie to hi. and ordeyned hys estate And whaÌ„ the noble preu Iason felte hiÌ„ in this honour so hygh sette in his astate he sente forth with to the king of esclauonye coÌ„manding him to departe he and all his ooste from theÌ„s And that anone he sholde voyde the royame of oliferne or ellis on the moruÌ„ betymes he sholde dispose him make him redy to be receyuid bi bataille WhaÌ„ the puissauÌ„t king of Esclauonye vnderstood that jason hadde so sende him his maÌ„demeÌ„t he had ryght grete meruaille hou wel he answerde to the heraulde that he hadd not enteÌ„cion for to dissoge him ne to reyse hys siege that he wolde erst haue at his ê¯maÌ„demeÌ„t the noble que ne mirro for to doo with her his wil le sente word agayn vnto the noble preujasoÌ„ that also dere as he had his lyf he shold kepe hiÌ„ that he came not in his presence and if he came in his haÌ„des he sholde doo him deye a miserable deth ¶ IncoÌ„tineÌ„t as the noble preu jason had vnderstaÌ„deÌ„ this aÌ„swere he dyde to publisshe in all the quarefours of the cyte That all they that were of age to bere armes shold be redy on the mornÌ„ erly for to goo wyth h for to envahye fyghte with theyr enemyes thê° passyd that â—dy â—â—to the night That iason thenÌ„e begaÌ„ to theÌ„ke on the grete honour charge that he had receiuid thenÌ„e whaÌ„ he was withdraweÌ„ in to his chambre continuyng his amourouse pâ—sees thoughtis He begaÌ„ to saye by him self in this maner Ha a mydere ladi hou haue ye doÌ„ to me this grete worship gyueÌ„ to me more good thenÌ„e appteyneth to myn astate aÌ„d hou shall hit be possible to noÌ„bre the excesse of bouÌ„te of clerenes of beaute with all other â—tues that beÌ„l you I ought not to meruaille
linges that I make for my lady I am not a ferde whan I fynde me in a troubloê° bataille of an hoÌ„derd thousand menÌ„ but whaÌ„ j suppose to speke to my lady j tremble for feere aÌ„d drede aÌ„d wote not what to saye for to fore her I am as al tauissâ—â—â—d in lyke wyse as a poure and shaÌ„mefast man that suffreth to dye for honger rather thenÌ„e for shame he dar begge his breed O what vergoigne procedeth of suche shamesasines I speke to my self allone I answere Ofte tymes I am aduised that to mornÌ„ I shal do meruayles so j ê¯clude right wel but whaÌ„ it cometh for to be donÌ„ j haue no memorie ne remembrauÌ„of all my conclusioÌ„s Am j not thenÌ„e wel simple whan vnto te most fayr the moste sage the most discrete aÌ„d the most vertuoê° of all other I haue no hardynesse for to saye my desire willÌ„ how wel my herte iugeth that I am sowhat in her grace but now cometh vpon me an other iugemeÌ„t me semeth that she wil neuer accorde to my requestes O right noble and nonparaille Mirro she is without peer as the rose amoÌ„g thor nes Alas what shal j do without you j haue made a pÌ„sente to yow of my hert my will if I vnderstode that ye were bornÌ„ in a constellacion cupesshing you of thinfluence of loue that loue had no power tesproue vpon you his vtues j wolde not enploye my time for to theÌ„ke on you but whaÌ„ me semeth that so grete ha bondanÌ„ce of theâ—cesse of beaute naturel as youris is it may not be but that it is entremedlid of loue of pite of merci it must nedes be that your humble freÌ„de be rauisshed in the coÌ„templacoÌ„n of your glorionse value desiring your goode grace wisshing your alianÌ„ce requiring the goddes and fortune that of yow me they make oon howe aÌ„d one bed where we mighte eÌ„brase the soueraine play sirs of this worlde plaâ—ly fynde amerouse felicite THe preu jasoÌ„ with thise wordes fyll a ssepe and after he awoke so alumyned with the fyre of loue that hit was to him ipossible to take his rest but to tourne and walowe and trauaile in his bedde And there as loue thus assayled him agayn he determined vtterly that he wolde aduenture hi to speke to his ladi what that euer happen therof And so he dyde for the same day he cam vnto her sayde in this wyse Madame j haue seruid you as well as to me is possible for two causes Principally that one for thaâ—quite of cheualerie and that other not for to disserue the rychesses that ye haue vnder the power of fortune But allonly that singuler thing that nature hath made yow lady of and vpon whiche fortune hath puyssaunce Madame ye haue don to me plente of curtoysies And offred grete yefies of monoye Wherof I thanke yow how wel I holde theÌ„ but of litil extiâ—e for couetise of auarice haue not alumed me of their fire j demande not the grete tresours that beÌ„ iÌ„ the abismes of the see â–ª ner theÌ„ that beÌ„ enclosed iÌ„ the moÌ„taignes my desir testith iÌ„ ij singuler thinges that one is for to conquere name in armes whiche ought to be thappetite of the vocacion of all noble hertes That other is to obeye vn to the comÌ„auÌ„dements plaisauÌ„ces of loue that bindeth aÌ„d obligeth me to be youris for to thenke on you to attende abide your beniuolence to doo thing that may playse your eyen your herte Alas my dere lady all good honour cometh of yow aÌ„d yf ye be all my deport aÌ„d fortune And the goddes haue suffrid me â–ª to haue doo thing digne of amerouse meriâ—e in your fauour put not ye your herte in discognysauÌ„ce by the whiche your noble royaume is put iÌ„ pees Receyue hier to your man trew frende and louar your knight and the ryght humble obeissaunt herte of whom the body secheth with al your playsirs to obeye him that hath made al his tresour of iour beaute froÌ„ the oure that the goode fortuÌ„e brought me hether vnto your presence I was aÌ„d haue ben in all poyntes redy to lyue dye for you in your seruice in which j toke arestanÌ„ce j submysed prestly my necke to bere the fardell of iour war re ye knowe how I haue bornÌ„ it ha a my dere lady haue mercy on me I supplye yon humbly for asmoche as neuer trewe louar requyred his lady with more desire affectoÌ„n in all honour curtoisie The preu jason cessed thenÌ„e his requeste in beholding the fayr myrro right amorously the whiche herd hi with a glad will but this not wistaÌ„ding she made no maner semblaunt but for asmoche as to proue jf jason was asmoche affected in loue as in armes she aÌ„swerde to hi as hir foloweth sayng Certes fair sire jason j knowe that ye be he that haue discharged my royaume of them that ete destroyed the substanÌ„ce whiche wolde by force haue ocupied wasted hit And so j will not saye but that he be ryght digne of grete merite and that your thaÌ„ke and reward ought to be yolden vnto you But vnto the regarde for to require me of loue me semetâ—ye haue moch to ferre enterprised ye knowe well ye ar none other but a knight what might saye the kinges hye princes of whoÌ„ I haue late made refuse jf I gâ—fe me to you howe wel myn ente cionis not in no wyse to blame yow But vnto th eÌ„de that ye lose not iour tyme. I auise you to seche oughwer ellis your partie than do ye wysely and require yow to be content her with for j knowe no better remedye for your appaisemeÌ„t Alas my dere ladi aÌ„suerde jasoÌ„ RemeÌ„bre you that my hert is suche that caÌ„ chiese by no way none other ladi in loue but you Certes that shal not be vnto the tyme that the fysshes flee in the ayer And that the byrdes swymÌ„e in the water My frende sayd the lady vnto the regarde for tendeÌ„de to take a thing difficile is no grete prudeÌ„ce ye be meure iÌ„ your yong age aâ—touching Armes But beware that ye put yow not in so parsounde an errour that ye can not easely come oute Certes I loue yow more than ye wene I am redy for to yelde you yowr merite for the grete goodnes that ye haue don to the cyte of olifer ne I praye yow that ye require me no more from hens forth and late this suffise yow Ha a madame aÌ„swerde jason than howe maye j haue suffisaunce whan I may not finde grace to fore yowr noble vysage Of whiche ryght indigent and not satisfyed I remayne ye daygne not to condescende to my prayers hit is now your play sir that I falle in despair â—nt syn hit goth so and that ye will haue no compassion of a trewe knight that hath beÌ„ youris and the deffendour the haÌ„de
possible to the helpe aÌ„d deliuere me from this mortal daunger WhaÌ„ appollo sawe the poure felaw in suche desolacioÌ„ the teeris fill dounÌ„ from his eyen for asmoche as the water boilled so aboute him he had grete pyte demaÌ„ded of him what eyled him so to crye wepe from wheÌ„s that water cam that so boilled aboute him axid syn where was zechius Alas aÌ„swerde the poure felawe which laboâ—rid lyuyng there to the deth in a dolour and payne inestimable Praye ye sire for zechius and for his felaws For I haue seeÌ„ alle one after an other dye in a mortell disâ—resse and so anguyssâ—ousâ—y that vnnethe that is creature lyuyng that coude veâ—ayly acompte and telle hit to yow THan appollo herde speke of the deth of zechius and his felaws he was so sorofull that he wist not what to doo but aÌ„swerde to the poure felaw and saide by grete admiracioÌ„ how maye that be fayr sire for j sawe right now zechius and all his felaws that were with hiÌ„ whaÌ„ they toke loÌ„de iÌ„ colchos in descendyng from the shippe alâ—s â—ere sire answerde the felawe hyt is well Reson that j recompte telle yon the trouth verite of the manere of this cruel auenture Certes sire hit is veray trouth that incontinent that zechius we other entrid into they le we apperceyuyd from ferre in a passing fayr medowe a lyuyng beste fedyng all offyn goolde And was as grete as an hors of the facoÌ„n fourme of a sheep or motoÌ„ ThenÌ„e we ê¯cluded to geder with one wyll that we wolde haue takeÌ„ hiÌ„ thenÌ„e we wente forth supposed to haue taken hit by force or other wise And for to so doo we marched thedward to oure euyll helthe for anonÌ„ after right sodaynly sprang out of a temple the most fair and the moost riche that I euer sawe a moche meruayllous dragonÌ„ and ferdfull with thre tonges casting fyre flambe wyth smoke out of his throte fortwith incontinent sprang also out of hooles in the erthe two moche horryble booles hauyng legges aÌ„d feet all of coper their hornes were grete and sharp theyr eyeÌ„ gretter more reed thaÌ„ boylliÌ„g coper or metal the whiche thre bestes so dredefull disgorged caste out fyre of their throtes venyn vpon vs in suche facoÌ„n that Zechius alle the other deyde there in suche paynÌ„ dolour that was neuer lyke therto recorded aÌ„d of vs xxx felaws ther is none escaped except my self whiche was laste ferthest behiÌ„de for whaÌ„ j apê‘ceyuyd themes chief so grete spntme to fâ—ight but I coude not so fast fsee but that the terrible dragonÌ„ cast vpoÌ„ me a gobet of the moste detestable infectioÌ„ that euer was the whicâ— doth me somoche paynÌ„ meschief aÌ„d holdeth me in suche a brennyng in alle my body that j muste nedes take bi dolonrouse deth the eÌ„de of this worlde wherfore j requyre you that ye goo no ner Colchos ¶ With this wordes the doloroê° maÌ„ finysshed his dayes in anguisthe aÌ„d payne and the sowle deê‘ted froÌ„ the bodi in the psece of appollo the whiche for this cause demened the grettest most terrible sorou that might be and with that roose the winde bi grete sodayne pyries that cam from the west whiche tormented the see and meuyd hit meruaillousâ—y and after this apperid in the ayer grete lightniÌ„ges of fire the which caÌ„ lauÌ„chiÌ„g bitwene the kiÌ„g appollo Ê’ethe phiê° the other beâ—g iÌ„ the ship ther was nonÌ„ of theÌ„ so assured but with the wiÌ„de the iÌ„petuouse lightnyng they were beteÌ„ doune vnto the botoÌ„ of the ship in suche wise they were sinetonÌ„ with the lightniÌ„g tournieÌ„s and with the orage of haylle stones that appollo hiÌ„ self knewe not a grete while if euer he sholde escape this dauÌ„ger or no For aboute heÌ„ they sawe no more thaÌ„ meÌ„ doo in a wiÌ„tres night at midnight whaÌ„ hit rayneth NotwithstaÌ„ding during this tempeste derkenes the good king appollo herde a voys sayd to him â— this manere not aloude But with a moderat voys in suche wyse as somme wel vnderstode hit Appollo the god Mars comÌ„andetâ— the that thou retourne incoutineÌ„t to thy cyte for zechius thy good freÌ„de is dede by his grete oultrage in this perillous I le his felaws iÌ„ like wise as it hatâ— beÌ„ late vs declared also all they that fro hens fortâ— put heâ— or descende in to this yle for to seche aneÌ„ture or other wyse shal neuer retorne agayn for asmoch as the goddes wil not that it be enhabïted vnto the tyme that a knight shaâ— desceÌ„de therin whicâ— shal coÌ„quere the noble moton or shepe of goolde by the meen of them that shall come of thy seed to whom thou shalt leue a bille wreton witâ— the hande of the god mars the whiche is now vnder thy hede teyneth froÌ„ point to poiÌ„t all the mysteries aÌ„d craft that he behouetâ— to obserue kepe for to obteyne come to thing of so hye recoÌ„meÌ„dacion that like therto hatâ— ben ne neuer shal be in the worlde vnto the ti me that the holy newe lawe shall come after that tyme long after the mistery of the fâ—ees of golde shall hyely be celebrerd halowed Wyth this the vois was still appollo on this that he had herde begaÌ„ to rise abasshid and esmayed of this werke And fouÌ„de vnder his hede the bille a fore said whiche he kepte â—oygneusâ—y aft he his felawship retorned vnto the cyte for the tyme the grete storme was incontinent gonÌ„ and dryuen away in the ayer vanisshed and thenÌ„e assone as he and his peple were arryued at the poort and out of the ship forthÌ„ with the weder begaÌ„ to chauÌ„ge and begaÌ„ to snowe to rayne to blowe make one so terrible a storme teÌ„peste that by force of the out ragyoê° orage the arke in the â–ª whiche appollo aÌ„d all his coÌ„paniâ— cam into that yle that they inhabited and also al the shippis aÌ„d other bootes that they had made meuyd theÌ„ to geder â— such wise that the cables and cordes that helde theÌ„ al to the porte al to brak aÌ„d the said vaissels ships were blowen vnto the perilloê° yle of colchos by so meruailous a furour that they were al to smyten in pieces brokeÌ„ in suche maner that the bordes of the bootes other pieces withoute noÌ„bre fâ—oted here there in the see thus bi this waye they were all lost and spent of the whiche aueÌ„ture all they that were thenÌ„ at the porte beholdiÌ„g were sore esbayed not without cause for neuer to fore was seeÌ„ so meruaillous a teÌ„peste thought wel that it wente not wel sayde one to that other that theyr goddes were angry witâ— them whaÌ„ suche tempest caÌ„ to theÌ„ ther to their grete domÌ„age and preiudice ¶ How the knight zethephius conspired ayenst Appollo
that j mighte in ony maner be repreheÌ„ded or reproched Incontinent as medea vnderâ—tood the hye wyll of jason she was moch ioyod neuertheles she fayned to be dolente sorowfull and of fait she reâ—red Hercules that he wolde shewe to hi the grete paril that he wolde put him in but hercules ansuerde to her that he wolde rather couÌ„ceile jason to do it thenÌ„e to leue it For if jason fayled to furnisshe this emprise that he him self wold take it on hoÌ„de to brâ—ge hit to ende Neuertheles sai de thenÌ„e Medea if IasoÌ„ beleued my counceyll he sholde go no ferther aÌ„d I shal saye to him suche reson aparte And whan she sawe that they were so fer froÌ„ the other that they myght not vnderstonde what she sayde she sayde to him in this wyse In verite right noble knight â–ª hitâ—ehoueth that pitye of a woman â—ust 〈◊〉 eâ—cused by your gâ—tâ—nesse j haue pite of you and of your grete beaute â—d certes nature hath enclyned me ther to trustyng if I do ony thing for yow ye wil knowe it The houre is come that hit behoueth that I doo appere to youre eyen the secrete not only of my herte but also that same by the whiche ye shal obteyne come aboue to breÌ„ge to ende your meruaylloê° enterpryse to your grete glory honour recoÌ„meÌ„dacion by the helpe of the goddes And for asmoche as yf I declare to you by grete loue thiÌ„ges that beÌ„ hyghe grete yf ye will further knowe of them it is of necessite that ye swere to me to kepe it secrete aboue alle other thiÌ„ges of the worl de â–ª Madame aÌ„suerde thenÌ„e jason j am a poure trewe knightsent vnto the se moÌ„stres certes hit hath plesid you to do me more honour thenÌ„e euer it shal lye in my power to deserue neuertheles whan your pyetous herte wylle eÌ„clyne vnto my pouerte j swere to you by the names of all the goddes that men worshipe that if ye declare to me ony thing that as loÌ„g as j shal lyue it shal not deptâ— from my mouth By my lawe sir knyght ansuerde Medea I haue grete ê¯fidence in your noblesse wherfore I am resolewed for to discouuer to yow the secrete of the goddes after that lyeth on my herte which if it be notâ—â—g on yow it shal redouÌ„de to your grete honour prouffit Madame aÌ„suerde Iason it shal not holde on me if ye knowe ony thing propice to my whorship I me sâ—bmitte in all vnto your ryght noble grace Haa noble knight saide thenÌ„e medea I may no lenger faine myâ—eyen haue beholdeÌ„ your grete beaute ye ben aâ— the desir of myn herte where ther werketh loue so perfondly that j haue grete pyte of yow in suche wyse that if ye will promyse me to be my trew husbonde brenge me into your couÌ„tre after your vowe enterpryse brought to an ende I shall promyse yow also shewe howe ye shal mowe coÌ„quere the motonÌ„ or fâ—ees of gold without daunger of your body in suche wyse as ye shal retorne hole and sauf to your glorie and honoure To the whiche no mortall man may come but if it be bi a secrete manere comyng from the goddes The whyche not long syn was deliuerid to me by my moder wherfor I pray yow that ye wiâ—â—â—ue regarde to myn offre abadonÌ„ed â— also to your helthe Whan jason had vnderstande medea thus speke he began to frowne â— him self sighing wyth an heuy herte answerde Madame ye constrayne me to be beholdeÌ„ more to you thenÌ„ to ony creature lyuyng aÌ„d I can not conceyue from whens this ewr cometh whan I fele me thus fallen in your grace aÌ„d I wolde it plesid the goddes that I were digne worthy therto that I neuer had made vowe to lady in the worlde Certes fair sire sayde medea me â—emeth that your herthath atteyned the mercy of som lady haue ye ensured wedded her Madame answerde jasoÌ„ j certefye yow nay but I haue sette my loue in her so ê‘faitly thaâ—in no maner I may forgete her I haue ê“mised that j shal be heeris al my lyf ThenÌ„ saide Medea what som ever be ther of it is of necessite that ye leue put her in oubliaâ—ice that ye entende to complaire me â—f ye wille not receyue the deth for bâ—t if ye departe you fro your enterprise withoute myn ayde ther is no remedie And if I be cause of sauacioÌ„ of your lyf as to the regarde of me j wil enyoie you allone without ony other My dere lady aÌ„s werde thenÌ„ jason the poure abandoÌ„ned body is youris for to honoure serue you in al that in me shal be possible In good fayth fayr sire jason if ye wil gyue your self al â—ome I shall gyue my self to you in like wyse In verite jason answerde my ryght dere lady ye do to me right grete honour without deseruyng Certes sire jasoÌ„ aÌ„swerde the lady loue is cause of this we le and pyte hath coÌ„maÌ„ded me to do it the whiche cause me to renÌ„e iÌ„ so grete a shame as for to require you to be my lord but it semeth to pite that in fauour that j desire to saue youre lyf ye ought to excuse me Madame aÌ„suerde jason j shal neuer be so ewrous as to come jâ—stely vnto the goode gÌ„ce of one so noble lady as ye be wolde right well that hyt sholde mowe be but what shal become shal mowe saye she that â— haue gyueÌ„ my self to yf ye forsake her not on all ê‘tyes sayde thenÌ„ medea j may not helpe yow to do your coÌ„queste ne ssaue yo lyf therforÌ„ chese ye for j aÌ„ smyteÌ„ to the herte wy t your loue syn that â— must sayeal If I shold be cause of sauyng of your lyf thenÌ„ happend an other shold enyoye your ê‘sone it shold behoâ—e me to dye for sorow and therfore theÌ„ke ye what ye haue to do be ye aduised Wy t these wordes jason medea eÌ„trid into the gardyn of plaisaâ—ice in whiche was sette the temple of venê° ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ such wyse adâ—iâ—oÌ„ned sette about wy t fâ—oures wyth delicioê° werkes that hyt semed a veray paradyâ— terrestre Theâ—â—e hercules the other ladies daâ—â—oâ—selles approched vnto jason meden wherfore it behoued hem to leue â—esse their ê‘laine â— to behold the plaisaâ—ice that the delices of that place of fâ—oures al the facoÌ„ns of vignes trees hyly ê¯dâ—yted bi conpas ¶ Whan the greky ssâ—â— knightes had seeÌ„ â—â—cyued the beaute of this place they had therof grete meruaile were moch esbayed after they entred into the teÌ„ple aÌ„d there made their oroisoâ—â—s syn behelde the composition ordoÌ„naÌ„ces of the ymages that repÌ„sented the amorous peple al aboute the goddesse venê° and whaÌ„ they had loÌ„ge seeÌ„ beholdeÌ„ all meda toke leue of jasoÌ„ said that she wold abide a lityl while
thenÌ„e whan he vnderstod the hygh mysteres that him behoued to make for to come aboue of his ê¯queste whan he had herd thensignements of medea he thanked her often tymes and thenÌ„e toke the bylle the sherte the boxe with glewe and that whiche was necessarie to him And syn deê‘ted from thens secretly and wente him into the forest where as was the temple of the goddesse deane aÌ„ddyde so moche that he cam to the teÌ„ple wherÌ„ he founde the preest slepyng wherfore he a waked hiÌ„ ThenÌ„e the preest demanded him what he was what he soughte Syre answerde thenÌ„e jason I am a knight that come hether for to sacrefie vnto the god Mars I praye vow that ye wolde deliuere me incontinent a bole with the fire and I shal gyue you for myn offriÌ„g fyfty besanÌ„ts Whan the preest had vnderstaÌ„de jason that he promysed so good an offide he rose vp hasteli in like wise donÌ„ all the preestes curates at this day whan they fele aÌ„d vnderstande that ther shall one a goode offrande come to theyr singuler prouffit anonÌ„ put theyr hand to the cause ThenÌ„e whaÌ„ thys maister prest was risen he cam to fore jason and dide him grete reuerence aÌ„d after saide to hym that diligently he shold be seruid of al that he demanded as he dide for he pÌ„pared made redy the fire bole which he brought into the temple ThenÌ„e the noble IasoÌ„ mad his oroisonÌ„ vnto god mars aÌ„d vnto god appollo He toke after this the bole made his sacrefice put the shert therto whaÌ„ al was torned into asshes he distribued it into thre partyes one part with the blood of the bole which he reteyned enointed hys body wyth al by the preest The second partye he medled with the glewe that was in the boxe aÌ„d the thirde part he putte in a lytyl sack of sylk whiche he reseruid kept clene These thinges donÌ„ aÌ„d accoÌ„plisshed as sayd is jason knelid doun made his prayers the seconde tyme aÌ„d whan he had made all his deuocyons he delyuerid to the preest fyfty besanÌ„tes that he had promysed to him with that he presented gaf him a ryche mantel of cloth of golde which he brought with him made the preest to a adoube him wyth the armes of god appollo whyche was there promysing him to brynge them agayn aÌ„d whan the preest had armed jason at alle pointes jason recoÌ„manded hiÌ„ vnto god mars Appollo to the goddesses dyane pallas venus syn toke leue of the preest dyde somoche that he retorned secretly into his chambre by the whiche he descended into the chambre of Medea whom he fonde slepiÌ„g Whan Iason sawe Medea in thys point also sawe her maistres aslepe he was terrybly esprysed wyth loue chauffid in somoche that the bloode began to boylle in hys body his herte began to desire so sorein suche facoÌ„n that he approched to medea and kyssed her mouth but with the kysshing she awoke had moche grete ioye thenÌ„ whan she had seeÌ„ and espied hym so armed with the armes of the king appollo ThenÌ„ jason made the reuerence to Medea after said to her in this maner Madame I haue don alle â—hatye haue enseigned nie also nyghe as I myghte aÌ„d am enoynted with the bloode of the bole of whom iÌ„ haue made sacrefice to the goddes aÌ„d lo here the glew medlid with a ê‘t of the asshes commande me now that shal plese yow what I shall doo spede yow for it is nyghe daye My frende answerde medea welcome be the daye anonÌ„ wyth the ayde of the goddes ye shal gete the grettest glorie that euer knyght lyuing gate aÌ„d knowe ye in the recommeÌ„dacion of you aÌ„d grete preysing hit shal be spoken of vnto the ende of the worlde ¶ Wyth thise wordes she toke a vestiment whiche was ryche and gaf it to him sayng My fayr loue ye be pourueyed of all that is behouefull for you so that ye haue this vestimeÌ„t vpon your armes see that ye werke frely corageeusly with this that ye haue ye must be pourueyed wy â— hardinesse valiauÌ„ce kepe wel your bille be diligent to do and accoÌ„plisshe al that it contieneth and by the plaisir of the goddes â–ª j shall haue you here at euene with more gretter â—solacion ThenÌ„e jason clad hym aboue his harnoys wyth the propre vestiment that appollo was cladd at the houre whan he receyuid the bylle a fore said With that the day apperid fayr clere wherfore jasoÌ„ toke leue of medea whiche was al rauysshed with loue At leue takiÌ„g they kyssed eche other many tymes Fynably medea conueyed jason vnto his chaÌ„bre dore and their began there amotonse baisierâ— kisshinges vnto the tyme that it was force that Medea must withdrawe her thenÌ„e she recommanded jason in the gard of the goddes shette fast the dore jt was not long after that Mopsius hercules cam knokked at the chaÌ„bre dore of Iason aÌ„d with theÌ„ the good knight Theseus many other all of grece whiche salewed jason gafe him the good morow but whaÌ„ they espyed that he was tho armed and â—â— poynte they were moche esbayed and wold haue axed of him who had so armed him adowbed But the kiÌ„g octes other of his knightes cam also to him salewed jason aÌ„d the king seeyng jason in point toke the wordes saide A ha sire knight what wille ye doo ye seke your destructioÌ„ whaÌ„ so erly ye begynÌ„ to putte you forth I counceylle yow that ye deporte yow of this enterpryse I declare you ellis homycide of your self For he is of him self homicide that knoweth hys deth in a place aÌ„d voluÌ„taryly he put him self therin Sire king aÌ„swerde thenÌ„e jason I confesse that ye conÌ„ceyle me wysely but neuertheles in hope for to liue j haue well entencionÌ„ to achieue myn eÌ„terpryse without lenger delaye j thanke yow of the grete honour that ye haue made me vnto this tyme Mopsius toke the worde sayde Certes jasoÌ„ fayr sire I haue this night had a meruayllous vysion the whiche conforteth me in youre victorie For me semeth in my first dreme that j sawe a sperhauke the whiche sechyng his praye putte him self among many other terrible byrdes of strange nature the whiche in a lytyll while he had all ouercome aÌ„d put to deth so j compare tho same byrdes terrible of strange nature vnto the two boles aÌ„d to the serpeÌ„t beyng in the yle of colchos whyche euery nyght caste fyre fumyer aÌ„d as touching the sperhauke I vnderstande you that seching hys 〈…〉 that iâ— to saye youre aduenture on this daye by the ayd of the goddes â–ª ye shalle be made vaynqueure of the horrible monstres possessour of ryghte gloriouse renommee ¶ Whan jason hadde vnderstonden this that sayd is He aÌ„swerd to mopsiê° sayng Certes fair sire the goddes shall doo
and lye by my hete in your bed A ha jason answerde thenÌ„ inedea for goddes sake saue myn honour Madaine aÌ„swerde jaso Ther is no man in the world that shal kepe it more thenÌ„e j shal j am your housbonde yf ye come and lye in your bed by me ye doo nothiÌ„g but honour My dere freÌ„de sayde medea ther is no plaisir but that I shall gladly do to yow but for this night ye shal haue pacyence of your requeste and I praye yow that to mornÌ„ be tyme ye desire of my fadere the king that he wolde gyue me to yon in mariage thenÌ„e do ye your deuoir if he be coÌ„tent we shal make our wedding aÌ„d spousailles here within honourably and if he will not I somone you here to mornÌ„ at nyght at houre acustomed aÌ„d knowe ye for certayn that I shal do alle that ye wille commaÌ„de me to do as reson is For I am vouÌ„den therto by vertue of the ê“messes made bytwene yow and me And allewaye I recommaÌ„de to you myn honour ¶ Whan Iason hadde vnderstande the goode wille of medea he sayd in his corage that she had wysely answerd and that he was content for tobeye to her requeste What shall I saye more the night drew ouer in suche termes as sayd is how wel Iason laye there til it was day And on the mornÌ„ whaÌ„ he was rysen sawe his tyme. he made his requeste vnto the noble king Oetes that he wold gyue his doughter Medea to him in mariage but he founde the king Oetes triste moche pensif and al other wyse thenÌ„e he was acustomed to be and made him an aÌ„swere in this maner Iason yebere with yow oute of my dominacyon the most ryche tresour that is iÌ„ alle the worlde whiche greuith me gretly yf I hade knowen that I now knowe ye had not comen in tyme therto aÌ„d now ye demaÌ„de me my doughter medea which is most conÌ„yng and the most dere thing that I haue Suffise you wy â— that ye haue And neuer speke to me more therof also dere as ye haue your lyfe With these or semblable wordes the king Oetes wente on oo ê‘t And the noble jason wente on an other syde moche abasshed of the fiers aÌ„d herd answere of the hing Oetes Hercules Theseus and Mopsiuscam thenÌ„e vnto Iason whyche told hem howe he had beÌ„ wyth the king Oetes and how he had required to haue to hys wyf hys doughter Medea and howe the kyng oetes hadde answerd him fiersly But whan they had vnderstanden alle thys they concluded among them that they wolde deê‘te from theÌ„s on the mornÌ„ After this donÌ„ they weÌ„t toke leue of the king thaÌ„ked hym of the grete honour that hit had plesid hym to do to Iason And after they went visited their ship and passid this day with litill plaisir for the king Oetes made hem no chere This notwithstand whaÌ„ the night was come Iason weÌ„te vnto the fayr Medea told to her how he made his requeste to the king Oetes her fader And how he had aÌ„swerd to the regarde of their mariage how he was deê‘ted froÌ„ him wherof the fayr Medea was meruaylloussy soroufull and sore troubled thinking on many thinges But whaÌ„ she had wel bethought her considering her cas her affaire she made right goode chere to jason as she that abandonÌ„ed her alle vnto his plaisir and so it is to be supposed that this night they leye to geder more saye I not for this pÌ„sent as towching their faites of loue In this nyght the fayr Medea toke alle the moste richest jeweles bagges portatif that the king oetes her fader had And she putte and trussed them in a fardell and whan hit came alitill to fore daye she made jason to ryse whyche was anonÌ„ redy And thenÌ„e whan she was alle redy she toke with her alle the rychesses also her yong broder absirthiê° of the aage of xvj monethes whome she toke secretly in a chambre from the nouryce and made her maistresse to cutte hys throte pryuely for certayn causes whiche shall here after be declared After this the fayr medea her maistresse cladd hem aÌ„d disgulsed them in maÌ„nes habyte and by the noble preu jason they were brought vnto the shippe And assone as jason had deliuerid theÌ„ in garde vnto maister maronner Argos he retourned into his chambre til it was day abyding his felawship Hercules Theseus Mopsius and many other knightes that cam with hym at the blowing of an horâ—aÌ„d with that he toke his flees of goolde and sayde to them that he wolde departe from thens wyth alle dylygence for certayn causes and wythout more sayng at thys tyme he toke his waye to th ende that the other knightes of grece sholde folowe And wente so ferre that he eÌ„trid iÌ„ to this ship so well at apoynt that alle his men entrid with him And thenÌ„e the maroÌ„ners disancred and began to rowe by force of oores for asinoche as 〈◊〉 blewe not and the winde helped heÌ„ not by cause hit was calme and thê° in this poynt they putte them on the waye vnto the sonne rysing And at that propre houre whaÌ„ they were not withdrawen past a myle froÌ„ the poorte hyt happend by adueÌ„ture that Argos the mayster maroÌ„ner began to loke toward the poorte aÌ„d he sawe that on alle sydes hit was fulle of peple After this he sawe anoÌ„ and apperceyueyd that fowre lityll shippes at facoÌ„n of Balingers orgaleyes subtyll departed to gydre from the poorte from whens that they they came Wherof the good patrone Argoshadde moch grete meruaille And he wiste not what to thenke he was so encombred For he â–ª hadde well seen that whan the noble Preu Iason and hys companye entrid into his shippe that the king hys baronÌ„s ne the ladyes had not conueyed hym He had grete meruaille but he sayd not one worde ¶ How the kyng Oetes fader of Medea aduertised of the departing of Iason and hys doughter Medea folowed And how Medea caste her broder Absirthyus by pieces into the see doubting her fader the kiÌ„g Oetes And howe the noble Quene ysiphyle fylle doun from an hyghe montaynÌ„ into the see WHo that demandeth of thise foure litill galeyes snbtill for what cause they moued fro the port And what people were inne the historie answerth that theyr entencyoÌ„ was to come after the knightes of grece And the king Oetes was in one of them accompanyed of foure honderd men whiche were alle bourgeyses of the tounÌ„ that he had made to be armed â–ª For asmoche as he was acertayned that hys doughter medea was goonÌ„ with jason and I shalle telle you This kiÌ„g Oetes as said is had ben sorowful anoyed alle the daye precedent foÌ„de him self so full of melancolye that he coude not slepe ne reste Alleway after many thoughtes and precogitacioÌ„s he concluded in hym self that he wolde goo
and conueye Iason at his departyng to thys ende that he comen into Grece sholde preyse him aÌ„d saye that he hadde made hiÌ„ good chere For to briÌ„ge to an eÌ„de this coÌ„clusion he aroos and wyllyng to eÌ„tre fro chambre to chambre til he cam to jason he entrid in to the chambre of the nourice of his sone absirthius â–ª whom he fond not wyth his nourice that slepte wherof he was sore abasshid awaked the nourire and after demanded her wher was hys dere sone absirthius And thenÌ„e the nourire begaÌ„ to loke aboute her but that was for nought for she fonde hâ— not wherfore all effrayed she spraÌ„g out of her bedde and began to seche him diligeÌ„tly alle aboutes the kiÌ„g Oetes entred in to the chambre oâ— Medea and ther he fonde ne ê‘sone ne his doughter ne her that had gouerned her long time ¶ Whan the king Oetes fond not his doughter Medea he was so angry that his blood changed aÌ„d withouthe spekyng ony worde he weÌ„te vp in to the chaÌ„bre where the noble Iason was logged but he fonde neyther jason ne Medea ne ê‘sone to whom he might speke for so moche he departed sodainly and wente vnto the poorte where he fond many of his citezeins that shewed him the ship where the grekes were in whiche was at that time from the poorte more thenÌ„ a quater of a myle thenÌ„ the kyng weping terderly demaÌ„ded them if they had seen hys doughter medea and they answerde nay Ha a fayr sirs sayd thenÌ„ the king The traictres of grece haue wyhtdraweÌ„ her wy t wordes traiterously in somoche as they haue deceyued her brought her into their ship aÌ„d yet that more is haue so euyll couÌ„ceylled her that she hath bornÌ„ with her my sone absirthius O euyl doughter o the euil fortuned child Certes medea thy grete disloyaulte ê¯strayneth me that wyth force of peple j wil goo incoÌ„tinet fecche the for to wete who hath meuyd the thus to doo wy t this I shal take vengeanÌ„ce of the desloyall knight jason wiche to his power reÌ„dreth to me euyl for good ¶ WhaÌ„ the king had sayd thus he retorned into his palays cryeÌ„g that euery man sholde arme him thenÌ„e alle the peple pourueyed them of staue â— armures syn demaÌ„ded wherof proceded the cause of thys alaromÌ„e the whiche anonÌ„ was all commune ThenÌ„e they put them on the â— waye for to go vnto the king whiche cam and yssued on t of hys palays armed and in poynt for tentre into bataill ThenÌ„e he wente vnto the poorte chese out four hoÌ„derd of the beste in poâ—t for to put in to the sayd four galeyes and finably whaÌ„ he had doâ— alle thys he meuyd fro the poorte as sayd is and wyth all haste made his galeyes to be rowed after the knightes of Grece in suche wyse as the maister maronner apê‘ceyued that tho galeyes cam swiftely after theÌ„ for to fecch agayn the fayr medea called jason that japed played wyth medea preseÌ„t his felawe hercules she wid to him the four galeyes armed wherein was the king Oetes and his men wel in poynt whyche approced faste For the galeyes were light jason seyng his encombrance approche called Hercules whyche knewe nothyng herof and demanded him counceyll ThenÌ„e Hercules ansuerde to hym that he knewe none other remedie but that euery man shold putte him to armes and be redy tabyde the batayll yf hit were nede and auowed vnto the goddes that yf the king oetes made ony enterpryse vpon theÌ„ that he wolde putte to deth as many as he myghâ— arethe With thise wordes wyth oute leÌ„ger â—aryeng the noble knight hercules and jason putte them in armes and in lyke wise dyde their felawes ThenÌ„e Medea and her maistresse sprang vpon the planck of the shyp for to beholde the kyng and his galeyes And anonÌ„ after Iason hercules alle iÌ„ armes cam vp on hye by Medea and eche wyth a swerde in his fyste And Medea began to treÌ„ble for fere whaÌ„ she had espyed her fader to approche so nyghe at th eÌ„de the king Oetes poursie wed so sore the shippe of the noble preu jason by force of oores that er they were out of the goulf or braas of the see that there was nomore distance fro on to an other but two bowe shote ThenÌ„ the fayr Medea seyng that is was time to brynge to ende that she had begonÌ„e to fore sayde to her maistres in wepyng tenderly My good mod wher is my lytyll broder absirthius gyue him to me ThenÌ„ the euyll oolde woman opend her lappe and vnwonde the body of the childe whom she had smyteÌ„ into pieces Medea toke the heede lyste it an hygh wherof Hercules jason other seyng this had grete horrour of this cruelte aÌ„d weresore abasshed neuertheles whaÌ„ the preu Iason apperceyued this he wold knowe fro whenâ— came thys creature so dede And sayde to Medea in thys manere My dere loue what haue ye in your thought and what will ye don with this so malerous and pyteus childe My dere loue answerde thenÌ„e Medea Thexperience of my werke enseigneth to yow the thought of my herte Madame answerde thenÌ„e the noble preu jason what is this child that I see here thus detrenched and smyten in pieces certes he is in an euyll houre bornÌ„ that thus myserabli hath finysshed hys dayes My dere loue answerde thenÌ„e the fayr medea This is absirthius my yong broder Knowe ye that he is not malerouse but is ewrous and happy for thys daye he shall be cause of the sauacion of the lyf of his fader and of his menÌ„ thenÌ„e he is moche ewrous and in a goode oure bornÌ„ whaÌ„ he in hys teÌ„dre yongth maye because of the helthe of so moche peple aÌ„d specyally of his fader naturel Certes medea said thenÌ„e jason I see none other facoÌ„n ne moyen but that ye be of all poyntes dishonoured whaÌ„ ye haue coÌ„mysed so ryght pyetousa caas as for to haue mâ—rdryd your ê“pre broder innocent of all thinges A hawhat horrible cruelte My dere loue answerde thenÌ„e medea ne troble you other wise thenÌ„e by resoÌ„ For if it be your plaisir ye shal here what I shall saye aÌ„d after of the caas I make yow iuge ye know how I am by you brought from the howâ— of my fader ayeÌ„st his wyll I haue coÌ„siderid what my departyngis and further more I haue thoughte haue had regarde vnto the grete aÌ„d meruaillous courage of my fader and al thing ouer thought and considerid that I coude not withdraw me fer but he shold be aduertised for he hath of custome that euery morenyng er he goo dounÌ„ he wil see his sone aÌ„d me also I haue jmagyned that anonÌ„ as he fyndeth not me ner his sone that withonte faute he wil come after me in armes lyke as ye see he doth and thus whan I haue
terryble dragons of whom she satte opende their throtes in disgorgyng fyre and venyn so moche aÌ„d so horrybly that alle they that were there deyde miserably and in grete torment reserued Iason Whiche myghte not receyue ony greef by no venyn by cause of the blood oft the bole medlyd wyth the asshes where wyth he had ben enoynted as it is sayd al a long in the chapitre makyng mencyon of the ê¯queste of the noble flees of golde THenÌ„e whan the noble preu Iason apperâ—â—â—â—ed the yoÌ„g childe so inhumaynly slayn And after sawe in hys presence dye myserably and in sorow hys lady Trensa â–ª the kinge the Quene his â—arouÌ„s knyghtes ladyes and damoyselles Squyers and other by the sortes and enchantements of Medea he was so ouer angry and wroth that he myght no more be wythout he had benowt of his mynde ThenÌ„ he aroos from the table all confuse and escryed vpon Meden sayng A sia ryght euyll enchaÌ„teresse replenisshed wyth alle euyll certes hit is ouer grete dommage that the erthe bereth and susteyneth yow ye haue wyth youre two haÌ„des murdrid youre owne sone and myn And syn by youre enchantementes fals and vnresonable ye haue maad to deye myscrably and with doloure so many hye prynces vayliaunt knightes ladyes and damoyselles and gentil esquyers here assembled for to doo me honour and companye the whyche dyd to yow neuer trespaas ne grief Haa what horryblecruelte is by yow commysed Certes ye haue not the corage of a woman humayne but of a best or serpent denourlg alle creatures or ellis of a cruel tyraÌ„te with onte pyte Ha a right ê‘uerse and felonÌ„ courage what hast thow done by thy grete oultrage or cruelte what ought j nowe to doo or where shall j become after that thys euil is befallen If thou were a man like as thou art a woman peruerse and myrrour or chief of alle euyll wythoute lenger tarieng I sholde take veÌ„geance of this this trespaasaÌ„d grief But for asmoche as thou arte a woman hit shall neuer happen that my hand enploye him vpon thy body Consideryng that a noble man that for ony anger or trespaas smyteth a woman or sette handes on her he lefeth his honour aÌ„d wyth goode cause ¶ Whan the lady had vnderstande the complaynte of her lorde Iazon She answerde him and sayd in this manere Certes my dere loue knowe ye for trouth that I had leuer see alle the worlde deye ThenÌ„e I knewe that ye shold haue habytacion with ony other womanÌ„ thenÌ„e wyth me ye knowe how I haue employed me for to preserue yow from dauÌ„ger of deth Where many a knyght hath lost his lyf to fore Also ye knowe what honour ye haue by mi feat goten perpetuelly and all thys haue I donÌ„ gladly to th entent that ye sholde be my husbonde and espouse all youre lyf duryng And now j apperceyne that ye will leue abandonne me for one other in alle estate lasse thenÌ„e I am CoÌ„sidere iÌ„ what parill ye may falle by your deffaulte see wel to that ye kepe the promesse that ye haue made to me Holde and kepe ye hit entierly or ellis Knowe for certayn that the veÌ„geanÌ„ce of the goddes shalle punysshe yow WhenÌ„e whan Iason had vnderstaÌ„de this that said is If he were tofore sore trobled yet he was now moche more withoute comparysonÌ„ aÌ„d in suche wyse that he coude not one word answere bnt departed out of the halle And medea with her four dragons went out also and went thourgh the cite of Corinthe infecting menÌ„ womenÌ„ and children alle a loÌ„g by the waye Her damoyselles folowed and wente after and alle the world fâ—edd froÌ„ her saue they whyche knewe well that it was not well for asmoche as she went so strangely Incontinent as the desolate Iason was out of the halle that he sawe medea departe he called som of theÌ„ that were escaped from this pestileÌ„ce and brought theÌ„ for to see the kiÌ„g his doughter Creuâ—a And plente of other that laye there dede amoÌ„g the tables vpon the benches and on the grounde Hit was moche pyetoê° thing to see and beholde for the moost part of them were swolleÌ„ by the venyn that they had receyued by the conduytes of her noses and of her mouthes and were as grete as varellis Then was there made in alle the cyte a meruayllous sorowe and dueill eche man began to wepe and cast owt moche pyetouse cryes in cracching their faces and tering their heer thus doyng one and other sought serched after their parents frendes that wyth grete payne they might knowe hem for they fouÌ„de heÌ„ so desfigured by the venyn that they were swolleÌ„ that vnnethe they might knowe hem aÌ„d whan they were draweÌ„ out eche a part they dide doo burye them ryght honourably after theyr estate And in lyke wyse the kinge the quene and the fayr Creusa her doughter were put in their sepulture apperteynyng to their estate Iason was present for to achieue and doo alle thinges and soyourned there vnto the tyme that the prayers cerimonyes were accoÌ„plisshed after the lawe custome of that time syn departed from Corinthe aÌ„d weÌ„te his wuye But he was so disconforted and sorowfull in corage that he myght nomore be Thus ryding now an one syde after on an other syde thinking on the meruayles aÌ„d aduentures that he had had and aboue alle other thinges on the grete inhumanites and crueltees that he had seen commysed by Medea by her enchantements and in an other manere he deliberid and concluded to ryde and erre so ferre that he myght fynde ony aduenture and recoÌ„forted him self the best wyse he coude after the mysaueÌ„ture that he had had ¶ How Iason Espoused the quene Myrro of Olyfernâ— and howe he was awayted in a wood assaylled by xij knyghtes of Oliferne as he was goyng to Troye and howe he put hem to deth THe vaylliauÌ„t aÌ„d noble priÌ„ce Iason deê‘ting after this as sayd is fro the cyte of corin the put hym on his waye and rood thurgh many countrees cytees ryght dolanÌ„t and aÌ„grye SomÌ„e time he bewaylled the fayre Medea and soÌ„tyme after sodaynly he remeÌ„bred her malefices her crueltes ouermoche inhunmyne and in ryding from one place to an other he was iÌ„ so grete perplexite aÌ„d sorowe that he might nomore but if he had deyde aÌ„d for this cause he had his entendemeÌ„t so trauailled that he wist not what to do In this maner trist and pensyf drawyng from one couÌ„trey to an other hit was told him on adaye that the king Tollus of elsebee that was his pareÌ„t and of his kynÌ„ sholde wedde for his wyfe the kinges doughter of Thessale named Anestor aÌ„d for som what to refresshe him self he coÌ„cluded that he wolde go to this wedding whyche sholde be soleÌ„pnel withoute taryeng for he thought well that ther sholde be kiÌ„ges Dukes priÌ„ces Quenes and nobleladyes in grete nombre The fair Mirro