terryble dragons of whom she satte opende their throtes in disgorgyng fyre and venyn so moche aÌd 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 THenÌe whan the noble preu Iason apperââââed the yoÌg childe so inhumaynly slayn And after sawe in hys presence dye myserably and in sorow hys lady Trensa ⪠the kinge the Quene his âarouÌs 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 enchaÌteresse replenisshed wyth alle euyll certes hit is ouer grete dommage that the erthe bereth and susteyneth yow ye haue wyth youre two haÌdes 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 tyraÌte with onte pyte Ha a right êuerse 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 veÌgeance of this this trespaasaÌd 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 aÌd 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 ThenÌe I knewe that ye shold haue habytacion with ony other womanÌ thenÌe wyth me ye knowe how I haue employed me for to preserue yow from dauÌger 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 thenÌe I am CoÌsidere 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 veÌgeanÌce of the goddes shalle punysshe yow WhenÌe whan Iason had vnderstaÌde this that said is If he were tofore sore trobled yet he was now moche more withoute comparysonÌ aÌd 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 loÌg by the waye Her damoyselles folowed and wente after and alle the world fâedd 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 pestileÌce and brought theÌ for to see the kiÌg his doughter Creuâa And plente of other that laye there dede amoÌg 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 fouÌde heÌ so desfigured by the venyn that they were swolleÌ that vnnethe they might knowe hem aÌd 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 accoÌplisshed after the lawe custome of that time syn departed from Corinthe aÌd weÌte 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 aÌd 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 recoÌforted him self the best wyse he coude after the mysaueÌture 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 vaylliauÌt aÌd noble priÌce Iason deêting after this as sayd is fro the cyte of corin the put hym on his waye and rood thurgh many countrees cytees ryght dolanÌt and aÌgrye SomÌe time he bewaylled the fayre Medea and soÌtyme after sodaynly he remeÌbred her malefices her crueltes ouermoche inhunmyne and in ryding from one place to an other he was iÌ so grete perplexite aÌd sorowe that he might nomore but if he had deyde aÌd for this cause he had his entendemeÌt so trauailled that he wist not what to do In this maner trist and pensyf drawyng from one couÌtrey to an other hit was told him on adaye that the king Tollus of elsebee that was his pareÌt and of his kynÌ sholde wedde for his wyfe the kinges doughter of Thessale named Anestor aÌd for som what to refresshe him self he coÌcluded that he wolde go to this wedding whyche sholde be soleÌpnel withoute taryeng for he thought well that ther sholde be kiÌges Dukes priÌces Quenes and nobleladyes in grete nombre The fair Mirro
in the presence of his king by suche force that he cutte of a quartre of his shelde and his lyfte atine with all And whan the king apperceyuyd that Iason departed suche strokes he had doubte of hys persone And that was no grete meruaille thenÌe as worthy vaylliauÌt as he was he escried jason to the deth And syn cam to him with his trenchuÌt swerde enhauÌsed and smote hym so myghtily vpoÌ the toppe of his helme that he made the sparcklis flee oute and his hede to enclyne lowe dousi wherof he was notlityll astoned but escryed hym sayng Vaissale ye haue well shewid to me how ye can recountre a maÌ with the spere but I shal she we to yow the sharpnes of my swerde thou that I am beter knight thenÌe ye And if ye escape fro my handes without receyuyng of deth I will well that ye saye to my Lady paramours the fayr Mirro that her loue and frende of Sklauonye hath neyther force ne myght ¶ How the king of sclauonye was vaynquysshid by Iason in the felde by bataylle _âOche was Iason desplaysaunt whan he had vnderstande the vauntises of hys mortalt eÌnemy But whaÌ he knewe that he was the king of sklauonye he was well joyus for to knowe hi thus saide to him by derisioÌ Ha a right oultrageous fole Arte thou he that arte affoyled with the blanche feures for cause of my right redoubted lady Now see â wel that in the is more of pÌsumpcion than of vayllyauÌce and of vauntise thaÌ of fayte and truly more of folye than of wysedom For hit ys parfayte folye to the for to name the better knight than j am Than late vs see who is the better With these wordes they began agayn to smyte eche other ryght asprely Certes Iason prouid hym self ryght fiersiy in gyuing to hys eÌnemye many strokes terryble and poysaunt And so many gaf hi in makyng reed hys swerd of the Esklanon king that the right malerouse king was constrayned to crye and to kalle his knightes vnto hys ayde and helpe but ther cam so many that Iason was enuironned aÌd assayled on alle sydes Whan te noble jason felte hym self so aduironned on alle sydes by hys ennemyes He was more recoÌforted than to fore And begaÌ to smyte wyth hys good swerde of steele on the ryght syde and on the lyfte syde by suche vertue and myghte that the ladyes of the Cyte knewe him among alle other and perceyuyd that he skarmusshid with his swerde all dyed with newe blood now here and now there And after sawe hym cutte of heedes ââââes and legges and fystes And made armes at his wyll and more thenÌe all the remenaÌnt And certes by his mayntene he semed better a thing of that other worlde thenÌe an humayne persone And fro this tyme forth on the fayr Myrro seeââg this that sayd is toke jason sol her good gÌce that vnto the deth she louyd him aboue all other knightes ⪠as she that setted her loue totally in him The noble Iason fought thenÌe vailliauÌtly agayn the EsklauâÌs aÌd right loÌg endured the bataylle And whan the xij knightes of damask sawe the grete prowesse and daÌgerous stour that was aboute their maistre They smote in among âhâÌ that so assayled him And thenÌe enforced him Iason for to make hym self to be of valour truly by suche ardeur of corage that he slewe therÌ tâÌ of the most hardyest knightes of all the hooste of his enemyes wherfore the king of Sklauonye seeyng hys mayntene the valeur of jaso had suche fureur and drede that he habaundonÌed the place his knightes that thenÌe all wery folowed hym And thenÌe the noble Iaso ââââwed the chaas aÌd chaced ãâã vnto the grete cost in suche ê¯fusion moâal occisionÌ that of the fyfty knightes that were at the begynning of the batayll ther escaped no moo but ten But tey were all slayn detreÌched or he weÌl pieces And of the partye of jasoÌ ther bleef no moo but tweynÌ vpoÌ the felde And of the remanasit all were hurte that one more aÌguisshously thenÌe that other ¶ How jason was joyously receyuid of the quene Mirro of Olyferne and hou âthey be waylled eche other AFter this meruayllous bataylle ⪠and that the worthy jaso had rechaced his enemyes vnto nyghe bi the ooste as said is he taryd for two resons The first was for as moche as he âowe his felaws wery sore payned by their woundes the seconde was for asânoche as he sawe the Ooste âââue for to come vpon them than as wyse aÌd discrete he withdrewe hi sayng that more to worth a good retrayteâ than a folisshe abydinge and reeÌtrid with grete honouâ glorie into the cyte wherof the fayr ââyrro was as joyouse as she coude be coÌtrayre to this was the king of sclauonye as sorouful aÌgry for the grete domage that he had suffryd that day Euery man ââolyferne as sone Iason was reentrââ sie wed him maÌ women childreÌ blessid him sayng one to another that they had neuer seen none lyk ãâã him in beaulte ne more vaillyaunt knight of his body and than al the Cyte began to âeyoyeââ whan the sayr myrro thought that Iason was vnarmed ⪠she sente for him he cam gladly to her for that was al his desir than whaÌ he was comen to fore her he sale wed her she rendrid to him his sale we syn demanded hym hou he felte him self how he ferde Certes madame aÌs werde jason to god begyue the thaÌking I ne fele on my body but all good disposicion aÌd am ioyously retorned into your cyte and as to the regarde of your enemyes by that I haue felt of theÌ me thiÌketh that they ought not fore to be dredde ne doubted and that in short tyme ye shall haue of them good rayson I haue this day made my swerd reed iÌ their bloode wherof their kiÌg your mortel enemye hath had grete dueyl aÌd soro we And I haue yet goode wil that to mornÌ I shal redouble that yet that shal be worse to him to his if the goodd be in myn ayde helpe ¶ Whilis that Iason spack thus to the noble lady as sayde is she behelde hym now aÌd now by right grete ardaunt loue aÌd coude not absteyne her self for she was so surmounted with loue at this time that for to hyde her wil and to refroide cole her alityl without more speking to jason that she left him with two damoiselles for to entretene tarye hi and she withdrewe her ito her chaÌbre where she begaÌ to thinke on the grette vertues that were in Iason That is to wete on his hye prowesse on his fair chiere on his laughyng eyen on his well made body and on his gracyouse speking And so moche she thought on hym that she must come agayn vnto the place where he was ThenÌe she fonude in the halle of the
lââyl of valeuâ that j am ashamed and hountouse to lyue And wold that j were there where j shal be v. honderd yere here after wyth oute ony respyte Whan thauÌcient knight vnâstode that jason was in so moche bitter dispair he had pite of him sayde to him for a lityl to coÌforte him Certes gentil knight j knowe wel my self vnderstoÌde of this marchaÌdise that of your loue ye haue not eÌyoyed your first desire wil but j wolde fayn knowe yf ony manÌ hath doÌ you wroÌg of your lady or ellis if this maladie cometh êcedeth by the rigour of her Certes geÌtyl knight answerde jasâ alle my meschief êcedeth of the grete rigour of my ladi bi the âalour simplenes of me for j haue sernid that fayr lady in a moche daÌgerous warre that her mortall enemyes mâde to her not long syn â the most diligât wyse that j coude or might after whaÌshe was at her aboue of her aduersaireâ j haue requyred her of her grace that she wolde be my lady in loue but she hath not wylled to see in me so moche vertue ne somoche valour that she wolde accorde her to my request and thus I haue therfore my lyf in grete hate see none other remedie that but j falle in despaire Fayr sire ansuerde thauÌcieÌt knight haue not ye ofte tymes herd saye ⪠that one lost two recouerid yf hit be so that a womaÌ hath made of you refuse by your fayth shall ye therfore be suche a fooll as for to fall in despayr CoÌsidere ye not that ther be ynowh of other and yf ye haue not ynowh of one j shal make you to haue a dosayne ther is no grete derthe ne scarcete of womenÌ Certes âf ye remembre you wel ye shal saye thaâ they cracce out menÌes eyen therfore al this wel âsiderid yf your lady sette litil by you do the same to her seche another without loÌg taryyng Certes sir knight sayde jason whaÌ I haue wel marked and take hede of your wordes ye speke after your plaisir These ben thinges that may better be said than exployted Certayu sayde the auncient knight j telle to yow the secrete and the verray hystorie I wâl wel that euery man be amerous aÌdloue but that he haue twoo strenges on his âowe And that noman put him so fersorth in lo ue but that he may withdrawe hi in tyme and in seasonÌ women one other proprely to speke âen malycious in her werkes and thys procedeth that eche of them adresse other of sâche counceyââ exhorte aÌd of fauour Men saye that the moost orguilloust aÌd proudest creature that is is the deuyll and next after hym ãâã the woman and next after is the foole that is ouerâuydaunt for pride cometh not but of ⪠folye aÌd somoche wenyng Somme women ther be that ââste haue one ameroê° maÌ to whom they kepe hem treuly Other be many that be full of wordes and leâe their ââris to alle the worlde Other loue to haue acye and tokenes âd they make lyke signes also ferre as they may not speke to heÌ Other ther ben that ben more prayââ and requyrid for to enyoye them âo to haue theyr grace thaÌ the goddes ben for to haue their fayr paradys ⪠For tabregge and shortly conclude Certes gentyll knyghtâ they be well happy that haue not to doo with them mony suche receptes aÌd they be foles that haue to do moche with hem for he that may pâsse fâoÌ them may do no better thaÌ to withdrawe hym fer from 'hem in fâeyng the places and alle the circumstanÌces Syre answerde than Iason I âuppose and thinke well that ye coude saye moche better yf ye voolde first as to the regarde for to haue ij streÌges on his âowe That is to vnderstaÌde two ladyes certes it is not possible that he that so doth may be âsââât in his werkes ne in his thoughtes for no maÌ may wel serue ij maistres for that one corrumpeth that other ThenÌe it is so that yf a noble man for to auauÌce him self in worship maye doo no better thenÌe for to chese an honourable ladâ whiche he maye loue treuly secretly and so perfaytly that he sere aÌd drede to doâ ony thing but that yt be honest in alle thingis âd of âecomÌandacioÌâor alle ladyes desire nothing but honour and hye âenommce hyt is their propre vocacion and their naturell condycion thenÌe how shall he haue desirÌ of honour that is no trew louer for he that is double is to moche outrew and fals and if ony wele or honour happen to come to him it is agaynââ reson ryght and good equyâe and if ther be ony suche certes they be not worthy to lyueâ seen that the ladyes beÌ of âo parfouÌde excelleÌââ that the leest of all is worthy to haue the best knight of alle the world And for that cause saye no more that â take two cordes or strâges on my âowe For certaynly I had leuer to receyue and pâssee the destrayt of deth WHan thauncieÌt knight had vnderstonde thaÌswer of âason he was moche abasshid sayde to him that he wolde neuer holde that waye ne purpose wherfore fayr syre sayde âason for asmoche sayde the knight that meÌ sholde mocque hi for j suppose wel to knowe that if right now ye sholde chese of two thingesone That is to weâe to receyne deth or ellis chese a new ladi that ye wold more sone the lady thaÌ the deth for good cause Certes ther ben pleÌte of amoreusis that susteine aÌd swere that for to sane thonour of their ladies thei wolde atteÌde take the deth But I suppose yf they sawe the deth come they wold nomore abide him thenÌe the quayle abydeth the sperhauke and for alââ thyse raysonÌs aboue sayde I counceylle yow that ye leue this errours and opynyons and recoÌforte your self the best wyse ye can in your maladye âor by myn aduyse I beleue not that youâ payne be mortall and I haue not herde saye that evyr ony man amerous by maladye of loue lost hys lyfe But yf he went out of hys mynde _âasoÌ with these wordes coude nomore replyâque for he apperceyued that he coude not make his mater goodner maintene it agaynst the olde knight and thuâending their parlameÌt he sâepte vnto the tyme it was nygh daye And thenÌe Iason awoke begaÌ to make newe sighes inso moche that thauncient knyght herde it âgayn hou well that he was a sâepe was sodaynly awaked And thenÌe whaÌ Iason knewe that he was awaked he salewed him and gaf hym goode morow and sayde to him Syre knigt because of your grete ageye haue seen moche thing in your tyme. â demande you by your fayth if ye haue knowleche iÌ dremes wherâore axe ye answerde the ânyght For asmoche sayde Iason as j hane not cessed this night to dreme By my loyaulte âayr sire ansuerde the good old knyghte yf ye
that whaÌ I had ãâã your message one of theÌ that seââed vertuoê° discrete aÌswerde me that they were not comeÌ theder but only for vytaylle for to passe forth on theyr waye and that they were no robâeurs ne pirates of the see but whan the yong knight whiche was fayr curtois as a mayde had finisshid his purpose Another of them whiche had a meruailloê° aÌd cruell chiere better resembled Hercules by his vysage coÌtenanÌce thenÌe ony other saide to me in a grete anger fiexte in this manere knowe thou knight that syn that LaomedonÌ thy mayster as vyllayn of herte banisshid from all nobiâsse hath reffused to Iason of Myrmidone vitaylles for hys money That in short tyme shal desceÌde into his countrees menÌ in the name of IasoÌ in so greâe noÌbre that all his royaume his cytees townes aÌd chastels shal be put to suche ruyne êplexite and destruction that within fyfty yere after shal not be founde one stone vpon an other nor no cornÌ shal be sowen erâd vpoÌ the grouÌde And forth with they haue disaÌcred sone after they had sailled by force of winde rowyng of oores so ferre that j had lost the sight of them ¶ WhaÌ the king laomedonÌ had vnderstaÌde the reporte that his knight made to hi. he was so angry that he semed better frantyk or out of his witte thenÌe other wyse saide wel that if he had knoweÌ tofore what they had beÌ their entente he hadd heÌ all haue donÌdye myserably aÌd therwyth the messager deêted laomedonÌ withdrew him into his chaÌbres sore troubled peÌfif for the menaces of the knightes of grece whomÌ he knew not but bi raporte of the knight whiche knightes beyng thenÌe well forth vpon the see were sore âexed with grete wides blowing on all sydes with thoÌders with raynes grete orages aÌd teÌpestes whiche roâed so hugely aÌd terribly that the ayer was trobled the weder was so derk that the soÌne shone not in iiij dayes during that the teÌpeste seced not in which tune their vytailles faylled in suche wise that the knightes of grece had not to ete their ship was oste tymes in moche grete paryl for iÌ th eÌde a meruaillo is turbilloun of winde roose iÌ the see that blewe a way theyr sayle and alle to brake their mast that the cordes roopes were brokeÌâto pieces but fortune helpe heÌ in this nede For notwithstaÌding this grete aueÌture the ship was âduyted vnto a porte named LeÌnos where he hurtlyd agayn the grouÌde in suche a raÌdonÌ force that hit was all to brokeÌ reÌte that they that werÌ with in werÌ iÌ grete dauÌger had beÌ iÌ worse caaâ thaÌ they were to fore if thei hadde not sette foot a laÌde This port was callid LeÌnos after the name of a moche puissaunt cyte whiche was rychely sette not ferre theÌs but incoÌtineÌt that the grekyssh knyghtes hadde taken lande seeing the grete daunger that they had beÌ inne sprang oute of the shippe whiche anone was fild full of water And whaÌ they sawe heÌ out of that mortauÌ parill and had well supposed for to haue beÌâ sauââe Sodainly cam oute of Lennos the riche cyte moo thenÌe fyfty thousand womenÌ armed garnisshed with pennonÌs aÌd recognysanÌces whiche cam reÌgyng them in fayre ordenanÌce a loÌg bi the cooste of the see fast by the porte and after they sente two of their women messagiers for to somene the grekyssh knyghtes for to reeÌtre into the see with out ony long ãâã But whaÌ Iason vnderstode the somacoÌn that the two damoiselles made he was sore abasshid and not withhÌut cause for he apêceyuyd tofore so many hedes armed that he knewe not the nombre syn confiderid how they had ben in grete daunger by the fortune of the see that vytailles failled them aÌd that worse was he sawe his ship all to brokeÌ which was on all sydes ful of water This notwithstanding by cause he ne wolde discorage ne abasshe his felawship more thenÌe they were he shewed well that he had goode corage and sayde to one of the two damoyselles in answering to her message Noble damoiselle I hane right wel vnderstandeÌ your somÌacion I pray you of your grace that it may plese yow to saye to me into what couÌtre fortune hath brought vs at this tyme and for what cause j am bâyow sommenid for to reeÌtre vnto the see Certes sire knight answerde the damoiselle The countre that ye be arryiled in ys not right grete but it is ryghâfertyle and comodious hiâ is named Lennos after the name of this cyte here by Whiche is named after the same name And as to the Regarde of the rayson cause why this somÌacion is made thus to yow I will wel that ye knowe to th ende that ye holde yow te better content That hit happend now late that in this cyte of LeÌnos was a kinge named Thoas This king hadde grete warre agaynst the Argiens for to mayntene this warre he hadde with him alle the men yong and olde And lefte this cyte wihout men wherof the ladyes damoiselles other of the cyte were right euyl content aÌd seeyng that they were withonte men they assembled them to geder with the doughter of the king whiche is named Ysiphile and by meure deliberacoÌn sent to the king aÌd to their husboÌdes that they sholde retourne into their cite vpoÌ whiche the king Toas aÌsuerde that he had besieged his enemyes aÌd if his cyte sholde be loste he wolde not deête from hys ooste vnto the ende of his warre ¶ Whan the ladyes and damoyselles of the Cyte hadde herd this answere they toke hit euyll in gree and yet they âent agayn vnto the king to these husboÌdes that they shold come and retorne home vnto thir cite But that was for nought for they wolde no thing do after their desire And whaÌ the ladies sawe this they conspired agaynst the kyng theyr husbondes put to deth al the men children that were in the cyte after they detmined iuged that if theyr husbondes or faders parents freÌdes cam again from the warre or other what someuer they were sholde be slayn the first night of their comiÌg assone as they shold be a slepe that neuer after they sholde suffre nomaÌ to entre in to their cite after this coÌclusion taken they crowned ysiphile quene vpoÌ them afterward whaÌ the king was retorned froÌ the warre with his peple the ladies and damoiselles of the cyte did with theyr faders husboÌdes aÌd parents other in suche wyse as they had coÌcluded to fore in somoche that of al them that retorned froÌ this warre escaped none from this murdre pestilence but he was slayn aÌd murdrid reseruyd the king Thoas WhoÌ the quene ysiphile wolde iÌ no wise murdre but this notwithstaÌding she deliuerid hiÌ iÌto the haÌdes of the ladies whiche
thei maynteââ¦lyf the space of iiij monethes ãâ¦ã suche wise that ysiphile ââ¦ith childe waxe grete of a ãâ¦ã sayr sone of whom she ãâ¦ã by space of tyme during these foure monethis the ladies of âââââlaye laye with the knyghtes of Grece and many of theÌ were conceyued with their seed And in this wyse was the cyte repeopled of yong childereÌ masses ¶ what shal j make you long proces The dayes that haue no reste passe lightli maistre argos rendrid his shippe all repayred made and hercules cain agayn into LeÌnos Iason also wolde departe toward his journele asseblid one a daye his felawship layde to them My goode brethreÌ freÌdes ye knowe well how we haue beÌ here and soyourned a moche long space of tyme and yet we haue nomore knowleche ne haue herd speke of the motonÌ of golde or goolden vliese nomore thenÌe we herde to fore we departed from our countree I wyll that ye knowe that I lyue here iÌ grete sorow in terrible grete moyanÌce for I caÌ not take solace ne plaisir in ony thing that j see for asmoche as I am pricked by ê¯tynuell exhortacions procedyng of diuerce causes procnrlg the exped câentretienyng the ende of my laboureuse voyage to ãâã whiche bryng vs the goddes in short tyme to one helthe honour glorye wherfoââ j praye you alle that euery ââ¦ke hiÌ redy for to remene depââ¦or I haue enteÌcion for to depaâ⦠at th eÌde of iiij dayes without ââ¦ger abyding Hercules Theseââ Mopsiê° all the other knighteâ had grete joye whaÌ they herde the good disposicioÌ of jason they aÌsuerde him that thei sholde be as sone redi as he thenÌe one other begaÌ to pourueye for theÌ vytailles of all suche thinges as were necessarie for theÌ The quene the other ladies knewe anone of the departemeÌt of jason wherfore they were moche displaysauÌt right desolate and sore anoyed theÌ to see the Grekysh knyghtes make their pÌparacions for to departe and that one coÌplayned to that other sayng Certes these knightes of greece abaÌdoÌne vs gyue vs ouer we shal neuer haue joye ne solas The quene ysiphile amoÌg the other was most aÌguysshous of this departing aÌd caÌ to jason aÌd sayde to him Alas alas lord jasoÌ haue ye wel the corage for to withdrawe you froÌ me to gyue me ovyr to fore ye haue seeÌ the fruit of your noble êsoeÌ which is nourisshid in my bloode Ha a my soulace the plesir of myn eyeÌ may hit not be that the rightamerouse praier of the mod that shal be of yonr childe may holde you here yet iij. monethis hit is alytyl tyme of iij. monethes they shal be anonÌ exspired paste Alas jason alas my confort êlonge ye aÌd tarie your departemeÌtat my request For j am she that so moche loueth you that j may no more Alas beholde with pite my wombe the chaÌbre maÌsionÌ of your blood in no wise j requyre you to departe so hastely ¶ I good fayth noble lady aÌswerde thenÌe jaso jf j myght abide with you lawfully j assure you that j wold so with good herte but j haue auowed êmised for to aueÌture my self in the ê¯queste of the noble motoÌ or flees of golde I knowe not howe loÌg j shall lyue ner how long hit shal be er I come there hit is force and grete necessite for my singuler wele and perdurable honour that I employe my tyme entierly whilis I maye that I acquyte me dilygeÌtly to thacomplisshemeÌt of my sayd auowe ¶ With this answere the quene ysiphile had in her herte suche anoye that she begaÌ to wepe right êfouÌdly to sighe and after she begaÌ to saye softly Alas alas how may myneyeÌ see the departing of myn euydent yoye Alas alas I was bornÌ in an euylle constellcion whan I may not fynde a lytyll of goode fortune in thys worlde and alle consolacyone wythdrawe them from me all honour fseeth froÌ me al bouÌtees forsake me coÌtrarye all sorow renÌeth vpoÌme All welthe is ayeÌsâme and all euyll cometh to fore me in my pÌseÌce for certes yf ther sourde ony mi serie iÌ the ferthest place of the worlde that miserie deêteth froÌ that place for to come to me A what sorow Certes j am not goode ynowh ner of so moche vale we that ony maÌ shall doo ony thing at my requeste Certes madame aÌswerde jasoÌ me semeth that for no thing ye ought to demene ner make so meruailloê° sorowe for ye ar iÌ vale we moche more thenÌe j can exteme and as to the regarde of me if ther be ony thing licite honeste to me possible require ye hit I shal eÌploye me iÌ suche wise that ye shal haue cause for to be coÌteÌte aÌd me semeth that ye ought to haue me excused in this caas seeÌ the vowe in whiche j am bouÌdeÌ if j abode here j sholde not exployte but lose my tyme. Ha a my dere freÌde loue answerde the lady whaÌ shal I haue better cause for to coÌplayne lameÌte thaÌ now jf anonÌ jhad lost alle my royaume if j sawe all my richesses cheuaÌche all that j coude fine cheuisshe perisshe in the abysmes depnes of the see all that sholde not be to me so heuy to bere at my herte ner so grete displaisir as shal be to me to see your departing for the see is so terrible aÌd the fortunes êsperitees aduersites parils rise aÌd lourde on alle sydes wherfore j am not certayn whether euyr ye shall retorne agayn or no. And thenÌe ought not j to haue the visage banisshid fro alle âsolacoÌn and yoye ought not my herte to lye on the bedde of tribulacion vnder the couertour of right mortal distresse betwene the shetes of bewaylinges Alas alas thinke ye what this doth but whan I parceyue that ther is no remedie aÌd that youre honour had âcluded your departing promising to go in your êmisid voyage j shal bere hit as paciently as to me is possible forseen that ye shall promyse me faythfully if ye come to your aboue iÌ your enterpryse of Colchos that ye shalle come ageyn by this cyte for to telle me of youre tydinges THan the noble knight vnderstood that the ladi âdesceÌded by suche ê¯dicioÌ to his departing he was right yoyous aÌd not without cause âsideriÌg the danÌger where he and all his felawship were in And thenÌe he êmised to her swore ryght solempnly to fore the repÌsentacion of the goddesse pallas whiche was there that he shold retourne vnto her assone as he sholde come to the aboue of his enterpryse and that yf the goddes wolde gyue hym so goode fortune that he myght a lyue and hole retourne ThenÌe the noble and fayr Quene ysiphile somme what reronforted and ha ⪠ãâã a grete hopeâ the retournyng of jason cessed her selfe of her lameÌtacions ¶ For
was comeÌ theder with other princesses because that the king Tollus was her nyghe cousyn But incontyneÌt as the kinges aÌd princes knew Iason they welcomed him on alle sydes moche honourably Alway the quene Mirro made no semblanÌt to knowe him for whaÌ Iason had beÌ fested of one other that he approched the quene Myrro whiche was thoo pensyf drew her a part behinde the other ladyes escryed hiÌ with an opeÌ voys whiche was wel herd sayng thus âa a right euyll knight withdraw you jncoÌtyneÌt from me haue ye forgeten that ye long syn promised me in athenes that ye sholde be my husbonde And yet ye haue doo nothiÌg therto ⪠but haue espoused an other lady as it hath beÌ recoÌpted certefied to me O dysâoyall and vntrewe false lyer where as ye haue not holdeÌ ne fayth ne trouth Approch thou in no wyse vnto me departe owt of my presence And be neuer fouÌdeÌ in my waye But notwithstoÌding that the quene had achieued this reprouchable answere yet he sayd to her in this manere My dere lady I am somoche malewrous vuhappy that I am not digne to be founden to fore your noble preseÌce I knowe playnly that I haue made faute And I can not thinke how my courage is thus corruÌped yll couÌceylled for syn I toke leue laste tyme of you whan j parted I remeÌbre right well that in my voyage to Colchos I had yow alway in continuell remembraunce wreton within my herte hopyng aâ my retornyng to haue taken you to my wyf vnto the tyme that on a cursid night j was sodaynli esprysed wy t the loue of Medea which afore had requyred me to be her husbonde alway I refused ⪠her requeste by verâyn departed from Corinthe aÌd weÌte his waye 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 aÌd aduentures that he had had and aboue alle other thinges on the grete inhuuianites 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 recoÌforted him self the best wyse he coude after the mysaueÌture that he had had ¶ How Iason Espâused the quene Myrro of Olyfernâ ând 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 vaylliauÌt aÌd noble price Iason deêting after this as sayd is fro the cyte of corinthe put hym on his waye and rood thurgh many countrees cytees ryght dolasit and aÌgrye SomÌe time he bewaylled the fayre Medea and soÌtyme after sodaynly he remeÌbred her malefices her crueltes ouermoche inhunââyne and in ryding from one place to another he was I so grete perpleyite aÌd soro we that he might nomore but if he had deyde aÌd for this cause he had his entendemeÌt so trauailled that he wist not what to do In this maner trist and pensyf drawyng from one couÌtrey to another hit was told him on a daye that the king Tollus of elsebee that was his pareÌt and of his kynÌ sholde wedde for his wyfe the kinges doughter of Thessalenamed Anestor aÌd for som what to refresshe him self he coÌcluded that he wolde go to this wedding whyche sholde be soleÌpnel withoute taryeng for he thought well that ther sholde be kiÌges Dukes prices Quenes and noble ladyes in grete nombre The fair Mirro was comeÌ theder with other princesses because that the king Tollus was her nyghe cousyn But incontyneÌt as the kinges aÌd princes knew Iason they welcomed him on alle sydes moche honourably Alway the quene Mirro made no semblanÌt to knowe him for whaÌ Iason had beÌ fested of one other that he approched the quene Myrro whiche was thoo pensyf drew her a part behinde the other ladyes escryed hi with an opeÌ voys whiche was wel herd sayng thus âa a right euyll knight withdraw you jncoÌtyneÌt from me haue ye forgeten that ye long syn promised me in athenes that ye sholde be my husbonde And yet ye haue doo nothiÌg therto but haue espoused an other lady as it hath bé recoÌpted certefied to me O dyssoyall and vntre we false lyer where as ye haue not holdeÌ ne fayth ne trouth Approch thou in no wyse vnto medeparte owt of my presence And be neuer fouÌdeÌ in my waye But notwithstoÌding that the quene had achieued this reprouchable answere yet he sayd to her in this manere My dere lady I am somoche male wrous vnhappy that I am not digne to be founden to fore your noble preâeÌce I knowe playnly that I haue made faute And I can not thinke how my courage is thus corruÌped yll couÌceylled for syn I toke leue laste tyme of you whan j parted I remeÌbre right well that in my voyage to Colchos I had yow alway in continuell remembraunce wreton within my herte hopyng at my retornyng to haue taken you to my wyf vnto the tyme that on a cursid night j was sodaynli esprysed wy t the loue of Medea which afore had requyred me to be her husbonde alway I refused her requeste by vernie of the souenauÌce mynde that I had of you NotwitstoÌding that she made to me promesse to make me coÌquere the noble ryche motoÌn with the flese of gold where neuer knight wente to fore to coÌquere but if helefte and loste there his lyff I knowe well that whaÌ she made me thye êmesse all that daye I chauÌged neuer my purpose ne corage But assone as I was leyd in my bedd an euill âoleÌte or wil surprised me which was suche in alle poyntes that j lefte your loue and âcluded that I wolde make of medea my lady paramours as j dyde and for this cause she gafe to me the introduction and the maner to conquere the noble and ryche moton of whome I haue brought the noble flees on this syde the see And also I haue broughte with me in to Myrmidone Meden no more thinking on yow ner on that that was concluded betwene vs thenÌe j hadde neuer seen yow But ye shall knowe what ys happeÌd syn I haue take her to my wyff She hath by her cursed enchanteméts reprochable made myn oncle Peleê° deye dolorously And also she is cause of the deth of his twoo doughters whiche is ouerfowle'a vylaynoê° caas foraladi âertes madame sayd yet jason for these enormites knowe that I haue left repudyed her in all abandoÌned witdrawe me from her aÌd bi an inestymable displaysir am deêted from the countree Myn aduenture hath ben of suche condycyon that I haue ben in the cyte of Corinthe but Medea was alle way in my thoughte and mynde ThenÌe seeyng that j coude in no wyse forgete her wold faynÌ haue
messager of his fader he callyd hym aÌd sayde to him in this maner Syr messager I haue vnderstand thought for taÌswere 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 entencoÌn ne wylle Wherfore j am not for this present counseiled to put me in his handes how well that I am alwai bouÌdeÌ bi al right holdeÌ to serue him obeye his coÌmaÌdemeÌts aÌd 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 ThenÌe jason answerde to the messager that if the kiÌg his fader were comeÌ theder therfore in suche ordenanÌce vpoÌ that enteÌcion he abused him gretly that Medea by her enchaÌtemeÌts shold neuer deceyuehi more duryng her lyf whaÌ the messager had vnderstaÌd the wille answere of jason he toke leue of him deêted from the palays retorned vnto the kiÌg his lorde whiche abood hi at foot of his teÌte 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 ⪠ThenÌe the king Eson sware that he ne hys siege shold neuer deête from thens for cold ne for heete for froste ne snowe for rayne ne for teÌpeste 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 kiÌg retorned its her teÌte theÌ she begaÌ to studye in her eÌchaÌtemeÌts 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 aÌd ⪠mirro the quene were at a windowe spekâg to gydre of theire werkes in especial of theÌterprise that the kiÌge soÌ made vpoÌ theÌ of which they haâ grete meruaile so they wyst not what to thinke sauyng that hit were nede for tenteÌde to forteâye the muraillelwalles of the cyte the tours yates to garnisse with stones wy t shotte to deffeÌde their streÌgth 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 preseÌce ThenÌe medea opeÌd this that she had in wylle to saye declare playnli and sayde in this maner âaâ Alas sir Iason haue ye not entencioÌ tame de your lyf which is moche reprochable tofore the goddes aÌd the worlde cursed be the oure aÌd theday that j saued waraÌted you fro the deth whaÌ for my reward aÌd gwerdoâ I muste suffre somoch in so many maners as I doo aÌd that in that tyme and iÌ place ye knowe not her to whoÌ ye be so gretly bouÌdeÌ and holdeÌ Dame aÌswerde thenÌe jasoÌ shal your sortes ne enchaÌtementes neuer cesse I can not thinke howe ye haue the hardinessâ to comÌ to fore myn eyenÌ seen that iÌ my pÌseÌce ye haue murdred one of my sones how aÌswerd thenÌe 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 remeÌbryd and knowen by yow whiche I did all of good herte and if I haue sâaynÌ your chyld ye be only culpable for ye do to me so many displaisirs anoyanÌce 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 âmysed made many enorme and ryght euyl caas For whiche I may lawfully repudie and abaÌdoÌne 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 âmysâd 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 enchauÌâemeÌts 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 loÌg 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 husboÌde as long as the sowle shal abyde iÌ my body j shal be beers ⪠shal not withdrawe me from herâner 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 nâght she was delyueryd aÌd rendryd at pintaquo in the chambre where her lytyll sone Iason was nourysshed ⪠aÌd there she beyng fulle of a Ryght tiers and demanded ãâ¦ã had seen him aÌd ther ãâ¦ã answerde for certaÌyn 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 tydiÌges 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 aÌd concluded to yeld them aÌd the tounÌ sauâ their lyues their goddes ThenÌ they chese twayn of the moost noble knightes of the cyte aÌd moste propice to the erande And sent hem vnto the noble king Eson that made with alle dyligeÌce 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 aÌd 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
The veray trew history of the valiauÌt 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. âOr asmoche as late by the commauÌdement of the right hygh noble princesse my right redoubted lady margarete by the grace of god Duchesse of Bourgoyne BrabaÌt 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 ⪠And also the labours and historieâ of ãâã Tytan Iubyter ãâã aâââ hercules other ãâ¦ã but as to the histoâââ of ãâã towchyng the coÌqueââe ââ¦e goldeÌâââse âyn auctor hath ãâ¦ã his boke but breueââ aââ thââausââs ãâã asmoche as ãâ¦ã aboke of the ââ¦che he pÌsenâed ãâã thâ⦠⪠Prynce in his ãâ¦ã of Bourgoyne ââ¦ke shulde haââ¦ad sett the saiââ¦ke sor it conâcyââ¦torie of jaâon ââ¦or aââoche as this said ââ¦newe made aparte of alle thistorâââ os the sayd Iason the historie of hiâ whiche that Dares ãâ¦ã Guido de coââpnys wroâââââ the begynnyng of their bokes touchyng the conqueste of the sayd golden fâese 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 âtectioÌ suffraunce of the most hyghe puissant and xpÌen 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 traÌslate the sayd boke of thistories oâ jason folo wyng myn auctor as nygh as j can or may not chaungyng the senteÌce ne presumyng to adde ne mynusshe ony thing other wyse than myne auctor hath made in FreÌsshe And in somoche as the grettest fame aÌd renomme standeth resteth in the conquest of the fâese of gold where of is founded an ordre of knightes Wherof oure sayd souerayne lord is one hath taken the profession therof howe well somÌe persones afferme and saye that the sayd ordre hath taken his origynal of the fâese 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 chaÌbre in the castell of hesdyn where in was craftyly and curiousââ depeynted the conqueste of the golden fâese by the sayd Iason In whiche chambre I haue ben seen the sayd historiâ so depeynted iÌ remeÌbranÌce of medea of her connyng scieÌce he had do make in the sayde chaÌbre 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 ThenÌe 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 taccoÌplissh this sayd lytil boke not pÌsumyng to âsente it vnto his highnesse for asmoch as j doubte not his good grace hath it in freÌsh which he wel vndstandeth but not displesing his most noble grace âântende by his liceÌce congye by the supportacionÌ of our most redoubted liege lady most âââelleÌt princesse the Quene to presente this sayde bokââ vnto the most fayr and ây moâsâ redoubted yoÌg lorde My lord priÌce 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 êgenytours 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 thaÌke of me his humble subgiett seruauÌte and to êdone me of this my simple and Rude translacion and aââ other that luste to rede or hereât to correcte where as they shalle fynde defaulte ¶ Here endeth the prologue of the translatour ⪠¶ The prologue of thauctor THe galeye of myn engyn floting not loÌg syn iÌ the depnes of the sees of diuerce auÌcient histories iÌ suche wyse as I wold haue brought myn esperite vnto the porte or haueÌ of rest Sodaynly apperid by me a ship coÌduited by one maÌ only This manÌ anonÌ behelde my regarde contenanÌce Which gaue me title and cause of thought and of abasshement for asmoch as I saw his visage trist heuy desolate wherof smytonÌ with coÌâ 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 eÌgyn what meruaillest thou Ancre thy galeye here take thy penÌâ 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 dishonÌeur that some persones hurte eÌpesshe my glorie jnposing to me not to haue holden my promys aneÌst medea wherof thou hast red the trouthÌ ThenÌe I pray the that thou do make aboke vnto them that dayly speke impugne my glorie maye knowe their indiscrete iugement And for taccoÌplisshe 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 aÌd put in wrytyng hys faytes as here after shall be declared plainly a long so thaÌ I pÌseÌte 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 ââdeth 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
êamours âaynâg that he was a simple knight of the kinges court deffeÌded hem expÌssy that they sholde not make to hi honour ne reuereÌce sauf only thonour of a felaw to a felaw anoÌ as he had aâutifed of that thei shold doo he put hi on the way so secretli that he cÌtrid in to olyferne so exployted that he was brought to for the noble quene mirro whome he had neâ secÌ to fore where he knelid douÌ on his knees right huÌbly to fore her howe wel as he was all rauisshed in thiÌkiÌg beholdiÌg her meruailloê° beaute for he had neuer seen to fore so fair a creature after the reuereÌces there made he sayde tò her in this manere Noble aÌd right renoined princesse the king of Esclauonie my souerain puyssauÌt lorde recomÌandeth hym right huÌbly to your good grace noble memorie and for so moche as he hath vndstonde that ye be coÌteÌte to here his demaÌd that he offrith for the loue for the we le the honour aÌd êuffit of you of your roiame if hit plese you ye shal gyue me audicÌce aÌd good expedicoÌn with these wordes the ladi ê¯maÌded theÌkiÌg that he shold staÌd vp as she that wist not what he was syn drew a littl a êt wherfore the kiÌg approuched ner her said right vtuouse âncesse ye knowe hou bi diucrce times your right huÌble ser uaiit the kiÌg of esclauoÌte hath reâred you bi his baroÌs cÌhassadours that it shold plese you to be his wyf felaw alway in feet ye haue refused him for cause of which refuse as j am aduised he hath entrid into your royame assailid it by warre as ye maye êceyne yet alway to put him self iÌ deuoir he hath seÌt me to you for to reâre your desired gÌce as he that hath more greter pite of you yourÌ couÌtre thenÌe ye haue your self as me semeth wherfore he reâreth you by me that at this tyme ye haue pite of your trewe louer of whoÌ the fortune is suche that certes he deyeth iÌ laÌguysshing after you ha a my ryght redoubted lady after the iugement of the menÌ ye ar the veray myrrour of al vertues of al bouÌte aÌd noblesse here thenÌe the voys of your seruauÌt speking bi my month and requiring your grace pite the most huble wise that to him is possible the poure a desolate kiÌg your right trewe we le willare may not be ino place withoute thenking on yow his ymaginacioÌâpryseth nothing but your name beaute his stomack digesteth nothing but your triuÌphaÌt glory his prayers ne suffrages moÌte not vnto the goddes but in calling them to the augmeÌtacioÌ of your we le Alas haue ye pyte mercy on him on your peple on your royaulnte aÌd on me that am his secrete messager of loue Londe sceÌde ye in wylle for to be his lady and maistresse to th eÌde that he may atteine to the chief of his desirs also to th eÌde that your cyte your men may d welle iu pees reste In pronounsing these or semblable wordes the doloroê° king made many sighes and began to cauffe and lo swete in suche agonye as he had ben a prysoner preseÌted to fore a juge for to reccyue SenteÌce of grace or of deth The wyse and discrete mirro suffrid him tachiene all his êposicion And whan he had purposed alle that loue ensey gned hi for this tyme She was not so dispâurueyed of aduis ne of enteÌdemeÌt but proÌptly meurly she made to him this aÌswere ¶ Messagyer whaÌ j haue wel vnderstand yow j am all abasshid how my mortal enmye can or may reâre me of loue of my aliauÌce whaÌ by his oulâage and and ãâ¦ã is by grete wronge entrid in to my âoy aume with armed hand pylled robbed my londe slayn my peple brente my contre yet more in faire hath besieged me iÌ my cyte of oliferne whaÌ j haue wel ouithought these sayde thinges I answere yow at this tyme for al that j shal rather suffre my self al my royaume to be destroyed than in ony maner shal condesceÌde to his requestes to his will Certes madame answerde the king me thinketh ye be not wel coÌceyled ne âsidere ye not that youre desdayne haue ben cause of the deth of fyfth thousand menÌ And how haue ye no regard that he is so noble and so puissauÌt a king that he loueth you with so parfait loue that all his desir is not but for to mowe come to your goode gÌce In trouth it apperith by that that is sayd to you that he hath more gretter pyte of your noble persone of your men and of your desolate Royaume thenÌe ye haue your self And therfore madame theÌke ye on these thiÌges and beware that by your cruelte defaure your goode louer aÌd freÌde if hit plese you fall not in despayre I wote neuer what may eÌcline you her to but if it be that ye wil desire rather the general total destructionÌ of your royaume thenÌe other wyse And by all my goddes hit is grete outrage folye that meuith yow therto âertes messager aÌswerde the wise ãâ¦ã vnto the âââauoÌ king ⪠the ãâã or wrastlyng of your wordes ãâã not stroÌg y nouh for to bete dounÌ ouercome the constanÌce of my coÌtinenÌce j loue my men peple naturelly And to this ende that alle the worlde knowe that I saye trouth also loÌg al 's the soule abideth in my body j shal neuer haue loue ne aliaÌce vnto myn enmye speke nomore to me therof With this the king was all vainquisshid discoÌforted of socours was so terribly displaisid angry of aspre mortal angre that in a grete dispair waÌhope he saide to her O fell lady most rebell leste pietoê° that euer deêted out of womaÌs bely syn that j must acquite me whaÌ I êceyue that your swete corage wole not accorde vnto me ne enteÌde vnto the coÌtinuel supplicacions of your so trewe louer I me deporte from hensforth for to speke ony more of this mater but j yow eÌsure as sone as the triews shall faille ye shal be guerdoned after yower fierste ¶ With these wordes the kiÌg of Sklauonye departed theÌs with a chiere peÌsyf and retourned to his Ooste more desiring to come to his enteÌcion thaÌ euer he hadde beÌ to sore And the sayr mirro lytil setting by his menaces begaÌ to deuise with soÌme of her geÌtil womeÌ in recouÌtiÌg to theÌ the prayers requestes that her mortall enemy had made to her ¶ What shal I saye yow more the triews faylled at tyme sette espired And whaÌ they were thê° faylled the king of sclauonie more thiÌking on the fayr mirro thaÌ was nede to him made his men to putte heÌ in armes many a daye ⪠hoping that they of Oliferne sholde come out aÌd make him skarmuches but he loste his payne for
the quene that tho was present hauing herd theÌterprise of the noble jasoÌ was so vtterly smytenÌ with sorou that her semed that she was smetenÌ with a spere a trauers the herte so moche she louyd jason neuertheles she helde goode contenanÌce asmoche as to her was passible And incontinent as Iason hadde declared there hys corage She sayde to him IasoÌ fayr sire be ware what ye saye see that yongthe abuse yow not For yf ye were you xx armed and in point for to fyghte knowe ye for trouthÌ that he sholde neuer leue but abyde yow thawhÌ ye had swornÌ his deth â Ertes dere lady sayde jason knowe ye that yf yongthÌ abuse me oultrequydauÌce presuÌpcioÌ deceyueth the GeaÌt For to sse a manÌ hou grete or puyssauÌt that he be ther behoueth but one stroke well sette But whether hit be of yronÌ or of steell or of ony other thing j doubte not but hit shall come to poynt Whan the noble Quene Mirro had vnderstaÌde this that Iason sayde She wyste not what to aÌswere ¶ What shall I make yow long tale he dyde doo be sayd to the messager of the king of Esklauonie that he wolde befighte the Geant Corfus And thenÌe whan the noble Iason was armed wythÌ hys armes he mounted on horseback his spere on his thye so departed frâ the cyte And adressid hiÌ toward the geaÌt whichÌ was right subtyll in the fayt of armes of the warre he had all his harnois trussid his hors sadlid brydlyd âncoÌtiâât as the geaÌt êceyuid that âhe vaâlliant prince jason cam ridiÌg vnto him he sterte vpon his hors cam to ward him by grete felonnye sayd to hiÌ what sekest thou to whom jason saide Arte thou corfê° Ie answerd corfus j am he trewly Than knowe thou that thou arte he that j seche Thou sayd corfus ye trewly sayde Iason and what meuithÌ the so to doo said corfus coÌsiderest thou not the strengeth force of my body aÌd the furour of my swerde and how I am cause of alle the desolacioÌ of olyferne yf me good semethÌ I shal sese the by the heede aÌd breke thi necke as the necke of a che keÌ Thou tellest me meruaylles said jason for to fere abasshe the peple but for alle that my corage chaÌgethÌ not our processe en durethÌ to long go thy way feche thy spere than shewe what thou caÌst doo thou hast founde a maÌ for to furmisshe the lityl speking well werkiÌg The geant wythÌ these wordes weÌte for to fecche his spere And jasoÌ couerd hiÌ withÌ his shelde assewring him self iÌ hys sadell And whan he had so don sawe that the geant smote his hors with his sporis caÌ agaist him he roode to ward hiÌ so corageously that hit semed more lyk thonder desceending from heueÌ thaÌ ony other thing and so smote the most fiersly that thei coude or mighte aÌd their strokes were so peysauÌt heuy that the sengles of their sadles brake in so moche that the noble IasoÌ was born vnto the erthe and the geant was reuersed with the sadle vnder the crupe of his hors and of the peysanteur of the two grete strokes the raynes of his horse faylled hys two legges behynde in suche wyse as he tumblyd the hede vnder the feet vpward at right grete meschief Many knightes of Sklauonye and of Olyferne were gretly abassâid whan they apperceyued that jason hadde receyued of the Geant Corfê° oonÌ so heuy so grette a strook with out dethÌ or mayme Iason and the Geant so bornÌ to the erthe aÌd sette a fote as sayd is Releuyd them self anonÌ in their staÌding and marchid oone agaynst that other ThenÌe the stroÌg GeaÌt drewe his goode swerd out of his shethe escried jasoÌ sayng Vaissale or felawe thou hast donÌ to me now the most grettest dishonour that euer hÌappend or came to me And therfore kepe thy self from my faytes the best wise thou maist for if the arme with the good swerd faylle me not at thys tyme j shal coÌsounde the in short tyme. And after I shall drynke thyn blood and ete thyn herte in despyte of the dueyl aÌd sorou that thou hast donÌ to myn her te Ha a tyrant felonnous oultrecuydanÌt aÌswerde the noble preu jason what euyll woldest thou doo if hit helde at no manÌ but at the. Certes hit happeth ofte tymes that suche menaces ben sayd of grete fere and drede And al is donÌ for to saue his lyf But to the regard of the aÌd of al thy menaces j make no compte net doubte the in no thing And in that thou sayest of drynking my blood ⪠and etyng mynÌ hert I shall kepe the right well by the ayde and the helpe of the goddes for to falle in suche jâhââanyte or furour And j hope where I haue angred the in thyn herte ⪠that hit shall not be long to but that thow shalt be angrid in herte in body and in sowle Than that corfus the right cruell geaÌt had vnderstand the wordes of jason he lefte vp his heed aÌd chyn aââ chargid with heer ⪠lyke a Beer and after enhaunced his trenchanÌt swerd with a grete Corage right angry and smote Iason and gaf hym so terryble and poyssaunt stroke that he bare a way more than a grette quarter of his shelde And whaÌ the noble preu Iason felte him so smetoÌ of the Geant he lefte vp his swerd a heyght wher with he araught his mortel ennemy vpon the coppe of his helme in enployeng alle his might that the Geant was constrayned to enclyne his heed alle lowe Wherof many had grete meruayle As ye may vnderstonde the twoo ChaÌpyons began to entretaste eche other with their trenchauÌt swerdes Alle way the geaÌt after that he had receyuid this peysauÌt strook he haunced his hand with hys swerde ⪠agayn and supposed to haue sinetoÌ jason But jason whiche was lyght delyuere and wel auised iÌ his feet drewe him a part in suche wise that the stroke ofâ the geaÌt fylle on the erthe so depe that if hÌe hadde araught hym playnly he hadde confounded him Than the preu Iason whiche had so voyded hym fro the strooke stept to the geant And gaf hym suche a stroke vpon the ryght sholdre that he brake his hauberk and made him a grete wounde Than jason withdrewe his swerde alle blody And whan Corfus the stronge geant felte that jason had so hurte him Certaynly he wente he shold haue goon out of hys witte for asmoche as he sawe the swerde of his aduersarye ⪠was dyed wyth his blood was moche angry But jasoÌ sette lytyll ther by Sauyng he begaÌ a lytil to smyle and lawe And yf he was glad so were they of Olyferne that beheld the bataylle of the twoo chaÌpyons But hit was notlong after but their lawhynges changed into wepynges For the geant as all despayred Ran vpon Iason so egrely that
put him in a boot allone aÌd sente him to the see in exyliug aÌd banisshing him out of his royaume Whan this damoisell as messagere had recompted vnto the noble jasoÌ this that said is That other messager toke the worde fro her saide Lordes aÌd knightes my felaw hath said tolde you now the reson and cause wherfore ye may not be receyued iÌto this cite therefore er gretter meschief befalle come to yow withdrawe you vnto the see for if ye tarye here long the ladyes wille assayle you asperly and shal deliuere to you a meruailloê° batayll Iason ansuerde sayde by all my goddes fayr lady our ship is all to brokeÌ aÌd for frusshid as ye may see is ful of watre And on that other syde we perisshe for huÌger if we be not shortly socourid for hit is two dayes past syn we ete ony morsell mete therfore if it must nedes be no remedie we had leuer to deye by glayues aÌd warre thenÌe by famyne how well by your gÌce ye shal retorne vnto the Quene ladyes â recoÌpte to theÌ oure estate and necessite And that we all to geder pray them and requyre instantly if ther be in hem ony vertu or noblesse that they wil now shewe hit hauyng pyte on vs. for the fortune of the see that hath trauaylled vs by many dayes in such wise that we supposed to haue perisshid from our to our hath brought vs hether as ye may see agaynst the wille of our maroÌners and of vs ¶ With this request the two damoiselles messagieres retourned in to their cyte vnto their quene ysiphile other ladies to whom they recoÌpted froÌ word the word the aÌswer that Iason had rendrid what he requyred ThenÌe the quene hauyng herde the answer of the .ij. messagieres she axid enquyred what peple these knyghtes of grece were of what ê¯dicioÌ facoÌn of what noÌbre they were Certes madame aÌs werd that one of the ij damoiselles j saw neuer iÌ my dayes more goodly menÌ ne better spokeÌ and j suppose ther wer neuer seeÌ so wel faryng meÌ grete vpright so wel in point of habillemeÌts so wel taught so curtays in all maners it is to be supposed that they beÌ the choyse piked out of al the humayn peple aÌd ther may wel ben of theÌ the noÌbre of an C. all of one facoÌn of lyk clothing ThenÌe the quene hering the messagiere that so hyely recomÌended the state of these knightes of grece thinking also of their request begaÌ to haue pite of their mysaueÌture of their myseases that they haue had on the see by teÌpeste forthÌ wyth she sente for to fecche foure of theÌ for to come speke with her wâoÌ she wold examine ¶ WhaÌ the honderd knightes vnderstode these tidynges they aduised amoÌg heÌ all whiche foure of theÌ they might best sende vnto the quene Ysiphile and âcluded in one that they wolde sende jason Hercules theseê° an other knight named Castor right fayr whyche cam to fore the quene grete nombre of her damoiselles And they were not loÌg comeÌ but that the quene aÌd her damoyselles were terrybly âârifed of the loue of these four knightes For there was nether Quene ne damoiselle but desirid withÌ all their herte their companye for the singuler especiall beaute of eche of theÌ Certes ysiphile at thinstaunt that her twoo noble eyeÌ had beholdeÌ the grete beaute of jasoÌ she was becomeÌ so moche amerous as was possible as of the most fayr the most gracious aÌd the moste couoytable of the iiij Tha she spack to heÌ demaÌded theÌ in general what they soughte in her royaume wheÌs they caÌ and whyther they wolde goo of what countree they were ThenÌe the noble Iason thinking of the demaÌdes of the quene coÌsidering the grete dauÌger where they were in and the necessite of famyne hunger that surmouÌted he as capiteyn chief of the vyage aÌsuerde huÌbly sayng in this manere Madame plese hit yow to knowe that we ben the noÌbre of an honderd knightes all gentill menÌ of one companye of one couÌtre we beÌ departed in one shippe But we haue had vpon the see so many infortunes by tempeste of wiÌdes of orages that hathÌ holden vs so long in grete doubte to be perisshid that vytailles beÌ faylled vs two dayes passid for to make short we goo to seche vitailles for to helpe our necessite syn hit plesithÌ you to knowe froÌ what couÌtre we beÌ parted whither we atteÌde to goo I declare to you that we come from Grece aÌd oure entente is to salle so ferre til we fiude an ysse of the see where is a moche ryclâ moton or shepebering his flese all of fyn golde the whichâ neuer knight yet had the poweâââ hardineâ for to âquere ne approche neÌyther only for to beholde see For many meruaillous and terrible bestes haue it iÌ keping Among the which â haue vnderstande ther is a right cruell dragoÌ how wel I haue allowed êmised for tauenture my selfe for to coÌquere hiter I euer retorne agayn into my countre or I shall deye in the poursuite therof as many knightes haue donÌhere to fore wherof is pyte ¶ Wherfore right hye and noble la dy I requyre you huÌbly that ye will haue mercy pyte on me aÌd of mynÌ infortunate felawes deyng for distresse of honger and famyne that we maye haue vytailles four our siluer and moneye and also grace aÌd leue for to remyse make oure shippe agayn whiche is broken reÌte in takyng londe vpoÌ your seignourye and lordshipe WhaÌ the noble jason had made his remounstrauÌce vnto the quene ysiphile as sayde is she withdrew her â ête with her damoiselles demaÌded of theÌ what was best to doo with thise noble menÌ They were as of oppynion that it sholde be a grete synne aÌd mesfeet for to late theÌ there deye for famyne honger And at th eÌde they âcludeÌd that they sholde be receyued into theyr Cyte notwihstaÌding their ordenanÌces statutes bi them to fore made in so moche that theâ Quene ysiphile retorned vnto jason saide to hi that for the honoure of noblesse the ladyes woldreceyue him aÌd his felawes in like wyse ThenÌe the noble jason thanked the quene of this grace right curtoissy dide do sende for his felawes that they sholde come into the cite which iÌcoÌtineÌt as thei knew that they sholde haue vytaylles were passing yoyous semed to them propreli that god was desceÌded amoÌge theÌ ThaÌ they cam to fore the ladyes whoÌ thei sale wed ryght reuerently aÌd anon as the quene sawe this noble coÌpanye to fore her in all humilite she deliuerid to an honderd of her ladies the honderd knightes of grece to eche of them one of their owne as for the best as her semed she reteyned
tabregge the matere the daye came that the noble preu jason sholde goo to the see on whiche daye the noble prince and his felawes toke leue of the noble Quene ysiphile of the ladyes aÌd damoiselles and thanked them largely of their goodes goode chiere that they had made to theÌ And thenÌe departed fro Lennos wente vnto the porte But whaÌ they sholde entre into the shippe the quene ysiphile presented vnto Iason the ydole of the goddeâse pallas many other ydoles of the goddes of the see and made him to putte them in hys shippe Sayng that none euylâe trouble mighte come to him in ony wyse âs log as he kept helde hem in reuereÌce WHan jason apêceyued the grete largesse of the noble quene ysiphile the goode loue whet wyth she louid him he thaÌked her moche huÌbly and syn went to the see made to winde vp the sayle And thus he and his companye departed froÌ lennos for to saille toward the yle of colchos of whom j willeue to speke for this present tyme. also of Iason of the Quene ysiphile the whiche whan she had bornÌher fruyt by the space of ix monethes hole she was deliuerid of a moche fayr sone For âo recounte wel a long of the ryght fayr aÌd noble yle of colchos in deuising the manere howe hit was firste founââ¦y the god ãâ¦ã so ãâã the countre was firste ãâã âyted and ãâã what kinges hiâ was gouerned whiche is a ryght difficile and harde thing to beleue for many persones that haue not estudied the auncient cronyâues of whom many ben full hard and doubtable to be beleuyd for the strauÌge meruayllogs werkes that ben founden in many histâries and places ¶ How appollo was sent by the god Mars into the couÌtrey where as was the ryche noble shepe or weder that bare the vliese of golde how he founded there a cyte _âOr to gyue yow knowlege of the noble I le of Colâ⦠shal deporte tayre for this present tyme to speke of the âââtes of Iason and wyll recompte telle in brief what ââ¦d first in colchos and by what manere facoÌn hiâ was knoweÌ that the riche motoÌ or shepe with the flees of gold was there and also the two meruaillous terrible booles the grete âpoueÌtable dragonÌ ThenÌe for to come vnto this historie I haue fouÌdeÌ an olde auncien cronicle conteynyng that whâlomÌe was a kiÌg in athenes named jupyter but this was not that jupit that was sone of saturne that regned in Crete whââ is a moche noble countre ââ¦g of Atheââ¦d ãâ¦ã the first was naââ¦aââoâ⦠that is aââoâhe as ââ¦s in latynÌ whyche by the athenyens was callyd god of âatayll for cause of many bataille ââ¦at he had in his tyme ayenst his âââghbours of which he had ââ¦ay the victorie The secondâ was apis which was king of argisââ appollo that regned in archade was the thirde This appollo was a man of grete gouernement he introduysed the archadyens for to lyue honestly ¶ Certe he âquerd many royauines he had grete noÌbre of childrenÌ And fynably whan they were groweÌ to age he deliuerid to theÌ his landes to gouerne aÌd after that departed right secretly from archade and in the aslate of a medicine or a phisicien he wente in the most part of the prouices of the worlde he was thê° wandring ten yeres at th eÌde of teÌ yere he arryued at athenes And there founde that this broder Mars was newly dede and passed out of thys worlde and that ther was made to him a temple whiche endured after vnto the tyme of the conuersion of saynt denys He weÌte into the teÌple with an herte replenisshid with teres knelid dounÌ to the erthe to fore the representacion of his broder the god mars requiring hi that he wolde she we to him that thiÌg that was best for him to do and that he wolde with all his myght ensiewe accoÌplisse his doctrine commaÌdemeÌt ânonÌ as appollo had finisshid his prayer a grete whirliÌg or tourbillon of winde cam sodainly flapped hi on the vysage wher with he was astonyed that he wist not what hit was aÌd beyng in this rauisshemeÌt him thought that the god mars saide to him appollo appollo thy prayers ben presented in the huen to the goddes Thou hast seen many meruailes of the worlde but that is nothiÌg in regard of one that thou shalt see it shal not mowe be seyn but by the. ThenÌe it pleseth vs that thou go into pyre for to make an arke vnto the semblaunce likenes of that arke that noe made som time for to saue him his famyllie froÌ the deluge flood after that we wil that thou do charge hit with as grete a noÌbre of pyrriens as hit may receyue aÌd that thou aÌd they put yow to the see therin and whan ye haue dounÌ so j shal bring yow in to the best yle the moste ryche the most fertyle of all the world whiche shal been habited by the pyrriens And thou shalt vnderstaÌde that by this yle is a resorte of the see vnto an other litell I le where in is the noble motoÌor sheep with the fsiese of gold the whiche not loÌg syn was sente by the goddes Iuno to ârixus and to his suster Helles bothe enchassed bitheir stepmod for to make theÌ passe the see which that now is named hellespoât by cause that helles lete her falle into the see The noble aÌd riche motonÌ thenÌe or shepe of golde is the moost meruaillous beste that euer was iÌ the worlde hit must be ones conquerd but that shal be with grete parell well behoueth therto a meruailloê° craft mistere And for somoche thenÌe as thou shalt be iÌ the yle habitable iÌ the whiche j shal conduyte bring the beware kepe the also dere as thou hast thy lyf that thou goo not into the yle where the noble motonÌ of goolde is in For I haue therin ordeyend thre bestes the which ât space of time shal cast fire flabe fumyer venyn out of their throtes wherof shal be destroyed al they that shal desceÌde in that yle excepte only one vnto a certayn terme with these wordes appollo cam agayn to him self thiÌkiÌg on the voys that he had herd after that he had made his oblacioÌs he deêted out of the temple and also from athenes obeing to the wil of the god mars he trauayled in suche wyse by his iournees that he caÌ vnto the Royaume of pirre in the cyte of salathie that whilom had fouÌded salathyel whiche was of the lignye of the hebrews ThenÌe appollo logged him in the how 's of a bourgoys named loth aÌd requyred himoche that he wolde bringe hym vnto the king of that couÌtre whiche was callid Phylitenê° ThenÌe loth accorded vnto the requeste of Appollo brought hym to fore phylitenê° aÌd thenÌe appollo made him the
possible to the helpe aÌd 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 demaÌded of him what eyled him so to crye wepe from wheÌs that water cam that so boilled aboute him axid syn where was zechius Alas aÌswerde the poure felawe which laboârid 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 disâresse and so anguyssâousây that vnnethe that is creature lyuyng that coude veâayly 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 aÌswerde 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 loÌde iÌ colchos in descendyng from the shippe alâs âere 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 facoÌn fourme of a sheep or motoÌ ThenÌe we ê¯cluded to geder with one wyll that we wolde haue takeÌ hiÌ thenÌe 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 aÌd feet all of coper their hornes were grete and sharp theyr eyeÌ gretter more reed thaÌ boylliÌg coper or metal the whiche thre bestes so dredefull disgorged caste out fyre of their throtes venyn vpon vs in suche facoÌn that Zechius alle the other deyde there in suche paynÌ dolour that was neuer lyke therto recorded aÌd of vs xxx felaws ther is none escaped except my self whiche was laste ferthest behiÌde for whaÌ j apêceyuyd themes chief so grete spntme to fâight 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 aÌd holdeth me in suche a brennyng in alle my body that j muste nedes take bi dolonrouse deth the eÌde of this worlde wherfore j requyre you that ye goo no ner Colchos ¶ With this wordes the doloroê° maÌ finysshed his dayes in anguisthe aÌd payne and the sowle deêted 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 meruaillousây and after this apperid in the ayer grete lightniÌges of fire the which caÌ lauÌchiÌg bitwene the kiÌg appollo Êethe phiê° the other beâg iÌ the ship ther was nonÌ of theÌ so assured but with the wiÌde the iÌpetuouse lightnyng they were beteÌ doune vnto the botoÌ of the ship in suche wise they were sinetonÌ with the lightniÌg tournieÌs and with the orage of haylle stones that appollo hiÌ self knewe not a grete while if euer he sholde escape this dauÌger or no For aboute heÌ they sawe no more thaÌ meÌ doo in a wiÌtres night at midnight whaÌ hit rayneth NotwithstaÌding 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 comÌandetâ the that thou retourne incoutineÌt to thy cyte for zechius thy good freÌde 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 aneÌture 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 desceÌde therin whicâ shal coÌquere 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 poiÌt all the mysteries aÌd craft that he behouetâ to obserue kepe for to obteyne come to thing of so hye recoÌmeÌdacion 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 fâees 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 fouÌde vnder his hede the bille a fore said whiche he kepte âoygneusây 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 thenÌe assone as he and his peple were arryued at the poort and out of the ship forthÌ with the weder begaÌ to chauÌge and begaÌ to snowe to rayne to blowe make one so terrible a storme teÌpeste that by force of the out ragyoê° orage the arke in the ⪠whiche appollo aÌd all his coÌpaniâ cam into that yle that they inhabited and also al the shippis aÌd 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 aÌd 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 noÌbre fâoted here there in the see thus bi this waye they were all lost and spent of the whiche aueÌture all they that were thenÌ at the porte beholdiÌg were sore esbayed not without cause for neuer to fore was seeÌ so meruaillous a teÌpeste 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 domÌage and preiudice ¶ How the knight zethephius conspired ayenst Appollo
this goulf or arme of the see that the sonne wente donÌ thenÌe as argos thoughte where he might best caste ancre make his shippe faste hit happend that he sawe tofore him the cite of Iacoynte on that one syde of the yle of Colchos ther spraÌg out sodayuly tourbillouÌs of fyre so terrible that of feer that he had iÌ beholding hit he begaÌ to crye WhaÌ Iason hercules and Theseus the other knightes of grece herd the maister thus crye they sprang vp cam to hym and the maister told theÌ the cause of his crye syn shewd to hem the cite the yle asseured hem how they were comeÌ to th ende of their vyage and of this mater they deuised so long that speking therof their ship caÌ to the porte into theâpre place where the arke of king Appollo was comen at that time whan they caÌ first into the londe ThenÌe the maister of the ship caste his ancres into the see ThenÌe Iason reÌdrid louyng preysing vnto thÌe goddes so dyde hercules ThenÌe they seÌte Theseus vnto the king Oetes for to signefte to him their comyng for tenquere yf this was the countre that they sought Certes Theseus wente aÌd dide his message in suche wyse that the king Oetes preseÌted to him his palais and sente vnto the noble Iason foure of his knightes that requyred him on the kinges behalue that he wolde take his herberow in his palays aÌd he was to him right welcome And whan jason hadde vnderstande the will of the king by the iiij knightes he êmysed theÌ that wyth a goode will he wolde come theder and thenÌe he entrid in to the cyte whiche was noble and fayr how well it was nyght at that tyme yet was the cyte as light as it had ben daye bi the clarte respleÌdonr of torches cresettes other fyres that the kinge had do make in the cyte ryght notably acompanyed for to feste the grekes ¶ Ye may wel vnderstande that the ryght noble Iason entrid into thys cyte acompanyed of Hercules aÌd his felaws that werÌ right riche clad and habilled with clothÌ of goold of silke The strete by whiche they passed for to go to the palays was on two renges hye lowe peupled of ladyes of damoiselles of knightes bourgeys merchanÌs maydeÌs yoÌg peple beholdiÌg their coming ordenanÌce And whan jason was comeÌ vnto thentree of the palays he fouÌde there the noble king Oetes whiche was sette in astate royall for to feste jason and his companye and receyuyd jason right honourably as chief of them alle and theâe wha he had welcomed them he toke hiÌây the hand ad leode him vnto his pa lays And anone as they wente vpoÌ the steyres for to goo vp jason loked into a windowe and beholdyng he espyed the fayr Medea among many ladyes to whoÌ he toke noâ other hede as for this tyme but hit was not so on her part For she began to beholde him so affectâoâsây for hys grete becauâe that he was more iÌ her gâe than â can telle you For ââbregge the mater jason alle his âpaâye passed forth bi this windowe where Medâa was cam into an halle where the tables were couerd And thaâ whyâes they made redy the soâ per. the kiâg Oetes began to demande the geÌtil knight jason after many wordes he began to saye to him iÌ this maner ¶ IasoÌ fayr syre â knowe for trouth that ye be sone of king Esoulyke as Theseê° your felaw hath sayd to me But I knowe not whyther ye enteÌde to goo ne what thing ye seche wherfore â praye yow by maner of a passe tyme that ye wil a lytyl recoÌ pte to me of yoââ astate enterprise if hit be possible that ye so doo may â ony manere and I êmyse you that if I may be propice in ony sacoÌn for the loue of your fader whoÌ I haue som tyme knowen I shal deliuere to you ayde coÌfort in all that â me shall be possible Syre ansuerde thenÌe jason â thaÌke you huÌbli of the grete honour that ye presente to me aÌd syn it must nedeâ be that ones ye must knowe the cause wherfor â am descended into your countre I declare to you that â haue enterp sed for to goo into the yle of Colchoâ notwithstaÌding the parils whiche beÌ moche to doubte not with oute cause with this I haue made aâowe that â shall neuer retourne into grece vnto the tyme that I haue conquerid shalbrynge wyth me the sheep or ââese of golde and if I may not make an ende of this enterprise Hercules my felawe shal aduenture him Werfore I requyre yow that of this enterprise ye wille counceylle me to your power Certes Iason said theâe the king ye haue made a lytyll vowe How sire sayd IasoÌ how so for asmoche aâsâerde the king as bi ony adueture or fortune ye eÌtre into this yââ of colchos hit is not possible that ye euer retorne hether agaâ for ther be in that yle two grete aÌd meruaillous bulles enuenyââed comÌysed to the kepyng of the motoÌ or fsees of golde wherof ye spak also ther is coÌmysed for the garde of the same the most terryble and the most crimynel dragoâ that euer was spokeÌ of or seeÌ The which thre bestescast ê¯tinuelly âire â fenyn out of their throtes whiche shal ââee yoâ without remedie in continât that ye approche them the whiche thinges considerâd syn that ye haue demaÌded me coÌceyle also that eâyri noble man is bouÌdeÌ to gyue couÌceyle to theÌ that beÌ euylen formed conceyled I pray you couÌceyle as my propre âone that ye cesse of this your enterpryse for yf ye doo other wise al the golde of the worlde may not saue yow ⪠therefore theÌâe wel that ye haue to do before ye put yow in suche a dannger I coâceylle you as thaugh ye were myn owne sone or my broder germayn herewith they left their wordes The soupper was redy wyth these wordes the kiÌg satte at the table betwene jason Hercules sente after Medea aÌd Caliope whiche were sette to fore him this donÌ he commanded the other grekes to sytte at an other table where they were rychely seruid But whan hit cam for to ete the noble mayde medea eÌtroubled at that tyme her mayntene and cast her regarde vpoÌ jasoÌ where she rested leÌger thenÌe hyt apêteyned to her ê¯tenauÌce for jason semed to her more fayr thaÌ he was at the first time he was so playsanÌt agreable that whaÌ she herde recoÌpte amoÌg other deuyses thinges that he was comeÌ for to ê¯quere the motoÌâor ââees of golde she iuged that this was the knight of grece which was destined for to conquere it saide in her self that she wolde helpe him to obteyne the same wyth that he wolde take her to his wyf such or ââblable were the thoughtes of the fayre
thenÌe jason deêted fro the temple retorned wyth the grekes vnto the palays the fayr medea abode in the temple moch pensif in grete âayne â somoch that after the departing of the grekes she knelid doun huÌbli tofore the repÌsentacion of venê° said in this maner Ryght soueraine goddesse of louers whiche holdest alle the faytes of nature in thy domynacion seignourie I yelde me vnto thy good mercy ha a where may â be come for to haue goode couÌceylle j haue requyred the noble knight jason of loue or atte lest j haue reueled shewid to him the secrete of myn herte aÌd of my thought with that I haue offryd to saye to him aÌd declare the secrete of the goddes haue I donÌ euyl I wote neuer but atte lest I apêceyue clerely that I haue my self to him abandonned gyâen Haa what shame is this ye verayli and more if he daigneth not to here me but if I may do somoche that he accord vnto my will this shal be to me the most gretest glorie that may come to ony woman of a noble hoê° ha a hygh goddes couÌceylle me enseigne tech me put your helpe to this werk to your âcell it is now time or neuer After this orisoâi abode there the fair medea as al rauisshed was so loÌg ther til the ladi thather had in garde caÌ to her said that she taried and made her praiers to long and that hit was tyme to retorne to the palays ThenÌe aroos medea froÌ her contemplacyon alle esprysed of loue as her visage shewid it plainly reforned hom ward And whaÌ she was comen to the palais she founde that the king abode her for to goo to dyner but she gaf the king to vnderstonde that she was not wel dispesed and so the king sette him at the table with jason the noble hercules theseus and Caliope the seconde doughter Medea went vnto her chaÌbre many ladyes aÌd damoiselles folowed her how wel she made hem all deête aÌd go out of the chambre reteyned nonÌ with her reseruid the lady that had the conduyte and charge of her the whiche was ryght sore abassâid of the maintene of Medea Wherfore incontinent as al the women were withdrawen she cam to her sayde thus My dere doughter I haue grete meruaille from whens thys maladye is comen to yow In goode faith aÌswerde medea fair moder it nedeth nothing to you to meruayle For ther is no creature what that ever they be but that they must be subgeâ to receyue the maladies skeâes whaÌn they come whaÌ the godd fortune will send theÌ Your resonÌ is good sayde thenÌ the lady but whan the maladyes ben comeÌ it behoueth to seche remedie assone as is possible therfore telle ye to me your necessite where the sekeâes holdeth greueth you and j shal aduertise the medicine or phisicien that he shal pourueye for remedie A ha fair moder said Medea Late me in peeâ It must nedes be that ye telle me âswerde the lady It is auenture saide medea Wherfore said the lady For asmoche as myn infirmite is ouer secrete for somoch I dar not discouere it A ha my dete lady sayd thenÌ I suppose that hit ben amourettis that thus trauaylle yow aÌd I am in doubte that theââeaute the noble vertues of jason ben cause berof for j see you all in other maners thenÌ ye were wont to be and if it be so telle hit to me hardyly for ye be the creature aboue alle other of the world that I loue best I haue vnto this tyme the best wyse I coud gouerned aÌdnourisshid you for so moch me semeth that ye sholde hyde no thiÌg from me aÌd if ye be ony thing smyten wy t the dart of loue discouere it vnto me that shal be vnto your herte grete alegement for euery êsone amorous passeth his payne grief lightly whan she findeth to whoÌ she may opeÌ herte and deuise clerely My fayr moder sayde thenÌe medea I see well that it behoueth that ye kno wt alle myn af fayre Certes verily I amourouse of jason somoche that I sholde jeoêde my lyf for him and in dede I haue requyred hym that he take me to hys wyf j shall deliuere to him the industrie and teche him hou he shall winne the âsces of golde also adauÌte the ferdful bestes of the yle of Colchos ¶ WhaÌ the lady had vnderstaÌd this that sayde is she began to wepe tenderly sayng Ha a dere doughter what haue ye donÌ I am all dishonoured by you whaÌ ye go prayng the straÌge knightes of loue Haa what outrage Certes they shal mocâ you and if it be knowen ye shal neuer be honoured ne called as ye tofore haue beÌ Knowe ye fair moder aÌswerde thenÌ medea that I haue not donÌ so yll as ye wene aÌd if I haue required the noble knyght jason of loue hit shal reputed to me vertu aÌd not shame ne dishonour for pyte hath âstrayned me so to do for asmoch as hit is in me to saue his lyf to make hiÌ retorne with glorie and victorye of his enterpryse for so moch knowe ye that thenÌe whan j haue seeÌ so fair so wel adressid knight that his lyke shal not be seen in a. M. yere I haue had pyte of hym aÌd aboue this loue hath made me enterprise that I haue requyred hym coÌsidered many thiÌges that he wolde neuer haue required me and j haue made to hym a promesse which I wil holde entretiene if he wil ensure me that I shal be hys wyf for j haue here wythin by wryting the maner how the goddes will that the motonÌ or shepe of golde shal be conquerd wherfore I requyre and praye yow that ye councele me and helpe that by your conÌyng conduyte I might gete aÌd draw him to my loue that ye wolde do somoch for the loue of me that he haue no souenauÌce of ony other la dy in the worlde saue only on me for it is force that it so be or ellis he be dede perisshed in the yle of colchos where he hath auowed to go finisshe th ende of the right perilloê° aueÌture of the motonÌ or flees of goolde And finably that in be wailing and be wepyng his deth j be homycide of him and of my self ThenÌe the lady seeyng medea to be in this point behelde sawe how she was of a meruaillous grete corage and yet she thought that ther might come harme of if the maide accomplisshid not partye of her desire and syn brought to her remeÌbranÌce that she might bringe jason to ê¯quere the motonÌ or flees of golde aÌd whan she hadde put al thise thiÌges in a balanÌce and fiched in her engyn she began to reconforte medea and in dede êmised her that she sholde so doo that without other moyen she shold enioye the
conqueste Medea amoÌg all other was so ryghtioyous whaÌ she espyed the lyght and shyning of the flees of golde that her semed that she shold entre into a paradise terrestre And coÌmanded that her ladies and damoiselles shold put on the fayr fronte in entencyoÌ to make feste soleinpne for the honour of this right excelleÌt victorie for to come to a ê¯clusion troÌpes tabours menestreles hornes saâfasinois aÌd busines began to blowe vp aÌd sowne melodyoussy after that tyme vsed The maroÌner argos rowed in suche wyse that he brought Iason to the poorte hoole and sauf where he was fested of the king oetes of the worthy hercules of theseus aÌd generally of alle the grekes Hercules toke the riche flees whan jason was descended vpon the londe aÌd bare hit tofore the vaillyaunt knight jason whiche went first into the temple of the goddesse deane aÌd there thanked moche hyghely the god mars the goddes pallas and Deane After he made him to be disarmed And there he yelded agayn the armes of the god appollo syn made his oblacyon of one of the feet of the boles and of one of their hornes with one of the toÌges of the dragonÌ and whan he had donÌ alle this solempnly he retorned to the palays where he was right honourably receyuid of medea aboue alle other of her ladyes and danioyselles whiche behelde Iason meruaillously aÌd in especiaâ the noble and ryche flees of golde which hercules bare on hye tofore him CErtes ther is no man so eloquent ne so well canÌ endyte by wrytyng that coude descryue to you how grete playsir the eyeÌ of the noble vayllyauÌt preu jason and the eyen of the moche fayre medea toke on thenÌe whan they began to beholde eche other And alle the worlde there demened grete yoye and gladnes And whan the noble knyght Iason was goon vp in to the halle The vayllyannâ knight Hercules sette the noble flees of golde vpon a cupberd moche rychely arayed And anone after the knightes of grece and many other knyghtes ladyes and Damoyselles beganÌ the daunces moche joyously and the feste was fayr and grete vnto the houre of the soupper that the tables were couuerd aÌd that the kyng oetes and the noble Preu Iason was sette and wyth them the noble and fayr lady medea Hercules Theseus and ⪠Mopsiê° At this table was the noble Iason and the fayre Medea sette one to fore that other But in no wyse they durst not speke one word how they made many secrete signes of loue that coude not beapperceiued but they entremarched wy â theyr feet vnder the table whyles that jason reherced in groos the grete paryls where he hadde ben ynne wylhout shaking of ony mencion of ordenaunces maners and cerymonyes that he had holden OF thys meruayllous auenture were the king Oetes Hercules and the other batons knyghtes and noble menÌ that satte and seruid at this souper moch abasshed and gretly meruaylled how the noble preu jason was escaped of so grete aÌd meruaillous aueÌture And hyely recommanded this enterpryse and vayliaunce Hercules and Theseus that a fore tyme had slayn many monstres confessed there that alle theyr fayttes passed wer nothing to the regard of the auenture that jason had enterprysed and brought to an ende ¶ What shall we make longe compte the souper passed and the houre caÌ that the king oetes Iason withdrewe hem into her chambres And thenÌe was jason conueyed into hys chaÌbre wy t many noble menÌone aÌd other theder was brought the noble riche fleesof gold but at this time they might not deuise ne plaie there as they had ben acustomed but sente heÌ into her chaÌbres mopsius wyth the other sayng that al that nyght he wolde wake in orisonÌs aÌd prayers vnto the goddes for asmoche as they had donÌ to hym so grete nyde coÌforte and honour in his werkes ANone ââââe as the preu jasoÌ was left ââââys chambre as sayd is the maistresse of me dea cam opend thedore of the chaÌbre and demanded jason if he wold come vnto her doughter Iason answerde ye wy â right good wille thenÌ he wente dounÌ into the chambre of his lady whiche had made redy a right fair baygne ThenÌe he sale wed her after saide to her in this maner My dere lady knowe ye that I haue had moche grete desire to see you secretli in your pryuaulte for to thaÌke you of the right grete honour that by your cause is comeÌ to me and also of the mortal paril daunger that ye haue deliuerid me fro Wherfore I thaÌke you right humbly of all thise benefetes ⪠and furthermoree I pÌsente you the body that ye haue preserued fro deth Redy to obeye alle youre comÌandements and playsirs Certes jason my dere loue aÌd frende answerde the fayr Medea If youre desire haue ben grete and suche as ye saye yet hath myne be more as j wene I haue done the beste that in me hath be possible and I haue ryght grete ioye and gladnes of the knowleche that ye haue Alle my corage is nothiÌg saue to plase you ye be right welcome and wyth grete worshyp retorned for yow and for me And make good chiere hardyli I haue ordeyned for you a baygne for to wasshe you from the bloode wherwyth ye haue beÌ enoynted therfore dispo ylle yow entre into this bath thenÌ we shall deuise at oure leyser of alle werkes ¶ Whan the preu jason had vnderstaÌde this that sayd is he dyde ⪠of his clothes ryght glad of this aduenture and syn entred into the baygne the fayr Medea in her coursett whiche had no sleues terued vp her smoâ sleues and in thys poynt cam froted weesshed her frend jason And thenÌ whan the gentyl bacheler apê ceyuid so gentil corps body of Medea her fair and roÌde tetes the whitenes of her flesshe and that he felte her handes meruayllously softe him semed that his herte hys body flewe He was so moche esprysed of an ardant desir of loue he begaÌ thenÌe tenbrase the lady by the body aÌd syn behelde her grete beaute and thus doyng he kysshed her many tymes And thenÌe whan he had ben well eased wasshed medea made him to lye in her bed heholdyng his meÌbres well formed shapen and made and hys colour fayr and quyk and coude not tourne her sight from him They were thus beholdyng auysing eche other wyth oute sayug ony word But atte last the noble preu jason toke the worde and sayde my dere lady ye knowe wel how j haue promysed to be your husbond also in lyke wyse ye haue promysed to be my wyf thenÌe may I saye I am youres ye ar mynÌ of vs two is but one thing thenÌe I requyre you so aâ feâtuelly as I can or may and for all the plaisir that ye may do to me that ye wylle come
and conueye Iason at his departyng to thys ende that he comen into Grece sholde preyse him aÌd saye that he hadde made hiÌ good chere For to briÌge to an eÌde this coÌclusion he aroos and wyllyng to eÌtre fro chambre to chambre til he cam to jason he entrid in to the chambre of the nourice of his sone absirthius ⪠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 thenÌe the nourire begaÌ to loke aboute her but that was for nought for she fonde hâ not wherfore all effrayed she spraÌg out of her bedde and began to seche him diligeÌtly alle aboutes the kiÌg Oetes entred in to the chambre oâ Medea and ther he fonde ne êsone 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 aÌd withouthe spekyng ony worde he weÌte vp in to the chaÌbre where the noble Iason was logged but he fonde neyther jason ne Medea ne êsone 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 demaÌded 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 aÌd yet that more is haue so euyll couÌceylled 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 incoÌtinet fecche the for to wete who hath meuyd the thus to doo wy t this I shal take vengeanÌce of the desloyall knight jason wiche to his power reÌdreth to me euyl for good ¶ WhaÌ the king had sayd thus he retorned into his palays cryeÌg that euery man sholde arme him thenÌe alle the peple pourueyed them of staue â armures syn demaÌded wherof proceded the cause of thys alaromÌe the whiche anonÌ was all commune ThenÌe 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 ThenÌe he wente vnto the poorte chese out four hoÌderd of the beste in poât 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 apêceyued that tho galeyes cam swiftely after theÌ for to fecch agayn the fayr medea called jason that japed played wyth medea preseÌt 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 ThenÌe 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 leÌger âaryeng the noble knight hercules and jason putte them in armes and in lyke wise dyde their felawes ThenÌe 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 treÌble for fere whaÌ she had espyed her fader to approche so nyghe at th eÌde 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 begonÌe 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 aÌd 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 thenÌe Medea Thexperience of my werke enseigneth to yow the thought of my herte Madame answerde thenÌe 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 thenÌe 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 thenÌe he is moche ewrous and in a goode oure bornÌ whaÌ he in hys teÌdre yongth maye because of the helthe of so moche peple aÌd specyally of his fader naturel Certes medea said thenÌe jason I see none other facoÌn ne moyen but that ye be of all poyntes dishonoured whaÌ ye haue coÌmysed so ryght pyetousa caas as for to haue mârdryd your êpre broder innocent of all thinges A hawhat horrible cruelte My dere loue answerde thenÌe medea ne troble you other wise thenÌe by resoÌ For if it be your plaisir ye shal here what I shall saye aÌd after of the caas I make yow iuge ye know how I am by you brought from the howâ of my fader ayeÌst his wyll I haue coÌsiderid what my departyngis and further more I haue thoughte haue had regarde vnto the grete aÌd 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 aÌd 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
prayers and oroisonÌs in souffrages in thoughtes in jmaginacyons in desire in hope fynably in despair aÌd in deth anguisshoê° For whaÌ I haue apperceyued that thou canist not agayn to me in fourthy dayes after the daye of thy êmis All dispayred I haue compiled aÌd wreton this epistle wyh my handes and wyth thyn aÌd in alle suche wyse and facoÌn as she that myght no lenger abide thy comyng reforne j haue caste my self into the see prayng the goddes that they briÌge me quyk or dede in to that place there thow art quyk or ded bi grete deffanlte of thy promesse to that eÌde that thou see what terible affectioÌ loue j haue hadde to thy perfone In redyng this epistle the preu jasoÌ wepte so pyetoussy that he might no more And as to the regarde of hercules Theseê° Mopsiê° they faylled not to be of the lyuery of Iason And whan Medea had red al the contenâ of the pistle jason began to complayue thys so myserable lady that was dede by hys cause ⪠as she declared in her epistle And thenÌe whan he had coÌplayned be wayled her long he excused him to fore them al le of the promesse that he had made to her for to retourne by the Cyte of Iennos Sayng that it was not his deffaute but that the god of wynde was coulâable And therof he toke witnes of Hercules Theseê° mopsius Argos the good âatoÌner of many other the whiche ââew right well how he had purposed to haue gonÌ into leÌnos iÌ retorniÌg froÌ hiseÌterpryse froÌ Colchos for to see thys noble lady and how the tourbyllonÌs of winde had destourned heÌ ayeÌst his wil. But finably whaÌ medea apperceyued the manere of jason she begaÌ to demaÌde him what prouffited hiÌ his wepinges suche excusacioÌs syn saide to him Certes Inson me semeth that ye haue better the corage of a woman thenÌe of a man aÌd that is no nede to wepe ne so bewailc a lady that was so despaired but ryght welfor youre honour for the goodnes that she hath donÌ for you in âpassyon of noblesse ye shall do her to be adoubed for to bring her iÌto your countrey there ye shal do her richely and honourahly be put in sepulture as in suche a caas apperteyneth By the wordes remoÌstrauÌces of the fayr Medea the duiel sorou of her loue jason cessed a lytil a lââyll aÌd Medea with her maistresse whaÌ they sawe her time toke the body of the Qnene ysiphile and leyde it a ête wyth the atours ryalle What shal I make long proces on the moruÌ IasoÌ commanded to disancre from thens And was syn sayling certayn iourneyes on the see but in th ende without makiÌg meÌcioÌ of ony aueÌture dig ne of memorie Argos the good maistre sailed so ferre bigousfres bifsotes that at the. xx moneth after their deêting of mirmidone he arriued at the poorte froÌ wheÌs he was deâted for whos comyng the dwellars ãâ¦ã inhabytants of that countre of grece were as yoyouse as they might be on that otherside jason alle they of his ship incontynent as they had espyed knoweÌ that is was the poorte that they weredeêted fro began to singe al on in preysing thaÌking the goddes of that they were comen home aÌd had escaped so many daungiers parils to their worship prouffit wyth ryght grere triumphe of victorie At that time whan argos arriued in this poort the sterres apperid largely on the heuen the night was fayr aÌd the see paysible And therfore the knightes of grece abode iÌ the ship al night without goyng alonde on the mornÌ be tyme jason seÌte Theseê° for to signefie his comyng vnto Peleus Theseus wente fonde peleus in a cyte named Elsebee where was mery passed the time with his wyf whos name was Cyâane supposed neuer to haue herde tydinges of jason whaÌ peleê° saw knew theseus he went ayenst him aÌd made to hym grete reuereÌce and worship aÌd syn demanded him of alle tydinges ThenÌe theseus began to telle a parte of the tydinges of jasoÌ in especial recompted to him thauenture that he had donÌ in Colchos and how he had brought the ryche noble flees of golde aÌd that he was arriued at the poorte of seseyre aÌd that he had wyth him the flees whiche was the most fayr the moost noble Iewell that euer was seen after told him that he had conquerd in hyâ voyage the grettest honoure that euer knight might gete also he tolde how he brought wyth him the doughter of the king of Colchos whiche was most wyse fayr ⪠and exellente whiche in alle qualitees after reson might be holden for the best accoÌplisshid lady of the worlde The noble knight Peleus hering thyse tidynges thê° told was so pressid at the hert that al the bloode chaunged ⪠by al the vaynes os his body how well he made semblant as he had beÌ meruaillousli yoyous for he sente vnto the king Eson for to she we to him these good tydynges aÌd syn assembled the nobles the bourgeys the merchants the ladyes damoiselles of the cyte aÌd brought them in fayr ordenanÌce for to mete wyth Iason ¶ whan the comyng of jason was ââowen in the cyte in the countre ââhe man began to make grete chere At comyug owt of the shippe IasoÌ and Hercules were the first that yssued out and after them cam mopsius an other knight of grece whiche bare to fore jason the ryche flees of golde in signe of triuÌphe of victorie The thre toÌges of the meruaillous dragon the legges hornes of the two dredefull boles aÌd they led by the arme the noble lady Medea whiche was rychely arayed fayr as the fayr daye and after them folowed the other knightes and noble meÌ of grece IncoÌtineÌt as peleê° the geÌtyll men of his route sawe the noble flees that was so riche the grete beaute of Medea they were all ameruaylled they made to theÌ the reuerence first And wyth grete honoure and glorie brought jasoÌ to elsebee the cyte where they soiourned that night on the mornÌ they deêted thens and wente to pintaquo where the king Eson soyourned at that tyme For asmoche as that place was sette in a good ayer and alle aboute had grete deduyt of chaas and honÌting meraillously of venerie Pyntaquo was a fayr stroÌg castell standing vpon a grete Ryuere and brode which ranÌ swiftli round aboute the place and with this hit was enuiroÌned with faire parfonÌde forestes of good londe erable and fayr medowes plente Certes the good king was moche reioyed and not with oute cause whan he apêceiued and saw his noble sone jason aÌd the fayr medea his lady the ryche flees of gold the thre toÌges of the meruailous dragonÌ the hornes aÌd legges of the two meruaillouse boles for to contente eche man whaÌ he
with so grete noÌâ⦠of people that notwithstanding the resistence of laomedonÌ of alle the cyte countre aboute they besieged it and so long abode and dyde meruaillous assaultes that they toke hit and destrored it in the fourme manere as is well declared in the historie of the xij laboures of the noble preu Hercules And whaÌ they had brought this enterpryse to attende eche of them departed from thens retorned into his countre ¶ In the nouelte thenÌ that the noble king Eson of Myrinydone was retorned fro the conquest of Troye sore trobled for his sone jasoÌ that was failled to haue beÌ at this hye houour Medea that was not yet comeÌ agayne into Myrmydone after that she was departed the same day that she had made to deye the desâoyal peleê° as sayd is Retorned thenÌe vnto the king Eson all destayned discoloured yclad wy â clothes all to reÌte aÌd lapped ThenÌe she sette her doun on bothe her knees to fore the king EzoÌ after sayde to hi in this maner Sire lo here Medea most poure aÌd the most infortunat lady that ever was or shal be Thou knowest and maist not denye that j ne am the êpre wyf of thy sone jason whome j made not long syn retourne gloriously fro the mortall paril where his vncle peleê° had sente him to by his malice This not withstonding incoÌtyneÌt in feat he hath abandoÌned me syn the daye that j was consenting to the deth of the disâoyall peleê° I dide hyt for to take vengeanÌce of this that he sente him traitrously vnder the shadowe of the conqueste of the ryche moton wyth the flees of golde whiche was a thing impossyble to ony creature humaine withoute myn adressemeÌt and wel supposed he that he neuer sholde haue retourned but haue auaunced his deth and he wolde excuse him vnder the colour of this deth the which allewaye I dyde for hys loue ⪠and for tauenge him SYre sayde yet the lady ye knowe that the daye that peleê° deyde youre sone departed from hens moche hastely howe I weÌte after hit was so oure aduenture that I foâde hym on a daye in the cite of Corithe where he hadde fianÌced the kinges doughter And there I spak long wy â hiÌ And among many remonstraâces I required hym right instantly that he wolde be trewe according to hyâ promys that he had made in acquityng his faith But I laboured in vayn for he wolde in no wise enteÌde therto and whan j apêceyued that I coude haue none other thing of hi I made by the vertue of somÌe enchaÌthements deye sodainly the espouse whom he had supposed to haue enioyed And with her deyde her fader and by consequeÌt all they that were in the hall sette at dyner reseruid jason whom in no maner j wolde touche after j deêted from ââeÌs haue goon at the aueÌture of the goddes not thinking that ever I shold retorne vnto you thus hath fortune be tâ me of such coÌdicyoÌ that she hath sith .ij. monthes brought me into the cyte of oliferne ther I haue fouÌden seen Iason with the quene Mirro ⪠it hath ben certefied to me that he hath espoused her wherof j haue at my herte suche dolour aÌd sorou that for nothing I might ner coude speke with hym but yet am deêted from theÌs am come vnto yow for to requyre reffuge that in the sauour of ladies it may plese yow to haue pyte of me so desolate a lady and that in recoignoissauÌce of the merite that I mighte haue deseruid in reduâ⦠your auncient aage in the beyng ââ xxxij yere that ye of your sone IasoÌ wil do me ryght without Rygour ¶ Whan the king Eson of myrmydone hadde vnderstaÌde the doleance and the râqueste of Medea aÌd that he sawe her iÌ so poure estate of habillements that she semed all an other womaÌ For she was so discoloured lene euylarayed Certes he had grete pyte of her TheuÌe he began to recoÌforte her thinking on the good seruices that she had douÌ vnto his sone wherof all his wele renommee was comen And in like wyse of the grete plaisir that she had douÌ to sum also how she hath habaÌdoÌned the kiÌg her fader her countre vpon the pmysse of his sone AmoÌg other wordes in recoÌforting her he sayd promysed her that he shold punysshe jason of that so grete offeÌce and also he hadde takeÌ him iÌ desdayne for somoche as he had failled at the besynes destruâioÌ of Troye where the cheualerve of grece had goten grete honour ⪠certes he loued medea meruailousây and anon he dide do clothe her new ryght honourabli tamynistre to her all that was nedeful necessarie for her And whaÌ he had so doo he sente into oliferne vnto Iason aÌd commanded him that incontineÌt he sholde come vnto his court but jaÊoÌ excused hi to the messager the moost curtoysây that he myght for cause of his woundes that he had receyued in the woode not long syn assayd is in feat he answerde that at that pÌsent he myght go ner yet ryde on an hors IncoÌtineÌt as the king Eson had vnderstonde thanswere of his sone jasoÌ he toke it euyl in gree aÌd sware that he wolde go vnto him but that sholde be in armes ThenÌ he sente into all partyes for his frendes and alyes sayd to thaim she we how he wolde punisshe IasoÌ for the lauesshenes of his body that by good cause for because of his luxurie he had failled at the coÌquest of Troye vnder this couerture he asseÌbled vnto the nombre of ten M. grekes whom he brought to fore olyferne the cite somoche dydeby see by lande ⪠that with oute aueÌture digne of memorie he caÌ on the chaÌpanye where the kyng of Esclauonye aÌd his ooste to fore had holdeÌ their siege to their vnhelthe as hit is sayd fo fore iÌ his place Alway ineden was comeÌ in tharinee of the king Eson as she that hath in hi all her affyauÌce aÌd her socourse as half garisshed or easid WhaÌ the king Eson foÌde him self to fore olyferne He dide do sette his teÌtes pauyllouÌs sente vnto his sone jason that he sholde comeÌ vnto hi. for to receyue the punycioÌ of this disobey sauÌce certes jasoÌ was sore abasshid aÌd not without cause whan he had vnderstaÌd that his fader seÌte for hiÌ to come to hiÌ vpoÌ this ê¯dicioÌ And thenÌ whaÌ he apêceiued that his fad had besieged the cite wy â armed haÌd âhe was at that tyme all helid of his woundes frossures aÌd seeyng that sayd is him semed that the king hys fader was angry with him aÌd that he was comen theder al replenisshid with grete ⪠furour NotwithstandiÌg that iÌ no maner he supposed to haue deseruid hit And coÌsidering all thise thinges and also by the counceylle of his frendes for to answer the