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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	woman_n	write_v	year_n	107	3	4.7207	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19170	The life and death of Hector One, and the first of the most puissant, valiant, and renowned monarches of the world, called the nyne worthies. Shewing his jnvincible force, together with the marvailous, and most famous acts by him atchieved and done in the great, long, and terrible siege, which the princes of Greece held about the towne of Troy, for the space of tenne yeares. And finally his vnfortunate death after hee had fought a hundred mayne battailes in open field against the Grecians: the which heerein are all at large described. Wherein there were slaine on both sides fourteene hundred, and sixe thowsand, fourscore, and sixe men. VVritten by Iohn Lidgate monke of Berry, and by him dedicated to the high and mighty prince Henrie the fift, King of England.	Colonne, Guido delle, 13th cent. Historia destructionis Troiae.; Benoît, de Sainte-More, 12th cent. Roman de Troie.; Lydgate, John, 1370?-1451? Troy book.	1614 (1614)	STC 5581.5; ESTC S119764	480,848	336

to declare Of things wherein they wish to haue ●liefe For while they liue in pure virginity And by the same are bard of liberty They keepe all close and will not seeme too bold To shew their minds although it grieue thē much Nor tell the thing which otherwise they would Although full neere vnto their hearts it tuch And so although t' were with a fained grace Medea sat with sober cheare and face And yet exprest her meaning with her eye So secretly that no man could discerne The burning fire that in her breast did lye The which because it did her much concerne She could not chuse her troubled mind t' appease But vse some words in secret which were these Would God this braue and lusty Gentleman Which showes so faire and gallant in my sight Whose comelinesse not well expresse I can Assured were to me to be my Knight That I might once embrace him in mine arme Then would I to my will his sences charme His haire that shines like to the golden wire His limbs compact and fram'd in co●●ley wise His stature as proportion doth require In seemely height so well doth please mine eies That by my will it would my heart content To winne his loue if fortune would consent For that his knightly face for to behold ●s vnto me an earthly Deity Though inwardly I feele my heart full cold And yet in truth it may none other be Alas will he not pitty my estate And cause me thinke my selfe most fortunate I would he knew my true and good in●ent Whereof I thinke he takes but little ●eed And how my loue to him in fully bent Which inwardly doth make my heart to bleed Yet should I die I date i● not disclose Although for him I fo●le a thousand 〈◊〉 But curelesse is my sor●●●● and my paine To friend no● foe I dare ●● not vnfold Nor yet in any fort thereof complaine To find redresse if any way I could And yet I would not any should 〈◊〉 But that I would procur't in honest wise As openly in time it shall be found For that in lawfull wedlocke vnto him Is my desire truely to be bound And so my meaning 's voyd of any sinne As being grounded vpon faithfulnesse Without all fraud or any doublenesse Behold how women craftily can play To wish a thing and nothing lesse 〈◊〉 And secretly that no man ought should say With face full smooth can shadow their desire And hide their lust by wile and subtilty With meere pretence and vaile of honesty And though that to be faithfull they pretend And that the depenes of their trechery They can with outward flourishes defend And all their wiles so closely couer'd lie Yet secretly deceit by them is meant With sugred words of good and true i●●en● As if they did all honesty pretend When certainly 't is but an outward sho●● As it is found and proueth in the end And many men by true experience know So well they can say one and other meane And colour blew full lightly turne to greene For vnder vaile of painted stablenesse And fained shew of honest modesty The wilie serpent cald now ●anglenesse Within their hearts full secretly doth lie For what they most desire in outward sho They will deny 't and sweare it is not so Thus Guydo seemes of women to indi●e Alas that he with them should make debate Or cursedly so much of them should 〈◊〉 It grieueth me in English to translate Their foule disgrace o●● to iustifie For rather had I for their sakes to die And therefore I will craue their patience To beare with me because I write thus much My purpose is not for to giue offence As knowing well they are not any such They are so true and perfect in their thought That I suppose not one of them is nought And further I doe thinke there is not one But that in will and heart she will be true And keepe her selfe vnto one man alone But be it some doe choose them louers new To say the truth they are not worthy blame For oftentimes they see men do the same They must prouide for new when men refuse To loue them more seeke for other change And if I could I would them full excuse For why should men haue liberty to range And women not which cannot liue alone Store is no sore if they haue more then one Wherefore I must of them desire leaue Although I write as matter doth befall I hope it shall not giue them cause to grieue When as I follow mine originall For reason is that punishment should light On him that doth so hard'gainst women write And them so much and causlesly offend By ouermuch inuaying'gainst their kind But if I might I would it soone amend And him to judgement of the women bind That they might him vnto his pennance set For if for to repent he should forget I would dispaire of his saluation And think that he straight down to hell should go And neuer should obtaine remission Vnlesse he did some satisfaction show For all 's not true that we in bookes do find And if it were 't were hard for women kind If Guido therefore were as now aliue So bitter pennance he should furely haue If I were Priest and had him heare to shriue That till the time that he were layd in graue He should remember daily to repent And earnestly in heart his fact relent That he so spake to his confusion But let this passe and now I will proceed And meane to make no more digression To tell how faire Medea then did speed Who taking leaue did presently depart Out of the hall with sad and heauy heart And Iason when the King likewise did rise With Hercules was to his chamber brought Most richly hang'd in braue and sumptuous wise With cloth of Gold in curious manner wrought Where they did rest and take their ease a while Vpon their beds the time so to beguile Meane while as it already hath been sayd Medea was into her chamber gone Where to her selfe she thought vpon and wayd As she therein sat musing all alone How she might ease the sorrow the smart Which her so sore then pinched at the heart For loue which had her set in such a rage That easely she could it not forgo Nor find a ready meanes the same t' asswage For furious Cupid had her wounded so With his most fiery shafe within her brest That whereso e're she sat she could not rest So violent and seruent was the heat That still it did her paine and griefe encrease For in her breast there was a conflict great Twixt loue and shame which either did her presse To yeeld vnto their wills in some respect So that she could not tell which to reiect For loue a Knight of great renowne and fame Who neither feareth dagger sword nor knife Like Lyon fierce pursued still his game And hot and hasty was t'aduenture life And there withall most

Owle by night to flie and slay Young children or to beare them cleane away And changlings in their cradles vs'd to leaue The singles of a greedy Wolfe that can As some report himselfe of shape bereaue And when he list take on him forme of man The slimes of water-snailes the which she found With labour great within the Indian ground The liuer of a Hart that liues so long And of a Crow that loathsome carrion beast The which by cause the nature was so strong Had liued then Nine hundred yeares at least The head and bill of all which when she had An admirable composition made To lengthen Aesons aged yeares withall A withered bough the which not long before Downe from an Oliue tree did chance to fall In hand she tooke and with the same did pore And stir the liquor till the sticke waxe greene And sodainly both leaues and buds were seene To spring thereon straight did berrie● beare And where the fire the skum thereof did throw Vpon the earth where it had drop● euen there The ground began as fresh and green to show As it in summer did and flowers to rise Out of the same Wh●h wh●●n Medea spies She tooke a knife and with a courage stout Did cut old Aesons throat where presently His aged bloud did all come gushing out And with the boy ling iuce did new supply Which when to Aesons corps she had powr'd in His haire that was so gray did straight begin To turne and wax as blacke as any coale His leane pale withered skin grew faire and fresh The wrinckles in his face and euery hole Therein were fild with yong and lusty fresh His limbs waxt lith and all his ioynts did grow So supple that he plainly then did show To be a man of yong and youthfull yeares At which when to his sences Aeson came He was abasht but casting off all feares He knew at forty yeares he was the same And as backe from old age to youth he drew A youthfull spirit did in his heart renew By which so strange deuise she did restore King Aeson vnto strength and former youth With wit and reason as he had before In each respect as much if it be truth But be it true or false I haue not spar'd To write it as the story hath declar'd And after on his wife he did beget A valiant Sonne that Iason had to name In whose creation nature did not let To shew hir skill and to incurre no blame For neuer man mord perfectly was form'd Nor with more graces inwardly ado●n'd If I should striue here to describe at will His strength his beauty and his comlinesse His good behauiour and his perfect skill His wisedome vertue and his gentlenes To all and euery one both high and low Like as mine Author plainly doth it show My art and wit therein would be to little His qualities so pleased mens desire That he obtained praise of all the people For young and old each one did him admire Iudge then what he would proue in elder yeares That in his childhood such a one appeares But while he was of age and stature small And far vnfit as then to rule the Land His Vnckle Peleus by consent of all Still held the Crowne and Scepter in his hand From whom in ought he neuer seem'd to vary Nor his prcepts at any time contrary So diligent was he in euery thing To please and serue his Vnckle at a becke As is the child held vnder tutors wing And seareth to incurre his Maisters checke In heart no● outward shew whats'ere him toucht He neuer did repine nor at it grutcht And though his Vncle held his heritage And rul'd his Princely Scepter at his will While he remained still in tender age Yet was he neuer mooued vnto ill Nor once of him a bad conceite to haue In any wise his honour to depraue But Peleus he contrarie mind did beare And ●ullie had his heart to enuie bent Dissembling that in face and outward cheare Which inwardly was whollie his intent Like Adder lurking closely in the grasse To sting all those that throgh the same doth passe His heart and tongue contrary each to other For with pretence of faire and friendly show He seem'd to loue the Son of his deare Brother When inwardly his heart did ouerflow With malice though not outwardly espy'd So cunningly he did his malice hide For no man could by any meanes per●●au● That he to Iason bare an enuinous eie No cause he had but feare he should bereaue Him of his Crowne and regall dignitie And at the time of riper yeares obtaine The right succession of his fathers raigne Which he as then vnjustly occupied And daily did devise how that he might On Iason whome in heart he envied Worke his pretended malice and despight Which made him oft build Castles in the aire Like one that liu'd in feare and great despaire Still compasing some way or meanes to find T' intrap and take his Nephew in a snare Which secretly ●e kept still hid in mind Yet ceased not his engins to prepare Like Sathan cuery minute day and hower Deuising how mans soule he may deuour And as the Sun shines hot when raine is past So did his enuie burne more feruently And vext him sore till he deuis'd at last To execute his wilfull trechery A Lambe in shew a Lyon in his heart Fell Tiger like to play a double part A sugred face but false and bitter mind None might of him conceaue suspition That he should to his Nephew be vnkind And priuily worke his destruction Pretending loue but hatred was the end Description true of foule dissembling frend His bad intent disclosed might not be It was so well conceal'd within his heart So is all close and priuy enmity And yet although he playd so well his part His enuy still encreasing more and more Did inwardly torment and vexe him sore Attending time t' effect and bring about That which he did in heart so much desire And so to be cleane freed from care and doubt The only ioy that enuy doth require But Iason he did not conceaue in mind His Vncle would vnto him proue vnkind Their thoughts were cleane contrary in effect The Cousin simply seeking Vncles good The Vncle he all friendship doth reiect Deuifing how to shead his Nephews blood Pro●ok't by malice and desire of gaine The roots of mischiefe sorrow woe and paine For many Realmes and Cities old do feele The poyson of the serpent Avarice But let all those that cruelly will deale Learne this of me and thinke it good aduic● That what so euer mischiefe they intend It 's sweet at first but bitter in the end And though the world doth flatter for a while Let not the enu●ous man be proud withall For he that thinks another to beguile Perhaps may chance in selfe same pit to fall But let vs enuy leaue as fiend of hell And of King Peleus further to you tell Who all this

Nor iudge thereof vnlesse they naked there Before me stood that at my libertie I might behold if everie member were As faire in all respect and each degree As outwardlie their faces faire did show And then my doome they presentlie should know When they had heard me speak they gaue consent And did agree my mind therein t' obay And straight to strip themselues were all content The which to do they made no long delay For they had all decreed before they came That in no point they would denie the same When naked all before me there they stood And that I did behold them at the full And vewed everie part it did me good To see their bodies faire and beautifull But when mine eies on Venus bright I cast For her without delay my iudgement past And vnto her the Apple gaue with speed As fairest of them all excepting none And as at first it was by them decreed I should not partiall be to any one So did I iudge her beautie great to be Much more then th' others two in each degree For as me thought her eies most faire and bright That cast forth streames so cleare and delectable Were like the starre that shines to vs by night Cald Hesperus and so most amiable Faire Venus shewd her selfe ye t' was true I could not choose but giue to her her due Whereat this Goddesse faire did much reioyce And in her heart therewith did seeme to glorie That of her beautie rare I made the choice T' excell the rest and that the victorie By iudgement vnto her as then did fall To be the fair'st and beautiful'st of all And as the winged God to me did say What should be my reward of Venus part She said she would performe without delay And from his vowe and promise neuer start And saying so the Goddesses all three Did vanish and depart away from me And Mercurie with wings began to flie And soaring vp with speed his waie did take Directlie to the cleare and cristall skie And sodainlie therewith I did awake Out of my deadlie sleepe and vp I start And mounting horse from thence did straight depart Now my good Lord whom I both loue dread I ft please your Grace your selfe herein t' advise And vnto that which I haue said take heed You will it not esteeme nor yet surmise To be in vaine by Venus to me said And therefore I wish you not to be afraid But boldlie let me goe to Greece in hast With some great power of men about the thing Which I haue said and ere long time be past I doubt not but the same to passe to bring And as by Venus I am promised Of some faire Ladie certainlie to speed That by exchange of her you may obtaine An easie and a most assured way To get your Sister Exion home againe This is said he all that I haue to say For my advise and counsell to your Grace And so sate downe againe into his place But Priam what should cause thee to forget Thy selfe so much that thou shouldst be so vaine Thy hope and trust vpon a dreame to set I cannot choose but needs must tell thee plaine That shallow was thy wit and thy discretion To trust vnto a false illusion As that thou all care hadst set aside To follow after dreaming fantasie T' is sure that reason then was not thy guide That thou vpon meere follies wouldst relie As Paris did that Pallas did neglect And sacred wisedome wilfullie reiect And some also carelesly re●us'd With riches and with all her offers great And she that hath all men so much abus'd And at whose hands their 's nothing els to get But pleasure and the fond delights of loue Which onely doe a man to folly moue Faire J'enus cal'd the blacksmith Vulcans wife Whose seruice though it doth nought els procure Vnto a man but bloody warre and strife By him preferred was but t is most sure That Paris in his judgement was vniust And that his mind was wholy set on lust Whereby the great and famous Troian Towne When it had long been vext with bloudy warre Was in the end brought to confusion By Paris meanes that had so little care When it was offred him his choise to make Of wisedome gold and valor and to take A Woman that was cause of all the woe Which vnto Priam afterward befell A● in this Booke hereafter I will shoe And now on dreames I will no longer dwell But to my matter seriously proceed And shew you what by Priam was decreed Vpon the dreame by Paris then declard But first of all in briefe I 'le let you know What Diophebus sayd who having heard His brothers speech stood vp his mind to show And grauely with a countenance benign Obedience made and spake vnto the King And sayd my Lord if every man should doubt And in his mind forecast and deepely way Concerning future things what might fall out It would be cause to make men often stay All actions whatsoere and neuer bend Their wits nor wils to bring them to an end Nor would they seeke their valours forth to show For he that doubts dares nothing vndertake For if a man before that he doth throw His Corne into the groūd should recknoning make How many grains thereof consum'd would be By Birds or by some other Casualtie I'would make him feare his ground to sow againe Let vs lay all such foolish doubts aside For I esteeme and hold them meerely vaine And counseil now no longer to abide Nor slacke the time but with a Navy strong Send Paris into Greece for to revenge our wrong This I dare affirme and boldly say That he hath counselled you and vs full well Which no man to speake truth can well denay So that I thinke and must you plainely tell Great error t' were his purpose to contrary And therefore let him now no longertarry But thither with a warlike Navy goe That we may quit them for the villany Which they vnto vs and ours did show In former times with extreame cruelty And for the better execution And getting of our Aunt faire Exion Whom they doe hold from vs by force and might And long haue done to our no little shame And that against all equitie and right Which wounds my heart to thinke vpon the same For remedy whereof I must needs say There is no better meanes nor readier way Then to send forth a strong and warlike band With him to Greece that forcibly he may Some Lady take within the Grecians land And mauger all their might her thence conuay And bring her vnto Troy with present speed By which so braue exploit and warlike deed You may haue meanes to satisfie your mind By changing her for Princes Exion This is the readiest way that I can find For to procure her restitution Which my good Lord I hope you do intend Quoth he my counsell I will end Which sayd his brother Helenus did rise Out of his seate

on him by stealth did cast an eye Though outwardly none could her well espie For as she thought she never saw his peere Mongst all the men that on the earth did liue For comelinesse and beautie passing cleere Nor that to her contentment more did giue So that on nothing else she set her mind But how she might a fit occasion find And haue the meanes and opportunitie Conveniently with him a word to speake In other place at better libertie Which was the onely thing that she did seeke And stil her countenance chang'd For Cupids fire In both their hearts had kindled like desire And cloathed them with Venus liverie And yet no message twixt them then there went But privie lookes glauncing from the e●e Assured them what each to other ment And made them wish in heart that secretly An amorous combate twixt them they might try And their desires vnto each other shoe At last as Paris by degrees him gat Vp higher and vnto the place did goe Whereas the faire Queene Helena then sat In secret wise together they did speake And as they might their minds to other breake Declaring what did punish them at the heart But this was done least that it should be spied When as the presse of people did depart And such as stayd were busie occupied To stare vpon the temple and to gase About the same as people in a mase To see it so adornd in sumptuous wise And while they spake not any one might heare A word that past least that they should surmise That twixt them any bad intent there were Nor what their secret speech as then should meane At last it was agreed by the Queene And Paris with one full and free consent What time they should together meet againe And so they both out of the Temple went Though loath with hearts repleat with louers paine And that they might avoyd suspition When Paris from Queene Helena as gone With present speed vnto his ship he went Where hauing sta●d a while without delay For all the Troyan Lords and Knights he seat To whome in pithie words he gan to say My Lords and friends in briefe to you to tell The cause vnto you all is knowne full well Wherefore to Greece my Father hath vs sent And what Commission to vs he did giue You know it was the full of his intent That we should seeke to take and to relieue My noble Aunt the Princely Exion Out of the hands of proud King Telamon The which to do I can deuise no way How it by vs should well effected be For no man can this vnto me denay That he is mighty strong in his Country And well alied with friends on everie side And hath an heart abounding with such pride That to leaue her by force he doth disdaine The best way then that I can now deuise Sith with him so to deale it is in vaine And that our power thereto doth not suffice Because we are not able to withstand His force nor with him fight within his Land Is sith that fortune hath vs hither brought And caus'd vs by adventure here to land When as God knows it was not in our thought At Venus home that not far hence doth stand And wherein at this time there is great store Of Iewels Gold and other treasures more The which the Greekes vnto it hither bring By sea and land and there both rich and poore To Uenus vse to make their offering And her therein most solemnly adore And that the faire Queene Helen now is there I thinke that it the best course for vs were To beare her hence by force and prisoner make And having put the Grecians to the foile Their gold and treasure forcibly to take And them of it and of their liues to spoile Which hauing done without all tarrying The same into our ships this night to bring Whereof we cannot faile who ere saith nay And to that end said he let 's ready make And without further respect or delay Our armours and our weapons to vs take To set on them with all our force and might Which said within their ships they staid till night Till Phebus did on earth no more appeare But was gone downe as t' was his woonted guise And glistring stars did shine most bright cleare Before the Moone that time began to rise They all went forth their ships in braue array And to the temple straight did take their way Intending not long in the same to tarry And so in hast they entred Citheron Where going straight vnto the Sanctuarie Without all manner of devotion To Venus done in her Oratorie For it was then out of their memorie To worship her they had no such intent But onely for to rob and spoile the same Whereto as then their minds were wholly bent All what so ere vnto their hands then came They tooke and bore away and nothing left Within the Church nor I sle but them bereft Of all their Iewels precious stones and gold Their reliques and their vessels sacared And every other thing what ere they could Were it prophane or were it hallowed They made it prey and in their furious mood Did kill and slay all those that them withstood And many that with gastly wounds did bleed Which they receaued had to saue their right As prisoners to their ships with them were led Not able to withstand their puissant might Which after liu'd in long captiuity With sorrow griefe and great extreamity While Paris earnestlie for Helen sought Whom when he found in courteous wise he kist And ioy fullie within his armes her caught For she seem'd not to striue nor to resist But yeelded vnto him without delay For 't had been but meere follie to say nay Her heart being woone before that he came there She could not striue for women t is not fit And for that cause to yeeld she had lesse feare And he with such good words as then were meet Did comfort her and therewith did her beare Vnto his ship and letting her stay there Well guarded by his men returnd againe To make an end of his desired pray Not far from thence within a pleasant plaine A Castle stood where many souldiers lay To keepe the same who waking gaue a shout And sodainly at once did issue out Andran in hast to rescue Citheron But ere they came the Troyans had their pray And with the same vnto their ships were gone Wherewith the Greekes did make no long delay But followed them and then began to fight On either side with all their force and might And Tygar like each other slew and kild Till many dead within the field did lie For neither vnto other then would yeeld But at the last the Greekes were forst to flye For that the Troyans doubled them in nomber With multitudes and did them fore incomber And made them run backe to the Castle gate In hope to saue themselues therein by flight But all in vaine for them for

deny'd His small request and boldly him defi'd Which vnto vs not any vantage brought But onely was the meanes of our despight And afterwards no little mischiefe wrought For if that we by provident foresight Had not deny'd all harmes had been eschewd That after by the Troyans were pursude At Cithera nor yet the treasure great And costly jewels woone by Paris had Been carried vnto Troye their regall seat Nor slaughter of our men by them been made Nor yet the woe that Helena procur'd In Grecian land so long therein endur'd Nor any wrong to Menelaus been done If we I say had well considered Thereon and him restored Exion Nor had we been so foolishlie misled To spend our treasure and our goods in vaine To come to fetch Queene Helena againe With no small costs or charges to vs all And dangers great as you may well suppose And yet we know not what may chance befall Or whether we in fine shall win or lose Sith that nothing on earth is permanent But vnto alteration still is bent And for that fortune all things can subvert And to a good beginning giue bad end All dangers therefore from vs to divert And wiselie to begin that we pretend My counsell is ere further we proceed To send vnto King Priamus with speed To will him to make restitution Of Helena as reason doth require And of all other wrongs vnto vs done By Paris vnto which our iust desire If he consent we may returne to Greece With honor and all further troubles cease But if he seeme this offer to refuse And wilfullie reiecteth our demand Then shall we haue occasion iust to vse All rigour whatsoere within his land To spoyle his towne and lay it flat on ground And vtterly both him and his confound And two things will our action iustifie The one is that our quarrell iust and right Which to be so no man can well denie Will maintaine vs and boldly for vs fight And vs and ours will lawfully excuse But them condemne because they did refuse Our iust demand to them first offered The other is that through the world so wide All men will say that we were iustlie led To take revenge and will hold on our side And them perpetuallie for ever blame Of wilfulnesse to their erelasting shame And all extreames that by vs shall be vs'd Gainst woman child or man of each degree For causes fore aledg'd will be excus'd I●●s and we shall wholly freed bee Though that we kill and spoile them every one And shew no mercy vnto any one But yet before we enter thereinto My counsell is this offer should be made To them and that with speed the same you do And by this meanes as I before haue said We shall great praise and commendation gaine Which said he sat downe in his throwne againe But mongst the Grecian Princes many were Of cl●ane contrarie minds and would not grant That any should such message from them beare To Priamus least he should brag and vant That they to him had sent to craue amends And m●tion made with him for to be friends Yet such as more experience seemd to haue To Agamemnons counsell did agree And to the same their free consents then gaue That Diomed and Vlisses sent should bee Their minds vnto King Priamus to shoe Who straight without delay to Troye did goe At such time as the Sun with radiant light Had past along the whirling Hemisphere At noone-time with his beames exceding bright Vpon each hill and valley shone most cleare And when vnto the towne of Troye they got They entered therein and staied not But straight vnto King Priams pallace went For that the streets directlie led them to 't Not showing any man what their intent As then might be nor asking leaue to do 't Intending without feare or any dread In their Embassage boldlie to proceed And truth to say no man did them resuse To enter nor to passe along the street For t' may be that as then they did not vse For pasports or safe conducts to intreat For messengers but such as in that sort To any Prince or Countrie did resort Had leaue to enter freely without doubt And at the last they came to Ilyon The which with admiration round about They viewed well esteeming it alone Surpast all others both in breadth and length Beautie exceeding richnesse and for strength And yet they wondred more thogh't did thē good Within the court all pau'd with lasper stone To see a tree in midst thereof that stood Which like vnto the Sun for brightnesse shone But could not iudge it to be naturall Or made by workemen artificiall Or framd by divellish inchantation Or cunning of some learnd philosophie Or whether t' was but meere illusion And did appeare that t' was not to the eie And long they stood much troubled in their mind To see if that they could by reason find The ground of such a woonderfull devise But t' was too hard for them to comprehend So that if nere so long they should surmise Or on the same whole yeares in studie spend To find the truth thereof t' was impossible And yet to all mens sight t' was visible And palpably for to be felt with hand The stocke whereof was gold most bright cleare Which straight as any Mast or Palme did stand And did a huge and great proportion beare The height twelue cubits at the least and more And many branches great and small it boare Which large and wide all ore the place did spread And such a breadth it bare that round about The court therewith was wholly shadowed The branches and the leaues thereof throughout The tree in paires together coupled were The one ol gold the other silver clere The fruit it bare was precious stones most fine Of colours white greene red and saphire blew Which on the same exceedingly did shine And every day the blossoms did renue And on it hung with colours variable Which to the Grecians seemd most admirable Who having long beheld it at the last Went forward with intent t' effect their charge And never staid but through the pallace past So long till that into a chamber large They entered whereas King Priamus Sat in a throane most rich and sumptous Accompanied with his Nobilitie Who all along the chamber on each side About him sat with princely maiestie On whome the Greeks which did exceed in pride With visage sterne and froward countenance As having then but small rememberance Of honor look't most boldlie in the face And without any curtesie or word Once offered sat downe and tooke their place Right opposite against the counsell bord And there regarding not the Maiestie O● Priamus nor his Nobilitie When they had paws'd awhile with courage bold Vlisses gan vnto King Priamus Th' effect of their Embassage to vnfold So stoutlie and with words presumptuous That all that were assembled did admire His pride mus'd what he would then require And said

their faces faire With flouds of teares t' expresse their heauinesse Were vnto me a thing impossible And yet in truth it was not comparable To that which faire Queene Helena did make Who with a deadly cheare and wofull face Cast forth most dolefull cries for Paris sake And running furiouslie vnto the place Whereas his body lay fell flat thereon And though that it was cold as any stone Embrast it in her armes and wofully Lamenting on the same fell in a sound And likely was in that extreamitie To die and t' haue beene laid into the ground With him if those that were with her by force And strength had not pul'd her off frō the corse Wherewith she rent and tare her golden haire Like one that 's mad waxt so pale and wan That her most comelie face which was so faire Chang'd in such sort that it therewith began To looke and show like vnto ashes cold And with her hands which she did ring fold Together smote her white and deadly face And sounding fell againe vpon the ground And in her armes did Paris corse embrace And with her brinish teares did fill his wound And was so much perplexed in her mind That she could neither ease nor comfort find But rather seem'd to wish with great desire To die with him in whome her sole delight Was placed and in that most furious ire To end her daies with her most louing Knight And liue no more sith that she was bereft Of him and in such great discomfort left So that I may well say that neuer any Poore woman felt the like nor more distresse Although I could rehearse and tell of many That haue been plunged in great heauinesse As Cleopatre going to her graue And Thesbie that did come out of the caue And smote her selfe for griefe into the heart And Oristilla who no sooner spied Her Lord take shipping and from her depart Sore grieu'd for loue of him fell downe and died And Iulia that lou'd her Lord so well That sodenly dead on the ground she fell When she beheld his cloaths all dasht with blood And Portia that was so true a wife To Brutus that when as she vnderstood That he was slaine because she had no knife In readinesse to kill herselfe withall To show her loue into the fire did fall And burnt herselfe And that most noble Queene Cald Arthemisia who when she had found Her Knight Mausalus graue and there had seene His bones did take them vp out of the ground And with an heart repleat with griefe and care Vnto her Pallace solemnly them bare And beating them to powder every day Did drinke thereof till it was cleane consum'd Who with the rest aforesaid I must say And as in truth it is to be presum'd No doubt great griefe endur'd but not so much As faire Queene Helen did nor nothing such Who would haue kild her selfe for Paris sake Desiring to her graue with speed to go And rather of her life an end to make Then to liue after him she loued so And languishing in woe long time remaind And never could from weeping be restaind He that doth say that women cannot cry Deceaues himselfe for t is a thing most sure They can by nature doo 't and certainly Though they no griefe nor sorrow do endure Yet they can false and fained teares distraine Out of their eies without cause complaine I say not this Queene Helena t' accuse Of fained teares whose heart with woe was fild For then I should you with vntruth abuse For she for griefe her selfe would faine haue kild And yet it seemes she was not in such hast As she made shew for when the storme was past She soone forgot the great extreamitie That she was in for all things haue an end And every woe how great so ere it be Must passe away for follie't were to spend Long time in that which may be remedied For though that faire Queene Helen would haue died For Paris sake as then yet afterward She did repent for nature did her moue And told her that it was a thing too hard For her so soone to kill her selfe for loue She was a woman what would you haue more She thought it folly great to die therefore But I will speake no more hereof as now For it would be too long and teadious For me to shew and to declare to you Her grieuous woe and passions furious And all her dolefull lamentation The which would moue vnto compassion The hardest heart aliue to heare it told For Priam and Queene Hecuba likewise Such pitty had to see and to behold Her shead such flouds of teares out of her eies And in such fort to grieue and to complaine That they almost endured as much paine Within their hearts for her as she had had For Paris but there was no remedy But to conclude when they an end had made Of all their woe King Priam speedily Did cause a rich and costly sepulchre To be set vp in Iunoes Temple where Most sumptuóusly and in their Paynim wise His bodie was entomb'd but to declare The manner of the great solemnities Then vsed at their funerals which are So many and so diuers it would be Too long to be declared now by me CHAP. VI. ¶ How Panthasilia Queene of the Amazons comming to ayd the Troyans against the Grecians sh●● obtained great honor and was slaine by Pyrrhus the So●●e of Achilles KIng Priamus in doubt of his estate And brought into most great extreamity By fortune and his hard and cruell fate When he perceiu'd no other remedie Shut fast the gates of Troy and day and night Kept watch and ward as strongly as he might For all the Troyans generally were So much abasht and did such sorrow make For Paris death that they could not forbeare To weepe and waile and durst not vndertake Against the Greeks to fight nor issue out But kept within the towne in feare and doubt Expecting nought but finally to end Their daies in woe Which when the Greeks did see Agamemnon to Priamus did send A messenger t' intreat with him as he Before had done to issue with his might Out of the towne against the Greeks to fight But Priamus the motion did detest And flatly said it was not his intent To issue out of Troy at his request And that he was most resolutely bent Not once to set one foot out of the towne But when he list without compulsion And yet the cause why he so long time staid From issuing out against the Grecians Was for because he did expect some ayd From Panthasilia Queene of Amazons Who at that time was comming with great speed And mighty force to helpe him in his need Whose Countrie as some Authors say did stand Farre distant in the orientall part Twixt Asia and Europe In which Land None else but women-kind did dwell whose art And chiefe delight and onelie exercise Was managing of armes in warlike wise And valiantly into

in joy and quietnes If possible it were perpetuallie And I will never cease both night and day Withall my heart vnto the Lord to pray For him by whose commandement I tooke On me though farre vnfit to do the same To translate into English verse this Booke Which Guido wrote in Latin and doth name The siege of Troy and for his sake alone I must confesse that I the same begon When Henrie whom men fourth by name did call My Princes Father lived and possest The Crowne And though I be but rusticall I haue therein not spard to do my best To please my Princes humor Though A thing that I should not haue tane on me Which am a Monke by my profession In Berry cald Iohn Lidgate by my name And weare a habit of perfection Although my life agrees not with the same That meddle should with things spirituall As I must needes confesse vnto you all But seing that I did therein proceed At his command whom I could not refuse I humbly do beseech all those that reade Or leysor haue this story to pervse If any fault therein they find to bee Or error that committed is by mee That they will of their gentlenes take paine The rather to correct and mend the same Then rashly to condemne it with disdaine For well ●●vot it is not without blame Because I know the verse therein is wrong As being some too short and some too long For if with faults men should not sometime beare But all for some seeme wholy to refuse Then must I say in vaine my labor were Let ignorance and rudenes me excuse For though my verse for harshnes you reiect Yet if you to the some haue good respect I doubt not but that you therein shall find That all the substance of the matter is Set downe that Guydo wrote to please your mind And if that any word be plast amis I pray you mend the same in curtesie For to condemne an error vtterly Which is not made nor done with bad intent No commendation to him that 's wise For no man vnto scoffing more is bent Behind mens backs nor sooner will surmise A lie then he that hath no wit at all He treadeth sure that neuer hath a fall I oft haue read in Authors new and old Which write of mens behaviors good and ill That no man is more foolish and more bold Then he that is an Idiot without skill For that blind Bayard feares nothing at all Till in a ditch he sodainlie doth fall And none so ready is to prate and prattle Nor sooner will condemne a man then he But for all those that vse such tittle tattle I care not what they say or speake of me For I do not to them direct my Booke But vnto such as with a sincere looke Pervse the same and with mens falts do beare And can amend an error without blame To him that writes and tell not what they heare To hinder or impeach a mans good name But vsed are to speake well of their friend Whereto all honest men their wits should bend For Chawcer that my master was and knew What did belong to writing verse or prose Nere stumbled at small faults nor yet did view With scornefull eie the works and Bookes of those That in his time did write nor yet would taunt At any man to feare him or to daunt His courage in that kind of exercise But rather vse their weaknes to support And as he was well learned and very wise And able to instruct and to exhort Such as did use to write would winke and smile At faults and yet say nothing all the while So that if to describe him I should striue I must needs say vnlesse from truth I varry That never any man as yet did liue Vntill this day that worthy was to carry His inckhorne in respect of Poetrie But if within this Land or Realme there be Such men as able be his steps to trace To them it is that I direct my Booke And wholy to their skills referre my case With their judiciall eies thereon to looke Beseeching them to mend what is amis And t'adde or to diminish all that is Super●●uous or else wanting And although They find therein no phrases that are new Nor Eloquence as they suppose enough Yet I do hope that they shall find all true In substance as mine Author wrote the same Wherein I know I shall incurre no blame ANd he that list and doth desire to see The wavering state and infelicity Of ages past may here instructed be And find how Fortunes mutability Hath alwaies been so great that no man could Put trust in her And therewithall behold How Princes cleane bereft of Royalty Were sodainely brought into great distresse And Kings redu'st to such extremity That poverty and want did them oppresse Great slaughters made in kingdomes enviously Murthers committed by conspiracie False treason secret ambushes despight Subversion of whole kingdomes sodainely The ravishing of women for delight The root of warre and great hostility Maintaining of most fowle adulterie Which caused many Princes great to die To shew thereby that since the cause of all Such wickednes receiues reward most iust Which sodainely vpon mankind doth fall For that in worldly ioyes there is no trust And in this Booke examples you shall find If you consider well thereof in mind How every man must vnto nature yeild When time doth serue both young and old of age And wither like the grasse within the field For here our life is but a Pilgrimage Repleat with sorrow miserie and woe Which if men mark't tooke good heed therto And wisely would consider of their end They would esteeme all pleasure but a toy And no more time therein so vainely spend Nor take so much delight in worldly joy For by Troyes fall it plainely doth appeare That neither King nor Emperor hath here A permanent estate to trust vnto Therefore to him that died vpon the rood And was content and willing so to do And for man-kind did shead his precious blood Lift vp your minds and pray with humble 〈◊〉 That he his aid vnto you will impart For though you be of extreame force and might Without his helpe it will you nought availe For he doth giue man victorie in fight And with a few is able to prevaile And overcome an armie huge and strong And by his grace makes kings and Princes long To raigne here on the earth in happinesse And Tyrants that to men do offer wrong And violence doth sodainly suppresse Although their power be nere so great strong And in his hand his blessings all reserveth For to reward each one as he deserueth To whom I pray with humble mind and hart And so I hope all you wil doe no lesse That of his grace he would vouchsafe t' impart And send all joy wel fare and happines Health victory tranquilitie and honor Vnto the high and mightie coqueror King Henrie the Fift that his great name May here on earth ●'extold and magnified While life doth last and when he yeilds the same Into his hands he may be glorified In heaven among the Saints Angels bright Therein to serue the God of power might At whose request this worke I vndertooke As I haue sayd And now that I haue don And with great labour finished my Booke I doe intreat all those that looke thereon T' accept thereof and tak 't in as good part As I it send to them withall my hart FINIS