neither tript nor rang'd Both Man and Horse are free from any Error No art of Warre was from these Knights estrang'd In Troylus might be seene a Souldiers Mirror In Diomed the patterne of such skill as they desire that would their Foe-men kill 88 The fayre-browde Sky shrinkes vp her Azure face Least their sharpe splinterd Staues should race her brow Both couet honor in this warlike race and in their hearts they eythers ruine vow But Menelaus happily came in place With him three hundred Knights that well knew how To manage battaile these betweene them grew and they to further ranks perforce withdrew 89 Miseres King of Phrigia met by chance The Spartan King and shooke him in his Seat Against Duke Aiax Paris charg'd a Launce and him the Sal'mine did but ill intreat At the first blow he stounds him in a trance Then midst the Troian rankes doth â—…oyle and sweat Striuing behind on both sides and before Euen till his armes with bloud were vermeil'd o're 90 Prince Margareton vnto Hector deare Knowing the slaughter Noble Aiax made against his Vaunt-brace brauely prooues his Speare and to their vanquisht Phalanx brings fresh ayde Aiax is for'st his fury to forbeare The Troians powers on all sides him inuade Till Agamemnon comes with fresh supply at whose approach th'astonish Troians fly 91 Yet Noble Margareton keepes his stand Nor can the strongest arme of Greece remoue him He feeles the strength of Agamemnons hand Grim Aiax sword with a towers weight doth proue him Yet shrinkes not till the place was Nobly man'd By Paris and Polydamus that loue him These hearing Margareton much distrest Rescue the Prince who brauely guards his Crest 92 It ioyes the King and Ladyes that on hy Stand on the Torras to behold the field To see the Prince so full of Chiualry And with such power to vle his Sword and Shield Achilles in a place where thousands lye Besmeard in bloud as if he meant to build a wall of Limbes and Quarters brauely fought And bout himselfâ—… a siedge of bodies wrought 93 Where issuing after much effuse of blood To calme himselfe remotely from the throng Retyerd alike young Margareton stood Striuing for breath he had not rested long Butspyes Achilles with a purple flood Powerd o'rehis armes a Iauelin light and strong The valiant Troian Prince against him bent Whom the proud Greeke receiues incontinent 94 From broken Speares they come to two-edg'd Steele Oh! How stont Hector yernd to be in place His very Soule doth all the puissance feele Of him that hath his Brothers life in chace No stroake that makes Prince Margareton reele But as he thinkes it tingles on his face And from the wall in Armour he had lept Had not the King and Queene perforce him kept 95 By this the youthfull Priameian tyerd With oddes of might he wauers too and fro Doubtfull which way to fall the Greeke admierd To find so young a gallant plunge him so and therefore with hisanclent rankor fierd He doubles and redoubles blow and blow Till he whose deere life was to Hector sweet Sinkes from his Horse beneath his ruthlesse feete 96 Who with his barb'd Steede tramples o're his Coarse Whose Iron hoofe the Princes armor raceth This Hector seeing breakes from all their force He cla ps his Beauer downe his Helme fast laceth With â—…mble quicknesse vaults vpon his horse And yssuing where he rides the enemy cheareth For Margaretons death he vowes that day Achilles with a thousand more shall pay 97 Two Noble Dukes he chargeth and both slew Duke Cortphus Bastidius big and tall And forth like lightning mongst their squadrons flew Where such as cannot flye before him fall Leocides an Armour fresh and new He was amongst the Greekes chiefe Admirall Would proue gainst Hector but in his swift race The Troians Speare brake on the Grâ—…ns face 98 A splinter strooke the Greeke into the braine And downe he sinkes Achilles full of yre Spying so many bold Pelasgians slaine Prickes on with Polyceus both desire To proue themselues with Hector on the plaine The bold assaylants need not farâ—…e inquire For the sterne Prince In that part of the host Th' are sure to find him where the cry growes most 99 Both Menace him gainst both he stands prepared Duke Policeus to Achilles deare Whose Sister he was promist had warre spared His destin'd life drew to the Troians neare At the first stroke his Beauer'd face he bared But with the next his sparpled braines appeare Achilles mads at this and sweares on hye For Polyceus death Hector shall dye 100 His threatned vengeance Hector did soone quaile For through his thigh he quiuers a sharpe Dart Achilles feeles his bleeding sinnowes faile And with all speed doth to his Tent depart Where hauing bound his wound vp wan and pale With fury and the rancor of his hart Three hundred Myrmidons that all things dar'd he leads to field his person to saue-gard 101 Swearing them all theyrioynt-rage to bestow On Hector and on him sterne vengeance power And sauing him t' intend no Dardan Foe That Heauen with him may on his Conquests lower They listen where the clamors loudest grow And there spy Hector wald in like a Tower With heapes os men that bout him bleeding lay For not a liâ—…ng Greeke durst necre him stay 102 Now tyrd with slaughter he was lean'd vpon The Pomell of his bright victorious Blade and for his strength and breath was almost gone His Armour he had slackt it loosely playde about his shoulders for he dreaded none Him now the bloudy Myrmidons inuade In three-fold rings about him they were guided To take the Noble Heroâ—… vnproulded 103 Oh! Where is Paris with his Archers bow Where 's youthfull Deiphebus now at need Where 's the inuinced Troylus to bestow His puissant stroakes before Prince Hector bleed Where is Aeneas to repulse the foe You Troyes confedred Kings where do you speede Bring rescue now or in his Mountaine fall Bencath destruction he will crush you all 104 All these are absent naught saue death and ruine Compasse the Prince a tripple ring of blades Inguirts him round who still their rankes renewing Threaten to send him to th' infernall shades With bloudy appetites his fall pursuing Achilles as they shrinke on hye perswades With promises and some with threats he sweares To pay the base shame of their dastard feares 105 A hundred Myrmidons before him lye Drownde in their owne blouds by his strong arme shed The rest renew the charge with fresh fupply and thunder on his shoulders armes and head Achilles strongly arâ—…'d and horst spurres by To see the hunger of his Blood-hounds fed Was neuer Mortall without might of Gods That stood so long against such powerfull ods 106 They hew his armour peece-meale from his backe Yet still the valiant Prince maâ—…taines the fray Though but halfe-harnest yet he holds them tacke And still the bloudy Slaues vpon him lay Armour and breath
at once the Prince doth lacke Stor'd with nought else saue wounds alacke the day Yet like a stedfast rocke the worthy stood From whom ran twenty seuerall springs of blood 107 This when the fresh-breath'd Greeke beheld and saw So much effuse of blood about him run He chargd his warlike Myrmidons withdraw And crying out alowd Now Troy is won With shamefull oddes against all Knight-hoods law Gainst naked Hector well-arm'd Thetis son Aymes a stiffe Iauelin and against him rides The ruthlesse staffe through picrst his Royall sides 108 With him King Priam and whole Asiaes glory Queene Hecuba with all her daughters faire Sinke into Lethe euen the Gods are sorry To see the man they made without compare So basely fall to make Achilles story Reproachfull to all eares that would not spare So great a Worthy but with oddes strike vnder Him that atchiâ—…ud things beyond strength wonder 109 Hector thus falne the Troians whose whole power Lay in the arme of Hector flye the field And now th'incourag'd Greekes Scamander scower The head subdude the body needs must yeild Behold the Prince that aw'd within this hower Millions of Greekes lyes dead vpon his shield He gone whose Atlas Arme vpheld their states Amazed Troy rams-vp her sieged Gates 110 At sight of which Achilles sweld with rage From Hectors breast the Belt Aiax him gaue Snatcheth in hast and his sad spleene t' asswage Fetters his Legges and like a conquerd slaue Voyde of all honor ruth or Counsell sage at his Horse-heeles he drags him like a slaue Hauing Troyes wall first three-times circled round hurdling the Dardan Heroâ—… on the ground 111 To thinke so braue a Peere should basely bleede A Prince t'insult vpon a slaughter'd Foe and gaâ—…nst a worthy act so base a deede Makes my soft eye with Springs of Sorrow flow Nor can I further at this time procâ—…ede The Greekes blacke practise doth offend me so Heare therefore I desist my Tragicke verse To mourne in silence o're Prince Hectors hearse Aeacides a name we sometimes giue to Achilles is a deriuatiue of Aeacus and is as much as to say the Grand childe of Aeacus sometime we call him Pelias Issue viz the Sonne of Peleas the Sonne of Aeacus Patroclus a Noble Greeke sonne to Menetius and Stheuele he was brought up under Chiron the Centaure with Achilles who euer after entirely loued him Chiron likewise whom we haâ—…e before in some places mentioned is thought to be Sonne of Saturne Vt Saturnus Equo geminum Chirona creauit His Mother was cald Philyra Ad mare descendit montis de parte suprema Chiron Philerides Saturne deflowring the faire Philiris Daughter to the old Oceanus and fearing leaft his â—…ife Rhea otherwise cald Sibilla should discouer his wantonnesse transhapes him selfe into a Horse and then beg at in the Islands Philerides Chiton the Centaure from the Nauell vpwardes hauing the perfect semblance of Man the rest downewards the shape of an Horse Others haue thought him to be the Sonne of Ixion Brother to the race of the Centaurs He taught Aesculapius Phisicke Hercules Astronomy and Apollo to play on the Lute or Harpe Of Thetis otherwise cald Amph 〈◊〉 it is thus reported that she was the most beautifull of all the Goddesses when Apollo Neptune and Iuâ—…ter contended about her which should â—…ioy her bed being all frustrate Iupiter inraged doom'd her to be a mortals Bride because shee had so peremptorily despised their God hoods The Goddesse much agrieu'd to be so abiectly bestowed despised Pelcus who extreamely doted on her beauty and still when hee would haue comprest her she metamorphised her selfe somtimes to a flame of Fire sometimes to a Lyon then a serpent so dreadfull that he was still deter'd from his purpose till after by the aduice of Chiron the Centaure neglecting all terror she helde her fast so long till hauing run through all her Protean shapes he wearted her in her transformation till she return'd into her owne shape of the most beautiful Goddesse of whom he begat Achilles Tython for his beauty beloued of Aurora the morning is said to be the son of Laomedon and Brother to Priam thogh by diuers mothers he gat Prâ—…am of Leucippe and Tython of Sâ—…ma or else of Rhoea the daughter of Scamander Aurora begd of the Fates for her Husband Tython Imortality which being imediately graunted her she had for got with his length of life to beg withal that he should neuer wax old and decrepit wherefore he is said to be euer bed rid till the Gods pittying his feeblenesse turn'd him after into a Grashopper Longa Tithonum minuit senâ—…ctus suâ—…a a chiefe Citty in Persia where the great Sophies keepe their Courts it is seated neare the famous riuer Choaspes and was builded by Tython Pclasgians are an auncient people of Greece dwelling in Peloponesus in the edge of Macedonia of whom the generall Graecians sometimes haue vsurpt that name The end of the thirteenth CANTO Argumentum TRoylus Achilles wounds and is betraid By his fell Myrmidons which being spredd The bloody Greeke still loues the beautious Maid Pollixena and for her loue is lead To Pallas Church whom Paris doth inuade And with an Arrow in the heele strikes dead Penthisilea with her valiant Maydes Assists sad Troy Greece lofty Pyrthus ayds ARG. 2. IN this last fight fall by the Argiue spleene Paris Amphimachus Scithiaes Queene CANTO 14. 1 TO whom Andromache may I compare Thy Funerall teares ore Hectors body shed If mongst late Widdowes none suruiue so rare To equall thee le ts search among the dead The Carian Queene that was as chast as faire Bright Artimesia a wonder bred Galathian Camna did likewise constant proue And â—…al'd her in firme Coniugall Loue. 2 What Fathers griefe could equall Priams teares Who lost a sonne no age no world could match Whose arme vpheld his glory many yeares Whose vigilant eye did on his safety watch Englands third Edward in thy face appeares Like griefe when timelesse death did soone dispatch Thy braue sonnes life Edward Sirnam'd the blacke By whom Spaine flag'd and France sustained wracke 3 Noâ—… Margaret when at Teuxbury her sonne Was stab'd to death by Tyrant Glosters hand Felt from her riueld cheekes more Pearle drops ronne Then Hecuba when she did vnderstand The thred of Hectors life already sponne Whose glories stretcht through Heauen aire sea land Though he of semblant hope to England were With him whom Asia did account most deare 4 Nor could the Countesse Mary sorrow more To heare her Brother the braue Sidney wounded Whose death the seuenteene Belgian states deplore Whose Fame for Arts and armes the whole world sounded Then did Cassandra who her garments tore Creusa who with extreame griefe confounded With whom Polyxena bare a sad straine To heare a third part of the earth complaine 5 Nor when the hopefull youth Prince Arthur dide Leauing his Brother both his
of Troy Oh can you trust the presents of a foe Who came from Greece these high wals to destroy And ten whole yeares haue wrought your ouerthrow What can you in the Danauish Treasons ioy Amongst you all doth none Vlisses know Either this swelling wombe is big with childe Of armed Greekes or gainst your wals compild 16 These brazen hoofes are made to 〈◊〉 your mure The trusty pale that hath so long defended Your sonnes and wiues where they haue liu'd secure Maugre the ruine by the foe intended Against your trusty Guards no wrong endure Whose Bulwarkt strength you haue so oft commended This said against the brazen Steed he flung A steele-head speare which through his entrailes rung 17 The trembling Mole from forth his Cauernes gaue A horrid grone a noyse of armor iar'd Through his transfixed brest if ought could saue Ill-fated Troy this had their ruin bard And they had ript the bowels of that graue From which the sad confused sound was heard Behold the Dardan shepheards with lowd cries Before the King bring bound a Greekish prise 18 Dispersed Troy assembles and attend Some vncoth Nouell manacled now stands The surprisd Greeke his eyes to heauen extend To heauen he likewise would exalt his hands Whilst showers of teares downe by his cheekes discend And thus he sayes Haue I 〈◊〉 the bands Of armed Greekes to 〈◊〉 heere in Troy And whom my foes haue spar'd must foes destroy 19 Relenting Priam is soone mou'd to ruth His misery and teares woo him to passion He thinkes such lookes such teares should harbor truth And pitties him disguisd in wretched fashion With comfortable words he cheares the youth Askes him of whence he is and of what Nation When to the passionate king he thus replide Priam commands and I will nothing hide 20 Who hath not heard of the Duke Palimed By the Pelasgian Princes doom'd to dye Whom false Vlisses to the scaffold led Him aboue all the rest most loued I He was my Kinsman but alas hee 's dead With that swift watry drops drill from his eye Him when I guiltlesse saw condemn'd of Treason I mourn'd my Kinsmans death as I had reason 21 Not could I keepe my tongue vnhappy man But priuate whispering haue I breath'd gainst those That sought his death to threat them I began Who to my friend had bin opposed foes Fox-like Vlisses first obseru'd me than Whom Calchas seconds why should I disclose My miserable state vnhappy wretch Since their reuenge as farre as Troy doth stretch 22 I had but dide there and I heare am dying Griefe stops his speech he can no further speake Still what he wants in words with teares supplying Till they with interruptions silence breake When after farre-fecht sighes himselfe applying To further processe he proceeds the wreake They threatned then since now I must not flye Witnesse you Troians Synon cannot lye 23 Oft would the warre-tyr'd Greekes haue left this Towne But still the Morrow tempests them restraine Threatning their Nauy in the Abisme to drowne And they attempt their wisht returne in vaine But most the angry Neptune seemes to frowne When old Epeus had vpon this plaine Builded this Monumentall Steed of late To the Deuinest Pallas Consecrate 24 Euriphilus is straight to Delos sent ' To know the Oracles aduice heerein He thus returnes A Virgins blood is spent To appease the tempests when these warres begin And in their end the Gods haue like intent That you with sacrifice shall purge your sin In your pursute they humaine bloud desire and you with bloud must purchaso your retyre 25 This when the vulgar knew not one but feares Whose dreaded life offended Phabus craues Oh! Hence proceedes the force of all my teares All prophesie his ruine that depraues The Oyle-tong'd Greeke Vlisses Calchas cheares To point him out that must appease the Waues Ten dayes he scilence kept as loath to name His destin'd life whom Phabus seemes to clayme 26 Scarce with Vlisses clamors is he won To sentence any till with vrgence great He doomes me to the flames the people ron To see him that must tast the Alters heate all glad that this denounced doome is don That I th offended God-hood must intreat And that my bloudy slaughter answers all Which each one feard vpon himselfe might fall 27 The day was com my brows with wreaths wer crown'd and I made ready for the sacred fire My hands behind as you behold them bound The Priest in his Pontificall attyre Ready to strike and I incompast round With fire and death yet Mortals life desire The truth I le tell alasse sinne cannot lie I lcapt from of the Altar thence I fly 28 Pursude in vaine feare gaue my body winges In a deepe saggy couert I obseure me Vntill the night had with her aiery stringes Drawne her blacke vaile o're Heauens face to assure me Hoping to hide me till the Argiue Kings Had sayld from thence but thinking to seeure me Poore wretch I from the Gracians fled a way and now alasse 〈◊〉 made the 〈◊〉 pray 29 Whom neither Heauen nor Earth nor Greece nor Trâ—…y nor ayre nor Sea will take to their protection But all conspire poore Sâ—…non to destroy Then ayre Come lend me part of thy infection Heauen Earth and Sea all your 〈◊〉 powers imploy and like confederates 〈◊〉 in my deiection and then he beates his breast weeps sighes grones Whose griefe King Priâ—…m and all Troy bemones 30 The good old Priâ—…m bids his hands vnbind and cheares him thus Of Greece thou art no more Thou shalt be ours thy Countrey hath resign'd Thy life to vs which freely we restore Then say What meanes this Monster we here find Vpon our Beach Whom should this guist adore Or what Religion 's in t Whence is he bred Or for what cause doth he our Confines tred 31 When with his new loosd hands to heauen vpreard Thus Synon Witnesse you eternal Fires Thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which but late I feard and all you powers to whom our zeale aspytes That I hate Greece and Troy that hath me cheard I am ingra'st too Trâ—…y hath my desires I am a Child of Troy Greece I desye Witnesse you Gods that Synon cannot lye 32 The false pelâ—…gians in great Pallas 〈◊〉 Her Diomed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offended By stealing from her charge with guile vniust Herrare Palladium for which she extended Reuenge gainst Greece they to appease hir must By some Oblation see their guile amended That her commensed 〈◊〉 may be withdrawne From them whose violence spard not her â—…wne 33 And now to make the 〈◊〉 borne Pallas smile Whose anger made the Tempests gainst them war Chalchas 〈◊〉 the high Equinall pile That his huge 〈◊〉 might all entrance bar Through your percullist Gates such was his guile For should you on this Horse print the least 〈◊〉 Of an offensiue hand being for her made You by your 〈◊〉 haue your liues betrayd 34 If you deny it entrance through your wals Or this
What meane these flames these grones of people dying This frightfull iarte of battailes new begun When Panthus thus Aeneas lets away Of Troy and vs this is the latest day 54 Troy was and 〈◊〉 was but they are past Great Ihoue hath from th' earths bosome swept vs all Th' insulting Greekes haue conquerd vs at last And forraine Steele now menases our wall The Brazen Horse that midst our Meure stickes fast Hath powrd an army forth whole thousands fall And drop downe from his sides whilst Synon stands Warming amidst the flames his treacherous handes 55 The Gates are ceasd the broken wals made good With bright Death-pointed Steele Irruption's bard Behold my passage was Knee-deepe in blood Crossing the streete from great Atrides guard Such as escape this purple falling flood Fyre or the Sword consumes our choise is hard Ruine beguirts vs and what most we feare We cannot fly death rageth euery where 56 Now hurries strong Eneas madly faring Through flames through swords whether Erinnis cals Eg'd on by rage and fury no man sparing On euery side are fires wounds Clamors brals To him arm'd Ripheus ioynes and wonders daring Iphilus Hypanis and Dimas fals In the same tanke youthfull Chorebus tride Doth likewise glister by Aeneas side 57 Chorebus who for faire Cassandracs Loue Came from Megdomia to the Dardan broyles These seeking flying death all dangers proue And taske their valours to all desperate toyles To places of most slaughter they remoue Euen where the Greekes commit most horrid spoyls Arm'd with this Saw This onely Captiues cheares When safetie flyes all-resting death appeares 58 Thus seeke they certaine death amidst the hart Of Flame-guilt Troy whilst the blacke fatall night Flyes hood-winkt twixt the poles her yron Cart Rusty with darkenesse oh what Mortall wight Can halfe the terror of that houre impart Such howles sighs grones wounds slaughters afright In euery street Liues-blood death murder feare The reeking Faulchion and the fatall Speare 59 With Arm'd Androgeos they encounter first Androgeos who mistakes them for his mates And cheares them thus we haue already burst and made irruption through the batterd Gates Now let your Swords that for their liue-blouds thurst Glut them with purple healths behold their Fates But when from them he lookes some fyre apply With armed hands vpon his traynes they fly 60 And put them all to massacre the whiles Chorebus sayes Some comforts in despaire Fortune vpon our first endeuours smiles The Foes are vanquisht and we victors are Then come Make vse of their Pelasgian guiles Put on their armes and to their Guards repayre Their proper armes shall gainst themselues contend Where vertue fayles vse fraud to God and friend 61 With that he dons Androgeos shining Caske Which like a Bearded Commet glisters farre The rest in forraine Helmes theyr faces maske And mingled with the Greekes began new warre Still Fortune smiles on their Nocturnall taske Where Greekes with Greekish armes confounded are And mongst their frighted guards great vprore growes Since from their Friends they cannot ken theyr Foes 62 A thousand fall to Hell a thousand fly Some to the Nauy others to the shore and many Pale-fast Greekes affray de to dye Run to the Horse where they were lodg'd before and in his darke conceited Entrayles lye See fayre Cassandra from the Temple dore Drag'd by blacke Myrmidons her Son espyes Frightfull Chorebus and that way he flyes 63 They after him adismall conflict now Growes in the entrance of the Temple when Theyr friends mistaking theyr disguised brow Route from the battayle meetes by strength of men Huge stones and Webs of Lead stounding below Their Greece-arm'd Friendes whose craft's deceiu'd agen By Ignorance they call theyr friends on hye and by theyr tongues the grâ—…cians them descry 64 For now rough Aiax reuels in the place The two Atrides with their armed Bands And sly Vlisses too yet in the face Of all theyr guards the bold Chorebus stands Till number o're swayes might Migdoniaes race Is now extinct by force of thousand hands Then Ripheus fals then is bold Dimas brest Through-pierst so one by one decliue the rest 65 Alone scapes bold Eneas by a cry Raisde at King Priams Pallace whether hying More Mutiny and broyles he may espy More Tragicke sight of wretched Troians dying The massacre seemes dreadfull in his eye Before the assaulted Gates are thousands lying The hauocke did so vâ—…olent appeare as had their bin no place of death but there 66 The vntam'd Mars vpon his Altars grones Hye crown'd in bloud some Greekes tho Pallace scale The Laders cleaue vnto the lettying Stones Whose Marble Collumns bend and seeme to faile Beneath the weight of fire and Steele at ones and still the Banicadoed Gates the' assayle Where able armed Pyrrhus stands before Th'inflamed Porch his armor slack't in gore 67 The inclosed Princes broyle doubly pend in With flames and steele inclosde on enery side With eminent death yet no irruption win Though they diâ—…olue the hye roofe beautified With Gold and figures which to touch were sin The Geometricke ridge of Siluer tride Fires o're their heads and drils downe by the wals Which scalds the Princes as it melting fals 68 Sterne Pyrrhus sweats and with Antomedon His fathers Charioter assaults the place Scarse able to endure the armes they hauâ—… on So ouer-heat with Flames in whose bright face They stand with naked swords to gaze vpon Those shrinking Monuments the fires imbrace at length with beames shocking by strength of hand They shake the wals vnable to withstand 69 Which tumbling in like a Bay-window showes Whose gaping mouth seemes vast oh now appeares The gorgeous Courts whose floore each Lady strowes With her torne garments haire and pearly teares Still still their shrickes and feminine clanger growes as the Breach waxeth so increase their feares Their cries pierce heauen slake Fire and soften stones Yet mooue not Pyrrhus and his Myrmidons 70 For neyther Priams Guard the doore of Brasse Nor trusty Marble can withstand the Foe But through them all by force of armes they passe The heauy Gates they from the henges throw Shiuering theyr plated leaues like paines of Glasse Which with the fury of theyr burnings glow and breaking in the spacious Courts they fill With bloudy Souldiers who on all sides kill 71 King Priam when he saw his Towne inuaded His Troy sitting in fire not to be freed and all those Gods that long had Islium ayded Shrunke from his helpe and in his fall agreede That his farre shining beames at last were faded and the Vniuerfall hart of Troy must bleede The larum Bels of death on all sides ringing His shrieking wife and Daughter bout him clinging 72 Expecting helpe from him in whom remaind No helpe at all he first dissolues in teares But casting vp his eye to haue complaind His griefe to Heauen his Sword and Helme appeares Hung by the Walles with rust and Canker staynd Now burdens to his arme in former yeares
Further she was proceeding when the son An irefull frowne vpon his mother threw Away quoth he and to Sibilla run And let the same hand that my first borne slew Destroy this to for as we haue begun We will persist the Lady sad withdrew Affraide and greeu'd at once to see him moued Whom as her King she fear'd her son she loued 46 No sooner was she out of fight but he One of his trusty seruants cals on hye Who waits his pleasure on his bended knee Quickly quoth Saturne after Vesta flie Say if the brat suruiue Sibill and she As Traytors to our person both shall die Hee s gone and little in the King doth lacke At his departure to haue cal'd him backe 47 Twice was the word halfe out and twice kept in Faine he would haue it done and faine neglected He thinkes dam'd Parricide on vgly sinne But worse he thinkes from State to be deiected Neuer hath Prince in such distraction bin His bloud he lou'd his kingdome he affected But since he cannot both at once enjoy His state hee 'l saue his yssue hee 'l destroy 48 Ambition to his fiery rage gaue fewell He now remembers not his Sibils teares Whose tender hart laments to lose her Iewell No sparke of pitty in his looke appeares It sports him only to be tearmed cruell At name of Father now he stops his eares Had not his Crown more then his couenant tēmpted Sybill thy sonne had bin from death exempted 49 But the commaund is gone and in his breast He now reuolues the vilenesse of the deed Scepter and Crowne and life he doth detest Within him his remor cefull entrailes bleed And now at length the King would thinke him blest Might he togither perish with his seed And that which most his Melancholy furthers He knowes the world condems him for his murthers 50 No joy can cheere no object make him glad The dayes in sighes the nights in teares he spends Nothing can please him be it good or bad His troubled and craz'd sences it offends That he is now surnam'd Saturne the Sad He sets not by alliance strangers friends Here leaue him in the depth of his dispaires A melancholy King composde of cares 51 And to the Queene returne who sadly waites Her Infants execution or rep◅ue Did Saturne see this boy she thus debates That he would kill him I can scarce belecue Alas poore infants borne to wofull fates What corsicke hart such harmelesse soules can greeue Thus lies the Queene til from her Lord she heare Halfe chear'd with hope and halfe destroy'd through feare 52 In Vesta comes her sad cheare Sybill spies And in her bed though weake her selfe sh'aduanced She might haue read the Message in her eies For as vpon the smiling Babe she glanced She fil'd the chamber with lowd shreekes and cries At which the wofull mother was intranced The Grandam in her eyes the kings wil showing The mother by her lookes her meaning knowing 53 Not long in this strange sorrow they remained But the kings seruant mongst the women presleth A generall flush the Matrons cheekes hath stained And his owne blush ◅ng with theirs confesseth That place vnfit for him yet none complained For euery one his cause of comming gesseth Knowing the gentle knight would not present him In such a place vnlesse the king had sent him 54 On whom as more attentiuely they gaze Thus wils the king quoth he my sonne shall die In vaine with sorrowfull teares your eies you glaze Or fill this chamber with a generall cry He for the heart of his young infant staies Which if his mother or his Queene deny They shall abide like doome hee 'l haue their harts The message ended thus the knight departs 55 So long in sorrowes simpathy they mourn'd That with excesse of griefe their soules were tired Now for a space they haue their feares adiourn'd And of the kings displeasure more inquired At length their mourning into madnesse turn'd Quoth Sibell no base murtherer shall be hired To worke this out-rage so the king hath wild And by my hand the ◅weete babe shall be kild 56 With that a knife the wrathfull Sibell snatcht And bent the point against the infants brest Thinking to haue his innocent life dispatcht And sent his soule vnto eternall rest The Lad his mother by the bosome catcht And smiling in her face that was addrest To strike him dead away she hurles the knife And faith sweet babe that smile hath sau'd thy life 57 Then giue it me quoth Vesta for take heed My son hath charg'd vs on our liues to slay him The infant by his Grandams hand shall bleed So wils the king what 's she that dares gainsay him My aged hand shall act this ruthlesse deed And I that should protect him will betry him She aimes to strike at which the infant smilde And she insteed of killing kist the childe 58 Are you so timerous quoth the Midwife by Or do you count this babe so deare a treasure Know you not if we saue him we shall die And shall wehazard death in such high measure Though you would slight it by my life not I I am more fearefull of the kings displeasure With that a keener blade the Beldam drew The babe still smild away the knife she threw 59 When they behold the beauty of the Lad They vow within themselues his life to saue But then the kings Iniunction makes them sad And straight alas they doome it to the graue Now with their blades in hand like Beldams mad They menace death then smiles the pretty knaue Then fall their kniues then name they the kings will And then agai◅ they threat the babe to kill 60 Three times by turnes the Infant past their hands And three times thrice the kniues point toucht his skin And each of them as oft confounded stands Such pitty did his smiling beauty win That more then they estecme their liues or lands They all abhor the vilenesse of the sinne At length they all consult with heedfull care To saue the◅ owne liues and the childe to spare 61 Saith Vesta in the bordering Prouince dwels Old Mellisseus a renowned King His daughters I brought vp in sacred Spels And taught them Chares to sow to weaue to sing No Lady liuing these bright Dames excels In vertuous Thewes good graces euery◅ thing To these my little Graund-child I will send And to their trust this prectious charge commend 62 Faire Almache and Mellissee I know For so these vertuous Ladies haue to name Will when they vnderstand what Queene doth owe This royall yssue and from whence it came Their best and choysest entertainment shew And to no eare our secret Act proclaime Thus they conclude all needfull things are fatcht And on her way a trusty mayde dispatcht 63 Who in the Citty Of on safe ariuing To the two Sisters she her charge presents They glad to heare of Vesta still suruiuing Yet grieued
enemies pike Had by the aime of some strong hand bin cast And side to side through all his entrailes past 45 He comes where all his Lords in counsell sat And tels them of three sons preseru'd to life The Peeres at first seeme much amaz'd thereat Yet all commend the pitty of his wife And praise her vertue intermitting that They next proceed to Tytans hostile strife And thus conclude their enemies to expell Whom they know Barbarous bloody fierce and fell 46 When calling him that the defiance brought This answere backe to Tytan they returne That they his brauing menace set at naught That their owne blouds shall quench the towns they burn That their immediate ruines they haue sought And they no longer can reuenge adiourne But the next sonne shall see strange vengeancetane Of all his Cretan subiects they haue slaine 47 The Messengers dismist while they prepare Armes and munition for the Morrowes field Meane time great Tytans sonnes assembled are Who all their Fortunes on their fury build Their hauty lookes their spleenfull harts declare Each brandishing his sword and ponderous shield Longing to heare from Saturne such reply That on his men they may their valours try 48 Nor do they tempt the Deities in vaine They haue what they desire to them behold The bassled messenger gallops amaine But ere the Knight his message hath halfe told So much the Gyant kings their braues disdaine That with their scornefull feet they spurne the mold Their browes they furrow and their teeth they grate And all the Gods blaspheame to shew their hate 49 Now hath the Sunne slid from his fiery Car And in cold Ister quencht his flaming head Blacke darknes risting from the earth afar You might perceiue the welkin to orespread Orions blazing lockes discouered are Pale Cinthia gouernes in Apolloes stead Bootes his waine about the pole hath driuen And all the stars borne bright that spangle heauen 50 The morning comes Tytan in field appeares In compleat harnesse arm'd from head to toe Next him Aegeon who no Corslet weares Or coat of Armes to incounter any foe Vnarmed as he is he no man feares A plume doth from his guilded helmet flow Made of the Peacockes traine his armes is strong In which he shakes a skeine bright broad and long 51 Creous huge sinnowy Armes and brawny thighes Are naked being tawnied with the sun Buskins he weares that boue his ankles rise Puft with such curl'd silke as Arachne spâ—…n A coat of Armes well mail'd that fits his size Laceth his body in these Armes he woon Of a huge Monster in the Isle of Thrace Whose weapon was a weighty iron mace 52 His knotted beard was as the Porphir blacke So were the fleecy lockes vpon his crowne Which to the middle of his armed backe From his rough shaggy head discended downe His fiery Eie-bals threaten Saturnes wracke Sterne vengeance rous'd her selfe in Caons frowne His sheild a broad iron dore his Lance a beame Oft with his large stride he hath Archt a streame 53 Typhon in skins of Lyons grimly clad Next his too Brothers in the march proceeds The hides of these imperious beasts he had From th'Erithmanthian forrest where his deeds Liue still in memory like one halfe mad The Gyant shewes in these disguised weeds The Lyons iawes gnawing his Helmet stood And grinning with his long fangs stain'd in blood 54 And yet his owne fierce visage lowring vnder Appeares as full of terror as that other Two such aspects makes the Saturniens wonder Next him appeares Euceladus his Brother Whose eye darts lightning and his voice speaks Thunder This was the onely darling of his mother His weapon was a tall and snaggy Oake With which he menac'st death at euery stroake 59 Hiperion in an armor all of Sunnes Shines like the face of Phoebus o're the rest This Gyant to his valiant Brothers runs Crying to Armes base lingering I detest Damn'd be that Coward soule that damage shuns Or from apparant perill shrinkes his brest Behold where Saturne mongst his people crownd His hornes and Clarions doth to battell sound 56 Saturne appeares as great Hyperion spake Borne in an Iuory chaire with bright stones stoodded Mongst which in trailes ran many an Anticke flake With rich Inamell azur'd greene and rudded At the first push their enemies rankes they brake He fought till his bright Chariot was all bloodded About him round their bowes his Archers drew A fight which yet their Foe-men neuer knew 57 The big-bon'd Gyants wounded from a farre And seeing none but their owne souldiers by them Amazed stand at this new kind of warre To receiue wounds by such as came not nie them From euery wing they heare their looses iarre They knew not where to turne or how to flie them The showers of Arrowes rain'd so fast and thicke That in their legges thighs brest and armes they stick 58 So long as their strong Bowes of trusty Ewe And silken strings held fast so long fresh riuers Of Crimson blood the Champion did imbrew For euery shaft the Archers Bow deliuers Or kils or woundes one of their countlesse crew But when they once had emptied all their quiuers And that the enemy saw their arrowes wasted To blowes and handy-strokes both armies hasted 59 Thou famous English Henry of that name The fift I cannot but remember thee That wan vnto thy kingdome endlesse fame By thy bold English Archers Chiualry In Agin-Court when to the Frenchmens shame King Dolphin and the chiefe Nobility Were with the ods of thousands forcst to yeeld And Henry Lord of that triumphant field 60 But such successe king Saturne had not then He is in number and in strength too weake His people are but one to Tytans ten Nor are his guards so strong their spleene to wreake The Gyant-Kings with infinites of men Into their foes Battallions rudely breake Their Polaxes and Clubs they heaue on hie The Kings surpriz'de and the Saturniens fly 61 The Tytans brandish their victorious Glaues and enter the great Citty Hauocke crying In Cretan bloud they drowne their Chariot Naues And slaughter all the poore Saturniens flying One hand sharpe steele the other fire-brands waues In euery place the grones of people dying Mixt with the Conquerors showts to heauen aspire and in their harsh sound make a dismall Quire 62 The Citty 's ceizd Saturne and Sybill bound Whilst Tytan Lords it in the Cretan Throne His reuelling sonnes for Pillage ransacke round And where they heare Babes shrike or olde men grone They showt for ioy meane time King Saturnes wound Sybill bindes vp and being all alone In prison with her Lord to him relates The fortunes of her sonnes and their estates 63 She tels him that young Ihoue in Epire famed For Martiall triumphs is theyr naturall sonne He that Lycaon queld Pelagia tamed And many spoyles for Milliseus woon No sooner did the King heare young Ihoue named But he repents the wrongs against him doon and proud of such an Issue so
his Brothers vow Like homage and in State haue entertaind Vter Pendragon to whose throne they bow Sixteene whole yeares He doats on Cornwayles wife and for her loue bereaues her Husbands life 63 Of her he Arthur got In France Clodouens Gouernd as King the first that was Baptiz'd In Italy great Theodoricus King of the Astrogothes who enterprisde Gainst Odeacer battaile bold Honoricus Gouernd in Affricke who so much despisde True Fayth that he for th' Arrians in one hower By shops exild three hundred thirty foure 63 Arthur the worthy next the State ascended Fought twelue set battailes and the order made Of the Round Table whose renowne extended Through all the world whilst Arthur doth inuade Forraine Dominious and Christs Faith desended Mordred at home his Crowne ' and Queene betrayde Twixt whom at Arthurs backe returne againe War was commenst in which both Kings were slain 65 Next Arthur Constantine Duke Cadors Sonne After his Vncle sixe and twenty years Had gouern'd England his estate begonne Slew Mordred Sonnes in fight with Saxon Peeres That ayded them in battaâ—…le these warres donne After foure Sommers he ascends the Spheares Iustine a Swine-heard by ambition fierd By crafty meanes th' Imperiall Seate aspyerd 66 Now liu'd in Italy the famous Dame Analasiantha with Athalarius Her Son by whom her Soueraignty first came She could both Greeke and Latine well discusse Whose reuerence many Histories proclayme Daughter to th' Emperor Theodoricus Iustinian the Gracian Empyre swayes The Persians to their State Cosroe rayse 67 Iustinian in his Captaines much renowned Narses the Eunuch a right 〈◊〉 Knight And Bellisarius whose name was crowned Through all the world Twice Carthage won in fight Twice rescude Rome his fame in Persia sowned Thrace Greece th'Affricke Gâ—…aths he put to flight For much more seruice th' Emperor from his head Tore out his eyes he for'st to beg his bread 68 Aurelius Conanus slew in field Constantine Arthurs Nephew three yeares swade Then did his due to death and nature yeild And Vortigore his Sonne is Soueraigne made Who did but foure yeares Brittans 〈◊〉 weild When Malgo did the 〈◊〉 inuade Who slew his first Wife her chast Bed for sooke And to his Bride his Brothers Daughter tooke 69 King Totylus sack't Rome the second time What in the first he spoyl'd he now repayred Altinus king of Lumbards full with Wine Cals for a Mazer which he might haue spared Of his Wiues Fathers Scull for which in fine She loath'd her Husband and yet further dar'd Vnto his loyall Bed she prou'd vntrue With Helme-child who after Albine slew 70 CAreticus by help of Irelands King Cald Gurmond Brittan Malgo did expell Whom after three yeares Ethelfrid did bring To ruine and in battaile prosperd well About this time Sybert th' East Saxon King Erected Westminster Ethelfrid fell And Cadwan Duke of Northwales him defeated And two and twenty yeares in peace was seated 71 Queene Tredegunde of France in the meane season Lawdry the Earle of Soysons deerely lou'd And for his â—…ake destroyd the King by Treason Gainst Gregory sir-nam'd the great was mou'd By â—…ohn the Patrâ—…arch against all reason The Churches Primacy which he improu'd Arabian Mahomet his Alkeron made Frensh Brunchild liu'd who had Princes ten betrayde 72 CAdwallin Cadwans Sonne next Bittan guided Benet the Monke Paynting and Glazing found The Sarasins by Mahomet prouided Wan Persia where Ormisda long sat crown'd And in short space hauing their powers diâ—…ided Conquerd all Aegypt with the Climats round Damascus likewise was subdude by them So was rich Antioch and Hierusalem 73 Three yeares Cadwallader esteem'd the last Of Brittan Princes gouernd and he dead The Kingdome wholly to West-Saxons past Of whom King Iue first impald his head And next him Ethelard whose raigne was grast By reuerent Beda of whose workes we read Of Clearkly Bookes on seuerall Subiects stil'd Threâ—…ore and eyghteene Volums well compil'd 74 Next Ethelard raign'd Cuthred whom succeeds Sigebert and he not one full yeare did raigne But was deposde for many tyrranous deedes And after besely by a Swine-heard slaine Kinulphus to the Kingdome next proceedes Who after by a man of Sigeberts traine Was murdred in the night as he should passe Vnto his Mistris a braue Brittish Lasse 75 The Sarasins pierce Europe Rhodes they wasted The Firmament two daies appeares to burne The Emperour Constantine his Army hasted The Sarasins by armes to ouerturne Where thirty thousand Pagans of death tasted When Constantine expites the Christians mourne His Throne and State Iustinian next maintained And from the Turkes Affricke and Libia gayned 76 The next West-Saxon King was Brithricus Who eyghteene yeares after Kinulphus fall Raign'd King came from the blooud of Cerdicus And queld the Danes in many a bloudy brall Wiu'd Ethelburgh by whom as Bookes discusse He poysond was yet whilst he gouern'd all S. Albons Winchcombe Abbeyes were both built Blood rayn'd which seem'd like Crosses where t' was spilt 77 Egbert the Sexon thirty seauen supplyde The Soueraignety now raign'd Prench Charles the great Eyghteene whole dayes the Sunne his light denyde Hyren the Empresse from th' Imperiall Seat Her young Sonne Constantine deposde through pâ—…de And after did him cruelly intreat She causd his eyes be torne out of his head And foure yeares after gouernd in his stead 78 King Ethelwolfe the fore-nam'd Egbert's Sonne As Chroniclers affirme Oxford erected a Priest at first in Orders he begon Till after marrying he the State affected The Warlike Danes his Kingdome ouer-ron But are expled Sergius is Pope elected Whose name Os Porcy seem'd so vile that they Chang'd it and from him all Popes to this day 79 Foure Sonnes each other in the State succeedes King Ethelwald who gouern'd not a yeare When Ethelbert his Brother don'd the Weedes Imperiall and next him doth appeare The third Sonne Etheldred whose body bleeds By the bold Danes who after slaughterd were By the fourth Sonne at Brixium as Bookes tell Three dayes together bloud in thicke shewers fell 80 Young Alured from Ethelwolfe the last Twenty nine yeares sixe monthes the Scepter bore Hungar and Hubba quite through Scotland past Bels were first vsde in Greece not knowne before In sixe set battailes Alured disgrast The warlike Danes then dyde The Peeres adore Edward his elder Sonne who nobly beares The Brittish Scepter foure and twenty yeares 81 Nine Popes in lesse then nine yeares were instald Adelwald Edwards Brother twice rebelling VVas by the Elders Prowesse twice appald And after slaine the Huns and Hungars quelling All Europe were much feard a Princesse cald Elflede King Edwards Sister much excelling after the throwes in her first Child-birth tryde For euermore her