contrarie to these things and shewest that thou art not son of a king but of perdition for thou despisest thy father In stead of reuerence thou hast him in hate and thou makest him warre where thou shouldest hold him in loue and thou puttest him to great dishonor thy selfe where thou art hold and bounden to do him worship O Iupiter who shall giue thée absolution of thy life dwelling in venome Who shall excuse thy sinne Thou art enemie of thy father The case is so grieuous that there is no mercie ne excusation vnlesse it procéede from the naturall clementie of thy father Beholde Iupiter beholde the ende of thine insurrection All lawe positiue and all lawe written condemne thée vnto death and curse and anathematise thée It is great pittie thou art a goodly yong man Know that thy reigne may not long dure and that thou shalt more sharply be punished then thou wéenest peraduenture at this this time For Ganimedes one of the sonnes of Troy is hereby in the helpe of Saturne thy father with twenty thousand sighting men which summoneth thée by me that thou returne into the mercie of thy father and yéeld him his realme all excuses set apart Messenger aunswered Iupiter if I were such one as ye say with iust reason ye and other might giue sentence and condemnation vpon mee I were then guiltie for both parties And I trow if Ganimedes of whome ye haue spoken had heard my my excuse hée would not bee mine enemie I aunswere you that I loue my father Saturne in as much as hee is my father But I say to you on the other part that he hath oft tymes sought to put me to death hée shewing himselfe my mortall aduersarie and not father For euery father naturally loueth his sonne and for that regarde I will kéepe me from him as from mine enemie And will well that the Troyans knowe that if they come and assayle mee I will defende mee with all my puissance c. With this aunswere returned the saide Troian vnto Saturne and Ganimedes and sayd vnto them what he had found Saturne and Ganimedes swore then the death of Iupiter and approched so nigh the strait that they came within a bow shot the one nigh vnto the other and from as farre as they sawe each one nigh vnto the other they made great cryes and showtes Iupiter had set his puissaunce in two wings whereof hee was chiefe in the formost and Ixion and his Centaures were gouernours of the second When Iupiter had séene that there was no way but for to skirmish he said he would begin the battaile and after that he had encouraged his people he pricked his horse foorth and then happened and befell a maruaylous thing For from the high clouds aboue came downe an Eagle vpon his head and after beganne to flie about him making him ioy and théere and departed not nor left him during the battaile By the flying of this Eagle Iupiter and the people tooke in them an hope of good successe And Saturne and the Troians fell in a feare and doubt that could not come out of their conceits What shall I say more when Iupiter sawe the dooing of the Eagle he had a great ioy in his heart and as a man well assured in his bodie he entred among the Archers of the Troyans that shot thicke at him and running as a tempest passed by their arrowes and tarried not for resistance of shot till he came among the men of armes of the Troyans The Troyans had neuer séene man on horse backe before and when they saw Iupiter they had thought it had béene halfe a man and halfe a horse and there were some that fled at his comming and some abode and fought valliantly against him thus began the battaile of that day They of Crete followed Iupiter with a great noyse of Tabors and clarions and began to skirmish with the Troyans they did their best on both sides Iupiter bare to the ground many Troyans and well employed his horse on which he rode Ganimedes and Saturne on the other side failed not Alway Iupiter proued himselfe in armes the most expert aboue all other And abandoned his body and life vnto the fight of his enemies and there was no man that durst haue to do with him or abide him but he was slain and put vnderfoote by the cutting and smiting of his sword Cruell and fierce was this battaile The Troyans were without feare and did great prowesses and manly by the the leading of Saturne and of Ganimedes Saturne met Iupiter often times as he that sought great strokes but Iupiter that knew him well would neuer abide him saying that he would neuer set hand on his person but eschewed and fled his death vnto his power This notwithstanding hee sought the death of his helpers and made no sparing of their harnesse ne armor of leather of their heades ne of their liues of yong nor of old of valiant nor of hardy it was to him all one he yéelded neither to one side nor to other for stroke of sword of mace ne of guisarme Yet he had oft remembrance of the faire Danae and desiring to be quit of his enemies for to go about her deliuerance like as he had promised vnto her he smote off heads and arms Vnto him was nothing impossible At euery stroke he dyed his sword with new blood and the Eagle did flée alway about him now low now hie Wherfore the Troians had great despite in thēselues Ganimedes the noble Troyan was of little stature Yet notwithstanding he was of more greater courage then any other vigorouslie he fought agaynst them of Crete as hee that mynded nothing but to get worshippe and honour What shall I say they fought thus togither in this poynt from the morning till the euening without that any of both parties obtayned any winning or losse and then Saturne withdrew his people on the one side and Iupiter returned with the King Ixion and the Centaures and still followed him alwayes the Eagle and sate vppon his Tent which was made of boughes and greene rushes For at that time Tents and Pauillions of cloath were not had nor vsed howbéeit the making of linnen cloath and of cloath of Golde and Silke was founde afore this tyme. In this night they of Troy and they of Crete made great cheare in theyr Tentes and lodgings and disposed them to beginne againe on the morrowe the labour of armes hoping all to haue the better and victorie The hurt men were dressed and the harnesse broken was made again and amended they spake largely of the prowesses of one and other but principally they helde theyr speaches of the Eagle and spake so much of him that Iupiter that same night tooke a péece of Crimson Satten containing a yard and a halfe square and made therein the resemblaunce of an Eagle of Golde and set it on a Speare and made a banner saying that he would beare that banner in all battailes euer after
He pointed him toward the Sea And as hee was looking toward the Sea-coast Pyrrhus drew his sword and would have slain him had not Thetis béen who knew Pyrrhus and cryed out saying Ah dear Nephew what wilt thou do Wilt thou kill my Father as thou hast killed my two brethren thy Vnkles and thus saying â—he caught him fast by the arme that he was about to strike withall Then Pyrrhus replyed saying the King Acastus thy Father hath wrongfully exiled K. Peleus thy Husband let him restore him unto his right and I will save his life King Acastus was content therewith then a peace was concluded betwéen them all thrée and they loved well together After this Acastus said to Peleus I am old and can no longer govern this Realm and those are gone that should have succéeded mée in this Kingdome Therefore if it please thée let Pyrrhus my dear Nephew take on him the Government Peleus was well contented and then was commandement given to all the Barons of Thessaly that they shoulâ— do homage to Pyrrhus as their King and Soveraign whereto the Barons with great joy and liking accorded Thus was Pyrrhus crowned King of Thessaly and estéemed the most redoubted King in all Greece Idumeus King of Creet dyed shortly after leaving behind him two Sons Merian and Loarca Loarca dyed shortly after his Father and Meâ—ian enjoyed the Kingdome Thelaâ—â—â—us his ennemies For whose comming he often went to looke on the sea side When Pirrhus with his shippes were landed he addressed himselfe to Thessalie against king Achastus and the better to atchieue his purpose he sent his two Secretaries the one called Crispus the other Adrastus to Assandrus a man of great honour and estimation in Thessalie which Assandrus was a great friend both to him and to Peleus for to haue his counsell and help The messengers hauing béene with Assandrus returned to Pirrhus assuring him of his frendly ayde Whereupon Pirrhus hoised saile againe and making toward Thessalie they were by a tempest driuen in at the porte Sepeliadim halfe a mile from Thessalie neare whereas Peleus kept in the vaultes or cellars Then Pirrhus went aland to rest himself and take fresh aire by chance he went strait walking to the caue where Peleus was hidden and passing along the bushes he fell into the hole where was the descent into the caue as afore is saide where he found Peleus his grandfather Peleus knowing him by his countenaunce forasmuch as he resembled much his father Achilles embraced him ioyfully and tolde him all his misfortunes and wrongs that he had sustained by means of Achastus and his sonnes Tidings hereof came to Philistines and Menalippus the sonnes of Acastus who were on hunting in a forrest thereby Then Pirrhus apparelled himselfe in torne beggarly apparell leauing his grandfather and company with his ships went alone with his sword into the forrest where he met with Philistines and Menalippus who demanded of him what he was and whither he wold Pirrhus said he was a Grecian that returning from Troy in company with 500. mo had escaped with his life from shipwracke and had lost all that he had in the sea being now driuen to beg for his sustenance from doore to doore wherefore he did beséech them if they had brought any victuals into the forrest that they woulde giue him somwhat to eate The two brethren said forthwith that he should abide with them which thing hée granted c. Vpon this parlée a great Hart came running by them at the sight whereof Menalippus put spurres to his horse and followed on the chase and immediately Philistines alighting from his horse to rest himselfe Pirrhus ranne him thorow with his sword and slew him and Menalippus afterward returning againe was also assailed and slaine by Pirrhus Thus Pirrhus slew his twoo vncles the brethren of Thetis the mother of Achilles his father Passing from thence he mette with Chinaras one of the houshold of Acastus of whome demaunding where the king Acastus was and vnderstanding that hée was neare there by he slew Chinaras and going in haste to his shippes he arayed him straitway in pretious robes and so adorned he came backe to the forrest and méeting anone with king Acastus the king asked him who he was I am saide he one of the sonnes of king Priamus of Troy who am prisoner to Pirrhus Where is Pirrhus saide the king He poynted him toward the sea And as he was looking toward the sea Pirrhus drew out his sworde and would haue slaine him had not Thetis béene who knew Pirrhus and cried out saying Ah deare nephew what wilt thou doe wilt thou kill my father as thou hast killed my two brethren thine vncles and thus saying she caught him fast by the arme that he was about to strike with Then Pirrhus replied saying the king Acastus thy father hath wrongfully exiled king Peleus thy husband let him restore him vnto his right and I will saue his life King Achastus was wel content therewith then a peace was concluded betwéen them all thrée and they loued wel together After this Acastus said to Peleus I am olde and can no longer nowe wel gouerne this realme and those are gone that should haue succéeded me in the kingdome Nowe therefore if it please thée let Pirrhus my right deare Nephew take on him the gouernment Peleus heereof was well contented and then was commaundement giuen to all the barons of Thessalie that they shoulde doe homage to Pirrhus as to their king and Souereigne whereto the barons with great ioy and liking accorded Thus was Pirrhus crowned king of Thessalie and esteemed the most redoubted king in all Gréece Idumeus the king of Crete died shortly after leauing behinde him two sonnes Merion and Loarca Loarca died shortly after his father and Merion enioyed the kingdome Thelamonius the sonne of Vlisses had a sonne by his wife Nausica named Deiphebus After all these things accomplished Acastus went and buried his two sonnes in Thessalie by the consent of Pirrhus and it happened that when Pirrhus was promoted to this royall dignitie hee became enamoured of Hermione daughter of Helene and wife to Horestes Her he so courted and allured by many intisements that hee got her away from her huâ—bande into Thessalie and tooke her to his wife Horestes was sore grieued at this iniurie offered yet he durst not assaile him with battell in his owne Realme but sayd that he would ere long be auenged of this indignitie assoone as time place would serue It came to passe shortly after the Pirhus weÌ„t to Delphos for to giue thankes vnto his god Apollo for the good successe he had obteined in Thessalie in reueÌ„ging his fathers death getting the kingdom and leauing in his pallace behinde him Andromache sometime the wife of Hector and Laomedon her yong sonne in his absence it was found that the sayde Andromache was with childe by Pirrhus wherat Hermione took displeaâ—ure so that she sent word to Menelaus
her father howâ— Pirrhus for the loue of Andromache had forsakeÌ„ her requesting him that during the abode of Pirrhus at Delphos hee would come and kill Andromache and Laomedon her sonne At her request Menelaus came and with naked sword ran at Andromache who caught in her armes Laomedon her yoong sonne and ran into the city crying for ayde Vpon sight hereof the city rose in armes for to defend Andromache and her yoong sonne from the outrage and daughter wherupon Menelaus was forced to retire into his countrey without atchieuing his purpose When Horestes also vnderstoode of Pirrhus his being at Delphos hee went with all speed thither and meeting him slew him with his owne hands and caused him to be buried Shortly after this did Horestes recouer againe his wife and carried her into his owne Realme When Pirrhus was dead Peleus and Thetis tooke Andromache that was with child by Pirrhus with her litle sonne Laomedon and sent them into the citie of Molossa where Andromache was deliuered of a 〈…〉 sonne which she named Achilleides This 〈…〉 when he was growne to yeares holpe his brother Laomedon to bee king of Thessaly and willed that for his sake all the Troyans should be set frée Héere the storie saieth that the sister of king Menon which Menon Achilles slew before Troy and whome king Priamus buried by his sonne Troylus came in very â—â—â—tly apparell to Troy and opening her brothers sepulchre tooke out his bones which so soone as she had she with them vanished sodenly no man knew whither or which way And it is said that eyther shée was a Goddesse or the daughter of a Goddesse the Son of Vlisses had a Son by his Wife Nausica named Deiphebus After all these things accomplished Acastus went and buryed his two Sons in Thessaly by the consent of Pyrrhus and when Pyrrhus was promoted to his Royal dignity he became enamoâ—ed of Hermione daughter of Helen and wife to Horestes Hee be so courted and allured by so many enticements that he got her away from her Husband into Thessaly and took her to his wife Horestes was sore grieved at this injury yet he durst not assail him with battel in his own Realm but said he would ere long be avenged of this indignity assoon as time would serve shortly after that Pyrrhus went to Delphos to give thanks unto his God Apollo for the good successe he had obtained in Thessaly in revenging his Fathers death and getting the Kingdom and leaving in his Palace behind him Andromache sometime the wife of Hector and Laomedon her young Son in his absence it was found that Andromache was with Child by Pyrrhus whereat Hermione took displeasure and sent word to Menelaus her Father how Pyrrhus for the love of Andromache had forsaken her requesting him that during the abode of Pyrrhus at Delphos he would come and kill Andromache and Laomedon her Son At her request Menelaus came and with a sword ran at Andromache who caught in her arms Laomedon heâ— young Son and ran into the City crying for ayd Vpon sight hereof the City rose in arms to defend Andromache and her young Son from the slaughter whereupon Menelaus was forced to retire into his Country without atchieving his purpose When Horestes understood of Pyrrhus his being at Delphos he went with all spéed thither and slew him with his own hands Thus did Horestes recover again his wife and carried her into his own Realm When Pyrrhus was dead Peleus and Thetis took Andromache that was with Child by Pyrrhus with her little Son Laomedon and sent them to the City of Molossa where Andromache was delivered of a goodly Son which she named Achilleides This Achilleides when hee was grown to years holpe his Brother Laomedon to bee King of Thessaly and willed for his sake all the Trojans should be set frée Here the story saith that the sister of King Menon which Menon Achilles slew before Troy and whom King Priamus buried by his Son Troylus came in very costly apparel to Troy and opening her Brothers Sepulture took out his bones which so soon as she had she with them vanished suddenly no man knew which way And it is said that either it was a Goddesse or the Daughter of a Goddesse CHAP. XXXI Of a Vision that Ulisses had in his sleep and how Thelagonus the Son of Vlisses by Queen Circe came to seek Vlisses and slew him not knowing who he was AS Vlisses was sléeping on his bed he saw a vision in which there séemed before him a wonderfull fair creature the most beautiful that ever he saw which he would fain have embraced but the Image would not suffer him And he going after it the Image asked him what he would have he answered that he was desirous to joyne with it in carnal copulation Then said the Image Oh a woful conjunction will this be for thereupon one of us must dye Moreover to him séemed that the Image held a Spear about the head was a pensil cunningly wrought all over with fishes And to him séemed that the Image departed away and said this sight betokneth destruction that shall happen to us two When Vlisses awaked he was troubled to think of his dream and being desirous to know what it might signifie he sent unto the Soothsayers of his Realm to enquire what this Vision might presage who having considered thereof said that his own Son should kill him Vpon this he fearing his Son caused him to be apprehended and surely kept Afterward he made him to dwell in a Castle that stood alone where with a few of his trusty Friends and Servants he spent the time and this Castle none might come unto but those few of his own retinue and they not to passe or re-passe but at certain times by a draw-bridge and a wicket the Castle being watred round about Now it had so fallen â—â—t before that in his return from Troy Vlisses had arrived in an Isle where Circe was Quéen and Governour which was the cunningest woman in the world in inchantment This Circe by her witchcraft made Vlisses stay with her a time at his returne and conceived by him a Son whom she named Thelagonus And about the time of Vlisses his dwelling in his Castle Thelagonus being grown to ripe years and being a stout young man would néeds know of his Mother who was his Father After much intreaty she told him who was his Father and where he did dwell Thelagonus very glad hereof and desiring to sée his Father travelled forthwith to Achaia and hearing where Uâ—isses dwelt he went thither and coming on a Monday morning he requested those that kept the bridge that they would let him go in to speak with Ulisses The Porters would by no means yeild therto but thrust him back churlishly whereat he taking displeasure struck one on the neck with his fist and beat him dead and seting upon the other cast them all off the Bridge whereupon they made a great
THE AVNCIENT Historie of the destruction of Troy Conteining the founders and foundation of the said Citie with the causes and maner of the first and second spoiles and sackings thereof by Hercules and his followers and the third and last vtter desolation and ruine effected by Menelaus and all the notable worthies of Greece Here also are mentioned the rising and flourishing of sundrie Kings with their Realmes as also the decaie and ouerthrow of diuers others Besides many admirable and most rare exployts of Chualrie and martiall prowesse tested by valorous Knightes with incredible euents as compassed for and through the loue of Ladies Translated out of French into English by W. Caxton Newly corrected and the English much amended by William Fiston LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 〈…〉 THE PRINTERS to the curteous Reader health and happinesse WHereas it is and euer hath bene a custome that among all maner studies the reading of Annales and Histories most delighteth men of all ages but especially yoong men whose affections are quickly incensed and their heares set on fire with an emulation of whatsoeuer notable and valorous enterprises they shall heare or reade of but most principally yoong Gentlemen and Noble men are by the viewing of memorable deeds and martiall prowesse so inflamed with an approbation of good famous exployts and with a detestation of ignomious or cowardly persons and deedes that the reading and hearing hereof do as it were kindle in their minds an ardent burning desire of imitating if not matching or ouergoing the most glorious attempts of the greatest most excellent In regard whereof the memorable sayings deedes and indeuours of the wisest most learned and most valiant of all ages haue bene still committed to writing and left to posteritie in all ciuil Countries to be as whetstones for the wittes of other to come and as spurres to pricke forward vnto fortitude and magnanimitie And to this purpose not only true Histories haue alwayes beene published but many fictions of admirable and most straunge yea of incredible things atchieued by industrious valour and constancy in Louers If then faigned stories of martiall men and louing Ladies may be necessary and delightfull how much more profitable and pleasaunt may this History bee deemed which compriseth both rare and worthie feates of Chiualry great store and also diuers wonderfull euents brought to passe by the stedfast faithfulnesse of true Louers and this story in respect of the subiect is verie true howsoeuer in the circumstances some poeticall paintings hyperbolical praises may be found And whereas before time the Translator William Caxton being as it seemeth no English man had left very many words mere French and sundry sentences so improperly Englished that it was hard to vnderstand we haue caused them to bee made plainer English and if leiure had serued wee would haue had the same in better refined phrases and certaine names that bee amisse conferred with Authours and made right But if wee finde your fauourable accepting heereof to be such as wee may shortly haue a second impression we will haue all amended Fare ye well The first Booke of the destruction of Troy CHAP. 1. Of the linage and ofspring of Saturne and how for his inuenting of sowing corne planting c. hee was honoured in Crete as a God WHat time all the Children of Noe were spread by the Climates raignes and strange habitations of the world by the generall diuision of tongues made at the foundation of the tower of Babylon in those dayes that the worlde was of golde and that the men were stedfast and poysing as mountaines and rude as stones and beasts enhaunsing their great courages fowling and shewing their great conceits that the enemie of man induced maliciously to practise to make Townes Cities and Castles to make Scepters and Diadems and to forge and make the cursed sect of gods among the possessors of the Isle of Crete There was a rich man inhaâ—ansed full of couetise happie of aventurous enterprise and right rich of the grace of fortune some men called this man Celion and some Vranus he was lawfull sonne of Ether sonne of Demor Gorgon the old dweller in the caues of Archadiâ—e and first beginner of the false Paynim gods This Vranus had to his wife his owne sister called Vesca he liued gloriously with her and had possession of the most part of the Isle of Crete and abounded prosperously in worldly goodes in increasing his naturall appetites first in increasing and ampliation of wordly Lordship and seigniorie and secondly in lynage and was marueilous rich He had two sonnes that is to wit Titan and Saturne and two daughters that one was called Cibell the other Ceres of whom shall be made mention hereafter and hée had many other sonnes and daughters of whom I make no mention for as much as they bee out of my purpose What shall I rehearse more of the glorie of this Vranus He had all thing as he would and was fortunat and nothing went against him his goods multiplied his children grew and increased but Titan the oldest sonne was foule euil fauoured and counterfeyte and Saturne was marueylously fayre and amiable for which cause Vesca the mother loued much better Saturn than Titan and that by nature for naturally the mothers loue better their fayre children than their foule wherfore Saturne was nourished most in the lappe of his mother and Titan was put out and in maner banished And when Saturn was great what for his beautie and for his cunning and science and other vertues hee gate the whole loue of all the people In this time it was so that whatsoeuer man practised or found any things profitable for the common wealth was recommended solemnly and called and named a God after their foolish and darke custome Saturne was named a god for in his youth by his cumming he was the the first finder to giue instruction of eaâ—ing and laboring the earth and of sowing and reaping the corne And this inuention was applied to Saturne with diuine reuerence with loue vpon loue not onely anenst Vesca and Vranus and his kinsmen but aboue measure all the people of Crete and of the Marches Countryes lying by and there about And thus his name arose and was renowmed that from all places men and children Nobles and villaines came to his schoole for to learne In these daies that Saturn began thus to flourish and was twentie yeares of age and his brother fortie Vranus their father by a sicknes that he had dyed and departed out of this world leauing his wife Vesca endowed largely of possessions His death was noyous and sorrowfull to Vesca his wife which caused her to weepe out of measure and his sons and daughters also they did his obsequie reuerently in abounding of great and bitter sorrow The obsequie done their wéeping and sorrow yet during Vesca saw that Titan her eldest son pretended to haue and inioy the succession of his father
and go and complaine to king Saturne After these wordes Vesca deliuered the child to a Damosell of the house that onely was there with them and bade her that she should go slea the childe in the presence of Saturne or in some other place out of theyr sight the poore damosell excused her and Vesca gaue her in commandement and charged her with great menaces that she should go forth and take the child and the knife and â—â—ea it And so by the commaundement of these two Ladyes shee tooke the knife many times put it to the throte of the childe for to cut it asunder and alway the noble childe laughed at the knife And when the damosell saw this that it was innonocent she might not find in her heart to do it any harme In this sorrow and and in this pain and vexation Vesca Cibel and the damosell were a long time Now they iudged him to death and put the knife to his throte and suddainly the Damosell reuoked it and sware that she would neuer be persecutresse of one to fayre a childe And thus they began all thrée to wéepe and sobbe bewailing the childe by so great affection that it was pitie to heare After this when they had long wept and sobbed and bewayled the tender wéeping and paine of Cibell they beganne a little to pacifie their hearts and began to returne to motherly pitie Cibell called her that held the child and required her pitiously that she would giue her her sonne to kisse and hold in her armes promising that she would do him no harme The Damosell that wist not what should fall deliuered her her tender childe and then when Cibell beheld her childe with her face all bewept and all distempered with teares she kissed his laughing mouth more then an C. times came againe to her nature knowledging her sinne and began to say My child I had bin well infortunate if I had taken thy life from thée I haue coÌ„tended thy death my right swéete sonne alas shall I persecute thée after the will of thy father king Saturne It is his commandement and I owe him obeysaunce if I obey the culpe and sin is due to him If I obey not I make my selfe culpable of death Ah what is this shalt thou die by my handes by the hands of thy proper mother Hâ— shall thy mother be thy mâ—â—tyrer Shall thy mother be thine enemie and bitter mortal aduersarie for doubt of death I wote not what to say but wil I or will I not thou art my sonne Euery mother loueth her childe how may I hate thée It is much better that I tie then thou I haue liued long though and thou art nowe 〈◊〉 borne Verily thou shalt not â—â—s at this time I shall saue thy life or I shall die for thy health requiring the gods mercie for the euill will that I had against thée CHAP. IIII. ¶ How Saturn had commaunded to slea Iupiter that was new borne and how his mother Cibell sent him to king Meliseus where he was nourished THe right sorrowfull Ladie after this came better to hir selfe and tooke heart to heâ— and kissed her child that alway laughed And Vesca beheld her countenance all new and sate downe on the bed side where her daughter lay There they two began to speake togither of Saturn of the fortune of this childe and that hee had béene in great aduenture and promised the one vnto the other that they would saue the childe vnto their power After this promise in the ende of diuerse purposes they concluded to send this child secretly vnto the two daughters of king Melliseus the which Vesca had nourished in her yong age Of these two daughters the one was named Almachee and the other Mellisee This conclusion fully finished and taken Vesca lapped and wound the childe as it ought to be and deliuered it vnto a damosell being there present with all things gaue her charge to bear it secretly to Almachee Mellisee The good damosel enterprised the said charge and departed out of Crete with the child at al aduenture so worshipfully guided her that she brought the child liuing in safetie to the citie of Oson which she presented to Almachee and Mellisee rehearsing how Vesca had sent him to them for the great loue and trust that she had in them and how Saturn had commaunded that his mother should flea it Anone as these two damosels sawe the childe and vnderstoode how Saturne had iudged it to death they receyued it with pitie and in fauour of Vesca promised to nourish it in the secretest and best wise that they mought And forthwith the same houre they bare the childe vnto a mountaine that was nigh to the Citie wherein dwelled their nourse in a déepe hole of a caue which was richly entailed and carued with Chisell and other diuerse instruments And then they sent againe the Damosell that brought the child into Crete In this maner was the life of the childe saued Almachee and Mellise nourished the child with the milk of a goat Fortune was to him more propice and helping theÌ„ nature What shall I say in the beginning when he was put in the caue as his nurse on a day sawe him wéepe and crie by his proper inclination of chilhoode because hee should not be heard they tooke Trumpets Timpanes and nimbals and made them to sownd so greatly that a great multitude of Bées fléeing about the mountaine heard their sound and with this sownd entred into the caue and tooke an hole by the childe flying about him without any greefe or harme doing to the childe and yet more they made there honie whereof the childe did eate and was nourished from thence forth which was a maruailous thing And for to atchieue the matter beginning at the damosell that had borne this childe thither when she came againe shee rehearsed to dame Cibell and Vesca all her dooing and worke and gaue them a right great comfort touching the childe Then the two Ladies by méere deliberatioÌ„ tooke an Abest which is a precious stone and brayed it into pouder and after that they mingled it with wine in a cup of gold and dame Vesca bare it to her son Saturne and she abounding in bitter teares all bewept said vnto him My sonne thy wife hath sent to thée this drinke know thou verely that she this day hath rendred and yéelden the fruit of her wombe a son and a daughter she hath sent the daughter to nourish in the Citie of Parthenie but in the obeying of thy straight commandemeÌ„t we haue defeated thy son and put him to death Of whom the body the flesh and the little tender bones be now turned into ashes she hath sent here to thee the right noble hart tempred in wine which I present to thée to the end that thou do thy pleasure and be no more in doubt by thy son to be put out of the realme Anon as Saturne
put her out of the order and of her company AT this time began to rise in the mind of Iupiter many thoughts for the better he concluded in himself to returne to Pelage from whence he came And then for because that hee was displeased with himselfe for the enforsing of his Ladie dame Calisto by loue hee departed from the wood and so hasted on his way that hee was on the morne among the Epiriens in his first habite When the Epiriens sawe Iupiter come againe they made him right great chéere and great honor And the same day Iupiter fained him that he would go on hunting and so went and found means to speake with Calisto and required her that she would be his loue but she in no wise would assent to him He returned from the chase so gréeued that for to passe his melancholy he departed out of the country The fourth day following after that he ordained there folke that gouerned the people and returned into the house of king Melliseus who receiued him as his son and there he dwelled a long time without aduentures whereof any mention is made and also Calisto dwelled in peace a while and when she heard tell and vnderstood that Iupiter was gone she was passing ioyous for she had leuer haue him far then nigh alway the time passed the fruit of her wombe grew and the day came that Diana and Athalanta with other virgins perceiued that she was with child wherfore they assembled al in their Chapyter and called Calisto and then spake Diana to her and said Calisto my daughter thou hast done fornication with some man this fornication is not excusable The virgins of this place be sorie for thy sinne and haue abhomination of thy shame For this cause it is of force that thou departe out of this house thou shalt be no longer their fellow Thou hast made thy selfe worthie to depart by the breaking and loosing of thy virginitie Take thine array and go thy way into some place where then maist be deliuered of the fruit that resteth in thée for thou shalt no longer be héere within When Calisto heard the goddesse Diana and knew that she said truth great teares fel from her eies and wéeping by great aboundance excused her vpon Iupiter rehearsing the abuse and violence that she had Diana and the maidens had great maruaile of Iupiter that had them so deceiued Calisto cried her mercie right humbly and many times offered her selfe to the correction of the maidens This notwithstanding albeit that she was held excused they receiued her not to mercie She was condemned to go out of the cloyster and so much went the matter for t of that the poore religious woman departed from thence all bewept and so ashamed that she would not go to no towne citie nor house but in a déepe caue that she had seene afore time in the wood And first she made her prouision of hearbs and rootes for as much as the winter was comming After she entred into the caue and there she held her so lōg time as the beare holdeth him in his den wherefore the Arcadiens fayned that she was turned into a beare And it is not to be forgottē that during this time she was deliuered of a sonne which she named Archas. This child was great and huge of members Calisto nourished him among the wilde beastes with rootes fruites and hearbes and of the proper meates and prayes that the cruel and terrible beasts liued with and there was no beaste that did him any harme nor none was so hardie to do him any gréeuance And he was so cruel and fierces that at the age of seuen yeare as his mother angred or troubled him on a day he lifted vp himselfe against her and would haue slaine her In so much that Calisto was constrained to flée before him by the bushes and to issue out of the wood and go to Iupiter which at that time was in the citie of Pelage Are has pursued Calisto his mother vntill he came within the citie and so forth entred after her into the Pallace and held in his hands two great round stones When Calisto entred into the pallace by aduenture she encountred and mette with Iupiter whom she knew and she knéeled downe on the earth before him and required him with afrayed spirite that he would do her iustice of her sonne that would flea her Iupiter that nothing knewe Calisto for asmuch as she was euil clothed and halfe wilde and sauage behelde the chylde and made him be taken and after he demaunded Calisto what she was Sir said she I am ' Calisto that for thy sinne was long since banished out of my religion I haue had this childe of thy séede such as thou seest this is thy sonne I haue nourished him seuen yeares in the forrest among wilde beasts He now would slea me for asmuch as I haue angred him I pray shée saue my life When Iupiter heard these wordes of Calisto he was right glad and ioyous for it was sayd that she was dead and he comforted her the best wise he could After that he called Archas and made the peace betwéene him and his mother and did cause him to be clothed and reteyned him in his palace And thēceforth the same Archas gouerned him so wel and so wisely that at the prayer and request of the Pelagiens Archas was made king of the countrey CHAP. IX ¶ How Titan assayled by warre his brother Saturne for as much as he had not put to death all his Children males c. IN this time that the young Archas was crowned king of Pelage and that he named the Cytie Archadia after his name the king Saturne was so great and so puissaunt that for to ample and increase the splendor of his natiuity he named himselfe Saturne sonne of heauen and of earth But then as he began to study how and by what maner hée might exalt the splendour of his felicitie by diuine misteries fortune turned her backe to him warde And as there is nothing in earth that may abide and endure so it happend that Tytan was all acertained that the quene Cibell had diuerse men children that she did cause to be kepte secretly and so had saued their liues Boccace that recounteth this history in the fourth booke of the genealogie of the goddes sayth not by what meane Titan knewe this thing alwaye eyther by suspection or by enuy that he had of the glorye of Saturne his Brother or by secret aduertisement Vnder this colour he determined in his courage that he woulde assayle Saturne by armes and for this cause he did assemble on a daye al his sonnes and them required that they would ayde and helpe him to get the land of Crete saying that hée woulde make warre against Saturne his Brother and that by right and iuste tytle he had good cause for he had not put to death dyuerse men children that his wife Cibell had conceyued of his séede like as
and of the Epiriens all the worlde prayseth him and holdeth him one of the valiauntest men of the world he is my sonne I shall send to him and let him haue knowledge of the miserie that I am in by the Damosell that bare him vnto the Mountaine of Oson and shall require him of succour and I hope that he is a man of so hie courage and so fortunate that he shall succour her that hath done him that merite that is worthie to haue his succour and that saued him in his tender dayes and my heart telleth me that hee shall receyue by this tyding a right great ioy in knowledging the place of his natiuitte For more greater ioy hée may not haue come to him then to knowe that hee is the first sonne of the auncient house of Crete And this shal turne to him a soueraigne gladnesse when he shall see thal he is required to come and make the recouerance of his father and mother and of his countrey CHAP. X ¶ Howe Iupiter with the ayde of King Meliseus of Epire deliuered Saturne his father and Cibell his mother out of the prison of Titan and howe hee slue Titan in battaile WHen Saturne and Vesca had heard Cibel so speake Vesca sayd that her aduise was right good and Saturn was al astonied for he thought that Iupiter that he had séene at diuerse times with King Meiâ—seus should in no wise be his son so hardly hee could beléeue it and giue faith vnto the words of Cibell and said if Iupiter would succour him he were the man to do it and that he was content that Cibel shuld send to fetch him as she had sayde Then Cibell sent for the Damosell that knewe all the guiding of Iupiter and gaue her the charge to go vnto him and to dispatch this businesse This Damosell ioyous of this Ambassade departed secretlie and taryed not till shee came vnto the house of Meliseus and finding there Iupiter with the King after the reuerence made she addressed her spéech to Iupiter and saide to him Iupiter reioyce and bee glad I bring to thée tydings of gladnesse For among other sorrowes fortune that hath holde â—â—ee long time ignoraunt and not knowing the place of thy right noble natiuitie hath now certainly layde open the discouerture and knowledge of the same ignorance and will that thou knowe that thou art the first sonne and heyre of the King Saturne and of Dame Cibell The King Saturne thy father as euery man knoweth long since made an oath vnto his brother Titan that hee wouldâ— slea all his children males that should come of his séede for which cause the day of thy natiuitie he commaunded that thou shouldest be put to death but thy mother had pitie of thée and for to saue thy life she sent thée secretly vnto this house giuing thy father Saturne to vnderstand that she had done execution on thée And so for to eschue the furors of thy father thou hast béene here nourished all thy dayes and knowest not thy selfe what thou wert and nowe thou art certaine What ioy is this to thée certainly great And thou oughtest to go ioyously vnto thy father and mother presenting thy selfe vnto their grace if it were not that after these tydings of ioy I must néedes shewe vnto thée Iupiter other tydings and that is this Thy mother that hath saued thée thy vncle Titan holdeth her in pryson with Saturne for that that she hath nourished thée and hée hath ouercome and vanquished thy father in battaile latelie and taken from him his Realme and yet more hee will put them to death Wherefore they pray and require thée that thou haue pittie of them and that thou wilt employ thée to go and deliuer them out of the daunger that they be in at this day The King Meliseus and Iupiter hearing these tydings of the Damosell maruayled them right greatly and Iupiter was right ioyous when he had vnderstoode that he was sonne of King Saturne and on that other side he was sore vexed of the troubling of Crete and thanked the Damosell And after that he turned him vnto the king and said to him Sira yee may nowe knowe and vnderstande what I am and of what house as this Damosell witnesseth My father and my mother be in the hands of their enimies I pray you in their fauour that ye will helpe me to succor them and that we go hastily oppressing him that hath oppressed them I haue a singular hope and trust in fortune that she will helpe vs. Faire sonne aunswered Meliseus knowe that I haue more ioy in the recoueraunce of thy lynage then I can shew or make semblant of and in signe of this I promise to helpe thée asmuch as in me is possible And then Iupiter assured the Damosel and swore vnto her that he would put him in armes against Titan and had her returne vnto Saturne and Cibel and to comfort them in hope of right short succour The damosel departed from thence with the words of Iupiter and returned in to Crete and told vnto Saturne and Cibell all that she had doone Anon after the Damosell was departed Iupiter sent for Archas his sonne hastily with the Arcadiens and also sent for the Epiriens and the Parthenyens with them of the Citie of Analcre All these people loued Iupiter with great loue and came at his commaundement in great number of men of warre Iupiter welcomed them as wel as he could and told them the cause why he had sent for them and tolde them that he was Sonne vnto king Saturne After these things he did cause to be made ready all things that were necessarie vnto his Host and so they departed from the Citie of Oson with a right fayre companye of men of armes vnto the number of six thousand fighting men and so well sped that in short time he brought them within a mile nigh the Citie of Crete And there Iupiter would tary vpon the toppe of a Mountayne and called to him his sâ—â—â—e Archas that then had but thirtéene yeare of age but he was right wise and well bespoken and gaue him in charge that he should go into Crete to giue summons vnto the king Titan that he shuld go out of the Citie and deliuer to him his father Saturne with his mother Cibell The young Archas that was hardye and hadde his heart highe enhaunsed with the word of his father went vnto Crete to the King Titan to whome he gat him to be presented and sayd vnto him these wordes that folow Titan I come vnto thée in the obeysance of my father Iupiter first sonne of King Saturne that thou holdest in captiuitie He hath béene aduertised of oppression that thou hast doone in the personne of his Father and of his mother and the death of their sonnes he signifieth to thée by me that he is sonne of Saturne and that he is as much thine enemy as thou to hiâ— souiâ—â—â—art enemie Vpon which I thée â—â—â—non as
legat once twice thrice that thou yéelde this Cicâ—io vnto his Father King Saturnâ— and that as hastely as thou hast entred therein likewise that thou depart◠〈◊〉 do aunswered Tytan thou tellest me tydings that be full of pleasures and obâ—â—ltation by the which I knowe by thy wordes that Saturne hath a sonne yet liâ—ring nor by this meane I sée clearely and so seeth all the world that by good and iust quarell I am made king of this 〈…〉 Iupiter thy father knew that I doubt him not nor set nothing at all by his comming and also that I will nothing do after his commaundement Titan sayd Archas for asmuch as thou abidest in this will I will no more at this time trouble thee Make good watch Iupiter is héereby that tarieth for none otherwise but answer from thée for 〈◊〉 his indeuour to recouer this Citie With this word departed Archas from the presence of Titan and returned againe vnto his father When Iupiter heard the answer of Titan he was full of gladnes for he desired nothing but for to be in armes and concluded with his people this on the 〈◊〉 we he would assault the citie in case that 〈◊〉 furnished on him to battaile Aâ—on were there 〈…〉 and leaues and tabernacles the Oâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Aâ—tadiens and the Epiriens laye vpon the agré verâ—â—le and made their hoste to watche Titan was then in Crete And it is to wit when Archas was departed 〈◊〉 his presence he assembled all his sonnes 〈…〉 these 〈◊〉 which were to the pleasant and agréeable 〈◊〉 For they desired nothing but strife and debate and assured themselues to haue victory of Iupiter as well as they had of Saturne In the same houre they sente foure spies to espie the nuÌ„ber of their enimies 〈◊〉 made ready their harnesse these spies wente so faâ—re that the sawe the host of Iupiter maâ—â— their report to Titan of yâ— place where his enimies were and of what number of people they were After the report of the said spies Titan coÌ„cluded for asmuch as his enemie were but a 〈◊〉 from the Citie that there shuld make them readie and go to battaile against them on the moste early The night passed fast and the â—ay came oâ— and then aboue the sunne rising Titan mounted vppon his â—haire that was right riâ—h and made his Titanoys to range in battaile and left an hundred within the Citie for to kéepe it from Rebellion or from treason and tooke all the other â—â—th him vnder his conduct and of his sonneâ— and his espies c. Iupiter that was not idle had the same houre set all his men in orâ—er and had then brought all his folke into a faire plaine hoping of battaile And this Titan had not farre ridden but the sawe the hoste or Iupiter for this plaine was at discâ—uer 〈◊〉 sides and as farre as each might sée other each of them full of ioy enforced him to make shouts and cries and with great courage they marched the one against the other vnto the ioyning and smiting of stroakes Then Iupiter 〈◊〉 himselfe in the front of the battaile and 〈◊〉 his bow in his hand and his 〈◊〉 by his side by his sâ—â—ting began a 〈◊〉 that was right fierce for on the 〈◊〉 and the other there were right good archers and many â—aâ—ters of polished stones that failed neuer and that 〈◊〉 the cause of the death of many When the shot and casting of stones failed they began to go together 〈…〉 and then began of mortall fighting hand to hand that was so 〈◊〉 that the breaking of the speares and the this fâ—es 〈…〉 welles of Crete and 〈◊〉 to the cares of 〈◊〉 and of Cibell at the noyse whereof they began to reioyn for they had a good hope that Iupiter would obtaine the victorie against Titan. This 〈◊〉 Vesca weâ—â—â— vpper vppon a high Tower that shee might sée into the flée 〈◊〉 and there shée same the fighting of the battaile Thâ—â— haâ—â—â— Iupiter his 〈◊〉 in his â—ne hand and his shâ—â—ke in the other and with his sword hâ—e smote into the thickest of his Enemies and with his shield hee saued himselfe from their â—â—â—ies And with one stroke of his sword he diuided the bodye of Enceladus one of the sonnes of Titan and cast him on the ground at the féete of the Titanoys that were right sory for the death of their felow Iupiter assayled them right sharply and one cried slea slea but he that so cryed was slaine anon by the hands of Iupiter that destroyed the blood of his aduersaries He was strong fierce young and boystrous and of high enterprise He defended him vigorously as a Lyon mightily as an Olephant and egerly as a Tiger and intended not onely vnto the defence of his body but to saue and reskew all them that were in peril vnder his charge he did meruailous things on all sides the noyse and bruit doubled and redoubled about him The Titanoys began to be ouerthrowen by great routes one fell on his shoulders an other on his shéelde and he charged so sore vpon them that his strokes might not be sustained of men they were so strong and puissant c. This battell was cruell and hardye at beginning for both the two parties there were many of the Titanoys of Arcadiens and of the Epiriens hurt dead and cast vnder foote Archas was there accompanied with fiftie Arcadiens appointed vnto the guard of his body for asmuch as he was younge and yet he made and put himselfe to the armes Meliseus fayled not nor Titan Lycaon Egeon on the other side also eche man did his best that he might I cannot say how many men lay dead on the grounde us how oftentimes the one set vpon the other but ye shall vnderstand that there was none comparable vnto Iupiter in strength in leading his men nor in prowes there was nothing to him impossible He ouercame the ouercommers he flewe the flears he smote downe the smyters he put himselfe so farre foorth and in so many places in the battayle of the Tytanoys that in a straight he came and found Tytan in his chaire that ouerthrew the Epiriens with stones and round plumettes that he cast on them and cryed Titan Titan for as much as he thought that he fought well When Iupiter knewe that Titan was there he drewe towarde him and as Titan aduaunced his arme for to smite vpon an Epirien Iupiter lifted vp his sword and charged so sore vpon his arme that he smote it off and departed it from his body whereof he had great ioy and cried Iupiter Iupiter and Titan so hurt had great sorrow that he fell downe within his Chaire At this time the Epiriens began to courage themselues and the Titanoys were discouraged Licaon and Egeon were there fast by where they saw their fathers arme flie into the field then they began to assaile Iupiter as men dispayred and so began a new combate where much blood was spilled But notwithstanding the
speake with me It is a small matter for his seruant to speake a word with me The king my father shall neuer know it it is no neede that he know all that shall fall but first shew to him how it is charged you vppon death that no man speake with me And make him promise and sweare that he shall kéepe this matter secret The Damosels and the olde woman ioyous of the answere of the maide went downe from the tower to the gate and finding Iupiter busie to open abroad and vnbinde his iewels the old woman said vnto him Faire sonne the king Iupiter hath found more grace héere in this place anenst the maide Danaes then all the men in the world Neuerthelesse ye must know that vpon paine of death it is to you forbidddn and to other by vs And wee be also charged vppon the same paine by the King Arcrisius that wée shall let no man liuing speake with her The commandement of the king is so great and your request is not little Certes we dare not bring you vnto her al thing considered For if it were knowen without faile we should be all put into the fire And peraduenture if ye were found héere within by the king that cometh often times hither he would put you to death Wherfore we pray you excuse vs against your maister At hearing of this answere Iupiter founde not that hee sought and then hee helde him more néere in dispaire then he did in hope but he remembred that a begger shuld not go away for once warning said vnto the old woman to the beginning of her answere Dame ye do wel if ye feare and dread the king which is to me no meruaile Yet his commaundement is not so strait but that ye may enlarge it if ye will he hath commanded that none shal speake with her The king Iupiter requireth that his seruant may saye to her certaine things in secrete touching her honour ye shall do that pleaseth you but in truth if ye accorde him his request the accord shall not be preiudiciall to you in anye thing For the king Iupiter is no pratler and knoweth so much of the worlde that vnto you he hadde not sent me if he hadde not founde me secrete And thus if ye will doo to him anye pleasure ye haue none excusacion reasonable None knoweth heereof but you and I. If I speake vnto the mayde by your consent who shall accuse vs it shall not be ye for that the matter toucheth you And it shall not be I nor the King Iupiter for certainly we had leuer die in sorrowfull death and also abide in greeuous payne c. Faire sonne answered the old woman ye speake so swéetely that we may not nor can giue vnto you the refuse of your request We dare well affye and trust in you Alas dame answered Iupiter doubt you When I shall fault against you or any other I wish to be smitten with the thunder and tempest I would verily that ye had the prerogatiue to know my inward thoughtes to the end that in iudging of my mind yee might be assured of mee not to haue by my cause any inconuenience With these words Iupiter drew to his will the olde woman and all the Damosels as well by his subtil language as by his riches For to vse short processe the olde woman accorded to Iupiter that he shall haue the grace to speake with the mayde and brought him before her with all his presents Iupiter had then more ioy then I can write And when he was thus aboue in the towre of Dardane in beholding the ample beauty of Danae his ioy doubled and he knew her well by her beautie and made vnto her reuerence saying Right noble accomplished damosell the king Iupiter saluteth you by me and sendeth vnto the women of this house of such goddes as fortune hath giuen to him if it be your pleasure they shall receiue them and after I will saye vnto you certayn things secrete which the king Iupiter your seruaunt hath charged me to faye vnto you My fréende answered Danae sauing your honour the King Iupiter is not my seruaunt but I my selfe am beholden to him and am his seruant and thanke him of his bounty it séemeth as he had reygned golde in this place It is acceptable to me that the women of this tower haue your presents And it pleaseth me well also to heare your charge to the ende that King Iupiter should not say that I were vnkinde c. The matrons and the Damosels were present at this answer Iupiter deliuered vnto them his Iewels which they receyued with great galdnes After that Danae tooke the messenger by the hand and led him a parte vnto the beddes side where she made him to leane by her And then when Iupiter founde himselfe all alone with Danae he sayde vnto her right noble Damosell I no more call you Damosell but Lady For ye are my lady and my only mystres which haue maystred mine heart and also haue ouercome me vnder the sownd and bruit of your glorious reports name For to aduertise you verily I am Iupiter of whome now I haue spoken to you at the presentation of the iewels and it is truth that it is not long fithen when I was in my Realme for to heare reported the maner how your Father helde you shutte in this Tower with litle good that maye accorde vnto your honoure as well for to gette your thanke and grace as for pittie wherewith I was mooued I haue deliberated in my heart to employe my selfe vnto your deliueraunce and also for to gette your grace And for to execute this deliberation I haue taken parte of my tresours and haue come hither to present them vnto your Damosels and so departed and of newe am comen again in hope to haue your loue whereof I am wel content and thanke mercy and fortune Alas madame if I be so hardy as for to haue put my self in the aduēture of my life for to shew the great loue that I haue to you Excuse me if I haue enterprised a thing so hie that I ne me holde worthie to attaine but in the affiance of fortune and insomuch as shée will fauour in this partie Madame then in consideration of my wordes ye may sée my life or my death and yee onely may lightly make the iudgement If your humilitie condiscend in the knowledge of pitie that I haue had of you exposing my selfe into the daunger where I might bee sure I am nowe nigh the ieopardie which ye may saue and if not I yéelde me your prisoner Certes the shining resplendissour of your renowmed beautie whereof the méede passeth the renowme and the triumph of your incomparable excellency hath enraged mine heart and brought me hither into the prison of your will Alas Madame behold and sée with your eyes full of swéetnesse and of clemencie mee which sée not at this tyme but languish for fault of rest in continuall
trauaile in furies redoubled and in sighes vpon sighes which may not be puruaied of remedie but by your benignitie and amorous good will At the beginning of the first recommendation that was made of you in my presence and at the poynt that I enterprised to deliuer you out of this Tower I beheld my selfe right ioyfull and happie because of so hie an enterprise but séeing the perils that I finde my selfe in since I wote neuer what I may say of my selfe For by moneth vpon moneth wéeke vpon wéeke and day vpon day your name hath had domination on me And oft times hath constrained mée to be rauished and yet more in a traunce by desire to speake to you and to imagine howe I should come to the poynt where I nowe am and not onelie in this but also to finde mercie in you And I pray and require you right humbly that the amourous gift of mercie ye will to me accord and thus doing ye shall do mercie to your selfe and haue pitie of your yong daies which you haue consented to loose by the foolish fantasies of the king your father Ye know well that his life during he will not suffer you to be married to any man It is possible that your father shall liue as long as you for he is strong of members hard and boystrous Also ye ought conceyue if ye will beléeue me that your life hath no wealth nor pleasance Onely the pleasances come vnto the people by the sight and by beholding of diuerse things The women singularly haue their principall pleasures in their husbands and in their generation and lynages Ye may come here to but then ye must haue mercie on your selfe Is it not in your conceyte and knowledge that no man hath but his life in this world Forasmuch as ye obey and yéeld to the foolish commaundement of your father the King Acrisius ye shall be a woman lost being in this place it is not possible to take and haue patience This is too hard a thing vnto a yong heart to be put in prison without demerite I knowe the humaine affections and vnderstande that natually euerie creature loueth his profite before the profite of another This is agaynst your prosperitie and vtilitie from which ye be shut here within Howe may ye haue loue vnto him which is cause of two euils The lesse euill is to bee chosen since that you féele you condemned here vnto the ende of the dayes of your father Doubt ye not but his ende is oft desired to his death for your sake and his death may not bee effected without great charge of conscience Me thinketh that better it were for you in diuerse considerations to finde way to issue and go out of this place and to take to husband some noble puissant man that wold enterprise to carrie you away secretelie for to be his wife in his Countrey By this meane ye shall be deliuered from the paine that ye be in ye may eschew the death of your father and lesse euill yee should doo in breaking his foolish commaundement then to abyde in the poynt where hee hath put you Madame alas thinke ye here on for your honour and health as I haue sayde vnto you I am your seruaunt and if it please you to depart from this place ye shall finde no man readier then I am for to kéepe you and to saue you I giue my selfe vnto your noble commaundements for to furnish your will to my power as he that beareth alway the remembrance of you in the most déepest place of my mind in sléeping I sée you and waking I thinke on you I haue had neuer rest in my selfe nor neuer shall haue but if it please you My fortune my destinie my happe and vnhap come of you If yee take me vnto your mercie and that I finde grace with you I shall bée the most happiest of all happie And if ye do otherwise it may be sayde that among all vnhappie none shall go before me But if such fortune shall come to me by your rigour I will take it in patience for the noblenesse that I sée in you alway I require you that my heart be not depriued ne put from your heart for as much as it toucheth me nearely All the tongues of men can not say nor expresse the quantitie of the loue that I haue in you no more then they can pronounce by proper name all the starres of heauen By this loue I am alway in thoughts labours in sighs anguishes and often times in great feare and doubt At this houre I wot not whether I liue or not because me thinketh I am héere for to receiue absolution or a mortall sentence These things considered alas will not ye haue him in your grace that for to deserue your loue and mercy hath abandoned and aduentured his life as ye may sée leauing his royall estate the better to kéepe his cause secret Vnto an hart wel vnderstanding few words suffice For conclusion I pray you to giue your heart vnto him that hath giuen his heart vnto you and that ye prouide from henceforth for the ill case ye now be in after the common iudgement With this Iupiter held his peace and kept silence and lent his eares for to heare what should be the answere of Danae The right noble damosell when she had heard his talke which she had sore noted and whē she saw that he had giuen her space to speake she was resolued and changed colour and said to him Sir king alas know ye well what would be the renowme that would abide with me if I shuld and not onely in this but also to find mercy in you And I pray you right humbly that out of the amorous gift of mercy ye will to mée accord and in this doing ye shall do mercy to your self and have pity of your young daies which you have consented to lose by the foolish fantasies of the King your Father Ye know well that during his life he will not suffer you to be married to any man It is possible that your Father may live as long as you for he is strong and boysterous Also ye ought to conceive if ye will beléeve mée that your life hath no wealth nor pleasure Onely the pleasures come unto the people by the sight and by beholding of divers things The woman singularly have their principal pleasures in their Husbands and in their generation and linages Ye may come hitherto but then you must have mercy on your self Is it not in your conceit and knowledge that no man hath but his life in this world Forasmuch as ye obey the foolish commandment of your Father the King Achrisius yée shall be a woman lost being in this place it is not possible to have patience This is too hard a thing unto a young heart to bée put in prison without demerit I know the humane affections and understand that naturally every creature loveth his profit before the
profit of another This is against your prosperity and utility from which ye be shut here within How may you have love unto him which is cause of two evils The lesse evil is to be chosen since that you féel your self condemned here unto the end of the daies of your Father doubt you not but his end is oft desired for your sake and his death may not be effected without great charge of conscience Mée thinketh that better it were for you to find way to issue out of this place and to take to husband some noble and puissant man that would enterprize to carry you away secretly for his wife into his Countrey By this means you shall be delivered from the pain that you be in you may eschew the death of your Father and lesse evil you shall do in breaking his foolish commandment then to abide in the point where he hath put you I have said unto you I am your servant and if it please you to depart from this plaâ—e you shâ—ll find no man readier then I am for to save you I give my self unto your noble commandments to nourish your will to my power as he that beareth alway in remembrance of you in the most déepest place of my mind in sléeping I sée you and waking I think on you I have had no rest in my self nor never shall have but if it please you My fortune my destiny comes of you If you take mée unto your mercy and that I find grace with you I shall be the most happiest of all happy And if ye do otherwise it may be said that among all unhappie none shall go before mée But if such Fortune shall come to mée by your rigour I will take it in patience for the noblenesse that I sée in you alway I require you that my heart bee not deprived nor put from your heart forasmuch as it toucheth mée nearly All the tongues of men cannot expresse the quantity of the love that I have in you no more then they can pronounce by proper name all the Stars of Heaven By this love I am alway in thoughts labours in sighs anguishes and oftentimes in great fear At this hour I know not whether I live or not because mée thinketh I am here to receive absolution or a mortal sentence These things considered alas will not yee have him in your grace that for to deserve your love and mercy hath abandoned and adventured his life as yee may sée leaving his Royal estate the better to kéep his cause secret Vnto an heart well understanding few words suffice For conclusion I pray you to give your heart to him that hath given his heart unto you and that ye consider from henceforth for the ill conceit yée now be in after the common judgement With this Jupiter held his peace and lent his ears for to hear what should be the answer of Danae The right noble Damosel When she saw that he had given her space to speak shée was resolved and changed colour and said to him Sir King â—las know ye well what would be the Renown that would abide with mée if I 〈◊〉 beléeve your counsel What would the people say Madam answered Jupiter the worst that they may say shall be that men will name you disobedient unto the foolish commandment of your Father which as all men knoweth holdeth you fondly in this Prison And if yee will thus help your self and convey your self away men would but laugh for your youth would excuse your doing and yee should bee reported to have done this déed by great wisdome Ah Sir said Danae ye go about to deceive mée by your fair words I know the speeches of the Argiens and also know that I am bound to obey my Father Furthermore I am not so ignorant but that I would well have some noble-man to my Husband so as mine honour were saved and also I confesse that I am greatly beholden to him that hath sent so liberally and so largely of his treasures and Iewels and in likewise unto you if it be truth that ye bée him that ye say that ye are But when I have considered and understood and séen visibly that the Argiens would defame mée to perpetuity and that my Father would send mée where mine honour should strongly be abased and put underfoot by your proper declaration I will in no wise deal hardly with you neither shall you have any disturbance for my cause But I pray you to think on the other side of mine honour and that ye suffer mée alone with my company and friends Dame answered Jupiter be ye in doubt of mée that I am not Jupiter King of Creet If I be any other all the Gods confound mée and the Thunder fall on mée the swallow of the Sea receive mée and that I be given to be meat unto the most venemous beasts of the world O Madam put no suspition in my doing as I have said to you I am come to you not in Royal estate but in simple array for to order my matters more secretly then accord ye this request Take yee day of advise and grant to morrow I may speak once to you and counsel you well this night The noble Maid Danae had then her blood so moved that she durst not behold Jupiter for shame smote her in the eyes This notwithstanding her heart commanded her to try what man he was and whether he had the state of a Noble-man or a King At last she took day of advise and accorded to him that she would speak again to him on the morrow After this she commanded the Tables to be covered by the Damosels and said that shée would feast the messenger of the King Jupiter The Damosels hearing that answered they were all much bound to feast him and shewed to her the riches that they had all along in the Chamber whereof the walls shone and were bright The Damosels arrayed with the Iewels of Jupiter garnished the Tables with meat Danae and Jupiter were set the one against the other the seruice was great and rich and they had enough to eat yet Jupiter nor Danae gave little force of eating Jupiter eat lesse bodily then spiritually he was in trances in doubts and fears He had an answer by which he could not gather any thing to his profit save onely that he hoped that Danae would discover it unto the Damosels as the young maidens bee of custome to discover the one to the other and as when any requireth them of love that they should shew favour to him the more for his gifts In this estate was King Jupiter for his part The Damosels beheld him enough and said that he had not the behaviour of a yeoman or servant but of a man of very noble and great estate and above all other Danae to whom Jupiter had given cause to be pensive cast her eyes upon Jupiter upon his countenance his gesture and beauty and then it séemed that he had said truth
to assayle their enemies Whilest these things were in parle in the citie Iupiter was in the fielde and made great chéere with Ixion and the Centaures and being set at supper vpon the ground al about a great stone Iupiter sent for to fetch Ganimedes and made him to sup with them Ganimedes was sore mooued and had in his heart great trouble yet he tooke a short refection with them for he felt right great ache and smarte in his woundes And there Iupiter commāned with him saying that he was the valiantest man that euer was séene among the most valiantest of Troy and for as much as he was in his mercye and that it was hée that late with his father descended into Crete where he had gladly planted his name in worshippe if fortune woulde haue suffered him therefore sayd he I will no more warre before Troye but I will enter agayne to morne into the Sea and will go and putte in execucion a thing that lyeth me nowe sore at hearte And will well that ye knowe that I haue intencion to go vnto the Realme of Argos vnto the Tower of Dardan for to deliuer according to my promise out of the same Tower the fayre Danae whome the King Acrisius holdeth fast shut in without any reason This conclusion pleased king Ixion and the Centaures for as much as they had heard speake of the Tower of Dardain and they thought well that the Argiens might not hold against their strength When that they had eaten they entred into their ships and thought among other things on the wounds of them that were hurt and also of Ganimedes And after they laide them downe on the straw to sléepe and about two houres before day they weighed anchor and departed so secretly that the Troyans had no knowledge thereof And on the morrow betimes when king Troos and Ilion issued out of Troy to battaile they ranged in good order and found no man to haue to do withall nor they could not sée nor perceiue their enemies on no coast of the sea for they had so farre sailed from the port that by that time they were out of sight Thus they had great sorrow maruailously and came vnto the place where the battaile had béene and buried the dead men But nowe I will leaue speaking of them and of Iupiter and will turne vnto the History of Danae CHAP. XXVIII ¶ How the king Arcrisus when he sawe his daughter with childe sent her to exile and put her in a little vessell into the sea at the aduenture of fortune c. THe noble Damosell Danae abode with child of the séede of Iupiter as it is said before After that Iupiter was returned into his countrey she abode passing long in hope that he would come to fetch her by strength of people and would leade her into his Realme as he vnto her had promised In this hope she mounted often times into high windowes of the tower and casting her eyes now hither now thither vpon the mountaines wayes and stréetes for to awarre if he came or that she might sée his men of armes and his people of warre and without end shée had alway her eares open to hearken if she might heare the Trumpets Tabours and Clarions This hope dured long vnto the last day that Iupiter had promised and sore she complained in this tyme of his abyding and sayde vnto her selfe that he would come But certes when euening was come of the day that he had set and hee was not come nor she heard no tydings of him when she sawe that hée came not and that the fruit of her bellie appeared she went downe from the window of the hie Tower and all surprised with dispayre to beholde her belly sayde poore belly I may no longer hide thée I haue couered thée vnto this time hoping the comming of Iupiter the day is come and past that he should haue come and there is no tidings of him Alas and hath he also forgotten me Where art thou Iupiter Art thou dead or aliue If thou be dead speake to mee in spirite in excusing thée of thy default Tell me what I shall do with thy séede And if thou be aliue what right euill aduenture holdeth thée Art thou wearie of me Of Danae of her that thou enforcedst by raining golde of her that thou so much desiredst Alas thou promisedst me thy loue and gauest it vnto me and I receyued the gift in good part and gaue vnto thée mine heart in like case and more then thou wéenest And what shall this be Iupiter my loue and friend Art thou of the nature of false men as hypocrites that go about to deceyue poore women and then leaue them in dishonour Alas thou art one verily thou hast brought me into perpetuall shame and hast abandoned and giuen me ouer O mischieuous man O false lier be thou cursed with thy riches and accursed be the houre that euer I saw thée I am for euer by thée put to shame and by thée mine ende approcheth I may no longer hide thy workes Where shall my childe become euery man shall sée and know my trespasse Alas my father shall put me to death I may not faile of it and as for death it shall not grieue me saue for the fruit that I beare yet shall I kéepe it as well as myselfe at all aduenure come what may come thereof c. In these and such like wordes Danae passed ouer this night without sléeping or rest from thenchforth she began to be all melancholious and tooke this so sore to heart that she fell into a right grieuous maladie When the maydens that nothing knew of this case saw her so euill disposed they signifyed it into the king Acrisius And then came the king to visit his daughter and betooke her to the cure of his Phisitians and cunning men and demaunded of them what maladie she had They answered him in the presence of Danae that she was great with childe and that in short time shée should be deliuered Danae answered that they fayled to say the truth and that she had neuer knowne man and denied her fact as much as in her was possible hoping alway to liue for she knewe well that her father would condemne her to death if he knewe that she were with child And about this all the maydens of the house striued with the mistresse saying that they had well and surely kept the tower that no man saue the king had spoken to her but if he were come inuisible since that they had receyued her into their gouernance Whereat the king was greatly abashed and sore wondered When the king heard these wordes and saw the state of his daughter he was sore troubled For by experience he sawe well and it appeared that Danae was with childe hée trusted and beléeued better the Phisitians then the excusations of the maydens and of his daughter And for to knowe the truth he sent all the maydens of the place into prison
his armes and after long wrastling he cast him to the earth in such wise that Philotes yéelded him seruaunte vnto Hercules and promysed him to serue him trulye all the residue of his lyfe and that he would beare his armes after him in all places where he should go Hercules receyued to mercy Philotes And then called Theseus and his companye who came and were right glad and ioyous of the victorye that he had obtained Then Hercules Philotes and all the other wente into the yle where they founde the daughters of Athlas greatlye discomforted for the death of the giant And for as much as Hercules hadde also conquered Philotes their kéeper Hercules and Philotes comforted the daughters the best wise they coulde and there the Greekes refreshed themselues the space of three dayes The fourth daye he tooke xxx rammes and xxx ewes and brought them into their ship after that they went to the sea without any harme doing in the I le for the loue of the gentle women they departed thence and went to the sea accompanyed with Philotes which was conquered by Hercules as is sayd and after loued Hercules well and truly serued him euer after But of theyr iourneys I will ceasse for this time and will speake of a monster of the sea that the goddes sent to Troy for to deuoure the faire Exione daughter to king Laomedon CHAP. XLI ¶ How Hercules fought at the Porte of Troy against a monster of the sea for the daughter of king Laomedon IN that time as Boccace rehearseth in his genealogie of goodes in the third chapter of the sixt booke Laomedon the King of Troy was busie to wall and fortifie his cittie with walles and towers to the end to make it more strong He was not well furnished with treasures nor with money For to accomplishe his desire he went vnto the temple of the gods of the sunne and of the sea that were passing rich and tooke all the money that he could find promising to pay it againe all at a certayne day and time set By the meane of this money he closed and fortified the citie of Troye with walles and towers The worke was costlye howbeit in litle time he finished it and it was not long after that the worke was finished but the day came in which Laomedon should paye and render vnto the temples of the gods the money that he had taken and borowed At which day the préestes of the temples came vnto Laomedon and demaunded him if he would tender the oblations and offrings that he had taken out of the temple Laomedon daigned not to speake to the préestes but sent them word shamefully that they should returne and kéepe their temples Wherefore he was afterward sore punished for in the same night after that he would not heare the priestes the great windes began to ryse and beate the one against the other and caused the sea to rise in such wise that it entred and went into the towne so far that it helde the stréetes full of water and drowned a great part of the towne Besides this in eight dayes following the sunne shone so ardently and gaue so great heate that the people durst not go into the ayre by day time and that dried the superfluity of the aboūdance of the water of the sea that was left whereof rose a corrupt and a mortal vapour that infected all the citie Whereof engendred so great a pestilence that the most parte of the Troyans were smitten to death by the great influence of the corrupt ayre By this pestilence they of Troy fell in great desolation the Cittizens men and women young and olde dyed without speaking sodainlye The father could not nor might not helpe his childe in necessitie nor the childe the father At this time reigned in Troy neither loue nor charitie for each man that might saue himselfe fled awaye for feare of this mortalitye and gaue ouer and left the Cittie and went to dwell in the fieldes and among all other the king Laomedon séeing the destruction of his realme went into the I le of Delphos vnto the temple of the god Apollo for to haue the councell of the god touching the health of his Cittie With Laomedon went the most noble and the most puissant men of Troye when they were come into the temple they put them in contemplation and deuotion before the idol and the diuell that was therein aunswered them and sayd The money which was taken out of the temples and not rendred and payde againe is cause of the maladie and vengeaunce of Troye And I doo all the Troians to wit that neuer shall Troye be quit of this maladye vnto the time that the sayd citie prouide to appease the gods in this wise that it is to wit that euerye moneth they must choose one of the virgins and maydens which must bée set on the sea side for to be deuoured by a monster that the gods shall sende thither and the sayde virgin shal be chosen by lot or aduenture And in this wise must the cittie do for to appease the goddes perpetually vntill the time that they finde one man that by his armes and by his might shall ouercome the said monster After these wordes and answeres Laomedon and the Troyans assembled to counsell vpon this matter and concluded that for the common weale and health of Troy they would put their virgins in that ieopardie and aduenture to the spoyling of the monster without any exception or reseruing Then they returned vnto Troy and tooke their virgins and cast lots among them and on her that the lot fell shée was taken and brought to the sea side and anon after was séene to come out of the déepes or swallow of the sea so great a tempest that the sea rose and was troubled The sea wrought and a right great floud of water lifted vp the monster by times out of the sea hee was as great as a whale or a hulk and then he tooke the virgin and swalowed her in and went away againe into the sea and from thence forth the pestilence ceased Thus was Troy deliuered from their sicknes and maladie by the oblation of their virgins that were offered vnto the monster from moneth to moneth and thus as is said their virgins were deliuered It hapned in the end of the moneth that the sorte or lot fell on one of the daughters of king Laomedon named Exiona this daughter was yong and faire and well beloued of all people When this lot was fallen on her shée was not onely bewailed and sorrowed of king Laomedon her father and of his son Pryamus and her sister Antigona and of her cofins and allyes but of al the people men women and children notwithstanding their wéepings nor the good renoume of her could not saue her shee was put to the disposing of the monster The noble virgin was ready to obey the king Laomedon and brought héereupon to the sea side accompanied with nobles ladies and
the cittie Theseus that abode and taryed at this gate as is sayd greatly reioyced when he sawe Hercules come againe with Proserpina he arose and went against them and saluted the ladye and presented to Hercules a chayne of a diamond yron that he had founde at the gate and many prysoners bounde that Cerberus had bound withall Hercules vnbounde the prysoners and tooke the Chayne and bound Cerberus with all And when hee had buryed Pyrothus he departed from this hell and tooke his waye with Proserpina Theseus and Cerberus and without great adoo for to speake of made so his iourney that hee arriued there in Thessalonica and deliuered Proserpina to the quéene Ceres and to Hypodamia he presented Cerberus rehearsing to her and the Ladyes how he had slain Pyrothus Hypodamia had so great sorow for the death of Pyrothus that for to recount and tell it is not possible All they of Thessalie likewise made great mourning and sorrowe and sore bewayled their lord What shall I say for to reuenge his death Hypodamia did cause to binde Cerberus to a stake in the theater of the Cittie and there young and olde tormented and vexed him thrée dayes long continually drawing him by the bearde and spitting at him in the vysage and after slew him inhumainly and horriblye And then when Hercules and Theseus Ceres and Proserpina had taryed there a certayne space of time in comforting Hypodamia they tooke leaue togither and Hercules went accompanyed with Theseus towarde the cittie of Thebes But of him I wil now leaue talke and wil come to speake of the aduentures of Lyncus CHAP. VII ¶ How Andromeda deliuered Lycaon from his enimies and how he slew in battaile the king Creon and tooke the citie of Thebes c. WHen Philotes hadde receyued into his guard and kéeping Lyncus and Hercules was gone to the succours of Theseus and Pyrothus as before is sayd the mariners tooke theyr ship and went to the sea and sayled all that day with-out finding of any aduēture But on the morrow betime in the morning fortune that alwaye turneth without anye resting brought to them a great shippe that drewe his course vnto the same place that they came from Of this shippe or galley was Captayne and chéefe Andromedas King of Calcide This Andromedas was Cousen vnto Lyncus When he hadde espyed the shippe where Lyncus was in he made to rowe his gallie abroade and said that he would know what people were therein In approching the ship of Thebes Lincus beheld the gallie of Andromeda and knew it by the signes and flags that it bare In this knowledge Andromeda spake and demanded of the marriners to whom the shippe belonged Anon as Lincus saw and heard Andromeda hée brake the answere of the marriners and cryed to him all on high Andromeda lo héere thy friend Lincus If thou giue me no succour and helpe thou maist loose a great friend in me for I am a prisoner and Hercules hath sent me into Thebes Andromeda hearing Lincus had great anger for he loued well Lincus and called to them that brought him and said to them that they were all come vnto their death And also that they were vnder his ward Philotes and his folke were furnished with their armes and harnesse and made them all readie for to defend themselues and with little talke they of Calcide assayled Philotes and Philotes and his folke employed them at their defence The battaile was great and hard but the ill fortune and mishappe turned in such wise vppon the fellowes of Philotes that they were all slaine and dead Andromeda had two hundred men in his companie all robbers and théeues on the sea These théeues and robbers smote hard and fiercely vppon Philotes and all to hewed his armes striking and giuing to him many wounds and hée buried manie of them in the sea But their strong resistance profited them but little for in the ende he was taken and bound and Lincus was deliuered and vnbound from the bonds of Hercules Lincus had great ioy of his deliuerance he then thanked his good friend Andromeda After this he tolde him how he was taken and how Hercules had dissipated and destroyed the Centaures And among other he named many of his friends that were dead whereof Andromeda had so great ire and such displeasure that he sware incontinently that he would auenge it And that as Hercules had slaine his friend in like wise he would destroy his cousins and kinsmen Lincus tooke great pleasure to vnderstand the oath of Andromeda which would auenge the death of his kinsmen He said to him that Hercules was gone into hell And after demanded him how he would auenge him vpon the friends of Hercules and thereupon they were long thinking In the end when they had long taken aduice Andromeda concluded that hée would go assaile the Cittie of Thebes and if hée might gette it by assault hee would slea the king Creon and all them of his bloud With this conclusion came thither all the gallies of Andromeda which followed in whom he had eight thousand fighting men Andromeda made them to returne toward Thebes and as hastily as hee might hee entred into the Realme wasting and destroying the countrey by fire and by sword so terribly that the tidings came vnto the king Creon When the king Creon knewe the comming of the King Andromeda and that without defiance he made him warre he sounded to armes and assembled a great companie and knowing that Andromeda was come into a certaine place hee issued out of Thebes all armed and brought his people vpon his enemies that had great ioy of of their comming And then they sette them in order against them in such wise that they came to smiting of strokes The crie and noyse was great on both sides speares swords darts guisarmes arrowes and polaxes were put forth and sette a worke Many Nobles were were beaten downe and dead Lincus and Andromeda fought mortally the King Creon and Amphitrion fayled not there was bloud aboundance shed on the one side and on the other And the battaile was so cruell and sharpe then that in little while after Andromeda and his people gatte and wanne vppon them of Thebes and constrained them to retire and for to go backe whereof the king Creon had right great sorrow and wéening for to haue put his men againe in aray put himselfe in the greatest prease of the battaile where he fought mortally and made so great a slaughter and beating downe of his enemies that Lincus and Andromeda heard of the skirmish and then they came togither And as Lincus sawe the king Creon do maruailes of armes hee gaue him thrée strokes one after another and with the fourth stroke he all to brake his helme from his head and slew him whereof they of Thebes were sore afraide and disparred so that they were put to discomfiture and fled which flying Amphitrion might not remedie albeit that he was strong and of great courage
then anon rent off In bickering he receiued many a stroke and alway he defended himselfe without displaying of his power and of his strength as he that awaited for the tidings of the assault that was nigh The affray was great in the hall and in the citie on al partes the Calidoniens ranne to the pallace for to assaile Hercules King Pricus made him ready came with other vnto this fray Then was Hercules assailed fiercely but this assault was déere to the king for to his welcome Hercules came to the tabernacle that stoode vppon foure great barres of yron whereof hee tooke the one and beat downe the tabernacle After he lifted vp his arme with the bar and smote the king Pricus so vnmeasurably vpon the â—oâ— of his helmet that notwithstanding his strong harnesse and armours he all to beat him downe to the earth and smote him so sore broken and bruised that he fell downe dead betwéene his two porters At this time the crie arose great among the Calidonians Not alonely there but also in the citie for hee that kept the watch sounded to armes forasmuch as the Greeks assailed hastily the walles Calidony was then terribly troubled and the Calidonians wist not where to turne them whether to Hercules or to the assault All was full of heades armed aswell in the pallace as vppon the walles After this that Hercules had slaine the king Pricus he beganne to smite vppon his enemies and his strokes were great at ech stroke he slew two or three so as shortly he bare himselfe there a knightly that in little while hee couered all the pauement of the pallace with dead bodies of the Calidonians lying one vpon another without that any man might dammage his armor The Calidonians were of great courage and had great shame for that they might not ouercome Hercules that alone had done vpon them so great an exploit They assailed him with great courage and cast vpon him darts sharpe iauelines His armes and his shoulders bare all and he did so great things with his barre and gaue so great strokes that none of them might resist his strength The poore Calidonians came thither with great courage and desire for to reuenge the death of their king Hercules put so many to death that hee wist not where to set his foote but it must be vpon Calidonians Before the gate of the pallace was a pitifull noise of wéepings of cries that women and children made In the end when the Calidonians knew and perceiued the vertue the strength of Hercules and that they laboured in vaine they ceassed to assaile him and fled Then Hercules issued out of the pallace with his barre all couered with bloud Assoone as the Calidonians saw him they set vpon him passing furiously and assailed him anew they cast stones and darts vpon him they shotte arrowes on him aboundantly as they that were purueyed and awaited for his passage In this assault Hercules had much to suffer yet after receiuing moe strokes then canne be numbred he passed the watch that awaited to haue staine him and rested neuer till he came vnto the gate The Calidonians ranne then after him as men without dread of death and mightily swollen with pride and ire beganne on anew to smite vppon his shoulders and vpon his backe When Hercules saw that he turned his face vppon his euill willers and smote vppon them with his barre on the right side and on the left side so lustily that he died his barre with newe bloud and maugre his enemies he beat them downe and all to bruised them before him He made them then to recule and go backe more then fourtie pases and after came to the gate And the Calidonians pursued him againe but ere they came vpon him he all to brake bruised and to frushed the lockes and the wickets and doores of the gate and the Greekes assailed him with all their power and beate downe the draw bridge After he called the assailants and they came vnto him and with little resistance they entred the citie which was at that time with great slaughter of the Calidonians that would not yéeld themselues nor put themselues to mercy vntill the time that they saw their stréets and houses full of dead bodies c. CHAP. XXVIII ¶ How Hercules was enamoured on Yo le the daughter of king Pricus and how he required her of loue and how she accorded vnto him BY this maner was king Pricus slaine and his city taken by Hercules After the slaughter when the Calidoniens had huÌ„bled themselues Hercules and Theseus went to the pallace they came thither so fitly that they found the daughters of king Pricus with their ladies and gentlewomeÌ„ séeking the king among the dead bodies There were so manie dead bodies that they could not finde nor know him that they sought Hercules at his comming beganne to behold one and other and especially among al other hee cast his eie vppon Yo le the daughter of the king forasmuch as she was excellently glistering in beautie that in all the world was none like vnto her When hee had a little beheld her by a secret commaundement of loue hee drewe him vnto her wéening for to haue comforted her Anon as the right desolate gentlewoman saw Hercules approching vnto her she trembled for dread and fled vnto her chamber the ladies and the gentlewomen followed her and among them so did Hercules What shall I say hee entered into the chamber where she was and sate downe by her She thought to haue risen for to haue gone out of the way but he held her by her clothes and said vnto her Lady ye may not flie my companie Yo le spake then and said O miserable tyraunt what séekest thou me nowe for to trouble mee more Thou hast slaine my father let that suffice thee Madame answered Hercules if the king Pricus be dead it is reason that he be not much bewailed nor wept for he thinking for to auenge the death of the tyraunt Cacus came not long since for to assaile me in Italy saying that I had vnrightfully and without cause slaine him In maintaining the contrary I fought with him vppon this quarrell the battaile was not ended nor put to vtterance at that time for he withdrew himselfe with his people and came into this citie and I haue pursued him hastily albeit I coulde not ouertake him When I saw that I laide my siege about this citie he would not come to fight the battaile during my siege wherefore I haue this day willed to haue an end Fortune hath béen on my side and hath put you in my power Certes it must néedes be that without remedie ye be my lady and my loue for in séeing your singular beauty loue hath constrained me to be yours Then I pray you as affectuously as I may or can that yee cease your sorrow and that ye receiue mee as your friend and loue The more ye weep
the lesse ye get and winne continual teares or wéepinges nor long lasting sighes may neuer raise your father againe The faire Yo le with these wordes was sore oppressed with hote contrary imaginations that her heart failed her It was a piteous thing to beholde howe her friend Hercules would haue taken her vp and susteined her betwéene his armes But a wise lady that had alway gouerned her came to him and said to him kneeling on her knees Sir I pray you in the name of all the Gods that ye will cease to speake to this poore damsell for this time She hath this day lost her father it must needs bée that nature acquite her Ye may do with her your owne pleasure if ye let her a little abide in her melancholie all shall be well if it please the Gods as well for you as for her At the request of the Lady Hercules was content to let her go for that time hee recommended Yo le vnto the Gods and went vnto Theseus for to passe his time with him but to the end that Yo le shoulde not go away nor escape he ordained twelue Gréekes to kéepe her and commaunded vpon pains of death that they should suffer no woman to issue out of the chamber without witting whither she went In this night Hercules did cause the dead bodies to be had out of the pallace and the place to be made cleane And also he ordeined that the body of the king Pricus should be put in the sepulture When these things were accōplished Hercules Theseus with their men of armes made good chéere with such as they found there and Yo le was neuer out of the remembrance of Hercules Yo le certainely at this time was so discomforted that it cannot be recounted The ladie that had her in gouernance trauelled right sore for to comfort and chéere her Then when Hercules had left her in the chamber as sayd is she had many words to her and among all other she sayd to her My daughter you wéepe too much Ha madame sayd Yo le how may I lesse do when shall I haue cause to wéepe and to waile if I haue not nowe My father is dead I haue lost him that most loued me of all the world I may loose no more ne no greater thing Ought not then my heart to be angry and sorrowfull My daughter sayd the lady I know well that ye haue the most apparant occasion of sorrowe that any woman may haue but since it must néeds be that you passe by this infortune what profite you your grieuous wéepings There may nothing procéed of them but augmentation of melancoly and hurting and appairing of your praised beautie Ye be now fallen into the hand of this prince This is a man worthy and noble aboue all other he loueth you ye ought to thanke the gods and to giue them praise for this grace For this is to you a good fortune and an hap in your mishap If ye will be ruled by me y◠shall take all this in good part Better it is to suffer one euil then two He thinketh ye ought to consider your estate And if ye consider it well ye shall indeuour you to forget it Madame sayd Yo le Alas and how may that be that I should haue loue or affinitie or familiaritie with him that hath done to mee so much harme He hath not taken onely from me a knight an vncle nor a cousin but mine onely proper father Let none speake to me thereof Hee is and shall be my mortall enemy as long as I liue and as long as he shal liue he shall haue no more of me for prayer promise nor for menace My daughter sayd the lady make not your selfe bond whereas you be free the effects and déeds of loue be subtill and sudden Loue is alway in his secret throne that can doe none other thing but humiliate and méeken the hard hearted and bow the strong So hard nor so strong a heart is not amongst the humaine creatures but that it is right soone humbled and made méeke when that it is his pleasure There is no tower so high but it may be beaten downe by subtill mining Neither is no winde so great nor so rigorous but it may be tempered There is no night so darke but that it is surmounted with the day Ye hate Hercules now but if you haue a while kept companie with him and haue had communication with him peraduenture you will loue him better then euer you loued your father your mother or any other of your linage And that I may proue by my selfe for I had my husband in so great hate first ere we loued together that I would faine haue séene him die a shamefull death Shortly after when we had begun to be acquainted one with another I loued him so stedfastly that if he had not beene with me day and night I had thought I should haue died for sorrow and griefe My daughter such be the chances of loue that often times I say after great hate commeth great loue The glory of Hercules is so cléere that your heart ought to be delighted therewith the conquest that he hath made in this citie shall be for you a singular preparation to all good Would you attaine to a more greater weale then for to be fellow or loue of him that is the subduer of kings the most best wel-faring man and the most triumphant in armes for to him is nothing vnpossible hee hath conquered the most part of the vniuersall world O my daughter reioyce you in fortune shut not the doore to prosperitie that commeth to you it is to be beléeued that the desolation of this citie hath bene deuised and ordeined by the parlement of the gods in fauor of you that are the paragon and none like vnto you of all the daughters of the kings for to giue you in marriage vnto this man By these wordes the faire Yo le had her stomacke surprised with sundry imaginations She rose then vp from that part and entred into her guardrobe whereas was the presentation of the goddesse Diana When she was come thither she knéeled downe in great humilitie before the image and in abounding of sighes and weeping as sore as shee had done any time of the day before shee sayd Goddesse of virgines what shall thy right simple seruant and handmayden doe Alas lighten mine hope beholde mine affection weigh my mishappe Send thine eyes into the secret of mine heart and sée the sorrow that I beare and in the fauour of virgines kéepe my bodie and preserue me frō the hand of him that would that I should be his wife Since that he had caused in me the roote of mortall hate which is not possible to be rooted out as nature iudgeth in mee for it is not possible that I may loue mine enemie I am therefore perswaded and it is trueth that the hate that I haue against this tyrant Hercules shal be euer abiding
daughter was named Cassandra and was a right noble Virgine adorned and learned with Sciences and knew thinges that were for to come And the third was named Polixena that was the fairest daughter and the best formed that was knowne in all the worlde Yet aboue these children heretofore rehearsed king Priamus had thirtie bastard sonnes by diuers women that were valiant knightes noble and hardy When then king Priamus was in a straunge Countrey hee was occupied and verie much imploied in the sense and profession of warre the Queene and her children were there with him The tidinges and newes came to him that the king Laomedon his father was slaine his Citie was destroied and his noble men were put to death their daughters brought in seruitude and also his sister Exione At these sorrowfull tidinges hee was greatly gréeued and wept aboundantly and made 〈◊〉 lamentations And anon incontinent her left his siege and finished his warre and returned hastily 〈…〉 and when hee found it so destroied he begâ—â—â— to make the most â—â—row of the world that 〈…〉 And after he had 〈…〉 sell to make againe the 〈◊〉 Then he beganne to â—â—â—â—â—ie the citie so great and so strong that he neuer ought to doubt his enemies did close it with right high walles and with great Towers of Marble The citie was so great that the circâ—â—se was 〈…〉 iourney And at that time in all the world was none so great nor noâ—e so faire nor so excellently compassed In this Citie were sixe principall gates of which the one was named Dardane the second Timbria the thâ—â—â— Helias the fourth Chetas the 〈◊〉 Troyen and the 〈◊〉 Antenorides These gates were right great and faâ—re and of strong defence And there were in the citie rich â—â—â—ces without number the fairest that euer were and the fairest houses rich and well compassed Also there were in many partes of the citie diuers faire places and pleasant for the citizens to sport and play in In this Citie were men of all Craftes and Marchauntes that went and came from all the partes of the world In the middle of the citie ranne a great riuer named Paucus which bare shippes and did bring great profite and solace vnto the inhabitantes When the Citie was thus made the king Priamus did cause to come all the people and inhabitauntes of the countrey there aboutes and made them dwell in the citie And there came so many that there was neuer 〈◊〉 â—â—ter furnished with people and with noble men and â—â—â—â—ns then it was There were found many gaâ—â—es and 〈…〉 richest Pallaces and strongest that euer was in all the world And it was of height fiue hundred pases besides the height of the Towers whereof was great plentie and so high that it séemed to them that sawe them from farre they raught vnto the heauen And in this riche pallace the king Priamus did make the richest hall that was at that time in the worlde within which was his rich Throne and the table whereupon hee did eate and held his estate among his Lordes and Barons and all that longed thereto was of gold and of siluer of pretious stones and of Iuorie In this hall at one corner was an altar of golde and pretious stones which was consecrated in the name and worship of Iupiter their God to which altar went men vp twentie degrees or steppes And vpon the altar was the Image of Iupiter of fifteene foote of height all beset and and arraied with pretious stones For in that God Iupiter was all the hope and trust of the king Priamus for to hold his raigne long and in all prosperitie c. When he sawe that he hadde so faire a Citie so strong and so well peopled and with that so rich of goodes hee beganne to take some displeasure at the wrongs that the Greekes had done vnto him and thought long howe hée might reuenge him Then hée assembled on a certaine day all his Barons and helde a riche Court. At this Court Hector his eldest sonne was not for hee was in the parties of Pannony on the affaires and certain works of his father forasmuch as Pannonie was subiect vnto the king Priamus When king Priamus saw all his folke assembled and gathered before him hee beganne to speake saying in this manner O men and true friends that bée partners of my great iniuries to mée done by the Greekes for so little a cause or trespasse Yée knowe howe the Greeks by their pride haue come into this countrey and haue slaine cruelly your parentes and friendes and also mine And how they haue taken and ledde away and holde in seruitude Exione my sister that is so faire and noble and yet they holde her as a common woman Ye knowe wel how they haue beaten downe and destroied this Citie ouerthrowne the walles the Pallaces and houses vnto the foundations and haue borne away the great riches whereof the Citie was full And for these things I think it should be reason that by the helpe of the Gods who resist those that bée insolent and proud wee altogither by a common accord shoulde take vengeance of these iniuries Ye know what Citie wee haue and howe it is peopled with good men of arms and fighters and garnished with all maner of goodes and riches Also ye know well the alliances that wee haue with many right great Lords that with good wil wil help vs if néede hee Wherefore me séemeth that it shoulde bée good for vs to reuenge vs of this shame But yet forasmuch as the aduentures of the warres be right doubtfull and daungerous and that no man knoweth what may come thereof albeit that the iniurie be great and that they hold my sister in so great dishonour yet will I not begin the warre But first if yée thinke good I will send of the most sage and prudent men that I haue to pray and require them that they render and yéeld againe my sister Exione and I will be content to pardon all the other iniuries c. When the king hadde thus finished his wordes all allowed and praised his aduise and it séemed to them good And then the king Priamus immediately called one of his Princes named Anthenor and earnestly desired him and vsed courteous and gentle perswasions that hée woulde enterprise this ambassage forthwith into Greece And Athenor with all humilitie aunswered him that hee was alwaies readie to doe his good pleasure Then was there a ship made ready and all that belongeth and was conuenient to bring Anthenor into Greece He entered into the shippe and his men and sailed so long that they arriued at the porte of Thessaly whereas was then by aduenture the king Peleus that receiued right ioyfully enough Anthenor and demaunded of him wherefore hee was come into those partes Anthenor answered to him in this maner Sir said he I am a messenger of the king Priamus that hath sent mee to you and hath commanded me to say to you and other that he is
to get againe his sister Exione And howe Hector answered and of his good councell and how Paris declared to his father the visions and the promise of the Goddesse Venus c. WHen the king Priamus was thus acertained of the hate of the Greekes and by no farre meanes hee coulde recouer his sister hee was mooued with great ire and thought that hee would send a great Nauy into Greece for to hurt and damage the Greckes Alas king Priamus tell me what misaduenture is this that hath giuen to thée so great hardinesse of courage for to cast out thy selfe from thy wealth and rest Why mayest not thou refraine the first moouinges of thy courage albeit that it was not in thy puissance yet thou oughtest to haue and take good councell and aduise and to haue in thy minde that men say commonly Some man thinketh to reuenge his sorrow and he increaseth it It had been a more sure thing to thee to haue remembred the prouerbe that saith that hee that sitteth well let him not mooue Or els hee that is well at his ease let him keep therein All things may bée suffered saue wealth a man that goeth vpon plaine ground hath nothing to stumble at In this maner the aforesaid king Priamus thought long and after hee assembled on a day all his noble men in his pallace of Ilion and saide vnto them Ye know how by your councell Anthenor was sent into Greece for to recouer my sister Exione that by fair meanes Ye doe verie well know also howe that hee is returned and come backe and also what wronges and opprobries he hath found And me seemeth that the Gréeks make little account of the iniuries that they haue done vnto vs at the least they by their wordes repent them not but yet they menace vs more strongly then euer they did God forbid that euer it shoulde come vnto vs like as they menace vs. But I pray the gods to giue vs power to auenge vs to their losse And as for me me seemeth that we be more puissant and strong then they are and also we haue the most surest citie and the best furnished in the world and also we haue of great lordes verie great plentie alied to vs for to helpe and ayde vs at our need and I thinke for conclusion that we haue well the puissance for to dammage and hurt our enemies in many maners and valour to defend vs from them And so should it be good for to beginne to shew to them what puissance we haue to grieue them withall If ye thinke it good we will send our men secretly that shall do to them great dammage ere that they shall be readie for to defend themselues And for that ye ought euery one to employ your selues to take vengeance of these iniuries and that yee haue no doubt for any thing inasmuch as they had the first victorie for it happeneth often times that the conquerours be vanquished of them that were vanquished c. Then all they that were present allowed the aduise of the king and offered euery man by himselfe to employ themselues to the same with all the power they coulde whereat the king Priamus had great ioy And after that he had giuen them thankes he let euery man depart and go home to their owne houses excepting onely his sonnes legitimate and the bastardes whom hee held in his pallace and tolde to them his complaint of the Greekes with weeping teares in this maner My sonnes ye haue well in your memorie the death of your Grandfather the seruitude of your Aunt Exione that they holde by your life in manner of a common woman And you be so puissant me seemeth that reason should instruct you for to employ your selfe to reuenge this great iniurie and shame And if this mooue you not thereto yet yee ought to doe it to satisfie my will and pleasure for I am ready to die for sorrow and anguish which ye ought be bound for to remedie to your power that haue caused you so wel to be nourished and brought forth And thou Hector my right déere sonne that art the eldest of thy brethren the most wise and the most strong I pray thee first that thou enterprise to put in execution this my will And that thou be duke and prince of thy brethrē in this work and all the other will obey gladly vnto thee And in like maner shall all they doe of this realme for the great prowesse that they know in thée And know that from this day forth I discharge me of all this worke and put it vpon thée that art the most strong and mightie to maintain battels for I am auncient and olde and may not from henceforth helpe my selfe so well as I was wont to doe c. To these wordes aunswered Hector right soberly and sweetly saying my father and my right déere and Soueraigne Lord there is none of all your sonnes but that it séemeth to him a thing humane to desire vengeaunce of these iniuries and to vs that be of high noblenesse a litle iniurie ought to be great As it is so that the qualitie of the person groweth and diminisheth so ought the qualitie of the iniurie And if wee be desirous and haue appetite to take vengeance of our iniuries we forsake not nor leaue therein the nature of men for in like manner doe and vse the dumbe beastes to boo and nature it selfe teacheth and guideth them thereto My right déere Lord and father there is none of all your sonnes that ought more to desire the vengeaunce of the iniurie and death of our Lord and graundfather then I that am the eldest But I will if it please you that yée consider in this enterprise not only the beginning but also the middle and the end to what perill wee may come héereafter for otherwhile little profite some things well begunne that come to an euill end Then me thinketh that it is much more allowable for a man to absteine him for to beginne thinges whereof the endes bee dangerous and when of may come more euill men good for any thing is not said to be fortunate or happie vntill the time that it come vnto a good end I say not these thinges for anie euill meaning or cowardise but only to the end that ye beginne not a thing and specially that thing that yee haue in your heart to put in practise but that ye first be well counselled Ye knowe well that all Affricke and Europe bee subiectes vnto the Greekes How be they furnished with knights worthy hardy and rich right maruellous Cortes at this day the force and strength of vs here is not to be compared vnto them in force nor in valiance Wherefore if we begin the warre against them wee might lightly come to a mischieuous and shamefull end We that bee in so great rest and ease amongst our selues what shall we seeke for to trouble our prosperitie and welfare Exione is not of so high
and I trow there is not left one at home of the men of Troy but that euery man is come to the battell and therefore if it please you now whiles that the Troyans be wearie to come to the battell ye shall get to you perpetuall memorie of worship and of glorie For by your prowesse you shal in little space haue all vanquished theÌ„ and they shall not dare to defend themselues against you they be so wearie Neuer would Achilles for the words of his varlet nor for the death of Ebes change his courage but dissembled all that he had seene heard for the great loue that he had to Polixene During these things the battell was right sharpe and endured vnto the night to the great damage of the Gréeks and the night parted them yet was not Deiphebus dead but hee drewe towardes his ende and when Paris and Troylus saw him in that sorrow they began to cry and make great sorrow And then Deyphebus opened a little his eies and demaunded of Paris with a féeble voice if he were dead that had slaine him And Paris saide to him yea Then Deyphebus did cause to drawe out the head of the speare with the truncheon and anon died Wherefore the Troyans made great sorrowe It is no néed to hold long talke of the sorrow that the king Priamus his father made nor his wife and his sister for it was too much and also for the death of the king Sarpedon Of the other partie the Greekes made great sorrow for the death of Palamedes and made his body to be buried worshipfully And as they that might not bee long without an head and gouernour by the counsell of the duke Nestor and of other Agamemnon was set againe in his dignitie as he was before The day following the Troyans early in the morning issued out of the citie in good order and the Greekes came against them Then began the battell mortall and there was great slaughter on both sides but it rained so much that day that the Greekes withdrew them to their Tentes and the Troyans followed after them but the raine was so great that they must needes leaue the battell and returne to their citie On the morrow betimes they began to fight and flew that day many barons of the Greekes and fought till the euen and so they fought the space of seuen daies continually where was great slaughter of the one and of the other And forasmuch as the Greekes might not suffer the stenche of the dead bodies they demaunded truce for two monethes which were graunted to them by king Priamus During this truce the king Agamemnon sent the duke Nestor Vlisses and Diomedes to speake to Achilles for to pray him and will him to come to the hoste for to defend theÌ„ against the Troyans that slew them maruellously When they were come vnto him he receiued them with great ioy And then Vlisses said vnto him Sir Achilles was it not by your agreement and also ours all this host to leaue our countrey and a ow yeare come running vpon king Priamus and haue destroyed him and his by force of armes do beat downe his â—itie From whence commeth this courage after so many hurts and damages as we haue receiued in this land by the Troyans that haue slaine so many kings and pâ—intes pilled and robbed our tents and burnt our shippes and we were now in hope to haue vanquished them alter that ye by your force and valour haue slaine Hector that was the true defender of the Troyans and also now that Deiphebus is dead the Troyans be there with put â—nder foot and after this day when ye haue gotten with great trauell to great worship and so good renowme will ye nowe loâ—se all at once and suffer your people to be slain â—uelly that ye haue so long defended with the effusion of your bloud Please it you from henceforth to enter â—oute kéepe your good renoume and defend your people that without you may not long defend them against your enemies to the ende that wee may come to the victorie by your prowesse by the which we hope to atteine and come to it Sir Vlisses sayde Achilles if wee be come into this land for these causes that ye haue declared wee may say that great folly was among vs that for the wife of one of vs that is to wit of sir Menelaus so many kings and so high princes bee put in perill of death Had it not béene much more wisedome for the noble Palamedes to haue abider in peace in his countrey then for to be slain here and other kings and princes in like maner Certes as the most great part of the world of noble menne be héere how assembled if they die here as many be already dead it must needes follow that the countreys shall be replenished and gouerned by villaines Hector that was so noble and so worthy is he not dead in like wise I may die shortly that am not so strong as he was And therfore in as much as ye require me to goe to battell so much paine and labour loose yee for I haue no more intention to put me any more in daunger and loue better to loose my renowme then my life for in the end there is no prowesse but it will be forgotten Nestor and Diomedes contended enough to drawe Achilles to their quarrels but they might neuer induce him to their purpose nor the wordes of Agamemnon neither And then he sayd to them that they shoulde make peace with the Troyans before that they were all slaine c. Then returned these thrée princes vnto Agamemnon and sayde to him all that they had found in Achilles and Agamemnon made it to bee knowen to the princes of the host whom he had assembled for this cause and demaunded of them their aduice Then stood vp Menelaus saying that it would be to vs now great shame to séeke peace with the Troyans since that Hector and Deiphebus bee dead and slaine and that by their death the Troyans repute them as vanquished and that without Achilles they shoulde well mainteine the warre against the Troyans To that answered Vlisses and Nestor and sayde that it was not maruell though Menelaus desired the warre for affection to recouer his wife and that Troy was not so disgarnished but that they had a newe Hector that was Troylus who was little lesse strong and woorthy then Hector And there was also another Deiphebus and that was Paris whom wee ought to doubt as much as the other and therefore they counselled the peace and to returne home againe to Gréece Then cried the false traitour Calcas which was traitour to the Troyans and sayd Ha noble men what thinke yee to doe against the commaundement of the gods haue not they promised to you the victory and will ye now leaue it Certes that should be great folly take againe courage to you fight ye against the Troyans more strongly then ye haue done
thereto with thy person And if thou wouldest haue béene contrary thereto and haue let it Helene had neuer seene the walles of Troy And now after this that they haue slaine all my children and done so much dammage and hurt ye counsell mee against honour to make peace with the Gréeks that haue so cruelly destroyed me Certes your counsell finisheth my life with great sorow and dishonour c. Of these wordes was Eneas exceedingly angrie and wroth and answered to the king wordes sharpe and pricking enough and departed he Anthenor from the king euill content And when they were gone the king began to weepe as hee that dreaded that they would deliuer the citie into the hands of the Greeks which would slay him incontinent Then he thought that he would make them die first and called to him Amphimacus and sayd to him Right deare sonne I am thy father we ought to support ech other vnto the death I know certeinly that Anthenor and Eneas contend for to slay vs by the Gréekes and to deliuer them this citie and therefore it should not be ill done to make them fall into the pitte that they haue made ready before ere they doe any such euill and I will tell thee in what maner To morrow at euen they will come to take counsell then thou shalt be ambushed here within and thou shalt haue with thee good knights and when they shall bee come thou shalt runne vppon them and slay them Amphimacus made answere vnto him and sayd that hee would so doe with a verie good will and albeit there were no more assembled at this counsell but the king and his sonne yet there is nothing so secret but otherwhile it is knowne Eneas knew wel the truth of this thing and it was not knowne by whom he knew it and anon hee and Anthenor and some other of their complices spake forth of the treason of the citie and there they swore each to other and then they said if they went more to counsaile to the king that they woulde go with great company of men of armes for Eneas was of the most noble of Troy and most rich next to the king and best of linage and might well compare to the king And Anthenor was also rich and puissant of friendes in the citie and their treason was such that they would haue deliuered the city in the handes of their enemies So as they and all they of their linage shoulde haue their liues and their goods saued and thereof they tooke good suretie of the Greekes Among these thinges the king Priamus sent for Anthenor and Eneas to come to counsell for to performe that thing that he hadde purposed but they came with a great company of men of armes and therefore the king sent Amphymacus that hee shoulde leaue off this enterprise The day following the king sent for all the Troians to councel and when they were assembled before him Eneas stood vp and willed all them to make peace with the Greekes to whom all the other accorded saue the king and then said to him Eneas Sir king wherefore consentest not thou with the other for will thou or will thou not we will treate for the peace and wil make it maugre thee When the king sawe that his contradiction might nothing auaile he had leauer consent with the other then for to be the cause of his destruction and then said he to Eneas Let it be made as ye shall thinke that it may bee most expedient to the peace and I will thinke wel of it Then by the counsel of them all Anthenor was chosen for to go to the Greekes and treat for the peace and the Troyans tooke branches of Palme in signe of peace and went vppon the walles of the Citie and shewed the signe vnto the Gréeks the which shewed well that they would entend to the peace And then was Anthenor retyred from the walles and let downe and was presented to the king Agamemnon And the king Agamemnon commised all the work to the king of Crete Diomedes and Vlisses and that all those thinges that these thrée kinges should decree with Anthenor all the Gréeks promised to hold it agreeable and sware it vpon their law c. When they were all foure assembled Anthenor replenished with furie promised to them to deliuer the citie by treason for to doe with it their will and pleasure so that they woulde saue him and Eneas and all their kinsmen and parentage and all them that they woulde choose and that Eneas should haue all his possessions without any losse These three kings of Greece swore to Anthenor that thus they would do and hold then said one to the other that this thing must be secret vnto the time it be brought about and to the end to keepe this treason more secret Anthenor praied to the Greekes that they would deliuer to him the king Cassilius that was a very auncient man for to go with him to Troy to the intent that he might be the better beleued and for that he knew the will of the Troians that is to weet if they woulde haue peace with the Greekes and also for to say to them the will and desire of the Greekes and then demaunded Anthenor the body of Penthesilea which the Gréeks agreed to them gladly After these thinges Anthenor and the king Cassilius entred into the citie and did to be knowne to the king their comming On the morrow betimes the king Priamus assembled al the Troians for to heare the answer of Anthenor the which saide to the king otherwise then hée founde making a long sermon for to couer his badde doing Where he spake long of the puissance of the Gréeks and of their truth in their promises and how they had holden the truce that they made lying before the citie had béen faithfully gouerned without breaking of them and after spake he of the feeblenesse of the Troyans of the daungers that they were in and in this time concluded that forthwith it were profitable to seeke peace and that they were come thereto and said it coulde not be vnlesse they gaue a great quantity of gold and siluer vnto the Greeks for to restore to them the great damages that they had in the warre And after they aduised the king the other each in himself for to employ him in this thing without any sparing And forasmuch said Anthenor as I cannot know at this time al their will I would that yee would let Eneas go with mee vnto them for to knowe better their will and to the end that they beleeue vs the better Euerie man allowed the words of Anthenor and then went he and Eneas to the Greeks and with them the king Cassilius When the counsel was finished and all done the king Priamus entred into his chamber began to wéep right gréeuously as he that perceiued wel the treason playned sore the death of his sons and the great damage that he
good intertainement In like manner did sundry Lordes that had béene exiled returne againe to their wiues and houses and enioyed their olde seigniories as many as had escaped the daunger of the sea CHAP. XXIX How Horestes sonne of King Agamemnon cruelly auenged himselfe of the death of his father And how king Vlysses after sundry perillous aduentures returned to his Country and kingdome THen Horestes the sonne of king Agamemnon who was twenty and foure yeares of age and had béene brought vp vnder king Idumeus was by the said Idumeus made knight at whose knighting was great feasting and sport Then Horestes prayed him that he would helpe him with his people to be auenged of the death of his father and to recouer his land againe Whereupon Idumeus deliuered to him a thousand armed men wise and hardie And Horestes gathered out of other places an other thousand so passing toward Michmas he went by Trasim where Forensis was Lorde and gouernour of whome he gat a hundred souldiers this did Forensis for the hatred that he bare to Egistus forasmuch as the saide Egistus hauing espoused his daughter forsooke her for the loue of Clitemnestra So he ioynd with Horestes to make war against Egistus This expedition was taken in hand at the beginning of the moneth of Mate When they came before Michmas those that kept the cittie would not yéelde it He then besieged it round for Horestes had aunswere from the gods that hée should be auenged of his mother with his owne handes albeit that she was fast closed within that fortified cittie Egistus was not al this time within the citie but was gone to procure aide and succours of men of warre from other places against the comming of Horestes his enemy by the instigation of his wife Clytemnestra When Horestes vnderstoode thereof he layed a great ambush of armed men to surprise Egistus in his return and therewith also layed fresh and hote assaults daily to the citie which being not wel fortified was by Horestes taken after fiftéene dayes siege who appointing his men to kéepe due watch and warde that none should goe out nor in at the gates went himselfe to the pallace royall where he tooke his mother committing her to safe prison and caused them to be apprehended that were any waâ— guiltie of the death of his father and that had rebelled against him The same day returned Egistus with his new aides thinking to haue gone vnto the rescue of the ciâ—ie but by the way he was taken by the ambush of Horestes who slew all his men and carried him to Horestes with his hands bound behind him On the morrowe after Horestes caused his mother Clytemnestra to bee brought before him starke naked with her handes bounde whome as soone as euer hee sawe hee ranne at her with his naked sworde and first hee cutte off her twoo pappes and after slew her and caused her body to be drawen into the fieldes and there to be left for dogges and the birds of the ayre to deuoure Then he made Egistus to be taken and stripped and to be drawen naked thorough the citie and after to be hanged And in like sort dealt he with those that were found to haue béene culpable of his fathers death This vengeance tooke Horestes for the death of good king Agamemnon his father Menelaus after sundry great perilles by sea at length arriued in Créete hauing with him Helene his wife who hearing of the death of his brother and how cruelly Horestes had putte his owne mother to the death was sore displeased with his nephew At that same time came to Menelaus all the greatest Lordes and Nobles of Gréece for whose sake all the Gréekes had suffered so much trouble and vexation From Créete Menelaus sailed to Michmas and tolde Horestes that he was not woorthy to be king or gouernour for that he had so cruelly put to death his owne mother Whereuppon Menelaus assembled at Athens all the chiefe nobles of Gréece to the end to depriue Horestes of his raigne and gouernement for the tyrannous murthering of his mother Horestes excused himselfe thereof saying the gods had appointed him to doe that which hee hadde done At this the duke of Athens rose vp and offered to bée champion in maintaining Horestes his cause gainst any that would withstand it by combate or otherwise which challenge of his being by no man accepted Horestes was iudged guiltlesse and was suffered still to enioy his kingdome But vpon this quarrell Horestes conceiued such mortall hatred against Menelaus his vncle that hée afterward bare great euill wil to him Notwithstanding king Idumeus came within a while to Michmas and so reconciled them each to other that Horestes tooke to wife Hermione the daughter of king Menelaus and of Helen Whereat Erigone the daughter of Egistus and of Clytemnestra had so great sorrow that she hanged herselfe being gréeued that Horestes prospered so well During these affaires Vlysses came into Créete with two Marchants shippes for he had lost all his own shippes and the chiefe of his goodes by rouers or pirates at the sea After which losse hée arriued by mishappe within the countrey of king Thelamon where he lost the residue of his goodes and they of the countrey would haue hanged him had it not béene that by his witte and cunning he escaped their handes After that hée arriued in the countrey of king Manlus who hated him for the death of his sonne Palamedes yet there he so handled the matter by his wit and industrie that he got out of their handes also In the end comming againe into Créete he was friendly intertained by king Idumeus who wondered to sée him in so poore a case demaunding him of all his aduentures and how he had sped since his departing from Troy To al which Vlysses replied shewing how many and howe great perilles he had passed by sea and how he had lost all his men and goodes that he brought with him from Troy King Idumeus had pittie on him when he heard these things and gaue him honourable and bountifull entertainement for as long as he would stay with him When he would néeds depart to returne into his owne countrey Idumeus gaue him two ships furnished with all things necessarie for his voyage and riches with him great plenty requesting him that hée would take his way homeward by the Countrey of king Alcinous to whome he should be very welcome c. Thus Vlysses departing from Créete came vnto king Kingdome But upon this quarrel Horestes conceived such mortal hatred against Menelaus his Vnkle that he afterwards bare great euil will to him Notwithstanding King Idumeus came within a while to Michmas and reconciled them each to other that Horestes took to wife Hermione the daughter of King Menelaus and of Helen Whereat Erigone the daughter of Egistus and of Clytemnestra had great sorrow that she hanged her self being grieved that Horestes prospered so well During these affairs Ulisses came into Creete with
cry insomuch that the people of the Castle armed themselves and came and assailed Thelagonus He séeing that stept to one and wrung his Sword out of his hand wherewith he slew fiftéen in short space and was himself hurt in many places Hereupon the uproar grew more and more and Vlisses doubting it was his Son Thelamonius who had broken out of prison came running out with a dart in his hand which he flung at Thelagonus and hit him not knowing who he was and hurt Thelagonus a little Thelagonus féeling himself hurt flung it again at Ulisses not knowing who he was with so great force that hitting him he fell down to the earth Then Vlisses being in great pain remembring himself of his fore-said Vision demanded of him what he was saying I am Ulisses Thelagonus hearing this fell to great lamentation and said Alas wretch that I am I came hither to sée my Father and to live joyfully with him and now I have slain him Thus saying he fell down in a swound and when he was come again to his understanding he rent his cloaths beat himself about the face â—â—th his fists and went to his Father and fell down wéeping before him and said I am Thelagonus thy unhappy Son whom thou begottest on Quéen Circe I pray the Gods that they will suffer mée to dye with thée When Vlisses understood this hee sent for Thelamonius his lawful begotten Son who presently coming would have slain Thelagonus to revenge his Fathers death But Ulisses said not so for he is thy brother be ye reconciled together and live and love as brethren Then was Vlisses carried into Achaia where within thrée daies he dyed and was by his Son honourably buryed After whose death Thelamonius his Sonne succéeded in that Kingdome who kept with him Thelagonius his brother for the space of a year and a half making him knight and honouring him greatly At length being often sent for by Circe his mother he returned to her into the Isle Aulides having received many rich presents at the hands of his brother And Circe dying shortly after Thelagonus enjoyed her Kingdome and raigned in the said Isle thréescore years Thelamonius was fourscore and thirtéen years old at the death of Vlisses his father and raigned afterwards much increasing his Seigniory thréescore and ten years In this wife Dares finished his book of the siege of Troy and speaketh not of their further adventures and asmuch as is contained in the History before written is also found to have béen recorded by Dictes the Greek and in most things both their Books agrée Dares in the end of his book writeth thus that the siege of Troy endured for the space of ten years ten months and twelve daies and that the number of the Greeks there slain was eight hundred and six thousand fighting men and the number of the Troâ—ans slain in defence of themselves and of their Country was six hundred fifty and six thousand fighting men He saith moreover that when Eneas departed from Troy into exile he carryed with him two hundred ships and that Anthenor had with him away five hundred Souldiers and all the rest that were escaped went with Eneas The said Dares furthermore reporteth in the latter end of his Book by whom the most noble Kings and Princes of the one part and of the other were slain and he saith that Hector the most famous Prince of Chivalry in the world slew with his own hands in good and loyal fight eightéen Kings not with treachery or subtil devises but by his prowesse and valour the names of which Kings do here follow That is King Archilogus K. Prothesilaus K. Patroclus K. Menon K. Prothenor K. Archimenus K. Polemon K. Epistropus K. Ecedius K. Daccius K. Polixenus K. Phybus K. Anthypus K. Cenutus K. Polibetes K. Humerus K. Fumus and K. Exampitus And Paris he slew Pallamedes who was Emperor of all the Greekish Host K. Achilles and at last K. Ajax and therewithall Ajax slew him also Eneas slew K. Amphimacus and K. Nercus Achilles slew K. Cupemus K. Yponeus K. Plebeus K. Austerus K. Cimoneus K. Menon and King Neoptolemus Also he slew Hector at unawares and Troylus whom hée caused his Myrmidons to beset round about Pyrrhus the Son of the said Achilles slew the Quéen Penthasilea in fight he slew also cruelly and tyrannously the noble King Priamus He slew moreover Polixena the fairest Maid in the world Dyomedes slew King Antipus K. Escorius K. Prothenor and King Obtineus Now thus I am come to the finishing of this present book which I have translated though rudely out of French into English at the commandement and request of my right gracious and redoubted Lady and Mistresse the Lady Margaret Dutchess of Bourgony Lothericke and of Brabant c. And forasmuch as I am weary of tedious writing and worne in years being not able to write out several books for all Gentlemen and such others as are desirous of the same I have caused this book to bée Printed that being published the more plentuously mens turns may be the more easily served And as for the sundry Authors that have written of this matter namely Homer Dictes and Dares albeit their writings in many circumstances do disagrée yet in describing the Destruction of Troy they all affirm it to have béen in manner as is said utterly ruinated and laid waste for ever with such a wonderful Effusion of the blood of so many worthy King Princes Dukes Earls Barons and Knights and such an excéeding number of souldiers as here is mentioned And look what pleasure or commodity men reap by perusing this Book let them transferre the praise and thanks due therefore next to almighty God unto my foresaid right gracious Lady who not onely caused mée to undertake this translation but hath also bountifully rewarded mée for my labours To whose good liking I humbly Dedicate this work beséeching her Grace and all that shall read the same to accept in good part my simple endeavour herein And I most humbly pray unto Almighty God that the example of these cruel Wars and dissolation of this famous City may be a warning to all other Cities and People to fly Adultery and all other vices the causes of Wars and Destruction and that all true Christians may learn to live godlily and in Brotherly love and concord together Amen PErgama flere volo Fata Danais data solo Solo capta dolo capta redacta solo Causa malitalis Meritrix fuit exitialis Foemina lethalis Foemina plena malis Si fueris lota si vita sequens bona tota Si eris ignota non eris absque nota Passa prius Paridem Paridis modo Thesea pridem Es factura fidem ne redeas in idem Rumor de veteri faciet ventura timeri Cras poterunt fieri turpia sicut heri Scoena quid evadis morti qui cetera tradis Cur tu non cladis conscia clade cadis Foemina