able there most cruell blowes to beare Nor gainst them long to stand in their defence Which don they tooke me and King Alphenore And in their armes by force and violence Despightfully away with them they bâ—re And carried vs that were in mighty feare Into a darke and filthy prison where Our hands and feet with Iron chaines were bound And we were fed with bread and water cleare And had no bed but bare and naked ground To lyevpon while we remaines there This mighty Giant cald Poliphemus Who as I sayd had so imprisoned vs A sister had that passed every one That liued in her time for beauty rare Who as it seem'd had some compassion Of our distresse as maydens often are More kind then men and came to visit vs In prison by which meanes it fell out thus That Alphenore though captiue then he lay So much admird her beautie that he fell In loue with her and did nought night and day But musd thereon and liked her so well That though he did himselfe in fetters find Yet he on her did holy set his mind And faster with loues chaines had tyed his hart Then with theyron bands wherein we lay Sixe moneths in great distresse ere we could part Or get from thence for so long we did stay Imprisoned till that Polliphemus At last had some compassion vpon vs. And after we had been tormented so Did ease vs of our great captivity And of his grace and fauour let vs go Whereas we would at our owne liberty But Alphenore still burning hot in loue Could not the same out of his mind remoue But dayly felt a sore and grieuous fit Thereof within his heart till at the last He found the meanes by policy and wit When he had many stormes of loue orepast That on a night he did the mayd convay Out of her fathers house and went away With her so secretly that no man knew 't Till morning early ere that it was day Polliphemus did sweare that we should rue't And following vs oretooke in the way And such a fierce assault on vs did make That â—e the mayd from Alphenor did take And then our men so furiously did slay With th' aid of those that him accompanied That they compelled were to giue him way And at the last in extreame feare they fled And left me in great danger all alone To fight with that most mighty Champion And when I saw there was no remedy To scape from death I did with courage stout Defend my selfe and smot him sodainly Vpon the face and thrust his eye cleane out Which done I went vnto my companie And with them to our ships in hast did flie And no man did perceiue which way we tooke And finding wind and weather fit to go We went aboord and speedily forsooke That countrey as best for vs so to do For there was no abiding then for vs. Of Poliphemus Ovid writeth thus That he a huge and mighty Gyant was Whose face was couered ore with beard haire So thicke and so defusedly that as Men lookt on him they were in mighty feare The rather for that he deformedly In middest of his forehead had an eie And none elsewhere as men are vsd to haue Which eie when as Ulisses had smit out He did therefore sâ—extreamely rage and raue That he ran blindfold groping round about Ore hils dales and wheresoere he past Huge rocks and mighty stones about him cast In euery place supposing so to be Reuenged on Ulisses for the â—ame As you at large in Ovids booke may see Which he his Metamorphosis doth name And hauing so escaped from his hand And safely with our ships got from the land We sayled all that day vntill t' was night When as it was our chance vnhappily Vpon a round and little Isle to light Which in the middle of the sea doth lie Eludium cald wherein as then did dwell Dame Circes who in magicke did excell And would that which she tooke in hand performe So cunningly that by her Art she could A man or woman when she list transforme Into what kind of shape so ere she would And make them in that sort to liue as long As pleased her her potions were so strong And likewise made her selfe by Art so faire That none like vnto her was to be found For that whosoere did to her Isle repaire Could not get out of that accursed ground Without her leaue for by that Sorceres My mind was so possest with carelesnes That I had no desire at all to go From thence but there with a yeare did stay And truth to tell I was enchanted so That I could not get thence by night nor day So pleasant was the life that there I led And while that I with her continued She did conceaue with child by me and had A sonne that Thelagenius had to name For which cause much account of me she made And lou'd me more then others for the same But yet at last by secret providence I in her Art had such experience That maugre all inchantments she could vse I stole away from her and to conclude Though she so many others did abuse By Art I did her divelish Art delude And by that meanes escaped from her hand And with my men got free out of her land But nerethelesse it did me nought availe For that when I had been a little while Vpon the seas and forward thought to saile A wind contrary blew me to an Isle That farre remote within the sea did stand And was exceeding rich and fertile land Wherein Calipha Circes sister raignd Whose Art and foule inchantments were so strong That she againe my liberty restraind And spight my heart there also held me long But truth to say she did so much abound In courtesie the which in her I found And was a Lady of such excellence For rarenesse of her qualities and wit That tarrying there to me was no offence But though that I well pleased were with it Yet loath to stay I did her Art prevent And secretly escapt from her and went Directly to an Isle wherein did stand A Temple where there was an Oracle And whosoere therein did chance to land Might answere haue as 't were by miracle Of any thing whereof he wold enquire Whereas I did most earnestly desire To know what fortune should vnto me fall And also how I might prevent the same Where I was told my future fortunes all What soere I askâ— saue only what became Of soules of mortall men when they are dead For nothing therevnto it answered As being that which is not in the might Nor power of any creature to tell For that belongeth wholly and of right To God that doth in highest heavens dwell For it is cleane beyong the reach of man And from that Isle I once againe began To hoyse vp sailes in surging seas scourd The same but with contrary In Caribdis where Mermaids vse to lie That from the middle down-wards
wauering false inconstancy Which here and there with euery wind doth fly For they are of so mutable a kind As if that valiant Hercules should prooue And Sampson both would not suffice to bind A womans heart that it should not remooue For as the subtill flames of burning fire So too and fro they flie in their desire Till they accomplish fullie their delight For like as nature seeketh after forme And therein taketh kindly appetite Till she her course by processe may performe So womens hearts will ne're refraine from man In wau'ring lust deuise what meanes you can Nor will they cease till they haue all assaid Though that their minds to twenty men were bent But would to God as nature is appaid With one forme onely holding her content And nere desireth further to proceed But therein rests and will it not exceed That women her example follow would And hold themselues content and still abide Constant to one as they in duty should But want of footing makes them often slide For not content with perfect vnity They bend their minds to seeke plurality So much in mutability they flow Yet oft pretend a kind of stablenes Which outwardly by signes they seeme to show But inwardly is hidden doublenes So close and sure that outwardly with eye Full hard it is their malice to espy For vnder show and vaile of honestie Their deepe desire is kept full close in mew With fained show of simple modesty Refusing that which they in heart pursue And that an outward praise they may obtaine They will dissemble flatter lie and faine Then must I needs King Oâ—tâ—s tell thee true That in this case thou hadst too little care In that thou didst not doubt what might ensue But let thy daughter faire proceed so farre Without aduise with strangers so to deale To ouerthrow thy selfe and common weale For by that meanes thy treasure it was lost Thine honour staind thy country cleane vndone Thy selfe in thousand cares in sorrows â—ost Thy Daughter with a stranger way did run And in a foâ—raigne land through care thought Was in the end to vtter mischiefe brought And with no little scandall to thy name By miserie by sorrow and by griefe At last was brought vnto her death with shame And thou thy selfe berest of all reliefe Might'st â—it and mourne thy hard doleful case That to preuent it had no better grace If thou by wise and prouident foresight Hadst had the wit to thinke on future harmes And in thy mind would'st haue considered right Of womenâ— soule and most deceitfull charmes Their fraud their falshood and fragility And that in them is no security As Guydo in his verse doth well declare Then surely by thy too much wretchlesnes Thou haddest not with sorrow and with care Bereft thy selfe of all thy happines Thy treasure and thy onely Daughter deare Which both at once were lost as doth appeare What could auaile the carefull prouidence And strange deuise fram'd by inchantement The warie heed and double diligence By thee song vs'd all danger to preuent Against the wylie wit of women-kind Whose subtilties as right by proofe we find Are of great force for will with them is law Bee'â— good or bad it must not be denide Nor yet do they of any stand in awe They are so full of will deceit and pride For as mine Author plainely doth expresse Medea by her wit and craftinesse Bereau'd her father of his treasure great And that because she would her mind fulfill And Iason to her loue by wiles intreate Wherein she did vse all her Art and skill As you shall heare if that ye will proceed The sequell of this History to read For as she had at table take her seat Tweene Oeta and the valiant Graecian knight And that she should haue fallen to her meat Loue did her heart with sodaine passion smight And made her colour alter in her face And fetch an hundred sighes in little space Sometime the blood down to her heart did fall And vp againe into her face would rise Sometime she blusht sometime she shewed pael Now look't she downe then cast she vp her eyes Yet still among to beautifie her colour The fragrant Rose was mixt with Lillie flower And though the Rose would somtimes seem to fleeâ— Yet did the Lillie hold her woonted place Till nature gaue them meanes againe to meet And shew alike within her comely face And thus with cold and eke with sodaine heat Medeas mind with griefe was sore beset Sometimes she burnt sometimes she waxed cold And still as she did seeke with great desire Young Iason in the face for to behold Her heart it was set more and more on fire With his great beauty and his comlinesse Which she in heart most deepely did impresse His yellow crisped haire like golden wire His seemely face his gracious countenance His War-like looke his valerous desire Which he then shew'd his honour to aduance His goodly shape of bodie and of lim And all things else whatsoeuer was in him Within her eies and heart bread so great pleasure That only to behold and view him still She did esteem't taboue all earthly treasure And could haue spent her time by her good will In contemplation of his person rare For that as then for meat she did not care As hauing wholy lost all appetite So much he stucke in her rememberance That for to looke on him was her delight Loue had her then so brought into a trance And mark't her with her burning fiery brand That by no meanes she could escape his hand For she was yoked body heart and all To Iason who within her heart did lie And when that oportunity did fall She would at him cast vp a glancing eye And then againe looke downe vnto the ground Least men should deeme she had some fancies found For as all women right dissemblers bee She kept it close with such an outward show That by herface none might percerue nor see What she did meane nor her intent once know Thereby to take the least occasion Out of their minds of bad suspition For openly there could nothing be seen That should be cause of any heauinesse Her seeking was to make them all to ween The reason why she vs'd such sobernesse Onely of simple woman-hood to bee With honest shame and virgin chastitie Which both at once within her heart had met And caused her that modesty to vse And outward show on inward thought to set In that she seem'd her meat then to refuse The cause as then not being any such But onely loue which her at heart did touch She could so her hypocresie excuse And with an outward show of modesty Giue matter vnto fooles whereon to inuse When as she soughtâ— abuse her chastity For not one word out of her mouth did passe Her looke vnto her heart contrary was For maidens seeme most commonly to spare In outward show t' expresse their inward griefe Or in their words their meaning
his entry to withstand And to bereaue him of his Diadem And princely state thrust him out of his land Who being thereby brought to that extream Was forst for his reliefe as stories tell To seeke another Countrey where to dwell And entring in Callabria by strength He brought the Countrey to subiection And there did rule in peace till at the length Dame Fortune seeking his subversion By Cerces meanes his grecian Knights did change Into the forme of Birds most rare and strange Which presently did flie into the aire And euer since continew thereabout Their seathers shining bright and very faire And called are to put you out of douâ—t As wee in Isydore the same may read Among the Greekes the Birds of Diomede But as some Authors list hereof to wright They say this Metamorphosis was don By Venus in her malice to that Knight Because against Aeneas hir deare Son Feirce Diomede did cast a cruell dart As they too fought to strike him to the hâ—rt Which when his Mother Venus had espide She causd a mistie clowd twixt them to rise And therewith did hir Sonne Eneas hide From sight of Diomedes cruell eies And afterward wroght him that spightfull scorne And did his men in shape of Birds transforme And in that sort from time to time they flie Vnto the place of Diomedes graue Where as his body deepe intombd doth lie To shew that still a mind of him they haue For yearely on his day of Funerall They flock about that place both great small And there from morne till night you shall theÌ„ find It further is reported to be true That those straÌ„ge Birds do loue the Greekes by kind And vtterly doe hate and still eschew The Latins and do know them well asunder When they theÌ„ see Which seemeth such a wonder To me that I by no meanes can espey Nor yet conceiue by any manner way The hidden causes of such sorcery But this I know and that I dare well say The first beginning of so bad jntent Was wrought by art of foule jnchantment But faith doth teach vs boldly to defie And flatly banish all jllusion Which Satan daily casts before our eye To bring vs thereby to confusion And thus by famous Troyes subversion Full many ancient Cities first begun And diuers Lands with many a wealthy towne By sequell of that warre long flourished Which fore that Troye was cruelly throwne downe Lay wast and were not then jnhabited But to declare them orderly by name Were labour great for me to do the same And therefore to Prince Iason I le returne That went a shore at Simeont by Troye And for a day or two did there soiourne The comfort of the pleasant aire t'enjoye And of his weary toyle himselfe to ease Till wind and waues did calme vpon the Seas But enviously a false report was blowne And to the King Laomedon declar'd That certaine Grecian Knights to him vnknowne To enter in his land themselues prepar'd Well armed at each point which bred surmise They sought t'jnvade the Country by surprise Else would they first say they a licence craue And not so proudly land without consent Of him or his and no safe conduct haue Which argued but a signe of bad intent Which if the King would not prenent in time They said might proue his prejudice in fine For if said they he will not seeme to feare Their landing but deferre by negligence T' enquire know from whence they are where They meane to go and what is their pretence He may perchance repent his little care Of making hast against them to prepare For sodaine things require sodaine sight And should not be deferd till mischiefe fall And Dogs are to be fear'd that first do bite And flie vpon a man before they braule So wisedome doth require present speed To stop a mischiefe ere it further breed Thus did the Troyans murmure in the towne And speake thereof each one vnto the other As in the streets they walked vp and downe That at the length there spread so great a rumor That Laomedon did forthwith prepare A messenger to know from whence they were And without counsell taking in the same In hast did send to will them to depart Or else he said their pride he would so tame That stoutest of them all should wish in heart He had not been so bold to giue the venter Without his leaue within his land to enter The messenger in this sort sent away Made hast to let Prince Iason vnderstand What Laomedon willed him to say And to command him to auoyd the land Who all this while did nought but sport play Attending time from thence to saile away Th' effect of which his message to declare From poynt to poynt verbatim as it was As neere as ere I can I will not spare And what thereof did after come to passe Which in the Chapter following shall appeare If to the same you giue attentiue eare CHAP. V. I How Laomedon King of Troye sent to Iason to command him and his company forthwith to depart out of his Countrie and what answere they returned to the King againe THe high and mighty Prince of great renowne My most redoubted Lord and soueraigne true Laomedon of Troye that beares the crowne By me his messenger hath sent to you To let you know he doth not well conceaue Of this your bold arriuall without leaue Within his land thus armed as you seeme Not once vouchâ—afing first to know his mind As though of him you made so small esteeme That no resistance gainst you he could find The which to let you well perceiue and see He doth expresly send you word by mee That presently and that without delay Both you and yours depart out of this land And Troiaâ— bounds and get you hence away Or else by force he minds you to withstand And will you nill you make you leaue the place If you presume to offer him disgrace My counsell is beleeue it if you list To get you hence in peace and quietnes For folly great t' were for you to resist And of meer pride or glorious wilfullnes Seeke to disturbe my Lorde feliâ—itie Which now doth liue in great tranquilitie And doth his kingdome governe and maintaine With so great wisedome and magnificence By valor and by might that t were in vaine For any to withstand him of pretence Wherefore I wish you all if you be wise Herein to take and follow mine advise And seeke not further now to moue offence Least you procure your perill woe and smart And find that true by good experience Which friendly vnto you I doe impart This is my Lords embassage too you sent Conceiue it as you will tis his intent The messenger in this sort having said What Laomedon charged him as then Iason therewith not very well apayd In face and colour waxed pale and wan Yet soberly with wisedome held his peace Not seeming once in chollor to encrease Nor yet to
Three thousand valiant Knights of great activity And twenty two faire ships well furnished With all things that to them belonging were Who having all provided that should need King Priam did no longer time deferre But willed Lord Aeneas Anthenor And Polidamus and many Troians more To arme themselues and preparation make With Paris on that voiage for to goe And when they came their leaues of him to take In pithie words he did vnto them show The full effect of his intention Was chiefly to recover Exion For when that Voyage especially he made And so the time no longer to delay When Paris and the rest together had Their leaues of Priam tane they went their way And entring ship did presently set sayle In Venus name in hope she would not fayle By ayd of Ioue t' assist them in their need And entring Sea with weather faire and cleare And wind at will they sayled with great speed That in short time they vnto land grâ—w neare For nothing in their voyage did them let And yet by chance vpon the Sea they met A Ship wherein King Menalaus then was That Sayled vnto Pyilon there to see Duke Nestor and the time with him to passe Suspecting not each to other foes to bee Within those ships the which King Menalaus Vnto King Agamennon brother was And husband to Queene Helena the faire That sister was vnto the brothren twaine King Castor and King Pollux Knights that were Of great renowne in armes and did attaine Vnto such height therein that for the same No Grecian Knights did ere deserue more fame Who at that time remaind within a Towne Cald Strinester their cheife and princely seat Wherein they joyntly raignd with great renowne For that the loue betweene them was so great That they could not jndure to liue alone And with them was the Princes Hermione A Lady that in beautie did excell The daughter of their sister Helena And yet although as then it so befell That they together met vpon the Sea And that they saild close by each others side Yet were their hearts fild with inward pride That neither to each other one made show To call or aske from wence they came or were But past along and for the wind did blow Directly with the Troians and did beare Them swiftly thence they did within a while Ariue before an old and ancient Isle Which Cithera is called at this day And there within the haven did anchor cast Where presently not making any stay Apparelling themselues they did in hast Set foot on land with resolution stout And hope to bring their purposesone about Within this Isle an ancient Temple was Most pleasant and most beautifull to see For that in sumpteous worke it did surpasse All other whatsoere in that countrie Which honourd was of all both farre and neare Throughout the Land and once in every yeare A solemne feast was kept within the same Where many men with great devotion In honour of the Goddesse Venus came To whom they vse with superstition Which by them was obserud from age to age To bring great gifts and went on pilgrimage And every man did offer sacrifice Where while they kneeld and most deuoutly said Their Orations to her in Parum wise The Image vnto them an answere made Of every thing whereof they stood in doubt Resolving them how that it would fall out This custome they do vse continually Within that Church so sumptuous and so braue And did obserue the same most reuerently In hope that they the better speed should haue And as the Gods would hau 't their fortune was To goe on shoare the selfe same day when as This yearely feast was kept in solemne wise Whereto great store of Grecians flockt and came From every place to offer sacrifice And other rights t' obserue about the same The which as soone as Paris did espie He tooke with him some of his company And with them to the Temple went his way Apparelled in braue and sumptuous wise T' obserue the ancient rights there vsd that day At Uenus shrine and t'offer sacrifice And kneeling downe with great devotion Before her Altar made his Oration And on it layd great store of Iewells rare Orientall pearles rich stones and heapes of gold For at that time he would not seeme to spare Which made the Greekes admire and to behold His beauty sumptuous port and Maiestie And in their hearts to muse what he might be For as the story saith he was so faire That no man might therein compare with him And therewithall so fine proportion bare For comely shape of body and of lim That there was never seene a brauer Knight For all men to behold him tooke delight And prest in heaps about him for the same Desiring much his name and state to know And for what cause as then he thither came And prayd his men the same to them to show But they did make their answere in such wise That no man by their speech could ought surmise Yet some of them not fearing to declare The truth both of his name and dwelling place Did boldly tell and thereof made no spare That Priam King of Troye his Father was A Prince of mighty force and great renowne And that he thither came for Exion And thus of him they did enquire and spake As they together were and every one Of severall minds did severall verdicts make And all of them were in suspition But chiefly they in whome no iudgement were For euery man desireth newes to heare And whilst of him the speech went far and neare And past from man to man in Greecian land Queene Helena at last thereof did heare And when as she the same did vnderstand And truth thereof for certainty did know Of those that went and came both too and fro She could not rest vntill that with her eie She found report and sight in one t' agree And for that time determined to trie The truth and those braue Troyan Knights to see But more God knows of meere intention For Paris sake then for devotion She fained on a Pilgrimage to goe Vnto the shrine of Venus bright and cleare That vnto her some honor she might shoe And when all things for her prepared were And she adorn'd most like a stately Queene She went to see and likewise to be seene For what should mooue her else with such desire And in her heart put such a motion To goe to see new sights but secret fire Of wanton lust and no devotion Vpon the Goddesse Venus then to call And as the manner is of women all Delighting to be there where great resort Of people are and tâ—shew themselues at playes And at each common pastime and disport That men their beauties may commend praise And at their better libertie to see How they may find an oportunitie T' effect their wils and alwaies lie in wait In places where their minds and thoughts are seâ— In couert wise their wanton lookes to â—ait And
as to you I now am bound I will not spare to giue you counsell true Remember then I say how you haue found The Gods to favour you in this respect And still will do 't if you do not neglect Their grace and by your great ingratitude And sloathfulnesse provoke them to agree An other doome against you to conclude For if that they do you so carelesse see Think it not strange if they do change their minds And vnto you at last should proue vnkind I counsell you therefore now to be gone And see that you no longer tarrie heare And ere the time of harvest doth come on While that the weather is both faire and cleare And pleasant Summer bideth in his heat And fore the Winter comes that's cold weat In season fresh and greene put to the seas And in the name of all the Gods proceed This is my counsell take it as you please For sith thereon you fullie haue decreed Make no delaie but each man go to ship And let no longer time thus over-slip CHAP. IX ¶ How the Grecians Nauie putting from Athens were distressed by tempest at Sea and how they tooke the Castle of Saranaba belonging to the Troyans CAlchas thus hauing spoken as you heare The Grecians thinking his advise so given To be most true all that assembled were Agreed vpon the selfe same day at even To enter ship and Agamemnon then By sound of Trump did summon all his men To make all hast they could to part away Who being also willing to be gone Did speedilie take ship without delay And having pleasant wind at will full soone Put forth to sea with all their warlike band And presentlie were out of fight of land To tell how many ships they had were vaine Because it hath alreadie beene declar'd But sure it is most evident and plaine That nere tofore of like fleet hath been heard Nor such a number of most valiant men As in their hoast assembled were as then And being on the seas in weather cleare Full sodainelie the wind began to rise The aire waxt darke they therewith did heare Huge thunder-claps â—ebound out of the skies Which with such furie on their ships then stroke That many Masts and Yards in sunder broke The waues likewise did rise so huge and hie And such a storme of raine and haile did fall Vpon the Seas that it did make the skie To shew as blacke as pitch and there withall The lightning in their fearefull faces flasht So mightily that they were sore agast And every man began to call and crie Vnto their Gods in that most fearefull case And made account assuredlie to die But Colchos who in knowledge did surpasse When he had made and said some Orasions By divelish charmes and inchantations Did cease the storms cause the Sun shine cleare Which made their heauie hearts exceding glad And told them how the cause of that great feare And tempest sore which they endured had Was for that faire Diana discontent With them because their course to Troye they bent And put to sea ere they did her adore Or offer'd any sacrifice at all Vpon her Altars or her aid implore Which made her in so great a rage to fall That if he had not found the meanes t' appease Her wrath she would haue drownd theÌ„ in the seas Wherewith King Agamemnon presently Belieuing Colchos counsell with all speed Perceiving that his fleet not farre did lie From th' Isle Aulides sodainlie decreed To land therein where by good fortune he A little Chappell found therein to be That was vnto Diana dedicate Whereto with all the speed he could he went To offer sacrifice thereby t' abate Th' incensed Goddesse Wrath and after spent Long time in prayer vntill that it appear'd The seas of storms tempests all were clear'd But some men say and for a truth declare As Ouâ—d long discourse thereof doth make That Agamemnon did as then not spare His daughter Effigenia to take And on the Altar naked did her laye Supposing with his virgins blood to stay Diana's wrath and he therewith would be Appeased with them but she loath to behold The virgin put to such extreamitie The bowels of her mercie to vnfold Invisibly from thence did take the maid And in her steed a Hart on th' Altar laid Which Agamemnon thereon offered And with the same the Goddesse satisfied Which having done and all things finished That therevnto belong'd in hast he hyed Vnto his ship and having weather cleare Put to the sea againe without all feare And by her aid and helpe whome some do say To be mans guide and chiefe direction When on the sea or land by night or day He travaileth and her protection By such as skill haue in Astronomie And seeke her fame t' extoll and magnifie Reported is and found most strong to be When as she keepeth this her scituate Within his tents and twelfth house by degree For in those two she is most fortunate And doth her clearest light on earth reflect If that she be conioynd with good aspect Of any other faire and happie starre Which vnto men that travell is bening And in short time saild on the seas so farre With wind so good that soone it did them bring Vnto the coast of Troye where on the strand A Castle strong at that same time did stand Ditcht round about and wal'd exceeding hie With divers Towers therein both round square And hard by it a haven there did lie Which many faddomes deepe of water bare Where ships might safely anker and abide And gainst all wind and weather safely ride Which Castle though that Dares hath forgot To name it yet some Authors do it call Saranaba where Grecians failed not To enter and their ankors there let fall Despight of all that offered to resist For at that time they might do what they list Which onely were the garrison of men That in the fort to keepe and hold the same Were placed by King Priamus as then Who valiantly to their eternall fame Assoone as they espyed the Grecians enter Came forth and to resist them did adventer With full pretence their landing to jmpeach With all their power if that it might preuaile But t' was as then too farre aboue their reach For then the Greeks did them so farre assaile That they could not against them long endure Though they suppos'd did themselues assure Because the Grecians long at sea had laine And wearied with sailing too and fro The victory with ease they should obtaine But yet they did not find it to be so For it fell out with them vnhappily Because they did it vnadvisedly For when that they together fiercely met With pikes and other weapons for the warre And that their powers vpon each other set The Grecians did exceed the Troyans farre In number and as then did plainlie shew That Troyans to withstand them were too few And had a farre vnequall match then found To fight
against a power innumerable And yet they would not yeeld one foot of ground Till many of them were wounded and t'weake The Grecians fierce and angrie moods to stay That spar'd them not in cruell wise to slay And shew'd not any mercie what so ere So that of force they were constraind to run As fast as ere they could in extreame feare The furie of their foes as then to shun For truth to say and brieflie to conclude They had gainst them too great a multitude And by constraint abandoning the place To saue their liues vnto their Castle fled The Grecians hotlie following them in chase And leaving in the field great numbers dead Pell mell with them got to the Castle gate Whereas perforce vnto their cruell fate They entred in and did it fiercelie win And without mercie slew them every one And all the treasure that they found therein Vnto their ships did beare which hauing done Intending there to make no longer stay They brake the Castle downe did it lay Flat on the ground which being cleane defast And not a stone left standing they decreed To goe from thence and making all the hast They could did saile to Tenadon with speed A Castle then within the Troyan land That six miles froÌ„ the towne of Troye did stand And not farre distant from the sea was set Within a faire and pleasant plot of ground And aire most wholesome fresh and verie sweet Environed with spacious plaines and round About it grew all kind of corne and vines Wherof they made great store of pleasant wines Fruits hearbs flowers of faire severall kinds And everie other thing that man could wish To serue his turne with store of Harts Hinds Calues Hogs and Sheepe and everie sort of fish That surging seas doth yeeld so that it might Be cal'd a place of pleasure and delight In which the souldiers liu'd in all content Whereto when as the Grecians did arriue And fore it boldlie did themselues present The Troyans hoping them from thence to driue Most part of them well arm'd with speed went out And casting forth a huge and hideous shout Marcht valiantlie against their foes as then Vpon the land in faire and rich array And with so great a multitude of men That all the strand and field along the way Vnto the Castle walls was covered By them but yet the Troyans without dread Demanding not wherefore they came nor what They sought as then within the Troyans land Assailed them with so great courage that The aire at their encounter hand to hand Did sound with noise of Drum trumpets braue And with the strokes that either side then gaue On helmets shields armes from whence the fire In sparkes flew out and many a man was slaine And some lay wounded groveling in the mire Some bleeding and in great and deadly paine Their Horses running maisterlesse about And all the field and all the way throughout Was fild with legs armes heads and hands of men Smitten off and fiercelie hewd and cut in sunder And thousands on each side were slaine as then But on the Grecians part the greatest number The Troyans did so fiercely them assaile But all their force at last could not preuaile Against so great a power and multitude Of Greekes that then were fortie at the least Gainst one of them so that for to conclude They were constraind as being overprest With all the speed they could for to retire Though wanting neither manhood not desire To fight against their foes and in great hast As many of them â—â— could escape aâ—ay And saue their lines by force through th' enemy past And to the Castle goâ— and that same day Some road in poâ—st with no little feare The newes vnto thetowne of Trâ—ye to beare And need they hadâ—â— flie with all their might For in the chase the Grâ—â—kes did them pursue Vnto the gates and never left till night But many of them in incruell wise then flew That stragling here and there did chance to light Into their hands as they were in the flight Nor any one of what degree so ere Was spar'd by them nor ransome would be tane Such hatred to the Troyans they did beare And when they had great nombers of them slaine They did besiege the Castle round about So closely that they could not issue out Which doue the bulwarks presently they wonne And then with fierce assault they did assay To scale the walls but they within full soone Mounting thereon their furious moods did stay And draue theÌ„ thence with so great force might Of stones long bowes blows of coutlâ—s bright Pikes Crosse bows darts wild-fier which they cast Downe from the walles and did the same defend So valiantly that spight their hearts at last When as the Greekes with ladders did ascend They were by theÌ„ thrown headlong down the wall And forst with great despight on ground to fall Till at the last the Grecians gins did frame Wherewith against the Castle stones they threw And in such wise they battered the same That Troyans hardly could their faces shew And then againe their ladders rear'd vpright And mounting vp vs'd all their power might To enter on their enemies forcibly But Troyans nought abasht with valiant mood For their defence at them let arrows flie From off the walls and mightily with stood Their fierce assault and beat them off againe At which time many Grecians prowd were slaine By push of Pike and huge and mighty stones Which from the walls they cast and therewithall Did breake the Grecians necks bruise their bones And spight their hearts constraind theÌ„ down to fall Vpon the ground in pale and deadly hew But once againe the Greekes â—h'assault renue And with so great a number did â—â—saile The Castle on all sides that in the end The Troyans forces cleane began to saile And were no longer able to defeâ—â—d Themselues when no succoâ—â— they perceiued They waxed faint and so at men bereaued Of all reliefe they did the best they might To saue their lines but Greâ—â—â—â—â— valiantly Did enter and in rage and great despight Kild all that were within most furiously And when the Castle strong they had so woone They plast their ensignes on the walls which done They ransackt it and what so ere they found Gold treasure and each other costly ware In packes and fardels they't together bound And to their ships with present speed it bare And breaking downe the Castle made it plaine And even with the ground and so againe Returned vnto their ships and when they had Refresht and eas'd themselues and to declare They ioy for victory gaind great triumph made Their Generall whose chiefe and speciall care Was to reward each one in his degree Caus'd all his Captaines to assembled bee And all the treasure they as then had wonne Brought forth laid in open view he made To rich and poore like distribution But most to them that
within the same Which were so many and so great a number That for to thinke theron t would make men woÌ„der And more if that it be considered right It is most sure that since the worlds creation Or Phoebus on the earth did cast his light There ne're was seen in any Nation So many Kings and Princes met together As on both sids at that same time were come thither For all the flower of chiualry was there Kings Princes Dukes Earles Barons Knights Squien And all their power of men that armes could beare With full intent and resolute desires Within the towne for to defend their right Without the towne to win it if they might Let them that read and doe peruse this booke Consider for what cause this warre began And if without vnpartiall eies they looke They shall perceiue that many a valiant man For small or no occasion lost his life In that so needlesse strange and bloody strife For truth to say for nought this warre began And nought there was on either side obtain'd For though the Greeks the towne of Troy then wan Yet if it be considered what they gain'd The storyshewes that when that all was don Their reckoning made they lost more theÌ„ they won For many thousands of them there were slaine And lost their liues before the towne of Troy And neuer did returne to Greece againe The honor of their victory to enioy And those that liu'd and backe to Greece did goe Did after end their daies in griefe and woe And on each side the flower of Chivalry Most woefully did end their fatall daies With hundred thousands in their company And altogether as the storie sayes That bloody quarrell then did vndertake For nought but for a sillie womans sake Great pittie t' was so many Knights should die And headlong run vnto destruction To end their daies in extreame miserie For small or rather no occasion Bettet it were at first to end or cease A quarrell of no moment then t' encrease In malice and reuenge for nought to take For wise men shold forecast what harmes might hap nd seeke an end of small debates to make Ere that they fall in wauering fortunes lap And so procure their owne decay perforce And after wish they had tane another course It is a vse mongst men when fier doth take In any house or place to ring a bell Or els some other noyse or signe to make Thereby to warne such as about them dwell To lend their ayd in that extremitie And speedily to seeke for remedie Before it doth increase to greater fier T' were then too late and folly in a man That comes to helpe to aske or to inquire Which way the fier in the howse began And to neglect the quenching of the same When time doth serue for which he thither came For danger doth require no delay And he that 's wise doth commonly forecast Such dangers as may fall in time to stay For t is too late when as the time is past But now I le leaue the Troians for a while And to the Grecians armie turne my stile You heard that while the Grecians did abide At Tenedon how that they all decreed To send to th'isle of Messa to provide Such victualls as their puissant hoast should need While they made warre within the Troian laud And how Achilles tooke that charge in hand Now while that he was gone and staied there The noble King Palamides ariued At Tenedon with thirtie ships that were All fild with valiant Knights the which reuiu'd The Grecians hearts as glad to see him there For that not any one of them but were Sore grieued that he staied so long behind As one they much esteem'd and honoured And many of them great fault with him did find That he had not at Athens mustered Suspecting him of partialitie But he to cleare himselfe and satisfie Their minds declard in open audience The cause whie he to Athens did not goe According to his promise and pretence And for to proue the same to them did show That sickenesse onely had procur'd his stay And forst him to absent himselfe away So long from them where with they satisfied Excused him for that which he had showne And for because they much on him relied And honoured him as second vnto none Mongst all the Greeks for bounty power wit As being one for all attempts most fit For whatsoere he once did vndertake Most valiantly he would the same effect And spight of all that could resistance make Nere leaue it off nor any wise neglect Tell that he had acchieu'd his enterprise And in regard they knew him to be wise And of the greatest reputation Amongst the Greeks that then assembled were They did intreare and pray him to be one Of those that sit in counsell for the warre Which he accepting they straight waies agreed For to besiedge the towne of Troy with speed But mongst theÌ„ questioÌ„ grew what time they might Vnto the towne of Troy most safely goe Some sayd they thought it best when it was night In secret wise to hoyse their sayles that so Without resistance of the enemy They might take land with most securitie But others sayd great dangers might ensue To them to sayle the River in the night And specially because they hardly knew The ready course and that by chanâ—r they might For want of light out of the channell stray And so cast both their ships and men away Thus being of contrary minds they stayd And for that time made no conclusion But put it off and still the same delaid And tooke not any resolution What they would doe but lay still where they were As if their hearts had been possest with feare Till valiant Diomedes grieu'd to see Them lie so long at rest in Tenadon And that they could not mongst themselues agree Nor fall to any resolution For to besiege the towne of Troy with speed As they at first and firmely had decreed Sayd vnto them my Lords whose worthy fame Throughout the world both farre neare doth flie I cannot chuse but needs I must you blame And discommend your great prolixitie That let the time thus passe as you haue don For now a yeare is almost over-run And yet you stir not hence in any wise But still lie here and giue your enemies cause To thinke you do 't for feare and cowardise And which is worse allow them time to pause On their affaires and at their libertie Taugment their strength with opportunitie Vs to withstand and valiantly resist Whereof assure your selues they will not faile For they not any day nor howre haue mist To seeke for ayd against vs to prevaile And bar their gates make their walls most strong For to withstand asiedge both great and long And which is more they haue their spies to see And hearken what we doe here in our hoast And doe affirme and boldly say that wee Dare not effect the thing whereof we
promise prest And vrged him so much that with one voice The lot was cast on me and me they name And glad they were of me to make their choice For each man of himselfe did feare the same And to be sure with speed layd hands on me But when the time drew neere that I should be Vpon the Altar offred and that they The garlands full of daintie fruits did set Vpon my head I slily stole away I must confesse and speedily did get Into a place all full of mud and ose And there lay hid and durst not once disclose My selfe till they were vndersaile and gone And by this meanes my natiue Land haue lost And of the Grecians here am left alone And nere shall see my children and which most Torments me feare because I scapt away They will both them and my poore father slay And they shall guiltles die and suffer wrong For my offence Wherefore I humbly pray If any pitty doth remaine among Men here on earth that I some favor may O King receiue vnfainedly of thee And that thou wouldst content and pleased bee To ease my woe and pittie my estate Which is so bad that I no friends can find Because that all the Grecians do me hate This wofull tale so moued Priams mind And made him his distressed case to mone That he did will there should no harme be done To him and bad vnbind his hands and said What ere thou art forget the Grecians now For of them here thou needst not be affraid Thou shalt be free so that thou wilt vs show Who did this huge and monstrons horse invent Why was it made was it because they ment To offer it vnto Pallas or was 't not An engin made by them to vse in warre Whereto when he had so much fauor got And saw himselfe to be set free from care And feare of death he said with ioyfull cry And lifting both his hands vp to the skie O everlasting fires of God that are So terrible that no man can endure The force thereof I here by you do sweare And oh you swords and sacred Altars pure I do you vnto witnesse call and say Protesting by the goodly garlands gay That like a beast to slaughter brought I ware Vpon my head in that most dolefull day That by my will I do not now declare The secrets that should not be knowne nor say That willingly I do my Country hate But sith their cruell deeds and cursed fate Compell me therevnto it lawfull is For me to tell that which they would conceale And hope that if therein I do amisse The Gods will pardon me as now I deale Vprightly in this case Wherefore oh Troy Which by this meanes to thy no little ioy I do preserue in like case saue thou me Performe thy word for I to thee hereby Procure great wealth and much prosperitie The hope of all the Grecians specially Since that this long and bloudie warre began In Pallas was till that Titides ran Like mad man with the Father and the head Of mischiefes all Ulisses and by night Into Mineruaes Temple entered And slew the watch and then by force and might Their hands embru'd with bloud where no defēce Gainst him was made her jmage tooke frō thence For from that day good fortune from them fled And nothing did vnto their minds fall out No hope they had nor comfort followed What ere they tooke in hand or went about For Pallas did them vtterlie forsake And with some doubtfull signes of war to make And put them in great feare when they did bring Her jmage to the Campe and downe it set Her eies like flames of fire glistering Did shew and all her body ore did swet And thrise she rose whereat they woondered And shook her speare shield thrise ore her head For which they were by Calohas bid to go Vnto their ships and put to sea in hast For that said he belieue me it is so All hope for vs at this time cleane is past And though that they are gone from thence a while And vnto Greece returnd it 's but a wile For their intent is but to pacific Their Gods in Greece and then to come againe When wind doth serue with a new supplie A hotter warre against you to maintaine And this by Calchas counsell they haue done And for amends to Pallas and to shun Her wrath for that most foule great offence By them committed gainst her Deity They were by visions warn'd ere they went hence This Horse that is so huge of quantity In this same place where now it stands to set Which Calchas hath caus'd to be made so great For it was Calchas worke and only drift Because they feared you would enterprise When they were gone the same by force to lift Into the Towne which they would in no wise Haue you to do because you should not call On Pallas name nor worship him at all For if you should this gift of hers deface Destruction great without all doubt would fall On Priams princelie bloud and would it race Out of the world for a memoriall In time to come to make all men to feare To do the like But if you could it beare Into the Towne and on your wals it set The Greeks of you would stand in mightie feare And Conquests great against them you should get And they despight their harts great losse shold bear By this deceit of Synon false periur'd They credite gaue to him and were allur'd To worke their owne decay by that same horse Whom neither stout Achilles nor the warre That ten yeares held nor all the Grecians force Could make to yeeld nor for their foes to care And while they stood this craftie tale to heare The which he told with many a fained teare Another thing at that same time fell out Which put them in a mightie maze and fild Their valiant hearts with extreame feare doubt Which was as Neptunes Priest Lycaon kild A Bull vpon his Altar and the same Did offer vnto him behold there came Two mightie Serpents swimming to the shore Whose vglie heads they might far off behold And see their backs huge long tailes that bore The sea aloft and in the waues did fold And turne and whirle the water round about Who with their fiery eies came fiercely out Vpon the land and at them hissing ran With gaping mouths wherwith in mighty feare They all began to flie away and whan The Serpents hard by Neptunes Altar were They set vpon Lycaons children twaine And with their claws their tender lims did straine And tearing them in pieces fed so fast On them that they with speed devoured were Which when Lycaon saw he ran in hast With sword in hand to saue their liues but there Was no defence against them to be made For when as they children eaten had They ran and claspt Lycaon round about The body and the necke in cruell wise Who mightily stroue with
Agamemnon And true and lawfull heire thereto by right Though Clytemnestra sought his destruction And disposed him thereof hy might Which hauing sayd Duke Nestor hastely Stood on his feet and for him did reply And said that he would for Horestus sake That had don nought but that which shold be don And lawfull was his quarrell vndertake Against all those that held opinion Contrary therevnto but none repli'd To him againe for euery man espi'd That Horestus had reason so to do And therefore all agreed and gaue consent To Crowne him King and did proceed thereto Which don they did dissolue their Parlament And so Horestus by his subiects true Was crowned King againe with honor due To his estate and after that was made Good friends with old King Menalus againe Whereof King Idiâ—â—us being glad That friendship long betweene them to maintaine By mediation twixt them brought to pas That Hermion that Helens daughters was By Menalus was maried vnto King Horestus and by that alliance So made and surely knit betweene them two They ceased all their strife and variance And afterward did liue and raigne in peace And more and mâ—re in honors did encrease Meane time Egistus daughter Exion Whom he on Queene Clytemnestra had begot Did fall into such desperation That she all worldly pleasures cleane forgot And did endure so great extreamity That she did hang her selfe vpon a tree But here I must digresse and turne my stile From Horestus to King Ulisses and Of his most strange adventures speake a while Which endurd both on the sea and land Who when he did to Greece againe repaire A while he found the weather cleare faire And then againe when as the skies did frowne And did begin to thunder to raine He was vpon the seas cast vp downe And had no more ships with him then but twaine The which like marchant ships were furnished That he might sayle the safelier without dread Yet nerethelesse for all his policy The wind so much contrary gainst him was That he was forced by extremity To fall vpon the shoare land whereas King Thelamon that was so falsely slaine By night within his bed some time did raigne Where he no sooner got vnto the land But he was tane and into Prison throne And bound with Iron chaines both foot and hand Because he murthered King Thelamon As they suspicion had but he delâ—so With them that at the last they let him go But yet with losse of all that ere he had Within his ships and after that againe He put to sea and was exceeding glad To haue escaped so but all in vaine For Fortune so contrary to him was That as he on the seas along did pas Vnhappily he fell into the hand Of Naulus who watch long his coast had layd To spoyle the Greeks that thereon chanst to land And by him there against his will was staid And into cruell prison cast againe Because he did suspect that he had slaine Pallamindes his Son but being bold Of spirit and of wit and wisedome great So smothly for himselfe his tale he told That he againe at liberty was set And out of Naulus danger safely got But by what me anes the story telleth not And hauing well escaped from the same He trauailed in simple poore array A foot throughout the land till that he came To King Idumeus court and there did stay Who seeing him in such a meane estate And barely clad did wonder much thereat Yet nerethelesse disdaind him not therefore But welcomed him with glad ioyfull cheare And honord him although he came so poore And when they two alone together were Ulisses his complaint vnto him made And told him what vnto him chanced had And in this wise with sad and heavy cheere Vnto him sayd my Lord the gentlenes You shew to me that thus distessed heere Vnto you came imboldneth me t' expresse The manner of my fortunes and to tell You how in what sort they on me fell First when I did the Troian land forsake With wind at will which at that time did blow And entred ship my course for Greece to take I sayled to an Isle I did not know Cald Mirma which with all things did abound That are to be desird wisht or found And which for gold or siluer may be bought Wherein for certaine time aboad I made And all the while I staied wanted nought That needfull was for man with me had The treasure which I won in Troy men Good store to serue my turne withall when I did perceiue that Isle to be so sound And wholsome aire I purposely did stay Therein and all that while no creature â—ound That once molested me Till on a day When we did find the weather faire still And wind to blow according to our will We went abord straight did put to seas And in a little space made so good way That we ariued at Clanstafages Where with our ships we for a while did stay And had the wind weather cleare faire But who may put his trust in wind or aire For in good hope to haue a pleasant skie And roome at will as I had found before And entred ship and fast againe did hie To sea where when for three daies and no more I â—ayled had with wind still at my backe At last it turn'd about th' aire waxt blacke And such a hideous tempest did arise Vpon the sea that I was in despaire To loose my life it thundred in such wise And lightning flasht so fast out of the aire And in that sort being driuen to and fro In danger great and knew what to do It was our chance at last to spie out land Whereto we made and found the same to be An Island cald Cicile and out of hand Cast anker forth with great extreamitie And got to shoare with labor sore and paine Wherein at that same time two kings did raigne Whereof the one was cald Sorigones Who vnto vs prou'd cruell and vnkind The other had to name King Coclopes Who likewise had a fierce bloody mind Both brethren and both like for difference none Betweene them was for bad condition For both of them at once vpon vs set And cruelly a prey of vs did make And all the goods out of my ships did fet And forcibly the same from me did take And left me nought wherewith my selfe t'relieue But that which most of all my mind did grieue Was that when they perceiud I had no more Left in my ships for them away they went And vnto vs such cruell minds they bore That they their Sons two mighty Giants sent Downe to our ships the one 〈◊〉 The other huge and strong Polipheâ—â—â—s Who being both of body mighty great And therewith all exceeding tall and strong In fierce and cruell wise vpon vs set And did assayle vs so that ere t' was long A hundred of my men they slew that were Not
To grieue his head was fild with fantasies And deepe conceits t' imagine and to see If he could find or shape a remedie By any meanes to shun that would not bee But yet for all his policie and wit He could not reach vnto the depth of it For thinking that he would the same prevent De did suppose that no man but his son Was he that should it do and therefore sent With all the speed he could for Thelamon And cast him into prison so to shun That which the Fates decreed should be dun Remembring not the speare with steeled head Nor yet the flag thereon with azure fild With fishes on 't which in the seas do feed Nor Circes faire who in her hand it held Which signifi'd nought but hostility Nor yet the Crowne and regall dignity Of one that raign'd within an Isle that stands In middest of the sea that should be hee Who gainst his will should slay him with his hands And execute thereby the iust decree Of God the which Ulisses thought not on But onely did suspect Prince Thelaemon Whom he then held close prisner in a tower And to prevent all other meanes what s'ere He never ceast to muse thereon each hower And at the last grew thereof in such feare That he did cause a Castle to be made And built of Marble stone the which he had Devised in such sort that there was none Like vnto it in all the world throughout For strength and had no gates in it but one To enter in the same and round about A ditch most deepe and broad on every side Did compasse it Wherein he did abide And closely kept himselfe from sight of all The world but those which on him did attend And ever held a watch vpon the wall Both day and night most strictly to the end That no man should so hardy be to venter Without his leaue into the same to enter Vnlesse it were those that therein did lie Now as the storie vnto vs doth tell Ulisses had a Sonne begotten by Queene Circes who in valor did excell So much that he was comp'rable to none In all that land whose name was Thelagon Borne in an jsle among the furious rage Of foming seas that compast it about Who at that time attained had to th'age Of twenty fiue yeares old who stood in doubt What man did him beget or who should be His father whome he longed much to see And having great desire the same to know He fell before his mother on his knee And did intreat her earnestly to show The truth to him who might his father bee And what he was where he then did dwell But she long time by no meanes would it tell But put him off and fed him with delay Till when she saw she could not be at rest For him that did torment her every day And would not cease till he had his request She shewd him that Vlisses was his sire And where he dwelt who with most great desire To see him tooke his leaue of her with speed And told her that he straight froÌ„ thence would go But when the Queene perceau'd he had decreed To go to seeke Vlisses and that no Perswasion in the world could him withhold From doing it her heart it waxed cold And in her breast she felt exceeding paine And when she saw he would by no meanes stay She prayed him to come with speed againe Home vnto her And so the selfe same day He put to sea and saild so long till he He arriued where he did desire to be And when he was within Achaia land He never ceast to ride from place to place And rested not till he did vnderstand Where king Vlisses royall Pallace was Which when he knew he made no more aboad But speedily vnto the Court he road Whereas the king within his Castle stayd And early on a Munday morning came Vnto the gate and draw-bridge where he prayd The Porter who at that time kept the fame To giue him leaue a word or two to speake Vnto the king who to him gaue a cheake And churlishly did thrust him from the gate And proudly said he should not enter in And with some other speeches told him that He must be gone whereat he did begin To be in such a rage that there with all He did vpon the Porter fiercely fall And furiously did take him by the beard And gaue him such a blow that there with all He fell dead on the bridge which when they heard That were within they issued and did fall On him but he so hotely them withstood And fought with such a fierce surious mood That many of them cleane ore the bridge he cast And when as more vpon him issued forth And on all sides began t'assaile him fast He did begin to be exceeding wroth And with his sword about him made such way That he therewith did fifteene of them slay And fought so long that he was out of breath And scarce could hold himselfe vpright so that Sore wounded he expected nought but death Wherewith Vlisses came vnto the gate And when vpon the bridge he did espie His men on heaps dead on the same to lie Sore mou'd thereat he tooke a dart in hand And there with all in furious wise did throw At Thelagon who then did leaning stand Vpon his sword but it did light too low And hurt him not at all but Thelagon Straight stooped down laying hands theron Did throw it at Vlisses in great hast And there with all did strike him such a blow Into the breast that through his ribs it past And gaue him his deaths wound but did not know That 't was the king nor that he so had slaine His father deare who then could not sustaine Himselfe vpright but to the ground did slide With pale and deadly face and so he lay Amongst his men that stood on either side And busie were to beare him thence away Supposing that he verily was dead But sodainly he lifted vp his head And having still a perfect memory He cald to mind the vision he did see And how that he was told assuredly That one of his ner'st kinsmen should be hee That with a dart of life should him bereaue And for because â—â— could not well conceaue Who it should be He bad his men to bring The young man that before the gate then stood With speed to him without once offering To wrong him for so sheading of their blood And when that he was brought into the place Whereas he lay he look't him in the face And marking well his countenance began To aske him for what cause he did come thither And what occasion moved him as than T' assaile his guard that he and they together Had fought and he had slaine them so whereby Himselfe sore wounded was and like to die To whom with courage bold he spake and sayd The onely cause why I came hither was To see the King but by the