Leather covered were And some their enemies furious force withstood With shields of steele of length froÌ„ head to foot Some with their bows arrows fiercely shoot Some with their swords some with their darts in haÌ„d Some with a foure squar'd headed Pollax fight And some with Cros-bows with Pikes do stand Prepar'd to show their valor and their might And every one desiring for to doo 't Stood ready there on horsbacke or on foot After the manner of his Country And while they staid each one his armes did mend In every place whereas necessitie Requir'd the same the better to defend His body but in tearmes of Art to show What there vnto belongs or let you know More touching this I must my selfe excuse And pardon craue if therein I do misse For sure t is not the thing which I doe vse A Pen and not a Pike my weapon is T is want of skill breeds imperfection In me to make a right description Thereof in marshall tearmes as some men could But vnto him that 's wise I will referre My selfe herein and pray him that he would His censure mildly in this case deferre And such defects as he shall iustly find To winke thereat and beare them in his mind When Hector had them all well viewd and saw What power assembled in the field there was With speed he did each one command to draw Aside and then in ranks he did them place Which done in marshall wise he did ordaine His battailes orderly within the plaine And then he caus'd the gate Dardanides To be vnbard and to be opned wide Intending thereat gainst his enemies To salie forth and valiantly to bide A battaile whatsoever did befall And then his Bastard brother he did call That had to name Cincinabor the stour And valiant Glaucus Prince of Licia Land To whome by him of purpose chosen out He did appoint the leading of the band Which first that day against the Greeks in field Should fight to which they willingly did yeeld And in that wing a thousand knights there were Which purposely he chose out of them all And did command them valiantly to beare The forefront of the battaile and to fall Couragiously vpon their Grecian foe Which said out at the gate he bad them goâ— Who with their banners spred that shined bright Their armors and their sheilds that glistered Against the Sun did make a goodly sight When they vpon the enemie were led But least that they should be opprest by might And overlayd by multitudes in fight To second them he did appoint a band Of valiant Knights that iust a thousand were Commanding it in readines to stand To succour them and Grecians force to beare If need requir'd The charge whereof he gaue Vnto the King of Thrace stout and braue And with him ioynd his Son Arâ—â—â—agâ—â— A Prince endowed with good qualities For he was wise and very vertuoues Strong and most hardy gainst his enemies Those two the second wing together â—â—d And valiant 〈◊〉 followed The battaile that next after issued Out of the towne against the enemie By Hector was commanded to beled By two braue Kings of worthie memorie The one the Phrigian King cald Zantippus The other ioynd with him cald Alcanus In it three thousand knights well arm'd there were All resolutelie bent to trie their might Against the Greekes and everie one did beare A severall armes which was no small delight To those that stood to see them passe arraid So gallantly with banners broad displaid Then Hector cald his brother Troyelus A Knight of great desert and worthy fame And one that was so stout and valorous That every man extold him for the same To whome he gaue the charge and goverment Of those that he within the third wing sent That day against the Greekes wherein there was Three thousand braue gallant Knights that were All yong and of couragious hearts such as At other times him company did beare Who as he passed forward Hector staid And lovingly spake vnto him and said Brother quoth he my care of thee is such Moou'd therevnto by perfect amitie That though I know thy valor to be much And therein take a great felicitie For every man for it doth thee commend And shall do till this mortall world doth end Yet when I thinke vpon thy valiantnes And cald to mind thy yong and tender yeares Which commonly are given to wilfulnes I fall into a thousand kind of feares Least that thy courage fierce and violent Should make thee of thy life so negligent By over great presumption of thy might And pride of heart that it would thee perswade With ease to shun what ere on thee should light And out of all extreamities to wade Regarding neither hurt nor safety If once thy youthfull bloud should moued be Reposing trust in fortune mutable Which turns her wheele now vp then downe again And evermore is crosse and variable In warre when men thinâ—â— honour to obtaine Which causeth me full oftentimes to wake When I should sleepe and care for thee to take Fearing thy great and hastie wilfulnesse But deare and louing brother I thee pray What ere befals thee in thy hardinesse To haue regard vnto thy selfe this day And following of thy enemies take care Thou entrest not into their troopes so farre That thou canst not relieue thy selfe againe Let reason rule thy hote and furious mind And bridle thy affection with her raine Least thou an vnexpected danger find And giue our enmies cause to laugh and geere At thy so great misfortune brother deare And so beseeching Mars the God of warre This day and evermore thee to defend From all mishap and of thee to haue care Against thy Grecian foes I doe thee send To trie thy force wishing with heart to thee As to my selfe triumphant victorie To whome this valiant fierce and hardy Knight Young Troyclus whome no adversitie Could ever daunt with heart most fierce light Made answere with most great humilitie And yet with countnance glad ioyfull cheare Saying my Lord and my good brother deare I ft please the Gods I will to you obay And what advise so ere of gentlenesse To me you giue and shall command or say I will the same fulfill with readinesse For t is not my desire nor my intent T' infringe one point of your commandement But willingly with heart t' effect the same As farre as in my power it lyeth to doe So loath I am for to incurre the blame Of any disobedience shewed to you And truth to say my heart it sore would grieue And therewithall of Hector tooke his leaue And forth he road so like a valiant Knight Amongst his men and entred in the field With so great grace that t' was a goodly sight To looke on him who on an axure shield Three Lyons passant on 't did brauely beare And gainst the Greeks road forward without feare Young Troylus gone Prince Hector did ordaine The fourth ward and
seeming very glad That his so great good fortune was t' aduance His honour and his house and that he had By Knightly force so much extold his name And home retourne with victory and fame From Calchos Isle Yet gladder had he beene Although in outward show he did explaine The contrary that he had neuer seene His safe returne to Thessalie againe A nd yet to play a right dissemblers part He welcomd him although against his heart Admiring how he could so soone obtaine By that aduenture strange and perillous The fleece of Gold and â—ome roturne againe In so short time and so victorious But couertly his treacherie to hide Without delay all scuses set aside To Iason he resigned presently His Kingdome which to him belong'd of right With Scepter Crowne and â—â—gaâ—â— dignity And all his Soueraignty and might His promise to obserue which when he went He made to him though otherwise he ment Supposing that he nere should come againe But he that for another digs a pâ—â— May faile in his imagination vaine And be the first himselfe that falls in it As Peleus did which sought his nephews end With deadly hate yet seemd his louing frend Which Iason did accept without delay And thanking him with louing face and cheare Besought him to giue eare what he would say And his request indifferently to heare Concerning Tooyans wrongs done as he went To him and his when he no huâ—t them ment And said my Lord when as we sailed by The coast of Troye a tempest in the aire Began to rise with such extreamity That we of life were wholy in despaire And in that care necessity and griefe We forced were to land there for reliefe Not minding any iniury or wrong Vnto the King in any wise to doe But t' ease our selues and then to passe along To Colchos Isle where first we ment to goe But Laomedon not therewith content A messenger in hast vnto vs sent Pretending of meere malice vs to grieue And churlishly bad vs depart from thence Or else he said by force he would vs driue Off from his coast as taking great offence That we would seeme to enter in his land So sodainly with sueh a warlike band When we nought els but peace friendship ment As glad to be relieu'd in our distresse Not hauing any kind of bad intent That should him moue to seeke vs to oppresse Now then my Lord sith he did so abuse Both me and mine and seem'd vs to refuse A place of rest from danger vs to saue Against the lawes of common courtesie I humbly you beseech that we may haue Your aid of men and mony both to trie By force of armes if that we can requite The Troyan King for his so great despight For truth to say my mind and will is bent To saile to Troye with all the speed I may And to destroy the Land is mineintent And cruelly Laomedon to slay According to the vow that I did make When I was forst the Troyan soile forsake Is that it please your Grace to giue consent To my request and lend your helping hand And doubt not ere that many months are spent But maugre Troye and Troyans all wee 'll land With all our power of Graecian chiualrie And soone requite the Troyans crueltie When Peleus did Prince Iasons mind perceaue Without delay he said it should be so Aâ—luring him he did so well conceaue Of his intent that he himselfe would go With him and all his company to Troye By force of armes that Country to destroye Whereto his whole Nobility agreed And none of them vnto the King said nay But promised their aid with present speed Preparing for the same without delay Of which their Iourney chiefe Solicitor Was Hercules the worthie Conqueror Who in all hast his forces to prepare In readines to Sparta straightway went Which is an Isle from Thessalie not farre And subiect to the Graecian gouernment Wherein as then two Princes great did raigne King Castor and King Pollux brethren twaine Whome Poets in their Histories do set Brethren to be â—â— Helena the faire Whome Iupiter on Ledâ— did beget Whose beauty was esteem'd to be so â—are Which Helena they write conceaued was In Tynâ—â—â—â—â— an Isle which as men passe Along the seâ—s â—â—â—s by Sicâ—â—â—â— Land And that her name Tynâ—â—â—â—â— of that Isle Was also cald◠〈◊〉 longer I le not stand Their pedigree to tell but speake a while Of Hercules to show how he did craue The aid of those two Kings as then to haue To goe with him vnto the Towne of Troye With all the power they had whereby he ment The same by force and valor to destroye To whose request they straight did giue consent And promised in readines to lie Till he to them the time should certifie When he would put to Sea Wherewith content He thanked them and did no longer stay But straight his course vnto Messena bent And there arriu'd about the breake of day And to the King cald Telamon did goe The cause of his repaire to him to shoe Whose comming when he knew he was full glad To see him and in braue and Princely wise Receaued him To whome when as he had Such honour done as he could well deuiseâ— He promised to aid him with all speed With mony and with men what he should need And personally himselfe with him to goe Which Hercules accepting in good part Did take his leaue his Princely mind to shoe And yeelded thanks to him with all his heart And entring Ship returnd to Thessalie To tell King Peleus and to cerâ—â—â—â— How he had sped Beseeching him to write To all the Lords and Barrons in his Land And them command with all the hast they might In readines to make a warlike band And to prouide a counsell wiâ—e and graue Which he that goes to warre he said must haue For that the wit of him that 's growne in age Is more then strength without experience But when as force is ioynd with counsell sage It is a bulwarke strong for our defence And he that long a trauailer hath beene And by experience many things hath seene Is meet in peace and war to rule and guide For vnto age experience greatâ— and â—â—â— Belongs of right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 That strength and courage youth should best 〈◊〉 And when both youth and age with one consent To worke and ioyne together are content In any cause of equity and right Men need not feare with glistering sword shield By helpe of God the giuer of all might Against their foes to 〈◊〉 in the field For neither fame of Knight-hood not the glory Not yet the conquest nor the victory Of warre are got or woone by multitude But as experience saith of right belong To counsell wisedome and to fortitude Therefore said he let vs revenge our wrong With courage bold sith that our cause is good And for our honours spend our dearest blood And that we may our valours brauelie
should of nature for my sorrowes grieue And with all speedy meanes for to relieue My troubled mind and great aduersitie Sith that you see it doth torment me so And that the cause concernes both you and me Whom nature bind to feele one selfe same woe And as he spake and thus to them did mourne His face vnto Prince Hector he did turne And said Hector my Son my chiefe and only ioy My trust my sole delight my eldest child And here sucessiuelie to raigne in Troy Of whom my hopes as yet were nere beguild Thou that art nam'd the root the spring the well Of Chivalrie and dost therein excell Thy Brethren all whereby thou dost obtaine The soveraigntie of high renowne and fame Esteeme not I thee pray my words in vaine But yeeld and giue consent vnto the same And do the thing for which I long so sore For in thee is my trust and in no more This thing t' effect and wholly bring about And for that cause I make thee Generall Of all my force and herein make no doubt But that thou wilt go forward therewithall And yeeld t' accept of this my iust request For in thy valor onely do I rest And vnto thee it chieflie doth belong As being wise and full of gouerment Flowring in youth actiue and passing strong And hast thy mind to honour onelie bent Though yong in yeares yet of discretion Belou'd of all and of most high renowne And all thy younger Brethren shall obay To thee and at thy will be alwaies presâ— With thee to liue and dye and therefore say If that thou wilt consent to my request And let me heare thine answere herevnto That with all speed we may prepare thereto When Priam thus had shewed them his pretence Hector the patterne of Nobilitie Bowing his knee with humble reuerence Vnto the King as full of curtesie His answere gaue with sober countenance Th' effect whereof was this in full substance My most renowned Lord and Father deare Sith that it is your pleasure and your will That I should speake and you are pleas'd to heare Attentiuely I shall your mind fulfill And such good counsell as my wit affords I le giue to you in few and pithy words True'tis my Lord that natures lawes doe bind And still prouoke mans heart for to aspire And all Gods creatures else of seuerall kind With earnest and most resolute desire To seeke reuenge for wrongs by them sustaind And specially such men as haue attaind Vnto the honour of Nobility For vnto them t' were great reproach and shame And wholly gainst their state and dignity To suffer wrongs done to their name and fame For euery trespasse must considered be And wayd according to the qualitie Of him gainst whome the jniurie is wrought What way or meanes soeuer that it be As also of the person that it sought For t is more griefe to men of high degree To suffer hurt or harme by aduenture Or any wrong vniustly to endure Then vnto men of meaner quality And jniury maliciously contriu'd Is more offence to Princelie Majesty And men from high Nobility deriu'd Then vnto such as by their wealth aspire To worship though the world doth theÌ„ admire This well considered of much bound are we To seeke by force our honour to increase Sith we descend of Royall pedigree And let vs not from iust reuenge surcease For beasts that are by nature voyd of sence Desire the same and seeke their owne defence And for my part I know assuredly That none of all your Sons was ere more prest Vpon the Greekes to be reueng'd then I And herevpon my faith I doe protest That with despight gainst them I burne like fire And thirst their bloud with all my whole desire For as I am your eldest by degree So am I mooued most with angry mood And long by valour and by chiualry With sword in hand to shed the Grecians bloud Which they perchaÌ„ce shall feele ere that they ween When time doth serue as shortly shall be seene But first I must aduise you t' haue a care Ere you begin t' effect this your intent And thinke and way how great the dangers are Which vnto bloudy war are jncident And long not the beginning for to see But studie on the end what it may bee Which if you do you can by no meanes faile For counsell giuen in my opinion Is little worth and nothing may availe Nor yet deserueth commendation Which doth not tend t' advise men seriously To thinke vpon future adversity For though that men at pleasure bring about The first beginning of their tragedies Yet oftentimes it commonly fals out That they doe end with great extreamities And what availes beginning fortunate That after causeth strife and great debate I say therefore great wisedome t is to doubt At th'entring into any enterprise What issue may thereof in th' end fall out Which who so doth I hold him to be wise For that beginning is most fortunate Where midst and end continue in like estate But when they do not happilie proceed T' were better wholly from it to abstaine Then t'hazard mans estate when there 's no need For who so doth assured is to gaine Nought else but mischiefe and adversity And end his daies in great extreamity Let not your Majesty I yow beseech In any wise with me displeased be Nor yet to take exception at my speech For there 's no sparke of any thought in me To giue a cause vnto you of offence For that I speake is onely with pretence To counsell you to see that wilfully You enterprise not that which in the end By misadvice may chance vnhappily And be the cause in fine your selfe t' offend Nor of your foes too small account to make For so men oftentimes themselues mistake But thinke how they hold in subiection All Affrica and Europe wide and long With many another warlike Nation And that they are most valiant Knights and strong Esteem'd of all the world for worthinesse Abounding in great wealth and happinesse So that with your support I dare bebold T'aâ—â—irme that danger tis them to displease And if our quiet state disturbe we should It 's to be feard we must our selues disease And say that Asia should vs aid to fight It is not like vnto the Grecians might And though our Aunt the Princesse Exion Against all right be held by Telamon It is not fit for her redemption To bring vs all vnto destruction My counsel 's not to buy her halfe so deare For that perhaps all we that now sit here And many more might also for her right In doubtfull warres loose both their lire lim And after long and many a bloudy â—ight Perehance shall nere get her away from him Which were no wisedome as it seemes to me And it may hap ere long time passe that she Her fatall course and daies on earth will end And then what shall we reap for her to striue And with our Grecian
to bend and then did speake And said to him Achilles now I feele And well perceiue the envie that to mee Thou bearst in heart but I do counsell thee That thou vnto thy selfe dost not procure Thy death for if as I desire I may Meet with thee â—n the field I thee aâ—sure No ransome aid nor succor shall â—e stay With this my sword to take revenge on thâ—â— For with thy life thou shalt not scape from â—â— Be well advis'd therefore I tell thee plaine For by my hand thou shalt most surely die For I intend to pay thee for thy paine Whereto Achilles â—hinking to replie As he began to answere him againe Prince Troyâ—â—â—â— stepâ— in betweene them â—â—â—â—ne And parted them and with the company Of worthy knights which he as then did guide Behau'd himselfe so braue and valiantly That where he fought the Greeks on everieside Were beaten downe and kild for that same day He did six hundred knights most fiercely slay And made the Greeks for feare the end of 〈◊〉 Vnto their tents till Menelaus came in With seven thousand Greeks in company T' assaile the Troyans fiercely did begin And made the Greeks march forward once againe And to recoâ—er ground vpon the plaine But as he busied was to set vpon The Troyan knights â—â— beaâ— them downe by â—â—â—â—â— He was encountred by King Odeâ—â—â— Who valiantly did cast him off â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â— And wounded him so deepelie in the face That he had thought t' haue died in that place And had been prisoner tane and led away By aid and helpe of Troyâ—lus to the towne But that in his extreamitie and need So many thousand Grecian knights came dowâ—â— To aid and rescue him that Odeâ—â—â— Was forst to let King Menelaus alone And at that time as it by chance fell out King Diomede with Troyelus did 〈◊〉 And â—re that he could turne himselfe about With speare in hand so fiercely on him set That Troyelus by maine and mighty force At vnawares he cast downe from his horse And gaue it to his Squire for to beare To Cresida and praid her for his sake That Present to accept though small it were And with good will and in good part y â—o take That simple gift from her most louing knight That valiantly had woone it in the â—â—â—â—â— And taken it from him whome sometimes â—he Had loued well and like't and in her heart Esteemd and 〈◊〉 only knight to be The Squire as he had did straight depart â—â—â— when he came therewith to Cresids tent He did â—â— in his Maisters name present And as he had in charge in humble rise Deliuered â—â— to â—â—â— and earnestly Besought her that â—he would it not despise But take it in good part and câ—â—â—eously Vouchsafeto thinke on Diomede her knight That in her â—â—d his sole and whole delight Whereto with countnance glad ioyfull cheare She answere made and bad â—im go with speed Vnto his Lord and say â—o him from her That for his part to feare he should not need That she would proue vncurteous or vnkind To him in whom â—he did such kindnes find And would noâ— his good will and loue reiect That vnto her â—â—â—ranger in that place So much himselfe did humble and subiect As to desire â—eâ—â—â— oâ— loue and grace That never had â—â— him 〈◊〉 so well And therefore had him to his maister tell That while she liu'd it was her solâ— intent His loue to her â—â—â—â—in her heâ—â—t to set The Squire with this answere gladly went Vnto his Lord â—â—d when with hâ—â— he met Vnto him told what she to him had said For which he was so well at heart appaid That from thenceforth he did esteeme it nought What griâ—â—â— so eâ—â—â— after to him fell Meane time the Troyans then so brauely fought And â—gainst the Grâ—â—ks behau'd themselues so well That they of force constrained wâ—re to fly Vnto their tents and there so cruelly Were slaine and â—â—â—â—â—n downâ— that certainly They had been 〈◊〉 cleane driuen out the field At that same time and spoyled vtterly If 〈◊〉 when he them behâ—ld Had not come downe with many a gallant man At which time such a furious fight began That many men were beaten downe and feld But specially vpon the Troyans side For then the Greeks them â—oo'â— so hardly held That they could not their fury great abide And by that meâ—â—â— the Greciaâ— ground theÌ„ wonne And Troyans to recoyle as fast begunne And lost their ground â—â—â—â—â—hat 〈◊〉 Wâ—o with a troope of gallant knights strong The Greeks on th' other 〈◊〉 was In furious â—â—se did 〈◊〉 into the â—â—â—â—ng And such a slaughâ—â—â— of the Greeks theâ— maâ—â— That in short timeâ—â—â— them compelled had To make retract and way to flie at last Downe towards thesâ—â— vnto the strond where â—e Along the way did â—â—â—â— them downe so fast And put them to so great extreamity That they were in no lâ—â—tle feare and dread Vntill such time as fierce King Diomede Beheld and saw how that Pollidamâ—s So cruelly the Grecians did pursue That if the fight continued as it was He doubted some great danger would ensue Vnto the Greeks a speare in hand did take And spurd his horse and after him did make And he likewise to shew himselfe a knight Of valor great his speare set in his rest And valiantly with all his force and might Smote Diomede therewith into the brest Cleane through his armes a deepe deadly wound Wherwith he fell down headlong on the ground Which having done despight of all the force That then the Grecians vs'd t'ayd Diomede He brauely tooke and seaz'd vpon his horse And by the bridle in his hand it lâ—d And gaue it vnto Troyelus that stood On foot as then all bath'd in Grecians blood Whereas he fought with them so valiantly That they could not his mighty blowes sustaine For with his trenchant blade most cruelly He kild and beat them downe vpon the plaine Who did his foot straight in the stirrop set And with a trice vpon his backe did get And then againe himselfe he did advance And furiously vpon the Grecians â—et Till at the last with swords in hand by chance He and Achilles both together met And each the other valiantly assaild But Troyelus against him so prevaild That he did wound Achilles and by force Despight of his great valor and his might Most puissantly did smight him off his horse But nere the lesse Achilles like a knight That nothing feard rose vp vpon his feet And vs'd all meanes he could his horse to get But ere that he could do 't a new supply Of Troyan Knights enclos'd him round about And on him set with such dexterity That he by no meanes from them could get out And Hector at that time in furious rage His choller on Achilles to asswage A thousand Grecian knights did fiercelie â—â—ay And many more by his victorious hand Were beaten downe that then stood in his way And him to
Within the Isle and presently he road Vnto their Court which was not very far And there he found thē both to whom with speed He shewd the cause that made him to repaire To them as then and so gan to proceed With words most graue and courage bold stout To tell his mind without all feare or doubt And said my Lords whose power here extends For to command may 't please your Graces both To know that Priam King of Troye me sends To you in Princely wise as being loth To giue offence your ayd and helpe to haue T' obtaine a suite that he would gladly craue Of Telamon who gainst all equity Doth hold his Sister Princesse Exion As Concubine with great indignity Whose liberty and restitution To him againe is onely his desire Which to effect he humbly doth require You would vouchsafe your ayd therein t' afford Not doubting but as y' are discreet and wise That by your mediation and good word King Telamon will follow your aduise And Exion shall to him restored be Out of her long and hard captiuity Which his request he praies you not deny As you are Kings for valour high renownd Discreet and wise and of great maiesty And he shall thinke himselfe to you much bound And all his former wrong he will suspend For that to liue in peace he doth intend As he that is right prudent and discreet Forecasting what may after come to passe And seeth what perills and what dangers great Doe follow warre which neuer is nor was Without confusion misery and woe As Histories vnto vs plainly shoe Which to eschew he thinketh it the best And wisest way for euery man t' auoid The hatefull path of strife and it detest For by it many a Country is destroid Which by this meanes he is in hope to shun And that hath made him doe as he hath done In peace to craue your aid that Exion May be with speed sent home to him againe And thogh you may suppose that cause ther 's none Why he should you request to take this paine In his behalfe let this be his excuse That Princes ought to punish all abuse And by all meanes should seeke the same to stay He in like case desires your Princely aid And hopes you will it not to him denay And he will thinke himselfe full well apaid This is the summe of his petition Which he referres to your discretion When both the Kings Castor and Polux had Attentiuely heard what Anthenor spake King Castor sodainlie like one halfe mad Into such choller and impatience brake That by no meanes he could his furie stay But in most wrathfull wise to him did say I know not friend why thou of vs shouldst craue To haue amends for trespasse by vs done Vnto the King to whome we neuer gaue Cause of offence But when Laomedon First offring wrong to vs we did inuade And of his Towne a noble conquest made Wherein we did but right and equitie For had not he first offered offence To vs and ours with great indignitie We nere had sought for any recompence Nor he nor his been brought vnto their ends For which if that thy Master aske amends At our hands tell him 't is all too late For we with him desire no vnitie Peace nor accord but rather mortall hate Dissention strife and vtter enmitie Which he may chance hereafter for to feele If that he dare presume with vs to deale For we so little do his friendship prise That what he saith or doth I doe not care Therefore if that he 'le follow our aduise Let him prepare to enter into warre And it may chance to breed his owne decay And so from vs thou maist vnto him say And for thy selfe it seemeth vnto me Thy Lord and Master Priam loues thee not That sent thee messenger to vs to be And thou thy selfe hast foolishly oreshot To take on thee so perillous a thing As to the Grecians tydings such to bring Whereby thy life thou hast indangered But be thou rul'd by me if thou be wise Vnlesse thou art cleane voyd of feare and dread And get thou out my sight I thee aduise For if thou stayst mine anger is so bent That thou mayst chance thy follie to repent Anthenor to auoid the Court was glad And presentlie with speed from thence did goe And entring ship such hast from thence he made That though the wind contrarie then did blow He put to sea and failed prosperouslie To Pilon where Duke Nestor then did lie And there did hold a sumptuous Princelie Court Of whome he craued leaue submissiuelie To shew the cause that made him then resort To him and there withall to signifie King Priams mind as he had gin him charge From point to point as fullie and as large As he had done to other men before And all to one effect so that in vaine It were for me to show it any more Or to recite it word for word againe For his conclusion ended still in one As you haue heard concerning Exion Whereat Duke Nestor did so fret and fume And in so great a choller then did grow That all the bloud did presentlie consume Out of his face and he as pale did show As ashes and so grieued was in heart And therewithall did feele such inwardsmart Through wrath and ire that so possest each vaine And ioynt he had that he did seeme to shake Like Aspen leafe and hardlie could refraine Vpon Anthenor straight reuenge to take Like Lyon fell that hunteth after pray Whose furious course no man as then can stay So much his mind from him was alienate That t'yeeld himselfe by no meanes then he might And at his heart he was so passionate Which boyled with such ranchor and dispight That all that him beheld would iudge him mad So strange a looke and gesture then he had At last in midst of this perplexitie Into a sodaine choler out he brake And with a voice distraind from crueltie Vnto Anthenor furiously he spake With countenance so gastlie to behold That sure to make a man to feare it would Saying thou friend that canst so smoothly glose I think thou knowst not well whom thou hast told Thy needlesse tale nor yet dost thou suppose Who that I am that darest be so bold Thus to presume mine eares so to offend Pretending that King Priam did thee send Vnto the Greekes to aske them in his name Redresse for wrongs that nere by vs was done And turnst on vs the merit and the blame For iniuries wrought by Laomedon To vs and ours and in presumptuous wise Accusest vs with most notorious lies Which thy abuse most odious in mine eare So much doth fret and anger me at heart That by no meanes I can endure 't to heare And but I know a messenger thou art And that I do mine honour more respect Then thee I would in cruell wise correct And chastise thy so great temerity For by the rigour of our ancient law
Nor iudge thereof vnlesse they naked there Before me stood that at my libertie I might behold if everie member were As faire in all respect and each degree As outwardlie their faces faire did show And then my doome they presentlie should know When they had heard me speak they gaue consent And did agree my mind therein t' obay And straight to strip themselues were all content The which to do they made no long delay For they had all decreed before they came That in no point they would denie the same When naked all before me there they stood And that I did behold them at the full And vewed everie part it did me good To see their bodies faire and beautifull But when mine eies on Venus bright I cast For her without delay my iudgement past And vnto her the Apple gaue with speed As fairest of them all excepting none And as at first it was by them decreed I should not partiall be to any one So did I iudge her beautie great to be Much more then th' others two in each degree For as me thought her eies most faire and bright That cast forth streames so cleare and delectable Were like the starre that shines to vs by night Cald Hesperus and so most amiable Faire Venus shewd her selfe ye t' was true I could not choose but giue to her her due Whereat this Goddesse faire did much reioyce And in her heart therewith did seeme to glorie That of her beautie rare I made the choice T' excell the rest and that the victorie By iudgement vnto her as then did fall To be the fair'st and beautiful'st of all And as the winged God to me did say What should be my reward of Venus part She said she would performe without delay And from his vowe and promise neuer start And saying so the Goddesses all three Did vanish and depart away from me And Mercurie with wings began to flie And soaring vp with speed his waie did take Directlie to the cleare and cristall skie And sodainlie therewith I did awake Out of my deadlie sleepe and vp I start And mounting horse from thence did straight depart Now my good Lord whom I both loue dread I ft please your Grace your selfe herein t' advise And vnto that which I haue said take heed You will it not esteeme nor yet surmise To be in vaine by Venus to me said And therefore I wish you not to be afraid But boldlie let me goe to Greece in hast With some great power of men about the thing Which I haue said and ere long time be past I doubt not but the same to passe to bring And as by Venus I am promised Of some faire Ladie certainlie to speed That by exchange of her you may obtaine An easie and a most assured way To get your Sister Exion home againe This is said he all that I haue to say For my advise and counsell to your Grace And so sate downe againe into his place But Priam what should cause thee to forget Thy selfe so much that thou shouldst be so vaine Thy hope and trust vpon a dreame to set I cannot choose but needs must tell thee plaine That shallow was thy wit and thy discretion To trust vnto a false illusion As that thou all care hadst set aside To follow after dreaming fantasie T' is sure that reason then was not thy guide That thou vpon meere follies wouldst relie As Paris did that Pallas did neglect And sacred wisedome wilfullie reiect And some also carelesly reâ—us'd With riches and with all her offers great And she that hath all men so much abus'd And at whose hands their 's nothing els to get But pleasure and the fond delights of loue Which onely doe a man to folly moue Faire J'enus cal'd the blacksmith Vulcans wife Whose seruice though it doth nought els procure Vnto a man but bloody warre and strife By him preferred was but t is most sure That Paris in his judgement was vniust And that his mind was wholy set on lust Whereby the great and famous Troian Towne When it had long been vext with bloudy warre Was in the end brought to confusion By Paris meanes that had so little care When it was offred him his choise to make Of wisedome gold and valor and to take A Woman that was cause of all the woe Which vnto Priam afterward befell Aâ— in this Booke hereafter I will shoe And now on dreames I will no longer dwell But to my matter seriously proceed And shew you what by Priam was decreed Vpon the dreame by Paris then declard But first of all in briefe I 'le let you know What Diophebus sayd who having heard His brothers speech stood vp his mind to show And grauely with a countenance benign Obedience made and spake vnto the King And sayd my Lord if every man should doubt And in his mind forecast and deepely way Concerning future things what might fall out It would be cause to make men often stay All actions whatsoere and neuer bend Their wits nor wils to bring them to an end Nor would they seeke their valours forth to show For he that doubts dares nothing vndertake For if a man before that he doth throw His Corne into the grouÌ„d should recknoning make How many grains thereof consum'd would be By Birds or by some other Casualtie I'would make him feare his ground to sow againe Let vs lay all such foolish doubts aside For I esteeme and hold them meerely vaine And counseil now no longer to abide Nor slacke the time but with a Navy strong Send Paris into Greece for to revenge our wrong This I dare affirme and boldly say That he hath counselled you and vs full well Which no man to speake truth can well denay So that I thinke and must you plainely tell Great error t' were his purpose to contrary And therefore let him now no longertarry But thither with a warlike Navy goe That we may quit them for the villany Which they vnto vs and ours did show In former times with extreame cruelty And for the better execution And getting of our Aunt faire Exion Whom they doe hold from vs by force and might And long haue done to our no little shame And that against all equitie and right Which wounds my heart to thinke vpon the same For remedy whereof I must needs say There is no better meanes nor readier way Then to send forth a strong and warlike band With him to Greece that forcibly he may Some Lady take within the Grecians land And mauger all their might her thence conuay And bring her vnto Troy with present speed By which so braue exploit and warlike deed You may haue meanes to satisfie your mind By changing her for Princes Exion This is the readiest way that I can find For to procure her restitution Which my good Lord I hope you do intend Quoth he my counsell I will end Which sayd his brother Helenus did rise Out of his seate
and with due reverence Vnto the King as beeing learnd and wise Desired him he might haue audience To speake and to declare vnto them all What future danger might on them befall And so with sober countenance and sad He spake and sayd my Lord may 't please your grace To giue command that silence now be made And that I may haue licence for a space Without deceit or guile to shew my mind What I by secret Art and science find Hereafter will fall out wherein as yet I never fail'd as well your grace doth know And sure I am you doe it not forget For whatsoere I tooke on me to show Did come to passe as I did tell it you And you likewise did find it to be true And by Gods leaue I will not spare as now To tell the truth without all flattery For I haue tane an oath and made a vow That from my mouth there shall proceed no lye I say therefore with true intention And as t' will follow in conclusion If you to Greece my brother Paris send I know it well by Revelation Though he effect the thing you doe pretend In fine t will be our owne confusion For so I find by true Astronomy And never yet in any Prophesie Was I deceau d in future accident Nor any that did put his trust in me Then sith all things must haue their true event I counsell you by me forewarn'd to be And by no meanes for malice nor for pride Seeke not reuenge what ever may betide Against the Greeks for if that you proceed T' effect the thing which you as now intend And as within your mind you haue decreed Which is that you to Greece will Paris send Know for a truth and full conclusion T will be the cause of our destruction For by that meanes will certainely befall The ouerthrow of our most ancient Towne Wherefore the howses Pallaces and wall Shall be destroyd and cruelly throwne downe Few words me thinks heerein should now suffice To men that are esteemd to be so wise Wherefore if you respect your owne estate Or doe regard my words I doe not doubt But that you will before it be too late Bethinke your selfe ere worse to vs fall out For better t is for to refraine in time From your pretence which yet is in the prime They hastily t' agree and giue consent Vnto a thing that can vs nought availe And in the end will make vs all repent For this is true and by no meanes can faile T will be the death without exception Of all of vs that are within this Towne First you my Lord th' effect thereof shall trie And by the Grecians fury end your life Your noble Queene that by your side doth lie And long hath been your true and faithfull wife Shall end her daies by extreame cruelty In sorrow woe and great extreamity Your subiects all most woefully shall passe By dint of sword and none from it be freed For silly Infants then shall find no grace If that in your intent you doe proceed And willfully a warre begin to make Against the Greeks and fondly vndertake To trouble your most peaceable estate And so procure the ruine of vs all I say no more but ere it be to late And fore this mischiefe doth on vs befall My counsell is against it to prouide And set all foolish willfulnesse aside Especially when death as I Iaue told Will be the end and finall destenie If that this dangerous purpose you do hold Which all too soone both you and we shall trie Whereof be sure for it will fall out so If Paris in this Greecian voyage go And therewith hauing giuen his aduise With heauy cheare and pale and deadly face As by his countenance sad they might surmise He sate him downe againe within his place At which his words astonied they were And all their hearts were stricken into a feare So that to speake not any one was bold But every man as mute his lips held close Till Troylus did them so sad behold With courage stout out of his place arose Who like a valiant and couragious Knight Desiring nought but gainst his foes to fight And manfully with them his force to trie Then with a mind exceeding light and glad He did behold his Fathers heart to die With feare and all his brethren there so sad And all the rest to looke with heauie cheare T' incourage them he spake as you shall heare And sayd My Lords most valorous and strong Whose wisedomes and discretions well I know Why should you offer to your selues this wrong That sodainely such signes of feare you show Are you perplext within your valiant breasts And feared at the words of coward Priests For all of them as you full well shall find By nature are addicted vnto rest Desirous from their hearts by very kind To liue at ease and travell doe detest Abhorring warre and onely doe apply Their minds to lust and filthy gluttony And care for nought but how they may devise To fill their guts and please their appetite In eating drinking and in avarice They haue their onely joy and sole delight And all their study is on lust and ease For nothing els their greedy minds will please Now fie for shame why are you so dismayd And set abashed thus with inward griefe To heare the words that Helenus hath sayd Whom I dare swere doth shake as t' were a leafe And tremble but to heare vs speake of fight And which is more against all law and right In preiudice of th'immortallitie Doth take on him the truth to certefie Of future things decreed in heauens hie As if he had a spirit of Prophesie Given vnto him alone in speciall And that he were in science coequall With all the Gods and in him had the skill By wisedome and prescience to declare When vnto men shall happen good or ill But I suppose that none so simple are Vâ—â—eâ—â—e they want their sences to beleeue That any man that on the earth doth liue Hath knowledge to deuine of things to come Nor yet can show the fatall destinie Of any one although that there be some Which take on them to do 't but sure they lie For that such things conceald in secresie Reserved are to Gods owne privitie Men may divine but nought it will availe To credit them for as it doth appeare None of them all but doth in judgement fayle Wherefore my counsell is good Father deare And brethren all this feare aside to lay Out of your hearts and let not that dismay Your courages which Helenus hath told Let him within the sacred Temple lie If that in heart he feares as no man would To helpe vs to revenge our jniurie And spend his time in contemplation And fast and pray with great devotion In those most holy places dayes and nites And study vpon his spels and charmes And let such as are lusty valiant Knights Imploy their greene and youthfull time in armes
That they may know the better how to weild A sword and lawnce when as they come in field Against their foes for to revenge their wrong And giue command to Paris straight to goe As you pretend well furnished and strong With all your ships his puissant force to show Vpon the Greeks our jniuries to requite Which to our shames are vnrevenged yet And with that word he did sit downe againe And sayd no more when all that present were Did much commend his wit and warlike vaine And sayd that he deserued praise to beare For valor high renowne and chivalrie And with applause extold him to the skie Wherewith the King gaue thanks vnto them all Dismissing them as then and presently To dinner went in his most sumptuous hall Withall his sonnes and his Nobilitie And hauing din'd as soone as he did rise From Table cald his sonnes in secret wise Prince Paris and Deiphobus his brother And bad them straight into Panomia hie And take with them great store of Knights other To ayd them and to beare them company And therewith speed a Navy to prepare To put to Sea vpon the Greeks to warre And next day after Priam hastily Appointed all his counsellors to meet In Ilyon and they accordingly With speed did come and when they were all set The King commanding silence to be made In pithie words spake vnto them and sayd My noble Lords and Counsellors most graue The cause that I for you as now haue sent Is your advise and counsell wise to haue About our Grecian warres which my intent I did jmpart to you not long agoe And now againe the same doe meane to show It 's not vnknowne vnto you all full well How that the Greeks gainst vs so enviously In most dispightfull wise like Tygars â—ell Did execute their cruell tyranny The which is yet so fresh within my thought That I cannot forget it if I mought Which day by day increasing more and more Within my breast it doth so much torment My grieued heart and vexeth me so sore That in my mind I cannot becontent Especially when as I thinke vpon My deare and loving Sister Exâ—â—â— Who by them still is held in servitude Which many times constraineth me to weepe And doth all joy ouâ— of my heart exclude And makes me fetch most extreame sighes deepe Whose cruelty we haue too deerely bought And yet of late in friendly wise I sought To them to graunt me one thing and no more In recompence of all the wrongs I had Which was my Sister Exion to restore To me againe but they an answere made Contrary to my expectation In scornesull wise and great presumption Refusing that so small and iust request And with proud threats and brags did me defie And sayd that in their hearts they did detest In any thing my mind to satisfie But as we learne by rules of Surgerie We must with Irons sharpe seeke remedie To cut away dead flesh which oft doth lie Within a wound and will by no meanes heale Though nere so many oyntments we applie Even so we must be forst with them to deale For sith peace can procure no remedie It 's our best way to vse extremitie Therefore by your advise I do jntend As soone as ere I can without delay A Navy to the Grecian land to send With Paris to find meanes if that he may Despight of all that dare him there withstand Some Lady faire by force take in that land And bring her vnto Troy and so constraine Them spight their hearts t' exchange faire Exion For her before they get her home againe Which by vs cannot faile for to be done If that the Gods to vs be favourable And this my counsell be acceptable To you each one as well as 't pleaseth me For when a thing concernes the whole estate Of Subiects and their Princes dignitie It 's reason they both should thereof debate And that before they doe thereon decree They should with one consent agree For things that meerely touch the comminalty Of right should be approved by them all And therefore by you all advis'd to be What I should do this counsell I did call Now let me heare sayd he what you will say And therewithall his speech as then did stay This sayd a Knight Percheus cal'd by name Stood vp who was as Ovid telleth vs The sonne of that most worthy man of fame In his time cal'd the great Euforbius In whom as Ovid fames transformed was The soule of learn'd and wise Pithagoras And in most humble wise these words he spake My soveraigne Lord may 't please your noble grace To giue me leaue and no displeasure take In this most high and honourable place With faithfull zeale my mind now to declare And giue you my advise I will not spare To tell the truth for favor nor for dread And to my power advise you to beware Of danger that as now begins to breed For doubtles this t' affirme I boldly dare That if you meane to do as you pretend And Paris into Greece of purpose send You will repent the same â—re long time passe For that my Father cal'd Euforbius Whose skill in Art so true and perfect was And therewithall most wise and vertuous Who future things by his prescience knew And could divine what after would ensue And plainely tell by true Philosophy Th' event of future Fortune ere it fell For nothing whatsoere of secresie But he it knew and could the same foretell And all men esteem'd him wise and sage When he was iust an hundred yeares of age I do remember well would sit and weepe And let fall teares vpon his beard so gray And many times with sighes full sore and deepe And mournfull wise would to me speake and say If Paris once be sent to fetch a wife By force in Greece t' will breed such mortall strife Against vs all that this most noble Towne By Grecians force and extreame crueltie Shall be destroi'd and vtterly throwne downe And nothing shall procure our safety But Grecians swords shall all of vs devoure So much sayd he shall fortune on vs lowre Wherefore I you beseech now euery one Without offence at that which I haue sayd Let all revenge for former wrongs alone And your pretended voyage likewise stay And let not malice be the cause to cease The pleasant course of your most happy peace Nor let vs not commit ore hastely Our happines to fickle Fortunes hand Ne yet disturbe with ancient enmitie This state which now so flourishing doth stand For if that to the same you giue consent Ther 's none of you but shall it sore repent And if thereto your minds so much are bent That by no meanes this voyage you will stay Let some man els in Paris place be sent That so perhaps the better speed you may This is sayd he my counsell in this case Which I thought good to giue vnto your grace Which sayd they all began to shoot
them valiantly And put them to most great extreamitie And till we haue destroid them neuer cease Meane time we le send vnto King Priamus A messenger for to entreat with him for peace For two moneths space if he will graunt it vs Whereto I doe not doubt but he 'le agree Sith for his good as well as ours t will bee For he thereby may libertie obtaine To celebeate the funeralles of those Dead Troians that within the field lie slaine And serue for food to beast and carrion Crowes And such a shincke into the aire doe cast That t'cannot chuse but breed the plague at last And we the while may doe the same likewise And heale our wounds and giue our bodies rest And so when they had all agreed by good aduise Considered of his speech and found it best For them to do 't They did thereto consent And presently a messenger was sent To Troy for truce which graunted was full soone By Priamus and he returned againe With speed and made to them relation What he had done while he did there remaine And for that truce their counsell brake vp so And euery one vnto his tent did go And while the truce endur'd and they lay still And leisure had to thinke on their estate Pallamides whose heart began to fill And swell with pride disclaine and deadly hate Grutch in his mind that King Agamemnon Because he had the sole dominion And ore the Grecian house was Generall And for that cause did envy him so much And into such a great conceit did fall Of his owne worth that he began to grutch And murmured with indignation At him and in his furious passion Did seeme to vse such tearmes to his disgrace That all that heard the same might easily know What he did meane and yet he let it pas As thought he made no account thereof in show Till in the end that King Agamemnon Who was a Prince of great discretion Did heare thereof and knowing his intent Determind with him selfe to moue the same Vnto the Grecian Princes in his â—enâ— And when they all together thither came And orderly were set That worthy King Agamemnon a Prince in euery thing So cercumspect so wise and prouident So temperate demure and vertuous So prudent well advisd and patient And neuer giuen to be malicious Although he knew Pallamides intent And saw how much his heart to pride was bent With decent tearmes and great discretion As he that could well frame and tell his mind And so restraine the same from passion And hastines or any other kind Of bad behauiour or vnseemelinesse That nothing past but with advisednesse Out of his mouth as first considered Within his heart with great sincerity And neither for affection nor for dread Would seeme to breake the bonds of modesty Nor in his speeches superfluously let pas One word or sentence that vnseemely was He first saluted all his company And when he had causd silence to be made In seemely wise and in great curtesie He spake vnto Pallamides and sayd You need not King Pallamides said he As I suppose if you advised be To muse oâ— grutch that I am Generall Of our great hoast if you considered How I attaind thereto by choise of all The Princes here and that t' was offered To me by full and free Election And not hy any composition By me or any for me to procure The same in my behalfe once giuen or made For there of in my heart I am most sure No such ambitious thought I euer had Nor neuer dreamt of any such pretence But am most cleare thereof in conscience Which neuer moued was with such vaine glory As to aspire or any waies contest For this estate which is but transitory Though I must say that I haue done my best To see and looke that all things might be well And for the good of this our common wele And also that I had a speciall care As t is my charge while I the same do hold Of every mans estate particular And euer an indifferent eye did hold To all degrees of persons high or low To help them in their need when I did know That they had need of ayd and day and night Was alwaies moued with great carefulnes And speciall heed as much as ere I might To see that none did fall into distresse And such a iealous eye thereto I had That in my heart I was exceeding glad To do the best I could to please each one And that no man should at me take offence Nor haue in me the least suspition Of envy sloath or any negligence In my estate but euer more desir'd To doe my best as time and place requir'd For euery man without exception And therefore I assure my selfe full well That in the hoast there is not any one Of high or low estate that I can tell That can or may accuse me certainely Of falsehood or of partiality In his behalfe for I haue alwaies had So great a care to nourish vnitie And friendship mong you all that I was glad To see you liue in loue and amitie So that till now I am full well assur'd That while I in this office haue endur'd No such occasion hath been ministred And all the Gods well know I neuer feard Nor cared though you had determined An other in my place to haue preferd And giuen him the soueraintie And let me liue at ease and libertie In quietnes of mind as many more Great Lords and Princes here amongst you may That I might with my whole desire and power Fight for our common weale both night and day And ere in this our quarrell if so be It please the Gods it should so hap to me Which for my part I speake and doe not faine For t' were no boot for me herein to lie And where you say and thereof do complaine That I was chosen without your priuitie T is true indeed as euery man can tell You were not here if you remember well Nor came not hither vnto Troy well nere After that we our voyage had begun And planted this our siedge in two whole yeare And for to let so long time ouer-run To stay till you had come it might perchance Haue been to vs a mighty hinderance And extreame hurt for if that we had staid And laine so long at Athens still for you As by your selfe it cannot be denaid It 's like we had remained there till now And where you did esteem't vncredible And held it for a thing impossible For Grecians to presume in any wise Without the ayd and helpe of yours and you To take on them so great an enterprize It 's nothing so as you see plainely now For they without offence to you be 't sayd By force and power without you or your ayd Performed haue with most victorious hand And by their valor great and worthines Great matters both by water and by land And where you thinke and say of me no lesse
Without all doubt or contrariety For in her was his whole felicitie And when the three daies foresaid ended were Achilles vnto Hecuba straight sent His messenger againe of her t' inquire What Priam sayd concerning his intent To whom she told at large what had been don And how that she the King thereto had won And Paris likewise to consent thereto As also that her selfe well willing was With them t' agree and graunt it should be so If he could find the meanes to bring 't to pas That peace betweene them as he said he would Perpetually for euermore should hold The which she sayd he must first bring about And sure and perfect make in each condition And then he should not need to stand in dout Of speeding in his loue with expedition Wherewith Achilles messenger content Out of the towne vnto his maister went To whom he told the answere that was made By Hecuba to him wherewith well pleas'd And seeing that no other way he had But peace whereby he might of griefe be eas'd He purposed to bring the same t' effect And did no time nor any meanes neglect To find a way t' impart the same vnto The Greeks the which while he did goe about Supposing certainely that they would do The same for him and yet thereof did doubt At last into a desperate mind he fell And did perswade himselfe in heart full well That he the power had to worke his will And that without all cause of doubt or feare The Grecians would most redily fulfill His mind and graunt to that he should require And in that sort he did himselfe perswade All should fall out as he devised had According to his will and fantasie As louers vse to doe Who whatsoere They take in hand thinke it must certainely Fall out though nere s'impossible it were So much their minds with folly are possest And so Achilles did set downe his rest And was in hope his mind to satisfie Supposing that for his great worthines His mighty strength and his actiuitie His high renowne and passing valiantnes Whereof with no small pride great boast â—â—e made And in himselfe therefore much glory had The Grecians would be in dispaire and feare For euer winning Troy if he withheld His helping hand and that by him they were Forsaken when they went into the field And would at last and onely for his sake The siedge of Troy and all their warre forsake Vnlesse that he among them still did stay To helpe them till that they had made an end And for that cause he made no more delay But did procure Pallamides to send For all the Lords vnto his tent to know What vnto them he did intend to show And when that they assembled were together Achilles spake and sayd as you shall heare My Lords sith it hath pleas'd you to come hither And that at my request you summond were Let me desire you without offence To tell my mind before this audience I know sayd he that for the prouidence The wisedome and the great discretion The valor mighty force and sapience The honour wealth and excellent renowne Wherewith you are endowed your worthy name From East to West is spread by trompe of Fame But nerethelesse that these things doe belong Of right to you yet this I must you tell That though that you be nere so huge and strong As truth to say you doe in force excell All Nations yet if you doe consider The very cause wherfore you are come hither You must confesse and so it will be found That you in this your quarrell had no right Nor reason wherevpon you might it ground For sure it is most euident to sight Of euery man that beares an vpright hart That you herein did play a foolish part Without forecasting with advisednes What cause you had to make this mortall warre For when as we by foolish hastines Did come out of our countries so farre Into the Troian land our liues to venter Against our foes The quarrell we did enter At that same time into as euerie one Of vs well knows was for the iniurie And to revenge the priuate cause alone Of Menelaus for who can it denie That th'ravishing of Helena his wife Was th' onely cause of all the warre and strife Betweene vs and the Troyans which as now We do maintaine with great hostilie And for the which we all haue made a vow To sacke the towne of Troy with ieopardie Of life and goods and for that cause haue left Our Countries and our Cities and bereft Our children and our wiues of all delight And ioy make them mourne in great distresse While we remaine here in the field to fight Against our foes in griefe and heauinesse Assailed and enclos'd on every side With enemies and nought but death abide For sith the time that this our warre began Which onely of meere pride we do maintaine It hath vs cost the life of many a man Of great and meane account that now are slaine Who might haue liu'd at home in wealth ioy If they had not come hither vnto Troy To loose their liues by their owne wilfulnesse Here in this place with great extreamitie And for my part I must in truth confesse That by the Troyans force and crueltie So much bloud I haue lost since we began This warre that it hath made me pale wan And not long since I had a wound againe Which Hector with a Dart did giue to me Vpon the thigh that day that he was slaine Which put me to so great extremitie That it hath made me long in bed to lie To heal't and yet I doubt thereof to die I ft be not quickly cur'd for t is yet greene And very sore and puts me to great paine With many other wounds that yet are seene Vpon me still which make me oft complaine And truth to say if it considered were We should not buy Queene Helena so deare As for her t'hazard life and lim and all Our honors and our worldly goods and fame The which vnto vs quickly may befall If we haue not regard vnto the same And in our minds consider not how much This doubtfull warre for Helen doth vs tuch For if that we our reckning rightly make And call to mind what alteration Hath falne since we the same did vndertake And what destruction of our warlike Nation Hath for her sake been made yet much more Dishonor we are like to haue therefore And to incurre for as it doth appeare Although we do still hold this siege so long In fine if that we do continue heare It will to vs because of greater wrong And more and more redownd vnto our shame If order be not taken for the same Which may be if that we on either side Together would agree with one consent That Helena in Troy shall still abide And that King Menelaus would be content To take another wife and let her go That to him doth her selfe vnfaithfull
would procure the townes destruction For which he was within his mind so grieu'd That to himselfe sore prest with care and wo He wept and said alas what shall I do To scape the snare wherein I feare to fall For by my hard and cruell desteny Which is the worst and greatest griefe of all I am compelled of necessity Despight my heart to ransome and to buy My life with money of mine enemy Which doth torment me sore But I perceiuâ— Whatsoere I do there is no remedy For by constraint I must my treasure giue Vnto my foes and dare it not deny And yet I am not thereby freed of feare To loose my life which hangeth as it were In ballance of deceit and tiranny For I am forst for all my royall state T' obay their wills that seekes by trechery To haue my life because they do me hate But Parchas hath for me such Fortune shapt That without doubt it cannot be escapt And while that he did in this sort lament His woefull state with many a brinish teare Queene Helena vnto Anthenor went To pray him and Aeneas when they were In parle with the Greeks for her to make A motion and if they could for her sake By their good mediation get that she Might be restord againe if peace did hold Vnto her Lord King Menalus so he Contented were and that of grace he would Forgetting that had passed pleased be T'restore her to her former dignitie To whose request Anthenor answere made That he would do as much as in him lay To pleasure her and so when as he had Tane leaue of her he went the selfe same day Vnto the Grecians Campe t' effect the thing Which he ment traiterously to passe to bring Meane time within the towne they buried A valiant Knight cald Glaucus bastard Son To Priamus whose funerall finished And all things thereunto belonging don King Priam for Queene Panthasillias sake Causd cunning workemen curiously to make A vessell of pure gold which he did fill With balme and spice her body to enclose And to preserue from putrefaction till The war did end between him and his foes By treaty of the peace as then in hand That it might be conuaid into the land Of Amazons wherein she raigned Queene To burie it there according t' her degree In princely wise The which King Philomene Did carry away with him from thence when he Left Troy to go into his natiue Land But now I will thereon no longer stand To tell you what about the peace was done Within the Grecians Campe. Who all agreed With full consent did make election Of those three Kings Ulisses Diomede And Taltabius of Creta and no more To deale for them as they had done before Concerning peace and to that end to meet Anthenor and Aeneas and to goe With them to Troy in counsell there to sit Vpon the same The which forthwith to doe With such instructions from Agamemnon As needfull were they went into the towne With both the Troyan Lords where wheÌ„ they came There was such ioy among the people who In novelties delight and at the same Reioyce though afterwards againe they do Repent therefore and their owne follies rue For they suppos'd that theâ—eby would ensue A perfect peace to them for evermore And finall end of all the griefe sorrow Which they endured had so long before And Priamus the next ensuing morrow Assembled all his Lords and Peeres together In Ilion and when they were come thither And every man set downe in his degree Ulisses standing vp with words refind With eloquence and smoothed subtilty In presence of them all declar'd his mind So well that those that then were there to heare His pleasing speech and not acquainted were Nor priuie to his meaning fraudulent Tooke pleasure in 't but did not vnderstand The depth and secret drift of his intent Wherein he did two things of them demand The one that Troy vnto the Greeks should pay A certaine summe of gold without delay In recompence of all the iniurie And wrongs vnto them done in Cithera When Paris without right or equitie From thence did take away Queene Helena The second thing was that Amphimacus A bastard sonne vnto King Priamus Should be exil'd from Troy perpetually Without all pardon or remission The which Anthenor had by policie And envie great procured to be done Because that he did spight Amphimacus For crossing him before King Priamus In presence of his counsell when he made A motion touching peace and said he would Not giue consent thereto but rather had Loose life and lim then any such thing should Be offered to the Grecians And therefore Such hatred secretly vnto him bore That finding oportunity to quite Him priuily like serpent envious He thought he would occasion take to bite When time did serue with heart malicious For speaking truth And therefore my advise And counsell is to wish men to be wise And not in words to be superfluous For men must not say all things that they know And wisedome oftentimes adviseth vs When we are by extreamities brought low To spare to speake and to dissemble when We are constraind to yeeld to other men A man were beter not to speake at all And silent be although against his will Then by his speech in danger great to fall We must beware and may not alwaies tell The truth of things but rather hold our peace The false reports of envious men to cease That man is wise that can his choller hide For better t is with modesty t' abstaine From anger then with furie and in pride To speake for when with silence men refraine From words and can endure wrongs patiently It is the way debates to pacifie For happy is he that can endure a wrong And not in speech be too presumptuous Which oftentimes makes men excell in tong As it did happen to Amphimacus Although to tell the truth was his intent For by that meanes he suffred banishment But God the iudge of all men afterward To shew how he with equity and right Can punish men and giue them their rewarde In short time after made like iudgement light Vpon Anthenor which he falsly sought To lay vpon Amphimacus for nought For not long after he himselfe was sent By Aeneas meanes out of the Towne of Troy And iudged to perpetuall banishment And never did his freedome there enioy Whereby you see how God by providence In his due time doth iustly recompence And punish all dissimulation And treason for who s'euer traitor is And seekes another mans confusion To haue the like reward shall never misse For falshood evermore doth backe rebound Like to a ball that riseth from the ground And falleth downe againe where first it lay For what so ever treason men forecast Most commonly as we are woont to say Will surely be discovered at the last And he that strikes with sword shall stricken be As by Anthenor you may plainlie see And while that they so
they now are broght full low And vtterly destroid for euermore Whereby you see what is the end of all That do such false and fained Gods adore And vnto them for helpe and succour call What did Mineruaes Image them preuaile By whom they hoped nere of aid to faile Or any of their supersticious vaine The which they did so deerely buy at last Not onely with a short and earthly paine But with eternall woe that ere shall last Oh Troy therefore I must lament thy fall And when I thinke vpon thee ever shall With pitie thee bewaile that wert so brought Vnto thine end and sometime was so great And populous that no towne ever mought Compare with thee when thou wast proudly set In honors throane as those that thee then knew Can witnesse beare but now all men may rew And pittle thy decaied walles that stood About thy stately building loftily And Priamus thy Prince of Royall blood That made and builded thee so sumptuously I thinke no man that in the world liues now By pen or tongue can tell which way or how To frame or to devise a dolefull crie Convenient to describe thy miserie No though it were the Prophet Ieremie That mourned for the great Captivitie Of that most famous towne Ierusalem And of the woefull Iewes bewailing them With bitter teares Nor yet Ezekiell That to King Zedechias earnestly Fore-shewed the Captivity that fell In Babilon and for his Prophesie Was ston'd to death nor he that cruelly Was saw'd in twaine though all of them did crie And bitterly lament the Iewes orethrow Nor Daniell that within his heart did grieue With extream paine when God his power to show Vnto King Nabuchadneser did giue The shape of beast his hautie pride t'imbase And seuen yeares did make him feede on grasse For I suppose if all of them had beene Heere living in that dolefull time againe And with their sore and warry eies had seene The great distresse which Troy did long endure And all the bloody slaughters had beheld Betweene the Greeks and Troians in the field There fought on either side in cruell wise I verily perswaded am that all Their bitter teares would by no meanes suffice To grieue for those great sorrowes that did fall Vpon the towne of Troy by Grecians brought And also by false treason gainst them wrought But this shall now suffice thereof to speake For like as he that against the wind doth saile And seeth his masts and yardâ— begin to breake Knowes well to 〈…〉 availe So were 't in vaine for me to tell you all The miseries that did to 〈◊〉 befall Or to prefume to shew how eursed Fate Was bent in fierce and cruell wiâ—e to make An end of them and of their happy state The which on me I dare not vndertake And therefore of the siedge I le make an end In rude and simple wise as it is pend And so the fourth Booke finish with the leaue And fauor of your Princely Maiestie The which if that your grace to me will giue The fifth Booke I le begin and specifie Therein what dangers and aduentures fell Vnto the Greeks vpon the sea and tell How they therein were â—rownd and cast away And thâ—â—e that did escape and got to land To shew that man hath here no certaine stay And cannot fatall Deâ—â—iny withstand Vnfortunately died and so together Such measure had as they did meet to other FINIS THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR THE FIFT BOOKE CHAP. 1. ¶ Wherein is shewed how the Greeks in their returne to Greece after the destruction of Troy by tempests on the seas were most of them drowned and how the rest that escaped and got to land dyed miserablie by malice and treason wrought in Greece one against the other WHen Eolus whome Poets faine to bee The ruler of the winds appeased was And he and Iunâ— did together gree To make the seas so calme that men might passâ— Securely through the same and skie t' appeare With faire christall hew The Greeks that were Desirous to returne to Greece with speed To see their natiue Land when they had woone And vtterlie destroied Troy decreed To ship themselues and forthwith to be gone FroÌ„ thence where they had ten yeres space maintaind A painefull siege and little thereby gaind Considering all the losses they had had Yet triumphing for victorie obtaind Reioyst that they so good an end had made But fortune that their pride and ioy disdaind Soone chang'd their mirth into adversity For when they thought themselues secur'd to be And that they should in peace and quiet rest She stirred vp foule discord and disdaine Their happie state to trouble and molest And did in stead of ioy procure them paine And made their hearts with pride and rank or swell Whereby at strife among themselues they fell In middest of their high and greatest glory When as they most reioyst and triumphed That they by force had woone the victorie Against their Troyan foes and flourished In honor and by trumpe of flying fame Eterniz'd had the glory of their name From East to West and mak'st it swiftly flie Throughout the world to shew their worthines As farre as Phoebus compasseth the skie For suddenly by great vnhappines Their glory that did shine so cleare bright Ecclipsed was vnto their great despight And all their welfare and prosperity Subuerted cleane by enuy and debate Which Sathan through his craft and subtilty Made sodenly to creepe into their state For Thelaphus with rancor and discord Before the Grecian Princes went abord Complaind against Ulisses in this wise And sayd my Lords if that it please you stay To heare me speake and thinke as you are wise That reason moueth me thereto I say That at the winning of the towne of Troy The treasure that thereby we do enioy And forcibly did get into our hand Together with the riches which by might And valor great we wan within the land Me thinks is not if it be iudged right Distributed by iust devision Nor with indifferent proportion According to the law of equitie Which in such case to those that merit best And are of high degree and dignitie Affordeth better part then to the rest And giues to euery one as he deserud The which mong vs hath not been well obserud In euery part without exception For Pallas Image cald Palladion Whereof Ulisses hath possession I say that right vnto it he hath none Although he hath a false apparance found To iustifie his title and doth ground The same hereon that t is his owne by right Because he woon't as he doth brag and vaunt Though subtilly and not by force and might And saith t was giuen to him by speciall graunt Of euery one and yet it is not true For I deni 't and flatly say to you That he doth not deserue the same nor shall Enioy it long for that as iust reward For my desarts it to my â—â—â—â—â— doth fall If that indifferently I
what he was why there making mone He wandered so solitarilie T'whom Pyrrhus answere made and for replie Said full of griefe and woe I doe confesse My selfe to be and therefore wandering Alone I go to thinke on the distresse That happened hath to Priamus the King Whose Son I was and by the fall of Troy Bereft of all my honor wealth and joy I now am made a prisoner gainst my will To Pyrrhus vnto whom I promise made To be his prisoner true and to fulfill His hest in every thing and therefore sad And heavilie I walke and so said he I haue you told how it now stands with me Which when he had so said vnto the King Atastus friendly spake to him againe And questioned with him of many a thing And mongst the rest where Pyrrhus did remaine In Thessalie and what he went about And Pyrrhus said to put you out of doubt He doth as now continue in a caue Not farre from hence and there doth closely stay In mightie feare and dread his life to saue And pointed to the caue where Peleus lay The which he did to make him looke about While he in furious wise his sword drew out Intending there Atastus to haue slaine But as he thought to giue the fatall blow Queene Thetides came running to the plaine And weeping at his feet her selfe did throw And holding fast his sword did make him stay His hand and thus vnto him she did say Let it suffice good nephew thou hast don And from so sore revenge thy selfe refraine Sith gainst things past remedy there is none Hast thou not kild said she my brethren twaine And wilt thou without mercy take away My aged fathers life I pray thee stay Thy cruell sword and now no more blood shed Remembring that the blood thou spilst is thine And pittie take vpon thy kindered From whom thou comst by right paternall linâ— For all men cruell Parasites contemne And for vnnaturall murtherers condemne The which when Pyrrhus heard like Tyger wroth He said whosoere against the same will stand Despight of him whether he be leefe or loth He shall be slaine at this time by my hand For hath he not said he by force and might Bereft my grand-sire Peleus of his right Whose Queene you are and he your Lord king Whose part you ought to take and not to stay My hand from doing of so iust a thing And therefore without faile I will him slay For nought there is that now his life shall saue Vnlesse my grand-sire Peleus doth it craue And therewith aged Peleus did begin To creepe out of the caue and when he saw What danger King Atastus then was in He praid his Nephew Pyrrhus to withdraw His hand and not to kill him in that place But rather to respect his woefull case And thinke sayd he vpon the extreame smart Of him that weeping sore with cruell paine Before thee stands with cold and dying hart To see his Sons here lie before him slaine By thee the which said he if thou be wise I pray thee at this time let it suffice And thinke thy selfe enough revengd to bee On him if thou considerest well thereon And sith he doth submit himselfe to thee I pray thee for my sake let him alone And spare his life that ready is to die For griefe which thou shalt not to me denie The which when Pyrrhus heard he did refrâ—â—nâ— From killing him as Pâ—leâ—â—s â—ade â—â—quest And when he had put vp his swâ—â—â—â—gainâ— Perceaving that he had done for the hast While these two aged kings together were He made accord betweene them both â—â— there They did agree on either side to make Division of the land of Thessalie And each of them the halse thereof to take And of the same to haue the soveraignty And never more to striue nor to contend For it againe till they their liueâ— should end And while they two and Pyrrhus there alone Within the wood did stand and no man by Atastus in this wise to speake begon And sayd my Lords I can it not deny As both of you as well as I do know That crooked age hath broght me down so low That nature in me now begins to drie And all my wits and sences so decay Whereby I feele such insufficiency Within my selfe that I must truely say That I am farre vnfit to take the paine Within the land of Thessalie to raigne For seeing that both of my sons are dead And I am left alone without an heire And haue no children living to succeed Me in my throane I wholly do despaire Of worldly ioy and all felicity For wavring fortunes mutability Hath taught me as I must of force confesse That no man doth in certaine state abide And that there is no trust nor stablenesse In worldly ioyes and thereforeile provide While time doth serue that strife there shall be none For Thassalie when I am dead and gone Forgainst the will of God I le not repine And to that end the Scepter of thiâ— land And regall throane for my part I resigne And giue into my Nephew Pyrrhus hand And with that work his faith and troth he gâ—â—e That he possession straight therof should â—â—â—â— In presence of his daughter Thetides And Pyrrhus that no other likewise ment Said sith that is doth king Atastâ—â— please Here to resigne hiâ— part I am concour To do the like affirming that long since It ever was his purpose and pretence And th' onely worldly ioy he had to leaue His Crowne vnto his Nephew whensoere Death with his dart should him of life bereaue As lawfull heire vnto the same and there In presence of Atastus and his wife To Pyrrhus said to end all warre and strife Betweene vs twaine I will likewise resigne My Scepter Sword and Crowne into thy hand As fully and as whole as ere 't was mine And makethee Lord of my part in this land Which freely vnto thee I now do giue To be thine owne as long as thou shalt liue Which having saith and this agreement made Betweene the kings as you haue vnderstood Atastus knights who in the meane time had Disperst themselues abroad within the wood Came thither and were willed by their Lord To sweare and vow to hold keepe th'accord Betweene them made whereto they gaue consent And so together in a company Each for his part well pleased and content They road vnto the towne of Thessalie Where king Atastus cald a Parliament And therein by expresse Commandement Caus'd all his subiects whatsoere they were Especially his whole Nobility In open Court to take their oaths and sweare To yeeld vnto the soveraignety Of Pyrrhus and with full and free accord T' acknowledge him to be their King Lord Of Thessalie and none but he alone At which time Pelâ—â—â— likewise did the same Which being thus on either side so done By sound of trump the Heralds did proclaime King Pyrrhus in each street of Thessalie And afterward with great