That was in armes felle and despytous With hym brought from his lande so ferre Sixe and thyrty shyppes for the werre Amphymacus and kynge Polybete Thyrty shyppes brought to the flete From Calcedoyne and Meryon the kynge With ydinneus hadde in theyr ledynge Foure score shyppes with them out of Crete And vlixes with grekes dyde mete With fyfty shyppes stuffed out of Trace Towardes Troye proudely for to pace ¶ Duke Melleus full of manly men Brought eke with hym grete shyppes ten And moreouer the duke Perhotacus And the duke named Prothesylaus To the hauen that called was Athene Brought fyfty shyppê enarmed bryght shene From Phylyarcha the stronge myghty Yle And Methaon as Guydo dothe compyle With his brother Polydris also From theyr countre Trycionyco Brought two and twenty shyppes as I fynde And from Phyces as it is made mynde With Achilles came fyfty full by nombre And from rodon Troyans to encombre Came twenty shyppes with kynge Thelapolus And with the duke that hyght Antipus Out of the lande that Hesyda men call Of whiche the folke be nyghe cherles all With sayle crossed agayne the bryghte heuen In nombre came shyppes eke elleuen And with them was of name full famous The worthy duke called Amphymacus And Polybethes the stronge myghty kynge Fyfty shyppes brought at his coÌ„mynge Out of Richa the noble regyowne And with this kynge full worthy of renowne Was Losius the duke eke as I rede And as I fynde the noble Dyomede Of shyppes great I speke of no small barge Hath with hym brought fro Calydonye Arge Foure score in nombre sothly this no tale And Thelemus and myghty Euryale Two manly men and in armes lage With Dyomede came in this vyage And Polyphebus brought shyppes seuen And Phyneus the hardy kynge enleuen And Prothoylus as I can specyfye Brought fyfty shyppes vnto this nauye Fro Demenesa the myghty regyon And Carpenor as made is mencyon Brought fyfty eke from Capadye his countre A great prouynce of whiche kynge was he Trearyus of Beysa lorde and kynge Brought two and twenty also in his coÌ„mynge And fynally if I shall nat lye Full many shyppe was in this nauye Mo than Guydo maketh rehersayle Towarde Troye with grekes for to sayle For as Omer in his descripcion Of grekes shyppes maketh mencion Shortly affermynge yâ— man was neuer borne That suche a nombre of shyppes sawe toforne Counted the shyppes that Palamydes Brought with hym theyr nombre to encrese That whan these lordes aforesayd euerychone Kynges dukes and erles all in one Assembled were without any wene Afore the hauen that called is Athene THe famous kynge great Agamenown So wyse so worthy of so hye renown As he that was Prynce and gouernoure Of grekes hoost anone dyde his laboure His besy cure and waker dylygence By hye aduyse and inwarde prouydence To delyuer wysely in this nede What were to do or that he procede In this matere castynge vp and downe And reuoluynge of hye discreciowne That he may so begyn that the ende Conclude well that wylfulnesse ne shende Hooly theyr purpose thorugh no rakelnesse Ne thorugh none haste without auysenesse So that they may afore so wysely se That fynally in felycyte They may accoÌ„plisshe their purpose iÌ„ certayne And so this kynge vpon a large playne Out of the Cyte but lytell fro the stronde With his lordes wyll for no thynge wonde To haue a counsayle this wyse Agamenon Makynge anone a conuocacyon Of suche as were moste great inspecyall He syttynge firste in his see royall And his lordes eueryche in his see Lyke as they were of hye or lowe degree And all Tumulte stynted and scylence Was thorugh yâ— prees to gyue hym audyence Than he anone in full sobre wyse Began his tale as I shall deuyse SYres quod he I praye you take hede That be so noble and so renowmede Both of wysdome and of worthynesse Of manhode eke and of hye prowesse That of knyghthode the reporte the fame Thorugh out yâ— world rebouÌ„deth to yoâ— name For douteles the floure of Chyualrye Men may now fynde in this companye For whosawe euer of manly men yfere Togyder met as there be now here So yonge so fresshe so couragyous also So well besene for to haue a do Orso lykely sythe the worlde began Without raskayle so many knyghtly man Of kynges dukes and many another lorde As be now here of wyll and one accorde And of one herte assembled in this place That if fortune and goddes of theyr grace Be nat behynde our Iourney to repreue We may nat fayle our purpose to acheue ¶ For I deme hym playnely in arage Or werâ—e than wood that durste this vyage In any wyse perturbe or presume To take agayne vs outher to assume By myght on hym of malys to excyte Our worthynesse were it neuer so lyte Vs to prouoke to Ire or do offence That we ne shulde by mortall recompence Aquyte his mede as it lyeth in our myght That haue amoÌ„ge vs so many worthy knyght Amonges whiche an hondred and yet mo I coude chese able for to go By manly force and knyghtly suffysaunce To take on hym for to do vengaunce Vpon Troyans by hymselfe alone For whiche that we be gadred now echone That with his men were suffycyent To execute the suÌ„me of his entent And it accomplysshe in felycyte The cause I mene for whiche that all we Assembled be bothe hye and lowe And with all this to you is nat vnknowe How shamefully Troyans haue vs greued Prouoked vs and wylfully ymeued To ryse agayne them to haue recure of ryght Of wronges done with all our force myght Wherfore let vs by one assente and wyll Sette to haue as it is right and skyll Redresse to fynde of that we now complayne And of one herte do our besy payne Vpon Troyans a werre for to make And I suppose we shall them so awake That they shall lerne or we thense wende To remembre to the worldes ende How they hereafter shall dare take an hande For to presume in grece more to lande Or to be bolde whyle they haue lyfe or space Agayne Grekes more to trespace For whose offence as who sayth do but late Within our herte with so brennynge hate The feruent hete and the gredy Yre Fro day to day so setteth vs a fyre That it reneweth the constreynt of our payne So inwardely if I shall nat fayne We must of reason of so hye greuaunce Our selfe enforce for to do vengaunce As right requereth and our iuste sorowe Compelleth vs bothe eue and morowe On Troyans our harmes to bewreke And for to stoppe tunges that so speke To our reprefe and to our vylenye We must attones shape remedye That our foon hensforthe may drede For to do worse to vs as god forbede In tyme coÌ„mynge if thorugh our pacyence We lykely suffre theyr importable offence To passe forthe and take of it nohede Syth neuer yet of Grekes coude I rede That any man
this malyce in werkynge Firste astoned in his inwarde syght All sodaynely stert vp lyke a knyght This wyse worthy this Pallamydes Hardy as Lyon amyd all the prees No thynge agaste hym knyghtly gan expresse And playnely sayde he wolde nat refuse To acquyte hym selfe of this horryble caas Nat exceptynge that he so worthy was Of byrthe and blode and of hye kynrede All this deuoydynge of knyghthode maÌ„hede As he that gaue of lyfe nor deth no fo rs Tofore them all to Iuparde his cors Within a felde where them lyste ordeyne Lyke as a knyght this quarell to dareyne With whom that lyst or durste it vndertake Excepcyon hym lyked none to make Of hye nor lowe who that were so bolde To preue the reason that I haue you tolde Besechynge them to make no delay Nor prolonge hym but the same day Manly requerynge it may be do in haste But they yâ— had falsly this thynge compaste Of his answere stoned were echone In all the hoost that there was nat one That hardy was if I shall nat feyne In chaump close this quarell to dareyne Nouther Vlixes nouther Dyomede Chefe workers of this foule dede ¶ But Vlixes as he was customable In euery thynge to be deceyuable Double in his werke and full aye of disceyte Lyke a serpent that lyeth in awayte Whiche vnder floures can so glyde and trace Right so vlixes with a fayned face Whan yâ— he sawe the knyghtly hye prowesse The manly chere and the hardynesse And hye renowne of this Pallamydes Anone of falshede put hym selfe in prees And lyke a frende that mente nat but wele Brotell as glasse pretendynge outwarde stele With one the firste gan hym to excuse Them counsayllynge no longer for to muse On this matere for theyr alder ease And by crafte gan them so appease Touchynge the rumoure of this hye treason That he hath voyded all suspecyon Out of theyr hertes concludynge in tertayne This accusynge made was in vayne And conspyred oonly of hatrede Albe hym selfe was roote of all this dede ¶ But whan he sawe he myght nat acheue As ye haue herde this worthy kynge to greue Some spot of treason on hym for to laye Hehath anone founde another waye By the assent fully of Dyomede Vnder pretense playnely of frendelyhede Comynge to hym agayne a certayne nyght Vndersuraunce as he was trewe knyght Counsayle to kepe outher for sote or soure Enformynge hym of a great treasoure Of golde and good and infynyte ryches To hym discured vnder secretenes The whiche sothly no man dyde knowe Hyd and enclosyd in a welle lowe Within a felde a lytell there be syde The whiche hym lyste fro hym nat to hyde But of truste vnto hym discure So he wolde do his besy cure The same nyght with hym for to go Vnto the welle they thre and no mo To fette away that great suÌ„me of gode And he in sothe that no thynge vnderstode What they mente assentyd was anone And so they thre be togydre gone Vnto the well lyke as I haue tolde And for that he moste manly was and bolde Pallamydes lyke as they hym telle Descended is lowe into the welle Supposynge to haue a treasour founde But they alas hym falsly to confounde Haue murdred hym with stones great and huge He in the botome hauynge no refuge And whaÌ„ they had acomplysshed their entent They be repeyred eueryche to his Tent. THis tale the storye telleth vs That feyned was to the kynge Naulus Touchynge the deth of Pallamydes Them to desclaundre that were gylteles For vlixes and with Dyomede Were innocent platly as I rede And grekes all bothenygh and ferre For he was slayne knyghtly in the werre Durynge the sege of Parys with an arowe But who is false fayne can full narowe To fynde a tale that neuer yet was thought And of the treason that shuld haue be wrought Touchynge the lettres sent out of the towne There was no suche conspyracyowne By grekes wrought but a fable vnsoth Falsly feyned to make Naulus wroth With Vlixes and Dyomede also Agamenon and other grekes mo To lette them homewarde in theyr waye And hyndre also there is no more to saye As they repeyre to theyr regyons And Naulus than by this occasyons And Oetes his sone a manly man Accorded be in what they may or can By one assent to auenge mercyles The cruell murdre of Pallamydes And to ordayne at theyr home passage To worke fully into theyr damage For Grekes muste of necessyte Homewarde sayle foreby his countre Wherfore this kynge shapen hath a wyle On hylâ—es hye by a lytell yle In wynter season euery maner nyght To make fyres and to sette vp lyght To cause them on the see to erre For as Grekes sawe the fyre a ferre Vnware of harme caste them for to lande As they that coude no perell vnderstande But shope them with all theyr full myght For to aryue faste by the lyght Wherwith .ij. hondred of theyr shyppes brake Amonge rockes and fully go to wrake That there was drowned many worthy man And thus the vengaunce alderfirste began That kynge Naulus hath on grekes take Of deedly hate for his sones sake To great myschefe and confusyon Of Grekes nauye but Agamenon With great perell is the deth escaped That hadde almoste amonge them be beiaped For erles dukes worthy kynges crowned Thorugh this trayne in the see were drowned But Menelay and also Dyomede Escaped this myschefe as I rede And whan they were from all daunger gone This Oetes wood foryre an one In his herte shope another wyle And thought he wolde Agamenon begyle Compassynge a full mortall stryfe Let sende a lettre anone to the wyfe Of this myghty great Agamenon In whiche there was included false treason For euen lyke if I shall nat lye Thus in effect they dyde specyfye Firste how hir lorde Agamenon the kynge Hadde at the sege wrought a wonder thynge In preiudyce and sclaundre of hir name Albe in hir was no maner blame Lyke as he wrote platly nor trespace His knyghtly honoure of foly to difface This to say Guydo telleth thus He loued a doughter of kynge Pryamus And for beaute hadde hir to wyfe take And hir in herte fynally forsake This worthy quene whylom of great fame And Clemestra sothly was hir name Wonder semely and right fayre with all And by descent borne of the stocke royall Hir celly nge eke for all hir excellence Albe that she neuer dyde offence Yet hir lorde of newe fangylnesse Toke a nother the lettres dyde expresse Fully in purpose anone at his repayre Though Clemestra were bothe good fayre All sodaynely hir to exyle Out of his londe many thousande myle Warnynge hir that she be prudent This was the substaunce as in sentement That Oetes wrote vnto this quene Albe the kynge was innocent and clene And was to hir in all his fore lyuynge Louynge and trewe in all maner thynge And hir to please passynge ententyfe In worde and
OVr gracyous god moost in magnyfyceÌ„ce His mercyful eyen casteth froÌ„ heueÌ„ on hi Seynge his creatures in deedly vyolence Hym selfe complayneth by pyte full ruâ—fully Sayenge Deus o man deuoyde of intellygence Open thyne eeres vnto my call and crye And tell me yf I haue done to the offence That thou forsakest my wyllyngly Man suche a loue to the I dyde take This world in seuen dayes whaÌ„ I it wrought Thou was the laste thynge that I dyd make Bycause I wolde thou wanted nought What thynge the myght helpe dyd not lake That at thy nede yf it were sought Fowle fysshe all thynge for thy sake For thy comforte all was forth brought More ouer I gaue the that dygnyte All beestes to bowe the vntyll I made the also lyke vnto me And gaue the connynge and freewyll Me to serue that thou sholde se To chose the good and leue the yll I aske nothynge agayne of the But loue thy souerayne as it is skyll But vnto this takest thou none entente Thou tournest fro me full vnkyndly On loues vnlefull thy loue is lente Thy herte beholdeth not heuen so hye For all the goodes I haue the sente The lysteth not ones to saye gramercye In tyme to come or thou repente Man make amendes or that thou dye A crysten soule conceyued in synne Receyued in conscyence thus complanynge He fell downe flatte with delefull dynne And sayd Homo lorde mercy souerayne kynge I moost vnkynde wretche of man kynne I knowe I am thy traytour vntrue in my lyuynge This wycked lyfe that I lyue in I may it nought hyde frome thy knowynge I want wordes and also wytte Of thy kyndnesse to speke a cause That I haue thou gaue me it Of thy goodnes withouten cause Thoughe I haue greued the and do yet Thy benefaytes thou nought withdrawse I haue deserued to haue hell pytte So haue I lyued ayenst thy lawse But lorde thou knowest mannes feblenesse How frayle it is and hath ben aye For thoughe the soule haue thy lykenesse Man is but fulsome erthe and claye In synne conceyued and wretchednesse And to the soule rebell alwaye Fyrst a man groweth as dooth gresse And he wasteth after as floures or haye Syth man is than so frayle a thynge And thy power so grete in kynde This worlde is but a twynkelynge Thou mayst destroye the myght of the fynde With thy ryght lorde mercy mynge And to my sore salue thou sende Sore me repenteth of my my slyuynge Mercy lorde I wyll amende Deus Man I gaue the bodyly hele That thou sholde it spende in my seruyce Fayrenes also and fetures fele Man what doost thou with all thyse Thou with delytes of the deuyll doost dele Whiche is to me a great despyse Thou lyuest a lecherous lyfe vnlele Fro yere to yere thou lyst not ryse Thou studyest after nyce araye And makest great cost on thy clothynge To make the semely as who sholde saye Thou coudest amende my makynge Thou purposed the daye by daye To set my people in synnynge Thy wretched wyll thou folowest alwaye What ende synne hathe thou thynkest nothynge In Noes tyme bycause of synne And for lecherye in especyall What vengeauÌ„ce came than to maÌ„nes kynne Saue .viii. persones drowned were all On Sodome and Gomor and the men wtin How I made fyre and brymstone fall Fro heuen on them that bode therin for synne were destroyed bothe great small Man wenest thou my myght be lesse Than it was than or that elles I Thou hast no as moche wyckednesse As whan I smote the moost pyteously But yf thou wyll thy fautes redresse Thought I now spare for my mercy Man thynke on my ryghtwysnesse And make amendes or that thou dye Tabula ¶ How the Grekes toke lande before Troye how they were strongly fought with Ca. xxi ¶ The thirde boke ¶ How the thirde boke telleth how the Troyans yssued out on the morowe and fought with the Grekes how valyauntly Ector bare hym selfe that daye Capitulo xxij ¶ How the Grekes sent to kynge Pryamus for to haue trewes for Eyght wekes And of theyr Bataylles after the trewes fayled Ca. xxiij ¶ How the Troyans toke kynge Thoas prysoner ledde hym into Troye Capitulo xxiiij ¶ Howe durynge a Trewes of thre Monthes Ector walked into the grekes hoost And of the coÌ„munyacyon of Achylles hym Ca. xxv ¶ How whan the trewes was endyd they went to batayle agayne where as were many a man slayne on bothe partyes And of the Discripcyon of the Palays of ylyon And also how there dyed so many grekes of the pestylence that they demaunded trewes for .xxx. dayes whiche they obteyned Capitulo xxvi ¶ How Andromecha Ectors wyfe had a vysyon in hir slepe that and hir housbonde fought on the morowe that he shulde be slayne the whiche wold nat byleue hir nouther Fader nor mo der And how Achylles slewe hym Ca. xxvij ¶ Of the complaynt that Lydgate maketh for the deth of worthy Ector Cap. xxviij ¶ The Fourthe boke ¶ Now the fourthe Boke whiche speketh how Grekes made kynge Pallamydes chefe Capitayne of theyr Hoost and deposed kynge Agamenon Capitulo xxix ¶ How kynge Pryamus went vnto the batay le for to auenge the dethe of Ector where as he dyd meruayllous dedes of Armes Ca. xxx ¶ Howe Achylles slewe the worthy Troylus Ectors brother vnknyghtly and trayled hym aboute the felde at his hors tayle Ca. xxxi ¶ How Parys slewe Achylles in the Temple of Appollo and Anthylogus duke Nestors sone Capitulo xxxij ¶ Howe Parys Thelamon Ayax slewe eche other in the felde Capitulo xxxiij ¶ Howe Pantasyllya the Quene of Amazonâ— came for to socoure kynge Pryamus of Troye And howe Pyrrus Achylles sone slewe hir â–ª Capitulo xxxiiij ¶ How the Grekê made an hors of brasse wherin was men of Armes vnder coloure of peas brought it into Troye by the whiche it was vtterly distroyed for euer Cap. xxxv ¶ The fyfthe boke ¶ The fyfthe boke of Troye the which speketh how the Grekes retourned into Grece after the distruccyon And after they that escaped dyed myscheuously Capitulo xxxvi ¶ Howe the translatoure wryteth the stocke of Pyrrus by lyneal discent how his Graunfader hyghte Pelleus and his Graunmoder called Thetydes Capitulo xxxvij ¶ Of the moost worthy kynge Henry yâ— fyfthe ¶ Explicit Tabula Here after foloweth the Troye boke otherwyse called the Sege of Troye Translated by IohnÌ„ Lydgate monke of the Monastery of Bury And Emprynted at the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of oure Soue raygne Lorde the kynge Henry the .viij. By Richarde Pynson prynter vnto his most noble grace The yere of our Lorde god a. M. CCCCC and xiij⸫ The Prologue of the Translatoure O Myghty Mars that with thy sterne lyght In Armys hast the power yâ— myght And named art from est tyl occident The myghty lorde the god Armypotent That with shynynge of thy stremes rede By influence doest thy brydell lede Of chyualrie as soueraygne and patron Full
Tenedowne A stronge castell whiche fro Troye towne In distaunce but sixe myle stode Full of Tresoure of rychesse and of gode Replenysshed of all habundaunce And whan that they with theyr ordynaunce ysayled haue bothe safe and sounde And fro the see taken haue the grounde To theyr pleasaunce wonder agreable And of syght a place delytable Holsome of eyre the soyle right fayre and grene And lusty playnes goodly on to sene And was also habundaunt of vytayle Replenysshed of all that may auayle To osteynge and to sowgyoures For firste the lande full of fresshe floures Was plenteuous bothe of corne and grayne Of wyne and fruyt that no thyng lay barayne Of beste and foules passyngly plente And faste by stode also the see Full habundaunt of fysshe as I fynde After the season of euery maner kynde And whan that they within the castell were The grekesse londed from a fere Without abode they arme them went oute And vpon them make an hydous shoute Stuffyng the castell with meyne strong behynde And toke theyr way in Guydo as I fynde Towarde theyr foon and knyghtly set vpon And right forthe with grekes eke anon Mette with them vpon the other syde Full surquydous and right full of pryde Clenly armed in harneys all ofstele Fresshe arayed and besene so wele For the felde as thycke as sworme of been On eche syde men may beholde and seen Spradde all the playne downe vnto yâ— stronde Tyll at the laste they mette honde to honde And assemble with square speres grounde And hurtle yfere with many blody wounde There was no good day nor no saluynge But strokes felle that men herde rynge On bassenettes the strokes rounde aboute So cruelly that the fyre sprange oute Amonge the tuftes brode bryght and shene Of foyle of golde fethers whyte and grene Eke into brestes perced many shelde And besagues fleed a brode in the felde And many men ley that mortall founde Full dedely pale lawe by the grunde With face gruf and blody stremes wyde And aldermost vpon the grekes syde The slaughter was and the discomfyture So myghtely the Troyans dyde endure Tyll at the laste for they were so sewe With multytude the grekê on theÌ„ hewe For mo than forty were agaynst one Of very force abacke they muste gone No thyng for lacke of manhode dare I sayne But for so many haue them ouer layne They may no lenger in the felde soiourne But to theyr Castell home agayne retourne In full great haste suche as myght escape Away a lyue and some of them for rape And drede of deth toke them to flyght On horse backe to Troye towne full ryght No wonder was though they haste faste For to the gates the chace of grekes laste So cruelly after they pursewe And some of them that myght nat remewe On Troye syde forweryed of fyght The grekes slewe with all theyr full myght Now here now there who they myght attayne There may no raunsome nor no mercy gayne Of none estate without excepcyowne And after that vnto Tenedowne The grekes went and it be sette aboute That Troyan none myght escape out And whan they hadde the bulwerkes wonne To skale the walle after they begonne And made a saute manfully and ofte And Troyans as they stode a lofte Put them of that entre they ne myght With caste of stone and quarell bryght With bowe turkeys and shote of Arbalasteres And theyr gonners standynge at corneres With hym also and caste of wylde fyre Of yrous hate full hote in theyr desyre Lyke manly men them selfe they diffende And aye the grekes as they vp ascende Cruelly they put to the grounde Tyll they without an ordynauÌ„ce haue founde What with gynnes deuysed for the nones And gonnes great for to caste stones Bent to the toures right as any lyne And large sowes lowe for to myne And some of them vpon the walle gone That were so thycke made of lyme and stone And to entre they many wayes seke Sette theyr bastyles and theyr hurdeys eke Rounde aboute to the harde walle And skalynge ladders for sawâ—es marcyalle They gan vp caste with hokes for to holde And vp ascende the sturdye grekes bolde Tyll Troyans from the crestes caste The great stones whyle they wolde laste And Callyowne eke grekes to opresse And wonder manly dyde theyr besynesse In theyr diffence and made plonge them lowe With caste of quarell and with shote of bowe Thorugh Olyettes that of necessyte They put them of it may none other be And broke theyr neckes theyr shuldre boues As they felle with the square stones And lye dede pyteous pale of hewe But Grekes aye gan the saute renewe With multytude Troyans to assayle To withstande that they gan to fayle And wexe feble for rescuse came there none And so of force the grekes be in gone Thorugh the walles whan they haue theÌ„ broke And on Troyans so cruelly be wroke That fynally they lefte none a lyue But slee and kylle and after that as blyue On the walles theyr baners they haue sette And yonge and olde it myght be no bette All goth to wracke vpon Troye syde And after that they ne wyll no lenger byde But treasoure golde and what they may fynde They caste an hepe and togyder bynde And make spoyle of all that was within And than in haste the walles they begyn Pynacle and toures and also the dungeowne To brenne and hewe and to bete downe And with the soyle they made euen playne And with great pray anone they went agayne To theyr shyppes glad and lyght of chere Whan the fyre with his flawmes clere The castell had consumed and ybrent And after that auyse and prudent The manly man the worthy Agamenon Let make anone a conuocacyon Of the grekes and bad they shulde brynge Golde and treasour without more tariynge With all the praye they wanne at Tenedowne To his presence for this conclusyowne That he may make distribucyon Amonges them without excepcyon Lyke theyr desert vnto pore and ryche He departeth to euery man a lyche But moste to suche as dyde beste disserue For to hymselfe hym lyste no thynge conserue For he hath leuer theyr hertes than the gode Of suche as hadde spente theyr owne blode So manfully the castell for to wynne For who that can with largesse firste begynne Ne fayleth nat after well to spede Thorugh helpe of men whan that hath nede For loue foloweth fredome comenly ¶ How kynge Agamenon assembled the Barons of Grece afore to kepe a counsayle And how they sent Vlixes and kynge Dyomede to kynge Pryamus on message Ca. xix ANd after this the kynge let make a cry That all the kyngê lordes of his oste Dukes and Erles come from euery coste The nexte morowe tofore hym to appere The nyght ypassed Phebus gan to clere Hir emysperye after the larke songe Whan yâ— the kynge amonge the grekes stronge Vpon the playne in his see royall And faste by moste chefe and pryncypall
some wyll haue a payre platys lyght To welde hym well whan that he shall fyght And some wyll haue a target or a spere And some a pauys his body for to were And some a targe made stronge to laste And some wyll haue dartes for to caste Some a pollax heded of fyne stele And pycked square for to laste wele And some a swerde his enemy for to mete And some wyll haue a bowe for to shete Some an arblast to stande out asyde ¶ And some on foot and some for to tyde Array themsesfe their foomen for to sayle And many one was besy for to nayle His felawes harneys for to make it stronge And to dresse it sytte nat wronge With poyntes tresshes other maner thynge That in suche case longeth to armynge I haue no connynge euery thynge to telle And vnto you were to longe to dwelle Where I fayle ye mot haue me excused For in suche crafte I am lytell vsed And ignoraunce doth my penne lette In theyr ordre my termys for to sette And ofte chaungeth suche harneys and deuyse And ye that be therin expert and wyse Dysdayne nat that I speke in this place Of theyr armynge for all is in your grace Right at your lyste to correcte euery dell And whan Ector sawe that all was well And euery armed and arrayed This worthy knyght no lenger hath delayed Aduysely his wardes for to make And prudently badde they shulde take Theyr grounde in haste to put all in certayne And stande in ordre endelonge the playne So that no man were founde recheles And the gate called Dardanydes Without abode Ector made vnshette And after bad that men shulde fette To his presence that it were done in haste Cyncynabor his brother borne in baste And vnto hym firste of euerychon And to a lorde that named was Glaucon The kynges sone of Lycye and his heyre With many baner displayed in the eyre To this two Ector gaue the guarde And gouernaunce of the firste warde In which he hath a thousande knyghtes sette With speres rounde and swerdes kene whette And on theyr breste full many ryche shelde And they werechosen out in all the felde Amonge the beste that endure myght Agayne grekes manly for to fyght And vnto them Ector bad anone In goddes name that they shulde gone Out at the gate sothely as I rede And ieâ—te they fylle in myschefe or in nede He assygned in the selfe place With manly chere to the kynge of Trace Wysely on hym to be awaytynge A thousande knyghtes to haue at his ledynge In a wenge knyghtly for to abyde To wayte on hym vpon euery syde And with hym was his sone Archylogus Of his age a man right vertuous To fulfylle that longeth to a knyght For bothe he had herte and also myght And next to them Ector gan deuyse The next warde to the kynge of Fryse That in his tyme called zantipus And vnto hym yonge stronge and desyrous He assygned to wayte on his vanere Thre thousande knyghtê armed bryght clere With whiche warde kynge Alchomus also Of Ector was coÌ„maunded for to go And to his byddynge he mekely dyde obeye And full knyghtly they haue take theyr weye Out at the gate passyngly arrayed Towarde grekê with baners fresshe displayed And theyr penons vnrolled euerychone And after Ector assygned hath anone To the noble yonge lusty free His brother Troylus so fresshe vpon to se Whiche in knyghthode had all suffysaunce The thirde warde to haue in gouernaunce With .iii. thousande knyghtes yonge of age Flourynge in force hardy of courage Suche as he was of custome wont to lede To whom Ector of very bretherhede Full goodly spake sayde at his departynge Brother quod he my herte is so louynge Towardes the of very kyndenesse That though I haue in partye great gladnesse Of thy manhode that so ferre is kouthe And the knyghthode of thy grene youthe Yet douteles in my fantasye Full ofte a daye I stonde in Iupardye Of pensyfehede and in warde besy drede Whan I remembre vpon thy manhede Lest thy courage be to vyolent Of thy lyfe to be neclygent Thy selfe to put to ferre in aduenture Of surquydrye so moche to assure In thy force kynghtly to a sterte Euery peryll in thy manfull herte Hauynge no rewarde in suche mortall stryfe Of wylfulnesse nouther to deth nor lyfe Nor aduertence to thy sauacyowne But as fortune turneth vp and downe Hyr whele meuable hye and after lowe In Martys Ire as the wynde doth blowe Whiche causeth me full ofte syghe and thynke And to wake whan I shulde wynke Reuoluynge aye thy hasty wylfulnesse But gentyll brother for any hardynesse Thus ylke day vpon euery syde I praye the so wysely to prouyde For hate or yre thy foos pursuynge Nat to excede more than is syttynge But let prudence the kepe in a mene And wysdome eke holde agayne the reyne Of thy herte and thy fyers courage That fyred haue thy grene tendre age Deuoyde of drede eche peryll to endure That our enemyes of thy mysauenture Reioysenat myn owne brother dere And myghty mars I praye of herte entere Thus euery day on Troyans grounde From theyr handes the to kepe sounde Lyke as I wolde that he dyde me To whom anone with all humylyte In manly wyse this yonge iusty knyght This worthy Troylus of herte fresshe lyght Answered agayne and sayd with glad chere Myn owne lorde and my brother dere And god to fore I fully shall obeye To fulfylle what you lyste to seye Now vnto me of your gentyllesse And nat declyne thorugh none reklesnesse In any poynt from your coÌ„maundement But with hole herte in all my best entent I shall take hede and playnely do none other Than ye haue sayde myn owne lord brother So lothe me were offende you or greue And in this wyse he lowly toke his leue And forth herode so lyke a manly knyght That to beholde it was a noble syght Amonge his men he behaueth hym so wele Thre thousande knyghtê armed in bryght stele Enuyron rode with Troylus into felde And that day he bare in his shelde Passant of golde iij. lyons rychely The chaumpe of asure wrought full craftely And by the gate he yssued out anone And with hym ladde his knyghtes euerychone To the grekes holdynge the next waye And Ector hasteth all that euer he maye Prudently his wardes to ordayne And to the noble worthy bretherne twayne To kynge Hupon and to Ardelaus He assygned the storye telleth thus The fouthe warde to guye and to wysse And in the lande that called was larysse The bretherne two hadde reygned longe And kynge Hupon was passyngly stronge And of stature lyke a chaumpyowne And saue Ector in all Troye towne Was none to hym egall as of myght More delyuere nor a better knyght And on his foon passynge despytous Whiche with his brother called Ardelaus Foure thousande knyghtes hadde for to lede And seuen thousande sothly as I rede And to them lyke
Troyans haue full dere bought For that day Fortune holpe them nought But tourned hole to theyr confusyowne And so they be repeyred to the towne And to theyr tentes grekes faste them spede Tyll on the morowe they sent Dyomede ¶ Whith Vlixes to Troye the cyte For a trewes oonly for monthes thre If kynge Pryam therto wolde assente And as they two on this message wente A certayne knyght borne of Troye towne That hyght Dolon of great discrecyowne And also was ryght famous of rychesse Of curtely and of gentyllesse His deuer dyde and his dylygence Them to conueye vnto the presence Of Pryamus in his paleys royall And in his see most chefe and pryncypall Where as he sat his lordes enuyrowne With many knyght full worthy of renowne They gan to hym firste to specefye Hoolly the substaunce of theyr embassatrye And of the trewes theyr entent they tolde If it so were he assente wolde And the kynge benyngnely them herde And by auyse prudently answerde That therupon his honour for to saue At good leyser he wolde a counsayle haue With his lordes and fully hym gouerne In this mater lyke as they discerne And to conclude shortly euerychone Assentyd be except Ector alone Vnto the trewes and ne wolde it nat denye But Ector sayde that of trecherye Oonly of slaughter and false Treson Theyr axynge was vnder occason Firste to berye Grekes that were dede And vnder coloure therof out of drede Afterwarde them selfe to vytayle For he well knewe that theyr stuf gan fayle And enfamyned leste they shulde dye They soughte a space them selfe to purueye By outwarde sygnes that he dyde espye Wherfore quod he me lyketh nat to lye By apparence as I dare presume Whyles that we waste and consume Oure stuf within as it is to drede They wyll prouyde of what that they haue nede For all that is to them auauntage Myght be to vs hyndrynge and damage And whyles they encrease and amende We shall our store discrease and dispende Yet neuertheles how euer that it be Touchynge this trewes as for monthes thre Sythen ye all assente and accorde Fro your sentence I wyll nat discorde In no wyse to be varyaunt And thus the trewes confermyd was by graūt On outher syde them thought for the beste Bycause they shulde in quyete and in reste The mene whyle ease them and releue And they that felte theyr woundes sore greue Myght haue leyser them selfe to recure And whyle the trewes dyde thus endure They fylle in Tretee and in comunynge Of Athenor and Thoas the kynge That Anthenor delyuered shulde be For kynge Thoas to Troye the cyte And so Thoas shuld to grekes home agayne Oonly by eschaunge as ye haue herde me sayne One for a nother as it accorded was And in this whyle the bysshop hight Calchas Remembred hym vpon his doughter dere Called Cryseyde with hir Eyen clere Whom in Troye he had lefte behynde Whan he wente as the boke maketh mynde For whom he felte passyngly great smerte So tenderly she was set at his herte And enprented both at eue and morowe And chefe cause and grounde of all his sorowe Was that she lefte behynde hym in the towne Without comforte or consolacyowne As he caste sothly in his absence And specyally for his great offence That he hath wrought agaynst them of troye And as hym thought he shuld neuer haue ioye Tyll he his doughter recured hath agayne ¶ Wherfore Calchas the storye sayth certayne In his wyttes many wayes caste How he myght whyle the trewes doth laste Recure his doughter by some maner way And as I fynde vpon a certayne day In his porte wonder humbly With wepynge eye wente pyteously In complaynynge of terys albe reyned Whose inwarde wo sothly was nat feyned And on his knees anone he falleth downe Tofore the great kynge Agamenowne Besechynge hym with all humylyte Of very mercy and of hye pyte With other kynges syttynge in the place To haue routhe and for to do hym grace And on his woo to haue compassyon That he may haue restytucyon Of his doughter whom he loued so Prayinge them all theyr deuer for to do That thorugh theyr prudent medyacyon For Anthenor that was in theyr pryson ¶ With kyng Thoas she myght eschaūged be If that them lyst of theyr benygnyte To his requeste goodly to assente And they hym graūt forth anone they sente To kynge Pryamus for to haue Cryseyde For Calchas sake and therwith all they leyde The charge for hir wonder specyally On them that went for this Embassatry To Troye towne and to kynge Pryamus To whom Calchas was so odyus So hatefull eke thorugh out all the towne That this reporte was of hym vp and downe That he a Traytour was and also false Worthy to be enhonged by the halfe For his Treson and his doubylnesse And ouer more they sayde eke expresse That he disserued hath by right of lawe Shamefully firste for to be drawe And afterwarde the most horryble deth That he may haue to yelde vp the breth Lyke a Traytour in as despytous wyse As any herte can thynke or deuyse Eueryche affermynge as by Iugement That deth was none fully equypollent To his deserte nor to his falsnesse As yonge and olde playnely bare wytnesse Concludynge eke for his iniquyte That they wolde assent in no degre Vnto no thynge that myght his herte please Nor of Cryseyde for to do hym ease They caste nat to make delyueraunce Leuer they hadde to gyue hym myschaunce If they hym myght haue at good large But fynally the effect of all this charge Is so ferforth dryuen to an ende That Pryamus hath graūted she shall wende With kynge Thoas shortly there is no more Vnto hir Fader for daūz Anthenore Who euer grutche the kynge in Parlement Hath therupon gyuen Iugement So vtterly it may nat be repelyd For with his worde the sentence was asselyd That she must parte with hir eyen glade And of the sorowe playnely that she made At hir partynge hereafter ye shall here Whan it agayne cometh to my matere ¶ Howe durynge a Trewes of thre Monthes Ector walked into the Grekes hooste And of the cōmunycacyon of Achylles hym Ca. xxv ⸫ ⸫ ⸫ tHe trewes affermyd as ye haue herd deuyse On outher syde of them that were full wyse And full assentyd of them euerychone Tyll thre monthes come be and gone Lyke as I rede on a certayne daye Whan agreable was the morowe graye Blandysshynge and pleasaunt of delyte Ector in herte caught an appetyte Lyke as Guydo lyketh for to wryte The same day Grekes to vysyte Full well besene and wonder rychely With many worthy in his company Of suche as he for the nones ches And to the tent firste of Achylles I fynde in sothe this Troyan knyght Vpon his stede toke the waye ryght Full lyke a man as made is mencyon Nowe hadde Achylles great affeccyon In his herte bothe day and nyght Of worthy Ector for to haue a syght
do me grace That my lorde into the felde ne pace And do your deuer of moderly pyte Benyngnely and goodly for to se To his knyghthode and his hye prowesse For to restrayne his renowmed noblesse Thylke day to handle spere or shelde Nor that he go armed into felde And bothe twayne assent for the beste And condescende vnto hir requeste Fynally accordynge into one That whan the wardes were redy euerychone On yssuynge out and Troylus firste of alle And Parys next on grekes for to falle And after hym the Troyan Eneas Kynge Sarpedon and Pollydamas Kynge Eroys and kynge Epystrophus And eke the kynge ycalled Forcyus In plate and mayle eueryche armed clene And alderlaste came kyng Phylymene With all the kynges and lordes of renowne That in diffence come of the towne With the grekes knyghtly to debate And Pryamus sothly to the gate Conueyed them at their out goynge And set their wardes this noble worthy kynge Full prudently thoruhe his sapyence And after gaue them congee and lycence Vpon Greke for to proue their myght Agaynst whom full redy for to fyght Their fomen were with royall apparayle Amyd the felde abydynge the batayle But Pryamus in this mene whyle Lyke as Guydo remembreth in his style For thylke fyne that ye haue herde me sayne To worthy Ector repayred is agayne Hym contermauÌ„dynge that he ne shuld gone Thylke day to fyght agayne theyr foon For whiche thynge of hye despyte he brent Whan that he sawe other lordes went Out at the gate and he alone abode For whiche he wexed furyous and wode Hoolly the cause arettynge to his wyfe That was of cherte so tender of his lyfe Puttynge on his fully the occasyowne Of his abydynge that day in the towne In preiudyce of hir worthynesse And disencrease of his hye prowesse And lyfte thorugh tunges to his hye estate Thorugh false reporte it were derogate He caste anone of a full knyghtly herte For lyfe nor deth it shulde hym nat asterte Within the felde that day to be founde Though it so were with many mortall wounde He shulde on pecys he wen be a sondre Vpon the playne dismembryd here yondre So hole in manhode was his herte sette That he anone without lenger lette Agayne to arme hym was full dylygent Agayne the precept and coÌ„maundement Of his Fader and rode forth on his weye For fere of whiche as she wolde deye His wyfe of newe crye gan and shoute And with hir pappes also hangynge oute Hir lytell childe in hir armes twayne Afore hir lorde gan to wepe and playne Besechynge hym of routhe and pyte If he wolde vnto hir sorowese At the leste for hir wyfely trouthe That he of manhode haue in herte routhe Vpon hir childe and on hir also Whiche that she bare in hir armes two And nat myght hym from cryinge kepe Whan he sawe his wofull moder wepe And knelynge downe vnto hym she sayde In hir sobbynge as she myght abrayde Myne owne lorde haue mercy nowe on me And on this lytell childe whiche that ye se So pyteously afore you wepe and crye Haue mercy lorde on vs or we dye Haue mercy eke vpon this cyte Myn owne lorde haue mercy or that we By cruell deth passe shall echone For lacke of helpe alas whan ye are gone This was the crye of Andromecha With whom was eke hir suster Cassandra Eccuba and fayre Polycene And Eleyne the lusty fresshe quene Whiche all attones felle hym beforne With heer vntressyd and wepynge all to torne And loude gan to crye in the place Besechynge hym of mercy and of grace For thylke day to abyde in the towne And in his herte to haue compassyowne On hir complaynte and hir wofull mone Syth all the truste of the twone alone In hym abode and all the resystence For agayne deth he was there chefe diffence And in hym hoolly was theyr affyaunce Theyr suerte and theyr suffysaunce In eche thynge that them myght greue And yet all this ne myght his herte meue For to abyde yet of goodlyhede They hym besought to theyr womanhede He wolde enclyne his herded herte of stele That they myght a lytell droppe fele Oonly of pyte on theyr woto rewe That lykly was to morne and renewe Fynally to theyr distruccyowne For of the Cyte sothly and the towne His vnhap were endelesse ruyne But yet all this myght hym nat enclyne That he ne wolde out in conclusyon So indurate and herted as a lyon He was alway contynuynge in his rage Whose herte myght a softe nor a swage Nouther prayer nor waymentacyon Hym to restrayne from his oppynyon For euery perell he layde so a syde And on his way gan anone to ryde Where thorugh his wyfe none other bote can But in hir rage to the kynge she ran So a mased in hir mortall wo That she vnneth myght speke hym to So diffacyd and rewefull of hir syght That by hir hewe knoweth hir no wyght For loste she hadde bothe myght strengthe And plat she fyll to the grounde a lengthe Tofore the kynge that routhe was to sene Besechynge hym of entent full clene Of his grace to consydre hir wo For but he helpe Ector was a go And he seynge hir faythfull womanhede At hir request raughte anone his stede And prycked after oonly for hir sake In so great haste that he hath ouer take Worthy Ector within the cyte And hent his reyne with great diffyculte And maugre hym made hym tourne agayne In suche wyse he durste it nat with sayne Albe that he was full lothe therto So that by force and prayer also From his stede he made hym a lyghte The a reste of whom eschewe he ne myghte For he ne wolde agayne his fader stryue Albe that he felte his herte ryue Of melancolye and of hertely Ire And of disdayne newe set a fyre So inwardely steryd was his blode That lyke a Tygre or a lyon wode That were depryued newly of hir pray Right so he fared all that ylke day Or lyke a bore that his tuskes whette Whyle the Grekes and they of Troye mette Furyously walkynge vp and downe And in diffence sothly of the towne Troylus firste on his bay stede Of aduenture mette Dyomede And eche at other surquedous of pryde With sharpe speres gan togydre ryde And Guydo sayth without any drede One or bothe hadde anone be dede Ne had Menelay knyghtly go bytwene And after that in a furyous tene He smette his hors in full kâ—yghtly wyse And Meryem the myghty kynge of Fryse Menelaus marked hath full wele And with his swerde full sharpe grouÌ„de of stele Vnhorsed hym and threwe hym on the grene For he the stroke myght nat sustene This Menelay was on hym so wode That it was lykly euen there he stode With the lyfe he shuld nat escape For the grekes full hastely them shape This Meryem as ye haue herde me sayne For to be sette rounde vpon the playne And to sesse hym by the auentayle On euery part and cruelly to
And toke the londe out of shyppes borde ¶ Where duke Nestor was gouernour lorde Whiche them receyueth lyke a gentyll knyght With all his power dylygence and myght But Menelaye of rancoure and great hete Gan with the duke secretely to trete To fynde a mene in his inwarde syght For to depryue Horestes of his ryght And therupon to haue a iugement At Athenes was holde a Parlement Of all the lordes of that regyon To gyue theron a diffynycyon In whiche was shewed openly ynoughe How Horestes his owne modre sloughe And the maner of his great offence Hym selfe tho beynge in presence And whan this thynge he fully dyde espye For his partye he gan agayne replye As he that felte hym frely at his large For hym allegynge how he hadde in charge Of the goddes shortly to declare His mortall swerde that he nat ne spare Vpon Clemestra roote of false treason That slewe hir lorde kynge Agamenon And the murdre thorugh hir malys wrought Wherfore Horestes humbly besought The lordes all with a manly herte Of equyte consydre and aduerte For no malyce rancoure nor for rage Hym to depryue of his herytage Syth he was sone of Agamenon Borne to be heyre of that regyon As ye haue herde that called was Methene Albe his moder Clemestra the quene Compassyd hadde his destruccyon But Duke Nestor ymeuyd of reason In susteynynge of horestes ryght Rose vp anone lyke a manly knyght Offrynge hym selfe proudely for his sake This hye quarell for to vndertake With his body to the deth darreyne With whom that lyst his tytle to withseyne But there was none in all that companye That durste a worde agayne hym replye So hoole he stode in his oppynyon And by his knyghtly medyacyon He bare hym so feynynge in no thynge That Horestes was ycrowned kynge Of Meneste all beynge of assent And whan dissolued was the Parlement This Horestes of his lyeges trewe Receyued was with a crowne newe And by treate of lordes many one Kynge Menelay and he were made atone And gan theyr Ire and theyr rancourelete And yâ—dumee the worthy kynge of Crete So prudently gouerneth this matere That hermyone the yonge doughter dere Of Menelay and the quene Eleyne So yonge so fresshe of beaute souereyne Yweddyd was without more tariynge To Horestes the newe lusty kynge And bycause of this allyaunce Deuoyded was all rancour and distaunce Atwene the kynges Menelay the olde And horestes of whom right now I tolde Thus leue I them as it was the beste Eche in his reygne lyue in peas and reste For all stryfe was ceasyd in this caas But Erygona that the doughter was Of Egistus as ye haue herde me telle For sorowe and drede lyste no lenger dwelle But toke a rope and lyst no thynge to spare And therwithall gan hir selfe to gnare The storye sayth hye vpon a tree This was hir fyne ye gette no more of me But I wyll forth ceryously entreate Of the storye to telle you the greate OVlixes by ordre in my wrytynge Thyne auentures come on the rynge Full wonderfull both on londe see Entermedlyd with great aduersytee For Guydo firste descryuynge thy repayre Sayth how thou founde weder foule fayre Now agreable now the thonder sowne Now stylle and smothe now with clwdes frowne And sayth also that thou dyddest ordayne To thy passage myghty shyppes twayne Apparaylled all for marchaundyse That thou myghtest in moste secrete wyse Euery myschefe of the see escape ¶ But for all that thou haddest a felle iape For as this Auctour thy resorte doth wryte He sayth Vlixes for all his wordes whyte Yrobbed was of rychesse and of gode Contraryous wynde so agayne hym stode That he was dryue to his confusyon Into the myghty stronge regyon Where Thelamon reygned by his lyue And there he was hent and take blyue ¶ By myghty honde sesyd by the brest And mercyles put vnder arest For they hym hadde suspect in workynge Touchynge the murdre of the same kynge But he so wroughte by his sleyghty wyle And his tale sette in suche a style That them all he playnely hath be iaped And fro theyr honde freely is escaped Except that he for all his queynt fare Of his treasour was ymade full bare And for his passage was to hym vnkouthe He fyll agayne into the wolfes mouthe For veryly as it is specyfyed Kynge Naulus men haue hym eft espyed Take and bounde and chayned mercyles For the murdre of kynge Pallamydes But the storye reherseth in certayne By his prudence he scaped is agayne For he was bothe expert wyse and olde All though the maner be nat fully tolde Of his escape thorugh his besy payne Out of daunger of these kynges twayne Tyll thurgh Fortune he came fro myschefe fre To the presence of kynge ydume In symple array and torne apparayle Wherof the kynge greatly gan meruayle Tose his pouert in so lowe manere But for all that he made hym good chere Though that tyme he were infortunate He hym receyueth lyke to his estate And whan they were bothe twayne alone In complaynynge Vlixes made his mone Vnto the kynge as he that was full sage Ceryously the sorte of his passage With face sad and a sobre chere Fro poynt to poynt anone as ye shall here My lorde quod he shortly to expresse Of truste I haue in your gentyllesse I shall to you myn auentures alle Reherse here right as it is falle FIrste whan that I Troye londe forsoke And the water with my shyppes toke I was anone with wynde pesyble blowe To an yâ—le whiche was to me vnknowe Called Mirma of great habâ—â—daunce And all thynge that was to my plesaunce That may for syluer or for golde be bought I redy founde and wanted right nought And there abode full longe whyle in ioye With the treasoure that I gat at Troye My shyppes stuffed my men hole and sounde And for coÌ„modyte of that ylke gounde We lyked so the countre enuyron That for disporte and recreacyon Our tariynge there we thought nat full longe For no man dyde vnto vs no wronge Tyll on a daye that the eyer was styll The wynde also fully at our wyll We sayled forth in quyete and in pees Vnto a porte called Claustafages Wherwith my meyne longe and many day I founde all thynge accordynge to my pay The weder lusly agreable and fayre But who may truste outher in wynde or ayre For vpon fayth of the smothe skye Agayne to shyppe faste I gan me hye Taryed nought but toke anone the see Smothe and calme endurynge dayes three That in the weder founde was no lacke But sodaynely the heuen tourneth blacke The hydous tempest and the wawes grene Out of hope haue me dispeyred clene Troubled my spirite and made me so pensyfe Without refute to escape with the lyfe Tossyd and dryuen by many sondry yle Tyll at the laste caste vp at Cecyle Recurynge londe with great annoye payne Where that tyme reygned kynges twayne And as I
in this mater dwell It were but vayne for now thou knowest all Beware of hir that tourneth as a ball For at this tyme thou gettest no more of me Do as thou lyste I put the choys in the And with that worde the kynge rose vp anone Vpon the tyme whan he shulde gone Vnto his mete and Iason by his syde As ye shall here if ye lyste abyde THe tyme aprocheth gan to neygh fast That offycers full besely them cast To make redy with all theyr full cure And in the halle the bordes for to cure For by the dyall the hour they began to marke That phebus shouthward was reysed iÌ„ his arke So hye a lofte that it drewe to noone That it was tyme for the kynge to gone Vnto his mete and entre into halle And Cethes than with his lordes alle And with his knyghtê about hym euerychon With Hercules and also with Iason Is sette to mete in his royall see And euery lorde lyke to his degree But firste of all this worthy man Iason Assygned was by the kynge anoon For to sytte at his owne borde And hercules that was so great a lorde Was set also faste by his syde And the marshall no lenger lyste abyde To assygne estates where they shulde be Lyke as they were of hye or lowe degree And after that on scaffolde hye a lofte The noyse gan loude and no thynge sofâ—e Bothe of trompers and of claryoners And there with all the noble offycers Full thryftely serued haue the halle Lyke as the season that tyme dyde falle With all deyntes that may rekened be That sothfastly the foyson and plente Of kyngly fredom vnto hye and lowe So fulsomly gan to reygne and snowe That thorugh yâ— hall was yâ— manhode preysed Of the kynge and his renowne reysed That can his gestes sothely for to sye Whan that hym lyste chere and fesâ—ey So lyke a kynge and in so thryfty wyse With all deynte that man can deuyse For at this feste and solempnyte The grekes myght the great nobley see Of kyng Cethes and the worthynesse And by reporte therof bere wytnesse Where so they come after all theyr lyue I wante connynge by ordre to discryue Of euery cours the dyuersytees The straunge sewes and the sotyltees That were that day serued in that place Haue me excused thoughe I lyghtly passe Though I can nat all in ordre sayne Myn Englysshe is to rude and eke to playne For to endyte of so hye a thynge But forthe I wyll reherse how the kynge To shewe his gestes his nobley ouer all Hathe for his doughter sent in specyall And bad she shulde forth anoon be brought The whiche in sothe though men had sought This world thrugh out I do you playn assure Men myght a founde no fayrer creature More womanly of porte nor manere Nor more demure nor sadder of hir chere Whose beaute was nat lykely for to fade And whan she came the grekes for to glade The halle in sooth she walketh vp and downe Of woman hede and pure affeccy owne To make chere vnto these gestes newe And thus Medca with hir rosen hewe And with fresshenesse of the lyllye whyte So enter medled of kynde by delyte That nature made in hir face sprâ—de So egally the whyte with the rede That the medlynge in conclusion So was ennewed by proporcion That fynally excesse was there none Of one nor other for bothe two in one So ioyned were longe to endure By the emperesse that called is nature For she hir made lyke to hir deuyse That to beholde it was a paradyse In very sothe bothe to one and all Of olde and yonge syttynge in the hall Therto she was as by successyon Borne to be heyre of that regyon After hir fader by discent of lyne If she abyde and dure after his fyne Syth he â—e had by right to succede Noon heyre male that I can of rede She was also the boke maketh mencyon Were vnto yeres of discrecyon Able for age maryed for to be And not withstondynge also eke that she Was of beaute and of womanheed One of the fayrest that I can of reed Yet none of bothe haue hir youthe let That to clergye hir desyre was set So passyngly that in specyall In all the artes called lyberall She was expert and knowynge at the beste It was hir vre to konne what hir leste Of suche a woman herde I neuer telle At Elycon she dranke so of the welle That in hir tyme was there none semblable I founde in sothe ne none that was so able To conceyue by studye and doctryne And of natures dispute and termyne She koude also and the causes fynde Of all thynges formed as by kynde She had in lernynge so hir tyme spent That she knewe of the fyrmament The trewe cours and of the sterres all And by theyr meuynge what that shulde fall So expert she was in astronomye But moste she wrought by nygromanyce With exorsismes and coniurisons And vsed also to make illusions With hir charmes sayde in sondry wyse And with rytes of dyuers sacrifyse Encens and rechelys caste into the fyre To shewe thynges lyke to hir desyre With gootes hornes and with mylke blode Whan the mone was equat and stode In the fyfthe or syxte hous And was fortuned with lokynge gracious To chese an houre that were conuenyent And fortunat by enchauntement To make and werke sondry apparences So well she knewe the heuenly influences And aspectes bothe wrothe and glade For she by them all hir thynges made That appartene to suche experymentes For whan hir lyste by hir enchauntementes She cowde make the wyndes for to blowe To thondre and lyghte and to hayle snowe And frese also to greue men with payne And sodeynly she cowde make to rayne Shewe what weder that hir lyste to haue And gasten men with sodeyne erthe quaue And turne the daye vnwarely vnto nyght And than anone make the sonne bryght Shewe his bemes full persynge and full shene With golden hornes to voyde nyghtes tene And reyse floodes with many dredfull wawe And whan hir lyst she cowde them eft wtdrawe Eke yonge trees to sere roote and rynde And afterwarde make them ageyne kynde With lusty braunches blosme budde newe Also in wynter with floures flresshe of hewe Aray the erthe and tappte hym in grene That to beholde a Ioye it was to sene With many coloure shewynge full dyuers As whyte and rede grene ynde and pers The dayesye with hir ryche crowne And other floures that wynter made frownâ— Vpon theyr stalke fresshely for to appere And sodeynly with a dedely chere She cowde somer into wynter tourne Causynge the daye with mystes for to morne And olde men she cowde make yonge And eft agayne or any here was spronge She cowde them shewe bothe in heed berde Full hore and graye in crafte she so lerede And trees with fruyte she cowde eke make bare Of rynde and leef to do men on them
moste vertuous of alle And it is founde sothely in Cecyle Of whiche stone whylom wrote virgyle How that venus to Eneas it sente Firste whan that he into Cartage wente And after this she to Iason toke A certayne bylle wryten lyke a boke That to his iourney myght moche auayle And bad hym wysely that he nat ne fayle If he caste hym graciously to spede Firste of all the scripture that he rede Or he the Ram touche in any wyse Hym chargynge eke afore this hye empryse With humble herte and deuocyon That he knelynge saye that oryson That vp and downe was wryten on the bylle Prayenge the goddes lowely to fulfylle His requeste and mercy for to haue Of very pyte from myscheif hym to saue And after that for his cheif socoure She toke to hym a vyoll with lycoure And bad hym manly without fere or drede Whan he come vnto the bullys rede If he hym shape knyghtly to escape That as faste as he seeth them gape Into theyr goles that he the lycour caste Than that hym nat but lytell of them gaste For theyr iowes togyder it shall glyewe That on no syde they shall nat eschewe To beye his luste in what hym lyste coÌ„streyne For doutles maugre all theyr peyne He shall them so daunte and make tame That where hym lyste in ernest and in game He myght them make louten and enclyne And do them bowe bothe backe and chyne The lycour shall there chawles so coharte That a sonder they shall nat departe For to offende or noye any wyght And whan she had thus vnto hir knyght In euery thynge gaue instruccion Playne doctryne and informacion How he shall scape the daungers by and by If he take hede and werke auysely And than accorded they thought it for the best For to parte or men out of theyr rest A waked were for it drewe to daye As they well sawe by the morowe graye And leste men hadde to them suspecion Of hye prudence and discrecion A twene the twelyght and the rody morowe They toke theyr leue with seynt IohnÌ„ the borowe With oft kyssynge as louers whaÌ„ they twynne And so he wente and she is lefte withinne Beynge in hope to mete agayne some daye And Iason than as faste as euer he maye Gan ordayne hym his Iourney to acheue And thought he wolde anone go take his leue And in what wyse within a lytell whyle After the maner of my rude style My purpose is sothely and nat spare With your supporte playnly to declare WHan that the rowes and the rayes rede Estwarde to vs full erely gonne sprede Euen at the twelyght in the damnynge Whan the larke of custome gynneth synge For to salue in hir heuenly laye The lusty goddesse of the morowe graye I mene Aurora whiche afore the sonne Is wonte to enchase the blacke skyes donne And the derkenesse of the dymme nyght And fresshe Phebus with coÌ„forte of his lyght And the bryghtnesse of his bemes shene Hadde ouer gylte the hye hylles grene And floures eke agayne the morowe tyde Vpon theyr stalkê gan playn their leues wyde Whan that Iason with all his companye Towarde the kynge full faste gan hym hye Who that he fonde lyke to his estate With sceptre in hande full pompous elate Hye in the see of his regalye Syttynge full kyngly amyd his chyualrye And his lordes aboute enuyron At whiche tyme this yonge champyon Vnder a vowe stondyng of the Ram With sterne face tofore the kynge in cam Besechynge hym of his magnyfycence The same day to graunte hym lycence To do his armes and make no delayes Concludynge playnly that at all assayes He wyll that daye in the felde be founde For to achieue lyke as he was bounde Of olde byheste and nat a poynt declyne For lyfe nor deth tyll he parfourme and fyne Hooly the auntres vnto the flees that longe The kynge requeryng no lenger hym prolonge But goodly graunte the fyn of his empryse And than the kynge in full sobre wyse Consyderynge the suÌ„me of his demaunde To Iason spake and sayde he shall coÌ„maunde That his requeste parfourmed were in haste All be quod he I am full sore a gaste Of wylfulnesse thou shuldest destruyde be Leste men thy deth arected vnto me And therupon wolde blame sette Of ryall power that I nat ne lette Thy manly youthe from suche Iupartye Whiche were in sothe a great vylanye And preiudyce to myn estate and name That afterwarde men put me in blame Thorugh fals reporte and wronge opynyon That I withstode nat thy destruccion ¶ Wherfore I rede yet be thou auysed And my counsayle lete nat be dispysed For better it is with honoure in certayne Into thy countre to repayre agayne Than wylfully for to take an honde A mortall thynge that no man may wtstonde This is my rede and fully myn aduyse Take hede therto fythe that thou art wyse Leste thou repente whan it is to late And if so be that thou wylt algate Thy purpose holde and nat do as I rede Almyghty Mars I praye the to spede The for to gyde what so euer falle And eke I praye to the goddes alle Saufe and sounde thy body to restore This all some of me thou gettest no more And whan Iason had herde the kynge Nat dismayed nor stoned in no thynge In knyghtly wyse dyde hym reuerence Thankynge hyghly his royall excellence That of his grace and benyngnyte Vpon his deth hym lyste to haue pyte Fully concludynge touchynge his batayle That nouther rede nor counsayle In no wyse his purpose shulde withdrawe But lyke the statute playnly and the lawe Right as fer forthe as fortune wyll hym eure What so be tyde of his auenture Settynge asyde euery feer and drede Sayde platly that he wyll procede For to parfourme that he hath vndertake It were in ydell mo skylles for to make Or to allegge more there agayne And Iason than full openly and playne Touchynge yâ— surplus of this dredfull thynge At his departynge sayde to the kynge In audyence of his lordes alle What so euer of me now be falle Or who so euer of malys theron muse To all the worlde firste I you excuse And to the goddes platly you quyte Though I deye ye be nothynge to wyte Ne no man shall arecte it you of skylle For that I werke is frely at my wylle Agayne the aduyse of your hye prudence And lyfe or deth here in your presence Hooly of herte and neuer for to fâ—ytte To the goddes and fortune I coÌ„mytte So as them lyste for me to ordayne Agayne whose wyll I shall neuer playne Nor them nor you put in no blame What so betyde honour ioye or shame And of this thynge thus an ende I make And for this tyme of you my leue I take And of all tho that you aboute stonde And one by one he toke them by the honde And in what wyse forthe he gan hym dresse To you anone I thynke it to expresse WHan that
nat oonly nor hir heuynesse But parcell eke of the vnkyndenesse Of this Iason and telleth playnely howe Medea hir bothe sones slowe For they were lyke theyr fader of vysage And telleth eke that put hir moste in rage How falsly he I can hym nat excuse Loued a nother that called was Ceruse Eke in his pysteles who so taketh hede Hir deedly sorowe he may beholde and rede And how that she hir trouthe a boughte sore Of Medea ye gete of me no more In all this boke nor of hir auenture But I wyll now do my besy cure Hooly to tourne my style to Iason And of the werre he made on Lamedon Lyke as in Guydo is openly descryued After that he in Grece was aryued FI rste whan Iason and Hercules also I londed were with many a nother mo In the lande and reygne of Thesalye Kynge Pelleus with all his Cheualrye Caste hym playnely that he wyll nat fayle To mete his neuewe at his aryuayle And whan they mette in countenaunce â—here Made it outwarde as hole and as entere As he hadde had soueraygne gladnesse Of his kynghthode and his heyprowesse Of his renowne and his manly hede Of his expleyte and his good spede And that fortune to encrease his name Hath caused hym with so noble fame Out of Colchos with honour to repayre All be his chere was vtterly contrayre To his entent that euer he came agayne But for all that with face hole and playne He welcomed hym all agaynst herte Full sore astoned that he euer asterte The auentures of Colchos peryllous And is retourned so victoryous But couertly his treason for to hyde All delaye he gan to sette asyde And to Iason with chere full benyngne His herytage firste he gan resygne Septre and crowne and kyngdome at the leste For to parfourme the suÌ„me of his beheste Lyke as he was assured by his bonde And Iason toke all into his honde And gan his vncle in full lowe manere Firste to thanke with all his herte entere And after that ful knyghtly gan hym praye Goodly to here what that he wolde saye Of a matere that fret his herte sore From daye to daye encresynge euer more Besechynge hym to graunte hym audyence Tochynge a wronge and a vyolence Done vnto hym whan he no harme ne mente In Torye lande to Colchos as he wente This is to saye the kynge of Troye towne Within the bondes of his regyon Whan I and myne in great aduersyte With wynde weder for to dryue in the see Vs to refresshe to lande dyde aryue Not in purpose with hym for to stryue But for to rest vs after all our wo A lytell whyle and forth anone to go For we in sothe no maner harme ne thought But he vnkyngly of very malys sought Agaynst vs firste occasion Byddynge in haste to voyde his regyon Nat withstondynge that we come in pes Lyke as my brother knoweth hercules Vnto no myght doynge no distresse Wherfore we praye to your hye noblesse To our purpose for to condescende Of whiche platly this the fynall ende That we be sette in full conclusion Hooly to werke to his destruccion Lyke our auowe whan we thense went If it so be ye goodly lyste assent And all at ones strongly and nat spare Maugre his myght to Troye for to fare So that we may fynde in you fauoure Vs to refresshe with golde and with creasoure And oonly eke of your curtesye Vs strengthe also with your cheualrye And Pelleus without more abode Anone as he this mater vnderstode Assented is of herte and wyll also In this vyage with them for to go And all the worthy of that regyowne Kynges dukes and lordes of renowne Be accorded there is nat one sayth nay To go with them and helpe what they may And of this Iourney chyeue solycytour Was hercules the worthy conquerour And he in haste his retenewe to make Towarde sparthos hath the way take Whiche is an yle to Grekes pertynent Fully obeyeng to theyr coÌ„maundement In whiche Pollux and Castor eke also The worthy kyngê the myghty brethren two Wereas I fynde that tyme gouernours And bare theyr crowne lyke noble werreours And brothren were also to Eleyne And as poetes lyketh for to feyne That Iubiter for all his deyte Vpon Dyane begat them all thre That in beaute all other dyde excelle And for Eleyne lyke as bokes telle Conceyued was in Tyndarys the yle Vnto the londe ioynynge of Cecyle Therfore of some I fynde that she is After the yle called Tyndarys Of theyr byrthe me lyste no more to endyte But forthe I thynke of hercules to wryte That hath besought these noble kâ—gê twayne With myghty hande to do theyr besy payne Oonly to graunte with hym for to wende To Troye warde shortly this the ende And to assente they saye nat ones nay With all the power that they catche may Agayne what tyme that hym lyste assygne And hercules with cherefull benyngne Thanked them of that they hym behyght And forthe he wente in all the haste he myght Towarwe Messene the stronge myghty londe Within whiche the noble kynge he fonde The knyghtly man the worthy Thelamon Lorde and prynce of that regyon That in armes was one the manlyest That was a lyue and egall with the beste And whan he knewe that hercules was come For â—oye he hath hym in armes noâ—e And receyued in all maner thynge Lyke as it sat to a worthy kynge And whan he wyste sothely what he mente Without more anone he dyde assente With hym to gone Troyens for to greue And hercules goodly toke leue And hym enhasteth to Thesalye agayne To Pelleus and telleth hym certayne How he hath spedde besechynge hym also In all the haste that it may be do To sende letters and his lordes call And to assemble his worthy knyghtes all Thorugh out his lande both nygh and ferre Suche as he knewe that were expert in werre And them also that were of counsayle sage For wyt of them that be ronne in age Is more than force without experyence But whan manhode is mente with sapyence Who consydereth it may double auayle And they that longe haue vsed to trauayle Lyke as it is playnely to suppose May helpe moste our iourney to dispose For vnto age experyence and wytte To youthe force and hardynesse sytte And whan that bothe be of one entent Fully accorded to worke by assent With a quarell grounded vpon ryght Thorugh helpe of grace yâ— hath treble myght Them that nat drede with spere nor with shelde In knyghtly wyse for to holde a felde For of knyghthode the fame nor the glorye Nor in armes conquest nor victorye Be nat assured vpon multytude But on manhode so grace lyste conclude Therfore lete vs for to auenge our wronge Firste with ryght make our selfe stronge And our force manly for to shewe Of knyghtes chose taken out a fewe And deuoyde encombraunce of nombre And so we shall our foes beste encombre And of all
of them all And as sayth Guydo Troylus men hym call A manly man founde in barayle And desyrous his fomen to assayle One of the beste in his tyme founde And called was Ector the secounde For his manhode thorugh out Troye boke Within the werre full ofte vpon hym toke Of his knyghthod many hye empryse As the storye hereafter shall deuyse And in his boke lyke as wryte virgyle The poete olde by full soueraynestyle How that the kynge Pryam hadde also By Ecuba other sones two And by recorde of this virgilius The one was called Pollyodorus Whom Pryamus in his grene youthe Whan the comynge was of grekes kouthe To Troye warde in all haste anone With golde treasour and many ryche stone Sent hym forth besyde vnto a kynge Of full great truste to haue hym in kepynge Tyll tyme he sawe what conclusiowne There shulde falle after of the towne And eke what fyne the werre wolde take That vpon them the grekes dyde make ¶ But thylke kynge for false couetyse Of his treasour that ye haue herde deuyse Whan that he sawe fortunes varyaunce Towward Pryam and his vnhappy chaunce Lyke a tyraunt and murdrer also The childes throte made cutte a two And after that he full cruelly Made his men to burye hym pryuely That no man myght his treson vnderstonde Besyde a see depe vnder the stronde The other sone also as Irede In virgyle was called Ganymede Whom Iubyter in a forest hente Gpon a daye as he on huntynge wente And bare hym vp aboue the sterres clere And made hym in heuen his botelere Eternally with hym for to wone In stede of hebes his owne dere sone The firste doughter of kynge Pryamus Hyght Creusa as sayth virgilius In his Eneydos sothly as it was And she was wedded vnto Eneas As sayth this storye and eke this ylke Enee Was wonderfull in his natyuyte Of whom the fader I fynde doutles Was in his tyme called Anchyses That hym begat on Venus the goddesse For after hir he hadde suche fayrenesse That neuer wyght ne coude yet I se A man that was more passynge of beaute Of whom this storye touchyng his workynge Shall you declare many wonder thynge For it is he to whom so great a los Virgyle gaue in his Eneydos For he that boke in worshyp of Enee Compyled hath lyke as ye may se Of his knyghthod many stronge batayle By hym acheued or he wan Itayle After full longe that the royall towne Of Troye was brought to confusiowne And his conquest if ye lyste take hede In this poete ye may by ordre rede And in armes wrought in all his age And his comynge also to Cartage Fro Troyewarde in a lytell whyle All this ye may beholde in virgyle Another doughter also it is founde Kynge Pryam hadde of byrthe the seconde Called cassandra of full great sadnesse And was in maner a dyuyneresse And in eche art hadde experyence Of thynges futur fully prescyence To tell afore what that shall betyde Of whom the fame sprange in costes wyde Whiche kepte hirchaste in virgynyte And aye in prayers and in honeste She ladde hir lyfe and in deuocion After the rytes and relygyon Of paganysme vsed in tho sayes The obseruaunces kepynge of theyrlayes The thirde doughter hyght Pollycene Yongest of all and euer a maydeclene She kepte hir selfe and honest in hir lawe Vnto the tyme that Pirrus hath hir slawe Of shap of fortune was neuer by nature Wrought nor shap a fayrer creature Eke as I fynde this noble kynge also Hadde thyrty sones the boke sayth and no mo Hardy in armes and noble founde at all That called were his sones naturall And they were all I excepte none Worthy knyghtes and manly men echone And theyr names who so lyste to knowe He shall fynde them wryte vpon arowe After this storye eueryche after other Begynnynge firste at the eldest brother And whyles Pryam at the sege laye Tofore the castell to gete it if he maye And theraboute hath many way sought The wofull tydynges be vnto hym brought How the grekes haue take Troye towne And slayne his fader worthy Lamedowne And how the cyte of olde foundaciowne Full pytously was tourned vp so downe The worthy lordes and gentyll men echone Taken and slayne and I lefte nat one Of them a lyue thorugh grekes cruelte After the ruyne alas of theyr cyte And Exion his owne suster dere Lad into exyle with hir eyen clere ¶ Wherfore the kynge in herte is stoned so For very sorowe he ne wyste what to do His sodayne wo gan hym so constrayne He sobbeth wepeth that of mortall payne He thought his herte wolde a sonder breste Of hye distresse for he myght haue no reste And into teeres he gan hymselfe dislylle That for to deye was fynally his wylle ¶ And fortune that can so falsly varye With drery herte he gan to warye That she to hym was so deceyuable So inly cruell and vnmercyable So dispytous and so sterne of face So vengeable and deuoyde of grace For of enuy with a rage thought She hath hir wreste of malys on hȳ wrought And felly shewed what she myght do That in this worlde was neuer wyght so wo As I suppose of no maner age To reken all hir harmes and damage For whiche anone in all that euer he maye Faste he chaungeth all his ryche araye Tryste and heuy with deedly face pale So astoned with this mortall tale That his desyre was to haue be dede With countenaunce enclyned his hede This lyfe he ladde cladde hym all in blacke And sodaynely he the sege bracke And wolde as tho no lenger there abyde But with his folke anone he gan to ryde That pyteously gan with hym to morne And towarde Troye attones they retourne And whan that he hath the cyte founde Playne with the soyle euen with the grounde The hye walles whylom thycke and longe I vere downe that were made so stronge And his toures and paleys pryncypall That was in byldynge so excellent royall So famous ryche and of great nobylnesse He fonde tourned into wyldernesse His people slayne his suster ladde awaye For very wo he ne wyste what to saye For the constreynt of his aduersyte And for his harmes that wyll not recured be For in that tyme he was fully sure Vpon no syde there was no recure Wherfore he can nat but sobbe and wepe And from his brest with syghes sought full depe Broken out with a deed vysage And thus alas in this furyous rage Full pyteously all his hooste and he Without respyte contynewe dayes thre Tyll at the laste the derke skyes blacke Gan of theyr wo in partye for to slacke And the tempest some delegan withdrawe And of theyr wepynge blādysshe gan y◠wawe And whan the floode of wo is ouer paste The ebbe of ioye folowe muste in haste To sorowe euer it wolde theyr hertes shende And at a terme euery wo muste ende For though for frendes men aye wepe
lyke as I haue behyght And in all haste bego out of my syght For vtterly it dothe to great offence Vnto myn eye to hauethe in presence For thorugh disdayne it causeth myn vnreste Than Anthenor thought for the beste It was nat holsom lenger to abyde But caste wysely for rancour or for pryde That it was beste for to bere hym fayre And to his shyppe he gan anone repayre And in all haste by possybylytee Without abode he taken hath the see And gan to sayle and homewarde faste drawe But sodaynly boyle gan the wawe The see to ryse and the cloudes blake For to appere and the wynde a wake Wonder gastfull also was the heuene With dredfull fyre of the bryght leuene The thonder smote the tempest gan to dryue That the maste gan a soder ryue Now alofre now in poynt to drowne The felle weder gan so on them frowne That they awayte nat but vpon dethe Euen at the poynt of yeldynge vp of the brethe For they ne sawe none other remedye And euer amonge they gan clepe and crye To theyr goddes and auowes make And deuoutly for to vndertake Eche of them lyke as he was of age If they escape to go on pylgrymage Lyke the rytes of theyr paynem wyse To the goddes to do theyr sacryfyse So as they were of substaunce of myght And sodaynly the weder derke as nyght With newe lyght by grace gan adawe The see waxe calme and smothe gan the wawe So that of happe amonge euerychone For all the tempest perysshed was nat one But tofore Troye within a sytell space They be aryued euerychone by grace Escaped safe from euery Ieopardye Bothe Anthenor and all his companye And to the temple he toke the right way And in his prayer there full longe he lay With many another also for his sake ThaÌ„kyng their goddes that made them so eskape Euery peryll and tempest of the see And after this vnto the kynge gothe he That with his lordes aboute hym full royall In his paleys and dongyon pryncypall Sat and abode full solempnelye Trewe reporte of this embassatrye And this knyght of all that hath hym falle Hath tolde the kynge tofore his lordes alle THis Anthenor hath first made meÌ„cion Tofore the kynge by iuste relacyon Of his expleyt by ordre by and by And in what wyse and how vncurteysly He was receyued of kynge Pelleus Of the thretes and wordes despytous That he suffred of kynge Thelamon Beynge as ferse as a wood lyon And afterwarde he gan also complayne Of the despyte of the bretherne twayne Of his rebuke and his great drede And at Nestor how he dyde spede That with his lyfe he myght vnneth skape All this he tolde and gan an ende make Of his iourney and eke of his repayre And than Pryam was fully in despayre Outher by forte or by aduenture Euer agayne his suster to recure For he conceyueth in his aduertence By clere reporte of experte euydence That aye the more he was to them benygne The more vngoodly ayen hym they malygne And where he most hym sheweth debonayre There he fonde theÌ„ agaynward most coÌ„trayre So frowardly euer they them quyte Shewynge by sygnes that they sette lyte By his frenshyp for ought he coude aduerte Wherof he was pure sorym his herte That he constrayned right of very nede Compelled was iustly to procede To haue redresse oonly by rygour For profre of peas myght haue no fauour To be admytted by tytle of ryghtwysenesse Thorugh hye despyte of hasty wylfulnesse For euery mene of measour was in vayne Saue oonly werre engendred by disdayne Begonne and caused all of olde hatrede Whiche gan anone suche a bronde to brede Of newe enuye in the kynges breste That Pryamus without more areste Is so iuly with Yre and rancour fret And with disdayne so sore grounde and whet That where so be that he lese or wynne Vpon grekes he wyll a werre begynne And Iuparte manly as a knyght His lyfe his deth bycause he hadde ryght And caste hym firste a nauee for to sende Into grece his fomen for to fende And lyke a knyght his force for to haunte In knyghtly wyse he caste hym for to daunte The pompe of grekes and the sturdynesse And fynally theyr pryde to oppresse ¶ But saye Pryam what infelycyte What newe trouble what hap what destyne Or from aboue what hatefull Influence Descended is by vnware vyolence To mâ—ue the thou canste nat lyue in pees What sodayne sorte what fortune gracelees What chaunce vnhappy without auysenesse What wylfull luste what fonned hardynesse Haue put thy soule out of tranquyllyte To make the werye of thy prosperyte Why hast yâ— fauour in bytter more than swete That canste nat lyue in peas nor in quyete Thou art trauayled with wylfull mocyons Ouer maystred with thy passyons For lacke of reason and of hye prudence Derked and blynde from all prouydence And full barayne to cast afore and se The harmes folowynge of thyne aduersyte Thou were to slowe wysely to consydere For wante of syght made to the slydere Thorugh myste of errour falsly to forueye By pathys wronge from the right weye To voyde reason of wylfull hastynesse Wher was thy guyde wher was thy maistresse Descrecyon so prudent and so ladde A vyselye that shulde the haue ladde From the traces of sensualyte Though it full selde in mannes power be By suffraunce hymselfe to refrayne Whan sodayne Yre doth his herte strayne Thou shuldest afore better a cast thy chaunce Wrought by counsayle nat put in balaunce Thy sykernesse alas why dydest thou so And haue symuled some dele of thy wo And caste thy chaunge well afore the pryme To haue forgoten wronges of olde tyme And thought afore in thyn aduertence That ofte falleth in experyence That whyles men do moste besynesse Vengeably theyr wronges to redresse With double harme or that they are ware They falle agayne in a newe snare And damages that were forgete clene By false reporte of rumoure fresshe and grene Renewed be thorugh the swyfte fame That fleeth so fer to hyndre alordes name Namely whan they to a purpose wende Oonly of hede and se nat the ende For of pryde and of sodayne heete They voyde themselfe out of all quyete Aduertynge nat to worke auyselye Nor the prouerbe that techeth comonlye He that stande sure enhaste hym nat to meue For if he do it shall hym after greue And he that walketh surely on the playne If he stumble it is but in vayne But if so be helyste of his folye Be neclygent to put hym wylfullye In auenture and of hymselfe to reche To eschewe peryll I holde he be a wreche For sothly Pryam thou were to rechelees For to coÌ„mytte thy quyete and the pees So dredefully durynge by no date To cruell fortune or to fykell fate Whose maner is of custome comonly That whan a man trusteth moste soueraynely Of this goddesse blynde and full vnstable Than she to hym is moste deceyuable Hym to
abate from his royall stalle And sodaynly to make hym downe to falle And with a tryp throwe hym on the bake Who that gayne stryueth shall haue lytell take She is so slyely with hir gynne snare That she can make a man fro his welfare With hir pantre that is with fraude englewed Whan he lest weneth for to be remewed Therfore no man haue none affyaunce In fortune nor in hir vary aunce Ne lete no wyght his ease more Iuparte Lyst thou the playe wyll afterwarde departe To tourne his chaunce outher to well or wo For selde in one she doth the game go As ye may se by example of Pryamus That of folye is so desyrous To werke of hede and folowe his owne wylle To trouble alas the calme of his tranquylle As in this boke here after shal be founde Hym and his Cyte platly to confounde And vtterly to his confusyon That afterwarde by longe successyon It shal be red in storye and in fable And remembred with dytees delytable To do pleasaunce to them that shall it here That by example they may beware and lere Of hasty luste or of volunte To begyn a thynge wherin no suerte Dependeth aye as stryfe werre and debate For in such playe vnwarely cometh chek mate And harme I done to late is to amende Whose fyne is ofte other than they wende In this storye as ye shall after se And lete Pryam alwaye your myrour be Hasty errour by tymes to correcte For I anone my poyntell wyll directe After the maner of his traces rude Of this storye the remenaunt to conclude THis worthy kyng euer of one sentence Aye more more fyred with feruence Hath his breuettes and his letters sente For his lordes to holde a parlemente And them coÌ„maunded in al the hast they may To come anone at theyr assygned day From euery warde partye of the towne For to assemble in noble Ilyowne Chefe of his reygne whan they were echone With hym present this noble kynge anone Tofore them all as shortly as he can His wyll declareth and thus he began Syres quod he bycause ye be wyse It nedeth nat longe processe to deuyse For to reherse of your comynge cause But for to tell shortly in a clause What I meane and make no delay Ye wot how I now this other day Sent into Grece by counsayle of you all A knyght of myne that Anthenor men call To haue recured Exyona agayne Whose message was nat but in vayne For of grekes full vncurteysly He was receyued and dispytously Threte and rebuked in poynt to haue be dede Vnneth he myght escape with his hede They put on hym suche offence and blame That reboundeth to our aldershame And day by day it must encrease more But we ordayne some remedye therfore For there as we all mesour haue them offred They haue to vs werre and stryfe yprofâ—ed Of hye despyte of rancour and of hete And of malys cruelly vs threte And where as we wolde peas purchace For wronges done they fellyvs manace And for yâ— harmes that they haue vs wrought They nat purpose playnly in theyr thought Other redresse nor amendes make But vtterly with werre vs to awake Whose ioye is fully encrease of our greuaunce So wolde god they were with repentaunce Contryte in herte to stynte all myschefe That lykly is to falle and the grefe On outher parte that it myght ouer slyde But they alas with rancour with pryde Ar swolle of newe to threte more and more But god diffende halfe dele of the sore By infortune euer shulde fall As they purpose on any of vs all But sythe they haue shape thus for vs We must resyste theyr wyll malycyous Thorugh myght of god of necessyte In our diffence it wyll none other be And beste I holde vnto oure entent To worke and do all by one assent So we our purpose sonest shall acheue Where is discorde there may no quarell preue For on that parte where hertes be nat one Victorye may in no wyse gone Chefe of conquest is peas and vnyte Right as discorde is of aduersyte Ouyde of hertes maketh rewmes sure Dyuysyon causeth discomfyture Wherfore I rede of o wyll and herte Lette vs set on to do the grekes smerte For sothfastly if ye lyst to se I dare afferme that we strenger be Than the Grekes vpon euery parte And haue of armes parfytely the arte And be a couÌ„ted of knyghthod crop and roote And plente haue of men on hors and foote Arrayed well eueryche in his degre And therwith also stronge is our Cyte For to withstonde our fomen euerychone You counsaylynge to ordayne anone Firste to assemble hooly your nauye And stuffe them strongly with our Chyualrye And into grece hastely them sende The proude grekes manly to offende And of iuste cause and by tytle of ryght Oa them werre with all our full myght Theyr townes brenne and theyr feldes waste With herte vnfayned also vs enhaste To quyte them as they deserued haue For my rede we shall none of them saue But cruelly take on them vengeaunce Ne hath no fere ne let be no greuaunce Though they afore by fortune were victoures To â—lee our auncetres and progenytoures For he that was of vnhap firste put downe Remounteth ofte to full hye renowne By the chaunge and the varyaunce Of werre and stryfe that euer is in balaunce For he that is this day assured wele Tomorowe he is caste downe of the whele The victor ofte put in aduenture And vanquysshed by discomfyture Of hym that he hadde afore victorye Nor vp now downe in armes stande yâ— glorye In martes chaunce no man hym assure But as it cometh let hym take his eure For gery Mars by his influence Can gyue a man whylom excellence To wynne a pryse lyke a conqueroure And sodaynly as a somer floure He can his honour make for to fade For whan that he his aspectis glade For a man lysteth for to wrythe His renowne olde goth awaye as blythe After a floode an ebbe foloweth aye As men deserue prayse them for a daye For thoughe Phebus this day mery shyne Tomorowe he may his bemes downe declyne Thorugh the thycknesse of the mystes trouble Ryght so of Mars are the chaunces double Now vp now downe now lowe now alofte As fortune whiche that chaungeth ofte Lyst on hir whele make a man assende And vnwarely downe agayne descende Stoundemele his honoure to auaunce And with asweygh throwe hym to myschauÌ„ce Nowe with fauour set hym vp full hye Est auale hym with twynclynge of an eye Hir playe vnstable tourneth as a balle Whyle one gothe vp a nother hath a falle She reyseth one and doth a nother loute For euery man whan it cometh aboute Must take his tourne as hir play requereth Who is experte and hir fraudes lereth Shall with hir sugre fynde galle meynt And hir hony aye with bytter spreynt In peas and werre in honour and fame In dignytes in renowne and in shame
mete he called hath Parys And Dephebus also that was full wys And secretly bad they shulde go The same day with other lordes mo To Panomye in all the haste they may To make them redy agayne a certayne day With all the aray of worthy chyualrye That they may gete in theyr companye Towardes grece to sayle hastely And after that the kynge all sodaynely The nexte day made his counsayle calle And euen thus he sayde afore them alle ¶ O noble lyeges beynge now present My purpose is to say you myn entent Without abode to here it if ye lyste As I suppose to you is nat vnwyste How the grekes of pryde and tyrannye Of malys olde compassed by enuye In many wyse haue agayne vs wrought Whiche is so grene that I foryete nought For day by day encreasynge euer mo By remembraunce renewed is my wo Whan I recorde and caste vp and downe Our greues all and how that Exyowne In seruytude amonge them doth soiourne Whiche ofte a day causeth me to mourne And my herte almost asonder ryue For to consyder and se it by my lyue Whose cruelte we haue to dere bought Natwithstandynge that I haue meanes sought To haue be in reste without any more Whan into Grece I sent Anthenore Peasybly my suster to recure And the surplus pacyently to endure But all for nought they toke of it no hede For all that I offred of goodlyhede It was nat herde for lacke of gentyllesse Recorde of whiche doubleth my distresse ¶ Wherfore we muste as techeth Suxgerye With sharpe yrons seke remedye To cutte away by the roote rounde The proude flesshe that groweth in the grounde Whiche wyll nat voyde with oyntementes softe Albe that they be layde therto full ofte Right so by example we must by duresse Gette recure whan that with fayrenesse We may none haue wherfore by your aduyse My purpose is to sende forthe Paryse Into grece some lady there to wyn And brynge hir home we shall here within Kepe hir stronge maugre who sayth nay Tyll that we se some agreable day That they be fayne lyke myn oppynyon To haue eschaunge for hir of Exyon My dere suster whom I loue so We may nat fayle that it shall be do So the goddes be to vs fauourable And this counsayle be also acceptable To you echone as it is to me For whan a kynge toucheth a comonte Of wyse men as it is affermed Of all the comon it ought be confermed Thynge touchynge all shulde be apreued Of all echone or it were acheued Wherfore I caste by aduyse of you echone Playnly to werke and with that worde anone This noble Pryam was sodaynly in pease And after that amonges all the prease Whan all was whyste in theyr aller syght A knyght vp rose and Pentheus he hyght That sone was to Euforbyus De transformatis as sayth Ouydius Into whom he fayneth that there was Whylom the soule of Pictagoras Hooly transsumed so as wryte Ouyde As touchynge that I wyll no lenger byde But tell forth of this Pentheus Afore the kynge whiche gan his tale thus My lyege lorde vnto your hye noblesse Displease it nat nor to your worthynesse In presence of your mageste That I shall say for to acquyte me Towardes you of my fayth and trouthe For soth fastly in me may be no slouthe Touchynge your honour that without drede With zele of faythe I brenne as doth the glede Of all harmes to bydde you beware For doutelesse afferme well I dare If ye stande in your firste aduyse As ye purpose to sende forth Paryse I doute it nat that it shall you rewe For god well wore of olde and nat of newe I had a fader called Euforbyus Discrete and wyse and right vertuous And knowynge had afore of euery thynge By prescyence and byfore wyttynge To tell playnly thorugh his phylosophye So heuenly he sawe with his hertes eye That there â—e was no thynge so secree Hyd from his knowynge nor no pryuetee That he it knewe he was of wyt so sage And at the laste whan he was of age An hondred yere with lokkes gray and hore I can remembre how he complayned sore And wepte also of pyte tenderly Fully affermynge if Parys vtterly Wente into grece to rauysshe hym a wyfe There shulde folowe suche a mortall stryfe Vpon vs all that sothly this Cyte Shulde into asshes and scyndres tourned be And that there shulde nothynge vs socoure That grekes swerde shall cruelly deuoure Both hye and lowe and playnly spare none Wherfore I praye amonge you euerychone Of that I tell haue no despyte Your wronge to venge put in respyte And rancour olde I rede that ye lete And the tranquylle now of your quyete Of hastynesse that ye nat submytte To fortune that can so falsely flytte Perturbe nat for none olde enmyte With newe sterynge your felycyte For if that ye to this Iourney assente Ye euerychone full sore shall repente And if ye wyll algates thether sende In Parys stede let some other wende Lyst his vyage be to you no spede This my counsayse and this is full my rede Sayde vnder supporte oonly of your grace And sodaynly they gan echone to chace At Pentheus and loude agayne hym crye Repreuynge hym and the prophecye Of his fader to theyr confucion ¶ But o alas the reuolucion Of ioye or wo or of felycyte For thynge ordeyned nedes must be The ordre of thynges with fate is so englewed For that shall falle may nat be eschewed Whiche caused them for to assente in one Vndiscretly that Parys shulde gone Vnhappely with hap they were enuolued ¶ And thê° coÌ„cludyÌ„g theyr couÌ„sayl is dissolued But casuelly it befell right than That this aduyse vnto the ere 's ran Of Cassandra and she with great afray Of sodayne wo gan crye welaway ¶ Alas quod she alas what wyll ye do What shall Parys now into grece go And with that worde she braste out to wepe Full pytously with inwarde syghes depe She gan to wayle and swowne for the payne And furyously with noyse to complayne With wofull rage and many pytous sowne She made a mortall lamentaciowne For to be dede she myght hir nat withholde With heer to torne and with fystes folde She sayde alas more than an hondred sythe A stormy fortune why lyst thou to kythe Thy cruell force to oure aduersyte Vpon vs all and vpon this Cyte Of mortall yre and gery vyolence With swerde of vengeauÌ„ce worse thaÌ„ pestylence ¶ O Troye Troye what is thy gylte alas What hast thou done what is thy trespas To be euersed and tourned into nought With wylde fyre thy synne is dere abought A Pryam kynge vncely is thy chaunce What hast thou gylte outher do greuaunce To thy goddes or wyrched thorugh vnryght Them to prouoke to shewe theyr cruell myght Vpon thy blode alas what hast thou do O moder myn O Ecuba also What maner cryme or importable offence Hast thou wrought to haue suche recompence The day to abyde
be bonde and assuraunce To be all one without varyaunce And than in haste they togydre gone To theyr shyppes and shope them forth anone With Pirrodus goynge by theyr syde They hale vp the anker and no lenger byde But sayle forthe Calcas and they twayne Towarde Grece them nedeth nat complayne On wynde and wawe tyll they aryued be At Athenes that stode vpon the see A large Cyte of olde foundacion And Achilles to kynge Agamenon Hath Calcas brought and also Pirrodus And whan the grekes the story telleth vs Assembled were they togyder went Tofore the kynge and Calcas represent To all the lordes and no lenger dwell And right anone Achilles gan to tell Without abode in Delos how they mette Tofore Appollo where they answere fette And how the god hath playnely determyned The grekes purpose how it shal be fyned Vpon Troyans and bad Calcas also In no wyse that he to Troye go But with grekes that he abyde stylle Tyll they theyr purpose fynally fulfylle Of whiche thynge the grekes glad of chere Calcas accepte with herte full entere For one of them confederat be bonde To be all one on water and on londe Without chaunge or any varyaunce The othe is made and put in remembraunce And they agayne fully hym assure To cherysshe hym whyle theyr lyfe may dure For wele or wo and so they made an ende And after parte and to theyr lodgynge wende TyÌ„ll on the morowe after yâ— sterry nyght Whan Aurora was gladded with the lyght Of Phebus vemes the grekes vp aryse And to theyr goddes with many sacryfyse They do honour in what they can or maye And deuoutly holdynge a feste daye After theyr rytes meynt with loue and drede In remembraunce of the good spede And of the answere that goddes haue them sent So agreable vnto theyr entent By Pirrodus and by Achilles And after this amonges all the pres Is Calcas come tofore Agamenon All his lordes syttynge enuyron Lyke theyr estates eche in his place dewe And humbly gan them to salewe Vpon his knees with sobre couÌ„tenaunce And prayed them it be no displesaunce To stynte a whyle and gyue hym audyence And right anone as made was sylence Amonge them all Calcas gan abrayde And euen thus full soberly he sayde OSyres quod he and my lordes dere Kynges Prynces dukes that be here Sonoble echone worthy and famous And eke so manly and so vertuous Whiche in this place be now here present Is nat the fyne and chefe of your entent And cause also why that ye echone Assembled be to Troye for togone With this power and this great strengthe Your purpose is to longe drawe a lengthe And differred forthe fro day to daye To your damage platly this no naye For to longe ye soiourne in this yle And trowe ye nat that Pryam in this whyle Hath his espyes amonge you pryuelye I wote it we le I saye you faythfullye To knowe the fyne of our gouernaunce And he there whyles may make purueaunce Hym to defende whyle ye m ydell reste Me semeth sothly ye do nat for the beste For in abydynge and in suche delayes Great harme may fall certayne this no nay is I preue it thus for playnely whyle that ye To your enmyes graunte lyberte Them to puruey they may with myghty haÌ„de Enforce them your power to withstande With theyr frendes and theyr allyaunce And at leyser make theyr ordynaunce It is folye that ye so differre Syth ye be redy for to make a werre On your ennemyes with euery circuÌ„staunce For no thynge may a quarell so auaunce As hasty suyte it wyll the sharper byte The Iren hoote tyme is for to smyte And nat abyde tyll that it be colde For nouther than it plye wyll nor folde Go sette vpon all of one accorde And to shyppe anone within borde Enhaste you for tyme is to remewe With all your myght your quarell to pursewe Agaynst them that haue to you trespassed How many dayes be of somer passed And many monthes ronne and ouer slyde And Titan ofte with his chare hath ryde From eest to west and in the wawes depe His stremes bathed whyle ye haue leyne aslepe And spent your tyme in this place thus Whyle that the wynde called zephyrus Benyngnely enspyred hath a lofte The a tempre eyer the wether fayre softe The calme see from wawes stylle and playne Whyles ye waste your dayes here in vayne That whan your foon therto take hede They wyll suppose that it be for drede And be more bolde to sette of you but lyte Truste forsothe for I wyll me quyte Trewely to you lyke as I am bounde And thynke how ye haue the goddes founde There towarde benyngne and fortunat Your honour saued in hye and lowe estat And so shall forthe if your ingratytude Prouoke them nat your purpose to delude Wylfully to slouthe your fortune No wonder is though they nat contune Towardes you for to shewe theyr grace Wherfore I rede hense for to pace Demynge the grekes playnely of the see For weryed and faynted hadde be With longe saylynge parbraked and forbroke Wherfore they caue on them haue be wroke All sodaynely and sette on the hede And put themselfe in aduenture and drede Of rakelnesse vn aduysely Wherof to them selfe vnhappely It befell whan they the grekes mette With speres longe and swerdes sharpe whette Eche on other manhode for to shewe But for cause Troyans were to fewe To yssue out they dyde folylye The felde was nat parted egallye For the grekes were innumerable That them to mete Troyans were nat able For that tyme they myght nat suffyse They toke on them to passynge hye empryse And yet they ne wold for no thyng theÌ„ wdrawe Tyll that they were wounded and yslawe And ouerlayne of grekes vtterly Now here now there bore downe cruelly Mercyles as Guy do dath reporte That them behoueth home agayne resorte Of very nede and necessytee And all attones gan for to flee I mene suche as were lefte a lyue To the castell they hasâ—ed them full blyue For they ne myght no lenger holde felde Agaynst grekes with spere nor with shelde They were to feble shortly to conclude To abyde so great a multytude And as they flee the grekes a great pase Ne cease nat to sewe on the chase Full hastely to the castell gate And entre in and by cruell fate They kyll and slee both hye and lowe They spare none ne lyste no wyghte to knowe Of none estate but felly hym oppresse And what they fonde golde and eke rychesse Vnto shyppe they caryed anone And of the castell they lefte nat a stone Aboue another but turned vp so downe Both walle toure and the chefe donge owne That no thynge stode so they vnder myne And whan all was brought vnto ruyne Grekes anone to theyr shyppes haste Of one assent and purpose as faste Without abode of one wyll and herte Fro that hauen playnely to dyuerte And to sayle Towarde
Of his lordes were set in theyr degre And whan the kynge sawe oportunyte That was there made scylence euery where His lyeges standynge enuyron here there The kynge of chere sad and eke Iocounde As he that was of speche full faucounde Began his tale with sobre countenaunce The effect of whiche was this in substaunce Syres quod he full worthy of degre Of very right and necessyte We be compelled bothe hye and lowe With all our myght lyke as ye well knowe To redresse a thynge that is amys For thorugh the worlde as it reported is We be of force of power and of myght Of worthynesse in euery wyghtes syght Moste renowmed and moste worshypable And ydempt and Iuged for moste able Of all people and lyklyest to stonde For to parforme what we take an honde Who that euer grutcheth or sayth nay Yer me semeth if it be to your pay Thylke power moste is acceptable Vnto goddes and lengest stondeth stable That is deuoyde of surquedry and pryde For it is kouth vpon euery syde In eche lande bothe of one and all How many harmes and greues haue befall Thorugh rancoure oonly pryde wylfulnesse So inportable as I coude expresse Thorugh pryde there is done offence The hye goddes make resistence To all tho that be surquydous Whiche is a vyce so contraryous That it may in no place abyde And in good fayth manhode is no pryde For who that hath any acqueyntaunce Outher by frendshyp or by alyaunce With a proude man to be confederate With hym in herte of hye or lowe estate He nedes muste what euer that he be To many other of necessyte Be lothsome firste enmy and contrayre For no thynge may a man so moche appayre As pryde in sothe in hye or lowe degre Wherfore I rede playnly how that we This foule vyce out of our herte arrace That our quarell may haue the more grace And specyally that our dedes all Conueyed be how euer that it fall By rightwysnesse more than volunte For if trouthe our sothfaste guyde be Vs to directe by his rightfull lyne Than our quarell shall aye in honour shyne And contune in full felycyte And ferthermore this knowe all ye How we are come for to do vengeaunce With our frendshyppe and out alyaunce Vpon Pryam for wronges done of olde By hym and his as I haue ofte tolde And here vpon we haue his grounde ytake And some of his maked to a wake With manfull hande and his castelles stronge Ibete downe that stonde haue so longe And take there the rychesseê that we founde And slewe his men with many blody wounde And harmes mo done in his countre That I wote well if theyr enmyte Was vnto vs great and moche afore I dare saye now it is in double more That if that they auenged myght be On vs echone anone ye shulde se Theyr great Ire so cruell and so huge Be execute without more refuge And yet in sothe I wote they haue espyed Our beynge here though we be nat askyred Of them as yet I dare saye vtterly They are well ware that we are faste by And ouer more this wote I well also Of the harmes that we haue them do The whiche as yet be but fresshe and grene If they were stronge and myghty to sustene A werre on vs anone they wolde gynne And yet the Cyte in whiche they be inne Is walled stronge and toured rounde aboute That they wene fully out of doute With the meyne that they haue gadred in Of theyr alyes that we shall nat wyn Of them but smale in werre nor in stryfe For he in sothe hath a prerogatyfe And auauntage that in his countre Hym selfe diffendeth namely if that he Be stuffed stronge of frendes hym besyde And of alyes where he dothe abyde Lyke as the Rauen with his fethers blake Within his nest wyll ofte tyme make Agayne the Faukon gentyll of nature Full harde diffence whyles he may dure Or that he be vaynquysshed and outrayed And yet some whyle the Faukon is delayed Whyles the Rauen besyde his nest doth flee Within his courte at his lyberte As euery foule is frowarde to areste For to be daunted in his owne neste ANd yet these wordes to you I nat saye In any wyse to put in a fraye Your knyghtly herte so manly and so stable Nor that to you it shulde be doutabse But the Troyans that we shall confounde And theyr Cyte in whiche they habounde Playnely destroye albe that it be stronge And they and all be them amonge Shall fynally consumpt be with dethe Thorowe grekes swerde yelde vp the brethe ¶ But the cause without any drede Why I saye thus is that ye take hede For any pryde or presumpcyon To aduerte in your discrecyon So prudently that reason in this nede For any haste may our brydell lede And so ordayne or we hense wende That laude and prayse after the ende May be reported as I haue deuysed For many man that hath nat be aduysed In his pursuyte for lacke of prouydence To se tofore in his aduertence What shuld falle to deth it hath them brought Suche wylfull haste were good to be thought Of vs afore by examynacyon And well discussed by reuolucyon ¶ Of thynkynge ofte that we nat repente And firste remembre how that Pryam sente To vs but late oonly for Exyon That yet is holde of kynge Thelamon Whiche was of vs without aduysement Vndiscretely denyed by assent Whiche hath to vs be none aduauntage But grounde and rote of full great damage For if that we thorugh wyse purueaunce Of hir hadde made delyueraunce The harmes great had be eschewed That after were of Parys so pursewed In the temple of Cythera That buylde is besyde Eirrea The tresoure great also that he hadde And Iewelles that he with hym ladde Than to Troye and the great rychesse The slaughter of men and the heuynesse That yet is made for the quene Eleyne Thorughoute Grece and the great payne Of Menelay all hadde ben vnwrought If we hadde sene this in our thought Wysely afore and Exyon restored Than hadde nat the harmes be so mourned On vs echone in very soth fastnesse Nor spent our laboure so in ydelnesse Tresoure nor good wasted so in vayne Nor come so ferre for to fetche agayne The quene Eleyne with costes inportable Withouten harmes now in eschewable ANd for all this yet ne wote we Whether to ioye or aduersyte The thynge shall tourne that we be aboute Syth ofte sythe dependent and in doute Is fatall thynge vnsyker and vnstable And fro the gynnynge ofte varyable The ende is sene fortune can transmewe Hir gery cours and therfore to eschewe The harmes lykly possyble for to fall My counsayle is here amonge you all Vpon trauayle trauayle to eschewe In this mater are we further sewe To Pryamus without any more To sende firste agayne for to restore The quene Eleyne as right and reason is And other harmes done eke by Parys After his trespas and offency
on Iustely to make restytucyon Than may we all in worshyp and honour Retourne home without more labour If they assente to do as we requere And our axynge if they lyste nat here But folyly of theyr wylfulnesse Refuse it than our worthynesse Is double assured on asyker grounde By iuste tytle Troyans to confounde With thynges two we shal be vnder pyght Firste our power borne vp with our ryght Shall for vs fyght our quarell to dareyne In balaunce to weye atwixe vs weyne To fyne that we shal be more excused For they tofore haue wylfully refused Oure iuste profers made to them afore And we shal be thorugh the worlde therfore Without spot of trespas or of blame Of mysreport in hyndrynge of our name Where they of folye shall ynoted be Of wylfull wodenesse playnely where that we Shall stande free our power for to vse And euery man shall vs well excuse Though that we do execucyon By takynge vengeaunce for their offencyon Of man and childe of eche sect and age That shall of deth holde the passage And by the swerde without mercy pace One and other there is no better grace BVt yet tofore I counsayle take hede That ye to them all mesoure bede This holde I beste and moost sykernesse And worke now by good auysenesse Amonge your selfe and no lenger tarye To whiche counsayle some were contrarye And varyaunt to his oppynyon Saue they that were of moost discrecyon Assented be playnely to this ende And chosen haue to Pryam for to sende Amonges them the embassy at to spede Wyse Vlixes and worthy Dyomede The whiche anone gan them redy make And shope them forthe and theyr way take Towarde Troye as any lyne ryght Whan the sonne shone full shene and bryght Holdynge the course of his firy spere In mydday arke wonder bryght and clere And gylte eche hylle vale playne roche With his bemes whan they dyde approche To the walles and gates of the towne And in they go without noyse or sowne Full well â—esene and in their porte them hadde Right manfully and the way them ladde To the paleyes streyght as any lyne Them nedeth nat asyde to declyne But into a court large wyde and square And they ful knightly for no wyght wold spare Vnto the effecte manly to procede To do theyr charge without fere or drede For the entre was to them nat refused For tho dayes paraunter was nat vsed To haue no conduyte for embassatrye The custome was to no man to denye As I suppose entre nor passage If it so were he come for message And in this court buylded so ryally Whan they come they meruayled full greatly The royall syght of so huge strengthe So well complete bothe in brede and lengthe For they nat hadde in theyr lyfe to fore Sene none so fayre yet they wonder more Into the Paleyes as they togyder gone That paued was all of Iasper stone Of a tree that amyddes stode On which to loke they thought it dyd theÌ„ gode Musynge where it were Artifycyall Erect or sette by magyk naturall Or by engyne of werkemen coryous Thorugh subtyll craftes superiticyous Or other werke of Nygromancye Or profounde castyuge of Phylosophye By apparence or illusyon Outher by crafte of Incantacyon Vp and downe they caste in theyr mynde Out by reason if they coude fynde Rote and grounde of this wonder werke But the trouthe was to them so derke That in theyr wytte though they longe trace The pryuyte they can out compace To conceyue how it was possyble For to the eye as it was vysyble In very sothe without any fable To mannes hande so it was palpable Of whiche the stocke of Guydo as I tolde In soth fastnesse was of pured golde Whiche shone as bryght as the somer sonne To enlumyne thynges that were donne And the body as a maste was ryght Proporcyoned moost goodly to the syght Substancyall and of huge strengthe And twelue cubytes the body was of lengthe And the croppe rounde and large of brede And in compas gan so flourysshe and sprede That all the playne aboute enuyrowne With the bowes was shadowed vp and downe The ryche braunches and the leues fayre Twayne and twayne ioyned as a payre One of golde a nother syluer shene And meynt amonge with stones whyte grene Some rede and some sapher hewed And euery daye the blomes were renewed And the blossomes with many sondry fuyte For stones ynde it bare in stede of fruyte As sayth Guydo I can no ferther telle And the Grekes wyll no lenger dwalle But holde theyr way by many sondry went To parfourme the fyne of theyr entent Tyll they atteyne the chambre pryncypall Where Pryamus in his see royall Lyke his estate in full kyngly wyse Sat and aboute full prudent and full wyse His lordes all in settes hym besyde Whan the grekes surquedous of pryde With sterne there and frowarde couÌ„tenaunce As they that had lytell remembraunce Of gentyllesse nor of curtesye For as Guydo doth playnely specyfye Entrynge in they taken haue theyr place In the opposyte of the kynges face And set them downe without more sermon Any obeyinge or salutacyon Worshyp honour or any reuerence Done of the kynge for all his excellence In pretudyce of all gentyllesse And than anone Vlixes gan expresse Cause of theyr comynge to kynge Pryamus Without abode sayinge euen thus Nat forberynge presence of the kynge OEruayle nat nor haue no wondrynge Though we to yâ— ne do no honour dewe In our comynge the for to salewe Syth it ne longeth in sothe as thynketh me Where rancour is and hertely enmyte Or dedely hate with salutacyons Or with fayned false affeccyons For to shewe where hertes be a fyre For naturally no man shall desyre Of his enmye the helthe nor welfare And platly now me lyste nat for to spare Shortly to shewe the fyne of our entent Lyke as we haue in coÌ„maundement In our message from Agamenowne The noble kynge moost worthy of reuowne Whiche vs hath sent there is no more to seyne Now vnto the for the quene Eleyne That was rauysshed out of grekes lande And brought to Troy by force of myghty haÌ„de Agaynst right and by vyolence Wherfore shortly without more offence We iustely axe without more demaunde That thou anone rightfully coÌ„maunde To Menelay that she be sent agayne And with all this we axe nat in vayne That thou make restytucyon Of wronges done in that regyon Of pylfres great slaughter and roberye By Parys done of wylfull tyrannye Whiche is thy sone and by the susteyned And in his errour wrongefully meynteyned Wherfore come of and fully condescende Without grutchynge this wronges to amende For so thou mayste beste the goddes queme Lyke as thou myght in thy reason deme As right requereth to worke as the wyse For if so be that thou now despyse To execute that I haue tolde the here Truste me right well a lesson thou shalt lere Whiche thou and thyne shall after sore rewe Without feynynge thou
the kyng haue thaÌ„ his see So inwardely with rancour fret was he That he ne myght hymselfe nat refrayne And sayde syr so ye nat disdayne That I shall saye me semeth that it is Well accordynge whan one hath sayde amys And reklesly spoken vnaduysed Of his folye that he be chastysed That other may example by hym take To be well ware suche noyse crye to make And specyally in open audyence So to offende your toyall excellence And sothely yet I wote well that I myght So me gouerne playnely in your syght Of hastynesse without aduysement That I shulde by your coÌ„maundement The deth deserue for my great offence And trewely yet ne were for your presence Of this twayne that haue so yspoke Without abode I shulde anone be wroke For it were worthy and right well syttynge Whan that a fole in presence of kynge Is bolde or hardy of presumpcyon To take on hym of indiscrecyon Thynge to reherce concludynge in sentence Preiudyce of your magnyfycence That he were taught better to gouerne His large tunge to konne bet diserne Whan he shall speke or whan be in pese To suffre hym to renne out of lese As doth he this that spoke hath so large Wherfore in hast I counsayle hym and charge Without abode or any worde mo Out of your syght anone he be a go For it is beste to do as I hym rede TO whom anone ful proudly Dyomede Nat astoned but a with sterne loke To Eneas that for yre quoke Answered agayne with wordes but a fewe And sayde syr thy wordes doth well shewe What so thou be that thou art right wyse Well is that kynge that doth by thyne aduyse Or hath the nye of counsayle for to be For he ne may erre in no degre That art so rightfull in thy iugement Of wylfulnesse without aduysement To causea lorde his bondes for to pace So wolde god in some other place That I myght by fauoure of fortune Mete with the at leyser oportune Lyke my desyre that canst so well endyte In olde fables thy labour for to quyte And the to thanke for thy gentyll there Whiche so knyghtly thou hast vs shewed here Truste well therto and haue therof no drede ANd tho Vlixes of this Dyomede Gan interrupte his wordê prudently And to hym sayde full aduysely That it was beste to stynte and be styll And now we knowe fully all the wyll Quod vlires full manly to the kynge We wyll go hense without more tariynge Out of thy syght to Agamenon And make to hym playne relacyon Of thy answer in ordre by and by And to horse they went sodaynly And in shorte tyme so hast them in theyr waye That they be come there is no more to saye Where the kynge satte in his tentorye And worde by worde as came to memorye They reherce the substraunce euery dele Wherof the grekes lyke no thynge wele Conceyuynge full there was no remedye As by reporte of the embassatrye Saue oonly this vtterly procede How they them shall gouerne in this nede Agayne Troyans of necessyte For they well wot it may none other be And assented both in wyll and bede To purueye them faste they them spede In this storye as I shall after fynde BVt or that I make therof mynde I muste a whyle of Eneas endyte As myn Auctor lyst of hym to wryte The whiche sothly as bokes saye he was This manly Troyan this famous Eneas Anchisis sone of great wortynesse Whylom gete of Venus the goddesse Conqueroure of many regyon Whan Troye was brought to destruccyon He wente his waye by the large see Called Tyrene and saylynge forth goth he By many coste and many narowe passage Many daunger tyll into Cartage He ryued is and then segan to sayle To the conquest of the great ytale And so to Rome he hath the way take Of whose ofsprynge as Auctours make Came Augustus Cesar the Emperour That was whylom so noble a conquerour That his renowne to this daye doth shyne And of Enee the Emperour Iustyne In his boke called Autentykes Full playnely wryt therin the rubrykes That after Cesar so as Cesares Be named yet right so Eneades After Enee the name shulde bere Whiche fro Troye comen was so fere Vnto ytayle and of this Eneas As I haue tolde Cesar descended was Downe lyne right full manly and royall That firste in Rome by sceptre imperyall Mauge theyr myght had gouernaunce And of wysoome sette in gouernaunce Comon thynges touchynge the Cytee And to procede ferther of Enee Hooly his lyfe and knyghthode by and by If that ye lyste to rede ceryously Ye maye se all full Autentyke of style In Eneydos compyled of virgyle Albe it so that this noble clerke Was graue afore or complete was his werke As bokes olde make mencyon ¶ How kynge Agamenon sent Achylles and Thelephus into the yle of Messa for vitaylles and how they slewe the kynge and made The lephus kynge after his deth Ca. xx BVt nowe agayne to Agamenon Without more my style I wyl retourne The whiche kynge wyll no more soiourne In this mater delayes for to make But in all haste he hath his counsayle take Of his lordes beynge there present And suche as were nat he hath after sent For one and all Erlys Dukes and kynges And sayde syres amonge other thynges To our Iourney that be necessarye My counsayle is no lenger that we tarye But firste of all to make ordynaunce By one assent with prudent purueaunce That alder firste we shape for vytayle Without whiche none hoost may auayle To parforme a Iourney thryftely Wherfore I rede here but faste by If it to you be lykynge and plesaunce Into an yle full of habundaunce Called Messa that we sende anone And at one worde assented euerychone They chosen haue worthy Achylles And Geleffus the sone of Hercules To execute this purpose fynally With many worthy in theyr company I chosen out thorugh the hoost anone With Achylles to Messa for to gone In whiche lande ryche and plenteuous Reygned a kynge worthy and famous That Tentran hyght whiche in tranquyllyté Without werre or aduersyte Hadde holde his Sceptre and his royall sete In this yle so plesaunt and so mete Albe that some saye that this lytell yle To the kyngdome longeth of Cecyle And hath his name gyuen of plente After Messane an huge great Cyte Full plenteuous both on see and lande The whiche kyngdome as I vnderstande Is sayde Messana of Messes in latyne Thorugh habundaunce of fruyt corne wyne At the aryuayle on the playnes large Where they are wonte for to stuffe and charge Marchaunt shyppes of straunge fer countree That thyder sayle by the large see To fetche vytaylle aye fro yere to yere Fro many coste of landes fer and nere Oonly by eschaunge of other march aundyse And eke also as bokes can deuyse And as Guydo full playnely telleth vs That of a kynge called Messanus This countre firste of Messa toke the name That in his tyme was of
he telleth of the fyght Whan they entred and of theyr welcomynge And ceryously he tolde eke of the kynge That Tentran hyghte playnely also howe Achilles amydde the selde hym slowe And or his dethe how he of hole entent Fully ordeyned in his testament Thelephus also to be his heyre All this he tolde and eke of his reâ—eyre Vnto the see and eke of the vytayle And Thelephus how he wyll nat fayle To sende them all that may them please Of whiche thynge the grekes in great ease Were brought of herte and lyke wonder well Whan Achilles hadde tolde them euerydell And greatly preysed his hye prouydence His manhode bothe and his sapyence In his out beynge that he bare hym so And after this Achilles is go To his lodgynge a lytell there besyde Where his knyghtes vpon hym abyde Myrundones full glade of his comynge And hym receyued as longeth to a kynge Where he abode and rested hym a whyle But for Guydo declyneth here his style From the grekes to them of Troye towne I muste also make dygressy owne Of myne Auctor the steppes for to shewe Lyke as it is conuenyent and dewe To my matere syth he is my guyde And for a whyle grekes sette asyde And reherce how Dares Frygyus In Troye booke declareth vnto vs And ceryously maketh mency owne Of the lordes that came to Troye towne To helpe them manly in theyr defence Agaynst grekes to make resystence With ordynaunce of many dyuerse thynges There came to them Erles Dukes Kynges As in Dares playnely is made mynde Rede his boke and there ye may it fynde And alder firste I rede how that he Specyally speketh of kynges thre Full manly 〈◊〉 and also of great â—aâ—e 〈…〉 〈…〉 wryteth thus 〈…〉 of them â— was called Pandaâ—us And as I rede Thabet the secounde The thuâ—e Andastrus lyke as it is founde And as Gâ—ydo â— lyste to specysye 〈…〉 knyghtes in theyr companye 〈◊〉 manly men they were euerychon And from an Iâ— called colloson Lyke as Dares lyketh to expresse There came also of excellent prowesse 〈…〉 of whiche the firste was 〈…〉 ynamed Caryas And the seconde â— hyghte ymasyus 〈◊〉 the thirdeâ— the .iiij. Amphymacus And fyue thousande worthy knyghtes alle There came with them manly for to falle Vpon grekes in helpynge of the towne And from an yie of full great renowne Called lyâ—ye came the kynge Glaucon And â—ith hym brought his sone Spardon A noble knyght in armes full famous And was allyed to kynge Pryamus And thre thousande if I shall nat fayne There came of knyghtê with these lordes twayne And from larys a ryche lande also As I fynde there came kynges two And them to quyte manly as they ought A thousande knyghtê they to Troye brought And from a kyngdome named lycaowne Caphemus a kynge of great renowne Brought with hym as dares bereth wytnesse A thousande knyghtes of great worthynesse And fyue hondred Dares telleth vs Came with Hupon and with Epedus Many knyghtes in plates of syluer bryght And with hym eke a kynge yâ— Remus hyght Brought .iij. thousande to Troye many myle From Tabaria his large myghty yle And Dukes foure with all theyr chyualrye 〈◊〉 Eries viij came in his companye Hauyngem armes great experyence And all they bare without difference Theyrmen they whan they were in yâ— felde The chief of golde eueryche in his shelde Wherby the kynge and booly his nauye Amonge them all knowen myght be All be that other bore eke the same And fro Trace kynge Pylex by his name Fro thyâ—ke Trace that is moste excellent Whiche in the plage of the Oryent Haueth his syght froÌ„ which this myghty kyÌ„â—ge A thousande knyghtê brought at his comynge As myne Auctor recordeth eke also An hondred knyghtes be to Troye go With Alchamus a Duke eke full famous That came with Pylex Guydo wryteth thus Troyans to helpe in theyr great nede And fro Pauonye sothely as I rede Came Pretemessus the noble werryour Lorde of that lande kynge and gouernour And duke Stupex with hym eke he hadde And of knyghtes a thousande that he ladde Towarde Troye from his regyon And as this storye maketh mencyon That yle standeth moste by wyldernesse And by woodes of plenteuous thyckenesse Growe therin many full dyuerse tree And moste is forest that men may there se For they there buylde houses but a fewe And in that lande full dyuersely themshewe Many lyknesse queynte and monstruous Bestes vnkouthe to syghte meruaylous Stoundemell as by apparence By illusyon false in existence Wonder gastefull playnely for to sene For dyuerse goodes of the woodes grene Appere there called Satyrye By cornys eke fawny and incubye That cause often men to falle in rage And of this lande the people is full sauage Hardy knyghtes furyous and wode And desyrous aye to shede blode Greatly experte specially to shete With darte and spere peryllous for to mete For they caste euen as any lyne And from an I le that named was Botyne In great arraye to Troye the Cyte Lyke as I fynde there came Dukes thre The firste of all called Auphymyus Saume the secounde the thirde Forcyus And as sayth Dares whiche lyste natlye Twelue hondred knyghtê in theyr companye And fro Bytunye as made is remembrauÌ„ce The ryche lande that hath suche habundauÌ„ce Of spyces goÌ„mes fruytes corne and wyne Holsome rotes ryndes ryche and fyne Wonder vnkouthe and precious also Out of whiche I le there came knyghtes two Full knyghtly men in armes desyrous Kynge Boetes and Epysterus And with them brought to Troye from so ferre A thousande knyghtes arayed for the werre And fro the lande called Paffogonye Whiche seuered is from all companye As bokes saye that be Hystoryall Vnder the plage that is Oryentall Sette so ferre as made is rehersayle That fewe or none to that lande trauayle For there to come is almoste impossyble For whiche that lande is called muysyble Bycause oonly of his remocyon And it is a ryche regyon Of golde and syluer and also of stones And habundaunte of plente for the nones It is so full of treasoure and of gode And hath his syght on the ryche flode I named Tygre nat fer from Eufrates As sayth myne Auctour that called is Dares Fro whiche lande in stele armed clene A thousande knyghtê came with Phylymene The worthy kynge whose sheldes out of orede Were of querboyl in Guydo as I rede With golde depaynte fret with stones ryche That in this worlde I trowe was none lyche Out of the floodes chosen by deuyse Whiche haue theyr course out of Paradyse The whiche kynge a Gyaunt of stature And of makynge is passynge all measure Stronge and delyuer also as I fynde And fro the lande that marcheth vpon ynde Kynge Porses came with many knghtly man And he also that with his honde hym wan So moche honour the noble Meryon And his brother called Sygamon Whiche from the lande of theyr subieccyowne Of dukes erles and knyghtes of renowne Thre thousande brought
with theyr blode the wawes were ystayned So mortally that sothely to beholde Amonge the sonde pale dede and colde The grekes lye with wouÌ„des fresshe grene And all the eyre with shote of arowes kene I shadowed was that Phebus bemes bryght Vpon the soyle was derked of his lyght And newe alway Troyans them assayle That to grekes playnely this â—yuayle So mortall was and so infortunate So vnwelfull and disconsolate So vâ—â—â—sposed thorugh infelycytee That I trowe neuer out of no see 〈◊〉 none hoost of more harde to londe But for all that grekes ne wolde wonde For lyfe nor deth manly to aryue And so befelle of aduenture as blyue Thre hondred shyppes that next after sewe Auyfedly and in tyme dewe Be entrede in and haste nat to faste And stryke sayle and theyr ankers caste For the werre strongly enbatayled In theyr londynge leste they were assayled And wysely firste they sette theyr Aâ—balaâ—ters And theyr gonners and theyr beste archers With pauysers for to go aforne Knyghtly to laÌ„de though troyans had sworne The contrarye proudely them toletâ—e Yet for all that fyersâ—y vp they sette The grekysshe shote made them to withdrawe And many of them on the lande lay slawe That maugre them the stronde they recure And suche as myght moste manfully endure Was sette afore tyll they the lande haue take And all attones suche assaute they make Vpon troyans and tho began the fyght Whan Prothesylaus the noble worthy knyght Wonder lyfely and right passynge stronge With the grekes entrede in amonge The hardy troyans euery where theÌ„ sought For he of armes meruayles on them wrought Thylke daye thorugh his worthynesse That many troyan he brought in distresse Where he went they felte full vnsofte Thorugh whose manhode grekes were a lofte For thyâ—ke daye ne haâ—de his knyght hode be The greekes hadde in great aduersyte Be venquysshed by fatall puruâ—yaunce And fynally brought vnto outtraunce I put a backe playnely this no lye But what aâ—uyleth all his chyualrye His worthynesse or his fyerse courage What myght it helpe or do auauntage Syth .vij. thousande grekes hadde a do With an hondred thousaÌ„de troyans yet mo It metuayle was how they myght endure In any wyse the stronde to recure Or so fewe for to holde a felde But in themselfe one thynge they behelde Full prudently whiche that gaue them herte That they sawe they myght nat asâ—erte To escape a lyue if they wolde flee For at theyr backe was no thynge but the see And tofore them an hoost so great and huge And other waye was there no refuge But dye attones or fyght manfully Wherfore they cast shope them full knyghtly Lyke rather as maÌ„ly men theyr lyues to ieoê‘te Than cowardely from theyr foon departe To lese theyr grounde and drenchen in the see And thus as longe as it wolde be Grekes defende them ferre aboue their myght All be that many were kylled in this fyght That the stremes of theyr rede blode Ran in the sonde large as any flode So cruelly troyans on hym set With spere swerde ful sharpe grouÌ„de whet That routhe was and pyte for to thynke Tyll they almoost droue them to the brynke Where the grekes in myschefe and distresse In great anguysshe and passyngly werâ—nesse Themselfe defende maat and full â—ery Where they shulde haue perysshed vtterly Recurles in sothe for euermore Ne hadde Archelaus and worthy Pâ—otenor From theyr shyppes aryued vnto lande Of sodayne happe with them for to stande And yet they hadde full great aduersyte For to aryue thorugh the cruelte Of the troyans but yet the lande they wynne And grekes than cruelly begynne Agayne theyr foon to stande aâ— defence With manly force and great vyolence And thâ— encreaseth the blody werre newe That all the â—oyle depaynt was with the dewe That firste was greâ—e tourned into rede On eche syde so many one laye dede Vpon the grounde of his lyfe depryued But duke Nestor is sodaynely aryued With his knyghtes felle and full Irous And of herte right melancolyous With his speres archyers out asyde He entrede in sterne and full of pryde With swerde and axe grounde sharpe and kene They ran â—fere and mette vpon the grene And hoked â—rowes alway flewe amonge And 〈…〉 to braste tourne wronge And with theyâ—â—olys â—teled and well whette The longe daye they haue togyder mette And the slaughter newe alway began 〈◊〉 euery halfe of many worthy man Wtih woundes large felle and despytous 〈…〉 Prothenor and kynge Archelaus 〈…〉 swerdes styffe amonge the renges kerue 〈◊〉 many many Troyan made for to sterue They were that day so passyngely Irous And them to auenge inly desyrous Neuce seasynge in theyr pursuynge And to releue them Alagus the kynge â—londed is and eke kynge Athalus Whiche on Troyans were full enuyous 〈◊〉 of Ire as the firy glede And vpon them of very olde hatrede With theyr knyghtes sodaynely be falle And in theyr Ire bytterer than galle Cruelly they theyr foon oppresse And of assent dyde theyr besynesse Maugre them bakwarde to resorte Amyâ—de the felde as I can reporte There was no choyse so they were coÌ„strayned 〈◊〉 veâ—y force and of manhode payned To withdrawe to theyr confusyowne But than in haste downe from Troye towne Of worthy knyghtes fresshely armed newe With deuyses of many sondry hewe 〈…〉 abode shortely to conclude There came downe so great a multytude 〈◊〉 armes depaynte vpon the shelde 〈◊〉 in theyr comynge glytereth all the felde Of theyr armure as the sonne bryght Aâ—d whan that they were entrede into fyght 〈◊〉 metynge felly by enuye They sette vpon feet with melancolye With suche a wyll of herte and courage With suche furye in theyr mortall rage That vnto accorde was none other mene But slaughter and dethe them to go betwene Thorugh stroke of axe of dagger and of spere That of force coacte the grekes were To retourne bakwarde to the stronde To whose rescuse anone there come to londe The kynge vlyxes with his hole nauye And full knyghtly with his chyualrye Towarde Troyans enhasteth hym anone And of one herte the grekes with hym gone And theyr courage holly they resume And gan theyr foon felly to consume Vnto the deth theyr damage to reuenge That no wyght may iustely them chalenge Of manhode so well they haue them borâ—e To quyte agayne theyr harmes done before At whiche tyme lyke a fyersly owne Amonge Troyans rengynge vp and downe Vltxes went with his swerde in honde He kylleth sleeth and knyghtly gan to sonde Thylke daye lyke a man be founde And here there with many mortall wounde Vpon Troyans he wrought all this wracke Them berynge downe on fote on horse backe In his Ire his strokes were so kene At whiche tyme worthy Phylomene Lorde and kynge of Paffogonye Whan he behelde with his companye So many Troyan of vlixes slawe Tawardes hym anone he gan hym drawe On horse backe and with a spere rounde Out of his sadell bare hym
yet the slaughter gretter had be Without nombre of them of the towne Perpetuelly to theyr confusyowne Lykely for euer to haue be ouercome ¶ If Troylus ne had vnto rescuse come Yonge fresshe and lusty and inly desyrous With whom come eke Parys and Dephebus And many worthy their partye to socoure So that grekes tho ne myght endure Agaynst them to stande at deffence For all theyr pryde nor make resystence Worthy Troylus so well that tyme hym quytte For thus in sothe what greke that he hytte Outher he maymeth or he made deye Wherfore as deth they fled out of his weye And Achylles with his companye For it was nyght homewarde gan hym hye Towarde grekes with glorye great honoure And they receyue hym lyke a Conqueroure That whiche he hadde so well Ymet And they of troye haue theyr gates shet And made theÌ„ stronge thorughout al yâ— towne And in this tyme kynge Agamenowne Ycherched hath a place couenable Whiche hym thought was moste a greable By lyklyed and moste conuenyent For euery lorde to sette his tente And in a felde of full large space Moste competent as for lodgynge place In dewe syght sette for the Cyte Eche lorde was sygned where he shulde be And gan anone ordayne mansyons Pytched theyr tentes and Pauyllyons And suche as myght no Centoryes haue From storme and rayne themselfe for to saue They deuysed other habytacles Tugurryes and smale Receptacles To shroude them in and all the nyght also From theyr shyppes they had moche a do Or they myght haue theyr hors to lande And to ordayne where they shulde stande And they also besy were to carye Other thynges that were necessarye And nedefully vnto a sege longe And eke they made tey their shyppes stronge For in the porte their ankres caste And of assent they besyed them full faste For to conferme of one entenciowne To sette a sege to Troye towne And therupon by bounde assured faste For to abyde whyle their lyfe many laste Fynally without repentaunce And prudently they made their ordynaunce As they beste coude all the longe nyght They bete their fyres whiche bren woÌ„der lyght And at a space deuyded fro the fyres They sette vp in maner of bares And rouÌ„de aboute where their lodgynge was They paled them all the felde compas And to acheue the fyne of their purpose They felly wrought kept them selfe aye close ¶ And the kynge that no treason falle Let make watche without his tentes alle Of them that hadde rested them afore And his mynstrellys he made ouermore As sayth Guydo all the longe nyght To kepe their tydes tofore the fyres bryght Meryly to sowne their Instrumentes And them he made reste in their tentes That had afore wery be of fyght And in the see were faynted of theyr myght And other eke he made in theyr armure Awayte wysely agayne all aduenture That no disceyte were founde on no syde And thus this kynge knyghtly can prouyde In his aduyse that nothynge hym escape And all the nyght I fynde he dyde wake Tyll on the morowe that the rowes rede Of Phebus chare gonne for to sprede And thus eche kynge desposed as it ought I wyll procede to tell how they wrought Ceryously without and within With your supporte the thyrde boke begyn Here begynneth the Thyrde Boke That telleth howe the Troy ans yssued out on the morowe and fought with the Grekes and how valyauntly Ector bare hymselfe that daye Capitulo .xxij. WHan Aurora with hyr pale lyght Vnder yâ— mantel of yâ— myrke nyght And the curtyne of hyr hewes fade Yshroudyde was in the derke shade Abasshed rody as I can desyre Oonly of hyr that is Femynyne For ashamed durste nat be seyne Bycause she hadde so longe a bedde leyne With fresshe Phebus her owne chosen knyght For whiche she hydde hyr sothely out of syght Tyll his stede that called is Flegonte Enhasted hym aboue oure Oryzonte And Appollo with his bemys clere Hath recomforted hyr oppressed chere This to saye after the dawnynge Whan Tytan was in Eest rysynge Of his hete atempre and right softe Hyr Emysperye for to glade a lofte The same houre the Troyan champyowne Gouernour of werres of the towne Worthy Ector whiche in the Cyte Next Pryam hadde of all the souereynte The towne to guyde by knyghtly excellence For his manhode and his sapyence Of Troyan knyghtes lorde eke cheuetayne Whiche hath coÌ„maunded in a large playne To hye and lowe he exceptynge none Kynges Pryces and lordes euerychone The same morowe for to mete Yfere In theyr arraye to mustre and apere Lyke as they were of name and of estate Besyde a temple whylom consecrate To the goodes that called is Dyane Moste honoured in this ryche faane There to array them in all the haste they can Lyke the deuyse of this knyghtly man And this playne passynge fayre to se Was sette amydde of Troye the Cyte Smothe right fayre full of fresshe floures Where all the worthy noble werryoures Of troye towne togydre assembled be And many other to beholde and se The famous knyghtes arme them in yâ— place And some of them gan full streyte lace Theyr doublettes made of lynnen clothe A certayne folde that aboute hym gothe And some also dempte moste sureste To 〈◊〉 them for batayle of arâ—ste And dyde on firste after theyr desyres Sabatous greues cussues with voydres A payre breche alder firste of mayle And some there were eke that ne wolde fayle To haue of mayle a payre bras And therwithall as the custome was A payregussettes on a pety cote Garnysshed with golde vp vnto the throte A paunce of plate whiche of the selfe behynde Was shet and close and theron as I fynde Enuyron was abordure of smalle mayle And some chose of the newe entayle For to be surmyd of all their foos An hole breste plate with arere doos Behynde shet or elles on the syde And on his armes rynged nat to wyde There were voyders frettyd in the mayle With cordes rounde and of fresshe entayle Vambras with wynges and rerebras therto And theron sette were besaguys also Vpon the hede a basenet of stele That within locked was full wele A crafty syght wrought in the vyser And some wolde haue of plate a bauer That on the breste fastened be aforne The canell pece more esy to be borne Gloues of plate of stele forged bryght ¶ And some wolde armed be more lyght In thykkes Iackes couered with satyne some wolde haue of mayle wrought ful fyne An hawberion all of late wrought cassade That with weyghte he be nat ouer lade Hymsefe to welde lyke a lyfly man And some wyll haue of choce geseran On his doublet but an hawberion And some oonly but a sure gepon Ouer his poleyns rechynge to thekne And that the â—â—euys eke so longe be That his vambras may be cured ner A pryckynge palet of plate the cower And some wyll haue also no vyser To saue his face but oonly anaser And
as wrytte Guydo Worthy Ector assygned hath also One of his bretherne called Brymarchus A noble knyght in armes right famous And hadde in manhode passynge excellence And of Ector they taken haue lycence And rode theyr waye amonge all the prces Thorughe the gate of Dardanydes The fyfte warde to haue at his ledynge Was by Ector coÌ„mytted to the kynge That of Cesoyne lorde and prynce was And to his brother called Pollydamas And Cysones were of hye stature And myghty in armes passyngly endure Vpon whom full many man behelde And theyr kynge bare no thynge in his shelde But a felde of Gowlys as I fynde Of other sygne Guydo maketh no mynde And forth he rode a full sterne pas This noble kynge and Pollydamas Whan they hadde of Ector leue take Whiche euer in one full besy was to make The sixte warde with all his dylygence And to the kynge called Pretemense That was full worthy bothe in werre pees And to a Duke that hyght Sterepes Whiche was also full worthy of his honde He toke the folke of Pauonye londe Them to gouerne in the felde that daye The whiche people hath in custome aye Without plate hawberion or mayle On swyfte hors theyr foomen for to assayle With myghty bowes arrowes sharpe grouÌ„de Thorugh an harneys mortally to wounde And with this folke of Ector eke also Deyphebus assygned was to go In the felde to guyde them and to lede And on theyr waye they faste gan them spede But or they passe by Dardanydes Full discrtely Ector for them chees Pauyseres cladde in mayle and plate Them coÌ„maundynge at yssynge of the gate And with the Archers into felde to gone And many worthy well armed euerychone To awayte on them that they were nat lore For this folke that I of spake tofore Of Pauonye hadde none armure But prudent Ector for to make them sure Out of Agrest the myghty regyowne Hath chosen out full worthy of renowne The beste knyghtes of them euerychon And with two kynges Esdras and Phyon Assygned them for to take hede To the fotemen whan that they haue nede The whiche Phyon made full rychely Rode in a chare all of Yuory Of whiche the wheles wrought full curyous Were of a tree Ycalled Ebenus The whiche tree groweth ferre in ynde Blacke of hewe and also as I fynde Whan it is korue this tree wyll wexe anone Of his nature harde as any stone Whan it is graue eyther rounde or square And of pure golde roued was this chare Fret with perle and many ryche stonys That such a nother I trowe now ther none is In all this worlde it I shall nat fayne And it was ladde of myghty knyghtê twayne Men of armes within and withoute Armed in stele rydynge rounde aboute This worthy kynges Esoras and Phyon And Ector hath called to hym anone One of his bretherne what so that be falle To be guyde and leder of them alle The name of whom was Pyktagoras And to the great Troyan Eneas Of whom tofore made is mencyon Ector by goode delyberacyon The .vij. warde assygned hath to kepe And vpon stedys lusty for to lepe Of suche as were vsed moche to ryde Full manly knyghtes to houe by his syde Whiche with Emphranye vnto Troye towne Come so ferre from theyr regyowne To fostre them for Ectors sake And whan they hadde of hym leue take They rode full proudely forthe with Eneas Out at the gate a wonder knyghtly pas The brode felde tyll they haue atteyned And in this whyle Ector hath ordayned Lyke myn Auctour as I can reherce The eyght warde of the folke of Perce Worthy knyghtes manly and ryght wyse The whiche were coÌ„mytted to Paryse On hym that day to awayte besyly To whom Ector full benyngnely Spake and sayde at his departynge O brother myn in all maner thynge Whan thou art passed by Dardanydes This daye to ferre put the nat in prees Amonge grekes nor in Iupardye Leste thy foon in myschefe the espye To whom they haue of olde and newe date In theyr hertes full fresshe and mortall hate The fyre of which their breste hath so enbraced That it were harde out to be arraced Wherfore brother loke that thou be In all wyse nat to ferre fro me But kepe the nye that no mysauentoure Falle vpon the so that I may socoure This day to the myn owne brother dere To whom Parys with full humble chere Answered and sayde that in euery thynge He wolde obeye vnto his byddynge And rode his waye anone with his meyne Into the felde out of the Cyte And Ector aye dyde his besynesse The nynthe warde in ordre for to dresse Whiche he thought hymselfe for to lede In whiche he put sothly as I rede Fyue thousande knyghtê borne of troye towne The worthyest and grettest of renowne And passyngly famous in knyghthode Borne by descent of troyans blode ¶ And of his bretherne he toke with hym ten Suche as he knewe for moost manly men That were forayne fro stocke of regallye Out of the lyne borne in bastardye Whom Ector had in great chyerte For the knyghthode he coude in themse And whan he hadde by knyghtly purueaunce All his wardes set in gouernaunce Lyke Mars hymselfe faste gan hym spede Without abode for to take his stede Whiche was in bokes called Gallathe Of all hors hauynge the soueraygnete As ferre as men ryde in any coste Of whom Dares maketh so great a boste Of shape of hyghte and also of fayrenesse Of strengthe of loke and of great swyftenesse So lyke an hors perfourmed out and oute And with a wyer men myght hym turne aboute Lyke as Dares maketh mencyowne Of whom Ector rode thorugh troye towne Armed at all that came hym wonder well From foot to hede full rychely euerydell That shone as bryght as sonne on somers day And to pryam he helde the right way And whan that he was come to the kynge He reherseth in ordre euery thynge How he hath done and all his ordynaunce And lowly sayde so it be pleasaunce To your noble royall excellence I haue chosen with besy dylygence A thousande knyghtes full of suffysaunce With fyue houndred to haue attendaunce On your persone alway where ye be With all footmen that be in the Cyte That shall awayte on you euer in one Wherfore my lorde as faste as we are gone Lowly I praye to your worthynesse To sewe vs by good aduysenesse Out at the towne alwaye eke that ye Togydre kepe your knyghtes and meyne This I beseche with all my full myght Within the boundes where as we shall fyght That ye suffre none of them passe But kepe ye hole in the selfe place At wyxe vs and this stronge Cyte If we haue nede that ye may aye se Vs to releue kepynge you asyde And specyally there for to abyde Where moste is lyckely our partye to sustene For euer amonge there shall men go betwene Of our expleyt the trouthe to reporte For whiche parte Mars lyste the felde to
Vpon grekes his manhode for to haunte For he theyr pryde so mortally gan daunte That they hym fledde where that he rode Makynge all hote the streyntes of theyr blode Endelonge to renne vpon the grene Tyll the tyme the Duke of great Athene That called was whylom Menesteus With thre thousande knyghtes full famous Of whiche he was bothe lorde and guyde The felde hath take vpon the lefte syde For a deceyte in full secrete wyse ¶ Where Troylus was with the folke of Fryse Whiche hath that daye who so lyste to seke By his knyghthode kylled many greke Lyke a Tygre gredy on his pray Troylus bare hym all the longe day Sleynge of grekes many worthy knyght And whyle that he was besyest in fyght Agayne his foon with kynge Antipus And the kynge that hyght Alchanus Vpon grekes Ylyche fresshe and newe Makynge theyr sydes all of blody hewe By one assent this thre thorugh theyr maÌ„hede And specyally vpon his bay stede Where so euer that this Troylus rode Euery greke that his swerde abode Sodaynely he made for to sterue Thorugh theyr plates so depe he gan kerue And this contynued tyll duke Meneste Of Troylus sawe the great cruelte And the slaughtre that he of grekes made Of hasty Ire with face pale and fade Hent a spere and threwe it in the rest And Troylus smette euen amyd the brest So sternely that maugre his renowne To the erthe anone he bare hym downe In the myddes of his mortall foon That cruelly hym besette anoon And hym to treyne layde out oke and lase Rounde aboute in maner of compase With spere darte and swerdes forged bryght But he hymselfe diffendeth lyke a knyght With great manhode his honour to auaunce Albe his lyfe was hanged in balaunce Where he stode and felte full vnswete In poynt of deth amonge the horse fete With great awayte of Duke Meneste Howe this Troylus myght haue take be Of mortall hate castynge in his thought At myschefe take that he escape nought On euery halfe he was so besette With swerdes rounde kene grounde whette Alone alas mortally bestadde They seased hym forth they haue hym ladde Tyll Myseres a worthy knyght of troye Gan to crye as he stode in the waye Sore abasshed in right furyous wyse O ye noble worthy men of Fryse Manly knyghtes aye preuyd in the felde Moste renowmed bothe with spere and shelde Consyder nowe vnto your hye fame And aduerte the glorye of your name How this daye thorugh your neclygence By the power and myghty vyolence Of the grekes Troylus is ytake Sool in the felde for ye haue hym forsake That shall rebounde to your alder shame For ye in sothe greatly are to blame If he that is of worthynesse floure Be take of grekes for lacke of socoure That but if ye take hasty wreche Shamefull reporte your honour shall apeche Perpetuelly and sayde therof amys In your defaute that Troylus taken is Whiche named be so worthy and famous And with that worde the kynge Alkamous Of melancolye felte his herte ryue And in his Ire hente a spere blyue And pryckynge after enhateth what he myght Tyll he of them playnely had a syght That besy were Troylus for to â—ede And he full knyghtly syttynge on his stede Ran one thorugh that he fell downe dede And efte agayne pale and no thynge rede In his rancoure no lenger wolde lette But a greke the firste that he mette Thorugh the body smet he with a spere That men myght se the poynt a fere By breste and plate thorugh the shulder bone That to the grounde he fell downe dede anone And therwithall the worthy Fryses alle Came flokmele downe and on grekes falle So myghtely that maugre theyr diffence They sette vpon with so great vyolence That Troylus is from all daunger fre And thorugh theyr knyghtly magnanymyte They made hym to recure his stede And specyally helpynge in this nede Was zantipus the stronge manly kynge Whiche of disdayne at his in coÌ„mynge Ou Meneste gan his spere grate And thorugh his shelde mayle thycke plate So sore he smote that this Meneste Hadde be dede ne hadde his armour be Whiche for Ire gan to tremble and shake That Troylus was from his hondes take And escaped to be prysoner Despyte his berde and maugre his power Wherfore he gan of hasty hote enuye On his knyghtes furyously to crye That were so myghty renowmed and stronge To payne them for to venge his wronge Vpon Troyans to mete them in the face And they in hast gan myghtely enbrace Theyr sharpe speres grounde for to byte And felly foyne and togydre smyte For tho began the great mortall werre The fyre brast out shene as any sterre On basenertes and theyr plates bryght That thorugh yâ— felde flaumeth the fereful lyght To lyfe nor deth they toke tho no hede And downe the playne both in lengthe brede The wardes gan proudely to auale And with lokes of enuye pale They aproche and assemble yfere In hate brennynge that no man may stere And gan hurte with spere swerde and darte And mortally vpon euery parte The slaughter gan greatly for to rewe And Ylyche alwaye newe and newe Ector grekes thorugh his worthynesse Where he rode manly dyde oppresse And mercylesse slowe them and bare downe Now here now there without excepcyowne So furyously that routhe was to se And than of newe the duke Meneste Repayred is with enuyous herte From his hondes that Troylus so a sterte And for the slaughter eke of his meynee That where he rode he besy was to sâ—ee The troyan people whan he myght them mete For to auenge hym for nothynge wolde he lete Tyll casuelly amonges all the prees A knyght he mette that hyght Miserees Whiche in despyte of this Meneste Hadde at the reskus of worthy Troylus be And maugre hym put hym from his pray And so befelle on the selfe day As they mete agayne of aduenture That Meneste by his cote armure Marked hym by armes that he bare And sodaynely or that he was ware Or that he myght take any hede Furyously on his sterne stede And with a spere amyd the renges alle Bare hym ouer and made hym for to falle Maugre his myght to the erthe downe And than I fynde how the kynge Hupowne Descended is the storye lyste nat lye Two thousande knyghtes in his companye Whiche on grekes felly gan to sette And in yâ— berde kynge Prothenor them mette And Archelaus the noble werryour Of Boece lorde and gouernour With helpe oonly of this Prothenor Lyke a tygre or a wood boor Gan troyans assayle to the deth And many one that daye he sleeth But kynge Hupon thorugh his chyualrye That tyme in his melancolye Full many greke gaue his dethes wounde And thus they gan eche other to confounde Suche mortall hate amonges them there was Tyll of Fortune a knyght Pollydamas On troye syde sone of Anthenor With his knyghtes and hymselfe tofor Is
on grekes of enuyous pryde Myd theyr wardes falle in a syde And gan breke them knyghtly to disseuer Agayne whose swerde they myght nat ê‘seuer He was on them so inly furyous And hym to helpe came the kynge Remus With a wynge on that other parte Brekynge in with many spere and darte Agayne grekes with thre thousande knyghtes That to beholde how felly that he fyghtes It was in sothe vnto them of troye A very luste and a heuenly ioye To se now grekes brake asondre That the noyse loude as any thondre In the felde of strokes gan aryse And whyle Remus as ye haue herde deuyse Vpon grekes was so enuyous Into the felde came Menelaus With his worthy knyghtes of Spartense Agayne Remus to make resystence And full proudely makynge no delaye This worthy Remus and kynge Menelaye On hors backe with sharpe speres whette Myd the felde of enuye mette And thorugh their manly prowesse renowne From hors backe eche bare other downe For none the stroke of other myght shone And in that whyle of Anthenor the sone Pollydamas lusty fresshe and lyght As he that was in his delyuer myght And desyrous to honour to atteyne Mette in the felde the neuewe of Eleyne The myghty duke called Mereus Flourynge in youthe and right vertuous Fresshe armed newe and lusty of courage And was in sothe but twenty yere of age Whiche of so yonge was a noble knyght Right renowmed bothe of herte and myght But of Fortune it befell alas The troyan knyght dauÌ„z Pollydamas With a spere thorugh shelde mayle and plate Hytte hym so that by cruell fate Amonge grekes that he felle downe dede Of whiche thynge whan Menelay toke hede And sawe hym lye slayne on the grene In his herte remembrynge on the quene The quene Eleyne whose neuewe he was For dole of whiche a full delyuer pas To Remus rode in his cruelte Also ferre as he myght hym se And full knyghtly mette hym in the berde And smette at hym with his sharpe swerde Vpon the hede in his hatefull tene That of his stede he myght nat sustene His wounde was so passyngely mortall That with the stroke and the pryllous fall His knyghtes wende dede he hadde be And hent hym vp and began to fle To troye warde with hym a great paas But it befell that Pollydamas The maner of them whan that he behelde Made them repayre knyghtly into felde Excepte that some as they in byddynge hadde Worthy Remus home to troye ladde Pale and dede with his woundes wyde And tho came in on the grekes syde Celydys the lusty fresshe kynge Of whom Dares sayth in his wrytynge And for a sothe in his boke lyste telle How Celydys all other dyde excelle Bothe in beaute and in semelyhede Of shape of porte and of goodlyhede Surmountynge all as Dares lyste descryue As in fayrenesse all tho alyue All his lymmes compact were so clene And as I rede the yonge fresshe quene Of Fumynye whiche was of beaute floure Kynge Celydys loued Paramoure That vpon hym was hooly hir pleasaunce He was so prynted in hir remembraunce For chefe resorte sothely of hir herte Was vpon hym euery houre to aduerte For fynally he departed nought Day nor nyght nor houre out of hir thought For he was fully all hir owne knyght But of Fortune he lusty fresshe and lyght Smote his stede sharply in the syde Of surquedye and proudely gan to ryde Of mortall hate a full Furyous paas Right as lyne to Pollydamas And with a spere made hym for to flytte From his sadell in whiche he dyde sytte He marked hym with so great a myght But agaynewarde this manly troyan knyght Pollydamas with a despytous face Or Celydys departed fro the place With aswerde so smet hym on the hede From his stede that he fylle downe dede Whiche to grekes was great confusyon And all this tyme fyerser than lyon Ector grekes knyghtly gan enchace And ofte made them for to lese theyr place Where euer he rode of necessyte Afore his swerde he made them for to fle Suche vengeaunce he hath on them take That they the felde were fayne to forsake And to pursewe wolde he neuer fyne Tyll amonge the people of Salomyne Ector mette the worthy kynge famous That was theyr lorde and hyght Thesalus That many Troyan that day hadde slawe And as Ector towarde hym gan drawe Kynge Tenter that was of grece also A manly knyght and prudent bothe two Raught a spere in all the haste he can And vnwarely vnto Ector ran And thorughe his shelde plate mayle of stele The sperehede forged was so wele So sharpe and square and so kene grounde That he gaue Ector full peryllous wounde But as Ector reyne gan his stede Proude Tenter to aquyte his mede He full wysely in all the haste he myght Was right ferre seuered from his syght Wherof Ector melancolyous And of herte wood and furyous For the akynge of his wounde grene In haste to auenge the constreynte of his tenâ— What greke after shortly that he mette That was so bolde his waye to with sette Without mercy he was his deth anone And as I rede he encountred one Whiche of pryde wolde hym dyuerte Whom with his swerde he rose to the herte Thorugh his harneys of melancolye The whiche stroke whan grekes gan espye They astoned of one entencyon Peryllously besette hym enuyron And suche assaute gan aboute hym make Thorugh theyr maÌ„hode if they myght hyÌ„ take And of accorde with great multytude Cruelly they gan hym to include By lyklyhede in that mortall stryfe He myght nat escape with the lyfe On hym they were so fell and enuyous Tyll that a kynge whiche hyght Theseus On grekes syde oonly of gentyllesse Suche routhe caughe vpon his distresse To se hym stande so nye vpon the wrake Thus vnto hym of manly pytespake O Flour of knyghthode rote of hardynes Welle of manhode stok of worthynes Why lyst yâ— nat to haue none aduerteÌ„ce Thy lyf to saue of knyghtly prouydeÌ„ce But wylfully where moste is to drede Thy lyfe Iupardest and take lyste no hede In mortall peryll how thou arte besette Amonge so many closed and yshette Alone alas deuoyde of all socoure And to thy selfe wylt do no fauoure But as Fortune lyketh to ordayne That euery wyght ought to complayne To beholde that so noble a knyght Whiche thorugh the world cast so clere a lyght In worthynesse and wyll hym nat withdrawe Reklesly this day to be slawe So pyteously thy persone for to lese Withdrawe thy hande yet syth thou mayst chese Thy hye prowesse compelleth me to preye At suche myschefe that thou nat ne deye And whan Ector of hym gan take hede He thanked hym of his goodlyhede And maugre sothly the power the myght Of the grekes lyke a worthy knyght He scapyd is myd of all his foon And went his waye thorugh them euerychon His blody swerde alway in his honde And in his waye Pollydamas he fonde Full lyke a man with
glorye Of Troyan blode in conclusiowne For fynally we and eke our towne Shall mortally turne to ruyne And our honour that was wont to shyne Thorugh out the worlde and our worthynesse Eclypse shall and turne to derkenesse But ye this day lyke as men you quyte Wherfore I praye that no man atwyte Your hye renowne of any cowardyse To sette vpon in full manly wyse And nat to spare for drede of deth I praye And they echone full lowely gan obaye To his desyre without lenger tale And entrynge in by a certayne vale Vpon grekes this worthy knyghtes all Folowynge Ector sodaynely be fall Full mortally or that they were ware And Ector tho no greke wolde spare But euery where to theyr confusyon He kylled and slewe aboute hym enuyron And his knyghtes rydynge by his syde Made theyr â—omen maugre all theyr pryde To lese theyr londe flewe out of theyr syght Tyll that the kynge whiche Toas hyght On grekes syde in warde gan hym dresse And of newe full knyghtly gan oppresse Them of Troye this kynge this manly man That hadde afore slayne Cassybelan One of the sones of kynge Pryamus But as he rode of fortune it felle thus That all the bretherne on a frusshe he mette Whiche of assent enuyron hym be sette And from his sadell that many greke behelde Amonge the hors smethym into the felde And of they rente firste his basenet And cruelly they hadde his hede of smet For he vnarmed all at myschefe stode Saue that the Duke furyous and wode Of Athenys rydynge a great pace Reskued hym in this mortall cace With is knyghtes that aboute hym rode And hym to helpe without more abode With aspere sharpe whette and kene Firste of all he felle on Quyntylene That besy was Thoas to haue slawe And the bretherne he made also withdrawe Whan Quyntylene of his hors was throwe But Parys tho drewe vp his myghty bowe And to this duke lette an arowe glyde And thorugh his plates hyt hym in the syde Vpon a ryb that made hym sore blede Of whiche stroke he ne toke no hede Bycause oonly that he so feruent was Amyd his foon to helpe kynge Thoas Amonge the hors that was bore to grounde In poynt of deth with many mortall wounde Oonly for he was naked on the hede But this Duke fully deuoyde of drede Of his knyghode in this pecyllous caas Amyd his foon hath holpe kynge Thoas And with his lyfe made hym scape free And Ector aye of cruell enmytee Ilyche fresshe for no thynge wolde leue Vpon grekes his manhode for to preue Enforsynge hym to theyr destruccy wone And as he rode amonge them vp downe Kynge Humerus hath a bowe take And to shote gan hym redy make And hatefully therin sette an arowe And to Ector he marked hath so narowe That he smote hym euen amyd the face But or he myght any fertherpase Ector smet hym with so great a payne That with his swerde he rose his hede at wayne The deth of whom whan the grekes knowe Myn Auctor sayth they haue an horne yblowe That vnwarly with that dredefull sowne Seuen thousaÌ„de knyghtê came attones downe Aboute Ector without more abode But he of force thorugh them all he rode Maugre theyr myght that hym tho with sette And slowe all tho that his waye lette And stynte nat playnely tyll he cam To his Fader the worthy kynge Pryam With many worthy full famous of renowne That with his knyghtes faste by the towne Lay all the daye with men on hors and foote As he that was of knyghode croppe and roote And kept hym close of full hye prudence Tyll Ector came vnto his presence And hym besoughte in this great nede With thre thousande that he wolde hym spede Vpon grekes in theyr felle rage To falle on them at moost auauntage ANd than i hast this worthy Pryamus With his knyghtes fresshe desyrous Towarde grekes hath the waye take And suche a mordre gan vpon them make That many grekes lay dede on the playne For Pryamus so sore hath them be layne On euery halfe thorugh his great myght That they full faste fledde out of his syght So sore of newe he vpon them sette And as I fynde they togydre mette Actor and Ayax of very auenture And on theyr stedes stronge and wonder sure The storye sayth in all the haste they konne Lyke wood lyons they togydre ronne With so great myght yâ— were they lefe or lothe Vpon the playne they were vnhorsed bothe And in this whyle Menelay the kynge Sodaynely as he came rydynge He slewe of Troye a worthy Amyrall And thus the slaughtre passyngly mortall Benewed aye for Celydonas The neue we slewe of kynge Thoas And Madan met myn Auctor wryteth thus A grekysshe kynge called Cedyus Whiche with his swerde suche a stroke hym sette That thorughe yâ— vmbrer out his eye he smette And Sardellus that was of Troye eke The same whyle slewe a worthy greke A lorde of name and of hye prowesse All though Guydo his name nat expresse And than also came Margaryton On troye syde agayne Thelamon And bothe two inly sette a fyre Of hye disdayne and of hatefull yre And they mette on hors backe yfere Kynge Thelamon sothly as I lere Gaue vnto hym a woundefull cruell But tho came in the troyan Phanuell And Prothenor smote downe of his stede And thus the sones playnely as I rede Of Pryamus no thynge disamayde The grekes haue on euery part outrayed And so knyghtly all the daye them borne That many greke fatally hath lorne His lyfe in sothe of hate and enmyte And kynge Duglas is falle on Meneste Of Athenys Duke and gouernoure And with aspere of Ire and olde rancoure He ran at hym smet hym amyd the shelde But for all that his sadell yet he helde And for the duke spere hadde none He with a swerde to Duglas rode anone And thorugh the owmbrer rofe of nye his nase That he astoned stode as in a mase Whan that he sawe the condyte of his blode So streme out but for all that he rode Out asyde fully deuoyde of fere Vnto tyme that he staunched were But Deamor his owne brother dere Whan he behelde his mortall blody chere Of hye disdayne he rode to Meneste And hym vnhorseth but vp anone sterte he And or he myght fully vp aryse Another brother in full cruell wyse Is falle on hym so that of them thre Attones were vpon Meneste Fully in purpose he shall lese his lyfe But he so knyghtly bare hym in that stryfe Agaynst them that wonder was to se And vpon hym moste cruell of them thre Was one Thoras eldest of echone Whiche hym to a slayne was besy euer in one For all to broke they haue his basenet But whan that Tenter sawe hym so beset A grekysshe kynge as made is mencyon Hadde in his herte great compassyon And thought playnly of manhode hym releue And if he myght his foomen for to
in his waye mette Agaynst whom anone his hors he sette And he to hym full knyghtly rode agayne And as they mette there is no more to sayne On horsbacke whyles they were wrothe Of vyolence they were vnhorsed bothe And Menelay Parys mette of newe The whiche two well togydre knewe Full desyrous eche other for to dere But Menelay caught firste a spere And hytte Parys with all his inwarde cure But for surenesse of his stronge armure And myghty platê his wounde was but small Whiche in effect greued nat at all But with that stroke vnto grounde he gothe Of whiche fall Parys wexed right wrothe Wonder confuse and also rede for shame Lest the reporte in hyndrynge of his name Came to the erys of the Quene Eleyne How he that daye myght nat atteyne With Menely to holde chaumpartye Lykely to sowne into his vylonye The whiche at herte greued hym full sore And Adrastus the kynge without more So as he rode the kynge Vlixes fonde knyghtly both they foughte honde to honde And as they faughte downe to the erthe lowe From his hors Vlixes hath hym throwe And full proudely in signe of this victorye He sent his hors home to his Tentorye And in that tyme amonges all the prees Full sodaynely kynge Pallamydes Is falle on Hupon with his lockes hore And in his Ire wounded hym so sore That he felle dede and grouelyng to the grouÌ„de His mortall swerde was so kene grounde Besyde whom Neptolonyus Assayled hath kynge Archylogus The whiche hymselfe manly gan diffende But as they faught and many strokes spende In their diffence it wolde be none other Eueryche of them hath vnhorsed other And tho came in rydynge on his stede Pollydamas and gan to take hede Amonge the renges a lytell hym besyde Where as the kynge Pallamydes doth ryde And cruelly so lyke a manly man He smote his stede and to hym he ran And maugre his myght and his worthynesse As the storye playnely bereth wytnesse Oonly to venge the deth of kynge Hupowne From his stede he proudely bare hym downe And in his rancoure and his cruell hete Of that despyte gan hym to rehete And tho besyde the kynge Scelenus Of dedely hate and herte full Irous With kynge Carras by aduenture hath met And furyously from his stede smet And than also the kynge Phylymene Is on the Duke falle of Athene That maugre both his manhod his myght He hath his hors berafte hym in this fyght And ladde with hym proudely by his syde Where as hym lyste that it shulde abyde And Phyloteas the worthy kynge also The selue tyme with Remus had ado And euery other sothly as I rede His felawe hath made to voyde his stede And Theseus the kynge that was so stronge Amyd the felde so as he rode amonge In the great prese hath met Curyalus The worthy kyÌ„g of knyghthod right famous And bothe two in armes wonder stronge By themselfe faught at leyser longe Tyll eche other with woundes fresshe grene Fro horsbak his felawe threwe endloÌ„g the grene And afterwarde I fynde how they two Vpon foote knyghtly hadde ado They were in armes somly desyrous And of manhode passyngly famous And all this whyle the sones naturell Of Pryamus bare them wonder well Amonge grekes vp and downe rydynge And prudently togydre abydynge Made a slaughter of grekes full pytous Of kynges dukes and lordes right famous And as I rede how worthy Thelamowne That tyme met with kynge Sapedowne And with theyr speres squared full sharpely Eueryche hath other wounded mortally Thorugh shelde plate haberion of mayle That as the storye maketh rehersayle How theyr harneys wexed of blode all rede And how they fylle almoste bothe dede At great myschefe amonge the hors feet Of whose bledynge the soyle gan wexe weet Thorugh theyr harneys as it can distylle Whyles kynge Thoas and the fyerse Achylle As they that were of kynne and allyed Amyd the felde Ector haue espyed Where as he faught beset amyd his foon And vpon hym of one accorde they goon And mortally if it wolde auayle On euery halfe they gan hym newe assayle And of hate in herte borne of yore They haue beset this Troyan knyght so sore That they alas from his hede hath smet By vyolence his ryche basenet And wounded hym felly on the hede But for all that he ne toke no hede This worthy man floure of Chyualrye But hym diffendynge tho so myghtely Kynge Thoas smet hym in the face so That with a stroke he rafte his nose a two And shorted it by the halfe dele To whiche stroke the brother naturele Of manly Ector faste gan them hye To socoure hym whan they firste espye His great myschefe and at theyr in coÌ„mynge They so manly bare them in fyghtynge Agayne grekes that Thoas they haue take And Theâ—amon so they made awake With newe assaute of sharpe woundes kene That he was take and lefte vpon the grene And of his men borne home to his tent And kynge Thoas home to troye is went Maugre grekes whiche helpe hyÌ„ may no more For Dephebus and also Anthenore Haue sente hym forth to Troye the cyte And Menelay tho began to se So as he rode Parys stonde a syde And shope hym shortly of hate cruell pryde If it wolde falle on his chaunce Sodaynely to ymen hym myschaunce But he was ware kept hymselfe so narowe That Menelay he marked with an arowe The hede of whiche with venym was enoynt Intoxycate at the square poynt That the kynge of that dredefull wounde All dispayred of his men was founde Whiche in great haste bare hym to his tent And he anone for Surgyens hath sent Whiche firste the hede toke out of his wounde Albe it was yperced full profounde Thorugh his harneys full depe into the bone But cunnyngely they dyde theyr crafte echone To drawe it out with theyr Instrumentes And subtylly with certayne oyntementes They serched haue the wounde enuyron To make it clene from corrupcyon And prudently firste they toke hede That the venym further nat procede Rounde in compasse clensyd it aboute And after that bounde it sure withoute And defensyues made on euery syde And Menelay no lenger wolde abyde But bad in haste brynge forth his stede In purpose full Parys to quyte his mede If he hym fynde the selfe same daye Hym lyste no lenger put it in delaye What euer falle of his grene wounde And forth he rode tyll he hath hym founde By aduenture vnarmed in the felde Without swerde pollex spere or shelde Or bowe in honde were it of reklesnesse Or to refresshe hym after werynesse And Menelay anone a spere hath take And in his yre â—elly gan it shake Towarde Parys by great auysenesse And shulde haue slayne hym as by lyklynesse Ne had Eneas whiche all this thynge behelde Bore of the stocke with his stronge shelde To diffende hym in this auenture Destytute and naked of armure Parys that tyme in suche
peryll was Wherfore in haste hath this Eneas Ordayned knyghtes armed bryght in stele Aboute Parys for to kepe hym wele From all myschefe and confusyowne Hym to conuey vnto Troye towne Right in despyte of kynge Menelay Whiche in awayte so for Parys lay ¶ Whom Ector hadde ytaken sodaynely And vnto Troye ladde hym vtterly Ne hadde Grekes come in his diffence Agaynst hym to make resystence Of whiche Ector as they came in his weye Full many Greke made for to deye And the remenaunt put vnto the flyghte That thorugh his maÌ„hod yâ— day his myghte Troyans made the grekes for to flee Vnto theyr tentes of necessytee And them to sewe ne wolde neuer leue But slee and kyll tyll it drewe to eue That Phebus gan faste for to weste To drawe them home they thought for the beste For Tytan was at his goynge downe Whan they gan entre into troye towne Theyr gatê shet they to theyr lodgynge wende And of this day thus they made an ende Tyll on the morowe that the rowes rede Of Phebus carte gonne for to sprede Afore his vpryste in the Oryent At whiche tyme kynge Pryamus hath sent For suche as were with hym moste pryue And of his counsayle inwardely secre And specially he sent for by name For worthy Ector that grettest was of fame For Parys eke and for Dephebus And for Troylus fresshe and desyrous For Anthenor and Pollydamas And for the Troyan called Eneas For he that daye caste hym nat to goon Into the felde to mete with his foon And whan they were to his Paleys come These lordes haue the right waye nome Vnto the kynge within his closet And whan the hussher hath the dore shet And eueryche hadde lyke to his degree His place take and his dewe see This worthy kynge as made is mencyon Gan to declare his hertes mocyon And his menynge afore them specifye And sayde syres in whom I moste affye To you is knowen how kynge Thoas is here In this cyte taken prysonere And is as yet belocked in prysowne Whiche euer hath be vnto Troye towne An enemy great vnto his power And vs offendyd bothe ferre and ner In many wyse all be we lytell retche As ferre as he his force myght stretche And now with Grekê came to sege our towne As he that wyll not our destruccyowne And therupon hath do his besynesse Wherfore of dome and of rightwysnesse Both of reason and of equyte I saye playnely as semeth vnto me So that it be to you acceptable And that ye thynke my couÌ„sayle coÌ„mendable Lyke as he hath caste our deth and shape I holde rightfull that he nat escape But that of deth he receyue his guerdon For right requereth and also good reason that deth for deth is skylfull guerdonnynge Vnto my wytte and right well syttynge Saye your aduyse now playnely in this caas And firste of all tho spake Eneas And sayde lorde so it be none offence To your hyghnesse to gyue me audyence Thorugh supporte here of them that be full wyse I shall reherce playnely my deuyse What is to werke as in this matere Me semeth firste my lyege lorde so dere That your noble royall excellence Consydre shulde with full hye prudence In euery werke and operasyon To caste afore in conclusyon To caste afore in conclusyon The fynall ende that may after sewe For to a wyse man oonly is nat dewe To se the gynnynge and the ende nought But bothe attones peyse in his thought And weye them â—o iustly in balaunce That of the fyne folowe no repentaunce Why I say this and platly why I mene Is for that ye ought for to sene How kynge Thoas is one of the pryncypall Amonge Grekes and of the blode royall If ye consydre descended as by lyne Wherfore if he haue this foule a fyne To be slayne whyle he is in pryson It myght happen in conclusyon That ye and youres that therto assente Here afterwarde sore to repente I preue it thus that if by aduenture Of Fortune that no man may assure Some of your lordes were a nother day Of grekes take as it happe may Or of your sones so worthy of renowne Or of kynges that be in this towne Truste me well that suche gentyllesse As ye shewe to them in theyr distresse They wyl you quyte whan in case semblable Fortune to them they fynde fauourable The whiche no man coÌ„strayne may nor bynde Wherfore my lorde haue this thyng in mynde For if Thoas of shorte auysement Shall now be deed thorugh hasty iugement Another day Grekes wyll vs quyte And for rygour make theyr malys byte On some of youres who euer that it be And nouther spare hye nor lowe degre Though he were paraunter of your blode The whiche thynge for all this worldes gode It myght falle that ye ne wolde se Wherfore I rede let kynge Thoas be Honestely kepe in prysowne Lyke his estate stylle here in this towne Lyste as I sayde that another day Some lorde of youres as it happe may Casuelly were take of auenture By eschaunge of hym ye myght beste recure Without stryfe youre owne man agayne In this mater I can no more sayne But fynally this my full rede To whiche counsayle Ector toke good hede And for it was accordynge to reason He it coÌ„mendeth in his oppynyon But Pryam euer of one entencyon Stode alway fyx to this conclusyon Playnely affermynge if Grekes may espye That we this kynge spare of gentrye They wyll arrecte it cowardyse anone That we dare nat venge vs on our foone For very drede hauynge no hardynesse Nor herte nouther to do rightwysenesse Yet neuerthelesse after your assent That he shall lyue I wyll in myn entent To your desyre fully condescende And of this counsayle so they made an ende Without more saue Eneas is go And Trylous eke and Anthenor also Into an halle excellynge of beaute The quene Eleyne of purpose for to se With whom was eke Eccuba the quene And other ladyes goodly on to sene And many mayde that yonge lusty was And worthy Troylus with this Eneas Dyde theyr laboure and theyr besy payne For to comforte the fayre quene Eleyne As she that stode for the werre in drede But for all that of very womanhede Thylke tyme with all hir herte entere As she well coude make them good chere Hauynge of connynge inly suffysaunce Bothe of chere and of dalyaunce And Eccuba beynge in this halle Very example vnto women alle Of bounte hauynge soueraygne excellencce In wysedome eke and in eloquence Besought them tho wonder womanly And counsayled eke full prudently For any haste bothe nye and ferre Auysely to kepe them in the werre And nat Iuparte theyr bodyes folylye But to aduerte and caste prudently In diffence knyghtly of the towne Them to gouerne by discrecyowne She spake of fayth coude no thynge feyne And than of hir and after of Eleyne They toke leue and no lenger dwelle But went theyr way forth I wyll you
thy swerde in any thynge auiyle Agaynst me for all thy worthynesse And if so be that so great hardynese Courage of wyll vygour force or mâ—ght Meue thy herte by manhode as a kiyght To take on the as in derrynge do For to darreyne here betwene vs two Thylke quarell how so that befalle For the whiche that we stryue all I wyll assente playnely to Iupaâ—te Tyll that the deth one of vs departe There is no more that these lordes here Kynges prynces wyll accorde yfere That it be do fully by one assent And holde stable of herte and of entent Whiche in a felde oonly that we tweyne As I haue sayde this quarell may darreyne And it fynysshe by this condycyowne That if it happe thorugh thy hye renowne Me to venquysshe or put at outtraunce I wyll you make fully assuraunce That firste my lorde Pryamus the kynge Shall vnto grekes in all maner thynge With sceptre crowne hoolly hym submytte And in a poynt varye nouther flytte Fully to yelde to your subieccyowne All his lordshyp within Troye towne And his lyges in captyuyte Shall go theyr way out of this cyte And leue it quyte in your gouernaunce Without stryfe or any varyaunce And therupon to make suerte To deuoyde all ambygnyte Tofore the goddes by othe and sacrament We shall be swore in full good entent And ouer more our fayth also to saue To assure you in pledge ye shall haue The mene whyle and kepe them on your syde At your choyse hostages to abyde From Troye towne of the worthyeste That ye lyste chese and also of the beste So that ye shall of no thynge be in were Of all that euer that I saye you here And Achylles without wordes mo If that thou lyste accorde full therto That I haue sayde thy honour to encrease To make this werre sodaynely to cease That lykly is for to laste longe Betwene Troyans and the Grekes stronge Thou shalt nat oonly with honour with fame Thorugh out the worlde gette the a name But therwith all and that is nat a lyte Thorugh thy knyghthod to many man ê“fyte That fro the deth shall escape a lyue And to his countre hole and sounde aryue That lykly are by cruell aduenture For to be dede if the werre endure Come of therfore and let nat be prolongued But let the day at wene vs two be ioyned As I haue sayde in condycyowne If in diffence oonly of this towne I haue victorye by fortune on the I axe nat but anone that ye Breke vp sege and the werre lete And suffre vs to lyue in quyete Into Grece home whan ye are gone To whiche thynge Achylles anone Hote in his Ire and furyous also Brennynge full hote for anger and for wo Assentydis with a despytous chere And gan anone to Ector dresse hym nere And sayde he wolde delyuer hym vtterly Fro poynt to poynt his axynge by and by And there in made none excepcyon But of hole herte and entencyon His requeste accepted euerydell And as it semed lyked it right well And for his parte he caste a gloue downe In sygne and token of confirmacyowne For lyfe or deth that he wyll holde his day Agayne Ector happe what happe may Vnto the whiche Ector lyfly sterte And toke it vp with as glad an herte As euer yet dyde man or knyght That quarell toke with his foo to fyght There can no man in sothe a ryght deuyse How gald he was of this hye Empryse Of whiche the noyse and the great sowne Ran to the Erys of Agamenowne And he anone came downe to theyr tent With all the lordes of his Parlyament ¶ Where Achylles and Ector were yfere To wytte theyr wyll as in this matere Were they wolde assente fynally To put the quarell full in Iupardy Of outher part atwene these knyghtes tweyne As ye haue herde it fully to dareyne And with one voyce grekes it denye And sayde they ne wolde of suche a companye Of kynges dukes and lordes eke also Both lyfe and deth Iuparte atwene two Nor to the course of Fortune them submytte That can hir face all day chaunge and flytte And some of Troye in conclusyowne Iuparte ne wold theyr lyues nor theyr towne In the handes oonly of a knyght To put all in auenture of fyght Pryam except whiche sothly in this caas Within hym selfe fully assentyd was Playnely to a put and set in Iupardye Hoolly the honour of his regallye Supposynge aye as made is memorye That Ector shulde haue hadde the victorye Of this Empryse if he it toke on honde But for Pryam myght natwithstonde Agayne so many of one entencyon That were contrarye to his oppynyon Bothe of Grekes and on Troye syde He helde his peas and let it ouer slyde And so the Grekes parted be echone And Ector is from Achylles gone Home to Troye where I hym leue a whyle Whyles that I directe shall my style To telle of Troylus the lamentable wo Whiche that he made to parte his lady fro ALas Fortune Gery and vnstable And redy aye for to be chaungeable WhaÌ„ folk most trust iÌ„ thy stormy face Lyke theyr desyre the fully to embrace Than is thy ioye away to tourne and wrythe Vpon wretches thy power for to kythe Recorde on Troylus that fro the whele so lowe By false enuye thou hast ouer throwe Out of the ioye whiche that he was Inne From his lady to make hym for to twynne Whan he best wende for to haue be suryd And of the woo that he hath enduryd I must nowe helpe hym to complayne Whiche as his herte felte so great payne So inwarde wo and so great distresse More than I haue cunnynge to expresse Whan he knewe the partynge of Cryseyde Almost for woo and for payne he deyde And fully wyste she departe shall By sentence and Iugement fynall Of his fader gyuen in Parlyament For whiche with wo and tourment all to rent He was in poynt to haue fallen in rage That no man myght a pease nor a swage The hyd paynes whiche in his breste gan dare For lyke a man in furye he gan fare And suche sorowe day and nyght to make In complaynynge oonly for hir sake For whan he sawe that she shulde aweye He leuer hadde playnely for to deye Than to lyue behynde in hir absence For hym thought without hir presence He was but dede there is no more to sayne And intoterys he began to rayne With whiche his eyen gan for to bolie And in his breste the syghes vp to swolle And the sobbynge of his sorowes depe That he ne can but rore and wepe So sore loue his herte gan constrayne And she ne felte nat a lytell payne But wepte also and pyteously gan crye Desyrynge aye that she myght dye Rather than parte fro hym out of Troye Hir owne knyght hir lust hir lyues ioye That by hir chekes the terys downe distylle And fro hir eyen the rounde droppes trylle And all for dewed haue hir blacke wede
Whiche all this whyle was inly coryous With all his myght and his besy cure To ordayne for the sepulture Of his sones that afore were dede And all that tyme syke lay Dyomede With loues darte wounded to the herte As he that felte inwardly smerte Of wofull syghes whiche in his breste abreyde Full ofte a daye for loue of Cryseyde For he was shake with a feuer newe That caused hym to be full pale of hewe And to wexe bothe megre and lene For pyteously he gan hym to abstene Fro mete and drynke and from all solace As it was sene in his dedely face And ofte a day to hir he wolde playne Of his dissease and his mortall payne Prayinge of grace that she wolde se Vpon his woo for to haue pyte And of mercy for to take hede Of hir seruaunt oonly of womanhede Or planely ellys there is no more to seye For hir sake he sayde he wolde deye But cunnyngly and in full sleyghty wyse To kepe hym lowe vnder hir seruyse With delayes she helde hym forth on honde And made hym in a weer to stonde Full vnsure betwene hope and dispayre And whan that grace shulde haue had repayre To put hym out of all heuynesse Daunger of newe brought hym in distresse And with a disdayne to encrease his payne Of double weer she brought hȳ in a trayne As women can holde a man full narowe Whan he is hurte with Cupydes arowe To sette on hym many felle assayes Day by day to put hym in delayes To stonde vnsure betwyxe hope and drede Right as Cryseyde left Dyomede Of entent to sette hym more a fyre As this women kyndely desyre Whan they a man haue brought in a traunce Vneuenly to hange hym in balaunce Of hope and drede to lynke hym in a chayne And of the fyne vnsure of both twayne To dryue hym forth yeres them to serue And do no force where he lyue or sterue This is the fyne of loues fyry rage And for she wolde haue hym inseruage She locked hym vnder suche a keye That he wote nat where to lyue or deye And in doute thus I lette hym dwelle And forth I wyll of the storye telle And to my matere eke resorte agayne And as myn Auctour recordeth in certayne After the trewes were wered out and gone Twelue dayes suynge all in one The grekes faught with them of the towne To great damage and confusyowne Of outher partye and aduersyte And in this whyle a great mortalyte Bothe of swerde and of pestylence Amonge grekes by fatall influence Of noyous hete and of corrupt eyre Engendryd was that in great dispeyre Of theyr lyfe in the felde they leye For day by day sodaynely they deye And theyr nombre faste gan discrece And whan they sawe that it ne wolde sece By theyr aduyse the kynge Agamenowne For a trewes sent to the towne For thurty dayes and Pryamus the kynge Without more graunted his axynge ¶ Howe Andronomecha Ectors wyfe hadde a vysyon in hir slepe that hir housbonde fought on the morowe that he shuld be slayne the whiche wold not byleue hir nouther Fader nor moder And how Achylles slewe hym Ca. xxvij WHan the moreyne and the wofull rage Of Pestylence began for to aswage And the trewes were wered out goon The grekes caste to mete with theyr foon Vpon a day in plates armed clene Whan Phebus rose with his bemys shene Full plesauntly and gan to shede his lyght But as I fynde tofore the selfe nyght Andronomecha the faythfull trewe wyfe Of worthy Ector hym louynge as hir lyfe By whom he hadde gete children two Wonder semely and inly fayre also And Lamedoute called was the tone So yonge the tother that it ne myght gone And Astronanta I rede that he hyghte Fetured well and passynge fayre of syghte And as Guydo lysteth to endyte Of his moder at the pappes whyte For very yonge that tyme was soukynge And with his arme hir brestys embrasynge And she that nyght as made is mencyon Hadde in hir slepe a wonder vysyon I note in sothe what I may it neuene Outher a dreme or veryly a sweuene Or fro aboue a reuelacyon As whylom hadde the kynge Scipyon Or a shewynge outher an Oracle Or of goddes a warnynge by myracle For in sothenesse slepynge as she lay Hir thoughte playnely if the next day Ector went his fomen for to assayle As he was wonte armed in batayle That hene shulde escape vtterly In fatys hondes to falle fynally And ouer more Antropos shall fyne For euermore his lyues threde to twyne And shewe the force of hir fell myght Whan the Parodye of this worthy knyght A proche shall without wordes mo Into the felde playnely if he go Of whiche astonyd streyght and short of breth Where as she lay abrayde vp on the deth And with a syghe stynte for to slepe And pyteously braste out for to wepe For the constraynte of hir hertely sorowe And specyally on the wofull morowe Whan that she sawe this stocke of worthynesse As he was wonte manfully hym dresse To arme hym in stele borned bryght This troyan wall Ector this worthy knyght She can no more but at his fete felle downe Lowly declarynge hir a vysyowne With quakynge herte of very womanhede Wherof god wote he toke lytell hede But therof hadde indygnacyon Platly affermynge that no discrecyon Was to truste in suche fantasyes In dremes shewed gladly meynt with lyes Full of Iapes and illusyons Of whiche playnely the conclusyons Benat ellys but folkes to delude Albe it so that these people rude Therin some whyle haue affeccyon To iuge and deme in theyr oppynyon Dyuersly what they may pretende And ofte falle and happen as they wende And foloweth lyke in conclusyon For drede of whiche the Lamentacyon Encrease gan of Andronomecha And in hir swowne firste she cryed A Sayeng alas myn owne lorde so dere Your trewe wyfe alas why ne wyll ye here Whiche of so faythfull hoole affeccyon Desyreth aye your sauacyon And vp she rose dedely of vysage And lyke a woman caught with sodayne rage To kynge Pryam and Eccuba the quene In haste she wente hir selfe to be mene And of hir wyfely herte trewe as stele Ceryously declared euery dele Hir pyteous dreme whiche thorugh myracle To hir oonly by deuyne oracle I shewed was thorugh goddes purueaunce And tolde them eke the fynall ordynaunce Of Fortunes false disposycyon Fully purueyed to destruccyon Of hir lorde without more delay Into the felde if he go that day ¶ Wherfore she prayeth with a dedely hewe Vnto the kynge of meccy for to rewe Vpon hir wo to haue compassyon For to ordayne by discrecyon Of his lordshyp and of soueraynte That hir lorde nat destroyed be Of reckeleshede nor of wylfulnesse And with that worde of very kyndenesse In whom was aye somoche loue founde Tofore the quene in a swowne fell to grounde And sayde alas with a full pale chere Helpe in this case myn owne moder dere Of womanhede and routhe
his vertue shede And distyllynge myghtely to flete And at his fete full of gommys swete A vyoll stode tempred with bawme ymeynt That by processe may nat wexe feynt But day by day encrease and amende Of whiche the vapoure vpwarde gan ascende Causynge the Eyer enuyron be delyse To resemble a very paradyse For the flauour more holsome was and soote Than the odour of spyce gōme or roote And of pure golde were foure laumpes lyght Tofore the corps brennynge day and nyght With oyle in sothe if it be credyble That was by crafte made in extynguyble For it ne myght myn Auctor sayth certayne Nouther be queynt with tēpest wynde nor rayne Nor by processe wasten of no yeres Whiche in the Eyre be bryght borned wyres Full craftely reysed were a lofte Of whose swetnesse men reioysed ofte In theyr courage it lyked them so well And whan this werke was complete euerydell Rounde enuyrowne full ryche and fresshe to se They made a parclose all of Eban tree That so longe laste may and dure The whiche tree oonly of nature Whan it is cut smelleth wonder swete And may nat waste nor brenne with no hete Though it be layde amonge the colys rede Mydde the flawme of many fyrye glede It nat consumeth though men assaye ofte And in water it houeth eke a lofte And kyndely to the grounde it goth Toswymme on heyght in sothe it is so loth And lyke also as techeth Pluuyus This tree whylom was passyngly famous Of so hye pryse and reputacyon That in the large myghty regyon And worthy londe of Ethyopye and ynde Of yore agon the folkes as I fynde Hadde this tree in so great honour That they gaue trybute to the Emperour As is remembred of Antiquyte Of golde and yuor and this ryche tree With these gyftes famous and royall To quyte theyr dette to hym in specyall And whan Pryam in full thryfty wyse Parformed hath as ye haue herde deuyse This ryche werke noble and excellent Of hertely loue in all his beste entent Ordayned eke as Guydo can you telle A certayne noumbre of prestes for to dwelle In the Temple in theyr deuocyons Contynuelly with deuoute orysons For the soule of Ector for to preye That the goddes his spyryte lyste conueye Eternally with them to dwelle yfere In ioye and blysse aboue the sterres clere To whiche prestes y◠kyng gaue mansyons There to abyde and possessyons The whiche he hath to them mortysed Perpetuelly as ye haue herde deuysed And whyles they knele praye and wake I caste fully an ende for to make Fynally of my thyrde boke On my rude maner as I vnder toke And whyles they of Troye wepe and morne Vnto Grekes I wyll agayne retourne And with dulle style on the storye trace Oonly borne vp with supporte of your grace ¶ Explicit liber tercius Incipit Liber quartus Hereafter foloweth the Fourth Boke whiche speketh how the Grekes made kynge Pallamydes chefe Captayne of theyr Hoost and deposed kynge Agamenon Capitulo xxix ECtor thus dede as ye haue herde sayde And Achylles in his Tente ylayde with his woundes mortall fresshe grene Vpon a morenyng whan y◠sonne shene Enchased hadde away the derke nyght Agamenon the wyse worthy knyght In his werkes passyngly prudent Hath in all haste for his lordes sent And whan they were assembled euerychone Within his Tente to them he sayde anone Syrs quod he and lordes that be here Kynges Prynces and Dukes eke yfere If ye aduerte by clere inspeccyon Ye ought echone with hye deuocyon Hoolly of herte our goddes for to herye And in wardely for to be right merye If ye consydre and wysely take hede How that our ennemye Ector is now dede That whylom was berer vp of Troye Theyr full truste theyr honour and theyr ioye Theyr hole diffence and proteccyon And vnto vs deth and confusyon Vnlykly euer vs to haue hadde victorye Whyles that he floured in his glorye Agayne whose swerde we myght nat auayle For slewe he nat at our aryuayle If ye remembre on the firste day The noble kynge callyd Protheselay And after next if I shall nat fayne Patroclus he parted euen on twayne In the felde amonge vs euerychon Slewe he nat eke the worthy kynge Menon Archylogus and also Prothenor And eke the kynge that hyght Alphynor Phyllys also and Epistrophus And to his ende he brought zantipus And Meryon the myghty stronge kynge In his waye as he came rydynge He slayne hath and other kynges two Cedyus and Drodyus also Polycenes and stronge Polybete Letabonia and the kynge Phylete The manly knyght the kynge Isydyus And eke the kynge that hyght humerus For in his Ire and his cruell tene Of worthy kynges he slayne hath eyghtene Whiche hyder came out of Grekes londe By the power of his myghty honde Now laude and honour to the goddes alle Whiche caused haue that it is be falle That he is dede to our encrease of ioye And to discrese of our foon in Troye As they shall fynde in experyence And laude also pryse and reuerence Be to Fortune that vs hath holpe wele With the tournynge of hir double whele To hye comforte and consolacyowne Of vs echone syttynge enuyrowne That stoude nowe in parfyte sykernesse Thorugh deth of hym y◠dyde vs so oppresse And what may they now wayte on y◠towne But after deth and destruccyowne And hastely for to ende in woo Now that theyr truste Ector is a goo Without whom they may nat longe endure Wherfore we may fully vs assure Our purpose hole that we shall acheue And fynally daunte them so and greue That vnto them it shal be importable Of one assent if we stande stable For theyr party tourneth on the wrake And theyr hope is fully put a bake And dispeyred in nonsuerte For vtterly they and theyr Cyte Shall more and more in weer of deth depende And we in soth shall day by day amende With helpe of god bothe on see and londe For now victorye is redy to our honde Voyde platly of Ambygnyte And excluded at Eye as ye may se Bothe of wantrust and of foreyne drede But I counsayle or that we procede Any ferther vpon our foon to ryde Prudently a whyle to abyde And kepe vs close for to passe our boundes Tyll Achylles be helyd of his woundes And than echone by myghty vyolence Oppresse them whan they haue no diffence As I haue sayde thorugh helpe of Achylles And let vs nowe sende for a pees For two monethes to kynge Pryamus If it so be he lyste to graunt it vs As it is lykely playnely that he shall And they there whyle with flawme funerall Consume may the dede bodyes pale That lye abrode on euery hyll and vale Whiche by reporte of them that haue repeyre Fro day to day infecte so the Eyre Thorugh the felde engendrynge pestylence Of stynke there is so great a vyolence And we there whyle may in ease and reste Our woundes cure me semeth for the beste And they
assente therto euerychone And vnto Troye the messageres are gone And haue the trewes graunted of the kynge And be repeyred without more tariynge And therof made full relacyon To the Grekes afore Agamenon And after that whan all was at an ende Home to his tent euery lorde doth wende And whyle the trewes endureth and the pees Amonge grekes kynge Pallamydes Complayneth sore of Agamenon That he so hadde domynacyon Aboue them all hauynge there at enuye And on a day in his melancolye Of hye despyte and indygnacyon Full inly fret with yrous passyon He gan breke out and his rancour shewe By certayne sygnes though he spake but fewe Tyll on a day wyse Agamenon Conceyued hath of hye discrecyon Hoolly this thynge though he ne wold spare Fro poynt to poynt hym selfe to declare Whan his lordes togydre were present Tofore them all in his owne tent As he that was this noble worthy kynge Full circumspect in euery maner thynge Nought to rakell nor melancolyous But by attempraunce inly vertuous Well auysed and wonder prudent Whan that he knewe the menyng the entent And the conceyte of this Pallamydes He nat to hasty nor to rekles But longe abydyng thorugh prudence reson Within the boundes of discrecyon Whose tunge was oonly of Sapyence So restreyned that no neclygence Of hasty speche sothly for to rape Myght make a worde his lyppes to escape Vnauysed for no thynge hym asterte But it were firste examyned in his herte For aye his speche in so thryfty wyse Conueyed was by doctryne of the wyse Vnder the Reyne of wyt and hye prudence And after that by fourme of eloquence Alway so sayde that reason went aforne So that no worde was in his tale lorne And in this wyse shewynge his sentence Tofore all in open audyence Sayde euen thus whan that all was pees Vnto the kynge called Pallamydes Sothly quod he if ye take hede Me semeth playnely that it were no nede Auysely if he lyste aduerte To muse so nor grutchynge in your herte Of all his hoost that I haue gouenaunce Wysely consydered euery circumstaunce How I the estate whiche no man may denye Wolde in no maner neuer occupye By other Tytle than fre eleccyon Nat interrupt by medyacyon Of brocage roted vpon mede Aye vnder meynt with fauour or falshede Depycte with coloure of trewe entencyon To supporte suche false ambycyon Of whiche thynge here I wyll me quyte Tofore you all that I am nat to wyte In any wyse of so hye offence But stonde clere in my conscyence Without spot of any suche vayne glorye Touchynge the estate whiche is transytorye ¶ Yet neuerchelesse I haue do my cure With all my wyt to helpe and procure That euery thynge touchynge the comonte Perseuer myght in prosperyte Hauynge the eye of my inwarde syghte Vnto the estate of euery maner wyghte That were cōmytted to my gouernaunce With great laboure and besy attendaunce Indifferent vnto hye or lowe To helpe and fostre where I coude knowe That any stode in myschefe or in nede Day and nyght for to take hede As I beste coude by aduysenesse Aye dylygent that nat felle in distresse For sothfastely who so loke a ryght My dayes thynkynge and my watche a nyght And of my herte the inly aduertence Without fraude slouthe or neclygence Was faythfully with all my full myght Me to aquyte to euery maner wyghte Lyke his estate without excepcyon So that no man iustly of reson Greke nor other that is nowe a lyue Vnto my gylte may duely ascryue Any falsehede engyne or trecherye Of loue or hate fauour or flaterye In any cause named in specyall But that I haue be a lyke egall To one and all with all my besy payne That no man hath mater to complayne For his party of hye nor lowe estate And to deuoyde all rancoure and debate Amonges you I haue do my deuer In generall all thynge and partyculer That hyder towarde no thȳg hath myscheued And god wote well it shulde nat agreued To my herte to a set at any pryse You to a chose by your discrete aduyse Some other to this domynacyon And I to haue be in subieccyon With ease of herte and tranquyllyte Lyke other lordes here of my degre And in my wyll fully haue obeyed Lyke one of you vtterly to haue deyed In the quarell that we haue vndertake If destyne hadde it so I shape I saye in sothe me is full loth to fayne And ouer more also where ye playne That I was chosen without your assent Meruayle nat syth ye ne were present Nor longe after if ye remembre a ryght Towarde Troye your waye was nat dyght If ye consydre is after nere Or that ye came passyd full two yere And so longe to abyde your cōmynge It hadde be to grekes great hyndrynge Passynge harme and full great damage And huge lettynge vnto our vyage For if we hadde without any wene On your cōmynge taryed at Athene It lykely is ye can nat well say nay To haue be there yet vnto this day And where as ye thought it be nat credyble Afferme eke for an impossyble That Grekes shulde in any maner wyse Dare take on them any great Empryse In your absence manly to acheue It is but wynde no thynge for to leue For so it be to you none offence The grekes haue without your presence Thorugh force on water and on londe Full many thynge parformed with theyr honde And acheued thorugh theyr worthynesse And of one thynge that in me ye gesse This to say that of my degree I shulde in herte so reioyse me Of this lordshyp and this great estate The more to be pompos and elate In there or porte that I it occupye But me to aquyte trewely and nat lye And to deuoyde all suspeccyon I wyll make a resygnacyon Tofore you all for to excuse me Now be auysed discretly for to se Whom ye lyste haue agayne to morowe pryme Without settynge of any lenger tyme Prolongynge forth or any more delay And thus they made an ende of that day And went theyr way oonly for that nyght Tyll on the morowe y◠Tytan shad his lyght At whiche tyme a counsayle generall The grekes helde but most in specyall Of lordes was there congregacyon As I haue tolde for the Eleccyon And whan they were all mette yfere Agamenon anone as ye shall here Sayde euen thus with sadde countenaunce Lo syres quod he touchynge gouernaunce That I haue hadde and domynacyon I haue hereto with hole affeccyon And clene entent do my besynesse That euery thynge myght in wylfulnesse To your encrease parseuer and contune Recorde I take of god and Fortune Whiche haue conserued and the cause be You for to floure in felycyte That your honour your hye noblesse Stande hole and sounde yet in syketnesse And whyle your fame is moste in flourynge As semeth me it is ryght well syttynge Myn estate fully to resygne Specyally whyle Fortune is benygne For of so
withoute more taryinge To bedde goth full tryste in complaynynge Aye in hym selfe castynge vp and downe In his mynde and eke in his reasowne From hede to fote hir beaute euerydell And in his herte he felte and knewe full well That fynall cause of his languysshynge Was Polycene of beaute moste passynge For loue of whom so moche payne he felte That with the hete he thought his herte melte Aye on his bedde walowynge to and fro For the constreynt of his hydde wo For whiche almoste hym thought that he deyde And to hym selfe euen thus heseyde Allas quod he how me is wo begone That of my sorowe knowe ende none For I suppose syth the worlde began Ne was there neuer a wofuller man For I that whylom was of so great myght So renowmed of euery maner wyght Thorugh out the worlde bothe of hye lowe For there was none in sothe that coude knowe A man in armes that was more famous Nor yâ—holde more victoryous Tofore this tyme remembred by no style Vnto this day alas the harde whyle Nouther Ector playnely nor none other Of Polycene that was the worthy brother That power hadde whan they with me mette For all theyr myght me to ouer sette Nor in the felde my force for to daunte Here pryuely as I me dare auaunte But now alas a mayde of tendre age Hath sodaynely me brought in suche arge That with the stremys of hir eyen twayne She perced hath and clouen euery vayne Of my herte that I may nat a sterte For to be dede thorugh constreynt of my smerte For who shall now wysshe me or teche Or who alas shall now be my leche Or who shall now helpe men or saue There is but deth and after that my graue For other hope playnely is there none Saue in hir mercy alas and that is gone For nouther prayer tresour nor rychesse Force nor myght nouther hye prowesse Hyghnesse of blode byrthe nor kynrede May auayle nor helpe in this nede To meue hir nor my sadde trouthe Vpon my wo euer to haue routhe ¶ What newe furye or inportune rage Hath brought my herte into suche outrage Agaynst whiche I can nat debate To loue hir beste that dedely doth me hate And in good fayth who wysely lyste adueret Lytell wonder though she me hate of herte Syth I am come hyder fro so ferre On hir kynred for to make werre In the whiche to my confusyowne Hir knyghtly brother most worthy of renowne Haue fatally with myn hondes slowe Whiche in this worlde hadde no felowe Of worthynesse nor of manlyhede Alas alas nowe may I quake and drede And of my lyfe falle in dispeyre For how shulde I be bolde to haue repeyre Or dare alas come in theyr syghte I wofull wretche I vnhappy wyghte Or how shall I be hardy to appere In the presence of hir eyen clere Certys I se none other mene weye But fynally that I muste deye So dispeyred I stonde on euery syde Of other helpe I can me nat prouyde And right anone with profounde syghes depe This Achylles braste out for to wepe With dedely chere pale and funerall And with his face tourned to the wall That routhe was and pyte for to sene The hertely furye of his paynes kene For so oppressyd he was in his thought Of lyfe nor deth that he rought nought And this contynued tyll it drewe to nyght That Tytan hath withdrawe his clere lyght And euer in one lyke this wofull man Ilyche syke of coloure pale and wan Without slepe so fretynge was his sorowe Tyll Lucyfer on the next morowe Tofore the sonne with his bemys clere Full lustely gan for to appere In the oryent whan this Achylles Vnpacyent without reste or pees Quakynge aye in his feuer newe As it was sene playnely in his hewe Tyll he abrayde of anguysshe sodaynely And called one that was with hym preuy And of counsayle whom he trusteth well And vnto hym he telleth euerydell Fro poynt to poynt with hym how it stode And sent hym forth bycause he coude his gode On his message streyght to Troye towne With full aduyse and informacyowne Of this mater to Eccuba the quene Thorughe his wysedome for to be amene If he myght by his discrecyon Fynde any way of sauacyon Vnto his lorde that he louyd so And to the quene anone he is go And his mater wysely gan conueye Tofore or he of grace wolde preye That she enioyeth to gyue hym audyence For in his tale there was none offence He was no foole nor newe for to lere Wherfore the quene goodly gan hym here Of all that euer hym lyketh for to sayne There was no worde ylost nor spoke in vayne For his tale no man coude amende And craftely he gan to discende To the substaunce and tolde clerely oute With premysses full well brought aboute That fynally in conclusyon The chefe he sayde of his entencyon Effectuelly if it wolde be Was for to make peas and vnyte Atwene Grekes and the folke of Troye To whiche thynge he knewe no better weye Than of the werre for theyr alder ease By his wytte prudently to appease The mortall stryfe and the bytter rage By allyaunce oonly of maryage If that hir lyste this wyse worthy quene That hir doughter fayre Polycene May wedded be vnto Achylles Where thorugh theyr myght be a fynall pees If Eccuba by hir discrecyon Thorugh hir wytte and medyacyon And hir prudence myght aboute brynge That Pryamus were fully assentynge That Achylles myght his doughter wyue So that it myght parformed be as blyue Lyke as I haue made mencyon By couenaunt oonly and condycyon That the Grekes shall theyr werre lete And suffre hym to lyue in quyete If the maryage of these ylke twayne Parformed be and knyt vp in a chayne And whan the quene hath knowen his entent Full soberly by good auysement Tofore or that any worde asterte Full pyteously she syghed in hir herte And at the laste with a sobre chere She sayde thus to the messagere My frende quod she touchynge thy requeste I can no more make the beheste But at the leste I wyll condescende What lyeth in me to brynge to an ende Thy lordes wyll with all my herte entere But here vpon I muste firste requere The kynges wyll if he wyll gyue assent To the purpose for whiche thou arte sent And ouer more I muste wytte also ¶ If that Parys be wyllynge eke therto Of whiche thynge with euery circumstaunce I wyll my selfe make enqueraunce Full faythfully of Pryam and Parys The mene whyle what is theyr aduyse Without more within dayes thre At whiche tyme come agayne to me From Achylles if he wyll the sende And fynally thou shalte knowe an ende Of this matere and an answere playne And home he goth to Achylles agayne ¶ With full glad chere his lord the more to plese And for to sette his herte better at ese Auysely of hye discrecyon He hath so made his relacyon And tolde his tale in so
on a day Alysaunder in full secrete wyse And vnto hym as I shall deuyse With wepynge eyen and full heuy chere Sayde euen thus lyke as ye shall here Parys quod she alas saufe goddes wylle Thou knowest well how the fyerse Achylle My sones hath slayne nye echone There is none lefte but thy selfe alone He hath me made alas there is no gayne Full cowardly of children now barayne Bothe of Ector and Troylus eke therto Whiche were to me in euery trouble and wo Fully comforte plesaunce and solace Wherfore I caste playnely to compace By some engyne his deth to ordayne And lyke as he by treason dyde his payne Trayterously with his swerde to smyte Right so I thynke with treason hym to quyte As sytrynge is of right and equyte And sythe thou wotest platly how that he Hath sette his herte and his loue clene Oonly on my doughter yonge Polycene To fyne oonly to haue hir to wyue For whiche I caste to hym sende blyue For to come and treate of that matere In the Temple of Appollo here In the Temple moste chefe of this Cyte Whiche tyme my wyll is that thou be Thy selfe armed there full pryuelye With certayne knyghtes in thy companye Armed also agayne the same daye That in no wyse he scape nat away From your handes but that he be dede As I haue sayde and therfore take good hede Vnto this thynge with all my herte I preye Fro poynt to poynt byddynge to obeye And he assenteth with all his hole herte Behotynge hir he shulde nat asterte And with hym toke twenty and no mo Of manly men that well durste do And in the Temple by full good aduys They were Yhyd by byddynge of Parys Whyle Eccuba couert in hir entent Hir messager to Achylles hath sent As ye haue herde in conclusyowne To come in haste vnto Troye towne After the effect was of hir message Oonly to treate for a maryage And he in haste coÌ„meth at hir sonde As he that coude no thynge vndersâ—onde Hir treason hyd nor playnely it aduerte He was so hote marked in his herte With â—oues bronde and his firy glede Oflyfe nor deth that he toke no hede But sette asyde wytte and all reason To caste afore by good discrecyon What was to do with lokynge full prudent But he in sothe was with loue blent Into Troye whan he shulde gone Lyke as it fareth of louers euerychone Whan they haue caught in herte a fantasye For no peryll though they shulde dye They haue no myght nor power to be warre Tyll they vnwarely be trapped in the snare Theyr maladye is so furyous And thus Achylles and Anthylogus Nestors sone haue the way nome Towarde the towne and be togydre come Into Temple as ye haue herde me telle And Parys tho lyste no lenger dwelle But all vnwarely with his knyghtes alle On Achylles is at myschefe falle Eueryche of them with a swerde full bryght And some bokes say it was by nyght Whan his deth longe afore desyred By Eccuba and Parys was conspyred But Achylles in this mortall caas Amonge them all naked as he was Hent out a swerde in the selfe steuen And lyke a knyght he slewe of them seuen Of very force maugre all theyr myght But whan Parys therof hadde a syght Thre dartes raughte that were kene square And sodaynely are that he was ware Full secretely hyd vnder the shade Markynge at hym and no noyse made Caste at hym euen as euer he can That hede and shafte thorugh his body ran And therwith all knyghtes nat a fewe With sharpe swerdes gan vpon hym hewe And lefte hym nat tyll he lay at grounde Full pale deed with many mortall wounde And rightfully of reason as it syt Thus was the fraude and the falshed quyt Of Achylles for his hye treason As deth for deth his skylfully guerdon And egall mede without any fable To them that be mercyles vengeable For thylke day Guydo wryteth thus That Achylles and Anthylogus Of Parys were in the Temple yslawe And afterwarde the body was out drawe Of Achylle fro the holy boundes And cruelly throwen vnto houndes To be deuoured in the brode strete The canell rennynge with his wawes wete Without pyte or any maner routhe Lo here the ende of falshede and vntrouthe Lo here the fyne of suche Trecherye Of false deceyt compassyd by enuye Lo here the knotte and conclusyon How god quyt aye slaughtre by treason Lo here the guerdon and the fynall mede Of them that so delyte in falshede For euery thynge platly for to sayne Lyke as it is his guerdon doth attayne As ye may se of this Achylles Whiche on a nyght in the Temple les His lyfe for he was aye customable By fraude and treason for to be vengeable But it befell at requeste of Eleyne That the bodyes of these ylke tweyne Conserued were from the hungry rage Of beste and foule gredy and ramage And yet they lay amyddes the Cyte Full openly that men myght them se To great gladnesse of them of the towne Into tyme that Agamenowne To kynge Pryam sent his massagerys To haue Lysence to fette them home on berys By graunt of whom they haue the corsys take For whom Grekes suche a sorowe make That pyte was and routhe for to here And eueryche spake thus vnto his fere Farewell our truste now Achylles is dede Farewell our hope and hoolly all our spede Farewell our ioye and our chefe diffence That hadde in manhode so great excellence Farewell alas our soueraygne assuraunce Farewell in knyghthod all our suffisaunce For nowe alas vnlykely is that we Shall euer wynne or gette this Cyte To vs alas so frowarde is Fortune But for that they myght nat contune Alway in wo nor in payne endure They made haue a ryche Sepulture To Achylles of stones precyous And another to Anthylogus What shulde I now any lenger dwelle Ceryously the rytes for to telle Of theyr buriynge nor what wo they make Theyr wepynge all nor of theyr clothes blake Nor how that some loure in theyr hode And how some go with mylke and blode With dolefull herte and into fyre it shete And how other caste goÌ„mys swete Amyd the great flaumbe funerall Nor of the playes called pallestrallâ— Nor the wrastlynge that was at the wake It were but vayne me to vndertake To telle all wherfore I lette be Fully in purpose lyke as ye shall se To resorte in conclusyon To telle how the great Agamenon For his Lordes in all haste hath sent And whan they were assembled in his tent Full prudently this kynge this manly man With great aduyse thus his tale began SYres quod he Fortunes varyaunce Hir chere frowarde double couÌ„tenauÌ„ce And sodayne Tourne of hir false vysage Your hertes hath put in suche arage For the murdre to god and man odyble Of Achylles cruell and the deth horryble By compassynge of Eccuba the quene Now semeth me that it shal be sene If any manhode in your
to se full huge was the prees Of the Grekes goynge enuyron And for he was by successyon Borne to be heyre of this Achylles He was receyued of Myrundones With great honour and great solempnyte So glad were they theyr yonge lorde to se To whom echone they made affyaunce And were eke sworne by bonde assuraunce For lyfe or deth to hym to be trewe As his lyeges and chaunge for no newe To obeye his lust in all maner thynge And after this Agamenon the kynge Made hym knyght and Thelamonyus ¶ With a swerde gyrte anone Pirrus Sayenge to hym in the selfe place With yâ— bawdryke whan he hym dyd embrace Take hede quod he myn owne cosyn dere To resemble in manhode and in chere In knyghthode eke and in worthynesse To thy Fader whiche in sothfastnesse In his tyme was so noble a knyght And ouer more with all thy full myght To auenge his deth that thou do thy payne And than of grekes worthy Dukes twayne Full humbly began downe toknele And sette a spore vpon eyther hele As was the maner of golde bornyd bryght And in this wyse Pirrus was made knyght As ye haue herde in full hye presence With great honoure and due reuerence Lyke the custome of the grekes layes And the ryghtes vsed in tho dayes And than anone hath Agamenon With full glad there and great affeccyon Delyuered hym fully by sentence The armes hole without difference Whiche Achylles by his lyfe bare His worthy Fader on his shuldres square As for next heyre of lyne by discent And all the Tresour also and his Tent Armure and all delyueryd were anone Vnto Pirrus and grekes euerychone Eyght dayes suynge by and by Thorugh out the hoost full solempnely They halowe in honour of this yonge knyght Tyl on a morowe whaÌ„ Phebê° shone ful bryght Which with his lyght that shyneth fro so ferre Diffaced hath the stremys of the sterre Lucyfer the dayes messagere Whan grekes gan in plates bryght and clere Enarmed them that day for soure or swete Fully in purpose with theyr foon to mete And manfully out of theyr tentes wyde Agaynst Troyans they began to ryde Warde after warde proudely into felde And Pirrus bare that day vpon his shelde His Faders armes lyke as sayth Guydo And of the same he hadde vpon also A cote armure that became hym wele And forth he rode armed bryght in stele And casuelly formest as he was He mette firste with Pollydamas A knyght of Troye a full manly man And furyously Pirrus to hym ran On hors backe with a myghty swerde And gan to hurtle with hym in the berde So myghtely that in this hatefull stryfe Pollydamas hadde loste his lyfe Ne hadde reskus ben without more tariynge Of Phylymene the noble worthy kynge Oonly of knyghthode and of worthynesse To whom Pirrus gan hym dresse With his swerde and smet hym in the syghte That from his hors he made hym to a lyghte For he the stroke myght nat sustene And sothfastly this worthy Phylymene Of Pirrus hadde ytake be anone Saue his knyghtes assembled into one Of Paffagonye came hym to rekewe But Pirrus aye so fyersly gan pursewe Vpon this kynge with Myrundones Beset in myschefe amonge the great prees That many knyght of this noble kynge yslayne was at his reske wynge He stode of deth in so streyt a caas Tyll of Fortune came Pollydamas To his reskus and dyde his full myght Hym to delyuere and quyte hym lyke a knyght But in sothenesse there was suche resystence Of Pirrus knyghtes stondynge at diffence That aye in myschefe stode kyÌ„ge Phylymene Tyll Pantasyllya of Femynye the quene With hir women a great companye Gan this thynge of auenture espye Whiche were echone for the more delyte On theyr armure that day clade in whyte That veryly there was no lylye floure Nor snowe that flaketh fro Iupyters toure Of whytnesse fressher on to sene Than in felde was this hardy quene Whiche firste of all amonge the grekes chees Proudely to falle on Myrundones Amonges whom rydynge vp and downe She them on horseth thorugh hir hyerenowne And slewe them vp on euery syde Makynge theyr renges for to seuâ—r wyde Tyll Thelamon in a furyous hete With a spere vn warely dyde hir mete And in arage smote hir to the playne But she anone full lyfely rose agayne And with hir swerde so marketh Thelamowne That from his hors she made hyÌ„ lyght dow ne Plat to the grounde on his handes twayne And than hir women dyde theyr besy payne To make theyr quene hir stede to recure And all this whyle stode in auenture Of his lyfe worthy Phylymene Pirrus knyghtes were on hym so kene Maugre his men that they haue hym take It geyneth nat diffence for to make The grekes haue so strongly hym beset And forth they lad hym it myght be no bet Towarde theyr tentê thorugh out all the felde The whiche thynge whan the quene behelde With hir women that aboute hir rode Pursued after without more abode That fynally they haue so after sewed Thorugh theyr force that he was reskewed Maugre the manhode of Myrundones And Pantasyllya was so mercyles Vpon Grekes that of necessyte Thorugh hir force and hir cruelte Afore hir swerde they durst nat abyde But whan Pirrus sawe hir great pryde To his knyghtes loude he gan to crye And sayde it was shame and vyllanye For the women so to lese theyr londe And to be slayne so felly of hir honde Wherfore echone your hertes doth resume And of assent let vs nowe consume The â—ryde of them that none away escape For but if we some remedye shape This ylke day theyr force to confounde Shamefull reporte to vs shall rebounde Perpetuelly where we slepe or wake And as Pirrus gan his swerde to take Furyously and with a knyghtly there This hardy quene happed to here All that Pirrus to his knyghtes spake Hirlyste nat ones for to tourne bake Nor of his thret for to take hede For platly she hadde of hym no drede But right proudely gan to drawe nere And to hym sayde anone as ye shall here O thou Pirre sone of Achylles That slewe Ector in knyghthode pereles Thorugh his treynys and his trecherye By malys oonly and by false enuye Vnware whan he no thynge dyde aduerte The whiche neuer may out of my herte So grene it stycketh in my remembraunce Vpon his deth for to do vengeaunce And it syt well as semeth vnto me That his deth be venged vpon the Firste of all and on thy Faders blode For loue of hym so gentyll and so gode The deth of whom shuld all yâ— world coÌ„playne Nat oonly men do theyr besy payne To quyte his deth but women eke also With all theyr myght helpe eke therto As right requyreth without excepcyon There on to do full execucyon And I now stonde in the same plyte And for thou haste vs women in despyte Of our power shortly in sentence Thou shalt in haste haue
experyence And knowe our force sothely euerydele Right in shorte tyme truste me right we le Here in this felde in shedynge of his blode ¶ Wherfore Pirrus wexed gan as wode As any Tygre bore or wood lyon So frat the coloure in his complexyon And in his Ire fell and despytous He toke a spere pale and Furyous And ran at hir with all his myght and payne And agayne warde as she that lyste nat fayne Encountrede hym all deuoyde of fere But Pirrus firste bracke on hir his spere All be that he myght hir nat remeue In hir sadell nor but lytell greue But she agayne so sore gan hym hytte On his stede that he may nat sytte But descendeth endelonge the playne And vp he rose with full great disdayne And toke a swerde in his honde anone And made his stede lyne ryght to gone Vpon this quene of passynge wortynesse And inwardely of hate of woodnesse In herte yfret smet at hir many stroke But euer she sat styll as any oke And of force in hir yre pale Efte agayne she made hym to auale To the erthe maugre all his payne And thus the fyghte lasteth of them twayne A large whyle tyll Myrundones Haue take theyr lorde by force out of the prees And made hym his hors recure agayne And in his tyme on the selfe playne With his baner is descendyd downe The worthy kynge great Agamenowne With kynges dukes endelonge the grene With theyr wardes that wonder was to sene So prudently in the felde batayled That haue Troyans mortally assayled ¶ But tho in haste the kynge Phylymene As ye haue herde reskewed by the quene Whan he hath thanked to hir worthynesse With his knyghtes in he gan hym dresse And Pantasyllya assembled bothe in one Vpon Grekes gan for to gone Where men may se with speres sharpe grounde Eueryche other bere vnto the grounde There men may se proudely without lacke The manly knyghtes renne on horse backe And the women mortally oppresse The fell Grekes thorugh theyr hardynesse Oonly thorugh force of the myghty quene That deed they lay couerynge all the grene ¶ Wherwith came in daūz Pollydamas Fro deth reskewed and with hym Eneas Kynge Esdras eke of troye the Cyte And tho the wardes gan togydre fle On eyther partye fell and furyous ¶ But moste of all Neptolonyus That Pirrus hyghte y◠grekes Champyowne Irous and wood on them of troye towne Made his swerde in theyr flesshe to byte And Pantasyllya proudely hir to quyte Ne spareth nat with mortall woundes wyde Grekes to slee vpon euery syde Now here now there to theyr confusyon And Pirrus than is falle on Glawcon The halfe brother to Pollydamas For Anthenor eke his Fader was And Pirrus so in a cruell yre With melancolye newe sette a fyre Smot Glawcon so or that he toke hede Amonge the prees that he fylle downe dede And Pantasyllya from hir women all The same tyde is on Pirrus falle And he of hir whan he hadde a syght Rode vnto hir lyke a manly knyght And as they hurtle on hors backe yfere Of auenture with swerdes styffe and clere Eueryche made other to alyghte And hatefully on fote so they syghte Longe or outher myght of other wynne Tyll they were made of force for to twynne By the wardes that went them atwene I mene Pirrus and this hardy quene And all this tyme daūz Pollydamas So wood for Ire in his herte was Amyd Grekes for his brothers deth That whom he mette for his loue he sleth Without mercy in his hatefull tene That he alone and this worthy quene Suche a slaughter on the grekes make That they the felde vtterly forsake And gan toflee to theyr tentes downe Tyll Dyomede and Ayax Thelamowne And Pirrus eke made tourne agayne But they in sothe were so ouerlayne That they ne myght all that day releue And thus they faughte tyll it drewe to eue To moste damage of the grekes syde Tyll Phebus gan his bryght chare to hyde Lowe in the west and to shroude his lyght Vnder courteyne of the blacke nyght That eyther parte thought for the beste To departe and drawe to theyr reste And toke theyr ease that nyght as they may And all the moneth suynge day by day Without any interrupcyon They faught yfere albe no mencyon Be made therof nor wryte in specyall Of no persone but in generall Who that euer dyde euell or well In Troye boke I fynde neuer adele Saue the quene lyke as wryt Guydo Of hir women an hondred hath forgo That slayne were thylke moneth day The deth of whom playnely if she may Shall well be quyt if so that Fortune Be fauourable frendely to contune That hir face chaunge nat contrarye But she that can euery day so varye Alas the whyle and selde in one soiourne Gan fro this quene hir loke away to tourne To enhaste thorugh hir vngoodlyhede Antropose to breke hir lyues threde As the storye playnely shall you lere Benyngnely if ye lyste to here THe fatall houre harde for to remewe Of cruel deth which nomā may eschewe Nor in this lyfe fynally escape Specyally whan Parchas haue it shape Approche gan it may none other bene Alas the whyle of this hardy quene ¶ Whiche on a day furyous and wroth Into the felde out of Troye goth And gan on grekes proudely for to sette And alder firste Pirrus with hir mette Of mortall hate and indignacyowne And she in haste by the renges downe Rode vnto hym swyftly on hir stede Whose sporys sharpe made his sydes blede And as they mette theyr speres in the reste They bare so euen markynge at the breste That theyr shaftes sothly this no tale Gan to shyuer all on peces smale Without bowynge outher backe or chyne For neyther made other to enclyne Saue the hede forged harde of stele Of Pantasyllya that was grounde wele In Pirrus breste percyd hath so depe That plate in soth nor mayle myght hym kepe But the sharpnesse of the speres hede Was of his blode in party rede The whiche stroke whan grekes gan espye For astoned loude gan to crye And all attones for the noyse and sowne Vpon this quene in the felde came downe In compasse wyse goynge enuyrowne But thorugh hir prowesse hir hye renowne She hir diffendeth that it was meruayle But they alas so sore hir gan assayle That all to hewe they haue hir basenet Amyd Grekes so thycke she was beset That with axes and swerdes square Hir hede in sothe made was all bare And hir shuldres were naked eke alas The mayle hewen of and the rere bras And Pirrus than lyke as it is founde For anguysshe oonly of his grene wounde In doute playnely where he shulde escape Towarde this quene faste gan hym rape To be auenged what so euer falle Amyd the felde amonge the grekes alle And whan she sawe that he came so faste Of force oonly to mete hym yet she caste And with hir swerde firste gan hym assayle But
fayre sheweth though the weder be Wonder dyuers and troubly for to se So this tygre full of doubylnesse So couertly his treason dyde expresse As he nat mente but trouthe to the towne Fully affermynge in conclusyowne How the grekes myghty were and stronge And lykly eke to abyde longe Day by day redy them to assayle And also plente of vytayle Concludynge aye there was no remedye Agaynst them to holde chaumpartye Nor with them any more to stryue For he sayde they hadde yet a lyue Theyr worthy knyghtes hardy as lyons Theyr manly men and theyr champyons Whiche theyr lyues platly to Iuparte From the Cyte caste them nat departe Tyll theyr purpose acheued be in all For fynally nouther toure nor wall Nor your gates of yren though ye shette The Grekes shall on no syde lette But that they wyll vs wynne at the laste Wherfore it nedeth a mene way to caste Sythen of myght nor fauour of Fortune We may nat longe agaynst them contune Wherfore quod he so ye condescende I can right well all this thynge amende Remedye so that ye nat varye To that I saye for to be contrarye This to mene shortly out of doute Embassatoure whan that I was oute With the grekes laste whan ye me sent They sayd goodly how they wolde assent Vnto a peas by this condycyon That ye wyll make restytucyon Of the harmes and the vyolences The wronges done and also the offences By Parys wrought in Grece at Cytheron As it is right me semeth of reason For theyr request is meynt with equyte And we be dryuen of necessyte Vnto theyr luste iustly to enclyne Maugre our wyll the werre for to fyne For all is now in theyr eleccyon We may nat make no rebellyon Now the mater is so fer ybrought To stryue agayne in soth it helpeth nought It may apeyre but no thynge auayle Therfore the beste that I can counsayle As in prouerbe hath be sayde of yore That if a man be constrayned sore And may nat flee to falle in a trayne Let hym chese the lesse harme of twayne And the gretter prudently to eschewe And let our golde that ye kept in mewe To saue our lyfe make redempcyon For better it is demeth of reason Spoyled to be oonly of rychesse Than wylfully dye in distresse The lyfe is better than glode or any gode Set all at nought in sauynge of your blode For foly is a man for his welfare Thorugh couetyse any golde to spare And now our lyfe dependeth in balaunce Let golde farewell and go with myschaunce We may hereafter by sort of auenture Golde by grace and good ynough recure And sythen we as I haue you tolde May bye a peas fynally for golde And with our treasour stynt eke the werre It were foly playnely to differre With the grekes vtterly to accorde For if so be I to them recorde That ye assent without any varyaunce There may of peas be no perturbaunce It is so lyght now to be recured For as soone as they be assured By iuste reporte of your entencyons They wyll do wryte oblygacyons Of couenauntes that nat be by hynde And that ye shall in them no faute fynde Whan assuraunce from outher parte is hadde Therupon Endentures shal be made So that of fayth ye may them nat repreue And for that they fully truste and leue Without fraude my relacyon I wyll now make no dylacyon To signefye to them in certayne Hoolly the effect of that ye wyll sayne And the people loude gan to crye All with one voyse and to magnefye All that euer Anthenor hath sayde And vpon hym they haue the charge layde Of theyr answere and entent fynall And by recorde to reporte all That no thynge be forgetten in this caas They haue assigned also Eneas With hym to go for the same thynge In the presence of the olde kynge Taltybyus whiche also of entent ¶ With Anthenor was to Troye sent The whiche thre haue playnely vndertake As ye haue herde a fynall peas to make Albe that they in couert treason mente And on theyr way forth anone they wente With playne power cōmytted of the towne BUt kyng Pryam hath ay suspeccyowne To Anthenor and also to Enee How that they shall destroye his Cytee And to hym selfe tryste of hertely wo He sayd alas what is beste to do In this myschefe that I am in falle And yet is this to me worste of alle That I am nowe thorugh myn aduersyte Bounde and compelled of necessyte Maugre my hede in maner of raunson For my lyfe to make redempcyon Vnto my foon that I haue moste at herte I se right well I may it nat asterte For I must paye there gayneth no socoure My good my golde ryches and treasoure To my moste foon and dare it nat denye And yet I stonde of lyfe in Iupartye Without refute hangynge in balaunce Alas constrayned thorugh my wofull chaunce To obeye theyr luste that mortally me hate Dryuen therto of byrthe thorugh my fate So Parchas haue my desteny yshape By no engyne I may it nat escape ANd whyle pryam gan thus to cōpleyne To Anthenor came the quene Eleyne Besechynge hym in his embassatrye Of gentyllesse for to specefye Thorugh his prudent medyacyon To fynde away in conseruacyon Of hir estate fynally that she To Menelay may reconsyled be If so falle that the treate holde So that hir lorde of his grace wolde Restore hir vnto hir degre Oonly of mercy and of hye pyte And Anthenor vnto hir requeste Gaue audyence makynge a beheste How he wolde with all his herte entere Be dylygent to treate of this matere And therwithall of hym she toke hir leue And thus was done on the same eue That Anthenor I pray god gyue hȳ sorowe To Grekes went on the next morowe Oonly to treate for apeas fynall And in this whyle the feest Funerall Was holde in troye myn Auctor wryteth thus Of a lorde that called was Glaucus A manly knyght tofore in his lyuynge And sone was of Pryamus the kynge And ouer this lyke as sayth Guydo That kynge Pryam besyed hym also Of Pantasyllya how the body myght Be conseruyd fresshely to the syght And for loue of this worthy quene Of puryd golde and of stones shene He lete make a vessell full ryall And fylde it full with bawne naturall To kepe the corps fro corrupcyowne Tyll the werre of grekes and of the towne Thorugh the treate were ystynted clene SO that the kynge called Phylymene This deed quene myght of affeccyon Carye it home into hir regyon With the Auncetres buryed for to be Lyke the maner of olde antiquyte And the custome vsed in that tyme It were in vayne more therof to ryme I passe ouer vnto the Tretee Atwene grekes and Troye the Cytee And for the partye of grekes as I rede Firste vlixes and with hym Dyomede Assigned were and the kynge of Crete With Anthenor and Eneas to mete And all yfere shortly in sentence By conduyt firste and after by
so curyous a thynge For it was wrought with dylygent laboure By hande of Aungell in the heuenly toure Thorugh goddes myght dyuyne ordyauÌ„ce And hyder sent thorugh his puruyaunce For a relyke oonly of his grace And prouyded to the same place There to abyde for a proteccyon For a diffence and sauacyon Perpetuelly whyle the worlde may dure Agayne all myschefe and mysauenture Euery trouble and trybulacyon In susteynynge and releuacyon And soueraygne helpe eke of this Cyte The whiche neuer may destroyed be By none engyne that men may purchace The goddes haue graunted suche a grace And suche vertue annexed eke therto That troye in sothe may neuer be fordo Tyll this relyke stole be away And yet in sothe there is no man that may From the place stere it nor remewe But the preste to whom it is dewe Oonly of offyce to touche it with his honde So myghtely conserued is the bonde That who attempteth in conclusyon It to remewe of presumpcyon At the fyne platly he shall fayle For force none may hym nat auayle For it in sothe wyll nat remeued be Except of hym to whom of duete It apperteyneth as ye haue herde to forne And ouer more there is no man yet borne That rede can nor tell in no degree Veryly where it be stone or tree Nor how it was deuysed nor ywrought There is no wyght so sotyll in his thought Ceryously to tell the manere For Mynerua that is so fresshe and clere The sterne goddesse thorugh hir great myght That is so dredefull bothe of loke and syght Whiche on hir brest haueth of cristall Hir shelde Egys this goddesse inmortall Ygraunted hath in bokes as I lerne Thorugh hir power whiche that is eterne This holy relyke for a memoryall To hir temple of byldynge moste royall It to conserue from all assaute of brede And to socoure in euery maner nede Agayne theyr foon vnto Troye towne Whyle it is kept with deuociowne So that alway by successyowne From kynge to kynge in the lyne downe But iust tycle lynealy succede There to annexyd that they take hede Prudently auoydynge neclygence It to conserue with dewe reuerence As they are bounde and yholde of ryght Than shall no enmye power haue nor myght To do damage in hyndrynge of the towne And why it is called Palladyowne Lyke as clerkes wryte of it and sayne Is for Pallas to make hir towne certayne This relyke sent fro the heuen downe And to conclude shortly my reasowne This the cause our purpose is so let Than quod vlixes syth it may beno bet Our labour is in ydell and in vayne Without recure if it be certayne As thou haste sayde this towne in no degre Thorugh this relyke may nat destroyed be It was foly the to vndertake Vnto Grekes beheste for to make Without this thou haddest be well sure Quod Anthenor yet there is recure As I haue hyght ye shall haue the towne All though there be a dylacyowne And the maner anone I shall telle If it so be ye lyste a whyle dwelle Without noyse outher perturbaunce The preste the whiche the gouernaunce Of this relyke shal be spoke vnto By good aduyse and ytretyd so That he shall be full of our assent For he with golde and treasour shal be blent That he accorde shall to our purpose To brynge the relyke whiche is kept so close To what place that ye lyste assygne Be styll of porte goodly and benygne In your werkes tyll I haue brought aboute Fully this thynge and be nothynge in doute I dare my selfe take it well on honde And whan they had his menynge vnderstoÌ„de They toke leue and went out of the towne But firste to voyde all suspecyowne At theyr goynge Anthenor hath hyght How that he wolde go the same nyght To Pryamus to make ordynaunce How the bondes and the assuraunce Of the peas shulde ymaked be And for to knowe eke the quantyte Of the golde that ye shall receyue Thus shall I beste the purpose apparceyne Of the kynge to knowe it euerydeâ—e And they consente and lyke wonder wele Euery thynge that Anthenor hath fayde And so they parte glad and well apayde And went theyr way and made no tariynge And Anthenor goth vnto the kynge Hym counsayllynge he make no delay To calle his lordes agayne the next day And his lyeges to assemble yfere Fynally to engroce this matere As it was syttynge and expedyent And whan the kynge in open ê‘lement Crowned sat in his regalye This Anthenor gan to specyfye In audyence that men myght knowe To eche estate bothe hye and lowe The grekes wyll if they agree therto And what the suÌ„me was of golde also Whiche they axe if the peas shall stande Twenty thousande Marke to haue in hande Of puryd god whiche must anone be payed And of syluer that may nat be delayed They muste eke haue the same quantyte And ouer this as they accorded be Certayne mesours by couenaunt also Of whete and floure theyr lyues for to saue In theyr repayre by the large see Whan they sayle home to theyr countree And that the collect made be anone By good aduyse of them euerychone That all be redy by acercayne day There was no man that durste tho say nay Nor contrarye that Anthern or hath sayde Where so they were well or euyll payde But full assent in conclusyowne And in all haste thorugh out all the towne The Collatours gadered vp the golde Lyke the suÌ„me that I haue you tolde Of pore and ryche there was sparyd none The whiche tyme Anthenor is gone Vnto the preest that called was Tonaunt I she myght in any wyse hym daunt To make his herte fully to enclyne Full craftely he layde out hoke and lyne With lusty â—eyte of false coueytyse Excycynge hym in full secrete wyse That wolde be of his assent And condescende vnto his entent To put hym in possessyon Of the relyke called Palladyon Without abode it may delyueryd be And gaue hym golde an huge quantyte And hym to blende moche more behyght And this was done full pryuely by nyght Shortly concludynge if he condescende That he wolde his estate amende So passyngly that for euer more He and his heyres shulde haue golde and store Plente ynough that none indygence Shulde haue power hym to do offence For vnto the this a vowe I make Quod Anthenor and platly vndertake Of golde good thou shalt haue suffysaunce And of treasour passynge habundaunce That thou shalt in very sykernesse All thy kyn excelle in rychesse If thou delyuer lyke to myn axynge Palladyon whiche is in thy kepynge And I behote thou mayste truste me By bonde of it shal be secree Lyst it were hyndrynge to thy name For if so be that thou drede shame To be esclaundred of so foule a dede I shape shall that thou nede nat drede Nor be agaste in no maner wyse For suche away in sothe I shall deuyse That no man shal be suspecyous To thy persone nor engenyous
dede durynge all his lyfe As fer as oughte of reason be desyred But the lettres that falsly was conspyred They haue hir put parcas of Innocence For to gyue to hasty credence Thankynge firste Oetes for his trouthe That so goodly hym lyst to haue routhe Vpon hir wronge of hye compassyon And yet the storye maketh mencyon Here afterwarde as I shall descryue That she was the falsest one alyue Vnto hir lorde and in his longe absence And in all haste she made stronge dâ—ffence Agayne this thynge and gan hir to purueye By suche fraude that she nat ne deye But of hir werke in sothe she was to wyte The whiche alas I muste anone endyte As the storye platly doth me lere Whiche dolefull is and mortall for to here OVnsure truste of all worldly glorye with sodayne chauÌ„ge put out of memorye O ioye vnstable of vayne ambycyon With vnware tourne reuersed vp so downe O ydell fame blowe vp to the skye Ouer whelmyd with twynclynge of an eye O pompe o boste of tryumphe and victorye Lyke a shadowe waste and transytorye O Fortune false and vnassured That to no man was neuer fully lured To hye nor lowe of no maner estate With bonde of fayth to be conferate Agayne whose myght no man may hyÌ„diffende But at his tourne that he shall discende Whan he syt hyest on thyne vnstable whele Thy brotyll fauour forged nat of stele Meynt and allayed with mutabylyte For welfulnesse and false felycyte With sodayne sweygh frowarde thou canst auale Now fresshe of chere now for anger pale Of hye disdayne thou sparest no degree For Prynces Dukes hyest in theyr see Myghty kynges and worthy Emperours That rychest reygne in theyr royall floures With Sceptre and crowne thou canst pull downe I take wytnesse of Agamenowne That was so noble and myghty in his lyue As sondry Auctours his hye renown descryue But sothfastly for all his excellence He myght nat make no diffence With all the kynges that his baner sewe Conspyred murdre to voyde and eschewe Rescuse was none that he coude make For whiche alas my penne I fele quake That doth myn ynke blotte on my boke O myghty god yâ— with thyne inwarde loke Seest euery thynge thurgh thy eternal myght Why wylt thou nat of equyte and ryght Punysshe chastyse so horryble a thynge And specyally the murdre of a kynge Alas the payne of Ixyon in helle Or of Manes that with Sathan dwelle Were nat egall nor equypolent To venge murdre nor suffycyent For it excedeth in comparyson All felonye falshede and treason Wherfore o lorde that seest and knowest all Thorugh thy power that is eternall Suffre no suche to lyue vpon the grounde Worse than Tygre or Cerberus the hounde That chayned lyeth bounde at helle gate Whiche of malyce playnely though he hate He berketh firste or he do offence But murdre gladly is wrought in sylence Or men aduerte or take any kepe Alas a Prynce to sle hym in his slepe On his pyllowe whan he slepeth softe That cryeth wreche to hye god a lofte And axeth vengaunce to take as faste Though it abyde it wyll out at the laste Alas a kynge spoken of so ferre That was so worthy outwarde in the werre His cruell fate passynge odyous Disposed hath in his owne hous His mortall ende to be execute Agaynst whiche there was no refute For right as he his shyppe to londe sette The quene Clemestra on the stronde hyÌ„ mette With humble chere and loke full benygne And shewed out full many faythfull sygne Of wyfely trouthe in hir countenauce Albe in herte there was varyaunce Nat parceyued playnely in hir face Whom the kynge goodly dyde enbrace As he in soth that but trouthe mente And to his paleyse the hye way he went Nat aduertynge the treason that was shape The whiche alas he myght nat escape Of the falshede he coude no thynge fele But I ne may no lenger it concele Agayne hir lorde how Clemestra wrought For on hir bonde of wedlocke she ne thought The trewe loke sothly of spousayle Agayne hir malyce lytell myght auayle Vnto hir lorde hir trouthe to conserue Newfangelnesse caused to streue Hir olde fayth and hir assuraunce Hir loue abode on a fykyll chaunce Longe absence hadde hir herte appalled She loued one that was Egistus called Whiche afore all in hir grace stode That nouther was of byrthe nor of blode Lytell or nought of reputacyowne Nor renowned of manhode nor renowne Nor of knyghthode nor of hye prowesse But for his labour and his besynesse And good awayte vpon hir by nyght Therfore he was best furthrede in hir syght Suche drede hadde she for to lyue alone Sorowles so well she coude grone I can nat say what lyfe that they ladde Except that she by hym a doughter hadde And Exyona Guydo sayth she hyght And vnto hym Clemestra behyght Assurynge hym vpon payne of hir hede He shulde reygne whan hir lorde were dede And to enhaste this conclusyon Hir worthy lorde kynge Agamenon The nexte nyght was murdred yssayne By false Egistus and the quene full fayne No lenger bode the storye can you lere But in all haste they wedded were yfere And by hir false and sleyghty compassynge Of Messene she made hym crowned kynge And put hym full in possessyon Alas that synne hath domynacyon To furthre wronge and abate ryght For in this worlde falshede hath more myght Full ofte sythe than hath rightwysenesse And in the estate sette of worthynesse Loo how the synne of auoutrye Brought in murdre by conspyracye Synne vpon synne lynked both twayne And enbraced in the fendes chayne Perpetuelly in helle to endure Alas who shall hymselfe full assure Fro cruell murdre his body to withdrawe Whan that kynges in theyr bed are slawe Whiche bryngeth in Alyenacyon By extort tytle false successyon There may coloure of pretense seme But full straytely god shall after deme And iustly venge with dewe recompence Intrusyon brought in by vyolence And felly quyte suche horryble thynges And sodayne slaughter specyally of kynges Greatly to drede in euery regyon And as I fynde that Agamenon By Clemestra the false double quene Hadde a sone passynge fayre to sene Right gracyous in euery mannes syght And Horestes the boke sayth that he hyght Wonder semely and but yonge of age And for great fere of this mortall rage Lyste he were slayne as it was to drede To anulle his tytle that he nat succede Hym to preserue that he were nat shent Kynge taltybus with power hath hym sent Full secretely out of that countre Vnto a kynge called Ydume That helde his sceptre and his royall sete Full myghtely in the lande of Crete And Carkasys named was the quene That hadde a doughter called eke Clymene Borne to be heyre of that regyon And as it is made eke mencyon This Horestes to reken all thynge Was with the quene and also with the kynge Cherysshed as well the storye can you lere As Clymen a theyr owne doughter
haste for this Dyomede Knowynge full well his desolacyon How he was proscrip fro his regyon Besechynge hym of manhode and of routhe Hym to enhaste without any slouthe With all the stuffe that he get can And souldeours also manly euery man Without abode and to Troye them lede To socoure them in this great nede And Dyomede came and taryed nought At theyr request as he was besought To releue them in this sharpe shoure And with hym brought many souldeoure And Eneas on the way hym mette In frendely wyse and into towne hym fette And to hym made passyngly great chere And there they gan to comune yfere Theyr auentures bothe of lande and see Entermedlyd with great aduersyte That no man may deuoyde nor eschewe But take his parte as it to hym is dewe As sorte or hap doth his brydell lede And in this storye shortly to procede Cely Troyans that almost were shent With theyr fomen of Yles adiacent That them besette aboute enuyrowne But thorugh the manhode the hye renowne Of Dyomede and his souldeours And other knyghtes noble werry ours They were reskued and holpen vtterly And foure dayes they foughte by and by In knyghtly wyse deffendynge the Cyree And thorugh prowesse also of Enee They slewe and toke all that them withstode And in diffence of Troyanysshe blode Suche as they fonde to the Cyte false They henge them vp hye by the halse And punysshed them for theyr great wronge And Dyomede thus gan wexe stronge By longe processe as made is mencyowne Chefe protectoure nowe of Troye towne That enmye none by a large space Durste abyde but he hadde grace To this lygaunce so he made them loute And thus his name sprede gan aboute That of his fame the great oppynyon Dylated is vnto the regyon By swyfte reporte to Calydonye and Argâ— Whiche the quene greatly gan to charge And astoned whan she taketh hede His power gan and his myght to drede Lyste he wolde hir londe vpon hir wynne And of knyghthode a werre newe begynne And secretely gan muse on this thynge That hir lorde and hir myghty kynge Late exyled and yput to flyght Hath grace founde in Fortunes syght And is remounted to so hye estate Wherof she was in hir selfe chekmate And wayes caste as she that was prudent By hole aduyse of hir Parlement Without grutchynge or rebellyon Hym to reuoke to his regyon ¶ And therupon to hym lowly sent And with lettres the messager forth went The cause annullyng by which he was exyled And how he was fully reconcyled By hole assente of his lyeges alle And full lowly euerychone they calle For theyr offence and of theyr trespace Without rygoure for to do them grace And he anone lyke a manly knyght More of mercy sothly than of ryght Whan he hath theyr sonde well conceyued And theyr menynge fully apparceyued To stynte all stryfe thought for the beste In goodly wyse to grauute theyr requeste And to his reygne within a certayne day He is repeyred in full ryche array Of whose coÌ„mynge full glad his lyeges bene And reconcyled bothe he and the quene And all rancoure of any olde offence Oonly of wysdome they put in suspence And of one herte a blysfull lyfe they lede In Troye boke no more of hym I rede But lette hym lyue in felycytee Agayne resortynge to tell of Enee After how he hath his tyme spent Whiche is fro Troye with many Troyan went His shyppes stuffed he and his meynee Be sayled forth by many straunge see Many daunger and many strayte passage Tofore or he aryued in Cartage Ledynge with hym his fader Anchyses And by the way I fynde that he les His wyfe Crewsa by fatall auenture But all the woo that he dyde endure Who so lyste ceryously to sene And how that he falsehede the quene I mene Dido of womanhede floure That gaue to hym hir rychesse and treasoure Iewellys and golde all yâ— myght hym please And euery thynge that myght do hym ease But for all that how he was vnkynde Rede Eneydos and there ye shall it fynde And how that he falsely stale away By nyght tyme whyle she a bedde lay And of his conqueste also in Itaylle Where he hadde many stronge bataylle His auentures and his workes all And of the fyne that is to hym fall Ye may all se by full souerayne style Fro poynt to poynt compyled in virgyle Wryte and made sythen go full yore For Troye boke speketh of hym no more But procedeth as I shall endyte How Horestes caste hym for to quyte His fadres deth playnely and nat spare If ye lyste here as Guydo shall declare IT is requered of equyte and ryght Of that iuge that is moste of myght And Egally holdeth his balaunce On deth conspyred for to do vengaunce The voyse of blode doth so aye contune To crye wreche with clamour importune On them in sothe that it iniustly shede For murdre wrought wyll haue his egal mede And his guerdon as he hath disseruyd They may nat flee the iugement reseruyd Of hym that sytte hyest in his Trone And all beholdeth by hym selfe alone Full rightfully the noble myghty kynge For though he suffre he foryet no thynge But all consydereth in his inspeccyon And for the murdre of Agamenon The myghty lorde that is most souerayne gode Made his Mynystre of the same blode ¶ Yonge Horestes full of hye prowesse To execute his dome of ryght wysnesse And gaue to hym grace power and myght And he anone toke the ordre of a knyght Of you meâ—s lyke as it is tolde Whan he was foure and twenty wynter olde Fresshe and lusty and wonderly prudent And in wardely desyrous of entent If Fortune wolde hym nat withsayne His herytage to recure agayne ¶ Whiche Egistus falsly hym denyeth And the crowne in iustly occupyeth By false tytle of hir that was his wyfe But horestes wyll Iuparde his lyfe And auenture whyle hym lasteth breth Firste to be venged on his fadres deth Vpon them tho that the treason wrought And alderfirste full lowely he besought Kynge yâ—dumee of his goodlyhede To forther hym in this great nede And the kynge benygnely anone Assigned hath with hym for to gone A thousande knyghtes manly right stronge To redresse the great horryble wronge Of Egistus wroughte by vyolence And by his wysedome and his dylygence This Horestes gan hym so purueye Within a whyle there is no more to seye That he hym gat the store wyll nat lye Another thousande to his companye Of worthy knyghtes all of one accorde To go with hym as with theyr souerayne lorde In euery thynge his byddynge to obeye As ye haue herde Egistus to werreye And thus Horestes in full ryche array Gan hoostey and made no delay And his lodgynge alderfirste gan chese In a Cytee that called was Troyese Receyued there with great reuernece Of the kynge that named was Forence A manly knyght as bookes specefye And bare in herte passynge great enuye To
disdayne It is no drede my labour were in vayne Let ignoraunce and rudenesse me excuse For if that ye platly all refuse For certayne Fautes whiche ye shall fynde I doute nat my thanke is set behynde For in metrynge though there be ignoraunce Yet in the storye ye fynde may plesaunce Touchynge substauÌ„ce of yâ— myn Auctour wryt And though so be that any worde mysse syt Amende it with chere debonayre For an Errour to hyndre and appayre That is nat sayde of purpose nor malyce It is no worshyp to hym that is wyse And no wyght gladly so soon demeth a lacke Specyally behynde at the backe As he in soth that can no skylle at all He gothe full hole that neuer hadde fall And I nat fynde of newe nor of olde For to deme there is none so bolde As he that is yblent with vnconnynge For blynde bayarde caste pereyll of no thynge Tyll he stumble myddes of the lake And none so redy for to vndertake Than he in sothe nor bolder to say werse That can no skylle on prose nor on verse Of all suche that can nat be stylle Lytell forse where they say good or ylle For vnto them my boke is nat dyrect But to suche as haue in effect On symple folke full compassyon That goodly can by correccyon Amende a thynge that hyndre neuer adele Of custome aye redy to say wele FOr he that was grouÌ„de of well sayinge In all his lyfe hyndred no makynge My mayster Chaucer yâ— founde full many spot Hym lyst nat pynche nor grutche at euery blot Nor meue hym selfe to parturbe his reste I haue herde tolde but sayde alway the beste Suffrynge goodly of his gentyllesse Full many thynge embraced with rudenesse And if I shall shortly hym descryue Was neuer none to this daye alyue To reken all bothe yonge and olde That worthy was his ynkehorne for to holde And in this londe if there any be In borugh or towne vyllage or Cyte That connynge hath his tracys for to sewe Where he go brode or be shet in mewe To hym I make a dyreccyon Of this boke to haue inspeccyon Besechynge them with theyr prudent loke To race and scrape thorugh out all my bokâ— Voyde and adde where them semeth nede And though so be that they nat ne rede In all this boke no rethorykes newe ¶ yâ—et I hope they shall fynde trewe The storye playne clefly in substaunce And who so lyste to se varyaunce Of worldly thynge wrought by dayes olde In this boke he may full well beholde Chaunge of Fortune in hir course mutable Selde or nat faythfull outher stable Lordes Prynces sfrom hir royalte Sodaynely brought in aduersyte And kynges eke plounged in pouerte And for drede darynge in deserte Vnware slaunghtre compassed of enuyâ— Murdre execute by conspyracye Awayt leyinge falshede and treason And of kyngdome sodayne euersyon Bauysshynge of women for delyte Rote of the werre and mortall despyte False mayntenaunce of auoutrye Many worthy causynge for to dye Synne aye concludynge who so taketh hede Vengaunce vnware for his fynall mede VO declare that in all worldly luste Who loke a right is but lytell truste As in this boke exaumple ye shall fynde If that ye lyste enprente it in your mynde How all passeth and halt there no soiour Wastynge away as doth a somer floure Ryche and pore of euery maner age For our lyfe here is but a pylgrymage Meynt with labour and with moche woo That if men wolde take hede therto And tofore prudently aduerte Lytell ioye they shulde haue in theyr herte To set theyr truste in any worldly thynge For there is nouther Prynce lorde nor kynge By example of Troye lyke as ye may se That in this lyfe may haue full seurte Therfore to hym that starfe vpon the rode Suffrynge deth for our aller gode Lyfte vp your hertê thynke on hym amonge For be ye neuer so myghty nor so stronge Without hym all may nat auayle For he can gyue victorye in batayle And holde a felde shortly to conclude With a fewe agayne great multytude And by grace he maketh prynces stronge And worthy kynges for to reygne longe And Tyrantes sodaynely oppresse Thorwe theÌ„ downe for all theyr great rychesse And in his honde power he reserueth Eche to aquyte lyke as he disserueth To whom I praye with deuocyon With all myn herte and hole affeccyon That he lyste graunte longe contynaunce Prosperyte and good perseueraunce Helthe welfare victorye and honoure Vnto that noble myghty conqueroure Herry the fyfther tofore yspecefyed So that his name may be magnefyed Herein this lyfe vp to the sterrys clere And afterwarde aboue the nynthe spere Whan he is deed for to haue a place This praye I god for to sende hym grace At whose byddynge as I tolde late Firste I began the sege to translate And now I haue hoolly in his honoure Executed the fyne of my laboure Vnto all that shall this storye se With humble herte and all humylyte This lytell booke lowely I betake It to supporte and thus an ende I make ¶ Laus deo ¶ Of the moost noble excellent Prynce kynge Henry the fyfthe MOost worthy Prynce of knyghthode soures and welle Whos 's hye renowne thorugh the worlde dothe shyne And all other in manhode doest excelle Egall of meryt to the worthys nyne And borne also by discent of lyne As rightfull heyre by tytle to attayne To bere yâ— crowne of worthy Realme twayne And also fer as Phebus in his spere From Eest to west shedyth his bemys bryght And Lucyna with ashrouded chere Gothe compasse rounde with hir pale lyght Thou art yrekened for the best knyght To be registred worthy as of name In the hyest place of the house of fame To holde a palme of knyghthod in thy honde For worthynesse and for hye victorye As thou that art drade on see and londe And euermore with laude honoure and glorye For iuste conquest to be put in memorye With a crowne made of laurer grene Vpon thy heed tofore that famous quene Whylom ordeyned oonly for conquerours Stable of herte with longe perseueraunce And gaue nat vp tyll they were victours Empryses take for no sodayne chaunce Whose name ay floureth with newe remeÌ„brauÌ„ce And fadeth nat of yeres yore agone Amonges whiche thou mayste be set for one For thorugh the worlde in many regyon Reported is with fame that flyeth wyde That naturelly thy condycyon On thynge begonne is knyghtly to abyde And for the tyme manly set asyde Rest and ease what cost theron be spente Tyll thou haue cheued the fyne of thyn entente Moste circumspect and passynge auysee All thy werkes conueyed with prudence Sad and demure lyke to Iosuee Agayne whose swerde is no resystence And hast also heuenly influence With Salamon wysely to discerne Oonly by grace thy people to gouerne Mercy eke meynt with thy magnyfycence On all oppressed for to haue pyte And of rebelles by manly vyolence Abate canste the great cruelte And so with Dauyd thou haste kyngly pytâ— And hye prowesse with Sesar Iulyus In his tyme moost victoryous And manly holdest in thy hondes two Who can beholde by clere inspeccyon The swerde of knyghthode thy Scepture also The tone to brynge to subieccyon Hertes made proude by false rebellyon And with the Sceptre to rewle at the best Thy trewe people that can lyue in rest Now thou yâ— haste manhode vertue grace Attemperaunce fredome and bounte Lowly I praye with dredefull face Disdayne nat benyngely to se Vpon this boke rudely made by me To fyne oonly to agrene thyne hyghnesse And rewe of mercy vpon my symplesse And in thy noble kyngly aduertence Consydre se my soueraygne lorde most dere Of thyne inuat famous sapyence That criste Ihesu receyued with good chere The twey Munytys you of herte entere By the wydowe whiche of wyl and of thought Gaue all hir good kept hir selfe right nought By whiche ensaumple so that it nat offende Thorugh myn vnconnyng to thy hye noblesse Let good wyll my lytell gyfte amende And of thy mercy and renowmed goodnesse Haue no disdayne of my bareyne rudenesse And in makynge though I haue no muse Let trewe menynge the surplus all excuse More than good herte hath no maner wyght To present nouther to god nor man And for my parte to the as it is ryght That gyue I hole as ferforth as I can Aye to perseuere fro tyme that I gan With wyll thought for thyne estate to praye Whiche to conserue thus fynally I saye Firste of all almyghty god to queme With all that may be to his plesaunce And to thy crowne and thy dyademe Grace and good Eure with longe contynuaunce Of thy lyeges faythfull obeyssaunce And eche vertue that man may specefye I praye god graunte vnto thy regalye ¶ Explicit Liber quintus vltimus ¶ Lenuoye â—Oo lytell boke and put the in the grace Of hym that is moste of excellence And be nat hardy to appere in no place Without supporte of his magnyfycence And who so euer in the fynde offence Be nat to bolde for no presumpcyon Thy selfe enarme aye in pacyence And the submytte to theyr correccyon ¶ Verba translatoris ad librum suum And for thou art enlymned with no flowres Of Retoryke but with whyte and blacke Therfore thou muste abyde all showres Of them that lyste set on the alacke And whan thou art most lykely go to wracke Agaynst them thyne Errour nat diffende But humbly with drawe and go a backe Requerynge them all yâ— is amysse to amende Here endeth the Troye booke otherwyse called the Sege of Troye translated by IohnÌ„ Lydgate monke of the Monastery of Bery And Emprynted the yere of oure Lorde a. M. CCCCC xiij by Richard Pynson prynter vnto the kyngê noble grace
and honour with longe prosperyte Be vnto you and good aduenture All the whyle that your lyfe may dure And specyally of the O Thelephus Whiche haste to me be so gracyous Of gentyllesse in my paynes stronge Oonly of grace my lyfe for to prolonge But deth alas I may nat now eichewe Nor his swerde on no part remewe Without recure knytte in bytter bondes Vpon the brynke falle of fatys hondes Of my lyfe all fully in despeyre Whiche of my body neuer myght haue heyre After my daye by successyon To gouerne this lytell regyon Whiche lyckely is to stande desolate Of gouernaunce and disconsolate Whiche that I wan with full great trauayle And to this day with werre and batayle I haue it kepte as ye well knowe echoue And defended from all maner fone Without losse yeres here toforne But recurlees of yore I had it lorne Ne had I had helpe and eke socour Of Hercules the great conquerour That whylom was fader to Thelepus So stronge so myghty and so chyualrous By whose manhode and whose hardynesse By his knyghthode and great worthynesse Whiche day by day is newe of memorye Of all my foon I hadde the victorye He daunted them and made them so a ferde Oonly by rygoure of his sharpeswerde That fynally thorugh his manly hede He made me this reygne to possede Maugre theyr myght in peas and quyete With septre and crowne my royall sete That none of them tyll that he was dede Hardy was to lyfte vp the hede Agaynst me to speke wordes fewe Wherby I may fully declare and shewe By euydence that this lytell yle Is perteynent and longeth to Cecyle Where Hercules for a memoryall Sâ—tte pylers in his conquest royall Whan he hadde ryde and go to fere And of Columpna yet the name bere After hym called Herculea Though some saye they hyght Herracula The name chaungynge by corrupcyon The whiche lande was whylom mansyon To the people of wylde barbarye The whiche kyngdome for to magnefye Frederyke sothly the secounde Of golde and good passyngly habounde That chosen was to be Emperour Of Rome towne and myghty gouernour And whylom eke was kynge of Cecyle Whiche made reyse in that large yle A myghty toure hye and thycke of walle As sayth Guydo for a memoryall To put his name longe in remembraunce And for the soyle was to his plesaunce With floures fresshe of many sondry hewe In some bokes the londe was named newe And pealled as I vnderstonde For his fayrenesse the lusty newe londe But Tentran aye lymge in his payne As he that faste gan the houre attayne Of cruell deth afore his lordes all He made in haste Thelephus to call To his presence and with a mortall chere Sayde openly that all myght here My sone quod he nowe I shall pace Out of this worlde for gayne may no grace My lyfe to saue thorugh no mannes myght But for bycause of equyte and ryght I am compelled iustly in sentence To declare elerely my conscyence To fore my deth herynge all this prees This to sage thy fader Hercules The wyse worthy and that knyghtly man Whylom this londe thorugh his conquest wan The whiche oonly of his goodly hede As he that was the stocke of manly hede Toke vnto me by coÌ„myssyon The gouernaunce of this regyon Of his free wyll with hole the regallye And nolde hymselfe the cowne occupye And sothely yet his right was nat the lasse For loue of whom now that I shall passe Withall the entent of my laste wylle To the I graunt as it is ryght and skylle As very heyer iustely to succede Longe in honour therin thy lyfe to lede Makynge there a prodestacyon That in full token of confirmacyon This is the wyll fynall of myn herte Fro the whiche no man may dyuerte Vpon no syde nor vtterly declyne Hor firste my wyll and dissent of lyne Be togyder combyne now in one For whiche thynge no mortall man may gone For this desyre laste of my langour That thou playnely be my Successour And fynally thus I conclude and deme That vnto the Septre and dyademe Delyuered be with euery circumstaunce But all his wyll for more assuraunce He made wryte in his testament The fyne concludynge of his laste entent And after that he full pyteously Thelephus besought hertely Of manly routhe and knyghtly gentyllesse To do his deuer and his besynesse After his deth lyke his estate royall To halowe and holde the feste funerall Solempnely and the exequyes do And sodaynely without wordes mo The kynge Tentran yeldeth vp the goste And went his way I note to what coste I can nat deme of suche mystyhede And whan Parcas broken haue the thrde On the rokke and he was forth his waye Than Thelephus out of marbyll graye Curyously a tombe madekerue The dede corps therin to conserue Full rychely and aboue the graue An Epythaphe anone he dyde graue In his honour playnely to expresse His knyghthode bothe and worthynesse And how his goste and he were deuorced With letters ryche of golde aboue enboced Rounde aboute wonder curyous On his tombe that sayde playnely thus Here lyeth Tentran the kynge douteles Whylom slayne of cruell Achylles That his sceptre and the regalye Hoolly gaue whiche no man may denye To Thelephus sone of Hercules Whiche in his tombe resteth now in pees Whan this perfourmed was in euery thynge And Thelephus was crowned in to kynge And hye and lowe all by one assent Had openly in a Parlement Made fayth to hym and ydone homage Lyke theyr degrees as they were of age And with hole herte in all theyr best entent By othe assured and by sacrament As trewe lyeges receyued hym for kynge Than Achylles without more tariynge Whan all was sette in peas gouernaunce Without grutchynge or any varyaunce To theyr shyppes anone he made carye Euery thynge that was necessarye To the grekes corne fruyte or vytayle Flesshe or fysshe or what that myght auayle To hosteynge or helpe them in theyr nede Downe to the see all hedyde lede Fully theyr vessell for to stuffe and lade And Thelephus after this he made Stylle in the boundes of his regyon For to abyde for this conclusyon That thorugh his helpe and his dylygence Besynes and discrete prouydence Agayne all myschefe and all scarsyte Whan they nede he myght theyr socour be AL be that he lyke as sayth Guydo With Achilles full fayne wold haue go But he abode sothely for the beste By bonde assured fully and beheste In euery thynge grekes to releue And than in haste Achilles toke his leue Of Thelephus and gan anone to sayle All his shyppes stuffed with vytayle Towarde grekes as made is mencyowne And in shorte tyme he at Thenedowne Aryued is and taken bathe the grounde With all his knyghted 〈…〉 rounde And after this to 〈◊〉 Hemade firste full relacyon Of his expleyt lyke as it was falle In the presence of his lordes alle Syttynge enuyron many worthy knyght ¶ And firste in Messa