hope your favors I shall win I will proceed the story to begin WHen as the noble King Laomedon Was slaine in field by cruell Hereules When as the Greekes did first destroy the towne He had a sonne and heire as Guido saâ—es Cald Priamus a Prince of courage stout Whose fortune was at that time to be out With Hecuba his wife and did assault A Castle strong wherein a Lord did lie Which at that time did stubbornly revolt And long before had warred cruelly Against the towne of Troy with force and might Yet subiect was vnto the same by right Where Priam and his sonnes in campe did lie Accompanied with many a worthy Knight Their power and force against their foes to trie And it besieged round both day and night With vow the same by fierce assault to win And to destroy them all that were within For he as then was strong and valorous Young lusty and of fierce and hawtie heart And therewithall so stout and ventrous That feare of death could neuer make him start And to be first that in the field did enter Against his foes his life therein to venter Whereby hewan great honour and renowne And for his time was held a worthy Knight Till Fortune from her wheele did cast him downe And in his fall did show her power and might To change and alter things as she thinks good Respecting neither poore nor Princely blood This Priamus by Hecuba his wife Eight goodly faire and Princely children had Which all were slaine and died in the strife And bloody warre that Grecions gainst him made Whereof there were fiue sons daughters three Which I will name each one in his degree The first and eldest Hector had to name Whose worthinesse as farre abroad doth flie And is extold by Trumpe of Lady Fame As Phoebus doth râ—n compasse â—out the skie In one daies space for authors certifie And say be was thâ—â—ooâ— of chivalâ—ie Of Knight-hood true the onely Soveraigne And Mirror bright and cleare of Noblenesse And did therein vnto such hight attaine That no man can sufficiently expresse The great and valiant acts he did archiue Surpassing all that ever yet did liue And therewithall he was most vertuous Discreet and wise and friendly to each one Of whom the deeds and prowesse marvelous Reported are and haue been long agone By many ancient Authors fore our dayes That write of him to his eternall praise The second Sonne by birth and Dignitie Was Parris cald who did exceed so farre In person beautie shape dexteritie And was esteem'd therein to be so rare That in his time as farre as I can heare Vpon the earth there neuer liu'd his peere Who likewise was a stout and worthy Knight And in a bow had such delight and skill Wherewith he vsed commonly to fight That where he aim'd he would be sure to kill None ever did surpasse him in the same And Alexander was his other name Deiphobus was the third Sonne by degree A Knight of worthy same and great renowne Strong hardy and of courage franke and free Exceeding wise and of great discretion A counsellor in peace and warre most graue And in the field a Champion bold and braue The fourth of them was Heleâ—â—â— by name Who onely gaue his minds vnto his booke And was so much addicted to the same That pleasure in no other thing he tooke Whereby so wise and learned he became That all men did admire him for the same The Fist Sonne was a hardie valiant Knight Although the last and yongest of them all And puissantly against his â—oes did fight Whom Troyâ—lâ—s the historie doth call And for his valiant heart and courage braue The name of second Hector men him gaue So many valiant acts hy him were don While that the Grecian warre continued Whereby so much renowne therein he won That after Hectors death he was so feared And did the Greekes so cruelly assaile That nought against the Towne they could prevaile Yet Uirgill in his Booke of Troyan warre By him cald his Enâ—idos saith thus That Hecuba vnto King Pryam bare Two younger Sonnes the one Polidorus Whom when the Grecians first did take in haâ—d Their bloody warre and entred in his land As then but young he straight did send away Vnto a King that was his trusty friend With store of treasure great with him to stay Till he might see what jssue and what end The warre would haue as then but new begon Betweene the Greekes and him before the towne But he in whom he did repose his trust When as he vnderstood King Pryams state Desirous of the gold which makes men thurst Did cause the Troian Prince vnfortunate To be bereav'd of life most cruelly And buried in a place full secretly Hard by the Sea so deepe within the ground That no man could his treason great espie Nor never afterward his body found And so the Proverbe old did verefie Who so on gold doth set his onely care To win the same no mischiefe he will spare The second of those two cald Ganimed Vpon a time did hunt for his disport And straying in a wood by fortune led God Iupiter as Uirgill doth report Vp to the skies did sodainely him take And there for ever Butler did him make The eldest of King Priams daughters three Cerusa nam'd the story doth declare Was married to a Lord of high degree Aeneas cal'd a man of beauty rare Whose Father was a Duke of noble fame And Uirgill saith Anchises had to name And on the Goddesse Uenus him begot For this Aeneas honor and his fame Uirgill compild a Booke wherein he wrot His travells all at large and doth the same From his departure out of Troy begin And showes how he all Italie did win Long after that the great and famous Towne Of Troy destroyd and cleane defaced was And what great conquests were archieu'd and dâ—n By him as he along the Seas did passe And how that first at Carthage he did stay Ere that he further forth went on his way Whereas Queene Dido pierst with Cupids dart Of him became so much enamored That for because from thence he did depart For loue of him her selfe she murthered All which and more in Virgill you may see In Latine verse at large declard to bee King Priams second daughter had to name Cassandra as the ancient stories saies Who by her wit attaind so loftie fame That she was holden for a Prophetes Her skill in Arts of all kinds was so much That like to her there nere was any such For future things she could declare and show And what was done within the world so round Before it came to passe she did it know Her learning was so deepe and so profound Her manner was religiously to liue And onely to the same her mind did giue The third and youngest daughter Policene For shape and beautie past her sisters twaine Who liued all her daies a Virgin cleane Till she by Pirrhus cruelty was slaine
extinguish all the worthinesse Of Conquerors and such as by degree Of honor seeke to climbe to loftie fame And oftentimes cleane blemisheth the same A covetous desire of getting wealth Belongeth not vnto Nobilitie Nor riches gotten so by spoyle or stealth Pertaineth not to worthy Chivalrie For avarice and Knighthood disagree And cannot well together lincked bee For certaine t is that greedinesse of gaine Hath often beene the onely overthrow Of many famous men that haue beene slaine As Guido in this Historie doth show By worthy Hectors fall who coveting To haue the sumptuous armor of that king So greedy was thereof that when he had The body vp and on his horse it bare To haue the spoyle thereof such hast he made That he did hang his shield without all care Behind him at his backe the easier To pull the armor off at his desire And by that meanes his brest cleane open lay And nothing to defend nor saue the fame But his thin plates Wherein I needs must say He was too vnadvis'd and much to blame And 't grieues me that so braue a Champion And of all knighthood the onely pateron Should haue of his owne good so little care As not to thinke vpon his enemie That him so great and deadly hatred bare And watching time and opportunitie On him attended had all that same day To take him at advantage and then lay Close hovering not farre off from him to spie A time t' effect his purpose and desire For at that time Achilles so â—â—â—â— die With heart repleat with wrath and furious ire While Hector so the dead Kings body beare Vpon his horse tookevp a mightie speare And therewith did at Hector fiercely ride And smote him vnawares with great despight Into the heart â—hat he fell downe and dide And so that most renowned Troyan knight Was slaine by carelesse bearing of his shield Whose death when as King Odemon beheld He was so grieu'd there at that presently He road vnto Achilles and despight Of all his Myrmidons most furiously Smote him so great a blow with all his might That downe for dead he fell vpon the plaine As if at that same time he had beene slaine Wherwith his knights straight laid him on a shield And bare him faire and softlie thence away Into his tent where staying to be heald I le leaue him for a while sicke as he lay And show how when that night began t' appeare The Grecians that with fighting wearied were Vnto their tents retir'd and lest the plaine And at that time the Troyans also went With heauie hearts into the towne againe And all the way did mournefully lament For Hectors death whose body solemnly They bare with them and weeping bitterly Vnto the Temple therewith all did goe And in that sort that dolefull day did end And all the night ensuing with great woe And heavinesse did after likewise spend Wherein I will them leaâ—e and for a while To mourne for Hectors death I le turne my stile CHAP. VII ¶ The complaint of Lidgate for the death of Hector and the description of the sumptuous Toombe that King Priam made for him THe fearefull stile which I till now haue held Of dangerous cruell fierce and bloody warre So numbs my hand that I can hardly weld My pen that is so clog'd with feare and care Of valiant Hectors death the truth to write Vnlesse some one vouchsafe me helpe t' indite But vnto whome shall I crie out or call For helpe it must not be to any one Of those faire Nymphs amongst the Muses all That on Pernassus hill by Helicon So Angell-like with heavenly melodie Do sing together with such harmonie That no man can expresse nor well declare The sweet accord of their most pleasant song For they do never disagree nor iarre And haue their instruments most sweetly strong That they on them no dolefull tunes can sound Nor dittie sweet with woefull songs compound Of them therefore it boots me not to craue Their aid to helpe in this extreamitie And sure I am I shall as little haue Of Clio or of faire Caliope I therefore must make sute with woefull mone And many a grieuous sigth and gastly grone Vnto Megaera Alecto and Thesiphone That ever are in sorrow and complaine With brinish teares in bad condition For they still liue in extreame woe and paine Eternally and do in torments dwell With triple headed Cerberns in hell Whome I must pray to be to me bening In this my case which is so lamentable For to a man whome sorrow still doth sting A shew of feare is alwaies commendable And in a matter full of heauinesse A heauie looke the same doth best expresse Helpe me herein oâ— Niobe to mone And in my pen some of thy teares distill Do thou the like oh cruell Exion And Beâ—ides that doest the bucket fill Helpe with thy roling stone good Sesiphus And furtherme also poore Tantalus That hungrest still in water without rest Helpe me I pray you all my plaints to end And let me craue of you to do your best To ayd me so that I my wits may bend With phrases fit the wofull chance to tell Of him that did in worthinesse excell And while he liu'd the root of Knighthood was The onely mirror of all Chivalrie The man that did all other men surpasse For valor and for great actiuitie And th'onlie patterne of all curtesie As Guido sheweth in this Historie Why shouldst thou die oh Hector valorous What was the cause thou tookst no better heed Oh Parchas fell and too too mischievous So carelesly to twist his vitall threed And what did mooue thee Atropos thereto So hastily to cut the same in two Oh Troy alas well mayst thou mourne and cry And bitterly lament thy wofull state That art this day bereau'd so sodainly By most accursed false and wavering fate Of him that was thy speciall proppe and stay And chiefe defence and bulwarke night day And he that onely made thee fortunate Now now alas the brightnes of thy sunne Ecclipsed is and thou art desolate Of comfort and in manner cleane vndone Thy light is out and thou dost plunged lie In darknesse for this day most certainlie Is slaine the brauest and the worthiest The most renowmed and chivalorous And of all valiant knights the hardiest la battaile and the most victorious That ever was or shall be borne most sure Within the world while that it doth endure No maruell then it is thou weepst so sore For him sith he both in thy woe and weale Was thy defence and comfort euermore And he whome thou didst loue and like so well That sure thou canst not proue so much vnkind As not to thinke still of him in thy mind For as the storie maketh mention There was not any one of what degree Or state so ere he was within the towne But rather would in that extreamitie Haue lost his child to saue his life if so The Gods would haue beene pleas'd
and also to implore Their aid therein and when he kneeld before The Altar he by Oracle was told And bidden that without compassion Shewn to his mother Clytemnestra he should Revenge the death of King Agamemnon His father vpon her that was the cause That he was slaine against all humane lawes And that he should no mercy to her show But to fulfill the Gods degree and hest He willed was her body all to hew In peeces small which done he should not rest Till he had slaine Egistus in likewise For iust reward of their great cruelties Enioyning him not to be negligent In any wise but carefully t' effect And execute the Gods commandement On paine if that he did the same reiect Of that which might vnto himselfe ensue Which Oracle which as Horestes knew He entred straight into his natiue soyle Where when he came all that did him withstand He did in hostile wise destroy and spoile And being in the middest of the land Layd siege vnto Methena towne whereas False Clytemnestra the Queene at that time was But ere Horestus fully thither came To plant the fiege Egistus in great post The day before was gon out of the same Intending to prepare a mighty hoast To set vpon Horestus and constraine Him to breake vp his siege but all in vaine For while Horestus still before it lay He ceased not his spies abroad to send To see and to enquire every day Which way he went and what he did intend Or meant to do and purposely did set Some bands of Knights his passages to let Appointing others speedily to ride And follow him about in euery place Commanding them t'assaile him on each side And euer more to keepe him still in chase While he the towne so hotly did assaile That it could not against his force prevaile So that at last he tooke it by assault And entring thereinto at euening late He found the Queene Clemnestra in a vaut Whom when he had set watch at every gate He caused to be bound in chaines layd Therein againe where till next day she staid While traitrous King Egistus hast did make Withall the power of men that he could get T' invade with speed and vnawares to take Horestus him of his purpose let And him thereby an ouerthrow to giue And by that meanes Methena to relieue But all that he could doe did nought availe For vnawares Horestus with him met And with such mighty force did him assayle That in short space he did the victory get And having slaine and put his men to flight Himselfe was tane to his great despight In prison cast with hands and feet fast bound Which done Horestus caused every one Wichin the towne that were consenting found Vnto the death of King Agamemnon As also those that armes against him bare To be committed prisoners did spare None whatsoere he was but all receiu'd Due punishment for their reward were Condemnd to die of their liues bereaud Next day when as the Son shin'd bright clreare And first Clemnestra principall head Of all the rest in mighty feare dread Was fore Horestus brought who presently Severely drew his sword therewithall When as he had condemned her to die Did hew cut her into peeces small And caused her in that sort to be borne Out of the towne to be deuourd and torne By Beasts and Birds and haue no buriall And by that meanes gaue her a iust reward Which done he did for false Egistus call Who when he had likewise his sentence hard Which was that he starke naked drawne should be Along the towne and hang'd vpon a tree And not to be cut downe but there to rot To execution went and so you see What guerdon by Gods iudgement murther got And they are so repaid that traitors bee And then the rest that with them did consent To kill the King and to rebell were sent Out of the towne hangd on gibbets hie That all men might example by them take And so Horestus with severitie Reuenged was for Agamemnons sake On them that him so traitrously had slaine And got his lost inheritance againe But when he had thus finished and don That which the Gods commanded had tane Revenge for death of King Agamemnon So traitrously by Queene Clytemnestra slaine King Menalus ariuing with his fleet Of ships that with him came from Troy in Creet And with him brought Queene Helena the faire That had been cause of all the Troian warre The people did in mighty flocks repaire To see and to behold her beauty rare For which so many Princes great were slaine But things once done cannot b'vndon againe Who hearing of his brothers death that In traitrous wise he had been murthered By Clemnestra his wife was grieud thereat But yet with partiality much led Considering on the fact as it behou'd Him to haue done he was in hart â—ore mou'd Against Horestus that so merciles With rigor great and extreame crueltie Had slaine his mother like one pitiles And cleane bereft of all civility For which he swore vou'd if he did liue He would him of his regall Crowne depriue Affirming for his cruelty so great By law of God that he vnworthily Vpon his Fathers Royall throne did sit And therefore straight againe to ship did hie And leauing Creet to Athens sayl'd so fast That he ariud in Nestors land at last And therein was receaud and welcomed As his estate requird but he possest With fury great and by much choller led Would not content himselfe nor be at rest Till he had told to Nestor why he came And of him askt his counsell in the same Desiring him that he a meanes would be By counsell by power if that he might To put Horestus from his dignitie And Regall throne which though it were his right He said that he had lost the same because He had his mother slaine gainst natures lawes And therevpon to Athens both they went And did require the Princes of the land To meet together there in Parlament Where Menalus gaue them to vnderstand What Horestus to Clytemnestra had don And craued all their iudgements therevpon Who being there himselfe and hearing what King Menalus had said and did esâ—ie His meaning and intent was flatly that He would haue him depriued Did replie With courage bold and sayd he had don nought But that which all the Gods decreed and thought Convenient to be done and then did shew How he commanded was by them to go Into Messena land and there to hew His mother all in peeces and to do The same without all ruth or compassion Because she had kild King Agamemnon And that the murther chiefely had been wrought By her alone against all humane lawes And therefore all the Princes there besought With equitie to thinke vpon the cause And not with any malice nor in rage To seeke to take from him his heritage He being Son to King
They tooke and bare't into their ships in hast Dispoyling Temples with great violence And to the ground their Pagan Gods did cast For no man durst against them make defence And mercilesse great pittie to behold With bloudy swords they kild both yong old The tender child that mothers brest did sucke Escaped not their extreame cruelty For from the mothers arms they did them plucke And violently caused them to die Their maidens faire they did reserue for prise And with them did their beastly lusts suffice Regarding neither beautie birth nor name And when the houses all destroyed were They raz'd the wals and quite defast the same And Laomedons onlie daughter deare Faire Exion whose beautie did excell To go with them by force they did compell Who by them all was giuen to Telamon For his reward by Hercules his consent Because that he first enterd in the towne Wherewith he seemd to be as well contenâ—â— As if that all the treasure they had got Within the towne had fallen to his lot And yet he did himselfe therein abuse For being home returnd from victory To take her for his wife he did refuse But with her as his concubine did lie Regarding neither state nor high degree Nor her descent from Princely majestie For if he had her tane to be his spouse He could not haue disparag'd his estate Considering that she was of Princely house And royall bloud although vnfortunate Vpon his word and curtesie t'relie That kept her but his lust to satisfie But Telamon therin thou wast to blame To do a Princesse faire so great despight And make her to the world anopen shame When as thou shouldst haue shew'd thy selfe her knight And rather in defence of her to die Then that she should haue suffred villanie For through thy bad and foolish government So hote a sparke of envie did arise In Troyans hearts which to revenge were bent That nothing could to quench the same suffice For envie old once rooted in the heart Doth sieldome or else never thence depart And if it burne within and flames not out Nor maketh shew of fume nor smoke at all The greater cause men haue thereof to doubt And where it lights t' will haue the greater fall Which you within this History may see At large in every point set downe to bee When that the towne was burnt laid full low And all the wals vnto the ground was cast And nothing thereof left to make a show But it was spoyld and vtterly defast The Grecians did no longer time delay Vnto their ships their treasure to convay But being richly laden with great store Of siluer gold and costly jewels rare That not the meanest man of them was poore When wind did serue and weather waxed faire They 〈◊〉 â—iles returne againe to make To Thessaâ—â—â— and with them then did take Faire â—â—on and many a proper maide And saâ—â—ing forth with prosperous wind and good It was not long through gentle Neptunes aide But they 〈◊〉 with glad and merry mood At their dâ—â—sired port where on the sand Great multitudes of people then did stand To welcome them with glad and ioyfull cheare Reioycing at their victory obtain'd With losse of so few men as did appeare And cause they had such store of treasure gain'd Their Country to enrich for evermore They gaue great thanks vnto their Gods therefore Thus happily with triumph and renowne They being home returnd did liue in peace And throughout every City land and towne Their honor and their fame did still encrease So that the compasse of the world throughout Each Nation to offend them stood in doubt And feared them For certaine t is they had A multitude of men within their land And wealth treasure great the which they made When s'ever they tooke any thing in hand As common to them all whereby they were A terror to all Nations farre and nere Till fortune chanst to whirle her wheele about And turnd their peace into such bloudie warre As after in few yeares it did fall out When they and Troyans once againe did jarre Which at this time I meane not to declare Desiring that herein you will mespare And giue me leaue to rest a little while For herewith I do meane to end this Booke And at another time direct my stile To perfect that which first I vndertooke Which in the next t' accomplish I intend If life and leisure God to me will lend Meane time if that by rudenesse I offend The gentle readers pardon I will craue With promise any fault I make t' amend If that the least instruction I may haue And so in hope your favours you 'le extend To me herein my first Booke thus shall end FINIS THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR THE SECOND BOOKE The Preface CHAP. I. THe envious vaine which fortune flattering Doth vse in this vncertaine state of life Where all things fickle are and wavering Addicted is so much to warre and strife That whatsoever course a man doth run The sparkes thereof by no meanes he can shun For she is still so false and mutable That he which on her wheele doth highest clime And thinketh his estate secure and stable At some vncertaine hower day or time When least he doth suspect a change of state She casts him downe and makes vnfortunate And with a smooth and double flattering face Makes shew of loue when least she is to trust That well were he that had the power and grace To see and find her frauds and wiles vniust And all her engins and her snares well knew Which daily doe encrease and still renew The which in truth full well affirme I can So many and so diuers are of kind That hetherto not any mortall man Could euer them avoid that I can find For though vnequall ballance she doth beare With counterfeit false dissembling cheare And looke most smooth full of flatterie She can man soone beguile and cleane bereaue Of all his blisse in twinckling of an eie Her nature is so readie to deceaue And when she changeth high to low estate With fleering looke she stands laughs thereat And yet oft times she seemeth to be true For vnto some a while she 's favorable And then when as she list to change her hew To othersome she is deceauable Such skill she hath in transmutation That one shee le raise other throweth downe To some she giues renowne and victory And doth exalt their honor and their fame And some she causeth most deceitfully Though vndeseru'd t' incurre perpetuall shame To othersome she 's gentle and bening And giues them lucke in all and every thing On some she frownes and hath them in disdaine And by her power imbaseth them full low And for to show that earthly hope is vaine She can the state of Princes overthrow And make them stoop for all their great renowne And high and mighty Emperors cast downe From off the mount of high felicity To make them
Like cristall fine did cast a radiant light And all the stones and sand that therein were Appear'd and shone like gold most pure bright Where presently with my great wearinesse A heauie sleepe did me so sore oppresse That since I first was clad with earthly mold I neuer slept so fast And sodainly As I lay still me thought I did behold God Mercurie descend downe from the skie And stood by me which put me in a feare For he as then his crooked sword did weare Giâ—t to his side and held within his hand His charming rod about the which did wind Two vgly Snakes with which his pliant wand He vs'd to worke all things vnto his mind And at his feet me thought there stood a cocke That crowed each hower as true as any clocke And in his mouth were pipes that plaid so shrill And with so sweet and pleasant harmony That both mine eares and sences they did fill With many severall kinds of melody So that I did assuredly surmise That I had beene in earthly Paradise In this strange sort appeared Mercury And much more strangethen I can well declare Like as Fulgence in his methologie Of him dâ—th write wherein he doth not spare In pleasant verse full of varietie His shape to show as you therein may see To moralise his shape you must surmise His rod so straight which neuer standeth bent Doth signifie men politicke and wise Who by their good and carefull gouernment All dangers do prevent before they fall And by that meanes preserue themselues from thrall His pipes so sweet and pleasant to the eare Significantly vnto vs do show The eloquence which dailie we doe heare And Rethoritian phrases that doe flow Out of mens mouths of great discretion Whereof that God is th' only pateron The Cocke that doth so louely chant and crow And iustly keepes each hower of the night Doth signifie and rightly to vs show The watch fulnesse and the interiour sight Of men that by their care and diligence Driue from their minds all sloth negligence His sword that crookes like to a Fawchion Which neither forged was nor made in vaine Doth serue to force such as haue straid and gone Out of the way of truth to turne againe The serpents which about his rod do wind Are like to diuers crosses which we find And daily see do lie in wait to stop The way of truth by hatred and disdaine And of the same the branches so to lop That by their will it nere should grow againe And so poore truth constrained is to flie And in a hole lie hidden secretly And with this winged God there did appeare As then to me three Goddesses most bright The which so faire and passing comely were That I in them did take no small delight To see and to behold their beauties rare The names whereof to you I will declare The first whereon my gasing eyes I cast Was Venus faire the Goddesse of delight Next vnto her Dame Iuno fore me past A Goddesse of no little power and might The third and last that showd her selfe in place The wise and valiant Goddesse Pallas was Faire Venus to procure the more delight To those that vnto her obedience shew Aboue her head had Pigeons faire and white Who flickering with their wings about her flew To shew to vs that by the same is meant That as those birds are meeke and innocent So louers that are faithfull and do meane T' obserue God Cupids lawes and truely giue To loue her due should be so pure and clane In deed and thought that while that they do liue No manner of disliking nor of blame Should be in them their credits to defame The freshnes of the Roses faire and red Which in the Summer shew most pleasantly And in the Winter are so pale and dead The thoughts of louers yong do signifie And such as in hot loue do burne like fire With fervent hope t' attaine to their desire When loue at first within their hearts beares sway Vntill the time of old vnweldy age When lust is past and seemeth to decay And doth begin no more in them to rage Through feeblenes when spring of youth is gone Which by good proofe to many men is known Venus therefore we oft distiled see To sit within a floud of water deepe To show what trouble and adversity Is found in loue and how that it doth keepe Men in despaire with fancy them to feed Till hopelesse they remaine in doubt to speed Pallas me thought in th' one hand then did beare A shield the which of mettall pure was made In th' other hand a sharpe and warlike speare And round about his head a Rainebow had Oâ— colours three red greene and perfect blew And as it seem'd to me before her grew An Oliue tree which shewd most fresh and greene And in the verdant branches thereof sat The vgliest Owle that ever eye had seene With staring eies and face most brawd and flat Whereof the morrall with the restile show As they in order stand Then must you know The â—â—â—eld which Pallas beares within her hand Dâ—th signifie the power and passing might That 〈◊〉 hath by wisedome to withstand All 〈◊〉 and manly gainst the same to fight Aâ—â— that â—er spearesâ— smoth sharply ground Was forg'd by iust reuenge for to confound And overthrow vniust and wicked men And for that mercie should with rigor goe The staâ—e thereof is shau'd and smothed cleane Least merciles right should iust rigor shoe The Oliue tree â—â—tokens signe of peace Which doth ensue wheÌ„ bloody warre doth cease The broad fac't staring eyed vgly Owle The which gainst death and bankets funerall Of custome hath by kind to sâ—ritch and howle Doth show that death is th' onely end of all The glory of the world and happie's he That dayly beareth it in memory The Rainebow where such severall colours were Of divers kinds to beautifi't withall Doth show what sundry chaunces are in warre Wherein some win some loose some fall Like constant and light wavering greene Varietie so great therein is seene Iunâ— as learn'd Fulgentius to vs tells A 〈◊〉 with barren wombe and dead And alwaâ—◠〈◊〉 in Rivers and in Wells To whom the Peacocke proud is sacared With Argus eyes imprinted in her tayle The which she spreads abroad like to a sayle The waters sayd to be in wells and flouds Doe represent the cares and troubles great That men indure to scrape and gather goods Not sparing paine nor toile the same to get But whosoere within those floods doth row Let him beware for after they doe flow By course of time as it is most true Directed by the Moone their governesse There will an ebbe with present speed ensue The feare is most when Cinthia doth increase And orderly attaine vnto the the full Least Fortune chance the feathers way to pull Of men that doe abound in riches great For she is Queene of mutabilitie And Argus eyes that in the
out of the towne Like Mars himselfe for courage and for forâ—â— He mounted vp vpon his gallant horrse Cald Galathe the which is said t' haue been The goodliest horse for stature shape and haire Swiftnesse and strength that ever had been seen In any place and therewithall so faire Anâ— tractable that with a reine of twist A man might rule and turne him as he list And thereon richlie arm'd from top to toe Which glistred like the Sun it was so bright Road through the towne with such a gallant shoe That all men to behold him tooke delight Vnto the place where Priams Court did hold And there from point to point vnto him told What battailes and what men he had sent out Into the field against his Grecian foe And fifteene hundred valiant Knights and stout I haue said he ordaind with you to goe That shall attend your royall Maiestie And gard your person where so ere you be And likewise all the footmen that do stay Within the towne excepting no degree Commanded are to waite on you this day With whome I humbly pray your Maiestie Out of the towne into the field to goe And there your selfe in warlike wise to shoe Not far off from the place where we shall fight But suffer none of them to go aside Nor leaue their ranks but there with all your might Betweene vs and the towne I pray you bide In order ready prest vs to relieue Whereof if need require we shall you giue Advise for that still twixt vs men shall goe T'advertise you with all the speed we may Of our estate and vnto you to shoe What likelihoode on either side this day By ayd of Mars the God of warre may be Against their foes to haue the victorie For you shall be our Castle and our wall To succour vs in our extreamity Besides all this which is the principall You must take heed and very carefull be That th' enemie in ambush doth not lurke Behind the towne treason gainst vs worke While we to fight on this side busied are Against our foes whereof in any wise Let me intreat your Grace to haue a care That to prevent and worke by good advise That our affaires may fall out happilie And so we may obtaine the victorie Against our foes If they intrap vs not By vnexpected fraud or violence The which I hope shall neuer be our lot Let these my words said he be no offence Vnto your Grace I humbly you desire Sith all is for our good which I require Wherewith the King well pleas'd and satisfied With countenance benigne and chearfull heart When he had paws'd a while to him replied Hector said he sith that my trust thou art And sole support what euer thou dost say Or shalt desire I will it not denay For next the Gods in thee I do repose My welfare hope and my securitie And by thy strength and power against our foes I onely do expect our safetie And therefore do commit into thy hand The sole command and rule of this my land And as thou dost ordaine so shall it be For no man shall thy will in ought denie And to the Gods I humblie pray for thee To saue and keepe thee from adversitie And that thou maist returne with victorie That so th' eternall praise and memorie Of thee may be enrold by trump of fame Throughout the earthlie globe both farre neare Perpetuallie for th'onor of thy name And so farewell said he mine own Son deare And Hector taking leaue no time delaid But went vnto his Lords that for him staid As he that was their valiant Generall The verie root of perfect noblenesse The ground of ancient Knighthood withall The liuelie patterne of true hardinesse Valor and strength almost invincible For that as much as it was possible For nature to adorne a man withall Was found in him and therewithall he waâ— Indowed with a Grace maiestiâ—all Yet meeke and did in gouernment surpasse For vpright iustice temprance policie Wisedome discretion sence and clemencie The armes which then this Troyan ChaÌ„pion bore Triumphantly vpon his warlike shield And standard both as Guido saith was or A Lyon rampant gules which in the field Was so well known fear'd that th' enemie From it as from deaths piâ—â—cing dart did â—â—â—e And through the streets in order braue did ride With trumpets and with drums that loudly playd And diuers warlike instruments beside As penons rich and ensignes faire displaid And many people flockt in heaps about To view and see those warlike troops go out Thus Hector with couragious heart and mind Like Mars himselfe into the field did ride And though the battaile which he led behind The rest aid goe yet would he not abide With it but through the baâ—â—â—s all did passe And never staid till he the for most was And at the head of all his troopes did stand Not once abasht so many Greeks to find In battaile rankt â—â—th sheild and speare in hand Him to assaile but with a valiant mind No whit of them nor their great force affeard Resolud to be the first that would them â—eard Meane while the Ladies gallant fine and gay Within the towne of most and great'st account As fresh beseene as flowers in month of May Vpon the wals and towers of Troye did mount And round about Queene Helena the faine And Policene King Priams daughter there Did stand to see and to behold the fight Although of them the greatest part did feare And were abasht in heart at such a sight Of armed men as then assembled were That some of them of very tendernesse Some of meere loue and some of kindnesse Amas'd and pale in face and countnance were Least they should loose their louer oâ— their Knight And some their faces hid for extreâ—me feare And durst not looke vpon the armor brighâ— In which their feare I le leaue them for a while And to the Greekes direct my wearied stile And of them make a briefe relation How they that day their battailes did ordaine But first I must with exclamation Cry out and of dame Ignorance complaine That dares presume so boldly in my light To stand and with her shadow dim my sight For she it is that onely makes me erre For want of marshall tearmes and phrase to write Of battailes and of things concerning warre When as I would in order them indite And of an armie pitcht in field should speake But Chaâ—cer's dead and can me neither cheake Nor counsell giue how to direct my phrase Who did in perfect Rethoricke excell All other Rethoritians in his daieâ— For he had drunke and tasted of the well Of Hellicon which on Pernassus stands Wherein as yet I nere could dip my hands Nor once get leaue to mount vpon the hill To see the same one drop thereof to tast Although it was full sore against my will But t is too late to call backe time that 's past And sith t is so I do
were one of your Royall blood The which I know for all your worldlie good You would by no meanes wish nor gladlie see Wherefore by mine aduise I thinke it best That Thoas should well kept and garded bee Within this towne and quietlie let rest Least as I said to you before it may Fall out that one of vs another day Might hap into their hands and prisoner be And so for him we might haue ours againe Which otherwise if with extreamitie We do proceed we never should obtaine This is my counsell in this case said he And such as I do thinke the best to be Whereto most worthy Hector did consent And with him was of like opinion And said that he no will had nor intent That any wrong to Thoas should be done While he in Troy then prisoner was though he Nere had deseru'd of them well vs'd to be Paris King Priams second son likewise When as his brother Hector had declar'd His mind said vnto them that his aduise Was that he wisht King Thoas should be spar'd And not put vnto death although he said To doe the same they need not be afraid But Deiphobus of cleane contrarie mind Vnto his brethren twaine did say he saw No cause why Thoas should such favor find At Troyans hands who by their marshall law Might iustlie for his merits make him die Being as he was their vtter enemie Whereto with courage bold youthfull heart Prince Troyelus did seeme somewhat t' agree With Deiphobus and said that for his part He did no cause nor any reason see Why they should spare their enemie that sought Their overthrow and to that end had brought His forces fore their towne as fullie bent To worke their vtter ruine and decay But yet said he it is not my intent To counsell you to deale with him that way Least as my Lord Aeneas saith we might Perchance thereby procure our owne despight Whose counsell Lord Anthenor did commend And said that to shew such extreamitie Of marshall Law and rigor to extend To him could not be done advisedlie For that said he there is none of vs all But may into our foes hands chance to fall And with the selfe same rigor vsed be That vnto him we shewd Wherefore I say If that by my advise you 'le ruled be It 's best to let him safe in prison stay And vse him well that we like curâ—esie May haue when need requires of th' enemy Pollidamas his sonne with all the rest Of those that in their Counsell chamber were With one consent did say they thought it best That he should still be kept a prisoner And as Aeneas said be vsed well Till they saw how fortune with theÌ„ would deale But Priamus to wrath and furie bent Did not agree to their opinion And would by no meanes therevnto consent But still maintain'd his first conclusion And said that if the Greeks should once perceiue That we of life do Thoas not bereaue But spare him though vnto that end it were They would report to our no little shame That we dare not attempt to do 't for feare We haue of them and so will vs defame But nere the lesse said he sith you 're content I will though loath vnto the same consent And therewithall their counsell vp they brake And then Aeneas and Anthenor went With Troyelus into the hall and spake With Helena whereas some time they spent With her and with Queene Hecuba that bare Her company with many Ladies faire That with her the Queene then present were Where Troyelus and Aeneas did perswade Queene Helena to set aside all feare Which by the meanes of war that great she had And she although much discontent she were In outward shew did seeme with ioyfull cheare And countenance demure being glad To welcome them as to their state was fit But Hecuba that nere her equall had For vertue bountie eloquence and wit While they vnto Queene Helena so spake Desired them for that faire Ladies sake And for the weale and safety of them all And of the towne that they would not adventer Themselues in field what ever might befall Too farre among the enemies to enter Nor put themselues in danger carelesly And yet besought them to fight valiantly To saue and keepe the towne from that distresse Which th' enemy did seeke to bring 't into The which she said she fear'd she must confesse Although she hope 't they should it never do And so of her and of the Ladies all The knights tooke leaue went out of the hall Meane time the Greeks that morning as I said While Priam in the towne a counsell held Did murmure great sorow mongst them made As in their tents they lay in th' open field To thinke vpon the losse which they sustaind And all of them together much complaind And grieued for the death of many a man Of great account slaine by the cruelties Since that most cruell deadly war began And valor of their Troyan enemies And for the hunger cold and thirst also With sorow thought vnquietnes and woe Which they had had and felt all for nought Or at the least for causes very small If that the ground thereof were truely sought This was the speech and words in generall That through the Grecians campe at that time ran And currantly did passe from man to man But specially amongst the poorer sort Of soldiers who in war most commonly Constrained are t' endure and to support The brunt of all and haue no remedy For though they do find fault grieue therfore Yet are they not relieued nere the more And so they did complaine make great mone To thinke vpon the mischiefe they endured And which to them the Troyan knights had done Thogh't were theÌ„selues that had the same procured Vnto their owne decay and might it shun If they had not that bloudy war begun Which to encrease the next ensuing night So cloudy darke and thicke as pitch became That neither Moone nor star appear'd in sight And such a storme did happen on the same Of thunder lightning wind raine that fell Vpon them as if all the fiends of hell Conspired had their vtter overthrow And therewithall the waters did so rise That all the field and plaine did overflow And with the wind that blew in furious wise Their tents were overthrowne they compeld To leaue the place which all that while they held By reason that the water grew so hie And in that sort the Greeks in great distresse Compelled were all that same night to lie With hearts repleate with griefe and heauinesse In that great storme of thunder wind raine Vntill the water did go backe againe The wind appeas'd and day began t' appeare Next morning when the Sun began to rise Which made the aire shew beautifull and cleare And draue away the clouds out of the skies And with the force and feavor of his heat Dried vp the ground which was
cruelly as I the signes can show Most furiously the same didst hac and hew Whereby mine armes that forged are of steele When thou with puissant force on theÌ„ dist smight Could neuer yet assure my corps so well But that thy trenchaÌ„t blade through theÌ„ would 〈◊〉 Into my flesh full deepely and profound As well appeares by many a mortall wound Which in the same are now both long and wide And at this time full sorely ake and smart And put me to such paine on euery side For which as now it seemeth that my heart Doth rise swell beat and pant when I thee see With great despight reuengd on thee to bee And is so full repleat with furious rage And rancor old with such extreamitie That by no meanes it never will asswage Till with my hands thy death I giue to thee But one thing doth torment me most of all Which is when I vnto remembrance call And with my selfe in mind expostulate How to content thy fierce and bloody will With trenchant blade thou diddest separate Patroclus corps in twaine and didst him kill Whom I did loue with heart and mind intire And vnto him so great good will did beare That as my selfe I must the truth confesse I loued him and such affection Vnto him had as no tongue can expresse And thou thereby didst make division Twixt him and me that liu'd and lou'd together Like brethren twaine and so had done for euer While life endur'd for that betwixt vs twaine Our faithfull hearts were knit to fast together As if they had been linked in a chaine No griefe nor no adversity could sever Our hearts and thoughts how great soere it was Till by his death thou broughtst the same to pas And by that meanes our faith full loue didst part Whose death so deepe in printed in my thought So sore doth griue and vex me at the heart That I protest it shall be dearely bought And 't may be if I reckon not amisse Before this present yeare expired is For be assurd that onely for his sake When Fortune shall afor'd the time to do 't Revenge by cruell death on thee I le take And thereof make account and looke well to 't For if I liue it shall be surely don WheÌ„ thou shalt haue no means the same to shun For right requires that sith by death thou wert The cause and meane to part two louer true Death should to thee be rendred for desert Which I my selfe will giue thee as thy due That all the world through out may thereof know And heare how that Achilles kild his foe To be revenged for Patroclus death And though that I doe hate thee for the same And will as long as I on earth doe breath Thou hast no cause nor reason me to blame For well I wot thou hast my death conspird And many a day the same in heart desird So that to end this strife I tell thee plaine Nought els but cruell death shall vâ—â—pâ—â—r bee For till thou I or both of vs be slaâ—â—â— It shall not cease The which I hope to see Ere it be long for sure it shall be dâ—â— By me or thee the which thou shalt not shun When Hector had Achilles speech well hard And giuen him leaue to tell so long a â—ale As he that for the same full little card With countenance glad and yet with anger pale He did thereto reply and answer made Vnto the same and thus to him he sayd Achilles thou no maruell oughst to haue That as thou saist I doe thy death conspire And howrely the same of fortune craue As th' onely thing which I in heart desire And that to kill thee still I he in wait Because to thee I beare so deadly hate For if in mind thou didst consider well The sentence graue which verity doth proue And vnto vs for certaine truth doth tell That neither I nor any man can loue Nor any kind of fauor show to one That dayly seeketh my confusion And me and mine to vanquish and destroy With deadly hate and great presumption Besieged hath the noble towne of Troy To bring vs wholly to destruction Not can I any cause nor reason find That in my heart I should to him be kind Nor loue nor fauor him in any thing That seekes my death For loue doth neuer breed Of bloody warre and strife nor yet doth spring From fowle and deadly hate but doth proceed And takes her first and true originall From faithfulnesse which is the principall And onely cause that makes mens hearts t' agree And neuer from true faith and loue to start But doth them still preserue in vnitie Of words and will desire mind and hart And neither life nor death can loue disseuer For faithfull loue continueth true for euer But hatred and dissention is contrary From whence proceeds and followes as we see When as mens hearts and minds dissent varry Nought els but rancor strife and enâ—â—itie Whe which once bred makes men proceed so far That at the last they fall to mortall warre The which all loue cleane vanisheth away But nerethelesse I will that thou shalt know That whatsoeuer thou to me dost say In proud and vaunting words and makest show As if that thou wouldst doe that vnto mee Which while thou liust shal neare be don by thee I care not whatsoere thou dost or sayst For without bost hereof I thee assure When as thou hast don all that ere thou â—â—yst If that this warre long twixt vs doth indure I hope if that it be my chance to liue The Grecians so to terrifie and grieue That thou and they full well shall find and feele How with my trenchant blade when we shall meet I le hac and hew their armors made of steele And beat them downe and tread them vnderfeet And thine and all their pride so much will daunt That if you stay and still these warres doe haunt I le make you all repent your comming here For this I know and well assured am That th' onely thing as plainely doth appeare For which vnto this towne you hither came Proceeds of pride and indiscretion Els would you not with such presumption A thing of such importance take in hand As is the siedge of this our towne so great Which able is your forces to withstand And you and yours from thence by force to beat For th' enterprise I tell you true and plaine Is ouer hard and heavy to sustaine And will because to make you all in fine As hauty and as stout as now you seeme To leaue your pride and lowly to decline And stoop vnto the burthen which you deeme To be but very easie small and light With your no little shame and great despight And this I say Achilles vnto thee That whensoeuer thou dost me assayle Death shall vnto thy selfe be giuen by mee Before that thou against me shalt prevaile To do the thing wgich thou so easie deem'st Though of thy selfe thou nere so
much esteem'st Yet if in thee there be such worthinesse And courage stout that like a valiant Knight Thy mind 's repleat with so much hardinesse To moue thee hand to hand with me to fight And that this quarrell may betwixt vs twaine By combat brauely fought vpon the plaine Be ended for the which we all contend I le graunt vnto the same withall my hart And whatsoeuer fortv ne doth me send I le neuer yeild till death vs two doth part So that the Lords on either side will bee Content and with good will thereto agree That we two shall this combat vndertake And fight it out betwixt vs two alone And thereof for vs all an end to make Which shall be done on this condition That if thou by thy valor and thy might Caust overcome and vanquish me in fight I will to thee and them assurance make That Priamus my Father shall agree To all which I for him shall vndertake And that assoone as I shall vanquisht bee He shall his Crowne and Regall scepter yeild Which he so long and many yeares hath held Vnto the Greeks and him and his submit In all respects most humbly to their will To doe with him and his as they thinke fit Which that he may withall his Lords fulfill T' avoid each doubt and all ambiguitie Both he and they for more securitie Shall sweare each one and all in generall To doe as I haue sayd and there to stand And further to confirme the same he shall Deliuer presently into their hand Such suerties as they le chufe out of the best And noblest men in Troy the which shall rest And stay among the Greekes while we two fight That they may haue no cause at all to doubt That wee will not performe our words as right And reason doth require if it fall out That I should be orecome and slaine by thee The which I hope thou neare shalt doe to me Now then Achilles speake and freely do As I haue sayd thine honor to increase And let vs arme our selues and fall thereto That by our meanes this bloody warre may cease Which other wise is likely and most sure Long twixt the Greeks and Troians to indure And thou thereby not onely shalt win fame And honor both but by thy valor great Throughout the world eternize shalt thy name And of the Greeks much thanks and favor get Who by thy meanes from hence may scape aliue And safe and sound in Greece againe arriue Which otherwise may to themselues procure Their deaths by fond and foolish hardinesse If they stay heere and that this warre endure Whereof there is no other likelinesse Be briefe therefore and make no long delay But let vs for this Combat point the day As I haue sayd vpon condition On Grecians side that if in this same fight Which I for all the Troians and the towne Shall take in hand doe vanquish thee by might That presently they shall from warre surcease And breake vp siedge and let vs liue in peace And into Greece returne againe with speed Whereto Achilles burning hot with ire With haughty fierce and furious looke agreed As being that which he did most desire And vnto Hector sayd he would that taske Vpon him take which he of him did aske And gainst the same made no exception And for a signe of his desire and hart T'accomplith it for confirmation He threw his Gantlet downe and for his part Said whatsoere vnto him happen might He would that Combat for the Grecians fight The which when Hector saw with countenance glad As euer any valiant Knight could haue He sâ—oopt and tooke it vp and therewith said It was the onely thing that he did craue And no man can in heart and thought surmise How glad he was of that high enterpize The newes thereof soone mongst the Greeks was spread And to the eares of Agamemnon came Who with great troopes of Lords accompanied Went to Achilles tent to know the same And when they had the matter fully scand They would vnto no such condition stand But did it with one will and voice deny And sayd they would not hassard their estate And welfare of so great a company Of valiant Knights to false and wauering Fate Nor show themselues to be so fond and vaine To stand vnto the combat of those twaine And on the Troians side within the towne They also sayd and flatly did deny They would not stand to that condition To venter all their good and liberty Vpon the single valor of a Knight Although he were of passing strength might But Priamus himselfe was fully bent To stand vnto the combat of those two And willingly did yeild and was content In all respects as Hector sayd to do Nought doubting but beleeuing certainly That Hector surely should haue victory If that he tooke the enterprize iu hand But loth to make too much contention And strife with those that did against him stand He yeilded vnto their opinion And was content to let the matter passe And gainst his will to leaue it as it was And Hector therewith left Achilles tent And went to Troy againe Where for a while I le let him rest For now t is mine intent For some respect to change and turne my stile To tell you of the sorrow griefe and wo That Troiclus made to part his Lady fro WHy shouldst thou still oh Fortune variable WheÌ„ men most trust in thy most flattring face Become so false vntrue and so vnstable And make as though thou wouldst them embrace When as with fained false dissembling show Thou only seekst their vtter ouerthrow As well it may by Troiclus be seen Whom sodainely with envy thou didst throw Downe from the mount of ioy that he was in Into the vale of sorrow griefe and woe When he did thinke himselfe to be secure And of his Loue and Lady deare most sure And twixt them mad'st a seperation For whom I must a little while complaine Because he made such lamentation And in his heart endur'd such extreame paine Such inward griefe and such great heauinesse That all my wit cannot the same expresse For when he knew his Father had decreed And for a finall sentence set it downe That Cresidâ— should presently with speed Vnto the Greeks be sent out of the towne Into such mighty griefe and rage he fell That no mans tongue can well declare or tell The inward paine which in his brest he bare For day and night he did such sorrow make That like vnto a mad-man he did fare And neuer left complaining for her sake Desiring rather death with all his hart Then that she should away from him depart For inwardly an other mind she had Which she with faire dissembling face did hide And to her true and fathfull louer made As though for loue of him she would haue died As women can false teares at pleasure borrow When in their hearts there is but little sorrow And vnto men for truth
hath power and is availeable By liuely force and kind humiditie Life to infuse in flower hearb and tree And likewise did the power thereof extend Into each vaine and sinew in his brest Backe armes hands and downeward did discend Through all his bones and ioynts and ne're did rest Till it did run into his thighs and feet At which a voyoll full of gumme most sweet And balme was set which neuer would decay Nor yet impaire by no distemperature But still increast and waxed euery day Of greater force and sweeter did endure Where of the vapor vpward did assend And such a pleasant savor forth did send And made all round about the aire to rise For that it t' was most exquisitely good That it did seeme an earth by Paradize And fore the corps foure lamps of gold there stood Within that place continually gaue light And neuer ceased burning day nor night All â—â—ld with oyle if it be credible The which is sayd to be of such a kind That it was sound â—â—be impossible To 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 tempest 〈◊〉 or wind Not neuer 〈…〉 in many yeares Which lampes did hang high 〈…〉 by wiers And such 〈…〉 That 〈…〉 the same to sâ—ell And when this worke was brought vnto an end And euery thing was done exceeding well And pleasd the eies of all that did it see They made a grate of wood of Heban tree Which wood aâ—â—rmed is will ere indure And being cut doth smell exceeding sweet â—â—d can by no meanes wast for this is sure T will neuer burne by any extreame heat Of fier as it hath been tried oft â—â— waâ—er â—â— nâ—re swimmeth vp aloâ—t But downe into the bottome straight doth go And as some men thereof make mention This tree hath been long since esteemed so And heldon in such reputation That in the fertile soyle of India And in the land of Ethiopia They vsd to pay a tribute as t is sound Of Ivory fine gold and Heban tree To th' Emperor as they thereto were bound And when King Priam saw the worke to bee Performed in so braue and sumptuous wise That he in heart no better could deuise He did ordaine a quier of Priests to pray Continually with great deuotion Before that Princely throne both night and day For Hectors â—oule and gaue them pentions To liue vpon and roomes wherein to lie And bound them to do 't perpetually But while that they are in their orations With Hectors death my third Booke I will end And for a while will leaue the Troians In sorrow great and woe the time to spend And show you what the Grecians meane while do If that you please to hearken therevnto FINJS THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR THE FOVRTH BOOKE CHAP. 1. ¶ How the Grecians depriued Agamemnon of his place of Genorall of their Armie and made Pallamides Generall in his place THe worthy Champion Hector beeing slaine And fierce Achilles borne vnto his tent Whereas he lay in danger great and paine King Agamemnon for the Grecians sent Next day betimes assooue as sonne did rise To aske of them their counsell and advise What would be best for them as then to doe Sith they by vallant Hectors death were free From danger great which he had put them two And out of feare of his great crueltie And when that they were altogether met Within his tent and there in order set And silence made he spake vnto them all And sayd my Lords and Princes euery one That now are heere If you to mind will call What good the Gods of late for you haue done You ought to giue them thanks with humble voice And inwardly in heart and mind reioyce To thinke on Hectors death for he alone Was th' onely prop and chiefe support of Troy Their whole defence and their protection Their chiefest trust their honour and their ioy And vnto vs confusion and death For that while he enioyed vitall breath We neuer could his valor great withstand Nor victory against our foes obtaine For when that we did first set foot on lend Prothesalus by him was fiercely slaine And next day when in field againe we met He did vpon Patroclus fiercely set And with his sword did cleaue his brest in twaine And after kild King Menon furiously And next by him Archilagus was slaine And in his wrath and extreame crueltie He slew the most renowned Prothenor And then the valiant King cald Alphenor King Phillis also and Epistrophus And Merian a Prince of great renowne And after him a King cald Zantipus And in the field as he road vp and downe He flew two Kings the one cald Dorius The other had to name King Cedius And after that he kild strong Polibet Lâ—â—aboniâ— Policenes and more For in his wrath he slew King Phiâ—bâ—â— And to the ground in surious wife he bore And kild the valiant King Isidius And then the noble King cald Humorus For eighteene great and worthy Kings and many Braue Earles Dukes and Princes he hath slaine With thousands more So that not euer any Likevalor to him showd nor could obtaine Such victory gainst vs for that his hand Was th' onely terror to vs in this Land But'now he 's dead to our no little ioy The Gods be thankt therefore and to the woe And great distresse of all that are in Troy As by experience time to them will show Laud also and much honor giuen be To Fortune for her great benignitie Vnto vs showne in helping vs so well To bring that furious Champion to his end By turning of her â—alse and fickle wheele And vnto vs such fauor did extend That by his death while this warre doth endure All we that now are here may liue secure With comfort great and ease of extreame care And feare we had of him while that he liu'd Where contrary the Trâ—ians all now are By death of him that onely them relieud Texpect nought els but their destruction And finally their townes subversion For now he 's gone they cannot long endure For be assur'd we will them so much grieue That from hence forth we may our selues assure To haue our wils on them ere we them leaue And make this siedge to them importable If we doe hold together firme and stable Their ship in th' end is like to proue a wracke And ready with huge billowes t'orewhelme For all their hope and comfort goeth backe And deepe despaire is guider of theâ—â— helme And maketh them continually depend On death while we our state do still amend By ayd of God both on the sea and land For now without all ambiguitie We may expect the victory at hand And boldly light with great securitie Against our foes without all feare or dread But yet my counsell is ere we proceed T' assaile our foes as we intend to doe To stay a while and not to passe our bonds Till that Achilles to the fieild may goe With vs when he is healed of his wounds And then we will assaile
Without all doubt or contrariety For in her was his whole felicitie And when the three daies foresaid ended were Achilles vnto Hecuba straight sent His messenger againe of her t' inquire What Priam sayd concerning his intent To whom she told at large what had been don And how that she the King thereto had won And Paris likewise to consent thereto As also that her selfe well willing was With them t' agree and graunt it should be so If he could find the meanes to bring 't to pas That peace betweene them as he said he would Perpetually for euermore should hold The which she sayd he must first bring about And sure and perfect make in each condition And then he should not need to stand in dout Of speeding in his loue with expedition Wherewith Achilles messenger content Out of the towne vnto his maister went To whom he told the answere that was made By Hecuba to him wherewith well pleas'd And seeing that no other way he had But peace whereby he might of griefe be eas'd He purposed to bring the same t' effect And did no time nor any meanes neglect To find a way t' impart the same vnto The Greeks the which while he did goe about Supposing certainely that they would do The same for him and yet thereof did doubt At last into a desperate mind he fell And did perswade himselfe in heart full well That he the power had to worke his will And that without all cause of doubt or feare The Grecians would most redily fulfill His mind and graunt to that he should require And in that sort he did himselfe perswade All should fall out as he devised had According to his will and fantasie As louers vse to doe Who whatsoere They take in hand thinke it must certainely Fall out though nere s'impossible it were So much their minds with folly are possest And so Achilles did set downe his rest And was in hope his mind to satisfie Supposing that for his great worthines His mighty strength and his actiuitie His high renowne and passing valiantnes Whereof with no small pride great boast â—â—e made And in himselfe therefore much glory had The Grecians would be in dispaire and feare For euer winning Troy if he withheld His helping hand and that by him they were Forsaken when they went into the field And would at last and onely for his sake The siedge of Troy and all their warre forsake Vnlesse that he among them still did stay To helpe them till that they had made an end And for that cause he made no more delay But did procure Pallamides to send For all the Lords vnto his tent to know What vnto them he did intend to show And when that they assembled were together Achilles spake and sayd as you shall heare My Lords sith it hath pleas'd you to come hither And that at my request you summond were Let me desire you without offence To tell my mind before this audience I know sayd he that for the prouidence The wisedome and the great discretion The valor mighty force and sapience The honour wealth and excellent renowne Wherewith you are endowed your worthy name From East to West is spread by trompe of Fame But nerethelesse that these things doe belong Of right to you yet this I must you tell That though that you be nere so huge and strong As truth to say you doe in force excell All Nations yet if you doe consider The very cause wherfore you are come hither You must confesse and so it will be found That you in this your quarrell had no right Nor reason wherevpon you might it ground For sure it is most euident to sight Of euery man that beares an vpright hart That you herein did play a foolish part Without forecasting with advisednes What cause you had to make this mortall warre For when as we by foolish hastines Did come out of our countries so farre Into the Troian land our liues to venter Against our foes The quarrell we did enter At that same time into as euerie one Of vs well knows was for the iniurie And to revenge the priuate cause alone Of Menelaus for who can it denie That th'ravishing of Helena his wife Was th' onely cause of all the warre and strife Betweene vs and the Troyans which as now We do maintaine with great hostilie And for the which we all haue made a vow To sacke the towne of Troy with ieopardie Of life and goods and for that cause haue left Our Countries and our Cities and bereft Our children and our wiues of all delight And ioy make them mourne in great distresse While we remaine here in the field to fight Against our foes in griefe and heauinesse Assailed and enclos'd on every side With enemies and nought but death abide For sith the time that this our warre began Which onely of meere pride we do maintaine It hath vs cost the life of many a man Of great and meane account that now are slaine Who might haue liu'd at home in wealth ioy If they had not come hither vnto Troy To loose their liues by their owne wilfulnesse Here in this place with great extreamitie And for my part I must in truth confesse That by the Troyans force and crueltie So much bloud I haue lost since we began This warre that it hath made me pale wan And not long since I had a wound againe Which Hector with a Dart did giue to me Vpon the thigh that day that he was slaine Which put me to so great extremitie That it hath made me long in bed to lie To heal't and yet I doubt thereof to die I ft be not quickly cur'd for t is yet greene And very sore and puts me to great paine With many other wounds that yet are seene Vpon me still which make me oft complaine And truth to say if it considered were We should not buy Queene Helena so deare As for her t'hazard life and lim and all Our honors and our worldly goods and fame The which vnto vs quickly may befall If we haue not regard vnto the same And in our minds consider not how much This doubtfull warre for Helen doth vs tuch For if that we our reckning rightly make And call to mind what alteration Hath falne since we the same did vndertake And what destruction of our warlike Nation Hath for her sake been made yet much more Dishonor we are like to haue therefore And to incurre for as it doth appeare Although we do still hold this siege so long In fine if that we do continue heare It will to vs because of greater wrong And more and more redownd vnto our shame If order be not taken for the same Which may be if that we on either side Together would agree with one consent That Helena in Troy shall still abide And that King Menelaus would be content To take another wife and let her go That to him doth her selfe vnfaithfull
preserue you seeme with carelesnesse Not to respect and to obscure the light Of your renowne which euer was so cleare And through the world did shine exceeding bright In field to fight with vs you do forbeare Remember how the Grecians haue been slaine Before your tent and also in the plaine In cruell wise and euery place throughout The field and you no pittie on them take Why should you then refuse and be so stout Without a cause them whollie to forsake Who vntill now haue been their Champion Their chiefest helpe and their protection And for their sakes haue osten shedyour blood Against their foes when they with theÌ„ haue fought And by your aid not onely them withstood But their confusion valiantlie â—aue wrought And mightilie their enemies did assaile Without whose aid they may not long prevaile Against their foes no more may any one Of vs how stout and strong so ere we bee For t is you onlie that can do 't alone If that you will vouchsafe with vs t' agree To fight against the Troyans and thereto Lend vs your aid as you were woont to do And as we doubt not but you 'le grant the same To succour vs in our necessity Nâ—◠〈◊〉 for your owne perpetuall fame But to redeeme vs from extreamitie And to that end we come to you as now To craue of you your mind herein to show Whereto Achilles presentlie began Assoone as ere Ulisses ended had His tale to speake with visage pale and wan For angâ—â— and in this sort answere made Ulisses if so be our meaning were As you to me at this time do declare Of purpose and with one entire consent The famous towne of Troy to overthrow And vtterlie to spoile't and that we bent Our minds thereto and thereby meant to show Our power and might I must you plainly tell That we of truth therein haue not done well To put cur selues by indiscretion So carelesly without advisednes Into so dangerous an action To hazard the estate and happines With liues and goods of all the Chivalry Of Greece that put the same in ieopardy For little cause or none the truth to tell For hath â—ot many a worthie King and Knight Who both in fame and honor did excell Consum'd his wealth and lost his life in fight Here in this siege that might haue liu'd in peace And honor still if he had staid in Greace For hath not King Pallamides been slaine But now of late whose life was of more worth Then all the cause for which we here remaine And hold this dangerous siege to tell the troth And many other Knights and Princes great That on both sides are here together met To shew their puissant valor and their might And to attaine to honor and to fame Haue lost their liues vnhappily in fight And many more are like to do the same If that long time this cruell warre doth last For euery day the number lesneth fast Both on the Greeks and Troyans side likewise So that if this most cruell rage and mood Continue long and in such furious wise If that it be not otherwise withstood It 's likely that it will such hauocke make Of Princely bloud that clownes will vndertake To rule and gouerne here vpon the earth And of the same haue sole dominion And such as are of no degree nor birth Will Lords become when Princes there are none For is not Hector that most valiant Knight That was the onlie mirror and the light Of Chivalrie vnfortunatelie slaine In this same warre and so may I likewise Perchance be kild that neuer shall attaine To Hectors worth while light is in mine eâ—es For there 's no way deaths furious dart to shun If we vpon the point thereof will run And seeke it of our selues while we are here And therefore such a motion now to make Concerning this our warre as you require Is but in vaine for I do meane to take Another course and in this bloudy strife No more to stand in hazard of my life For I had rather to impaire my name Then wilfully to die or to be slaine Thereby to be eternized by fame For honor after death is but a vaine And needlesse thing and soone is set aside For though that fame be spred both far wide Obliuion and forgetfulnes may soone Impaire't by tract of times length of daies And make thereof a wrong conclusion For that the fame of Knighthood and the praise Of honor wisedome and of worthines Of freedome bounty and of gentlenes Of vertue and of euery other grace Wherewith a man is in this world endowd Forgetfulnesse can darken and deface And in oblivions mantle doth them shrowd And with a false report maliciously Doth crop the Palmâ— of worthy Chivalrie And therefore for my part I do intend Such folly now to leaue and henceforth liue In peace and all mine actions thereto bend And for that cause this counsell to you giue To make a peace with Troyans if you may And therein do no longer time delay Before that further mischiefe doth arise And cruell death should chance to be your share And therefore good my Lords if you be wise Of this my counsell see you take some care This is said he my purpose and intent Which you may show to him that hath you sent With which his resolute conclusion Ulisses Diomede and Nestor went Vnto their Generall Agamemnon And vnto him declared the intent And answere of Achilles which he made To them as I before vnto you said And there vpon he presently did call The Princes of the Greeks vnto his tent And when they were assembled to them all Did show whereto Achilles mind was bent And that he was desirous of a peace With them of Troy that all their warre might cease Refusing flatlie t' enter in the field With them against the Troyans any more And for that cause a counsell with them held To know of them what will thereto they bore And what therein they did intend to do Sith that the case with them as then stood so Whereto the first of them that did reply Was Menelaus who with an angry mood Began to chafe and flatlie did denie To make a peace and therein boldlie stood And said that it was never his intent By any meanes thereto to giue consent Sith that the towne of Troy was in such need And at the brinke of their destruction Now Hector and Deiphobus both were dead That whilome were their sole protection So that they might all comfort cleane reiect And nothing else but cruell death expect And therefore flatlie said without all feare Though that Achilles will vs helpe no more The burthen of our enterprise to beare We need not any whit to doubt therefore But that without him we shall overthrow Our enmies by our force as well I know Whereto Ulisses speedilie repli'd And Nestor both of one opinion And gainst his false assertion iustifi'd That touching peace whereof the motion As
Wherein let it consume and rot away While vnto you at large I doe setdowne What they did in the towne of Troy that lay Enclosd therein But first I must complaine Of thee oh Mars that mad'st them to sustaine Such extreame losse and by thy furious ire Didst cleane consume the worthy Troian blood Why didst thou with insatiable desire Slay all their Knights gainst them was so wood And furiously bent as to let fall Thy vengance vpon them in generall To make them as a Myrror and a show To all the world of thy great cruelty But t is most true as euery man doth know Thy nature giuen to all hostility Is th' onely cause of strife and of debate Because thou art a starre vnfortunate Hot hatefull drie fiery combustious Wrathfull and giuen vnto dissention The onely ground of malice enuious And cholericke of thy complexion That dost in death and murther take delight And vpon vengance setst thine appetite First motioner of anger and of hate The causer of contention and of warre The root of all dissention in each state That moouest men to wrangle fight iarre Fearefull of looke and gastly to mans sight Whose radiant beams shine as the lightning bright And twinkle like to sparkles burning red Which from great fiers mount vp into the skie And round about the aire themselues do spred Consuming such as by melancholy Within their hearts fowle enuy do embrace Giuing to them in whom thy wrath takes place Of shape to be tall slender leane and small Browne haired pasle and sallow coloured Vnmercifull addicted vnto all Bad qualities to evill easly led Craftie deceitfull and ingenious Backbiting slaunderous and malicious Sad sullen and still full of heauines Inclined vnto theft and robbery Consenting vnto all accursednes To murther death and to fowle trechery Wholy without remorse of conscience And art so mischievous of influence That thou of treason author art mong men In scorpion thy chiefest mansion is And raignest King in Capricorne but when In Taurâ—s thou art plast then thou dost misse Of power strength and all Dominion Thou also hast in thy subiection Warre exile â—etters and imprisonment Bondage proscription banishment and all The miseries and mischiefes that are bent On earth and chance vpon mankind to fall Which for to gnaw poore Troy vnto the bones Thou didst on it powre them out all at ones I cannot chuse but for the great despight Which thou to Troy didst beare condemne thee much For if that men consider it aright It may be sayd there nere was any such Nor so great vengance tane for any thing Gainst land or towne as thou on Troy didst bring As first to kill and spoyle them by their foes And to consume their Knights by fier and sword Then in their towne as prisoners vp to close And shut them fast and no meanes them aford To be relieu'd with victualls or go out Besieged by the Grecians round about I thinke they haue small cause in my aduise With bores or bulles beares Lyons Tygars fell Or any such wild beasts to sacrifice To thee wherewith thou pleased art so well As being Patron of them nor with smoke Of brimstone on thine Altars to invoke Thy name that to them showest such cruelty And didst such extreame vengance on them bring And yet as if thou couldest not satisfie Thy selfe therewith with torments more to sting And plague theÌ„ thou mad'st treason moÌ„gst them worke And secretly within their hearts to lurke And so didst set them at diuision Among themselues whereby we plainely see How th' vgly serpent Discord creepeth on And slyly slides into mans heart till he By tract of time hath therein gotten place And banished from thence all peace and grace With venom of his fowle dissention When once it spreads it selfe in any towne Land common-wealth howse countrey or nation Or iâ—â—ens hearts of small or high renowne For when as men liue not in loue and peace All happines and ioy with them doth cease For where as Discord hath his residence And doth begin amongst men to appeare It 's worse then any sword or pestilence For who are worse then foes familiar Or who can hurt men more if that they lust Then enemies in whom they put their trust And briefely to conclude without a pause All trouble mischiefe and confusion In any land proceedeth from the cause And root of hatred and dissention And much more danger in the same doth lie If it be wrought and stir'd vp secretlie Record whereof is to be found by Troy Where while that in the towne they did agree They held the same and did it long enioy Despight their foes But when they gan to be At strife and hatred mongst themselues crost Each other not long after it was lost For without doubt as often prooued is When men begin together to contend Or that a land in 't selfe deuided is T is not the means them nor their state to mend But rather is a certaine signe and way Of that same land and peoples sure decay For Mars the soueraigne Lord of enmity That vnto men he might his power show And bring Troy into all extremity The seeds of Discord did among them sow Gainst which a man no remedy can find For I am sure perswaded in my mind That treason wrought with fained shew of peace To be procur'd thereby is worse then warre And more then it all mischiefe doth encrease Whereof the principalst actors weere Aeneas Duke Anchises his old Father Pollidmas and Anthenor who together Among themselues did secretly agree And traiterously conspire with bad intent If that the towne of Troy should chance to bee Tane by the Greeks whereof they feard th'vent How they might saue their owne liues goods lands By some devise out of the Grecians hands Which if it might not be as they did doubt It could not be they ment in secret wise Before the vtmost danger should fall out To parle with the Grecian enemies And traitors gainst their towne of Troy to bee Before they would their owne subuersion see Or loyalty vnto their countrey yeild Intending rather to forget their oath And promise made and vowed to be held By them while life did last and faith and troth With due alleagance wholy set aside For them and their owne safety to prouide Esteeming it more wisedome to forecast How they for there owne good should do the same And bring 't about before the time were past And rather saue their liues thogh t were with shame Then foolishly to fall into a trap Which otherwise they might full well escape They though it no disgrace nor worthy blame For to betray the towne so they went free Away with goods and liues out of the same Nor had no care for others to agree But how they might vnto that thing attaine Which they did seeke by treason to obtaine And to that end they went vnto the King To giue him as they sayd some good aduise And
To further them in their great villany He told the Grecians that their best way was To make a shew to offer sacrifice Vnto Minerua in their Paynim wise Whereby he said he would a meanes deuise That they the Towne shold take without all doubt And get the spoile of all their enemies Which that they might the better bring about He counselled them to make a horse of brasse The which of such a mightie greatnes was That it within the body of it held A thousand valiant knights that close did lie Hid in the same well arm'd with speare shield Which framed was by craft and subtiltie Of Synon and of Appius the wise That with him ioyned were in that deuise Which horse the Grecians purposely should bring Before the Towne pretending as they said That they would giue it for an offering To Pallas and by Calchas counsell praid King Priam that he would vouchsafe them leaue To set it in her Temple and to giue Them liberty to enter in the Towne To offer vnto her a sacrifice Before they sailed downe to Tenadowne And by this false and politicke deuise They found the meanes to take the town of Troy And did the same in cruell wise destroy But ere that they did bring the same to passe When as the faiâ—â—d articles were made The Kings by whome king Priam aided was While he against the Grecians warred had Perceauing that the Troyans would haue peace And that therby their bloudy war should cease As many of them as then liuing were Did take their leaues of Priamus and went Againe into their Lands and Countries where They raigned kings when they had lost spent Both mony men mong whom king Philomene Did take with him the body of the Queene Of Amazons that was by Pyrrhus slaine And of two thousand knights that with him came To Troy there went but fiftie backe againe The rest vnto their everlasting fame Were slaine in fight against the Grecians And of a thousand Amazonians That came to Troy in Priamus defence There was but iust foure hundred of them left To beare their Queens dead body way fro thence The rest were by the Greeks of life bereft Who being gone the next day following The Troyan Lords and Priamus their king Met with the Greeks in open field and there Conferred of the Peace on either side Where for the Grecians Diomede did sweare That they would firmely stand to and abide By all that which they had agreed vpon In treaty with Anthenor and that none Of all the Greeks the contrary would do Wherein the Troyans and King Priamus Were much deceau'd and tooke no heed vnto His double oath as not suspitious Of treason meant therby for he did take His oath in generall tearmes did not make Rehearsall of the points particular That were agreed vpon For his intent Was only with a false pretence to sweare T' obserue and keepe the treaty fraudulent The which Anthenor with the Grecians made Contrary vnto that which Priam had Been made belieue by him to haue been done For by the oath they tooke they did include And meant that treason only greed vpon And swore thereto intending to delude The Troyans and to catch them in a trap From wheÌ„ce they neither could nor should escape Cleane contrarie to that the Troyans ment They made a shew as if they peace would make But bloudy warre was onlie their intent And outwardlie a fained oath did take T' obserue the peace but treason was the end And drift which they did secretly pretend But though they valid and covered it with show Of peace therewith to blind the outward eie Yet he that all mens secret thoughts doth know Perceiued that their oath was but a lie He that professeth truth and doth pretend No such thing but thereby deceaues his frend Is not to be belieud what ere he bee Because the vow he makes is but a lie And though into mens hearts we cannot see That sweare and take their oaths so craftilie Yet he that craftilie doth lie and sweare Doth wilfullie by craft himselfe forsweare Whereto he can make no exception For God that knows mans heart and secrets all Condemneth him that with intention Sweares falslie to betray his friend withall As Diomede did traiterouslie deceaue The Troyans that did verilie belieue His oath had been without all fraud and guile As having no suspition in their hearts That they should be betraied by a wile Which at the last they all too dearelie bought When as they found the Grecians did contrarie Vnto their oath and from their promise varie But longer to entreat hereof were vaine Let it suffice't was all but treacherie The which the more to hide they tooke againe Queene Helena and therewith presentlie The monie which the Troyans were to pay Was broght vnto the plaine the selfe same day And with the flower and meale delivered Vnto the Greeks as they agreed had The which they caused to be carried Vnto their ships And then as Calchas made And laid the plot with fain'd devotion And great and foule dissimulation And holines vaild with hipocrisie The Grecians praid king Priamus that they Might by his licence haue free libertie In Pallas Temple ere they went away Devoutlie t'offer for oblation The horse of Brasse in satisfaction To her for th'jmage which they stole froÌ„ thence If Priamus would grant them so to do That she therby forgetting their offence Might bee bening to them when they should go By sea to Greece and helpe them in their need To which King Priam presently agreed As having no suspition that he should Haue been betraid thereby and gaue consent That they should do 't when s'ever that they would And was the willinger therewith content Because Anthenor and Aencas both Whom he then thoght did meane good faith troth Perswaded him thereto although they knew The Greeks intent was thereby to obtaine Their wills of Troy which after did ensue And to that end the Greeks straight on the plaine Began with speed and mightie diligence T'remoue the horse and with much reverence And great and extreame force to draw the same As neere vnto the towne as well they could But when vnto the gate therewith they came It was so great that by no meanes it would Go in thereat who when the Grecians saw They staid did theÌ„selues froÌ„ thence withdraw And left it there before the gate and went Downe in their ships to Tenadon to stay There till they had effected that they ment To bring to passe Who being gone away King Priam and the Troyans that were glad Of their retract supposing that they had Been gone indeed set ope the gates of Troy Whereat the common people issuing out Into the plaine with signes of extreame ioy Ran to behold the horse and went about The field whereas the Greeks incamped lay While they before the towne of Troy did stay And as they viewd the place and lookt vpon The Grecians huge and
what he was why there making mone He wandered so solitarilie T'whom Pyrrhus answere made and for replie Said full of griefe and woe I doe confesse My selfe to be and therefore wandering Alone I go to thinke on the distresse That happened hath to Priamus the King Whose Son I was and by the fall of Troy Bereft of all my honor wealth and joy I now am made a prisoner gainst my will To Pyrrhus vnto whom I promise made To be his prisoner true and to fulfill His hest in every thing and therefore sad And heavilie I walke and so said he I haue you told how it now stands with me Which when he had so said vnto the King Atastus friendly spake to him againe And questioned with him of many a thing And mongst the rest where Pyrrhus did remaine In Thessalie and what he went about And Pyrrhus said to put you out of doubt He doth as now continue in a caue Not farre from hence and there doth closely stay In mightie feare and dread his life to saue And pointed to the caue where Peleus lay The which he did to make him looke about While he in furious wise his sword drew out Intending there Atastus to haue slaine But as he thought to giue the fatall blow Queene Thetides came running to the plaine And weeping at his feet her selfe did throw And holding fast his sword did make him stay His hand and thus vnto him she did say Let it suffice good nephew thou hast don And from so sore revenge thy selfe refraine Sith gainst things past remedy there is none Hast thou not kild said she my brethren twaine And wilt thou without mercy take away My aged fathers life I pray thee stay Thy cruell sword and now no more blood shed Remembring that the blood thou spilst is thine And pittie take vpon thy kindered From whom thou comst by right paternall linâ— For all men cruell Parasites contemne And for vnnaturall murtherers condemne The which when Pyrrhus heard like Tyger wroth He said whosoere against the same will stand Despight of him whether he be leefe or loth He shall be slaine at this time by my hand For hath he not said he by force and might Bereft my grand-sire Peleus of his right Whose Queene you are and he your Lord king Whose part you ought to take and not to stay My hand from doing of so iust a thing And therefore without faile I will him slay For nought there is that now his life shall saue Vnlesse my grand-sire Peleus doth it craue And therewith aged Peleus did begin To creepe out of the caue and when he saw What danger King Atastus then was in He praid his Nephew Pyrrhus to withdraw His hand and not to kill him in that place But rather to respect his woefull case And thinke sayd he vpon the extreame smart Of him that weeping sore with cruell paine Before thee stands with cold and dying hart To see his Sons here lie before him slaine By thee the which said he if thou be wise I pray thee at this time let it suffice And thinke thy selfe enough revengd to bee On him if thou considerest well thereon And sith he doth submit himselfe to thee I pray thee for my sake let him alone And spare his life that ready is to die For griefe which thou shalt not to me denie The which when Pyrrhus heard he did refrâ—â—nâ— From killing him as Pâ—leâ—â—s â—ade â—â—quest And when he had put vp his swâ—â—â—â—gainâ— Perceaving that he had done for the hast While these two aged kings together were He made accord betweene them both â—â— there They did agree on either side to make Division of the land of Thessalie And each of them the halse thereof to take And of the same to haue the soveraignty And never more to striue nor to contend For it againe till they their liueâ— should end And while they two and Pyrrhus there alone Within the wood did stand and no man by Atastus in this wise to speake begon And sayd my Lords I can it not deny As both of you as well as I do know That crooked age hath broght me down so low That nature in me now begins to drie And all my wits and sences so decay Whereby I feele such insufficiency Within my selfe that I must truely say That I am farre vnfit to take the paine Within the land of Thessalie to raigne For seeing that both of my sons are dead And I am left alone without an heire And haue no children living to succeed Me in my throane I wholly do despaire Of worldly ioy and all felicity For wavring fortunes mutability Hath taught me as I must of force confesse That no man doth in certaine state abide And that there is no trust nor stablenesse In worldly ioyes and thereforeile provide While time doth serue that strife there shall be none For Thassalie when I am dead and gone Forgainst the will of God I le not repine And to that end the Scepter of thiâ— land And regall throane for my part I resigne And giue into my Nephew Pyrrhus hand And with that work his faith and troth he gâ—â—e That he possession straight therof should â—â—â—â— In presence of his daughter Thetides And Pyrrhus that no other likewise ment Said sith that is doth king Atastâ—â— please Here to resigne hiâ— part I am concour To do the like affirming that long since It ever was his purpose and pretence And th' onely worldly ioy he had to leaue His Crowne vnto his Nephew whensoere Death with his dart should him of life bereaue As lawfull heire vnto the same and there In presence of Atastus and his wife To Pyrrhus said to end all warre and strife Betweene vs twaine I will likewise resigne My Scepter Sword and Crowne into thy hand As fully and as whole as ere 't was mine And makethee Lord of my part in this land Which freely vnto thee I now do giue To be thine owne as long as thou shalt liue Which having saith and this agreement made Betweene the kings as you haue vnderstood Atastus knights who in the meane time had Disperst themselues abroad within the wood Came thither and were willed by their Lord To sweare and vow to hold keepe th'accord Betweene them made whereto they gaue consent And so together in a company Each for his part well pleased and content They road vnto the towne of Thessalie Where king Atastus cald a Parliament And therein by expresse Commandement Caus'd all his subiects whatsoere they were Especially his whole Nobility In open Court to take their oaths and sweare To yeeld vnto the soveraignety Of Pyrrhus and with full and free accord T' acknowledge him to be their King Lord Of Thessalie and none but he alone At which time Pelâ—â—â— likewise did the same Which being thus on either side so done By sound of trump the Heralds did proclaime King Pyrrhus in each street of Thessalie And afterward with great