put her out of the order and of her company AT this time began to rise in the mind of Iupiter many thoughts for the better he concluded in himself to returne to Pelage from whence he came And then for because that hee was displeased with himselfe for the enforsing of his Ladie dame Calisto by loue hee departed from the wood and so hasted on his way that hee was on the morne among the Epiriens in his first habite When the Epiriens sawe Iupiter come againe they made him right great chéere and great honor And the same day Iupiter fained him that he would go on hunting and so went and found means to speake with Calisto and required her that she would be his loue but she in no wise would assent to him He returned from the chase so gréeued that for to passe his melancholy he departed out of the country The fourth day following after that he ordained there folke that gouerned the people and returned into the house of king Melliseus who receiued him as his son and there he dwelled a long time without aduentures whereof any mention is made and also Calisto dwelled in peace a while and when she heard tell and vnderstood that Iupiter was gone she was passing ioyous for she had leuer haue him far then nigh alway the time passed the fruit of her wombe grew and the day came that Diana and Athalanta with other virgins perceiued that she was with child wherfore they assembled al in their Chapyter and called Calisto and then spake Diana to her and said Calisto my daughter thou hast done fornication with some man this fornication is not excusable The virgins of this place be sorie for thy sinne and haue abhomination of thy shame For this cause it is of force that thou departe out of this house thou shalt be no longer their fellow Thou hast made thy selfe worthie to depart by the breaking and loosing of thy virginitie Take thine array and go thy way into some place where then maist be deliuered of the fruit that resteth in thée for thou shalt no longer be héere within When Calisto heard the goddesse Diana and knew that she said truth great teares fel from her eies and wéeping by great aboundance excused her vpon Iupiter rehearsing the abuse and violence that she had Diana and the maidens had great maruaile of Iupiter that had them so deceiued Calisto cried her mercie right humbly and many times offered her selfe to the correction of the maidens This notwithstanding albeit that she was held excused they receiued her not to mercie She was condemned to go out of the cloyster and so much went the matter for t of that the poore religious woman departed from thence all bewept and so ashamed that she would not go to no towne citie nor house but in a déepe caue that she had seene afore time in the wood And first she made her prouision of hearbs and rootes for as much as the winter was comming After she entred into the caue and there she held her so lōg time as the beare holdeth him in his den wherefore the Arcadiens fayned that she was turned into a beare And it is not to be forgottē that during this time she was deliuered of a sonne which she named Archas. This child was great and huge of members Calisto nourished him among the wilde beastes with rootes fruites and hearbes and of the proper meates and prayes that the cruel and terrible beasts liued with and there was no beaste that did him any harme nor none was so hardie to do him any gréeuance And he was so cruel and fierces that at the age of seuen yeare as his mother angred or troubled him on a day he lifted vp himselfe against her and would haue slaine her In so much that Calisto was constrained to flée before him by the bushes and to issue out of the wood and go to Iupiter which at that time was in the citie of Pelage Are has pursued Calisto his mother vntill he came within the citie and so forth entred after her into the Pallace and held in his hands two great round stones When Calisto entred into the pallace by aduenture she encountred and mette with Iupiter whom she knew and she knéeled downe on the earth before him and required him with afrayed spirite that he would do her iustice of her sonne that would flea her Iupiter that nothing knewe Calisto for asmuch as she was euil clothed and halfe wilde and sauage behelde the chylde and made him be taken and after he demaunded Calisto what she was Sir said she I am ' Calisto that for thy sinne was long since banished out of my religion I haue had this childe of thy séede such as thou seest this is thy sonne I haue nourished him seuen yeares in the forrest among wilde beasts He now would slea me for asmuch as I haue angred him I pray shée saue my life When Iupiter heard these wordes of Calisto he was right glad and ioyous for it was sayd that she was dead and he comforted her the best wise he could After that he called Archas and made the peace betwéene him and his mother and did cause him to be clothed and reteyned him in his palace And thēceforth the same Archas gouerned him so wel and so wisely that at the prayer and request of the Pelagiens Archas was made king of the countrey CHAP. IX ¶ How Titan assayled by warre his brother Saturne for as much as he had not put to death all his Children males c. IN this time that the young Archas was crowned king of Pelage and that he named the Cytie Archadia after his name the king Saturne was so great and so puissaunt that for to ample and increase the splendor of his natiuity he named himselfe Saturne sonne of heauen and of earth But then as he began to study how and by what maner hée might exalt the splendour of his felicitie by diuine misteries fortune turned her backe to him warde And as there is nothing in earth that may abide and endure so it happend that Tytan was all acertained that the quene Cibell had diuerse men children that she did cause to be kepte secretly and so had saued their liues Boccace that recounteth this history in the fourth booke of the genealogie of the goddes sayth not by what meane Titan knewe this thing alwaye eyther by suspection or by enuy that he had of the glorye of Saturne his Brother or by secret aduertisement Vnder this colour he determined in his courage that he woulde assayle Saturne by armes and for this cause he did assemble on a daye al his sonnes and them required that they would ayde and helpe him to get the land of Crete saying that hée woulde make warre against Saturne his Brother and that by right and iuste tytle he had good cause for he had not put to death dyuerse men children that his wife Cibell had conceyued of his séede like as
Iles fortunate This king then aduertised of the coming of the Egiptians was passing angry and sware that neuer none of them should returne agayne into Egipt Assoone then as he might he did cause his men to arme them and issued out of the cittie with a great company of Libyans and had so great haste to runne vpon the Egiptians that he sette no order among his people whereof he tooke great harme for when he came to the battaile hée founde that Hercules had trayned his people and set them in two battailes of which he lead and conducted the first battaile It happend so that they of the sayde companye of Hercules by force of shot bare thēselues so valiantly and with strokes that they brought to death more then fiftéene hundred Lybiens When the shot fayled Antheon sprang into the greatest prease as the most valiant and supposed wel to haue skirmished with his enimies but anon as Hercules sawe him come hée layd hand on his club and put him foorth before and gaue him so great a stroke that he made his head to bow on the left side Antheon had his sword lifted vppe for to haue smitten Hercules when he receiued the stroke that Hercules gaue him by which his stroke was broken Neuerthelesse he said betwéene his téeth that he would auenge him so hee lifted vp his sword againe and smote Hercules so vehemently that with the stroke he brake his shield Then knew Hercules that the giant was a man of great strength This notwithstanding he smote him the second time with his club and thus Hercules and Antheon gaue each other so great strokes that there came betwéene them of the two parties Libians and Egyptians There was a great noyse of clinking of swords and sounding of the shields and helmes that were broken and halberds that were dismailed shieldes quartered and glaiues broken there was the bloud largely shed on both parties Hercules and Antheon were parted by force of the prease Antheon by great ire smote without ceasing vpon the fierce Egyptians Hercules all broke the helmes largely with his club and did with the Libians all his pleasure and brought so many to death with his club that in little time he passed throughout the whole power of king Antheon many times and in his way he couered the earth and the way that hée held all with dead Libians The first skirmish was strong and damageable to Antheon for against one Egyptian that he flew with his sword Hercules made die with his club ten Libians About Hercules was nothing but bloud Hercules made the mountaines redounde with cries the companies to tremble the Libians to flie and go backe and wan little gaine What shall I say more as long as the day endured he helde the battell in vigor and about the euening when Affer and Theseus came to the fight he bestirred himselfe in such fashion against Antheon that he made him flie all charged with horions and strokes and then in like wise fled after the Libians CHAP. XI ¶ How Hercules tooke king Athlas and how he beganne to studie the science of astronomie and the seauen liberall sciences WHen Hercules saw the Libians turne into flight he did cause to sounde the retrait for as much as it was late and with great glorie returned into the place that he had chosen for to holde his siege at His wife Echée came against him with open armes and be clipped and kissed him she holpe to vnarme him and brought him fresh water for to wash his face with and there was made right good chéere of all the Egyptians Contrary to this good chéere the Libians were in the Citie and made great sorrow for they had lost neare thirtie thousand men especially Antheon made simple cheare for he had good cause for Hercules had so beaten him with his club that hée might not helpe himselfe but went with great paine to bed and with sorrow sent for his Phisitions and Surgeons which came and visited him and founde him all bruised and saide to him that it would bee well neare a moneth ere they could heale him Antheon considering his case sent and desired of the Egyptians truce for the space of a moneth offering to them for to send them dayly a certaine number of cattell and a right great quantitie of victuals Then he made out his commaundements and sent vnto al the kings and princes that were his tributaries and also vnto his neighbours praying them that they wold come succor him with their men of arms in the most hasty wise that they might This truce so made Hercules began to remember thē that before time he had heard Philotes speak of a king that reigned thereby named Athlas and that he was the most wise man and cunningest of al the world and that he dwelt in a Castle standing on the top of a right high mountaine named Athlas after the name of the same king In this remembrance Hercules being couetous of the science of Athlas called Philotes and said to him that hee would go into the Realme of the king Athlas and that his intent was to séeke there his aduenture Philotes answered and saide that he could well leade and bring him into the Realme for he knew the countrey Then Hercules called Affer and Theseus and charged them that they shoulde alway make good watch And after tooke leaue of them and of his wife saying that he would hastily returne This done hée and thrée mariners with Philotes went vnto the sea in a gallie-finely made and light and sayled and rowed into the sea Mediterrane they had spéedie winde and readie and Fortune was good to them In little while they came vnto the straite of Gibraltar And then Philotes shewed vnto Hercules the mountaine and the castle where Athlas was at that time abyding When Hercules sawe the mountaine and the castle he went and tooke land ioyously after he tooke his clubbe and commanded Philotes and his marriners for to abide them there Then he went toward the mountaine and it happened that he met with a man that discended downe from the hil and he adressed him toward the said man for to heare some tydings and demanded him from whence hée came He said I come from the castle that ye may sée yonder on high Whither go ye said Hercules vnto the Citie of Mercelie answered the stranger the king Athlas to whom I am seruant hath sent me thither to publish his commandement vnto the Citizens that within sixe dayes they should be furnished with their armes for to accompanie him to go vnto the warre of the great king of Libie which requested instantly to haue his succours Wherefore if ye will serue him in this armie and be his souldiour go vp and ye shall finde him in his Castell studying the science of astronomie The seruaunt of King Athlas with these wordes went forth on his way and Hercules went vp into the mountaine and came to the gate of
for to escape from thy handes hee is descended with his companie in the forme of lightening or tempest and thus thy strength is deceiued by his Science When Hercules vnderstood this that Athlas had said to him hee greatly maruelled of the science of Cacus and might not beleeue it Then for to know the trueth he tooke his clubbe and went vp through the smoke or fume vnto the top of the rocke seeking Cacus but hee found there neither beast nor man then he returned vnto Athlas and laughing confessed to him that hee had saide trueth and saide that he woulde make no pursuite after him forsomuch as hee was so gentleman-like escaped This day they passed ouer in speaking and communing of Cacus and of his father Vulcan The day following when the smoke and fume was gone and vanished away Hercules began to behold the country and sawe that it was commodious and fertile and to the end that there shoulde euer be remembraunce and memory of him hee founded there a citie which he named Terracone forasmuch as he gaue this countrey to the sonne of the king of Ancone and there hee made him dwell with his people and with them of Tyre Hercules after this foundation went to the cittie of Salamanque and forasmuch as it was wel inhabited and peopled hee would make there a solemne study and did make there in the earth a great round hole in maner of a studie and hee sette therein the seuen sciences liberall with many other bookes After he made them of the countrey to come thither for to study but they were so rude and dull that their wittes coulde not comprise any cunning of science And then forasmuch as Hercules woulde depart on his voiage and woulde also that this study were maintained he did make an Image or statue of gold vnto his semblance and likenesse Which hee did set vp on high in the middest of his studie vpon a piller and made so by his crafte and arte that all they that came before this image for to haue declaration of any science to all purposes and of all sciences the Image answered instructed and taught the schollers and studentes in such wise as it hadde been Hercules in his proper person The renowme of this studie was great in all the countrey And this studie dured after the time that saint Iames conuerted Spaine vnto the christian faith From Salamanque Hercules departed and went into Catalogne and founded there the citie of Barseloigne which is a right good citie And finally when he hadde accomplished all these thinges he sent Athlas home againe into his countrey but he held by him all his writers for he loued bookes aboue all the riches of the world After he woulde giue leaue vnto Phylotes for to returne vnto his countrey But Phylotes refused his congie and leaue and said to him that he would serue him all his life and that hee reputed his felicitie more great to be in his seruice then for to gouerne the countrey that fortune hadde put in his hand Hercules after this called Hispan and said to him Hispan I know thy wit and thy valiance I haue found thée alway wise and true Thou art a man of authoritie and well knowne in these Coastes I do now make and constitute thee to be king ouer all this Countrey and I doe giue vnto thee none other charge but to loue vertue and to ensue honouâ— and worship When Hispan heard the gift that Hercules made to him he fell downe at his feete and thanked him and after excused him of so great worship But Hercules said to him that he would that it should be so and deliuered to him a certain number of people of his company for to serue him After he made him to depart with great sighes and sorrow And Hispan went then by all the couÌ„tries that Hercules hadde conquered there from Gerion and Cacus And from thenceforth on the countrey was named Spaigne after his name Whereof I will nowe cease talking of this conquest of Spaigne and will come to speake of the deeds of armes that Hercules did in Lombardy and of the death of Cacus CHAP. XXIIII ¶ How Hercules fought against the eleuen Giantes of Cremona and how he vanquished them WHere be now the kings the emperours the souldans and the princes that men may speake of the vertuous liberalitie of them equall or like vnto that of Hercules The men at this day fight one against other and make mony conquests but they attribute them vnto their singular profite They resemble not Hercules that neuer fought but for the common weale of the worlde O noble Hercules For to follow pursue my matter When he made Hispan king of al the region of Hesperie that now is named Spaigne hee sent for his Oxen his kine and calues and after departed from Barselone and tooke his way into Lombardie he went so long on his iourny that he came nigh to the city of Cremona which is but a daies iourny froÌ„ Millane There were theÌ„ in this city xi giants great out of measure These eleuen giants were all brethren sonnes of Neâ—eâ— the sonne of Saturne And they called themselues all kings of this city They held all estate royal howbeit their rnoumes were but small litle that because they were théeues robbed their neighboâ—r and made them alwayes warre When then they knew that Hercules approched their citie anon they assembled their councell together and demanded the one the other if they should suffer Hercules for to enter into their citie All were of one opinion that they should not receiue him and that they woulde sende vnto him one of them which was named Nestor that he should not enter into Cremona vnlesse he first had vanquished in battell the eleuen brethren Nestor at the commandement of the giants departed from Cremona and went to Hercules whome he found with his litle armie but thrée mile from Cremona Then spake he to Hercules and sayde vnto him Sir I haue ten brethren kings of Cremona that haue sent mée vnto thée forasmuch as they be aduertised that thou entrest into their dominion and they charge thée by me that they will giue vnto thée no passage into Cremona vnlesse thou first ouercome them one after another in battel and therefore choose whether thou wilt haue the battell or els to returne againe and leaue this voyage I aduertise thée that they be all giants more great and more puissant then I am Sir knight answered Hercules I haue taken my way for to passe by Cremona let the giants knowe that Hercules hath intention to speake vnto them more neare as he that dreadeth not nor feareth their accustomed tyrannies which I must deliuer the world of by feats of armes And forasmuch as to the end that they presume not that I haue any doubt or dread of them in any maner yee shall say to them that I will not fight with them ten one after another but all at
she on a day called her deare sonne Saturne with Titan and other of the Countrey and there rehearsed and saide vnto them that her yong sonne Saturne should succéede and haue the heritages of her husband Titan hearing the will of his mother redoubled his sorrow it caused him to wéepe great plentie of teares and knéeled too fore his mother humbly and saide in in this wise Mother I am right infortunate when ye will that my right patrimonie be put from me and that naturally me ought to haue by right should be giuen from me and yet because that I am not so wel formed of members as my brother Saturne is which sorrow is to me passing noyous ye wil put from me my fortune and byrth which ye may not do by lawfull reason I am your first sonne ye haue nourished me with the substance of your blood as your childe borne in your bellie nine Moneths Also I am he that first dwelled and inhabited your feminine chambers none tofore me tooke there any seisin when I tooke that then ye gaue mée your due loue and sorted to me the succession of your heritages Then whence cometh this that ye nowe subuert and destroy that nature hath once ioyned giuen me euery mother is bounden to holde the conseruation of the right of her child Alas mother will ye make me bastard fro my right am I a bastard was not Vranus my father am not I he that ye were so glad for what time ye felt first that I was conceiued in the lawfull bed of my father your husband am I not be that ye bare and gaue mee sucke of your breastes and oftentimes kissed me that is to say in my tender dayes what tyme my members were soft and tender Ha mother acquit you ayeinst me as ye beholden and bounden by right and knowledge ye that I am Titan and for as much as I am lesse and not so well adressed as my brother Saturne so much yée ought the more desire my promotion and furthering When dame Vesca heard her sonne Titan speake so sadly and profoundly she had pittie on him yet the pitie was not of so high vertue that might surmount the great loue that was rooted betwéene her and Saturne and then she sayde to Titan her sonne Titan my sonne I denie not that thou tookest thy substance betwéene my sides and were brought into this world and know verily that I loue thée intirely and that I desire thy weale but it is so cleare and euident in euery mans sight that for the default loathlinesse and abhomination of thy members thou art not a man sufficient to defend thy fathers heritage with great labour and paine for if it happen that one man would make warre thou were not able to resist him what wouldest thou that I should do thy brother hath the loue of al the people for his beautie and his vertuous maners and euery man holdeth him in reuerence and thée in derision and scorne Be thou content thou shalt lacke nothing and if thou lacke speake to me and I shall remedie it but speake neuer no more to mee for the heritage for Saturne shall obtaine it by the fauour of his wisedome méekenesse and benignitie and also because the common sort iudgeth him and séeth that hee shall once bee the man whose life shall shine gloriously Titan was sort troubled of the words of his mother and he began to chaunge colour and waxe red hauing suspition to Saturne that hee had contriued this matter against him whereupon he drew him apart to him and saide Saturne the enuie that thou hast to raigne aboue me hath now ingendred in my heart thy mortall mischiefe whereof the hate shall endure vnto the mortall separation of thy life and of mine and of my children Thou knowest well that I am the eldest son of our father Vranus how art thou so hardy and presumptuous to inhaunce thy selfe aboue me by conspired imagination I will that thou knowe verily that like as thou hast conspired in my temporal domage semblably I shall conspire to thy eternal domage hurt And name me from henceforth thy mortall enemie When Saturne heard these burning and enflamed menasses of his brother Titan he excused himselfe and answered that he neuer thought in his life to come to the succession of their father nor neuer had imagined nor conspired it Then Vesca their mother Cibell and Ceres tooke the wordes fro Saturne and saide to Titan that his threatning to Saturne was for naught for he should raigne and be Lord and maister Titan full of felonie and more angrie then hée was too fore said plainly that he would not suffer it Saturne had a great part of the people that assisted him and gaue him fauour And Titan also had other on his side which began to murmure the one partie agaynst the other All the compapanie was sore troubled and began to thrust in and enployed them to cease the noyse and to accord Titan notwithstanding it was hard to doe for alway he would haue runne vpon Saturne if he had not béene hold and letted alway In the ende the wise men shewed Titan by great reason that he was the more féeble and that Saturne was more in the fauour of the people and that he would modere himselfe a little and sayde that he should agrée and graunt the raigne to Saturne by condition that if hee married he should be bound to put to death all his children males that should be begotten of his séede if he any had for the wele of both parties Vesca with her daughter and the auncient wise people accorded to Titan this condition and laboured so to Saturne that they brought them to the Temple of their god Mars that was in the citie of Oson whereof was Lord a mightie man called Milliseus and that afore the image of the god Mars Saturne swore that if him happed to marry and that hee had any children males hee would slea them all thus was Titan content that his brother shuld enioy the land of Crete the peace was made betwéen them both CHAP. II. ¶ How Saturne was crowned first King of Crete and how he found first diuers sciences wherefore the people held him in great honour as a God AFter the treatie made of the peace of Titan and Saturne Titan saw in himselfe that hee might not worshipfully abide and dwell being vnder his yonger brother had leuer go and search his aduentures in other places then to be thral to his yonger brother Hee tooke his wife his children and friendes and departed at all aduenture into diuers places where he found fortune so good and happy that by armes and strength he made himselfe king of many diuerse Realmes which hee departed vnto his chlldren and commised and ordained certaine espies to espie and waite if his brother Saturne married himselfe and if his wife brought foorth men children and whether hée put them to death During these saide things Saturne
to him that his wordes were to him right pleasing and so acceptable that he would holde him company in this aduenture The Quéene Ceres thanked the two Knightes so they brought her into the Cittie and into the pallace She was there receyued and feasted as it apperteined The stealing away of her daughter was told and the enterprise of the two Knightes By the reporte of this aduenture and with the enterprise that Theseus and Pyrothus hadde made all the feaste was troubled agayne on a newe Among all other Hypodamia considering that her husbande that was so newlye marryed vnto her woulde go in this perillous voyage of hell her hearte beganne to giue out wéeping of teares and might receiue no solace nor comfort vnto her eyes What shall I say the feast ended in great sorrow Iason and Hercules would gladly haue gone with Theseus and Pyrothus and spake thereof to them but they would not suffer them Then departed Hercules and entred into a ship as if he would haue gone into his countrey Each man in like wise departed and Theseus and Pyrothus tooke their way for to go vnto hell And then about their departing whereof Hercules was aduertised Hercules made for to direct his ship vnto the marches of hell and there went a land alone concluding in himselfe that he would go after Pyrothus and Theseus his loyall and true fellowes and betooke to Philotes the charge for to bring Lincus vnto Thebes and for to put him there in prison vntill his returning and comming againe After he departed and Philotes shipped in the sea where he had a dolorous aduenture as shall be said heereafter But at this time I must cease speaking of that matter and will recount of Hercules how he went into hell CHAP. VI. ¶ How Hercules found Pyrothus dead at the gates of hell and Theseus in danger and how Hercules vanquished Cerberus and how hee conquered Proserpina from Pluto c. IN this place it ought to bee spoken that when Theseus and Pyrothus were departed from Thessalonica for to go and assaie if they might recouer the faire Proserpina they did so much trauaile that by their diligence in short time they arriued in the vallie where was Proserpina in the vallie full of sinne and cursednesse Pyrothus that knew the countrey found the direct way that went to the Citie and entred first therein This way was so straite that there might no man but one alone go neither on the right side nor on the left side the rocks were so high that no man might go on neither side When they had passed this way they found a rocke carued and cut into stayres or grées made and hewed out with chysels And then they sawe lowe beneath Hell as a Cittie strong enuyroned with waters that fell downe impetouslye and fearefully from the rocks and made a terrible noyse and roring for they fell from right highe into a lowe swalowe or abysme in the earth This Cittie was all enclosed with mountaines For to speake properly it was a right Hell and it had no more but one entrie and one gate then for to come downe to the gate Pyrothus and Theseus descended downe by the degrées made in the rocke Then in the desceding sodaynlye they sawe spring from the gate a greate giant out of measure that had an head meruailously misshapen fierce blacke and vglye He had his nose high and and wide his Chin long his téethe great as a horse téethe his eyes great like vnto an oxe his eares hanging like an hounde his shoulders large and broade his bellye swolen and great bolned his legges and his thighes were passing stronglye bened and mightie This terrible Giant was Cerberus whereof is touched and rehearsed before The Poets named him the hounde with thrée heads considering his right gréeuous and vnhappie liuing which is compared and likened vnto thrée singular vices that is to wéete to pryde to auaryce and luxurye or leachery By pryde he gloryfied himselfe and enhaunced him aboue all the men in the worlde with his force and strength for he was so strong that no man might withstande him By auarice and Couetise hee hadde an apetyte insatiable for to gather to-gither treasours and tooke and bare awaye all that hée might haue or coulde finde By luxurie there was no man liuing of more foule lyfe then hee was for hee hadde neuer doone other thing in all his life then for to defile and rauish women and maydens ladies and gentlewomen so by good right the poets named him an hound with thrée heades for he was soule as an hound that liueth in multiplication of sinnes and taketh therein his felicitie O gréeuous felicitie When Theseus and Pirothus had espyed this enemie Cerberus come vnto them all armed making the whéele in marching proudly vnto them Pirothus sayd to Theseus My brother beholde what enemie this is hee that putteth him in such perils for for the loue of ladies setteth but little by his life It behoueth vs nowe to liue or die let vs now atchieue ioyously our enterprise And to the ende that ye may not thinke but that I had leuer die then to haue reproch I will be the first that shall beginne the battaile Theseus had no space nor leysure to aunswere for Cerberus came to them and called to them saying What seeke these fellowes in hell Wee come sayd Theseus for to séeke Proserpina whom Pluto hath taken away from the Quéene Ceres Wée will neuer returne into our Countrey vnto the time we bring her with vs. Truly aunswered Cerberus if yée will returne into your Countrey yée shall render and yéelde agayne Proserpina but I will forbidde you the returne And this day I will present vnto you Proserpina my Sworde dyed in your bloud And here you shall be buryed yee shall neuer sée Proserpina nor come no nearer then ye bée now With these wordes hee lifted vp his Sworde and gaue so great a stroke to Theseus vpon his Shield that hée did beare away thereof an halfe quarter c. When Pirothus saw his fellow smitten hée tooke his sworde and smote Cerberus on the one side Theseus smote him on the other side and they gaue him two right great strokes so great that they made Cerberus to be chafed so sore that he began the battaile so vnmeasurably that he all to frushed and brake their shields and their harnesse and also made his sword to be dyed with their noble blood as hée had before saide The battell was hard and mortall at the beginning Theseus Pirothus receiued many wounds by eager strokes their armes were all to hewen and broken The battaile endured long and Pirothus did right wel behaue himselfe but Cerberus smote vpon him so vnmeasurably that after many woundes giuen to him he all to brake his helme and cleaued his head in two péeces vnto the stomacke c. When Theseus saw his fellow die he stroke with his sword in great anger and smote Cerberus so
withhold my hand from smiting vppon thee and assay if thou be as subtill in armes as thou art subtill in language Poore foole said the serpent which was full of pride knowest not thou that by my part serpentine I haue infected all this countrey and I wil this day drinke thy bloud and deuour thy body wherefore make good watch and kéep thee well Without mo wordes Hercules enhaunsed his sworde for to haue smitten his aduersary but he could not so soon haste him but the serpent gaue him first two strokes one with his sword and the other with his taile wherewith he had almost smitten him down to the ground Yet Hercules abode standing with his sword that he had lifted vp he smote the monster vpon the helme with such strength that he al to frushed the helme and made him a wound in his head At this stroke that the Serpent felt he was full of furie and with his sword smote Hercules the second time vpon the helme with so great might that the sparkles and the fire flew out and the helme was broken Hercules that neuer before hadde receiued so great a stroke promised him that he would reuenge it and smote him right angerly Their strokes were great and deadly they smote eche other 〈◊〉 and they were both two of great courage But when fortune had enough cherished them both she turned against the Serpent so earnestly that after many strokes Hercules smote his sharp sword within the helme into his head and bare him downe dead vnto the earth Hercules had great ioy when he sawe the monster put to the foile he went for to fetch the king of Lerna with Deianira and his folke and brought them for to see the monster When he hadde shewed them the monster hée made a great fire and burned it and made sacrifice vnto the goddes And by the fire hee consumed the monster Hydre Wherefore there were giuen to him great and right high praises and thanks And he was brought to the Citie of Lerne with great glory of Ladies and of gentlewomen which conueied him vnto the kings pallace singing melodiously Deianira theÌ„ ioyed greatly in the triumphant victorie of her noble husband When Hercules had abidden there a while he departed and went to Athens where Theseus receiued him gloriously Then Hercules and Athlas held schoole in Athens forasmuch as they of Athens were quicke of capacitie and of wit and gaue themselues all to learn science and there they were a great while introducing and enforming them of Athens in philosophy and in astronomie And especially in astronomie Atlas profited in such wise that the students said that he sustained and bare the heauen on his shoulders O noble vertuous man When Hercules had spent some time there and studied so long that his doctrine had giuen light vnto the Athenians hee departed from thence with great bemoning and brought his wife vnto the citie of Licie And then hee was so greatly renowmed that from all the realmes of Greece there came dayly to him noble men and other for to profit in vertue in noblenesse in honour in armes in philosophy in astronomie and in all other perfection c. CHAP. XIX ¶ How Hercules went into Spaine and howe hee fought in the Sea against king Gerion and vanquished him and how he tooke the citie of Megidda and entred therein IN the time that Hercules flourished in vertue and that his name was borne from realme to realme by glorious renowme as the Chronicles of Spaine rehearse there was a king of the Citie of Megidda that standeth vppon the riuer of Gaudian which began to make his name to haue a great report by many bad misdeedes and tyrannies that no man coulde tell the third part This tyrant had to name Gerion he was king of Andalosâ—e and Destremadure and also of the mountains of Galicia and of Portingale The Poets faine of this tyrant that he had three heades forasmuch as he had two brethren great giantes the which were all of one nature and of one complexion and they were so vnited togither that al that the one would the other would and they were neuer in discord Gerion was the worst of them all Hee did cause to be made a temple in the Citie of Megidda and ordained that all they that were noble shoulde there haue their image and sepulture and that men shoulde make there the remembrances of al the men of name that he should flea to the end that there should be a memory of them in time comming What shall I say of his deedes he his brethren tyrannized not alonely vpon the strangers but also vpon his neighbours and had pittie on no man in such wise that he gat him an euil name and that the Affricanes whom they persecuted more then any other went for to complaine to Hercules by the commandement of Afer as to the soueraigne destroyer of tyrantes and of monsters and praied and required him greatly that hee woulde deliuer them out of this tribulation When Hercules vnderstoode the complaint of the Affricanes and was aduertised of the tyrannie that Gerion and his brethren vsed He enterprised for to go into Hesperie and promised to the Affricans that they shoulde haue right shortly lidings of him And after asked them of the state of king Afer And when they had tolde all that they knew they returned with great ioy into their countrey Hercules from thenceforth disposed him for to go into Hesperie wherefore his wife Deianira made great sorrow The renowne of this voiage was anonne spred in all the countrey In short time there came more men of armes into Licâ—e for to serue Hercules then he sent for he was so good bountifull and wise and also valiant and so free that he gaue a way all his spoiles wherefore euery man woulde follow him and good cause why for no man followed him nor serued him but that hee rewarded and enriched him in al wealth and worthinesse When then his army was readie hee tooke leaue of his wife Deianira and departed out of the realme of Licie Manie a teare was shed at his departing as well of Deianira as of his schollers that learned of him Theseus and Hispan Athlas and Philotes were with him During this voiage he studied oft times with Athlas and was neuer idle without doing somewhat that ought to be remembred Hee ariued in Affricke where hee found Afer which receiued him worshipfully From Affricke Hercules passed by the strait of Gybaltar and went into the Gades that now we call Galicia and peopled the countrey forasmuch as he found there good land and deliuered this people for to gouerne vnto a noble man named Phylistines This Phylistines as Bocace rehearseth in the genealogie of goddes was son of Phenis king of Phenycia And this Phenis was sonne of king Agenor son of king Belus Philistines then raigned in Galicia and was after named the Priest of Hercules forasmuch as when Hercules had vanquished
the tyrants of Hesperie he fouÌ„ded there a temple which he held after in great reuerence Alway as Hercules peopled and inhabited this land hee did cause to bee made pillers or columnes high and maruellous great and set them vpon the sea and vppon euery piller or columne hee did make an image of hard stone in the semblance and likenesse of a knight like vnto Hercules all clad with the skin of a Lion And there was one of the images that held a table wherein was written with letters of gold Passe no further for to seeke land ne go for to conquer further any realms in the West for thou shalt find no more land c. The noble Hercules went then into the countrey whereas standeth now the citie of Siuil which was not then founded and found by his science that there shoulde be builded a citie of great renowme wherefore in memorie thereof he set vp in that place a pillar of hard stones and thereupon set an image holding in his hand written that said That there should be made one of the greatest Cities in the world This land of Galicia appertained to Gerion But then when Hercules had made this pillar aboue-said and set it whereas now standeth Siuill hee had a great will for to begin to build the citie for the couÌ„tray was passing good commodious But Athlas by the science of astronomy counselled him contrary shewing him by certaine signes that it was destinie that another should make the citie And therefore nigh the piller he did make a columne of white marble vpon which stoode the image of Hercules great rich that held one hand against the East wherin was written Here hath been Hercules And with the other hand he shewed the writing that the other image held These thinges accomplished Hercules departed from thence and left to inhabite and keepe the countrey eight hundred men of his of the countrey of Scithia that were strong and expert in armes and with good wil they abode there because the countrey was plentifull Then went Hercules by the banks of the sea into the last and furthermost part of Europe and sailed so farre that he entred into the riuer of Guadiana whereas the tyrant Gerion dwelled and abode in the Citie of Megidda The same time that Hercules entered into the riuer Gerion went vp to the top of an high towre where he might see all about the countrey for to espie if any person came vppon whom he might exrecise his tyrannie He had not bin long there when he beheld the riuer and saw the army of Hercules And seeing this armie he had great ioy for him seemed well that in all haste hee shoulde subdue and ouercome them Without other delay hee assembled his complices and sownded to armes Within a little while all his men that were ready and furnished with arms came vnto him for to know what he would when Gerion was all armed and ready for to go and enter into the battaile he declared to his people his intention after he entred into his gallies as hastily as he might and went from Megidda approching toward the Gréeks Thus rowing forth it hapned him that he met a little boat And from as farre as he sawe it come hee went against it and arested it In this boat were no mo then two mariners Hispan Gerion then called Hispan and demanded of him whither hee went what he was Certes sir answered Hispan I am a Greeke haue intention to go to the king Gerion that is nowe in his city of Megidda for to dispatch a message that I am charged with Messenger sayd the king if yée séeke Gerion yee néed for to go no further forth for I am he whom ye speake vnto Sir answered Hispan since that you be he to whom my message apperteineth I let you haue knowledge in the name of the vertuous Hercules that he is an enemy to your vices and for to correct your great and abominable trespasses and sinnes hée is come into your dominion Messenger answered Gerion how is Hercules so presumptuous as for to come vpoÌ„ me to take vpon him to correct my vices he wote litle with whom he hath to do go to him and tell him that he shall not be let to find me but it shall be too soone for his health and that I will feast him in such wise ere he escape mée as I haue béene accustomed to feast strangers Hispan departed with these words and returned vnto Hercules as hastily as he might and tolde him worde for word what Gerion had sayd vnto him and moreouer hée sayd that he would méete with him right soone all prepared and ready for to begin the battell When Hispan had finished his message the gallies of king Gerion appeared and were séene from farre Hercules and the Gréekes had great ioy and began a right great shouting in sounding trumpets fifes and tabours Gerion and his folke séeing and hearing their enemies they likewise beganne to shoute and to make a marueilous great noyse The aire was then filled with a right great and ioyfull noise In this vprore and outragious noyse the two hostes approched eche other At the approching was not spared darts nor round stones nor arrowes They of Hesperie had great aboundance of daries which they vsed and cast on the Gréekes as it had béene raine The cries redoubled on the one side and on the other so that there were many dead and hurt They were all men of warre ech man bare him valiantly and among all other Hercules hauing the bowe in hand slew as many of his enâ—mies as he shot arrowes The shot dured long When it failed they fought hand to hand Then beganne the battaile to be eagre and hard Gerion shewed himselfe a man boystrous and well expert in armes and put to death many Greekes but for one that he slew Hercules slew ten of the Hesperiens c. At the encounter that the Gallies made there were many hurt and strokes giuen Hercules tooke his clubbe and in smiting one of the Galies that thought to haue grapled and borded his galley hee strooke with so great force that he made it to cleaue asunder and that the water came in so sodainly that the most part of them that were in that galley were drowned and perished without stroke smiting After this Hercules came to another galley and there did he maruailes of armes all they that he raught with his club were dead or sore hurt Some he smote the braines out of the head and of other hee brake legges and armes It seemed to thunder with him hee did so bestir him that eche man fled from him and there was no man that withstoode him or durst abide him When hee sawe this hee put himselfe forth to exploite great affaires He leapt from gally to gally and made so great slaughters that his people by his good example abounded in valour of courage and puissance and the Hesperiens diminished lessened
In these prayers and lamentations Yo le abode vntill the dead of the night cursing Hercules saying that she had rather die then to loue or like him Thus disdaining the loue of Hercules without meate or drinke she passed the whole night The day next following Hercules returned vnto her and on a newe prayed her that she would be his wife saying without respite that she◠must needes agree thereto She was right sore displeasant of this request and excused herself in many fashions that were too long to rehearse at this time But at the end of the praiers and requestes of Hercules Loue inspired in such wise the gentlewoman that she vnderstoode well that Hercules was of the roote of noble father and mother wherefore shee accorded to doe his pleasure What shal I more say Yo le companied then with Hercules as his wife and they lay togither and they grewe acquainted each with other Loue then inrooted in their heartes so that their two willes were locked and put in one will Hercules forgot Deianira and Yo le forgat the death of her father and was so much enamoured on Hercules that she might rest in no place but that she must be alway with him O maruellous thing the rancour and the hate that Yo le had yesterday vnto Hercules is nowe sodainly turned into loue infallible For to speede the matter during yet the first dayes of the loue of Hercules and Yo le at the praier of Yo le Hercules gaue her sisters in marriage to certaine knightes of the Greekes and left them there to gouerne the countrey and the realme of Calidonie After he departed from thence and brought his oxen and his kine with him and sent againe the king Euander into his dominion thanking him of his company and of the honour that he had done to him Euander woulde gladly haue accompanied Hercules into Greece But Hercules would in no wise that he should haue the trauaile At last then Euander with great thankings of Hercules and of his armie departed and Hercules with his armie went vnto the sea and hee forgat not behinde him the fairest Yo le but hee loued her soueraignly All day he was with her and shee pleased him as much as shee might doubting more to loose his loue thē she was sory for the death of her father Then as they thus went by the sea maintaining to their power the amorous life Hercules encountered on a day nigh by an hauen and a good citie a gally of marchants Hercules made the galley to tarry and after called the maister and asked of him what countrey he was and from whence he came Certes sir answered the maister of the galley I departed late from the porte of Thrace that is hereby I see well that ye be a stranger and that yee know not the perill that ye be in wherefore I haue pitie of you and of your company and doe aduertise you and wish you that at the next hauen ye shal finde in no wise yee tary there for nothing that may befall you for al so truely as yée bée héere if ye go thither yee shall take harme for there is a king a tyrant the most cruell that is in all the world named Diomedes that holdeth vnder him tenne thousand théeues and hee maketh warre against all them that hée may find and hath a custome that he putteth men to ransome such as it pleaseth him and if they that hee putteth to such misery pay their raunsome hee letteth them go quiet and with that money and substance he nourisheth his théeues and his horses And if they cannot furnishe their raunsome He himself smiteth them to morsels and giueth them to his horses for to eate and deuoure But there is one thing good for you for this morning he is gone to the chase for to hunt in a forrest which is a foure mile from Thrace and with him there be an hundred of the strongest theeues that he hath And this knowe I of a trueth for I haue seene them depart not passing three houres ago c. CHAP. XXIX ¶ How Hercules fought against Diomedes in the forest of Thrace and how he made his horse to eate him HErcules hearing these wordes that the maister of the galley said to him and rehearsing the life of Diomedes was passing ioyous in his heart more then hee had béen since the death of the théef Cacus He had in him that valor that where he might know a monster or tyrant to be or any men molesting the weale thither hee went and such tyrants hee destroyed and to the ende that men should not say that he did such workes for couetise hee would neuer hold nor retain to his proper vse nothing of their goodes but all that hee conquered in such wise hee geue it vnto noble men and praised nor sought nothing but vertue He would not make his seignorie to grow nor be inlarged and take to himselfe realme vppon realme He was content with that that nature had giuen him And alway he woulde labour for the commonweale O noble heart O right well disposed courage O most vertuous painym there was none like to him of all them that were afore him nor after him For to holde on and go forward with my matter when the maister had aduertised him as afore is said that the tyrant Diomedes was gone on hunting into the forrest with his hundred théeues he enquired so much that the maister shewed him the situation of the forest by what way and maner hée might soonest come thither After this he gaue leaue to the maister to go his way That done he called his mariners and made them to séeke the place After hee assembled the Gréekes and told them that he would that they should abide him there and that he himselfe without delay would go into the forrest that the maister had shewed him to séeke Diomedes saying that he would neuer returne into Greece vntill the time that hee had deliuered the countrey of this tyrant Yo le began then to wéepe when she heard the enterprise of Hercules praied him tenderly wéeping that hee would leaue and depart from the hazard of so great perill Hercules tooke no regard nor héed to her praiers He deliuered to Phylotes his bowe his club and entered into a little galley finely made and light Which he guided by the helpe of Phylotes right nigh the place where hee would be and tooke land two bow shotte off from the forrest and so in setting foot on land he heard the cry and noise of the hunting and hadde thereof great ioy and said that he was well and where he would be He tooke then his club and left his bowe with Phylotes After he entered into the forrest and had not far ranged in the forrest when hee found Dyomedes and his hundred theeues Diomedes was the first that from far espied Hercules and knew that he was a stranger called to him and said Giant what is it that thou