dede durynge all his lyfe As fer as oughte of reason be desyred But the lettres that falsly was conspyred They haue hir put parcas of Innocence For to gyue to hasty credence Thankynge firste Oetes for his trouthe That so goodly hym lyst to haue routhe Vpon hir wronge of hye compassyon And yet the storye maketh mencyon Here afterwarde as I shall descryue That she was the falsest one alyue Vnto hir lorde and in his longe absence And in all haste she made stronge dâ—ffence Agayne this thynge and gan hir to purueye By suche fraude that she nat ne deye But of hir werke in sothe she was to wyte The whiche alas I muste anone endyte As the storye platly doth me lere Whiche dolefull is and mortall for to here OVnsure truste of all worldly glorye with sodayne chauÌ„ge put out of memorye O ioye vnstable of vayne ambycyon With vnware tourne reuersed vp so downe O ydell fame blowe vp to the skye Ouer whelmyd with twynclynge of an eye O pompe o boste of tryumphe and victorye Lyke a shadowe waste and transytorye O Fortune false and vnassured That to no man was neuer fully lured To hye nor lowe of no maner estate With bonde of fayth to be conferate Agayne whose myght no man may hyÌ„diffende But at his tourne that he shall discende Whan he syt hyest on thyne vnstable whele Thy brotyll fauour forged nat of stele Meynt and allayed with mutabylyte For welfulnesse and false felycyte With sodayne sweygh frowarde thou canst auale Now fresshe of chere now for anger pale Of hye disdayne thou sparest no degree For Prynces Dukes hyest in theyr see Myghty kynges and worthy Emperours That rychest reygne in theyr royall floures With Sceptre and crowne thou canst pull downe I take wytnesse of Agamenowne That was so noble and myghty in his lyue As sondry Auctours his hye renown descryue But sothfastly for all his excellence He myght nat make no diffence With all the kynges that his baner sewe Conspyred murdre to voyde and eschewe Rescuse was none that he coude make For whiche alas my penne I fele quake That doth myn ynke blotte on my boke O myghty god yâ— with thyne inwarde loke Seest euery thynge thurgh thy eternal myght Why wylt thou nat of equyte and ryght Punysshe chastyse so horryble a thynge And specyally the murdre of a kynge Alas the payne of Ixyon in helle Or of Manes that with Sathan dwelle Were nat egall nor equypolent To venge murdre nor suffycyent For it excedeth in comparyson All felonye falshede and treason Wherfore o lorde that seest and knowest all Thorugh thy power that is eternall Suffre no suche to lyue vpon the grounde Worse than Tygre or Cerberus the hounde That chayned lyeth bounde at helle gate Whiche of malyce playnely though he hate He berketh firste or he do offence But murdre gladly is wrought in sylence Or men aduerte or take any kepe Alas a Prynce to sle hym in his slepe On his pyllowe whan he slepeth softe That cryeth wreche to hye god a lofte And axeth vengaunce to take as faste Though it abyde it wyll out at the laste Alas a kynge spoken of so ferre That was so worthy outwarde in the werre His cruell fate passynge odyous Disposed hath in his owne hous His mortall ende to be execute Agaynst whiche there was no refute For right as he his shyppe to londe sette The quene Clemestra on the stronde hyÌ„ mette With humble chere and loke full benygne And shewed out full many faythfull sygne Of wyfely trouthe in hir countenauce Albe in herte there was varyaunce Nat parceyued playnely in hir face Whom the kynge goodly dyde enbrace As he in soth that but trouthe mente And to his paleyse the hye way he went Nat aduertynge the treason that was shape The whiche alas he myght nat escape Of the falshede he coude no thynge fele But I ne may no lenger it concele Agayne hir lorde how Clemestra wrought For on hir bonde of wedlocke she ne thought The trewe loke sothly of spousayle Agayne hir malyce lytell myght auayle Vnto hir lorde hir trouthe to conserue Newfangelnesse caused to streue Hir olde fayth and hir assuraunce Hir loue abode on a fykyll chaunce Longe absence hadde hir herte appalled She loued one that was Egistus called Whiche afore all in hir grace stode That nouther was of byrthe nor of blode Lytell or nought of reputacyowne Nor renowned of manhode nor renowne Nor of knyghthode nor of hye prowesse But for his labour and his besynesse And good awayte vpon hir by nyght Therfore he was best furthrede in hir syght Suche drede hadde she for to lyue alone Sorowles so well she coude grone I can nat say what lyfe that they ladde Except that she by hym a doughter hadde And Exyona Guydo sayth she hyght And vnto hym Clemestra behyght Assurynge hym vpon payne of hir hede He shulde reygne whan hir lorde were dede And to enhaste this conclusyon Hir worthy lorde kynge Agamenon The nexte nyght was murdred yssayne By false Egistus and the quene full fayne No lenger bode the storye can you lere But in all haste they wedded were yfere And by hir false and sleyghty compassynge Of Messene she made hym crowned kynge And put hym full in possessyon Alas that synne hath domynacyon To furthre wronge and abate ryght For in this worlde falshede hath more myght Full ofte sythe than hath rightwysenesse And in the estate sette of worthynesse Loo how the synne of auoutrye Brought in murdre by conspyracye Synne vpon synne lynked both twayne And enbraced in the fendes chayne Perpetuelly in helle to endure Alas who shall hymselfe full assure Fro cruell murdre his body to withdrawe Whan that kynges in theyr bed are slawe Whiche bryngeth in Alyenacyon By extort tytle false successyon There may coloure of pretense seme But full straytely god shall after deme And iustly venge with dewe recompence Intrusyon brought in by vyolence And felly quyte suche horryble thynges And sodayne slaughter specyally of kynges Greatly to drede in euery regyon And as I fynde that Agamenon By Clemestra the false double quene Hadde a sone passynge fayre to sene Right gracyous in euery mannes syght And Horestes the boke sayth that he hyght Wonder semely and but yonge of age And for great fere of this mortall rage Lyste he were slayne as it was to drede To anulle his tytle that he nat succede Hym to preserue that he were nat shent Kynge taltybus with power hath hym sent Full secretely out of that countre Vnto a kynge called Ydume That helde his sceptre and his royall sete Full myghtely in the lande of Crete And Carkasys named was the quene That hadde a doughter called eke Clymene Borne to be heyre of that regyon And as it is made eke mencyon This Horestes to reken all thynge Was with the quene and also with the kynge Cherysshed as well the storye can you lere As Clymen a theyr owne doughter
shyttynge was Of stronge Iren barres square and rounde And great barres pytched in the grounde With huge cheynes forged for diffence Whiche ne wolde breke for no vyolence That harde it was thorugh them for to wynne And euery hous that was bylded within Euery paleys and euery manstowne Of marbell were thorughout all the towne Of crafty byldynge workynge moste royall And the hyghte was of euery walle Sixty cubytes from the grounde accounted And there was none that other hath surmounted In the Cyte but of one heyghte alyche In very sothe bothe of pore and ryche That it was harde of hye estate or lowe Hous or paleys a sonder for to knowe So egally of tymbre and of stone Theyr houses were reysed euerychone And if I shulde reherse by and by The korue knottes by craste of masonry The fresshe enbowȳge with verges right as lynes And the housynge full of bakewynes The ryche koynynge the lusty tablementes Vynettes rennynge in casementes Though the termes in Englysshe wolde ryme To reken them all I haue as now no tyme Ne no langage pycked for the nones The sotyll ioynynge to tell of the stones Nor how they put in stede of mortere In the ioyntoures coper gylte full clere To make them ioyne by leuell and by lyne Amonge the marbyll fresshely for to shyne Agaynst the sonne whan his shene lyght Smote on the golde that was burned bryght To make the werke glystre on euery syde And of this towne the stretes large wyde Were by crafte so prudently prouyded And by werkmen sette so and deuyded That holsome eyre amyddes myght enspyre Erely on morowe to them that it desyre And zephyrus that is so comfortable For to norysshe thynges vegetable In tyme of yere thorughe out euery strete With sugred flauour so lusty and so swete Moste plesauntly in the eyre gan smyte The Cytezeynes oonly to delyte And with his brethe them to recomforte Whan they lyste walke themselfe to disporte And thrugh the towne with crafty purueaunce By great auyse and discrete ordenaunce By compase caste and squared out by squyers Of polysshed marble vpon stronge pyllers Deuysed were longe large and wyde In the frontell of euery stretes syde Fresshe alures with lusty hye pynacles And moustrynge outwarde ryche tabernacles Vouted aboue lyke reclynatoryes That called were deambulatoryes Men to walke togyders twayne and twayne To kepe them drye whan it dyde rayne Or them to saue fro tempest wynde or thundre If that them lyst shroude themself ther vndre And euery hous couered was with leede And many gargoyle and many hydous heede With spoutes thorugh pypes as they aughte From the stone werke to the canell taughte Voydynge fylthes lowe into the grounde Thorugh grates perced of yron perced tounde The stretes paued bothe in lengthe brede In cheker wyse with stones whyte and rede And euery crafte that any maner man In any lande deuyse or reken can Kynge Pryamus of hye discreciowne Ordeyned hath to dwelle in the towne And in stretes seuered here and yonder Eueryche from other to be set a sonder That they myght for more cōmodyte Eche by hymselfe werke at lyberte Goldsmythes firste and ryche Iewelleres And by themfelfe crafty browdereres Weuers also of wollen and of lyn Of clothe of golde damaske and satyn Of veluet sendell and dowble samyt eke And eueryche clothe that men lyste to seke Smythes also that coude forge wele Pollaxes swerdes speres sharpe of stele Dartes daggers for to mayme wounde And quarethedes sharpe square ygrounde There were also crafty armerers Bowyers and faste by fletchers And suche as coude make shaftes playne And other eke that dyde theyr besy payne For the werre to make also trappures Bete baners and royall cote armures And by deuyse Standardes and penounse And for the felde fresshe and gay getounse And euery crafte that may rekened be To tell shortly was in this cyte And thorughe this towne soryche excellent In the myddes a large ryuer went Causynge to them full great cōmodyte The whiche on twayne hath parted the cyte Ofcours full swyfte with fresshe stremes clere And hyghte xamtus as Guydo doth vs lere And as I rede that vpon this flode On eche a syde many a mylle stode Whā nede was theyr grayne corne to grynde Them to susteyne in storye as I fynde This ryuer eke of fysshe full plenteous Deuyded was by werkmen curyous So craftely thorugh castynge souerayne That in his cours the stremes myght attayne For to areche as Guydo doth comecte By Archys stronge his cours for to reflecte Thorugh condyte pypes large wyde withall By certayne meanes artyficiall That it made a full purgacion Of all ordure and fylthes in the towne Wasshynge the stretes as they stode arowe And the gutters in the erthe lowe That in the cyte was no fylthe sene For the canell scoured was so clene And deuoyded in so secrete wyse That no man myght espye nor deuyse By what engyne the sylthes fer nor nere Were borne awaye by cours of the ryuere So couertly euery thynge was couered Wherby the towne was vtterly assured From engendrynge of all corrupcion From wycked eyre and from infexion That cause ofte by theyr vyolence Mortalyte and great pestylence And by example of this flode there was Made cybre at Rome and wrought by Eneas The whiche also departeth Rome a two Myn Auctour sayth I note if it be so And to enhabyte this royall chefe cyte Kynge Pryam hath aboute in the countre Made for to serche with all his hole entent And in prouynces that were adiacent In borowes townes and in smale vyllages Ygadred out of all maner ages And of thropes folkes full dyuers And suche as were vacaunt and dyspers Aboute Troye in any regiowne He made hath to entre into towne Great multitude what of yonge and olde It to enhabyte as ye haue herde me tolde And them that were afore to hym foreynes He hath in Troye made Cyteseynes Full discretly lyke as it is founde And whan they gan with people to abounde ¶ Kynge Pryamus of hye affecciowne After the buyldynge of this myghty towne Hath in his herte caught a fantasye His newe cyte for to magnefye And it to put the more in remembraunce He caste fully to do some obseruaunce To myghty Mars sterne and ferse of hewe And specially with certayne playes newe On hors and foote in many sondry wyse To gyue his men in knyghthode excersyse Eueryche to put other at assay In iustes boordes and also in tournay To preue theyr force whan they happe mete The whiche playes were foūded firste in Crete And in that lande of hye and lowe estate In martys honoure they were dedycate And in paleste on wakes on the nyght Were other playes men to assaye their myght Oonly on foote with many sotyll poynt And some of them were naked and enioynt To wynne a pryse they dyde their full entent And there was founde by clerkes full prudent Of the chesse
as hare amonge the houndes For to be caughte of very wylfulnesse And thy desyre coudest nat compesse For though thy luste lyst nat to refrayne O many woman hath caught in a trayne Theyr goynge out suche halowes for to seke It syt them better them selfe for to kepe Close in theyr chamber and fle occasiowne For neuer shyp shulde in peryll drowne Nor scatre on rocke nor be with tempestrent Nor with carybbes deuoured or I shent Nor go to wrake with no weders ylle If it were kept in the hauen stylle For who wyll nat occasions eschewe Nor drede no peryll for to sewe He muste amonge of necessyte Or he be ware endure aduersyte And who can nat hir fote fro trappes spare Let hir be ware or she falle in the snare For harme I done to late is to compleyne For if whylom the worthy quene Eleyne Hir selfe had kept at home in close Of hir there ne had be so wycke a lose Reported yeâ— grene fre she and newe Whose chauÌ„ce vnhappy ethe man ought rewe That cause was of suche destruccion Oâ— many worthy and confusion Of hir worthy husbonde and many other mo On grekes syde and on Troye also In this storye as ye shall after rede And so this quene as faste as she may spede To the temple hath the way nome Full ryally and whan that she was come Full deuoutly within Citheron Made vnto venus hir oblacion In presence and syght of many one With many iewell and many ryche stone And whan Parys had this espyed To the temple anone he hath hym hyed Full thryf tely in all the haste he myght And whan that he had firste a syght Of the goodly fayre fresshe quene Cupides darte that is whet so kene Or he was ware hath hym marked so That for astoned he ne wyste what to do So he meruayleth hir great semelynesse Hir womanhede hir porte and hir fayrenesse For neuer afore ne wende he that nature Coude haue made so fayre a creature So aungellyke she was of hir beaute So femynyne so goodly on to se That he dempte as by lyklynesse For hir beaute to be some goddesse For his herte dyde hym aye assure That she was no mortall creature So heuenly fayre and so celestyall He thought she was in party and in all And consydereth for auysely Hir futures in ordre by and by Ententyfly within his reason Euery thynge by good inspeccion Hir golden heer lyke the sonne stremes Of fresshe Phebus with his bryght bemes The goodlyhede of hir fresshely face So replenysshed of beaute and grace Euen ennewed with quyckenesse of colour Of the rose and the lylye flour So egally that nouther was to wyte Thorugh none excesse of moche nor of lyte Within the cerclynge of hir eyen bryght Was paradys compassed in hir syght That thorugh abreste the beaute wolde perce And certaynly if I shall reherce Hir shap hir fourme and futures by and by As Guydo dothe by ordre ceryously From hede to foâ—e clerely to deuyse I haue none englysshe that therto may suffyse It wyll nat be our tunge is nat lyke I wante floures also of rethoryke To sewe his flourysshyng or his gay peynture For to descryue so fayre a creature For my coloures be to feble and faynte That nouther can ennewe well nor paynte Eke I am nat acqueynted with noâ—use Of all myn therfore I me excuse To you echone nat all of neclygence But for defaute oonly of eloquence And you remytte to Guydo for to se How he descryueth by ordre hir beaute To take on me it were presumpciowne ¶ But I wyll tell how Parys vp and downe Gothe in the temple and his eye caste Towarde Eleyne and gan prese faste As he that brente hoote in loues fyre That was enflawmed greatly by desyre And ofte he chaungeth countenaunce chere And euer he neygheth to hir nere and nere Ydarted thorugh with hir eyen tweyne And agayne warde the fresshe quene Eleyne As hoote brente in herte pryuely Albe no man it outwarde coude espy For she thought she had neuer afore Of all men that euer yet were bore Se none so fayre nor lyke hir pleasaunce On hym to loke was hir suffysaunce For in the temple she toke hede of right nought But to compasse and caste in hir thought How she may catche opportunyte With hym to speke at good lyberte This hooly was all hir besynesse For hym she felte so inly great distresse That ofte she chaungeth couÌ„tenaunce hewe And venus hath marked them of newe With hir brondes fyred by feruence And enflawmed by sodayne influence That egally they were brought in a rage And saue the eye atweâ—e was no message Eche on other so fyxe hath caste theyr syght That they conceyue and wyste â—one ryght Within themself what theyr herte mente And neâ—e to hir euer Parys wente To seke fully and gete occasion That they myght by full relacion Theyr hertes conceyt declare secretly And so vefell that Parys nygheth nye To the place where the quene Eleyne Stode in hir see and ther at wene them tweyne They broke out the suÌ„me of all theyr herte And gaue yssue to theyr inwarde smerte But this was done lyst they were espyed Whan the people was moste occupyed In the templeâ— for to stare and gase Now here now there as it were on a mase They kepte them close that no worde asterte There was no man the treson myght aduerte Of them twayne ne what they wolde mene But at the laste Parys and this quene Concluded haue with short auysement Fully the fyne of theyr bothe entent And sette a purpose betwyxe them in certayne Whan they caste for to mete agayne But lyste men hadde to them suspeccion They made an ende without more sermon And departe albe that they were lothe And soberly anone this Parys gothe Out of the temple his herte in euery parte Wounded thorugh out with loues firy darte To his shyppes he helde the right way And than anone in all the haste he may Whan assembled was his chyualrye One and other of his companye In fewe wordes as shortly as I can Tofore them all his tale thus he gan Syâ—res quod he shortly to expresse The cause is kouthe to yor worthynesse Why my fader into Grece vs sente For as ye knowe the chefe of his entent Was to recure his suster Exyon Out of the handes of kynge Thelamon The whiche thynge for ought I can espye Is impossyble shortly in myn eye By any waye as fer as I can se He is so great and stronge in this countre Of his allyes aboute on euery syde And in herte â— so inly full of pryde To yelde hir vp he hath nat but disdayne Therof to treate it were nat but in vayne Therfore the beste that I can deuyse Syth our power may nat now suffyse To werrey hym in this regyowne We be nat egall of myght nor of renowne For lacke of men with hym to holde a felde We may
That was in armes felle and despytous With hym brought from his lande so ferre Sixe and thyrty shyppes for the werre Amphymacus and kynge Polybete Thyrty shyppes brought to the flete From Calcedoyne and Meryon the kynge With ydinneus hadde in theyr ledynge Foure score shyppes with them out of Crete And vlixes with grekes dyde mete With fyfty shyppes stuffed out of Trace Towardes Troye proudely for to pace ¶ Duke Melleus full of manly men Brought eke with hym grete shyppes ten And moreouer the duke Perhotacus And the duke named Prothesylaus To the hauen that called was Athene Brought fyfty shyppê enarmed bryght shene From Phylyarcha the stronge myghty Yle And Methaon as Guydo dothe compyle With his brother Polydris also From theyr countre Trycionyco Brought two and twenty shyppes as I fynde And from Phyces as it is made mynde With Achilles came fyfty full by nombre And from rodon Troyans to encombre Came twenty shyppes with kynge Thelapolus And with the duke that hyght Antipus Out of the lande that Hesyda men call Of whiche the folke be nyghe cherles all With sayle crossed agayne the bryghte heuen In nombre came shyppes eke elleuen And with them was of name full famous The worthy duke called Amphymacus And Polybethes the stronge myghty kynge Fyfty shyppes brought at his coÌ„mynge Out of Richa the noble regyowne And with this kynge full worthy of renowne Was Losius the duke eke as I rede And as I fynde the noble Dyomede Of shyppes great I speke of no small barge Hath with hym brought fro Calydonye Arge Foure score in nombre sothly this no tale And Thelemus and myghty Euryale Two manly men and in armes lage With Dyomede came in this vyage And Polyphebus brought shyppes seuen And Phyneus the hardy kynge enleuen And Prothoylus as I can specyfye Brought fyfty shyppes vnto this nauye Fro Demenesa the myghty regyon And Carpenor as made is mencyon Brought fyfty eke from Capadye his countre A great prouynce of whiche kynge was he Trearyus of Beysa lorde and kynge Brought two and twenty also in his coÌ„mynge And fynally if I shall nat lye Full many shyppe was in this nauye Mo than Guydo maketh rehersayle Towarde Troye with grekes for to sayle For as Omer in his descripcion Of grekes shyppes maketh mencion Shortly affermynge yâ— man was neuer borne That suche a nombre of shyppes sawe toforne Counted the shyppes that Palamydes Brought with hym theyr nombre to encrese That whan these lordes aforesayd euerychone Kynges dukes and erles all in one Assembled were without any wene Afore the hauen that called is Athene THe famous kynge great Agamenown So wyse so worthy of so hye renown As he that was Prynce and gouernoure Of grekes hoost anone dyde his laboure His besy cure and waker dylygence By hye aduyse and inwarde prouydence To delyuer wysely in this nede What were to do or that he procede In this matere castynge vp and downe And reuoluynge of hye discreciowne That he may so begyn that the ende Conclude well that wylfulnesse ne shende Hooly theyr purpose thorugh no rakelnesse Ne thorugh none haste without auysenesse So that they may afore so wysely se That fynally in felycyte They may accoÌ„plisshe their purpose iÌ„ certayne And so this kynge vpon a large playne Out of the Cyte but lytell fro the stronde With his lordes wyll for no thynge wonde To haue a counsayle this wyse Agamenon Makynge anone a conuocacyon Of suche as were moste great inspecyall He syttynge firste in his see royall And his lordes eueryche in his see Lyke as they were of hye or lowe degree And all Tumulte stynted and scylence Was thorugh yâ— prees to gyue hym audyence Than he anone in full sobre wyse Began his tale as I shall deuyse SYres quod he I praye you take hede That be so noble and so renowmede Both of wysdome and of worthynesse Of manhode eke and of hye prowesse That of knyghthode the reporte the fame Thorugh out yâ— world rebouÌ„deth to yoâ— name For douteles the floure of Chyualrye Men may now fynde in this companye For whosawe euer of manly men yfere Togyder met as there be now here So yonge so fresshe so couragyous also So well besene for to haue a do Orso lykely sythe the worlde began Without raskayle so many knyghtly man Of kynges dukes and many another lorde As be now here of wyll and one accorde And of one herte assembled in this place That if fortune and goddes of theyr grace Be nat behynde our Iourney to repreue We may nat fayle our purpose to acheue ¶ For I deme hym playnely in arage Or werâ—e than wood that durste this vyage In any wyse perturbe or presume To take agayne vs outher to assume By myght on hym of malys to excyte Our worthynesse were it neuer so lyte Vs to prouoke to Ire or do offence That we ne shulde by mortall recompence Aquyte his mede as it lyeth in our myght That haue amoÌ„ge vs so many worthy knyght Amonges whiche an hondred and yet mo I coude chese able for to go By manly force and knyghtly suffysaunce To take on hym for to do vengaunce Vpon Troyans by hymselfe alone For whiche that we be gadred now echone That with his men were suffycyent To execute the suÌ„me of his entent And it accomplysshe in felycyte The cause I mene for whiche that all we Assembled be bothe hye and lowe And with all this to you is nat vnknowe How shamefully Troyans haue vs greued Prouoked vs and wylfully ymeued To ryse agayne them to haue recure of ryght Of wronges done with all our force myght Wherfore let vs by one assente and wyll Sette to haue as it is right and skyll Redresse to fynde of that we now complayne And of one herte do our besy payne Vpon Troyans a werre for to make And I suppose we shall them so awake That they shall lerne or we thense wende To remembre to the worldes ende How they hereafter shall dare take an hande For to presume in grece more to lande Or to be bolde whyle they haue lyfe or space Agayne Grekes more to trespace For whose offence as who sayth do but late Within our herte with so brennynge hate The feruent hete and the gredy Yre Fro day to day so setteth vs a fyre That it reneweth the constreynt of our payne So inwardely if I shall nat fayne We must of reason of so hye greuaunce Our selfe enforce for to do vengaunce As right requereth and our iuste sorowe Compelleth vs bothe eue and morowe On Troyans our harmes to bewreke And for to stoppe tunges that so speke To our reprefe and to our vylenye We must attones shape remedye That our foon hensforthe may drede For to do worse to vs as god forbede In tyme coÌ„mynge if thorugh our pacyence We lykely suffre theyr importable offence To passe forthe and take of it nohede Syth neuer yet of Grekes coude I rede That any man
of face Lyke virgyns that were of nature Without spot vndefouled pure And of custome in wawes as they flete The songe of them is to heuenly swete So Aungelyke and full of Armonye That veryly the sugred melodye Rauysshe wolde any man a lyue Of inly ioye almoste his herte ryue Make a man of sodayne hye plesaunce Foryet hym selfe and lese his remembraunce Deuoyde hym clene from his owne thought Tyll vnwarely he be to myschefe brought And with theyr songe or he take kepe He shall be brought in a mortall slepe And they anone it may nat be withdrawe Wyll drenche his shyp lowe vnder the wawe Thus the swetnesse of theyr heuenly sowne Bryngeth a man to con fusyowne Who so euer by theyr boundes passe ¶ But with the lyfe I scaped by grace For myn ere 's with waxe gummes clere Were stopped so that I ne myght here Touche nor werble of theyr instrumentis Wherby the reason of a man blynded is And fynally thorugh my sotylte I and my men be escaped fre Saylynge forth all mate of werynesse Tyll we came vp with full great distresse At Phenyce and toke anone the londe Caste anker and our shyppes bonde But sothly there it fyll vs full vnfayre For the people cruell and contrayre Oonly of malyce fyll on me anone And slewe my men almoste euerychone Tresoure and good lytell that I hadde Was me berafte all with them they ladde And fewe of them that were left a lyue They toke them and put in pryson blyue Thus hath Fortune lad me an hir daunce With lytell ioye and plente of myschaunce Of whose daunger lernyd and experte I am fall in mychefe and pouerte And with great dole sorowe full my breest On see and londe by Southe and nat by Eest I am come vnto your presence And haue declaryd playnely in sentence Myn auentures to your worthynesse Of truste oonly and of faythfulnesse That I haue to you in specyall And now I haue rehersyd and tolde all To your hyghnesse and my beste wyse Without more to me it dothe suffyse And though in hert he was constrayned sore Thylke tyme Vlixes spake no more But helde his peas full heuy in lokynge And Ydumeus lyke a gentyll kynge Comforted hym all that euer he myght And besy was his herte for to lyght And hym besought his heuynesse lete And as longe as hym lyste in Crete With hym abyde he made hym suerte He shulde fare also well as he And nat wante of what may do hym ease And whan his sorowe some what gan apease That his cage drewe vnto an ende Leue he toke and sayde he wolde wende Out of tha◠londe home to his countre But firste the kynge of fredome and bounte Gaue vnto hym great rychesse and array And what so euer was to his pay Golde treasour and many other thynges And at partynge of thyse two kynges There were shyppes whan hym lyste to sayle Redy stuffyd with meyne and vytayle And thus vlixes gan hym redy make And whan he hath his leue fully take He hasted hym and toke anone the see And gan sayle towarde his countree But firste he wente to kynge Alphenon Whiche passyngly hadde affeccyon To se vlixes at his home comynge And desyrous ouer all thynge To haue of hym newely aqueyntaunce For vnto hym was inly great plesaunce To here hym talke for his eloquence For his wysdome and his hye prudence And there he was after all his smerte Receyued playnely with as glad an herte As euer yet was any maner man Sythen tyme that the worlde began And to encrease of his Felycytee There herde he firste of Penolopee His trewe wyfe without spot of blame Of whom yet grene is the noble fame Whiche from hir lorde for all his longe absence In thought nor dede neuer dyde offence But sothly was bothe in chere and dede Thorugh out Grece exaumple of womanhede And yet was she as bokes lyste expresse Thorugh out the world Myrour of fayrenesse And amonge Grekes borne of hyest blode Called of Auctours bothe fayre and gode And yet say bookes of hir doutlees Was neuer none that hadde so great prees But she hir kept chaungynge for no newe Vnto hir lorde euer ylyke trewe Of herte aye one nat parted into twayne That she is called quene and souerayne Of wyfely trouthe in this bokes olde And ofte I fynde hir herte wolde colde She tourne pale fro hir lorde so ferre In hir closet to here of the werre Of drede she hadde and fro fere eke quake Of fantasyes for hir lordes sake For his absence bothe eue and morowe Was deth vnto hir and importable sorowe And aye in sothe for ioye or any game Whan it fyll she herde Ectors name In any place anone she fylle a swowne And gan hir selfe in teres drowne Of womanhede so she was a ferde To here the slaughter of his mortall swerde Lyste hir lorde of knyghtly surquedye Hadde of Fortune falle in ieopardye Of hap or sorte to a mette y◠worthy knyght That selde or neuer she felte hir herte lyght And many dreme a nyghtes dyde hir gaste All the whyle that the sege laste And euery play was venym in hir syght Whan that she was from hir owne knyght For in this worlde ioye hadde she none Of hye nor lowe playnely but of one For whose sake all myrthe she refuseth And who so be that in his herte museth Of any woman any thynge but gode Of melancolye meuyd in his blode Let hym aduerte of wysdome and ysee And remembre on Penolopee For his decert lyste that he be blamyd And o Guydo thou shuldest be ashamyd To say of wyues any thynge but we le For in good fayth as ferre as I can fele Though one or two do amonge offence She that is good thorugh hir prouydence Is therof no thynge for to wyte And thoughe Guydo in his boke endyte The varyaunce of Eleyne or Creseyde Or Medea that for sorowe deyde Let the agayne of right and equytee The wyfely trouthe of Penolopee The maydenhode of yonge Polycene And the goodnesse of Eccuba the quene Of Cassandra eke the stedefastnesse And with all this take the kyndenesse Of Pantasylle without varyaunce And put all this togydre in balaunce And ye shall fynde if ye lyste accounte Maugre who grutcheth trouth shal surmoūte I dare afferme and bere away the pryse There wyll no man replye that is wyse He were to feble in his oppynyon And whyle vlixes was with Alphenon It was to hym made relacyon Of an hatefull conspiracyon That certayne lordes enuyron his countree Bauysshe wold◠his quene Penolopee Maugre all tho that were there agayne Albe that she was euer ylyke playne In hir trouthe stedfaste as a wall Yet they haue caste platly that she shall Be take of Force it may nat be eschewed But if so be in haste she be reskewed For they them caste the tyme nat aiourne For day and nyght with hir they soiourne Inly in herte for loue disamayde
he was brought there he wolde be To Achaya a londe of great renowne And he gan serche thorugh the regyon After the place and paleys pryncypall Where as the kynge helde his see royall And he so longe in the countre rode Tyll he was taught where the kynge abode There vlixes was shytte vp in mewe To whiche place in haste he gan pursewe A great party releuyd of his sorowe And on a monday erely by the morowe Vnto the brydge the ryght way he toke And founde a porter deynous of his loke And lowely firste he gan hym to praye That he wolde goodly hym conueye Into the courte and make no tariynge For a message he hadde to the kynge But proudely he denyed hym the gate And shortly sayde that he came to late To entre there in any maner wyse And vngoodly gan hym to despyse Frowarde of speche and malycyous But in all haste Thelagonyus As he that was in herte nat aferde The proude porter hente by the berde And with his fyste rofe his chawe bone That he fyll deed Muet as a stone And other eke that hym tho withstode He made proudely lepe into the flode And whan mo came to make resystence He hente a swerde by manly vyolence And furyously in his Irous tene The storye sayth he slewe of them fyftene Hym selfe almoste wounded to the deth And gan for wery sothly fayle breth And vlixes what for noyse and sowne To the brydge is descendyd downe Fyndynge his men at entre of the gate Deed and slayne by full mortall hate And he full Irous hente anone a darte Of auenture stondynge tho a parte And cruelly caste at Thelagon But the stroke as in conclucyon Damageth nat for it glode asyde And he for haste no lenger wolde abyde Hent vp the darte without more a rest And smote the kynge lowe vnder the brest Thorugh the rybbes shortly for to seye Of the wounde that he must deye Hauynge tho none oppynyon That he was kynge nor suspecyon Nor that he hadde his owne Fader slawe Whiche faste gan to his ende drawe His wounde was so deedly and so kene That he myght hym selfe nat sustene But pale and wan to the grounde gan glyde His men aboute vpon euery syde That besy were to helpe hym and releue But his sore gan so ake and greue That he well felte that he must be dede But abraydynge as he lyfte vp his hede Hauynge as yet mynde and good reason Remembre gan of his auysyon And how it was tolde hym out of drede That one that was next of his kynrede Descendyd downe from his owne lyne His sweuene shall parfourme to the fyne Accomplysshe it with a darte of stele And for he coude nat conceyue wele What that he was nor who it shulde be He badde anone vnto his meyne Without harme or any vyolence Fette anone vnto his presence The yonge man whiche at the gate stode That hath that day shad so moche blode And whan he was afore vlixes brought Of hym he hath enqueryd out and sought Firste of his kyn and nexte of his countree Certes quod he I was borne in the see Amonge fysshes myd the wawes grene And sayde also his Moder was a quene Called Circes of whom the name is kouthe Bothe Est and west and right fer by southe And tolde also his Fader was a kynge That hym begat at his home comynge Fro Troye towne towarde his countre And as my Moder Cyrces tolde me Secretely that he vlixes hyghte Of whom desyrous for to haue a syghte I entred am this myghty regyon And haue pursewed vnto this dongeon Oonly in hope my Fader to haue seyne But I se well my labour is in veyne And sythe in sothe lost is my trauayle And that it may in no syde auayle It were foly lenger here to dwelle Lo here is all that I can you telle Of my kynred axe me no more ¶ With that vlixes gan to syghe sore For lacke of blode as he that was full pale And sayde anone whan he herde his tale Now wot I well my wofull destyne Fulfylled is it may none other be Now wot I well that it is to late To grutche or stryue agayne my pyteous fate For my sone as clerkes whylom tolde Hath made an ende of my dayes olde Theron expectant with paynes full greuous And with that worde Thelagonyus Whan he wyste agayne natures lawe That he alas had his Fader slawe Whiche in that londe longe bare his crowne Without abode he fylle anone a swowne His clothes rent his yelowe heer to torne Alas quod he that euer was I borne For cursed is my wofull destyne And my Fortune whiche I may nat fle Cursed my sort cursed myn auenture And I refuse of euery creature Forwaryed eke my disposycyon And cursed is my constellacyon Cursed also and infortunat The houre in whiche my Fader me begat So wolde god without lenger rede To aquyte hym anone that I were dede To lay my lyfe for his deth to borowe And whan the kynge sawe his great sorowe And wyste he was his sone of Cyrces borne By many sygnes rehersed here toforne He vnto hym anone forgaue his deth As he myght for lacke and want of breth So importable was his passyon And his sone called Thelagon Whiche hath in pryson so many daye be shet To his presence in all haste was fet Whiche whan he sawe his fader in suche poynt Vpon his deth stondynge in disioynt And knewe also and the trouth hath founde By whom he hadde his laste deedly wounde A swerde he hente and mortally Irous And wolde haue ronne on Thelagonyus Of hye despyte auenged for to be But vlixes of Faderly pyte Made his men holde hym and restrayne And amyd of all his greuous payne By his prudence and that was done anone He made his sones for to be all one And gaue in charge vnto Thelamon Of enteernesse and affeccyon And of hole herte fayned neuer adele All his lyfe to loue his brother wele To parte with hym treasour golde and gode As to the nexte borne of all his blode And tho in sothe was no lenger taryed That vlixes royally was caryed Of Achaya to the chefe Cyte And after that lyued dayes thre Without more and tho gaue vp the gost I can nat say playnely to what cost After this lyfe that his soule is gone But in atoumbe of metall and of stone The body was closed and yshet And after that made was no let That Thelamon with great solempnytee Ȳcrowned was in his Fadres see Swerde and sceptre delyueryd to his honde Of Achaya a full worthy londe Ryght habundaunt of treasour and of gode And Thelagon with hym there abode A yere complet well cherysshed in his syght And of his brother toke the ordre of knyght And for hym lyste no lenger there abyde The kynge for hym wysely gan prouyde That he with golde great treasour and plente Repeyred is home to his countre And his moder of
age wexe sad Of his repeyre passyngly was glad As she that sawe by hir Sorcerye He scapyd was many Iupardye Many pereyll and many great distressâ— And after that she fylle into sykenesse And hir dette yelde vnto nature Whiche escape may no creature In all this wolde that is here lyuynge After whose deth hir sone was made kynge Of Anlydos the meruayllous countre As I haue tolde enclosed with a see Amonge rockes where many shyppes drowne And syxty yere there he bare his crowne This manly man Thelagonyus And his brother Thelamonyus Reygned also in his regyon Seuenty wynter as made is mencyon And after that they made a royall ende And bothe two to Iubyter they wende To reygne there amonge the sterres bryght BVt now the lanterne the clere lyght Is wasted out of Frygyus Darete Whylom of Troye wryter Poyete Guyde haue I none ferther for to passe For euen here in this selfe place He fychched hath the boundes of his style At the sege he present all the whyle And aye in one with them dyde abyde Dytes the Greke on the tother syde And bothe two as in theyr wrytynge Ne vary nat but in a lytell thynge Touchynge matere as in specyall That is notable or hystoryall I do no force of incydentis smale Of whiche in sothe it is but lytell tale Saue this Dytes maketh mencyowne Of the nombre slayne at the towne Lastynge the sege affermynge out of drede Eyght hondred thousaÌ„de syx were there dede On Grekes syde vp right in the felde And as Dares also there behelde On Troye partye in the werre kene Syxe hondred thousande seuenty and syxtene Were slayne there in Guydo ye may se With them that came to helpe the Cyte Fro many coste and many regyowne In diffence and reskus of the towne And full ten yere so as I can caste And syxe monthes the myghty sege laste Or it was gette Dares wryte hym selfe And ouer more complet dayes twelue Or Grekes hadde full possessyon By false engyne of the Greke Synon Lyke as tofore rehersyd was but late I haue no more of latyn to translate After Dytes Dares nor Guydo And me to adde any more therto Than myn Auctours specefye and seynâ— The occupacyon sothly were in veyne Lyke a maner of presumpcyon And tyme complet of this translacyon By iuste rekenynge and a countis clere Was a thousande and foure hondred yere And twenty nere I knowe it out of drede After that criste receyued our manhede Of hir that was Emperesse and quene Of heuen and helle and a mayde clene The eyghte yere by computacyon Suynge after the Coronacyon Of hym that is most gracyous in werkynge Herry the fyfthe the noble worthy kynge And protectoure of Brutys Albyowne And called is thorugh his hyerenowne Thorugh his prowesse and his Chyualrye Also fer as passeth cloude or skye Of Normadye the myghty conquerour For thorugh his knyghthod dilygent labour Maugre all tho that lyste hym to withseyne He hath conqueryd his herytage ageyne And by his myghty prudent gouernaunce Recuryd eke trewe tytle of Fraunce That who so lyste loke and vnfolde The pee de Grewe of Cronycles olde And sercheth bokes ywryt longe aforne He shall fynde that he is iustly borne To reygne in Fraunce by lyneall discent And onwarde now he is made regent Of thylke londe durynge his Faders lyfe Of his goodnesse to voyde werre and stryfe He to reioyse without more delay Sceptre and crowne after the kynges day As it is clerely in conclusyon Enrolled vp in the conuencyon And than I hope the tyme Fortunat Of the olde worlde called Aureat Resorte shall by influence of grace That cruell Mars shall no more manace With his lookes furyous and wode By false Aspectes for to shede blode Atwene the folkes of thyse Realmes twayne Whiche euery wyght ought to complayne But as I truste in myn oppynyon This worthy kynge of wysedome and reson And of knyghthode shall so do his payne To make one that longe hath be twayne I mene thus that Englonde and Fraunce May be all one without varyaunce Out of hertes olde rancour to enchace By influence of his myghty grace That called is of clerkes douteles The soueraygne lorde and the prynce of pees And I hope his grace shall now reygne To set reste atwene thyse Realmes twayne For in his power sothly stondeth all And allyaunce of the blode royall That is knet vp by bonde of maryage Of werre shall voyde away the rage To make peas with bryght bemes shyne And one that is called Katheryne And named is right good and fayre also Shalbe mene atwyxe bothe two Of grace emprynted in hir womanhede That to complayne we shall haue no nede And I hope hir gracyous aryuaylle Into this londe shall so moche auaylle That ioye honour and prosperyte Without trouble of all aduersyte Repeyre shall and all hertely plesaunce Plente welfare and fulsome habundaunce Peas and quyete bothe nyghe and ferre Without stryfe debate or any werre Myschefe pouert nede or indigence With full cessynge of deth and pestylence Sothly all this I hope ye shall sene Come into londe with this noble quene That we shall say of herte and feyne nought Blessyd be she that all this hath vs brought And he yâ— hath thorugh myght of his werkyÌ„g Of his knyghthode concludyd all this thyng And suche meruayles iÌ„ armes done wrought And his purpose fully aboute brought Of hye wysedome set in his inwarde syght Reioysynge all that longeth to his ryght And hyest syt of worthynesse in glorye With the Sceptre of conquest and victorye I praye god oonly for his beste ¶ Whan he hath all set in peas and reste And is full put in clere possessyon Of all that longeth to his subieccyon To sende hym home with as great honour As euer yet hadde any conquerour Longe after in ioye and in quyete For to reygne in his royall sete Thus shall I aye there is no more to saye Daye and nyght for his expleyt I praye Of faythfull herte and of hole entent That whylom gaue me in coÌ„maundement Nat yore ago in his faders tyme The sege of Troye on my maner to ryme Most for his sake to speke in specyall All though that I be boystous and rurall He gaue me charge this storye to translate Rude of connynge called IohnÌ„ Lydgate â—onke of Burye by professyon Vsynge an habyte of perfeccyon Albe my lyfe accorde nat therto I feyne nat I wot well it is so It nedeth nat wytnesse for to calle Recorde I take of my brethren alle That wyll nat fayle at so great a nede And all that shall this noble storye rede I beseche of supporte and of grace Where I offende in any maner place Or where so euer that they fynde errour Of gentyllesse to shewe his fauour Benyngnely for to do theyr payne To correcte rather than disdayne For well wot I moche thynge is wronge Falsely metryd bothe of short and longe And if they shulde haue of all
nat semble with spere nor with shelde To encountre hym with all his multytude Wherfore the beste that I can conclude Is syth fortune hath vs hyder brought And the goddes haue eke for vs wrought So graciously to make vs for to londe At venus temple faste by the stronde Whiche haboundeth with full great rychesse Of grekes offrynge vnto the goddesse By londe and see fro many sondry porte Of men and women that haue here resorte To that place in worshyp of venus So that the wyfe of kynge Menelaus Is there present full ryche and well beseyne And if that we by manhode myght atteyne To rauysshe hir and the temple spoyle And of theyr treasoure chesen out and coyle The chefe iewelles and charge our somers With golde and syluer and take prysoners And maugre them to our shyppes brynge This same nyght without taryenge We may nat fayle who euer that say nay If ye assente of a ryche pray Wherfore in haste that ye now redy make And euery man anone his harnes take And arme hym well in his beste aray â— And they assente without more delay And in theyr shyppes they byde tyll at nyght Whan Phebus chare with drawen had his lyght Vnder wawes and sterres dyd appere On the heuen with theyr stremes clere Or the moone that tyme dyde ryse They shope them forthe in full thryfty wyse The manly Troyans in stele armed bryght To the temple holdynge theyr way ryght For they caste no lenger for to tarye But proudely entre in the sentuarye Into the chapell called Citheron Without reuerence or deuocion Done to venus in hir oratorye For it was clene out of theyr memorye Honour and drede and all obseruaunce For fynally all theyr attendaunce As myn Auctor sothely can diffyne Was to right nought but oonly to rauyne They toke all that came to their hande Rychesse and treasour that was in the lande Golde and syluer stones and Iewelles Relyques sacred the holy eke vesselles Without abode out of the sacrarye And all yfere to theyr shyppes carye It is a wonder to thynke on the gode They kylle and sâ—e all that them withstode It was a pyte for to se them blede And many grekes they to shyp lede That after lyued in captyuyte Full many yere in Troye the Cyte ¶ And there whyles goth Parys to Eleyne And hir embraceth in his armes tweyne Full humbly and with great reuerence In whom he fonde no maner resystence It sat hir nat she was so womanly For to Parys she yolde hir vtterly Hir herte in hap was yolde or she came there Therfore to yelde hir she hadde lesse fere She can nat stryue nor no woman sholde And he anone as gentyllesse wolde Comforteth hir as he beste can or may And ladde hir with hym without more delay To his shyppes and there full besyly He sette wardes to kepe hir honestly Whyle he retourneth to the temple agayne To spoyle and robbe and to make all playne Thorugh the temple with walles wyde ¶ Now stode a castell faste there besyde Ystuffed well with grekysshe souldeours The whiche awoke with noyse of the pylours The same nyght and gan make a shoute And therwithall anone they yssue oute Armed in stele the temple to reskewe And manfully after them they sewe And so befylle whan they togydre mette With speres sharpe and swerdes kene whette ¶ They ran togydre as Tygres vnmylde Lyke wodelyons or these bores wylde There was no faynynge founde in their fyght Albe the felde departed was aryght For the Troyans doubled them in noumbre That vtterly the grekes they encoumbre And of myschefe made them to flee And pursue after and cruelly them slee Without mercy to the castell gate There was no rescuse for they came late Of this skarmysshe for the fyne was deth Now here now there they yolde vp the breth So myghtely Troyans them assayle That to withstande it wolde nat auayle For of manhode they the felde haue wonne And after that cruelly begonne In all haste to spoyle the castell And to shyppe they brought euerydell Treasour golde what that they may wyn And on the morowe to sayle they begyn Stuffed with good by the grekysshe see Towarde the costes of Troye the Cytee The see was calme and fully at theyr wylle Bothe of tempest and of stormes ylle And clere also was the bryght heuen That in space almoste of dayes seuen At the castell called Tenedowne They aryue sixe myle fro the towne And glad and lyght they to lande wente And after that I fynde Parys sente His messager streyght vnto the kynge That hym enfourmeth of his home comynge Of theyr expleyt he tolde hym euerydele And Pryamus lyketh wonder wele That so manly they haue borne them oute And made puplysshe it in the towne aboute This tydynges with great solempnyte To hye and lowe thorugh out the cyte And that for ioye the most and the leste For remembraunce halowe and holde a feste And thanke theyr goddes in full humble wyse With obseruaunces and with sacryfyse On theyr auters with great deuocion And all this whyle he at Tenedon Holdeth soiour with the quene Eleyne The whiche gan reufully compleyne Hir vnkouthe lyfe to dwelle with straungers All desolate amonges prysoners Fer sequestred away from hir countre Solytarye in captyuyte She wepeth and cryeth with a pytous chere The burbly wawes of hir eyen clere Lyke welle stremes by hir chekes rayne And for constraynt of hir inwarde payne Full ofte a daye hir songe was welaway With sobbynge voyce that she so fer away Departed is from hir Menelaus For whose absence in rages furyous Hir lyfe she hateth and curseth eke fortune And in this wo she euer doth contune Without soiour alway more and more And for hir bretherne Pollux and Castore And for the loue of hir doughter dere Now pale and grene she wexyth of hir chere That whylom was fressher for to sene Than the lyllye on his stalke grenâ— Alas chaunged is hir rosen hewe And euer on hir wo encreaseth newe That lyke no woman she was to beholde For aye she wepte as she to water wolde Tyll at the laste in all hir heuynesse Parys to hir came of gentyllesse Hir to comforte and to appese hir rage He besyeth hym hir sorowes to aswage Sayeng to hir what may all this mene That ye alas o goodly fresshe quene Lyst thus your selfe in sorowynge diffygure I wonder greatly how ye may endure So moche water causeles to shede That with wepynge haue dewed so your wede For lyke a conduyte the stremes ran downe Lyke to a penytaunt in contryciowne Ye you disâ—aye alas why do you so Let be this fare and let it ouer go All your wepynge thought and heuynesse And be no more my lady in distresse Make an ende now of your greuaunce For all the ease comforte and pleasaunce That men may do truste well ye shall haue It is but folye in sorowe thus to raue Let passe ouer all these sharpe shoures And
the kyng haue thaÌ„ his see So inwardely with rancour fret was he That he ne myght hymselfe nat refrayne And sayde syr so ye nat disdayne That I shall saye me semeth that it is Well accordynge whan one hath sayde amys And reklesly spoken vnaduysed Of his folye that he be chastysed That other may example by hym take To be well ware suche noyse crye to make And specyally in open audyence So to offende your toyall excellence And sothely yet I wote well that I myght So me gouerne playnely in your syght Of hastynesse without aduysement That I shulde by your coÌ„maundement The deth deserue for my great offence And trewely yet ne were for your presence Of this twayne that haue so yspoke Without abode I shulde anone be wroke For it were worthy and right well syttynge Whan that a fole in presence of kynge Is bolde or hardy of presumpcyon To take on hym of indiscrecyon Thynge to reherce concludynge in sentence Preiudyce of your magnyfycence That he were taught better to gouerne His large tunge to konne bet diserne Whan he shall speke or whan be in pese To suffre hym to renne out of lese As doth he this that spoke hath so large Wherfore in hast I counsayle hym and charge Without abode or any worde mo Out of your syght anone he be a go For it is beste to do as I hym rede TO whom anone ful proudly Dyomede Nat astoned but a with sterne loke To Eneas that for yre quoke Answered agayne with wordes but a fewe And sayde syr thy wordes doth well shewe What so thou be that thou art right wyse Well is that kynge that doth by thyne aduyse Or hath the nye of counsayle for to be For he ne may erre in no degre That art so rightfull in thy iugement Of wylfulnesse without aduysement To causea lorde his bondes for to pace So wolde god in some other place That I myght by fauoure of fortune Mete with the at leyser oportune Lyke my desyre that canst so well endyte In olde fables thy labour for to quyte And the to thanke for thy gentyll there Whiche so knyghtly thou hast vs shewed here Truste well therto and haue therof no drede ANd tho Vlixes of this Dyomede Gan interrupte his wordê prudently And to hym sayde full aduysely That it was beste to stynte and be styll And now we knowe fully all the wyll Quod vlires full manly to the kynge We wyll go hense without more tariynge Out of thy syght to Agamenon And make to hym playne relacyon Of thy answer in ordre by and by And to horse they went sodaynly And in shorte tyme so hast them in theyr waye That they be come there is no more to saye Where the kynge satte in his tentorye And worde by worde as came to memorye They reherce the substraunce euery dele Wherof the grekes lyke no thynge wele Conceyuynge full there was no remedye As by reporte of the embassatrye Saue oonly this vtterly procede How they them shall gouerne in this nede Agayne Troyans of necessyte For they well wot it may none other be And assented both in wyll and bede To purueye them faste they them spede In this storye as I shall after fynde BVt or that I make therof mynde I muste a whyle of Eneas endyte As myn Auctor lyst of hym to wryte The whiche sothly as bokes saye he was This manly Troyan this famous Eneas Anchisis sone of great wortynesse Whylom gete of Venus the goddesse Conqueroure of many regyon Whan Troye was brought to destruccyon He wente his waye by the large see Called Tyrene and saylynge forth goth he By many coste and many narowe passage Many daunger tyll into Cartage He ryued is and then segan to sayle To the conquest of the great ytale And so to Rome he hath the way take Of whose ofsprynge as Auctours make Came Augustus Cesar the Emperour That was whylom so noble a conquerour That his renowne to this daye doth shyne And of Enee the Emperour Iustyne In his boke called Autentykes Full playnely wryt therin the rubrykes That after Cesar so as Cesares Be named yet right so Eneades After Enee the name shulde bere Whiche fro Troye comen was so fere Vnto ytayle and of this Eneas As I haue tolde Cesar descended was Downe lyne right full manly and royall That firste in Rome by sceptre imperyall Mauge theyr myght had gouernaunce And of wysoome sette in gouernaunce Comon thynges touchynge the Cytee And to procede ferther of Enee Hooly his lyfe and knyghthode by and by If that ye lyste to rede ceryously Ye maye se all full Autentyke of style In Eneydos compyled of virgyle Albe it so that this noble clerke Was graue afore or complete was his werke As bokes olde make mencyon ¶ How kynge Agamenon sent Achylles and Thelephus into the yle of Messa for vitaylles and how they slewe the kynge and made The lephus kynge after his deth Ca. xx BVt nowe agayne to Agamenon Without more my style I wyl retourne The whiche kynge wyll no more soiourne In this mater delayes for to make But in all haste he hath his counsayle take Of his lordes beynge there present And suche as were nat he hath after sent For one and all Erlys Dukes and kynges And sayde syres amonge other thynges To our Iourney that be necessarye My counsayle is no lenger that we tarye But firste of all to make ordynaunce By one assent with prudent purueaunce That alder firste we shape for vytayle Without whiche none hoost may auayle To parforme a Iourney thryftely Wherfore I rede here but faste by If it to you be lykynge and plesaunce Into an yle full of habundaunce Called Messa that we sende anone And at one worde assented euerychone They chosen haue worthy Achylles And Geleffus the sone of Hercules To execute this purpose fynally With many worthy in theyr company I chosen out thorugh the hoost anone With Achylles to Messa for to gone In whiche lande ryche and plenteuous Reygned a kynge worthy and famous That Tentran hyght whiche in tranquyllyté Without werre or aduersyte Hadde holde his Sceptre and his royall sete In this yle so plesaunt and so mete Albe that some saye that this lytell yle To the kyngdome longeth of Cecyle And hath his name gyuen of plente After Messane an huge great Cyte Full plenteuous both on see and lande The whiche kyngdome as I vnderstande Is sayde Messana of Messes in latyne Thorugh habundaunce of fruyt corne wyne At the aryuayle on the playnes large Where they are wonte for to stuffe and charge Marchaunt shyppes of straunge fer countree That thyder sayle by the large see To fetche vytaylle aye fro yere to yere Fro many coste of landes fer and nere Oonly by eschaunge of other march aundyse And eke also as bokes can deuyse And as Guydo full playnely telleth vs That of a kynge called Messanus This countre firste of Messa toke the name That in his tyme was of
can remebre douteles The tone of them called Sorygenes Whiche vnto me full contraryous was And the tother named Coclopas Bretherne of byrthe and in conclusyon Ylyke cruell of condycyon For though my sorte hadde shape for the nones Bothe twayne fylle on me attones Oppressynge in full great distresse Spoyled my shyppes of treasour and rychesse And for pyte lyked nat to spare Tyll I was lefte destytute and bare Of all my good alas my mortall chaunce And moste of all was to me greuaunce Whan of my golde they may nomore restrayne They sent downe their myghty sones twayne Alypham that was full large and longe And Polypheme the myghty gyauÌ„t stronge Which on my men to auenge theÌ„ were so fayne That they of them haue an hondred slayne Disarayed to stonde at diffence And of malyce with sodayne vyolence They toke me for myschefe almost lorne And Alphenor myn owne brother sworne And hatefully as they haue vs founde In chaynes caste and in stockes bounde And after that ylocked in pryson And for to make platly mencyon This myghty man this great Polypheme A suster hadde shortly for to deme One of the fayrest that euer yet was borne She myght in beaute so besette aforne Nature hir gaue suche a prerogatyfe A clene mayde sothly and no wyfe Flourynge bothe in fayrenesse bounte Whom Alphenor whan he dyde se Albe he was fetred in pryson For loue he loste wyt and eke reason And wexe all mad so narowe she dyd hyÌ„ bynde Saue vpon hir alway was his mynde And closed aye was his peryllous wounde And syxe monthes thus we lay bounde Both he and I to say the platte trouthe Tyll Polypheme hadde vpon vs â—outhe And thorugh his grace and medyacyon He quyt vs fre out of that pryson And shewed vs of mercy and pyte After our sorowe great humanyte But Alphenor ylyke of one entent Was with the bronde of Cupyde brent And felte his parte with many mortall fyt Tyll he so wrought with his sotyll wyt That on a nyght who was leef or loth He stale this mayde and his way he goth Thorugh helpe of men with hym at that tyme But on the morowe at the houre of pryme Polyphemus gan vs for to sewe Whose myghty honde we myght nat eschewe And suche assaute on vs they gan make That of force they haue the mayde take From Alphenor mauge all his rage And Polypheme vnto my damage With his knyghtes so sore vpon me lay That I myght vnneth scape away To saue my selfe compassyd enuyron To deth pursued of that champyon But whan I sawe there was no other gayne To fle the deth shortly for to sayne Whyle this geaunt most freesly on me sette With my swerde out his eye I smette And vnto shyp with my companye I fledde in haste that no man myght espye ¶ Where I be came nor Alphenor my fere And whan the wawes gan for to clere And gracyous wynde gan to vs a wake That countre we haue anone forsake It was nat holsome for vs to abyde ¶ But of this man lyke as wryt Ouyde Polyphemus the Geaunt out of drede Hadde an eye amyd of his forhede Whiche vlixes smote out at a stroke And lyke the browes of a braunched oke Was all his heer and his longe berde On whom to loke childre were aferde And whan that he hadde lost his syght Amonge the hylles he ronneth day and nyght In a rage to fynde hym some refuge Caste rockes and great stones huge On euery parte enuyron the countre On Vlixes auenged for to be Thus sayth Ouyde in conclusyon In his boke of transformacyon Methamorphoseos there ye may it se Whan so euer that your leyser be Ceâ—yously the storye for to rede And in wrytynge forth I wyll procede How vlixes with face deed and pale To ydumee tolde forth his tale Reâ—ersynge thus supprysed and awaked Fro Polypheme whan we were escaped Thorugh our vnhappe and infelycyte Into an yle myddes of the see We were dryue whan it gan to nyght And ElodiuÌ„ that lytell kyngdome hyght ¶ Where that Circes the great enchaunteresse Thylke tyme was Lady and goddesse Thâ—â— coude hir crafte so wonderly ê‘forme All sodaynely a man for to transforme To haue the lykenesse and lese his reason Of horse of bere Tygre or lyon Wolfe or fox or what hir lyste deuyse Hir dredefull craft was shapen in suche wyse So myghty were hir straunge pocyons Hir letuaryes and confeccyons And she also so fayre vpon to se That fro hir power no man myght fle For by the werke of this sorceresse I was so founcyd vpon hir fayrenesse That fynally thus with me it stode That all a yere I with hir abode And playnely hadde power none nor myght For to departe nouther day nor nyght So lusty was the lyfe that I ladde In whiche tyme by me a childe she hadde Right inly fayre and goodly to the syght And Thelagonyus in sothenesse he hyght Whiche afterwarde I well reherse can By processe wexe a manly man And by my sotyle secrete prouydence Of hir crafte I hadde experyence That maugre hir enchauntementes olde I stale away she myght me nat holde And fynally my fate to conclude With my connynge hir crafte I gan delude That with my men I scaped fro hir honde And went at large fre out of hir londe But all this thynge me lytell dyd auayle For on my way as I gan to sayle For all my sleyghte in a lytell whyle Yblowe was vp into an yle ¶ Where Calypha suster to Circes Was crowned quene helde hir sceptre in pees Whose craftes were so myghty and so stronge Maugre my wyll she helde me there full longe But she in sothe to speke of womanhede Of bounte fredome and of goodlyhede Surely hadde so souerayne excellence That myne abode to me was none offence But who so euer there at crye or clappe At the laste I scaped fro hir trappe And came to an Yle right as any lyne Whiche specyally thorugh hye power dyuyne Ordeyned is of yore by myracle As it were a spirituall oracle A man to haue in a temple there Sodayne answere of what hym lyst enquere Of questyons and demaundes alle And of soules what shall eke befalle Whan men are dede and grauen vnderstone And I gan axe in the temple anone Myn auentures that shulde after sewe And where a man myght his fate eschewe And of all this lyke to myn entent I hadde answere full conuenyent Saue what befalleth whan a soule is gone Diffynycyon vnto me was none Such thyng to assoyle accordeth nat to ryght It is reseruyd vnto goddes myght And excedeth reason and wyt of man And fro thense forth to sayle I gan Dryuen with wynde and no parte socoured Where I was lyke to haue be deuoured Of Karybdes with his profounde welle Where Syrenes Meremaydenes dwelle That fro the brest with scales syluer shene Be of theyr shape fysshes fresshe and clene And ouer more kynde doth compasse Them to appere Femynyne