Soone did arriue before the Troyan coast Where safely landing all his ships together He presently relieu'd the Grecian hoast With victuals who thereof had then great need And thankt him that he broght it with such speed The Grecian host relieu'd as you haue heard Palamedes went to their ships to see If they had any need to be repair'd And what so euer requisite to bee Bestowd on them was found he did with care Cause to be done And likewise did not spare Of every thing what so ever it did cost To see prouision made and to supply All things that needfull were within the host The which he did performe most carefully While time of truce endur'd was out-run And that their bloudy warre againe begun Which many on each side most dearely bought Whereof to write at large is my pretence And shew how they together fiercely sought Each th' other to destroy in their defence And still continued in their deadly hate The which they held between the without date Vnto the great destruction and decay Of many valiant knights while it did last For as they were accustomed next day Ensuing after that the truce was past In warlike wise well arm'd with speare shield They entered againe into the field Where with their banners wavering in great pride And drums and trumpets sounding fearefully They met together brauely on each side And at the first encounter valiantly Deiphobus like a Lyon furious Met with a Grecian King cald Creseus And with his strong puissant speare in rest Ran at him with so great and mighty force That he did pierce him deepe into the brest Wherewith starke dead he fell off from his horse Whose death so much the Greeks did terrifie That sore amaz'd they did begin to flie Vnto their tents as fast as ere they could To saue themselues with mighty feare and dread The which when as the Troyans did behold They chased them till that King Diomede And with him also King Palamodes With most despightfull hearts and merciles With twenty thousand knights accompanied Vpon the Troyans sodainly did set And where the Grecians then before them fled They did so fiercely kill cast downe and beat The Troyans that their furious 〈◊〉 vs to shun Then made them fore the Greeks as fast to run And at that time came Thelamon Aiax in Conducting of another Grecian band At whose approach such slaughter did begin On Troyans side by his victorious hand That many of them then were fiercely kild And all the plaine with Troyans blood was fild And as he thus in furious wise did set On them and like a Lyon fierce for pray Did range about the field by chance he met The worthy knight Sicilian in his way A bastard Son of 〈◊〉 whome he Assailed with such extreame crueltie That with his sword he cut his arme in twaine And he therewith fell dead within the field Whome when Deiphobus saw so fiercely slaine By Thelamon and his dead corps beheld With speare in hand he smote so great a stroke At Thelmon that his Launce on him he broke And yet did hit him with so great a might That with the trunchion which did whole remaine He did him cleane out of his sadle smight And laid him all along vpon the plaine Which stroke when King Pallamides beheld And saw how he vnto the ground was feld He was therewith so vexed at the heart That to revenge King Thelamon he sware On Deiphobus and ere he thence did part With mighty speare which in his hand he bare He ran and smote Deiphobus such a stroke That therewithall he pierst his brest broke The speare within the same and therein left The trunchion and the head still sticking fast Wherewith he was of vitall breath bereft But ere the same out of his body past Which long within his breast could not abide It was his brother Paris chance to ride That way where he lay in a manner dead Whome when he did behold in such a case He was therewith so much astonished That he did looke with pale and deadly face And for him grieu'd and wept most bitterly And bad his knights conuay him speedily Out of the field and prease wherein he lay Aside into a place to take the aire Who presently did beare him thence away Vpon a shield with easie pace and faire And with great griefe sorrow laid him downe Hard by the wall close vnderneath the towne Where when he had a little while still laine With heauie cheare he lifted vp his eies And being in extreamity of paine Vnto his brother Paris softlie cries And said good brother let me one thing craue Of thee that thou wilt pittie on me haue And kindly and for lone and brother hood Remember what to thee I now shall say Sith that thou canst do mono other good Because I must depart from thee away Thou seest what woefull case I here lie in For Atropos will now no longer spin My thread of life nor favor to me shoe Good brother let me craue so much of thee Before that I out of the world hence goe That by thy meanes I may revenged bee Of him that hath bereau'd me of my breath And in this sort hath giuen me my death That I may be assur'd before I die That he is slaine and first gone downe to hell And in that soule inâ—ernall lake doth lie With Pâ—â—â—to there eternally to dwell Amongst the damned soules in griefe woe The which wheÌ„ my poore dying hart shal knoâ— I shall depart contentedlie and glad Out of this world and will esteem 't a blisse To me that he his death before me had And that with me thereof he did not misse Wherein I pray thee do me not denie And then pull out this speare and let me die Which his desire t' accomplish Paris went With speed into the field in mightie griefe Sore weeping to revenge with full intent His brother who meane time without reliefe Lay languishing and drawing on to death Expecting everie hower to yeeld his breath And seeking vp and downe he came whereas Pallamides was fighting hand to hand With Sarpedon a valiant King that was Come vnto Troy to Priam with a band Of valiant Knights to aid him gainst his foes And while that they together fiercely close And each the other furiously did smight For Sarpedon was valorous and strong And shewd himselfe to be a puissant knight Pallamides when they had â—ought so long That both of them were wearie puissantly Stroke Sarpedon a blow vpon the thigh And cut it cleane a sunder wherewithall King Sarpedon not able to endure Vpon his horse dead on the ground did fall Whose death vnto the Troyans did procure Such feare that they were forced to retire For that with heart repleat with wrath me Pallamides slew them so furiously That they durst not abide before his face Whose cruelty when Paris did espie And thought vpon his brothers woefull case He bent his bow that
Thelaphus that did by chance perceiue What he would doe to him in hast did call And stepping forth did on his shield receaue The stroake and did Achilles friendly pray At his request his furious mood to stay And for a while in Knightlie curtesie To grant him life sith wounded sore he lay Before his feet and ready was to die For every Knight saith he his wrath should stay And on his foe some pittie ought to haue When he in humble wise doth mercie craue To whom Achilles said I marvaile why You seeme to craue that I should mercie show To him and spare his life who furiously With pride which in his heart did overslow Would not vnto our just request giue eare But without cause did armes against vs beare And with disdaine and meere presumption The Grecians in most furious wise assaild Though now against his expectation He findeth that it hath him nought availd And he himselfe is fallen into the snare Which for vs as he thought he did prepare Though we deseru'd no such thing at his hand As having no intent him to molest Nor yet by force t' invade him or his land So that if now he finds himselfe opprest He can it not deny but must confesse His rash attempt deserved hath no lesse But Thelaphus againe did him require Of knight-hood to take pittie on the King And for that time to grant to his desire For while said he my father was living He and king Tentran were confederate Though here as now he lies in woefull state With pale and deadlie face vpon the ground Expecting when his soule shall hence depart And for that heretofore I haue him found To beare a noble mind and Royall heart When I by chance past through his countrey Where he with all his Lords and chivalry Received and feasted me most Royally In every place where I did ride or goe Within his land So that humanitie Binds me the like vnto him now to show And in my mind his curtesie to beare Least men should say that to vnkind I weare Which might heereafter turne to my disgrace Wherefore that I in part may him requite I you beseech take pittie on his case And spare his life as yo' are a noble knight Whereto Achilles presently did yeild And there before his souldiers in the field King Tenteran vnto Thelaphus did giue To do with him as he should thinke it best Who to behold him in that case did grieue And at his heart with sorrow was opprest To see there was no other remedie But that of force he could not choose but die And when the sonne vnto the Westerne part With speed declind the battaile at an end And Tenteran did feele great paine and smart Yet no reliefe his woefull state could mend For that his wounds still more more did bleed His men made all the hast they could with speed To beare him thence vnto his court with ease And to that end they for a litter sent And layd him in 't and while he past the prease Thelaphus and Achilles by him went And to his Royall Pallace him contraid Where in his bed when as they had him laid Perceiving that he drew vnto his end For that his vitall spiriâ—s 〈◊〉 to faile And nature vnto him no force could lend Nor surgery noâ— Phisike ought prevaile Nor any comfort noâ— reliefe was left To him as then of worldly joyes bereft For Thelaphus and Achilles he did send And with a voice most feeble faint and weake And sighs and teares fast drawing to his end In woefull wise he did vnto them speake And said my Lords health honor high degree All worldly joy and great prosperitie I wish vnto you both with all my hart But specially to thee Prince Thelaphus Who at this time such favor doth â—mpart To me and art so kind and gratious That in my paines so grieuous and so strong Thou seek'st my life if 't might be to prolong But now alas there is no remedie But die I must and can it not withstand For as you see here prostrate I doe lie Expecting th'hower when from deaths cruell hand The fatall blow will come to pierce my hart And that my soule out of my corps shall part To make an end of all my miserie Which so much more increaseth in my hart To see the hower of death approach so nie And that out of this world I must depart And leaue no heires within this Isle to raigne The Crowne and Scepter thereof to maintaine When I am dead which by that meanes alas I feare will soone be spoyld and ouer-run Which I full loath would be should come to pas Sith that at first with labour great I won And conquered it and ever since by might And warlike force maintained haue my right Gainst all my foes for many yeaâ—es now past Yet once it had been lost without recure And I from thence had vtterly been chast But that I did the aid and helpe procure Of Hercules the stout and valiant Knight Who by his extreame force and passing might Which at this day is fresh in memorie And while the world indures shall ever bee Orecame and vanquished my enemie And did againe restore this Isle to mee And while he liu'd the feare of him was such And every man respected him so much That spight of all my foes I did enioy My Scepter and my Crowne in peace and rest And no man durst by word and deed annoy My quiet state nor me in ought molest Whereby it doth appeare this little Isle Belongs vnto the Kingdome of Cicile Where Hercules did place two pillars great Which at this day are extant to be seene And for perpetuall memorie there set To show how farre he in that land had beene Which pillars some men cald Columnia And others did them name Herculea Which Island once was in subiection Vnto the Mores and long time so remaind But after by the valiant Romaines won When they th'jmperiall diadem obtaind Of all the world and by their puissance Their names fames did farre wide advancâ— And after many valiant Conquerors Succeeded had each other by degree And of the Towne of Roome been Emperors And therein ruld with power and Majestie One Fredericke the second of that name That sometime was an Emperor in the samâ— And King of Cicile by inheritance Because he did a great affection beare Vnto that Isle and in remembrance Perpetuall of him therein did reare And make a huge and mightie Tower of bricke With walâ—es that were exceeding strong thicke And cause the aire was pleasant good sweet And that therein great store of flowers were Some Authors doe report he named it The new faire land which name long time it beare And was therein by vse continued Till that the Emperor Fredericke was dead But to returne vnto King Tenteran WheÌ„ he had vsâ—â—â—e speech which you haue heard And that he did perceiue his life began To draw vnto an end
he bore And for that cause he made no more delay But arm'd himselfe againe with full intent Against his fathers will that bad him stay To go into the field and forward went For feare whereof his wife did cry shout And with her child in both her armes ran out And did to him most pittiously complaine Beseeching him her sorrow to behold And of his Princely loue to ease her paine By granting her request and that he would Not onely pittie her but haue a care Of his yong Son which in her armes she bare Who all the while would not from crying keepe By any meanes what so euer that she made When as he saw his wofull mother weepe And kneeling on her knees vnto him said Alas my Lord haue pittie now on me And on this tender babe whome here you see So wofully before you weepe and crie And be not so hard hearted and vnkind T' abandon vs and suffer vs to die Let Troy some mercy at thy hand now find Mine owne deare Lord least it and we each one Be put to cruell death when thou art gone For want of aid Thus did Andromecha Her Husband Hector mournfully desire To stay at home The like Queene Hecuba His mother also of him did require Together with his Sisters Cassandra And Policene with faire Queene Helena Who all at once downe at his feet did fall And pittiously their haire did rent and teare And lowdly cri'd and dolefully did call On him that he would for that day forbeare To go into the field and of the towne With them and her to haue compassion And to behold their sad and pittious mone For that he was the bulwarke and the wall And chiefe defender of the towne alone And th' only true supporter of them all In whome their onely safety and good With all their weale especially then stood But all this could not moue his heart to stay Nor grant to their request yet still they kneel'd And him with many brinish teares did pray Vnto their cries and woefull sute to yeeld And that they might some sparks of grace theÌ„ feele To come out of his heart as hard as steele By pittying them and on their woe to rew Which likely was to their destruction And overthrow still dailie to renew For that of their most famous Troyan towne His death would be the ruine and decay Yet all this could by no meanes make him stay But forth he would with heart couragious Which was inflam'd with extreame wrath rage And like a Lyon fierce and furious Would by no meanes his crueltie asswage For neither crie nor lamentation Could him withdraw from his opinion For casting everie danger cleane aside And all perswasions what so ere were made He spurd his horse and forward gan to ride Wherewith his wife such extreame dolor had Within her heart that with face pale and wan In furious wise vnto the King she ran So sore amaz'd and in such wofull case That she could hardly tell where she did go And with salt teares be-dewing all her face So strangely lookt that no man could her know And in that sort with great perplexitie She fell before King Priam on her knee And vnto him her wofull case did shoe Desiring him to put his helping hand To stay her husband Hector that would goe Out of the towne whom no man could withstand Vnlesse't were he who presentlie did bid One bring his horse and forth in hast he rid And pittying her estate did for her sake Set spurs vnto his horse with so great hast That he did Hector speedilie oretake Before that he out of the gate was past And straight laid hold vpon his horses reine And made him gainst his will turne back again Wherein he would his father not gaine say Although he was full loath the same to doe And by that meanes intreated was to stay And partly was by force constraind thereto And so he did downe from his horse alight With heart so full of ranckor and despight Melancholie and hot and burning ire That his couragious heart did boile in blood And with disdaine was set on such a fire That like a Tygar fierce or Lyon wood And furious depriued of his pray He did behaue himselfe all that same day Or like a Bore that as he goes doth whet And grind his tuskes still walking vp and downe While that the Greekes they of Troy did meet Where at the first yong Troyelâ—â— fore the towne In furious wise vpon his gallant steed By chance did meet with fierce King Diomede And both of them so furiously assaild And set vpon each other with such might That neither armes nor weapons had preuaild But one or both of them in that hard fight Had died if that King Menelaus had not beene That sodenly came riding them betweene And made them part and after valiantly Did spurre his horse and ran at Mereon The Phrigian King and him most cruellie With sword in hand assaild and set vpon And at him stroke a blow with so great force That with the same he feld him off his horse And at that time he surely had bin tane Or lost his life the Greeks so mightily Assaild and set on him and on the plaine Enclos'd him round about and furiously Pluckt off his helme and band vpon him laid And had him led away If to his aid Pollidamas had not come sodenly With many valiant knights with him and when He saw King Mereon in extreamitie And mongst a troope of Grecians prisoner then In furious wise he did vpon them set And him out of their hands by force did get But ere he could relieue him cleane from thence On either side there was such mortall strife For that the Greeks gainst him made great defence That many a valiant knight then lost his life For rather then he should from them be tane They swore vowd that he shold first be slaine And by that meanes he was in danger great But sodainly to free him from the same Yong Troyelus vpon the Grecians set And at the first as he amongst them â—aâ—â—e He did behaue himselfe gainst them so well And in such furious wise vpon them â—ell That in despight of them and all their traine Most valiantly he holpe king Mereon And him restor'd to libertie againe And then into the field came Thelamon That of three thousand knights the leader was And sodenlie vnhorst Pollidamas And him in midst of all his knights cast downe Vnto the ground But worthy Troyelus T' encrease his hautie fame and great renowne Despight of them with courage furious Holpe him perforce vnto his horse againe But at that time the Troyans were so slaine And beaten downe by Greeks on euery side For fierce Achilles then so cruelly Pursued them that they could not abide Before his face but of necessitie Constrained were perforce to flie away And by no meanes within the field would stay But fiercelie chast by him vnto the towne Close by
If euer he slew any worthy Knight Vnlesse it were by treason as t is true And proued by King Menons death whom he Slew in that sort And then giue him his dew And thou shalt find his knight-hood staind to be With foule disgrace and all his praise nought worth And contrary to that which thou setst forth So that thou canst not rightly and speake true Though nere so eloquently thou dost write Commend him vnlesse that thou saist vntrue And showst thy selfe one that doth take delight To hide his treason with thy sugred phrase And him that nere deseru'd the same to praise But now I must leaue Homer and againe Returne to show vnto you how that day When that Achilles Troielus had slaine Who of the Troians then was th' onely stay The Greeks encouragd by King Menclaus And others were so fierce and furious Vpon the Troians and did them pursue So hotly that they forced them to flie In mighty feare and many of them slew As they before them ran and cruelly Did wound orethrow chase beat theÌ„ down Euen to the walles and trenches of the Towne And made them in despight their heaâ—tâ— forsake The field and t' enter Troy most woefully With Troiclus whose body they did take And bare it in with great solemnity Where all along the towne as it did pas Such sorrow for his death then made there was That no man liuing can discribe or tell The halfe thereof No not most learned Boys Who hath the praise in phrases fit t' excell And of most dolefull words to haue great choise When as he maketh shew to weep and crie In his complaint made to Philosophie Wherein he seemeth Fortune to accuse For her vnconstant dealing and doth charge Her by that meanes all mortall men t' abuse Nor Stacie who of Thebes writes at large The woefull and the most vnhappy fall And doth describe the death and funerall Of those that were the causers of the same Leaue of thy mournfull weeping Niobe And thou that art reported t' haue the fame Each yeare so farre ore land and sea to flee And great complaints and woefull cries to make For thy deare brother Aliagers sake Let Oedipus the Theban King that so Did weepe and waile that he lost both his eies Content himselfe and many other mo As Mirha and Calixtone whose cries And dolefull mones so well were heard seene And Dido faire that sometime raigned Queene Of Carthage towne and for her loue did die Let Phillis mourne no more for Demophonâ— Nor eccho still renew her woefull crie Let faire Corrinne cease to make such mone As she long did and nere left night nor day Because that she had lost her Popingay As Onid in his Booke doth tell And let All their complaints their forrowes their mone Forgotten and cleane out of mind be set For they are nothing in comparison To that of Troy which euery one did make Within the towne for worthy Troylus sake For high and low wiues children and men So piteously complaind and for him there So many salt and brinish teares were then Let fall that men nought els in Troy did heare But mournfull cries and lamentations sad By them cast forth That nere the like was made In any place nor no man well can tell Nor yet expresse the same for it is sure That Pluto whom men call the Prince of Hell For all the torments great he doth indure Proserpinâ— nor furious Ticius Nor Irian nor hungry Tantalus Though they tormented are with extreame paine With him together in th' infernall lake Nere could nor did more bitterly complaine Then all the Troians did for Troielus sake For who-could grieue more then King Priamus Or shead more dolefull teares and piteous Out of their eies then Hecuba the Queene Eassandra Hellen Paris Hellenus And beautifull young Lady Pollicene Or then the Troians with most dolorous And woefull cries did all in generall Shed forth and did gainst Fortune cry and call Accusing her of great inconstancie For they were cleane discomforted and out Of hope to be relieud sith enviously She had bereaued them of Hector stout And of his valiant brother Deiphobus And in their greatest need of Troielus So that in sore distresse and desperate mood They vtterly dispaird of their estate The which they knew in danger great then stood And made account as men vnfortunate T' expect nought els but their confusion And finally the whole destruction Of them and of their towne that was so strong And therefore it availeth not to mourne Nor of their griefe to make discourse so long Sith they by Fate to that hard hap were borne And for that cause I le leau't and to you shoe How Prianous in that distresse and woe A messenger vnto the Grecians sent For truce for certaine moneths which presently With all the Grecian Princes full consent Agamemnon did graunt and ratefie Which either side obseru'd while it did last And freshly fought againe when it was past CHAP. III. ¶ How Paris slew Achilles and Archilagus Duke Nestors Sonne in the Temple of A pollo in Troy THe truce aforesaid lasting Priamus A Sepulcher did make most sumptuously Of metall and of stone for Troielus And buried him with great solemnity And hard by him King Menons body lay Intombed and both buried on a day And as the Pagans were accustomed By th' ancient lawes in ceremoniall wise Most dolefully for them solemnised And dewly held their funerall obsequies With great deuotion and obseruances The which to you is needles to expresse And therefore at this time I le let it pas As tedious both to heare and tell likewise And shew you how Queene Hecuba that was Sore grieu'd for death of Troilus did deuise And practise in her mind how to require Achilles for the trech'ry and despight Which he both vnto her and Troy had don And to that end she sent in secret wise For Paris who was then her eldest Son To whom with teares that trickled downe her eies Aud mournfully with sad and heauy cheare She spake and sayd to him as you shall heare Paris thou knowest as well as I can tell How false Achilles by his trechery Hath slaine my sonnes who liuing did excell Him farre and by his extreame cruelty Hath me bereaud of them and left me none But onely thee to comfort me alone For cowardly thou knowst how he did slay Thy eldest brother Hector vnaware And Troielus likewise that were a stay And comfort vnto me in griefe and care And therefore now I haue determined Within my mind his traiterous blood to shead And him to pay as reason is and right With treason for his treason done to me And treachery with treach'ry to requite And thus it is thou knowest well that he Loues Policene thy sister and doth craue Most earnestly her for his wife to haue Now my intent is presently to send For him without delay to come to me Into Apollos Temple to the end We
may with speed vpon the same agree Where thou well arm'd in secret wise shalt stand With certaine knights and readie be at hand To kill him there while he for me doth stay Where let him of his death be surelie sped And see that by no meanes he scape away Out of thy hands vntill that he be dead Which I thee heartly pray as 't is my will Effectuall for my sake to fulfill And see thou failest not to do the same Whereto he did agree and presentlie Against Achilles to the Temple came With twentie valiant knights there secretly Did stay Meane time Queene Hecuba did send A messenger t' Achilles to that end As she with Paris had determined By whome she made him certainlie belieue That she did meane and fullie purposed Her daughter Policene to him to giue And at his comming would as she did say Agree twixt them vpon the marriage day Where to he did most willinglie consent As he that no suspition had in mind Of treason for his heart it was so bent And set on fire with loue that he was blind And could not see nor yet perceiue at all By reason and aduise what might be fall To him by going into Troy so soone At her request he had offended so By killing of her Sons as he had done But hap what would needs thither would he go As louers all are fond and despratly No perill shun although that they should die T' enioy the thing wherewith in loue they are Their maladie it is so furious Vntill they are intrapped in a snare And so Achilles and Archilogus Duke Nestors Son that bare him company Did goe to Troy and entring presently Into the Temple of Apollo went Where Paris with his Knights for him did stay In secret wise with purpose fully bent Him there as he deserued had to slay And sodainly assoone as he was in T' assaile him altogether did begin By night as some do say but when so ere The same was done when as Achilles saw Himselfe assaild abandoning all feare He did his sword out of his scabberd draw And in short space despight of all their mights In furious wise he slew seuen Troyan knights And did defend himselfe so valiantly Against them then although they were so many And with them fought with such dexterity That long it was ere vantage they bad any On him at all till Paris who as then Stood watching oportunitie and when He saw Achilles such resistance make Tooke vp a Dart and aim'd at him so well And so directly that therewith he strake Him through the heart and therewith all he fell With pale and deadly face vpon the ground And body mangled sore with many a wound And so was slaine his treason to requite As reason is that such as traitors are And while they liue in treachery delight Should at the last fall in the selfe same snare Which they for others had prepar'd And thus Achilles and with him Archilogus Were slaine by Paris in the Temple at Queene Hecubaes desire and request Who presently did giue commandment that Their bodies in the Temple should not rest And made them to be drawne out of the bounds Thereof and to be throwne vnto the hounds Loe here the iust reward of treachery And of deceit which while he liued he Delighted in and how with equitie God punisheth all such as traitors be For reason is that he that seeks t' obtaine His will by treason should likewise againe With treason be requited for his paine As false Achilles was that tooke delight In treason while he liu'd and so was staine Within Apollos Temple in the night But yet their bodie were not as t is said Although that they in th' open streets were laid That with great ioy the Troyans might them see Devour'd by hounds as by commandment Of Hecuba they were ordaind to be For Helena vnto King Priam went And on her knees of him did humbly craue Their bodies from that cruelty to saue Who willinglie did therevnto consent And caus'd them to be kept as she desir'd Till that King Agamemnon to him sent A messenger and leaue of him requir'd To fetch them and to giue them buriall The which he did for whome in generall The Grecians did such extreame sorrow make And were so much discomforted therefore That in great feare each vnto other spake And said alas now farewell euermore Our trust our hope our ioy our confidence Our welfare and our soueraigne defence Sith valorous Achilles now is dead For he in knighthood did so much excell That while he liu'd we neuer stood in dread To overcome this towne but now full well We may both feare and plainlie say that we Nere in our liues shall masters thereof be And while that they such sorrow great did make And plunged were in extreame doubts feares For their great Champion fierce Achilles sake Agamemnon two costly Sepulchers For workemanship most rare and curious Caus'd to made one for Archilogus The other for Achilles wherein they Intombed were with great solemnitie In Paynim wise and both vpon a day To shew the whole particularity And manner of their ancient buriall Were over-long to trouble you withall It shall suffice to tell that they did make Much sorrow and endur'd great heauinesse For death of them and how in mournfull blacke They brought them to their graues to expresse Their woefulnes with heauie heart and mood Some threw sweet gums some cast milk blood Into the funerall fires and how they made Playes which by them were called palestrall And wrastrings at the wakes and how they had Great store of customes ceremoniall At burials of the dead the which much more Then needfull were to tell as now therefore I le leaue herewith And vnto you declare How therevpon King Agamemnon sent For all the Grecian Princes that then were Within the hoast to come vnto his tent And when they all assembled were therein And orderly set downe he did begin To speake to them and said my Lords t is now No time to moue nor need t' encourage your Against your Troyan foes sith that you know And too well find by good experience how Vnconstant fortune hath now chang'd her face And sodenly cleane altered our case And fild your hearts with rage and iust despight To thinke vpon the murther horrible Of late done to Achilles which in sight Of God and man is foule and odible Despightfully by Hecuba the Queene For which I thinke it shortlie shall be seene If that within your valiant hearts there be Or resteth any man-hood force or wit To make a vertue of necessitie And to refraine till that occasion fit To take revenge therefore and t'recompence The iniurie despight and great offence Vnto you done and giuen thereby fall out As reason t is it should requited be For very beasts insensible no doubt Would do the same in like extremitie But yet as you are wise and prouident I would faine know your
meaning and intent What you thinke best by vs now to be done And whether that you will the warre maintaine And hold the siege still here before the towne Till that it be destroyd or go againe Home into Greece sith our chiefe Champion Our sole defence and our protection Achilles now is slaine Whose death alone Vnto vs will a mighty hindrance be And therefore I entreat you euery one To giue me your advise herein what we Shall doe sith that the case now standeth thus For that delay oft proueth dangerous Which having said the Princes all began To fall in great dissention and to varrie Amongst themselues and many of them than Were halfe in feare no longer there to tarry And doubtfull were what they were best to do But some reply'd and answere made thereto That happen life or death they would still stay And never leaue the siege till they had woone And cleane destroyd the towne and some did say They would not stay but presently be gone And into Greece returne againe with speed And in that sort a while they disagreed And every man was of opinion Contrarie each to other But in th' end They did all with full resolution Agree to stay and ceasing to contend Said flatlie they would neuer leaue the towne Till they had it destroyd and beaten downe Although their chiefe and onelie Champion Achilles then was slaine of whome they made So great account for their opinion Was sith that all the Gods decreed had They should destroy the same they did not doubt But in short time to bring the same about And to confirme their resolution And that they might still firmelie therein hold The worthy Grecian Knight cald Thelamon Surnamed Aiax did with courage bold Stand vp and when he had obeysance made Vnto them all in this wise spake and said My Lords and Princes all assembled now If you will take my counsell and advise I am perswaded it is best for you Sith that Achilles in such traiterous wise Is slaine that we a messenger should send To fetch his Son yong Pyrrhus to the end He may revenge his fathers death and aid Vsto atchieue our enterprise in handâ— Who at this time as I haue hard it said Remaineth with King Licomedes and As men of him repor t is said to be A valiant Knight and likely if that he While he is yong take on him armes to beare To proue a knight of great renowne and fame And also i ft be true as I do heare By prophesie which doth foreshow the same Troy nere shall be destroyd vnlesse that he With vs to doe the same here present be And further that till Pyrrhus do come hither We never shall obtaine the victory Against our foes and therefore let 's together Agree to send one thither presently To fetch him Wherevnto they did consent And Menelaus of that Embassage went Who entring ship saild forth the selfe same day And soone arriu'd where Licomedes dwelt Where with him for a while I le let him stay And show you how the Greeks and Troyans dealt Together when truce past in fight they were As in the Chapter following you shall heare CHAP. V. ¶ How Paris and Thelamon Aiax slew each other how Queene Helena Lamented for the death of Paris the Grecians remooue their tents necrer vnto Troy and the truce is ended betweene them WHeÌ„ Phoebus by due course as time doth passe Into the signe of Cancer entrie made And in the height of his assention was Which vsually men Summer call and had Drawen from the root of every flower tree The vertue sweetnesse and humiditie And made them mount into the hearbs leauesâ— And when each flower doth fresh gay appeare Till Cancer place by course to Leo giues Which is the time and season of the yeare When as the Sun being in the highest degree Descends and is said retrograde to bee And with his mighty heat feruor cleane Dries vp the sap of roots trees hearbs flowers And that which spring time made shew fresh and CoÌ„verts to white for want of April showers green To mollifie his strong decoction For that by naturall digestion The moysture which in fruits flowers abounds By reason of the great humiditie Which is in them he dries vp confounds And with his heat extreame fervencie Which hotest is when it is Summer weather Doth ripen them and make them sit to gather And pull off from the branches as they spread And hang thereon in their due time and season When Cheries gin to ripen and wax red And other kinds of friuts are yong and geason In Iune and at the latter end of May When as the hot and pleasant Summers day By course of time is sixteene howers long The Greeks with hearts repleat with wrath and ire Presuming of their force that was so strong And hoping to attaine to their desire Into the field couragiously did go Well arm'd to fight against their Troyan foe Conducted by the Kings Agamemnon Ulisses valiant Diomede and mo As Menestes and furious Thelamon Who that same day into the field did go Without an armor helmer speare or shield Onely his sword which in his hand he held And naked in that sort most brauely fought Gainst whom the Trayans though in feare doubt Did issue forth for that King Priam thought His force too weake so often to go out As he was woont sith his Sons valorous Hector Deiphobus and yong Troyelus Vnfortunatelie were all dead and slaine Yet not to giue the Grecians cause to say He feared them he sent them out againe And gaue the chiefe command of them that day To Paris that his eldest Sonne then was Who with King Philomene Pollidamas King Esdras and Aeueas valiantly Against the Grecians went and on them set With courage stout resolu'd that day to die In their defence oâ— honor great to get Vpon their deadly and inveterate foes As 't pleased God the victorie to dispose And furiously the onset on them gaue Where Paris with his Persian Archers shot Vpon the Greeks so swiftly and so braue That soone he had advantage on them got And they compelled were in extreame need To flie to saue themselues Till Diomede Perceauing them so fast to run away T'â—eleiue them like a stout and valiant Knight Did turne them backe againe and made them stay Still in the field and valiantly to fight And at his entring in amongst them met King Philomene on whome he fiercely set Who brauely vnto him did likewise ride Where each of them the other did assaile And valiantly their strengths and valors trideâ— But neither gainst the other could prevaile And yet they fought most furiously and long For both of them were passing stout and strong And would not yeeld one â—oâ— vnto his foe So much they did in courage great excell But while they were together fighting so The Troyans fought so furiously and fell Against the Greeks that they could not
sustaine Their mightie blows but forced were againe To run out of the field discomforted Though Diomede did what he could to stay And succour them so many of them dead And wounded sorevpon the plaine then lay And cast out many a great and woefull crie The which when Duke Menestes did espie And saw what great disorder they were in And how the Troyans them so sore opprest Into the battaile fiercely did begin To enter and with mightie Launce in rest Brake through the Troyans ranks till that he was So farre that he met with Pollidamas Gainst whome at vnawares he ran so fast That with a blow which he at him let flie Vpon the ground he did him fiercely cast And while that he amaz'd thereon did lie Had slaine him if with speed he had not beene Relieu'd and rescued by King Philomen Who brauely in despight of all the force And might Menestes had did set him free And made him mount againe vpon his horse Sore bleeding and in great extreamitie Meane time fierce Thelmon Aiax carelesly Vnarmed with great pride yet foolishly Amongst the thickst of all his armed foes Nere ceast to kill and mightily to wound The Troyans and such valor great then shoes That they in heaps lay dead vpon the ground About him and none durst against him stand So fierce he was with bloudy fword in hand To kill and beat them downe still as he road And yet though in the midst of them he was And that so many thousands him with stood On euery side as he through them did passe Noâ— any part of him was perished Nor drop of bloud out of his body shed Which woonder was considering how that he Disarmed fought But when dame Fortune will Preserue and keepe man from extreamitie Nothing can hurt nor him by no meanes kill And yet when as she list shee 'le him beguile And play and sport with him a little while And sodainly when he thinkes least thereon Ore-turne her wheele and cast him on the ground As she that day did vnto Thelamon Who to his cost her most vnconstant found For as he mongst the Troyans with great pride Disarmed through their ranks did fiercely ride And many of the Persian Archers slew With heart cleane voyd of any feare or dread And more and more with furie did renew His force and to his safetie tooke no heed Paris perceauing his great hardinesse And how he did the Persian knights oppresse In great despight an arrow at him shot And with the same as he did fiercely ride Still killing all he met and spar'd them not Pierst him at vnawares into the side So deepe a wound that without remedie There was no other meanes but he must die Which when he did perceiue and saw no way T' avoid his death with heart surpriz'd with ire In furious wise he made no more delay But running through the prease with great desire To be reveng'd on Paris ere he died Sought him so long till at the last he spied Him mongst the thickst of all the Greeks in fight And vnto him with pale and deadly cheare But yet with extreame rage and great despight To thinke vpon his death that drew so neare Said Paris the wound which thou hast giuen me I know and certaine am my death will be For I do feele such extreame griefe and paine Within my heart that I am well assur'd I neuer shall returne to Greece againe And sith that thou my death hast thus procur'd I meane to giue thee such reward therefore That thou aliue to Troy shalt nere go more For as the great despight well meriteth Which thou shewst me I le make thee first to feele Ere that I die the bitter pangs of death And send thee down before me into hell And therefore make account thy glasse is run And that thou canst thy death as now not shun For here my troth I plight and firmely vow That with my sword I le make diuorse betweene Queene Helena and thee and that as now The chaine of fained wedlocke that hath beene So surelie made and knit twixt her and thee Shall now at last be cut in twaine by me And that false knot of thy adulterie Which hath beene cause such slaughter great to make And made so many valiant knights to die In this our warre and onlie for thy sake Shall be vnknitâ— for without remedy Paris said he of my hand thou shalt die And with his sword scarse able to sustaine Himselfe vpright gaue Paris such a wound That with the same he cleft his head in twaine And therewith he fell dead vpon the ground Which hauing done he likewise presently Fell downe and died to beare him company Which when the Troyans saw with dolefull cheare They tooke vp Paris body to convay The same to Troy and in a mighty feare Began to flie where all along the way The Greeks did kill pursue beat them downe Even to the walls and trenches of the towne And more had done but that it did begin To draw to night for then the Sun was downe And when the woefull Troyans were gone in And had secur'd themselues within the towne The Greeks likewise retired backe and went Vnto their Campe each man into his tent To ease themselues but ere as 't them behou'd They tooke their rest that night Agamemnon Commanded that their tents should be remou'd And set and placed neerer to the towne Not farre off from the walls and so they were Which put the Troyans in no little feare So that they durst not issue out to let And hinder them from doing it but glad To saue themselues shut fast their gates and set Watch all that night vpon the walls and made Such sorrow and so pittifully far'd For Paris death that nere the like was heard For by that meanes all Priams sons being slaine They did despaire and out of hope cleane were Of any comfort or release t' obtaine In their distresse and so possest with feare And plunged in most great extreamitie They made account there was no remedie Nor any meanes to aid themselues withall But still expecting their destruction To keepe themselues enclos'd within the wall And rampiers of their strong and mightie towne And for that cause most pittiouslie complaind And so great woe and sorrow then sustaind That nere the like was heard nor seene before But specially King Priam did so grieue For Paris death and did lament therefore So mightilie that nothing could relieue Nor comfort him and from his heart which fild With woe and care then was such teares distild And let fall downe his checkes and aged face That he did seeme as if he would haue died To tell you how in this most wofull case Queene Hecuba his mother wept and cried And what exceeding sorrow for their parts His sisters made and felt within their hearts And how they rent and tare their clothes haire And beat and smote their breasts in great distresse And all bedewd and wet
of their liues till trayterously Anthneor to auoid all cause of feare And better to make knowne his villany Had sought searcht so long and busily That at the last he found her out brought Her forcibly vnto the Greeks and there Deliuered her to them when she least thought That she vnto her death had been so neare Who presently without compassion Was iudged to die by King Agamemnon And taking care that execution Vpon her should be done without delay He did giue order and commission To Pyrrhus for the same who made no stay But tooke her by the hand and furiously Drew her vnto the place where she should die Great was the presse that ran vnto that place To see and to behold young Pollicene Who for her beauty comlines and grace Within the world her like had nere been seene So that they all were grieud that she should die And for because there was no remedy Let many a salt and bitter teare distill Out of their eyes for pittie to behold Her woefull stare and gladly by their will Wisht that she might escape faine they would Haue ventred to haue tane her forcibly From Pyrrhus hands but that they verily Beleeud that without she died they nere Should haue faire wind nor go to Greece againe To see their Natiue Land whereto they were Most certainely perswaded by the vaine Suggestions which their Prophet Calchas had Concerning her vnto them falsely made And when vnto Achilles graue she came Whereas the Grecians would her sacrifice She kneeled downe devoutly fore the same And lifting vp her faire and tender eies With wringing hands vnto the Gods she praid In most submissiue wise and thus she said OH mighty Gods that in the heauens abide And see and gourne all things whatsoere At whose command the world that is so wide And eke the seas and skies created were And by your word all formd framd of nought To whom the depth secrets of mans thought Is knowne for nothing from your Deities By any meanes conceald or hid can â—e I humbly pray your heauenly maiesties That you will now be mercifull to me And my poore soule into your hands receiue When bitter death shall me thereof bereaue I do confesse with all humilitie That with a holy care of chastitie I haue preserued my virginitie Vntill this day wherein I now shall die A maiden vndefild for thought or deed Although the Greeks haue iudged and decreed To put me to this hard and cruell death The which I nere deserud as you can tell For as my conscience to me witnesseth And I in truth may sai t sweare it well I am most cleare of that which they accuse Me for yet they will me not excuse But die I must to satisfie their will As they alledge because I gaue consent My brother Paris should Achilles kill Whereas God knoweth I am an innocent And neuer did in will deed word nor thought Giue my consent such treason should be wrought Gainst him whom I do know did loue me deare But was therefore right â—ory in my hart Though presently as now it doth appeare I must for him endure great paine and smart Because they haue decreed for his â—ake That they on me alone will vengance take Without all mercy or compassion And offer me vp for a sacrifice T' appease the Gods great indignation Oh Grecians blind me thinks you are not wiâ—e So cruellie to seeke my death for nought And merciles to bend your hearts thought To kill a poore desolate young maid That neuer did offence to any one For which it may full well of you be said That you haue hearts as hard as any stone And that you farre in cruelty excell The Tyger fierce and hungrie Lyon fell Tâ—assent vnto so villainous a deed And to destroy a silly fearefull maid Vnto her death so hastily proceed As that it may by no meanes be delaid To giue her time and oppertunity To mourne and weepe for her virginity For which your great and monstrous cruelty My giltles blood will sure for vengance call Vnto the Gods that shall with Equity Iudge euery man on earth both great and small And make the truth of all things openly Appeare which now lie hidden secretly I say not this nor yet doe I complaine To haue redresse or to released be From death as if that I did feare the paine Thereof for it 's now welcomer to me Then life sith all my brethren now are dead And in this woefull towne lie buried My father slaine in this vnweldy age And I my selfe left desolate alone To see this towne by Grecians furious rage Brought into vtter desolation The which doth make my heauy heart so sore That I am able now to weepe no more And therefore wish for death to end my wo. For now to liue were vnto me a death And better t' were out of this world to go And presently to end my vitall breath Then to be led into captiuity And there with strangers liue in pouerty And now good death no longer time delay With thy most piercing dart my heart to riue Strike sure and firme I will not start away Nor with thee in no wise contend nor striue Now is the time to shew thy power on mee That ready stand here to attend for thee A mayden true and Virgin pure I am That neuer was nor would be known of man As pure in mind and thought as ere I came Out of my mothers wombe and boast I can That when that I am dead it may be sayd That Pollicene did liue and die a mayd And now vnto the Gods I doe commend My soule of whom I craue submissiuely In mercy to behold â—e and to send Me patience in this great extremity And vnto euery mayden better grace Then t' end their liues in such a dolefull case And longer time to liue in wealth and ioy Then I haue done and to defend and saue Them from all foule misfortune and annoy Beseeching all good maids of me to haue Remembrance and example by me take How they of worldly â—oy account shall make And that they would vouchsafe to shed some teares For me when I am dead and out of date To thinke how I in my most tender yeares Did end my daies by death vnfortunate And thus vnto the Gods I do commend My soule said she and so her speech did end And with that word she bowed downe her head And shut her eies attending stroke of death Which Pyrrhus with a furious spirit led Gaue her and soone bereaud her of her baeath And being dead his cruelty to show In peeces small he did her body hew As it vpon his Fathers graue did lie I muse how he could haue a heart so hard To mangle it so in peeces cruelly And not contented therewith afterward To satisfie his rage in furious mood Like Tygar fierce did take her giltles blood And cast it with his hand all ore the graue
proud in highest degree For Cupids chiefest officer is hee Who doth enforce both high and low of state In perills great and troublesome to enter And bringeth men by hard and cruellfate Vnto their ends and thousand dangers t'venter For loue of feare nor perill takes no heed So that in his proceedings he may speed But shame of other nature that consists Is alwaies bashfull cowardly and faint And dares not once so much as bend her fiâ—â—s Vnlesse it be through very meere constraint For cowardise doth make her hide her face For feare least she should fall into disgrace Much like a child of young and tender yeares As hauing neither courage will nor heart To giue assault she is so full of feares And yet full oft hath playd a peuish part And many louers crost when they should speed By counsell of his foster brother dread For feare and shame if they together lie Bereaue hot loue of heart and hardines And both together flatlie him denie The meanes or any power a word t' expresse Or once his mind to open and declare To ease himselfe of sorrow woe and care For when that loue doth boldlie thinke to speake And is vpon the very point t' assay And giue the venture forth his mind to breake Sharue sâ—eppeth out and vtterly saith nay And causes loue like Snaile his hornes to shrinke And bashfully with both his eies to winke And by that meanes he doth his suite impaire And thus is shame still froward and doth vary From hardie loue and puts him in despaire By helpe of feare which both do him contrary For if that shame fond loue would neuer cheake Loue often times his lawes would surely breake For as a horse that seeks to be at large In furious wise breaks bridle bit and raine And striues to free himselfe from Keepers charge Solouers true to ease themselues of paine Iâ— feare shame did not their wyls with-hold T' effect their lusts would be too hot and bold But all the while that shame is kept in mew Within the breast that no man doth it know No such effect of loue there doth ensue But still it makes an honest outward show For did not shame withstand loues lawlesse lust Loue out the hart all danger soone would thrust And were not shame the keeper and the gaile Of womens hearts as Authors plainely say It were in vaine the Castle to assaile Or any siege against the same to lay For in that case long parle shold not need For women hate delay and loue to speed But shame and feare loues combe so short had cut And humbled him so much in heart and mind That they had him cleane vnto silence put And he no meanes to ease himselfe could find And thus twixt loue and shame in great distresse Medea sat in care and pensiuenesse Which she could not by any meanes endure So hot she burnt within her tender brest For when as loue did her in part assure In fine to giue some comfort ease and rest Vnto her heart shame put her in a doubt With feare to thinke how that it would fall out And thus she stood still more and more in feare Twixt loue and shame as it were at a stand For shame was great but loue more force did beare And in the end did get the vpper hand For feare and shame she durst not once discouer The fire of loue which in her heart did houer Which easely she could not well shake off And so she sat perplex't without reliefe Till fortune full dispos'd at her to scoffe By turning of her wheele did ease her griefe But with vnhappy chance as she doth vse All those that put their trust in her t' abuse For when that men do thinke to sit at ease On top of fortunes wheele and nothing doubt That smiling Lady can them soone displease By giuing it but one small turne about And cause them fall as much as they did rise When they least of her treason do surmise For she is alwaies false and eke vnstable Prouoking men to things aboue their reach Which though that they t' attaine theÌ„ are not able With fained showes she can them finely catch And make theÌ„ break their brains both night day Bout haddy-wist when she with them doth play With her deceitfull face and flattery As she that well cap bring such fooles to bed And caus'd them to their own destruction hie And when that she to mischiefe hath them led She turnes her back with a pleasant smile Doth joy to thinke how she can men beguile And striuing thus within her selfe at last When reason could not win the field of rage And she sometime in musing had ore-past At length her inward torment to asswage She gaâ—n both pro contra to debate The matter with her selfe as still she sate And said in vaine Medea thou dost striue For sure one of the heauenly Gods it is That bends his force gainst thee Doth any liue That euer saw so strange a thing as this Is any thing like vnto burning loue Should I my Fathers hests esteeme aboue All measure hard truth 't is th' are hard and sore Why should I feare this strangers death so much Sith he 's a man I neuer saw before Why should his perill me at heart so tuch Vnhappy wench if thou couldst find some rest And coole the heat which burneth in my breast It were a good and blessed turne for thee For where as griefe now seemeth thee to kill Thou mightst thereby at heart well eased be But now a strange disease against my will Doth draw me on fond loue perswadeth me And though by Art what 's best for me I see Yet do I headlong follow that is worst Why should I thus so fondlie seeme to raue And on a stranger dote as one accurst And seeke a forraine husband so to haue When as at home to my content and mind I may a louer meet for me well find But who can tell if he shall liue or no And yet I pray long life may be his lot For without all offence I may pray so And wish him well although I loue him not For what offence hath Iason done to me Who pittieth not his youth should cruell be What is she but his valour might her moue But setting that aside who would not rage And burne at heart with hot and feruent loue With Iasons faire and goodlie personage My heart is toucht therewith assuredly And if that I prouide not remedy The burning breath of Buls will him so blast That with the fires his body sing'd shall be And of the seeds that he in ground shall cast A strange and vncoath haruest he shall see Of armed men that out the earth shall grow Against whom he had need his valour show And as a prey he shall likewise be set Against the fierce and cruell Dragon fell Which things if that I do not seeke to let Then must I trulie say and shew full well That
Tyger did me breed and in my brest A heart more hard then flint or steele doth rest Why rather should I not with wrathfull eie His death behold and in the same delight Why mooue I not the Buls most furiouslie Gainst him to hold a fierce and cruell fight And all the knights that shall rise out the ground Incite to set on him and him confound And that same Dragon fell which nere doth rest The Gods forbid that I such things should do Such treacherie I vtterlie detest But praier is small remedy thereto Vnlesse that I do lend my helping hand And shall I then betray my natiue land Shall I a stranger saue I do not know And giue him aid that me perchance may leaue Behind him and into his Countrie go And take an otherwise It should me grieue But if I knew he would worke me that spight And in an other woman take delight Die sure he should But he beares not the face Like one that would so great a mischiefe worke His birth his valour and his comelie grace Show that in him such treason doth not lurke And me assure he will me not deceaue Nor once forget the good he shall receaue Thereby from me Yet first he shall me plight His faith and troth according to the lawes To marrie me and keepe his couenant right Why then am I in feare without a cause To take this matter presently in hand And not delay it off nor lingring stand Iason shall thinke himselfe much bound to me And gladly for his wife will me retaine And I thereby much honoured shall be Of all the people which as now remaine Within the rich and fertile land of Greece For helping them to win the Golden fleece Shall I then leaue my Father and my kin And houshold Gods to whome such loue I beare My natiue soile and all that is therein And with a stranger saile I know not where Yea these and all that ere I haue why not My Father 's hard my Countries rude God wot The greatest good vnto my selfe will fall For that the things which I shall now forsake I may full well but meerely trifles call If I to those compare them which I take For Graecians safetie honoured shall I bee And dwell in Towns that are both rich and free Whose fame doth freshly florish euery where Mongst people that in liberall Arts excell And which of all things else I hold most dere And for all earthly treasure would not sell I shall enioy King Aesons Princely Son Whom had I once vnto my husband won Most happy then I would esteeme my state And thinke my selfe to be aduanst so hie That with my head I should be eleuate Boue all the starres within the Christ all skie But men report that rocks in Seas doe meet And gainst nature againe in sunder fleet And how Caribdis vtter enemie To ships doth cause the waues them ouethrow When vnder saile they chance to passe thereby And Scilla with whome Dogs doth euer go Out of Cicillia gulfe comes barking out And puts such as saile by in feare and doubt But what skils that if I enioy my loue And in my Iasons armes may safelie sleepe It shall me not in any wise once moue Though seas be nere so dang'rous foule deepe For while that I my louer may embrace Nought can make me to feare in any case And if that feare should chance to trouble me And make my mind perplexed therewithall My feare should onlie for my husband be Dar'st thou him then so boldlie husband call Pretendest thou Medea title gaie To thy offence thou rather shouldst say naie And see what ledwnes thou dost go about Thereby to shunne the mischiefe dangerous Before that worse vnto thee chance fall out She had no soonner in that sort said thus But shamefastnes and feare that by her staid Made franticke loue to flie away dismaid And raging mood thereof was well alaid And for the present time put cleane to flight Till spying Aesons sonne the flames that staid And seemed as they had been quenched quight Did kindle and againe began to show And with their heat did cause her cheeks to glow And scarlet blood within his face did rise And like vnto a sparke of fire that 's hid In ashes with the whisking wind out flies And by that meanes againe is kindled So did her loue which then was put to flight Renew his former force at Iasons sight For when she did behold his comelie Grace And Princelie port she judged him to bee Much faiâ—er and more beautifull in face Then ere she had when first she did him see For which her iudgement sure it doth behoue To beare with her because she was in loue Thus as Medea wrought to ease her griefe She spun the web of her aduersitie For fortune making shew to send reliefe Procures her time her mind to certefie And to vnfold the secret of her heart To Iason though it bred her woe and smart For thus it chanst when Phoebus bright did shine In th' afternoone at hottest time of day As he began then Westward to decline And by degrees his feruent heat delay King Oeta finding time conuenient In all the hast for faire Medea sent And willed her with present speed to go Into the hall Prince Iason t' entertaine And vnto him all curtesie to sho Whereby she did occasion fit obtaine When time conuenient serued to discouer Her hearts desire vnto her new found louer For when as she her father had espied With Graecian Knights in earnest speech to bee And that each man his mind was occupied To passe the time When no man did her see In courteous wise to Iason she drew neere And he to her the like with ioyfull cheere And being set together in that sort With louelie looke and countenance bening Medea glad and willing t'yeeld the fort And parle first well weighing euery thing With sighs beheld Prince Iason in the face And vnto him declar'd her doubtfull case CHAP. VI. ¶ How Iason by the onely helpe and aduise of Medea King Oetas Daughter enamored of him acchieued the conquest of the Golden Fleece PRince Iason ere I speake to thee said shee I charge thee by thy valour and thy might Thy courtesie and true nobilitie And as thou art a stout and hardy Knight Desiring much t' aduance thy noble fame By valiant acts and t'magnifie thy name That these my words with rash opinion Thou dost not censure to proceed of guile Deceitfulnesse nor yet presumption Nor from a womans heart that 's full of wile In that I am so bold and do not spare My mind to thee at large now to declare Without all manner doublenes of heart First praying thee vnto my words giue eare And marke full well what I to thee impart And faile thou not the same in mind to beare For what so e're I say it 's for thy weale As she that meanes in truth with thee to deale Two things there are