shew We will avoid the multitude of number And of our warlike Knights choose but a few Wherewith we shall our foes much more incomber Then if we had an armie huge and great For many in a field each other let This good aduise King Peleus did allow And whatsoeuer Hercules had said T' effect the same did make a solemne vow Then Hercules to haue and get more aid To Pilon went wherein a Duke of fame As then did rule that Nestor had to name A Prince for wit and valour magnified Yet of a hastie fierce and angrie mood And in some sort to Hercules allied Whose comming when he once had vnderstood He was contented for his Nephews sake The Troyan warre with him to vndertake So Hercules the day and time would set And personally himselfe therein to be Then Hercules no further time to let With present speed returnd to Thessalie Whereas the Graecians Navie then did stay Attending time from thence to saile away Where after counsell tane they did agree That Peleus should be generall of the field And that each Lord and Prince of high degree While that their Troian warre did last should yeeld To his command as Soueraigne of them all And so they stayd till wind did them befall CHAP. VIII ¶ How Iason Hercules and the Graecian Princes assembled to make warre against the Towne of Troy to reuenge the discurtesie done to them by Laomedon King of Troye when they sailed to Colchos WHen as the temperate dewes of Aperill With many a sweet comfortable shower Into the ground full deepely do distill To raise the grasse and beauty of each flower And Phoebus mounting the celestiall spheare In Aries doth place his beames most cleare And in the spring which yerely doth befall When as the calends of the month of May Do celebrate the Equinoctiall And make an equall length of night and day And euery branch and tree to spring are seen And after vading hew shew fresh and greene When Snow that on the mountaine tops doth lie By heat of Phoebus beames dissolues away And when a vapery balme ascends on hie Out from the pleasant flower at prime of day And that the root by Winter cold kept in Recouering sap to spring forth doth begin And mount into each flower hearbe and tree And by the force of Sols most burning heat Infuseth in each branch humidity Assisted by some showers of raine most sweet When siluer springs cast forth their currant stream Into the Riuers glistring gainst Sonne beames And ere the Son new greene had sent againe Vnto each hearbe and grasse vpon the ground When as the pleasant Nightingale t'explaine Her ioy within the shadie woods is found With sweet and amorous noats a loud to sing And makes the eire with sound thereof to ring To welcome in the faire and pleasant spring Which doth delight all creatures that are Vpon the earth and comforts euery thing Which Winter hard ore-whelmd with cold care And when the winds did lessen calme swage The Seas that by cold Winters storms did rage At that same time the Graecians did begin To enter Ship and towards Troye to saile Well rigged man'd furnisht with each thing That for the wars might them as then availe And when the weather serued them to goe They put to Sea with braue and warlike shoe And made such hast by aid Neptune them lent That in few daies they saild vnto the Towne Of Troye whereto their course as then was bent At euening when the Sun was almost downe And there cast anker thinking it the best Within their Ships that night to take their rest And when the Larke did in the morning sing With pleasant noats to welcome Phebus bright â—o set their men on land they did begin And mark't their ground and rais'd their tents vpright Before the Towne of Troy ere they it wist For that they might as then do what they list And set a watch meane time in euery place To guard their Campe vntill the Sun most bright Had in the morning shew'd his glistring face And on the tents had cast his crimson light And then they all agreed with one consent To make repaire vnto King Peleus tent And being there as then together met King Peleus causing silence to be made When euery one in his degree was set With courage bold vnto them spake and said Most worthy Graecian Princes high and low Whose Knightly force the world throghout doth know Reported is as far as shines the Sun In any place it neuer yet was seen That Graecians haue an enterprise begun Which by them hath not well effected been And they victoriously with Lawrell crownd As in the ancient Histories is found Then valiant Lords and Princes of renowne Thinke on the wrong that vnto you was wrought By this discourteouâ— King Laomedon When as no â—urt to him by you was thought Which to requight sith now you do pretend See that your selues you valiantly defend And let vs now with all the speed we may Prepare our battailes in a readines And setting on them straight without delay Shew forth our valours and our worthines But let me first three things to you declare Which at this time for vs most needfull are One is that by discretion and aduise Our battailes we in such sort doe ordaine That no disorder may amongst vs rise That by the same aduantage none be tane Against vs by our foes to our disgrace And we thereby constrain'd to leaue the place The second is that we our valours show And let no manner feare possesse our heart But stoutly let vs gainst our enemies goe And see we play the valiant souldiers part Couragiously in battaile to endure And to our foes eternall shame procure The third and last is that we striue to gaine The fame and name our Ancestors haue held And valiantly the victory obtaine Against our foes and driue them out the field For if by Knighthood through our hardines We vanquish them and put them to distresse We win not only praise and high renowne Which to a valiant mind is chiefest blisse But if we once may enter in the Towne Of treasure great we surely cannot misse Which in the same is now there to be found For certaine 't is it doth therein abound Which maugre all our foes we will conuay Into our ships and so with ioyfull cheare When wind and weather serues without delay The same with vs into our Countries beare Therefore in hope this treasure now to win With courage bold t'assaile them lets begin Whereto most valiant Hercules reply'd And did King Peleus counsell much commend And said 't is truth and cannot be deny'd That of beginning wise proues happy end But now to bring our purpose to effect My counsell is that we do not neglect Before that it appeareth to be day To muster all our men vpon this plaine And being arm'd with all the speed we may Our forces to diuide in battailes twaine Whereof the
blowes of fierce Palamides strong hand Who all that day had fought so valiantly And wounded kild and brauely beaten down The Troians that at last he made them flie In all the hast they could vnto the towne With cries and shouts and in great feare doubt Whereat Prince Hector mou'd in hast came out With countenaÌ„ce fierce like Mars the god of warr As beeing of all Worthies worthiest That ever any earthly woman bare And of all men the strong'st and hardiest For as the Sun with beames most cleare bright Excells the starres so did this worthy Knight Surpasse all other Knights that ever were And sure it was a most delightfull sight To see him arm'd so brauely he did beare Them when he road into the field to fight Wherein he was a Load-stone and a guide To all and every Knight both farre and wide Who entring richly arm'd into the field Vpon a lusty strong and goodly steed Did for his armes beare on a golden shield Three furious Lyons passant as I read But what the colours were I doe not know The which did make a faire and gallant show Vpon the brest of that most worthy Knight When as with all his troopes he entered Amongst the Greeks at whose aproach the sight Of him alone abasht them all he led Them through the thickst of them so furiously And therewithall such mightie blowes let flie And kild beat downe and wounded them so fast That no man could his mightie force withstand And in despight of all the Greeks he past Couragiously with glistring sword in hand And severed all their rancks and neuer left Till hundreds of their liues he had bereft Still ryding too and fro throughout the field And beat and bare downe all that in his way He found and at the last as he beheld Prothesilaus who valiantly that day Kild and pursued the Troians furiously And beat them downe with extreame cruelty Such mortall hatred vnto them he had And to his valiant chivalry tooke heed And saw what slaughter of his men he made He was so mou'd that straight he turn'd his steed To him and with his bloody sword he gaue Him such a blow that it in sunder claue His helmet and his head and did not rest But past through every sinew bone and vaine That were within his body and his brest And forcibly did cut him cleane in twaine And with that fatall blow and deadly wound His body in two parts fell to the ground On each side of his horse Which done he road Amongst the Grecian Knights couragiously And bath'd his trenchant sword within their blood So that as farre as ere they could him spie They fled to saue their liues for none durst stand To feele the waight of his victorious hand They feard it so and more did it admire It t' was so strong and of such passing might And for that cause they askt and did inquire What Knight he was that did so brauely fight Supposing that in all the world so round A worthier Knight was not for to be found Vnlesse it were Prince Hector And at last They felt too well by proofe that it was he Who in his daies all other Knights surpast As th' onely Myrror of all chivalry For none of all the Grecians durst adventer Against him hand to hand in fight to enter Of all that day so terribly he beat And draue them downe before them to the strand Sore wearied wounded breathlesse and all wet Close to the Sea whereas he let them stand And like a most triumphant Knight went backe To Troy againe his rest a while to take Who being gone the Greeks somewhat releast Of former feare perplexitie and griefe Began againe to vow and to protest If fortune would vouchsafe them some reliefe With valiant hearts to venture life and lim Vpon their foes the field againe to win The which from morning that the fight begon With great and extreame labor losse and paine Eight times that day they valiantly had won And lost the same as many times againe For as Dame fortunes slippery wheele turn'd round So they that day did win and lose there ground But Hectors valiant entry in the field Was th' onely thing that did them most dismay Who spight their hearts â—â— such a bay them held That none of them before his face durst stay For he alone with sword in hand did driue Them to the place where first they did ariue And closely held them there with great despight As long as he did in the field remaine Which was till that it gan to draw to night At which time he returnd to Troy againe But then more Greeks vpon the shoare ariu'd With cruell fierce Achilles which reuiu'd And comforted the Grecians hearts so well That they againe assaild the Troians And by Achilles ayd which did excell In valor all the other Grecians They beate them backe and draue them to the plaine And by that meanes did win the field againe In which conflict Achilles did pursue The Troians in such wise that he onely For his part many hundreds of them slew And at that time had in his company Three thousand knights in glistring armor bright Who likewise were so hot and fierce in fight That with their Prince th' only champion Of all the Greeks they â—lew their foes so fast And cruelly not sparing any one That many of the Troians fled in hast To saue their liues such was their rage and ire Which in the Grecians hearts did burne like fire Against the Troian Knights but specially Achilles tooke great pleasure and delight To beate them downe and to behold them lie In heapes vpon the ground and with despight That day to die and bath his sword in blood Which in the plaine ran like vnto a flood Such hatred in his heart he did conceiue And still increast it with such cruelty That nothing but their deaths could it bereaue Out of his mind the which to satisfie He never left with all his Knights so fast To kill beat downe and wound them that at last With dreadfull noyse and cries he made them run Vnto the gates of Troy where while they fought To saue their liues and therewithall to sâ—un His fierce and cruell blowes it holp them nought For that meane time the Grecians got to land Withall their power and force and from the straÌ„d Marcht with so great a multitude of men That th' onely sight of them did terrifie The Troians fearefull hearts but much more when They saw that with most great extremitie They could not chuse but must perforce abide A hard and cruell fight on every side Which by the Grecian Knights couragiously Was giuen so that with hearts discouraged And cleane dismaid they were constraind to 〈◊〉 Into the towne where as they entered Achilles did so hotly them pursue That many of them before the gates he slew And at that time made such occision And slaughter of the Troians that at last It would haue
one King Peleus the graue The other stout King Telamon shall haue And I my selfe and Iason secretly With one third part of our approoued bands Will closely mongst the vines and bushes lie For when as Laomedon vnderstands That we prepared are to giue battaile To issue forth of Troye he will not faile T' encounter vs with all his power and might Supposing gainst our forces for to preuaile And when with vs he commeth downe to fight Duke Nestor with the first wing shall assaile And set on him and Castor next shall go To aid them when occasion serues thereto And with the third King Peleus still shall lie To aid them both and while he 's occupied And little doth suspect our pollicie Ere we by him or his shall be espyed Iason and I will closely wheeele about And take the Towne of Troye I do not doubt At vnawares whereof we cannot faile If that we worke with good aduise and skill And gainst our foes shall presently preuaile With little losse and soone obtaine our will This is the counsell I can giue saith he And 't is the best if you will credite me Whereto they all agreed and euery one With speed did arme themselues all that night Did rest till that the Sun in morning shone And then with courage bold set forth to fight The battaile with the Troians in such wise As Hercules did them before aduise CHAP. IX ¶ Of the battaile fought by Hercules and the Graecians against Laomedon King of Troye wherein Laomedon was slaine and the Towne of Troye taken sacked and vtterly rased to the ground THe newes to King Laomedon once sent That all the Graecians power were come on land And marched in great hast with full intent T' assaile and giue him battaile out of hand And to subdue and vtterly destroy Himselfe his Country the Towne of Troy He nothing fearing them nor all their might Made no delay but presently went out Accompani'd with many a noble Knight And all the power that he could make throughout The Land of Troye and being entered Into the field whereas he mustered His men and them in sundry battels plast As he for that time thought convenient Straight marched forth and with his army past In order gainst the Graecians fully bent With all his force couragiously to fight And driue them thence againe if that he might Cleane voyd of feare nor yet in any doubt That Hercules an ambush closely layd And secretly with it had marcht about Behind the Towne and purposely there stayd T' assault it when Laomedon was gone With all his power against the Greeks and none Or very few left in 't to keepe the same And had not gone farre forward but he spied The Graecian hoast that brauely gainst him came At t'head whereof Duke Nestor first did ride And fiercely on the Troyans force set Where when on either side the battails met And with their swords and speares together ran Th' encounter at the first so hot was found That t' was the losse and end of many a man On either side that gasping on the ground Among the trampling horses feet did lie And there did end their daies in miserie At which time all the field throughout did sound With noyse of drums and furious stroaks that wâ—â—â— With swords and Lances giuen and all the ground Did shake with horses feet that fiercely beare Their masters on their backs some deadly hurt Some trailing them sore bleeding throgh the dâ—â— In great distresse and then you might haue seen The faire greene fields dyed into crimson red With streams of bloud the which that day had been Betweene the Greekes and Troians fiercely shed For many a valiant Knight then lost his life And certainly in that same mortall strife The Graecians had been all discomfited They were that time pursued so furiously If Castor with his Knights which he then led Had not come in to helpe them speedily And at that time so valiantly assaild The Troyans and so much gainst them preuaild That many a worthy Troyan Knight was slaine And such was then the fight that where before The Troians victors were the Greekes againe Recouered ground and beat them backe so sore That they were forst dispight their harts to 〈◊〉 If Laomedon had not spedily Relieued them and furiouslie assaild The Greekes and made such way on euerie side And in shortspace so much gainst them preuaâ—â—d That they before him fled and durst not byde His strockes that were so terrible and strong For who soere he hit was laid along Vpon the ground and riding to and fro He made away before him like a lane And mongst the thickest of the prease did go And neuer left vntill that he had slane So many Greekes that by his valiantnes He put them once againe to such distres That they to shun his sword away did flie And likely had at that time lost the field If Peleus had not come and valiantly With trenchant blade which in his hand he held Assailed wounded and vnhorst and kild The Troyans so that all the plaine was fild With them that he alone had ouercome And in such furious wise road too and fro From place to place that glad to make him roome The Troyans gan t'recoile and durst not show Themselues to him nor come within his sight And at that time he shewd such passing might That cleving sheilds heads arms legs in sunder He made such havocke mongst the Troyan bands That to behold him every man did woonder And glad was he that could escape his hands He put them to so great extreamitie But when King Laomedon saw them flie Before King Peleus sword it did him grieue And riding backe amongst his troops did pray Them turne againe and he would them relieue And they content at his request did stay And where before they had begun to flie He made the Greeks recoyle so furiously That in despight of all their power and force The Troyans had the vpperhand and slew Great store of Greekes and many did vnhorse And made them fight on foot till Nestor knew Laomedon that fought so valiantly To be the King of Troye and presently Road towards him and when the King did see Him come so fast he turnd his horse about And spurd it in such hast so might lie That euery pricke he gaue the bloud gusht out The horses sides and when with him he met His puissant Launce into his brest he set And ran at him with such a mighty force That with the blow his Launce in pieces brake Yet hurt him not nor moou'd him off his horse Wherewith Duke Nestor stept a little backe And to requite Laomedon therefore Did with his Launce which in his hand he bore Giue him throgh sheild brest a mighty wound Supposing that therewith he had him slaine Because as then he fell vpon the ground But he no whit abasht rose vp againe And drew his sword and like a valiant Knight Advanst himselfe
were one of your Royall blood The which I know for all your worldlie good You would by no meanes wish nor gladlie see Wherefore by mine aduise I thinke it best That Thoas should well kept and garded bee Within this towne and quietlie let rest Least as I said to you before it may Fall out that one of vs another day Might hap into their hands and prisoner be And so for him we might haue ours againe Which otherwise if with extreamitie We do proceed we never should obtaine This is my counsell in this case said he And such as I do thinke the best to be Whereto most worthy Hector did consent And with him was of like opinion And said that he no will had nor intent That any wrong to Thoas should be done While he in Troy then prisoner was though he Nere had deseru'd of them well vs'd to be Paris King Priams second son likewise When as his brother Hector had declar'd His mind said vnto them that his aduise Was that he wisht King Thoas should be spar'd And not put vnto death although he said To doe the same they need not be afraid But Deiphobus of cleane contrarie mind Vnto his brethren twaine did say he saw No cause why Thoas should such favor find At Troyans hands who by their marshall law Might iustlie for his merits make him die Being as he was their vtter enemie Whereto with courage bold youthfull heart Prince Troyelus did seeme somewhat t' agree With Deiphobus and said that for his part He did no cause nor any reason see Why they should spare their enemie that sought Their overthrow and to that end had brought His forces fore their towne as fullie bent To worke their vtter ruine and decay But yet said he it is not my intent To counsell you to deale with him that way Least as my Lord Aeneas saith we might Perchance thereby procure our owne despight Whose counsell Lord Anthenor did commend And said that to shew such extreamitie Of marshall Law and rigor to extend To him could not be done advisedlie For that said he there is none of vs all But may into our foes hands chance to fall And with the selfe same rigor vsed be That vnto him we shewd Wherefore I say If that by my advise you 'le ruled be It 's best to let him safe in prison stay And vse him well that we like curâ—esie May haue when need requires of th' enemy Pollidamas his sonne with all the rest Of those that in their Counsell chamber were With one consent did say they thought it best That he should still be kept a prisoner And as Aeneas said be vsed well Till they saw how fortune with theÌ„ would deale But Priamus to wrath and furie bent Did not agree to their opinion And would by no meanes therevnto consent But still maintain'd his first conclusion And said that if the Greeks should once perceiue That we of life do Thoas not bereaue But spare him though vnto that end it were They would report to our no little shame That we dare not attempt to do 't for feare We haue of them and so will vs defame But nere the lesse said he sith you 're content I will though loath vnto the same consent And therewithall their counsell vp they brake And then Aeneas and Anthenor went With Troyelus into the hall and spake With Helena whereas some time they spent With her and with Queene Hecuba that bare Her company with many Ladies faire That with her the Queene then present were Where Troyelus and Aeneas did perswade Queene Helena to set aside all feare Which by the meanes of war that great she had And she although much discontent she were In outward shew did seeme with ioyfull cheare And countenance demure being glad To welcome them as to their state was fit But Hecuba that nere her equall had For vertue bountie eloquence and wit While they vnto Queene Helena so spake Desired them for that faire Ladies sake And for the weale and safety of them all And of the towne that they would not adventer Themselues in field what ever might befall Too farre among the enemies to enter Nor put themselues in danger carelesly And yet besought them to fight valiantly To saue and keepe the towne from that distresse Which th' enemy did seeke to bring 't into The which she said she fear'd she must confesse Although she hope 't they should it never do And so of her and of the Ladies all The knights tooke leaue went out of the hall Meane time the Greeks that morning as I said While Priam in the towne a counsell held Did murmure great sorow mongst them made As in their tents they lay in th' open field To thinke vpon the losse which they sustaind And all of them together much complaind And grieued for the death of many a man Of great account slaine by the cruelties Since that most cruell deadly war began And valor of their Troyan enemies And for the hunger cold and thirst also With sorow thought vnquietnes and woe Which they had had and felt all for nought Or at the least for causes very small If that the ground thereof were truely sought This was the speech and words in generall That through the Grecians campe at that time ran And currantly did passe from man to man But specially amongst the poorer sort Of soldiers who in war most commonly Constrained are t' endure and to support The brunt of all and haue no remedy For though they do find fault grieue therfore Yet are they not relieued nere the more And so they did complaine make great mone To thinke vpon the mischiefe they endured And which to them the Troyan knights had done Thogh't were theÌ„selues that had the same procured Vnto their owne decay and might it shun If they had not that bloudy war begun Which to encrease the next ensuing night So cloudy darke and thicke as pitch became That neither Moone nor star appear'd in sight And such a storme did happen on the same Of thunder lightning wind raine that fell Vpon them as if all the fiends of hell Conspired had their vtter overthrow And therewithall the waters did so rise That all the field and plaine did overflow And with the wind that blew in furious wise Their tents were overthrowne they compeld To leaue the place which all that while they held By reason that the water grew so hie And in that sort the Greeks in great distresse Compelled were all that same night to lie With hearts repleate with griefe and heauinesse In that great storme of thunder wind raine Vntill the water did go backe againe The wind appeas'd and day began t' appeare Next morning when the Sun began to rise Which made the aire shew beautifull and cleare And draue away the clouds out of the skies And with the force and feavor of his heat Dried vp the ground which was
exceeding weet And made the moysture voyd out of the plaine At which time somewhat eased of their sorrow They did with speed their tents raise vp againe And ioyfully with courage bold that morrow Did arme themselues in braue and warlike wise With full intent t'assaile their enemies And when the field was thorow dried againe With Phoebus beames the Troyans left the towne And valiantly came forth into the field And were no sooner to the Greeks come downe But stout Achilles met them in the way And was the first that th'onset gaue that day Who entring in the field without abode In furious wise set spurs vnto his horse And valiantly to strong King Hupon road At whome he stroke with such a mighty force That with his Launce he gaue him such a wound That dead he fell therewith vpon the ground Then Hector with King Octamene did meet And each the other valiantly assaild But Hector with such furie on him sâ—t That neither force nor armor strong preuaild But with his Launce he pierst his heart in twaine That he therewith fell dead vpon the plaine At which time furious Diomede did wound The worthy valiant Prince King Zantippus So sore that he fell dead vpon the ground And then in furious wise King Cedius And valiant King Epistrophus his brother Assaild and set on Hector both together And first of all Epistrophus began To spurre his horse with mighty speare in hand And with the same at Hector fiercely ran And spightfully at him did curse and band And many raging words to him did giue Which Hector at the heart so much did grieue That he at King Epistrophus let fâ—ye So great a blow and with such mighty force That with the same he kild him furiously And as he fell downe dead off from his horse He bad him goe vnto the fiends of hell And there such bragging words vnto them tell For here said he there 's no man doth them feare Nor any whit at all for them doth care Which words when as King Cedius chanst to heare He did in heart like to a mad man fare And for his death so grieued was in thought That with the knights that he with him had broght He did on Hector set with great despight And him on euery side enclosed round While he against his enemies did fight And forcibly stroke him vnto the ground And while with them on foot he fighting stands King Cedius with his sword in both his hands At Hector smote a blow most furiously Intending to haue slaine him without faile But Hector watched him so narrowly That all the force he had could not preuaile For ere his puissant blow descended downe Hector sore moou'd with indignation Lift vp his sword and vnto him did giue A blow the which his arme cleane off did smight And with a second blow did him bereaue Of life and all and while he thus did fight Aeneas like a Lyon furious Couragiously slew King Amiphimacus Then to the field came in King Menelaus And after followed stout king Thelamon And then the valiant Duke Menesteus And worthy valorous king Machaon And last of all king Agamâ—mnon went With them t'assaile the Troyans fully bent Wdo valiantly themselues did long defend Against the Greeks and held them at a bay With equall fight vntill that in the end As it did grow to noone-time of the day When they had each the other long assaild The Greeks gainst theÌ„ of Troy so much preuaild That forcibly they made them to retire And backe to goe of meere necssity And while Achilles fought with furious ire He slew King Philon with great cruelty And Hector to requite the Greeks therefore Despight of them did slaie king Alphenor And then another King cald Dorius And did the Greeks so valiantly withstand That like a Lyon fierce and furious By vertue of his strong and mighty hand The Troyans many Grecian knights did slay And valiantly forst them to fly away And then out of the towne of Troy there came The worthy King Epistrophus that brought A gallant band of men and with the same So furiously against the Grecians fought That by maine force he made them leaue the plain And giue vnto the Troyans place againe For with him in his company he had An Archer of such strange proportion And monstrously and woonderfully made That men had him in admiration For from the middle vpward to the crowne He was a man and from the middle downe Like to a horse he was proportioned In each respect for forme and feature His skin it was all hairy rough and red And yet although this monstrous creature Had man-like face yet did his color show Like burning coles that in the fire glow His eyes they did two furnases resemble As bright as fier whereby all that him met The very sight of him did make them tremble And from their hearts deepe sighs for feare to fet His face it t' was so fowle and horrible And looke so vgly fierce and terrible His manner was to goe into the field Vnarmed of all weapons whatfoere And never vsed sword speare axe nor shield But in his hand a mighty bow did beare And by his side a sheafe of arrowes hung Bound fast together with a lether thong Wherewith he did his enemies withstand And shot so strong so mightely and sure That wheresoere he fought on sea or land No armor could against his shot endure Nor any horse how fierce soere he were Durst looke on him so much they did him feare For of him they no sooner had a fight He was in all mens eies so odioâ—s But they would run from him with all their might As from a Divell fowle and monstrous Nor any man though neare so strong a Knight Could raine or hold his horse by force or might If that he once this monster chaust to see But furiously it would start back and fling And neighing loud and snorting way did flee This hideous beast did many Grecians bring With arrowes sharpe and strong vnto their end For armour could them not from him defend So that not any one durst him abide When they him saw so much they did him doubt But spedely away from him did ride Till in the end that it by chance fell out While that the Troians by his ayd did chase And slay and driue the Greeks before their face Vnto their tents with extreame feare and dread He did by fortune meet full in the face Hard by a tent with valiant Diomede Who for because it was in such a place Where he could not this hideous moster shun Vnlesse he should in greater danger run For at his backe so many Troians were That flie from him he could not any way But must of them be slaine or taken there When as he saw he must of force needs stay With courage bold he did vnto him go Bâ—t ere that he could strike at him a blow The monster let an arrow fiercely flie At Diomede and gaue him
you could not faile To your perpetuall honor and your fame But win a great and noble victorie On them and make the Grecians by the same For evermore ore them triumphantlie To raigne and while the world doth still endure To Troyans euerlasting shame procure But to his words Achilles tooke no heed Nor yet of Hebers bodie seemd to haue The least respect though 't lay before him dead Nor in a manner leaue vnto them gaue To speake their minds for 't was to him allone Whats'ere they said for counsell he wold none But like a man that 's deafe and dumbe he stood And made as though he did not heare at all And neuer seemd in countenance nor mood In any passion for the same to fall For in one eare no sooner entred't was But out againe at th' other it did passe Herein a man may see a louers state That wholly therevnto addicts his mind Who rather then he 'le prooue vnfortunate And in his loue desireth ioy to find All honor worship manhood valiantnes Strength reputation might and hardines Encrease of vertue fame and victorie Knighthood renowne and every other blisse Glorie in armes and all activitie He will forsake and count them none of his And as vaine toyes will lay them all aside When he in Cupids bands himselfe hath ti'd Such power Cupid hath on him to seaze When once his heart within his snares is cought That he is loath to anger or displease In word or deed in countenance or thought Her whome he doth esteeme his Lady deare For with a looke of her faire eies and cleare She onlie t is can daunt his pride of heart For Venus with her flattring tong can bind His sences thoughts and euery other part So strictly that nought else in his mind But his sweet loue and so doth make him lie In Cupids bands restraind from libertie Which was the onlie cause without all doubt Why all that day Achilles was not seene Abroad nor t'aide the Grecians would go out Into the field for he fear'd Pollicene Least she should be offended if he went Into the field and gainst the Troyans bent His force and so should seeme her enemie Whome he esteemd his deare and speciall friend And while he lay in this extreamitie And with conceits of her the time did spend The Grecians fought against them of the towne Till Phoebus with his Chariot went downe At which time all the Troyans did begin Because they wanted light to go their way With speed to Troy but ere they entred in Yong Troyelus and Paris made them stay While they tooke vp Deiphobus whom they found Complaining sore of his most deadly wound And when they saw him in that pittious case They could not choose but weepe sore lament And with salt teares bedew'd their eies and face And were so fild with griefe and discontent Within their hearts and did such sorrow make As if they would haue died for his sake And while that they in this sort by him stood He waxt so weake that he began to die For he had lost such quantity of blood That t'saue his life there was no remedy Yet while his valiant brethren did lament Because they saw his vitall breath was spent He lifted vp his eies and when he heard That Paris King Pallamides had slaine He seem'd therewith to be a little cheard And to release the sore and deadly paine He bad them draw his speare out of his wound Which done he fell down dead vpon the ground Whose body straight they bare in mournfull wise Into the towne with great solemnity I need not shew what sorrow and what cries For him was made with much extreamity By all the men and women in the towne As also for the death of Sarpedowne And specially by old King Priamus Queene Hecuba his sisters Pollicene Cassandra and his brother Helenus With other of his worthy bretheren This shall suffice that vnto you I tell That 't was most great as you may iudge full well And to be briefe for him and Sarpedon King Priamus in hast two toombs did make In sumptuous wise of pollisht Marble stone And when that they were finisht for their sake He made a great and costly funerall Whereat the people all in generall Were present did mourne make great mone According to their old and ancient right And while that this within the towne was done The Grecians with all speed and hast they 〈◊〉 Did make a tombe for their most worthy 〈◊〉 Pallamides and at his burying Did vse such ancient customes as they had Amongst them and their sorrow to expresse Great griefe and extreame dolor for him made And in that sort brought him with heauinesse In royall wise vnto his sepulture And then because they might not long endure Without a Prince to be their gouernor By full and free election of them all They made King Agamemnon who before Had held that place and rul'd them Generall And chiefe Commander of their hoast againe In stead of King Pallamides then slaine Which done on either side without delay The Troyans strongly arm'd did issue out Of Troy and went into the field next day T' assaile the Greeks who without feare or doubt In warlike wise and face to face them met But Troyelus on them so fiercely set That by his valor great and mighty force The Greeks durst not abide before his face For he so many of them did vnhorse And did begin so hoâ—ely them to chase That where so ere he road the field about They fled from him in mighty feare doubt And with him were the Knights that he then led Yong lusty and well arm'd with speare shield Who so much Grecian bloud that day did shed That all the ground showd red within the field And streames of blood ran downe along the plaine At which time there did fall so great a raine And huge a mist that men could hardly see But most of all vpon the Grecians side By means whereof and with th'extremitie And smart of wounds which they did then abide And through the valiant proweâ—â—e and the might Of Troyelus the strong and hardie Knight They were constraind to shun his crueltie And to avoyd the storme which then did rise To saue their liues in mightie feare to flie And to giue place vnto their enemies Ran to their tents some succor there to find The Troyans them pursuing fast behind In cruell wise and with exceeding pace But for because the storme did still encrease At that time they no longer held the chase But both from it and fighting did surcease And entred into Troy and there did stay Till morning when the Larke did sing next day That Troyelus betimes did issue out Determining the Greeks againe t'assaile Where in the field as he did ride about Among his foes he did so much preuaile Gainst them that who so euer he did smight With his stroÌ„g sword was maim'd or kild ouâ— right And in that furious
were wholy done in vaine And those that honour sought had lost their paine And time by length of yeares and ages past Would haue defaced name and honor cleane Of Conquerors for what can ever last Vnlesse record thereof were to be seene Which Clarkes for which they merit and deserue Continuall praise haue sought still to preserue For Histories and Bookes are sayd to bee The keyes of learning memory and skill In them and by them all men plainely see What hath forepast and what is good or ill Witnesse the fall of Thebes the ancient Towne In Stacies Booke for truth at large set downe Where you may read and see how Polinece Was nere content with Etocles a day Nor would like louing Brother liue in peace Till Thebes Towne was brought vnto decay And hâ—w Tedeus through that mortall ctrife And by dissention was bereft of life How Oedipus with sorrow griefe and woe Did loose his eies so bitterly he wept And how the Smoâ—kes devided were iâ— two Of fiers made when funerall feasts was kept Which fier brothers hatred did engender And death to both for iust reward did render Mine author Guydo in like sort doth show As by his Booke most plainely it appeares Of all the Troian Princes overthrow While Greeks besieg'd the towne so many yeares In very truth and though t is long since past No time nor age the storie hath defast For maugre them you may it still behold In Bookes set downe most plainely to mens eies For truth by lying will not be controld Though enviously some seeke it to disguise Transforming all the substance of the matter By fayned tales dissembling to flatter As Homer did who truth would seeme to show Yet covertly did seeke the same to hide And by vntruth which he full well did know With Artificiall words doth truth deride Who seeming Greecians honour to defend Doth faine the Gods from heaven to descend In shape of men and openly were knowne To helpe the Greeks against the Troians fight And many such vntruths by him are showne In sugred words and phrases for delight Pretending so his malice for to hide For falsehood seekes in darkenes to abide The cause why he the Greeks so smothly prais'd Was for that he vnto them was allide And therefore sought their glory to haue rais'd But such as loue the truth cannot abide Gainst conscience for to praise or discommend Where no desert their action may defind But Cupid as the Poets faine is blind And giues his doome more after lust then law So Sicophants as we by proofe doe find Commend and praise the men they never saw By false report extolling them to skie Of whom in heart they know full well they lie Whereby such men as never merit faâ—e But iust disgrace are highly magnified And they contrary that deserue good name Are either not remembred or beli'd For favor now doth beare so great a sâ—ay That true desert is driven cleane away Ovidius Naso likewise hath devisâ— A Booke in verse of Troian â—â—â—s to show Part true part false but in such sort disguisd That who so reads it can by no meanes know Which way to sound the deapth of his intent His phraise therein's so misâ—ically bent Like story also Virgill doth declare When of Aeneas traâ—â—â—les he doth write Where truth to tell in part he doth not spare Although sâ—â—â— time he seemth to delight In Homers course with Rethoricke to glose And truth with falsehood often to compose Dares an ancient Author first was found And Ditus eke of Troian warres to write Who both set down the truth perfect grouÌ„d As being there and did behold the fight And thogh their books in seuerall language be Yet they are knowen in all things to agree The Books in time to Athens being brought Salustius cousen one Cornelius By diligent enquirie out them sought And being of a mind industrious Translated them with great earnest care In each respect as th' Authors doth declare His only fault was that he did not write The story full at large as he it found But â—ure he did in breuity delight Els would he not haue spar'd to shew the grouÌ„d And first beginning of that mortall strife Which cost so many thousand men their life And how the Greeks came both by sea laÌ„d The nuÌ„ber of their â—en and of their ships The manner how they first did take in hand To plant their siege all this he ouerskips How envy was the root and cause of all The mischiefe that on Troy at last did fall How many Kings and Princes thither went In warlike wise to win them high renowne How they agreed all with one conscent To see the full subâ—erâ—iâ—â—â— of the Towne What armes they â—are what men they did retaine Who in the siege did longest there remaine How one the other Knightly did assaile How many valiant Princes lost their life How of t they met in field to giue battaile How hatred still increast and bred new strife Nor of their deaths â—e â—iteth not the yeare Thus much he leaueth out as doth appeare Which lately causd an Author to arise Whose truth in writing is not to be blaâ—'d That tooke in hand this stâ—â—iâ— iâ— such wise As that of Ditus and of Dares nam'd He hath not sought one sentence to neglect Nor yet in ought the meaning to reiect This Clarkethat wrote so true so iust so well Was Guydo of Columpna by his name Who in sweet Rethoricke did so much excell That he enricht his storie with the same So Eloquently hath he set it downe That he deserueth praise and high renowne For which in heart and voice I will not stay To giue him praise and commendation due And with applause in truth and rightly say He was the flower most certainely and true Of all that sought this storie to compile For wit and soveraignty of stile Whose treces as I can I will obserue If God vouchsafe me time and grace to do 't And graunt my labour may of him deserue The Princely praise that first provokt me to 't Beseeching all that see 't with heart mind Not spare to speake if any fault they find And with good will I shall amend the same For many eies may see much more then one Correct then freely where you find the blame But find not fault whereas deserueth none And so in hope I shall your favours win With your support this storie I le begin THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. 1. I How Peleus King of Thessalie lost his people men women and Children by diuine punishment and after by prayer vnto the Gods obtained others IN Thessalie King Peleus once did raigne For vertue held a Prince of worthy fame Whose subiects as mine Author doth explaine Were Myrmidons so called by their name Of whose beginning Ouid doth rehearse The History at large in Latine verse And saith that in that Countrie downe did fall So furious a tempest from the skie
And welcome grefe displeasure and annoy And in this sort she stood and their she staid While Iason fought against the Monsters fell Who comming to the place was halfe afraid To see the Bulls cast fire like fiends of hell Out of their mouths But to withstand the power And force thereof his body was allore Annointed with an oyntment precious That able was to keepe him from the flame And fury of that fier dangerous Which from their mouthes so furiously then came Which otherwise had been impossible For that it was exceeding terrible Or to escape the huge and monstrous smoake Within the aire did rise so thicke and darke That it was able any man to choake Had not Medea taught him how to warke And how to shon each danger whatsoere By vertue of the Image he did beare For by the same his courage so surpast That when the Bulls with open throat did gape And fier out of their mouthes most fierce cast He did their furie easily escape And And all th' infection of the troubled aire Soone cleansd made it show both bright faire For gainst the fowle and stinking smoake and fume Which round about the aire so thicke did flie And able was mans body to consume The Image was a perfect remedy And more to keepe his mind from feare dread He often times within his booke did read For that the prayer so great of vertue was That it could saue him from all wretchednesse Yet for a further suretie in that case And to preserue his life from all distresse The liquor he into the mouthes did cast Of both the Bulls which closd their throts ful fast And by the vertue thereof had so glu'd And shut them vp that presently he staid The filthy smoake and it so well eschu'd That all the thicke and foggy clowds decayd And vanished away the christall skie Began t' appeare with faire and chrimson die Which don he boldly ventured to take And draw the Bulls forth by their hornes full sone Who then gainst him durst no resistance make Which he no sooner had performd and done But straight he yoakt to the plow theÌ„ bound And draue them forth to eare and til the ground Wherein they wrought so well and were so tame That what he would they did and neuer staid And as he was enioyned to the some They plowd the ground and it in furrowes laid In such good sort and made it smoth plaine That ready t' was t'receaue each kind of graine Then like a Champion boldly he did goe Vnto the Dragon fierce and monstrous Which was a beast most huge in shape and shoe Fowle Horrible and deadly venemous With scales as hard and strong as any steele That dint of sword or speare â—â— could not feele Whose breath then plague was more contagious T' effect therewith the cleare and pleasant skie And his strong poyson so outragious That whosoere it toucht was sure to die And from his mouth such flames of fier did flow That like a burning furnace it did show Or like the streames of lightning which from East Into the West do reach in time of heate So from the mouth of that most vgly beast The flames of fier did come and were so great And in young Iasons face made such a blaze That at the first it stroke him in a maze But thinking on his Ring it was straight gone And he of feare and danger out of care For in the same there was a precious stone Of great esteeme and vertue passing rare Which Isydore doth write is onely found Within the rich and fertile Indian ground And further saith it must he kept fâ—ll close About a man or woman pure and cleane Or else it will the vertue wholy lose Of colour t' was a passing orient greene And power had all venom to destroy That it could not the bearer ought annoy Nor Serpent Dragon Adder nor yet Snake Can hurt or harme by venom any way If that the same within your hand you take And it directly gainst their eye-sight stay For presently they cannot will nor choose But all their force and poyson they must loose And in this sort the vertue hauing wrought It presently doth burst in peeces small In Cicile whence this stone is like wise brought There is a worme which they do Bâ—sâ— call Most venomous which when so ere they will Make tame or els seeke to destroy or kill They take a cane at th' end whereof they bind The precious stone and hold it to the saâ—e Of that small beast and presently by kind She doth no sooner see 't but in that place The bowels bursting forth it there doth die Such force is found in that rich stone â—olie For nature that all things on earth doth frame And whose decree no mortall wight can moue Doth secretly direct and rule the same And by his power receaued from aboue Such force hath giuen to hearbs to gâ—asse to stone The causes why none knowes but she alone By vertue of this Ring and precious stone He boldly fought against the Dragon fell In whome as then resistance there was none Although to fore it did in force excell And soone had him bereaued of his life And presently did end his cruell strife With that great beast Whereof exceeding glad With sword in hand he gaue him many a stroke And chopt his scales that on his backe he had As if he should haue hewd and feld an Oke And then cut of his head and with all speed Tooke out his teeth and vsed them for seed And presently without delay did sow Them in the ground the which he did constraine The fierce and cruell Bulls before to plow From which so rare and strange a kind of graine A fruite more strange did presently proceed For as the Gods by power divine decreed A company of armed Knights arose Out of the ground who sought without delay Each other as most sterne and cruell foes By dint of sword to murther kill and slay And their most furious combat neuer left Till each his foe of life had cleane bereft For by the Law it so ordained was That each his brother presently should kill And that not one of them aliue should passe Out of that place nor yet should worke his will By force of armes the victory t' obtaine Against his foe but all should dead remaine Within the field Such was the desteny Of that strange race which was no sooner don But Iason straight to take the Ram did trie And with a courage bold laid hand thereon Wherein as then resistance none was found And by the hornes he puld it to the ground Then did he kill and sheare the golden fleece Of from the backe for valor so much deem'd That all the treasure in the Land of Greece To halfe the worth thereof was not esteem'd And with his prize he did not time delay But straight vnto the boate he tooke his way And rowed therein vnto the other
bid me not that am a simple swaine Snch secret obseruations to explaine Or to discourse of that I do not know If that in speculation I were seene Or had by practise skill the same to show It had for me an easie matter beene But sith aboue my skill it is so farre I le leaue it vnto you And now declare How Iason and Medea did agree And how it was their purpose and pretence That she should into Greece conducted bee And in so secret wise convaied thence By him that Faher friend nor any wight Should know or once suspect her sudden flight CHAP. VII I How Iason after the conquest of the Golden-fleâ—â—â—â— taking Medea secretly with him returned againe into Thessalie WHen Iasou had his dangerous coÌ„quest woâ— And brauely feasted was like his degree With all the honor could to him be don He did deuise when oppertunitie Should serue his turne to sayle away by night And take Medea with him if he might And so when as a month had passed ore He closely caused all things t'ready make And as he fully purposed before Medea with him secrretly did take Withall the treasure that he could convay And hoysing sayles from Colchos stale away Alas Medea why wast thou in hast So perillous a iourney then to make And why wast thou so slow before to cast The dangers thou as then didst vndertake Didst thou not proue him faithlesse and vnkind For all to thee by oath thou didst him bind To show he cast thee off and cleane forsooke Constraining thee to weepe and mourne in woe And how that he another louer tooke And for his wife would thee by no meanes know And caused thee thy golden lockes to rend And wofully thy dolefull life to end It were in vaine the same now to recite Sith it is past or show what did befall To Iason in reward of his despight Who likewise fell into no little thrall And lost his life for his vnnaturalnes In bloudy warre with griefe and great distresse This shall suffice th' vnfortunate estate Of louers twaine to set before your eye And t'show they lost their liues by cruell fate Because they set their minds on vanity For of beginning that 's not vertuous The end for certaine proues but dangerous If they at first the perill had forecast And not so rashly run into the fire Of burning lust they had not at the last Reapt iust reward of their so fond desire But he that 's carelesse mischiefe to foresee Will surely fall into extreamitie For as a medcine ministred to man When that his bodie 's mortifide and dead By no meanes helpe nor ought auaile him can And as the stomacke weake or wounded head Cannot be eas'd by any potion Hearbe stone receit salue or confection That any Surgeon what so ere doth know Or learned Doctor in the world can giue When as the bodie 's laid in earth full low Or what auaileth it to striue t'relieue A beast whose carrion corps lies dead on ground And all together cold and sencles found In my conceit and simple fantasie T were vaine as dame Experience doth vs teach For nought as then can helpe or remedy Health to procure or dolour to impeach For that which im perform'd in time and date More vertue hath then that which comes to late Right so it is and sure it is no fable He that thinkes not on danger till it fall But trusteth vnto worldly hopes vnstable In stead of suger sweet tasts bitter gall Mixt with deceit and doth at last repent His carelesnes and life so negligent That he the same could not in time forecast Nor in his mind resolue it to preuent Till in the snare he 's caught and holden fast And cannot shun the perill eminent Which shows that lust not reason did obtaine The highest seat within his head so vaine As Iason and Medea well did proue But how so euer Iason sped thereby The story saith through fond and foolish loue Medea onely felt th'extreamity Of danger woe perplexity and griefe And dyed at the last without reliefe Because she did not warily forecast What might fall out ere she her iourney tooke With Iason for which cause she made such hast That Father friends and Country she forsooke But sith that it was done of wilfulnesse Without good counsell or aduisednesse Meere folly t' were her miseries to waile Or grieue at her so hard and lucklesse fate Sith that as now full little t' would availe But sure she chose an hower vnfortunate When as the Moone by constellation With some bad planet had coniunction Let it suffice that secretly alone To beare her deare friend Iason company To ship she went and th' Isle of Colchos soone She did forsake to saile to Thessalie And in the night full closely stole away With as much treasure as she could conuay And hauing wind at will with gladsome cheare They put to sea and passed many an jsle Where least the voyage tedious should appeare Vnto Medea Iason all the while With Hercules still held her company With fained show of loue and courtesie And with dissembling face seem'd for her sake Much to reioyce as louers oft can do And thereof vse an exercise to make Till that they haue their losts attain'd vnto As Iason did Medea soone deceaue And her of her virginitie bereaue Forsaking her when least â—â—e did suspect He would haue playd so treacherous a part In so vild sort and her so soone reiect With such a cruell hard and stony heart And left her in great miserie and woe But here of her I meane no more to thoe For that mine Author more to write doth spare But if at large the storie you will see Onidâ—â—s Naso plainly doth declare The miserie and great extreamitie Wherein she fell and with what great distresse She lost her life by Iasons wickednes And how that she by him two sons did beare The which she kild although gainst natures kind Because that they like to their Father were And for that Iason falsely chang'd his mind And cast his loue vpon another Dame Whome Ouid saith Cerusa had to name And cleane forsooke Medea his true wife She falling in a rage and extreame griefe In cruell in wise bereft her selfe of life And died distraught dispairing of reliefe Of this her end if more you seeke to know Read Ouid who the same at large doth show And now will I my stile directly turne To let you know what was by Iason done When he in Greece arriu'd Whose heart did burne With rage and anger gainst Laomedon Till he could find a meane how to requight The wrong receau'd from him with like despight When Iason with his traine all landed were Vpon the pleasant coast of Thessalie And that King Peleus knew his being there Accompanied with all his chiualry He went out of his Court with him to meet And did him in most friendly manner greet But yet with outward show and countenance Of fained loue as
They tooke and bare't into their ships in hast Dispoyling Temples with great violence And to the ground their Pagan Gods did cast For no man durst against them make defence And mercilesse great pittie to behold With bloudy swords they kild both yong old The tender child that mothers brest did sucke Escaped not their extreame cruelty For from the mothers arms they did them plucke And violently caused them to die Their maidens faire they did reserue for prise And with them did their beastly lusts suffice Regarding neither beautie birth nor name And when the houses all destroyed were They raz'd the wals and quite defast the same And Laomedons onlie daughter deare Faire Exion whose beautie did excell To go with them by force they did compell Who by them all was giuen to Telamon For his reward by Hercules his consent Because that he first enterd in the towne Wherewith he seemd to be as well contenâ—â— As if that all the treasure they had got Within the towne had fallen to his lot And yet he did himselfe therein abuse For being home returnd from victory To take her for his wife he did refuse But with her as his concubine did lie Regarding neither state nor high degree Nor her descent from Princely majestie For if he had her tane to be his spouse He could not haue disparag'd his estate Considering that she was of Princely house And royall bloud although vnfortunate Vpon his word and curtesie t'relie That kept her but his lust to satisfie But Telamon therin thou wast to blame To do a Princesse faire so great despight And make her to the world anopen shame When as thou shouldst haue shew'd thy selfe her knight And rather in defence of her to die Then that she should haue suffred villanie For through thy bad and foolish government So hote a sparke of envie did arise In Troyans hearts which to revenge were bent That nothing could to quench the same suffice For envie old once rooted in the heart Doth sieldome or else never thence depart And if it burne within and flames not out Nor maketh shew of fume nor smoke at all The greater cause men haue thereof to doubt And where it lights t' will haue the greater fall Which you within this History may see At large in every point set downe to bee When that the towne was burnt laid full low And all the wals vnto the ground was cast And nothing thereof left to make a show But it was spoyld and vtterly defast The Grecians did no longer time delay Vnto their ships their treasure to convay But being richly laden with great store Of siluer gold and costly jewels rare That not the meanest man of them was poore When wind did serue and weather waxed faire They 〈◊〉 â—iles returne againe to make To Thessaâ—â—â— and with them then did take Faire â—â—on and many a proper maide And saâ—â—ing forth with prosperous wind and good It was not long through gentle Neptunes aide But they 〈◊〉 with glad and merry mood At their dâ—â—sired port where on the sand Great multitudes of people then did stand To welcome them with glad and ioyfull cheare Reioycing at their victory obtain'd With losse of so few men as did appeare And cause they had such store of treasure gain'd Their Country to enrich for evermore They gaue great thanks vnto their Gods therefore Thus happily with triumph and renowne They being home returnd did liue in peace And throughout every City land and towne Their honor and their fame did still encrease So that the compasse of the world throughout Each Nation to offend them stood in doubt And feared them For certaine t is they had A multitude of men within their land And wealth treasure great the which they made When s'ever they tooke any thing in hand As common to them all whereby they were A terror to all Nations farre and nere Till fortune chanst to whirle her wheele about And turnd their peace into such bloudie warre As after in few yeares it did fall out When they and Troyans once againe did jarre Which at this time I meane not to declare Desiring that herein you will mespare And giue me leaue to rest a little while For herewith I do meane to end this Booke And at another time direct my stile To perfect that which first I vndertooke Which in the next t' accomplish I intend If life and leisure God to me will lend Meane time if that by rudenesse I offend The gentle readers pardon I will craue With promise any fault I make t' amend If that the least instruction I may haue And so in hope your favours you 'le extend To me herein my first Booke thus shall end FINIS THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR THE SECOND BOOKE The Preface CHAP. I. THe envious vaine which fortune flattering Doth vse in this vncertaine state of life Where all things fickle are and wavering Addicted is so much to warre and strife That whatsoever course a man doth run The sparkes thereof by no meanes he can shun For she is still so false and mutable That he which on her wheele doth highest clime And thinketh his estate secure and stable At some vncertaine hower day or time When least he doth suspect a change of state She casts him downe and makes vnfortunate And with a smooth and double flattering face Makes shew of loue when least she is to trust That well were he that had the power and grace To see and find her frauds and wiles vniust And all her engins and her snares well knew Which daily doe encrease and still renew The which in truth full well affirme I can So many and so diuers are of kind That hetherto not any mortall man Could euer them avoid that I can find For though vnequall ballance she doth beare With counterfeit false dissembling cheare And looke most smooth full of flatterie She can man soone beguile and cleane bereaue Of all his blisse in twinckling of an eie Her nature is so readie to deceaue And when she changeth high to low estate With fleering looke she stands laughs thereat And yet oft times she seemeth to be true For vnto some a while she 's favorable And then when as she list to change her hew To othersome she is deceauable Such skill she hath in transmutation That one shee le raise other throweth downe To some she giues renowne and victory And doth exalt their honor and their fame And some she causeth most deceitfully Though vndeseru'd t' incurre perpetuall shame To othersome she 's gentle and bening And giues them lucke in all and every thing On some she frownes and hath them in disdaine And by her power imbaseth them full low And for to show that earthly hope is vaine She can the state of Princes overthrow And make them stoop for all their great renowne And high and mighty Emperors cast downe From off the mount of high felicity To make them
hope your favors I shall win I will proceed the story to begin WHen as the noble King Laomedon Was slaine in field by cruell Hereules When as the Greekes did first destroy the towne He had a sonne and heire as Guido saâ—es Cald Priamus a Prince of courage stout Whose fortune was at that time to be out With Hecuba his wife and did assault A Castle strong wherein a Lord did lie Which at that time did stubbornly revolt And long before had warred cruelly Against the towne of Troy with force and might Yet subiect was vnto the same by right Where Priam and his sonnes in campe did lie Accompanied with many a worthy Knight Their power and force against their foes to trie And it besieged round both day and night With vow the same by fierce assault to win And to destroy them all that were within For he as then was strong and valorous Young lusty and of fierce and hawtie heart And therewithall so stout and ventrous That feare of death could neuer make him start And to be first that in the field did enter Against his foes his life therein to venter Whereby hewan great honour and renowne And for his time was held a worthy Knight Till Fortune from her wheele did cast him downe And in his fall did show her power and might To change and alter things as she thinks good Respecting neither poore nor Princely blood This Priamus by Hecuba his wife Eight goodly faire and Princely children had Which all were slaine and died in the strife And bloody warre that Grecions gainst him made Whereof there were fiue sons daughters three Which I will name each one in his degree The first and eldest Hector had to name Whose worthinesse as farre abroad doth flie And is extold by Trumpe of Lady Fame As Phoebus doth râ—n compasse â—out the skie In one daies space for authors certifie And say be was thâ—â—ooâ— of chivalâ—ie Of Knight-hood true the onely Soveraigne And Mirror bright and cleare of Noblenesse And did therein vnto such hight attaine That no man can sufficiently expresse The great and valiant acts he did archiue Surpassing all that ever yet did liue And therewithall he was most vertuous Discreet and wise and friendly to each one Of whom the deeds and prowesse marvelous Reported are and haue been long agone By many ancient Authors fore our dayes That write of him to his eternall praise The second Sonne by birth and Dignitie Was Parris cald who did exceed so farre In person beautie shape dexteritie And was esteem'd therein to be so rare That in his time as farre as I can heare Vpon the earth there neuer liu'd his peere Who likewise was a stout and worthy Knight And in a bow had such delight and skill Wherewith he vsed commonly to fight That where he aim'd he would be sure to kill None ever did surpasse him in the same And Alexander was his other name Deiphobus was the third Sonne by degree A Knight of worthy same and great renowne Strong hardy and of courage franke and free Exceeding wise and of great discretion A counsellor in peace and warre most graue And in the field a Champion bold and braue The fourth of them was Heleâ—â—â— by name Who onely gaue his minds vnto his booke And was so much addicted to the same That pleasure in no other thing he tooke Whereby so wise and learned he became That all men did admire him for the same The Fist Sonne was a hardie valiant Knight Although the last and yongest of them all And puissantly against his â—oes did fight Whom Troyâ—lâ—s the historie doth call And for his valiant heart and courage braue The name of second Hector men him gaue So many valiant acts hy him were don While that the Grecian warre continued Whereby so much renowne therein he won That after Hectors death he was so feared And did the Greekes so cruelly assaile That nought against the Towne they could prevaile Yet Uirgill in his Booke of Troyan warre By him cald his Enâ—idos saith thus That Hecuba vnto King Pryam bare Two younger Sonnes the one Polidorus Whom when the Grecians first did take in haâ—d Their bloody warre and entred in his land As then but young he straight did send away Vnto a King that was his trusty friend With store of treasure great with him to stay Till he might see what jssue and what end The warre would haue as then but new begon Betweene the Greekes and him before the towne But he in whom he did repose his trust When as he vnderstood King Pryams state Desirous of the gold which makes men thurst Did cause the Troian Prince vnfortunate To be bereav'd of life most cruelly And buried in a place full secretly Hard by the Sea so deepe within the ground That no man could his treason great espie Nor never afterward his body found And so the Proverbe old did verefie Who so on gold doth set his onely care To win the same no mischiefe he will spare The second of those two cald Ganimed Vpon a time did hunt for his disport And straying in a wood by fortune led God Iupiter as Uirgill doth report Vp to the skies did sodainely him take And there for ever Butler did him make The eldest of King Priams daughters three Cerusa nam'd the story doth declare Was married to a Lord of high degree Aeneas cal'd a man of beauty rare Whose Father was a Duke of noble fame And Uirgill saith Anchises had to name And on the Goddesse Uenus him begot For this Aeneas honor and his fame Uirgill compild a Booke wherein he wrot His travells all at large and doth the same From his departure out of Troy begin And showes how he all Italie did win Long after that the great and famous Towne Of Troy destroyd and cleane defaced was And what great conquests were archieu'd and dâ—n By him as he along the Seas did passe And how that first at Carthage he did stay Ere that he further forth went on his way Whereas Queene Dido pierst with Cupids dart Of him became so much enamored That for because from thence he did depart For loue of him her selfe she murthered All which and more in Virgill you may see In Latine verse at large declard to bee King Priams second daughter had to name Cassandra as the ancient stories saies Who by her wit attaind so loftie fame That she was holden for a Prophetes Her skill in Arts of all kinds was so much That like to her there nere was any such For future things she could declare and show And what was done within the world so round Before it came to passe she did it know Her learning was so deepe and so profound Her manner was religiously to liue And onely to the same her mind did giue The third and youngest daughter Policene For shape and beautie past her sisters twaine Who liued all her daies a Virgin cleane Till she by Pirrhus cruelty was slaine
In presence of her Mother to fulfill And satisfie his fierce and bloody will And Priamus as you likewise may read Had thirty valiant bastard children All sonnes which did so much in armes exceed That in their times they proved valiant men Whose names to show as now I le overpasse Till that occasion serues in other place WHile Priam so the castle did inclose To win the same by force dayly sought All meanes he could to ouercome his foes The wofull newes vnto him there was brought How that the Greekes the towne of Troy had won And kild his father King Laomedon The walles and howses thereof cleane cast downe The people all slaine with great cruelty And left nought standing vpright in the towne But all on ground did flat and euen lie And Exion made to Thelamon a prey Who had her captiue led with him away He was in mind so much astonished And sodaine woe his sences so did straine That for a while he seem'd as one were dead And inwardly did feele such mortall paine That he did thinke his heart within his brest Would cleaue in twaine so much he was opprest With sorrow griefe perplexitie and woe And therewithall the teares did fast distill Out from his eies downe to the earth so low That sure if that he might haue had his will He rather would haue chosen there to die Then to haue felt so great extremitie Wherewith he did on fortune much exclaime That she to him was so deceaueable To worke him such disgrace and open shame And shew'd her selfe to be so mutable With most despightfull sterne and cruell face As one cleane void of mercy and of grace For she of envious heart and spightfull thought In cruell wise did shew her fell intent And all at once her malice on him wrought As vnto his destruction fully bent So wauering and vnconstant is her mind Wherein her greatest pleasure she doth find For which forthwith he made no more delay But with a heavy heart and face full pale He did put off his faire and rich array And never ceast his fortune to bewaile With mournfull cheare still casting downe his head And in that sort a dolefull life he led Apparelling himselfe in mournfull blacke And minding there no longer to abide In all the hast he could the â—iedge vp brake And presently to Troy ward forth did ride With all his hoast who likewise were full sad And for his losse and theirs great sorrow made And when the towne so much defast he found And that the walles that were so huge and strong So plaine and even beaten were to ground And nothing stood but all was laid along The towers that reacht allmost vp to the skie And builded were so faire and sumptuously Cleane overthrowne with great confusednesse His people slaine and Sister led away And all made wast like to a wildernesse For griefe and woe he wist not what to say Such and so great was his extremitie But at that time he could't not remedie Which made him most extreamly sob and weepe For nothing could his sorrow great asswage And from his brest to fetch great sighes and deepe And in that wofull plight and furious rage His men and he a mournfull life did lead And in the same three daies continued Till at the last when clowdes of sorrow backe Began to cleare and stormes of woe to cease And that their mourning somewhat seem'd to slack And causd them in their minds to find some ease For when the floood of warre is gone and past An ebbe of ioy doth follow it in hast Still to lament and mourne doth not amend But more impaire and though we vse to waile And weepe for friends our sorrow once must end For after death teares will then nought availe King Priamus abandoning all care Devising how he might the towne repaire Determin'd in that great extremitie To show himselfe a Prince of courage braue And making vertue of necessitie Couragiously his credit then to saue When as his sorrowes great orepassed were And that the aire began somewhat to cleare And void the mists of his adversitie And that the prime of woe and heauinesse Night past and gone was forst away to flie By sonne-shine of some new found joyfulnesse For that the friend of woe and miserie Is joy when men haue past extremitie When he had grieu'd in mind a little space And long indured sorrow woe and smart And that his care did somewhat overpasse He rous'd himselfe and plucking vp his heart More ioyfull to his souldiers did appeare And so hegan to worke as you shall heare CHAP. II. ¶ How King Priam Sonne to Laomedon butlâ— the Cutie of Troy againe much stronger greater and fairer then euer it was before KIng Priams sorrow great and griefe ore-past As vnto you before I did declare He purposed vpon the ground made wast Where as the ancient monuments first were To build a towne much stronger then it was Which to effect he did no time let passe But straight sent forth into each Countrey For certaine men or wit ingenious And skilfull worke men in Geometrie That could invent workes fine and curious As Masons Cervers Carpenters and all That skilfull were in Arts mecannicall And wheresoere he could once know or heare Of any expert workemen of that kind He would not spare to send both farre and neare Nor never ceast vntill he did them find For such as could devise a stately wall With battlements and rauelings great small For men that were of fine and subtill head The Marble stone to pollish with the graine And Alablaster white and Purphier read To hew and cut and make them smoth and plaine For gravers of all kind of Images And such as Art of painting did professe And cunning were their works to beautifie With colours fresh that long time would indure And that could make an Image with an eye As if it were a liuely creature And counterfeit in mettall wood and stone As curious worke as ere Pignalion Devised or as Histories doe tell Apollo could invent for he did frame Darius Tombe the which did so excell For wormanship that none ere past the same Which th' emperor commanded him to raise That men thereby his worthy fame might praise He sent likewise for ioyners that had skill In Cedar Cipresse and in Walnut-tree To worke and with imbossed flowers to fill The creasts that round about the walles should bee And whosoere in building was erpert And praise deserued therein by desert Or had the name in workeman-ship â—excell The King would his direction therein haue How farre or wide soever he did dwell Or what soever wages he would craue No cost he spard in any kind of thing That he his worke vnto effect might bring Intending such a sumptuous Towne to frame That it should passe all others whatsoere And in most spacious wise to build the same For widenes breadth length that it should beare And with so high so thicke
Nor iudge thereof vnlesse they naked there Before me stood that at my libertie I might behold if everie member were As faire in all respect and each degree As outwardlie their faces faire did show And then my doome they presentlie should know When they had heard me speak they gaue consent And did agree my mind therein t' obay And straight to strip themselues were all content The which to do they made no long delay For they had all decreed before they came That in no point they would denie the same When naked all before me there they stood And that I did behold them at the full And vewed everie part it did me good To see their bodies faire and beautifull But when mine eies on Venus bright I cast For her without delay my iudgement past And vnto her the Apple gaue with speed As fairest of them all excepting none And as at first it was by them decreed I should not partiall be to any one So did I iudge her beautie great to be Much more then th' others two in each degree For as me thought her eies most faire and bright That cast forth streames so cleare and delectable Were like the starre that shines to vs by night Cald Hesperus and so most amiable Faire Venus shewd her selfe ye t' was true I could not choose but giue to her her due Whereat this Goddesse faire did much reioyce And in her heart therewith did seeme to glorie That of her beautie rare I made the choice T' excell the rest and that the victorie By iudgement vnto her as then did fall To be the fair'st and beautiful'st of all And as the winged God to me did say What should be my reward of Venus part She said she would performe without delay And from his vowe and promise neuer start And saying so the Goddesses all three Did vanish and depart away from me And Mercurie with wings began to flie And soaring vp with speed his waie did take Directlie to the cleare and cristall skie And sodainlie therewith I did awake Out of my deadlie sleepe and vp I start And mounting horse from thence did straight depart Now my good Lord whom I both loue dread I ft please your Grace your selfe herein t' advise And vnto that which I haue said take heed You will it not esteeme nor yet surmise To be in vaine by Venus to me said And therefore I wish you not to be afraid But boldlie let me goe to Greece in hast With some great power of men about the thing Which I haue said and ere long time be past I doubt not but the same to passe to bring And as by Venus I am promised Of some faire Ladie certainlie to speed That by exchange of her you may obtaine An easie and a most assured way To get your Sister Exion home againe This is said he all that I haue to say For my advise and counsell to your Grace And so sate downe againe into his place But Priam what should cause thee to forget Thy selfe so much that thou shouldst be so vaine Thy hope and trust vpon a dreame to set I cannot choose but needs must tell thee plaine That shallow was thy wit and thy discretion To trust vnto a false illusion As that thou all care hadst set aside To follow after dreaming fantasie T' is sure that reason then was not thy guide That thou vpon meere follies wouldst relie As Paris did that Pallas did neglect And sacred wisedome wilfullie reiect And some also carelesly reâ—us'd With riches and with all her offers great And she that hath all men so much abus'd And at whose hands their 's nothing els to get But pleasure and the fond delights of loue Which onely doe a man to folly moue Faire J'enus cal'd the blacksmith Vulcans wife Whose seruice though it doth nought els procure Vnto a man but bloody warre and strife By him preferred was but t is most sure That Paris in his judgement was vniust And that his mind was wholy set on lust Whereby the great and famous Troian Towne When it had long been vext with bloudy warre Was in the end brought to confusion By Paris meanes that had so little care When it was offred him his choise to make Of wisedome gold and valor and to take A Woman that was cause of all the woe Which vnto Priam afterward befell Aâ— in this Booke hereafter I will shoe And now on dreames I will no longer dwell But to my matter seriously proceed And shew you what by Priam was decreed Vpon the dreame by Paris then declard But first of all in briefe I 'le let you know What Diophebus sayd who having heard His brothers speech stood vp his mind to show And grauely with a countenance benign Obedience made and spake vnto the King And sayd my Lord if every man should doubt And in his mind forecast and deepely way Concerning future things what might fall out It would be cause to make men often stay All actions whatsoere and neuer bend Their wits nor wils to bring them to an end Nor would they seeke their valours forth to show For he that doubts dares nothing vndertake For if a man before that he doth throw His Corne into the grouÌ„d should recknoning make How many grains thereof consum'd would be By Birds or by some other Casualtie I'would make him feare his ground to sow againe Let vs lay all such foolish doubts aside For I esteeme and hold them meerely vaine And counseil now no longer to abide Nor slacke the time but with a Navy strong Send Paris into Greece for to revenge our wrong This I dare affirme and boldly say That he hath counselled you and vs full well Which no man to speake truth can well denay So that I thinke and must you plainely tell Great error t' were his purpose to contrary And therefore let him now no longertarry But thither with a warlike Navy goe That we may quit them for the villany Which they vnto vs and ours did show In former times with extreame cruelty And for the better execution And getting of our Aunt faire Exion Whom they doe hold from vs by force and might And long haue done to our no little shame And that against all equitie and right Which wounds my heart to thinke vpon the same For remedy whereof I must needs say There is no better meanes nor readier way Then to send forth a strong and warlike band With him to Greece that forcibly he may Some Lady take within the Grecians land And mauger all their might her thence conuay And bring her vnto Troy with present speed By which so braue exploit and warlike deed You may haue meanes to satisfie your mind By changing her for Princes Exion This is the readiest way that I can find For to procure her restitution Which my good Lord I hope you do intend Quoth he my counsell I will end Which sayd his brother Helenus did rise Out of his seate
time held the same and did defend The regall state thereof by valiant hand For Casar did ast's said from him descend And first jmperiall Diadem in that land Did weare and by his pollicie and wit Ordaind the civill lawes to governe it What further of Aeneas travelling You seeke to know in Uirgill you may see The same at large who writeth everie thing By him atchieu'd though some perswaded bee That Virgill was long dead and buried Before his booke was fullie finished CHAP. XI ¶ How Agamemnon sent Achilles and Thelephus into the island of Messa for victuals and how they of the Isle withstood the Greekes and fought with them in which battaile the King of Messa was slaine and Thelephus was made King of Messa by consent of all the Nobility of the Island YOu heard how while Ulisses did soiourne With Diomed in Troye what there had past And also what King Priam did returne For answere to the Grecians who in hast Vpon the same a generall counsell call Where in the full assemblie of them all King Agamemnon spake to them and said My Lords as well you know t is now high time That care by vs should speedilie be had And chiefly now while we are in the prime Of our affaires for things that needfull are To serue our turnes while we maintaine the war Gainst Troye and first that good provision Of victuals should be made for if we faile Thereof t' will be our owne confusion Which to prevent and better to prevaile In the enterprise which we as now pretend My counsell is that presently we send If you think 't good vnto an jsle hard by Cald Messa where great stoâ—â— of victuals are From whence we may in our necessity Our selues thereof provide without all care Of sending into Greece and to that end I pray you name whom you will thither send With which advise the Grecians all consent Agreed amongst themselues that Thelephus And with him stout Achilles should be sent To th'jsle of Messa rich and populous For victuals to suffice them and their host And for to bring it thence what ere it cost At which time in that fertile Island raignd King Tenteran that valiantly by might The Scepter and the Crowne thereof obtaind And had with iustice equity and right Long ruled in the same in peace and rest Till Grecians did his quiet state molest Though some men do affirme that Messa lies Within the bounds of the Sicilian King And that the name of Messa signifies Aboundance great and store of every thing Which therein grew and that it had the name From Messena a Citie in the same Exceeding rich and plentifull from whence Great store of ships and vessels laden were With victuals which they did convay from thence To everie place and Countrie farre and neere Which for such wares as to that jsle they brought They did excange and of those people bought And some men say that Messa named was Of Messanus a King that rul'd the same Who in his time all others did surpasse For riches great exceeding power and fame This shall suffice in breife to let you know What Messa was and now I will you show That when the Grecian Princes had decreed That Thelephus and Achilles should be sent To Messa with three thousand men with speed They put to seas and ere long time was spent Arriued there and straight their men did land But when the King thereof did vnderstand He marched with an army to the strand And there with horse and footmen valiantly The Grecians power by force sought to withstand Giuing the onset most couragiouslie And gainst them did a cruell fight maintaine Wherein great numbers of their men were slaine On either side and many wounded were That bleeding on the ground in great distresse Lay never likely armes againe to beare And in so great a rage and furiousnesse Each partie did against the other fight That long it was ere that perceiue you might Advantage twixt them both so equally The battaile went and at that time was fought Till in the end the Grecians valiantly Draue backe their foes but it avail'd them nought For presently they were constrain'd to run And backe t'retire with speed againe to shun The furie of the enemies that were Three to their one that cruelly then slew And made to flie in great distresse and feare Which at that time they could not well eschew But when with angry mood Achilles saw His men so fiercely slaine and forst to draw Backe to the strond in great extremitie With trenchant blade in hand he entered Amongst the thickest of the enemie Where many of his men in field lay dead And others wounded sore away did flie And there behau'd himselfe so valiantlie That in short space he had recovered The field againe and in most furious mood Feld wounded and before his feet lay dead All that he found or him as then withstood And therewithall his men so comforted And by his valor great encouraged That where before they fled and lost their ground Their enemies were forced to retire And flie to saue themselues and none was found That durst withstand his fierce and furious ire For who so ere he met was sure to die And none escapt such was his cruelty And sure if that his valor worthinesse Exceeding force and courage passing bold Had not prevail'd against the hardinesse Of Tentrans men without all doubt they would That day in field haue slaine the Grecians all But he like to a strong puissant wall Withstood them their ranks so fiercely brake That maugre all their power he made them lie In heaps before his feet and way to make And at the last when as he did espie King Tenteran a braue and valiant Knight Like Lyon fierce defend himselfe in fight And here and there the Grecians so opprest That many of them by him were fiercely slaine And beaten downe and that he never ceast To overthrow all that he could attaine He did not stay but with most fierce desire And heart that burnt with rage as hote as fire Made way through thicke and thin round about Him kild his foes so fast on every side That at the last he found King Tentran out Whereas he fought and with exceeding pride Gaue him a blow so fiercely on the crest That 't made his head bend down vnto his brest And then againe his blow redoubled And with the same so deepely did him wound That therewithall most grievously he bled And with a thrid blow stroke him to the ground And then from off his head his helmet rent In furious wise with purpose and intent To strike it off and to that end did heaue His hand on high with bloody sword to giue The Fatall blow that should his life bereaue So much the slaughter of his men did grieue Him at the heart which he perceiu'd was made By him alone and that he onely had Been cause thereof But ere the blow did fall Young
blow which was of mighty force Both man and horse vnto the ground he cast But presently Ulisses rose againe And mounting on his horse road through the plaine And on the Troians set so furiously That many of them as then by him were slaine Which when as King Philomen did espie He tooke a lance and ran at him againe So mightily and such a blow him gaue Therewith that it his shield in sunder claue And pierst his armor through but burâ— him not And yet the blow vnto the ground him stroke But presently vpon his horse he got And in his hand a mighty lance he tooke And therewith at King Philomen did run So swiftly that ere he the blow could shon He pierst cleane throgh his shield and armor bright And in his brest did giue him such a wound That sideways from his horse he fell and light Vpon his head which first did touch the ground And therewithall most grieuously he bled Wherewith his men suppos'd he had been dead And tooke him vp and layd him on a shield Whereon with danger great they did him beare Cleane through the Grecians hoast out of the field Whereof when as the Troian Knights did heare They were abasht because they did beleeue He had been dead and for him much did grieue For if that mighty Philomen had not Been wounded so by fierce Vlisses hand Without all doubt the Grecians had not got So easily out of their ships to laud Nor yet so many Troians had been slaine As then lay dead both on the strand and plaine For while that they the fight did long maintaine And valiantly the Grecians did assaile And sought to driue them to the strand againe Ere that they could by force therein prevaile More Grecians in great number got to land And forcibly the Troians did withstand Conducted by foure Kings of great renowne The first King Agamemnon generall Of all the Greeks and proud King Thelamon King Thoas and King Menclaus cause of all That deadly warre at whose aproach you might Behold the death of many a valiant Knight And at that time the broken lances flew Into the aire and clouen shields did lie Vpon the ground and then they did renew The fight so hotly strong and furiously That in short space the strand and all the plaine Lay full of Knights and men that then were slain And though the Greeks at that time did abide Great losse of Knights yet cause they were so stroÌ„g The greatest losse fell on the Troians side Who nere the lesse fought valiantly and long And held the Grecians â—â—ort for all their might Till that the valiant fierce and worthy Knight Prothesilaus Who all that day had fought Couragiously and many Troians slaine And with his sword in cruell wise had wrought Them great despight both on the strand plaine To rest himselfe and take the ayre did ride Out of the field vnto the water side Where when he did off from his horse alight And saw his men he dead vpon the ground Who at their landing had been slame in fight And others by the raging waues then drownd He could not chuse out weepe to thinke thereon And for a while sat musing still alone And more he them beheld the more he grieu'd Till at the last when he by proofe did find That by â—â—â— griefe they were no whit relieu'd Nor he himselfe the qâ—uetter in mind Such suâ—â—aâ—ne ireâ—â—s valiant heart possest That from that time he could not be in rest But vow'd to be revenged if he might And to require their deaths vpon his foes Orels as it becomes a valiant Knight Couragiously his life with them to lose And â—o resolu'd Ieapton his horse againe And furiously road straight vnto the plaine And entring mongst the thickest of his foes Assayled them with trenchant bladeâ—â— hand And valiantly beat downe and kild all those That met with him or durst against him stand And in short space he did so many stay That every man was glad to run away Like sheepe before the wolfe their hues to saue But he still wounded kild and beat them downe And like a stout and valiant Champion draue And followed them all most vnto the towne And by that meanes the Greeks then victors were And Troians fied before them in great feare Till Persius King of Ethiopia Out of the towne with many a valiant Knight Came ryding in great bast and made them stay And then began a fresh and furious fight Wherein great store of Grecians then were slaine And many of them lay wounded on the plaine The Troians at that time so siercely fought When by the Ethiopian Knights they were Relieu'd so that where as before they sought To flie away to saue their liues in feare They made the Greekes loose all the ground again Which they before had won vpon the plaine And with their horse and foot-men did assaile Their enemies so strongly and so close That all the Greekes could doe might not prevaile But that at last they were constrain'd to lose Their ground and backe vnto the strand to flie In great despaire and much extremitie And without doubt had there been drown'd â—â—â—â— Had not the valiant King Palamides With new supply refreshed them againe And thereby did their heavy hearts appease Who at that time with all his Knights tooke lâ—â—d Where hauing horsed them vpon the strand And ranckt his men he entred valiantly With so great force amongst the Troians And them assaild with such dexterity That where before they slew the Grecians And draue them downe before them to the shoâ—â— He kild and wounded many of them so sore And kept them to 't so close that neither side As then advantage had and so it held Vntill that King Palamides espied Stout Sigamond in middest of the field Who all that day most like a valiant Knight Behau'd himselfe against the Greekes in fight Couragiously and beat them downe so fast That glad they were to shun his blowes and flie And by his prowesse only where he past Great store Grecians slaine by him did lie To whom he road and furiously when as Amongst the thickest of the Greeks he was He gaue him with his lance so great a wound Into his side that being deadly hurt He fell off from his horse vnto the ground And there all groueling in the mire and durt His armor with his blood cleane covered read He left him mongst the Troians pale and dead And forth he road and kild and wounded sore All those he met or that before him stood And like vnto a wild and cruell Bore With sword in hand dyed in the Trâ—â—â—â—â— blood He made them leaue the water side againe And draue them all before him to the plaine Where with his Knights that still about him â—â—â—â— He did assayle them in such furious wise And by his valor put them in such feare That mongst them there was heard great noyse and crâ—â— Of those that wounded sore could not withstand The
the conduct thereof gaue To Hupon and Andelius brethren twaine Both Knights couragious valorous and braue This Hupon of Larisse land was King And many men with him to Troys did bring To ayd them in their wars that were so long And sure he was a very valiant Knight Of stature huge and tall and passing strong And no man was like vnto him for might In all the great and spacious Troyan towne But onely Hector that braue Champion And gainst his foes he was so fierce and fell That he of them brought many to the ground Who spight their hearts did try his force too well Hector with these two brethren forth did send His bastard brother cald Dimarechus A stout and valiant Knight adventurous And to them to conduct with standards braue And to be led when they should come in field Twice sure and iust three thousand men he gaue All Knights well horst armd with speare shield Who taking leaue of Hector curteously Road forward to the field couragiously The fift ward which next orderly did stand Into the field against the Greekes to goe Was giuen vnto the King of Cesoyne land Whose name it seemes the Author did not know And to his Brother cald Pollidamas Those people named Cesoynes did surpasse The common sort of men for stature tall Proportion strength and great dexterity For which they were admir'd prais'd of all That them beheld and marked earnestly The colour of the shield the King then boare Was only gules and nothing in it more Who when his charge of Hector he had had His leaue he tooke and with his brother road Couragiously before his Knights that made A gallant show when they in order stood Meane while Prince Hector ceast not paines to take The sixt ward with all speed he could to make Which he vnto King Protemense gaue Who both in force and wisedome did excell And to a Duke cald Sterepes to haue The conduct of the people that did dwell In Poenie land and them to guide that day Which people vse of custome as men say Their enemies in furious wise t'assaile Onely with bowes and arrowes sharpely ground On horsebacke without armes or coate of male And theÌ„ cleane throgh their armors sore to wound And Hector with those people also sent His Brother Deiphobus to th' intent They might securitie into the plaine Where they should fight so they went their way But ere they past Prince Hector did ordaine A band of men to goe with them that day Well arm'd into the field least they shold venter Among the Greekes so nakedly to enter And be orethrowne which band of men he tooke Out of those Knights that from Agresta came And that they should the better to them looke And for to be conductors of the same He did appoint two valiant Kings to ride Along with them and by them to abide During the fight against the Greeks that day The one of them King Esdras had to name The other was King Philon but to say Where they did dwell or froÌ„ what place they came I cannot for mine Author doth not show Because as I suppose he did not know Or else I thinke he had it cleane forgot He saith that rich King Philon sumptuously Apparelled sat in a Chariot The which was made of pure white Ivory With wheeles of Heban wood most finely wrought Which wood out of the Indian land is brought And as men say is hard as any stone His Charet within was all inchast with gold And precious stones and pearles vpon the bone And was so rich and sumptuous to behold That as I thinke the like was never seene Before nor since within the world t' haue beene Two Knights this Chariot drew some did ridâ— About it strongly arm'd with speare shield For to defend their King on every side So he and Esdras road into the field Accompanied with stout Pithagoras That one of Hectors bastard brethren was Who of that wing to haue the chiefe command Of purpose sent him out with them to goe The battaile that next ready plast did stand Hector vpon Aeneas did bestow Which had no other Knights within the same Then those that with Ewphemy thether came So farre out of their natiue Country For Hectors sake to ayd King Priâ—â—â—â— The which were Knights of great activity Good horsemen and exceeding valorous Who being brauely horst and furnished Their Coronell Aeneas followed And went out of the towne couragiously As if each one God Mars himselfe had been Hector meane time the eight ward orderly Ordained had and rank't it out wherein No other Knights nor men but Persians That thither came to ayd the Troyans By him were plast which wing he did command Vnto his brother Paris to obay As Captaine over them and when they stand All ready to set forward on their way Hector his brother Paris kindlie staid And louingly spake vnto him and said Brother the thing that I of thee require And which for thine owne good to thee I moue Is that I doe thee heartilie desire If thou thine owne securitie dost loue When thou this day in field against thy foe Shalt fight see that thou ventrest not to goe Too farre amongst the thickst of them least they Intrappe thee vnawares as sure they will If that they can by any meanes or way For their inveterate hatred to thee still Encreaseth more and doth their hearts embrace So ferventlie that nothing can it race Out of their minds but thy destruction Which to prevent be thou not far from me In any wise least when thou art alone They should some hurt or mischiefe do to thee Before that I could come to thy reliefe Which vnto me would be no little griefe Keepe therefore neere to me at any hand That I may ayd and helpe thee in distresse And doubt not but we shall our foes withstand How furiously so ere on vs they presse To whome his brother Paris answere made And said that he in mind resolued had Vnto his hests in all things to obay And so his leaue of Hector hauing tane Withall his Knights in order road his way Out at the gate while Hector did ordaine The battaile that the ninth last should be Wherein he plast the flower of Chivalrie For in the same fiue thousand Knights there was Most worthy men and of most great renowne And such as for their valor did surpasse All other Knights that were within the towne And all of them right Troyans by discent Borne in the towne This battaile Hector menâ— Should by himselfe into the field be led And of his bastard brethren chose out ten To ride with him whome he much honored As knowing them to be right valiant men And such as for their prowesse their mights Of all men were esteemd most hardie Knights And when he had his battailes made plast In order as before I haue set downe And all of them one after other past In braue and warlike wise
and not relieu'd the blame And worthily will turne vpon your head For if with speed you do him not relieue Men will report and verily belieue That onely by your meanes it came to passe That Troyelus this day had this mischance And by the Grecians prisoner taken was Let vs then to that end our selues advance And valiantly our honors herein saue That no discredite we thereby may haue Wherewith the worthie King cald Alchanus Was so much moou'd in heart that presentlie Like to a Lyon fierce and furious He tooke a speare in hand and sodainlie Did spur his horse as fast as ere he might And after road till that he had a fight Of those that yong Prince Troyelus prisner led And with his speare ran at a Grecian Knight And pierst him to the heart that he fell dead Vpon the ground and then againe did smite Another Grecian Knight with such a force That he not onlie cast him off his horse But with his mightie Launce did pierce him cleane Through 's body sholder bone armor strong So that the steely point thereof was seene Out at his backe at least a handfull long And then the Phrigian Knights as thicke as haile Came riding downe did the Greeks assaile With so great courage and dexterity That maugre all resistance they could make They did procure Prince Troyelus liberty And him out of their hands by force did take And help't him to his horse againe with speed Whereof as then he had no little need And with them also was King Zaâ—â—ippus Who when he saw Duke Menestes with speed And with a noble heâ—â—t and valorous In furious wise he spurd his lusty steed And run at him with speare in hand so fast That with the blow through sheild male he past With so great force that without doubt he had Been slaine if that his armes had not been good But Menestes was furious wood and mâ—d And raging freâ—â—ing â—â—ming chasing stood And like an Aspen leaâ—e with anger shooke Because the Troyans Troyelus from him tooke Despight of him and all his Chivalty And foming like a Bore at mouth did baâ—le And to th Athenian Knights aloud did cry To will them on the Troyan Knights to fall And be reveng'd on them for that disgrace Before that they should stir out of that place Wherewith they all at once with fury great The Troyans did assaile right valiantly And for their parts they likewise did not let To fall vpon the Greekes couragioussie And then began a fierce and furious fight And did so fiercely one the other smight That fire out of their sheilds armes did fly And sparkle all abroad in fearefull wiâ—e And many a valiant Knight that day did die And in the field cast our most dolefull cries Of life or death they tooke as then no heed For that they had determin'd and decreed Each other to destroy confound and kill And furiously to worke their enemies bane And at that time the battailes that stood still On every side came downe into the plaine And with most pale and deadly faces met And on each other valiantly did set With hote and burning jre so that as then Nought else but blows of Launces sword darâ— Were heard and seene within the field and men Did shout and cry alowd and on each part The fight began in such sort to renew That many a man in fine the same did rew For Hector like a most renowned Knight So furiously still on the Greekes did set And with most puissant blows and passing might Did kill beat downe maime all those he metâ— And mercilesse with extreame cruelty Did them confound that pitty t' was to see And Menestes with heart repleat with spight Because his pris ner Troyelus had beene tane So forcibly from him and that in fight His men had then so many of them been slaine Where so ere he road in furious wise did slay Beat downe wound fore him draue away The Troyan knights that he might take revenge For th' iniuries that they to him had done And as he round the field about did range Like Wolfe for prey and here and there did run In furious wiâ—e to kill his enemies He met a Troyan knight cal'd Miseres Who in despight of all his Chivalrie His pris ner worthie Troyelus had tane By force from him that day and set him free And some of his Athenian knights had slaine And knowing him againe by th' armes he bare Vpon his shield before he was aware And ere of him he once tooke heed or care He spurd his horse ran at him in hast And mongst the ranks of Troyans that were there Him to the ground out of his saddle cast Then to the field on Troyans side there came A valiant King that Hupon had to name That with him full two thousand knights did bring Who on the Greekes in furious wise did set And to encounter them for Greekes a king Cald Prothenor couragiously did meet And Archelius the noble warrior That of Boetia Land was Governor Who with the ayd of valiant Prothenor The Troyans did assaile as cruelly As he had been a Tygar or a Bore And Prothenor himselfe couragiously Did also many a Troyan fiercely slay But Hupon by his valor great did stay Their furious moods and through his Chivalry Not only did the Troyans then defend But in most cruell wise and furiously Brought many Grecian knights vnto their end And thus twixt them the fight then equall was Till that the worthy knight Polidamas Anthenors sonne that valiantly did ride Before his knights amongst the Greekes did enter And brauely them assaild on every side And by that meanes did breake their ranks asunder And cruelly kild many a Grecian knight For they could not resist against his might He was so hardy stout and furious And for to second him the worthy king Cald Remus that of knights chivalerous Three thousand to the field with him did bring Into the battaile came and there did fight So valiantly and with such force and might That all the Troyan knights that him beheld Tooke great delight were exceeding glad To see him kill chase the Greekes in field And that such havocke of them there he made Whereby as then great noyse of strokes cries Within the field was heard and gan to rise And while king Remus in this sort still â—ights And on the Greeks in furious wise did set King Menelaus with all his Spartane knights Into the battaile proudly came to let And to restraine king Remus in his course And to that end set spurres vnto his horse And valiantly vpon king Remus set And Remus likewise gainst him road as fast And with their speares so furiously they met That each the other to the ground did cast For in their course they did so fiercely run That neither of theÌ„ each others blows could shun Meane time the valiant knight Pollidamus Who onely sought to honor to
foes That many a 〈◊〉 thereby his life did lose Then to the field Duke Nestor proudly brought Fiue thousand valiant Knights in armor bright That furiously against the Troians fought And on the Troians side the worthy Knight King Esdras with a courage stout and bold And Philon in his stately chaire of gold With all the valiant Knights and chivalry That for to ayd King Priam thither came Out of Agresta land with Iacony The Prince and heire thereof and with the same Couragiously vpon the Grecians ran At which time many a braue and worthy man Was fiercely slaine and maim'd on euery side And from the men that on the ground lay dead And wounded sore with gashes long and wide The field all ore was died in colour red With streames of blood that men therin might wade Such slaughter at that time twixt them was made At which time Philon fought most furiously And did by valor great the Troians ayd And many a Greeke that day did cause to die But while thus fighting valiantly he staid At vnawares he was inclosed round And sodainly himselfe in danger found For that the Greekes so compast him about That he vnlikely was from them t' escape For by no meanes he could from thence get out But that in th' end they would him either take Or kill outright but that Prince Iacony Vnto King Esdras loudly gan to cry Saying my Lord by our great negligence King Philon at this time will sure be slaine For gainst so many Greeks ther 's no defence But that he must needs die or els be tane If we relieue him not if that we can And so in hast they altogether ran And in despight of all the Greeks by force They did release King Philon from their hands Who glad thereof did mount vpon his horse And road with them vnto the Troian bands That then with all their power force and might With Hector that most brave and worthy Knight Deiphobus and Pollidamas and other Couragious Troian Knights that had decreed With one consent and valiantly together The Grecians freshly to assayle with speed Of purpose if convenient meanes they found With all their puissant power t' inclose theÌ„ round That few of them should scape with life from theÌ„ce And to that end did fiercely them assaile And did compell the Greeks with small defence For that as then their courages did fayle To loose their ground and to retire with speed And finally were driuen into such need That mauger all their might they had that day Been vtterly brought to confution And forced in the end to run away If that King Menelaus and Thelamon When as they saw them faint and halfe afraid Had them not then incouraged and staid And made them once againe themselues defend Till that Aeneas and Duke Eufrenus Against the Greeks did valiantly descend With other troopes of Knights chivalrous And freshly them againe did sore oppresse And Hector also by his worthinesse Like Lyon fierce with sterne and cruell face Did put them to so great extremitie That like to sheepe that cruell woolfe doth chase They were compeld with feare from him to flie As glad his strong and trenchant blade to shun And from it for to saue their liues to run The which when valiant Aiax did espie He had in heart so much compassion To thinke vpon the great extremitie With cruell slaughter and confusion The which the Greeks as then did feele and find That when he turn'd his backe look't behind And saw so many Grecian wings that staid And were in order prest within the field Which banners large and pennons faire displaid And all that while the cruell fight beheld And saw how Hector had the Greeks in chase Yet stirred not one foot out of their place Although in them the flower of chivalry On Grecians side there was that able were The Troians to withstand and valiantly To be reveng'd on them and for to beare The furious charge of their fierce enemies In all the hast he could to them he hies And loudly vnto them for helpe did crie Whereatin hast the wearied Greeks to ayd They marched forward gainst the enemy With ensignes rich and pennons braue displaid And when they and the Troians fiercely meet The earth did shake and tremble with the feet Of horses that in furious wise did fling And gallop in the field and then did rise Anâ—â—eous noyse wherewith the ayre did ring O huge and mighty strookes and fearefull cries On either side and many a Knight was seene With deadly wounds lie gasping on the greene Then Aiox gainst Aeneas fiercely ran And he gainst him as willingly did ride For twixt them both such enmitie as than And hatred great there was on either side That nought but death their furies could asswage And did together meet in such a rage That with the blow that each the other hit Most puissantly withall their force and might Each other to the ground they brauely smit And vp againe they rose on foot to fight And there a valiant combat twixt them tride Where as they both great danger did abide Amongst the horses feet vpon the ground Till that Philocletes that brauely fought That day on Grecian side had Aiax found And him another horse to mount on brought And did assayle the Troians valiantly That other wise had had the victory Against the Greeks but that Philocletes Withall his Knights them man fully withstood And first of all as th' Author Guido saies At Hector with a speare he fiercely roade Which with the blow in many peeces brake But stird him not off from his horses backe For though he had receiu'd so great a stroke That well might haue orethrown avaliant Knight He sat as stif and sturdy as an oke And with his speare Philocletes did smite Through armor shield and body that withall Sore wounded to the grouud he made him fall That off his life his Knights were much in doubt Then to the field King Humerus and eke Ulisses came and with cen thousand stour And valiant Knights and many a worthy Greeke The Troians did assaile so furiously And with great multitudes of new supply Vpon them set that in despaire and feare And wearied with so long and cruell fight They gan for to recule and readdy were To turne away and take themselues to flight It Paris had not come with more supply To rescue them and at his entery Into the field the King of Frizia met That vnto King Ulisses was of kin And in such furious wise vpon him set That without more adoe he ran him in Through armor shield and bodie with his speare Whereat the Greeks full sore abashed were And for his death Ulisses grieved so That in a rage and with extreame despight He did a speare at Paris fiercely throw To pierce his heart but it to low did light Yet nerethelesse it went with such a force That with the strength thereof it kild his horse And he thereby fell flat vpon
should goe And comming to his father did him pray That with three thousand Knights he wold him ayd And gainst the Grecians goe without delay Who presently with all his Knights did ride Into the field and there the Greeks assaild Most valiantly and gainst them so prevaild That in short space so many of them were slaine And overthrowne by Priam furiously That at that time the field and all the plaine Were covered with dead Greeks and they did flie With speed before his face as glad to get Away from him so hot on them he set And then as Hector valiantly did ride Throughout the field the Troians to relieue And Alax likewise on the Grecian side Some ayd and succour vnto them to giue Like Lyons strong they both together met And on each other did so fiercely set That with their mighty speares and puissant force Th'incountred so magnanimiously That each the other brauely did vnhorse And gainst their willes vpon the ground did lie And at that time King Menelans did fall Vpon a worthy Troian Admirall And kild him with his sword and so began A cruell â—ight and slaughter to renew On either 〈◊〉 And Câ—lydâ—â—â—us than Infurious wise King Thoas nephew slew And Madan like a stout and valiant Knight With sword in hand so cruelly did smght A Grecian King cald Cedeus in the eies That with the blow one eye he cleane smote out And Sardellus a Troian Knight likewise As he from place to place did range about Vpon a Grecian Lord so fiercely fâ—ew Whom Guydo nameth not that he him â—lew And at that time Margariton a Knight Oâ— Troyans side with wrath and furious ire Most valiantly with Thelamon did fight And he also with him with like desire But Thelamon did smight him to the ground And gaue him with his lance a deadly wound And Phaâ—iâ—ll the worthy Troian Knight With speare in hand and fierce and furious mood King Prothenor off from his â—orse did smight And thus King Priams sonnes as then withstood The Grecians in such wise that all that day Most cruelly they did them wound and â—lay To be reueng'd on their inveterate foes And by that meanes in that most furious fight Great store of Grecian Knight is their liues did loose And then King Anglas with his speare did smight Menestes Duke of Athens on his shield But nerethelesse still on his horse he held And for because no lance as then he bare With sword in hand he did to anglas go And with it furiously his beauer â—are From off his face and with the selfe same blow He cut his nose cleane off or very neare Whereat a while he stood as in a feare To see the blood run downe his face so fast That with the same his arâ—oâ—all was died But like a stout and valiant Knight at last He spurd his horse and road somewhat aside To stench it if he might without the field But when his brother Deaâ—or it beheld And saw him by Menestes wounded so He ran at him in fierce and furious wise And hit him with his speare so great a blow That downe he fell and ere that he could rise Another of his brethren did come thither And they all three assay led him together With full intent to kill him if they might And to that end on him most furious â—â—Spandâ—â— But Menestes that was a valiant Knight So gallantly their fierce assault did boare And sought so well that wonder â—'was to see But Thoas â—h'eldest brother of the three Most busiest was from him his life to take And with most furious rage and crueltie His helmet at the last in peeces brake And brought him to so great extremitie That without doubt he surely then had died Had not King Tâ—nâ—â—an bin that him espied Who grieuing to behold him in that case Ran hastely to ayd him if he might But when he gotten had vnto the place Whereas they fought and like a valiant Knight Did brauely him relieue out of his paine And great distresse t' was labor all in vaine For Hector who as then by chance came thither And saw King Tentran fight so valiantly Assay led him and Menestes together And there had slaine them both assuredly If Aiax had not been that him espied And with a thousand Knights vnto him hied And with them all at once did him assayle To saue them from his furie if they might And Hector of his will then made to fayle But Paris like a hardy valiant Knight With the renown'd and worthy Persian King And with fiue thousad Knights that he did bring Vnto the fied perceiuing their intent To ayd his brother Hector straight did goe And being to revenge then fully bent He presently did cause a trumpet blow Whereat the valiant Knights that Hector led That day into the field well furnished Came speedily vnto him at his call Against the Greeks â—on to enforce the fight And to relieue their valiant Generall And so with extreame furie and despight Greâ—â— store of Grecian Knights that day they slew And in such sort the battaile did renew That many a Greeke in heart was grieued sore To see the losse and great destruction Vpon them made But Hector euermore Such valor show'd that he himselfe alone A thousand Grecian Knights that day did slay And made the Greeks to flie and run away Not daring to behold his furious face That wholy vnto cruelty was bent And while that he so furiously did chase His enemies not farre off from a tent It was his chance King Mereon to behold Whom when he did espie with courage bold And countenance sterne vnto him spake said Traitor thy glasse and fatall course is run Thy life must end no time shall be delaid For that before into the West the sunne Descendeth downe know that assuredly With this my sword thou shalt not faile to die Because that thou so hardy wast this day When as I thought Patroclus armes to haue To hinder and bereaue me of my prey For which thy bold attempt nought shall thee saue And therewithall downe from his horse he light And with his sword his head cleane off did smight And thought his armor likewise to haue had But while that to disarme him he began Menestes Duke of Athens that was glad To be revengd on Hector at him ran When as his backe was turn'd and suddenly At vnawares did wound him cruelly And pierst him through the armor in the side Whereat the blood in streames ran out a maine The which when Hector felt he straight did ride Out of the field and for to ease his paine He caused one to search and dresse his wound And for to stanch the bleeding fast it bound Meane time Menestes closely got away For to be freed from Hectors furious force Intending not to meet him all that day Which done againe he mounted on his horse And to the field returned with much more And greater rage then ere he had before For that his heart so furiously
gainst their foe The first whereof Achilles forth did lead With Myrmidons which made a gallant shoe The second band was giuen to Diâ—mede Before the third King Menelaus did ride Duke Menestes the next and fourth did giâ—de And after them there followed many moe All full of gallant Knights but who they were That guided them the Storie doth not shoe And every one of them rich standards bare And in that sort they marched forth in hast In order as their Generall had them plast Hector likewise for his part was not slacke Within the towne his battailes to ordaine But at that time how many he did make It is not said and sent them to the plaine Against the Greeks the first whereof he gaue To Troyâ—lus conduct thereof to haue With whom great store of worthy knights did ride And after went the rest in order plast With Hector who no longer would abide But mounting on his horse road forth in hast Before them all and when he entered Into the field and saw Achilles lead The forefront of the Greeks he spurd his horse And with his Launce in rest most furiously Ran at him with a great and mighty force The which when as Achilles did espie He set his spurs vnto his horses side And valiantly gainst Hector forth did ride And ere that they their course performd met Like two most gallant knights and excellent Their puissant Launces in their rests they set And gaue each other strokes so violent That forcibly they both fell to the ground As many times it 's often seene and found When two braue knights of equal streÌ„gth do meet But Hector strongst and nimblest of them both Rose first and on his horse againe did get And left Achilles there exceeding wroth And mong the Greeks in furious wise he rode And kild and slew all those that him withstood For with his sword such cruell blows he gaue Vnto the Greeks in brest sides legs and head That who so ere he hit was sure to haue His mortall wound on the ground lay dead And ever as he road it did him good To bath his sword within the Grecians blood And in that sort he still pursued his foes And many of them in furious wise had slaine Before that from the ground Achilles rose Who mounting vp vpon his horse againe Did enter mongst the Troyans valiantly And where he road did slay them cruelly And beat bore downe all that ere he met And made such slaughter mongst theÌ„ euery where As he did ride that no man durst him let For all before him to the ground he bare Till that in such his great melancholy He met with Hector riding sodainly And when as each the other did behold Without delay their speares in hand they tooke Like two most braue couragious knights bold And to each other gaue a pâ—issant stroke But Hector hit Achilles with such force Vpon the brest that he fell off his horse And while that still vpon the ground he lay And ere that he againe got on his horse Hector advanst himselfe and did assaie Despight of them by force his horse to get But such a troope of Grecians came with speed To ayd and helpe Achilles in his need That he could not his purpose then attaine And by that meanes with great extreamity Achilles got vpon his horse againe And meaning to revenge the iniurie He had receau'd did straight to Hector goe And with his sword gaue him so great a blow Vpon the head that with the mighty force And strength thereof he was constraind to fall Out of his sadle backe vpon his horse But presently and in despight of all The Greeks that him assaild by force and might He reard himselfe and like a valiant knight With heart repleat with anger and desire To be reveng'd of him for that despight In furious wise with extreame wrath and ire He stroke Achilles with such force and might That with the blow he gaue him in the head A cruell wound wherewith full sore he bled And yet although the bloud ran downe his face No whit abasht but like a valiant knight He would not vnto Hector once giue place But still maintaind a fierce and cruell fight With him the which made all that saw 't to woÌ„der For every blow they gaue did sound like thuÌ„der And neither of them would the other spare But like two savage Tygars in their rage Each other strong and sturdy strokes they bare And by no meanes their choller 's would asswage So that without all doubt assuredly It they held on with such hostility And in that cruell fight did long endure They both behau'd themselues so valiantly In th' end the one or both of them must sure Haue died there without all remedy Which had great pittie been for they were both Exceeding valiant knights and of great worth And while that they so fiercly fought together And neither would vnto the other yeeld The Greeks with many warlike troops came thither The which when as the Troyan knights beheld They likewise marched forward and did enter The field against their foes their liues to venter And at that time so fiercely met together That with the prease twixt them on either side They did constraine those valiant knights to sever Themselues and each from other way to ride And then into the field came Diomede With all the knights that he as then did lead Who had no sooner entred in the place But with him stout and gallant Troyelus met And they encountring brauely face to face Vpon each other valiantly did set And ran together with such mighty force That each of them the other did vnhorse But Diomede first on his horse did get And sodenly Prince Troyelus assaild As he on foot did stand with furie great But he whose valiant courage neuer faild So brauely him at that time did withstand That 's enemie got nothing at his hand But Diomede with great dexsteritie Sitting with much advantage on his horse Lift vp his sword and sodainly let flie A blow at Troyclus head with so great force That his rich circle full of ieweâ—s stroke Cleane off his Helme it in sunder broake But that could not yong Troyelus dismay Noâ— make him once giue place or step aside For with his sword he presently did slay The horse whereon prowd Diomede did ride And by that meanes constrained him to fight On foot with him and like a valiant Knight Vpon his foe in furious wise did set Whereas betweene them both they stoutly shewd Their most couragious hearts and valor great And each the others haâ—nas hackt and hewd And rent and tore't like Lyons fierce strong And in that sort their fight continued long Till that the Greeks came thither and by force While they on foote did fight so furiously Caus'd Diomede to mount vpon a horse And there withall the Troyans speedily Brought Troyelus a horse likewise to ride And being mounted both againe defied Each
that they therein assembled were And every one of them in order set With lookes demure and sad and heauy cheare And many sighs which from their hearts they fet They did begin of Hector to complaine Affirming that they never should obtaine That honor and renowne the which they fought Nor victorie against their foes should haue While he did liue and dailie gainst them fought And to that end they might their honors saue They did consult with one consent and will How that they might that valiant ChaÌ„pion kill Concluding that while he in Troye remaind They never should attaine the towne to win And said that he the same alone maintaind And that he was of all that dwelt therein The only stay and chiefe protection Of them and Troye without exception And castle wall and bulwarke of their land And vnto them a sterne and deadly foe Whose mighty force the Greeks could not withstaÌ„d Nor never should the Troyans overthrow Nor while that he did liue and them defend Bring that their doubtfull warre vnto an end And therefore all together did agree With full and whole consent that by some slight When he should in the field most eager bee To kill and slay the Grecians in the fight Achilles with his Knights should him beset And vnawares advantage of him get And with a mighty troope of Greâ—kes aâ—â—aâ—â—e Him round about and eâ—then â—lay or take Him quicke or dead wherein they could noâ—â—aile If they would do 't and to that end did make A motion to Achilles to require And pray him to accept of their desire To take in hand and brauely vndergoe That great and valiant enterprise to kill By force and slight their chiefe and deadly foâ— Who presently did grant vnto their will And from that time in wayt for him did lie Tâ—â—ntrap him and to kill him sodainly But from thenceforth I counsell him beware That he do not that action vndertake And if therein he needs will haue a share T' were best for him not too much hast to make To try his force gainst Hectors puissant migâ—â— Least fortune turne her face and in despight Looke on him with an angry frowning cheare And make him put his life in ieopardy And into Hectors hands light vnaware And in himselfe the Proverbe verifie He that doth for another set a trap Into the same himselfe may chance â—o hap Which hardly he shall scape if that he trye For Hector had the like desire and will T' encounter with Achilles valiantly And him by all the meanes he could to kill As hauing vowd his death without all doubt If he on him could light to fight it out So that nought else but death he was t' attend If he and Hector chanst to meet in field And thus the Greeks their counsell then did end Which they for that intent had onely held And to their lodgings went their rest to take Till next day in the morne that they did wake CHAP. III. I How the Troyans tooke King Thoas prisoner in the battaile and led him captiue into the Toâ—â—â— WHen faire Aâ—râ—râ— with her drops that thine Complaining made great dolor griefe and And seemed for her childreÌ„s death to whine sorow As she doth vse to doe each Sommer morrow That is when aâ— the dew that it so sweet Each pleasant flower hearbe root doth weet With liquor cleare in Aprill and in May. And when of day the Larke that 's messenger Salutes Aâ—râ—râ— faire in morning gray With sundry notes her woefull heart to cheare And ere the Sunne doth rise with ioyfulnesse Doth make her leaue her griefe and heauinesse At that same time the Grecians did arise And lustily with ioyfull hearts and cheare Put on such armes in braue and warlike wise As aâ— that time it was their vse to weare Intending earely that same day to goe Into the field to meet their deadly foe And Hector also fully purposed That day likewise against the Greeks to fight And early in the morning issued Accompanied with many a warlike knight All borne within the towne of Troye and bred Which formost of them all himselfe did lead Next after him Aeueas followed The second band to guide against their foe The third it was by worthy Paris led Before the fourth Deiphobus forth did goe The fift and last the lusty gallant knight Yong Troyelus conducted to the fight In which fiue bands that issued out as then The History declareth that there were An hundred and iust fiftiethousand men On horse and foot all able armes to beare And fully bent with will and courage great Vpon the Grecian foes that day to set And when they met together on each side With cruell and with deadly hatered And each against the other fiercely ride Paris that all the Persian Archers led And crossebow shot with arrows long round And shafts that were square headed sharply ground Great store of Greeks in furious wise did kill And while that they their valors gainst them tride And that the field began with Knights to fill King Agamemnon on the Grecians side Did enter in with whome when Hector met In furious wise he did vpon him set And in the midst of all his troopes did cast Him cleane out of his sadle to the ground And then did beat the Grecians downe so fast That many dead vpon the plaine were found Till at the last Achilles that did watch And follow Hector if he could to catch Him in a trap came sâ—denly and strake So puissant a blow on Hectors head That with the same he did his Helmet cracke But nought therewith Hector astonished To set vpon Achilles did not faile Intending him in furious wise t'assaile Had not Aeneas come them two betweene And Troyelus with him who both together To set vpon Achilles did begin And with such mighty blows strake one the other That harnas male plates of steele they bâ—â—ke And made each others shields helmet crake And then on each side slaughter great began So cruelly that all the field was red And dyed with bloud of many a valiant man At which time fierce and cruell Diomede By fortune in the prease Aeneas found To whome he gaue a great and deadly wound And therewith all said to him spightfully That 's thy reward because thou dost malign At me and didst giue counsell foolishly In open Court to Priamus the King To slay me there when as I was before Him in the hall as Greeks Embassador Which was against all law of armes right And trust me it shall nere out of my mind Till that I be reveng'd for that despight And for that cause if ere I chance to find Thee in the field if fortune doe consent I le make thee for thy counsell to repent And with my sword which now in hand I beare Thy blood I le shed to make thee feele know How it can cut therewith all did reare His sword on high and gaue him such a blow Againe vpon the
head with so great force That therewith all he feld him off his horse And while they fought Hector Achilles met And him assaild so cruelly againe That with a blow that on his head he smet His helmet cleft almost in pieces twaine And had him brought to such extreamity That at that time without all remedy He would him there perforce haue prisoner â—ane I Diomede had not by chance come thither The quarrell of Achilles to sustaine And with his sword while they two fought together To Hector gaue a blow that hurt him sore But he nothing at all dismaid therefore Straight turnd his horse about to Diomede And smote him with his sword so furiously That with the blow he feld him off his steed The which assoone as Troyelus did espie Without delay off from his horse he light Vpon his feet with Diomede to fight Who then together fought so valiantly That no man that beheld them well could tell Which of them both should haue the victorie For each of them in Knighthood did excell And while they two together so did fight Hector againe vpon Achilles light And on him set with fierce and furious mood Where twixt them both a gallant fight was seene And each his foe so fiercely then with stood Aâ—â—â— two cruell Lyons they had been Meane time the Greeks with many a gallant wing Of Knights came on with Menelaus the King With great desire vpon their foes to set And next to him did march Neoptolemus Then wise Ulisses aud stout Pollimet Palamides and valiant Selemus Duke Menestes Duke Nestor and King Thoas Currinulus and then Philoctheas And lastly with the rereward followed Duke Theseus with a band of gallant men And on the Troyans side there entered All those that to the towne were come as then Against the Greekes to helpe them in their need And all the Kings by whom they then were led And none did stay behind but Hectors band Wherewith that day himselfe had issued And at that time did valiantly withstand Their Grecian foes and then much bloud was shed On either side for that most cruell fight Procur'd the death of many a valiant Knight And while the fight twixt them continued thus It was King Agamemnons chance to meet Among the prease with stout Pantisilaus And on him there in furious wise did set And he on him likewise and in their course Each strake the other down off from his horse And Menelaus againe on Paris set And each to other furiously did ride And when they both together fiercely met King Menelaus hit Paris on the side A blow which though it hurt him not at all Yet he was forst downe from his horse to fall Wherewith in heart he was exceeding wrath And at that time did seeme to blush for shame Least Helena should know 't as being loath That it against his honor name and same Should vnto her be told that by maine force King Menelaus had thrown him from his horse And then the valiant King Adrastus met Ulisses in the prease and there together A while they fought with force and courage great Without advantage one against the other But at the last Vlisses stroke a blow At him so hard that it did overthrow Him to the ground and then he tooke his horse And sent it by his Squire to his tent Then valiant King Palamides by force King Hupon did assaile and they two spent Long time in fight till with great cruelty Palamides a blow at him let flie With so great force that it did wound him sore And therewith all dead to the ground he fell Not farre from them two pikes length no more Neoptolemus who did in force excell Assailed King Archilagus whereas Betweene them both a valiant fight there was Till in the end each th' other did vnhorse Then to the field came stout Pollidamas Vpon a gallant steed of mighty force And when he did perceiue and saw whereas The valiant King Palamides did ride He set his spurs vnto his horses side And ran at him with such exceeding force That maugre all his valor and his might He gaue him such a blow that from his horse He threw him on the ground with great despight For to revenge King Hupous death whome he Had slaine before with extreame cruelty Not farre from thence King Selemus did set Vpon a King cald Carras and by force When they in furious wise together meâ— Selemus threw King Carras off his horse On th' other side King Philâ—mâ—ns assaild The worthy Duke of Athens and preuaild So much gainst him that â—â—ally by force Although he was both valiant stout strong And fought right well he tooke from him his horse And led it in his hand with him along And worthy King Philâ—ctâ—â— did fight With Râ—mus and each of them both did smight The other from his horse And Theseus As he amongst his Troyan foes did fight By chance did meet with King Coriolus A Prince of passing valor force and might Where twixt the both the fight continued long For Theseus likewise was exceeding strong Till each the other wounded sore did smight Off from his horse and rising vp againe Vpon their feet still valiantly did fight A fierce and bloudy combate to otaine The victory against his mortall foe For each of them great prowesse then did shoe And all this while the sons of Priamus Behau'd themselues so valiantly in fight And gainst the Greeks like Knights couragious Such valor shewd that by their force and might Great store of Kings Dukes Lords knights were slaine And many Greeks laid dead vpon the plaine And at that time renowmed Thelamon With speare in hand set spurs vnto his horse And furiously ran at King Sarpedon Who likewise at him ran with mighty force And each the other mortally did wound And in that sort they both fell to the ground And after they a furious fight had held And cut and mangled each the other sore WheÌ„ neither of them both their armes could weld They were constraind to breath and fight no more And mongst the horses feet in danger stood And all the ground about theÌ„ dide with blood While Thoas and Achilles that had spide Where Hector fought in midst of all his foes Vnto him in most furious wise did ride And vnawares they did him round enclose And with great spight which they vnto him bore They did assaile and set on him so sore That they did smight his helmet from his head And in the same gaue him a mighty wound But he therewith no whit astonished For in him never cowardise was found Most valiantly against them both did fight And many furious blows at them did smite So that advantage none on him they got Till Thoas did a blow at him let flie Wherewith his nose off from his face he smâ—â— The which when as his brethren did espye The Grecians they so furiously assaild And at that time so much gainst them preuaild That Thoas valiaritly
to bend and then did speake And said to him Achilles now I feele And well perceiue the envie that to mee Thou bearst in heart but I do counsell thee That thou vnto thy selfe dost not procure Thy death for if as I desire I may Meet with thee â—n the field I thee aâ—sure No ransome aid nor succor shall â—e stay With this my sword to take revenge on thâ—â— For with thy life thou shalt not scape from â—â— Be well advis'd therefore I tell thee plaine For by my hand thou shalt most surely die For I intend to pay thee for thy paine Whereto Achilles â—hinking to replie As he began to answere him againe Prince Troyâ—â—â—â— stepâ— in betweene them â—â—â—â—ne And parted them and with the company Of worthy knights which he as then did guide Behau'd himselfe so braue and valiantly That where he fought the Greeks on everieside Were beaten downe and kild for that same day He did six hundred knights most fiercely slay And made the Greeks for feare the end of 〈◊〉 Vnto their tents till Menelaus came in With seven thousand Greeks in company T' assaile the Troyans fiercely did begin And made the Greeks march forward once againe And to recoâ—er ground vpon the plaine But as he busied was to set vpon The Troyan knights â—â— beaâ— them downe by â—â—â—â—â— He was encountred by King Odeâ—â—â— Who valiantly did cast him off â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â— And wounded him so deepelie in the face That he had thought t' haue died in that place And had been prisoner tane and led away By aid and helpe of Troyâ—lus to the towne But that in his extreamitie and need So many thousand Grecian knights came dowâ—â— To aid and rescue him that Odeâ—â—â— Was forst to let King Menelaus alone And at that time as it by chance fell out King Diomede with Troyelus did 〈◊〉 And â—re that he could turne himselfe about With speare in hand so fiercely on him set That Troyelus by maine and mighty force At vnawares he cast downe from his horse And gaue it to his Squire for to beare To Cresida and praid her for his sake That Present to accept though small it were And with good will and in good part y â—o take That simple gift from her most louing knight That valiantly had woone it in the â—â—â—â—â— And taken it from him whome sometimes â—he Had loued well and like't and in her heart Esteemd and 〈◊〉 only knight to be The Squire as he had did straight depart â—â—â— when he came therewith to Cresids tent He did â—â— in his Maisters name present And as he had in charge in humble rise Deliuered â—â— to â—â—â— and earnestly Besought her that â—he would it not despise But take it in good part and câ—â—â—eously Vouchsafeto thinke on Diomede her knight That in her â—â—d his sole and whole delight Whereto with countnance glad ioyfull cheare She answere made and bad â—im go with speed Vnto his Lord and say â—o him from her That for his part to feare he should not need That she would proue vncurteous or vnkind To him in whom â—he did such kindnes find And would noâ— his good will and loue reiect That vnto her â—â—â—ranger in that place So much himselfe did humble and subiect As to desire â—eâ—â—â— oâ— loue and grace That never had â—â— him 〈◊〉 so well And therefore had him to his maister tell That while she liu'd it was her solâ— intent His loue to her â—â—â—â—in her heâ—â—t to set The Squire with this answere gladly went Vnto his Lord â—â—d when with hâ—â— he met Vnto him told what she to him had said For which he was so well at heart appaid That from thenceforth he did esteeme it nought What griâ—â—â— so eâ—â—â— after to him fell Meane time the Troyans then so brauely fought And â—gainst the Grâ—â—ks behau'd themselues so well That they of force constrained wâ—re to fly Vnto their tents and there so cruelly Were slaine and â—â—â—â—â—n downâ— that certainly They had been 〈◊〉 cleane driuen out the field At that same time and spoyled vtterly If 〈◊〉 when he them behâ—ld Had not come downe with many a gallant man At which time such a furious fight began That many men were beaten downe and feld But specially vpon the Troyans side For then the Greeks them â—oo'â— so hardly held That they could not their fury great abide And by that meâ—â—â— the Greciaâ— ground theÌ„ wonne And Troyans to recoyle as fast begunne And lost their ground â—â—â—â—â—hat 〈◊〉 Wâ—o with a troope of gallant knights strong The Greeks on th' other 〈◊〉 was In furious â—â—se did 〈◊〉 into the â—â—â—â—ng And such a slaughâ—â—â— of the Greeks theâ— maâ—â— That in short timeâ—â—â— them compelled had To make retract and way to flie at last Downe towards thesâ—â— vnto the strond where â—e Along the way did â—â—â—â— them downe so fast And put them to so great extreamity That they were in no lâ—â—tle feare and dread Vntill such time as fierce King Diomede Beheld and saw how that Pollidamâ—s So cruelly the Grecians did pursue That if the fight continued as it was He doubted some great danger would ensue Vnto the Greeks a speare in hand did take And spurd his horse and after him did make And he likewise to shew himselfe a knight Of valor great his speare set in his rest And valiantly with all his force and might Smote Diomede therewith into the brest Cleane through his armes a deepe deadly wound Wherwith he fell down headlong on the ground Which having done despight of all the force That then the Grecians vs'd t'ayd Diomede He brauely tooke and seaz'd vpon his horse And by the bridle in his hand it lâ—d And gaue it vnto Troyelus that stood On foot as then all bath'd in Grecians blood Whereas he fought with them so valiantly That they could not his mighty blowes sustaine For with his trenchant blade most cruelly He kild and beat them downe vpon the plaine Who did his foot straight in the stirrop set And with a trice vpon his backe did get And then againe himselfe he did advance And furiously vpon the Grecians â—et Till at the last with swords in hand by chance He and Achilles both together met And each the other valiantly assaild But Troyelus against him so prevaild That he did wound Achilles and by force Despight of his great valor and his might Most puissantly did smight him off his horse But nere the lesse Achilles like a knight That nothing feard rose vp vpon his feet And vs'd all meanes he could his horse to get But ere that he could do 't a new supply Of Troyan Knights enclos'd him round about And on him set with such dexterity That he by no meanes from them could get out And Hector at that time in furious rage His choller on Achilles to asswage A thousand Grecian knights did fiercelie â—â—ay And many more by his victorious hand Were beaten downe that then stood in his way And him to
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
likewise that time did fall Vpon the valiant King Neptolemus The prowdest Greeke at that time mongst them all And he likewise with heart couragious At Sarpedon did run and with great might Out of his sadle fiercely did him smight But Sarpedon with fell and wrathfull hart The which with rage and anger burned hot Did suddainly vpon his feet vp start And with his sword Neptolemus he smot Into the thigh a great and cruell wound Wherewith he made him fall vpon the ground But when the King of Percia did perceiue King Sarpedon stand fighting on his feet In danger great he did him straight relieue And on the greeks so furiously did set That in despight of them by mighty force He holpe him soone againe vnto his horse But at that time King Menelaus came thither And Menestes Th' athenian Duke who both With many troopes of Grecian Knights together In furious wise and with exceeding wroth Vpon the King of Percia did fall And did enclose him round amongst them all Who fighting with them valiantly and long At last when he their force could not sustaine They did so thicke and fast vpon him throng He was by them with disaduantage slaine Whose death so much the Troians did dismay That they retird and gaue the Grecians way Till Sarpedon with bloody sword in hand Couragiously did many Grecians slay And did their force and furie so withstand That he not onely forst the Greeks to stay But draue them all before him on the plaine And made the Troians win their ground againe While Priamus vpon the other side With all his sonnes that bare him company Amongst the Grecians valiantly did ride And kild and beat them downe but specially King Priamus with many a bloody wound Did kill and slay all he before him found So that not any Troian young or old What soere he was though nere so high and strong Of body and of lim nor nere so bold That time did fight so furiously and long As Priamus himselfe for he alone That day was many a Greeks destruction And vtter ouerthrow For that theire Wherewith he was at that time wholy led And made his heart to burne as hot as fire For causes two was then redoubled One for th'inveterate hatred which he bare Vnto the Greeks the other cause he sware And vou'd to be reuenged if he might For Hectors death which put him in such rage That while he had the Grecians in his sight He could his choller by no meanes asswage But doubling his strength so fiercely fought That many a Greeke that day t' his death he broght And so continued in such furious wise To take reuenge on them that in despight Of all his fierce and cruell enemies By valor great he put them all to flight But they by slight the Troians to beguile When they had fled before them for a while Did wheel about and suddenly went downe Into a very great and spacious plaine That lay betweene the Troians and the towne Intending some aduantage so to gaine Vpon their foes and to that end did set Great Ambuscadoes euery way to let And keepe them from going into Troy againe And certainely had don 't by likelihood If Priamus had not with mighty paine And valor great most brauely them withstood Who at that time like Lyon fierce and strong With sword in hand did ride into the throng And thickest of the Greeks and valiantly Brake all their rancks with deepe wounds wide Hact hewd beat them downe so puissantly That no man durst his trenchant sword abide For whosoere he stroke was surely slaine Wheresoeuer he did ride throughout the plaine At which time also Paris did so fast Pursue them with his bowes and crosbowes shot And piercing darts which through their armors past And by that meanes such vantage on them got That they began to giue the Troians place And Priamus did them so hotly chase That being put to great extremitie By meanes of his exceeding force and might And to avoyd his extreame crueltie They did with mighty feare and great despight Flie to their â—ents glad they escaped so And they of Troy into the towne did go Because as then it drew fast toward night For Phoebus with his chariot west did hie Vnto the Indian coast to giue them light And so the honour of the victory Was wholy giuen to Priamus alone Who by his valor great the same had wone To ease his heart of that exceeding sorrow Which he therein conceiud for Hectors sake But yet vpon the next ensuing morrow He sent vnto the Greekes a truce to make With them whereto they gladly did agree But how long time the same should holden bee It 's not exprest In which time they of Troy Great preparation made with dilligence The Percian Kings dead body to conuoy According to his state with reuerence And honor great into his countrie That he in decent wise entombe might be And buried mongst his progenitors The Percian Kings and so most solemnely His Captaines and his other officers Did take the corps embalmed sumptuously And layd it in a Chariot couered ore With blacke and so in mournfull weeds it bore To Percia conuaied with a rout Of his owne worthy Knights and many more That in most dolefull wise did ride about The body and behind and eke before The same did goe vnto the buriall And at that time the sumptuous funerall Of Hector was in Troy solemnized According to the manner in those daies The which with honor great was hallowed As Guido and his Author Dares saies For space of fourteene daies continually And all that while within the sanctuary Great store of lights did burne and neare went out Which custome they continually did keepe From yeare to yeare as it did run aboâ—t Wherein they neuer ceast to mourne and weepe And watcht and praied there both night and day In mourning weeds and neuer went away From thence but on there knees continued there Before the tombes of their dead friends and so The Troians who great griefe in mind did beare For Hectors death in woefull wise did goe All clad in blacke to mourne and to lament His death till that full fourteene daies were spent The which they did with great solemnitie While that th' aforesaid truce continued was When as the Greeks might with free libertie Go into Troy and without danger pas The gates thereof and they of Troy also As freely might vnto the Grecians go At which time when Achilles wounds were curd And that he could well trauell vp and downe He had a great desire while truce endur'd To enter into Troy to see the towne And to behold the sumptuous funerall For Hector made by all in generall Within the same and so vnarmd without Assurance other then the truce then made Whereof in those daies men stood not in doubt He went to Troy and entring in nere staid But to Apolloes Temple straight did go Wherein as then with braue and warlike
then was made it was no maruaile why King Menelaus did it so much denie And to the same by no meanes would giue eare Sith that he was the ground of all their warre And that he and Queene Helena both were The cause that made the Greeks to come so farre Out of their natiue Countrie there to lose Their liues goods amongst their deadly foes And therefore said he cared not what paine Nor losse the Greeks endur'd so that he might Recouer his Queene Helena againe And where he saith the strong and valiant knight Hector is dead his heire as yet doth liue For knighthood who in manner doth reviue And raise him vp which is his yonger brother Prince Troyelus whome we may rightlie call Yong Hector for there is not such another In all the world for he 's as 't were the wall And sole defence of Troy now Hector's gone Which is well seene vnto vs euery one If we the truth thereof acknowledged Whose trechant blade in his most furious heat Doth oft and euerie hower make vs bleed Within the field when he with vs doth meet And in the stead of worthie Deiphobus That was a puissant knight and valorous His valiant brother Paris yet doth liue That 's vnto him for knighthood peregall Who also doth Troy mightilie relieue Whereby of them advantage none at all We haue as yet so that since we begun This warre in truth there is but little woone By vs but we are likelier to loose Yet more and more if we it still â—â— hold And therefore sith that we haâ—e power to choose My counsell is t were good if that we would T' agree with them of Troy and seeke for peace And let vs from this bloudie warre surcease Ulisses hauing spoken in this wise The Troyan traitor Calohas vexed sore To heare the same vpon his feet did rise And forthe hatred which to Troy he bore Said worthy Kings and Princes euery one Why should you change varie like the Moone From that your first and resolute intent Which was by you so fully greed vnto Against the will and the commandement Oâ— all the Gods that power haue to do What ere they list and rule and governe all The actions of man-kind both great small Why should you not vnto them credite giue Whose hests and doings are infallible For this you must all constantly belieue That t is most true and not impossible That Troy by their preordinance and will Shall be destroyd within a little while If you do not neglect and slacke the same Whereby great honor praise and victory Reserued is for you by Lady Fame And will be euer had in memory If you with courage bold pursue your foes And do not your good fortune fondly lose The which I dare affirme and boldly say And further must you tell that wilfully To dallie with the Gods is th'onlie way To make them change their purpose speedilie Wherefore my counsell is that vnitie Should be maintaind and all amb'guitie Dispaire and dread or any kind of doubt Forecasting perill sloath or cowardise Cleane laid aside you should with hearts most stout And valiant courage vtterlie despise All feare of death and once againe resume Your force with resolution to consume And spoile your foes for feare makes men to faint And leaue the enterprise they take in hand And doth mens minds with cowardise attaint And make them that they dare not thereto stand That as the Gods ordaind haue by decree And providence divine that you should bee Victorious ore your enemies in th' end If you with valiant hearts thereto aspire You may attaine to that you do pretend And so you shall fulfill the Gods desire Which speech when Calchas with smooth words faire Had spoken and thereby put all despaire Out of the Grecians hearts they did protest And vow that feare and danger laid aside They would fulfill his counsell and nere rest Though that Achilles flatly them denide His aid therein till that they had orethrowne The Troyans as hereafter shall be showne The two months truce aforesaid finished The Grecians did prepare themselues to fight Against their foes and brauely entered Into the field gainst whome in great despight The Troyan Knights with hearts couragious Did issue forth At which time Troyelus Such valor shewd that with his trenchant blade He kild and wounded them so furiouslie That in short space to flie he had them made For that day in his extreame crueltie He vowed for his brother Hectors sake Vpon the Grecians full revenge to take And as t is said that worthie Champion By his exceeding valor and his might Did slay a thousand Knights himselfe alone And put the Grecians valiantlie to flight All that day long till Phoebus did descend At which time he of fighting made an end And entred into Troy whereas he rested Till next day that the Grecians who t'revenge Their losse vpon the Troyans had protested Did orderly their wings and squadrons renge Assoone as Phoebus rose within the plaine With whome the Troyans fiercelie met againe Where each the other valiantlie assaild At which time fierce King Diomede did fight So cruellie and then so much preuaild Against his foes that by his passing might Great store of Troyans lost their liues and died Till Troyelus his crueltie espied At whome with speed he ran a mightie pace And with his strong and puissant speare in rest Encountred with him brauely face to face And gaue to him a blow vpon the brest So mightilie and with such passing force That with the same he smote him off his horse And bruis'd him sore To whom in spightfull wise As he vpon the ground did lie he spake And told him of his loue and treacheries Which he gainst him had wrought for Cresids sake At which time when the Grecians did espie King Diomede vpon the ground to lie Amongst the horses feet in great distresse They did with all the hast and speed they might To saue him from stout Troielus furiousnes Take him vp from the ground and in despight Of all his foes sore brused and dismaid Bare him from thence and in his tent him laid Whom to reuenge King Menelaus did set His speare in rest and furiously did ride To Troielus but ere with him he met Fierce Troielus that his comming would not bide Prevented him with such a furious blow That to the ground he did him ouerthrow And gaue him therewith all a cruell wound Within his brest that he was like to die But when his Knights saw him vpon the ground They layd him on a shield and speedily Bare him out of the presse into his tent At which time while away with him they went The Greeks were sore oppressed slaine and chast Throughout the field by Troilus passing might Who then most fiercely them pursued fast That they were forst to take themselues to flight Vntill such time as King Agamemnon With many Grecian Knights came riding down Into the field whose
Duke of Athens entered With mighty force the furie great to stay Of Troians and did make the Greekes that fled Aduance themselues againe but in the way Stout Troielus smot him so great a blow That from his horse he did him ouerthrow And then with fury great he entered in The thickest of the presse and beat downe all That with him met and therewith did begin So hotly on the Myrmidons to fall That many of them lost their liues and so Farre amongst the thickest of the Greeks did go That at the last he put them all to flight And by his valor great had them in chase So long till that the day was past and night Began t' appeare when as he left the place And went into the towne and there did stay And rest himselfe till that betimes next day They did begin a cruell fight againe Within the field so fiercely on each side That at that time great store of Knights were slaine And beaten downe and as they stoutly ride To trie their valors one against the other Pollidamas and Philomene together Did take King Thoas prisoner whom they ment T' haue carried vnto Troy with speed had not The Myrmidons before with him they went Out of the field from them by valor got And rescued him for they were very strong At which time Troilus road amonst the throng And thickst of them and like a valiant Knight Kâ—ld and orethrew great store of them by force So long till that by their great strength and might They did enclose him round and kild his horse And thought t' haue tane him prisoner but he foght So valiantly that they full dearely bought His horses life with many of their owne Till at the last his brother Paris spied Him fighting there on foot with them alone And with his other brethren straight did ride To rescue him and forcibly made way Through all the presse and many of theÌ„ did slay And by their valors soone recouered had A horse for him whereon he lightly sprong And then againe such hauocke of them made That though he was enclos'd among the throng He kild and beat them downe so furiously That many of them dead at his feet did lie But as most like a valiant Champion He fought in midst of them enclosed round One of his brethren cald Margariton By Myrmidons receiu'd his deadly wound Whose death set Troilus heart on such a fier With cruelty that in most furious ire He purposed to be reueng'd therefore And with his sword by force he made a way Through thickest of the presse downe he bore All that before him stood or once durst stay To make resistance or withstand him then The like did Paris with his brethren Who altogether furiously did ride Amongst Achilles Myrmidons and there Such hauocke of them made that to abide Before them they durst not but in great feare They were compeld of mere necessiry To set spurs to their horses and to flie In hast to saue their liues For Troielus Did kill and beat them downe so cruelly And was on them so fierce and furious And wounded them so sore and terribly That many of them died in the plaine And yet they did the fight long time maintaine For they were noble Knights and of great worth And knew full well how they their armes shold weild But yet they were by Troielus driuen forth With many wounds sore bleeding from the field Not able to withstand his extreame might Although they held together and did fight Most valiantly and would not separate Themselues long time asunder till at length They were by Troielus fierce and desperate So hotly chast that by maine force and strength He made them breake their rancks in despight Their hearts to flie till that with many a Knight King Menelaus and King Agamemnon Ulisses and most cruell Diomede And with them also fierce King Thelamon Came to the field and when they entered So valiantly assayld the Troians And with such multitudes of Grecians Vpon them set that at that time the fight Betwixt them did so hot and sore renew That it did cost the life of many a Knight On either side and thereof did ensue So terrible a noyse and cry throughout The field of men that maymed lay mought Not helpe themselues that all the aire did sound And ring therewith and many shields were spleet And harnes hackt and hawd all the ground Lay couered ore with hands armes heads feet Of men that cut and mangled dying lay And streames of blood ran downe along the way And in the plaine most fearfull to behold At which time they of Troy for all the might And multitudes of Greeks with courage bold Not once dismaid so valiantly did fight That many Grecian Knights by them were kild And wounded sore and where within the field The fight most strongest horst and furious Was held and where greatst troopes of Greeks withstood The Troians and assayld them Troiclus Couragiously amongst the thickest road And with his Knights such slaughter of them made That in short space he them compelled had To flie and to auoid his furious sword As th' instrument of their destruction And which as death they shuned and abhord And this continued till that Thelamon The fearefull flying of the Greeks beheld Did turne them backe made theÌ„ keepe the field And valiantly the Troian Knights assayld And then againe the fight was hot and strong And Greeks against the Troians sore prevaild But that aduantage held not very long For Troielus relieued them againe And by him then so many Greeks were slaine That he compeld them mauger all their might And great resistance which they theÌ„ did make Before his sword againe to take their flight Vnto their tents and at that time did take An hundred Percian Knights whom he did send To Troy and so that day the fight did end Which being done the Myrmidons with speed Vnto their Lord Achilles tent did go With many wounds full deepe that sore did bleed And in that sort themselues to him did show Wâ—o of their number then were lessened An hundred Knights within the field lay dead With gastly wounds slaine by the puissant might And valor great of Troielus alone Whereof when as Achilles had a sight The night ensuing he did nought but grone And sigh and grieue and was so much opprest With heauines that he could take no rest For in his mind he had a double wo First for his Knights that had been newly slaine And then for Pollicene whom he loued so For he knew well that he should nere obtaine His will of her if to reuenge his men He should once seeke the meanes therfore theÌ„ His heart burnt in his breast with double fier Of wrath and loue which pâ—t him to great paine For wrath prouoked him with great desire To be reueng'd and loue did him restraine From dooing it and got the vpper hand For he in mighty feare and doubt
rather vnto his eternall shame Out of thy worthy learned Booke deface His name and of him make no memorie Therein at all for surely in this case When as I heare his name me thinks the skie Infected is therewith and that throughout The world all men against him do crie out For if he had esteem'd Nobilitie Knight-hood renowne or worthines or fame Praise honor glory or gentilitie Or in Fames Booke t' haue registred his name He would haue been aduisd and taken heed For honors sake t' haue done so fowle a deed To draw so great a Prince when he was dead At his horse tayle who was so braue a Knight That while he liud and in Troy flourished To speake the truth and yeild to him his right Surpast Achilles far in each degree Of Knight-hood valor and actiuitie But to returne where I did leaue when as His brother Paris did behold and see Him dead and drawne by Achilles as he was With such despight and so great crueltie Such griefe and sorrow at that time he had Within his heart that like a man that 's mad He fard and with all speed that he could make Pollidamas and he together ran And many more to see if he could take His body from Achilles but as than The Grecians fought so hotly that in vaine They labored for they could not obtaine To their desires what meanes so ere they made Till Menon who entire affection bare To Troielus and great compassion had To see him dead without all feare or care Of fierce Achilles valor did protest That he would neuer leaue nor take his rest Till he reuengd his death vpon the man That had him slaine and presently did take His speare in hand and at Achilles ran To whom in fierce and furious wise he spake And sayd thou traitor false and mischiuous Thou Scorpion most vile and enuious That in dishonor of all chivalry This day hast slaine the worthiest Knight that liu'd Vpon the earth by thy false trechery Who cannot but be vexed mou'd and griu'd To see a worthy Knight of his degree Drawne in such wise as he is now by thee At thy horse tayle in scorne and great despight Hast thou forgotten and abandoned All knight-hood that thou sholdst now take delight To do so great disgrace to him that 's dead Who while he liu'd was better knight then thou The which I meane to proue vpon thee now And for this vile and most vnknightly act Reuenge his death whom thou this day hast kild By treason with thy Myrmidons compact And by this meanes thy trechery fulfild Whereby thou thinkst great honor to haue gotten But thy fowle fact will neuer be forgotten While that the world endures and presently He set speare in rest and spurring's horse Ran at Achilles and most valiantly Hit him vpon the brest with so great force That with the blow he ready was to fall Vnto the ground and brauely therewithall Drew out his sword that he might well know That he of him did stand in little dread Strake him therewith a strong and mighty blow And gaue him such a wound vpon his head That notwithstanding all his puissant force He made him fal downe headlong from his horse Vpon the ground whereon in extreame paine He lay long time as if he had been dead Till that his Knights did take him vp againe And notwithstanding that full sore he blead Got him at last to mount vpon his horse And when he had recouered his force And felt himselfe well eased of his paine With purpose to reuenge the iniury He thought he had receiud in great disdaine He spurd his puissant horse and furiously At Menon ran whose comming when he spide He likewise set spurs to his horses side And like a valiant Knight that feard him nought With courage bold met with him on the plaine Wherewith their swords they both together fought And twixt them did a combat long maintaine With fierce and mighty blowes till in the end King Menon did himselfe so well defend That he th' aduantage of Achilles had And in despight of all his fury great For he as then fought as he had been mad So valiantly vpon him then did set That he had surely slaine him but that then There came twixt them so great a troope of men On either side that they were forst to stay Their combat and by that meanes parted were And each from other borne cleane away At which time such a cruell slaughter there Was made of many a valiant knight and stout That all the field and all the plaine throughout Was fild with men that slaine and wounded sore Lay mangled on the ground in cruell wise For neither Greeks nor Troians would giue ore Till Phoebus did begin to leaue the skies And to descend at which time they withdrew Themselues out of the field and did renew The fight againe next day and met together Assoone as sunne did rise and euery day For seuen daies ensuing one the other Continually from fighting did not stay While that Achilles in his tent did lie To cure his wounds and there new trethery Within his mind did practise and devise To be reuengd on Menon who as then He hated sore because that in such wise He wounded him and to him cald his men And bad them when they fit occasion found Within the field t' inclose King Menon round On euery side and when they had him so Amongst them to assayle him altogether And by no meanes from them to let him go But not to kill him till that he came thither That he himselfe on him reueng'd might be And so they did for as he did decree With them in secret wise to do the same The next day in the morning when they met And either side gainst other fiercely came Into the field with rage and choler great Achilles and King Menon met together And valiantly assayled each the other On horsebacke as they sat where they did fight So long and in such furious wise that both Oâ— them compelled were by force t' alight And so on foot in mighty rage and wroth Fought valiantly But while that on the ground King Menon stood he was enclosed round By Myrmidens and as Achilles bad When he was in the middest of them all And not one Troian Knight to ayd him had In furious wise they did vpon him fall And though long time he did the fight maintain Against them all at last he was there slaine In traiterous wise by false Achilles hand Who by that meanes did his desire obtaine But yet he did so valiantly withstand Him and them all ere he by him was slaine That fore that he fell dead vpon the ground He gaue Achilles such a cruell wound That all men thought he would thereof haue died Now Homer iudge in truth and with good reason Aâ—by no vpright mind't can be deni'd If this were not most vile and filthy treason The which Achilles wrought and say with right
them to get out Their furious clawes with great fearefull cries Like to a Bull that 's tide vnto a stake For to be kild doth mighty roaring make But all in vaine for nothing could him aid And when that he was kild they tooke their way Vnto Mineruaes Temple where they laid Themselues downe at her feet there did stay Wherewith a mighty trembling feate did fall With wonder new strange vpon them all For they suppos'd and thought it to be true That for because Lycaon with his speare Had run against the horse that as a due Deserved plague that punishment he bare And therefore all of them did cry and say Why bring you not this horse without delay Into the Towne the Goddesse wrath t' appease And presently the people did begin To batter downe their wall and did not cease Till they had made a mighty brech therein Which done they set the horses feet vpon Huge planks with wheels that it might slide there on And with great ropes about his necke did draw The fatall horse with men and armor full Which when the women with their children saw They leapt daunst singing holpe to pull And hale it in and glad was he that could By any meanes vpon the ropes lay hold And in that sort it entred in the Towne Vnhappy men to breed their owne decay For as they drew and shou'd it vp and downe Along the streets of Troy vpon the way Foure times it swai'd iog'd against the ground And euery time they heard the armor sound Within the same yet on with it they went And blind with fond desire they had to get That mōstrous horse brought in were not content Till they had it by Pallas Temple set Wherewith Cassandra plainly did them shew By spirit diuine what would thereof ensew But they that for her words did little care Belieu'd her not but like to sencelesse men The Temples strew'd with hearbs did prepare As solemne feasts as if that they had been Secur'd and freed from dangers whatso ere Might happē whē poore wretched men they were At point of death and as we vse to say With one foot stepping in the graue had No longer time to liue but one short day And so great triumph for the time then made That nere the like before was seen in Troy But true it is that after extreame ioy As oft we find ensues adversitie And after peace when men do liue secure Without all feare in great felicitie And thinke that it for euer will endure Comes cruell warre for there 's no certainty In worldly blisse full of variety Deceit and guile vnhappines and trouble And neuer in one state doth long remaine Not much vnlike vnto a water-bubble Which riseth vp straight falls downe againe For though that men haue wealth riches great And on the top of fortunes wheele are set Yet vnawares she soone doth cast them downe As you may well behold and plainly see Here in this Booke by Troy the ancient Towne Which thought it selfe for euer safe to be By bring in that mighty horse of brasse Which th' only cause of their destruction was And when that they in extreame ioy had spent The day without all care till it was past And that the christall firmament had sent Darke night with clouds the skies to ouercast While that the wearied Troyans on the wall Lay carelesly and some on sleepe did fall As fearing nought The Grecians armie soone From Tenadon with all their Navie came And guided by the cleare bright shining Moone With silence great did land and made a flame Of fire out of their admirall to show That they were there and to let Symon know They were prepard to ioyne with him when he Had done his feat within the Towne who when He started vp and looking out did see The light from thence he stole out and began To turne the gins that in the horse were made And when that he his bellie op'ned had He called out Ulisses Athamas Thesander Machon and King Menalus Pyrrhus Achilles son that also was Surnamed by the Greeks Neoptolimus King Thoas and a number more beside Who soone out of the Horses panch did slide And presently vpon the walles did go And there fast sleping found the watch whom they Did fiercely kill and when they had done so Vnto the gates in hast they went there way And brake them vp and then out of the towne Did hang a light which they at Tenadowne Perceiuing armd themselues and fiercely ride To Troy-ward where their fellows watch did keepe And ready stood their comming to abide At midnight when sound sleep on men doth crepe And furiously throughout the Citie ran And sparing neither woman child nor man Kild all they found with extreame cruelty For they as then fast sleeping lay in bed And little did suspect such trechery Till that they felt with gastly wounds that bled Their enemies blowes and saw no remedy But by their hands in cruell wise to die For neither sex nor age by them was spard Whereby a mighty crie and noise did rise Within the towne the which when Priam hard Who little did suspect his enemies So falsely had betraid him and that The towne by them was tane but al to late He found and by experience too well knew Anthenor and Aeneas had betraid The towne and him into their hands drew That traiterous plot the which they falsely said Was for his and their good in generall But it was don to blind his eies withall Till they fit oppertunitie might haue To bring 't passe in such sort as they had Agreed with the Greeks which was to saue Themselue on such conditions as they made In secret wise and cleane contrary told To Priamus which then he might behold To well for at that time the trechery Which with such traitrous hearts they had cōceild Was seene and by the Grecians cruelty Vnto the townes and his decay reueald And th' Authors knowne when as no remedy Was to be found t' auoyd th' extremity That on him fell for then the towne was tane And all the loftie towers thereof began With fierto burne and euery street lane Was fild with Greeks and nothing hard therein But lamentable cries and woefull grones Of men that dying lay vpon the stones Within the streets and howses and that fled Before the Greeks in mighty dread and feare Amazed sore he rose out of his bed And sheading many a salt and brinsh teare Ran to Apolloes Temple comfortles T' escape if that he might in that distresse Meane time the towne was of a flaming fier Which merciles consumd and spoyled all And Greeks on euery side with great desire To be reuenged vpon the Troians fall And murthered and beat them downe so fast That while that most accursed night did last Ere Phoebus shoane the next ensueing day They slew of them boue twenty thousand men And forcibly did take and bare away Their
remaine The which two seuerall wiues vnto him bore Who with a King cald Tenter did remaine And nourisht were till that they did attaine To mens estate and in the end he came Two braue and worthy knights as euer were And in their time attaind to hauty fame As by their liues and acts it doth appeare The elder of them cald Autheâ—icâ—s The yonger had to name Aâ—â—issarâ—s And then doth shew that when the Greeks had done All that they would to Troy and â—eadiâ— lay Attending wind and tide at Tâ—â—â—dâ—â— To saile to Greece Agamemnon did pray And earnestlie entreated them t' agree And giue consent that Menalus and he Might take their leaues and stay no longer there Whereto at first they would not giue consent But flatly them denyd and gainst it were But after much entreaty were content They should depart and so they two together Set saile when it was faire and pleasing weather In Autumne when the aire was drie and cold And melaucholie humors did abound When Phoebus had cleaâ—e passed Leâ— bold And in sixteenth degree of Virgo found And trees that in the Summer time were greene Waxt drie corne and fruits were gathered in And flowers herbs which in the month of May With fresh and liuely hew shewd gallantly Began to hang their heads and to decay And all the fields that flourisht verdantly Were dri'd and lookt with sad heauy cheare At th'jssuing of the daies caniculeare And men by humors great which then abound Molested were with shivering feavers cold And when the wind with blustring blasts was found To shake the trees so sore they could not hold Their leaues but did constraine them off to fall At time of yeare when men on God do call And humbly him beseech to keepe and saue Their vines from raine storms nipping frost That they in time the fruits of them may haue Which otherwise would vtterly be lost If too much moysture fall vpon the ground As commonly that time of yeare is found At vnawares to happen with some blasts Of wind and blustring weather which so sore Doth moue theseas therewithall orecasts The skies makes them lowring which before Shewd pleasantly and seemed for a while To put men in good hope with fained smile But yet there is no trust t will so abide As well the Greeks that put to sea did find And sailed forth of Tenadon with tide And wind as good as they could wish in mind And with the gold and treasure that they woon In Troy three daies their course directly â—un To Greece ward by consent of Eolus Who with the winds did seeme as 't were t' obay To them and promist voyage prosperous And did conduct t hem onward of their way With pleasing gale along the Grecian coast But when that they in fortune trusted most And thought themselues to be in her good grace Mistrusting nought she sodenly did lower And vnawares with false dissembling face To shew and to declare her mighty power Turn'd all their hope into most deepe despaire And ouercast the weather that was faire And made th' Egean seas that calme did show To rise aloft with billowes huge and hie And Boreas with his boystrous blasts to blow And roare and whistle lowdly in the skie And day that was most cleare to seeme as night It was so darke so that they had no light But onely by the lightning that did fall With flashes great and made them sore agast And much more when the thunder therewithall With mighty claps did breake both Yard mast And rent and tare their sailes made them flie Ore bord into the sea that rose so hie And bare their ships vp with so mighty force As if that they on mountaine tops had been And then againe with cleane contrary course Cast them as low so that they oft were seen As if that they directly headlong fell Into the deepe infernall pit of hell And therewithall the lightning sodainly Fell in their ships and set them on a fire And two and twenty of them speedily Consumd burnt the rest with furious ire The which Minerua to them bare were cast Vpon the shore and there in pieces brast For she offended was with them so sore Because to her they did no reverence When they from Troy departed and the more Because of that most great and foule offence The which Cileus Aiax gainst her wrought Within her Church which he full dearly bought For when his ships were most part of them drownd She bare so great a spight and hate to him That he to saue himselfe from death was found In danger great within the seas to swim Starke naked and at last got to the land And there lay almost dead vpon the sand And that he had for his desert and share The which Minerua iustly to him sent Because that he no honor to her bare When he into her Temple boldly went And forcible with mighty violence Cassandra Priams Daughter drew from thence Whereby you see what danger doth ensue To men that dare prophane a holy place As Cileus Aiax did but did it rue And plagued was therefore without all grace As God with grieuous punishment will strike All those that do presume to do the like Which many of the Greeks most true did find By giving of the same occasion For he that with a proud and hawtie mind Will venture by too great presumption To striue against the God of peace and might Shall at the last vnto his foule despight Repent the same much sooner then he weenth And oftentimes not punished alone For many a man that innocently meanth Is plagu'd for that which other men haue done For all the Greeks in generall together Returning home receau'd some hurt no other Both hie and low of state all felt the smart And punishment of rigor to them vs'd Vpon their foes with sterne and cruell heart Because that they their victory abus'd As by the sequele of the History It doth appeare most clearely to the eye Which saith that in times past a King there raign'd Among the Greeks which Naulus had to name Who long in honor great his Land maintaind And through the world did spread his hawty fame Two Sons he had Pallamides the elder And Oetes was the second and the yonger Who both one mother had and valiant were Especially Pallamides for he For knighthood was esteemd and held to beare The name and fame both farre and neare to be The worthiest Prince then living in his daies For force and power of men at all assaies And for his wisedome sometime governed The Grecians hoast when they fore Troy did lie And was of them most highly honoured But at the last was slaine vnhappilie In battaile when as he most flourished In honor his fame abroad was spred But some that bare great envie in their hearts Vnto the Grecians most maliciously Against them treason wrought plaid their parts So well therein that Naulus hastilie
giue them leaue to enter Though they as he suppos'd did not pretend To do him wrong thereby while they did stay Nor yet by any way or meanes t' offend His subiects but for all they tooke did pay But Thelaphus well arm'd with many a knight Went downe vnto the shore with them to fight And with exceeding furie on them set Where Assandrus so brauely did assaile His enemies that those that with him met Could not against his valor great prevaile So that by knightly force the field he wan Vpon his foes and killed many a man That him withstood which when the King espi'd And saw how he so brauely plaid his part Disdaining sore thereat to daunt his pride With all his force he stroke him with a dart So farre into the breast that he fell dead Vpon the ground the which when Diomed Perceaued to revenge him like a knight Of valor great that time such slaughter made Vpon his foes that by his puissant might He made them run out of the field as glad To saue their liues which done he gan to make Great sorrow for his loving brothers sake And studying what were best for him to do At last his corps from savage beasts to saue Before that he one foot from thence did go He put the same into a Princely graue And buried it with many weeping eyes Vpon Boctia shore in Paynim wise But Oetes to his sister wrote and said That he was slaine by craft of Diomede Who to that end in wayt for him had laid A band of men that he once being dead The kingdome wholly might without all strife Descend by right to him and to his wife And that he would possession thereof take Assoone as he againe returned home And further said that he would her forsake And that with him there did a Lady come Whome he did loue and meant to make his wife And by that meanes did set such mortall strife Betweene them as he in like sort had done Not long before and in the selfe same kind Twixt Clytemnestra and Agamemnon That he possest her sad and heauie mind With such conceit of treason that much grieu'd To heare thereof she verily belieu'd All to be true that vnto her was told So that with heart to wrath and furie bent And face that looked deadly wan and cold She did for her deare brothers death lament Whome she did with so great affection loue That from revenging him no man could moue Her heart that was as hard as any stone Vpon her husband Diomede For when The tedious weary siege of Troy was done And he returned home to her agen She did him on the shore by force withstand And beat him backe not suffring him to land But banished him presently from thence And would not once with him be reconcil'd Who seeing that he could not make defence Against her power to see himselfe exil'd So wrongfully much grieued at the heart Cleane comfortlesse he did from thence depart And went vnto Salerne land whereas A puissant King cald Tentar then did raigne That Brother vnto Thelamon Aiax was Who at the siege of Troy was falsly slaine But Diomede cleane destitute of ayd Vnhappy man not long time therein stayd For when King Tâ—â—â—â—r knew that he was there Suspecting him for death of Theâ—â—mon He did pursue him so that wheresoere He staid he saw that succor there was none For him to haue so that vpon a night In secret wise he tooke himselfe to flight And left Salerne land in hope to find More comfort and reliefe in other place To ease and to redresse his troubled mind If fortune would vouchsafe him so much grace Meane time with heauie heart thought confus'd Like one forsaken wholly and refus'd Of euery man he wandred to and fro From place to place and could no rest procure Vnto himselfe not knowing where to go And all that while great mis'rie did endure Till at the last Aeneas that still staid In Troy the scattred Troyans there to aid Which after the destruction there were left And every day and hower were in doubt To be destroyd and of their liues bereft By enemies that dwelt there round about And had no man to gouerne them nor stand In their defence or that would take in hand To be their guide against their enemies Till that Aeneas t'aid them in their need Vnto them gaue his counsell and advise To send a messenger for Diomed Of whome he did the fortune vnderstand To be expulst and banisht from his land To pray him to come vnto them with speed With all the force and power he could make To saue and to defend them in their need From those that them opprest and t' vndertake To be the guide of them that ready were To be destroyd for want of government Which Diomed did grant vnto and came In hast to Troy and thither with him brought A gallant troope of men and with the same Relieued them and brauely for them fought With whome vpon the way Aeneas met And to the towne with honor great him fet And entertaining him as his degree Requird a banquet for him did prepare Of every thing that might desired bee Where each of them to th' other did declare The miseries and troubles first and last By sea and land which they had overpast Which no man can by any meanes eschew But as dame Fortune for him hath decreed He must take that she sends him as his dew But now vnto the matter to proceed The Troyans that were almost driven out Of Troy by those that dwelt there round about That daily did invade and spoyle their land By Diomed relieued were and set At liberty againe who did withstand Their foes so puissantly that he did get The victory of them foure times at least And them so sore pursued and opprest That finally they tooke and slew them all And such as were found traitors and had done That mischiefe which vpon them then did fall Condemned were and hanged euery one Whereby no man durst do them any wrong And by that meanes king Diomed waxt strong And did in time by his protection And government which he did take in hand As being Lord and Ruler of the towne So valiantly their enemies withstand And such a sway there for a time did beare That of him all the Country stood in feare And by that meanes in fine it so fell out His fame did spread abroad both farre large And his great valor was so blowen about That it was knowne in Calidon and Arge Which when the Queene his wife did vnderstand She feard he would invade her in her land And it by force at last from her would take And to her selfe much mus'd how Diomed Such succor and such grace had found to make Himselfe so great that he so farre should spred His fame for which as politike and wise She did forecast and with her selfe devise By counsell of her Lords in generall To reconcile
able there most cruell blowes to beare Nor gainst them long to stand in their defence Which don they tooke me and King Alphenore And in their armes by force and violence Despightfully away with them they bâ—re And carried vs that were in mighty feare Into a darke and filthy prison where Our hands and feet with Iron chaines were bound And we were fed with bread and water cleare And had no bed but bare and naked ground To lyevpon while we remaines there This mighty Giant cald Poliphemus Who as I sayd had so imprisoned vs A sister had that passed every one That liued in her time for beauty rare Who as it seem'd had some compassion Of our distresse as maydens often are More kind then men and came to visit vs In prison by which meanes it fell out thus That Alphenore though captiue then he lay So much admird her beautie that he fell In loue with her and did nought night and day But musd thereon and liked her so well That though he did himselfe in fetters find Yet he on her did holy set his mind And faster with loues chaines had tyed his hart Then with theyron bands wherein we lay Sixe moneths in great distresse ere we could part Or get from thence for so long we did stay Imprisoned till that Polliphemus At last had some compassion vpon vs. And after we had been tormented so Did ease vs of our great captivity And of his grace and fauour let vs go Whereas we would at our owne liberty But Alphenore still burning hot in loue Could not the same out of his mind remoue But dayly felt a sore and grieuous fit Thereof within his heart till at the last He found the meanes by policy and wit When he had many stormes of loue orepast That on a night he did the mayd convay Out of her fathers house and went away With her so secretly that no man knew 't Till morning early ere that it was day Polliphemus did sweare that we should rue't And following vs oretooke in the way And such a fierce assault on vs did make That â—e the mayd from Alphenor did take And then our men so furiously did slay With th' aid of those that him accompanied That they compelled were to giue him way And at the last in extreame feare they fled And left me in great danger all alone To fight with that most mighty Champion And when I saw there was no remedy To scape from death I did with courage stout Defend my selfe and smot him sodainly Vpon the face and thrust his eye cleane out Which done I went vnto my companie And with them to our ships in hast did flie And no man did perceiue which way we tooke And finding wind and weather fit to go We went aboord and speedily forsooke That countrey as best for vs so to do For there was no abiding then for vs. Of Poliphemus Ovid writeth thus That he a huge and mighty Gyant was Whose face was couered ore with beard haire So thicke and so defusedly that as Men lookt on him they were in mighty feare The rather for that he deformedly In middest of his forehead had an eie And none elsewhere as men are vsd to haue Which eie when as Ulisses had smit out He did therefore sâ—extreamely rage and raue That he ran blindfold groping round about Ore hils dales and wheresoere he past Huge rocks and mighty stones about him cast In euery place supposing so to be Reuenged on Ulisses for the â—ame As you at large in Ovids booke may see Which he his Metamorphosis doth name And hauing so escaped from his hand And safely with our ships got from the land We sayled all that day vntill t' was night When as it was our chance vnhappily Vpon a round and little Isle to light Which in the middle of the sea doth lie Eludium cald wherein as then did dwell Dame Circes who in magicke did excell And would that which she tooke in hand performe So cunningly that by her Art she could A man or woman when she list transforme Into what kind of shape so ere she would And make them in that sort to liue as long As pleased her her potions were so strong And likewise made her selfe by Art so faire That none like vnto her was to be found For that whosoere did to her Isle repaire Could not get out of that accursed ground Without her leaue for by that Sorceres My mind was so possest with carelesnes That I had no desire at all to go From thence but there with a yeare did stay And truth to tell I was enchanted so That I could not get thence by night nor day So pleasant was the life that there I led And while that I with her continued She did conceaue with child by me and had A sonne that Thelagenius had to name For which cause much account of me she made And lou'd me more then others for the same But yet at last by secret providence I in her Art had such experience That maugre all inchantments she could vse I stole away from her and to conclude Though she so many others did abuse By Art I did her divelish Art delude And by that meanes escaped from her hand And with my men got free out of her land But nerethelesse it did me nought availe For that when I had been a little while Vpon the seas and forward thought to saile A wind contrary blew me to an Isle That farre remote within the sea did stand And was exceeding rich and fertile land Wherein Calipha Circes sister raignd Whose Art and foule inchantments were so strong That she againe my liberty restraind And spight my heart there also held me long But truth to say she did so much abound In courtesie the which in her I found And was a Lady of such excellence For rarenesse of her qualities and wit That tarrying there to me was no offence But though that I well pleased were with it Yet loath to stay I did her Art prevent And secretly escapt from her and went Directly to an Isle wherein did stand A Temple where there was an Oracle And whosoere therein did chance to land Might answere haue as 't were by miracle Of any thing whereof he wold enquire Whereas I did most earnestly desire To know what fortune should vnto me fall And also how I might prevent the same Where I was told my future fortunes all What soere I askâ— saue only what became Of soules of mortall men when they are dead For nothing therevnto it answered As being that which is not in the might Nor power of any creature to tell For that belongeth wholly and of right To God that doth in highest heavens dwell For it is cleane beyong the reach of man And from that Isle I once againe began To hoyse vp sailes in surging seas scourd The same but with contrary In Caribdis where Mermaids vse to lie That from the middle down-wards
Porter staid Whom I entreated courteously to pas And churlishly put backe with words most vile I seeing that he did me so revile Much grieued that he vsd me in that sort Did kill him with a blow on th' eare which whan The guard did see that watch held in the fort They issued and together on me ran And I compeld to fight though gainst my will In my defence fifteene of them did kill Whereby I am thus wounded as you see And like to loose my life as well as they That sought if that they could t' haue killed me And this if these here present truth will say The reason was we fought and they were kild By me which when Ulisses heard he wild Him to declare where he was borne and what His Father was and where he then did dwell Who answered the King and told him that He would the truth thereof vnto him tell And said he was borne in an Isle that stood Within the sea of high and Princely blood And that he to his mother had a Queene Cald Circes who both fâ—r and nâ—â—â— was knowne And how he had his Father neuer â—â—erio But said that by his mother he was showne That he was gotten by a king who as He did returne from Troy did chance to pas Along that way and as she told to me Said he his name Vlisses was Whom I Did long and such desire had to see That taking ship I set sayle presently And in short space I came into this land Where I was told and given to vnderstand That I should find my Father in this place But now I see my labour is in vaine And feare that I shall never see his face And therefore sith I haue tane so much paine And cannot vnto my desire attaine I will if that I liue returne againe Into my natiue soylo and seeke no more With danger of my life for that which I So long to find and yet it grieues me fore T' haue tane such paines and cannot satisfie My mind This is all that I can you show Said he of that which you desire to know Whereby Vlisses sighing sore when as He had heard him that answere to him make Perceiving he his Son by Circes was With griefe began to tremble and to quake And sheading store of blood out of his wound He fainted and did full into a swound And with a countnance heavy dead and pale Said now I see my woefull Destiny Fulfilled is for by this young mans â—ale I know and find there is no remedy For me and that the time is now too lâ—â—e To strine against my hard and cuâ—sâ—â— Faâ—e For now my Son which here by me doth stand Hath given meâ—â—y death and made an end Of his old Fathers life and with his hand Hath finishe that whereto my dreame did tend Which words pronounst young Thelagon began With countnance sad and face â—oth pale wan To sigh when as he knew and vnderstood That gainst the lawes of nature he had flame His Father and so fiercely shed his blood That him begot and felt such grieuous paine In heart that he did presently sincke downe And fore them all did fall into a swone And comming to himselfe when he had torne His clothes and puld his haire off from his head He said alas that ever I was borne That by my hands my Father should be dead Curst be my hard and woefull Destiny And fortune fell the which I could not flie Curst be the hand that hath been so impure Whereby this wicked deed by me is don Accurst be I of every creature Accursed be my constellation And cursed be and most vnfortunate The hower wherein my father me begat Oh would to God for this vnhappy deed T' excuse his death I might for my reward In presence of you all die in his steed And wholy of all comfort be debard And that men would me vtterly forsake But when the King such sorrow hard him make And knew he was his Son that Circes bore By him in th'isle Aulides as be found By many signes which he rehearst before He made him to be tane vp from the ground Whereon he lay and pardned him his death Being ready then to yeild his vitall breath And lying in so great extreamitie With speed did call for his Son Thelamon Who at that time in prison straight did lie Who presently when as he heard thereon Vnto his Father went and when he saw That he began vnto his end to draw And by enquirie knew the truth and found That Thelagon who fore him there did stand Was he that had given him his deadly wound With mighty rage he tooke his sword in hand And thought his brother Thelagon to kill But ere thâ—â— he of him could haue his will Ulisses made his men to run and hold His hand and then for all the paine he had He cald his Sons and told them that he would Haue them t' agree and to be friends made Them graâ—â— and promise to be so which â—on He did expresly charge Prince Thelamon That he without dissimulation Should loue and in most friendly manner liue While vitall breath did last with Thelagon His brother and to him the halfe should giue Of all his goods as heire by true discent To him whereto he freely did consent And neuer from his Fathers will did varry Which said his men a Chariot did provide And did him to his chiefest Citie carry Where afterward within three daies he dide Whose body was interred by hie Sonne Within a costly Tombe of Marble stone And after that they Crowned Thelamon And made him King with great solemnity With whom a whole yeare after Thelagon His brother staid to whom most lovingly And kindly he nere any thing denide And when he would n◠〈◊〉 there abide He dubd him Knight and after did prepare A ship and gold for him whereof he had Great store wherewith he did againe repaire Home to Aulides Isle and thereby made His mother Circes heart exceeding glad That had for his long absence been full sad For she by Negromancian Art could tell That he through many dangers great had past And scapt them all And after that she fell Into an extreame sickenes and at last Well stricken in yeares she died as all men must When as their time is come For God most just Hath death ordaind for every living thing Who having vnto nature paid her debt Prince Thelagon her Son was Crowned King Of Aulides whereas with honor great He did his Crowne Kingdome long maintaine And threescore yeares full coÌ„pleat ther did raigne While Thelamon liu'd in Achaia land And thereof held the Scepter and the Crowne For seaventy yeares together in his hand Till from his throne death proudly puld him down Vnto the ground and with his piercing dart In cruell wise did strike him to the hart This shall suffiice to let you see and know Th'adventures of the Greeks by sea and land When