golde and treasoure and the tyrannye Vpon his men by Troyans execute Both of assaylynge and of all the sute That on the grekes they made cruelly And how that they ne spared vtterly Man nor woman that came in theyr waye That they ne toke and ladde as for praye To theyr shyppes also of the fyght Afore the Castell that was on the nyght ¶ And alder laste he hereth of his wyfe Whom he loued as moche as his lyfe More tenderly god wote a thousande folde For whom astoned at herte he waxed as colde As any stone and pale of his hewe His hertely wo so inly gan renewe That first whan he herde hir name sowne Without more anone he fell in a swowne For he ne myght endure for to stande Tyll duke Nestor toke hym by the hande And hym awoke of his deedly swowgh Alas quod he why haue I lost and howgh My lyues luste my hertely suffysaunce A come now deth and make of my greuaunce Fully and ende with thy cruell darte That wounded am thorugh on euery parte My herte also korue in euery peyne For you my wyfe for you myn owne Eleyne That be deuorced frome welaway Farewell my ioye farewell myn olde play Now haue straungers of you possession Whiche wyll to me be full confusion Alas I noot how they you cherysshe or trete My fayre Eleyne that were to me so mete Now ye are gone pensyfenesse me slethe I may nat wayte now but after dethe And after thisâ— amyd in all his wo This Menelay shope hym for to go To his reygne but lytell there besyde He axeth hors and sayde he wolde ryde Sool to complayne of that he felte hym greue But all this whyle Nestor wyll nat leue To go with hym for consolacion Of frendely right hauynge compassion Hym to comforte with all his full myght â—edynge with hym many a worthy knyght Into the reygne of this Menelaus Than firste of allâ— the storye telleth vs How they sente for Agamenon And for Castor to come to hym anon And for Pollux if it myght be And whan that they were come all thre And sawe their brother iÌ„ such myschef brought Almoste murdred with his owne thought Without abode the wyse Agamenon To gyue hym comforte and consolacion Dyde his labour and dylygence entere Sayenge to hym right as ye shall here O brother myn what wo what heuynesse What deedly sorowe thus inly may oppresse Your knyghtly herte or trouble your manhede More furyously Iwys than it is nede For though that right requered vtterly You for to sorowe and hadde cause why Yet me semeth by iuste prouydence Ye shuld slyely dissymule your offence Syth eche wyse man in his aduersytee Shulde fayne chere and kepe in secree The inwarde wo that bynde hym in distresse By manly force rathest there compesse The spirite of Ire and melancolye Where the people it soonest myght espye It is a doctryne of them that be prudent That whan a man with furye is to rent To fayne chere tyll tyme he se leysere That he of vengeaunce kyndele may the fyere For sorowe out shewed if I shall nat fayne Who so taketh hede it doth thynges twayne It causeth frendes for to syghe sore And his enemyes to reioyse more Thy frende in herte is sorye of nature Thyne enemye glad of thy mysaduenture Wherfore in herte whaÌ„ wo doth most habouÌ„de Fayne gladnesse thyne enemye to confounde And shewe in chere as thou roughtest nought Of that moste is greuous in thy thought And wher thou hast most mater to complayne Make there good face glad in porte the fayne For into teres though thou all distylle And rende thy selfe as thou woldest the spylle It helpeth nat to a legge thy greuaunce For nouther honour nor pursute of vengeauÌ„ce With sorowe makynge mowe be execute Though it last ay ther cometh therof no fruyte Men lay how he that can dissymule a wronge How he is slyghe and of herte stronge And who can be pesyble in his smerte It is a token he hath a manly herte Nat to wepe as women in theyr rage Whiche is contrary to an hye courage With worde wepyng for to aueÌ„ge our payne By no meanes to worshyp to attayne Let vs with swerde nat with wordes fyght Our tunge appese by maÌ„hod preue our myght Worde is but wynde and water that we wepe And though the tempest and the floddes depe Of this two encrease euer moo They may nat do but augment our woo And to our soon therof whan they here Bothe of our dole and our heuy chere All is to them but encrase of ioye Wherfore brother a whyle do acoye The cruell tourment that bynde you so sore For in prouerbe it hath be sayde full yore That the prowesse of a manly knyght Is proued moste in myschefe and his myght To be assured in aduersyte Strongly sustene what wo that it be Nat cowardly his courage to submytte In euery peryll nor his honour flytte Thorughe no dispayre but hope alway wele And haue a truste trewe as any steâ—e To acheue aye what he take an honde For fynally I do you vnderstonde That of hymselfe who hath good fantasye To set vpon and put in Iuparâ—ye What that befalle or happe what happe may Takynge what chauÌ„ce wyll turne on his play The fyne of suche gladly is victorye They fayle selde of the palme of glorye And tyme is now to speke in wordes fewe O brother myn manhode for to shewe To plucke vp herte and you to make stronge And to venge your daÌ„mages your wronge We shall echone helpe and lay to hande Kynges Dukes and lordes of this lande And atones do our besynesse I you behyghte your harmes to redresse And in despyte of who that euer vs lette We shall vs lodge and our tentes sette Euen in the felde afore Troye towne And laye afore it sege to theyr destrucciowne Albe therof I set as now no day But brother firste in all the haste we may Let make letters without more sermon To all the lordes of this regyon Of matere touchynge your vyllanye To come togydre and shape remedye This is the effect of all that I can sayne ¶ And thus relesed somwhat of his payne Is Menelaus thorugh comfort of his brother For whan he fawe it myght be none other And of his tale the kynge made an ende Thorugh out yâ— lande he dyd his letters sende Firste to hir kynne and his alye To come to helpe hym of theyr curtesye And firste of all to Menelaus Came Achylles and with hym Patroclus And alder next stronge Dyomede And many a nother to helpe in this nede And all echone in open Parlement They were accorded full by one assent To be gouerned as Agamenon Lyst to ordayne in his discrecion Of this vyage they made hym gouernour And of theyr ooste cheffetayne and Emperour Amonge them all there was full vnyte Vpon Troyans auenged for to be And from this purpose neuer to remewe But firste
moste vertuous of alle And it is founde sothely in Cecyle Of whiche stone whylom wrote virgyle How that venus to Eneas it sente Firste whan that he into Cartage wente And after this she to Iason toke A certayne bylle wryten lyke a boke That to his iourney myght moche auayle And bad hym wysely that he nat ne fayle If he caste hym graciously to spede Firste of all the scripture that he rede Or he the Ram touche in any wyse Hym chargynge eke afore this hye empryse With humble herte and deuocyon That he knelynge saye that oryson That vp and downe was wryten on the bylle Prayenge the goddes lowely to fulfylle His requeste and mercy for to haue Of very pyte from myscheif hym to saue And after that for his cheif socoure She toke to hym a vyoll with lycoure And bad hym manly without fere or drede Whan he come vnto the bullys rede If he hym shape knyghtly to escape That as faste as he seeth them gape Into theyr goles that he the lycour caste Than that hym nat but lytell of them gaste For theyr iowes togyder it shall glyewe That on no syde they shall nat eschewe To beye his luste in what hym lyste coÌ„streyne For doutles maugre all theyr peyne He shall them so daunte and make tame That where hym lyste in ernest and in game He myght them make louten and enclyne And do them bowe bothe backe and chyne The lycour shall there chawles so coharte That a sonder they shall nat departe For to offende or noye any wyght And whan she had thus vnto hir knyght In euery thynge gaue instruccion Playne doctryne and informacion How he shall scape the daungers by and by If he take hede and werke auysely And than accorded they thought it for the best For to parte or men out of theyr rest A waked were for it drewe to daye As they well sawe by the morowe graye And leste men hadde to them suspecion Of hye prudence and discrecion A twene the twelyght and the rody morowe They toke theyr leue with seynt IohnÌ„ the borowe With oft kyssynge as louers whaÌ„ they twynne And so he wente and she is lefte withinne Beynge in hope to mete agayne some daye And Iason than as faste as euer he maye Gan ordayne hym his Iourney to acheue And thought he wolde anone go take his leue And in what wyse within a lytell whyle After the maner of my rude style My purpose is sothely and nat spare With your supporte playnly to declare WHan that the rowes and the rayes rede Estwarde to vs full erely gonne sprede Euen at the twelyght in the damnynge Whan the larke of custome gynneth synge For to salue in hir heuenly laye The lusty goddesse of the morowe graye I mene Aurora whiche afore the sonne Is wonte to enchase the blacke skyes donne And the derkenesse of the dymme nyght And fresshe Phebus with coÌ„forte of his lyght And the bryghtnesse of his bemes shene Hadde ouer gylte the hye hylles grene And floures eke agayne the morowe tyde Vpon theyr stalkê gan playn their leues wyde Whan that Iason with all his companye Towarde the kynge full faste gan hym hye Who that he fonde lyke to his estate With sceptre in hande full pompous elate Hye in the see of his regalye Syttynge full kyngly amyd his chyualrye And his lordes aboute enuyron At whiche tyme this yonge champyon Vnder a vowe stondyng of the Ram With sterne face tofore the kynge in cam Besechynge hym of his magnyfycence The same day to graunte hym lycence To do his armes and make no delayes Concludynge playnly that at all assayes He wyll that daye in the felde be founde For to achieue lyke as he was bounde Of olde byheste and nat a poynt declyne For lyfe nor deth tyll he parfourme and fyne Hooly the auntres vnto the flees that longe The kynge requeryng no lenger hym prolonge But goodly graunte the fyn of his empryse And than the kynge in full sobre wyse Consyderynge the suÌ„me of his demaunde To Iason spake and sayde he shall coÌ„maunde That his requeste parfourmed were in haste All be quod he I am full sore a gaste Of wylfulnesse thou shuldest destruyde be Leste men thy deth arected vnto me And therupon wolde blame sette Of ryall power that I nat ne lette Thy manly youthe from suche Iupartye Whiche were in sothe a great vylanye And preiudyce to myn estate and name That afterwarde men put me in blame Thorugh fals reporte and wronge opynyon That I withstode nat thy destruccion ¶ Wherfore I rede yet be thou auysed And my counsayle lete nat be dispysed For better it is with honoure in certayne Into thy countre to repayre agayne Than wylfully for to take an honde A mortall thynge that no man may wtstonde This is my rede and fully myn aduyse Take hede therto fythe that thou art wyse Leste thou repente whan it is to late And if so be that thou wylt algate Thy purpose holde and nat do as I rede Almyghty Mars I praye the to spede The for to gyde what so euer falle And eke I praye to the goddes alle Saufe and sounde thy body to restore This all some of me thou gettest no more And whan Iason had herde the kynge Nat dismayed nor stoned in no thynge In knyghtly wyse dyde hym reuerence Thankynge hyghly his royall excellence That of his grace and benyngnyte Vpon his deth hym lyste to haue pyte Fully concludynge touchynge his batayle That nouther rede nor counsayle In no wyse his purpose shulde withdrawe But lyke the statute playnly and the lawe Right as fer forthe as fortune wyll hym eure What so be tyde of his auenture Settynge asyde euery feer and drede Sayde platly that he wyll procede For to parfourme that he hath vndertake It were in ydell mo skylles for to make Or to allegge more there agayne And Iason than full openly and playne Touchynge yâ— surplus of this dredfull thynge At his departynge sayde to the kynge In audyence of his lordes alle What so euer of me now be falle Or who so euer of malys theron muse To all the worlde firste I you excuse And to the goddes platly you quyte Though I deye ye be nothynge to wyte Ne no man shall arecte it you of skylle For that I werke is frely at my wylle Agayne the aduyse of your hye prudence And lyfe or deth here in your presence Hooly of herte and neuer for to fâ—ytte To the goddes and fortune I coÌ„mytte So as them lyste for me to ordayne Agayne whose wyll I shall neuer playne Nor them nor you put in no blame What so betyde honour ioye or shame And of this thynge thus an ende I make And for this tyme of you my leue I take And of all tho that you aboute stonde And one by one he toke them by the honde And in what wyse forthe he gan hym dresse To you anone I thynke it to expresse WHan that
Croked and olde vnweldy eke to se And tofore Pyrrus fyll downe on his kn◠Besechynge hym with apyteous face At his requeste take hym to grace And that he wolde in his manly herte Goodly consydre the deedly wo and smerte Of Atastus and the mortall payne That he hadde for his sones twayne Whiche lay deed tofore hym on the grene Slayne with your swerde y◠is so sharpe kene Whiche he ne may recure in no wyse The sorowe of whiche ought ynough suffyse Though ye on hym do no more vengaunce All this peysyd iustly in balaunce Syth he is hoolly submyttyd to your myght Take now hym to mercy anone ryght And let your swerde his age nat consume This my request as I dare presume ANd than Pyrrus shortly for to sayne Whā he had put vp his swerde agayue Seynge mercy myght moost auayle Without wordes or any rehersayle Firste of all tofore them euerychone The kynges made accorde into one By his wysdome concludynge vp in dede That eche of them shulde his right possede In Thesalye partyd into twayne That neyther hadde mater to complayne Eueryche to reygne in his dewe see And whyle they were togydre all thre Out of presence of any other man Atastus firste thus his tale began Syres quod he to you is nat vnknowe How thorugh age now I am brought lowe And thorugh natures kyndely mocyon Am wexed feble of wyt and reson Beynge vnweldy of my lymmes alle So many yeres are vpon me falle And can vnneth any thynge discerne To feble in sothe a kyngdome to gouerne Of lyfe nor deth takynge now no hede Syth my sones slayne be and dede And sool lefte now without heyre Of worldly luste fully in dispeyre The tyme passyd of my felycyte Fortunes tourne with mutabylyte Hath taught me playnly I dare it wel expresse In worldly ioye is no sykernesse Nor very truste no whyle to abyde But I wyll now for my selfe prouyde And in all haste by prudent purueaunce Me discharge of all gouernaunce Agayne my sort me lyste nat malygne But sceptre and crowne frely I resygne Of Thesalye lorshyp and eke londe Of my fre wyll hole into thy honde There shall no man reclayme nor say nay Interupte nor make no delay Touchynge this thynge by no collusyon For I the put in possessyon And hereupon of all that euer he sayde Makynge full fayth his honde in his he layde Quene Thetydes syttynge there present And Pelleus of the same entent Vnto Pyrrus for his purpartye Resygned eke his right of Thesalye Fully affermynge that of yore ago His full desyre and his ioye also Was euer in one his neuewe to succede As rightfull heyre his kyngdome to possede And vtterly without repentaunce All that longeth vnto my lygeaunce Sceptre and swerde crowne and dyademe So as a kynge lyfe and deth to deme Into thy hande without longer date This same houre hooly to translate And whan the knot of this conuencyon Was fully brought to conclusyon Perfourmed vp hole the vnyte For euermore atwene these kynges thre Atastus knyghtes disseueryd enuyrowne Out of the forest be descendyd downe And by byddynge platly of theyr lorde They were echone sworne to this accorde And attones this lusty companye To Thesalye faste gan them hye And Pyrrus folke lyinge on the see Be sayled forthe streyght to the Cytee And Atastus doth sette a Parlement Where openly he gaue cōmaundement That all his lyeges of hye or lowe estate Without stryfe or any more debate Specyally of gentyll blode yborne The same daye to Pyrrus to be sworne Lyke theyr degrees in the royall halle To perseuere his trewe lyeges alle Durynge theyr lyfe for ernest or for game And Pelleus cōmaundeth hath the same For his partye without any fraude And thus with ioye and solempne laude Pyrrus was of euery maner age Gladly accepted to his herytage And on a day fortunat and gode With glad aspectis whan the heuen stode Well accordynge to suche maner thynge Worthy Pyrrus was ycrowned kynge Of Thesalye the ryche regyon It were but vayne to make mencyon Of theyr reuell nor theyr great array Nor of the feste made the same day Eke in the storye I fynde it nat in sothe I wyll passe ouer as myn Auctour dothe Saue in his boke it is specefyed That the kyngdome was fer magnefyed Of Thesalye by great myght Of this Pyrrus whylom so gode a knght Where I se hym in his royall see Tournynge agayne to kynge ydumee Whiche in this whyle was graue vnder stone And after hym his sone Meryone The storye sayth was crowned kynge of Crete But a whyle reygnynge in equyte He deyed also it wolde be none other And than in haste Leorica his Brother As rightfull heyre by successyon Was crowned kynge of that regyon In whiche tyme Atastus out of drede By the assent of Pyrrus as I rede Full besy was to make in specyall A ryche toumbe passyngly royall Where buryed were with full huge prees Menalyppus and Polystenes Bothe two in the forest slawe Thorugh Pyrrus swerde by full cruell lawe Of them can I none other processe make But euen there fully my tale I take Of them bothe and also eke yfere Of Atastus theyr owne fader dere Of whom sothly for all his lockes hore In Troye boke rede I can no more ¶ But now must I agayne to Pyrrus wende To wryte of hym the sory wofull ende Whiche whan he sat hyest in his see Made full blynde with vayne prosperyte Gouernynge the londe of Thesalye He falsly fyll on a fantasye To sette his loue on Hermyon the quene Horestes wyfe reygnynge in Methene For whom he brent hote as any fyre And in fulfyllynge of his foule desyre His purpose hole thus he brought aboute Hir rauysshynge whyle hir lorde was oute Ladde hir home and helde hir as his wyfe Semynge to hym it was a blysfull lyfe And full relese of his paynes smerte Of whiche Horestes bare full heuy herte And caste hym playnely auengyd for to be Whan he may haue opportunyte For that tyme though he hadde wronge He was to feble and Pyrrus was to stronge ¶ Whiche helde also in storye it is tolde Andronomecha with hym in housholde Ectors wyfe by whom whylom she hadde Alytell childe whiche with hir she ladde The sege complete and destruccyowne Whan she was brought out of Troye towne Lamedouta I fynde was his name Encreasynge after to full worthy fame And by Pyrrus she hadde a sone also Called Achylleydos so as wryt Guydo And these women for all theyr great estate Atwene them selfe amonge were at debate And Hermyone in hir yre all hote In complaynynge to hir Fader wrote That hir fere for all hir hye degree Andronomecha was cherisshed better thā she Of kynge Pyrrus besechynge Menelay To enhaste hym in all that euer he may Come hym selfe anone that it were do To sle this woman and hir childe also And he abode nat but faste gan hym hye In an hete towarde Thesalye To be venged with
For whom I hadde so many mortall wounde At Troye towne or that I hir wan And in good fayth as ferforth as I can She shall nat lyghtly fro my handes pace For she alone standeth so in my grace For hir beaute and hir semelyhede For hir bounte and hir goodlyhede That if I shall my reason shortly fyne She is in sothe the moste femynyne That euer I sawe and without drede Of porte and connynge and of womanhede She hath alone in very existence The souereynte and the excellence That Pryamus for ought yâ— thou canst sayne Whyle that I lyue gete hir nat agayne But he hir bye with many dedely wounde With sharpe swerdes square speres grounde For there shall firste be reysed suche a stryfe That it shall coste many mannes lyfe Or that she agayne restored be Take this forsothe thou gettest no more of me Whan hym lyste he may well begynne But I suppose he shall but lytell wynne None other wyse but as I the tolde And wotest what a great role I the holde The to put so ferre in Iupartye To execute this embassetrye The manly grekes so boldly to offende Beware therfore that he no more the sende Vpon thy lyfe for rancour nor for pryde Now go thy way for if that thou abyde Any lenger sothly in my syght Thou wotest the pryse of that I haue the hyght Thou scapest nat who that be lefe or lothe Than Anthenor anone to shyp he gothe And to sayle hym lyste nat to delaye Towarde an yle that called is Achaye And whan that he taken hath the londe At his ryuayle of auenture he fonde The worthy kynges Pollux and Castor And right anone this Troyan Anthenor Without abode to the courte is fare Vnto them his message to declare And togydre whan they were present Ryght thus he sayde as in sentement The noble kynge of Troye the ryte Hath vnto you sent his wyll by me Besechynge you in full lowe maner That ye lyste vnto his prayer Of equyte for to condescende And goodly helpe a certayne wronge to mende Touchynge his suster called Exyon That he may haue restytucyon Of hir agayne by your discrete aduyse For sythe ye be so manly and so wyse It lykly is in his oppynyon That by your good medyacyon Shelyghtly may agayne restored be For to cherysshe peas and vnyte Wherfore he prayeth with all his herte entere In goodly wyse to do your deuere That holde ben so knyghtly and so sage And he wyll playnely all the surplusage Of wronges olde put in suspence For he desyreth of knyghtly hye prudence To stynte werre and to noryll he pes For he is nouther rakell nor rekles But auysed in his werkes all To caste afore what that shal be fall And thynges futur aduertynge from a ferre And seeth what perell that there is in werre Wyll hym conforme vnto peas and reste For he conceyueth that it is the beste Euery man vnyte to sewe And prudently also to eschewe Of debates eche occacyon Lo here the fyne of his entencyon Whiche I coÌ„mytte to your Iugement And Castor than of yre inpacyent For hastynesse ne myght nat abyde His cruell herte so swolle was with pryde Brake out anone with a despytous face And sayde frende I knowe of no trespace That grekes dyde euer vnto thy kynge To axe amendes it is a wonder tâ—ynge Of vs that neuer dyde hym noâ—â— offence Saue that we made a maner recompence Of a wronge wrought by lamedon The whiche firste sought occacyon Agaynst grekes in vngoodly wyse That caused vs vpon hym to ryse All at ones and manly on hym sette Of due right for to quyrâ— our dette Lyke his decrete we haue hym playnly serued And nothyÌ„g wrought but as he hath disserued To are amendes he gynneth now to late For we coueyte more his mortall hate His vtter malys and his enmyte Than outher peas accorde or vnyte As in effecte hereafter he shall fele If it happe that he with vs dele The bargeyn shall full dere ben abought And we his frendshyp sothly sette at nought And ouer more I speke now to the It lykly is as semeth vnto me That Pryamus the loued but alyte Nat the value I suppose of a myte Whan he the sent vpon his message And thou of folye dydest great outrage To take on the so hye a peryllous thynge Vnto grekes to brynge suche tydynge Where thorugh thy lyfe is put in iupartye But I counsayle fast that thou the hye Out of my syght lyst that thou repente ¶ And Anthenor forthe to shyp wente And with the wynde gan to sayle anon Towarde an yle called Pyllyon And in all haste whan he dyde aryue He shope hym forth to the court as blyue Where duke Nestor in all maner thynge His housholde helde royall as a kynge And Anthenor full sad and auysee Tofore Nestor syttynge on his see Whan that he was amytted for to sayne His tale he tolde full openly and playne From poynt to poynt as ye herde afore It were but vayne to reherse it more For he alway concluded hath in one Lyke as ye herde touchynge Exyone But duke Nestor With face no thynge rede But of hewe as any asshes dede Fret with coloure so inwardly was he That his blode from eche extremyte With drawen is downe vnto his herte Whiche for yre so sore made hym smerte That he gan quake in euery ioynt and vayne That he his hande vnnethe may restrayne For melancolye a venged for to be Lyke a lyon so wood and wrothe was he Fer from hymselfe he was so alyenat And inwardly of rancour passyonat With loke reuersed and furyous of syght That tempre hymselfe vnnethes he ne myght He felte of angre so great aduersyte And amyddes all his cruelte Of sodayne haste at ones he out brake And euen thus to Anthenor he spake O thou quod he with all thy wordes whyte As I suppose that thou wyste full lyte Vnto fore whom thou haste thy tale tolde For I meruayle how thou arte so bolde To presume myne ere 's to offende And for Pryam so proudely to pretende A maner tytle in thy kynges name The worthy grekes for to put in blame And vniustly of foule hardynesse Requere of them for to haue redresse Of Iniuryes wrought of â—amedon Boldely affermynge of false presumpcion Vpon grekes wronges outragyous Whiche in myneres be so odyous So fretynge eke so bytynge and sokene For to lyste that I may nat sustene In my herynge lo hatefull is the sowne That ner the honour of my hyerenowne Refrayned me I shulde in cruell wyse Execute full hastely Iustyce Thorugh the rygour of my mortall lawe With bestes wylde firste to do the drawe And therupon for thy fayned tale Dismembre the all on peces smale In despyte of Pryamus the kynge To teche other to brynge more tydynge Presumptuously or any talys newe To any lorde but the better yâ— hym knewe This shulde be for thy presumpcyon Thy laste mede and fynall guerdon Without mercy
none obstacle To wexe grene with fresshe blomes newe And for the manhode that men in hym knewe For his knyghthode and his great fame ¶ The worthy knyghtê of Romebare the name After hym and were Quyryte called Hye in heuen whan that he was stalled Amonge the goddes and ydeyfyed And thus Romeyns haue hym glorifyed As for theyr god with golde great expenses And as I rede the Athenyenses Of hole herte chosen for to serue To the goddesse that called is Mynerue And Pallas eke with hir cristall shelde That with Neptunus euen amyd the felde Helde champartye with women on theyr syde And he with men full surquedous in pryde Defendeth hym for gyuynge of the name Of Athenes a Cyte moste of fame This is to sayne whether he or she Shulde of right name the Cyte Tyll it befell as they gan stryue Sodeynly there sprange a fayre Olyue For Pallas part grene fayre blossomynge And there agayne a welle gan to sprynge For hym Pluto with water large and depe Of whiche thynge Appollo toke good kepe Whiche in his dome was nat reckeles And for the Olyue tokeneth loue and pes Water trouble contek werre and stry fe He gaue sentence anone diffynytyfe How Pallas shulde that called is Mynerue The palme playnely of this stryue discerue And she anone gaue name to the towne And called it by hye discrecyowne Athenes the whiche in speeyall Is to sayne a Cyte inmortall For wyldome firste there began to floure And for this skyll this Cyte dyde honoure Myghty Pallas goddesse of scyence And hir aye moste hadde in reuerence And they of Paue in all theyr regyon Whorshyp moste the quene of Cytheron I mene venus full of doubylnesse Of whom afore somwhat I dyde expresse And in hir temple full solempnely They sette hir hyest and moste rychely With gold and asure hir statue they do paynte And other coloures that may neuer faynte And sette hir vp in the hyest see Of all the temple that all men may se And she stant naked in a wawy see Aboute hir with goddesses thre That be assigned with besy attendaunce To awayte on hir and do hir obseruaunce And floures fresshe blewe rede and whyte Be hir aboute the more for to delyte And on hir hede she hath a chapelet Of roses rede full pleasauntly yset And from the hede downe vnto hir fote With sondry goÌ„mes and oyntemerê sore She is ennoynte swetter for to smelle And enuyron as Poetes telle By dowues whyte flyenge and eke sparowes And besyde Cupyde with his arowes Hir blynde sone for to hurte and dere And loseth ofte and smyte he wote nat where As he must nedes bycause he is blynde And thus honoured and most had in mynde Amonge this people is venus the goddesse And Naxyens do theyr besynesse To serue Bachus the myghty god of wyne Whose lycour is moste precyous and fyne To recomforte hertes and to glade And to refresshe hewes that be fade In faces pale and maketh wyttes sharpe Loseth tunges and make them loude to carpe And causeth them to walke at lyberte And to discure thynge that was secree Without aduyse or discrecyon For where as wyne hath domynacyon No secretnesse may be kept in mewe And some of them that Bachus serue sewe Amonge to hym haue suche deuocion That they some whyle are voyde of all reason Hasty and wood and without all drede And some also so toty in theyr hede That they are voyde of power and of myght And haue no foot for to stande vp ryght And yet they be as Iargaunt as a pye Pale chered with a glasy eye Full of reason tyll his wynde be spent For man or woman that is vyolent Is veryly a beest vnresonable And to my dome I holde them eke vnable To be accepted in any companye Whan that theyr tunge wadeth on the lye That they ne may brynge forthe a worde And thus Bachus the stronge myghty lorde For ofte causeth folkes for to erre To debate and to make werre Of hastynesse where as is no nede Wherfore it is wysdome that men drede His sleyghty werkynge or they falle in yâ— snare And feble braynes by mesure for to spare Or they vnwarely arested be and take And or Bachus make them for to shake In a feuer worse than tercyen If it of custome be cotydyen Alterat with Bachus myghty Ious And affered of tournynge of the hous And fordreynt on the drye lande Whan he hath loste bothe foot and hande And with a strawe playeth lyke an ape And deuoutely gynneth for to gape And â—oddeth ofte with his Iowsy hede As he hadde on an heuy cappe of lede And who that be of this condycyon He entre maye the relygyon Of myghty Bachus for habylyte The whiche lorde hath the soueraynte Both of hony and of mylke therto And of bawme that is so ryche also And lordshyp hath of hye power deuyne Bothe of grapes and of euery vyne To gyue them nourysshynge by his influence Of whom the honour and the reuerence Is reysed moste as I vnderstande Amonge vynters in euery maner lande Bycause he is to them so gracyous And they of lymme worshyp vulcanus The god of fyre Iubyters smythe The whiche forgeth on his blacke slythe The great thonder hydous and horryble And the leuenes that whylom be vysyble Into the west out of the oryent And gasteth vs with his dredefull dent This smotry smythe this swarte vulcanus That whylom in herte was so Ialous Towarde venus that was his wedded wyfe Wherof there rose a dedely mortall stryfe Whan he with Mars gan hir firste espye Of hye malys and cruell false enuye Thorugh yâ— shynyÌ„ge of Phebus bemes bryght Lyenge a bedde with Mars hir owne knyght For whiche in herte he brente as any glede Makynge the sclaundre all a brode to sprede And gan theron falsely for to muse As god forbede that any man accuse For â—o lytell any woman euer Where loue is lette harde is to disseuer For though they do suche thynge of gentyllesse Passe ouer lyghtly and bere none heuynesse Lest that thou be to women odyous And yet this smythe this false vulcanus All be that he hadde them thus espyed Amonge Paynems yet was he deyfyed And for that he so falsely them a woke I haue hym sette laste of all my boke Amonge to goddesse of false mawmetrye And in this wyse gan ydolatrye As ye haue herde thorugh oppynyons Of people errynge in theyr affeccyons That all is false who the trouthe cerche For by techynge of all holy chirche The holy doctryne and tradycyons We shall despyse suche oppyons Whiche of the fende were founde nat oflate For whan aungelles in heuen were create He that of all hadde prelacye Of whom the prophete called ysaye Wryteth right thus how the cedres grene Of paradyse were nat so fayre to sene Planys nor fyr in heyghte sothe to sayne To his hyghnesse myght nat attayne Nor all the trees so delycyous Of Paradyse were natso precyous
some wyll haue a payre platys lyght To welde hym well whan that he shall fyght And some wyll haue a target or a spere And some a pauys his body for to were And some a targe made stronge to laste And some wyll haue dartes for to caste Some a pollax heded of fyne stele And pycked square for to laste wele And some a swerde his enemy for to mete And some wyll haue a bowe for to shete Some an arblast to stande out asyde ¶ And some on foot and some for to tyde Array themsesfe their foomen for to sayle And many one was besy for to nayle His felawes harneys for to make it stronge And to dresse it sytte nat wronge With poyntes tresshes other maner thynge That in suche case longeth to armynge I haue no connynge euery thynge to telle And vnto you were to longe to dwelle Where I fayle ye mot haue me excused For in suche crafte I am lytell vsed And ignoraunce doth my penne lette In theyr ordre my termys for to sette And ofte chaungeth suche harneys and deuyse And ye that be therin expert and wyse Dysdayne nat that I speke in this place Of theyr armynge for all is in your grace Right at your lyste to correcte euery dell And whan Ector sawe that all was well And euery armed and arrayed This worthy knyght no lenger hath delayed Aduysely his wardes for to make And prudently badde they shulde take Theyr grounde in haste to put all in certayne And stande in ordre endelonge the playne So that no man were founde recheles And the gate called Dardanydes Without abode Ector made vnshette And after bad that men shulde fette To his presence that it were done in haste Cyncynabor his brother borne in baste And vnto hym firste of euerychon And to a lorde that named was Glaucon The kynges sone of Lycye and his heyre With many baner displayed in the eyre To this two Ector gaue the guarde And gouernaunce of the firste warde In which he hath a thousande knyghtes sette With speres rounde and swerdes kene whette And on theyr breste full many ryche shelde And they werechosen out in all the felde Amonge the beste that endure myght Agayne grekes manly for to fyght And vnto them Ector bad anone In goddes name that they shulde gone Out at the gate sothely as I rede And ieâ—te they fylle in myschefe or in nede He assygned in the selfe place With manly chere to the kynge of Trace Wysely on hym to be awaytynge A thousande knyghtes to haue at his ledynge In a wenge knyghtly for to abyde To wayte on hym vpon euery syde And with hym was his sone Archylogus Of his age a man right vertuous To fulfylle that longeth to a knyght For bothe he had herte and also myght And next to them Ector gan deuyse The next warde to the kynge of Fryse That in his tyme called zantipus And vnto hym yonge stronge and desyrous He assygned to wayte on his vanere Thre thousande knyghtê armed bryght clere With whiche warde kynge Alchomus also Of Ector was coÌ„maunded for to go And to his byddynge he mekely dyde obeye And full knyghtly they haue take theyr weye Out at the gate passyngly arrayed Towarde grekê with baners fresshe displayed And theyr penons vnrolled euerychone And after Ector assygned hath anone To the noble yonge lusty free His brother Troylus so fresshe vpon to se Whiche in knyghthode had all suffysaunce The thirde warde to haue in gouernaunce With .iii. thousande knyghtes yonge of age Flourynge in force hardy of courage Suche as he was of custome wont to lede To whom Ector of very bretherhede Full goodly spake sayde at his departynge Brother quod he my herte is so louynge Towardes the of very kyndenesse That though I haue in partye great gladnesse Of thy manhode that so ferre is kouthe And the knyghthode of thy grene youthe Yet douteles in my fantasye Full ofte a daye I stonde in Iupardye Of pensyfehede and in warde besy drede Whan I remembre vpon thy manhede Lest thy courage be to vyolent Of thy lyfe to be neclygent Thy selfe to put to ferre in aduenture Of surquydrye so moche to assure In thy force kynghtly to a sterte Euery peryll in thy manfull herte Hauynge no rewarde in suche mortall stryfe Of wylfulnesse nouther to deth nor lyfe Nor aduertence to thy sauacyowne But as fortune turneth vp and downe Hyr whele meuable hye and after lowe In Martys Ire as the wynde doth blowe Whiche causeth me full ofte syghe and thynke And to wake whan I shulde wynke Reuoluynge aye thy hasty wylfulnesse But gentyll brother for any hardynesse Thus ylke day vpon euery syde I praye the so wysely to prouyde For hate or yre thy foos pursuynge Nat to excede more than is syttynge But let prudence the kepe in a mene And wysdome eke holde agayne the reyne Of thy herte and thy fyers courage That fyred haue thy grene tendre age Deuoyde of drede eche peryll to endure That our enemyes of thy mysauenture Reioysenat myn owne brother dere And myghty mars I praye of herte entere Thus euery day on Troyans grounde From theyr handes the to kepe sounde Lyke as I wolde that he dyde me To whom anone with all humylyte In manly wyse this yonge iusty knyght This worthy Troylus of herte fresshe lyght Answered agayne and sayd with glad chere Myn owne lorde and my brother dere And god to fore I fully shall obeye To fulfylle what you lyste to seye Now vnto me of your gentyllesse And nat declyne thorugh none reklesnesse In any poynt from your coÌ„maundement But with hole herte in all my best entent I shall take hede and playnely do none other Than ye haue sayde myn owne lord brother So lothe me were offende you or greue And in this wyse he lowly toke his leue And forth herode so lyke a manly knyght That to beholde it was a noble syght Amonge his men he behaueth hym so wele Thre thousande knyghtê armed in bryght stele Enuyron rode with Troylus into felde And that day he bare in his shelde Passant of golde iij. lyons rychely The chaumpe of asure wrought full craftely And by the gate he yssued out anone And with hym ladde his knyghtes euerychone To the grekes holdynge the next waye And Ector hasteth all that euer he maye Prudently his wardes to ordayne And to the noble worthy bretherne twayne To kynge Hupon and to Ardelaus He assygned the storye telleth thus The fouthe warde to guye and to wysse And in the lande that called was larysse The bretherne two hadde reygned longe And kynge Hupon was passyngly stronge And of stature lyke a chaumpyowne And saue Ector in all Troye towne Was none to hym egall as of myght More delyuere nor a better knyght And on his foon passynge despytous Whiche with his brother called Ardelaus Foure thousande knyghtes hadde for to lede And seuen thousande sothly as I rede And to them lyke
drede As brennynge yre and as great hatrede To Achylles his deth for to puruey If he hym founde or in place sey Conuenyent for execucyon I trowe there shulde hym gayne no raunson Nor other mede his herte to quyete But onely deth whan so that they mete This the ende and fyne of this matere As in this boke after ye shall here And thus Grekes made haue an ende Of theyr counsayle and an one they wende Eueryche of them home to theyr lodgynge And toke theyr reste tyll the morenynge ¶ Howe the Troyans toke kynge Thoas prysoner and ledde hym into Troye Ca. xxiiij WHan Aurora with syluer droppes shene Hitterys shadde vpon y◠fresshe grene Cōplaynȳge ay in wepyng i sorowe Hir childrens deth euery somer morowe This to saye whan the dewe so soote Enbawmed hath the floure and eke the roote With lusty lycoure in Apryll and in May Whan the larke messager of day Of custome aye Aurora doth salue With sondry notes hir sorowe to transmue Or Phebus ryse to ioye and gladnesse Thorugh Armonye to leue hir heuynesse Takynge hir leue with seynt Iohn̄ to borowe The same tyme Grekes by the morowe With lusty herte erely dyde aryse And armed them in all theyr beste wyse For they them caste that daye for to goon Into the felde to mete with theyr foon And Ector hath the same morowe also I caste hym fully with grekes haue ado And yssued is knyghtly out of troye In herte he hath so great desyre and ioye The same day with grekes for to fyght And with hym ladde many lusty knyght Of suche as were of the Cyte borne And forth he rode hymselfe all aforne And Eneas with many a worthy Folowed after wonder faste by And Parys than and next hym Dephebus And sythe Troylus that was couragyous With all the wardes made of troye towne In wiche as Dares maketh mencyowne Within his boke there were on troye syde Of fyghtynge men that went and dyde ryde An hondred thousande armed for to go Into the felde and fyfty thousande mo Whiche haue them caste that day or at eue Of one entent Grekes for to greue And so they mette strongly on outher syde And gan assemble and togydre ryde Full cruelly and with great hatrede And with them tho that Parys dyde lede He entrede in full myghty stronge Archeres Of Perce londe and many Arbalasteres that with theyr arrowes fyled sharpe rounde And with quarelles square whette grounde Full many greke hath reuyd of his lyfe And amyddes of this mortall stryfe Agamenon into the felde is come Towardes whom Ector hath ynome The right way and threwe hym of his stede Amonge his knyghtes that he dyde lede He spared nought for all the great prees And therwithall anone came Achylles That in awayte of Ector hadde layne And sodaynely with all his myght and payne ¶ Ector he smote on the hede so sore That with the stroke myn Auctour sayth no more His basenet was bowed and ycrased Of whiche stroke Ector nat amased On Achylles shulde anone yfalle Ne hadde Eneas with his knynghtes alle And worthy troylous come and go betwene The whiche twayne with their swerdes kene Gan Achylles felly for to assayle To hewe his plates and to perce his mayle And tho began the slaughter on euery syde Of men of foote and of them that ryde Lyke a condyte their woundes gan blede And in this whyle cruell Dyomede Were it by hap aduenture or caas So as he rode hath mette with Eneas And right anone as he hadde hym founde He smet at hym and gaue hym such a wounde That lykely was he shulde nat recure But if therto be do the better cure And therupon full despyteously This Dyomede in his melancoly Repreuyd hath this troyan knyght Enee And sayd to hym all heyle for thou art he That whylom gaue to Pryamus the kynge A felle counsayle hasty and bytynge Me for to a slayne by sodayne vyolence Whan I was laste at troye in his presence That truste me well and haue it wel in mynde Amyd the felde if I the efte fynde Thou shalt thy counsayle mortally repente If that Fortune here after wyll assente To brynge the a right vnto my hande At good leyser here in thyne owne lande I am full sette thy labour for to quyte here my trouth this swerde shal kerue byte So kenely thy troyan blode to shede That fynally deth shal be thy mede The which I bere atwene my handes twayne And with that worde he myght hȳ nat restrayne This Dyomede but rode all sodaynely Vpon Enee and so furyously He smote at hym this hardy cruell knyght With suche a payne and so great a myght That from his hors he made hym for to falle Maugre the myght of his knyghtes alle The whiche stroke he lyked full ylle And in this whyle Ector hath Achylle Assayled so that thorugh his basenet He perced hath with his swerde hym smet And so narowe brought hym to the poynt Of hye myschefe and in such disioynt Constrayned hym that of necessyte He hadde hym take ne had oonly be Sodayne reskues of his chyualrous That called is the sone of Tydeus I meane the felle fyerse Dyomede Whiche Achylles hath holpen in this nede For he thorugh force of his armes twayne Smote Ector tho with so great a payne That he hym gaue a wounde full greuous But he no thȳge myn Auctour wryteth thus Astoned was this knyght this manly man But with his swerd in all the haste he can Smote Dyomede so furyous and wrothe That from his hors to the erth he gothe For all his pryde and his surquedrye The whiche anone as Troylous dyde espye Without abode downe of his stede a lyght With Dyomede a fote for to fyghte And eche of them in sothfastnesse than Aquyte hymselfe lyke a manly man That nouther was in moche nor lyte In no degree of manhode for to wyte And whyle they faught Ector and Achylles Togydre mette agayne amonge the prees And ran yfere fyersly in theyr rage As woode lyons whan they be ramage Right so in sothe they fared in theyr fyghtyng And in that tyme Menelay the kyng Full proudely shope hym troyans for to mete Vlixes eke and also Polymete And after hym came Neptolonyus Pallamydes and eke Scelemus Duke Menestee Nestor and Thoas Currynulus and Phylotheas Aud Theseus as it is made mynde With his knyghtes proudely came behynde And on the partye of them of the towne Came all the kynges without excepcyowne That were assembled into theyr diffence Agayne Grekes to make resystence Except the knyghtes whiche Ector ladde And the wardes that he made hadde The same daye as sayth the Latyn boke In knyghtly wyse the felde whan that he toke And tho began the felle mortall fyght In whiche that day ful many worthy knyght In Fatyshondes fynally are falle And of Fortune amonge the wardes alle Agamenon the noble myghty kynge All sodaynely as he came rydynge Pantysylaus
felde faste vpon them wynne Hauynge that tyme in his companye Amonges other that he dyde guye Acertayne Archer the whiche as I fynde Was monstruous and wonderfull of kynde For from the myddell vp vnto the crowne He was a man and the remenaunt downe Bare of an horse lyknesse and fygure And horses heer this monstre in nature Hadde on his skyn growynge enuyrowne Full rough and thycke of his voyce the sowne Was lyke the neyhynge of an horse I rede And though his face both in lengthe brede Of shape were mannysshe yet in suthfastnesse His coloure was semblable in lyknesse Vnto the Fery hoote breynnynge glede Whose Eyen eke flawmynge also rede As the blase of an ouen mouthe And for he was in syghte so vnkouthe Where so euer he was met in the berde Bothe man and hors sore were a ferde His face was so hatefull and so odyble And his loke so hydous and horryble And aye he hadde in custome and vsaunce As in bokes is made remembraunce For to go vnarmed into felde Without swerde spere axe or shelde For he no thynge coude of that myster But as I fynde he was a good archer And bare a bowe styffe and wonder stronge And for he was also of tyller longe His arrowes were lyke to his tyller In a busshement trussed wonder ner By his syde aye redy to his hande Where so he were outher on see or lande And as I fynde how that none armure Agayne his shot playnely myght endure And there was hors stede nor courser That durste abyde nouther fer nor ner But fledde anone with all theyr full myght As faste as they of hym hadde a syght To them he was so passynge odyous So lyke a deuyll and so monstruous And there was foūde none so hardy a knyght On hors backe that hadde force or myght To holde his hors whan they myght hym se But that anone a backe he wolde fle And of this Archer I fynde wryten eke That he that day slewe full many greke And wounded them with his arrowes kene Thorugh out the plates forged bryght shene For there was none afore hym that abode But to theyr Tentes faste awaye they rode They myght nat his hydous loke endure Tyll there befell a wonder aduerture Whyle they of Troye by helpe of this Archer Sewe on the chase to theyr lodgynge ner And slewe of them in myschefe and in drede Besyde a Tent mette Dyomede With this Archer of necessyte For it stode so that he ne myght hym fle No maner way nor a backe remewe For lyfe nor deth he myght hym nat eschewe So many Troyan was tho at his backe In his flyinge he hadde go to wracke ¶ Wherfore anone this worthy Dyomede With cruell herte faste gan hym spede And towarde hym proudely for to dresse But this Archer by great aduysenesse Firste with an arrowe smette Dyomede Thorugh his harneys that he made hym blede Of whiche stroke he wexed so wood wrothe That to this monstre so hydous and so lothe He went a pase and hym vnarmed fonde And with the swerde that he helde in his honde He gaue to hym his laste fatall wounde That he fylle dede grouelynge vnto the grounde The deth of whom grekes reioysynge and in all haste theyr hertes resumynge Began them selfe for to recomforte And into Felde proudely they resorte By conueyinge of Polixenare The worthy Duke that so well hym bare Vpon Troyans that day in the felde But whan Ector the slaughtre of hym behelde Vpon this Duke anone he gan to sette And on theyr stedes fyersly as they mette Ector hym slewe of full great hatrede And after that on Gallathe his stede So as he rode forth amonge the prees Or he was ware he mette Achylles And with theyr speres longe large and rounde In purpose fully eche other to confounde They ran yfere Irous and right wrothe That with the stroke they were vnhorsed bothe But Achylles wth a despytous herte Firste as I rede into his sadell sterte And besy was with all his inwarde peyne Gallathe to take by the reyne Therof for euer Ector to depryue And bad his men to lede it home as blyue So that Ector there was none other bote Full lyke a man faught stondynge on fote Amonge grekes and his fomen alle And to his knyghtes loude he gan to calle For his stede that they shulde sewe And they in haste his hors to reskewe Ben attones fallen on Achylle And maugre hym of force agayne his wylle They haue from hym berafte it on the playne And to Ector restored it agayne Which in knyghthode somoche hȳ self assureth Despyte of them his sadell he recureth Whiche afterwarde full dere they aboughte For lyke a lyon all that day he wroughte Amonges them rydynge here and there And as the deth they fled his swerde for fere Thorugh whose manhode troyans eft begyn Vpon grekes the felde agayne to wyn But it befell amyd theyr great fyght That Anthenor a certayne Troyan knyght Amonge the prese is so fer in gone That of Grekes he was take anone And to theyr tentes sent in haste he was Albe his sone called Pollydamas To reskue hym dyde his dylygence So manfully that no neclygence Was founde in hym who so lyste to seke And that full dere a boughte many greke The same day thorugh his worthynesse But for cause oonly of derkenesse And for that it gan drawe towarde nyght They made an ende oonly for lacke of lyght And grekes went home to theyr lodgynge And eke Troyans tyll on the mornynge That Phebus gan his bryght bemys shewe And Aurora newe gan to dewe The Erbys sote and the grene leuys Both on hayes and in fresshe greuys Syluer bryght with rounde perlys fyne That so clerely agayne the sonne shyne And shewe them selfe so Oryent and shene On hylle and vale and on euery grene The rody morowe tyll the hote bemys Of bryght Phebus with his fyrye stemys Vapoureth vp theyr moysture into ayre The weder clere agreable and fayre And attempre also of his heete Whan the Troyans caste them for to mete With theyr fomen platly if they may And out they went in theyr beste array With theyr wardes into felde by rowe Agaynst whom grekes were nat slowe But shope them forth Without lenger lette Tyll they togydre manfully haue mette And with theyr speres and theyr swerdes clere They ran togydre with a despytous chere Tyll shyuered was a sondre many spere On sheldes stronge them selfe for to were And ryuen was on pecys many targe And with hexys rounde brode and large On basenettes as they smyte and shrede Full many knyght mortally gan blede In sothfastnesse and as I tell can The same day was slayne many a man On outher parte but most of Troye towne Albe Guydo maketh no mencyowne Of no persone as in specyall On nouther syde but in generall Saue he concludeth playnely that this fyght Laste fro morowe tyll that it was nyght The whiche