great a tempest in the sea therewith came so great a raine and thunder that their ships were cast by the waues one here another there the masts broken their sailes rent and finally they were all perished and drowned that neuer was none séene of them And the Paynims say that these two brethren were translated with the gods into the heauen or zodiaque and returned into the signe of two beastes forasmuch as they were brethren germaines And thus ended their liues by the occasion of the taking of their sister Some Poets faine that these brethren be translated into two starres that is the North starre and the South starre which be named after them Castor and Pollux In this place declareth Dares in his booke the fashions of the Gréekes that were before Troy of the most notable of them as hee that saw them and beheld them many times during the truce that was often times betwéene both parties during the siege before the citie And he began to speake of Helen and sayeth that she was so faire that in the worlde no man could finde no fairer woman nor better formed of all members Agamēnon was long and white of body strong of members and well formed louing labour discréet hardie and passing well bespoken Menelaus was of meane stature hardie in armes and couragious Achilles was of right great beautie blonke haires and crispe gray eyes and great of amiable sight large breasts broad shoulders great armes his reines high enough an high man of great stature and had no equall nor like to him among all the Greekes desirous to fight large in gifts and outragious in spending Tantalus was great of body and right strong faithful humble flying quarrels if they were not iust and true Aiax was of great stature great and large in the shoulders great armes and alway was well clothed and very richly and was of no great enterprise and spake very quicke Thelamon Aiax was a marueilous faire knight hee hadde blacke haires and had great pleasure in song and he sang himselfe very well he was of great prowesse and a good man of warre and without pompe Vlisses was the most faire man amongst all the Gréekes but was verie deceitfull and subtill and deliuered his spéeches ioyfully he was a very great lier and was so well bespoken that he had no fellow nor any like vnto him Diomedes was great and had a broad breast and marueilous strong of a fierce regard and fight false in his promises woorthie in armes desirous of victorie dread and redoubted for he was greatly iniurious to his seruants and luxurious wherefore hee suffered many paines The Duke Nestor was of great members and long and well bespoken discréete and very thriftie and gaue alwayes good counsell quickly and soone hee would be very angry and straightway pleased againe hee was the most true friend in the world Prothesilaus was faire and of goodly stature right noble and actiue in armes Neoptolemus was great blacke haire and great eyes but ioyous and well chéered his eiebrowes smooth stammering in his words but he was wise in the lawe Palamedes sonne of king Naulus was of right faire shape and leane stout and amiable a good man liberall Polydarius was passing great fatte and swollen hardie high minded and proud without trueth Mathaon was of meane stature proud and hardy and one that little slept by night Brisayda daughter of Calcas was passing faire of meane stature white and medled with redde and well made sweet and pitifull and whom many men loued for her beautie for the loue of her came the king of Persia into the ayd of the Gréeks vnto the siege before Troy Of them that were within Troy the same Dares sayth first of king Priamus that he was long grisly and faire and had a lowe voice right hardie and that he did gladly eate earely in the morning a man without dread and that hated flatterie hee was vpright and a good iusticer and had great delight to heare singing and soundes of musike and earnestly loued his seruants and much enriched them Of all his sonnes there was none so hardy as was Hector the eldest sonne of king Priamus This was he that passed in his time all other knights in puissance and stuttered a little hee was great and had hard members and coulde endure much paine and was much hairie curled and lisped there neuer issued out of Troy so strong a man nor so worthy nor neuer came there a villanous word out of his mouth he was neuer wearie of fighting in battell there was neuer knight better beloued of his people then hee was Paris was a passing faire knight and strong soft haired and true swift and sweete of speech tutmouthed well drawing a bowe wise and hardie in battaile very resolute and couetous of lordshippe Deiphebus and Helenus were both passing like of fashion in such wise that a man coulde not verie well know the one from the other and also they resembled passing well the king Priamus their Father Deiphebus was very wise and hardie in armes And Helenus was a marueilous wise Clerke Troylus was great and of stout courage well manered and well beloued of yoong maidens in strength and merinesse hee resembled and was much like vnto Hector and was the second after him in prowesse and there was not in all the whole realme a more strong nor more hardy yoong man Eneas had a great body hee was marueilouslie discreet in his workes well bespoken and verie courteous in his words full of good counsell and of skilfull cunning He had his visage ioyous and the eyes cleere and gray and was the richest man of Troy next the king Priamus in townes and castles Anthenor was long and leane and spake much but he was discreet and of great industrie and one whom the king Priamus loued greatly and that gladly played among his company and was a right wise man Polydamas his sonne was a goodlie yoong man and a faire hardy and of good maners long and leane like his father browne and was strong in puissance of armes and of good and courteous words The king Menon was great and a goodly knight he had large shoulders and great armes he was hard in the brest and of great prowesse and one that brought many knightes vnto Troy The queene Hecuba was a strong big woman and séemed better a man then a woman shee was a noble woman passing wise courteous and honest and louing the works of charitie Andromache the wife of Hector was a passing faire woman and white and that had faire eyes and faire haire she was among all other women right honest and ciuill in her works Cassandra was of a faire stature and cléere round mouthed wise of shining eies she loued virginitie knew much of things to come by Astronomie other sciences Polixena was a very faire daughter and tender and was the very ray of beautie in whom nature failed nothing saue onely that she made her mortall
from chamber to chamber he found in the highest tower the daughter of the king Lycaon named Calisto which was passing fayre yong and fresh of colour The damosel bewept right sorowfully the lesse of her father which she had al newlye vnderstood When Iupiter saw her so desolate and discomforted he set him downe by her and said Damosel comfort your selfe and speake to mee and cease your wéeping Alas sir sayde the Damosell howe should I recomfort my life The Epiriens haue slaine the king my father Ought I to take consolation in his ruine Ought I not to be angrie ought mine heart to be without sorrow my stomake without sighs and mine eyes without wéeping An hundred thousand infortunes trauerse my bodie and trouble me And I sée me so poore a gentle Damosell daughter of a king that I desire more death then life and am more in wanhope then in hope When Iupiter knewe by the wordes of this Damomosell that shée was Daughter of King Licaon hée had more great pittie of her then hee had before for as much as she was Daughter to the king and saide to her Damosel appease your heart I wote well that it is of force that nature acquite himselfe but yée ought to consider the inordinate workes of your Father which yée are bound to bewaile Hee was a lesse reasonable man then a king ought to be Hee is not dead he hath put himselfe in some place secret to saue himselfe his sinnes were too infamous and who shall bewaile and sorrow him The Gods and Fortune haue suffered the ouerthrowe and casting downe of his pride and of his tyrannie It is a right other wise thing that ye take it haue patience in his righteous aduersitie For his demerites giue you cause to take patience where as nature enclineth you to vnpatience and yet ye ought not to bee vnpatient for his reprehension and casting downe For it is so that the losse of a tyrant turneth all a Countrey to ioy O then comfort your selfe Damosell The outragious sinnes nor the vnmanly furours of your Father nor his shamefull deedes shall nothing be hurtfull vnto you nor turne to your preiudice no man shall mislay nor do to you nor touch you in any maner of wise I assure you certainly Syr answered the maide I thanke you of your courtesies and of the faire wordes which ye proâ—er and say vnto mee I wote well that my pouertie hath made mee indigne and vnworthie but since I sée that the infortune of my father is irreuocable and that his infelicitie is past remedie I renounce the world and pray you that it please you to intreate for mee vnto the Epiriens that I might go yéeld my selfe into the religion of dame Diana the noble Virgin Daughter of the wise Iupiter sometime king of Attique and borne in this land Wherevppon ought to bee remembred that right anciently issued out of Pelage a wise noble man named Iupiter of whome Boccace maketh mention in the first booke of the genealogie of Goddes which Iupiter was King of Attique who for as muche as hee induced the people to honest lawes and did first ordaine and halowe marriage For before that time the Atticiens married them not but vsed women in common and of this Iupiter came a Daughter named Diana the which willing to abide in the state of virginitie made a cloyster in the Woods of Archadie where shee assembled many Virgins that passed their time with hunting and chasing the wilde beastes For to turne to our purpose this noble Virgin Diana liued the same time of the subuersion of the reigne of Lichaon When Iupiter vnderstoode of Calisto that she would yéeld her selfe with the Virgins he behelde her and saide vnto her and howe Damosell be yee so despayred for a little tribulation that toucheth not your person ye bée young and faire among none oâ— you that so go into Religion may growe no fruite of children Aduise you well It were better that yee abode among the worldly people that replenish the world Many women and also men enter into Religion in their youth and repent them in their age Syr sayde Calisto tempt me no more If there be any gentlenes in you receiue the praier and request of one so desolate and infortunate gentlewoman more desirous of the health of my soule then of temporall pleasures During these deuises Iupiter behelde without ceasing this damosel and could not enough complayne her beautie for as much as she would into religion with great paine when he had heard her answers and had séene how swéetely she had taken it and woulde not be turned from her will he said to her that her request shoulde bée accomplished Then he called the Epiriens and required them that they would be content to suffer this virgin to enter into religion What shall I say The Epiriens put the request in the will of Iupiter and Iupiter did so much that shée was conducted and led into the religion of virgins After he searched all the Pallace of King Lycaon and made the Epiriens to seise his richesse And there Iupiter abode a certayne time with so great worship that the Pelagiens and the Epiriens would haue crowned him to be their king But he would neuer consent thereto as he that considered ouer his young age and the variations of fortune and sayd that it auayleth more to a man and is to him more sure to be made king in his old age then in his youth for the diuers perils that may fall Alway he accorded that he would be Captayne of the realme and was a man of great iustice swéete and curteous vnto al maner of people c. This was the first comming vp of this noble Childe When he had brought in subiection to his pleasance the Pelagiens he buried the Epirien that Lycaon had murthered as it is sayde before and did his obsequye solemnlye and after he did burne into ashes the Pelagiens that had béene slaine in the helpe of Lycaon And after that he sent word and did all these things to be knowne and shewed to the Epiriens that were left at home in Epire as to the King Meliseus whereof all the Epiriens and the king Melliseus gaue thankes vnto their goddes But for as much as I muste tell all after this he gaue not his heart and courage so much to accomplishe these thinges but that otherwhile hée gaue himselfe to remember and to thinke on the beautie that hée had séene in the religious Calisto whereby the sparkles of loue enuironed strongly his heart in such wise that day and night hée wished her in his armes and repented him that he had consented that she went into religion And so laboured in this maner that his rest in the night was taken from him and he was not nowe his owne man so encreased he to loue and desire this virgin and for to sée her he made hir pastime to haunt the wooddes and continually to hunt the wilde beastes
and of the Epiriens all the worlde prayseth him and holdeth him one of the valiauntest men of the world he is my sonne I shall send to him and let him haue knowledge of the miserie that I am in by the Damosell that bare him vnto the Mountaine of Oson and shall require him of succour and I hope that he is a man of so hie courage and so fortunate that he shall succour her that hath done him that merite that is worthie to haue his succour and that saued him in his tender dayes and my heart telleth me that hee shall receyue by this tyding a right great ioy in knowledging the place of his natiuitte For more greater ioy hée may not haue come to him then to knowe that hee is the first sonne of the auncient house of Crete And this shal turne to him a soueraigne gladnesse when he shall see thal he is required to come and make the recouerance of his father and mother and of his countrey CHAP. X ¶ Howe Iupiter with the ayde of King Meliseus of Epire deliuered Saturne his father and Cibell his mother out of the prison of Titan and howe hee slue Titan in battaile WHen Saturne and Vesca had heard Cibel so speake Vesca sayd that her aduise was right good and Saturn was al astonied for he thought that Iupiter that he had séene at diuerse times with King Meiâ—seus should in no wise be his son so hardly hee could beléeue it and giue faith vnto the words of Cibell and said if Iupiter would succour him he were the man to do it and that he was content that Cibel shuld send to fetch him as she had sayde Then Cibell sent for the Damosell that knewe all the guiding of Iupiter and gaue her the charge to go vnto him and to dispatch this businesse This Damosell ioyous of this Ambassade departed secretlie and taryed not till shee came vnto the house of Meliseus and finding there Iupiter with the King after the reuerence made she addressed her spéech to Iupiter and saide to him Iupiter reioyce and bee glad I bring to thée tydings of gladnesse For among other sorrowes fortune that hath holde â—â—ee long time ignoraunt and not knowing the place of thy right noble natiuitie hath now certainly layde open the discouerture and knowledge of the same ignorance and will that thou knowe that thou art the first sonne and heyre of the King Saturne and of Dame Cibell The King Saturne thy father as euery man knoweth long since made an oath vnto his brother Titan that hee wouldâ— slea all his children males that should come of his séede for which cause the day of thy natiuitie he commaunded that thou shouldest be put to death but thy mother had pitie of thée and for to saue thy life she sent thée secretly vnto this house giuing thy father Saturne to vnderstand that she had done execution on thée And so for to eschue the furors of thy father thou hast béene here nourished all thy dayes and knowest not thy selfe what thou wert and nowe thou art certaine What ioy is this to thée certainly great And thou oughtest to go ioyously vnto thy father and mother presenting thy selfe vnto their grace if it were not that after these tydings of ioy I must néedes shewe vnto thée Iupiter other tydings and that is this Thy mother that hath saued thée thy vncle Titan holdeth her in pryson with Saturne for that that she hath nourished thée and hée hath ouercome and vanquished thy father in battaile latelie and taken from him his Realme and yet more hee will put them to death Wherefore they pray and require thée that thou haue pittie of them and that thou wilt employ thée to go and deliuer them out of the daunger that they be in at this day The King Meliseus and Iupiter hearing these tydings of the Damosell maruayled them right greatly and Iupiter was right ioyous when he had vnderstoode that he was sonne of King Saturne and on that other side he was sore vexed of the troubling of Crete and thanked the Damosell And after that he turned him vnto the king and said to him Sira yee may nowe knowe and vnderstande what I am and of what house as this Damosell witnesseth My father and my mother be in the hands of their enimies I pray you in their fauour that ye will helpe me to succor them and that we go hastily oppressing him that hath oppressed them I haue a singular hope and trust in fortune that she will helpe vs. Faire sonne aunswered Meliseus knowe that I haue more ioy in the recoueraunce of thy lynage then I can shew or make semblant of and in signe of this I promise to helpe thée asmuch as in me is possible And then Iupiter assured the Damosel and swore vnto her that he would put him in armes against Titan and had her returne vnto Saturne and Cibel and to comfort them in hope of right short succour The damosel departed from thence with the words of Iupiter and returned in to Crete and told vnto Saturne and Cibell all that she had doone Anon after the Damosell was departed Iupiter sent for Archas his sonne hastily with the Arcadiens and also sent for the Epiriens and the Parthenyens with them of the Citie of Analcre All these people loued Iupiter with great loue and came at his commaundement in great number of men of warre Iupiter welcomed them as wel as he could and told them the cause why he had sent for them and tolde them that he was Sonne vnto king Saturne After these things he did cause to be made ready all things that were necessarie vnto his Host and so they departed from the Citie of Oson with a right fayre companye of men of armes vnto the number of six thousand fighting men and so well sped that in short time he brought them within a mile nigh the Citie of Crete And there Iupiter would tary vpon the toppe of a Mountayne and called to him his sâ—â—â—e Archas that then had but thirtéene yeare of age but he was right wise and well bespoken and gaue him in charge that he should go into Crete to giue summons vnto the king Titan that he shuld go out of the Citie and deliuer to him his father Saturne with his mother Cibell The young Archas that was hardye and hadde his heart highe enhaunsed with the word of his father went vnto Crete to the King Titan to whome he gat him to be presented and sayd vnto him these wordes that folow Titan I come vnto thée in the obeysance of my father Iupiter first sonne of King Saturne that thou holdest in captiuitie He hath béene aduertised of oppression that thou hast doone in the personne of his Father and of his mother and the death of their sonnes he signifieth to thée by me that he is sonne of Saturne and that he is as much thine enemy as thou to hiâ— souiâ—â—â—art enemie Vpon which I thée â—â—â—non as
to get honor and worship but their labor profited little vnto them in regard of getting the prise for Hercules cast and foyled all them that came and the wrastling dured foure houres continually At the last at the request of the Ladies the Iudges made the wrastling to cease for that day because that they sawe that Hercules was young and that hee had done a great worke c. When Hercules had vnderstoode that the Iudges had made cease the wrastling he was right sorrowfull for in his wrastling he had a singular pleasure The Iudges thē with Eusteus came to him made him do on his cloaths and aray him After they brought him into the common hal where as the Ladies were dauncing and singing ioyously and it was sayd to him that he must daunce and sing like as other did Hercules excused him much but his excuse might not auaile He was set on to daunce in hand with Megara a right faire Gentlewoman of yong age but she was right well furnished with wit and vnderstanding and shée was daughter of king Creon When Hercules saw him in the hand of one so noble a Gentlewoman hee was sore abashed and ashamed The Gentlewoman on the other side was also shamefast for as soone as she had séene Hercules wrastle shee had set all her loue on him And they wist none of them both what to say howbeit in stead of wordes they vsed priuie and couert countenances Hercules tooke a singular pleasure to behold and sée the Gentlewoman and the more néere the Gentlewoman was to Hercules the more she set her heart on him What shall I say loue in this night enforced and constrained them to loue each other without speaking and their beauty was cause therof Men shuld not haue found in all Grece two so faire children nor of better qualities They were inough beholden and looked on and in especially Hercules for his prowesse and euery man maruailed of him and of his behauiour By space of time then Hercules was brought from the feast into his tent His tent nor the tent of the kings and of the ladies were not made but of branches with leaues and herbes giuing good odour sauour It was not knowne how to make tentes of cloath nor of silke then Hercules passed this night more intending to thinke on the beautie of Megara then for to sléepe The day following at houre conuenient she came vnto the sport and there were many young men strong and actiue the strongest of all Grece but Herculus with one arme threw and cast them and that day and the day following he cast and flang to the earth mo then thrée hundred and there could not so many come to him but he cast them downe and put them to foyle without any chasing himselfe ne greeuing and at that time he gat a right great glorie and honour there Megara oftentimes behelde him and in likewise did the ladyes and gentlewomen and many there were that set their loue on him And thus he passed the exercise of wrestling to his worship all thrée dayes At the fourth day he assembled all them that were come thither for to run and he made them that were most féeble to ryde vpon the best coursers that were in Grece and after he shewed them the furlong or stade and made thē to take their waye and run and he ran after the horse and men but he passed all them that ran and without taking once his breath he ran the furlong and came thereto before al the ryders and runners wherefore he was greatly praysed and had a great laude And some say that he ran all as swiftlye as a hart Of this course that Hercules made all the world wondred and helde it for a merueilous thing and wrote it in bookes among other things worthy to be put in memory At the fifth and sixt dayes following Hercules tooke his bowe and his arowes and went into the place that was ordeyned for to shoote in with the bowe and the Ladyes and the gentlewomen were there Hercules and manye other shot at a most strait and neare the marke but shot by shot he excéeded al the nighest for he shot alway wtin a little ring of gold And as for shooting at a long marke he passed the furthest in the fielde foure and twentie strides his howe was so great that it was the load and burthen of a man No man could bend it but himselfe It was a pleasure to sée him for he gat great praise and fame the two dayes and yet gat he more the daye following which was the seuenth daye of the sports for when it came to the casting of the stone a farre one after an other then he cast it imploying his strength in such wise that he passed sixe pases further then anye man that at that time imployed himselfe in that exercise Then they that were come to this feast cried with a high voice the Esquire vnknowne is neither the sonne of Amphitrion nor the sonne of Iupiter but he is the sonne of the god of nature which hath garnished him with double force and redoubled it an hundred folde in his infancie he vanquished the serpentes and in hys youth he surmounteth in wyt force and valiance all the world Blessed be the wombe that conceiued hym and bare hym for to glorify Greece For certes the tyme shall come once that he shall be the glory of the Greekes and their tryumphe and wel shal helpe them if they haue néede Such were the wordes of the Kings of the Ladyes and of the Damosels of the nobles and of the valiant each man praysed him in his guise The fayre Megara heard gladlye the commendation and praysing that men gaue him but yet she sawe him more gladly doo his feates and valiances and it is no meruaile though she sawe him gladlye and gaue her to beholde him for in Hercules was that was not in other his beautie surmounted the measure and the great portion and quantitie of his force and strength What shall I laye After that each man that would cast the stone hadde doone he went into the common tente where manye an amorous man was with his Ladye and there he began to put himselfe forth a little and his speache with one and other well became him for he had a right high and a cleare vnderstanding Megara and Hercules in this euening oftentimes beheld each other secretly their countenaunces were fixed each on other often and then of force they chaunged colour In this chaunging of coloure there was not a veine in them but was mooued And by this moouing grew amorous desires in aboundance with déepe sighes which were nourished in the abismes and bottomes of their heartes Among al other things for to spéede the matter the kings and the auncient knightes assembled them in councell for asmuch as they had manye yong knightes that were come and had abidden from the beginning of the feast for to do feats of armes
she on a day called her deare sonne Saturne with Titan and other of the Countrey and there rehearsed and saide vnto them that her yong sonne Saturne should succéede and haue the heritages of her husband Titan hearing the will of his mother redoubled his sorrow it caused him to wéepe great plentie of teares and knéeled too fore his mother humbly and saide in in this wise Mother I am right infortunate when ye will that my right patrimonie be put from me and that naturally me ought to haue by right should be giuen from me and yet because that I am not so wel formed of members as my brother Saturne is which sorrow is to me passing noyous ye wil put from me my fortune and byrth which ye may not do by lawfull reason I am your first sonne ye haue nourished me with the substance of your blood as your childe borne in your bellie nine Moneths Also I am he that first dwelled and inhabited your feminine chambers none tofore me tooke there any seisin when I tooke that then ye gaue mée your due loue and sorted to me the succession of your heritages Then whence cometh this that ye nowe subuert and destroy that nature hath once ioyned giuen me euery mother is bounden to holde the conseruation of the right of her child Alas mother will ye make me bastard fro my right am I a bastard was not Vranus my father am not I he that ye were so glad for what time ye felt first that I was conceiued in the lawfull bed of my father your husband am I not be that ye bare and gaue mee sucke of your breastes and oftentimes kissed me that is to say in my tender dayes what tyme my members were soft and tender Ha mother acquit you ayeinst me as ye beholden and bounden by right and knowledge ye that I am Titan and for as much as I am lesse and not so well adressed as my brother Saturne so much yée ought the more desire my promotion and furthering When dame Vesca heard her sonne Titan speake so sadly and profoundly she had pittie on him yet the pitie was not of so high vertue that might surmount the great loue that was rooted betwéene her and Saturne and then she sayde to Titan her sonne Titan my sonne I denie not that thou tookest thy substance betwéene my sides and were brought into this world and know verily that I loue thée intirely and that I desire thy weale but it is so cleare and euident in euery mans sight that for the default loathlinesse and abhomination of thy members thou art not a man sufficient to defend thy fathers heritage with great labour and paine for if it happen that one man would make warre thou were not able to resist him what wouldest thou that I should do thy brother hath the loue of al the people for his beautie and his vertuous maners and euery man holdeth him in reuerence and thée in derision and scorne Be thou content thou shalt lacke nothing and if thou lacke speake to me and I shall remedie it but speake neuer no more to mee for the heritage for Saturne shall obtaine it by the fauour of his wisedome méekenesse and benignitie and also because the common sort iudgeth him and séeth that hee shall once bee the man whose life shall shine gloriously Titan was sort troubled of the words of his mother and he began to chaunge colour and waxe red hauing suspition to Saturne that hee had contriued this matter against him whereupon he drew him apart to him and saide Saturne the enuie that thou hast to raigne aboue me hath now ingendred in my heart thy mortall mischiefe whereof the hate shall endure vnto the mortall separation of thy life and of mine and of my children Thou knowest well that I am the eldest son of our father Vranus how art thou so hardy and presumptuous to inhaunce thy selfe aboue me by conspired imagination I will that thou knowe verily that like as thou hast conspired in my temporal domage semblably I shall conspire to thy eternal domage hurt And name me from henceforth thy mortall enemie When Saturne heard these burning and enflamed menasses of his brother Titan he excused himselfe and answered that he neuer thought in his life to come to the succession of their father nor neuer had imagined nor conspired it Then Vesca their mother Cibell and Ceres tooke the wordes fro Saturne and saide to Titan that his threatning to Saturne was for naught for he should raigne and be Lord and maister Titan full of felonie and more angrie then hée was too fore said plainly that he would not suffer it Saturne had a great part of the people that assisted him and gaue him fauour And Titan also had other on his side which began to murmure the one partie agaynst the other All the compapanie was sore troubled and began to thrust in and enployed them to cease the noyse and to accord Titan notwithstanding it was hard to doe for alway he would haue runne vpon Saturne if he had not béene hold and letted alway In the ende the wise men shewed Titan by great reason that he was the more féeble and that Saturne was more in the fauour of the people and that he would modere himselfe a little and sayde that he should agrée and graunt the raigne to Saturne by condition that if hee married he should be bound to put to death all his children males that should be begotten of his séede if he any had for the wele of both parties Vesca with her daughter and the auncient wise people accorded to Titan this condition and laboured so to Saturne that they brought them to the Temple of their god Mars that was in the citie of Oson whereof was Lord a mightie man called Milliseus and that afore the image of the god Mars Saturne swore that if him happed to marry and that hee had any children males hee would slea them all thus was Titan content that his brother shuld enioy the land of Crete the peace was made betwéen them both CHAP. II. ¶ How Saturne was crowned first King of Crete and how he found first diuers sciences wherefore the people held him in great honour as a God AFter the treatie made of the peace of Titan and Saturne Titan saw in himselfe that hee might not worshipfully abide and dwell being vnder his yonger brother had leuer go and search his aduentures in other places then to be thral to his yonger brother Hee tooke his wife his children and friendes and departed at all aduenture into diuers places where he found fortune so good and happy that by armes and strength he made himselfe king of many diuerse Realmes which hee departed vnto his chlldren and commised and ordained certaine espies to espie and waite if his brother Saturne married himselfe and if his wife brought foorth men children and whether hée put them to death During these saide things Saturne
and go and complaine to king Saturne After these wordes Vesca deliuered the child to a Damosell of the house that onely was there with them and bade her that she should go slea the childe in the presence of Saturne or in some other place out of theyr sight the poore damosell excused her and Vesca gaue her in commandement and charged her with great menaces that she should go forth and take the child and the knife and â—â—ea it And so by the commaundement of these two Ladyes shee tooke the knife many times put it to the throte of the childe for to cut it asunder and alway the noble childe laughed at the knife And when the damosell saw this that it was innonocent she might not find in her heart to do it any harme In this sorrow and and in this pain and vexation Vesca Cibel and the damosell were a long time Now they iudged him to death and put the knife to his throte and suddainly the Damosell reuoked it and sware that she would neuer be persecutresse of one to fayre a childe And thus they began all thrée to wéepe and sobbe bewailing the childe by so great affection that it was pitie to heare After this when they had long wept and sobbed and bewayled the tender wéeping and paine of Cibell they beganne a little to pacifie their hearts and began to returne to motherly pitie Cibell called her that held the child and required her pitiously that she would giue her her sonne to kisse and hold in her armes promising that she would do him no harme The Damosell that wist not what should fall deliuered her her tender childe and then when Cibell beheld her childe with her face all bewept and all distempered with teares she kissed his laughing mouth more then an C. times came againe to her nature knowledging her sinne and began to say My child I had bin well infortunate if I had taken thy life from thée I haue coÌ„tended thy death my right swéete sonne alas shall I persecute thée after the will of thy father king Saturne It is his commandement and I owe him obeysaunce if I obey the culpe and sin is due to him If I obey not I make my selfe culpable of death Ah what is this shalt thou die by my handes by the hands of thy proper mother Hâ— shall thy mother be thy mâ—â—tyrer Shall thy mother be thine enemie and bitter mortal aduersarie for doubt of death I wote not what to say but wil I or will I not thou art my sonne Euery mother loueth her childe how may I hate thée It is much better that I tie then thou I haue liued long though and thou art nowe 〈◊〉 borne Verily thou shalt not â—â—s at this time I shall saue thy life or I shall die for thy health requiring the gods mercie for the euill will that I had against thée CHAP. IIII. ¶ How Saturn had commaunded to slea Iupiter that was new borne and how his mother Cibell sent him to king Meliseus where he was nourished THe right sorrowfull Ladie after this came better to hir selfe and tooke heart to heâ— and kissed her child that alway laughed And Vesca beheld her countenance all new and sate downe on the bed side where her daughter lay There they two began to speake togither of Saturn of the fortune of this childe and that hee had béene in great aduenture and promised the one vnto the other that they would saue the childe vnto their power After this promise in the ende of diuerse purposes they concluded to send this child secretly vnto the two daughters of king Melliseus the which Vesca had nourished in her yong age Of these two daughters the one was named Almachee and the other Mellisee This conclusion fully finished and taken Vesca lapped and wound the childe as it ought to be and deliuered it vnto a damosell being there present with all things gaue her charge to bear it secretly to Almachee Mellisee The good damosel enterprised the said charge and departed out of Crete with the child at al aduenture so worshipfully guided her that she brought the child liuing in safetie to the citie of Oson which she presented to Almachee and Mellisee rehearsing how Vesca had sent him to them for the great loue and trust that she had in them and how Saturn had commaunded that his mother should flea it Anone as these two damosels sawe the childe and vnderstoode how Saturne had iudged it to death they receyued it with pitie and in fauour of Vesca promised to nourish it in the secretest and best wise that they mought And forthwith the same houre they bare the childe vnto a mountaine that was nigh to the Citie wherein dwelled their nourse in a déepe hole of a caue which was richly entailed and carued with Chisell and other diuerse instruments And then they sent againe the Damosell that brought the child into Crete In this maner was the life of the childe saued Almachee and Mellise nourished the child with the milk of a goat Fortune was to him more propice and helping theÌ„ nature What shall I say in the beginning when he was put in the caue as his nurse on a day sawe him wéepe and crie by his proper inclination of chilhoode because hee should not be heard they tooke Trumpets Timpanes and nimbals and made them to sownd so greatly that a great multitude of Bées fléeing about the mountaine heard their sound and with this sownd entred into the caue and tooke an hole by the childe flying about him without any greefe or harme doing to the childe and yet more they made there honie whereof the childe did eate and was nourished from thence forth which was a maruailous thing And for to atchieue the matter beginning at the damosell that had borne this childe thither when she came againe shee rehearsed to dame Cibell and Vesca all her dooing and worke and gaue them a right great comfort touching the childe Then the two Ladies by méere deliberatioÌ„ tooke an Abest which is a precious stone and brayed it into pouder and after that they mingled it with wine in a cup of gold and dame Vesca bare it to her son Saturne and she abounding in bitter teares all bewept said vnto him My sonne thy wife hath sent to thée this drinke know thou verely that she this day hath rendred and yéelden the fruit of her wombe a son and a daughter she hath sent the daughter to nourish in the Citie of Parthenie but in the obeying of thy straight commandemeÌ„t we haue defeated thy son and put him to death Of whom the body the flesh and the little tender bones be now turned into ashes she hath sent here to thee the right noble hart tempred in wine which I present to thée to the end that thou do thy pleasure and be no more in doubt by thy son to be put out of the realme Anon as Saturne
is so doone the best way ought to be taken we counsell thée that thou leaue this Pallace and finde manner to issue out and wee shall follow thée and go with thée and search our aduentures in other lands for it shall be great paine by possibilitie euer to content and appease this people For it is so that the Corinthians be terrible to all men that they haue inhate and in despight Dardanus hearing these wordes beganne to sigh and considering that hee must depart from his Citie by his misdéede fault and desert hee smote himselfe on the brest and saide Ha fortune vnstedfast what is mee befall My hands be foule and filthie with the bloud of my lawfull brother The insurrcetion and the rebellion of my people hanging before mine eies it is force that I flée for to saue my life and purpose to liue of rauin and theft What mischance what euill happe is this Since it is so I yéeld me fugitise and shall go my way at all aduentures be it When the friendes of Dardanus had vnderstoode that hee was concluded and purposed to saue his life they ioyned to him and appointed togither that the next morning in the first breaking of the day they would departe from the Pallace and take the aduenture to passe by their enemies saying that if they might escape they would go to the riuage of the sea and take the kings barge And all they sware to helpe and companie each other vnto the death The night passed the day appeared and then Dardanus that had not rested that night to his pleasure but had watched with his armed men and were readie to take the aduenture that the gods and fortune would giue and send them issued out of the pallace and found the most part of his enemies asleepe he thrusted among the villaines and passed forth with little resistance that notwithstanding the waking Corinthians he came to his royall ship and tooke the sea and saued himselfe whereof the Corinthians had great sorrow When Dardanus sawe that he was so quit of the fauour of the Corinthians he went sailing by the sea and landed first at the port of the Citie of Samos being in Thrace there vitailed him and went to sea againe and arriued in Asia in a quarter where the land was ioyning to the sea of Hellespont And finding this land right good and fruitful for to enhabite he made there his habitation and there set the first stone of a right great citie that he beganne and after finished This Citie was that time named Dardane after the name of Dardanus but afterward it was called Troy Dardanus peopled and filled his Citie with men and women which he gate by swéetenesse and faire promises And the other part he conquered by force theft and pillage He made himselfe king of Dardane and ditched the Cittie about with great ditches After lōg time he passed out of this world and left a sonne of his wife Candama that was second king of Dardane This king was named Erutonius and raigned seauen yeare in augmenting and encreasing his Citie and people and at last came to the ende of his yeares And there reigned after him Troos his sonne This Troos was the third king of Dardane and was a strong man fierce and hardy in armes and increased greatly his seignoury and his Crowne insomuch as the Dardanians said that there was no king but Troyes and named them Troians And thus was Troy enhaunced more then all the Realmes of Greece so highly that the king Tantalus of Frigie had great enuie and gaue his heart and courage how he might anull and put downe the name of Troy that was his neighbour And began to assay to bring it downe as heereafter shall be said CHAP. VI. ¶ Of the great warre that was moued betweene the Pelagiens and Epiriens and how king Licaon of Pelagy was destroyed by Iupiter because of a man put to him to hostage which king Licaon did rost THe wise and subtill Virgine Minerue as saint Austen rehearseth shewed her selfe in this time by the stang or riuer called Triton by the greatnesse and subtiltie of her engine for she found the manner to forge and make armes And to this purpose Ouide rehearseth that she had foughten against a Giant named Pallas and slewe him by the flood of Triton In the same time that the armes were founden and the sciences of Minerue where practised by all the world a fierce discention engendred betwéene the Epiriens and the Pelagiens that after were named Archadians And héereof maketh mention Boccace in the fourth booke of the genealogy of gods Among the Pelagians raigned that time a king named Licaon eldest sonne of Titan. The Epiriens then enterprised vppon the Pelagiens and so made that a right great noyse arose and sourded For which cause they assailed each other by feats of armes so felonious and asyre that both parties suffered many foule mortall shoures When the wise men of Epire saw this warre so dissolute and that they of their partie had iniustly and vnrightfully vndertaken and begunne this warre they knowledged their fault and went to the king Lycaon bearing branches of Oliue in signification of peace and loue and him required that he would condiscend to accord and peace of both peoples Lycaon considering that his people had as much lost as woonne by this discention and that the battailes were perillous accorded to the Epitiens the peace by condition that they should deliuer him one of their most noble men such as he would demaūd for to be his seruant a space of time in token that they had vnrightfully engendred this discention The Epiriens consented to this condition and deliuered to king Lycaon in seruitude the most noble man among them and thus ended the warre The tearme and the time drewe ouer that the Epirien serued king Lycaon his due tyme and then when the time was expired the Epiriens assembled them togither and by deliberation of councell sent an Ambassade to Lycaon for to treate the deliuerance of the Epirien These Ambassadours departed from Epire and came to Pelage and shewed to the king howe their man had serued as long as hee was bound and required him that he would render and deliuer him and ratifie the peace to the ende that euer after that they might bee the more friends togither When Lycaon that was hardie of courage fierce and euill vnto all men and also vnto his owne people vnderstoode the wordes and requestes of the Epiriens hée had great sorrow and anger in himselfe and sayde to them with his mouth thinking contrarie with his heart that on the morrow hee would feast them and haue them to dinner and then he would doo like as they had demaunded With these wordes the Epiriens departed ioyously fro the presence of King Lycaon and on the morrow they came to the feast that was richlie ordayned and made for them in great plentiousnesse which was right fayre at the beginning and in
the ende right foule and abhominable for when it came to the performing of the feast the king Lycaon rose from the Table and went vnto the Kitchen and there tooke the bodie of the Epirien his seruant that hée had murthered the same night and all rosted and sodden brought it in a great platter to the feast and presented it to the Epiriens saying lo here is the Epirien that hath serued mee which was cause of the eschuing of the ruine and perdition of Epire. I saide yesterday that I would deliuer him this day take him who so wil I discharge quit my hands froÌ„ him and will him no more All they that then were present as well his seruants as straungers as well Epiriens as Pelagiens had anon great horrour when they heard and vnderstoode the wordes of king Lycaon they had great shame and furor to beholde so shamefull and abhominable a worke and outrageous sinne and were so troubled that the blood went fro their faces and they laid their hands afore their eies as they that abhorred to beholde the poore martyr Epirien And there was no man wist what to say of the infamie of king Lycaon vnneth When the king saw them so troubled and that euery man began to frowne and grudge apart he left them and went from thence into his chamber and then euery man rose from the Table abhorring and eschewing the sent and sauour of the dead man and would haue departed and gone their way all confuse had not Iupiter the son of Saturne béene which the Epiriens had brought with them in their legation and Ambassage forasmuch as hée was a fayre childe amiable and gentle He then when hée sawe that euerie man drewe a part his way put himselfe in the middest of the Epiriens and began beganne his glorious enterprises and said to them in this wise O what is this Where is the blood of the Epiriens Are they banished out of hardinesse bée they exiled out of valour and of honestie Which be the Epiriens that by force will expose themselues to the vengeaunce of so foule and horrible a déede This case is not to bee borne And the terriblenesse of the tyrant Lycaon is not to be bettered when it bydeth vnpunished Ye sée that the Pelagians make semblance that they be euil apayed with him he must be punished I say as for me I shall neuer haue pleasure in my life till I sée him restrained of his tyrannie What time the Epiriens had conceiued the great courage of Iupiter that was so young of age they thanked their gods of that that they had brought him with them and said to him all with one voyce Childe blessed bee the wombe that bare thée and blessed bee the gods that foreséeing this iniurie and wrong to vs haue so inspired vs for to bring thée with vs. We had béene nowe without courage hardinesse and will to doo well and had not béene so hardie to haue taken any tearme of vengeaunce Thy wordes haue awaked and quickened our spirites which were deade and a sléepe and had passed by the counterpeysed infamie of the tyrant Lycaon Thy hardinesse hath made vs hardie thy valiancie hath made vs valiant and lâ—uers of valiancie and thy wisedome hath inlumined vs. In this case thou shalt be conductor and leader of this worke and commander and we shall obey vnto thée c. Iupiter answered and sayde worshipfull Lordes and sirs I am not wise inough to receyue the honour that yée do me nor my tender yeares shall not accept it Alway by fourme of counsell humbled vnder all correction I will well say to you that me thinketh expedient for to be doone If ye find no man say better then you shall do by my councell and aduise yee shall take this poore Epirien in the same estate that hee is deliuered to you and beare him vnto the common place of this Citie for it is this day Sabboth and holyday the Pelagians beene there in great number and multitude passing their time with diuerse playes and sports Then ye shall shew this poore dead man for it is sayde that the King is not well beloued with his owne people for his vnmanlie workes and this misdéed and trespasse is passing foule and pitious anon as they shall knowe what hee hath done by this foule worke ye shall well sée if they will take in this sinne pleasure or displeasure If pleasure then it were in vaine and follie for to speake thereof for this present time any more but wée must séeke remedie in our returne to Epire. If they take displeasure ye may plainly discouer your courages and prouoke and call them to purge this crime that is so cursed and I wéen that they shall right lightly intend to vs And for none amytie that is betwéene him and them he shall not dominere nor reigne ouer them by tyrany For he is not their naturall Lord but he is the sonne of Titan brother of Saturne And is not King by election but by force All they that heard Iupiter thus speake meruailed greatly of him and accorded them to his councell in such wise that no man contraryed it nor agayn sayde it And so sodainly they tooke the murdred Epirien and bare him to the common place and there they shewed him openly in euery mans sight When the Pelagiens saw this dead man of whome the skin was scorched the flesh rosted the knowes shronken and that the bones appeared by the ioyntures they assembled all about him in great number and casting their eyes vpon him they had so great horror abhominacion and abashment that their heartes trembled playning eche to other and many went away for compassion wept and araged trembling for anger And other tooke duste and powder and casted into the ayre in signe of sorrow cutting their clothes and saying lifting their hands on high O goddes almightie what people bée these Epiriens Haue they rosted a mannes body and haue brought it to fore vs What meane they are we eaters of mannes flesh or bring they it to vs to shewe the cruelty of their courage or come they for to eate this dead man among vs for to feare vs withall Iupiter there being awayting and laying his eares and seing with his eyes the maner of the Pellagiens and their countenaunces concerning that they condescended in the condemnacion and enimitie of him that wrought this piteous worke when he had heard their reasons and had séene their woondrings he adressed himselfe among them and said in this wise O ye men of Pelage meruaile you of this vnmanly and vnnaturall worke Haue ye not enough learned and knowen the tyrannies of your king Lycaon he hath murthred this man and this man is the Epirien that was deliuered to him at the treatie of the peace of you and of vs for to serue him Lo this is the guerdon and rewarde that he hath done to him He hath tirannised right euill and hath doone him euill for good O what great
infamye is it to you that the people and folke of euery other citie haue reigning ouer them kings noble men and vertuous and they be crowned by election for their vertuous déedes ye be different from them and all of another nature A Tyrant is your king a murtherer an vniust man a sinner worthy of infamous death and vnworthy for to be left aliue vppon the earth Consider yea consider vnder whose hand ye be and how nighe ye finde your selfe in maladye and perill of death When the head aketh all the other members suffer payne then ye may not be whole and sound What shall we now doo thinke ye and councell ye vs we come to you for refuge and to demaunde you how we ought to do and behaue vs against one that is so foule a king as is Lycaon Tell vs the very truth If ye confesse the truthe and that ye be louers of reason iustice and of equitie ye shall iudge and condemne him ye shall lay your handes and puissances in correction of him and so ye shal be râ—â— of his malice Anon as the Pelagiens vnderstoode of Iupiter that Lycaon their king had committed this vilanous crime also that he had presented to the Epiriens the body of their fréend so dead they being at table they condemned his sinne and murmured against him saying that they would no more be gouerned and norished vnder the rodde of so peruerse and infamous a tirant and said to the Epiriens that they would abide by them and stand theyr fréendes With these wordes Iupiter put himselfe among the Epiriens and by his hardinesse admonished them to conspire against their king With which conspiracion accorded all they of the Citie And the wordes of Iupiter were so agréeable to them and his maners that they put in his hande the death and destruction of their king Licaon And to the ende that he should trust and haue affiance in them they sent for their armes and habillementes of warre and armed them After they assembled aboute Iupiter and said to him that he should be their captaine and their conducter to achieue this sayde worke Iupiter being ioyous of so great an honour and woorship excused himselfe But his excusations had no place the Epiriens and the Pelagiens ordeyned and constituted him head ouer them And he being constituted in his dignitie set his people in order and after did them to marche toward the pallace They had not long gone on the way when they sawe King Lacaon issue out of his pallace with great company of his fréendes all armed as they that had bin aduertised of the sayd conspiratioÌ„ made against Lycaon and féeling that his enemies came for to assaile him for to shewe himselfe a man of fierce courage came against them wéening presumtuouslie for to haue ouercome them And anon as they began to approche they challenged ech other to the death without other councel And strongly moued they assembled to a battayle that was right meruailous sharpe Lycaon did set and lead his people in order against Iupiter They medled them hastely togither with little strife of wordes and with great strife of armour and strokes The strife cost much but in especiall to Lycaon for his people were lesse in puissance and myght then the men of Iupiter which were stronge and of greate enterprise so they fought and smote vpon the Pelagiens and caste them downe nowe héere nowe there so fiercelye and so vnmeasurablye that none might abyde that was there before them Amonge all other Iupiter did woonders and meruailes by his well doing he put Lychaon in a passing great distresse and noyance And in this great anoye he pursued passing fast for to haue come runne vpon him But when the false tyrant sawe him come and he sawe that Iupiter set his strokes so mightely that all them that he raught were smitten down to the earth and coÌ„founded then all his heart began to fayle him and went on the other side and he had not long abidden there when that Iupiter had vanquished and ouerthrowen the Pelagiens and made them to flée from the place before him like as it had bin the thunder of tempest In this maner when Lichaon sawe his complices and fellowship in such extremitie he fled himself not as a king but as a poore man out of comfort and hope so desolate as he durst take none of his complices with him to helpe him away nor to comfort him He doubted Iupiter as the death he so flying away as is said durst not enter his pallace but issued out of the citie and went vnto a great Forrest that was nighe by and from thence foorth he was a brygand and a théefe and for this cause the poets fayne that he was turned into a wolfe that is to saye he liued as a wolfe of praies and roberies Albeit to confirme this mutacion Leoncius rehearseth that Lichaon so flying as saide is fearing to be sued after of Iupiter to be put to death put himself in a riuer or a great lake and there saued himselfe where féeling that the water of that riuer had a singular propertie that is to wit that the men that putte themselues in that water should be turned into wolues for the terme of nine yeares and the nine yeares expired if they would put themselues in the water after that againe they should recouer againe their first likenesse And so it might well be doone for Lichaon put himselfe into the water and was transformed to a wolfe by space aboue saide and liued of theft and pillage in the woods and forrests wayting oft times how the Pelagiens gouerned themselues and in the end when he had accomplished his penaunce he returned into the riuer and tooke againe his mans forme and knowing that the citie of Pelage might neuer be recouered he returned poore and wretched vnto his father Titan of whom I will say a little and shall tell how Iupiter began to be amorous on Calisto daughter of the sayd Lycaon c. CHAP. VII ¶ How Iupiter after the discomsiture of King Lycaon transformed himselfe into shape of a religious woman waiting on the goddesse Diana for the loue of Calisto daughter of the said Lycaon and did with her his will AFter the discomfiture of King Lycaon which was transformed into shape of a wolfe and began to be a rauishour of the substance of men of the countrey eater of their children and murderer of wilde beastes that he oft times assayled by rage of hunger which constrained him to cherish and kéepe his miserable life when the Epiriens saw that Iupiter had vanquished their enimies and that he abode mayster in the place they brought him with great ioye and glorye to the Pallace and sought long Lycaon first in the place where the battayle had bin and after that in the chambers of the Pallace but they founde him not quicke nor dead nor coulde heare no tidings of him And it happened that as Iupiter sought him thus
put her out of the order and of her company AT this time began to rise in the mind of Iupiter many thoughts for the better he concluded in himself to returne to Pelage from whence he came And then for because that hee was displeased with himselfe for the enforsing of his Ladie dame Calisto by loue hee departed from the wood and so hasted on his way that hee was on the morne among the Epiriens in his first habite When the Epiriens sawe Iupiter come againe they made him right great chéere and great honor And the same day Iupiter fained him that he would go on hunting and so went and found means to speake with Calisto and required her that she would be his loue but she in no wise would assent to him He returned from the chase so gréeued that for to passe his melancholy he departed out of the country The fourth day following after that he ordained there folke that gouerned the people and returned into the house of king Melliseus who receiued him as his son and there he dwelled a long time without aduentures whereof any mention is made and also Calisto dwelled in peace a while and when she heard tell and vnderstood that Iupiter was gone she was passing ioyous for she had leuer haue him far then nigh alway the time passed the fruit of her wombe grew and the day came that Diana and Athalanta with other virgins perceiued that she was with child wherfore they assembled al in their Chapyter and called Calisto and then spake Diana to her and said Calisto my daughter thou hast done fornication with some man this fornication is not excusable The virgins of this place be sorie for thy sinne and haue abhomination of thy shame For this cause it is of force that thou departe out of this house thou shalt be no longer their fellow Thou hast made thy selfe worthie to depart by the breaking and loosing of thy virginitie Take thine array and go thy way into some place where then maist be deliuered of the fruit that resteth in thée for thou shalt no longer be héere within When Calisto heard the goddesse Diana and knew that she said truth great teares fel from her eies and wéeping by great aboundance excused her vpon Iupiter rehearsing the abuse and violence that she had Diana and the maidens had great maruaile of Iupiter that had them so deceiued Calisto cried her mercie right humbly and many times offered her selfe to the correction of the maidens This notwithstanding albeit that she was held excused they receiued her not to mercie She was condemned to go out of the cloyster and so much went the matter for t of that the poore religious woman departed from thence all bewept and so ashamed that she would not go to no towne citie nor house but in a déepe caue that she had seene afore time in the wood And first she made her prouision of hearbs and rootes for as much as the winter was comming After she entred into the caue and there she held her so lōg time as the beare holdeth him in his den wherefore the Arcadiens fayned that she was turned into a beare And it is not to be forgottē that during this time she was deliuered of a sonne which she named Archas. This child was great and huge of members Calisto nourished him among the wilde beastes with rootes fruites and hearbes and of the proper meates and prayes that the cruel and terrible beasts liued with and there was no beaste that did him any harme nor none was so hardie to do him any gréeuance And he was so cruel and fierces that at the age of seuen yeare as his mother angred or troubled him on a day he lifted vp himselfe against her and would haue slaine her In so much that Calisto was constrained to flée before him by the bushes and to issue out of the wood and go to Iupiter which at that time was in the citie of Pelage Are has pursued Calisto his mother vntill he came within the citie and so forth entred after her into the Pallace and held in his hands two great round stones When Calisto entred into the pallace by aduenture she encountred and mette with Iupiter whom she knew and she knéeled downe on the earth before him and required him with afrayed spirite that he would do her iustice of her sonne that would flea her Iupiter that nothing knewe Calisto for asmuch as she was euil clothed and halfe wilde and sauage behelde the chylde and made him be taken and after he demaunded Calisto what she was Sir said she I am ' Calisto that for thy sinne was long since banished out of my religion I haue had this childe of thy séede such as thou seest this is thy sonne I haue nourished him seuen yeares in the forrest among wilde beasts He now would slea me for asmuch as I haue angred him I pray shée saue my life When Iupiter heard these wordes of Calisto he was right glad and ioyous for it was sayd that she was dead and he comforted her the best wise he could After that he called Archas and made the peace betwéene him and his mother and did cause him to be clothed and reteyned him in his palace And thēceforth the same Archas gouerned him so wel and so wisely that at the prayer and request of the Pelagiens Archas was made king of the countrey CHAP. IX ¶ How Titan assayled by warre his brother Saturne for as much as he had not put to death all his Children males c. IN this time that the young Archas was crowned king of Pelage and that he named the Cytie Archadia after his name the king Saturne was so great and so puissaunt that for to ample and increase the splendor of his natiuity he named himselfe Saturne sonne of heauen and of earth But then as he began to study how and by what maner hée might exalt the splendour of his felicitie by diuine misteries fortune turned her backe to him warde And as there is nothing in earth that may abide and endure so it happend that Tytan was all acertained that the quene Cibell had diuerse men children that she did cause to be kepte secretly and so had saued their liues Boccace that recounteth this history in the fourth booke of the genealogie of the goddes sayth not by what meane Titan knewe this thing alwaye eyther by suspection or by enuy that he had of the glorye of Saturne his Brother or by secret aduertisement Vnder this colour he determined in his courage that he woulde assayle Saturne by armes and for this cause he did assemble on a daye al his sonnes and them required that they would ayde and helpe him to get the land of Crete saying that hée woulde make warre against Saturne his Brother and that by right and iuste tytle he had good cause for he had not put to death dyuerse men children that his wife Cibell had conceyued of his séede like as
legat once twice thrice that thou yéelde this Cicâ—io vnto his Father King Saturnâ— and that as hastely as thou hast entred therein likewise that thou depart◠〈◊〉 do aunswered Tytan thou tellest me tydings that be full of pleasures and obâ—â—ltation by the which I knowe by thy wordes that Saturne hath a sonne yet liâ—ring nor by this meane I sée clearely and so seeth all the world that by good and iust quarell I am made king of this 〈…〉 Iupiter thy father knew that I doubt him not nor set nothing at all by his comming and also that I will nothing do after his commaundement Titan sayd Archas for asmuch as thou abidest in this will I will no more at this time trouble thee Make good watch Iupiter is héereby that tarieth for none otherwise but answer from thée for 〈◊〉 his indeuour to recouer this Citie With this word departed Archas from the presence of Titan and returned againe vnto his father When Iupiter heard the answer of Titan he was full of gladnes for he desired nothing but for to be in armes and concluded with his people this on the 〈◊〉 we he would assault the citie in case that 〈◊〉 furnished on him to battaile Aâ—on were there 〈…〉 and leaues and tabernacles the Oâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Aâ—tadiens and the Epiriens laye vpon the agré verâ—â—le and made their hoste to watche Titan was then in Crete And it is to wit when Archas was departed 〈◊〉 his presence he assembled all his sonnes 〈…〉 these 〈◊〉 which were to the pleasant and agréeable 〈◊〉 For they desired nothing but strife and debate and assured themselues to haue victory of Iupiter as well as they had of Saturne In the same houre they sente foure spies to espie the nuÌ„ber of their enimies 〈◊〉 made ready their harnesse these spies wente so faâ—re that the sawe the host of Iupiter maâ—â— their report to Titan of yâ— place where his enimies were and of what number of people they were After the report of the said spies Titan coÌ„cluded for asmuch as his enemie were but a 〈◊〉 from the Citie that there shuld make them readie and go to battaile against them on the moste early The night passed fast and the â—ay came oâ— and then aboue the sunne rising Titan mounted vppon his â—haire that was right riâ—h and made his Titanoys to range in battaile and left an hundred within the Citie for to kéepe it from Rebellion or from treason and tooke all the other â—â—th him vnder his conduct and of his sonneâ— and his espies c. Iupiter that was not idle had the same houre set all his men in orâ—er and had then brought all his folke into a faire plaine hoping of battaile And this Titan had not farre ridden but the sawe the hoste or Iupiter for this plaine was at discâ—uer 〈◊〉 sides and as farre as each might sée other each of them full of ioy enforced him to make shouts and cries and with great courage they marched the one against the other vnto the ioyning and smiting of stroakes Then Iupiter 〈◊〉 himselfe in the front of the battaile and 〈◊〉 his bow in his hand and his 〈◊〉 by his side by his sâ—â—ting began a 〈◊〉 that was right fierce for on the 〈◊〉 and the other there were right good archers and many â—aâ—ters of polished stones that failed neuer and that 〈◊〉 the cause of the death of many When the shot and casting of stones failed they began to go together 〈…〉 and then began of mortall fighting hand to hand that was so 〈◊〉 that the breaking of the speares and the this fâ—es 〈…〉 welles of Crete and 〈◊〉 to the cares of 〈◊〉 and of Cibell at the noyse whereof they began to reioyn for they had a good hope that Iupiter would obtaine the victorie against Titan. This 〈◊〉 Vesca weâ—â—â— vpper vppon a high Tower that shee might sée into the flée 〈◊〉 and there shée same the fighting of the battaile Thâ—â— haâ—â—â— Iupiter his 〈◊〉 in his â—ne hand and his shâ—â—ke in the other and with his sword hâ—e smote into the thickest of his Enemies and with his shield hee saued himselfe from their â—â—â—ies And with one stroke of his sword he diuided the bodye of Enceladus one of the sonnes of Titan and cast him on the ground at the féete of the Titanoys that were right sory for the death of their felow Iupiter assayled them right sharply and one cried slea slea but he that so cryed was slaine anon by the hands of Iupiter that destroyed the blood of his aduersaries He was strong fierce young and boystrous and of high enterprise He defended him vigorously as a Lyon mightily as an Olephant and egerly as a Tiger and intended not onely vnto the defence of his body but to saue and reskew all them that were in peril vnder his charge he did meruailous things on all sides the noyse and bruit doubled and redoubled about him The Titanoys began to be ouerthrowen by great routes one fell on his shoulders an other on his shéelde and he charged so sore vpon them that his strokes might not be sustained of men they were so strong and puissant c. This battell was cruell and hardye at beginning for both the two parties there were many of the Titanoys of Arcadiens and of the Epiriens hurt dead and cast vnder foote Archas was there accompanied with fiftie Arcadiens appointed vnto the guard of his body for asmuch as he was younge and yet he made and put himselfe to the armes Meliseus fayled not nor Titan Lycaon Egeon on the other side also eche man did his best that he might I cannot say how many men lay dead on the grounde us how oftentimes the one set vpon the other but ye shall vnderstand that there was none comparable vnto Iupiter in strength in leading his men nor in prowes there was nothing to him impossible He ouercame the ouercommers he flewe the flears he smote downe the smyters he put himselfe so farre foorth and in so many places in the battayle of the Tytanoys that in a straight he came and found Tytan in his chaire that ouerthrew the Epiriens with stones and round plumettes that he cast on them and cryed Titan Titan for as much as he thought that he fought well When Iupiter knewe that Titan was there he drewe towarde him and as Titan aduaunced his arme for to smite vpon an Epirien Iupiter lifted vp his sword and charged so sore vpon his arme that he smote it off and departed it from his body whereof he had great ioy and cried Iupiter Iupiter and Titan so hurt had great sorrow that he fell downe within his Chaire At this time the Epiriens began to courage themselues and the Titanoys were discouraged Licaon and Egeon were there fast by where they saw their fathers arme flie into the field then they began to assaile Iupiter as men dispayred and so began a new combate where much blood was spilled But notwithstanding the
vnto thée all that thou canst or mayst thinke néedfull c. When the noble damosell Danae vnderstoode the will of her father she behelde the Tower of Copper made for to kéepe her shut fast there in And further when she considered that she should neuer marry during the life of her father the king she was sore troubled about these things and by great bitternesse with sorrowfull heart began to wéepe and said Alas my father am I borne vnder so vnhappie a constellation for to be a martyresse and prisoner not in the end of my yeares but in my young time not in a prison of stone or of cement but in a tower of Copper and Latton in such wise as I should dwell therein perpetually Thou interpretest euill the sentence of the God Belus saying that of me shall be borne a sonne that shall turne thée into a stone For by this sentence ought none other thing to be vnderstoode but that I shall haue a sonne that shall raigne after thée and shall turne thée into a stone That is to say that hee shall put thée into thy Sepulchre Beholde then what simplenesse shall it be to thée to beholde me thus enclosed and shut in this Tower My daughter answered Acrisius thou interpretest the Prognostication of our god Belus after that thée lyketh to thy ioy and profite It lyeth me sore on my heart that if thou haue a sonne he shall put me to death and that is my iudgement and feare Gainsay no more me I am thy father Lord and maister ouer thée thou shalt abide here either by loue or otherwise At this conclusion when Danae saw that she might not content her fearefull father as wise and sage as she was she agréed and accorded to do his pleasure yéelding to it with the mouth and not with the heart And then the king sent for virgins and also olde matrones in all the Realme about and deliuered his daughter vnto them for to accompanie serue and kéepe her and made them all to be shut and closed in with her After he tooke his leaue of them commaunding them vpō pain of death that they shuld not suffer any man to come and speake with his daughter without his witting and knowledge When he had thus done he returned into the Citie of Argos and assembled fortie strong women which he gaue wages and pay to and sent them to kéepe the gate and the entrie of the Tower And then spread the renowme of these things in so great a sound and noyse that all Grece was full of the tydings and there was no King ne Prince but that complained the losse of the youth of faire Danae then holden and named the most faire of al the Greekish maidens daughter of the king c. CHAP. XIX ¶ Howe Iupiter in guise of a messenger brought vnto the Tower of Dardan to the Damosels and to Danae many Iewels faigning that he came from Iupiter BY this Tower and by this meane Acrisius thought to ouercome his predestinate misfortune and was well eased that his Daughter was in so sure and safe a place All the world spake of her and of her Tower by compassion they complained her state and it was so much spoken of this cause that Iupiter had his eares full thereof and not onely his eares but also his heart for in hearing the recommendation of the excessiue perfection of this virgine Danae he was amorous of her greatly and desirously assoone as the mariage of him and Iuno had bin consummated And then he began with all his heart to thinke how and when or in what maner he might come to sée this Damosell Danae And so much he thought and studied in this matter that there was none other thing that hée woulde heare of nor no conferences of his men saue only of them that spake of the pryson of Danae And hée spake chéerefullye and talked with all diligence couetting instantly to be with her and that as well in the presence of Iuno as otherwise saying many times that he would that the Gods would giue him grace and power to bring this Damosell Danae out of the Tower c. By this meane and these spéeches Iuno was in doubte and began to feele the first sparkle of ielowsie casting infinite curses and maledictions vpon Danae and vpon all them that had sowen those tidings before her husband This shée shewed not only in couert and in her stomacke but more openly in the presence of her husbande shewing euidently that she had the attaint of ielously This notwithstanding Iupiter was neuerthelesse desirous for to sée Danae more then hée was before The maleditions ne curses might not let ne withdrawe his affections which grewe more and more In the end he found himself so rauished with her loue that there was no more continence found in him To conclude hée deuised intencions and conclusions and purposed to go vnto the guardiens and kéepers of the Damosell Danae and that he would beare vnto them so largely and so many owches of golde and Iewels with money of golde that hée would turne them with his giftes to accorde to him and let him enter into the tower of Danaes Then hée sente for the Iewellers that were woont to serue his father Saturne and made them make the most rich Iewels and Owches that were euer séene or thought When the workmen had made a part Iupiter tooke them and laded him therewith and euill cloathed like as he had béene a seruant he alone departed from Crete and drewe him to Argos the most secretlie that he might and so went and came séeking the Tower of Dardan Which he found in an euening and saw the wals shining and came vnto the gate where he found many of the matrones sitting at the doore for recreation c. When Iupiter was comen he saluted the Matrones and said vnto them Noble dames the good night come to you What Tower is this of so noble and so strong fashion Fayre sonne said the eldest of them ye be not of this Countrey forasmuch as ye knowe not the name of this Tower Know ye certainly that it is named the Tower of Dardain and this is the proper place that the king Acrisius hath caused to make for to keepe his daughter the virgin Danae in which is a Damosell so furnished with all vertues and honourable maners that her like is not in all this world But the poore maid is so much infortunate that her father Acrisius holdeth her in this Tower shut for that he hath an answere of his goddes that of his daughter Danae should bee borne a childe that should turne him into a stone This is cause wherefore we be and kéepe her that no man may conuerse with her in no fashiō And her father is the king Acrisius which is so sore smitten to the heart with iealousie that if he knew of your being here he would sende to destroy you And therefore withdrawe you and go foorth on your way
speake with me It is a small matter for his seruant to speake a word with me The king my father shall neuer know it it is no neede that he know all that shall fall but first shew to him how it is charged you vppon death that no man speake with me And make him promise and sweare that he shall kéepe this matter secret The Damosels and the olde woman ioyous of the answere of the maide went downe from the tower to the gate and finding Iupiter busie to open abroad and vnbinde his iewels the old woman said vnto him Faire sonne the king Iupiter hath found more grace héere in this place anenst the maide Danaes then all the men in the world Neuerthelesse ye must know that vpon paine of death it is to you forbidddn and to other by vs And wee be also charged vppon the same paine by the King Arcrisius that wée shall let no man liuing speake with her The commandement of the king is so great and your request is not little Certes we dare not bring you vnto her al thing considered For if it were knowen without faile we should be all put into the fire And peraduenture if ye were found héere within by the king that cometh often times hither he would put you to death Wherfore we pray you excuse vs against your maister At hearing of this answere Iupiter founde not that hee sought and then hee helde him more néere in dispaire then he did in hope but he remembred that a begger shuld not go away for once warning said vnto the old woman to the beginning of her answere Dame ye do wel if ye feare and dread the king which is to me no meruaile Yet his commaundement is not so strait but that ye may enlarge it if ye will he hath commanded that none shal speake with her The king Iupiter requireth that his seruant may saye to her certaine things in secrete touching her honour ye shall do that pleaseth you but in truth if ye accorde him his request the accord shall not be preiudiciall to you in anye thing For the king Iupiter is no pratler and knoweth so much of the worlde that vnto you he hadde not sent me if he hadde not founde me secrete And thus if ye will doo to him anye pleasure ye haue none excusacion reasonable None knoweth heereof but you and I. If I speake vnto the mayde by your consent who shall accuse vs it shall not be ye for that the matter toucheth you And it shall not be I nor the King Iupiter for certainly we had leuer die in sorrowfull death and also abide in greeuous payne c. Faire sonne answered the old woman ye speake so swéetely that we may not nor can giue vnto you the refuse of your request We dare well affye and trust in you Alas dame answered Iupiter doubt you When I shall fault against you or any other I wish to be smitten with the thunder and tempest I would verily that ye had the prerogatiue to know my inward thoughtes to the end that in iudging of my mind yee might be assured of mee not to haue by my cause any inconuenience With these words Iupiter drew to his will the olde woman and all the Damosels as well by his subtil language as by his riches For to vse short processe the olde woman accorded to Iupiter that he shall haue the grace to speake with the mayde and brought him before her with all his presents Iupiter had then more ioy then I can write And when he was thus aboue in the towre of Dardane in beholding the ample beauty of Danae his ioy doubled and he knew her well by her beautie and made vnto her reuerence saying Right noble accomplished damosell the king Iupiter saluteth you by me and sendeth vnto the women of this house of such goddes as fortune hath giuen to him if it be your pleasure they shall receiue them and after I will saye vnto you certayn things secrete which the king Iupiter your seruaunt hath charged me to faye vnto you My fréende answered Danae sauing your honour the King Iupiter is not my seruaunt but I my selfe am beholden to him and am his seruant and thanke him of his bounty it séemeth as he had reygned golde in this place It is acceptable to me that the women of this tower haue your presents And it pleaseth me well also to heare your charge to the ende that King Iupiter should not say that I were vnkinde c. The matrons and the Damosels were present at this answer Iupiter deliuered vnto them his Iewels which they receyued with great galdnes After that Danae tooke the messenger by the hand and led him a parte vnto the beddes side where she made him to leane by her And then when Iupiter founde himselfe all alone with Danae he sayde vnto her right noble Damosell I no more call you Damosell but Lady For ye are my lady and my only mystres which haue maystred mine heart and also haue ouercome me vnder the sownd and bruit of your glorious reports name For to aduertise you verily I am Iupiter of whome now I haue spoken to you at the presentation of the iewels and it is truth that it is not long fithen when I was in my Realme for to heare reported the maner how your Father helde you shutte in this Tower with litle good that maye accorde vnto your honoure as well for to gette your thanke and grace as for pittie wherewith I was mooued I haue deliberated in my heart to employe my selfe vnto your deliueraunce and also for to gette your grace And for to execute this deliberation I haue taken parte of my tresours and haue come hither to present them vnto your Damosels and so departed and of newe am comen again in hope to haue your loue whereof I am wel content and thanke mercy and fortune Alas madame if I be so hardy as for to haue put my self in the aduēture of my life for to shew the great loue that I haue to you Excuse me if I haue enterprised a thing so hie that I ne me holde worthie to attaine but in the affiance of fortune and insomuch as shée will fauour in this partie Madame then in consideration of my wordes ye may sée my life or my death and yee onely may lightly make the iudgement If your humilitie condiscend in the knowledge of pitie that I haue had of you exposing my selfe into the daunger where I might bee sure I am nowe nigh the ieopardie which ye may saue and if not I yéelde me your prisoner Certes the shining resplendissour of your renowmed beautie whereof the méede passeth the renowme and the triumph of your incomparable excellency hath enraged mine heart and brought me hither into the prison of your will Alas Madame behold and sée with your eyes full of swéetnesse and of clemencie mee which sée not at this tyme but languish for fault of rest in continuall
trauaile in furies redoubled and in sighes vpon sighes which may not be puruaied of remedie but by your benignitie and amorous good will At the beginning of the first recommendation that was made of you in my presence and at the poynt that I enterprised to deliuer you out of this Tower I beheld my selfe right ioyfull and happie because of so hie an enterprise but séeing the perils that I finde my selfe in since I wote neuer what I may say of my selfe For by moneth vpon moneth wéeke vpon wéeke and day vpon day your name hath had domination on me And oft times hath constrained mée to be rauished and yet more in a traunce by desire to speake to you and to imagine howe I should come to the poynt where I nowe am and not onelie in this but also to finde mercie in you And I pray and require you right humbly that the amourous gift of mercie ye will to me accord and thus doing ye shall do mercie to your selfe and haue pitie of your yong daies which you haue consented to loose by the foolish fantasies of the king your father Ye know well that his life during he will not suffer you to be married to any man It is possible that your father shall liue as long as you for he is strong of members hard and boystrous Also ye ought conceyue if ye will beléeue me that your life hath no wealth nor pleasance Onely the pleasances come vnto the people by the sight and by beholding of diuerse things The women singularly haue their principall pleasures in their husbands and in their generation and lynages Ye may come here to but then ye must haue mercie on your selfe Is it not in your conceyte and knowledge that no man hath but his life in this world Forasmuch as ye obey and yéeld to the foolish commaundement of your father the King Acrisius ye shall be a woman lost being in this place it is not possible to take and haue patience This is too hard a thing vnto a yong heart to be put in prison without demerite I knowe the humaine affections and vnderstande that natually euerie creature loueth his profite before the profite of another This is agaynst your prosperitie and vtilitie from which ye be shut here within Howe may ye haue loue vnto him which is cause of two euils The lesse euill is to bee chosen since that you féele you condemned here vnto the ende of the dayes of your father Doubt ye not but his ende is oft desired to his death for your sake and his death may not bee effected without great charge of conscience Me thinketh that better it were for you in diuerse considerations to finde way to issue and go out of this place and to take to husband some noble puissant man that wold enterprise to carrie you away secretelie for to be his wife in his Countrey By this meane ye shall be deliuered from the paine that ye be in ye may eschew the death of your father and lesse euill yee should doo in breaking his foolish commaundement then to abyde in the poynt where hee hath put you Madame alas thinke ye here on for your honour and health as I haue sayde vnto you I am your seruaunt and if it please you to depart from this place ye shall finde no man readier then I am for to kéepe you and to saue you I giue my selfe vnto your noble commaundements for to furnish your will to my power as he that beareth alway the remembrance of you in the most déepest place of my mind in sléeping I sée you and waking I thinke on you I haue had neuer rest in my selfe nor neuer shall haue but if it please you My fortune my destinie my happe and vnhap come of you If yee take me vnto your mercie and that I finde grace with you I shall bée the most happiest of all happie And if ye do otherwise it may be sayde that among all vnhappie none shall go before me But if such fortune shall come to me by your rigour I will take it in patience for the noblenesse that I sée in you alway I require you that my heart be not depriued ne put from your heart for as much as it toucheth me nearely All the tongues of men can not say nor expresse the quantitie of the loue that I haue in you no more then they can pronounce by proper name all the starres of heauen By this loue I am alway in thoughts labours in sighs anguishes and often times in great feare and doubt At this houre I wot not whether I liue or not because me thinketh I am héere for to receiue absolution or a mortall sentence These things considered alas will not ye haue him in your grace that for to deserue your loue and mercy hath abandoned and aduentured his life as ye may sée leauing his royall estate the better to kéepe his cause secret Vnto an hart wel vnderstanding few words suffice For conclusion I pray you to giue your heart vnto him that hath giuen his heart vnto you and that ye prouide from henceforth for the ill case ye now be in after the common iudgement With this Iupiter held his peace and kept silence and lent his eares for to heare what should be the answere of Danae The right noble damosell when she had heard his talke which she had sore noted and whē she saw that he had giuen her space to speake she was resolued and changed colour and said to him Sir king alas know ye well what would be the renowme that would abide with me if I shuld and not onely in this but also to find mercy in you And I pray you right humbly that out of the amorous gift of mercy ye will to mée accord and in this doing ye shall do mercy to your self and have pity of your young daies which you have consented to lose by the foolish fantasies of the King your Father Ye know well that during his life he will not suffer you to be married to any man It is possible that your Father may live as long as you for he is strong and boysterous Also ye ought to conceive if ye will beléeve mée that your life hath no wealth nor pleasure Onely the pleasures come unto the people by the sight and by beholding of divers things The woman singularly have their principal pleasures in their Husbands and in their generation and linages Ye may come hitherto but then you must have mercy on your self Is it not in your conceit and knowledge that no man hath but his life in this world Forasmuch as ye obey the foolish commandment of your Father the King Achrisius yée shall be a woman lost being in this place it is not possible to have patience This is too hard a thing unto a young heart to bée put in prison without demerit I know the humane affections and understand that naturally every creature loveth his profit before the
enemies enuenomed with mortall venom O Danae remember your selfe of me And thou fortune that hast succored me in al my affairs succour me in this present néed With this worde his complaint ceased and he gaue his minde so many sharp thoughtes that pearced his heart right pensiuely This thought was great and touching a right aduenturous enterprise When all was doone hée determined in himselfe to assay if he might come to the ende of his thought and arayed and clothed himselfe and went out of his chamber vnto the tower where he sawe the doore open to his séeming and finding it true that it was open hée went vp as softly as he could that he should not be heard and came so far that he came to the chamber of Danae wherof the doore was open in which chamber was a lampe burning Iupiter all full of gladnes put his head into the chamber to behold if the damosels had bin with Danae and when hée had beholden that there was none but that Danae was alone in her bed he aduentured him to go vnto her where he founde her sléeping and awooke her by kissing c. Danae was so sore abashed when she felt her selfe so kill that she crept within the bed Iupiter drewe néerer so that he discouered her face for to speake to her whereof shée being afrayd opened her eyes and when shée wist that it was Iupiter and that he was alone by her bed side she made a right great shrych and cry When Iupiter heard this cry he was much troubled neuerthelesse he purposed to aduenture turning her to him warde and comforting her by his swéete speaking he declared to her in the ende that it must néedes be that she must be his wife promising to come and to fetch her in short time And so long he helde her in such talke that he vnclothed himselfe and in speaking to her he sprang into the bed and laye by her side notwithstanding that she with sayd and wit-stoode it with all her might Then sayde the mayde that she was betrayed And wéeping tenderly she wende to haue fledde and did her beste to haue gone awaye But Iupiter tooke good héede and at the leape that she supposed to make caught and held her by the arme and made her to lye downe agayne and he clypt her and kiste her againe And so appeased her in such facion that she left her wéeping And on the morning when he rose vp from her he left her with child with a yong sonne What shall I say more Iupiter by this hardinesse atchieued his purpose and his will on fayre Danae and made the peace for his offence The night passed ouer and the day came that Iupiter must néedes arise and depart from her and then by necessitie constrayning him to kéepe the honour of Danae he arose and tooke his clothing trussed togither and returned into his Chamber where he went to bed and slept so fast and surely that he awooke not till the houre and time to go to dinner At this houre Danae asked where was the Messenger of king Iupiter and said that she would eate with him and that they should bring him vp into the Tower secretlie With the worde of Danae two Damosels went downe out of the Tower into the Chamber of Iupiter and finding him asléepe awooke him whereof he was amazed and ashamed For the Sunne was that tyme mounted hie And then he arose and arayed him hastily when he wist that Danae had sent for him to come speake with her And so came to her which began to waxe red and to loose her colour countenance when she saw him And the reuerence made they went and eate togither and made great cheare yet Danae was ashamed and was strongly surprised for the case that was happened to her and she might not abstaine to set her eyes on the beautie of Iupiter which also fayled not on his side to beholde her by so ardent desire that the eyes of the one and the other pearced each other oftentymes In this beholding they passed part of the tyme of the dinner When they had taken their refection Iupiter and Danae drewe them apart and helde a long parliament of their worke And it was concluded betwéene them that Iupiter should go into the Countrey and that he should returne thither with a certaine number of people for to take away the faire Danae And with this conclusion Iupiter departed and returned into Crete leauing Danae in the Tower of whome I will cease for this present and returne to speake how Tantalus the king of Frigie fought against the Troyans and had battaile against them which was the first battell that euer was in Troy CHAP. XXII ¶ How the King Tantalus of Frygy assayled by battaile the King Troos of Troy and how Ilion and Ganimedes his sonnes discomfited him in battayle WHen the King Troos had named his city Troy and was mounted and enhaunced in so hie renowme that the kings his neighbours as to his regarde were but in little reuerence and lesse glory many thus loosing their honours by his right great worshippe began to murmure against him in déede and in thought and among all other the King Tantalus of Frigie sonne of the Archadien Iupiter king of Attique tooke in right great despight the excellencie of Troos and considered agaynst him and made a great assemblye of men of armes and so departed out of his Realme with intencion to destroye and spil the King Troos and his Cittie of Troye This Tantalus had a sonne in his companye named Pelops and also left a sonne at home named Thiestes for as much as he was young And this Thiestes had a sonne since named Philistines the father of Menelaus that reygned in the time of the third destruction of Troy For to returne to our purpose then Tantalus behaued himselfe in such wise that he conducted and brought an host vpon the territorie of Troy and did smite downe and destroye all thing that was in theyr puissaunce vnto playne destruction Wherewith the crye and clamours of them that fledde was so great that in short tyme the King Troos was aduertised of it whereof hée was not affraid for he had the city wel garnished with people Also he made readie to resist his aduersaryes and that by such diligence that when he had heard the tydings in the morning in foure houres after he issued out of Troy with xxx thousand fighting men and drew vnto the place where the Frygiens were entred This noble king Troos had in his company two sonnes of whome the eldest was called Ilion to whome came downe from heauen the Palladium And the yoonger was called Ganimedes These two sonnes valiant and hardie came into the fielde and required theyr father Troos to departe his armie in two and that he would graunt to them his vawarde for to proue theyr might vppon theyr enimies Troos considering that by separatyon of his people they that were beaten or put backe might
that his enemies because of the succours that came to them were stronger then he was he found not in the resolution of his enterprise but dispaire and shamefull end and all discomforted he called his sonne and his principal friendes and demaunded them what was best to do They counselled him that hee should labour to saue himselfe and saide to him if he abode and attended the Troyans that would be cause of his destruction and of all them that were left of his people When Tantalus vnderstood this and knew that hee was desperate and nigh his shamefull ende and flight and aboue that that he might not extinguish and put downe the name of Troy hee tooke himselfe by the beard that was long and impatiently said smiting himselfe with his fist O cursed enuie thou didst promise mee of late to put Troy vnder my féete and hast made me to rise presumptuously against her Nowe sée I well the contrarie and that by mee Troy shall flourish and that more is by my cause her name shall growe and shall be enchaunsed and that all kings shall tremble before her in my sight and beholding O false traiterours fortune accursed be thou that I euer beléeued on thée These words finished hee saide to his son and to other of his councell that they should cause his people to withdraw a little and a little At last he commaunded that each man should saue himselfe and then they put them all to flight Ilion and Ganimedes tooke héede and ranne after and chased them out of the territories of Troy with great occison and slaughter of the people of the Frigiens And after that they had chased them they said that they had doone them shame inough and left worke and returned and came anon and met the king Troos their father that followed them which had great ioy when hée saw that they had quit them so well vpon his enemies by the good conduct of his two sonnes The ioy then that Troos made Ilion and Ganimedes after the battaile was great and of good loue Troos brought them again vnto Troy with great worship The Troyans men and women receiued them worshipfully blessed the womb that had borne them and the breasts that gaue them sucke These were two noble sons of the King of whom the names were borne into all the Marches there aboutes with so great a bruit and noyse that not onelie the neighbours of Troos came to make alliaunce with King Troos and the Troyans but there came also Kings of many far Countreys of the East which could not magnifie inough the puissance of the king and of the citie of Troy c. In these dayes when Troy shewed the rayes of her puissance and noblenesse through the vniuersall world Saturne late king of Crete sayled by the seas with little companie not as king and possessor of the realme but as banished and dispurueyed of all land and countrey so poore that he had no place to withdraw him to nor wist not whither to go but onely by desarts and by the depth of the sea When he had béene in this poynt a great while thinking without end how he might persecute his son Iupiter fortune brought him into the sea of Hellespont and then beholding about him he espyed and sawe Troy which was a Citie passing fayre and rich and of marueylous greatnesse And then what for to take him a little rest as for to put away his melancholie and for to reuittaile his shippe and people hee sayled and rowed into the Citie and landed at the port When the Troyans had seene the shippe of Saturne that was better and more of value then all the shippes that they had euer séene the maisters of the ships of Troy went hastily vnto the King Troos and said Sir bee of good cheare and make readie your house I assure you that there is come right now vnto your port the most rich ship that euer was séene on the sea and me séemeth this considered that in so noble a ship must be some noble or great earthly Lord that commeth vnto you c. Anon as king Troos heard these tidings of the maister mariner he desired to sée so fayre a shippe and accompanied with his two sonnes went for to sée at the port and to feast them of the straunge shippe This king Troos was courteous and honourable When he came vnto the port he found that Saturne made readie his shippe and disposed him for to go vnto the citie And séeing the ship he maruailed much for the vtensils that were within were richly made furthermore Saturne his companions were armed and had no mariners He beheld their behauiour at his comming and knew that they were men of warre right well in point so he thought in himselfe at the beginning for to arme himselfe and to send for the Troyans But afterward when hee had séene their little number and that no ship followed nor came after these strangers from the coast he changed his purpose viewed and approched vnto the ship and called Saturne that most best was arayed aboue the other and asked him what he sought both he and his fellows and from what nation they were and whence they came from And Saturne answered to him and saide Sir albeit I know not at what port I am arriued for as much as my heart giueth me that ye be courteous of your nature I will not hide nor couer any thing touching your request I was late king of Crete named Saturne now I am but Saturne for my sonne hath put me out sorrowfully so that of all the riches of all my people and all my goods temporall there is nothing left me but this onely ship that ye may sée Wherefore I pray you and require that it please you to direct mee to some Lord of this countrey to the end that I may require licence and leaue to enter into his lordship and to take that that shall be necessarie competently to the life of me and of my companie When king Troos heard the case of Saturne comprised in briefe words he saide to him by compassion King Saturne yee be welcome into the house of Troos in troth I haue great gréefe in my selfe of your first anoyance for your glorious renowme and for the goodnesse that is in you as often times I haue heard it recounted But with this anoyance two things gladde and ioye my heart the one procéeding of the accomplishment of desire for I haue desired manye dayes for to sée you and this desire is now accomplished in me and the other procéedeth of hope and in this part I saye to you that I king of this countrey haue intention to comfort and to councell you to my power and also to giue you so good ayde that ye shall correcte your sonne and shall punishe his personne in suche wise as it shall appertayne for his offence Saturne began to sighe and to take a lyttle comforte of the greate proffer and good chéere
Ganimedes they yéelded vnto armes their deuoirs They did worshipfully deale with their bodies vnto their puissance without ende They wrought and fought with their enemies making their swords red in the bloud of the Cretians They followed with great force in such wise that they fought all that day otherwile afore and sometime behinde And it was so in the ende that when the sunne began to go downe Ganimedes thinking on his great losse and desiring to recouer his worship tooke a terrible and mighty axe and enflamed with right noble courage fought about the baner of the Eagle of gold where was the most strength and smote downe on the one side and other so vnmeasurasurably that his axe changed colour and he cried with an high voyce Troy Troy Iupiter had alway an eye on the banner When he heard the crie of Ganimedes and saw his behauiour he knew him whereof he had great ioy for he sought no man but him he gaue ouer the place where he was in and ioyously adressed him vnto him and saide O valiant Troyan thou hast shewed thy prowesse all the day and now thou manifestest and shewest thy selfe by great feats of armes and of great shouts Thou art onely he that I séeke among the valiants of Troy not onely that I presume to be more valiant in armes then thou but for as much as thou art he that hast assailed Crete and that I haue pursued thee hither Thou hast assailed and fought with me army against armie and nowe let vs fight body against body and he take it that may get it Ganimedes with this word lifted vp his axe and casting his eyes on Iupiter and thinking of that he had heard made him this answere Happie and fortunate king of Crete I know nowe that thou art worthy to haue grace of fortune and that thou art more wise then strong Thou séest that fortune is with thée neuerthelesse now thou enhaunsest not thy selfe aboue me I allow and prayse thée in as much as thou dost worship and honour to thine enemie and dispraisest him not but imaginest that hee hath courage at his heart know thou that thou dost thy selfe honour and worship For to disprayse and blame another man no man ought to aduance himselfe I would that it pleased the gods that thy father Saturn which is wandering on the sea were now here for it is mine intent that by his helpe we would haue reason of thée and I will come thereto if it be for me possible for I should be satisfied for all my hurts and losses if I might conquer and ouercome thée And without mo words Ganimedes let flie his axe and smote on Iupiter Iupiter couered him with his shield which was smitten in two peeces by the cutting of the axe and then Iupiter bestirred himselfe who all that day had abstained and spared from fight and the feats of armes and commanded his folke that they should let him alone with Ganimedes for as much as he was alone And nowe he defended himselfe against the axe of Ganimedes and be laboured him with his sword the most best wise that to him was possible Thus began the battaile of the two champions of Crede and of Troy They were both right expert to do the feats of armes their cries were high and fierce they smote each other fiercely eagerly the fire sprang out of their helmes by the might of their strokes But when fortune was on the part of Iupiter what might Ganimedes do His strokes were great and hee gaue vnto Ganimedes many wounds and indéede tooke away his axe by the meane of a great wound that he had in the right arme might haue put him to death if he would But for to make short processe when he had taken his weapon from him he had pitie on him and saued his life and caused him to be kept by foure Centaureâ—â— Anon after it began to waxe dark for the night tooke froÌ„ the day his light wherefore it behoued them to take their rest and leaue off fighting And so the Troyans withdrew them into theyr Citie and they of Crete vnto the port of the sea CHAP. XXVII ¶ How the King Troos and Ilion his son made great sorrow for Ganimedes for they wist not where he was becom And how Iupiter went to the sea for to go to Argos WHen Troos and Ilion were withdrawen they abode at the gate vnto the time that all the Troyans were come againe into the Citie as they that knew not where Ganimedes was become whome they sore desired to haue found All they that were in the battaile of the Troyans were entred and there was no man that coulde tell the King Troos where his sonne Ganimedes was or whether he was aliue or dead And when hée sawe that he hadde no more men left in the fielde he returned into his Pallace sorrowing and greatlye vexed and sent for them that were come againe from Crete and enquired of them of all the tydings and what they hadde doone with his sonne As touching his sonne they aunswered that in the euening hée was in the prease among his enemyes but they wist not what was become of him And as touching the tydings of Crete they tolde him how they had spedde in theyr Iourney against them and how the Eagle appeared vnto Iupiter and how they were ouercome by the strength of the centaures And how they wist not where Saturne was become These tydings gaue vnto the king Troos sorrowe vppon sorrowe and to Ilion also And the teares fell downe from theyr eyes and in speciall Ilion wept sore bewayling his brother in this manner Alas my brother alas Ganimedes where is become the glorie of Troye by the vnfortunate and vnhappy Saturne which hath failed there in thy néede At the least if thou hadst come againe we togither would haue doon our best to haue bin aueÌ„ged of this losse We would haue assayed our bodies by fraternall loue for to haue recouered thine honour How is it art thou perished by venturing what hard gréefe and sorrowe is thée befallen for to say all thy misaduenture and mishap is too preiudicial vnto the house of Troy Ilion faire sonne answered Troos for one aduersitie it behoueth not to be abashed in the warre in any wise but to haue firme courage War giueth this day victory to one and on the morne taketh it away and giueth it to another and so putteth each out A vertuous and a manly maÌ„ vnto his death ought not to be afraide If Ganimedes he dead in the battaile or if he be taken what remedy it is then expedient eyther to auenge his death or to succour him but our enemyes be in little number we will to morrow fight with them againe and let the gods doo their willes of vs. And if I faile herein I shall be quite discouraged Ilion and the nobles of Troy comforted them with these words of king Troos and confirmed his resolution for to go on the morne
to assayle their enemies Whilest these things were in parle in the citie Iupiter was in the fielde and made great chéere with Ixion and the Centaures and being set at supper vpon the ground al about a great stone Iupiter sent for to fetch Ganimedes and made him to sup with them Ganimedes was sore mooued and had in his heart great trouble yet he tooke a short refection with them for he felt right great ache and smarte in his woundes And there Iupiter commāned with him saying that he was the valiantest man that euer was séene among the most valiantest of Troy and for as much as he was in his mercye and that it was hée that late with his father descended into Crete where he had gladly planted his name in worshippe if fortune woulde haue suffered him therefore sayd he I will no more warre before Troye but I will enter agayne to morne into the Sea and will go and putte in execucion a thing that lyeth me nowe sore at hearte And will well that ye knowe that I haue intencion to go vnto the Realme of Argos vnto the Tower of Dardan for to deliuer according to my promise out of the same Tower the fayre Danae whome the King Acrisius holdeth fast shut in without any reason This conclusion pleased king Ixion and the Centaures for as much as they had heard speake of the Tower of Dardain and they thought well that the Argiens might not hold against their strength When that they had eaten they entred into their ships and thought among other things on the wounds of them that were hurt and also of Ganimedes And after they laide them downe on the straw to sléepe and about two houres before day they weighed anchor and departed so secretly that the Troyans had no knowledge thereof And on the morrow betimes when king Troos and Ilion issued out of Troy to battaile they ranged in good order and found no man to haue to do withall nor they could not sée nor perceiue their enemies on no coast of the sea for they had so farre sailed from the port that by that time they were out of sight Thus they had great sorrow maruailously and came vnto the place where the battaile had béene and buried the dead men But nowe I will leaue speaking of them and of Iupiter and will turne vnto the History of Danae CHAP. XXVIII ¶ How the king Arcrisus when he sawe his daughter with childe sent her to exile and put her in a little vessell into the sea at the aduenture of fortune c. THe noble Damosell Danae abode with child of the séede of Iupiter as it is said before After that Iupiter was returned into his countrey she abode passing long in hope that he would come to fetch her by strength of people and would leade her into his Realme as he vnto her had promised In this hope she mounted often times into high windowes of the tower and casting her eyes now hither now thither vpon the mountaines wayes and stréetes for to awarre if he came or that she might sée his men of armes and his people of warre and without end shée had alway her eares open to hearken if she might heare the Trumpets Tabours and Clarions This hope dured long vnto the last day that Iupiter had promised and sore she complained in this tyme of his abyding and sayde vnto her selfe that he would come But certes when euening was come of the day that he had set and hee was not come nor she heard no tydings of him when she sawe that hée came not and that the fruit of her bellie appeared she went downe from the window of the hie Tower and all surprised with dispayre to beholde her belly sayde poore belly I may no longer hide thée I haue couered thée vnto this time hoping the comming of Iupiter the day is come and past that he should haue come and there is no tidings of him Alas and hath he also forgotten me Where art thou Iupiter Art thou dead or aliue If thou be dead speake to mee in spirite in excusing thée of thy default Tell me what I shall do with thy séede And if thou be aliue what right euill aduenture holdeth thée Art thou wearie of me Of Danae of her that thou enforcedst by raining golde of her that thou so much desiredst Alas thou promisedst me thy loue and gauest it vnto me and I receyued the gift in good part and gaue vnto thée mine heart in like case and more then thou wéenest And what shall this be Iupiter my loue and friend Art thou of the nature of false men as hypocrites that go about to deceyue poore women and then leaue them in dishonour Alas thou art one verily thou hast brought me into perpetuall shame and hast abandoned and giuen me ouer O mischieuous man O false lier be thou cursed with thy riches and accursed be the houre that euer I saw thée I am for euer by thée put to shame and by thée mine ende approcheth I may no longer hide thy workes Where shall my childe become euery man shall sée and know my trespasse Alas my father shall put me to death I may not faile of it and as for death it shall not grieue me saue for the fruit that I beare yet shall I kéepe it as well as myselfe at all aduenure come what may come thereof c. In these and such like wordes Danae passed ouer this night without sléeping or rest from thenchforth she began to be all melancholious and tooke this so sore to heart that she fell into a right grieuous maladie When the maydens that nothing knew of this case saw her so euill disposed they signifyed it into the king Acrisius And then came the king to visit his daughter and betooke her to the cure of his Phisitians and cunning men and demaunded of them what maladie she had They answered him in the presence of Danae that she was great with childe and that in short time shée should be deliuered Danae answered that they fayled to say the truth and that she had neuer knowne man and denied her fact as much as in her was possible hoping alway to liue for she knewe well that her father would condemne her to death if he knewe that she were with child And about this all the maydens of the house striued with the mistresse saying that they had well and surely kept the tower that no man saue the king had spoken to her but if he were come inuisible since that they had receyued her into their gouernance Whereat the king was greatly abashed and sore wondered When the king heard these wordes and saw the state of his daughter he was sore troubled For by experience he sawe well and it appeared that Danae was with childe hée trusted and beléeued better the Phisitians then the excusations of the maydens and of his daughter And for to knowe the truth he sent all the maydens of the place into prison
BellorophoÌ„ and they held him for the most best accomplished knight that euer they sawe What shall I make long processe of this matter Perseus and Danaus searched this mountaine and went into the caues of the beastes but they found none And still sate Bellorophon vpon the rocke for he might not go for the hurt and brusing of his foote And then as the two Knightes had fetched a compasse and gon aboute the hill they returned to Bellorophon and then Perseus sayde to him My brother O how well art thou worthy to haue of me praysing and commentation thou hast this daye doone a good and holy worke by thy worthy behauiour thou hast gotten vnto thy name the crowne of glorious fame Thou hast passed the strayte way and passage of infortune from whence thou art issued cleare as the sunne And not onely thou haste laboured for thy weale and vtilitie but for the weale and proffit of this region For thou haste flayne the warders of the serpentes and the porters of the Lyons that kept this countrey inhabitable which shall from henceforward be inhabyted and occupied with people Bellorophon was all abashed when hée heard the glory that Perseus gaue vnto him by méekenes and humility that was in him And answered if there be anye worship in this worke that it shall turne as well vnto them as vnto him and they beganne to prayse each one another and they eate vpon this hil the same night after they had made sacrifice vnto their goddes And thither came all the Apulyens where they made great chéere Afterward they tooke all the skins of the Lyons and the heads of the serpentes that were dead in signe of victorie and laded them in theyr galies and they bare them with them into their galey with Bellorophon which might not go and finally they went vnto the sea and sayled and rowed toward the porte of Athames which was nigh by but when they thought to haue drawne vnto this porte sodainly there arose a tempest on the sea so great and hydeousâ— that they were constrayned to abandon them vnto the wind and passed foorth by the hauen and their fortune was such that they were brought into Sirie vpon the sea of Palestine And they came into the porte and hauen of Ioppe where reigned Amon and in Palestine reigned Cepheus and Phineus c. The same time that Perseus arriued there by meanes of this tempest the porte was full of men and women and children that it séemed that al the world had bin assembled Perseus came thither alone for his folke were dispersed vpon the sea some héere and some there in the galeis When the Siriens sawe him ariue by force of the winde they assembled in a great number about his flying horse And the king Amon séeing that it was loaden with the heads of lions he was sore abashed And for to know from whence was that galey come he enquired who was the maister At which inquisition answered Perseus and demaunded of the king curteously in what Countrey hée was arriued The King tolde him that hée was in Sirie and that the Realme appertayned to him When Perseus knewe that he spake to the king he sayde Syr I am descended vnto this porte by the disposition of fortune also my men be sore trauailed by the tempest of the sea that hath béene long troublous vnto them I require and pray thée that thou be content that I and they maye come a land héere for to refreshe vs. And if it happen in time comming that thou or any of thine haue â—éede of like courtesie in Naples which is the place of our dominion I promise thée by the promise and word of a noble man that the like merit thanke shal be reÌ„dred vnto thée The king answered noble knight there be so many spyes now adayes sayling by realmes and countreyes that a man may not well knowe to whome he maye aâ—â—y and trust This notwithstanding I see well by your behauiour that I trow that ye will not giue vs to vnderstand any other thing then truth I abandone to you all my countrey and pray you that ye will come and take pacience in my house and furthermore I councell you that ye depayte and come out of your shippe for if ye abide there long ye shall be in great perill For asmuch as we knowe certaynlye that into this porte will come anon a monster of the sea that shall deuoure a right fayre virgine and mayde which is héere by bounde vpon a stone for the cryme of her mother and by my sentence And if ye tarye héere till his coming it is to doubt that it shal be the worse for you Boccace in the genealogie of the goddes toucheth not otherwise the cause why this mayde was thus exposed to the monstre Wherefore I passe it ouer and who demaundeth the name of this mayde Boccace saythe that shée was named Andromeda When Perseus had vnderstoode that there was bounde this mayde he desired to see her for the meruailous iudgement that was giuen vpon her and arayed him with rich vestiments and cloathes and then issued out of the galey and tooke out also Bellerophon which might not yet help himself and after he went vnto Andromeda There were her parentes and cousins in great number which labored in sorow and great plentye of teares When Perseus sawe this mayde that was passing fayre in her degrée which neuer sawe her like or match he hadde pittie of her and sayde to himselfe that if hee might hée woulde delyuer her from this perill Then hée called her friendes and sayde vnto them in the presence of Amon I haue certainly great pittie and compassion of this so faire a damosel and also am amased how the goddes suffer and endure that she is so fortuned in her tender yeares If it so happened that she might haue any knight or noble man that would vnbinde her and for charitie expose his body against the monster for the loue of her should she be quite They aunswered yea Ah then said Perseus if I wold for her sake aduenture my selfe in this worke and if it so fortuned that I had the grace to ouercome and surmount the monster and for to put him to the foyle will ye be content that the mayde be my wife They aunswered yea yea And I promise you sayd Perseus and sweare that she hath found me a knight that shall put his body and life in ieopardye for her c. With this word Perseus sent to fetche his armes and after went to the Damosell and vnbound her from the stone and deliuered her to her friendes and kinsmen Saynt Augustine in the booke of the citie of God rehearseth that yet in the same porte is the stone that Andromeda was bounde vpon that they of Ioppe kept for a signe and memorye of the victorye that Perseus had of the monster All they that were there meruailed greatly at the enterprise of the knight and knowing the monster
they iudged him to be but dead alowing his hardines that to them séemed was too great One and other spake of this matter Perseus armed him ioyously When he was armed he came to Andromeda and kiss her taking leaue of her and sayd fayre mayde praye ye vnto the goddes for your champion that for your loue submitteth himselfe vnto the perill of death to the ende that by your onely meane I maye come vnto the enioying of loue and that we togither maye be ioyned in maryage which I buye at the price of my life Noble Knight aunswered the mayde I am more beholding to you then to all my kinsmen and fréendes Knowe ye that if my prayers may obtayne of the goddes ye shall returne safe from this enterpryse Then Perseus wente before the stone and Andromeda knéeled with great humilitie with both her knées vpon the earth in calling on her gods to help her champion and there were many matrones vpon the banke of the Sea that for compassion put them in contemplation and by this example of them all the Siriens beganne to pray for the prosperitie of the Knight excepting onely the king Phineus which prayed for his death And that for this cause for as much as before the iudgement giuen on Andromeda hée had fianced and betrothed him to her So had he wished that the monster had deuoured Perseus to the ende that the mariage of him and of her might haue béene ended What shall I say more When Perseus had so put himselfe foorth by the stone he looked towarde the sea and helde in his hande a good and passing strong sworde and he had not long behelde the situation and taken leasure to sée the place when there sprang out of a swalow or depth of the sea a monster so great and so horrible and so dreadfull that it séemed that he had béene made for to destroy all the worlde hee was rough and went on foure féete like a beast and his forme was so disfigured that none wist whereto he might be likened When then the Syriens sawe him put his head out of the déepe there was none so well assured but he trembled for feare And many were so afrayed that they fled into their houses and reentred into their Citie This notwithstanding Perseus as soone as he sawe him rise vp he came to him as hardie and right well assured and smote him with the poynt of his sworde so full vpon the right eye that on that side he made him blinde whereof the monster felt so great paine that he came out of the Sea with open mouth and thought to haue swallowed Perseus And Perseus went backe a little and put his sworde betwéene his iawes into his throate so farre foorth that he could not draw it out againe and so of force it abode in his throate more then foure foote At the second stroke the monster made a maruaslous crie lifting vp his head and wéening to haue cast out the péece of the sworde which abode in his throate but it would not bée Alwaye the monster assayled Perseus and wéend to haue swalowed him into his throate and Perseus alwaye stroke at him with his sword and put him at defence and smote alway at his throte and about nigh his other eye and so well intended the worke that after he had giuen him many woundes he made him blynde on the left eye like as hée did on the right eye And then as the monster went héere and there and made many walkes without séeing or knowing where he went pursuing his enemy Perseus gaue him manye woundes searching his heart and at the last he founde it And finallye he bestirred him so that he pearsed the heart with which stroke he made him to fall downe dead CHAP. XXXVI ¶ How Phineus would haue had Andromeda and how Perseus answered him that she should be his wife PAssing ioyous and astonied were the Syryens when they sawe the good fortun of Perseus and sayd one to an other that such a knight ought to be praysed aboue al other men The king Amon tooke great pleasure to sée his dealing séeing the monster labouring in his death hée went downe to him embracing him and said Sir the gods gouerne thy fortune and since they haue receyued thée in their fauour and grace there is none that may anoy thée in a good houre were thou héere arriued demaunde what thou wilt and I will cause thée to haue it Syr aunswered Perseus I haue preserued from death the Damosel I desire none other thing but her O valiant Knight sayde Phineus that was there awaighting thou doost much gloryfye thy selfe for thou hast gotten in a halfe day more honor then an other knight shal get in an hundred yeare And greatly thou oughtest to be commended But beware that the beautie of this mayd deceiue thée not know thou that I haue betrothed her and by right she ought to be my wife Many dayes bee gon and expyred since that in the presence of our bishop we promised to take each other in mariage This misfortune is after come to her thou haste reléeued her and wouldst therefore haue her The beginning is fayre but the ende is foule And if it so happe that thou do me wrong I let thée know that I will not suffer it for in this coūtrey I am a King haue great puissance al the glory that thou hast gotten shal be héere quenched Wherefore I praye thée that thou forbeare in this case and that thou suffer me to take that is mine and take thou that that belongeth to thée During these wordes Perseus looked towardes the Sea and saw from farre his galyes comming the one after the other directing them towarde this porte Whereof he hadde right great ioy and sayde vnto Phyneus King I make no doubt that thy power is great in this countrey but knowe thou right well that I knowe no man liuing that shall cause me to leaue that belongeth to me When I came hither I found this mayde condemned vnto death At that time shée was all abandoned to the death I haue saued her and I saye to thée that shée is mine and thou oughtest to haue no regard to any promise that she hath made to thée or to any other And so I haue intention that she shal be my wife And if thou wilt Combate and fight for her assemble thy power and make thée ready in thy battaile Lo héere come my galies readye for to receiue thée and although I haue not people ynough yet I haue in my cofers the most parte of the treasors of Medusa for to send for men of armes in al places where I may get them When Phineus considered this answer and knew that hée was the Knight that hadde vanquished Medusa whereof the renoume was greate and ran through out the whole worlde hée coulde none otherwise aunswere to Perseus but that hee might do his pleasure All the kinsmen of Andromeda were angrie with Phineus for his
follie and made him so ashamed that he departed thence and went into the Citie After they went to beholde the monster and then came sayling and rowing the Apuliens vnto the port and being come they brought Perseus and Andromeda into Ioppe with great triumph and yet that more is Perseus and Andromeda espoused each other that same day and lay togither And the solemnitie of theyr wedding endured fiftéene dayes During this time the Syriens came to the port dayly for to sée and behold this monster Plinius rehearseth that of this monster was borne to Rome a bone of fortie foote long so great as an Oliphant Let them then that read this hystorie search how great and huge this monster was when onely one of his bones was so great The Romanes for a great maruaile haue and kéepe that bone What shall I say more At the ende and expiration of this feast of the wedding of Perseus and Andromeda Perseus took leaue of the Syriens and furnished his Gallies with vittailes and departed from Ioppe and went to the sea leading with him his wife Andromeda And fortune was to him so good that in a little time he passed the seas of Syrie and came to lande at the port and hauen of Thebes Where he was receyued courteously of King Creon that then reigned a yong childe CHAP. XXXVII ¶ Howe Perseus reestablished in his Realme the king Acrisius and how he slue the King by euill aduenture IN Thebes there refreshed them these Apuliens and made alliance with the king after they departed from thence and tooke their way by land toward Argos vnder and by the conduct of Bellerephon that then was whole healed of his foote who knew wel the country When Bellerophon had guided them so nigh Argos that in an houre they might runne before the gates he signified it vnto Perseus and then Perseus made his host to tarrie in a Valley and sent Danaus vnto the King Pricus to summon him that hee should yéelde the Realme vnto the King Acrisius Danaus went to Argos and accomplished the summons The king Pricus answered to him that he was king and that he woulde holde that hée helde and menaced Perseus vnto the death if he departed not the Countrey hastily Danaus returned vnto the host of Perseus with this aunswere and made to him the report Perseus then hoped that king Pricus would come to him and giue him battaile and had thereof right great ioy and pleasure for hee desired nothing in the world more then to bée in armes and for to be the better able to withstand his fo he ordayned that night that he would depart his battaile in thrée whereof hee gaue charge of the first battaile to Bellerophon which require and desired of him the â—award with right great instance and he himselfe held the second battaile And to Danaus he betooke the third and thus when he began to set forth Bellerophon on his way he had not far gone when he saw from far the king Pricus that knew of theyr coming by his espyes and had set his battaile in good order BellerophoÌ„ had with him but two thousand fighting men When the king Pricus sawe him come with so little a company he supposed that it had bin Perseus and thought to haue had all woon before hand by aduantage and made his people to set against them by which within short space began a cruell and hard battaile And of this battaile was Pricus right ioyous at the assembly and well imployed his armes and his sword and did meruails but at that time he supposed by force to haue abidden victoryous and conqueror of his enimies he caste his eyes toward Thebes and sawe Perseus and his battaile that discouered and shewed himselfe wherein his fortune was such that in the beholding the head of Medusa which he bare painted in his sheelde of cristall he and all his folke in a momente were turned all into stones That is to saye that he and all his meanie hadde lost their strengthes and courages and that they might no more lifte theyr swordes then might the statues or images And that Prycus fled and all they that coulde fled some into the cittie and some into the fieldes at all aduenture Perseus daigned not to followe the chase because of theyr poore case And thus Prycus escaped the death and abandoned and gaue ouer the country and went with them that fled into Calidonie where he was afterward put to death by Hercules And Perseus went into the citie of Argos whereof the gates were open and without any men that made any defence When he was in the citie he made an edict charging vpon paine of death that none be so hardy to vse any force nor violence there After that he sente to séeke his grandfather Acrisius and told him who he was and so deliuered to him again his citie and his realme Of this curtesie Acrisius held himselfe greatly beholden vnto Perseus and asked him enquired of his daughter Danae and of theyr aduentures Perseus tolde him all that he knewe and then Acrisius was right sore displeasante at that hard vsage that he had doone and for to amende all hée adopted Perseus to his sonne and gaue him the full power to gouerne the citie and himselfe with drewe him into the towre of Dardane and then sent againe vnto Naples Dardanus his brother with whome went Bellerophon and hee gaue vnto them and to their companye great treasors at theyr departing Perseus sente manye Arigiens into Licie and made them to inhabite the countrey And thus abode Perseus in Argos with his wife Andromeda of whome hée gat many children That is to wéete Sthelenus Blache Demon Erictreus and Gorgophon which all became men and tooke wiues yet reigning the King Acrisius And among all other Gorgophon had one wife of whome hée hadde two sonnes Alceus and Electrion Alceus engendred Amphitrion and Electrion engendred Alcumena of whome came Hercules What shall I make long processe of the factes and of the generations of this Perseus He gouerned passing well the realme and loued much the King Acrisius But there fell an hard fortune vnto him in the ende for as he went on a night alone vnto the towre of Dardane to visit the king the garders and kéepers of the Tower knewe him not and fell vpon him and hurte him When he felte him smitten hée put himselfe to defence The noyse waxed great the king heard the noise he came running downe for to parte the fray thrusted into the prease in suche wise that Perseus knewe him not and with his sword hee so smote him that he slew him and all the people with him and anon after when he came in and founde him dead he remembred and thought he hadde put him to death after the prognostication of the goddes and made great sorrowe and did ordeyne his obsequie right solemnlye And at this obsequy happened for to be there Iupiter and his sonne Vulcan which at
they of Thebes had alwaye so good fortune that in the ende they of Thellipolye yéelded them in all poyntes to the will of king Creon and thus when the king of Thebes had ouercome and subdued the citie he returned vnto his countrey with great ioy c. When Amphitrion sawe that their enimies were ouercome and that there was no more perill he had great desire to go sée his wife Alcumena and for to hast him the more sooner to bee with her he departed from the hoste with leaue of the king accompanyed with an Esquire onely When king Iupiter sawe Amphitrion so departe vpon his waye he began to thinke and aduise him of a great subtilty for to come to his intent And he departed from the hoste with Ganimedes onely and as soone as hée was in the fielde on the waye they two being togither Iupiter entred into conference with Ganimedes and sayd to him Ganimedes I haue great affiance in you and more then in any man that liueth wherefore I will tell you priuily a thing secrete which I shall accomplish as I hope And ye must holde and kéepe it secret Truth it is that I am amorous terribly of dame Alcumena By no meane in the world I maye yet forget her nor put her from my desire She knoweth not the payne that for her loue aboundeth in me for I neuer was so hardie to discouer to her my case nor neuer durst shewe it to her for as much as I knowe her wise chaste and vertuous This considered thinking on this thing I féele and finde me full of troubles and confesse my follye for I am in a manner in dispayre nowe inasmuch as I had supposed to haue founde the like answere of loue in Alcumena But the sodaine departing of Amphitrion yet giueth me in a maner an hope for at the time that I sawe him departe from the hoste for to go sée his wife accompanyed with his Esquire I imagined that in all haste I would go vnto Arciancie by a more néere and shorter waye For I know the passage long since and that I would transfigure my selfe into the forme of Amphitrion and you into the forme of his Esquire for to go vnto Alcumena and to make her vnderstande that I were Amphitrion Ganimedes vpon this intention and purpose I am come on the way to go thither with you we must néedes win vpon Amphitrion this waye a night and daye and therefore lette vs go now merylye Mée thinketh that loue shall helpe me and when Alcumena shall sée me transformed into the shape of Amphitriō and you as his Esquire shée shal not be so wise to perceiue mine enchauntment Ganimedes hearkened right diligently to the wil and purpose of Iupiter and promised that he wold imploy him in this affaire as much as in him was possible and so they rode with good will and great desire the readiest way and in riding and going Iupiter went about his enchauntments and sped him so that he arriued in an euening at the Castell of Arciancie When he was there arriued he transfigured himselfe and Ganimedes in such wise as he had before purposed and then at the same houre that Alcumena slept and that each man was a bed they came to the Castell and so knocked at the gate that they awooke the porter The porter came to the windowe and looked downe beneath and sawe Iupiter and Ganimedes by the moon light him thought and séemed that it was Amphitrion and his esquire wherfore he opened the gate and receyued him in such wise as he would haue done his Lord Amphitrion After he brought him vnto the doore of the chamber wher Alcumena slept and awooke her saying that her lord was come After he returned to kéepe the gate by commaundement of Iupiter and Alcumena opened her Chamber vnto Iupiter which entered in with great ioy and at the entrie into this chamber Iupiter and Alcumena tooke each other in armes and kissed Alcumena thinking that it had béen Amphrition and when they were so beclipt eache in others armes Alcumena demaunded him from whence he came Iupiter answered and sayde he came from Thellepolys and that after the giuing ouer of the towne yéelding of their enemies he departed from the host for the loue of her accompanied onely with his esquier to come hastily to her Then Alcumena was wel content at the wordes of Iupiter and asked him if hee would eate or drinke Iupiter answered that he would nothing but go to bed with her What shall I say more hee lay with her and had that he desired the King Iupiter had neuer so great ioy in himselfe And going to bedward he had Ganimedes that he should go to the Chamber doore and abide there without And so Ganimedes departed from the Chamber and Iupiter approched to Alcumena with great loue and so cōplaised her in loue as much as his power might extend In this wise and by this fashion came Iupiter vnto the secrets and ioy of loue so that to acquaynt himselfe with this lady him séemed expedient for to enchant all them that dwell in the place And then he slept with Alcumena and after he arose and came to Ganimedes which kept the watch at the doore and tolde him that for to do this matter secretly he must enchant all them of that place in such wise that they should not awake vntill the comming of Amphitrion And he willed that he should go to the gate to waite if Amphitrion came And if it happen he said that he came by the day light I shall deliuer to you a powder that ye shall cast in the ayre agaynst him and this powder hath such vertue that it shall kéepe Amphitrion from approching this place as long as the day endureth And then when it is night and he knocke at the gate ye shall come to me and wee will open the gate and bring him to his wife and after that we will returne from hence The King Iupiter with these wordes wrought in his science and made his charmes and sorceries in such wise that all they that were in the place might not awake without a remedie agaynst his inchantment When hee had so done hee transformed Ganimedes into the likenesse of a Porter and appoynted him to kéepe the gate After hee returned into the Chamber of Alcumena and shut fast the windowes that no light might come in And after he went to bed and lay with the Ladie and awooke her and there spent all the residue of the night and all the day following taking his pleasure with her so long that he begate on her a right fayre sonne conceyued vnder the raigne of the best constellation of heauen In the ende when king Iupiter had béene with her a night and a day about the houre when the Sunne goeth downe into the West and that him séemed that Amphitrion should come he made by his science Alcumena for to sléepe After he rose vp and made himselfe in the form of
first at the most straight and nigh marks and after at the most long marks he that shooteth most straight and nigh at short marks shall winne a gloue of gold and he that is best at long marks shall haue a bow and a sheafe of arrowes At the seauenth he will cast a stone against all men and he that doth best thereat shall haue a right good diamond At the eight day and other folowing to the fiftéenth he will exercise armes and if any will prooue himselfe one alone against him he shal be receiued fore séene that during the first six daies he shall come and present himselfe vnto the iudges he that so doth best shall haue a rich sword And if it happen that they that shall come to this feast will tourney togither in maner of a battaile in iousting with launces or speares fighting with swords or baryers the iudges shall ordaine captains such as shall séeme conuenient who that best doth in this exercise or fight shal win a garlaÌ„d of lawrel All these things before written the said esquire vnknowen promiseth to accomplish and prayeth vnto all noble men Ladies and Gentlewomen that they will vouchsafe to come and sée this méeting of Nobles which shall be performed by the pleasure of the immortall gods who wil giue to the acceptors of this worthie chalenge multipliance of honour and encreasing of good fortune c. When Hercules had written this proclamation and engrossed it he sent it to Euristeus who read it and him séemed that the inuention of the authour and maker was good and right worthy to bee put in memory and called one of his knights and gaue him the charge and office to go publish this proclamation in the courts of all the kings of Greece The knight enterprised with right good heart to doe the said office and this was the first officer of arms that euer was He went to Athens Thebes Argos Lacedemonia Archadia Perelye Magnesie Crete Ephese Pepos Tripoly and Thessaly and all about hee published the proclamation without declaring who hee was that should kéepe the exercise They that heard speake of the squire vnknowne and vnderstoode his high enterprise iudged him that this came of a noble courage and that hee might not fayle to gette honour and fame The knight for to finish this voyage hadde foure Monethes tearme for to accomplish it During this time Hercules disposed him for to furnish his prouision for the excercises and so did the kings and noble men for to come thither What shall I make long processe When the euen before the first day of the exercise was come the King Euristeus brought Hercules vppon the mount Olympus and from all parts came thither so many Noble men Ladyes and Gentlewomen that the number might not bee estéemed the Mount was full on all sides All this night there was great adoo and noyse of one and other for to make their tents and lodges of bowes leaues and to pitch their pauilions And it ought not to be forgotten when the euen was come how the knight that had published the challenge assembled in a common tent all the knights that were come thither and required them in the name and on the behalf of the Esquire vnknowne that they would choose among them such as should be iudges and giue the prise When the kings that were there heard and vnderstood the request of the noble Esquire they thanked him and they choose thrée kings to be their iudges that is to wéete the king of Thebes called Creon the king of Argos named Gorgophon and the king of Myrmidon named Eson which was father of Iason They were wise and discréete they enterprised the office with a good will And that night they passed ouer with great ioy for they assembled in a tent which was made for to daunce in and the kings with the knights yong and old went togither and thus beganne the feast which endured till midnight in daunses and songs The king Iupiter and Amphitrion were not at this assembly by the counsel of king Euristeus which let him haue knowledge secretly that Hercules was he that should holde and kéepe this sport or exercise for to eschew all words and languages that might grow or arise vp by cause of the natiuitie of Hercules for Amphitrion on the one side beléeued not that he was his sonne and Iupiter on the other side said that he appertained not to him He sent them word therefore that they could do no better then not for to come to this solemnitie which was a most speciall thing and the most strange that euer was spoken of before that time The first day of May at the houre what time the sunne cast his heate vpon the earth Hercules did cause to sownde a trumpet for to make the Ladies to go vp into the scaffolds and places appointed and anon after they being mounted and set Hercules leapt out of the tent apparelled to wrastle and came into the middes of the place or field making reuerence vnto the iudges kings and to the ladies He was then xiiii yeare old full accomplished Anon as he had done the reuerence the knight that was officer of armes made a crie and said High excellent iuâ—ges we let you haue knowledge with all kings knights and gentlemen of armes Ladies and Gentlewomen that héere is the Squire vnknowne readie present in his person vppon the mount Olympus and offereth himselfe to fulfill the contents of his challenge by order and after the maner that the particulars thereof make mention Wherefore if there be any man that will proue and assaie him at wrastling let him come and he shall be receiued Theseus of Athens at the end of this proclamation and at the commandement of king Egeus his father entred then into the field he was a passing faire child and a gentle at his comming he saluted Hercules and said to him Maister of all bodily exercises I am come hither not of presumption but for to learne those things that I haue néede of and therefore I recommend mee vnto your grace My Brother Theseus answered Hercules I may more learne of you then you of me wherefore lette vs indeuour to winne the prise it must be begunne by some bodie These words accomplished the two noble Esquires approched and seised each other Theseus employed his puissance and Hercules suffered him to doo as much as hée would or could without shewing and putting out his force and might againe to him And so they shooke and lugged each other but in the ende Hercules cast Theseus the most softly and fauourably that he could Wherat the laughter was great among the ladyes and gentlewomen Theseus then departed from the place and went among the ladyes and Gentlewomen praying them that they would take it in good part that he had done Then came vnto the place many yong squires of whom I know not the names and they indeuored and trauelled all that they might for
his armes and after long wrastling he cast him to the earth in such wise that Philotes yéelded him seruaunte vnto Hercules and promysed him to serue him trulye all the residue of his lyfe and that he would beare his armes after him in all places where he should go Hercules receyued to mercy Philotes And then called Theseus and his companye who came and were right glad and ioyous of the victorye that he had obtained Then Hercules Philotes and all the other wente into the yle where they founde the daughters of Athlas greatlye discomforted for the death of the giant And for as much as Hercules hadde also conquered Philotes their kéeper Hercules and Philotes comforted the daughters the best wise they coulde and there the Greekes refreshed themselues the space of three dayes The fourth daye he tooke xxx rammes and xxx ewes and brought them into their ship after that they went to the sea without any harme doing in the I le for the loue of the gentle women they departed thence and went to the sea accompanyed with Philotes which was conquered by Hercules as is sayd and after loued Hercules well and truly serued him euer after But of theyr iourneys I will ceasse for this time and will speake of a monster of the sea that the goddes sent to Troy for to deuoure the faire Exione daughter to king Laomedon CHAP. XLI ¶ How Hercules fought at the Porte of Troy against a monster of the sea for the daughter of king Laomedon IN that time as Boccace rehearseth in his genealogie of goodes in the third chapter of the sixt booke Laomedon the King of Troy was busie to wall and fortifie his cittie with walles and towers to the end to make it more strong He was not well furnished with treasures nor with money For to accomplishe his desire he went vnto the temple of the gods of the sunne and of the sea that were passing rich and tooke all the money that he could find promising to pay it againe all at a certayne day and time set By the meane of this money he closed and fortified the citie of Troye with walles and towers The worke was costlye howbeit in litle time he finished it and it was not long after that the worke was finished but the day came in which Laomedon should paye and render vnto the temples of the gods the money that he had taken and borowed At which day the préestes of the temples came vnto Laomedon and demaunded him if he would tender the oblations and offrings that he had taken out of the temple Laomedon daigned not to speake to the préestes but sent them word shamefully that they should returne and kéepe their temples Wherefore he was afterward sore punished for in the same night after that he would not heare the priestes the great windes began to ryse and beate the one against the other and caused the sea to rise in such wise that it entred and went into the towne so far that it helde the stréetes full of water and drowned a great part of the towne Besides this in eight dayes following the sunne shone so ardently and gaue so great heate that the people durst not go into the ayre by day time and that dried the superfluity of the aboūdance of the water of the sea that was left whereof rose a corrupt and a mortal vapour that infected all the citie Whereof engendred so great a pestilence that the most parte of the Troyans were smitten to death by the great influence of the corrupt ayre By this pestilence they of Troy fell in great desolation the Cittizens men and women young and olde dyed without speaking sodainlye The father could not nor might not helpe his childe in necessitie nor the childe the father At this time reigned in Troy neither loue nor charitie for each man that might saue himselfe fled awaye for feare of this mortalitye and gaue ouer and left the Cittie and went to dwell in the fieldes and among all other the king Laomedon séeing the destruction of his realme went into the I le of Delphos vnto the temple of the god Apollo for to haue the councell of the god touching the health of his Cittie With Laomedon went the most noble and the most puissant men of Troye when they were come into the temple they put them in contemplation and deuotion before the idol and the diuell that was therein aunswered them and sayd The money which was taken out of the temples and not rendred and payde againe is cause of the maladie and vengeaunce of Troye And I doo all the Troians to wit that neuer shall Troye be quit of this maladye vnto the time that the sayd citie prouide to appease the gods in this wise that it is to wit that euerye moneth they must choose one of the virgins and maydens which must bée set on the sea side for to be deuoured by a monster that the gods shall sende thither and the sayde virgin shal be chosen by lot or aduenture And in this wise must the cittie do for to appease the goddes perpetually vntill the time that they finde one man that by his armes and by his might shall ouercome the said monster After these wordes and answeres Laomedon and the Troyans assembled to counsell vpon this matter and concluded that for the common weale and health of Troy they would put their virgins in that ieopardie and aduenture to the spoyling of the monster without any exception or reseruing Then they returned vnto Troy and tooke their virgins and cast lots among them and on her that the lot fell shée was taken and brought to the sea side and anon after was séene to come out of the déepes or swallow of the sea so great a tempest that the sea rose and was troubled The sea wrought and a right great floud of water lifted vp the monster by times out of the sea hee was as great as a whale or a hulk and then he tooke the virgin and swalowed her in and went away againe into the sea and from thence forth the pestilence ceased Thus was Troy deliuered from their sicknes and maladie by the oblation of their virgins that were offered vnto the monster from moneth to moneth and thus as is said their virgins were deliuered It hapned in the end of the moneth that the sorte or lot fell on one of the daughters of king Laomedon named Exiona this daughter was yong and faire and well beloued of all people When this lot was fallen on her shée was not onely bewailed and sorrowed of king Laomedon her father and of his son Pryamus and her sister Antigona and of her cofins and allyes but of al the people men women and children notwithstanding their wéepings nor the good renoume of her could not saue her shee was put to the disposing of the monster The noble virgin was ready to obey the king Laomedon and brought héereupon to the sea side accompanied with nobles ladies and
gentle women with a great traine of Troyans citizens and marchants all which made sorrow for her What shall I say at the instant that she was thus brought thither Hercules at aduenture arriued at the port of Troy with his muttons and hée willing to refresh him there made to cast his ancres out and going out and taking land he beheld on the one side and saw the Troians wéeping and bewailing Exiona in casting abroad their armes and wringing their hands that he had pitie to see it And he desiring to know what them ailed put himselfe into the prease and sawe there where they bound the faire Exiona in the rout attired with royall attire all discoloured and ful of teares as shée that expected nothing but the death Hercules mooued with compassion to the damosell adressed his language vnto king Laomedon for as much as it séemed that aboue all them that were in the place hee was a man of authoritie and demanded him wherefore that the damosel was there bound Laomedon cast his eies al be wept on him and was all abashed to sée his greatnesse and his beautie neuerthelesse he answered him what art thou that art so hardie to demand me of my misfortune which is to all common in Troy Sir said Hercules I am a stranger and I loue the worship and honour of Ladies and there is no thing that I might do for them but I would do it vnto my power and for as much as I sée this Gentlewoman thus intreated in the fauour of all Ladies I haue asked of you the cause and I will know it or put my selfe in aduenture for to die with her And therefore I demand yet again what trespasse or sinne hath shee done that these men thus binde her My sonne answered Laomedon I sée well that ye hée ignorant and know not the reasons and the cause wherefore my daughter is here abandoned there is no man but he may wel know it for she shall die for the safetie and health of Troy and I will tell you how we be come thereto The gods of the sea and of the sunne haue plagued and greeued Troy with a right great pestilence that tooke his beginning with a superaboundance of the sea whereby the stréetes of Troy were full in euerie place of water After this deluge and flood the time was maruailously and outragiously hote by the great heate of the sunne whereby this sea was dried vp Of this drinesse or drouth engendred a vapor infected and of this vapour insued a pestilence And for to resist this pestilence I haue béen at the oracle of the god Apollo where I haue had answer for to appease the gods and to cease the pestilence the goddes of the sunne and of the sea will that from moneth to moneth be taken in Troy one of the virgins by sorte or lottte for to be exposed and offred in this place vnto a monster of the sea The Troyans were content to fulfil the will of the goddes and I with them We haue cast our lottes vpon our virgins whereof many be swalowed and deuoured by the monster and now the sort or lotte is fallen on my daughter will she or not she must needes obey and appease the goodes After her shall come an other there is no remedy and this shal endure vpon the virgins of Troy perpetually for it is the desteny that Troye shall neuer be quite of this right hard seruitude and thraldom vntill the time that they haue found a man that alone shall vanquish and ouercome the foresaide monster by his puissance and prowesse which will be impossible for because that it is true that all the men of the greatest cittie of the world can not finde any way to vanquish him he is so great and dreadfull And these things considered demaund me no more my daughter shall dye for the common weale of the place of her natiuitie She was borne in a good houre when the goddes will that by lotte and this fortune she be to them offred Syr answered Hercules trulye I thinke vnder heauen is no citie so bond and thrall as yours is howbeit it ought to be vnderstoode that the goddes will not suffer that this malediction shal holde and endure continually Ye must liue in hope If fortune and the goddes will do me that grace that I might vanquishe and ouercome the monster and make Troye frée from this seruitude what reward would ye giue me Trulye sayde Laomedon I thinke not that it be possible that ye should vanquishe the monster Who is he that will expose him to so great a follye Hercules answered vnto a valiant hearte is nothing impossible If I tryumphe vpon the monster and saue thy daughter what reward shall I haue Laomedon answered If thou mayst do that thou sayest I haue two horses the best that be in all the world which I loue as well as halfe my realme I will giue them to thée as to the best knight of knightes and as to the most hardiest of hardye Sir sayde Hercules it is enough to me and it suffiseth mée to haue the two horses Let me alone with your daughter I haue a trust and hope that this daye I shall labour for the weale of Troy and that I shall fraunchise and make free the virgins and maidens of this citie But I pray you if there be in your citie any great barre of yron or of metal that ye wil send for to fetch it to me for to defend me with all The King Laomedon and the Troyans were all abashed when they sawe the enterprise that Hercules had made and at the wordes of Hercules the King remembred him of a great club of yron that laye at the entrie of his pallace of Ilion that was so heauie that the strongest man of Troye had enough to doo to lay it on his shoulder He sente for it and presented it to Hercules and Hercules lifted it vp as it had béene a little glayue Philotes and Theseus were present at all these things Hercules tooke leaue of them and at the prease and recommended him vnto theyr prayers and foorth with all the Sea began to rore terribly Laomedon and the Ladyes and they that were there tooke leaue of Exione and of Hercules and recommended them vnto the mercye of the goddes and went vpon the downes for to sée the ende Thus abode Exione alone and all dispayred vpon the grauell with Hercules who knéeled downe on his knées vpon the grauell turning his face vnto the East and made his prayers vnto the God that made the monsters and terrible beastes requyring him that he would giue him force strength and vertue of power for to deliuer Exione from her misfortune of the monster This oryson accomplished Hercules entred into a little boate that Exione was in and anon after the Sea roring more and more grewe and arose in such wise that the boate floted and was lifted vp and borne by diuers waues After this in great troubling of
or maintaine the contrarie which offer Laomedon would not receiue Then Hercules required him that at the least he would deliuer him his horses that he had promised him for the victory of the monster Laomedon answered him that he would deliuer him none Wherefore said Hercules Laomedon answered for as much as it is my will and pleasure so to doo Ha false and vntrue king said Hercules thou withholdest mee the prise and reward of my labour and thou yéeldest me euill for good I sweare to thée by the puissance of all my gods that as I haue deliuered Troy perpetually by my club from the monster of the sea and consequently from the sword of pestilence in like sort and euen so by the same clubbe I will yéeld and render vnto Troy the pestilence or death and warre if the goddes giue mée the grace and I haue intention for to make the Troyans say that they were happie that died in the time of the pestilence that is past Hercules full of great ire departed with these words and left there the king Laomedon that set little store by that he had said to him for he trusted and put all his affiance in the strength of the walles of his Citie and hee thought that no man might anoy nor gréeue him And then Hercules went againe to his shippe and mounted on the sea with his club and his shéepe and with his fellow Theseus Philotes held himselfe well happie for to haue béene vanquished of one so valiant a man as Hercules was and he tooke on him the office for to beare his harnesse in all places where he went What shall I say from Troy vnto Thebes fell nothing worthie to be put in memorie that is of record In the ende he arriued in Greece and knew by some certain man there that the king Euristeus was in Thebes whereof hee had great ioy for he thought he saw the ladie Megara which hée deesired to sée by great desire He went then vnto Thebes where he was solemnly receiued of the king Creon which had him in great good account for his valiance One and other came and welcomed him he sent his shéepe and muttons vnto the king Euristeus by Philotes Philotes himselfe told and recounted how Hercules had conquered them and him also and how hée had slaine his giant at the passage Of these tidings was the king Euristeus passing ioyous and so were all they that were there or heard speake of it Euerie man glorified Hercules Ladyes and Gentlewomen came and welcomed him Among all other Megara fayled not shee came to Hercules and welcomed him and well became her to welcome and make him chéere For shée was wise and of good manners and certes her comming gaue more solace vnto Hercules then all the louings and praysings that were then giuen vnto him albeit that all the world praysed and exalted him for this voyage aboue all the Greekes And the shéepe were so desired that kings bought them for the weight of gold wherefore the Historiographers and Poets put this conquest in perpetuall memorie writing among his déedes in this wise Substulit mala aurea that is as much to say that hee bare away the muttons of gold for as much as they were estéemed at prise of the weight of gold For Mala in Gréeke is as much to say as shéepe in English or muttons in French and so recounteth Boccace in his genealogie of gods and so approueth Varro which writeth likewise in his Booke de Agricultura By this conquest the name of Hercules beganne to flie in heigth and excellencie The Poets haue fained vpon this Historie that the daughter of Athlas had a garden kept night and day by a serpent waking wherein grew Apples of gold and that Hercules slewe this serpent and gathered and bare away the Apples By this garden is vnderstood the Ile by the serpent waking the subtill giant commised to kéepe it that alway awooke at the passage And by the apples of gold be vnderstood the shéepe estéemed to the valour of the weight of fine gold After then this presentation made to Euristeus of the shéepe or muttons as each man maruailed of the prowesse of Hercules Philotes added and gaue to his ouercomer Hercules prayses vpon prayses and lauds vpon lauds and honour vpon honour For hearing kings and princes ladies and gentlewomen and seeing that Hercules held his peace at things whereof he might haue embraced honour and worship he declared from point to poynt his aduenture not credible of the monster of Troy and shewed the club wherewith he had put him to death but after that hee rehearsed the honour and grace that he had gotten in Troy and the wrong that Laomedon had done to him he said so much thereof that they enterprised all to go to warre vppon the king Laomedon for to take vengeance of the wrong that he had done to Hercules CHAP. XLIII ¶ How Hercules had battaile against the king Laomedon and how he vanquished and destroyed Troy the first time IT is not possible that my pen can write the grace and excellent renoume that Hercules gat in Greece at his coming from Troy The kings and the princes reputed themselues happie and fortunate for to haue their reigne in his time Amphitriō his father putatiue began to haue him in grace and came into Thebes to him His mother Alcumena came also and certes she fayled not to haue aboundance of ioy when she might set her eyes to sée her sonne which was so greatly renowmed The noble Lady had not séene him in long time before she sawe him tryumphe in honour in valiaunce and in prowesse annoyes griefs and displeasures that she had for him because that he was named the sonne of Iupiter whereof she helde her selfe innocent were then all forgotten and putte in oblyuion The feaste was great in Thebes for the loue of Hercules men spake not of any thing but of him and of his prowesse Creon Euristeus Egeus Amphitrion and many other assembled them togither and made theyr musters and assemblies for to go vnto Troy By space of time theyr army was ready and then they tooke their leaue and Hercules was made captaine of this armie He went to the sea accompanyed with the kings aboue said and ten thousand men all chosen for the nonce At the time conuenient the mariners disancred and went to sayle They sayled so long by theyr course without stay or letting that yet during theyr victualles they came on a daye into Frigie vnto a porte of a Cittie named Laryse being nigh to Tenadon This cittie was of the demeane of Troy for which cause the Greekes assayled it and tooke it by force of armes and after that ryfled it and tooke all that was therein And when they had spoyled it they wente to Tenadon which was a gentlemanly Cittye they assayled it and tooke it as they did the citie of Larise and they put therein the fire and burned it so that the ayre was
enflamed in such wise that it was séene in Troy how the Citie burned The assault of Tenadon dured not long for asmuch as the Troyans were not aduertised of their coming When they sawe the ayre so enflamed for to sée from what place the flame came they mounted and went vppon the high towres and buildings of Ilion and looking toward Tenadon sawe that the Cittie was all on a fire whereat they that sawe it were right sorye and greatlye abashed About this they looked into the sea and espyed then there the flote of the Greekes whereof they were more abashed then they were before And then without any longer tarying they descended and went down into the hall of King Laomedon and sayd to him Alas Syr what is best to bee doone the Greekes come vpon vs with aright great flote we haue seene them and know them The strong Hercules menaceth you for to destroy your cittie Certes I beléeue it is he For now for the beginning of the feast he hath burnt Tenadon and that is it that causeth the ayre to be full of fire The King Laomedon hearing this tyding began to sighe and tast of the euill and trespasse that hée had committed and doone against Hercules This notwithstanding for to giue courage vnto his men and to his sonne Pryamus that was at that time of the age of xx yeare he did cause to sound to Armes and made him ready and with his armes shewed a right fierce and hardy semblance This doone he armed Pryamus his sonne that neuer had bin in battaile before and dubbed him knight after hée tooke him by the hande and issued out of Ilion In issuing out he mette manye Troyans that tolde him that at his port were landed many Greekes that had destroyd Tenadon and vnlesse hée halted him they woulde soone take lande Laomedon with out speaking any worde passed foorth by them that had brought him these tidings and came to a place that was there by Ilion where he found mo then twentie thousand Troyans ready armed And séeing them he began to ioy in himselfe and called the principals sayd to them Lords ye be renowned in all the world by the high prowesse of your auncestours Before that Troy was walled they defended it with the sworde agaynst their enemies the renowmed king Iupiter of Crete could not get this Citie nor the Thessalonians by their warre might neuer subdue this Citie It is nowe happened this day that a new assemblie of enemies come vpon this Citie and as men say they haue put the fire in Tenadon let vs go receiue them couragiously and let vs make of them like as our fathers haue made with other c. When the Troyans had heard these wordes of theyr King they answered all that they would liue and die with him for the weale of the Citie and that they had intention to kéepe his honour and for to make growe their auncient glorie Without holding of long processe the King Laomedon did then display all his banners After he issued out of Troy setting and trayning his men in good order And then as he began to conduct and lead them foorth sodainly hée heard at the port a passing great noyse and bruite of Trumpettes Clarions and Tabours of the Greekes Then his bloud began to chafe then his haire of his heade began to stande vppe hée knewe that they were his enemyes and as soone as they knewe the Greekes without holding of any order nor measure they dislodged them and began to runne to the port one before an other When they approched the port they espyed the Greekes that landed with great forces Then they chalenged them vnto the death and ran vpon them sharpely The Greekes were furnished with good armours and put them to defence and began to skirmish the one with the other so vnmeasurably that in the aboording and méeting there were many dead and hurt Hercules was there among the Greekes He began to fight sharpely among the Troyans and had his club Certes he welcommed them in such wise that the most strongest of his enemies durst not abide him he fought fiercely in desire of reuengement in coueting of worship and to get him a name Lifting vp his hand he shewed to the Troyans his club and made them to féel the weight therof the strength of his arme and he labored so earnestly and did so valiantly that they that saw him doubted him more then death and sayd the one vnto the other behold Hercules but come not néere him It were folly so to do all that he reacheth he sleaeth and breaketh to péeces We do euill to fight against him this is the deliuerer from the terrible seruage and thraldom of Troy how should we resist his club whē the huge dreadfull monsters be by the same put to the foile c. Such were the words of the Troyans Hercules fought agaynst them fiercely he was stout and stable he went before all the Greekes followed him and tooke a pleasure to behold him The cry was great about him What shall I say he fought vntill the night and neuer ceased vntill the going downe of the Sunne and then the Troyans sounded the retrait and they departed both parties Laomedon put his sword into his sheath which was all bloody with Greekes blood and in likewise did Priamus his son They reentred into their Citie after the skirmish they concluded that on the morrow they would furnish their enemies with battell And the Greeks furnished them in the champaine and made good cheare for they had lost but litle of their people at their comming on land This night passed ouer when the day appeared to the Troyans and the Greekes each in his maner made him ready to the battell many of the Troyans would gladly haue broken this battell and prayed vnto king Laomedon that he would render and deliuer to Hercules the horses that he ought to him Laomedon would not do it but aunswered that he doubted nothing his enemies He had then about fifty thousand of fighting men all readie of these fiftie thousand he made two battailes one of twentie thousand and that he led himselfe and the other of thirtie thousand of which hée made Priamus captaine This done he issued out of Troy with twentie thousand fighting men and came vnto the fields entring vpon the Greekes c. When the Greekes espied king Laomedon comming they were full of ioy as they that were readie for to receyue them at the point of their speares and with hewing of their swords They had made of their host foure battailes In the first was Hercules And in the second was Amphitrion and Theseus And in the third was the king Creon and in the fourth was Euristeus Hercules then that had the first battaile marched when it was time agaynst the King Laomedon and he had foure auncient knights well appoynted in the feates of Armes that set and conducted his folke in array and order They marched so nigh the one
hated him and beheld the Battel from far by very great routs When Hercules had then laboured so much that he found no man to fight with him he set down his Club and addressed him unto a great company of Aegyptians that stood there and assured them he would do nothing unto them and asked what people they were that had assailed him They answered him knéeling on their knees they were Man-slayers Hang-men and people of vicious and evil life that their King which he had first beaten down was the worst of them all and had purposed to put him to death as a stranger to make Sacrifice unto the Gods And they prayed him to Sacrifice their said King Hercules granting their petition accorded it unto the people and took this cursed Tyrant Busire and bore him upon his shoulders unto the Temple which the Aegyptians shewed him The false Tyrant cryed after help terribly but his cry availed him not The Aegyptians cryed unto Hercules sacrifice sacrifice him When Hercules came into the Temple he sacrificed him after he had shewed him his cursed and evil life And then when the fire was put unto the Sacrifice it began to rain and the great drought began to fail Whereof the Aegyptians were so joyful that none could expresse They did sing praises unto Hercules and brought him and Philotes unto the Palace and constituted Hercules King over them but he refused and ordained Iudges to govern them Then he returned unto Quéen Juno who had great sorrow and to King Creon who had great joy at the rehearsal of his good Fortune CHAP. III. ¶ How Hercules espoused Megara and how he was made knight in Thebes IN like wise as the young Vine by the labour and industry of the labourer groweth in height and his boughes spred abroade full of fruit so Hercules by vertue labouring vertuously grewe in verdure of well dooing and in fruite of noblenesse his workes his boughes his braunches then beganne to sproute abroad and to mount and spread from Realme to Realme The secrete conspiracies of Iuno and her cursed enuyes might not hurt nor minish the vertue of Hercules The more that shee thought to put downe and hurt him she more she was cause of his exaltation As hée was puissant and strong of bodie he was yet more strong of vertue for vertue was set in him as the precious stone is in golde and as the swéete smell as in the flower and as the ray of the Sunne beame is in the Sunne hée was beloued of Kings of Princes of Ladyes of Gentlewomen of Nobles and of base folke in especially Megara the daughter of King Creon loued him And verily shée was not deceyued for Hercules loued her also and was neuer hurt but he thought on her Yet they durst none of them speake to other of this matter they were ashamed to discouer that whereby they had hope to haue honour and worship They behelde each other and oft they bewayled and complained to themselues and desired the day that they might take each other in marriage And so much they wished after that day that at the last it came For on a morning tide as Hercules was gone vnto the wood for to take a wilde beast he remembred him of his Ladie and beganne to speake and say to himselfe softly Shall I be alway in paine Shall mine heart neuer be eased but alway languishing in loue I sée one and other in great ioy with their loues and ladies and I wote neuer how to come to the point of one onely that I haue chosen aboue all other and for to atchieue my purpose I wot not how to beginne I dare not speake to her nor I haue not assayed if shée would condiscende Shall I speake to her I wote not wel If I speake to her and she refuse me I shall fall in despaire I shall die for sorrow of melancholie and displeasure I shall neuer dare come after in any noble assembly a foote Alas what paine all considered a time must come that I speake to her If all her friendes were of one accord for to giue her to me in marriage and she were not content and pleased all were lost The most ieopardie is to haue her good will and grace for without her grace I may nought do Then it is of necessitie that I séeke and require if I may haue her good wil since it is so for if I sléepe thus and speake not I shall neuer atchieue nor come to my purpose Hercules resolute in his purpose surprised and enflamed with great desire of loue came from the wood and abandoned the wilde beast and gaue it ouer for to come vnto Megara thinking how and by what words he might come and shew vnto her that which lay on his heart He went then so farre that he came vnto the garden of the pallace where he was with many ladies and gentle women He made to them reuerence vntill he espied the time that he might speake to Megara and he waxed so pensife that it is maruaile hee entermitted nothing to conferre with the Ladies but therewith he drewe him apart into the garden When the Ladies beheld him so pensife diuers of them came to him and talked with him to put him from his thoughts and pensifenesse but they could not and at last Megara came to him As soone as Hercules sawe her come to him he beganne to sigh and came against her And she said to him Hercules why are ye so pensiue put away from you such melancholie tel me of your newes I pray you Ladie aunswered Hercules I thanke you of your good visitation and since it pleaseth you to heare of my tydings and to knowe them I will say to you a part First I tell you that the cause that I am brought and put in the abisme or swallowe of pensiuenesse and sighes that is this day come vnto me is by beholding of you for as I went to the wood to hunt the remembrance of your right noble beautie continually being in mine imagination came into me and made me enter into a secret perplexitie that is to wit whether I should alway liue vnguerdoned and vnrewarded of loue and also if I durst say so to you I haue set my heart and loue wholy on you Madame this perplexitie was great but in the end I concluded to come vnto you for to know the conclusion of my fortune whether it be death or life Being in this deliberation thinking how I might spéed with you and staying in this point and doubtfulnesse your comming hath put me out of a right great thought and pensiuenesse for I wist not better howe to come to the poynt for to speake to you a part as I may now doo then for to apply the matter in time for I say to you for truth that since the tyme of my Olympiade I haue desyred you night and day and at that tyme I set my heart on your seruice resoluing to loue you for euer
Of this euill aduenture Thebes was right hastily aduertised Megara was gone vp vpon one of the high towers of the pallace and sawe and beheld the battaile and from that place she saw them of Thebes slaine without remedie and also turne their backs The sight of the beating downe of the king her father and the view of the slaughter of other made her to crie out and said Fortune Fortune what mischiefe is héere where is Hercules Alas where hast thou brought him Alas that he is not héere to defend the countrey of his natiuitie and for to kéepe his wife farre from annoy and for to put his hand and shoulders for to beare the great acts and deedes of this battaile When shee had saide this she fell in a swoune and so lay a great while Neuerthelesse the king Andromeda and Lincus followed so hastily them of Thebes that they entred the Citie with them And for as much as the Thebans were without head and put out of aray and that Amphitrion had so many wounds vpon him that all the members failed at this worke the vnhappie Lincus and Andromeda tooke the Citie and flewe all them that might beare armes except Amphitrion whome they found not in the heate After they went vp into the pallace and there they found Megara and Amphitrion in great desolation with many ladies and gentlewomen As soone then as Lincus had espied Megara she was so faire and pleasant that he became amorous of her and came to her and sayd Ladie wéepe no more Hercules the bastard sonne of Iupiter is gone into hell and there he is dead Ye haue béene wife of a man gotten in adulterie from henceforth ye shall be fellow and wife of a man legitimate and borne in lawfull mariage for I will wed you and will do you more good and pleasure then euer yee had Megara answered false traytour wéenest thou that I be so foolish as to giue fayth and credite to the words of the homicide of my father and to the enemie of my lord Hercules Knowe thou that I am his wife and that I will neuer haue other husband but him he is no bastard but sonne of my Lorde Amphitrion and the most noble man that is in all the world Ladie aunswered Lincus I am king of this Citie ye be now at my commaundement will ye or will ye not I shall do my will with you but I will put it in respite and in my sufferance till to morrowe After these wordes Lincus sent Megara into a Tower and made her to bée kept there After he sent Philotes into a lowe prison and finding there in bondage and miserie Priamus the sonne of king Laomedon he had pitie of him and sent him againe to Troy where hée was after receyued with great ioy of the Troyans c. CHAP. VIII ¶ How Hercules entered into Thebes in vnknowne habite and how he put to death the Giant Lincus and his complices and his wife Megara c. BY the sword of Lincus then and of Andromeda Thebes was troubled dolorously Lincus exercised there many tyrannies and wickednesses In this misfortune Andromeda departed and went to do his businesse leauing there Lincus with foure hundred men of warre for to kéepe the citie and to hold it in his obeysance Thus was taken vengeance of the Centaures In the time of this reuenge the Quéene Iuno came into Thebes and had great ioy when shee found it in desolation and full of widowes and orphelins and in the enemyes handes of Hercules then were great the teares and lamentations of Megara Amphitrion was nigh her who vnderstoode all her gréefes and comforted her Lincus came many tymes vnto her into the prison and requested her swéetly to haue her loue and that in the fayrest maner he could Yet his swéete and fayre wordes auayled not for hée found her constant and firme and alway kéeping inviolable her chastitie and gaue him many vertuous aunsweres whereof foloweth one which was the last and this Lincus thou hast now thy hand strong and hast conquered Thebes Fortune and ill hap hath giuen vnto thée the tyranny whereby thou hast enriched thy selfe with vices Thou hast furthermore the power for to commit on mée murther but thy power nor thy sinnes be not so strong nor of such might for to make my vertue to bow in two folde Megara alway bewailed Hercules she lamented so much on a day that shee became all rauished and in a traunce And that same day Hercules that was departed from Thessalonica a good while before made so his iourneys that hée entred into the realme of Thebes accompanied with many noble men And entring into these coasts hée found the countrey all destroyed And he had not gone farre when it was tolde him how Lincus was Lord of Thebes and how he had slaine in battaile the king Creon and had imprisoned Megara c. When Hercules had receyued these tydings he was replenished with great anger and sayd that he would auenge him if he might Then he clad him aboue his armors with a mantle and disguised himselfe as much as he might when he had so done he left there his fellowes and entred himselfe into Thebes vnknowne and passed through the gate and bare him so well that the Porters let him passe foorth and in likewise entred into the Pallace At the entry of the Pallace a souldiour came to Hercules and demaunded of him what he sought there Hercules cast away his mantel a farre and took his sword that was strong and without any worde hee gaue so great a stroke to the souldiour that was not armed that he cleft his head from the highest part downe to the ground Many other souldiours that were there séeing the stroke cried and béeing afrayed ran to their axes and clubs and some were of them that put forth themselues for to take Hercules but Hercules smote off their heads and beat them downe and then began to arise a great vprore and so great a noyse that Lincus heard it And thinking it had béene his porters that quarrelled hée came running downe all vnarmed for to make peace As soone as Hercules perceyued and saw him comming out of the hall he drew vnto him with his sword readie drawne in his hand crying Hercules Hercules and smote him so that he cut off the right arme and with the stroke he fell downe to the ground And after he smote vpon one and other that had no helmes on their heades nor habergions on theyr backes and then they knewe that it was Hercules Hée slew them so thicke that with the bloud that ranne downe was made a right great rushing as if it had béene a riuer Among these things the gentlewomen of Megara issued out of the pallace and went into the stréetes crying with high and cleere voyce that Hercules was come againe and that hee had slaine Lincus With these cryes all the Citie was mooued the good men olde and yong the widowes wiues and maides ranne
the Castell where hée found foure knights that demaunded of him what he would haue Hercules answered that his will was for to speake to the king for certaine matters that touched him The foure knights not thinking but good brought Hercules within a great hall wherein were all the men of king Athlas assaying them with swords and axes forasmuch as they had heard say that they should go to warre and they were all armed When these knights had brought thither Hercules they gaue knowledge vnto the king that a strange giant asked after him and would not tell them the cause why Then Athlas went downe and found Hercules armed with his skinne of the lion and asked him what he was Then he answered and said hee was Hercules that hath conquered Philotes and the garden with the shéepe of thy daughters I am now come hither for to conquer thée with thy sciences Wherefore it behooueth thée that thou do to me obeysance and giue ouer to helpe the great Antheon mine enemie and that thou come to me And if thou wilt not do so arme thée hastily and defend thée with armes and that I demaund of thée and if thou wilt not consent thereto by loue I will make thée accord to it by force Athlas was excéedingly discouraged when he knew by the mouth of Hercules that it was he that had late conquered Philotes and had slaine the giant his fellow taken his shéepe and also newly had assayled by warre Antheon to whom he had promised to giue succours and also considered that he willed that he should yéeld him to him his heart then began in him to swell for anger and pride and in great rage he said to him O thou presumptuous Hercules how art thou so hardy to come alone before me thou that I may not loue Knowe thou that I haue had many a displeasure by thine outrage for Philotes was my right great friend and nowe thou art come to renue this displeasaunce and wilt that I should yéeld mée vnto thée that is not mine intention c. Athlas with these wordes went into a Chamber there fast by and commanded that euery man should arme him as they did Hercules had alway his eie vpon him to the end he should not escape him When he was armed he came against Hercules and chalenged him to the death After he gaue him a stroke with his sworde fiercely With the crie and with the stroke all they of the fortresse assayled Hercules Then Hercules put himselfe in defence and laide about mightily by the rigour of his club and with twelue strokes he slue twelue of his enemies After he hurt and wounded many other and spared long the blood of Athlas But in the end forasmuch as Athlas gaue great strokes to Hercules Hercules smote him vpon the helme without imploying of all his strength and gaue him a wound in the head that all astonied he bare him to the earth From that time forth they of the fortresse durst no more assaile Hercules nor they aduentured them not for to reskew nor to reléeue Athlas but fled thence out of the Castell and Hercules abode there alone with Athlas and the dead bodies So in the end when Hercules saw that they had giuen it ouer he tooke Athlas and made him to crie him mercie After he went into his studie and tooke all his bookes which he laded vpon a camel and after returned vnto Athlas and constrained him to follow him And when Hercules had done in the Castel all his pleasure he departed accompanied with Athlas and with his bookes and brought him downe to the sea side to the place where Philotes abode him c. When Philotes saw Hercules come with Athlas and his bookes he had great ioy and tooke acquaintance with Athlas who was so sorrowfull that hée might not speake and then they entred into theyr Galley and went vnto the go unto the warre of the great King of Lybia which requested instantly to have his succour Wherefore if ye will serve him in his Armie and be his souldier go up and yee shall find him in his Castle studying the science of Astronomie The Servant of King Atlas with these words went on his way and Hercules went up unto the Mountain and came to the Gate of the Castle where he found four Knights that demanded of him what he would have Hercules answered his will was to speak to the King for certain matters that concerned him The four Kts. thinking nothing but good brought Hercules within a great Hall wherein were all the men of King Atlas assaying them with Swords and Axes forasmuch as they had heard say that they should go to Wars and they were all armed When these Knights had brought Hercules thither they gave knowledge unto the King that a strange Gyant asked after him and would not tell them the cause why Then Atlas went down and found Hercules armed in a Lyons skin and asked him what he was then he answered he was Hercules that hath conquered Phylotes and the Gaâ—den with the Shéep of thy Daughters I am now come hither for to conquer thée with thy sciences Wherefore it behoveth thée that thou do to mée obeysance and give over to help the great Antheon mine enemie And if thou wilt not do so Arm thée hastily and defend thée with Arms and that I command thée If thou wilt not consent thereto by love I will make the accord thereto by force Atlas was excéedingly discouraged when he knew by the mouth of Hercules that it was he that had conquered Philotes and had slain the Gyant his fellow taken his shéep and also newly had assailed by Warre Antheon to whom hee had promised to give succour and also considered that he willed he should yéeld himself to him his heart then began to swell for anger and pride and in great rage he said to him O thou presumptuous Hercules how art thou so hardy as to come alone before mée thou that I may not love know thou that I have had many a displeasure by thy outrage for Philotes was my great friend and now thou art come to renew this displeasure and that I yeild mée unto thée is not my intention Atlas with these words went into a Chamber fast by and commanded that every man should arme him as they did Hercules had alwaies his eye upon him to the end that he should not escape him When he was armed he came against Hercules and challenged him After he gave him a stroke with his Sword fiercely With the cry and with the stroke all they of the Fortresse assailed Hercules Then he put himself in defence and laid about mightily by the rigour of his Club and with twelve strokes he slew twelve of his enemies After he wounded many other and spared long the blood of Atlas But in the end forasmuch as Atlas gave great strokes to Hercules Hercules smote him upon the Helme without imploying all his strength and gave
sayd to him that Achelous demaunded of him if he would giue him his daughter and that if he would not giue her to him at this time he would molest and gréeue his countrey and would make him warre At this message Oeneus was troubled and answered the messenger that on the morrow he would giue him an answere All that day Oeneus was pensiue and sorry and abode alone and for to passe his melancholy he came to Hercules When Hercules sawe him so pensiue he adiured him in earnest wise that he should tell him the cause of his pensiuenes who tolde it him and sayde Lord Hercules since it pleaseth you to know of mine anoiance and gréefe I will anon tell you the cause There is hereby a king my neighboure named Achelous great and fierce and proude which many times hath required to haue to his wife Deyanira my daughter I haue not béene in will to accord the mariage for asmuch as I knowe this king a man of right euill life And for this cause I haue had many menaces of him and also this day his messenger is yet come againe to me and hath sayde to mée that if I giue him not my daughter at this time he will make mée war Certes Hercules if ye ye sée me pensiue it commeth to me by this occasion for I haue not yet giuen him his aunswere but I must giue it him to morrow Neuerthelesse I haue concluded in my selfe that I will not giue vnto him my daughter And now when I sée verily that by the refuse of my daughter it must néedes be that the war be open betwéene the aforesayde king Achelous and me know well that I am displeased for warre is the eternall desolation of the countrey perdition and wast of the people and of goods Sir said Hercules it is néedefull vnto a man that he take and beare all that fortune will As ye say warre is not increasing of people but dimunition yet by that extremitie it behooueth to passe It is expedient that a man reioyce in his right Right comforteth the courage of a man and the courage of a man comforted bringeth him often times to glorious victorie A brute beast disgarnished of reasonable wit fighteth for his hole and nest with his clawes with féete with his téeth and with his bill What shall a man sensible and endowed with wit and reason do with any assault and namely in his owne land and territorie Nature willeth and instructeth that where corporall force faileth vigour and vertue of courage worketh and that they fight for their countrey Take courage then in your right and say your intent vnto your enemies ye haue receiued mée worshipfully in my receiuing these tydings that be come I wil help you if it be neede and I suppose if Achelous assaile you he shall repent him With these words the king Oeneus comforted himselfe greatly and the day drewe ouer On the morrow Oeneus called the messenger of Achelous and said to him that he should come no more to demaund his daughter and that he was not minded to giue her to his maister and furthermore if he mooued warre against him for this cause hee had intention to defende himselfe vnto the death of the last man of his people The messenger returned with these words and tolde them to Achelous and all that hée found with him Achelous was euill content with king Oeneus and as hee that was ouermuch smitten with the loue of Deyanira beganne to assemble his men of armes in intention to make warre on king Oeneus and to take from him his Daughter Hercules was then in Calcedonie and often times he was with Deyanira in gracious conferences He found her so well adressed in all honest maners that all day he was the most part with her and in the night he did nought but dreame and thinke on her howbeit he sayd nothing to her that touched his amorous desires willing first to shewe there his power in armes It happened on a day he opened a window that was by the garden of Deyanira and casting his eyes downe he sawe Deyaninira that sate vppon a gréene place accompanied with many Ladyes and Gentlewomen Then hee set all his minde to contemplate the excessiue beautie of her After he desired her and in coueting and desiring said O Deyanira thou that hast not the prerogatiue to know the hearts and the thoughts of men if I should say to thée the tenth part of the loue and desire I haue to thée thou mightest not beléeue it I haue gone many a countrey and séene mannie a Realme and many a treasure I haue desired many a thing But of all for to come to my wished blisse I was neuer in so great thought as I am for to get thy grace The same houre that Hercules spake by himselfe Deyanira was not idle shee hadde Hercules in her minde and remembrance in hir heart then being rich in the points of loue sowen betwéene variations of hope and despayre was esprysed in all her veynes with the heate of that fire that burneth amorous hearts This fire burning was strong and very hard to quench or to couer the right pearcing sparkle Shée lay downe then vpon the grasse and beganne to say in her minde Alas Hercules what shall Deyanira do she may not come to attaine vnto your loue I was wont not long since not to daigne to behold a man and then said that neither Prince nor King should haue my loue Nowe I am all of another nature and desire no other thing but that I might bee your wife I haue supposed to haue remained and continued a stable virgin and I only was disdainer of men contrary to the requests and admonitions of the ladies these be nowe farre other tydings with these words she ceased a little and beganne to thinke on many other things At this point as she thought on Hercules and Hercules on her tydings came thither that Achelous was comming for to besiege the Citie by land and by sea and that he was very neare by For these tydings arose in the pallace a great murmuring that came to the eares of Hercules and of Deyanira their spirits were trauersed in such fashion that Hercules left to behold Deyanira and the damosell left to thinke on Hercules and both two went vnto the king Oeneus Anon as Hercules came vnto the king and that the King saw him he went against him and said to him that his enemies were verye neare the Citie Hercules answered ioyously that it behooueth to go feast them and willed that he put his people in armes At this answere of Hercules the king did sounde to armes and with this sound all Calcedonie was mooued and each man made him readie Hercules and his Gréekes were ready in a little space The Calcedonians assembled by great companies in the pallace When they were assembled the king and Hercules brought them into the field and Hercules put them in order that done he did
the tyrants of Hesperie he fouÌ„ded there a temple which he held after in great reuerence Alway as Hercules peopled and inhabited this land hee did cause to bee made pillers or columnes high and maruellous great and set them vpon the sea and vppon euery piller or columne hee did make an image of hard stone in the semblance and likenesse of a knight like vnto Hercules all clad with the skin of a Lion And there was one of the images that held a table wherein was written with letters of gold Passe no further for to seeke land ne go for to conquer further any realms in the West for thou shalt find no more land c. The noble Hercules went then into the countrey whereas standeth now the citie of Siuil which was not then founded and found by his science that there shoulde be builded a citie of great renowme wherefore in memorie thereof he set vp in that place a pillar of hard stones and thereupon set an image holding in his hand written that said That there should be made one of the greatest Cities in the world This land of Galicia appertained to Gerion But then when Hercules had made this pillar aboue-said and set it whereas now standeth Siuill hee had a great will for to begin to build the citie for the couÌ„tray was passing good commodious But Athlas by the science of astronomy counselled him contrary shewing him by certaine signes that it was destinie that another should make the citie And therefore nigh the piller he did make a columne of white marble vpon which stoode the image of Hercules great rich that held one hand against the East wherin was written Here hath been Hercules And with the other hand he shewed the writing that the other image held These thinges accomplished Hercules departed from thence and left to inhabite and keepe the countrey eight hundred men of his of the countrey of Scithia that were strong and expert in armes and with good wil they abode there because the countrey was plentifull Then went Hercules by the banks of the sea into the last and furthermost part of Europe and sailed so farre that he entred into the riuer of Guadiana whereas the tyrant Gerion dwelled and abode in the Citie of Megidda The same time that Hercules entered into the riuer Gerion went vp to the top of an high towre where he might see all about the countrey for to espie if any person came vppon whom he might exrecise his tyrannie He had not bin long there when he beheld the riuer and saw the army of Hercules And seeing this armie he had great ioy for him seemed well that in all haste hee shoulde subdue and ouercome them Without other delay hee assembled his complices and sownded to armes Within a little while all his men that were ready and furnished with arms came vnto him for to know what he would when Gerion was all armed and ready for to go and enter into the battaile he declared to his people his intention after he entred into his gallies as hastily as he might and went from Megidda approching toward the Gréeks Thus rowing forth it hapned him that he met a little boat And from as farre as he sawe it come hee went against it and arested it In this boat were no mo then two mariners Hispan Gerion then called Hispan and demanded of him whither hee went what he was Certes sir answered Hispan I am a Greeke haue intention to go to the king Gerion that is nowe in his city of Megidda for to dispatch a message that I am charged with Messenger sayd the king if yée séeke Gerion yee néed for to go no further forth for I am he whom ye speake vnto Sir answered Hispan since that you be he to whom my message apperteineth I let you haue knowledge in the name of the vertuous Hercules that he is an enemy to your vices and for to correct your great and abominable trespasses and sinnes hée is come into your dominion Messenger answered Gerion how is Hercules so presumptuous as for to come vpoÌ„ me to take vpon him to correct my vices he wote litle with whom he hath to do go to him and tell him that he shall not be let to find me but it shall be too soone for his health and that I will feast him in such wise ere he escape mée as I haue béene accustomed to feast strangers Hispan departed with these words and returned vnto Hercules as hastily as he might and tolde him worde for word what Gerion had sayd vnto him and moreouer hée sayd that he would méete with him right soone all prepared and ready for to begin the battell When Hispan had finished his message the gallies of king Gerion appeared and were séene from farre Hercules and the Gréekes had great ioy and began a right great shouting in sounding trumpets fifes and tabours Gerion and his folke séeing and hearing their enemies they likewise beganne to shoute and to make a marueilous great noyse The aire was then filled with a right great and ioyfull noise In this vprore and outragious noyse the two hostes approched eche other At the approching was not spared darts nor round stones nor arrowes They of Hesperie had great aboundance of daries which they vsed and cast on the Gréekes as it had béene raine The cries redoubled on the one side and on the other so that there were many dead and hurt They were all men of warre ech man bare him valiantly and among all other Hercules hauing the bowe in hand slew as many of his enâ—mies as he shot arrowes The shot dured long When it failed they fought hand to hand Then beganne the battaile to be eagre and hard Gerion shewed himselfe a man boystrous and well expert in armes and put to death many Greekes but for one that he slew Hercules slew ten of the Hesperiens c. At the encounter that the Gallies made there were many hurt and strokes giuen Hercules tooke his clubbe and in smiting one of the Galies that thought to haue grapled and borded his galley hee strooke with so great force that he made it to cleaue asunder and that the water came in so sodainly that the most part of them that were in that galley were drowned and perished without stroke smiting After this Hercules came to another galley and there did he maruailes of armes all they that he raught with his club were dead or sore hurt Some he smote the braines out of the head and of other hee brake legges and armes It seemed to thunder with him hee did so bestir him that eche man fled from him and there was no man that withstoode him or durst abide him When hee sawe this hee put himselfe forth to exploite great affaires He leapt from gally to gally and made so great slaughters that his people by his good example abounded in valour of courage and puissance and the Hesperiens diminished lessened
fighting by the space of 4. houres and had receiued vpon his arms so many strokes that no man could number them This notwithstanding hee fledde not at all from Gerion but came to him ioyfully and fought against him with so great force that all they that saw it maruelled and after many strokes smitten of Gerion and Hercules Hercules smote him one stroke so great that he al to brused Gerion and beate out the braines of his head and smote the helme vppon his shoulders so that he fell down dead among the dead men in such wise mangled that he abode there dead CHAP. XXII ¶ How Hercules founded the Citie of Corogne vppon the tombe of Gerion SVch was the end of the vnhappy life of Gerion the tyrant he died in like wise as the two brethren did by the club of Hercules When the Hesperiens saw him brought to that passe as for to taste the bitter morsel of death all left their armes All they bewailed sorrowfully the death of Gerion and fell all in despaire So that one staied still to be slaine other fled by desartes by mountaines by the bankes of the Sea and turned all backe in discomfiture When Hercules had espied them so disraied he thanked the Goddes and began for to pursue his enemies The pursuite dured vnto the Euen The Greekes filled the fieldes the mountaines and the waies by the Sea with the bloud of them that fled When the night was come Hercules and the Greeks withdrew them into the Gallies and did eate and drinke such as they had and made ioyfull cheere The hurt men were remembred and comforted with the victory and spoile The wearie men forgat the labour that they had done They rested them after their trauaile passed the night ouer When it was day on the morrow Hercules issued out of his galley And beholding the porte him seemed that a citie should stand well there and said that he would make one there and concluded to begin it Hee sent vnto all places where he wist that any people were thereaboutes and gaue to each man in knowledge that hee was minded to make a citie there and that the first person that woulde come to put hand thereto shoulde haue the gouernment thereof This thing was knowne in all Galicia Manie came thither but a woman named Corogne was the first that came And therefore Hercules gaue vnto her the ruling therof and made to begin the citie and named it Corogne in remembraunce of the victory that hee had there Vpon the body of Gerion he founded a towre and by his art composed and made a lampe burning continually day and night without putting of any thing thereto Which burned afterward by the space of 300. yere Moreouer vpon the pinacle or top of the towre hee made an image of copper looking into the sea and gaue him in his hand a looking glasse hauing such vertue that if it happened that any men of warre were on the sea meaning to doe anie harme to the city sodainly their army and their comming should appeare in this said looking glasse and that dured vnto the time of Nabuchodonozor who being aduertised of the propertie of the glasse filled his gallies with white things greene bowes and leaues that it seemed a wood and in the looking glasse appeared none other thing but a wood Whereby the Corogniens not knowing of any other thing then their glasse shewed to them furnished not them with men of armes like as they had been accustomed to do when their enemies came And thus Nabuchodonozor tooke the citie in a morning and destroied the looking glasse and the lampe When this towre was made Hercules caused then to come thither all the maids of the countrey willed them to make a solemne feast in remēbrance of the death of Gerion After he departed vnto Megidda where were presented to him 100. oxen of the fairest CHAP. XXIII ¶ How Hercules assailed the king Cacus and had battaile against him and ouercame him and how Cacus began to tyrannise in Italy c. AFter this conquest as Hercules intended to people and inhabite this new country tidinges came to him that in the Citie of Cartagene a king giant raigned named Cacus which was passing euil ful of tyranny and had slaine by his cursed dealing the kings of Aragon and of Nauarre their wiues and their children and possessed their seignories and also held in subiection all the countrey of Italy Hercules receiued right ioyously these tidinges and said that by the pleasure of the Gods hee will assay if hee may take vengeance of the death of the kinges of Arragon and of Nauarre Then he disposed him vnto this work and hauing an appetite to correct the king Cacus as soone as his armie might be ready he went vnto the realme of Castile whereas was the king Cacus in the cittie of Cartagene that stood beside a mountaine named Monachaio And hee passed by many realmes that did him obeisance for his vertuous renowme but when hee came to approche to Cartagene the king Cacus came against him without obeysance and in armes for he had been aduertised of his comming And as hee entred into the frontiers hee sent vnto him one of his knights that said to him these words that follow Hercules thou open tyraunt that hast thine heart greater then thy body and that wouldest assaile the heauens for to conquer them if the Gods had giuen thee winges for to flie as the birdes haue If thou seeke peace and loue vnto the king Cacus thy equall in condition and fortune I salute thee in his name and if thou come otherwise to him as his enemy I defie thée in his name And in no wise be thou so hardy as to enter into his countrey And if thou enter know thou that thou shalt find in Cacus and in the Castiliens so hard an encounter that from thy euill aduenture shall no man of thy company bée quit c. Knight aunswered Hercules whatsoeuer you bee you shewe not that you haue the heart of a noble man For it is a shame to all men and especially to a noble man to missay or speake euill of another man Ye haue called me an open tyrant and also ye haue compared mee vnto the tyrant Cacus I answere you to this article that I am no tyrant but a destroier of tyrantes and therefore yee shall returne againe vnto Cacus and signifie to him that I haue intention for to shew what hate I haue vnto tyrantes and that within few daies he may prooue vpon me the hard encounter whereof I haue now receiued the menaces With this aunswere the Castilien departed from the presence of Hercules and returned vnto the king Cacus and tolde him worde for worde what Hercules had saide to him When Cacus had heard all this he was abashed notwithstanding that hee was a strong Giant and a puissant and that he had neuer found a man stronger then he was himselfe for the renowme of
demaunded of Hercules if he would finish the battell without the caue Hercules answered that he was content With this aunswere Cacus tooke away the stone that shut the caue and went out and in going after him Hercules espied his kine that were dead in a corner and his oxen that were bounden by the mussels vnto a piller He was sory when he sawe his kine in that case Neuerthelesse hee passed forth and pursued Cacus that reached out his armes and made him ready and saide to him Thou cursed theefe thou hast done to me great displeasure to haue slaine my kine Yea cursed theefe thou thy selfe answered Cacus yet hast thou done to mee more displeasure to haue slaine my men and taken away my realmes Thou art onely culpable of the euill that I haue done and of the death of thy kine I would it pleased the Gods that I had thee as well in my mercy as I had them be thou sure that thou shouldest neuer take away realm from no man and now let vs dispatch our battaile At these wordes Hercules and Cacus smote each other right sore and with great fury so as their strokes cleaued to their harneis made a great noyse At this noise the king Euander and the Gréekes came to the battaile for to sée it which they made before the entry of the caue whereas were the thrée sisters passing desolate Cacus enforced him with all his puissance For he saw it was time then or neuer to shew and put forth all the force that he might Hee handled his axe right mightily and well was him need so to doe Hee was hard and boysterous he gaue many a stroke to Hercules And him seemed otherwhile that hee shoulde confound him vnto the déepe pit of the earth But Hercules on his side failed not though he had a strong party against him He was also strong at the combate and more strong then was good for the health of Cacus He smote neuer Cacus but he turned his eies in his head or made him stoup or knéele on the one side or the other or to go back shamefully This battaile by long during gréeued the beholders they so assailed eche other and fought hard on both sides Finally they did so much that they were driuen to rest them and that all their bodies swette all aboutes When Hercules sawe that yet was not the victory wonne and that the night approched he had great shame in himselfe that he had held so long battaile Then he began to lay on Cacus so hard and redoubled his strokes with such force vpon Cacus so fiercely that at last hee bare him downe to the ground all astonied and made him to loose his axe and then tooke off his helme The three sisters fledde then into a forrest named Oeta all ful of teares and cries Many Gréekes would haue gone after but Hercules made them to returne After hee called the king Euander and his folke and said to the king Sir lo here is he that was wont to trouble the Italians with secret murders couert theftes and vnknowne defiling of women Giue no more suspition to the Gods Lo here is the minister and doer of these trespasses I haue intention to punish him not only after his desert but vnto the death Euander answered to Hercules and said Prince excellent and worthy aboue all worthies and the most best accomplished of all men flourishing in armes What reuerence is to thée due thou deseruest not only humane reuerence but that reuerence that is of diuine nature I beléeue assuredly that thou art a God or the son of a God or els a man deisied Thou in especiall hast seene more in a moment then all the eyes in generall of all the Italians haue seene not in a whole yeare but in an hundred yeres O the bright resplendant sunne of noble men and faire shining with glorious feates and deedes how may wee thanke thee and giue thée land for thy desert in this great worke Thou by thy most excellent labour hast disburdened vs from darknesse and hast giuen vs light of cleerenesse thou hast effected more then the great troups and all the assemblies men of armes of Italians would haue béene able to do Thou hast gotten more triumph in chastising of this giant passing terrible theÌ„ we be able to reward thee for Truly if thou be not a god thou hast from the gods their singular grace I promise to thée in remembrance of this labour to build a solemne temple in my citie where thou shalt haue an altar and vpon the altar shall be thy representation of fine golde and the representation of this tyraunt in shewing how thou hast vanquished him to the end that our heires and successors in time comming may haue thereof knowlege During these wordes Cacus refreshed him who was astonied of the stroke that he had receiued and thought to haue fled but Hercules ranne after and caught holde of him and embraced him in his armes so hard that he could not stirre from him and brought him againe bare him vnto a deepe pit that was in the caue where he had cast in all ordures and filth Hercules came vnto this foule pit that the Gréekes had founde and put Cacus therein his head downward from on high vnto the ordure beneath Then the Italians came about the pit and cast so manie stones vpon him that he died there miserably Such was the end of the poore king Cacus he died in an hole full of ordure of stincking filth When the king Euander saw that hee was dead by the consent of Hercules hee made him to be drawen out of the pit and caused him to be born into his citie whereas Hercules was receiued so triumphantly that no man can rehearse The feast was great that night in the palace of king Euander and passed with great ioy On the morrow the king Euander caused to be set forth the body in the common view and sight of all the people and afterward ordeined certeine folke thereto â—it and meet to carie this miserable corps or body thorow all the cities where he had done harme and for to count and rehearse to them his life What shal I make long rehearsall When the body was shewed in the citie of king Euander they that had the gouernance thereof bare it into diuers places and alway they praised Hercules In remembrance of the nouelty of this victory the king Euander made to beginne the Temple that he had promised to Hercules required Hercules that he would abide there in that countrey vntill the time that his Temple shoulde be fully made and finished Hercules beheld how the king Euander did labour about building his temple with all diligence and agreed to his request forasmuch as him séemed that the Temple would be shortly made And some books say that long time before the god Mars had promised to Hercules that there should be a temple made vnto him and for that cause he was
come into Italy for to wit if his destiny should happen or no. And when the Italians heard recount the birth of Hercules they beléeued better that he was the sonne of god Iupiter then of Amphitrion CHAP. XXVI ¶ How the queene of Laurentia grew inamored of Hercules and how the king Pricus came into Italie with a great hoste and sent to defie Hercules THe glorious déeds of Hercules were greatly recommended in Italy aswel for that he had vanquished the giants of Cremona as for the death of Cacus So great was his renoume that during the building of his temple all maner people came thither for to see him and did to him diuine honours naming him the sonne of god Iupiter The kings and the lords came to him for to giue him gifts and rich presents Among all other the quéene of Laurentia came thither from her citie with manie chaires and chariots filled and laden with iewels and presented them to Hercules Hercules receiued into his grace this quéene her presents and thanked her greatly This quéene had to name Facua and was wife of the king Fanus sonne of the king Pricus the sonne of Saturne she was yong fresh tender and full of lustinesse She had not séene king Fanus her husband in foure yere for he was gone into a farre countrey and was not in all this time come againe So it happened that after she first began to take héed of and beholde Hercules and to marke him well she began to desire his company and acquaintance and she loued him so sore and excéedingly that shée could not turne her eyes nor her thoughts vppon none other thing but vpon Hercules In the beholding séeing him she sayd in her heart that he was the most well fauouored man and proper without comparison that euer she saw and that of right men should giue him laud praise saying moreouer that her séemed that her heart was intangled with the fire of his loue many cogitations and thoughts ran in her minde Nowe was she awaked and quickned with a ioyous spirit eftsoone all pensiue She passed so the first day that she came in this maner with Hercules When she was gone away for to rest she layd her downe on a bed all clothed and there she began to thinke on the beautie of Hercules with so ardent desire that she could not absteine from wéeping sore wished after him whereof the end was such that after many imaginations about the gray morning she began to say vnto her selfe O fortune what man what priuie what king hast thou brought into this countrey This is not a king like other This is an image singular and like as if the gods had made him by nature to exceede and triumph aboue all her other subtill workes and labours All glory shineth in him not onely by his valiant prowesse but by his simple and sacred perfection of bodie to which may be made no comparison O cleere image among the nobles who is she séeing his eyes that with one onely sight will not haue her heart thorowly pearsed who is she that will not couet and desire his grace The most fortunate of al happie and well fortuned shall she be that may get his good will he is humble faire pleasant and laughing he is a treasure O deare treasure like as the golde passeth all other maner mettals in like sort he passeth all other works of nature in all prosperities how then shal I not loue him As long as I shall liue his name shall remaine written in my memory and his beauty shall not be forgotten but remaine for a memoriall eternall Great were then the praises that Facua vttered of Hercules she forgate anon the king Fanus and put him all in neglect for the loue of Hercules She was there a certaine space of time and alway thought on Hercules Hercules that thought nothing of her made vnto her no semblance nor signe of loue howbeit he talked oft times with her and with the wife of the king Euander named Carmenta The more he conferred with them the more was Facua in great paine by the inflaming of loue some time she lost her colour and countenance but certainly she couered it and hid it so well that no man tooke héede of it Then when she had bene there eight dayes bearing such grieuous paine she saw that Hercules could not perceiue the loue that shee had to him for to come to the end of her desire she came on a day to Hercules and humbly required him that he would come and take the paines to come to her house for to passe the time whiles the king Euander there finished his temple Hercules accorded and agreed vnto her request whereat she had very great ioy in her selfe They then disposed themselues for to goe vnto Laurencia and tooke leaue of the king Euander and of the queene and so tooke their way Thus then going Hercules was alway by the side of Facua who reasoned of many things by the way and alway Facua had her amorous eyes fixed on the view of Hercules that at last Hercules began to take heed and sayd to her softly thus Lady you doe me great worshippe to bring me into your house Alas sir answered Facua I do to you nothing but trouble you for I haue not the power to feast you and make you chéere as I fain would Lady said Hercules the good chéere that ye bestow on me is to me acceptable so that from henceforth ye bind mine heart for to bée willing to fulfill your will in such wise that there is nothing that ye desire but I will accomplish it at your commandement after my power as to anie the most best accomplished lady that is in the West part Facua with these wordes began to smile and answered Sir I haue nothing done for you and ye are not so beholding to me as ye say Howbeit I thanke you for your good worde And thereof I hold me right fortunate and happy for that the most worthy man of all â—en dayneth to accompany one so poore a lady as I am Lady answered Hercules I take not that to be attributed rightly to me to say that I am the most worthy of men for there haue béen many better then I am But certes the more ye speake the more ye make me your subiect And since you doe to mee so great honour I request you as much as I may that I may be your knight and that ye take power ouer mée to commaund me to doe your wil and pleasure Sir said Facua will ye that it be so Lady answered Hercules alas yea I will not commaund you said Facua but I will giue you ouer me asmuch seignorie and lordship as it shall please you to take Hercules with the same word would faine haue kissed the lady and had done it had it not béen for the worship of her which hee woulde keepe They had enough of other conferences From that day forth Hercules
daughter was named Cassandra and was a right noble Virgine adorned and learned with Sciences and knew thinges that were for to come And the third was named Polixena that was the fairest daughter and the best formed that was knowne in all the worlde Yet aboue these children heretofore rehearsed king Priamus had thirtie bastard sonnes by diuers women that were valiant knightes noble and hardy When then king Priamus was in a straunge Countrey hee was occupied and verie much imploied in the sense and profession of warre the Queene and her children were there with him The tidinges and newes came to him that the king Laomedon his father was slaine his Citie was destroied and his noble men were put to death their daughters brought in seruitude and also his sister Exione At these sorrowfull tidinges hee was greatly gréeued and wept aboundantly and made 〈◊〉 lamentations And anon incontinent her left his siege and finished his warre and returned hastily 〈…〉 and when hee found it so destroied he begâ—â—â— to make the most â—â—row of the world that 〈…〉 And after he had 〈…〉 sell to make againe the 〈◊〉 Then he beganne to â—â—â—â—â—ie the citie so great and so strong that he neuer ought to doubt his enemies did close it with right high walles and with great Towers of Marble The citie was so great that the circâ—â—se was 〈…〉 iourney And at that time in all the world was none so great nor noâ—e so faire nor so excellently compassed In this Citie were sixe principall gates of which the one was named Dardane the second Timbria the thâ—â—â— Helias the fourth Chetas the 〈◊〉 Troyen and the 〈◊〉 Antenorides These gates were right great and faâ—re and of strong defence And there were in the citie rich â—â—â—ces without number the fairest that euer were and the fairest houses rich and well compassed Also there were in many partes of the citie diuers faire places and pleasant for the citizens to sport and play in In this Citie were men of all Craftes and Marchauntes that went and came from all the partes of the world In the middle of the citie ranne a great riuer named Paucus which bare shippes and did bring great profite and solace vnto the inhabitantes When the Citie was thus made the king Priamus did cause to come all the people and inhabitauntes of the countrey there aboutes and made them dwell in the citie And there came so many that there was neuer 〈◊〉 â—â—ter furnished with people and with noble men and â—â—â—â—ns then it was There were found many gaâ—â—es and 〈…〉 richest Pallaces and strongest that euer was in all the world And it was of height fiue hundred pases besides the height of the Towers whereof was great plentie and so high that it séemed to them that sawe them from farre they raught vnto the heauen And in this riche pallace the king Priamus did make the richest hall that was at that time in the worlde within which was his rich Throne and the table whereupon hee did eate and held his estate among his Lordes and Barons and all that longed thereto was of gold and of siluer of pretious stones and of Iuorie In this hall at one corner was an altar of golde and pretious stones which was consecrated in the name and worship of Iupiter their God to which altar went men vp twentie degrees or steppes And vpon the altar was the Image of Iupiter of fifteene foote of height all beset and and arraied with pretious stones For in that God Iupiter was all the hope and trust of the king Priamus for to hold his raigne long and in all prosperitie c. When he sawe that he hadde so faire a Citie so strong and so well peopled and with that so rich of goodes hee beganne to take some displeasure at the wrongs that the Greekes had done vnto him and thought long howe hée might reuenge him Then hée assembled on a certaine day all his Barons and helde a riche Court. At this Court Hector his eldest sonne was not for hee was in the parties of Pannony on the affaires and certain works of his father forasmuch as Pannonie was subiect vnto the king Priamus When king Priamus saw all his folke assembled and gathered before him hee beganne to speake saying in this manner O men and true friends that bée partners of my great iniuries to mée done by the Greekes for so little a cause or trespasse Yée knowe howe the Greeks by their pride haue come into this countrey and haue slaine cruelly your parentes and friendes and also mine And how they haue taken and ledde away and holde in seruitude Exione my sister that is so faire and noble and yet they holde her as a common woman Ye knowe wel how they haue beaten downe and destroied this Citie ouerthrowne the walles the Pallaces and houses vnto the foundations and haue borne away the great riches whereof the Citie was full And for these things I think it should be reason that by the helpe of the Gods who resist those that bée insolent and proud wee altogither by a common accord shoulde take vengeance of these iniuries Ye know what Citie wee haue and howe it is peopled with good men of arms and fighters and garnished with all maner of goodes and riches Also ye know well the alliances that wee haue with many right great Lords that with good wil wil help vs if néede hee Wherefore me séemeth that it shoulde bée good for vs to reuenge vs of this shame But yet forasmuch as the aduentures of the warres be right doubtfull and daungerous and that no man knoweth what may come thereof albeit that the iniurie be great and that they hold my sister in so great dishonour yet will I not begin the warre But first if yée thinke good I will send of the most sage and prudent men that I haue to pray and require them that they render and yéeld againe my sister Exione and I will be content to pardon all the other iniuries c. When the king hadde thus finished his wordes all allowed and praised his aduise and it séemed to them good And then the king Priamus immediately called one of his Princes named Anthenor and earnestly desired him and vsed courteous and gentle perswasions that hée woulde enterprise this ambassage forthwith into Greece And Athenor with all humilitie aunswered him that hee was alwaies readie to doe his good pleasure Then was there a ship made ready and all that belongeth and was conuenient to bring Anthenor into Greece He entered into the shippe and his men and sailed so long that they arriued at the porte of Thessaly whereas was then by aduenture the king Peleus that receiued right ioyfully enough Anthenor and demaunded of him wherefore hee was come into those partes Anthenor answered to him in this maner Sir said he I am a messenger of the king Priamus that hath sent mee to you and hath commanded me to say to you and other that he is
cause for to auenge mee of the wronges that the Greekes haue done vnto vs But the principall cause is to recouer my sister Exione that liueth in so great thraldome And for to doe so yee ought to employ you wherefore I pray you and admonish you that ye bend all your endeuour and diligence that I may recouer my sister And be ye certaine if ye haue want of neede or succour I will succour you with so great a strength that the Greekes shal not be able to beare And I will that in this voiage ye hold Paris my sonne Duke and conductor of this battaile of Eneas and Anthenor After these wordes Paris and all the other tooke leaue of the king and entered into their shippes and hoysed vp sailes and recommended them to the guiding of Iupiter and Venus and sailed so farre by the deepe Sea that they arriuing in the partes of Greece in coasting the countrey it happened them on a daie that they mette a shippe in the which was one of the greatest kinges of Greece named Menelaus that went vnto the Citie of Epyre vnto the duke Nestor that had sent for him This Menelaus was brother of Agamēnon and was married vnto the quéene Helene that was the fairest Ladie in the world that men knew of in her time and she was sister of king Castor and Pollux that dwelled then togither in the citie of Samestare and nourishing with thē Hermione their néece daughter of the said Helene Menelaus made a little crosse his shippe and to turne out of the right way and so the one did not knowe the other And the Troyans sailed so farre that they arriued at the Isle of Cithar in Gréece and there they ancred their shippes and went a land In this I le was a temple of Venus passing auncient and of great beautie full of all richesse for the inhabitantes also of the countrey had their deuotion specially vnto Venus the Goddesse and kept and solemnized her feastes each yeare and shée gaue to them aunsweres of their demaundes Then when the Troyans were arriued they hallowed the most principall feast of Venus and for this cause were there assembled men and women of the countrey there about that made great cheere c. When Paris knew this feast he tooke his best clothes and did them on also the best faring and cleanliest men that he hadde and he went into the temple and entered therin by faire and pleasaunt maner and made his oblation and offering of golde and siluer with great liberalitie Then was Paris much beholden on all sides of them the were there for his beautie a for hee was one of the fairest knightes of the worlde and was so richly and so queintly clothed and docked that it gaue great pleasure vnto all them that behelde him and euery man desired to know what he was and whence hee came And they demaunded of the Troyans that told them that it was Paris sonne of king Priamus of Troy that was come into Greece by the commaundement of his father for to require amiably that they woulde render and yéeld againe Exione his sister that they had giuen to king Thelamon So farre went the tidinges of the comming of these Troyans and of their beautie and riche clothing that the queene Helene heard speake thereof and then alter the custome of women she had great desire to know by experience if it were trueth that she heard speake of and disposed her to go vnto the temple vnder the colour of deuotion for to accomplish her desire O howe great folly is it vnto honest women to will go oftentimes vnto the feastes and sportes of yong people that little or nothing doe there but muse and deuise howe they may come to their desire and care not what mischiefe may followe in body and in soule The ship should neuer perish if it abode alway in the porte and were not sent out into perils of the Sea It is a good thing and a pretious iewell to haue a good woman that holdeth her honestly in her house O howe great damage came vnto the Greekes and to the Troyans of this Citie that Helene went so lightly to see the Troyans that ought not so to doe and specially in the absence of her husband But as it is the custome of women to bee wilfull to bring their desire to the end Helene incontinent did make readie horse and all that was conuenient for to go vnto the temple and she did them to vnderstand that shée went for deuotion for this temple was not farre from the place where shee dwelled When all was readie and shee clothed in habite royall she rode with her company vnto the Isle of Cythar and entered into a vessell that brought her nigh to the temple where shee was receiued with great worship of them of the countrey as their Ladie Shee entered into the Temple right stately and made there her deuotions and her oblations with right great liberalitie c. When Paris knewe that the queene Helene that was wife of king Menelaus one of the most noble kings of Greece was come vnto this temple hée arraied him in the most gentlemanliest wise that hee coulde and his company and went into the temple for he had long time before heard speake of her great brauery And then as hée was come and sawe her hee was greatly surprised with her loue and beganne earnestly to beholde her and to desire to sée the fashion of her body that was so faire and well shapen in all thinges and in such wise that it seemed properly to them that sawe her that nature hadde made her to be beholden and séen for in her was nothing but that it serued to manifest all the beautie that might be found in a woman Wherefore Paris might not forbeare to beholde her saying in himselfe that he hadde neuer séene nor heard tell of any so faire and so well formed And as hee beheld her in likewise shee beheld him as many times and oft and her seemed that he was more fairer a great deale then hadde béen reported to her and still she saide in her selfe that shee neuer sawe man of so great beautie nor that pleased her so well to beholde and so she left all her deuotion and all other thoughts and gaue no héede nor respect to any thing saue onely for to beholde Paris When Paris knewe and sawe this hee had great ioy and beheld her sweetly more and more and she him By which sight they shewed enough of their desires the one to the other and thought diuerse times by what occasion they might speake togither And so long they beheld each other that by likelihoode Helene made a token or signe to Paris that hée approched to her and anon Paris sate downe beside her whiles that the people plaied in the temple and spake vnto her with a soft voice right sweetly and shee to him and declared each to other how they were surprised with the loue of the
the aire that was before verie cleere and faire beganne to waxe troublous and thicke and there beganne a right great tempest in the sea of winde of raine and of thunder insomuch that there was none so hardie but he had feare and we end to haue died for their shippes were cast by the sea the one here and the other there and they supposed none other for certaine but to haue béen drowned Then said Calcas to them that were with him that the cause of the tempest was forasmuch as Diana their Goddesse was wroth and angry against them because they departed from Athens and made to her no sacrifice and for to appease this wrath it behooued that the king Agamemnon sacrifice to her with his owne hand Iphiginie his daughter a young virgine and tender of age and that otherwise the tempest shoulde neuer ceasse And for to speed this sacrifice hée counselled to turne the nauy and to apply it to the I le of Andill where the temple of the Goddesse Diana was c. When the king Agamemnon vnderstoode this thing hée was all greeued and passing sorrowfull in his minde for he loued his daughter Iphigenie with great loue and on the other side hée was praied and required of all the other kinges and princes of Greece that hee woulde make no delay to this that was so great a matter or to withstand the sacrifice wherefore hee was vanquished by the saide Princes and for the loue of his countrey hee tooke his saide daughter Iphigenie and in the presence of great kinges and princes sacrificed her vnto the goddesse Diana and anon the tempest ceassed and the aire became neate and cléere and the sea well quieted and in tranquilitie and peace And then hee went againe into his ship and all the other in like maner drewe vppe their sailes and sailed before the winde so farre that they arriued at a port of the realme of Troy nigh vnto a Castell called Sarrabana Dares putteth not downe determinately what was the cause wherfore King the Agamemnon made his Sacrifice vnto Diana But Ouid in the twelfth booke of Methamorphose saith that it was Iphigenie his daughter as aboue is said And when they of the castle sawe the great Nauie at their porte they armed them and came vnto the porte weening to defend their land against the Gréekes and assailed them that then were come a land that were yet weary of the trauaile of the Sea But the Greekes issued anon out of their shippes in great plenty all armed and slew them and chased them vnto their Castle and killed them with flying and entered into the Castle with them and there put them all to death and tooke the booties and after beate downe the castle vnto the earth and then reentered into their ships againe and sailed so farre that they arriued at the port of Tenedon and there then they ancred their ships c. At this port was a passing strong Castle well peopled and full of great riches and was three mile from Troy When they of the castle saw the Greekes they ranne to armes and furnished their castle with good fighters and the other issued out and came vnto the porte where they found the Greeks that were then issued out of their ships all armed and great plentie and took all that they could finde Thus beganne the battaile betweene them right fierce and mortall and there were enough slain dead of both partes and manie mo of the Greekes then of the Troians But as soone as the great strength of the Greekes were landed the Troyans might no longer suffer nor abide but put them to flight some to the castle and the other fled vnto Troy Then the Greekes bestirred them and belaid the castle round about and assailed it on both sides and they within defended it passing well vpon the walles and slewe many by shotte and by Engines but the Greekes dressed their engines all about the castle and set their ladders vnto the walles and went vpon all sides and they within defended them valiauntly and made them fall down in their ditches some dead and some hurt But the Greekes that were so great in number sent alway new folke to the assault whereof they within were so wearie that they retired and went backe from their defence and then the Greekes entered by force into the castle and there slewe all them that they found without sparing of man or woman and tooke and pilled al that they found that was good and after beate downe the castle and the houses vnto the earth and put in the fire and burnt all vp And after they reentred into their shippes ioyous of their gaine that they had gotten in the Castle CHAP. VIII ¶ Howe the Greekes did send Diomedes and Vlisses vnto the king Priamus for to haue againe Helene and the prisoners and the aunswere that they hadde WHen the Greekes had destroied and beaten downe thus the Castle and edifices of Tenedon and of Sarrabana and that they refreshed them in the medow of Tenedon then Agamemnon that hadde the charge of all the hoste and to conduct it well as a good captaine ought to doe commaunded that al the bootie and gain of these two castles should be brought forth And so it was done anon as he had commaunded and he as a wise king distributed the gaine to each man after his desert and qualitie And after did cause to cry in all the hoste that all the noble men of the hoste should assemble them on the plaine of Tenedon before the king Agamemnon and when they were all come the king Agamemnon spake and said in this maner My friends and fellowes that be here now assembled for so iust a cause as each of you knoweth and in so great puissance that there is and shall be tidinges thereof in all the worlde yet how strong that the puissance bée that it please the Gods that it be without pride and felonie for it is so that of the sinne of pride grow all other vices and that the gods resist and withstand the insolent and proud people And therefore we ought to put away pride from our workes and in especiall in this worke here now and vse the right way of iustice to the end that no man may reprehend vs nor blame Ye know well that we be come thus farre for to take vengeance of the iniuries and the wronges that the king Priamus hath done to vs and we haue done to him now great hurt and damage Ye may well know for trueth that they haue assembled in the city of Troy great power for to defend them against vs and also the Citie is passing great and strong and ye know well that they be vpon their proper heritage that is a thing that doubleth their force and strength For ye may take example of the Crowe that otherwhile defendeth well her nest against the fawcon I say not these thinges for any doubt that I haue but that we shall
haue victorie and that wee shall destroy their Citie albeit that it is strong but onely for our worship to the end that wee be recommended to haue conducted this worke by great discretion and without pride for oftentimes by our too hastie enterprise a thing of great waight without aduised councell may come to a mischieuous end Ye know well that it is long ago that the king Priamus did require vs by his special messengers that we shoulde render to him his sister Exione that by our hautinesse pride we would not deliuer her againe and if wee hadde deliuered and sent her home againe these euilles had neuer happned in the I le of Cythar as they now be And the queene Helene that is of the most noble of Gréece had neuer been rauished nor lead away and also we had not enterprised the paine nor the labour where we nowe be in And there is none of vs that knoweth what shal happen to him good or euil and therefore if ye seeme good that we might returne into our countrey without suffering of more paine with our honour and worshippe wee will send vnto the king Priamus our speciall messengers and bidde him to send and deliuer againe to vs Helene fréely and that he restore vnto vs the dammages that Paris hath done in the I le of Cythare for if he will so do our returne shal be honourable and we may no more aske of him by right And if he refuse this wee shall haue two things that shall fight for vs that is iustice and our true quarrell and our puissance excused and when men shall heare of our offers they will giue the wrong and blame to the Troyans and to vs the laud and praise and we shal be excused of all the dammages that wee shall doe to them after these offers Therefore aduise you among your selues what thing ye will doe Then were there some badde people that blamed this counsell and some allowed it and finally they concluded to do so as Agamemnon had sayde Then they chose for their messengers Diomedes and Vlisses for to goe to Troy and make their legation which tooke their horses and went incontinently thither and came to Troy about midday and they went straight to the Pallace of king Priamus and tooke their horses to kéepe at the gate and after went vp into the hall and in going vp they marueiled greatly of the rich works that they saw in all the pallace and specially of a tree that they sawe in a plaine the which was made by arte Mathematike marueilously composed and of great beautie for the tronchon or stocke beneath was no greater but of the greatnesse of a speare and was passing long and high and aboue had branches of golde and of siluer and leaues that spread ouer the pallace and saue a little it couered all and the fruite of the same tree was of diuers precious stones that gaue great light and brightnes and also did much please and delight them that beheld it They went so farre foorth that they came into the great hall where the king Priamus was accompanied with noble men And then without saluting the king nor the other Vlisses sayd vnto him in this maner King Priamus marueile nothing that we haue not saluted thee forasmuch as thou art our most mortall enemie The king Agamemnon from whome wee be messengers sendeth and commaundeth thee by vs that thou deliuer and send vnto him the queene Helen whom thou hast caused most vilely to bee rauished and taken from her husband and that thou make satisfaction for all the damages that Paris thy sonne hath done in Gréece and if thou so doe I suppose thou shalt shew thy selfe a wise man but if thou doe not beholde what euils may come vnto thee and thine for thou shalt die an euill death and all thy men and this noble and famous citie shall be destroyed When the king Priamus heard Vlisses thus speake he answered incontinently without demanding or asking any counsel I marueile greatly of these thy wordes that requirest of mee that thing that a man already vanquished and ouercome and one that might not defende himselfe no more with great paine would accord to thee I beleeue not that the Greeks haue such puissance to do that thing which thou hast sayd vnto me they require of me amends and I ought to demand the like of them Haue not they slaine my father and my brethren and lead away my sister in seruitude whome they daigne not to marrie honourably but to hold her and vse her as a common woman And for to haue her again I haue sent vnto them Anthenor and woulde haue pardoned them the surplus but yee knowe the villanies and menaces that they did vse towardes my messenger and therefore I ought not to heare anything that yee say vnto mee but had rather die valiantly then to agree to your request And let Agamemnon knowe that I desire neuer to haue peace nor loue with the Greeks that haue done to me so many displeasures And if it were not that ye be messengers I shoulde make you die an euill death Therefore goe ye your way anon for I may not beholde you without displeasure in mine heart Then beganne Diomedes to laugh for despight and sayde thus Ha king if without displeasure thou mayest not see vs that be but twaine then wilt thou not be without displeasure all the dayes of thy life for thou shalt see from hencefoorth before thine eyes great armies of Gréekes the which shall come before the citie and shall not cease for to assaile it continually against whom thou mayest not long defend thee but that thou and thine finally shall receiue bitter death Therefore thou shouldest take better counsell in thy doings if thou wert well aduised Then were there many Troyans that would haue runne vppon the Gréekes and drew their swordes for to haue slaine them But the king Priamus forbade them and sayd vnto them that they should let two fooles vtter their follie and that it was the nature of a foole to shew follie and to a wise man to suffer it Ha ha sir sayd Eneas what is that that yee say men must shewe to a foole his foolishnesse and truely if it were not in your presence this fellow that hath spoken so foolishly before you shoulde receiue his death by mine owne hande It apperteineth not vnto him to say vnto you such vile and venemous wordes nor menaces and therefore I aduise him that he goe his way quickly vnlesse he cease to speake foolishly Diomedes that of nothing was abashed answered to Eneas and sayd Whatsoeuer thou be thou shewest well by thy words that thou art right ill aduised and hote in thy wordes and I wish and desire that I may once finde thee in a place conuenient that I may rewarde thee for the wordes that thou hast spoken of me I see well that the king is fortunate and happie to haue such a counsailer as thou
art that giueth him counsell to do villanie Then Vlisses brake the words of Diomedes right wisely and prayed him to hold his peace and after saide to king Priamus we haue vnderstood all that thou hast saide and wil go and report it vnto our princes And incontinent they went tooke their horses and returned vnto their host where they found many assembled before the king Agamemnon and tolde to them the aunswere of king Priamus whereof they had great maruell and conferred long together for the well ordering of their affaires since they were acertained of the warre of the Troyans CHAP. IX ¶ How Agamemnon assembled to counsell the Greeks for to haue vittailes And how they sent Achilles and Telephus vnto the realme of Messe where they slewe the King Theutran in battell And hovve Telephus was made King And of the Kings that came in the aide and helpe of King Priamus AFter these things Agamemnon called his folkes to counsell in the plaine of Tenedon and saide vnto them among all other things It behooueth vs necessarily to be aduised how that during the siege before Troy our hoste shall be succoured with vittaile and therefore if ye thinke good we will send vnto the realme of Messe to haue from thence vittailes continually for it is a countrey right fertile and commodious and they that shall goe thither shall take surety of them of the countrey that they faile not to send vittaile to the hoste so long as wée shall be in this countrey This counsell pleased much the Gréekes and incontinent they chose Achilles and Telephus the sonne of Hercules to furnish this message and to goe thither with a great company of men of armes In that prouince raigned a king that had to name Theutram and had long raigned in peace for his countrey was peopled with good hardy knights When Achilles and Telephus with thrée thousand knights fierce and hardy were ariued in the I le of Messe they issued out of their shippes and went on land Then came against them the king Theutran with a great company of men of foote and on horsebacke Then began the battaile right fiercely and at the skirmish there were many knights slaine on both sides And albeit that the Greekes were lesse in number then the other were they defended themselues well but their defence had not auailed them had it not bene for the great prowesse of Achilles that did great marueiles with his body as he that was the most strong and most valiant of the Greeks for whosoeuer hee smote he died therefore and there might no man endure before him When then Achilles had espied the king Theutram in the middes of his people that did great dammage to his folke hee thrusted into the greatest prease of his enemies and beate downe before him all that he found vntill that hee came vnto the king Theutram and hee gaue him so manie strokes that hee all to hewed his helme and smote him downe to the grounde sore wounded and had slaine him incontinently had not Telephus beene which put himselfe betwéene them and prayed Achilles humbly that he would not slay him nor do him any more harme then hee had and the king himselfe cried to Achilles for mercie Then sayd Achilles to Telephus what moueth thee to pittie our enemie mortall that is come to assaile vs with so great furie it is reason that hee fall into the pit that hee made ready for vs. Ha ha sir sayd Telephus this king was very familiar with my father Hercules and also did to mee on a time great honour in this land and therefore I may not suffer to sée him slaine before mine eyes Well then sayd Achilles take him and doe with him what thou wilt Then was the battaile finished and the Greekes ceased and the king Theutram was borne into his Pallace as dead for Achilles had sore bruised him and all to trushed him And the king praied Achilles and Thelephus that they would go with him the which went and were receiued with great ioy and honour It was not long after that the king Theutram that was wounded to the death by the woundes that Achilles had giuen him sent for Achilles and Thelephus and then said to them My friends I may not long liue and after said to Thelephus My friend I may no longer liue and I haue no lawfull heires of my body to whom I may leaue this realme that I haue gotten with great labour and had lost long since had it not béene the most worthy of all worthies thy father Hercules which warranted and was a shielde to mee against all them that would haue taken it from me and hee did oft fight with them that would haue taken it So thy father by his great prowesse slewe them and chased them out and since I haue kept it peaceably not by my merite but by the vertue of thy father And since it is so that thy father hath conquered this realme for me that haue no heires it is good right and reason that thou be heire of thy father and forsomuch as this is my last worde I leaue to thee this Realme and all mine other goodes wheresoeuer they be and make thee mine heire and pray thée that thou doe burie mée honourably as it appertaineth to a king And as soone as he had finished these wordes he died and then Thelephus and the nobles of the countrey did bury him honourably and laide him in a very riche Sepulture whereupon was written this Epitaph Heere lieth the king Theutram whom Achilles slew the which left his realme to Thelephus This Thelephus that before was but Duke was made king of Messe and all the nobles of the Countrey did him homage and all the people promised vnto him faith and seruice Then Achilles did furnish his ships with vittaile and ordained that Thelephus should abide in his new realme which he did being sore greeued and he praied him and also commaunded in the name of the Greekes that hée shoulde doe his diligence to send vnto the hoste of the Greekes oftentimes vittailes and hée promised him that hee so would doe without any default And then Achilles tooke leaue of him and returned into his shippes and sailed so long that he and his companie arriued at the porte of Tenedon safely where they found the hoste yet soiourning and anon as he was landed hee went straite vnto the Tent of king Agamemnon where all the princes and kinges were assembled and there hée was receiued with great ioy as hée that all the hoste loued much for his great strength and prowesse Then Achilles told to them how he had arriued at Messe and of the battaile and howe that Thelephus was made king and howe he had promised to furnishe the hoste with vittailes Of these tidinges the Greekes had great ioy and alowed and praised much the valiance of Achilles and after the Parliament each man went vnto his pauillion Then was Achilles receiued with great ioy of
Mnesteus to his people and so began among them a mortall battaile and there were many slaine on the one side and the other Among these thinges Mnesteus that was sory that he had lost his prisoner met Miseres by whom he hadde lost him and assoone as he knew him he addressed him to him and beate him downe and the same time smote down another knight Then came to the battaile Hupon and Hiripisus with two thousand fighters and against them came Menelaus and Prothenor with their folk and there began a mortall skirmish c. Anon after came Polidamas the sonne of Anthenor with a great company and thrusted in on the other side among his enemies After came the king Remus from Troy with three thousand fighters and against them came Menelaus with all his people The said Menelaus adressed him against king Remus they iusted togither and smote each other to the ground Then adressed him Polidamas and Remus against the nephew of Helene a young man twentie yeare olde and Remus gaue him so great a stroke with his speare that he smote him down to the earth whereof Menelaus had great sorrow for hée loued him much and in his great ire hee gaue so great a stroke to Remus with his sword that he smote him down as dead And when the king Remus was so beaten down his men had we end that he hadde been dead and woulde haue fledde had it not been for Polidamas that retained them with great paine and did so much that they tooke their king so hurt as hee was and bare him home in safetie Then the king Celidus that was the most faire king of the world adressed him to Polidamas and smote him with his speare but he could not remooue him Polidamas gaue him so great a stroke with his sword that he smote him downe to the earth Among all these thinges Hector went and came beating downe and slaying his enemies and made way before him in slaying of knightes and beating downe so farre that he came vppon them of Salamine that the king Thelamon conducted who slew many of the Troyans and beate downe by his prowesse Then the king Theuter gaue so great a stroke with his speare to Hector that he made him a deepe wound and Hector in his great ire encountered an admirall of the Greekes and slew him cruelly with his sword Then was Hector closed with his ennemies on all partes there was of the Greekes the king Thesus and he spake to Hector and warned him that he should go out of the battaile and saide that it were damage for all the worlde to loose such a knight and Hector thanked him right courteously In this while Menelaus and Thelamon assailed Polidamas and Thelamon that adressed him first smote him with his speare and after gaue many strokes insomuch that they brake the lace of his helme and tooke him and had lead him away had not Hector been which was not farre off who smote among them that held him and slew and hurt many of them and did so much by his valiaunce that he slewe thirtie of them and the other fled and left Polydamas with him Then there put them togither the king Menelaus and the king Thelamon with al their people and smote in among â—he Troyans by so great fiercenesse that they made them go backe maugre them notwithstanding the great prowesse of Hector that was with the other that did maruels in his person And then was his fierse and gallant warlike horse Galathe slaine vnder him and then hée defended himselfe on foote so maruellously that there was none so hardy of the Greekes that durst approche him When his brethren knew the right great daunger that he was in they ranne al to that part Then was Thelamon sore hurt and Dinadorous one of the bastard brethren of Hector gaue so great a stroke to Polixenus a noble man that hee slewe him and beate him downe of a great and a strong horse whereupon he sate and tooke the Steed to Hector who mounted vpon him incontinent There were maruailes of armes done by the bastards Then came on Deyphebus with all his hoste wherein he hadde great store of Archers that hurt and slew great store of the Greekes And Deyphebus made gaue to king Theuter a great wound in the visage Then beganne the battaile as mortall as it had been in all the day There was Thesus assailed by Quintelinus one of the bastard brethren of Hector and of king Moderus and was taken and lead away but Hector deliuered him all quite for the courtesie that he had done to him a little before Then came to the battell of the Greeks the king Thoas and the king Philotas but the king Thaos addressed him against Cassilanus one of the bastard brethren of Hector and gaue him so great a stroke that hee slew him downe to the earth seeing Hector which then smote so angerly among the Greekes that hee slewe many and put them all to flight Then came to the battaile Nestor with sixe thousand knightes and the king Esdras and the king Philon that did great maruels of armes came against them At this assembly there were many knightes slaine and beaten downe of the one part and of the other The king Philon that did great maruailes in armes was enclosed with the Greekes on all sides and hadde béene slain if Iecomas and the king Esdras his father had not deliuered him from their handes Hector and his brother did maruailes with Polydamas and had put all the Gréeks to flight but Menelaus and Thelamon resisted them strongly Then came Eneas to the battaile with all his hoste and put him in with Hector and the other and by force put the Greekes to plaine flight whereof Aiax had verie great sorrowe and also as hee beheld behinde him he saw the banners that came to the battaile that hadde not yet been there and there was all the floure of the chiualry of Greece Then praied he them that fled that they would abide and recommence and beginne a new battaile Aiax and Eneas encountered so hardlie that they fel both to the earth And then came Phylotes with three thousand knights and made the Troyans go backe and smote Hector with his speare but hee might not remooue him and Hector gaue him so great a stroke with his sworde that he beate and sore hurt him Then came to the battell the king Humerus and the king Vlisses with all their people and the king Humerus and they hadde in their hoste tenne thousand knightes the which did the Troyans much sorrowe that were very weary To their succours came Paris vnto the battaile and in his comming smote so hard the king of Frigie who was coosin to Vlisses that he slew him and beate him down whereof the Greekes had much sorrow and Vlisses supposed to haue smitten Paris with his speare but hee smote his horse and slew him and Paris fell to the earth Then Troylus gaue to
was so hurt that the truncheon of her speare abode within his bodie wherefore the crie arose greatly among the Greekes and they ranne vpon Penthesilea with great strength and brake the lase of her helme and then Pirrhus that in his great furie tooke none heede to his wound set not thereby that hee had the truncheon in his body but assailed strongly Penthesilea that had then her helme broken and shee weend to haue smitten him but Pirrhus raught her first gaue her so great a stroke with his sworde that hee cutte her arme off by the body whereof the saide Penthesilea fell downe dead to the earth and Pirrhus that was not yet content smote the body and cut it in two peeces and anon for the great effusion of bloud that ran from his wound he fell downe as dead among his people and they tooke him vp layed him vpon his shield and bare him into his tent Then the maidens of Penthesilea for to reuenge the death of their Quéene smote in among the Mirmidones by great furie and slew many and hurt but it profited but little to the Troyans as they that were but a few against a great multitude of Gréeks And so there were slaine of them of Troy that day in the battell more then tenne thousande men and the other withdrewe themselues into the citie for to saue themselues and shut closed fast their gates and had no more intention to issue out to battell against their enemies c. CHAP. XXV ¶ How Anthenor and Eneas spake together among them for to deliuer the citie vnto the Greeks by treason and did it vnder colour of peace and howe the king Priamus gainsayd them with some of his bastards by great and rude words THe Troyans had very great sorrowe when they sawe them in this distresse for they had no more hope to haue any succours from any place and they endeuoured to nothing but to keepe well their citie and to furnish them well with bitaile for they feared nor dreaded nought of any assault Among these things the Gréeks would haue cast to the dogs the bodie of Penthesilea forasmuch as she had slaine so many noble men of Gréece but Pirrus gainsayde it for the honour and credit of noblenesse and finally they concluded that they would cast it in a pond that was nie the citie Anchises with his sonne Eneas and Anthenor with his sonne Polidamas went to counsell together for to aduise them how they might haue their liues saued against the Gréekes and their goodes and rather than they woulde faile heereof they woulde betray the Citie Then they concluded that they shoulde speake vnto king Priamus and counsell him to take a peace and appointment with the Gréekes in restoring of Helene to her husband and the damages that Paris did in the I le of Citharis O if the king Priamus had beene so happy to haue doone this and had pleased the Gréekes at the beginning he had saued his life and his wifes life and the life of all his children and had saued all the Citie and the cittizens and had eschewed all the mischiefes that came to them afterward Therefore say men in a Prouerb that the concorde or peace soone taken is good for it is an hard thing to reappease such manner dammages to him that hath aduantage of the warre For with great paine would the Gréekes haue beene content that were thē at the better hand with these offers forasmuch as they had suffered so many hurtes and damages before Troy for them séemed well that they were at the point for to destroy the Citie and all the inhabitantes But the aforenamed traitours spake not of this matter but to the end that vnder colour of peace they might betray the citie if otherwise they might not saue their liues Then they went before the king Priamus and Amphimacus one of his bastard sonnes and spake there of this matter before many noble men of the Citie and aboue as king Priamus had heard them speake of purchasing of peace with the Gréekes he thought that they spake this thing by great fury and beganne to laugh saying to them that he would be aduised and take counsell first and then they spake vnto him in this manner If thou wilt heare our counsell vpon this thing marke what we shall say and if it please thée not vse the counsell of other The king saide that hee woulde well heare their counsell and would wéete what séemed them good saying vnto them What séemeth you good Then spake Anthenor saying King you may not dissemble but that you and yours be compassed with your ennemies who béene héere by your citie desiring your death and destruction and ye may not issue out there are more than fiftie kings that desire nothing but to destroy this Cittie and you and all them that dwell therein yée may no longer resist them neyther dare ye no more open your gates and thus we let vs then be inclosed héerein We ought of two euill things choose the lesse euill and therefore for to haue peace with the Gréekes if ye séeme good we will render Helene to Menelaus her husband since that Paris is dead and also restore the damage that Paris did doe to them in Gréece rather than we will suffer our selues to be put to the death c. At these wordes arose vp Amphymacus one of the bastard sonnes of king Priamus and reprooued egerly the wordes of Anthenor and saide vnto him what trust or hope may my Lorde my father and wée haue in thée since that thou oughtest to haue firme goodwill vnto him and to this citie and we sée that thus recreant thou oughtest to liue and die with vs and thou counsellest vs now to make peace with the Gréekes to our great dishonour and shame Truely before that the king shall doe that there shall die twenty thousand menne the thing that thou counsellest the king commeth of treason Many other iniurious wordes said Amphimacus to Anthenor and Eneas beganne to interrupt him saying Yée know well that we may not from hencefoorth goe to battell against the Gréekes and we dare no more open our gates wherefore it behoueth vs to finde meanes to haue peace with them Then the king Priamus with great ire saide to Anthenor and to Eneas haue yée not shame in your selues to speake so to mée Yée make me die with sorrow for all that I haue done hitherto I haue done it by your counsel Anthenor at thy return fro Gréece whither I sent thée to require my sister counselledst thou not me that I shoulde send Paris into Gréece for to endammage the Greekes And I had neuer taken vpon me for to haue mooued war against them had not thy false counsell beene which moued me to send thither And thou Eneas alas when I sent thee with Paris into Greece wast not thou principall of the counsell that Paris should rauish Helene and bring her into this realme and thou helpedst
thereto with thy person And if thou wouldest haue béene contrary thereto and haue let it Helene had neuer seene the walles of Troy And now after this that they haue slaine all my children and done so much dammage and hurt ye counsell mee against honour to make peace with the Gréeks that haue so cruelly destroyed me Certes your counsell finisheth my life with great sorow and dishonour c. Of these wordes was Eneas exceedingly angrie and wroth and answered to the king wordes sharpe and pricking enough and departed he Anthenor from the king euill content And when they were gone the king began to weepe as hee that dreaded that they would deliuer the citie into the hands of the Greeks which would slay him incontinent Then he thought that he would make them die first and called to him Amphimacus and sayd to him Right deare sonne I am thy father we ought to support ech other vnto the death I know certeinly that Anthenor and Eneas contend for to slay vs by the Gréekes and to deliuer them this citie and therefore it should not be ill done to make them fall into the pitte that they haue made ready before ere they doe any such euill and I will tell thee in what maner To morrow at euen they will come to take counsell then thou shalt be ambushed here within and thou shalt haue with thee good knights and when they shall bee come thou shalt runne vppon them and slay them Amphimacus made answere vnto him and sayd that hee would so doe with a verie good will and albeit there were no more assembled at this counsell but the king and his sonne yet there is nothing so secret but otherwhile it is knowne Eneas knew wel the truth of this thing and it was not knowne by whom he knew it and anon hee and Anthenor and some other of their complices spake forth of the treason of the citie and there they swore each to other and then they said if they went more to counsaile to the king that they woulde go with great company of men of armes for Eneas was of the most noble of Troy and most rich next to the king and best of linage and might well compare to the king And Anthenor was also rich and puissant of friendes in the citie and their treason was such that they would haue deliuered the city in the handes of their enemies So as they and all they of their linage shoulde haue their liues and their goods saued and thereof they tooke good suretie of the Greekes Among these thinges the king Priamus sent for Anthenor and Eneas to come to counsell for to performe that thing that he hadde purposed but they came with a great company of men of armes and therefore the king sent Amphymacus that hee shoulde leaue off this enterprise The day following the king sent for all the Troians to councel and when they were assembled before him Eneas stood vp and willed all them to make peace with the Greekes to whom all the other accorded saue the king and then said to him Eneas Sir king wherefore consentest not thou with the other for will thou or will thou not we will treate for the peace and wil make it maugre thee When the king sawe that his contradiction might nothing auaile he had leauer consent with the other then for to be the cause of his destruction and then said he to Eneas Let it be made as ye shall thinke that it may bee most expedient to the peace and I will thinke wel of it Then by the counsel of them all Anthenor was chosen for to go to the Greekes and treat for the peace and the Troyans tooke branches of Palme in signe of peace and went vppon the walles of the Citie and shewed the signe vnto the Gréeks the which shewed well that they would entend to the peace And then was Anthenor retyred from the walles and let downe and was presented to the king Agamemnon And the king Agamemnon commised all the work to the king of Crete Diomedes and Vlisses and that all those thinges that these thrée kinges should decree with Anthenor all the Gréeks promised to hold it agreeable and sware it vpon their law c. When they were all foure assembled Anthenor replenished with furie promised to them to deliuer the citie by treason for to doe with it their will and pleasure so that they woulde saue him and Eneas and all their kinsmen and parentage and all them that they woulde choose and that Eneas should haue all his possessions without any losse These three kings of Greece swore to Anthenor that thus they would do and hold then said one to the other that this thing must be secret vnto the time it be brought about and to the end to keepe this treason more secret Anthenor praied to the Greekes that they would deliuer to him the king Cassilius that was a very auncient man for to go with him to Troy to the intent that he might be the better beleued and for that he knew the will of the Troians that is to weet if they woulde haue peace with the Greekes and also for to say to them the will and desire of the Greekes and then demaunded Anthenor the body of Penthesilea which the Gréeks agreed to them gladly After these thinges Anthenor and the king Cassilius entred into the citie and did to be knowne to the king their comming On the morrow betimes the king Priamus assembled al the Troians for to heare the answer of Anthenor the which saide to the king otherwise then hée founde making a long sermon for to couer his badde doing Where he spake long of the puissance of the Gréeks and of their truth in their promises and how they had holden the truce that they made lying before the citie had béen faithfully gouerned without breaking of them and after spake he of the feeblenesse of the Troyans of the daungers that they were in and in this time concluded that forthwith it were profitable to seeke peace and that they were come thereto and said it coulde not be vnlesse they gaue a great quantity of gold and siluer vnto the Greeks for to restore to them the great damages that they had in the warre And after they aduised the king the other each in himself for to employ him in this thing without any sparing And forasmuch said Anthenor as I cannot know at this time al their will I would that yee would let Eneas go with mee vnto them for to knowe better their will and to the end that they beleeue vs the better Euerie man allowed the words of Anthenor and then went he and Eneas to the Greeks and with them the king Cassilius When the counsel was finished and all done the king Priamus entred into his chamber began to wéep right gréeuously as he that perceiued wel the treason playned sore the death of his sons and the great damage that he
must passe by his realme And then the king Naulus did crie in all his realme that men shoulde make great fires euery night vpon the mountains that stood by the sea side And this did he to the end that when the Greekes shoulde see the fire by night they shoulde come thither weening to finde good hauen and if they came they should find hard rocks and mountaines of sand And so they shoulde not escape without death It was thus done as Naulus had deuised there were nigh two hundreth ships of the Gréeks broken against the rocks and all they that were therein were drowned When the other shippes that followed them heard the noyse of the shippes that so were broken and the câ—â—e of them that were drowned they turned on the other boord and made to seawarde and saued themselues Of them that escaped were Agamemnon Menelaus Diomedes and some other that shall bee named hereafter Cetus that otherwise was called Pellus had great sorrow when hee knew that Agamemnon was escaped and then he thought long how he might auenge himself When hee was come home and was ariued in his owne land he wrote a letter to Clitemnestra the wife of Agamemnon and this letter conteined that for certaine Agamemnon her husbande had espoused one of the daughters of king Priamus and that he loued her greatly and brought her with him into his countrey for to make her Quéene and to put out Clitemnestra or to slay her and therefore Cetus aduertised her to the end that she might prouide for her selfe Clitemnestra anon beléeued these letters and thanked Cetus enough and thought that she would auenge her of her husband This Clitemnestra in the absence of her husband loued a man named Egistus by whom she had a daughter named Erigona she loued more her loue Egistus then euer shee did her husband though he was come of lowe bloud But it is the custom of a woman that doth amisse to take one to her of lesse value than her husband is Shée had treated with Egistus that the first night that Agamemnon shoulde lie with her he should runne vpon him and slea him This thing was done in like manner as shée had purposed and Agamemnon was slaine and laide in the earth and anone after Clytemnestra tooke to husband her loue Egistus king of Michmas Agamemnon thus slaine had a sonne of this Clytemnestra that was named Horestes a yong childe which Calcibus his cousine had in kéeping and tooke him from his mother to the end that she should not slea him and after sent him to the king of Créete Idumeus that was his vncle And he had great ioy of him and so had his wife Tharasis also that loued him as much as Clytemnestra her daughter that had no more children but her and she was a faire yong maide Thus as Cetus had written to Clytemnestra the wife of Agamemnon in like manner he wrote to the wife of Diomedes named Egée who was daughter of the king Polimites of Arsimens and sister of Assandrus that returned from Troy with Diomedes his brother in lawe So it happened in their returning that they went into the land of king Thelephus which was euil content and went against them with a great company of men of armes and assailed them and they defended them strongly And Assandrus slew many of the knightes of Thelephus wherof he had great sorrow and was angry and tooke a great speare addressed him against Assandrus with so great force that he smote him to the earth and slew him Diomedes to auenge the death of his brother in law slewe many knightes of Thelephus and recouered the bodie of Assandrus with great trouble and paine and bare it into his shippe Thus died Assandrus but it was not so reported to Egée his siâ—ter but it was tolde her that Diomedes her husband had slaine him to haue all the seignorie of Archimens whereof Assandrus had the one halfe against his sister Egée Of these tidings and of them that Cetus had written Egée was angry with Diomedes her husband wrought so with her people that they promised her they would no more receiue Diomedes for their lord Thus when Diomedes returned his wife ne his folk would receiue him but banished him out of the countrey of Archimens for euer Then happened he to arriue in Salamine where king Theuter brother of king Thelamon was This king heard say that Diomedes was culpable of the death of his brother with Vlysses wherevpon he commaunded that Diomedes shoulde be taken But Diomedes hearing thereof fledde thence King Demophon and king Athamas being arriued in their landes were banished by semblable manner Then arriued they in the land of Duke Nestor which receiued them with great ioy These two kings purposed to goe into their lands with men of armes and take vengeance on their people But Duke Nestor blamed them thereof and counselled them that they should first send to them to admonish them to receiue them for their Lords and promise to them great franchises and liberties Thus did they as Nestor had counselled them and it was not long after but that their people receiued them as aforesaid While Eneas abode in Troy to repaire his shippes he indured many assaults of his neighbours that would haue taken as a prey all the remnant of the Troyans And forasmuch as he might not abide there longer then his terme assigned vnto him by the Gréekes he assembled the Troyans and councelled them that they should send and séeke Diomedes to be their king and said vnto them he would come willingly forasmuch as he was driuen out of his countrey and he was both wise and valiant So they sent for to séeke Diomedes and found him who came foorthwith and found the Troyans besieged by their neighbour nations Eneas then prepared to the battel in which Diomedes bare himselfe so valiantly that he tooke away prisoners and hanged many as théeues In the fift battell he behaued himselfe so that he gat the vpper hand altogither of his ennemies and conquered them all so as there were none of his neighbours that durst assaile the Troyans During these things the nauie of Eneas was ready wherevpon he tooke shipping with Anchises his father and being at sea they resolued to go and seeke an habitation where the gods and fortune would assigne During their aduentures at sea many perils happened and rouing at randon this way and that way they sayled by Hellespont and thence passing arriued at Tuskane in Italie from whence sayling they came to Carthage and thence againe to Italie The storie whereof who lift to peruse let him reade Virgil. When Egea the wife of Diomedes knew that the Troyans had intertained Diomedes and that he had discomfited their ennemies shée doubted that Diomedes would also take vengeaunce on her Then she councelled with her people and by their aduise she sent for him to come vnto her who came with a good will and had
Iles fortunate This king then aduertised of the coming of the Egiptians was passing angry and sware that neuer none of them should returne agayne into Egipt Assoone then as he might he did cause his men to arme them and issued out of the cittie with a great company of Libyans and had so great haste to runne vpon the Egiptians that he sette no order among his people whereof he tooke great harme for when he came to the battaile hée founde that Hercules had trayned his people and set them in two battailes of which he lead and conducted the first battaile It happend so that they of the sayde companye of Hercules by force of shot bare thēselues so valiantly and with strokes that they brought to death more then fiftéene hundred Lybiens When the shot fayled Antheon sprang into the greatest prease as the most valiant and supposed wel to haue skirmished with his enimies but anon as Hercules sawe him come hée layd hand on his club and put him foorth before and gaue him so great a stroke that he made his head to bow on the left side Antheon had his sword lifted vppe for to haue smitten Hercules when he receiued the stroke that Hercules gaue him by which his stroke was broken Neuerthelesse he said betwéene his téeth that he would auenge him so hee lifted vp his sword againe and smote Hercules so vehemently that with the stroke he brake his shield Then knew Hercules that the giant was a man of great strength This notwithstanding he smote him the second time with his club and thus Hercules and Antheon gaue each other so great strokes that there came betwéene them of the two parties Libians and Egyptians There was a great noyse of clinking of swords and sounding of the shields and helmes that were broken and halberds that were dismailed shieldes quartered and glaiues broken there was the bloud largely shed on both parties Hercules and Antheon were parted by force of the prease Antheon by great ire smote without ceasing vpon the fierce Egyptians Hercules all broke the helmes largely with his club and did with the Libians all his pleasure and brought so many to death with his club that in little time he passed throughout the whole power of king Antheon many times and in his way he couered the earth and the way that hée held all with dead Libians The first skirmish was strong and damageable to Antheon for against one Egyptian that he flew with his sword Hercules made die with his club ten Libians About Hercules was nothing but bloud Hercules made the mountaines redounde with cries the companies to tremble the Libians to flie and go backe and wan little gaine What shall I say more as long as the day endured he helde the battell in vigor and about the euening when Affer and Theseus came to the fight he bestirred himselfe in such fashion against Antheon that he made him flie all charged with horions and strokes and then in like wise fled after the Libians CHAP. XI ¶ How Hercules tooke king Athlas and how he beganne to studie the science of astronomie and the seauen liberall sciences WHen Hercules saw the Libians turne into flight he did cause to sounde the retrait for as much as it was late and with great glorie returned into the place that he had chosen for to holde his siege at His wife Echée came against him with open armes and be clipped and kissed him she holpe to vnarme him and brought him fresh water for to wash his face with and there was made right good chéere of all the Egyptians Contrary to this good chéere the Libians were in the Citie and made great sorrow for they had lost neare thirtie thousand men especially Antheon made simple cheare for he had good cause for Hercules had so beaten him with his club that hée might not helpe himselfe but went with great paine to bed and with sorrow sent for his Phisitions and Surgeons which came and visited him and founde him all bruised and saide to him that it would bee well neare a moneth ere they could heale him Antheon considering his case sent and desired of the Egyptians truce for the space of a moneth offering to them for to send them dayly a certaine number of cattell and a right great quantitie of victuals Then he made out his commaundements and sent vnto al the kings and princes that were his tributaries and also vnto his neighbours praying them that they wold come succor him with their men of arms in the most hasty wise that they might This truce so made Hercules began to remember thē that before time he had heard Philotes speak of a king that reigned thereby named Athlas and that he was the most wise man and cunningest of al the world and that he dwelt in a Castle standing on the top of a right high mountaine named Athlas after the name of the same king In this remembrance Hercules being couetous of the science of Athlas called Philotes and said to him that hee would go into the Realme of the king Athlas and that his intent was to séeke there his aduenture Philotes answered and saide that he could well leade and bring him into the Realme for he knew the countrey Then Hercules called Affer and Theseus and charged them that they shoulde alway make good watch And after tooke leaue of them and of his wife saying that he would hastily returne This done hée and thrée mariners with Philotes went vnto the sea in a gallie-finely made and light and sayled and rowed into the sea Mediterrane they had spéedie winde and readie and Fortune was good to them In little while they came vnto the straite of Gibraltar And then Philotes shewed vnto Hercules the mountaine and the castle where Athlas was at that time abyding When Hercules sawe the mountaine and the castle he went and tooke land ioyously after he tooke his clubbe and commanded Philotes and his marriners for to abide them there Then he went toward the mountaine and it happened that he met with a man that discended downe from the hil and he adressed him toward the said man for to heare some tydings and demanded him from whence hée came He said I come from the castle that ye may sée yonder on high Whither go ye said Hercules vnto the Citie of Mercelie answered the stranger the king Athlas to whom I am seruant hath sent me thither to publish his commandement vnto the Citizens that within sixe dayes they should be furnished with their armes for to accompanie him to go vnto the warre of the great king of Libie which requested instantly to haue his succours Wherefore if ye will serue him in this armie and be his souldiour go vp and ye shall finde him in his Castell studying the science of astronomie The seruaunt of King Athlas with these wordes went forth on his way and Hercules went vp into the mountaine and came to the gate of
prise that it behooueth all vs to put vs in perill and danger of death for her she hath been now long time there where she is yet It were better that shee spend forth her time that I thinke hath but litle time to liue then we shoulde put vs all in such perils And meekly I beseech you not to suppose in any wise that I say these things for cowardise But I doubt the chaunces of fortune and least that vnder the shadowe of this thing she confound and destroie your great seignorie and least that wee should beginne thinges that we ought to leaue for to eschew more great mischiefe c. When Hector had made an end of his answere Paris was nothing well content therewith he stoode vppon his feete and saide in this wise My right déere Lord I beseech you to heare me say to what end ye may come if ye begin the warre against the Greeks How be not we garnished with so mighty and noble chiualrie as they be Certes that be wee which in all the world is none that may discomfit and therefore begin ye hardly that enterprise that ye haue thought of and send some of your ships and of your people to runne into Gréece and to take their people and dammage the countrey And if it please you to send me I will do it with a good will and heart for I am persuaded that if ye send me I will doe great dammage vnto the Greekes and I will take some noble ladie of Greece and bring her with mee into this realme and by commutation of her you may recouer your sister Exione And if yee will vnderstand and know how I am persuaded of this thing I will say to you that the gods haue promised it to me It happened of late sayd Paris in the time that by your cōmandement I was in the lesser India at the beginning of the Summer that vpon a Friday I went to hunt in a forrest very early and that morning I found nothing that turned mee to any pleasure and then after midday I found a great Hart. that I put to the chase so swiftly that I left all my company behinde and followed the Hart into the most desert place of all the Forrest which forrest was named Ida. And so long I followed him that I came vnto a place that was passing obscure and darke and then I saw no more the Hart that I chased I felt thē my self fore wearie my horse also that might no further go he swet so on all sides So I lighted downe to the ground and tied my horse to a tree and layed me downe vpon the grasse and put vnder my head my Bowe bent in sted of a pillowe and anon I fell asléepe Then came to me in a vision the god Mercurie and in his company thrée goddesses that is to witte Venus Pallas and Iuno He lest the goddesses a little from me and after he approched and sayd vnto me in this maner Paris I haue brought here these thrée goddesses vnto thee for a great strife or controuersie that is fallen betwéene them They haue all chosen thee to be iudge and to determine after thy will Their controuersie or strife is such that as they did eate the other day together in a place suddenly was cast among them an apple of so marueilous forme of fairenesse and beautie that neuer was séene none such afore amongst them And there was written about this foresayd apple in Gréekish language Be it giuen to the fairest And so anon each of them would haue it for any thing in the world saying ech her selfe to be most faire and fairer then the other and so they might not agree Wherefore they haue put it to thy iudgement and ech of them promiseth thee certeinly a gift for thy reward that thou shalt haue without faile for the iudgement of the apple If thou iudge that Iuno be the fairest shee shall make thée the most noble man in the world in magnificence If thou iudge for Pallas she shall make thee the most wisest man of all the world in all sciences If thou iudge that Venus be the fairest shee shall giue vnto thee the most noble lady of Gréece When I heard Mercurius thus speake to me I sayd vnto him that I could not giue true iudgement vnlesse I saw them all naked before me for to see the fashions of their bodies the better and so for to giue a true iudgement And then incontinent Mercurius did cause them to vnclothe themselues all naked and then I beheld them long and me thought all thrée passing faire but yet me séemed that Venus excéeded the beautie of the other and therefore I iudged that the apple apperteined to her And then Venus greatly reioycing at my iudgement confirmed vnto me the promise that Mercurie had made before in the fauour of her and after I awoke straight way Wéene ye then my right deare father that the gods faile of any thing that they promise Nay verily So then I say to you still it is best that ye send me into Gréece and that you may haue ioy of that I shall doe there c. After Paris spake Deiphebus in this maner My right deare Lord if in all the works that men should beginne they should be aduised euer in the particularities and singular things that might happen or fal they should neuer enterprise nor do valiant act by hardinesse If the labourers should leaue to eare and sowe the land for the seed that the birdes picke vp and gather they should neuer labour And therefore right deare father let vs make ready for to send into Gréece of your shippes Yée may not beléeue better counsell then that counsell that Paris hath giuen to you for if he bring any noble ladie ye may easily for to yeeld her againe haue againe your sister Exione for whome wee all suffer shame enough After this spake Helenus the fourth sonne of king Priamus that sayd thus Ha ha right puissant king and right souereigne dominatour ouer vs your humble subiects and obedient sonnes Beware that couetousnesse of vengeance put not in you such danger as lieth herein Ye know very well howe I vnderstand and can the science to knowe the things future and to come as yee haue proued many times without finding fault the gods forbidde that it euer come that Paris be sent into Gréece For know ye for certaine that if he goe to make any assault ye shall sée this noble and honourable citie destroyed by the Gréekes the Troyans slaine and we all that be your children And therefore disswade your selfe from these things whereof the end shall be sorrowe and great desolation with right bitter death the which you your selfe and your wife and we we that be your sonnes may not escape For truely if Paris go into Gréece all these euils shall come thereof When the king heard Helenus thus speake hee was all abashed and began to counterpoyse and thinke of the matter
and helde his peace and spake not of a great while and so did all the other Then arose vppe on his féete Troylus the yoongest sonne of king Priamus and beganne to speake in this manner O noble men and hardy how be ye abashed for the wordes of this coward priest here Is it not the custome of Priestes for to dread the battailes by pusillanimitie and for to loue good chéere and pleasures to fill their bellies with good wines and with good meats who is he that beléeueth that any man may know the things to come vnlesse the gods do shew it him by reuelation It is but follie for to tarie vpon this or to beléeue such things If Helenus be afrayd let him go into the Temple and sing the diuine Seruice and let the other take reuenge of their iniuries by strength and force of armes O right deare father and lord wherefore art thou so troubled for these wordes send thy shippes into Gréece and thy knights wise and hardie that may make requitall to the Gréekes for their iniuries that they haue done vnto vs. All they that heard Troylus thus speake allowed him saying that hee had very well spoken And thus they finished their parlement and went to dinner After dinner the king Priamus called Paris and Deiphebus and commaunded them expresly that they should goe into the parties of Pannonie hastily to fetch and assemble knightes wise and hardie for to take with them to Gréece And then that same day Paris and Deiphebus departed from the citie of Troy for to performe and accomplish the will of their father The day following the king assembled to counsel al the citizens of the citie of Troy and sayd vnto them after this maner O my louing friendes and true citizens ye all doe know notoriously howe the Gréeks by their pride and insolencie haue done to vs great wrongs and innumerable dammages as it is very well knowen in the al whole world And ye know also how they holde Exione my sister in seruitude wherefore I liue in great sorrow and also ye be remembred howe I sent Anthenor into Gréece that hath nothing done wherefore my sorrowe is doubled And forasmuch as by yron hee cured the woundes insanable I haue purposed to sende Paris my sonne with men of armes and puissance into Gréece for to inuade and assaile our enemies by strength and for to do them great damages and for to assay if they might take any noble ladie of Gréece and to send her into the city and that by the commutation of her I might get againe my sister Exione And forsomuch as I will not begin this thing but that it may come to your knowledge first I pray you that you say to mee your aduise for without you I will not procéed further therein forasmuch as it toucheth you all as well as me When the king had thus finished his spéeches and that ech man held himselfe silent a great while then stood vp a knight named Pantheus that was the sonne of Deuphrobe the Phylosopher and sayde O right noble king as I am your true seruant and vassaile I will declare to you my aduice in this matter also truely as a vassaile and subiect is bound to counsell his lord Ye haue had wel in knowledge Deuphrobe the great Phylosopher my father that liued whole and sounde more then nine score and tenne yeres and was so wise in Phylosophy that he knew the science of things to come hereafter he sayd vnto me many times and affirmed for trueth that if Paris your sonne went into Gréece for to take any noble ladie by violence that this noble citie should be destroyed and burnt vnto ashes by the Gréeks and that ye and all yours should be slaine cruelly And therfore right sage and wise king pleaseth if your noblenesse to heare my wordes and beléeue that the wise men haue sayd and be perswaded in that thing that ye may not loose by if ye leaue it whereof great sorrowes may ensue if ye perseuere in opinion Wherefore wil ye séeke to intrap the good estates of your rest and put your tranquillitie vnder the dangerous aduentures of fortune Leaue this and disswade your selfe if it please you from this folly and finish and end your life in rest happily and suffer not Paris to goe into Gréece in Armes And if ye will algase send ye another then Paris At these wordes of Pantheus grewe and arose great murmuring of the hearers Some reprooued the prophesies of Deuphrobe the Philosopher and some helde it for mockerie and a fable and they were of the greatest number insomuch that by the consent of the more part Paris was appointed for to go into Gréece with men of armes and the parliament finished each man went home into his house and to his place When this conclusion was known of Cassandra daughter of king Priamus she began to make so great sorrow as if she had been foolish or out of her right mind began to cry on high saying Ha ha right noble Citie of Troy what Faierie hath mooued thee to bee brought to such perils for which thou shalt in short times be beaten downe and thy high Towers be ouerthrown destroied vnto the ground Ha ha queene Hecuba for what sinne hast thou deserued the death of thy children which shal be cruell and horrible wherefore with holdest not thou Paris from going into Gréece which shal be cause of this euill aduenture And when she had so cried she went vnto her father the king and with weeping drowned in teares praied him that he woulde be perswaded for to leaue off his enterprise saying that she wist by her science the great euils and harmes that were comming by this meane But neither for the disswasions of Hector neither admonition nor warning of Cassandra the king woulde not change his purpose nor for Helenus his son nor Pantheus c. CHAP. III. ¶ Howe Paris and Deyphebus Eneas Anthenor and Polidamus were sent into Greece and howe they rauished Helene out of the temple of Venus with manie prisoners and richesse and brought them to Troy where Paris espoused the said Helene AT the entry of the moneth of May when the earth is attyred and adorned with diuers sloures Paris and Deiphebus returned from Panonie and brought with them thrée thousand knightes right hardy and wise Then they made readie two and twentie great shippes and charged and laide in them all that was conuenient for them Then the king Priamus called Eneas Anthenor and Polidamas that was the sonne of Anthenor and praied them and commaunded that they shoulde go into Greece with Paris and Deyphebus and they offered themselues to go with a good will And when they were all ready and assembled for to go into their shippes the king Priamus spake to them in this maner It needeth not to vse many wordes for yee knowe well enough for what cause I send you into Greece and howe well that I haue