best deserued had And ventured life and lim for honors sake But he himselfe no part thereof would take As having more desire to win their hearts Then t' haue their goods for he that 's liberall And mongst his souldiers willingly imparts His treasure into danger nere doth fall And bountie wins their hearts doth them moue Their Generals to honor and to loue CHAP. X. ¶ How Agamemnon assembled all the Nobles â—â—â— chiefe Commanders of the Grecians where vpâ—â— deliberation taken amongst them they sent 〈◊〉 and Diomedes Ambassadors onto Priam Kiâ—â— of Troye to demaund restitution of Queen Helena and the domages done by Paris in the Temple of Cithera THe treasure dealt among them as you heare Commandment was by Agamemnon made That gainst next day the Princes should appeare Before him to conferre and when they had Tane rest a while and that the radiant light Of Phebus glistring face did shinemost bright Vpon the earth The Grecions on the land And Agamemnon plast in royall seat With all his power which bout him then did stand And all the Princes there together met And placed were each one in his degree Silence once made and oportunity Then offered The King with princely grace And pleasing tearmes as being eloquent And very wise rose vp out of his place And shew to them his will and his intent Th' effect whereof in substance doth appeare Hereafter as you presently shall heare My Lords said he you know and must confesse That we of right and meere necessity Compelled are at this time to redresse A wrong to vs done by the cruelty Of Troyans vnto whome we gaue no cause To breake the ancient God of peace's lawes True t is that we as all the world doth know Are of sufficient power force and might And are esteemd and knowne of hie and low To be the men that able are to right All wrongs whatsoere both by sea land T' effect such things as we shall take in hand Despight of all that gainst vs will resist Yet I suppose and 't ever hath been seene That power which in it selfe doth not consist Nor is puft vp with pride hath alwaies beene And to the Gods is most acceptable And longest doth remaine vpright and stable For is there any one amongst vs all But knows for truth and can full well expresse What harmes and griefs do oftentimes befall By envie pride and diuellish wilfulnesse And when by pride men take a thing in hand The Gods incenst their actions do withstand And crosse all those that are superbious For truth to say it is avice abhord Of every man and held most dangerous For pride nought else but mischiefe doth afford Yet must we not for pride esteeme or hold The valor in a man of courage bold For he that vnto pride his mind doth giue Or doth converse with one that 's proud in heart And takes delight with such a man to liue Can neither will nor chuse but haue his part Of all such crosses as to pride befall Which commonly despised is of all And nothing doth impaire mans honor more Of what estate so euer that he bee Then pride Wherfore let vs the same abhore And from it as from cruell viper flee And wholly race it out of heart and mind And so we shall the Gods more gracious find Especially when as our quarrel 's iust And that we ground it vpon equity But if that pride and envie should vs thrust Into a warre without necessity Or lawfull cause but onely of meere hate The end thereof would proue vnfortunate But all you know that we as now are here With full consent within the Troyan land To be revengd for wrongs that long since were By Priam done to vs and for to stand Vnto the triall of our cause by might Wherein we know we do nought else but right And to that end we haue begun t nvade And wasted spoyld and over-run his lands Destroyd and rane his Castles strong and made Occision of his men with warlike bands And many other harmes committed haue Whereof himselfe the first occasion gaue So that if he did hate vs heretofore As by fore passed actions it appeares I dare well say he hates vs now much more And that if to revenge himselfe it were Within his power you presently should see What strange revenge by him would taken bee And yet t is sure that they full well do know And heare of our arrivall in their land Although thereof they seeme to make no show And what by vs is done they vnderstand For that as yet it 's fresh in memory So that if they were strong vs to defie They would soone march to meet vs in the field Yet certaine t is their towne is huge and great And by all men invincible is held And fild with Knights therein together met Of their allies so that ere we begin I know we shall small vantage gainst them win For he that in a quarrell iust doth stand And fighteth to defend his Countreâ— Within a towne in his owne natiue land And hath great store of faithfull friends that be To him allied more vantage hath thereby To ayd himselfe then hath his enemy For oftentimes the Raven doth withstand And fights long with the Fawlcon in his nest Before the Fawlcon gets the vpper hand And hath the meanes to flie and take her rest While that the Fawlcon doth for her attend For birds will in their nests themselues defend I speake not this and so I pray conceaue To put your valiant hearts in any doubt Or once your minds of hope for to bereaue Of bringing this our enterprise about Which is to spoile and vtterly confound The Troyans and their towne though it abound With men and meanes against vs to resist And to defend themselues for certaine time For â—re we from our enterprise desist Which now you see is meerely in the prime We make no doubt but to destroy them all And bring them to their ends what ere befall But th' only cause why I these words nowvse Is to diswade you from presumption And pride of heart least that you should abuse Yourselues herein by indiscretion And wisely in this case so well provide That reason and not will may be your guide And ere we stirre from hence such order take That we may reape great commendation And of our wars a happy end soone make For th'onor of the Grecian Nation For oft we see the want of good foresight I speciall cause to breed a man despight When as he vndertaketh any thing Without forecasting what thereof may fall And in the end doth him to ruine bring It stands vâ—then vpon in mind to call What issue may ensue of our intent Least that in fine it maketh vs repent You know how first King Priamus did send To vs to haue his sister Exion By faire meanes and to peace did seeme to bend Who yet is holden by King Tolamon And how that we with one consent
Wherein they did agree and said they would Preuent King Priam by some meanes before He should proceed to that gainst them swore They would reuenged be on him and make Him and his son both rew they had done so And did among themselues an order take That if the King sent for them they would go So strongly vnto him they should not need Of him nor of his friends to stand in dread Of such great power and might Aeneas was And in the towne so well alyed and had Such store of wealth that he did farre surpas All men therein whereby the people made So much account of him that they did feare And honor him as much and to him weare As dutifull almost in euery thing Which he desird or asked of them as They in a manner were vnto the King For he in wealth and power equall was Vnto him And Anthenor also had Almost as much for euery man was glad To follow them and durst not well deny Whatsoeuer they would haue or did command And did conspire betweene them secretly To yeild the towne into the Grecians hand Vpon condition of security That when t was done they would haue liberty With goods and liues of them their children And kindred borne within the towne to go Or stay securely where they list and when They had agreed among them so to do And scarce had made an end of parlieng They were sent for to come vnto the King Who fully was determined and bent That night to kill them as he purposed And straight Aeneas and Anthenor went And with them such a troope of Troians led To guard them that when as King Priamus Saw them he sent vnto Amphimachus And willed him no further to proceed In that which he had bidden him do that night For that the thing between them two decreed He sayd reuealed was to their despight And as he feard to his destruction For when with more aduise he thought thereon And did perceiue Aeneas with so great A power to come and saw the people so To fauor him he knew he could not let His purpose for he made no more a do But proudly to the King did flatly say That spight of all that thereto would say nay There was no other remedy to be had Whereby they might escape destruction Then peace The which he said should straight be made Wherewith the common people euery one With shouts and cries commended his aduise And praised and extold it to the skies And yet the King was thereunto contrary And would not graunt to yeild vnto his foes But then Aeneas would no longer tarry To argue with the King but fiercely rose And told him whether he were liefe or loth Well pleas'd therewith or angry wroth He must content himselfe for it should be No otherwise and that to his despight And gainst his will and mind they would agree To enter into treaty ere t' were night Of peace to be concluded and set downe Forthwith betweene the Grecians and the towne Which when the King did heare and saw how hot Aeneas and the people were therein He thought to striue with them it was no boot And therefore for the time he did begin With wisedome to dissemble when he saw And knew well that necesty hath no law And for because he could himselfe not mend He told Aeneas fainedly that he Would with them at that time no more contend And also that he was content to be Ruld by them and t' allow and to maintaine Whatsoeuer they in his name should ordaine And so dissembling with them gainst his mind For as the case then stood he could not choose When as he saw that he no meanes could find To shun the snare layd for him nor refuse To yeild vnto their willes he did consent Though faintly that Anthenor should be sent In all their names to parle for the towne And to conclude a Peace as they desird The which before in manner was set downe And with the Greeks agreed and conspird By him and them that of his partie were Contrary to the message he should beare Who going to the Greeks that knew his mind And purpose in that case before he came Was by them entertaind with countnance kind And while he staid with them about the same The Troians in the towne with ioyfull cheare Went on the walles and in their hands did beare Greene Oliue branches signes of perfect peace Which when the Greeks did see that stood below Vpon the plaine their hope therein t' increase With false pretence the like to them did show And to confirme them in opinion Thereof their Generall Agamemnon That no suspition might among them breed Appointed three Commissâ—â—ners to treat Of peace with him which were King Diomed Ulisses and Taltabius King of Creet Esteeming them sufficient to agree Thereon for them and whatsoere should be Done therein by them all to be allowed For good and giuing them commission large When they had sworne on either side and vou'd Vprightly to do that they had incharge Anthenor and they three together went To parle by themselues into a tent And when they were together closely set Within the same alone and priuately Where no man was to hinder them nor let Their busines Anthenor traiterously With envious heart which he to Priam bare In few words did his mind to them declare And said he would giue Troy into their hands That they thereof might at their willes dispose Conditionally that they should put in bonds To him that he Aeneas and all those That were of their affinitie and bloods Should freely with their bodies liues goods Goe where they list or if they would stay still Within the towne as they should thinke it best To take their choise it should be at their will Without all let And therewith did protest That that which he had promist he would do If they would in such sort agree thereto Wherewith the Greeks in solemne wise did sweare T' obserue the same in all things as he made Condition so that no varying weare On either side from that they promist had Vpon the perill of their liues And when They had in that sort sworne to do it Then He charged them to keepe it secretly Vnto themselues and not to make it knowne To any man till with security T' were brought vnto effect least it were blowne To some abroad by those that could not keepe Their tongues from vttring of such secrets deepe And so they might be crost therein before They were aware And therefore did agree That he and they three onely and no more Of what estate soere they were should be Made priuie to the same on neither side And then Anthenor sayd my Lords to hide Our purpose and t' auoid suspition I thinke it good that King Taltabius Should go with me into alone the towne To countnance me vnto King Priamus Who being civile old demure and sad And very wise there will no doubt be made Of him by
And presently without delay command That his desire should straight performed bee And yet he sayd I am abasht to see That thou wâ—th so great wilfulnesse wilt run Vnto thy death and be the onely cause Of thy decay when as thou maist it shun The which thou oughst to doe by natures lawes For men will put the blame in me and say That I by Princely power and force might stay Thy course and so by wrong opinion And populer report would lay on mee The onely cause of thy destruction Which God forbid should ever hap to thee My counsell therefore is thou shouldst aduise Thy selfe heerein and doe it not dispise For better t is thine honor to retaine And safely and securely to retire Therewith into thy natiue soyle againe Then with vaine hope and over fond desire So wilfully to seeke to take in hand An enterprise which no man can withstand This is my doome my counsell and advise Be ruld thereby and shun thy cruell fate Refuse it not I say if thou beest wise Least thou repent when as it is too late But if thou dost persist and wilt not bend Thine eares to mine advise The Godâ— defend And saue and keepe thy life what ere befall And vnto them I le pray with great desire To be thy guide and shield from dangers all That thou maist from that enterprize retire In safety vnto thy land againe Without whose aid be sure thou shalt be slaine And so though grieud to see I cannot stay Thy youthfull fond desires from th'enterprize I le hold my tongue for more I cannot say But wish thou hadst been ruld by mine advise And to the Gods thy enterprize commend Beseeching them good fortune to thee send When as the King to Iason had thus said And by no manner reasons he did vse Could draw him from his course not once dismaid He did his counsell vtterly refuse And humbly kneeling downe vpon his knee With Knightly grace did thanke his maiestie That he vouchsaft to haue such speciall care Of him and so to pitie his estate And therewithall such favor to him bare That fearing he should proue vnfortunate And end his daies in that strange enterprize To keepe him from 't had giuen him that advise But yet said he your grace shall vnderstand For th'enterprse which I now vndertake And mind by force of armes and valiant hand T' effect the same I will it not forsake For no mans counsell nor perswasion Shall turne me from my resolution But as the law and statute hath decreed Which in this case is made to be obserud I will therein couragiously proceed If that my life from danger be preserud But whatsoere befalls Ile take th'adventer And first said he before that I do enter Into the same herein this Princely place And presence of his noble audience I do protest vnto your royall grace That no man can against you take offence If that I die in this mine enterprize Because I do refuse your good advise And of my selfe doe onely tak 't in hand Reiecting any counsell whatsoere And therefore doe protest thereto to stand And without dread or any manner feare Vnto the Gods my selfe I doe commit Hap life or death and what they shall thinke fit T'ordaine for me I will accept the same And take it in good part what ere it be And neither them nor you therefore will blame But willingly will beare th'extremitie And thereof I my full account do make And so as now sayd he my leaue I take First of your grace as dutie doth me bind And then of all this noble audience And so with louing countenance and kind Farewell vnto them all he went from thence And downe vnto the water side did go T' effect his charge as I to you well sho When Titan with the fervor of his heate And brightnes of his beanes had driuen away The Roseat deaw that flowers and hearbs did weat About the howre of nine a clocke that day Iason put on a costly armour bright And joyfully like to a valiant Knight Vnto the water side did take his way And there alone into a boate did go Which purposely prepard for him there lay And with the same vnto the I sle did row Whereas the Bulls the golden Ram did keepe And presently vpon the shoare did leape And making fast the boat vnto the strand Withall the speed he could the next path-way That he did find marcht vp into the land Till wearied for a while and for to stay Downe on the grasse he sate and there he thought Vpon the course Medea had him taught To hold when he should enter into fight Against the brasen Bulls and Dragon fell And when like to a wise and valiant Knight He had a while thereon considered well He rose againe and went so long till hee Came to the place where he the Bulls might see But there I must digresse and to you tell That when he first the enterprize began Medea grieu'd into such passion fell That her faire face became both pale and wan And with a grieued countenance and sad She sat and wept and such great sorrow made That all her face and clothes bedewed were With teares that from her christall eies did fall Which onely did proceed of griefe and feare By her conceiu'd when she to mind did call What danger he might cast himselfe into If carelesly he should forget to do As she had sayd and taught him ere he went And for that cause she was so grieud in mind That nothing could her please nor giue content Vnto her heart the which no rest could find For sobbing and for sighthing till in th' end Into a Terret hie she did assend On top whereof there stood a pinacle From whence the aue being cleare and faire she might Without all let or any obstacle Behold and see her deare and loving Knight And there with teares whichout her eies then ran To speake vnto her selfe she thus began My dearest friend sweet Iason thou that art To me so great a comfort and delight And th' onely joy and pleasure of my hart If that it were within thy power and might To know what griefe for thee as now I feele Thou wouldst to me continue true as steele Meanewhile withall my heart I wish and pray The gods to make thy enterprise to thee So fortunate and prosperous this day That thou therein a conquerer maist be And safe and sound returne with euery member To me againe And that thou maist remember To do as I thee taught in each respect And to obserue it orderly and well And nothing therein any wise neglect That so thine honor which doth now excell May more and more encrease Which vnto me The greatest joy that ere I had would be For if to thee ought happen should amisse Then might I say fare well my hearts delight Farewell my health farewell my worldly blisse Farewell my mirth farewell my loving Knight Farewell my fortune and mine onely joy
that they therein assembled were And every one of them in order set With lookes demure and sad and heauy cheare And many sighs which from their hearts they fet They did begin of Hector to complaine Affirming that they never should obtaine That honor and renowne the which they fought Nor victorie against their foes should haue While he did liue and dailie gainst them fought And to that end they might their honors saue They did consult with one consent and will How that they might that valiant ChaÌ„pion kill Concluding that while he in Troye remaind They never should attaine the towne to win And said that he the same alone maintaind And that he was of all that dwelt therein The only stay and chiefe protection Of them and Troye without exception And castle wall and bulwarke of their land And vnto them a sterne and deadly foe Whose mighty force the Greeks could not withstaÌ„d Nor never should the Troyans overthrow Nor while that he did liue and them defend Bring that their doubtfull warre vnto an end And therefore all together did agree With full and whole consent that by some slight When he should in the field most eager bee To kill and slay the Grecians in the fight Achilles with his Knights should him beset And vnawares advantage of him get And with a mighty troope of Greâ—kes aâ—â—aâ—â—e Him round about and eâ—then â—lay or take Him quicke or dead wherein they could noâ—â—aile If they would do 't and to that end did make A motion to Achilles to require And pray him to accept of their desire To take in hand and brauely vndergoe That great and valiant enterprise to kill By force and slight their chiefe and deadly foâ— Who presently did grant vnto their will And from that time in wayt for him did lie Tâ—â—ntrap him and to kill him sodainly But from thenceforth I counsell him beware That he do not that action vndertake And if therein he needs will haue a share T' were best for him not too much hast to make To try his force gainst Hectors puissant migâ—â— Least fortune turne her face and in despight Looke on him with an angry frowning cheare And make him put his life in ieopardy And into Hectors hands light vnaware And in himselfe the Proverbe verifie He that doth for another set a trap Into the same himselfe may chance â—o hap Which hardly he shall scape if that he trye For Hector had the like desire and will T' encounter with Achilles valiantly And him by all the meanes he could to kill As hauing vowd his death without all doubt If he on him could light to fight it out So that nought else but death he was t' attend If he and Hector chanst to meet in field And thus the Greeks their counsell then did end Which they for that intent had onely held And to their lodgings went their rest to take Till next day in the morne that they did wake CHAP. III. I How the Troyans tooke King Thoas prisoner in the battaile and led him captiue into the Toâ—â—â— WHen faire Aâ—râ—râ— with her drops that thine Complaining made great dolor griefe and And seemed for her childreÌ„s death to whine sorow As she doth vse to doe each Sommer morrow That is when aâ— the dew that it so sweet Each pleasant flower hearbe root doth weet With liquor cleare in Aprill and in May. And when of day the Larke that 's messenger Salutes Aâ—râ—râ— faire in morning gray With sundry notes her woefull heart to cheare And ere the Sunne doth rise with ioyfulnesse Doth make her leaue her griefe and heauinesse At that same time the Grecians did arise And lustily with ioyfull hearts and cheare Put on such armes in braue and warlike wise As aâ— that time it was their vse to weare Intending earely that same day to goe Into the field to meet their deadly foe And Hector also fully purposed That day likewise against the Greeks to fight And early in the morning issued Accompanied with many a warlike knight All borne within the towne of Troye and bred Which formost of them all himselfe did lead Next after him Aeueas followed The second band to guide against their foe The third it was by worthy Paris led Before the fourth Deiphobus forth did goe The fift and last the lusty gallant knight Yong Troyelus conducted to the fight In which fiue bands that issued out as then The History declareth that there were An hundred and iust fiftiethousand men On horse and foot all able armes to beare And fully bent with will and courage great Vpon the Grecian foes that day to set And when they met together on each side With cruell and with deadly hatered And each against the other fiercely ride Paris that all the Persian Archers led And crossebow shot with arrows long round And shafts that were square headed sharply ground Great store of Greeks in furious wise did kill And while that they their valors gainst them tride And that the field began with Knights to fill King Agamemnon on the Grecians side Did enter in with whome when Hector met In furious wise he did vpon him set And in the midst of all his troopes did cast Him cleane out of his sadle to the ground And then did beat the Grecians downe so fast That many dead vpon the plaine were found Till at the last Achilles that did watch And follow Hector if he could to catch Him in a trap came sâ—denly and strake So puissant a blow on Hectors head That with the same he did his Helmet cracke But nought therewith Hector astonished To set vpon Achilles did not faile Intending him in furious wise t'assaile Had not Aeneas come them two betweene And Troyelus with him who both together To set vpon Achilles did begin And with such mighty blows strake one the other That harnas male plates of steele they bâ—â—ke And made each others shields helmet crake And then on each side slaughter great began So cruelly that all the field was red And dyed with bloud of many a valiant man At which time fierce and cruell Diomede By fortune in the prease Aeneas found To whome he gaue a great and deadly wound And therewith all said to him spightfully That 's thy reward because thou dost malign At me and didst giue counsell foolishly In open Court to Priamus the King To slay me there when as I was before Him in the hall as Greeks Embassador Which was against all law of armes right And trust me it shall nere out of my mind Till that I be reveng'd for that despight And for that cause if ere I chance to find Thee in the field if fortune doe consent I le make thee for thy counsell to repent And with my sword which now in hand I beare Thy blood I le shed to make thee feele know How it can cut therewith all did reare His sword on high and gaue him such a blow Againe vpon the
were one of your Royall blood The which I know for all your worldlie good You would by no meanes wish nor gladlie see Wherefore by mine aduise I thinke it best That Thoas should well kept and garded bee Within this towne and quietlie let rest Least as I said to you before it may Fall out that one of vs another day Might hap into their hands and prisoner be And so for him we might haue ours againe Which otherwise if with extreamitie We do proceed we never should obtaine This is my counsell in this case said he And such as I do thinke the best to be Whereto most worthy Hector did consent And with him was of like opinion And said that he no will had nor intent That any wrong to Thoas should be done While he in Troy then prisoner was though he Nere had deseru'd of them well vs'd to be Paris King Priams second son likewise When as his brother Hector had declar'd His mind said vnto them that his aduise Was that he wisht King Thoas should be spar'd And not put vnto death although he said To doe the same they need not be afraid But Deiphobus of cleane contrarie mind Vnto his brethren twaine did say he saw No cause why Thoas should such favor find At Troyans hands who by their marshall law Might iustlie for his merits make him die Being as he was their vtter enemie Whereto with courage bold youthfull heart Prince Troyelus did seeme somewhat t' agree With Deiphobus and said that for his part He did no cause nor any reason see Why they should spare their enemie that sought Their overthrow and to that end had brought His forces fore their towne as fullie bent To worke their vtter ruine and decay But yet said he it is not my intent To counsell you to deale with him that way Least as my Lord Aeneas saith we might Perchance thereby procure our owne despight Whose counsell Lord Anthenor did commend And said that to shew such extreamitie Of marshall Law and rigor to extend To him could not be done advisedlie For that said he there is none of vs all But may into our foes hands chance to fall And with the selfe same rigor vsed be That vnto him we shewd Wherefore I say If that by my advise you 'le ruled be It 's best to let him safe in prison stay And vse him well that we like curâ—esie May haue when need requires of th' enemy Pollidamas his sonne with all the rest Of those that in their Counsell chamber were With one consent did say they thought it best That he should still be kept a prisoner And as Aeneas said be vsed well Till they saw how fortune with theÌ„ would deale But Priamus to wrath and furie bent Did not agree to their opinion And would by no meanes therevnto consent But still maintain'd his first conclusion And said that if the Greeks should once perceiue That we of life do Thoas not bereaue But spare him though vnto that end it were They would report to our no little shame That we dare not attempt to do 't for feare We haue of them and so will vs defame But nere the lesse said he sith you 're content I will though loath vnto the same consent And therewithall their counsell vp they brake And then Aeneas and Anthenor went With Troyelus into the hall and spake With Helena whereas some time they spent With her and with Queene Hecuba that bare Her company with many Ladies faire That with her the Queene then present were Where Troyelus and Aeneas did perswade Queene Helena to set aside all feare Which by the meanes of war that great she had And she although much discontent she were In outward shew did seeme with ioyfull cheare And countenance demure being glad To welcome them as to their state was fit But Hecuba that nere her equall had For vertue bountie eloquence and wit While they vnto Queene Helena so spake Desired them for that faire Ladies sake And for the weale and safety of them all And of the towne that they would not adventer Themselues in field what ever might befall Too farre among the enemies to enter Nor put themselues in danger carelesly And yet besought them to fight valiantly To saue and keepe the towne from that distresse Which th' enemy did seeke to bring 't into The which she said she fear'd she must confesse Although she hope 't they should it never do And so of her and of the Ladies all The knights tooke leaue went out of the hall Meane time the Greeks that morning as I said While Priam in the towne a counsell held Did murmure great sorow mongst them made As in their tents they lay in th' open field To thinke vpon the losse which they sustaind And all of them together much complaind And grieued for the death of many a man Of great account slaine by the cruelties Since that most cruell deadly war began And valor of their Troyan enemies And for the hunger cold and thirst also With sorow thought vnquietnes and woe Which they had had and felt all for nought Or at the least for causes very small If that the ground thereof were truely sought This was the speech and words in generall That through the Grecians campe at that time ran And currantly did passe from man to man But specially amongst the poorer sort Of soldiers who in war most commonly Constrained are t' endure and to support The brunt of all and haue no remedy For though they do find fault grieue therfore Yet are they not relieued nere the more And so they did complaine make great mone To thinke vpon the mischiefe they endured And which to them the Troyan knights had done Thogh't were theÌ„selues that had the same procured Vnto their owne decay and might it shun If they had not that bloudy war begun Which to encrease the next ensuing night So cloudy darke and thicke as pitch became That neither Moone nor star appear'd in sight And such a storme did happen on the same Of thunder lightning wind raine that fell Vpon them as if all the fiends of hell Conspired had their vtter overthrow And therewithall the waters did so rise That all the field and plaine did overflow And with the wind that blew in furious wise Their tents were overthrowne they compeld To leaue the place which all that while they held By reason that the water grew so hie And in that sort the Greeks in great distresse Compelled were all that same night to lie With hearts repleate with griefe and heauinesse In that great storme of thunder wind raine Vntill the water did go backe againe The wind appeas'd and day began t' appeare Next morning when the Sun began to rise Which made the aire shew beautifull and cleare And draue away the clouds out of the skies And with the force and feavor of his heat Dried vp the ground which was
Into great want and famine at the last For by their meanes we can prouide no more And this sayd he is it which they forecast For that which doth for their advantage make For certaine doth from vs advantage take Yet nerethelesse sayd he what did befall Sith to the truce you willingly agree I will not be repugnant to you all Noâ— gainst so many striue and disagree And so they did consent on either side That for 3 moneths the truce should firmly bide And be obseru'd that while it did indure Such as sore wounds and sickenesse doe oppresse Might time and leasure haue their wounds to cure And for their paine and sicknesse seeke redresse And while the truce for that time did abide It was twixt them agreed on either side That to procure Anthenors liberty Who at that time the Grecians prisoner had King Thoas then held in captiuity Within the towne should for him free be made And neither ransome pay but while they sat In counsell thereupon it chanced that The Troian Bishop Calchas cald to mind And thought vpon his daughter Cresida Whom he left in the towne of Troy behind When he the same forsooke and went away At Delos to the Greeks for whom in hart He dayly felt great sorrow woe and smart Supposing that she being there alone Should for his sake because of his offence And treason which without occasion Gainst Troians he had done in his absence Be hardly vsd and little favor find For which he was full sore perplext in mind And made account that he should neuer be Releast nor freed from extreame griefe and paine Till he his daughter Cresida did see And that she were restor'd to him againe And therefore still within his mind forecast While that the time of 3 moneths truce did last How he mihgt her relieue and get away Out of the towne of Troy where he her left And to that end vpon a certaine day As one that were of comfort cleane bereft Sore weeping in great woe and heauinesse He did himselfe vnto the Greeks addresse And humbly on his knees before them fell And with great floods of teares submissiuely His hard and woefull state to them did tell Beseeching them with great humilitie On him and his t' haue compassion And to procure him restitution Of Cresida his child and onely ioy Whom he because he had the Troians left Durst not goe fetch out of the towne of Troy Least he by them should of his life be reft Desiring them that they a meanes would be That she might be exchanged and set free With Thoas for Anthenor which he thought If they to his request would giue consent By their good mediation might be wrought And they for Calchas sake were all content And presently a messenger did send To Priam King of Troy vnto that end To whom they gaue expresse commission To bring their sure for Cresida to pas But when the Troians hard their motion And found that it for Calchas daughter was Whose Father was become so odious To all the towne and to King Priamus That all men sayd he was a traitor false And for his treason great and trechery Well worthy to be hanged by the halâ—e And that he well deserued had to die A farre more cruell death for by the law They sayd they should his traitrous body draw Vnto the place of execution And hang it there till that halfe dead it were And in that sort with speed to cut it downe And it in quarters foure to cut or teare And said sith that he was so badly bent To Troy that death was not sufficient For his offence and answere therefore gaue That sith he had such treason gainst them wrought They flatly sayd he should no fauour haue Of them therein nor yet would graunt to ought That might his mind in any wise content Nor should his daughter Cresida be sent To him as he requird but flatly sayd If they could euer hands vpon him lay He should haue that which he deserued had And vnto his request sayd flatly nay But at the last allthough with much adoe They were content and granted therevnto For Prians King of Troy his sentence gaue That she with Thoas should exchanged be And both of them should for Anthenor haue Their free discharge out of captiuitie Which his decree with Princely promise seald The Troians could by no meanes get repeald But must the same against their wils fulfill And by that meanes she did from Troy depart Although it were full sore against her will For that much grieu d and vexed at the heart Great sorrow and complaint therefore she made Which when time serues vnto you shall be sayd CHAP. IIII. ¶ How during the time of the three moneths truce Hector went into the Greekes campe and there spake with Achilles and what speeches past between them at that time THe truce confirmd as I before did say And for three moneths agreed on either side It chanced that vpon a certaine day Hector out of the towne of Troy did ride And with him many Lords of high degree Determining the Grecians campe to see And entring thereinto directly went With courarge stout and bold saluting none That with him met vnto Achilles tent For he was mou'd with great affection To speake with him although he did intend If that he could to bring him to his end And truth to say Achilles had as much And great desire of Hector t' haue a sight Though as his foe he bare him mighty grutch Intending his destruction if he might Because he nere had meanes nor libertie Hector vnarmd at any time to see And when that they together both were met And each be held the other for a while As in that sort they were together set Achilles vpon Hector gon to smile And sayd great pleasure Hector t is to me That here disarmd at this time I thee see For nere before could I of thee haue sight But in the field when thou thine armes didst were And valiantly with trenchant blade didst fight And therewith put the Grecian Knights in feare But truth to say it 's much more griefe to mee Which am so deadly enemy to thee That now of thee I cannot haue my will For here of be assur'd if that the peace Restraind me not forthwith I would thee Kill So much my wrath against thee doth increase For th' onely thing which I in heart desire Is cruell death to thee t' appease mine ire For oftentimes when t' was my chance to fight With thee in field full sore against my mind I haue both tri'd and felt thy puissant might As by the wounds which I about me find Which yet doth ake and are both fresh greene And for iust proofe are extant to be seene For with thy sword thou oft hast shead my blood And sought to bring my life vnto an end And like a Lyon furious sierce and wood Thou hast not spard my armes to teare and rend And
That I am proud of this my great estate To see my selfe so highly eleuate And that I seeme because of my degree Of Generall t' extoll and magnifie My selfe too much It is so farre from mee That for to proue and show the contrarie And put you cleane out of suspition I will thereof make resignation Vnto you now my selfe thereby t' excuse And for that cause I doe aduise you all Against to morrow in the morne to chuse Whom you will haue to be your Generall For I therein will make no more delay And so their counsell ended for that day And they went to their tents to rest all night And next day in the morning ere the sun Began with radiant beames to shine most bright They met againe for the Election And when they were assembled all together And knew the cause why they did then come thither Agamemnon with sober smiling cheare Rose vp vpon his feet and to them spake And sayd my Lords that are assembled here I need no long discourse vnto you make To show how I with heart and good intent Haue laboured in this my gouernment To see that all things might be done so well That they vnto your good would wholy tend And for th' aduancement of your common weale By ayd of Gods and Fortune that did lend Their grace and helping hand therein to me Whereby your state as yet doth seeme to be Maintaind in honor great and noblenesse So that while you do flourish and vphold The same entire and in great happinesse I thinke it best for me that now I should My gouernment vnto you all resigne While Fortune to the same is so benigne For of so many that here present are I know my selfe most insufficient Alone to take so great a charge and care On me and for that cause t is my intent To leaue the same for he may ouerwhelme A ship that knowes not how to guide the helme My whole desire therefore is that you would Giue leaue to me t'resigne my gouernment And charge which I of all this hoast do hold So that no man therewith be discontent And let vs now with one intention Without all strife and all dissention Amongst vs find and chuse out such a one As we do like and is most fit and meet To gouerne vs by good discretion And in the place of Generall to set Whereto they all agreed with one consent And as he sayd to chuse one were content Here you may see that t is a vsuall thing With men to take delight in novelties And that there thoughts are alwaies wauering And led away with foolish fantasies In them most sure ther 's no securitie For all their minds are on varietie And their delights in alteration And change of state and neuer are content Nor seldome hold in one opinion To day to loue some one man they are bent Next day they le hate that man as much againe And neuer doe in constant mind remaine For in a vaine of meere new â—anglenes Which at that tâ—me mou'd their affection With great oresight and much vnthankfulnes In steed of valiant King Agamemnon They all agreed with one consent and voice Of King Pallamides to make their choice To beare the rule and gouernment of all The Grecian hoast and with most great applause Gaue him the state and name of Generall To rule and gouerne them by Martiall lawes Like as the worthy King Agamemnon Had done before with great discretion Which done they brake vp counsell for that day And euery man vnto his tent did goe But when Achilles who then wounded lay Sore sicke within his tent thereof did know And heard how they all with one will and voice Of King Pallamides had made there choise He was much grieu'd thereat and flatly sayd Agamemnon in his opinion Much fitter was the place still to haue had Then th' other and that their Election In that case was not good nor commendable Nor by their Martiall law available Because t' was done without consent of all The Princes in the hoast he being one Whom they did neither summon nor yet call To be with them at their Election And did esteem't to him a great offence That they did make that choise in his absence And for that cause he was exceeding wroth And chaâ—ed sore but t' was to little end For whether he therewith was leefe or loth They would no eare vnto his speeches lend For no Election more the Grecians would For that time make But sayd it should so hold CHAP. II. ¶ How King Priamus in person issued out of Troy with a puissant â—â—ast to reuenge Hectors death and fought most valiantly against the Grecians THe time of truce aforesayd being out The next ensuing morrow Priamus Though old in yeares yet valorous and stout Of heart was in his mind desirous Against the Grecians valiantly to fight T'reuenge the death of Hector if he might Which when the Troians knew and did behold Their aged Kings great courage and his might They were exceeding glad and sayd they would Aduenture life and lim with him to fight Against the Greeks and therefore euery one Did arme himselfe with resolution That day to issue forth with Priamus And those of Troy that armor bare as then Were as my Author Dares â—elleth vs An hundred and iust fiftie thousand men Besides all those of other countries That ayded him against his enemies And first into the field went Deiphobus And after him his brother Paris led The second ward the third King Priamus Then Menon and Aeneas followed And last of all Pollidamas did goe The rere-ward to conduct in warlike shoe And that same day vpon the Grecians side With mighty troopes all in good order set Pallamides with heart replcat with pride The Troians in the field most brauely met And when the Battailes ioynd on either side King Priam to Pallamides did â—ide And like a worthy Prince of great renowne Most valiantly vnhorst him with his launce And cleane out of his sadle bare him downe Vnto the ground and forward did aduance Himselfe and road among the Grecians And with his trenchant blade in both his hands So heawd beat downe and mightily ore-run The Grecians in the field where he did ride That they for feare his puissant blowes did shun And durst not in his furious sight abide And them so fast and cruelly did slay That wheresoere he road they made him way And shund his sword he was so furious For all that day he fought so valiantly And shewd himselfe so strong and valorous That wonder t' was he could so puissantly And long in field against his foes endure Being of so great an age for t is most sure That by his valor great and puissant might Which he that time couragiously did shoe He put the proud and haughtie Greeks to flight His Sonne Deiphobus valiantly also That followed him so fiercely on them set That he did kill and beat downe all he met King Sarpedon
If euer he slew any worthy Knight Vnlesse it were by treason as t is true And proued by King Menons death whom he Slew in that sort And then giue him his dew And thou shalt find his knight-hood staind to be With foule disgrace and all his praise nought worth And contrary to that which thou setst forth So that thou canst not rightly and speake true Though nere so eloquently thou dost write Commend him vnlesse that thou saist vntrue And showst thy selfe one that doth take delight To hide his treason with thy sugred phrase And him that nere deseru'd the same to praise But now I must leaue Homer and againe Returne to show vnto you how that day When that Achilles Troielus had slaine Who of the Troians then was th' onely stay The Greeks encouragd by King Menclaus And others were so fierce and furious Vpon the Troians and did them pursue So hotly that they forced them to flie In mighty feare and many of them slew As they before them ran and cruelly Did wound orethrow chase beat theÌ„ down Euen to the walles and trenches of the Towne And made them in despight their heaâ—tâ— forsake The field and t' enter Troy most woefully With Troiclus whose body they did take And bare it in with great solemnity Where all along the towne as it did pas Such sorrow for his death then made there was That no man liuing can discribe or tell The halfe thereof No not most learned Boys Who hath the praise in phrases fit t' excell And of most dolefull words to haue great choise When as he maketh shew to weep and crie In his complaint made to Philosophie Wherein he seemeth Fortune to accuse For her vnconstant dealing and doth charge Her by that meanes all mortall men t' abuse Nor Stacie who of Thebes writes at large The woefull and the most vnhappy fall And doth describe the death and funerall Of those that were the causers of the same Leaue of thy mournfull weeping Niobe And thou that art reported t' haue the fame Each yeare so farre ore land and sea to flee And great complaints and woefull cries to make For thy deare brother Aliagers sake Let Oedipus the Theban King that so Did weepe and waile that he lost both his eies Content himselfe and many other mo As Mirha and Calixtone whose cries And dolefull mones so well were heard seene And Dido faire that sometime raigned Queene Of Carthage towne and for her loue did die Let Phillis mourne no more for Demophonâ— Nor eccho still renew her woefull crie Let faire Corrinne cease to make such mone As she long did and nere left night nor day Because that she had lost her Popingay As Onid in his Booke doth tell And let All their complaints their forrowes their mone Forgotten and cleane out of mind be set For they are nothing in comparison To that of Troy which euery one did make Within the towne for worthy Troylus sake For high and low wiues children and men So piteously complaind and for him there So many salt and brinish teares were then Let fall that men nought els in Troy did heare But mournfull cries and lamentations sad By them cast forth That nere the like was made In any place nor no man well can tell Nor yet expresse the same for it is sure That Pluto whom men call the Prince of Hell For all the torments great he doth indure Proserpinâ— nor furious Ticius Nor Irian nor hungry Tantalus Though they tormented are with extreame paine With him together in th' infernall lake Nere could nor did more bitterly complaine Then all the Troians did for Troielus sake For who-could grieue more then King Priamus Or shead more dolefull teares and piteous Out of their eies then Hecuba the Queene Eassandra Hellen Paris Hellenus And beautifull young Lady Pollicene Or then the Troians with most dolorous And woefull cries did all in generall Shed forth and did gainst Fortune cry and call Accusing her of great inconstancie For they were cleane discomforted and out Of hope to be relieud sith enviously She had bereaued them of Hector stout And of his valiant brother Deiphobus And in their greatest need of Troielus So that in sore distresse and desperate mood They vtterly dispaird of their estate The which they knew in danger great then stood And made account as men vnfortunate T' expect nought els but their confusion And finally the whole destruction Of them and of their towne that was so strong And therefore it availeth not to mourne Nor of their griefe to make discourse so long Sith they by Fate to that hard hap were borne And for that cause I le leau't and to you shoe How Prianous in that distresse and woe A messenger vnto the Grecians sent For truce for certaine moneths which presently With all the Grecian Princes full consent Agamemnon did graunt and ratefie Which either side obseru'd while it did last And freshly fought againe when it was past CHAP. III. ¶ How Paris slew Achilles and Archilagus Duke Nestors Sonne in the Temple of A pollo in Troy THe truce aforesaid lasting Priamus A Sepulcher did make most sumptuously Of metall and of stone for Troielus And buried him with great solemnity And hard by him King Menons body lay Intombed and both buried on a day And as the Pagans were accustomed By th' ancient lawes in ceremoniall wise Most dolefully for them solemnised And dewly held their funerall obsequies With great deuotion and obseruances The which to you is needles to expresse And therefore at this time I le let it pas As tedious both to heare and tell likewise And shew you how Queene Hecuba that was Sore grieu'd for death of Troilus did deuise And practise in her mind how to require Achilles for the trech'ry and despight Which he both vnto her and Troy had don And to that end she sent in secret wise For Paris who was then her eldest Son To whom with teares that trickled downe her eies Aud mournfully with sad and heauy cheare She spake and sayd to him as you shall heare Paris thou knowest as well as I can tell How false Achilles by his trechery Hath slaine my sonnes who liuing did excell Him farre and by his extreame cruelty Hath me bereaud of them and left me none But onely thee to comfort me alone For cowardly thou knowst how he did slay Thy eldest brother Hector vnaware And Troielus likewise that were a stay And comfort vnto me in griefe and care And therefore now I haue determined Within my mind his traiterous blood to shead And him to pay as reason is and right With treason for his treason done to me And treachery with treach'ry to requite And thus it is thou knowest well that he Loues Policene thy sister and doth craue Most earnestly her for his wife to haue Now my intent is presently to send For him without delay to come to me Into Apollos Temple to the end We
her selfe and to that end Determining him home againe to call A messenger with speed to him did send And to him by her letters signified That whereas she had wrongtully deny'd Him enterance into his Land when he Returned from the siege of Troy she said That she with all her whole Nobilitie Submissiuely for pardon crau'd and praid Him to come home againe into his land Which news when he from her did vnderstand Remitting all offences whatsoere Vnto him done he was content to do As she desir'd and with her fault to beare As being more of mercy mou'd thereto Then iustice which doth wrongs with force requite And as he was a wise and courteous knight When he did by her letters vnderstand Her meaning and intent he thought it best To stint all strife therefore out of hand Did willingly graunt vnto their request And speedily returned home agene And reconcild was vnto his Queene And for his part all wrongs forgotten were And pardoned to his Nobility And after that he liued long time there In high estate and great felicity And with his Queene a happy life did lead But cause no more of him I further read I will leaue off to speake of him as now And vnto Duke Aeneas turne my stile And of him briefely tell vnto you how When he in Troy remained had a while To aid them with Diomed spent Some time therein with many men he went Aboord his Troian ships well furnished Of all things that for him were necessary And hoysing sayles put vnto sea with speed And prosperous wind till it began to varry And made the seas to storme waues to rise And mount aloft almost vnto the skies And hauing many dangers ouerpast And sayled many miles along the coast He did ariue at Carthage at the last When he his wife by Fortune strange had lost But to declare all that to him befell And seuerally vnto you here to tell How that Queene Dido loued him and gaue Him treasure gold costly jewels store With all things els that he desir'd to haue And how for all the loue she to him bore He shewd himselfe to her so much vnkind That as you shall at large in Virgill find He secretly from her did steale away And got into his ships ere she it knew By night when she in bed fast sleeping lay For which in desperate wise her selfe she slew And sayled into Italy whereas He did through many hard adventures pas And diuers battailes fought and at the last Did conquer it and therein raigned King With all his long and tedious trauailes past It needles were for me sith every thing Declared is by Virgill long before I wrote this Booke which of him speaks no more But sheweth how Horestus to requight His Fathers death on them that had him kild Did find the meanes as equitie and right Requires that blood by murther falsely spild Should by the King of kings most iust decree Without all doubt at last revenged bee For blood by murther shead or violence Doth neuer cease for vengance loud to call On him that hath committed such offence Which on him at the last will surely fall And giue him that reward he hath deserud For none can scape the doome that is reseru'd For murthers by God that sits on hie And doth behold downe from his heavenly throne All actions good or bad with equall eie Who though a while he letteth them alone And makes a shew to winck at faults forepast When he sees cause he le punish them at last At such time as they little thinke thereon The which he doth full often for our good As for the murther of Agamemnon He made one that was next to him of blood Horestus his owne Son his substitute His iudgement in that case to execute And vnto him procured meanes might By aid of freinds to bring the same to pas Who when he had been made dubbed knight By Idumeus King of Creet when as He had attaind to twenty foure yeares old And was of body strong and courage bold And therewithall both wise and provident And calling vnto mind the iniurie He had sustaind was resolutely bent If Fortune vnto him did not deny Her ayd to proue if that he could obtaine His kingdome and his heritance againe The which by force Egistus from him held And wrongfully possest by false pretence Of wedlocke thereby had him compeld For safegard of his life to flie from thence For which he did protest while he had breath To be revengd and also for the death And murther fowle of King Agamemnon His father on all those that had conspird And traitrously procurd it to be don And to that end most earnestly desird Idumeus King of Creet to stand his friend Some ayd some reliefe to him to lend To helpe him to assaile his enemie By whom he did such iniurie sustaine Which his request the King would not denie But willing his iust quarrell to maintaine Ordained that a thousand Knights should goe With him to fight against his cruell foe Egistus that by force and violence So long time vnto him had done such wrong Which done Herestus by his diligence In little time did make himselfe so strong That he another thousand knights did win To go with him and therewith did begin With all his power to march and in the way As he along did through the countrey pas The first place where he did incampe and stay To victuall and to rest his army was Within a towne Troyesa cald where he Was welcomed with great solemnitie By Forence King thereof who hated sore Egistus for his barbrous cruelty In murdering King Agamemnon but more Because of great deceit and trechery He had vnto him done when as the king That loud him well him so much honouring Vnto him gaue his daughter young of age To be his wife but he respecting not The Kings good will nor breach of mariage When he had her virginitie once got Car'd not for her but quickly changd his mind And shewd himselfe vnto her so vnkind That he without a cause her cleane forsooke And gainst the lawes of equitie and right Committed fowle adulterie and tooke Clytemnestra to his wife when he by night With her consent had slaine Agamemnon And of Methena Crowne bereft her Son And for that hatefull false conspiracle By her and him so mischieuously wrought Committing murther and adulterie King Forence that by all occasions sought To be revenged on him for the â—ame Assoone as Prince Horestus to him came He did not onely offer him some ayd To helpe him in his need against his foe But in most friendly wise vnto him sayd That he himselfe would also with him goe And with foure hundred Knights well furnished Vnto Methena land accompanied Him all the way but ere they entered Into the same Horestus first did go Into the Temple where he offered A sacrifice vnto the Gods to know How he should speed
and also to implore Their aid therein and when he kneeld before The Altar he by Oracle was told And bidden that without compassion Shewn to his mother Clytemnestra he should Revenge the death of King Agamemnon His father vpon her that was the cause That he was slaine against all humane lawes And that he should no mercy to her show But to fulfill the Gods degree and hest He willed was her body all to hew In peeces small which done he should not rest Till he had slaine Egistus in likewise For iust reward of their great cruelties Enioyning him not to be negligent In any wise but carefully t' effect And execute the Gods commandement On paine if that he did the same reiect Of that which might vnto himselfe ensue Which Oracle which as Horestes knew He entred straight into his natiue soyle Where when he came all that did him withstand He did in hostile wise destroy and spoile And being in the middest of the land Layd siege vnto Methena towne whereas False Clytemnestra the Queene at that time was But ere Horestus fully thither came To plant the fiege Egistus in great post The day before was gon out of the same Intending to prepare a mighty hoast To set vpon Horestus and constraine Him to breake vp his siege but all in vaine For while Horestus still before it lay He ceased not his spies abroad to send To see and to enquire every day Which way he went and what he did intend Or meant to do and purposely did set Some bands of Knights his passages to let Appointing others speedily to ride And follow him about in euery place Commanding them t'assaile him on each side And euer more to keepe him still in chase While he the towne so hotly did assaile That it could not against his force prevaile So that at last he tooke it by assault And entring thereinto at euening late He found the Queene Clemnestra in a vaut Whom when he had set watch at every gate He caused to be bound in chaines layd Therein againe where till next day she staid While traitrous King Egistus hast did make Withall the power of men that he could get T' invade with speed and vnawares to take Horestus him of his purpose let And him thereby an ouerthrow to giue And by that meanes Methena to relieue But all that he could doe did nought availe For vnawares Horestus with him met And with such mighty force did him assayle That in short space he did the victory get And having slaine and put his men to flight Himselfe was tane to his great despight In prison cast with hands and feet fast bound Which done Horestus caused every one Wichin the towne that were consenting found Vnto the death of King Agamemnon As also those that armes against him bare To be committed prisoners did spare None whatsoere he was but all receiu'd Due punishment for their reward were Condemnd to die of their liues bereaud Next day when as the Son shin'd bright clreare And first Clemnestra principall head Of all the rest in mighty feare dread Was fore Horestus brought who presently Severely drew his sword therewithall When as he had condemned her to die Did hew cut her into peeces small And caused her in that sort to be borne Out of the towne to be deuourd and torne By Beasts and Birds and haue no buriall And by that meanes gaue her a iust reward Which done he did for false Egistus call Who when he had likewise his sentence hard Which was that he starke naked drawne should be Along the towne and hang'd vpon a tree And not to be cut downe but there to rot To execution went and so you see What guerdon by Gods iudgement murther got And they are so repaid that traitors bee And then the rest that with them did consent To kill the King and to rebell were sent Out of the towne hangd on gibbets hie That all men might example by them take And so Horestus with severitie Reuenged was for Agamemnons sake On them that him so traitrously had slaine And got his lost inheritance againe But when he had thus finished and don That which the Gods commanded had tane Revenge for death of King Agamemnon So traitrously by Queene Clytemnestra slaine King Menalus ariuing with his fleet Of ships that with him came from Troy in Creet And with him brought Queene Helena the faire That had been cause of all the Troian warre The people did in mighty flocks repaire To see and to behold her beauty rare For which so many Princes great were slaine But things once done cannot b'vndon againe Who hearing of his brothers death that In traitrous wise he had been murthered By Clemnestra his wife was grieud thereat But yet with partiality much led Considering on the fact as it behou'd Him to haue done he was in hart â—ore mou'd Against Horestus that so merciles With rigor great and extreame crueltie Had slaine his mother like one pitiles And cleane bereft of all civility For which he swore vou'd if he did liue He would him of his regall Crowne depriue Affirming for his cruelty so great By law of God that he vnworthily Vpon his Fathers Royall throne did sit And therefore straight againe to ship did hie And leauing Creet to Athens sayl'd so fast That he ariud in Nestors land at last And therein was receaud and welcomed As his estate requird but he possest With fury great and by much choller led Would not content himselfe nor be at rest Till he had told to Nestor why he came And of him askt his counsell in the same Desiring him that he a meanes would be By counsell by power if that he might To put Horestus from his dignitie And Regall throne which though it were his right He said that he had lost the same because He had his mother slaine gainst natures lawes And therevpon to Athens both they went And did require the Princes of the land To meet together there in Parlament Where Menalus gaue them to vnderstand What Horestus to Clytemnestra had don And craued all their iudgements therevpon Who being there himselfe and hearing what King Menalus had said and did esâ—ie His meaning and intent was flatly that He would haue him depriued Did replie With courage bold and sayd he had don nought But that which all the Gods decreed and thought Convenient to be done and then did shew How he commanded was by them to go Into Messena land and there to hew His mother all in peeces and to do The same without all ruth or compassion Because she had kild King Agamemnon And that the murther chiefely had been wrought By her alone against all humane lawes And therefore all the Princes there besought With equitie to thinke vpon the cause And not with any malice nor in rage To seeke to take from him his heritage He being Son to King
solemnity They crownd him king of all that land made Such triumph at his Coronation And also such a royall banquet had That if I should thereof make mention It were too much and I must it forbeare Because mine Author writes not thereof here But briefly tels that Pyrrhus by his might Encreased much the Land of Thessalie And raign'd long there with equitie and right And no more thereof speaketh presently But vnto other matter turnes his stile And shews how king Idumeus dīd the while In Creet where he long time had raigned king And after him his sonne Prince Merryone Succeeded who vntimely death did bring Vnto his end and children hauing none His brother Prince Leorica obtaind The Crown of Creet therin long time raignd And while in Creet this change of Princes fell Atastus by consent of Pyrrhus made A rich and sumptuous tombe which did excell For workmanship wherein when as he had According to his mind full finished All that thereto belong'd he buried His sons which by king Pyrrhus had been slaine Within the wood And leaving him doth show How while that Pyrrhus prosperously did raigne In Thessalie and did in wealth oreflow He was provoked want only to lust For that which by Gods law is held vniust And fell in loue with faire Queene Hermion Horestus wife and had so great desire To her that he did wholly thinke thereon Whereby his heart was set on such a fire Of lust that he by no meanes could content His mind till he vnto Methena went And there his purpose brought so well about That watching time and oportunity When Horestus her husband was gone out He ravisht her and after secretly Tooke her away and held her as his wife And long with her liu'd an adulterous life For which Horestus hated him so sore That he sought all the meanes he could devise Or find to be reveng'd on him therefore But held his peace as being very wise And for a little while sustaind that wrong As knowing well that Pyrrhus was too strong For him to deale withall t'revenge the same At home within his land Who also made Andromecha Prince Hectors wife that came With him from Troy his Concubine and had A child by her who by his Grandsiers name Achillides was cald and with the same She nourished Prince Hectors eldest sonne Laomedon who Pyrrhus being slaine And left no child to be his heire but one A bastard borne his kingdome did obtaine By gift of yong Achillides his brother Whome Pyrrhus did beget vpon his mother Which women being both of high estate And living in great pleasure and delight Could not content themselues but so did hate Each other that Queene Hermion in despight And iealousie that Pyrrhus loved better Her Feer then he did her did send a letter To Menalus her father t'whome she wrot That notwithstanding her so great degree She well perceau'd that Pyrrhus lou'd her not But favored more Andromecha then she Desiring him with speed to come to kill Her and her sonne who granted to her will And in great hast went vnto Thessalie To be reveng'd on them that never had Offended him but yet his cruelty Could not so farre extend but he was made To leaue the same by those that did withstand Him in the towne and tooke her out his hand And did abhorre such inhumanity Especially in him that was a king Vnto a woman done which certainly In my conceit is such a hainous thing That it doth make me blush for very shame That I should be compeld to tell the same But you must vnderstand that this was done When Pyrrhus was from home gone away For he that time on pilgrimage was gone To Delos there to sacrifice and pray Devoutly for his fathers soule vnto Apollo and such other things to do As he had vowd and promist to fulfill For ioy of that revenge that had been made At Troy on those that did his father kill And for that great good fortune that they had To triumph ore his Troyan enemy Which vantage when Horestus did espy Who still laid watch for him both day night He did no time nor no occasion let But straight to Delos went with many a knight And on him there so furiously did set That Pyrrhus was not able to withstand Horestus but was slaine there by his hand And all that were with him in company And so king Pyrrhus dy'd and lost his life For iust reward of his adultery And foule abuse done to Horestus wife And let all those that vse to do the like Remember this know that God will strike Them likewise when they little thinke thereon Whose body was in Delos Temple layd Within a costly Marble tombe which done Horestus there no longer time delayd But straight when as his enemy was slaine He went and got his wife by force againe Out of the towne of Thessalie whereas He found not one that durst against him stand Such feare griefe amongst them then there was When they of Pyrrhus death did vnderstand And that to rule and governe them was none Then left but yong Achillides his sonne A child as then not fully three months old Whose yong and tender age was not to take So great a charge in hand and yet they would Not put him from 't but for his fathers sake They were content that he ore them shold raigne But when he did to lawfull yeares attaine He did resigne his crowne and all his right In Thessalie vnto Laomedon His brother by the mothers side a knight Of worthy Troyan blood Prince Hectors son Begotten on his wife Andromecha Protector while he liu'd of Phrigia And made him king Soveraigne of that land Despight of all that durst the same denie Who when he had the Crowne chiefe command Of all the puissant Realme of Thessalie He let the Troyan captiues all go free Where as they list at their owne liberty And no exception made of any one But freed them of all ransome whatsoere They were to pay and when he had so done And set all things in peace and quiet there And much encreast the bounds of Thessalie He raign'd long there in great prosperity But of the acts of king Laomedon Or of king Pyrrhus and his kindered I le cease to speake as now because thereon Mine Author writes no more that I can read Who briefly by the way somewhat doth show But to what purpose well I do not know Of Menons wife whome fierce Achilles slew Because when he Prince Troyelus had kild And at his horses taile his body drew He valiantly withstood him in the field And made him leaue his body by force Sore wounded beat him down off frō his horse Whose body was entomb'd by Priamus In Troy within a little Temple where It lay close by the Tombe of Troyelus And after did stand therein many a yeare Who saith that long time after she was dead And in her natiue
Without all doubt or contrariety For in her was his whole felicitie And when the three daies foresaid ended were Achilles vnto Hecuba straight sent His messenger againe of her t' inquire What Priam sayd concerning his intent To whom she told at large what had been don And how that she the King thereto had won And Paris likewise to consent thereto As also that her selfe well willing was With them t' agree and graunt it should be so If he could find the meanes to bring 't to pas That peace betweene them as he said he would Perpetually for euermore should hold The which she sayd he must first bring about And sure and perfect make in each condition And then he should not need to stand in dout Of speeding in his loue with expedition Wherewith Achilles messenger content Out of the towne vnto his maister went To whom he told the answere that was made By Hecuba to him wherewith well pleas'd And seeing that no other way he had But peace whereby he might of griefe be eas'd He purposed to bring the same t' effect And did no time nor any meanes neglect To find a way t' impart the same vnto The Greeks the which while he did goe about Supposing certainely that they would do The same for him and yet thereof did doubt At last into a desperate mind he fell And did perswade himselfe in heart full well That he the power had to worke his will And that without all cause of doubt or feare The Grecians would most redily fulfill His mind and graunt to that he should require And in that sort he did himselfe perswade All should fall out as he devised had According to his will and fantasie As louers vse to doe Who whatsoere They take in hand thinke it must certainely Fall out though nere s'impossible it were So much their minds with folly are possest And so Achilles did set downe his rest And was in hope his mind to satisfie Supposing that for his great worthines His mighty strength and his actiuitie His high renowne and passing valiantnes Whereof with no small pride great boast â—â—e made And in himselfe therefore much glory had The Grecians would be in dispaire and feare For euer winning Troy if he withheld His helping hand and that by him they were Forsaken when they went into the field And would at last and onely for his sake The siedge of Troy and all their warre forsake Vnlesse that he among them still did stay To helpe them till that they had made an end And for that cause he made no more delay But did procure Pallamides to send For all the Lords vnto his tent to know What vnto them he did intend to show And when that they assembled were together Achilles spake and sayd as you shall heare My Lords sith it hath pleas'd you to come hither And that at my request you summond were Let me desire you without offence To tell my mind before this audience I know sayd he that for the prouidence The wisedome and the great discretion The valor mighty force and sapience The honour wealth and excellent renowne Wherewith you are endowed your worthy name From East to West is spread by trompe of Fame But nerethelesse that these things doe belong Of right to you yet this I must you tell That though that you be nere so huge and strong As truth to say you doe in force excell All Nations yet if you doe consider The very cause wherfore you are come hither You must confesse and so it will be found That you in this your quarrell had no right Nor reason wherevpon you might it ground For sure it is most euident to sight Of euery man that beares an vpright hart That you herein did play a foolish part Without forecasting with advisednes What cause you had to make this mortall warre For when as we by foolish hastines Did come out of our countries so farre Into the Troian land our liues to venter Against our foes The quarrell we did enter At that same time into as euerie one Of vs well knows was for the iniurie And to revenge the priuate cause alone Of Menelaus for who can it denie That th'ravishing of Helena his wife Was th' onely cause of all the warre and strife Betweene vs and the Troyans which as now We do maintaine with great hostilie And for the which we all haue made a vow To sacke the towne of Troy with ieopardie Of life and goods and for that cause haue left Our Countries and our Cities and bereft Our children and our wiues of all delight And ioy make them mourne in great distresse While we remaine here in the field to fight Against our foes in griefe and heauinesse Assailed and enclos'd on every side With enemies and nought but death abide For sith the time that this our warre began Which onely of meere pride we do maintaine It hath vs cost the life of many a man Of great and meane account that now are slaine Who might haue liu'd at home in wealth ioy If they had not come hither vnto Troy To loose their liues by their owne wilfulnesse Here in this place with great extreamitie And for my part I must in truth confesse That by the Troyans force and crueltie So much bloud I haue lost since we began This warre that it hath made me pale wan And not long since I had a wound againe Which Hector with a Dart did giue to me Vpon the thigh that day that he was slaine Which put me to so great extremitie That it hath made me long in bed to lie To heal't and yet I doubt thereof to die I ft be not quickly cur'd for t is yet greene And very sore and puts me to great paine With many other wounds that yet are seene Vpon me still which make me oft complaine And truth to say if it considered were We should not buy Queene Helena so deare As for her t'hazard life and lim and all Our honors and our worldly goods and fame The which vnto vs quickly may befall If we haue not regard vnto the same And in our minds consider not how much This doubtfull warre for Helen doth vs tuch For if that we our reckning rightly make And call to mind what alteration Hath falne since we the same did vndertake And what destruction of our warlike Nation Hath for her sake been made yet much more Dishonor we are like to haue therefore And to incurre for as it doth appeare Although we do still hold this siege so long In fine if that we do continue heare It will to vs because of greater wrong And more and more redownd vnto our shame If order be not taken for the same Which may be if that we on either side Together would agree with one consent That Helena in Troy shall still abide And that King Menelaus would be content To take another wife and let her go That to him doth her selfe vnfaithfull
shoe Which he by law and without blame mya take And be diuorst from Helena sith she So shamelesly in Greece did him forsake For Paris and commit adulterie Thereby with foule disgrace vnto her name And truth to say to her perpetuall shame For many great examples extant be And through the world are to be heard seene How that for filthie foule adulterie Great Princes from their wiues divorst haue beene And therefore it can be no preiudice If for that most accursed sinfull vice King Menelaus doth iustlie her forsake And of another wife doth make his choise The which of him much more account will make Whereto if that you all will giue your voice T' will for our good be cause this warre to end Wherein our liues and blood we vainly spend And likely is if it continue long To cost much more both of our liues and bloud For Troy is so invincible and strong And furnished with worthy Knights and good And in so great a number that though wee Should stay here still the vttermost to see We neuer should be able to attaine To that we do pretend and so desire And therefore sith t is so it were in vaine For vs to stay and proudly to aspire With wilfulnes to that we cannot get But rather let 's our minds on reason set And thinke more of our profit then our glorie And wisely in good time withdraw our power While honor graceth vs with victorie Sith we cannot make fortune if she lower To stay her wheele which is so variable And therefore ere she waxeth mutable And doth begin on vs to change her cheere Let vs leaue off the warre and liue in peace And go our way and stay no longer heere For better t is from bloodie warre to cease While we may doo 't so our honor saue For of the warre th' advantage yet we haue For all men know that by our valor great Our principallest foe Prince Hector's slaine My counsell therefore is we should not let Th' advantage goe while we do still retaine Our honor and ere fortune gins to lower And seekes to crosse vs by her mighty power With one consent and sole opinion Of heart and mind we should no more soiourne Hold at this siege but let vs euery one With speed into our natiue Land returne For if that we our quarrell still maintaine Which now so long hath held I tell you plaine I am in doubt great detriment will be Our shares at last Wherefore I thinke it best Our follie to reiect and ere we see Worse happen vnto vs set vp our rest To leaue the warre while as t is knowne to all We are in fame and honor peregall With them of Troy and them surpasse if we Our state he hold in his assention And while that it is in the highst degree But least some men should make obiection And say that we cannot our honor saue If we returne to Greece and cannot haue Our wills to beare faire Helen backe againe Into our natiue land for whome so many Of vs haue in this cruell warre been slaine I say if that amongst vs there be any That thinks and is perswaded in his mind If we go hence and leaue her here behind It will to our most great dishonour bee I say that it to vs can be no shame If that into the depth there of we see Sith we haue one for honor and for fame As great as she and by her birth as good For she descends of high and royall blood As all you know the Princesse Exion King Priams sister who against their will In Greece is holden by King Thelamon As Helen is by Paris gainst our will And therefore sith it now can be no other My counsell is to set th' one gainst the other And all the wrath and envie that doth rest Betweene vs and the Troyans to appease The which I thinke and know would be the best For vs and them and for our good and ease Which otherwise said he will never end If you vnto my counsell will not bend To whome with extreame wrath King Menelaus Who with Achilles words did seeme most tucht And Thoas also and Duke Menestes Who likewise at his insolency grucht All with one voyce vnto Achilles spake And into mightie choller gainst him brake And with them all the rest impatientlie The Court perturb'd and did begin to fall Into great words much vnadvisedlie Against Achilles and at last said all They would not to his counsell then consent Nor to make peace in any wise were bent Wherewith Achilles full of wrath and ire The which did seeme to burne within his heart To see they would not grant to his desire Did sodenlie vpon his feet vp start And in a furie great did go away And said he would no longer mongst them stay Nor aid nor succor them in any wise What need so euer they of him should haue To fight against their Troyan enemies And to his men a speciall charge he gaue To see they did not aid the Grecians In any wise against the Troyans When so euer they to battaile forth should go In which his resolution firmely standing He did a while himselfe so constant show That while gainst them in that sort he was banding The Grecians many overthrows receau'd And thousands of them were of life bereau'd And while this controversie thus remaind The Grecian host great want of victuals had Whereby as then much hunger they sustaind For which mongst them great muttring there was For at that time they were so much distrest made For want of food that they were sore opprest Till that their Generall Palamedes To remedie the same a Court did call Of all the Princes in the host t' appease Their murmuring and by consent of all That then assembled were did order take A fleet of ships in readinesse to make Whereof the King Agamemnon should be Commander and with speed with them should saile To Messa for some victuals if that he In that same Isle of so much could prevaile As need requird for their necessitie To put them out of that extremitie Who being there arriu'd such favor had Of Thelaphus the King that therein raign'd That he not onlie ready was and glad To aid the Greeks therein but straight obtaind Commission presently and with all speed Of him to take as much as they should need Of euery kind of victuals in that jsle Commanding all his subiects to fulfill The same with speed and so in little while According to his pleasure and his will They made so great prouision of each thing That seru'd for food that presently the King Did fraught and fill their ships with mighty store Of victuals that so much as then they had That in them they could put nor lade no more Whereof King Agamemnon being glad He tooke his leaue of Thelaphus and so With all his ships full laden forth did go And put to sea and so with wind and weather