which they sawe al the feat how sambor laye ofte times iÌ„ the bed wy t the quene wher of they were moche displaisaunt for they knew nothing jason but thought that he had ben somÌ„e vylayne And one of thyse thre had a broder named Brutorê° that soreloued the quene but he durste iÌ„ no wyse declare hit and whan this suster of brutorus apperceyued the conduyt of jason aÌ„d of Myrro knowing that her broder loued the quenc despyte and enuye grewe in her iÌ„ suche wise that she coude not kepehit secrete but callyd on a daye Brutorus and said to him that Sambor dyde him wroÌ„g of hys loue and certefyed to hiÌ„ how she had seen him lye by nyght with Mirro in her propre bedde ¶ Whan brutorus had vnderstaÌ„de thyse tidinges he was moche pensif ê¯ceyued a mortall hate ayenst jason and concluded in hym self that he wold murdre hym yf he mighte finde hym or retaine him at his auaÌ„tage howe well he durst not saye so ne make ony semblant and was right long in thys payne and alway machyning a right eÌ„venymoê° will And for somoche bare iÌ„ his stomasi the desir for to bringe the vaylliaunt knight to deth And on that other side the pren Iason that thoughte nothing but wel mayntenyd him ryght amerously wyth his lady the fayr myrro At last the winter passed and the new joly season begaÌ„ to come and thenÌ„e the noble pren Iason remembrid him that at the eÌ„tree of the nepte moneth of Marce the grekes wold go wyth a grete arinee to fore Troye where he had ê“mysed to be for tauenge him of the grete iniurie and oultrage that the king had donÌ„ to him his felawship and wy t this remembraunce he lay betwene tharmes of hys lady and began to sighe that hys lady herde it and she demanded him what him eyled ad sayd she wolde knowe Iason answerde that he was greued at hys herte FroÌ„ wheÌ„s cometh this greef or euyll sayd the lady Certes madame answerd jason I haue not other sorowe at my herte but that I haue grete necessite for to goo into my countree in tharmee of them of Grece for to take vengeance of a grete oultrage iniurie that the Troyans dide to me aÌ„d to many noble knightes of grece wherfore mi dere ladi whaÌ„ it is so that I must leue you j haue so moche anoye grief that I may no more haue but I haue promysed it and promys is dew My frende aÌ„swerde the noble lady acquyte yow of that ye haue promysed I wyll in no wyse retarde ne lette yow from youe worship ne we le and therfore ye shall ryde at your plaisir vnto your couÌ„tre but whaÌ„ye retorne agayn kepe you wel fro the arte enchante ments of Medea ThenÌ„e jason promysed to her that he so wolde do aÌ„d ê¯clude there the day of his deê‘ting And whaÌ„ Iason the quene myrro had cessed of speking of this mater the damoyselle that had declared the feet of her broder brutorus was awayting and aspyeng at the hole â–ª and vnderstode all that the lady and jason had deuysed sayde coÌ„cluded ThenÌ„e she aduertised her broder aÌ„d told to him all that she had vnderstoÌ„den the daye that he sholde deê‘te in to his countrey This brutorus was right yoyous whan he vnderstode these tidinges coÌ„cluded in him self that he wolde lye in a wayte of jasoÌ„ in a woode by a waye by wyche he must nedes passe thenÌ„ he called to heÌ„ xij gentilmen of his knowleche aÌ„d tolde them that sambor had trespassed to him that he wolde flee hym on suche a daye as he sholde departe vnto his countre For tabregge the mater whan the day was comeÌ„ the noble prince departed with moch be wayling of his lady went him self allone by that woode aÌ„d he had not long erred rydeÌ„ in the wood whaÌ„ Brutorus and his xij felaws without escrieÌ„g or sownyng of ony worde smote vpon him grete strookes mortalif he had not wel be armed at his deê‘ting as his auenture was he had be dede and amoÌ„g all other brutorus gaf him a meruailloê° stroke vpon the hede that whether he wolde or not be made him bowe on the lyfte syde WHan jason felte him so aduironned assailed of these traitres that they smote vpon him on all sydes he was all abasshid Neuerthelesse he sette hym at deffence and thehe he drewe oute hys good swerd wyth whiche he be fought his enemyes right vaylliauÌ„tly and as a noble knyght as he was But the place where Brutorus assaylled him ouer asprely was in holowe and strayt passage in suche wyse as Iason myghte not but with grete payne helpe hym self for the disloyal traitre and his caÌ„phces were on bothe sides sixe on that one syde sixe on that other syde mounted vpon hye territoires that henge ouer the holowe waye And casted stones vpon him in such wise that they flew murdred his hors vnder him and in feat they frusshed his helme made him a meruailloê° wounde in his hede ThenÌ„e whaÌ„ jason sawe his hors dede and that he felt the smarte of the sore in his hede he sette hiÌ„ a foote alle astonyed But brutorus his felawes assaylled hiÌ„ agaymaÌ„d caste on him stones glayues swerdes wherwy t they bruysed and wounded him in many places for the horions and strokes cam from aboue Neuertheles Iason as a vaylliaunt knyght marchyd owt ouer the passage dyde somoch that he cam into a right fayr lande ThenÌ„ Brutorus and his folke siewed him so ferre that they cam to fyght haÌ„d a hand And among alle other brutorus approched vnto his euyll aueÌ„ ture For jason smote him vpon the toppe of his helme bi such fierste that he clefte the helme and the heed vnto the. teeth that he fille dounÌ„ ded at his fete Thus as ye may vnderstande was the disloyall brutorê° miserably flaynÌ„ And thenÌ„e whan his companye apperceyued that he was put to vtteranÌ„ce they escryed al vpon jason aÌ„d assayled him on a new right anguisshouly in renewyng to hiÌ„ the dolour and grete payne of his woundes aÌ„d frousshures that they made to hym in the holowe waye as sayd is and so began the stoure aspre aÌ„d terryble How well that jason had more corage thenÌ„e puissaunce Alway he defended hym by right grete vigour in bathing his trenchauÌ„t swerde in suche wyse in the blood of these xij murdres that he put seuen of theÌ„ to deth wyth Brutorê° And after foughtlong with the remenanÌ„t and it fortuned him that in scarmusshing that he hurte the remenanÌ„t vnto the deth as he that escaped not nette but was hurte in so many places that bi theffusyon of blood that fyll froÌ„ hys hede his herte faylled him in th eÌ„de and fyll dounÌ„ among the dede men The foure laste that were lefte were but lytyl better thenÌ„ dede But what meruayle ¶ Whan the twoo murdriers had bornÌ„
linges that I make for my lady I am not a ferde whan I fynde me in a troubloê° bataille of an hoÌ„derd thousand menÌ„ but whaÌ„ j suppose to speke to my lady j tremble for feere aÌ„d drede aÌ„d wote not what to saye for to fore her I am as al tauissâ—â—â—d in lyke wyse as a poure and shaÌ„mefast man that suffreth to dye for honger rather thenÌ„e for shame he dar begge his breed O what vergoigne procedeth of suche shamesasines I speke to my self allone I answere Ofte tymes I am aduised that to mornÌ„ I shal do meruayles so j ê¯clude right wel but whaÌ„ it cometh for to be donÌ„ j haue no memorie ne remembrauÌ„of all my conclusioÌ„s Am j not thenÌ„e wel simple whan vnto te most fayr the moste sage the most discrete aÌ„d the most vertuoê° of all other I haue no hardynesse for to saye my desire willÌ„ how wel my herte iugeth that I am sowhat in her grace but now cometh vpon me an other iugemeÌ„t me semeth that she wil neuer accorde to my requestes O right noble and nonparaille Mirro she is without peer as the rose amoÌ„g thor nes Alas what shal j do without you j haue made a pÌ„sente to yow of my hert my will if I vnderstode that ye were bornÌ„ in a constellacion cupesshing you of thinfluence of loue that loue had no power tesproue vpon you his vtues j wolde not enploye my time for to theÌ„ke on you but whaÌ„ me semeth that so grete ha bondanÌ„ce of theâ—cesse of beaute naturel as youris is it may not be but that it is entremedlid of loue of pite of merci it must nedes be that your humble freÌ„de be rauisshed in the coÌ„templacoÌ„n of your glorionse value desiring your goode grace wisshing your alianÌ„ce requiring the goddes and fortune that of yow me they make oon howe aÌ„d one bed where we mighte eÌ„brase the soueraine play sirs of this worlde plaâ—ly fynde amerouse felicite THe preu jasoÌ„ with thise wordes fyll a ssepe and after he awoke so alumyned with the fyre of loue that hit was to him ipossible to take his rest but to tourne and walowe and trauaile in his bedde And there as loue thus assayled him agayn he determined vtterly that he wolde aduenture hi to speke to his ladi what that euer happen therof And so he dyde for the same day he cam vnto her sayde in this wyse Madame j haue seruid you as well as to me is possible for two causes Principally that one for thaâ—quite of cheualerie and that other not for to disserue the rychesses that ye haue vnder the power of fortune But allonly that singuler thing that nature hath made yow lady of and vpon whiche fortune hath puyssaunce Madame ye haue don to me plente of curtoysies And offred grete yefies of monoye Wherof I thanke yow how wel I holde theÌ„ but of litil extiâ—e for couetise of auarice haue not alumed me of their fire j demande not the grete tresours that beÌ„ iÌ„ the abismes of the see â–ª ner theÌ„ that beÌ„ enclosed iÌ„ the moÌ„taignes my desir testith iÌ„ ij singuler thinges that one is for to conquere name in armes whiche ought to be thappetite of the vocacion of all noble hertes That other is to obeye vn to the comÌ„auÌ„dements plaisauÌ„ces of loue that bindeth aÌ„d obligeth me to be youris for to thenke on you to attende abide your beniuolence to doo thing that may playse your eyen your herte Alas my dere lady all good honour cometh of yow aÌ„d yf ye be all my deport aÌ„d fortune And the goddes haue suffrid me â–ª to haue doo thing digne of amerouse meriâ—e in your fauour put not ye your herte in discognysauÌ„ce by the whiche your noble royaume is put iÌ„ pees Receyue hier to your man trew frende and louar your knight and the ryght humble obeissaunt herte of whom the body secheth with al your playsirs to obeye him that hath made al his tresour of iour beaute froÌ„ the oure that the goode fortuÌ„e brought me hether vnto your presence I was aÌ„d haue ben in all poyntes redy to lyue dye for you in your seruice in which j toke arestanÌ„ce j submysed prestly my necke to bere the fardell of iour war re ye knowe how I haue bornÌ„ it ha a my dere lady haue mercy on me I supplye yon humbly for asmoche as neuer trewe louar requyred his lady with more desire affectoÌ„n in all honour curtoisie The preu jason cessed thenÌ„e his requeste in beholding the fayr myrro right amorously the whiche herd hi with a glad will but this not wistaÌ„ding she made no maner semblaunt but for asmoche as to proue jf jason was asmoche affected in loue as in armes she aÌ„swerde to hi as hir foloweth sayng Certes fair sire jason j knowe that ye be he that haue discharged my royaume of them that ete destroyed the substanÌ„ce whiche wolde by force haue ocupied wasted hit And so j will not saye but that he be ryght digne of grete merite and that your thaÌ„ke and reward ought to be yolden vnto you But vnto the regarde for to require me of loue me semetâ—ye haue moch to ferre enterprised ye knowe well ye ar none other but a knight what might saye the kinges hye princes of whoÌ„ I haue late made refuse jf I gâ—fe me to you howe wel myn ente cionis not in no wyse to blame yow But vnto th eÌ„de that ye lose not iour tyme. I auise you to seche oughwer ellis your partie than do ye wysely and require yow to be content her with for j knowe no better remedye for your appaisemeÌ„t Alas my dere ladi aÌ„suerde jasoÌ„ RemeÌ„bre you that my hert is suche that caÌ„ chiese by no way none other ladi in loue but you Certes that shal not be vnto the tyme that the fysshes flee in the ayer And that the byrdes swymÌ„e in the water My frende sayd the lady vnto the regarde for tendeÌ„de to take a thing difficile is no grete prudeÌ„ce ye be meure iÌ„ your yong age aâ—touching Armes But beware that ye put yow not in so parsounde an errour that ye can not easely come oute Certes I loue yow more than ye wene I am redy for to yelde you yowr merite for the grete goodnes that ye haue don to the cyte of olifer ne I praye yow that ye require me no more from hens forth and late this suffise yow Ha a madame aÌ„swerde jason than howe maye j haue suffisaunce whan I may not finde grace to fore yowr noble vysage Of whiche ryght indigent and not satisfyed I remayne ye daygne not to condescende to my prayers hit is now your play sir that I falle in despair â—nt syn hit goth so and that ye will haue no compassion of a trewe knight that hath beÌ„ youris and the deffendour the haÌ„de
loue of jason it was not loÌ„g after but that she wente to the bedde of jason â–ª there made certayn coniurisonÌ„s carectes for she was all expert in alle maners of enchantemeÌ„s of sorceries and whaÌ„ she had thê° donÌ„ she camagayn to medea saide to her that she sholde nomore doubte of ony thing for from after the time that jason be leyd couched in hys bedde he sholde neuer loue other woman but her â–ª and so it be felle for assone as Iason was leyd in his bedde at the euen alle hys corage enteÌ„dement were ranysshed in thinkiÌ„g on the grete beaute of Medea in suche facoÌ„n as he might in no wise slepe MOpsius hadde a custome to speke euery nyght with jason And thenÌ„e jasoÌ„ wolde speke of the beaute of the noble quene myrto and ofte tymes he spak so moche of her that he was wery And thenÌ„e whan this mopsius sawe that in thys night he made no mencion of hys lady he was alle abasshid saide to him Verayly jason I apperceyue well that your esperite is trauailled with newe faÌ„tasies I haue seen that ye haue passed the most part of the nyght for tailowe preyse the beaute of your lady in loue the fair Mirro yet ye spake of her the night precedeÌ„t â–ª But in this nyght the rewle faylleth Certes aÌ„swerde jason yt is expedient that she be put with the synnes in oubliance For as for mirro I recche neuer thaugh I neuer seene mere wyth her But saye to me frely what semeth yow of Medea Is she not the passerowte of alle the ladies of the world Is not she the tryumphe of al beaute Is ther ony maÌ„ in the worlde that coude or myght better wisshe for his recreacion Answer to me Syâ—e sayde Mopsius I me accorde ryght wel to that ye saye touching the caas of medea But vnto the regarde of the fayt Myrro that so moche haue be recommanded in your corage I may not bylene that ye haue put her in oubliaÌ„ce By my lawe my fair freÌ„de sayd thenÌ„e jason Who is fer fro the eye fro the herte reculeth Mirro is clere as gold but medea flaumeth shyneth as the precionse stone And if I might finde my selfe in her grace I sholde loue her souueraynly â— ha sayde Mopsiê° I held you for the most loyal most ê¯stant knight that euyr gaf him to serue loue now I apperceyue that ye be variable as other be Be ye not remembrid of ysiphile whomÌ„ ye wolde neuer will to loue and that ye sayde If myrro ne had ben ye wolde haue espoused her I am esbaied of yow more thenÌ„e of ony man Certes mopsiê° ansuerde ja son jf ye wil do to me ony plaisir speke to me nomore of Myrro ne of ysiphile but of the fair medea speke loÌ„g ynow largely For this is she that I wylle kepe in my coÌ„ceyte and her that I shal serue vnto the deth and who that speketh to me of other shal be myn enemye Whan Mopsius had vnderstaÌ„de the wille of Iason he spack nomore but slepte jason abode al pensyf on the fairelady Medea And medea that herkenyd as she had don the night to fore weÌ„te into her chaÌ„bre anonÌ„ as the ê‘leâ—eÌ„t of the ij knightes was don caÌ„ to her moder all recoÌ„forted saide to her recounted all that she had herd syn leide her iÌ„ her bed ymagynyng how she might fide her self a part to speke wy t jason coÌ„cluded iÌ„ her self that she wolde go on pylgremage vnto the temple of the goddesse deane sayng if that jasoÌ„ louid her aâ— he had said he wold not deê‘te for nothing but come after her â—â—is conclusion was not taken withoute habundaunce of syghes The nyght drewe ouer and the daye begaÌ„ to shewe the fair medea aroos aÌ„d made the noyse renne that she was hool that for the recouuraÌ„ce of her helthe she wolde goo thaÌ„ke the goddesse deane in her temple After this she atired arayed her in the fayrest wyse she coude or myghte and in proces she put her oÌ„ the waye rightnobly accompanyed of ladyes damoiselles Wherof jason was ryght yoyous whan he knewe hit and desired the waye assone as he myght Certes he folowed Medea vnder the couersure of wille to go by good deuocion to the temple O fayr couerture the humaine peple liuiÌ„g at this daye holde the same terme in many places goo to the temples and chirches or in the holy places ordoâ—ned to god by denocyoÌ„ for tefface and put away theyr sinnes And yet neuertheles they commyse ther their synnes and for to come to the loue of one other they go more to the masse for to beholde and loke eche vpon other for to make theyr tours aÌ„d signes thenÌ„e for ony deuocion O hygh deuocion o ryght daÌ„pned ypocresie men cominyse synnes where they ought to be in deuocion and doo vertuouse werkes they begyle lyghtly ynow the worlde to her charge and dampnacyon But certes god in no wyse maye be abused FOr thenÌ„e to retourne to our mater jason thus comen to the temple where as medea was firste of alle he made semblauÌ„t for to adoure and worshipe the goddes sette him doun on his knee to fore the awter of the goddesse pallas aÌ„d Deane but for this tyme he neyther made prayer ne oroisonÌ„ but thought what maners he myght best holde ayenst Medea And of what purpoos he myghte make to her his entre And whan he had long auised him he aroos aÌ„d toke his waye vnto medea whiche cam ayeÌ„st him But thenÌ„ whaÌ„ she sawe that he drewe him toward her and that they had entersalewed and that Iason had made the reuerence vnto the other ladyes Medea entrid subtylly in deuises with hi And in deuising of one and other she drew him a lytil a part ayenst the awter of Dyane whom they began to beholde thenÌ„ jasoÌ„ making maner as he had spoken of the goddesse Dyane of riche woode that here and there aduironned yt he sayde to her in this maner Madame lo here your poure knight I yelde me vnto your mercy and am redy taccoÌ„plisshe alle youre good coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts and praye yow if â— saide yesterday ony thing that was to your display sir that hit wolde plaise you to ê‘donne me if ye may helpe ayde me to briÌ„ge to a good eÌ„de my vowe enterprise socoure me in that grete werk I swere and prinse to yow in callyng to wytnes of myn oth the hygh goddesse Dyane pallas that if it please you to be my dere felaw and freÌ„de I shal be youres alle my lyf aÌ„d shal bringe yow with me into Grece wythouthe makyng ony fawte Iason answerd thenÌ„e Medea I declared to you yesterdaye my caas all priuely and how I hadde grete pytie of you â— knowe also that the goddes haue had pyte on you and will not consente
and conueye Iason at his departyng to thys ende that he comen into Grece sholde preyse him aÌ„d saye that he hadde made hiÌ„ good chere For to briÌ„ge to an eÌ„de this coÌ„clusion he aroos and wyllyng to eÌ„tre fro chambre to chambre til he cam to jason he entrid in to the chambre of the nourice of his sone absirthius â–ª whom he fond not wyth his nourice that slepte wherof he was sore abasshid awaked the nourire and after demanded her wher was hys dere sone absirthius And thenÌ„e the nourire begaÌ„ to loke aboute her but that was for nought for she fonde hâ— not wherfore all effrayed she spraÌ„g out of her bedde and began to seche him diligeÌ„tly alle aboutes the kiÌ„g Oetes entred in to the chambre oâ— Medea and ther he fonde ne ê‘sone ne his doughter ne her that had gouerned her long time ¶ Whan the king Oetes fond not his doughter Medea he was so angry that his blood changed aÌ„d withouthe spekyng ony worde he weÌ„te vp in to the chaÌ„bre where the noble Iason was logged but he fonde neyther jason ne Medea ne ê‘sone to whom he might speke for so moche he departed sodainly and wente vnto the poorte where he fond many of his citezeins that shewed him the ship where the grekes were in whiche was at that time from the poorte more thenÌ„ a quater of a myle thenÌ„ the kyng weping terderly demaÌ„ded them if they had seen hys doughter medea and they answerde nay Ha a fayr sirs sayd thenÌ„ the king The traictres of grece haue wyhtdraweÌ„ her wy t wordes traiterously in somoche as they haue deceyued her brought her into their ship aÌ„d yet that more is haue so euyll couÌ„ceylled her that she hath bornÌ„ with her my sone absirthius O euyl doughter o the euil fortuned child Certes medea thy grete disloyaulte ê¯strayneth me that wyth force of peple j wil goo incoÌ„tinet fecche the for to wete who hath meuyd the thus to doo wy t this I shal take vengeanÌ„ce of the desloyall knight jason wiche to his power reÌ„dreth to me euyl for good ¶ WhaÌ„ the king had sayd thus he retorned into his palays cryeÌ„g that euery man sholde arme him thenÌ„e alle the peple pourueyed them of staue â— armures syn demaÌ„ded wherof proceded the cause of thys alaromÌ„e the whiche anonÌ„ was all commune ThenÌ„e they put them on the â— waye for to go vnto the king whiche cam and yssued on t of hys palays armed and in poynt for tentre into bataill ThenÌ„e he wente vnto the poorte chese out four hoÌ„derd of the beste in poâ—t for to put in to the sayd four galeyes and finably whaÌ„ he had doâ— alle thys he meuyd fro the poorte as sayd is and wyth all haste made his galeyes to be rowed after the knightes of Grece in suche wyse as the maister maronner apê‘ceyued that tho galeyes cam swiftely after theÌ„ for to fecch agayn the fayr medea called jason that japed played wyth medea preseÌ„t his felawe hercules she wid to him the four galeyes armed wherein was the king Oetes and his men wel in poynt whyche approced faste For the galeyes were light jason seyng his encombrance approche called Hercules whyche knewe nothyng herof and demanded him counceyll ThenÌ„e Hercules ansuerde to hym that he knewe none other remedie but that euery man shold putte him to armes and be redy tabyde the batayll yf hit were nede and auowed vnto the goddes that yf the king oetes made ony enterpryse vpon theÌ„ that he wolde putte to deth as many as he myghâ— arethe With thise wordes wyth oute leÌ„ger â—aryeng the noble knight hercules and jason putte them in armes and in lyke wise dyde their felawes ThenÌ„e Medea and her maistresse sprang vpon the planck of the shyp for to beholde the kyng and his galeyes And anonÌ„ after Iason hercules alle iÌ„ armes cam vp on hye by Medea and eche wyth a swerde in his fyste And Medea began to treÌ„ble for fere whaÌ„ she had espyed her fader to approche so nyghe at th eÌ„de the king Oetes poursie wed so sore the shippe of the noble preu jason by force of oores that er they were out of the goulf or braas of the see that there was nomore distance fro on to an other but two bowe shote ThenÌ„ the fayr Medea seyng that is was time to brynge to ende that she had begonÌ„e to fore sayde to her maistres in wepyng tenderly My good mod wher is my lytyll broder absirthius gyue him to me ThenÌ„ the euyll oolde woman opend her lappe and vnwonde the body of the childe whom she had smyteÌ„ into pieces Medea toke the heede lyste it an hygh wherof Hercules jason other seyng this had grete horrour of this cruelte aÌ„d weresore abasshed neuertheles whaÌ„ the preu Iason apperceyued this he wold knowe fro whenâ— came thys creature so dede And sayde to Medea in thys manere My dere loue what haue ye in your thought and what will ye don with this so malerous and pyteus childe My dere loue answerde thenÌ„e Medea Thexperience of my werke enseigneth to yow the thought of my herte Madame answerde thenÌ„e the noble preu jason what is this child that I see here thus detrenched and smyten in pieces certes he is in an euyll houre bornÌ„ that thus myserabli hath finysshed hys dayes My dere loue answerde thenÌ„e the fayr medea This is absirthius my yong broder Knowe ye that he is not malerouse but is ewrous and happy for thys daye he shall be cause of the sauacion of the lyf of his fader and of his menÌ„ thenÌ„e he is moche ewrous and in a goode oure bornÌ„ whaÌ„ he in hys teÌ„dre yongth maye because of the helthe of so moche peple aÌ„d specyally of his fader naturel Certes medea said thenÌ„e jason I see none other facoÌ„n ne moyen but that ye be of all poyntes dishonoured whaÌ„ ye haue coÌ„mysed so ryght pyetousa caas as for to haue mâ—rdryd your ê“pre broder innocent of all thinges A hawhat horrible cruelte My dere loue answerde thenÌ„e medea ne troble you other wise thenÌ„e by resoÌ„ For if it be your plaisir ye shal here what I shall saye aÌ„d after of the caas I make yow iuge ye know how I am by you brought from the howâ— of my fader ayeÌ„st his wyll I haue coÌ„siderid what my departyngis and further more I haue thoughte haue had regarde vnto the grete aÌ„d meruaillous courage of my fader and al thing ouer thought and considerid that I coude not withdraw me fer but he shold be aduertised for he hath of custome that euery morenyng er he goo dounÌ„ he wil see his sone aÌ„d me also I haue jmagyned that anonÌ„ as he fyndeth not me ner his sone that withonte faute he wil come after me in armes lyke as ye see he doth and thus whan I haue
alle thise thinges considered and the grete daunger that myght ensiewe to vs that for me sholde be the bataill mortall bytwene you aÌ„d him in whiche withoute remedie he shold be slaynÌ„ or takeÌ„ by his hye vaylliauÌ„ce seen that vnto deâ—h he wold abandonne him selfe for to recouuere me and to th ende teschewe more grete paryll and dommage for him I haue taken his owen sone which is my broder aÌ„d haue coÌ„manded to put hiÌ„ in the state as ye see for to caste at this tyme abrode iÌ„ to the cours of the see here and there And to gyue empechement vnto the ship of my fader whych thenÌ„e shall tarye whaÌ„ he shalle see his sone absirthius thus dismeÌ„brid flotyng vpon the water for to garde and recuyelle the pieces as ye shall seen playnly anonÌ„ ¶ Wyth thachieuemeÌ„t of these deuises the kiÌ„g oetes approched in suche manere the shippe of the grekes that ther was no more distanÌ„ce but a stone caste ThenÌ„e the fayr medea and the olde woman fylled theyr haÌ„des with the membris of the noble child absirthius in shewyng them to the king oetes his menÌ„ For assone as the oolde quene sspyâ—d the king she escryed these wordes folowyng aÌ„d sayd thus Kyng in no wyse come no nere wenyng to recouure thy sone ne thy doughter As to the regarde of thy doughter thou losest thy time for she is maried vnto jasoÌ„ But atte lest we shall reÌ„dre to the thy sone slayn aÌ„d detreÌ„ched by pieces the whiche we caste into the see to th eÌ„de that thou maist haue thy lyf saued for but If he cansed the to haue occupacion for to recuyelle hys propre membres for to do burye theÌ„ as hit apperteyneth to the sone of a kiÌ„g knowe thou that thou sholdest haue the bataill ayeÌ„st the knightes of grece which ben of so hye vaylliaunces that ther ne is anymal monstre serpent ne tyranÌ„t but that they brynge to destrucâ—yon thenÌ„e hit ought to be bileuyd that the victorye of the bataill shold abyde wyth them aÌ„d certes thou sholdest receyue thy deth so alle thing well ouerseeÌ„ hit is better to the that thou retourne vnto the cite thenÌ„e tapproch more ner for to receyue thy deth aÌ„d wel oughtest thou to haue grete yoye for to see thy happy sone be ded and detrenched by pyâ—ces bi the which thy lyf is respyted for thou art not very ne naturell fader if thou take not hys membreâ— out of the see and if thou so doo thy lyfe shall be saued and all they of thy companye WIth these wordes the olde woman aÌ„d Medea caste in the see the membres of the yong childe absirthius and the kiÌ„g Oetes and hys peple heeryng and seeyng the grete inhumanite cruelte began to escrye ryght pyetoussy aÌ„d dolorousâ—i And were so sore vexed and trobled of thys meruailloê° aueÌ„ture that they wist not what to doo som ther were that begaÌ„ to wepe tenderli the other smote them self on the brestes som began to araye hem to goo to bataylle and escryed to deth the knightes of grece shoting on theÌ„ arowes other trait by grete corage for tanenge them but whan the king sawe that â— no wyse he myght recouure the deth of hys dere sone he made to cesse the escarumssij sayd to his cytezels certes fair siresj pray you to trauaile you nomore for to recouure medea shehath murdrid her ê“pre brod absirthiê° whiche was my sone he that â— time to come sholde haue beÌ„ your naturell lord certes j haue louid wy t all my herte her alle her lyfe that wy t her dissoyall will hath brouht to me one so dolorouse guerdonÌ„ or reward Ha a meda said the kiÌ„g all on hyghe j shal neuer sech ne desire to mete wy t the for cause of so cruell and disnaturell a dede that â–ª thou hast â— my sed to thy propre blode and therfore fayâ— lordes late her aÌ„d alle them that ben with her goo where the goddes will suffre hiÌ„ but knowe ye for certayn that yf j now had her at my liberte I sholde make her to deye a cruell deth howe wele that sholde sourdre therof to me a new sorowe wherfore hit is better that she goo that we enteÌ„de to reassemble the meÌ„bres of my sone whyche floteÌ„ as ye may see vpoÌ„ the wawes of the see to th ende that his flesshe be not pasture to the byrdes ¶ WhaÌ„ thenÌ„e the nobles bourgeyses of the cyte vnderstod their king alle they began to sech the membres of absirthius iudemenyng the moste grete sorow of the world aÌ„d thê° they disposed them to complaire the kyng nomore tassayle their ennemyes And whan they had fysshed the membres of the child they retoraÌ„d vnto the cyte by space of tyme right sorowfull disconforted for the deth of Absirthiê° and for asmoche as medea also was goonÌ„ with jason Medea was thenÌ„e well ioyous aÌ„d more assured thenÌ„ to fore whan she apperceyuid that her fader his meÌ„ taried for to fisshe the meÌ„bres of his sone Certes jason seyng this that sayd is wist not what to thinke aÌ„d Argos the goode maronner rowed alle way in withdrawing from the poorte aÌ„d the yle of Colchos as moche as he myght in so moche that in alytil while he had lost the sighte of the king Oetes of his galeyes aÌ„d that he cam into the hyhe see where the wind blewe aroose that anonÌ„ they desployed their sayle which they woÌ„deâ— vp an hyghe wherfore the shippe made good way wherof argos was moche yoyous and thenÌ„e he sayd that euery man myghte leye dounÌ„ his harnoys frely promysing them to be oute of all parilâ— for that time Iason at this tyme was ryght pensyf for the cruelte inhumanyte that he had seen this daye and spak not one worde and semed by coÌ„parisonÌ„ more triste thenÌ„e joyous not withoute cause Whan medea had vnderstande that Argos assewryd alle the companye for that tyme froÌ„ alle parils that they had ben in was thoo conforted gretly but she behelde her handes that yet were all foule of the blood of her brother Absuthius she wente wasshed hem aÌ„d made hem clene after she caÌ„ sette her dounÌ„ by Iason seyng that he was moche pensyf sayde to hiÌ„ by a gracious curtays manere My dere loue wheron thinke you Certes jason answerde not one worde And whan she sawe that she sayde to hiÌ„ agayn the same word My dere loue jason wheron thinke yow ThenÌ„ Iason answerde to her thus Lady syn that ye desire to knowe wheron I thinke knowe ye for trouth that yf it were not for the grete loue that I haue in yow and for that I haue promysed to wed yow and bryng yow into Grece I wolde not do it wherfore kepe from henssorward that ye do no suche thing as dere as ye will haue pees bytwene yow aÌ„d me Vpon thise wordes Medea excused her the
goddes shall doo me be presented tofore him thenÌ„e by thys myne epistle he shal knowe of what excellent loue corage I haue loued hym Many ladyes and damoyselles were in the companye of ysiphile theuÌ„e whan she hadde 〈…〉 wayled her dere loue jason And also the ê¯clusioÌ„ as she that was desperate sholde lepe springe into the see Alle they begaÌ„ to demene grete sorow meruaillously and not withoute cause Somme there were that were jnly sorowful that they coude not speke o worde Other were there drowned in teeris that enforced hem to reconforte her and for to lette aÌ„d distourne her fro this dampnable wyll but that was for nought â–ª for they loste her payne for asmoche as ysiphile wrote herepisile whiche she wrapped iÌ„ a cered cloth and syn sewed hit vnto her roke of cloth of goold whiche she clad her with and whan she had so doo she toke her crowne and sette hit on her hede fermely and after toke her sceptre And thenÌ„ whaÌ„ she had donÌ„ alle this she cam to her sone and kissed him many times recoÌ„manded him vnto the ladyes damoiselles And laste whan she had taken leue of alle the womenÌ„ she deê‘ted froÌ„ leÌ„nos the Cite wepyng tenderly toke wyth her one of her damoyselles by whoÌ„ where knowen afterward alle her bewailinges lamentacions and alle her maners that she held to fore she caste her self into the see THan she was comen nygh vnto the see she approched vnto an hye roche to whoÌ„ the see touched beneth a ferre lowe dounÌ„ she began to beholde a lowe aÌ„d se the see And after she stracched her self on the erthe in beholding the heuen and the see and sayde Veray god lord of the see of windes of tourbillons and of fortunes of raynes and of teÌ„pestes ye brought into this countree and into thys place the tyght parfayt knight in beaute in vayllyaunce and in alle vertues Iason and after ye sente him in to the yle of Colchos and consequently ye haue she wid me from ferre his ship and â—yn ye haue drowned hym or atleste lad hym into another couÌ„tre And whan it iâ— so that I may by no waye haue none other thyng of hym I yow requyre that ye wille make my sepulture by him if he haue made the passage out of this worlde and if he be on lyue that ye will conduite me into his presence for hit must nedes be and other thing j demande not of yow And whan the desolate quene Isiphile had sayd thise wordes she retorned her vnto the Cyte and sayd in thys maner al on hyghe and clere voys ADyeu my dere childe adyeu Lennos the noble cite adieu ladyes and damoiselles aÌ„d syn she retorned her vnto the see aÌ„d cryeng Iason Iason She spraÌ„g fro the sommet or toppe of the roche into the hyghe see And there drowned her self in sorow wherof was grete pyte But her fortune was such that on that same daye the see bare the body vnto the shippe of the noble preu jasoÌ„ abydyng yet inthe see in a rood where they were ancred for to reste ther that nyght At this oure whan the poure ysiphyle was caste ayenst the shippe Hercules and jason weÌ„te vppe on highe for to take the ayer ThenÌ„e they perceyued the desolate body so rychely arayed that the cloth of gold shone by the disgorgemeÌ„ts of the watre anon as they had seen this they called argos their mayster maronner aÌ„d shewed to him anouÌ„ argos callid som of his solke made them to fisshe and drawe out of the see and to bring into the ship that poure creature so rychely habylled wyth Royall atours â–ª and whaÌ„ she was drawen on hyghe alle they in the shippe weÌ„te vp for to see the body of this noble lady And Medea faylled not to come wyth the other for to be holde this pyte Certes the dede lady hadde her vysage swollen and pale that none in the ship knew her But at the comyng and for the presence of the olde woman she vâ—yed bloode by the conduyte of her mouth as hit hadd ben a lytyll rennyng water departing from a fontayne or a spring wherof alle they had grete meruaille ¶ whan Argos the goode maroÌ„ner sawe the meruaille he stouped dounÌ„ for to put vpon her roobe a clothe for to kepe it from the fowlyng of the blood that departed froÌ„ her mouth And as he put the cloth aboute her nek he apperceyued the cered cloth that kepte the water from the pistle that she had compiled wherfore for to know what it was he distached or rypte it of deliuerid hit to jason ThenÌ„ the knight receyued the cloth opende hit founde the episile aÌ„d disployed it aÌ„d as he red it and vnderstode the contenu of the same his bloode began to chaunge he waxe rede as a rose and after becaÌ„ pale dede as asshes and syn begaÌ„ to wepe to demene a sorowe moche aygre and sharp Certes the fayre medea Hercules Theseê° and the other knightes of gerce were sore abasâ—â—â—d so were argos the maroÌ„ners whaÌ„ they apperceyued that jason demened so grete adueil sorow ThenÌ„e it was demanded from whens this sorow cam what tidinges he fouÌ„de had by the contenu of the lettre but it was for nought For he might not speke ner aÌ„swere his herte was so closed strained wy t anguissh aÌ„d sorow notwihstaÌ„dyng whaÌ„ he had redd it and seen the coÌ„tenâ— of the pistle He deliuerid it to medea aÌ„d the coÌ„teynyng therof was thys that foloweth Iason Iason the chosen of grece in prowesse in beaute and in vertues where art thow And whan shalle thou holde thy promesse vnto her that alwaye hath her eyen planted on the see after the desiring to see agayn the body bytamorouse desires and by moo bewaylynges than the heuen conteyneth sterres A ha my dere loue hast thou put in no recchig ner no challoyâ— the promesse that thou me madest at that tyme whan thou wentest to Colchos knowest not thou well that euery man of noble name or vocacion is holden and bounden to paye and holde hys promesse vpon payne of reproche thou hast promised to me the daye of thy promesse is passed Thou acauytest the not O so greuous a shame large reproch ye if thou haue not lauful â—xâ—nâ—acyon Syn the daye of thy ê“messe exspired I neuer entrid into hoê° for to take plaisir ne to couer me to be drie I haue not leyd on bed to take my reste I haue not seten a table for to ete Ne j haue not ben in pÌ„toire for to iuge the causes of my wo menÌ„ but I haue the space of xl dayes awayted vpon a roche where I was whan thou entredest into my royaume And that famyne â—strained the to take londe There haue I holde me daye aÌ„d nyght in the raynÌ„ in the winde in the colde of the mone and in the heete of the sonne In fastinges in