Well mayst thou cruell Pirrhus rightly be Achilles son for Nature to thee gaue A gift to be as piâ—â—les as he And worse for that I neuer of him read That in his life he did so foule a deed As in such sort to kill a silly mayd But for a woman fell great paine and smart And that he felt in loue as it is sayd With Pollicene for Cupid with his dart Did wound him so by casting of his eye On her that he thought verely to die For loue of her how that t was his chance To loose his life for her whom thou didst kill With fierce and furious mood not by mischance But puposely thy pleasure to fulfill For which although thou thoghst it was no shame Assure thy selfe the trumpe of flying Fame Will through the world thy great dishonour spread For doing of an act so horrible And when that men shall chance thereof to read Thy name will vnto them be odible Whose cruell death when Hecuba the Queene That standing by when it was don had seene With extreame griefe she fell out of her wit And tare her haâ—re and furiously did set Vpon the Greeks with tooth and naile and bit And scratcht beat all those that with her met And palted them with stones till at the last The Greeks laid hold on her bound her fast And finally did take and beare her to An Island to the Troyans subiect where They stoned her to death and hauing so Bereft her life they made a sepulchre Most sumptuously compos'd of stone and brasse Wherein with great solemnity she was Entombed as belong'd to her estate Which Tombe stood there long after to be seen And called was the place vnfortunate And in this sort that great and worthy Queene Did end her daies distressed â—ore and mad When as the Greeks throgh Calchas counsell had By Pyrrhus hand her Daughter sacrifiz'd Vnto their God Apollo to appease His furious wrath who foolishly â—urmiz'd That they should never haue faire wind nor seas Vnlesse Achilles death revenged were By death of Policene for they did feare The Gods would nere be pleased nor content To let them passe to Greece till it were done But God that sitteth in the firmament And is the true and only God alone Confound such false and fained Gods and all Their jmages with those that on them call For they are nought but stocks that are without All sence wherein the diuell doth remaine And subtilly by them hath brought about His purpose man to moue whose heart is vaine To pray to them and trulie to belieue That they are Gods and can vs succour giue In our distresse and so induced hath Mankind to leaue th' eternall God of heaven To pray to stocks and stones against the faith Of Iesus Christ that hath his body given To death for him by such false illusion Hath brought him in such error and confusion As he belieueth by jdolatry And offring beasts and blood to jdols vaine That he doth serue the heavenly Maiesty Of God and shall remission free obtaine Thereby for those offences he hath done But God confound them all and every one What title name or qualitie so ere Idolaters vnto them giue Whose number So many are that name of Gods did beare That when I thinke thereon it makes me wonder The which that you as well as I may know I will their names to you in order show First Iupiter Saturne Mercurie Apollo Daphne Mars the God of warre Diana cald the Queene of Chastitie The guide of men by night Lucina faire And Iunâ— that most commonly doth dwell In waters deepe and Pluto God of hell Faire Venus Queene of lust and venery With Cupid blind her son the God of loue Minerua Goddesse of activity The God of wine cald Bacchus thâ—t doth moue Men to desire the same Dame Cithera And Plutoes louely Queene Proserpina Neptunus Flora Vulcan Eoâ—us And Bellâ—des that thirsts still doth draw Vp water in a Bucket Sisyphus Condeâ—nd to rowle a stone by fatall law And nere to cease and hungry Taâ—talus Th'jnfirnall fates and Sisters furious That â—ained are to spin the threed of life The Muses nine that sweetly sing and play Bellonâ— Queene of discord and of strife And double faced Ianus whome they say The Romanes did adore and Priapus The angry fretting Priest cald Genius That 's said to curse all those that froward be To such as friendly are to them and kind Imeneus who hath authoritie The hearts of married couples fast to bind In loue till they are mou'd to disagree By discord that twixt them sets enmitie The Fayries that are vs'd by night and day In houses and in fields to sing and dance The water Nimphs and Siluan Gods that stay In woods and groues and many times by chance Are seen of men as Satyrs Nayâ—des Bycornes Fawnes Incubs and Drâ—â—des With many more And finally to close And make the number compleat Orphâ—â—s The God of sleepe but certainly all those That to such Gods so vaine and â—rivolus Do sacrifice or on them vse to call Will sure at last into some danger fall For recompence of seruing them so well For all such false and faind Idolatrie Proceedeth from the crafty fiend of Hell Who is so full of fraud and subtilty That he deuisd those Idoll Gods to frame And purposely did creepe into the same And spake in them and answere made to those That praid to them and caused men thereby To leaue the true and liuing God to lose Eternall blis in heauen for certainely All those that on such Idolls false do call Serue Belzebub and cleane from God do fall As David in his Psalter doth declare That mong the Pagan Gods there is not one That can relieue or aid vs for they are All made and framd of siluer gold or stone Or els of Copper Brasse Tin Lead or wood And that they neither can nor do man good For eies they haue and cannot see at all And eares likewise and yet they do not heare And legs and feet and cannot stand but fall Vnlesse they leane or somewhat doth them beare And hold vpright and therefore as he saith He that in them reposeth trust or faith Or to bow downe to them which take delight Let him be well assurd that at the last They will him with such recompence requite That head-long downe to hell he shall be cast With damned soules to dwell perpetually And that is his reward when he shall die And in this life misfortune dread and feare With many troubles that on men do light As famous stately Troy doth witnesse beare Which once was of such puissant force and might That it did thinke it selfe to be secure And that it should in that state long endure And gainst her foes to haue prevailed by Apollo Pallas Iuno Uenus and Diana faire the Queene of Chastity Whome they were wont to honor in that land With sacrifice and worship great to show To them by whom
their faces faire With flouds of teares t' expresse their heauinesse Were vnto me a thing impossible And yet in truth it was not comparable To that which faire Queene Helena did make Who with a deadly cheare and wofull face Cast forth most dolefull cries for Paris sake And running furiouslie vnto the place Whereas his body lay fell flat thereon And though that it was cold as any stone Embrast it in her armes and wofully Lamenting on the same fell in a sound And likely was in that extreamitie To die and t' haue beene laid into the ground With him if those that were with her by force And strength had not pul'd her off froÌ„ the corse Wherewith she rent and tare her golden haire Like one that 's mad waxt so pale and wan That her most comelie face which was so faire Chang'd in such sort that it therewith began To looke and show like vnto ashes cold And with her hands which she did ring fold Together smote her white and deadly face And sounding fell againe vpon the ground And in her armes did Paris corse embrace And with her brinish teares did fill his wound And was so much perplexed in her mind That she could neither ease nor comfort find But rather seem'd to wish with great desire To die with him in whome her sole delight Was placed and in that most furious ire To end her daies with her most louing Knight And liue no more sith that she was bereft Of him and in such great discomfort left So that I may well say that neuer any Poore woman felt the like nor more distresse Although I could rehearse and tell of many That haue been plunged in great heauinesse As Cleopatre going to her graue And Thesbie that did come out of the caue And smote her selfe for griefe into the heart And Oristilla who no sooner spied Her Lord take shipping and from her depart Sore grieu'd for loue of him fell downe and died And Iulia that lou'd her Lord so well That sodenly dead on the ground she fell When she beheld his cloaths all dasht with blood And Portia that was so true a wife To Brutus that when as she vnderstood That he was slaine because she had no knife In readinesse to kill herselfe withall To show her loue into the fire did fall And burnt herselfe And that most noble Queene Cald Arthemisia who when she had found Her Knight Mausalus graue and there had seene His bones did take them vp out of the ground And with an heart repleat with griefe and care Vnto her Pallace solemnly them bare And beating them to powder every day Did drinke thereof till it was cleane consum'd Who with the rest aforesaid I must say And as in truth it is to be presum'd No doubt great griefe endur'd but not so much As faire Queene Helen did nor nothing such Who would haue kild her selfe for Paris sake Desiring to her graue with speed to go And rather of her life an end to make Then to liue after him she loued so And languishing in woe long time remaind And never could from weeping be restaind He that doth say that women cannot cry Deceaues himselfe for t is a thing most sure They can by nature doo 't and certainly Though they no griefe nor sorrow do endure Yet they can false and fained teares distraine Out of their eies without cause complaine I say not this Queene Helena t' accuse Of fained teares whose heart with woe was fild For then I should you with vntruth abuse For she for griefe her selfe would faine haue kild And yet it seemes she was not in such hast As she made shew for when the storme was past She soone forgot the great extreamitie That she was in for all things haue an end And every woe how great so ere it be Must passe away for follie't were to spend Long time in that which may be remedied For though that faire Queene Helen would haue died For Paris sake as then yet afterward She did repent for nature did her moue And told her that it was a thing too hard For her so soone to kill her selfe for loue She was a woman what would you haue more She thought it folly great to die therefore But I will speake no more hereof as now For it would be too long and teadious For me to shew and to declare to you Her grieuous woe and passions furious And all her dolefull lamentation The which would moue vnto compassion The hardest heart aliue to heare it told For Priam and Queene Hecuba likewise Such pitty had to see and to behold Her shead such flouds of teares out of her eies And in such fort to grieue and to complaine That they almost endured as much paine Within their hearts for her as she had had For Paris but there was no remedy But to conclude when they an end had made Of all their woe King Priam speedily Did cause a rich and costly sepulchre To be set vp in Iunoes Temple where Most sumptuóusly and in their Paynim wise His bodie was entomb'd but to declare The manner of the great solemnities Then vsed at their funerals which are So many and so diuers it would be Too long to be declared now by me CHAP. VI. ¶ How Panthasilia Queene of the Amazons comming to ayd the Troyans against the Grecians shâ—â— obtained great honor and was slaine by Pyrrhus the Soâ—â—e of Achilles KIng Priamus in doubt of his estate And brought into most great extreamity By fortune and his hard and cruell fate When he perceiu'd no other remedie Shut fast the gates of Troy and day and night Kept watch and ward as strongly as he might For all the Troyans generally were So much abasht and did such sorrow make For Paris death that they could not forbeare To weepe and waile and durst not vndertake Against the Greeks to fight nor issue out But kept within the towne in feare and doubt Expecting nought but finally to end Their daies in woe Which when the Greeks did see Agamemnon to Priamus did send A messenger t' intreat with him as he Before had done to issue with his might Out of the towne against the Greeks to fight But Priamus the motion did detest And flatly said it was not his intent To issue out of Troy at his request And that he was most resolutely bent Not once to set one foot out of the towne But when he list without compulsion And yet the cause why he so long time staid From issuing out against the Grecians Was for because he did expect some ayd From Panthasilia Queene of Amazons Who at that time was comming with great speed And mighty force to helpe him in his need Whose Countrie as some Authors say did stand Farre distant in the orientall part Twixt Asia and Europe In which Land None else but women-kind did dwell whose art And chiefe delight and onelie exercise Was managing of armes in warlike wise And valiantly into
to declare Of things wherein they wish to haue â—liefe For while they liue in pure virginity And by the same are bard of liberty They keepe all close and will not seeme too bold To shew their minds although it grieue theÌ„ much Nor tell the thing which otherwise they would Although full neere vnto their hearts it tuch And so although t' were with a fained grace Medea sat with sober cheare and face And yet exprest her meaning with her eye So secretly that no man could discerne The burning fire that in her breast did lye The which because it did her much concerne She could not chuse her troubled mind t' appease But vse some words in secret which were these Would God this braue and lusty Gentleman Which showes so faire and gallant in my sight Whose comelinesse not well expresse I can Assured were to me to be my Knight That I might once embrace him in mine arme Then would I to my will his sences charme His haire that shines like to the golden wire His limbs compact and fram'd in coâ—â—ley wise His stature as proportion doth require In seemely height so well doth please mine eies That by my will it would my heart content To winne his loue if fortune would consent For that his knightly face for to behold â—s vnto me an earthly Deity Though inwardly I feele my heart full cold And yet in truth it may none other be Alas will he not pitty my estate And cause me thinke my selfe most fortunate I would he knew my true and good inâ—ent Whereof I thinke he takes but little â—eed And how my loue to him in fully bent Which inwardly doth make my heart to bleed Yet should I die I date iâ— not disclose Although for him I foâ—le a thousand 〈◊〉 But curelesse is my sorâ—â—â—â— and my paine To friend noâ— foe I dare â—â— not vnfold Nor yet in any fort thereof complaine To find redresse if any way I could And yet I would not any should 〈◊〉 But that I would procur't in honest wise As openly in time it shall be found For that in lawfull wedlocke vnto him Is my desire truely to be bound And so my meaning 's voyd of any sinne As being grounded vpon faithfulnesse Without all fraud or any doublenesse Behold how women craftily can play To wish a thing and nothing lesse 〈◊〉 And secretly that no man ought should say With face full smooth can shadow their desire And hide their lust by wile and subtilty With meere pretence and vaile of honesty And though that to be faithfull they pretend And that the depenes of their trechery They can with outward flourishes defend And all their wiles so closely couer'd lie Yet secretly deceit by them is meant With sugred words of good and true iâ—â—enâ— As if they did all honesty pretend When certainly 't is but an outward shoâ—â— As it is found and proueth in the end And many men by true experience know So well they can say one and other meane And colour blew full lightly turne to greene For vnder vaile of painted stablenesse And fained shew of honest modesty The wilie serpent cald now â—anglenesse Within their hearts full secretly doth lie For what they most desire in outward sho They will deny 't and sweare it is not so Thus Guydo seemes of women to indiâ—e Alas that he with them should make debate Or cursedly so much of them should 〈◊〉 It grieueth me in English to translate Their foule disgrace oâ—â— to iustifie For rather had I for their sakes to die And therefore I will craue their patience To beare with me because I write thus much My purpose is not for to giue offence As knowing well they are not any such They are so true and perfect in their thought That I suppose not one of them is nought And further I doe thinke there is not one But that in will and heart she will be true And keepe her selfe vnto one man alone But be it some doe choose them louers new To say the truth they are not worthy blame For oftentimes they see men do the same They must prouide for new when men refuse To loue them more seeke for other change And if I could I would them full excuse For why should men haue liberty to range And women not which cannot liue alone Store is no sore if they haue more then one Wherefore I must of them desire leaue Although I write as matter doth befall I hope it shall not giue them cause to grieue When as I follow mine originall For reason is that punishment should light On him that doth so hard'gainst women write And them so much and causlesly offend By ouermuch inuaying'gainst their kind But if I might I would it soone amend And him to judgement of the women bind That they might him vnto his pennance set For if for to repent he should forget I would dispaire of his saluation And think that he straight down to hell should go And neuer should obtaine remission Vnlesse he did some satisfaction show For all 's not true that we in bookes do find And if it were 't were hard for women kind If Guido therefore were as now aliue So bitter pennance he should furely haue If I were Priest and had him heare to shriue That till the time that he were layd in graue He should remember daily to repent And earnestly in heart his fact relent That he so spake to his confusion But let this passe and now I will proceed And meane to make no more digression To tell how faire Medea then did speed Who taking leaue did presently depart Out of the hall with sad and heauy heart And Iason when the King likewise did rise With Hercules was to his chamber brought Most richly hang'd in braue and sumptuous wise With cloth of Gold in curious manner wrought Where they did rest and take their ease a while Vpon their beds the time so to beguile Meane while as it already hath been sayd Medea was into her chamber gone Where to her selfe she thought vpon and wayd As she therein sat musing all alone How she might ease the sorrow the smart Which her so sore then pinched at the heart For loue which had her set in such a rage That easely she could it not forgo Nor find a ready meanes the same t' asswage For furious Cupid had her wounded so With his most fiery shafe within her brest That whereso e're she sat she could not rest So violent and seruent was the heat That still it did her paine and griefe encrease For in her breast there was a conflict great Twixt loue and shame which either did her presse To yeeld vnto their wills in some respect So that she could not tell which to reiect For loue a Knight of great renowne and fame Who neither feareth dagger sword nor knife Like Lyon fierce pursued still his game And hot and hasty was t'aduenture life And there withall most
proud in highest degree For Cupids chiefest officer is hee Who doth enforce both high and low of state In perills great and troublesome to enter And bringeth men by hard and cruellfate Vnto their ends and thousand dangers t'venter For loue of feare nor perill takes no heed So that in his proceedings he may speed But shame of other nature that consists Is alwaies bashfull cowardly and faint And dares not once so much as bend her fiâ—â—s Vnlesse it be through very meere constraint For cowardise doth make her hide her face For feare least she should fall into disgrace Much like a child of young and tender yeares As hauing neither courage will nor heart To giue assault she is so full of feares And yet full oft hath playd a peuish part And many louers crost when they should speed By counsell of his foster brother dread For feare and shame if they together lie Bereaue hot loue of heart and hardines And both together flatlie him denie The meanes or any power a word t' expresse Or once his mind to open and declare To ease himselfe of sorrow woe and care For when that loue doth boldlie thinke to speake And is vpon the very point t' assay And giue the venture forth his mind to breake Sharue sâ—eppeth out and vtterly saith nay And causes loue like Snaile his hornes to shrinke And bashfully with both his eies to winke And by that meanes he doth his suite impaire And thus is shame still froward and doth vary From hardie loue and puts him in despaire By helpe of feare which both do him contrary For if that shame fond loue would neuer cheake Loue often times his lawes would surely breake For as a horse that seeks to be at large In furious wise breaks bridle bit and raine And striues to free himselfe from Keepers charge Solouers true to ease themselues of paine Iâ— feare shame did not their wyls with-hold T' effect their lusts would be too hot and bold But all the while that shame is kept in mew Within the breast that no man doth it know No such effect of loue there doth ensue But still it makes an honest outward show For did not shame withstand loues lawlesse lust Loue out the hart all danger soone would thrust And were not shame the keeper and the gaile Of womens hearts as Authors plainely say It were in vaine the Castle to assaile Or any siege against the same to lay For in that case long parle shold not need For women hate delay and loue to speed But shame and feare loues combe so short had cut And humbled him so much in heart and mind That they had him cleane vnto silence put And he no meanes to ease himselfe could find And thus twixt loue and shame in great distresse Medea sat in care and pensiuenesse Which she could not by any meanes endure So hot she burnt within her tender brest For when as loue did her in part assure In fine to giue some comfort ease and rest Vnto her heart shame put her in a doubt With feare to thinke how that it would fall out And thus she stood still more and more in feare Twixt loue and shame as it were at a stand For shame was great but loue more force did beare And in the end did get the vpper hand For feare and shame she durst not once discouer The fire of loue which in her heart did houer Which easely she could not well shake off And so she sat perplex't without reliefe Till fortune full dispos'd at her to scoffe By turning of her wheele did ease her griefe But with vnhappy chance as she doth vse All those that put their trust in her t' abuse For when that men do thinke to sit at ease On top of fortunes wheele and nothing doubt That smiling Lady can them soone displease By giuing it but one small turne about And cause them fall as much as they did rise When they least of her treason do surmise For she is alwaies false and eke vnstable Prouoking men to things aboue their reach Which though that they t' attaine theÌ„ are not able With fained showes she can them finely catch And make theÌ„ break their brains both night day Bout haddy-wist when she with them doth play With her deceitfull face and flattery As she that well cap bring such fooles to bed And caus'd them to their own destruction hie And when that she to mischiefe hath them led She turnes her back with a pleasant smile Doth joy to thinke how she can men beguile And striuing thus within her selfe at last When reason could not win the field of rage And she sometime in musing had ore-past At length her inward torment to asswage She gaâ—n both pro contra to debate The matter with her selfe as still she sate And said in vaine Medea thou dost striue For sure one of the heauenly Gods it is That bends his force gainst thee Doth any liue That euer saw so strange a thing as this Is any thing like vnto burning loue Should I my Fathers hests esteeme aboue All measure hard truth 't is th' are hard and sore Why should I feare this strangers death so much Sith he 's a man I neuer saw before Why should his perill me at heart so tuch Vnhappy wench if thou couldst find some rest And coole the heat which burneth in my breast It were a good and blessed turne for thee For where as griefe now seemeth thee to kill Thou mightst thereby at heart well eased be But now a strange disease against my will Doth draw me on fond loue perswadeth me And though by Art what 's best for me I see Yet do I headlong follow that is worst Why should I thus so fondlie seeme to raue And on a stranger dote as one accurst And seeke a forraine husband so to haue When as at home to my content and mind I may a louer meet for me well find But who can tell if he shall liue or no And yet I pray long life may be his lot For without all offence I may pray so And wish him well although I loue him not For what offence hath Iason done to me Who pittieth not his youth should cruell be What is she but his valour might her moue But setting that aside who would not rage And burne at heart with hot and feruent loue With Iasons faire and goodlie personage My heart is toucht therewith assuredly And if that I prouide not remedy The burning breath of Buls will him so blast That with the fires his body sing'd shall be And of the seeds that he in ground shall cast A strange and vncoath haruest he shall see Of armed men that out the earth shall grow Against whom he had need his valour show And as a prey he shall likewise be set Against the fierce and cruell Dragon fell Which things if that I do not seeke to let Then must I trulie say and shew full well That
that the Percian King Came to the Greeks with many a worthy Knight And with him diuers thousands more did bring To succour them with all his power and might And that he was of body tall and long Yet very fat and therewithall most strong Red haire and beard and deepe and fiery eyes And in his face great store of warts he had His countnance sterne and often times would rise Into such rage that he did seeme halfe mad Which did in him so deepe jmpression take That therewithall his body it would shake Thus much I find that Dares doth declare Of all the Grecians shapes and personages But of the Troians he no paines doth spare In cerious wise at large them to expresse Omitting none as you may well behold The Chapter next ensuing doth vnfold CHAP. VII ¶ The description of Priam and his sonnes and daughters and of the arriuall of the Greeks at the Temple of Diana ANd first he sheweth how King Priamus Of body was both slender tall and strong Of countenance and looke right gratious Delighting much in musicke and in song And therewithall was most desirous To heare such ditties as were amorous A seemely Prince and of great hardines Cleane void of feare abhorring flattery And with low voyce his speech he did expresse Of word most true much given to equitie And never did refuse to any wight To doe him vpright justice law and right No favor nor no loue made him decline Nor leane vnto the greatest or the least His manner was full sone in morne to dine And of all Kings he was the worthiest One that esteem'd each worthy Knight and trew Or any valiant souldier that he knew On whom he did bestow great store of gold And did aduance them vnto dignitie And spared not his treasure to vnfold Mongst them to show his magnanimitie And by that meanes in such wise with them dealt That every one his bounty largely felt Of many sonnes he had the eldest was Hector the famous Prince and worthy Knight Who all the world in valor did surpasse Such was his courage hardinesse and might The very root and spring of Chivalry As ancient Histories doe certifie And therewithall so sober wise and sad Courteous demure and full of gentlenesse That in his time no Prince more honor had And truth to say he did deserue no lesse Forvertue did so much in him abound That throughout all the world he was renownd Of flesh and bones he was so well compact And rightly formed in proportion And every lim so perfect and exact That no defect has found in any one Huge made he was and of just hight length Thereto compleat and of surpassing strength Liuely well breathed and able to sustaine Against his foe a long and furious fight So that no mortall man could ere attaine Vnto the fame of that most valiant Knight For his surpassing strength and courage bold If vnto him his due ascribe I should Wherewith he was so wise and so discreet And louely though a Prince of high degree To rich and poore that met him in the street That all men prais'd his great humilitie A Prince that vs'd few words to any one And shew'd good countenance vnto every one That all men joyed when as they him beheld Vnto his Troian Subiects he was kind But when as he once entred in the field His foes did him a furious Lyon find So valiantly he could himselfe maintaine And by his might their forces all sustaine No man was euer able to endure The moile of the paine that he would take For as the story plainely doth assure And thereof doth a large relation make He neare had feare nor did in fighting faile Nor with faint heart his enemies assaile Of all the valiant Knights that ever were He was the best for vertue prowesse and might And did the prize of honor from them beare The which he might by valor claime of right For none could euer equall him therein Since that this earthly globe did first begin In whom Dame nature did so much prevaile And like a skilfull workeman fashioned His mold that not one thing did in him faile But was compleat saue that he stammered But had no other imperfection And was of sanguine pure complexion His brethren Deiphobus and Helenus In each respect and every property Were both so like vnto King Priamus That twixt them three was no diversitie Except in age he old they young and light The first he was a strong and valiant Knight And in his warres did many a valiant deed But Helenus to learning wholy bent Of feates of armes and prowesse tooke no heed But in all Arts became so excellent And had such knowledge in Astronomy That he could tell what future things should be Of Troilus to speake it is most sure There never liu'd a more couragious Knight Nor likelier in Armes for to indure As hauing therein pla'st his whole delight Of body well compact of stature tall Young lustly fresh and hardy therewithall So valiant strong and stout a Champion That equall vnto him neare any was For none with him could make comparison So much he did in worthines surpasse For which his great and most exceeding might He was a second Hector cal'd by right He did behaue himselfe so valiantly In that great warre against his enemies In loue he did perseuere constantly And was therein most secret firme and wise Of face most faire and of a pleasant cheare Wherein no alteration did appeare He was so firme and constant in his heart And therewithall so loving and so kind That nothing could disswade nor make him start From that which he had once decreed in mind So true he was in word and so vpright And to his foes he was so sterne a Knight And fierce that they could not his force withstand Vnto the Greeks it was confusion When as he held his bloody sword in hand And to the Troians their protection For that his Knight-hood was of such account That no man might in valor him surmount Thogh al the world they shold haue sought throghout What â—hall I say to make his praises last More then I haue but that amongst the rout Of Greeks and Troians all none him surpast Vnlesse it were his jnvinsible brother Hector alone and neuer any other King Priamus sonne cal'd Paris was a Knight So beautifull of flesh and blood to see That for to yeild to him his due and right I must confesse none was so faire as he Whose crisping looks that shin'd like golden wier Made all men his great beautie much admire His sole delight was shooting in a bow And hunting in the woods to chase wild deare And did therein such skill and cunning show That he all Archers past that euer were And was a Knight of great renowne and fame Whose valiant deeds did well approue the same Aeneas that King Priams daughter had Was light of lims and eyâ—d bright and cleare Well brested and of good proportion
cruelly as I the signes can show Most furiously the same didst hac and hew Whereby mine armes that forged are of steele When thou with puissant force on theÌ„ dist smight Could neuer yet assure my corps so well But that thy trenchaÌ„t blade through theÌ„ would 〈◊〉 Into my flesh full deepely and profound As well appeares by many a mortall wound Which in the same are now both long and wide And at this time full sorely ake and smart And put me to such paine on euery side For which as now it seemeth that my heart Doth rise swell beat and pant when I thee see With great despight reuengd on thee to bee And is so full repleat with furious rage And rancor old with such extreamitie That by no meanes it never will asswage Till with my hands thy death I giue to thee But one thing doth torment me most of all Which is when I vnto remembrance call And with my selfe in mind expostulate How to content thy fierce and bloody will With trenchant blade thou diddest separate Patroclus corps in twaine and didst him kill Whom I did loue with heart and mind intire And vnto him so great good will did beare That as my selfe I must the truth confesse I loued him and such affection Vnto him had as no tongue can expresse And thou thereby didst make division Twixt him and me that liu'd and lou'd together Like brethren twaine and so had done for euer While life endur'd for that betwixt vs twaine Our faithfull hearts were knit to fast together As if they had been linked in a chaine No griefe nor no adversity could sever Our hearts and thoughts how great soere it was Till by his death thou broughtst the same to pas And by that meanes our faith full loue didst part Whose death so deepe in printed in my thought So sore doth griue and vex me at the heart That I protest it shall be dearely bought And 't may be if I reckon not amisse Before this present yeare expired is For be assurd that onely for his sake When Fortune shall afor'd the time to do 't Revenge by cruell death on thee I le take And thereof make account and looke well to 't For if I liue it shall be surely don WheÌ„ thou shalt haue no means the same to shun For right requires that sith by death thou wert The cause and meane to part two louer true Death should to thee be rendred for desert Which I my selfe will giue thee as thy due That all the world through out may thereof know And heare how that Achilles kild his foe To be revenged for Patroclus death And though that I doe hate thee for the same And will as long as I on earth doe breath Thou hast no cause nor reason me to blame For well I wot thou hast my death conspird And many a day the same in heart desird So that to end this strife I tell thee plaine Nought els but cruell death shall vâ—â—pâ—â—r bee For till thou I or both of vs be slaâ—â—â— It shall not cease The which I hope to see Ere it be long for sure it shall be dâ—â— By me or thee the which thou shalt not shun When Hector had Achilles speech well hard And giuen him leaue to tell so long a â—ale As he that for the same full little card With countenance glad and yet with anger pale He did thereto reply and answer made Vnto the same and thus to him he sayd Achilles thou no maruell oughst to haue That as thou saist I doe thy death conspire And howrely the same of fortune craue As th' onely thing which I in heart desire And that to kill thee still I he in wait Because to thee I beare so deadly hate For if in mind thou didst consider well The sentence graue which verity doth proue And vnto vs for certaine truth doth tell That neither I nor any man can loue Nor any kind of fauor show to one That dayly seeketh my confusion And me and mine to vanquish and destroy With deadly hate and great presumption Besieged hath the noble towne of Troy To bring vs wholly to destruction Not can I any cause nor reason find That in my heart I should to him be kind Nor loue nor fauor him in any thing That seekes my death For loue doth neuer breed Of bloody warre and strife nor yet doth spring From fowle and deadly hate but doth proceed And takes her first and true originall From faithfulnesse which is the principall And onely cause that makes mens hearts t' agree And neuer from true faith and loue to start But doth them still preserue in vnitie Of words and will desire mind and hart And neither life nor death can loue disseuer For faithfull loue continueth true for euer But hatred and dissention is contrary From whence proceeds and followes as we see When as mens hearts and minds dissent varry Nought els but rancor strife and enâ—â—itie Whe which once bred makes men proceed so far That at the last they fall to mortall warre The which all loue cleane vanisheth away But nerethelesse I will that thou shalt know That whatsoeuer thou to me dost say In proud and vaunting words and makest show As if that thou wouldst doe that vnto mee Which while thou liust shal neare be don by thee I care not whatsoere thou dost or sayst For without bost hereof I thee assure When as thou hast don all that ere thou â—â—yst If that this warre long twixt vs doth indure I hope if that it be my chance to liue The Grecians so to terrifie and grieue That thou and they full well shall find and feele How with my trenchant blade when we shall meet I le hac and hew their armors made of steele And beat them downe and tread them vnderfeet And thine and all their pride so much will daunt That if you stay and still these warres doe haunt I le make you all repent your comming here For this I know and well assured am That th' onely thing as plainely doth appeare For which vnto this towne you hither came Proceeds of pride and indiscretion Els would you not with such presumption A thing of such importance take in hand As is the siedge of this our towne so great Which able is your forces to withstand And you and yours from thence by force to beat For th' enterprise I tell you true and plaine Is ouer hard and heavy to sustaine And will because to make you all in fine As hauty and as stout as now you seeme To leaue your pride and lowly to decline And stoop vnto the burthen which you deeme To be but very easie small and light With your no little shame and great despight And this I say Achilles vnto thee That whensoeuer thou dost me assayle Death shall vnto thy selfe be giuen by mee Before that thou against me shalt prevaile To do the thing wgich thou so easie deem'st Though of thy selfe thou nere so
wil sometimes say That which they will deny againe as fast And serpentlike mongst flowers fresh and gay Most commonly their poyson vse to cast With sweet and sugred word when as they mind Nought but deceit and guile for t is their kind And propertie to flatter faine and lie When in them men doe greatest trust repose For all they doe is done in pollicie For when you thinke theÌ„ friends they are your foes And hide their malice with such subtiltie That though they seeme with one disseÌ„bling eye And outward show in piteous wise to weepe They can with th' other laugh full couertly And in their hearts their double meaning keepe Their sorrowes they are outward commonly And neuer to their hearts and thoughts draw nere And all the partie coulours which they were Are mixt with change and great variety For therein doth consist their chiefest blis The' are sure and fixt in lies and flattery And double in their truest promises Make show of faith when least thereof they thinke Likeliest to loue when most from it they shrinke Most ouerthwart when as they should agree And truest seeme when truth in them is none For certaine t is that few of them there be That in their hearts contented are with one But will in show receiue and entertaine Two three or foure and in their speeches faine Aud make them all with flattering words beleeue That she doth loue and like them euery one And secretly her faith to all will giue Yet maketh them to thinke she loues but one And that shee le liue with him in weale and woe When as in very truth it is not so And by that meanes to each of them doth seeme As if she lou'd and liked him alone And makes him her for his true loue esteeme When as in truth perchance she loueth none And thus with fained hope she doth theÌ„ scoffe The tru'st to her is soon'st by her cast off He that best serues least favor shall deserue And yet she doth them all with fancie feede But promise will with none of them obserue She 'le soon'st deceaue wheÌ„ you think sur'st to speed Let no man trust therefore vnto delay But take time and aduantage when he may A man may change at pleasure all the yeare And yet thereby may get but little gaine Great folly t is to buy that thing to deare Which man cannot in his bounds retaine But flies away when most he doth it want And if such ware at any time wax scant Men may them out at windoes oft behold And find them in a chamber or a hall That with most shameles countenance and bold Will not refuse vnto a man to call And many times abroad in euery street You may them see and also with them meet At Pilgrimages and oblations At daunces â—ights and euery common play That vsed are in Citties and in townes Where they resort for pleasure night and day To see and to be seene of every man And by their wiles t'intrap them if they can For their 's no fraud nor any subtiltie Like vnto that of willy women kind Nor worse deceit nor craftier pollicie Then in their false dissembling hearts men find For he that loueth women stedfastly And thinks in them to find fidelity Shall see and proue them like vnto the moone That ready is to change For if their loue Be young and them displease they will him soone Out of the dores by head and shoulders shoue If he be old th'yle say age makes him dote And let some younger man ride in his bote My counsell therefore is vnto them both To cast them off in time and let them flie This Guido saith not I I tell you troth That hath delight to speake vnhappily Of women in most part of all his Booke As you may see if you therein will looke Whereby it seemes that he was not their friend And vnto them did beare no little spight Els would he not so much with them contend Nor in his Booke such slaunders of them wright Which inwardly did make my heart to bleede For griefe when I such things therein did read Which onely of meere malice favored And maile of purpose women to contemne Wherein I see he was too much misled For generally he doth them all condemne And for to show more indiscretion Twixt good and bad makes no exception He was too blame for one â—'accuse them all For I dare say and swere it by the rood And you shall find it to in generall That for one bad there are an hundred good And though some doe themselues vnconstant shew It hurts not them that faithfull are and crew And though by some examples he may show As likely t is for many such there are That some one boue the rest did proue a shrow Those that are meeke and gentle need not care We must not blame nor tax all women kind For some that proue vntrue For this we find That in the towne of Collen once there were Eleuen thousand Virgins pure and true Which did the name of Holy Martyrs beare And many other stories tell to you That diuers maids did Virgins long remaine And to preserue virginitie were slaine And some with flowers of true virginitie Did liue on earth in honor great and fame That died at last in perfect ehastity And sanctified in heauen for the same With God remaine in his eternall rest And mongst the Saints for euermore are blest And though some gainst bad women so much say We must not all for some few women blame Therefore let no good women be dismaid For that of men may well be sayd the same Is it a shame to him that liueth true Because an other man doth liue vntrue And for his theft is hang'd as many be No more is it to women vertuous If mongst a hundred one of them we see That is of liuing bad and vicious When for one bad a thousand we may find That vertuous are Though Guido faith by kind And nature they are false yet men should thinke They are not so and them not too much blame But rather at their frailtie seeme to winke For though ones bad they are not all the fame Nature in operatiou hath great power And who is he that liueth at this hower That can by anymeanes his course restraine For she will not be shortned of her right Nor yet be staied with bridle norwith raine And therefore man withall his power and might Should giue God thanks for them â—◠〈◊〉 not blame Poore women that by nature are the â—aâ—â—e And though so much my Author gainst them saies Where he doth write of Cresida alone And for her fault such blame on women laies My counsellis to all and euery one In reading it on her t' impose the shame And task not other women for the same Or read it not at all but rather stay Till that you come where Diomede had charge To goe to Troy to fetch faire Cresida Whereas my maâ—ster Chawâ—â—r
aid Achilles did withstand Who at that time in extreame danger stood And could not scape by any likelihood But either had been taken or else slaine For Hector on him set so furiously That he had not beene able to sustaine The fight gainst him and those that busilie Vpon him set till that King Thelamon Much grieu'd thereat when as he heard theron With many thousand Grecians thither road And in despight of all the Troyans force Who notwithstanding brauely him withstood Did rescue him and holpe him to his horse But not without the losse of many a knight But for because as then it drew to night They left the battaile for that time and went Out of the field the Troyans to the towne The Grecians everie one vnto his tent And for that night to rest themselues lay downe And after that as Dares Frigius saies Continually for space of thirtie daies They neuer ceased valiantly to fight And furiouslie each other to destroy On either side but yet for all their might The Grecians lost much more then they of Troy And Priam lost in those most furious fights Six Bastard sons all braue and valiant knights For whome he made much dole and heauinesse And neuer ceast to weepe and to complaine And in that time as Guido doth expresse Hector a wound got in his face againe And in that sort each t'other did procure Great losse while all those battailes did endure Till Priamus vnto the Greeks sent downe For truce for six months space if that they would Grant therevnto which King Agamemnon With all his Lords contented was to hold And so it was confirm'd on either side For so long time betwixt them to abide And while it held the worthy Champion Hector the chiefe defence of Troy did lie To heale and cure his woâ—nds in Ilion King Priams Princelie house Whereof if I Should take on me as Dares sets it downe To make to you a full description I feare I shall want learning to expresse And shew the same to you for t is too much For my bare wit to doo 't I must confesse For truth it is there nere was any such In all the world before that ere was seene For riches nor the like nere since hath beene For as he saith t' was made for great delight And stood vpoÌ„ twelue mightie stones foure square The which were all of Alablaster white The true and right proportion that it bare Was twenty paces in the latitude And iust as many in the longitude The pauement vnder foot was Christ all cleare And all the walls compos'd and made of stones The which most costly rich and sumptuous were As Rubies Saphires Agaâ—s Diamones Topas Emrands Turques Crosolites Purfier Iasper Iet and Margarites And many other kinds the which are found And with great labour sought and digged out Within the rich and fertile Indian ground And all the Countries of the world about The which did glister shine and show as bright Within that faire sumptuous house by night As when the Sun by day therein did shine And round about the hall most curiously Huge pillars therein stood exceeding fine And brauely made of pure white Ivorie Which on the tops of each of them did hold Most great and massie Images of gold Inchast with Pearls precious stones most bright So that the stately workemanship and fashion Of that most sumptuous Pallace to the sight Was likelier by estimation To be compos'd by incantation Then wrought and made by mans invention And rather seem'd a thing celestiall And framed by the heauenly Deity Then any house of Prince terrestriall But for because I never did it see I will conclude and briefly to you tell Thâ—â— iâ— all other buildings did excell And turnd againe vnto King Priamus Who while the truce aforesaid did endure Most earnest was by workemen curious To make most costly tombes for Sepulture Of his six Bastard sons aforesaid dead That in the warre their liues had finished And all this while King Diomede lay sicke And inwardly did feele great woe and smart By Cupids shaft that cruelly did pricke And sting him through the brest into the heart For loue of his faire Lady Cresida For whom he neuer ceast both night day To fret grieue with deepe sighs complaine And for that cause most wilfullie begun To leaue all food and foolishlie abstaine From earthly ioy and lookt so pale and wan That he did seeme to be a man forlorne And one that all terrestriall blisse did scorne And ever vnto her did still complaine And prayed her of loue and charitie To shew some grace to ease him of his paine And nor to put him to extreamitie Which surely was for her sweet sake to die If vnto him her loue she would denie But cunningly she held him at a bay And for to haue and keepe him in good hope She still did vse to feed him with delay Yet would not seeme to giue him too much scope But as it were twixt hope and deepe despaire Shewd vnto him a countnance glad and faire To ease him partlie of his heauinesse And then with some new tricke as in disdaine Would put him to some other new distresse And rather more then lesse encrease his paine As wylie women well can play such parts With men that pierced are with Cupids darts And make them oftentimes to giue assaies Yet wau'ringly to stand twixt hope and dread By putting them to Non-plus by delaies As Cresida dealt with King Diomede Of purpose for to set him more on fire For naturally all women doe desie When they haue made men after them to dance Twixt hope and dread both linked in a chaine Vnequally to hang them in ballance Of most vncertaine end of either twaine To make them long and many yeares to serue Nought caring whether they doliue or starue Loe here what by too fervent loue is got For she to keepe him still in seruitude Held him at such a bay that he could not Perceaue what she did meane but to conclude Left him in doubt wherein I le let him lie And vnto you will further certifie How well themselues the Troyans did defend Against the Greeks their enemies in field When as the six months truce were at an end Who after that twelue daies together held Continuall fight and never would refraine Wherin great store of valiaÌ„t knights were slaine On either side all in their owne defence Which in the field long did vnburied lie Whereof ensu'd so great a pestilence Among the Greekes by much extreamitie Of heat and by contagiousnes of aire That they therewith did fall in great despaire For day by day so many of them dyed That in short space their number did decrease Most mightily the which when they espyed And saw the plague still more more encreast Their Generall a messenger sent downe With all their whole consents vnto the towne To craue a truce if Priam would consent And yeeld thereto for thirtie dayes
sho According to the Pagans ancient rights The funerall was there accomplished In presence of great multitudes of Knights And Lords and Ladies faire who then did shead Great store of teares with much affection And on their knees fell downe before the throne Whereas the corps of that most worthy Knight Vnburied stood vpright vpon his feet And seemd as fresh and faire vnto the sight By vertue of the precious gums most sweet And balme the which his flesh did so reuiue That he did shew as he had been aliue And at this feast and great solemnitie Queene Hecuba with Policene and other Faire Dames and Princes of great dignitie Sat weeping and in company together Apparelled in sad and mournfull blacke Such lamentation at that time did make For Hectors death as nere the like was seene And yet for all the sorrow that they made The faire and goodly Lady Pollicene No part of her great beautie changed had But still a crimson red and white most cleare Within her face and countnance did appeare For all the teares that she as then did shead Which trickled downe her cheeks like poaâ—les fine Her haire that then hung round about her head In careles wiâ—e like golden wier did shine And show'd like Phebus glistring beams most bright When he doth cast on vs his radiant light Which with her fingers small â—â—e rent and tare Whose beautie when Achilles did behold He did esteeme the same to be so rare That he did muse how God and Nature could Deuise and make so faire â—â— creature For comlines of face and feature So Angell-like she did to him appeare That he to looke on her could not indure For with her christall eies most faire and cleare She stroake him then into the heart so sure That for her loue which was his whole desire He burnt within as hot as any fire And sodainely againe with griefe he shooke Like one that is in feare yet euermore Vpon her he did cast a glancing looke For Cupids dart had pierced him so sore Into the brest and giuen him such a wound That it was likely neuer to be sound And as he durst he lookt her in the face And still approacht vnto her with his eie For whom if that in her he found no grace He made account assuredly to die For he was fallen and caught in such a snare That of his health he was in great despaire And in his heart he was perplexed so That care of all things els he did reiect For knowing not what he were best to do He did himselfe and all his state neglect To set his thought on her and in this wise He fed himselfe with sight of her faire eyes Till Phoebus with his charâ—â—â— did decline And to the Westerne coasts began to draw And on their hemisphere no more did shine When as he cast his eies about and saw Queene Hecuba with Pollicene and mo Out of the Temple to the Pallace go On whom he neuer ceast to haue a sight As she did pas along till that she went Out of the gate and he no longer might With her faire eies giue to his heart content And then no longer in the towne be staid But going to his tent himselfe he layd Vpon his bed with sad and heauy cheare Whereas he lay still thinking on his loue Whose beauty in his sight did so appeare And as he thought still more and more did moue His heart the same with great desire to craue That he no rest noâ— any ease could haue For loue of whom such burning heat he felt And extreame paine which did torment him so That with the same he thought his heart wold melt And in that sort he tumbled too and fro And like a man halfe dead and fore dismaid Vnto himselfe he spake and thus he sayd Alas quoth he that fortune so vnkind Should be to me to make me feele and know Such griefe that I no end thereof can find For that it doth my heart so ouerflow As I suppose that since the world began There nere was found a more distressed man For I that whilome was of so great might Renowned throughout the world of high and low And honoured and feared of euery wight For no man euer heard noâ— yet did know Of any Knight that was more valorous Then I nor euer more victorious For neither Hector that most valiant Knight That was my Lady Pollicenes deare brother Although he was of most exceeding might And hardy therewithall nor any other The power had when he on me did set The least aduantage vpon me to get Nor in the field my courage once could daunt Or make me yeild of fearefully to flie Whereof I may vnto my selfe now vaunt Because I am assurd iâ— is no lie Now now alas a mayd of tender age Hath suddenly set me in such a rage And with the streames of her faire Christall eies Hath pierst my woefull heart and euery vaine That I cannot by any meanes deuise How to relieue my selfe or ease my paine On whom shall I for counsell now reâ—â—e Or who can giue me any remedy To ease and cure my griefe and heauines For this is sure that hope for me ther 's none If death end not my woe and great distresse But her good will and that from me is gone For neither prayer wealth nor comlines Strength power courage nor yet Noblenes Birth honor blood nor great affinitie Can ought availe to helpe me now in need To moue her stony heart to pittie me For whom my heart with inward griefe doth bleed What fury hath possest my restles braine That it should so gainst nature me constaine And make me proue so much vnfortunate As for to seeke mine owne confusion To loue and like of her that doth me hate But truth to say when as I thinke thereon No marvell t is that she doth me despise Sith I am come to Troy in warlike wise To kill and to destroy her kindred And all her friends by fierce and cruell warre Wherein the blood I haue already shead Of Hector her deare brother who both farre And neare was known to be the valiantst knight That euer liu'd for valor and for might Alas for woe now may I quake for feare And of my life dispaire both day and night For with what face can I fore her appeare Or be so bold to come into her sight That haue offended her in such a fashion As that in truth I merit no remission Nor pardon at her hands but certainely Must yeild my selfe the sentence to abide Of cruell death to end my miserie Which doth enclose me round on euery side And so with many sobs and sighes most deepe He did begin so bitterly to weepe And made such woefull lamentation That pittie it was for any man to heare Or see the griefe and cruell passion Which he with great extremitie did beare Within his mind and outwardly exprest And so he lay and by no meanes could rest But tumbled
for feare did shake And sayd to him how can you now sustaine And beare this great and cruell iniurie To soe your men before your face thus lie Dead on the ground and slaine in cruell wise Within your tent and take therof no heed But stay still here when as your enemies Haue sworne and with full intent decreed To kill you thus disarmed as you stand If by your mighty force and puissant hand You doe them not resist and valiantly Shew forth your courage and ere hence they passe Requite them for the extreame cruelty Which they haue showd to vs herein this place Which when Achilles heard with furious ire Which in his brest did burne as hot as fier He armd himselfe and soming like a Bore Forgetting that whereof so much he drempt And thought vpon vnto himselfe he swore To be reuengd for loue was cleane exempt Out of his mind and Pollicene also For whom he had endured so great wo And for her beauty felt such griefe in hart Vpon the Troians for their crueltie That suddenly vpon his feet he start And calling for his horse road speedily Into the field where in short space he had So great a slaughter of the Troians made And did so furiously vpon them set For like a greedy woolfe that seeks for pray He kild and spared none that with him met Or that durst him witstand along the way Whereas he road That in a little space He made the Troians flie before his face And shun his sword all died with their blood Wherewith he had so many of them slaine For there was none that him as then withstood But he was soone layd dead vpon the plaine Till Troielus that by fortune did behold How he the Troians slew with courage bold Ran at him with most great and puissant force Whose comming when Achilles did espie He likewise spurd his strong and gallant horse And ran at him with like dexteritie And met together with such puissant might That each the other to the ground did smight Both pierced in their brests but differently Achilles with a wound most daungerous Whereof he was constrained long to lie Within his tent to heal't but Troielus A little prickt and so that day till night And six daies more ensuing they did fight And neuer ceast in furious wise to kill And to destroy each other valiantly And in that time great store of blood did spill Vnto no little damage certainely On either side for many a worthy Knight Was brought vnto his end with great despight In that same time But cause I doe not know Their names nor of what dignities they were For Guydo in his Booke doth it not show To write them I must likewise now forbeare And let their names and titles with them die And in obliuion rest perpetually But when King Priamus was certified How fierce Achilles in the field had been That day to fight and thereby falsified His promise made for loue of Pollicene Sore grieud he was and did himselfe perswade Achilles with his words had him betraid But truth to say t' was neither fraud nor guile Nor any treason secretly decreed But heat of loue which lasteth but a while Which for that time did vex Achilles head And made him sweare to do more then he could And like the wind that none by force can hold Let words from his dissembling mouth be heard Contrary vnto that he ment to do The which a man that 's wise should not regard And make as though he gaue no eare thereto For though Achilles had tofore been gotten In Cupids snare he had it then forgotten And card not in his furie to displease His Lady whom so much he seemd to flatter He had not any will the warre to cease As he had sayd but cleane contrary matter Was in his head then he made shew to meane And promist to the Queene and Pollicene And for that cause King Priam did vpbraid And cast her in the teeth with light conceit Of false Achilles loue wherein she layd Her trust whereas he ment nought but deceit For which she was sore grieud because that shee Did to the Queene her mothers will agree To marry with Achilles to th' intent That by her meanes and marriage there might be A peace for euer made But t' was not ment By trecherous Achilles for when he Was healed of his wounds he did deuise And in his traitrous heart a way surmise To be reuengd on Troielus who still Stake deepely in his cruell heart and mind If that he might haue meanes t' obtaine his will And him at some aduantage take or find Such hatred in his heart to him he bare That day and night he tooke no other care Nor set his mind vpon no other thing But onely how to quench the burning fier Of enuy gainst him borne and how to bring The same t'eflect according t' his desire For he had sworne and bound it with a vow That Troielus should die he card not how Nor by what meanes by his hand and none other And to that end with purpose fully bent T effect his will he cald his Knights together And when they were assembled in his tent One morning when the Grecians forth did go Into the field with braue and warlike sho To fight against their Trâ—â—â— enemy Who in like sort out of the towne were come With all their force the Grecian to defie And ready stood with sound of fearefull drume And trumpets shrill to call and to invite The Grecians to a fierce and cruell fight He did to them of Troielus complaine For th' iniuries that he to him had done And prayed them that they would take the paine That day to let all other things alone And onely watch on Troielus to hold And to enclose him round if that they could In midst of them and when they had don so In furious wise t'assayle him altogether And not by any meanes to let him go But yet to saue his life till he came thither That with his sword alone he might him kill To satisfie his fierce and cruell will Lo here the valor of this worthy Knight Who enviously with rancor and in pride By treason and with rage and great despight All honor and true Knight-hood layd aside Doth seeke to kill a worthier Knight then he Alas that ere such trechery should be Within the heart of any man aliue That doth professe to be a valiant Knight And honor seekes to win and to achiue Most valiant acts and who is bound by right And law of armes while life in him doth rest All falsehood and fowle treason to detest And to maintaine all truth and equitie For now he doth in secret wise conspire The death of him by great disloyalty That onely vnto honor did aspire And he that was the braust and worthiest knight That euer ware or put on armor bright But that which by Gods will ordained is Though nere so much men seeke it to withstand
Must fall out in the end and cannot mis. The which his Myrmidons did take in hand And promised to do as he had sayd And so no longer time therein delaid But went into the field where Troielus With all the Troian troopes did ready stand Who valiantly with heart couragious And with his strong and trenchant blade in hand Vpon the Grecians set and of them made Such hauocke that in little time he had So many of them slaine and ouerthrowne And furiously sore wounded euery where As he amongst them road and past that none Of them durst stand against him and appeare Before his face and did so hotly chase And kill and beat them downe in euery place That they began for feare of him to flie So that despight of all the Greeks he won The field of them and with such crueltie Pursued them that ere it was full noone That day he had constraind them to retire To saue their liues and shun his furious ire Till that Achilles Myrmidons began T' inclose him round about on euery side And with most great despight vpon him ran And he to them in furious wise did ride And though alone he was amongst them all Like Lyon fierce vpon them he did fall And in such furious wise did them assayle And valiantly to kill them did not cease That in short space he did so much preuaile Gainst them that he their number did decrease For some he slew out right and some he bore Downe to the ground some he wounded sore And some he maim'd and some he cleft in twaine And hackt and hewed them most cruelly And did the fight so valiantly maintaine Against them all with such dexterity That they could not his hautie heart subdue But still he seem'd his courage to renew And them with force and valor great t'assayle And by no meanes to giue them any rest But what could all his power and strength preuaile When as he was so mightily opprest And that three thousand knights did neuer cease In furious wise vpon him still to presse And more and more on euery side him held At such a bay that cowardly in th' end They kild his horse whereby he was compeld To fight on foot and yet he did defend Himselfe so valiantly that they well felt The puissant blowes which he amongst them delt But nerethelesse he was so sore beset That all he did could him no whit prevaile By any meanes from midst of them to get For they did him so furiously assayle That mauger his most puissant force might Off from his head they did his helmet smight And hackt and heawd his armor in such wise That naked both with head and necke he stood In midst of all his furious enemies Without reliefe Yet like a Lyon wood He shewd himselfe a valiant Champion And neuer ceast to smight and beat them down And to withstand them mightily and long Disarmed as he was till in the end Achilles entring in amongst the throng Of Myrmidons where Troielus did defend Himselfe gainst them fought with courage bold Whom when he did in such a case behold Sore wearied with fighting and in need Of ayd as then with extreame cruelty Ere Troilus of him tooke any heed Behind him fiercely road and cowardly Smot off his head and not contented so Vnknightly his great crueltie to sho He causd his mangled body to be bound Vnto his horses tayle and in a rage Drewt after him along vpon the ground Throughout the field his choler to asswage And to content his fierce and cruell will Which tooke delight his enemies blood to spill By treason as too well it doth appeare By that disloyall act which he then wrought But he that such a traiterous heart doth beare All honor and renowne doth set at nought So that he may effect his cruelty And bad intent against his enemy But now I must a little change my stile And leaue the Greeks and Troians in the fight And vnto learned Homer speake a while Who as it seemes did take a great delight To praise Achilles for his chivalry And all the Greeks t' extoll and magnifie But Homer thou hadst need to blush for shame And to condemne thine owne partiality For magnifying of Achilles name That in thy booke extolst him to the skie Who while he liu'd was full of fraud and guile And neuer did deserue so loftie a stile I must confesse that with great Eloquence And Rethoricke thou hast set forth his praise And like a Poet of great excellence Dost say he was the best Knight in his daies Yet in one point thou greatly art to blame Without iust cause to magnifie his name And t'eleuate commend and glorifie Him with a title of such happines As that for euerlasting memorie Thou dost declare that through his worthines And Knight-hood he the honor did obtaine By his owne hand two Hectors to haue slaine One who in truth for Knight-hood did surpas All men that euer liu'd for such an other Was neuer found and Troielus that was A most renowned Knight his youngest brother Who likewise well deserued for his fame And valor great a second Hectors name If thou wast moued by affection And loue which thou dost seeme in heart to beare Vnto the valiant Greekish Nation To praise him thou shouldst not for loue nor feare Refuse to write the truth of euery thing And set aside all lies and flattering For when that he slew Hector in the field It was when he without all feare or care To ease himselfe a while had cast his shield Behind him at his backe and fore him bare A Kings dead corps before his sadle bow And of his comming did full little know For if he had perceiud his trechery Thou hadst not had the cause of him to boast As now thou hast for by his chiualry He would haue made Achilles to his cost To feele his puissant force and valor great And him besides his purpose would haue set And so he did to Troielus likewise Who being all alone enclosed round Amongst the Greeks his deadly enemies And fighting there on foot vpon the ground Disarmed head and necke in great distresse And redy for to faint with wearinesse He road behind him and most cowardly Smot off his head when he suspected least He would haue vsed him so traiterously Now iudge you all I pray at my request I ft were an act of any valiant Knight To kill a man sore wearied in fight Which he had held gainst thousands all that day And much of his most Princely blood had spent In midst of them as he stood at a bay Bare headed with his armor all most rent Cleane off his backe not able to sustaine Himselfe but in great danger to be slaine And in that case to come so cowardly Behind his backe and kill him vnawares To couer his devised trechery As one that of his honor had no care Praise him not therefore Homer for the same But
may with speed vpon the same agree Where thou well arm'd in secret wise shalt stand With certaine knights and readie be at hand To kill him there while he for me doth stay Where let him of his death be surelie sped And see that by no meanes he scape away Out of thy hands vntill that he be dead Which I thee heartly pray as 't is my will Effectuall for my sake to fulfill And see thou failest not to do the same Whereto he did agree and presentlie Against Achilles to the Temple came With twentie valiant knights there secretly Did stay Meane time Queene Hecuba did send A messenger t' Achilles to that end As she with Paris had determined By whome she made him certainlie belieue That she did meane and fullie purposed Her daughter Policene to him to giue And at his comming would as she did say Agree twixt them vpon the marriage day Where to he did most willinglie consent As he that no suspition had in mind Of treason for his heart it was so bent And set on fire with loue that he was blind And could not see nor yet perceiue at all By reason and aduise what might be fall To him by going into Troy so soone At her request he had offended so By killing of her Sons as he had done But hap what would needs thither would he go As louers all are fond and despratly No perill shun although that they should die T' enioy the thing wherewith in loue they are Their maladie it is so furious Vntill they are intrapped in a snare And so Achilles and Archilogus Duke Nestors Son that bare him company Did goe to Troy and entring presently Into the Temple of Apollo went Where Paris with his Knights for him did stay In secret wise with purpose fully bent Him there as he deserued had to slay And sodainly assoone as he was in T' assaile him altogether did begin By night as some do say but when so ere The same was done when as Achilles saw Himselfe assaild abandoning all feare He did his sword out of his scabberd draw And in short space despight of all their mights In furious wise he slew seuen Troyan knights And did defend himselfe so valiantly Against them then although they were so many And with them fought with such dexterity That long it was ere vantage they bad any On him at all till Paris who as then Stood watching oportunitie and when He saw Achilles such resistance make Tooke vp a Dart and aim'd at him so well And so directly that therewith he strake Him through the heart and therewith all he fell With pale and deadly face vpon the ground And body mangled sore with many a wound And so was slaine his treason to requite As reason is that such as traitors are And while they liue in treachery delight Should at the last fall in the selfe same snare Which they for others had prepar'd And thus Achilles and with him Archilogus Were slaine by Paris in the Temple at Queene Hecubaes desire and request Who presently did giue commandment that Their bodies in the Temple should not rest And made them to be drawne out of the bounds Thereof and to be throwne vnto the hounds Loe here the iust reward of treachery And of deceit which while he liued he Delighted in and how with equitie God punisheth all such as traitors be For reason is that he that seeks t' obtaine His will by treason should likewise againe With treason be requited for his paine As false Achilles was that tooke delight In treason while he liu'd and so was staine Within Apollos Temple in the night But yet their bodie were not as t is said Although that they in th' open streets were laid That with great ioy the Troyans might them see Devour'd by hounds as by commandment Of Hecuba they were ordaind to be For Helena vnto King Priam went And on her knees of him did humbly craue Their bodies from that cruelty to saue Who willinglie did therevnto consent And caus'd them to be kept as she desir'd Till that King Agamemnon to him sent A messenger and leaue of him requir'd To fetch them and to giue them buriall The which he did for whome in generall The Grecians did such extreame sorrow make And were so much discomforted therefore That in great feare each vnto other spake And said alas now farewell euermore Our trust our hope our ioy our confidence Our welfare and our soueraigne defence Sith valorous Achilles now is dead For he in knighthood did so much excell That while he liu'd we neuer stood in dread To overcome this towne but now full well We may both feare and plainlie say that we Nere in our liues shall masters thereof be And while that they such sorrow great did make And plunged were in extreame doubts feares For their great Champion fierce Achilles sake Agamemnon two costly Sepulchers For workemanship most rare and curious Caus'd to made one for Archilogus The other for Achilles wherein they Intombed were with great solemnitie In Paynim wise and both vpon a day To shew the whole particularity And manner of their ancient buriall Were over-long to trouble you withall It shall suffice to tell that they did make Much sorrow and endur'd great heauinesse For death of them and how in mournfull blacke They brought them to their graues to expresse Their woefulnes with heauie heart and mood Some threw sweet gums some cast milk blood Into the funerall fires and how they made Playes which by them were called palestrall And wrastrings at the wakes and how they had Great store of customes ceremoniall At burials of the dead the which much more Then needfull were to tell as now therefore I le leaue herewith And vnto you declare How therevpon King Agamemnon sent For all the Grecian Princes that then were Within the hoast to come vnto his tent And when they all assembled were therein And orderly set downe he did begin To speake to them and said my Lords t is now No time to moue nor need t' encourage your Against your Troyan foes sith that you know And too well find by good experience how Vnconstant fortune hath now chang'd her face And sodenly cleane altered our case And fild your hearts with rage and iust despight To thinke vpon the murther horrible Of late done to Achilles which in sight Of God and man is foule and odible Despightfully by Hecuba the Queene For which I thinke it shortlie shall be seene If that within your valiant hearts there be Or resteth any man-hood force or wit To make a vertue of necessitie And to refraine till that occasion fit To take revenge therefore and t'recompence The iniurie despight and great offence Vnto you done and giuen thereby fall out As reason t is it should requited be For very beasts insensible no doubt Would do the same in like extremitie But yet as you are wise and prouident I would faine know your
be the way T' appease them and their furious course to stay Which hauing said Amphimachus arose Vpon his feet who grieued much to heare Anthenor speake of treatie with their foes In manner as you heard could not forbeare In presence of King Priamus t' vpbraid Him openly with treason and thus sayd Anthenor by thy speech I well perceiue That we haue little cause to trust in thee For ayd in need that so much dost deceiue Our expectations for we plainely see That Faith and troth from thee are banished And thou in 't falshood art by error led When as thou dost so variable show Where is become thy faith vnto thy Lord And due alleigance thou to him dost ow Where are thy oaths thy promises and word Which thou didst make protest and giue to be True vnto him and his posteritie All fled and gone In steed whereof thou hast Retained mutability and change Of mind opinion and of will and past The bounds of thy fidelity to change At liberty from all affection Which thou sholdst beare to him to this towne To liue and die for it if need should bee For neither faith nor troth nor sparkes of loue In thee remaines as now we plainely see When thou darst be so bold t' excite and moue The King by thy perswasions to giue eare To that which to his great dishonor were Which is to seeke a peace as if that he Did feare his foes Thou rather shouldst haue been The first that should haue proferred him to be A chiefe protector of the Citie when So ere the Greeks should seeke t'assaile the same With losse of life and lim to keepe the same But know thou well and so I thee assure That whatsoere thy meaning is to do Before we will this iniurie endure And ere they shall so far proceed thereto It shall the liues of twenty thowsand cost And many more before this towne be lost I hold thy words to be no prophesie But rather do esteeme them by good reason To be the signes and marks of trechery Of fained faith of falsehood and of treason To bring vs in subiection to our foes But though thou setst on them so faire a glose And outward show they are but meere deceit And Syrenes songs t' entrap and to beguile Vs and this towne till that our foes it get In this sort did Amphimachus reuile Anthenor for his counsell knowing well That t' was nought els but treason Till full well To pacefie his choler and to stay Them from proceeding further to a brawll Aeneas with faire words to make the way More open for their purpose and withall To smooth the matter so as if they ment Nought els but troth but t' was with false intent For he spake cleane contrary to his thought Intending onely to appease them twaine Till that he had by policie so wrought That they from futher speeches did refraine And when he saw them somewhat pacified To cloake Anthenors speeches and to hide His owne dissimulation in like ease When he had pausd a little while he sayd Vnto the King with smooth and flattering face That touching help reliefe or any ayd To be expected for the towne he thought There was none to be found that it nought Availed them to hope thereon sith they Besiedged were soclosely and so hard That they could haue no victualls any way To comfort them and wholy were debard From issuing forth as hauing not the might Against the Greeks for want of force to fight For as you know said he while that this warre Endured hath we haue consumd such store Of famous and most worthy knights that were A terror to our foes that now no more We can nor dare not issue out to fight And which is more vnto our great despight The people are so full of feare and dread That they are all perswaded ther 's noway For them but euery one to lay his head Vpon the blocke to die therefore I say Sith that the Fates for vs haue so decreed And that we now are driuen to such need If that you will be ruld by my aduise I thinke the safest way for vs wil be To parle with our foes and not be nise To make a peace with them though that it be Vnto our losse t' avoid th'extremety We may fall in sith ther 's no remedy But Priamus with face for anger pale And countnance sterne he was so moud in miâ—d Cut of Aeneas long and flattering tale And fretting at the treason he did find Lie hiden vnder it Could not refraine In furious wise to speake vnto them twaine And sayd Anthenor and Aeneas both I muse why you two should so hardy be And bold as that with breach of faith and troth You dare inuent such treason to bring me And all my subiects into extreame thrall And danger of our foes and therewithall Into dispaire by false suggestion How can or may you in your conscience find If that you well considered thereon Against your facts and oathes to be vnkind To me that of my secret counsell were And so well thought on by me that whatsoere Did passe therein it was not don without You were in presence to agree thereto But now I cannot muse how it falles out That you decline in this sort as you do From me that am of all my soones bereft And desolate of friends in manner left It makes me grieue to thinke vpon the same And much to muse that any of you can Be so vntrue and haue so little shame To do it how should I trust any man When you two are so faithlesse vnto me That ought my chiefest counsellors to be You should remember how with your consent And chiefely by your counsell and aduise Paris by me was into Grecia sent With many ships and men in warlike wise And thou Anthenor knowst full well also That fore he went thou didst Ambaster go Vnto the Greeks to fetch home Exion If by faire meanes we could bring them thereto And after that thou madst the motion And was the cause that Paris then did go With warlike force to Greece and this is true For thinke you that without aduise from you I would with such a power haue sent him thither Or haue assayld the Grecians in their land Vnlesse that you had mou'd me to 't together No surely it had nere been tane in hand And you your selues if you be well aduisd Cannot deny but that it was deuisd And put in execution through you twaine Especially for when as Paris went To Cithera for Helena its plaine Aeneas thou wast cause that he was sent And th' onely man that readiest was and sought To welcome her when she to Troy was brought For t is most sure she neuer had come here If thou hadst been vnwilling therevnto Although as now thou makst as though thou nere Hadst knowne thereof nor giuen consent thereto And now my sons are dead and I bereft Of my best Knights and without comfort
Country buried Did sodainly at Menons Tombe appeare In shape and forme like to an Angell bright Environed with stars that shone most cleare And round about the place cast such a light That no man could behold her stedfastly Her countenance did shine so heavenly Descending from the skies celestiall In sight of many men apparelled Divinely and in presence of them all Did make her husbands tombe be opened And out of it did take his bones and beare Them in a chest of gold which she had there Of purpose brought downe with her cleane from thence And on a sodaine vanished away And never was seen there before nor since Which did the standers by so much dismay That at the sight thereof they were affraid And every one his iudgement thereof said Some thinking't was a Goddesse others some Celestiall power descended from the skie Or else the soule of Menon that did come To beare his bones vp to the Deitie But what it was I know not neither will Presume to iudge of that is past my skill As being loath to climbe aboue my reach And therefore of the same I le speake no more But turne againe whereas I made a breach When of Vlisses life I spake before And tell you of his hard and fatall end When Atropas loath longer time to spend In spinning of his threed of life agreed With Parchas fell her office l'execute Who having preordaind the same with speed Tooke out her sheares and it in sunder cut Defend thy selfe therefore Ulisses now Without all feare to shun the fatall blow Which by thy sons sharp sword thou shalt receaue For I am now prepard and do intend To sharpe my pen once more before I leaue My worke long since begun to write thy end And with the same my Books full period make For that my hand with wearinesse doth shake But yet ere that I thereof make an end I must of force to make my Booke compleat A little longer time about thee spend And of thy fatall fate and death entreat Which vnto thee did happen by the dart Of him whom thou didst loue with all thy hart But first I must desire the sleepy God By Poets Morpheus cald who by the might And power supreame of his inchanting rod Doth rule mens minds and fansies in the night And makes men dreame divers visions see Which many times prognostications bee And warnings vnto men of future good Or ill that vnto them shall after hap The which cannot be any way withstood For no man may Gods iust decree escape To rule and guide my wit and pen as now That I to you Ulisses dreame may show The which he had not long before he dyed Wherewith by signes that true and certaine were He was forewarnd and fully certified His end by vnexpected death drew nere Who as he in his bed fast sleeping lay About the time when Cocks crow fore t is day He thought there did before him then appeare A woman of so heavenly feature That she did show as she an Angell were And not to be an earthly creature Who was so faire and beautifull of face That she did seeme t'jlluminate the place Wherein she was and therewithall her eyes Did shine as cleare and bright as any starre And able were t'intrap and to surprise Their hearts that lookt vpon her neere or farre And no defence against them could be made So exquisite a looke and face she had Whom when Ulisses did perceaue he was So much amaz'd to see her that the more He lookt on her he liked her so as He did fast sleeping lye he sighed fore And as he thought put forth his hands to take Her in his arms but she frō him shruncke backe And still the more his eyes on her he cast The farther she from him did seeme to flie As if she would haue shund him till at last When she perceiu'd his importunitie She spake to him askt him what he would With her and why he did her so behold In truth said he faire Lady I confesse That I am so much blinded in my sight That I cannot perceaue nor truely gesse By outwards signes if I should speake aright Whether that your shape divine or earthly be So excellent it seemeth vnto me But this I dare affrme and boldly say That at this time my life death doth stand And are at your devotion if I may Craue so much grace favor at your hand Presuming not thereon by any right To pitty me that am your faithfull knight And so devoted vnto you that sure If I do not my mind as now fulfill And so much favour at your hands procure As this night for to grant me your good will To lie with me there is no remedie But for your sake of force I needs must die And thus twixt hope and feare I haue you told My mind said he wherewith she staid awhile And did him with a countnance sad behold Yet at the last vpon him gan to smile And said the loue which you to me do beare Will be both our destructions I do feare It is so doubtfull and so dangerous That without doubt belieue it certamly If we together take our pleasure thus One or else both of vs shall surely die For that the end thereof can be no other If we as you desire should lie together Which said Ulisses looking on her still And therewithall approaching somewhat neere Vnto her to behold her at his will Who in his mind did shew so bright and cleare He saw that in her hand a speare she held Which on it had a flag whereof the field Was blew and in the midst a Crowne of gold With fishes white environd round about Which while he did most earnestly behold She did begin to leaue him and go out Whereas she was but ere she left the place She staid a little while and turnd her face To him and said I tell you true and plaine That after this we never more shall see One th' other but for parting of vs twaine This greeting said our last farewell shall bee And there withall her leaue of him she tooke Aud after that he sodainly awooke And did begin t' imagine curiously And muse vnto himselfe within his mind What that strange dreame he had might signifie But when he could the same by no means find As being that he did not vnderstand He sent for all th'Inchanters in the Land And such as could the depth and meaning show Of dreames that vse to happen vnto men When they do sleepe that he of them might know The exposition of his dreame And when They vnderstood the same they did agree All in one point and told him plaine that hee Should shortly be bereft of life by one That neerest of his kindred was and that T' avoid it way nor meanes for him was none Which when he heard he woondred much thereat And did begin to looke with visage pale But when he saw it could him not preuaile