possible to the helpe aÌ„d deliuere me from this mortal daunger WhaÌ„ appollo sawe the poure felaw in suche desolacioÌ„ the teeris fill dounÌ„ from his eyen for asmoche as the water boilled so aboute him he had grete pyte demaÌ„ded of him what eyled him so to crye wepe from wheÌ„s that water cam that so boilled aboute him axid syn where was zechius Alas aÌ„swerde the poure felawe which laboâ—rid lyuyng there to the deth in a dolour and payne inestimable Praye ye sire for zechius and for his felaws For I haue seeÌ„ alle one after an other dye in a mortell disâ—resse and so anguyssâ—ousâ—y that vnnethe that is creature lyuyng that coude veâ—ayly acompte and telle hit to yow THan appollo herde speke of the deth of zechius and his felaws he was so sorofull that he wist not what to doo but aÌ„swerde to the poure felaw and saide by grete admiracioÌ„ how maye that be fayr sire for j sawe right now zechius and all his felaws that were with hiÌ„ whaÌ„ they toke loÌ„de iÌ„ colchos in descendyng from the shippe alâ—s â—ere sire answerde the felawe hyt is well Reson that j recompte telle yon the trouth verite of the manere of this cruel auenture Certes sire hit is veray trouth that incontinent that zechius we other entrid into they le we apperceyuyd from ferre in a passing fayr medowe a lyuyng beste fedyng all offyn goolde And was as grete as an hors of the facoÌ„n fourme of a sheep or motoÌ„ ThenÌ„e we ê¯cluded to geder with one wyll that we wolde haue takeÌ„ hiÌ„ thenÌ„e we wente forth supposed to haue taken hit by force or other wise And for to so doo we marched thedward to oure euyll helthe for anonÌ„ after right sodaynly sprang out of a temple the most fair and the moost riche that I euer sawe a moche meruayllous dragonÌ„ and ferdfull with thre tonges casting fyre flambe wyth smoke out of his throte fortwith incontinent sprang also out of hooles in the erthe two moche horryble booles hauyng legges aÌ„d feet all of coper their hornes were grete and sharp theyr eyeÌ„ gretter more reed thaÌ„ boylliÌ„g coper or metal the whiche thre bestes so dredefull disgorged caste out fyre of their throtes venyn vpon vs in suche facoÌ„n that Zechius alle the other deyde there in suche paynÌ„ dolour that was neuer lyke therto recorded aÌ„d of vs xxx felaws ther is none escaped except my self whiche was laste ferthest behiÌ„de for whaÌ„ j apê‘ceyuyd themes chief so grete spntme to fâ—ight but I coude not so fast fsee but that the terrible dragonÌ„ cast vpoÌ„ me a gobet of the moste detestable infectioÌ„ that euer was the whicâ— doth me somoche paynÌ„ meschief aÌ„d holdeth me in suche a brennyng in alle my body that j muste nedes take bi dolonrouse deth the eÌ„de of this worlde wherfore j requyre you that ye goo no ner Colchos ¶ With this wordes the doloroê° maÌ„ finysshed his dayes in anguisthe aÌ„d payne and the sowle deê‘ted froÌ„ the bodi in the psece of appollo the whiche for this cause demened the grettest most terrible sorou that might be and with that roose the winde bi grete sodayne pyries that cam from the west whiche tormented the see and meuyd hit meruaillousâ—y and after this apperid in the ayer grete lightniÌ„ges of fire the which caÌ„ lauÌ„chiÌ„g bitwene the kiÌ„g appollo Ê’ethe phiê° the other beâ—g iÌ„ the ship ther was nonÌ„ of theÌ„ so assured but with the wiÌ„de the iÌ„petuouse lightnyng they were beteÌ„ doune vnto the botoÌ„ of the ship in suche wise they were sinetonÌ„ with the lightniÌ„g tournieÌ„s and with the orage of haylle stones that appollo hiÌ„ self knewe not a grete while if euer he sholde escape this dauÌ„ger or no For aboute heÌ„ they sawe no more thaÌ„ meÌ„ doo in a wiÌ„tres night at midnight whaÌ„ hit rayneth NotwithstaÌ„ding during this tempeste derkenes the good king appollo herde a voys sayd to him â— this manere not aloude But with a moderat voys in suche wyse as somme wel vnderstode hit Appollo the god Mars comÌ„andetâ— the that thou retourne incoutineÌ„t to thy cyte for zechius thy good freÌ„de is dede by his grete oultrage in this perillous I le his felaws iÌ„ like wise as it hatâ— beÌ„ late vs declared also all they that fro hens fortâ— put heâ— or descende in to this yle for to seche aneÌ„ture or other wyse shal neuer retorne agayn for asmoch as the goddes wil not that it be enhabïted vnto the tyme that a knight shaâ— desceÌ„de therin whicâ— shal coÌ„quere the noble moton or shepe of goolde by the meen of them that shall come of thy seed to whom thou shalt leue a bille wreton witâ— the hande of the god mars the whiche is now vnder thy hede teyneth froÌ„ point to poiÌ„t all the mysteries aÌ„d craft that he behouetâ— to obserue kepe for to obteyne come to thing of so hye recoÌ„meÌ„dacion that like therto hatâ— ben ne neuer shal be in the worlde vnto the ti me that the holy newe lawe shall come after that tyme long after the mistery of the fâ—ees of golde shall hyely be celebrerd halowed Wyth this the vois was still appollo on this that he had herde begaÌ„ to rise abasshid and esmayed of this werke And fouÌ„de vnder his hede the bille a fore said whiche he kepte â—oygneusâ—y aft he his felawship retorned vnto the cyte for the tyme the grete storme was incontinent gonÌ„ and dryuen away in the ayer vanisshed and thenÌ„e assone as he and his peple were arryued at the poort and out of the ship forthÌ„ with the weder begaÌ„ to chauÌ„ge and begaÌ„ to snowe to rayne to blowe make one so terrible a storme teÌ„peste that by force of the out ragyoê° orage the arke in the â–ª whiche appollo aÌ„d all his coÌ„paniâ— cam into that yle that they inhabited and also al the shippis aÌ„d other bootes that they had made meuyd theÌ„ to geder â— such wise that the cables and cordes that helde theÌ„ al to the porte al to brak aÌ„d the said vaissels ships were blowen vnto the perilloê° yle of colchos by so meruailous a furour that they were al to smyten in pieces brokeÌ„ in suche maner that the bordes of the bootes other pieces withoute noÌ„bre fâ—oted here there in the see thus bi this waye they were all lost and spent of the whiche aueÌ„ture all they that were thenÌ„ at the porte beholdiÌ„g were sore esbayed not without cause for neuer to fore was seeÌ„ so meruaillous a teÌ„peste thought wel that it wente not wel sayde one to that other that theyr goddes were angry witâ— them whaÌ„ suche tempest caÌ„ to theÌ„ ther to their grete domÌ„age and preiudice ¶ How the knight zethephius conspired ayenst Appollo
the quene that tho was present hauing herd theÌ„terprise of the noble jasoÌ„ was so vtterly smytenÌ„ with sorou that her semed that she was smetenÌ„ with a spere a trauers the herte so moche she louyd jason neuertheles she helde goode contenanÌ„ce asmoche as to her was passible And incontinent as Iason hadde declared there hys corage She sayde to him IasoÌ„ fayr sire be ware what ye saye see that yongthe abuse yow not For yf ye were you xx armed and in point for to fyghte knowe ye for trouthÌ„ that he sholde neuer leue but abyde yow thawhÌ„ ye had swornÌ„ his deth â— Ertes dere lady sayde jason knowe ye that yf yongthÌ„ abuse me oultrequydauÌ„ce presuÌ„pcioÌ„ deceyueth the GeaÌ„t For to sse a manÌ„ hou grete or puyssauÌ„t that he be ther behoueth but one stroke well sette But whether hit be of yronÌ„ or of steell or of ony other thing j doubte not but hit shall come to poynt Whan the noble Quene Mirro had vnderstaÌ„de this that Iason sayde She wyste not what to aÌ„swere ¶ What shall I make yow long tale he dyde doo be sayd to the messager of the king of Esklauonie that he wolde befighte the Geant Corfus And thenÌ„e whan the noble Iason was armed wythÌ„ hys armes he mounted on horseback his spere on his thye so departed frâ— the cyte And adressid hiÌ„ toward the geaÌ„t whichÌ„ was right subtyll in the fayt of armes of the warre he had all his harnois trussid his hors sadlid brydlyd â—ncoÌ„tiâ—â—t as the geaÌ„t ê‘ceyuid that â—he vaâ—lliant prince jason cam ridiÌ„g vnto him he sterte vpon his hors cam to ward him by grete felonnye sayd to hiÌ„ what sekest thou to whom jason saide Arte thou corfê° Ie answerd corfus j am he trewly Than knowe thou that thou arte he that j seche Thou sayd corfus ye trewly sayde Iason and what meuithÌ„ the so to doo said corfus coÌ„siderest thou not the strengeth force of my body aÌ„d the furour of my swerde and how I am cause of alle the desolacioÌ„ of olyferne yf me good semethÌ„ I shal sese the by the heede aÌ„d breke thi necke as the necke of a che keÌ„ Thou tellest me meruaylles said jason for to fere abasshe the peple but for alle that my corage chaÌ„gethÌ„ not our processe en durethÌ„ to long go thy way feche thy spere than shewe what thou caÌ„st doo thou hast founde a maÌ„ for to furmisshe the lityl speking well werkiÌ„g The geant wythÌ„ these wordes weÌ„te for to fecche his spere And jasoÌ„ couerd hiÌ„ withÌ„ his shelde assewring him self iÌ„ hys sadell And whan he had so don sawe that the geant smote his hors with his sporis caÌ„ agaist him he roode to ward hiÌ„ so corageously that hit semed more lyk thonder desceending from heueÌ„ thaÌ„ ony other thing and so smote the most fiersly that thei coude or mighte aÌ„d their strokes were so peysauÌ„t heuy that the sengles of their sadles brake in so moche that the noble IasoÌ„ was born vnto the erthe and the geant was reuersed with the sadle vnder the crupe of his hors and of the peysanteur of the two grete strokes the raynes of his horse faylled hys two legges behynde in suche wyse as he tumblyd the hede vnder the feet vpward at right grete meschief Many knightes of Sklauonye and of Olyferne were gretly abassâ—id whan they apperceyued that jason hadde receyued of the Geant Corfê° oonÌ„ so heuy so grette a strook with out dethÌ„ or mayme Iason and the Geant so bornÌ„ to the erthe aÌ„d sette a fote as sayd is Releuyd them self anonÌ„ in their staÌ„ding and marchid oone agaynst that other ThenÌ„e the stroÌ„g GeaÌ„t drewe his goode swerd out of his shethe escried jasoÌ„ sayng Vaissale or felawe thou hast donÌ„ to me now the most grettest dishonour that euer hÌ„append or came to me And therfore kepe thy self from my faytes the best wise thou maist for if the arme with the good swerd faylle me not at thys tyme j shal coÌ„sounde the in short tyme. And after I shall drynke thyn blood and ete thyn herte in despyte of the dueyl aÌ„d sorou that thou hast donÌ„ to myn her te Ha a tyrant felonnous oultrecuydanÌ„t aÌ„swerde the noble preu jason what euyll woldest thou doo if hit helde at no manÌ„ but at the. Certes hit happeth ofte tymes that suche menaces ben sayd of grete fere and drede And al is donÌ„ for to saue his lyf But to the regard of the aÌ„d of al thy menaces j make no compte net doubte the in no thing And in that thou sayest of drynking my blood â–ª and etyng mynÌ„ hert I shall kepe the right well by the ayde and the helpe of the goddes for to falle in suche jâ—hâ—â—anyte or furour And j hope where I haue angred the in thyn herte â–ª that hit shall not be long to but that thow shalt be angrid in herte in body and in sowle Than that corfus the right cruell geaÌ„t had vnderstand the wordes of jason he lefte vp his heed aÌ„d chyn aâ—â— chargid with heer â–ª lyke a Beer and after enhaunced his trenchanÌ„t swerd with a grete Corage right angry and smote Iason and gaf hym so terryble and poyssaunt stroke that he bare a way more than a grette quarter of his shelde And whaÌ„ the noble preu Iason felte him so smetoÌ„ of the Geant he lefte vp his swerd a heyght wher with he araught his mortel ennemy vpon the coppe of his helme in enployeng alle his might that the Geant was constrayned to enclyne his heed alle lowe Wherof many had grete meruayle As ye may vnderstonde the twoo ChaÌ„pyons began to entretaste eche other with their trenchauÌ„t swerdes Alle way the geaÌ„t after that he had receyuid this peysauÌ„t strook he haunced his hand with hys swerde â–ª agayn and supposed to haue sinetoÌ„ jason But jason whiche was lyght delyuere and wel auised iÌ„ his feet drewe him a part in suche wise that the stroke ofâ— the geaÌ„t fylle on the erthe so depe that if hÌ„e hadde araught hym playnly he hadde confounded him Than the preu Iason whiche had so voyded hym fro the strooke stept to the geant And gaf hym suche a stroke vpon the ryght sholdre that he brake his hauberk and made him a grete wounde Than jason withdrewe his swerde alle blody And whan Corfus the stronge geant felte that jason had so hurte him Certaynly he wente he shold haue goon out of hys witte for asmoche as he sawe the swerde of his aduersarye â–ª was dyed wyth his blood was moche angry But jasoÌ„ sette lytyll ther by Sauyng he begaÌ„ a lytil to smyle and lawe And yf he was glad so were they of Olyferne that beheld the bataylle of the twoo chaÌ„pyons But hit was notlong after but their lawhynges changed into wepynges For the geant as all despayred Ran vpon Iason so egrely that
to ground the preu jason they wende that he had ben dede aÌ„d satt doun by for to reste them and after softe and fayr they witdrewe hem into the cyte as they that wyth moche grete payne might vnnethe sous teyne heÌ„ self but for to go vnto their howses they muste passe to fore the palays The quene then espied them from ferre and apperceyued anon that they were al bespreynt wy t bloode wherof she was moch esmayed She dydedoo hem to be called syn demanded them from whens they cam Alas my dere lady sayde one of them We come from an euyll yournee for SaÌ„bor and viij of our next kyn and frendes ben lyyng dede in the wode wy t brutorê° which brought vs theder for to lye in a wayte for to flee Sambor the which as he hath said to vs hathdon to hiÌ„ displaysit but sambor hath put vs alle to deth reseruid vs foure whyche beÌ„ so pytously hurt that but jf the goddes inparte to vs of their grace we ben in grete daunger of oure lyues In sayng thise wordes two of these foure knightes deyde ther sodaynly Wherof the noble quene was so sore abasshid that her herte faylled fill dounÌ„ in swouÌ„ne that she was bornÌ„ into her chaÌ„bre by her damoyselles the twoo malerous knyghtes were bornÌ„ for to be buried after the custome of the couÌ„tre WhaÌ„ the lady was alytyl comeÌ„ to her self bi thesforce of the grete sorou that she had iÌ„ her herte she escryed passing hye aÌ„d sayde Iason Alas my loue jason and my lorde But frowhens sourdeth one so grete maleurte or myshappe that ye haue thê° beÌ„ slaynÌ„ iÌ„ the wood The ter rible cruelteof theÌ„uenimed so horri â—le bestes of Colchos had no power to greue thy persone Ne the sodayne parils of the see ne also the grete â–ª hardines of the Esclauons Ha a the right euyll Brutorê° ye haue slayn him he hath slayn you Alas what grete losse muste j suffre this daye j am bornÌ„ in an vnhappy oure whan hit muste bee that I haue nourisshiâ— the murdrere that traytoursâ—y hath put to deth the noble knight jason which is my lord and husbond Hannoble worthy of alle worthi the wailiaâ—â— of alle vayllianÌ„â— aÌ„d he in whoÌ„ alle vertues habounden the goddes haue mercy of thy sowle aÌ„d yf thou be not ouer dede that they wyll hold the so long alyue that I might yet oneâ— speke wyth the. And I shal be moche the more coÌ„forted that j shall dere more eysâ—ly And thenÌ„e I desire no lenger no lyne in this worlde after the. ¶ Whan the ladyes and damoiselles there beyng had herd vnderstoÌ„deÌ„ of the quene by her lameÌ„ tacions that he that was named Sambor was Iason that somoche was recoÌ„manded in vaylliauÌ„ces and in vertues meruailed strongly for asmoche as he serued as a yeman and at last coÌ„forted the lady the fairest wise they myght And thenÌ„e she declared all openly that Sambor was jasoÌ„ the noble knighte aÌ„d none other but he had wedded her aÌ„d furthermore she declared for what cause jasoÌ„ had chaunged his name why he mayntened him as a yemanÌ„ orseruauÌ„t After this declaracion lamentacions made she dide doo asseble all the nobles of the cytes as well men as women and thus she sente soleÌ„pnly for to fecche the body of the vailliaunt prince And commanded that brutorê° his felawes shold be quarterd aÌ„d honged on the galo wes as traitours and they that were coÌ„mysed to theâ—secusion of the justice accomplisshed hyely their charge and commyssyon and the coÌ„panye that hadd charge for to fecche the body of jason weÌ„t vnto the place wherÌ„ the diâ—soyal murdre was commysed â–ª But whaÌ„ they were there comen they founde that jaâ—on was not yet dede but he satt vp lened vnto one of the traitres Thus this noble companye seyng that he was yet alyue â–ª made to him right grete chere aÌ„d callyd him by his name Sayng that the quene Mirro aÌ„d they alle were so right â—is plaisanÌ„t of hys incoÌ„uenyeÌ„t that they mighte nomore be aÌ„d withoute loÌ„g soyournyng there they leyd the noble vailliaunt knight jason vpoÌ„ a shelde whiche they fonÌ„de there lyeÌ„g vpon therthe and bare him vnto the cyte And the noble Quene cam agaynst him for she had ben aduertysed by her menÌ„ that he was not yet dede how well she wept moche tenderly ¶ Whan the fayr Myrro was comeÌ„ nygh vnto her lord aÌ„d that she apperceyued that he was so frusshyd brussijid with stones staues certes her hert faylled they that bare jason resrid vnto that she was comen agayn to her self And thenÌ„e she ne Iason might not speke Iason for the anguisshe that he suffrid aÌ„d she for the grete displaysir that she had at her herte But it was not long after that IasoÌ„ was bornÌ„ vnto the chaÌ„bre of his espouse and felawe where the beste Cirurgyens of the cyte caÌ„ that anonÌ„ visited serched his woundes â–ª fonde him in suche termes that they vndertoke to rendre hi hole and sound of alle his hurtes and woundes in short tyme wherof the quene was all recoÌ„forted they faylled not of theyr promys for they so wrought aboute him by suche facoÌ„n that in the space of sixe moÌ„thes they deliuerid him hole and out of daunger of alle his hurtes and woundes Duryng whyche time ofsixe monthes that the noble preu Iason kepte his chambre assone as he might speke and haue entendement he began to be waylle the losse of his tyme for asmoch as he might not be at the destruction of the king IaomedonÌ„ and of the Troyans Wherfore he hadde moche grete displaysir at his herte For he hadde not beÌ„ acustomed gladly to kepe the chambres matted ne stre wed with herbes aÌ„d floures ne the beddes encurtyned the halles hanged wyth ryche tapesseryes Ne the places magnificque ne sumptuouse as by his feates appereâ—j but he might not amende hit For the noble quene recomforted him alwaye aÌ„d moche requyred hi that he sholde take no melancolye for no thing and that he ne sholde entende saue only to his garisshing and heeling and as for the warre of troye he myghte in no wyse be there ¶ How the king Eson of mirmydo ne asseged his sone jason in the cyte of Olyferne And how Medea spak to Iason how she slewe his oldest sone named Iason _â—â— ye may vnderstaÌ„de by thin conuenyent afore sayd the pren Iason was distourned for tacompanye hercules aÌ„d the cheualerye of Grece that sholde goo leye siege tofore the puyssauÌ„t cite of Troye wherfore the king Eson and hercules were right sorouful and abode xv dayes leÌ„ger thenÌ„e the terme that they had sett for to go to the sec whaÌ„ the xv dayes were past and apperceyued that they had no tydinges of the comyng of jason they departed fro the poorte where they had taried And saylled so ferre that they arryâ—… to fore Troye