THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Hector. ONE, AND THE FIRST OF the most Puissant, Valiant, and Renowned monarchs of the world, called the Nine worthies. Showing his jnvincible force, together with the marvelous, and most famous Acts by him achieved and done in the great, long, and terrible Siege, which the Princes of Greece held about the town of Troy, for the space of Ten years. And finally his unfortunate death after he had fought a Hundred main Battles in open field against the Grecians: The which herein are all at large described. Wherein there were slain on both sides Fourteen Hundred, and Six Thousand, Fourscore, and six men.  
Written by john Lidgate Monk of Berry, and by him dedicated to the high and mighty Prince Henry the fifth, King of England.  
AT LONDON, Printed by Thomas Purfoot. Anno. Dom. 1614   

THE EPISTLE, AS IT was dedicated unto the high and mighty Prince HENRY the fifth.  

MOST puissant Prince,  
whose fame is known so well,  
And whose renown  
so far abroad doth shine,  
That it is found  
all others to excel,  
And equal with that of the worthies Nine:  
Borne by descent of right Paternal line,  
To be the heir, and th●onor to obtain,  
To wear the Crown of mighty Kingdoms twain.   

Who even as far as Phoebus in the sphere  
Celestial, doth spread his beams most bright;  
And as Lucina with her face most clear,  
The world doth compass round, & cast her light:  
Art held to be the most renowned knight,  
And worthy for the honour of thy name,  
To sit on high in throne of Lady Fame.   

And ●hold the palm of honour in thy hand,  
In triumph for thy noble victory,  
For which thou feared ●●●t by sea and land,  
And ever with perpetual praise and glory,  
Shalt for thy conquest fresh in memory,  
Sat opposite before her to be seen,  
With wreath about thy head of Laurel green,   

In former time for Conquerors ordained,  
That constantly persevered to the end,  
And valiantly war once begun maintained,  
For causes just, and did their right defend,  
And thereunto their forces did only bend:  
Whose fame's still spread, & was long time agone,  
Among whom thou by right mayst sit for one.   

For through the world it's known to every one,  
(And flying Fame reports it far and wide,)  
That thou by natural condition,  
In things begun constantly abide,  
And for the time dost wholly set aside  
All rest, and never carst what thou dost spend,  
Till thou hast brought thy purpose to an end.   

And that thou art most circumspect and wise,  
And dost effect all things with providence,  
(As josua did) by counsel and advise,  
Against whose sword there's none can make defence,  
And wisdom hast by heavenly influence,  
With Solomon, to judge and to discern  
men's causes, and thy people to govern.   

For mercy mixed with thy magnificence,  
Doth make thee pity all that are oppressed,  
And to withstand the force and violence  
Of those that right and equity detest;  
With David thou to piety art priest;  
And like to julius Caesar valorous,  
That in his time was most victorious.   

And in one hand (like worthy Prince) dost hold  
Thy sword, to see that of thy subjects none  
Against thee should presume, with courage bold  
And pride of heart to raise rebellion,  
Thereby to shake off thy subjection:  
And in the other Sceptre, to maintain  
True justice, while amongst us thou dost reign.   

Then sith thou art adorned with Majesty,  
Grace, wisdom, pity, and benignity;  
With humble heart I crave submissivelie  
That thou wilt not disdain, but pleased be  
T'accept this Book, though rudely done by me:  
Thereby thy great and Princely mind t'express,  
By taking pity of my simpleness,   

And in thy high and magnanimous hart,  
With natural jngrafted Sapience;  
Remember Christ accepted in good part  
The widows alms of two poor single pence,  
When she (without expecting recompense)  
Gave to the poor with willing heart and glad,  
That little gift being all that ere she had.   

Let this, if that it may thee not offend,  
Example be unto thy Nobleness,  
And of thy great benignity, extend  
Thy favour unto me with gentleness,  
Not to disdain me for my barrenness  
Of wit, and though I have no skill in muse,  
Let my good will and meaning me excuse.   

More than good heart, none can whatsoe'er he be  
Present, or give to God, nor unto man.  
Which for my part I wholly give to thee,  
And ever shall as far forth as I can,  
Wherewith I will (as I at first began)  
Continually, not ceasing night and day,  
With sincere mind for thine estate thus pray.   

First that thou mayst God's mercy so procure  
Unto thyself, that he may still advance  
Thine honour, and that thou mayst here endure  
Thy reign o'er us with long continuance,  
And all thy Subjects true obeisance:  
And that he will vouchsafe to give to thee  
All virtues whatsoe'er may reckoned be.   

Lenvoy.  

GO forth my Book veiled with the Princely Grace  
Of him, that is extolled for excellence  
Throughout the world, but do not show thy face,  
Without support of his magnificence:  
And whosoe'er against thee takes offence,  
Be thou not stubborn with presumption;  
But see thou arm thyself with patience,  
And gently yield to their correction.     

The Translator to his Book.  

ANd sith thou art not limbed with trees not flowers  
Of Eloquence, but clad in white and black;  
Thou must prepare thyself t'abide the showers,  
Of them that of dislike occasion take:  
And when thou likeliest art to go to wrack,  
Seem not 'gainst them thine error to defend;  
But rather yield a little and give back,  
And pray them, that they will thy faults amend.    

THE PREFACE TO The READER.  

MY Muse's subject  
tending to entreat  
Of ancient wars,  
and acts of Chivalry,  
Whereby renowned Knights  
much honour get:  
And with Eternal parises deify  
(Their names and fames,) is forced to require  
Thee mighty Mars with Art him to inspire.   

Whose fiery nature bend to wrath and thrall,  
(As being of complexion hot and dry,  
Melancholic, and furious withal,  
For in thy bowels choler hid doth lie)  
Doth rightly cause all Poets sound thy fame,  
And thee the God of wars in stories name.   

Sith than thou art of warlike influence,  
And that my stile of battles must indite:  
Assist me with some marshal Eloquence,  
That I may frame my hand and pen aright,  
With words of Art and artificial phrase,  
Of valiant Knights to sing th'eternal praise.   

And if at my request thou dainst to list,  
Or grant the thing which I of thee do crave,  
Yet for her sake that lovingly thee kissed,  
(Black Vulcan's wife) and further favour gave;  
Vouchsafe thy aid my verse so to infuse,  
That I therein fit terms and phrase may use.   

Else truth to say, so barren is my wit,  
And void of Aureat liquored Eloquence,  
That I confess myself to be unfit,  
Or able to accomplish my pretence.  
Help then God Mars for fair Bellona's sake,  
And of my work vouchsafe protection take.   

And thou sweet Clio with thy sister's dear,  
Whose chief abode is on Parnassus' hill  
By Helicon, the fountain fair and clear,  
Lend me thine aid, and give to me some skill,  
That lofty verse by stately terms may yield  
To valiant Knights their honour due in field.   

Assist herein likewise, if'ft be thy will  
Calliope, (to Orpheus' mother dear,  
Who insweet music so excelled for skill,  
That with the sound of harp as doth appear,  
He pleased the monster Cerberus so well,  
That he had leave to enter into hell,   

To fetch his love out of th'infernal lake,  
Where Pluto held her for his own sweetheart,  
But with the music he to them did make,  
He granted she with him should thence depart.)  
And with the dew of thy sweet liquor wet  
My tongue so harsh, and in right tune it set.   

For thou art said of Rhetoric to bear  
The only praise, and patroness for skill,  
And eke of music pleasant to the ear,  
Thou canst direct each instrument at will:  
Deny not then (sweet Muse) thy aid to me,  
And I shall rest beholding unto thee.   

Else will the clouds of ignorance enclose  
And round encamp my wits that are so bare,  
And cause the rude (to Poets utter foes)  
To laugh at me: But such as learned are  
I will entreat what faults soe'er they find  
To wink thereat, and keep them in their mind.   

And if that in my verses I have erred,  
(As no man but may err what ere he be)  
I must confess I never yet deserved  
To have the praise for excellent Poetry.  
For God he knows when I this work began,  
I did it not for praise of any man.   

But for to please the humour and the hest  
Of my good Lord and Princely Patron,  
Who dained not to me to make request  
To write the same, lest that obliuson  
By tract of time, and times swift passing by,  
Such valiant acts should cause obscured to lie.   

As also cause his Princely high degree,  
Provokes him study ancient Histories,  
Whereas in Mirror be may plainly see  
How valiant Knights have won the masteries  
In battles fierce, by prowess and by might,  
To run like race, and prove a worthy knight.   

And as they sought to climb to honours seat,  
So doth my Lord seek therein to excel,  
That as his name, so may his fame be great,  
And thereby likewise Idleness expel.  
For so he doth to virtue bend his mind,  
That hard it is his equal now to find.   

To write his Princely virtues, and declare  
His valour, high renown, and Majesty,  
His brave exploits, & marshal acts that are  
Most rare, and worthy his great dignity,  
My barren head cannot devise by wit  
T'extol his fame with words & phrases fit.   

This mighty Prince whom I so much commend,  
(Yet not so much as well deserves his fame.)  
By royal blood doth li●ally descend  
From Henry king of England forth by name  
His eldest Son, & heir unto the Crown,  
And by his virtues Prince of high renown.   

(For by the graft the fruit men easily know)  
Excreasing th'honour of his pedigree:  
His name Lord Henry as our stories show,  
And by his title Prince of Wales is he:  
Who with good right, his father being dead,  
Shall wear the Crown of Britain on his head.   

This mighty Prince hath made me undertake  
To write the siege of Troy the ancient town,  
And of their wars a true discourse to make  
From point to point, as Guydo sets it down:  
Who long since wrote the same in latin verse,  
Which in the English now I will rehearse.   

The time when first I took the same in hand,  
To say the truth was in the fourteenth year  
Of famous Henry King of England  
The Fourth by ●●ne, my Prince's Father dear.  
When Phoebus show'd in altitude to be,  
Fine three times told, and four and one degree.   

When he did in his Chariot down descend  
With golden streams into the Ocean strand  
To bathe his steeds, and light to others l●nd,  
That far remote inhabit th'Indian land▪  
Where when our Summer is clean passed and gone,  
Their spring beg●●s but newly to come on.   

And when Lucina fair with paler light  
Began in cold October to arise.  
(T'enhase the darkness of the winter's night,  
And glistering stars appeared in crystal skies:)  
And then was in the sign of Scorpion,  
And Hesperus then westward running down,   

His course to hasten 'gainst tomorrow bright,  
As Lucifer, that drives dark clouds away,  
Is said to be the messenger of light,  
And shineth at the dawning of the day:  
When Phoebus' early shoes his glistering face,  
Ascending from Proserpins' obscure place,   

Where Pluto sits environed about  
With furies of the fowl infernal Lake.  
In this year, month, and time as it fell out,  
This History I first in hand did take.  
And of the Trojan wars the truth untwind,  
As in my ancient Author I it find.   

For if no Authors had the truth set down  
In written Books, of things that are forepast,  
Forget fullness would soon have trodden down  
Each worthy act, and clean extinct at last.  
Which Serpent never ceaseth to assail  
The world, to cause all truth on earth to fail.   

And had no ancient Histories been found,  
But all things unto memory were left;  
Truth surely then would soon be laid in ground,  
And men of knowledge utterly bereft.  
But God intending Satan to prevent,  
That hath foreseen, and writers always sent   

From age to age, still to renew the same,  
That truth might always spring and come to light,  
And thereby win an everlasting name,  
Against the which soul envy still doth fight.  
But famous Clerks not ceasing truth to show,  
By writing leave the same to us to know.   

Else time with sith, would soon cut down the grass,  
And re●ening death extirp the root and all,  
And nothing whatsoe'er on earth did pass  
Should have record, the same to mind to call.  
Nor honour due to valiant Knights be read,  
But it with them should rest, and lie as dead.   

And so not only name, but fame would die,  
And wholly be defaced out of mind.  
But Histories explain the same to th'eye,  
As daily by experience we may find.  
Near ceasing spite of envy to unfold  
The truth of all which may not be controlled.   

Therein we see of high and low estate,  
The life and acts as it were on a stage,  
For writers that are wise in heart do hate  
To speak untruth, or flatter any age.  
For tyrauts being dead they will not fear  
To write and show their follies as they were.   

And t'yeild each man as he shall well deserve  
Be't good or bad, and therefore it i● best,  
For every one that credit will preserve,  
In life to virtue cleave, and vice detest:  
For after death know this and mark it well,  
Clerks will not spare the truth of them to tell.   

For such unpartial dealing in their days,  
Great Princes in them took no small delight  
For truly blazing forth their laud & praise,  
Their high renown, their power & their might  
Their knightly acts, their victories, & fame,  
Eternally with glory of their name.   

For they still sought to shun the sister's three,  
Fraud, Negligence, and Sloth, that none might doubt  
Aught was forgot, or more p●t in to be,  
Then truth required, and as the truth fell out.  
Else worthy acts were wholly done in vain,  
And those that honour sought had lost their pain.   

And time by length of years and ages past,  
Would have defaced name and honour clean  
Of Conquerors, (for what can ever last)  
Unless record thereof were to be seen:  
Which Clerks (for which they merit and deserve  
Continual praise,) have sought still to preserve.   

For Histories and Books are said to be  
The keys of learning, memory, and skill,  
In them, and by them all men plainly see,  
What, hath forepast, and what is good, or ill:  
Witness the fall of Thebes the ancient Town,  
In Stacies Book for truth at large set down.   

Where you may read and see how Polinece  
Was near content with Etocles a day,  
Nor would like loving Brother live in peace,  
Till Thebes Town was brought unto decay.  
And h●w Tedeus through that mortal ctrife,  
And by dissension was bereft of life▪   

How Oedipus with sorrow, grief, and woe,  
Did lose his eyes so bitterly he wept,  
And how the Smo●kes divided were i● two,  
Of fires made, when funeral feasts was kept,  
Which fire brother's hatred did engender,  
And death to both for just reward did render.   

Mine author Guydo in like sort doth show  
(As by his Book most plainly it appears)  
Of all the Trojan Prince's overthrow,  
While Greeks besieged the town so many years:  
In very truth, and though 'tis long since past,  
No time, nor age, the story hath defaced.   

For maugre them, you may it still behold  
In Books set down most plainly to men's eyes,  
For truth by lying will not be controlled,  
Though enviously some seek it to disguise:  
Transforming all the substance of the matter  
By feigned tales, dissembling to flatter   

As Homer did, who truth would seem to show,  
Yet covertly did seek the same to hide,  
And by untruth which he full well did know,  
With Artificial words doth truth deride:  
Who seeming Greecians honour to defend,  
Doth feign the Gods from heaven to descend   

In shape of men, and openly were known  
To help the Greeks against the Troyans' fight,  
And many such untruths by him are shown  
In sugared words, and phrases for delight:  
Pretending so his malice for to hide,  
For falsehood seeks in darkness to abide.   

The cause why he the Greeks so smoothly praised,  
Was for that he unto them was allied,  
And therefore sought their glory to have raised.  
But such as love the truth cannot abide  
'Gainst conscience for to praise or discommend,  
Where no desert their action may defined.   

But Cupid (as the Poets feign) is blind,  
And gives his doom more after lust, than law:  
So Sycophants as we by proof do find  
Commend and praise the men they never saw,  
By false report extolling them to sky,  
Of whom in heart they know full well they lie:   

Whereby such men as never merit fa●e  
But just disgrace, are highly magnified:  
And they contrary that deserve good name,  
Are either not remembered or belied:  
For favour now doth bear so great a s●ay,  
That true desert is driven clean away.   

Ovid Naso likewise hath device  
A Book in verse, of Troian ●●●s to show,  
Part true, part false, but in such sort disguised,  
That who so reads it, can by no means know  
Which way to sound the depth of his intent,  
His phrase therein's so mystically bend.   

Like story also Virgil doth declare,  
When of Aeneas tra●●●les he doth write,  
Where truth to tell in part he doth not spare,  
Although s●●● time he seemth to delight  
In Homer's course, with Rhetoric to gloze,  
And truth with falsehood often to compose.   

Dares an ancient Author first was found,  
And Ditus eke of Trojan wars to write,  
Who both set down the truth & perfect ground,  
As being there, and did behold the fight.  
And though their books in several language be,  
Yet they are known in all things to agree.   

The Books in time to Athens being brought,  
Salustius cousin, one Cornelius,  
By diligent enquiry out them sought;  
And being of a mind industrious,  
Translated them with great & earnest care  
In each respect, as th' Authors doth declare.   

His only fault was, that he did not write  
The story full at large as he it found,  
But ●ure he did in brevity delight;  
Else would he not have spared to show the ground  
And first beginning of that mortal strife,  
Which cost so many thousand men their life.   

And how the Greeks came both by sea & land  
The number of their ●en, and of their ships,  
The manner how they first did take in hand  
To plant their siege, (all this he overskips.)  
How envy was the root and cause of all  
The mischief that on Troy at last did fall.   

How many Kings and Princes thither went  
In warlike wise to win them high renown,  
How they agreed all with one consent  
To see the full sub●er●i●●● of the Town:  
What arms they ●are, what men they did retain,  
Who in the siege did longest there remain.   

How one the other Knightly did assail,  
How many valiant Princes lost their life:  
How of 't they met in field to give battle:  
How hatred still increased and bred new strife:  
Nor of their death's ●e ●iteth not the year:  
Thus much he leaveth out as doth appear.   

Which lately caused an Author to arise,  
Whose truth in writing is not to be bla●'d,  
That took in hand this st●●i● i● such wise,  
As that of Ditus and of Dares named:  
He hath not sought one sentence to neglect,  
Nor yet in aught the meaning to reject.   

This Clarkethat wrote so true, so just, so well,  
Was Guydo of Columpna by his name,  
Who in sweet Rhetoric did so much excel,  
That he enriched his story with the same:  
So Eloquently hath he set it down,  
That he deserveth praise and high renown.   

For which in heart and voice I will not stay,  
To give him praise and commendation due,  
And with applause in truth, and rightly say,  
He was the flower most certainly and true,  
Of all that sought this story to compile,  
For wit, and sovereignty of stile.   

Whose treces as I can I will observe,  
If God vouchsafe me time and grace to do't,  
And grant my labour may of him deserve  
The Princely praise that first provoked me to't:  
Beseeching all that see't, with heart & mind  
Not spare to speak, if any fault they find.   

And with good will I shall amend the same,  
(For many eyes may see much more than one.)  
Correct then freely where you find the blame,  
But find not fault whereas deserveth none.  
And so in hope I shall your favours win,  
With your support this story i'll begin.    

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR.  
THE FIRST BOOK.  

CHAP. 1.  
I How Peleus' King of Thessaly, lost his people, men, women, and Children, by divine punishment; and after by prayer unto the Gods, obtained others.  

IN Thessaly King Peleus once did reign,  
For virtue held a Prince of worthy fame,  
Whose subjects as mine Author doth explain,  
Were Myrmydons so called by their name.  
Of whose beginning Ovid doth rehearse,  
The History at large in Latin verse.   

And saith, that in that Country down did fall  
So furious a tempest from the sky,  
That it consumed the people great and small,  
And left not one, but all died suddenly,  
Except the King, who desolate alone,  
Went wandering in the woods, to make his moan.   

Where for a time he walked to and fro,  
Lamenting sore in mind his doleful state,  
And to himself complaining of his woe,  
Began to curse his hard and cruel fate:  
Till in the wood he chanced to spy a tree,  
For height and thickness huge of quantity.   

Which at the foot a hole had in the ground,  
From whence of Aunt's great quantity did creep,  
Which when this Prince so desolate had found,  
He fel● upon his knees and sore did weep:  
And Paynim-like his prayer 'gan to make,  
To move the Gods some pity on him take.   

By miracle to show their power as then  
In transformation of those Ants so little,  
Into the right and perfect shape of men,  
Therewith again his Land to fill with people:  
And so his poor distressed case to tender,  
For which he vowed continual thanks to render.   

Which his request as Ovid setteth down,  
With pity moved God Inpiter did hear,  
And by a sudden transmutation,  
The Ants did cause in form of men t'appear:  
Who presently arising on their feet,  
With all speed went their famous Prince to meet.   

Which people by their strength and hardiness,  
The Story saith, obtained lofty fame,  
And anciently for their great worthiness,  
As first I said, Myrmidons had to name:  
Who for their great foresight in every thing,  
The Poet feigned them from those Ants to spring.   

(For as the Ant in Summer's heat by care,  
Provides his food in Winter time to live,  
This people so their labour did not spare,  
Industriously their bodies to relieve.  
In Peace and War providing for their need,  
As all men should, the better for to speed.   

For if that care and labour we neglect,  
Our food and clothes in time for to provide,  
We may perchance our folly so direct,  
That men our cloth will▪ openly deride:)  
But to affirm this fable to be true,  
Therein I leave the judgement unto you.   

And of King Peleus further will declare,  
Who as mine Author saith, did take to wife  
One Thetides of shape and beauty rare,  
And lived with her a long and happy life:  
From whom descended by paternal right,  
Achilles while he lived, a valiant Knight.   

(For 'mong the Greeks none might compare with him,  
For valour, high renown, and chivalry,  
He would so boldly venture life and limb,  
Which caused the Troyans' feel his cruelty  
Before the Town, which if you list to hear,  
Read on this Book, and there it will appear.)   

And though that Peleus did the Sceptre hold,  
Yet was his elder Brother living still,  
Whose name was Aeson, but of years so old,  
That unto love and lust he had no will:  
And was so feeble and decayed in wit,  
That for to rule the land he was unfit.   

His memory as then became so bad,  
And senses all from him were clean bereft;  
Who when he saw age him deprived had▪  
Of means to rule the Land, the Crown he left,  
And regal state which he so long had held,  
Unto his Brother, in his stead to wield.    

CHAP. II.  
¶ How King Aeson by reason of his age would no longer rule in the Kingdom of Thessaly: but caused his Brother Peleus to be crowned in his stead.  

YOu heard that when King Aeson did perceive  
His senses, eyes, and all his strength decay,  
Expecting death would shortly him bereave  
Of life and all, he did no time delay,  
To cause his Brother Peleus to be crowned,  
As his next Heir then living to be found.   

And made him King of Thessaly by name,  
(For of his body was no jssue left  
When he was dead, for to enjoy the same:)  
And so of Princely power clean bereft;  
He lived a quiet solitary life  
In peace and rest, clean void of care and strife.   

But as some Authors in their Books explain,  
The Gods such grace to Aeson did jmpart,  
That they restored him to his youth again  
By false enchantment, and by devilish Art  
Of charms devised by Medea's skill,  
That could command foul spirits at her will.   

For she composed a drink (as it was found,)  
By magical confections in such wise,  
That casting it upon a barren ground,  
Both buds and blossoms presently would rise  
As fresh and green as possible might be,  
Or any man in pleasant spring could see.   

The which for that it seemeth strange and rare:  
And truth to say impossible like wise,  
I will it unto you at large declare,  
And how she did her diu●lish charms devise:  
As Ovid doth set down the same to us  
With in his book, the which he saith was thus:   

Medea who by Art and skill knew well,  
What herbs would serve t'effect so strange a thing▪  
For that she did in Magic much excéll,  
Desiring it with speed to pass to bring,  
That she might praise obtain; made no delay,  
But presently alone did go her way   

Abroad into the fields to seek for some,  
Such as she like▪ t, whereof when she had sped,  
And with the same into a place did come,  
Which she as then of purpose hallowed:  
She made two Altars all of Tur●e, of which,  
One unto triple Hecate the witch,   

Th'other unto youth was consecrate.  
And having covered them in decent wise,  
With Vervin and with shrubs, such as she got  
There in the fields, to offer sacrifice:  
She cut the throats of two black Rams, whose blood  
Mixed with a bowl of pure white milk and good▪   

And with as much sweet honey clarified,  
She put into two pits of purpose made  
Within the ground, and after that she cried,  
And certain mumbling prayers softly said  
To Pluto and his Wife, the Lords of hell,  
And all the Elves and Gods on earth that dwell.   

To spare old Aesons life a little space,  
And not in haste his wearied limbs deprive  
Of his most aged soul, and t'giue him grace  
To hold the same: That he might longer live.  
Whom when she had in that sort long besought▪  
She willed that Aesons corpse should forth be brought   

To her. Whereas with certain carmes she said,  
She cast him strait into a slumber deep;  
And then before the Altar he was laid  
Upon the herbs, as dead; but yet a sleep.  
Which done, with hair dispersed about her head,  
The Altars she devoutly compassed.   

And dipping sticks within the pits of blood,  
She kindled them upon the Altars twain,  
Betwixt the which at that same time she stood▪  
And then unto her purpose to attain,  
She did with Brimstone, fire, and water pure,  
Thrice purge old Aesons corpse that slept full sure.   

Mean time the medicine boiled within a pan  
Of Brass, which she of purpose had brought thither,  
Which at that time to gather froth began,  
Where roots, seeds, flowers, and leaves she sod together.  
(Which for that strange confection she thought best)  
With precious stones that came out of the East.   

And gravel fine that in the West she had.  
And dew that fell upon a Monday night.  
With flesh and feathers of a wicked jade  
A filthy witch, (that had her sole delight  
In shape of Owl by night, to fly and slay  
Young children, or to bear them clean away▪   

And changelings in their cradles used to leave,)  
The singles of a greedy Wolf (that can  
As some report, himself of shape bereave,  
And when he list take on him form of man.)  
The slimes of water-snailes the which she found,  
With labour great within the Indian ground.   

The liver of a Hart that lives so long.  
And of a Crow that loathsome carrion beast,  
(The which by cause the nature was so strong,  
Had lived then Nine hundred years at least▪)  
The head and bill: of all which when she had,  
An admirable composition made.   

To lengthen Aesons aged years withal,  
A withered bough (the which not long before  
down from an Olive tree did chance to fall,)  
In hand she took, and with the same did poor,  
And stir the liquor till the stick wax green,  
And suddenly both leaves and buds were seen   

To spring thereon, & strait did berrie● bear.  
And where the fire the scum thereof did throw  
Upon the earth, where it had drop●, even there▪  
The ground began as fresh and green to show,  
As it in summer did, and flowers to rise  
Out of the same. Which wh●●n Medea spies,   

She took a knife, and with a courage stout  
Did cut old Aesons throat, where presently  
His aged blood did all come gushing out,  
And with the boiling juice did new supply,  
Which when to Aesons corpse she had poured in,  
His hair that was so grey did strait begin   

To turn, and wax as black as any coal,  
His lean pale, withered skin grew fair and fresh,  
The wrinkles in his face, and every hole  
Therein, were filled with young and lusty fresh,  
His limbs waxed lithe, and all his joints did grow  
So supple that he plainly then did show   

To be a man of young and youthful years.  
At which when to his senses Aeson came,  
He was abashed, but casting off all fears,  
He knew at forty years he was the same.  
And as back from old age to youth he drew,  
A youthful spirit did in his heart renew.   

By which so strange devise she did restore  
King Aeson unto strength and former youth;  
With wit and reason as he had before,  
In each respect as much (if it be truth,  
But be it true, or false, I have not spared,  
To write it as the story hath declared.)   

And after on his wife he did beget  
A valiant Son, that jason had to name▪  
In whose creation nature did not let  
To show her skill, and to incur no blame:  
For never man mord perfectly was formed▪  
Nor with more graces inwardly adorned▪   

If I should strive here to describe at will,  
His strength, his beauty, and his comeliness,  
His good behaviour, and his perfect skill,  
His wisdom, virtue, and his gentleness:  
To all and every one both high and low,  
Like as mine Author plainly doth it show▪   

My art and wit therein would be to little.  
His qualities so pleased men's desire,  
That he obtained praise of all the people,  
For young and old each one did him admire▪  
judge then what he would prove in elder years,  
That in his childhood such a one appears.   

But while he was of age and stature small,  
And far unfit as then to rule the Land,  
His Uncle Peleus by consent of all,  
Still held the Crown and Sceptre in his hand▪  
From whom in aught he never seemed to vary,  
Nor his prcepts at any time contrary.   

So diligent was he in every thing,  
To please and serve his Uncle at a beck;  
(As is the child held under tutor's wing,  
And seareth to incur his masters check:)  
In heart no● outward show whatsoever him touched,  
He never did repine, nor at it grudged.   

And though his Uncle held his heritage,  
And ruled his Princely Sceptre at his will;  
While he remained still in tender age,  
Yet was he never moved unto ill:  
Nor once of him a bad conceit to have,  
In any wise his honour to deprave.   

But Peleus he contrary mind did bear,  
And ●ullie had his heart to envy bend;  
Dissembling that in face and outward cheer,  
Which inwardly was wholly his intent:  
(Like Adder lurking closely in the grass,  
To sting all those that through the same doth pass.)   

His heart and tongue contrary each to other.  
For with pretence of fair and friendly show,  
He seemed to love the Son of his dear Brother,  
When inwardly his heart did overflow  
With malice, though not outwardly espied,  
So cunningly he did his malice hide.   

For no man could by any means perceive,  
That he to jason bore an enuinous eye;  
(No cause he had) but fear he should bereave  
Him of his Crown, and regal dignity:  
And at the time of riper years obtain,  
The right succession of his father's reign.   

Which he as then unjustly occupied,  
And daily did devise how that he might,  
On jason whom in heart he envied,  
Work his pretended malice and despite:  
Which made him oft build Castles in the air,  
Like one that lived in fear and great despair.   

Still compasing some way or means to find  
T'entrap, and take his Nephew in a snare;  
Which secretly ●e kept still hid in mind,  
Yet ceased not his engines to prepare:  
(Like Satan cuery minute▪ day, and hour,  
Devising how man's soul he may devour.)   

And as the Sun shines hot when rain is past,  
So did his envy burn more fervently;  
And vexed him sore till he devised at last  
To execute his wilful treachery.  
A Lamb in show, a Lion in his heart,  
Fell (Tiger like) to play a double part.   

A sugared face but false and bitter mind,  
None might of him conceive suspicion;  
That he should to his Nephew be unkind,  
And privily work his destruction:  
Pretending love but hatred was the end,  
Description true of foul dissembling friend.   

His bad intent disclosed might not be,  
It was so well concealed within his heart;  
(So is all close and privy enmity,)  
And yet although he played so well his part:  
His envy still increasing more and more▪  
Did inwardly torment and vex him sore.   

Attending time t'effect and bring about,  
That which he did in heart so much desire;  
And so to be clean freed from care and doubt,  
(The only joy that envy doth require:)  
But jason he did not conceive in mind,  
His Uncle would unto him prove unkind.   

Their thoughts were clean contrary in effect.  
The Cousin simply seeking uncles good;  
The Uncle he all friendship doth reject,  
Devifing how to shed his Nephew's blood.  
Provoked by malice and desire of gain,  
The roots of mischief, sorrow, woe, and pain.   

For many Realms and Cities old do feel  
The poison of the serpent Avarice;  
But let all those that cruelly will deal,  
Learn this of me, and think it good advice▪  
That what so ever mischief they intent,  
It's sweet at first, but bitter in the end.   

And though the world doth flatter for a while,  
Let not the enu●ous man be proud withal;  
For he that thinks another to beguile,  
Perhaps may chance in self same pit to fall.  
But let us envy leave as fiend of hell,  
And of King Peleus further to you tell.   

Who all this while imagined and sought  
Means how he might attain unto his will;  
Till at the last strange news to him was brought▪  
Which did his heart with admiration fill:  
And thereby taking some occasion,  
He purposed in mind to work thereon.   

The news which at that time unto him came,  
(Though strange it were to hear & to be told;)  
Was, that in Colchos js●e there was a Ram  
Which bore a fleece of pure and finest gold:  
And for it was so rich esteemed to be,  
They kept it close that no man might it see▪   

Within that Isle a King of worthy fame,  
Long had remained, and yet therein did dwell,  
Well stricken in years, and Oeta had to name,  
Who in his days (as ancient Authors tell)  
Most noble acts archieued had and done,  
Whereby much honour to himself he won.   

His Pedigree (as Poets list to feign)  
Doth show he was the Son of Phoebus' bright,  
Of whom, they say, he did the grace obtain  
For to become a brave and valiant Knight.  
Let this suffice his Ancestor to know,  
And of the Ram now will I further show;   

That to be kept where no man should it find,  
By Magic art, was shut within a tower,  
Whereas two Bulls of fierce and savage kind,  
With Brazen feet attended day and hour  
To guard the place▪ that no man might go near,  
Out of their mouths still casting flames of fire.   

Their eyes like burning furnace shining bright,  
From whence great streams of lightning seemed to▪ start,  
So terrible that at the very sight,  
It struck a fear and terror to the heart  
Of those that boldly ventured to assay,  
To win the golden Ram and bear't away.   

For who so would that conquest take in hand,  
Must first of all those furious Bulls assail▪  
And both of them by force & strength withstand,  
(Else could he by no means therein prevail:)  
And make them came and gentle as a Cow,  
And being yoked, force them the ground to plow.   

That done, he must a second combat make,  
As dangerous and fearful as the first,  
The which to think upon might cause him quake,  
Yet must he not refuse to do his woo●st  
Against a Serpent●gly, huge, and fell,  
Much like a fiend that cometh out of hell.   

Which had so ●oule and v●nomous a breath,  
That it infected all the air about,  
And who so ere it fel● was sure of death,  
All, were he ne'er sovaliant, strong, or stout▪  
With scales upon his back as hard as steel,  
That blow of sword or Lance he could not feel.   

And to conclude, he that did undertake  
That enterprise, to bring unto an end,  
Ere he began a full account must make  
Of cruel death▪ unless himself defend,  
And well resist he could in open field  
That monster, and by force make him to y●eld.   

Which done, and so the Serpent being dead,  
The story saith, it was ordained by law,  
That he that did it slay should take the head,  
And all the teeth out of the mouth must draw,  
And after cast and sow them in the field,  
The which the furious Bulls before had tilled.   

Whereas upon a sudden men beheld,  
Out of the ground a troup of Knights arise,  
And every one well armed with spear and shield,  
Who valiantly in brave and warlike wise  
Stayed not, but met most furiously together,  
And fiercely killed & beat down each th'other.   

And in that sort died presently again,  
In self same place where first they 'gan to live;  
For so the fatal furies did ordain,  
And to each one his destiny did give:  
That none should longer life on earth possess,  
But all together die in that distress.   

By this same way so strange and perilous,  
Who so would seek the Ram of gold to gain,  
And with the same return victorious,  
He must adventure with no little pain:  
And take his chance although 't▪ were near so bad,  
For remedy therein might not be had.   

For by a law the King did so ordain,  
That who so ere adventured to assay;  
To prove his force in hope the same t'obtain,  
Might not turn back, nor take another way:  
But forth must go, & though his heart did fail,  
His cowardice should him no whit prevail.   

Some menaffirme (which of this Ram entreat)  
That by the same was meant great store of gold;  
Which Oeta valiantly in time did get,  
And by enchantment did so closely hold,  
That who so ever sought to win the same,  
Must first begin those Monsters fierce to came.   

The fame whereof did spread both far & near,  
Which made full many ventrously desire,  
To win the same, although it cost them dear,  
(For gold doth set a greedy mind o●fi●●)  
Through vain report their honour to advance,  
Respecting not what unto them might chance.   

For neither wit nor hardiness of arms,  
In that pursuit could any wh●● av●●●●  
'Gainst such accursed and fowl infernal charms,  
Which made full many Knights therein to fail:  
But he that sets his mind on greedy gain,  
To have his will regards not death▪ nor pain.   

This news so brought to Peleus pleased him well,  
Intending secret use thereof to make,  
And of his hidden malice (truth to tell)  
The hard and heavy burden off to shake.  
For he the reby did suddenly surmise,  
Some bad pretence his Nephew to surprise.   

For by that means, he had a hope to move  
Young jason valiantly to undertake  
The conquest of the golden Ram to prove,  
And presently a voyage thither make,  
Supposing he near should return again,  
And he thereby be eased of inward pain.   

Concluding thus, he doth pretend a show  
Of outward joy, yet inwardly did hide  
The treason of his heart, that none might know  
What mischief he full smoothly did provide.  
Still spying time convenient and fit,  
In painted show his malice out to spit.   

With words of Art and eloquence refined,  
Persuading men he meant nought else but good,  
As knowing well his Nephews willing mind,  
In such a cause to shed his dearest blood:  
And for to bring his purpose to effect,  
He doth no longer time therein neglect.   

But strait throughout the land of Thessaly,  
Commission sends forth presently to call  
His noble Peers and all his Baronny,  
Commanding them what ever might befall,  
Without delay t'assemble and to meet  
At Eagee Town, in parliament to sit   

For three whole days. Where with a feigned face,  
And sugared words he doth unfold his mind,  
And openly before them in the place,  
Makes show to be most loving and most kind  
To jason, who as then he did commend,  
That none might deem he would his death pretend.   

And said, the cause that moved him to the same,  
As also that assembly there to make,  
Was specially t'advance his Nephew's name,  
If so he would that voyage undertake:  
And then at large declared it in such wise,  
That no man once his treason could surmise.   

With countenance so glad, and joyful show  
Of feigned faith as after did appear,  
That they th●● were in presence could not know,  
But that he loved his Cousin very dear:  
For which they all to praise him do begin,  
Full little knowing his intent within.   

Which having done, with fair & smiling cheer,  
He did behold Prince jason in the face,  
And spoke to him that every man might hear,  
When first he had caused silence in the place.  
Such words as might seem outwardly to show,  
His heart with joy did inwardly o'erflow.    

CHAP. III.  
¶ How King Peleus fearing to be deposed by his Nephew jason, a worthy and valiant young Knight, counseled him to undertake the perilous and most invincible conquest of the Golden fleece at Colchos, who was content to grant to his uncles desire.  

Dear Cousin hark what I to thee shall say,  
And think not that I slatter, lie, or feign,  
And see thou bear it well in mind away,  
For wholesome counsel never comes in vain:  
And who so ere doth seem it to reject,  
The proverb saith, his folly doth detect.   

When as I think on thee I still do find,  
Such sudden joy even at my very heart,  
That whatsoever sorrow's in my mind,  
It cannot choose but presently depart:  
And specially when as I do remember,  
Thy gifts so rare in this thy age so tender.   

For (truth to say) thou wholly art inclined  
To virtue, honour, courtesy, and fame,  
So that on whether side so ere I wind,  
My only joy's to think upon the same,  
And hold myself with all my whole estate,  
For thy cause only to be fortunate.   

That by thy means am like to live in rest,  
And be advanced to honour and renown,  
(So that all vice in heart thou dost dearest)  
Whose valour will so much advance our Crown,  
That it not only shall the same amend,  
But (which is more) increase, and it defend   

Against all those that seek with us to strive,  
Maliciously our state to overthrow,  
And such as cause new quarrels to arrive,  
Through pride within their hea●●s shall overflow,  
This country's peace to alter and deface  
Our glory, if they may with foul disgrace.   

Who to withstand thou art our only wall,  
Our mighty shield, and our protection,  
So that whatsoe'er unto us doth befall,  
Can us not hurt in mine opinion.  
Such trust I do repose in thy foresight,  
Thy wit, thy prudence, and thy Princely might.   

Which unto thy great honour and renown,  
Reported are almost the world throughout:  
For that thy fame in every land and town  
Is known, and scene with wings to fly about;  
Which makes me neither day nor hour cease  
To find & seek out means the same t'increase.   

For sith that thine, mine honour doth augment,  
I can no better do then seek to raise  
Thy worthy fame with all my whole intent,  
That thou mayst have thy well deserved praise.  
Which my desire to tell thee without fail,  
Proceeds of love, and doth me so assail,   

That my insatiate mind can take no rest,  
Till I advance thine honour to the sky,  
Which as I hope shall turn unto the best.  
This purposing, I did myself apply  
To find the means t'effect my long desire,  
And bring to pass the thing which I require.   

At last it was my chance to understand  
This strange adventure of the golden fleece:  
Which if thou dar'st vouchsafe to take in hand  
With courage bold (thine honour to increase,)  
And that thou mayst return with victory,  
And so thy name for ever magnify;   

I shall esteem myself ●oue others blest,  
And this my Realm (when others shall it hear)  
Be sure to live in peace and quiet rest▪  
For by thy valour great men will us fear.  
Of Knighthood then, I pray thee grant to me,  
This just request, and I will promise thee   

Upon the faith and honour of a King,  
That whatsoe'er is requisite to have,  
I will provide the call and every thing,  
Both Men and Arms as inuch as thou wilt crave.  
Or any other necessary thing  
That needful is, the sameto pass to bring.   

And unto thee a further promise make,  
That if with cheerful hear● thou goest about,  
This enterprise with courage● undertake,  
Thou shalt not need to fear not stand in doubt,  
Whensoever it shallbe my chance to die,  
To we●●● the Royal Crown of Thessaly.   

Let courage therefore enter in thy mind,  
And think thy fame hereby shallbe extolled:  
For he that shrinks for every blast of wind,  
In honour's Book shall never be intold.  
Speak freely then, and see thou do not spare,  
Thy full intent and meaning to declare.   

When jason did King Peleus' mind perceive,  
With joyful heart consent thereto he did,  
Not once so wise his treason to conceive,  
Nor that in sugared words lay poison hid,  
Nor yet that honey sweet was mixed with gall,  
To be a potion to deceive withal.   

The outward gloze so cunningly was laid,  
That poison closely hid, could not appear.  
Prince jason thought all true that he had said,  
For he supposed the King of conscience clear  
From mischief, falsehood, and from bad intent,  
Or that his mind to villainy was bend.   

With speed therefore he did an answer make  
In few and pithy words, and did declare,  
He was content that voyage t'undertake,  
And that no pain nor labour he would spare,  
His uncles mind in all things to fulfil,  
With all his heart, his power, and his skill.   

Wherewith such joy possessed King Peleus' heart,  
That much it were to tell or to declare.  
And that he might the sooner thence depart,  
He did all things in readiness prepare,  
Appointing many Knights with him to go,  
To honour him the more in outward show.   

But for because that Colchos so did stand  
Within the Sea, which did enclose it round,  
That for to travel unto it by land,  
There could no way by any means be found.  
The King an order presently did take,  
That Argos should a ship of purpose make.   

(Who as some Auchors say, did first invent  
The Art to Sail by Sea, and took in hand  
To make a Ship the first that ever went  
Upon the Seas, to sail from land to land.  
And Argos 〈◊〉 the same, as Guydoes' book  
Declares at large, who list therein to look.)   

Which Ship in all points rigged and well set out,  
Attending wind did in the harbourlie,  
Where many Knights with courages most stout,  
Prepared themselves their fortunes then to try,  
With willing minds and joyful hearts to aid  
Prince jason: Who therewith was well apaid.   

Among the which stout Hercules was one,  
For courage and for strength a peerless Knight,  
Whose mother was the fair Alcumenon,  
In whom God jupiter did so delight,  
That in Amphitreons' shape down from the sky  
He did descend on earth, with her to lie.   

And did on her stout Hercules beget,  
Who in his time for valour did exceed;  
Whose labours all in Ovid's Book are set,  
Whereto his praise at large you may there read:  
The which for that they seemed both strange & rare,  
I will in brief the same to you declare.   

The first how with Busiris he did fight,  
Whose custom was to wash the ground with blood  
Of men, and did o'erthrow him by his might,  
And after showed his fierce and furious mood  
'Gainst Antheon, and killed him valiantly,  
And by the horns in Candie furiously   

A cruel Bull by force to ground he threw.  
That done, on strong King Auger he did set,  
Whom after long and cruel fight he slew.  
And on a mighty Spaniard did not let  
To try his force, though it reported were,  
That in one shape he did three bodies bear.   

And after went unto the gates of Hell,  
And there assailed the Triple headed hound  
Caldoro Cerberus, most cruel fierce and fell,  
Who there to keep th'infernal gates was bound.  
And having overcome him at the last,  
Did tie him in an Iron chainefull fast,   

And like a Dog did lead him in his hand.  
And venturing with a stout and valiant mind,  
The Harpies slew within th'Arcadian land.  
And after that in Maiden wood did find  
A flying Hart, which he did swiftly take,  
And by his force a prize thereof did make.   

And did the monstrous Centaurs overthrow.  
And after killed the strong and cruel Snake  
Of Lerna, which in pieces cut did grow  
Together still, and double force did take.  
And in the Thracian Land when he did see  
The pampered Horses mangers filled to be   

With flesh of men, in such a rage he grew,  
That after he their mangers down had cast,  
The jades themselves in cruel wise he slew,  
And to their Master did the like at last.  
The monstrous Giant Cacus he o'ercame  
By Tiber. And to his eternal fame,   

With stout and Valiant courage he assailed  
A Lion fierce and horrible to view't,  
Against the which his force so much prevailed,  
That after long and dangerous fight he slewed,  
And from the back thereof the skin did tear,  
Which after for an Armour he did wear.   

His valour also did so much excel,  
That boldly he adventured to take  
The golden Apples from the Dragon fell.  
And after did a bloody combat make  
Against a fiery Cat with ugly sight,  
Which lost her life by his exceeding might,   

And entering in Arcadia again,  
His fortune was to try his mighty strength  
Upon a cruel Boar: which having slain,  
He traveled to Atlas' Mount at length,  
And there 'tis said upon his shoulders square,  
By extreme force the Firmament he bore.   

But for because to mind I cannot call  
His worthy deeds, each one as they were done,  
In Ovid's Book there shall you find them all,  
And how his fame throughout the world did run.  
As also of the Pillars he did raise,  
Within the straits to his eternal praise.   

(Which Alexander Prince of great renown,  
Who for to conquer all the world did mind,  
As Guydo in his story setteth down,  
With his great host went purposely to find.)  
For that beyond the same there was no ground  
Inhabited, that any man had found.   

Nor Sea to Sail, for than it was unknown,  
As being far beyond the Ocean shore,  
For never any man that way had gone,  
Nor Sailor past that narrow place before,  
Which now is called the straits of Gibraltarre,  
Well known to every Nation near and far.   

Which Guydo saith stout Hercules did set,  
And in that place erect unto this end,  
The passage of all men that way to let,  
And while he lived did valiantly defend.  
That none durst be so bold through it to pass,  
So great a terror to the world he was.   

This now shall serve his puissance to know,  
Who in his time of honour bore the prize.  
And now again I will of jason show,  
Who joyfully in most courageous wise  
Without delay did great provision make,  
Of such things as he meant with him to take.   

And so began his strange and hard adventure,  
As Guydo saith about the very time,  
When as the Sun in Cancer 'gan to enter,  
And parching Summer then was in his prime.  
When silly shepherds were full blithe and glad,  
To shun the heat, and seek the pleasant shade.   

When Phoebus beams most bright & clear did shine  
And cast their extreme heat upon the ground  
Directly down, and strait as any line,  
Whereby the air exceeding hot was found,  
And every place great store of Corn did yield,  
And men did mow the grass in pleasant field,   

And on the hills and valleys let it rest,  
Till moisture clean consumed from it away.  
And pretty Lasses with their cheerful breast,  
Did sing sweet notes at tossing of the hay,  
At that same time Prince jason did begin:  
With joyful heart his Ship to enter in.   

And with him many a hardy graecian Knight  
All furnished, in brave and Warlike wise,  
With gilt and graven Armour for delight,  
As than it was the manner and the guise.  
And hoisting sail, did launch into the deep,  
With purpose their directest course to keep   

To Colchos ward. Philoctetes their guide,  
Still caring loadstone in their sight to keep.  
Whose skill in that same Art both far and wide,  
Was known to be most excellent and deep.  
As also to prepare for storms and wind  
Before they came, which Sailors often find.   

For no man more experience had then he▪  
In both the Pools, (which every one should know  
That takes on him, or will a Sailor be)  
And how the Pool Articas still doth show  
And clearly shine unto us in the night,  
But Antarticus never comes in sight.   

But Sailors that are provident and wise,  
Do think they have experience ●nough,  
When as the stars shine clearly in the skies  
For to direct their course by Arthures' Plough,  
By which they make account they cannot fail  
Of any coast, or place whereto they sail:   

With help of Loadstone and true compass,  
For Sailors that are expert, wise, and bold,  
Whensoever they a voyage do begin,  
Their course directly by the stars to hold,  
That Arthur● do environ round about,  
Which circle for to put you out of doubt   

Is called Artophilx by his name.  
Which unto Sailors, (when it giveth light  
If that they be acquainted with the same)  
Sufficeth to direct them in the right.  
And bring them safely to their journeys end,  
If God from storms and tempests them defend.   

To tell you what the ancient Poets feign,  
And in their Books of those two Pools do wright  
Although it seem a fable false and vain,  
Yet will I set it down for your delight,  
With choice for to conceive thereof in mind,  
As you best liking of the same shall find.   

They say Calixto and Arcadius  
Hirsonne, were both in heaven stellefied,  
Where they remain as Stars most glorious,  
And by divine permission deified.  
For that the Goddess juno did her spy  
When she with great God jupiter did lie.   

For which she did her to a Bear transform,  
And so she long remained on earth below  
And did her woeful state lament and morn,  
Till jupiter that favour did her show,  
(As Ovid's Metamorphosis doth tell)  
To place her in the skies, where she doth dwell   

Among the stars, and there she is installed,  
To be a certain sign at Sea to find▪  
And by the name of Vrsa Mayor called.  
Her Son likewise a star of self same kind,  
Was oppositely set, and for his fame  
Of Vrsa Minor beareth still the name.   

Which fixed stars their Pilot knew so well,  
(As being in that Art the most expert,  
And did in Navigation so excel,  
That he deserved great praise by due desert,)  
That of his course he could not lightly fail,  
If storms and winds did not too much prevail.   

And when the greeks with travel overpressed,  
Had long on Seas been tossed too and fro,  
Desiring to relieve themselves and rest  
Their wearied limbs, they sought on land to go,  
And being cast upon the Tr●i●● soil  
They land there to ease their wearied toil.    

CHAP. four  
¶ How Iason ●●●is Voyage to Co●chos, by fortune was cast upon the c●●st of Troy, where he were on Land to refresh himself, and his company.  

THe Ship at anchor by the Frigian coast,  
Until the weather waxed clear and fair,  
The greeks that had so long on Seas been tossed  
Went all on shore, to walk and take the air,  
Glad to relieve their wearied limbs of pain,  
And after to return to ship again.   

At Sy●eon● a haven hard by Troy  
Where they did stay, and meant there to abide  
Not hurting any Woman, Man, or Boy,  
A day or two, attending time and tide,  
To hoist up Sail, and toward Colchos wend,  
Where first to go they only did pretend.   

Not once jntending treason, hurt, or guile,  
In any wise, nor troublesome to be,  
Unto the country people all the while,  
They stayed there for their necessity,  
For that as long as on the shore they lay,  
They did nought else but sport themselves, & play.   

But Fortune that so swiftly turns about,  
Delighting men of pleasure to bereave,  
Was th'only cause, (though causeless without (doubt)  
To make the Troyans' falsely to conceive,  
The Grecians sudden landing did pretend  
Some mischief to their country in the end.   

For by such bad and false suspicion,  
Most puissant Kings and Princes of great fame  
Have brought themselves unto destruction,  
And been the only causes of their shame.  
Let Troy's example for this time suffice,  
Which first did breed upon a bare surmise.   

Which was the cause and chief occasion,  
As in the ancient History is found,  
Of that most famous towns destruction,  
Whose mighty walls were raised unto the ground.  
And many men, and many a worthy Knight  
Did lose their lives in that most bloody fight.   

And many Ladies proper fine and fair,  
(Their Husbands, and their Children being dead)  
Were heard lament their loss in great despair.  
And Maids in tender years by Grecians led  
As slaves in bondage to their pain and grief,  
Did live without all comfort or relief.   

And only for that fortune doth delight,  
To show her power, and her majesty,  
And make it known unto each mortal wight  
In taking vengeance with such cruelty,  
As on that famous City she did shoe,  
To their destruction, misery, and woe.   

Great pity 'twas that men of such estate,  
Both on the valiant greeks and Trojan side,  
For little cause should fall at such debate,  
But truth it is and cannot be denied,  
That envy having entered in the hart,  
From thence doth not so readily depart.   

For from a little graft doth oft arise  
A fair and goodly tree, both huge and tall.  
And he that climbeth high may well surmise  
If that he slip, to have the greater fall.  
And of a spark full small we often see,  
And find that mighty fires kindled be.   

And as a gnat that's but a little thing  
Doth often cause the flesh of man to rise,  
And swell abroad with pricking of his sting.  
So many Prince's mighty, strong, and wise,  
And famous Towns at mortal wars do fall,  
For slight or else for causes very small.   

But if they had been well advised in time,  
When sparks of envy first began to show,  
And sought to quench and kill them in the prime  
Full many Cities now that lie full low,  
Would have stood still and flourished till this day,  
Which hateful malice brought unto decay.   

For when the flame of envy spreads so wide,  
That it embraceth heart, and head, and vain,  
And makes them bnrne so hot on either side,  
There is no means to remedy that pain,  
But fowl and cruel murder, war, and strife,  
Bereaving each the other of their life.   

And thus death is the ●ine of enmetie.  
And though the first beginning be but small,  
Th'increase doth breed to such extremity,  
That th'end bereaveth joy and pleasures all.  
As unto Troy we read it so befell  
Which makes me sigh the truth thereof to test.   

That for small cause such vengeance should proceed▪  
Unless it were by providence divine,  
And heavenly wisdom secretly decreed:  
Their fall should cause a greater joy in ●ine.  
For Troy destroyed by such occasion,  
And finally brought to destruction,   

Was th'only means that th'ancient City Room,  
Received her first beginning from the race:  
And offspring of Aeneas, that did come  
From Troy, when Grecians banished him the place.  
Which Town of Room as Authors plainly say  
Of all ●he world, once bare the chiefest sway.   

Troy likewise brought into so great distress,  
And utter overthrow of ancient fame,  
Was cause that many Cities did increase,  
And divers Country's first obtained their name.  
For Troiaus wanting habitation,  
By force did enter many a Nation.   

And after long and weary toil orepast,  
Aeneas many Country's Sailing by  
With all his ships, did chance t'arrive at last  
Upon the pleasant coast of Italy,  
Who won the same by conquest and by might;  
And made himself the Prince thereof by right.   

And after him his Son Ascanius,  
Succeeded, and as lawful heir he reigned,  
Who being dead, his son Prince silvius  
The Diadem of Italy obtained:  
Of whom did come by right descent and true,  
Most worthy Brute that Albion did subdue.   

Wwo having won't by force from Giants fell  
And conquest brave, did thereof change the name,  
And called it Britain as our stories tell,  
And was the first inhabited the same.  
With this Aeneas from the Trojan town  
Came Francus also Lord of great renown.   

Who afterward his honour to advance,  
Did build a town both stately fair and great  
Caldoro Paris, whieh doth stand in midst of France,  
The which he made his chief and Princely seat.  
And first gave name of France unto that land,  
Which he did win by strong and valiant hand.   

And Antenor a Lord of Trojan race,  
Began the town of Venice to erect,  
Where during life he made his resting place,  
And Sicanus (in whom was no defect  
Of Trojan blood) as Chronicles do tell  
Won Cicile, and long time therein did dwell.   

And after him a Prince of worthy fame,  
His Valiant brother Siculus did reign  
Within that I'll, of whom it took the name  
Of Cicile, as records therein explain.  
Aeneas having conquered Italy,  
Did not himself therewith so satisfy.   

But into Tuscan entered which he won,  
And in the I'll of Cicile to his praise,  
The regal Town of Naples first began,  
Which flourisheth so much in these our days  
With brave and wealthy Merchant men of fame,  
Who through their traffic great enriched the same.   

And of the greeks that Troy did help to spoil,  
King Diomedes, who with most great desire,  
When he had spent his time with pain and toil  
Ten years in war, and thought home to retire,  
And there to live and rest secure from harms,  
He found his men and country up in arms.   

With full intent his entry to withstand,  
And to bereave him of his Diadem  
And princely state, thrust him out of his land,  
Who being thereby brought to that extreme,  
Was forced for his relief as stories tell,  
To seek another Country where to dwell.   

And entering in Callabria by strength,  
He brought the Country to subjection,  
And there did rule in peace, till at the length  
Dame Fortune seeking his subversion,  
By Cerces' means his graecian Knights did change  
Into the form of Birds most rare and strange.   

Which presently did fly into the air,  
(And ever since continue thereabout)  
Their seathers shining bright and very fair,  
And called are (to put you out of dou●t)  
As we in Isydore the same may read  
Among the greeks the Birds of Diomedes.   

But as some Authors list hereof to wright,  
They say this Metamorphosis was done  
By Venus in her malice to that Knight,  
Because against Aeneas her dear Son  
Fierce Diomedes did cast a cruel dart,  
As they too fought to strike him to the h●rt.   

Which when his Mother Venus had espied  
She caused a misty cloud twixt them to rise,  
And therewith did her Son Aeneas hide  
From sight of Diomedes cruel eyes:  
And afterward wrought him that spiteful scorn  
And did his men in shape of Birds transform.   

And in that sort from time to time they fly,  
Unto the place of Diomedes grave,  
Where as his body deep entombed doth lie,  
To show that still a mind of him they have.  
For yearly on his day of Funeral,  
They flock about that place both great & small.   

And there from morn till night you shall them find.  
It further is reported to be true,  
That those strange Birds do love the greeks by kind,  
And utterly do hate and still eschew  
The Latins, and do know them well asunder,  
When they then see. Which seemeth such a wonder   

To me, that I by no means can espey,  
Nor yet conceive by any manner way,  
The hidden causes of such sorcery;  
But this I know, and that I dare well say,  
The first beginning of so bad jntent,  
Was wrought by art of foul jnchantment.   

But faith doth teach us boldly to defy,  
And flatly banish all jllusion;  
Which Satan daily casts before our eye,  
To bring us thereby to confusion.  
And thus by famous Troy's subversion,  
Full many ancient Cities first begun.   

And divers Lands, with many a wealthy town,  
By sequel of that war long flourished;  
Which fore that Troy was cruelly thrown down,  
Lay waist, and were not then jnhabited.  
But to declare them orderly by name,  
Were labour great for me to do the same.   

And therefore to Prince jason j'll return,  
That went a shore at Simeont by Troy;  
And for a day or two did there sojourn,  
The comfort of the pleasant air t'enjoye:  
And of his weary toil himself to ease,  
Till wind and waves did calm upon the Seas.   

But enviously a false report was blown,  
And to the King Laomedon declared;  
That certain Grecian Knights to him unknown,  
To enter in his land themselves prepared:  
Well armed at each point, which bred surmise,  
They sought t'jnvade the Country by surprise.   

Else would they first (say they) a licence crave,  
And not so proudly land without consent  
Of him or his, and no safe conduct have,  
Which argued but a sign of bad intent:  
Which if the King would not prenent in time,  
They said, might prove his prejudice in fine.   

For if (said they) he will not seem to fear  
Their landing, but defer by negligence,  
T'inquire & know from whence they are, & where  
They mean to go, and what is their pretence:  
He may perchance repent his little care,  
Of making haste against them to prepare.   

For sudden things require sudden sight,  
And should not be deferred till mischief fall;  
And Dogs are to be feared that first do bite,  
And fly upon a man before they brawl:  
So wisdom doth require present speed,  
To stop a mischief ere it further breed.   

Thus did the Trojans murmur in the town,  
And speak thereof each one unto the other,  
As in the streets they walked up and down,  
That at the length there spread so great a rumour▪  
That Laomedon did forthwith prepare  
A messenger, to know from whence they were.   

And without counsel taking in the same,  
In haste did send to will them to depart;  
Or else he said their pride he would so tame,  
That stoutest of them all should wish in heart  
He had not been so bold, to give the venture  
Without his leave, within his land to enter.   

The messenger in this sort sent away,  
Made haste to let Prince jason understand,  
What Laomedon willed him to say,  
And to command him to avoid the land:  
Who all this while did nought but sport & play,  
Attending time from thence to sail away.   

Th'effect of which his message to declare,  
From point to point, verbatim as it was;  
As near as ere I can, I will not spare,  
And what thereof did after come to pass:  
Which in the Chapter following shall appear▪  
If to the same you give attentive ear.    

CHAP. V.  
I How Laomedon King of Troy sent to jason to command him and his company forthwith to depart out of his Country; and what answer they returned to the King again.  

THe high and mighty Prince of great renown,  
My most redoubted Lord and sovereign true▪  
Laomedon of Troy that bears the crown,  
By me his messenger hath sent to you:  
To let you know he doth not well conceive,  
Of this your bold arrival without leave   

Within his land, thus armed as you seem,  
Not once vouchsafing first to know his mind;  
As though of him you made so small esteem,  
That no resistance 'gainst you he could find:  
The which to let you well perceive and see,  
He doth expressly send you word by me:   

That presently and that without delay,  
Both you and yours depart out of this land  
And Trojan bounds, and get you hence away,  
Or else by force he minds you to withstand  
And will you nill you, make you leave the place,  
If you presume to offer him disgrace.   

My counsel is (believe it if you list)  
To get you hence in peace and quietness,  
For folly great 'twere for you to resist,  
And of mere pride or glorious wilfulness,  
Seek to disturb my Lord felicity,  
Which now doth live in great tranquility.   

And doth his kingdom govern and maintain,  
With so great wisdom and magnificence  
By valour and by might, that 'twere in vain,  
For any to withstand him of pretence.  
Wherefore I wish you all if you be wise,  
Herein to take and follow mine advice.   

And seek not further now to move offence,  
Lest you procure your peril woe and smart,  
And find that true by good experience  
Which friendly unto you I do impart.  
This is my Lord's embassage too you sent;  
Conceive it as you will tis his intent.   

The messenger in this sort having said  
What Laomedon charged him as then.  
jason therewith not very well apaid;  
In face and colour waxed pale and wan.  
Yet soberly with wisdom held his peace:  
Not seeming once in choler to increase.   

Nor yet to take offence what ere fell out,  
Although it vexed and grieved him at the hart,  
But stood as mute: at last he turned about;  
And unto all his fellows did jmpart  
What message Laomedon had him sent,  
And how to him and them he seemed bend.   

And willing them about him to draw near,  
He thus began his words and speech to frame.  
My friends and fellows whom I love so de●●e,  
Know that King Laomedon doth us blame  
For entering (as he saith) within his land,  
Before we craved licence at his hand.   

And for that cause a messenger hath sent  
With threatening words, to let us know his mind,  
That to drive us from hence is his intent  
If here we stay. Wherefore he doth us bind,  
And straightly charge eft-foones without delay,  
All scuses set apart to pack away.   

Behold said he what blindness he doth●●e,  
And how he doth on honour set his mind,  
That unto wearied strangers doth refuse  
To give them leave a little ease to find  
In their distress, who nothing less pretend,  
Then him or his in any wise t'offend.   

But where is ancient liberty become,  
Is neigher love, nor kindness to be found?  
Both which in Princely hearts should have a room.  
And where is honour gone that used t'abound  
In Princes mind? who of an ancient right,  
Still moved them with care and great delight,   

To entertain all strangers that resort  
Unto their Courts, or countries whatsoe'er,  
That afterward they might of them report,  
What Princely and what noble minds they bear.  
But neither love nor liberty are found  
In this King's Court, or country to abound.   

For if he were of noble heart and kind,  
He could not choose ●ot in them both delight:  
And to show forth his great and Princely mind;  
He would command his subjects to their might,  
To succour men oppressed with woe and grief  
And not have sent us hence without relief.   

For if that he had chanced from the seas,  
By fortune or adventure whatsoe'er,  
T'arrive and set his foot on shore for ease  
Where any Grecian Prince doth Sceptre bear,  
With much more honour like to his degree,  
He should not fail by us received to be.   

But sith that he for aught I can espy,  
Hath banished out of mind and doth disdain,  
All freedom, honour, and humanity,  
And clean contrary vices doth retain,  
We must and will his mind herein fulfil,  
Because as now our power's not like our will.   

For this is sure and so it shall be found,  
That this disgrace which to us now is done,  
In th'end may chance upon himself rebound,  
Sith that he hath of malice thus begun,  
And peradventure it may chance fall out,  
Ere Phoebus thrice the Zodiac runs about.   

For let him trust and thereof be assured,  
We will him serve, with such as he hath sent,  
And if I live, and what he hath procured,  
He shall not fail thereof by my intent,  
Albeit now I set no time nor tide,  
Sith longer here I mindd not to abide.   

Till I have better leisure to sojourn,  
And so with stern and yet with lively cheer,  
At that same word began about to turn,  
And suddenly unto the messenger  
That from the King as then to him was sent,  
In this wise he declared his jntent:   

My friend (quoth he) know well and understand  
The message which as now thou bringst to me,  
From Laomedon King of Tr●i●● land,  
Unfit doth seem from such a Prince as he.  
For by each point thereof I do perceive,  
How he doth use of strangers to conceive.   

And cannot choose but deeply in my mind,  
Think much on his great favour to us shown,  
And of his liberality so kind,  
And gifts which on us now he hath bestown.  
Nor can I well let slip out of my thought,  
The least reward that thou to us hast brought.   

For trust me well I can it not forget,  
But needs must deep jmprint it in my mind,  
How by his honour he so much doth set,  
As that he studieth only to be kind.  
That by thee now doth send unto us here,  
Such entertainment, great and dainty cheer.   

Clean contrary to that we did expect;  
From such a worthy famous Prince as he,  
But god which doth all secrets deep detect,  
Can bear us witness innocents to be  
From any hurtor any bad pretence,  
That we ere meant 'gainst him to cause offence.   

And Gods to record in this case I call,  
With my whole heart to justify the same,  
(Whatsoever may hereafter chance to fall.)  
We have not once deserved any blame.  
Nor violently taken any thing  
From man, or boy, so mayst thou tell the King.   

But being forced by great and stormy wind,  
Necessity compelled us to land  
Upon this coast, some succour here to find,  
And rest our wearied limbs upon the strand.  
Intending but a day or two to stay,  
And then again with speed to go away,   

Unto the place where we desire to be.  
Which thou unto thy Lord for truth mayst say,  
And further that the time he shall once see,  
When as perchance more thanks receive he may  
From us, or else it may be from some other,  
So go thy ways, and farewell gentle brother.   

When jason thus an answer had returned,  
And bade the Tr●●an messenger depart:  
The noble Knight stout Hercules that burned  
With rage, and fury inwardly in hart,  
As he was gon●●ad him again turn back  
Disdainfully, and thus to him he spoke▪   

Good fellow thou that art the messenger  
Of thy good Lord, who hath thee hither sent▪  
Content thyself, and stand thou not in fear,  
That here to stay is aught of our jntent,  
For that before the Sun shall rise again  
We will be gone, and so I tell thee plain.   

And not a man of ours on sho●re shall be,  
To morrow at this time what e●e befall,  
And thereupon my troth I pledge to thee,  
And Gods to witness to the same I call.  
For we intent no longer here t'soiorne,  
But to our ships again with speed return.   

As soon as it is dawning of the day,  
On pain to suffer fowl reproach and blame,  
But ere three years shall fully pass away,  
Who ever saith contrary to the same,  
We will return again into this land,  
And cast our Anchors here upon this sand.   

Take heed thereof and note full well the time,  
And let this now suffice and warning be,  
That some new change shall follow of this Prime,  
Which if Ilive thy King shall plainly see,  
And when his power 'gainst us shall not extend,  
For his safe conduct we will scorn to send.   

And then I tell thee plainly for no lie,  
We will no more regard him then a straw,  
Nor of his words nor threats that are so high,  
The least of us shall stand in any awe.  
Till when because we will him not deceive,  
We mind not once of him to take our leave.   

For that of us he seems to make a jest,  
As though we were not worthy better cheer;  
But though he now doth think to live at rest,  
I swear by God he shall abide it dear.  
Which in the end shall turn unto his shame:  
And see that to the King you tell the same.   

The messenger thereto did thus reply,  
And said, though for the King you do not care,  
This privileged you can me not deny,  
In decent terms the message to declare,  
Which now to you I bring what ere it be,  
Good or else bad, there is no fault in me.   

And wheresoe'er it pleaseth you to stay,  
The choice is in yourselves as being free,  
Yet thus much unto you I must needs say  
You have no cause now to be wroth with me.  
But leave your threatening while you here remain,  
And do your worst when as you come again.   

For wisdom doth require silence now  
And secrecy till that you be at large,  
And then you may your courage boldly show.  
But truth to say it longs not to my charge,  
To stand and strive with you or make debate,  
Yet better 'twere betimes, then all to late   

For you to shun the harms that may befall.  
And at this time I will with you be plain,  
For my discharge to tell it to you all,  
That pity 'twere that here you should be slain,  
Or offered any point of villainy,  
Sith that no man whatsoever can deny,   

But that your good behaviour doth declare,  
And show you worthy Personages to be,  
To govern and command in peace, and war,  
And to descend of great and high degree.  
But least with words perchance I might you grieve  
I'll say no more but take of you my leave.   

The night o'erpast at dawning of the day,  
When as the Lark with sweet and pleasant note,  
Doth strain her breast as much as well she may,  
To greet the streams of Phoebus' Chariot,  
As then beginning in the Orient sky  
To show themselves with crimson coloured die.   

And fair Aurora with her silver showers,  
The fragrant Roses had begun to wet,  
And all bedewed the blooming silver flowers,  
As Lilies, Cowslippes, and sweet Margaret.  
And made them spread their leaves both fresh & bright  
Which had been closed up by glooming night.   

And honeysuckles 'mong the bushes green  
Perfumed had the air with pleasant sent:  
Long ere that Titan's glistering beams were seen,  
And to our Hemisphere their course had lent,  
To comfort and relieve each living wight,  
Which by his heat receive their strength & might.   

Long time I say, before the Sun did rise,  
Prince jason and his fellow Hercules  
With all the speed they could in hasty-wise  
Prepared themselves to put unto the Seas.  
Commanding every man his way to take,  
Aboard the ship, and all things ready make▪   

The Anchor up with merry heart and glad,  
They hoist Sails, and strait put from the land.  
For jason knew the little train he had,  
Could not suffice the Troyans' to withstand:  
As being much more weaker to conclude,  
Than Troyans' were for strength and multitude.   

So that as then war with them to begin  
Was not his wisest way to take in hand,  
Nor likely was the victory to win,  
As having but a small and feeble band.  
(For he that hews above his head too high,  
Perchance a chip may fall into his eye.)   

And therefore made great speed to get away,  
And having wind at will did sail so fast,  
That finding no occasion them to stay,  
They did arrive at Colchos safe at last  
By Fortune's aid, (although sometime unstable)  
That did them help as much as she was able.   

In Colchos Isle a goodly town did stand,  
Which for the riches, worthiness, and fame,  
Was principal and chief within that land  
That called was jaconites by name,  
With streets full large and houses very fair,  
And seated in a good and wholesome air.   

Round compassed with towered walls about,  
The which did make a stately show to see.  
And strong and deeply ditched all without  
To make defence against the enemy.  
Wherein King Oeta with his Princely train,  
(As fittest place) did specially remain.   

(And at such time as jason thither went,  
He found him there with many a worthy Knight,  
For whom the King then purposely had sent,  
To show his great magnificence and might.  
That so his fame reported far and near,  
Unto the greeks for truth might then appear.)   

About this town were hills and mountains steep  
And valleys fair and pleasant to the eye,  
With divers Rivers sweet, and fresh, and deep,  
That every where within the land did lie.  
And many a lake, and many a goodly well,  
Commodious for their use which there did dwell   

And store of Parks for beasts both wild and ●ame,  
And woods and meadows fresh and very green,  
With sundry hearb● and flowers in the same,  
Of fair and divers colours there were seen.  
As pleased nature paint and set them out,  
As time of year when Summer came about.   

For fishing fowling, and for Princely game,  
Of hunting and of hawking in the field,  
No country in the world did pass the same,  
Nor yet more store of fish and fowl did yield,  
And plenty of each other kind of thing,  
As Corn, and grain, that fertile soil did bring.   

There likewise did the Birds most sweetly sing,  
In time of year with pleasant harmony,  
When trees and bushes 'gan to bud and spring,  
Procuring with their cheerful melody.  
Great joy and comfort to the wounded hearts  
Of lovers, that were pierced with cupid's darts.   

That certainly when Summer passed away,  
And winter cold and chill did end the year,  
And that the fair delighfull month of May  
With Lady Flora did begin t'appear,  
And decked the fields with flowers of strange devise  
That stately land did seem a Parradise.   

And for all kind of dainty food and fine,  
Dame Ceres that the name had always borne,  
To be the Queen of plenty, sent them wine,  
Flesh, fish, and fowl, with every kind of co●●e,  
in so great plenty and exceeding store,  
No Nation in the world could wish for more.   

For what soe'er Dame Nature could devise  
Was found therein, for nothing there was seant,  
That pleasure might procure to hart or eyes,  
Nor any man therein complained of want,  
So great increase this little Isl● did bring,  
Of all and eke of every kind of thing.   

Unto this Town Prince jason strait did go  
With Hercules, and all their noble train,  
Who in the way did make a goodly shoe  
As hand in hand they marched in ranks of twain,  
Each one of stature big and very tall,  
Young, lusty, strong, and hady therewithal.   

Their countenances sad and full demure,  
In so good sort and in such comely wise,  
That unto every man it did procure,  
Such pleasure to behold their greekish guise,  
That all the Town did run in flocks to see,  
And learn what country people they might be.   

That in such manner came into the Town,  
So unexpected of the King and Peers.  
And every one went walking up and down  
To hearken, and to tell what news he hears.  
So rude they were to wonder, stare, and gaze.  
And gape, and look, as it were in a maze.   

For such as in great Towns do use to dwell,  
Are commonly jnquisitive of news.  
But of King Oates now I must you tell,  
How kindly he those strangers than did use,  
And at their first arrival in the court,  
Received and welcomed them in princely sort.   

For presently as he did understand  
Th'arrival of Prince jason and his train,  
Of worthy graecian Knights within his land,  
He did not seem their coming to disd●●●●,  
But rising from his chair without delay,  
In person went to meet them on the way.   

Receiving them with glad and joyful cheer.  
In stately wise as it becomes a King.  
And that his bounty might the more appear,  
Unto his royal court he doth them bring,  
With charge unto his officers to see,  
They should be served each one in his degree.   

And that not any thing what ere should want,  
That might procure their pleasure or their ease,  
Nor any one in duty should be scant  
To honour them, if him they sought to please.  
That done he leads them to his Royal place  
Where he doth welcome them with Princely grace.   

And passing through a Marble paved yard,  
He went into a stately sumptuous hall,  
Wherein no cost of any thing was spared,  
That might adorn and beatified withal.  
The walls beser with Images of gold,  
And hanged with Arras costly to behold.   

Where being entered in, and he set down,  
He doth them all in hearty manner greet,  
And welcome bids to jacomtes' town,  
Each one in his degree as he thought meet.  
Commanding strait great store of wine & bear  
To be brought forth their wearied limbs to cheer.   

The King thus set and placed in Royal chair,  
All hanged with rich and costly cloth of gold,  
And gilt and set with pearls very fair,  
Most sumptious and most stately to behold.  
Environed with Lords and Knights that were  
At his command, then summoned to be there,   

Beholding with a gracious countenance,  
Prince jason, and his fellow Hercules,  
Their honours more t'increase and to advance,  
Willed them to sit down by him for their ease.  
But jason would no longer time let pass,  
To show the King wherefore his coming was▪   

Which he in words but few, (yet wisely told,)  
Began to tell, with such a comely grace,  
And so demurely (as full well he could)  
That all that were then present in the place,  
Admired his wit, his memory, and tongue,  
To be most perfect in a Prince so young.   

But ere he did begin his tale to frame,  
With good advice, and great discretion,  
He did in mind premeditate the same,  
And to each sentence gave direction,  
And did his meaning then so wisely say,  
That Oetes his request could not denay.   

And so with sto●● and princely courage bold,  
He started up; with due obedience,  
And kneeling fore the King, began t'unfold  
Wherefore he came, and showed the full pretence,  
Of his so strange and valiant enterprise,  
Which in this manner thus he did devise.   

Most puissant Prince, and King of Colchos land,  
May't please you of your high and special grace,  
benignly now to hear and understand  
The cause of my repair unto this place,  
And in good sort not taking of offence,  
Vouchsafe therein to give me audience.   

To use long speech and many words were vain,  
And might perhaps breed cause of tediousness,  
Or move offence: but sooth to be plain,  
Rejecting rhetorician curiousness,  
In brief t'unfold the some of mine intent,  
I must confess that honour hath me bend,   

To try th'adventure of the golden fleece,  
And win the glory to achieve the same,  
And for that cause I passed out of Greece,  
In hope t'augment my valour and my fame,  
Which if your grace will give me leave t'assay,  
I doubt not but to bear the prize away,   

And though I know what ever men pretend,  
And undertake in hope of victory,  
(Unless the gods some savour to them lend,  
In whom consisteth all felicity)  
It were in vain for any man to venture,  
Or on him take in peril great to enter.   

For peace, and war, dishonour eke, and fame,  
Do all upon their wills and mights depend,  
And no man can withstand them in the same.  
What ever fortune shall unto me send,  
I will not spare th'adventure now to try  
And do my best, for once I can but die.   

If that your Grace thereto will give consent,  
And grant me leave my force therein t'assay  
Unto your laws therein, is my intent  
In each respect to yield and to obey,  
And crave no favour whatsoe'er betid,  
Hap good or ill, I will it all abide.   

Most humbly craving that without delay,  
My mind herein your grace will not withstand,  
But rather flatly bind me to a day,  
The same t'achieue, if so I take't in h●nd.  
Speak gracious Prince, & grant to my request,  
And lo your Knight at your command is priest.   

While jason thus his mind did boldly say,  
The King that full attentively the while  
His speech had marked, with silence seemed to stay  
Before he spoke, at last he 'gan to smile,  
And friendly him beholding in the face,  
Unto him said with glad and cheerful grace;   

Young Knight, although thy mind be fully set,  
And wholly bend upon this enterprise  
So dangerous, that no man can thee let,  
Nor hold thee from't; yet follow my advice,  
And wisely with thyself resolve in mind,  
Ere thou begined, what danger thou shalt find.   

For know thou must (though valiant be thy hart)  
That this adventure is so hard to win:  
(As being wrought and framed by magic Art)  
That strength of man can not prevail therein:  
But he that dares the same once undertake,  
To end his life a full account must make.   

No favour, nor no hope for him is left,  
That doth presume to take the same in hand,  
For by the law he is thereof bereft,  
(Which by no means he may in aught withstand)  
As having choice before he 'gins to venture,  
To leave the same, and not therein to enter.   

But once begun, he must therein proceed,  
For back he may not turn, what ere betide.  
And though he stand in never so great need,  
His doom is past, he must his chance abide.  
For death is his reward that doth begin  
And take in hand the golden fleece to win.   

So strict a law binds him that this will try,  
Which unto thee young jason I must tell,  
I can by no means change, nor yet deny  
To any one: therefore advise thee well,  
Before thou ventrest t'undertake the same,  
Lest afterward, on me be laid the blame   

Of thy so desperate destruction.  
Wherefore for my discharge I thee require,  
With hearty and with true intention,  
To leave the same: and let not high desire  
Procure thee to incur thine own decay,  
By this so hard and unexpected way.   

Sith than thou seest what danger lies therein,  
For that from point to point I have thee told  
The truth of all before thou dost begin,  
Let reason rule, and be not overbold  
To take in hand, while time thou hast to choose,  
Lest when thou wouldst, thou canst it not refuse.   

The time doth now afford thee space to take,  
Or to refuse th'adventure, which you will,  
For look what law God Mars himself did make,  
I must the same in all respects fulfil.  
What ere he be that venter's in this case,  
Let him be sure, he gets no other grace.   

Thus (youthful jason) whatsoe'er betid,  
I have thee told and openly let know  
What danger thou art sure thereby t'abide:  
Which if I could, I would have kept thee fro.  
But truth to say, I can it not deny  
To any man that seeks the same to try.   

Then to conclude, sith now thou dost perceive  
What danger lies herein, take heed in time  
Of her that turns the wheel, lest she bereave  
Thee of thy life, while it is in the prime.  
Do as thou wilt, thou getst no more of me,  
Of weal or woe, the choice consists in thee.   

With that the King did rise out of his seat,  
When time drew near for dinner to provide,  
Whereto the preparation was so great,  
That care of all things else being set aside,  
Each Officer was busied to see,  
That nothing whatsoe'er, should wanting be.   

The tables covered stately to behold,  
And Cubbards well and costly garnished  
With store of plate, of silver, and of gold,  
(Whereof the King was richly furnished)  
And Trumpets sounding every man to call,  
When as the meat was brought into the hall:   

The King set down with in his Royal seat,  
With Hercules and jason at his board,  
Great store of sundry kinds of dainty meat,  
Were served in as time did then afford:  
That done, the Marshal placed all the rest,  
Each one in his degree, as he thought best.   

Where every man was entertained so well,  
That wonder 'twas to see their costly fare,  
Which in each thing did there so much excel,  
By reason that the King no cost did spare,  
That all the Court admired his noble mind,  
Cause he to strangers show'd himself so kind.   

And more for to delight their minds withal,  
Musicians never ceased still to play  
On Citern, Lute, Bandore, and Bass-viol,  
Cornet, and Flute, to pass the time away:  
With pleasant notes, and in such stately wise,  
As it had been an earthly Paradise.   

For truth to say, such plenty there was found,  
That Oeta's liberality was praised,  
And so extolled in all things to abound,  
That his great fame unto the skies was raised,  
For entertaining strangers in such wise,  
By all the ways and means he could devise.   

To tell each several kind of meat by name,  
Or half thereof in order to descry,  
Impossible it were to do the same,  
There was so much and great diversity.  
It shall suffice to say such was the store,  
That wit of man could well devise no more.   

And to be brief, the King did so excel  
In every point of liberality,  
That rightly might be said, in him did dwell  
The pattern of true magnanimity:  
No marvel then, as it did well appear,  
He made the greeks so great and royal cheer.   

And more for to augment his fame withal,  
He caused his only Daughter to be brought  
Out of her chamber down into the hall,  
Whose beauty if the world throughout were sought  
Could not be matched, so much it did excel,  
That to described were hard for me to tell.   

Whose Princely presence wrought no small delight,  
Within the hearts of all the company,  
When in most stately wise each Grecian Knight  
She 'gan salute, and no man did deny  
Her courteous entertainment to afford,  
As she did pass along from board to board.   

And chiefly to behold her comely face,  
For whiteness like to Alabaster clear,  
With Roseate cheeks, yet mixed with such grace,  
That no access of colour did appear,  
Wherein dame Nature played so kind a part,  
That well she proved mistress of her Art.   

This Princess called Medea as we read,  
Was th'only child King Oeta had alive,  
And rightly in his Kingdom should succeed,  
If she her father chanced to survive.  
So ripe of years and gallant to behold,  
That nature never framed a finer mould.   

But notwithstanding this, her beauty rare,  
And youthful years, (sufficient to inspire  
Her heart with love) yet was her only care  
To read and study with no small desire,  
All kind of books that might or could be found,  
Whereby she learned of every Art the ground   

So perfectly, that never yet was found  
A man that did attain unto her skill;  
Her learning was so great and so profound,  
For to discuss of every thing at will:  
And nothing what so e'er but she could tell,  
Concerning things in heaven, earth, and hell.   

No secrets of the earthly globe so round,  
But she could well disclose them at her will,  
The course of Stars and Planets she had found,  
And did attain unto so lofty skill,  
That by their motion she could truly show,  
What should befall upon the earth below.   

She was so learned in Astronomy.  
The Nigromancian Art she knew so well,  
And thereto did her mind so well apply,  
That by her charms she called out of hell  
Th'infernal spirits, and forced them to obey  
Her word and will, they durst it not denay.   

With words she used to say in sundry wise,  
(First casting incense sweet into the fire,  
And doing of some devilish sacrifice,  
With Goat, horns, milk, & blood) her whole desire  
She could attain, when time convenient  
She knew would be, to work Inchantement.   

Such was her skill, and eke so well she had  
The heavenly and celestial bodies found  
How to discern, that times both good and bad  
By them she chose, to make and to compound  
Her drugs, whereby she brought to pass her will  
In every thing, what ever good or ill.   

She could command the winds to storm & blow,  
And make the ground to freeze in every vain;  
And cause it thunder, lighten, hail & snow,  
And when she list it suddenly should rain.  
And turn the day full clear to ugly night,  
And then again cause Sun to shine most bright.   

She could the waters make to rise and rage,  
With huge and lofty billoes to the sky;  
And then again make calm, & eke assuage  
The tempest, were it near so great and high.  
She could young trees dry up both root & rind,  
And them revive again in self same kind.   

And in the deepest time of Winter cold,  
When buds and blossoms wither and decay;  
And every thing doth fade and waxeth old,  
She could the earth make green, & eke array  
The fields with flowers of every several kind,  
And colours as in Summer we them find.   

And when she list she could the Summer clear,  
Clean alter and convert to Winter cold,  
And make it look with dark & glooming cheer,  
Strange, wonderful, and ugly to behold.  
Old men she could to youth again restore,  
And make them fresh and lusty as before.   

And young men that no hair on face could show,  
Soon would she cause appear both grey and old.  
Such was her skill, that bought on earth below  
But she could change, and secrets all unfold.  
And trees with fruit she would at will make bare  
Of bark and leaf, a secret strange and rare.   

She could the Sun and Moon 'gainst nature stay,  
And cause eclipses out of time by force;  
For no man that is learned can denay,  
But they are tied unto a certain course.  
(As by the Lord ordained at first it was,)  
The which they may nor can by no means pass.   

For till the Sun with glistering beams doth run,  
By usual course unto th'ecliptic line,  
And then is in conjunction with the Moon;  
There's no eclipse as writers do define,  
But when the Sun with fiery beams most red,  
His mansion hath in th'ugly Dragons head.   

And that the Moon is seated in the tail  
Of Dragon fell, then 'tis a thing most true,  
That an eclipse by nature cannot fail,  
But certainly thereof must needs ensue:  
By reason of intersecations,  
Of circles and of revolutions.   

Which fixed are within the skies aloft,  
And cause the shining beams of Phoebus' bright,  
(As it is seen within the world full oft)  
To be obscured and shadowed from our sight;  
For that the Moon doth make division,  
By natural interposition.   

Between our eyes and Phoebus' glistering beams,  
So as we may not then behold nor see,  
How Titan's flaming Chariot wield his streams,  
Which for a time clean darkened seem to be.  
But for because Ptholome the King,  
Within his Book shows cause of every thing:   

Both of eclipses and conjunction,  
Of Sun and Moon, with other planets bright,  
That they do hap by common motion.  
I will no longer of this matter write.  
And though that Ovid in his book doth praise,  
Medea's skill her honour so to raise,   

And doth of her such feigned fables tell,  
Yet God forbid that credit we should give  
Unto such fond conceits, as knowing well,  
No creature that upon the earth doth live,  
Hath power to work against dame nature's course,  
To make the Sun and Moon eclipsed by force.   

For God that ruleth all things by his might,  
Hath so disposed his heavenly creatures,  
That they cannot remove by day nor night,  
Without his will as long as world endures:  
But in a mutual order still are bound,  
Continually the world to compass round.   

For no eclipse as yet was ever known,  
The Moon not being in conjunction,  
As I have said, unless that God hath shown  
A miracle, as in the passion.  
For then the Sun was found eclipsed to be,  
'Gainst nature's course, as all the jews might see.   

For when that Christ upon the cross was nailed,  
The Son of life was darkened for our good,  
And then of heaven and earth the powers failed,  
(At shedding of his pure and precious blood)  
And showed signs most strangely to behold,  
The glory of his Godhead to unfold.   

The earth did quake, great darkness did appear,  
The dead did rise (which caused no little wonder)  
Within the Church the vale in midst did tear,  
Hard stones and rocks did burst & cleave in sunder.  
That for the tokens strange and marvelous,  
Which then were seen wise Diomsians,   

When as he did such sudden darkness find,  
(Although that he a heathen was by right)  
Yet seemed much astonished in mind,  
And flatly said, that sure the God of might,  
Did suffer death, or else 'twas to presume,  
The world as then would perish and consume.   

Thus did this heathen man as then conceive,  
When as he did such wonders great behold;  
For God his creatures can of power bereave  
As being all of him to be controlled.  
For he that did all things on earth ordain,  
Can heaven & earth of usual course restrain.   

As sacred Scriptures plainly testify,  
How josua caused the Sun his course to stay,  
(While he did force his enemies to fly  
At Gabaon, for space of one whole day)  
Which God did grant unto his faithful Knight,  
At his request to show his power and might.   

Then think't not strange, if at the passion  
Of jesus Christ, incarnate for our sake,  
The heavens show'd such alteration,  
And bright Sun beams became of colour black,  
Sith he hath made both sky, & sea, & land,  
And all are ruled by his most mighty hand.   

But though that Ovid list so much to wright,  
And of Medea tells so false a fable,  
And to extol her seems to take delight,  
Yet all he said to prove he was not able;  
Although she were a cunning sorceress,  
As ancient stories manifest no less.   

This shall suffice to show her wit and skill.  
And now I will proceed to mine intent,  
To tell how she obeyed her father's will,  
When as she knew that he for her had sent,  
Investing costly furniture great store,  
That she might cause her beauty seem the more.   

For if of beauty women have good store,  
They will not fail to play a woman's part,  
By skill t'increase dame natures work the more,  
And are therein such mistresses of Art:  
That what so er's amiss they will it hide,  
That no defect may outwardly be spied.   

But she was fair and beautiful in face,  
(And in behaviour womanly withal)  
And set it forth with such a princely grace,  
That every man admired her in the hall:  
Her entry so majestical did seem,  
As if she had a heavenly creature been.   

King Oeta as the story showeth it,  
As soon as she into the hall was brought,  
Caused her by young Prince jason down to sit,  
For his desire, will, and only thought  
Was, how he might him princely entertain,  
And so his bounty to the Greeks explain.   

But in this point (alas) he seemed to be,  
Clean void of good advise & prudent care;  
(For wisdom wills us wisely to foresee  
Each danger, and against the same prepare)  
To cause a maiden light of wit, and eye,  
His pleasure in that case to satisfy.   

And though his special meaning and desire  
Was only for the honour of his guest;  
Yet it did set his Daughter's heart on fire,  
Which burned within the furrows of her breast,  
So sore that it bred his confusion,  
And finally her own destruction.   

Great folly 'twas so much her youth to trust,  
And give her cause of such a motion,  
That might provoke and stir her unto lust,  
And that through want of good discretion,  
To think upon (as reason doth require)  
A woman's light and mutable desire.   

Which any man that's wise no doubt will fear.  
For who was ever yet so mad or wood,  
(Unless he did so sound affection bear,  
As that he seemed careless of his good)  
Without good trial women to believe,  
or hasty credit to their words to give.   

In whom is neither constancy nor trust,  
They are so double and so full of wile,  
That hard it is t'restraine them of their lust:  
And set their minds so much on fraud & guile,  
That no man can himself of them assure.  
For it to them belongeth of nature.   

Even from the time they first creep out of cradle,  
To be both wily, wavering and light,  
Their hearts they are so frail and so unstable,  
In youthful years wherein they take delight:  
For that while they in growing years are young,  
Their inward thoughts agree not with their rung.   

Which is the cause that many wise men write,  
That wavering, change, and mutability,  
To women doth belong of ancient right,  
As framed of mould of instability:  
Which all that know them well cannot denay,  
(Although it grieveth me so much to say.)   

For if you could perceive their inward mind,  
And all their slights and wily fetches know,  
You might the true and lively pattern find,  
Within their hearts (they do so over flow)  
Of fond and wavering false inconstancy,  
Which here and there with every wind doth fly.   

For they are of so mutable a kind,  
As if that valiant Hercules should prove,  
And Samson, both would not suffice to bind  
A woman's heart, that it should not remove:  
For as the subtle flames of burning fire,  
So too and fro they fly in their desire,   

Till they accomplish fully their delight.  
For like as nature seeketh after form,  
And therein taketh kindly appetite,  
Till she her course by process may perform:  
So women's hearts will ne'er refrain from man  
In wavering lust, devise what means you can.   

Nor will they cease till they have all assayed,  
Though that their minds to twenty men were bend,  
But would to God as nature is apaid  
With one form only, holding her content,  
And near desireth further to proceed,  
But therein rests, and will it not exceed,   

That women her example follow would,  
And hold themselves content, and still abide  
Constant to one, as they in duty should,  
But want of footing makes them often slide:  
For not content with perfect unity,  
They bend their minds to seek plurality.   

So much in mutability they flow,  
Yet oft pretend a kind of stableness;  
Which outwardly by signs they seem to show,  
But inwardly is hidden doubleness:  
So close and sure, that outwardly with eye  
Full hard it is their malice to espy.   

For under show and vail of honesty,  
Their deep desire is kept full close in mew,  
With feigned show of simple modesty,  
Refusing that which they in heart pursue;  
And that an outward praise they may obtain,  
They will dissemble, flatter, lie, and feign.   

Then must I needs King O●t●s tell thee true,  
That in this case thou hadst too little care,  
In that thou didst not doubt what might ensue,  
But let thy daughter fair proceed so far  
Without advise, with strangers so to deal,  
To overthrow thyself and common weal.   

For by that means thy treasure it was lost,  
Thine honour stained, thy country clean undone,  
Thyself in thousand cares in sorrows ●ost,  
Thy Daughter with a stranger way did run:  
And in a foreign land through care & thought,  
Was in the end to utter mischief brought.   

And with no little scandal to thy name,  
By misery, by sorrow, and by grief;  
At last was brought unto her death with shame,  
And thou thyself bearest of all relief,  
Mightst ●it and mourn thy hard & doleful case,  
That to prevent it had no better grace.   

If thou by wise and provident foresight,  
Hadst had the wit to think on future harms,  
And in thy mind wouldst have considered right,  
Of women's soul and most deceitful charms:  
Their fraud, their falsehood, and fragility,  
And that in them is no security:   

(As Guydo in his verse doth well declare)  
Then surely by thy too much wretchlesnes,  
Thou hadst not with sorrow and with care,  
Bereft thyself of all thy happiness,  
Thy treasure, and thy only Daughter dear,  
Which both at once were lost as doth appear.   

What could avail the careful providence,  
And strange devise framed by inchantement;  
The wary heed and double diligence,  
By thee song used all danger to prevent,  
Against the wily wit of womenkind,  
Whose subtleties as right by proof we find,   

Are of great force, for will with them is law,  
Bees good or bad it must not be denied;  
Nor yet do they of any stand in awe,  
They are so full of will, deceit, and pride.  
For as mine Author plainly doth express,  
Medea by her wit and craftiness,   

Bereaved her father of his treasure great,  
And that because she would her mind fulfil;  
And jason to her love by wiles entreat,  
Wherein she did use all her Art and skill;  
As you shall hear if that ye will proceed.  
The sequel of this History to read.   

For as she had at table take her seat,  
tween Oeta and the valiant Grecian knight;  
And that she should have fallen to her meat,  
Love did her heart with sudden passion smite:  
And made her colour alter in her face,  
And fetch an hundred sighs in little space.   

Sometime the blood down to her heart did fall,  
And up again into her face would rise;  
Sometime she blushed, sometime she showed pael,  
Now looked she down, then cast she up her eyes;  
Yet still among to beautify her colour,  
The fragrant Rose was mixed with Lily flower.   

And though the Rose would sometimes seem to flee●  
Yet did the Lily hold her wonted place,  
Till nature gave them means again to meet,  
And show alike within her comely face:  
And thus with cold and eke with sudden heat,  
Medea's mind with grief was sore beset.   

Sometimes she burned, sometimes she waxed cold,  
And still as she did seek with great desire,  
Young jason in the face for to behold,  
Her heart it was set more and more on fire,  
With his great beauty and his comeliness,  
Which she in heart most deeply did impress.   

His yellow crisped hair like golden wire,  
His seemly face, his gracious countenance;  
His Warlike look, his valorous desire,  
(Which he then show'd his honour to advance)  
His goodly shape of body, and of limb,  
And all things else whatsoever was in him,   

Within her eyes and heart bread so great pleasure▪  
That only to behold and view him still,  
She did esteemed tabove all earthly treasure.  
And could have spent her time by her good will  
In contemplation of his person rare,  
For that as then for meat she did not care.   

As having wholly lost all appetite,  
So much he stuck in her remembrance;  
That for to look on him was her delight,  
Love had her then so brought into a trance,  
And marked her with her burning fiery brand,  
That by no means she could escape his hand.   

For she was yoked body, heart, and all,  
To jason, who within her heart did lie,  
And when that opportunity did fall,  
She would at him cast up a glancing eye.  
And then again look down unto the ground,  
Lest men should deem she had some fancies found   

For as all women right dissemblers be,  
She kept it close with such an outward show;  
That by herface none might percerue nor see  
What she did mean, nor her intent once know;  
Thereby to take the least occasion,  
Out of their minds of bad suspicion.   

For openly there could nothing be seen,  
That should be cause of any heaviness;  
Her seeking was to make them all to ween  
The reason, why she used such soberness,  
Only of simple womanhood to be,  
With honest shame and virgin chastity.   

Which both at once within her heart had met,  
And caused her that modesty to use:  
And outward show on inward thought to set,  
In that she seemed her meat then to refuse;  
The cause as than not being any such,  
But only love which her at heart did touch.   

She could so her hypocrisy excuse,  
And with an outward show of modesty,  
Give matter unto fools whereon to inuse,  
When as she sought abuse her chastity.  
For not one word out of her mouth did pass,  
Her look unto her heart contrary was.   

For maidens seem most commonly to spare,  
In outward show t'express their inward grief;  
Or in their words their meaning to declare,  
Of things wherein they wish to have cliefe.  
For while they live in pure virginity,  
And by the same are bard of liberty,   

They keep all close and will not seem too bold,  
To show their minds although it grieve them much:  
Nor tell the thing which otherwise they would,  
Although full near unto their hearts it touch.  
And so although 'twere with a feigned grace,  
Medea sat with sober cheer and face.   

And yet expressed her meaning with her eye,  
So secretly that no man could discern,  
The burning fire that in her breast did lie,  
The which because it did her much concern:  
She could not choose her troubled mind t'appease,  
But use some words in secret, which were these:   

Would God this brave and lusty Gentleman,  
Which shows so fair and gallant in my sight,  
Whose comeliness not well express I can,  
Assured were to me to be my Knight:  
That I might once embrace him in mine arm,  
Then would I to my will his senses charm.   

His hair that shines like to the golden wire,  
His limbs compact and framed in co●●ley wise▪  
His stature as proportion doth require.  
In seemly height, so well doth please mine eyes:  
That by my will it would my heart content,  
To win his love if fortune would consent.   

For that his knightly face for to behold,  
●s unto me an earthly Deity;  
Though inwardly I feel my heart full cold,  
And yet in truth it may none other be.  
Alas will he not pity my estate,  
And cause me think myself most fortunate?   

I would he knew my true and good in●ent,  
(Whereof I think he takes but little ●eed)  
And how my love to him in fully bend,  
Which inwardly doth make my heart to bleed;  
Yet should I die I date i● not disclose,  
Although for him I fo●le a thousand 〈◊〉.   

But cureless is my sor●●●● and my pain,  
To friend no● foe I dare ●● not unfold▪  
Nor yet in any fort thereof complain,  
To find redress▪ if any way I could▪  
And yet I would not any should 〈◊〉,  
But that I would procured in honest wise.   

As openly in time it shall be found,  
For that in lawful wedlock unto him,  
Is my desire truly to be bound,  
And so my meaning's void of any sin:  
As being grounded upon faithfulness,  
Without all fraud or any doubleness.   

Behold how women craftily can play,  
To wish a thing, and nothing less 〈◊〉,  
And secretly that no man aught should say,  
With face full smooth can shadow their desire:  
And hide their lust by wile and subtlety,  
With mere pretence and vail of honesty.   

And though that to be faithful they pretend,  
And that the deepness of their treachery,  
They can with outward flourishes defend▪  
And all their wiles so closely covered lie,  
Yet secretly deceit by them is meant,  
With sugared words of good and true i●●en●.   

As if they did all honesty pretend,  
When certainly 'tis but an outward sho●●  
As it is found and proveth in the end,  
And many men by true experience know:  
So well they can say one, and other mean;  
And colour blew, full lightly turn to green   

For under vail of painted stableness,  
And feigned show of honest modesty,  
The wily serpent called now ●anglenesse,  
Within their hearts full secretly doth lie:  
For what they most desire in outward sho,  
They will deny't, and swear it is not so.   

Thus Guydo seems of women to indi●e  
Alas that he with them should make debate▪  
Or cursedly so much of them should 〈◊〉,  
It grieveth me in English to translate  
Their foul disgrace, o●● to justify,  
For rather had I for their sakes to die.   

And therefore I will crave their patience,  
To bear with me, because I write thus much,  
My purpose is not for to give 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 do think there is not one,  
But that in will and heart she will be true,  
And keep herself unto one man alone,  
But be it some do choose them lovers new:  
To say the truth they are not worthy blame,  
For oftentimes they see men do the same.   

They must provide for new when men refuse,  
To love them more, & seek for other change,  
And if I could, I would them full excuse,  
(For why should men have liberty to range)  
And women not, which cannot live alone,  
Store is no sore, if they have more than one.   

Wherefore I must of them desire leave,  
Although I write as matter doth befall;  
I hope it shall not give them cause to grieve,  
When as I follow mine original:  
For reason is that punishment should light  
On him that doth so hard'gainst women write.   

And them so much and causelessly offend,  
By overmuch inuaying'gainst their kind,  
But if I might I would it soon amend,  
And him to judgement of the women bind;  
That they might him unto his penance set,  
For if for to repent he should forget,   

I would despair of his salvation,  
And think that he strait down to hell should go,  
And never should obtain remission,  
Unless he did some satisfaction show.  
For all's not true that we in books do find,  
And if it were, 'twere hard for women kind.   

If Guido therefore were as now alive,  
So bitter penance he should surely have;  
If I were Priest and had him hear to shrive,  
That till the time that he were laid in grave,  
He should remember daily to repent,  
And earnestly in heart his fact relent,   

That he so spoke to his confusion.  
But let this pass, and now I will proceed,  
And mean to make no more digression,  
To tell how fair Medea then did speed;  
Who taking leave, did presently depart  
Out of the hall, with sad and heavy heart.   

And jason when the King likewise did rise,  
With Hercules, was to his chamber brought;  
Most richly hanged in brave and sumptuous wise,  
With cloth of Gold in curious manner wrought:  
Where they did rest and take their ease a while,  
Upon their beds the time so to beguile.   

Mean while (as it already hath been said)  
Medea was into her chamber gone,  
Where to herself she thought upon and weighed  
(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 love, which had her set in such a rage,  
That easily she could it not forego,  
Nor find a ready means the same t'assuage,  
For furious Cupid had her wounded so,  
With his most fiery shafe within her breast,  
That whereso e'er she sat she could not rest.   

So violent and servant was the heat,  
That still it did her pain and grief increase:  
For in her breast there was a conflict great,  
Twixt love and shame which either did her press,  
To yield unto their wills in some respect:  
So that she could not tell which to reject.   

For love a Knight of great renown and fame,  
Who neither feareth, dagger, sword, nor knife;  
Like Lion fierce pursued still his game,  
And hot and hasty was t'aduenture life:  
And there withal most proud in highest degree,  
For Cupid's chiefest officer is he.   

Who doth enforce both high and low of state,  
In perils great and troublesome to enter,  
And bringeth men by hard and cruellfate,  
Unto their ends, and thousand dangers t'venter.  
For love of fear nor peril takes no heed,  
So that in his proceedings he may speed.   

But shame of other nature that consists,  
Is always bashful, cowardly, and faint:  
And dares not once so much as bend her fi●●s,  
Unless it be through very mere constraint:  
For cowardice doth make her hide her face,  
For fear lest she should fall into disgrace.   

Much like a child of young and tender years,  
As having neither courage, will, nor heart,  
To give assault, she is so full of fears:  
And yet full oft hath played a peevish part,  
And many lovers crossed when they should speed,  
By counsel of his foster brother dread.   

For fear and shame if they together lie,  
Bereave hot love of heart and hardiness,  
And both together flatly him deny,  
The means or any power a word t'express:  
Or once his mind to open and declare,  
To ease himself of sorrow, woe, and care.   

For when that love doth boldly think to speak,  
And is upon the very point t'assay.  
And give the venture forth his mind to break,  
Sharue s●eppeth out and utterly saith nay:  
And causes love like Snail his horns to shrink,  
And bashfully with both his eyes to wink.   

And by that means he doth his suit impair.  
And thus is shame still froward and doth vary  
From hardy love, and puts him in despair,  
By help of fear, which both do him contrary.  
For if that shame fond love would never cheake,  
Love often times his laws would surely break.   

For as a horse that seeks to be at large,  
In furious wise breaks bridle, bit, and rain,  
And strives to free himself from Keeper's charge:  
Solovers true to ease themselves of pain,  
(I● fear & shame did not their wills withhold)  
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 love there doth ensue,  
But still it makes an honest outward show.  
For did not shame withstand loves lawless lust,  
Love out the hart all danger soon would thrust.   

And were not shame the keeper and the gail  
Of women's hearts (as Authors plainly say)  
It were in vain the Castle to assail,  
Or any siege against the same to lay:  
For in that case long parley should not need,  
For women hate delay, and love to speed.   

But shame and fear loves comb so short had cut,  
And humbled him so much in heart and mind,  
That they had him clean unto silence put,  
And he no means to ease himself could find:  
And thus twixt love and shame in great distress,  
Medea sat in care and pensiveness.   

Which she could not by any means endure.  
So hot she burnt within her tender breast:  
For when as love did her in part assure,  
In fine to give some comfort, ease, and rest  
Unto her heart, shame put her in a doubt,  
With fear to think how that it would fall out.   

And thus she stood still more and more in fear,  
Twixt love and shame as it were at a stand,  
For shame was great, but love more force did bear,  
And in the end did get the upper hand.  
For fear and shame she durst not once discover,  
The fire of love which in her heart did hover.   

Which easily she could not well shake off,  
And so she sat perplexed without relief,  
(Till fortune full disposed at her to scoff,  
By turning of her wheel, did ease her grief:  
But with unhappy chance as she doth use,  
All those that put their trust in her t'abuse.   

For when that men do think to sit at ease,  
On top of fortune's wheel, and nothing doubt;  
That smiling Lady can them soon displease,  
By giving it but one small turn about:  
And cause them fall as much as they did rise,  
When they least of her treason do surmise.   

For she is always false and eke unstable,  
Provoking men to things above their reach,  
Which though that they t'attain them are not able,  
With feigned shows she can them finely catch,  
And make them break their brains both night & day  
'Bout haddy-wist, when she with them doth play   

With her deceitful face and flattery,  
As she that well cap bring such fools to bed,  
And caused them to their own destruction high,  
And when that she to mischief hath them led;  
She turns her back & with a pleasant smile,  
Doth joy to think how she can men beguile.)   

And striving thus within herself, at last  
When reason could not win the field of rage,  
And she sometime in musing had o'erpast,  
At length her inward torment to assuage:  
She ga●n both pro & contra to debate,  
The matter with herself as still she sat.   

And said, in vain Medea thou dost strive,  
For sure one of the heavenly Gods it is,  
That bends his force 'gainst thee. Doth any live  
That ever saw so strange a thing as this?  
Is any thing like unto burning love?  
Should I my Father's hests esteem above   

All measure hard? truth 'tis theyare hard and sore,  
Why should I fear this stranger's death so much,  
Sith he's a man I never saw before?  
Why should his peril me at heart so touch?  
Unhappy wench, if thou couldst find some rest,  
And cool the heat which burneth in my breast,   

It were a good and blessed turn for thee.  
For where as grief 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 love persuadeth 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 fondly seem to rave?  
And on a stranger dote as one accursed,  
And seek a foreign husband so to have?  
When as at home to my content and mind,  
I may a lover meet for me well find.   

But who can tell if he shall live 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 love him not:  
For what offence hath jason done to me?  
Who pitieth not his youth, should cruel be.   

What is she but his valour might her move?  
But setting that aside, who would not rage,  
And burn at heart with hot and fervent love  
With jasons fair and goodly parsonage?  
My heart is touched therewith assuredly.  
And if that I provide not remedy,   

The burning breath of Bulls will him so blast,  
That with the fires his body singed shall be,  
And of the seeds that he in ground shall cast,  
A strange and uncoath harvest 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 cruel Dragon fell:  
Which things if that I do not seek to let,  
Then must I truly say, and show full well,  
That Tiger did me breed, and in my breast  
A heart more hard than flint or steel doth rest.   

Why rather should I not with wrathful eye,  
His death behold, and in the same delight?  
Why move I not the Bulls most furiously,  
'Gainst him to hold a fierce and cruel fight?  
And all the knights that shall rise out the ground,  
Incite to set on him, and him confound.   

And that same Dragon fell which near doth rest?  
The Gods forbid that I such things should do,  
Such treachery I utterly detest,  
But prayer is small remedy thereto,  
Unless that I do lend my helping hand.  
And shall I then betray my native land?   

Shall I a stranger save I do not know?  
And give him aid that me perchance may leave  
Behind him, and into his Country go  
And take an otherwise? It should me grieve.  
But if I knew he would work me that spite,  
And in an other woman take delight:   

Die sure he should. But he bears not the face  
Like one that would so great a mischief work:  
His birth, his valour, and his comely grace,  
Show that in him such treason doth not lurk:  
And me assure he will me not deceive,  
Nor once forget the good he shall receive,   

Thereby from me. Yet first he shall me plight  
His faith and troth (according to the laws)  
To marry me, and keep his covenant right.  
Why then am I in fear without a cause▪  
To take this matter presently in hand,  
And not delay it off, nor lingering stand?   

jason shall think himself much bound to me,  
And gladly for his wife will me retain,  
And I thereby much honoured shall be  
Of all the people, which as now remain  
Within the rich and fertile land of Greece,  
For helping them to win the Golden fleece.   

Shall I then leave my Father and my kin,  
And household Gods (to whom such love I bear)  
My native soil and all that is therein,  
And with a stranger sail I know not where?  
Yea: these, and all that ere I have, why not?  
My Father's hard, my Country's rude God wot.   

The greatest good unto myself will fall,  
For that the things which I shall now forsake,  
I may full well but merely trifles call,  
If I to those compare them which I take.  
For Grecians safety honoured shall I be,  
And dwell in Towns that are both rich and free.   

Whose fame doth freshly flourish every where,  
'mongst people that in liberal Arts excel,  
And which of all things else I hold most dear,  
And for all earthly treasure would not sell:  
I shall enjoy King Aesons Princely Son,  
Whom had I once unto my husband won.   

Most happy than I would esteem my state,  
And think myself to be advanced so high,  
That with my head I should be elevate,  
'Bove all the stars within the Christ all sky:  
But men report that rocks in Seas do meet,  
And 'gainst nature again in sunder fleet.   

And how Charybdis' utter enemy  
To ships, doth cause the waves them ovethrow,  
When under sail they chance to pass thereby.  
And Scylla, with whom Dogs doth ever go:  
Out of Sicilia gulf comes barking out,  
And puts such as sail by in fear and doubt.   

But what skills that, if I enjoy my love,  
And in my jasons arms may safely sleep,  
It shall me not in any wise once move,  
Though seas be near so dangerous, foul, & deep:  
For while that I my lover may embrace,  
Nought can make me to fear in any case.   

And if that fear should chance to trouble me,  
And make my mind perplexed therewithal,  
My fear should only for my husband be.  
Dar'st thou him then so boldly husband call?  
Pretendest thou Medea title gay  
To thy offence? thou rather shouldst say nay,   

And see what ledwnes thou dost go about,  
Thereby to shun the mischief dangerous,  
Before that worse unto thee chance fall out.  
She had no soonner in that sort said thus,  
But shamefastness and fear that by her stayed,  
Made frantic love to fly away dismayed.   

And raging mood thereof was well alaid,  
And for the present time put clean to flight,  
Till spying Aesons son the flames that stayed,  
And seemed as they had been quenched quite,  
Did kindle, and again began to show,  
And with their heat did cause her cheeks to glow.   

And scarlet blood within his face did rise.  
And like unto a spark of fire that's hid  
In ashes, with the whisking wind out flies,  
And by that means again is kindled.  
So did her love which then was put to flight,  
Renew his former force at jasons sight.   

For when she did behold his comely Grace,  
And Princely port, she judged him to be,  
Much fai●er, and more beautiful in face  
Then ere she had, when first she did him see.  
For which her judgement sure it doth behove  
To bear with her, because she was in love.   

Thus as Medea wrought to ease her grief,  
She spun the web of her adversity,  
For fortune making show to send relief,  
Procures her time her mind to certify,  
And to unfold the secret of her heart  
To jason, though it bred her woe and smart.   

For thus it chanced, when Phoebus' bright did shine,  
In th'afternoon at hottest time of day,  
As he began then Westward to decline,  
And by degrees his fervent heat delay.  
King Oeta finding time convenient,  
In all the haste for fair Medea sent,   

And willed her with present speed to go  
Into the hall Prince jason t'entertain,  
And unto him all courtesy to sho:  
Whereby she did occasion fit obtain,  
(When time convenient served) to discover  
Her hearts desire unto her new found lover.   

For when as she her father had espied,  
With Grecian Knights in earnest speech to be,  
And that each man his mind was occupied,  
To pass the time. When no man did her see,  
In courteous wise to jason she drew near,  
And he to her the like with joyful cheer.   

And being set together in that sort,  
With lovely look and countenance bening,  
Medea glad and willing t'yeeld the fort,  
And parley first, well weighing every thing,  
With sighs beheld Prince jason in the face,  
And unto him declared her doubtful case.    

CHAP. VI  
¶ How jason by the only help and advise of (Medea King Oeta's Daughter) enamoured of him, acchieved the conquest of the Golden Fleece.  

PRince jason ere I speak to thee (said she)  
I charge thee by thy valour and thy might,  
Thy courtesy, and true nobility,  
And as thou art a stout and hardy Knight,  
Desiring much t'advance thy noble fame,  
By valiant acts, and t'magnifie thy name.   

That these my words (with rash opinion)  
Thou dost not censure to proceed of guile,  
Deceitfulness, nor yet presumption,  
Nor from a woman's heart that's full of wile.  
In that I am so bold and do not spare,  
My mind to thee at large now to declare,   

Without all manner doubleness of heart.  
First praying thee unto my words give ear,  
And mark full well what I to thee impart,  
And fail thou not the same in mind to bear:  
For what so e'er I say it's for thy weal,  
As she that means in truth with thee to deal.   

Two things there are that makes me thus proceed,  
(That's servant love, and common courtesy,  
Which both in one so fully are agreed)  
To work thy good, that nought I can deny,  
Nor yet conceal within my breast from thee,  
As ere we part, most plainly thou shalt see.   

For first I think of very courtesy,  
That unto stranger's men should take delight,  
To show all kind of liberality,  
(As being thereto bound of ancient right)  
Both in their words and works, & them defend  
From harms, as much as power doth extend.   

And for my part (brave jason) cause I see  
Within thy thoughts the signs of worthiness,  
I will not fail as much as lies in me,  
To further thee with hearty carefulness:  
(And with that word she fetched a sigh full kind,  
For him that so did stick within her mind.)   

For thy sweet sake my heart within doth bleed,  
Because thou seekest without advisedness,  
The fleece of Gold to win, and to proceed  
Therein of youth and wilful hardiness:  
Which enterprise who so doth take in hand,  
Is sure of death, and can it not withstand.   

So perilous and dreadful is the venture,  
That pen nor tongue can well declare the same,  
For doubtless who so ere therein doth enter,  
Finds nought but death, and after to his shame.  
Whereas he thinks his honour to advance,  
Report shall blaze his foul & wretched chance.   

So much the end is found to be contrary,  
Unto the first beginning of th'adventure,  
For at the last he's certain to miscarry,  
Though't first it seems an easy thing to enter:  
For wit of man by engine, force, or might,  
Although he had experience great to fight.   

And had his arms most strong and passing sure,  
And knew how to defend himself full well,  
And were well breathed long time to endure,  
And near so much in valour did excel:  
Or what so ever weapon he could bring,  
To strike, to thrust, to shoot, or else to fling.   

All were in vain, it could avail him nought,  
For neither force, device, nor subtly,  
Nor any other thing what ere he sought,  
Could save his life but sure he were to die:  
For earthly means may him no way defend,  
Unless that I mine aid to him should lend.   

Wherefore of thee I have compassion,  
That wilfully wouldst cast thyself away,  
And of thy youth with pure affection,  
I should bewail the loss both night and day:  
If that thou dost with folly seek to try  
This dangerous act, where nought but death doth lie▪   

Thy Princely, rare, and noble progeny,  
Unworthy is t'abide so cruel end;  
For certainly it may none other be,  
If thou effect'st the thing thou dost pretend:  
Unless that to my counsel thou wilt list,  
For none therein but I, can thee assist.   

Alas good jason rest thyself content,  
And let thy noble courage yield herein,  
And to my counsel see thy heart be bend,  
Which if thou wilt before thou dost begin,  
I dare be bold to swear thou shalt prevail,  
And of thy hoped victory not fail.   

Whereby thou mayst eternal praise obtain,  
And in fame's book of Register be placed,  
And shalt be sure the Golden fleece to gain,  
(Which thou to win so great desire haste)  
In spite of Mars, and all that thee withstand,  
If that by my advise thou take't in hand.   

Wherefore to me I pray thee give consent,  
And that full soon, if thou pretendest to speed,  
And to my counsel see thou dost assent,  
Which can thee help with all thou standest in need.  
Speak valiant Knight if that thou wilt by me,  
In this thy hard adventure ruled be.   

Prince jason for reply said Lady dear,  
I can but yield you thanks for your good will,  
And when occasion serves (as shall appear)  
I will not fail with all my power and skill,  
(Mine own heart's Queen & Lady Sovereign)  
In full effect by action to explain.   

How much the love you unto me do show,  
Shall bind me while that life in me doth rest,  
To be your Knight, at your command to go,  
To ride, and run, and think myself most blest,  
To be esteemed your true and faithful man,  
T'obey your hest in all that ere I can.   

With hearty zeal and true affection,  
That thus with so great kindness thinks on me,  
And of my life have such compassion,  
As that you seem in heart perplexed to be  
For my mishap, which maketh me of right,  
To bind myself to be your faithful Knight   

While life doth last. And that more specially,  
Because you take such care me to protect,  
And to vouchsafe with great benignity,  
Your counsel and your aid in each respect,  
To him that never favour did afford  
Unto your Grace, in action, thought, or word.   

And more to bind me unto you in heart,  
Your words so kind so much inflame my sense,  
That Cupid with his piercing fiery dart,  
Hath forced me yield (and dare not make defence)  
Against the same, lest I should seem ingrate▪  
To her that hath such care of my estate:   

Without request or motion on my part,  
Nor yet in any manner once deserved.  
Then sith it doth proceed from out your heart,  
To take such care that I should be preserved:  
I vow to you upon my faith most sure,  
In serving you as long I will endure   

As life doth last, and near therein shall fail,  
Whereto I swear and plight with all my troth,  
That life nor death shall any way prevail  
To change my heart, for I would be full ●●ath  
That foul untruth should enter in my mind,  
To do you wrong that shows yourself so kind.   

Few words therefore to use I do pretend,  
And mean my vow and promise to renew,  
That till that Parca's doth my lives thread end,  
I will remain most constant unto you:  
Hap good or ill, my resolution's bend,  
T'effect and do your will and your intent.   

Well then (said she) let wisdom rule thy mind,  
And so forecast with care and diligence,  
The dangers that are incident to find,  
If wilfully thou followest thy pretence:  
And think not lightly to orepasse the same,  
By fond conceit to win perpetual fame.   

For thus much I dare well affirm for true,  
That though thou dost for honour take't in hand,  
Nought but dishonour can thereof ensue,  
Which thou by no means shalt nor mayst withstand:  
For who against the powers diui●e can fight,  
Or once resist their all sufficient might?   

And this is sure, that he which doth desire  
The fleece to win by valour and by might,  
Shall near attain to that he doth aspire,  
But work his own dishonour, shame and spite▪  
For though at first fortune doth seem thy ●●iend,  
Be well assured she'll cross thee in the end.   

For who so ever seeks to take in hand  
This action strange, can by no means escape  
The fiery flames, nor yet the force withstand  
Of those two brazen Bulls, which when they gape▪  
Such furious flashes out their throats do send,  
That folly 'twere against them to contend▪   

For much more dreadful is their dangerous fight,  
(Than lightning which down from the skies doth fall,  
Before the thunderclap on earth doth light,  
Which often battreth Castle, Town, and wall)  
For unto ashes men they will consume.  
Wherefore beware and see thou not presume,   

The Ram t'assail, lest thou thy labour loose,  
But take advise and use discretion  
To leave the same, while thou hast time to choose  
How to preserve thy honour and renown.  
And strive not to advance thy worthiness,  
By folly, and by too much hardiness▪   

And cast thyself away, where otherwise  
Thou mayst preserve thy life from danger great.  
If thou dost ●arken now to mine advise▪  
Whereto I would thee willingly entreat:  
And therefore think what answer thou wilt make,  
Before thou dost this danger undertake.   

Medea's speech thus ended as you hear,  
jason therewith did grow impatient,  
And said, mine only love and Lady dear,  
Is this your mind, your will, and your intent,  
To counsel me to leave mine enterprise,  
And stain my name and fame with cowardice?   

A coward might I well be thought and deemed,  
That should begin a thing to undertake,  
And could nor durst not bring it to an end▪  
So men a common jest of me might make,  
And give report to my confusion,  
That I of pride and mere presumption,   

Had boasted I would do a thing in word,  
Which when it came t'effect I durst no● venture.  
Nay Lady dear I swear upon my sword,  
I rather had in peril great to enter,  
Of life and limb, then cowardly forsake  
The enterprise I mean to undertake.   

Your counsel to this end is merely vain▪  
And so good Lady mine I you entreat,  
To leave your care herein, for this is plain,  
What ere you say, no more of me you get,  
But that I mean my purpose to effect,  
And fear of danger utterly reject.   

For it I should through faintness of my heart,  
Refrain from such an enterprise begun,  
And from your Court and pleasant jsle depart,  
Ere for mine honour some thing I had done:  
While life doth last reproach would me pursue,  
And shame eternal be mine only due.   

For through the world report full soon would spread  
That jason did this conquest undertake;  
And that his heart was so possessed with dread,  
That he an end thereof durst never make:  
But be assured it never shall be said,  
That danger could young jason make afraid.   

And there upon my faith I you ensure,  
I will perform the thing I have begun,  
As long as life and limbs of mine endure,  
Although thereby no honour may be won:  
And that mine only guerdon should be death,  
Yet had I rather yield my vital breath,   

Then be reproached of cowardice and shame,  
For worse report of man cannot be spread,  
Then that he hath dishonoured his name,  
It were much better for him to be dead:  
For every man should seek and strive t'aspire,  
To honour's seat with heart and whole desire.   

And though it were with loss of life and limb,  
Before he would procure his own disgrace,  
And breed the means for men to laugh at him,  
And so for shame be forced to hide his face:  
Then be assured what ever I abide,  
No danger shall me cause to start aside.   

Then do I well perceive your wilful mind,  
(Said she to him) and that you sooner choose  
Your life to present danger now to bind,  
(And my good counsel utterly refuse:)  
Then to yourself you'll reap perpetual shame.  
And yet it is in earnest, and no game,   

With Monsters strange unwarilie to deal,  
And hazard life when as your choice is free▪  
And therefore I am moved for your weal,  
In heart and mind your folly great to see:  
That leaving all advise, discretion,  
Counsel, and good deliberation,   

You rather choose hard and cruel end,  
And wilfully unto the same will go,  
Then yield unto the counsel of your friend,  
Which shows that youth and courage ouerslow  
Within your heart, & keep your mind in awe,  
And make you think your lust to be a law.   

Which in the end will breed your woe and grief,  
If you persist as now you do pretend,  
For be you well assured there's no relief,  
From certain death your body to defend:  
For neither force nor human wit can serve,  
Your life in this great danger to preserve.   

Wherefore in heart I purposely am bend,  
To seek your good and find a remedy,  
Whereby you may this peril great prevent,  
So loath and grieved I am to see you die,  
And rather than your fortune should be such,  
I will my father (whom I love so much)   

And all my friends for evermore displease,  
And utterly abandon them each one,  
So that I may procure your joy and ease,  
Which certainly by me shall soon be done.  
For setting care of all things else aside,  
In this your need I mean to be your guide.   

And for your sake I will my royal seat  
And Princely Palace leave with heart and will:  
My honour too, which I esteem so great,  
I'll set aside▪ your pleasure to fulfil.  
All this and more (if you to me be kind)  
For you lie do, and that you'll bend your mind   

To recompense the kindness I deserve:  
And think it not a thing of small esteem,  
From cruel death your body to preserve:  
(Though you perhaps contrarily may deem)  
But ne'er the less I will so well ordain,  
By Art and skill of mine, betwixt us twain,   

That fore that we from others shall depart,  
I hope all shall be well. If you do rest  
Upon this point, that happen woe or smart,  
To satisfy my mind you'll do your best.  
And there upon my aid to you i'll lend,  
And undertake you shall th'adventure end.   

Good Lady (said Prince jason) ●est content,  
And be assured it is mine only cane,  
To satisfy your will and whole intent,  
And nothing to omit, nor yet to spare  
My life nor limbs, all peril to endure,  
Your pleasure and preferment to procure.   

Then friend (said she) refer to me the rest,  
But first to me by faith you shall be bound,  
And with your heart unfain c●●●e protest,  
That no untruth in you there shall be found▪  
And swear you must to take me to your wife,  
And hold me as your own for term of life.   

This is the thing that I of you require,  
If you will do't and hold your word with me.  
Yet onething more I will of you desire,  
That when to Greece you shall prepared be  
To make return, and ready to set sail,  
To take me with you hence you will not fail.   

And when your father dies, and you succeed  
To reign as King, see that you not forget  
To show yourself most true in word and deed,  
And let your heart on me be wholly set,  
To maintain me as my estate requires,  
And seek no change to please loves fond desires.   

And while you live have in remembrance,  
My courtesy to you in this your need,  
And think with what great hap it was your chance,  
To win my heart, when none but you could speed.  
For be assured no man that lives hath might,  
Against the Bulls and Dragon fierce to fight.   

Unless of me he first be taught the way,  
And means whereby the conquest to obtain;  
The which as now my heart will not denay  
To tell to you, when we shall meet again.  
So much I do myself unto you bind,  
For which I ask of you but to be kind.   

All this and more (said jason) will I do,  
And what so ever else you shall devise;  
And by my faith do bind myself thereto.  
So much your face, and sweet enticing eyes,  
And beauty rare (surpassing all that live)  
Have moved my heartall honour you to give.   

Your bounty in like sort doth so exceed,  
In that such care of my estate you have,  
That while I live (how ever that I speed)  
I'll be your faithful Knight, (else do I erave)  
The Gods to send just vengeance for desert,  
If I to you shall bear ● feigned heart.   

conditionally, that you to me fulfil  
The promise which it pleaseth you to make,  
And as you say, so use your Art and skill,  
That in the thing which I now undertake,  
I may prevail and win the victory,  
My name and fame t'advance perpetually.   

For truth to say, your beauty is so great,  
Surpassing all that ever I did see;  
That well it doth deserve the supreme seat,  
In beauty's bower and highest dignity,  
Excelling beauties all as much and more,  
As doth the Rose surpass each other flore,   

Which in the Summer 'mongst the leaves full green,  
(When as the spring hath forced out to flow,  
The moisture that had long enclosed been,  
And caused the soil that '▪ barren green to show:  
And trees & leaus that winter's blasts made bare  
With buds and blossoms new refreshed are:   

And every garden's filled with flowers store,  
Of sundry kinds most pleasant to the eye;  
And makes the buds Dame Flora to adore,  
With joyful and melodious harwonie:  
And that the heaveulie dew doth moist each place,  
And to his sundry colour yield his grace.)   

Doth show to be the fairest of every one.  
So nature hath you made with good advise,  
As she that should deserve the same alone  
Of beauty, and thereof to bear the prize,  
Above all earthly and each mortal thing,  
And of all bounty great to be the spring.   

As you surpass without comparison,  
All others what so ere on earth do live,  
For wisdom, kindness, and discretion,  
The praise whereof I cannot choose but give  
Unto your grace, as she that unto me,  
So courteous and so kind I find to be.   

For if in this extreme you had me left,  
I were for ever utterly undone▪  
And of all aid and succour clean bereft.  
But your exceeding bounty hath so won  
And overcome my heart, that while I live,  
To pleasure you, my life for you i'll give.   

Sith that to aid me now when I have need,  
You spare not your good will to me t'extend,  
In lieu whereof if I should show the deed,  
Of an ungrateful or unthankful friend,  
I might of right be counted obstinate,  
And held a fool, so to with stand my fa●e▪   

For he that in extremity should lie▪  
And knew how to relieve or ease his want,  
And would refuse a Lady's courtesy▪  
I think of wit he should be very scant,  
And in the ship of fools deserves to b●●  
Preferred and extolled to highest degree▪   

And therefore now I wholly do resign,  
Heart, body, life and limb, into your hand,  
And till that death shall vital thread vn●●ne,  
I will you not in any thing withstand.  
And hereby oath I bind myself to be,  
Your faithful friend as you have promised me.   

And henceforth will not fail in aught t'obey,  
What ere shall be your pleasure and your will,  
At any time as well by night as day,  
Till death shall with his dart my body kill:  
Let this suffice to satisfy your mind,  
That unto you i'll never prove unkind.   

Medea hearing him protest and swear,  
So earnestly to be her faithful Knight,  
And that to her such love he swore to bear,  
She was in heart surprised with such delight,  
That for reply ere she from thence did go,  
The secrets of her heart she did him sho.   

And said, brave Prince, then will I soon ordain  
A way whereby we may together meet,  
When we will with good leisure twixt us twain,  
Take order in this case, and lovely greet  
Each other, and by holy Sacrament  
Confirm our vows with heart and true intent.   

For that as now the time will not permit,  
Nor yet afford us place of secrecy,  
But when night comes, when evening 'gins to shit,  
In secret wise I will you certify;  
The time when as you shall yourself convey,  
And come into my chamber by some way   

In privateness. Where to our great delight,  
We may each other lovingly embrace,  
Which shall be when as glistering Phoebus' bright,  
Doth Westward wend, & yield dark night his place,  
With thick and gloomy clouds to over-shade.  
Our Hemisphere, and cause the light to vade.   

Which time (by favour great which fortune sends  
To lovers arue) affords conveniency  
T'effect their wills, and likewise to them lends  
Occasion how to speak in secrecy.  
Then as I say, my dear and loving friend,  
To send for you I purposely intent,   

To come to me, when as without all doubt,  
In loving wise out minds we will unfold,  
And there determine how to bring about,  
The thing whereof in part I have you told.  
And when we have accomplished our will,  
And of our pleasures had the scope and fill,   

I will devise how we may meet again  
In secret sort, when so it shall us please,  
(Who ere saith nay) and quietly obtain  
Our hearts delights, our comfort and our ease,  
Which shall be when that Dame Lucine bright,  
Doth walk abroad in darkest time of night.   

For mighty jove who secrets all doth see,  
Full well doth know my heart and my intent,  
And how to you I will for ever be,  
A faithful friend, so much my mind is bend  
To love and honour you withal my hart,  
If you will do the like for your own part.   

Wherewith Prince jason lowly did incline,  
And said to her, Dame set your heart at rest,  
And be assured I will myself combine  
To you while life doth last. For I detest  
To be accounted false in thought or deed  
Unto your Grace, how ever that I speed.   

And though with painted words I cannot gloze,  
Nor yet with phrases fine persuade your mind,  
I would not have you think nor yet suppose,  
In this my vow you shall me faithless find:  
But while that breath doth in my corpse remain,  
I will true love within my heart retain.   

And to confirm my deed with heart and mind,  
Lo here my hand and faith to bind the same,  
Assuring you of certainty to find,  
My jove and zeal shall never merit blame:  
And therewithal an end of speech to make,  
Each for that time of th'other leave did take.   

Medea strait rose up out of her place,  
First having taken leave in stately wise,  
And with a brave and passing Princely grace,  
Withdrew herself as was her wonted guise,  
Into her private chamber, where at will,  
She might her mind with contemplation fill   

Of her new love, and find means how to frame  
The thing which she had purposed in heart,  
Without disgrace or blot unto her name:  
Yet would she not to any one impart  
The least conceit that rested in her mind.  
Devising how conveniently to find   

The means to send unto her dearest lover,  
In secret wise, when night began t'appear:  
But loath she was her purpose to discover,  
Unto her maids, so much she stood in fear  
To be disgraced, if they should it bewray.  
Thus (as she thought) she passed the long some day,   

Still musing how to bring the same about,  
And always castng in her doubtful head,  
What lets to stay or stop it might fall out.  
And so with flying fancies tossed and led,  
She rested sore perplexed in grief and woe,  
Still walking in her chamber too and fro.   

The midday gone and slide away full fast,  
And Titan having fully run his race  
From East to West, the Horizon had passed  
So far, that no man could perceive his face,  
Nor yet behold his glistering beams so bright,  
As being clean descended out of sight.   

And Hiren with her mantle all of shade,  
At th'evening showed her dark & cloudy cheer,  
In twilight when the day began to vade,  
And Hesperus with glistering streams t'appear;  
Amongst the twinkling stars about midnight,  
Which to behold did breed no small delight.   

Medea who perplexed all alone,  
Sat counting every hour of the night,  
And secretly unto herself did moon,  
That she so long was absent from her Knight;  
At last did find a means for to content  
Her troubled head. And with a full intent,   

Determined the same to bring about:  
Although she kept it secret in her heart,  
Which trembled like a leaf for fear & doubt,  
Till hope stepped forth, and as it is her part  
Did comfort her and make her blithe & glad,  
But cherished by fear she 'gan again be sad.   

Lest her devise which then she took in hand,  
Might chance be crossed, & she to shame be brought.  
And thus twixt hope and fear she seemed to stand,  
Not knowing how t'effect the thing she sought:  
But her affection, love, and great desire,  
Had set her heart and mind on such a fire   

Of lust, to see and meet her lovely Knight.  
That hope did put her in some good conceit,  
At last t'attain her pleasure and delight,  
But bashfulness her mind had so beset,  
That still she feared discovered to be,  
And knew not how the same to remedy.   

If fortune and the darksome cloudy night,  
Had not procured her ease and cheered her heart,  
By filling it with joy and great delight,  
Wherewith sweet hope stepped in & played a part,  
To prick her forth, and caused her to devise,  
And calculate when that the Moon would rise,   

And with her horns that are of colour pale,  
Appear in skies at dead time of the night,  
To show her face upon both hill and dale,  
Whereof she found the course to fall out right,  
A quarter of an hour after prime,  
Which she perccaved well would fit the time.   

And as she was full well beseen in Art,  
She knew the body of the Moon to be  
Decked over with new light in one forth part,  
And passed had by order and degree,  
After the time of her conjunction,  
One or two signs by Computation:   

And so the days full seven of her age.  
Which time she being pierced with Cupid's dart,  
And in her love did burn with cruel rage:  
She 'gan to pr●e and listen in each part,  
And to each door and window had an eye,  
If any one as then she could espy,   

Within the Court that was not gone to bed,  
Or any man to walk about the same.  
So much her mind possessed was with dread,  
To blemish or in aught t'impair her fame.  
The least and smallest stirring did procure,  
Her panting heart a thousand woes t'endure.   

For when she heard a whispering any where,  
It was as ill as venom to her heart:  
Such was her great impatience to bear  
The least object that might her purpose thwart,  
She wished all had slept full fast in bed.  
This woeful life the longsome night she led,   

And yet not any one the same might know,  
So secretly she kept it in her mind,  
Till full midnight when Cocks began to crow,  
(Which orderly they do observe by kind.)  
At which time when as all was hushed and still,  
To bring to pass her purpose and her will,   

An old decrepit woman out she sought,  
(Who in such case experience wanted none)  
To whom in brief she doth declare her thought,  
And said she did depend on her alone,  
To bring the thing she purposed about,  
(For skill & age makes them forecast each doubt.   

Their years to them so much experience show,  
And in their mind such subtlety infuse,  
That they of love the slights and wiles do know,  
And counterminds against them all can use)  
To her Medea showed her whole desire,  
From point to point, and doth his help require,   

To take the charge on her to ease her smart.  
Which at that time she said increased so,  
And to rejoice her faint and troubled heart,  
With present speed she willed her to go  
To jasons chamber where as then he lay,  
And him to her in secret wise convey.   

Which she forthwith (as ready to fulfil)  
Her charge received, did presently effect,  
And as it was her Lady's hest and will,  
(No point of her commission to neglect,)  
With soft and easy pace she went her way,  
And brought him unto her without delay.   

When as the Cock th' ginger of night,  
With cheerful voice at twelve began to crow,  
And 'gainst his breast his wings to beat and smite,  
The time and season of the night to show.  
To war●e those that in their beds do rest,  
To rise betimes, and too much sleep detest.   

Medea to attend upon her Knight,  
Stood ready to receive him at the door,  
(As she that only placed her heart's delight,  
Her saint in her most secret shrine t'adore)  
Full little lust she had as then to sleep,  
Her care was only watch for him to keep.   

Prince jason to her chamber being brought,  
Not once perceived nor seen of any wight.  
Medea having got the thing she sought,  
In heart was so possessed with great delight,  
That secretly she led him on the way,  
Into her Close●, where she made him stay.   

The woman seeing them so closely placed,  
Of three made two (as she that knew the game,)  
And out the chamber went in all the haste,  
Well knowing that her Lady would the same,  
And for to gaze and stare upon the moon,  
Walked in the court, and left them there alone.   

Wherewith Medea shut the chamber fast,  
And to her jason presently did call.  
(But as mine Author saith she first had placed  
Wax candles burning clear on every wall.  
Which made the place as bright as if the sun,  
Had shone therein at twelve a clock at noon.)   

Then to her chest she did with speed repair,  
Which framed was of Crystal pure and clear,  
Out of the which she took an Image fair,  
Of fine and beaten gold as did appear.  
Which hallowed was, and consecrate withal  
To mighty jove, whom they their God did call.   

Which Image unto jason she did bear,  
Desiring him in solemn wise to take  
His oath upon the same, and there to swear  
What ere befell he would her not forsake,  
But take and keep her for his wedded wife,  
From that time forth continuing all her life,   

With steadfast heart and faith inviolate,  
And that she should maintained and cherished be  
According to her honour and estate.  
(For till that time the story saith that she  
Had lived a Virgin undefiled and chaste,  
In deed, & thought, though then she wholly cast   

Her love and whole affection on that Knight.)  
jason upon the Image hand did lay,  
And swore to her by jove the God of might,  
He would her will in every thing obey,  
And truly keep his word and promise passed  
Perpetually while life of his did last.   

(And yet he did his faith soon falsify,  
For all the protestations he had made,  
Were veiled and hid with fraud and flattery.  
And proved clean contrary as he said.  
And so her love, her true intent and mind,  
In th'end were crossed by him that proved unkind.   

For though that constant love he did pretend,  
And swore thereto, yet secretly in hart  
He meant nought less as well it proved in th'end,  
And feignedly did play a double part,  
With her that simply shipwreck seemed to make  
Of all her weal, and only for his sake.   

Could she have done more for a man then so?  
To lose her Crown and royal dignity,  
Her Country, friends, and kindred to forego,  
Rejecting wealth and all felicity,  
Her honour, and her Princely name and fame,  
Only to shield thee from disgrace and shame.   

She that was borne and came of parentage,  
So Royal, and so Princely by degree,  
And should sncceed in all the heritage,  
That Oeta had by regal dignity.  
At once did all those honours clean forsake,  
And unto thee herself did only take.   

Upon mere hope thou wouldst her kindness show,  
She did abandon all the joys she had,  
And chose to live in exile, and forego  
With thee, her native Country, and was glad  
With all that loss thy love so to obtain.  
Which she esteemed above all earthly gain.   

It grieveth me thou provedst so unkind,  
Did she not save and keep thee from distress,  
Which thou by cruel death waste sure to find:  
Had she not been thy guide: thou must confess  
That of thy conquest she was chief effect,  
And couldst thou her so shamelessly reject?   

Her bounty was in each sort so declared,  
And manifestly tried in the end,  
That truth to say, for thee she nothing spared,  
Thy life from death, and danger to defend.  
Which simply in few words now to explain,  
For me to take in hand it were in vain.   

For by her means the fleece of gold was won  
And conquered by thee, which out of doubt,  
Impossible had been for thee t'have done,  
If by her Art she haded not brought about.  
For when thou knewst not how to effect thy will,  
She did thee teach those Monsters strange to kill.   

And furthermore thou canst it not deny,  
That to redeem thee from all pensiveness,  
All earthly honours she did clean defy,  
And left her father mourning in distress,  
For loss of his great treasure, and his Child,  
Whereof by thee he only was beguiled.   

Let women all by her example learn,  
Not to believe nor credit men too soon,  
But wisely seek to find out and discern  
What minds they bear, and be not quickly won,  
Lest that they fall into the like distress  
That fair Medea did, by carelessness.   

She that accounted was to be so wise,  
And deeply learned in Astronomy,  
Could she not by her skill and Art surmise,  
Nor yet foresee her fatal destiny?  
Love against Art in her did so prevail,  
That all her skill could her no whit avail.   

She was too slow by calculation,  
The figure of her breath and woeful fate  
To cast, and know the constellation.  
For want of care she found it all too late.  
Her Art it was false and deceivable,  
And in plain words wholly incredible.   

For if thereby she could before have known,  
What fortune hard should unto her befall,  
She would not so herself have overthrown,  
Nor have endured such misery and thrall,  
As by the story men may plainly see,  
Fell unto her by this extremity.   

But first you shall behold and plainly see  
How that she did proceed to effect her will.  
For jason having sworn fidelity,  
She gave him leave his pleasure to fulfil.  
And that same night (as well you may suppose)  
Her Maidenhead she willingly did lose.   

(Great pity 'twas that she was so deceived,  
And yet she meant nought else but s●onestie,  
For sure she thought and nothing else perceived,  
But that his heart was set on loyalty.  
And that he would still hold her for his wife,  
And keep her so as long as he had life.   

But thereof will I not as now dispute,  
Yet one thing dare I swear and will maintain  
'Gainst any one, that will the same confute,  
Though that they then agreed like, lover's twain.  
Their minds were different and contrary clean,  
For though that she plain truth & love did mean,   

In honest sort intending that was just:  
(As jnnocent and harmless Virgins do.)  
He to perform his fowl and fleshly lost  
With fair and flattering speeches did her woe.  
Yet with pretence contrary to her mind.  
But pity 'twas she proved to him so kind.   

As so to trust unto his courtesy,  
Headlong to run in danger, woe, and smart,  
And be bereaved of her Virginity.  
But women are so pitiful in heart,  
That fore a man himself for lo●e should kill,  
They will not spare to grant him all his will,   

And rather save his life than he should die.  
Medea so not thinking what might fall,  
What ere he did, she would him not deny;  
But his desire, his lust, and pleasures all  
Obeyed with all her power, will, and might,  
Wherein she took such pleasure and delight.   

That fore she wist, the night was overpast,  
And beautiful Aurora 'gan t'appear.  
At which time jason holding her full fast  
Within his arms, said Love and Lady dear,  
It's now high time for me to haste away,  
And get me hence for soon it will be day.   

See you not how the light begins to spring,  
And day appears with fair and crimson face,  
Listen and hear how Birds begin to sing,  
And bids us part for●●are of some disgrace.  
But fore I go, let me in hearty wi●e  
Of you require your counsel and advise,   

What I shall do mine enterprise t'achiue,  
And bring to pass the thing I so desire?  
Speak Lady dear do thou my heart ●eviue,  
And for thy sake j'll venture through the fire.  
That done. I mean with present speed to make  
Return to Greece, and thee with me to take.   

Where thou shalt live in princely dignity,  
And thereof be thou not in any doubt.  
Thither I say shalt thou conducted be,  
After I have my conquest brought about.  
Tellthen with speed this work, how that I may  
Bring to effect before that it be day.   

To whom she spoke and said as you shall hear,  
jason my love and only heart's delight,  
Persuade thyself thou art to me more dear  
Than tongue can speak, or pen devise to write,  
And therefore will I bend both wit and skill,  
To teach thee how thou shalt obtain thy will.   

And bring to pass the conquest of the Ram,  
By showing thee the dangers of the Isle,  
And how t'avoid the peril of the same,  
Therefore abide and stay a little while,  
And find thou shalt my words and deeds t'agree  
In all and every thing I vow to thee.   

And therewithal out of her bed she rose,  
And in a costly coffer went to look,  
Where as she used her treasure to enclose,  
From whence a silver Image forth she took,  
(Which she did bring unto him in her hand,)  
That virtue had, and power to withstand   

All Magic Art, and cunning Sorcery,  
And to undo jnchantments strange and rare,  
Which was devised by Astronomy.  
At such an hour (as those that skilful are,  
In stars and planets) know full well to choose,  
(Such Images the ancient Clarks did use,   

When as they sought by magic Art to bring,  
The strange effects of Incantations  
Unto an end. As Ptolemy the King  
Of Egyt land, and other nations  
We read have done, and by their learned skill,  
Effected many wonders at their will.   

This Image she did jason will to bear  
In secret wise about him, till that he  
His enterprise had done, and nothing fear,  
But his desire should well effected be.  
According to th'instructions he should have,  
Next ointment pure to him likewise she gave   

To keep him from the force of fire and flame,  
The which the Bulls out of their mouths would throw  
(Moore sweet than balm) & willed him with the same  
His body to anoint from top to toe.  
And so he need not fear the flames so great,  
Would, should, or could by any ways him let.   

A Ring of gold then unto him she gave,  
Wherein a stone of value great was set,  
That virtue had him to preserve and save  
From venom, and the force thereof to let.  
That ugly Serpent's breath might not annoy  
His valiant heart, nor yet the same destroy.   

(Within this stone an other virtue rare,  
And strange was found enclos▪ d therein to lie,  
For who so ere the same about him bare,  
And in his hand did hold it secretly,  
From all men's sight invisible should go,  
And no man could him see, perceive, nor know   

Those stones as ancient Authors do declare,  
Are only found in Cicile Is●e to be:  
And Virgil writes that Venus having care  
To save her Son Aeneas, when as he  
By Sea unto the Isle of Carthage went,  
One of those precious stones unto him sent,   

And then again to jason she betook,  
A writing that to him should much avail,  
Which folded was in manner of a book.  
And willed him to see he did not fail,  
If he desired happily to speed,  
With great devotion all the same to read   

Ere he the Ram did touch, in any wise,  
With further charge he should not undertake,  
Nor venture to effect his enterprise,  
Before he did his Supplication make,  
And on his knees with humble heart and will,  
Beseech the Gods his prayer to fulfil   

(Therein contained.) And lowly of them crave  
To pity his estate, and from distress  
And danger great his body then to save,  
And further love unto him to express,  
And for his best and surest remedy,  
To save and keep him in extremity.   

A Vial full of liquor forth she brought,  
The which all fear of danger set aside,  
She willed him when with the Bulls he fought,  
As oft as with their jaws they gaped wide,  
He should it cast into their mouths with speed,  
That done, to stand in fear he should not need   

That they could hurt or harm him any way,  
For that their jaws together fast would cleave,  
So as of force they must to him obey,  
Then might he them of power clean bereave,  
And do with them what ever that him list,  
For by that means they could him not resist.   

This said when she had show'd all her intent,  
In every thing how that he should proceed  
To scape the dangers that were incident,  
It in th'effect he would but take good heed,  
They did agree and hold it for the best,  
To part as then ere men out of their rest   

Awaked were, (for then it waxed day,)  
And beautiful Aurora 'gan t'arise.  
And show her pleasant face in morning grey)  
And that no man should any thing surmise,  
Or of them have the least suspicion,  
In twilight ere the Sun on earth had shone,   

They took their leaves & parted each from other,  
(With kisses sweet as lovers use to do  
When as in secret wise they meet together.)  
And he out of the chamber strait did go,  
And left her still in bed, whereas she lay,  
In hope to find her there an other day.   

And being gone from her without delay,  
No longer time to spend nor to neglect,  
Withal the speed he could he went that day  
Unto the King, his conquest to effect,  
And bring the thing to pass for which he came,  
And in this sort he did effect the same.   

When as the clouds with crimson colour red,  
At rising of the Sun began t'appear,  
And early in the East themselves did spread.  
And when the Lark with glad and joyful cheer,  
And pleasant notes salutes in morning grey  
Anrora fair, all th'opening of the day:   

(Which orderly fore rising of the sun,  
Is wont t'enchase the cloudy darksome night)  
When fair Diana bright her course had run.  
And Titan with the comfort of his light,  
And brightness of his beams over covered had,  
Each verdant hill and valley, and had made   

The fragrant flowers with comfortable show,  
To spread their leaves and lift their heads on high.  
jason with all his company did go  
Unto the King, (who in great majesty)  
As then in council sat accompanied  
With many Lords, and Knights on cuery side.   

And when that he into his presence came,  
with courage bold his Majesty he prayed  
To grant to him the conquest of the Ram,  
As he before had promised: and said,  
Sith that his coming thither purposely  
Was that he might that strange adventure try.   

He would as then his vow perform, and all  
That there unto belonged without delay  
By him should be fulfilled, what ere should fall,  
Yea though it were his ruin and decay.  
Protesting that death near should daunt his hart,  
Nor move him once to play a coward's part.   

Nor any way to do his honour wrong.  
And therefore prayed the King in humble wise,  
The time therein no longer to prolong,  
To grant to him that valiant enterprise,  
That in the same he might his fortune try,  
To win it, or courageously to die.   

When jason thus had spoken to the King,  
And he the while attentively gave ear,  
And did in mind consider every thing,  
And all the words and arguments that were  
Alleged by him. And saw no fear could daunt  
His haughty heart, he was content to grant   

To his request, though much against his will▪  
And said, sith that he saw he neads would stand  
Unto his vow, he would his mind fulfil,  
And presently without delay command  
That his desire should strait performed be.  
And yet he said, I am abashed to see   

That thou w●th so great wilfulness wilt run  
Unto thy death, and be the only cause  
Of thy decay, when as thou mayst it shun,  
(The which thou oughst to do by nature's laws)  
For men will put the blame in me and say,  
That I by Princely power and force might stay   

Thy course, and so by wrong opinion,  
And popular report would lay on me  
The only cause of thy destruction,  
Which God forbid should ever hap to thee.  
My counsel therefore is thou shouldst advise  
Thyself herein, and do it not despise.   

For better 'tis thine honour to retain,  
And safely and securely to retire  
Therewith into thy native soil again,  
Then with vain hope and over fond desire,  
So wilfully to seek to take in hand,  
An enterprise which no man can withstand▪   

This is my doom, my counsel, and advise,  
Be ruled thereby, and shun thy cruel fate,  
Refuse it not I say if thou be'st wise,  
Lest thou repent when as it is too late.  
But if thou dost persist and wilt not bend  
Thine ears to mine advice. The God● defend,   

And save and keep thy life what ere befall,  
And unto them I'll pray with great desire,  
To be thy guide and shield from dangers all,  
That thou mayst from that enterprise retire,  
In safety unto thy land again,  
Without whose aid be sure thou shalt be slain.   

And so (though grieved) to see, I cannot stay  
Thy youthful fond desires from th'enterprise,  
I'll hold my tongue for more I cannot say,  
But wish thou hadst been ruled by mine advice,  
And to the Gods thy enterprise commend,  
Beseeching them good fortune to thee send.   

When as the King to jason had thus said,  
And by no manner reasons he did use,  
Could draw him from his course, not once dismayed,  
He did his counsel utterly refuse.  
And humbly kneeling down upon his knee,  
With Knightly grace did thank his majesty,   

That he vouchsafed to have such special care  
Of him, and so to pity his estate,  
And therewithal such favour to him bare,  
That fearing he should prove unfortunate,  
And end his days in that strange enterprise,  
To keep him from't had given him that advise.   

But yet (said he) your grace shall understand,  
For th'enterprise which I now undertake,  
And mind by force of arms and valiant hand  
T'effect the same, I will it not forsake▪  
For no man's counsel nor persuasion,  
Shall turn me from my resolution.   

But as the law and statute hath decreed,  
Which in this case is made to be observed,  
I will therein courageously proceed,  
If that my life from danger be preserved:  
But whatsoe'er befalls I'll take th'adventure,  
And first (said he) before that I do enter   

Into the same, herein this Princely place,  
And presence of his noble audience,  
I do protest unto your royal grace  
That no man can against you take offence,  
If that I die in this mine enterprise,  
Because I do refuse your good advice.   

And of myself do only take't in hand,  
Rejecting any counsel whatsoe'er,  
And therefore do protest thereto to stand,  
And without dread or any manner fear,  
Unto the Gods myself I do commit,  
(Hap life or death) and what they shall think fit   

T'ordaine for me, I will accept the same  
And take it in good part what ere it be,  
And neither them nor you therefore will blame,  
But willingly will bear th'extremity,  
And thereof I my full account do make,  
And so as now (said he) my leave I take,   

First of your grace, as duty doth me bind,  
And then of all this noble audience,  
And so with loving countenance and kind,  
Farewell unto them all, he went from thence,  
And down unto the water side did go,  
T'effect his charge as I to you well sho.   

When Titan with the fervour of his heat,  
And brightness of his beans had driven away,  
The Roseate dew that flowers and herbs did wet,  
About the hour of nine a clock that day.  
jason put on a costly armour bright,  
And joyfully like to a valiant Knight,   

Unto the water side did take his way,  
And there alone into a boat did go,  
Which purposely prepared for him there lay,  
And with the same unto the I slay did row,  
Whereas the Bulls the golden Ram did keep,  
And presently upon the shore did leap.   

And making fast the boat unto the strand,  
Withal the speed he could the next pathway  
That he did find, marched up into the land,  
Till wearied for a while and for to stay:  
down on the grass he sat, and there he thought  
Upon the course Medea had him taught,   

To hold, when he should enter into fight  
Against the brazen Bulls and Dragon fell,  
And when like to a wise and valiant Knight,  
He had a while thereon considered well,  
He rose again and went so long till he  
Came to the place where he the Bulls might see.   

But there I must digress and to you tell,  
That when he first the enterprise began,  
Medea grieved, into such passion fell,  
That her fair face became both pale and wan,  
And with a grieved countenance and sad,  
She sat and wept and such great sorrow made,   

That all her face and clothes bedewed were  
With tears, that from her crystal eyes did fall,  
Which only did proceed of grief and fear  
By her conceived, when she to mind did call,  
What danger he might cast himself into,  
If carelessly he should forget to do   

As she had said, and taught him ere he went,  
And for that cause she was so grieved in mind,  
That nothing could her please nor give content  
Unto her heart, the which no rest could find,  
For sobbing, and for sighthing till in th'end,  
Into a Terret hie she did ascend.   

On top whereof there stood a pinnacle,  
From whence (the ave being clear and fair,) she might  
Without all let or any obstacle  
Behold and see her dear and loving Knight:  
And there with tears whichout her eyes than ran,  
To speak unto herself she thus began.   

My dearest friend sweet jason thou that art  
To me so great a comfort and delight,  
And th'only joy and pleasure of my hart,  
If that it were within thy power and might,  
To know what grief for thee as now I feel,  
Thou wouldst to me continue true as steel.   

Meanwhile withal my heart I wish and pray  
The gods to make thy enterprise to thee,  
So fortunate and prosperous this day,  
That thou therein a conqueror mayst be.  
And safe and sound return with every member  
To me again. And that thou mayst remember   

To do as I thee taught in each respect,  
And to observe it orderly and well,  
And nothing therein any wise neglect.  
That so thine honour (which doth now excel)  
May more and more increase. Which unto me  
The greatest joy that ere I had would be.   

For if to thee ought happen should amiss,  
Then might I say fare well my heart's delight,  
Farewell my health, farewell my worldly bliss,  
Farewell my mirth, farewell my loving Knight,  
Farewell my fortune and mine only joy,  
And welcome grief, displeasure, and annoy.   

And in this sort she stood, and their she stayed,  
While jason fought against the Monsters fell,  
Who coming to the place was half afraid,  
To see the Bulls cast fire like fiends of hell  
Out of their mouths. But to withstand the power,  
And force thereof, his body was allore   

Anointed with an ointment precious,  
That able was to keep him from the flame  
And fury of that fire dangerous:  
Which from their mouths so furiously then came,  
Which otherwise had been impossible,  
(For that it was exceeding terrible.)   

Or to escape the huge and monstrous smoke  
Within the air, did rise so thick and dark,  
That it was able any man to choke.  
Had not Medea taught him how to work,  
And how to shone each danger whatsoe'er,  
By virtue of the Image he did bear,   

For by the same his courage so surpassed,  
That when the Bulls with open throat did gape,  
And fire out of their mouths most fierce cast,  
He did their fury easily escape,  
And And all th'infection of the troubled air.  
Soon cleansed & made it show both bright & fair.   

For 'gainst the fowl and stinking smoke and fume  
Which round about the air so thick did fly,  
And able was man's body to consume,  
The Image was a perfect remedy.  
And more to keep his mind from fear & dread,  
He often times within his book did read.   

For that the prayer so great of virtue was,  
That it could save him from all wretchedness,  
Yet for a further surety in that case,  
And to preserve his life from all distress,  
The liquor he into the mouths did cast  
Of both the Bulls, which closed their throats full fast.   

And by the virtue thereof had so glued  
And shut them up, that presently he stayed  
The filthy smoke, and it so well eschewed,  
That all the thick and foggy clouds decayed  
And vanished away, the crystal sky,  
Began t'appear with fair and crimson die.   

Which don he boldly ventured to take  
And draw the Bulls forth by their horns full soon,  
Who then 'gainst him durst no resistance make.  
Which he no sooner had performed and done,  
But strait he yoked, & to the plough them bound,  
And drove them forth to ear and till the ground,   

Wherein they wrought so well, and were so tame,  
That what he would, they did, and never stayed,  
And as he was enjoined to the some,  
They ploughed the ground, and it in furrows laid,  
In such good sort, and made it smooth & plain,  
That ready 'twas t'receaue each kind of grain.   

Then like a Champion boldly he did go,  
Unto the Dragon fierce and monstrous,  
Which was a beast most huge in shape and shoe:  
Fowl, Horrible, and deadly venomous,  
With scales as hard, and strong as any steel,  
That dint of sword, or spear ●● could not feel.   

Whose breath then plague was more contagious,  
T'effect therewith the clear and pleasant sky:  
And his strong poison so outrageous,  
That whosoe'er it touched, was sure to die.  
And from his mouth such flames of fire did flow,  
That like a burning furnace it did show,   

Or like the streams of lightning which from East  
Into the West do reach, in time of heat:  
So from the mouth of that most ugly beast  
The flames of fire did come, and were so great,  
And in young jasons face made such a blaze,  
That at the first it struck him in a maze.   

(But thinking on his Ring it was strait gone,  
And he of fear and danger out of care,  
For in the same there was a precious stone  
Of great esteem and virtue passing rare,  
Which Isydore doth write is only found  
Within the rich and fertile Indian ground.   

And further saith it must he kept f●ll close  
About a man, or woman pure and clean,  
Or else it will the virtue wholly lose.  
Of colour 'twas a passing orient green,  
And power had all venom to destroy,  
That it could not the bearer ought annoy.   

Nor Serpent, Dragon, Adder, nor yet Snake,  
Can hurt or harm by venom any way,  
If that the same within your hand you take,  
And it directly 'gainst their eyesight stay.  
For presently they cannot will nor choose,  
But all their force and poison they must lose.   

And in this sort the virtue having wrought,  
It presently doth burst in pieces small,  
In Cicile whence this stone is like wise brought,  
There is a worm (which they do B●s● call)  
Most venomous, which when so ere they will  
Make tame, or else seek to destroy or kill,   

They take a cane, at th'end whereof they bind  
The precious stone and hold it to the sa●e  
Of that small beast, and presently by kind  
She doth no sooner see't, but in that place  
The bowels bursting forth, it there doth die,  
Such force is found in that rich stone ●olie.   

For nature that all things on earth doth frame,  
And whose decree no mortal wight can move,  
Doth secretly direct and rule the same,  
And by his power received from above,  
Such force hath given to herbs, to grass, to stone,  
The causes why none knows, but she alone.)   

By virtue of this Ring and precious stone,  
He boldly fought against the Dragon fell,  
(In whom as then resistance there was none,  
Although to fore it did in force excel)  
And soon had him bereaved of his life,  
And presently did end his cruel strife   

With that great beast. Whereof exceeding glad,  
With sword in hand he gave him many a stroke,  
And chopped his scales that on his back he had,  
As if he should have hewed and field an Oak,  
And then cut of his head, and with all speed,  
took out his teeth, and used them for seed,   

And presently without delay did sow  
Them in the ground, the which he did constrain,  
The fierce and cruel Bulls before to plow.  
From which so rare and strange a kind of grain,  
A fruit more strange did presently proceed,  
For as the Gods by power divine decreed,   

A company of armed Knights arose  
Out of the ground, who sought without delay,  
Each other as most stern and cruel foes,  
By dint of sword to murder, kill, and slay.  
And their most furious combat never left,  
Till each his foe of life had clean bereft.   

For by the Law it so ordained was,  
That each his brother presently should kill,  
And that not one of them alive should pass  
Out of that place, nor yet should work his will  
By force of arms, the victory t'obtain  
Against his foe, but all should dead remain   

Within the field. Such was the destiny  
Of that strange race, which was no sooner done,  
But jason strait to take the Ram did try,  
And with a courage bold laid hand thereon.  
(Wherein as then resistance none was found)  
And by the horns he pulled it to the ground.   

Then did he kill and shear the golden fleece  
Of from the back, (for valour so much deemed  
That all the treasure in the Land of Greece,  
To half the worth thereof was not esteemed)  
And with his prize he did not time delay,  
But strait unto the boat he took his way.   

And rowed therein unto the other Isle  
Not far from thence, whereas upon the shore  
Prince Hercules attended all the while,  
Accompanied with many Grecians more,  
Till that he had his conquest brought to pass,  
And when that he 'mongst them arrived was.   

For joy they leapt and to their Gods did call,  
And yielded thanks for his most happy chance,  
That he had so preserved been from thrall,  
And to such honour did him then advance,  
By Knighthood great to win the golden Ram,  
Out of the midst of burning fire and flame.   

And fore Apollo fully had run out,  
And compassed the earthly globe so fair,  
Or from the East to west had gone about,  
(For still he was perceived in the air)  
Although with speed he did as then decline,  
And on the Seas full watrishly did shine.   

jason withal his graecian Knights did go  
Unto the King, with glad and cheerful face,  
And unto him the golden sleece did shoe,  
The which to wim the Gods had gi'en him grace.  
Whereat the King did seem much to rejoice  
In outward show, and with dissembling voice.   

Did welcome him unto his Court again,  
Glad (as he said) that he so well had sped:  
And more his outward joy therein t'explain,  
Into the Palace by the hand him him led,  
And entertained him with royal cheer,  
As if that no dislike in him there were.   

And showed pleasant countenance and face,  
(As hypocrites can do when as they feign  
And think on craft, and rather seek disgrace  
To him, whom flatteringly they entertain  
With outward smiling and dissembling show,  
When inwardly they wish his overthrow.)   

So at that time King Octes entertained  
Prince jason with a friendly countenance,  
And show of joy that he so well had gained  
The golden fleece, his honour to advance.  
Although from heart his joy did not proceed,  
For inwardly with grief it seemed to bleed.   

That of the Ram he was despoiled so  
To his great loss, and whole confusion:  
And that he must the golden fleece forego,  
Which in him bred a great division.  
Twixt outward show, and his interior mind,  
As oft we see and by experience find,   

That many men of double heart and mind.  
And of mere malice hid in their desire,  
With smoothed face such subtle shifts can find,  
To take and cover closely up the fire  
Of envy, with the ashes of deceit,  
That no man can their wicked purpose let.   

But well were he that could their craft espy,  
And know their meaning false and fraudulent,  
Wherein nought else but treachery doth lie,  
For to betray the simple innocent.  
And such as by no villainy are led,  
Nor in the paths of subtlety have tread.   

But when a man a smiling face doth make,  
With outward show of love, and speaketh kind,  
They do his words and all his gestures take  
To be th'effects of his interior mind.  
So jason held himself full well paid,  
Withal the King then did to him or said,   

Supposing that no grudge to him he bore.  
And doubtless though the King was grieved sore,  
And had his heart possessed with thought and care,  
Cause he should lose the Ram for evermore.  
It had more folly been for him to fret,  
When as the same by no means he could let.   

And for as then he could not will nor choose,  
(Such and so great was his extremity).  
But that of force he must his treasure lose  
He made a virtue of necessity.  
And 'gainst his will his mind he wholly bend  
To welcome him, though 'twere with discontent.   

And with all kind of common courtesy,  
From day to day to show his gentleness,  
He feasted jason and his company,  
And not one sign of grutging did express,  
Until the time that he did steal away,  
And secretly his daughter thence convey.   

Mean while the people ran In flocks apace,  
From all and every part of Colchos Isle,  
Upon the golden Ram to star and gaze:  
Which some admired, some others semeed to smile,  
Each one his verdict and his judgement gave,  
But to the same men no respect should have.   

For they are so unconstant in their mind,  
That with each blast they vary like a fane,  
And as the moan (according to her kind)  
To day th'increase, to morrow they do wane▪  
So much they are of nature flexible,  
And altogether light and variable.   

Some did rejoice that jason speed so well,  
And some admired his great and passing might:  
And said he did in valour much excel,  
That 'gainst the Bulls, and Dragon so could fight,  
And conquering them returned thence safe & sound,  
Which to effect till then none could be found.   

Some grieved thereat, dislike it ve●erly,  
And wholly did repine, that so it was:  
Some others said 'twas done by Sorcery.  
Thus each cast forth his verdict in that case:  
One saying this, an other praring that,  
And every one of jason seemed to chat.   

At last, as though she knew not of the chance,  
Medea from her chamber did descend,  
Glad at her heart, although in countenance,  
A sad and heavy cheer she did pretend.  
That no man might her secret joy conceive,  
Nor of her mind the least pretence perceive.   

And by her wise and good discretion,  
Not any one a miss of her could deem,  
Whereby she did avoid suspicion,  
And every one of her did well esteem.  
Her port, and cheer nought else did signify,  
But signs of grief, although full secretly   

She smiled to think how well her love had sped.  
Then closely unto jason she drew near,  
And that of them suspicion none might breed,  
With voice full low, she whispered in his ear▪  
And willed him in any wise to see  
He did not fail with her at night to be.   

For that she said she would with him confer  
Of matters that concerned them very near,  
Which at that time of force she must defer  
To let him know, till that he met her there.  
Which he suspecting, when as night came on.  
Unto his chamber went, where all alone   

He found her sitting there, but not asleep.  
But wishing with her heart (as I do guess)  
By her strait watch which she as then did keep,  
With him to parley in great holiness,  
Of matters of deep contemplation,  
For she was moved with devotion.   

To celebrate Dame Venus' memory▪  
And for her sake a Requiem to say  
With him alone in her oratory.  
(And not as foolish hypocrites do pray  
In open streets, that men may them commend,)  
The time they did not pass, nor vainly spend,   

For glory of the world, nor any laud  
Of mortal wights, but closely all alone  
Between themselves, not thinking any fraud,  
And without any light of Sun or Moon.  
That longsome night they passed and did not rest,  
For sure they thoutht for them it was not best   

To think on sleep, ●●ll morning was in prime.  
And so the night together they did spend▪  
With great delight, not losing any time,  
But in what sort I cannot comprehend:  
Nor their religious observations show,  
But leave that unto them that better know.   

Suppose what 'twas, you get no more of me,  
Let him that hath good skill and knows the Art:  
Or is acquainted with the faculty.  
The mysteries thereof to you impart,  
And bid me not that am a simple swain,  
Snch secret observations to explain,   

Or to discourse of that I do not know.  
If that in speculation I were seen▪  
Or had by practice skill the same to show,  
It had for me an easy matter been.  
But sith above my skill it is so far,  
I'll leave it unto you. And now declare   

How jason and Medea did agree,  
And how it was their purpose and pretence,  
That she should into Greece conducted be.  
And in so secret wise conveyed thence  
By him, that Faher, friend, nor any wight,  
Should know, or once suspect her sudden flight.    

CHAP. VII.  
I How jason after the conquest of the Golden-fle●●●●, taking Medea secretly with him, returned again into Thessaly.  

WHen jasou had his dangerous conquest wo●,  
And bravely feasted was like his degree,  
With all the honour could to him be done,  
He did devise when opportunity  
Should serve his turn, to sail away by night,  
And take Medea with him if he might.   

And so when as a month had passed over,  
He closely caused all things t'ready make,  
And as he fully purposed before.  
Medea with him secrretly did take,  
Withal the treasure that he could convey,  
And hoisting sails from Colchos stale away.   

Alas Medea, why wast thou in haste  
So perilous a journey then to make,  
And why wast thou so slow before to cast  
The dangers thou as then didst undertake:  
Didst thou not prove him faithless and unkind,  
For all to thee by oath thou didst him bind?   

To show he cast thee off and clean forsook,  
Constraining thee to weep and mourn in woe,  
And how that he another lover took,  
And for his wife would thee by no means know:  
And caused thee thy golden locks to rend,  
And woefully thy doleful life to end.   

It were in vain the same now to recite,  
(Sith it is passed) or show what did befall  
To jason in reward of his despite,  
Who likewise fell into no little thrall:  
And lost his life (for his unnaturalness)  
In bloody war with grief and great distress.   

This shall suffice th'unfortunate estate  
Of lovers twain, to set before your eye,  
And t'show they lost their lives by cruel fate,  
Because they set their minds on vanity:  
For of beginning that's not virtuous,  
The end for certain proves but dangerous.   

If they at first the peril had forecast,  
And not so rashly run into the fire  
Of burning lust, they had not at the last  
Reaped just reward of their so fond desire:  
But he that's careless mischief to foresee,  
Will surely fall into extremity.   

For as a medicine ministered to man,  
When that his body's mortified and dead;  
By no means help nor ought avail him can.  
And as the stomach weak, or wounded head,  
Cannot be eased by any potion,  
Herb, stone, receipt, salve, or confection,   

That any Surgeon what so ere doth know,  
Or learned Doctor in the world can give,  
When as the body's laid in earth full low.  
Or what availeth it to strive t'relieue▪  
A beast whose carrion corpse lies dead on ground,  
And all together cold and sencles found.   

In my conceit and simple fantasy,  
'twere vain, as dame Experience doth us teach,  
For nought as then can help or remedy  
Health to procure, or dolour to impeach:  
For that which in performed in time and date,  
More virtue hath then that which comes to late.   

Right so it is (and sure it is no fable)  
He that thinks not on danger till it fall,  
But trusteth unto worldly hopes unstable,  
In stead of sugar sweet tastes bitter gall  
Mixed with deceit, and doth at last repent  
His carelessness, and life so negligent.   

That he the same could not in time forecast,  
Nor in his mind resolve it to prevent▪  
Till in the snare he's caught and holden fast,  
And cannot shun the peril eminent.  
Which shows that lust (not reason) did obtain,  
The highest seat within his head so vain.   

As jason and Medea well did prove.  
But how so ever jason sped thereby,  
The story saith (through fond and foolish love)  
Medea only felt th'extremity  
Of danger, woe, perplexity, and grief,  
And died at the last without relief.   

Because she did not warily forecast  
What might fall out, ere she her journey took  
With jason: for which cause she made such haste,  
That Father, friends, and Country she forsook.  
But sith that it was done of wilfulness,  
Without good counsel or advisedness,   

Mere folly 'twere her miseries to wail,  
Or grieve at her so hard and luckless fate,  
Sith that as now full little 'twould avail:  
But sure she chose an hour unfortunate,  
When as the Moon by constellation,  
With some bad planet had conjunction.   

Let it suffice that secretly alone,  
To bear her dear friend jason company,  
To ship she went, and th'Isle of Colchos soon  
She did forsake, to sail to Thessaly:  
And in the night full closely stole away,  
With as much treasure as she could convey.   

And having wind at will with gladsome cheer,  
They put to sea and passed many an jsle,  
Where least the voyage tedious should appear  
Unto Medea, jason all the while  
With Hercules, still held her company,  
With feigned show of love and courtesy.   

And with dissembling face seemed for her sake,  
Much to rejoice, (as lovers oft can do)  
And thereof use an exercise to make,  
Till that they have their losts attained unto▪  
As jason did Medea soon deceive,  
And her of her virginity bereave.   

Forsaking her when least ●●e did suspect,  
He would have played so treacherous a part,  
In so vild sort, and her so soon reject,  
With such a cruel, hard, and stony heart,  
And left her in great misery and woe.  
But here of her I mean no more to thoe,   

For that mine Author more to write doth spare.  
But if at large the story you will see,  
Onid●●s Naso plainly doth declare,  
The misery and great extremity  
Wherein she fell, and with what great distress,  
She lost her life by jasons wickedness.   

And how that she by him two sons did bear,  
The which she killed (although 'gainst nature's kind)  
Because that they like to their Father were,  
And for that jason falsely changed his mind,  
And cast his love upon another Dame,  
Whom Ovid saith Cerusa had to name.   

And clean forsook Medea his true wife,  
She falling in a rage and extreme grief,  
In cruel in wise, bereft herself of life,  
And died distraught, despairing of relief.  
Of this her end if more you seek to know,  
Read Ovid, who the same at large doth show.   

And now will I my stile directly turn,  
To let you know what was by jason done,  
When he in Greece arrived. Whose heart did burn,  
With rage and anger 'gainst Laomedon:  
Till he could find a mean how to requite  
The wrong received from him, with like despite.   

When jason with his train all landed were,  
Upon the pleasant coast of Thessaly,  
And that King Peleus knew his being there,  
Accompanied with all his chivalry:  
He went out of his Court with him to meet,  
And did him in most friendly manner greet.   

But yet with outward show and countenance  
Of feigned love, as seeming very glad,  
That his so great good fortune was t'advance  
His honour and his house, and that he had  
By Knightly force so much extolled his name,  
And home return with victory and fame,   

From Colchos Isle. Yet gladder had he been,  
(Although in outward show he did explain  
The contrary) that he had never seen  
His safe return to Thessaly again:  
And yet to play a right dissemblers part,  
He welcomed him, although against his heart.   

Admiring how he could so soon obtain,  
(By that adventure strange and perilous)  
The fleece of Gold, and ●ome roturne again,  
In so short time, and so victorious:  
But covertly his treachery to hide,  
Without delay all scuses set aside.   

To jason he resigned presently  
His Kingdom, which to him belonged of right,  
With Sceptre, Crown, and ●●ga●● dignity,  
And all his Sovereignty and might.  
(His promise to observe, which when he went,  
He made to him, though otherwise he meant)   

Supposing that he near should come again.  
(But he that for another digs a p●●,  
May fail in his imagination vain,  
And be the first himself that falls in it:  
As Peleus did which sought his nephew's end  
With deadly hate, yet seemed his loving friend)   

Which jason did accept without delay,  
And thanking him with loving face and cheer,  
Besought him to give ear what he would say:  
And his request indifferently to hear,  
Concerning Tooyans wrongs done as he went  
To him and his, when he no hu●t them ment.   

And said, my Lord, when as we sailed by  
The coast of Troy, a tempest in the air  
Began to rise, with such extremity,  
That we of life were wholly in despair:  
And in that care, necessity, and grief,  
We forced were to land there for relief.   

Not minding any injury or wrong,  
Unto the King in any wise to do:  
But t'ease ourselves, and then to pass along,  
To Colchos Isle where first we meant to go:  
But Laomedon not therewith content,  
A messenger in haste unto us sent.   

(Pretending of mere malice us to grieve)  
And churlishly bade us depart from thence,  
Or else he said by force he would us drive  
Off from his coast, as taking great offence:  
That we would seem to enter in his land,  
So suddenly with such a warlike band.   

When we nought else but peace & friendship meant,  
As glad to be relieved in our distress,  
Not having any kind of bad intent  
That should him move to seek us to oppress.  
Now than my Lord, sith he did so abuse  
Both me and mine, and seemed us to refuse   

A place of rest, from danger us to save,  
Against the laws of common courtesy,  
I humbly you beseech that we may have  
Your aid of men and money, both to try  
By force of arms if that we can requite  
The Trojan King for his so great despite.   

For truth to say, my mind and will is bend,  
To sail to Troy with all the speed I may.  
And to destroy the Land is mineintent,  
And cruelly Laomedon to slay:  
According to the vow that I did make,  
When I was forced the Trojan soil forsake!   

Is that it please your Grace to give consent  
To my request, and lend your helping hand,  
And doubt not ere that many months are spent,  
But maugre Troy, and Trojans, all we'll land  
With all our power of Grecian chivalry,  
And soon requite the Trojans cruelty.   

When Peleus did Prince jasons mind perceive,  
Without delay he said it should be so,  
Alluring him he did so well conceive  
Of his intent that he himself would go  
With him, and all his company to Troy,  
By force of arms that Country to destroy.   

Whereto his whole Nobility agreed,  
And none of them unto the King said nay,  
But promised their aid with present speed,  
Preparing for the same without delay:  
Of which their journey chief Solicitor  
Was Hercules the worthy Conqueror.   

Who in all hast his forces to prepare  
In readiness, to Sparta straightway went,  
(Which is an Isle from Thessaly not far,  
And subject to the Grecian government,  
Wherein as then two Princes great did reign,  
King Castor, and King Pollux, brethren twain.   

Whom Poets in their Histories do set,  
Brethren to be ●● Helena the fair,  
Whom jupiter on Led● did beget,  
Whose beauty was esteemed to be so ●are▪  
Which Helena (they write) conceived was  
In Tyn●●●●● an Isle, which as men pass   

Along the se●s, ●●●s by Sic●●●● Land,  
And that her name Tyn●●●●● of that Isle▪  
Was also caldy 〈◊〉 longer i'll not stand  
Their pedigree to tell, but speak a while  
Of Hercules, to show how he did crave  
The aid of those two Kings as then to have,   

To go with him unto the Town of Troy,  
With all the power they had, whereby he meant,  
The same by force and valour to destroy.  
To whose request they strait did give consent:  
And promised in readiness to lie,  
Till he to them the time should certify,   

When he would put to Sea. Wherewith content:  
He thanked them, and did no longer stay,  
But strait his course unto Messena bend,  
And there arrived about the break of day:  
And to the King called Telamonius did go,  
The cause of his repair to him to shoe.   

Whose coming when he knew, he was full glad  
To see him, and in brave and Princely wise  
Received him. To whom when as he had  
Such honour done, as he could well deuise●  
He promised to aid him with all speed,  
With money and with men what he should need,   

And personally himself with him to go.  
Which Hercules accepting in good part,  
Did take his leave (his Princely mind to shoe)  
And yielded thanks to him with all his heart.  
And entering Ship, returned to Thessaly  
To tell King Peleus, and to cer●●●●   

How he had sped. Beseeching him to write  
To all the Lords and Barons in his Land,  
And them command with all the hast they might▪  
In readiness to make a warlike band▪  
And to provide a counsel wi●e and grave,  
Which he that goes to war, he said must have▪   

For that the wit of him that's grown in age,  
Is more than strength without experience,  
But when as force is joined with counsel sage.  
It is a bulwark strong for our defence,  
And he that long a travailer hath been,  
And by experience many things hath seen,   

Is meet in peace and war to rule and guide.  
For unto age, experience great● and ●●●▪  
Belongs of right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉  
That strength and courage youth should best 〈◊〉:  
And when both youth and age with one consent▪  
To work and join together are content.   

In any cause of equity and right,  
Men need not fear with glistering sword & shield,  
(By help of God the giver of all might)  
Against their foes to 〈◊〉 in the field.  
For neither fame of Knighthood, not the glory,  
Not yet the conquest, nor the victory   

Of war, are got or won by multitude,  
But as experience saith of right belong  
To counsel, wisdom, and to fortitude,  
Therefore (said he) let us revenge our wrong  
With courage bold, sith that our cause is good,  
And for our honours spend our dearest blood,   

And that we may our valours bravely show,  
We will avoid the multitude of number,  
And of our warlike Knights choose but a few,  
Wherewith we shall our foes much more encumber,  
Then if we had an army huge and great,  
For many in a field each other let.   

This good advise King Peleus did allow,  
And whatsoever Hercules had said,  
T'effect the same did make a solemn vow.  
Then Hercules to have and get more aid,  
To Pilon went, wherein a Duke of fame  
As then did rule, that Nestor had to name.   

A Prince for wit and valour magnified,  
(Yet of a hasty, fierce, and angry mood)  
And in some sort to Hercules allied:  
Whose coming when he once had understood,  
He was contented for his Nephew's sake,  
The Trojan war with him to undertake.   

(So Hercules the day and time would set)  
And personally himself therein to be.  
Then Hercules no further time to let,  
With present speed returned to Thessaly,  
Whereas the Grecians Navy then did stay,  
Attending time from thence to sail away.   

Where after counsel ta'en they did agree,  
That Peleus should be general of the field,  
And that each Lord and Prince of high degree,  
While that their Trojan war did last should yield  
To his command, as Sovereign of them all,  
And so they stayed till wind did them befall.    

CHAP. VIII.  
¶ How jason, Hercules, and the Grecian Princes, assembled to make war against the Town of Troy, to revenge the discourtesy done to them by Laomedon King of Troy, when they sailed to Colchos.  

WHen as the temperate dews of Aperill,  
With many a sweet & comfortable shower,  
Into the ground full deeply do distil,  
To raise the grass and beauty of each flower:  
And Phoebus mounting the celestial sphere,  
In Aries doth place his beams most clear.   

And in the spring which yearly doth befall,  
When as the calends of the month of May,  
Do celebrate the Equinoctial,  
And make an equal length of night and day.  
And every branch and tree to spring are seen,  
And after vading hue show fresh and green.   

When Snow that on the mountain tops doth lie,  
By heat of Phoebus' beams dissolves away,  
And when a vapery balm ascends on high,  
Out from the pleasant flower at prime of day:  
And that the root by Winter cold kept in,  
Recovering sap to spring forth doth begin.   

And mount into each flower, herb, and tree,  
And by the force of Sols most burning heat,  
Infuseth in each branch humidity,  
Assisted by some showers of rain most sweet.  
When silver springs cast forth their currant stream  
Into the Rivers glistering 'gainst Son beams.   

And ere the Son new green had sent again,  
Unto each herb and grass upon the ground,  
When as the pleasant Nightingale t'explain  
Her joy within the shady woods is found,  
With sweet and amorous notes a loud to sing,  
And makes the heir with sound thereof to ring.   

To welcome in the fair and pleasant spring,  
Which doth delight all creatures that are  
Upon the earth, and comforts every thing,  
Which Winter hard o'erwhelmed with cold & care:  
And when the winds did lessen, calm, & suage  
The Seas, that by cold Winter's storms did rage.   

At that same time the Grecians did begin  
To enter Ship, and towards Troy to sail,  
Well rigged, man'd, & furnished with each thing,  
That for the wars might them as then avail,  
And when the weather served them to go,  
They put to Sea with brave and warlike shoe.   

And made such haste by aid Neptune them lent,  
That in few days they sailed unto the Town  
Of Troy, (whereto their course as then was bend)  
At evening when the Sun was almost down,  
And there cast anchor, thinking it the best,  
Within their Ships that night to take their rest.   

And when the Lark did in the morning sing,  
With pleasant notes to welcome Phoebus' bright,  
●o set their men on land they did begin,  
And marked their ground and raised their tents upright  
Before the Town of Troy ere they it wist:  
(For that they might as then do what they list.   

And set a watch mean time in every place  
To guard their Camp, until the Sun most bright  
Had in the morning show'd his glistering face,  
And on the tents had cast his crimson light:  
And then they all agreed with one consent,  
To make repair unto King Peleus' tent.   

And being there as then together met,  
King Peleus causing silence to be made,  
When every one in his degree was set)  
With courage bold unto them spoke, and said,  
Most worthy Grecian Princes high and low,  
Whose Knightly force the world throughout doth know,   

Reported is as far as shines the Sun  
In any place, it never yet was seen,  
That Grecians have an enterprise begun,  
Which by them hath not well effected been:  
And they victoriously with Laurel crowned,  
As in the ancient Histories is found.   

Then valiant Lords and Princes of renown,  
Think on the wrong that unto you was wrought,  
By this discourteous King Laomedon,  
When as no ●urt to him by you was thought:  
Which to requite sith now you do pretend,  
See that yourselves you valiantly defend.   

And let us now with all the speed we may,  
Prepare our battles in a readiness,  
And setting on them strait without delay,  
Show forth our valours and our worthiness:  
But let me first three things to you declare,  
Which at this time for us most needful are.   

One is, that by discretion and advise,  
Our battles we in such sort do ordain,  
That no disorder may amongst us rise,  
That by the same advantage none be ta'en  
Against us by our foes, to our disgrace,  
And we thereby constrained to leave the place.   

The second is, that we our valours show,  
And let no manner fear possess our heart,  
But stoutly let us 'gainst our enemies go,  
And see we play the valiant soldiers part▪  
Courageously in battle to endure,  
And to our foes eternal shame procure.   

The third and last is, that we strive to gain,  
The fame and name our Ancestors have held,  
And valiantly the victory obtain  
Against our foes, and drive them out the field:  
For if by Knighthood through our hardiness,  
We vanquish them and put them to distress,   

We win not only praise and high renown,  
(Which to a valiant mind is chiefest bliss)  
But if we once may enter in the Town,  
Of treasure great we surely cannot miss:  
Which in the same is now there to be found,  
For certain 'tis it doth therein abound.   

Which maugre all our foes we will convey  
Into our ships, and so with joyful cheer,  
When wind and weather serves without delay,  
The same with us into our Countries bear:  
Therefore in hope this treasure now to win,  
With courage bold t'assail them lets begin.   

Whereto most valiant Hercules replied,  
And did King Peleus' counsel much commend,  
And said 'tis truth, and cannot be denied,  
That of beginning wise proves happy end:  
But now to bring our purpose to effect,  
My counsel is that we do not neglect,   

(Before that it appeareth to be day)  
To muster all our men upon this plain,  
And being armed with all the speed we may,  
Our forces to divide in battles twain,  
Whereof the one King Peleus the grave,  
The other stout King Telamonius shall have.   

And I myself and jason secretly,  
With one third part of our approved bands,  
Will closely 'mongst the vines and bushes lie:  
For when as Laomedon understands,  
That we prepared are to give battle,  
To issue forth of Troy he will not fail.   

T'encounter us with all his power and might,  
Supposing 'gainst our forces for to prevail,  
And when with us he cometh down to fight,  
Duke Nestor with the first wing shall assail  
And set on him, and Castor next shall go,  
To aid them when occasion serves thereto.   

And with the third King Peleus still shall lie,  
To aid them both, and while he's occupied,  
And little doth suspect our policy,  
Ere we by him or his shall be espied,  
jason and I will closely wheeele about,  
And take the Town of Troy, I do not doubt.   

At unawares: whereof we cannot fail,  
If that we work with good advise and skill,  
And 'gainst our foes shall presently prevail  
With little loss, and soon obtain our will.  
This is the counsel I can give (saith he)  
And 'tis the best if you will credit me.   

Whereto they all agreed, and every one  
With speed did arm themselves, & all that night  
Did rest, till that the Sun in morning shone,  
And then with courage bold set forth to fight  
The battle with the Troyans' in such wise,  
As Hercules did them before advise.    

CHAP. IX.  
¶ Of the battle fought by Hercules and the Grecians, against Laomedon King of Troy, wherein Laomedon was slain, and the Town of Troy taken, sacked, and utterly razed to the ground.  

THe news to King Laomedon once sent,  
That all the Grecians power were come on land,  
And marched in great haste with full intent,  
T'assail and give him battle out of hand,  
And to subdue, and utterly destroy  
Himself, his Country, & the Town of Troy.   

He nothing fearing them nor all their might,  
Made no delay but presently went out,  
Accompanied with many a noble Knight,  
And all the power that he could make throughout  
The Land of Troy, and being entered,  
Into the field whereas he mustered   

His men, and them in sundry battles placed,  
(As he for that time thought convenient)  
Strait marched forth, and with his army past,  
In order 'gainst the Grecians: fully bend,  
With all his force courageously to fight,  
And drive them thence again if that he might.   

(Clean void of fear, nor yet in any doubt,  
That Hercules an ambush closely laid,  
And secretly with it had marched about  
Behind the Town, and purposely there stayed:  
T'assault it when Laomedon was gone  
With all his power, against the Greeks, and none   

Or very few left in't to keep the same.)  
And had not gone far forward but he spied,  
The Grecian host that bravely 'gainst him came,  
At t'head whereof Duke Nestor first did ride,  
And fiercely on the Trojans force, set.  
Where when on either side the battles met,   

And with their swords and spears together ran:  
Th'encounter at the first so hot was found,  
That 'twas the loss and end of many a man  
On either side, that gasping on the ground  
Among the trampling horses feet did lie,  
And there did end their days in misery.   

At which time all the field throughout did sound,  
With noise of drums and furious strokes that w●●●  
With swords and Lances given, and all the ground  
Did shake with horses feet, that fiercely bear  
Their masters on their backs, some deadly hurt,  
Some trailing them sore bleeding through the d●●   

In great distress: and then you might have seen  
The fair green fields died into crimson red,  
With streams of blood, the which that day had been  
Between the greeks and Troyans' fiercely shed.  
For many a valiant Knight then lost his life,  
And certainly in that same mortal strife,   

The Grecians had been all discomfited,  
They were that time pursued so furiously,  
If Castor with his Knights which he then led,  
Had not come in to help them speedily:  
And at that time so valiantly assailed  
The Trojans, and so much 'gainst them prevailed▪   

That many a worthy Trojan Knight was slain,  
And such was then the fight, that where before,  
The Troyans' victors were, the greeks again,  
Recovered ground and beat them back so sore  
That they were forced despite their hearts to 〈◊〉,  
If Laomedon had not speedily,   

Relieved them and furiously assailed,  
The greeks and made such way on every side,  
And in shortspace so much 'gainst them prevalid  
That they before him fled and durst not bide  
His strokes, that were so terrible and strong:  
For who soe'er he hit was laid along,   

Upon the ground: and riding to and fro,  
He made away before him like a lane,  
And 'mongst the thickest of the press did go,  
And never left until that he had slain,  
So many greeks that by his valiantness  
He put them once again to such distress,   

That they to shun his sword away did fly,  
And likely had at that time lost the field,  
If Peleus had not come and valiantly,  
With trenchant blade which in his hand he held,  
Assailed, wounded, and unhorsed, and killed  
The Trojans so, that all the plain was filled   

With them that he alone had overcome.  
And in such furious wise road too and fro  
From place to place, that glad to make him room,  
The Trojans 'gan t'recoile and durst not show  
Themselves to him, nor come within his sight▪  
And at that time he showed such passing might,   

That cleving shields, heads, arms, & legs in sunder,  
He made such havoc 'mongst the Trojan bands,  
That to behold him every man did wonder,  
And glad was he that could escape his hands,  
He put them to so great extremity.  
But when King Laomedon saw them fly   

Before King Peleus' sword, it did him grieve,  
And riding back amongst his troops did pray  
Them turn again and he would them relieve,  
And they content at his request did stay:  
And where before they had begun to fly,  
He made the Greeks recoil so furiously,   

That in despite of all their power and force,  
The Trojans had the upperhand and slew  
Great store of greeks, and many did unhorsed,  
And made them fight on foot, till Nestor knew,  
Laomedon that fought so valiantly,  
To be the King of Troy, and presently   

Road towards him, and when the King did see  
Him come so fast, he turned his horse about,  
And spurred it in such haste so might lie,  
That every prick he gave the blood gushed out  
The horses sides, and when with him he met,  
His puissant Lance into his breast he set,   

And ran at him with such a mighty force,  
That with the blow his Lance in pieces broke,  
Yet hurt him not, nor moved him off his horse,  
Wherewith Duke Nestor stepped a little back,  
And to requite Laomedon therefore,  
Did with his Lance which in his hand he bore,   

Give him through shield & breast a mighty wound,  
Supposing that therewith he had him slain,  
Because as then he fell upon the ground,  
But he no whit abashed rose up again:  
And drew his sword, and like a valiant Knight,  
Advanst himself against his foe to fight.   

Yet raging fore that he so dangerously  
Must fight do 〈◊〉, and in such sort did stay,  
Till that a young and 〈◊〉 Knightpast by  
Caldoro Cedar, (newly knighted that same day)  
Who seeing King Laomedon to fight  
On foot in danger great, with all his might   

At Nestorian ●an, and valiantly by force,  
While he with King Laomedon did fight  
Upon a sudden 〈◊〉 him off his horse,  
But he rose up again with great despite:  
And did himself in furious wise defend  
Against the King, that many a blow did spend   

On him, and he the like on him again,  
For on each other cruelly they smote,  
And long twixt them the fight did so remain,  
Till that the King at last advantage got:  
And such a blow on Nestor's Beaver stroke,  
That there with all in pieces small he broke   

A circle all with Pearl richly set,  
Which he that time about his Helmet ware,  
And then a second blow at him he set,  
And with the same his crest in sunder care,  
And smote it off, whereby Duke Nestor stood  
Before the King his face all bathed with blood.   

And surely had (no doubt) been slain as then,  
By th'ands of King Laomedon at last,  
Had not the greeks with many thousand men,  
Come thither to relieve him in great haste:  
For he was stricken down unto the ground,  
Among the horses feet where they him found.   

At which their coming Castor furiously,  
A mighty Lance into his hand did take,  
And unto Cedar road courageously,  
To be revenged on him for Nestor's sake:  
But ere he could get to him in the way,  
Segnerides a Trojan Knight did stay   

His course, and of his purpose did him let,  
And with a Lance smote Castor such a stroke,  
(Which with a great career he did set)  
That it there with in many pieces broke:  
And Castor to requite him for his pain,  
Did with his Lance give him the like against.   

But in such sort that with the same he gave  
Him in the breast a deep and deadly wound,  
Wherewith young Cedar 'gan such grief to ha●●;  
When as he saw him fall unto the ground:  
That in despite of all that him behe●●,  
He did by force from Castor take his ●●rie●d.   

And with hissword a mighty blow him strake  
Upon the face, and vounded him full deep,  
And then his horse from him likewise did take,  
And to his Squire delivered it to keep:  
Whereby as then he was in such a case,  
That he was taken prisoner in that place.   

The which when Pollux did perceive and knew,  
The Trojans had his Brother Castor ta'en,  
He did them with a valiant pursue,  
And after he great store of them had slain,  
Despite of them, he resoued him by force,  
And made him mount again upon his horse.   

And in that angry, fierce, and raging ire,  
Upon the Trojans furiously did set,  
(For with revenge his heart did burn like fire)  
And as with furious mood by chance he met,  
The brave and valiant Knight Eliatus,  
(Of stature mean, yet stour and valorous.   

And yet as then but of a tender age,  
Nephew unto the King Laomedon,  
And Son unto the King of great Carthage)  
With all his force he hath him overthrown;  
And with his Lance in pieces twain did cleave  
His heart, and so did him of life bereave.   

Whose fall when King Laomedon did spy,  
With inward grief his heart began to bleed,  
And when his death he could not remedy,  
He swore he would revenge that cruel deed:  
And strait he caused a horn full loud to sound,  
Which being heard, there did enclose him round   

Seven thousand Trojan Knights in rich array,  
All making solemn vows revenged to be  
For that Knight's death, and strait without delay  
Upon the greeks with extreme cruelty  
Most furiously did set, and made them fly,  
And caused many dead and wounded lie   

Within the field, so that the Greeks at last,  
Not able to resist the Trojans might,  
Were forced to retire from thence as fast,  
As at the first they hasty were to fight:  
And certainly the victory had lost.  
But that there came a messenger in post   

Unto the King with sad and woeful cheer,  
The news to tell, how that the greeks by force  
Had won the town of Troy, and entered were,  
And young and old had slain without remorse:  
Whereat he 'gan most piteously to weep,  
And from his heart did fetch a sigh most deep.   

For that as then before him he did see  
The Grecians strong and ready to assail  
Him once again with all extremity,  
And in the town (his courage more to quail)  
Another host to set on him behind,  
Which made him so perplexed in his mind,   

And put him to so great extremity,  
To think upon his hard and sudden chance,  
That feign he would have ●ound the means to fly,  
But as aside his eyes he chanced to glance,  
From out the town the Grecians he be held  
Come marching 'gainst him proudly in the field   

And in great haste the Giant Hercules,  
Like raging Tiger wild and furious,  
Entering amongst the thick'st of all the press,  
With courage bold and heart most valorous:  
Of new began the Trojans to assail,  
And with his sword to hew both plate & male.   

His blows they were so terrible and strong,  
That nothing could withstand his passing might,  
Whereby he laid full many a Knight along  
Dead on the ground (for Troyans with the fight,  
Which they against the greeks all day had held,  
So wearied were, that scarcely they could wield   

Their weapons to defend themselves withal)  
For as he road amongst them here and there,  
You might behold here ten there twenty fall  
down at his feet, that soon they forced were  
To break their ranks, and every man to fly  
To save themself from his great cruelty.   

And so dispersed, for fear they shunned the place,  
Abandoning their King unfortunate,  
Who being left in that distressed case,  
Could not withstand his hard and cruel fate:  
For when as he with fierce and furious look  
Laomedon espied, his Lance he took:   

And setting spurs unto his horse in haste,  
He ran at him as hard as ere he might,  
And with a blow unto the ground him cast:  
Which done, with speed down from his horse he light▪  
And with one stroke smote of his head in haste,  
Which scornfully unto the ground he cast,   

Among the horses feet in cruel wise.  
Then in a rage he took his horse again,  
And staring with most fierce and fiery eyes,  
Like Lion fell he ran upon the plain,  
And killed all that met him in the way,  
And brought full many Trojans to decay.   

That like to sheep amazed and in fear,  
(As destitute of governor or guide)  
Not able his great cruelty to bear,  
Did run to save their lives on every side:  
The Grecians likewise in great multitude,  
In every place so fiercely them pursued,   

That scarce a man alive of them remained,  
But all were slain or else did slip aside  
To save themselves. Thus victory obtained,  
The Grecians strait unto the town did ride:  
Which presently they razed to the ground,  
And al● the treasure which therein they found,   

They took and bareed into their ships in haste,  
despoiling Temples with great violence,  
And to the ground their Pagan Gods did cast,  
(For no man durst against them make defence)  
And merciless (great pity to behold)  
With bloody swords they killed both young & old.   

The tender child that mother's breast did suck,  
Escaped not their extreme cruelty,  
For from the mother's arms they did them pluck,  
And violently caused them to die:  
Their maiden's fair they did reserve for prize,  
And with them did their beastly lusts suffice,   

Regarding neither beauty, birth, nor name.  
And when the houses all destroyed were,  
They razed the walls, and quite defaced the same,  
And Laomedon's only daughter dear,  
Fair Action, whose beauty did excel,  
To go with them by force they did compel;   

Who by them all was given to Telamonius,  
For his reward, (by Hercules his consent)  
Because that he first entered in the town,  
Wherewith he seemed to be as well conten●●  
As if that all the treasure they had got  
Within the town had fallen to his lot.   

And yet he did himself therein abuse,  
For being home returned from victory,  
To take her for his wife he did refuse,  
But with her as his concubine did lie:  
Regarding neither state nor high degree,  
Nor her descent from Princely majesty.   

For if he had her ta'en to be his spouse,  
He could not have disparaged his estate,  
Considering that she was of Princely house,  
And royal blood, although unfortunate  
Upon his word and courtesy t'relie,  
That kept her but his lust to satisfy.   

But Telamonius therein thou wast to blame,  
To do a Princess fair so great despite,  
And make her to the world anopen shame,  
When as thou shouldst have show'd thyself her knight  
And rather in defence of her to die,  
Then that she should have suffered villainy.   

For through thy bad and foolish government,  
So hot a spark of envy did arise  
In Trojans hearts (which to revenge were bend)  
That nothing could to quench the same suffice,  
For envy old once rooted in the heart,  
Doth sieldome, or else never thence depart.   

And if it burn within and flames not out,  
Nor maketh show of fume nor smoke at all,  
The greater cause men have thereof to doubt,  
And where it lights 'twill have the greater fall.  
Which you within this History may see  
At large in every point set down to be.   

When that the town was burnt & laid full low,  
And all the walls unto the ground was cast,  
And nothing thereof left to make a show,  
But it was spoiled and utterly defaced:  
The Grecians did no longer time delay,  
Unto their ships their treasure to convey.   

But being richly laden with great store  
Of silver, gold, and costly jewels rare,  
(That not the meanest man of them was poor)  
When wind did serve and weather waxed fair,  
They 〈◊〉 ●iles return again to make  
To Thessa●●● and with them then did take   

Fair ●●on, and many a proper maid,  
And sa●●ing forth with prosperous wind and good,  
It was not long (through gentle Neptune's aid)  
But they 〈◊〉 with glad and merry mood  
At their d●●sired port, where on the sand,  
Great multitudes of people than did stand   

To welcome them, with glad and joyful cheer,  
Rejoicing at their victory obtained,  
With loss of so few men as did appear:  
And cause they had such store of treasure gained,  
Their Country to enrich for evermore,  
They gave great thanks unto their Gods therefore.   

Thus happily with triumph and renown,  
They being home returned did live in peace,  
And throughout every City, land, and town,  
Their honour and their fame did still increase:  
So that the compass of the world throughout,  
Each Nation to offend them stood in doubt:   

And feared them. For certain 'tis they had  
A multitude of men within their land  
And wealth & treasure great, the which they made  
(When s'ever they took any thing in hand)  
As common to them all, whereby they were  
A terror to all Nations far and near.   

Till fortune chanced to whirl her wheel about,  
And turned their peace into such bloody war,  
As after in few years it did fall out,  
When they and Troyans once again did jar:  
Which at this time I mean not to declare,  
Desiring that herein you will mespare:   

And give me leave to rest a little while,  
For herewith I do mean to end this Book,  
And at another time direct my stile,  
To perfect that which first I undertook:  
Which in the next t'accomplish I intend,  
If life and leisure God to me will lend.   

Mean time if that by rudeness I offend,  
The gentle readers pardon I will crave,  
With promise any fault I make t'amend,  
If that the least instruction I may have:  
And so in hope your favours you'll extend  
To me herein: my first Book thus shall end.    
FINIS.   

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR.  
THE SECOND BOOK.  

The Preface. CHAP. I.  

THe envious vain which fortune flattering,  
Doth use in this uncertain state of life,  
Where all things fickle are and wavering,  
Addicted is so much to war and strife:  
That whatsoever course a man doth run,  
The sparks thereof by no means he can shun.   

For she is still so false and mutable,  
That he which on her wheel doth highest clime,  
And thinketh his estate secure and stable,  
(At some uncertain hour, day, or time,  
When least he doth suspect a change of state,)  
She casts him down, and makes unfortunate.   

And with a smooth and double flattering face,  
Makes show of love when least she is to trust,  
That well were he that had the power and grace,  
To see and find her frauds and wiles unjust:  
And all her engines and her snares well knew,  
Which daily do increase and still renew.   

The which in truth full well affirm I can,  
So many and so divers are of kind,  
That hitherto not any mortal man  
Could ever them avoid, that I can find:  
For though unequal balance she doth bear,  
With counterfeit & false dissembling cheer,   

And look most smooth & full of flattery,  
She can man soon beguile and clean bereave  
Of all his bliss in twinkling of an eye,  
Her nature is so ready to deceive:  
And when she changeth high to low estate,  
With fleering look she stands & laughs thereat.   

And yet oft times she seemeth to be true,  
For unto some a while she's favourable,  
And then when as she list to change her hue,  
To othersome she is deceivable.  
Such skill she hath in transmutation,  
That one she'll raise, & other throweth down.   

To some she gives renown and victory,  
And doth exalt their honour and their fame.  
And some she causeth most deceitfully,  
(Though undeserved) t'incur perpetual shame.  
To othersome she's gentle and bening,  
And gives them luck in all and every thing.   

On some she frowns, and hath them in disdain,  
And by her power imbaseth them full low.  
And for to show that earthly hope is vain,  
She can the state of Prince's overthrow:  
And make them stoop for all their great renown,  
And high and mighty Emperors cast down,   

From off the mount of high felicity,  
(To make them feel her rancour and disdain,)  
Into the vale of great adversity.  
The rich she maketh poor, and then again  
Of poor makes rich, and as it is her kind,  
Sets one before, another casts behind.   

Some one she maketh run, another halt,  
The third she plungeth in extremity,  
The fourth she doth to honour great exalt,  
So that in her there's no security.  
In some man's mouth sweet Nectar she disti●th▪  
Another's throat with bitter ga●● she fil'th.   

And thus this wilful Lady as we find,  
Within her power great store of potions hath,  
And every one of strange and several kind.  
For she to some with false and feigned faith  
Gives pleasant wine, but when the sweet is past,  
(As 'tis her use) she giveth them a taste   

Of Aloes, and of bitter wormwood drink,  
And corfives which do fret and pierce most deep  
Into men's hearts, when as they little think  
That fortune them beguiles and lulls a sleep.  
And thus if in this Queen of Variance  
(Whose joy doth ever end with some mischance.)   

Men put their trust, let them besure at last,  
Of what estate so ever that they be,  
she'll overthrow them with some sudden blast,  
And clean bereave of all felicity.  
As by example of Laomedon,  
We may perceive brought to confusion   

For little cause, or truth to say, for nought,  
Wherefore let every man by him take heed,  
A quarrel to begin where none is sought,  
Lest that like him destruction be their meed.  
For little fire with ashes covered,  
When men suppose it quenched and wholly dead,   

May chance break out, and on a sudden burn,  
And when as men the same do seek to cease,  
Full often in their faces it doth turn,  
But he that meddleth least, lives most at ease:  
Therefore let Kings and Princes every one,  
A mirror make of King Laomedon.   

And see they use no kind of violence,  
Nor suffer any one to offer wrong  
To strangers, when they give them none offence:  
For though their power & force be great & strong  
Within their land, when least they think on it,  
(As he was served) they may their rigour quit,   

And yield the like to them in other place,  
When as perchance (unto their overthrow)  
They shall of them receive but little grace.  
Wherefore I wish when as they hear or know,  
That strangers in their Countries are arrived,  
Let them with love and honour be received.   

And wisely think and hold it to be true,  
That to a stranger courtesy to show,  
Unto a noble mind belongs of due;  
For sure it is, as every man doth know,  
That nothing doth their honours more augment,  
Then when their only care and will is bend   

For to relieve, to cherish, and to comfort,  
With all the love and honour that they may,  
Such strangers as unto their Courts resort,  
That they of them may well report and say:  
The contrary whereof much strife hath wrought,  
As in this present History is taught.   

The town of Troy that first was built, thus spoiled,  
The people slain, and many forced to fly▪  
The remnant with great woe and sorrow toiled,  
Int'exile led, live in captivity:  
And Action, as you have heard me tell,  
Went into Greece with Telamonius to dwell.   

For whom there rose such bloody war & strife,  
And so great vengeance ta'en for it in th'end  
On either side, that thousands lost their life:  
Which to declare I purposely intent,  
If you vouchsafe it patiently to hear,  
And for your good the same in mind will bear.   

So hard and fatal is our destiny,  
That no estate can permanently stand,  
For every man ordained is to die,  
And alterations chance in every Land:  
And through the world where ever that we be,  
We hear of nought but war and treachery.   

Which serves to put us in remembrance,  
That many wars & battles great are fought,  
And many woes and miseries do chance,  
And moved are for little cause or nought:  
And divers things for matters small, or none,  
At first begun, breed much confusion.   

Each one doth seek another to destroy,  
And bloody minds are greatly to be feared,  
Man careth not his brother to annoy,  
And all because we take no better heed:  
But envy reigns so much in every age,  
That nought but blood & death can it asswsge.   

By it, although the causes were but small,  
If truth were known, on th'ancient town of Troy,  
Both old and new such miseries did fall,  
That at the last it did them both destroy:  
Where during their so long & bloody strife,  
Full many a valiant Knight did lose his life.   

And Kings and Princes died by dint of sword,  
Which to recount my hand doth shake for fear,  
Lest that my barren wit should not afford,  
Fit terms & phrases the truth for to declare,  
Unto my most renowned and sovereign Liege,  
Of all that past in that long ten years siege.   

Which if that he with patience please to hear,  
And not disdain my rude and simple verse,  
And in his sacred wisdom with it bear,  
While I this woeful History rehearse:  
(Whereof no doubt I have, sith that of grace,  
Sweet mercy in his heart he doth embrace▪   

And that he is a Prince of Majesty,  
Whose virtues are so excellent and rare,  
That to addict his mind to piety  
It is his only study and his care.)  
With his support I will here undertake,  
A true discourse unto you now to make.   

What did befall unto the town of Troy,  
(That newly was erected once again,)  
When Greeks did it the second time destroy,  
As Guydo doth the same at large explain.  
And if my verse for want of skill seem lame,  
Let me entreat you to correct the same.   

But blame me not, sith that the fault's not mine,  
For as you know the English tongue is harsh,  
And wanteth words to make up perfect rhyme,  
Where it in many places is too scarce.  
And truth to say, my wit will not aspire  
To follow Guydoes' phrase as I desire.   

Who in his Latin verse doth so exceed  
In Rhetoric, that my translation  
Requires a far more fine and subtle head,  
To follow him in like construction.  
Verbatim as a learned Grammarian,  
Or as a skilful Rhetorician,   

I only take upon me to declare  
The History according to the sense,  
And truth thereof, which is my chiefest care,  
Lest I thereby to some might breed offence.  
And truth of verse I likewise set aside,  
As wanting one therein to be my guide.   

And to correct and mend them that are wrong.  
My only seeking is truth to declare,  
Regarding neither verses short nor long,  
For curiousness therein I do not care.  
Pretending not in any thing to vary,  
Nor yet my Author Guido to contrary.   

Nor from him disagree in truth of sense,  
But to conclude our meanings all in one  
And to agree therein, for Eloquence  
Or Rhetoric, I you assure there's none  
In me, your heads with phrases fine to fill,  
Nor yet have I in painting any skill.   

With colours fresh and gay to please the ere,  
I nought can use, but sad and mournful black,  
And therewithal myself will satisfy,  
Which in good part I you beseech to take.  
And so in hope your favours I shall win,  
I will proceed the story to begin.   

WHen as the noble King Laomedon  
Was slain in field by cruel Hereules,  
When as the greeks did first destroy the town,  
He had a son and heir as Guido sa●es,  
Called Priamus, a Prince of courage stout,  
Whose fortune was at that time to be out   

With Hecuba his wife, and did assault  
A Castle strong, wherein a Lord did lie,  
Which at that time did stubbornly revolt,  
And long before had warred cruelly  
Against the town of Troy with force and might,  
(Yet subject was unto the same by right.)   

Where Priam and his sons in camp did lie,  
Accompanied with many a worthy Knight,  
(Their power and force against their foes to try,)  
And it besieged round both day and night.  
With vow the same by fierce assault to win,  
And to destroy them all that were within.   

(For he as then was strong and valorous,  
Young, lusty, and of fierce and haughty heart,  
And therewithal so stout and venturous,  
That fear of death could never make him start.)  
And to be first that in the field did enter  
Against his foes, his life therein to venture.   

Whereby hewan great honour and renown,  
And for his time was held a worthy Knight.  
Till Fortune from her wheel did cast him down;  
And in his fall did show her power and might:  
To change and alter things as she thinks good,  
Respecting neither poor nor Princely blood.   

This Priamus by Hecuba his wife  
Eight goodly, fair, and Princely children had,  
(Which all were slain and died in the strife  
And bloody war that Gretions 'gainst him made:  
Whereof there were five sons, & daughters three,  
Which I will name each one in his degree.   

The first and eldest Hector had to name,  
Whose worthiness as far abroad doth fly;  
(And is extolled by Trump of Lady Fame.)  
As Phoebus doth r●n compass rout the sky  
In one days space, for authors certify,  
And say, be was th●●oo● of chivalry.   

Of Knighthood true the only Sovereign,  
And Mirror bright and clear of Nobleness,  
And did therein unto such height attain,  
That no man can sufficiently express  
The great and valiant acts he did archiue,  
Surpassing all that ever yet did live:   

And therewithal he was most virtuous,  
Discreet, and wise, and friendly to each one.  
Of whom the deeds and prowess marvellous,  
Reported are, and have been long agone  
By many ancient Authors fore our days,  
That write of him to his eternal praise.   

The second Son by birth and Dignity  
Was Paris called, who did exceed so far  
In person, beauty, shape, dexterity,  
And was esteemed therein, to be so rare,  
That in his time as far as I can hear,  
Upon the earth there never lived his peer.   

Who likewise was a stout and worthy Knight,  
And in a bow had such delight and skill,  
(Wherewith he used commonly to fight,)  
That where he aimed, he would be sure to kill.  
None ever did surpass him in the same,  
And Alexander was his other name.   

Deiphobus was the third Son by degree,  
A Knight of worthy same and great renown,  
Strong, hardy, and of courage frank and free,  
Exceeding wise, and of great discretion,  
A counsellor in peace and war most grave,  
And in the field a Champion bold and brave.   

The fourth of them was Hele●●● by name,  
Who only gave his minds unto his book,  
And was so much addicted to the same,  
That pleasure in no other thing he took.  
Whereby so wise and learned he became,  
That all men did admire him for the same.   

The Fist Son was a hardy valiant Knight,  
Although the last and youngest of them all,  
And pvissantly against his ●oes did fight,  
Whom Troy●l●s the history doth call:  
And for his valiant heart and courage brave,  
The name of second Hector men him gave.   

So many valiant acts by him were done,  
While that the Grecian war continued,  
Whereby so much renown therein he won,  
That after Hector's death he was so feared,  
And did the greeks so cruelly assail,  
That nought against the Town they could prevail.   

Yet Virgil in his Book of Trojan war,  
(By him called his En●idos) saith thus,  
That Hecuba unto King Priam's bare  
Two younger Sons, the one Polidorus,  
Whom (when the Grecians first did take in ha●d  
Their bloody war, and entered in his land   

As then but young) he strait did send away  
Unto a King that was his trusty friend,  
With store of treasure great, with him to stay  
Till he might see what jssue and what end  
The war would have, as then but new begun  
Between the greeks and him, before the town.   

But he in whom he did repose his trust,  
When as he understood King Priam's state,  
(Desirous of the gold which makes men thirst)  
Did cause the Trojan Prince unfortunate,  
To be bereaved of life most cruelly,  
And buried in a place full secretly,   

Hard by the Sea, so deep within the ground,  
That no man could his treason great espy,  
Nor never afterward his body found.  
And so the Proverb old did verify,  
(Who so on gold doth set his only care,  
To win the same no mischief he will spare.)   

The second of those two called Ganymede,  
Upon a time did hunt for his disport,  
And straying in a wood by fortune led,  
God jupiter (as Virgil doth report,)  
Up to the skies did suddenly him take,  
And there for ever Butler did him make.   

The eldest of King Priam's daughters three,  
Cerusa named, the story doth declare,  
Was married to a Lord of high degree,  
Aeneas called, a man of beauty rare:  
(Whose Father was a Duke of noble fame,  
And Virgil saith, Anchises had to name,   

And on the Goddess Venus him begot.)  
For this Aeneas honour and his fame,  
Virgil compild a Book wherein he wrote  
His travels all at large, and doth the same  
From his departure out of Troy begin,  
And shows how he all Italy did win.   

(Long after that the great and famous Town  
Of Troy destroyed, and clean defaced was)  
And what great conquests were archieued and d●n  
By him, as he along the Seas did pass.  
And how that first at Carthage he did stay,  
Ere that he further forth went on his way,   

Whereas Queen Dido pierced with Cupid's dart,  
Of him became so much enamoured,  
That for because from thence he did depart,  
For love of him herself she murdered.  
All which and more in Virgil you may see  
In Latin verse, at large declared to be.   

King Priam's second daughter had to name  
Cassandra, as the ancient stories says,  
Who by her wit attained so lofty fame,  
That she was holden for a Prophets:  
Her skill in Arts of all kinds was so much,  
That like to her there near was any such.   

For future things she could declare and show,  
And what was done within the world so round,  
Before it came to pass she did it know,  
Her learning was so deep and so profound.  
Her manner was religiously to live,  
And only to the same her mind did give.   

The third and youngest daughter Policene,  
For shape and beauty past her sisters twain,  
Who lived all her days a Virgin clean,  
Till she by Pyrrhus' cruelty was slain  
In presence of her Mother, to fulfil  
And satisfy his fierce and bloody will.   

And Priamus as you likewise may read  
Had thirty valiant bastard children,  
All sons which did so much in arms exceed,  
That in their times they proved valiant men.  
Whose names to show as now i'll overpass,  
Till that occasion serves in other place.   

WHile Priam so the castle did enclose  
To win the same by force, & daily sought  
All means he could to overcome his foes:  
The woeful news unto him there was brought,  
How that the greeks the town of Troy had won,  
And killed his father King Laomedon.   

The walls and houses thereof clean cast down,  
The people all slain with great cruelty,  
And left nought standing upright in the town,  
But all on ground did flat and even lie.  
And Action made to Thelamon a prey,  
Who had her captive led with him away.   

He was in mind so much astonished,  
And sudden woe his senses so did strain,  
That for a while he seemed as one were dead,  
And inwardly did feel such mortal pain;  
That he did think his heart within his breast  
Would cleave in twain, so much he was oppressed   

With sorrow, grief, perplexity, and woe,  
And therewithal the tears did fast distil  
Out from his eyes, down to the earth so low;  
That sure if that he might have had his will,  
He rather would have chosen there to die,  
Then to have felt so great extremity.   

(Wherewith he did on fortune much exclaim;  
That she to him was so deceivable,  
To work him such disgrace and open shame,  
And show'd herself to be so mutable,  
With most despiteful, stern, and cruel face,  
As one clean void of mercy, and of grace.   

For she of envious heart and spiteful thought,  
In cruel wise did show her fell intent,  
And all at once her malice on him wrought,  
As unto his destruction fully bend.  
(So wavering and unconstant is her mind.  
Wherein her greatest pleasure she doth find.)   

For which forthwith he made no more delay,  
But with a heavy heart, and face full pale,  
He did put off his fair and rich array,  
And never ceased his fortune to bewail  
With mournful cheer, still casting down his head,  
And in that sort a doleful life he led.   

appareling himself in mournful black,  
And minding there no longer to abide,  
In all the hast he could the ●iedge up broke,  
And presently to Troy ward forth did ride  
With all his host, who likewise were full sad,  
And for his loss and theirs, great sorrow made.   

And when the town so much defaced he found,  
And that the walls that were so huge and strong,  
So plain and even beaten were to ground,  
And nothing stood, but all was laid along.  
The towers that reached almost up to the sky,  
And builded were so fair and sumptuously,   

Clean overthrown with great confusedness,  
His people slain, and Sister led away,  
And all made waste like to a wilderness,  
For grief, and woe, he wist not what to say:  
Such and so great was his extremity,  
But at that time he coulded not remedy.   

Which made him most extremely sob and weep▪  
For nothing could his sorrow great assuage,  
And from his breast to fetch great sighs and deep▪  
And in that woeful plight and furious rage,  
His men and he a mournful life did lead,  
And in the same three days continued.   

Till at the last when clouds of sorrow back  
Began to clear, and storms of woe to cease,  
And that their mourning somewhat seemed to slack  
And caused them in their minds to find some ease.  
For when the floood of war is gone and passed,  
An ebb of joy doth follow it in haste,   

Still to lament and mourn doth not amend,  
But more impair, and though we use to wail  
And weep for friends, our sorrow once must end,  
For after death tears will then nought avail.)  
King Priamus abandoning all care,  
Devising how he might the town repair.   

Determined in that great extremity,  
To show himself a Prince of courage brave,  
And making virtue of necessity,  
Courageously his credit then to save.  
(When as his sorrows great orepassed were,)  
And that the air began somewhat to clear,   

And void the mists of his adversity,  
And that the prime of woe and heaviness,  
Night past and gone, was forced away to fly,  
By sonne-shine of some new found joyfulness.  
For that the friend of woe and misery  
Is joy, when men have past extremity.   

When he had grieved in mind a little space,  
And long endured sorrow, woe, and smart,  
(And that his care did somewhat overpass)  
He roused himself, and plucking up his heart,  
More joyful to his soldiers did appear,  
And so hegan to work as you shall hear.    

CHAP. II.  
¶ How King Priam Son to Laomedon butl● the Cutie of Troy again, much stronger, greater, and fairer than ever it was before.  

KIng Priam's sorrow great, and grief o'erpast,  
As unto you before I did declare.)  
He purposed upon the ground made waste,  
Where as the ancient monuments first were:  
To build a town much stronger than it was,  
Which to effect he did no time let pass.   

But strait sent forth into each Country,  
For certain men or wit ingenious,  
And skilful work: men in Geometry,  
That could invent works fine and curious:  
As Masons, Cervers, Carpenters, and all  
That skilful were in Arts mecannicall.   

(And wheresoe'er he could once know or hear  
Of any expert workmen of that kind,  
He would not spare to send both far and near,  
Nor never ceased until he did them find.)  
For such as could devise a stately wall,  
With battlements, and ravelings great & small.   

For men that were of fine and subtle head,  
The Marble stone to polish with the grain,  
And Alabaster white, and Purphier read,  
To hew, and cut and make them smooth and plain,  
For gravers of all kind of Images,  
And such as Art of painting did profess,   

And cunning were their works to beautify  
With colours fresh, that long time would endure.  
And that could make an Image with an eye,  
As if it were a lively creature.  
And sergeant in metal, wood, and stone,  
As curious work as ere Pignalion   

Devised, or as Histories do tell  
Apollo could invent, for he did frame  
Darius' Tomb, the which did so excel  
For workmanship, that none ere past the same.  
Which th'emperor commanded him to raise,  
That men thereby his worthy fame might praise.   

He sent likewise for joiners that had skill  
In Cedar, Cypress, and in Walnut-tree,  
To work and with embossed flowers to fill  
The crests that round about the walls should be.  
And whosoe'er in building was erpert,  
And praise deserved therein by desert,   

Or had the name in workmanship ●excell,  
The King would his direction therein have,  
How far or wide soever he did dwell,  
Or what soever wages he would crave.  
No cost he spared in any kind of thing,  
That he his work unto effect might bring.   

Intending such a sumptuous Town to frame,  
That it should pass all others whatsoe'er,  
And in most spacious wise to build the same,  
For wideness, breadth, & length, that it should bear.  
And with so high, so thick, and strong a wall,  
That when soever war should him befall,   

The enemy by no means might it take.  
And to begin he made them dig the ground,  
(Whereas the walls should stand that he would make  
To compass and enclose the City round.)  
Within the self same ruined place, whereas  
The ancient town of Troy first builded was.   

Enlarging them much more than first they were,  
By many miles, for that the town new made  
He purposed should greater compass bear,  
Than th'ancient Town in circuit ever had.  
And in so wholesome air the same did place,  
That it unto all men delightful was.   

The compass of the walls so shaped out,  
The workmen did begin to build the same,  
Which being raised and set up round about,  
They marked the streets, and did the houses frame  
Of great and goodly stones, both square & rosid  
The like whereof was no where to be found.   

In all the world, (for buiding passing fair,)  
If that the same throughout you should have sought.  
The workmanship so curious was and rare,  
That for to beautified it wanted nought.  
I am too simple witted to define,  
And tell how they did work by rule and line.   

Or to describe the same in every part,  
But well I dare affirm and witness bear,  
It was so framed by cunning and by Art,  
That of the like I near did read nor hear.  
And that it might have great prosperity,  
High honour, fame, and much felicity.   

As soon as it was made he did it name  
As it before was called the town of Troy,  
And solenly did dedicate the same  
To Neptune, with great triumph, feats, and joy,  
(On whom the Troyans' chiefly did depend,  
And therefore hope't he would the same defend   

The length which in the walls it did include,  
Right forth was three days journey and no less,  
As much likewise in had in Latitude,  
Which both compared the compass do express,  
And show to be just nine days fully out,  
Ere that a man could travel in about.   

The like to it was never mentioned  
Nor spoken off in any History,  
Before or after to be edified,  
Wherein so great a length and breadth did lie.  
Nor yet so fair and beautiful to see  
As Guido doth report the same to be.   

The walls in height three hundred Cubits were,  
Embattled and bull warked for fight:  
And in their thickness such proportion bare,  
That Cannon sho●●● 〈◊〉 them had no might.  
And all the walls and houses in the town  
Were Marble mi●● with Alabaster stone.   

Which made it show so fair and delectable,  
That since this earthly globe did first begin,  
No City unto 〈◊〉 comparable,  
That ever mortal man did enter in.  
And at the end of every wall was placed  
A Crown of gold, with precious stones enchased▪   

And round about the walls were towers set  
Most beautifully and fair of Marble clear,  
And Alabaster fine, and shining jet,  
Which 'gainst the sun so glistering did appear,  
That as by them men longest the walls passed under,  
It struck into their minds no little wonder.   

To enter in the town the story says,  
Six beautiful and goodly gates there were,  
Whereof the first was called Dardamides,  
The second did the name of 〈◊〉 bear.  
The third of them was called Helias,  
The forth it had the name of Cethe●●,   

The fifth Trojan, the sixth of them and last  
Antinorides called. And on each side  
At th'entering in of every gate was placed  
Two towers of stone, that were both spuare & wide  
Before the which great Images did ●●and  
Like Giants fell, with Pole-axes in hand.   

And seemed as if the entry they would let,  
To every one that through the gates did pass.  
And on each terret likewise there was set,  
The shapes of Tigers, Lions, Bears, and Ass,  
Boars, Bulls, and Hearts, (with great and spacious  
Fierce Dragos, Elophants, & Unicorns, (horns)   

All made of Copper, Latin, and of Brass  
So finely and so cunningly contrived,  
That to behold them pleasure great it was,  
For that they show'd as if that they had lived▪  
And seemed to threaten, grin at, and menace,  
Such as did stand to look them in the face.   

About the town for safeguard and refuge,  
Were many Bulwarks placed assaults to bear.  
And at each gate Portcullises most huge  
Of Iron strong, in warlike wise there were.  
And for more strength the gates of brass composed  
The which within with massy bars were closed.   

And crossed with stakes, deep pi●cht into the ground,  
And chained up for safety and defence,  
So that no way there was, 〈◊〉 be found  
To enter in the 〈◊〉 by violence.  
The gates once shut, ●ot it by strength to take,  
Or forcibly ●battery to make.   

The houses in the ●owne were finely placed  
In even streets, not scattered here and there,  
Not one of them in height the other past,  
But all alike, just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
Most cunningly devisd and framed each one  
Of Marble, and of costly Burpheir stone.   

To tell you of the curious Masonry,  
Of graven kno●●, and Antic works most brave,  
Devisd to please the fine and curious eye,  
I know myself too little wit to have:  
And though I would them name in english verse,  
Yet would it be too long time to rehearse.   

They are so many, strange, and rare to tell,  
For that between the stones and mortar were,  
(So much they did in su●ptuousnesse excel.)  
Thin plates of Copper gilded thrust in most fair,  
To make them join by level and by line, (shine.  
Which 'mongst the Marble stones most clear did   

Against the Sun, when as his Orient light  
With radiant beams did from the crystal sky  
Smite on the gold, and made it glister bright,  
And give a show most beautiful to th'eye.  
The streets likewise were set so large and wide,  
With just and equal distance on each side,   

(By workmen worthy praise for rare devise,)  
That no infectious air once them annoyed▪  
Within the town, nor any mists did rise,  
But presently again did soon avoid.  
Because there was so great and wide a space  
Within the streets, the same away to chase   

By wind, whose blasts most sweet and comfortable,  
Did yield so pleasant air within the town,  
Which to the Troyans' was so delectable,  
As in the streets they passed up and down:  
That unto them it was a great comfort,  
When as they walks abroad to play and sport.   

And through the town in every street was made  
Long galleries, that stood on pillars strong  
Of Marble stone, (which such dovises had  
Of Pinnacles, and arches wide and long,  
That they most fair and beautiful did show,)  
Devised ●rie ●●e head for men to go.   

When as it chanced to rain, ●●d hail, or snow,  
As also under them to sit and walk,  
When storms of wind in bolshous wise did b●●▪  
And therein to confer, consult▪ and talk,  
As merchants use in towns for common we●e,  
To meet about their merchandise to deal.   

The houses covered were clean over head,  
(As being flat above that men might go  
Thereon,) with planks, and over that with lead,  
With spouts full●ong the water forth to throw  
Into the streets, from whence it passed away  
Through grates, which did the same from thence conway   

The streets were smoothly paved in chequer wise,  
With polished stories of colourred and white.  
And any Trade whatsoe'er man could devise,  
King Priam used and sought all means he might  
To bring't into the town, where men did see  
Each several Art in several streets to be.   

That so they might for more commodity,  
And better means to sell and vent their ware,  
Work by themselves at their one liberty,  
As goldsmith rich that se●lles the jewels rare.  
Th'embroiderer, and weavers of each kind.  
The Mercers in whose costly shops men find   

Rich cloth of Gold, of Arras, tapistry,  
Of sendal, and of Taffeta most fair,  
And every other stuff which usually  
The weavers make, and commonly men were.  
Smith's also, that could make and forge full well  
Darts, Daggers, swords, & spears of perfect steel   

Pole-axes, bills, and knives most sharply ground,  
And arrow heads, with other weapons more  
That in the fields are used, were therein found.  
Of Bowyers, and of fletchers eke great store.  
And such as make coat armours fair and brave,  
And ensigns which in field men use to have.   

And every other kind of furniture  
For marshal men, which commonly we see  
Worn in the war, and daily put in ure.  
And every other Art that named may be  
Was in that town most plentifully found,  
So much it did in every thing abound.   

And through the town a River swift and clear  
Did pass along, dividing it in twain,  
Which on each side great store of Milles did bear  
In time of need to grind each kind of grain:  
The name whereof was Xa●tas as I find,  
Which did abound with fish of every kind.   

Which River was so cunningly conveyed,  
That in the arches built upon the same,  
Great store of pipes of lead were closely laid,  
Whereby into the houses water came,  
And served many Conduits in the town,  
And scoured the filth away as it ran down   

In channels which did run clean under ground,  
Whereby they were washed and scoured clean:  
That neither filth nor dirt was to be found,  
Nor in the town could any way be seen▪  
And was conveyed thence so secretly,  
That no man could the passage thereof spy:   

Whereby you might have gone throughout the street,  
And neither dirt, nor dunghill once have seen,  
Which made the Town so pleasant and so sweet,  
Because that it was kept so fair and clean,  
That it was void of all corruption,  
Pestiferous air and fowl jnfection.   

Which often by their force and violence  
Do breed continual fowl and noisome smells,  
And are the only cause of pestilence.  
A River like to this (as Virgil tells)  
Within the town of Room devised was,  
Called Tiber, which through the midst thereof doth pass.   

To people this so great and famous town,  
The Trojans being but in number small:  
King Priam sent to each place up and down,  
In countries far and near, to move and call  
All men to come and to jnhabite there,  
Respecting not from whence they came, or were▪   

And made them free to traffic and to deal  
Within the Town, as native Countrymen.  
By that means to enrich the commonweal  
Of his new Town. Which being done, and when  
It did begin with people to increase,  
And that they lived in pleasure, wealth, & peace;   

King Priam moved with gseat affection  
Which unto Mars the God of war he had,  
Determined of pure devotion,  
In honour of his name, there should be made  
A yearly justs, where valiantly on horse  
Each Knight should show his power, strength, & force.   

Within the town, to win renown and fame,  
And to that end a place he did ordain  
All railed about, of purpose for the same,  
Which half a mile in circuit did contain.  
To wrestle in, and at the Barrier's fight,  
With plays in the Isle of Greet of ancient right.   

Were long since found, and only dedicated  
To Mars their God, for they did then believe  
By doing so he would preserve their state,  
And in their need would aid them and relieve,  
The like did noble Priamus' fur●ise,  
And to that end-those triumphs did devise.   

Men said within this town was first found out  
The game of Chests, so subtle and so wise,  
Which who so plays (believe it without doubt,)  
Must drive out of his head all fantasies:  
It is so full of shifts, and subtlety,  
And more and more a man may still devise.   

Whereby if men should study all their days,  
To learn the skill of this so curious game;  
He never could remember half the plays,  
That are and may be used in the same.  
It doth consist of such diversity,  
Of wards found out by skill and subtlety.   

Of Troyans' as mine Author testifies.  
Which his supposed mere opinion,  
jacobus de Vitriaco denies,  
And in his Book for truth makes mention  
How that a grave Philosopher and wise,  
Called Philometer, first did it devise.   

In Caldea with policy he wrought  
To stay a tyrant's fierce and furious mind.  
And though from thence it into Greece was brought.  
They say likewise the Troyans' first did find  
The plays of dice and tables daily used,  
Which since that time had been so much abused.   

For that in them there is so great deceit  
By false and cozening dice, and wrangling play,  
Which many use the simple sort to cheat▪  
That much debate ariseth night and day,  
'mongst ihose that daily excercise do make  
Of play and game, and pleasure therein take▪   

For if the dice do favour men a while,  
And give them leave to win by happy chance:  
An other time again they ●them beguile,  
Which makes the players fall at variance.  
For that when as they think to mend their state,  
By play at dice they prove unfortunate.   

And many that are plunged in distress,  
And by their play made needy poor and bare,  
By play sometime attain to great riches,  
And some man's joy procures an others care,  
And by a chance at hazard or passage,  
Ones glad and laughs, an other he doth rage.   

For if one win, another doth contrary,  
Like as the bones are thrown out of the hand  
An Hundred times a day, theyare seen to vary  
And no man can his chance at them withstand.  
Wherefore I wish each man such play to shun,  
Lest that he lose, and so may be undone.   

In Troy likewise they used comedies,  
In theatres for pleasures and delight:  
And many strange and stately Tragedies,  
Which usually were played both day and night.  
The difference whereof that you may know,  
I will in brief the same unto you show.   

A Comedy doth many times begin  
With actions, that dislike at first do cause,  
But at the last as men proceed therein,  
They end in joy, with gladness, and applause:  
And only speaks of men of mean degree,  
And such as fallen are in poverty.   

A Tragedy contrarily doth treat  
Of matters which do prosperously proceed,  
And shows the lives and hearts of persons great,  
As Princes which in honour do exceed,  
But ends with sorrow, grief, and misery,  
That happeneth unto them before they die.   

And also tells how fortune doth beguile  
Full nany Kings, and Emperors of fame,  
Whose acts she seems to favour for a while,  
But at the last she brings them unto shame,  
And turns their glory into misery,  
To make of them a woeful Tragedy.   

The manner how their Tragedies they played  
Was in this sort, whereas they did devise,  
(Within a Theatre, as first I said,)  
To set an Altar made half circle wise,  
Which on the top a lofty pulpit bare,  
Wherein there stood a Poet to declare   

With Eloquent and Rethorition phrase,  
The noble deeds of Kings and Princes great,  
And eke the fame of Conquerors to raise,  
Which in their lives by valour they did get.  
And how that they with laurel crowned were  
For their deserts, as stories witness bear.   

Aned lived in honour great, tell Parchas fell  
Did end their lives, by stroke of Atropos.  
And afer that in mournful wise did tell,  
How piteously each one the same did lose,  
And were by Fortune brought unto their end,  
'Gainst whom it is but folly to contend.   

And how the fine of all their worthiness,  
Their honour, fame, and magnanimity,  
Was only sorrow, and great heaviness:  
Procured by treason false, or subtlety,  
By murder, poison, or by enmity,  
Wrath, or despite, or some extremity.   

And how their flood of joy was not so high,  
But that at last it had an ebb as low.  
And how that Fortune by her subtlety  
To show her spite, had wrought their overthrow.  
All this with face full pale the Poet said.  
And while that he within the pulpit stayed,   

Their jssued forth out of another place,  
Men purposely disguised and clad, which played  
With ghastly and with pale and deadly face,  
By signs, all whatsoe'er the Poet said.  
Twixt whom no difference was in any thing,  
For What the Poet spoke, or loud did sing,   

They on the ground the same did represent,  
And show'd by outward gestures what had happed  
To Princes in their lives, and how they spent  
Their days on earth, till fortune them entrapped.  
And suddenly o'erwhelming their estate,  
Did end their lives by death unfortunate.   

These sports they used commonly to play  
When Birds for joy in woods and bushes sing,  
In pleasant months of April and of May,  
To see the tree and flower begin to spring.  
Thus have you heard how Tragedies began,  
And in what place they first were played, & when.   

Now will I show how Priam did proceed,  
(When as the Town of Troy erected was)  
To build a stately Palace with all speed,  
Which did the rest of all his works surpass.  
And high upon a rock did place the same  
In midst of Troy, and Ilium did it name.   

The form whereof was round as any ball,  
Well walled about with Marble fair and clear:  
And other costly stones mixed therewithal,  
And did in height six hundred paces bear,  
With Towers high and great, that whose would  
Mount up the same, might round about behold   

The Country far and near, as it did lie,  
And all the walls within, and eke without  
Embossed with knots and flowers most curiously,  
And richly guilt, and painted throughout.  
Whereon when as the Sun shines clear & bright,  
The gold did cast a most exceeding light.   

And in the midst of this his Palace fair,  
A sumptuous great and stately hall there stood,  
(Which did in length & breadth like distance bear)  
All framed of Cedar tree and Heban wood,  
(Which Heban tree they say is only found  
In Ethiopia, and the India ground.   

Which colour hath as black as any jet,  
And being cut, and wrought, doth wax so hard,  
That it will not consume with any wet.)  
The pavement under foot was marble squared,  
Both white and grey, which chequor wise did lie,  
And made it show most beautiful to th'eye.   

Within this hall was placed a royal throne,  
Which was King Priam's seat Majestical,  
All made of jasper and of Purphire stone,  
Most richly guilt to beautifieed withal.  
At foot whereof a sumptuous table stood,  
Half Ivory, and half of Heban wood,   

And on each side thereof were divers chairs,  
Wherein King Priam's counsellors did sit,  
There to consult about his chief affairs,  
As often times they used were to meet.  
Two dainty Tables framed of Heban tree,  
Stood longest the walls with boards of ivory.   

And opposite against the regal chair,  
At th'other end an Altar made of brass,  
enchased, gilt, and graven passing fair,  
There stood, whereon an Image great there was  
Of massy gold which Priam placed there,  
In honour of his God called jupiter.   

This Image fifteen Cubits high was made,  
Besides the weight, that equal substance bare,  
And on the head a Crown of gold it hath,  
Wherein were placed great store of jewels rare,  
As Rubies red, and sapphire Crystalline,  
With many orient pearls round and fine.   

And 'mongst the rest a Carbuncle most bright  
And passing clear was set in midst of all,  
Which at all times did cast so great a light,  
That night and day, that great and spacious hall,  
Did show as bright, as if that son, or moon  
Within the same continually had shown.   

Which rich and stately Image was so well  
And cunningly composed in every part,  
That from the head to foot it did excel  
●n skilful work, devisd by curious Art.  
Who therein did not once seem to deny,  
His aid and help the same to beautify.   

And framed thus, it was to represent  
Great jupiter one of the Planets seven,  
(The which as Poets feignedly invent,  
The Pagans thought to be a God in heaven.)  
Which Priam held to be of power so great,  
That he in him his whole a●●iance set.   

To him he prayed in his necessity,  
And had in him so firm affection,  
That only to his feigned Deity,  
He did addict his whole devotion.  
Supposing by his virtue, power and might,  
To be preserved from harms both day & night.   

And only unto him he did commend  
The care of his estate and dignity,  
Believing that he would him still defend  
In all distress, and with prosperity  
Uphold his throne by his protection,  
Such was his fond and vain opinion.   

This Image and this Palace Ilyon,  
Thus being made, and fully finished,  
And every thing brought to perfection,  
Which Priam had forecast and purposed  
Full many years in his new town of Troy:  
He reigned in peace, in honour, and in joy.   

And long might have possessed this happy state,  
If fortune had not changed her smiling cheer,  
(As all things subject are to cursed ●ate)  
And brought him to decay, as you shall hear  
By sequel of the story, where is shown  
how he and his in ●ine were overthrown.    

CHAP. III.  
¶ How King Priam sent Antenor into Greece, to have his Sister Action restored home again.  

OH cursed fiend which lurkest in the breast  
Of man, inflamed with thy most furious fire:  
And never sufferest him to live in rest,  
Till that thou hast jncenced him with ire  
To take revenge for wrong, wherein thou joyest,  
Not caring though all other thou annoy'st.   

Thou seed of strife and root of all offence,  
Why causest thou old sores again to smart  
With rancour, and through fowl jmpatience,  
When thou once creepst into an envious hart,  
Provoking it no time nor hour to cease  
From hateful thoughts, nor seeking any peace?   

What needest thou thy malice to unfold,  
The ashes of discord again to sift,  
And causing a new debate to rise of old,  
And half forgotten envy? But thy drift  
Is only to procure the woe and fine,  
Of those that to thy nature do incline.   

Why hast thou waked King Priam from his rest,  
And with thy poison fowl incensed his brain,  
That he in mind and heart should so detest  
A quiet life, and through persuasions vain,  
Procured him to seek revenge in haste,  
Upon the greeks for harms so long forepast?   

For where as he in peace did rule and reign  
With honour great, and no man him annoyed;  
The Serpent Envy entering in his brain,  
By no means would from thence again avoid:  
But with such deep impression there did rest,  
And did so much inflame his furious breast   

With his inveterate malice new revived,  
That by no means he could the same forget:  
Whereby for ever after while he lived,  
He brought on him and his such trouble great,  
That wheretofore h'enioyed a happy life,  
His bliss was turned to bloody war and strife.   

For Priam in his riches glorying,  
(Wherein as then he took no small delight,)  
Imagining his state so flourishing,  
His Town of so great puissance and might,  
His warlike Knights so many and so strong,  
That no man could, no● durst him offer wrong.   

Was so possessed with Envy, and with Pride,  
That hap what would he had in heart forecast,  
To take no rest until that he had tried,  
How he might be revenged for wrongs forepast.  
Which to effect with full intent and mind,  
He did a time and fit occasion find   

To summon all his Lords and Knights each one  
To make repair, (all scuses set aside)  
Upon a day perfixt at Ilium.  
Which his command not any one denied,  
But there with speed did presently appear,  
Where all his sons likewise assembled were,   

But Hector. Who from Troy as then was gone  
Into the Province of Panomie,  
Which Priam held in his subjection,  
A new rebellion there to pacify.  
The which not long before was raised among  
The Country people there for certain wrong.   

But Hector well advised and patient,  
Loath to revenge, where mercy might take place,  
With courtesy so wan them to content,  
That he appeased them, and offering grace  
And pardon unto all that did repent,  
Each one with satisfaction home he sent.   

Such was the great and noble princely mind  
Of that most brave renowned and valiant Knight,  
Always unto his subjects just and kind,  
And rather did in mercy more delight,  
Then use the force and rigour of the law,  
When as in them no great offence he saw.   

Mean while the King that held an open court,  
With entertainment great and Princely cheer  
Did welcome all that thither did resort,  
Which being done, and they assembled were  
In open hall, he did with courage bold  
And words most grave, his mind began t'unfold   

And said, my Lords assembled here as now,  
Whose loyalty I have no cause to doubt,  
I am assured not any one of you  
But well doth know what unto us fell out,  
When as the Grecians causeless did invade  
Our Town, and what a spoil thereof they made.   

And how with extreme barbarous cruelty,  
They murdered our Subjects every one:  
The memory whereof cannot but lie  
As fresh within your thoughts, as it were done  
But th'other day, for't may not out your mind,  
If to your Country you be kind.   

For sure in my opinion I suppose,  
Nought can you move unto forgetfulness  
Of harms forepast, by your most deadly foes,  
Nor can you be without great heaviness  
To think thereon, for I must plainly tell,  
Out of my heart I can it not expel.   

For yet me thinks I see it with mine eye,  
So fresh it is and yet doth still remain  
within my breast, and ever there shall lie.  
(The which) I hope you likewise do retain,  
To think how they have slain our Ancestors  
(If while they lived were valiant warriors.)   

Our City burnt, and brought unto decay,  
And left it wast like to a wilderness,  
And borne and taken forcibly away,  
All that they found, our goods, and our riches.  
And slain my Father King Laomedon,  
Without all cause or just occasion.   

Amends whereof we lawfully may crave,  
And both with reason, and with conscience,  
Which all the Gods, I trust will let us have,  
Sith that by us was offered none offence.  
But 'mongst all their so extreme cruelty,  
One thing there is which chiefly grieveth me,   

When as I call to mind their villainy  
In offering such wrong to Action,  
With whom, as with his concubine doth lie  
The proud and haughty Grecian Telamonius,  
Abusing her with great dishonesty,  
Not caring for her state nor high degree.   

Nor if she was the daughter of a King,  
Which unto me can be no little scorn.  
But they as seems, respect not any thing,  
judge then if she that is so highly borne  
Be used so, with what extremity  
Poor wives and maids, of them abused shall be,   

With others of your friends and your allies,  
Within their hands as captives then did fall,  
Assure yourselves what wrongs they can devise  
To do to them, to vex you therewithal,  
They will not spate to use them in their lust,  
For in the greeks there is no truth nor trust.   

For neither beauty, age, ne high estate  
Do they respect, but all like slaves do live,  
So that in heart I cannot choose but hate  
Their cursed race, and you likewise must grieve  
As well as I, for you as well as me  
It doth concern. Therefore revenged to be   

Should be your care, and bend your only thought  
To find the means your wrongs for to redress,  
For long ere now the same we should have sought,  
And have relieved our friends from their distress.  
Let us therefore join all with one consent,  
And in our hearts jmprint a firm jntent   

Of all their malice, rapes, and cruelty,  
To be revenged, for if that we unite  
Our minds in one, it cannot choose but be  
A doubling of our strength, and we shall fight  
With courage bold, for vengeance doth belong,  
As reason is, to him that offereth worng.   

And though till now we have deferred it,  
Yet doubt I not but we a time shall find,  
To yield to them such measure as they meet,  
And use both them and their in self same kind.  
And all the Gods I hope will us assist  
In our just cause, and the in wrong resist.   

You know our Town is strong, and walled about  
With high and mighty Towers for the war,  
The like whereof in all the world throughout,  
Is not to find that with it may compare.  
So that we may be well assured therein,  
That th'enemy by force shall never win.   

Of men and valiant Knights we have no want,  
For all you know what number we can make:  
Our store of victuals also is not scant,  
And whensoever we shall undertake  
To enter war we need not be afraid,  
But we shall likewise find some foreign aid   

To help us to revenge our open wrong.  
Wherefore I think that now the time is fit,  
(Sith that we know ourselves to be so strong)  
To ●et on them, and not still jdle sit,  
For valour bids us make no more delay  
To be revenged, hap what so ever may.   

The Proverb saith, delay may danger breed,  
For by delay men often times are crossed,  
And to take time when time doth fall with speed,  
I never heard by it that men have lost.  
And sith we nothing want, why should we pau●●  
And stay revenge in our so just a cause?   

But lest we might too hasty be esteemed,  
And wilful thought to run so carelessly  
Unto the war, which always hath been deemed  
A doubtful thing. We will not doggedly  
Bite ere we bark, but first to Greece we'll send,  
To know if that they will our wrongs amend.   

Which if they seem unto us to refuse,  
And obstinately will deny the same,  
Then may we justly force and power use,  
And no man for it can, nor may us blame.  
But first we will, with courtesy assay,  
To see if we can win them by that way.   

But if that they refuse with gentleness  
To hrare us speak, when as we are content  
To ask amends, with peace and quietness,  
I hope in th'end they shall the same repent:  
For better 'tis by peace to have redress,  
Then seek for war with unadvisedness.   

Therefore let us with patience yet endure  
Our wrongs; and our great injuries sustain  
In humble wise, until we may procure,  
That they to us an answer send again▪  
For though it be my whole and full desire,  
And that our just occasion doth require,   

In furious sort of them to take vengeance,  
I will as 'twere in mere forgetfulness,  
Put all their wrongs out of remembrance,  
And clean expel all grief and heaviness  
Out of my heart, and of them ask no more,  
But that they will again to me restore   

My Sister that unto me is so dear.  
There by to stint all bloody war and strife,  
And for the rest we shall with patience bear,  
And never call't in question during life.  
Which to fulfil ● purposely am bend,  
If you thereto will give your full consent.   

Speak then my Lords, are you content to stay  
Till that they answer make to our request,  
Say all with one consent, your yea or nay,  
And what for us to do you think is best.  
For I do mean Antenor strait shall go  
Unto the Greeks, our mind herein to show.   

Of whose discretion, courage, and advise,  
You need not once to doubt, for I have known,  
And found him by experience to be wise,  
When he of other messages hath gone.  
And therefore I of him my choice do make,  
And think him fit that charge to undertake.   

The King thus having spoken as you hear,  
The Lords and all the Nobles did agree,  
That Lord Antenor should the message bear  
From them unto the Greeks, and strait should be  
Dispatched, and with instructions sent away,  
With charge he should no longer time delay,   

But wind and weather serving strait set sail,  
Who having his instruction, and at large  
Informed therein, as careful not to fail  
In any point that should concern his charge:  
Did presently take ship for Thessaly,  
Where being landed with his company,   

He went to seek the King called Peleus,  
Who at that time the story saith, remained  
Within a City named Monosius,  
Of whom he was at first well entertained.  
But when that he the cause did partly know  
Wherefore he came, he willed him to show   

Th'effect of his Embassage and his charge,  
And with a frowning look and visage fell,  
Sat still till that Antenor did at large  
With courage bold the same unto him cell,  
With words most grave, and such as fitting were  
For time and place, & spoke as you shall hear.   

Priam the most renowned King of Troy,  
My Sovereign Lord, his Princely Majesty  
Wishing to your grace prosperity and joy,  
In friendly wise saluteth you by me.  
A messenger expressly by him sent,  
To show to you his will and his intent.   

If you vouchsafe to give me audience,  
Wherein if that in aught I shall offend,  
I you beseech to here't with patience,  
And let the law of arms my guilt defend.  
For as you know Ambassadors are free,  
To tell their message what soe'er it be.   

Your Grace I think doth yet remember well,  
What wrongs of late by you and yours were done,  
In Trojan Land when ye with hearts most fell  
And cruel minds the same did overcome,  
And how without cause or occasion,  
You brought them all unto destruction,   

The City burnt, and utterly thrown down,  
Their riches by you ta'en and borne away,  
How that the noble King Laomedon  
As then was slain, and would your rage not stay,  
But in your fury, Children, Wives, and men,  
Were all destroyed, and murdered as then.   

Some Maids except, which to fulfil your lust  
You led with you into captivity.  
Which injuries so great and most unjust,  
(Deserving name of barbarous cruelty)  
You may suppose cannot forgotten be,  
And yet 'mongst all this great indignity,   

One thing there is, which doth King Priam grieve  
More than the rest, which is that Action  
His sister Captive here in Greece doth live,  
And held a Concubine by Telamonius  
Dishonestly, not like a noble Knight,  
Whose care should be with all his power & might   

To save and keep poor Ladies in distress:  
But regarding nought her high degree,  
By no means will this open wrong redress,  
But he still persisteth in his villainy.  
Which his so great and fowl an oversight  
(Most noble King) belongs to you of right   

To look into; and with a Princely care,  
Seek to restrain as much as in you lies,  
Such foul misdeeds, and as a friend you are  
To Telamonius, see how you may devise  
T'amend and to redress the injury,  
Wherein consisteth true Nobility.   

This thing hath caused King Priam now to move  
Your Grace with this embassage by me brought,  
For to entreat in friendship and in love,  
That by your mediation may be wrought  
The means, that Action may delivered be,  
Out of her thraldom and captivity.   

Which recompense so small he doth request,  
For all the wrongs that unto him were done  
By you and yours, so much he doth detest  
To live in war and strife, which for to shun  
He is content all quarrels to surcease,  
Desiring only her return with peace.   

Which his request so lawful, if you will  
Procure King Telamonius to grant with speed,  
He you assures his promise to fulfil,  
Or else he must by force of arms proceed:  
Which by this means he doth desire to stay,  
And this my Lord is all I have to say.   

When Peleus had Anthenors' message heard,  
His heart was so possessed with wrath and ire,  
That on him with a furious look he stared,  
With eyes enfiamed as red as any fire:  
And with despiteful and incensed heart,  
Upon his feet did suddenly up start.   

disdainfully rejecting the request  
By Priam made, and setting him at nought,  
Said, that both him and his he did detest,  
Even from his very soul and inward thought:  
Commanding Lord Antenor not to stay,  
But presently to get him thence away,   

On peril that thereafter might befall▪  
Which he in haste did presently obey,  
And unto him his company did call,  
With whom he made no longer time of stay:  
But thence did sail directly to a ●owne  
Salerne named, which longed to Telamonius.   

Whereas the King and all his Lords then were,  
And to the Court Anthe●or strait did high,  
Where when he did before the King appear,  
At first he entertained him courteously:  
And without seeming once to take offence,  
With present speed did grant him audience   

For Exions sake, who then stood by his side,  
For otherwise in heart he sore abhorred  
All Trojans, and by no means could abide  
To see or hear of them, nor yet afford  
A friendly thought of them, such was his rage  
'Gainst them conceau●d, that nothing coulded assuage.   

This near the less, he was content to hear  
Antenor speak, and patiently to stay,  
Till that he had with words that see mely were,  
Declared what as then he had to say:  
Who having to the King his reverence made,  
With courage bold unto him spoke, and said,   

Most noble Prince sith that it pleases your Grace,  
To hear the message which as now I bring  
With patience, and t'afford me time and space,  
For to declare the same, and every thing  
That's given me in charge, I will not stay,  
But tell it you as briefly as I may.   

Know then great King (without offence be't done)  
That Priam King of Troy my sovereign Lord,  
Desirous strife and bloody war to shun,  
entreateth you in friendly wise t'afford  
This favour unto him, to be content,  
And thereto give your full and free consent:   

That Action may her liberty obtain,  
And be delivered from Captivity,  
Whom you do hold as I must tell you plain,  
In slavish wise not like to her degree,  
And to her great dishonour and her shame.  
For which, although he may you justly blame,   

Yet he content all wrongs to pacify,  
And peace and love with you and yours to hold,  
Desireth that you will him not deny  
This his request, and that vouchsafe you would,  
For to restore her unto him with speed,  
Which doing you shall act a Princely deed.   

And save your honour now imblemished,  
By wronging her whom you so much abuse,  
Wherein you have so long time been misled,  
That truth to say, you can it not excuse:  
Yet he's content to lay this wrong aside,  
And many more, so that you will provide   

To send her unto Troy without delay,  
And this is all the sum and full effect,  
Of that I had in charge to you to say,  
The which if that you seem now to reject:  
It will old hate and enmity revive,  
Speak now my Lord what answer you will give.   

When Telamonius had heard Antenor speak,  
And knew King Priam's will and his desire,  
He did into such extreme choler break,  
That both his eyes did shine like flaming fire,  
And in his face was not a drop of blood,  
So that with cheeks most pale and angry mood   

He looked aside, and turning up the white  
Of both his eyes, with most disdainful smile,  
Gnashed all his teeth, and seemed his tongue to bite,  
And after having pawsed a little while,  
With furious voice showed forth the mortal hate,  
That burnt within his heart most obstinate.   

Saying, my friend what ever that thou be,  
I muse in heart what strange and sudden thing  
Hath moved Priam thus to send to me,  
And that thou darest so proud a message bring:  
I think thee but a fool or else stark mad,  
That of thyself so little care hast had,   

To put thy life in danger for his sake,  
With whom I never had nor have to deal,  
Nor he with me, and this account do make  
Never will have, and so thou mayst him tell:  
And as we have acquaintance very small,  
He may be well assured, I neither shall,   

Nor will do any thing at his request,  
For that it wholly is against my mind  
With him to deal, and let that be his rest,  
Which by experience plainly he shall find,  
If so he list to try if that he may,  
Fetch her by force of arms from me away.   

This well I wot that but a while ago,  
I crossed the seas with many Grecians more,  
And sailed to Troy, and if that thou wilt know  
The cause? it was, for that not long before,  
Laomedon had us a trespass done,  
And for the same the Town by force we won,   

And slew the King, and all that with him held,  
Not cowardly, as you perchance suppose,  
But Knightly meeting him in open field.  
And for I entered first upon our foes  
Into the Town, by full consent of all  
The Grecian Lords, unto my share did fall   

This fair and Princely Lady Action,  
Of whom I presently was there possessed,  
And since that time have held her for mine own,  
And everwill, let Priam do his best  
To fetch her hence, and therefore 'tis in vain  
For thee to send for her, I tell thee plain.   

For be assured, and trust me if thou wilt,  
Thou getst her not from me if that I may,  
And rather shall my dearest blood be spilled,  
And many thousands more, before that day  
Shall ere be seen that I will her forsake,  
Though all the world her quarrel undertake.   

Thinkst thou I will so easily let her go,  
Whom for to win much of my blood was lost,  
And for her did receive so many a blow,  
No sure, for that full dear she hath me cost:  
And in good faith i'll let her if I can,  
From going from me to another man.   

So dear her person and her seemly grace,  
Her beauty, bounty, and her comeliness,  
Her fair and passing amiable face,  
And all her Princely gifts I must confess  
Are printed in the closet of my heart,  
That while I live from thence they shall not part.   

Let Priam therefore do the uttermost  
That he can do, he shall but lose his pain,  
For never did a thing so dearly cost,  
As she shall do ere he have her again:  
For nought can her redeem but sword & spear,  
And deep and ghastly wounds that mortal are.   

For there shall sure be raised such a strife  
And deadly war ere she restored be,  
That it will cost full many a man his life.  
This is the answer that thou getst of me,  
And bid thy Master when he list begin,  
But I suppose he will but little win.   

And for thyself, as first to thee I told,  
I think thee mad, and more presumptuous  
Than thou shouldst be, that darest be so bold  
To bring this message so audacious,  
The noble Grecians therewith to offend.  
But let him thee no more unto me send   

On peril of thy life, that may betide  
To thee for thy reward, and now get hence  
With speed I thee command, for if thou bide  
Here longer in my sight to breed offence,  
Thou know'st the price (who ever sayeth nay)  
Therefore be gone, and see thou make no stay.   

Antenor hearing this, without delay  
Strait entered ship, and put to Sea in haste,  
And sailed to an Island named Achay,  
Where when that he on shore had anchor cast,  
He heard that both the Kings as then abode  
Within the Isle, and presently he road   

Unto their Court, which was not very far,  
And there he found them both, to whom with speed  
He showed the cause that made him to repair  
To them as then, and so 'gan to proceed  
With words most grave and courage bold & stout,  
To tell his mind without all fear or doubt.   

And said, my Lords, whose power here extends  
For to command, may't please your Graces both  
To know, that Priam King of Troy me sends  
To you in Princely wise (as being loath  
To give offence) your aid and help to have,  
T'obtain a suit that he would gladly crave   

Of Telamonius, who 'gainst all equity  
Doth hold his Sister Princess Action  
As Concubine, with great indignity,  
Whose liberty and restitution  
To him again, is only his desire,  
Which to effect he humbly doth require   

You would vouchsafe your aid therein t'afford,  
Not doubting but as y'are discreet and wise,  
That by your mediation and good word,  
King Telamonius will follow your advise:  
And Action shall to him restored be,  
Out of her long and hard captivity.   

Which his request he prays you not deny,  
As you are Kings, for valour, high renowned,  
Discreet, and wise, and of great majesty.  
And he shall think himself to you much bound,  
And all his former wrong he will suspend,  
For that to live in peace he doth intend.   

As he that is right prudent and discreet,  
Forecasting what may after come to pass,  
And seeth what perils and what dangers great  
Do follow war, which never is nor was  
Without confusion, misery and woe,  
As Histories unto us plainly shoe:   

Which to eschew he thinketh it the best  
And wisest way, for every man t'avoid  
The hateful path of strife, and it detest,  
For by it many a Country is destroyed:  
Which by this means he is in hope to shun,  
And that hath made him do as he hath done:   

In peace to crave your aid, that Action  
May be with speed sent home to him again.  
And though you may suppose that cause there's none,  
Why he should you request to take this pain  
In his behalf, let this be his excuse,  
That Princes ought to punish all abuse.   

And by all means should seek the same to stay,  
He in like case desires your Princely aid,  
And hopes you will it not to him denay,  
And he will think himself full well paid:  
This is the sum of his petition,  
Which he refers to your discretion.   

When both the Kings, Castor, and Polux had  
Attentively heard what Antenor spoke;  
King Castor suddenly like one half mad,  
Into such choler and impatience broke,  
That by no means he could his fury stay,  
But in most wrathful wise to him did say:   

I know not friend why thou of us shouldst crave,  
To have amends for trespass by us done  
Unto the King, to whom we never gave▪  
Cause of offence. But when Laomedon  
First offering wrong to us, we did invade,  
And of his Town a noble conquest made.   

Wherein we did but right and equity:  
For had not he first offered offence  
To us and ours with great indignity,  
We near had sought for any recompense,  
Nor he nor his been brought unto their ends.  
For which if that thy Master ask amends   

At our hands, tell him 'tis all too late,  
For we with him desire no unity,  
Peace nor accord, but rather mortal hate,  
Dissension, strife, and utter enmity:  
Which he may chance hereafter for to feel,  
If that he dare presume with us to deal.   

For we so little do his friendship prize,  
That what he saith or doth I do not care,  
Therefore if that he'll follow our advise,  
Let him prepare to enter into war,  
And it may chance to breed his own decay,  
And so from us thou mayst unto him say.   

And for thyself it seemeth unto me,  
Thy Lord and Master Priam loves thee not,  
That sent thee messenger to us to be,  
And thou thyself hast foolishly oreshot,  
To take on thee so perilous a thing,  
As to the Grecians tidings such to bring,   

Whereby thy life thou hast endangered:  
But be thou ruled by me if thou be wise,  
(Unless thou art clean void of fear and dread)  
And get thou out my sight I thee advise:  
For if thou stay'st, mine anger is so bend,  
That thou mayst chance thy folly to repent.   

Antenor to avoid the Court was glad,  
And presently with speed from thence did go,  
And entering ship such haste from thence he made,  
That though the wind contrary then did blow,  
He put to sea, and failed prosperously  
To Pilon, where Duke Nestor then did lie,   

And there did hold a sumptuous Princely Court:  
Of whom he craved leave submissivelie,  
To show the cause that made him then resort  
To him, and there withal to signify  
King Priam's mind as he had gi'en him charge,  
From point to point as fully and as large,   

As he had done to other men before,  
And all to one effect, so that in vain  
It were for me to show it any more,  
Or to recite it word for word again:  
For his conclusion ended still in one,  
As you have heard concerning Action.   

Whereat Duke Nestor did so fret and fume,  
And in so great a choler than did grow,  
That all the blood did presently consume  
Out of his face, and he as pale did show  
As ashes, and so grieved was in heart,  
And therewithal did feel such inwardsmart   

Through wrath and ire, that so possessed each vain  
And joint he had, that he did seem to shake  
Like Aspen leaf, and hardly could refrain,  
Upon Antenor strait revenge to take,  
Like Lion fell that hunteth after pray,  
Whose furious course no man as then can stay.   

So much his mind from him was alienate,  
That t'yeeld himself by no means than he might,  
And at his heart he was so passionate,  
Which boiled with such ranchor and despite,  
That all that him beheld would judge him mad,  
So strange a look and gesture than he had.   

At last, in midst of this perplexity,  
Into a sudden choler out he broke,  
And with a voice distraind from cruelty,  
Unto Antenor furiously he spoke:  
With countenance so ghastly to behold,  
That sure to make a man to fear it would.   

Saying, thou friend that canst so smoothly gloze,  
I think thou know'st not well whom thou hast told  
Thy needless tale, nor yet dost thou suppose  
Who that I am, that darest be so bold  
Thus to presume mine ears so to offend,  
Pretending that King Priam did thee send   

Unto the greeks, to ask them in his name,  
Redress for wrongs that near by us was done,  
And turnst on us the merit and the blame,  
For injuries wrought by Laomedon  
To us and ours, and in presumptuous wise  
Accusest us with most notorious lies.   

Which thy abuse most odious in mine ear,  
So much doth fret and anger me at heart,  
That by no means I can endure't to hear,  
And but I know a messenger thou art,  
And that I do mine honour more respect  
Then thee, I would in cruel wise correct   

And chastise thy so great temerity,  
For by the rigour of our ancient law,  
I should put thee unto th'extremity  
By horses wild throughout the streets to draw  
Thy body vild, and it in pieces tear,  
To teach thee and all others how to bear   

Such frivolous tales to any Prince or Lord,  
Unless thou better know'st the man before.  
So much by me thy message is abhorred,  
And Priamus thy King in heart much more:  
In whose despite this should to thee be done,  
For just reward of thy presumption,   

If thou wert used as well thou dost deserve.  
And now be gone out of my sight with speed,  
If thou thy life from danger wilt preserve,  
For that the sight of thee to me doth breed  
Both in mines eyes and heart so great offence,  
That I can take no rest till thou goest hence.   

Antenor hearing this thought it the best  
For him not to reply, but to be gone.  
And with all speed he went and did not rest  
Till that he entered ship and left Pilon,  
Directly sailing unto Troy in haste,  
But presently the clouds 'gan overcast,   

The Seas to roar and rage in furious wise,  
The wind to blow, and waves most high to swell,  
And fearful lightning flashed out of the skies,  
And thunderclaps upon the ship down fell  
With so great force, that main mast 'gan to crack,  
And both the yard and it in sunder brack.   

The ship with billows tossing too and fro,  
In fearful wise now mounting up most high,  
And then again descending down so low,  
As if that under water it would lie:  
So fearfully the heavens than did frown,  
That they expected still when they should drown.   

For every man made full account to die,  
And to their Gods 'gan vows and prayers make,  
And with devotion great on them to cry  
For aid and help, with promise t'undertake  
On pilgrimage to go in Paynim wise,  
If they escaped, to offer sacrifice.   

At last the skies as then as dark as night  
Began to clear, and Seas did cease to rage,  
And Phoebus with his clear and shining light,  
Did suddenly the tempest great assuage,  
And not one man within the ship did perish,  
Wherewith their hearts began again to cherish.   

And presently the Gods sent them such grace,  
That having well escaped their danger great,  
They did arrive at Troy in little space,  
And safely every man on shore was set:  
For which Antenor strait without delay,  
Unto the Temple went therein to pray.   

And thank his Gods for his deliverance,  
The like did all the rest with humble heart,  
Rejoicing much for their so happy chance,  
Which done, he did with speed from thence depart,  
And to King Priam presently did go,  
Th'effect of his proceeding there to shoe.   

Whom he as then found sitting in his throne,  
Accompanied with his Nobility,  
To whom he did at full and large make known,  
What he had done, and what extremity  
He had escaped amongst the Grecians fell.  
And first unto King Priamus did tell,   

How Peleus used him most uncourteously,  
And hardly could endure him in his sight,  
And how with visage fell most cruelly,  
King Telamonius in rage and great despite  
Disdained him, and his request denied,  
And Priam with most threatening words defied.   

And how the proud and haughty brethren twain,  
Castor, and Pollux, in most furious wise,  
Commanded him to get him thence again,  
And not to slander them with false surmise,  
Of wrongs by them supposed to be done  
To Troy & Trojans, when the town they won.   

And lastly how Duke Nestor cruelly,  
Like to a man out of his wits distraught,  
Did rage and rail at him despitefully,  
And Priam and his message set at nought:  
And in what peril of his life he was,  
Before that he from every place could pass.   

When Priam heard Antenor thus declare,  
What ill success amongst the greeks he had,  
His mind was so possessed with despair,  
That it him wholly out of comfort made:  
Either by peace or war then to obtain,  
The means to get his sister home again.   

For well he saith by proof that 'twas in vain,  
For him to deal with them by courtesy,  
And that thereby he never should obtain  
The thing he sought, so great hostility  
He found in them, that more he did entreat,  
The less they it esteemed, or by him set.   

Which grieved him for that he saw no way,  
But by constraint he must be forced to use  
Another course (which gladly he would stay,  
If that he might) sith that they did refuse  
His proffered peace, and stubbornly deny  
To grant the things, he sought so courteously.   

And that nought else would please their appetite,  
But bloody war engendered of discord  
And ranchor old, their chief and sole delight.  
For peace and friendship they so much abhorred,  
That to give ear to equity and right,  
They would not grant through malice & despite.   

Which did so much torment King Priam's heart,  
That fire of envy kindling in his breast,  
He vowed from thence it never should depart,  
Nor would he be content nor take no rest,  
Till that he were revenged on his foes,  
Although that he thereby were sure to lose.   

And in the war most like a valiant Knight,  
What ere befell adventured life and limb,  
For to maintain his honour and his right,  
While that one drop of blood remained in him:  
Intending first a Navy forth to send,  
There with by sea the Grecians to offend.   

And boldly to assail them on the land  
With fire and sword, their haughty pride t'abate.  
And whosoever durst or would withstand,  
To kill and to destroy. Such was the hate  
Which he as then conceived in his mind  
'Gainst Grecians, that to him were so unkind.   

But tell me Priam what hard destiny,  
What trouble new, what hateful influence,  
What great despite, what infelicity  
Out of the skies by sudden influence,  
Descended is (thy sorrow to increase)  
That should be cause thou canst not live in peace?   

What sudden chance, what fortune hard & sharp,  
What wilful lust, what foolish hardiness,  
Hath made thee on the strings of war to harp?  
What careless thoughts, what unadvisedness,  
Hath put thy mind out of tranquility,  
To make thee weary of prosperity?   

Dost thou in bitter gall more pleasure take,  
Then honey sweet, that wilful motions  
Should cause thee peace and quietness forsake,  
To yield unto thy hateful passions:  
Clean void of wit, of reason, and of sense,  
And wholly without discreet providence?   

What should thee careless make, not to foresee  
The things that after might to thee befall,  
And not to shun the great adversity,  
Which through thy folly brought thee into thrall?  
Sure 'twas the mists of error made thee stray,  
The crooked paths of the ready way.   

Where were thy guides, discretion, and advise,  
That should have kept thee from sensuality,  
And counselled thee in time for to be wise?  
But sure 'tis not in man's ability:  
Nor can he from his wilfulness refrain,  
When sudden wrath thereto doth him constrain.   

Thou first shouldst have forecast thy destiny,  
And by good counsel wisely have been led,  
And not have weighed thy security  
In balance that doth hang but by a thread:  
And rather have dissembled all thy woe,  
And clean forgotten wrongs done long ago.   

And still have borne it in thy memory,  
That daily by experience we do see,  
That while men seek revenge for injury  
Done long before, they oft deceived be:  
And with a double harm ere theyare aware,  
Fall suddenly into another snare.   

And wrongs that clean forgotten were and dead,  
Renewed are by trump of flying fame,  
Through false report & rumour that is spread,  
And often hurt man's honour and good name:  
Especially when he doth rashly run  
Upon revenge, not carring how 'tis done.   

And by his pride and overhasty mood,  
Doth work his own destruction and decay.  
Remembering not the proverb old and good,  
(Which unto men discreet and wise doth say)  
Let him that's well be sure to keep him so,  
Lest afterward he doth himself beshrew.   

And he that walks on plain and even ground,  
Needs not to fear nor doubt a stumbling cast,  
Unless of carelessness (as oft is found)  
He overthrow himself by too much haste:  
And wilfully adventures t'have a fall,  
As having of his state no care at all.   

So must I unto thee King Priam say,  
That all too reckless thou hast ever been,  
The care on fickle fortune so to lay  
Of thy secured peace, for it is seen:  
And known to be her custom commonly,  
That when a man trusts most assuredly   

In her that is so blind and so unstable,  
She will to him then most inconstant be,  
And as she always was deceivable,  
Bereave him soon of regal dignity:  
And with a trice down from her wheel him throw,  
Her power and force unto the world to show.   

Against the which it nought avails to strive.  
For when a man thinks his estate most sure,  
And that in peace and welfare he doth live,  
She can (when he thinks least) his fall procure:  
Therefore let no man hope for happy chance  
At fortune's hand, so full of variance.   

Nor hazard his estate upon her wheels,  
Unless he cares not how the same doth go,  
Nor whether well or ill with him she deals,  
For never man did her so constant know:  
That he might say, he had continued  
In one estate, and never varied.   

Let Priam King of Troy unfortunate,  
Example hereof be, that wilfully  
Without advise o'erthrew his own estate,  
And brought himself into such misery:  
That he, his wife, and all his Sons being ●laine,  
His noble City was destroyed again.   

And all his Country round about laid waist,  
And wholly brought unto confusion,  
The memory whereof while world doth last,  
From age to age, and by succession  
Shall both in books and songs recorded be,  
That men thereby may learn, & plainly see   

What comes of rash conceit and wilfulness,  
When men will run upon extremity,  
And put their happy state in doubtfulness  
By war, wherein there's no security?  
For he that therein seems most fortunate,  
Oft unawares doth soonest receive the mate.   

For harm once done, too late is to amend,  
And sieldome doth a wrong of hatred done,  
Procure to him that doth it happy end.  
Let men therefore be wise, and seek to shun  
King Priam's course, and so their steps direct,  
That they in time their error may correct.   

To show how he into this error fell,  
Which bred his utter ruin and decay,  
Then must you know that wrath and envy fell,  
Burnt so within his breast both night and day:  
(Upon the answer that Antenor brought)  
That he could never rest till he had wrought   

The means to be revenged (if he might)  
Upon the greeks, and so in hast he sent  
For all his Lords, and many a noble Knight,  
To summon them unto a Parliament:  
Commanding them therein to make no stay,  
But with all present speed to come away.   

Where being come, and all together met,  
The King with words most grave & courage bold,  
(When every man in his degree was set)  
His will and his intent 'gan to unfold:  
What caused him that assembly there to make,  
And in this sort unto them than he spoke,   

And said: my Lords, I know your minds so well,  
That long discourse at this time shall not need,  
The cause of our assembly for to tell,  
And therefore to the point I will proceed:  
And unto you as briefly as I may,  
Declare th'effect of that I have to say.   

You know full well how that not long ago,  
By counsel of you all I sent to Greece,  
Antenor, on embassage for to shoe,  
That my desire was with love and peace  
To have my sister Action home again,  
But all my suit and labour was in vain.   

For that the Grecians most uncourteously,  
With threatening words and speeches full of dread,  
Received and used him so despitefully,  
That hardly he escaped with his head:  
Defying us most proudly for the same,  
To our no small dishonour, and our shame.   

Which daily more and more will still increase,  
Unless that we some remedy procure.  
For whereas we do seek for love and peace,  
And all our wrongs would patiently endure:  
They offer war and flatly us deny  
A small request to grant or satisfy.   

And for the harms that they to us have done,  
They say they will no other order take,  
But for amends our Country t'ouer run,  
And bloody war on us and ours to make:  
Which their desire increaseth our despite,  
But would to God their hearts were so contrite,   

To cease all strife, and friendly to accord,  
That all the mischief and the cruelty  
That bloody wars doth commonly afford,  
Might be converted into amity:  
But they (alas) are so possessed with pride,  
That they disdain all peace, and us deride.   

Still threatening us in most despiteful wise,  
But God forbid that all on us should light,  
Which they suppose, and 'gainst us do surmise:  
But sith they seem to show so great despite,  
And unto us pretend such cruelty,  
We must be forced of necessity,   

By help of God their furiousness to stay,  
And in our own defence most boldly stand,  
Sith that our cause is just; Which that we may  
The better do, let us with heart and hand,  
Joined all in one most firm and full decree,  
On them with might and main revenged to be:   

Which if we do, we doubt not to prevail.  
For where men's minds agree not in consent  
Of victory, they shall be sure to fail:  
But when unto an unity theyare bend,  
They cannot choose but nappilie proceed,  
And help each other when they stand in need.   

My counsel therefore is, that we agree  
And join in one consent for to withstand  
The Grecians, and the more assured to be,  
(Before that we begin to take't in hand)  
I dare affirm our strength and forces far  
Exceeds the Grecians power, what ere they are.   

Our skill in arms is great, as well you know,  
Our Knights they are most valorous and stout,  
Great store of horse and footmen we can show  
Well armed for war, and this we need not doubt,  
But that our town is most invincible,  
And for our foes to win't impossible.   

Therefore I do intend (by your consent)  
With all the speed I can for to prepare  
A Navy well appointed, to be sent  
Into the Grecian Land, which shall not spare  
(In our behalf, and to defend our right)  
T'invade the same, and with our force & might   

To burn their towns, & lay their Country waist,  
And use them as they well deserved have  
At our hands, for injuries forepast:  
For by my will they shall not one man save,  
But cruelly put all unto the sword,  
For they the like unto us did afford.   

And let not their forepast victory,  
Against us won, be cause to make us doubt,  
For they that oft in field are forced to fly,  
Do many times with courage bold and stout,  
Courageously turn back and fight again,  
And in the end the victory obtain.   

Such is the chance of war, wherein there is  
No certainty, but oftent mes it's seen,  
That he that this day victory doth miss,  
The self same day the Conqueror hath been:  
And he that held the field victoriously,  
By him that fled before, been forced to fly.   

For no man may in war himself assure,  
So fickle and unconstant it is found;  
For Mars this day will to a man procure  
A conquest great, and cause his honour sound  
By trump of Fame throughout the world so wide:  
And when he list he can for him provide   

A sudden fall, (and like the summer flower  
That vadeth with a blast, and is consumed,  
And clean destroyed) in minute of an hour  
His honour stained, (which he at first presumed  
Could never fail) and cause it to decay,  
And all within the space of one short day.   

And where before his name was magnifide,  
(Even as the ebb doth follow flood apace,)  
(As by experience oft it hath been tried,)  
Full suddenly he can't as much abase:  
For though this day the Sun doth shine most clear,  
Next day to us perhaps 'twill not appear.   

When thick & misty clouds the Sun doth trouble,  
And for a time obscure his radiant beams;  
Even so of Mars the chances are most double,  
And mixed with a number of extremes:  
Now up, now down, now low, & then aloft,  
As fortune will, whose mind doth change full oft.   

For when she list she'll make a man ascend  
Upon her wheel, his honour to advance,  
And suddenly she'll cause him to descend  
And much again, by some unhappy chance:  
This day she will exalt him to the sky,  
And next abase in twinkling of an eye.   

Turning her wheeleunstable like a ball,  
She smiles on some, and others she doth flout,  
And while one mounts another hath a fall:  
For every man when it doth turn about,  
Must take the chance that she on him will thrust.  
(But he that knows her frauds & wiles unjust,   

Will soon perceive sweet honey mixed with gall,  
In all her actions what so ere they be,)  
For honour and renown, mischief and thrall,  
Peace, bloody war, and every dignity,  
Are at her will and pleasure for to grant,  
Let no man therefore in his fortune vaunt.   

For though the Grecians 'gainst us did prevail,  
When they my Father slew, it may so chance,  
That now they shall of their good fortune fail.  
Therefore let every man himself advance,  
And as you are renowned for hardiness,  
Valour and might, show forth your worthiness.   

And unto fortune do yourselves commend,  
And let no fear your manly hearts possess,  
But boldly fight your Country to defend,  
As I persuaded am you'll do no less:  
Now let me hear your answers hereunto,  
And what for me and mine you mean to do.   

This said, the Nobles all with one consent,  
Made answer unto him, and did reply,  
That they with hearts and minds were fully bend,  
In his and their just quarrel for to die,  
And venture goods and all that ere they have,  
The honour of their Country for to save.   

For which the King did thank them heartily,  
And gave them leave each one for to be gone,  
And went into his chamber presently,  
Where solitarily and all alone,  
He sat still musing how to bring to pass,  
The thing that wholly his desire was.   

For he thereon did only set his thought,  
So much his mind upon revenge did run,  
That though his own decay thereby were wrought,  
Yet would he not the danger thereof shun:  
And so resolved, made this conclusion,  
With present speed and resolution,   

To send for all his Sons legitimate,  
And those likewise that basely borne were,  
To take advise of them 'bout his estate,  
And none but they alone, that he might hear  
What counsel they to him as then would give,  
His troubled mind with comfort to relieve.   

Concerning his pretence of war to make  
Upon the Grecians for their cruelty,  
Which he did mind in haste to undertake.  
Who being all assembled privately,  
And every one set down as his degree  
And age required, the flower of Chivalry.   

Prince Hector (who as then returned was  
Out of the Province of Panomie)  
Next to the King in order took his place,  
Whom when he did behold with watery eye  
And sighs full sore and deep from out his heart,  
He did unto them all his mind impart.   

But ere that he as then a word would speak,  
A flood of tears from out his eyes distilled,  
Fast trickling down upon his aged cheake,  
So much his heart with grief as then was filled:  
At last as't were a man with sobs dismayed,  
With heavy heart these words unto him said,   

My dear and loving sons, as I suppose,  
You all record and freshly bear in thought,  
How that the greeks our old possessed foes,  
In cruel wise their furies on us wrought:  
Slaying my Father King Laomedon,  
Burnt even with the ground his ancient town,   

Put all his subjects to the sword, not one  
Escaped their rage, and in captivity  
Led wives and maids, and 'mongst them Action  
My sister dear, who in extremity  
Still there remains, to our no small offence,  
And your reproach that fetch her not fro thence:   

The which to shun nature me thinks should move,  
And cause you in your hearts to feel much grief,  
That she whom you cannot all choose but love,  
Should there remain so long without relief:  
And with most great dishonour of her name,  
Endure th'abuse she doth unto your shame.   

Alas my Sons, why seek you not the way,  
To be revenged for this great injury,  
Upon our foes, and that without delay,  
And her relieve in her extremity:  
In truth me thinks (sith that you are so strong)  
You are to blame to drive it off so long,   

And thus from day to day the time defer,  
By Knightly force and valour great t'assay,  
With might and main upon them to make war,  
It grieveth me you seem so long to stay,  
To grant to my request, whose whole desire  
And heart 'gainst the doth burn like flaming fire.   

With hatred, (as you plainly may behold)  
Till that I be revenged with present speed,  
The which if you regarded as you should,  
And resolutely in your hearts decreed,  
While you have strength and valour so to do,  
You would not be so hardly drawn thereto.   

Remember how 'twas I did you beget,  
And fostered you with care as tenderly  
As I could do, and now you are thus great,  
And held to be the flower of Chivalry:  
You should of nature for my sorrows grieve,  
And with all speedy means for to relieve   

My troubled mind and great adversity,  
Sith that you see it doth torment me so,  
And that the cause concerns both you and me,  
Whom nature bind, to feel one self same woe:  
And as he spoke, and thus to them did mourn,  
His face unto Prince Hector he did turn,   

And said, Hector my Son, my chief and only joy,  
My trust, my sole delight, my eldest child,  
And here sucessivelie to reign in Troy,  
(Of whom my hopes as yet were near beguiled)  
Thou that art named the root, the spring, the well  
Of Chivalry, and dost therein excel   

Thy Brethren all, whereby thou dost obtain,  
The sovereignty of high renown and fame,  
Esteem not I thee pray my words in vain,  
But yield and give consent unto the same:  
And do the thing for which I long so sore,  
For in thee is my trust, and in no more,   

This thing t'effect and wholly bring about.  
And for that cause I make thee General  
Of all my force, and herein make no doubt,  
But that thou wilt go forward therewithal:  
And yield t'accept of this my just request,  
For in thy valour only do I rest.   

And unto thee it chiefly doth belong,  
As being wise, and full of government  
Flowering in youth, active, and passing strong,  
And hast thy mind to honour only bend:  
Though young in years yet of discretion,  
Beloved of all, and of most high renown.   

And all thy younger Brethren shall obey  
To thee, and at thy will be always pres●,  
With thee to live and die, and therefore say  
If that thou wilt consent to my request:  
And let me hear thine answer hereunto,  
That with all speed we may prepare thereto.   

When Priam thus had showed them his pretence,  
Hector (the pattern of Nobility)  
Bowing his knee with humble reverence  
Unto the King, (as full of courtesy)  
His answer gave with sober countenance,  
Th'effect whereof was this in full substance.   

My most renowned Lord and Father dear,  
Sith that it is your pleasure and your will  
That I should speak, and you are pleased to hear  
Attentively, I shall your mind fulfil:  
And such good counsel as my wit affords,  
I'll give to you in few and pithy words.   

True'tis my Lord, that nature's laws do bind,  
And still provoke man's heart for to aspire,  
(And all God's creatures else of several kind)  
With earnest and most resolute desire  
To seek revenge, for wrongs by them sustained,  
And specially such men as have attained   

Unto the honour of Nobility,  
For unto them 'twere great reproach and shame,  
And wholly 'gainst their state and dignity,  
To suffer wrongs done to their name and fame:  
For every trespass must considered be,  
And weighed according to the quality   

Of him 'gainst whom the injury is wrought,  
(What way or means soever that it be)  
As also of the person that it sought,  
For 'tis more grief to men of high degree  
To suffer hurt or harm by adventure,  
Or any wrong unjustly to endure:   

Then unto men of meaner quality.  
And jniury maliciously contrived,  
Is more offence to Princely Majesty,  
And men from high Nobility derived:  
Then unto such as by their wealth aspire  
To worship, though the world doth them admire.   

This well considered of, much bound are we,  
To seek by force our honour to increase,  
Sith we descend of Royal pedigree,  
And let us not from just revenge surcease:  
For beasts that are by nature void of sense,  
Desire the same, and seek their own defence.   

And for my part I know assuredly,  
That none of all your Sons was ere more priest,  
Upon the greeks to be revenged than I,  
And hereupon my faith I do protest:  
That with despite 'gainst them I burn like fire,  
And thirst their blood with all my whole desire.   

For as I am your eldest by degree,  
So am I moved most with angry mood,  
And long by valour and by chivalry,  
With sword in hand to shed the Grecians blood:  
Which they perchance shall feel ere that they ween,  
When time doth serve, as shortly shall be seen.   

But first I must advise you t'have a care,  
(Ere you begin t'effect this your intent)  
And think and way how great the dangers are,  
Which unto bloody war are jncident:  
And long not the beginning for to see,  
But study on the end what it may be.   

Which if you do you can by no means fail,  
For counsel given in my opinion  
Is little worth, and nothing may avail,  
Nor yet deserveth commendation:  
Which doth not tend t'advise men seriously  
To think upon future adversity.   

For though that men at pleasure bring about,  
The first beginning of their tragedies,  
Yet oftentimes it commonly falls out,  
That they do end with great extremities:  
And what avails beginning fortunate,  
That after causeth strife and great debate.   

I say therefore great wisdom 'tis to doubt,  
At th'entering into any enterprise;  
What issue may thereof in th'end fall out,  
Which who so doth I hold him to be wise:  
For that beginning is most fortunate,  
Where midst and end continue in like estate.   

But when they do not happily proceed,  
'Twere better wholly from it to abstain,  
Then t'hazard man's estate when there's no need,  
For who so doth, assured is to gain  
Nought else but mischief and adversity,  
And end his days in great extremity.   

Let not your Majesty I you beseech,  
In any wise with me displeased be,  
Nor yet to take exception at my speech,  
For there's no spark of any thought in me,  
To give a cause unto you of offence:  
For that I speak is only with pretence,   

To counsel you to see that wilfully  
You enterprise not that which in the end,  
By misadvice may chance unhappily,  
And be the cause in fine yourself t'offend:  
Nor of your foes too small account to make,  
For so men oftentimes themselves mistake.   

But think how they hold in subjection  
All Africa, and Europe, wide and long,  
With many another warlike Nation,  
And that they are most valiant Knights and strong:  
Esteemed of all the world for worthiness,  
Abounding in great wealth and happiness.   

So that with your support I dare bebold,  
T'a●●irme that danger tis them to displease;  
And if our quiet state disturb we should,  
It's to be feared we must ourselves disease:  
And say that Asia should us aid to fight,  
It is not like unto the Grecians might.   

And though our Aunt the Princess Action,  
Against all right be held by Telamonius;  
It is not fit for her redemption,  
To bring us all unto destruction:  
My counsel's not to buy her half so dear,  
For that perhaps all we that now sit here,   

And many more might also for her right,  
In doubtful wars lose both their lyre & limb,  
And after long and many a bloody ●ight,  
Perehance shall near get her away from him:  
Which were no wisdom as it seems to me.  
And it may hap ere long time pass, that she   

Her fatal course and days on earth will end,  
And then what shall we reap for her to strive,  
And with our Grecian enemies contend?  
But only ever after while we live,  
Be sure of mortal war and enmity,  
Sorrow and grief, and all extremity.   

My counsel therefore is, that we endure  
Our wrongs forepast without contention,  
And not unto ourselves more hurt procure,  
For 'tis a point of great discretion:  
Think not my Lord I speak thus much for fear  
Or cowardice, but yet I say that 'twere   

Great folly to commit our happiness  
(Sith that we now ●iue in security)  
To fortune's hands, so full of doubleness,  
And bar ourselves of all felicity:  
This is (said he) all that I did pretend  
To say to you, and so his speech did end.   

When Hector thus his mind declared had,  
And with most grave conclusion so did close,  
The wise discourse which be to them had made:  
His second brother Paris therewith rose,  
And to the King along discourse did make,  
Which in these words with courage bold he spoke.   

And said, my Lord, if't like your Grace to hear,  
And give me leave to speak, then must I say  
And will it prove, you have no cause to fear,  
(Nor would I wish you long the time delay)  
With brave and valiant heart to undertake,  
Upon the greeks asodaine war to make:   

Therewith their pride and malice to confound,  
Sith that you know yourself to be so strong  
Of valiant Knights, and that we do abound  
With plenty of each thing that doth belong  
Unto the wars, and how our town most wide,  
Is able all their proud assaults t'abide.   

And which is more, invincible to win.  
Besides all this, great Princes many aone  
(Our friends, so were this war with them begun)  
Will us assist to their destruction:  
Let them therefore be near so bold and stout,  
I see no cause at all, why we should doubt:   

Nor reason why we should ourselves dismay.  
Therefore if you my counsel now will take,  
I think it best you should no time delay  
Your Navy to prepare, and if you'll make  
Me General thereof, I you assure,  
That I will such a speedy means procure,   

That Action shall recovered be full soon,  
And in such sort it shall by me be wrought,  
(That I esteem it easy to be done.)  
For I devised have within my thought,  
By Knightly force with strong and mighty hand,  
To ravish some fair Lady in that Land   

Of high estate, and without tarrying,  
(Despite of them when as I have her won)  
With all the speed I can, to Troy her bring,  
That so you may have restitution,  
By change of her whom you long so to see,  
And this shall soon by me dispatched be.   

All were the Grecians near so strong & bold.  
And that hereof you may be out of doubt,  
I will in brief to you the means unfold,  
How I with ease will bring the same about:  
And hope thereby your mind so to content,  
That you'll rejoice that I was thither sent.   

For that the Gods of their benignity,  
Have showed to me by revelation,  
Which way the same may well effected be:  
And to that end I had a vision  
Not long ago, as in a sleep I fell,  
Which if you mark, and it consider well,   

You need not fear to fail nor yet to care,  
To get her home, whom you so much desire.  
The manner of my dream I will declare,  
And in most humble wise your Grace require,  
With patience to abide till I have done,  
And I will it in brief soon overrun.   

Your Grace remembreth well to what intent,  
By your command and with commission large,  
Into the Indian land of late I went,  
For things that are committed to my charge:  
And I as then took on me to effect,  
Which that I might the time no whit neglect.   

When Titan with his beams most fair and clear  
From Gemeny his furious steeds did chase,  
And in the sign of Cancer 'gan appear,  
(Which called is Lucina's mansion place)  
When as the Sun was in the highest degree,  
Which in the midst of juno we find to be.   

At that same time as soon as day I saw,  
When Phoebus 'gan to show his radiant light,  
Commanding Pirrous up his wane to draw,  
And Dame Aurora beautiful and bright,  
Began her face out of the East to show,  
And cast on herbs and flowers her silver dew,   

I rose out of my bed with present speed,  
And full intent on hunting forth to go,  
For that within my heart I had decreed,  
Some honour unto Cupid then to show:  
And Lady Venus that day magnify,  
Which called is the Queen of Venery.   

And reverently the ancient rights observe,  
Of Cynthia named the fair bright shining Moon,  
And her in all submissive wise to serve,  
The which by us the better to be done,  
My mates and I for pleasure and delight,  
Determined to rest and stay till night   

Within a wood, to play and make some sport,  
(As best beseemeth men of youthful mind)  
And pleasantly ourselves to recomfort,  
For that day unto Venus was assigned,  
And hallowed to her sacred deity,  
With honour and with sovereign Majesty.   

Which every one observed both small and great.  
For on a Friday 'twas when forth we went,  
And when within the pleasant woods we met,  
To hunt for game (as 'twas our sole intent)  
With labour great we road both too and fro,  
So long till many a fearful Buck and Do   

By strength were kil●, as we them chanced to find,  
And 'mongst the dales and valleys steep and low,  
With hounds did chase the Hart & tripping Hind,  
Till Phoebus glistering in his chair did show:  
Just in the midst or the Merid●en,  
When as the beams most burning hot did shine,   

And we upon our chase most busied were.  
As I by chance strayed from my company,  
Who in the woods were scattered here and there,  
A mighty Hart did start forth suddenly,  
From out the thickets hasting to the green  
With most swift pace, which when that I had seen,   

I spied my horse, and after galloped fast,  
Up hills, down dales, through bushes thick & thin,  
And yet for all I made as then such haste,  
I could by no means ground upon him win:  
But maugre all I did to my despite,  
In little space 'twas gone out of my sight.   

Into a wood that Ida had to name,  
Wherewith I waxed so faint that I did stay  
To rest myself, and so left off the game,  
And for because that I had lost my way:  
(And that my horse whereon I then did ride,  
Foamed at the mouth, and sweat on every side.   

And all his flanks in every place were stained  
With blood, that with my spurs from him I drew,  
So hotly in the chase I him constrained,  
The Hart that ran so swiftly to pursue:  
With hope in th'end he should by me be caught,  
But all that I could do availd me nought.)   

When a 'mongst the thick & lofty trees so green,  
I found by chance a sweet and pleasant shade,  
As smooth and plain as ever man had seen,  
I lighted off my horse and fast him made  
Unto a tree, and weary as I was,  
I ●ayd me down upon a tuft of grass   

Hard by a river side, whose streams most clear,  
Like crystal fine did cast a radiant light,  
And all the stones and sand that therein were,  
Appeared and shone like gold most pure & bright:  
Where presently with my great weariness,  
A heavy sleep did me so sore oppress.   

That since I first was clad with earthly mould,  
I never slept so fast. And suddenly  
As I lay still, me thought I did behold  
God Mercury descend down from the sky,  
And stood by me, which put me in a fear,  
For he as then his crooked sword did wear   

Gi●t to his side, and held within his hand  
His charming rod, about the which did wind,  
Two ugly Snakes, (with which his pliant wand,  
He used to work all things unto his mind:)  
And at his feet me thought there stood a cock,  
That crowed each hour as true as any clock.   

And in his mouth were pipes that played so shrill,  
And with so sweet and pleasant harmony,  
That both mine ears and senses they did fill,  
With many several kinds of melody:  
So that I did assuredly surmise,  
That I had been in earthly Paradise.   

(In this strange sort appeared Mercury,  
And much more strangethen I can well declare,  
Like as Fulgence in his methologie  
Of him d●th write, wherein he doth not spare,  
In pleasant verse full of variety,  
His shape to show as you therein may see.   

To moralise his shape, you must surmise  
His rod so strait which never standeth bend,  
Doth signify men politic and wise,  
Who by their good and careful government  
All dangers do prevent before they fall,  
And by that means preserve themselves from thrall.   

His pipes so sweet and pleasant to the ear,  
Significantly unto us do show,  
The eloquence which daily we do hear,  
And Rhetorician phrases that do flow  
Out of men's mouths of great discretion,  
Whereof that God is th'only pateron.   

The Cock that doth so lovely chant and crow,  
And justly keeps each hour of the night,  
Doth signify and rightly to us show,  
The watch fullness and the interior sight  
Of men, that by their care and diligence,  
Drive from their minds all sloth & negligence.   

His sword that crooks like to a Fawchion,  
Which neither forged was nor made in vain,  
Doth serve to force such as have strayed and gone,  
Out of the way of truth to turn again:  
The serpents which about his rod do wind,  
Are like to divers crosses which we find,   

And daily see do lie in wait to stop  
The way of truth, by hatred and disdain,  
And of the same the branches so to lop,  
That by their will it near should grow again:  
And so poor truth constrained is to fly,  
And in a hole lie hidden secretly.)   

And with this winged God there did appear  
As then to me, three Goddesses most bright,  
The which so fair and passing comely were,  
That I in them did take no small delight:  
To see and to behold their beauties rare,  
The names whereof to you I will declare.   

The first whereon my gazing eyes I cast,  
Was Venus fair the Goddess of delight;  
Next unto her Dame juno fore me past,  
A Goddess of no little power and might:  
The third and last that showed herself in place,  
The wise and valiant Goddess Pallas was.   

Fair Venus to procure the more delight,  
To those that unto her obedience show,  
Above her head had Pigeons fair and white,  
Who flickering with their wings about her flew.  
To show to us that by the same is meant,  
That as those birds are meek and innocent.   

So lovers that are faithful and do mean  
T'observe God Cupid's laws, and truly give  
To love her due, should be so pure and clane  
In deed and thought, that while that they do live,  
No manner of disliking, nor of blame  
Should be in them, their credits to defame.   

The freshness of the Roses fair and red,  
Which in the Summer show most pleasantly,  
And in the Winter are so pale and dead.  
The thoughts of lovers young do signify,  
And such as in hot love do burn like fire,  
With fervent hope t'attain to their desire.   

When love at first within their hearts bears sway,  
Until the time of old unwieldy age,  
When lust is past and seemeth to decay,  
And doth begin no more in them to rage  
Through feebleness, when spring of youth is gone,  
Which by good proof to many men is known.   

Venus therefore we oft distiled see,  
To sit within a flood of water deep,  
To show what trouble and adversity  
Is found in love, and how that it doth keep  
Men in despair, with fancy them to feed,  
Till hopeless they remain in doubt to speed.   

Pallas me thought in th'one hand than did bear  
A shield, the which of metal pure was made.  
In th'other hand a sharp and warlike spear,  
And round about his head a Rainbow had  
O● colours three, red, green, and perfect blue,  
And as it seemed to me before her grew   

An Olive tree, which showed most fresh and green,  
And in the verdant branches thereof sat,  
The ugliest Owl that ever eye had seen,  
With staring eyes, and face most brawd and flat,  
Whereof the moral with the restile show  
As they in order stand. Then must you know   

The ●●●eld which Pallas bears within her hand,  
D●th signify the power and passing might  
That 〈◊〉 hath by wisdom to withstand  
All 〈◊〉 and manly 'gainst the same to fight.  
A●● that ●er speares● smooth & sharply ground,  
Was forged by just revenge, for to confound   

And overthrow unjust and wicked men;  
And for that mercy should with rigour go,  
The sta●e thereof is shaved and smoothed clean,  
Lest merciless right should just rigour shoe.  
The Olive tree ●●tokens sign of peace,  
Which doth ensue, when bloody war doth cease.   

The broad faced staring eyed ugly Owl,  
The which 'gainst death and banquets funeral  
Of custom hath by kind to s●ritch and howl,  
Doth show that death is th'only end of all.  
The glory of the world, and happy's he  
That daily beareth it in memory.   

The Rainbow where such several colours were  
Of divers kinds to beautified withal,  
Doth show what sundry chances are in war,  
Wherein some win, some loose, some fall.  
Like constant, and light wavering green,  
Variety so great therein is seen.   

Iun● as learned Fulgentius to us tells,  
A 〈◊〉▪ with barren womb and dead,  
And alwa●● 〈◊〉 in Rivers, and in Wells,  
To whom the Peacock proud is sacared,  
With Argus' eyes imprinted in her tail,  
The which she spreads abroad like to a sail.   

The waters said to be in wells and floods,  
Do represent the cares and troubles great  
That men endure, to scrape and gather goods,  
Not sparing pain nor toil the same to get.  
But whosoe'er within those floods doth row,  
Let him beware, for after they do flow,   

By course of time, as it is most true  
(Directed by the Moon their governess,)  
There will an ebb with present speed ensue.  
The fear is most, when Cynthia doth increase,  
And orderly attain unto the the full,  
Lest Fortune chance the feathers way to pull   

Of men that do abound in riches great,  
(For she is Queen of mutability.)  
And Argus eyes that in the tail are set  
Of Peacock's proud, are said to signify  
Such niggards hearts as commonly are blind,  
And only on their riches set their mind.   

Remembering not, that it with them doth fare  
As with the ebb, which soon doth pass away.  
(Whereof they seem to have but little care.)  
For as the Peacock's feathers fresh and gay  
Do often shed, and from her tail do fall:  
So riches when men think them surest of all,   

Will suddenly consume and waste away,  
And unawares their master clean defy,  
For that in them there is no certain stay.  
And as the Goddess Juno's womb is dry:  
So are the greedy covetous hearts of such,  
As on their riches set their minds so much.   

That nothing whatsoe'er will satisfy  
Their greedy thoughts, possessed with fear and woe,  
Lest they should fall in want before they die,  
And yet at last they must it all forego.  
Thus riches breeds to them continual care, (spare▪  
That while they live, do nought but pinch and   

But he that hath a free and liberal heart,  
Doth scorn to pinch and live so niggardly:  
But kindly unto others will impart  
Such as he hath, when opportunity  
And time doth serve, and doth in heart detest,  
(Like greedy gut to hide his gold in chest.)   

And thus these stately Goddesses all three,  
Did show themselves in shape as I have told,  
And for their guide had winged Mercury,  
Who standing still a while did me behold.  
At last his rod upon my lips he laid,  
And in these words did speak to me, and said;   

Sir Paris, lift thine eyes up now, and see  
These goodly Dames that down from skies descend,  
And in their several shapes appear to thee,  
Are come a certain strife; twixt them to end.  
And thus it is as they with all the rest  
Of great celestial Gods, wear at a feast   

With jupiter, in his most heavenly bower,  
And not one failed but all as then were there,  
Except the Goddess Discord, who did lower  
And fret therefore, and such despite did bear  
Against those Dames, that for revenge the sought  
And at the last in this wise she it wrought.   

She did by Art and skill an Apple frame  
Of massy gold, and round as any ball,  
With Grecian letters graven upon the same,  
Which said let her that is the fairest of all,  
Take this for her reward, and bear't away,  
And let the rest not once thereto say nay.   

This Apple she unto the feast did bring,  
And when they were set down about the board,  
With countenance stern she did it thereon fling,  
And without more delay or speaking word,  
Went out the hall as fast as ere she might,  
And suddenly there rose so great despite   

And envy for the same between these three,  
To know which of them all hath greatest right,  
(For every one of them doth think it's she  
That best deserved that golden Apple bright.)  
And 'mongst them yet there is so great disdain,  
Which of them is in beauty Sovereign,   

And best desires to bear away the game?  
That night and day they never cease to strive;  
And wrangle, chide, and brawl about the same,  
And all their hearts in manner seem to rive  
And burst for spite, until that they do see  
Which of them shall obtain the victory.   

Such envy reigns in hearts of women kind,  
That every one is jealous of the other,  
And none of them but thinks within her mind,  
That she deserves the praise before another.  
And all of them in their opinions,  
Do think their beauty passeth every ones.   

For not the foul'st amongst them all that are,  
If that their face within a glass they see,  
But doth suppose their beauties to be rare.  
But I think him a very fool to be.  
And one that hath in colours small insight,  
That chooseth sallo, wyellow, for a white.   

And that man's eye deceived is full soon,  
That usually doth stay till it be night,  
And then doth choose his colours by the moon,  
For colours are refined by fier-light:  
And some increased by wine and costly cheer,  
And some with ointments sweet their faces clear.   

And many times by false jllusion,  
By night some do show beautiful and fair,  
But such as have tried that conclusion,  
Oft find them fowl by daylight in the air:  
It's good therefore to choose (by my advise)  
In morning when a woman first doth rise.   

For than her beauty best is to be tried,  
And follow Ovid's counsel in that case,  
Who saith, when drugs and pots are set aside  
Then choose, and thou shalt truly see her face:  
Lest (as he saith) thou mayst deceived be,  
And think thou seest, the thing thou dost not see   

For at this day such practices are rife,  
(And known and used too much in every place.)  
And thus began the malice and the strife,  
Between these Ladies three, who for that case  
By one consent descended from the sky,  
The quarrel of their beauty there to try.   

The doom whereof committed is to thee  
Sir Paris, that so wise and prudent art,  
See that therein thou well advised be,  
For from it by no means they may not start:  
But must abide all three by one consent,  
Without delay or strife to thy judgement.   

But first before thou tak'st this thing in hand,  
Or any word out of thy mouth be heard,  
Thou shalt do well from me to understand,  
What each of them will give thee for reward,  
If thou dost judge her beauty to excel  
The other two, now hark and I will tell.   

If thou unto Queen june dost it give,  
She will reward thee highly for the same,  
With riches store, and while thou here dost live,  
Will thee advance to honour great and fame,  
And in all these will prosper thee so well,  
That thou in them all others shalt excel.   

If unto Goddess Pallas it befall,  
To have his golden Apple for her fee,  
And that thou judgest her the fairest of all,  
For thy reward she will assure to thee,  
That thou in wisdom, wit, and government,  
Shalt be so perfect and so excellent,   

That even as far ●● Phoebus' giveth light,  
And in the world since that it first began,  
There never was a more courageous Knight  
Then thou, nor near was known a wiser man.  
Thus riches, honour, wisdom, fortitude,  
May be at thy command, if thou conclude   

Thy judgements on their sides; therefore beware,  
And herein take advise, and do not lose  
These gifts that are so noble and so rare,  
While thou to leave or take hast time to choose,  
I speak not this to move thee therewithal,  
To judge amiss, or to be partial.   

And if to Venus thou this Apple give,  
Thou shalt for thy reward have to thy wife  
The fairest Dame that now on earth doth live,  
Or ever man did see in all his life,  
Which thou by valour great in Greece shalt win.  
Now be advised, before thou dost begin   

To judge aright, and see for nought thou spare,  
Lest after thou repent for doing so.  
Wherewith amazed I 'gan about me stare,  
In doubt to think what I therein should do,  
At last I spoke and said to Mercury,  
That I by no means would their beauties try,   

Nor judge thereof, unless they naked there  
Before me stood, that at my liberty,  
I might behold, if every member were,  
As fair in all respect and each degree,  
As outwardly their faces fair did show,  
And then my doom they presently should know.   

When they had heard me speak they gave consent,  
And did agree my mind therein t'obey,  
(And strait to strip themselves were all content,  
The which to do they made no long delay)  
For they had all decreed before they came,  
That in no point they would deny the same.)   

When naked all before me there they stood,  
And that I did behold them at the full,  
And viewed every part, it did me good  
To see their bodies fair and beautiful:  
But when mine eyes on Venus' bright I cast,  
For her without delay my judgement past.   

And unto her the Apple gave with speed,  
As fairest of them all (excepting none)  
And as at first it was by them decreed,  
I should not partial be to any one,  
So did I judge her beauty great to be,  
Much more than th'others two in each degree.   

For as me thought her eyes most fair and bright,  
That cast forth streams so clear and delectable,  
Were like the star that shines to us by night,  
Called Hesperus, and so most amiable  
Fair Venus showed herself, ye 'twas true,  
I could not choose but give to her her due.   

Whereat this Goddess fair did much rejoice,  
And in her heart therewith did seem to glory,  
That of her beauty rare I made the choice  
T'excel the rest, and that the victory  
By judgement, unto her as then did fall,  
To be the fairest and beautiful'st of all.   

And as the winged God to me did say,  
What should be my reward of Venus' part,  
She said she would perform without delay,  
And from his vow and promise never start:  
And saying so the Goddesses all three,  
Did vanish and depart away from me.   

And Mercury with wings began to fly,  
And soaring up with speed his way did take,  
Directly to the clear and crystal sky,  
And suddenly therewith I did awake  
Out of my deadly sleep, and up I start,  
And mounting horse from thence did strait depart.   

Now my good Lord, whom I both love & dread,  
if'ft please your Grace yourself herein t'advise,  
And unto that which I have said take heed,  
You will it not esteem, nor yet surmise  
To be in vain, by Venus to me said.  
And therefore I wish you not to be afraid,   

But boldly let me go to Greece in haste,  
With some great power of men about the thing  
Which I have said, and ere long time be passed,  
I doubt not but the same to pass to bring:  
And as by Venus I am promised,  
Of some fair Lady certainly to speed.   

That by exchange of her you may obtain  
An easy and a most assured way,  
To get your Sister Action home again,  
This is (said he) all that I have to say,  
For my advice and counsel to your Grace,  
And so sat down again into his place.   

But Priam what should cause thee to forget  
Thyself so much, that thou shouldst be so vain,  
Thy hope and trust upon a dream to set?  
I cannot choose but needs must tell thee plain,  
That shallow was thy wit and thy discretion,  
To trust unto a false illusion.   

As that thou all care hadst set aside,  
To follow after dreaming fantasy,  
'tis sure that reason than was not thy guide,  
That thou upon mere follies wouldst rely  
As Paris did, that Pallas did neglect,  
And sacred wisdom wilfully reject.   

And some also carelessly refused  
With riches and with all her offers great,  
And she that hath all men so much abused,  
(And at whose hands their's nothing else to get  
But pleasure, and the fond delights of love,  
Which only do a man to folly move)   

Fair J'enus called the blacksmith Vulcan's wife,  
(Whose service though it doth nought else procure  
Unto a man, but bloody war and strife,)  
By him preferred was, but 'tis most sure  
That Paris in his judgement was unjust,  
And that his mind was wholly set on lust.   

Whereby the great and famous Trojan Town,  
When it had long been vexed with bloody war,  
Was in the end brought to confusion  
By Paris means, that had so little care,  
When it was offered him, his choice to make  
Of wisdom, gold, and valour; and to take   

A Woman that was cause of all the woe  
Which unto Priam afterward befell.  
A● in this Book hereafter I will show,  
And now on dreams I will no longer dwell,  
But to my matter seriously proceed,  
And show you what by Priam was decreed.   

Upon the dream by Paris then declared,  
But first of all in brief i'll let you know  
What Diophebus said, who having heard  
His brother's speech, stood up his mind to show:  
And gravely with a countenance benign,  
Obedience made, and spoke unto the King,   

And said, my Lord, if every man should doubt,  
And in his mind forecast and deeply way,  
Concerning future things what might fall out:  
It would be cause to make men often stay  
All actions whatsoe'er, and never bend  
Their wits nor wills to bring them to an end.   

Nor would they seek their valours forth to show,  
For he that doubts, dares nothing undertake:  
For if a man before that he doth throw  
His Corn into the ground, should reckoning make  
How many grains thereof consumed would be  
By Birds, or by some other Casualty:   

I'would make him fear his ground to sow again.  
Let us lay all such foolish doubts aside,  
For I esteem and hold them merely vain,  
And counsel now no longer to abide,  
Nor slack the time, but with a Navy strong  
Send Paris into Greece for to revenge our wrong:   

This I dare affirm and boldly say,  
That he hath counseled you and us full well,  
Which no man to speak truth can well denay.  
So that I think and must you plainly tell,  
Great error 'twere his purpose to contrary,  
And therefore let him now no longertarry.   

But thither with a warlike Navy go,  
That we may quit them for the villainy  
Which they unto us and ours did show,  
In former times with extreme cruelty.  
And for the better execution,  
And getting of our Aunt, fair Action,   

Whom they do hold from us by force and might,  
And long have done to our no little shame,  
And that against all equity and right,  
Which wounds my heart to think upon the same:  
For remedy whereof I must needs say,  
There is no better means, nor readier way   

Then to send forth a strong and warlike band,  
With him to Greece, that forcibly he may  
Some Lady take, within the Grecians land,  
And maugre all their might, her thence convey,  
And bring her unto Troy, with present speed,  
By which so brave exploit, and warlike deed,   

You may have means to satisfy your mind,  
By changing her for Prince's Action.  
This is the readiest way that I can find  
For to procure her restitution.  
Which my good Lord I hope you do intend,  
(Quoth he) my counsel I will end.   

Which said, his brother Helenus did rise  
Out of his seat, and with due reverence  
Unto the King, as being learned and wise,  
Desired him he might have audience  
To speak, and to declare unto them all,  
What future danger might on them befall.   

And so with sober countenance and sad,  
He spoke and said, my Lord may't please your grace  
To give command, that silence now be made,  
And that I may have licence for a space,  
Without deceit or guile to show my mind,  
What I by secret Art and science find.   

Hereafter will fall out, wherein as yet  
I never failed as well your grace doth know,  
And sure I am you do it not forget,  
For whatsoe'er I took on me to show,  
Did come to pass as I did tell it you,  
And you likewise did find it to be true.   

And by God's leave I will not spare as now  
To tell the truth without all flattery,  
For I have ta'en an oath, and made a vow  
That from my mouth there shall proceed no lie,  
I say therefore with true intention,  
And as 'twill follow in conclusion.   

If you to Greece my brother Paris send,  
I know it well by Revelation,  
(Though he effect the thing you do pretend.)  
In fine 'twill be our own confusion.  
For so I find by true Astronomy.  
And never yet in any prophesy   

Was I deceau, d in future accident,  
Nor any that did put his trust in me.  
Then sith all things must have their true event,  
I counsel you by me forewarned to be:  
And by no means for malice, nor for pride,  
Seek not revenge what ever may betide,   

Against the Greeks: for if that you proceed  
T'effect the thing which you as now intend,  
And as within your mind you have decreed,  
Which is that you to Greece will Paris send:  
Know for a truth and full conclusion,  
'twill be the cause of our destruction.   

For by that means will certainly befall  
The overthrow of our most ancient Town:  
Wherefore the houses, Palaces, and wall,  
Shall be destroyed and cruelly thrown down.  
Few words me thinks herein should now suffice  
To men that are esteemed to be so wise.   

Wherefore if you respect your own estate,  
Or do regard my words, I do not doubt  
But that you will before it be too late,  
Bethink yourself ere worse to us fall out.  
For better 'tis for to refrain in time  
From your pretence, which yet is in the prime.   

They hastily t'agree and give consent  
Unto a thing that can us nought avail,  
And in the end will make us all repent.  
For this is true, and by no means can fail,  
'twill be the death without exception,  
Of all of us that are within this Town.   

First, you my Lord, th'effect thereof shall try,  
And by the Grecians fury end your life.  
Your noble Queen that by your side doth lie,  
And long hath been your true and faithful wife,  
Shall end her days by extreme cruelty,  
In sorrow, woe, and great extremity.   

Your subjects all most woefully shall pass  
By dint of sword, and none from it be freed,  
For silly Infants then shall find no grace,  
If that in your intent you do proceed,  
And wilfully a war begin to make  
Against the Greeks, and fond undertake   

To trouble your most peaceable estate,  
And so procure the ruin of us all.  
I say no more, but ere it be to late,  
And fore this mischief doth on us befall,  
My counsel is, against it to provide,  
And set all foolish wilfulness aside:   

Especially when death as I jave told  
Will be the end, and final destiny,  
(If that this dangerous purpose you do hold,)  
Which all too soon both you and we shall try.  
Whereof be sure, for it will fall out so,  
If Paris in this Grecian voyage go.   

And therewith having given his advise,  
With heavy cheer and pale and deadly face,  
(As by his countenance sad they might surmise.)  
He sat him down again within his place.  
At which his words astonished they were,  
And all their hearts were stricken into a fear.   

So that to speak not any one was bold,  
But every man as mute, his lips held close,  
Till Troilus did them so sad behold,  
With courage stout, out of his place arose:  
(Who like a valiant and courageous Knight,  
Desiring nought but 'gainst his foes to fight,   

And manfully with them his force to try,)  
Then with a mind exceeding light and glad,  
He did behold his Father's heart to die  
With fear, and all his brethren there so sad,  
And all the rest to look with heavy cheer:  
T'encourage them, he spoke as you shall hear;   

And said, My Lords most valorous and strong,  
Whose wisdoms and discretions well I know,  
Why should you offer to yourselves this wrong  
That suddenly such signs of fear you show?  
Are you perplexed within your valiant breasts,  
And feared at the words of coward Priests?   

For all of them as you full well shall find,  
By nature are addicted unto rest,  
Desirous from their hearts (by very kind)  
To live at ease, and travel do detest.  
Abhorring war, and only do apply  
Their minds to lust, and filthy gluttony.   

And care for nought, but how they may devise  
To fill their guts, and please their appetite  
In eating, drinking, and in avarice,  
They have their only joy, and sole delight,  
And all their study is on lust and ease,  
For nothing else their greedy minds will please.   

Now fie for shame why are you so dismayed,  
And set abashed thus with inward grief,  
To hear the words that Helenus hath said,  
Whom I dare swear doth shake as 'twere a leaf,  
And tremble, but to hear us speak of fight,  
And which is more, against all law and right?   

In prejudice of th'immortality,  
Doth take on him the truth to certify  
Of future things decreed in heavens high,  
As if he had a spirit of prophesy  
Given unto him alone in special,  
And that he were in science coequal   

With all the Gods, and in him had the skill,  
By wisdom and prescience to declare  
When unto men shall happen good or ill,  
But I suppose that none so simple are,  
V●●e●●e they want their senses to believe,  
That any man that on the earth doth live,   

Hath knowledge to divine of things to come,  
Nor yet can show the fatal destiny  
Of any one, (although that there be some  
Which take on them to do't, but sure they lie.)  
For that such things concealed in secrecy,  
Reserved are to Gods own privity.   

Men may divine, but nought it will avail  
To credit them, for as it doth appear  
None of them all but doth in judgement fail,  
Wherefore my counsel is good, Father dear,  
And brethren all, this fear aside to lay  
Out of your hearts, and let not that dismay   

Your courages, which Helenus hath told,  
Let him within the sacred Temple lie  
If that in heart he fears, (as no man would)  
To help us to revenge our injury,  
And spend his time in contemplation,  
And fast and pray with great devotion   

In those most holy places, days, and nites,  
And study upon his spells, and charms:  
And let such as are lusty valiant Knights  
Employ their green and youthful time in arms,  
That they may know the better how to wield  
A sword and lawnce when as they come in field.   

Against their foes, for to revenge their wrong,  
And give command to Paris strait to go,  
As you pretend well furnished and strong,  
With all your ships, his puissant force to show  
Upon the Greeks, our jniuries to requite,  
Which to our shames, are unrevenged yet.   

And with that word he did sit down again,  
And said no more, when all that present were  
Did much commend his wit and warlike vain,  
And said that he deserved praise to bear,  
For valour, high renown, and chivalry,  
And with applause extolled him to the sky.   

Wherewith the King gave thanks unto them all,  
Dismissing them as then; and presently  
To dinner went in his most sumptuous hall,  
Withal his sons, and his Nobility,  
And having dined, as soon as he did rise  
From Table, called his sons in secret wise.   

Prince Paris and Deiphobus his brother,  
And bade them strait into Panomia high,  
And take with them great store of Knights & other  
To aid them and to bear them company,  
And therewith speed a Navy to prepare  
To put to Sea, upon the Greeks to war.   

And next day after Priam hastily  
Appointed all his counsellors to meet  
In Ilyon, and they accordingly  
With speed did come, and when they were all set,  
The King commanding silence to be made,  
In pithy words spoke unto them, and said,   

My noble Lords, and Counsellors most grave,  
The cause that I for you as now have sent,  
Is your advice and counsel wise to have  
About our Grecian wars, which my intent  
I did jmpart to you not long ago,  
And now again the same do mean to show.   

It's not unknown unto you all full well,  
How that the Greeks 'gainst us so enviously,  
In most despiteful wise, like Tigers ●ell,  
Did execute their cruel tyranny:  
The which is yet so fresh within my thought▪  
That I cannot forget it if I mought.   

Which day by day increasing more and more  
Within my breast, it doth so much torment  
My grieved heart, and vexeth me so sore,  
That in my mind I cannot becontent,  
Especially when as I think upon  
My dear and loving Sister Ex●●●.   

Who by them still is held in servitude,  
Which many times constraineth me to weep,  
And doth all joy ou● of my heart exclude,  
And makes me fetch most extreme sighs & deep,  
Whose cruelty we have too dearly bought,  
And yet of late in friendly wise I sought   

To them, to grant me one thing and no more,  
(In recompense of all the wrongs I had,)  
Which was my Sister Action to restore  
To me again, but they an answer made  
Contrary to my expectation,  
In scornesull wise and great presumption.   

Refusing that so small and just request,  
And with proud threats and brags did me defy:  
And said, that in their hearts they did detest,  
In any thing my mind to satisfy.  
But as we learn by rules of Surgery,  
We must with Irons sharp seek remedy   

To cut away dead flesh, which oft doth lie  
Within a wound, and will by no means heal,  
Though near so many ointments we apply:  
Even so we must be forced with them to deal.  
For sith peace can procure no remedy,  
It's our best way to use extremity.   

Therefore by your advice I do jntend,  
As soon as ere I can without delay  
A Navy to the Grecian land to send  
With Paris, to find means if that he may,  
Despite of all that dare him there withstand,  
Some Lady fair by force take in that land   

And bring her unto Troy, and so constrain  
Them spite their hearts t'exchange fair Action  
For her, before they get her home again,  
Which by us cannot fail for to be done,  
If that the Gods to us be favourable,  
And this my counsel be acceptable   

To you each one, as well as't pleaseth me.  
For when a thing concerns the whole estate  
Of Subjects, and their Prince's dignity,  
It's reason they both should thereof debate.  
And that before they do thereon decree,  
They should with one consent agree.   

For things that merely touch the commonalty,  
Of right should be approved by them all,  
And therefore (by you all advised to be,  
What I should do,) this counsel I did call:  
Now let me hear (said he) what you will say,  
And therewithal his speech as then did stay.   

This said, a Knight Percheus called by name,  
Stood up (who was as Ovid telleth us,  
The son of that most worthy man of fame,  
In his time called the great Euforbius)  
(In whom as Ovid fames, transformed was  
The soul of learned and wise Pythagoras.)   

And in most humble wise these words he spoke:  
My sovereign Lord, may't please your noble grace  
To give me leave (and no displeasure take,)  
In this most high and honourable place,  
With faithful zeal my mind now to declare  
And give you my advice, I will not spare   

To tell the truth, for favour nor for dread,  
And to my power advise you to beware  
Of danger that as now begins to breed,  
For doubtless this t'affirm I boldly dare,  
That if you mean to do as you pretend,  
And Paris into Greece of purpose send;   

You will repent the same ●re long time pass,  
For that my Father called Euforbius,  
(Whose skill in Art so true and perfect was,  
And therewithal most wise and virtuous,  
Who future things by his prescience knew,  
And could divine what after would ensue:   

And plainly tell by true Philosophy,  
Th'event of future Fortune ere it fell:  
For nothing whatsoe'er of secrecy,  
But he it knew, and could the same foretell,)  
And all men esteemed him wise and sage,  
When he was just an hundred years of age.   

I do remember well would sit and weep,  
And let fall tears upon his beard so grey,  
And many times with sighs full sore and deep,  
And mournful wise would to me speak and say:  
If Paris once be sent to fetch a wife  
By force in Greece, 'twill breed such mortal strife   

Against us all, that this most noble Town,  
By Grecians force and extreme cruelty,  
Shall be destroyed and utterly thrown down:  
And nothing shall procure our safety,  
But Grecians swords shall all of us devour,  
So much (said he) shall fortune on us lower.   

Wherefore I you beseech now every one,  
(Without offence at that which I have said,)  
Let all revenge for former wrongs alone,  
And your pretended voyage likewise stay,  
And let not malice be the cause to cease,  
The pleasant course of your most happy peace.   

Nor let us not commit over hastily  
Our happiness to fickle Fortune's hand,  
Ne yet disturb with ancient enmity  
This state which now so flourishing doth stand.  
For if that to the same you give consent,  
there's none of you but shall it sore repent.   

And if thereto your minds so much are bend,  
That by no means this voyage you will stay,  
Let some man else in Paris place be sent,  
That so perhaps the better speed you may:  
This is (said he) my counsel in this case,  
Which I thought good to give unto your grace.   

Which said, they all began to shoot and cry  
Against him in most fierce and furious wise,  
And railed at him and at the prophesy,  
His Father told, and said 'twas all but lies.  
Which after proved in conclusion,  
To turn unto their own confusion.   

For that's before ordained, shall sure fall out,  
And state of things with fate is so inglewd,  
That whatsoe'er must be, without all doubt  
Will come to pass, and may not be eschewd:  
Which cauld them all t'agree in one consent,  
That Paris into Greece should strait be sent.   

(Their destiny was such they coulded not shun)  
And having all agreed thereon, they rose,  
And for that time their counsel it was done.  
But when 'twas known abroad as Guydo shoes,  
Like woman clean distraught of wit she fared,  
And wise and learned Cassandra thereof heard.   

And said, alas what will you do?  
And in most doleful wise began to weep,  
And said, shall Paris thither go?  
Which words she did pronounce with sighs full deep,  
And falling in a swound with extreme pain,  
Infurious wise began sore to complain.   

And woefully gave many a grievous groan,  
And for to die, she could not then with hold  
To mourn and make great lamentation,  
And tore her hair, and both her hands did fold,  
And said, alas (a hundred times and more)  
Oh fortune fell why is thy rage so sore   

Against us bend, that with most angry frown,  
Thou weau'st the web of our adversity?  
And plotting the utter ruin of our Town,  
Procurest our deaths with great extremity  
By sword of vengeance, (worse than pestilence,)  
Increasing of hate and extreme violence.   

Oh woeful Troy, what is thy gu●lt alas  
That thou must be destroyed & brought to nought?  
What hast thou done, or what is thy trespass,  
That for the same such vengeance should be wrought?  
Oh Priam noble King, what fault hast thou  
Committed 'gainst the Gods, that they as now   

Provoked are such vengeance great to throw  
On thee, and on thy whole posterity?  
Oh Mother dear, Queen Hecuba also,  
Tell me I thee beseech the certainty,  
What manner crime, and other great offence  
Hast thou committed, t'have such recompense?   

For to behold the days so terrible,  
When all thy sons in cruel wise shall die  
By dint of sword, and death most horrible:  
Why will you not alas your minds apply  
To hearken to my counsel now in time,  
And seek how to prevent while 'tis the prime,   

These dangers great before they do proceed  
Unto the full effect and period?  
Which by the Gods is certainly decreed,  
And by no means nor way may be withstood;  
Unless that we another course will shape,  
The doom of th'incensed Gods t'escape.   

The memory whereof doth so torment  
My grieved mind, that I cannot jndure  
The woe I feel. And therewithal she went  
To Priamus her Father to procure  
Some remedy, and fell upon the ground,  
And wept as fast as if she should have drowned   

In floods of tears, which trickled down her face▪  
And as her pain would her permit, she spoke  
To him, and cried in that most woeful case,  
Beseeching him some remedy to take  
In that extreme, as she that too well knew  
What danger by the same there would ensue.   

But all her tears and cries did nought prevail,  
For Priam would no answer thereto make,  
For as men say, what shall be, cannot fail,  
But in due time the full effect will take.  
And fortune with her smooth dissembling face,  
Offended (as it seems) with Trojan race;   

With malice did in heart against them burn▪  
And weighting to entrap them by a wile,  
Upon a sudden gave her wheel a turn,  
And that she might the sooner them beguile,  
She hastened them to their confusion,  
With wilfulness, and jndiscretion   

Against the Greeks a quarrel to undertake,  
And thereupon their counsel they did hold,  
And did agree that voyage then to make  
Into the Grecian land, fall out what would.  
But if they had been ruled by good advice,  
Of those that did persuade them to be wise.   

And follow Hector's counsel which he gave,  
And Helenus advise retained in mind,  
And well observed Percheus sentence grave,  
Which after they to be most true did find:  
And lastly to Cassandra's prophesy,  
Had bend their ●ares, and holdened for no lie:   

They had not fallen into such misery,  
As afterward they did, but had liu●d still  
In honour, and in great felicity.  
But Fortune that will always have her will  
Who ere saith nay, was cause that moved themso  
In haste upon their voyage for to go.   

And with looks smooth and full of flattery,  
And sugared words with venomous intent,  
To show her double heart and treachery,  
Pretending good, but unto mischief be●t.  
And watching time against them to prevail,  
With Faith in face, but fraud within her tail.   

So much enticed them to give consent,  
That Paris should in haste to Grecia go,  
That by no means they could themselves content,  
Till that they had agreed it should be so.  
Whose Voyage in the chapter doth ensue,  
I will at large declare and show to you.    

CHAP. four  
¶ How King Priam sent Paris, Diophebus, and others into Greece, to be revenged for the ravishing of his Sister Action, and how they being in Grecia ravished fair Helena wife to Menelaus, and brought her with them to Troy.  

WHen time approached that Titan 'gan to lead  
His chariot twixt the stars of Hiades,  
(Which have their seat in Taurus' horned head,)  
And in the glistering stars called Pleyades:  
Whereof six do continually appear  
Unto our sight, the seventh for shame & fear   

Doth hide her head, still thinking on her crime,  
And therefore dares nor show her beams so clear  
But keepeth back, and will not in due time  
With her fair sisters openly appear,  
Because that she with an earthly God did lie,  
And was found with him in adultery.   

And since that time she hath so bashful been,  
(And for her fact ashamed as doth appear,  
That seldom in our sight she willbe seen.)  
And when the Sun in the celestial sphere,  
Between these stars in full sixteenth degree,  
Of Taurus' heat was justly found to be,   

And in the sweet and pleasant month of May  
When Flora fills each meadow, hill, and dale,  
With fair and dainty flowers fresh and gay,  
And Zephyrus with his most pleasant gale  
Doth aid to clothe them there in liveries new,  
And makes their blossoms show with lively hue.   

And bid us to be merry, light, and glad,  
That they new fruit upon them gin to bear,  
'Gainst Autumn when as harvest in his had,  
And ripened grapes upon each Vine appear.  
In that same month when men for their disport,  
Do walk abroad themselves to recomfort,   

Rejoicing to behold the trees so full  
Of blossoms sweet, in hope that they will bear  
Good store of fruit, to gather and to pull,  
In ripening time, and season of the year,  
In midst of the fresh and pleasant spring,  
When little Birds delightful notes do sing.   

Paris and Deiphobus that were gone  
In haste into Panomie, purposely  
To mustar men and make provision,  
And all things for the Navy, speedily  
Return to Troy, and in their company  
Three thousand valiant Knights of great activity   

And twenty two fair ships well furnished,  
With all things that to them belonging were,  
Who having all provided that should need,  
King Priam did no longer time defer,  
But willed Lord Aeneas, Antenor,  
And Polidamus, and many trojans more   

To arm themselves, and preparation make,  
With Paris on that voyage for to go:  
And when they came their leaves of him to take,  
In pithy words he did unto them show  
The full effect of his intention,  
Was chiefly to recover Action.   

For when that Voyage especially he made,  
And so the time no longer to delay,  
When Paris and the rest together had  
Their leaves of Priam ta'en, they went their way,  
And entering ship, did presently set sail  
(In Venus' name,) in hope she would not fail   

By aid of jove, t'assist them in their need,  
And entering Sea, with weather fair and clear,  
And wind at will, they sailed with great speed,  
That in short time they unto land gr●w near.  
For nothing in their voyage did them let,  
And yet by chance upon the Sea they met   

A Ship wherein King Menelaus then was,  
That Sailed unto Pyilon there to see  
Duke Nestor, and the time with him to pass,  
Suspecting not each to other foes to be.  
Within those ships, the which King Menelaus  
Unto King Agamennon brother was,   

And husband to Queen Helena the fair,  
That sister was unto the brethren twain,  
King Castor and King Pollux, Knights that were  
Of great renown in arms, and did attain  
Unto such height therein, that for the same  
No Grecian Knights did ere deserve more fame.   

Who at that time remained within a Town  
Caldoro Strinester, their chief and princely seat,  
Wherein they jointly reigned with great renown,  
For that the love between them was so great  
That they could not jndure to live alone,  
And with them was the Princes Hermione.   

(A Lady that in beauty did excel  
The daughter of their sister Helena.)  
And yet although as then it so befell,  
That they together met upon the Sea,  
And that they sailed close by each others side,  
Yet were their hearts filled with inward pride,   

That neither to each other one made show  
To call or ask from wence they came or were,  
But passed along, and for the wind did blow  
Directly with the Troyans', and did bear  
Them swiftly thence, they did within a while  
Arrive before an old and ancient Isle,   

Which Cythera is called at this day.  
And there within the haven did anchor cast,  
Where presently not making any stay,  
appareling themselves, they did in haste  
Set foot on land with resolution stout,  
And hope to bring their purposesone about.   

(Within this Isle an ancient Temple was,  
Most pleasant and most beautiful to see,  
For that in sumptuous work it did surpass  
All other whatsoe'er in that country,  
Which honoured was of all both far and near  
Throughout the Land, and once in every year   

A solemn feast was kept within the same,  
Where many men with great devotion,  
In honour of the Goddess Venus came.  
To whom they use with superstition,  
(Which by them was observed from age to age,)  
To bring great gifts, and went on pilgrimage,   

And every man did offer sacrifice,  
Where while they kneeled and most devoutly said  
Their Orations to her in Parum wise,  
The Image unto them an answer made  
Of every thing whereof they stood in doubt,  
Resolving them, how that it would fall out.   

This custom they do use continually  
Within that Church so sumptuous and so brave,  
And did observe the same most reverently,  
(In hope that they the better speed should have.)  
And as the Gods would have't, their fortune was  
To go on shore the self same day when as   

This yearly feast was kept in solemn wise,  
Whereto great store of Grecians flocked and came  
From every place to offer sacrifice,  
And other rights t'observe about the same.  
The which as soon as Paris did espy,  
He took with him some of his company   

And with them to the Temple went his way,  
appareled in brave and sumptuous wise,  
T'observe the ancient rights there used that day,  
At Venus' shrine and t'offer sacrifice,  
And kneeling down with great devotion.  
Before her Altar made his Oration,   

And on it laid great store of jewels rare,  
oriental pearls, rich stones, and heaps of gold,  
(For at that time he would not seem to spare.)  
Which made the greeks admire, and to behold  
His beauty, sumptuous port and Majesty,  
And in their hearts to muse what he might be.   

For as the story saith, he was so fair▪  
That no man might therein compare with him.  
And therewithal so fine proportion bare,  
For comely shape of body and of limb,  
That there was never seen a braver Knight,  
For all men to behold him took delight.   

And priest in heaps about him for the same,  
Desiring much his name and state to know,  
And for what cause as then he thither came,  
And prayed his men the same to them to show:  
But they did make their answer in such wise,  
That no man by their speech could aught surmise.   

Yet some of them not fearing to declare,  
The truth both of his name and dwelling place,  
Did boldly tell, and thereof made no spare,  
That Priam King of Troy his Father was,  
A Prince of mighty force and great renown,  
And that he thither came for Action.   

And thus of him they did inquire and spoke,  
As they together were, and every one  
Of several minds did several verdicts make,  
And all of them were in suspicion:  
But chiefly they in whom no judgement were,  
For every man desireth news to hear.   

And whilst of him the speech went far and near,  
And past from man to man in Grecian land,  
Queen Helena at last thereof did hear,  
And when as she the same did understand,  
And truth thereof for certainty did know,  
Of those that went and came both too and fro,   

She could not rest until that with her eye,  
She found report and sight in one t'agree,  
And for that time determined to try  
The truth, and those brave Trojan Knights to see:  
(But more (God knows) of mere intention  
For Paris sake, then for devotion.)   

She feigned on a Pilgrimage to go,  
Unto the shrine of Venus' bright and clear,  
That unto her some honour she might show:  
And when all things for her prepared were,  
And she adorned most like a stately Queen,  
She went to see, and likewise to be seen.   

For what should move her else with such desire,  
And in her heart put such a motion,  
To go to see new sights; but secret fire  
Of wanton lust? and no devotion,  
Upon the Goddess Venus then to call.  
And as the manner is of women all,   

Delighting to be there where great resort  
Of people are, and tishew themselves at plays,  
And at each common pastime and disport,  
That men their beauties may commend & praise:  
And at their better liberty to see,  
How they may find an opportunity   

T'effect their wills, and always lie in wait,  
In places where their minds and thoughts are se●,  
In covert wise their wanton looks to ●ait,  
And privily like favour there to get  
From those they love, by glancing of the eye,  
And for to show what in their hearts doth lie.   

With touch of hand in secret 'mongst the press,  
Or pinch on arm, or on the foot to tread,  
Of those whom they do like, they never cease,  
Till of their wanton purpose they have sped:  
For 'gainst their wills there's neither wit nor might  
That may prevail: for be it wrong or right,   

They'll have their wills who so saith yea or nay,  
For to withstand their lust no man hath might,  
Thus much of them doth Guido boldly say,  
And throughout all his Book takes great delight,  
Of womenkind to speak nought else but ill,  
The which to write is sore against my will.   

an't grieves me that I must of force rehearse,  
The bitter words which in his Book are found,  
Whereby he doth their honours so reverse;  
For that I am to women so much bound:  
And sith theyare all so courteous and so kind,  
I dare notspeake of them more than I find   

In Guidoes' Book, which when I read, did make  
My very heart and senses all to tremble,  
And with the fear I had my hand did shake,  
To think my words with his I must resemble:  
But to amend his fault, as loathe t'abide  
Too long in speaking ill, he seems to chide   

With Helena, because that then she went  
With feigned show of great devotion,  
Her offering unto Venus to present,  
When as she had another motion  
Within her heart, the which she should have stayed,  
And in these words his mind he spoke, & said:   

The greatest cross that man on earth can find,  
And of all woes beginning, and the root,  
Is the deceit and fraud of womenkind,  
Against the which to strive it doth not boot:  
For when as lust doth in their hearts prevail,  
Some mischief doth ensue without all fail.   

Which no man can by any means restrain,  
Whereof let fair Queen Helen sample be,  
The which could not her inward lust refrain,  
But needs would go the Trojan Knight to see,  
Whom he had never known in all his life,  
For which there did arise such mortal strife,   

That thousands for her sake were after slain,  
And brought unto their ends by cruelty.  
But Helena, in sooth now tell me plain,  
What ugly ghost was it that moved thee,  
To leave thy loving Lord and husband so,  
And all along on pilgrimage to go?   

Didst thou at home live discontentedly,  
That needs thou must go seek for company?  
Thou rather shouldst have stayed privately  
Within thy house, and not so carelessly  
Have left the same in absence of thy King:  
But sure thou wast too wilful in that thing,   

And negligent, to think what might ensue;  
Thou oughtest t'have kept thyself out of thy bounds,  
And not have ta'en thy flight within thy mew,  
But thou went'st out like Hare amongst the hounds,  
There to be caught of very wilfulness:  
For true, it is, and so thou must confess,   

That thou couldst not thy wanton lust refrain,  
And wilfully thy feigned vow wouldst keep.  
But oh how many women have been ta'en  
In such a snare, when fitter 'twas to sleep  
Within their beds, and not abroad been found!  
Was't ever heard that any ship was drowned,   

Or cast on rocks, and all in pieces rend,  
Or tossed in seas by weather foul and ill,  
If that unto the sea it never went,  
But always kept within the haven still?  
So he that no occasions will eschew,  
Nor fear what danger after may ensue,   

Cannot but needs must of necessity,  
At unawares, when least he doth suspect,  
Fall into trouble and adversity:  
And he that is so foolish to neglect  
His way, and of his footing hath no care,  
Let him take heed he falls not in a snare.   

For when as any harm is done and passed,  
It is too late thereof for to repent:  
If Helena had in her mind forecast  
What after might ensue, and been content  
To stay at home, bad rumour had not run  
Of her throughout the world as it hath done.   

Which her mishap men pity may of right,  
That she the cause was and destruction  
Of many a valiant, brave, and worthy Knight,  
And likewise brought unto confusion  
Her husband, and full many thousands more,  
That in her quarrel fought, & died therefore.   

Thus Helen unto Cithezon did go,  
In all her brave and Princely ornaments,  
And solemnly (although with feigned shoe)  
Her offering made, with many rich presents  
Unto the Goddess Venus, on whose name  
She called, cried, and prayed t'accept the same.   

When Paris this advantage had espied,  
With all the haste and speed that ere he might,  
Unto the Temple presently he hide,  
Where he of her no sooner had a sight,  
But he was pierced through with Cupid's dart,  
And stricken in love even at the very heart.   

So much he mused at her great seemliness,  
Her goodly face, and her enticing eye,  
Her fine proportion, and her comeliness,  
And last of all, her great and rare beauty:  
Presuming that for fame and feature,  
Nature near framed a fairer creature.   

So Angel like to him she did appear,  
And therewithal she was so amiable,  
That in his sight she seemed as if she were  
A heavenly Goddess, fair and admirable:  
For in his heart he did himself assure,  
That she could be no mortal creature.   

So fair and so celestial she did look,  
In every part, whereof most curiously  
Within his heart a perfect view he took,  
And well beheld and marked advisedly,  
Her golden hair like to the radiant streams,  
Which do descend from Phoebus' glistering beams.   

Her beautiful complexion clear and bright,  
Her cherry checks like to the Damask Rose,  
Mixed with the leaves of Lilies pure and white,  
Her christ all eyes, which in them did enclose  
A Paradise of pleasure and delight,  
And able were with their transparent sight,   

This amorous heart clean through & through to pierce  
All which with other parts in her that were,  
If I should take upon me to rehearse,  
As Guido doth from head to foot declare  
The same at large, with eloquent devise,  
My english tongue thereto would not suffice:   

For that our speech and Latin are unlike,  
I likewise want the Art of Portraiture,  
And have no skill in copious Rhetoric,  
For to describe so fair a Creature.  
And of the Muses nine I know not one:  
Therefore I must unto you every one,   

Excuse myself, though not of negligence,  
For that no want of will there is in me,  
But only for default of eloquence,  
And unto Guido send you there to see,  
How orderly he did declare the same,  
So that to take't on me I were too blame.   

But I will to the point proceed and show,  
How Paris still his eye on her did cast,  
And in the temple walked too and fro,  
Till having well bethought himself at last,  
To ease his heart inflamed with Cupid's fire,  
He did approach unto her somewhat nigher:   

And still full of this colour went and came,  
So deeply was his mind with love possessed,  
And Helena for her part did the same,  
And privately in heart could take no rest:  
But still on him by stealth did cast an eye,  
Though outwardly none could her well espy.   

For as she thought she never saw his peer,  
'mongst all the men that on the earth did live,  
For comeliness and beauty passing clear,  
Nor that to her contentment more did give:  
So that on nothing else she set her mind,  
But how she might a fit occasion find,   

And have the means and opportunity,  
Conveniently with him a word to speak,  
In other place at better liberty,  
Which was the only thing that she did seek:  
And still her countenance changed. For Cupid's fire  
In both their hearts had kindled like desire.   

And clothed them with Venus' livery,  
And yet no message twixt them then there went,  
But privy looks glancing from the e●e,  
Assured them what each to other meant:  
And made them wish in heart, that secretly  
An amorous combat twixt them they might try,   

And their desires unto each other shoe.  
At last as Paris by degrees him got  
Up higher, and unto the place did go,  
Whereas the fair Queen Helena then: sat:  
In secret wise together they did speak,  
And as they might their minds to other break.   

Declaring what did punish them at the heart,  
But this was done lest that it should be spied,  
When as the press of people did depart,  
And such as stayed were busy occupied  
To stare upon the temple, and to gaze  
About the same, as people in a maze,   

To see it so adorned in sumptuous wise,  
And while they spoke not any one might hear  
A word that past, lest that they should surmise,  
That twixt them any bad intent there were,  
Nor what their secret speech as then should mean.  
At last it was agreed by the Queen   

And Paris with one full and free consent,  
What time they should together meet again,  
And so they both out of the Temple went,  
(Though loath) with hearts replete with lovers pain,  
And that they might avoid suspicion.  
When Paris from Queen Helena as gone,   

With present speed unto his ship he went,  
Where having sta●d a while, without delay  
For all the Trojan Lords and Knights he seat,  
To whom in pithy words he 'gan to say,  
My Lords and friends in brief to you to tell,  
The cause unto you all is known full well,   

Wherefore to Greece my Father hath us sent,  
And what Commission to us he did give:  
You know it was the full of his intent,  
That we should seek to take and to relieve  
My noble Aunt, the Princely Action,  
Out of the hands of proud King Telamonius.   

The which to do I can devise no way,  
How it by us should well effected be,  
For no man can this unto me denay,  
That he is mighty strong in his Country:  
And well allied with friends on every side,  
And hath an heart abounding with such pride,   

That to leave her by force he doth disdain.  
The best way than that I can now devise,  
(Sith with him so to deal it is in vain,  
And that our power thereto doth not suffice:  
Because we are not able to withstand  
His force, nor with him fight within his Land.)   

Is, sith that fortune hath us hither brought,  
And caused us by adventure here to land,  
(When as God knows it was not in our thought)  
At Venus' home, that not far hence doth stand,  
And wherein at this time there is great store  
Of jewels, Gold, and other treasures more,   

The which the greeks unto it hither bring  
By sea and land, and there both rich and poor,  
To Venus' use to make their offering,  
And her therein most solemnly adore:  
And that the fair Queen Helen now is there,  
I think that it the best course for us were   

To bear her hence by force, and prisoner make,  
And having put the Grecians to the foil,  
Their gold and treasure forcibly to take,  
And them of it and of their lives to spoil:  
Which having done without all tarrying,  
The same into our ships this night to bring.   

Whereof we cannot fail who ere saith nay,  
And to that end (said he) let's ready make,  
And without further respect or delay,  
Our armours and our weapons to us take:  
To set on them with all our force and might,  
Which said, within their ships they stayed till night,   

Till Phoebus did on earth no more appear,  
But was gone down as 'twas his wonted guise,  
And glistering stars did shine most bright & clear:  
Before the Moon that time began to rise,  
They all went forth their ships in brave array,  
And to the temple strait did take their way.   

Intending not long in the same to tarry,  
And so in hast they entered Cithaeron,  
Where going strait unto the Sanctuary,  
(Without all manner of devotion,  
To Venus done in her Oratory,  
For it was then out of their memory   

To worship her, they had no such intent,  
But only for to rob and spoil the same,  
Whereto as then their minds were wholly bend)  
All what so ere unto their hands then came  
They took and bore away, and nothing left  
Within the Church nor I slay, but them bereft   

Of all their jewels, precious stones, and gold,  
Their relics and their vessels sacared,  
And every other thing what ere they could,  
Were it profane, or were it hallowed,  
They made it prey, and in their furious mood,  
Did kill and slay all those that them withstood.   

And many that with ghastly wounds did bleed,  
Which they received had to save their right,  
As prisoners to their ships with them were led,  
(Not able to withstand their puissant might:)  
Which after lived in long captivity,  
With sorrow, grief, and great extremity.   

While Paris earnestly for Helen sought,  
Whom when he found in courteous wise he kissed,  
And joy fully within his arms her caught,  
For she seemed not to strive nor to resist:  
But yielded unto him without delay,  
For't had been but mere folly to say nay.   

Her heart being won before that he came there,  
She could not strive, (for women 'tis not fit)  
And for that cause to yield she had less fear,  
And he with such good words as then were meet  
Did comfort her, and therewith did her bear  
Unto his ship, and letting her stay there   

Well guarded by his men returned again,  
To make an end of his desired prey.  
Not far from thence within a pleasant plain  
A Castle stood, where many soldiers lay  
To keep the same, who waking gave a shout,  
And suddenly at once did issue out,   

Andran in haste to rescue Cithaeron.  
But ere they came the Trojans had their prey,  
And with the same unto their ships were gone,  
Wherewith the greeks did make no long delay  
But followed them, and then began to fight  
On either side, with all their force and might.   

And Tiger like each other slew and killed,  
Till many dead within the field did lie,  
For neither unto other than would yield,  
But at the last the greeks were forced to fly:  
For that the Trojans doubled them in number  
With multitudes, and did them sore encumber.   

And made them run back to the Castle gate,  
In hope to save themselves therein by flight,  
But all in vain for them, for 'twas too late,  
The Trojans were of so great force and might,  
That to resist it could them not avail,  
So cruelly they did them then assail.   

And furiously did put them all to death,  
Not sparing one, but all they overtook,  
By dint of sword did yield their vital breath,  
And when the field by force they had forsook,  
The battle by the Trojans being won,  
In fierce and furious wise he then begun   

The Castle strait to ransack and to pill,  
Wherein they did great store of treasure gain,  
And having done their pleasures and their will,  
With that and all the rest they did obtain  
In Cithaeron, unto their ships they went,  
And as it was their purpose and intent.   

The wind as then being good and peaceable,  
They sailed towards Troy without delay,  
And having weather fair and comfortable,  
They did arrive within the seventh day  
That they put to the sea, at Tenedowne,  
A Castle standing near unto the Town.   

And presently out of their ships they went,  
And with all speed the King advertised,  
(By messenger whom they in haste then sent)  
Of their return▪ and how that they had sped:  
The which when Priam heard he was full glad,  
And in his heart such joy and pleasure had,   

That their affairs so well had fallen out,  
That in all haste by his authority,  
He caused it to be published round about  
The town of Troy, with great solemnity:  
Comanding that for those good news they should,  
In sumptuous wise a solemn feastday hold.   

To thank their Gods in meek and humble wise,  
And on their Altars with devotion,  
To offer them great gifts and sacrifice,  
While Paris staying still at Tenedon,  
Did welcome, feast, and Princely entertained  
Queen Helena, that wept and sore complained.   

And evermore bewailed her fortune fell,  
That so 'mongst strangers comfortless alone,  
She was constrained against her will to dwell  
far sequestered from friends, and knew not one,  
To whom she might declare in privity,  
The grief she had for her Captivity.   

And still she wept and wailed with piteous cheer,  
That floods of tears down from her cheeks did rain,  
Distilling from her eyes most fair and clear,  
And through the great extremity and pain  
Which she then felt, she sighed bitterly,  
And with a woeful voice did often cry.   

To think how she had left King Menelaus,  
For which she wished death her heart to ease,  
And for that cause became so furious,  
That nothing could her grief and woe appease:  
And more t'increase and multiply her pain,  
When as she thought upon her brethren twain,   

Her Husband, and her little Daughter dear  
Fair Hermion, whom she did love so well,  
Her face with grief did pale and wan appear,  
Which other times in beauty did excel  
The Lily flower, and much the same surpass:  
But then her roseate colour changed was.   

And more and more her grief did still increase,  
That in her face she was clean altered,  
And by no means her sorrow would surcease,  
But in most doleful wise that life she led:  
Till Paris to relieve her heaviness,  
Went unto her, and with all gentleness,   

And pleasant words somewhat appeased her mind,  
And said, alas most fair and noble Queen,  
Why are you to yourself so much unkind?  
I surely think that purposely you mean,  
And will your death and final end procure,  
Or else you would not such extreme grief endure▪   

Nor causeless shed so many a brinish tear,  
That with the same you wet your outward weed,  
And show yourself like unto one that were  
A penitent, lamenting her misdeed:  
Alas fair Queen, alas, why do you so?  
Let all this grief and sorrow now clean go.   

And live no more sweet Lady in distress,  
But leave your woe and cherish up your heart,  
And think no more upon this heaviness,  
But as it is a prudent woman's part,  
Be glad, and what so ever you will crave  
Of me or mine, be sure you shall it have.   

Let pass I say these salt and brinish tears,  
For 'tis in vain in sorrow still to live,  
And here my faith I plight to you and yours,  
That I will you maintain, keep, and relieve,  
In better sort than ever yet you were  
By Menelaus, and therefore have no fear.   

For I will do what I to you protest,  
Upon the faith and honour of a Knight,  
For falsehood in my heart I do detest.  
Wherewith the Queen as well as then she might,  
Feigning sighs with water in her eyes  
Did answer him, and spoke in lovely wise:   

I know (said she) whether I be loath or lief,  
Unto your will I must not now say nay,  
Although it be to my no little grief,  
For she that's bound, of force must needs obey:  
And sith that from your hands I cannot fly,  
I rest content with my Captivity.   

Which ('gainst my will) constrains me here to dwell.  
For it belongeth not to womenkind,  
In foreign soil to strive or to rebel,  
Where they are like no favour great to find:  
And that their cause shall not maintained be.  
But if you list in heart to pity me,   

And in your mind conceive so good a deed,  
As to extend to us some charity,  
While that you live you shall the better speed:  
For he that helps man in necessity,  
And comforts them that are in woe and grief,  
Shall never fail of comfort and relief.   

Then Lady dear, quoth Paris, I assure  
Unto you now, that what so ere you crave,  
I will the same at your desire procure,  
And thereof in your heart assurance have:  
And that in such abundance as you list,  
For no man shall your will and hest resist.   

And therefore be no whit at all dismayed,  
But comfort take and certainly believe,  
That I will do what ever I have said,  
And now (said he) all sorrow clean remove:  
And saying so, he led her to a place,  
That purposely for her prepared was.   

Where, after certain speeches twixt them two,  
In secret wise when they together were,  
He did begin her plainly there to woe,  
And unto her did say, my Lady dear,  
(Think not I call you so, to please your mind,  
But from my very heart as you shall find.)   

And therefore entertain within your thought,  
What I to you shall speak, and thus I say,  
S●th that by gods decree y'are hither brought,  
(For no man can their will and power stay)  
I dare affirm that you were not accursed  
Therein, and that they do't not for the worst,   

But for your good, and so you must it take,  
And sith there is no other remedy,  
You must of your necessity virtue make,  
And be as glad, and live as merrily,  
As if you were within your native land,  
For now I give and plight to you my hand.   

That here you shall at pleasure all things have,  
How dear so ere it doth unto me cost,  
And what so ere your heart can wish or crave,  
You shall it have, and hereof dare I boast,  
That this our land, (as well it shall be found)  
In every thing doth plenteously abound.   

And much more than within the Grecian land,  
And though that far from th' Island called Achay,  
You are as now, sith you cannot withstand  
Your fortune, you must not yourself dismay:  
For that with more and greater majesty,  
Honour, duty, wealth and dignity,   

You shall be served here, then there you were.  
And cause you must your husband now forsake,  
And 'gainst your will his company forbear,  
For which you seem such sorrow here to make,  
Your care therein by me shall soon be eased,  
For that if you therewith be not displeased:   

In stead of him I will your husband be,  
And love and honour you with all my heart,  
If you can likewise think so well of me:  
And till that death by force shall make us part,  
I will be true both in my word and deed,  
For in my heart I fully have decreed,   

To be to you as loving and as kind▪  
As dutiful, as friendly, and as true,  
As ever you King Menelaus did find,  
And in all things will yield to you your due:  
And here my faith and troth to you I plight;  
To last until that death with dart me smite.   

And though my words do seem but rude & plain▪  
I hope for that you will me not disgrace,  
Nor any whit this my request disdain,  
Sith I descend and come of roy all race,  
And am as noble of degree and blood  
As Menelaus, and in each point as good;   

And will to you more faithful be in love  
Then ere he was, and never change for new,  
For nothing shall my heart from you remove;  
Then sith this I protest to you is true,  
I pray you now leave off to wail and weep,  
And let some comfort in your bosom creep:   

For little doth avail this woe and grief,  
If you consider well your own estate,  
And thank the Gods that send you such relief  
In your distress, and think y'are fortunate  
To hap so well, and this is all I crave,  
That love for love of you I now may have.   

Alas (said she) can it possible be,  
That I which have my friends abandoned,  
And live in sorrow and adversity,  
Should not be grieved, and wish that I were dead?  
I see no cause why I should cease to cry,  
Nor yet my cheeks from brinish tears to dry.   

It cannot be, for sure it were 'gainst kind,  
That my so sore and great extremity,  
I should so soon abandon out of mind,  
And that the thing which toucheth me so nigh,  
And is the only cause of this my smart,  
Could be so lightly cast out of my heart:   

And for whose sake I am as now constrained,  
To sorrow for our separation:  
But sith the Gods for me have thus ordained,  
That I should love in this strange Nation,  
I am content to take it patiently,  
And to their hests t'ob●y submissively.   

For folly 'twere to strive against their will.  
Wherefore as now myself I will provoke,  
(Although it seem my very heart to kill)  
For to submit my neck unto this yoke:  
And 'gainst my will of mere necessity,  
Obey to what so ere you'll do with me,   

For't would not help if that I shall't refuse.  
And thus somewhat he did her grief appease,  
And yet what ere she said, she could not choose  
But think thereon. But what should she disease  
Herself so much, sith 'tis a thing most sure,  
An heart of ●●int could not so much endure.   

For 'tis the common use of womenkind,  
Till they have wept and wailed at their will,  
Near to surcease nor to content their mind,  
But when they have of sorrow had their fill,  
And wearied are therewith, they will as fast,  
All sorrow from their hearts as lightly cast:   

And soon lay hold on comfort in their grief,  
A man their hearts may easily dissever,  
From woe to joy, from sorrow to relief,  
There is no storm that can endure for ever:  
For as the learned write, things violent,  
By nature's course cannot be permanent.   

When storms are passed the Sun much brighter is,  
And shineth hotter after than before,  
So by the speech and counsel of Paris,  
Fair Helena as then did weep no more.  
For as the fair and pleasant morning bright,  
By custom and by kind doth follow night:   

Right so in time her heart began to cheer,  
And of her tears the floods likewise to dry,  
And having clean abandoned all fear,  
She lived in Troy with Paris joyfully:  
As in the Chapter following you may see,  
Whereas at large it shall declared be.    

CHAP. V.  
v. How Paris was received into Troy at his return out of Greece, and how he was married to Queen Helena.  

WHen Helena had left her mourning cheer,  
And that her rosent colour showed again,  
Within her face most beautiful and clear,  
And had forgotten all her grief and pain:  
Paris that was in heart so amorous,  
In haste did send unto King Priamus,   

For horse and men, apparel gorgeous,  
And divers costly jewels of great prize,  
That Helena might show more glorious,  
And enter Troy in brave and sumptuous wise:  
And all things he desired being sent,  
Without delay to Troy with her he went.   

And by the way King Priamus them met,  
Accompanied with his Nobility,  
And many fair and gallant Ladies great,  
And maidens by their birth of high degree:  
And with them store of knights that were most brave▪  
And Citizens which their attendance gave.   

To welcome Paris, who as then did ride  
With all his prisoners, two and two before,  
And he, and Deiphobus on each side  
Of Helena, to honour her the more:  
And after them the Lords of high degree,  
And all the rest most orderly to see.   

And tween each rank did leave a little space,  
That so their train the longer might appear,  
And in that sort they road an easy pace,  
Till that by Priam they encountered were:  
Who met them in a fair and pleasant plain,  
And in his hand took Helen's horses rain.   

And so conveyed her into the town,  
Where store of people flocked on every side,  
And all the way along ran up and down,  
To gaze and look upon their new come bride:  
The Trumpets sounding in most stately wise,  
Which made their echo mount up to the skies.   

And many another kind of Instrument,  
In sundry wise played several melody  
Before them as into the Town they went,  
So that to hear the pleasant harmony,  
'Twould make man's heart to leap & mount for joy.  
And when they all were entered into Troy,   

King Priam at his Palace did alight,  
And by the hand did take the Grecian Queen,  
And strait with all convenient speed he might,  
Led her into a Chamber well beseen:  
Commanding all his Officers to see,  
That all what ere she need prepared should be.   

And calling for a cup of wine, he drank  
Unto the Queen to welcome her withal,  
Forthwith she did in humble wise him thank,  
And so he went again into the Hall  
Till supper time, and left her there to make  
Her ready, and her ease mean while to take.   

But of the joy that was within the town,  
In every place where people sat together,  
And in the streets of Troy walked up and down,  
And spoke thereof the one unto the other:  
My stile is all to rude of it to write,  
So much they did in heart and mind delight.   

That Paris safely home returned is,  
And in his voyage sped so luckily,  
And of his men not any one did miss,  
But all had scaped death most happily:  
And to fulfil their joy upon next day,  
As Guido in his Latin verse doth say,   

They did the time no further off prolong,  
But with all speed t' Apollo's Temple went,  
And fore the Lark that morn begun his song,  
Together did with full and free consent,  
Give faith and troth, & knit the wedlock band  
Between them two, for evermore to stand.   

Whereto the King himself did give consent,  
And all his Lords and Nobles in likewise,  
The Commons also were therewith content  
And greed thereto, in favour of Paris:  
And so the wedding feast most royally,  
Continued was with great solemnity   

Within the town of Troy for eight days space.  
To write each kind of revel, sport, and dance,  
The several sorts of mirths that then there was,  
The brave attire and lofty countenance  
Of Courtiers proud, and lovers amorous,  
The privy grudging of the jealous.   

The run and the tilts on every day,  
The divers courses served at the feast,  
The several kinds of music that did play,  
The Largesse given, the overplus did rest,  
When all was done whole thousands to suffice;  
My English will not serve for to devise,   

Such terms and phrases as sufficient were  
To show the same. But when the certainty  
Thereof did come unto Cassandra's ear,  
A thousand sighs she fetched and 'gan to cry:  
And woefully did tear and rend her hairs,  
And in this sort her face all wet with tears,   

Said wretched Troy, why erst thou in this case,  
And giv'st consent unto this villainy,  
Why art thou now become so void of grace,  
As to maintain so foul adultery:  
And sufferest Paris thus to wed and wive  
Queen Helena, whose husband is alive?   

Oh woeful Troy too cruel is thy fate,  
The time is come thou shalt destroyed be,  
To shun the same it is now all too late,  
For many Fathers shall their children lee  
This day in health, the next day shall be slain,  
And midst the fields lie wounded in great pain.   

And many wives in sorrow great shall weep,  
To see their husbands lie in open field,  
Their bodies pierced and cut with wounds full deep,  
And there in grievous wise their breaths to yield:  
Alas how can they choose but sore complain,  
And yet must be content and this sustain.   

Oh wretched Mother, woeful is thy case,  
To lose thy children without remedy,  
And see them slain each one before thy face,  
And shall not helped though near so loud thou cry:  
Alas (good Queen) what grief shall thee surpresse,  
And yet shalt and no ease in thy distress.   

Oh Troyans blinded with security,  
Why will you not be ruled by my advise,  
And to avoid the Grecians cruelty,  
With speed make separation twixt Paris  
And Helena, and their foul act abhor,  
And her again unto her Lord restore.   

What, think you that his theft and cruel deed,  
The Grecians will forget and not require?  
No, no, assure yourselves without all dread,  
The sword of vengeance shall most sharply bite  
For his offence, and will endure the smart,  
When as we shall behold in spite our heart,   

Our Palaces and houses all cast down,  
And cruelly destroyed before our face,  
And lastly the subversion of our town,  
Which at the Grecians hands shall find no grace:  
Alas, alas, most reckless Queen Helaine,  
Unhappy woman causer of our pain.   

Bold misadvised, and merely without grace,  
Thou only art procurer of our care,  
And sole disturber of our happy peace,  
And kindled hast the brand of cruel war:  
For thou alone art ground and root of all  
The mischief that on us is like to fall.   

And shall see many a doleful funeral,  
And mournful feasts held herewithin this town,  
Thus did Cassandra loudly cry and call,  
To every one as she went up and down  
Throughout the streets, & boldly to them told,  
What by that means unto them happen should.   

Still crying out alas and wellaway,  
Are you so hard of heart that you nought fear?  
And no man could her furious course then stay,  
Till Priamus the King thereof did hear:  
Who that she might no more such crying make  
About the Town, he did her cause to take,   

And being bound with chains in prison cast,  
Where she remained long time in misery,  
(And no man for her words and counsel past,  
But lived all in great security:)  
Where I will let her lie to weep and mourn,  
And to the greeks my stile again return.   

The most unhappy time being come, and while  
That fortune willed the Trojans to be glad,  
And with dissembling face on them did smile,  
For which great joy and triumph than they made:  
Supposing that all things would fall out we'll,  
Not thinking on the turning of the wheel   

Of her that is as wavering as the clock,  
And when men trust her most will turn aside,  
And suddenly unto them give a mock,  
For in deceit she hath her only pride:  
And loves to hide her beauty under cloud,  
Against whose might there's no man can him shroud   

For when she fawns, she's least to trust upon,  
For in her smile the Trojans little thought,  
That she pretended their confusion,  
And by that means which they as then had sought:  
For they supposed of that to be secure  
Which they desired, & should the Greeks procure   

To yield unto their wills and not resist,  
Supposing by that thing by Paris done,  
They should be forced to do what ere they list.  
But when report thereof abroad did run,  
And tidings unto Menelaus was brought,  
Of all the wrongs 'gainst him by Trojans wrought.   

Whilst he with Nestor did at Pirrha stay,  
Where he received news most certainly  
What they had done in th' Island Citheray,  
And what exceeding rage and tyranny,  
They did upon his men there execute,  
As also of th' assault and hot pursuit   

That on the greeks they made that fled away,  
And how they spared no man nor womankind,  
But killed some, and took the rest as pray,  
And all the gold and treasure they could find:  
And when he heard how they had ta'en his wife,  
Whom he did love as dearly as his life,   

And more, if more might be, a thousand fold,  
His face did look with pale and deadly hue,  
And therewithal his heart did wax so cold  
With sorrow which therein did still renew:  
That with much grief being cast into a sound,  
Like senseless corpse he fell unto the ground,   

And could upon his feet no longer stand:  
Which when Duke Nestor marked, & saw him strive  
Twixt life and death, he took him by the hand,  
And speedily did him again revive:  
Wherewith he sighed and said, now woe is me,  
That of my wife I should bereaved be,   

Which was my only joy and my delight.  
Come death I say and with thy cruel dart,  
(Sith fortune hath to me done this despite)  
In pieces twain now cleave my woeful heart:  
For I cannot endure that Helena  
My Queen should thus from me be borne away.   

Farewell my joy, farewell my chiefest bliss,  
Now strangers have thee in possession,  
And I the thing I love do so much do miss,  
And must endure't with extreme passion:  
Would God I knew how that they do entreat  
My Helena, that was to me so sweet.   

Now thou art gone the thought of thee me slayth,  
And I must live in sorrow, grief, and woe,  
Expecting still my end by cruel death.  
And therewithal he said, that he would go  
To Sparta, therein comfortless alone,  
His great & grievous loss to wail and moan.   

But Nestor would not leave his company,  
But went with him for consolation,  
By all means seeking how to pacify  
His mind; and having great compassion  
On his distress, did make no longer stay,  
But did him to his Country thence convey.   

And being there arrived with woeful heart,  
By letters sent in post to every place,  
He did unto his brethren twain impart,  
His great mischance, and sad, and woeful case:  
Desiring them to come to him with speed,  
To aid him with their counsel in his need.   

And first to King Agamemnon did write,  
And to King Castor and King Pollux send,  
Desiring them with all the speed they might,  
In his distress their aid to him to lend:  
And when they came and saw his countenance dead,  
Like to a man with thought half murdered,   

They could not choose but for his sorrow grieve,  
And by persuasions sought the same to ease,  
But when they saw they could it not remove  
Out of his mind, nor him no whit appease:  
King Agamemnon wisely 'gan to speak,  
And in these words his mind to him did break;   

Brother (said he) what woe, what heaviness,  
What deadly grief doth thus torment your mind,  
And as it seems your senses all oppress  
So furiously; and we no case can find,  
You should do thus? but grant it to be true,  
That cause for to be grieved is given you:   

Yet you should be so armed with providence,  
That what so ere dislike were offered you,  
You should thereat not seem to take offence,  
And make as though thereof you nothing knew:  
For that a wise man in adversity,  
Should joyful countenance show, and secretly   

Conceive in mind the thing that doth him grieve,  
And privily within his breast enclose  
His wrath and ire, that none might it perceive,  
Nor let it once be known unto his foes:  
For 'tis the counsel of the provident,  
That when man's heart with fury thinks to rend,   

He should not seem to be possessed with ire,  
Till that he findeth fit occasion,  
To kindle and revive the burning fire  
Of vengeance, when his foe thinks not thereon:  
For grief show'd outwardly, by proof we find  
Two things doth breed, which are of several kind;   

First, it provokes thy friend to sigh full sore,  
(For nature binds him to lament thy grief)  
And it doth cause thy foe rejoice the more,  
(For he is glad when thou dost want relief:)  
Wherefore when grief most in thy heart doth lie,  
Show cheerful face to cross thine enemy.   

And make as though thou dost esteem at nought,  
The thing which doth thee most torment and vex,  
And evermore remaineth in thy thought,  
Ye though it doth thee near so much perplex:  
And where thou hast most cause for to complain,  
There make best show, & joyful countenance feign.   

For into tears although thou shouldst distil,  
And never cease tormenting of thy mind,  
Yea though thyself thou shouldest therewith kill,  
Thou couldst but little ease and pleasure find:  
For vengeance near was ta'en, nor honour won,  
By any thing that man that way hath done.   

For though it lasteth long, it brings no gain,  
It's said the man that can dissemble wrong,  
(Although it be with inward greet and pain)  
Is subtle, and of valiant heart and strong:  
And he that can be peaceable in smart,  
Doth well declare he hath a noble heart.   

For he that weeps like women in their rage,  
And thinks by words and tears to ease his pain,  
His sorrow and his grief shall near assuage,  
And by no means to honour shall attain:  
Let's not with words, but with our weapons fight,  
And hold our tongs, & manlike try our might.   

Words are but wind, and water 'tis we weep,  
And though the storms & floods of either two  
Do multiply, and us in sorrow keep,  
They do no good but still increase our woe:  
And to our foes (when as that they do ●e●●e  
That we do make so sad and heavy 〈◊〉   

It doth increase and multiply their joy,  
And gives them cause much more to laugh at us;  
Wherefore let not this sorrow thee annoy,  
Which now doth seem so to torment thee thus:  
For it is said, the courage of a Knight  
Is proved, when as with mischief and despite   

He is not feared, nor in adversity  
Doth not himself faint-heartedly submit  
To any danger what so ere it be,  
Nor doth impair his honour any whit  
Through foul despair, but hopeth always well,  
And hath a mind as firm as any steel,   

T'effect the thing that he doth take in hand,  
And his desire at last to satisfy;  
For this from me I pray you understand,  
That he which in himself hath fantasy  
T'assail his foe, and venture life and limb,  
What ere befall or happeneth unto him,   

And takes the chance that unto him is cast;  
He commonly near fails in victory,  
And having dangers all clean overpast,  
In fine obtaineth praise eternally:  
And now 'tis time to speak in words but few,  
Good brother mine your valour forth to show,   

To cheer your heart, and for to make you strong,  
The forces of your foes for to withstand,  
And to revenge your damages and wrong,  
And we thereto will put our helping hand:  
And all with one consent, and force, and might,  
Assist you in your need t'obtain your right.   

And in despite of all that shall us let,  
Within the fields before the Town of Troy  
Will plant our siege, and there our tents up set,  
And ere we part will't utterly destroy,  
Albeit as now I can appoint no day.  
Therefore let us with all the speed we may   

Send messengers into the Grecian Land,  
The Princes of the same to certify  
Of these your wrongs, & crave their helping hand  
T'assist you, and the same to remedy:  
And so full well revenge yourself you may,  
And this is all that I to you can say.   

King Menelaus' therewith somewhat appeased,  
Began more cheerful countenance to make,  
And with his heart and mind thereby was eased,  
All outward grief did presently forsake:  
And seeing that by care he coulded not mend,  
To all his friends throughout the land did send.   

And first his Kin and allies he did move,  
By showing them what had chanced unto him,  
Desiring them of courtesy and love,  
His case as 'twere their own for to esteem:  
And with their powers assistants to him be,  
To aid him in his great extremity.   

His letters seen and read, there did resort  
Achilles, and Patroclus Princes stout,  
Diomedes, and others to his Court:  
Who having heard what things had fallen out,  
Did all with one consent and will agree,  
Upon the King of Troy revenged to be.   

And in that case and enterprise referred  
Themselves unto the prudent government  
Of valiant King Agamemnon, preferred  
By them (with all their full and free consent)  
To be the chief Commander of their host,  
Provided at each several Prince's cost.   

With faithful vow and promise to maintain  
And follow wars, while life & means should last,  
Against their foes triumphantly to gain  
Renown and fame when vital days were passed:  
Thereof to leave perpetual memory,  
From age to age, to their posterity.   

But ere they did assemble all their men,  
And bring them to the place by them assigned,  
Queen Helena had two valiant brethren,  
King Pollux and King Castor, grieved in mind  
To think thereon, their ship did rig in haste,  
And with the same to sea did high them fast,   

Accompanied with many a valiant Knight,  
In mind t'oretake the Trojans on the way,  
And to recover Helen by their might,  
But Gods decree no mortal man can stay:  
For ere that they three days had sailed along  
The Grecian seas, the wind did blow so strong,   

And such a darkness rose within the skies,  
That it did seem as day had turned to night,  
And therewithal so great a storm did rise,  
That billows huge against the ship did smite:  
And then a great and mighty clap of thunder,  
Struck down their masts, & broke them clean in sunder.   

And with the furious blasts of Aeolus,  
The wave so high did mount unto the sky,  
And made them swell so huge monstruous,  
That every man made full account to die:  
And after they had tossed too and fro,  
Sometimes aloft, and then again as low.   

The waters green and white so sore did rage,  
And seemed to boil with fury of the wind,  
That nothing could th'unpiteous tempest suage,  
Nor yet procure the Grecians ease in mind:  
For what so ere resistance they would make,  
At last the ship in many pieces broke.   

And rend in twain with great extremity,  
Whereby not one escaped, but all were drowned,  
And in the raging Seas cast furiously,  
And of them all not any one was found  
To save their lives, except the Brethren twain,  
Who as in Stories Poets of them feign,   

The Gods did in the heavens deify,  
And in the skies did place them there to be  
A star in th'air by name of Gemini,  
And as the learned in Astronomy  
Affirm, it is by Constellation,  
Of Mercury the house and mansion.   

Which is both male and female in his kind,  
The Eagle and the Dolphin in it rise,  
And in the same just three degrees we find,  
The Dragon's tail exalted is likewise:  
In Man it's said to rule the arms and hand,  
And 'mongst the signs the third in place doth stand.   

Thus were these stout & valiant brethren twain,  
In heaven placed (if that we may believe  
The fables of the Poets fond and vain)  
Which earnest did the valiant Grecians grieve:  
And was to them beginning of their woe,  
And to the Brethren twain their overthrow.    

CHAP. VI  
How the Grecians assembled to be revenged of the Trojans for ravishing of Helena.  

ERe that mine Author Guido doth declare,  
What Grecian power did 'gainst the Trojans go;  
It seems he had a great and special care,  
The form and shape of every Prince to shoe:  
Both on the greeks, and on the Trojans side,  
The which while he amongst them did abide   

In time of truce, beheld with great delight,  
Omitting neither port nor seemliness,  
Beauty, nor yet deformity that might  
Be seen in them, but as he doth confess,  
Hath made a true and right description,  
Of every one in his proportion.   

And first he setteth down Queen Helen's shape,  
As Dares hath described the same at large,  
Wherein no point thereof he doth escape,  
But tells the truth his promise to discharge:  
And saith, she had a scar upon her face,  
And yet it did her beauty not disgrace.   

He saith, King Agamemnon was a man  
Of body strong and good proportion,  
Of stature tall, of colour pale and wan,  
And phlegmatic of his complexion:  
Unquiet, and impatient in his breast,  
Eschewing, and refusing ease and rest.   

So much to war and strife his mind he gave,  
And yet he was to virtue wholly bend,  
And therewithal a Prince most wise and grave,  
Learned, discreet, and passing eloquent:  
Whereby amongst the Grecian Princes all,  
He was elected to be General.   

King Menelaus was valiant, stout, and strong,  
Of courage, and of heart victorious,  
His stature middlesized, twixt short and long,  
Of good proportion, and desirous  
Vnquietlie to live in war and strife,  
Then to possess great wealth with quiet life.   

Achilles was of stature huge, and tall,  
With shoulders broad, & breast both big & square,  
Fair faced, and right seemly therewithal,  
And in each part the like proportion bare;  
With eyes most great, deep, broad, & very quick,  
And a brown hair that curled, it was so thick.   

In Arms most fierce and right courageous,  
And did in strength the Grecians all surmount,  
And yet of look was passing amorous:  
Of liberal mind, and made so small account  
To give large gifts, and royally to spend,  
That all men for the same did him commend.   

The valiant Grecian Tantalus was strong,  
Of body huge, and good proportion,  
Indifferent gross, and neither short nor long,  
Of sanguine colour and complexion:  
Unsteadfast eyed, and wavering in his head,  
Abhorring strife whereas he saw no need.   

Of word and promise true what so ere he made,  
And never any quarrel took in hand,  
Unless that he a good occasion had:  
And when he knew and well did understand,  
His cause to be both lawful, just and right,  
Then would he show himself a valiant Knight.   

Oileus ajax was of body great,  
And in apparel rich and curious,  
Whereon his heart and mind was only set,  
And yet of shape both huge and monstrous,  
With arms so great, & shoulders broad & square,  
And weighed so much, no horse could well him bare.   

His stature it was high and very tall,  
Unwieldy, and unseemly to behold,  
Of speech he was both rude and rustical,  
And cared not how his mind he did unfold:  
And though to aid the Greeks he did his part,  
Yet was he but a coward in his heart.   

Another ajax (surnamed Telamonius)  
There was, a man that learning did adore,  
Of body strait and fair complexion,  
His hair coal black, and turning up before:  
Who did so much in eloquence abound,  
That in his time the like could not be found.   

In Music sweet his time most part he spent,  
Wherein he took such pleasure and delight,  
That he did his own instruments invent,  
And yet he was a brave and valiant Knight:  
And one that hated pride and flattery,  
With honour, seeking fame and victory.   

Ulysses was a Prince of power and might,  
That lived in great fame and royalty,  
And yet he took great pleasure and delight,  
To use all kind of fraud and subtlety:  
Of double, hollow, deep dissembling heart,  
And well could play a perfect liars part.   

With face that made a ●hew clean void of guile,  
And words full smooth when nothing less he meant,  
Much given to mirth, yet sieldome seen to smile,  
In counsel he was grave and provident;  
Right eloquent in speech, and did with speed  
Full often aid the greeks in time of need.   

Diomedes was valiant, fierce, and tall,  
Of countenance proud, and passing strong & bold,  
Broad breasted, & most stern of looks withal,  
Deceitful, and his promise near would hold:  
So hasty that his hand he could not stay,  
But strike he must who ere stood in the way,   

If once to wrath and anger he was bend;  
Desiring strife, still shunning rest and peace,  
Unto his servants most impatient,  
And never from contentious thoughts would cease:  
But quarrel still (though 'twere but for a straw)  
And held his will and pleasure for a law.   

In lechery his whole delight he placed,  
And was so given thereto, that where so ere  
He did become, on love his mind he cast,  
And from the same could by no means forbear:  
But spent therein full many a night and day,  
Which at the last procured his own decay.   

Duke Nestor was of stature somewhat tall,  
And well composed of members in each part,  
Crook sholdered, his middle very small,  
Exceeding strong of hands, and valiant heart:  
In counsel wise, well learned, and politic,  
And yet of nature was so choleric;   

That neither friend nor foe he could refrain,  
He was so given to melancholy,  
And would with no man flatter nor yet fame,  
Nor for the time his anger mollify;  
Which near the less but little space did last,  
For as it lightly came it lightly passed.   

Prothesalus was gallant, fresh, and gay,  
Of seemly shape, and beauty passing rare,  
Wherein no man surpassed him as they say;  
Quick sprighted, light, of courage passing rare,  
Exceeding swift, and therewithal most strong,  
And heart so fierce that he would take no wrong.   

The valiant Grecian called Neptolemus,  
That had his hair as black as any jet,  
Was of proportion made right curious,  
With eyes that were exceeding broad and great:  
His breast most large, & somewhat stooping back,  
And used much to stammer when he spoke.   

An Orator he was but turbulent,  
And willingly would plead in any cause,  
For that he was of nature wholly bend  
To study, and to learn the Grecian laws:  
Where in he took great pleasure and delight,  
And yet he was a most courageous Knight.   

Pallamides King Naulus Son was strong,  
Of valiant heart and courage passing great,  
Of face most fair, of body lean and long,  
And fierce upon his enemy to set:  
Familiar, courteous, wise, and tractable,  
In all his actions just and laudable.   

Of great account, and only had the name  
For bounty and for liberality,  
Amongst the Grecians all, which caused his fame  
To spread abroad into each Country:  
Whereby in fine great honour he obtained,  
And for the same perpetual praises gained.   

The worthy Polidamus was so fat,  
And big of body, belly, and of bone,  
And so unwieldy that most part he sat,  
And could not well sustain himself alone:  
Exceeding proud of heart, and very sad,  
And sudden or else near showed countenance glad▪   

King Machaon's stature was indifferent,  
Twixt short and long, his forehead broad & high,  
Most proud and fierce, to choler wholly bend,  
And so much given unto jmpatiencie;  
That nothing but revenge his mind would plea●●▪  
Whereby he sieldome slept or took his ease.   

Next after these of Cressida he tells,  
But here my pen is dashed, for long ago,  
My Master Chawcer that each one excels  
In Rhetoric, her shape so well did shoe;  
And thereof such a fine discourse doth make,  
That folly 'twere for me to undertake   

To write thereof, or add unto the same;  
As knowing well that when that I have done,  
I shall deserve no praise but rather blame,  
And yet I can the same by no means shun:  
For if I write it not I must truth leave,  
And of the truth the History bereave.   

If I presume to slip and let it go,  
And not as Guido doth write orderly,  
Or undertake the very same to shoe,  
Which Chawcer hath declared so learnedly:  
Full sure I am therein to make offence,  
Either by folly, or by negligence   

And so am plunged twixt two extremities,  
Great cause I have to find fault and dislike  
Of Atropos, that 'mongst her cruelties,  
Durst with her knife the thread in sunder strike  
Of Chawcers life, chief Poet of Britain,  
That first did cause to flourish and to rain   

The golden drops of Rhetoric so sweet  
'mongst Englishmen, their speech to clarify,  
And their dull wits with Eloquence to whet.  
(But who lives near so long at last shall die.)  
I must be forced his aid herein to crave,  
And read his book, to see if I may have   

Some words of Art from thence to place with mine,  
Which are so rude, so bare, so plain, and course,  
For as the Ruby red that bright doth shine,  
Set in a Copper Ring, is near the worse,  
But beautified the more, so is his phrase  
When it's compared with wrighters of our days.   

It's known so well, and is so excellent,  
That 'tis in vain the same 'mongst ours to set,  
For all our pain is as it were misspent,  
When as we seek his stile to counterfeit:  
Well may we do't on mere presumption,  
But when als done there's no comparison.   

Yet for all this I must it not deny,  
(Craving excuse) but as I first began,  
Proceed to end the Trojan History,  
And do the best that possibly I can  
T'effect the same; and now of Cressida  
I will declare her beauty as I may.   

Yet must I under Chawcers whings still hover,  
And plainly tell that Rhetoric I have none,  
Nor eloquence my learning to discover,  
But letting all curiosity alone,  
(As Bayard blind doth boldly give the venture,  
And never fears what peril he doth enter.)   

To show my simple skill I will not spare,  
And thereby some prospect unto you give  
Of Colchos daughters beauty passing rare,  
That while she in this earthly mould did live,  
Was held to be an excellent fair creature  
For form of face, and comeliness of feature.   

Wherein none did surpass her in her days,  
Her stature and proportion was but small,  
Her hair that shined like Phoebus' glistering rays  
In comely wise did on her shoulders fall:  
And at her back in tresses hung behind  
Which oft she dided with golden hearlace bind.   

And but that both her eyebrows joined in one,  
You could no fault at all in her espy,  
And that was all her imperfection,  
To speak of her fair, clear, and rolling eye,  
Whose glistering beams was of such force & might  
And from the same did cast such piercing light,   

That whosoe'er them earnestly beheld,  
Could not withstand their power, but must confess  
Their extreme beauty had them forced to yield  
Unto her love, and with her seemliness  
She was endowed with great sobriety,  
Well spoken, wise, and full of modesty,   

And therewithal gentle and tractable,  
And yet my Author Guydo plain doth wright,  
That in her love she was too variable,  
And took too great a pleasure and delight,  
To give her mind unto unsteadfastness,  
And womanly to all new fangleness.   

Lastly he saith how that the Percian King  
Came to the Greeks, with many a worthy Knight,  
And with him divers 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 therewithal most strong.   

Red hair and beard, and deep and fiery eyes,  
And in his face great store of warts he had,  
His countenance stern, and often times would rise  
Into such rage that he did seem half mad,  
Which did in him so deep jmpression take,  
That therewithal his body it would shake.   

Thus much I find that Dares doth declare  
Of all the Grecians shapes and personages.  
But of the Troyans' he no pains doth spare,  
In serious wise at large them to express;  
Omitting none, as you may well behold,  
The Chapter next ensuing doth unfold.    

CHAP. VII.  
¶ The description of Priam and his sons, and daughters, and of the arrival of the Greeks, at the Temple of Diana.  

ANd first he showeth how King Priamus  
Of body was both slender, tall, and strong,  
Of countenance and look right gracious,  
Delighting much in music and in song,  
And therewithal was most desirous  
To hear such ditties as were amorous.   

A seemly Prince and of great hardiness,  
Clean void of fear, abhorring flattery,  
And with low voice his speech he did express,  
Of word most true much given to equity,  
And never did refuse to any wight,  
To do him upright justice, law, and right.   

No favour nor no love made him decline,  
Nor lean unto the greatest or the least,  
His manner was full soon in morn to dine,  
And of all Kings he was the worthiest.  
One that esteemed each worthy Knight and true  
Or any valiant soldier that he knew.   

On whom he did bestow great store of gold,  
And did advance them unto dignity.  
And spared not his treasure to unfold  
'mongst them, to show his magnanimity.  
And by that means in such wise with them dealt,  
That every one his bounty largely felt.   

Of many sons he had, the eldest was  
Hector, the famous Prince and worthy Knight  
Who all the world in valour did surpass,  
Such was his courage, hardiness, and might:  
The very root and spring of Chivalry,  
As ancient Histories do certify.   

And therewithal so sober, wise, and sad,  
Courteous, demure, and full of gentleness,  
That in his time no Prince more honour had,  
And truth to say, he did deserve no less.  
Forvertue did so much in him abound,  
That throughout all the world he was renowned.   

Of flesh and bones he was so well compact,  
And rightly form in proportion,  
And every limb so perfect and exact,  
That no defect has found in any one.  
Huge made he was, and of just height & length  
Thereto complete and of surpassing strength.   

Lively, well breathed, and able to sustain  
Against his foe a long and furious fight.  
So that no mortal man could ere attain  
Unto the fame of that most valiant Knight,  
For his surpassing strength and courage bold,  
If unto him his due ascribe I should.   

Wherewith he was so wise and so discreet,  
And lovely, (though a Prince of high degree.)  
To rich and poor that met him in the street,  
That all men praised his great humility.  
A Prince that used few words to any one,  
And show'd good countenance unto every one.   

That all men joyed when as they him beheld,  
Unto his Trojan Subjects he was kind:  
But when as he once entered in the field;  
His foes did him a furious Lion find.  
So valiantly he could himself maintain,  
And by his might their forces all sustain.   

No man was ever able to endure  
The moil of the pain that he would take:  
(For as the story plainly doth assure,  
And thereof doth a large relation make;)  
He near had fear, nor did in fight fail,  
Nor with faint heart his enemies assail.   

Of all the valiant Knights that ever were,  
He was the best, for virtue, prowess, and might,  
And did the prize of honour from them bear,  
The which he might by valour claim of right.  
For none could ever equal him therein,  
Since that this earthly globe did first begin.   

In whom Dame nature did so much prevail,  
And like a skilful workman fashioned  
His mould, that not one thing did in him fail  
But was complete, save 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 unto King Priamus,  
That twixt them three was no diversity,  
Except in age, he old, they young and light,  
The first, he was a strong and valiant Knight,   

And in his wars did many a valiant deed:  
But Helenus to learning wholly bend,  
Of feats of arms and prowess took 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 speak, it is most sure  
There never lived a more courageous Knight:  
Nor likelier in Arms for to endure,  
As having therein placed his whole delight.  
Of body well compact, of stature tall,  
Young, lustily, fresh, and hardy therewithal.   

So valiant, strong, and stout a Champion,  
That equal unto him near any was,  
For none with him could make comparison,  
So much he did in worthiness surpass.  
For which his great and most exceeding might,  
He was a second Hector called by right.   

He did behave himself so valiantly  
In that great war against his enemies.  
In love he did persevere constantly,  
And was therein most secret, firm, and wise.  
Of face most fair, and of a pleasant cheer,  
Wherein no alteration did appear.   

He was so firm and constant in his heart,  
And therewithal so loving and so kind,  
That nothing could dissuade nor make him start  
From that which he had once decreed in mind.  
So true he was in word, and so upright,  
And to his foes he was so stern a Knight   

And fierce, that they could not his force withstand,  
Unto the Greeks it was confusion.  
When as he held his bloody sword in hand,  
And to the Troyans' their protection.  
For that his Knighthood was of such account,  
That no man might in valour him surmount.   

Though all the world they should have sought throughout  
What ●hall I say (to make his praises last)  
More than I have? but that amongst the rout  
Of Greeks and Troyans' all, none him surpassed,  
Unless it were his jnvinsible brother  
Hector alone, and never any other.   

King Priamus son called Paris, was a Knight  
So beautiful of flesh and blood to see,  
That for to yield to him his due and right,  
I must confess none was so fair as he.  
Whose crisping looks that shined like golden wire,  
Made all men his great beauty much admire.   

His sole delight was shooting in a bow,  
And hunting in the woods to chase wild dear,  
And did therein such skill and cunning show,  
That he all Archers past that ever were.  
And was a Knight of great renown and fame,  
Whose valiant deeds did well approve the same.   

Aeneas that King Priam's daughter had,  
Was light of limbs, and eyed bright and clear,  
Well breasted, and of good proportion made:  
Stern of his look, yet glad in port and cheer,  
And in the Town of Troy held great estate,  
In all his actions wise and temperate.   

A man surpassing in great eloquence,  
And did so much his mind to study give,  
That he thereby attained great sapience,  
And of all those that in the Town did live.  
In lands and goods he did them all surpass,  
Such and so great his gold and treasure was.   

Antenor was a slender man and tall,  
Right circumspect, and of good government:  
Discreet, and wise, and elopuent withal,  
Copious in words, and one that much time spent  
To jest when as he was in company,  
So driely that no man could it espy,   

And therewith held his countenance so well,  
That every man received great content  
To hear him speak, and pretty jests to tell,  
When he was pleasant and in merriment:  
For though that he most commonly was sad,  
Yet in his speech some jest he always had.   

His son called Polidamus was most strong  
Of person, and of shape in each degree,  
Like to his Father tall, and somewhat long,  
Gentle and true, and soon would moved be  
To anger, though he kept it covertly,  
And yet it would be gone full suddenly.   

King Merdon was large breasted, huge and tall,  
Upright and well compact of bone and l●m,  
And of so good proportion therewithal,  
That none therein might well compare with him▪  
His hair it was as yellow as the gold,  
And finely curled, most pleasant to behold:   

Demure and still, and kind to every one,  
And passing strong all actions to assay,  
ne'er using rigour unto any one.  
Delighting much in pleasure, sport, and play,  
And one that wondrous feats in Arms achieued  
While he amongst the Trojan Princes lived.   

Queen Hecuba was fair, but pale and wan,  
In members and proportion strongly made:  
Inclining more unto the shape of man  
Then woman, such a manly corpse she had.  
Right virtuous, wise, discreet, and womanly,  
And did behave herself most prudently   

In all her actions unto every wight.  
In jesture mild, demure in countenance:  
And while she lived did take a great delight,  
Her servants, and her favourites t'advance.  
Unto the poor most pitiful and kind,  
Bestowing alms with glad and liberal mind.   

Andr●macha Prince Hector's faithful wife,  
In shape was like to Hecuba his Mother,  
And was so chaste and virtuous all her life,  
That in her time there was not such another.  
And did in good behaviour much delight,  
Her stature tall, her breast round, fair, and white.   

With ruddy cheeks, not over coloured,  
And piercing eyes most beautiful and clear,  
Her hair like gold, her lips were soft and red,  
And always did of colour fresh appear,  
Wherewith she had a countenance right sweet,  
And poor and rich in friendly wise would greet.   

And gave good words to all and every one,  
Perferring all poor suitors as she might,  
And by her will there did not any one  
With heavy heart depart out of her sight.  
And every man whatsoe'er, stood in need  
Of aid from her that was sure thereof to speed.   

To them that had committed an offence,  
She was so given unto compassion,  
That gladly with all care and diligence,  
She got their pardon and remission.  
Such was her care her Subjects to preserve,  
And of each one good words and praise deserve.   

Cassandra was a Princess beautiful,  
And did in body good proportion bear,  
Her colour white, her countenance bashful,  
And in her face great store of warts there were,  
Whose only joy and chief felicity,  
Was chaste to live in pure virginity.   

And virtuously shu●'d imperfections,  
Which naturally do reign in women kind,  
And by leaving of all bad occasions,  
She did so much on learning set her mind:  
That reading Books was her felicity,  
But most of all to learn Astronomy.   

A Prophetess she was, and could foretell  
What future things should happen and would be,  
And therein while she lived did so excel,  
That she was thought one of the Cybiles three  
That lived on earth, whose fame so much surpassed,  
And shall do while this mortal world doth la●t.   

Of Polycene to speak it were in vain,  
Or to declare the great perfection  
Of beauty whereunto she did attain,  
And 'twere in me a great presumption,  
To seek therein your minds to satisfy,  
For it above my simple reach doth lie.   

Sith nature in the framing of this ma●d  
Used all her Art, and to self-will was bend,  
And by all means she could devise, assailed  
To make her beauty seem most excellent,  
And to herself said in her proud conceit,  
Behold and see my workmanship so great.   

For as the son above the clouds in sky  
Shows passing clear; so is it in my might  
My work to adore and beautify to th'eye,  
By mixing of like fair and white,  
With ruddy rose in such equality,  
That no excess in them you may descry.   

And for to prove my saying to be true,  
A pattern of my Art you may behold  
In Polican, which if you mark and view,  
I dare affirm is not to be controlled.  
Whom I must say, and know it very well,  
In beauty doth all others much excel.   

Thus did this Dame, of her most proudly say,  
And sure she did not lie, for true it was,  
Her beauty full as much, as doth the day  
Excel the night, all others did surpass.  
Her body strait, and middle fine and small,  
Her hands exceeding white, her stature tall.   

And every other member whatsoe'er,  
With due proportion was so fashioned;  
That great simplicity in me it were,  
(That am of Rhetoric unfurnished)  
Her beauty to describe, for sure 'twas much,  
And truth to say, there ne'er was any such.   

And therefore think it best to make an end  
With her, for that mine Author saith no more  
Concerning this: But doth his purpose bend  
To show their Knightly valour and their power,  
While that the siege did last, as you shall find  
In this discourse; and thus he tells his mind:   

WHen cold and shivering winter 'gan decline,  
And drew his frosty face from off the ground,  
Which made each tree & flower to mourn & whine,  
When they in th'air so cold: no comfort found,  
When Titan had clean passed aquary,  
And Pisces, in the month of February,   

And to the horned Ram his course did bend,  
And on the mountain tops his beams did smite,  
And to each plant and tree did vigour send,  
And caused the flakes of snow that are so white  
To melt, and made the water to distil  
down from the same, the valleys low to fill.   

When th'●ce which then upon the Rivers flowed  
Dissolved and with heat began to melt,  
And with their streams the meadows overflowed,  
And to each ditch and pit their largesse dealt.  
When as the most delightful time of spring,  
With new fresh green did comfort every thing,   

By Phoebus' gentle heat and temperature,  
Which then ascends the sphere celestial,  
When March to Trees and hedges did procure  
〈◊〉 blossoms, and th'equinoctial,  
●hen as both day and night are of a length,)  
Was halllowed and began to show his strength.   

At that same season sweet and amorous,  
The Greeks to show their puissant force and might,  
(As they that were of hearts courageous,)  
Assembled many a stout and hardy Knight  
In Athens, where a Navy huge they had,  
And there their preparations all were made   

To sail to Troy, whose number was so great  
That never since this fatal world began,  
So many Knights at once were known to meet,  
Nor hath it ere been seen by any man,  
That such a Navy was assembled,  
As by the valiant Greeks as then was led.   

Whereof to show and make description  
What every Prince unto the same did bring,  
My Author saith, that King Agamemnon  
A hundred ships with men and every thing  
That needful was, prepared at his cost,  
To join with that most huge and famous host.   

King Menelaus' the causer of that fleet,  
From Sparta brought threescore great ships and tall,  
Prothenor and King Archelaus there met  
With fifty ships, whereof some great, some small.  
From Sithmene with Duke Achedaphus,  
Came threescore ships, and with him Helenus.   

The Kings Epistraphus and Thedaus,  
Together brought full fifty ships complete:  
King Telemon ajax and Amphimachus,  
Duke Theseus and Earl Dorion, with a great  
And puissant Duke that was by name called Tentar,  
With that same fleet their fifty ships did venture.   

Nestor a Duke of furious mind and thought,  
Whose choler was not easy to appease,  
Full fifty ships from Piron with him brought:  
King Thoas, and the King of Diana's,  
A hundred ships had in their company,  
Well fraught with Knights of great activity.   

And Thelamon surnamed Pel●●●  
Had 36 ships in his leading,  
King Polidete and stout Amphimacus  
Did thirty ships from Calidonia bring,  
King Merdon and Idameus from Crete,  
Fourscore good ships had with them in that fleet   

Ulysses King of Thracia with him had  
Fifty fair ships well furnished with men;  
Duke Meleus and Prothecatus both made  
Provision of great ships in number ten.  
And from the Isle of Philiarcha, strong  
Protesilaos' brought 50 ships along.   

Machon and his brother Polidrus,  
Twenty two ships did bring well furnished  
From Trincico and out of Phicius;  
Achilles did in his conduct then lead  
Just Fifty ships; and from th'isle Rhodomus  
Came twenty ships with King Thelapobus.   

And with a valiant Duke called Antipus,  
From Hesida Eleven ships there came  
In company of Duke Amphimachus,  
That partner was in furnishing the same.  
Polibethe● the stout and valiant King,  
Did fifty ships from Recha with him bring.   

And Duke Lifuisus bare him company,  
Diomedes unto this army brought  
Fourscore great ships out of Caledony,  
And with him came two Knights that honour sought,  
The one of them they did Thelemus call,  
The other was the mighty Duriall.   

And with the valiant Knight Poliphebus,  
Came seven ships well rigged and furnished,  
And in that puissant fleet King Phineus,  
Eleven ships at his command then led,  
Prothoyelus of Demenesa King,  
Did fifty ships with him to Athens bring.   

King Carpenor from fertile Capadie  
With fifty ships in likewise thither came;  
King Tricorius from his country  
Caldoro Borsa, to win honour great and fame,  
wenty two ships unto that fleet did bring  
Well furnished with men, and every thing.   

And many ships more in that fleet there were,  
Then Guydo in his Book doth mention,  
(For that in honours works it doth appear,  
Whereas he seems to make description  
Of all the Grecians ships) they were so many  
Ahat ne'er the like fleet had been seen of any.   

Accounting those that with Palamedes  
Came to their aid, the number to augment,  
Which being ready their to put to Seas,  
And to the Troyans' full destruction bend:  
With many a valiant Lord, Earl, Duke, & King,  
In Athens where they were assembling.   

King Agamemnon general of all  
That fleet, a Prince discreet and very wise,  
When as his charge to mind he 'gan to call,  
Did study how he might best way devise,  
In that most serious business to proceed,  
With honour as they fully had decreed.   

Esteeming it a point of wisdom great  
To foresee all with care and diligence,  
Their enterprise that nothing might it let,  
Nor hinder their determined pretence:  
That as with honour they began the same,  
It might so end to their eternal fame.   

Lest that through haste and misadvisednesse  
They might o'ershoot themselves and be deceived,  
And by o'erwhelming pride and wilfulness,  
Of their conceived glory be bereaved.  
He caused all the Lords and Princes great  
Which in the host together then were met,   

To hold a counsel with him in the field  
Without the Town of Athens, where each one  
His reasons and his arguments might yield  
About their wars, as then in question:  
And when they all together did appear,  
He spoke and said to them as you shall hear.   

My Lords and Princes all whose worthiness,  
Is such and of so great account and fame,  
That in good truth I cannot but confess  
The world is filled with glory of the same:  
For without doubt the flower of Chivalry,  
Is met together here in company.   

For who ere saw so great a multitude  
Of valiant Knights assembled at one time,  
So young, so fresh, and all so well endued  
With courage bold, and in the very prime  
Of Youth, as we amongst us can afford,  
And are together come with one accord.   

So that if Fortune be not to contrary  
In this same war by us now ta'en in hand,  
And that the Gods cause us not to miscarry,  
And our pretence of purpose do withstand:  
We doubt not but great honour we shall gain,  
And of our foes the victory obtain.   

For sure I deem him wholly without sense  
And worse then mad, that dares oppose or set  
Himself against our power to make defence,  
Or any ways our enterprise to let:  
Or privily seeks to do to us despite,  
Or wrong▪ but we full soon would him ●require.   

For I could in this great assembly find  
An hundred Knights and more, so fierce and bold,  
And that do bear so valorous a mind,  
That with their forces only durst and would  
Adventure for to take this war in hand,  
And valiantly our enemies withstand.   

Presume then what our forces joined in one  
May do, against the Troyans' to requite  
The wrong that they of late to us have done,  
For all you know how with their power and might,  
They entered into Greece and bare away  
King Menelaus dear wife, Queen Helena,   

With many prisoners more, and all the gold  
And treasure that in Cythera they might  
Lay hold upon, with reason than we should  
Not only seek revenge for that despite:  
But boldly war against them undertake,  
And I suppose we shall them so awake,   

That they shall fear hereafter while they live  
To be so bold, to dare to take in hand  
The like attempt 'gainst us, or seem to give  
Occasion of dislike to Grecian land:  
For which offence by them done to us so late,  
Our hearts within do burn with deadly hate.   

The heat whereof converts them to such ire,  
That it renews our rage and deadly pain,  
And day by day so setteth us on fire,  
That we by no means longer can refrain,  
But with all speed our mortal power advance,  
For this our wrong on them to take vengeance,   

As rite requires, and so just cause allows  
Us for to seek revenge upon our foe,  
And therefore let us now perform our vows,  
And valiantly with courage 'gainst them go:  
That we such terror in their hearts may strike,  
That they shall ever fear to do the like   

In time to come, if by our patience  
We should as now with their great folly bear,  
And overslip this notable offence,  
For never yet wast known no man did hear  
That Grecians wronged were in name or fame,  
Or any thing done 'gainst them to their shame   

But they acquit it to their enemy's grief,  
And now to speak the truth in this respect,  
I must in few words tell you and be brief;  
It stands not with our honours to neglect,  
Or overslip the offence so lately passed,  
Lest in our teeth hereafter it be cast:   

And to our heirs reproach it might be said,  
Their Fathers durst not once revenge their wrong▪  
And of the Troyans' forces were afraid,  
Which may not be, sith that we are so strong,  
And all agreed with one consent and will,  
Our whole desire in this point to fulfil.   

And therewith of such puissant power and might,  
That no man can nor may with us compare,  
Nor ever durst presume 'gainst us to fight,  
But they were sure in time the loss to bear.  
But lately when the Troyans' made a venture,  
And suddenly within our land did enter   

Unwares to us, and with great spoil than went  
To Troy again, with their presumption:  
I doubt they shall full hastily repent,  
For it is known to all and every one,  
How that of late the Greeks with number small,  
Upon the Troyans' for cibly did fall,   

When as their King Laomedon was slain,  
(That father was unto King Priamus,  
Who now within the Town of Troy doth reign,)  
Which at that time was clean destroyed by us,  
And all we found therein put to the sword,  
And those to whom we mercy did afford,   

And saved their lives, and from death them did spare  
Yet lived in woe, (and may not be recured,)  
Still 'mongst the Greeks in servitude and care,  
How cap they now 'gainst us be a●hurd,  
And hold us fight (with all their chivalry,)  
When as we have so huge a company.   

For if so small a number did prevail  
'Gainst them as then, it's likely now we be  
So many thousands, we shall no●es ●a●●●  
To win on them anoble victory.  
And yet I know the Troyans' do not spare  
Their forces 'gainst our comings to prepare.   

By all the means they can for to withstand  
Us and our power▪ if that they may endure,  
'Gainst us to let our entry in their land,  
And to that end their friends they do procure,  
In every place whereas they are a●ed,  
Determining the utmost to abide.   

And therefore sith weare like to find them priest  
And ready to encounter in battle,  
My counsel is, and so I think it best,  
That ere that we out of this Haven sail,  
(To th'end this journey may be prosperous  
And fall out well and happily for us.)   

To send to Delos Isle, which little space  
From hence doth lie, so offer sacrifice  
Unto Apollo Patron of this place,  
And there to crave his answer and advise,  
To know how we in this our war shall speed,  
If that you all thereto be so agreed.   

This counsel given, their full conclusion  
Was t'agree thereto, not one said nay,  
Nor 'gainst the same made contradiction,  
Determining as soon as ere they may  
To do it with as much convenient speed  
As well they might, and therein did proceed.    

CHAP. VIII.  
¶ How Achi●●es and Patroclus ●●●e sent to Delos to re-ceive answer from their God Apollo, to know how they should speed against the Troyans'.  

WHen Agamemnon in such wise had said  
His mind, as you have hard the Greeks agreed  
With one consent, no time should be delayed▪  
And presently amongst themselves decreed,  
Achilles and Patroclus both should go,  
That God Apollo's answer for to know.   

And with all speed they say●d to D●●●● Isle,  
Where having wind and weather prosperous,  
They did arrive within a little while.  
Which Island as the stoty telleth us,  
Doth lie among the C●●l●d● I sle●, whereas  
The sailors f●nd so many rocks to p●●se.   

And in the Sea called Hellespont doth stand,  
Whereof to make a full description,  
Like as mine Author Guydo takes in hand;  
I must awhile make some d●gression  
And from the sequel of my 〈◊〉 vary,  
Although I mean therein not long ●●●y.   

Within this Isle as I●ydore doth wright,  
Latona did two goodly children bear  
By jupiter her friend (who in despite  
Of juno when as they in discord wear,  
Got her with child, as Ovid testifies,  
(If that we may give credit to such lies.)   

Whose names Apollo and Diana wear,  
And after men therein did dedicate  
A temple, that Apollo's name did bear,  
And unto to him was wholly consecrate:  
Where from the time of the foundation,  
They honoured him with great devotion.   

Because his beams that are so bright and clear,  
(noah's flood orepast which all the world oreflowed,)  
In that same Isle were first seen to appear,  
Diana likewise first herself there show'd,  
And to the world did give her glistering light  
With radiant streams, & horns most sharp & bright   

Of which their apparition as men say,  
This Isle that is thereby so great of fame  
Was Delos called by Grecians at that day,  
And ever since that time hath borne that name.  
Which word in Greek doth signify, to show  
Or to appear, as learned Clerks well know.   

And thus Apollo first was honoured,  
And by the Greeks great reverence to him done,  
Who with devotion likewise worshipped  
His sister fair Diana called the Moon,  
That was by them a Goddess held to be,  
And did in hunting take felicity.   

And so Diana fair that shined so bright,  
And 〈◊〉 in that Isle were worshipped,  
(Because the first appearance of their light  
Upon that place by radiant streams was spread,)  
And 'mongst the Pagans honoured and esteemed,  
And great & mighty Gods by them were deemed.   

Unto this Isle is given another name,  
For by the Greeks it's called Ortigia,  
Cause Curlewes first were seen within the same,  
For by the word Ortigias as they say,  
The Grecians do a Curlew understand,  
That first engendered were within that land.   

Some do Apollo Titan also name,  
Who long before that he was made a sta●●e,  
So much and such high honour wan and same,  
When he against great jupiter made war.  
By other some likewise he's called 〈◊〉▪  
And many give him name of Phito●s.   

For that unto his honour great, and glory,  
He slew the serpent Phiton with his bow,  
And of him won a noble victory,  
When they two fought here on the earth below.  
For which his conquest Cupid did so rage,  
That by no meames his wrath he could assuage,   

But in despite an arrow did discharge  
At him, wherwtih he pierced clean through his sid●,  
And in his heart did make a wound most large,  
That caused him much sorrow to abide,  
And of Phiton thus brought unto his end,  
Men say the Phitonesses do descend.   

Which women are that future fortunes tell,  
And things foreshow; as we in scripture find,  
That one did raise the ghost of Samuel,  
At Saules desire to please his wicked mind,  
And in this Church the which is now so old,  
There was a mighty Image all of gold,   

Wherein the Devil by his policy  
A fowl infernal spirit placed had,  
The which gave answer with great subtlety,  
To each demand that unto him was made,  
And not the Image dumb as people thought,  
And by Illusion foolishly were taught,   

And thus into great error they were brought.  
And in the same did wilfully persever,  
Addoring stocks and stones, and never sought  
Unto th'eternal God that lives for ever.  
And in this wise Idolatry began,  
And through the world was used by sinful man.   

Whereof I mean a true discourse to make,  
And show how long it did 'mongst men remain.  
And when they left and did the same forsake,  
The holy scripture tells and shows us plain,  
That at the birth of Christ our Saviour,  
All Images (which God doth so abhor.)   

down from their Altars fell and broke in ●under,  
And they were then esteemed as things of nought,  
Which moved man unto no little wonder,  
For when for Christ King Herod strictly sought,  
And cruelly by persecution  
Brought many Children to destruction,   

An Angel in a vision did appear  
To joseph as he slept, and bade him haste  
And into Egypt Christ and Mary bear,  
Till Herod's cruel wrath was overpast:  
And when as Christ in Egypt entered,  
The Images in pieces shivered,   

And suddenly did fall unto the ground,  
As holy scripture doth us certify,  
And Esay long before as it is found,  
Fore-showed in his ancient prophesy.  
That when as Christ in Egypt should descend,  
All worshipping of Images should end.   

But as the jewish histories do say,  
Ishmael, Abraham's bastard Son should be,  
The first that made an Image all of clay  
With his own hands, and used Idolatry.  
And Heathens said, Promotheus did invent  
An Image first with full and sole intent   

To worship it, and use thereof did bring  
'mongst men on earth, which after did increase,  
For Sinulachrum signifies no thing,  
But only a similitude t'express  
The form of men, and doth the likeness bear  
Of them, when as upon the earth they were.   

And by that means and wicked fond devise,  
The Heathens did adore the shapes of men,  
And to them used to pray and sacrifice.  
Some do affirm King Belus first began  
Within his land t'erect Idolatry,  
As all the Assyrian Histories specify.   

And after his son Ninus for his sake,  
Moved thereunto by great affection,  
Did of pure gold his Father's Image make;  
Whereto with foolish fond devotion  
And ignorance, he offered sacrifice,  
And unto it did pray in Pay-nim wise.   

And not content to do't himself alone,  
Commandment gave throughout all Babylon,  
And all Th'assirian land, that every one  
Should honour him as God, and call upon  
His name, and say, that he was Deified,  
Which of no man in time durst be denied.   

And not long after that, within a while  
A fowl infernal spirit therein crept,  
Who seeking man by all means to beguile,  
In such an error blind the people kept:  
That whatsoe'er of him they sought to know  
Or ask, he did it plainly to them show,   

And answer made unto each man's demand,  
Whereby in fine through all that country  
The people did obey to his command.  
And offering unto God great injury,  
Still more and more did into error fall:  
This Image Belus, and some Bell did call.   

Some Belphegod and some God Bala●●,  
But most of all the people commonly  
The name of Belzebub did give to him,  
Of Bell and Zebub which doth signify  
The God of Flies, and by this meane● we find  
Idolatry crept in amongst mankind.   

For some upon old Saturn used to call,  
(Who while he lived on earth was King of Crete,)  
And did esteem him to be principal  
Of all the Gods, and from the Planet great,  
That hath so large a circle in the heaven,  
(As Poets feign) that name to him was given.   

This Saturn by his skill did well perceive,  
(For that he could of future things foretell)  
That he a son by juno should conceive,  
That our of Crete by force should him expel:  
When he did once attain to perfect age,  
Which made him fall into so great a rage;   

That to prevent the mischief as he thought,  
When it was borne, he did expressly will  
His wife that it to him should strait be brought.  
But she in doubt and fear he would it kill,  
In stead thereof a stone unto him gave,  
And so her silly infant's life did save.   

Which stone with over great melancholy,  
(Supposing it indeed to be his child,)  
He did devour and eat up greedily,  
And so for all his skill he was beguiled.  
Three sons he had as stories witness bear,  
Who jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto were;   

And but one daughter juno called by name,  
The eldest son all men did most esteem,  
(Called jupiter) attained to so great fame,  
For of him all the world so well did deem,  
That they called him the God of fire and air,  
As being Saturn's eldest son an heir.   

The Paynims did likewise great honour bear  
To Mars, whom they the God of battles call,  
And also to Apollo bright and clear  
The cherisher of herbs, and trees, and all  
The flowers and fruits that earth doth us afford,  
And (as I said) in Delos him adored.   

Some unto fair Dame Venus used to pray,  
Esteeming her a Goddess of great might,  
That power hath t'assuage, and to delay  
The fervent heat of pleasures fond delight;  
And t'ease the hearts of lovers that complain,  
And are fast bound in Cupid's fiery chain.   

As she whom they did think great rule to bear,  
In every place throughout the world so wide,  
Because there is no country whatsoe'er,  
But hath her mighty force and power tried.  
And next to her, to Mercury they prayed,  
Which is the God of Music as they said,   

And of all Eloquen ceand Poetry  
Esteemed to be the only pattern:  
Some others did unto Diana cry  
And called for help, which is the forked Moon,  
Which oftentimes is named Lucina bright,  
And was esteemed a Goddess of great might,   

And Lady of all mutability:  
Because she is addicted unto change,  
And wholly given to variety,  
Delighting much in woods and wells to range,  
And so are those of such a quality,  
That under her have their nativity.   

Their whole delight is in new fangledness,  
And wavering still in their affections,  
Do addict their minds unto unsteadfastness,  
And by this meames in sundry Regions  
Idolatry began, and much increased,  
And calling on the name of God, decreased.   

For as I find the Moors or Morions  
On jubam long adored and worshipped:  
The most Idolatrous Egyptians,  
With great devotion Isis honoured,  
Who was the first that unto them did show  
The manner how the land to till and sow,   

And how they should their letters make and frame  
Thereby to read and wright, for which th'extolled  
And did so highly magnify her name,  
That for a Goddess great they did her hold.  
And jupiter was worshipped in Crete  
Whereas he had his chief and sovereign seat,   

And did command with great authority.  
And for his arms an Eagle volant bare,  
And called the God of all the earth and sky,  
Who as the Poets feign and do declare,  
His kingdom large in three parts did divide,  
Whereof himself did rule the heavens wide.   

The Seas to Neptune's government he gave,  
And to his brother Pluto did befall  
The ruling of the earthly Globe to have,  
Whom Poets called the Sovereign God of Hell.  
This jupiter aforesaid Deified,  
And throughout all the world so magnified,   

In Crete to his perpetual memory,  
They did for him a Tomb and Image make,  
And on him never ceased to call and cry,  
And wholly unto him themselves betake.  
The Latins with much care and diligence,  
Unto the Fawns did use great reverence.   

By them called Gods, (if it be credible)  
That live in woods & groves most fresh & green,  
The which are said to be invisible,  
And by no living creature can be seen.  
The romans did adore one Querinus,  
Who as they say was called Romulus.   

That first did build the walls about their town,  
And through his valour and great worthiness,  
From shepherds state attained to high renown, seen  
And as their stories saith deserved no less,  
Whose spear head pitched into the ground, was  
To spring, & bring forth buds & blossoms green.   

And for the virtues that in him were known,  
The Knights of Room that were of noble fame,  
And had in countries strange their valours shown,  
Were usually called Querites of his name,  
And so he was by romans Deified,  
And in their Temples praised and glorified.   

Th'athenians did unto Minerva yield  
Great honour, likewise was Pallas named,  
Who in his hand did bear a christ all shield,  
And as it's said, did in contention stand  
'Gainst Neptune, with her women on her sid●,  
And he with men, wherein they did abide   

Long time to, know which of them two should name  
The noble town of Athens, which as then  
Was held to be a place of worthy fame.  
Wherein there dwelled great store of learned men.  
At last t'agree, each should some wonder show,  
That every man might judge & plainly know   

Which of them best might claim the same by right,  
And strait out of the earth there did appear  
An Olive tree (which Pallas by her might  
Had caused to spring) that leaves & blossoms bear,  
And showed as fair, as pleasant, and as green,  
As ever any man in spring had seen.   

Neptune to show his power & great command,  
Did make a well of water to be seen,  
And suddenly there presently to stand  
In place, whereas near any fore had been.  
The which when as Apollo great did see,  
(Whom they had made their judge therein to be)   

That discord and contention to surcease,  
Considering with himself that Olive tree  
Doth signify love, amity, and peace.  
And water doth foreshow the contrary:  
His sentence he forthwith for Pallas gave,  
That she to name the town should th'honour have.   

Who thereupon did make no long delay,  
But with demure consideration  
Did Athens call the same, that is to say,  
An everlasting place, an habitation.  
For wisdom there did first begin to flourish,  
And that same town all learned men did nourish.   

Within the town of Pavia they adored  
Fair Cithaeron, and with great holiness,  
Her aid and help continually implored,  
(Of whom before I did somewhat express,)  
And in the same with great solemnity,  
Her Image stood upon an Altar high.   

All guilt and painted brave and curiously,  
Where as she naked stood in water clear,  
With three fair Nymphs to bear her company,  
That there to serve her still attentive were.  
And round about her flowers for delight,  
Of colour azure, red, and Virgin white.   

And on her head to beautifieed they set  
Great store of Roses red, fair, fresh and sweet,  
That placed were about a Chaplet,  
And all her body down unto the feet  
Anointed was with Balm, that did excel  
For costliness, and oils that sweet did smell.   

And by her sat God Cupid with his bow,  
Wherein he did an arrow always bear,  
Who for because he is blind, and doth not know  
At whom to aim, oft shoots he knows not where,  
And yet le's fly, and cares not where he hits,  
As one that were clean void of sense and wits.   

The Naxiens worshipped Bacchus God of wine,  
And unto him their offerings daily made,  
Whose liquor is most precious, pure, and fine,  
To comfort hearts of men and make them glad:  
And doth refresh the colour in the face,  
And causeth then to speak with lively grace.   

And maketh men oft times themselves forget,  
And without wisdom or discretion,  
To utter that they should keep secret,  
For where as wine once hath dominion,  
It maketh them unwarely disclose  
Their secret thoughts and minds unto their foes.   

Some men that serve God Bacchus for a season,  
Are many times so mad and without dread,  
That they are like to men clean void of reason,  
And some of them so giddy in the head,  
That being void of power, strength, and might,  
They cannot guide themselves to stand upright.   

And yet will prate and prattle like a pie,  
And till the force of wine in them is spent,  
They look with colour pale and daizled eye.  
So women that to wine and drink are bend,  
Compared are to beasts unreasonable,  
And by men said to be detestable,   

And far unfit to come in company,  
When as they can no reason well afford,  
Nor use an honest kind of modesty,  
And which is worse scant utter any word.  
And thus doth wine with men full often fare,  
And causeth them to quarrel and to jar.   

And furiously when as there is no need  
To fight and brawl, but wisdom men forewarns,  
And wisheth them the force thereof to dread,  
Bids them strive to shun such drunken charms;  
And by restraint their feeble brains to spare,  
Ere they therewith be taken in a snare.   

And like to Aspen leaves begin to shake,  
As if they had a fever tertian.  
Some others when their heads begin to ache,  
And to a fever falls quotidian,  
To them it seems the house about doth turn,  
And that the air and Elements do burn.   

And when they have lost use of head and hand,  
Are so much distraught of sense and wit,  
As that they fear to drown upon the land,  
They do like unto senseless creatures sit.  
And drowfily begin to jawne and gape,  
And play with straws, and counterfeit the Ape.   

And sit and nod with drowsy drunken head,  
(Which in that case so heavy is and sad)  
As if thereon they had a cap of lead.  
And they whom Bacchus liquor hath so made,  
And are of such a drunken disposition,  
Are fittest men for his Religion.   

Who it is said hath sovereignty  
Of honey, milk, and balm so precious,  
But hath the most and greatest dignity  
o'er Grapes, and Vines. This God pernicious  
Is also by the Vintners much esteemed,  
Because he is to them so good a friend.   

The Lemicians used to rely upon  
Black Vulcan, whom the God of fire they call,  
Who was a Smith by his profession,  
That forged the thunderbolts which use to fall,  
With huge and fearful noise down from the sky,  
And furiously from East to West do fly.   

This Vulcan married Venus, that so rare  
Of beauty was, and held her for his wife  
Long time, to whom a jealous mind he bore,  
So that twixt them there arose a mortal strife,  
And for that cause he watched her so nigh,  
That at the last he found her secretly   

With Mars the God of war, her valiant Knight  
Laid closely dallying with her in a bed,  
Whereat he did conceive so great despite,  
That to her shame her falult abroad he spread,  
And therein did the Goddess much abuse,  
But God forbid that men should seek t'accuse   

Poor women for a matter that's so small,  
For if they do such things of gentleness,  
They are therein for to be borne withal,  
And let no man esteem of them the less,  
Lest he in th'end to them grow odious,  
As smotery Vulcan was for doing thus.   

And yet 'mongst Paynims he was Deified,  
But for that he so churlishly did let  
Their pleasant sport when as he them espied,  
Therefore I have him last in order set  
Among the Gods, that honoured were as then  
Of jgnorant and superstitious men.   

And thus this fowl Idolatry began  
As you heave hard through false opinions,  
And was continued long on earth by man,  
Still erring in his fond affection:  
Which is most false as scriptures plain do show,  
And such as learned are full well do know.   

For by the rule of holy writ we learn  
How to despise those false opinions,  
And all such superstitious to discern,  
Which are the devils mere jnventions:  
And not long after that the world began,  
By him put in the head of wicked man.   

For when the Angels first created were,  
He that of them was highest in degree,  
(Of whom the Prophet Esay witness bare,  
And saith, such was his supreme dignity.  
That all the great and goodly Ceders green  
In Paradise, so fair were never seen.   

Nor any Phirre nor palm-tree could attain  
Unto his height, no more could any tree  
What ere it was that stood within the plain  
Of Paradise, to him compared be,  
For beauty, and for comely feature,  
For he surpassed each other creature.)   

When by his pride and great presumption,  
He said he would be like to God on high:  
And in the North place his dominion,  
He was cast down from heaven suddenly:  
And unto his most great and fowl despite,  
bereaved clean of Gods most glorious ●ight.   

And so confined into the pit of Hell,  
With horror and with great confusion,  
For ever there perpetually to dwell.  
Of whom 'twas said when he from heaven was thrown  
How didst thou fall oh morning star so bright,  
From 'mongst the radiant stones that cast such light.   

Whom men for brightness Lucifer did call,  
And Christ himself doth say and witness bear,  
That he from heaven saw fowl Satan fall,  
Like to the fiery streams of lightning clear.  
Whom Jews called Bemoth, which doth signify  
A cursed beast and full of cruelty.   

And is the serpent called Leviathan,  
Whereof most learned Isodore doth wright,  
That is so great an enemy to man,  
And taketh all his pleasure and delight  
To haunt the Seas and waters troubled,  
Of whom King David to us Prophesied,   

In his divine and most spiritual song,  
Wherein he doth set forth to us that beast,  
The fiery and most furious Dragon strong,  
That hath his habitation, and doth rest  
Within the Seas, 'mongst Snakes and Adders vile,  
Devising how he may mankind beguile.   

The which a Monk called Br●ndon once did see,  
(In vision when upon the Seas he was,)  
Into a fearful pit cast down to be,  
And there was bound his cursed days to pass;  
Until the last and great, a general doom,  
When Christ with power to judge the world should come   

This cursed serpent he that did devise  
(As in the holy scriptures we do find)  
To come to Adam, when in Paradise  
He was, and cause he hated all mankind,  
When as occasion fit he did espy,  
Deceived him by devilish policy.   

And that he might the better work the same,  
He took on him the shape of serpent sly,  
With maiden's face, and in that manner came  
To E●a, and with great subtlety  
And face full smooth, himself to her did go,  
And of her did desire the cause to know,   

Why God did them forbid to touch and eat,  
The fruit that on the tree of Life did grow,  
Of which, he said the virtue was so great,  
That it would make them good and evil know  
And be as Gods, and so to her did give  
Two Apples, which she took and did believe   

What he had said, of which when she had fed,  
And unto Adam given thereof to prove,  
As he alleged their eyes were opened,  
And for their guilt God did them strait remove:  
And from terrestrial Paradise did throw,  
Commanding them the earth to till and sow.   

With sweat of brows their living there to get.  
And thus this most accursed fiend of hell,  
His mind upon all wickedness did set,  
And into such a rage 'gainst mankind fell:  
That taking face of woman for a while,  
By his false tongue he did them so beguile.   

And used that filthy beast to work his will,  
And spoke in her; and often doth the like,  
I● them that are possessed with spirits ill,  
And forceth them to fall in such dislike  
Of God and all his works, that furiously  
They curse and blaspheme God most horribly.   

This wicked serpent called Leviathan,  
Continuing in his purpose as we find,  
T'effect his cursed will 'gainst silly man,  
Devised to speak in Idols dumb and blind:  
And caused man on them to cry and call,  
And them t'adore with worship spiritual.   

As they did use in Delos to implore  
Apollo's aid. But David doth declare,  
That we should all such images abhor,  
And that the works of man's own hands they are:  
This shall suffice to show how, where, & when,  
The worshipping of jdols first began.   

And I suppose that Guido meant hereby,  
To show the same, as thinking 'twas not known  
Unto the world, and for to certify,  
How at the last it was clean overthrown:  
As also that such as unlearned be,  
Thesequell of the same might plainly see.   

And now I will proceed and briefly show,  
That when Achilles, and Patroclus were  
Arrived in Delos Isle, they strait did go  
Unto Apollo's Temple, there to hear  
What answer he would give them in that c●●●  
So doubtful, where they stayed a little space,   

Before they did begin to sacrifice,  
Consulting with the priests what course to take,  
And after mature, counsel, and advise,  
From them received, they did their prayers make:  
And certain rich oblations did present,  
Wherein when they much time & long had spent   

Devoutly fore the Altar: at the last,  
Apollo did his ears to them decline,  
And after certain days were overpast,  
Made answer unto them with vow divine:  
And said, Achilles thou that now art sent  
To me, by all the Grecians full consent;   

Return in haste again and to them show,  
That their desire accomplished shall be,  
And that to Troy they all shall safely go,  
And there take land, though with some difficulty,  
But at the last shall 'gainst their foes prevail,  
And after they have fought many battle,   

At ten years end the town of Troy shall win,  
And cruelly put it unto the sword,  
And noneshall scape of all they find therein,  
But such as they shall mercy then afford:  
For Priamus, and Hecuba his wife,  
And all their Sons in that same mortal strife,   

The Grecians shall unto confusion bring,  
And slay them all, and having done, the town,  
The houses, walls, and every other thing,  
Shall be defaced and utterly cast down:  
This is, said he, decreed by heavenly doom,  
And in due time most sure to pass shall come.   

Achilles with this answer was full glad,  
And thanked God Apollo with his heart,  
For his so good and gracious answer made;  
And ere he out the Temple did depart,  
By fortune Bishop Colchos thither came,  
To sacrifice and pray in Priam's name.   

And for to know what issue he should have,  
In that his war 'gainst Grecians ta'en in hand,  
(This Colchos was both learned, wise, and grave,  
And one of great account in Trojan land:  
A man that did in science much excel,  
And could both strange & future things foretell.)   

Who offering to the God due sacrifice,  
(As in that case their usual manner was)  
And praying on his knees in humble wise,  
(Wherein he did some certain hours pass)  
Apollo without tarrying or delay  
Spoke unto him, and in this sort did say:   

Calchas, Calchas, (twice calling him by name)  
See that to Troy thou goest not back again,  
For if thou dost 'twill turn thee unto blame,  
For know for truth, and so I tell thee plain:  
(Wherein thou mayst believe and credit me)  
E'er long time pass it shall destroyed be.   

For sure it is, and they can't notwithstand:  
Therefore thou shalt unto Achilles go,  
And with the Grecians join in heart and hand,  
And stay with them, for I will have it so:  
For they (as I have said) shall victors be,  
And thereby win great fame and dignity.   

For so the Fates their honours will advance;  
And thou to them by counsel wise and grave,  
Shalt be a helper, aid, and furtherance  
In their affairs, and of them thou shalt have  
Thy maintenance. Wherewith he strait arose,  
And presently unto Achilles goes.   

Of whom with honour great and reverence,  
He was received according t'his estate,  
And to him showed his mind and full pretence,  
And thereupon became confederate:  
And vowed to be good friends one to th'other,  
And so went out the Temple both together.   

And speedily made preparation,  
To go from thence, and presently set sail  
For Athens, where they did arrive full soon,  
(For neither wind nor weather did them fail)  
And landing there, did make no long delay,  
But in all hast the very self same day,   

Unto the greeks a full relation made,  
What they had done in Delos 'bout their charge,  
And what to them the God Apollo said,  
Declaring all and every thing at large;  
And how that they in those their wars should speed,  
And that the Gods together had decreed,   

The Trojans ruin and destruction.  
And also what Apollo likewise spoke,  
And unto Calchas said, and had foreshown,  
And willed him agreement strait to make  
With greeks, and not to Troy return again,  
But with them ever after to remain.   

Where at the Grecks rejoiced and were full glad,  
That of the Gods such favour they had found,  
And after that with one consent they made  
A league, and unto Calchas strait were bound,  
And he to them, with promise on each side,  
As friends for ever after to abide.   

Which done, each one unto his lodging went,  
Till next day in the morn, when glooming night  
By force of Phoebus' beams away was sent,  
And Sun began to shine most clear and bright:  
When as the Grecians offered sacrifice  
Unto the Gods in most submissive wise.   

And did devoutly hold a solemn feast  
In Paynim wise, and in remembrance  
Of th'answer which they had in their request  
TO Apollo made, and with great reverence,  
Gave thanks to him with glad & joyful cheer.  
The Trojan Bishop Calchas did appear   

Before them, and down on his knees did fall,  
Desiring them to give him audience,  
To speak his mind in presence of them all,  
And that thereat they would take no offence:  
Which being granted, they did silence make,  
And he with sober countenance to them spoke.   

My Lords and Princes all assembled here,  
Whose fame and honour great so much is sprad  
Throughout the world, that Nations far & near,  
Continually of you do stand in dread:  
Is't not your purpose unto Troy to go,  
And there against your foes your strength to sho●?   

Why then do you defer the time so long,  
And still within the town of Athens stay,  
Sith that you have an army huge and strong?  
Assure yourselves nought's gotten by delay:  
For 'tis the means to work your hindrance;  
And not the way your purpose to advance.   

For think you, while that you so long abide  
Here in this place, and make so much delay,  
That Priam for himself will not provide,  
And doth increase his forces night and day:  
And hath his spies here 'mongst you secretly,  
That your proceedings to him certify.   

Me thinks this course you take is not the best,  
For be assured King Priam is so wise,  
That while you lie here still and take your rest,  
He will not cease by all means to devise  
To help stimselfes; delay is dangerous,  
And may unto yourselves be perilous.   

And thus I proved, for all the while that ye  
Within the town of Atheni still do stand,  
You give your enemy means and liberty,  
To make yourself the stronger to withstand  
Your forces, and at leisure to provide  
Great store of men your coming to abide.   

Therefore I say, you ought to have more care,  
Sith that as now it's by you all decreed,  
Against your foes to go, and to make war,  
And do it with as much convenient speed  
As possible you may withal your might,  
For when the Iron's hot it's time to smite.   

For if you stay until that it be cold,  
And do your time neglect to work thereon,  
Then will it neither ply, yield, bend nor fold.  
Therefore I wish you all for to be gone,  
And while you do in hearts and minds accord,  
Without delay, each man strait go aboard:   

And make no stay to march against your foe,  
That hath to you so great a trespass done.  
How many days have you as now let go,  
And months o'erpast, and carelessly o'errun?  
How oft hath Titan from the East to West,  
Compassed the world whilst you here take your rest.   

And have consumed your time so precious?  
How long and often hath the pleasant air●,  
Caused by the gentle wind called Zephyrus,  
And seas that have so oft been calm and fair,  
But overslipped by you, while you lie here?  
It makes your foes suppose you do't for fear,   

And gives them cause t'esteem the less of you.  
Believe me, (as to you I now am bound)  
I will not spare to give you counsel true,  
Remember then (I say) how you have found  
The Gods to favour you in this respect,  
And still will do't, if you do not neglect   

Their grace, and by your great ingratitude  
And slothfulness, provoke them to agree  
An other doom against you to conclude.  
For if that they do you so careless see,  
Think it not strange if they do change their minds,  
And unto you at last should prove unkind.   

I counsel you therefore now to be gone,  
And see that you no longer tarry hear,  
And ere the time of harvest doth come on,  
While that the weather is both fair and clear,  
And pleasant Summer bideth in his heat,  
And fore the Winter comes thats cold & wet:   

In season fresh and green put to the seas,  
And in the name of all the Gods proceed.  
(This is my counsel take it as you please,)  
For sith thereon you fully have decreed,  
Make no delay, but each man go to ship,  
And let no longer time thus overslip.    

CHAP. IX.  
¶ How the Grecians Navy putting from Athens were distressed by tempest at Sea; and how they took the Castle of Saranaba belonging to the Trojans.  

CAlchas thus having spoken as you hear,  
The Grecians thinking his advice so given  
To be most true, all that assembled were,  
Agreed upon the self same day, at even  
To enter ship, and Agamemnon then  
By sound of Trump did summon all his men,   

To make all hast they could to part away,  
Who being also willing to be gone,  
Did speedily take ship without delay,  
And having pleasant wind at will, full soon  
Put forth to sea with all their warlike band▪  
And presently were out of fight of land.   

(To tell how many ships they had were vain,  
Because it hath already been declared,  
But sure it is most evident and plain,  
That near tofore of like fleet hath been heard▪  
Nor such a number of most valiant men,  
As in their host assembled were as then.)   

And being on the seas in weather clear,  
Full suddenly the wind began to rise,  
The air waxed dark, & they therewith did hear  
Huge thunderclaps rebound out of the skies:  
Which with such fury on their ships then stroke,  
That many Masts and Yards in sunder broke.   

The waves likewise did rise so huge and high,  
And such a storm of rain and hail did fall  
Upon the Seas, that it did make the sky  
To show as black as pitch; and there withal  
The lightning in their fearful faces flashed,  
So mightily, that they were sore aghast.   

And every man began to call and cry  
Unto their Gods in that most fearful case,  
And made accounted assuredly to die;  
But Colchos who in knowledge did surpass,  
When he had made and said some Orasions,  
By devilish charms and inchantations,   

Did cease the storms & cause the Sun shine clear,  
Which made their heavy hearts exceeding glad,  
And told them how the cause of that great fear,  
And tempest sore which they endured had,  
Was for that fair Diana, discontent  
With them, because their course to Troy they bent.   

And put to sea ere they did her adore,  
Or offered any sacrifice at all  
Upon her Altars, or her aid implore,  
Which made her in so great a rage to fall:  
That if he had not found the means t'appease  
Her wrath, she would have drowned them in the seas   

Wherewith King Agamemnon presently,  
(Believing Colchos counsel) with all speed,  
Perceiving that his fleet not far did lie  
From th'Isle Aulides, suddenly decreed  
To land therein, where by good fortune he,  
A little Chapel found therein to be,   

That was unto Diana dedicate.  
Whereto with all the speed he could he went,  
To offer sacrifice (thereby t'abate  
Th'incensed Goddess Wrath) and after spent  
Long time in prayer, until that it appeared,  
The seas of storms & tempests all were cleared.   

But some men say and for a truth declare,  
(As Ou●d long discourse thereof doth make)  
That Agamemnon did as than not spare,  
His daughter Effigenia to take;  
And on the Altar naked did her lay,  
Supposing with his virgin's blood to stay   

Diana's wrath, and he therewith would be  
Appeased with them, but she loathe to behold  
The virgin put to such extremity,  
(The bowels of her mercy to unfold)  
Invisibly from thence did take the maid,  
And in her steed a Hart on th'Altar laid,   

Which Agamemnon thereon offered,  
And with the same the Goddess satisfied.  
Which having done and all things finished,  
That thereunto belonged, in hast he hied  
Unto his ship, and having weather clear  
Put to the sea again, without all fear   

And by her aid and help, whom some do say  
To be man's guide and chief direction,  
When on the sea or land, by night or day,  
He travaileth, and her protection,  
By such as skill have in Astronomy,  
And seek her fame t'extol and magnify.   

Reported is, and found most strong to be,  
When as she keepeth this her situate  
Within his tents and twelfth house by degree,  
For in those two she is most fortunate:  
And doth her clearest light on earth reflect,  
If that she be conjoined with good aspect.   

Of any other fair and happy star,  
Which unto men that travel is bening,  
And in short time sailed on the seas so far,  
With wind so good that soon it did them bring  
Unto the coast of Troy, where on the strand,  
A Castle strong at that same time did stand:   

Ditcht round about, and walled exceeding high,  
With divers Towers therein both round & square,  
And hard by it a haven there did lie,  
Which many faddomes' deep of water bare:  
Where ships might safely anchor and abide,  
And 'gainst all wind and weather safely ride.   

(Which Castle though that Dares hath forgot  
To name it, yet some Authors do it call  
Saranaba) where Grecians failed not  
To enter, and their anchors there let fall,  
Despite of all that offered to resist,  
(For at that time they might do what they list.)   

Which only were the garrison of men,  
That in the fort (to keep and hold the same)  
Were placed by King Priamus as then,  
Who valiantly (to their eternal fame)  
assoon as they espied the Grecians enter,  
Came forth, and to resist them did adventure.   

With full pretence their landing to jmpeach  
With all their power, if that it might prevail,  
But 'twas as then too far above their reach,  
For then the Greeks did them so far assail,  
That they could not against them long endure,  
Though they supposed & did themselves assure.   

(Because the Grecians long at sea had lain,  
And wearied with sailing too and fro)  
The victory with ease they should obtain,  
But yet they did not find it to be so:  
For it fell out with them unhappily,  
Because they did it unadvisedly.   

For when that they together fiercely met,  
With pikes and other weapons for the war,  
And that their powers upon each other set,  
The Grecians did exceed the Trojans far  
In number, and as then did plainly show,  
That Trojans to withstand them were too few.   

And had a far unequal match then found,  
To fight against a power innumerable,  
And yet they would not yield one foot of ground▪  
Till many of them were wounded, and t'weake  
The Grecians fierce and angry moods to stay,  
That spared them not in cruel wise to slay,   

And show'd not any mercy what so ere.  
So that of force they were constrained to run,  
As fast as ere they could in extreme fear,  
The fury of their foes as then to shun:  
(For truth to say, and briefly to conclude,  
They had 'gainst them too great a multitude)   

And by constraint abandoning the place,  
To save their lives unto their Castle fled,  
The Grecians hotly following them in chase,  
And leaving in the field great numbers dead:  
Pell mell with them, got to the Castle gate,  
Whereas perforce (unto their cruel fate.)   

They entered in, and did it fiercely win,  
And without mercy slew them every one,  
And all the treasure that they found therein,  
Unto their ships did bear; which having done,  
Intending there to make no longer stay,  
They broke the Castle down & did it lay   

Flat on the ground, which being clean defaced,  
And not a stone left standing, they decreed  
To go from thence, and making all the hast  
They could, did sail to Tenadon with speed,  
A Castle then within the Trojan land,  
That six miles from the town of Troy did stand;   

And not far distant from the sea was set▪  
Within a fair and pleasant plot of ground,  
And air most wholesome, fresh▪ and very sweet,  
Environed with spacious plains, and round  
About it grew all kind of corn, and vines,  
(Whereof they made great store of pleasant wines)   

Fruits, herbs, & flowers, of fair & several kinds,  
And every other thing that man could wish,  
To serve his turn, with store of Hearts & Hinds,  
Calves, Hogs, and Sheep, and every sort of fish  
That surging seas doth yield: so that it might  
Be called a place of pleasure and delight,   

In which the soldiers lived in all content.  
Whereto when as the Grecians did arrive,  
And fore it boldly did themselves present.  
The Trojans hoping them from thence to drive,  
Most part of them well armed with speed went out,  
And casting forth a huge and hideous shout,   

Marched valiantly against their foes (as then  
Upon the land, in fair and rich array,  
And with so great a multitude of men,  
That all the strand and field along the way  
Unto the Castle walls, was covered  
By them,) but yet the Trojans without dread   

(Demanding not wherefore they came, nor what  
They sought as then within the Trojans land)  
Assailed them with so great courage, that  
The air at their encounter hand to hand,  
Did sound with noise of Drum & trumpets brave,  
And with the strokes that either side than gave   

On helmets, shields, & arms, from whence the fire  
In sparks flew out, and many a man was slain,  
And some lay wounded grovelling in the mire,  
Some bleeding and in great and deadly pain▪  
Their Horses running masterless about,  
And all the field, and all the way throughout   

Was filled with legs, arms, heads and hands of men,  
Smitten off, and fiercely hewed and cut in sunder,  
And thousands on each side were slain as then  
(But on the Grecians part the greatest number:)  
The Trojans did so fiercely them assail▪  
But all their force at last could not prevail,   

Against so great a power and multitude  
Of greeks, that then were forty at the least  
'Gainst one of them, so that for to conclude,  
They were constrained (as being overpressed)  
With all the speed they could for to retire▪  
(Though wanting neither manhood not desire)   

To fight against their foes, and in great haste,  
As many of them ●● could escape a●ay,  
And save their lines, by force through th'enemy passed,  
And to the Castle go●, and that same day  
Some road in po●st▪ & with no little fear,  
The news unto thetowne of Tr●ye to bear.   

And need they had●● fly with all their might,  
For in the chase the Greckes did them pursue  
Unto the gates, and never left till night,  
But many of them in incruell wise than flew▪  
That straggling here and there did chance to light  
Into their hands, as they were in the flight.   

Nor any one of what degree so ere  
Was spared by them, nor ransom would be ta'en,  
Such hatred to the Trojans they did bear:  
And when they had great numbers of them slain,  
They did besiege the Castle round about  
So closely, that they could not issue out.   

Which dove, the bulwarks presently they won,  
And then with fierce assault they did assay  
To scale the walls, but they within full soon  
Mounting thereon▪ their furious moods did stay:  
And drove them thence with so great force & might,  
Of stones, long bows, & blows of coutl●s bright▪   

Pikes, Cross bows, darts, & wildfire which they cast  
down from the walls, and did the same defend  
So valiantly, that spite their hearts at last,  
When as the greeks with ladders did ascend,  
They were by them thrown headlong down the wall,  
And forced with great despite on ground to fall.   

Till at the last the Grecians gins did frame,  
Wherewith against the Castle stones they threw,  
And in such wise they battered the same,  
(That Troyans hardly could their faces show)  
And then again their ladders reared upright,  
And mounting up used all their power & might   

To enter on their enemies forcibly▪  
But Troyans nought abashed, with valiant mood  
For their defence at them let arrows fly  
From off the walls, and mightily with stood  
Their fierce assault, and beat them off again,  
At which time many Grecians proud were slain   

By push of Pike, and huge and mighty stones,  
Which from the walls they cast, and therewithal  
Did break the Grecians necks, & bruise their bones,  
And spite their hearts constrained them down to fall  
Upon the ground, in pale and deadly hue,  
But once again the Greekes ●h'assault renew.   

And with so great a number did besaile  
The Castle on all sides, that in the end,  
The Trojans forces clean began to sail,  
And were no longer able to defe●●d  
Themselves, when no succo●● they perceived,  
They waxed faint, and so at men bereaved   

Of all relief, they did the best they might  
To save their lines, but Gre●●●●● valiantly  
Did enter, and in rage and great despite,  
Killed all that were within most furiously▪  
And when the Castle strong they had so won,  
They placed their ensigns on the walls, which done   

They ransacked it, and what so ere they found,  
Gold, treasure, and each other costly ware,  
In packs and fardels theyed together bound,  
And to their ships with present speed it bare▪  
And breaking down the Castle, made it plain  
And even with the ground, and so again   

Returned unto their ships, and when they had  
Refreshed and eased themselves, and to declare  
They joy for victory gained, great triumph made  
Their General, whose chief and special care,  
Was to reward each one in his degree,  
Caused all his Captains to assembled be.   

And all the treasure they as then had won,  
Brought forth & laid in open view, he made  
To rich and poor like distribution:  
But most to them that best deserved had,  
And ventured life and limb for honours sake,  
But he himself no part thereof would take.   

As having more desire to win their hearts,  
Then t'have their goods, for he that's liberal,  
And 'mongst his soldiers willingly imparts  
His treasure, into danger near doth fall:  
And bounty wins their hearts, & doth them move,  
Their Generals to honour and to love.    

CHAP. X.  
¶ How Agamemnon assembled all the Nobles ●●● chief Commanders of the Grecians, where vp●● deliberation taken amongst them, they sent 〈◊〉 and Diomedes, Ambassadors onto Priam Ki●● of Troy, to demand restitution of Queen Helena, and the damages done by Paris in the Temple of Cythera.  

THe treasure dealt among them as you hear,  
Commandment was by Agamemnon made,  
That 'gainst next day the Princes should appear▪  
Before him to confer, and when they had  
Ta'en rest a while, and that the radiant light  
Of Phoebus' glistering face, did shinemost bright   

Upon the earth. The Gretions on the land,  
And Agamemnon placed in royal seat,  
With all his power which 'bout him than did stand,  
And all the Princes there together met:  
And placed were each one in his degree,  
Silence once made, and opportunity   

Then offered; The King with princely grace,  
And pleasing terms, as being eloquent  
And very wise, rose up out of his place,  
And show to them his will and his intent:  
Th'effect whereof in substance doth appear,  
Hereafter as you presently shall hear.   

My Lords (said he) you know and must confess,  
That we of right and mere necessity,  
Compelled are at this time to redress  
A wrong to us done by the cruelty  
Of Trojans, unto whom we gave no cause,  
To break the ancient God of peace's laws.   

True 'tis that we (as all the world doth know)  
Are of sufficient power, force, and might,  
And are esteemed and known of high and low,  
To be the men that able are to right  
All wrongs whatsoe'er, & both by sea & land,  
T'effect such things as we shall take in hand,   

Despite of all that 'gainst us will resist.  
Yet I suppose, an't ever hath been seen,  
That power which in itself doth not consist,  
Nor is puffed up with pride, hath always been,  
And to the Gods is most acceptable,  
And longest doth remain upright and stable.   

For is there any one amongst us all,  
But knows for truth, and can full well express,  
What harms and griefs do oftentimes befall,  
By envy, pride, and devilish wilfulness?  
And when by pride men take a thing in hand,  
The Gods incensed, their actions do withstand,   

And cross all those that are superbious.  
For truth to say, it is avice abhorred  
Of every man, and held most dangerous,  
For pride nought else but mischief doth afford▪  
(Yet must we not for pride esteem or hold,  
The valour in a man of courage bold.)   

For he that unto pride his mind doth give,  
Or doth converse with one that's proud in heart,  
And takes delight with such a man to live,  
Can neither will nor choose but have his part,  
Of all such crosses as to pride befall,  
Which commonly despised is of all.   

And nothing doth impair man's honour more,  
(Of what estate so ever that he be)  
Then pride. Wherefore let us the same abhor,  
And from it, as from cruel viper flee:  
And wholly race it out of heart and mind,  
And so we shall the Gods more gracious find▪   

Especially when as our quarrel's just,  
And that we ground it upon equity,  
But if that pride and envy should us thrust  
Into a war without necessity;  
Or lawful cause, but only of mere hate,  
The end thereof would prove unfortunate.   

But all you know that we as now are here,  
With full consent within the Trojan land,  
To be revenged for wrongs that long since were  
By Priam done to us, and for to stand  
Unto the trial of our cause by might,  
Wherein we know we do nought else but right.   

And to that end we have begun 't▪ nvade,  
And wasted, spoiled, and overrun his lands,  
Destroyed, and rane his Castles strong, and made  
Occision of his men with warlike bands:  
And many other harms committed have,  
(Whereof himself the first occasion gave.)   

So that if he did hate us heretofore,  
(As by fore passed actions it appears)  
I dare well say he hates us now much more:  
And that if to revenge himself it were  
Within his power, you presently should see,  
What strange revenge by him would taken be.   

And yet 'tis sure that they full well do know,  
And hear of our arrival in their land,  
Although thereof they seem to make no show,  
And what by us is done they understand:  
For that as yet it's fresh in memory.  
So that if they were strong us to defy,   

They would soon march to meet us in the field,  
Yet certain 'tis their town is huge and great,  
And by all men invincible is held,  
And filled with Knights therein together met,  
Of their allies; so that ere we begin,  
I know we shall small vantage 'gainst them win.   

For he that in a quarrel just doth stand,  
And fighteth to defend his Countre●,  
Within a town in his own native land,  
And hath great store of faithful friends that be  
To him allied, more vantage hath thereby  
To aid himself, then hath his enemy.   

For oftentimes the Raven doth withstand,  
And fights long with the Falcon in his nest,  
Before the Falcon gets the upper hand,  
And hath the means to fly and take her rest,  
While that the Falcon doth for her attend,  
For birds will in their nests themselves defend.   

I speak not this (and so I pray conceive)  
To put your valiant hearts in any doubt,  
Or once your minds of hope for to bereave,  
Of bringing this our enterprise about,  
Which is, to spoil and utterly confound  
The Trojans and their town, though it abound   

With men and means against, us to resist,  
And to defend themselves for certain time,  
For ●re we from our enterprise desist,  
Which now you see is merely in the prime,  
We make no doubt but to destroy them all,  
And bring them to their ends what ere befall.   

But th'only cause why I these words nowuse,  
Is to dissuade you from presumption  
And pride of heart, lest that you should abuse  
Yourselves herein by indiscretion:  
And wisely in this case so well provide,  
That reason, and not will, may be your guide.   

And ere we stir from hence such order take,  
That we may reap great commendation,  
And of our wars a happy end soon make,  
For th'honour of the Grecian Nation:  
For oft we see the want of good foresight,  
I special cause to breed a man despite,   

When as he undertaketh any thing,  
Without forecasting what thereof may fall,  
And in the end doth him to ruin bring.  
It stands v●then upon in mind to call,  
What issue may ensue of our intent,  
Lest that in fine it maketh us repent.   

You know how first King Priamus did send  
To us to have his sister Action,  
(By fair means, and to peace did seem to bend)  
Who yet is holden by King Tolamon:  
And how that we with one consent denied  
His small request, and boldly him defied.   

Which unto us not any vantage brought,  
But only was the means of our despite,  
And afterwards no little mischief wrought▪  
For if that we by provident foresight,  
Had not denied; all harms had been eschewd,  
That after by the Trojans were pursued,   

At Cythera, nor yet the treasure great  
And costly jewels won by Paris, had  
Been carried unto Troy (their regal seat)  
Nor slaughter of our men by them been made:  
Nor yet the woe that Helena procured  
In Grecian land, so long therein endured.   

Nor any wrong to Menelaus been done,  
If we (I say) had well considered  
Thereon, and him restored Action:  
Nor had we been so foolishly misled,  
To spend our treasure and our goods in vain,  
To come to fetch Queen Helena again:   

With no small costs or charges to us all,  
And dangers great, as you may well suppose,  
And yet we know not what may chance befall,  
Or whether we in fine shall win or lose:  
Sith that nothing on earth is permanent,  
But unto alteration still is bend.   

And for that fortune all things can subvert,  
And to a good beginning give bad end,  
All dangers therefore from us to divert,  
And wisely to begin that we pretend▪  
My counsel is ere further we proceed,  
To send unto King Priamus with speed:   

To will him to make restitution  
Of Helena, as reason doth require,  
And of all other wrongs unto us done  
By Paris, unto which our just desire  
If he consent▪ we may return to Greece  
With honour, and all further troubles cease.   

But if he seem this offer to refuse,  
And wilfully rejecteth our demand,  
Then shall we have occasion just to use  
All rigour whatsoe'er within his land:  
To spoil his town, and lay it flat on ground,  
And utterly both him and his confound.   

And two things will our action justify,  
The one is, that our quarrel just and right,  
(Which to be so no man can well deny)  
Will maintain us, and boldly for us fight,  
And us and ours will lawfully excuse,  
But them condemn because they did refuse   

Our just demand to them first offered.  
The other is, that through the world so wide,  
All men will say, that we were justly led  
To take revenge, and will hold on our side:  
And them perpetually for ever blame  
Of wilfulness, to their everlasting shame.   

And all extremes that by us shall be used,  
'Gainst woman, child, or man of each degree,  
For causes fore alleged will be excused  
I●●s, and we shall wholly freed be:  
Though that we kill and spoil them every one,  
And show no mercy unto any one.   

But yet before we enter thereinto,  
My counsel is, this offer should be made  
To them, and that with speed the same you do:  
And by this means (as I before have said)  
We shall great praise and commendation gain;  
Which said, he sat down in his thrown again.   

But 'mongst the Grecian Princes many were  
Of clean contrary minds, and would not grant  
That any should such message from them bear  
To Priamus, lest he should brag and vaunt,  
That they to him had sent to crave amends,  
And m●tion made with him for to be friends.   

Yet such as more experience seemed to have,  
To Agamemnon's counsel did agree,  
And to the same their free consents than gave,  
That Diomedes and Ulysses sent should be,  
Their minds unto King Priamus to shoe,  
Who strait without delay to Troy did go.   

At such time as the Sun with radiant light,  
(Had passed along the whirling Hemisphere)  
At noone-time with his beams exceeding bright,  
Upon each hill and valley shone most clear:  
And when unto the town of Troy they got,  
They entered therein and stayed not,   

But strait unto King Priam's palace went,  
(For that the streets directly led them to't,)  
Not showing any man what their intent  
As then might be, nor ask leave to do't:  
Intending without fear or any dread,  
In their Embassage boldly to proceed.   

(And (truth to say) no man did them resuse  
To enter nor to pass along the street,  
For 'tmay be that as than they did not use,  
For passports or safe conducts to entreat  
For messengers: but such as in that sort,  
To any Prince or Country did resort,   

Had leave to enter freely without doubt.)  
And at the last they came to Ilyon,  
The which with admiration, round about  
They viewed well, esteeming it alone,  
Surpassed all others both in breadth and length,  
Beauty, exceeding richness, and for strength.   

And yet they wondered more (thoghed did than good)  
Within the court all paved with lasper stone,  
To see a tree in midst thereof that stood,  
Which like unto the Sun for brightness shone:  
But could not judge it to be natural,  
Or made by workmen artificial.   

Or framed by devilish inchantation,  
Or cunning of some learned philosophy,  
Or whether 'twas but mere illusion,  
And did appear that 'twas not to the eye:  
And long they stood much troubled in their mind,  
To see if that they could by reason find,   

The ground of such a wonderful devise,  
But 'twas too hard for them to comprehend,  
So that if near so long they should surmise,  
Or on the same whole years in study spend,  
To find the truth thereof 'twas impossible,  
And yet to all men's sight 'twas visible,   

And palpably for to be felt with hand.  
The stock whereof was gold most bright & clear,  
Which strait as any Mast or Palm did stand,  
And did a huge and great proportion bear:  
The height twelve cubits at the least and more,  
And many branches great and small it boar.   

Which large and wide all o'er the place did spread,  
And such a breadth it bore, that round about  
The court therewith was wholly shadowed▪  
The branches and the leaves thereof throughout  
The tree in pairs together coupled were,  
The one ol gold, the other silver clear.   

The fruit it bare was precious stones most fine,  
Of colours white, green, red, and sapphire blew,  
Which on the same exceedingly did shine,  
And every day the blossoms did renew:  
And on it hung with colours variable,  
Which to the Grecians seemed most admirable.   

Who having long beheld it, at the last  
Went forward with intent t'effect their charge,  
And never stayed but through the palace past,  
So long, till that into a chamber large  
They entered, whereas King Priamus  
Sat in a throne most rich and sumptous.   

Accompanied with his Nobility,  
Who all along the chamber on each side,  
About him sat with princely majesty,  
On whom the Greeks (which did exceed in pride,  
With visage stern, and froward countenance,  
As having then but small remembrance   

Of honour) looked most boldly in the face,  
And without any courtesy or word  
Once offered, sat down and took their place,  
Right opposite against the counsel board:  
And there regarding not the Majesty  
O● Priamus, nor his Nobility,   

When they had pawsed awhile, with courage bold  
Ulysses 'gan unto King Priamus,  
Th'effect of their Embassage to unfold,  
So stoutly, and with words presumptuous,  
That all that were assembled did admire  
His pride, & mused what he would then require:   

And said, let it as now no wonder be,  
That we do use no kind of courtesies,  
Nor honours at our entry unto thee,  
To whom we are most deadly enemies:  
For where as rancour and disdain takes place,  
Great folly 'twere to show a flattering face.   

And truth to say, whereas the heart with fire  
Of envy burns, and bears a deadly hate  
Unto a man it never doth desire  
His welfare, but subversion of estate:  
To him and his, and therefore i'll not spare,  
Th'effect of our embassage to declare;   

As it to us delivered was in charge,  
From Agamemnon our brave General,  
Whereof in brief our duties to discharge,  
We tell thee plain, and so we do to all  
That here assembled are this present day,  
That he hath sent to thee for Helena.   

Whom thou from Grecians forcibly didst take,  
And 'gainst all right and by mere violence,  
Brought'st her to Troy, of whom he wils thee make  
Delivery unto us, and strait from hence  
To send her to her Lord King Menelaus,  
Without delay, excuse, or further pause.   

He also asketh restitution,  
Of all the wrongs and injuries that were  
By Paris in the Grecians Country done,  
When he to ravish Helena was there;  
And thou the same not only dost maintain,  
But Paris in his error dost sustain.   

Whereof he willeth thee without delay,  
To make amends, as reason doth require,  
And so thou mayst the Gods from vengeance stay,  
If thou dost grant to that he doth desire:  
(Whereto we counsel thee if thou be'st wise)  
But if thou seemest this message to despise,   

And wilt refuse to grant unto the same,  
Assure thyself, and thou shalt find it true,  
(Wherein none but thyself shall bear the blame,)  
Both thou and thine hereafter shall it rue:  
Unless herein some order thou dost take,  
For nought but cruel death an end shall make   

Twixt thee and us of this contention,  
For thou and thine in fine destroyed shall be,  
Without all pity or redemption;  
And which is more, and say I told it thee,  
Thy town which now is built so huge & strong,  
Against our force shall not continue long.   

But we will beat it down & lay't fulllow,  
And utterly in great despite and rage,  
The houses, walls, & towers thereof o'erthrow,  
Unless our angry moods thou dost assuage:  
Seem not therefore our counsel to despise,  
But show thyself herein for to be wise.   

When Priam heard the Grecians with such pride,  
Before his face their embassage declare,  
And in a manner seemed him to deride,  
As though for him and his they did not care:  
(Much moved thereat, & yet his fury stayed)  
Unto Ulysses spoke, and thus he said;   

I wonder much that thus within this place,  
You dare presume to make your proud demand,  
And (which is more) so boldly to my face,  
As if that you the power had to command,  
And me constrain your message to obey,  
And that thereto I durst you not denay,   

Nor yet deny what ere you do require.  
I tell you plain it doth offend me much,  
To hear your proud and insolent desire,  
And (which is more) mine honour so doth touch:  
That (truth to say) I hardly can refrain  
To be revenged on you: but i'll restrain   

My wrath as now, and in my bounds will hold,  
Yet near the sooner grant to your request:  
For know you shall, I will not be controlled,  
Sith you and yours I utterly detest.  
And briefly for to answer your demand,  
It doth not with the regal honour stand   

Of any King, to grant to your desire,  
Although he were in great extremity;  
And (truth to say) great wrong 'twere to require  
That at his hands, which you demand of me:  
And hardly can I think (though you proceed  
To do, as you do vaunt you have decreed)   

You shall therein so much 'gainst us pre●aile:  
For if it please the Gods, I tell you plain  
I will such order take that you shall fail  
Of your expected hope, and little gain  
Thereby, although with vows you have it sworn,  
And seem as now both me and mine to scorn.   

For your request as every man may see,  
To ask of me a satisfaction,  
Is without ground of truth or equity,  
Sith you yourselves gave first occasion,  
By killing noble King Laomedon  
My Father, and destruction of his town,   

With slaughter of his men, and many more  
Great injuries, (which if the truth were known)  
All causeless, you have done us heretofore,  
Which overlong as now were to be shown:  
For which my heart with grief is so possessed,  
That while I live it near shall be at rest,   

Till that I be revenged for the same,  
And for my Sister Action (if I may)  
Whom you (although to your no little shame)  
Led Captive into Greece, and to this day  
Still hold her there, not like to her degree,  
Which you may well suppose much spiteth me.   

And yet for all these wrongs you ask amends  
Of me, that not long since, to live in peace  
(Sent unto you to th'end we might be friends,  
And that all former enmity might cease)  
To pray you to send Action home again,  
Which you not only seemed much to disdain,   

But spightfullie my messenger abused,  
And threatening him with death for coming there,  
My just demand to you then made, refused.  
Wherefore sith that to me such spite you bear,  
I will not hear nor grant to your request,  
So much I do your pride and you detest.   

And die I will with honour in the field,  
Before that to one point of your demand,  
In any wise I will consent or yield.  
And to that end I let you understand,  
That th'only thing that I as now do crave  
Is war, not peace with you and yours to have,   

Sith you 'gainst us have used such cruelty.  
And know you shall that for your bold attempt  
To threaten me, you presently should die,  
But that the law of arms doth you exempt  
From death, because Ambassadors you are.  
Wherefore in haste 'twere best for you prepare,   

With speed to go from hence out of my sight,  
And void the town assoon as ere you may,  
For that to see you hear 'tis such despite  
And grief to me, that I can hardly stay  
From just revenge on you, such is the rage  
That moves my heart, & by no means will suage.   

King Priamus this answer having made,  
Diomedes with scornful smile than rose,  
And in disdain spoke unto him and said,  
If that our presence now (as I suppose)  
Be to thy heart so great a grief and pain,  
And makes thee rage, when as we are but twain:   

Then for a truth we let thee understand,  
That thou shalt never while thou liv'st want woes,  
To see so many Grecians in thy land,  
And all of them thy stern and deadly foes:  
Whose number are an hundred thousand strong,  
That will be here before thy gates ere long.   

Against whose mighty power invincible,  
Though thou far stronger wer● them now thou art,  
Us to resist it were impossible,  
Wherefore I wish thee play a wise man's part,  
And be advised, for 'twill thee nought avail,  
To strive 'gainst them, for sure thou canst not fail,   

Both thou and thine to die by Grecians swords,  
Thy town destroyed and all that longs thereto,  
Although thou seemest to use such haughty words,  
And with thy tongue speakest more than thou canst do:  
But better 'twere such boasting speech to leave,  
And unto our good counsel credit give.   

When Diomedes proudly with disdain  
Had spoken thus, some Trojans in a rage,  
Drew out their swords, & would him strait have slain,  
But Priamus their furies to assuage,  
Rose up, and with a countenance severe,  
On pain of death commanded them t'forbeare   

From wronging such as for Ambassadors were  
Sent unto him, or t'offer them offence.  
For though (said he) a fool will not forbear  
To speak without discretion, wit, or sense;  
A wise man must from rash attempts surcease,  
And winking at such folly, hold his peace.   

For if a fool speaks unadvisedly,  
And by that means doth move dissension,  
A wise man should not hastily reply,  
Nor shun no kind of indiscretion:  
For unto fools it properly belongs,  
For to bewray their folly with their tongues▪   

And wise men should be wary what they say,  
And well advised in all their actions,  
And both their hands and tongs discreetly stay,  
From giving cause to nourish factions:  
For fools by custom indiscreetly speak,  
And oftentimes into great choler break.   

But wisemen can dissemble what they hear,  
And till that time and place convenient be,  
With th'unadvised rage of folly bear,  
Which lasts not long, as commonly we see:  
And for my part I do you all assure,  
That rather would I wrong myself endure,   

Then to permit the least offence that is,  
For to be done by any man what ere,  
(For things which they suppose to be amiss)  
To any messenger that now is here  
Within my Court, for 'tis not fit that we,  
For every small offence revenged should be.   

For many times wrongs rashly offered,  
When little cause or none to do't there is,  
Whereof some great revenge hath followed,  
For hastiemen of woe do never miss:  
Wherefore I charge you every one sit down,  
And see that no man by presumption   

Attempteth for to wrong in any wise,  
Th'ambassadors of Grecia hither sent,  
Nor furiously in malice 'gainst them rise:  
But let them freely show the whole intent,  
And scope of their embassage whatsoe'er,  
And sit you still, while we with silence hear.   

With that Aeneas rose out of his seat,  
(Which next on th'one side of King Priam was)  
And in a furious rage and choler great,  
Said to the King, with licence of your Grace,  
I think when one without advice doth speak,  
That he not only well deserves a cheake,   

But punishment, that men by him may take  
Example, how in open audience,  
Such uproars and dissensions they do make,  
Thereby t'offend your royal Excellence:  
And (truth to say) it might so come to pass,  
That I the bounds of reason might surpass   

In this respect, and hastily commit  
A great offence, whereby your royal Grace  
Might censure me to die therefore; but yet,  
if'ft were not for your presence in this place,  
I would revenged be upon these twain,  
That have so proudly spoken in disdain   

Of you, (for 'tis a most unseemly thing,  
To hear a fool with great presumption,  
(In presence of a high and mighty King)  
Take on him without all discretion,  
To speak that which to him might breed offence,  
And prejudice to his magnificence.)   

To teach him how in better sort to learn  
To use his tongue, and when to hold his peace,  
And of the persons better to discern,  
To whom he speaks, and not with such excess  
As he hath done, that now before your Grace  
So proudly spoken hath, to your disgrace.   

For which I counsel him if he be wise,  
Out of your Grace's sight with spreed to go,  
And not to stay long here, upon surmise,  
That what so ere presumption he doth shoe,  
The law of arms is his protection:  
For if he do he'll feel the smartfull soon.   

Wherewith Diomedes disdainfully,  
In proud and haughty words, and yet but few,  
Did to Aeneas suddenly reply,  
Saying, thy speech sufficiently doth show,  
That without doubt thou art exceeding wise,  
And that the Prince that followeth thine advice,   

Or unto thee his secrets doth impart,  
Can never err, nor do aught that's amiss,  
Because thou of so good a judgement art,  
That wilfully without all good advice,  
Prouok'st thy Prince the laws of arms to break:  
But would to God I might once with thee speak   

Alone, when opportunity doth serve,  
That I might thee requite for thy great skill  
And courtesy, as thou dost well deserve,  
Which if I live assuredly, I will,  
And thereof make account, for if we meet  
In field, with other terms I will thee greet.   

But wise Ulysses rising up then spoke,  
And seeming Diomedes speech t'excuse,  
Unto him said, now further words to make,  
Or longer here more arguments to use  
Mere folly 'twere for us: and to the King  
He said, sith thou wilt do no other thing,   

Nor make no further answer than thou hast,  
we'll stay no longer here, but strait be gone,  
And make relation (what twixt us hath past)  
Unto the Grecian Princes every one:  
And how we find thee obstinately bend  
To hearken, or to grant to their intent.   

And so without delay to horse they mount,  
And to the Grecians armies road in haste,  
And there to Agamemnon did recount  
All what King Priam said, and what had passed  
Twixt them in Troy, whereby the Greeks did see,  
The Trojans purpose and intent to be,   

Not once to yield Queen Helena to send  
To them again, but valiantly to fight,  
And 'gainst their foes their City to defend,  
And if they could by valour and by might,  
Drive them from thence, which though it pleased them not,  
Yet sith they saw that such had been their lot,   

To undertake that haughty enterprise,  
And that there was no other remedy,  
They did consult what ways they should devise,  
To help themselves in their necessity  
Of victuals, and all other things beside,  
Whereof in haste they did themselves provide.   

But first before I show what means they made  
To help themselves, whilst they fore Troy did lie,  
I must declare what's of Aeneas said  
By Guido, who for truth doth certify,  
His father Duke Anchises was, and that  
He on the Goddess Venus him begat.   

And how that after Troy was clean defaced  
And overthrown, he sailed from thence by seas,  
And having passed by many Coasts, at last  
At Carthage did arrive, where for to ease  
Himself he stayed, and then took ship again,  
And sailed so long that with great toil & pain   

His ships arrived in Italy in th'end,  
The which by him was wholly conquered,  
And that Augustus Caesar did descend  
From him, that was so highly honoured,  
For many Conquests valiantly achieved  
By him, while on this earthly mould he lived.   

And justine that was Emperor a while,  
(Within his book Autentikes called by name,  
The Rubrikes of Aeneas did compile  
In memory of him, because he came  
So long a journey into Italy,  
And conquered it for his posterity.   

Which long time held the same, and did defend  
The regal state thereof by valiant hand,  
For Caesar did (ast's said) from him descend,  
And first jmperiall Diadem in that land  
Did wear: and by his policy and wit,  
Ordained the civil laws to govern it.   

What further of Aeneas traveling  
You seek to know: in Virgil, you may see  
The same at large, who writeth every thing  
By him achieved, though some persuaded be  
That Virgil was long dead and buried,  
Before his book was fully finished.    

CHAP. XI.  
¶ How Agamemnon sent Achilles, and Thelephus, into the island of Messa for victuals; and how they of the Isle withstood the greeks, and fought with them; in which battle the King of Messa was slain, and Thelephus was made King of Messa, by consent of all the Nobility of the Island.  

YOu heard how while Ulysses did sojourn  
With Diomedes in Troy, what there had passed:  
And also what King Priam did return  
For answer to the Grecians: who in haste  
Upon the same a general counsel call,  
Where in the full assembly of them all,   

King Agamemnon spoke to them, and said  
My Lords (as well you know) 'tis now high time,  
That care by us should speedily be had,  
(And chiefly now while we are in the prime  
Of our affairs) for things that needful are  
To serve our turns, while we maintain the war   

'Gainst Troy; and first, that good provision  
Of victuals should be made, for if we fail  
Thereof, 'twill be our own confusion:  
Which to prevent, and better to prevail  
In the enterprise which we as now pretend,  
My counsel is, that presently we send   

(If you think't good) unto an jsle hard by  
Caldoro Messa, where great sto●● of victuals are,  
From whence we may in our necessity  
Ourselves thereof provide, without all care  
Of sending into Greece, and to that end  
I pray you name whom you will thither send.   

With which advise the Grecians all consent.  
Agreed amongst themselves that Thelephus  
And with him stout Achilles should be sent  
To th'isle of Messa rich and populous,  
For victuals to suffice them and their host,  
And for to bring it thence, what ere it cost.   

At which time in that fertile Island reigned  
King Tenteran, that valiantly by might  
The Sceptre and the Crown thereof obtained,  
And had with justice, equity, and right,  
Long ruled in the same in peace and rest,  
Till Grecians did his quiet state molest.   

Though some men do affirm that Messa lies  
Within the bounds of the Sicilian King,  
And that the name of Messa signifies,  
Abundance great, and store of every thing  
Which therein grew, and that it had the name  
From Messena, a City in the same.   

Exceeding rich and plentiful, from whence  
Great store of ships and vessels laden were  
With victuals, which they did convey from thence  
To every place and Country far and near:  
Which for such wares as to that jsle they brought  
They did excange, and of those people bought.   

And some men say, that Messa named was  
Of Messanus a King that ruled the same,  
Who in his time all others did surpass,  
For riches great, exceeding power and fame:  
This shall suffice in brief to let you know  
What Messa was: and now I will you show,   

That when the Grecian Princes had decreed,  
That Thelephus and Achilles should be sent  
To Messa with three thousand men; with speed  
They put to seas, and ere long time was spent  
Arrived there, and strait their men did land.  
But when the King thereof did understand,   

He marched with an army to the strand,  
And there with horse and footmen valiantly,  
The Grecians power by force sought to withstand,  
Giving the onset most courageously;  
And 'gainst them did a cruel fight maintain,  
Wherein great numbers of their men were slain   

On either side, and many wounded were,  
That bleeding on the ground in great distress  
Lay, never likely arms again to bear:  
And in so great a rage and furiousness  
Each party did against the other fight,  
That long it was ere that perceive you might,   

Advantage twixt them both; so equally  
The battle went, and at that time was fought:  
Till in the end the Grecians valiantly  
Drove back their foes, but it availed them nought:  
For presently they were constrained to run,  
And back t'retire with speed again, to shun   

The fury of the enemies that were,  
Three to their one, that cruelly then slew,  
And made to fly in great distress and fear,  
Which at that time they could not well eschew:  
But when with angry mood Achilles saw  
His men so fiercely slain, and forced to draw   

Back to the strand in great extremity,  
With trenchant blade in hand he entered  
Amongst the thickest of the enemy,  
(Where many of his men in field lay dead,  
And others wounded sore, away did fly)  
And there behaved himself so valiantly,   

That in short space he had recovered  
The field again, and in most furious mood  
Felled, wounded, and before his feet lay dead,  
All that he found, or him as then withstood:  
And therewithal his men so comforted,  
And by his valour great encouraged,   

That where before they fled and lost their ground,  
Their enemies were forced to retire  
And fly to save themselves, and none was found  
That durst withstand his fierce and furious ire:  
For who so ere he met was sure to die,  
And none escaped, such was his cruelty.   

And sure if that his valour, worthiness,  
Exceeding force, and courage passing bold,  
Had not prevailed against the hardiness  
Of Tentrans' men, without all doubt they would  
That day in field have slain the Grecians all.  
But he like to a strong & puissant wall   

Withstood them, & their ranks so fiercely broke,  
That maugre all their power, he made them lie  
In heaps before his feet, and way to make:  
And at the last when as he did espy,  
King Tenteran a brave and valiant Knight,  
Like Lion fierce defend himself in fight,   

And here and there the Grecians so oppressed,  
That many of them by him were fiercely slain,  
And beaten down, and that he never ceased  
To overthrow all that he could attain:  
He did not stay, but with most fierce desire,  
And heart that burned with rage as hot as fire,   

Made way through thick and thin, & round about  
Him killed his foes so fast on every side,  
That at the last he found King Tentran out  
Whereas he fought, and with exceeding pride,  
Gave him a blow so fiercely on the crest,  
That't made his head bend down unto his breast.   

And then again his blow redoubled,  
And with the same so deeply did him wound,  
That therewithal most grievously he bled,  
And with a third blow struck him to the ground:  
And then from off his head his helmet rend  
In furious wise, with purpose and intent   

To strike it off, and to that end did heave  
His hand on high with bloody sword to give  
The Fatal blow, that should his life bereave.  
(So much the slaughter of his men did grieve  
Him at the heart, which he perceived was made  
By him alone, and that he only had   

Been cause thereof.) But ere the blow did fall,  
Young Thelaphus that did by chance perceive  
What he would do, to him in haste did call,  
And stepping forth did on his shield receive  
The stroke, and did Achilles friendly prey,  
At his request his furious mood to stay:   

And for a while in Knightly courtesy  
To grant him life, sith wounded sore he lay  
Before his feet, and ready was to die.  
For every Knight (saith he) his wrath should stay,  
And on his foe some pity ought to have,  
When he in humble wise doth mercy crave.   

To whom Achilles said, I marvel why  
You seem to crave that I should mercy show  
To him, and spare his life, who furiously  
With pride (which in his heart did overslow)  
Would not unto our just request give ear,  
But without cause did arms against us bear?   

And with disdain and mere presumption,  
The Grecians in most furious wise assailed,  
Though now against his expectation,  
He findeth that it hath him nought availd:  
And he himself is fallen into the snare  
Which for us (as he thought) he did prepare.   

Though we deserved no such thing at his hand,  
As having no intent him to molest,  
Nor yet by force t'invade him or his land.  
So that if now he finds himself oppressed,  
He can it not deny, but must confess  
His rash attempt deserved hath no less.   

But Thelaphus again did him require,  
Of knighthood to take pity on the King,  
And for that time to grant to his desire,  
For while (said he) my father was living,  
He and king Tentran were confederate,  
Though here as now he lies in woeful state,   

With pale and deadly face upon the ground,  
Expecting when his soul shall hence depart:  
And for that heretofore I have him found  
To bear a noble mind and Royal heart,  
When I by chance passed through his country,  
Where he with all his Lords and chivalry,   

(Received and feasted me most Royally  
In every place where I did ride or go  
Within his land.) So that humanity  
Binds me the like unto him now to show:  
And in my mind his courtesy to bear,  
Lest men should say, that to unkind I wear,   

Which might hereafter turn to my disgrace.  
Wherefore that I in part may him requite,  
I you beseech take pity on his case,  
And spare his life as youare a noble knight.  
Whereto Achilles presently did yield,  
And there before his soldiers in the field,   

King Tenteran unto Thelaphus did give,  
To do with him as he should think it best.  
Who to behold him in that case did grieve,  
And at his heart with sorrow was oppressed  
To see there was no other remedy,  
But that of force he could not choose but die.   

And when the son unto the Western part  
With speed declind, the battle at an end,  
And Tenteran did feel great pain and smart,  
Yet no relief his woeful state could mend,  
For that his wounds still more & more did bleed▪  
His men made all the hast they could with speed   

To bear him thence unto his court with ease▪  
And to that end they for a litter sent  
And laid him in't, and while he passed the press,  
Thelaphus and Achilles by him went,  
And to his Royal Palace him contraid,  
Where in his bed when as they had him laid?   

Perceiving that he drew unto his end,  
For that his vital spirit's 〈◊〉 to fail,  
And nature unto him no force could lend,  
Nor surgery, no● Physic, ought prevail,  
Nor any comfort no● relief was left  
To him, as then of worldly joys bereft▪   

For Thelaphus and Achilles he did send,  
And with a voice most feeble, faint, and weak,  
And sighs and tears fast drawing to his end,  
In woeful wise he did unto them speak,  
And said, my Lords, health, honour, high degree,  
All worldly joy, and great prosperity,   

I wish unto you both with all my hart,  
But specially to thee Prince Thelaphus,  
Who at this time such favour doth ●mpart  
To me, and art so kind and gracious,  
That in my pains so grievous and so strong,  
Thou seekest my life if't might be to prolong,   

But now alas there is no remedy  
But die I must, and can it not withstand,  
For as you see here prostrate I do lie  
Expecting th'hour, when from deaths cruel hand  
The fatal blow will come to pierce my hart,  
And that my soul out of my corpse shall part;   

To make an end of all my misery,  
Which so much more increaseth in my hart,  
To see the hour of death approach so nigh,  
And that out of this world I must depart,  
And leave no heirs within this Isle to reign,  
The Crown and Sceptre thereof to maintain   

When I am dead, which by that means (alas)  
I fear will soon be spoiled and overrun,  
Which I full loath would be should come to pass,  
Sith that at first with labour great I won  
And conquered it, and ever since by might  
And warlike force maintained have my right   

'Gainst all my foes, for many years now past.  
Yet once it had been lost without recure▪  
And I from thence had utterly been chaste,  
But that I did the aid and help procure  
Of Hercules the stout and valiant Knight,  
Who by his extreme force and passing might   

(Which at this day is fresh in memory,  
And while the world endures shall ever be)  
O'ercame and vanquished my enemy,  
And did again restore this Isle to me.  
And while he lived the fear of him was such,  
And every man respected him so much,   

That spite of all my foes, I did enjoy  
My Sceptre and my Crown in peace and rest,  
And no man durst by word and deed annoy  
My quiet state, nor me in ought molest.  
Whereby it doth appear this little Isle  
Belongs unto the Kingdom of Cicile.   

Where Hercules did place two pillars great,  
(Which at this day are extant to be seen)  
And for perpetual memory there set,  
To show how far he in that land had been▪  
Which pillars some men called Columnia,  
And others did them name Herculea.   

Which Island once was in subjection  
Unto the Moors, and long time so remained:  
But after by the valiant romans won,  
When they th'imperial diadem obtained  
Of all the world, and by their puissance  
Their names & fames did far & wide advance   

And after many valiant Conquerors  
Succeeded had each other by degree,  
And of the Town of Room been Emperors,  
And therein ruled with power and Majesty:  
One Frederick the second of that name,  
That sometime was an Emperor in the sam●   

And King of Cicile by inheritance,  
Because he did a great affection bear  
Unto that Isle, and in remembrance  
Perpetual of him, therein did rear  
And make a huge and mighty Tower of brick,  
With wal●es that were exceeding strong & thick.   

And cause the air was pleasant, good, & sweet▪  
And that therein great store of flowers were▪  
Some Authors do report he named it  
The new fair land, which name long time it bear▪  
And was therein by use continued,  
Till that the Emperor Frederick was dead.   

But to return unto King Tenteran,  
When he had vs●●●e speech which you have heard,  
And that he did perceive his life began  
To draw unto an end, and therewith feared  
The stroke of death, with pale and deadly cheer  
To Thelaphus he spoke as you shall hear:   

My son (said he) sith I from hence must pass  
And leave this world, (for neither force, nor might,  
Entreaty, presents, pardon, nor yet grace  
Can save my life) as equity and right  
Requires the same, here in the audience  
Of all my Lords, to clear my conscience,   

I tell thee, that the worthy valiant Knight  
Thy Father Hercules, once conquered  
This ●●and by his valour and his might,  
And when that he therein had established  
A perfect peace, and all things quiet were:  
Because he did to me affection bear,   

He freely did assign and give to me  
The regal crown and sceptre of the same,  
With all the Princely power and dignity  
That thereunto belonged, or he could claim,  
And of him I it held I must confess,  
So that his state therein was near the less.   

And now for love of him sith I must die,  
I give to thee that which from him I had,  
Which is the Crown and sovereignty  
Of this same Isle, and likewise as he made  
Me King thereof, I also thee create  
King in my stead, to maintain the estate   

And dignity thereof while thou dost l●ue,  
And to thine heirs for ever to remain,  
(Though) I confess the thing which I thee give,  
Before unto thyself did appertain  
By true descent and right paternal line,)  
As Hercules did give't to me and mine.   

And to that end he said unto them all  
That round about him stood, I do declare,  
That sith the Gods out of this world do call  
Me hence without an heir, and that you are  
Left destitute of one to be your guide,  
(To th'end that you all care should set aside,)   

I here do make my will and Testament▪  
And by the same do grant assign and give  
My sceptre, crown, and regal ornament  
To Thelaphus, to holded while he doth live,  
And after to his heirs by true descent,  
Which sith it is my will and my intent,   

I pray you all, as soon as I am dead,  
Without delay let it performed be,  
And set the regal crown upon his head,  
And honour him as you have honoured me.  
And after having written what he said,  
He pawsd a little while, and then he prayed,   

And heartily desired Thelaphus,  
That presently assoon as he was dead,  
Of Knighthood for to be so courteous,  
To cause his body to be buried  
With royal pomp and Princely funeral,  
Fit for a King, and then turned to the wall,   

And suddenly fell Parca's cut in twain  
This thread of life, and made him yield his ghost.  
(Which as the Poets in their fables feign,  
Strait took her way unto Th'lizian coast.)  
Whose body feared, and balmed without delay,  
King Thelaphus a tomb of Marble grey   

Caused to be made in rich and sumptuous wise,  
Whereon in golden letters he did place  
An Epitaph, (the which he did devise  
To show how Tentran died, and what he was,  
And how he gave his crown to Thelaphus,)  
Whereof th'effect, In verses six, was thus:   

Here lies King T●ntrans body in this tomb,  
Who by Achilles cruelly was killed  
In fight, but ere of death he had his dumb,  
By testament to Thelaphus he wild  
And freely gave the Crown and Sovereignty  
Of Messa Isle, and so in peace did die.   

Which being done, and every other thing  
Performed with great pomp and royalty,  
And Thelaphus of Messa crowned King  
By full consent of the Nobility:  
And fealty and homage to him made,  
As they before to T●ntran promised had,   

Achilles strait unto his ships did carry  
All things that he would ask, desire, or have,  
That for the Grecians turns were necessary,  
As Corn, and Wine, such as the soil there gave▪  
Flesh, fish, fruits, fowls of every kind such store,  
That he could not desire nor wish for more.   

And order with King Thelaphus did take,  
That he should there remain to rule the land▪  
And when occasion served provision make,  
Of such things as the Greek● in need did stand,  
That at all times in their necessity,  
Of victual they well furnished might be.   

Though willingly he would have gone again,  
With him to Troy, but that Achilles pra●'d  
And heartily desired him to remain  
In Messa, that he might the Grecians aid  
When they in any need should stand, & strait  
With all his ships with victuals fully fraught,   

He sailed to Troy again, and soon did land  
At Tenadon, and there relation made  
What entertainment they in Messa found,  
And how King Tentran then resisted had,  
And valiantly the Grecians power assailed,  
And without doubt against them had prevailed.   

(As having three men to their one) but he  
By valour slew King Tentran in the field,  
Who being brought unto extremity,  
And at the point of death, himself did yield.  
And how before he died, he did consent  
And order took by will and testament,   

That Thelaphus should king of Messa be,  
Whereto the whole Nobility agreed,  
And Crowned him with great solemnity.  
And how that he had left him there, when need  
Required to make provision  
Of victuals, and of munition.   

And lastly showed what victuals he had brought  
With him from thence, to serve them presently,  
Assuring them they need not doubt that aught  
Should want to aid them in necessity.  
Wherewith the Greeks well pleased, did much esteem  
Achilles for his valour, thanking him   

That he therein had been so diligent,  
And brought his charge unto so good a pass,  
Which done, he road unto his tent,  
Where he with great applause received was,  
And welcomed of all his men, as glad  
That he from Messa safe returned had.   

But now for that mine Author turns his stile,  
And leaves the Grecians power at Tenadon.  
And of the Tr●●●ns actions for a while  
Doth speak▪ to show what they mean time had done  
To fortify themselves against their foes,  
And then at large particularly shoes   

What force they had procured, and severally  
The names of all the Princes doth declare  
That came to Troy, and there courageously  
Their aid did lend to Prians in the war.  
Which he so long and valiantly maintained  
Against the Greeks, and finally obtained   

(Although at last 'twas his destruction)  
Eternal fame, which death could ne'er deface,  
Nor tract of time put in oblivion,  
But 'mongst the ranks of worthies doth him place▪  
I will them orderly each one declare,  
And show what several names & arms they bore.   

And first he saith, three Kings of noble fame  
Came unto Troy to aid King Priamus,  
Their countries he omits, but doth them name  
Andrastrus, Tapor, and King Pandarus,  
And with them full three thousand Knights they brought,  
That valiantly against the Grecians ●ought.   

And from the Isle of Coleson there came  
Five thousand knights that by four Kings were led  
The first of them King Carras had to name,  
(A Prince for valour great much honoured)  
The second called was Ima●ius,  
Nestor the third, the fourth Amphimacus.   

From Licia land with Glaucus Valerius,  
So there came his son and heir Prince Sarpedon,  
(Both were allied to King Priamus)  
Who in those wars great fame and honour won,  
And with them three thousand knights did bring,  
Well furnished for the wars of every thing.   

Out of the famous rich Larissian land,  
Two Kings there came to aid the Trojan,  
Who with them brought (the Grecians to withstand,)  
A thousand Knights: and from Licacian  
The valorous Euphenius their King,  
A thousand armed Knights with him did bring,   

By Hupon and by Epidus together  
Five hundred Knights to Troy conducted were:  
King Remus also did with him bring thither  
Three thousand Knights that silver arms did bear  
Out of Tabaria Isle, which distantlay  
From Troy, a tedious, long, and dangerous way.   

Four Dukes likewise with all their chivalry,  
And Earls eight (that great experience  
Had in the wars) came in his company,  
Who without any manner difference,  
When as they armed were within the field,  
Did bear a crest of Gold upon his shield.   

Whereby the King and all that with him came  
Were known, although besides them many a knight▪  
Upon their shields and pennons bore the same,  
When they did enter in the field to fight.  
From oriental Thracia the King  
Caldoro Pilex, just a thousand Knights did bring.   

And Alchamus a Duke that with him came,  
A hundred Knights in his conduction had.  
Pre●em●ssus a King of worthy fame,  
Great preparation in Panomie made,  
Of men and arms to aid King Priamus,  
With whom a valiant Duke adventurous   

Called Stupex was, and in their company  
A thousand Knights, all armed and furnished  
With darts and spears, wherewith they usually  
Do fight, and are so well experienced  
With them to throw, that when they list they can  
Directly strike and kill both horse and man.   

By nature they are wild and furious,  
And of most cruel, fierce, and angry mood,  
Yet valiant Knights, and very venturous,  
In fight to spill and shed their enemy's blood.  
Their country's full of woods and desert ground,  
And nought but trees & groves therein are found.   

For houses very few or none there be,  
Their lodging is in woods and groves, whereas  
'tis said men oft and commonly do see,  
(When they along and through the same do pass,)  
Most strange and fearful sights of monsters fell  
Not much unlike the furious fiends of hell.   

As satires, Fauns, by corns and incubus,  
(And such like shapes of dumb Gods as we,  
In Poet's books of tales incredulous,  
Do read within the woods and groves to be,)  
Which often times put men in such a fear,  
That they do seem as out their wits they were.   

From Boetine Isle three Dukes together came  
In company, all Princes valorous.  
The one of them Amphimus had to name,  
The other two Samus and Forcius.  
And with them full twelve hundred Knights they brought  
That valiantly against the Grecians fought.   

From Boetine land which doth so much abound  
With Spices, gums, fruits, Corn, wine, & store  
Of rare and wholesome roots, which there are found,  
Whereof no country hath the like, nor more.  
Two brave and valiant Kings together came,  
That Bootes' and Epristius had to name,   

And with them just a thousand Knights there were,  
And from the land called Paflagonie,  
The which as ancient Author's witness bear,  
So far remote in th'eastern parts doth lie,  
That as they say, it is impossible  
To travel to▪ 't, and call't invisible.   

Nor that it is not to be seen nor found▪  
But only for because it is so far,  
And yet 'tis said the country d●th abound  
In silver, gold, and precious stones ●ost rare,  
And that upon a River great it lies,  
(Which issues from terrestrial Paradise.)   

By name called Tiber near to E●phra●●●,  
Which Philomene a giant huge and fell,  
Whose admirable stature Guydo says  
(All other men for greatness did excel▪)  
A thousand Knights in steel all a●med were▪  
And every one a goodly shield did bear▪   

Of Cu●rboilie all guilt and fairly set  
With precious stones, which forth the Rivers clear  
That issue out of Paradise are fet,  
And from the Ethiopian land that near  
To India lies, came many a valiant man  
With Perses, and King Menon (he that won   

So great renown and honour by his might,  
And with him valiant Sigamon his brother,  
Who also was a stout and hardy Knight.)  
As Barons, Earls, Dukes, and many other,  
Besides three thousand Knights all armed in steel  
Which caused the Greeks full oft their force to feel.   

And from the land of Therdo there came  
With valorous and wise King Theseus  
(That sole and Sovereign Prince was of the same)  
His most renowned son Archilagus.  
(Who both were of King Pri●●s royal blood.)  
And just a thousand valiant Knights and good,   

Besides two Kings of great renown and fame,  
And passing rich of gold and every thing  
That man can wish, yet none of them doth name,  
But saith that that they did from Agrosta bring  
A thousand valiant chosen Knights to fight  
Against the Greeks, to try their force and might.   

And from Lissinia land which fa●re did lie  
From Troy, with prudent King Epistrophus,  
(Whose fame throughout the world abroad did ●●ie  
As known to be a Prince most virtuous,  
Discreet, right wise, and provident withal,  
Well learned in the Arts called liberal.   

In war approved a stout and valiant Knight,  
A counsellor in peace exceeding sage,  
And at that time a man of passing might.  
Although as then he was well stricken in age,)  
A thousand Knights there came in company,  
The proud and haughty Grecians to defy.   

Besides an Archer strange and monstrous  
That with him came, who such proportion had  
That to behold him it was marvelous,  
For from his Navel upward he was made  
Like man in shape, and downward like a horse,  
And therewithal of most exceeding force.   

His upward part like man proportioned,  
Had skin as black as coal, and rough as bear,  
And was with curled hair clean covered;  
His eyes like to a burning furnace were  
As red as fire, his face most horrible,  
And look exceeding fierce and terrible.   

His ugly shape and devilish countenance  
Was such, it did the Greeks so much dismay,  
That whensoe'er he did himself advance  
To set on them, they fled and ran away,  
And stoutest of them all for fear did quake,  
He did so great a slaughter of them make.   

Within his hand a bow he always held,  
Which he so well could use and had such skill,  
That whosoe'er he hit to ground he field,  
And thousands of the Grecians he did kill.  
That they of him were in no little fear,  
As in the story you at large shall hear.   

Thus many Kings and Princes of renown,  
From divers strange and several countries  
far distant from the famous Trojan town,  
Assembled were therein, as enemies  
Professed against the Grecians, and to lend  
Their aid unto King Priamus their friend.   

Who with them brought well furnished for the war,  
Thirty two thousand Knights adventurous,  
(Besides their Squiors) that arms & pennons bare  
And showed themselves in field couragions  
Against their furious foes, and to conclude  
There near was seen so huge a multitude   

Of Knights and Princes great assembled  
Within one town, not counting those that came  
From India, nor such as were borne and bread  
In Troy, and dwelled as then within the same.  
Which were so many and so great a number,  
That for to think thereon 'twould make men wonder.   

And more, if that it be considered right,  
It is most sure that since the world's creation,  
Or Phoebus on the earth did cast his light,  
There ne'er was seen in any Nation  
So many Kings and Princes met together,  
As on both sides at that same time were come thither   

For all the flower of chivalry was there,  
Kings, Princes, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Knights, & Squien,  
And all their power of men that arms could bear,  
With full intent and resolute desires,  
Within the town, for to defend their right:  
Without the town, to win it if they might.   

Let them that read and do peruse this book,  
Consider for what cause this war began,  
And if without unpartial eyes they look,  
They shall perceive that many a valiant man,  
For small or no occasion lost his life,  
In that so needless, strange and bloody strife.   

For truth to say, for nought this war began,  
And nought there was on either side obtained,  
For though the Greeks the town of Troy then wan,  
Yet if it be considered what they gained,  
The storyshewes that when that all was done,  
Their reckoning made, they lost more than they won.   

For many thousands of them there were slain,  
And lost their lives before the town of Troy,  
And never did return to Greece again,  
The honour of their victory to enjoy.  
And those that lived and back to Greece did go,  
Did after end their days in grief and woe.   

And on each side the flower of Chivalry,  
Most woefully did end their fatal days,  
With hundred thousands in their company,  
And altogether (as the story says)  
That bloody quarrel than did undertake,  
For nought, but for a silly woman's sake.   

Great pity 'twas so many Knights should die,  
And headlong run unto destruction,  
To end their days in extreme misery,  
For small, or rather no occasion:  
Bettet it were at first to end or cease,  
A quarrel of no moment, then t'increase   

In malice, and revenge for nought to take,  
For wise men should forecast what harms might hap  
and seek an end of small debates to make,  
Ere that they fall in wavering fortunes lap,  
And so procure their own decay perforce,  
And after wish they had ta'en another course.   

It is a use 'mongst men when fire doth take  
In any house or place, to ring a bell,  
Or else some other noise or sign to make,  
Thereby to warn such as about them dwell,  
To lend their aid in that extremity,  
And speedily to seek for remedy   

Before it doth increase to greater fire,  
'Twere then too late and folly in a man  
That comes to help, to ask or to inquire  
Which way the fire in the house began,  
And to neglect the quenching of the same,  
When time doth serve for which he thither came   

For danger doth require no delay,  
And he that's wise doth commonly forecast  
Such dangers as may fall in time, to stay,  
For 'tis too late when as the time is past.  
But now i'll leave the Troyans' for a while,  
And to the Grecians army turn my stile.   

You heard that while the Grecians did abide  
At Tenedon, how that they all decreed  
To send to th'isle of Messa, to provide  
Such victuals as their puissant host should need,  
While they made war within the Trojan laud,  
And how Achilles took that charge in hand.   

Now while that he was gone and stayed there,  
The noble King Palamedes arrived  
At Tenedon, with thirty ships that were  
All filled with valiant Knights the which reviv'd  
The Grecians hearts, as glad to see him there,  
For that not any one of them but were   

Sore grieved that he stayed so long behind,  
As one they much esteemed and honoured,  
And many of them great fault with him did find  
That he had not at Athens mustered.  
Suspecting him of partiality,  
But he to clear himself, and satisfy   

Their minds, declared in open audience,  
The cause why he to Athens did not go,  
According to his promise and pretence,  
And for to prove the same to them did show,  
That sickness only had procured his stay,  
And forced him to absent himself away,   

So long from them, where with they satisfied,  
Excused him for that which he had shown,  
And for because they much on him relied,  
And honoured him as second unto none.  
'mongst all the Greeks for bounty, power, & wit,  
As being one for all attempts most fit:   

For whatsoe'er he once did undertake,  
Most valiantly he would the same effect,  
And spite of all that could resistance make.  
Near leave it off, nor any wise neglect,  
Tell that he had acchieued his enterprise.  
And in regard they knew him to be wise,   

And of the greatest reputation  
Amongst the Greeks that then assembled were,  
They did intreare and pray him to be one  
Of those that sit in counsel for the war:  
Which he accepting, they strait ways agreed  
For to besiege the town of Troy with speed.   

But 'mongst them question grew what time they might  
Unto the town of Troy most safely go,  
Some said they thought it best when it was night  
In secret wise to hoist their sails, that so  
Without resistance of the enemy,  
They might take land with most security.   

But others said great dangers might ensue  
To them to sail the River in the night,  
And specially because they hardly knew  
The ready course, and that by chan●r they might  
For want of light out of the channel stray,  
And so cast both their ships and men away.   

Thus being of contrary minds they stayed,  
And for that time made no conclusion,  
But put it off and still the same delayed,  
And took not any resolution,  
What they would do, but lay still where they were,  
As if their hearts had been possessed with fear.   

Till valiant Diomedes (grieved to see  
Them lie so long at rest in Tenadon,  
And that they could not 'mongst themselves agree,  
Nor fall to any resolution,  
For to besiege the town of Troy with speed,  
As they at first and firmly had decreed)   

Said unto them, my Lords whose worthy fame,  
Throughout the world both far & near doth fly  
I cannot choose but needs I must you blame,  
And discommend your great prolixity,  
That let the time thus pass as you have done  
For now a year is almost overrun,   

And yet you stir not hence in any wise,  
But still lie here and give your enemy's cause  
To think you do't for fear and cowardice,  
And which is worse, allow them time to pause  
On their affairs, and at their liberty  
Taugment their strength, with opportunity   

Us to withstand and valiantly resist,  
Whereof assure yourselves they will not fail,  
For they not any day nor hour have missed  
To seek for aid against us to prevail,  
And bar their gates & make their walls most strong,  
For to withstand asiedge both great and long.   

And which is more, they have their spies to see  
And hearken what we do here in our host,  
And do affirm and boldly say, that we  
Dare not effect the thing whereof we boast:  
And longer that we in this sort still lie,  
It gives more courage to our enemy.   

But if we first had held another course,  
Ere they had known thereof, and ventured  
To land our men before their town by force,  
We had the same long since round compassed,  
And strait besidge with this our puissant host,  
And done that, which ere 'tis done, more will cost.   

For be assured ere we approached the strand  
T'vnship our men, the●le issue out amain,  
With all their power our landing to withstand,  
And valiantly the fight 'gainst us maintain,  
By force and strength ere we the shore shall get,  
To drive us thence, if that they can us let.   

Whereas long since we might with ease have got  
The victory, but now by our delay  
We must take that which fortune doth allot,  
And with more loss to us, do what we may.  
For now the time's delayed, it is most sure  
More danger unto us it will procure.   

What should I say, but tell you in good troth  
That our delay and cowardice will be  
The cause of our great danger, which full loath  
And sorry I would be in heart to see.  
And if therefore my counsel you will take,  
I think it best that presently you make   

All speed you can for to be gone from hence,  
And ere the Sun in morning doth appear,  
Hoist sails and put to Sea, (with full pretence  
And courage bold, clean void of any fear.)  
To Sail to Troy, and there land openly,  
What ere falls out, for know assuredly   

Without resistance by the Troyans' made,  
(Who valiantly will issue, us to beard)  
There is no landing for us to be had,  
And yet you must not therefore be afeard:  
But set all fear and cowardice aside,  
And stoutly whatsoe'er falls out abide.   

Which said, the Greeks consulting thereupon,  
Determined with courage bold to make  
What hast they could, and preparation  
For to be gone, and strait their course to take  
Unto the town of Troy, as doth appear,  
And in the Chapter following you shall hear.    

CHAP. XII.  
¶ How the Grecians landed before Troy, where they were valiantly fought withal by the Troyans'.  

WIthin the former Chapter you did hear,  
How that the Greeks in counsel being set,  
With full and whole consents agreed were,  
All scuses set apart, nought should them let,  
With speed unto the town of Troy to sail,  
And there the Troyans' valiantly t'assail:   

And that end to the next day they begun  
To go aboard their ships, with courage bold,  
And when they had all things prepared and done  
That needful were, they did a counsel hold,  
T'ordaine among themselves, and to agree  
How many ships should in each squadron be.   

And which of them in for most rank should go,  
What course they should upon the Seas observe,  
How they would land that no man might it know,  
(Thereby their men from danger to preserve,)  
Whereto they did assign a special mark,  
And so when as by singing of the Lark,   

(Which commonly is fore the Sun doth rise  
At dawning of the day,) they did awake  
And put Sea in brave and warlike wise,  
And to the town of Troy their course did take.  
And first a hundred ships well furnished,  
With store of men and arms the way did lead;   

Whose pennons and rich streamers to behold,  
Which on the seas did show most clear and bright  
When they did them against the Sun unfold,  
Gave unto all that saw them great delight.  
For near before upon the waves so green,  
The like triumphant sight had not been seen▪   

another hundred more sailed orderly  
In ranks, to second them that went before,  
(Whose sails most proudly in the wind did fly,  
And spread abroad) wherein there was great store  
Of valiant Knightts well armed with sword & spear,  
The Troyans' to withstand without all fear.   

Next afder them in order bravely ranked,  
The rest of their huge Navy followed,  
The which on either side was strongly flanked  
With squadrons of great ships well furnished  
With valiant Knights, whose number was so many,  
That like to it had near been seen of any   

Upon the Seas, and sailing so together,  
(Assisted by Neptune and Aeolus,  
That sent them both fair wind & pleasant wether,)  
Their voyage was to them so prosperous,  
That in one tide a sight of Troy they had,  
Whereto with all their sails hoist up they made   

Whose waving when the Troiaus did behold,  
And saw that they drew near unto the strand,  
And by their countenance well perceived they would  
Despite of them (if that they might) take land.  
In haste they armed themselves, which having done  
They mounted on their horses, and did run   

As fast as ere they could unto the strand,  
Attending neither Earls, Prince, nor King  
To be their guide nor over them command,  
But furiously out of the gates did fling.  
And in so great a number to behold,  
That when the Greeks them saw, their hearts were cold,   

And stoutest of them all was much dismayed,  
To find so many Troyans' on the land  
(Well armed) that all most resolutely stayed,  
With courage bold their coming to withstand.  
Whereby they knew and certainly did see,  
No landing for them there as thou to be:   

Unless that with the Troyans' they would fight,  
And valiantly adventure for to land,  
Or else like cowards take themselves ●o slight,  
And fall into their deadly, enemy's hand:  
For other refuge for them none there was,  
But through the trojans sword's & pikes to pass.   

Which when King Pr●thesilaus did behold,  
(Who of an hundred ships the conduct had)  
He said, that in despite of them behold  
Set foot on land, and to that end ●e made  
His ships and men in readiness to venture.  
By force, upon the same strand to ente●.   

But when his Ships set forward to arrive  
As near unto the shore as well they might,  
The wind did in their sails so stifely drive,  
That on the land by force i● did them smite.  
And some of them upon the gittie stroke,  
Which presently in many pieces broke,   

And most part of the men and ships were drowned,  
And scattered here and there contusedly,  
So that but very few of them were found  
To make resistance 'gainst the enemy.  
And those that scaped & saved themselves from hurt,  
And got to land, all clad with mire and dirt:   

And for a while their enemies withstood,  
Were by the Troyans' slain so cruelly,  
That all the Sea was stained with the blood  
Of Grecians, that upon the sands did he  
Dead bleeding, and sore wounded to the death,  
Attending th'end to yield their vital breath.   

And at that time the arrows flew so fast  
And thick into the air, that all the sky  
Did show as if it had been overcast  
With some dark cloud, and still and furiously  
The Troyans' fought and evermore renewed  
Their number, and the Grecians so pursued,   

And for the time so hotly them assailed,  
That what defence soever they could make  
Availd them not, for Troyans' still prevailed,  
And valiantly constrained them to give back.  
With loss of many men and great disgrace,  
And finally perforce to leave the place,   

Whereas they fought with much extremity,  
And grief to see their landing prove ●o bad,  
Unfortunate and dangerous to be,  
And yet for all that they endured had,  
They fainted not, but still continued  
The fight on shore: for they were seconded   

By fresh supply of men that entered  
Next them, and with three hundred ships arrived  
Upon the shore, where being ankored,  
When as they had the wearied Greeks reviv'd  
That faintly fought scarce able to withstand  
The Troyans' force, they did begin to land,   

First placing all their crosoowe shot before,  
And next to them their archers orderly,  
And such as pikes and other weapons bore,  
On either side, with full intent to try  
The Troyans' might, and bravely to adventure,  
Despite of them upon the shore to enter.   

Where twixt them at the first the fight was hot,  
And dangerous, till that the Greeks let fly  
Their arrows out their bows and crossbow shot,  
As thick as hail, and with them furiously  
The Troyans' slew: and first then to withdraw  
Themselves aside, which when the Grecians saw,   

They left their ships, and ●●uing out amain,  
Upon the Troyans' valiantly did set,  
And by that means did win the shore again,  
Which for that time the Troyans' could not let,  
Though they with bowes & arrows fiercely shot  
To drive them back, but it availd them not.   

And then the fight most hotly did renew,  
When as the noble King Prothsaulus  
Did enter 'mongst the Troyans', and pursue  
Them with a courage stout and valorous.  
And in the thickest of the press did slay  
Them down so taste, that each man gave him way   

And shunned his blows, so many of them were slain  
And wounded sore, whereby the Greeks dismayed,  
Began to be encouraged again,  
For had not he by force the Troyans' stayed,  
Without all doubt they had before them fled,  
And at time that been wholly vanquished.   

But what availd his valour and his might,  
Or courage bold, when as seven thousand men,  
Were forced on the Grecians side to fight,  
Againgst an hundred thousand Troyans', than  
Already on the strand them to assail,  
That wonder 'twas they could so long prevail   

Against so huge and great a company,  
With so few men; but sure you must suppose  
It was because they saw no remedy,  
(For at their backs the Sea did them enclose,  
And fore their face stood the enemy,  
So that they thought it best for them to die:   

And cowardly with shame their lives to lose)  
For running back they must of force be drowned,  
And so resolved, they fought against their foes  
As long as any way or means they found  
To aid themselves, though 'twas more than they might,  
(For other refuge their was none in sight.)   

But all the force they used did them no good,  
The Troyans' were so many and so strong,  
And slew them (so that men might see their blood,  
Upon the shore in streams ran down along,  
And at the last drove them unto the strand,  
Whereas they were constrained there to stand,   

(Wext weary, and in great distress, and grief,)  
Fight to save their lives (most desperately,)  
And there had all been slain without relief,  
Or put unto some great extremity,  
Had not Prothenor and stout Archelaus  
Set foot on land like Knights chivalrous,   

And aided them, but with great difficulty,  
The Troiaus shot so fast and did assail  
Them on all sides with extreamecruelty,  
Yet at the last the Grecians did prevail,  
And maugre all their might the shore they won,  
And then with valant courages began   

The Troyans' hard and freshly to pursue,  
In furious wise and with great cruelty,  
And then again the battle did renew,  
So hotly, and with such hostility,  
That all the strand was died into a red,  
With blood of those that on each side lay dead.   

And therewithal Duke Nestor entered  
The battle with his Knights in order placed,  
And proudly and in haughty manner led  
Them to assail the Troyans' in great haste:  
At which time many a valiant Knight was slain  
And wounded sore, and horses in the plain   

Lay dead, and many masterless did run  
About the field, and then the arrows flew  
So thick and close, that for a time the Sun  
Did seem Eclipsed, so dark the air did show,  
And many Pikes and Lances broken were,  
And many steeds their master's way did bear   

Sore bleeding dead, amaisd, and in a sound,  
The air also with noise and cry was filled  
Of men that lay half dead upon the ground,  
And still they fiercely wounded, hewed, and killed  
On either side, and though it grew to night,  
Yet would they not surcease nor end the fight.   

Sohotly on the other did pursue,  
For Prothenor and Archelaus near left  
The Troyans' with their Trunchan blades to hew,  
Till many of them they had of life bereft,  
In hope at last the victory to get,  
So much their minds upon revenge were set.   

And therewith fierce King Agalus did land,  
To succour and relieve the Grecians,  
And with him King Attailu● with a band  
Of valiant Knights, that charged the Troyans',  
(To whom they were inveterate enemies,)  
On every side and in most furious wise,   

Killed, wounded, hewed, & beat them down so fast,  
That for to save their lives they were compelled  
To sound retreat, and fly away in fiast,  
So many of them were slain within the field.  
And more had been, had not new troops come down  
Of flesh and valiant Troyans' from the town.   

All richly armed, and every one his shield,  
Wherein they bare devises several,  
Who were no sooner entered in the field,  
But on the Grecians valiantly they fall:  
(With hearts that burned as hot as any fire,  
With envic, hatred, wrath, and furious ire,   

To be revenged on them for wrongs forepast.)  
And at that time so many of them they killed,  
And charged them so hotly and so fast,  
That to conclude, the Grecians left the field:  
And were compelled to fly unto the strand,  
To whose relief Ulysses then did land.   

Who valiantly (withal the company  
He brought with him, and those that were on land  
Before he came, and by the enemy  
Had forcibly been driven to the strand.)  
With courage bold the Troyans' did assail,  
And did so much against them then prevail,   

That where before they had the upper hand,  
He made the Troyans' forcibly retire  
With all the speed they might, and leave the strand.  
And with most burning rage and furious ire:  
Pursued, drove, and chaste them to the plain  
Before the town, where many of them were slain   

And wounded sore, and like a Lion strong  
That seeks for prey, with glistering sword in hand  
He entered 'mongst the thickest of the throng,  
Where all he met, or durst against him stand,  
He wounded, killed, and from their horses threw,  
That glad was he, that could his blows eschew,   

Till Philomen the strong and valiant King  
Of Paslagon, did enter in the field  
With all the Knights that he to Troy did bring,  
To aid the Troyans' 'gainst the Greeks, beheld  
Ulysses such a massacre to make  
Of them. In hand a mighty lance did take,   

And bravely setting spurs unto his horse,  
In furious wise did run at him so fast,  
That with one blow which was of mighty force,  
Both man and horse unto the ground he cast.  
But presently Ulysses rose again,  
And mounting on his horse, road through the plain.   

And on the Troyans' set so furiously,  
That many of them as then by him were slain;  
Which when as King Philomen did espy,  
He took a lance and ran at him again  
So mightily, and such a blow him gave,  
Therewith, that it his shield in sunder clave,   

And pierced his armour through, but bur● him not,  
And yet the blow unto the ground him stroke,  
But presently upon his horse he got,  
And in his hand a mighty lance he took,  
And therewith at King Philomen did run  
So swiftly, that ere he the blow could shone,   

He pierced clean through his shield and armour bright  
And in his breast did give him such a wound,  
That sideways from his horse he fell, and light  
Upon his head, which first did touch the ground,  
And therewithal most grievously he bled,  
Wherewith his men supposed he had been dead,   

And took him up and laid him on a shield,  
Whereon with danger great they did him bear  
Clean through the Grecians host out of the field,  
Whereof when as the Trojan Knights did hear,  
They were abashed, because they did believe  
He had been dead, and for him much did grieve:   

For if that mighty Philomen had not  
Been wounded so by fierce Ulysses hand,  
Without all doubt the Grecians had not got  
So easily out of their ships to laud,  
Nor yet so many Troyans' had been slain,  
As then lay dead both on the strand and plain.   

For while that they the fight did long maintain,  
And valiantly the Grecians did assail,  
And sought to drive them to the strand again,  
Ere that they could by force therein prevail,  
More Grecians in great number got to land,  
And forcibly the Troyans' did withstand.   

Conducted by four Kings of great renown,  
The first King Agamemnon (general  
Of all the Greeks,) and proud King Thelamon,  
King Thoas, and King Menclaus (cause of all  
That deadly war) at whose approach you might  
Behold the death of many a valiant Knight.   

And at that time the broken lances flew  
Into the air, and cloven shields did lie  
Upon the ground, and then they did renew  
The fight so hotly, strong, and furiously:  
That in short space the strand, and all the plain  
Lay full of Knights, and men that then were slain.   

And though the Greeks at that time did abide  
Great loss of Knights, yet cause they were so strong,  
The greatest loss fell on the Troyans' side,  
Who near the less fought valiantly and long,  
And held the Grecians ●●ort for all their might,  
Till that the valiant, fierce, and worthy Knight   

Protesilaos', (Who all that day had fought  
Courageously, and many Troyans' slain,  
And with his sword in cruel wise had wrought  
Them great despite, both on the strand, & plain)  
To rest himself, and take the air did ride  
Out of the field unto the water side,   

Where when he did off from his horse alight,  
And saw his men he dead upon the ground,  
Who at their landing had been slain in fight,  
And others by the raging waves then drowned.  
He could not choose out weep to think thereon,  
And for a while sat musing still alone,   

And more he them beheld, the more he grieved,  
Till at the last (when he by proof did find  
That by ●●● grief they were no whit relieved,  
Nor he himself the q●uetter in mind.)  
Such sullayne ire●●s valiant heart possessed,  
That from that time he could not be in rest,   

But vowed to be revenged if he might,  
And to require their deaths upon his foes,  
or else as it becomes a valiant Knight  
Courageously his life with them to lose;  
And ●o resolved, jeapton his horse again,  
And furiously road strait unto the plain,   

And entering 'mongst the thickest of his foes  
Assailed them, with trenchant blade●● hand,  
And valiantly beat down and killed all those  
That met with him, or durst against him stand.  
And in short space he did so many stay,  
That every man was glad to run away▪   

Like sheep before the wolf, their hues to save,  
But he still wounded, killed, and beat them down,  
And like a stout and valiant Champion drove,  
And followed them all most unto the town:  
And by that means the Greeks than victors were  
And trojans fled before them in great fear.   

Till Persius' King of Ethiopia,  
Out of the town with many a valiant Knight  
Came riding in great baste, and made them stay,  
And then began a fresh and furious fight,  
Wherein great store of Grecians then were slain,  
And many of them lay wounded on the plain.   

The Troyans' at that time so fiercely fought,  
When by the Ethiopian Knights they were▪  
Relieved, so that where as before they sought  
To fly away, to save their lives in fear:  
They made the greeks lose all the ground again  
Which they before had won upon the plain.   

And with their horse and footmen did assail  
Their enemies so strongly and so close,  
That all the greeks could do, might not prevail,  
But that at last they were constrained to lose  
Their ground, and back unto the strand to fly  
In great despair, and much extremity▪   

And without doubt had there been drowned & ●●●●  
Had not the valiant King Palamedes  
With new supply refreshed them again,  
(And thereby did their heavy hearts appease▪)  
Who at that time with all his Knights took l●●d,  
Where having horsed them upon the strand,   

And ranked his men, he entered valiantly,  
With so great force amongst the Troyans',  
And them assailed with such dexterity,  
(That where before they slew the Grecians  
And drove them down before them to the sho●●,)  
He killed and wounded many of them so sore,   

And kept them to't so close, that neither side  
As then advantage had, and so it held  
Until that King Palamedes espied  
Stout Sigamond in midst of the field:  
Who all that day most like a valiant Knight,  
Behaved himself against the greeks in fight,   

Courageously, and beat them down so fast,  
That glad they were to shun his blows and fly,  
And by his prowess only where he passed  
Great store Grecians slain by him, did lie.  
To whom he road and furiously when as  
Amongst the thickest of the Greeks he was,   

He gave him with his lance so great a wound  
Into his side, that being deadly hurt,  
He fell off from his horse unto the ground,  
And there all groveling in the mire and dirt,  
(His armour with his blood clean covered read)  
He left him 'mongst the Troyans' pale, and dead.   

And forth he road and killed, and wounded sore  
All those he met, or that before him stood,  
And like unto a wild and cruel Boar,  
With sword in hand, died, in the Tr●●●●● blood.  
He made them leave the water side again,  
And drove them all before him to the plain.   

Where with his Knights that still about him ●●●●  
He did assail them in such furious wise,  
And by his valour put them in such fear,  
That 'mongst them there was heard great noise and cr●●  
Of those that wounded sore could not withstand,  
The blows of fierce Palamedes strong hand.   

Who all that day had fought so valiantly,  
And wounded, killed, and bravely beaten down  
The Troyans', that at last he made them fly  
In all the hast they could unto the town:  
With cries and shouts, and in great fear & doubt,  
Whereat Prince Hector moved, in haste came out   

With countenance fierce, (like Mars the god of war  
As being of all Worthies, worthiest  
That ever any earthly woman bare,  
And of all men the strongest and hardiest.  
For as the Sun with beams most clear & bright  
Excels the stars, so did this worthy Knight   

Surpass all other Knights that ever were.  
And sure it was a most delightful sight  
To see him armed, so bravely he did bear  
Them, when he road into the field to fight:  
Wherein he was a Loadstone, and a guide  
(To all and every Knight both far and wide.)   

Who entering richly armed into the field,  
Upon a lusty, strong, and goodly steed,  
Did for his arms bear on a golden shield,  
Three furious Lions passant as I read.  
(But what the colours were I do not know,)  
The which did make a fair and gallant show   

Upon the breast of that most worthy Knight.  
When as with all his troops he entered  
Amongst the Greeks, at whose approach the sight  
Of him alone abashed them all, he led  
Them through the thickst of them so furiously,  
And therewithal such mighty blows let fly:   

And killed, beat down, and wounded them so fast,  
That no man could his mighty force withstand,  
And in despite of all the Greeks he passed  
Courageously with glistering sword in hand,  
And severed all their ranks, and never left  
Till hundreds of their lives he had bereft.   

Still riding too and fro throughout the field,  
And beat and bore down all that in his way  
He found, and at the last as he beheld  
Protesilaos', (who valiantly that day  
Killed and pursued the Troyans' furiously,  
And beat them down with extreme cruelty.   

(Such mortal hatred unto them he had,)  
And to his valiant chivalry took heed,  
And saw what slaughter of his men he made,  
He was so moved, that strait he turned his steed  
To him, and with his bloody sword he gave  
Him such a blow, that it in sunder clave   

His helmet and his head, and did not rest  
But past through every sinew, bone, and vain  
That were within his body and his breast,  
And forcibly did cut him clean in twain,  
And with that fatal blow and deadly wound,  
His body in two parts fell to the ground   

On each side of his horse. Which done, he road  
Amongst the Grecian Knights courageously,  
And bathed his trenchant sword within their blood.  
So that as far as ere they could him spy,  
They fled to save their lives, for none durst stand  
To feel the weight of his victorious hand.   

They feared it so, and more did it admire,  
It 'twas so strong and of such passing might,  
And for that cause they asked, and did inquire  
What Knight he was that did so bravely fight:  
Supposing that in all the world so round,  
A worthier Knight was not for to be found,   

Unless it were Prince Hector. And at last  
They felt too well by proof that it was he:  
(Who in his days all other Knights surpassed,  
As th'only Mirror of all chivalry.)  
For none of all the Grecians durst adventure  
Against him hand to hand in fight to enter.   

Of all that day so terribly he beat  
And drove them down before them to the strand  
Sore wearied, wounded, breathless, and all wet,  
Close to the Sea, whereas he let them stand.  
And like a most triumphant Knight went back  
To Troy again, his rest a while to take.   

Who being gone, the Greeks somewhat released  
Of former fear, perplexity, and grief,  
Began again to vow and to protest,  
If fortune would vouchsafe them some relief,  
With valiant hearts to venture life and limb  
Upon their foes▪ the field again to win.   

The which from morning that the fight begon,  
With great and extreme labour, loss, and pain,  
Eight times that day they valiantly had won,  
And lost the same as many times again.  
For as Dame fortunes slippery wheel turned round,  
So they that day did win, and lose there ground.   

But Hector's valiant entry in the field,  
Was th'only thing that did them most dismay,  
Who spite their hearts ●● such a bay them held,  
That none of them before his face durst stay:  
For he alone, with sword in hand did drive  
Them to the place where first they did arrive.   

And closely held them there with great despite,  
As long as he did in the field remain,  
Which was till that it 'gan to draw to night,  
At which time he returned to Troy again.  
But then more Greeks upon the shore arrived  
With cruel fierce Achilles, which reviv'd   

And comforted the Grecians hearts so well,  
That they again assailed the Troyans',  
And by Achilles' aid (which did excel  
In valour all the other Grecians,)  
They beat them back and drove them to the plain,  
And by that means did win the field again.   

In which conflict Achilles did pursue  
The Troyans' in such wise, that he only  
For his part many hundreds of them slew,  
And at that time had in his company  
Three thousand knights in glistering armour bright  
Who likewise were so hot and fierce in fight,   

That with their Prince (th'only champion  
Of all the Greeks) they ●lew their foes so fast,  
And cruelly not sparing any one,  
That many of the Troyans' fled in haste  
To save their lives, such was their rage and ire  
Which in the Grecians hearts, did burn like fire,   

Against the Trojan Knights, but specially  
Achilles took great pleasure and delight  
To beat them down, and to behold them lie  
In heaps upon the ground, and with despite  
That day to die and bathe his sword in blood,  
(Which in the plain ran like unto a flood.)   

Such hatred in his heart he did conceive,  
And still increased it with such cruelty,  
That nothing but their deaths could it bereave  
Out of his mind, the which to satisfy  
He never left with all his Knights so fast  
To kill, beat down, and wound them: that at last   

With dreadful noise and cries he made them run  
Unto the gates of Troy, where while they fought  
To save their lives, and therewithal to s●un  
His fierce and cruel blows, it holp them nought.  
For that mean time the Grecians got to land  
Withal their power and force, and from the strand   

Marched with so great a multitude of men,  
That th'only sight of them did terrify  
The Troyans' fearful hearts, but much more when  
They saw that with most great extremity  
They could not choose but must perforce abide,  
A hard and cruel fight on every side.   

Which by the Grecian Knights courageously  
Was given, so that with hearts discouraged  
And clean dismayed, they were constrained to 〈◊〉  
Into the town, where as they entered:  
Achilles did so hotly them pursue,  
That many of them before the gates he slew.   

And at that time made such occision  
And slaughter of the Troyans', that at last  
It would have been their whole destruction  
And utter overthrow, if that in haste  
The worthy valiant Knights and chivalrous,  
Paris, Deiphobus, and young Troielus,   

With many Trojan Knights in company,  
Had not come forth, to aid them in their need,  
Who 'gainst the Grecians fought so valiantly,  
That in short space despite of them they freed  
The Troyans' from distress, and did constrain  
The Grecians to retire in haste again   

Back from the walls: for worthy Troielus  
So valiantly himself that time did quite,  
And showed a heart so stout and valorous,  
That whosoe'er with sword or lance he hit,  
He did him either wound, cast down, or slay,  
And caused the Greeks for fear to make him way,   

And by that means the Troyans' succoured.  
At which time when Lucina clear and bright,  
Showed forth her face, and day surrendered  
Her place unto obscure and glooming night:  
Achilles with the Greeks road to his tent  
To rest himself, the Troyans' likewise went   

Into the tow●e of Troy, where as in haste  
Their gates were shut and barricadoed sure  
And round about their walls great watches placed  
That able were long 'gainst their foes t'endure.  
Mean time King Agamemnon wisely chose,  
And pointed out a place for to enclose   

His army, and entrenched it round about  
With ditches, walls, and palisadoes strong,  
And for each Prince and Captain quartered out  
Their lodgings, and their courts of guard, & moog  
Them did appoint his officers to see,  
That every man in order placed should be   

Within the same, and presently they made  
Their tents, and rich pavilions to be play'st  
And speedily set up, and such as had  
No tents wherewith to shroud themselves, in haste  
Built cabins, shades, and cottages to keep  
Themselves from wind and weather, & to sleep   

And rest therein, and all that night unshipt  
Their horses, and their furniture for wars,  
And no occasion, time, nor hour ore-●●ipt  
Their victuals to unlade, and to prepare  
All other things, and to their tents to carry,  
That which for such a siege was necessary.   

Which done, their ships in warlike wi●e they placed  
Within the Port, and then with cables strong▪  
Upon the land to getties made them fast,  
With full intent to hold a siege so long,  
And puissant, before the town of Troy,  
That in the end they would it clean destroy,   

And utterly deface▪ which to effect,  
Each one with vows protested for his part  
While life should last all danger to reject,  
And with a courage stout and noble heart,  
There to remain and resolutely lie,  
Till 'twere performed, or valiantly to die.   

And so with burning fires bright and clear,  
And minstrels that both loudly played and song,  
That night they held a watch by such as were  
Fresh▪ men, and had not fought all that day long,  
Appointing new supplies for to relieve  
And second them, if th'enemies' should give   

Them battle, or assail them in the night.  
And such as at their landing wounded were,  
And those that all that day had held the ●●ght,  
And valiantly the Trojans force did bear,  
Did rest, and in their tents and cabins slept,  
While others in the camp strait watches kept.   

And so till that with clouds of crimson die,  
The sun began in th'orient to appear,  
And spread his beams throughout the Crystal sky  
The valiant greeks abandoning all fear,  
Encamped laid attending the event  
Of doubt full wa●re, with full and whole intent,   

T'effect their wills, what ere to them befell:  
Where for a night i'll leave them in the field,  
And orderly at large unto you tell,  
What further course on either side was held  
During the siege without, and eke within  
The town. And so my third Book i'll begin.    
FINIS.   

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR.  
THE THIRD BOOK.  

CHAP. I.  
I Showing the first battle fought between the Troyans' and the Grecians after they had planted their siege before the Town; wherein Hector behaved himself most valiantly above all others.  

WHen with avading, pale,  
and deadly light,  
Aurora's face lay  
covered over with shade  
Of th'obscure cold, and dark,  
and glooming night.  
And in her cheeks a ruddy colour had,  
As blushing sore for shame for to be seen,  
Because that she too long ●n bed had been   

With Phoebus her most dear and chosen Knight,  
For which she was so much abashed, that she  
Did for a while absent herself from sight  
Of any man, until such time as he  
With Flego●te his lusty steed had gone,  
And swiftly mounted 'bove the horizon.   

And with his radiant beams most bright & clear  
Had comforted her heart, with shame oppressed,  
And made her change her sad and heavy cheer.  
That is, when Titan mounting in the East,  
The dawning of the day once past, did rise  
And show his face within the crystal skies.   

Hector the most renowned champion,  
Who for his valour great (surpassing all  
That ever lived,) the chief command in town  
Next Priam had, and also General  
Of all the Knights assembled at that time  
Within the same: When day was in the prime   

Commanded all that in the town than were,  
Both Princes, Kings, Knights, squires, & every one  
That able was to fight and armour bear,  
Without exception unto any one;  
In haste to meet him with their troops of men  
Before Diana's Temple, which as then   

Stood in the midst of Troy, within a plain  
Of great and spacious breadth, wherein he meant  
To mustar them, and also to ordain  
Such battles as he would should forth besent  
That day against th'encamped Greeks to fight,  
To drive them thence again, if that he might.   

In this fair plain in midst of Troy so set  
At his command, in brave and warlike wise,  
The Trojan Princes all together met,  
Each with such standards, pennons, and devise  
As usually in battle they did bear,  
And on their coats of Arms, & shields did wear.   

To tell what arms each Prince & Knight then had,  
Would be over long and tedious to declare,  
Most sure it is▪ each one provision made  
Of every thing that's needful for the war:  
Each several people, Province, Land, or nation,  
Bearing such arms as was their ancient fashion.   

Some had their Canvas Cassocks or their jacks,  
That plated were with steel, & some than came  
With ancient Almain rivets on their backs,  
Their sleeves of male and goriets of the same:  
Some coats of male, some caps of steel did wear,  
And in their hands a bill or holberd bear.   

Some in their complete arms were bravely clad,  
With Poldrons, & with Vanbras, & what more  
Thereto belond'g, and on their heads they had  
Their Caskets, with their Beavers close before,  
Through which (being shut) they might their foes be hold,  
And let them fall to breathe when as they would.   

Some gauntlets had, some not to overlade  
Themselves with arms the easier to fight,  
Had quilted jacks that were of Canvas made,  
And covered over with silk most brave to sight:  
Some jepons had, some hauberions, and some  
Into the field with Cassocks long did come   

down to their knees, & in their hands did bear  
Round Targets made of bone or else of wood,  
The which all ore with Leather covered were:  
And some their enemies furious force withstood  
With shields of steel, of length from head to foot.  
Some with their bows & arrows fiercely shoot.   

Some with their swords, some with their darts in hand  
Some with a four squared headed Pole-axe fight;  
And some with Cros-bows & with Pikes do stand  
Prepared to show their valour and their might:  
And every one desiring for to do't,  
Stood ready there on horseback, or on foot,   

After the manner of his Country.  
And while they stayed each one his arms did mend,  
In every place whereas necessity  
Required the same, the better to defend  
His body: but in terms of Art to show  
What there unto belongs, or let you know   

More touching this▪ I must myself excuse,  
And pardon crave if therein I do miss;  
For sure 'tis not the thing which I do use,  
A Pen (and not a Pike) my weapon is:  
'tis want of skill breeds imperfection  
In me, to make a right description   

Thereof, in marshal terms as some men could,  
But unto him that's wise I will refer  
Myself herein, and pray him that he would  
His censure mildly in this case defer:  
And such defects as he shall justly find,  
To wink thereat, and bear them in his mind.   

When Hector had them all well viewed, and saw  
What power assembled in the field there was,  
With speed he did each one command to draw  
Aside, and then in ranks he did them place;  
Which done, in marshal wise he did ordain  
His battles orderly within the plain.   

And then he caused the gate Dardanides  
To be unbard, and to be opened wide,  
Intending thereat 'gainst his enemies  
To salie forth, and valiantly to bide  
A battle whatsoever did befall.  
And then his Bastard brother he did call;   

That had to name Cincinabor the stour,  
And valiant Glaucus' Prince of Licia Land,  
To whom (by him) of purpose chosen out,  
He did appoint the leading of the band:  
Which first that day against the Greeks in field  
Should fight, to which they willingly did yield.   

And in that wing a thousand knights there were,  
Which purposely he chose out of them all,  
And did command them valiantly to bear  
The forefront of the battle, and to fall  
Courageously upon their Grecian foe;  
Which said, out at the gate he bade them go●   

Who with their banners spread that shined bright,  
Their armours and their shields that glisteren  
Against the Sun, did make a goodly sight,  
When they upon the enemy were led.  
But least that they should be oppressed by might,  
And overlaid by multitudes in fight;   

To second them, he did appoint a band  
Of valiant Knights that just a thousand were▪  
Commanding it in readiness to stand  
To succour them, and Grecians force to bear  
If need required. The charge whereof he gave  
Unto the King of Thrace stout and brave.   

And with him joined his Son Ariopaguses,  
A Prince endowed with good qualities,  
For he was wise and very vertuoves  
Strong and most hardy 'gainst his enemies:  
Those two the second wing together ●●d,  
And valiant 〈◊〉 followed.   

The battle that next after issued  
Out of the town against the enemy,  
By Hector was commanded to beled,  
By two brave Kings of worthy memory:  
The one the Phrygian King called Zantippus,  
The other joined with him called Alcanus.   

In it three thousand knights well armed there were,  
All resolutely bend to try their might  
Against the greeks, and every one did bear  
A several arms, which was no small delight  
To those that stood to see them pass, arrayed  
So gallantly, with banners broad displayed.   

Then Hector called his brother Troyelus,  
(A Knight of great desert and worthy fame,  
And one that was so stout and valorous,  
That every man extolled him for the same:)  
To whom he gave the charge and government  
Of those that he within the third wing sent.   

That day against the greeks wherein there was  
Three thousand brave gallant & Knights, that were  
All young and of courageous hearts, such as  
At other times him company did bear:  
Who as he passed forward, Hector stayed,  
And lovingly spoke unto him, and said.   

Brother (quoth he) my care of thee is such,  
(Moved thereunto by perfect amity)  
That though I know thy valour to be much,  
(And therein take a great felicity)  
For every man for it doth thee commend,  
And shall do till this mortal world doth end.   

Yet when I think upon thy valiantness,  
And called to mind thy young and tender years,  
Which commonly are given to wilfulness,  
I fall into a thousand kind of fears;  
Lest that thy courage fierce and violent,  
Should make thee of thy life so negligent,   

By over great presumption of thy might  
And pride of heart, that it would thee persuade,  
With ease to shun what ere on thee should light,  
And out of all extremities to wade:  
Regarding neither hurt nor safety,  
If once thy youthful blood should moved be.   

Reposing trust in fortune mutable,  
Which turns her wheel now up, then down again,  
And evermore is cross and variable  
In war: when men thin●● honour to obtain.  
Which causeth me full oftentimes to wake  
When I should sleep, and care for thee to take.   

Fearing thy great and hasty wilfulness.  
But dear and loving brother I thee pray,  
What ere befalls thee in thy hardiness,  
To have regard unto thyself this day:  
And following of thy enemies, take care,  
Thou interest not into their troops so far,   

That thou canst not relieve thyself again.  
Let reason rule thy hot and furious mind,  
And bridle thy affection with her rain,  
Lest thou an unexpected danger find.  
And give our enemies cause to laugh and gear,  
At thy so great misfortune, brother dear.   

And so beseeching Mars the God of war,  
This day and evermore thee to defend  
From all mishap, and of thee to have care.  
Against thy Grecian foes I do thee send  
To try thy force, wishing with heart to thee,  
As to myself, triumphant victory.   

To whom this valiant, fierce, and hardy Knight  
Young Troyclus, (whom no adversity,  
Could ever daunt) with heart most fierce & light,  
Made answer with most great humility:  
And yet with countenance glad & joyful cheer.  
Saying my Lord, and my good brother dear;   

if'ft please the Gods I will to you obey,  
And what advise so ere of gentleness  
To me you give, and shall command or say,  
I will the same fulfil with readiness:  
For 'tis not my desire nor my intent,  
T'infringe one point of your commandment,   

But willingly with heart t'effect the same,  
As far as in my power it lieth to do;  
So loathe I am for to incur the blame,  
Of any disobedience showed to you.  
And truth to say, my heart it sore would grieve,  
And therewithal of Hector took his leave.   

And forth he road so like a valiant Knight  
Amongst his men, and entered in the field  
With so great grace, that 'twas a goodly sight  
To look on him, who on an axure shield,  
Three Lions passant on't did bravely bear,  
And 'gainst the Greeks road forward without fear   

Young Troilus gone, Prince Hector did ordain  
The fourth ward, and the conduct thereof gave  
To Hupon and Andelius brethren twain,  
Both Knights courageous, valorous and brave:  
This Hupon of Larisse land was King,  
And many men with him to Troy's did bring,   

To aid them in their wars that were so long,  
And sure he was a very valiant Knight,  
Of stature huge and tall, and passing strong,  
And no man was like unto him for might,  
In all the great and spacious Trojan town,  
But only Hector that brave Champion.   

And 'gainst his foes he was so fierce and fell,  
That he of them brought many to the ground,  
Who spite their hearts did try his force too well.  
Hector with these two brethren forth did send  
His bastard brother called Dimarechus,  
A stout and valiant Knight adventurous.   

And to them, to conduct with standards brave,  
And to be led when they should come in field,  
Twice sure and just three thousand men he gave,  
All Knights well horsed & armed with spear & shield:  
Who taking leave of Hector courteously,  
Road forward to the field courageously.   

The fifth ward which next orderly did stand,  
(Into the field against the greeks to go)  
Was given unto the King of Cesoyne land,  
(Whose name it seems the Author did not know)  
And to his Brother called Pollidamas.  
Those people named Cesoynes did surpass   

The common sort of men, for stature tall,  
Proportion, strength, and great dexterity;  
For which they were admired & praised of all  
That them beheld and marked earnestly:  
The colour of the shield the King than boar  
Was only gules, and nothing in it more.   

Who when his charge of Hector he had had,  
His leave he took, and with his brother road  
Courageously before his Knights, that made  
A gallant show when they in order stood.  
Mean while Prince Hector ceased not pains to take,  
The sixth ward with all speed he could to make,   

Which he unto King Protemense gave,  
(Who both in force and wisdom did excel)  
And to a Duke called Sterepes, to have  
The conduct of the people that did dwell  
In Poenie land, and them to guide that day,  
Which people use of custom (as men say)   

Their enemies in furious wise t'assail,  
Only with bows and arrows sharply ground,  
On horseback, without arms or coat of male,  
And then clean through their armours sore to wound:  
And Hector with those people also sent,  
His Brother Deiphobus to th'intent   

They might security into the plain  
Where they should fight, & so they went their way.  
But ere they passed, Prince Hector did ordain  
A band of men to go with them that day  
Well armed into the field, (lest they should venture,  
Among the greeks so nakedly to enter)   

And be o'erthrown) which band of men he took  
Out of those Knights that from Agresta came,  
And that they should the better to them look:  
And for to be conductors of the same,  
He did appoint two valiant Kings to ride  
Along with them, and by them to abide   

During the fight against the Greeks that day;  
The one of them King Esdras had to name,  
The other was King Philon, but to say  
Where they did dwell, or from what place they came  
I cannot, for mine Author doth not show,  
Because (as I suppose) he did not know:   

Or else I think he had it clean forgot.  
He saith that rich King Philon sumptuously  
appareled, sat in a Chariot,  
The which was made of pure white Ivory;  
With wheels of Heban wood most finely wrought,  
Which wood out of the Indian land is brought.   

And as men say is hard as any stone,  
His Chariot within was all enchased with gold,  
And precious stones and pearls upon the bone,  
And was so rich and sumptuous to behold:  
That as I think the like was never seen  
Before, nor since within the world t'have been.   

Two Knights this Chariot drew, & some did rid●  
About it strongly armed with spear & shield,  
For to defend their King on every side;  
So he and Esdras road into the field,  
Accompanied with stout Pythagoras,  
That one of Hector's bastard brethren was.   

Who of that wing to have the chief command,  
Of purpose sent him out with them to go.  
The battle that next ready placed did stand,  
Hector upon Aeneas did bestow:  
Which had no other Knights within the same,  
Then those that with Ewphemy thither came   

So far out of their native Country,  
For Hector's sake to aid King Pri●●●●,  
The which were Knights of great activity;  
Good horsemen, and exceeding valorous:  
Who being bravely horsed and furnished,  
Their Colonel Aeneas followed.   

And went out of the town courageously,  
As if each one God Mars himself had been;  
Hector mean time the eight ward orderly  
Ordained had, and ranked it out, wherein  
No other Knights nor men but Persians  
(That thither came to aid the Trojans)   

By him were placed; which wing he did command  
Unto his brother Paris to obey  
As Captain over them; and when they stand  
All ready to set forward on their way,  
Hector, his brother Paris kindly stayed,  
And lovingly spoke unto him, and said:   

Brother, the thing that I of thee require,  
And which for thine own good to thee I move,  
Is, that I do thee heartily desire,  
(If thou thine own security dost love)  
When thou this day in field against thy foe  
Shalt fight, see that thou ventrest not to go   

Too far amongst the thickst of them, lest they  
Entrap thee unawares, as sure they will,  
If that they can by any means or way,  
For their inveterate hatred to thee still  
Increaseth more, and doth their hearts embrace  
So fervently, that nothing can it raze   

Out of their minds, but thy destruction.  
Which to prevent, be thou not far from me  
In any wise, lest when thou art alone,  
They should some hurt or mischief do to thee,  
Before that I could come to thy relief,  
Which unto me would be no little grief.   

Keep therefore near to me at any hand,  
That I may aid and help thee in distress,  
And doubt not but we shall our foes withstand,  
How furiously so ere on us they press:  
To whom his brother Paris answer made,  
And said, that he in mind resolved had   

Unto his hests in all things to obey.  
And so his leave of Hector having ta'en,  
Withal his Knights in order road his way  
Out at the gate, while Hector did ordain  
The battle that the ninth & last should be,  
Wherein he placed the flower of Chivalry.   

For in the same five thousand Knights there was  
Most worthy men, and of most great renown,  
And such as for their valour did surpass  
All other Knights that were within the town:  
And all of them right Trojans by descent,  
Borne in the town. This battle Hector men●   

Should by himself into the field be led,  
And of his bastard brethren chose out ten  
To ride with him, whom he much honoured,  
As knowing them to be right valiant men;  
And such as for their prowess & their mights,  
Of all men were esteemed most hardy Knights.   

And when he had his battles made & placed  
In order, as before I have set down,  
And all of them one after other past,  
In brave and warlike wise out of the town:  
Like Mars himself for courage and for for●●  
He mounted up upon his gallant horrse   

Caldoro Galathe, (the which is said t'have been  
The goodliest horse for stature, shape, and hair,  
Swiftness and strength, that ever had been seen  
In any place, and therewithal so fair  
An● tractable, that with a rain of twist,  
A man might rule and turn him as he list.)   

And thereon richly armed from top to toe,  
(Which glistered like the Sun it was so bright,)  
Road through the town with such a gallant shoe,  
That all men to behold him took delight:  
Unto the place where Priam's▪ Court did hold,  
And there from point to point unto him told,   

What battles and what men he had sent out  
Into the field against his Grecian foe,  
And fifteen hundred valiant Knights and stout,  
I have (said he) ordained with you to go:  
That shall attend your royal Majesty,  
And guard your person where so ere you be.   

And likewise all the footmen that do stay  
Within the town, excepting no degree,  
Commanded are to wait on you this day,  
With whom I humbly pray your Majesty,  
Out of the town into the field to go,  
And there yourself in warlike wise to shoe,   

Not far off from the place where we shall fight,  
But suffer none of them to go aside,  
Nor leave their ranks, but there with all your might,  
Between us and the town I pray you bide,  
In order ready priest us to relieve,  
Whereof if need require we shall you give   

Advise, for that still twixt us men shall go,  
T'advertise you with all the speed we may  
Of our estate, and unto you to shoe,  
What likelihood on either side this day  
(By aid of Mars the God of war) may be,  
Against their foes to have the victory,   

For you shall be our Castle and our wall  
To succour us in our extremity,  
Besides all this (which is the principal)  
You must take heed and very careful be,  
That th'enemy in ambush doth not lurk  
Behind the town, & treason 'gainst us work.   

While we to fight on this side busied are  
Against our foes, whereof in any wise,  
Let me entreat your Grace to have a care,  
That to prevent and work by good advice:  
That our affairs may fall out happily,  
And so we may obtain the victory   

Against our foes. If they entrap us not  
By unexpected fraud or violence,  
The which I hope shall never be our lot.  
Let these my words (said he) be no offence  
Unto your Grace I humbly you desire,  
Sith all is for our good which I require.   

Wherewith the King well pleased and satisfied,  
With countenance benign and cheerful heart,  
When he had pawsed a while, to him replied.  
Hector (said he) sith that my trust thou art  
And sole support, what ever thou dost say,  
Or shalt desire, I will it not denay.   

For next the Gods in thee I do repose  
My welfare, hope, and my security,  
And by thy strength and power against our foes,  
I only do expect our safety:  
And therefore do commit into thy hand,  
The sole command and rule of this my land.   

And as thou dost ordain so shall it be,  
For no man shall thy will in aught deny,  
And to the Gods I humbly pray for thee,  
To save and keep thee from adversity:  
And that thou mayst return with victory,  
That so th'eternal praise and memory   

Of thee may be enrolled by trump of fame,  
Throughout the earthly globe both far & near,  
perpetually for th'honour of thy name;  
And so farewell (said he) mine own Son dear.  
And Hector taking leave no time delayed,  
But went unto his Lords that for him stayed.   

As he that was their valiant General,  
The very root of perfect nobleness,  
The ground of ancient Knighthood, & withal  
The lively pattern of true hardiness,  
Valour and strength almost invincible,  
For that as much as it was possible,   

For nature to adorn a man withal  
Was found in him, and therewithal he wa●  
Endowed with a Grace majestical,  
Yet meek, and did in government surpass,  
For upright justice, temperance, policy,  
Wisdom, discretion, sense, and clemency.   

The arms which then this Trojan Champion bore  
Triumphantly upon his warlike shield,  
And standard both (as Guido saith) was or  
A Lion rampant gules, which in the field  
Was so well known & feared, that th'enemy  
From it as from death's piercing dart did ●●●e.   

And through the streets in order brave did ride,  
With trumpets, and with drums that loudly played,  
And divers warlike instruments beside,  
As pennons rich and ensigns fair displayed:  
And many people flocked in heaps about,  
To view and see those warlike troops go out.   

Thus Hector with courageous heart and mind,  
Like Mars himself into the field did ride,  
And though the battle which he led, behind  
The rest aid go, yet would he not abide  
With it, but through the ba●●●s all did pass,  
And never stayed till he the for most was▪   

And at the head of all his troops did stand,  
Not once abashed so many Greeks to find,  
In battle ranked ●●th shield and spear in hand  
Him to assail, but with a valiant mind,  
No whit of them nor their great force afeard,  
Resolved to be the first that would them ●eard.   

Mean while the Ladies gallant, fine, and gay,  
(Within the town of most and great'st account,  
As fresh beseen as flowers in month of May,  
Upon the walls and towers of Troy did mount:  
And round about Queen Helena the feign,  
And Policene King Priam's daughter, there   

Did stand to see and to behold the fight,  
Although of them the greatest part did fear▪  
And were abashed in heart at such a sight  
Of armed men as then assembled were:  
That some of them of very tenderness,  
Some of mere love, and some of kindness▪   

Amazed and pale in face and countenance were,  
Lest they should lose their lover o● their Knight;  
And some their faces hid for extre●me fear,  
And durst not look upon the armour brigh●,  
In which their fear i'll leave them for a while,  
And to the greeks direct my wearied stile.   

And of them make a brief relation,  
How they that day their battles did ordain.  
But first I must with exclamation  
Cry out, and of dame Ignorance complain,  
That dares presume so boldly in my light  
To stand, and with her shadow dim my sight.   

For she it is that only makes me err,  
For want of marshal terms and phrase to write  
Of battles, and of things concerning war,  
When as I would in order them indite:  
And of an army pitched in field should speak,  
But Cha●cer's dead, and can me neither cheake,   

Nor counsel give how to direct my phrase,  
Who did in perfect Rhetoric excel  
All other Rhetoricians in his days,  
For he had drunk and tasted of the well  
Of Helicon, which on Parnassus stands,  
Wherein as yet I near could dip my hands.   

Nor once get leave to mount upon the hill,  
To see the same, one drop thereof to taste,  
Although it was full sore against my will,  
But 'tis too late to call back time that's past:  
And sith 'tis so, I do not greatly care,  
(Though rude I be) unto you to declare,   

In simple terms, such as my wit doth yield,  
(Which, to say truth, are rustical and plain)  
What order Agamemnon in the field  
That day did take, his battle to ordain  
On Grecians side, as having no intent,  
That any man should find him negligent,   

For 'twas no time as then for him to sleep.  
Therefore with all the speed he could devise,  
He did prepare that day the field to keep,  
(As he was valiant, politic, and wise:)  
Against his foes, twenty six battles great,  
Which he in ranks most orderly did set.   

The government whereof he did commit  
Unto such puissant Kings and Princes brave,  
As he for valour thought to be most fit  
To take that charge, the first whereof he gave  
Unto a Prince of honour great and fame,  
Which G●id● saith, Patroclus had to name.   

Which was composed of Myrmidon's most strong  
And puissant Knights that came from Thessaly,  
And only to Achilles did belong,  
And with them joined the same to fortify  
Such Knights as he himself did thither bring,  
All strongly armed. And with this valiant wing,   

He was the first that on the Grecians lied  
Began the fight against their enemy,  
The cause why he the Myrmidons did guide,  
Was, for because Achilles then did lie  
Sore wounded in his tent, and came not out●  
That day, for that his Surgeons were in doubt   

If he should stir, his wounds that were so sore  
And very green, would festar, rankle, bleed,  
And trouble and torment him more and more,  
Which to prevent, it was by them decreed  
To keep his bed, and for to ease his pain  
To lie therein, till they were whole again.   

And so unto Patroclus did commend  
His Knights, because he was of royal blood,  
And his assured, true; and perfect friend,  
Exceeding rich, and much esteemed for good:  
And great discretion, wit, and courtesy,  
And one in whom he wholly did rely.   

For twixt them both there was such entire love,  
Affection great, and perfect amity,  
That nothing could out of their hearts remove,  
The constant and assured fidelity:  
Which mutually they did t'each other bear,  
Whereby their hearts together linked were,   

And knit in one as they were bound together,  
For will and wealth was one betwixt them both,  
And what so ere the one did, or the other,  
It was confirmed on either side, as loath  
To move dislike, or discontentment breed  
Twixt them, that had resolved & full decreed,   

To live & die true friends in heart & mind,  
Which to their ends they strictly did maintain.  
The second ward to Menon was assigned,  
(Who in that war great honour did obtain)  
And to the worthy King Idumenes,  
To whom was joined a Duke called Menestes.   

With full three thousand men well furnished,  
And all th' Athenian Knights in armour bright.  
The third by King Ascalaphus was led,  
And Philomene his Son a worthy Knight,  
Who both in proud and stately wise together,  
Conducted those that from Cuman came thither.   

King Archelaus the fourth ward did command,  
And with him was Securidan the stout;  
And Prothenor, who with that warlike band,  
All three together valiantly went out  
Against their foes: & had within the same,  
None but the Knights that from Bo●tia came.   

King Menelaus' a worthy Prince, was made  
Conductor of the ward next following,  
(And lift in tal●) which in it only had  
The Knights which he did thither with him bring  
From Sparta, and the Isles about the same,  
Who likewise (as his subjects) thither came.   

And of the battle next and sixth, the King  
Epistrophus was chief Commander made,  
And with him stout King Gelidus, to bring  
The same into the field, which in it had  
The Knights that came out of the famous Isle,  
Which by the Geeekes is called Fordessle.   

The seventh battle next ensuing, led  
By worthy famous Thelamon ajax King  
Of Salamine, was only furnished  
With Knights that he unto the siege did bring:  
And with them were four Earls of high degree,  
Whose names I find (the story saith) to be   

Theseus the first, the next was Doxeus,  
Polixarie the third, the fourth was he  
That all men called stout Amphimacus.  
The eight ward Agamemnon did decree,  
Should by the King called Thoas forth be led,  
With many Knights well armed and furnished.   

The ninth ward Cileus Aliax did command.  
The tenth was led by King Philoctetes.  
Th'eleventh (the which next orderly did stand)  
The most renowned King Palamedes,  
(King Naulus son of whom the Greeks did make  
So great account) into his charge did take.   

Before the twelfth Duke Nestor (full of pride  
And melancholy humours in his mind)  
A very stout and valiant Knight did ride.  
The thirteenth to King Honux was assigned,  
(That was Ma●berethes Son by true dissent)  
Who with it to the field most proudly went.   

The fourteenth battle that day for to guide,  
The subtle King Ullsses was sent out.  
And with the fifteenth ward to field did ride  
King Humelus a worthy Prince and stout.  
The sixteenth unto Duke Caribulus,  
A Knight of great account and valorous,   

Committed was to lead: and in that band  
The Knights of King Prothesalus did go,  
(Whom Hector slew that day the Greeks did land)  
T'encourage them to be revenged. And to  
King Rodus was assigned the seventeen.  
The eighteenth to the King of Occe●ene.   

And of the nineteenth stout King Zan●●ppus  
Of Lydia, leader was. The tweentith band  
Commanded was by King Amphimacus.  
Philoctetes King of Lariffia Land,  
The one and twentieth band with him did lead.  
The two and twentieth by King Diomed.   

The three and twentieth Agamemnon gave  
Unto Aeneas King of Cyparie,  
The leading and command thereof to have,  
That day against their Trojan enemy.  
And with the four and twentieth ward did ride  
Prothecatus a King▪ the same to guide.   

King Carpenor of Carpadie was made  
Conductor of the five and twentieth band,  
A noble Prince that great experience had  
In war and peace both on the sea and land:  
And valiantly himself he did defend,  
Until the Trojan wars were at an end.   

The six and twentieth battle, and the last,  
That was sent out against the enemy,  
King Agamemnon General of the host,  
(A puissant Prince of great authority)  
Reserved for himself, and in it led  
Great store of armed knights well furnished.   

The battles thus ordained, the Greeks were led  
In order to the field, where as they stayed  
Each Prince and chief Commander at the head  
Of every band, with ensigns rich displayed,  
And streamers wavering in the wind, that shone  
In brave and warlike wise against the sun.   

At which time many a crest and helmet fair,  
And richly gilt and graven, there were seen,  
Wherein great store of strange devises were,  
And plumes of feathers, yellow, red, and green,  
Black, blue, and white, with other colours more:  
And some that day for love of Ladies bore   

Their favours on their Crests for to be seen,  
And to encourage them that day to fight,  
Courageously as if that they had been  
In presence and before their Lady's sight:  
And doleful noise of Drums & trumpets shrill,  
Which with a fearful sound the air did fill,   

As messengers and signs of shedding blood,  
Were ●eard in every place throughout the Camp,  
And prancing steeds with fierce and furious mood,  
Upon the ground their feet did beat and stamp:  
And neigh and some at mouth on either side,  
Attending signs of battle with great pride.   

Both Greeks and Trojans longing sore to try,  
Their knightly force and valours in the field,  
Each one that day against the enemy,  
And ready priest with furious look beheld  
Their deadly foes there standing in the place,  
Which from each other was but little space.   

Till that the battles first in order set,  
On either side removed and forward went,  
And in most furious wise together met,  
Where Hector that in heart was discontent:  
And foremost on the Trojans side did stand  
Upon his horse, with mighty Lance in hand.   

Whose wrath and ire by no means could assuage,  
(Like fierce and cruel Lion that for pray  
With hungry mood doth hunt) in furious rage,  
Against the Greeks first onset gave that day:  
And ran so fast upon his gallant steed,  
That with his spurs he made his sides to bleed.   

His Knightly heart so much was set on fire,  
With mortal wrath and hate revenge to take.  
Which when the Greeks did see, with great desire,  
They also for their parts like haste did make  
T'advance themselves, and first without abode,  
Patroclus that the foremost of them road.   

In proud and haughty manner spurred his horse,  
T'encounter Hector fiercly in the field,  
And with a spear that was of mighty force,  
Road unto him, and hit him on the shield,  
So great and strong a blow, that with the same  
He pierced it through (with such a force it came)   

But hurt him not at all, for that it broke,  
Yet with the point through plate & male did pass,  
And did a hole within his harnas make,  
But neither breast nor skin of his did race:  
And though with most great violence it came,  
Yet could he not stir Hector with the same.   

Nor make him once out of his saddle rise,  
Nor backward nor yet forward for to yield,  
Nor yet t'incline himself in any wise  
Upon his horse, so fast thereon he held:  
But Hector unto his confusion,  
Most like a strong and puissant Champion,   

Cast down his spear, & with his sword in hand,  
In furious wise unto himself he swore,  
That spite of all that durst or will't with stand,  
Patroclus at that time should die therefore:  
And therewith such a blow unto him gave,  
That with the strength thereof his head he clave   

In sunder to the breast, and then again,  
A second blow him gave withal his force,  
Which finally his body clave in twain,  
Wherewith Patroclus tell off from his horse,  
With pale and deadly face upon the ground,  
As he that had received his mortal wo●●●   

In presence of his men, and in the sight  
Of all the greeks, and then without delay,  
Hector off from his horse with speed did light,  
(And like a Lion fell that seeks for pray)  
Determined in his heart that burned like fire  
Against his Grecian foes, with great desire   

To spoil Patroclus of his arms that were,  
So gallant, rich, and sumptuous to behold,  
As being set with precious stones most clear  
In chaste, and richly gilded with purest gold:  
For then great Lords and Princes used to bear  
Most sumptuous arms when as in field they were▪)   

And to that end while he was busied,  
With covetous desire to take his prey,  
(In sight of all the greeks) his horse he led,  
In one hand by the rain, and thought to lay  
The body of Patroclus on the same,  
But ere't was done King Menon thither came.   

And with three thousand Knights enclosed him round,  
Who all together hotly him assailed,  
Whereas so great resistance than he found,  
That of his purpose at that time he failed:  
And forced was to let Patroclus lie,  
For to resist the force of th'enemy.   

Which caused him in boiling rage to fall,  
To whom King Menon fell and furious,  
The spoke and said in presence of them all,  
O greedy Wolf and Tiger ravenous,  
O Lion fierce and beast insatiable,  
Whose avarice is most unreasonable   

Upon this prey, as now thou shalt not feed,  
Go seek elsewhere for other carrion,  
For fifty thousand men have all decreed,  
This day to work thy sole destruction:  
And that they may in their intent prevail,  
Thy hateful pride at once they w●ll assail.   

And then in furious wise on him they set,  
With Lances, swords, and other weapons more▪  
And on him as upon an anvil beat.  
On every side, behind, and eke before:  
With full pretence his horse from him to take▪  
And what so ere resistance he could make.   

For all his valour, force, and puissant might,  
He was constrained to fall upon his knee,  
But like a most courageous hardy Knight,  
By passing strength and magnanimity,  
Despite of all the Greeks, he did by force  
〈◊〉 up again upon his gallant horse.   

And to King Menon road with furious mood,  
And heart possessed with extreme cruelty,  
(Wherein his sole delight and pleasure stood)  
And without doubt had slain him presently:  
If that three thousand knights chivalerous,  
With Theseus, Glaucus, and Archilagus,   

Had not in time to rescue him come thither,  
Who all with one consent and great despite,  
Agreed to follow Hector, and together  
In furious wise to kill him if they might:  
But near the less who s●ere did him assail,  
Was surely killed, for nought could him prevail   

Against his puissant arm and trenchant blade,  
So that the Greek that met with him that day,  
Need take no care for ransom to be made  
To save his life, for ere he scaped away,  
He was most certain without doubt to die,  
So that for fear, each one from him did fly.   

Whereby he had the means to break the press  
Of those that did enclose him round about,  
And where so ere he road he did not cease,  
To kill and beat them down till he got out,  
And made a path before him smooth & plain,  
Until he came unto the place again,   

Whereas the body of Patroclus lay,  
To spoil him of his armour if he might,  
And fore him on his horse to bear't away,  
In view of all the Greeks to their despite:  
And at that time had surely had the same,  
But that King Idumeus thither came.   

And with him brought two thousaed knights of ●ree●,  
(Where he was King) that did enclose him round,  
And valiantly on all ●ides on him set,  
While he unarmed Patroclus on the ground:  
And to them came a king called Merion,  
(Although at last to his confusion.)   

And ere that Hector could about him look,  
Despite of all his valour and his might,  
His gallant horse perforce from him they took,  
Whereby he was compelled on foot to fight:  
But yet his knightly heart they could not fear,  
For with his sword he slew all that were near,   

Or him withstood: and at that time began  
To hack and hew the Greeks on every side,  
And t'cu● off arms & legs of horse and man,  
That none of them before him durst abide:  
For he in little space had fifteen slain,  
Of those that forcibly would him have ta'en.   

And such a slaughter 'gan amongst them make,  
That many of them shrunk back & would not stay,  
Mean time they did Patroclus' body take,  
Which Merion on his horse did bear away  
Unto his tent with sad and heavy cheer,  
And still the Greeks with Hector fight were.   

Who all the while upon his feet did stand,  
And some of them that nearest on him did press,  
He made to feel his strong and heavy hand:  
Yet what so ere he did they would not cease,  
Nor leave t'enclose him round on every side,  
Presuming in their hearts with haughty pride,   

In th'end at some advantage him to take,  
Supposing that he could not long sustain  
Their puissant force, or from their hands escape,  
Nor likely was, his horse to get again:  
From which they sought by all means him to let,  
And therefore all at once upon him set.   

And specially amongst them there was one,  
More earnest and more busy than the rest,  
(Whose name as Guid● saith was carrion)  
That Hector in most furious wise oppressed:  
And still enforced himself, and would not cease  
T'assail him when he was in most distress.   

Environed by Greeks on every side,  
Till that by chance a valiant Trojan knight,  
(Who all the while with Hector did abide,  
When he on foot enclosed with Greeks did fight)  
Two darts in hand did take, whereof the one  
He did directly cast at carrion.   

Which with such force struck him into the side,  
That with the blow it clave his heart in twain,  
And stayed not there, but forcibly did slide  
Out through his arms at th'other side again:  
And with that mighty, great, & fatal wound,  
He presently fell dead upon the ground   

Before an hundred knights, who all together  
With him had vo●'d & sworn with great despite,  
The death of Hector by one means or other.  
The second dart this worthy Trojan knight,  
Cast at a Grecian Knight, that in the field  
'Gan Hector to approach, and through his shield   

And armour bright did strike him to the heart,  
And then unto the Trojans he did call  
And cry aloud, to come from every part,  
With speed upon the Grecian Knights to fall:  
That had enclosed Hector round about,  
And without danger great could not get ou●▪   

Wherewith the valiant hardy C●●cibere,  
(One of King Priam's Bastard children)  
And divers other Trojan Knights that were  
At his command, in haste did come, and when  
They saw that Hector midst the greeks unhorsed,  
S▪ unequally to fight on foot was forced,   

With fury great together they did set  
Upon the backs of those that him enclosed,  
And unawares by that means did them let  
Of that pretence which 'mongst them they supposed,  
For presently when they the Trojans saw,  
Three hundred of their Knights did them withdraw.   

With sudden fear abashed and fled away,  
When thirty of their men had first been slain,  
And Hector maugre all that durst say nay,  
Upon his gallant horse got up again:  
And entering in the thickest of the press,  
In furious wise did ride and never cease   

To kill and slay with bloody sword in hand,  
And merciless to cut and hew in sunder,  
All those that 'gainst him in the field durst stand,  
(That to behold his valour it was wonder)  
And only for because they did him stay,  
And hinder from Patroclus' arms that day.   

And therefore in most cruel wise he shed  
The blood of many a worthy Grecian Knight,  
Who in great fear and terror from him fled,  
But he on whom with trenchant blade he light,  
Was sure to die, for 'twas to him much good,  
To see his sword died red with Grecians blood.   

And on them in such sort revenged to be,  
For that like Lion fierce that hunts for pray,  
He did so kill and follow them, that he  
The Grecians pride did much abate that day:  
For as they fled the blood in streams was seen,  
Run from their wounds along upon the green.   

Till Menestes the Duke of Athens came,  
With just three thousand Knights well furnished,  
And richly armed, and all of them the same,  
That he from Athens brought: the which he led  
Of purpose to the left side of the field,  
Where Troyelus that time the fight then held.   

With none but Phrygian Knights, and all that day,  
(Like to a ravening Wolf that greedily,  
With open mouth doth follow after pray,)  
Did kill and slay the greeks so cruelly,  
That they were glad to fly & shun his sight.  
And while he was most earnest in the fight   

Against his foes (with stout King Za●tip●●,  
That did himself most valiantly behave)  
And with another King called Alchanus,  
(That likewise was a hardy Knight & brave)  
Who with their trenchant blades all three did wound  
And kill so many Greeks, that all the ground   

Whereas they fought was covered over with blo●●,  
And bodies of the Greeks whom they did slay,  
But specially young Troyelus that road  
That day upon a horse of colour bay,  
(Such havoc of them made, that well was he  
That from their fierce & cruel blows went ●●●e.)   

Menestes that with furious look beheld,  
What slaughter on the Grecians then was made  
By Troyelus that day within the field,  
Such wrath and cruel ire in heart he had:  
That with a mighty spear couched in his rest,  
He ran and hit young Troyelus in the breast   

So pvissantly, and with so great a force,  
That maugre all his might and valour great,  
At unawares he threw him off his horse,  
In midst of all his foes that him beset  
Clean round about; where he on foot did fight,  
And like a hardy, fierce, and valiant Knight,   

Most bravely did assail his enemies,  
And them also with valour great withstood,  
Although he was in great extremities,  
And danger of his life, for that he stood  
Amongst the horses feet, almost o'errun,  
And found no way how he the same should 〈◊〉.   

For round about him enemies he saw,  
That hotly him assailed on every side,  
And by no means he could himself withdraw  
From thence, nor long their puissant force abid●●  
For Menestes still more upon him priest,  
And gave him not the means to breath, nor ●●●t,   

In hope at last he should be overcome.  
And still the number of the Greeks increased,  
And such as wearied were, gave others room  
To fight, whereby with multitudes oreprest,  
And with exceeding toil sore wearied,  
They took him and as prisoner forth him led▪   

Till that a valiant Knight of Troy that stood,  
And saw him by the Greeks so led away,  
Sore grieved and much abashed in furious mood,  
Unto the Trojan Knights did speak, and say:  
O worthy Phrygian Knights whose honours spread  
Throughout the world, & long hath flourished,   

For shame let it not now eclipsed be,  
And merely by your fault and negligence,  
That stay still here as in a maze, and see  
Not how the greeks by force and violence  
The gallant Knight Prince Troilus have taken,  
Without relief, as't were, by you forsaken.   

Which will redound to your perpetual shame,  
For if the flower of worthiness be led  
Away by force and not relieved, the blame  
(And worthily) will turn upon your head:  
For if with speed you do him not relieve,  
Men will report, and verily believe,   

That only by your means it came to pass,  
That Troyelus this day had this mischance,  
And by the Grecians prisoner taken was▪  
Let us then to that end ourselves advance,  
And valiantly our honours herein save,  
That no discredit we thereby may have.   

Wherewith the worthy King called Alchanus,  
Was so much moved in heart, that presently  
(Like to a Lion fierce and furious)  
He took a spear in hand, and suddenly  
Did spur his horse as fast as ere he might,  
And after road, till that he had a fight   

Of those that young Prince Troyelus prisoner led,  
And with his spear ran at a Grecian Knight,  
And pierced him to the heart, that he fell dead  
Upon the ground, and then again did smite  
Another Grecian Knight with such a force,  
That he not only cast him off his horse,   

But with his mighty Lance did pierce him clean  
Through's body, shoulder bone, & armour strong,  
So that the steely point thereof was seen  
Out at his back at least a handful long:  
And then the Phrygian Knights as thick as hail,  
Came riding down, & did the Greeks assail,   

With so great courage and dexterity,  
That maugre all resistance they could make,  
They did procure Prince Troyelus liberty,  
And him out of their hands by force did take▪  
And helped him to his horse again with speed,  
Whereof as then he had no little need.   

And with them also was King Za●●ippus,  
Who when he saw Duke Menestes, with speed  
(And with a noble he●●t and valorous)  
In furious wise he spurred his lusty steed▪  
And run at him with spear in hand so fast,  
That with the blow through shield & male he passed.   

With so great force, that without doubt he had  
Been slain, if that his arms had not been good▪  
But Menestes was furious, wood, and m●d,  
And raging, fre●●ing, ●●ming, chase stood:  
And like an Aspen lea●e with anger shook,  
Because the Trojans Troyelus from him took,   

Despite of him and all his Chivalty;  
And foaming like a Boar at mouth did ba●le,  
And to th'▪ Athenian Knights aloud did cry,  
To will them on the Trojan Knights to fall:  
And be revenged on them for that disgrace,  
Before that they should stir out of that place.   

Wherewith they all at once with fury great,  
The Trojans did assail right valiantly,  
And for their parts they likewise did not let  
To fall upon the greeks couragioussie:  
And then began a fierce and furious fight,  
And did so fiercely one the other smite.   

That fire out of their shields & arms did fly,  
And sparkle all abroad in fearful wi●e,  
And many a valiant Knight that day did die,  
And in the field cast our most doleful cries:  
Of life or death they took as then no heed,  
For that they had determined and decreed,   

Each other to destroy, confound, and kill,  
And furiously to work their enemy's bane,  
And at that time the battles that stood still  
On every side, came down into the plain:  
And with most pale and deadly faces met,  
And on each other valiantly did set.   

With hot and burning jre, so that as then,  
Nought else but blows of Lances, sword, & dar●,  
Were heard and seen within the field, and men  
Did shout and cry aloud, and on each part,  
The fight began in such sort to renew,  
That many a man in fine the same did rue.   

For Hector like a most renowned Knight,  
So furiously still on the greeks did set,  
And with most puissant blows and passing might,  
Did kill, beat down, & maim all those he met●  
And merciless, with extreme cruelty  
Did them confound, that pity 'twas to see.   

And Menestes with heart replete with spite,  
Because his pris▪ ner Troyelus had been ta'en  
So forcibly from him, and that in fight  
His men had then so many of them been slain:  
Where so ere he road in furious wise did slay,  
Beat down, & wound, & fore him drove away   

The Trojan knights, that he might take revenge,  
For th'injuries that they to him had done,  
And as he round the field about did range,  
(Like Wolf for prey) and here and there did run  
In furious wi●e to kill his enemies,  
He met a Trojan knight called Miseres.   

(Who in despite of all his Chivalry,  
His pris▪ ner worthy Troyelus had ta'en  
By force from him that day, and set him free,  
And some of his Athenian knights had slain)  
And knowing him again by th'arms he bore  
Upon his shield, before he was aware.   

And ere of him he once took heed or care,  
He spurred his horse, & ran at him in haste,  
(And 'mongst the ranks of Trojans that were there)  
Him to the ground out of his saddle cast.  
Then to the field on Trojans side there came  
A valiant King that Hupon had to name,   

That with him full two thousand knights did bring,  
Who on the greeks in furious wise did set,  
And to encounter them, for greeks a king  
Caldoro Prothenor, courageously did meet:  
And Archelius the noble warrior,  
That of Boetia Land was Governor.   

Who with the aid of valiant Prothenor,  
The Trojans did assail as cruelly,  
As he had been a Tiger or a Boar,  
And Prothenor himself courageously,  
Did also many a Trojan fiercely slay.  
But Hupon by his valour great did stay   

Their furious moods, and through his Chivalry,  
Not only did the Trojans than defend,  
But in most cruel wise, and furiously  
Brought many Grecian knights unto their end.  
And thus twixt them the fight then equal was,  
Till that the worthy knight Polidamas   

Anthenors' son, (that valiantly did ride  
Before his knights) amongst the greeks did enter,  
And bravely them assailed on every side,  
And by that means did break their ranks asunder:  
And cruelly killed many a Grecian knight,  
For they could not resist against his might,   

He was so hardy, stout, and furious.  
And for to second him the worthy king  
Caldoro Remus, that of knights chivalerous,  
Three thousand to the field with him did bring▪  
Into the battle came, and there did fight  
So valiantly, and with such force and might,   

That all the Trojan knights that him beheld,  
took great delight, & were exceeding glad,  
To see him kill & chase the greeks in field,  
And that such havoc of them there he made:  
Whereby as then great noise of strokes & cries,  
Within the field was heard and 'gan to rise.   

And while king Remus in this sort still ●ights,  
And on the Greeks in furious wise did set,  
King Menelaus with all his Spartan knights,  
Into the battle proudly came, to let  
And to restrain king Remus in his course,  
And to that end set spurs unto his horse,   

And valiantly upon king Remus set,  
And Remus likewise 'gainst him road as fast,  
And with their spears so furiously they met,  
That each the other to the ground did cast:  
For in their course they did so fiercely run,  
That neither of them each others blows could shun.   

Mean time the valiant knight Pollidamus  
(Who only sought to honour to attain,  
As he that was both stout and valorous)  
Met with Queen Helen's Nephew in the plain,  
That was a mighty Duke called Mereus,  
A Prince both gallant, young, and virtuous.   

Most richly armed and of good carriage,  
And for his time a stout and valiant knight,  
(For he was then but twenty years of age)  
Yet much renowned for valour and for might:  
But by hard fortune it fell out (alas)  
That this brave Trojan knight Pollidamas,   

Ran at him with a spear so furiously,  
That piercing through his arms and coat of male,  
He strake him to the heart, and suddenly,  
He fell down dead with colour wan and pale:  
Which when as old King Menelaus beheld,  
And saw him lie dead groveling in the field,   

That sometime Nephew was to Helena  
His wife, he fell into so great a rage,  
That presently he made no more delay,  
But in some part his choler to assuage,  
He ran at stout King Remus in despite,  
And with his sword stroke at him with such might   

Upon the head, that he could not sustain  
Himself upright, but fell unto the ground,  
Wherewith his Knights supposing he was slain,  
For that the blood did run out of his wound.  
(And he as dead upon the ground did lie,)  
They took him up, and with him 'gan to fly   

As fast as ere they could, and would not stay  
Till that the valiant Knight Pollidamas  
Unto them went, and stopped them in the way,  
And by no means would suffer them to pass,  
Except those that by him appointed were,  
King Remus to the town of Troy to bear.   

Then to the field on Grecians side there came,  
King Celides a valiant Prince and stout,  
Whom Dares doth report t'have had the name  
Amongst the Greeks, and all the world throughout.  
T'excel all men without exception,  
For beauty, shape, and good proportion,   

Behaviour, grace, and countenance bening,  
For every part of him was most exact,  
And finely made, so that not any thing  
To grace a man withal, in him there lacked,  
For nature had him framed of such a mould,  
That all men did delight him to behold.   

Which made the gallant Amazonian Queen,  
(For passing beauty held to be the flower,)  
To love him so when once she had him seen,  
That she did choose him for her Paramour,  
And loved him so dearly at the heart,  
That from her thought he never could depart.   

Who being as I said a gallant Knight,  
As soon as ere he entered in the field,  
And saw whereas Pollidamas did fight  
Against the Greeks, and at a bay them held;  
He set his spurs unto his horse's side,  
And in most furious wise to him did ride,   

And with his spear did give him such a blow,  
That with the same (which came with passing might  
Off from his horse he did him overthrow,  
But to requite him for't the Trojan Knight  
Pollidamas with pale and furious face,  
Ere Celides departed from the place,   

Drewout his sword and smote him on the head  
So cruelly, and with so great a might  
That he therewith off from his horse fell dead  
Upon the grrund, unto the great despite  
Of all the Greeks, that could him not relieve,  
For which in heart they sore did fret and grieve.   

And while the Greeks and Troyans' thus did fight,  
And each the other killed in every place  
Throughout the field: Hector the valiant Knight,  
Like Lion fierce, before him did them chase,  
And furiously did wound, beat down, and slay  
The Greeks so fast, that forced to give him way,   

Like sheep before the greedy wolf they fled.  
For 'gainst his trenchant blade no Greeks durst stand,  
For with the same their blood so fast he shed,  
That glad was he that could escape his hand.  
And at that time such vengeance he did take  
On them, that they compelled were to forsake   

The field whereas he fought, yet would he not  
Leave off to kill, and chase them, till in fine  
As he road here and there it was his lot,  
Among the valiant Knights of Salo●ine.  
T'encounter with King Theseus in the way,  
That many a Trojan Knight had slain that day.   

And as to him in hast he 'gan to ride,  
The valiant Knight King Tentar thither came  
With spear in hand, and while he looked aside,  
In furious wise ran at him with the same.  
And with the blow clean through his arms did pierce  
And wounded him, but while with courage fierce,   

Hector to be revenged for that despite  
(On Tentar,) turned his horse about in haste,  
He wisely road as fast as ere he might,  
Till he out of his furious sight was past,  
Wherewith his heart was so possessed with ire,  
That in his breast it burned as hot as fire.   

And when he felt his wound to ache and smart,  
He did within himself so rage and fret,  
That for to ease the collar of his heart,  
What Greek soever after that he met,  
Or that durst be so bold him to withstand,  
Was sure to die by his victorious hand.   

And 'mongst the rest one special there was  
That proudly and of purpose him withstood,  
Whom with his sword (which through his arms did  
He clave unto the heart with furious mood, (pass)  
At which most puissant stroke the Greeks did tremble,  
But ne'ertheless they did in troops assemble,   

And him enclosed round on every side,  
Upon him such a fierce assault to make,  
(Which they supposed he could not long abide,  
That at the last by force they would him take.  
And more and more there number still increased,  
Which on all sides t'assail him never ceased.   

So that to all men's ●ight by likelihood  
He could not from their hands escape alive.  
And while in so great danger there he stood,  
And still with them did right-hand bravely strive,  
Like to a Lion fierce and furious.  
The worthy Grecian King called Theseus,   

Of courtesy and of mere gentleness,  
In heart was mou●d to see him in that case,  
And pitying his herd and great distress,  
As fearing what in fine might come to pass,  
Because he stood in danger of the wrack,  
In kind and friendly manner to him spoke.   

Oh valiant Knight, and root of hardiness,  
Oh spring of manhood, stock of Nobleness,  
And th'only pattern of all worthiness,  
Why art thou now so careless in distress?  
To save thy life by Knightly providence,  
When as thou seest thou canst not make defence   

Against so huge a number of thy foes.  
'mongst whom thou art in danger to be slain,  
For they on every side do thee enclose,  
And have all means of succour from thee ta'en.  
And yet thou wilt not help thyself at all,  
But stayest to see the worst that may befall.   

For which all men in heart may well complain,  
To see that such a worthy valiant Knight,  
Who by his valour Knighthood doth maintain,  
And unto marshal men is th'only light.  
And as it were th'v pholder of their law,  
Will not himself from danger now withdraw.   

But wilfully thy life will't rather lose.  
Great pity 'twere that thou shouldst here be slain  
Withdraw thyself therefore whilst thou mayst choose  
For if thou diest not now thou wilt be ta'en,  
Thy prowess great compelleth me to pray  
Thee, that in this distress thou wilt not stay.   

Which words when Hector heard, & knew they came  
Out of a heart replete with courtesy▪  
He bowed his head, and thanked him for the same,  
As to his friend, and yet his enemy.  
And then perforce and maugre all the might  
The Greeks could use, most like a valiant Knight   

With bloody sword in hand he broke the press,  
And through the thickst of them did bravely ride,  
And got from them, and still he did not cease  
To kill, and beat them down on every side.  
And in his way Pollidamas he found,  
That valiantly stood fight on the ground,   

Against two Grecian Kings, whereof the one  
Was Menelaus, a worthy valiant Knight,  
The other fierce and furious Thelamon,  
Who likewise was a Prince of passing might.  
And Thelamon ran at him with such force,  
That with his spear he threw him on his horse.   

And forcedihim 'gainst both of them to fight,  
On foot, that they revenge on him might take,  
And with most furious blows they did him ●●a●●e  
Upon his crest and helmet, which they broke.  
And then the beaver from his face they ●●●e,  
And when that it uncovered was and bore,   

And by that means he could it not defend▪  
With that advantage which on him they had,  
They took him suddenly and did him send  
Unto their tents, and him a prisoner made.  
But when as Hector did behold and see  
Pollidamas in such extremity,   

With full intent to succour him in haste,  
He spurred his horse and furiously did ride  
T'oretake the greeks, and wheresoe'er he passed  
With sword in hand made way on every side,  
Till in the end he got unto the place  
Whereas distressed Pollidamas then was,   

Clean succourless, and without remedy,  
Or hope of aid from Troyans' in that case,  
Till that he did on Hector set his eye,  
That thirty Greeks had slain in little space,  
And made them give him way for all their pride,  
For none of them durst fore his sword abide.   

Nor 'gainst him stand, so that by valour great  
And Knightly force, he made them all to fly,  
And by that means Pollidamas did set  
Free from their hands, again at liberty.  
Then to the field came King Epistrophus  
With many worthy Knights and valorous.   

And with him Menelaus and Thelamon,  
And each of them great store of Knights likewise,  
Who with their troops of Greeks all joined in one,  
The Troyans' did assail in furious wise.  
(To get themselves an everlasting name  
Of honour and of glory by the same.)   

And with their power of Greeks that were so strong,  
They drove the Troyans' fore them in the field,  
And entering 'mongst the thickest of the throng,  
'Gainst them a hard and furious fight they field:  
Despite of all their valour and their might,  
Or Hector's Knightly prowess that did fight   

So valiantly as then, and with such force  
(That none but he himself could ever do't,)  
But cowardly the Greeks did kill his horse,  
And then he was constrained to fight on foot:  
Which unto them procured but little good,  
For there was none that then about him stood   

But he did kill, and wound them grievously.  
And though by them he was enclosed round,  
And on all sides assailed furiously,  
He made them to recoil and give him ground▪  
And on his feet so fiercely fought that day,  
That none of them durst hand upon him lay.   

For if they did they were assured to die.  
And when his valiant brethren him beheld,  
And saw him fight on foot so furiously,  
Enclosed by Greeks in midst of all the field,  
And to defend himself 'gainst them so well,  
(As any ravening Tiger fierce and fell,   

That furiously doth fight to save her whelp.)  
They all together broke into the press,  
And Hector on all sides began to help,  
And first upon King Thelamon did cease.  
(For him 'gainst Hector busiest than was found,)  
And gave him many a great and bloody wound.   

While that a valiant Knight called Dixdaron,  
Among the Grecian troops did boldly ride,  
And there a gallant horse by force he won,  
Which having got, he did not long abide  
B●● brought it unto Hector where he stood  
Among the Greeks all bathed in their blood.   

Whereon in haste he mounted gallantly,  
And 'mongst the Greeks like Mars himself did ride  
And many of them did kill so furiously,  
That at that time he did abate their pride.  
Then Deiphobus entered in the field,  
And bravely 'gainst the Grecians battle held,   

With th'archers of Bohemia which he brought  
With him to field, whose arrows feathers were  
With Peacock's glistering tails, wherewith they fought  
And did so fiercely shoot, that in great fear  
To shun the same the Greeks retired back,  
And Troyans' by that means did courage take.   

And then Deiphobus valiantly did race  
And beat King Tentrans' helmet from his head,  
And with his sword did wound him in the face  
So cruelly, that in a manner dead  
Hefell of from his horse with extreme pain,  
And then the Troyans' furiously again   

Assailed the Greeks, and put them to a stand,  
And once again were masters of the field.  
But Theseus with the Knights at his command  
Withstood them still, and them too hardly held,  
Till Hector's bastard brother Quintiline,  
Whose arms as clear & bright as sun did shine.   

And the most valiant King called Modern●●  
Assailed, and with extreme cruelty,  
Together fell upon King Theseus,  
Who ne'ertheless with great agility,  
Against them both himself did long defend;  
But notwithstanding all his force, in th'end   

They brought him unto such extremity,  
That without doubt they had him surely slain,  
If Hector (moved thereto by courtesy,)  
Had not with speed cried out to them amain,  
To pray them for his sake their hands to stay▪  
And save his life, whereto they did obey.   

And for that time assailed him no more,  
For Hector called to mind what courtesy  
To him was shown the self same day before  
By Theseus, in his hard extremity,  
And therefore with the like did him require,  
As 'tis the part of every courteous Knight.   

For which King Theseus thanked him heartily,  
As glad he had escaped by such a chance.  
Then in the field King Thoas valiantly  
On Grecians side his standard did advance,  
And with him King Philoctetes came thither,  
Who with them brought great store of knights together   

And with that great and new supply of men,  
The Troyans' did assail, and Thoas ran  
(At one of Priam's bastard children,)  
Whom Guido ●aith was called Cassibelian,  
And to him gave so great and sore a wound,  
That he therewith fell dead upon the ground.   

Which blow when Hector saw, he grieved sore,  
And for his brother's death great sorrow made,  
And to himself he did protest, and swore  
That he would never rest till that he had  
Revenged his brother's death if that he might  
Upon the Greeks, and then with great despite,   

He entered 'mongst the thick'st of them in haste,  
And furiously all those that in his way  
Did stand, he killed, or maimed sore, did cast  
Them off their horses backs, and all that day  
So valiantly did fight against his foes,  
That many a 〈◊〉 thereby his life did lose.   

Then to the field Duke Nestor proudly brought  
Five thousand valiant Knights in armour bright,  
That furiously against the Troyans' fought.  
And on the Troyans' side the worthy Knight  
King Esdras, with a courage stout and bold,  
And Philon in his stately chair of gold,   

With all the valiant Knights and chivalry,  
(That for to aid King Priam thither came)  
Out of Agresta land with jacony  
The Prince and heir thereof, and with the same  
Courageously upon the Grecians ran,  
At which time many a brave and worthy man   

Was fiercely slain and maimed on every side,  
And from the men that on the ground lay dead  
And wounded sore, with gashes long and wide,  
The field all ore was died in colour red,  
With streams of blood that men therein might wade,  
Such slaughter at that time twixt them was made.   

At which time Philon fought most furiously,  
And did by valour great the Troyans' aid,  
And many a Greek that day did cause to die.  
But while thus fight valiantly he stayed,  
At unawares he was enclosed round,  
And suddenly himself in danger found:   

For that the greeks so compassed him about,  
That he unlikely was from them t'escape,  
For by no means he could from thence get out,  
But that in th'end they would him either take,  
Or kill outright, but that Prince jacony  
Unto King Esdras loudly 'gan to cry,   

Saying, my Lord, by our great negligence  
King Philon at this time will sure be slain,  
For 'gainst so many Greeks there's no defence,  
But that he must needs die, or else be ta'en,  
If we relieve him not if that we can,  
And so in hast they altogether ran,   

And in despite of all the Greeks by force,  
They did release King Philon from their hands;  
Who glad thereof, did mount upon his horse  
And road with them unto the Trojan bands:  
That then with all their power, force, and might,  
With Hector that most brave and worthy Knight,   

Deiphobus, and Pollidamas, and other  
Courageous Trojan Knights that had decreed  
With one consent, and valiantly together  
The Grecians freshly to assail with speed,  
Of purpose, if convenient means they found,  
With all their puissant power t'enclose them round.   

That few of them should scape with life from thence,  
And to that end did fiercely them assail,  
And did compel the Greeks with small defence,  
(For that as than their courages did fail.)  
To lose their ground, and to retire with speed,  
And finally were driven into such need,   

That maugre all their might they had that day,  
Been utterly brought to confution,  
And forced in the end to run away,  
If that King Menelaus and Thelamon,  
When as they saw them faint and half afraid,  
Had them not then encouraged and stayed,   

And made them once again themselves defend,  
Till that Aeneas and Duke Eufrenus,  
Against the Greeks did valiantly descend  
With other troops of Knights chivalrous,  
And freshly them again did sore oppress:  
And Hector also by his worthiness,   

Like Lion fierce with stern and cruel face,  
Did put them to so great extremity,  
That like to sheep that cruel wolf doth chase,  
They were compelled with fear from him to fly.  
As glad his strong and trenchant blade to shun,  
And from it for to save their lives, to run.   

The which when valiant ajax did espy,  
He had in heart so much compassion,  
To think upon the great extremity,  
With cruel slaughter and confusion,  
(The which the Greeks as then did feel and find)  
That when he turned his back & looked behind.   

And saw so many Grecian wings that stayed  
And were in order priest within the field,  
Which banners large and pennons fair displayed,  
And all that while the cruel fight beheld,  
And saw how Hector had the Greeks in chase,  
Yet stirred not one foot out of their place.   

(Although in them the flower of chivalry  
On Grecians side there was, that able were  
The Troyans' to withstand, and valiantly  
To be revenged on them, and for to bear  
The furious charge of their fierce enemies.)  
In all the hast he could, to them he hies,   

And loudly unto them for help did cry,  
Whereatin hast the wearied Greeks to aid,  
They marched forward 'gainst the enemy,  
With ensigns rich and pennons brave displayed.  
And when they and the Troyans' fiercely meet,  
The earth did shake and tremble with the feet   

Of horses, that in furious wise did fling,  
And gallop in the field, and then did rise  
An●●eous noise wherewith the air did ring  
O huge and mighty strookes, and fearful cries  
On either side, and many a Knight was seen  
With deadly wounds lie gasping on the green.   

Then Aiox 'gainst Aeneas fiercely ran,  
And he 'gainst him as willingly did ride;  
(For twixt them both such enmity as than,  
And hatred great there was on either side▪  
That nought but death their furies could assuage,)  
And did together meet in such a rage,   

That with the blow that each the other hit  
Most pvissantly withal their force and might,  
Each other to the ground they bravely smit.  
And up again they rose on foot to fight,  
And there a valiant combat twixt them tried,  
Where as they both great danger did abide   

Amongst the horses feet upon the ground.  
Till that Philocletes that bravely fought  
That day on Grecian side, had ajax found  
And him another horse to mount on brought,  
And did assail the Troyans' valiantly  
That other wise had had the victory   

Against the Greeks, but that Philocletes  
Withal his Knights them man fully withstood.  
And first of all as th'Author Guido says,  
At Hector with a spear he fiercely road,  
Which with the blow in many pieces broke,  
But stirred him not off from his horses back,   

For though he had received so great a stroke,  
(That well might have o'erthrown avaliant Knight  
He sat as stiff and sturdy as an oak,  
And with his spear Philocletes did smite  
Through armour, shield, and body, that withal  
Sore wounded to the growd he made him fall.   

That off his life his Knights were much in doubt.  
Then to the field King Humerus, and eke  
Ulysses came, and with cen thousand stour  
And valiant Knights, and many a worthy Greek,  
The Troyans' did assail so furiously,  
And with great multitudes of new supply   

Upon them set, that in despair and fear,  
And wearied with so long and cruel fight,  
They 'gan for to recoil, and ready were  
To turn away and take themselves to flight,  
It Paris had not come with more supply  
To rescue them, and at his entry   

Into the field, the King of Frizia met,  
(That unto King Ulysses was of kin,)  
And in such furious wise upon him set,  
That without more ado he ran him in  
Through armour, shield, and body, with his spear  
Whereat the Greeks full sore abashed were.   

And for his death Ulysses grieved so  
That in a rage and with extreme despite,  
He did a spear at Paris fiercely throw  
To pierce his heart, but it to low did light▪  
Yet ne'ertheless it went with such a force,  
That with the strength thereof it killed his horse,   

And he thereby fell flat upon the ground,  
Wherewith Ulysses fiercely did assail,  
Him as on foot he stood when he him found  
Among the horses feet, but he did fail,  
For Troilus bravely met in the beard  
And furiously with shorpe and trenchant sword,   

Wrought him so strong and puissant a blow,  
That in his face a cruel wound he made,  
From whence the blood like to a spring did flow▪  
But King Ulysses nought therewith dismayed,  
Made small or no account thereof at all,  
And to revenge himself did fiercely fall   

On Troielus, and with his sword did raze  
His helmet from his head, and to him gave  
A deep and cruel wound upon the face,  
Wherewith the Greeks began again to have  
More courage, and were in good hope to see  
The Troyans' shortly brought t'extremite,   

And clean o'erthrown, they were so sore oppressed,  
If Hector with a valiant troup of men,  
And Deiphobus, Paris, and the rest  
Of his most stout and worthy brethren.  
And Troielus likewise for all his wound,  
(That ever more a valiant Knight was found.)   

Had not together joined, and fiercely ran  
Upon the Grecian troops, and first of all  
Hector the most renowned Knight began,  
With sword in hand so furiously to shall  
Upon the Greeks, and with such cruelty  
To kill them, that from him they all did fly,   

(Like to the silly fearful sheep in field,  
That from the ravening wolf themselves do hide  
And run away for fear they should be killed.)  
For none of them before him durst abide,  
For still he did them fiercely hac and new,  
And more and more the slaughter did renew.   

So that as than their harna●les were stained  
With drops of blood, (which he that day did shed)  
As thick as if that blood from skies had rained,  
And still like unto swarms of bees they fled  
Before his face, and by no means would stay,  
For glad was he that got out of his way.   

And as the story saith of him that day,  
He always was the foremost in the field,  
And at the head of all his troops did stay,  
T'abate the Grecians pride, till he beheld  
The Knights that to the battle he had brought  
Were scattered and clean out of order fought.   

And when he had fought valiantly and long,  
And saw the Greeks did still renew their force,  
And by that means began to wax more strong:  
In haste he clapped his spurs unto his horse,  
And to his Trojan Knights again repaired,  
Who at that time in manner all despaired,   

For want of him, but when they did him see,  
Full soon again they were all comforted,  
And with great signs of joy and amity,  
With all their hearts him gladly welcomed,  
Which at their hands he thankfully did take,  
And unto them in courteous wise he spoke.   

And prayed them in their valiant minds to way,  
And wisely to consider and forecast  
What injury the Greeks from day to day,  
Unto them did, and had done long time past.  
And how that if the victory should fall  
That day to them, they might bid farewell all   

The Troyans' honour, glory, and renown:  
For then (said he) nought else would be our lot  
But th'overthrow of us, and of our town,  
And all the ancient honour we have got  
Unto ourselves, and our posterity,  
(In former times,) would clean Eclipsed be.   

Vulesse this day you show yourselves like men,  
That well deserve the honour you have got,  
Wherefore I heartily pray you all, that when  
Against your Grecian foes you fight, give not  
The smallest cause for them in any wise,  
T'upbraid you with the fault of cowardice.   

But valiantly assail them all together,  
And shrink not back for fear lest you should die.  
For die you must at one time or at other,  
Whereto they all consented willingly.  
And without more delay passed through a vale,  
And unawares upon the Greeks did fall.   

Where Hector spared not one what ere he was,  
But killed and manned all without remorse  
That with him met, wheresoever he did pass,  
And maugre all their pride and might did force  
Them to recoil, and fly out of his ●ihgt,  
Till that the most renowned and valiant Knight   

King Theas, to the field came in again,  
And furiously upon the Troyans' ran,  
(Who that same day in cruel wise had slain  
King Priam's bastard son Cassibelan.)  
But as he busied was on them to set,  
By fortune he with all his brethren met.   

Who all at once and with one full consent  
Enclosed him on every side, and were  
Unto his utter ruin wholly bend,  
And having thrown him off his horse, did tear  
His Helmet from his head, and meant to ●●ight  
It off, if that the fierce and valiant Knight   

Menestes Duke of Athens had not been,  
Who with his Knights came riding hastily,  
And him out of the danger he was in  
Set free, and to procure his liberty,  
With spear in hand directly as a line,  
He took his course and ran at Quintiline,   

That busi est was King Theas to have slain,  
And with the strength and puissance of his blow,  
(Which Quinteline as then could not sustain,)  
Clean off his horse he did him overthrow.  
And made his brethren also to withdraw  
Themselves from him, the which when Paris ●aw   

He bend his mighty bow, and fiercely shot  
At Menestes, and hit him in the side  
Upon a rib, which though it killed him not,  
He had a wound thereby both large and wide  
Which hurt him sore, and grievously did bleed,  
And yet thereof he took but little heed,   

Cause he as then was bend so earnestly  
To aid King Thoas standing on the ground,  
Amongst the horses feet, and like to die,  
His body bleeding sore with many a wound.  
And without helmet bare upon his head.  
But Menestes clean void of fear or dread   

Delivered him from that extremity  
And saved his life, when out of hope he was.  
But Hector full of wrath and enmity,  
(As he that for his valour did surpass  
All whatsoe'er,) made such destruction  
Of Greeks that day, as he road up and down.   

That all men sore abashed from him did fly,  
For they upon his face did fear to look.  
Whose valour when King Humerus did espy,  
Into his hand his mighty bow he took,  
And ●yming right shot Hector in the face.  
But ere that he could get out of the place,   

Hector for to requite him for his pain  
Ran strait at him and gave him such a blow,  
That with his swor● he clave his head in twain.  
Whose death when as the Grecian knights did know  
They blew a horn, which made so great a sound,  
That presently there were together found   

Seven thousand Knights, that all on Hector fell  
And him in closed, but he without abode  
(As one that did in valour great excel,)  
Despite of all their power through them road,  
And ●lew all those that in his way he met,  
Or that durst venture him therein to let,   

And never stayed, but hastily did ride  
Unto the place where Priam all that day  
Did with his troup without the town abide,  
(Whereas he purposely with them still lay,  
Till by advise from Hector he did know,  
When he with them into the field should go.)   

And coming to his father did him pray,  
That with three thousand Knights he would him aid  
And 'gainst the Grecians go without delay,  
Who presently with all his Knights did ride  
Into the field, and there the Greeks assailed  
Most valiantly, and 'gainst them so prevailed:   

That in short space so many of them were slain  
And overthrown by Priam furiously,  
That at that time the field and all the plain  
Were covered with dead Greeks, and they did fly  
With speed before his face, as glad to get  
Away from him, so hot on them he set.   

And then as Hector valiantly did ride  
Throughout the field the Troyans' to relieve:  
And Alax likewise on the Grecian side,  
Some aid and succour unto them to give,  
Like lions strong, they both together met,  
And on each other did so fiercely set,   

That with their mighty spears and puissant force,  
Th'encountered so magnanimiously,  
That each the other bravely did unhorsed,  
And 'gainst their wills upon the ground did lie.  
And at that time King Menelans did fall  
Upon a worthy Trojan Admiral,   

And killed him with his sword, and so began  
A cruel ●ight and slaughter to renew  
On either 〈◊〉 And C●lyd●●●us than  
Infurious wise King Thoas nephew slew.  
And Madan like a stout and valiant Knight,  
With sword in hand so cruelly did smght   

A Grecian King called Cedeus in the eyes,  
That with the blow, one eye he clean smote out.  
And Sardellus a Trojan Knight likewise,  
As he from place to place did range about,  
Upon a Grecian Lord so fiercely f●ew,  
(Whom Guydo nameth not) that he him ●lew.   

And at that time Margariton a Knight  
O● Trojans side, with wrath and furious ire,  
Most valiantly with Thelamon did fight.  
And he also with him with like desire.  
But Thelamon did smite him to the ground,  
And gave him with his lance a deadly wound.   

And Pha●i●ll the worthy Trojan Knight,  
With spear in hand and fierce and furious mood,  
King Prothenor off from his ●orse did smite,  
And thus King Priam's sons as then withstood  
The Grecians in such wise, that all that day  
Most cruelly they did them wound and ●lay.   

(To be revenged on their inveterate foes)  
And by that means in that most furious fight,  
Great store of Grecian Knight is their lives did loose.  
And then King Anglas with his spear did smite  
Menestes Duke of Athens on his shield,  
But ne'ertheless still on his horse he held.   

And for because no lance as then he bore,  
With sword in hand he did to anglas go  
And with it furiously his beaver ●are  
From off his face, and with the self same blow  
He cut his nose clean off, or very near,  
Whereat a while he stood as in a fear,   

To see the blood run down his face so fast,  
That with the same his ar●o●all was died:  
But like a stout and valiant Knight, at last  
He spurred his horse and road somewhat aside,  
(To stench it if he might) without the field,  
But when his brother Dea●or it beheld,   

And saw him by Menestes wounded so,  
He ran at him in fierce and furious wise,  
And hit him with his spear so great a blow  
That down he fell, and ere that he could rise  
Another of his brethren did come thither,  
And they all three assay led him together.   

With full intent to kill him if they might,  
And to that end on him most furious ●●Spand●●.  
But Menestes (that was a valiant Knight,)  
So gallantly their fierce assault did boar.  
And sought so well that wonder ●'was to see.  
But Thoas ●h'eldest brother of the three   

Most busiest was, from him his life to take,  
And with most furious rage and cruelty,  
His helmet at the last in pieces broke,  
And brought him to so great extremity:  
That without doubt he surely then had died,  
Had not King T●n●●an been, that him espied.   

Who grieving to behold him in that case,  
Ran hastily to aid him if he might;  
But when he gotten had unto the place  
Whereas they fought, and like a valiant Knight  
Did bravely him relieve out of his pain  
And great distress, 'twas labour all in vain.   

For Hector who as then by chance came thither,  
And saw King Tentran fight so valiantly,  
Assay led him, and Menestes together,  
And there had slain them both assuredly  
If ajax had not been, that him espied,  
And with a thousand Knights unto him hied.   

And with them all at once did him assail,  
(To save them from his fury if they might,)  
And Hector of his will then made to fail.  
But Paris like a hardy valiant Knight  
With the renowned and worthy Persian King.  
And with five thousand Knights that he did bring   

Unto the fied, perceiving their intent  
To aid his brother Hector strait did go,  
(And being to revenge then fully bend,)  
He presently did cause a trumpet blow,  
Whereat the valiant Knights that Hector led  
That day into the field well furnished,   

Came speedily unto him at his call  
Against the Greeks, ●on to enforce the fight,  
And to relieve their valiant General,  
And so with extreme fury and despite:  
Gre●● store of Grecian Knights that day they slew,  
And in such sort the battle did renew,   

That many a Greek in heart was grieved sore,  
To see the loss and great destruction  
Upon them made. But Hector evermore  
Such valour showed, that he himself alone  
A thousand Grecian Knights that day did slay,  
And made the Greeks to fly and run away.   

Not daring to behold his furious face,  
That wholly unto cruelty was bend,  
And while that he so furiously did chase,  
His enemies not far off from a tent,  
It was his chance King Mereon to behold,  
Whom when he did espy with courage bold   

And countenance stern, unto him spoke, & said,  
Traitor thy glass and fatal course is run,  
Thy life must end, no time shall be delayed,  
For that before into the West the sun  
Descendeth down, know that assuredly  
With this my sword thou shalt not fail to die.   

Because that thou so hardy waist this day.  
(When as I thought Patroclus' arms to have,)  
To hinder and bereave me of my prey,  
For which thy bold attempt nought shall thee save,  
And therewithal down from his horse he light,  
And with his sword his head clean off did smite   

And thought his armour likewise to have had.  
But while that to disarm him he began,  
Menestes Duke of Athens that was glad  
To be revenged on Hector, at him ran  
When as his back was turned, and suddenly  
At unawares did wound him cruelly,   

And pierced him through the armour in the side,  
Whereat the blood in streams ran out a main,  
The which when Hector felt he strait did ride  
Out of the field, and for to ease his pain  
He caused one to search and dress his wound,  
And for to staunch the bleeding fast it bound.   

(Mean time Menestes closely got away,  
For to be freed from Hector's furious force,  
Intending not to meet him all that day.)  
Which done again he mounted on his horse:  
And to the field returned with much more  
And greater rage then ere he had before.   

For that his heart so furiously did fret  
And burn with wrath, that entering in the press,  
In cruel wise whosoever that he met  
He killed, beat down, and wounded merciless.  
And spared none of what degree so ere,  
So that from him the Grecians fled for fear.   

And in that fur●e great and cruelty,  
Wherewith the Greeks as then he did oppress.  
(As Guide doth declare and certify.  
And as his Author Dares doth confess,  
If that we may believe the History,  
Which truth of things sincerely, should des●●e)   

After he did his latter wound receive,  
Not reckoning those whereof I spoke before,)  
With his own hands he hid of life bereave  
A thousand Grecian Knights: and more and more  
He did pursue them with such cruelty,  
That all his sword was turned to crimson die   

With Grecians blood. So that his chivalry  
So much by them was feared, that every one  
Of high and low estate from him did fly,  
And 'mongst them all there was not any one,  
That after all that day durst him withstand,  
Or offer to resist him hand to hand.   

And yet although that Hector slew them so,  
And valiantly held them at such a bay:  
Their General Agamemnon would not go  
Into the field to aid them, all that day.  
Whereby as then the Greeks were sore oppressed,  
For Hector like a Lion did not rest,   

To kill, and wound them in such a furious wise,  
That they constrained were for aid to fly  
Unto their tents, with many shoots and cries,  
The Troyans' following them courageously,  
By traces of their blood along the way,  
And in their tents great store of them did slay.   

And did from them much of their treasure take,  
And bore it unto Troy victoriously,  
And of them there such havoc than did make,  
That that same day they had most certainly  
Been utterly o'erthrown for evermore,  
By Troyans' that oppressed them so sore;   

And valiant Hector's valour and his might,  
Who all that day most valiantly had fought,  
And with the aid of many a Trojan Knight,  
Unto such great extremity them brought:  
That haded not been by their own foolishness,  
And pride of heart, with ore-much carelessness.   

Without all doubt they verily had gained  
A great and most triumphant victory  
Against the Greeks, and therewithal obtained  
Dominion, rule, and Sovereignty  
o'er them, and all their land continually,  
Which well might have endured perpetually;   

If● had not been for hard and cruel Fate,  
The which in things begon with wilfulness,  
Is always priest and ready to debate,  
And strives to make them end with wretchedness,  
By her most envious disposition,  
Unhappy chance and resolution.   

And turning of her light and slippery wheel,  
Which ticklesse is, and full of fickleness,  
That 'twill not stand when as a thing is well,  
For fortune's wholly bend to wilfulness.  
Great pity 'twas they were so overshot,  
And at that time themselves so much forgot,   

And would not their good fortune then pursue,  
(And chiefly Hector that renowned Knight.)  
That would not mark what after might ensue,  
And to prevent the mischief if they might,  
Which at that time did press on them so near:  
But sure it is, too much they blinded were   

(That day in field when as victoriously,  
They saw themselves triumphantly to be  
Set on the top of fortunes wheels so high.)  
That of mere negligence they could not see  
What danger might ensue, and all for lack  
Of providence, which did them clean forsake,   

And made them lose that great and special grace  
Which fortune offered them, (although unstable  
Sometimes she be,) and set before their face.  
For in a man it is not commendable,  
(If fortune seem on him to laugh and smile,  
And with fair show doth favour him awhile,   

To succour and relieve him in distress,  
When he therein most deeply plunged doth lie.)  
So great good hap to lose by wilfulness,  
And Fortune to let slip so carelessly,  
When as she doth impart to him such grace:  
For when he would, she will him not embrace.   

another time when he of her hath need,  
And ready is down from her wheel to fall,  
Nor yet will care to stand him once in steed,  
Or to vouchsafe to succour him at all,  
But in regard of his ingratitude,  
With frowns, & mocks, & mows will him delude   

When he doth think himself secure to be.  
For she so much is bend to wilfulness,  
Deceit, and guile, and extreme cruelty;  
That when a man with foolish carelessness  
Her favours most uncertain doth deride.  
Another time 'tshall be to him denied,   

When he desireth most the same to have.  
For at some time (it is a thing most sure)  
She grants some man the thing that he doth crave  
And ●tmay be, that he never shall procure  
The like again of her, though he should live  
A thousand years, and near so much would give   

T'obtain the same, as most unhappily  
To worthy Hector it befell that day,  
That needs would spare the Greeks so wilfully  
And proudly favoured them, when as it lay  
In him to overthrow them, and to kill  
And utterly destroy them at his will.   

And by his valour great triumphantly  
With honour, and renown, t'have entered  
Into the Town of Troy with victory,  
Which he that day too much by folly led,  
Resused and could never more attain  
The like advantage while he lived again.   

For as he road and cruelly did slay  
And wound the Greeks on every side, he met  
With valiant Thelmon ajax in the way,  
Who furiously and with great envy set  
On him, like to a Lion fierce and wood,  
And though that he his kinsman was by blood▪   

And therewithal a young and gallant Knight,  
Yet did he bravely venture to assail  
His Nephew Hector, and with him to fight  
Couragioosly, presuming to prevail.  
To cast him off his horse, and yet they were  
Of blood each unto other very near.   

For he was son unto King Thelamon,  
A worthy Grecian Prince and valorous  
That him begat upon fair Action,  
That sister was unto King Pria●●us.  
And so he did the first occasion take,  
To move the Greeks that war on him to make.   

And to that end first with a sturdy spear  
At Hector ran, and he at him likewise,  
And each the others blow did bravely bear,  
(Like two most fierce and and hardy enemies,  
For both of them in valour did excel.  
And then like lions fierce, and Tigers fell,   

Upon their horses fought with sword in hand,  
And cut and hewed each others armours strong.  
And each his enemy's fury did withstand  
Most valiantly, the which endured so long  
Between them both, till that by providence  
Divine, or else by natural influence,   

(Which dives into the mind of man so far,  
And searcheth both the heart, and every vain,  
Of those that of one blood and lineage are.)  
They moved were their rancour to restrain,  
And thereby both their furies molefied,  
Only for that they were so near allied.   

Though neither of them then the same did know,  
Nor yet the least suspicion thereof had,  
Till nature it unto them both did show,  
And them in heart of foes as friends had made.  
For naturally blood will to blood be kind,  
And friends to friends where ever they then find.   

Which was the cause that Hoctor moved in mind,  
Of Knighthood, and of inward ame●ie,  
When he in ajax did such valour find,  
Unto him spoke, and said in courtesy,  
Nephew, if thou the Grecians w●l● forsake  
And come to Troy, I dare well undertake   

Of thine allies, and noble kindred,  
Thou shalt received be with cheerful mood,  
And welcomed without all fear or dread,  
And specially by those of Royal blood.  
And such as are of Princely high degree,  
The which me thinks great pleasure were to thee,   

And naturally thou shouldst in heart be glad  
To live among thy friends that wish thee good,  
Sith that no greater joy there ean be had  
Then to restore thyself unto thy blood.  
For by the valour great that thou dost show,  
(Which naturally within thy heart doth grow.)   

I know thou art of Trojan blood descended:  
Forsake the Greeks therefore withal thy heart,  
That long and often times have us offended,  
And willingly 'gainst them with us take part,  
I pray thee do me not herein deny.  
But ajax answer made, and did reply   

And said, sith that by birth he was a Greek,  
And from the time of his Nativity  
Among them had been bred and fostredeke,  
And had received the order and degree  
Of Knighthood there, & arms for them had borne  
And thereto had protested, voued, and sworn   

For to be true to them, and to their Nation.  
He said he would observe and keep their hest,  
And would of blood make no exception.  
Only he did of Hector then request  
That if in courtesy and gentleness  
He would of Knighthood and of worthiness,   

Show unto him so great affection  
To cause the Troyans' forces to retire,  
And to withdraw themselves into the town,  
And leave them and their tents (at his desire)  
And for that time their furious fight to stay,  
And to assail the Greeks no more that day.   

Sith unto them (saith he) it may suffice  
That in the field they have the victory,  
And by their valours great in Knightly wise,  
Have overcome the Greeks triumphantly.  
He said he would the same most kindly take,  
And him thereby to him beholding make.   

Which Hector strait did grant, (although alas  
'Twas done with two much haste and wilfulness,)  
And suddenly ere ajax thence did pass,  
Made no delay, without advisedness,  
But caused a Trumpet in the field to blow,  
To give the Trojan Knights, thereby to know   

That 'twas his will they should themselves withdraw  
(According to the custom of the war,)  
And of the old and ancient marshal law,  
Which always hath been used near and far.  
When they most hot and earnest were to fight,  
And 'gainst the Greeks to show their force & might   

And had them forced to fly unto the strand,  
Intending there with full and great desire,  
(For that the Greeks could not their force withstand)  
To kill them all, and set their ships on fire.  
And so to work their whole confusion,  
Which they without all doubt that time had done   

If Hector had not had compassion  
On them, and caused the Troyans' to retire  
Unto the town, without discretion,  
(T'accomplish that which ajax doth require.)  
And fight no more against the Greeks that day,  
The which at last did breed his own decay.   

With th'utter ruin and subversion  
Of Priamus, and all his whole estate,  
And finally the towns destruction.  
But sure it was their hard and cruel Fate,  
For no man can withstand the just decree  
Of God, though near so great a Prince he bec.    

CHAP. II.  
● How the Grecians made suit to King Priamus to grant the●●● truce for eight weeks, which he agreed unto, and of their battles after the truce was ended.  

THus have you heard, as G●●do doth declare,  
What twixt the Greeks & Troyans' had b●n done,  
That day in field, and how the Troyans' were  
By Hector (when they had the battle won,)  
Commanded to retire, and go their way  
Out of the field, and fight no more that day.   

To whom although they willingly obeyed,  
(Because he was their Prince, and General  
Of all the host, and might not be denayed.)  
Yet had they known what after should befall,  
Without all doubt they would it not have done:  
(But no man fatal Destiny can shone.)   

For from that time they might assuredly  
Say farewell honour, victory, and fame,  
From Troyans' ta'en by perverse Destiny,  
And Fortune that most false and cruel Dame.  
Who unto them a mortal foe still wa●,  
But for a while i'll let that matter pass.   

And now I will proceed and further show,  
That when the Trojan Knights the field did leave,  
(Upon the sound of Trumpet that did blow,)  
And did themselves of victory bereave,  
(Supposing that they did it for the best●)  
They went into the town to take their rest.   

Where having shut their gates and made them fast,  
When they had well refreshed themselves, that night  
They laid them down to sleep, which being passed  
(When Phoebus shone next day most clear & bright  
And with his beams reflect their hemisphere,  
And made Aurora's glistering face t'appear.)   

All those that had no wounds, & arms could bear  
Of purpose did prepare themselves to enter  
Into the field, (as they commanded were,)  
And valiantly against their foes to venture,  
To overcome them that day if they might,  
For 'twas decreed by Hector overnight,   

That fore the Sun that morning did appear,  
assoon as ere they waked they forth should go,  
And to that end no time they did defer,  
But speedily themselves in arms did shoe  
Within the large and spacious plain, whereas  
The Temple of Diana placed was.   

And therefore Hector stayed. But ere they went  
Out of the town of Troy into the field,  
The Grecians early in the morning sent  
To Priamus, to crave of him to yield  
And grant unto a truce, that should abide  
For two months space, which he not once de●●de   

But with consent of Hector and the rest  
Of all his marshal counsel, did agree  
And willingly did yield (at their request,)  
That it on his behalf observed should be.  
And they likewise did promise for their part  
To do the like, and so they did depart   

Unto their tents, where while the truce did last  
They buried all their men that had been killed  
When they did land, and on the day forepast,  
According to the Pay-nim laws they held.  
And which by them observed was as then,  
Where all the bodies of the meaner men   

Were burnt; and clean consumed to ashes pure.  
And such as were of great and high degree,  
Had other kind of Princely sepulture,  
According to their state and dignity.  
And in that sort the time did overpass,  
Till the two months of truce expired was.   

In which time it is said Achilles made  
Much sorrow, and such grief in mind conceived  
For his dear friend Patroclus death, that sad  
And full of woe he was, and clean bereaved  
Of joy, whereby great lamentation  
Long time he made with much affection   

For him, and sith he loved him (as I say)  
To have him still in memory, he made  
A tomb to be set up of Marble grey,  
To bury him therein. (For then they had  
A custom to entomb and bury those  
That Princes were, and richly to enclose   

Their bodies fair in tombs most bravely made.)  
And so Patroclus, and Protesilaos'  
Were buried in solemn wise, and lay  
Together, yet in several tombs, and thus  
The Grecians in their tents without still lay,  
While Troyans' in the town likewise did stay,   

To cure their men that wounded were in fight,  
And to recover health and strength again  
To those that s●re diseased were, and might  
Not stir themselves for dolour, grief, and pain.  
And in that cruel fight much blood had shed,  
And ere the two months truce was finished,   

Such diligence did use that every man  
Was whole and sound, but Priamus the King  
Made so great sorrow for Cassibellan,  
That he would not be moved for any thing  
To cease his grief, but still he sobbed and wept,  
And while the corpse above the ground was kept,   

He caused a tomb of metal curiously  
Engraved and wrought for to be made, and when  
'Twas finished, and with solemnity  
In Venus' Temple set and placed, than  
He held a great and stately funeral  
For him, and there accompanied with all   

His Lords, unto God M●●● were offered  
His honours, as his helmet, sword, and shield,  
And last of all his brave and gallant steed.  
The which when as Cassandra beheld,  
And saw how all the company did cry,  
And made great moan and sighed bitterly   

For him, and with great lamentation  
For all their friends that likewise had been slain  
And lost their lives in fight before the town,  
She was so grieved that she could not refrain  
To cry, and said alas and well away,  
That ere we saw this cursed doleful day.   

Oh most unhappy wretches that you be!  
Is't possible that ere you should endure  
The troubles and the woes that you shall see,  
The which the Greeks unto you will procure,  
While they besiege you round on every side,  
And seek to be revenged on your pride.   

Most certain 'tis, & that full well I know,  
You can it not avoid, for without doubt  
They will to you no grace nor mercy show,  
But ere that many years shall come about,  
They'll kill and slay you cruelly each one,  
And never leave the siege tell it be done.   

Alas, alas, why do you not in time  
Seek with your Grecian foes to make a peace,  
While that the war as yet is in the prime,  
And fore the sword of vengeance merciless,  
And old and young doth execution,  
And brings this town unto destruction?   

When all the streets therein with children small▪  
In woeful mother's arms heaped up shall lie  
With ghastly wounds, and faces dead and pale,  
Slain by the Grecians furious cruelty.  
And Maidens into Greece shall captives go,  
And there bewail in misery and woe,   

Their servitude, and loss of this our town  
That is so rich, so famous, and renowned;  
Which by the Greeks shall sure be beaten down,  
And utterly defaced to the ground:  
And we perforce with patience must it bear,  
Alas, we buy Queen Helena too dear.   

Sith for her foul and unadvised rape,  
All we shall die a death most piteous,  
Young, old, rich, poor, not any one shall scape,  
The wrath of them shall be so furious  
'Gainst us, and ours, and there's no remedy,  
But only death to end our misery.   

And thus did she with piteous noise and cry,  
Forewarn the King, her brethren, and all  
Within the town, into what miseries,  
By pride and their presumption they should fall:  
And like to one that's mad, in every street  
Run up and down, & told it all she meet.   

Till Priamus her furious mood to stay,  
Did cause her to be shut in prison fast,  
And bound with chains, and in that sort she lay  
Close kept, the while the Grecians siege did last:  
And could not once be heard, for no man would  
Believe nor credit her, though truth she told.   

For neither wisdom, nor discretion,  
Counsel nor wit, advise nor providence,  
Truth, reason, nor yet good persuasion  
Can aught avail, whereas no audience  
Is given thereto. For were man near so wise  
In counseling by wisdom or advise,   

And could by perfect art and learning know,  
What could in time hereafter come to pass,  
And would the same unto the world foreshow,  
The obstinate would count him but an ass:  
For counsel with a fool prevaileth nought,  
Nor truth likewise how dear so ere 'tis bought.   

As we may by Cassandra see full well,  
Who though she did such wholesome counsel give  
To them of Troy, and did the truth foretell  
Of their decay, they would her not believe,  
But cast her into prison; Where a while  
I'll leave her, to the Greeks to turn my stile   

And now will show how king Palamedes,  
(While that the Greeks these two months still did lie)  
Was so possessed with envies foul disease,  
That he disdained and grudged scornfully  
At all the Grecian Princes that gave voice;  
And of King Agamemnon made their choice,   

To be the chief and General of that host,  
And of so many Kings and Princes great  
That there assembled were from every coast  
Throughout the world, and said he was not meet,  
Nor worthy of so great authority,  
And that himself of greater dignity   

Among the Greca●●ns was, and bore more sway  
Then ere he did, and fore them all deemed  
To follow him, or his command t'obey,  
And said he would no longer there abide,  
To yield to him the least subjection,  
Sith he was not at his election.   

Affirming that when choice of him they made,  
There was no more but three Kings present there,  
That thereto gave consent and voices had,  
And thirty Kings at least then absent were:  
And therefore swoon it was not his intent  
Nor will, that he should have that government.   

(Here may you see and perfectly behold,  
What mischief breedeth by contention,  
'Mong Princes and Commanders great that should  
Agree in one without dissension:  
But envy and desire of rule is cause,  
That makes men break the God of peace his laws.   

This cursed vice is cause of troubles great,  
And mischiefs that in many Countries be:  
For when in Prince's hearts it once doth get,  
And maketh them contend and disagree,  
That Kingdom cannot prosper nor increase,  
Till they agree again and live in peace.)   

The which the Greeks considering well, forbore  
To give consent unto Palamedes,  
And wisely sought by good advice and care,  
To stop the course of envies sore disease:  
And wrought so well with him, that in the end  
He was content t'agree, and not contend   

With them therein, but willing was to yield  
Unto their choice, and did from strife surcease.  
But now i'll show how they did meet in field,  
On either side again when as the peace  
Was ended: and their battles did ordain  
Before the town of Troy upon the plain.   

The truce expyred, King Agamemnon made  
A muster of the Greeks in general,  
And with all speed assoon as ere he had  
Perused them, he did the Princes call  
Together unto him, and forth of hand  
Appointed unto every one a band,   

By them to be conducted 'gainst their foe.  
The first whereof Achilles forth did lead,  
With Myrmydons which made a gallant shoe.  
The second band was given to Di●mede.  
Before the third King Menelaus did ride.  
Duke Menestes the next and fourth did gird.   

And after them there followed many more,  
All full of gallant Knights; but who they were  
That guided them, the Story doth not shoe,  
And every one of them rich standards bare:  
And in that sort they marched forth in haste,  
In order as their General had them placed.   

Hector likewise for his part was not slack,  
Within the town his battles to ordain,  
(But at that time how many he did make,  
It is not said) and sent them to the plain  
Against the Greeks: the first whereof he gave  
To Troy●lus, conduct thereof to have.   

With whom great store of worthy knights did ride,  
And after went the rest in order placed  
With Hector, who no longer would abide,  
But mounting on his horse road forth in haste  
Before them all, and when he entered  
Into the field, and saw Achilles lead   

The forefront of the Greeks, he spurred his horse,  
And with his Lance in rest most furiously  
Ran at him with a great and mighty force.  
The which when as Achilles did espy,  
He set his spurs unto his horse's side,  
And valiantly 'gainst Hector forth did ride.   

And ere that they their course performed & met,  
(Like two most gallant knights and excellent)  
Their puissant Lances in their rests they set,  
And gave each other strokes so violent,  
That forcibly they both fell to the ground,  
(As many times it's often seen and found,   

When two brave knights of equal strength do meet.)  
But Hector strongest and nimblest of them both,  
Rose first, and on his horse again did get,  
And left Achilles there exceeding wrath▪  
And 'mong the Greeks in furious wise he road,  
And killed and slew all those that him withstood.   

For with his sword such cruel blows he gave,  
Unto the Greeks in breast, sides, legs, and head,  
That who so ere he hit was sure to have  
His mortal wound, & on the ground lay dead:  
And ever as he road it did him good,  
To bathe his sword within the Grecians blood.   

And in that sort he still pursued his foes,  
And many of them in furious wise had slain,  
Before that from the ground Achilles' rose,  
Who mounting up upon his horse again,  
Did enter 'mongst the Trojans valiantly,  
And where he road, did slay them cruelly.   

And beat & bore down all that ere he met,  
And made such slaughter 'mongst them every where  
As he did ride, that no man durst him let,  
For all before him to the ground he bore:  
Till that in such his great melancholy,  
He met with Hector riding suddenly.   

And when as each the other did behold,  
Without delay their spears in hand they took,  
(Like two most brave courageous knights & bold,)  
And to each other gave a p●issant stroke:  
But Hector hit Achilles with such force  
Upon the breast, that he fell off his horse.   

And while that still upon the ground he lay,  
And ere that he again got on his horse,  
Hector advanst himself and did assay,  
Despite of them by force his horse to get:  
But such a troup of Grecians came with speed,  
To aid and help Achilles in his need,   

That he could not his purpose then attain,  
And by that means with great extremity,  
Achilles got upon his horse again,  
And meaning to revenge the injury  
He had received, did strait to Hector go,  
And with his sword gave him so great a blow   

Upon the head, that with the mighty force  
And strength thereof, he was constrained to fall  
Out of his saddle back upon his horse.  
But presently, and in despite of all  
The Greeks that him assailed by force and might  
He reared himself, and like a valiant knight,   

With heart replete with anger and desire,  
To be revenged of him for that despite,  
In furious wise with extreme wrath and ire,  
He struck Achilles with such force and might,  
That with the blow he gave him in the head  
A cruel wound, wherewith full sore he bled.   

And yet although the blood ran down his face,  
No whit abashed, but like a valiant knight,  
He would not unto Hector once give place,  
But still maintained a fierce and cruel fight  
With him, the which made all that saw't to wonder,  
For every blow they gave did sound like thunder.   

And neither of them would the other spare,  
But like two savage Tigers in their rage,  
Each other strong and sturdy strokes they bore,  
And by no means their chollers would assuage:  
So that without all doubt assuredly,  
It they held on with such hostility,   

And in that cruel fight did long endure,  
(They both behaved themselves so valiantly)  
In th'end the one or both of them must sure  
Have died there, without all remedy:  
Which had great pity been, for they were both  
Exceeding valiant knights, and of great worth.   

And while that they so fiercly fought together,  
And neither would unto the other yield,  
The Greeks with many warlike troops came thither,  
The which when as the Trojan knights beheld,  
They likewise marched forward, and did enter  
The field, against their foes their lives to venture.   

And at that time so fiercely met together,  
That with the press twixt them on either side,  
They did constrain those valiant knights to sever  
Themselves, and each from other way to ride:  
And then into the field came Diomedes,  
With all the knights that he as then did lead.   

Who had no sooner entered in the place,  
But with him stout and gallant Troyelus met,  
And they encountering bravely face to face,  
Upon each other valiantly did set:  
And ran together with such mighty force,  
That each of them the other did unhorsed.   

But Diomedes first on his horse did get,  
And suddenly Prince Troyelus assailed  
(As he on foot did stand) with fury great,  
But he whose valiant courage never failed:  
So bravely him at that time did withstand,  
That's enemy got nothing at his hand.   

But Diomedes with great dexsteritie,  
Sitting with much advantage on his horse,  
Lift up his sword and suddenly let fly  
A blow at Troyclus head with so great force,  
That his rich circle full of jewels, struck  
Clean off his Helm, & it in sunder broke.   

But that could not young Troyelus dismay,  
No● make him once give place or step aside,  
For with his sword he presently did slay  
The horse whereon proud Diomedes did ride:  
And by that means constrained him to fight  
On foot with him, and like a valiant Knight.   

Upon his foe in furious wise did set,  
Whereas between them both they stoutly showed  
Their most courageous hearts and valour great,  
And each the others ha●nas hacked and hewed:  
And rent and toreed like lions fierce & strong,  
And in that sort their fight continued long.   

Till that the Greeks came thither, and by force  
(While they on foot did fight so furiously)  
Caused Diomedes to mount upon a horse,  
And there withal the Trojans speedily  
Brought Troyelus a horse likewise to ride,  
And being mounted both again, defied   

Each other, and the fight continued  
In equal sort, without advantage great,  
Till it fell out at last that Diomedes  
By policy or fortune chanced to get  
Advantage by some means on Troyelus,  
(For no man always is victorious.   

Nor yet in peace or war like fortunate,  
For 'tis the doubtful end of bloody war,  
Now up, now down, still subject unto fate,  
And therefore let each man himself prepare,  
(Sith fickle fortune is so full of doubt)  
To take his chance when as it falleth out.   

And at that time laid hand upon his horse,  
(being then enclosed by Grecians round about)  
And took him for his prisoner, and by force  
Among the press began to lead him out:  
Accompanied with many a Grecian knight,  
To guard and keep him as they went by might.   

For though it then fell out that Troyelus  
Was ta'en perforce by Diomedes in ●ight,  
He might by fortune prove victorious  
Another time, and him therefore requite:  
For that as it ●ell out in little space,  
He had not led him far out of the place.   

But multitudes of Trojans him assailed,  
And maugre all the power of Diomedes,  
So mightily against the Greeks prevailed,  
That they did rescue Troyelus in his need:  
And him by force of arms from him did take.  
And then began great slaughter for his sake   

On either side, where many men were slain,  
On th'one side for to keep him prisoner still,  
On th'other side to set him free again,  
But yet in th'end the Trojans had their will:  
And while the fight in this sort twixt them held,  
King Menelaus did enter in the field.   

Who all that day 'gainst Troyans bravely fought,  
And busy was on them revenged to be,  
For malice that to them of old he ought,  
The which when Paris not far off did see:  
With all his knights upon him he did set,  
And he with Greeks on him, & when they met   

Between them both, on either side began  
A cruel, fierce, and bloody fight, which was  
The death of many a brave and gallant man.  
Hector mean time through thick & thin did pass, spill.  
And never ceased in surious wise to kill  
The Greeks, & in great streams their bioud to   

For with his sword so many of them were slain,  
And beaten down with extreme cruelty,  
That they could not his puissant blows sustain,  
But were constrained before his face to fly:  
And when a lusty, young, and gallant knight  
Caldoro Bootes', saw with how great force & might   

The Greeks were slain by Hector's cruelty  
On every side, to win himself great fame,  
And that record of him perpetually,  
Might still be kept for th'honour of his name:  
With courage bold & heart not once afeard,  
He thought he would adventure him to beard.   

The which when Hector saw, he did conceive  
Such wrath within his heart and great disdain,  
That with his sword he did his body cleave,  
Clean down from head to foot in pieces twain,  
And took his horse and sent it to the town.  
And then again road fiercely up and down   

Amongst the Greeks, and ever merciless,  
With extreme force and heart courageous,  
He killed all those that on him sought to press,  
Which when the valiant King Archilagus,  
Perceived and saw his Cousin Bootes' lie  
By Hector slain in that sort cruelly.   

To be revenged on him for that despite,  
With fury great unto him he did go,  
And as at him he did begin to smite,  
Hector upon his shield received the blow:  
And with his sword struck him upon the head  
So mightily, that he therewith fell dead   

Upon the ground, his body cleft in twain:  
And though his arms were passing strong & good,  
Yet could they not the mighty force sustain  
Of Hector's stroke that came with furious mood:  
The which when King Protbenor did behold,  
With great despite & courage fierce & bold,   

(And yet in truth 'twas but in foolish pride,)  
He road to him in haste, and unaware  
Smote him a mighty blow upon the side,  
And him therewith out of his saddle bare,  
And made him fall down flat upon the ground:  
But Hector who in valour did abound,   

In haste leapt up upon his horses back,  
And Prothenor pursued furiously▪  
And when at last he did him overtake,  
He smote him with his sword so cruelly  
Upon the Helm, that with the blow he gave,  
His head and body to the breast he clave:   

And down he fell before the Greeks, who sore  
Abashed were at that most cruel blow,  
But specially Achilles grieved therefore,  
And for the same his heart was full of woe:  
To see his Cousin Prothenor lie slain  
Before his face, for which he felt such pain   

And grief in mind, that full of heaviness  
He road among the Grecian troops, to see  
If he could ease himself of his distress,  
And find the means with them revenged to be  
On Hector, for the death of Prothenor,  
The which both he and they together swore,   

And for the death of King Archilagus,  
And to that end conspired among them all,  
With many Grecian Knights chivalorous,  
At once on Hector furiously to fall:  
And him with speed on every side t'assail,  
But at that time it did them not avail.   

For all that day such havoc he did make,  
And killed and hewed the Greeks so furiously,  
That they on him could no advantage take,  
But were constrained for their own safety:  
And for to shun the extreme force and might  
Of him, and of the Trojans that did fight   

At that time with so great agility,  
And such a fierce assault unto them gave,  
To leave the field, and to recoil and fly  
Unto their tents, and there themselves to save:  
And in their flight so beaten were & slain,  
That all the way along, & all the plain   

Lay full of dead and wounded Greeks that bled,  
And gasped, and groaned, and howld, and cried sore,  
And still the Trojan Knights continued  
The chase, and drove the Grecians more & more  
Before them down, till that it grew to night,  
And waxed dark, & then for want of light,   

The Trojans to their honour and renown,  
With Hector did retire, and entered  
Victoriously again into the town,  
And there themselves refreshed, cured, and fed:  
Where till the day next morning 'gan to break,  
I'll let them rest, and of the Grecians speak:   

When Hesperus the bright and glistering star,  
At evening in the West began t'appear,  
And spread his beams abroad both near & far,  
And twilight with a pale and deadly cheer,  
Did seem to mo●ned he absence of the Sun,  
And night approached with his mantle dun.   

When Titan did begin his leave to take,  
And to the Western coast in haste descond  
At twilight, when the day an end doth make,  
(For twilight nothing else is but the end  
Of day, and the beginning of the night,  
And yet in truth is neither day nor night.   

But just a mean between them both doth bear,  
Yet neither th'one nor th'other perfectly,  
And comes before the glistering stars appear,  
To show themselves within the azure sky.)  
Their General King Agamemnon sent  
For all the Grecian Princes to his tent.   

And when that they therein assembled were,  
And every one of them in order set,  
With looks demure and sad, and heavy cheer,  
And many sighs which from their hearts they fet:  
They did begin of Hector to complain,  
Affirming that they never should obtain   

That honour and renown the which they fought,  
Nor victory against their foes should have,  
While he did live and daily 'gainst them fought,  
And to that end they might their honours save:  
They did consult with one consent and will,  
How that they might that valiant Champion kill.   

Concluding that while he in Troy remained,  
They never should attain the town to win,  
And said that he the same alone maintained,  
And that he was of all that dwelled therein,  
The only stay and chief protection,  
Of them and Troy, without exception.   

And castle, wall, and bulwark of their land,  
And unto them a stern and deadly foe,  
Whose mighty force the Greeks could not withstand,  
Nor never should the Trojans overthrow:  
Nor while that he did live and them defend,  
Bring that their doubtful war unto an end.   

And therefore all together did agree  
With full and whole consent, that by some slight  
When he should in the field most eager be,  
(To kill and slay the Grecians in the fight)  
Achilles with his Knights should him beset,  
And unawares advantage of him get,   

And with a mighty troup of Greckes a●●a●●e  
Him round about and e●then ●lay or take  
Him quick or dead, wherein they could no●●aile  
If they would do't, and to that end did make  
A motion to Achilles, to require  
And pray him to accept of their desire.   

To take in hand and bravely undergo,  
That great and valiant enterprise to kill,  
By force and slight their chief and deadly fo●,  
Who presently did grant unto their will:  
And from that time in wait for him did lie▪  
T●●ntrap him and to kill him suddenly.   

(But from thenceforth I counsel him beware  
That he do not that action undertake,  
And if therein he needs will have a share,  
'Twere best for him not too much hast to make:  
To try his force 'gainst Hector's puissant mig●●,  
Lest fortune turn her face, and in despite   

Look on him with an angry frowning cheer,  
And make him put his life in jeopardy,  
And into Hector's hands light unaware,  
And in himself the Proverb verify:  
He that doth for another set a trap,  
Into the same himself may chance ●o hap.   

Which hardly he shall scape if that he try.  
For Hector had the like desire and will,  
T'encounter with Achilles valiantly,  
And him by all the means he could to kill:  
As having vowed his death without all doubt,  
If he on him could light to fight it out.   

So that nought else but death he was t'attend,  
If he and Hector chanced to meet in field)  
And thus the Greeks their counsel then did end,  
Which they for that intent had only held:  
And to their lodgings went their rest to take,  
Till next day in the morn that they did wake.    

CHAP. III.  
I How the Trojans took King Thoas prisoner in the battle, and led him captive into the To●●●.  

WHen fair A●r●r● with her drops that thine,  
Complaining made great dolour, grief, and  
And seemed for her children's death to whine, (sorrow  
As she doth use to do each Summer morrow:  
That is, when a● the dew that it so sweet,  
Each pleasant flower, herb, & root doth weet,   

With liquor clear in April and in May.  
And when of day the Lark that's messenger,  
Salutes A●r●r● fair in morning grey,  
With sundry notes her woeful heart to cheer,  
And ere the Sun doth rise with joyfulness,  
Doth make her leave her grief and heaviness:   

At that same time the Grecians did arise,  
And lustily with joyful hearts and cheer,  
Put on such arms in brave and warlike wise,  
As a● that time it was their use to wear:  
Intending early that same day to go  
Into the field, to meet their deadly foe.   

And Hector also fully purposed,  
That day likewise against the Greeks to fight,  
And early in the morning issued,  
Accompanied with many a warlike knight:  
All borne within the town of Troy and bred,  
Which foremost of them all himself did lead.   

Next after him Aeveas followed,  
The second band to guide against their foe.  
The third it was by worthy Paris led.  
Before the fourth Deiphobus forth did go.  
The fifth and last the lusty gallant knight  
Young Troyelus conducted to the fight.   

In which five bands that issued out as then,  
The History declareth that there were  
An hundred and just fiftiethousand men  
On horse and foot, all able arms to bear:  
And fully bend with will and courage great,  
Upon the Grecian foes that day to set.   

And when they met together on each side,  
With cruel and with deadly hatred,  
And each against the other fiercely ride.  
Paris that all the Persian Archers led,  
And crossbow shot with arrows long & round,  
And shafts that were square headed sharply ground.   

Great store of Greeks in furious wise did kill,  
And while that they their valours 'gainst them tried,  
And that the field began with Knights to fill,  
King Agamemnon on the Grecians side  
Did enter in, with whom when Hector met,  
In furious wise he did upon him set.   

And in the midst of all his troops did cast  
Him clean out of his saddle to the ground,  
And then did beat the Grecians down so fast,  
That many dead upon the plain were found▪  
Till at the last Achilles that did watch,  
And follow Hector, if he could to catch   

Him in a trap, came s●denly and strake  
So puissant a blow on Hector's head,  
That with the same he did his Helmet crack,  
But nought therewith Hector astonished:  
To set upon Achilles did not fail,  
Intending him in furious wise t'assail,   

Had not Aeneas come them two between,  
And Troyelus with him, who both together  
To set upon Achilles did begin,  
And with such mighty blows strake one the other,  
That harnas, male, & plates of steel they b●●ke,  
And made each others shields & helmet crack.   

And then on each side slaughter great began  
So cruelly, that all the field was red  
And died with blood of many a valiant man.  
At which time fierce and cruel Diomedes,  
By fortune in the press Aeneas found,  
To whom he gave a great and deadly wound.   

And therewith all said to him spitefully,  
That's thy reward because thou dost malign  
At me, and didst give counsel foolishly,  
In open Court to Priamus the King,  
To slay me there when as I was before  
Him in the hall, as Greeks Ambassador.   

Which was against all law of arms & right,  
And trust me it shall near out of my mind,  
Till that I be revenged for that despite,  
And for that cause if ere I chance to find  
Thee in the field, if fortune do consent,  
I'll make thee for thy counsel to repent.   

And with my sword which now in hand I bear,  
Thy blood i'll shed, to make thee feel & know  
How it can cut, & therewith all did rear  
His sword on high, and gave him such a blow  
Again upon the head with so great force,  
That therewith all he field him off his horse.   

And while they fought, Hector Achilles met,  
And him assailed so cruelly again,  
That with a blow that on his head he smet,  
His helmet cloven almost in pieces twain:  
And had him brought to such extremity,  
That at that time without all remedy,   

He would him there perforce have prisoner ●ane,  
I Diomedes had not by chance come thither,  
The quarrel of Achilles to sustain:  
And with his sword while they two fought together,  
To Hector gave a blow that hurt him sore,  
But he nothing at all dismayed therefore.   

Strait turned his horse about to Diomedes,  
And smote him with his sword so furiously,  
That with the blow he field him off his steed.  
The which assoon as Troyelus did espy,  
Without delay off from his horse he light  
Upon his feet, with Diomedes to fight.   

Who then together fought so valiantly,  
That no man that beheld them well, could tell  
Which of them both should have the victory,  
For each of them in Knighthood did excel.  
And while they two together so did fight,  
Hector again upon Achilles' light,   

And on him set with fierce▪ and furious mood,  
Where twixt them both a gallant fight was seen,  
And each his foe so fiercely then with stood,  
A●●● two cruel Lions they had been.  
Mean time the Greeks with many a gallant wing  
Of Knights, came on with Menelaus the King,   

With great desire upon their foes to set.  
And next to him did march Neoptolemus.  
Then wise Ulysses, and stout Pollimet.  
Palamedes, and valiant Selemus.  
Duke Menestes, Duke Nestor, and King Thoas.  
Currinulus, and then Philoctheas.   

And lastly with the rearward followed  
Duke Theseus with a band of gallant men.  
And on the Trojans side there entered,  
All those that to the town were come, as then  
Against the greeks to help them in their need,  
And all the Kings by whom they then were led.   

And none did stay behind but Hector's band,  
Wherewith that day himself had issued,  
And at that time did valiantly withstand  
Their Grecian foes, and then much blood was shed  
On either side; for that most cruel fight  
Procured the death of many a valiant Knight.   

And while the fight twixt them continued thus,  
It was King Agamemnon's chance to meet  
Among the press with stout Pantisilaus,  
And on him there in furious wise did set,  
And he on him likewise, and in their course  
Each strake the other down off from his horse.   

And Menelaus again on Paris set,  
And each to other furiously did ride,  
And when they both together fiercely met,  
King Menelaus hit Paris on the side  
A blow, which though it hurt him not at all,  
Yet he was forced down from his horse to fall.   

Wherewith in heart he was exceeding wrath,  
And at that time did seem to blush for shame,  
Lest Helena should know't, as being loath  
That it against his honour, name, and same,  
Should unto her be told, that by main force,  
King Menelaus' had thrown him from his horse.   

And then the valiant King Adrastus met  
Ulysses in the press, and there together  
A while they fought with force and courage great,  
Without advantage one against the other:  
But at the last Ulysses struck a blow  
At him so hard, that it did overthrow   

Him to the ground, and then he took his horse,  
And sent it by his Squire to his tent.  
Then valiant King Palamedes by force  
King Hupon did assail, and they two spent  
Long time in fight, till with great cruelty,  
Palamedes a blow at him let fly   

With so great force, that it did wound him sore,  
And therewith all dead to the ground he fell.  
Not far from them two pikes length & no more,  
Neoptolemus, who did in force excel,  
Assailed King Archilagus, whereas  
Between them both a valiant fight there was,   

Till in the end each th'other did unhorsed.  
Then to the field came stout Pollidamas  
Upon a gallant steed of mighty force,  
And when he did perceive and saw, whereas  
The valiant King Palamedes did ride,  
He set his spurs unto his horse's side,   

And ran at him with such exceeding force,  
That maugre all his valour and his might,  
He gave him such a blow that from his horse,  
He threw him on the ground with great despite:  
For to revenge King Hupous death, whom he  
Had slain before with extreme cruelty.   

Not far from thence King Selemus did set  
Upon a King called Carras, and by force,  
When they in furious wise together me●  
Selemus threw King Carras off his horse▪  
On th'other side King Phil●m●ns assailed  
The worthy Duke of Athens, and prevailed   

So much 'gainst him that ●●ally by force,  
(Although he was both valiant, stout, & strong)  
And fought right well, he took from him his horse,  
And led it in his hand with him along.  
And worthy King Phil●ct●● did fight  
With R●mus, and each of them both did smite   

The other from his horse. And Theseus,  
As he amongst his Trojan foes did fight,  
By chance did meet with King Coriolus,  
A Prince of passing valour, force and might:  
Where twixt the both the fight continued long,  
(For Theseus likewise was exceeding strong.)   

Till each the other wounded sore did smite  
Off from his horse, and rising up again  
Upon their feet, still valiantly did fight  
A fierce and bloody combat, to otaine  
The victory against his mortal foe,  
For each of them great prowess than did shoe.   

And all this while the sons of Priamus  
Behaved themselves so valiantly in fight,  
And 'gainst the Greeks like Knights courageous,  
Such valour showed that by their force and might,  
Great store of Kings, Dukes, Lords, & knights were slain,  
And many Greeks laid dead upon the plain.   

And at that time renowned Thelamon,  
With spear in hand set spurs unto his horse,  
And furiously ran at King Sarpedon,  
Who likewise at him ran with mighty force:  
And each the other mortally did wound,  
And in that sort they both fell to the ground.   

And after they a furious fight had held,  
And cut and mangled each the other sore,  
When neither of them both their arms could wield,  
They were constrained to breath and fight no more:  
And 'mongst the horses feet in danger stood,  
And all the ground about them died with blood.   

While Thoas and Achilles that had spied  
Where Hector fought in midst of all his foes,  
Unto him in most furious wise did ride,  
And unawares they did him round enclose:  
And with great spite which they unto him bore,  
They did assail and set on him so sore,   

That they did smite his helmet from his head,  
And in the same gave him a mighty wound,  
But he therewith no whit astonished,  
(For in him never cowardice was found,)  
Most valiantly against them both did fight,  
And many furious blows at them did smite.   

So that advantage none on him they got,  
Till Thoas did a blow at him let fly,  
Wherewith his nose off from his face he sm●●,  
The which when as his brethren did espy  
The Grecians, they so furiously assailed,  
And at that time so much 'gainst them prevailed,   

That Thoas valiaritly by them was ta'en,  
And Thelamon assailed so cruelly,  
That they supposing him to have been slain,  
Upon the ground for dead did let him lie:  
Till that his men did bear him to his tent,  
And Thoas prisoner unto Troy was sent,   

Despite of all the Grecian knights that sought  
To give him aid in that extremity.  
And Menelaus as he in field then taught,  
And road from place to place, at last did spy  
Where Paris did the Grecians fiercely slay,  
(For whom he had in wait lain all that day.)   

And presently his horse he spurred in haste,  
And ran at him, intending if he might,  
Ere that he further 'mongst the Grecians past,  
To kill him suddenly with great despite:  
But his intent and purpose to prevent,  
Paris that had his puissant bow then bend,   

At him did let a poisoned arrow fly,  
And gave him therewith all a deadly wound,  
Wherewith he was in such extremity,  
That he fell down half dead upon the ground:  
Which when his knights did see that then were near  
Forthwith unto his tent they did him bear.   

Where with all speed for Surgeons strait he sent,  
Who being come, in hast they searched the wound  
And ere that they into it put a tent,  
When as they had it viewed unto the ground,  
They first of all drew out, and took away  
The arrow head that in the bottom lay.   

And then did wipe and cleanse it thoroughly  
Of all the matter and corruption  
That they could find therein, and presently  
Put in a tent, and bound it up, which done,  
King Menelaus no longer would abide,  
But furiously into the field did ride.   

With full intent and purpose to require  
Himself, (although he had so great a wound,)  
On Paris that same day if that he might,  
And never ceased until that he him found:  
By fortune clean unarmed in the field,  
Of sword or Lance, of Target or of shield,   

Or Bow in hand, the which as I suppose,  
He did for to refresh himself, when as  
He had long fought against his Grecian foes,  
And at that time exceeding weary was:  
Which Menelaus espying, strait did take  
His Lance in hand, & towards him did make:   

And without doubt at that time had him slain,  
Had not Aeneas been that him beheld,  
And suddenly stepped in between them twain,  
And did receive the blow upon his shield:  
Else Paris had assuredly been killed,  
At that same time disarmed in the field.   

And presently Aeneas set a band  
Of valiant Knights on Paris to attend,  
And to defend his person, and withstand  
The fury of King Menelaus: to th'end  
He should him not with disadvantage slay,  
For he in wait at that time for him lay.   

And had as then by Hector taken been,  
If that the Greeks had not come suddenly,  
To rescue him with multitudes of men,  
And at that time relieved him speedily:  
But Hector by his valour great & might,  
Dispersed, killed, and put them unto flight.   

So furiously that he did them constrain,  
By force of arms unto their tents to run,  
And by that means the Trojans did obtain  
The battle 'gainst the Greeks, & th'honour won  
That day, and fore them bravely did pursue  
And beat them, till the day to evening drew.   

And Phoebus did descend into the West.  
For he as then was ready to go down,  
At which time they went home to take their rest:  
And entering again into the town,  
Shut fast their gates, and so that day did end.  
And when that Phoebus' light again did send,   

Next morning when the sky was covered  
With crimson coloured clouds which he then sent,  
And ere the azure element did spread,  
Before the Sun did rise in th'orient,  
King Priamus intending not to go  
That day into the field against his foe;   

His Privy Counsel summoned to appear  
Before him that same morning speedily,  
Whose names (as I in Guido find) then were  
Hector the flower and root of Chivalry,  
His second brother Paris, Deiphobus,  
And lusty, young, and worthy Troyelus.   

Antenor, and his son Pollidamas,  
Aeneas, and some other Princes more.  
And when that he with them assembled was,  
And that they had shut fast the counsel door,  
Each one in order set and silence made,  
King Priamus unto them spoke, and said:   

My Lords, in whom my trust I do repose,  
And only on your valours do rely,  
You know that 'mongst our stern & deadly foes,  
King Thoas (now our prisoner) specially,  
Did always unto us great hatred bear,  
(Although of him we never stood in fear,)   

And to his power hath sought us to offend,  
And now to seek our full subversion,  
With all the aid that he the Greeks can lend,  
Is come with them here to besiege our town,  
And to procure our ruin and decay,  
By all the means that possibly he may.   

Wherefore in reason and in equity,  
(If unto you it be acceptable,  
And that it liketh you as it doth me)  
I think it not a thing unreasonable:  
That sith he seeks to do us injury,  
With like for like he should required be.   

And as our deaths he seeketh to procure,  
So let him die; for reason doth require,  
That he the self same censure should endure,  
Which he in heart to others doth desire:  
This is my doom, now let me hear I pray,  
What every one of you thereto will say.   

To this Aeneas answer made and said,  
If to your Grace it will be no offence,  
That to the proposition you have made  
I may reply, with leave and audience  
Of you and of your counsel learned & wise,  
I will to you herein give mine advice.   

It doth behove your Royal Majesty,  
In all things which your Grace in hand shall take,  
Not to proceed therewith too hastily,  
But ere that you begin your reckoning make,  
What may ensue thereof, and look not on  
The first beginning of a thing alone:   

But as all wise men do, forecast the end,  
And then proceed that you may bring to pass,  
With issue good, the same which you pretend.  
For that thing sure is well begun, when as  
The end and the beginning both agree,  
And either of them falls out happily.   

Lest otherwise for want of good forecast,  
You might constrained be another day,  
Against your will t'repent yourself at last.  
The reason why I this to your Grace say,  
Is, that I think it good you should remember,  
That Thoas who is now your prisoner,   

Is 'mongst the Greeks one of the principal  
And greatest Lords of blood and high degree:  
And that if at this time it should befall,  
He should be put to death by your decree,  
It may be that all those that give consent  
Thereto, at last full sore would it repent.   

For if by chance (which no man can withstand)  
Some of your Sons or chief Nobility  
Now in this town, should fall into the hand  
Of them, and by that means should prisoners be:  
Assure yourself, they'll show like gentleness  
To them, as you do him in this distress.   

For if King Thoas now condemned should be  
And put to death, you must your reckoning make,  
The Grecians will show us like cruelty,  
If any of us they should prisoner take:  
Yea, though it were one of your Royal blood,  
The which I know for all your worldly good,   

You would by no means wish, nor gladly see.  
Wherefore by mine advise I think it best,  
That Thoas should well kept and guarded be  
Within this town, and quietly let rest:  
Lest as I said to you before, it may  
Fall out, that one of us another day   

Might hap into their hands, and prisoner be:  
And so for him we might have ours again;  
Which otherwise if with extremity  
We do proceed, we never should obtain:  
This is my counsel in this case, said he,  
And such as I do think the best to be.   

Whereto most worthy Hector did consent,  
And with him was of like opinion:  
And said, that he no will had nor intent,  
That any wrong to Thoas should be done,  
While he in Troy then prisoner was, though he  
Near had deserved of them well used to be.   

Paris King Priam's second son likewise,  
(When as his brother Hector had declared  
His mind,) said unto them, that his advise  
Was, that he wished King Thoas should be spared,  
And not put unto death, although he said,  
To do the same they need not be afraid.   

But Deiphobus of clean contrary mind,  
Unto his brethren twain did say, he saw  
No cause why Thoas should such favour find  
At Trojans hands; who by their marshal law,  
Might justly for his merits make him die,  
Being as he was their utter enemy.   

Whereto with courage bold & youthful heart,  
Prince Troyelus, did seem somewhat t'agree  
With Deiphobus, and said, that for his part,  
He did no cause nor any reason see,  
Why they should spare their enemy, that sought  
Their overthrow, and to that end had brought   

His forces fore their town, as fully bend  
To work their utter ruin and decay:  
But yet (said he) it is not my intent,  
To counsel you to deal with him that way:  
Lest (as my Lord Aeneas saith) we might  
Perchance thereby procure our own despite.   

Whose counsel Lord Antenor did commend,  
And said, that to show such extremity  
Of marshal Law, and rigour, to extend  
To him, could not be done advisely:  
For that (said he) there is none of us all,  
But may into our foes hands chance to fall:   

And with the self same rigour used be,  
That unto him we showed. Wherefore I say,  
If that by my advice you'll ruled be,  
It's best to let him safe in prison stay,  
And use him well, that we like courtesy  
May have (when need requires) of th'enemy.   

Pollidamas his son, with all the rest  
Of those that in their Counsel chamber were,  
With one consent did say they thought it best,  
That he should still be kept a prisoner:  
And as Aeneas said, be used well,  
Till they saw how fortune with them would deal.   

But Priamus to wrath and fury bend,  
Did not agree to their opinion,  
And would by no means thereunto consent,  
But still maintained his first conclusion:  
And said, that if the Greeks should once perceive,  
That we of life do Thoas not bereave,   

But spare him, though unto that end it were:  
They would report to our no little shame,  
That we dare not attempt to do't for fear  
We have of them, and so will us defame:  
But near the less (said he) sith you're content,  
I will (though loath) unto the same consent.   

And therewithal their counsel up they broke:  
And then Aeneas and Antenor went  
With Troyelus into the hall, and spoke  
With Helena, (whereas some time they spent  
With her, and with Queen Hecuba that bore  
Her company, with many Ladies fair,   

That with her & the Queen then present were.  
Where Troyelus and Aeneas did persuade  
Queen Helena to set aside all fear,  
Which by the means of war that great she had:  
And she, although much discontent she were  
In outward show, did seem with joyful cheer,   

And countenance demure, & being glad  
To welcome them as to their state was fit,  
But Hecuba that near her equal had,  
For virtue, bounty, eloquence, and wit:  
While they unto Queen Helena so spoke,  
Desired them for that fair Lady's sake.   

And for the weal and safety of them all,  
And of the town, that they would not adventure  
Themselves in field what ever might befall,  
Too far among the enemies to enter:  
Nor put themselves in danger carelessly,  
And yet besought them to fight valiantly,   

To save and keep the town from that distress,  
Which th'enemy did seek to bring't into,  
The which she said she feared (she must confess)  
Although she hope't they should it never do:  
And so of her and of the Ladies all,  
The knights took leave & went out of the hall.   

Mean time the Greeks that morning as I said,  
While Priam in the town a counsel held,  
Did murmur & great sorrow 'mongst them made,  
As in their tents they lay in th'open field:  
To think upon the loss which they sustained,  
And all of them together much complained.   

And grieved for the death of many a man  
Of great account, slain by the cruelties,  
(Since that most cruel deadly war began)  
And valour of their Trojan enemies:  
And for the hunger, cold, and thirst also,  
With sorrow, thought, unquietness and woe,   

Which they had had and felt, & all for nought,  
Or at the least for causes very small,  
If that the ground thereof were truly sought.  
This was the speech and words in general,  
That through the Grecians camp at that time ran,  
And currently did pass from man to man.   

But specially amongst the poorer sort  
Of soldiers, who in war most commonly  
Constrained are t'endure, and to support  
The brunt of all, and have no remedy:  
For though they do find fault & grieve therefore,  
Yet are they not relieved near the more.   

And so they did complain & make great moan,  
To think upon the mischief they endured,  
And which to them the Trojan knights had done,  
Thoghed were themselves that had the same procured:  
Unto their own decay, and might it shun,  
If they had not that bloody war begun.   

Which to increase the next ensuing night,  
So cloudy, dark, and thick as pitch became,  
That neither Moon nor star appeared in sight,  
And such a storm did happen on the same,  
Of thunder, lightning, wind, & rain that fell  
Upon them, as if all the fiends of hell,   

Conspired had their utter overthrow,  
And therewithal the waters did so rise,  
That all the field and plain did overflow:  
And with the wind that blew in furious wise,  
Their tents were overthrown, & they compelled  
To leave the place which all that while they held.   

By reason that the water grew so high.  
And in that sort the Greeks in great distress,  
Compelled were all that same night to lie,  
With hearts replete, with grief and heaviness:  
In that great storm of thunder, wind, & rain,  
Until the water did go back again.   

The wind appeased, and day began t'appear,  
Next morning when the Sun began to rise,  
Which made the air show beautiful and clear,  
And drove away the clouds out of the skies:  
And with the force and fever of his heat,  
Dried up the ground which was exceeding weet.   

And made the moisture void out of the plain,  
At which time somewhat eased of their sorrow,  
They did with speed their tents raise up again,  
And joyfully with courage bold that morrow,  
Did arm themselves in brave and warlike wise.  
With full intent t'assail their enemies.   

And when the field was thorough dried again,  
With Phoebus' beams, the Trojans left the town,  
And valiantly came forth into the field,  
And were no sooner to the Greeks come down,  
But stout Achilles met them in the way,  
And was the first that th'onset gave that day.   

Who entering in the field without abode,  
In furious wise set spurs unto his horse,  
And valiantly to strong King Hupon road,  
At whom he struck with such a mighty force:  
That with his Lance he gave him such a wound,  
That dead he fell therewith upon the ground.   

Then Hector with King Octamene did meet,  
And each the other valiantly assailed,  
But Hector with such fury on him s●t,  
That neither force nor armour strong prevailed:  
But with his Lance he pierced his heart in twain,  
That he therewith fell dead upon the plain.   

At which time furious Diomedes did wound  
The worthy valiant Prince King Zantippus,  
So sore that he fell dead upon the ground.  
And then in furious wise King Cedius,  
And valiant King Epistrophus his brother,  
Assailed and set on Hector both together.   

And first of all Epistrophus began  
To spur his horse with mighty spear in hand,  
And with the same at Hector fiercely ran,  
And spitefully at him did curse and band,  
And many raging words to him did give,  
Which Hector at the heart so much did grieve,   

That he at King Epistrophus let f●ye  
So great a blow, and with such mighty force,  
That with the same he killed him furiously,  
And as he fell down dead off from his horse,  
He bade him go unto the fiends of hell,  
And there such bragging words unto them tell,   

For here (said he) there's no man doth them fear,  
Nor any whit at all for them doth care.  
Which words when as King Cedius chanced to hear,  
He did in heart like to a mad man fare:  
And for his death so grieved was in thought,  
That with the knights that he with him had brought,   

He did on Hector set with great despite,  
And him on every side enclosed round,  
(While he against his enemies did fight)  
And forcibly struck him unto the ground:  
And while with them on foot he fight stands,  
King Cedius with his sword in both his hands   

At Hector smote a blow most furiously,  
Intending to have slain him without fail,  
But Hector watched him so narrowly,  
That all the force he had could not prevail:  
For ere his puissant blow descended down,  
Hector sore moved with indignation,   

Lift up his sword▪ and unto him did give  
A blow, the which his arm clean off did smite,  
And with a second blow did him bereave  
Of life and all: and while he thus did fight.  
Aeneas like a Lion furious,  
Courageously slew King Amiphimacus.   

Then to the field came in King Menelaus.  
And after followed stout king Thelamon.  
And then the valiant Duke Menesteus.  
And worthy valorous king Machaon.  
And last of all king Agam●mnon went  
With them, t'assail the Trojans fully bend.   

Wdo valiantly themselves did long defend  
Against the Greeks, and held them at a bay  
With equal fight, until that in the end  
As it did grow to noone-time of the day:  
When they had each the other long assailed,  
The Greeks 'gainst them of Troy so much prevailed,   

That forcibly they made them to retire,  
And back to go of mere necssity.  
And while Achilles fought with furious ire,  
He slew King Philon with great cruelty:  
And Hector to requite the Greeks therefore,  
Despite of them did slay king Alphenor.   

And then another King called Dorius.  
And did the Greeks so valiantly withstand,  
That like a Lion fierce and furious,  
By virtue of his strong and mighty hand,  
The Trojans many Grecian knights did slay,  
And valiantly forced them to fly away.   

And then out of the town of Troy there came  
The worthy King Epistrophus that brought  
A gallant band of men, and with the same  
So furiously against the Grecians fought:  
That by main force he made them leave the plain,  
And give unto the Trojans place again.   

For with him in his company he had  
An Archer of such strange proportion,  
And monstrously and wonderfully made,  
That men had him in admiration:  
For from the middle upward to the crown  
He was a man, and from the middle down   

Like to a horse he was proportioned,  
In each respect for form and feature.  
His skin it was all hairy, rough, and red,  
And yet although this monstrous creature  
Had manlike face, yet did his colour show  
Like burning coals that in the fire glow.   

His eyes they did two furnases resemble,  
As bright as fire, whereby all that him met,  
The very sight of him did make them tremble,  
And from their hearts deep sighs for fear to fet,  
His face it 'twas so fowl and horrible,  
And look so ugly, fierce, and terrible.   

His manner was to go into the field  
Unarmed of all weapons whatfoere,  
And never used, sword, spear, axe, nor shield,  
But in his hand a mighty bow did bear.  
And by his side a sheaf of arrows hung,  
Bound fast together with a leather thong.   

Wherewith he did his enemies withstand,  
And shot so strong, so mightily, and sure,  
That wheresoe'er he fought on sea or land  
No armour could against his shot endure.  
Nor any horse how fierce soe'er he were,  
Durst look on him, so much they did him fear.   

For of him they no sooner had a fight,  
(He was in all men's eyes so odious,)  
But they would run from him with all their might,  
As from a Devil fowl, and monstrous.  
Nor any man though near so strong a Knight,  
Could rain or hold his horse by force or might,   

If that he once this monster chaust to see,  
But furiously it would start back, and fling  
And neighing loud, and snorting, way did flee.  
This hideous beast did many Grecians bring  
With arrows sharp and strong unto their end,  
For armour could them not from him defend,   

So that not any one durst him abide,  
When they him saw, (so much they did him doubt)  
But speedily away from him did ride.  
Till in the end that it by chance fell out,  
While that the Troyans' by his aid did chase  
And slay, and drive the Greeks before their face▪   

Unto their tents, with extreme fear and dread,  
He did by fortune meet full in the face  
Hard by a tent, with valiant Diomedes,  
Who for because it was in such a place,  
Where he could not this hideous moster shun,  
Unless he should in greater danger run.   

(For at his back so many Troyans' were,  
That fly from him he could not any way  
But must of them be slain, or taken there.)  
When as he saw he must of force needs stay,  
With courage bold he did unto him go,  
B●t ere that he could strike at him a blow,   

The monster let an arrow fiercely fly  
At Diomedes, and gave him such a blow  
That with the same he bled exceedingly,  
Wherewith he was in heart offended so  
That furiously unto him strait he went,  
And ere that he his bow again had bend,   

Stepped into him and with exceeding force  
Gave such a dangerous deep and fatal wou●d  
Unto that monster Demy man and horse,  
That dead he fell down groveling on the ground.  
Whose death when as the Grecians did behold  
Abandoning all fear, with courage bold   

They did upon the Troyans' set ag●●●●,  
And furiously constrained them to ●●i●  
And to retire in haste into the plain,  
Where Duke Policinare most valiantly  
Great store of them did of their lives bereave  
Whose cruelty when Hector did perceive.   

In furious wise he did upon him set,  
And slew him with his sword wi●h great despite.  
And then as he by chance Achilles met,  
Courageously and like a hardy Knight  
With lance in rest he ran at him amain,  
And he at him, with purpose to have slain   

Each th'other if they might, and in their wrath,  
So fiercely strake each other on the shield.  
That with their blows they were unhorsed both,  
And laid along flat down upon the field.  
But fierce Achilles with despiteful hart,  
First up again into his saddle start.   

And sought by all the means he could to take  
Gallathe Hector's horse if that he might,  
With full intent a prey thereof to make.  
And having taneed to Hector's great despite,  
He gav't his men to lead out of the field,  
And Hoctor by that means was then compelled   

To fight on foot, amongst his deadly foes,  
Who in most furious wise on them did fall▪  
And killed, and beat them down with mighty blows,  
And then unto his Trojan Knights did call,  
And willed them upon the Greeks to set,  
And forcibly his horse from them to get.   

And they in haste to rescue it again,  
Achilles did assail, and 'gainst his will  
took it by force from him upon the plain,  
And brought it unto Hector, who the while  
The Grecians fiercely slew with great despite,  
And then by force most like a valiant Knight,   

Despite of all that round about him kept,  
And like Smiths on an anvil at him stroke,  
Upon his gallant horses back he leapt.  
And by main ●orce through thickest of them broke  
And then again so fiercely with them fought,  
That they his wrath and anger dearly bought.   

And 'mongst them riding bramely here and there  
Like Lion strong the Greeks did wound and slay,  
So furiously, that clean po●●est with fear,  
As death, his sword they shunned, and fled away.  
And by that means the Troyans' did begin  
Upon the Greeks the field again to win.   

But it befell in 〈◊〉 so furious fight,  
That unawares Antenor went so far  
Amongst the Greeks, that by main force & might,  
They did him for their prisoner take, and bore  
Him strait from thence unto their tents with speed.  
And yet his son to help him at his need,   

Spared neither pain nor valour to relieve  
And rescue him, but all was labour lost,  
For which at heart he did so free and grieve,  
That many a Grecians life that time it cost,  
By valour great which he as then did show,  
But for because the son then waxed low   

And it began in haste to draw to night,  
They made an end and fought no more as then,  
Because at that same time they wanted light,  
And either side retired with their men.  
The Greeks unto their tents upon the plain.  
The Troyans' went into the town again,   

And rested there, till morning did appear,  
When Phoebus 'gan his glistering beams to show,  
And Dame Aurora with most joyful cheer,  
The herbs and flowers did moisten with her dew,  
And hungd her silver drops like pearls fine,  
On every bush which 'gainst the Sun did shine.   

And show themselves so orient and so clear  
On every valley, hill, and pleasant green,  
In morning when the Crimson clouds appear,  
And in the skies most beautiful are seen.  
Until the heat of Phoebus' glistering beams  
Dries up their moisture with his fiery streams.   

And makes the vapour mount into the air,  
When as the sky did not exceed with heat,  
And that the weather show'd both clear and fair,  
Which time the Troyans' purposed to meet  
Then foes, and with most brave & warlike show,  
In order placed, into the field did go.   

'Gainst whom likewise the Grecians valiantly  
Did go into the field, and when they met  
And each the others armies did espy,  
They did upon each other fiercely set,  
And presently great store of lances broke,  
And many a mighty, strong, and cruel stroke   

On either side was given, and many a shield  
With axes, bills, and trenchant ●ades were cl●●  
And many a Knight sore wounded in the field:  
In little space was of his life bereft:  
And such a cruel laughter there was then  
On either side, that many thousand men   

That day were brought unto confusion.  
But greatest loss on Troyans' side did fall,  
Yet Guido of no Prince makes mention  
That then was slain, but speaks in general.  
And saith that cruel fierce and bloody fight,  
Between them held from morning unto night.   

Which Troyans' for their parts full dearly bought,  
For Fortune then unto them was no friend,  
But rather with the Grecians 'gainst them fought.  
And so when day did draw unto an end,  
The Troyans' went again into the town,  
The while the Greeks unto their tents went down   

And there did rest till they again could see,  
At which time all the Grecian Princes met,  
And 'mongst them did with one consent agree  
To send unto the town of Troy, to get  
A truce for 3 months space, to which intent  
Ulysses and fierce Diomedes were sent,   

That message unto Priamus to bear.  
And when unto the gates of Troy they came,  
A Trojan Knight called Dolon met them there,  
And courteously convaid them through the same,  
And brought them to King Priam's royal hall,  
Where he then sat amongst his Princes all.   

Where they to him their message briefly told,  
Which was a truce for 3 months space to have,  
If he would be content the same to hold.  
To whom the King a friendly countenance gave,  
And said he would advise of counsel take,  
And then to them he would an answer make.   

And they did all agree and were content  
To yield unto the Greeks in that respect,  
Save Hector, who thereto would not consent,  
But at the first their motion did reject.  
And did affirm that 'twas but mere deceit  
By them then used, of Priam's time to get.   

And that two things them thereunto procured,  
First, that they might have time and liberty  
To bury all their dead, while truce endured,  
And under colour thereof, secretly  
More victuals to provide, which they did want,  
And which as now with them was very scant,   

And by that means the famine to prevent  
Which then was in their camp, with policy,  
He said he knew was only to th'intent  
That they the longer there in siege might lie,  
And being well provided of each thing  
That needful is said he they might us bring.   

While they increase, and we decrease our store,  
Into great want and famine at the last,  
For by their means we can provide no more,  
And this (said he) is it which they forecast:  
For that which doth for their advantage make,  
For certain, doth from us advantage take.   

Yet ne'ertheless (said he) what did befall,  
Sith to the truce you willingly agree,  
I will not be repugnant to you all,  
No● 'gainst so many strive and disagree.  
And so they did consent on either side  
That for 3 months the truce should firmly bide.   

And be observed, that while it did endure,  
Such as sore wounds and sickness do oppress,  
Might time and leisure have their wounds to cure,  
And for their pain and sickness seek redress:  
And while the truce for that time did abide,  
It was twixt them agreed on either side,   

That to procure Anthenors' liberty,  
Who at that time the Grecians prisoner had,  
King Thoas then held in captivity  
Within the town, should for him free be made,  
And neither ransom pay: but while they sat  
In counsel thereupon, it chanced that   

The Trojan Bishop Calchas called to mind,  
And thought upon his daughter Cressida,  
Whom he left in the town of Troy behind,  
When he the same forsook, and went away  
At Delos to the Greeks, for whom in hart  
He daily felt great sorrow, woe, and smart.   

Supposing that she being there alone,  
Should for his sake (because of his offence  
And treason, which without occasion  
'Gainst Troyans' he had done,) in his absence  
Be hardly used, and little favour find,  
For which he was full sore perplexed in mind:   

And made account, that he should never be  
Released nor freed from extreme grief, and pain,  
Till he his daughter Cressida did see,  
And that she were restored to him again:  
And therefore still within his mind forecast  
While that the time of 3 months truce did last,   

How he mihgt her relieve and get away  
Out of the town of Troy, where he her left:  
And to that end upon a certain day,  
As one that were of comfort clean bereft,  
Sore weeping in great woe and heaviness,  
He did himself unto the Greeks address.   

And humbly on his knees before them fell,  
And with great floods of tears submissively,  
His hard and woeful state to them did tell,  
Beseeching them with great humility,  
On him and his t'have compassion,  
And to procure him restitution.   

Of Cressida his child and only joy,  
Whom he because he had the Troyans' left,  
Durst not go fetch out of the town of Troy,  
Lest he by them should of his life be reft:  
Desiring them that they a means would be,  
That she might be exchanged, and set free   

With Thoas, for Antenor, which he thought  
If they to his request would give consent,  
By their good mediation might be wrought,  
And they for Calchas sake were all content.  
And presently a messenger did send  
To Priam's King of Troy unto that end.   

To whom they gave express commission,  
To bring their sure for Cressida to pass,  
But when the Troyans' heard their motion,  
And found that it for Calchas daughter was;  
Whose Father was become so odious  
To all the town, and to King Priamus,   

That all men said he was a traitor false,  
And for his treason great and treachery  
Well worthy to be hanged by the hal●e,  
And that he well deserved had to die  
A far more cruel death, for by the law,  
They said, they should his traitorous body draw   

Unto the place of execution,  
And hang it there till that half dead it were,  
And in that sort with speed to cut it down,  
And it in quarters four to cut, or tear.  
And said sith that he was so badly bend  
To Troy, that death was not sufficient.   

For his offence, and answer therefore gave,  
That sith he had such treason 'gainst them wrought  
They flatly said he should no favour have  
Of them therein, nor yet would grant to aught  
That might his mind in any wise content,  
Nor should his daughter Cressida be sent   

To him as he required, but flatly said  
If they could ever hands upon him lay  
He should have that which he deserved had,  
And unto his request said flatly nay.  
But at the last although with much ado  
They were content, and granted thereunto.   

For Prians King of Troy his sentence gave,  
That she with Thoas should exchanged be,  
And both of them should for Antenor have  
Their free discharge out of captivity.  
Which his decree with Princely promise sealed,  
The Troyans' could by no means get repealed.   

But must the same against their wills fulfil,  
And by that means she did from Troy depart,  
Although it were full sore against her will,  
For that much grieu d and vexed at the heart,  
Great sorrow and complaint therefore she made,  
Which when time serves unto you shall be said.    

CHAP. four  
¶ How during the time of the three months truce, Hector went into the greeks camp, and there spoke with Achilles, and what speeches passed between them at that time,  

THe truce confirmed as I before did say,  
And for three months agreed on either side,  
It chanced that upon a certain day  
Hector out of the town of Troy did ride,  
And with him many Lords of high degree,  
Determining the Grecians camp to see.   

And entering thereinto directly went  
With courarge stout and bold, (saluting none  
That with him met) unto Achilles' tent,  
For he was moved with great affection,  
To speak with him although he did intend  
If that he could, to bring him to his end.   

And truth to say Achilles had as much  
And great desire of Hector t'have a sight,  
(Though as his foe he bore him mighty grudge,  
Intending his destruction if he might.)  
Because he near had means nor liberty  
Hector unarmed at any time to see.   

And when that they together both were met,  
And each be held the other for a while,  
As in that sort they were together set.  
Achilles upon Hector gone to smile,  
And said, great pleasure Hector 'tis to me,  
That here disarmed at this time I thee see   

For near before could I of thee have sight  
But in the field, when thou thine arms didst were,  
And valiantly with trenchant blade didst fight,  
And therewith put the Grecian Knights in fear.  
But truth to say it's much more grief to me,  
Which am so deadly enemy to thee.   

That now of thee I cannot have my will,  
For here of be assured if that the peace  
Restrained me not, forthwith I would thee Kill,  
So much my wrath against thee doth increase,  
For th'only thing which I in heart desire  
Is cruel death to thee t'appease mine ire.   

For oftentimes when 'twas my chance to fight  
With thee in field, full sore against my mind  
I have both tried and felt thy puissant might,  
As by the wounds which I about me find,  
Which yet doth ache and are both fresh & green,  
And for just proof are extant to be seen,   

For with thy sword thou oft hast shed my blood,  
And sought to bring my life unto an end.  
And like a Lion furious, sierce, and wood,  
Thou hast not spared my arms to tear and rend,  
And cruelly, as I the signs can show,  
Most furiously the same didst hac and hew.   

Whereby mine arms that forged are of steel,  
When thou with puissant force on them dist smite,  
Could never yet assure my corpse so well,  
But that thy trenchant blade through them would 〈◊〉  
Into my flesh, full deeply and profound,  
As well appears by many a mortal wound,   

Which in the same are now both long and wide,  
And at this time full sorely ache and smart,  
And put me to such pain on every side,  
For which as now it seemeth that my heart  
Doth rise, swell, beat, and pant when I thee see,  
With great despite revenged on thee to be.   

And is so full replete with furious rage  
And rancour old, with such extremity,  
That by no means it never will assuage,  
Till with my hands thy death I give to thee.  
But one thing doth torment me most of all:  
Which is when I unto remembrance call,   

And with myself in mind expostulate,  
How to content thy fierce and bloody will,  
With trenchant blade thou didst separate  
Patroclus' corpse in twain, and didst him kill,  
Whom I did love with heart and mind entire,  
And unto him so great good will did bear:   

That as myself, I must the truth confess,  
I loved him, and such affection  
Unto him had, as no tongue can express,  
And thou thereby didst make division  
Twixt him and me, that lived and loved together  
Like brethren twain, and so had done for ever   

While life endured, for that betwixt us twain  
Our faithful hearts were knit to fast together,  
As if they had been linked in a chain.  
No grief nor no adversity could sever  
Our hearts and thoughts, how great soe'er it was,  
Till by his death thou brought'st the same to pass,   

And by that means our faith full love didst part.  
Whose death so deep in printed in my thought,  
So sore doth grieve and vex me at the heart,  
That I protest it shall be dearly bought.  
an't may be if I reckon not amiss,  
Before this present year expired is.   

For be assured, that only for his sake,  
When Fortune shall afor'd the time to do't▪  
Revenge by cruel death on thee i'll take,  
And thereof make account and look well to't:  
For if I live it shall be surely done,  
When thou shalt have no means the same to shun▪   

For right requires, that sith by death thou wert  
The cause and mean▪ to part two lover true,  
Death should to thee be rendered for desert,  
Which I myself will give thee as thy due.  
That all the world through out may thereof know  
And hear how that Achilles killed his foe,   

To be revenged for Patroclus' death.  
And though that I do hate thee for the same,  
And will as long as I on earth do breath,  
Thou hast no cause nor reason me to blame:  
For well I wot thou hast my death conspired,  
And many a day the same in heart desired.   

So that to end this strife, I tell thee plain,  
Nought else but cruel death shall upspear be,  
For till thou, I, or both of us be sla●●●,  
It shall not cease. The which I hope to see  
E'er it be long, for sure it shall be d●●  
By me or thee, the which thou shalt not shun.   

When Hector had Achilles' speech well hard,  
And given him leave to tell so long a ●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  
Unto the same, and thus to him he said:   

Achilles, thou no marvel oughst to have,  
That as thou sayst, I do thy death conspire,  
And hourly the same of fortune crave,  
As th'only thing which I in heart desire:  
And that to kill thee still I he in wait,  
Because to thee I bear so deadly hate.   

For if in mind thou didst consider well  
The sentence grave, which verity doth prove,  
And unto us for certain truth doth tell,  
That neither I, nor any man can love,  
Nor any kind of favour show to one,  
That daily seeketh my confusion.   

And me and mine to vanquish and destroy  
With deadly hate, and great presumption,  
Besieged hath the noble town of Troy,  
To bring us wholly to destruction:  
Not can I any cause nor reason find,  
That in my heart I should to him be kind,   

Nor love, nor favour him in any thing  
That seeks my death. For love doth never breed  
Of bloody war and strife, nor yet doth spring  
From fowl and deadly hate, but doth proceed  
And takes her first and true original  
From faithfulness, which is the principal   

And only cause that makes men's hearts t'agree,  
And never from true faith and love to start,  
But doth them still preserve in unity,  
Of words, and will, desire, mind, and hart,  
And neither life nor death can love dissever,  
For faithful love continueth true for ever.   

But hatred and dissension is contrary,  
From whence proceeds and follows as we see,  
When as men's hearts and minds dissent & vary,  
Nought else but rancour, strife, and en●●itie.  
When which once bred, makes men proceed so far,  
That at the last they fall to mortal war.   

The which all love clean vanisheth away.  
But ne'ertheless I will that thou shalt know,  
That whatsoever thou to me dost say  
In proud and vaunting words, and makest show  
As if that thou wouldst do that unto me,  
Which while thou liust shall near be done by thee.   

I care not whatsoe'er thou dost, or sayst,  
For without boast hereof I thee assure,  
When as thou hast done all that ere thou ●●yst,  
If that this war long twixt us doth endure▪  
I hope if that it be my chance to live▪  
The Grecians so to terrify and grieve,   

That thou and they full▪ well shall find and feel,  
How with my trenchant blade when we shall meet,  
I'll hac and hew their armours made of steel,  
And beat them down and tread them underfeets,  
And thine and all their pride so much will daunt,  
That if you stay and still these wars do haunt,   

I'll make you all repent your coming here.  
For this I know, and well assured am,  
That th'only thing (as plainly doth appear,)  
For which unto this town you hither came,  
Proceeds of pride and indiscretion,  
Else would you not with such presumption,   

A thing of such importance take in hand,  
As is the siege of this our town 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 plain,  
Is over hard and heavy to sustain.   

And will because to make you all in fine,  
(As haughty and as stout as now you seem,)  
To leave your pride and lowly to decline,  
And stoop unto the burden, (which you deem  
To be but very easy, small, and light.)  
With your no little shame and great despite.   

And this I say Achilles unto thee,  
That whensoever thou dost me assail,  
Death shall unto thyself be given by me,  
Before that thou against me shalt prevail  
To do the thing wgich thou so easy deemest,  
Though of thyself thou near so much esteemest   

Yet if in thee there be such worthiness,  
And courage stout, that like a valiant Knight,  
Thy mind's replete with so much hardiness  
To move thee hand to hand with me to fight.  
And that this quarrel may betwixt us twain,  
(By combat bravely fought upon the plain)   

Be ended, for the which we all contend.  
I'll grant unto the same withal my hart,  
And whatsoever fortv ne doth me send,  
I'll never yield till death us two doth part:  
So that the Lords on either side will be  
Content, and with good will thereto agree,   

That we two shall this combat undertake  
And fight it out betwixt us two alone,  
And thereof for us all an end to make.  
Which shall be done on this condition;  
That if thou by thy valour and thy might,  
Caused overcome and vanquish me in fight,   

I will to thee and them assurance make,  
That Priamus my Father shall agree  
To all which I for him shall undertake,  
And that assoon as I shall vanquished be,  
He shall his Crown and Regal sceptre yield  
(Which he so long and many years hath held.)   

Unto the Greeks, and him and his submit  
In all respects most humbly to their will,  
To do with him and his as they think fit.  
Which that he may withal his Lords fulfil,  
T'avoid each doubt and all ambiguity,  
Both he and they for more security,   

Shall swear each one, and all in general,  
To do as I have said, and there to stand,  
And further to confirm the same he shall  
Deliver presently into their hand  
Such sureties, as they'll chufe out of the best,  
And noblest men in Troy, the which shall rest   

And stay among the greeks while we two fight,  
That they may have no cause at all to doubt  
That we will not perform our words, as right  
And reason doth require, if it fall out  
That I should be o'ercome and slain by thee,  
The which I hope thou near shalt do to me.   

Now than Achilles speak and freely do  
(As I have said,) thine honour to increase,  
And let us arm ourselves and fall thereto,  
That by our means this bloody war may cease,  
Which other wise is likely and most sure,  
Long twixt the Greeks and Troyans' to endure.   

And thou thereby not only shalt win fame,  
And honour both, but by thy valour great  
Throughout the world eternize shalt thy name,  
And of the Greeks much thanks and favour get.  
Who by thy means from hence may scape alive  
And safe and sound in Greece again arrive.   

Which otherwise may to themselves procure  
Their deaths by fond and foolish hardiness,  
If they stay here and that this war endure,  
Whereof there is no other likeliness.  
Be brief therefore and make no long delay,  
But let us for this Combat point the day,   

As I have said, upon condition  
On Grecians side, that if in this same fight  
(Which I for all the Troyans' and the town  
Shall take in hand;) do vanquish thee by might,  
That presently they shall from war surcease,  
And break up siege, and let us live in peace,   

And into Greece return again with speed.  
Whereto Achilles burning hot with ire  
With haughty, fierce, and furious look agreed,  
As being that which he did most desire.  
And unto Hector said, he would that task  
Upon him take, which he of him did ask:   

And 'gainst the same made no exception.  
And for a sign of his desire and hart  
T'accomplith it, for confirmation  
He threw his Gauntlet down, and for his part  
Said, whatsoe'er unto him happen might,  
He would that Combat for the Grecians fight.   

The which when Hector saw, with countenance glad  
As ever any valiant Knight could have,  
He s●oopt and took it up, and therewith said,  
It was the only thing that he did crave:  
And no man can in heart and thought surmise,  
How glad he was of that high enterpize.   

The news thereof soon 'mongst the Greeks was spread,  
And to the ears of Agamemnon came,  
Who with great troops of Lords accompanied,  
Went to Achilles' tent to know the same.  
And when they had the matter fully scanned,  
They would unto no such condition stand,   

But did it with one will and voice deny,  
And said, they would not hazard their estate,  
And welfare of so great a company  
Of valiant Knights, to false and wavering Fate.  
Nor show themselves to be so fond and vain,  
To stand unto the combat of those twain.   

And on the Troyans' side within the town,  
They also said, and flatly did deny,  
They would not stand to that condition,  
To venture all their good and liberty,  
Upon the single valour of a Knight,  
Although he were of passing strength & might.   

But Priamus himself was fully bend,  
To stand unto the combat of those two,  
And willingly did yield and was content  
In all respects as Hector said, to do.  
Nought doubting, but believing certainly▪  
That Hector surely should have victory,   

If that he took the enterprise in hand.  
But loath to make too much contention,  
And strife with those that did against him stand,  
He yielded unto their opinion.  
And was content to let the matter pass,  
And 'gainst his will to leave it as it was.   

And Hector therewith left Achilles' tent,  
And went to Troy again. Where for a while  
I'll let him rest. For now 'tis mine intent,  
For some respect to change and turn my stile,  
To tell you of the sorrow, grief, and woe,  
That Troiclus made to part his Lady fro.   

WHy shouldst thou still oh Fortune variable,  
(When men most trust in thy most flattering (face,)  
Become so false, untrue, and so unstable,  
And make as though thou wouldst them embrace.  
When as with feigned false dissembling show,  
Thou only seek'st their utter overthrow?   

As well it may by Troiclus be seen,  
Whom suddenly with envy thou didst throw  
down from the mount of joy that he was in▪  
Into the vale of sorrow, grief, and woe▪  
When he did think himself to be secure,  
And of his Love and Lady dear most sure.   

And twixt them mad'st a separation.  
For whom I must a little while complain,  
Because he made such lamentation,  
And in his heart endured such extreme pain,  
Such inward grief, and such great heaviness,  
That all my wit cannot the same express.   

For when he knew his Father had decreed,  
And for a final sentence set it down,  
That Cresid● should presently with speed,  
Unto the Greeks be sent out of the town.  
Into such mighty grief and rage he fell,  
That no man's tongue can well declare, or tell   

The inward pain which in his breast he bore:  
For day and night he did such sorrow make,  
That like unto a madman he did far,  
And never left complaining for her sake.  
Desiring rather death with all his hart,  
Then that she should away from him depart:   

For inwardly an other mind she had,  
Which she with fair dissembling face did hide,  
And to her true and faithful lover made,  
As though for love of him she would have died:  
As women can false tears at pleasure borrow,  
When in their hearts there is but little sorrow.   

And unto men for truth will sometimes say  
That which they will deny again as fast,  
And serpentlike 'mongst flowers fresh and gay,  
Most commonly their poison use to cast.  
With sweet and sugared word, when as they mind  
Nought but deceit and guile, for 'tis their kind   

And property to flatter, feign, and lie,  
When in them men do greatest trust repose,  
For all they do is done in policy:  
For when you think them friends, they are your foes  
And hide their malice with such subtlety,  
That though they seem with one dissembling eye   

And outward show in piteous wise to weep,  
They can with th'other laugh full covertly,  
And in their hearts their double meaning keep,  
Their sorrows they are outward commonly:  
And never to their hearts and thoughts draw near,  
And all the party colours which they were,   

Are mixed with change and great variety,  
For therein doth consist their chiefest bliss,  
theyare sure and fixed in lies and flattery,  
And double in their truest promises.  
Make show of faith, when least thereof they think  
Likeliest to love, when most from it they shrink,   

Most overthwart when as they should agree,  
And truest seem, when truth in them is none.  
For certain 'tis that few of them there be,  
That in their hearts contented are with one,  
But will in show receive and entertain  
Two, three, or four, and in their speeches feign,   

And make them all with flattering words believe  
That she doth love and like them every one,  
And secretly her faith to all will give.  
Yet maketh them to think she loves but one,  
And that she'll live with him in weal and woe,  
When as in very truth it is not so.   

And by that means to each of them doth seem,  
As if she loved and liked him alone,  
And makes him her for his true love esteem,  
When as in truth perchance she loveth none.  
And thus with feigned hope she doth them scoff,  
The truest to her is soonest by her cast off.   

He that best serves least favour shall deserve,  
And yet she doth them all with fancy feed,  
But promise will with none of them observe,  
She'll soonest deceive, when you think surest to speed  
Let no man trust therefore unto delay,  
But take time and advantage when he may.   

A man may change at pleasure all the year,  
And yet thereby may get but little gain.  
Great folly 'tis to buy that thing to dear,  
Which man cannot in his bounds retain;  
But flies away when most he doth it want,  
And if such ware at any time wax scant,   

Men may them out at windows oft behold,  
And find them in a chamber or a hall,  
That with most shameless countenance and bold,  
Will not refuse unto a man to call.  
And many times abroad in every street  
You may them see, and also with them meet   

At Pilgrimages, and oblations,  
At dances, ●ights, and every common play,  
That used are in Cities, and in towns,  
Where they resort for pleasure night and day  
To see and to be seen of every man,  
And by their wiles t'entrap them if they can.   

For their's no fraud nor any subtlety,  
Like unto that of willy women kind,  
Nor worse deceit, nor craftier policy,  
Then in their false dissembling hearts men find.  
For he that loveth women steadfastly,  
And thinks in them to find fidelity.   

Shall see and prove them like unto the moon,  
That ready is to change. For if their love  
Be young, and them displease they will him soon  
Out of the doors by head and shoulders shove,  
If he be old, they'll say age makes him dote,  
And let some younger man ride in his boat.   

My counsel therefore is unto them both,  
To cast them off in time and let them fly.  
This Guido saith, (not I, I tell you troth)  
That hath delight to speak unhappily  
Of women, in most part of all his Book,  
As you may see if you therein will look.   

Whereby it seems that he was not their friend,  
And unto them did bear no little spite,)  
Else would he not so much with them contend,  
Nor in his Book such slanders of them wright:  
Which inwardly did make my heart to bleed  
For grief, when I such things therein did read.   

Which only of mere malice favoured.  
And mail of purpose women to contemn,  
Wherein I see he was too much misled,  
For generally he doth them all condemn.  
And for to show more indiscretion;  
Twixt good and bad makes no exception.   

He was too blame for one ●'accuse them all,  
For I dare say and swear it by the rood,  
And you shall find it to in general,  
That for one bad, there are an hundred good,  
And though some do themselves unconstant show  
It hurts not them that faithful are and crew.   

And though by some examples he may show,  
(As likely 'tis, for many such there are,)  
That▪ some one 'bove the rest did prove a shrew,  
Those that are meek and gentle need not care.  
We must not blame nor tax all women kind,  
For some that prove untrue. For this we find,   

That in the town of Collen once there were  
Eleven thousand Virgins pure and true,  
Which did the name of Holy Martyrs bear.  
And many other stories tell to you,  
That divers maids did Virgins long remain,  
And to preserve virginity were slain.   

And some with flowers of true virginity,  
Did live on earth in honour great, and fame,  
That died at last in perfect ehastity,  
And sanctified in heaven for the same.  
With God remain in his eternal rest,  
And 'mongst the Saints for evermore 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 dismayed,  
For that of men may well be said the same.  
Is it a shame to him that liveth true,  
Because an other man doth live untrue.   

And for his theft is hanged, (as many be.)  
No more is it to women virtuous,  
If 'mongst a hundred, one of them we see  
That is of living bad and vicious.  
When for one bad a thousand we may find  
That virtuous are. Though Guido faith by kind   

And nature they are false, yet men should think,  
They are not so, and them not too much blame,  
But rather at their frailty seem to wink,  
For though ones bad, they are not all the fame.  
Nature in operatiou hath great power,  
And who is he that liveth at this hour,   

That can by anymeanes his course restrain,  
For she will not be shortened of her right,  
Nor yet be stayed with bridle norwith rain▪  
And therefore man withal his power and might  
Should give God thanks for them▪ ●● 〈◊〉 not blame  
Poor women that by nature are the ●a●●e.   

And though so much my Author 'gainst them says,  
Where he doth write of Cressida alone,  
And for her fault such blame on women lays,  
My counselliss to all and every 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 Diomedes had charge  
To go to Troy, to fetch fair Cressida  
Whereas my ma●ster Chawcer shows at large,  
First how she was to him delivered,  
With Thoas for Antenor, and was led   

By them out of the town, accompanied  
By Troiclus, and many more that road  
With him and her, and how King Diomedes  
Did lead her horse, and her great kindness showed,  
Till that she came unto her Fathers sent,  
Where she did light, and strait into it went.   

And then declares how she therein did stay,  
What speeches she to him and others used,  
While she with them sat talking all that day,  
And how that soon herself she did abuse.  
For G●ldo saith, that day before 't▪ was night,  
She clean forlooke her dear & loving knight.   

And gave her heart and love to Diomedes,  
To show what trust there is in women kind▪  
For she of her new love no sooner sped,  
But Troiclus was clean out of her mind.  
As if she had him never known nor seen.  
Wherein I cannot guess what she did mean,   

Unless it were because she did delight  
In novelty, as women do by kind  
And nature, which unstable is and light,  
As by experience commonly we find.  
But now no more of love I will declare,  
But turn my stile again unto the war.    

CHAP. V.  
v. Of the Entrailss fought between the Greeks and the Troyans', after the truce of three months was expired. The description of the Palace of Ilium in Troy, of a great p●st●●●●ce that happened in the Grecians host: Whereby they were constrained to seek for a truce, which they obtained of the Troyans' for 30. days.  

THe three months truce aforesaid being done:  
The next ensuing day when Titan had  
His Indian course from West to East out run,  
And after he great sport and cheer had made  
In sweet and fair Aurora's company,  
And rose from her and would no longer lie,   

But with his Radiant beams that shone most clear  
(When as the ●arke did sing with great delight.)  
Did on the walls and town of Troy appear:  
Hector the strong and most victorious Knight,  
His battles in good order did ordain,  
And ready was to go into the plain,   

To fight against the Grecian enemy:  
The first whereof himself well armed led;  
And with him had to bear him company,  
Full fifteen thousand Knights well furnished.  
Next unto him brave Troielus did go,  
With just ten thousand Knights in warlike shoe.   

And after him the Percian archers went,  
That had his brother Paris for their guide▪  
Each with his Bow in hand all ready bent,  
And shea●es of piercing arrows by his side:  
In number full three thousand archers brave.  
The leading of the fourth ward Hector gave▪   

Unto his brother Deiphobus, that had  
Three thousand men well armed in corslets clear,  
And of the rest Aeneas leader made,  
And as the story ●aith, as then there were  
An hundred thousand valiant Knights & stout,  
By Hector to the field that day sent out.   

And as I find by Dares Frigius,  
And Guido too, against them forth were led  
Seven thousand Grecian Knights by M●●●●●,  
And just as many more by D●●●ed.  
And next to them A●billes with his ●and  
Of Myrmidons, in order placed did stand.   

Then Zantipus a King of great renown,  
Conductor of three thousand Knights was ●●d●  
And last of all into the field came down,  
The General of the host, that with him had  
So huge a band of Grecian Knights, that all  
The plain with them was filled▪ & strait d●●●●●●   

And set upon the Trojan Knights so fast,  
That many men at that encounter died,  
And furiously unto the ground were cast,  
And as by chance King Phillis Hector spied,  
That cruelly the Greeks beat down and chaste,  
He spurred his horse and ran at him in haste,   

And with his lance upon him fiercely set.  
Which when as Hector saw, he couched his spear,  
And him with so great source and fury met,  
That he did him out of his saddle bear:  
And gave him such a deep and cruel wound,  
That he therewith fell dead upon the ground▪   

Whose death when as the Grecians did espy,  
With grief for him they waxed pale and wan;  
And many to revenge it, valiantly,  
On Hector set, and first upon him ran  
King Zantipus, who with most great disdain,  
And grief to see King Phillis there lie slain,   

His lance upon him broke, which to requite  
Hector at him most furiously did fly,  
And with his spear so fiercely did him smite,  
That with the blow he did most cruelly  
Give him a wound so deep into the side,  
That he therewith fell off his horse and died.   

For whom the Greeks complained and grieved sor●▪  
And hated Hector for his cruelty,  
And each to other promised and swore,  
With Trojan blood his death revenged should ●e:  
And at that time did them so sore pursue,  
That many of them in little space they slew,   

And 'mongst the rest Achilles cruelly,  
Lichaon and Euforbius both did slay,  
(Two Knights that came out of their Country,  
Which distant was from Troy a mighty way,  
To aid and help their friend King Priamus▪)  
And while the greeks set on the Troyans' thus▪   

Hector by chance was wounded in the face,  
Wherewith the blood out of his Beaver ran,  
Whom when the Trojans saw in such a case,  
They were so much abashed, that they began▪  
To fly, & in great haste to leave the plain,  
And in the chase great store of them were slain,   

Before that they could get out of the prea●e.  
The Grecians them so ho●●●e followed,  
And to pursue and kill them did not cease  
In furious wise▪ as they before them fled,  
And chased them almost unto the town:  
Till Hector that most worthy Champion,   

Perceiving them to fly so fast away,  
Unto them went t'encourage them again,  
And made them turn & spite their hearts to stay,  
And valiantly to fight, and to maintain  
The battle 'gainst the Grecian enemies.  
For when as he by chance cast up his eyes   

Unto the walls of Troy, and did behold  
Queen Hecuba, and Policene, that stood  
Thereon to see the fight his heart waxed cold,  
As being moved with fierce and furious mood,  
For very shame to see the Trojans fly,  
And made them turn with great dexterity,   

And stayed their ●light, & with them back did ride  
Unto the plain, and in his way he met  
A Grecian King called Merion, near allied  
TO Achilles, and on him most fiercelieset:  
And with his sword gave him so great a blow,  
That therewithal his body clave in two.   

Whom when Achilles found in that sort dead,  
Much grieved to see't, but't could him nought avail,  
He took a spear and Hector followed,  
With full intent t'revenge him without fail:  
And to that end ran at him valiantly,  
And on the shield smote him most cruelly.   

But could not once remove him with the stroke,  
Nor make him in his saddle rise▪ nor bow,  
For he sat sure and steadfast as an Oak.  
But moved sore when as he fel● the blow,  
With sword in hand he did Achilles smite,  
So great a stroke with all his force and might,   

That with the same he did his helmet break,  
And tore his Beaver off, and made him reel,  
And on his horse to bend, and then did speak,  
And said to him, Achilles now I feel,  
And well perceive the envy that to me  
Thou bear'st in heart, but I do counsel thee,   

That thou unto thyself dost not procure  
Thy death, for if (as I desire) I may  
Meet with thee ●n the field, I thee assure▪  
No ransom, aid, nor succour shall ●e stay,  
With this my sword to take revenge on th●●  
For with thy life thou shalt not scape from ●●.   

Be well advised therefore I tell thee plain,  
For by my hand thou shalt most surely die,  
For I intent to pay thee for thy pain.  
Whereto Achilles ●hinking to reply,  
As he began to answer him again,  
Prince Troyans' step● in between them ●●●●ne,   

And parted them, and with the company  
Of worthy knights, which he as then did guide,  
Behaved himself so brave and valiantly,  
That where he fought▪ the Greeks on everieside  
Were beaten down and killed, for that same day,  
He did six hundred knights most fiercely slay.   

And made the Greeks for fear the end of 〈◊〉  
Unto their tents, till Menelaus came in,  
With seven thousand Greeks in company,  
T'assail the Trojans fiercely did begin▪  
And made the Greeks march forward once again,  
And to reco●er ground upon the plain.   

But as he busied was to set upon  
The Trojan knights, ●● bea● them down by ●●●●●,  
He was encountered by King Ode●●●,  
Who valiantly did cast him off ●●●●●●●●,  
And wounded him so deeply in the face,  
That he had thought t'have died in that place.   

And had been prisoner ta'en and led away,  
(By aid and help of Troy●lus) to the town,  
But that in his extremity and need,  
So many thousand Grecian knights came dow●●  
To aid and rescue him: that Ode●●●  
Was forced to let King Menelaus alone.   

And at that time as it by chance fell out,  
King Diomedes with Troyelus did 〈◊〉,  
And ●re that he could turn himself about,  
With spear in hand so fiercely on him set▪  
That Troyelus by main and mighty force  
At unawares, he cast down from his horse,   

And gave it to his Squire for to bear  
To Cressida, and prayed her for his sake,  
That Present to accept (though small it were)  
And with good will, and in good part y ●o take  
That simple gift from her most loving knight▪  
That valiantly had won it in the ●●●●●,   

And taken it from him, whom sometimes ●he  
Had loved well▪ and likeed, and in her heart  
Esteemed and 〈◊〉 only knight to be.  
The Squire as he had, did strait depart,  
●●● when he came therewith to Cressida's tent,  
He did ●● in his masters name present.   

And as he had in charge, in humble rise  
Delivered ●● to ●●●, and earnestly  
Besought her that ●he would it not despise,  
But take it in good part, and courteously  
Vouchsafeto think on Diomedes her knight▪  
That in her ●●d his sole and whole delight.   

Whereto with countenance glad & joyful cheer,  
She answer made, and bad ●im go with speed  
Unto his Lord, and say ●o him from her,  
That for his part to fear he should not need,  
That she would prove uncourteous or unkind  
To him, in whom ●he did such kindness find.   

And would no● his good will and love reject,  
That unto her ●●●ranger in that place,  
So much himself did humble and subject,  
As to desire ●e●●● o●▪ love, and grace,  
That never had ●● him 〈◊〉 so well,  
And therefore had him to his master tell,   

That while she lived it was her sol● intent,  
His love to her ●●●●in her he●●t to set.  
The Squire with this answer gladly went  
Unto his Lord ●●d when with h●● he met,  
Unto him told▪ what she to him had said▪  
For which he was so well at heart apaid,   

That from thenceforth he did esteem it nought,  
What gri●●● so e●●● after to him fell.  
Mean time the Trojans then so bravely fought,  
And ●gainst the Gr●●ks behaved themselves so well,  
That they of force constrained w●re to fly  
Unto their tents, and there so cruelly   

Were slain and ●●●●●n down, that certainly  
They had been 〈◊〉 & clean driven out the field  
At that same time, and spoiled utterly.  
If 〈◊〉 when he them beh●ld,  
Had not come down with many a gallant man,  
At which time such a furious fight began,   

That many men were beaten down and field,  
But specially upon the Trojans side,  
For then the Greeks them wooed so hardly held,  
That they could not their fury great abide:  
And by that me●●● the Graecian ground them won,  
And Trojans to recoil as fast begun,   

And lost▪ their ground ●●●●●hat 〈◊〉,  
(Who with a troup of gallant knights & strong,  
The Greeks on th'other 〈◊〉 was)  
In furious ●●se did 〈◊〉 into the ●●●●ng,  
And such a slaugh●●● of the Greeks the● ma●●,  
That in short time●●● them compelled had   

To make retract, and way to fly at last▪  
Down towards thes●● unto the strand, where ●e  
Along the way did ●●●● them down so fast,  
And put them to so great extremity:  
That they were in no l●●tle fear and dread▪  
Until such time as fierce King Diomedes   

Beheld and saw how that Pollidam●s,  
So cruelly the Grecians did pursue,  
That if the fight continued as it was,  
He doubted some great danger would ensue  
Unto the Greeks, a spear in hand did take,  
And spurred his horse, and after him did make.   

And he likewise to show himself a knight  
Of valour great, his spear set in his rest,  
And valiantly with all his force and might,  
Smote Diomedes therewith into the breast,  
Clean through his arms a deep & deadly wound,  
Wherewith he fell down headlong on the ground.   

Which having done despite of all the force,  
That then the Grecians used t'ayd Diomedes,  
He bravely took and seized upon his horse,  
And by the bridle in his hand it l●d,  
And gave it unto Troyelus that stood  
On foot, as then all bathed in Grecians blood.   

(Whereas he fought with them so valiantly,  
That they could not his mighty blows sustain,  
For with his trenchant blade most cruelly,  
He killed and beat them down upon the plain)  
Who did his foot strait in the stirrup set,  
And with a trice upon his back did get▪   

And then again himself he did advance,  
And furiously upon the Grecians ●et,  
Till at the last with swords in hand by chance,  
He and Achilles both together met,  
And each the other valiantly assailed,  
But Troyelus against him so prevailed,   

That he did wound Achilles, and by force,  
(Despite of his great valour and his might)  
Most pvissantly did smite him off his horse.  
But near the less Achilles like a knight,  
That nothing feared, rose up upon his feet,  
And used all means he could his horse to get.   

But ere that he could do't, a new supply  
Of Trojan Knights enclosed him round about,  
And on him set with such dexterity,  
That he by no means from them could get out:  
And Hector at that time in furious rage,  
His choler on Achilles to assuage,   

A thousand Grecian knights did fiercely ●●ay,  
And many more by his victorious hand,  
Were beaten down that then stood in his way,  
And him (to aid Achilles) did withstand:  
Who at that time in extreme danger stood,  
And could not scape by any likelihood,   

But either had been taken, or else slain.  
For Hector on him set so furiously,  
That he had not been able to sustain  
The fight 'gainst him, and those that busily  
Upon him set; till that King Thelamon  
Much grieved thereat, when as he heard thereon,   

With many thousand Grecians thither road,  
(And in despite of all the Trojans force,  
Who notwithstanding bravely him withstood)  
Did rescue him, and holp him to his horse,  
But not without the loss of many a knight.  
But for because as then it drew to night,   

They left the battle for that time, and went  
Out of the field, the Trojans to the town:  
The Grecians every one unto his tent,  
And for that night to rest themselves lay down.  
And after that as Dares Frigius says,  
Continually for space of thirty days,   

They never ceased valiantly to fight,  
And furiously each other to destroy  
On either side, but yet for all their might,  
The Grecians lost much more than they of Troy.  
And Priam lost in those most furious fights,  
Six Bastard sons all brave and valiant knights.   

For whom he made much dole and heaviness,  
And never ceased to weep and to complain,  
And in that time (as Guido doth express)  
Hector a wound got in his face again:  
And in that sort each tother did procure,  
Great loss, while all those battles did endure.   

Till Priamus unto the Greeks sent down  
For truce for six months' space, if that they would  
Grant thereunto, which King Agamemnon  
With all his Lords contented was to hold:  
And so it was confirmed on either side,  
For so long time betwixt them to abide.   

And while it held, the worthy Champion  
Hector, the chief defence of Troy, did lie  
To heal and cure his wounds in Ilium,  
King Priam's Princely house. Whereof if I  
Should take on me (as Dares sets it down)  
To make to you a full description▪   

I fear I shall want learning to express,  
And show the same to you, for 'tis too much  
For my bare wit, to do't I must confess.  
For truth it is, there near was any such,  
In all the world before that ere was seen  
For riches, nor the like near since hath been.   

For (as he saith) 'twas made for great delight,  
And stood upon twelve mighty stones four square,  
The which were all of Alabaster white.  
The true and right proportion that it bore,  
Was twenty paces in the latitude,  
And just as many in the longitude.   

The pavement under foot was Christ all clear.  
And all the walls composed and made of stones,  
The which most costly, rich, and sumptuous were:  
As Rubies, sapphires, Aga●s, Diamones,  
Topas, Emrands, Turques, Crosolites,  
Purfier, jasper, jet, 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 fair & 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 bravely made of pure white Ivory,  
Which on the tops of each of them did hold,  
Most great and massy Images of gold,   

Enchased with Pearls & precious stones most bright.  
So that the stately workmanship and fashion,  
Of that most sumptuous Palace to the sight,  
Was likelier by estimation,  
To be composed by incantation,  
Then wrought and made by man's invention.   

And rather seemed a thing celestial,  
And framed by the heavenly Deity,  
Then any house of Prince terrestrial.  
But for because I never did it see,  
I will conclude and briefly to you tell,  
Th●● i● all other buildings did excel▪   

And turned again unto King Priamus,  
Who while the truce aforesaid did endure,  
Most earnest was by workmen curious,  
To make most costly tombs for Sepulture  
Of his six Bastard sons aforesaid dead,  
That in the war their lives had finished.   

And all this while King Diomedes lay sick,  
And inwardly did feel great woe and smart  
By Cupid's shaft, that cruelly did prick  
And sting him through the breast into the heart,  
For love of his fair Lady Cressida.  
For whom he never ceased both night & day,   

To fret & grieve, & with deep sighs complain,  
And for that cause most wilfully begun  
To leave all food, and foolishly abstain  
From earthly joy, and looked so pale and wan,  
That he did seem to be a man forlorn,  
And one that all terrestrial bliss did scorn.   

And ever unto her did still complain,  
And prayed her of love and charity,  
To show some grace to ease him of his pain,  
And nor to put him to extremity:  
Which surely was for her sweet sake to die,  
If unto him her love she would deny.   

But cunningly she held him at a bay,  
And for to have and keep him in good hope,  
She still did use to feed him with delay,  
Yet would not seem to give him too much scope:  
But as it were twixt hope and deep despair,  
Showed unto him a countenance glad and fair,   

To ease him partly of his heaviness,  
And then with some new trick as in disdain,  
Would put him to some other new distress,  
And rather more than less increase his pain:  
As wily women well can play such parts,  
With men that pierced are with Cupid's darts,   

And make them oftentimes to give assays,  
Yet wau'ringly to stand twixt hope and dread,  
By putting them to Nonplus by delays,  
As Cressida dealt with King Diomedes,  
Of purpose for to set him more on fire,  
For naturally all women do defy,   

When they have made men after them to dance,  
Twixt hope and dread both linked in a chain,  
Unequally to hang them in balance,  
Of most uncertain end of either twain:  
To make them long and many years to serve,  
Nought caring whether they dolive, or starve.   

Lo here what by too fervent love is got,  
For she to keep him still in servitude,  
Held him at such a bay, that he could not  
Perceive what she did mean, but to conclude  
Left him in doubt; wherein i'll let him lie,  
And unto you will further certify,   

How well themselves the Trojans did defend  
Against the Greeks their enemies in field,  
When as the six months' truce were at an end,  
Who after that, twelve days together held  
Continual fight and never would refrain,  
Wherein great store of valiant knights were slain   

On either side, all in their own defence,  
Which in the field long did unburied lie,  
Whereof ensued so great a pestilence  
Among the greeks, by much extremity  
Of heat, and by contagiousness of air,  
That they therewith did fall in great despair.   

For day by day so many of them died,  
That in short space their number did decrease  
Most mightily, the which when they espied,  
And saw the plague still more & more increased,  
Their General a messenger sent down,  
With all their whole consents unto the town.   

To crave a truce if Priam would consent  
And yield thereto, for thirty days t'endure.  
Which when the Trojans heard, they were content,  
And willingly the same did them assure:  
In hope the plague whereof they died so fast,  
Would be a means to kill them all at last.    

CHAP. VI  
¶ How Andromecha in a dream was forewarned of her Husband Hector's death, if he the next day following entered into the field; and how he refusing her counsel, was the next day slain in the battle by Achilles.  

WHen as the plague among the Greeks did cease,  
And time of truce likewise was at an end,  
The Grecians that in courage did increase,  
Determined and fully did intend,  
T'assail and set upon the Trojan foes  
Betimes next day, assoon as Phoebus' rose.   

But as the story saith, the night before,  
Andromecha Prince Hector's loving wife,  
▪ That unto him two Princely children bore,  
(Whom he did love as dearly as his life)  
The eldest called Laomedon, the other  
Astionax, much lesser than the other.   

For he as then was small and very young,  
And only with his mother's pap was fed,  
And neither had the use of foot nor tongue)  
As she lay fast a sleep within her bed,  
Was troubled with a sudden vision,  
Or as men say a revolution   

By dream (as happened to King Scipio)  
Whether it were by divine Oracle,  
Or that the Gods did then unto her shoe,  
And give her warning as a miracle)  
Wherein she thought that one to her did say,  
That if that Hector issued forth next day   

Out of the town his Grecian foes t'assail,  
That he should not escape, but certainly,  
Fell fate would then so much 'gainst him prevail,  
That she would him in trap, and finally  
Fierce Atropos that foul and devilish fend,  
The third of her dear husband's life would end.   

Thereby to show her cruel force and might:  
If he that day into the field did go.  
Wherewith she fell into so great a fright,  
And thought that she did feel such extreme woe:  
That waking of a sudden up she start,  
And for her dream was grieved at the heart.   

And lay and sighted sore, and could not sleep,  
By reason of the extreme grief and sorrow  
She had conceived, and piteously did weep,  
But specially the next ensuing morrow,  
When she beheld the worthy famous knight,  
Hector put on his complete armour bright,   

And ready was to go out of the town.  
To whom with floods of tears within her eyes,  
She ran in haste and on her knees fell down,  
And unto him declared with woeful cries,  
The fearful dream she had the night before,  
But he esteemed it not, but was therefore   

Offended, and with indignation  
Affirmed, and said that folly great it were  
For men that are of good discretion,  
Such peevish, fond, and idle dreams to fear,  
Or trust unto so foolish fantasies  
Of visions, that most commonly are lies,   

And full of jests and false elusions,  
Whereof the end is only to delude  
Such as do trust to their conclusions,  
Although the common people gross and rude,  
Are moved with most fond affection,  
To judge by them in their opinion   

What may ensue, and what they signify,  
Which many times falls out as they suppose,  
But oftener times do hap clean contrary.  
Whereat with wring hands strait up she ●●se▪  
But down again she fell, and there did lie  
A while as in a trance, and then did cry,   

And said alas, my love and Lord most dear,  
Why will you not believe nor think upon  
Your loving wife, but her refuse to hear,  
That with good will and true affection,  
Desires and wisheth you all good she can▪  
And up she rose like one that's mad and ran   

To Priamus and Hecuba that sat▪  
Together at that time, and down she fell  
Upon her knees, but long it was ere that  
For sobs and sigthes she could unto them▪ tell  
Her woeful case, till at the last she took  
Some courage, and with sad and heavy look,   

Unto them showed the fearful dream she had  
The night before▪ when as she wa●● 〈◊〉▪  
And to them there a full discourse then made  
Thereof in every point, with sighs most deep:  
Affirming that for certaineed would fall aur▪  
So as she said if Hector did go out   

That day into the field, sored was ordained  
By fortunes false and mischievous decree.  
And therewith in most piteous wise complained;  
And weeping prayed King Priam on her knee,  
Of her and hers to have compassion▪  
And with all speed to give direction,   

That Hector her dear Lord might not go out  
That day into the field, and therewithal  
With weeping tears she turned herself about,  
And in a deadly sound began to fall:  
And with exceeding pale and woeful cheer,  
Cried out & said, help, help, sweet mother dear.   

And of your great benignity and grace,  
Find means that my Lord Hector may not go,  
This day into the field to fight, no● pass  
Out of the gates, and to persuade him so:  
That he this day use neither spear nor shield,  
But unto your desire get him to yield.   

Whereto they both did willingly agree,  
And readily did grant to her request,  
And to that end with speed went down to see,  
When all the battles ready were, and priest  
To issue forth, where Troyelus first of all  
Appointed was upon the Greeks to fall.   

And next to him his brother Paris went.  
And after him Aeneas forth did pass.  
And then in order bravely placed were sent  
King Sarpedon, and brave Pollidamas.  
King Erio●●, and King Epistr●phus.  
And after them a King called Forcius.   

All richly armed in harness bright and clear.  
And last of all went out King Philomene,  
With all the Kings & Lords that then were there,  
To aid King Priamus. Who having seen  
Them all before him pass out of the town,  
Himself in person with them did go down   

A little way, and them in order placed.  
Which having done he bade them forward go,  
And willed them courageously to haste  
And set upon the Greeks, and there to show  
Their valours great 'gainst them with all their might,  
That ready were, and priest with them to fight.   

And proudly stood all armed in the plain,  
With ensigns spread in brave and warlike shoe;  
But Priamus with speed went back again,  
And unto Hector purposely did go,  
To will him not to ●●ue forth that day  
Into the field, but in the town to stay.   

For which he was sore grieved in his mind,  
And when he saw the battles all go forth  
Into the field, and he was stayed behind,  
He did begin to be exceeding wroth,  
And laid the fault thereof upon his wife,  
That seemed to be so tender of his life,   

Imposing upon her th'occasion,  
That he unto his great disgrace and shame,  
Constrained was to stay within the town.  
But that it might not derogate his fame,  
Nor give men cause by false report to say,  
That he for fear did stay within that day;   

He did protest, and with an oath it bound,  
That happen life or death he would go out  
Into the field, and therein would be found,  
Yea though he were assured without doubt,  
That he should die a thousand deaths and more,  
So stout a heart within his breast he bore.   

And for that cause he made no more delay,  
But armed himself again with full intent,  
Against his father's will, that bade him stay,  
To go into the field; and forward went.  
For fear whereof his wife did cry & shout,  
And with her child in both her arms ran out.   

And did to him most piteously complain,  
Beseeching him her sorrow to behold,  
And of his Princely love to ease her pain  
By granting her request, and that he would  
Not only pity her, but have a care  
Of his young Son which in her arms she bare.   

Who all the while would not from crying keep  
By any means, what so ever that she made:  
When as he saw his woeful mother weep,  
And kneeling on her knees unto him said,  
Alas my Lord have pity now on me,  
And on this tender babe whom here you see   

So woefully before you weep and cry,  
And be not so hard hearted and unkind,  
T'abandon us, and suffer us to die.  
Let Troy some mercy at thy hand now find,  
(Mine own dear Lord) lest it and we each one,  
Be put to cruel death when thou art gone,   

For want of aid. Thus did Andromecha  
Her Husband Hector mournfully desire  
To stay at home. The like Queen Hecuba  
His mother also of him did require,  
Together with his Sisters Cassandra,  
And Policene, with fair Queen Helena.   

Who all at once down at his feet did fall,  
And piteously their hair did rend and tear,  
And loudly cried, and dolefully did call  
On him, that he would for that day forbear  
To go into the field, and of the town,  
With them and her to have compassion,   

And to behold their sad and piteous moan,  
For that he was the bulwark and the wall,  
And chief defender of the town alone,  
And th'only true supporter of them all:  
In whom their only safety and good,  
With all their weal especially then stood.   

But all this could not move his heart to stay,  
Nor grant to their request, yet still they kneeled,  
And him with many brinish tears did pray,  
Unto their cries and woeful suit to yield,  
And that they might some sparks of grace then feel  
To come out of his heart as hard as steel,   

By pitying them and on their woe to rue,  
Which likely was to their destruction  
And overthrow, still daily to renew:  
For that of their most famous Trojan town,  
His death would be the ruin and decay.  
Yet all this could by no means make him stay,   

But forth he would with heart courageous,  
Which was inflamed with extreme wrath & rage,  
And like a Lion fierce and furious,  
Would by no means his cruelty assuage:  
For neither cry nor lamentation,  
Could him withdraw from his opinion.   

For casting every danger clean aside,  
And all persuasions what so ere were made,  
He spurred his horse, and forward 'gan to ride,  
Wherewith his wife such extreme dolour had  
Within her heart, that with face pale and wan,  
In furious wise unto the King she ran   

So sore amazed, and in such woeful case,  
That she could hardly tell where she did go,  
And with salt tears be-dewing all her face,  
So strangely looked that no man could her know:  
And in that sort with great perplexity,  
She fell before King Priam on her knee,   

And unto him her woeful case did shoe.  
Desiring him to put his helping hand,  
To stay her husband Hector that would go  
Out of the town, whom no man could withstand,  
Vnlesseed were he; who presently did bid  
One bring his horse, and forth in hast he rid,   

And pitying her estate, did for her sake,  
Set spurs unto his horse with so great haste,  
That he did Hector speedily o'ertake,  
Before that he out of the gate was passed:  
And strait laid hold upon his horses rain,  
And made him 'gainst his will turn back again.   

(Wherein he would his father not gain say,  
Although he was full loathe the same to do)  
And by that means entreated was to stay,  
And partly was by force constrained thereto:  
And so he did down from his horse alight,  
With heart so full of rancour and despite,   

Melancholy and hot and burning ire,  
That his courageous heart did boil in blood,  
And with disdain was set on such a fire,  
That like a Tiger fierce, or Lion wood  
And furious, deprived of his prey,  
He did behave himself all that same day.   

Or like a Boar that as he goes doth whet  
And grind his tusks, still walking up and down,  
While that the greeks & they of Troy did meet,  
Where at the first young Troyel●● fore the town,  
In furious wise upon his gallant steed,  
By chance did meet with fierce King Diomedes.   

And both of them so furiously assailed,  
And set upon each other with such might,  
That neither arms nor weapons had prevailed,  
But one or both of them in that hard fight  
Had died, if that King Menelaus had not been,  
That suddenly came riding them between,   

And made them part, and after valiantly  
Did spur his horse, and ran at Mereon  
The Phrygian King, and him most cruelly  
With sword in hand assailed and set upon:  
And at him struck a blow with so great force,  
That with the same he field him off his horse.   

And at that time he surely had been ta'en,  
Or lost his life, the Greeks so mightily  
Assailed and set on him, and on the plain  
Enclosed him round about, and furiously  
Plucked off his helm, and band upon him laid,  
And had him led away. If to his aid   

Pollidamas had not come suddenly,  
With many valiant knights with him, and when  
He saw King Mereon in extremity,  
And 'mongst a troup of Grecians prisoner, then  
In furious wise he did upon them set,  
And him out of their hands by force did get.   

But ere he could relieve him clean from thence,  
On either side there was such mortal strife,  
For that the Greeks 'gainst him made great defence,  
That many a valiant knight then lost his life:  
For rather than he should from them be ta'en,  
They swore & vowed that he should first be slain.   

And by that means he was in danger great.  
But suddenly to free him from the same,  
Young Troyelus upon the Grecians set:  
And at the first as he amongst them ●a●●e,  
He did behave himself 'gainst them so well,  
And in such furious wise upon them ●ell,   

That in despite of them and all their train,  
Most valiantly he holp king Mereon,  
And him restored to liberty again.  
And then into the field came Thelamon,  
That of three thousand knights the leader was,  
And suddenly unhorsed Pollidamas.   

And him in midst of all his knights cast down  
Unto the ground. But worthy Troyelus  
T'increase his haughty fame and great renown,  
Despite of them with courage furious,  
Holp him perforce unto his horse again,  
But at that time the Trojans were so slain,   

And beaten down by Greeks on every side,  
(For fierce Achilles then so cruelly  
Pursued them) that they could not abide  
Before his face, but of necessity  
Constrained were perforce to fly away,  
And by no means within the field would stay.   

But fiercely chaste by him unto the town,  
Close by the walls did loose great store of men.  
Which when the valiant Knight Margariton,  
One of King Priam's bastard children  
Perceived and saw, such havoc of them made,  
Such grief and sorrow in his heart he had,   

And was so moved thereat with great disdain,  
To see them fly and chaste so furiously,  
And fore the walls so many of them slain,  
He purposed with heart courageously,  
T'revenge them on Achilles if he might:  
And therefore like a strong and valiant knight,   

He spurred his horse & through the press he broke,  
And in the midst of all the Myrmidons,  
Enforced himself to kill, or else to take  
Achilles, and to that end on him runs,  
And him with fierce and furious mood assailed,  
But notwithstanding all his might, he failed   

Of that which he intended to have done.  
(For as fell fortune did for him ordain,  
Which by no means he could at that time shone)  
He was himself by fierce Achilles slain:  
Wherewith the Trojans presently did fly,  
Unto the town with fearful noise and cry,   

To see the valiant Knight Margariton,  
Dead on the ground so piteously to lie,  
And also for because King Thelamon,  
Pursued them with so great cruelty,  
And with his sword so fiercely shed their blood,  
Though Paris him courageously withstood,   

With all his valiant bastard Brethren,  
But near the less the Troyans more and more  
Fled back, and with the loss of many men,  
Constrained were to give the field clean over:  
And entering into Troy with mighty fear,  
Margareton's dead corpse with them did bear.   

And after them shut fast the gates with speed,  
Whose body when as Hector did behold,  
His heart within his breast for grief did bleed,  
And for that cause he swore and vowed he would,  
(Without abode or any more delay)  
Revenge his death upon the Greeks that day.   

And presently his complete arms put on,  
And mounting on his horse with speed did go  
Out of the town, before that any one  
Of those that would have stayed him did it know:  
And like a Lion in his cruelty  
Assailed the Grecians host so furiously,   

That like to swarms of Bees, they ran away  
Before his sword, and thought it best to get  
Out of his sight, and he that time did slay  
Two worthy Dukes that then upon him set,  
Whereof the one was called Euripalus,  
The other had to name Halcidius.   

And by that means the Trojans having won  
Their ground again, they did the Grecians slay  
So furiously, that they in hast begun  
To leave the field, and give the Trojans way:  
Yet though they were pursued so, than it was  
Their chance by force to take Pollidamas,   

A Trojan knight, but Hector spurred his horse,  
And road into the thickest of the press,  
And took him from them all again by force,  
And after put the Greeks to such distress,  
That through his valour great where s'ere he rood,  
He bathed his trenchant blade within their blood.   

And was so cruel and so merciless,  
That none escaped his hands that with him met,  
And then a Grecian called Leothides,  
Presumptuously would needs upon him set,  
While he was in his greatest rage and ire:  
But Hector, who as then had great desire   

To make the Grecians feel his cruelty,  
Slew him forthwith, and on the ground him cast.  
The which when as Achilles did espy,  
And saw how he the Grecians slew so fast,  
And hacked and hewed them down, & spared none,  
He did conceive in his opinion,   

That while that Hector lived it was most sure,  
The Greeks should near o'ercome their enemies,  
Nor long 'gainst them in battle could endure.  
And for that cause did study and devise,  
Which way to find the means by force or slight,  
To rid him of his life, if that he might.   

And with him also did therein consent  
Pollicenes an Indian Duke, that had  
His love unto Achilles' sister bend,  
And she of him her only choice had made:  
Who, that he might more in her favour stand,  
Presumed to take that enterprise in hand.   

And him began t'assail with courage bold,  
But he was slain by Hector presently.  
The which when as Achilles did behold,  
And saw him there dead on the ground to lie,  
His heart with so great fury was possessed,  
That presently he set his spear in rest,   

And ran therewith at Hector furiously,  
But Hector with a dart most sharply ground,  
Which he with mighty force at him let fly,  
Struck him clean through the thigh a mighty wound:  
Which grieved him so that he could not abide  
Within the field, but was constrained to ride,   

With all the speed he could unto his tent,  
And there bound up his wound, and presently  
Did mount upon his horse again, and went  
Into the field, in fear lest he should die  
Of that same wound so dangerous and sore,  
And not to take revenge on him before.   

For he desired no better remedy,  
To case him of the grief he did sustain,  
Then for to have the means and liberty,  
That Hector by his hands might first be slain:  
For of his death he did small reckoning make,  
So he might like revenge on Hector take.   

And so he made a full conclusion,  
Death for death to give him if he might,  
And with that steadfast resolution,  
And heart replete with choler and despite,  
He road in mighty rage to find him out:  
While Hector ranged the field and plain about.   

And like a Lion fierce and Tiger fell,  
The Grecians slew and beat from place to place,  
And by his valour great which did excel,  
With sword in hand did them so hotly chase,  
That as the sheep before the Wolf do fly,  
They ran assoon as they did him espy,   

For none so hardy was on him to set.  
And while that he such havoc of them made,  
Amongst the Greeks a Grecian King he met,  
That on his back a goodly armour had,  
Engraved and set with many a precious stone,  
And Pearls fine that bright & clearly shone.   

For on the circle of his helm throughout,  
And all the borders of his Crest were set,  
In every place (on Velvet edged about)  
Most rich and precious stones of value great:  
Whose Armour when as Hector did behold,  
To be so rich of precious stones and gold,   

assoon as he unto the king drew near,  
He ran at him, and with exceeding force  
Clean through the heart did pierce him with his spear,  
Wherewith ●e died, and fell off from his horse,  
And Hector then did presently alight,  
And being of exceending strength & might,   

took up the body armed as it was,  
Before him on his sadle-bow, and ride  
Therewith out of the battle, that when as  
He had it got out of the way aside,  
He might of his rich armour make a pray,  
And spite of all the Grecians bear't away,   

Being glad that he had gotten such a prize.  
But out alas, that ere he should it see,  
Or set his mind so much on a varice,  
The heat whereof cannot extinguished be  
Out of man's heart, if once therein it get:  
For 'tis the cause that maketh man to set   

His mind on nothing else but greediness,  
Which clean disgraceth true Nobility,  
And doth extinguish all the worthiness  
Of Conquerors, and such as by degree  
Of honour seek to climb to lofty fame,  
And oftentimes clean blemisheth the same.   

A covetous desire of getting wealth,  
Belongeth not unto Nobility,  
Nor riches gotten so by spoil or stealth,  
Pertaineth not to worthy Chivalry:  
For avarice and Knighthood disagree,  
And cannot well together linked be.   

For certain 'tis, that greediness of gain  
Hath often been the only overthrow  
Of many famous men that have been slain,  
As Guido in this History doth show  
By worthy Hector's fall, who coveting  
To have the sumptuous armour of that king,   

So greedy was thereof, that when he had  
The body up, and on his horse it bore,  
To have the spoil thereof such hast he made,  
That he did hang his shield without all care  
Behind him at his back, the easier  
To pull the armour off at his desire.   

And by that means his breast clean open lay,  
And nothing to defend nor save the fame,  
But his thin plates. Wherein I needs must say,  
He was too vnadvised and much to blame:  
an't grieves me that so brave a Champion,  
And of all knighthood the only pateron,   

Should have of his own good so little care,  
As not to think upon his enemy,  
That him so great and deadly hatred bare,  
And watching time and opportunity,  
On him attended had all that same day,  
To take him at advantage, and then lay   

Close hover not far off from him, to spy  
A time t'effect his purpose and desire,  
For at that time Achilles so ●●●● die,  
With heart replete with wrath and furious ire,  
(While Hector so the dead King's body bear  
Upon his horse) tookeup a mighty spear   

And therewith did at Hector fiercely ride,  
And smote him unawares with great despite  
Into the heart, ●hat he fell down and died:  
And so that most renowned Trojan knight  
Was slain by careless bearing of his shield.  
Whose death when as King Odemon beheld,   

He was so grieved there at, that presently  
He road unto Achilles, and despite  
Of all his Myrmidons, most furiously  
Smote him so great a blow with all his might,  
That down for dead he fell upon the plain,  
As if at that same time he had been slain.   

Wherewith his knights strait laid him on a shield,  
And bore him fair and softly thence away  
Into his tent, where staying to be healed,  
I'll leave him for a while sick as he lay:  
And show how when that night began t'appear,  
The Grecians that with fight wearied were,   

Unto their tents retired, and lest the plain.  
And at that time the Trojans also went,  
With heavy hearts into the town again,  
And all the way did mournfully lament  
For Hector's death, whose body solemnly  
They bore with them, and weeping bitterly,   

Unto the Temple therewith all did go.  
And in that sort that doleful day did end,  
And all the night ensuing with great woe  
And heaviness, did after likewise spend:  
Wherein I will them lea●e, and for a while  
To mourn for Hector's death, i'll turn my stile.    

CHAP. VII.  
¶ The complaint of Lidgate for the death of Hector; and the description of the sumptuous Tomb that King Priam made for him.  

THe fearful stile which I till now have held,  
Of dangerous, cruel, fierce, and bloody war,  
So numbs my hand, that I can hardly wield  
My pen that is so clogged with fear and care,  
Of valiant Hector's death the truth to write,  
Unless some one vouchsafe me help t'indite.   

But unto whom shall I cry out or call  
For help? it must not be to any one  
Of those fair Nymphs amongst the Muses all,  
That on Parnassus' hill by Helicon,  
So Angel-like with heavenly melody,  
Do sing together with such harmony,   

That no man can express nor well declare,  
The sweet accord of their most pleasant song,  
For they do never disagree nor jar,  
And have their instruments most sweetly strong,  
That they on them no doleful tunes can sound,  
Nor ditty sweet with woeful songs compound.   

Of them therefore it boots me not to crave,  
Their aid to help in this extremity,  
And sure I am I shall as little have  
Of Clio, or of fair Calliope:  
I therefore must make suit with woeful moan,  
And many a grievous sigh and ghastly groan.   

Unto Megaera, Allecto, and Thesiphone,  
That ever are in sorrow, and complain  
With brinish tears in bad condition:  
For they still live in extreme woe and pain  
Eternally, and do in torments dwell  
With triple headed Cerberns in hell.   

Whom I must pray to be to me bening,  
In this my case which is so lamentable,  
For to a man whom sorrow still doth sting,  
A show of fear is always commendable,  
And in a matter full of heaviness,  
A heavy look the same doth best express.   

Help me herein o● Niobe to moon,  
And in my pen some of thy tears distil.  
Do thou the like oh cruel Action.  
And Be●ides that dost the bucket fill.  
Help with thy rolling stone good Sesiphus.  
And furtherme also poor Tantalus,   

That hungrest still in water without rest.  
Help me I pray you all my plaints to end,  
And let me crave of you to do your best,  
To aid me so that I my wits may bend,  
With phrases fit the woeful chance to tell,  
Of him that did in worthiness excel.   

And while he lived the root of Knighthood was,  
The only mirror of all Chivalry,  
The man that did all other men surpass,  
For valour and for great activity:  
And th'only pattern of all courtesy,  
As Guido showeth in this History.   

Why shouldst thou die oh Hector valorous?  
What was the cause thou tookst no better heed,  
Oh Parchas fell and too too mischievous,  
So carelessly to twist his vital thread?  
And what did move thee Atropos thereto,  
So hastily to cut the same in two?   

Oh Troy alas, well mayst thou mourn and cry,  
And bitterly lament thy woeful state,  
That art this day bereaved so suddenly  
(By most accursed, false, and wavering fate)  
Of him that was thy special prop and stay,  
And chief defence and bulwark night & day,   

And he that only made thee fortunate.  
Now, now, alas, the brightness of thy sun  
Eclipsed is, and thou art desolate  
Of comfort, and in manner clean undone:  
Thy light is out, and thou dost plunged lie  
In darkness, for this day most certainly   

Is slain the bravest, and the worthiest,  
The most renowned and chivalorous,  
And of all valiant knights the hardiest  
la battle, and the most victorious  
That ever was or shall be borne most sure  
Within the world, while that it doth endure▪   

No marvel than it is thou weepst so sore  
For him, sith he both in thy woe and weal,  
Was thy defence and comfort evermore,  
And he whom thou didst love and like so well:  
That sure thou canst not prove so much unkind,  
As not to think still of him in thy mind.   

For as the story maketh mention,  
There was not any one (of what degree  
Or state so ere he was) within the town,  
But rather would (in that extremity)  
Have lost his child, to save his life, if so  
The Gods would have been pleased to grant thereto.   

The women for their parts of every age,  
Throughout the town did stand along the street,  
And for his death most piteously did rage,  
And with great floods of tears their faces wet▪  
And tearing of their hair for grief and woe,  
In furious wise ran crying too and fro.   

Such extreme dolour at that time they made,  
That pity great it was the same to see,  
The maids likewise no lesser sorrow had,  
And wring of their hands most piteously,  
Did sob and sith, and loudly cry and call,  
And said alas, now shortly 'twill be fall,   

That we shall see our fathers daily slain  
Before our eyes with great extremity,  
For no man will our quarrel now sustain,  
Sith Hector's dead, for he was wont to be  
Our only trust, and in his valour stood  
Our chiefest stay, our safety, and our good.   

Whose body when King Priam did behold,  
His heart it was so filled with extreme grief,  
That both his hands together he did fold,  
And like a man clean void of all relief,  
His face with bitter tears did bathe and drowned,  
And could not speak, but fell into a sound.   

And so as cold as any stone did lie,  
And neither stirred nor moved foot nor hand,  
Desiring rather presently to die,  
Then in so great extremity to stand:  
And in that sort on Hector's body lay,  
Till that his sons by force pulled him away.   

Who also sad and sorrowful to see  
Their brother there lie dead before their eyes,  
Did fall into so great perplexity,  
That casting out most bitter sigths and cry,  
They fared as if their hearts would burst in sunder,  
Which made all those that saw them much to wonder,   

For every one of them such dolour made,  
And were so filled with grief and great remorse,  
That they did seem as if no care they had,  
But only to have died upon the corpse:  
And did such lamentation make, that sure  
A heart of flint could not so much endure.   

What shall I say of Hecuba the Queen,  
Or Cassandra that was esteemed so wise,  
Or of his sister Lady Policene,  
Or how should I the sorrow great devise,  
To show to you of his most woeful wife,  
That loved him as dearly as her life?   

Who all in great extremity and woe,  
As if they would have killed themselves did weep,  
And rend and tore their golden hair, and so  
Torment themselves, and such a noise did keep  
` About his corpse; that if particularly,  
I should upon me take to certify   

Their sorrows, griefs, and lamentations,  
Their piteous sighs, and salt and brinish tears,  
Their woeful cries and exclamations,  
Their sad complaints, extremities, and fears,  
And all their mournful jestures specify,  
It would too great a volume occupy.   

If I should every thing in order name,  
And over long and tedious to be heard,  
Of any man to listen to the same:  
For many days ensuing afterward,  
They wept before the corpse most woefully,  
And rend and tore themselves so piteously,   

That wondered was they could so much endure,  
But that they're used to weep & to complain,  
For 'tis a point of women's nature sure,  
Tears at command out of their eyes to strain,  
For every thing wherewith they are displeased,  
Till that their hearts thereby are somewhat eased.   

And so ●e let them sigh and sorrow still,  
And woefully with extreme grief complain  
In mourning weeds till they have cried their fill:  
And I to them do turn my stile again,  
And show how Priam by invention  
Did find a way without corruption,   

To keep the body still unburied  
Above the earth, (the which will putrify,  
And clean consume to dust when it is dead,  
If in the air above the ground it lie:  
For if that Art do not surmount nature,  
It cannot there long uncorrupt endure.)   

Which to prevent King Priam did devise,  
To have the same preserved from filthy smell,  
And loathsomeness and horror to the eyes,  
To make it show as lively, fresh, and well,  
As if that it still quick and living were.  
The charge whereof he was content to bear,   

Whate'er it cost, and sent men up and down,  
To search and seek with diligence and care,  
For all the skilfulst workmen in the town,  
That could by Artsuch costly things prepare,  
As might effect the work that he would have.  
And to that end, to them commission gave   

Without delay to take the same in hand,  
Which they performed & quickly brought to pass,  
Within an ancient Temple that did stand,  
Hard by the gate called Timbria, and was  
By Priam built, which he did dedicated,  
And to his God Apollo consecrate.   

Wherein hard by the Altar they did frame,  
A Chapel made of rich and costly stone,  
And at the upper end within the same,  
Upon a stage did frame a Princely throne:  
(So high as that within it they might set  
An Image of proportion huge and great.)   

Supported by four Pillars all of gold,  
With Angels standing on them all enchased  
And graven, that most stately work t'uphold,  
The roof whereof with arches overcast,  
Was plated all with gold most sumptuously,  
Embossed, knobbed, & knotted curiously.   

And in each knob and knot a precious stone,  
Of value great and price inestimable,  
Which both by day and night so brightly shone,  
That they did make it show as delectable  
And lightsome in the dark & shady night,  
As at noonday when Phoebus shone most bright.   

To mount up to this Princely throne there was  
Twelve goodly fair and stately steps, that were  
Most curiously composed of Christ all glass,  
Which showed so smooth, transparent, bright, & clear,  
That men did them admire; & on each one  
A pinnacle there stood of jasper stone,   

At either end with Rubies rich enchased,  
Upon the points most stately to behold,  
And on the top of all this work was placed  
A huge and mighty Image made of gold  
Like Hector, which with countenance fierce did stand,  
And looked upon the Greeks with sword in hand.   

And in this throne king Priamus did place  
The body of dead Hector, which by art  
Was made to show as lively in the face,  
Eyes, colour, look, and skin, and every part,  
As when it lived, appareled also,  
As commonly on earth he used to go.   

For that through pipes of gold which bowed down  
By skilful Art, and cunning policy,  
A precious liquor ran into his Crown,  
And from that place with great subtlety  
Into his veins, and sine●●● did deseend,  
And by the virtue thereof did defend   

And keep his body from corruption,  
And made his skin and colour show as pure  
And lively without alteration▪  
As when he was a living creature:  
And at his head there stood a voyoll full  
Of precious balm, which ran into his soul,   

And from the same by pipes composed by skill  
Into his neck, and every other place  
Did penetrate, and with the same did fill  
The veins, and all the poors of his face,  
And made it show as lively and as fresh,  
As if't had been a quick and living flesh.   

(The balm therein wrought so effectually,  
Much like unto a spirit vegetable,  
The which without all sense in things doth lie,  
And yet hath power and is available▪  
By lively force, and kind humidity,  
Life to infuse in flower, herb, and tree.)   

And likewise did the power thereof extend  
Into each vain, and sinew in his breast,  
Back, arms, & hands, and downward did descend  
Through all his bones, and joints, and ne'er did rest  
Till it did run into his thighs, and feet,  
At which a voyoll full of gum most sweet,   

And balm was set, which never would decay,  
Nor yet impair by no distemperature,  
But still increased and waxed every day  
Of greater force, and sweeter did endure.  
Where of the vapour upward did ascend,  
And such a pleasant savour forth did send,   

And made all round about the air to rise,  
(For that it 'twas most exquisitely good)  
That it did seem an earth by Paradise.  
And fore the corpse four lamps of gold there stood  
Within that place continually gave light,  
And never ceased burning day nor night.   

All ●●ld with oil, (if it be credible)  
The which is said to be of such a kind,  
That it was sound ●●be impossible  
To 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 tempest, 〈◊〉 or wind.  
Not never 〈…〉 in many years,  
Which lamps did hang high 〈…〉 by wires.   

And such 〈…〉,  
That 〈…〉 the same to s●ell.  
And when this work was brought unto an end,  
And every thing was done exceeding well,  
And pleased the eyes of all that did it see,  
They made a grate of wood of Heban tree:   

(Which wood alarmed is will ere endure,  
And being cut doth smell exceeding sweet,  
●●d can by no means waste, for this is sure,  
T▪ will never burn by any extreme heat  
Of fire, as it hath been tried oft.  
●● wa●er ●● n●re swimmeth up alo●t,   

But down into the bottom strait doth go.  
And as some men thereof make mention,  
This tree hath been long since esteemed so  
And heldon in such reputation,  
That in the fertile soil of India  
And in the land of Ethiopia,   

They used to pay a tribute as 'tis sound,  
Of Ivory, fine gold, and Heban tree,  
To th'Emperor as they thereto were bound)  
And when King Priam saw the work to be  
Performed in so brave and sumptuous wise,  
That he in heart no better could devise,   

He did ordain a quire of Priests to pray  
Continually with great devotion,  
Before that Princely throne both night and day  
For Hectors ●oule, and gave them pensions  
To live upon, and rooms wherein to lie,  
And bound them to do't perpetually.   

But while that they are in their orations,  
With Hector's death my third Book I will end.  
And for a while will leave the Troyans'  
In sorrow great, and woe the time to spend.  
And show you what the Grecians mean while do,  
If that you please to hearken thereunto.    
FINJS.   

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR.  
THE FOURTH BOOK.  

CHAP. 1.  
¶ How the Grecians deprived Agamemnon of his place of Genorall of their Army, and made Pallamides General in his place.  

THe worthy Champion Hector, being slain,  
And fierce Achilles borne unto his tent.  
Whereas he lay in danger great, and pain.  
King Agamemnon for the Grecians sent,  
Next day betimes assoove as son did rise,  
To ask of them their counsel and advise,   

What would be best for them as then to do,  
Sith they by vallant Hector's death were free  
From danger great which he had put them two,  
And out of fear of his great cruelty.  
And when that they were altogether met  
Within his tent, and there in order set,   

And silence made, he spoke unto them all,  
And said my Lords and Princes every one  
That now are here: If you to mind will call  
What good the Gods of late for you have done.  
You ought to give them thanks with humble voice,  
And inwardly in heart and mind rejoice,   

To think on Hector's death, for he alone  
Was th'only prop and chief support of Troy,  
Their whole defence, and their protection,  
Their chiefest trust, their honour, and their joy.  
And unto us confusion and death,  
For that while he enjoyed vital breath.   

We never could his valour great withstand,  
Nor victory against our foes obtain.  
For when that we did first set foot on lend,  
Prothesalus by him was fiercely slain.  
And next day when in field again we met,  
He did upon Patroclus fiercely set,   

And with his sword did cleave his breast in twain,  
And after killed King Menon furiously  
And next by him Archilagus was slain,  
And in his wrath and extreme cruelty,  
He slew the most renowned Prothenor,  
And then the valiant King called Alphenor.   

King Phillis also and Epistrophus,  
And Merian a Prince of great renown.  
And after him a King called Zantipus,  
And in the field as he road up and down,  
He flew two Kings, the one called Dorius,  
The other had to name King Cedius.   

And after that he killed strong Polibet,  
L●●aboni●, Policenes, and more,  
For in his wrath he slew King Phi●b●●,  
And to the ground in surious wife he bore,  
And killed the valiant King Isidius,  
And then the noble King called Humorous,   

For eighteen great and worthy Kings, and many  
Brave Earls, Dukes, and Princes he hath slain,  
With thousands more. So that not ever any  
Likevalor to him showed, nor could obtain  
Such victory 'gainst us, for that his hand  
Was th'only terror to us in this Land.   

But'now he's dead, to our no little joy,  
(The Gods be thanked therefore) and to the woe  
And great distress of all that are in Troy,  
As by experience time to them will show.  
Laud also and much honour given be  
To Fortune, for her great benignity   

Unto us shown in helping us so well,  
To bring that furious Champion to his end,  
By turning of her ●alse and fickle wheel,  
And unto us such favour did extend.  
That by his death while this war doth endure,  
All we that now are here, may live secure.   

With comfort great and ease of extreme care  
And fear we had of him while that he lived.  
Where contrary the Tr●ians all now are  
(By death of him that only them relieved)  
Texpect nought else but their destruction,  
And finally their towns subversion.   

For now he's gone, they cannot long endure,  
For be assured we will them so much grieve,  
(That from hence forth we may ourselves assure  
To have our wills on them ere we them leave.)  
And make this siege to them importable,  
If we do hold together firm and stable.   

Their ship in th'end is like to prove a wrack,  
And ready with huge billows t'orewhelme,  
For all their hope and comfort goeth back▪  
And deep despair is guider of the●● helm.  
And maketh them continually depend  
On death, while we our state do still amend;   

By aid of God both on the sea and land,  
For now without all ambiguity,  
We may expect the victory at hand;  
And boldly light with great security  
Against our foes, without all fear or dread▪  
But yet my counsel is ere we proceed   

T'assail our foes, as we intent to do,  
To stay a while and not to pass our bonds,  
Till that Achilles to the fieild may go  
With us, when he is healed of his wounds.  
And then we will assail them valiantly,  
And put them to most great extremity.   

And till we have destroyed them never cease,  
Mean time we'll send unto King Priamus  
A messenger for to entreat with him for peace  
For two months space, if he will grant it us:  
Whereto I do not doubt but he'll agree,  
Sith for his good as well as ours 'twill be.   

For he thereby may liberty obtain,  
To celebeate the funerals of those  
Dead Troyans' that within the field lie slain,  
And serve for food to beast and carrion Crows:  
And such a shincke into the air do cast,  
That t'cannot choose but breed the plague at last.   

And we the while may do the same likewise,  
And heal our wounds, and give our body's rest.  
And so when they had all agreed by good advise,  
Considered of his speech, and found it best  
For them to do't. They did thereto consent,  
And presently a messenger was sent   

To Troy for truce, which granted was full soon  
By Priamus, and he returned again  
With speed, and made to them relation▪  
What he had done while he did there remain,  
And for that truce, their counsel broke up so,  
And every one unto his tent did go.   

And while the truce endured, and they lay still,  
And leisure had to think on their estate:  
Pallamides whose heart began to fill  
And swell with pride, disclaim, and deadly hate▪  
grudge in his mind that King Agamemnon,  
Because he had the sole dominion,   

And o'er the Grecian house was General,  
And for that cause did envy him so much,  
(And into such a great conceit did fall  
Of his own worth,) that he began to grudge,  
And murmured with indignation  
At him, and in his furious passion▪   

Did seem to use such terms to his disgrace,  
That all that heard the same might easily know  
What he did mean, and yet he let it pass,  
As thought he made no account thereof in show.  
Till in the end that King Agamemnon,  
Who was a Prince of great discretion,   

Did hear thereof, and knowing his intent,  
Determined with himself to move the same  
Unto the Grecian Princes in his ●en●,  
And when they all together thither came,  
And orderly were set. That worthy King  
Agamemnon, a Prince in every thing   

So cercumspect, so wise, and provident,  
So temperate, demure, and virtuous,  
So prudent, well advisd, and patient,  
And never given to be malicious:  
Although he knew Pallamides intent,  
And saw how much his heart to pride was bend.   

With decent terms and great discretion,  
(As he that could well frame and tell his mind,  
And so restrain the same from passion  
And hastiness, or any other kind  
Of bad behaviour, or unseemliness,  
That nothing passed but with advisedness   

Out of his mouth, as first considered  
Within his heart with great sincerity,  
And neither for affection nor for dread,  
Would seem to break the bonds of modesty.  
Nor in his speeches superfluously let pass  
One word, or sentence that unseemly was.)   

He first saluted all his company:  
And when he had caused silence to be made,  
In seemly wise and in great courtesy,  
He spoke unto Pallamides and said,  
You need not King Pallamides said he,  
As I suppose, if you advised be,   

To muse o● grudge that I am General  
Of our great host, if you considered  
How I attained thereto by choice of all  
The Princes here, and that 'twas offered  
To me by full and free Election,  
And not by any composition   

By me, or any for me, to procure  
The same in my behalf once given or made,  
For there of in my heart I am most sure,  
No such ambitious thought I ever had:  
Nor never dreamt of any such pretence,  
But am most clear thereof in conscience.   

Which never moved was with such vain glory,  
As to aspire, or any ways contest  
For this estate, which is but transitory,  
Though I must say that I have done my best,  
To see and look that all things might be well,  
And for the good of this our common weal.   

And also that I had a special care,  
As 'tis my charge while I the same do hold,  
Of every man's estate particular.  
And ever an indifferent eye did hold  
To all degrees of persons high or low,  
To help them in their need, when I did know   

That they had need of aid, and day and night,  
Was always moved with great carefulness,  
And special heed as much as ere I might;  
To see that none did fall into distress.  
And such a jealous eye thereto I had,  
That in my heart I was exceeding glad   

To do the best I could to please each one,  
And that no man should at me take offence,  
Nor have in me the least suspicion,  
Of envy, sloth, or any negligence  
In my estate, but ever more desired  
To do my best, as time and place required,   

For every man without exception.  
And therefore I assure myself full well,  
That in the host there is not any one  
Of high or low estate that I can tell,  
That can or may accuse me certainly  
Of falsehood, or of partiality,   

In his behalf, for I have always had  
So great a care to nourish unity  
And friendship 'mong you all, that I was glad  
To see you live in love and amity.  
So that till now I am full well assured,  
That while I in this office have endured,   

No such occasion hath been ministered,  
And all the Gods well know I never feared,  
Nor cared, though you had determined  
An other in my place to have preferred:  
And given him the sovereignty,  
And let me live at ease and liberty   

In quietness of mind, as many more  
Great Lords, and Princes here amongst you may,  
That I might with my whole desire and power,  
Fight for our common weal both night and day.  
And ere in this our quarrel (if so be  
It please the Gods) it should so hap to me.   

Which for my part I speak and do not feign,  
For 'twere no boot for me herein to lie.  
And where you say, and thereof do complain  
That I was chosen without your privity:  
'tis true indeed, as every man can tell  
You were not here, if you remember well.   

Nor came not hither unto Troy, well near  
After that we our voyage had begun,  
And planted this our siege, in two whole year,  
And for to let so long time overrun,  
To stay till you had come, it might perchance  
Have been to us a mighty hindrance,   

And extreme hurt, for if that we had stayed,  
And lain so long at Athens still for you,  
(As by yourself it cannot be denayed,)  
It's like we had remained there till now.  
And where you did esteemed uncredible,  
And held it for a thing impossible   

For Grecians to presume in any wise,  
(Without the aid and help of yours and you;)  
To take on them so great an enterprise,  
It's nothing so, as you see plainly now.  
For they without offence (to you be't said)  
By force and power without you or your aid,   

Performed have with most victorious hand,  
And by their valour great, and worthiness,  
Great matters both by water and by land:  
And where you think, and say of me no less,  
That I am proud of this my great estate,  
To see myself so highly elevate:   

And that I seem because of my degree  
Of General, t'extol and magnify  
Myself too much: It is so far from me,  
That for to prove and show the contrary,  
And put you clean out of suspicion,  
I will thereof make resignation   

Unto you now, myself thereby t'excuse,  
And for that cause I do advise you all,  
Against to morrow in the morn to choose,  
Whom you will have to be your General:  
For I therein will make no more delay,  
And so their counsel ended for that day.   

And they went to their tents to rest all night.  
And next day in the morning ere the sun  
Began with radiant beams to shine most bright,  
They met again for the Election:  
And when they were assembled all together,  
And knew the cause why they did then come thither:   

Agamemnon with sober smiling cheer,  
Rose up upon his feet, and to them spoke,  
And said, my Lords that are assembled here,  
I need no long discourse unto you make,  
To show how I with heart and good intent  
Have laboured in this my government.   

To see that all things might be done so well,  
That they unto your good would wholly tend,  
And for th'advancement of your common weal,  
By aid of Gods, and Fortune that did lend  
Their grace and helping hand therein to me,  
Whereby your state as yet doth seem to be   

Maintained in honour great, and nobleness,  
So that while you do flourish, and uphold  
The same entire, and in great happiness,  
I think it best for me that now I should  
My government unto you all resign,  
While Fortune to the same is so benign.   

For of so many that here present are,  
I know myself most insufficient,  
Alone to take so great a charge and care  
On me, and for that cause 'tis my intent,  
To leave the same, for he may overwhelm  
A ship, that knows not how to guide the helm.   

My whole desire therefore is, that you would  
Give leave to me t'resigne my government,  
And charge which I of all this host do hold,  
So that no man therewith be discontent.  
And let us now with one intention,  
Without all strife, and all dissension,   

Amongst us find and choose out such a one  
As we do like, and is most fit and meet  
To govern us by good discretion,  
And in the place of General to set.  
Whereto they all agreed with one consent,  
And as he said▪ to choose one were content.   

Here you may see, that 'tis a usual thing  
With men to take delight in novelties,  
And that there thoughts are always wavering;  
And led away with foolish fantasies.  
In them most sure there's no security,  
For all their minds are on variety.   

And their delights in alteration;  
And change of state, and never are content  
Nor seldom hold in one opinion.  
To day to love some one man they are bend,  
Next day they'll hate that man as much again,  
And never do in constant mind remain.   

For in a vain of mere new ●anglenes,  
Which at that t●me moved their affection  
With great oresight, and much unthankfulness,  
In steed of valiant King Agamemnon,  
They all agreed with one consent and voice,  
Of King Pallamides to make their choice   

To bear the rule and government of all  
The Grecian host, and with most great applause,  
Gave him the state and name of General,  
To rule and govern them by Martial laws.  
Like as the worthy King Agamemnon,  
Had done before with great discretion.   

Which done, they broke up counsel for that day,  
And every man unto his tent did go.  
But when Achilles, who then wounded, lay  
Sore sick within his tent, thereof did know,  
And heard how they all with one will and voice,  
Of King Pallamides had made there choice:   

He was much grieved thereat, and flatly said,  
Agamemnon in his opinion,  
Much fitter was the place still to have had  
Than th'other, and that their Election  
In that case was not good, nor commendable,  
Nor by their Martial law available,   

Because 'twas done without consent of all  
The Princes in the host, he being one  
Whom they did neither summon, nor yet call  
To be with them at their Election.  
And did esteemed to him a great offence,  
That they did make that choice in his absence.   

And for that cause he was exceeding wroth,  
And cha●ed sore, but 'twas to little end,  
For whether he therewith was lief or loath,  
They would no ear unto his speeches lend.  
For no Election more the Grecians would  
For that time make, But said, it should so hold.    

CHAP. II.  
¶ How King Priamus in person issued out of Troy with a puissant ●●ast to revenge Hector's death, and fought most valiantly against the Grecians.  

THe time of truce aforesaid being out,  
The next ensuing morrow Priamus,  
Though old in years, yet valorous and stout  
Of heart, was in his mind desirous,  
Against the Grecians valiantly to fight,  
T'reuenge the death of Hector if he might.   

Which when the Troyans' knew, and did behold  
Their aged Kings great courage, and his might,  
They were exceeding glad, and said they would  
Adventure life and limb with him to fight  
Against the Greeks, and therefore every one  
Did arm himself with resolution:   

That day to issue forth with Priamus,  
And those of Troy that armour bore as then,  
Were as my Author Dares ●elleth us,  
An hundred and just fifty thousand men,  
Besides all those of other countries  
That aided him against his enemies.   

And first into the field went Deiphobus,  
And after him his brother Paris led  
The second ward, the third King Priamus,  
Then Menon, and Aeneas followed.  
And last of all Pollidamas did go  
The rearward to conduct in warlike shoe.   

And that same day upon the Grecians side,  
With mighty troops all in good order set,  
Pallamides with heart replcat with pride,  
The Troyans' in the field most bravely met.  
And when the Battles joined on either side,  
King Priam to Pallamides did ●ide,   

And like a worthy Prince of great renown,  
Most valiantly unhorsed him with his lance,  
And clean out of his saddle bore him down  
Unto the ground, and forward did advance  
Himself, and road among the Grecians,  
And with his trenchant blade in both his hands,   

So heawd, beat down, and mightily o'errun  
The Grecians in the field where he did ride,  
That they for fear his puissant blows did shun,  
And durst not in his furious sight abide.  
And them so fast and cruelly did slay,  
That wheresoe'er he road they made him way.   

And shunned his sword he was so furious.  
For all that day he fought so valiantly,  
And showed himself so strong and valorous;  
That wonder 'twas he could so pvissantly,  
And long in field against his foes endure,  
Being of so great an age, for 'tis most sure   

That by his valour great and puissant might,  
Which he that time courageously did shoe,  
He put the proud and haughty Greeks to flight.  
His Son Deiphobus valiantly also,  
That followed him, so fiercely on them set,  
That he did kill and beat down all he met.   

King Sarpedon likewise that time did fall  
Upon the valiant King Neptolemus,  
The proudest Greek at that time 'mongst them all  
And he likewise with heart courageous  
At Sarpedon did run, and with great might,  
Out of his saddle fiercely did him smite.   

But Sarpedon with fell and wrathful hart,  
The which with rage and anger burned hot,  
Did suddenly upon his feet up start,  
And with his sword Neptolemus he smote  
Into the thigh a great and cruel wound,  
Wherewith he made him fall upon the ground.   

But when the King of Percia did perceive  
King Sarpedon stand fight on his feet  
In danger great, he did him strait relieve,  
And on the greeks so furiously did set,  
That in despite of them by mighty force  
He holp him soon again unto his horse.   

But at that time King Menelaus came thither,  
And Menestes Th'athenian Duke, who both  
With many troops of Grecian Knights together,  
In furious wise and with exceeding wroth,  
Upon the King of Percia did fall,  
And did enclose him round amongst them all.   

Who fight with them valiantly and long,  
At last when he their force could not sustain,  
They did so thick and fast upon him throng,  
He was by them with disadvantage slain.  
Whose death so much the Troyans' did dismay,  
That they retired and gave the Grecians way.   

Till Sarpedon with bloody sword in hand,  
Courageously did many Grecians slay,  
And did their force and fury so withstand,  
That he not only forced the Greeks to stay,  
But drove them all before him on the plain,  
And made the Troyans' win their ground again.   

While Priamus upon the other side,  
With all his sons that bore him company,  
Amongst the Grecians valiantly did ride,  
And killed, and beat them down: but specially  
King Priamus with many a bloody wound,  
Did kill and slay all he before him found.   

So that not any Trojan young or old,  
What soe'er he was though near so high and strong  
Of body and of limb, nor near so bold,  
That time did fight so furiously and long,  
As Priamus himself, for he alone  
That day was many a Greeks destruction,   

And utter overthrow. For that their  
Wherewith he was at that time wholly led,  
And made his heart to burn as hot as fire,  
For causes two was then redoubled.  
One for th'inveterate hatred which he bore  
Unto the Greeks, the other cause he swore,   

And voued to be revenged if he might,  
For Hector's death, which put him in such rage,  
That while he had the Grecians in his sight,  
He could his choler by no means assuage.  
But doubling his strength so fiercely fought,  
That many a Greek that day t'his death he brought,   

And so continued in such furious wise  
To take revenge on them, that in despite  
Of all his fierce and cruel enemies,  
By valour great he put them all to flight.  
But they by slight the Troyans' to beguile,  
When they had fled before them for a while,   

Did wheel about and suddenly went down  
Into a very great and spacious plain,  
That lay between the Troyans' and the town,  
Intending some advantage so to gain  
Upon their foes, and to that end did set  
Great Ambuscadoes every way to let.   

And keep them from going into Troy again,  
And certainly had done't by likelihood:  
If Priamus had not with mighty pain,  
And valour great most bravely them withstood  
Who at that time like Lion fierce and strong,  
With sword in hand did ride into the throng   

And thickest of the Greeks, and valiantly  
Broke all their ranks, & with deep wounds & wide,  
Hact, hewed, & beat them down so pvissantly,  
That no man durst his trenchant sword abide.  
For whosoe'er he struck was surely slain,  
Wheresoever he did ride throughout the plain.   

At which time also Paris did so fast  
Pursue them with his bows and crossbows shot,  
And piercing darts, which through their armours past  
And by that means such vantage on them got,  
That they began to give the Troyans' place,  
And Priamus did them so hotly chase,   

That being put to great extremity,  
By means of his exceeding force and might,  
And to avoid his extreme cruelty,  
They did with mighty fear and great despite  
Fly to their ●ents, glad they escaped so,  
And they of Troy into the town did go.   

Because as then it drew fast toward night,  
For Phoebus with his chariot west did high  
Unto the Indian coast to give them light.  
And so the honour of the victory  
Was wholly given to Priamus alone,  
Who by his valour great the same had won.   

To ease his heart of that exceeding sorrow  
Which he therein conceived for Hector's sake,  
But yet upon the next ensuing morrow  
He sent unto the greeks a truce to make  
With them, whereto they gladly did agree,  
But how long time the same should holden be,   

It's not expressed. In which time they of Troy  
Great preparation made with diligence,  
The Percian Kings dead body to convoy,  
According to his state with reverence,  
And honour great into his country,  
That he in decent wise entomb might be:   

And buried 'mongst his progenitors  
The Percian Kings, and so most solemnly  
His Captains and his other officers,  
Did take the corpse embalmed sumptuously,  
And laid it in a Chariot covered over  
With black, and so in mournful weeds it bore   

To Percia, conveyed with a rout  
Of his own worthy Knights, and many more,  
That in most doleful wise did ride about  
The body, and behind, and eke before  
The same did go unto the burial.  
And at that time the sumptuous funeral   

Of Hector was in Troy solemnised,  
According to the manner in those days,  
The which with honour great was hallowed,  
(As Guido and his Author Dares says.)  
For space of fourteen days continually,  
And all that while within the sanctuary.   

Great store of lights did burn and near went out,  
Which custom they continually did keep  
From year to year as it did run abo●t,  
Wherein they never ceased to mourn and weep,  
And watched and prayed there both night and day,  
In mourning weeds, and never went away   

From thence, but on there knees continued there,  
Before the tombs of their dead friends: and so  
The Troyans' who great grief in mind did bear  
For Hector's death, in woeful wise did go,  
All clad in black to mourn and to lament  
His death, till that full fourteen days were spent,   

The which they did, with great solemnity,  
While that th'aforesaid truce continued was  
When as the Greeks might with free liberty  
Go into Troy, and without danger pass  
The gates thereof, and they of Troy also  
As freely might unto the Grecians go.   

At which time when Achilles' wounds were cured,  
And that he could well travel up and down,  
He had a great desire while truce endured  
To enter into Troy to see the town,  
And to behold the sumptuous funeral  
For Hector made, by all in general   

Within the same, and so unarmed (without  
Assurance, other than the truce then made,  
Whereof in those days men stood not in doubt▪)  
He went to Troy, and entering in near stayed,  
But to Apollo's Temple strait did go,  
Wherein as then with brave and warlike sho,   

According to the Pagans ancient rights,  
The funeral was there accomplished  
In presence of great multitudes of Knights,  
And Lords and Ladies fair, who then did shed  
Great store of tears with much affection,  
And on their knees fell down before the throne   

Whereas the corpse of that most worthy Knight  
Unburied stood upright upon his feet,  
And seemed as fresh and fair unto the sight,  
(By virtue of the precious gums most sweet,  
And balm) the which his flesh did so revive,  
That he did show as he had been alive.   

And at this feast and great solemnity,  
Queen Hecuba with Policene and other  
Fair Dames, and Princes of great dignity  
Sat weeping, and in company together  
appareled in sad and mournful black,  
Such lamentation at that time did make   

For Hector's death as near the like was seen.  
And yet for all the sorrow that they made,  
The fair and goodly Lady Pollicene,  
No part of her great beauty changed had,  
But still a crimson red and white most clear  
Within her face and countenance did appear   

For all the tears that she as then did shed,  
Which trickled down her cheeks like poa●les fine:  
Her hair that then hung round about her head  
In careless wi●e, like golden wire did shine,  
And showed like Phoebus' glistering beams most bright  
When he doth cast on us his radiant light.   

Which with her fingers small ●●e rend and tore,  
Whose beauty when Achilles did behold,  
He did esteem the same to be so rare,  
That he did muse how God and Nature could  
devise and make so fair ●● creature,  
For comeliness of face, and feature:   

So Angel-like she did to him appear,  
That he to look on her could not endure,  
For with her crystal eyes most fair and clear,  
She stroke him then into the heart so sure,  
That for her love which was his whole desire,  
He burned within as hot as any fire.   

And suddenly again with grief he shook  
Like one that is in fear, yet evermore  
Upon her he did cast a glancing look,  
For Cupid's dart had pierced him so sore  
Into the breast, and given him such a wound,  
That it was likely never to be sound.   

And as he durst he looked her in the face,  
And still approached unto her with his eye,  
For whom (if that in her he found no grace,)  
He made accounted assuredly to die.  
For he was fallen and caught in such a snare,  
That of his health he was in great despair,   

And in his heart he was perplexed so,  
That care of all things else he did reject,  
For knowing not what he were best to do,  
He did himself and all his state neglect,  
To set his thought on her, and in this wise  
He fed himself with sight of her fair eyes.   

Till Phoebus with his char●●● did decline,  
And to the Western coasts began to draw,  
And on their hemisphere no more did shine.  
When as he cast his eyes about and saw  
Queen Hecuba with Pollicene, and more,  
Out of the Temple to the Palace go.   

On whom he never ceased to have a sight,  
As she did pass along, till that she went  
Out of the gate, and he no longer might  
With her fair eyes give to his heart content.  
And then no longer in the town be stayed,  
But going to his tent himself he laid   

Upon his bed with sad and heavy cheer,  
Whereas he lay still thinking on his love,  
Whose beauty in his sight did so appear,  
And as he thought still more and more did move  
His heart the same with great desire to crave,  
That he no rest no● any ease could have.   

For love of whom such burning heat he felt,  
And extreme pain, which did torment him so,  
That with the same he thought his heart would melt,  
And in that sort he tumbled too and fro.  
And like a man half dead and fore dismayed,  
Unto himself he spoke, and thus he said,   

Alas quoth he, that fortune so unkind  
Should be to me, to make me feel and know  
Such grief that I no end thereof can find,  
For that it doth my heart so overflow,  
As I suppose that since the world began,  
There near was found a more distressed man.   

(For I that whilom was of so great might,  
Renowned throughout the world of high and low,  
And honoured and feared of every wight,  
For no man ever heard no● yet did know,  
Of any Knight that was more valorous  
Than I, nor ever more victorious.   

For neither Hector that most valiant Knight,  
That was my Lady Pollicenes' dear brother,  
Although he was of most exceeding might,  
And hardy therewithal, nor any other,  
The power had when he on me did set,  
The least advantage upon me to get.   

Nor in the field my courage once could daunt,  
Or make me yield, of fearfully to fly,  
Whereof I may unto myself now vaunt.)  
Because I am assured i● is no lie.  
Now, now alas, a maid of tender age,  
Hath suddenly set me in such a rage:   

And with the streams of her fair Crystal eyes,  
Hath pierced my woeful heart and every vain,  
That I cannot by any means devise  
How to relieve myself, or ease my pain.  
On whom shall I for counsel now re●●e?  
Or who can give me any remedy,   

To ease and cure my grief and heaviness?  
For this is sure, that hope for me there's none,  
If death end not my woe and great distress,  
But her good will, and that from me is gone:  
For neither prayer, wealth, nor comeliness,  
Strength, power, courage, nor yet Nobleness,   

Birth, honour, blood, nor great affinity,  
Can aught avail to help me now in need,  
To move her stony heart (to pity me)  
For whom my heart with inward grief doth bleed.  
What fury hath possessed my restless brain,  
That it should so 'gainst nature me constaine,   

And make me prove so much unfortunate▪  
As for to seek mine own confusion,  
To love and like of her that doth me hate?  
But truth to say, when as I think thereon,  
No marvel 'tis 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 cruel war,  
Wherein the blood I have already shed  
Of Hector her dear brother, who both far  
And near was known to be the valiantest knight  
That ever lived, for valour, and for might.   

Alas for woe, now may I quake for fear,  
And of my life despair both day and night,  
For with what face can I fore her appear,  
Or be so bold to come into her sight?  
That have offended her in such a fashion,  
As that in truth I merit no remission   

Nor pardon at her hands, but certainly  
Must yield myself the sentence to abide  
Of cruel death, to end my misery,  
Which doth enclose me round on every side.  
And so with many sobs and sighs most deep,  
He did begin so bitterly to weep,   

And made such woeful lamentation,  
That pity it was for any man to hear,  
Or see the grief and cruel passion,  
Which he with great extremity did bear  
Within his mind, and outwardly expressed,  
And so he lay, and by no means could rest   

But tumbled on his bed till night came on,  
Wherein as little comfort he received  
As in the day, for rest he could get none,  
So that of all relief, and joy bereaved,  
He did continue still in grief, and sorrow,  
Till that the star called Lucifer next morrow   

Began in th'east (ere Phoebus did arise,)  
To show itself, and brightly to appear.  
When drenched in tears, with wet and heavy eyes  
For want of rest, and quaking with the fear▪  
And grief he had conceived in his hart:  
He held his peace, and presently up start,   

And calling one to him he trusted well,  
And whom he knew desired and wished his good▪  
He did from point to point unto him tell  
What he had done, and how with him it stood,  
And sent him to the town of Troy to speak  
With Hecuba, and unto her to break   

The matter, and by his discretion  
To find a means if possible it were,  
To give to him some satisfaction,  
In that which he s●mpatiently did bear.  
Who presently unto the Queen did go,  
And handled the matter with her so,   

And did so wisely play his part therein,  
Before that he did utter their pretence,  
That he had licence granted of the Queen  
To tell his mind to her without offence:  
With promise whatsoever that it were,  
She would vouchsafe the same of him to hear.   

To whom he did his message so explain,  
That no man ever heard a better p●●d,  
For from his mouth there past no word in vain,  
No● sentence, but was spoken to some end:  
And at the last he brought it finely out,  
With many circumstances fetched about,   

And told her, that the full conclusion,  
And purpose of his message verily,  
Was with a steadfast resolution,  
To set a perfect peace and unity  
Between the Greeks and Troyans' that same day,  
Whereto he said, he knew no better way,   

(If he might be believed) for both their ease,  
(And th'end the mortal strife and bitter rage  
Of war, and all dissension to appease)  
Then speedily to make a marriage  
Between Achilles and fair Polyxena  
Her daughter, if that so t'wold please the Queen   

Whereby he said, all enmity would cease▪  
If she could by her good discretion,  
Find means King Priam's anger to appease,  
And by her wit and mediation,  
Get him to be well pleased, and content  
With willing mind to give his free consent   

That Polyxena his daughter should be made  
Achilles' wife, upon condition,  
As he at first unto her than had said,  
That all the Greeks should presently be gone  
And leave that bloody war, assoon as ever  
They two by marriage should be linked together.   

Whose message when the Queen did understand,  
And know th'effect of that he did require.  
She did a while as one amazed stand,  
And ere she answer made to his desire:  
She sighed sore, and then with heavy cheer,  
She spoke and said unto the messenger:   

My friend, concerning that thou dost request,  
I cannot of myself thereto consent,  
Yet for my part I will be always priest,  
And with my heart am willing and content  
Thy masters will therein to satisfy,  
● And so I would thou shouldst him certify.   

But first I must King Priam's pleasure know,  
If he will grant to that which thou dost move,  
And I must likewise unto Paris show  
Th'effect and meaning of thy master love.  
To see if he will give consent thereto,  
The which as soon as ere I can, i'll do.   

Whereof I will an answer make to thee  
Within three days, and then i'll satisfy  
Thy Lord, if he will send again to me.  
Mean time thou may'st return with safety,  
And satisfy thy master in some part,  
Of his desire to ease his troubled hart.   

And therewithal the messenger went back  
Unto Achilles' tent, with countenance glad,  
To whom he did in such wise answer make  
Concerning that which he declared had  
Unto Queen Hecuba, that he thereby  
Was somewhat eased, and looked cheerfully.   

In hope that by that means he should in th'end  
Attain to that which he so much desired,  
And so well pleased in mind, he did attend  
The three days time by Hecuba required:  
To answer unto that he did propound.  
Who presently when she King Priam found   

At leisure all alone, to him did move  
The matter touching that Achilles had  
Made known to her, and that he was in love  
With Pollicene, and for her sake had made  
A proffer to procure a final peace  
Between the Greeks and Troyans', and to cea●●   

All war and mortal strife, so that he would  
Give her to him. The which when he perceived,  
He did the Queen with countenance ●ad behold  
And as it were a man of speech bereaved,  
Sat mute, and wondered to himself wherefore  
Achilles should love Pollicene so sore,   

That he would make that offer for her sake.  
And at the last he sighed and said, alas  
What grief is this, that I no peace can make?  
For can Achilles wrong so lightly pass  
Out of my head, when as I think how he  
Slew my son Hector by his cruelty?   

Who while he lived, as't cannot be denied,  
Of me and mine was th'only safety,  
And special stay, supporter, and the guide  
Of all that under my command now be.  
And to speak truth, he was as 'twere the light  
Of both mine eyes, for by his puiffant might   

He did protect and save me from the rage  
And cruel fury of my Grecian foes,  
And was the staff of all my age.  
But now alas (which fills me full of woes.)  
Achilles hath him slain, which from my mind  
Shall never pass, for who in heart can find   

To be allied unto his mortal foe?  
And hard it were to bend my heart, to love  
Him that is cause of all my grief, and woe,  
And by that means the Grecians proud doth move  
T'insult on me, now fortune doth m● cross  
And frowns on me, and only for the loss   

Of Hector my dear son that was my stay.  
Yet 'gainst my heart (which doth for anger rive)  
Sith that as now there is no other way,  
I will, (though loath) against my nature strive▪  
For truth to say, it grieveth me full sore,  
Yet to eschew great dangers many more,   

Which likely are to happen unto me,  
And to preserve my sons that yet do live,  
I am content and thereunto agree,  
My youngest daughter Pollicene to give  
Unto Achilles, on condition he  
Shall hold his promise he hath made, to be   

The means to make a truce and final peace  
Between the Greeks and Troyans', and that we  
Our mortal war from henceforth shall surcease▪  
But lest that he should mean some treachery,  
I will that he shall first perform the offer,  
Which he so freely of himself doth proffer:   

Without all fraud or false collusion.  
Which Paris also did consent unto:  
(The rather for that no exception  
What they with fair Queen Helena would do,  
Was made therein, whereby he did suppose  
That Menelans should her for ever lose.   

And never have her into Greece again,  
And therefore he did freely without strife  
Agree thereto, that he might so obtain  
His will to have Queen Helen for his wife,  
Without all doubt or contrariety,  
For in her was his whole felicity.   

And when the three days foresaid ended were,  
Achilles unto Hecuba strait sent  
His messenger again, of her t'inquire  
What Priam said, concerning his intent.  
To whom she told at large what had been done,  
And how that she the King thereto had won.   

And Paris likewise to consent thereto,  
As also that herself well willing was  
With them t'agree, and grant it should be so,  
If he could find the means to bring't to pass,  
That peace between them, (as he said he would)  
Perpetually for evermore should hold.   

The which she said he must first bring about,  
And sure and perfect make in each condition:  
And then he should not need to stand in doubt  
Of speeding in his love, with expedition.  
Wherewith Achilles messenger content,  
Out of the town unto his master went.   

To whom he told the answer that was made  
By Hecuba to him, wherewith well pleased,  
And seeing that no other way he had  
But peace whereby he might of grief be eased:  
He purposed to bring the same t'effect,  
And did no time, nor any means neglect,   

To find a way t'impart the same unto  
The Greeks, the which while he did go about,  
Supposing certainly that they would do  
The same for him, and yet thereof did doubt.  
At last into a desperate mind he fell,  
And did persuade himself in heart full well,   

That he the power had to work his will,  
And that without all cause of doubt or fear,  
The Grecians would most readily fulfil  
His mind, and grant to that he should require,  
And in that sort he did himself persuade  
All should fall out, (as he devised had,)   

According to his will and fantasy,  
As lovers use to do. Who whatsoe'er  
They take in hand think, it must certainly  
Fall out, though near s'impossible it were.  
So much their minds with folly are possessed.  
And so Achilles did set down his rest,   

And was in hope his mind to satisfy,  
Supposing that for his great worthiness,  
His mighty strength, and his activity,  
His high renown, and passing valiantness.  
(Whereof with no small pride great boast ●●e made,  
And in himself therefore much glory had.)   

The Grecians would be in despair and fear  
For ever winning Troy, if he withheld  
His helping hand, and that by him they were  
Forsaken, when they went into the field:  
And would at last, and only for his sake  
The siege of Troy and all their war forsake.   

Unless that he among them still did stay  
To help them till that they had made an end.  
And for that cause he made no more delay,  
But did procure Pallamides to send  
For all the Lords unto his tent to know,  
What unto them he did intend to show.   

And when that they assembled were together,  
Achilles spoke, and said as you shall hear:  
My Lords, sith it hath pleased you to come hither,  
And that at my request you summoned were;  
Let me desire you without offence  
To tell my mind before this audience:   

I know said he, that for the providence,  
The wisdom, and the great discretion,  
The valour, mighty force, and sapience,  
The honour, wealth, and excellent renown.  
Wherewith you are endowed, your worthy name  
From East to West is spread by trump of Fame:   

But ne'ertheless that these things do belong  
Of right to you, yet this I must you tell,  
That though that you be near so huge and strong,  
(As truth to say you do in force excel  
All Nations, yet if you do consider  
The very cause wherefore you are come hither,   

You must confess and so it will be found,  
That you in this your quarrel had no right,  
Nor reason whereupon you might it ground;  
For sure, it is most evident to sight  
Of every man that bears an upright hart,  
That you herein did play a foolish part,   

Without forecasting with advisedness  
What cause you had to make this mortal war:  
For when as we by foolish hastiness  
Did come out of our countries so far,  
Into the Trojan land our lives to venture  
Against our foes; The quarrel we did enter,   

At that same time into, as every one  
Of us well knows, was for the injury,  
And to revenge the private cause alone  
Of Menelaus; for who can it deny,  
That th'ravishing of Helena his wife,  
Was th'only cause of all the war and strife   

Between us and the Trojans which as now  
We do maintain with great hostilie,  
And for the which we all have made a vow  
To sack the town of Troy, with jeopardy  
Of life and goods, and for that cause have left  
Our Countries and our Cities, and bereft   

Our children and our wives of all delight  
And joy, & make them mourn in great distress,  
While we remain here in the field to fight  
Against our foes, in grief and heaviness,  
Assailed and enclosed on every side  
With enemies, and nought but death abide.   

For sith the time that this our war began,  
(Which only of mere pride we do maintain)  
It hath us cost the life of many a man  
Of great and mean account, that now are slain,  
Who might have lived at home in wealth & joy,  
If they had not come hither unto Troy,   

To lose their lives by their own wilfulness,  
Here in this place with great extremity.  
And for my part I must in truth confess,  
That by the Trojans force and cruelty,  
So much blood I have lost since we began  
This war, that it hath made me pale & wan.   

And not long since I had a wound again,  
Which Hector with a Dart did give to me  
Upon the thigh, that day that he was slain,  
Which put me to so great extremity,  
That it hath made me long in bed to lie  
To healed, and yet I doubt thereof to die,   

if'ft be not quickly cured; for 'tis yet green,  
And very sore, and puts me to great pain,  
With many other wounds that yet are seen  
Upon me still, which make me oft complain:  
And truth to say, (if it considered were)  
We should not buy Queen Helena so dear.   

As for her t'hazard life and limb, and all  
Our honours, and our worldly goods and fame,  
The which unto us quickly may befall,  
If we have not regard unto the same,  
And in our minds consider not how much,  
This doubtful war for Helen doth us touch.   

For if that we our reckoning rightly make,  
And call to mind what alteration  
Hath fallen since we the same did undertake,  
And what destruction of our warlike Nation  
Hath for her sake been made, & yet much more  
Dishonour we are like to have therefore,   

And to incur; for as it doth appear,  
Although we do still hold this siege so long,  
In fine, if that we do continue hear,  
It will to us because of greater wrong:  
And more and more redound unto our shame,  
If order be not taken for the same.   

Which may be, if that we on either side,  
Together would agree with one consent,  
That Helena, in Troy shall still abide,  
And that King Menelaus would be content  
To take another wife, and let her go,  
That to him doth herself unfaithful shoe.   

Which he by law and without blame mya take,  
And be divorced from Helena, sith she  
So shamelessly in Greece did him forsake  
For Paris, and commit adultery  
Thereby, with foul disgrace unto her name,  
And truth to say, to her perpetual shame.   

For many great examples extant be,  
And through the world are to be heard & seen,  
How that for filthy foul adultery,  
Great Princes from their wives divorced have been.  
And therefore it can be no prejudice,  
If for that most accursed sinful vice:   

King Menelaus doth justly her forsake,  
And of another wife doth make his choice,  
The which of him much more account will make.  
Whereto if that you all will give your voice,  
'Twill for our good, be cause this war to end,  
Wherein our lives and blood we vainly spend.   

And likely is, if it continue long,  
To cost much more both of our lives and blood,  
For Troy is so invincible and strong,  
And furnished with worthy Knights and good,  
And in so great a number, that though we  
Should stay here still the uttermost to see,   

We never should be able to attain  
To that we do pretend and so desire.  
And therefore sith 'tis so, it were in vain  
For us to stay, and proudly to aspire  
With wilfulness to that we cannot get:  
But rather let's our minds on reason set,   

And think more of our profit then our glory,  
And wisely in good time withdraw our power,  
While honour graceth us with victory,  
Sith we cannot make fortune (if she lower)  
To stay her wheel which is so variable,  
And therefore ere she waxeth mutable,   

And doth begin on us to change her cheer:  
Let us leave off the war and live in peace,  
And go our way, and stay no longer here.  
For better 'tis from bloody war to cease,  
While we may do't, & so our honour save,  
For of the war th'advantage yet we have.   

For all men know that by our valour great,  
Our principallest foe Prince Hector's slain,  
My counsel therefore is we should not let  
Th'advantage go, while we do still retain  
Our honour, and ere fortune 'gins to lower,  
And seeks to cross us by her mighty power,   

With one consent and sole opinion  
Of heart and mind, we should no more sojourn  
Hold at this siege, but let us every one,  
With speed into our native Land return:  
For if that we our quarrel still maintain,  
Which now so long hath held, I tell you plain,   

I am in doubt great detriment will be  
Our shares at last. Wherefore I think it best  
Our folly to reject, and ere we see  
Worse happen unto us, set up our rest  
To leave the war, while as 'tis known to all,  
We are in fame and honour peregall   

With them of Troy, and them surpass if we  
Our state he hold in his ascension,  
And while that it is in the highst degree.  
But least some men should make objection,  
And say, that we cannot our honour save,  
If we return to Greece, and cannot have   

Our wills to bear fair Helen back again  
Into our native land, for whom so many  
Of us have in this cruel war been slain:  
I say, if that amongst us there be any,  
That thinks and is persuaded in his mind  
If we go hence, and leave her here behind,   

It will to our most great dishonour be:  
I say, that it to us can be no shame,  
(If that into the depth there of we see)  
Sith we have one for honour and for fame  
As great as she, and by her birth as good,  
For she descends of high and royal blood.   

As all you know the Princess Action  
King Priam's sister, who against their will,  
In Greece is holden by King Thelamon,  
As Helen is by Paris 'gainst our will:  
And therefore sith it now can be no other,  
My counsel is to set th'one 'gainst the other.   

And all the wrath and envy that doth rest,  
Between us and the Trojans to appease,  
The which I think and know would be the best  
For us and them, and for our good and ease:  
Which otherwise (said he) will never end,  
If you unto my counsel will not bend.   

To whom with extreme wrath King Menelaus,  
Who with Achilles' words did seem most touched,  
And Thoas also, and Duke Menestes,  
Who likewise at his insolency grucht:  
All with one voice unto Achilles spoke,  
And into mighty choler 'gainst him broke.   

And with them all the rest impatiently,  
The Court perturbed, and did begin to fall  
Into great words much unadvisedly  
Against Achilles, and at last said all,  
They would not to his counsel then consent,  
Nor to make peace in any wise were bend.   

Wherewith Achilles full of wrath and ire,  
The which did seem to burn within his heart,  
To see they would not grant to his desire,  
Did suddenly upon his feet up start:  
And in a fury great did go away,  
And said he would no longer 'mongst them stay:   

Nor aid nor succour them in any wise,  
(What need so ever they of him should have)  
To fight against their Trojan enemies,  
And to his men a special charge he gave,  
To see they did not aid the Grecians  
In any wise against the Trojans,   

When so ever they to battle forth should go.  
In which his resolution firmly standing,  
He did a while himself so constant show,  
That while 'gainst them in that sort he was banding,  
The Grecians many overthrows received,  
And thousands of them were of life bereaved.   

And while this controversy thus remained,  
The Grecian host great want of victuals had,  
Whereby as then much hunger they sustained,  
For which 'mongst them great muttering there was  
For at that time they were so much distressed (made:  
For want of food, that they were sore oppressed.   

Till that their General Palamedes,  
To remedy the same a Court did call  
Of all the Princes in the host, t'appease  
Their murmuring, and by consent of all  
That then assembled were, did order take,  
A fleet of ships in readiness to make.   

Whereof the King Agamemnon should be  
Commander, and with speed with them should sail  
To Messa for some victuals, if that he  
In that same Isle of so much could prevail,  
As need required for their necessity,  
To put them out of that extremity.   

Who being there arrived, such favour had  
Of Thelaphus the King that therein reigned,  
That he not only ready was and glad  
To aid the Greeks therein, but strait obtained  
Commission presently, and with all speed  
Of him to take as much as they should need   

Of every kind of victuals in that jsle,  
Commanding all his subjects to fulfil  
The same with speed, and so in little while,  
According to his pleasure and his will,  
They made so great provision of each thing  
That served for food, that presently the King   

Did fraught and fill their ships with mighty store  
Of victuals, that so much as then they had,  
That in them they could put nor lad no more.  
Whereof King Agamemnon being glad,  
He took his leave of Thelaphus, and so  
With all his ships full laden forth did go,   

And put to sea, and so with wind and weather,  
Soon did arrive before the Trojan coast,  
Where safely landing all his ships together,  
He presently relieved the Grecian host  
With victuals, who thereof had then great need,  
And thanked him that he brought it with such speed.   

The Grecian host relieved as you have heard,  
Palamedes went to their ships to see,  
If they had any need to be repaired,  
And what so ever requisite to be  
Bestowed on them was found, he did with care  
Cause to be done. And likewise did not spare,   

Of every thing what so ever it did cost,  
To see provision made, and to supply  
All things that needful were within the host,  
The which he did perform most carefully,  
While time of truce endured & was outrun,  
And that their bloody war again begun,   

Which many on each side most dearly bought.  
Whereof to write at large is my pretence,  
And show how they together fiercely sought,  
Each th'other to destroy in their defence,  
And still continued in their deadly hate,  
The which they held between the without date.   

Unto the great destruction and decay  
Of many valiant knights while it did last,  
For as they were accustomed next day  
Ensuing, after that the truce was passed:  
In warlike wise well armed with spear & shield,  
They entered again into the field.   

Where with their banners wavering in great pride,  
And drums and trumpets sounding fearfully,  
They met together bravely on each side,  
And at the first encounter valiantly,  
Deiphobus like a Lion furious,  
Met with a Grecian King called Creseus.   

And with his strong & puissant spear in rest,  
Ran at him with so great and mighty force,  
That he did pierce him deep into the breast,  
Wherewith stark dead he fell off from his horse:  
Whose death so much the Greeks did terrify,  
That sore amazed they did begin to fly   

Unto their tents, as fast as ere they could  
To save themselves, with mighty fear and dread,  
The which when as the Trojans did behold,  
They chased them till that King Diomedes,  
And with him also King Palamodes,  
With most despiteful hearts, and merciless,   

With twenty thousand knights accompanied,  
Upon the Trojans suddenly did set,  
And where the Grecians then before them fled,  
They did so fiercely kill, cast down, and beat  
The Trojans, that their furious 〈◊〉 us to shun,  
Then made them fore the Greeks as fast to run.   

And at that time came Thelamon ajax in,  
Conducting of another Grecian band,  
At whose approach such slaughter did begin,  
On Trojans side by his victorious hand:  
That many of them then were fiercely killed,  
And all the plain with Trojans blood was filled.   

And as he thus in furious wise did set  
On them, and like a Lion fierce for prey  
Did range about the field, by chance he met  
The worthy knight Sicilian in his way,  
(A bastard Son of 〈◊〉) whom he  
Assailed with such extreme cruelty,   

That with his sword he cut his arm in twain,  
And he therewith fell dead within the field.  
Whom when Deiphobus saw so fiercely slain  
By Thelamon, and his dead corpse beheld:  
With spear in hand he smote so great a stroke  
At Thelmon, that his Lance on him he broke.   

And yet did hit him with so great a might,  
That with the truncheon which did whole remain,  
He did him clean out of his saddle smite,  
And laid him all along upon the plain:  
Which stroke when King Pallamides beheld,  
And saw how he unto the ground was field,   

He was therewith so vexed at the heart,  
That to revenge King Thelamon he swore  
On Deiphobus, and ere he thence did part,  
With mighty spear which in his hand he bore,  
He ran and smote Deiphobus such a stroke,  
That therewithal he pierced his breast, & broke   

The spear within the same, and therein left  
The truncheon and the head still sticking fast,  
Wherewith he was of vital breath bereft,  
But ere the same out of his body past,  
Which long within his breast could not abide,  
It was his brother Paris chance to ride   

That way, where he lay in a manner dead,  
Whom when he did behold in such a case,  
He was therewith so much astonished,  
That he did look with pale and deadly face:  
And for him grieved and wept most bitterly,  
And bad his knights convey him speedily   

Out of the field and press wherein he lay,  
Aside into a place to take the air,  
Who presently did bear him thence away  
Upon a shield, with easy pace and fair:  
And with great grief & sorrow laid him down  
Hard by the wall, close underneath the town.   

Where when he had a little while still lain,  
With heavy cheer he lifted up his eyes,  
And being in extremity of pain,  
Unto his brother Paris softly cries:  
And said, good brother let me one thing crave  
Of thee, that thou wilt pity on me have,   

And kindly, and for lone and brother hood,  
Remember what to thee I now shall say,  
Sith that thou canst do mono other good,  
Because I must depart from thee away:  
Thou seest what woeful case I here lie in,  
For Atropos will now no longer spin   

My thread of life, nor favour to me shoe.  
Good brother let me crave so much of thee,  
Before that I out of the world hence go,  
That by thy means I may revenged be,  
Of him that hath bereaved me of my breath,  
And in this sort hath given me my death.   

That I may be assured before I die  
That he is slain, and first gone down to hell,  
And in that soul in●ernall lake doth lie  
With P●●●to, there eternally to dwell,  
Amongst the damned souls in grief & woe,  
The which when my poor dying hart shall kno●,   

I shall depart contentedly and glad  
Out of this world, and will esteem't a bliss  
To me, that he his death before me had,  
And that with me thereof he did not miss:  
Wherein I pray thee do me not deny,  
And then pull out this spear and let me die.   

Which his desire t'accomplish Paris went,  
With speed into the field (in mighty grief  
Sore weeping) to revenge with full intent  
His brother, who mean time without relief  
Lay languishing and drawing on to death,  
Expecting every hour to yield his breath.   

And seeking up and down, he came whereas  
Pallamides was fight hand to hand  
With Sarpedon, (a valiant King, that was  
Come unto Troy to Priam with a band  
Of valiant Knights to aid him 'gainst his foes)  
And while that they together fiercely close,   

And each the other furiously did smite,  
(For Sarpedon was valorous and strong,  
And showed himself to be a puissant knight)  
Pallamides (when they had ●ought so long,  
That both of them were weary) pvissantly  
Struck Sarpedon a blow upon the thigh,   

And cut it clean a sunder, wherewithal,  
King Sarpedon not able to endure▪  
Upon his horse, dead on the ground did fall,  
Whose death unto the Trojans did procure  
Such fear, that they were forced to retire,  
For that with heart replete with wrath & me,   

Pallamides slew them so furiously,  
That they durst not abide before his face.  
Whose cruelty when Paris did espy,  
And thought upon his brother's woeful case:  
He bent his bow that was exceeding strong,  
And therein put an arrow sharp and long,   

Which had the head so strongly poisoned,  
(That who so ere he chanced therewith to smite,  
Was sure to die) and then he followed  
Pallamides, and with exceeding might  
Shot at him, and did give him such awound  
Into the throat, that he fell to the ground,   

And died forthwith. Whose death moved such a cry  
And fear amongst the Greeks, that (with great grief  
Complaining for his death most piteously  
Because he was their General and chief  
Of all the host, and their espicall stay)  
Like unto sheep that without shepherd stray   

Amazed sore for want of one to guide  
And govern them, they resolutely bend  
Themselves to fly, and speedily did ride  
Each man to save himself within his tent.  
Which when the Trojans saw, with mighty pace  
They followed, and so hotly did them chase,   

And slay and beat them down so cruelly  
(Receiving none to mercy nor to grace)  
That all the plain with dead Greeks full did lie,  
And still continued fiercely in the chase:  
Until the Grecks to shun their cruelty,  
Constrained were of mere necessity,   

To turn again to fight, and to defend  
Themselves a while, but 'twould them not avail,  
Because the Trojans did so fast descend,  
And did them in such furious wise assail:  
That what resistance s'ever they then made,  
They were so beaten down and so dismayed,   

That they could not against them make defence,  
But were constrained to fly away in haste,  
The Trojans did with so great violence,  
Beat down, pursue, and follow them so fast  
Along the plain, and not contented so,  
In furious wise unto their tents did go.   

And therein fiercely killed and beat them down,  
And all their gold and treasure that they found,  
They took and carried it into the town,  
And overthrew their tents unto the ground▪  
And after that fierce Troyelus did ride  
With Paris down unto the water side:   

Who as they went slew all that with them met,  
Or scattering here and there they could espy,  
And there the Grecians ships on fire set,  
The flame whereof ascended up so high  
Into the air, that they that were in Troy  
Might see't, for which they made no little joy.   

And at that time had burnt them all, if then  
King Thelamon ajax had not speedily  
Run to the ships with many thousand men,  
To stay their furious course, and valiantly  
Withstood them like a brave and worthy knight.  
And then began a new and cruel fight,   

Between the Greeks and Trojans in such wise,  
That many valiant knights as then were slain,  
And yielded up their ghosts with woeful cries,  
And all the field about, and all the plain  
Was filled with dead and maimed men that lay,  
All ●ack● and hewed on every side the way.   

The which so sore and cruelly did bleed,  
That all the grass and ground was died red (shed,  
With blood which they out of their wounds did  
And still the cruel fight continued  
Amongst them, to decide their deadly hate,  
Which they with blows betwixt them did debate.   

And like to Boars and Tigers fell did far,  
Each tearing and sore mangling others flesh,  
And to beat down their enemies did not spare,  
As thick as men do corn when they do thrash.  
At which time worthy Thelamon did fight  
So valiantly, and showed such passing might,   

The Grecians by his prowess to deliver  
From Trojans hands, that no man could do more,  
And by main force so furiously did sever  
Their troops, that all before him down he bore:  
And showed himself so valorous and stout,  
That haded not been for him without all doubt,   

Their ships had all been spoiled utterly  
By Paris and young Troyelus, who there  
So fiercely fought, and did so furiously  
Aslaile them & assault them, that there were  
Full fifty ships clean burned and destroyed,  
Before the Greeks could any way avoid   

Their furious force, or Thelmon ajax came,  
To rescue all the rest that did remain.  
And yet although by force he did the same,  
There were so many Greeks at that time slain:  
That Trojans had the honour of that fight,  
And only by the valour and the might   

Of Troyelus, who for his part did slay  
So many Greeks, that they compelled were  
To make retreat, and fast to run away  
Out of the field in mighty dread and fear:  
For't was no boot for them to stay, when as  
They saw they were brought unto such a pass.   

Amongst the which Prince Heber Son unto  
The King of mighty Thracian land, was one  
Who moved with indignation thereunto,  
(And wounded so that hope of life was none  
In him as then, for in his breast their stack  
The truncheon of a mighty spear that broke   

Within the same) went to Achilles' tent,  
Where he had lain, and came not out that day,  
(For love of Pollicene) for his intent  
Was not to aid the Grecians any way,  
Because they would not grant to his desire,  
And him reproached (with extreme wrath & ire)   

Of faintness, and of very cowardice,  
That he that day to his no little shame,  
Had not come forth, nor would in any wise  
Give aid unto the Greeks, whereby his fame  
(He said) would before ever blemished,  
Especially when he was certified,   

Into what mischief and confusion  
They were redust, and at the very brink  
And mouth of extreme desolation,  
And he thereat did seem as't were to wink:  
And near made show for them at all to grieve,  
Nor would of knighthood them therein relieve.   

And while he thus unto Achilles spoke,  
And him so sharply did reprove therefore,  
They did out of his breast the truncheon take,  
Which (as I say) broken in the same he bore:  
And therewithal he turned up the white  
Of both his eyes, and in Achilles' sight   

Fell down and died. At which time suddenly,  
One of his Knights into his tent did come,  
Of whom he did inquire earnestly  
What that day of the Grecians was become,  
And how the case at that time with them stood.  
Who answered him with sad and angry mood,   

And said, in sooth my Lord unhappily,  
For Greeks, alas, have had the worst in fight,  
And by the Trojans have most cruelly,  
And to their shame been put unto the flight:  
And such a number slain and spoiled this day,  
That few or none of them could scape away,   

Vnmaymed, or without some deadly wound,  
The Trojans us so cruelly pursued,  
Who as I think (if truth thereof were found)  
Were in the field so great a multitude  
This day, that I am of opinion,  
That they left not a man within the town   

That able was to fight with spear or shield,  
Or any other weapon what so ere,  
But he came forth with them into the field,  
'Gainst us, so great a multitude they were:  
So that't was hard for us to take in hand,  
Against so huge a company to stand.   

But now my Lord (said he) it waxeth night,  
And they will shortly to the town go back,  
For they are faint and wearied with the fight▪  
Wherefore if that your armour you will take,  
And valiantly go out and them assail,  
While they are in that case, you could not fail:   

To your perpetual honour and your fame,  
But win a great and noble victory  
On them, and make the Grecians by the same,  
For evermore o'er them triumphantly  
To reign, and while the world doth still endure,  
To Trojans everlasting shame procure.   

But to his words Achilles took no heed,  
Nor yet of Heber's body seemed to have  
The least respect, though't lay before him dead,  
Nor in a manner leave unto them gave  
To speak their minds, for't was to him alone,  
whatsoever they said, for counsel he would none.   

But like a man that's deaf and dumb he stood,  
And made as though he did not hear at all,  
And never seemed in countenance nor mood,  
In any passion for the same to fall:  
For in one ear no sooner entreded was,  
But out again at th'other it did pass.   

Herein a man may see a lovers state,  
That wholly thereunto addicts his mind,  
Who rather than he'll prove unfortunate,  
And in his love desireth joy to find:  
All honour, worship, manhood, valiantness,  
Strength, reputation, might, and hardiness:   

Increase of virtue, fame, and victory,  
Knighthood, renown, and every other bliss,  
Glory in arms, and all activity  
He will forsake, and count them none of his:  
And as vain toys will lay them all aside,  
When he in Cupid's bands himself hath tied.   

Such power Cupid hath on him to seize,  
When once his heart within his snares is caught,  
That he is loath to anger or displease  
In word or deed, in countenance or thought,  
Her whom he doth esteem his Lady dear,  
For with a look of her fair eyes and clear,   

She only 'tis can daunt his pride of heart,  
For Venus with her flattering tongue can bind  
His senses, thoughts, and every other part  
So strictly, that nought else in his mind  
But his sweet love, and so doth make him lie  
In Cupid's bands, restrained from liberty.   

Which was the only cause without all doubt,  
Why all that day Achilles was not seen  
Abroad, nor t'aide the Grecians would go out  
Into the field, for he feared Pollicene;  
Lest she should be offended▪ if he went  
Into the field, and 'gainst the Trojans bent   

His force, and so should seem her enemy,  
Whom he esteemed his dear and special friend.  
And while he lay in this extremity,  
And with conceits of her the time did spend;  
The Grecians fought against them of the town,  
Till Phoebus with his Chariot went down:   

At which time all the Trojans did begin,  
(Because they wanted light) to go their way  
With speed to Troy, but ere they entered in,  
Young Troyelus and Paris made them stay:  
While they took up Deiphobus (whom they found  
Complaining sore of his most deadly wound.)   

And when they saw him in that piteous case,  
They could not choose but weep & sore lament,  
And with salt tears bedewed their eyes and face,  
And were so filled with grief and discontent  
Within their hearts, and did such sorrow make,  
As if they would have died for his sake.   

And while that they in this sort by him stood,  
He waxed so weak that he began to die,  
For he had lost such quantity of blood,  
That t'saue his life there was no remedy:  
Yet while his valiant brethren did lament,  
Because they saw his vital breath was spent,   

He lifted up his eyes, and when he heard  
That Paris King Pallamides had slain,  
He seemed therewith to be a little cheered,  
And to release the sore and deadly pain,  
He bade them draw his spear out of his wound,  
Which done, he fell down dead upon the ground▪   

Whose body strait they bore in mournful wise  
Into the town with great solemnity:  
I need not show what sorrow and what cries  
For him was made, with much extremity,  
By all the men and women in the town,  
(As also for the death of Sarpedowne,)   

And specially by old King Priamus,  
Queen Hecuba, his sister's Pollicene,  
Cassandra, and his brother Helenus,  
With other of his worthy brethren:  
This shall suffice that unto you I tell,  
That't was most great as you may judge full well.   

And to be brief, for him and Sarpedon,  
King Priamus in haste two tombs did make  
In sumptuous wise, of polished Marble stone,  
And when that they were finished, for their sake  
He made a great and costly funeral,  
Whereat the people all in general   

Were present, & did mourn & make great moan,  
According to their old and ancient right.  
And while that this within the town was done,  
The Grecians with all speed and hast they 〈◊〉,  
Did make a tomb for their most worthy 〈◊〉  
Pallamides, and at his burying   

Did use such ancient customs as they had  
Amongst them, and their sorrow to express,  
Great grief and extreme dolour for him made,  
And in that sort brought him with heaviness,  
In royal wise unto his sepulture,  
And then because they might not long endure   

Without a Prince to be their governor,  
By full and free election of them all,  
They made King Agamemnon (who before  
Had held that place and ruled them) General▪  
And chief Commander of their host again,  
In stead of King Pallamides then slain.   

Which done, on either side without delay  
The Trojans strongly armed did issue out  
Of Troy, and went into the field next day  
T'assail the Greeks, who without fear or doubt,  
In warlike wise, and face to face them met.  
But Troyelus on them so fiercely set,   

That by his valour great and mighty force,  
The Greeks durst not abide before his face,  
For he so many of them did unhorsed,  
And did begin so ho●ely them to chase:  
That where so ere he road the field about,  
They fled from him, in mighty fear & doubt.   

And with him were the Knights that he then led,  
Young, lusty, and well armed with spear & shield,  
Who so much Grecian blood that day did shed▪  
That all the ground showed red within the field,  
And streams of blood ran down along the plain.  
At which time there did fall so great a rain,   

And huge a mist that men could hardly see,  
But most of all upon the Grecians side,  
By means whereof, and with th'extremity  
And smart of wounds which they did then abide:  
And through the valiant prowess and the might  
Of Troyelus, the strong and hardy Knight,   

They were constrained to shun his cruelty,  
And to avoid the storm which then did rise,  
To save their lives, in mighty fear to fly,  
And to give place unto their enemies,  
Ran to their tents, some succour there to find,  
The Trojans them pursuing fast behind   

In cruel wise, and with exceeding pace.  
But for because the storm did still increase,  
At that time they no longer held the chase,  
But both from it and fight did surcease,  
And entered into Troy; and there did stay  
Till morning, when the Lark did sing next day.   

That Troyelus betimes did issue out,  
Determining the Greeks again t'assail,  
Where in the field as he did ride about  
Among his foes, he did so much prevail  
'Gainst them, that who so ever he did smite  
With his strong sword, was maimed or killed ou● right.   

And in that furious manner still did hold▪  
His enemies in chase and beat them down,  
All that day with courageous heart and bold,  
And brought them unto great confusion:  
So long till that the Sun withdrew his light,  
And evening when it waxed toward night,   

That he returned to Troy victoriously,  
And seven days ensuing without rest,  
He did assail the Greeks so cruelly,  
And in such furious manner them oppressed:  
That they could not his puissant force sustain,  
But forced were to fly out of the plain,   

T'avoid the strong and mighty blows which he  
Amongst them dealt, for where so ere he passed,  
He put them to so great extremity,  
That they shrunk back and were in heart abashed,  
To see the field all died and coloured red  
With blood of Greeks that on the plain lay dead.   

And were that day oppressed in such wise,  
That next day after they did all agree,  
Betimes assoon as ere the Sun did rise,  
To fend a messenger to Troy, to see  
If Priamus unto a truce would yield  
For two months' space, wherewith king Priam held   

A counsel of his Lords to that intent.  
And by consent of them he did agree  
Unto the Greeks desire, and was content  
That peace for two months' time should holden be  
Which done, the Greeks out of the town strait (went,  
And coming unto 〈◊〉 tent,   

Declared unto him what was decreed  
By Priamus concerning his desire.  
And after that their General with speed,  
Sent messengers to pray and to require  
Achilles, (who was obstinately be●t,  
And resolutely held in his intent:   

Not to relieve nor aid the Grecians  
In any wise what need so ere they had,  
Against their mortal foes the Trojans,  
According to the vow he then had made)  
To mollify his anger, and t'agree,  
With them t'assail their Trojan enemy   

As he had done before, the which to do  
Ulysses, Diomedes, and Nestor were  
Appointed to persuade him thereunto,  
That they might not such loss & damage bear  
As daily they endured, and specially  
Because he did to them his aid deny,   

And would not with them in the field appear.  
Whom when Achilles saw he did receive  
And welcome them with joy full heart and cheer.  
And when they had of him desired leave  
To speak their minds according to their charge:  
Ulysses their Commission to discharge,   

An eloquent discourse unto him made,  
And following his first instruction,  
In this sort did begin him to persuade:  
And said, my Lord Achilles whose renown,  
Exceeding might, and glory passing great,  
For memory perpetually is set   

Within the Book and register of fame:  
And who (the truth to say) doth certainly  
At this time well deserve to bear the name  
Of all that underneath the christ all sky  
Do live and breath, for knighthood to excel.  
Be not displeased (I pray you) that I tell   

My mind to you, nor be it none offence  
At all unto your honour, that I say,  
For this is sure, it is my full pretence,  
To tell the truth as near as ere I may:  
As well your Lordship shall perceive and see,  
If you but mark what shall be said by me.   

You know full well if you to mind will call,  
The chiefest cause and reason, why that we  
With all the Grecian Princes (which excel  
For puissant strength and power) that now be  
Assembled here, whereof yourself was one  
Of those that first did make the motion,)   

Was by a full consent and will t'invade,  
Besige, and to destroy the puissant town  
Of Troy, and when that we performed had  
Our wills therein, to raise and cast it down  
Unto the ground, to our everlasting fame.  
But now (my Lord) you vary from the same,   

And so denlie have altered your mind,  
And to that end do utterly deny  
To aid us in our war, the which we find  
To be exceeding strange, especially  
When you should think upon the mighty wrong  
Done unto us in Greece, and that not long   

Nor many years ago by Trojans,  
That sent a mighty force out of their town,  
And therewith slew and killed the Grecians,  
And entering into Cythera, beat down  
Our Castles and our houses, and did bear  
Our treasure thence, and not contented were   

With all that spoil, but to our great despite,  
Did ravish fair Queen Helena, and made  
Her go with them, and hold her still by might,  
And would not once confess the wrong they had  
Then done, and now still unto us procure,  
But in the same do obstinate endure.   

And since our being here in siege, have wrought  
So much and so great hurt and injury  
To us, by burning of our ships, and brought  
So many Greeks unto their ends, that we  
Cannot but muse at your great carelessness,  
That will not now (when they as we confess,   

By your exceeding might and valour great,  
Are brought unto most hard extremity,  
S●th you have Hector slain, in whom they set  
Their special trust and chief security:  
And he who only did their town sustain.  
And sith Deiphobus likewise now is slain,   

And they by likelihood continually,  
And day by day to fall into despair,  
Now fortune on them casts a lowering eye,  
And unto us doth show a countenance fair:  
Even now I say, when you are so renowned,  
And that your praise by trump of fame doth sound   

Through every Land and Nation far & near.)  
Take time while it doth serve t'extol your praise,  
And by dame Fortune's aid which doth you bear  
So great good will to work by all assays,  
To bring your long desired wish t'effect.  
For't were great wrong in you so to neglect   

Dame Fortune, when to you she is so kind,  
And obstinately to refuse her aid,  
When you do her so friendly to you find,  
And so extols your fame (as I have said)  
That she puts victory into your hand,  
And unexpectedly your foes withstand,   

So that you need no help of her to crave.  
Why then should you so wilfully let fall  
The noble fame which at this time you have,  
And suffer that men shall't in question call,  
When as it is now in the highst degree?  
Me thinks you should much better thereto see,   

And have a greater care the same to keep.  
For every knight that is of valiant mind  
Would grieve thereat, & with great sighs & deep,  
Lament to see you prove so much unkind  
Unto yourself, as to abase your state,  
When fame doth it so highly elevate.   

Wherefore we you desire heartily,  
To have remorse of conscience in your mind,  
And that you would unto us not deny  
Your aid, but let us so much favour find  
At your hands, to help us in our need,  
T'effect the thing which we have all decreed,   

To bring to pass ere we leave off the same.  
That your renown may still be magnified  
Throughout the world, to your perpetual fame,  
And still increase and be re-edified:  
And that the triumph of our victory,  
May evermore be had in memory,   

And so recorded that forgetfulness,  
May not your fame & valour greatt deface,  
Nor power have by malice to suppress  
The same, which now doth shine in every place,  
Without eclipse, as we must needs confess,  
Which to preserve you seem with carelessness.   

Not to respect, and to obscure the light  
Of your renown, which ever was so clear,  
And through the world did shine exceeding bright,  
In field to fight with us you do forbear.  
Remember how the Grecians have been slain  
Before your tent, and also in the plain   

In cruel wise, and every place throughout  
The field, and you no pity on them take.  
Why should you then refuse, and be so stout  
Without a cause them wholly to forsake?  
Who until now have been their Champion,  
Their chiefest help, and their protection.   

And for their sakes have often shedyour blood  
Against their foes, when they with them have fought,  
And by your aid not only them withstood,  
But their confusion valiantly ●aue wrought,  
And mightily their enemies did assail.  
Without whose aid they may not long prevail   

Against their foes, no more may any one  
Of us, how stout and strong so ere we be,  
For 'tis you only that can do't alone,  
If that you will vouchsafe with us t'agree  
To fight against the Trojans, and thereto  
Lend us your aid as you were wont to do:   

And as we doubt not but you'll grant the same,  
To succour us in our necessity,  
N●● 〈◊〉 for your own perpetual fame,  
But to redeem us from extremity:  
And to that end we come to you as now,  
To crave of you your mind herein to show.   

Whereto Achilles presently began  
(assoon as ere Ulysses ended had  
His tale) to speak, with visage pale and wan  
For ang●●, and in this sort answer made:  
Ulysses, if so be our meaning were  
As you to me at this time do declare,   

Of purpose, and with one entire consent,  
The famous town of Troy to overthrow,  
And utterly to spoileed, and that we bent  
Our minds thereto, and thereby meant to show  
Our power and might, I must you plainly tell,  
That we of truth therein have not done well,   

To put cur selves by indiscretion,  
So carelessly without advisedness,  
Into so dangerous an action,  
To hazard the estate and happiness,  
With lives and goods of all the Chivalry  
Of Greece, that put the same in jeopardy,   

For little cause or none, the truth to tell.  
For hath ●ot many a worthy King and Knight,  
(Who both in fame and honour did excel)  
Consumed his wealth and lost his life in fight  
Here in this siege, that might have lived in peace  
And honour still, if he had stayed in Grease?   

For hath not King Pallamides been slain  
But now of late, whose life was of more worth,  
Then all the cause for which we here remain  
And hold this dangerous siege, to tell the troth?  
And many other Knights and Princes great,  
That on both sides are here together met,   

To show their puissant valour and their might,  
And to attain to honour and to fame,  
Have lost their lives unhappily in fight,  
And many more are like to do the same,  
If that long time this cruel war doth last▪  
For every day the number lesneth fast,   

Both on the Greeks and Trojans side likewise.  
So that, if this most cruel rage and mood,  
Continue long, and in such furious wise,  
If that it be not otherwise withstood:  
It's likely that it will such havoc make  
Of Princely blood, that clowns will undertake   

To rule and govern here upon the earth,  
And of the same have sole dominion,  
And such as are of no degree nor birth,  
Will Lords become when Princes there are none:  
For is not Hector that most valiant Knight,  
That was the only mirror and the light   

Of Chivalry, unfortunately slain  
In this same war, and so may I likewise  
Perchance be killed, that never shall attain  
To Hector's worth, while light is in mine e●es:  
For there's no way deaths furious dart to shun,  
If we upon the point thereof will run,   

And seek it of ourselves while we are here.  
And therefore such a motion now to make,  
Concerning this our war, as you require,  
Is but in vain, for I do mean to take  
Another course, and in this bloody strife,  
No more to stand in hazard of my life.   

For I had rather to impair my name,  
Then wilfully to die or to be slain,  
Thereby to be eternised by fame,  
For honour after death is but a vain  
And needless thing, and soon is set aside:  
For though that fame be spread both far & wide,   

Oblivion and forgetfulness may soon  
Impaireed by tract of times, & length of days,  
And make thereof a wrong conclusion:  
For that the fame of Knighthood, and the praise  
Of honour, wisdom, and of worthiness,  
Of freedom, bounty, and of gentleness,   

Of virtue, and of every other grace  
Wherewith a man is in this world endowd,  
Forgetfulness can darken and deface,  
And in oblivions mantle doth them shroud:  
And with a false report maliciously,  
Doth crop the Palm● of worthy Chivalry.   

And therefore for my part I do intend  
Such folly now to leave, and henceforth live  
In peace, and all mine actions thereto bend:  
And for that cause this counsel to you give,  
To make a peace with Trojans if you may,  
And therein do no longer time delay,   

Before that further mischief doth arise,  
And cruel death should chance to be your share.  
And therefore good my Lords if you be wise,  
Of this my counsel see you take some care:  
This is (said he) my purpose and intent,  
Which you may show to him that hath you sent.   

With which his resolute conclusion,  
Ulysses, Diomedes, and Nestor went  
Unto their General Agamemnon,  
And unto him declared the intent  
And answer of Achilles which he made  
To them, as I before unto you said.   

And there upon he presently did call  
The Princes of the Greeks unto his tent,  
And when they were assembled, to them all  
Did show whereto Achilles' mind was bend:  
And that he was desirous of a peace  
With them of Troy, that all their war might cease.   

Refusing flatly t'enter in the field  
With them against the Trojans any more,  
And for that cause a counsel with them held,  
To know of them what will thereto they bore:  
And what therein they did intend to do,  
Sith that the case with them as then stood so.   

Whereto the first of them that did reply,  
Was Menelaus, who with an angry mood  
Began to chafe, and flatly did deny  
To make a peace, and therein boldly stood,  
And said, that it was never his intent,  
By any means thereto to give consent,   

Sith that the town of Troy was in such need,  
And at the brink of their destruction,  
Now Hector and Deiphobus both were dead,  
That whilom were their sole protection:  
So that they might all comfort clean reject,  
And nothing else but cruel death expect.   

And therefore flatly said without all fear,  
Though that Achilles will us help no more.  
The burden of our enterprise to bear,  
We need not any whit to doubt therefore,  
But that without him we shall overthrow  
Our enemies by our force, as well I know.   

Whereto Ulysses speedily replied,  
And Nestor, both of one opinion,  
And 'gainst his false assertion justified,  
That touching peace whereof the motion  
As then was made, it was no marvel why,  
King Menelaus did it so much deny.   

And to the same by no means would give ear.  
Sith that he was the ground of all their war,  
And that he and Queen Helena both were  
The cause that made the Greeks to come so far  
Out of their native Country, there to lose  
Their lives & goods amongst their deadly foes.   

And therefore said, he cared not what pain  
Nor loss the Greeks endured, so that he might  
Recover his Queen Helena again.  
And where he saith the strong and valiant knight  
Hector is dead, his heir as yet doth live  
For knighthood, who in manner doth revive   

And raise him up, which is his younger brother  
Prince Troyelus, whom we may rightly call  
Young Hector, for there is not such another  
In all the world, for he's as't were the wall  
And sole defence of Troy now Hector's gone,  
Which is well seen unto us every one.   

(If we the truth thereof acknowledged.)  
Whose trechant blade in his most furious heat,  
Doth oft and every hour make us bleed  
Within the field, when he with us doth meet.  
And in the stead of worthy Deiphobus,  
That was a puissant knight and valorous,   

His valiant brother Paris yet doth live,  
That's unto him for knighthood peregall,  
Who also doth Troy mightily relieve,  
Whereby of them advantage none at all  
We have as yet, so that since we begun  
This war, in truth there is but little won   

By us, but we are likelier to lose  
Yet more and more, if we it still ●● hold,  
And therefore sith that we ha●e power to choose,  
My counsel is, 'twere good if that we would  
T'agree with them of Troy, and seek for peace,  
And let us from this bloody war surcease.   

Ulysses having spoken in this wise,  
The Trojan traitor Calohas vexed sore  
To hear the same, upon his feet did rise,  
And forth hatred which to Troy he bore,  
Said, worthy Kings and Princes every one,  
Why should you change & vary like the Moon,   

From that your first and resolute intent,  
Which was by you so fully 'greed unto,  
Against the will and the commandment  
O● all the Gods, that power have to do  
What ere they list, and rule and govern all  
The actions of mankind, both great & small?   

Why should you not unto them credit give,  
Whose hests and doings are infallible?  
For this you must all constantly believe,  
That 'tis most true and not impossible,  
That Troy by their preordinance and will,  
Shall be destroyed within a little while,   

If you do not neglect and slack the same,  
Whereby great honour, praise, and victory  
Reserved is for you by Lady Fame,  
And will be ever had in memory:  
If you with courage bold pursue your foes,  
And do not your good fortune fond lose.   

The which I dare affirm and boldly say,  
And further must you tell, that wilfully  
To dally with the Gods, is th'only way  
To make them change their purpose speedily:  
Wherefore my counsel is, that unity  
Should be maintained, and all amb'guitie,   

Despair and dread, or any kind of doubt,  
Forecasting peril, sloth, or cowardice  
Clean laid aside, you should with hearts most stout  
And valiant courage, utterly despise  
All fear of death, and once again resume,  
Your force with resolution to consume   

And spoil your foes: for fear makes men to faint,  
And leave the enterprise they take in hand,  
And doth men's minds with cowardice attaint,  
And make them that they dare not thereto stand:  
That as the Gods ordained have by decree  
And providence divine, that you should be   

Victorious o'er your enemies in th'end,  
(If you with valiant hearts thereto aspire)  
You may attain to that you do pretend,  
And so you shall fulfil the God's desire:  
Which speech when Calchas with smooth words & (fair  
Had spoken, and thereby put all despair   

Out of the Grecians hearts, they did protest  
And vow, that fear and danger laid aside,  
They would fulfil his counsel, and near rest  
(Though that Achilles flatly them denied  
His aid therein) till that they had o'erthrown  
The Trojans, as hereafter shall be shown.   

The two months' truce aforesaid finished,  
The Grecians did prepare themselves to fight  
Against their foes, and bravely entered  
Into the field, 'gainst whom in great despite  
The Trojan Knights with hearts courageous  
Did issue forth. At which time Troyelus   

Such valour showed, that with his trenchant blade,  
He killed and wounded them so furiously,  
That in short space to fly he had them made.  
For that day, in his extreme cruelty,  
He vowed for his brother Hector's sake,  
Upon the Grecians full revenge to take.   

And (as 'tis said) that worthy Champion,  
By his exceeding valour and his might,  
Did slay a thousand Knights himself alone,  
And put the Grecians valiantly to flight  
All that day long, till Phoebus did descend,  
At which time he of fight made an end,   

And entered into Troy, whereas he rested  
Till next day that the Grecians (who t'revenge  
Their loss upon the Trojans, had protested)  
Did orderly their wings and squadrons renge  
(Assoon as Phoebus rose) within the plain,  
With whom the Trojans fiercely met again,   

Where each the other valiantly assailed.  
At which time fierce King Diomedes did fight  
So cruelly, and then so much prevailed  
Against his foes, that by his passing might,  
Great store of Trojans lost their lives and died,  
Till Troyelus his cruelty espied.   

At whom with speed he ran a mighty pace,  
And with his strong and puissant spear in rest,  
Encountered with him bravely face to face,  
And gave to him a blow upon the breast,  
So mightily, and with such passing force,  
That with the same he smote him off his horse▪   

And bruised him sore. To whom in spiteful wise,  
As he upon the ground did lie, he spoke,  
And told him of his love and treacheries,  
Which he 'gainst him had wrought for Cressida's sake:  
At which time when the Grecians did espy  
King Diomedes upon the ground to lie,   

Amongst the horses feet in great distress,  
They did with all the haste and speed they might,  
To save him from stout Troielus furiousness,  
Take him up from the ground, and in despite  
Of all his foes, sore bruised and dismayed,  
Bore him from thence and in his tent him laid.   

Whom to revenge, King Menelaus did set  
His spear in rest, and furiously did ride  
To Troielus, but ere with him he met,  
Fierce Troielus that his coming would not bide,  
Prevented him, with such a furious blow,  
That to the ground he did him overthrow,   

And gave him therewith all a cruel wound  
Within his breast, that he was like to die:  
But when his Knights saw him upon the ground,  
They▪ laid him on a shield, and speedily  
Bore him out of the press into his tent,  
At which time while away with him they went.   

The Greeks were sore oppressed, slain, and chaste  
Throughout the field by Troilus passing might,  
Who then most fiercely them pursued fast,  
That they were forced to take themselves to flight.  
Until such time as King Agamemnon  
With many Grecian Knights came riding down   

Into the field, (whose ensigns glistering  
Against the Sun, made such a gallant sight  
As they within the air hung wavering,  
That to behold them 'twas a great delight.)  
Who in most furious wise the Troyans' chaste,  
Killed, wounded, and did beat them down so fast.   

And at that time most like a valiant Knight,  
Behaved himself so bravely and so well,  
That by his valour grea● and puissant might,  
To fly from him he did them then compel:  
But while that he in that most furious mood,  
Amongst the thick est of the Troyans' road;   

Prince Troielus ran at him with a spear,  
And in the face of all his enemies,  
Out of his saddle to the ground him bare▪  
Wherewith the Greeks with huge and mighty ●●ies,  
(To see their puissant Lord and General,  
In midst of them receive so great a fall,)   

Ran to him, and by main and mighty force  
Relieved him, and made him mount again,  
(Despite of all the Troyans',) on his horse.  
At which time many a gallant Knight was slain,  
And furiously on either side unhorsed,  
But yet the Grecian Knights at last were forced,   

(For all the great 〈◊〉 that they made,)  
By Troielus, (whose sword they durst ●or bide,)  
To leave the plain and bloody fight▪ and glad  
To make retreat, withdrew themselves aside.  
For when as King Agamemnon perceived  
How that his men were or there lives bereaved   

So furiously, that they could notwithstand  
The Troyans' blows, he did suppose it best  
For him to make retreat, and out of hand  
To leave the field, and for that time to rest,  
And to that end did give commandment,  
To every man t'retire unto h●●te●●.   

And after that ere Ph●bus did appear,  
Next day, he sent to Priam to require  
A truce for six months space, i● that he were  
Content therewith, who granted his desire.  
Although that some therein with him did stritie  
And giveth thereat, and would not grant to give   

Such respite to the Greeks, but 'twas no boot  
For them to strive, when Priamus had past  
His word and faith unto the Greeks to do't.  
In which time while the truce twixt them did last,  
Fair Gr●sula loath so long time to tarry,  
(Although her Father was therein contrary.)   

From vili●ing her friend, and t'have a sight  
Of Diomedes, (who ●a● received a wound  
Not long before,) that was her loving Knight,  
Went to his tent whereas when The him found  
She sat down on the bed side where he lay,  
And while that she therein his tent did slay,   

She did consider with herself, and thought  
That 'twas in vain for her so long t'endure  
Without a love, and that t'availd her nought  
For Troielus to stay, and to be sure  
Of store, for that men say it is no sore,  
She thought she would delay the time no more.   

But presently with gentle heart and kind,  
She promised love unto King Diomedes,  
To show what piety is in women kind,  
And how that they b'extremitres are led,  
T'expulse old love, and new to entertain,  
Before that men should sue to them in vain,   

Or suffer grief and sorrow for their sake.  
The exchange is not so ready in Lombard street,  
Where Merchants do contracts and bargains make  
For Duckects and for Crowns when as they meet.  
Each kind of gold and coins to them's all one,  
So that it have a face or stamp thereon.   

Their letters of exchange pa●se currently,  
And commonly are paid upon the sight,  
The passage boat is ready, and doth lie  
T'attend all comers both by day and night:  
No man's refused that will desire grace,  
Danger there's none but in dissembling face.   

The Sea is caline, and clear from Rocks and sands,  
'Twas never heard that man was ere said nay,  
That craved or asked mercy at their hands,  
As you may plainly see by Cressida,  
Who at that time gave Diomedes her hart,  
To ease, and to release him of his smart.   

Desiring him to be of joyful cheer;  
And promised t'obey him faithfully  
In every thing, as to her Knight most dear,  
Before that he for love of her should die,  
Esteeminged better to want constantness,  
Then to be held and counted pitiless.   

As women are by nature very loath,  
T'adict their minds t▪ revenge, or cruelty,  
'Gainst any man for breach of faith or oath,  
But rather seem to show humility,  
And mercy unto those that want relief,  
And have their minds possessed with woe & grief.   

Thus much for her, and now I will proceed  
According to the History to show:  
That while the two months truce before decreed,  
Was holden, King Agamenon did go  
Unto Achilles' tent, of him to crave  
That of the Greeks he would compassion have,   

And not t'endure not suffer them to die,  
And to be slain and maimed every hour  
By them of Troy, who with great cruelty  
Assailed the Greeks, and by their mighty power  
Did put them to most great and hard distress,  
The which he said was likely to increase,   

Unless he would vouchsafe his aid to lend  
With speed, and it no more from them withhold,  
And by his mighty power and force defend  
Them as before he did, with courage bold.  
But 'twas in vain, for whatsoe'er he said,  
Achilles would not yield to him, to aid   

No● succour them, but with obdurate mind,  
Still wished them to think upon a peace,  
And with all speed some way and means to find  
That bloody and most tedious war to cease.  
But yet because he bare affection,  
And much good will to King Agamemnon.   

He would not altogether say them nay,  
But partly to their wills did condescend,  
And said, though he within his tent would stay,  
He was content his Myrmidons to send  
In steed of him, into the field to aid  
Them 'gainst their foes. Wherewith full well paid,   

Agamemnon and Nestor took their leave,  
And left him in a melancholy mood  
Upon his bed, where he did sigh and grieve  
For Pollicene, in whom then wholly stood  
His sole delight and comfort, yet in doubt  
Near to attain to that he went about.   

And so continued still. But as he had  
Made promise when the truce was at an end,  
He did appoint his Myrmidons to aid  
The Greeks to fight, and when he did them send  
Into the field, he gave a ribbon red  
To each of them to were upon his head,   

That they might from the rest be known thereby,  
And when they took their leaves and did depart  
From him, he was in great perplexity,  
And mightily tormented at the hart:  
Because he sent them t'ayd the Grecians  
Against his will, t'assail the Troyans'.   

But ne'ertheless with hearts replete with pride,  
They went with King Agamemnon to fight  
Against their foes, who for them did abide  
Upon the plain, and when they were in sight,  
Each side began the other to defy  
In warlike wise with many a shout and cry.   

And fearful noise of drums and trumpets brave,  
Wherewith the Troyans' furiously began  
T'assail the Greeks, and such an onset gave  
To them at that same time, that many a man  
On Grecians side were slain, and they compelled  
To make retreat again out of the field.   

Till that the Duke of Athens entered  
With mighty force, the fury great to stay  
Of Troyans', and did make the greeks that fled  
Advance themselves again, but in the way  
Stout Troielus smote him so great a blow,  
That from his horse he did him overthrow.   

And then with fury great he entered in  
The thickest of the press, and beat down all  
That with him met, and therewith did begin  
So hotly on the Myrmidons to fall,  
That many of them lost their lives, and so  
far amongst the thickest of the Greeks did go,   

That at the last he put them all to flight  
And by his valour great had them in chase,  
So long till that the day was past, and night  
Began t'appear, when as he left the place,  
And went into the town, and there did stay  
And rest himself, till that betimes next day,   

They did begin a cruel fight again  
Within the field, so fiercely on each side,  
That at that time great store of Knights were slain  
And beaten down, and as they stoutly ride  
To try their valours one against the other,  
Pollidamas and Philomene together   

Did take King Thoas prisoner, whom they meant  
T'have carried unto Troy with speed, had not  
The Myrmidons (before with him they went  
Out of the field,) from them by valour got,  
And rescued him, for they were very strong.  
At which time Troilus road amongst the throng.   

And thickst of them, and like a valiant Knight,  
K●ld and o'erthrew great store of them by force,  
So long till that by their great strength and might,  
They did enclose him round and killed his horse,  
And thought t'have ta'en him prisoner, but he fought  
So valiantly, that they full dearly bought   

His horse's life, with many of their own.  
Till at the last his brother Paris spied  
Him fight there on foot with them alone,  
And with his other brethren strait did ride  
To rescue him, and forcibly made way  
Through all the press, and many of them did slay,   

And by their valours soon recovered had  
A horse for him, whereon he lightly sprung,  
And then again such havoc of them made,  
That though he was enclosed among the throng,  
He killed, and beat them down so furiously,  
That many of them dead at his feet did lie▪   

But as most like a valiant Champion  
He fought in midst of them enclosed round,  
One of his brethren called Margariton,  
By Myrmidons received his deadly wound.  
Whose death set Troilus heart on such a fire  
With cruelty, that in most furious ire,   

He purposed to be revenged therefore.  
And with his sword by force he made a way  
Through thickest of the press, & down he bore  
All that before him stood or once durst stay  
To make resistance, or withstand him then,  
The like did Paris with his brethren,   

Who altogether furiously did ride  
Amongst Achilles' Myrmydons, and there  
Such havoc of them made, that to abide  
Before them they durst not, but in great fear  
They were compelled of mere necessity  
To set spurs to their horses, and to fly   

In haste to save their lives. For Troielus  
Did kill and beat them down so cruelly;  
And was on them so fierce and furious,  
And wounded them so sore and terribly,  
That many of them died in the plain,  
And yet they did the fight long time maintain.   

For they were noble Knights and of great worth,  
And knew full well how they their arms should wield  
But yet they were by Troielus driven forth,  
With many wounds sore bleeding from the field:  
Not able to withstand his extreme might,  
Although they held together, and did fight   

Most valiantly, and would not separate  
Themselves long time asunder, till at length  
They were by Troielus fierce and desperate,  
So hotly chaste, that by main force and strength,  
He made them break their ranks, & in despite  
Their hearts to fly till that with many a Knight,   

King Menelaus', and King Agamemnon,  
Ulysses, and most cruel Diomedes,  
And with them also fierce King Thelamon,  
Came to the field; and when they entered,  
So valiantly assailed the Troyans',  
And with such multitudes of Grecians   

Upon them set, that at that time the fight  
Betwixt them did so hot and sore renew,  
That it did cost the life of many a Knight  
On either side; and thereof did ensue,  
So terrible a noise and cry throughout  
The field of men that maimed lay, & mought   

Not help themselves, that all the air did sound▪  
And ring therewith, and many shields were spleet,  
And harness hacked, and hawd, & all the ground  
Lay covered over with hands, arms, heads, & feet  
Of men, that cut and mangled dying lay,  
And streams of blood ran down along the way,   

And in the plain, most fearful to behold.  
At which time they of Troy, for all the might  
And multitudes of Greeks, with courage bold,  
Not once dismayed, so valiantly did fight,  
That many Grecian Knights by them were killed,  
And wounded sore: and where within the field   

The fight most strongest, horsed and furious  
Was held, and where greatest troops of Greeks withstood  
The Troyans' and assailed them, Troiclus  
Courageously amongst the thickest road,  
And with his Knights such slaughter of them made,  
That in short space he them compelled had   

To fly, and to avoid his furious sword,  
As th'instrument of their destruction,  
And which as death they shunned, and abhorred.  
And this continued till that Thelamon  
The fearful flying of the Greeks beheld,  
Did turn them back, & made them keep the field   

And valiantly the Trojan Knights assailed.  
And then again the fight was hot and strong,  
And Greeks against the Troyans' sore prevailed,  
But that advantage held not very long:  
For Troielus relieved them again,  
And by him then so many Greeks were slain,   

That he compelled them maugre all their might,  
And great resistance which they then did make,  
Before his sword again to take their flight  
Unto their tents, and at that time did take  
An hundred Percian Knights, whom he did send  
To Troy, and so that day the fight did end.   

Which being done the Myrmidons with speed  
Unto their Lord Achilles' tent did go,  
With many wounds full deep that sore did bleed,  
And in that sort themselves to him did show  
Who of their number then were lessened,  
An hundred Knights within the field lay dead.   

With ghastly wounds, slain by the puissant might,  
And valour great of Troielus alone,  
Whereof when as Achilles had a sight,  
The night ensuing he did nought but groan,  
And sigh, and grieve, and was so much oppressed  
With heaviness, that he could take no rest:   

For in his mind he had a double woe,  
First, for his Knights that had been newly slain,  
And then for Pollicene whom he loved so;  
For he knew well that he should near obtain  
His will of her, if to revenge his men  
He should once seek the means, & therefore then   

His heart burnt in his breast with double fire  
Of wrath, and love, which p●t him to great pain,  
For wrath provoked him with great desire  
To be revenged, and love did him restrain  
From doing it, and got the upper hand.  
For he in mighty fear and doubt did stand,   

That if he should within the field be seen  
Against them of the town, King Priam would  
Think much thereof, and Hecuba the Queen,  
And Pollicene would him for ever hold  
To be disloyal and unkind, whereby  
He was in such twofold perplexity:   

That he knew not which way himself to wind,  
He was so priest with fear and fantasy,  
As lovers in their brains do often find,  
When they for love are sick and like to die.  
And thus it fared with him for many a day,  
(In which time as the History doth say,   

For seven days ensuing one the other,  
The Troyans' with the Greeks did fiercely fight,  
And in such cruel wise than met together,  
That it did cost the life of many a Knight  
On either side, that piteously were slain,  
And wounded sore, lay dead upon the plain.)   

Mean time he musd upon no other thing  
But to obtain his pleasure, and to win  
His Lady's love, and how't to pa●●e to bring,  
Near caring what estate the Greeks were in:  
Nor how they sped when 'gainst their foes they fought  
Esteeming it no parcel of his thought.   

So much his mind on other things was set,  
Which made him oftentimes to watch and wake,  
And many sore and cruel sighs to fet:  
And so great care and inward thought to take,  
That from his heart all comfort clean was gone,  
Till on a day that King Agamemnon,   

Perceiving what destruction still was made  
By them of Troy upon the Grecians, sent  
To Priamus for two months truce, but had  
No grant thereof, for he would not consent  
To longer time then for few days t'endure,  
While they provided for the sepulture,   

Of those that on each side lay slain and dead  
Within the field, which they accordingly  
Within the days set down accomplished,  
And after never ceased continually  
Each other to assail, while that they were  
Besiedging of the town as you shall hear.    

CHAP. III.  
¶ How Achilles when Troilus was enclosed round about by his Myrmydons, came behind him and smote off his head, and after drew his body through the field at his horse's tail.  

THe cruel and continual slaughter made  
From day to day, still more and more increased  
Th'inveterate malice, that continued had  
Long twixt the Greeks and Troyans', & near ceased,  
Nor near was like to cease, till that death's dart  
Had killed many Knights on either part:   

T'accomplish by most stern and cruel Fate,  
God's steadfast, and infallible decree,  
And t'execute the great and deadly hate  
On either side, which might not shunned be:  
For Atropos that in death's ship doth go  
For Mistress, had said it should be so.   

Nor never cease till all did go to wrack,  
And flattering Fortune with dissembling cheer,  
Disdainfully on Troy did turn her back,  
As in this Book hereafter you shall hear:  
For when the last day of the truce was past,  
On either side they armed themselves in haste:   

And in the morning early fore Sun rose,  
Into the field they went and fiercely met  
Together, like most stern and deadly foes,  
Where Paris first on Menelaus did set:  
And they each other bravely did unhorsed,  
For they were both of passing might and force.   

And then Ulysses furiously did run  
With mighty spear against Pollidamas,  
Where twixt them both a cruel fight begun,  
For neither of them unex perienst was,  
How to defend himself against his foe,  
And while they were together fight so,   

Not far from them Menestes fiercely smote  
Antenor with his spear, so great a blow,  
That it in pieces broke, yet failed not  
Him to the ground therewith to overthrow,  
And Philomene a King on Troyans' side,  
To valiant King Agamemnon did ride,   

Who at the first together fiercely sought,  
But in a little while Agamemnon  
Was by him into so great danger brought,  
That he had sure been slain, if Thelamon  
Had not come thither t'ayd him in his need,  
Who setting spurs unto his gallant steed,   

Struck Philomene with such a mighty fierce,  
That with the blow which was exceeding strong,  
He smote him to the ground off from his horse.  
And then amongst the thick est of the throng,  
The young and valiant Knight Archilagus,  
Ran at a Trojan Knight called Br●●i●s   

King Priam's Bastard son, to whom he gave  
So mighty and so puissanta blow,  
That neither shield nor armour could him save,  
But dead unto the ground he did him throw▪  
Whose death when as the Troyans' did espy,  
They did cast forth a huge and piteous cry,   

And grievously complaining for the same,  
Were sore abashed, and stricken in great fear,  
But when the news thereof to Troielus came,  
T'reuenge his death he did protest and swear:  
And presently did make no more abode,  
But to the place where he was slain, strait rode   

And with his sword so furiously did slay  
And wound the Greeks, that he did make their blood  
Run down in mighty streams along the way,  
And in the plain, and all that him withstood  
Were fiercely by him beaten down, and killed:  
So that the hardiest Knight than in the field,   

Durst not abide in his most furious sight,  
He slew and wounded them so cruelly,  
And had that time sure put them all to flight,  
But that the Myrmydons most valiantly  
Withstood him for a while, (who all that day  
With one consent in wait for Troielus lay.   

For which he was in such a mighty rage,  
That like a Knight that did in arms excel,  
His furious wrath and anger to assuage,  
With courage bold upon them all he fell,  
And did amongst the thickest of them ride,  
Where some of them he wounded in the side,   

Some in the breast, and some he did bereave  
Of heads, hands, legs, and feet, and some he smote  
So pvissantly, that he did fiercely cleave  
Their bodies in two parts, and spared not  
To hac, and hew them down so mightily,  
That at the last they were compelled to fly   

Unto their tents, pusued by Troielus  
With many Knights, till he did them o'ertake,  
Wherewith most cruel heart and furious,  
He did so great a slaughter of them make,  
And put them to so great extremity,  
That they cast forth a fearful noise and cry.   

And such a great and lamentable moan,  
Was heard of them that lay upon the ground,  
And gasping, cast out many grievous groan,  
That all the field and plain therewith did sound:  
And through the camp the tumult was so great,  
Because their foes so fiercely on them set,   

That at the last it came t' Achilles' ear,  
Who calling to his men, demanded why  
The Grecians at that time were in such fear,  
That they did make so great a noise and cry?  
Who told him that for want of aid, as then  
The Troyans' in their tents did slay their men.   

And put them to so great extremity,  
That they were forced to cry for grief and pain,  
Which they endured by the cruelty  
Of Troielus, and that his men were slain  
Likewise within his tent, and there did lie  
In great distress without all remedy.   

And while they thus unto Achilles spoke,  
A Grecian Knight came running from the plain,  
Whose heart within his breast for fear did shake,  
And said to him, how can you now sustain  
And bear this great and cruel injury,  
To so your men before your face thus lie   

Dead on the ground, and slain in cruel wise  
Within your tent, and take thereof no heed?  
But stay still here, when as your enemies  
Have sworn, and with full intent decreed,  
To kill you thus disarmed as you stand,  
If by your mighty force and puissant hand   

You do them not resist, and valiantly  
Show forth your courage, and ere hence they pass,  
Requite them for the extreme cruelty  
Which they have showed to us herein this place.  
Which when Achilles heard with furious ire  
Which in his breast did burn as hot as fire▪   

He armed himself and soming like a Boar,  
(Forgetting that whereof so much he dreamed  
And thought upon,) unto himself he swore  
To be revenged, (for love was clean exempt▪  
Out of his mind, and Pollicene also,  
For whom he had endured so great woe,   

And for her beauty felt such grief in hart▪)  
Upon the Troyans' for their cruelty.  
That suddenly upon 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 Troyans' made,   

And did so furiously upon them set:  
(For like a greedy wolf that seeks for pray,  
He killed, 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 Troyans' fly before his face,   

And shun his sword, all died with their blood,  
(Wherewith he had so many of them slain.)  
For there was none that him as then withstood,  
But he was soon laid dead upon the plain:  
Till Troielus that by fortune did behold,  
How he the Troyans' slew with courage bold,   

Ran at him with most great and puissant force,  
Whose coming when Achilles did espy,  
He likewise spurred his strong and gallant horse,  
And ran at him with like dexterity,  
And met together with such puissant might,  
That each the other to the ground did smite,   

Both pierced in their breasts, but differently,  
Achilles with a wound most dangerous,  
Whereof he was constrained long to lie  
Within his tent to healed, but Troielus  
A little pricked: and so that day till night,  
And six days more ensuing they did fight,   

And never ceased in furious wise to kill,  
And to destroy each other valiantly,  
And in that time great store of blood did spill,  
Unto no little damage certainly  
On either side, for many a worthy Knight  
Was brought unto his end with great despite,   

In that same time. But cause I do not know  
Their names, nor of what dignities they were,  
For Guydo in his Book doth it not show,  
To write them I must likewise now forbear,  
And let their names and titles with them die,  
And in oblivion 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 love of Pollicene:  
Sore grieved he was, and did himself persuade  
Achilles with his words had him betrayed.   

But truth to say, 'twas neither fraud nor guile,  
Nor any treason secretly decreed,  
But heat of love which lasteth but a while,  
Which for that time did vex Achilles' head:  
And made him swear to do more than he could,  
(And like the wind that none by force can hold.)   

Let words from his dissembling mouth be heard  
Contrary unto that he meant to do.  
The which a man that's wise should not regard,  
And make as though he gave no ear thereto.  
For though Achilles had tofore been gotten  
In Cupid's snare, he had it then forgotten,   

And carded not in his fury to displease  
His Lady, whom so much he seemed to flatter;  
He had not any will the war to cease  
As he had said, but clean contrary matter  
Was in his head, than he made show to mean,  
And promised to the Queen and Pollicene.   

And for that cause King Priam did upbraid  
And cast her in the teeth with light conceit  
Of false Achilles' love, wherein she laid  
Her trust, whereas he meant nought but deceit,  
For which she was sore grieved, because that she  
Did to the Queen her mothers will agree   

To marry with Achilles, to th'intent  
That by her means and marriage there might be  
A peace for ever made. But 'twas not meant  
By treacherous Achilles, for when he  
Was healed of his wounds, he did devise,  
And in his traitorous heart a way surmise   

To be revenged on Troielus, who still  
Stake deeply in his cruel heart and mind,  
If that he might have means t'obtain his will,  
And him at some advantage take or find.  
Such hatred in his heart to him he bore,  
That day and night he took no other care,   

Nor set his mind upon no other thing,  
But only how to quench the burning fire  
Of envy 'gainst him borne, and how to bring  
The same t'eflect according t'his desire:  
For he had sworn and bound it with a vow,  
That Troielus should die, (he carded not how,   

Nor by what means,) by his hand and none other.  
And to that end with purpose fully bend:  
T▪ effect his will he called his Knights together,  
And when they were assembled in his tent  
(One morning when the Grecians forth did go  
Into the field with brave and warlike sho,   

To fight against their Tr●●● enemy,  
Who in like sort out of the town were come  
With all their force the Grecian to defy,  
And ready stood with sound of fearful drum,  
And trumpets shrill▪ to call and to invite  
The Grecians to a fierce and cruel fight.)   

He did to them of Troielus complain  
For th'injuries that he to him had done,  
And prayed them that they would take the pain  
That day to let all other things alone,  
And only watch on Troielus to hold  
And to enclose him round if that they could   

In midst of them, and when they had done so,  
In furious wise t'assail him altogether,  
And not by any means to let him go,  
But yet to save his life till he came thither.  
That with his sword alone he might him kill  
To satisfy his fierce and cruel will.   

Lo here the valour of this worthy Knight,  
Who enviously with rancour and in pride,  
By treason and with rage and great despite,  
All honour and true Knighthood laid aside;  
Doth seek to kill a worthier Knight than he,  
Alas that ere such treachery should be   

Within the heart of any man alive,  
That doth profess to be a valiant Knight,  
And honour seeks to win and to achieve  
Most valiant acts, and who is bound by right  
And law of arms, while life in him doth rest,  
All falsehood and fowl treason to detest.   

And to maintain all truth and equity,  
For now he doth in secret wise conspire  
The death of him by great disloyalty,  
That only unto honour did aspire.  
And he that was the brav'st and worthiest knight  
That ever aware or put on armour bright.   

(But that which by God's will ordained is,  
Though near so much men seek it to withstand,  
Must fall out in the end and cannot mis.)  
The which his Myrmydons did take in hand:  
And promised to do as he had said,  
And so no longer time therein delayed.   

But went into the field, where Troielus  
With all the Trojan troops did ready stand,  
Who valiantly with heart courageous,  
And with his strong and trenchant blade in hand  
Upon the Grecians set, and of them made  
Such havoc, that in little time he had   

So many of them slain, and overthrown,  
And furiously sore wounded every where  
As he amongst them road and passed, that none  
Of them durst stand against him, and appear  
Before his face, and did so hotly chase,  
And kill, and beat them down in every place,   

That they began for fear of him to fly,  
So that despite of all the Greeks he won  
The field of them, and with such cruelty  
Pursued them, that ere it was full noon  
That day, he had constrained them to retire  
To save their lives, and shun his furious ire.   

Till that Achilles Myrmydons began  
T'enclose him round about on every side,  
And with most great despite upon him ran,  
And he to them in furious wise did ride,  
And though alone he was amongst them all,  
Like Lion fierce upon them he did fall,   

And in such furious wise did them assail,  
And valiantly to kill them did not cease,  
That in short space he did so much prevail  
'Gainst them, that he their number did decrease:  
For some he slew out right, and some he bore  
down to the ground, & some he wounded sore,   

And some he maimed, and some he cloven in twain,  
And hacked and hewed them most cruelly,  
And did the fight so valiantly maintain  
Against them all, with such dexterity,  
That they could not his haughty heart subdue,  
But still he seemed his courage to renew.   

And them with force and valour great t'assail.  
And by no means to give them any rest.  
But what could all his power and strength prevail,  
When as he was so mightily oppressed;  
And that three thousand knights did never cease  
In furious wise upon him still to press.   

And more and more on every side him held  
At such a bay, that cowardly, in th'end  
They killed his horse, whereby he was compelled  
To fight on foot, and yet he did defend  
Himself so valiantly that they well felt  
The puissant blows which he amongst them dealt   

But ne'ertheless he was so sore beset  
That all he did could him no whit prevail,  
By any means from midst of them to get,  
For they did him so furiously assail:  
That maugre his most puissant force & might,  
Off from his head they did his helmet smite.   

And hacked and heawd his armour in such wise,  
That naked both with head and neck he stood  
In midst of all his furious enemies  
Without relief. Yet like a Lion wood  
He showed himself a valiant Champion,  
And never ceased to smite and beat them down.   

And to withstand them mightily and long,  
Disarmed as he was, till in the end  
Achilles entering in amongst the throng  
Of Myrmidons, where Troielus did defend  
Himself, & 'gainst them fought with courage bold:  
Whom when he did in such a case behold   

Sore wearied with fight, and in need  
Of aid, (as then,) with extreme cruelty  
E'er Troilus of him took any heed,  
Behind him fiercely road; and cowardly  
Smote off his head, and not contented so;  
Vnknightly his great cruelty to sho,   

He caused his mangled body to be bound  
Unto his horse's tail, and in a rage  
Drewt after him along upon the ground  
Throughout the field, his choler to assuage,  
And to content his fierce and cruel will,  
Which took delight his enemy's blood to spill   

By treason, as too well it doth appear  
By that disloyal act which he then wrought.  
But he that such a traitorous heart doth bear,  
All honour and renown 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 leave the Greeks and Troyans' in the fight;  
And unto learned Homer speak a while,  
Who as it seems did take a great delight  
To praise Achilles for his chivalry,  
And all the Greeks t'extol and magnify.   

But Homer thou hadst need to blush for shame,  
And to condemn thine own partiality,  
For magnifying of Achilles' name,  
That in thy book extol'st him to the sky:  
Who while he lived was full of fraud and guile,  
And never did deserve so lofty a stile.   

I must confess that with great Eloquence,  
And Rhetoric, thou hast set forth his praise,  
And like a Poet of great excellence,  
Dost say he was the best Knight in his days.  
Yet in one point thou greatly art to blame,  
Without just cause to magnify his name,   

And t'eleuate, commend, and glorify  
Him with a title of such happiness,  
As that for everlasting memory  
Thou dost declare, that through his worthiness  
And Knighthood, he the honour did obtain,  
By his own hand two Hectors to have slain.   

(One, who in truth for Knighthood did surpas  
All men that ever lived, for such an other  
Was never found, and Troielus that was  
A most renowned Knight, his youngest brother:  
Who likewise well deserved for his fame  
And valour great, a second Hector's name.)   

If thou wast moved by affection  
And love which thou dost seem in heart to bear  
Unto the valiant Greekish Nation,  
To praise him, thou shouldst not for love nor fear,  
Refuse to write the truth of every thing,  
And set aside all lies and flattering.   

For when that he slew Hector in the field,  
It was when he without all fear or care,  
To ease himself a while had cast his shield  
Behind him at his back, and fore him bore  
A Kings dead corpse before his saddle bow;  
And of his coming did full little know:   

For if he had perceived his treachery,  
Thou hadst not had the cause of him to boast  
As now thou hast, for by his chivalry,  
He would have made Achilles, to his cost  
To feel his puissant force and valour great,  
And him besides his purpose would have set.   

And so he did to Troielus likewise,  
Who being all alone enclosed round  
Amongst the Greeks, his deadly enemies,  
And fight there on foot upon the ground,  
Disarmed head and neck, in great distress,  
And ready for to faint with weariness:   

He road behind him and most cowardly  
Smote off his head, when he suspected lest  
He would have used him so traitorously;  
Now judge you all I pray at my request,  
if'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 armour all most rend  
Clean off his back, not able to sustain  
Himself, but in great danger to be slain.   

And in that case to come so cowardly  
Behind his back, and kill him unawares,  
To cover his devised treachery,  
As one that of his honour had no care.  
Praise him not therefore Homer for the same,  
But rather unto his eternal shame,   

Out of thy worthy learned Book deface  
His name, and of him make no memory  
Therein at all, for surely in this case,  
When as I hear his name, me thinks the sky  
Infected is therewith, and that throughout  
The world all men against him do cry out.   

For if he had esteemed Nobility,  
Knighthood, renown, or worthiness, or fame,  
Praise, honour, glory or gentility;  
Or in Fame's Book t'have registered his name,  
He would have been advisd and taken heed,  
For honours sake t'have done so fowl a deed,   

To draw so great a Prince when he was dead  
At his horse tail, who was so brave a Knight  
That while he lived, and in Troy flourished;  
To speak the truth and yield to him his right,  
Surpassed Achilles far in each degree,  
Of Knighthood, valour, and activity.   

But to return where I did leave, when as  
His brother Paris did behold and see  
Him dead, and drawn by Achilles as he was,  
With such despite and so great cruelty:  
Such grief and sorrow at that time he had,  
Within his heart, that like a man that's mad   

He fared, and with all speed that he could make,  
Pollidamas and he together ran,  
And many more to see if he could take  
His body from Achilles, but as than  
The Grecians fought so hotly, that in vain  
They laboured, for they could not obtain   

To their desires, what means so ere they made,  
Till Menon who entire affection bare  
To Troielus, and great compassion had  
To see him dead, without all fear or care  
Of fierce Achilles' valour, did protest,  
That he would never leave, nor take his rest   

Till he revenged his death upon the man  
That had him slain, and presently did take  
His spear in hand, and at Achilles ran,  
To whom in fierce and furious wise he spoke,  
And said, thou traitor false and mischievous,  
Thou Scorpion most vile and envious,   

That in dishonour of all chivalry,  
This day hast slain the worthiest Knight that lived  
Upon the earth, by thy false treachery,  
Who cannot but be vexed, moved and grieved,  
To see a worthy Knight of his degree,  
Drawn in such wise as he is now by thee   

At thy horse tail in scorn and great despite?  
Hast thou forgotten and abandoned  
All knighthood, that thou shouldst now take delight  
To do so great disgrace to him that's dead.  
Who while he lived was better knight than thou,  
The which I mean to prove upon thee now,   

And for this vile and most unknightly act,  
Revenge his death, whom thou this day hast killed  
By treason, with thy Myrmidons compact,  
And by this means thy treachery fulfilled.  
Whereby thou thinkst great honour to have gotten,  
But thy fowl fact will never be forgotten   

While that the world endures, and presently  
He set spear in rest, and spurring's horse  
Ran at Achilles, and most valiantly  
Hit him upon the breast with so great force,  
That with the blow he ready was to fall  
Unto the ground, and bravely therewithal   

Drew out his sword, & that he might well know,  
That he of him did stand in little dread,  
Strake him therewith a strong and mighty blow,  
And gave him such a wound upon his head,  
That notwithstanding all his puissant force,  
He made him fall down headlong from his horse.   

Upon the ground, whereon in extreme pain  
He lay long time as if he had been dead,  
Till that his Knights did take him up again,  
And notwithstanding that full sore he blead,  
Got him at last to mount upon his horse,  
And when he had recovered his force,   

And felt himself well eased of his pain.  
With purpose to revenge the injury  
He thought he had received, in great disdain  
He spurred his puissant horse, and furiously  
At Menon ran, whose coming when he spied,  
He likewise set spurs to his horse's side,   

And like a valiant Knight that feared him nought,  
With courage bold met with him on the plain,  
Wherewith their swords they both together fought,  
And twixt them did a combat long maintain  
With fierce and mighty blows, till in the end  
King Menon did himself so well defend,   

That he th'advantage of Achilles had,  
And in despite of all his fury great,  
(For he as then fought as he had been mad.)  
So valiantly upon him than did set,  
That he had surely slain him, but that then  
There came twixt them so great a troup of men   

On either side, that they were forced to stay  
Their combat, and by that means parted were,  
And each from other borne clean away:  
At which time such a cruel slaughter there  
Was made of many a valiant knight and stout,  
That all the field and all the plain throughout   

Was filled with men that slain and wounded sore,  
Lay mangled on the ground in cruel wise,  
For neither Greeks nor trojans would give over  
Till Phoebus did begin to leave the skies,  
And to descend, at which time they withdrew  
Themselves out of the field, and did renew   

The fight again next day, and met together  
assoon as sun did rise, and every day,  
For seven days ensuing one the other,  
Continually from fight did not stay.  
While that Achilles in his tent did lie  
To cure his wounds, and there new trethery   

Within his mind did practise and devise,  
To be revenged on Menon, who as then  
He hated sore, because that in such wise  
He wounded him, and to him called his men,  
And bade them when they fit occasion found  
Within the field, t'enclose King Menon round   

On every side, and when they had him so  
Amongst them, to assail him altogether,  
And by no means from them to let him go,  
(But not to kill him till that he came thither.)  
That he himself on him revenged might be,  
And so they did: for as he did decree   

With them in secret wise to do the same,  
The next day in the morning when they met,  
And either side 'gainst other fiercely came  
Into the field, with rage and choler great,  
Achilles and King Menon met together,  
And valiantly assailed each the other.   

On horseback as they sat where they did fight  
So long, and in such furious wise, that both  
O● them compelled were by force t'alight,  
And so on foot in mighty rage and wrath,  
Fought valiantly. But while that on the ground  
King Menon stood, he was enclosed round   

By Myrmidens, and as Achilles' bad,  
When he was in the midst of them all,  
And not one Trojan Knight to aid him had,  
In furious wise they did upon him fall:  
And though long time he did the fight maintain  
Against them all; at last he was there slain   

In traitorous wise by false Achilles' hand,  
(Who by that means did his desire obtain.  
But yet he did so valiantly withstand  
Him, and them all, ere he by him was slain,  
That fore that he fell dead upon the ground,  
He gave Achilles such a cruel wound,   

That all men thought he would thereof have died.  
Now Homer judge in truth, and with good reason,  
(A●by no upright minded can be denied,)  
If this were not most vile and filthy treason  
The which Achilles wrought: and say with right,  
If ever he slew any worthy Knight   

Unless it were by treason as 'tis true  
And proved by King Menons' death, whom he  
Slew in that sort. And then give him his dew;  
And thou shalt find his knighthood stained to be  
With foul disgrace, and all his praise nought worth  
And contrary to that which thou setst forth.   

So that thou canst not rightly (and speak true)  
(Though near so eloquently thou dost write,)  
Commend him, unless that thou sayst untrue,  
And show'st thyself one that doth take delight  
To hide his treason with thy sugared phrase,  
And him that near deserved, the same to praise.   

But now I must leave Homer, and again  
Return to show unto you how that day  
When that Achilles Troielus had slain,  
(Who of the Troyans' than was th'only stay,)  
The Greeks (encouraged by King Menclaus  
And others;) were so fierce and furious   

Upon the Troyans', and did them pursue  
So hotly; that they forced them to fly  
In mighty fear, and many of them slew  
As they before them ran, and cruelly  
Did wound, o'erthrow, & chase, & beat them down  
Even to the walls and trenches of the Town.   

And made them in despite their hea●t●, forsake  
The field, and t'enter Troy most woefully  
With Troiclus, whose body they did take,  
And bore it in with great solemnity.  
Where all along the town as it did pass  
Such sorrow for his death then made there was,   

That no man living can describe, or tell  
The half thereof. No not most learned Boys,  
Who hath the praise in phrases fit t'excel,  
And of most doleful words to have great choice:  
When as he maketh show to weep and cry  
In his complaint made to Philosophy,   

Wherein he seemeth Fortune to accuse  
For her unconstant dealing, and doth charge  
Her by that means, all mortal men t'abuse.  
Nor Stacie who of Thebes writes at large,  
The woeful and the most unhappy fall,  
And doth describe the death and funeral   

Of those that were the causers of the same.  
Leave of thy mournful weeping Niobe,  
And thou that art reported t'have the fame,  
Each year so far o'er land and sea to flee:  
And great complaints and woeful cries to make  
For thy dear brother Aliagers' sake.   

Let Oedipus the Theban King, that so  
Did weep and wail that he lost both his eyes,  
Content himself, and many other more.  
As Mirha and Calixtone, whose cries  
And doleful moans so well were heard & seen.  
And Dido fair that sometime reigned Queen   

Of Carthage town, and for her love did die.  
Let Phillis mourn no more for Demophon●  
Nor echo still renew her woeful cry.  
Let fair Corrinne cease to make such moan  
As she long did, and near left night nor day,  
Because that she had lost her Popingay,   

As Onid in his Book doth tell. And let  
All their complaints, their furrows, & their moan▪  
Forgotten and clean out of mind be set,  
For they are nothing in comparison  
To that of Troy, which every one did make  
Within the town, for worthy Troilus sake.   

For high, and low, wives, children, and men,  
So piteously complained: and for him there,  
So many salt and brinish tears were then  
Let fall, that men nought else in Troy did hear  
But mournful cries, and lamentations sad  
By them cast forth. That near the like was made   

In any place, nor no man well can tell  
Nor yet express the same, for it is sure  
That Pluto whom men call the Prince of Hell,  
(For all the torments great he doth endure.)  
Proserpin●, nor furious Ticius,  
Nor Irian, nor hungry Tantalus.   

Though they tormented are with extreme pain,  
With him together in th'infernal lake,  
Near could nor did more bitterly complain,  
Then all the Troyans' did for Troielus sake.  
For who-could grieve more than King Priamus,  
Or shed more doleful tears and piteous,   

Out of their eyes, than Hecuba the Queen,  
Eassandra, Helen, Paris, Hellenus,  
And beautiful young Lady Pollicene?  
Or then the Troyans' with most dolorous,  
And woeful cries, did all in general  
Shed forth, and did 'gainst Fortune cry and call:   

Accusing her of great inconstancy?  
For they were clean discomforted and out  
Of hope to be relieved, sith enviously  
She had bereaved them of Hector stout,  
And of his valiant brother Deiphobus,  
And in their greatest need, of Troielus.   

So that in sore distress and desperate mood,  
They utterly despaired of their estate,  
The which they knew in danger great then stood,  
And made account as men unfortunate,  
T'expect nought else but their confusion,  
And finally the whole destruction   

Of them, and of their town that was so strong,  
And therefore it availeth not to mourn,  
Nor of their grief to make discourse so long.  
Sith they by Fate to that hard hap were borne.  
And for that cause i'll leaved, and to you shoe,  
How Prianous in that distress and woe,   

A messenger unto the Grecians sent,  
For truce for certain months, which presently  
(With all the Grecian Princes full consent.)  
Agamemnon did grant and ratify,  
Which either side observed, while it did last,  
And freshly fought again when it was passed.    

CHAP. III.  
¶ How Paris slew Achilles, and Archilagus Duke Nestor's Son in the Temple of A pollo in Troy.  

THe truce aforesaid lasting, Priamus  
A Sepulchre did make most sumptuously,  
Of metal and of stone, for Troielus:  
And buried him with great solemnity.  
And hard by him King Menons' body lay  
Entombed, and both buried on a day.   

And as the Pagans were accustomed  
By th'ancient laws, in ceremonial wise,  
Most dolefully for them solemnised,  
And duly held their funeral obsequies:  
With great devotion and observances,  
The which to you is needles to express.   

And therefore at this time i'll let it pass,  
As tedious both to hear and tell likewise.  
And show you how Queen Hecuba that was  
Sore grieved for death of Troilus, did devise  
And practise in her mind how to require  
Achilles, for the trech'ry and despite   

Which he both unto her and Troy had done.  
And to that end she sent in secret wise  
For Paris, (who was then her eldest Son,)  
To whom with tears that trickled down her eyes,  
And mournfully with sad and heavy cheer,  
She spoke and said to him, as you shall hear.   

Paris thou knowest as well as I can tell,  
How false Achilles by his treachery  
Hath slain my sons, (who living did excel  
Him far,) and by his extreme cruelty  
Hath me bereaved of them, and left me none  
But only thee, to comfort me alone.   

For cowardly thou know'st how he did slay  
Thy eldest brother Hector unaware,  
And Troielus likewise, that were a stay  
And comfort unto me in grief and care:  
And therefore now I have determined  
Within my mind, his traitorous blood to shed.   

And him to pay as reason is and right,  
With treason for his treason done to me,  
And treachery with treach'ry to requite.  
And thus it is; thou knowest well that he  
loves Policene thy sister, and doth crave  
Most earnestly her for his wife to have.   

Now my intent is presently to send  
For him, without delay to come to me  
Into Apollo's Temple, to the end  
We may with speed upon the same agree:  
Where thou well armed in secret wise shalt stand  
With certain knights, and ready be at hand   

To kill him there, while he for me doth stay,  
Where let him of his death be surely sped,  
And see that by no means he scape away,  
Out of thy hands, until that he be dead:  
Which I thee heartily pray as't is my will,  
Effectual for my sake to fulfil,   

And see thou failest not to do the same.  
Whereto he did agree, and presently  
Against Achilles to the Temple came,  
With twenty valiant knights there secretly  
Did stay. Mean time Queen Hecuba did send  
A messenger t' Achilles to that end,   

As she with Paris had determined:  
By whom she made him certainly believe,  
That she did mean and fully purposed,  
Her daughter Policene to him to give:  
And at his coming would (as she did say)  
Agree twixt them upon the marriage day.   

Where to he did most willingly consent,  
As he that no suspicion had in mind  
Of treason, for his heart it was so bend,  
And set on fire with love, that he was blind  
And could not see, nor yet perceive at all,  
By reason and advise what might be fall   

To him by going into Troy so soon  
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 lovers all are fond, and despratly  
No peril shun (although that they should die)   

T'enjoy the thing wherewith in love they are,  
(Their malady it is so furious)  
Until they are entrapped in a snare.  
And so Achilles, and Archilogus  
Duke Nestor's Son, that bore him company,  
Did go to Troy, and entering presently   

Into the Temple of Apollo went,  
Where Paris with his Knights for him did stay  
In secret wise, with purpose fully bend  
Him there (as he deserved had) to slay:  
And suddenly assoon as he was in,  
T'assail him altogether did begin.   

(By night (as some do say) but when so ere  
The same was done) when as Achilles saw  
Himself assailed, abandoning all fear,  
He did his sword out of his scabbard draw,  
And in short space despite of all their mights,  
In furious wise he slew seven Trojan knights.   

And did defend himself so valiantly  
Against them then, although they were so many,  
And with them fought with such dexterity,  
That long it was ere vantage they bade any  
On him at all, till Paris who as then,  
Stood watching opportunity, and when   

He saw Achilles such resistance make,  
took up a Dart and aimed 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 upon the ground,  
And body mangled sore with many a wound.   

And so was slain his treason to requite.  
As reason is that such as traitors are,  
And while they live in treachery delight,  
Should at the last fall in the self same snare  
Which they for others had prepared. And thus  
Achilles, and with him Archilogus,   

Were slain by Paris in the Temple, at  
Queen Hecuba's desire and request,  
Who presently did give commandment that  
Their bodies in the Temple should not rest:  
And made them to be drawn out of the bounds  
Thereof, and to be thrown unto the hounds.   

Lo here the just reward of treachery  
And of deceit, which while he lived he  
Delighted in, and how with equity  
God punisheth all such as traitors be:  
For reason is, that he that seeks t'obtain  
His will by treason, should likewise again   

With treason be requited for his pain.  
As false Achilles was, that took delight  
In treason while he lived, and so was stain  
Within Apollo's Temple in the night:  
But yet their body: were not as 'tis said,  
(Although that they in th'open streets were laid,   

That with great joy the Trojans might them see)  
Devoured by hounds as by commandment  
Of Hecuba they were ordained to be.  
For Helena unto King Priam went,  
And on her knees of him did humbly crave,  
Their bodies from that cruelty to save.   

Who willingly did thereunto consent,  
And caused them to be kept as she desired,  
Till that King Agamemnon to him sent  
A messenger, and leave of him required,  
To fetch them, and to give them burial,  
The which he did; for whom in general   

The Grecians did such extreme sorrow make,  
And were so much discomforted therefore,  
That in great fear each unto other spoke,  
And said alas, now farewell evermore,  
Our trust, our hope, our joy, our confidence,  
Our welfare, and our sovereign defence,   

Sith valorous Achilles now is dead.  
For he in knighthood did so much excel,  
That while he lived, we never stood in dread  
To overcome this town, but now full well  
We may both fear, and plainly say, that we  
Near in our lives shall masters thereof be.   

And while that they such sorrow great did make,  
And plunged were in extreme doubts & fears,  
For their great Champion fierce Achilles' sake,  
Agamemnon two costly sepulchres,  
For workmanship most rare and curious  
Caused to made, one for Archilogus,   

The other for Achilles, wherein they  
Entombed were with great solemnity  
In Paynim wise, and both upon a day.  
To show the whole particularity,  
And manner of their ancient burial,  
Were overlong to trouble you withal.   

It shall suffice to tell that they did make  
Much sorrow, and endured great heaviness  
For death of them, and how in mournful black  
They brought them to their graves, & to express  
Their woefulnes with heavy heart and mood,  
Some threw sweet gums, & some cast milk & blood   

Into the funeral fires, and how they made  
Plays, which by them were called palestrall  
And wrastrings at the wakes, and how they had  
Great store of customs ceremonial  
At burials of the dead, the which much more  
Then needful were to tell as now, therefore   

I'll leave herewith. And unto you declare,  
How thereupon King Agamemnon sent  
For all the Grecian Princes that then were  
Within the host, to come unto his tent:  
And when they all assembled were therein  
And orderly set down, he did begin   

To speak to them and said, my Lords 'tis now  
No time to move nor need t'encourage your  
Against your Trojan foes, sith that you know  
And too well find by good experience, how  
Unconstant fortune hath now changed her face,  
And suddenly clean altered our case▪   

And filled your hearts with rage and just despite,  
To think upon the murder horrible  
Of late done to Achilles, (which in sight  
Of God and man is foul and audible,  
Despitefully by Hecuba the Queen)  
For which I think it shortly shall be seen,   

If that within your valiant hearts there be,  
Or resteth any manhood, force, or wit,  
To make a virtue of necessity:  
And to refrain till that occasion fit  
To take revenge therefore, and t'recompence  
The injury, despite, and great offence   

Unto you done and given thereby, fall out,  
As reason 'tis it should requited be,  
(For very beasts insensible no doubt,  
Would do the same in like extremity,)  
But yet as you are wise and provident,  
I would feign know your meaning and intent,   

What you think best by us now to be done.  
And whether that you will the war maintain,  
And hold the siege still here before the town,  
Till that it be destroyed, or go again  
Home into Greece, sith our chief Champion,  
Our sole defence, and our protection,   

Achilles now is slain. Whose death alone  
Unto us will a mighty hindrance be.  
And therefore I entreat you every one,  
To give me your advice herein what we  
Shall do: sith that the case now standeth thus,  
For that delay oft proveth dangerous.   

Which having said, the Princes all began  
To fall in great dissension, and to vary  
Amongst themselves, and many of them than  
Were half in fear no longer there to tarry:  
And doubtful were what they were best to do.  
But some replied and answer made thereto;   

That happen life or death they would still stay,  
And never leave the siege till they had won  
And clean destroyed the town: and some did say  
They would not stay, but presently be gone,  
And into Greece return again with speed:  
And in that sort a while they disagreed,   

And every man was of opinion  
Contrary each to other. But in th'end  
They did all with full resolution  
Agree to stay, and ceasing to contend,  
Said flatly, they would never leave the town,  
Till they had it destroyed and beaten down.   

Although their chief and only Champion,  
Achilles then was slain, of whom they made  
So great account, for their opinion  
Was, sith that all the Gods decreed had  
They should destroy the same, they did not doubt  
But in short time to bring the same about.   

And to confirm their resolution,  
And that they might still firmly therein hold,  
The worthy Grecian Knight called Thelamon,  
Surnamed ajax, did with courage bold  
Stand up, and when he had obeisance made,  
Unto them all in this wise spoke and said.   

My Lords and Princes all assembled now,  
If you will take my counsel and advise,  
I am persuaded it is best for you,  
Sith that Achilles in such traitorous wise  
Is slain, that we a messenger should send,  
To fetch his Son young Pyrrhus, to the end   

He may revenge his father's death, and aid  
Vsto achieve our enterprise in hand●  
Who at this time as I have hard it said,  
Remaineth with King Licomedes, and  
As men of him repor, 'tis said to be  
A valiant Knight and likely, if that he   

While he is young take on him arms to bear,  
To prove a knight of great renown and fame:  
And also if'ft be true as I do hear  
By prophesy, which doth foreshow the same,  
Troy near shall be destroyed, unless that he  
With us to do the same here present be.   

And further that till Pyrrhus do come hither,  
We never shall obtain the victory  
Against our foes, and therefore let's together  
Agree to send one thither presently  
To fetch him. Whereunto they did consent▪  
And Menelaus of that Embassage went.   

Who entering ship, sailed forth the self same day,  
And soon arrived where Licomedes dwelled;  
Where with him for a while i'll let him stay,  
And show you how the Greeks and Trojans dealt  
Together, when (truce past) in fight they were,  
As in the Chapter following you shall hear.    

CHAP. V.  
v. How Paris and Thelamon ajax slew each other; & how Queen Helena Lamented for the death of Paris; the Grecians remove their tents necrer unto Troy, and the truce is ended between them.  

When Phoebus by due course (as time doth pass)  
Into the sign of Cancer entry made,  
And in the height of his ascension was,  
Which usually men Summer call, and had  
Drawn from the root of every flower & tree,  
The virtue, sweetness, and humidity,   

And made them mount into the herbs & leavest  
And when each flower doth fresh & gay appear,  
Till Cancer place by course to Leo gives,  
Which is the time and season of the year:  
When as the Sun being in the highest degree  
Descends, and is said retrograde to be;   

And with his mighty heat & fervour clean  
Dries up the sap of roots, trees, herbs, & flowers,  
(And that which spring time made show fresh and  
Converts to white (for want of April showers) (green)  
To mollify his strong decoction.  
For that by natural digestion,   

The moisture which in fruits & flowers abounds  
By reason of the great humidity  
Which is in them, he dries up & confounds:  
And with his heat & extreme fervency,  
(Which hottest is when it is Summer weather,)  
Doth ripen them, and make them sit to gather?   

And pull off from the branches as they spread  
And hang thereon, in their due time and season.  
When Cherries gi'en to ripen and wax red,  
And other kinds of friuts are young and geason.  
In june, and at the latter end of May,  
When as the hot and pleasant Summer's day,   

By course of time is sixteen hours long,  
The Greeks with hearts replete with wrath and ire,  
Presuming of their force that was so strong,  
And hoping to attain to their desire,  
Into the field courageously did go  
Well armed to fight against their Trojan foe.   

Conducted by the Kings Agamemnon,  
Ulysses, valiant Diomedes and more,  
As Menestes, and furious Thelamon,  
(Who that same day into the field did go,  
Without an armour, helmer, spear, or shield,  
Only his sword which in his hand he held,   

And naked in that sort most bravely fought.)  
'Gainst whom the Trayans (though in fear & doubt)  
Did issue forth, for that King Priam thought  
His force too weak, so often to go out  
As he was wont, sith his Sons valorous,  
Hector, Deiphobus, and young Troyelus,   

Vnfortunatelie were all dead and slain:  
Yet not to give the Grecians cause to say  
He feared them, he sent them out again,  
And gave the chief command of them that day  
To Paris, that his eldest Son than was,  
Who with King Philomene, Pollidamas,   

King Esdras, and Aeveas valiantly  
Against the Grecians went, and on them set  
With courage stout, resolved that day to die  
In their defence, o● honour great to get,  
Upon their deadly and inveterate foes,  
As't pleased God the victory to dispose,   

And furiously the onset on them gave.  
Where Paris with his Persian Archers shot,  
Upon the Greeks so swiftly and so brave,  
That soon he had advantage on them got:  
And they compelled were in extreme need  
To fly to save themselves. Till Diomedes   

perceiving them so fast to run away,  
T'●eleiue them like a stout and valiant Knight,  
Did turn them back again, and made them stay  
Still in the field, and valiantly to fight:  
And at his entering in amongst them met  
King Philomene, on whom he fiercely set.   

Who bravely unto him did likewise ride,  
Where each of them the other did assail,  
And valiantly their strengths and valours trider▪  
But neither 'gainst the other could prevail,  
And yet they fought most furiously and long,  
For both of them were passing stout and strong,   

And would not yield one ●o● unto his foe,  
So much they did in courage great excel.  
But while they were together fight so,  
The Trojans fought so furiously and fell  
Against the Greeks, that they could not sustain  
Their mighty blows, but forced were again   

To run out of the field discomforted,  
(Though Diomedes did what he could to stay  
And succour them) so many of them dead,  
And wounded soreupon the plain than lay,  
And cast out many a great and woeful cry.  
The which when Duke Menestes did espy,   

And saw what great disorder they were in,  
And how the Trojans them so sore oppressed,  
Into the battle fiercely did begin  
To enter, and with mighty Lance in rest,  
Broke through the Trojans ranks, till that he was  
So far, that he met with Pollidamas.   

'Gainst whom at unawares he ran so fast,  
That with a blow which he at him let fly,  
Upon the ground he did him fiercely cast:  
And while that he amazed thereon did lie,  
Had slain him, if with speed he had not been  
Relieved and rescued by King Philomen.   

Who bravely in despite of all the force  
And might Menestes had, did set him free,  
And made him mount again upon his horse,  
Sore bleeding and in great extremity:  
Mean time fierce Thelmon ajax carelessly,  
Unarmed, with great pride (yet foolishly)   

Amongst the thickst of all his armed foes,  
Near ceased to kill and mightily to wound  
The Trojans, and such valour great than shoes,  
That they in heaps lay dead upon the ground  
About him, and none durst against him stand,  
So fierce he was with bloody sword in hand,   

To kill and beat them down still as he road:  
And yet though in the midst of them he was,  
And that so many thousands him with stood  
On every side, as he through them did pass;  
No● any part of him was perished,  
Nor drop of blood out of his body shed.   

Which wonder was, considering how that he  
Disarmed fought. But when dame Fortune will  
Preserve and keep man from extremity,  
Nothing can hurt, nor him by no means kill:  
And yet when as she list she'll him beguile,  
And play and sport with him a little while:   

And suddenly when he thinks least thereon,  
O'erturn her wheel, and cast him on the ground.  
As she that day did unto Thelamon,  
Who to his cost her most unconstant found:  
For as he 'mongst the Trojans with great pride,  
Disarmed through their ranks did fiercely ride,   

And many of the Persian Archers slew,  
With heart clean void of any fear or dread,  
And more and more with fury did renew  
His force, and to his safety took no heed:  
Paris perceiving his great hardiness,  
And how he did the Persian knights oppress,   

In great despite an arrow at him shot,  
And with the same (as he did fiercely ride,  
Still killing all he met, and spared them not)  
Pierced him at unawares into the side,  
So deep a wound, that without remedy,  
There was no other means but he must die.   

Which when he did perceive, and saw no way  
T'avoid his death, with heart surprised with ire,  
In furious wise he made no more delay,  
But running through the press with great desire  
To be revenged on Paris ere he died,  
Sought him so long, till at the last he spied   

Him 'mongst the thickst of all the Greeks in fight,  
And unto him (with pale and deadly cheer,  
But yet with extreme rage and great despite,  
To think upon his death that drew so near:)  
Said, Paris, the wound which thou hast given me,  
I know and certain am my death will be.   

For I do feel such extreme grief and pain  
Within my heart, that I am well assured,  
I never shall return to Greece again.  
And sith that thou my death hast thus procured,  
I mean to give thee such reward therefore,  
That thou alive to Troy shalt near go more:   

For as the great despite well meriteth,  
Which thou showst me, i'll make thee first to feel  
(Ere that I die) the bitter pangs of death,  
And send thee down before me into hell:  
And therefore make account thy glass is run,  
And that thou canst thy death as now not shun.   

For here my troth I plight and firmly vow,  
That with my sword i'll make divorce between  
Queen Helena and thee, and that as now  
The chain of feigned wedlock that hath been  
So surely made and knit twixt her and thee,  
Shall now at last be cut in twain by me.   

And that false knot of thy adultery,  
(Which hath been cause such slaughter great to make,  
And made so many valiant knights to die  
In this our war, and only for thy sake)  
Shall be vnknit● for without remedy,  
Paris (said he) of my hand thou shalt die.   

And with his sword (scarce able to sustain  
Himself upright) gave Paris such a wound,  
That with the same he cloven his head in twain,  
And therewith he fell dead upon the ground:  
Which having done, he likewise presently  
Fell down and died to bear him company.   

Which when the Trojans saw, with doleful cheer  
They took up Paris body, to convey  
The same to Troy, and in a mighty fear  
Began to fly, where all along the way  
The Greeks did kill, pursue, & beat them down,  
Even to the walls and trenches of the town.   

And more had done, but that it did begin  
To draw to night, for then the Sun was down.  
And when the woeful Trojans were gone in,  
And had secured themselves within the town:  
The Greeks likewise retired back, and went  
Unto their Camp, each man into his tent   

To ease themselves, but ere (as't them behooved)  
They took their rest, that night Agamemnon  
Commanded that their tents should be removed,  
And set and placed nearer to the town,  
Not far off from the walls: and so they were,  
Which put the Trojans in no little fear.   

So that they durst not issue out to let  
And hinder them from doing it, but glad  
To save themselves; shut fast their gates, and set  
Watch all that night upon the walls, and made  
Such sorrow, and so pitifully fared  
For Paris death, that near the like was heard.   

For by that means all Priam's sons being slain,  
They did despair and out of hope clean were  
Of any comfort, or release t'obtain  
In their distress: and so possessed with fear,  
And plunged in most great extremity,  
They made account there was no remedy,   

Nor any means to aid themselves withal,  
(But still expecting their destruction)  
To keep themselves enclosed within the wall  
And rampires of their strong and mighty town:  
And for that cause most pittiouslie complained,  
And so great woe and sorrow then sustained,   

That near the like was heard nor seen before.  
But specially King Priam did so grieve,  
For Paris death, and did lament therefore  
So mightily, that nothing could relieve  
Nor comfort him, and from his heart which filled  
With woe and care than was, such tears distilled,   

And let fall down his checks and aged face,  
That he did seem as if he would have died.  
To tell you how in this most woeful case,  
Queen Hecuba his mother wept and cried:  
And what exceeding sorrow for their parts  
His sisters made, and felt within their hearts:   

And how they rend and tore their clothes & hair,  
And beat and smote their breasts in great distress,  
And all bedewed and wet their faces fair  
With floods of tears, t'express their heaviness:  
Were unto me a thing impossible.  
And yet in truth it was not comparable,   

To that which fair Queen Helena did make,  
Who with a deadly cheer and woeful face,  
Cast forth most doleful cries for Paris sake,  
And running furiously unto the place  
Whereas his body lay, fell flat thereon,  
And though that it was cold as any stone,   

Embraced it in her arms, and woefully  
Lamenting on the same fell in a sound,  
And likely was in that extremity  
To die, and t'have been laid into the ground  
With him, if those that were with her, by force  
And strength had not pulled her off from the corpse,   

Wherewith she rend and tore her golden hair,  
Like one that's mad, & waxed so pale and wan,  
That her most comely face which was so fair,  
Changed in such sort, that it therewith began  
To look and show like unto ashes cold.  
And with her hands which she did ring & fold   

Together, smote her white and deadly face,  
And sounding fell again upon the ground,  
And in her arms did Paris corpse embrace,  
And with her brinish tears did fill his wound:  
And was so much perplexed in her mind,  
That she could neither ease nor comfort find.   

But rather seemed to wish with great desire  
To die with him, in whom her sole delight  
Was placed, and in that most furious ire,  
To end her days with her most loving Knight,  
And live no more; sith that she was bereft  
Of him, and in such great discomfort left.   

So that I may well say, that never any  
Poor woman felt the like nor more distress,  
Although I could rehearse and tell of many,  
That have been plunged in great heaviness,  
As Cleopatra going to her grave.  
And Thesbie, that did come out of the cave,   

And smote herself for grief into the heart.  
And Oristilla, who no sooner spied  
Her Lord take shipping and from her depart,  
Sore grieved for love of him fell down and died:  
And julia that loved her Lord so well,  
That suddenly dead on the ground she fell,   

When she beheld his clothes all dashed with blood.  
And Portia that was so true a wife  
To Brutus, that when as she understood  
That he was slain, because she had no knife  
In readiness to kill herself withal,  
To show her love into the fire did fall   

And burnt herself. And that most noble Queen  
Called Artemisia, who when she had found  
Her Knight Mausalus grave, and there had seen  
His bones, did take them up out of the ground:  
And with an heart replete with grief and care,  
Unto her Palace solemnly them bare.   

And beating them to powder, every day  
Did drink thereof, till it was clean consumed.  
Who with the rest aforesaid I must say,  
(And as in truth it is to be presumed.)  
No doubt great grief endured, but not so much  
As fair Queen Helen did, nor nothing such.   

Who would have killed herself for Paris sake,  
Desiring to her grave with speed to go,  
And rather of her life an end to make,  
Then to live after him she loved so:  
And languishing in woe long time remained,  
And never could from weeping be restaind.   

(He that doth say that women cannot cry,  
Deceives himself, for 'tis a thing most sure  
They can by nature do't, and certainly,  
Though they no grief nor sorrow do endure;  
Yet they can false and feigned tears distrain  
Out of their eyes, & without cause complain.)   

I say not this Queen Helena t'accuse  
Of feigned tears, whose heart with woe was filled,  
For than I should you with untruth abuse,  
For she for grief herself would feign have killed:  
And yet it seems she was not in such haste  
As she made show; for when the storm was past,   

She soon forgot the great extremity  
That she was in, for all things have an end,  
And every woe how great so ere it be,  
Must pass away, for follieed were to spend  
Long time in that which may be remedied.  
For though that fair Queen Helen would have died   

For Paris sake as then, yet afterward  
She did repent, for nature did her move,  
And told her that it was a thing too hard  
For her so soon to kill herself for love:  
She was a woman, what would you have more,  
She thought it folly great to die therefore.   

But I will speak no more hereof as now,  
For it would be too long and tedious  
For me to show and to declare to you,  
Her grievous woe and passions furious,  
And all her doleful lamentation:  
The which would move unto compassion   

The hardest heart alive to hear it told.  
For Priam and Queen Hecuba likewise,  
Such pity had to see, and to behold  
Her shed such floods of tears out of her eyes,  
And in such fort to grieve and to complain,  
That they almost endured as much pain   

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 up in juno's Temple, where   

Most sumptuóusly, and in their Paynim wise  
His body was entombed, but to declare  
The manner of the great solemnities  
Then used at their funerals, (which are  
So many and so divers) it would be  
Too long to be declared now by me.    

CHAP. VI  
¶ How Panthasilia Queen of the Amazons, coming to aid the Trojans against the Grecians, sh●● obtained great honour, and was slain by Pyrrhus the So●●e of Achilles.  

KIng Priamus in doubt of his estate,  
(And brought into most great extremity  
By fortune, and his hard and cruel fate,)  
When he perceived no other remedy,  
Shut fast the gates of Troy, and day and night  
Kept watch and ward as strongly as he might.   

For all the Trojans generally were  
So much abashed, and did such sorrow make  
For Paris death, that they could not forbear  
To weep and wail, and durst not undertake,  
Against the Greeks to fight nor issue out,  
But kept within the town in fear and doubt,   

Expecting nought, but finally to end  
Their days in woe. Which when the Greeks did see.  
Agamemnon to Priamus did send  
A messenger t'entreat with him (as he  
Before had done) to issue with his might  
Out of the town, 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 bend,  
Not once to set one foot out of the town,  
But when he list without compulsion.   

And yet the cause why he so long time stayed  
From issuing out against the Grecians,  
Was, for because he did expect some aid  
From Panthasilia Queen of Amazons:  
Who at that time was coming with great speed  
And mighty force, to help him in his need.   

Whose Country (as some Authors say) did stand  
far distant in the oriental part,  
Twixt Asia and Europe. In which Land  
None else but womenkind did dwell, whose art  
And chief delight, and only exercise,  
Was managing of arms in warlike wise,   

And valiantly into the field to ride,  
Armed at all points against their enemy,  
'mongst whom no man might by no means abide,  
Nor they with them at any time did lie  
But three months in the year, which as they say,  
Was in the months of April, june, and May.   

At which time setting arms and wars aside,  
They went into an Isle not far from thence,  
Wherein their men did all alone abide,  
Of purpose, and with full and sole pretence  
To lie with them, and till they did conceive  
And were with child, did not that I sland leave.   

And after time of their conception,  
They did in haste and with all speed return  
Into the Covotry where they dwelled, which done,  
When as the child into the world was borne,  
They nourished it three months, & at the end  
Thereof, if'ft were a son, they did it send   

Unto the Isle whereas the men remained:  
And if it were a female child, they hold  
And keep it still by them, and it sustained  
And nourished, till that it waxed old,  
And was of years and strength to use & wear  
An armour, and to manage sword and spear,   

According to their ancient Country fashion.  
And at that time Queen Panthasilia was  
The Sovereign Commander of that Nation,  
Who did so much in valour great surpass:  
That for her puissant force the trump of fame,  
Throughout the world eternised her name,   

And yet although she did addict her mind  
To practise arms, & manage sword & spear,  
(Which is a thing not used by womenkind)  
For wisdom, and for virtue she did bear  
The praise and commendation, for none ever  
Surpassed her for modesty what s'ever.   

The reason that did move her then to aid  
The Trojans was, for that in heart she bore  
Affection great to Hector, and 'tis said,  
Loved him so well that all her thought and care,  
Her only joy, her pleasure and delight  
Was in him, cause he was so brave a Knight.   

And therefore when as by report she heard,  
The Town of Troy besieged was, and how  
The Greeks and Trojans 'gainst each other ward:  
She did protest and made a solemn vow  
To go to Troy, and with her force and might,  
For love of Hector 'gainst the Greeks to fight.   

And with her took a thousand maids that were  
Well armed, and on horses brave did ride,  
Who gallantly could mannagesword & spear,  
And well durst 'gainst their foes in field abide▪  
And to that end set forward with all speed,  
To help her dear friend Hector in his need.   

But when she came to Troy, and understood  
That valiant knight in that great war was dead,  
And that as then she could do him no good,  
A flood of tears out of her eyes she shed:  
And did such extreme sorrow for him make,  
As if she would have died for his sake.   

And took a solemn oath revenged to be  
Upon the Greeks therefore, and to that end  
She did desire King Priamus that he.  
His Trojan force into the field would send:  
With whom (she said) the Amazons should go,  
To show the Greeks what they in arms could do.   

And how with spear & shield the could then greet,  
And make them feel their force and worthiness  
In arms, when they with them in field should meet:  
To whose request made with great hardiness,  
King Priamus did grant with good advice.  
And next day when the Sun began to rise,   

And on the walls and towers of Troy did sheen,  
Sent all his Trojan Knights out of the town  
Against the Greeks, led by King Philomene,  
Commander of the knights of Phaflagowne:  
And next to him Aeneas bravely led  
The second band, well stuffed and furnished   

With warlike knights. And then Pollidamas  
Conductor of another band did ride,  
And after them in order forth did pass  
Queen Panthasilia guarded on each side  
By Amazons, with courage stout and bold:  
Whom when the Grecian army did behold,   

To issue forth in battle bravely placed,  
They likewise 'gainst them marched into the field,  
And first of all Menestes in great haste,  
With mighty spear the which in rest he held,  
Against the Queen of Amazons did ride:  
Whose coming she most stoutly did abide,   

And did encounter him with such a force,  
That with her Lance to ground she did him cast,  
And forcibly did seize upon his horse:  
And as she further 'mongst the Grecians past,  
King Diomedes upon her fiercely set,  
And she as fiercely with him also met,   

And puissan●lie strake him so great a blow,  
That notwithstanding all his force and might,  
She did him clean out of his saddle throw,  
And therewithal unto his great despite,  
Laid hand upon his shield, and took't away  
Perforce from him, and all that durst say nay.   

And then like Tiger fell with greediness,  
Throughout the field road ranging up & down,  
And as a fierce and hungry Lioness,  
Slew many of the Greeks, till Thelamon  
Beholding what a slaughter than she made  
Of them, such indignation thereat had,   

And into such exceeding rage did fall,  
That he did set upon her furiously:  
But she no whit abashed therewithal,  
Let fly at him again as valiantly:  
And spite of all the Greeks that 'bout him were,  
By force did him out of his saddle bear.   

And by the aid of stout King Philomene,  
Laid hold on him, and caused him to be led  
To Troy-ward, and without all doubt had clean  
O'erthrown the Greeks as then, if Diomedes  
With many Grecian knights had not assailed  
The Trojans, and so much 'gainst them prevailed,   

That ere that they led Thelamon away,  
He rescued him out of their hands with speed:  
Yet after that the Queen all that same day,  
So furiously the Grecians blood did shed,  
That many of them cruelly were slain,  
And by her and her maidens all the plain   

Was covered over with Greeks, that wounded sore  
Lay crying out, and they at last compelled  
Thereto by force (because they could no more  
Sustain her mighty blows) to leave the field,  
And run into the strand in mighty fear:  
Whereas by her so many of them were   

In furious wise beat down and slain out right,  
That finally they had been all o'erthrown,  
If Diomedes most like a valiant knight,  
Had not his prowess great at that time shown,  
And forcibly resistance made 'gainst all  
The Trojans power, for he stood like a wall   

And bulwark strong in their defence and aid,  
And freed them from all extremity  
And fear wherein as then they were, and stayed  
The force and fury of the Queen. Yet she  
So valiantly behaved herself that day,  
That with great honour she went thence away.   

And did return again with victory,  
Triumphing with her maids unto the Town,  
And so left fight with the enemy,  
About the time of Ph●bus going down,  
And entered with King Philomene that road  
Close by her. Where King Priamus abode   

To welcome her, and with great reverence,  
In Princely wise received her, and gave  
Her hearty thanks for th'aid and great defence  
She had vouchsafed him that day, to save  
His honour, and to show her worthiness:  
Wherein (he said) he could not but confess   

That she excelled all others what so ere.  
And offering her his gold and treasure great,  
And all things else that necessary were,  
For to refresh her and her maids, he let  
Her take her rest, in hope through her to be  
Revenged of his Grecian enemy,   

And all the wrongs and malice to require,  
Which he long had endured at their hand.  
For after that she ceased not to fight  
Against the Greeks, and daily to withstand  
Their power so well, that they were still compelled  
With loss and great disgrace to leave the field.   

Till Menelaus returned back again  
From Lyco●edes Land, and with him brought  
Young Pyrrhus' son t' Achilles (that was slain  
In Troy by Paris hand, and treason wrought  
By Hecuba) whose coming did rejoice  
The Grecians much, for they all with one voice   

Did welcome him, and were exceeding glad  
To see him, and because he was the son  
And heir unto Achilles, he was made  
Commander of the Myrmidons. Which done,  
And homage made to him by full accord  
Of all his knights, as to their Sovereign Lord:   

King Agamemnon did create him Knight,  
And t'honor him the more, King Thelamon  
Did gird his sword about him (as the right  
And custom was) and when he put it on,  
Said unto him, good Cousin Pyrrhus see,  
Thou provest in time as good a knight to be   

As ere thy father was. For truth to tell,  
While 'mongst us he enjoyed vital breath,  
He did all men for valour great exceed●  
And see likewise that thou revenge his death.  
And after that, two Grecian Dukes did kneel  
Upon the ground, and put on either heel   

A spur of beaten gold, and when that all  
The ceremonies usual ended were,  
King Agamemnon openly did call  
For th'arinor which Achilles used to bear  
Upon hi● back, when he in field did fight,  
And gave it unto Pyrrhus as his right,   

With all his treasure and his tent, that was  
Left in the Grecian camp when he was dead.  
And after that they had for eight days space,  
Throughout the Grecian host solemnised  
A royal feast, to show the joy they had  
Conceived for Pyrrhus, that then knight was made.   

The next day after when as Phoebus' bright,  
(Which spreadeth forth his radiant beams so far,)  
Had driven away the brown and obscure night,  
And clean defaced the beauty of the star  
Caldoro Lucifer, which commonly men say  
And term to be the messenger of day.   

They did prepare themselves again to fight,  
And with the Trojans in the field to meet,  
Determining with all their force and might  
That day to show their valours, and to set  
On them, and to assail them on each side:  
And to that end out of their tents did ride   

In order bravely placed, where Pyrrhus bore  
His father's warlike arms upon his shield,  
And his Coat-Armor also which he ware:  
And in that sort road foremost to the field,  
Well horsed. Where he no sooner entered was,  
But he encountered with Pollidamas.   

Whom with his sword in hand he fircely smote,  
And he the like did unto him again.  
But Pyrrhus on him such advantage got,  
That he was in great danger to be slain  
By him as then, if that King Phylomen  
Had not come thither t'aid him with his men.   

But Pyrrhus smote king Phylomen a blow  
Upon the helmet with such extreme force,  
That sore amazed, he was constrained to bow,  
And bend his body backward on his horse,  
And without doubt had ta'en him prisoner then,  
If he had not been holpen by his men.   

Who to relieve and save him, fiercely fought,  
And strove against the Greeks, but ne'ertheless,  
The valour great they show'd, availd them nought:  
For Pyrrhus on them did so strongly press  
With Myrmidons, that they could not sustain  
His fierce assault, but many of them were slain.   

And beaten down, whereby King Phylomene,  
Still was and stood in danger great to die,  
Or to be ta'en, if that he had not been  
Somewhat relieved in that extremity  
By stout Pollidamas, that fiercely fought  
To succour him, but it availd him nought,   

For at that time the Myrmidons did fight  
So furiously, and with such valour great,  
That he could not (to his no little spite)  
Relieve him, nor out of that danger set:  
Till Panthasilia coming furiously  
Upon the Greeks assailed them valiantly.   

And with hermaidens (who for their delight  
That day did issue forth into the field,  
With Cassocksore their armours all of white)  
So hot a skirmish with the Grecians held,  
And did so many of them fiercely slay,  
That they constrained were to give her way.   

For who so ere he was that with her met  
Was sure to die, till Thelmon unaware,  
With fury great upon her fiercely set,  
And with his Lance out of her saddle bore  
Her to the ground, and laid her on the plain:  
But she no whit abashed ro●e up again,   

And with her sword gave Thelamon a blow  
That field him to the ground, & then by force  
Her Amazon's their valours great to show,  
Despite of all the Greeks, brought her an horse,  
And made her mount thereon. But ne'ertheless  
The Myrmidons on Phylomene did press   

So hotly and so sore, that all the might  
And force his men in his behalf could sho,  
Did nought avail, for to their great despite,  
They took him prisoner, and began to go  
With him through midst of them out of the field.  
Which when the Queen of Amazons beheld,   

Assembling all her maids, she did begin  
To follow them, and did so fiercely set  
Upon them, that with furi●en●ring in  
Amongst the thickest of the press, she beat  
Them down so fast, that she did them constrain,  
Despite their hearts, to let him go again   

Out of their hands, and fought so cruelly  
Against them at that time, that she compelled  
Them in great haste before her face to fly,  
And backward to retire out of the field:  
Whose valour great, when Pyrrhus did espy,  
He did begin unto his knights to cry.   

And said it was a shame for them to lose  
Their lives by women's hands, and so to yield  
Them ground, and give occasion to their foes  
To scorn them, and by them to be held  
As cowards, that could not the force withstand  
Of women, if they did not take in hand   

With speed to daunt their pride, and kill them all,  
And by that means requite them for the shame  
They had endured by them, and therewithal  
T'encourage them forthwith to do the same,  
With sword in hand, and with a knightly cheer  
Before them marched. Whom when the Queen did here   

In that sort to his knights to cry, she stayed  
Her horse, (and scorning once to turn her back,  
Or of his threatening words to be afraid,)  
With courage stout and bold unto him speak,  
And said, Pyrrhus, I know thy father well  
Slew Hector, that all others did excel   

Throughout the world for peerless chivalry,  
Not fight with him like a valiant knight,  
But unawares, and by false treachery,  
Before that he of him had any sight:  
Which traitorous act my hart doth so much grieve,  
That I shall think upon it while I live.   

And for the same my heart persuadeth me,  
That just revenge without exception,  
Should therefore first be taken upon thee,  
And also in like sort on every one  
That unto thee allied are by blood:  
For love of that most valiant knight & good▪   

Whose death the world cannot enough complain,  
And for that cause men do not only take  
Revenge therefore, but women do maintain  
His quarrel, and have vowed for his sake,  
As right requires without exception,  
To put the same in execution.   

Unto which end here now before thy face  
I stand, and ready am to try thy might,  
For to revenge his death here in this place:  
And sith thou hast at women such a spite,  
Thou shalt soon find by good experience  
What we can do, and how in our defence   

We can both wield a sword and warlike spear,  
Which thou shalt try by shedding of thy blood  
Here in the field without all dread or fear.  
Which words when Pyrrhus heard, he waxed as wood  
As any Lion fierce when men him chase,  
And then with colour pale and angry face,   

He took a spear and ran at her amain,  
And she likewise (of him no whit in fear)  
Encountered with him bravely in the plain,  
Where Pyrrhus first upon her brake his spear,  
But moved her not, she did so firmly sit,  
But she did him so sure and strongly hit,   

That with her Lance she did him overthrow,  
And made him fall down flat upon the plain,  
At which his heart with rage did overflow,  
And rising on his feet an great disdain,  
With sword in hand strake at her many a blow,  
But she still firmly sat, and did not bow:   

And in exchange gave him the like again,  
And often made him kneel upon the ground,  
And in that sort the fight between them twain  
Continued long, and no advantage found  
On either side, till Pyrrhus' knights came on  
And brought his horse, & made him mount thereon▪   

And then the General Agamemnon  
With banners rich and pennons brave displayed,  
Marched forward, & into the field came on,  
With many Earls, Dukes, & Kings to aid  
And second him, and to assail their foes,  
Whose entry made the Trojan knights to lose   

Their growd, they were so fiercely followed,  
And hotly charged by the Grecians,  
Till Philomen them bravely rescued,  
And by that means relieved the Trojans,  
And joining with the Queen the Greeks assailed,  
And at that time so much 'gainst them prevailed,   

That by main force they made them lose their ground,  
And then great store of knights on either side  
Were stain out right, & many more were found  
That wounded sore with ghastly voices cried,  
And yielded up their breath, and many a she●d  
And helmet broke and cleft, lay in the field.   

And many a horse ran ma●●erlesse about,  
And such a noise of Drums & Trumpets shrill,  
And cries of men was heard the field throughout,  
And with the sound thereof the air did fill▪  
That fearefulled was to hear and to behold,  
How on each side with courage stout and bold   

And most confused noise, they slew each other.  
Where th' Amazons conducted by their Queen,  
Assailed the Greeks so furiously together,  
That all the field the which before was green,  
Was turned into a fair and crimson red,  
With blood of Greeks which by them then was shed.   

Who seconded by stout Pollidamas,  
King Esdras, and Aeneas, and the rest  
Of Pr●●●s force, which then all entered was  
Into the field, upon the Grecians priest  
So valiantly, that they were forced to lose  
Their ground, and to give place unto their foes.   

And would have fled if Pyrrhus had not been,  
Who only by his valour made them stay,  
And killed so many of the Trojans men,  
That they were glad to get out of his way.  
But Panthasilia bravely did with stand  
Both him and all the Greeks, and by her hand   

And extreme force the Trojans did relieve,  
And killed so many Greeks on every side,  
And unto them such mighty wounds did give,  
That they durst not her puissant blows abide:  
And in that fore those Champions fierce & bold,  
The fight in equal balance long did hold.   

Till Pyrrhus with the Trojan Glaucon met,  
That brother was unto Pollidamas,  
Anthenors' son, and on him fiercely set,  
To whom at unawares as he did pass  
By him, he gave a wound into the side  
So deeply, that he there fell down and died.   

Wherewith Queen Panthasilia fiercely ran  
To Pyrrhus, and did bravely on him set,  
At which time such a cruel fight began  
Between them both, when they together met:  
That with their swords in furious wise by force,  
They beat each other down off from his horse.   

And so on foot fought valiantly and long,  
Without advantage gotten on either side,  
Till that the Greeks and Trojans with a throng  
Of knights by force between them both did ride  
And parted them: and then Pollidamas  
(Whose heart with grief & wrath possessed was   

For Glaucons' death) upon the Grecians ran,  
And without mercy or compassion had  
Of any one, beat down both horse and man,  
And with the Queen so great a slaughter made  
Of them at that same time, that they compelled  
Them spite their hearts to fly, out of the field   

Unto their tents: until that Diomedes,  
And Thelamon, with Pyrrhus, turned them back,  
And once again into the field them led:  
Where for a while they did resistance make,  
And fought again till that it drew to night,  
At which time when they could no longer fight   

For weariness: When Phoebus 'gan to hide  
Her glistering beams, and Westward to descend,  
(With greatest▪ loss upon the Grecians side)  
They did from fight cease, and made an end  
Of that days bloody battle, with desire  
To rest themselves, as time than did require.   

And so they did 〈◊〉 next day 'gan t'appear,  
When as with courage great each side began  
To enter in the field, and without fear,  
In furious wise slew many a valiant man:  
And for a month ensuing every day,  
From fight in the field did never stay.   

But who did best, or had the victory  
In all that time, there is no mention made,  
Nor yet what men of note therein did die,  
But only that Queen Panthasilia had  
One hundred of her women therein lost,  
For which she said, it should her dearly cost,   

But she would be revenged for the same  
Upon the Greeks, if Fortune favourable  
Would be to her, but she (that bears the name  
To be so fickle, false, and variable,  
That no man can his trust in her repose,)  
By turning of her wheel did make her lose   

Her life, when as she was in highst degree  
Of honours throne, presuming that her foes  
near should bereave her of it. But you▪ see  
That when it is God's pleasure to dispose▪  
Of man, and of his actions none can't shun,  
For what he hath decreed must be done.   

For that when many battles had been fought,  
And Greeks and Trojans long and furiously,  
Had slain and spoiled each others power, & sought  
On either side to win the victory▪  
And that Queen Panthasilia bravely had  
Behaved herself in many fights, and made   

Such slaughter of the Greeks, that for the same  
They feared her, and shunned her in the fight,  
And by that means had much increased her fame:  
With heart that was possessed with great despite  
That she had lost so many maidens so.  
In furious wise into the field did go,   

One day betimes upon the Greeks to set,  
With full intent to be revenged therefore,  
And in the battle first with Pyrrhus met▪  
Who cause he her, and she him hated so,  
With courage stout she spurred her gallant steed  
So hard, that she did make his sides to bleed.   

And ran at him, and he at her likewise,  
And with their puissant spears set in their rests,  
And countenances stern, and wrathful eyes,  
Directly aimed at each others breast,  
And gave each unto other such a stroke,  
That both their spears in many pieces broke.   

But neither of them fell unto the ground,  
Not once within their saddles bowed or bend  
And yet the Queen gave Pyrrhus such a wound  
With her spear head into the breast, that went  
Clean through his arms that he therewith bled sore,  
Which when the Grecians saw, they were therefore   

So grieved, that with hideous noise they crid,  
And like to swarms of Bees upon her fell,  
And did enclose her round on every side.  
But she did fight against them all so well,  
And valiantly, that they did her admire,  
And spite their hearts she made them back retire.   

Whereby long time it was ere they could get  
Or have advantage on her, till at last  
Being sore oppressed and round about beset,  
So thick by them, that they smote her as fast  
As Smiths upon an anvil head, they broke  
Her helmet, and with many a cruel stroke   

Of axes, swords, and other weapons, tore  
And rend her arms, and cloven her shield in twain,  
Whereby her shoulders naked were and bore,  
Yet ne'ertheless she did the fight maintain  
Against them all, so long and valiantly,  
That many Greeks dead at her feet did lie.   

Till Pyrrhus wounded as before is said,  
And feeling so great anguish smart and pain  
Within his heart, that he was sore afraid  
To die thereof, in haste ran to the plain,  
Intending whatsoe'er of him became,  
To be revenged on her for the same.   

Whom when she saw come running in such haste,  
And doubting she by him should be assailed,  
She turned about, and to him made as fast,  
And with her sword first strake at him, but failed  
To hit him, for the Greeks on her did come  
So thick and fast that she could have no room   

To lift and wield her sword above her head,  
But he smote her a blow with mighty force,  
And cut her arm clean off wherewith she bled  
So sore, that she fell dead off from her horse.  
And not contented therewithal to show  
His cruelty, he did her body hew   

And mangle with his sword in pieces small,  
And yet the blood did run out of his wound  
So fast▪ that he constrained was to fall,  
As if he had been dead upon the ground:  
Where groveling in a trance awhile he lay,  
Till that his Knights did bear him thence away   

Upon a shield, with sad and heavy cheer;  
Sore bleeching, and deep wounded to his tent.  
But when the Amasoman Maids did hear  
Their Queen was slain, in furious wise they went  
(Like unto women desperate and mad,  
And as if of their lives no care they had.   

Among the thickest of the Greeks, and then  
So cruesly assailed them that they slew  
Two thousand of their best and bravest men▪  
And did the fight more terrible renew  
Then it had been all that day long before,  
And fought that time so desperarely and sore,   

That wonder 'twas that women could endure  
To do so much, but all to little end  
When they had lost her that could them secure,  
And by her valour great did them defend▪  
As being she who only and alone  
For worthiness inferior was to none.   

For both they and the Troyans' than were in  
Such danger great for want of one to guide  
Them in the field, that they did all begin  
Like sheep dispersed to run on every side:  
And scatteringly for their defence to stand,  
To keep themselves out of the Grecians hand.   

Who then so furiously upon them ran,  
With full pretence their losses to require;  
That they dismayed to save themselves began  
To make retreat, wherein with great despite  
The Grecians did ten thousand of them slay,  
And they to Troy-ward from them fled away.   

For all the Grecians then at once came on  
Upon them, & whosoever them withstood  
Were by them slain without exception;  
But specially the Amazon's, whose blood  
They chiefest sought to spill, because they had  
Together with their Queen such slaughter ●ad   

Of them while she did live, for she alone  
A terror was to them, and therefore they  
Without all mercy or compassion▪  
In great despite did them so fiercely slay:  
And drove the Troyans' fore them to the town,  
And never ceased to kill, and beat them down.   

Till they in mighty fear and great distress  
Got in, and after them their gates did close,  
Being out of hope (as men clean comfortless,)  
Of ever fight more against their foes  
In open field, sith their best knights were slain,  
And therefore thinking it to be in vain   

For them to issue ●orth, they purposed  
To keep themselves close in their town, as then  
Impregnable, (if it were furnished  
As they supposed of victuals and of men.)  
And able to resist and hold out all  
The forces of the world, though they should fall   

Upon it all at once. But for all that  
The Greeks no whit despairing at the last  
To win it, set strong watch at every gate,  
And sentinels to see that no man past  
Out of the town, no● victuals were conveyed  
Into't, while they in siege before it stayed.   

And they within the town great sorrow made  
For Panthesillias' sake, who valiantly  
In their defence against the Grecians, had  
By Pyrrhus' hand been slain, but specially  
Because that they could find no means to have  
Her mangled corpse, to bury it in a grave   

With honour which thereto did appertain.  
And to that end sent to the Greeks to pray,  
And to entreat them for't, but all in vain,  
For moved sore they flatly said them nay,  
And swore and voued with protestations great,  
That they near should her body from them get.   

But to despite and grieve them said, it should  
Be thrown to dogs, and fowls of th'air to be  
Devoured and torn by them, before they would  
Showed so great savour to their enemy,  
To whom they did so deadly hatred bear.  
But though that they to her so cruel were,   

Yet Pyrrhus somewhat milder than the rest,  
Would not consent unto such cruelty:  
And said to them, that he did think it best  
To give her body to the enemy.  
But Diomedes said plainly to them all,  
That she had not deserved burial,   

That in her life had slain so many men▪  
And in that sort they strove and did contend  
With many words about the same, but when  
They had long argued 'mongst themselves, in th'end  
They all agreed, and did the body take  
Despitefully, and cast it in a lake   

Or pond of water, near unto the town.  
Wherein let it consume and rot away  
While unto you at large I do setdowne  
What they did in the town of Troy, that lay  
Enclosed therein. But first I must complain  
Of thee oh Mars, that mad'st them to sustain   

Such extreme loss, and by thy furious ire  
Didst clean consume the worthy Trojan blood▪  
Why didst thou with insatiable desire,  
Slay all their Knights, & 'gainst them was so wood▪  
And furiously bend, as to let fall  
Thy vengeance upon them in general?   

To make them as a Mirror and a show  
To all the world, of thy great cruelty?  
But 'tis most true as every man doth know,  
Thy nature given to all hostility,  
Is th'only cause of strife and of debate,  
Because thou art a star unfortunate:   

Hot, hateful, dry, fiery, combustious,  
Wrathful, and given unto dissension,  
The only ground of malice, envious,  
And choleric of thy complexion:  
That dost in death and murder take delight,  
And upon vengeance setst thine appetite:   

First motioner of anger and of hate,  
The causer of contention and of war,  
The root of all dissension in each state,  
That moovest men to wrangle, fight, & jar:  
Fearful of look and ghastly to man's sight,  
Whose radiant beams shine as the lightning bright▪   

And twinkle like to sparkles burning red,  
Which from great fires mount up into the sky,  
And round about the air themselves do spread,  
Consuming such as by melancholy  
Within their hearts, fowl envy do embrace,  
Giving to them in whom thy wrath takes place,   

Of shape to be tall, slender, lean, and small,  
Brown haired, paste, and sallow coloured,  
Unmerciful, addicted unto all  
Bad qualities, to evil easily led:  
Crafty, deceitful, and ingenious,  
Backbiting, slanderous, and malicious;   

Sad, sullen, and still full of heaviness,  
Inclined unto theft, and robbery,  
Consenting unto all accursednes,  
To murder, death, and to fowl treachery:  
Wholly without remorse of conscience;  
And art so mischievous of influence,   

That thou of treason author art 'mong men,  
In scorpion thy chiefest mansion is,  
And reignest King in Capricorn, but when  
In Taur●s thou art placed, than thou dost miss  
Of power, strength, and all Dominion  
Thou also hast in thy subjection.   

War, exile, ●etters, and imprisonment,  
Bondage, proscription, banishment, and all  
The miseries, and mischiefs that are bend  
On earth, and chance upon mankind to fall.  
Which for to gnaw poor Troy unto the bones,  
Thou didst on it power them out all at ones.   

I cannot choose but for the great despite  
Which thou to Troy didst bear, condemn thee much,  
For if that men consider it aright,  
It may be said there near was any such:  
Nor so great vengeance ta'en for any thing  
'Gainst land or town as thou on Troy didst bring:   

As first to kill and spoil them by their foes,  
And to consume their Knights by fire and sword,  
Then in their town as prisoners up to close  
And shut them fast, and no means them afford,  
To be relieved with victuals, or go out,  
Besieged by the Grecians round about.   

I think they have small cause in my advise,  
With bores, or bulls, bears, Lions, Tigers fell,  
Or any such wild beasts to sacrifice  
To thee, (wherewith thou pleased art so well,  
As being Patron of them) nor with smoke,  
Of brimstone, on thine Altars to invoke   

Thy name, that to them showest such cruelty,  
And didst such extreme vengeance on them bring,  
And yet, as if thou couldst not satisfy  
Thyself therewith, (with torments more to sting  
And plague them,) thou mad'st treason 'mongst them work,  
And secretly within their hearts to lurk.   

And so didst set them at division  
Among themselves▪ whereby we plainly see,  
How th'ugly serpent Discord creepeth on  
And slily slides into man's heart, till he  
By tract of time hath therein gotten place,  
And banished from thence all peace and grace.   

With venom of his fowl dissension;  
When once it spreads itself in any town,  
Land, commonwealth, house, country, or nation  
Or immense hearts of small or high renown.  
For when as men live not in love and peace,  
All happiness and joy with them doth cease.   

For where as Discord hath his residence,  
And doth begin amongst men to appear,  
It's worse than any sword or pestilence:  
For who are worse than foes familiar?  
Or who can hurt men more if that they lust  
Then enemies in whom they put their trust?   

And briefly to conclude without a pause,  
All trouble, mischief, and confusion  
In any land, proceedeth from the cause  
And root of hatred, and dissension.  
And much more danger in the same doth lie  
If it be wrought and stirred up secretly:   

Record whereof is to be found by Troy,  
Where while that in the town they did agree  
They held the same, and did it long enjoy,  
Despite their foes. But when they 'gan to be  
At strife and hatred 'mongst themselves, & crossed  
Each other, not long after it was lost.   

(For without doubt, as often proved is,  
When men▪ begin together to contend,  
Or that a land in't self divided is,  
'tis not the means them, nor their state to mend.  
But rather is a certain sign and way,  
Of that same land and people's sure decay.)   

For Mars the sovereign Lord of enmity,  
(That unto men he might his power show,  
And bring Troy into all extremity,)  
The seeds of Discord did among them sow.  
'Gainst which a man no remedy can find▪  
For I am sure persuaded in my mind   

That treason wrought with feigned show of peace,  
(To be procured thereby) is worse than war,  
And more than it, all mischief doth increase:  
Whereof the principalst actors were  
Aeneas Duke Anchises (his old Father,)  
Pollidmas, and Antenor, who together   

Among themselves did secretly agree,  
And traitorously conspire with bad intent,  
If that the town of Troy should chance to be  
Ta'en by the Greeks (whereof they feared th'vent)  
How they might save their own lives, goods & lands,  
By some devise out of the Grecians hands.   

Which if it might not be (as they did doubt  
It could not be,) they meant in secret wise  
(Before the utmost danger should fall out)  
To parley with the Grecian enemies.  
And traitors 'gainst their town of Troy to be,  
Before they would their own subversion see.   

Or loyalty unto their country yield.  
Intending rather to forget their oath  
And promise made, and vowed to be held  
By them while life did last, and faith and troth,  
With due allegiance wholly set aside,  
For them and their own safety to provide.   

Esteeming it more wisdom to forecast,  
How they for there own good should do the same,  
And bring't about before the time were passed,  
And rather save their lives, though 'twere with shame.  
Then foolishly to fall into a trap,  
Which otherwise they might full well escape.   

They though: it no disgrace nor worthy blame  
For to betray the town, so they went free  
Away with goods and lives out of the same:  
Nor had no care for others to agree,  
But how they might unto that thing attain,  
Which they did seek by treason to obtain.   

And to that end they went unto the King,  
To give him (as they said) some good advise  
And counsel how to bring about the thing,  
Which they among themselves had by devise,  
Forecast for their own good: whereof th'effect  
Was, that they wished that he would not neglect   

His own estate, the town, and commonweal,  
By obstinately standing 'gainst his foes;  
But rather to advise himself, and deal  
With them about a peace, (and not to lose  
Time when it served,) if they would grant thereto  
And that to move them better thereunto,   

He would be pleased to offer to restore  
Queen Helena to Menelaus again,  
And all that he had taken from them more  
In Cythera, and so he might obtain  
That at their hands, which other wise could not  
By force, nor any other means be got.   

But words and thoughts with them did not agree,  
They had an other meaning and intent:  
For they knew well no peace would granted be,  
And that the Greeks near would thereto consent  
With them of Troy, whom they as then had brought  
Unto that point, that in a manner caught   

Like Birds within a cage, they held them penned,  
And therefore 'ttwas in vain to think thereon:  
For if the Greeks had thereto given consent,  
And made peace on that condition,  
King Priamus successors might have reigned  
Till now in Troy, and never had sustained   

Such loss and extreme desolation,  
As after on them fell. But 'twas too late  
To motion that, for when Agamenon  
Did by advise of all the Grecian state,  
Send messengers to Troy, from Tenadon  
To offer Priam's peace, upon condition   

That he should send again▪ Queen Helena  
To Menalus, and restitution make  
Of all the treasure which in Cythera  
Parit by force with her from thence did take.  
King Priam would by no means hearken to't,  
But obstinately said, he would not do't.   

So that by their own folly and their pride,  
For want of good foresight and providence,  
Peace justly might unto them be denied;  
For think you when the Greeks with such expense  
Of treasure, loss of limbs, and of their Knights,  
Endured had so many cruel fights.   

And after many a bloody broil orepast,  
By them to bring that war unto an end,  
They would in fine even at the very last  
Oreslip so good occasion given, to spend  
The time in making peace when they had brought  
Their foes to that which they so long had sought.   

And without any recompense would leave  
Th'advantage by them gotten, and again  
Return to Greece with loss, and clean bereave  
Themselves of that which they with so much pain  
Obtained had? it were without all sense:  
For they knew well (though to their great expense,)   

They had brought Troy to that extremity,  
That it could not long 'gainst their force endure,  
And that in fine without all remedy  
They could not fail to win't, whereof being sure,  
They made account to have the victory  
Against their foes without ambiguity.   

So that Anthenors' counsel (and all those  
That with him were of that conspiracy,)  
To Priam given, to seek unto his foes  
To make a peace, was but mere treachery,  
As it unto King Priam well appeared,  
When he from them first motion thereof heard.   

For when he with his son Amphimachus,  
And many of his Lords in counsel were.  
Antenor and his friends moved Priamus  
To seek for peace, the which when he did hear:  
In policy before he would consent  
Or grant thereto, he asked them what they meant,   

To motion it, and said before that he  
Did enter into parley with his foes,  
He would with more advise instructed be  
Howed should be done. Wherewith Antenor rose  
up suddenly, and without reverence,  
And countenance stern in open audience   

Spoke to the King, and said, if thou wilt take  
Our counsel at this present time, and do't  
Thou mayst, but if that light thereof thou make,  
Though it should turn to thy destruction, yet  
Thou near shalt be advised more by me,  
But follow them that of thy counsel be.   

To whom the King in great sobriety  
Made answer, and unto him said again;  
Antenor, thou oughtest not so hastily  
To speak to me, nor take me up so plain  
For my intent is no way able to reprove  
The counsel which thou givest me in love,   

So it be good, and for the commonweal  
Of all men in the town in general:  
But know this for a truth, and mark it well,  
If it prove bad and clean contrary fall,  
And in the end be their destruction,  
I will by no means take't, nor hear thereon,   

As reason is we should prevent the worst,  
Whereof me thinks thou shouldst not think amiss,  
Nor suddenly into such choler burst,  
For every man as it most certain is,  
Should choose the best, & leave the worst, & take  
The wise man's counsel, and the fools forsake,   

And seek a salve to cure his wound withal.  
Wherewith Antenor rose upon his feet,  
And into such a mighty rage did fall,  
That leaving honour and obedience meet  
And dew unto his Sovereign Lord the King,  
Said, sure me thinks it is a wondrous thing   

How you being wise and well advisd should be  
So blinded in conceit, that wilfully,  
You either cannot, or you will not see  
The mischief, and the great adversity;  
Wherewith we are environed on each side,  
For we cannot although we would it hide,   

Deny in what extremity we stand,  
For are we not besieged round about,  
And fearing to fall in our enemy's hand,  
Dare not adventure once to issue out.  
Nor be so bold to go forth of our gate  
To fight with them, that us so deadly hate?   

Because our force is weak and theirs too strong  
For us to deal withal, for certainly  
There are yet fifty valiant Kings among  
Them in their Camp, who all most furiously  
Have vowed and protested with great pride,  
Even to the last and utmost hour t'abide,   

And never to depart nor leave this town,  
Till that they have their wills on us to shed  
Our blood; and see our walls turn upside down;  
Your most renowned Princely sons are dead,  
And all your strong and valiant knights are slain  
That wont were to help you, and maintain   

Your right against your foes: but now bearest  
Of them, there is no way for us to scape  
Out of their hands, nor comfort for us left.  
It is in vain for us to think to shape  
A remedy by force to be relieved,  
Wherefore I say, that ere we bereaved   

Of hope, and both our lives and goods do lose,  
And see the overthrow of this our town,  
Of two extremes the least of them to choose,  
And for a resolution to set down,  
That better 'twere for us in time to make  
Peace with them, and an order thereby take   

For our relief: which that it may be done,  
Let us restore Queen Helena again  
To Menalus her Lord, for whom alone  
There hath so many worthy men been slain:  
And many since this bloody war began,  
Sith Paris now is dead that was the man   

Who only hindered that while he did live.  
And also to make promise by a day  
To make them satisfaction, and to give  
Them all which we by force in Cythera  
took from them, which I think to be the way  
T'appease them, and their furious course to stay.   

Which having said, Amphimachus arose  
Upon his feet, who grieved much to hear  
Antenor speak of treaty with their foes,  
In manner as you heard, could not forbear  
In presence of King Priamus t'upbraid  
Him openly with treason, and thus said,   

Antenor, by thy speech I well perceive,  
That we have little cause to trust in thee  
For aid in need, that so much dost deceive  
Our expectations, for we plainly see  
That Faith and troth from thee are banished,  
And thou in't falsehood art by error led,   

When as thou dost so variable show.  
Where is become thy faith unto thy Lord?  
And due allegiance thou to him dost owe?  
Where are thy oaths, thy promises, and word,  
Which thou didst make, protest, and give to be  
True unto him, and his posterity,   

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 shouldst bear to him, & to this town.   

To live and die for it, if need should be,  
For neither faith, nor troth, nor sparks of love  
In thee remains, as now we plainly see;  
When thou darest be so bold t'excite and move  
The King by thy persuasions to give ear  
To that which to his great dishonour were.   

Which is to seek a peace as if that he  
Did fear his foes. Thou rather shouldst have been  
The first that should have proffered him to be  
A chief protector of the City, (when  
So ere the Greeks should seek t'assail the same,)  
With loss of life and limb to keep the same,   

But know thou well and so I thee assure,  
That whatsoe'er thy meaning is to do,  
Before we will this injury endure,  
And ere they shall so far proceed thereto  
It shall the lives of twenty thousand cost,  
And many more, before this town be lost.   

I hold thy words to be no prophesy,  
But rather do esteem them by good reason,  
To be the signs and marks of treachery,  
Of feigned faith, of falsehood, and of treason,  
To bring us in subjection to our foes,  
But though thou setst on them so fair a gloze,   

And outward show, they are but mere deceit  
And Syrenes' songs t'entrap and to beguile  
Us and this town, till that our foes it get.  
In this sort did Amphimachus revile  
Antenor for his counsel, knowing well  
That 'twas nought else but treason. Till full well   

To pacify his choler, and to stay  
Them from proceeding further to a brawll,  
Aeneas with fair words to make the way  
More open for their purpose, and withal  
To smooth the matter so, as if they meant  
Nought else but troth, but 'twas with false intent.   

For he spoke clean contrary to his thought,  
Intending only to appease them twain,  
Till that he had by policy so wrought,  
That they from further speeches did refrain:  
And when he saw them somewhat pacified,  
To cloak Anthenors' speeches, and to hide   

His own dissimulation in like ease,  
When he had pausd a little while, he said  
Unto the King with smooth and flattering face,  
That touching help, relief, or any aid,  
To be expected for the town, he thought  
There was none to be found, & that it nought   

Availed them to hope thereon, sith they  
Besieged were soclosely and so hard,  
That they could have no victuals any way  
To comfort them, and wholly were debarred  
From issuing forth, as having not the might  
Against the Greeks for want of force to fight.   

For as you know (said he) while that this war  
Endured hath, we have consumed 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 unto our great despite.   

The people are so full of fear and dread,  
That they are all persuaded there's noway  
For them, but every one to lay his head  
Upon the block to die? therefore I say,  
(Sith that the Fates for us have so decreed,  
And that we now are driven to such need.   

If that you will be ruled by my advise,)  
I think the safest way for us willbe  
To parley with our foes, and not be nice  
To make a peace with them, though that it be  
Unto our loss, t'avoid th'extremity  
We may fall in, sith there's no remedy.   

But Priamus with face for anger pale,  
And countenance stern, (he was so moved in mi●d;)  
Cut of Aeneas long and flattering tale,  
And fretting at the treason he did find  
Lie hiden under it. Could not refrain  
In furious wise to speak unto them twain,   

And said, Antenor and Aeneas both,  
I muse why you two should so hardy be  
And bold, as that with breach of faith and troth;  
You dare invent such▪ treason, to bring me,  
And all my subjects into extreme thrall  
And danger of our foes, and therewithal   

Into despair by false suggestion,  
How can or may you in your conscience find,  
(If that you well considered thereon)  
Against your facts and oaths to be unkind  
To me, that of my secret counsel were,  
And so well thought on by me, that whatsoe'er   

Did pass therein, it was not done without  
You were in presence to agree thereto:  
But now I cannot muse how it falls out,  
That you decline in this sort as you do  
From me, that am of all my son's bereft,  
And desolate of friends in manner left:   

It makes me grieve to think upon the same,  
And much to muse that any of you can  
Be so untrue, and have so little shame  
To do it, how should I trust any man?  
When you two are so faithless unto me,  
That ought my chiefest counsellors to be.   

You should remember how with your consent,  
And chiefly by your counsel and advise,  
Paris by me was into Grecia sent  
With many ships and men in warlike wise.  
And thou Antenor know'st full well also  
That fore he went thou didst Ambaster go   

Unto the Greeks, to fetch home Action,  
If by fair means we could bring them thereto,  
And after that thou mad'st the motion  
And was the cause that Paris then did go  
With warlike force to Greece, and this is true.  
For think you that without advise from you,   

I would with such a power have sent him thither,  
Or have assailed the Grecians in their land,  
Unless that you had moved me to't together,  
No surely, it had near been ta'en in hand:  
And you yourselves if you be well advisd,  
Cannot deny but that it was devisd   

And put in execution through you twain,  
Especially, for when as Paris went  
To Cythera for Helena its plain  
Aeneas, thou wast cause that he was sent,  
And th'only man that readiest was, and sought  
To welcome her when she to Troy was brought.   

For 'tis most sure, she never had come here  
If thou hadst been unwilling thereunto:  
Although as now thou mak'st as though thou near  
Hadst known thereof, nor given consent thereto.  
And now my sons are dead, and I bereft  
Of my best Knights, and without comfort left.   

You tell me that the best way for me were  
To make a means unto the Greeks to get  
A peace, as if of them I stood in fear;  
And that I were so simple to forget  
The many and most extreme outrages,  
The slaughters, mortal wars, and damages,   

The cruelties, and great destruction,  
By them so long and often done to me,  
This town, and to my subjects every one,  
Which when I call to mind I cannot be  
Persuaded thereunto, though I should die  
And lose all that I have. For I espy   

Such danger in that which by you is meant,  
And so great falsehood covertly to be  
Therein, that if you compass your intent  
In such sort as you move it unto me,  
It will in fine be my confusion,  
And this towns utter desolation.   

For unpossible 'twere for me to shun  
The mischief that thereon depends, which I  
Were sure to find (if that the same be done,  
Which you do seek,) without all remedy.  
For this most sure and certain is no doubt,  
The issve of the peace you go about.   

Wherewith Aeneas grieved at the hart,  
Rose up upon his feet and moved sore  
Against the King, before he did depart  
Out of the counsel chamber, vowed, and swore  
With many bitter words, and taunts, which he  
Unto him gave, that he revenged would be   

On him, if he in time no order took  
For better satisfaction in that case,  
Whereto he bade him with all speed to look;  
And so in mighty rage he left the place,  
And with the Lord Antenor went his way,  
And would no longer in the counsel stay.   

At whose departure Priam grieved to see  
Himself by them so hardly used, he was  
Therewith so vexed at the heart, that he  
Could not refrain to shed forth eeares when as  
He thought thereon, and then considering more  
And deepelier than he had done before.   

What treachery and treason they had wrought,  
And secretly conspired and devisd,  
Against the town of Troy, and him, and sought  
Their utter ruin he thereby surmisd,  
And feared they two would him by some way  
In secret wise unto the Greeks betray.   

If he did not the same with speed prevent,  
And shape some way their malice to withstand;  
And thereby turn the treason (which they meant  
To work 'gainst him, and had then ta'en in hand  
To practise with the Greeks,) before it wrought  
Th'effect upon themselves that had it sought.   

That so the guerdon of their treachery  
Might light on them that first invented it,  
For treason and all false conspiracy,  
Should be requited as it is most fit  
With treason, for he that works villainy,  
For just reward a shameful death should die.   

And to effect the same King Priamus  
With many tears did grievously complain  
Unto his bastard son Amphimachus,  
And when they had together twixt them twain,  
Showed their dislikings of the treachery  
Antenor and Aeneas secretly   

Devised had, with others, to betray  
Him and the town into the Grecians hand:  
With many sighs he did unto him say,  
Good Son I pray thee mark and understand  
My meaning well, and thereto give good ear,  
Thou knowest that I am thy Father dear,   

And how that now there are no more alive  
Of all my Sons, but thou alone to be  
Mine only heir and after me t'suruiue,  
I pray thee therefore if thou lovest me,  
And of thine own estate hast any care,  
Think on this treason, by the which we are   

As now in so great danger to be brought,  
If we do not prevent it by some way,  
And practise quickly by us to be wrought,  
Whereby we may their furious courses stay,  
And first entrap and take them in the snare,  
Which they for us do craftily prepare:   

Which to effect, my meaning is to call  
Them this night unto counsel purposely,  
Where being come thou shalt upon them fall  
With many Knights, and kill them suddenly:  
The which mean time see thou do not disclose  
To any man, but only unto those   

Whom thou with thee wilt take to do the deed.  
And so we shall prevent them unaware:  
The which to do Amphimacus agreed,  
And bad King Priam lay on him the care  
Thereof, t'accomplish it with as much speed,  
As was to be required in such need.   

But as by Proverb old it's often said,  
There is nothing so closely gone about,  
Nor counsel that's so secretly conveyed,  
But by some means or other 'twill come out;  
And that a murder oft done privily,  
And many years unknown to men doth lie,   

The beasts and birds of th'air will it descry.  
And that the dumb and senseless earth likewise,  
Oft times casts forth that within it doth lie,  
And makes itknowne. Therefore let men be wise,  
And not disclose their secrets, sith they say,  
Two can keep counsel when one is away,   

But specially great Princes should have care  
Above all men to keep their secrets well,  
Because that they like unto Mirrors are  
Whereon men look. For if they chance to tell  
Or speak a thing out of their mouths that should  
Not uttered be, men presently lay hold   

Thereon, and spreaded abroad both far & wide,  
When they do least suspect that it is known,  
And would it from the common people hide,  
That it may not about the world be known:  
And so by indiscreetnes oft disclose,  
Their secrets great unto their chiefest foes.   

And some perhaps in whom they most do trust,  
And do familiarly to them resort,  
Will soon show themselves to them unjust,  
And to the world give them a bad report.  
And therefore it is best for them to spare  
To speak, and of their words to have a care.   

That which a Prince doth secretly intend,  
Should not unto the vulgar sort be told,  
For they their wits and wills do chiefly bend  
(And do it as a common custom hold,)  
Untruly to report that which they hear,  
And make it clean contrary to appear.   

For they do construe things as they desire  
To have them, and to reason are not tide,  
And are compared unto a wisp of fire  
Which makes a blast, but doth not long abide  
Within the same, but straightway doth consume▪  
It is not good on such men to presume,   

That fire and water both in one hand hold,  
And unto either side do bow and bend,  
And as men say, are neither hot nor cold,  
And t'euery new found tale their ears do lend,  
To day they love, to morrow they do hate.  
And never do continue in one state.   

To trust to them there is no certain stay,  
For much like to a broken staff they be,  
Which when a man leans on't it shrinks away:  
And therefore Lords and Princes ought to see,  
That they commit not too much secrecy  
To them, for in them there's no constancy.   

For Priam's counsel though it were devisd  
Between him and his son alone, 'twas told  
Unto Aeneas, who thereby advisd  
Of that which he thought Priam never would  
Have done, did make Antenor understand  
In how great danger both their lives did stand.   

And therefore they together did consent  
Asecret counsel with their friends to hold,  
And others that unto their party bend,  
Wherein they did agree, and said they would  
Prevent King Priam by some means, before  
He should proceed to that 'gainst them, & swore   

They would revenged be on him, and make  
Him and his son both rue they had done so,  
And did among themselves an order take,  
That if the King sent for them, they would go  
So strongly unto him, they should not need  
Of him nor of his friends to stand in dread.   

(Of such great power and might Aeneas was,  
And in the town so well allied, and had  
Such store of wealth, that he did far surpas  
All men therein, whereby the people made  
So much account of him, that they did fear  
And honour him as much, and to him wear   

As dutiful almost in every thing,  
Which he desired or asked of them, as  
They in a manner were unto the King.  
For he in wealth and power equal was  
Unto him. And Antenor also had  
Almost as much, for every man was glad   

To follow them, and durst not well deny  
Whatsoever they would have, or did command.)  
And did conspire between them secretly,  
To yield the town into the Grecians hand,  
Upon condition of security  
That when 'twas done, they would have liberty   

With goods, and lives of them, their children,  
And kindred borne within the town, to go  
Or stay securely where they list, and when  
They had agreed among them so to do,  
And scarce had made an end of parlieng,  
They were sent for to come unto the King.   

Who fully was determined and bend  
That night to kill them as he purposed,  
And strait Aeneas and Antenor went  
And with them such a troup of Troyans' led  
To guard them, that when as King Priamus  
Saw them, he sent unto Amphimachus,   

And willed him no further to proceed  
In that which he had bidden him do that night,  
For that the thing between them two decreed,  
He said revealed was, to their despite  
And as he feared, to his destruction:  
For when with more advise he thought thereon,   

And did perceive Aeneas with so great  
A power to come, and saw the people so  
To favour him, he knew he could not let  
His purpose, for he made no more a do,  
But proudly to the King did flatly say,  
That spite of all that thereto would say nay,   

There was no other remedy to be had  
Whereby they might escape destruction  
Then peace. The which he said should strait be made.  
Wherewith the common people every one  
With shouts and cries commended his advise,  
And praised and extolled it to the skies.   

And yet the King was thereunto contrary,  
And would not grant to yield unto his foes:  
But then Aeneas would no longer tarry  
To argue with the King, but fiercely rose,  
And told him whether he were lief or loath,  
Well pleased therewith, or angry & wroth,   

He must content himself, for it should be  
No otherwise, and that to his despite,  
And 'gainst his will and mind they would agree,  
To enter into treaty ere 'twere night,  
Of peace to be concluded, and set down  
Forthwith between the Grecians and the town.   

Which when the King did hear, and saw how hot  
Aeneas and the people were therein,  
He thought to strive with them it was no boot,  
And therefore for the time he did begin  
With wisdom to dissemble, when he saw,  
And knew well that necesty hath no law.   

And for because he could himself not mend,  
He told Aeneas feignedly, that he  
Would with them at that time no more contend,  
And also that he was content to be  
Ruled by them, and t'allow, and to maintain  
Whatsoever they in his name should ordain.   

And so dissembling with them 'gainst his mind,  
(For as the case than stood he could not choose)  
When as he saw that he no means could find  
To shun the snare laid for him, nor refuse  
To yield unto their wills, he did consent  
(Though faintly) that Antenor should be sent   

In all their names to parley for the town,  
And to conclude a Peace as they desired,  
(The which before in manner was set down,  
And with the Greeks agreed and conspired  
By him, and them that of his party were  
Contrary to the message he should bear.)   

Who, going to the Greeks that knew his mind  
And purpose in that case, before he came,  
Was by them entertained with countenance kind.  
And while he stayed with them about the same,  
The Troyans' in the town with joyful cheer  
Went on the walls, and in their hands did bear   

Green Olive branches, signs of perfect peace:  
Which when the Greeks did see that stood below  
Upon the plain, their hope therein t'increase,  
(With false pretence) the like to them did show:  
And to confirm them in opinion  
Thereof, their General Agamemnon   

(That no suspicion might among them breed,)  
Appointed three Commissioners to treat  
Of peace with him, which were King Diomedes,  
Ulysses, and Taltabius King of Crete,  
Esteeming them sufficient to agree  
Thereon for them, and whatsoe'er should be   

Done therein, by them all to be allowed  
For good, and giving them commission large,  
When they had sworn on either side, and voued  
Uprightly to do that they had incharge:  
Antenor and they three together went,  
To parley by themselves, into a tent;   

And when they were together closely set  
Within the same alone, and privately,  
Where no man was to hinder them, nor let  
Their business. Antenor traitorously  
With envious heart which he to Priam bore,  
In few words did his mind to them declare,   

And said, he would give Troy into their hands,  
That they thereof might at their wills dispose,  
Conditionally, that they should put in bonds  
To him, that he, Aeneas, and all those  
That were of their affinity and bloods,  
Should freely with their bodies, lives, goods,   

Go where they list, or if they would stay still  
Within the town, (as they should think it best  
To take their choice) it should be at their will  
Without all let. And therewith did protest,  
That that which he had promised he would do,  
If they would in such sort agree thereto.   

Wherewith the Greeks in solemn wise did swear  
T'observe the same, in all things as he made  
Condition, (so that no varying wear  
On either side, from that they promised had.)  
Upon the peril of their lives. And when  
They had in that sort sworn to do it; Then   

He charged them to keep it secretly  
Unto themselves, and not to make it known  
To any man, till with security  
'Twere brought unto effect, lest it were blown  
To some abroad, by those that could not keep  
Their tongues from uttering of such secrets deep;   

And so they might be crossed therein before  
They were aware. And therefore did agree,  
That he and they three only and no more,  
Of what estate soe'er they were, should be  
Made privy to the same on neither side.  
And then Antenor said, my Lords, to hide   

Our purpose, and t'avoid suspicion,  
I think it good that King Taltabius  
Should go with me into alone the town,  
To countenance me unto King Priamus,  
Who being civil, old, demure, and sad,  
And very wise, there will no doubt be made   

Of him by them, for they will think that he  
Doth only come to speak about the peace:  
And to be well assured, that it shall be  
Observed and kept in all things, more or less,  
By them as I unto you have declared,  
And by that means (said he) they wilbeoard   

From any manner of suspicion,  
Or doubt of ill proceeding, till that we  
Have brought it to the full conclusion,  
Whereto the Grecians gladly did agree:  
And liking very well of every thing,  
took order that Taltabius the King   

Should go as he desired, but ere he went,  
Antenor (to make show that he had brought  
Some thing t'effect, and that the Greeks were bend  
To give consent unto the peace, and sought  
It earnestly,) desired of them to have  
Queen Panthasillias' body, which they gave   

To him forthwith, and so he took his leave  
Of all the Greeks, and with the King alone  
Went to the town with feigned show to give  
Them hope of peace, and make relation  
What he had done unto King Priamus,  
Who feigning to be much desirous   

To hear th'effect thereof without delay,  
Called all the commons of the town together  
In Ilium his Palace, where next day  
When they and all his counsel were together,  
And he had caused silence in the place,  
Antenor with a smooth dissembling face,   

(And sugared words refined with eloquence  
In terms so well, and circumspectly used,  
That no man at the same could take offence,  
Nor judge that they by him should be abused  
By any outward show of countenance, cheer,  
Or restures, they so finely couched wear.)   

Declared unto them th'effect of that  
Which he unto the Greeks propounded had  
Concerning peace unto them made, and what  
The answer was that they unto him made,  
With his reply returned to them again,  
Although therein his meaning was not plain.   

For 'twas with foul deceit and falsehood fraught,  
For he was very close, and warily  
Did watch his time till he advantage caught,  
(Like Serpent sly that in the field doth lie,  
And hides his venom under grass that's long,  
And as the Bee that stingeth with his tongue,   

When he hath first cast forth his honey sweet,  
For with his Siren's voice he told his tale  
In terms that for the time were apt and meet:  
And covered it with such a subtle vale,  
That outwardly it seemed smooth and plain,  
Like to the sun that shining in the rain,   

Shows fair and bright, although the weather be  
Sore troubled, windy, and tempestuous,  
As by experience many times we see.  
And so did he, (that was so treacherous,  
And like a Tiger full of doubleness,)  
Dissemblingly his mind to them express,   

As if that he meant truly to the town.  
Affirming that the Greeks were very strong,  
And by some reasons which he then set down,  
Proved that they likely were and very long  
To hold their siege, as being victualled  
For many months, and therewith furnished   

Of all things else that necessary were  
To serve their turns, concluding certainly  
(To strike their hearts into the greater fear,)  
That without doubt there was no remedy  
For them of Troy against the Greeks to strive,  
For they (said he) 'mong them have yet alive   

Great store of puissant Kings, and many more  
Most worthy Knights, who all with valiant heart  
Have vowed and protested, that before  
They break up siege, or from this town depart,  
They'll have their wills on it what ere befall  
To them thereby, and that there's neither wall,   

Tower, Bulwark, nor yet gate that shall them let  
On every side t'assail it, and at last  
Despite of all our force the same to get,  
And therefore ere it comes to th'utmost cast,  
(Sith that we may not long against them stand,)  
'Twere best for us forthwith and out of hand   

To find a means to remedy all this,  
The which (said he) so that you be content,  
I know well how to do: and thus it is,  
When I unto the Grecians camp was sent  
T'entreat for peace, this answer they me gave,  
That willingly we should our ask have,   

But it must be upon condition,  
That we shall make them restitution  
Of all the wrongs and mischies that were done  
By Paris in the Isle of C●●●●r●n,  
As it doth stand in right and equity,  
And we are driven of necessity   

And 'gainst our wills and minds to them to bend,  
For, sith it is in their Election  
To bring this bloody war unto an end,  
'tis not for us to make condition  
As pleaseth us, for now 'tis thus far brought,  
To strive 'gainst them it would avail us nought.   

For that might sooner hurt, then mend our case:  
Therefore I say sith need doth us constrain,  
Through two most great extremities to pass,  
Let us chose out the lesser of the twain,  
And wisely seek the greater to eschew:  
And let our gold by us kept close in new,   

Redeem our lives. For better 'tis to lose  
Our worldly wealth, then to be fiercely slain  
(Through wilfulness) by our most deadly ●e●●.  
Are not our lives more worth than riches vaine●  
He's but a fool that for his own welfare,  
Doth niggardly his gold and treasure spare   

When life depends thereon, let money go,  
We may good store of treasure get again,  
But life once lost with us, it's nothing so,  
Then to esteem gold more than life, is vain.  
And therefore (as I have unto you told,)  
If we may have a final peace by gold,   

And with our treasure stint this mortal war●e:  
Great folly 'twere against the Greeks to stand,  
And obstinately with them always jar,  
For if (said he) I let them understand,  
That you do yield to that which they require,  
You may obtain a peace at your desire,   

It is of them so easy to be had:  
For that assoon as they are certified  
By true report, what answer you have made,  
They are content with covenants to be tied,  
And bound t'observe that which of them you crave;  
And they will look the like of you to have.   

Which being done twixt us on either side,  
There must be thereupon Indentures made,  
That shall record to what each part is tied;  
That no doubt nor suspicion may be had  
Of their true meaning and integrity:  
And for because they do expect from me   

An answer, I will go to certify  
Them of the truth of all that hath been said,  
Nought doubting but that it will satisfy  
Them, that therewith they shall be well paid.  
Which said, the commons shouted out and cried  
And with one voice much praised & magnified,   

Anthenors' pleasing speech unto them made,  
And therewith gave him special charge to bear  
Their answer to the Greeks, who with him had  
Aeneas joined, to th'end that nothing were  
Omitted that might further their intent.  
And they (with King Taltabius that was sent   

Commissioner upon the Grecian part  
With Antenor to Troy,) did undertake  
The charge t'effect the peace, although in hart,  
Whatsoever protestation they did make,  
They were but traitors, and meant nothing less  
Than that which outwardly they did profess.   

For Priamus had great suspicion  
Of both of them, and certainly believed  
They would procure the towns destruction,  
For which he was within his mind so grieved:  
That to himself sore priest with care and woe,  
He wept and said, alas what shall I do   

To scape the snare wherein I fear to fall?  
For by my hard and cruel destiny  
(Which is the worst and greatest grief of all.)  
I am compelled of necessity,  
Despite my heart, to ransom and to buy  
My life with money, of mine enemy,   

Which doth torment me sore. But I perceiu●  
whatsoe'er I do there is no remedy,  
For by constraint I must my treasure give  
Unto my foes, and dare it not deny:  
And yet I am not thereby freed of fear  
To lose my life, which hangeth as it were   

In balance of deceit and tyranny,  
For I am forced for all my royal state,  
T'obey their wills that seeks by treachery  
To have my life, because they do me hate.  
But Parchas hath for me such Fortune shaped,  
That without doubt it cannot be escaped.   

And while that he did in this sort lament  
His woeful state with many a brinish tear,  
Queen Helena unto Antenor went,  
To pray him and Aeneas when they were  
In parley with the Greeks, for her to make  
A motion, and if they could for her sake,   

By their good mediation get that she  
Might be restored again (if peace did hold,)  
Unto her Lord King Menalus, so he  
Contented were, and that of grace he would  
(Forgetting that had passed) pleased be,  
T'restore her to her former dignity.   

To whose request Antenor answer made,  
That he would do as much as in him lay  
To pleasure her, and so when as he had  
Ta'en leave of her, he went the self same day  
Unto the Grecians Camp, t'effect the thing,  
Which he meant traitorously to pass to bring.   

Mean time within the town they buried  
A valiant Knight called Glaucus, bastard Son  
To Priamus, whose funeral finished,  
And all things thereunto belonging done,  
King Priam for Queen Panthasillias' sake,  
Caused cunning workmen curiously to make   

A vessel of pure gold, which he did fill  
With balm and spice, her body to enclose  
And to preserve from putrefaction, till  
The war did end between him and his foes,  
By treaty of the peace as then in hand,  
That it might be conveyed into the land   

Of Amazons, wherein she reigned Queen,  
To bury it there, according t'her degree  
In princely wise. The which King Philomene  
Did carry away with him from thence, when he  
Left Troy to go into his native Land.  
But now I will thereon no longer stand,   

To tell you what about the peace was done  
Within the Grecians Campe. Who all agreed,  
With full consent did make election  
Of those three Kings, Ulysses, Diomedes,  
And Taltabius of Creta, and no more  
To deal for them, as they had done before   

Concerning peace, and to that end to meet  
Antenor and Aeneas, and to go  
With them to Troy, in counsel there to sit  
Upon the same. The which forthwith to do,  
With such instructions from Agamemnon  
As needful were, they went into the town   

With both the Trojan Lords, where when they came,  
There was such joy among the people (who  
In novelties delight, and at the same  
Rejoice, though afterwards again they do  
Repent therefore, and their own follies rue.)  
For they supposed that thereby would ensue   

A perfect peace to them for evermore,  
And final end of all the grief & sorrow  
Which they endured had so long before.  
And Priamus the next ensuing morrow,  
Assembled all his Lords and Peers together  
In Ilium, and when they were come thither,   

And every man set down in his degree.  
Ulysses standing up with words refined  
With eloquence, and smoothed subtlety,  
In presence of them all declared his mind,  
(So well, that those that then were there to hear  
His pleasing speech, and not acquainted were,   

Nor privy to his meaning fraudulent,  
took pleasure in't, but did not understand  
The depth and secret drift of his intent)  
Wherein he did two things of them demand;  
The one, that Troy unto the Greeks should pay  
A certain sum of gold without delay,   

In recompense of all the injury  
And wrongs unto them done in Cythera,  
When Paris without right or equity,  
From thence did take away Queen Helena.  
The second thing was, that Amphimacus  
(A bastard son unto King Priamus)   

Should be exiled from Troy perpetually,  
Without all pardon or remission.  
The which Antenor had by policy  
And envy great procured to be done:  
Because that he did spite Amphimacus▪  
For crossing him before King Priamus   

In presence of his counsel, (when he made  
A motion touching peace, and said he would  
Not give consent thereto, but rather had  
Loose life and limb than any such thing should  
Be offered to the Grecians.) And therefore,  
Such hatred secretly unto him bore,   

That finding opportunity to quite  
Him privily, like serpent envious,  
He thought he would occasion take to bite,  
When time did serve with heart malicious,  
For speaking truth. And therefore my advice  
And counsel is, to wish men to be wise,   

And not in words to be superfluous.  
For men must not say all things that they know,  
And wisdom oftentimes adviseth us,  
When we are by extremities brought low:  
To spare to speak, and to dissemble when  
We are constrained to yield to other men.   

A man were better not to speak at all,  
And silent be although against his will,  
Then by his speech in danger great to fall.  
We must beware, and may not always tell  
The truth of things, but rather hold our peace,  
The false reports of envious men to cease.   

That man is wise that can his choler hide▪  
For better 'tis with modesty t'abstain  
From anger, then with fury and in pride  
To speak, for when with silence men refrain  
From words, and can endure wrongs patiently,  
It is the way debates to pacify.   

For happy is he that can endure a wrong,  
And not in speech be too presumptuous,  
(Which oftentimes makes men excel in tongue)  
As it did happen to Amphimacus:  
(Although to tell the truth was his intent)  
For by that means he suffered banishment,   

But God the judge of all men, afterward  
To show how he with equity and right  
Can punish men, and give them their reward  
In short time after made like judgement light  
Upon Antenor, which he falsely sought  
To lay upon Amphimacus for nought.   

For not long after he himself was sent  
By Aeneas means out of the Town of Troy,  
And judged to perpetual banishment,  
(And never did his freedom there enjoy)  
Whereby you see how God by providence,  
In his due time doth justly recompense   

And punish all dissimulation,  
And treason, for who s'euer traitor is,  
And seeks another man's confusion,  
To have the like reward shall never miss:  
For falsehood evermore doth back rebound,  
Like to a ball that riseth from the ground,   

And falleth down again where first it lay.  
For what so ever treason men forecast,  
Most commonly (as we are wont to say)  
Will surely be discovered at the last:  
And he that strikes with sword shall stricken be.  
(As by Antenor you may plainly see.)   

And while that they so earnest were t'agree,  
And bring the peace to that effect they sought,  
And chiefly that Amphimacus should be  
Exiled, as Antenor closely wrought:  
A sudden noise among them did arise,  
As it had been the lamentable cries,   

And doleful plaints of men in extreme woe.  
Whereat Ulysses and King Diomedes,  
As they did out the Counsel chamber go,  
Were stricken in no little fear and dread:  
And thought the people that great favour bore  
TO Amphimacus, would be revenged fore   

His exile causeless done to their despite.  
And therefore feared that they should murdered be,  
With fury great within the town that night,  
By some devise and foul conspiracy  
Of false Antenor and Aeneas both,  
In whom they did repose but little troth.   

And yet in truth there was not any man,  
That heard the noise and rumour in the hall,  
That could conceive or know how it began,  
Which made the Greeks in greater fear to fall,  
And to sufpect the Commons would arise  
And kill them, as their deadly enemies.   

But to assure and put them out of doubt,  
And danger of all tumults what so ere,  
Antenor did convey them safely out  
Of Ilium: and when they gotten were  
Out of the way to an assured place:  
Ulysses with a pale and deadly face   

Scarce freed from fear, & with dissembling smile  
Began to charge Antenor, and to say  
They feared that he meant them to beguile,  
Because he put them off from day to day:  
And nought performed of that he promised had,  
When they at first the covenants with him made.   

So that (said he) we think and certainly  
Believe for truth (as reason doth us move)  
That you mean nothing else but treachery.  
But false Antenor from them to remove,  
All causes of suspicion what so ere,  
Spoke unto them with sad and sober cheer,   

And said, I do the Gods to witness call,  
Who only know the secret of man's heart,  
That without any fraud or guile, in all  
That I have ta'en in hand (as't is my part)  
I have been faithful, true, and diligent,  
To bring't to pass with all my whole intent.   

One thing there is (whereat you must not grieve)  
Which is the cause I cannot (as I would)  
Performe't so soon, which if you give me leave  
Shall briefly unto you by me be told.  
This town (as old records declare to us,)  
Long since was Builded by King Ilius.   

Who in perpetual honour of his name,  
And to preserve it from oblivion,  
When he had fully finished the same,  
Gave unto it the name of Ilium:  
Wherein with most exceeding cost and charge,  
He did erect a Temple fair and large.   

(In Pallas name the which long time was had,  
And holden by all men in reverence great,)  
Which Temple being raised up and made  
As high as to the roof, ere he had set  
And laid the beams and lead upon the same,  
Pallas (because of her it had the name,)   

To show how much the honour they her bore,  
She did accept as pleasing in her eyes,  
And also to encourage them the more,  
Upon her Altars t'offer sacrifice,  
A miracle so strange did show as then,  
That near the like was seen before of men.   

For from the sky did suddenly descend,  
A fair and goodly Image so well made  
And curiously composed, that none could mend  
The workmanship thereof, nor ever had  
Seen any thing so exquisitely formed,  
Nor in all points so cunningly adorned.   

For it was made within the heavenly bower  
Of Angels, by divine Minerva's hand,  
And by her sent, to show her mighty power,  
down from the skies into the church to stand  
Therein, for us perpetually to be  
A preservation in extremity,   

And to maintain and keep the town from all  
Distresses, harms, and dangers what so ere  
At any time should hap thereon to fall.  
For that as long as it remaineth here  
Within her Church, Troy well may be annoyed  
By enemies, but near shall be destroyed.   

For Pallas of her grace to us doth show  
Such favour, that while it is in the Town,  
There's no terrestrial power can overthrow,  
Nor have the means by force to break it down:  
Unless the Image could be stolen away  
From hence, and yet there is no man that may   

Remove it from the place where it doth stand,  
Unless it be the Priest, whose office is  
Alone t'attend thereon, and with his hand  
Is licenced to do't, because it is  
Impossible for any other man,  
To stir or lift the same, do what he can.   

And who so ever sees and doth behold  
The Image, cannot tell whether it be made  
Of wood or stone, of metal or of mould,  
For certain 'tis, no earthly man ere laid  
Hand thereunto, it is so heavenly  
A piece of work, and wrought so curiously   

By power divine and wise Minerva's hand.  
Who of her grace hath given it unto Troy,  
Within her Temple evermore to stand,  
And granted them this privilege t'enjoy:  
That while it there remains, they shall not need  
The force and power of enemies to dread,   

If they do yield due honour thereunto.  
And by succession so shall still remain  
From King to King, who by true title do  
And shall the Trojan Diadem obtain:  
If they preserve the same with reverence,  
And lose it not by their own negligence.   

The name whereof is called Palladiowne,  
Because it was sent down out of the sky,  
And by Minerva given to the Town,  
Within her Church to stand perpetually  
For their defence: and this is th'only thing  
Which hindereth me my word to pass to bring.   

Whereto Ulysses said, if it be so,  
That Troy cannot be given into our hands,  
(As thou to us protested haste to do)  
While th'Image in Minerva's Temple stands;  
And that it is impossible t'attain  
To our desires therein; It is in vain   

For us t'expect that at thy hands, which thou  
Canst not effect: and folly in thee to take  
On thee to do that which thou know'st not how  
By any means t'accomplish, nor to make  
Thy promise good to us; therefore I say,  
It's best for us to seek some other way.   

To whom Antenor made reply, and said,  
As yet there's nothing promised by me  
But shall be well performed though't be delayed,  
As by the sequel plainly you may see:  
The manner how to you I will declare,  
If so much time to hear it you will spare.   

My meaning is (said he) forthwith to go,  
Unto the Priest that hath the custody  
Of Palladowne, and to persuade him so  
(By promising to give him presently  
A sum of gold in hand) that he shall be  
Content at my request, to grant to me,   

To bring the Image to the place whereas  
You shall appoint: If that mean time you will  
Content yourselves, and letting care o'erpass,  
Stay patiently a little while, until  
That I this thing have fully brought about,  
Wherein (said he) I pray you not to doubt,   

For I will take the charge of it in hand,  
And do assure you of Palladiowne.  
Whose purpose when the Greeks did understand,  
They took their leaves to go out of the Town:  
But to avoid suspicion ere they went,  
Antenor said, that it was his intent,   

To go unto King Priamus to know,  
In what sort the Indentures should be made  
On either side concerning peace, and how  
Much money should provided be and had,  
That they were to receive of him in hand:  
And so (said he) I shall soon understand   

His meaning, which I will to you impart,  
Wherewith Ulysses and the rest content,  
For that time took their leaves, and did depart  
Well satisfied, and to their army went,  
To certify unto Agamemnon,  
What they in Troy concerning peace had done.   

And Antenor unto King Priam went,  
And told him that the best and readiest way  
For him was, (sith the Greeks were fully bend  
To make a peace) the next ensuing day  
To call his Lords and Commons all together,  
In Ilium: And when they were come thither,   

Antenor spoke before them all, and told  
(Though falsely) what the Grecians meant to do,  
And what the sum of money was they should  
Prepare for them (if they would grant thereto)  
The which was twenty thousand pound in gold,  
And as much more in silver, if they would   

Have peace, according to their own desire,  
Which all in ready money must be paid.  
And further that the Grecians did require  
Some corn, flower, and meal, the which he said,  
Should be to put into their ships, when they  
Were ready to set sail to go away,   

To serve their turns while they at sea should be:  
And bade them that they should without delay,  
Collect the silver and the gold, and see  
That it were ready by a certain day.  
Whereto the King (though loath to do't) agreed,  
(For he durst not gain say't) and so decreed,   

That presently an order should be made  
To gather it of rich and poor, (for none  
Was spared) and when Antenor had thus laid  
His traitorous plot, and so far therein gone:  
He went by night unto the Priest to see,  
If by persuasions he content would be,   

To hearken unto him, and give consent  
To do that thing, the which he had decreed  
To bring to pass, and to that end he bend  
His wit, and all the skill he had to feed  
Him with fair words, and promises of gold,  
That should be given to him in hand, and told   

Him while he lived he near should want, if so  
He would consent to grant to his request,  
And speaking to him said, if thou wilt do  
The thing that I desire, I here protest  
And unto thee a solemn vow do make  
Upon mine honour, that I'll undertake   

To give thee such a sum of gold in hand,  
That ever after thou shalt surely be  
The richest of thy kindred in this land.  
The thing that I therefore require of thee,  
Is, that thou wouldst deliver presently  
Palladion, which thou hast in custody,   

Into my hands, and I will thee assure,  
Therein to be so secret, that no blame  
Shall fall to thee thereby, and will secure  
Thee from all harms may happen by the same  
So that upon my word thou shalt not need,  
For doing it, to stand in any dread.   

For I will so devise, how ere it goeth,  
That thou no hurt shalt have if that thou do  
This thing, for I (as well as thou) am loath  
It should be known I gave consent thereto:  
Or that the least in Troy should me suspect  
Thereof, therefore all fear and care reject▪   

For I had rather die then't should fall out,  
That we should be accused for the same.  
Which to effect, I wilt so bring about,  
That thou and I thereby will reap no sham●●  
Nor once suspected be thereof, for all  
The fault upon Ulysses head shall fall,   

And he therefore shall only bear the blame,  
For by my means it shall reported be,  
That he was th'only doer of the same,  
And that by his great craft and subtlety,  
He hath devised to steal Palladiowne,  
And borne it secretly out of the town,   

Whereby he shall be blamed, and we go free,  
Of being once accused for this deed.  
Wherefore (I say) if that thou wilt agree  
To my request, I pray thee then proceed  
And do it out of hand, and here's the gold  
That thou shalt have, as first to thee I told,   

Which I will now deliver into thy hand.  
But Tonant (so the Priest was called) delayed  
To do the same, and flatly did withstand  
Him therein at the first, and to him said,  
That neither gold nor any other thing,  
Nor fair nor flattering words, nor menacing,   

Should make him yield unto such treacheries  
And though at first he straightly said him nay,  
(And that some honest men hate villainy,  
Yet bribe's in these days bear so great a sway,  
That men the truth for money will suppress,  
The poor for want, the rich for covetousness.   

And both of them for gold will falsify  
Their words, and be seduced to decline  
From truth, and all the bounds of honesty.  
For men with golden spades may dig and mine  
Through Marble stones) the gold did tempt him so▪  
That letting truth and honesty clean go,   

He yielded to Antenor in that case,  
And was content (so he the gold might have)  
To take the image down out of the place  
Whereas it stood within the Church, and gave  
It unto him, which he the self same night,  
Sent secretly with all the speed he might   

Unto Ulysses by a messenger,  
Whom he did trust: and so between them both  
The Town and all the Trojans spoiled were.  
For traitorously without all faith and troth,  
They gave the same into the Grecians hand,  
As by the sequel you shall understand.    

CHAP. VII.  
¶ How the Greeks made an Horse of brass, wherein they put a thousand armed Knights; and under colour of peace, brought it into Troy, by the which it was utterly destroyed for ever.  

NOw mayst thou mourn and pitifully weep,  
O famous town of Troy that so art tossed  
In waves of woe, and with sore sighs and deep  
Complain, that thou Palladiowne hast lost  
By treason of the Priest, by whomeed was sold  
Unto thy foes for greediness of gold.   

Why didst not thou (oh mighty jove that art  
The Governor of all the world, and know'st  
The inward thoughts and secrets of the heart,  
Before they are conceived, and daily show'st  
Thy power divine by judgements strange & rare,  
Upon such men as disobedient are   

Unto thy will) take vengeance on the Priest,  
That traitorously for greediness of gold,  
At false Anthenors' motion and request,  
Minerva's image to the Grecians sold?  
And thereby was the means they did destroy,  
And utterly deface the Town of Troy.   

What Land or Town is able long t'endure  
In any certain state? or what is he  
That liveth here on earth can be secure?  
When as such men as are of that degree,  
Will be corrupt in heart and mind, and take  
Rewards, & of their conscience shipwreck make?   

Is't not a great and grievous thing to see  
Men (that should unto us examples give  
Of holiness, and lights unto us be,  
To show us by good doctrine how to live,)  
Do things which are most wicked and contrary  
To that they teach, & from their function vary.   

For if that Priests be bad of conversation,  
And that the brightness of the perfect light  
Which they should show, be void of good devotion,  
And turned by iniquity to night?  
To whom shall any man repair or go  
To learn, or take example what to do?   

The chiefest cause thereof is Avarice,  
And greediness of getting gain and gold:  
Which most accursed and pestiferous vice,  
So great a sway within Priests hearts doth hold,  
That with the force thereof it makes them blind,  
And unto wicked motions stirs their mind.   

For certainly there is no man that lives  
Upon the earth that is more ravenous,  
Nor unto us so bad examples gives  
Of greediness, nor is more covetous  
Than Priests, to scrape & catch all that they may.  
For true it is, that long since many a day,   

It hath been so fast rooted in the heart  
Of Priests, that are so much therewith in love,  
That nothing what so ere can make it part  
Out of the same, nor it from thence remove:  
For 'tis so firmly grafted in their sect,  
That it makes them all holiness neglect.   

For gold is now so glistering and so bright,  
That naturally it draws men to the same  
Like th'Adamant, and dasleth so the sight  
Of Priests, that they do only bear the name,  
To be the men that earnestly embrace  
That wicked vice of covetousness, and place   

It in their greedy ravening minds so well,  
That virtue doth not once so soon begin  
To move their hearts, but vice doth it expel,  
And will not suffer it to enter in:  
Such force it hath all goodness to supplant.  
As by this wicked Trojan Priest Tonant   

You may too well perceive, that traitorously  
The holy image to Antenor sold;  
While Priam and the Trojans busily,  
Collected silver, corn, and store of gold,  
Of rich and poor, in readiness to pay  
Unto the Grecks: which treasure they did lay   

And shut within Minerva's▪ Temple, there  
To be reserved till all the covenants made▪  
On either of their sides performed were,  
As they instructions from Antenor had:  
Which done, the King and all the Trojans went  
Unto Apollo's Temple, with intent   

To call upon his name, and to adore  
His Altars, and thereon in Paynim wise,  
(In hope of grace) his aid and help t'implore.  
And when they had begun to sacrifice,  
And lay the beasts, the incense, and the blood  
Upon the Altars, as the priests than stood   

Before the same, and went about to make  
The wood to burn: two strange things did appear,  
The one was, that it would no fire take,  
Nor mount up to the air with flames most clear,  
As it at other times was wont to do,  
Although they still did add more fire thereto.   

And ten times kindled it but't would nor be,  
For still it quenched again, and did no other  
But cast out filthy smoke, as oft we see  
lime when it is with water sleckt doth smother.  
So that with all the means they devise,  
For want of fire they could not sacrifice,   

T'appease their Idol God Apollo's ire.  
The other thing was this, that when they laid  
The offering on the Altar, while the fire  
Was kindling, and burned not (as it is said)  
An Eagle did descend down from the sky,  
And with a great and mighty noise did fly   

Unto the Altar where the offering lay,  
And seizing on it with his talents, took  
It lightly up and bore it clean away,  
While all the people sore amazed did look  
And gaze on him with extreme dread & fear,  
But th'Eagle soaring o'er the Town, did bear   

It swiftly thence in all the Trojans sight,  
And flying with it towards the Greeks, at last  
Descended, and upon their ships did light,  
And into them the offering did cast:  
Which when the Trojans saw they had great fear,  
And judged thereby the Gods offended were   

Against the Town, because the fire went out.  
And therefore to inquire what those things meant,  
And t'ease their minds, and put them out of doubt,  
Unto Cassandra presently they sent,  
To pray her that she would them certify,  
What those two strange events might signify.   

Who told them that the quenching of the fire,  
Was unto them a demonstration▪  
And certain sign of great Apollo's ire,  
And of the wrathful indignation,  
Which he most justly did unto them bear,  
Because that in despite, without all fear   

Of him they killed Achilles traitorously  
Within his holy Temple, and did stain  
The same with blood, and after cruelly  
When they had him therein so falsely slain,  
Without respect of place or person drew  
His body thence, and unto dogs it threw.   

For which, she said, (t'appease his wrath and ire)  
They must go to Achilles' tomb by night,  
And there devoutly at the sacred fire  
Which burned at the walk, their Tapers light:  
And with that fire (the which without all doubt,  
She said, would not by any means go out.)   

New offerings make with great devotion,  
Which would before Achilles burn most clear,  
That so they might give satisfaction  
To him for murdering of Achilles, where  
His name adored should be, the which they made  
In manner as she them commanded had.   

For th'Eagle that with th'offering way did fly  
Unto the Greeks, she bade them take good heed,  
And said, that it did plainly signify,  
That all the Gods together had decreed;  
That Troy should by some treason be destroyed,  
And that by no means they could it avoid.   

For as they saw the Eagle when she fled▪  
With th'offering to the Greeks, so should they see  
The Town that had so long time flourished  
In honour great, and wealth, delivered be  
Into the Grecians hands, and utterly  
Defaced by them with most great cruelty.   

Minerva's Image could not help them then,  
Which they had lost by their own negligence.  
For it most sure and certain is, that when  
God's sentence is pronounced, there's no defence  
Against it to be made, for every man  
Must stand to his decree do what they can.   

The Grecians likewise wondering much (when as  
They saw the Eagle with the offering  
Come flying so) said, surely that it was  
A sign of some most strange and secret thing  
That should be brought to pass, and for it had  
Great fear, till Calchas exposition made   

Thereof to them, and bade them not to doubt,  
Nor stand in fear at all of any thing,  
For that the issue thereof would fall out  
Unto their good, and they t'effect should bring  
That for the which they long had quarreled,  
And so much of their Grecian blood had shed:   

And willed them therefore no cost to spare,  
To make an end of their great enterprise,  
And to that end did wish them to prepare  
Some thing to offer for a sacrifice  
To Pallas: and to show his traitorous mind  
To Troy, he did a strange invention find:   

The effect whereof was thus. When he perceived  
King Priam was persuaded to a Peace  
By false Anthenors' means, as clean bereaved  
Of all relief and hope of war to cease:  
And that Antenor, and Aeneas both  
As traitorous as himself, were very loath   

To be discovered in their treachery,  
Before that they had brought the same to pass,  
To further them in their great villainy,  
He told the Grecians that their best way was,  
To make a show to offer sacrifice  
Unto Minerva, in their Paynim wise.   

Whereby (he said) he would a means devise,  
That they the Town should take without all doubt,  
And get the spoil of all their enemies.  
Which that they might the better bring about,  
He counseled them to make a horse of brass,  
The which of such a mighty greatness was,   

That it within the body of it held  
A thousand valiant knights that close did lie  
Hid in the same, well armed with spear & shield,  
Which framed was by craft and subtlety  
Of Sinon, and of Appius the wise,  
That with him joined were in that devise.   

Which horse the Grecians purposely should bring  
Before the Town, pretending (as they said)  
That they would give it for an offering  
To Pallas, and by Calchas counsel prayed  
King Priam, that he would vouchsafe them leave  
To set it in her Temple, and to give   

Them liberty to enter in the Town,  
To offer unto her a sacrifice,  
Before they sailed down to Tenadowne.  
And by this false and politic devise,  
They found the means to take the town of Troy,  
And did the same in cruel wise destroy.   

But ere that they did bring the same to pass,  
When as the failed articles were made,  
The Kings by whom king Priam aided was,  
While he against the Grecians warred had;  
perceiving that the Trojans would have peace,  
And that thereby their bloody war should cease:   

As many of them as then living were,  
Did take their leaves of Priamus, and went  
Again into their Lands and Countries where  
They reigned kings, when they had lost & spent  
Both money & men: 'mong whom king Philomene  
Did take with him the body of the Queen   

Of Amazons, that was by Pyrrhus slain.  
And of two thousand knights that with him came  
To Troy, there went but fifty back again:  
The rest (unto their everlasting fame)  
Were slain in fight against the Grecians.  
And of a thousand Amazonians   

That came to Troy in Priamus' defence,  
There was but just four hundred of them left,  
To bear their Queen's dead body way fro thence,  
The rest were by the Greeks of life bereft:  
Who being gone, the next day following,  
The Trojan Lords and Priamus their king.   

Met with the Greeks in open field, and there  
Conferred of the Peace on either side,  
Where for the Grecians Diomedes did swear,  
That they would firmly stand to, and abide  
By all that which they had agreed upon  
In treaty with Antenor, and that none   

Of all the Greeks the contrary would do.  
Wherein the Trojans and King Priamus  
Were much deceived, and took no heed unto  
His double oath, as not suspicious  
Of treason meant thereby: for he did take  
His oath in general terms, & did not make   

Rehearsal of the points particular  
That were agreed upon. For his intent  
Was only with a false pretence to swear,  
T'observe and keep the treaty fraudulent,  
The which Antenor with the Grecians made,  
Contrary unto that which Priam had   

Been made believe by him to have been done.  
For by the oath they took, they did include  
And meant that treason only 'greed upon  
And swore thereto, intending to delude  
The Trojans, and to catch them in a trap,  
From whence they neither could nor should escape.   

Clean contrary to that the Trojans meant.  
They made a show as if they peace would make,  
But bloody war was only their intent,  
And outwardly a feigned oath did take  
T'observe the peace; but treason was the end  
And drift which they did secretly pretend.   

But though they valid and covered it with show  
Of peace, therewith to blind the outward eye,  
Yet he that all men's secret thoughts doth know,  
Perceived that their oath was but a lie.  
He that professeth truth and doth pretend  
No such thing, but thereby deceives his friend,   

Is not to be believed what ere he be,  
Because the vow he makes is but a lie:  
And though into men's hearts we cannot see,  
That swear and take their oaths so craftily,  
Yet he that craftily doth lie and swear,  
Doth wilfully by craft himself forswear,   

Whereto he can make no exception.  
For God that knows man's heart and secrets all,  
Condemneth him that with intention  
Swears falsely to betray his friend withal.  
As Diomedes did traitorously deceive  
The Trojans, that did verily believe   

His oath had been without all fraud and guile,  
As having no suspicion in their hearts,  
That they should be betrayed by a wile,  
Which at the last they all too dearly bought:  
When as they found the Grecians did contrary  
Unto their oath, and from their promise vary.   

But longer to entreat hereof were vain,  
Let it sufficeed was all but treachery,  
The which the more to hide they took again▪  
Queen Helena: and therewith presently  
The money which the Trojans were to pay,  
Was brought unto the plain the self same day,   

And with the flower and meal delivered  
Unto the Greeks, as they agreed had,  
The which they caused to be carried  
Unto their ships. And then as Calchas made  
And laid the plot, with feigned devotion,  
And great and foul dissimulation,   

And holiness veiled with hypocrisy,  
The Grecians prayed king Priamus that they  
Might by his licence have free liberty  
In Pallas Temple (ere they went away)  
Devoutly t'offer for oblation,  
The horse of Brass in satisfaction   

To her, for th'image which they stole from thence.  
(If Priamus would grant them so to do)  
That she thereby forgetting their offence,  
Might be bening to them when they should go  
By sea to Greece, and help them in their need.  
To which King Priam presently agreed,   

As having no suspicion that he should  
Have been betrayed thereby, and gave consent  
That they should do't when s'ever that they would:  
And was the willinger therewith content,  
Because Antenor and Aencas both  
(Whom he then thought did mean good faith & troth▪   

Persuaded him thereto: although they knew  
The Greeks intent was thereby to obtain  
Their wills of Troy, which after did ensue.  
And to that end the Greeks strait on the plain,  
Began with speed and mighty diligence  
T'remoue the horse, and with much reverence,   

And great and extreme force to draw the same,  
As near unto the town as well they could.  
But when unto the gate therewith they came,  
It was so great that by no means it would  
Go in thereat, who when the Grecians saw,  
They stayed, & did themselves from thence withdraw,   

And left it there before the gate, and went  
down in their ships to Tenadon, to stay  
There till they had effected that they meant  
To bring to pass. Who being gone away,  
King Priam and the Trojans that were glad  
Of their retract, supposing that they had   

Been gone indeed, set open the gates of Troy.  
Whereat the common people issuing out  
Into the plain, with signs of extreme joy  
Ran to behold the horse, and went about  
The field whereas the Greeks encamped lay,  
While they before the town of Troy did stay.   

And as they viewed the place, and looked upon  
The Grecians huge and monstrous horse of brass,  
And every man his judgement gave thereon,  
The Trojan knight Timeres counsel was  
To drawed into the Town, but some that there  
About it stood, and somewhat wiser were,   

As Capas, and some others, flatly bade  
Them throw the treasons of the Greeks away,  
Or that forthwith a fire should be made  
To melt it, or else that without delay  
They should it break in pieces small, to see  
What secret thing might therein hidden be.   

Wherewith the people that amazed did stand,  
In sundry minds divided were, till that  
Lycaon came with mighty spear in hand,  
And many following him demanded what  
They meant to do, and entering 'mongst the throng,  
Said Trojan knights, you do your selves great wrong.   

Believe you that the Greeks are gone away?  
Or that there's any goodness in their gifts?  
Think you that for our benefit we may  
Give credit to Ulysses subtle drifts?  
I'll pawn my life that in this horse lies hid  
A multitude of Greeks, or that they did   

Devise it for an engine wherewithal  
By night to scale our Town, and so to win  
The same by force; take heed, you know not all,  
What mystery so ever is therein:  
I fear the Greeks (said he) & will not trust  
Their gifts, & therewith gave so great a thrust   

Against it with his spear, that it did shake,  
And with the same was heard so great a sound  
Within the hollow horse, that it did make  
The noise thereof throughout the air rebound:  
Whereby, had not the Trojans hearts been blind,  
Enough was done the Grecians craft to find,   

And Troy until this day had flourished.  
Mean time by chance the Trojan shepherds caught  
A man, who with his hands fast pinioned,  
In haste unto King Priamus they brought:  
One, that into their hands fell purposely,  
And in his heart was fully bend to try   

How he could work the Trojans to beguile,  
Or if he failed, was resolute to die.  
Who, when he had stood still a little while,  
Before the King, and each man cast his eye  
On him, & some of them at him did flout,  
He seemed to sigh, (but mark how it fell out,   

And you shall here the Grecians treasons see,  
And by this one, conjecture all the rest.)  
For as he stood in show perplexed to be▪  
And with his hand did smite upon his breast:  
Alas (said he) what ground may me receive?  
What hope can I poor caitiff now conceive▪   

That neither with the Grecians dare abide,  
And now among the Trojans captive here,  
Stand at their mercy ready to be tried,  
And to receive the doom of death I fear:  
For that (as reason is) they thirst my blood,  
The which to shed I know would do them good.   

This mournful tale by him so uttered,  
The Trojans hearts of rigour did bereave;  
And being by them somewhat pitied,  
They asked him what he was, and gave him leave  
To tell his tale, and plainly to express  
His mind: to whom (he said) I will confess   

The truth (O King) of all that I do know.  
And first I must needs say a Greek I am,  
For though that fortune false hath now brought low  
Poor Sinon; (for so called was his name)  
Yet shall she never make nor prove him liar,  
Nor cause him to become a flatterer.   

If ere you heard of King Pallamides,  
And of his valour great and Chivalry,  
Who traitorously because he did displease  
The Greeks, by them condemned was to die:  
Upon suggestion that he favoured  
Their enemies, but after he was dead,   

They wished he had been alive again.  
His Squire I was and also kinsman near,  
To whom my father (I must needs tell plain)  
For poverty put me his shield to bear,  
And Arms to practise while he flourished:  
Who living, I was loved and honoured.   

But after that by false Ulysses drifts,  
He was betrayed and brought unto his end,  
With grief and woe I was put to my shifts,  
Pitying the fall of my unguilty friend:  
But (like a fool) I could not hold my peace,  
Nor yet from hard & thratning words would cease.   

But still I vowed, if ere return I might  
To Greece again, (as they deserved had)  
I would his death upon his foes require,  
Which was the cause of all my woe, and made  
Ulysses to invent new crimes 'gainst me,  
Whereby I was suspect and held to be   

A traitor 'gainst the Greeks, and favourite  
To th'enemy: and not content with that,  
He rested not, till Calchas by his wit  
Had found a means to end my life. But what  
Should I rehearse such things as needless be  
To you, and would no good procure to me?   

But if you still to hate the Greeks persist,  
Let it suffice, you have me here alone,  
On whom you may take vengeance if you list:  
The which that it were brought to pass & done▪  
Ulysses and Artidos much would spend.  
And with that word he paused, & made an end   

Of speaking, which did make them more desire  
To know the circumstances of his tale,  
Suspecting not his craft, and did require  
Him into his discourse again to fall:  
Who trembling (though therein he did but feign)  
With show of fear spoke unto them again,   

And said, full oft the Greeks would have been gone,  
And left their siege, and over seas have passed  
To Greece again, for that not any one  
Of them but weary was, the war did last  
So long, and they their blood & lives did spend  
Therein, & could not bring it to an end.   

And gone they had, but that the seas did rise  
And often rage, and southern winds did blow,  
And caused them swell and mount unto the skies,  
And foaming over brinks and banks to flow,  
And made them stay: but specially when as  
They had devised & framed this horse of brass;   

So great a noise of thunder than was heard,  
And round about the skies the lightning flashed,  
That it did make them generally afeard,  
And for that cause they were so much abashed,  
That they did send Euripalus to know  
Of Phoebus, what those tempests did fore-show.   

At whose return, this answer he did make,  
And said, with blood (oh Greeks) of maiden slain,  
A wind you had unto you given, to take  
Your voyage unto Troy; and must again  
With blood return, for one of you must die,  
The fury of the Gods to satisfy,   

Ere you a wind can have. Which news once blown  
Into the Grecian ears, each man with fear  
Did tremble, and would willingly have known  
On whom the lot should fall, as then to bear  
That punishment▪ and for the rest should die.  
At which time when Ulysses did espy   

Advantage, he prayed Calchas to declare  
The name of him that therefore should be slain,  
That all the rest might freed be of care.  
And many closely spoke, & some said plain  
'twas I, for that they all acquainted were  
What secret malice he to me did bear,   

And some thereof unto me warning sent.  
But ten days 'twas ere Calchas would it show,  
For he did seem to be much discontent,  
And loath that any man from him should know  
Who't was that suffer should for all the rest.  
Till that Ulysses with his promise priest   

And urged him so much, that with one voice  
The lot was cast on me, and me they name,  
And glad they were of me to make their choice,  
For each man of himself did fear the same:  
And to be sure with speed laid hands on me.  
But when the time drew near that I should be   

Upon the Altar offered, and that they  
The garlands full of dainty fruits did set  
Upon my head, I slily stole away,  
(I must confess) and speedily did get  
Into a place all full of mud and ose,  
And there lay hid, and durst not once disclose   

Myself, till they were undersaile, and gone.  
And by this means my native Land have lost,  
And of the Grecians here am left alone,  
And near shall see my children, and which most  
Torments me, fear, because I scaped away,  
They will both them and my poor father slay,   

And they shall guiltless die, and suffer wrong  
For my offence. Wherefore I humbly pray  
(If any pity doth remain among  
Men here on earth) that I some favour may  
(O King) receive unfeignedly of thee,  
And that thou wouldst content and pleased be   

To ease my woe, and pity my estate,  
Which is so bad that I no friends can find,  
Because that all the Grecians do me hate.  
This woeful tale so moved Priam's mind,  
And made him his distressed case to moon,  
That he did will there should no harm be done   

To him, and bade unbind his hands, and said,  
What ere thou art, forget the Grecians now,  
For of them here thou needst not be afraid,  
Thou shalt be free, so that thou wilt us show  
Who did this huge and monstrons horse invent,  
Why was it made? was it because they meant   

To offer it unto Pallas? or was't not  
An engine made by them to use in war?  
Whereto (when he had so much favour got,  
And saw himself to be set free from care  
And fear of death) he said, (with joyful cry,  
And lifting both his hands up to the sky;)   

O everlasting fires of God, that are  
So terrible that no man can endure  
The force thereof! I here by you do swear:  
And oh you swords, and sacred Altars pure,  
I do you unto witness call, and say,  
(Protesting by the goodly garlands gay,   

That like a beast to slaughter brought, I ware,  
Upon my head in that most doleful day)  
That by my will I do not now declare  
The secrets that should not be known, nor say  
That willingly I do my Country hate.  
But sith their cruel deeds and cursed fate,   

Compel me thereunto, it lawful is  
For me to tell that which they would conceal,  
And hope that if therein I do amiss,  
The Gods will pardon me, as now I deal  
Uprightly in this case. Wherefore (oh Troy)  
Which by this means to thy no little joy,   

I do preserve, in like case save thou me,  
Perform thy word, for I to thee hereby  
Procure great wealth, and much prosperity.  
The hope of all the Grecians specially,  
Since that this long and bloody war began  
In Pallas was, till that Titides ran   

Like mad man with (the Father and the head  
Of mischiefs all) Ulysses, and by night  
Into Minerva's Temple entered,  
And slew the watch, and then by force and might  
Their hands embrued with blood, (where no defence  
'Gainst him was made) her image took from thence.   

For from that day good fortune from them fled,  
And nothing did unto their minds fall out,  
No hope they had, nor comfort followed,  
What ere they took in hand, or went about:  
For Pallas did them utterly forsake.  
And with some doubtful signs of war to make,   

And put them in great fear, when they did bring  
Her image to the Camp, and down it set,  
Her eyes like flames of fire glistering  
Did show, and all her body over did sweat:  
And thrice she rose (whereat they wondered)  
And shook her spear & shield thrice o'er her head.   

For which they were by Calohas bid to go  
Unto their ships, and put to sea in haste,  
For that (said he) believe me it is so,  
All hope for us at this time clean is past:  
And though that they are gone from thence a while,  
And unto Greece returned, it's but a wile.   

For their intent is but to pacific  
Their Gods in Greece, and then to come again  
When wind doth serve, & with a new supply,  
A hotter war against you to maintain:  
And this by Calchas counsel they have done.  
And for amends to Pallas, and to shun   

Her wrath for that most foul & great offence,  
By them committed 'gainst her Deity,  
They were by visions warned ere they went hence,  
This Horse that is so huge of quantity,  
In this same place where now it stands, to set.  
Which Calchas hath caused to be made so great;   

(For it was Calchas work and only drift)  
Because they feared you would enterprise,  
When they were gone, the same by force to lift  
Into the Town, which they would in no wise  
Have you to do, because you should not call  
On Pallas name, nor worship him at all.   

For if you should this gift of hers deface,  
Destruction great without all doubt would fall  
On Priam's princely blood, and would it raze  
Out of the world for a memorial  
In time to come, to make all men to fear  
To do the like. But if you could it bear   

Into the Town, and on your walls it set,  
The Greeks of you would stand in mighty fear,  
And Conquests great against them you should get,  
And they, despite their hearts, great loss should bear.  
By this deceit of Sinon false perjured,  
They credit gave to him, and were allured   

To work their own decay by that same horse,  
Whom neither stout Achilles, nor the war  
That ten years held, nor all the Grecians force  
Could make to yield, nor for their foes to care:  
And while they stood this crafty tale to hear,  
The which he told with many a feigned tear,   

Another thing at that same time fell out,  
Which put them in a mighty maze, and filled  
Their valiant hearts with extreme fear & doubt.  
Which was, as Neptune's Priest Lycaon killed  
A Bull upon his Altar, and the same  
Did offer unto him, behold there came   

Two mighty Serpents swimming to the shore,  
Whose ugly heads they might far off behold,  
And see their backs & huge long tails that bore  
The sea aloft, and in the waves did fold  
And turn, and whirl the water round about,  
Who with their fiery eyes came fiercely out   

Upon the land, and at them hissing ran  
With gaping mouths, wherewith in mighty fear  
They all began to fly away, and when  
The Serpents hard by Neptune's Altar were,  
They set upon Lycaon's children twain,  
And with their claws their tender limbs did strain,   

And tearing them in pieces, fed so fast  
On them, that they with speed devoured were.  
Which when Lycaon saw, he ran in haste  
With sword in hand to save their lives, but there  
Was no defence against them to be made.  
For when as they children eaten had,   

They ran and clasped Lycaon round about  
The body and the neck in cruel wise,  
Who mightily strove with them to get out  
Their furious claws, with great & fearful cries:  
(Like to a Bull that's tie unto a stake  
For to be killed, doth mighty roaring make,)   

But all in vain, for nothing could him aid▪  
And when that he was killed, they took their way  
Unto Minerva's Temple, where they laid  
Themselves down at her feet, & there did stay:  
Wherewith a mighty trembling feat did fall,  
With wonder new & strange upon them all.   

For they supposed and thought it to be true,  
That for because Lycaon with his spear  
Had run against the horse, that as a due  
Deserved plague that punishment he bore:  
And therefore all of them did cry and say,  
Why bring you not this horse without delay   

Into the Town, the Goddess wrath t'appease.  
And presently the people did begin  
To batter down their wall, and did not cease  
Till they had made a mighty breach therein:  
Which done, they set the horses feet upon  
Huge planks with wheels, that it might slide there on,   

And with great ropes about his neck did draw  
The fatal horse, with men and armour full.  
Which when the women with their children saw,  
They leapt, & danced, & singing holp to pull  
And hale it in, and glad was he that could  
By any means upon the ropes lay hold.   

And in that sort it entered in the Town,  
(Unhappy men to breed their own decay)  
For as they drew and should it up and down  
Along the streets of Troy, upon the way  
Four times it swayed & jogged against the ground,  
And every time they heard the armour sound.   

Within the same; yet on with it they went,  
And blind with fond desire they had to get,  
That monstrous horse brought in, were not content,  
Till they had it by Pallas Temple set:  
Wherewith Cassandra plainly did them show  
By spirit divine, what would thereof ensue.   

But they that for her words did little care,  
Believed her not, but like to senseless men,  
The Temples strewed with herbs, & did prepare  
As solemn feasts (as if that they had been  
Secured and freed from dangers, whatso ere  
Might hap when poor wretched men they were   

At point of death, and as we use to say,  
With one foot stepping in the grave, & had  
No longer time to live, but one short day)  
And so great triumph for the time then made,  
That near the like before was seen in Troy.  
(But true it is) that after extreme joy,   

As oft we find, ensues adversity,  
And after peace (when men do live secure  
Without all fear in great felicity,  
And think that it for ever will endure)  
Comes cruel war, for there's no certainty  
In worldly bliss, full of variety   

Deceit and guile, unhappiness and trouble,  
And never in one state doth long remain,  
Not much unlike unto a water-bubble,  
Which riseth up & strait falls down again:  
For though that men have wealth & riches great,  
And on the top of fortune's wheel are set,   

Yet unawares she soon doth cast them down.  
As you may well behold and plainly see  
Here in this Book, by Troy the ancient Town,  
Which thought itself for ever safe to be:  
By bring in that mighty horse of brass,  
Which th'only cause of their destruction was.   

And when that they in extreme joy had spent  
The day without all care, till it was past,  
And that the crystal firmament had sent  
Dark night with clouds the skies to overcast:  
While that the wearied Troyans on the wall  
Lay carelessly, and some on sleep did fall   

As fearing nought. The Grecians army soon  
From Tenadon with all their Navy came,  
And guided by the clear bright shining Moon,  
With silence great did land, and made a flame  
Of fire out of their admiral, to show  
That they were there, and to let Simon know   

They were prepared to join with him, when he  
Had done his feat within the Town, who when  
He started up, and looking out did see  
The light from thence, he stole out and began  
To turn the gins that in the horse were made  
And when that he his belly opened had,   

He called out Ulysses, Athamas,  
Thesander, Machon, and King Menalus,  
Pyrrhus, Achilles' son, (that also was  
Surnamed by the Greeks Neoptolemus,)  
King Thoas, and a number more beside,  
Who soon out of the Horse's paunch did slide:   

And presently upon the walls did go  
And there fast sleeping found the watch, whom they  
Did fiercely kill, and when they had done so,  
Unto the gates in hast they went there way,  
And broke them up, and then out of the town  
Did hang a light, which they at Tenadowne   

Perceiving armed themselves, and fiercely ride  
To Troy-ward, where their fellows watch did keep  
And ready stood their coming to abide  
At midnight, when sound sleep on men doth creep  
And furiously throughout the City ran,  
And sparing neither woman, child, nor man.   

Killed all they found with extreme cruelty,  
For they as then fast sleeping lay in bed,  
And little did suspect such treachery,  
Till that they felt with ghastly wounds that bled,  
Their enemy's blows and saw no remedy  
But by their hands in cruel wise to die.   

For neither sex nor age by them was spared,  
Whereby a mighty cry and noise did rise  
Within the town, the which when Priam hard,  
(Who little did suspect his enemies:  
So falsely had betrayed him, and that  
The town by them was ta'en) but all to late   

He found, and by experience too well knew  
Antenor and Aeneas had betrayed  
The town and him into their hands, & drew  
That traitorous plot, the which they falsely said,  
Was for his and their good in general,  
But it was done to blind his eyes withal.   

Till they fit opportunity might have,  
To bring't pass, in such sort as they had  
Agreed with the Greeks, which was to save  
themself on such conditions as they made  
In secret wise, and clean contrary told  
To Priamus, which then he might behold   

To well, for at that time the treachery  
Which with such traitorous hearts they had conceild,  
Was seen and by the Grecians cruelty,  
Unto the towns, and his decay revealed,  
And th'author's known, when as no remedy  
Was to be found, t'avoid th'extremity   

That on him fell, for then the town was ta'en,  
And all the lofty towers thereof began  
With fierto burn, and every street & lane  
Was filled with Greeks, and nothing hard therein  
But lamentable cries and woeful groans,  
Of men, that dying lay upon the stones   

Within the streets, and houses, and that fled  
Before the Greeks, in mighty dread and fear▪  
Amazed sore he rose out of his bed,  
And shedding many a salt and brinsh tear  
Ran to Apollo's Temple comfortless,  
T'escape if that he might in that distress.   

Mean time the town was of a flaming fire,  
Which merciless consumed and spoiled all,  
And Greeks on every side with great desire  
To be revenged upon the Troyans' fall,  
And murdered and beat them down so fast,  
That while that most accursed night did last   

E'er Phoebus' shoane the next ensuing day  
They slew of them 'bove twenty thousand men,  
And forcibly did take and bore away  
Their silver, gold, & all their goods, and then  
With mighty rage & extreme violence,  
They sacked & spoiled without all reverence   

The Temples of the Gods throughout the town,  
And in despite of them with courage bold,  
Did fiercely rend, and furiously pull down  
Their ornaments of silver and of gold,  
In presence of the Gods that then were there,  
While Priamus with sad & heavy cheer   

Before Apollo kneeled, and to him prayed  
Devoutly to relieve him, but in vain,  
For at that time there was no hope of aid,  
That he by any means could then obtain:  
But only there with patience to attend,  
By cruel death his woeful life to end.   

Whereof without all doubt he was most sure,  
Ere long time passed by Grecians hand to have,  
And Cassandra that holy creature,  
Herself likewise in that distress to save,  
Unto Minerva's Temple did repair,  
Accompanied with many a Lady fair,   

And other Gentlewomen of the town;  
Who there with sobs most bitterly did cry,  
And made their woeful lamentation,  
Attending every hour when they should die.  
Wherein i'll let them with the goddess dwell,  
For if that I their sorrows all should tell,   

And show how they in every lane and street  
Lay groveling on their Lords and husbands dear,  
And sucked their wounds, & all their clothes did wet,  
And stained, and died them with the blood that there  
Out of their bodies ran, that woefully  
Beheld them with a pale and deadly eye.   

It would be over long for me to write,  
And tedious likewise for you to hear.  
But to proceed, when they had all that night,  
Near ceased to kill and ransack every where,  
The people, and the town, and spared not one;  
Next day in heaps they went to Ilium,   

King Priamus most fair and Princely hall,  
Wherein they found not one to make defence  
Against them, nor to keep the same, for all  
The people in great fear were fled from thence  
To save their lives, and left it desolate,  
Where all the gold and riches of the state,   

Enclosed lay within the treasury,  
The locks whereof they broke, and bare away  
The treasure therein found, and cruelly  
Did fire the house, for no man durst say nay,  
Nor let them to pursue their enterprise.  
Then Pyrrhus in most fierce and furious wise   

Went to Divine Apollo's Temple, where  
Before the Altar with great cruelty,  
While Priamus devoutly prayed there,  
In humble wise t' Apollo on his knee,  
With fury great not speaking any word:  
Into the body ran him with his sword,   

And gave him such a deep and deadly wound  
That presently he fell upon his face,  
And pitifully died on the ground,  
And with his blood defiled the holy place.  
Aeneas and Antenor standing by,  
As witnesses of his great cruelty.   

Whose death when as Queen Hecuba perceived,  
And on the ground there lying did behold  
His bleeding corpse, she seemed clean bereaved  
Of senses, and in woeful wise did fold  
And wring her hands, and piteously did cry,  
And in great fear out of the Church did fly   

With Pollicene her daughter, (who together  
Were present when King Priamus was slain,)  
To save their lives, and yet they knew not whether  
To go no● run, for no man durst maintain  
Their quarrel, nor no comfort than was left  
For them, that of the same were clean bereft.   

For all the town in every place was filled  
With Greeks, that through, twith glistering swords did run,  
And every where the Troyans' fiercely killed,  
That had no means their cruelty to shun.  
And as she ran in that sort through the street,  
It was her chance Aeneas there to meet,   

Whom when she saw, her flesh began to shake  
And tremble with the grief she had in mind,  
And therewithal in fury great she spoke,  
And said to him, oh Traitor most unkind!  
Oh serpent false! oh Adder envious!  
Oh villain vile, and most malicious!   

Thou that art causer by thy wickedness  
Of all our woes, and through thy treachery  
Hast brought us now into so great distress;  
That plunged in the vale of misery,  
We run from place to place distressed in mind,  
And can no ease at all nor comfort find.   

How couldst thou in heart be so unkind  
Unto thy Lord and King, as traitorously  
To stand by with a fierce and cruel mind,  
And see him slain by Pyrrhus cruelly  
Within the Temple, where he shed his blood,  
Who while he lived was unto thee so good,   

And gracious Lord, that never any man  
Felt more of his great liberality,  
Nor was more loved, (as all men witness can)  
Then thou by him, (which thou mayst not deny.)  
Who now lies dead within that holy place:  
Thou wast not only traitor in that case▪   

But didst conspire his death, for thou didst bring  
Fierce Pyrrhus to Apollo's Temple, where  
Thou knewest well that he should find the King,  
Of purpose set, that he might kill him there,  
Where as thou shouldst (as duty doth thee bind)  
Have saved his life, if thou hadst been so kind.   

But thou not only hast that mischief done,  
But didst betray this town where thou wast bred,  
And fostered with more reputation  
Than any man, save he that was the head  
And King thereof, which now forgotten is  
By thee, wherein though thou hast done amiss,   

Yet if within thy stony heart there be  
One drop of pity or compassion,  
Let me request this favour now of thee,  
That in this time of desolation,  
Thou wilt my daughter Pollicene relieve,  
And unto her some aid and succour give,   

If thou dost any one respect at all  
Of Priam's race, (as sure thou canst not choose,)  
That she by thy protection may not fall  
Into the Grecians hands, her life to lose:  
That when men shall this woeful story read,  
And find therein this fowl & treacherous deed   

By thee so falsely done, and brought to pass  
Against this town, it may the rigour stay  
Of those that will judge and condemn thee as  
A Traitor vile, and give them cause to say,  
That though thou didst this great & wicked thing,  
Yet at the last thou show'dst thyself bening,   

And gracious unto Pollicene, whereby  
Some little satisfaction thou shalt make,  
In recompense of thy great treachery  
To us, and give her cause thy part to take:  
When men of thee (to her) shall justly say,  
And call thee Traitor false another day.   

If thou wilt now vouchsafe her life to save▪  
But as for me do what thou wilt, all's one,  
I neither do, nor will thy favour crave.  
For sith my Lord King Priam's dead & gone,  
I care not though that thou some Grecians bidst  
Do unto me, as unto him thou didst.   

This motion made by Hecuba the Queen,  
Though sharp it were, did move Aeneus so,  
That pitying fair Lady Pollicene,  
He caused her forthwith with him to go,  
And shut her in a chamber secretly,  
From sight and knowledge of the enemy:   

Lest they thereby should find occasion  
To pick some quarrel with him for her sake.  
And at that time likewise King Thelamon  
Of pity did in his protection take  
The wife of Hector, called Andromacha,  
And Priam's daughter Lady Cassandra.   

And unto them his Princely promise gave,  
To keep them from the Grecians cruelty.  
And Menalus Queen Helena did save,  
As she for whom with such hostility  
He had been cause to move that bloody war,  
And for whom long in heart he had such care.   

The Greeks the while with hot and ragingire,  
Near ceased to break and furiously pull down  
The walls, & to consume and burn with fire  
The houses & rich buildings in the town:  
So that therein they left nothing upright,  
Nor vndefaced, but with most great despite   

Destroyed all without exception  
Of any place or person whatsoe'er,  
(Unless 'twere those which by condition,  
They had before protested to forbear,  
And did belong and appertain unto  
Aeneas, and all those that did unto   

The treason by them practised consent.)  
And from their fury great would not forbear  
That day, till King Agamemnon had sent  
For all the Grecian Princes that were there,  
To meet in Pallas Temple. Unto whom,  
When they therein were altogether come,   

He asked them, if they would constantly  
Observe their faith and promise made to those,  
By whom they had obtained that victory,  
Which they so long had sought against their foes▪  
And what they would with all the treasure do  
Which they within the town had won? Whereto   

They answered, that for their promise made,  
And truly sworn unto by them, they would  
In each respect observe it well, and said,  
That all the gold and treasure gotten, should  
By just division be distributed  
To every man as he had merited:   

Of what degree, estate, or dignity  
Soe'er he was, and that it should be done  
By him without all partiality,  
So that 'mong them there might not any one  
Have cause to be offended, nor to blame  
Him for the true division of the same.   

Which done, while they within the Temple stayed,  
Some speech about Queen Helena did rise,  
Whereto when some had answer made, and said  
Their minds therein as they could best advise:  
King Thelaphus with great severity  
Said, that she well deserved had to die▪   

For whom so many men their lives had lost,  
And urged, that she might have judgement given,  
That as they died for her, it should her cost  
Her life likewise, that day ere it was even.  
Which many more of them agreed unto.  
And cause for her there was so much ad●;   

Agamemnon and Menalus sat still,  
And durst not speak one word to save her life,  
Lest that the Greeks in ●ury should her kill,  
(There was 'mong them as then so great a strife.)  
Till that Ulysses with much Eloquence,  
And good persuasions made in her defence,   

Did satisfy them all so well in th'end,  
That they contented were that she should live,  
And ceasing more about her to contend,  
To M●nalus they did her freely give.  
And when their General Agamemnon  
Perceived that they were agreed thereon,   

He made request to them, that they would give  
Cassandra unto him for recompense  
Of all his pains, and said while she did live  
He would her keep; and when they went from thence  
Take her with him: and they contented were  
It should be so. And then before them there   

Aeneas and A●●henor to them told,  
And justified it upon their oath,  
That Helenus King Priam's Son near would  
Agree unto the war, but still was loath  
That Priamus his Father, and the rest  
Should take the same in hand, and did his best   

To let it by his counsel and advise,  
And how that by the mediation  
Of him, and of Cassandera the wise,  
(Whose hearts were moved with compassion,)  
Achilles murdered body was not made  
A prey for hounds, as Hecuba had said   

That it should be, and further that they were  
Much grieved for the murder, and likewise  
For many other matters that were there  
Don in the town, contrary to th●aduise  
Which they from time to time had given to those,  
That of the war had order to dispose.   

To whom because that they were innocent  
Of all the wrongs that to the Greeks were done,  
They granted with one voice and full consent,  
That they should have a full remission  
And pardon of their lives. Then Helen●●  
With humble voice and visage piteous,   

Fell on his knees with great submission,  
And thanking them for pardon to him given,  
Submissively besought Agamemnon,  
With many salt and brinish tears, that even  
As he had freely pardoned his offence,  
(For which he could make him no recompense)   

He would be pleased to have compassion  
Upon the silly blood of children,  
And with a gracious eye to look upon  
The sons of valiant Hector, who as then  
Near had done wrong to him▪ nor any other,  
And that he would vouchsafe them with their mother   

(His widow left, all comfortless alone,)  
A pardon of their lives and liberty.  
To whom the King moved with compassion  
At his request, did grant security  
Of life, and limb, and licence free to go  
Whereas they list, the like he did unto   

The rest of all the women then in Troy,  
That in the Grecian fury were not slain,  
And gave to them free liberty t'enjoy  
Their dwellings there, or elsewhere to remain  
Within the land: for which most humbly  
They gave him thanks with many aioyfull cry▪   

Which done, the King with all the Grecians went,  
Out of the Church, and presently agreed  
To leave the town, and to that end they sent  
Their treasure and their men aboard with speed:  
Intending to return to Greece again,  
But such a sudden storm of wind & rain,   

With great and hideous tempests did arise  
Upon the surging seas, and such fowl weather  
Of thunder and of lightning in the skies,  
Continued for one whole months space together,  
That none of them durst with their ships aducnture  
That dangerous time into the seas to enter.   

But were constrained upon the land to tarry  
Till be●●er wind and weather did ensue,  
And finding it still more and more contrary,  
They asked Calchas counsel if he knew  
What those great storms & tempests signified,  
That them so long of passage had denied.   

Who told them, that those storms & tempests fell  
By providence Divine, that had provoked  
The ugly, fowl, and furious fiends of Hell,  
To move the same, and could not be revoked,  
Nor yet would cease till they were punished  
By death, that had Achilles murdered.   

And that their God Apollo angry was,  
Because thereby his Temple they did stain  
With blood, and that therefore they should not pa●,  
Till they had pleased him with blood again:  
Which must be done by offering Pollicene,  
(Who by her extreme beauty cause had been,   

And th'object of that cruel murder▪ don  
Upon Achilles' body,) to appease  
And give Apollo satisfaction:  
The which he said, if they would have the seas  
Propice, they must needs do ere they went thencee  
To take away all causes of offence.   

This answer made, fierce Pyrrhus sought about  
In every place for Pollicene, but could  
By no means hear of her, nor find her out,  
Till some man at the last unto him told,  
That she was closely kept, and hidden by  
Aeneas and Antenor privily.   

Whereby so great a rumour suddenly  
Arose 'gainst them, that by that means they were  
In danger of their lives, till traitorously  
Anthneor to avoid all cause of fear,  
And better to make known his villainy,  
Had sought & searched so long and busily,   

That at the last he found her out, & brought  
Her forcibly unto the Greeks, and there  
Delivered her to them, (when she least thought  
That she unto her death had been so near.)  
Who presently without compassion,  
Was judged to die by King Agamemnon,   

And taking care that execution  
Upon her should be done without delay,  
He did give order and commission  
To Pyrrhus for the same, who made no stay,  
But took her by the hand, and furiously  
Drew her unto the place where she should die.   

Great was the press that ran unto that place,  
To see and to behold young Pollicene  
Who for her beauty, comeliness, and grace,  
Within the world her like had near been seen:  
So that they all were grieved that she should die,  
And for because there was no remedy,   

Let many a salt and bitter tear distil  
Out of their eyes, for pity to behold  
Her woeful stare, and gladly by their will  
Wished that she might escape, & feign they would  
Have ventured to have ta'en her forcibly  
From Pyrrhus' hands, but that they verily   

Believed that without she died, they near  
Should have fair wind, nor go to Greece again  
To see their Native Land, whereto they were  
Most certainly persuaded by the vain  
Suggestions which their Prophet Calchas had,  
Concerning her unto them falsely made.   

And when unto Achilles' grave she came,  
Whereas the Grecians would her sacrifice,  
She kneeled down devoutly fore the same,  
And lifting up her fair and tender eyes,  
With wring hands unto the Gods she prayed  
In most submissive wise, and thus she said.   

OH mighty Gods that in the heavens abide,  
And see and gourne all things whatsoe'er,  
At whose command the world that is so wide,  
And eke the seas and skies created were,  
And by your word all formed & framed of nought,  
To whom the depth & secrets of man's thought   

Is known, for nothing from your Deities  
By any means concealed or hid can ●e;  
I humbly pray your heavenly majesties,  
That you will now be merciful to me,  
And my poor soul into your hands receive,  
When bitter death shall me thereof bereave   

I do confess with all humility,  
That with a holy care of chastity,  
I have preserved my virginity  
Until this day, wherein I now shall die  
A maiden undefiled for thought or deed,  
Although the Greeks have judged and decreed   

To put me to this hard and cruel death,  
The which I near deserved (as you can tell,)  
For as my conscience to me witnesseth,  
And I in truth may say▪ t, & swear it well,  
I am most clear of that which they accuse  
Me for, & yet they will me not excuse,   

But die I must to satisfy their will,  
As they allege because I gave consent  
My brother Paris should Achilles kill,  
Whereas God knoweth I am an innocent,  
And never did in will, deed, word, nor thought,  
Give my consent such treason should be wrought   

'Gainst him, whom I do know did love me dear,  
But was therefore right ●ory in my hart,  
Though presently as now it doth appear,  
I must for him endure great pain and smart,  
Because they have decreed (for his ●ake)  
That they on me alone will vengeance take,   

Without all mercy or compassion,  
And offer me up for a sacrifice,  
T'appease the Gods great indignation.  
Oh Grecians blind! me thinks you are not wi●e  
So cruelly to seek my death for nought,  
And merciless to bend your hearts & thought,   

To kill a poor & desolate young maid  
That never did offence to any one:  
For which it may full well of you be said,  
That you have hearts as hard as any stone,  
And that you far in cruelty excel  
The Tiger fierce, and hungry Lion fell,   

T●assent unto so villainous a deed,  
And to destroy a silly fearful maid,  
Unto her death so hastily proceed,  
As that it may by no means be delayed,  
To give her time and opportunity  
To mourn and weep for her virginity,   

For which your great and monstrous cruelty,  
My guiltless blood will sure for vengeance call  
Unto the Gods, that shall with Equity  
judge every man on earth both great and small,  
And make the truth of all things openly  
Appear, which now lie hidden secretly.   

I say not this, nor yet do I complain  
To have redress, or to released be  
From death, as if that I did fear the pain  
Thereof, for it's now welcomer to me  
Then life, sith all my brethren now are dead,  
And in this woeful town lie buried.   

My father slain in this unwieldy age,  
And I myself left desolate alone,  
To see this town by Grecians furious rage,  
Brought into utter desolation:  
The which doth make my heavy heart so sore,  
That I am able now to weep no more,   

And therefore wish for death to end my wo.  
For now to live were unto me a death,  
And better 'twere out of this world to go,  
And presently to end my vital breath,  
Then to be led into captivity,  
And there with strangers live in poverty.   

And now good death no longer time delay  
With thy most piercing dart my heart to rive,  
Strike sure and firm, I will not start away,  
Nor with thee in no wise contend nor strive,  
Now is the time to show thy power on me,  
That ready stand here to attend for thee.   

A maiden true, and Virgin pure I am,  
That never was nor would be known of man,  
As pure in mind and thought as ere I came  
Out of my mother's womb, and boast I can  
That when that I am dead it may be said,  
That Pollicene did live and die a maid.   

And now unto the Gods I do commend  
My soul, of whom I crave submissively  
In mercy to behold ●e, and to send  
Me patience in this great extremity.  
And unto every maiden better grace,  
Then th'end their lives in such a doleful case.   

And longer time to live in wealth and joy  
Than I have done, and to defend and save  
Them from all foul misfortune, and annoy,  
Beseeching all good maids of me to have  
Remembrance, and example by me take,  
How they of worldly ●oy account shall make,   

And that they would vouchsafe to shed some tears  
For me when I am dead and out of date,  
To think how I in my most tender years,  
Did end my days by death unfortunate.  
And thus unto the Gods I do commend  
My soul, said she, and so her speech did end.   

And with that word she bowed down her head,  
And shut her eyes, attending stroke of death,  
Which Pyrrhus with a furious spirit led,  
Gave her, and soon bereaved her of her baeath:  
And being dead his cruelty to show,  
In pieces small he did her body hew,   

As it upon his Father's grave did lie.  
I muse how he could have a heart so hard,  
To mangle it so in pieces cruelly,  
And not contented therewith afterward,  
To satisfy his rage in furious mood  
Like Tiger fierce did take her guiltless blood,   

And cast it with his hand all o'er the grave.  
Well mayst thou cruel Pyrrhus rightly be,  
Achilles' son, for Nature to thee gave  
A gift to be as pi●●les as he,  
And worse, for that I never of him read  
That in his life he did so foul a deed,   

As in such sort to kill a silly maid:  
But for a woman fell great pain and smart,  
And that he felt in love as it is said  
With Pollicene, for Cupid with his dart  
Did wound him so by casting of his eye  
On her, that he thought verily to die,   

For love of her, & how that 'twas his chance  
To lose his life▪ for her whom thou didst kill  
With fierce and furious mood, not by mischance,  
But puposely thy pleasure to fulfil.  
For which although thou thoghst it was no shame  
Assure thyself the trump 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 unto them be audible.  
Whose cruel death when Hecuba the Queen  
(That standing by when it was done) had seen.   

With extreme grief she fell out of her wit,  
And tore her ha●re, and furiously did set  
Upon the Greeks with tooth and nail, and bit  
And scratched, & 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 bear her to  
An Island to the Trojans subject, where  
They stoned her to death, and having so  
Bereft her life, they made a sepulchre,  
Most sumptuously composed of stone and brass,  
Wherein with great solemnity she was   

Entombed, as belonged to her estate,  
Which Tomb stood there long after to be seen,  
And called was the place unfortunate.  
And in this sort that great and worthy Queen,  
Did end her days distressed ●ore, and mad:  
When as the Greeks through Calchas counsel had,   

By Pyrrhus' hand her Daughter sacrificed  
Unto their God Apollo, to appease  
His furious wrath, who foolishly surmised  
That they should never have fair wind nor seas,  
Unless Achilles' death revenged were  
By death of Policene: for they did fear   

The Gods would near be pleased, nor content  
To let them pass 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 feigned Gods, and all  
Their images, with those that on them call.   

For they are nought but stocks that are without  
All sense, wherein the devil doth remain,  
And subtly by them hath brought about  
His purpose, man to move (whose heart is vain)  
To pray to them, and truly to believe  
That they are Gods, and can us succour give   

In our distress, and so induced hath  
Mankind to leave th'eternal God of heaven,  
To pray to stocks and stones against the faith  
Of jesus Christ, that hath his body given  
To death for him, & by such false illusion,  
Hath brought him in such error and confusion,   

As he believeth by jdolatry,  
And offering beasts and blood to jdols vain,  
That he doth serve the heavenly Majesty  
Of God, and shall remission free obtain  
Thereby for those offences he hath done:  
But God confound them all and every one,   

What title, name, or quality so ere  
Idolaters unto them give. Whose number  
So many are that name of Gods did bear,  
That when I think 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 jupiter, Saturn, Mercury,  
Apollo, Daphne, Mars the God of war,  
Diana called the Queen of Chastity,  
The guide of men by night Lucina fair,  
And Iun● that most commonly doth dwell  
In waters deep, and Pluto God of hell.   

Fair Venus' Queen of lust and venery,  
With Cupid blind her son, the God of love,  
Minerva Goddess of activity,  
The God of wine called Bacchus, th●t doth move  
Men to desire the same, Dame Cythera,  
And Pluto's lovely Queen Proserpina.   

Neptunus', Flora, Vulcan, Eo●us,  
And Bell●des that thirsts, & still doth draw  
Up water in a Bucket, Sisyphus  
Condemned to roll a stone by fatal law,  
And near to cease, and hungry Ta●talus,  
Th'infernal fates, and Sisters furious,   

That ●ained are to spin the thread of life,  
The Muses nine that sweetly sing and play,  
Bellon● Queen of discord and of strife,  
And double faced janus (whom they say  
The Romans did adore) and Priapus,  
The angry fretting Priest called Genius,   

(That's said to curse all those that froward be,  
To such as friendly are to them, and kind)  
Imeneus (who hath authority,  
The hearts of married couples fast to bind  
In love, till they are moved to disagree  
By discord that twixt them sets enmity.)   

The Fairies that are used by night and day,  
In houses and in fields to sing and dance.  
The water- Nymphs, and Sylvan Gods that stay  
In woods and groves, and many times by chance  
Are seen of men, as Satyrs, Naiads,  
Bycornes, Fawns, Incubs, and Dryads,   

With many more. And finally to close  
And make the number complete, Orph●●s  
The God of sleep▪ but certainly all those  
That to such Gods so vain and ●rivolus,  
Do sacrifice or on them use to call,  
Will sure at last into some danger fall,   

For recompense, of serving them so well.  
For all such false and feigned Idolatry  
Proceedeth from the crafty fiend of Hell,  
Who is so full of fraud and subtlety,  
That he devisd those Idol Gods to frame,  
And purposely did creep into the same,   

And spoke in them, and answer made to those  
That prayed to them, and caused men thereby  
To leave the true and living God, to lose  
Eternal bliss in heaven, for certainly  
All those that on such Idols false do call,  
Serve Belzebub, and clean from God do fall.   

As David in his Psalter doth declare,  
That 'mong the Pagan Gods there is not one  
That can relieve or aid us, for they are  
All made and framed of silver, gold, or stone:  
Or else of Copper, Brass, Tin, Led, or wood,  
And that they neither can nor do man good.   

For eyes they have and cannot see at all,  
And ears likewise and yet they do not hear,  
And legs and feet and cannot stand, but fall,  
Unless they lean, or somewhat doth them bear  
And hold upright: and therefore as he saith,  
He that in them reposeth trust or faith,   

Or to bow down to them which take delight,  
Let him be well assured, that at the last  
They will him with such recompense requite,  
That headlong down to hell he shall be cast,  
With damned souls to dwell perpetually,  
And that is his reward when he shall die.   

And in this life misfortune dread and fear,  
With many troubles that on men do light.  
As famous stately Troy doth witness bear:  
Which once was of such puissant force and might,  
That it did think itself to be secure,  
And that it should in that state long endure.   

And 'gainst her foes to have prevailed by  
Apollo, Pallas, juno, Venus, and  
Diana fair, the Queen of Chastity,  
Whom they were wont to honour in that land  
With sacrifice, and worship great to show  
To them, by whom they now are brought full low,   

And utterly destroyed for evermore.  
Whereby you see what is the end of all  
That do such false and feigned Gods adore,  
And unto them for help and succour call:  
What did Minerva's Image them prevail,  
By whom they hoped near of aid to fail?   

Or any of their superstitious vain,  
The which they did so dearly buy at last,  
Not only with a short and earthly pain,  
But with eternal woe that ere shall last.  
Oh Troy therefore I must lament thy fall,  
And when I think upon thee, ever shall   

With pity thee bewail, that wert so brought  
Unto thine end, and sometime was so great  
And populous, that no town ever mought  
Compare with thee, when thou wast proudly set  
In honours throne, as those that thee then knew  
Can witness bear, but now all men may rue,   

And pittle thy decayed walls that stood  
(About thy stately building,) loftily.  
And Priamus thy Prince of Royal blood,  
That made and builded thee so sumptuously.  
I think no man that in the world lives now,  
By pen or tongue can tell which way, or how   

To frame or to devise a doleful cry  
Convenient to describe thy misery.  
No though it were the Prophet jeremy,  
That mourned for the great Captivity  
Of that most famous town jerusalem,  
And of the woeful jews, bewailing them   

With bitter tears. Nor yet Ezekiell  
That to King Zedechias earnestly,  
foreshowed the Captivity that fell  
In Babylon, and for his prophesy  
Was stoned to death, nor he that cruelly  
Was sawed in twain, though all of them did cry,   

And bitterly lament the jews o'erthrow.  
Nor Daniel that within his heart did grieve  
With extreme pain, (when God his power to show)  
Unto King Nabuchadneser did give  
The shape of beast his haughty pride t'embaseimbase,  
And seven years did make him feed on grass.   

For I suppose if all of them had been  
here living in that doleful time again,  
And with their sore and marry eyes had seen  
The great distress which Troy did long endure,  
And all the bloody slaughters had beheld  
Between the Greeks and Troyans' in the field,   

There fought on either side in cruel wise,  
I verily persuaded am that all  
Their bitter tears would by no means suffice,  
To grieve for those great sorrows that did fall  
Upon the town of Troy by Grecians brought,  
And also by false treason 'gainst them wrought.   

But this shall now suffice thereof to speak,  
For like as he that against the wind doth sail,  
And seeth his masts and yard● begin to break,  
Knows well to 〈…〉 avail:  
So were't in vain for me to tell you all  
The miseries that did to 〈◊〉 befall,   

Or to prefume to show how eursed Fate,  
Was bend in fierce and cruel wi●e to make  
An end of them, and of their happy state,  
The which on me I dare not undertake▪  
And therefore of the siege i'll make an end  
In rude and simple wise, as it is penned.   

And so the fourth Book finish with the leave  
And favour of your Princely Majesty,  
The which if that your grace to me will give,  
The fifth Book i'll begin, and specify  
Therein what dangers and adventures fell  
Unto the Greeks upon the sea, and tell   

How they therein were ●rownd and cast away,  
And th●●e that did escape and got to land:  
(To show that man hath here no certain stay,  
And cannot fatal Destiny withstand,)  
Unfortunately died, and so together  
Such measure had, as they did meet to other.    
FINIS.   

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HECTOR.  
THE fifth BOOK.  

CHAP. 1.  
¶ Wherein is showed how the Greeks in their return to Greece, after the destruction of Troy, by tempests on the seas were most of them drowned; and how the rest that escaped and got to land, died miserably by malice and treason wrought in Greece, one against the other.  

WHen Aeolus (whom Poets feign to be  
The ruler of the winds) appeased was,  
And he and Iun● did together 'gree,  
To make the seas so calm that men might pass●▪  
Securely through the same, and sky t'appear  
With fair & crystal hew: The Greeks that were   

Desirous to return to Greece with speed,  
To see their native Land (when they had won  
And utterly destroyed Troy) decreed  
To ship themselves, and forthwith to be gone  
From thence where they had ten years space maintained  
A painful siege, and little thereby gained,   

Considering all the losses they had had.  
Yet triumphing for victory obtained,  
Rejoiced that they so good an end had made.  
But fortune that their pride and joy disdained,  
Soon changed their mirth into adversity.  
For when they thought themselves secured to be,   

And that they should in peace and quiet rest,  
She stirred up foul discord and disdain,  
Their happy state to trouble and molest,  
And did in stead of joy procure them pain:  
And made their hearts with pride and rank or swell,  
Whereby at strife among themselves they fell,   

(In midst of their high and greatest glory,  
When as they most rejoiced and triumphed,  
That they by force had won the victory  
Against their Trojan foes, and flourished  
In honour, and by trump of flying fame,  
Eternised had the glory of their name,   

From East to West, and mak'st it swiftly fly  
Throughout the world, to show their worthiness  
As far as Phoebus compasseth the sky.  
For suddenly by great unhappiness,  
Their glory that did shine so clear & bright,  
Eclipsed was, (unto their great despite.)   

And all their welfare and prosperity,  
Subverted clean by envy and debate,  
(Which Satan through his craft and subtlety,  
Made suddenly to creep into their state.)  
For Thelaphus with rancour and discord,  
Before the Grecian Princes went aboard,   

Complained against Ulysses in this wise,  
And said, my Lords, if that it please you stay  
To hear me speak, (and think as you are wise  
That reason moveth me thereto;) I say  
That at the winning of the town of Troy,  
The treasure that thereby we do enjoy,   

And forcibly did get into our hand,  
Together with the riches which by might  
And valour great we won within the land,  
Me thinks is not (if it be judged right)  
Distributed by just division,  
Nor with indifferent proportion,   

According to the law of equity,  
Which in such case, to those that merit best,  
And are of high degree and dignity▪  
Affordeth better part than to the rest,  
And gives to every one as he deserved,  
The which 'mong us hath not been well observed,   

In every part without exception,  
For Pallas Image called Palladion,  
Whereof Ulysses hath possession,  
I say that right unto it he hath none.  
Although he hath a false appearance found  
To justify his title, and doth ground   

The same hereon, that 'tis his own by right  
Because he won't, as he doth brag and vaunt,  
(Though subtly, and not by force and might.)  
And saith 'twas given to him by special grant  
Of every one, and yet it is not true,  
For I deny't, and flatly say to you   

That he doth not deserve the same, nor shall  
Enjoy it long, for that as just reward  
For my deserts, it to my ●●●●● doth fall,  
If that indifferently I may be ●eard,  
And that you with reason judge, and be  
Unpartial in this case twixt him and me.   

And first consider well, and way withal,  
That while you here so long in siege did tarry,  
I only out of Messa brought you all  
Provision that for you was necessary,  
That you no want of victuals might sustain,  
By any means while you did here remain.   

And further as concerning feats of arms  
Performed in the field in Knightly wise,  
I ever ready was at all alarms,  
And daily fought against our enemies:  
And as I am assured full well, killed more  
Of them, than those that greater countenance bore.   

You also know that I slew Philomen,  
To whom King Priam sent his youngest Son  
To keep with store of treasure great, and when  
I had him slain and all that riches won,  
I brought it unto you, and therewith did  
Relieve you much, and did supply your need.   

And sor your sakes I slew the Frizian King,  
And store of gold and treasure from him won,  
And all those spoils unto the Camp did bring.  
You likewise further know what I have done  
T'augment and to advance your sovereignty,  
By conquering two kingdoms valianly   

While you in siege here lay, and did them add  
Unto your puissant Empire, and likewise  
The provinces to Troy annexed, made  
All Subject unto you. What otherwise  
I with Achilles did t'increase your fame,  
I know that you cannot forget the same.   

And therefore needles 'twere for me to say  
Or show you all I could produce to prove,  
My merits more than his, do every way  
Deserve a greater recompense and love  
Of you. And therefore whatsoe'er he saith;  
No right unto Palladion he hath.   

The judgement in this case I do refer  
Unto you all, the which that you may know  
The better how to give, you first shall hear  
His qualities, which I will to you show.  
In him there is no manner worthiness,  
Knighthood, valour, nor yet hardiness.   

For when time serves that he should in a need  
Show forth his might, he dates not enterprise  
That which he boasts, but proves as he's indeed  
A coward right, as plainly with your ci●s  
You see there's i● him nought but craftiness,  
Words many, falsehood, & dec●●●fulnes.   

For he is still in heart imagining,  
How to effect by craft and subtlety  
His purpose, and the same to pass to bring,  
T'entrap and to deceive his enemy:  
For never any thing as yet there was  
By him archieued, nor fully brought to pass,   

For which he well deserved praise or laud,  
But it was done (its known unto you all)  
By some devise of treachery or fraud.  
For like unto a goodly painted wall,  
He makes a fair and pleasing outward show,  
But no man can his inward meaning know.   

And by such sleights, deceit, and policy,  
He got the Image called Palladion,  
And thereby (to our shame and villainy)  
It may be said the conquest we have won  
Upon the town, by treason gotten was,  
And not by our great knighthood brought to pass.   

The only cause whereof (as I have said)  
Ulysses is, for he (unto our shame)  
This stumbling block hath in our honour laid,  
And thereby much eclipsed all our fame:  
The truth thereof sith all of you do know,  
I'll leave for this time, more of him to show.   

And of you all my Lords together crave  
You judgements, which of us deserveth best  
For his deserts, the image fair to have,  
That for the same we may no more contest:  
Which words thus used by King Thelaphus,  
Ulysses having heard with mind suspicious,   

And seeing how with envy great he was  
Incensed and moved 'gainst him, with good advice  
He bore with him a while, and let o'erpass  
His choler, and, as he was passing wise,  
Determing no jest thereof to make  
To answer him, on this wise to him spoke,   

And said with countance bold before his face,  
My Lords, if that I may have leave to speak,  
I hope before we part out of this place,  
(And yet intent no peace thereby to break)  
To prove directly that with equity,  
The image only doth belong to me,   

Which I will keep and hold while I do live,  
Despite of all that thereto dare say nay.  
And first, for proof this instance I do give,  
That at the siege wherein so long we lay,  
In double wise I did myself acquit,  
As well by valour great, as by my wit.   

For by advise I was the only man  
T'entrap them in a snare, and for your good,  
Devised the means and way whereby we won  
The town of Troy, which otherwise had stood  
And flourished to this day, and truth to tell,  
As it is not unknown to all full well,   

If you will speak uprightly and with reason,  
I dare avouch (though Thelaphus saith no)  
I was chief cause of their confusion.  
How often of Embassage did I go,  
To make the treaty with them in such wise,  
As I for our advantage could devise?   

And when I saw that all that we had done,  
Was but in vain the town of Troy to win,  
And that for us advantage there was none,  
While that the holy Image was therein:  
By my advice so subtly I wrought,  
That I to you Minerva's Image brought.   

Which Thelaphus maliciously doth say,  
That to your great dishonour and your shame,  
By treachery I brought it thence away,  
And thereby much imblemished your fame:  
But sith you are so wise I pray you take  
The quarrel now in hand, and thereof make   

An end between us twain, and so provide,  
That th'image at this time may judged be  
(All favour whatsoever laid aside)  
To him that it deserves; and as for me  
I'll stand to your award. Which having said,  
He paused, and from speaking further stayed.   

Whereat with courage great King Thelaphus,  
In heart and mind exceeding lie much moved,  
(Respecting no man there in furious  
And raging wise) despightfullie reproved,  
And chafed at Ulysses with disdain,  
And he at him replied with like again.   

Whereby they two great enemies became,  
And into hard and bitter terms did fall,  
And threatening each the other for the same:  
King Thelaphus in presence of them all,  
Said, that before they two did end that strife,  
It should unto Ulysses cost his life   

By his hands, if he did not well defend  
Himself. Which when the Grecian Princes heard,  
The quarrel grown between them two, to end  
The matter was by all of them deferred,  
And wholly put to th'arbitration  
Of Menalus, and King Agamemnon,   

Which afterward did breed a mortal jar.  
For when they two considered had thereon,  
They judged, cause Ulysses (t'whom they bare  
Affection great) the image fair had won,  
He should possess the same as his reward,  
And Thelaphus from claim thereof debarred.   

The reason that made them therein prefer,  
Ulysses (and King Thelaphus to thwart)  
Was, for because they both beholding were  
To him, for that he friendly took their part,  
When as the Greeks 'bout Helen were at strife,  
To have her killed; and he to save her life,   

Persuaded them so well, that they content  
To let her live, to Menalus her gave.  
When Thelaphus with fury 'gainst her bent,  
Before them all said flatly she should have  
Her head cut off, and suffer deadly pain,  
Because for her so many had been slain.   

And by that means King Thelaphus was crossed,  
And put besides Palladion 'gainst his will,  
For which he swore (though dear it should him cost)  
E'er long time passed he would Ulysses kill:  
And one day likewise be revenged upon  
King Menalus, and king Agamemnon.   

And therewith in a mighty rage he went  
With all his knights, (and left the company)  
Who with him in their hearts were fully bend,  
When they a fit occasion might espy,  
In cruel wise ere long revenged to be  
Upon their foes, but chiefly on those three.   

And for that cause such hatred to them bare,  
That nothing but their deaths could th● content:  
But they that of his purpose were aware,  
With policy his fury to prevent,  
Did cause their knights about them to attend,  
If that occasion served, to defend   

And keep them from the fury of their foes.  
And likewise soon to rid them of that doubt,  
For early in the morn ere Phoebus rose  
(The matter was so quickly brought about)  
King Thelaphus that brave and worthy knight,  
Most cruelly was murdered in the night.   

And in the morning bleeding sore was found  
Within his bed, whereas his body lay  
Sore mangled, hewed, & cut, with many a wound:  
Which thing when as the Grecians heard next day,  
They did abhor that act so horrible,  
And cause to God and man 'twas audible.   

They could not choose but for his murder weep,  
And grieve to think how foul and traitorously  
He had been killed, when he was fast asleep,  
And 'mong them then there rose so great a cry,  
Throughout the host for that most wicked deed,  
That all his friends within their hearts decreed,   

His death should be revenged upon those  
That had that cruel murder brought to pass:  
The which, although no man would it disclose,  
Yet every one that in the host than was,  
For it had most and great'st suspicion  
On Menalus, and King Agamemnon,   

But chiefly on Ulysses, unto whom  
By common voice of them in general  
His sudden death imputed was, and some  
Did vow and swear what ever did befall,  
('Mong whom young Pyrrhus specially was one)  
They would revenge the death of him full soon   

Upon Ulysses, who by treachery  
Had falsely wrought the same; but to prevent  
And scape from Pyrrhus' fury, suddenly  
Aboard his ships next morning strait he went:  
And hoising sail in haste from thence he fled,  
And left the image with King Diomed.   

And of the fact in heart had great remorse.  
Who in that sort thus fled away and gone,  
Young Pyrrhus took his bloody mangled corpse,  
And made a fire and laid the same thereon,  
In presence of the Greeks that it beheld,  
And burned it unto ashes in the field.   

And afterward the ashes being cold,  
He took them up, and did them safely put  
With reverence great, into a box of gold,  
The which with his own seal of arms he shut:  
And sent them to be buried there whereas,  
While he did live, the sovereign Prince he was.   

And having all the ceremonies used  
For him in every point most orderly,  
He still upon the cruel murder musd,  
Which unto him was done so traitorously:  
And swore and vowed it should be dearly bought,  
By them that it so wickedly had wrought.   

And for that cause great hatred bare unto  
King Menalus, and King Agamemnon,  
Who well advised, and taking heed thereto,  
For fear thereof near went abroad alone▪  
But strongly guarded daily did attend,  
What issue would ensue thereof in th'end.   

Which Pyrrhus likewise did, and would not cease  
By all the means he could to seek some way  
T'entrap them, and his wrath would not appease.  
And in that sort they three from that same day  
Were stern and deadly foes each unto other:  
And while that they in such wise jarred together,   

And enviously each other did pursue,  
Still more and more their malice did increase,  
And hatred great on each side did renew.  
Till Antenor their furies to appease,  
By policy did cut of all disdain  
On either side, and made them friends again.   

And to that end prepared a royal feast,  
And did invite the Grecians to the same,  
And to entreat and pray them never ceased,  
Till they three with the rest unto it came,  
That all the Princes of the host might see  
They had their anger left, and did agree   

Together like good friends as ere they were.  
To write the great and sumptuous fare they had,  
With all the several dishes that were there;  
As also what rich Presents than were made,  
And by Antenor given liberally  
Unto the Greeks, it's no necessity.   

Let it suffice they wanted nothing that  
Might please and give contentinent unto man.  
And while at table they together sat,  
Some one among them enviously began  
To speak against Aeneas, and t'accuse  
And charge him with most great and vile abuse,   

Especially because he did conceal,  
And hide away the Princes Pollicene,  
And would by no means tell them, no● reveal  
What was become of her that cause had been  
Of fierce Achilles' death: and for the same  
They did impose upon him so much blame,   

That they did all with one consent agree,  
He should therefore be banished out of Troy,  
Contrary to their former grant that he  
The freedom of the Town should still enjoy:  
But near the less they did with one consent,  
Comdemne him to perpetual banishment.   

(The causer of the same I cannot tell,  
But sure it is Antenor, and none other  
Within the Town of Troy did know it well,  
And secretly betrayed his traitorous brother:  
That with him holp to bring that thing to pass,  
Which in the end the towns destruction was.)   

Which when Aeneas knew, and saw no way,  
For him by any means to mollify  
The Grecians hearts, to give him leave to stay,  
He humbly prayed them of courtesy,  
That of their princely favour and their grace,  
They would vouchsafe to grant him 4 months' space   

To stay in Troy, while he provided had  
All things that should for him be necessaire;  
And further unto them petition made,  
That he from thence might also with him carry  
The ships that into Cythera did go  
With Paris, just number twenty two.   

Which being by the Grecians full consent  
Unto him given, with licence for the space  
Of time he asked to stay, to Troy he went  
With heavy heart, to see't in such a case:  
And specially when he to mind did call,  
That all the woes which on the same did fall,   

Came only by the treason he had wrought  
Against the Town; and also to remember,  
That he could not enjoy the thing he sought,  
But must of force depart and stay no longer,  
Where he had lived sometime in great estate.  
And cursed his most hard and cruel fate,   

To see himself so plunged in that distress,  
And banished by the Greeks, and knew not why  
Nor who had sought his fall, till he did guess  
And saw by signs Antenor subtly  
To get him out of Troy procured it,  
For which he swore & vowed he would him quit.   

And to that end sent presently for all  
The Trojans that then in the town were left,  
Who willingly assembled at his call,  
(For being of their sovereign Prince bereft,  
They made account he only did remain  
Alive, to be their Lord and Sovereign.)   

To whom he spoke & said, my friends you see,  
How fortune at this time begins to frown,  
And with dissembling face to jeer at me,  
As she hath done at this most worthy town,  
Her cruelty 'gainst it and me to show:  
You know likewise that we are but a few,   

Here resting in this ruin'd place t'abide,  
And I perforce must leave your company.  
Wherefore I think it best that you provide  
Some means for your own good and safety,  
By looking out among you for a man,  
To govern you with all the speed you can.   

For otherwise I see not how you should  
Be able long this open Town to keep,  
Nor yet yourselves from strange invasions hold:  
That here now like unto a flock of sheep,  
Dispersed without a shepherd do remain,  
And no man left your quarrel to maintain.   

Wherefore if you my counsel now will take,  
I think, sithtis so dangerous a thing  
For you to live without an head, to make  
And choose some one among you for your king.  
And he whom I think fittest man to reign  
o'er you, and be your Lord and sovereign   

Is Antenor, whose knighthood and renown  
Is known unto you all, if you consent  
And will agree to my opinion.  
And to that end let one for him be sent,  
And when that he comes here within the town,  
You shall set on his head a regal Crown.   

That he may govern you with equity,  
And valiantly defend, preserve, and save  
You from distress and all extremity.  
And they agreed, and were content to have  
Him sent for presently to be their king.  
For they not once suspected any thing   

Concerning that the which Aeneas meant,  
Whose words and mind contrary were to other,  
For it was his full purpose and intent  
To slay him presently when he came thither,  
And with his friends prepared to that end  
All armed stood, his coming to attend.   

Who nought suspecting that which did fall out,  
Unarmed came into the town, where he  
Was presently enclosed round about  
By Aeneas, and in danger slain to be:  
If that the common people had not been,  
Who in great haste came running them between.   

And down upon their knees before him fell,  
Desiring him to have compassion  
On them and theirs, whom he then knew full well,  
Were left within a bare and naked town  
Without a guide, and prayed him to withhold  
His hand and fury great, from that which would   

Be cause of their destruction general,  
And on them and their woeful case to rue.  
To whom Aeneas said before them all,  
Will you that I forbear him that's untrue,  
And shows himself so traitorously bend  
To you and me, with false and bad intent,   

That for it he deserved hath to die.  
For was't not he that specially alone.  
Conspired by treason with your enemy▪  
To bring you all unto destruction,  
And me unto the Greeks hath sold and bought,  
And undeserved my banishment hath wrought▪   

The which they have decreed without repeal,  
But ere I go from hence I'll make him sure,  
The just reward of his deserts to feel,  
And without all compassion to endure  
The pain that to a traitor doth belong,  
That at this time hath done me so much wrong▪   

To be exiled from hence, where with you all  
I purposed to lead my life, and take  
Such part as should unto our shares befall,  
But by his means I must the Town forsake:  
Which wrong I cannot brook nor never may,  
And therefore for the same I will him slay▪   

Besides all this, he was as you haveseene,  
The only man that to the Grecians gave,  
The young and goodly Princess ●●llice●e;  
Whom they did slay, & would you I should save  
One that so traitorous is? Thus much I say,  
(Whos'ever that against the ●ame saith nay.)   

Sith you entreat for him he shall go free  
With life, but cause his treason is so great,  
He shall out of this Town exiled be,  
And therewith they a time unto him set,  
When he should go from thence, without all grace  
Or favour showed, and that he must not pass.   

And thus as traitors both they wrought together,  
To bring the Town to ruin and decay,  
So treacherously they did exile each other  
Out of the same, and might not therein stay  
To lead their lives where they were borne & bred,  
In peace and rest as they determined.   

And presently Antenor thereupon,  
Without delay did preparation make,  
Of all things necessary to be gone  
From thence, & with his friends did shipping take,  
And sailed by divers Lands and sundry Isle●.  
It's needless to rehearse how many miles   

He travelled on the seas, nor how he scaped  
The dangers that therein are often seen.  
But to be brief his course so well he shaped,  
That at the last when he a while had been  
Tossed too and fro, with stormy wind & weather▪  
He spied an Isle, & with his ships made thither.   

Which Island had to name G●r●●diay,  
Where he no sooner foot on land did get,  
But there upon a ●●●ke without delay,  
His men with present speed to work he set,  
And made a town that was both broad & long,  
With towered walls which were exceeding strong.   

And many pleasant woods and waters sweet,  
That on each side the same environed,  
With all things else that for the same was meet.  
Which Isle as then was ruled and governed  
By Thetides a king of worthy same,  
Who long and many years had held the same   

In peace, and never had molested been  
By any adverse fortune whatsoever:  
Who unto Lord Antenor and his men  
Great courtesy did show, and by him were  
In friendly wise received and welcomed,  
And peaceably by him were suffered   

To plant themselves therein, and to enjoy  
Their town as freely with all privilege,  
As they before lived in the town of Troy:  
Whose being there once known and published,  
A number of the Trojan knights went thither,  
And there increased and multiplied together.   

And soon did make it rich and populous,  
And called it the Town of Menelau.  
To tell you more of him were frivolous,  
For memory of him there should be none:  
Sith he was by his treason cause of all  
The miseries that did on Troy befall.   

And therefore I will turn my stile again,  
To tell you what unto the Greeks befell,  
And how by prophesy Cassandra plain,  
And truly did unto the Grecians tell,  
What happen to them should, & 'mong them all  
Declared to their puissant General,   

That he within his house should murdered be  
By treason, that against him should be wrought,  
And that there was no way for him to fly,  
Nor scape the same what means so ere he sought:  
And bade him have a care of his estate,  
For he should die by death unfortunate.   

The story saith, when Thelaphus was slain,  
(As in another place I said before)  
He had two sons (that living did remain)  
The which two several wives unto him bore:  
Who with a King called Tenter did remain,  
And nourished were till that they did attain   

To men's estate, and in the end he came  
Two brave and worthy knights as ever were,  
And in their time attained to haughty fame,  
As by their lives and acts it doth appear:  
The elder of them called Authe●ic●s,  
The younger had to name A●●issar●s.   

And then doth show that when the Greeks had done  
All that they would to Troy, and ●eadi● lay  
Attending wind and tide at T●●●d●●,  
To sail to Greece, Agamemnon did pray  
And earnestly entreated them t'agree,  
And give consent that Menalus and he   

Might take their leaves and stay no longer there.  
Whereto at first they would not give consent,  
But flatly them denied and 'gainst it were,  
But after much entreaty were content  
They should depart: and so they two together  
Set sail, when it was fair and pleasing weather,   

In Autumn when the air was dry and cold,  
And melaucholie humours did abound,  
When Phoebus had clea●e passed Le● bold,  
And in sixteenth degree of Virgo found:  
And trees that in the Summer time were green,  
Waxed dry, & corn and fruits were gathered in.   

And flowers & herbs (which in the month of May,  
With fresh and lively hew showed gallantly,)  
Began to hang their heads and to decay.  
And all the fields that flourished verdantly,  
Were dried, and looked with sad & heavy cheer.  
At th'issuing of the days caniculeare.   

And men by humours great which then abound,  
Molested were with shivering fevers cold,  
And when the wind with blustering blasts was found  
To shake the trees so sore, they could not hold  
Their leaves, but did constrain them off to fall  
At time of year, when men on God do call,   

And humbly him beseech to keep and save  
Their vines from rain, & storms, & nipping frost,  
That they in time the fruits of them may have,  
Which otherwise would utterly be lost,  
If too much moisture fall upon the ground,  
As commonly that time of year is found,   

At unawares to happen with some blasts  
Of wind and blustering weather, which so sore  
Doth move theseas, & therewithal orecasts▪  
The skies, & makes them lowering, which before  
Showed pleasantly, and seemed for a while  
To put men in good hope with feigned smile.   

But yet there is no trust 'twill so abide.  
As well the Greeks that put to sea did find,  
And sailed forth of Tenadon with tide,  
And wind as good as they could wish in mind:  
And with the gold and treasure that they won  
In Troy, three days their course directly ●un   

To Greece ward, by consent of Aeolus,  
Who with the winds did seem as't were t'obey  
To them, and promised voyage prosperous,  
And did conduct 't hem onward of their way,  
With pleasing gale along the Grecian coast.  
But when that they in fortune trusted most,   

And thought themselves to be in her good grace,  
Mistrusting nought, she suddenly did lower,  
And unawares with false dissembling face,  
(To show and to declare her mighty power,)  
Turned all their hope into most deep despair,  
And overcast the weather that was fair,   

And made th' Egean seas that calm did show,  
To rise aloft with billows huge and high,  
And Boreas with his boisterous blasts to blow,  
And roar and whistle loudly in the sky:  
And day that was most clear, to seem as night,  
It was so dark, so that they had no light,   

But only by the lightning that did fall  
With flashes great, and made them sore aghast,  
And much more when the thunder therewithal,  
With mighty claps did break both Yard & mast:  
And rent and tore their sails, & made them fly  
o'er board into the sea that rose so high,   

And bore their ships up with so mighty force,  
As if that they on mountain tops had been,  
And then again with clean contrary course  
Cast them as low, so that they oft were seen  
As if that they directly headlong fell  
Into the deep infernal pit of hell.   

And therewithal the lightning suddenly  
Fell in their ships, and set them on a fire,  
And two and twenty of them speedily  
Consumed & burnt, the rest (with furious ire  
The which Minerva to them bare) were cast  
Upon the shore, and there in pieces braced.   

For she offended was with them so sore,  
Because to her they did no reverence  
When they from Troy departed, and the more,  
Because of that most great and foul offence,  
The which Cileus ajax 'gainst her wrought  
Within her Church, which he full dearly bought.   

For when his ships were most part of them drowned,  
She bore so great a spite and hate to him,  
That he to save himself from death was found  
In danger great, within the seas to swim  
Stark naked, and at last got to the land,  
And there lay almost dead upon the sand,   

And that he had for his desert and share.  
The which Minerva justly to him sent,  
Because that he no honour to her bare,  
When he into her Temple boldly went:  
And forcible with mighty violence,  
Cassandra Priam's Daughter drew from thence.   

Whereby you see what danger doth ensue  
To men, that dare profane a holy place,  
As Cileus ajax did, but did it rue,  
And plagued was therefore without all grace:  
As God with grievous punishment will strike  
All those that do presume to do the like.   

Which many of the Greeks most true did find,  
By giving of the same occasion.  
For he that with a proud and haughty mind,  
Will venture by too great presumption,  
To strive against the God of peace and might,  
Shall at the last unto his foul despite   

Repent the same much sooner than he weenth,  
And oftentimes not punished alone,  
For many a man that innocently meanth,  
Is plagued for that which other men have done:  
For all the Greeks in general together,  
Returning home received some hurt no other,   

Both high and low of state, all felt the smart  
And punishment of rigour to them used  
Upon their foes, with stern and cruel heart,  
Because that they their victory abused:  
As by the sequel of the History,  
It doth appear most clearly to the eye.   

Which saith, that in times past a King there reigned  
Among the Greeks, which Naulus had to name,  
Who long in honour great his Land maintained,  
And through the world did spread his haughty fame:  
Two Sons he had, Pallamides the elder,  
And Oetes was the second, and the younger.   

Who both one mother had, and valiant were,  
Especially Pallamides, for he  
For knighthood was esteemed and held to bear  
The name and fame both far and near, to be  
The worthiest Prince than living in his days,  
For force and power of men at all assays.   

And for his wisdom sometime governed  
The Grecians host, when they fore Troy did lie,  
And was of them most highly honoured,  
But at the last was slain unhappily  
In battle: when as he most flourished  
In honour, & his fame abroad was spread.   

But some that bore great envy in their hearts,  
Unto the Grecians most maliciously  
Against them treason wrought, & played their parts  
So well therein, that Naulus hastily  
Fell at debate with them: for they devised  
A tale the which they told him, and surmised   

That which was never practised nor wrought  
By any one of all the Greeks, not yet  
In any wise imagined nor thought  
By them, though he for truth believed it:  
For they told him that while the Grecians were  
Before the town of Troy, that falsely there   

Pallamides his son was murdered  
By night, as he within his bed did lie,  
The which they said was done by Diomedes,  
And false Ulysseses with great cruelty:  
Which (truth to say) and give to them their due,  
They never did, for it was most untrue.   

They also did most confidently tell  
The King, that all the Princes did consent  
Unto that deed, and knew thereof full well,  
(Although there was near any such intent)  
And specially that King Agamemnon,  
And Menalus were by when it was done.   

But all (they said) was false and nothing so,  
Yet near the less they did the king persuade  
So well, that he gave credit thereunto,  
And verily believed the Grecians had  
Conspired the death, and the destruction  
Of valiant King Pallamides his son.   

And better to aver their false report,  
They feigned & said that letters twain were sent  
Out of the town, which treason did import,  
And said that King Pallamides was bend  
To favour them of Troy, and that he had  
Received a sum of gold of them, and made   

Condition more to have, so that he would  
Delay the time, and cause their enemy  
To leave the siege, and for them only hold:  
And more to make their matter good did lie,  
And said, they found the letters in the field,  
Enclosed fast within a Trojans shield   

That in the fight was slain, and that thereby  
The who●e contents of all the treason wrought,  
And practised by the Trojans secretly▪  
With King Pallamides, to light was brought:  
And though that he was guiltless of the same,  
(The Grecians more to slander and to blame,)   

They said Ulysses falsely practised,  
With one that on Pallamides did wait,  
And him with gold and words most fair so fed,  
That at the last he caught him with a bait,  
And got him to agree and be content  
To grant to his request, and give consent   

To take a bag of gold, and secretly  
By night convey the same into the bed  
Whereas his Lord Pallamides did lie,  
Which he accordingly accomplished:  
And to make all seem true, the gold then laid  
Within the bed, was so much as was said,   

Pallamides received had in hand.  
That when the matter once in question came,  
He should not well 'gainst his accusers stand,  
It being found and proved to be the same  
Just sum of gold, the which was specified  
In those two letters in the Target hid,   

Which being found, and to the Grecians told,  
They were to uproar moved in such wise,  
Concerning those two letters and the gold,  
That they did in a muttering arise:  
And all together ran with one consent,  
In furious wise unto the royal tent,   

Wherein the king (that innocent and clean  
Of that supposed offence than was) remained,  
And little knew what they thereby did mean:  
And would by no entreaty be restrained  
To stay, but when before him there they stood  
Like unto men that had been mad or wood;   

They did begin against loud to cry,  
And bitterly to rail and chafe withal,  
And by no means their rage would pacify,  
But ready were on him therefore to fall:  
And specially the kings Agamemnon,  
And Menalus with indignation   

Against him in their hearts conceived, than  
Without advice or any care at all  
Of his estate or high degree, began  
For justice there be●ore the Greeks to call:  
The which when king Pallamides perceived,  
And saw what malice they 'gainst him conceived,   

At first he was somewhat therewith abast,  
But presently again without all fear  
He stood up on his feet, and at the last  
When as he saw how hot at him they were,  
And that they still persisted that he should  
Condemned be: To show his courage bold   

And valour great, he flatly did deny  
That which by them on him was falsely laid,  
And swore before them all it was a lie,  
For proof whereof he offer made and said:  
That he his life would venture like a Knight,  
With any whatsoe'er he were, to fight   

In single combat hand to hand, to try  
And prove by force that he no treason wrought,  
(Respecting not his Sovereign dignity  
Nor royal blood) and them therefore besought,  
To grant and give consent that presently  
That day the combat might be fought, thereby   

To find and know the truth, if any one  
Against him durst within the field appear.  
Which proffer made they all stood mute, and none  
Of all his foes that his accusers were,  
The combat would accept: for Diomedes  
And King Ulysses authors of that deed,   

Withdrew themselves, and never did make proffer  
To take his gauntlet up, which he had laid  
Before them on the ground, nor yet would offer  
To prove that which of him they falsely said  
Behind his back, but with a feigned show,  
Made as if they thereof did nothing know.   

And for his part Ulysses craftily,  
(As't was his common practice to dissemble  
With all men, and to flatter, feign, and lie,  
Wherein he did the serpent sly resemble,  
That closely lieth hidden in the grass,  
To sting and bite such as thereon do pass.)   

When as he heard Pallamides deny  
The treason to him laid, and offer made  
To prove them false that would it justify,  
He seemed as if therefore he had been glad:  
And like a friend that meant nought else but well,  
He did begin in double wise to deal.   

And openly seemed him thereof t'excuse,  
And gave advise unto the Greeks to cease,  
From charging him with treason, and to use  
No more opprobrious speeches in that case,  
And by that means appeased their mutiny:  
And did persuade them that most certainly,   

That accusation false and slanderous,  
Upon him was imposed wrongfully,  
By some that had with hearts malicious,  
Conspired to do him that great villainy:  
And to procure his everlasting shame,  
Yet he himself was author of the same.   

But when he saw he could not bring to pass,  
That which he had devised to betray  
And charge him with, that he a traitor was,  
He subtly found out another way:  
Which by consent of Diomedes he brought  
Unto effect, and in this wise he wrought.   

He went unto him late upon a night,  
And as a secret friend unto him told,  
(First swearing him by th'honour of a knight,  
Not to disclose that which reveal he should)  
That he could bring him to a place whereas  
Great store of gold and treasure hidden was.   

That had to him been privately disclosed,  
And none else but himself thereof did know,  
And that is lay within a well enclosed:  
Which as a friend he offered him to show,  
So that he promise would that night to go,  
Accompanied with them two, and no more,   

To fetch it secretly into his tent.  
Which he (believing all that they did say)  
Agreed unto, and forth with them he went  
Unto the well, whereas he said it lay:  
And coming thither, told them that he would  
Go down into the well to fetch the gold.   

Supposing to have found it there indeed.  
But being down into the bottom gone,  
(As they before between them had agreed,  
When aid and succour for him there was none,  
For up again himself he could not rise:)  
They stoned him to death in cruel wise,   

And went their ways unto their tents with speed,  
Where down they laid themselves to take their ease,  
As if that they had never done the deed.  
And so they said that King Pallomides  
Was murdered by Ulysses treachery,  
And Diomedes: and it was but a lie   

Devised to slander them that guiltless were,  
And also all the Grecians else beside,  
For he was with an arrow slain in war  
By Paris, while they did in siege abide:  
But they that are to falsehood wholly bend,  
Can tales devise that near were done nor meant.   

And as for those two letters that were brought  
Out of the town, as by them was surmised,  
No such thing by Pallamides was wrought,  
It only was maliciously devised:  
And nothing else but falsehood & untruth,  
Of purpose told to make king Naulus wroth,   

And angry with the Greeks in general,  
Thereby to work their ruin and decay,  
And moved him for that cause on them to fall,  
As they returned homeward on their way:  
For presently king Naulus and his son,  
Believing that such treason had been done,   

And wrought by Greeks, as was unto them told,  
Did swear and vow revenged to be therefore  
Upon them by all ways and means they could:  
And unto them in heart such hatred bore,  
That without any favour merciless,  
When as the Greeks were on the surging seas,   

And sailed along the shore by Naulus land,  
He caused fires to burn, and set up lights  
Upon the coast, the which on hills did stand,  
And might be seen far off in winter nights,  
To make the Greeks to err and go aside  
Out of the way: for when they had espied   

The lights on shore, and did not understand  
The reason, but supposing harbour near,  
They did direct their course unto the land,  
And thinking them for sea-marks placed there,  
To show them how to fall on land by night,  
Without all fear they made unto the light.   

Whereby upon the rocks & sand they struck,  
And by that means two hundred ships they lost,  
Which suddenly were all in pieces broke,  
And cast away upon king Naulus coast,  
Which cost the life of many a worthy man.  
And so to take revenge he first began   

Upon the Grecians, with destruction  
Of them, and of their Navy huge and great,  
But yet by fortune King Agamemnon  
Escaped death, and safely home did get,  
With Menalus, King Diomedes, and more  
That followed them: & yet there was great store   

Of Earls, Kings, and Princes cast away  
At that same time. But when as Oetes knew  
That they were gone, and that he could not stay  
Them as he would, he vowed some should it rue:  
And presently imagined a wile,  
Wherewith he did Agamemnon beguile,   

By writing of a letter to his wife,  
Which set so great contention tween them twain,  
That it did cost Agamemnon his life.  
The letter did in it thus much contain,  
That her dear Lord and king Agamemnon,  
A great and mighty wrong to her had done.   

The which could not but breed most extreme blame,  
And detriment unto her in the end,  
(Although she near had merited the same)  
The which he said was that he did intend  
A daughter of king Priamus to take  
To wife, and would her utterly forsake,   

(Though she surpassed her much for excellence  
Of beauty, and of comely feature)  
That never had unto him done offence.  
Whereof he did her certainly assure,  
And that it was his purpose and intent,  
That she should into banishment be sent,   

A thousand miles from thence when he came home,  
Advising her that she should warily  
Look to her own estate. This was the sum  
And general contents of that which he,  
Within his letter sent unto the Queen:  
Although the king was innocent and clean,   

Of that which he to her did falsely write,  
And loud her while he lived with all his heart,  
And in none else but she did take delight,  
Nor had no such intent from her to part:  
But't may be that the letter which he sent,  
Made her to do more than she ever meant,   

And to give credit thereunto too soon.  
Who thanked Oetes for his carefulness  
In her behalf, and his compassion  
Showed therein to preserve her from distress:  
And yet (as in the story you shall find)  
She was a most false Lady, and unkind   

To him while he was absent in the war.  
But ne'ertheless she was so diligent  
To look unto herself, and to prepare  
A bait for him, and thereby to prevent  
All mischief whatsoever might ensue  
To her, by that which she thought to be true,   

That finally she brought him to his end.  
What trust can man repose in worldly glory,  
(Though all men to obtaineed their wits do bend,)  
Which proves to be so vain and transitory:  
Or in the wavering joys of proud ambition,  
Which suddenly are turned upside down.   

Or flying fame that mounteth up so high,  
And is o'erthrown in twinkling of an eye,  
Or as vain boasting of great victory,  
That vanisheth away so suddenly,  
Or in dissembling fortune most unjust,  
In whom no man could ere so surely trust,   

As that he might assure himself that she  
Would unto him a constant friend remain,  
'Gainst whom no man whats'ever that he be,  
Can once resist or victory obtain:  
For on her wheel though he climb near so fast,  
Let him be sure she'll throw him down at last.   

Her favors not to be relied upon,  
For she's so full of mutability,  
That he which doth repose his trust thereon,  
Doth build upon a mere uncertainty:  
To day she'll be a friend and seem to smile,  
To morrow she will falsely men beguile.   

Her pride is such she spareth no degree,  
Great Emperors, Kings, Dukes, Princes, all are one  
With her, for in their greatest felicity,  
When they are placed in high and Princely throne,  
And live and reign in honour and renown,  
For all their mighty power she casts them down.   

As you may see by King Agamemnon,  
Who while he lived so puissant was of state,  
That 'mong the Greeks there was not any one  
Esteemed nor found to be more fortunate,  
Nor greater; yet for all his excellence,  
He could not make resistance nor defence,   

With all the power that on him did attend,  
Against conspired murder, nor prevent  
The treason wrought to bring him to his end,  
Which his Queen Clytaemnestra did invent  
And purposely devise. But he that knows  
All things on earth, his judgement often shows   

On such as take delight in murdering  
Of men, which God doth utterly forbid,  
And specially the murdering of a king.  
Which is so foul and horrible a deed,  
That all the pain that Action fe●les in hell,  
With other foul infernal spirits that dwell   

With Belzebub, are not sufficient  
To take revenge, nor punish such ●one  
As hath a heart so mischievously bend,  
For that exceedeth in comparison  
All other kinds of treason whatsoe'er,  
And no man can uprightly with it bear.   

But God will them assuredly confound,  
And bring unto an end unfortunate;  
For they are worse than Cerberns the hound,  
Who though that he of malice doth us hate,  
He barks before he bites; but such as lie  
In wait to kill a man, will suddenly   

Assail and set on him ere he's aware.  
But blood so shed undoubtedly doth cry  
To God for just revenge on those that are  
The actors, and will fall assuredly  
On them, which though sometimes he doth prolong,  
Yet he is just, and punisheth all wrong   

Done unto every man, but specially  
To mighty Kings; as this Agamemnon,  
In his time was of such authority,  
That comparable to him there was none  
In all the Grecian camp, but fate so wrought,  
That when unto his house he came, & thought   

To live in peace, he should there end his life  
By unexpected murder, which was done  
By policy and mischief of his wife:  
For that when to the shore he came, assoon  
As ever foot upon the land he set,  
In seemly wise Clytaemnestra with him met.   

Who outwardly with countenance bening,  
And friendly show did welcome him, with much  
Great courtesy and honour, whom the King  
In loving wise embraced, and thought no such  
False treason had unto him then been meant,  
And strait with her unto his Palace went.   

Where she no whit respecting faithful vow,  
Nor promise made in wedlock, set aside  
All duty and respect she ought to show  
Unto the king, and shamelessly untied  
The knot of love, and proved so unkind,  
That she did set her heart and all her mind   

Upon a knight that in her favour stood,  
Whose name Aegisthus was, though truth to tell,  
He neither came of noble birth nor blood,  
Nor yet in arms nor knighthood did excel:  
But cause he did his business well by night,  
She took in him such pleasure and delight,   

That he her love from all men else had won,  
Which moved her her husband's blood to shed,  
And for because she could not he alone,  
She made him her copartner in her bed:  
And by him at the last a Daughter had  
Called Action, and promise to him made,   

Upon the pain of losing of her head,  
That should be her Lord and King, when as  
Her husband King Agamemnon was dead.  
The which accordingly to bring to pass,  
Agamemnon next night by him was slain,  
Whereof the Queen exceeding glad & feign,   

No longer time delayed, but presently  
Did marry with Aegisthus, and did bring  
His purpose so to pass by treachery,  
That he was of Messena crowned King:  
And gave him thereof full possession,  
And thereby disinherited her Son.   

And lust with her abounded in such wise,  
That reason bore no sway within her mind,  
(For they are always deadly enemies)  
And wrong and falsehood now more favour find,  
Then equity, true dealing, righteousness,  
Honour, estate, desert, or worthiness.   

For by her beastly foul adultery,  
(A sin which never reigns in man alone)  
She practised with false conspiracy,  
To murder her dear Lord, & wrong her Son:  
And thereby heaped one sin upon another,  
Which down to hell with her did sink together.   

And to her did everlasting woe procure,  
Which she full well deserved for her pain.  
Who can himself here in this life assure,  
When Kings in traitorous wise are falsely slain▪  
To make and stir up alteration  
In kingdoms great, by wrong succession.   

Which they that are the authors may pretend,  
To do with colour of some equity:  
But God the judge of judges in the end,  
Will right all false intrusions speedily,  
On those that seek by force and violence,  
To wrong such as near did to them offence.   

For though thereby she thought herself secure,  
As having all the Country at command,  
And dreamt long in that happy state t'endure;  
Yet she could not the punishment withstand  
Which God for her prepared, for when't was known,  
That she herself s'vnnaturall had shown   

Unto her Lord and King Agamemnon,  
As so to murder him, and afterward  
So falsely disinherited her Son,  
And had him from his lawful right debarred:  
Her Son that was of young and tender age,  
(Horestus called) to shun his mother's rage,   

Was secretly convaid and sent away  
Out of the Land by King Taltabius,  
Into the Isle of Crete, where he did stay  
And nourished was by King Idumeus,  
And Carkasis his Queen, whose only heir  
A daughter was, of beauty passing fair,   

(Climenea called) and by them used as well  
As their own child, where he continued  
Till he waxed great, and did in arms excel,  
And with him thence a puissant army led:  
To conquer his inheritance by might,  
Which false Aegisthus held without all right   

And equity from him. But for a while  
I'll let him stay where he was nourished  
In tender years, for I must change my stile,  
And tell you somewhat of king Diomedes:  
Who for his part likewise great woe endured,  
The which to him was enviously procured,   

And falsely brought to pass by Oetes train,  
Which he for him and many others more  
Prepared had, of malice and disdain,  
Which he unto the Grecian Princes bore:  
To take revenge on them for murdering  
Pallamides, the which to pass to bring,   

(Though't were untrue) yet he and Naulus both  
Persuaded otherwise, will't not believe,  
But in their minds conceived so much wrath  
And hatred 'gainst the Greeks, that to bereave  
Them of their lives was all their care & thought:  
Thus 'gainst the said king Diomedes they wrought.   

Within the great and spacious Grecian land,  
There was a mighty kingdom long and large,  
Which towards the Eastern parts thereof did stand,  
Composed of Calido●ie and Arge,  
Both joined in one, abounding in great store  
Of wealth, whereof he that the sceptre bore   

And reigned therein, Polentus had to name,  
To whom his wife a son & daughter bare,  
The son Assandrus called was; whose fame  
Both far and near was spread for knighthood rare.  
His daughter fair the name of Egra bore.  
Who cause he had two children and no more,   

He did upon his death bed so provide,  
That when he should depart the, world,  
All strife) they two his kingdom should divide to cease  
Between them, and together live in peace.  
Whose daughter afterward he being dead,  
Was married unto king Diomed.   

(Who while he did at Troy in siege remain,  
Loved Cressida that Calchas daughter was,  
And for her sake endured much grief and pain.  
But I will let his love to her orepasse,  
As nothing to the matter pertinent)  
Who not long after they were married, went   

Unto the siege of Troy, accompanied  
With Assandrus her brother, who together  
Upon the seas out of the way were led,  
And driven too and fro with stormy weather:  
And clean contrary wind they had, which bore  
Them forcibly upon Boetia shore.   

Whereas they did (as glad a while to stay  
And rest themselves) take land & there remain,  
Till Thelaphus the King thereof heard say  
That they were there, and thereat much disdained,  
Because that they to land thereon would venture,  
Before that he did give them leave to enter.   

Though they (as he supposed) did not pretend  
To do him wrong thereby while they did stay,  
Nor yet by any way or means t'offend  
His subjects, but for all they took did pay:  
But Thelaphus well armed with many a knight,  
Went down unto the shore with them to fight.   

And with exceeding fury on them set,  
Where Assandrus so bravely did assail  
His enemies, that those that with him met,  
Could not against his valour great prevail:  
So that by knightly force the field he won  
Upon his foes, and killed many a man   

That him withstood, which when the King espied,  
And saw how he so bravely played his part,  
Disdaining sore thereat (to daunt his pride)  
With all his force he struck him with a dart,  
So far into the breast that he fell dead  
Upon the ground: the which when Diomedes   

perceived, to revenge him like a knight  
Of valour great, that time such slaughter made  
Upon his foes, that by his puissant might,  
He made them run out of the field as glad  
To save their lives: which done, he 'gan to make  
Great sorrow for his loving brother's sake.   

And studying what were best for him to do;  
At last his corpse from savage beasts to save,  
Before that he one foot from thence did go,  
He put the same into a Princely grave,  
And buried it with many weeping eyes,  
Upon Boctia shore in Paynim wise.   

But Oetes to his sister wrote and said,  
That he was slain by craft of Diomedes,  
Who to that end in wait for him had laid  
A band of men, that he once being dead,  
The kingdom wholly might without all strife,  
Descend by right to him and to his wife.   

And that he would possession thereof take,  
assoon as he again returned home.  
And further said, that he would her forsake,  
And that with him there did a Lady come,  
Whom he did love and meant to make his wife.  
And by that means did set such mortal strife   

Between them, (as he in like sort had done  
Not long before, and in the self same kind,  
Twixt Clytaemnestra and Agamemnon,)  
That he possessed her sad and heavy mind  
With such conceit of treason: that much grieved  
To hear thereof, she verily believed   

All to be true that unto her was told.  
So that with heart to wrath and fury bend,  
And face that looked deadly, wan, and cold,  
She did for her dear brother's death lament:  
Whom she did with so great affection love,  
That from revenging him (no man could move   

Her heart that was as hard as any stone)  
Upon her husband Diomedes. For when  
The tedious weary siege of Troy was done,  
And he returned home to her again,  
She did him on the shore by force withstand,  
And beat him back not suffering him to land.   

But banished him presently from thence,  
And would not once with him be reconciled:  
Who seeing that he could not make defence  
Against her power, to see himself exiled  
So wrongfully, much grieved at the heart,  
Clean comfortless he did from thence depart.   

And went unto Salerne land, whereas  
A puissant King called Tentar then did reign,  
That Brother unto Thelamon ajax was,  
Who at the siege of Troy was falsely slain:  
But Diomedes clean destitute of aid,  
Unhappy man not long time therein stayed;   

For when King T●●●●r knew that he was there,  
Suspecting him for death of The●●mon,  
He did pursue him, so that wheresoe'er  
He stayed, he saw that succour there was none  
For him to have: so that upon a night,  
In secret wise he took himself to flight,   

And left Salerne land, in hope to find  
More comfort and relief in other place,  
To ease and to redress his troubled mind,  
If fortune would vouchsafe him so much grace:  
Mean time with heavy heart & thought confused,  
Like one forsaken wholly, and refused   

Of every man, he wandered to and fro  
From place to place, and could no rest procure  
Unto himself, not knowing where to go,  
And all that while great mis'rie did endure.  
Till at the last Aeneas that still stayed  
In Troy, the scattered Trojans there to aid,   

Which after the destruction there were left,  
And every day and hour were in doubt  
To be destroyed, and of their lives bereft,  
By enemies that dwelled there round about:  
And had no man to govern them, nor stand  
In their defence, or that would take in hand   

To be their guide against their enemies.  
Till that Aeneas t'aid them in their need,  
Unto them gave his counsel and advise,  
To send a messenger for Diomedes,  
(Of whom he did the fortune understand,  
To be expulsed and banished from his land,)   

To pray him to come unto them with speed,  
With all the force and power he could make,  
To save and to defend them in their need,  
From those that them oppressed, and t'undertake  
To be the guide of them, that ready were  
To be destroyed for want of government.   

Which Diomedes did grant unto, and came  
In haste to Troy, and thither with him brought  
A gallant troup of men, and with the same  
Relieved them, and bravely for them fought:  
With whom upon the way Aeneas met,  
And to the town with honour great him fet.   

And entertaining him as his degree  
Required, a banquet for him did prepare,  
Of every thing that might desired be,  
Where each of them to th'other did declare  
The miseries and troubles first and last,  
By sea and land which they had overpast,   

Which no man can by any means eschew.  
But as dame Fortune for him hath decreed,  
He must take that she sends him as his dew.  
But now unto the matter to proceed,  
The Trojans that were almost driven out  
Of Troy, by those that dwelled there round about,   

That daily did invade and spoil their land,  
By Diomedes relieved were, and set  
At liberty again, who did withstand  
Their foes so pvissantly, that he did get  
The victory of them four times at least,  
And them so sore pursued and oppressed,   

That finally they took and slew them all.  
And such as were found traitors, and had done  
That mischief which upon them then did fall,  
Condemned were and hanged every one,  
Whereby no man durst do them any wrong:  
And by that means king Diomedes waxed strong,   

And did in time by his protection,  
And government which he did take in hand,  
As being Lord and Ruler of the town,  
So valiantly their enemies withstand:  
And such a sway there for a time did bear,  
That of him all the Country stood in fear.   

And by that means in fine it so fell out,  
His fame did spread abroad both far & large,  
And his great valour was so blown about,  
That it was known in Calydon and Arge:  
Which when the Queen his wife did understand,  
She feared he would invade her in her land,   

And it by force at last from her would take.  
And to herself much mused how Diomedes,  
Such succour and such grace had found, to make  
Himself so great, that he so far should spread  
His fame: for which, as politic and wise  
She did forecast, and with herself devise,   

By counsel of her Lords in general,  
To reconcile herself, and to that end  
(Determining him home again to call)  
A messenger with speed to him did send,  
And to him by her letters signified,  
That whereas she had wrongtully denied   

Him entrance into his Land, when he  
Returned from the siege of Troy, she said,  
That she with all her whole Nobility,  
Submissively for pardon craved, and prayed  
Him to come home again into his land.  
Which news when he from her did understand,   

Remitting all offences whatsoe'er  
Unto him done, he was content to do  
As she desired, and with her fault to bear,  
(As being more of mercy moved thereto  
Then justice, which doth wrongs with force requite,)  
And as he was a wise and courteous knight.   

When he did by her letters understand  
Her meaning and intent, he thought it best  
To stint all strife, & therefore out of hand  
Did willingly grant unto their request,  
And speedily returned home again,  
And reconciled was unto his Queen,   

And for his part all wrongs forgotten were,  
And pardoned to his Nobility,  
And after that he lived long time there  
In high estate and great felicity,  
And with his Queen a happy life did lead.  
But cause no more of him I further read,   

I will leave off to speak of him as now.  
And unto Duke Aeneas turn my stile,  
And of him briefly tell unto you how,  
When he in Troy remained had a while  
To aid them with Diomedes, & spent  
Some time therein, with many men he went   

Aboard his Trojan ships well furnished  
Of all things that for him were necessary,  
And hoisting sails put unto sea with speed,  
And prosperous wind, till it began to vary:  
And made the seas to storm, & waves to rise,  
And mount aloft almost unto the skies.   

And having many dangers overpast,  
And sailed many miles along the coast,  
He did arrive at Carthage at the last,  
When he his wife by Fortune strange had lost.  
But to declare all that to him befell,  
And severally unto you here to tell:   

How that Queen Dido loved him, and gave  
Him treasure, gold, & costly jewels store,  
With all things else that he desired to have,  
And how for all the love she to him bore,  
He showed himself to her so much unkind▪  
(That as you shall at large in Virgil find,)   

He secretly from her did steal away,  
And got into his ships ere she it knew,  
By night, when she in bed fast sleeping lay,  
(For which in desperate wise herself she slew.)  
And sailed into Italy, whereas  
He did through many hard adventures pass   

And divers battles fought, and at the last  
Did conquer it; and therein reigned King  
With all his long and tedious travails passed,)  
It needles were for me sith every thing  
Declared is by Virgil long before  
I wrote this Book▪ which of him speaks no more   

But showeth how Horestus to requite  
His Father's death on them that had him killed,  
Did find the means as equity and right  
Requires, that blood by murder falsely spilled,  
Should by the King of kings most just decree,  
Without all doubt at last revenged be.   

For blood by murder shed or violence,  
Doth never cease for vengeance loud to call,  
On him that hath committed such offence,  
Which on him at the last will surely fall  
And give him that reward he hath deserved,  
(For none can scape the doom that is reserved   

For murders) by God that sits on high,  
And doth behold down from his heavenly throne  
All actions good or bad with equal eye.  
Who though a while he letteth them alone,  
And makes a show to wink at faults forepast,  
When he sees cause he'll punish them at last,   

At such time as they little think thereon,  
The which he doth full often for our good,  
As for the murder of Agamemnon,  
He made one that was next to him of blood,  
(Horestus his own Son) his substitute,  
His judgement in that case to execute.   

And unto him procured means & might,  
By aid of friends to bring the same to pass,  
Who when he had been made & dubbed knight,  
By Idumeus King of Crete, when as  
He had attained to twenty four years old,  
And was of body strong and courage bold:   

And therewithal both wise and provident,  
And calling unto mind the injury  
He had sustained, was resolutely bend  
(If Fortune unto him did not deny  
Her aid,) to prove if that he could obtain  
His kingdom and his heritance again.   

The which by force Aegisthus from him held,  
And wrongfully possessed by false pretence  
Of wedlock, & thereby had him compelled  
For safeguard of his life to fly from thence,  
For which he did protest while he had breath  
To be revenged, and also for the death   

And murder fowl of King Agamemnon  
His father, on all those that had conspired  
And traitorously procured it to be done,  
And to that end most earnestly desired  
Idumeus King of Crete to stand his friend,  
Some aid & some relief to him to lend.   

To help him to assail his enemy,  
By whom he did such injury sustain,  
Which his request the King would not deny,  
But willing his just quarrel to maintain,  
Ordained that a thousand Knights should go  
With him to fight against his cruel foe.   

Aegisthus that by force and violence  
So long time unto him had done such wrong,  
Which done, Herestus by his diligence  
In little time did make himself so strong,  
That he another thousand knights did win  
To go with him, and therewith did begin   

With all his power to march, and in the way  
As he along did through the country pas,  
The first place where he did encamp and stay  
To victual and to rest his army, was  
Within a town (Troyesa called,) where he  
Was welcomed with great solemnity,   

By Forence King thereof, who hated sore  
Aegisthus for his barbarous cruelty,  
In murdering King Agamemnon, but more  
Because of great deceit and treachery  
He had unto him done, when as the king  
That loud him well, him so much honouring   

Unto him gave his daughter young of age  
To be his wife, but he respecting not  
The King's good will, nor breach of marriage  
When he had her virginity once got,  
Cared not for her, but quickly changed his mind,  
And showed himself unto her so unkind,   

That he without a cause her clean forsook,  
And 'gainst the laws of equity and right  
Committed fowl adultery, and took  
Clytaemnestra to his wife, when he by night  
With her consent had slain Agamemnon,  
And of Methena Crown bereft her Son,   

And for that hateful false conspiracle,  
By her and him so mischievously wrought,  
Committing murder and adultery:  
King Forence that by all occasions sought  
To be revenged on him for the ●ame,  
assoon as Prince Horestus to him came,   

He did not only offer him some aid,  
To help him in his need against his foe:  
But in most friendly wise unto him said,  
That he himself would also with him go,  
And with four hundred Knights well furnished,  
Unto Methena land accompanied   

Him all the way, but ere they entered  
Into the same, Horestus first did go  
Into the Temple, where he offered  
A sacrifice unto the Gods, to know  
How he should speed, and also to implore  
Their aid therein: and when he kneeled before   

The Altar, he by Oracle was told  
And bidden that without compassion  
Shown to his mother Clytaemnestra, he should  
Revenge the death of King Agamemnon  
His father, upon her that was the cause  
That he was slain against all human laws:   

And that he should no mercy to her show.  
But to fulfil the God's degree and hest,  
He willed was her body all to hew  
In pieces small, which done, he should not rest  
Till he had slain Aegisthus in likewise,  
For just reward of their great cruelties.   

Enjoining him not to be negligent  
In any wise, but carefully t'effect  
And execute the God's commandment,  
On pain (if that he did the same reject,)  
Of that which might unto himself ensue,  
Which Oracle which as Horestes knew.   

He entered strait into his native soil,  
Where when he came, all that did him withstand,  
He did in hostile wise destroy and spoil,  
And being in the midst of the land,  
Laid siege unto Methena town, whereas  
False Clytaemnestra the Queen at that time was.   

But ere Horestus fully thither came  
To plant the siege, Aegisthus in great post  
The day before was gone out of the same,  
Intending to prepare a mighty host  
To set upon Horestus, and constrain  
Him to break up his siege, but all in vain.   

For while Horestus still before it lay,  
He ceased not his spies abroad to send,  
To see and to inquire every day  
Which way he went, and what he did intend  
Or meant to do, and purposely did set,  
Some bands of Knights his passages to let.   

Appointing others speedily to ride,  
And follow him about in every place,  
Commanding them t'assail him on each side,  
And ever more to keep him still in chase:  
While he the town so hotly did assail,  
That it could not against his force prevail.   

So that at last he took it by assault,  
And entering thereinto at evening late,  
He found the Queen Clemnestra in a vault,  
Whom (when he had set watch at every gate)  
He caused to be bound in chains, & laid  
Therein again, where till next day she stayed,   

While traitorous King Aegisthus haste did make,  
Withal the power of men that he could get,  
T'invade with speed and unawares to take  
Horestus, & him of his purpose let:  
And him thereby an overthrow to give,  
And by that means Methena to relieve.   

But all that he could do did nought avail,  
For unawares Horestus with him met,  
And with such mighty force did him assail,  
That in short space he did the victory get.  
And having slain and put his men to flight,  
Himself was ta'en, & to his great despite,   

In prison cast, with hands and feet fast bound.  
Which done, Horestus caused every one  
Wichin the town that were consenting found  
Unto the death of King Agamemnon,  
As also those that arms against him bare  
To be committed prisoners, & did spare   

None whatsoe'er he was, but all received  
Due punishment for their reward, & were  
Condemned to die, & of their lives bereaved,  
Next day when as the Son shined bright & clreare.  
And first Clemnestra principal & head  
Of all the rest, in mighty fear & dread   

Was fore Horestus brought, who presently  
Severely drew his sword, & therewithal  
(When as he had condemned her to die,)  
Did hew & cut her into pieces small:  
And caused her in that sort to be borne  
Out of the town, to be devoured and torn   

By Beasts and Birds, and have no burial,  
And by that means gave her a just reward:  
Which done, he did for false Aegisthus call,  
Who when he had likewise his sentence hard,  
(Which was that he stark naked drawn should be  
Along the town, and hanged upon a tree,   

And not to be cut down but there to rot.)  
To execution went, and so you see  
What guerdon by God's judgement murder got,  
And they are so repaid that traitors be.  
And then the rest that with them did consent  
To kill the King and to rebel, were sent   

Out of the town, & hanged on gibbets high,  
That all men might example by them take.  
And so Horestus with severity  
Revenged was for Agamemnon's sake  
On them that him so traitorously had slain,  
And got his lost inheritance again.   

But when he had thus finished and done  
That which the Gods commanded had, & ta'en  
Revenge for death of King Agamemnon,  
So traitorously by Queen Clytaemnestra slain.  
King Menalus arriving with his fleet  
Of ships (that with him came from Troy) in Crete.   

(And with him brought Queen Helena the fair,  
That had been cause of all the Trojan war:  
The people did in mighty flocks repair  
To see and to behold her beauty rare,  
For which so many Princes great were slain,  
But things once done, cannot b'vndon again.)   

Who hearing of his brother's death, & that  
In traitorous wise he had been murdered  
By Clemnestra his wife, was grieved thereat:  
But yet with partiality much led,  
Considering on the fact as it behooved  
Him to have done, he was in hart ●ore moved   

Against Horestus that so merciless,  
With rigour great and extreme cruelty  
Had slain his mother, like one pitiles,  
And clean bereft of all civility;  
For which he swore & voued if he did live,  
He would him of his regal Crown deprive.   

Affirming for his cruelty so great  
By law of God that he unworthily  
Upon his Father's Royal throne did sit,  
And therefore strait again to ship did high:  
And leaving Crete, to Athens sailed so fast,  
That he arrived in Nestor's land at last.   

And therein was received and welcomed  
As his estate required, but he possessed  
With fury great, and by much choler led,  
Would not content himself, nor be at rest  
Till he had told to Nestor why he came,  
And of him asked his counsel in the same.   

Desiring him that he a means would be  
By counsel, & by power if that he might,  
To put Horestus from his dignity  
And Regal throne, (which though it were his right)  
He said, that he had lost the same because  
He had his mother slain 'gainst nature's laws.   

And thereupon to Athens both they went,  
And did require the Princes of the land,  
To meet together there in Parliament,  
Where Menalus gave them to understand  
What Horestus to Clytaemnestra had done,  
And craved all their judgements thereupon,   

Who being there himself, and hearing what  
King Menalus had said, and did essie  
His meaning and intent was flatly that  
He would have him deprived. Did reply  
With courage bold, and said, he had done nought  
But that which all the Gods decreed and thought   

Convenient to be done, and then did show  
How he commanded was by them to go  
Into Messena land, and there to hew  
His mother all in pieces, and to do  
The same without all ruth or compassion,  
Because she had killed King Agamemnon;   

And that the murder chiefly had been wrought  
By her alone against all human laws,  
And therefore all the Princes there besought  
With equity to think upon the cause,  
And not with any malice nor in rage,  
To seek to take from him his heritage,   

He being Son to King Agamemnon,  
And true and lawful heir thereto by right,  
Though Clytaemnestra sought his destruction,  
And disposed him thereof by might.  
Which having said Duke Nestor hastily  
Stood on his feet, and for him did reply,   

And said, that he would for Horestus sake,  
That had done nought but that which should be done  
And lawful was, his quarrel undertake  
Against all those that held opinion  
Contrary thereunto, but none replied  
To him again, for every man espied   

That Horestus had reason so to do;  
And therefore all agreed and gave consent  
To Crown him King, and did proceed thereto:  
Which done, they did dissolve their Parliament,  
And so Horestus by his subjects true,  
Was crowned King again with honour due   

To his estate, and after that was made  
Good friends with old King Menalus again,  
Whereof King Idi●●us being glad,  
That friendship long between them to maintain,  
By mediation twixt them brought to pass,  
That Hermion that Helen's daughters was   

By Menalus, was married unto  
King Horestus, and by that alliance,  
So made and surely knit between them two,  
They ceased all their strife and variance,  
And afterward did live and reign in peace,  
And more and more in honours did increase.   

Mean time Aegisthus daughter Action  
Whom he on Queen Clytaemnestra had begot,  
Did fall into such desperation,  
That she all worldly pleasures clean forgot,  
And did endure so great extremity,  
That she did hang herself upon a tree.   

But here I must digress and turn my stile  
From Horestus to King Ulysses, and  
Of his most strange adventures speak a while,  
Which endured both on the sea and land.  
Who when he did to Greece again repair,  
A while he found the weather clear & fair,   

And then again when as the skies did frown,  
And did begin to thunder & to rain,  
He was upon the seas cast up & down,  
And had no more ships with him then but twain,  
The which like merchant ships were furnished,  
That he might sail the safelier without dread.   

Yet ne'ertheless for all his policy,  
The wind so much contrary 'gainst him was,  
That he was forced by extremity  
To fall upon the shore & land, whereas  
King Thelamon (that was so falsely slain  
By night within his bed,) some time did reign.   

Where he no sooner got unto the land,  
But he was ta'en and into Prison throne,  
And bound with Iron chains both foot and hand,  
Because he murdered King Thelamon,  
(As they suspicion had) but he deliso  
With them, that at the last they let him go,   

But yet with loss of all that ere he had  
Within his ships, and after that again  
He put to sea, and was exceeding glad  
To have escaped so, but all in vain:  
For Fortune so contrary to him was,  
That as he on the seas along did pass,   

Unhappily he fell into the hand  
Of Naulus, who watch long his coast had laid  
To spoil the Greeks, that thereon chanced to land,  
And by him there against his will was stayed,  
And into cruel prison cast again,▪  
Because he did suspect that he had slain   

Pallamindes his Son: but being bold  
Of spirit, and of wit and wisdom great,  
So smoothly for himself his tale he told,  
That he again at liberty was set:  
And out of Naulus danger safely got,  
But by what means the story telleth not.   

And having well escaped from the same,  
He travailed in simple poor array  
A foot throughout the land, till that he came  
To King Idumeus court, and there did stay,  
Who seeing him in such a mean estate  
And barely clad, did wonder much thereat.   

Yet ne'ertheless disdained him not therefore,  
But welcomed him with glad & joyful cheer,  
And honoured him although he came so poor:  
And when they two alone together were,  
Ulysses his complaint unto him made,  
And told him what unto him chanced had.   

And in this wise with sad and heavy cheer  
Unto him said, my Lord the gentleness  
You show to me that thus distessed here  
Unto you came, imboldneth me t'express  
The manner of my fortunes, and to tell  
You how & in what sort they on me fell.   

First, when I did the Trojan land forsake,  
With wind at will which at that time did blow,  
And entered ship my course for Greece to take,  
I sailed to an Isle I did not know  
Called Mirma, which with all things did abound  
That are to be desired, wished, or found.   

And which for gold or silver may be bought,  
Wherein for certain time abode I made,  
And all the while I stayed, wanted nought  
That needful was for man, & with me had  
The treasure which I won in Troy, & men  
Good store to serve my turn withal, & when   

I did perceive that Isle to be so sound  
And wholesome air, I purposely did stay  
Therein, and all that while no creature ●ound  
That once molested me. Till on a day  
When we did find the weather fair & still,  
And wind to blow according to our will▪   

We went aboard, & strait did put to seas,  
And in a little space made so good way,  
That we arrived at Clanstafages,  
Where with our ships we for a while did stay,  
And had the wind & weather clear & fair,  
But who may put his trust in wind or air?   

For in good hope to have a pleasant sky,  
And room at will as I had found before;  
And entered ship and fast again did high  
To sea, where when for three days and no more  
I nailed had with wind still at my back,  
At last it turned about & th'air waxed black.   

And such a hideous tempest did arise  
Upon the sea, that I was in despair  
To lose my life, it thundered in such wise,  
And lightning flashed so fast out of the air:  
And in that sort being driven to and fro,  
In danger great and knew what to do,   

It was our chance at last to spy out land,  
Whereto we made and found the same to be  
An Island called Cicile, and out of hand  
Cast anchor forth with great extremity,  
And got to shore with labour sore and pain,  
Wherein at that same time two kings did reign.   

Whereof the one was called Sorigones,  
Who unto us proved cruel and unkind.  
The other had to name King Coclopes,  
Who likewise had a fierce & bloody mind;  
Both brethren, and both like, for difference none  
Between them was for bad condition.   

For both of them at once upon us set,  
And cruelly a prey of us did make,  
And all the goods out of my ships did fet,  
And forcibly the same from me did take,  
And left me nought wherewith myself t'relieue.  
But that which most of all my mind did grieve,   

Was that when they perceived I had no more  
Left in my ships for them, away they went,  
And unto us such cruel minds they bore,  
That they their Sons two mighty Giants sent  
down to our ships, the one 〈◊〉,  
The other huge and strong Poliphe●●●s.   

Who being both of body mighty great,  
And therewith all exceeding tall and strong,  
In fierce and cruel wise upon us set,  
And did assail us so that ere 'twas long  
A hundred of my men they slew, that were  
Not able there most cruel blows to bear,   

Nor 'gainst them long to stand in their defence,  
Which done, they took me and King Alphenore,  
And in their arms by force and violence,  
Despitefully away with them they b●re,  
And carried us (that were in mighty fear)  
Into a dark and filthy prison, where   

Our hands and feet with Iron chains were bound,  
And we were fed with bread and water clear,  
And had no bed, but bare and naked ground  
To lyeupon while we remains there.  
This mighty Giant called Poliphemus,  
Who as I said had so imprisoned us,   

A sister had that passed every one  
That lived in her time, for beauty rare,  
Who as it seemed had some compassion  
Of our distress, (as maidens often are  
More kind than men,) and came to visit us  
In prison, by which means it fell out thus:   

That Alphenore (though captive than he lay)  
So much admired her beauty, that he fell  
In love with her, and did nought night and day,  
But musd thereon, and liked her so well,  
That though he did himself in fetters find,  
Yet he on her did holy set his mind:   

And faster with loves chains had tied his hart,  
Then with theyron bands wherein we lay  
Six months in great distress, ere we could part  
Or get from thence, for so long we did stay  
Imprisoned, till that Polliphemus,  
At last had some compassion upon us.   

And after we had been tormented so,  
Did ease us of our great captivity,  
And of his grace and favour let us go,  
Whereas we would at our own liberty.  
But Alphenore still burning hot in love,  
Could not the same out of his mind remove,   

But daily felt a sore and grievous fit  
Thereof within his heart, till at the last  
He found the means by policy and wit,  
(When he had many storms of love orepast,)  
That on a night he did the maid convey  
Out of her father's house, and went away   

With her so secretly, that no man knew't,  
Till morning early ere that it was day:  
Polliphemus did swear that we should rueed,  
And following us o'ertook in the way,  
And such a fierce assault on us did make,  
That ●e the maid from Alphenor did take,   

And then our men so furiously did slay,  
With th'aid of those that him accompanied,  
That they compelled were to give him way,  
And at the last in extreme fear they fled,  
And left me in great danger all alone,  
To fight with that most mighty Champion,   

And when I saw there was no remedy  
To scape from death, I did with courage stout  
Defend myself, and smote him suddenly  
Upon the face, and thrust his eye clean out,  
Which done, I went unto my company,  
And with them to our ships in haste did fly:   

And no man did perceive which way we took,  
And finding wind and weather fit to go,  
We went aboard and speedily forsook  
That country, as best for us so to do,  
For there was no abiding then for us.  
(Of Poliphemus Ovid writeth thus,   

That he a huge and mighty Giant was,  
Whose face was covered over with beard & hair,  
So thick and so defusedly, that as  
Men looked on him, they were in mighty fear,  
The rather for that he deformedly  
In midst of his forehead had an eye,   

And none elsewhere, as men are used to have,  
Which eye when as Ulysses had smit out,  
He did therefore s●extreamely rage and rave,  
That he ran blindfold groping round about  
o'er hills & dales, and wheresoe'er he passed,  
Huge rocks and mighty stones about him cast   

In every place, supposing so to be  
Revenged on Ulysseses for the ●ame,  
As you at large in Ovid's book may see,  
Which he his Metamorphosis doth name,)  
And having so escaped from his hand,  
And safely with our ships got from the land,   

We sailed all that day until 'twas night,  
When as it was our chance unhappily  
Upon a round and little Isle to light,  
Which in the middle of the sea doth lie:  
(Eludium called) wherein as then did dwell  
Dame Circe's, who in magic did excel,   

And would that which she took in hand perform  
So cunningly, that by her Art she could  
A man or woman when she list transform  
Into what kind of shape so ere she would,  
And make them in that sort to live as long  
As pleased her, (her potions were so strong.)   

And likewise made herself by Art so fair,  
That none like unto her was to be found,  
For that whosoe'er did to her Isle repair,  
Could not get out of that accursed ground  
Without her leave, for by that Sorceress,  
My mind was so possessed with carelessness,   

That I had no desire at all to go  
From thence, but there with a year did stay,  
And truth to tell, I was enchanted so,  
That I could not get thence by night nor day,  
So pleasant was the life that there I led.  
And while that I with her continued,   

She did conceive with child by me, and had  
A son that Thelagenius had to name,  
For which cause much account of me she made,  
And loved me more than others for the same:  
But yet at last by secret providence,  
I in her Art had such experience,   

That maugre all enchantments she could use,  
I stole away from her; and to conclude,  
Though she so many others did abuse  
By Art, I did her devilish Art delude:  
And by that means escaped from her hand,  
And with my men got free out of her land.   

But ne'ertheless it did me nought avail,  
For that when I had been a little while  
Upon the seas, and forward thought to sail,  
A wind contrary blew me to an Isle,  
That far remote within the sea did stand,  
And was exceeding rich, and fertile land.   

Wherein Calipha, Circe's sister reigned,  
Whose Art and foul enchantments were so strong,  
That she again my liberty restrained,  
And spite my heart there also held me long:  
But (truth to say) she did so much abound  
In courtesy, the which in her I found,   

And was a Lady of such excellence,  
For rareness of her qualities and wit,  
That tarrying there to me was no offence:  
But though that I well pleased were with it,  
Yet loath to stay, I did her Art prevent,  
And secretly escaped from her, and went   

Directly to an Isle wherein did stand  
A Temple, where there was an Oracle,  
And whosoe'er therein did chance to land,  
Might answer have (as't were by miracle)  
Of any thing whereof he would inquire.  
Whereas I did most earnestly desire   

To know what fortune should unto me fall,  
And also how I might prevent the same,  
Where I was told my future fortunes all,  
What soe'er I ask●, save only what became  
Of souls of mortal men when they are dead,  
For nothing thereunto it answered.   

As being that which is not in the might  
Nor power of any creature to tell,  
For that belongeth wholly and of right  
To God that doth in highest heavens dwell,  
For it is clean beyong the reach of man.  
And from that Isle I once again began   

To hoist up sails in surging seas, & scoured  
The same, but with contrary  
In Charybdis, where Mermaids use to lie,  
That from the middle downwards fishes are,  
And from the middle upwards, women are.   

Whose custom is upon the seas to ●leet,  
And sing with such a pleasing harmony,  
Their sugared Siren's songs with voices sweet,  
That they are able with their melody,  
To ravish any mortal man alive,  
And for a time his spirits all deprive,   

And bring him therewithal in a such a trance,  
That for a while he thinketh upon nought,  
But is bereaved of his remembrance,  
Till unawares he is in danger brought,  
And with their pleasing songs cast in a sleep,  
Till he's by them drawn underwater deep.   

And so both men and ships oft drowned are,  
And by enticements of their lives bereaved,  
If sailing by they have of them no care.  
But at that time they were by me deceived,  
For both mine cares with wax fast stopped were,  
Which made me that I cold by no means hear   

The sweetness of their warbling notes, whereby  
(Man's reason blinded is, and senses lost)  
And so escaped by my policy  
With all my men, and in the seas sore tossed:  
Did sail so long till toiled with weariness,  
It was our chance t'arriue in great distress   

Before Phenician haven, where we cast  
Our Anckors out, and strait on land we went▪  
But when we thought we had all danger past,  
The people with great malice 'gainst us bend,  
In fierce and cruel wise my men assailed,  
And in short space against them so prevailed,   

That most of them were slain, and I be●●●t  
Of that small store of treasure which I had  
Within my ships, and nought for me was left:  
And all my men that were not slain they made  
To go with them, and there in prison cast,  
I left them. And thus in great care I passed   

A world of woes, as Fortune hath me led  
A dance, with little joy and store of pain,  
Whereby unto my cost experienced,  
In her unconstant courses that are vain  
I fallen am, in need and poverty,  
And having with most great extremity   

By sea and land, through many dangers past,  
With heart possessed with sorrow, woe, and grief,  
I am unto your presence come at last,  
In hope to find some succour and riliefe  
At your hands, to whom with grief and care,  
I am thus bold my Fortunes to declare.   

Presuming with myself as you are wise,  
That you will take my coming in good part,  
And therefore at this time let this suffice  
That I have said. And so with heavy hart  
And woeful cheer, when he had sighed sore,  
He held his peace a while, and spoke no more.   

Which long discourse Idumeus having hard  
Ulysses tell, he did all that he might  
With words to comfort him; and nothing spared  
That might in any wise breed his delight;  
Thereby to put all grief out of his mind:  
And was to him so loving and so kind,   

That willing him his heaviness to leave,  
Assured him as long as he remained  
With him in Crete, he would unto him give  
Whatsoever he did want, and entertained  
Him in such wise, that in short space he was  
Well eased of his sorrow. And when as   

He had a while reposed himself and stayed  
In Crete, and that his griefs over passed were;  
He took his leave and to Idumeus said  
He would go home: which when the king did hear,  
He gave him clothes as his estate required,  
And all things else whatsoever he desired,   

And needful was to serve his turn, and when  
He should depart and ships prepared were  
In readiness for him, he gave him men  
And victuals store to serve him, and to bear  
His charge till he got home. And so he went  
To sea again with speed, and homeward bend   

His course, and as he sailed along the way  
He ankored with his ships and went on shore  
To see King Alphenon, whose country lay  
Not far from his, (who likewise longed sore  
To see him and to hear his Eloquence,  
The which in him did flow by influence   

Of nature, and did pleasure therein take.)  
By whom he was received and welcomed  
Most heartily, and of him than did make,  
So much that with great honour he was led  
Unto his Royal Palace, where as he  
T'increase his joy heard of Penelope   

His true and loving wife, whose constancy  
Was such that while she lived on earth, the same  
Was much extolled, and shall continually  
Be spread throughout the world by flying Fame:  
As she whom no temptation ere could move;  
In thought or deed to be untrue in love   

Unto her Lord, while he was in the war▪  
So that through all the Grecian land she was  
The Mirror, and the commendation bare,  
To be the only woman that did pass  
All others for her modesty. Yet she  
Was known and held most beautiful to be,   

And therewithal of noble house and blood,  
And yet near any more temptations had  
To try her, which she constantly withstood,  
And 'gainst them all so great resistance made:  
That never any breach of love was found  
In her, that could to her dishonour sound.   

For when her Lord from her was gone so far,  
She never left to mourn for still his sake,  
When as she thought upon the deadly war  
Wherein he was, and fearfully would shake  
For th'absence of her Lord, both eve & morrow,  
Was unto her continual grief and sorrow.   

And ever when she heard of Hector's name,  
She presently in floods of salt tears drowned  
Her comely face, and cheeks, and with the same  
Oft fainted, and did fall into a swound:  
With mighty fear which in her heart she had  
To think upon his strong and trenchant blade   

Wherewith so great a slaughter he did make,  
Among the Greeks continually in fight,  
Lest that her Lord of pride should undertake  
To try his force against that worthy knight,  
And lose his life, and many times she passed  
The weary night with fearful dreams that cast   

Her into many doubtful thoughts, and made  
Her loath, and shun the company and sight  
Of other men, as she that chiefly had,  
Her sole and only comfort, and delight  
In her dear Lord, and other joy had none  
In all the world, but only him alone.   

And did for him all others love refuse.  
And therefore he that with a peevish mood  
In word or deed doth offer to abuse,  
And speak of women otherwise than good:  
I wish him to remember and to see  
The life and praise of Queen Penolope.   

Lest that for doing so he might be damned,  
And therefore to thee Guido I must tell  
That thou within thy heart shouldst be ashamed  
For writing of them otherwise then well:  
For though some women do offend, and be  
Unconstant, and unfaithful too, yet she   

That liveth well and doth deserve no blame,  
Is not to be reproved for their sins.  
And whereas Guido writeth, and doth name  
Some that lived bad, and in his Book begins  
To show th'unconstant life of Cressida,  
Th'adulterous marriage of Queen Helena.   

And cruel mind of false Medea, who  
Her children and herself so fiercely slew,  
Let him not speak too partially, but do  
As right requires, and give to them their due.  
And tell you of Penelope the Queen  
That faithful was. And of fair Policene   

That lived and died a Virgin without spot.  
And with them also join Queen Hecuba,  
Whose like for virtue while she lived was not  
In all the world, and also Cassandra,  
That did deserve great praise for steadfastness,  
And Panthasilia for her gentleness.   

With many more that well might be set down:  
And he shall find if haveth truth confess,  
The virtuous and such as deserve renown  
The greater number be▪ and th'other less  
'Gainst whom he doth so enviously invay,  
And all men that do favour them will say   

That he did err in his opinion,  
To tax them so without exception.  
And while Ulysses stayed with Alphenon,  
Ere he from thence determined to he gone:  
A messenger unto him certified,  
That if from home he did long time abide   

Without all doubt his Queen Penelope,  
By some great Lords whose country bordered  
Next unto his, by force should ravished be,  
And in despite of all his men be led  
Out of his land full sore against her will,  
For she to him remained constant still,   

Yet ne'ertheless they had all flatly sworn,  
That if by force she were not rescued,  
She should without delay away be borne:  
And to that end with her continued,  
And would not part from thence but with her stayed,  
Who in her heart therefore was much dismayed:   

But yet so wisely with them dallied,  
That they could get no vantage at her hand  
But with delays to their demands were fed.  
Which heavy news when he did understand,  
And knew the truth by letters which she sent  
To him, he was in heart so fiercely bend,   

That he would stay no longer but begun  
In haste from thence, and then most humbly prayed  
His sure and trusty friend King Alphenon,  
To bring him home, which he not once denayed:  
But with him put to sea when wind was good,  
And finding nought that them thereon withstood   

They soon arrived within Ulysses land,  
And in the night were secretly conveyed,  
Unto the place where those that did withstand  
And make resistance 'gainst his wife, then stay,  
Where suddenly before they could awake,  
He did them unawares surprise and take.   

And without more delay or mercy shown,  
As he them found fast sleeping in their beds,  
He caused them all in pieces to be hewn,  
And on the castle walls did set their heads:  
The which before the Cock next day did crow,  
Were seen thereon to stand upon a row.   

Which done, that night they there continued close,  
Till morning that the Lark with pleasant song,  
Began to mount aloft when Phoebus rose,  
At which time with a mighty force and strong  
They entered in the town, and by the Queen  
Were welcomed, as she that ●●●g had been   

In sorrow great, and had endured such pain  
For th'absence of her Lord she loved so well,  
That wonder 'twas she could so long maintain  
Her health, but if I should unto you tell,  
And orderly set down the pleasures great,  
And joy they did conceive when as they met,   

And what they to each other friendly said  
Wi●●●●ry ●●es, and many ● sweet embrace,  
When as they were in bed together laid,  
And lovingly beheld each others face:  
As also what great joy their subjects made,  
When they beheld their sovereign Lord that had   

So long been absent from them in the war,  
And what rich presents they to him did make,  
To show the love which they unto him bare,  
And that he did a new alleigeance take  
Of them again, and how that every one  
Great honour show'd unto king Alphenone.   

And thanked him for the succour he had lent  
Unto their Lord to help him in his need,  
And how ere he out of that country went  
A marriage was by those two Kings agreed,  
Between the daughter of king Alphenon,  
(Caldoro Naufica) and young Prince Thelamon   

Ulysses Son, whereby an alliance great  
Between those Kings perpetually was made.  
It would be overlong for me to set  
It down to you, and be a means t'orelaid  
My Book with that, wherein I would be brief  
As Guido is, who toucheth but the chief   

And speciallest matter, and goeth on  
To show how, when that marriage was agreed  
And consummated twixt them. Alphenon  
took shipping and went home again with speed  
Into his Land, and left Ulysses still,  
In joy with Queen Penelope, until   

That fierce and cruel Atropos did bend  
Herself against them both, and did bereave  
Him of his life, and unto him did send  
A sudden death: until which time I'll leave  
To speak of them, and for a little while  
Change matter, and to Pyrrhus turn my stile.    

CHAP. II.  
¶ Here the Author showeth the stock of Pyrrhus by lineal descent, and telleth how his grandfathers name was Peleus, and his Grandmother Thetides.  

AS Guido doth, so must I likewise tell  
And show at large what of Achilles' Son  
Young Pyrrhus did become, and what befell  
To him when as the Trojan war was done.  
Whose grand-fire as the story telleth us,  
While he did live, was called King Peleus.   

His grandmother named Thetides, whose Son  
Achilles was, (that falsely lost his life  
Within the town of Troy, when he had won  
Great honour at that siege,) that took to wife  
Dardanica the fair, (who as I read  
Was daughter to a King called Lycomead.)   

And on her his Son Pyrrhus did beget,  
Whom some men use to call Neptolemus)  
Her grandsire King Atastus was so great  
An enemy unto King Peleus,  
Achilles, and to Pyrrhus, with the rest  
Of that same stock, that he did sore detest   

And hate them all, and furiously when as  
King Peleus stayed in Thessaly alone,  
And then without his Son Achilles was,  
Who to the mighty siege of Troy was gone:  
He entered by force into his land,  
And finding none that could him there withstand,   

He took the same from him, and made him fly  
Into a Cave with Thetides his wife:  
And there he was compelled secretly  
To hide himself, whereas to save his life,  
Long after in great misery he lay,  
While cruel King Atastus every day   

Sought all the means he could devise or find,  
To bring his Nephew Pyrrhus to his end,  
And thereupon determined in his mind  
In secret wise his knights abroad to send,  
To take and to entrap him on the way  
As he returned home, and him to stay.   

But Pyrrhus out of all the snares escaped,  
Which he for him did lay by sea and land,  
And at the last as Fortune for him shaped,  
(As no man can his Destiny withstand.)  
With loss of many men and treasure great,  
Before the town of Malasus did get   

Unto the shore: where he did understand,  
Of Thetides and Peleus' banishment  
By violence out of their native land,  
And how false King Atastus was so bend  
'Gainst him, that he each hour and minit sought  
His death, & near would cease till he had brought   

The same to pass. Which when as Pyrrhus knew,  
He purposed his malice to prevent  
By some sinister means, and to eschew  
The fury of Atastus 'gainst him bend.  
(Who as the story saith, had two Sons more,  
Th'one the name of Menalippus bore,   

The other of them was Polistenes,  
Two Knights of great renown, and valorous,  
And one fair daughter named Thetides.)  
While his old aged grandsire Peleus  
With Thetides his wife lay in a cave,  
In great distress their woeful lives to save.   

And yet clean out of hope relieved to be,  
Or comforted in that extremety,  
Unless it were by Pyrrhus' means, when he  
Returned, for which he prayed continually,  
And cursed the time of his so long abode.  
Which heavy news when Pyrrhus understood   

At Malasus, he strait to sea did high,  
With full intent if he did safely get  
Unto his native land of Thessaly,  
He would false King Atastus purpose let,  
And be revenged on him ere it was long  
For all the mischief, cruelty, and wrong,   

That he had done unto King Peleus.  
But first before that to the Sea he went,  
He called to him two knights, one Crilippus,  
The other named Adrastus, whom he sent  
To Thessaly to hear and understand  
Where King Atastus kept within that land,   

And what 'gainst him he did intend to do.  
And that they might the better bring't to pass,  
He gave them letters, which he sent unto  
One Assandrus a Lord, that sometime was  
A counsellor unto King Peleus,  
And▪ Chamberlain: and when he had done thus,   

He entered ship and would no longer tarry,  
But through the seas did scour and stayed not,  
Although the wind and weather were contrary,  
And storms arose till at the last he got  
To Thessaly, where 'twas his chance to land  
(Hard by the place wherein the cave did stand.   

Where Peleus and his wife themselves did hide  
'Mong bushes, briars, and thorns,) & all alone  
Did walk upon the sand without a guide,  
And when he had with heavy heart thus gone,  
A little while, King Peleus coming out  
His Cau● to take the air, was in a doubt   

To lose his life, when as he saw a knight  
There all alone, and sore abashed stayed  
Till he of him had taken better sight,  
And when he had beheld him well, dismayed  
In mind, he thought that he Achilles saw,  
And therewithal did nearer to him draw.   

(For he so like unto Achilles was,  
For visage shape and parsonage, that none  
Could know the one from th'other well,) so as  
King Peleus to himself did musethereon:  
And strait with tears distilling down his face  
He ran his nephew Pyrrhus to embrace,   

And being somewhat better comforted,  
With joyful heart (though grieved) to him did tell,  
How cruelly he had been banished,  
And forced in a cave long time to dwell  
In misery and woe, and nothing left  
To succour him, but all from him bereft,   

With crown and Kingdom, by the cruelty  
And hatred of Atastus that had done  
It causeless unto him, whose tyranny  
For want of aid he could by no means shone,  
Which Pyrrhus having heard and marking well,  
Into so great an agony than fell,   

That he stood still and would not speak a word,  
And therewith in his heart exceeding wroth  
To hear the cause, (so much the same abhorred,)  
That speechless to his ships from thence he goeth,  
(And would not make an answer thereunto,  
Still studying with himself what he should do.)   

Till he was told how that the self same day  
Atastus with his Sons was ridden out  
Into a wood not far of from that way  
To hunt for dear, and that they were in doubt  
To be assailed by him, which when he knew  
He stayed not, but strait himself withdrew,   

And putting of his clothes, appareled  
Himself like one of poor and mean degree,  
And girding on his sword without all dread,  
Went all alone into the wood to see  
What Fortune or advantage he could find  
Therein, to ease his sad and troubled mind.   

And as he went along from place to place,  
Much like a man that seemed to make great moan;  
At last it was his chance to hear the chase,  
And therewithal he slept aside that none  
Of them should see nor find him where he stood:  
And when he had a while been in the wood,   

It was Prince Menalippus chance to ride  
That way with Prince Polistines his brother▪  
Where Pyrrhus, them did stand▪ whom when they spid,  
They stayed their horse, and both of them together▪  
With countenance stern before they thence would pass,  
Went unto him, and asked him what he was,   

And whence he came, and why so poorly clad  
He wandered in that manner all alone,  
Like one that neither joy nor comfort had?  
And he that seemed in heart to sigh and groan,  
With heavy cheer, and countenance full sad,  
Replied to them again, and answer made,   

That he by chance was cast upon that shore  
By tempest, and how all his company  
Were drowned at sea, and that he and no more  
Escaped with life, but yet unhappily  
Had lost all that he had, and without joy  
A Grecian born that lately came from Troy,   

There wandered solitarily, and prayed  
Them that they would upon him then bestow  
Some money and apparel for to aid  
Him in his need, that had been brought so low.  
Who pitying his estate, did not denay  
To do him good, but bade him there to stay,   

That they might see what he could do: & when  
They had said so, and turned their heads aside,  
Behold a mighty Hart before them ran,  
Wherewith Prince Menalippus strait did ride  
In haste to follow it, with sphere in hand,  
And left his brother there who still did stand   

By Pyrrhus, talking with him all alone,  
And seeming to be weary, lighted there  
Off from his horses back, which having done,  
He laid him down to rest, and giving ear  
Unto the woeful moan that Pyrrhus made,  
No fear of any hurt or treason had.   

Where suddenly ere he perceived the blow,  
He was by Pyrrhus thrust into the hart,  
From whence the blood in stream began to flow,  
And there he died, while Pyrrhus' sideways start:  
And left him lying groveling on the plain,  
Till Menalippus came to him again,   

Where while with weeping eyes and colour wan  
To look upon his brother's corpse he stood,  
Fierce Pyrrhus in great fury to him ran  
And with a mind that thirsteth after blood:  
Strait with his sword his life from him bereft,  
And by his brother dying there him left.   

And so they were unfortunately slaive  
By Pyrrhus, who when he had done the same,  
Withdrew himself out of that place again,  
And as he went he saw a Knight that came  
Unto him wards, of whom he did inquire  
His name, and what the reason was that there   

He road alone so far out of the way,  
Who answered his name was Cineras,  
Great King Atastus knight, who that same day  
Did hunt within the wood, and that he was  
Not far from thence, whom Pyrrhus without ●●ord  
Replied to him again, smote with his sword▪   

And killed him in that place, and then forsook  
The Forest, and directly went his way  
Unto his ships (with fierce and furious look)  
Where he put of his clothes, and did array  
Himself in purple velvet like a king,  
And to the Forest back again did fling.   

Where suddenly while he walked too & fro,  
He met with king Atastus all alone,  
Who wondering much to see him clothed so,  
Asked what he was, & why there making moan  
He wandered so solitarily?  
T'whom Pyrrhus answer made, and for reply   

Said full of grief and woe I do confess  
Myself to be, and therefore wandering  
Alone I go to think on the distress  
That happened hath to Priamus the King,  
Whose Son I was, and by the fall of Troy  
Bereft of all my honour, wealth, and joy.   

I now am made a prisoner 'gainst my will  
To Pyrrhus, unto whom I promise made  
To be his prisoner true, and to fulfil  
His hest in every thing, and therefore sad  
And heavily I walk, and so said he,  
I have you told how it now stands with me.   

Which when he had so said unto the King,  
Atastus friendly spoke to him again,  
And questioned with him of many a thing,  
And 'mongst the rest where Pyrrhus did remain  
In Thessaly, and what he went about?  
And Pyrrhus said, to put you out of doubt,   

He doth as now continue in a cave  
Not far from hence, and there doth closely stay  
In mighty fear and dread, his life to save,  
And pointed to the cave where Peleus lay:  
The which he did to make him look about,  
While he in furious wise his sword drew out,   

Intending there Atastus to have slain,  
But as he thought to give the fatal blow  
Queen Thetides came running to the plain,  
And weeping at his feet herself did throw,  
And holding fast his sword, did make him stay  
His hand, and thus unto him she did say,   

Let it suffice good nephew thou hast done,  
And from so sore revenge thyself refrain,  
(Sith 'gainst things past remedy there is none,)  
Hast thou not killed (said she) my brethren twain,  
And wilt thou without mercy take away  
My aged father's life? I pray thee stay   

Thy cruel sword, and now no more blood shed,  
(Remembering that the blood thou spilst is thine,)  
And pity take upon thy kindred,  
From whom thou comest by right paternal lin●  
For all men cruel Parasites contemn,  
And for unnatural murderers▪ condemn.   

The which when Pyrrhus heard like Tiger wroth,  
He said, whosoe'er against the same will stand,  
Despite of him whether he be lief or loath,  
He shall be slain at this time by my hand:  
For hath he not (said he) by force and might  
Bereft my grandsire Peleus of his right.   

Whose Queen you are, and he your Lord & king,  
Whose part you ought to take, and not to stay  
My hand from doing of so just a thing,  
And therefore without fail I will him slay:  
For nought there is that now his life shall save  
Unless my grandsire Peleus doth it crave.   

And therewith aged Peleus did begin  
To creep out of the cave, and when he saw  
What danger King Atastus then was in,  
He prayed his Nephew Pyrrhus to withdraw  
His hand, and not to kill him in that place,  
But rather to respect his woeful case.   

And think said he upon the extreme smart  
Of him, that weeping sore with cruel pain  
Before thee stands, with cold and dying hart,  
To see his Sons here lie before him slain  
By thee, the which (said he) if thou be wise,  
I pray thee at this time let it suffice;   

And think thyself enough revenged to be  
On him, if thou considerest well thereon,  
And sith he doth submit himself to thee,  
I pray thee for my sake let him alone  
And spare his life, that ready is to die  
For grief, which thou shalt not to me deny▪   

The which when Pyrrhus heard he did refr●●n●  
From killing him▪ as P●le●●s ●ade ●●quest,  
And when he had put up his sw●●●●gain●,  
perceiving that he had done for the haste:  
While these two aged kings together were,  
He made accord between them both, ●● there   

They did agree on either side to make  
Division of the land of Thessaly,  
And each of them the half thereof to take,  
And of the same to have the sovereignty:  
And never more to strive nor to contend  
For it again, till they their liue● should end.   

And while they two and Pyrrhus there alone  
Within the wood did stand and no man by,  
Atastus in this wise to speak begun▪  
And said, my Lords I can it not deny.  
(As both of you, as well as I, do know)  
That crooked age hath brought me down so low,   

That nature in me now begins to dry,  
And all my wits and senses so decay,  
Whereby I feel such insufficiency  
Within myself, that I must truly say,  
That I am far unfit to take the pain,  
Within the land of Thessaly to reign.   

For seeing that both of my sons are dead,  
And I am left alone without an heir,  
And have no children living to succeed  
Me in my throne, I wholly do despair  
Of worldly joy and all felicity,  
For wauring fortunes mutability▪   

Hath taught me (as I must of force confess)  
That no man doth in certain state abide,  
And that there is no trust nor stableness  
In worldly joys: and thereforeile provide  
While time doth serve, that strife there shall be none  
For Thassalie, when I am dead and gone.   

Forgainst the will of God i'll not repine)  
And to that end the Sceptre of thi● land,  
And regal throne for my part I resign,  
And give into my Nephew Pyrrhus' hand:  
And with that work his faith and troth he g●●e▪  
That he possession strait thereof should ●●●●▪   

In presence of his daughter Thetides.  
And Pyrrhus that no other likewise meant,  
Said, sith that is doth king Atast●● please  
Here to resign hi● part, I am concour  
To do the like, affirming that long since,  
It ever was his purpose and pretence,   

And th'only worldly joy he had, to leave  
His Crown unto his Nephew, whensoe'er  
Death with his dart should him of life bereave,  
As lawful heir unto the same: and there  
In presence of Atastus, and his wife,  
To Pyrrhus said, to end all war and strife   

Between us twain, I will likewise resign  
My Sceptre, Sword, and Crown into thy hand,  
As fully and as whole as ere 'twas mine,  
And makethee Lord of my part in this land,  
Which freely unto thee I now do give,  
To be thine own as long as thou shalt live.   

Which having saith and this agreement made  
Between the kings, as you have understood,  
Atastus knights, who in the mean time had  
Dispersed themselves abroad within the wood,  
Came thither, and were willed by their Lord,  
To swear and vow to hold & keep th'accord   

Between them made, whereto they gave consent.  
And so together in a company,  
Each for his part well pleased and content,  
They road unto the town of Thessaly:  
Where king Atastus called a Parliament,  
And therein by express Commandment,   

Caused all his subjects whatsoe'er they were,  
(Especially his whole Nobility)  
In open Court to take their oaths, and swear  
To yield unto the sovereignty  
Of Pyrrhus: and with full and free accord,  
T'acknowledge him to be their King & Lord   

Of Thessaly, and none but he alone;  
At which time Pel●●● likewise did the same.  
Which being thus on either side so done,  
By sound of trump the Heralds did proclaim  
King Pyrrhus in each street of Thessaly:  
And afterward with great solemnity,   

They crowned him king of all that land, & made  
Such triumph at his Coronation,  
And also such a royal banquet had,  
That if I should thereof make mention,  
It were too much, and I must it forbear,  
Because mine Author writes not thereof here.   

But briefly tells, that Pyrrhus by his might  
Increased much the Land of Thessaly,  
And reigned long there with equity and right▪  
And no more thereof speaketh presently,  
But unto other matter turns his stile,  
And shows how king Idumeus bind the while   

In Crete, where he long time had reigned king,  
And after him his son Prince Merryone  
Succeeded, who untimely death did bring  
Unto his end: and children having none,  
His brother Prince Leorica obtained  
The Crown of Crete, & therein long time reigned.   

And while in Crete this change of Princes fell,  
Atastus by consent of Pyrrhus, made  
A rich and sumptuous tomb which did excel  
For workmanship, wherein (when as he had  
According to his mind full finished  
All that thereto belonged) he buried   

His sons which by king Pyrrhus had been slain  
Within the wood. And leaving him doth show,  
How while that Pyrrhus prosperously did reign  
In Thessaly, and did in wealth o'erflow:  
He was provoked want only to lust,  
For that which by God's law is held unjust,   

And fell in love with fair Queen Hermion,  
Horestus wife, and had so great desire  
To her, that he did wholly think thereon:  
Whereby his heart was set on such a fire  
Of lust, that he by no means could content  
His mind, till he unto Methena went.   

And there his purpose brought so well about,  
That watching time and opportunity,  
When Horestus her husband was gone out,  
He ravished her, and after secretly  
took her away and held her as his wife,  
And long with her lived an adulterous life.   

(For which Horestus hated him so sore  
That he sought all the means he could devise  
Or find, to be revenged on him therefore,  
But held his peace (as being very wise)  
And for a little while sustained that wrong,  
As knowing well that Pyrrhus was too strong   

For him to deal withal, t'revenge the same  
At home within his land. Who also made  
Andromecha (Prince Hector's wife, that came  
With him from Troy) his Concubine, and had  
A child by her, who by his Grandsires' name  
Achillides was called, and with the same   

She nourished Prince Hector's eldest son  
Laomedon,) who Pyrrhus being slain,  
And left no child to be his heir, (but one  
A bastard borne) his kingdom did obtain:  
By gift of young Achillides his brother,  
Whom Pyrrhus did beget upon his mother.)   

Which women being both of high estate,  
And living in great pleasure and delight,  
Could not content themselves, but so did hate  
Each other, that Queen Hermion in despite  
And jealousy, that Pyrrhus loved better  
Her Feet than he did her, did send a letter   

To Menalus her father, t'whome she wrote,  
That notwithstanding her so great degree,  
She well perceived that Pyrrhus loved her not,  
But favoured more Andromecha than she:  
Desiring him with speed to come to kill  
Her and her son, who granted to her will.   

And in great haste went unto Thessaly,  
To be revenged on them that never had  
Offended him, but yet his cruelty  
Could not so far extend, but he was made  
To leave the same, by those that did withstand  
Him in the town, and took her out his hand,   

And did abhor such inhumanity,  
(Especially in him that was a king)  
Unto a woman done, which certainly  
In my conceit is such a heinous thing:  
That it doth make me blush for very shame,  
That I should be compelled to tell the same.   

But you must understand that this was done,  
When Pyrrhus was from home & gone away,  
For he that time on pilgrimage was gone  
To Delos, there to sacrifice and pray  
Devoutly for his father's soul unto  
Apollo, and such other things to do,   

As he had vowed and promised to fulfil,  
For joy of that revenge that had been made  
At Troy, on those that did his father kill,  
And for that great good fortune that they had,  
To triumph o'er his Trojan enemy.  
Which vantage when Horestus did espy,   

Who still laid watch for him both day & night,  
He did no time nor no occasion let,  
But strait to Delos went with many a knight,  
And on him there so furiously did set,  
That Pyrrhus was not able to withstand  
Horestus, but was slain there by his hand,   

And all that were with him in company▪  
(And so king Pyrrhus died and lost his life,  
For just reward of his adultery,  
And foul abuse done to Horestus wife.  
And let all those that use to do the like  
Remember this, & know that God will strike   

Them likewise when they little think thereon.)  
Whose body was in Delos Temple laid,  
Within a costly Marble tomb, which done,  
Horestus there no longer time delayed,  
But strait when as his enemy was slain,  
He went and got his wife by force again   

Out of the town of Thessaly, whereas  
He found not one that durst against him stand,  
Such fear & grief amongst them then there was,  
When they of Pyrrhus' death did understand:  
And that to rule and govern them was none  
Then left, but young Achillides his son,   

A child as then not fully three months old,  
Whose young and tender age was not to take  
So great a charge in hand, and yet they would  
Not put him from't, but for his father's sake  
They were content that he o'er them should reign.  
But when he did to lawful years attain,   

He did resign his crown and all his right  
In Thessaly unto Laomedon,  
His brother by the mother's side (a knight  
Of worthy Trojan blood, Prince Hector's son,  
Begotten on his wife Andromecha)  
(Protector while he lived of Phrigia.)   

And made him king & Sovereign of that land,  
Despite of all that durst the same deny.  
Who when he had the Crown & chief command  
Of all the puissant Realm of Thessaly:  
He let the Trojan captives all go free,  
Where as they list at their own liberty,   

And no exception made of any one,  
But freed them of all ransom whatsoe'er  
They were to pay: and when he had so done,  
And set all things in peace and quiet there,  
And much increased the bounds of Thessaly,  
He reigned long there in great prosperity.   

But of the acts of king Laomedon,  
Or of king Pyrrhus and his kindred,  
I'll cease to speak as now, because thereon  
Mine Author writes no more that I can read:  
Who briefly by the way somewhat doth show,  
(But to what purpose well I do not know)   

Of Menons' wife (whom fierce Achilles slew,  
Because when he Prince Troyelus had killed,  
And at his horse's tail his body drew,  
He valiantly withstood him in the field,  
And made him leave his body, & by force  
Sore wounded, beat him down off from his horse.)   

Whose body was entombed by Priamus  
In Troy, within a little Temple, where  
It lay close by the Tomb of Troyelus,  
And after did stand therein many a year.  
Who saith, that long time after she was dead,  
And in her native Country buried,   

Did suddenly at Menons' Tomb appear,  
(In shape and form like to an Angel bright,  
Environed with stars that shone most clear,  
And round about the place cast such a light,  
That no man could behold her steadfastly,  
Her countenance did shine so heavenly.)   

Descending from the skies celestial,  
In sight of many men, appareled  
Divinely, and in presence of them all,  
Did make her husband's tomb be opened:  
And out of it did take his bones, and bear  
Them (in a chest of gold which she had there   

Of purpose brought down with her) clean from thence,  
And on a sudden 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 afraid,  
And every one his judgement thereof said,   

Some thinkinged was a Goddess, others, some  
Celestial power descended from the sky,  
Or else the soul of Menon that did come,  
To bear his bones up to the Deity:  
But what it was I know not, neither will  
Presume to judge of that is past my skill,   

As being loath to climb above my reach.  
And therefore of the same i'll speak no more,  
But turn again whereas I made a breach,  
When of Ulysses life I spoke before:  
And tell you of his hard and fatal end,  
When Atropas' loath longer time to spend   

In spinning of his thread of life, agreed  
With Parchas fell her office l'execute,  
Who having preordaind the same, with speed  
took out her shears and it in sunder cut.  
Defend thyself therefore Ulysses now,  
Without all fear to shun the fatal blow,   

Which by thy sons sharp sword thou shalt receive.  
For I am now prepared, and do intend  
To sharp my pen once more (before I leave  
My work long since begun) to write thy end:  
And with the same my Books full period make,  
For that my hand with weariness doth shake.   

But yet ere that I thereof make an end,  
I must of force to make my Book complete,  
A little longer time about thee spend,  
And of thy fatal fate and death entreat:  
Which unto thee did happen by the dart  
Of him whom thou didst love with all thy hart.   

But first I must desire the sleepy God,  
(By Poets Morpheus called, who by the might  
And power supreme of his enchanting rod,  
Doth rule men's minds and fancies in the night:  
And makes men dream & divers visions see,  
Which many times prognostications be,   

And warnings unto men of future good  
Or ill, that unto them shall after hap,  
The which cannot be any way withstood,  
For no man may God's just decree escape.)  
To rule and guide my wit and pen as now,  
That I to you Ulysses dream may show.   

The which he had not long before he died,  
Wherewith by signs that true and certain were,  
He was forewarned and fully certified,  
His end by unexpected death drew near:  
Who as he in his bed fast sleeping lay,  
About the time when Cocks crow fore 'tis day;   

He thought there did before him then appear  
A woman of so heavenly feature,  
That she did show as she an Angel were,  
And not to be an earthly creature:  
Who was so fair and beautiful of face,  
That she did seem t'jlluminate the place   

Wherein she was, and therewithal her eyes  
Did shine as clear and bright as any star,  
And able were t'entrap, and to surprise  
Their hearts that looked upon her near or far:  
And no defence against them could be made,  
So exquisite a look and face she had.   

Whom when Ulysses did perceive, he was  
So much amazed to see her, that the more  
He looked on her he liked her, so as  
He did fast sleeping lie, he sighed fore:  
And (as he thought) put forth his hands to take  
Her in his arms, but she from him shrunk back:   

And still the more his eyes on her he cast,  
The farther she from him did seem to fly,  
As if she would have shunned him, till at last  
(When she perceived his importunity)  
She spoke to him, & asked him what he would  
With her, and why he did her so behold.   

In truth (said he) fair Lady I confess,  
That I am so much blinded in my sight,  
That I cannot perceive nor truly guess  
By outwards signs, if I should speak aright,  
Whether that your shape divine or earthly be,  
So excellent it seemeth unto 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  
Crave so much grace & favour at your hand,  
(Presuming not thereon by any right)  
To pity me that am your faithful knight,   

And so devoted unto you, that sure  
If I do not my mind as now fulfil,  
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 remedy,  
But for your sake of force I needs must die.   

And thus twixt hope and fear I have you told  
My mind, (said he) wherewith she stayed awhile,  
And did him with a countenance sad behold;  
Yet at the last upon him 'gan to smile,  
And said, the love which you to me do bear,  
Will be both our destructions I do fear,   

It is so doubtful and so dangerous,  
That without doubt (believe it certamly)  
If we together take our pleasure thus,  
One or else both of us shall surely die,  
For that the end thereof can be no other,  
If we as you desire, should lie together.   

Which said, Ulysses looking on her still,  
And therewithal approaching somewhat near  
Unto her, to behold her at his will,  
(Who in his mind did show so bright and clear)  
He saw that in her hand a spear she held,  
Which on it had a flag, whereof the field   

Was blue, and in the midst a Crown of gold,  
With fishes white environed round about,  
Which while he did most earnestly behold,  
She did begin to leave him and go out  
Whereas she was, but ere she left the place,  
She stayed a little while, and turned her face   

To him, and said, I tell you true and plain,  
That after this we never more shall see  
One th'other, but for parting of us twain,  
This greeting said, our last farewell shall be:  
And there withal her leave of him she took,  
And after that he suddenly awoke.   

And did begin t'imagine curiously,  
And muse unto himself within his mind,  
What that strange dream he had might signify.  
But when he could the same by no means find,  
(As being that he did not understand)  
He sent for all th'enchanters in the Land,   

And such as could the depth and meaning show,  
Of dreams that use to happen unto men  
When they do sleep, that he of them might know  
The exposition of his dream. And when  
They understood the same, they did agree  
All in one point, and told him plain that he   

Should shortly be bereft of life by one  
That nearest of his kindred was, and that  
T'avoid it way nor means for him was none:  
Which when he heard he wondered much thereat,  
And did begin to look with visage pale.  
But when he saw it could him not prevail,   

To grieve, his head was filled with fantasies  
And deep conceits, t'imagine and to see  
If he could find, or shape a remedy,  
By any means to shun that would not be:  
But yet for all his policy and wit,  
He could not reach unto the depth of it.   

For thinking that he would the same prevent,  
De did suppose that no man but his son  
Was he that should it do, and therefore sent  
With all the speed he could for Thelamon,  
And cast him into prison, so to shun  
That which the Fates decreed should be dun.   

Remembering not the spear with steeled head,  
Nor yet the flag thereon with azure filled,  
With fishes on't which in the seas do feed,  
Nor Circe's fair who in her hand it held:  
(Which signified nought but hostility,)  
Nor yet the Crown and regal dignity   

Of one that reigned within an Isle, that stands  
In midst of the sea, that should be he,  
Who 'gainst his will should slay him with his hands,  
And execute thereby the just decree  
Of God, the which Ulysses thought not on;  
But only did suspect Prince Thelaemon,   

Whom he then held close prisoner in a tower.  
And to prevent all other means what s'ere,  
He never ceased to muse thereon each hour:  
And at the last grew thereof in such fear,  
That he did cause a Castle to be made,  
And built of Marble stone, the which he had   

Devised in such sort, that there was none  
Like unto it in all the world throughout  
For strength, and had no gates in it but one  
To enter in the same, and round about,  
A ditch most deep and broad on every side,  
Did compass it. Wherein he did abide,   

And closely kept himself from sight of all  
The world, but those which on him did attend,  
And ever held a watch upon the wall,  
Both day and night most strictly, to the end  
That no man should so hardy be to venture,  
Without his leave into the same to enter,   

Unless it were those that therein did lie.  
Now as the story unto us doth tell,  
Ulysses had a Son begotten by  
Queen Circe's, who in valour did excel  
So much, that he was comp'rable to none  
In all that land, whose name was Thelagon.   

Born in an jsle among the furious rage  
Of foaming seas that compassed it about,  
Who at that time attained had to th'age  
Of twenty five years old: who stood in doubt  
What man did him beget, or who should be  
His father, whom he longed much to see.   

And having great desire the same to know,  
He fell before his mother on his knee,  
And did entreat her earnestly to show  
The truth to him, who might his father be,  
And what he was, & where he than did dwell:  
But she long time by no means would it tell,   

But put him off, and fed him with delay,  
Till when she saw she could not be at rest  
For him, that did torment her every day,  
And would not cease till he had his request:  
She showed him that Ulysses was his sire,  
And where he dwelled, who with most great desire   

To see him, took his leave of her with speed,  
And told her that he strait from thence would go:  
But when the Queen perceived, he had decreed  
To go to seek Ulysses, and that no  
Persuasion in the world could him withhold  
From doing it, her heart it waxed cold,   

And in her breast she felt exceeding pain.  
And when she saw he would by no means stay,  
She prayed him to come with speed again  
Home unto her. And so the self same day  
He put to sea, and sailed so long, till he  
He arrived where he did desire to be.   

And when he was within Achaia land,  
He never ceased to ride from place to place,  
And rested not till he did understand  
Where king Ulysses royal Palace was:  
Which when he knew he made no more abode,  
But speedily unto the Court he road.   

Whereas the king within his Castle stayed,  
And early on a Monday morning came  
Unto the gate and drawbridge, where he prayed  
The Porter, who at that time kept the fame,  
To give him leave a word or two to speak  
Unto the king, who to him gave a cheake,   

And churlishly did thrust him from the gate▪  
And proudly said he should not enter in,  
And with some other speeches told him that  
He must be gone: whereat he did begin  
To be in such a rage, that there with all  
He did upon the Porter fiercely fall,   

And furiously did take him by the beard,  
And gave him such a blow, that there with all  
He fell dead on the bridge, which when they heard  
That were within, they issued and did fall  
On him, but he so hotly them withstood,  
And fought with such a fierce & surious mood,   

That many of them clean o'er the bridge he cast,  
And when as more upon him issued forth,  
And on all sides began t'assail him fast,  
He did begin to be exceeding wroth,  
And with his sword about him made such way,  
That he therewith did fifteen of them slay.   

And fought so long that he was out of breath,  
And scarce could hold himself upright, so that  
Sore wounded he expected nought but death,  
Wherewith Ulysses came unto the gate:  
And when upon the bridge he did espy  
His men on heaps dead on the same to lie;   

Sore moved thereat, he took a dart in hand,  
And there with all in furious wise did throw  
At Thelagon, who then did leaning stand  
Upon his sword, but it did light too low,  
And hurt him not at all: but Thelagon  
Strait stooped down, & laying hands thereon,   

Did throw it at Ulysses in great haste,  
And there with all did strike him such a blow  
Into the breast, that through his ribs it passed,  
And gave him his death's wound: but did not know  
That't was the king, nor that he so had slain  
His father dear, who then could not sustain   

Himself upright, but to the ground did slide,  
With pale and deadly face, and so he lay  
Amongst his men that stood on either side,  
And busy were to bear him thence away,  
Supposing that he verily was dead:  
But suddenly he lifted up his head,   

And having still a perfect memory,  
He called to mind the vision he did see,  
And how that he was told assuredly,  
That one of his ner'st kinsmen should be he  
That with a dart, of life should him bereave,  
And for because ●● could not well conceive   

Who it should be; He bade his men to bring  
The young man that before the gate than stood  
With speed to him, without once offering  
To wrong him for so shedding of their blood.  
And when that he was brought into the place  
Whereas he lay, he looked him in the face:   

And marking well his countenance, began  
To ask him for what cause he did come thither,  
And what occasion moved him as than  
T'assail his guard, that he and they together  
Had fought, and he had slain them so, whereby  
Himself sore wounded was, and like to die.   

To whom with courage bold he spoke, and said,  
The only cause why I came hither was  
To see the King, but by the Porter stayed,  
(Whom I entreated courteously to pass)  
And churlishly put back, with words most vile:  
I seeing that he did me so revile,   

Much grieved that he used me in that sort,  
Did kill him with a blow on th'ear: which when  
The guard did see (that watch held in the fort,)  
They issued, and together on me ran:  
And I compelled to fight (though 'gainst my will)  
In my defence, fifteen of them did kill.   

Whereby I am thus wounded as you see,  
And like to lose my life, as well as they  
That sought (if that they could) t'have killed me.  
And this (if these here present truth will say)  
The reason was we fought, and they were killed  
By me, which when Ulysses heard, he willed   

Him to declare where he was borne, and what  
His Father was, and where he than did dwell?  
Who answered the King, and told him that  
He would the truth thereof unto him tell:  
And said, he was borne in an Isle that stood  
Within the sea, of high and Princely blood,   

And that he to his mother had a Queen  
Caldoro Circe's, who both f●r and n●●● was known,  
And how he had his Father never ●●erio,  
But said, that by his mother he was shown  
That he was gotten by a king, who as  
He did return from Troy did chance to pass   

Along that way, and as she told to me  
(Said he) his name Ulysses was. Whom I  
Did long, and such desire had to see.  
That taking ship I set sail presently,  
And in short space I came into this land,  
Where I was told and given to understand,   

That I should find my Father in this place;  
But now I see my labour is in vain,  
And fear that I shall never see his face:  
And therefore sith I have ta'en so much pain,  
And cannot unto my desire attain,  
I will if that I live return again   

Into my native soylo, and seek no more  
With danger of my life, for that which I  
So long to find: and yet it grieves me fore  
T'have ta'en such pains and cannot satisfy  
My mind. This is all that I can you show  
(Said he) of that which you desire to know.   

Whereby Ulysses (sighing sore when as  
He had heard him that answer to him make)  
Perceiving he his Son by Circe's was,  
With grief began to tremble and to quake.  
And shedding store of blood out of his wound,  
He fainted, and did full into a swound.   

And with a countenance heavy, dead, and pale,  
Said, now I see my woeful Destiny  
Fulfilled is, for by this young man's ●ale,  
I know and find there is no remedy  
For me, and that the time is now too l●●e  
To strine against my hard and cu●s●● Fa●e.   

For now my Son which here by me doth stand  
Hath given me●●y death, and made an end  
Of his old Father's life, and with his hand  
Hath finish that, whereto my dream did tend.  
Which words pronounced, young Thelagon began  
With countenance sad, and face ●oth pale & wan,   

To sigh, when as he knew and understood  
That 'gainst the laws of nature he had flame  
His Father, and so fiercely shed his blood,  
That him begot, and felt such grievous pain  
In heart, that he did presently sink down,  
And fore them all did fall into a swoon.   

And coming to himself, when he had torn  
His clothes, and pulled his hair off from his head:  
He said, alas, that ever I was borne,  
That by my hands my Father should be dead.  
Cursed be my hard and woeful Destiny,  
And fortune fell the which I could not fly.   

Cursed be the hand that hath been so impure,  
Whereby this wicked deed by me is done.  
Accursed be I of every creature,  
Accursed be my constellation.  
And cursed be and most unfortunate  
The hour wherein my father me begat.   

Oh would to God for this unhappy deed  
T'excuse his death, I might for my reward  
In presence of you all die in his steed,  
And wholly of all comfort be debarred:  
And that men would me utterly forsake.  
But when the King such sorrow hard him make,   

And knew he was his Son that Circe's bore  
By him in th'isle Aulides as be found  
By many signs which he rehearsed before,  
He made him to be ta'en up from the ground  
Whereon he lay, and pardoned him his death,  
Being ready then to yield his vital breath,   

And lying in so great extremity,  
With speed did call for his Son Thelamon.  
Who at that time in prison strait did lie;  
Who presently when as he heard thereon▪  
Unto his Father went, and when he saw  
That he began unto his end to draw,   

And by enquiry knew the truth, and found  
That Thelagon who fore him there did stand  
Was he that had given him his deadly wound,  
With mighty rage he took his sword in hand:  
And thought his brother Thelagon to kill,  
But ere th●● he of him could have his will   

Ulysses made his men to run and hold  
His hand, and then for all the pain he had,  
He called his Sons and told them that he would  
Have them t'agree, and to be friends▪ & made  
Them gra●● and promise to be so, which ●on  
He did expressly charge Prince Thelamon,   

That he without dissimulation  
Should love, and in most friendly manner live  
(While vital breath did last) with Thelagon  
His brother, and to him the half should give  
Of all his goods, as heir by true descent  
To him, whereto he freely did consent,   

And never from his Father's will did vary.  
Which said, his men a Chariot did provide,  
And did him to his chiefest City carry,  
Where afterward within three days he died.  
Whose body was interred by high Son,  
Within a costly Tomb of Marble stone.   

And after that they Crowned Thelamon  
And made him King with great solemnity,  
With whom a whole year after Thelagon  
His brother stayed, to whom most lovingly,  
And kindly, he near any thing denied.  
And when he would n● 〈◊〉 there abide,   

He dubbed him Knight, and after did prepare  
A ship, and gold for him, (whereof he had  
Great store,) wherewith he did again repair  
Home to Aulides Isle, and thereby made  
His mother Circe's heart exceeding glad,  
That had for his long absence been full sad.   

For she by Negromancian Art could tell  
That he through many dangers great had passed,  
And scaped them all. And after that, she fell  
Into an extreme sickness, and at last  
Well stricken in years she died, (as all men must  
When as their time is come.) For God most just   

Hath death ordained for every living thing.  
Who having unto nature paid her debt:  
Prince Thelagon her Son was Crowned King  
Of Aulides, whereas with honour great  
He did his Crown & Kingdom long maintain,  
And threescore years full complete there did reign.   

While Thelamon lived in Achaia land,  
And thereof held the Sceptre and the Crown  
For scutcheon years together in his hand,  
Till from his throne death proudly pulled him down  
Unto the ground, and with his piercing dart▪  
In cruel wise did strike him to the hart.   

This shall suffiice to let you see and know,  
Th'adventures of the Greeks by sea and land  
When they returned from Troy, and for to show  
That whatsoever man doth take in hand,  
The issue doth upon Gods will depend,  
For he tis gives an ill or happy end.   

Which is well proved by this History,  
Wherein you see, that though the Greeks did win▪  
And had a most triumphant victory  
Against the Troyans' and their Town; wherein  
They did obtain that which they did desire,  
Which was their wil● and t'honor to aspire:   

Yet cause the war which they with Troy began  
Was done of pride, and in an envious vain  
Without just cause, they rather lost then wan.  
For that upon their side more men were slain  
Then on the Troyans' part, (for all they lost  
Their town) so that they had no cause to boast.   

Considering that besides their loss fore Troy,  
When they were into Greece returned, most part  
Of them that lived, did not long time enjoy  
Their victory, for that with envious heart  
Each th'other did destroy, and sought to kill  
By treachery, the Proverb to fulfil,   

(That blood with blood always revenged will be)  
Troy's fall doth teach all Princes to take heed,  
When as they live in great prosperity,  
Not to be too secure, lest that they speed  
As Priam did, who would not be content  
When he did live in peace, (but t'envie bend)   

Old quarrels with his Grecian foes renewed,  
Supposing thats his wealth and power great  
He could do what he list. But what ensued  
Thereof, the story plainly down doth set:  
Which saith, that he thereby wrought's own decay,  
To show that man hath here no certain stay.   

THus have you heard as much as I can tell,  
Of all the Trojan war as it's set down,  
By Dares Frigius who therein did dwell,  
And wrote the story thereof in the Town,  
And every day a view thereof did take,  
Who of this same an end herewith doth make.   

With whom the Grecian Ditus doth agree,  
And in like sort his History doth end,  
Twixt whom in truth no difference I can see,  
For both their works unto one purpose tend:  
Which is the true proceedings to express  
Of that whereof they were eye witnesses.   

Though not in verbal form, yet in effect  
And meaning both alike, and true they are.  
Which is the thing men chiefly should respect.  
But that the Grecian Ditus doth declare,  
And saith, that while the siege did there remain,  
The number of the Greeks that there was slain   

Amounted to eight hundred thousand men.  
And of the Troiaus side as Dares shoe▪  
Six hundred thousand scutcheon and sixteen  
Then lost their lives, 'mong whom are reckoned those  
That to the Town from other countries came,  
And there were killed by aiding of the same.   

For that of hundred thousands that did aid  
King Priam, and of divers countries were  
It is not found, (as it before is said,  
Though they behaud themselves most bravely there,  
So many of them in that war was slain,)  
That there did go five hundred home again.   

And both of them in this point do agree,  
That full ten years, six months, & 12. days more  
The siege did last, with great hostility  
And loss of men on either side, before  
The Greeks for all that ever they could do,  
Could win the town o● enter thereinto.   

Till Sinon by his craft did it betray,  
As it at large declared is before,  
And further of the same I cannot say,  
Because mine Authors thereof say no more.  
And for to add more than they write thereto,  
Were in me great presump'ion so to do.   

The time when I this work had fully done  
By computation just, was in the year  
One thousand & four hundred twenty one  
Of jesus Christ our Lord & Saviour dear.  
And in the Eight year complete of the reign  
Of our most noble Lord and Sovereign   

King Henry the fifth, who in despite  
Of all his foes, Brutes Albion doth maintain  
In honour great, for by his puissant might  
He conquered all Normandy again.  
And valiantly for all the power of France,  
Hath won from them his own inheritance.   

And forced them his title to renew  
To all the Realm of France, (which doth belong  
To him and to his lawful heirs, by true  
Descent, the which they held from him by wrong  
And false pretence,) and to confirm the same▪  
Have given him the honour and the name   

Of Regent of the Land for Charles his life,  
And after his decease they have agreed  
(Thereby to end all bloody war and strife)  
That he as heir shall lawfully succeed▪  
Therein, and reign as King of France by right,  
As by records which extant are to light,   

It doth appear. And then I hope we shall  
Enjoy again the time so prosperous  
And fortunate, the which men use to call  
The good and golden world, and that to us  
God will afford his blessing and his grace,  
That Mars no more our country shall merluce.   

Nor with his countenance furious and wood,  
Move war and strife between these countries twain  
Nor be the cause of shedding of their blood,  
Whereof till now they both may well complain:  
And that our noble King will so provide  
By wisdom and by power, that either side   

Shall live in peace and henchforth so agree,  
That both the realms of England, and of France,  
By one Prince ruled, shall seem all one to be,  
And ever more live without variance:  
And from their hearts all hate and malice chase,  
By th'influence of Gods most mighty grace;   

And heavenly power which ruleth every thing,  
And who by his great providence divine,  
Hath such an alliance made between our King  
And France, by marrying Lady Katherine  
The French Kings daughter, that we hope it shall  
Procure us peace and joy perpetual.   

And that the Royal issue of them twain,  
(Will be a mean and way without all fear)  
That England shall for evermore obtain  
The sole command of those two Realms, & wear  
Their Diadems imperial both together,  
And that the fair Queen Katherine's coming hither   

Will nourish so great love and unity  
On both sides, that we never shall have need  
Nor cause to fear nor feel adversity;  
And that it will be th'only means to breed  
Our honour, joy, and great prosperity,  
Wealth, pleasure, peace, and all felicity,   

And drive away all mischief whatsoe'er  
Out of this Land. So that with heart & thought  
We shall have cause with voices loud and clear  
To pray for her that hath it to us brought:  
And him that by his valour great and might,  
Hath show'd himself so puissant a Knight,   

That he hath won, and clearly doth possess  
All that to him belongs, and now it's set  
Accompanied with his fair Empress,  
Victoriously with praise and honour great,  
In his most Royal throne: to whom God give  
As long as he upon the earth shall live,   

(And doth enjoy the full fruition  
Of all that unto him belongs of right,  
And holds the same in his subjection,)  
Increase of comfort, pleasure, and delight:  
And t'send him home with triumph & with honour  
As great as ere had any Conqueror.   

And long time after grant him to possess  
His kingdoms, and his Regal Dignity,  
(With his fair Queen) in joy and quietness,  
If possible it were perpetually:  
And I will never cease both night and day,  
Withal my heart unto the Lord to pray   

For him, by whose commandment I took  
On me (though far unfit to do the same)  
To translate into English verse, this Book,  
Which Guido wrote in Latin, and doth name  
The siege of Troy, and for his sake alone  
I must confess that I the same begon,   

When Henry whom men fourth by name did call,  
(My Prince's Father) lived and possessed  
The Crown. And though I be but rustical,  
I have therein not spared to do my best  
To please my Prince's humour. Though  
A thing that I should not have ta'en on me,   

(Which am a Monk by my profession  
In Berry, called john Lidgate by my name,  
And wear a habit of perfection:  
Although my life agrees not with the same)  
That meddle should with things spiritual,  
As I must needs confess unto you all.   

But seeing that I did therein proceed,  
At his command whom I could not refuse,  
I humbly do beseech all those that read,  
Or leysor have this story to peruse,  
If any fault therein they find to be,  
Or error that committed is by me▪   

That they will of their gentleness take pain▪  
The rather to correct and mend the same,  
Then rashly to condemn it with disdain.  
For well ●●vot it is not without blame,  
Because I know the verse therein is wrong,  
As being some too short and some too long▪   

For if with faults men should not sometime bear,  
But all for some seem wholly to refuse,  
Then must I say in vain my labour were.  
Let ignorance and rudeness me excuse:  
For though my verse for harshness you reject,  
Yet if you to the some have good respect,   

I doubt not but that you therein shall find,  
That all the substance of the matter is  
Set down that Guydo wrote, to please your mind.  
And if that any word be placed amiss,  
I pray you mend the same in courtesy:  
For to condemn an error utterly,   

Which is not made nor done with bad intent,  
No commendation to him that's wise:  
For no man unto scoffing more is bend  
Behind men's backs, nor sooner will surmise  
A lie, than he that hath no wit at all,  
He treadeth sure that never hath a fall.   

I oft have read in Authors new and old,  
Which write of men's behaviours good and ill,  
That no man is more foolish and more bold,  
Then he that is an Idiot without skill.  
For that blind Bayard fears nothing at all  
Till in a ditch he suddenly doth fall.   

And none so ready is to prate and prattle,  
Nor sooner will condemn a man than he.  
But for all those that use such tittle tattle,  
I care not what they say or speak of me:  
For I do not to them direct my Book,  
But unto such as with a sincere look   

Peruse the same, and with men's faults do bear,  
And can amend an error without blame  
To him that writes, and tell not what they hear  
To hinder or impeach a man's good name:  
But used are to speak well of their friend,  
Whereto all honest men their wits should bend.   

For Chawcer that my master was, and knew  
What did belong to writing verse or prose,  
Near stumbled at small faults, nor yet did view  
With scornful eye the works and Books of those  
That in his time did write, nor yet would taunt  
At any man, to fear him or to daunt   

His courage in that kind of exercise:  
But rather use their weakness to support,  
And as he was well learned and very wise,  
And able to instruct and to exhort  
Such as did use to write, would wink and smile  
At faults, and yet say nothing all the while▪   

So that if to describe him I should strive,  
I must needs say (unless from truth I vary)  
That never any man as yet did live  
Until this day, that worthy was to carry  
His inkhorn in respect of Poetry.  
But if within this Land or Realm there be   

Such men as able be his steps to trace;  
To them it is that I direct my Book,  
And wholly to their skills refer my case,  
With their judicial eyes thereon to look:  
Beseeching them to mend what is amiss,  
And t'adde, or to diminish all that is   

Superfluous, or else wanting. And although  
They find therein no phrases that are new,  
Nor Eloquence (as they suppose) enough,  
Yet I do hope that they shall find all true  
In substance as mine Author wrote the same,  
Wherein I know I shall incur no blame.   

ANd he that list and doth desire to see  
The wavering state and infelicity  
Of ages past, may here instructed be,  
And find how Fortune's mutability  
Hath always been so great, that no man could  
Put trust in her. And therewithal behold▪   

How Princes clean bereft of Royalty,  
Were suddenly brought into great distress.  
And Kings redu'st to such extremity,  
That poverty and want did them oppress.  
Great slaughters made in kingdoms enviously.  
Murders committed by conspiracy.   

False treason, secret ambushes, despite,  
Subversion of whole kingdoms suddenly,  
The ravishing of women for delight,  
The root of war and great hostility.  
Maintaining of most fowl adultery,  
Which caused many Prince's great to die.   

To show thereby that since the cause of all  
Such wickedness receives reward most just,  
Which suddenly upon mankind doth fall,  
For that in worldly joys there is no trust.  
And in this Book examples you shall find,  
If you consider well thereof in mind,   

How every man must unto nature yield,  
When time doth serve, both young and old of age,  
And wither like the grass within the field,  
For here our life is but a Pilgrimage  
replete with sorrow, misery, and woe,  
Which if men marked & took good heed thereto   

And wisely would consider of their end,  
They would esteem all pleasure but a toy,  
And no more time therein so vainly spend,  
Nor take so much delight in worldly joy.  
For by Troy's fall it plainly doth appear,  
That neither King nor Emperor hath here▪   

A permanent estate to trust unto.  
Therefore to him that died upon the rood,  
(And was content and willing so to do,  
And for mankind did shed his precious blood,)  
Lift up your minds and pray with humble 〈◊〉  
That he his aid unto you will impart.   

For though you be of extreme force and might,  
Without his help it will you nought avail,  
For he doth give man victory in fight:  
And with a few is able to prevail,  
And overcome an army huge and strong,  
And by his grace makes kings and Princes long   

To reign here on the earth in happiness,  
And Tyrants that to men do offer wrong  
And violence, doth suddenly suppress,  
Although their power be near so great & strong▪  
And in his hand his blessings all reserveth,  
For to reward each one as he deserveth.   

To whom I pray with humble mind and hart,  
(And so I hope all you will do no less)  
That of his grace he would vouchsafe t'impart,  
And send all joy, well fare, and happiness,  
Health, victory, tranquility, and honour,  
Unto the high and mighty coqueror   

King Henry the fifth, (that his great name  
May here on earth ●'extold and magnified  
While life doth last, and when he yields the same  
Into his hands, he may be glorified  
In heaven among the Saints & Angels bright,  
Therein to serve the God of power & might.)   

At whose request this work I undertook  
As I have said. And now that I have done,  
And with great labour finished my Book,  
I do entreat all those that look thereon  
T'accept thereof, and take't in as good part,  
As I it send to them withal my hart.    
FINIS.