Our gracious god most in magnificence  
His merciful eyen casteth from heaven on high  
saying his creatures in deadly violence  
Himself complaineth by pity full ruefully  
saying  Deus. 
o man devoid of intelligence  
Open thine eeres unto my call and cry  
And tell me if I have done to the offence  
That thou forsakest my willingly  
Man such a love to the I died take  
This world in seven days when I it wrought  
Thou was the last thing that I did make  
Because I would thou wanted nought  
What thing the might help did not lake  
That at thy need if it were sought  
Fowl fish all thing for thy sake  
For thy comfort all was forth brought  
More over I gave the that dignity  
All beasts to bow the until  
I made the also like unto me  
And gave the cunning and free-will  
Me to serve that thou should see  
To choose the good and leave the ill  
I ask nothing again of the  
But love thy sovereign as it is skill  
But unto this takest thou none intent  
Thou turnest fro me full unkindly  
On loves unleeful thy love is lente  
Thy heart beholdeth not heaven so high  
For all the goods I have the sent  
The listeth not one's to say gramercy  
In time to come or thou repent  
Man make amends or that thou die  
A christian soul conceived in sin  
received in conscience thus complaining  
He fell down flat with delefull din  
And said  Homo. 
lord mercy sovereign king  
I most unkind wretch of man kin  
I know I am thy traitor untrue in my living  
This wicked life that I live in  
I may it nought hide from thy knowing  
I want words and also wit  
Of thy kindness to speak a cause  
That I have thou gave me it  
Of thy goodness withouten cause  
Though I have grieved the and do yet  
Thy benefits thou nought withdraws  
I have deserved to have hell pit  
So have I lived against thy laws  
But lord thou knowest man's feebleness  
How frail it is and hath been aye  
For though the soul have thy likeness  
Man is but fulsome earth and clay  
In sin conceived and wretchedness  
And to the soul rebel alway  
first a man groweth as doth gross  
And he wasteth after as flowers or haye  
sith man is than so frail a thing  
And thy power so great in kind  
This world is but a twinkling  
Thou mayst destroy the might of the find  
With thy right lord mercy minge  
And to my sore salve thou send  
Sore me repenteth of my my slyving  
Mercy lord I will amend  Deus. 
Man I gave the bodily hele  
That thou should it spend in my service  
Fairness also and features feel  
Man what dost thou with all these  
Thou with delights of the devil dost deal  
Which is to me a great despise  
Thou livest a lecherous life unlele  
Fro year to year thou list not rise  
Thou studyest after nice array  
And makest great cost on thy clothing  
To make the seemly as who should say  
Thou couldst amend my making  
Thou purposed the day by day  
To set my people in sinning  
Thy wretched will thou followest alway  
What end sin hath thou thinkest nothing  
In noah's time because of sin  
And for lechery in especial  
What vengeance came than to man's kin  
Save viii persons drowned were all  
On Sodom/ and Gomor/ and the men within  
How I made fire and brimstone fall  
Fro heaven on them that bode therein  
for sin were destroyed both great & small  
Man weenest thou my might be less  
Than it was than or that else I  
Thou hast no as much wickedness  
As when I smote the most piteously  
But if thou will thy faults redress  
Thought I now spare for my mercy  
Man think on my rightwiseness  
And make amends or that thou die   

Tabula.  

¶ How the Greeks took land before Troy/ & how they were strongly fought with. Ca xxi.   

¶ The third book.  
¶ How the third book telleth how the Trojans issued out on the morrow/ and fought with the Greeks/ & how valiantly Ector bore himself that day. Capitulo. xxij.  
¶ How the Greeks sent to king Priamus for to have truce for Eight weeks/ And of their battles after the truce failed. Ca twenty-three.  
¶ How the Trojans took king Thoas prisoner/ & led him into Troy. Capitulo. xxiv.  
¶ how during a truce of three Months Ector walked into the greeks host/ And of the communyacyon of Achilles & him. Ca xxv.  
¶ How when the truce was ended they went to battle again/ where as were many a man slain on both parties/ And of the description of the palace of ylyon/ And also how there died so many greeks of the pestilence/ that they demanded truce for xxx days which they obtained. Capitulo. xxvi.  
¶ How Andromecha Ectors' wife had a vision in her sleep/ that and her husband fought on the morrow that he should be slain/ the which would nat believe her/ nouther father nor mother/ And how Achilles slew him. Ca xxvij.  
¶ Of the complaint that Lydgate maketh for the death of worthy Ector. Cap. xxviij.   

¶ The fourth book.  
¶ Now the fourth Book/ which speaketh how Greeks made king Pallamydes chief captain of their host/ and deposed king Agamenon. Capitulo. xxix.  
¶ How king Priamus went unto the batayle/ for to avenge the death of Ector/ where as he did marvelous deeds of Arms. Ca thirty.  
¶ How Achilles slew the worthy Troilus Ectors' brother unknightly/ and trailed him about the field at his horse tail. Ca xxxi.  
¶ How Paris slew Achilles in the Temple of Apollo/ and Anthylogus duke Nestor's son Capitulo. xxxij.  
¶ How Paris & Thelamon Ajax's slew each other in the field. Capitulo. xxxiij.  
¶ How Pantasyllya/ the Queen of Amazon● came for to succour king Priamus of Troy And how Pyrrus Achilles son slew her▪ Capitulo. xxxiiij.  
¶ How the Grekis made an horse of brass wherein was men of Arms/ & under colour of peace brought it into Troy/ by the which it was utterly destroyed for ever. Cap. xxxv.   

¶ The fifth book.  
¶ The fifth book of Troy/ the which speaketh how the Greeks returned into Grece after the destruction/ And after they that escaped died mischievously. Capitulo. xxxvi.  
¶ How the translator writeth the stock of Pyrrus by lineal descent/ how his Graunfader hight peleus/ and his Graunmoder called Thetydes. Capitulo. xxxvij.  
¶ Of the most worthy king Henry the fifth.   
¶ Explicit Tabula.   

Here after followeth the Troy book/ otherwise called the Siege of Troy/ Translated by Iohn Lydgate monk of the Monastery of Bury/ And imprinted at the commandment of our sovereign Lord the king Henry the eight By Richard Pynson/ printer unto his most noble grace. The year of our Lord god a. M. CCCCC. and. xiij⸫   

The Prologue of the translator.  
O Mighty Mars that with thy stern light  
In Arms hast/ the power & the might  
And named art/ from est till occident  
The mighty lord/ the god armipotent  
That with shining/ of thy streams read  
By influence/ dost thy bridle lead  
Of chivalry/ as sovereign and patron  
Full hot and dry/ of complexion  
Irous and wood/ and malencolyk  
And of nature/ brent and colleryk  
Of colour showing/ like the fiery gleed  
Whose fierce looks/ been as full of dread  
As the levene/ that alyghteth low  
Down by the sky/ from jubiters bow  
Thy streams been/ so passing despitous  
To look upon/ inly furious.  
And Cancer/ art with thy fiery beams  
Of were and strife/ in many sundry reamies  
Whose lordship is/ most in Capricorn  
But in the book/ is thy power lost  
And Canser art of contek/ and of strife  
Now for the love/ of Vulcanus wife  
With whom whilom/ thou were at mischief take  
So help me now/ only for her sake  
And for the love/ of thy bellova  
That with the dwelleth/ beyond Cirrea  
In Libye land/ upon the sondes read  
So be my help/ in this great need  
To do succour/ my style to direct  
And of my pen/ the traces to correct  
Which barren is/ of aureat liquor  
But in thy grace/ I find some succour  
For to convey i●/ with thine influence  
That stumbleth aye/ for fault of eloquence  
For to rehearse/ or write any word  
Now help/ o mars/ the art of knighthood lord  
And haste of manhood/ the magnificence  
And Other/ goddess/ of prudence  
This work texpleyte/ that ye nat refuse  
But maketh Clyo/ for to be my muse  
With her sistren/ that on pernasa dwell  
In Cirrea/ by Elycon the well  
running full clear/ with streams cristallyn  
And called is/ the well Caballyn  
That spring by touch/ of the Pegasus  
And help also/ o thou callyope  
That were mother/ unto Orpheus  
Whose dities were/ so melodious  
That the werbles/ of his resowning harp  
appease died/ the bitter words sharp  
Both of parchas/ and furies infernal  
And Cerbetus/ locruell found at all  
He coyed also/ beast foul and tree  
Now of thy grace/ be helping unto me  
And of thy golden dew/ let the liquor wet  
My dulled breast/ that with thine honey sweet  
Sugryst tongues/ of rethoricyens  
And mistress art/ to musicyens  
Now be mine help/ to enlumyne with this work  
Which am beset/ with clouds dim & dark  
Of ignorance/ in making to proceed  
To be lusty to them/ that shall it read  
Also in heart/ I am so full of dread  
When prudent lysters/ here to shall take heed  
That in making/ more skill can than I  
To whom I pray/ full benyngly  
Of their goodness/ to have compassion  
Where as I err/ in my translation  
For god I take/ highly/ to witness  
That I this work/ of heartily low humblesse  
Took upon me/ of entencion  
devoid of pride/ and presumption  
For to obey/ without variance  
My lords bidding/ fully and pleasance  
Which hath desire/ soothly for to say  
Of verray knighthood/ to remember again  
The worthiness/ if I shall not lie  
And the prowess/ of old chivalry  
Because he hath joy/ and great deyntee  
To read in books/ of antiquytee  
To find only virtue/ for to sew  
By example of them/ & also for to eschew  
The cursed vice of sloth/ and idleness  
So he emoyeth/ in virtuous business  
In all that longeth/ to manhood dare I sayne  
He besyeth ever/ and thereto is so fain  
To haunt his body/ in plays martial  
thorough excercise/ to exclude s●outhe at all  
After the doctrine/ of vigecius  
Thus is he both manful and virtuous  
More passingly/ than I can of him write  
I want cunning/ his high renown to indite  
So moche of manhood/ men may in him seen  
And for to wite/ whom I would mean  
Theeldest soon/ of the noble king  
Henry the fourth/ of knighthood well & spring  
In whom is showed/ of what stock that he grew  
The rootis virtue/ thus can the sent renew  
In every part/ the tarage is the same  
Like his father/ of manners and of name  
In soothfastness/ this no tale is  
Called Henry eke/ the worthy prince of wales.  
¶ To whom shall long/ by succession  
For to govern/ brutis albyon  
Which me commanded/ the dreary piteous fate  
Of them of troy/ in ynglysshe to translate  
The siege/ also/ and destruction  
Like as the latin/ maketh mention  
For to compile/ and after Guydo make  
So I could/ and write it for his sake  
Because he would/ that to high and low  
The noble story/ openly were know  
In our tongue/ about in every age  
And Iwryten/ as well in our language  
As in latin/ and in frensche it is  
That of the story/ the truth we nat miss  
no more than doth/ each other nation  
This was the fine of his entencion.  
¶ The which emprise/ anon I gynne shall  
In his worship/ for a memorial  
And of the time/ to make mention  
When I began/ on this translation  
It was the year/ soothly to say  
Fortene complete/ of his faders reign  
The time of year/ shortly to conclude  
When .xx grease/ was phoebus altitude  
The hour when he/ made his steeds draw  
His rosin chariet/ low under the wawe  
To bathe his beam/ in the wawysce  
Gressyd like gold/ as men might see  
Passing the bordure/ of our Occian  
And lucyna of colour/ pale and wan  
Her cold arising/ in Octobre 'gan to dight  
To enchase the darkness/ of the frosty night  
In the mids/ of the Scorpion  
And Esperus/ 'gan to westre down  
To hast her course/ again the morrow grey  
And lucifer the night/ to void away  
Is called than/ messenger of day  
Our emysperie/ to put out of affray  
With bright kalendis/ of phoebus uprist sheen  
Out of the bounds/ proserpma the queen  
Where pluto dwelleth/ the dark region  
And the furies/ have their mansion  
Till after soon Apollo list nat tarry  
To take so●our/ in the sagittary.  
¶ Which time I 'gan/ the prologue to behold  
Of troy book/ I made by days old  
Where was remembered/ of auctors us before  
Of the deed the verray true corn  
So as it fell/ severed fro the chaff  
For in their hand/ they hold for a staff  
The truth only/ which they have complied  
Unto this fine/ that we were nat beguiled  
Of negligence/ thorough for yet fullness  
The which serpent/ of age by process  
Engendered is/ fiercely us to assail  
Of the truth/ to make us for to fail  
For ner writers/ all were out of mind  
Nat storied only/ but of nature and kind  
The true knowing/ should have gone to wreck  
And from science/ our wits put abake  
Ne had our elders/ cerched out and sought  
The soothfast pith/ to imp it in our thought  
Of things passed/ fordyrked of their hew  
But thorough writing/ they be refreshed new  
Of our Auncetres/ left to us be hind  
To make a mirror/ only to our mind  
Tose each thing/ truly as it was  
Moore height and clear/ than in any glass  
For ner their writing/ now memorial  
Death with his sword/ should have slain all  
And I dymmed/ with his sudden showers  
The great prowess/ of these conqueres  
And dyrked eke/ the brightness of their fame  
That shineth yet/ by report of their name  
For unto us/ their books represent  
Without feigning/ the way that they went  
In their days/ when they were alive  
Again the truth/ who so everstryve  
Or counterplete/ or make any debate  
The sooth is red/ of high or low estate  
Without favour/ who solyste take heed  
For after death/ clerks little dread  
After decrete/ for to bear witness  
Nor of a tyrant/ the truth to express  
¶ As men discern/ without exception  
with lak or pries/ they grant them their guerdon  
Wherefore me seemeth/ every manner man  
Should by his line/ in all that ever he can  
For virtue only/ eschew to do amiss  
For after death/ plainly as it is  
Clerks will write/ and except none  
The plain truth when a man is gone  
And by old time/ for their writing true  
They cherished were/ of lords that them knew  
And honoured greatly/ in though days  
For they enacted/ and guilt with their says  
Their high renown/ their manhood & prows  
Their knighthood eke/ and their worthiness  
Their Triumphs/ also and victories  
Their famous conquest/ & their fonge glories  
¶ From point to point/ rehersing all the troth  
Without fraud/ negligence or sloth  
They died their labour/ and their business  
For else certain/ the great worthiness  
Of their deeds/ had been in vain  
For dyrked age/ else would have slain  
By length of years/ the noble worthy fame  
Of conquerors/ and plainly of their name  
For dimmed eke/ the letters aureat  
And diffaced/ the palm laureate  
Which that they won/ by knyghode in their days  
Whose freting rust new/ and new assays  
For to eclipse the honour/ and the glory  
Of high prowess/ which clerks in memory  
Have truly set/ thorough diligent labour  
And enlumyned/ with many coryous flower  
Of Rethoryk/ to make us comprehend  
The truth of all/ as it was in kind  
busied them/ and faithfully travailed  
Again all that/ that age would assailed  
In their books/ every thing I set  
And with the key/ of remembrance it shut  
Which lasteth yet/ and dureth ever in one  
Record of Thebes/ that was so long a gone  
Of which the/ ruin/ and destruction  
Ye may behold/ by good inspection  
Crop and root/ right as it was in deed  
On Stace look/ and there ye may it read  
How Polynece/ and Ethiocles  
The brethren two/ ne could not live in pes  
Till Thebes/ was brought unto ruin  
And all the manner/ how they died fine  
That death also/ of worthy Tideus  
And how Edippus/ with teries full pyteus  
Wept out his eyen/ and all his dreary pain  
And how the smokꝭ/ departed were on twain  
At the feste/ of fires funeral  
In great Stace/ ye may read all  
The fire engendered/ by brotherly hatred  
Where thorough that death/ was the cruel meed  
¶ In very sooth/ of many worthy man  
Like as mine Author/ well rehearse can  
Of Troy also/ that was of latter years  
By diligence/ of Cronycleres  
Ye may behold/ in their writing well  
The strife/ the were/ the siege and everydeal  
Right as it was/ so many years passed  
Whose story yet/ age hath not diffaced  
Nor cruel death/ with his mortal strokes  
For maugre death/ ye may behold in books  
The story fully rehearsed new and new  
And freshly flower/ of colour/ and of hew  
From day to day/ quick and nothing faint  
For clerks have/ this strorye so depaint  
That death nor age/ by no manner weigh  
The troth/ may nat/ make for to die.  
¶ All be that some/ have the truth spared  
In the writing/ and plainly not declared  
So as it was/ nor told out faithfully  
But it transformed/ in their poysy  
thorough vain fables/ which of entencion  
They have contrived/ by false transsumption  
To hide truth/ falsely under cloud  
And the sooth of malices/ for to shroud  
As Omer died/ the which in his writing  
I feigned hath/ full many divers thing  
That never was/ as Guydo list devise  
And things done/ in another wise  
He hath transformed/ than the truth was  
And feigned falsely/ that gods in this cas.  
¶ The worthy Greeks/ holp to warray  
Again Trojans/ and how that they were say  
Like lifely men/ among them day by day  
And in his dities/ that were so fresh and gay  
With sugared words/ under honey soot  
His gall is hid/ low by the root  
That it may nat/ outward be espied  
And all for he/ with Greeks was allied  
Therefore he was/ to them favourable  
In moche thing/ which is nat commendable  
Of them that lust/ to dame after right  
For in making/ love hath lost his sight  
To give a pries/ where none is deserved  
Cupid is blind/ whose domes been observed  
More after lust/ than after equity  
Or after reason/ how the truth be  
For syngulertee/ and false affection  
raiseth full oft/ by vain lausyon  
A man to worship/ that deserveth none  
By false report/ and thus full many one  
Without merit/ hath his fame blow  
Whereof another/ the renown is unknown  
That in arms/ hath marvels wrought  
Of whom paraunter/ speaketh no man nought  
For favour only/ is fostered more than ryghtis  
That hindered hath/ many worthy knights.  
¶ Ovid also poet ycally/ hath closed  
Falsehood with truth/ that maketh men enosed  
To which part/ that they shall them hold  
His misty speech/ so hard is to unfold  
That it entryketh/ readers that it see  
virgil also/ for love of Enee  
In eneydoes/ rehersyth moche thing  
And was in party/ true of his writing  
Except only/ that him list some while  
The traces follow/ of Omeris style.  
¶ And of this siege/ wrote eke Lollius  
But tofore all/ Dares frigius  
Wrote moste truly/ after that he fond  
And dities eke/ of the greeks land  
For they were present/ and sayn everydeal  
And as it fill/ they write true and well  
Each in his tongue/ by such consonaunce  
That in their books/ was no variance  
Which after were/ unto Athenes brought  
And by process/ searched out and sought  
By diligence/ of one Cornelius  
Which was nephew/ unto Salustius  
Of Rome I borne/ which died his dew  
Them to translate/ and the traces sew  
Of these auctors/ by good advisement  
But because/ he set all his intent  
For to be brief/ he left moche behind  
Of the story/ as men in books find  
The first moving/ and cause orygenall  
What was the beginning/ and root in special  
Ne how they came/ by land or by navy  
How first the spark/ was kindled of envy  
Betwixt greeks/ and them of troy town  
Of which Cornelie/ maketh no menciowne  
Of their ships/ nor of their victual  
Nor how/ that grece/ is called the tail  
And the lass/ as books verify.  
¶ Is named now/ the land of Romanye  
What number of kings/ & of dukes went  
Toward the siege/ all of one assent  
To win worship/ and for exercise  
Of arms only/ in full knightly wise  
Abiding there/ to se/ the version  
Of the city/ and noble yllion  
Nor what the manner was/ of their armour  
¶ Nor at the siege/ who longest died endure  
In what wise/ each other died assail  
Nor how often/ they met in battle  
How many worthy/ lost there his life  
thorough old hatred/ wrought up new strife  
Nor of their death/ he datyth nat the year  
For his writing/ was particulere  
Without fruit/ he was compendious  
This foresaid romeynge/ this Cornelius.  
¶ Wherefore but late/ in comparysowne  
There was an Author/ of full high renown  
That busied him/ the traces for to sew  
Of dyte/ and Dares/ & cast him nat transmewe  
In all the story/ a word as in sentence  
But followeth them/ by such convenience  
That in effect/ the substance is the same  
And of columpna/ Guydo was his name  
Which had in writing/ passing excellence  
For he enlumyneth/ by craft and cadence  
This noble story/ with many fresh colour  
Of Rethoryk/ and many rich flower  
Of eloquence/ to make it sown bet  
¶ Hein the story/ hath imped in and set  
That in good faith/ I trow he hath no peer  
To reckon all/ that wryted of this matter  
As in his book/ ye may behold and see  
To whom I say/ kneeling on mykne  
Laude and honour/ and excellence of fame  
O Guydo master/ be unto thy name  
That excellest/ by sovereign of style  
All that write/ this matter to compile  
Whom I shall/ follow as near as ever I may  
That god grant it/ to be to thy pay  
Of him for whom/ I have undertake  
So as I can/ this story for to make  
praying to all/ that shall it read or see  
Where as I err/ to amend me  
Of humble heart/ and low entencion  
committing all/ to their correction  
And there of thank/ my will is that they win  
For thorough their support/ thus I will begin.  
¶ Explicit Prologus.   


Here beginneth the Troy book/ translated by Iohn Lydgate monk of Bery the which speaketh first/ How the king of thessaly named peleus had all his men slain by divine punition And how thorough his prayer he had other again. Ca Primo.  
IN the reign/ and land of thessaly  
The which is now/ ynamed Salonye  
There was a king/ called peleus  
wise and discrete/ and also virtuous  
The which as Guydo/ list to specify  
Held the lordship/ and the regal  
Of this isle/ as governor and king  
Of which the people/ by record of writing  
Myrundones were called/ in though days  
Of whom Ovid/ seyneth in his says  
Methamorphoscos'/ where as ye may read  
How this people/ soothe fastly in deed  
So as mine Author/ maketh mention  
Were brought/ eachone to destruction  
With sudden tempest/ and with fiery leaven  
By the gods/ sent down from the heaven  
For they of ire/ without more offence  
With the sword and stroke/ of pestilence  
On this isle/ whilom took vengeance  
Like as it is/ put in remembrance  
For this people/ destroyed were certain  
With thunder dint/ & with hail and rain  
Full unwarely/ as Guydo list descryve  
For there was none/ of them left a live  
In all the land/ that the violence  
Escape might/ of this pestilence  
Except the king/ the which went alone  
In to a wood/ for to make his moan  
Sool by himself/ all disconsolate  
In a place/ that stood all desolate  
Where this king roaming/ to and fro  
Complaining aye/ of his fatal woe  
And the harms/ that he died endure  
Till at the last/ of case or adventure  
Beside an holt/ he saw where stood a tree  
Of full great height/ and large of quantytee  
Hole by the root/ as he could know  
Where as he saw/ by the earth low  
Of Amptys creep/ passing great plenty  
With which sight/ he fill down on his knee  
And made his prayer/ in his paynim wise  
To the gods/ with humble sacrifice  
Upon his woe/ and great adversity  
only of mercy/ for to have pity  
To turn these Ampties/ into form of man  
Thus 'gan he pray/ with colour pale & wan  
His land to inhabit/ which standeth desolate  
And he alone/ a wapyd and a mate  
Comfortless/ of any creature  
Him to relieve of that he died endure  
And as Ovid/ maketh mention  
That jubiter/ heard his orison  
And hath such ruth/ on him at the lest  
That he anon fulfilleth his request  
And of his might/ which that is divine  
His grace he made/ from heaven for to shine  
Benyngly/ unto the earth down  
That a sudden/ transmutaciowne  
Was made of Amptꝭ/ to form of men anon  
Which on their feet/ gone straight to goon  
To thessaly/ and salve there the king  
And like his lieges/ took their dwelling  
within a Cytee/ called though Egee  
As in Ovid/ ye may behold and see  
The which people/ for their worthiness  
For their strength/ and great hardiness  
Myrundones/ so long/ have bore the name  
As in the life/ ye read may the same  
Of saint Mathewe/ how they be called so  
Where the apostle/ so moche had a do  
Which for wisdom/ and prudent advertence  
busy labour/ and wilful diligence  
By forcing/ and discretion  
As I suppose/ in mine opinion  
That this fable/ of Amptys was contrived  
Which by their wisdom/ have somoch achieved  
thorough their knighthood/ who so list to look  
Their manly deeds/ thorough Troy book  
In all mischief/ so well they have them borne  
That they full wisely/ provided were toforne  
Of that it fill/ both in were and pes  
For of no s●outhe/ they were nat reckless.  
¶ But as the Ampte/ to eschew idleness  
In summer/ is so full of business  
Or winter come/ to save her fro cold  
She tofore/ astoryd hath her hold.  
¶ But in this matere/ I hold no sermon  
I will no longer/ make digression  
Nor in fables/ no more as now sojourn  
But there I left/ I will again return  
Of peleus's/ ferther to proceed  
Which king forsooth/ in story as I read  
And as mine Author/ listeth to indite  
Had a wife/ that called was Tedyte  
Of which twain/ platly this no lees  
The manly man/ the hardy Achilles  
So as Guydo/ listeth to termine  
descended was/ soothly as by line  
Most renowned/ of manhood and of might  
amongs Greeks/ and the best knight  
I hold in sooth/ throughout all the land  
In worthiness/ proved of his hand  
Whose cruelty/ Trojans sore about  
By his marvels/ that he there wrought  
During the siege/ as ye shall after lere  
patiently/ if yelyst to hear  
¶ This peleus/ that I of spoke aforne  
A brother had/ of one mother borne  
That height Aeson/ so far I run in years  
That he of lust/ hath lost all his desires  
So far he was/ cropen in to age  
That all his wit/ was turned to dotage  
For both mind/ and memorial  
Fordulled were/ and derked so all  
That verily/ his discretion  
Was hy● bereft/ in conclusion  
Wherefore/ the reign & land of thessaly  
Crown and sceptre/ with all the regalye  
He hath resigned/ his brother for to queme  
Estate royal/ and also diadem   

¶ How king Aeson crowned his brother peleus's king because that he was fallen in age & might not weld it. Ca two.  
Because he was/ crooked lame & blind  
And to govern/ lost both wit & mind  
So feeble was/ his cell retentive  
And forderked/ his ymagynatyfe  
That lost were/ both memory and reason  
For which he made/ a resignation  
To his brother/ next heir by degree  
And nighest ally of his affinity  
But as some auctors/ in their books sayne  
To youth he was/ restored new again  
By craft of Medee/ the great Sorceress  
And renewed/ to his lustiness  
For with her herbs/ and with her potions  
subtle working/ of confexions  
By quaintise eke/ of her instruments  
With her charms/ and enchantments  
She made a drink/ in books as is told  
In which/ a yard that was dry and old  
Without abode/ anon as she it cast  
To blosme and bud/ it began as fast  
Turn green/ and fresh to behold  
And thorough his drink/ she hath fro years old  
Aeson restored/ unto lusty age  
And was of wit and reason/ eke as sage  
As ever he had/ his life been aforne  
The which Aeson/ of his wife I borne  
Had a son/ and jason was his name  
In work of whom/ nature was not to blame  
For she her craft/ platlye and cunning  
Spent upon him/ holy in working  
When she him made/ with heart/ will & thought  
That of her craft/ behind was right nought  
To reckon his shap/ and also his fairness  
His strength/ his beauty/ and his lyflynesse  
His gentleness/ and his wise governance  
How large he was/ and of dalliance  
The most goodly/ that men could know  
In all his por●e/ both to high and low  
And with all this/ advise and a treatable  
That of cunning/ god wot I am nat able  
For to describe/ his virtues by and by  
For as mine Author/ telleth faithfully  
He was beloved/ so of old and young  
That thorough the land/ is his honour sprung  
But for that he was/ but young and slander  
Of age also/ miy green and tender  
He was committed/ to the governail  
Of peleus's/ to whom without fail  
In every thing/ he was as serviable  
As diligent in chambre/ and at table  
As ever was any/ child or man  
Unto his lord/ in all that ever he can  
Glade in heart/ and of faithful obeisance  
So that in cheer/ nor in countenance  
Inward in heart/ nor outward in showing  
His uncle/ ne was he nat grudging  
All be he had/ holy in his hand  
The worthy kingdom/ and the rich land  
Of this jason/ and the heritage  
only, for he was to young of age.  
¶ Unto whom/ peleus's died his pain  
Against heart/ falsely for to feign  
To show other/ than he mente in heart  
And kept him close/ that no thing him out start  
Like an adder/ underfloures fair  
For to his heart/ his tongue was contrary  
benign of speech/ of moving a serpent  
For v●o●r colour/ was the treason blent  
To show him goodly/ unto his ally  
But inward brent/ of hate and of envy  
The hoot fire/ and yet there was no smeke  
So covertly/ the malice/ was I reek  
That no man might/ as by sign espy  
Toward jason/ in heart he bare envy  
And marvel noon/ for it was causeless  
Save he dread/ that he for his increases  
And for his manhood/ likely was to attain  
For to succeed/ in his fathers rain  
Which peleus/ unjustly occupieth  
And day by day/ cast and fantasyeth  
How his venom/ may by some pursuit  
Upon jason/ be fully execute  
Here on he museth/ every hour and time  
As he that dread/ to see an hasty prime  
Follow change/ as it is wont to done  
suddenly after/ a new moan  
He cast ways/ and compasseth sore  
And under colour/ always more and more  
His fell malys/ he 'gan to close and hide  
Like a snake/ that is wont to glide  
With his venom/ under fresh flowers  
And as the son/ is hoot after these showers  
So of envy hatter/ brent the gleed  
Upon a time/ he thought to proceed  
To execute/ his moving everydeal  
In port/ alambe/ in heart a lion fell  
Double as a Tiger/ slyghly to compass  
Gall in his breast/ and lugre in his face  
That no man hath/ to him suspection  
How he purveyeth/ the destruction  
Of his nephew/ and that within a while  
Pretending love/ all be the fine was guile  
His malices was yshet/ so under key  
That his intent/ there can no man bewreye  
It was concealed/ and closed in secre  
Under the lock/ of prive enmity  
And that in sooth/ grieved him the more  
Upon himself/ the anger fret so sore  
Abiding aye/ till unto his intent  
He find may/ leisure convenient  
Upon his purpose/ platly to proceed  
For to perform/ it fully up in deed  
Whereof jason/ hath full little wrought  
His uncle/ and he/ ne were nat in one thought  
Of whose meaning/ was no convenience  
For malyse was coupled/ with innocence  
And ground of all/ so as I can devise  
Was envy/ and covetise  
Which fret so sore/ falsely for to win  
As crop and root/ of every sorrow & sin  
And cause hath been/ sith go full yore  
That many a realm/ hath a bought full sore  
The dreadful venom/ of covetise alas  
Let them beware/ that stand in this case.  
¶ To think afore/ and for to have in mind  
That all falsehood/ draweth to an end  
For though it bide/ and last a year or two  
The end in sooth/ shallbe sorrow and woe  
Of all that been false/ and envious  
Here of no more/ but forth of peleus  
I will you tell/ that hath solonge sought  
Upon this thing/ till there were to him brought  
tidings new/ and that so marvelous  
That he astonied was/ and all his house  
Of a marvel/ that newly was fall  
Beside Troy/ the plague oryentalle  
How in Colchos/ as the riding came  
within an isle/ enclosed was a Ram  
Which bore his flees/ full richly of gold  
And for the rychesshe/ it was kept in hold  
With great advice/ and great diligence  
That no man might/ there to do offence.  
¶ And in this isle/ there was a governor  
A noble king/ a worthy werreour  
That Cethes hight/ wise discrete and sage  
Which was also/ iron fer in age  
That in his time/ as books can devise  
Had underfonged/ many great emprise  
In peace & were/ and moche worship won  
And he was son/ also to the son  
That gave him ure/ to honour to attain  
So as poets listeth/ for to feign  
touching his line/ I leave as now the great  
And of this Ram/ my purpose is entrete.  
¶ That was committed/ I dare you well assure  
To the keeping/ and the busy cure  
Of cruel Mars/ the mighty god of were  
Which with the streams/ of his reed star  
And influence/ of his deytee  
Ordained hath/ by full great cruelty  
This Ram to keep/ bollies full unmild  
With brazen feet/ ramageous and wild  
And therewith/ all full fell and dyspitous  
And of nature/ wood and furious  
To hurt and slay/ ever of one desire  
Out of whose mouth/ leaven and wild fire  
Like a flawme/ ever blazed out  
To burn all them/ that stood nigh about  
Eke of theyreyens/ the looks most horrible  
To a furnaces/ the streams were visible  
And who that would/ to increase his glory  
This Ram of gold/ win by the victory  
first he must/ of very force and might  
Unto oultrance/ with this bulls fight  
And them venquysshe/ alder first of all  
And make them humble/ as any ox in stall  
And to the yok/ and do them ere the land  
Of very manhood/ this must he take an hand  
And after that/ he must also endure  
With a serpent/ of huge and great stature  
Without favour/ plainly have a do  
To oultrance eke/ without words more  
The which serpent/ shortly for to tell  
Was like a fiend/ comen out of hell.  
¶ Full of venom/ and of cruel hate  
And with skalies/ hard as any plate  
He armed was/ to stand at defence  
And his breath/ worse than pestilence  
Infecten would/ environ all the eyre  
In each place/ where was his repair  
He was so full/ of corruption  
And so dreadful/ of infection  
That death in ●oth/ shortly to devise  
Was the fine/ of this high emprise  
To such as would/ this quarrel take in hand  
Ilyke in one/ both to free and bond  
But if he could/ the better himself defend  
And of his conquest/ this was eke the end  
That when he had/ the mighty serpent slawe  
He must anon/ by custom and by law.  
¶ Out of his head/ his teeth echon arrace  
And than sow them/ in the self place  
Where the Ox's/ eared had aforne  
Of such seed/ there sprang a wonder corn  
Knights armed/ passing of great might  
everich with other/ ready for to fight  
Till each his brother/ had brought to ground  
By mortal fate/ and give his deaths wound  
This was the end/ of them everyone  
For in soothness/ of all there was noon  
That live might/ by that fatal law  
Any longer in sooth/ than his fellow.  
¶ And by this way/ dreadful and perilous  
Who desireth/ to be victorious  
He must pass/ and manly to endure  
And how so fall/ take his adventure  
Of none estate/ was none exception  
Cheese who so will/ for his conclusion  
He may nat scape/ for favourne for meed  
Who so ever begin/ a vyse him well I read  
For by the statute/ of the king I may  
Who so that will/ enter and assay  
But after that he/ ones hath begun  
He may nat cheese/ till he have lost or won  
y●et/ as some of this Ram express  
And of his flees/ also bear witness  
It was no thing/ but gold & great treasure  
That Cethes king/ withfull high labour  
Made keep it/ by Incantations  
By sorcery/ and false illusions.  
¶ That was spoke of in realms far about  
For which many/ put their life in doubt  
Of high desire/ they had for to win  
The great treasure/ that was shut within  
Colchos land/ as ye have herd devise  
whose pursuit rose/ out of covetise  
Ground and root/ of woe and all mischance  
By vain report/ themself to advance  
For which they put/ themself/ in jeopardy  
Without rescues/ likely for to die  
There was no help/ ne no sleight of arms  
That veil might/ again y● cursed charms  
They were so strong/ and superstitious  
That many worthy/ in knighthood full famous  
Enhasted were/ unto their death alas  
That list jeopardy/ their lives in this cas.  
¶ And this lastyth till/ afterward befell  
That peleus/ platly heard tell  
The great mischiefs/ and destructions  
In Colchos wrought/ on sundry nations  
That pursued/ the auntres to conquer  
Till peleus's/ so ferfoth 'gan inquire  
That he knew holy/ how the truth was  
And in his heart/ anon he 'gan compass  
How he might/ by any sleight make  
His nephew jason/ for to under take  
This high emprise/ in Colchos for to wend  
By which way/ best he might him shende.  
¶ And 'gan pretend a colour/ fresh of hew  
I guilt outward/ so lusty and so new  
As there were no treason/ hid within  
And saw it was time/ to begin  
On his purpose/ thofirst/ he made it quaint  
And began with asour/ and gold to paint  
His gay words/ in swooning glorious  
Knowing jason/ was young and desirous  
Unto such thing/ and lightly would incline  
Therefore he thought/ that he would fine  
Plainly to work to his conclusion  
And made anon/ a convocation  
Of his lords/ and his barony  
About environ/ the land of thessaly  
For to assemble/ estates of degree  
Of all his realm/ within the chief city  
For to hold a counsel/ utterly cast  
Thereby to achieve/ his desire as fast  
And so his court/ continued days three  
That the last/ his hid myquyte  
He out 'gan rake/ that hath be hid so long  
For he ne might/ no longer forth prolong  
The venom hid/ that frete so at his heart  
In so sly wise/ that no man might avert  
Upon no side/ but that he meant well  
For the treason/ was cured everydeal  
And curtyned/ under treachery  
For he this thing/ so slyghly 'gan to gye  
At prime face/ that no man might dame  
By any word/ as it would seem  
In cheer/ in port/ by sign or dalliance  
But that he cast/ knightly for to advance  
His young nephew/ as by likeliness  
To high honour/ of manhood and prowess  
For of the intent/ of which he 'gan purpose  
No man could spy/theffect he died so gloze  
The text was so conveyed/ so with flattery  
That the people/ could nat espy  
little or nought/ of his intent within  
For which anon/ to praise him they begin  
That he such honour/ to his nephew would  
For with such cheer/ he began unfold  
Tofore them all/ this entencion  
That he hath voided/ all suspection  
From all that were/ assembled in the place  
And toward jason/ he turn 'gan his face  
Full lovingly/ in countenance and cher●  
And to him said/ that all might it here  
throughout the court/ when maked was silence  
Thus word by word/ platly in sentence.   

¶ How peleus counseled his nephew jason by malice to go conquer the golden ●lees/ and how he took it upon him. Ca iii.  

Cousin jason/ take heed what I shall say  
For the I am/ so inly glad and fain  
And surprised/ with mirth thorough my heart  
That it enchasyth/ & voideth all my smart  
For to consider/ in mine Inspection  
Of thy youth/ the disposition  
The which shortly/ for to comprehend  
Save to virtue/ to no thing doth intend  
Unto worship/ and to gentleness  
To manly freedom/ and to high largesse  
That verrayly/ where I wake or wink  
My joy is only/ there on for to think  
Myself I hold/ so passing fortunate  
And all my land/ of high and low estate  
That likely are/ in honour for to fleet  
And tolyve in rest/ and quiet  
thorough thy support/ and supportayle  
Whose manhood may/ so much us avail  
By likelihood/ and so moche amend  
In verray sooth/ to save us and defend  
Again all though/ as I can describe  
That of malices/ would against us strive  
Or rebel/ in any manner way  
Of surquidry/ or pride to werraye  
Our worthiness/ assured in tranquylle  
From all assault/ of them that would us ill  
For to perturb/ our noble estate royal  
Against whom when thou art our wall  
Our mighty shyeld/ and protection  
Thus dame I fully/ in mine opinion.  
¶ For of thine age/ thy wit/ thy providence  
Thy knightly heart/ thy manly excellence  
Reported been/ and thine high renown  
In many land/ and many regyowne  
This round world/ about in circuit  
How might I than/ stand in better plight  
For thine honour/ like as it is found  
To my worship/ so highly doth rebound  
That I would plainly/ and nat cease  
If I could help/ to increase  
Thine high renown/ I iwis in every hour  
And thereupon/ spenden my treasure  
This high desire/ withouten any fail  
Of entire love/ me doth so sore assail  
That night nor day/ I may have no rest●  
And all shall turn/ I hope for the best  
For to enhance thine honour/ to the heaven  
Above the pool/ and the sterrys seven  
To which thing/ I have away espied  
As I my wit/ thereto have applied  
This is to mean/ what should I longer dwell  
My dear Cousin/ as I shall the tell  
If it so were/ by manhood sovereign  
Of thy knighthood that thou durst attain  
The flees of gold/ to conquer by thy strength  
Which is spoke of/ so far in breed and length  
And return home/ in body saufand sound  
If this conquest might in the be found  
That thou durst/ achieve this emprise  
More hearts weigh/ kowde I nat devise  
In all this world/ for soothly at the best  
My realm and I/ were than in rest  
For to thy manhood/ all would us dread  
Wherefore/ cousin/ of knighthood & manhood  
Take upon thee/ my prayer and request  
¶ And here my truth/ and take it for behest  
What ever needeth/ in meygne or costage  
I will myself/ toward this viage  
Ordeyney▪ ioughe/ in harness and array  
That nought shall fail/ that is to thy pay  
And moreover/ I plainly the ensure  
That if I see/ thou do thy besycure  
This high emprise/ for to bring about  
Thou shalt not fere/ nor eke been in doubt  
After my day/ by succession  
For to be king/ of this Region  
And holy have sceptre/ and regalye  
Wherefore jason/ lift up thine heart is eye  
Think thy name/ shallbe long recorded  
through out the world/ wherefore be accorded  
Within thyself/ and plainly not ne spare  
Of thine intent/ the sum to declare.   

when jason had/ his uncle understand  
He rejoiceth/ for to take on hand  
This dreadful labour/ without advisement  
He nought advertith/ the moving fraudulent  
The prive poison/ under sugar cured  
Nor how to gall/ with honey he was lured  
The dark deceit/ the cloudy falls engine  
Ygy●t without/ but under was venom  
Whereto jason/ hath noon advertence  
The king he wend/ of clean conscience  
Without fraud had/ all this thing Iment  
Wherefore anon/ he giveth full assent  
At words few/ and plainly 'gan to say  
His uncles will/ that he would obey  
He was accorded/ in conclusion  
With humble heart/ and whole entencion  
Whereof the king/ receiveth such gladness  
That he vuneth/ might it out express  
But right as fast/ died his busy pain  
For this journey/ in haste for to ordain  
And for asmuch/ as the Colchos country  
Enclosed was/ about with a see  
And that no man/ how long that he strive  
Without ship/ thither may arrive  
To his prelence/ anon he died call  
Famous Argus'/ that could most of all  
To make a ship/ and first that art yfonde  
To sail with/ by see/ f●o land to land  
The which hath wrought/ a ship by sotyl craft  
Which was the first/ that ever wawe raft  
To have entry/ and Argon/ bare the name  
Gramariens record/ yet the same  
That each great ship/ first for that marvel  
Is called so/ which proudly bore her sail  
As this book/ doth us specify  
How it befell/ forth of this navy.  
¶ When all was ready/ main and victual  
They ●yde nought/ but wind for to sail  
And many worthy was in that company  
Of noble birth/ and of great ally  
In that viage/ ready for to gen  
Both for love/ and worship of jason  
Among which/ the great hercules  
Of force & might/ of strength peerless  
And he bygette was/ upon Almene  
Somly fair/ and womanly to seen  
Of jubiter/ and that full louge agone  
Taking likeness/ of Amphitrion  
Down fro the heaven/ for all his deyte  
He was ravished/ through lust of her beauty  
For he her loved/ with heart and hold intent  
And of them two/ soothly by discente  
Came hercules the worthy famous knight  
Most renowned/ of manhood/ and of might  
Which in his time/ was so marvelous  
So excellent/ and so victorious  
That Ovid list/ record him sylue  
Methamorphoseos/ his famous deeds twelve  
Which been remembered/ there inspecyall  
In his honour/ for a memorial.  
¶ And to rehearse them/ in order by and by  
If ye list here/ I purpose utterly  
He slough Antheon/ in the eyer on height  
And many giant/ what with might & sleight  
He outrayed/ for all their limbs rude  
The serpent/ y●dre/ he sloughe eke in pallude  
And Serberus the hound/ he bond so sore  
At hell gates/ that he broke no more  
And made him void/ his venom in the strife.  
And upward gave him/ such a laxative  
That all the world/ his breath courageous  
infected hath/ it was so venomous  
And with o wind/ he would run ascadye  
He catched arpyes/ byrdys' of archadye▪  
And slough Centaurus/ the bestis monstrous  
The first Lion/ he braced his house  
This is to fain/ when that he was slawe  
Out of his skin/ he hath him strypt & flaw  
With cruel heart/ thorough his high renown  
The golden applies/ he barefro the dragon  
The fiery cat/ he slough without more  
And of Archadye/ the cruel tuskye bore  
And at the last/ on his shoulders square  
Of very might/ the firmament hebare  
But for that/ I may nat reckon all  
His passing deeds which been historical  
Rede Ovid/ and there ye shall them find  
Of his triumphs/ how he maketh mind  
thorough out the world/ how he him honour fet  
And of the pilers/ at gades that he set  
Which Alysaundre/ of bourgoyne king  
That was so worthy/ hear in his living  
Rood in his conquest/ as Guydolyst to write  
With all his host/ proudly to visit  
Beyond which/ no land is habitable  
Nor see to sail/ soothly covenable  
So far it is/ beyond the Occian  
That shipmen/ no further no skill can  
Sibyl's straights/ mariners it call  
And the bounds/ be they named eke of all  
Of hercules/ for he himself them set  
As for marks/ all other for to let  
Ferther to pass/ as Guy do maketh mind  
And the place is called/ as I find  
Siracenyca/ as fine of his labour  
Of longa/ saphy/ record of mine author.  
¶ Of this matter what more should I say  
For unto jason/ I will return again  
That in all haste/ doth him ready make  
Of his uncle/ when he hath leave take  
Toward the see/ and Hercules yfere  
With all his men/ anoneas ye shall here.   

THe time of year/ when the sheen son  
In his spear/ was so far up run  
And he was passed/ the gemyny  
And hath his char/ whirled up so hy  
Through the draft/ of Pirous so reed  
That he had made/ in the crabbies heed  
His mansion/ and his see royal  
Where hallowed is/ the standing escynall  
Of fresh Apollo/ with his golden wain  
When heard men/ in heart be so fain  
For the heat/ to shroud them in the shade  
Under these branches/ and these bows glade  
When phoebus beams/ that so bright shine  
descended been/ right as any line  
And cause the eyer/ by reflection  
To be full hoot/ that lusty fresh season  
When cornis gynne/ in the field to seed  
And the grassies/ in the green meed  
Fro year to year/ been of custom mow  
And on the plain/ caste and laid full low  
Till the moisture/ consumed be away  
On holt and haveth/ the merry summer's day  
At which time/ the young knight jason  
With hercules/ is to ship gone  
And with them eke/ as I rehearse can  
Of Greeks eke many lusty man  
shipped echon/ with royal apparel  
And when they were/ crossed under fail  
Within the ship/ which that Argus made  
Which was so staunch/ it might no water lad  
They 'gan to sail/ and had wind at will  
The ship 'gan break/ the sturdy wawes ill  
Upon the see/ and so both day and night  
To colchos ward/ they held the way right  
guiding their course/ by the load star  
Where they sail/ by costs nigh or far  
For philotetes/ was their alder guide  
That could afore/ so prudently provide  
Of very insight/ to cast afore and see  
Tempest or wind/ both on land and see  
Or when there should/ trouble of storms fall  
For he was master/ plainly of them all  
In shipman craft/ and chose their governor  
And could them warn/ afore of every shower  
That should fall/ when stars died appear  
And specially/ as Guydo doth us lere  
This philotetes/ which was no fool  
Had most his sight/ erect unto the pole  
His advertence/ and clear inspection  
To the stars/ and constellation  
With the axtre/ round about gone  
That clerks call/ the septemtryon  
For the pole/ called arthycus  
Ever in oon/ appeareth unto us  
Right so in sooth/ who can look aright  
Antharticus is shrouded from our sight  
But to shipmen/ that be discrete and wise  
That list their course/ prudently devise  
Upon the see/ have suffisance enough  
To gye their passage/ by Arthouries ploughed  
For it to them/ is direction  
Unto the costs/ of every region  
With help only/ of needle and of stone  
They may not err/ what costs that they gone  
For mariners that be discrete and sage  
And expert be/ of their lodmanage  
By str●●●ge costs/ for to sail far  
Gynne their course/ only by the star  
¶ Which that Arthur/ compasseth environ  
The which circle/ and constellation  
I called is the circle Artophilax  
Who knoweth it/ needeth no more to axe  
For it to shipmen/ on the sterry night  
Is suffisant/ when they see his light.  
¶ And as poetis/ of these poolys twain  
In their books/ liketh for to fain  
And in their dities/ declare unto us  
Calixto●e/ and Archadius  
her own son/ were Istellyfyed  
In the heaven/ and I deified  
For that june/ to her had envy  
With jubiter/ when she died her espy.  
¶ For which she was/ into a bear turned  
And for her guilt/ she hath in earth mourned  
Till into heaven/ Nason can you tell  
She was translated/ eternally to dwell  
Among stars/ where as she is stalled  
And ursa maior/ is of clerks called  
So as her son/ for his worthy fame  
¶ Of uria minor/ beareth it the name  
Of such the course/ might nat asterte  
Philotetes/ that was the most expert  
Of all shipmen/ that ever I heard tell  
For of cunning/ he might bear the bell.  
¶ And when the greeks/ had long be  
Fordryve and cast/ sailing in the see  
Forweryed/ after travail  
They cast to aryue/ if it would avail  
Them to refresh/ and disport in joy  
Upon the bounds/ of the land of Troy.    

¶ How jason g●ynge to conquer the golden flees took Land for to refresh him and his fellowship beside Troy. Ca iiii.  
When Hercules/ & jason on his hand  
Out of their ship/ taken have the land  
And with them eke/ their knights everichone  
That fro the see/ be to land gone  
Forweryed/ after their travail  
And they in sooth/ come to aryvayle  
At Symeounte/ an haven of great renown  
That was a little/ beside Troy town  
And they were glad/ to be in sickerness  
From storm and tempest/ after weariness  
For they ne mente/ treason harm/ nor guile  
But on the strand/ to resten them a while  
To hinder no wight/ of no manner age  
Nor in that isle/ for to do damage  
To man nor be'st/ where ever that they go  
But for to abide/ there a day or two  
Them to refresh/ and repair anon  
When that the rage/ of the see were gone  
And whiles they/ upon the strand lay  
They no thing died/ but disport and play  
And bathe & wash them/ in the fresh river  
And drunk waters/ that were soot and clear  
That sprang like crystal/ in the cold well  
And took right nought/ but it were to sell  
It was no thing/ in their entencion  
Unto no wight/ to do offension  
For to molest/ or grieve any wight  
But the order/ of fortunes might  
Hath ever envy/ that men live in ease  
Whose coursenhasteth/ unwarely to disease  
For she was cause/ god wot causeless  
This gery fortune/ this lady reckless  
The blind goddess/ of transmutation  
To turn her wheel/ by revolution  
To make Trojans/ unjustly for to ween  
That greeks were/ arrived them to tene  
So that the cause/ of this suspicion  
Hath many brought/ unto destruction  
Full many worthy/ of kings and of princes  
throughout the world/ reckoned in provinces  
Were by this slander/ unto mischief brought  
For thing alas/ that was never thought  
For it was cause/ and occasiowne  
That this city/ and this royal town  
Destroyed was/ as it is plainly found  
Whose walls high/ were beat down to ground  
And many a man/ & many a worthy knight  
Where slain there/ and many lady bright  
Was widow made/ by duresshe of this were  
As it is couth/ and reported far  
And many maid/ in green and tender age  
Be left were sool/ in that great rage  
Behind their fathers/ alas it fall should  
And for no thing/ but that fortune would  
Show her might/ and her cruelty  
In vengeance taking/ upon this city.  
¶ Alas that ever/ so worthy of estate  
Should for little/ fall at the debate  
When it is gone/ it is nat like to staunch  
For of graffing/ of a little branch  
Full sturdy trees/ grow up full oft  
Who climbeth high/ may nat fall soft  
And of sparks/ that be of sight small  
Is fire engendered/ that devoureth all  
And a gnast first/ of little hate  
Encauseth flawme/ of contek and debate  
And of envy/ to spread a broad full far  
And thus alas/ in realms mortal were  
Is first begun/ as men may read and see  
Of a spark/ of little enmytee  
That was nat staunched first/ when it was gone  
For when the fire/ is so fer yronne  
That it embraceth/ hearts by hatrede  
To make them bren/ hoot as any gleed  
On other party/ thorough his cruel tene  
There is no staunch/ but sharp swords keen  
The which alas/ consumeth all and slayeth  
And thus the fine/ of enmity is death  
Though the beginning/ be but casual  
The frete abiding/ is passingly cruel  
To void realms/ of rest peas and joy  
As it fill whilom/ of this worthy Troy's  
It doth me weep/ of this case sudden  
For every wight/ aught to complain  
That little guilt/ should have such vengeance  
Except parcaas/ thorough god's purveyance  
That this mischief/ should after be  
Following parchance/ of great felicity  
For Troy brought/ unto destruction  
Was the beginning/ and occasion  
In mine Author/ as it is specified  
That worthy Rome/ was after edified  
By the offspring/ of worthy Aeneas  
Whilom fro Troy/ when he exiled was  
The which Rome/ read and ye may see  
Of all the world/ was heed and chief city  
For the passing/ famous worthiness  
And eke when Troy/ was brought in distress  
And the walls cast and broke down  
It was in cause/ that many region  
Begun was/ and many great city  
For this Trojan/ this manly man Enee  
By sundry sees/ 'gan so long sail  
Till of fortune/ he came into y●tayle  
And won that land/ as books tell us  
With whom was eke/ his sone Askanius  
That after Ence/ doth by line succeed  
The land of italy/ justly to possede  
And after him/ his sone Syluyus  
Of whom came Brute/ so passingly famous  
After whom/ if I shall nat fain  
Whilom this land/ called was bretayne  
For he of giants/ thorough his manhood won  
This noble isle/ and it first began.  
¶ From Troy also/ with this ilk Enee  
Came worthy francus/ a lord of high degree  
Which upon Rome/ to increase his renown  
builded in his time/ a fall royal town  
The which soothly/ his honour to advance  
After his name/ he made call france  
And thus began/ as I understand  
The name first/ of that worthy land  
And Authenor/ departing fro Trojans  
Began first the city/ of venycyens  
And Sycanus/ within a little while  
Began inhabit/ the land of Cecyle  
And after parting/ of this Sycanus  
His worthy brother/ called Syculus  
So as I find/ reigned in that isle  
And after him/ it called was Cecyle.  
¶ But Aeneas/ is to Tuscy gone  
It to inhabit/ with people right anon  
And in Cecyle/ he Naplys first began  
To which full many/ Neopolytane  
Longeth this day/ full rich & of great might  
¶ And Dyomedes/ the noble worthy knight  
When Troy was fall/ with his towers fair  
And to his reign/ he cast to repair  
His lieges began to feign a quarrel  
Against him/ and shope them to be rebel  
And of malices/ and conspiracy own  
They him withheld/ both sceptre & crown  
Their duty/ and old legiance  
And him deny/ truth and obeisance  
Wherefore anon/ so as books tell  
With a●l his folk/ he went for to dwell  
Unto Calabre/ and began it to possede  
And there the knights/ of this diomed  
That trow Troy/ have him thither sewed  
To form of birds/ were anon transmewed  
By Circe's craft/ daughter of the son  
And in the eyre/ to flee an one they gone  
And called been/ in ysydre as I read  
Among greeks/ bride's of diomed  
But as some books/ of them bear witness  
This change was made/ by venus' the goddess  
Of wrath that she had/ to this worthy knight  
only for the saw him once fight  
With Aeneas'/ her own sone dear  
At which time/ as they fought yfere  
And diomed/ with a dart I ground  
Can aim at him/ a deadly mortal wound.  
¶ This mother venus'/ began anon him shroud  
Under a sky/ and a misty cloud  
To save him/ that time fro mischance  
And for this skill/ venus' took vengeance  
Into birds to turn/ his main  
And in that form/ from year to year they i'll  
Unto his tomb/ where as he is grave  
So upon him/ a mind they have  
That of custom/ for a remembrance  
Aryte they hold/ and an observance  
At his exequyes/ these brides everichone  
A days space/ and thennys not ne gone  
And over more/ as it to them is dew  
They love greeks/ and platly they eschew  
Latynes all/ for nought that may betide  
For they present/ anon they fice aside  
And each from other/ as books us assure  
These birds know/ only of nature  
Greeks/ and latynes/ kindly assonder  
When they them se/ the which is such a wonder  
Unto my wit/ that I can nat aspye  
The causes hid/ of such sorcery  
But well I wot/ though my wit be blended  
That root of all/ was false enchantment  
But of our faith/ we aught to defy  
Such apparences/ showed to the eye  
Which of the fiend/ is but illusion  
Thereof no more/ & thus when Troy town  
Euersed was/ and that brought to nought  
Full many city/ was ybyld/ and wrought.  
¶ And many land/ and many rich town  
Was edified/ by the occasiowne  
Of this were/ as ye have heard me tell  
Which to declare/ now I may nat dwell  
From point to point/ like as books say  
For to jason/ I will resort again  
That landed is/ with worthy hercules  
At Symeounte/ the haven that he chose  
As I have told/ to rest them and comfort  
And for not else/ but only to disport  
But to the king/ reigning in Troy town  
That was that time called lamedowne  
Of false envy/ reported was and told  
How certain greeks/ were of heart bold  
To entrete his land/ the which they nat knew  
Well arrayed/ in a vessel new  
Which to aryue/ had no licence  
And them purpose/ for to done offence  
By lyklyheed/ and his land to grieve  
For they of pride/ without any leave  
Or safe conduit/ have the strand tale  
And such maystryes'/ on the land they make  
As in their power/ were all manner thing  
Having no regard/ plainly to the king.  
¶ Of his estate/ take they none heed  
Of such strangers/ great is to dread  
If men be laches/ either negligent  
Fully to wete/ what is their intent  
But forth prolong/ and no peril cast  
Such sudden thing/ would be wist as fast  
And not differred/ till the harm be do  
It were wisdom/ that it were see to  
Men may to long/ suffer and abide  
Of negligence/ for to let slide  
For to inquire/ of their governance  
This was the speech/ of the dalliance  
everich to other/ by revelaciowne  
In every street/ thorough Troy town  
Some rowning/ and some spoke a broad  
And this speech/ so long there abode  
From one to another/ soothly that the sown  
Reported was/ to king Lamedowne  
As ye have heard/ the which of wilfulness  
Without counsel/ or a vysynesse  
To hastily/ maked hath his sonde  
To wit/ how they were hardy for to land  
Beside his leave/ of presumption  
Wherefore he bade/ in conclusion  
Without abode/ soon to remove  
Or finally/ they should nat eschew  
To be compelled/ maugre who saith nay  
And so the king/ upon a certain day  
In haste hath sent/ his embassatoure  
Unto Jason/ of greeks governor  
That neither thought/ harm nor villainy  
But Innocent/ with his company  
disported him/ endlong the strand  
And ever hath do/ sith he came to land  
And of the charge/ that he on him laid  
And word by word/ to jason how he said  
As in effect/ with every circumstance  
This was the some/ plainly in substance.   

¶ How king Lamedone of Troyesent a messenger unto jason/ for to bid him avoid his Country/ and of their language between them. Capitulo. v.  

THe wise worthy/ & famous of renown  
The mighty king/ the noble Lamedown  
Hath unto you/ his message sent  
Of which th'effect/ as in sentement  
Is this in sooth/ that he hath marvel  
Into his land/ of your arrival  
bringing with you/ greeks not afewe  
And have no conduit/ for you for to show  
Protection plainly/ nor licence  
In prejudice/ of his magnificence  
Wherefore he hath/ on me the charge laid  
And will to you/ that it be platly said  
That ye anon/ without more delay  
Without noise/ or any more affray  
Of Troy land/ the bonds that ye leave  
Or you and yours/ he casteth for to grieve  
And better it is/ with ease to depart  
Than of folly/ your lives to jeoparte  
In any wise/ for lack of providence  
Against his will/ to make resistance  
either of pride/ or of wilfulness  
For to be bold/ without a vysynesse  
To interrupt/ his felicity  
For he desireth/ in tranquillity  
To hold his reign/ without perturbance  
In whose parson/ is made such alliance  
At ween his manhood/ and Royal majesty  
That they will nat suffer/ none of no degree  
To enpugne/ his quiet/ in any manner wise  
Wherefore I counsel/ as ye seem wise  
To take heed/ unto that I say  
And his bidding/ nat to disobey.  
¶ lest ye offend/ his knightly excellence  
For ye shall find/ in experience  
Without feigning/ sooth all that I tell  
Take heed therefore/ I may no longer dwell  
From point/ to point/ sith ye be wise and sage  
For this is hool/ the effect of my message.   

When jason heard/ of the messagere's  
these wordis all/ he 'gan change there  
And kept him close/ with sober countenance  
And was nat/ hasty for Irene grievance  
For no rancour/ he caught of his tale  
Save in his face/ he began to wax pale  
Long abiding/ or aughte he would say  
And or he spoke/ any word again  
Unto him that fro the king was sent  
He began disclose/ the sum of his intent  
Unto his folk/ standing round about  
For unto them/ he discured out  
The message/ whole/ first when he abreyde  
And word by word/ thus to them he saide.  
Sires he saith/ to you be it know  
Take heed I pray/ both high and low  
How Lamedone/ that is king of Troy  
Hath sent to us/ a wonderful enuoye  
Charging in haste/ to high out of his land  
And asketh how we/ upon the strand  
For to aryue/ had hardiness  
Without leave/ se there his gentleness  
And his freedom/ the which is nat alyte  
How like a king/ that he can him quite  
Unto strangers/ that enter in his isle  
For nought god wot/ but for a little while  
Them to refresh/ and to depart anon  
Like as ye can/ record/ everyone  
And bear witness/ all and some  
Alas freedom/ where is it now become.  
¶ Where is manhood/ and gentleness also  
Which in a king/ together both two  
Should of custom/ have their resting place  
And where is honour/ that should also embrace  
Alordes heart/ which of kingly right  
Of manly freedom/ with all his full might  
Should strangers/ refresh and recomfort  
That afterward/ they might of him report.  
¶ Largesse expert/ manhood/ and gentilesse  
That they have/ found in his worthiness  
For if noblesse/ were of his ally  
And freedom/ eke knit with his regally  
So as longeth/ to honour of a king  
He should have charged/ first of all thing  
His worthy lieges/ with all that might please  
To have showed/ the comfort and the ease  
With all their might/ and their busy cure  
Unto strangers/ that of a venture  
Were in the see/ driven and dismayed  
And of our comfort/ nat be evil apaid  
For if that he/ in any case semblable  
either by fortune/ that is variable  
By sort or hap/ that may nat withstand  
arrived had/ into greeks land  
More honestly/ like to his degree  
He should of us/ have received be  
Like as it longeth/ unto gentry  
But sith that he/ for aught I can espy  
Hath freedom/ honour/ and humanity  
At ones made/ out of his court to i'll  
Chose dishonour/ and let worship gone  
There is no more/ but we shall every eachone  
That he hath chose/ help to fulfil  
When power shall nat/ belike his will  
This is to say/ and sooth it shallbe found  
That his deed/ shall on himself rebound  
sith of malices/ he hath this work begun  
peradventure/ or the summer son  
The sodyak/ hath thrice gone about  
For let him trust/ and no thing be in doubt  
we shall him serve/ with such as he hath sought  
For if I live/ it shallbe dear a bought  
All be thereof/ I set as now no tide  
And in his land/ I will no longer bide  
Till I have leisure/ better to sojourn  
And with that word/ he 'gan anon to turn  
With manly face/ and a stern cheer  
Suddenly/ unto the messagere  
That fro the king/ was unto him sent  
And in this wise/ he showeth his intent.  
My friend quoth he/ I have well understand  
The message whole/ that thou took on hand  
Of thy king/ to bring unto us  
Right now unwarely/ & sith it standeth thus  
That I have his meaning/ everydele  
From point to point/ and understand it weal  
For word by word/ I have it plainly contained  
And the gifts/ that we have received  
On his behalf/ in our great need  
I will remember/ & take of it right good heed  
To every thing/ that thou haste us brought  
For trust well/ that I forget it nought  
But emprente/ it well surely in my mind  
And with all this/ how goodly that we find  
The great bounty/ in all manner thing  
Within this land/ of Lamedone the king  
His welcoming/ and his great cheer  
And goodly sonde/ that thou bringest here  
Nat according/ nat to our intent  
For god well wot/ that we never meant  
Harm unto him/ nor plainly no damage  
To none of his/ of no manner age  
And there upon/ the god's immortal  
That of kind/ been celestial  
Unto record/ with all mine heart I take  
And touching this/ my borrows I them make  
In witnessing/ we meant none offence  
Ne took nat/ as by violence  
Within his realm/ of woman child nor man  
And so thou mayst report/ if thou can  
But for that/ we driven in the see  
Compelled were/ of necessity  
For to aryue/ as thou haste hard me sayne  
only to rest us/ here upon the plain  
Without more/ unto a certain day  
And afterward/ to hold forth our way  
Upon our journey/ and make no tarrying  
Like as thou mayst/ record to thy king  
And say him eke/ he shall the time ●e  
That he paraunter/ shall mow thanked be  
When time cometh/ by us or by some other  
Go forth thy way/ & say him thus my brother  
And than anon/ as jalon was in pes  
The manly knight/ the worthy hercules  
When he had herd/ this thing fro point to point  
He was anon brought/ in such disjoint  
Of hasty rancour/ and of sudden Ire  
The which his heart/ almost set a fire  
That suddenly/ as he abreyde a bake  
Of high disdain/ even thus he spoke  
With cheer askoyne/ unto the messagere  
And said fellow/ be no thing in were  
Of our abiding/ but be right well certain  
That are Titan/ his beams raise again  
We shall depart/ and to ship gone  
That of our men/ shall nat leave one  
Within this land/ & god toforne to morrow  
And there upon/ have here my faith to borrow  
For we no longer/ shall hold here soioure  
For else where/ we shall make our retoure  
To morrow early/ in the dawning  
Upon pain of repref/ and so go say thy king  
And or three year/ if god us grant life  
Maugre who grudgeth/ or make any strife  
Unto this land/ we shall again return  
And cast/ anchor a while/ to sojourn  
Take heed thereof/ and note well the time  
A new change/ shall follow of this prime  
And than his power/ shall nat so large stretch  
Of his safe conduit/ little shall we reach  
I say the platly/ as is our intent  
We will nat have/ unto his mandment  
But little regard/ and we that day abide  
For taking leave/ shallbe set a side  
Because he hath/ begun a play  
Which we shall quite/ by god if that I may  
That turn shall into his own shame  
And spare nat/ to say thy king the same.  
This messenger/ than 'gan again reply  
And said sir ye may nat deny  
Of honest/ my message to declare  
Auyse you/ for I will nat spare  
The kings sonde/ plainly for to tell  
And where so be/ ye list to go or dwell  
Ye may yet cheese/ who so belief or loath  
Ye have no cause/ with me to be wroth  
For it sit nat/ unto your worthiness  
If ye take heed/ by way of gentilesse  
Or menacing/ such arrows for to sheet  
For more honest it were/ your threting to let  
And keep secret/ till ye be at your large  
For certainly/ no parcel of my charge  
Is to strive/ with you or debate  
But better it is/ by times than to late  
That ye beware/ for harm that might fall  
And for my part/ I say unto you all  
It were pytee/ that ye destroyed were  
Or any man hinder/ should or dear  
So worthy parsons/ in any manner wise  
Which been as likely/ to be discrete and wise  
And lest with words/ as now I do you grieve  
I say no more/ I take of you my leave.   

THe night ypassed/ at springing of the day  
When that the ●arke/ with a blessed lay  
Began to salve/ the lusty rows read  
Of phoebus chare/ there freshly spread  
Upon the bordure/ of the oryente  
And Aurora/ of heart and whole intent  
With the sweetness/ of her silver showers  
Bedewed had/ the fresh summer flowers  
And made the rose/ with new balm fleet  
The soot lily/ and the margarete  
For to unclose/ their tender leaves white  
Oppressed hearts/ with gladness to delight  
That dreary were/ afore of mights tene  
And honey souklies/ among the bushes green  
Enbalmed/ had/ environ all the eyre  
Long or Titan/ began make his repair  
With the brightness/ of his beams merry  
For to rejoice all our emysperye  
For long aforne/ be he died arise  
This worthy jason/ in full hasty wise  
And his fellow/ hercules also  
I charged have/ their shipmen have ado  
To hale up anchor/ and them ready make  
And bad in haste/ every man to take  
The right way/ unto ship anon  
For in soothness/ this manly man jason  
Thought he was/ nat stuffed of main  
To begin a were/ on Troy city  
For he was nat/ shortly to conclude  
Equal in numbered/ nor in multitude  
As for that time/ a were to begin  
It was nat likely/ that he should win  
Victory as though/ for they were but a few  
And it is nat wholesome/ a man to hew  
Above his heed/ when it is over high  
lest the chips/ will fall in his eye  
Wherefore of frygye/ they leave the costs belive  
They drew up sail/ the ship began to drive  
The wind was good/ the god's favourable  
Fortune their friend/ though she be variable  
And thus to Colchos/ safe they been I come  
And unto land/ both all and some  
They been arrived/ in a little space  
For in the see/ they have found grace  
Of Neptunus'/ that caused them as belive  
As I said ere/ at Colchos for to aryue   

NOw in this isle/ and this little land  
the Colchos hight/ ye shall understand  
How that there was/ a rial chief city  
In all that reign/ most of dignity  
Of worthiness/ of richesse/ and of fame  
And jachonytes/ that time it bore the name  
Chevest of all/ to speak of building  
And streets large/ and coryous housing  
And therewith all/ dyched well without  
Strong walled/ and toured round about  
Of huge height/ and above battled  
Magecolde also/ lest they were assailed  
With many palace/ stately and royal  
For there the seat was/ most principal  
The king to abide/ better than else where  
And that time/ it happened him be there  
And he was called/ Cethes as I read  
Full renowned/ of knyghode and manhood  
And about/ him a well beseen main  
Like as was sitting/ unto his degree  
And every where/ lands enuyrowne  
The same spread/ of his high renown  
And all about/ this mighty cheyfcytee  
Where as Cethes/ held his royal see  
Were fresh rivers/ of which the water clean  
Like crystal shone/ again the son sheen  
Fair plains/ as Guydo beareth witness  
And wholesome hills/ full of lustiness  
And many lay/ and many lusty well  
And there were eke/ mine author can you tell  
Full many a park/ full fair & fresh to seen  
And many wood/ and many meadow green  
With sundry flowers/ among the herbs meynt  
Which on their stalk/ nature hath depaint  
With sundry hews/ within & without  
After the season/ that summer came about  
For fishing/ fouling/ and hawking also  
For venery/ and huating both two  
The place was/ I●ly delightable  
Of corn/ and greyne/ passingly agreeable  
And plenteous/ in all manner thing  
For there men heard/ the birds freshly sing  
In time of year/ in their harmony  
That the noise/ and soot melody  
On fresh branches/ full delicious  
Rejoice would/ these folks amorous  
Whom loves bronde/ had fired to the heart  
And adawen/ of their pains sinerte  
That certainly/ when that green ver  
Ypassed were/ aye fro year to year  
And May was come/ the month of gladness  
And fresh flora/ of flowers Empress  
Had clad the soil/ new at her devise  
This noble place/ was like paradise  
And Ceres/ goddess/ of largesse and foison  
Such plenty gave/ unto that region  
Of flesh/ of fish/ wine victual and corn  
That the liquor/ of her full horn  
Upon that land/ so began rain and snow  
That all astates/ both high and low  
Lad their life/ in sovereign suffisance  
With all that nature/ could or might advance  
This little isle/ with her gifts great  
Like as toforne/ ye have heard me treat  
For there was plenty/ & there was abundance  
And there was all/ that might do pleasance  
To any heart/ and all commodytee  
And so befell/ that to this city  
jason is come/ and with him hercules  
And after them/ followeth all the pres  
Full well arrayed/ and rially be sayne  
Army senclosyd together/ twain & twain  
A people chose/ as it were for the nonce  
And therewith all/ of brawns and of bones  
everich of them/ of making and fashion  
Full well complete/ by proportion  
young of age/ and of good stature  
Of countenance sad/ and full demure  
That every wyghte/ had great pleasance  
To see the manner/ of their governance  
So young so fresh/ hardy and meek also  
And all at ones/ they to the palace go  
With such a cheer/ that everich hath disport  
To see the manner/ of their noble port  
So gentylmanly/ they demeaned were  
That the people/ 'gan press every where  
Tose these strangers/ like the greeks guise  
Demene themself/ in so thrifty wise  
And of desire/ the people ne would ceesse  
About them/ to gather and empreesse  
And to inquire/ what they might be  
That of new/ with such ryalte  
Ben suddenly entered/ into the town  
Thus everich would/ with his fellow rowne  
They were so rude/ to stare and to gaze  
To gape and look/ as it were on a maze  
This townysshe folk/ do so commonly  
Of every thing/ that falleth suddenly  
But how that Cethes/ like a worthy king  
When that he heard/ first of their coming  
receiveth them/ and holy the matter  
If that ye list/ an one ye shall it here.   

When that the king/ hath soothly understand  
How the greeks/ come were to land  
And how jason/ was also therewith all  
Borne by dissent/ of the blood royal  
Of thessaly/ and likely to be heir  
If he by grace/ have again repair  
The adventures/ achyeved of Colchos  
The king anon/ out of his see aroos  
Of gentilesse/ in all the haste he may  
In goodly wise/ to meet them on the way  
And them receiveth/ with cheer full benign  
And unto them/ a one he doth assign  
His officers/ to await them night and day  
Charging them/ in all manner way  
That what so ever/ may to them do ease  
Or any thing/ that may them queme or please  
That they it have/ in foison and plenty  
everich of them/ like to his degree  
Thus he commanded/ in all manner thing  
And than anon/ this noble worthy king  
As he that was/ of freedom a mirror  
Thorughe many hall/ and many rich tour  
By many turn/ and many divers way  
By many gree made/ of marble grey  
Hath them conveyed/ a full easy pass  
Till he them brought/ there his chambre was  
Where he with them/ held his dalliance  
And there anon/ with every circumstance  
Of manly freedom/ he made to them cheer  
And in his chambre/ englased bright & clear  
That shone full sheen/ with gold & with azure  
Of many image/ that was there in picture  
He hath commanded/ to his officers  
only in honour of them/ that were strangers  
Sp●ces and wine/ and after that anon  
The young fresh/ the lusty man jason  
As fast 'gan/ by licence of the king  
For to declare/ the cause of this coming  
But first the king/ with great tyaltee  
ascended is/ into his royal see  
Clothes of gold/ hanged environ  
After the custom/ of that region  
That to behold/ it was a noble sight  
standing about/ many a worthy knight  
And many squire/ and many gentleman  
Full well beseen/ and the king right than  
Unto jason/ standing in presence  
commanded hath/ of his magnificence  
With Hercules/ to sit down beside  
And jason/ than no longer list abide  
Of his coming/ the cause for to show  
The effect of which/ was this in words few  
Save jason/ be he his tale began  
Full well advised/ and cheered like a man  
conceived hath/ and noted wonder well  
From point to point/ his matter everydeal  
And not forgot a word/ in all his speech  
But even like as rhetoric/ doth teach  
He 'gan his tale/ so by craft convey  
To make the king/ to that he would say  
condescend/ and rather to incline  
For to assent/ that he might fine  
Of his coming/ the knightly high emprise  
Thus word by word/ as I shall here devise.   

RIght worthy prince/ present in this place  
only with support/ of your high grace  
And your goodness/ most excellent & dign  
With patience/ of your favour benign  
Displease it nat/ that I may say and show  
And declare/ with words but a few  
The final ground/ and cause of my coming  
So that ye list/ which been so noble a king  
In goodly wise/ without more offence  
Benyngly/ to give audience  
To my request/ and that ye not disdain  
Goodly to grant/ that I may attain  
In this y●le/ if it may avail  
The slees of gold/ freely for to assail  
As the gods/ in this adventure  
list to ordain/ for my fatal eure  
In whom lieth all/ plainly and fortune  
For to govern things/ in common  
In were and peas/ conquest and victory  
And of arms/ the renown and glory  
discomfiture/ and bringing to outraunce  
All lieth in them/ to hinder or to avaunt  
Ayen whose might/ no mortal man may ches●  
But for all this/ where I win or lose  
Or life or death/ befyne of my labour  
If that ye list/ to do me this favour  
To give me leave/ and no more delay  
I am accorded/ fully for to assay  
Like as the statute/ maketh mention  
Me list to make/ none exception  
Upon no side/ favour for to find  
But as the rites/ plainly make mind  
What ever fall/ I shall them under fonge  
Lowly beseeching/ that ye nat prolong  
My purpose now/ nor make no delay  
But of your grace/ set me a day  
Mine emprise/ that I may achieve  
For mine abode/ stant upon your leave  
saith but one word/ of granting at the lest  
And than I have/ the fine of my request.  
And when the king/ had heard seriously  
The intent of jason/ said so manfully  
He stint alyte/ and kept him close a while  
Till at the last/ he goodly 'gan to smile  
Towards jason/ and said unto him thus  
jason quoth he/ though thou be desirous  
To underfang/ this passing high emprise  
My counsel is/ like as I shall devise  
Full prudently/ for to cast aforne  
The mortal peril/ or that thou be lost  
For in this thing/ there is a law set  
Bychauntement/ that may nat belette  
Nor remedied/ for favour nor for meed  
For death in sooth/ who so taketh heed  
Is the guerdon/ platly or they twin  
O fall that cast them/ the flees of gold to win  
For help is none/ in manhood nor fortune  
The straight/ way is so Importune  
So dreadful eke/ and so full of rage  
That save death/ there is no passage  
Of victory/ the palm to conquer  
For soothly jason/ as I shall the lere  
Founded of old/ by marvelous working  
Be the statutes/ of this mortal thing  
So sore bound/ under my regal  
That the rigour/ I may nat modify  
Wherefore jason/ or thou this thing at tame  
lest afterward/ on me were laid the blame  
Of thy losing/ or destruction  
Of faithful heart/ and true entencion  
I warn thee/ myself for to quite  
So that no man/ justly shall me wite  
Though thou of youth/ and of wilfulness  
Thy life destroy/ without a vysynesse  
sith jason of this perilous case  
From point to point/ have told the all the case  
Be now advised/ and put no fault in me  
For the surplus/ freely lieth in the  
Of all this thing/ sith thou mayst cheese  
And where so be/ that thou win or lose  
No man to me/ it justly may arecte  
For the law/ that mars himself set  
No mortal man/ of dew right may pass  
For high or low/ get noon other grace  
Than the gods list/ for him ordain  
What ever he be/ that cast him to deraign  
This divers thing/ most furious of dread  
Wherefore jason/ how ever that thou speed  
I have to thee/ openly declared  
holy the peril/ and for favour spared  
As far in sooth/ as reason will and right  
For thou wottest well/ it lieth not in my might  
For to declare/ or any man to let  
That of manhood/ knightly cast to set  
Upon this thing/ as thou haste heard me tell  
What should Ilenger/ in this matter dwell  
It were but vain/ for now thou knowest all  
Beware of her/ that turneth as a ball  
For at this time/ thou gettest no more of me  
Do as thou list/ I put the choice in the  
And with that word/ the king rose up anon  
Upon the time/ when he should gone  
Unto his meet/ and jason by his side  
As ye shall here/ if ye list abide.   

THe time approacheth/ & 'gan to neygh fast  
That officers/ full busily them cast  
To make ready/ with all their full cure  
And in the hall/ the boards for to cure  
For by the dial/ the hour they began to mark  
That phoebus shouthward/ was raised in his ark  
So high a loft/ that it drew to noon  
That it was time/ for the king to gone  
Unto his meet/ and enter into hall  
And Cethes than/ with his lords all  
And with his knights/ about him everyone  
With Hercules/ and also with jason  
Is set to meet/ in his royal see  
And every lord/ like to his degree  
But first of all/ this worthy man jason  
Assigned was/ by the king anon  
For to sit/ at his own board  
And hercules/ that was so great a lord  
Was set also/ fast by his side  
And the marshal/ no longer list abide  
To assign estates/ where they should be  
Like as they were/ of high or low degree  
And after that/ on scaffold high a loft  
The noise 'gan loud/ and no thing sof●e  
Both of trompers/ and of claryoners  
And there with all/ the noble officers  
Full thryftely/ served have the hall  
Like as the season/ that time died fall  
With all daints/ that may reckoned be  
That soothfastly/ the foison and plenty  
Of kingly freedom/ unto high and low  
So fulsomly/ 'gan to reign and snow  
That thorough the hall/ was the manhood praised  
Of the king/ and his renown raised  
That can his gests/ soothly for to sye  
When that him list/ cheer and fes●ey  
So like a king/ and in so thrifty wise  
With all dainty/ that man can devise  
For at this feste/ and solemnity  
The greeks might/ the great nobley see  
Of king Cethes/ and the worthiness  
And by report thereof/ bear witness  
Where so they come/ after all their live  
I want cunning/ by order to describe  
Of every course/ the diversities  
The strange sews/ and the sotyltees  
That were that day/ served in that place  
Have me excused/ though I lightly pass  
Though I can nat/ all in order sayne  
mine english/ is to rude and eke to plain  
For to indite/ of so high a thing  
But forth I will/ rehearse how the king  
To show his gests/ his nobley over all  
Hath for his daughter/ sent in special  
And bad she should/ forth anon be brought  
The which in sooth/ though men had sought  
This world through out/ I do you plain assure  
Men might a found/ no fairer creature  
More womanly of port/ nor manner  
Nor more demure/ nor sadder of her cheer  
Whose beauty was/ nat likely for to fade  
And when she came/ the greeks for to glade  
The hall in sooth/ she walketh up and down  
Of woman heed/ and pure affeccy own  
To make cheer/ unto these gests new  
And thus Medca/ with her rosin hew  
And with freshness/ of the lily white  
So enter meddled/ of kind by delight  
That nature made/ in her face spr●de  
So equally the white with the red  
That the meddling/ in conclusion  
So was ennewed/ by proportion  
That finally/ excess was there none  
Of one nor other/ for both two in one  
So joined were/ long to endure  
By the empress/ that called is nature  
For she her made/ like to her devise  
That to behold/ it was a paradise  
In very sooth/ both to one and all  
Of old and young/ sitting in the hall  
Thereto she was/ as by succession  
Borne to be heir/ of that region  
After her father/ by descent of line  
If she abide/ and dure after his fine  
sith he ●e had/ by right to succeed  
Noon heir male/ that I can of read  
She was also/ the book maketh mention  
Were unto years/ of discretion  
Able for age/ married for to be  
And not withstanding/ also eke that she  
Was of beauty/ and of womanheed  
One of the fairest that I can of reed  
Yet none of both/ have her youth let  
That to clergy/ her desire was set  
So passingly/ that in special  
In all the arts/ called liberal  
She was expert/ and knowing at the best  
It was her ure/ to can what her lest  
Of such a woman/ heard I never tell  
At Elycon/ she drank so of the well  
That in her time/ was there none semblable  
I found in sooth/ ne none that was so able  
To conceive by study/ and doctrine  
And of natures/ dispute and termine  
She koude also/ and the causes find  
Of all things/ form as by kind  
She had in learning/ so her time spent  
That she knew/ of the firmament  
The true course/ and of the stars all  
And by their moving/ what that should fall  
So expert she was/ in astronomy  
But most she wrought/ by nygromanyce  
With exorsismes/ and coniurisons  
And used also/ to make illusions  
With her charms said/ in sundry wise  
And with rites/ of divers sacrifice  
Encens/ and rechelies/ caste into the fire  
To show things/ like to her desire  
With gootes horns/ and with milk & blood  
When the moan was/ equat and stood  
In the fifth/ or sixth house  
And was fortuned/ with looking gracious  
To cheese an hour/ that were convenient  
And fortunate/ by enchauntement  
To make and work/ sundry apparences  
So well she knew/ the heavenly influences  
And aspects both/ wroth and glad  
For she by them/ all her things made  
That appartene/ to such experiments  
For when her list/ by her enchantments  
She could make/ the winds for to blow  
To thunder and light/ and to hail & snow  
And frenzy also/ to grieve men with pain  
And suddenly she could/ make to rain  
Show what weather/ that her list to have  
And gasten men/ with sudden earth quave  
And turn the day/ unwarely unto night  
And than anon/ make the son bright  
Show his beams/ full piercing and full sheen  
With golden horns/ to void nights tene  
And raise floods/ with many dreadful wawe  
And when her list/ she could them eft withdraw  
Eke young trees/ to sere root and rind  
And afterward/ make them again kind  
With lusty branches/ blosme & bud new  
Also in winter/ with flowers flresshe of hew  
Array the earth/ and tappte him in green  
That to behold/ a joy it was to seen  
With many colour/ showing full divers  
As white and read/ green ynde and per  
The dayesye/ with her rich crown  
And other flowers/ that winter made frown●  
Upon their stalk/ freshly for to appear  
And suddenly/ with a deadly cheer  
She could summer/ into winter turn  
Causing the day/ with mists for to morn  
And old men/ she could make young  
And eft again/ or any here was sprung  
She could them show/ both in heed & beard  
Full hoar and grey/ in craft/ she so lerede  
And trees with fruit/ she could eke make bare  
Of rind and leef/ to do men on them stare  
Clypse the moan/ and the bright son  
Or naturally/ they had their course yronne  
To them apropred/ which they may nat pass  
For if that Titan/ his course by kind trase  
When he moveth/ under clyptyk line  
The clypse not follow/ as auctors list define  
So that there be/ by their description  
Of both twain/ full conjunction  
And that the son/ with his beams reed  
Have his dwelling/ in the dragon heed  
And the moan/ be set eke in the tail  
As by nature/ than it may nat fail  
That there must fall/ eclipse of very need  
In sundry books/ like as ye may read  
Because of certain/ intersecations  
Of divers clerks/ and revolutions  
That maked been/ in the heaven a loft  
Which cause us/ for to fail oft  
Of the fresh/ comfortable streams  
That be to us shed/ from phoebus beams  
For the moan/ hath made division  
By this sudden/ interposition  
That of our sight/ the streams visual  
May nat behold/ nor I seen at all  
Nor to our lust/ fully comprehend  
How Apollo/ is in his char chyvende  
As we were wont/ aforehand for to see  
But of all this/ the great tholome  
King of Egypt/ telleth the great causes why  
Within his book/ full compendiously  
Both of eclipse/ and conjunction  
And why they fall/ by naturel motion  
But of Medee/ though this clerk suyde  
To increase her name/ upon every side  
Lest in his fables/ such things tell  
Though he of poets/ was the spring & well  
Yet god forbid/ ye should give credence  
To such feigning/ or do so high offence  
sith of nature/ must be denied  
All such affirming/ and also be diffyed  
Of every christian/ steadfast in believe  
For certainly/ it would highly grieve  
Our conscience/ in any wise ween  
Against kind/ which is so high a queen  
That any wight/ orlyving creature  
Should have power/ I do you plain ●●●ure  
So cursed things/ superstitious  
To do or work/ to kind contrarious.  
¶ For god almighty/ judge of judges all  
Hath set a law/ the which may nat fall  
Among planets/ perpetuelly to endure  
Afore ordained/ in his eternal cure  
The which may nat/ as clerks list termine  
Upon no side/ bow/ nor decline  
But as they were/ from discord or debate  
Eternally yformed/ and create  
thorough the finger/ of his sapience  
Always/ to move in their intelligence  
Like as they be/ to his lordship bound  
For never yet/ ne was eclipse yfound  
The moan nat being/ in conjunction  
As I have told/ save in the passion  
The which eclipse/ was against kind  
Nature her knot/ that time died unbind  
When gods son/ starfe upon the rood  
The son of life/ was dyrked for our good  
When heaven and earth/ with high compunction  
Have signs showed/ of Lamentation  
By earth quaves/ light turned to dyrkenesse  
And deed bodies/ upward 'gan them dress  
From their tombs/ again from death to live  
Stone and rock/ a sunder gan rive  
In the temple/ the veyll was cut a two  
And signs many/ were yshewed though  
That for wonder/ and tokens marvelous  
The great worthy/ Dyonysyous  
Which at Athenes/ as clerks of him write  
Was called in schools/ Ariopagyte  
That when he saw/ this noble famous clerk  
The bright day/ suddenly so dark  
All though he were apaynym/ in though days  
And was infect/ with rightꝭ of their lays  
As he that was most chief/ and principal  
Of philosophers/ for to reckon all  
Yet that time/ atoned in his mind  
Said platly/ either the god of kind  
suffereth the death/ either out of doubt  
This round world/ which is so large about  
Shallbe dissolved/ and ybrought to nought  
By sudden change/ hasty as a thought.  
¶ By this clergy/ he knew no better skill  
For god may/ all change at his will  
And hath power of such coaction  
Under whose might/ and disposition  
Is law of kind/ constrained sooth to say  
From point to point/ lowly to obey  
In every thing/ that him list ordain  
Of elementis/ he may the course restrain  
As holy wryt/ witnesseth ye may see  
How at request/ of worthy joshua  
The bright son/ stood at Gabaon  
Adays space/ in one degree and shone  
Showing his token/ to his true knight  
Finally/ for to give him light  
That he might/ by his high prowess  
His cruel soon/ manfully oppress  
When that he fought/ this knight this joshua  
With kings five/ reigning in Amoree  
So long last/ the pursuit and the chaas  
Till they were take/ and for their trespaas  
Dempt to be deed/ the Bible can you tell  
Now sith that god/ thus highly list fulfil  
Of his knight/ request and orison  
What wonder was/ though in the passion  
Of Christ Ihesu incarnate, for our sake  
The son beams/ though they wax black  
sith he hath lordship of planets all  
And as him list/ needs it must fall  
For of Medea/ though Ouydius  
In his fables/ rehearseth and write thus  
As he that list/ her name to exalt  
Yet from the truth/ some while he doth alte  
All be she were/ a passing sorceress  
And ferthest name/ of any chaunteresse.  
〈◊〉 I will pass over/ again to my matter  
And how she came/ to meet/ ye shall here  
When her father/ had for her sent  
She came anon/ at his commandment  
But or she came/ I find that tofore  
For to make her beauty/ seem more  
In her closet/ she took her best array  
For to increase/ all that ever she may  
Natures work/ with royal apparel  
For this women/ gladly will nat fail  
When they of beauty/ have plenteous largesse  
It to embellysshe/ they do their business  
With rich a tire/ upon every side  
I fought be miss/ they can it close and hide  
For all the foul/ shall covertly be wried  
That no default/ outward be espied.  
¶ But she was both/ fair/ and well besayne  
And in her port/ so womanly certain  
That her coming/ gladeth all the hall  
For it was joy/ unto one and all  
To see the manner/ though of her entry  
To whom her father/ bad to take her see  
Beside jason/ him for to disport  
Of womanhood/ and to recomfort.  
¶ But oo alas/ here lacked high prudence  
Discrete advice/ of inward providence  
wisdom also/ with peril cast afore  
To trust a maid/ of tender years bore  
Of unhappy fond/ wilfulness  
For this king/ of his gentleness  
Commanded hath/ to his confusion  
To his dishonour/ and destruction  
His own daughter/ borne to be his heir  
That was also/ so womanly and feyre  
So suddenly down/ for to descend  
considered nat/ the mischief of the end  
Alas why dared he/ in her you the affye  
To make her sit/ of his courtesy  
Where she might/ by casual motion  
Full lightly catch/ or have occasion  
To do amiss/ alas why died he so  
Why list him nat/ take heed thereto  
Nor to avert/ in his discretion  
Wisely to cast/ afore in his reason  
The unware change/ that is in womanhead  
Which every wise man/ ought for to dread  
For who was ever/ yet so mad or wood  
That ought of reason/ konne a right his good  
To give faith/ or hastily credence  
To any woman/ without experience  
In whom is nouther/ trust nor sickerness  
They been so double/ and full of brytylnesse  
That it is hard/ in them to assure  
For unto them/ it longeth of nature  
From their birth to have alliance  
With doubleness/ and with variance  
Their hearts be so freell/ and unstable  
Namely in youth/ so moving and mutable  
That so as clerks/ of them list to indite  
All be that I am/ sorry for to write  
They say/ that change and mutability  
Apropred been/ to femynyte  
This is affirmed of them/ that were full sage  
And specially/ while they be tender of age  
In their waxing/ and when that they be young  
Whose heart accordeth/ full seld with her tongue  
For if the truth/ inwardly be sought  
With the surplus/ & remnant of their thought  
Men may there/ the true patron find  
Of inconstance/ whose flaskysable kind  
Is to and fro/ moving as a wind  
That Hercules/ were nat strong to bind  
Nouther Samson/ so as I believe  
Woman's heart/ to make it nat remove  
For as the blaze/ whyrleth of afyre  
So to and fro/ they flee in their desire  
Till they accomplish/ fully their delight  
For as matere/ by naturel appetite  
Kindly desireth/ after form  
Till he his course/ by process may perform  
So this women/ refrain them ne can  
To sew their lust/ as fro man to man  
They will nat cease/ till all be assayed  
But would god/ as matter is apaid  
With one form/ and holdeth him content  
When of his bounds/ he hath the term went  
And nat desire/ ferther to proceed  
But still abyte/ and will it nat exceed  
That by example/ all women would  
Rest in one/ as duly they should  
And hold them paid/ and still there abide  
But unsure foting/ doth them oft slide  
For they be nat/ content with unytee  
They pursue aye/ for pluralytee  
So of nature/ to moving they be thewed  
All though among/ by signs outward showed  
They pretend/ a manner of stabylnesse  
But under that is hid/ the doublensse  
Of secrely that outward at the eye  
Full hard it is/ the treason to espy  
Under curtyn/ and veil of honest  
Is closed change/ and mutability  
For their desire/ is kept full close in mewe  
And thing they had/ leavest for to sew  
O only outward/ for to have a laud  
They can decline/ with feigning & with fraud.  
¶ Wherefore Cethes/ thy wit was to barren  
That thou afore/ by prudence naddyst say  
What should follow/ of this unhappy cas  
Why were thou bold/ for to suffer alas  
Thine own daughter/ so fair & fresh of hew  
With strange gests entered but of new  
So foolily/ for to let her deal  
Where through thy honour/ thy worship & thy hele  
Was lost in haste/ & she to mischief brought  
In strange land/ with sorrow & moche thought  
Where as she/ to great slander of the  
In great misery/ and adversity  
An end made/ and thou were left all sole  
Thou mightest well complain and make dole  
Alas the while/ if thy prudent sight  
Thou hadst grace/ to remember a right  
And to have cast/ by discrete purveyance  
And weighed wisely/ by measure in balance  
The fraud of women/ and the freelte  
In whom full seld/ is any sykerte  
As in his latin/ Guydo doth express  
Wherefore thou Cethes/ of very retchlessness  
Thou haste at ones/ in Augment of thy woe  
Without recure/ both two forego  
first thy treasure/ and thy daughter dear  
That was to thee/ so passyngly enter  
And eke thine heir/ for when that she was gone  
As saith mine Author/ other was there none  
After thy day/ for to occupy  
Thy royal sceptre/ nor thy land to gye.  
¶ But what was worth/ the great providence  
The waker keeping/ or busy diligence  
Of mighty Mars/ that god is of battle  
What might it help/ defend or avail  
Again the wit of woman/ or the sleight  
Whose frauds are/ of so huge aweyghte  
That as them list/ aye the game goeth  
Their purpose hold/ who so be lyef or loath  
They be sly/ so prudent and so wise  
For as this story/ plainly doth devise  
This Medea/ by her engine and craft  
From her father/ his treasure hath bereft  
thorough the working/ of her sleight guile  
As ye shall here/ within a little while  
For as she sat/ at meet in that tide  
Next her father/ and jason by her side  
All suddenly/ her fresh rosin hew  
Full oft time/ 'gan change and renew  
An hundreth fythe/ in a little space  
For now the blood/ from her goodly face  
Unto her heart/ unwarely 'gan a bale  
And therewithal/ she waxeth deed and pale  
And eft anon/ who that can take heed  
Her hew changeth/ into goodly red  
But ever among/ to ennewe her colour  
The rose was meynt/ with the lily flower  
And though the rose/ some delegan pace  
yet the lily/ abideth in his place  
Till nature made them eft to meet  
And thus with cold/ and with sudden heat  
Was Medea/ in herself assailed  
And passingly bexed/ and travailed  
For now she brent/ and now she 'gan to cold  
And aye the more/ that she 'gan behold  
This young jason/ the more she 'gan desire  
To look on him/ so was she set afyre  
With his beauty/ and his seemliness  
And every thing/ she inly 'gan inpresse  
What that she saw/ both in mind & thought  
She all emprenteth/ and forgot right nought  
For she considereth/ every circumstance  
Both of his port/ and his governance  
His sonnysshe here/ crisped like gold were  
His knightly look/ and his manly cheer  
His countenance/ with many noble sign  
His face also most gracious and benign  
Most acceptable/ unto her pleasance  
For as she thought/ it was suffisance  
Without more/ unto her alone  
To consider and look on his parson  
For in that time/ without any dread  
Of meet or drink/ she took but little heed  
For she of food/ hath lost her appetite  
To look on him/ she hath so great delight  
He was so printed/ in her remembrance  
Love hath her caught/ so newly in a trance  
And I marked/ with his fury bronde  
That she may nat/ escape from his hand  
Noreschewe his stroke/ in special  
For she was yolde/ body heart and all  
Unto jason/ platly for to say  
And ever among/ on him she cast her eye  
When that she fond/ aleyser opportune  
But of wisdom/ she woldenat contune  
Her look to long/ lest men dempte amiss  
But as the manner/ of these women is  
She kept her close/ and wonderly secree  
That by her cheer/ no man might see  
What that she mente/ by none occasion  
She put them out/ of all suspection  
For openly/ there was no tokens seen  
She cast rather/ that men should ween  
That the encheason/ of her abstinence  
And why that she/ sat so in silence  
How that it was only of womanhead  
Of honest shame/ and of chaste dread  
That together/ in her heart met  
The which twain/ so this maid let  
from meet and drink/ as it would seem  
Thus of wisdom/ she made them for to dame  
And so to cast/ in their opinion  
And thus she blended them/ by discretion  
For her cheer/ could every thing excuse  
She gave no matter/ fools for to muse.  
¶ No cheer unbridled/ that time her asterte  
For there was one/ enclosed in her heart  
And another/ in her cheer declared  
For maidens/ hath oft scythes spared  
To show out/ that they desire in deed  
As it falleth/ who so can take heed  
That while they flouren/ in virgynyte  
And for youth/ have no liberty  
To specify/ that their heart would  
They keep them close/ for they be nat bold  
To show out/ the sum/ of their sentence  
And thus Medea/ keeping aye silence  
Ne let no word/ by her lips pace  
But covertly/ with ●obre cheer and face  
What she mente/ showeth with her eye  
So secretly/ that no man could espy  
The hot fire/ in her breast yreke  
And in herself/ right thus she 'gan to speak  
As she in sooth/ that so moche can  
So would god/ this young lusty man  
Which so fair/ and seemly in my sight  
Assured were/ to be mine own knight  
Which is to me/ most pleasant and enteer  
With beard sprung/ shining like gold were  
So well Ilymed/ and compact by measure  
Well grow on height/ and of good stature  
And liketh me/ in every part so weal  
That by assent of fortune/ and her wheel  
jewred were/ to stand in his grace  
For as me seemeth/ upon his knightly face  
It is to me/ a heaven to behold  
All be therewith/ my heart I feel cold  
And yet in sooth/ it may none other be  
Alas why ne hath he/ on my wopyte  
Or at the lest/ he knew in his intent  
How moche truth/ to him that I mente  
Of which alas/ he taketh no manner heed  
All be for him/ I bren as doth the gleed  
And to be deed/ I dare me nat discure  
Alas my piteous/ and woeful adventure  
Is to rewefull/ and my mortal pain  
So to be murdered/ & dare me not complayn●  
To friend nor foo/ of my chance alas  
To find help/ or succour in this cas  
And truly/ yet as I shall devise  
I no thing mean/ but in honest wise  
Like as it shall/ openly be found  
For I desire/ to be knit and bound  
With him in wedlock/ & never from him twin  
For my meaning/ is withouten sin  
Grounded and set/ upon all cleanliness  
Without fraud/ or any doubleness  
So clean and pure/ is mine entencion  
Lo aye the manner/ and condition  
Of these women/ that so well can fain  
And show one/ though they think twain  
And covertly/ that no thing be sayne  
With humble cheer/ and face plaint  
Enclose their lusts/ by such sotylte  
Under the bounds/ of all honest  
Of their intent/ though the treachery  
Withal the surplus/ under be jury  
And though that they/ faith afore pretend  
And can their fraud/ with florisshing well defend  
And flattery only/ the world to blend  
With doubleness/ enclosed in the end  
Yet aye deceit/ is beneath meant  
Under the sugar/ of feigned clean intent  
As it were sooth/ in very existence  
But trust me well/ all is but appearance  
They can show one/ and another mean  
Whose blue is lightly/ died into green  
For under flowers depaint/ of stabylnesse  
The serpent dareth/ of newfangelnesse  
So plain they seem/ with words fair glossed  
But underneath/ their covert wiles closed  
For what thyngr/ be most of their pay  
They will deny/ and rathest they swear nay.   

THis liketh Guydo/ of women for to indite  
Alas why would he/ so cursedly write  
Against them/ or with them debate  
I am right sorry/ in english to translate  
reproof of them/ or any evil to say  
liefer me were/ for their love die  
Wherefore I pray them/ to take patience  
My purpose is nat/ them to do offence  
They be so good/ and perfit everichone  
To reckon all/ I trow there be nat one  
But that they be/ in will and heart true  
For though among/ they cheese them loves new  
Who considereth/ they be no thing to blame  
For oft time/ they see men do the same  
They must them purvey/ when men them refuse  
And if I could/ I would them excuse  
It sitteth nat/ a woman live alone  
It is no store/ but they have more than one  
praying to them/ for to do me grace  
For as I hope/ to them is no trespass  
Though my making/ be the same in all  
As Guydo write/ in his original  
Where he myssayth/ let him bear the wite  
For it sit well/ that the vengeance bite  
On him that so/ these women hath offended  
And if I might/ it should be amended  
He should receive/ duly his penance  
For if he died/ without repentance  
I am despaired/ of his salvation  
How he should ever/ have remission  
But he were contrite/ his sin to redress  
It may nat been/ as clerks bear witness.  
¶ And by my truth/ and he were alive  
I mean Guydo/ and I should him shrive  
So bitter penance/ plainly he should have  
That to the time/ that he were ygrave  
He should remember/ and platly nat a start  
For to repent him/ with all his hole heart  
That he so spoke/ to his confusion  
I will no longer/ make disgression  
From my matter/ but let Gnydo be  
And tell forth/ the working of Medee  
That hath licence/ of her father nome  
And to her chamber/ is alone I come  
When out of hall/ withdrawn was the pres  
And when jason/ and also hercules  
Like as the king/ after meet had  
To their chambers/ conveyed were and lad  
Full royally arrayed/ and besayne  
For every wall/ was covered in certain  
With cloth of gold/ in full stately wise  
And in this while/ as ye have herd devise  
Was Medea/ to her chamber gone  
Whereby herself/ complaining ever in one  
She gave issue/ to her pains smart  
That her so sore/ have wounded to the heart  
For love hath brought her/ in a sudden rage  
That was nat likely/ soon for to assuage  
For in soothness/ the furious god cupid  
Hath such a fire/ kynled in her side  
That it was never/ likely for to let  
So violent and fervent/ was the heat  
That more and more/ increase 'gan her pain  
For in her breast/ there was at wixe twain  
A great debate/ and a strong battle  
So fervently/ each other died assail  
And this contek/ in ernes and in game  
Inparted was/ betwixt love and shame  
Meeting together/ there at unset steven  
All be the field/ was nat parted even  
For love in sooth/ full of high renown  
Was bold and hardy/ like a fierce lion  
And was nat fearful of spear/ sword nor knife  
But hot and hasty/ for to auntre his life  
Eke surquydous/ stout/ and full of pride  
Chief champion/ of the god cupid  
That causeth oft both f●e and bond  
Full many peril/ for to take on hand  
And caused hath/ full many man his death  
And many one/ to yield up the breath  
And made their wounds/ largely to bleed  
For of peril/ love taketh none heed  
To get him honour/ by excellence of fame  
¶ But in contrary/ his enemy called shame  
Like a coward/ faint and heartless  
As he that never/ dare put himself in pres  
For lack of manhood/ draweth him ever a bake  
He is so dreadful/ and fearful of the wreck  
Like a child/ young/ and tender of age  
For he hath nouther/ heart nor courage  
For to assail/ he is so feeble of might  
And yet full oft/ he hath stand in the sight  
Of many lover/ to let him for to speed  
thorough false conspiring/ of his brother dread  
For dread and shame/ when they be allied  
Of one assent/ have piteously denied  
Unto love/ heart and hardiness  
That he ne durst/ out a word express  
For when that love/ of manhood would speak  
The wood fire/ out of his breast to unreke  
Upon the point/ when he should assay  
Cometh shame anon/ and utterly faith nay  
And causeth love/ horns for to shrink  
To abash his cheer/ & piteously to wink  
cowardly his cause/ to appayre  
And thus is shame/ froward and contrary  
thorough help of dread/ lovers folk to fere  
For doubtless/ if shame nought ne were  
As it is couth/ both nigh and far  
Love in his laws/ often should err  
And wind out/ of honestes chain  
Of his bonds/ bridle break and rain  
Right as an horse/ out of the trays at large  
For little or nought/ lovers would charge  
To follow their will/ and their lust to sew  
But all the while/ that shame is kept in mewe  
Within his breast/ so that none it know  
Outward in port/ love beareth him low  
For ne were shame/ as clerks have compiled  
Out of their hearts danger were exiled  
All strangeness/ and feigned falls disdain  
For ne were shame/ plainly the wardayne  
Of these women/ by writing of these old  
Without assault/ the castle were I yold  
It were no need/ a siege for to lain  
For in such case/ long tretye were in vain  
For of nature/ they love no process  
¶ But now alas dread/ and shamefastness  
Have daunted love/ in full low manner  
And made him full humble/ of port and cheer  
And they have eke/ by their violence  
For all his manhood/ put him in silence  
And been great cause/ of morning of his pain  
And amids/ of this ilk twain  
Of love and shame/ even upon the point  
Stood Medea/ in full great disjoint  
That she ne may/ the pain nat endure  
So hoot she brent/ this woeful creature  
Betwyxe both/ I mean love and shame  
For when that love/ would any thing attame  
Of his desires/ to declare them out  
Came shame anon/ and put him in a doubt  
And dread was ready/ his lust for to deny  
And thus she stood/ in jeopardy  
Of love and shame/ in manner of a trance  
un evenly hanged/ in balance  
For shame was great/ and love yet was more  
As she well knew/ by her sighs sore  
And by her stormy/ cruel adventure  
For dread and shame/ durst nat discure  
The fire that love hath/ in her breast enclosed  
Which was full hard/ for to be deposed  
And thus she hinge/ even at wixe two  
That sheen wist/ what was best to do  
Till that fortune/ with her double face  
Unhappily hath wrought/ to get her grace  
With the whirling/ of her wheel about  
That causeth wretches/ full low dough to lout  
When they best ween/ to sit high a loft  
By experience/ as men may see full oft  
By her gery/ revolution  
For this lady/ of transmutation  
Full oft time/ falls and full unstable  
Enhasteth things/ to Fools full agreeable  
Which in the end/ to their confusion  
Can under sugar/ shroud her poison  
For aye fortune/ as her manner is  
To wretches showeth/ other than it is  
For with fair cheer/ and face of flattery  
As she that can/ with a benign eye  
Fully of fools/ perform th'intent  
Where thorough they be/ in great mischief shent  
At the end/ and can no craft to eschew  
To unware harm/ that at her tail doth sew  
Right as it fell whilom of Medee  
Gynnyge and ground/ of her adversity.  
¶ For this lady/ that called is fortune  
I granted hath/ a leisure opportune  
To show jason/ holy at her heart  
Which made her after/ full sore weep & smart  
For on a day/ after merydyene  
When Apollo/ with his beams sheen  
From the south plague/ 'gan to westre fast  
Cethes her father/ hath I sent in haste  
To Medea/ to come to him anon  
And bad to her that she should gone  
Unto jason/ and to Hercules  
To make them/ cheer/ among all the pres  
And when she kaught/ opportune space  
To her desire/ and saw eke in the place  
That her father/ was most occupied  
As she that thought nat/ to be espied  
Apparceyving/ his great business  
Toward jason/ anon she 'gan her dress  
And he in haste/ with a full knightly cheer  
In courteous wise/ 'gan to draw near  
Towards her/ and saw there was no let  
And when that they were/ together met  
This Medea/ with sighing first abraid  
And to jason/ even thus she said.    

¶ How Medea showed jason all the manner of the Conquest of the golden Flees/ and how he won it. Ca vi.  

IAson quod she/ of thine high noblesse  
Of thy manhood/ and of thy gentleness  
Both assembled/ in thy parson yfere  
And of knighthood/ first I thee reqire  
In thy conceit/ and opinion  
Nat to arecte/ to presumption  
To doubleness/ nor to inconstance  
Of womanhead/ nor variance  
That I am bold/ and can for no thing spare  
My meaning clearly/ to you to declare  
Without feigning/ in words plat and plain  
beseeching first/ to that I shall say  
Without more/ of your goodlihead  
benignly/ for to take heed  
And patiently/ to my words lest  
And what I say/ to take it for the best  
In your intent/ and no thing you to grieve  
For things two/ mine heart sore move  
This is to say/ love and gentleness  
What that I mean/ clearly to express  
To your person/ and no thing to counsel  
Or we part/ like as ye shall feel  
For me seemeth/ first of courtesy  
In sooth fastness/ and of genterye  
That to strangers/ every manner wight  
Is bound and hold/ of very due right  
To make cheer/ and truly as of me  
Because jason/ that I in you see  
So moche manhood/ & so great worthiness  
I will nat fain/ with all my business  
To help and further/ in all that may you like  
And with that word/ of heart she 'gan to sick  
For his sake/ and said over more  
For you I feel/ full great annoy and sore  
That moved are/ without adviseness  
only of youth/ and wilful hardiness  
The flees of gold/ to get if ye may  
The which emprise/ who ever assay  
More perilous is/ plainly to achieve  
In very sooth/ than ye cowdelyeve  
For doubtless/ I do you well assure  
The final meed/ of this adventure  
Is nat but death/ save report of shame  
For there ye ween/ to get you a name  
The end plainly/ shall turn in contrary  
For the beginning/ so the fine shall vary  
For wit of man/ nouther engine nor might  
Though he be never/ so expert in fight  
Or have in arms/ passing exercise  
With all the sleights/ of old or new emprise  
Or though he be/ best breathed to endure  
Or what devise there be/ of his armure  
Or what weepen also/ that he bring  
Harded with steel/ triumphant or piercing  
Yet at the last/ when he hath all sought  
Without me/ it veil may right nought.  
¶ Wherefore jason/ I have compassion  
On your youth/ of pure affection  
That of wilfulness/ ye shall thus be lost  
That been of blood and line/ so high yborn  
For certainly/ it may none other be  
But if that ye/ your counsel take of me  
For none but I may do you help or ease  
Alas jason/ why will ye nat appease  
Your manly courage/ in this case yblent  
And to my counsel/ been obedient  
Than durst I swear/ ye should have victory  
Ben remembered/ and put in memory  
Perpetuelly/ & thorough your knighthood win  
The flees of gold/ the which is yond within  
In the isle/ that stands here beside  
Of which that Mars/ is governor and guide  
Wherefore at ones/ in yourself assent  
To my counsel/ fully to consent  
At few words/ if ye list to speed  
And leave your lust/ and work after my rede.   

TO whom jason/ with full humble cheer  
Answered & said/ mine own lady dear  
I thank you/ in all my best wise  
Right as fet forth/ as I may suffice  
And as my power/ platly may attain  
Mine hearts queen/ and lady sovereign  
Whom ye may/ holy I ensure  
All the while/ that my life may dure  
Trust right well/ me list nat for to feign  
To live or die/ at your lust restrain  
As him that is/ your own true man  
You for to obey/ in all that ever I can  
Without change/ or any doubleness  
While that I live/ in very soothfastness  
That you list/ of true affection  
Upon my life/ to have compassion  
Of gentilesse/ and that ye list to have  
Such cherte/ my body for to save  
That in good faith/ of very due right  
I am ybound/ to be your own knight  
Unto mine end/ and that more specially  
That of your grace/ so benignly  
Ye list yourself/ of any counsel be  
That never afore/ to you in no degree  
Ne died service/ to your womanhead  
And with your words/ full of goodlihead  
Your own man/ listeth recomfort  
The which in sooth/ so as I can report  
A thousand fold/ be the more pleasant  
That never afore/ no merit got him grant  
Ne no desert/ request nor prayer  
But more freely/ with heart full enter  
List unrequired/ on my woe to rue  
And undisserued/ be to me so true  
That I ensure/ upon my faith as fast  
In your service/ I shall unto my last  
persever soothly/ that there shallbe no sloth  
Nor variance/ and thereto here my truth  
For finally/ withouten ween  
At few words I say right as I mean  
Me list nat fain/ flatre nor delude  
For my behest/ with death I shall conclude  
When that parcas/ my lives thread to rend  
This all & some/ and thus I make an end.   

THan quoth she/ full wisely in your heart  
Ye must afore/ consider and advert  
The adventure/ that ye take on hand  
And prudently/ the peril understand  
And full warily cast/ and have in mind  
The mortal harm/ at the tail behind  
That is well more/ then it is credible  
For leave me well/ it is an impossible  
To gynne in honour/ and also for to fine  
For thilk flees/ by high power divine  
Preserved is/ and eke with Marcys might  
That who so entereth/ therefore to fight  
It were full hard/ to him to escape  
The fiery flawme/ when the bulls gape  
That been of brass/ trapped all in leaven  
More for to dread/ than lightening of the heaven  
Tofore the dint/ of the great thunder  
That severed hath/ many tour asunder  
For to Ashes/ they must a man consume  
Wherefore I read/ that ye nat presume  
The Ram to assail/ lest ye your labour lose  
Withdraw your foot/ yet sith ye may cheese  
By good advise/ and discreciowne  
Your honour save/ and your high renown  
Where so ye list/ of your wilfulness  
only of folly/ and of hastiness  
To this emprise/ of heed to proceed  
Or where ye list/ like as I you read  
Save yourself/ from woe and all mischance  
Like as ye shall/ if to mine ordinance  
Ye you commit/ and lowly list obey  
Without fraud/ there is no more to say.   

ANd jason than/ sitting at the board  
Of Medea emprenting/ every word  
Wax for Ire/ almost unpatient  
And said alas/ and is this your intent  
Me to counsel/ to leave this emprise  
Certes it were/ to foul a cowardice  
To gynne thing I might nat achieve  
For every man/ would me reprove  
And report to my confusion  
That I of pride/ and presumption  
Took on me/ when I was at my large  
So high a thing/ and so great a charge  
That I durst not/ for doubt of mischief  
accomplish it/ when it came to the proof  
liefer me were/ mine own lady dear  
For to jeopard/ and to put in were  
Myself at one's/ and at words few  
On small pieces/ to be all to hew  
Than I should cowardly/ forsake  
Thilk emprise/ that I have undertake  
As ye well know/ and leave it thus alas  
Let be your counsel/ plainly in this cas  
For what so ever/ hap or fall of me  
Trusteth right well/ it shall none other be  
For if that I/ of my coward heart  
from my purpose/ should now divert  
Without laud/ my life I should lead  
And shame eternal/ should be my meed  
Through out the world/ noted over all  
In every land/ spoke of in special  
That jason hath/ so highly undertake  
That he for fere/ dare none end make  
thinketh right well/ that it shall not betide  
For life or death/ what mischief I abide  
And there upon/ my truth I you ensure  
That as farforth/ as my life/ may endure  
I shall perform/ that I have begun  
And though so be/ it may nat be won  
But that I must/ with my death it beye  
I will nat leave/ for liefer I have to die  
Than live ashamed/ of cowardice & sloth  
For me seemeth/ it is to high a ruth  
A man to appear/ or dare show his heed  
When he hath/ his honour vyllanede  
After time/ when his name is slain  
For everyman/ should be rather fain  
To die in honour/ than live as a wretch  
And though this thing/ to my death stretch  
It is welcome/ I shall it well abide  
This all and some/ what so of me betide.  
THan quoth she/ sith it is so  
That ye algates/ desire to have ado  
There is no more/ by aught I can espy  
But ye had liefer/ shortly for to die  
Rather than live/ and to have a shame  
And yet it is an earnest/ and no game  
With such monsters/ unwarely for to deal  
Like as in deed/ there after ye shall feel  
Wherefore/ I am moved of pity  
And greatly stirred/ that ye of volunte  
Without advise/ or discretion  
Counsel/ or good deliberation  
list take on you/ this marvelous viage  
For your youth/ and also your courage  
Governed been as/ in this matter  
All after lust/ for both two yfere  
Inparded been/ if ye your purpose sew  
For unpossyble/ is to you to eschew  
A sudden death/ for nouther fire nor bond  
By craft of man/ hath power to withstand.  
¶ Wherefore I think/ of heart & good intent  
To cast away yet/ or ye be shent  
And to your turn/ shape a remedy  
Such ruth I have/ that ye should die  
For my father/ whom I love moste  
Rather than ye should/ thus be lost  
I shall offend/ and utterly displease  
My friends all/ so it may do you ease  
For I shall find/ such amene weigh  
At the lest/ that ye shall nat die  
For in this case/ I think be your guide  
So that for you/ I shall set aside  
My birth first/ of the stok royal  
¶ And over more mine heritage withal  
And mine honour/ shallbe put back  
You for to help/ that there shallbe no lack  
Found in me/ so ye will be kind  
And that ye list/ for to have in mind  
As I discern/ goodly me to quite  
considering first/ that it is nat alyte  
To save your life/ that stand in jeopardy  
More peryllous●y/ than ye can espy  
But for all this/ I shall it so ordain  
thorough my craft/ only at wyxe us twain  
That or we part/ I hope all shallbe weal  
Upon this point/ so that I may feel  
Faithfully for joy/ woe or smart  
With full accord/ of body will and heart  
To my desire/ that ye condecende  
I undertake/ to make a good end.  
This soothly lady/ said jason though  
I am assented/ without words more  
For to fulfil/ with every circumstance  
What that ever/ may be to you pleasance.   

THan quoth she/ there is no more to say  
But first of all/ with faith & heart plain  
With all your might/ and your busy cure  
And meaning hole/ that ye meassure  
That ye hereafter/ shall take me to wife  
To hold and keep/ after all your life  
So that your deed accord/ with your hests  
This is the fine/ and sum of my request  
Except only/ that ye shall ordain  
In your repair/ to your faders reign  
That faithfully/ ye shall me with you led●  
And after that/ when that ye succeed  
After his day/ into your heritage  
With heart aye one/ and with one courage  
Ye shall to me/ be I like true  
And cherish me/ for change of any new  
Like mine estate/ without variance  
And while ye live/ have in remembrance  
My kindness/ in your great need  
For there is none a live/ that may speed  
Creature/ that is here mortal  
For to assail/ the forces mercy all  
Of the dragon/ and bulls both in fere  
But it so be/ of me that he lere  
holy the manner/ how he shall him gye  
Like as to you/ I think specify  
When it happeth/ that we meet again  
For none but I/ may help certain  
In this case/ as platly ye shall find  
And I nat ask/ but that ye be kind.   

soothly quoth jason/ all this shallbe do  
As ye devise/ I will that it be so  
And here my faith/ there on I you assure  
O goodliest/ of any creature  
That ever yet/ I saw unto my pay  
And fairest eke/ in sooth it is no nay  
And of bounty/ ye been in comparable  
For of my death/ ye been so merciable  
That while I live/ I say you by my faith  
Mine heart meaneth/ as my tongue ●ayth  
I will be found/ your own true man  
For life or death/ in all that ever I can  
So that of grace/ it be to you pleasant  
For to perform/ your hests & your graunnt  
And work fully/ to my salvation  
As ye have said/ in full conclusion  
For truly ye of all/ that bear life  
In beauty/ have a prerogative  
Passing eachone/ me list nat for to gloze  
amongs flowers/ as doth the red rose  
Which in summer/ amid the levys soot  
After that veer/ hath made out of the root  
The humydyte/ kindly to ascend  
The barren foil/ to cloth and amend  
And the branches/ that winter made bare  
With sweet blossoms/ freshly to repair  
And the meadows/ of many sundry hew  
Tapited been/ with divers flowers new  
Of sundry motlees/ most lusty for to seen  
And wholesome balm/ is shed among the green  
¶ Right as the rose/ is fairest of eachone  
Right so nature/ set you alone  
When she you made/ first at her devise  
Above all other/ for to have a prise  
As ye that been/ of bounty spring and well  
Thereto in bewte/ soothly ye excel  
All that live/ for any comparison  
Ne may be made/ and of discretion  
Ye pass all/ as every man may see  
And with all this/ I find you unto me  
The most goodly/ that ever yet was borne  
Without whom/ I were as now but lost  
Of help and succour/ fully destitute  
Ne were that I/ found in you refute  
from whom all freedom/ to mewarde doth habounde  
In so much/ that I am ever bound  
As fer forth/ as my live may stretch  
That for your sake/ of death I ne reach  
If therewithal/ I might you agrene  
That to my help/ so goodly list to seen  
For if that I/ of negligence should  
Any thing refuse/ that ye would  
I might of reason/ full well merked be  
And noted eke/ of wilful nycetee  
So foolily/ to void away my grace  
It were arage/ a man from him to chase  
wilful fortune/ when she is benign  
Wherefore as now/ holy I resign  
heart body my life/ and eke my death  
Into your hand/ while me lasteth breathe  
With all the oaths/ that I affirm may  
For to persever/ to mine ending day  
Your true spouse/ as I have said & sworn  
And you behested/ plainly here toforne  
And there upon/ every thing obey  
That may you please/ till time that I die  
This all and some/ what should I longer tarry  
From this behest/ I shall never vary.  
And when she saw/ his great stedefastnesse  
She was ●upprysed/ with so high gladness  
With so great joy/ plainly in her heart  
That she was void/ of every woe and smart  
For he so lowly/ to her lust obeyed  
And or she went/ thus to him she saide.  
jason quod she/ than I shall ordain  
Amene way/ that we both twain  
May eft again/ at leisure meet soon  
For to perform/ all that is to done  
In this matter/ like to our intent  
Where shallbe made/ a final sacrament  
Of our desire/ that no man shall unbind  
Though now thereto/ we may no leisure find  
Toward eve/ it shall nat me escape  
Trust me right well/ a time for to shape  
Secretly/ that we may meet yfere  
For I shall send/ a prive chambrere  
To you of mine/ which shall you convey  
Unto my chamber/ by a prive weigh  
A certain hour/ without any fable  
To our intent/ that be most agreeable  
Upon the point/ when Phoebus' with his light  
I westryd is/ and eke the dark night  
Hath with the dimness/ of his shadows black  
Our emysperye/ fully over take  
That oft giveth/ by favour of fortune  
Unto lovers a leisure/ opportune  
For to perform their/ lusts/ and achieve  
And right anon/ as it draweth to eve  
I shall for you/ to my closet send  
Of every thing/ for to make an end  
Where as we/ shall at good leisure speak  
everich with other/ and our hearts break  
And declare the sum/ of all our will  
And when we have/ spoken all our fill  
By good leisure/ I fully you byhete  
We shall ordain/ when so us lust to meet  
To set a time/ who ever that say nay  
Always by night/ when passed is the day  
For mighty jove/ as wisely me succour  
As hence forth/ I will be holy your  
While that I live/ waking and a sleep  
If it so be/ that ye your hests keep.   

TO whom josan/ lowly 'gan to incline  
And said as fer/ as man may imagine  
Or any wight/ may clearly comprehend  
I will to you/ to my lives end  
As servant/ faithfully me quite  
And though that I can nat say but light  
My true heart/ will nat neverthelasse  
And though I can nat paint nor compass  
No gay process/ my sovereign hearts queen  
Till I be deed/ truly I shall mean  
Have here my troth/ while I have life & mind  
As in the end/ truly ye shall find.  
And for their speech/ & end thus they make  
And Medea/ shope her for to take  
Her leave anon/ amongs all the pres  
First of her father/ and than of Hercules  
And bode no longer/ but forth with anon  
Unto her chambre/ in haste she is gone  
Where up and down/ she made many went  
None of her main/ witting what she mente  
Casting ways/ her purpose to a chyeve  
And in her wits/ 'gan busily to move  
As she roameth/ in her habitacle  
On any side/ if there were obstacle  
Or any letting/ which would her sore grieve  
This was her study/ till it drew to eve  
Where I her leave/ complaining in her woe  
With many a thought/ walking to and fro.  
¶ The midday hour/ is gone and over slide  
Titan so fast/ hath in his char I ride  
The days ark/ from est to west compassed  
His fiery steeds/ have almost I passed  
Our oryzonte/ and draw down full low  
His golden wain/ that no man might know  
Where as he hid/ his fiery beams bright  
In his descence/ full fer out of our sight.  
¶ And herynes/ with her copes murk  
The evening/ begun for to dyrke  
In the twilight/ when the day 'gan fade  
And Esperus/ with her streams glade  
That been so fresh/ so lusty and so merry  
'Gan recomfort/ all our emysperye.  
¶ When Medea/ by herself alone  
Of high desire/ 'gan for to make her moan  
That she so long abode/ after her knight  
Always accounting/ the hours of the night  
So full of trouble/ and full of thought  
Which hath full straitly/ searched out & sought  
A ready way/ unto her purpose  
All be that she/ kept it in full close  
Amid her heart/ quapping as awawe  
For dread and fere/ till hope 'gan adawe  
And bad she should/ be right merry & glad  
Till dread agaynward/ made her sober & sad  
Lest her desire/ troubled were or let  
And thus she was/ at abay ysette  
Amid of hope/ and of dread also  
That she ne wist/ what was best to do.  
¶ For her desire/ and high affection  
So sober brent/ in her opinion  
Of lust she had/ to meet with jason  
And there against/ dread came in anon  
And made her fearful/ lest she were espied  
But all her sorrow/ was holp and remedied  
only by fortune/ and the dyrke night  
By which she was made/ full glade and light  
For recomforted only these two  
And with good hope/ that made her glade also  
She began anon/ to caste and devise  
When that the moan/ on heaven would a rise  
And when that she/ with her horns pale  
Would shed her light/ upon hill and vale  
She 'gan account/ and cast well the time  
And found a quarter/ was passed after prime  
And she that was/ well knowing in that art  
And saw in sooth/ that the fourth part  
Of the moan/ was shed with new light  
And passed was/ in her course full right  
After the time of conjunction  
Three signs full/ by computation  
And complete was/ seven days of her age  
¶ At which time/ she brenning in her rage  
And thorough darted/ with cupids arrow  
'Gan to look/ and behold narrow  
At every door/ and listen busily  
If any wight/ that she myghtespy  
Of all the court/ either walk or go  
Or any man romyn/ to or fro  
So sore shedradde/ going up and down  
When she heard/ any noise or sown  
Or when she heareth/ why spring any where  
It was venom/ soothly in her ere  
She wished all/ had been a bed  
This pytouslyfe/ the long night she led  
Without respite/ though no wight could it know  
Till high midnight/ that the cokkes crow  
At which time/ when all was huste & still  
For to accomplish/ the remnant of her will  
And every where/ made was silence  
She cleped anon/ unto her presence  
An aged vecke/ fer in years run  
That in such craft/ moche help konne  
Thriftily to bring/ a thing about  
For they afore/ can cast every doubt.  
¶ Of years passed/ old experience  
Hath give to them/ so passing high prudence  
That they in love/ all the sleights know  
And she was made/ as dog for the bow  
To whom Medea/ discureth all her thought  
From point to point/ and forgot right nought  
And charged her/ in reles of her smart  
And recomfort/ of her troubled heart  
To haste her anon/ upon her way  
Unto her chambered/ jason to convey  
And she anon/ nat reckless in that case  
Is gone for him/ a full soft pace  
As she that was/ of new not to lere  
And brought him anon/ as ye shall here.   

When that the cock/ common Astrologere  
the midnight hour/ with his voice full clear  
Began to sown/ and died his busy pain  
To beat his breast/ with his wings twain  
And of the time/ a minute will nat place  
To warn them/ that were in the place  
Of the tides/ and season of the night  
Medea to await/ upon her knight  
Full ready was/ the entry for to keep  
As she that list/ full little for to sleep  
For that ne was/ no parcel of her thought  
And when jason was/ to her chambre brought  
Without espyeng/ of any manner wight  
Than she anon/ conveyeth him full right  
Into her closet/ in all the haste she may  
Full well beseen/ with great and rich array  
Where by her side/ she made him take his see  
And first of all/ this ilk lees of three  
By her that was/ most expert in this case  
Was suddenly/ turned to a braas  
For the vecke/ to stare upon the moan  
Is walked out/ and hath them left alone  
And when Medea/ the doors had shut  
Down by jason/ anon she hath her set  
But first I find/ with all her busy might  
About the chambre/ that she set up light  
Of great torches/ and cyerges full rial  
About on pillars/ and on every wall  
Which gave alight/ like the son sheen  
And to a chest/ wrought of crystal clean  
first of all/ she taketh her passage  
Out of the which/ she took aryche image  
Of pure gold/ full lusty to behold  
That by custom/ of the rites old  
To mighty jove/ eterne and create  
I hallowed was/ and also consecrat  
The which image/ devoutly as she ought  
With humble heart/ to jason first she brought  
And made him lowly/ thereon take his oath  
Unto his last/ either for lyef orlothe  
That he her should take/ unto his wife  
Fro that day forth/ during all his life  
With heart unfeigned/ and faith inviolate  
And cherish her/ like to her estate  
Fro that time/ I find how that she  
Had ever flowered/ in virgynyte  
And as mine Author/ well rehearse can  
Ay kept her clean/ from touch of any man  
In thought and deed/ and never died amiss  
For she of heart/ so wholly given is  
Unto jason/ and that for ever more  
And he anon/ hath put his hand unto  
And swore fully/ as ye have heard me say  
All her requests/ without more delay  
To keep them/ while his life may last  
But o alas/ how soon he over cast  
His hest/ his faith/ with which he was assured  
And had his fraud/ with flattery yeured  
So covertly/ that her innocence  
Her true meaning/ and her diligence  
And all that ever/ she devise can  
deceived was by falsehood of this man  
And though that truth/ was apparent above  
doubleness so slyghly/ was in shove  
As though he had/ soothly be allied  
With true meaning/ and so no thing espied  
Under fair cheer/ was feigning and failas  
For what might she/ a wrought more in this cas  
Than for thy sake/ sceptre and regalye  
And all the lords/ eke of her ally  
Forsook at ones/ and took of them no heed  
And of pity/ and of very goodlihead  
Lost her friends/ and her good fame  
only jason/ to save the froshame  
And yet moreover/ forsook her heritage  
She that was borne/ of so high parage  
And should have be/ by succession  
Heir by dissent/ of that region  
But womanly/ for she would her quite  
Of all yfere/ she set nat amity  
But at one hour/ all she hath forsake  
And unto thee/ she hath her holly take  
only for trust/ thou shouldest have be kind  
richesse and honour/ she hath I left behind  
And ches in exile/ with the for to gone  
From all her kin/ this cely maid alone.  
Alas I weep/ for thine unkindness  
What hath she nat/ fro death and fro distress  
Preserved thee/ and yet thou takest none heed  
That should have died/ ne had she be thy rede  
Of thy conquest/ she was the very cause  
That I may nat/ shortly in a clause  
Write her bounty/ nor briefly comprehend  
effectually performed to the end  
At words few/ it may nat be told  
thorough whom y● hast/ the rich f●ees of gold  
Manly conquered/ which without doubt  
Vnlyaly was/ that to a brought about  
For when thou were/ of help destitute  
She was thy comfort/ and singular refute  
And with all this/ thou mayst it nat deny  
All earthly honour/ how she 'gan defy  
The to conserve/ out of heaviness  
And her father/ she hath o● his richesse  
So emperysshed/ that pity is to here  
By ensample/ of which women might lere  
How they should trust/ on any man  
Alas Medea that so moche can  
Both of stars/ and of astronomy  
Yet saw she nat/ afore her desten ye  
Love hath her put/ so out of governail  
That all her craft/ ne might her natavayle  
She was to slow/ by calculation  
To cast afore the constellation  
Of her birth/ and her woeful fate  
For rekleshed/ she saw it all to late  
But I suppose her cunning was fallible  
For doubtless me seemeth/ nat credible  
That if she had wist of it toforne  
So piteously/ she had nat be lost  
As ye shall see here after hastily  
So as the story/ rehearseth by and by  
How it befell/ of jason and Medee  
But first ye shall the order and manner see  
How she wrought/ after he was swore  
The same night/ alas she hath forbore  
Her maiden heed/ and that was great pity  
And yet she mente/ nat but honest  
As I suppose/ she went to have be his wife  
But touching/ that I hold as now no strife  
And yet one thing/ I dare aferme and fain  
That the meaning/ of this ilk twain  
Ne was nat one/ but wonder fer atwene  
For all that she/ truly 'gan mean  
Of honest thinking no outrage  
Like a maid/ innocent of age  
He to accomplish/ his fleshly false appetite  
And to perform/ his foul appetite  
Wrought every thing/ to her intent contrary  
Alas that she was/ so debonair  
For to trust/ upon his courtesy  
Or to quite her/ of her genterye  
So hastily to rue/ upon his sinerte  
But women be/ of so tender heart  
That they will gladly/ of ruth and pity  
When that a man/ is in adversity  
Save his life/ rather than he should die  
And so Medea/ shortly for to say  
Casting no peril/ after that shall fall  
His desires and his lusts all  
holy obeyeth/ with all her full might  
And that so long/ almost that the night  
Hath his course/ round about gone  
At which time/ to her spoke jason  
And lowly said/ my lady it is time  
That we arise/ for soon it will be prime  
Ye may see well/ the day beginneth to spring  
For we may here/ how the birds sing  
praying to you/ in all my best wise  
How I shall work/ that ye list devise  
And seriously/ every thing dispose  
I you beseech/ o goodly fresh rose  
Mine emprise/ to bring to an end  
And than at erst/ hence will I wind  
Save that I think/ first with you to treat  
In what wise/ this country ye shall let  
And into Grece/ repair again with me  
Which is a land/ of great felicity  
For trust well/ and be no thing dread  
Into that rain/ with me I shall you lead  
After my conquest/ if so be that I win  
Wherefore I pray you/ goodly to begin  
How I shall work/ in all the haste ye may  
For in good faith/ anon it will be day.  
To whom she spoke/ fayeng as ye shall here  
Mine own jason/ unto me more dear  
Than is myself/ as in conclusion  
I am assented/ with full affection  
Of my wits/ and all my hole heart  
You to inform/ how ye shall asterte  
Every danger/ of the little isle  
If it so be/ ye list abide a while.  
And up she rose/ in all the haste she may  
And to a cofre/ where her treasure lay  
She went anon/ & brought him in her hand  
A rich image/ of silver that she fond  
Which soothly was/ of marvelous entail  
Whose power was/ and virtue to avail  
effectually/ to her both intent  
Again all magic/ and enchauntement  
And to with sit/ the force of Sorcerye  
For it was made/ by astronomy  
In hour chose out/ and equat for the nonce  
By clerks old/ for full long agone is  
Whilom when they were/ flowering in their ages  
That they used/ to make such images  
As died the king/ called Tholomee  
And so to jason/ commanded hath Medee  
To bear this image/ on him privily  
As ye have heard/ to work effectually  
In every thing/ as she died assign  
And than she took/ to him a medicine  
Made in manner/ of an ointment  
To ennoynte him with/ that he be nat brent  
That was more rich/ & precious than balm  
Again the malices/ of every fire and flawme  
And after that/ she took to him anon  
A rich ring/ where in was set a stone  
That virtue had/ all venom to destroy  
That on no side/ it might him not a noye  
The which stone/ had also this might  
That if a man/ could it bear a right  
Within his hand/ next the skin enclosed  
The strength of sight/ should be deposed  
Of them that would/ gaze or behold  
For who so ever/ in his hand it hold  
By the virtue/ that was infallible  
The story saith/ he should be in visible  
The which stone/ wise clerks call  
Achates/ most virtuous of all  
And it is found/ soothly in Cecyle  
Of which stone/ whilom wrote virgil  
How that venus/ to Aeneas it sent  
first when that he/ into Cartage went.  
And after this/ she to jason took  
A certain bylle/ written like a book  
That to his journey/ might moche avail  
And bade him wisely/ that he nat ne fail  
If he cast him/ graciously to speed  
first of all/ the scripture that he read  
Or he the Ram/ touch in any wise  
Him charging/ eke afore this high emprise  
With humble heart/ and devotion  
That he kneeling/ say that orison  
That up and down/ was written on the bill  
praying the gods/ lowly to fulfil  
His request/ and mercy for to have  
Of very pity/ from mischief him to save  
And after that/ for his chief succour  
She took to him/ a viol with liquor  
And bade him manly/ without fere or dread  
When he come/ unto the bulls read  
If he him shape/ knightly to escape  
That as fast/ as he seeth them gape  
Into their goles/ that he the liquor cast  
Than that him nat/ but little of them gast  
For their iowes'/ together it shall glyewe  
That on no side/ they shall nat eschew  
To beye his lust/ in what him list constrain  
For doubtless/ maugre all their pain  
He shall them so daunt/ and make tame  
That where him list/ in earnest and in game  
He might them make louten and incline  
And do them bow/ both back and chine  
The liquor/ shall there chawles so coharte  
That a sunder/ they shall nat depart  
For to offend/ or noye any wight  
And when she had thus/ unto her knight  
In every thing/ gave instruction  
Plain doctrine/ and information  
How he shall scape/ the dangers by and by  
If he take heed/ and work advisedly.  
And than accorded/ they thought it for the best  
For to part/ or men out of their rest  
A waked were/ for it drew to day  
As they well saw/ by the morrow grey  
And lest men had to them suspicion  
Of high prudence/ and discretion  
atween the twelyght/ and the rody morrow  
They took their leave/ with saint Iohn the borrow  
With oft kissing/ as lovers when they twin  
And so he went/ and she is left withinne  
Being in hope/ to meet again some day  
And jason than/ as fast as ever he may  
'Gan ordain him/ his journey to achieve  
And thought he would/ anon go take his leave  
And in what wise/ within a little while  
After the manner of my rude style  
My purpose is/ soothly and nat spare  
With your support/ plainly to declare.   

When that the rows/ and the rays read  
eastward to us/ full early gone spread  
Even at the twelyght/ in the damning  
When the lark/ of custom gynneth sing  
For to salve/ in her heavenly lay  
The lusty goddess/ of the morrow grey  
I mean Aurora/ which afore the son  
Is wont to enchase/ the black skies done  
And the darkness/ of the dim night  
And fresh Phoebus'/ with comfort of his light  
And the brightness/ of his beams sheen  
Had over guilt/ the high hills green  
And flowers eke/ again the morrow tide  
Upon their stalkꝭ/ 'gan plain their leaves wide  
When that jason/ with all his company  
Toward the king/ full fast 'gan him high  
Who that he fond/ like to his estate  
With sceptre in hand/ full pompous & elate  
high in the see/ of his regalye  
sitting full kingly/ amid his chivalry  
And his lords/ about environ  
At which time/ this young champion  
Under a vow standing/ of the Ram  
With stern face/ tofore the king in came  
beseeching him/ of his magnificence  
The same day/ to grant him licence  
To do his arms/ and make no delays  
Concluding plainly/ that at all assays  
He will that day/ in the field be found  
For to achieve/ like as he was bound  
Of old behest/ and nat a point decline  
For life nor death/ till he perform and fine  
holy the auntres/ unto the flees that long  
The king requering/ no longer him prolong  
But goodly grant/ the fyn of his emprise  
And than the king/ in full sober wise  
considering/ the sum of his demand  
To jason spoke and said/ he shall command  
That his request/ performed were in haste  
All be quoth he/ I am full sore a gast  
Of wilfulness/ thou shouldest destruyde be  
lest men thy death/ arected unto me  
And thereupon/ would & blame set  
Of rial power/ that I nat ne let  
Thy manly youth/ from such jeopardy  
Which were in sooth/ a great villainy  
And prejudice/ to mine estate and name  
That afterward/ men put me in blame  
thorough falls report/ and wrong opinion  
That I withstood/ nat thy destruction  
¶ Wherefore I read/ yet be thou advised  
And my counsel/ let nat be despised  
For better it is/ with honour in certain  
Into thy country/ to repair again  
Than wilfully/ for to take an hand  
A mortal thing/ that no man may withstand  
This is my rede/ and fully mine advise  
Take heed thereto/ fythe that thou art wise  
lest thou repent/ when it is to late  
And if so be/ that thou wilt algate  
Thy purpose hold/ and nat do as I read  
almighty Mars/ I pray the to speed  
The for to guide/ what so ever fall  
And eke I pray/ to the gods all  
safe and sound/ thy body to restore  
This all & some/ of me thou gettest no more.  
And when jason/ had heard the king  
Nat dismayed/ nor stoned in no thing  
In knightly wise/ died him reverence  
Thanking highly/ his royal excellence  
That of his grace/ and benyngnyte  
Upon his death/ him list to have pity  
Fully concluding/ touching his battle  
That nouther read/ nor counsel  
In no wise/ his purpose should withdraw  
But like the statute/ plainly and the law  
Right as far forth/ as fortune will him eure  
What so be tied/ of his adventure  
Setting aside/ every fear and dread  
Said platly/ that he will proceed  
For to perform/ that he hath undertake  
It were in idle more/ skills for to make  
Or to allegge/ more there again  
And jason than/ full openly and plain  
touching the surplus/ of this dreadful thing  
At his departing/ said to the king  
In audience/ of his lords all  
What so ever of me/ now be fall  
Or who so ever/ of malice thereon muse  
To all the world/ first I you excuse  
And to the gods/ platly you quite  
Though I die/ ye be nothing to wite  
Ne no man shall/ arecte it you of skill  
For that I work/ is freely at my will  
Again the advise/ of your high prudence  
And life or death/ here in your presence  
holy of heart/ and never for to flit  
To the gods/ and fortune I commit  
So as them list/ for me to ordain  
Again whose will/ I shall never plain  
Nor them nor you/ put in no blame  
What so betide/ honour/ joy or shame  
And of this thing/ thus an end I make  
And for this time/ of you my leave I take  
And of all though/ that you about stand  
And one by one/ he took them by the hand  
And in what wise/ forth he 'gan him dress  
To you anon/ I think it to express.   

When that Titan/ had with his fervent heat  
Draw up the dew/ from the leaves wet  
Toward mid morrow/ as I can define  
Upon the hour/ when the clock is nine  
jason full manly/ and full like a knight  
Armed in steel/ of cheer full glad and light  
Ganoresse him forth/ what hap that ever fall  
And said adieu/ unto his feres all  
He in the boot/ and they upon the strand  
And all alone/ when he came to land  
And in the water/ had his vessel lafte  
He first of all/ remembering on the craft  
Of Medea/ with all the circumstances  
And how he should/ keep his observances  
In every thing/ and had it well in mind  
And than anon/ full manly as I find  
He shope him forth/ and went a knightly pass  
Toward the bulls/ that forged were of bras  
But at the point/ when he his journey 'gan  
For him Medea/ waxed full pale and wan  
So ●ore aghast/ that no thing might her glade  
A ruth it was to see/ what woshe made  
For the tears/ on her cheeks twain  
Full piteously/ do distylle and ●ayne  
That all fordewed/ were her weeds black  
And aye this sorrow/ she made for his sake  
Like a woman/ fearful and in doubt  
While he his arms/ full manly brought about  
To sob and sigh/ she can nat be in pes  
lest he for haste/ were ought reckless  
From point to point/ to do like as she bad  
This was the life/ that she for him hath lad  
¶ And for to see/ how he should him defend  
She 'gan anon/ by grecies to ascend  
Of a tour/ into an high pinnacle  
Where as she might/ have none obstacle  
Nor letting neither/ for to have a sight  
Of him that was/ her own chosen knight  
And ever among/ with words out she broke  
And stoundemell/ thus to herself she spoke.  
O thou Iaso●/ my sovereign hearts hele  
If thou knew/ what woe forth I feel  
soothly I trow/ it should the not asterte  
For to be true/ with all thy hole heart  
And god I pray/ this journey at the lest  
May this time/ turn for the best  
And keep the safe/ & sound/ in every member  
And gave the might/ fully to remember  
As I the taught/ and in the same form  
Every thing fully/ to perform  
only this day/ thine honour to advance  
Which for to see/ were all my hole pleasance  
For certes jason/ if the fill ought amiss  
Far well my health/ and all my worldly bliss  
And fare well than/ my mirth and my solace  
And my welfare/ my fortune and my grace  
And all at ones/ my heartily suffisance  
¶ Lo this for him/ was her governance  
From the time/ that he the land hath●ome  
And first of all/ when that he was come  
Where as the bulls/ fell and despitous  
Out cast their fire/ and frawme furious  
At their mouths/ wonder large and huge  
Again the which/ for his chief refuge  
Him to save/ that he were nat brent  
He was anointed/ with an Ointment  
On his body/ that kept him from damage  
Of thilk fire/ that was so full of rage  
And the smokes/ dark and full horrible  
Which to escape/ was almost impossible  
For any man/ of what estate he be  
Without comfort/ and counsel of Medee  
By whose doctrine/ jason can so work  
That he is scaped/ from the mists dark  
Of the fire/ with the blazes black  
That all the eyer/ so cludy died make  
She had him made/ so discreet and sage  
only by virtue/ of thilk image  
Which that he/ about his neck bore  
Whereby he/ was so prudent and so aware  
That when the bulls/ have most fiercely gaped  
He hath their malice/ advisedly escaped  
For the enfection/ of their troubled eyre  
He hath venquysshed/ and was in no disspeyre  
For in effect/ again the foul fume  
That would a man/ unto the death consume  
The image was/ a preservative  
Him to defend/ and to save his life  
And more surely/ to keep him out of dread  
Full oft sith/ the writ he died read  
For the virtue/ of that orison  
Was unto him/ full protection  
That he not fell/ in no distress  
And after that/ for more sickerness  
Him to preserve/ in his mortal cas  
He took the liquor/ that in the vyell was  
And therewithal/ full like a manly man  
All at ones/ he took the bulls than  
And forgot nat/ so warily it to cast  
That therewithal/ their chaws were made fast  
And by the virtue/ so mightily englewed  
That he there thorough/ hath utterly eschewed  
The enfection/ of the sinoky leaven  
And when the eyre/ 'gan clear and the heaven  
And the mists/ were wasted him toforne  
With manly heart/ he raught by the horn  
The stern bulls/ and by violence  
He drew them forth/ in whom was no defence  
And yoketh them/ so as the manner was  
And with the plough/ he made them go a pas  
Now up n●w down/ and to ear the land  
And at his list so buxom he them fond  
That the soil/ smooth bare and plain  
They made it/ ready to bear grain  
And on renges/ it turned up so down  
For th● in them/ was no rebellyowne  
But humble and meek/ and ready at his will  
All his desires/ plainly to fulfil.  
¶ And jason than/ like a champion  
'Gan him enhaste/ toward the dragon  
That was a be'st great/ & monstrous  
Fowl and horrible/ and right venomous  
And was enarmed/ in scales large and thick  
Of whom the breath/ more perilous & wycke  
Was than the heir/ of any pestilence  
For his venom/ was of such violence  
That it was full deadly/ and mortal  
And at his throat/ there issued out with all  
A flawme of fire as of a fournes mouth  
Or like the levene/ that down by the south  
Out of the Gest/ is wont in tempest smite  
Right so this dragon/ soothly for to write  
Out at his mouth/ had a flawme blazed  
Whereof jason/ first a little mased  
Was in his heart/ of that dreadful thing  
But when that he/ remembered on his ring  
All fere and dread/ was laid aside and gone  
For in that ring/ there was set a stone  
Full rich and noble/ and right virtuous  
Of which as teacheth great y●sydorus  
And in mine Auctor/ also as I find  
Most commonly/ cometh out of Ynde  
And must be kept chaste/ and wonder clean  
And of colour surmounteth/ every green  
Whose virtue is/ all venom to destroy  
And to withstand/ that it may nat annoy  
Of dragon serpent/ of adder and of snake  
And specially/ if that it be take  
And I holden/ in the opposite  
Of any worm/ even again the site  
Without abode/ in sooth he may nat cheese  
Of his venom/ the force he must lose  
How strong it be/ or violent of rage  
But to the stone/ it doth full great damage  
For when he hath/ his virtue do as belive  
On pieces small/ it gynneth all to rive  
And in itself/ hole it abides no while  
For in the land/ that called is Cecyle  
There is a worm/ that Bufo beareth the name  
And when men will/ of malice make him tame  
And his venom/ utterly express  
They take a quyll/ mine author beareth witness  
When they will work or a large can  
And in the end/ this stone they let than  
And line right/ again the wromes' heed  
They hold it/ till that he be deed  
For that is soothly/ his virtue of nature  
That no venom/ may last nor endure  
In the presence/ of this rich stone  
And as I find/ this Bufo right anon  
thorough might thereof/ bresteth even a twain  
only by kind/ which no man may restrain  
For the goddess/ that called is nature  
Which next her lord/ all thing in cure  
Hath virtue give/ to herhe/ grass/ and stone  
Which no man knoweth/ but herself alone  
The causes hid/ be closed in her hand  
That wit of man can/ nat understand  
Openly the might/ of her working  
And so jason/ by virtue of this ring  
And through his stone/ that might him most advance  
Hath the dragon/ brought unto utterance  
In whom he fond/ no manner resistance  
Him to withstand/ force nor diffence  
Nouther by venom/ nor none other strife  
Wherefore he hath/ bereft him of his life  
In manly wise/ and in the field outrayed  
And jason than/ full glad and well apaid  
Hath with his sword/ spent on him many a stroke  
And laid on him/ as men hew on an oak  
His bright scales/ were so hard and dur●  
That well uneath/ he ne might endure  
Him to dismember/ and smite of his heed  
And than anon/ in the stead of seed  
He 'gan his teeth/ out of his heed arace  
And right forthwith/ in the self place  
He 'gan them sow/ right as men do corn  
Upon the land/ that ered was aforne  
Of which sede/ there sprang a wonder grain  
Bright armed knight/ stondinge on the plain  
The which anon/ with sharp swords ground  
everich 'gan other/ for to hurt and wound  
Till each his fellow/ hath cruelly I slawe  
This of their fate/ was the final law  
That none of them/ should by victory  
The death rejoice/ of other by memory  
For all yfere/ thus they made an end  
And after this jason/ 'gan to wend  
Unto the Ram/ with all his diligence  
In which he fond/ no power nor diffence  
No manner strife/ nor rebellyowne  
And mightily the Ram/ he draweth down  
And set an hand/ upon everich horn  
And slew it first/ and than he hath it shorn  
Out of his flees of gold/ so passing rich  
That in this world/ there was no treasure lyche  
And after that/ he made no delay  
To take his boot/ in all the haste he may  
And roweth forth/ into the other isle  
Where Hercules/ all the mean while  
Upon the brink/ with many another more  
A●ode jason/ till he had do  
And everichone/ I find that as belive  
only for joy/ when he died aryue  
They 'gan to thank/ to cheyr gods all  
So graciously/ that it hath I fall  
And that the flees/ he hath so knightly won  
That shone as clear/ as the summer son  
Which that he brought/ with him unto land  
His feres all/ abiding on the strand.   

ANd when Apollo/ of his days ark  
Had in the west/ almost run his mark  
And fast 'gan downward/ to decline  
And on the wawes/ full watery 'gan to shine  
Yet or he was passed/ the Occian  
jason is come/ with many a manly man  
Of his feres/ to the presence of the king  
As he that had/ acheved every thing  
Which that longeth/ to conquest of the Ram  
And Cethes than/ as soon as ever he came  
To make him cheer/ outward hath him pained  
All be in heart/ that it was but feigned  
For he was sorry/ without any dread  
Of the expleyte/ and the good speed  
Of this jason/ that he the flees hath won  
But like in sooth/ as these feyners can  
When that them list/ craftily compass  
To show outward/ a faithful true face  
And the venom enclosed hole within  
As in meaning/ there were no manner sin  
Right so the king/ with look & forheed clear  
Made unto jason/ outward right good cheer  
And 'gan to him/ to speak in words few  
Of frendlyhede/ & many signs show  
As though his conquest/ every deal  
From point to point/ liked wonder weal  
And befull glad/ that he was so fortuned  
Unto the end/ that he hath contuned  
And rejoiceth in speech/ and countenance  
That fortune/ list him so to advance  
And to his palace/ 'gan goodly him convey  
And day by day/ full richly festeye  
All be that it was/ no thing done of heart  
For this no less/ he felt full great smart  
That of his treasure/ he was despoiled so  
And that he hath/ the rich flees forego  
To his damage/ and confusion  
And thus there was/ a great division  
A twixe his cheer/ & meaning of his thought  
As it fareth oft/ if it be well sought  
That many man/ in meaning falls and double  
Can with the calm/ cover so the trouble  
Of high malice/ hid in his desire  
And rake falsely/ the wicked covert fire  
Full hoot brenning/ inward of envy  
So well were him/ that could them out espy  
And knew their meaning/ falls & fraudelent  
Where thorough alas/ full many an Innocent  
deceived is/ that wot nat what they mean  
And namely such/ that nat but truth ween  
And every cheer/ that men to them make  
Of Innocence/ for the best take  
And in no wise/ think nat but we'll  
Right so certain/ this jason every deal  
Hath take in gre/ what the king hath wrought  
Nat adverting/ the grudging of his thought  
For doubtless/ it sat the king full sore  
That he the Ram/ hath lost for evermore  
But when that he/ hath utterly I say  
Though he grudge/ that there was no gain  
But finally/ of necessity  
At that time/ it might none either be  
And plainly saw/ that he may nat cheese  
But that algate/ the flees he must lose  
Whether it were/ that he were lief or loath  
He feigneth cheer/ as he were nat wroth  
For only he/ of his gentleness  
No sign outward/ of grudging did express  
But day by day/ of very courtesy  
He cheereth jason/ and his company  
At which time/ about environ  
From every party/ of his region  
The people came/ to stare and to gaze  
Upon the Ram/ as it were a maze  
They look & wonder/ & dame what them list  
On whose domes/ is but little trust  
They oft vary/ and turn to and fro  
That who that wisely/ taketh heed thereto  
The common people/ changeth as a fane  
To day they wax/ and to morrow wane  
As doth the moan/ they be so flaskysable  
Who trusteth them/ shall find them full unstable  
For some were glad/ that jason hath sped weal  
And some sorry/ and like it never adele  
And some said/ they wonder how he might  
Again the dragon/ or the bulls fight  
Or how that he/ again the force of Mart  
Out of the isle/ alive might part  
Another said/ that peraventure  
By craft was wrought/ this discomfiture  
either by charm/ or some sorcery  
Thus each of them/ after their fantasy  
'Gan dame of him/ all the long day  
But at the last/ making no delay  
Full glad & light/ Medea down descendeth  
From her chambre/ and outward pretendeth  
Sadness of cheer/ as she no thing ne knew  
Men could not conceive by her hew  
Her secret meaning/ for she so womanly  
D●mened her/ and so prudently  
That she avoided/ by discretion  
All fantasy/ and suspection  
That no man could/ of her working dame  
No thing but well/ for as it died seem  
By port and cheer/ there was no cause why  
And so by process/ she drew her privily  
Toward jason/ for she was nat to lere  
And secretly/ bad him in his ere  
In alwise/ that he nat ne leave  
To her chambre/ for to come at eve  
For matter/ they had for to treat  
Which he shall know/ at leisure when they meet  
And so anon when entered was the night  
Sool by himself/ without torch or light  
To Medea/ he hath the way take  
And she abode/ slepeles for his sake  
Wonder devoutly/ desiring as I guess  
With him to treat/ of some holiness  
touching materes/ of contemplation  
For she was smytte with a devotion  
Of fresh Venus'/ to hold a memory  
With him alone/ in her oratory  
Nat openly/ as hypocrites pray  
In divers angles/ joying on the way  
Of the people/ for to be commended  
But they nat so/ hath the night dispended  
For vainglory/ nor none other laud  
But by themself/ thinking on no fraud  
Secretly/ this ilk twain alone  
Without light/ either of son or moon  
The long night/ have lad without rest  
For as them thought/ it was nat for the best  
To speak of sleep/ till that it was prime  
For they them cast/ to lose as though no time  
And thus the night/ together they dispend  
That I am dull/ for to comprehend  
The observances/ of such religious  
Prolix in working/ and compendious  
deem yourself/ ye get no more of me  
For well ye wot/ in every faculty  
Who hath knowing/ and experience  
Men will to him/ rather give credence  
Wherefore I say/ ye that be wise and can  
Axe nat me/ which am so rude a man  
To dame a thing/ and namely when that it  
Passeth my knowing also/ and my wit  
For dulled/ is mine ymagenatyfe  
To dame in practic/ or in speculatyfe  
Wherefore I pass/ and let it over slide  
And forth I think/ if ye list abide  
Plainly to tell/ of jason and Me●ee  
The which accorded/ and assented be  
That she with him/ shall into grece wend  
When that he goeth/ shortly this the end  
Vnwyste her father/ and every other wight  
Save he alone/ that hath his truth plight  
For to be true/ both in well and woe▪  
Unto his last/ to her and to no moo.  
⸫ ⸫ ⸫    

¶ How jason took shiping with his love Medea/ and sailed away with her. Ca seven.  

ANd when jason/ after his journee  
Full richly/ like to his degree  
refreshed was/ in Colchos of the king  
Withal that might/ be to his liking  
And amoneth passed/ was and gone  
He with his Greeks/ assented into one  
Purposed hath/ shortly if he might  
With Medea/ to steel away by night  
That moche treasure/ and the rich flees  
And full accord/ also of Herculees.  
But O Medea/ thou hastest all to fast  
Thou were to slow/ wisely for to cast  
What should fall/ when thou thy journey took  
For how that he in mischief the forsook  
And how that he/ was false and eke unkind  
For all his oaths/ to the as I find  
And how that thou/ both at eve & morrow  
Thy fatal chance/ and thy piteous sorrow  
By weptest after/ and 'gan thyself to rend  
Till death of all/ made a woeful end  
It were but vain/ to make rehearsal  
I wot no thing/ that it might avail  
Nor how jason/ unkind for the nonce  
received hath/ penam talliones  
Of the gods/ for his disnaturelnesse  
For he in mischief/ and in wretchedness  
Made eke an end/ thorough the cruel hate  
Of fell Mars/ loo here the mortal fate  
Of these twain/ that made their end so  
But as I trow/ like as write Guydo  
For their beginning/ was nat virtuous  
An end followeth/ full courageous  
Alas if they had/ take heed aforne  
Than had they nat/ in mischief be lost  
But who will nat/ afore his mischief see  
May nat eschew/ to have adversity  
In the end/ platly to divine  
For even like/ right as a medicine  
Availeth nat/ when the sick is deed  
For what may help/ the stomach or the heed  
Letuarye emplaystre/ or potion  
Or any resseyt/ or confection  
Herb or stone/ or that leches know  
When that the corpse/ is laid in earth low.  
¶ Or when a be'st/ is turned to careyne  
Mine author saith/ that it is but vain  
For his recure/ upon any hallow  
To his ere/ for to lie a salowe  
For verily/ after his fantasy  
It helpeth nat/ nor doth no remedy  
For thing performed/ in his due date  
More virtue hath/ than when it cometh to late  
Rightsom case/ verily semblable  
Of worldly trust/ false and full mutable  
Who cast no peril/ till that it be fall  
In stead of sugar/ oft casteth gall  
Blended with lust/ which that is present  
Of the future/ sloth and negligent  
That them ne list/ afore no mischief cast  
Till in the snare/ they be englued fast  
For to provide/ they be graceless  
Full unprudent/ and wilful reckless  
To cast peril/ or that it be tied  
They sew their lust/ their reason goth aside  
As it befell/ whilom of this two  
Of Medea/ and of jason also.  
¶ But how so ever/ of jason that it be  
I ●ynde plainly/ the harm alone had she  
The great damage/ and the final smart  
For lack of wisdom/ that she ne would advert  
What should fall/ when she her journey took  
And her father/ foolily forsook  
But sith she wrought/ only of wilfulness  
Without counsel/ or adviseness  
Me list no more/ her harms to bewail  
For little or nought/ it might now avail  
let her alone/ complain her damage  
For well I wot/ touching her passage  
It was nat take/ in good plight of the moon  
Of hastiness/ she began to soon  
Chesing an hour/ that was nat fortunate  
For she alone/ of friends desolate  
Colchos forsook/ and is to ship gone  
And in all haste/ be bidding of jason  
Hercules/ and all his company  
That with him came/ out of thessaly  
Without tarrying/ at ones at a word  
Yentred been/ within ships board  
only for cause/ that the wind was good  
And every thing/ at their lust though stood  
And so by assent/ they stolen away by night  
With all the treasure/ that they catch might  
And with them lad/ plenty of victual  
And forth anon/ they began to sail  
By many cost/ and many sundry I'll  
Towards Grece/ and all this mean while  
Was Medea glad/ and of good cheer  
She and jason/ sitting both yfere  
And Hercules/ of very gentleness  
Her to comfort/ died his business  
All faynyngly/ for the manner sake  
As these lovers/ full quaint can it make  
Till they have had/ holy their pleasance  
Their lust fulfilled/ than uttreth variance  
As it was proved/ by jason utterly  
That hath forsake/ full unkindly  
This Medea/ in pain sorrow and woe  
Of her Guydo/ ne write no words more  
Nor maketh of her/ none other mention  
Because I trow/ in mine opinion  
That her sorrows/ end and every deal  
Rehearsed be/ full openly and we'll  
Methamorphoseos/ & write there full plain  
Where as Naso/ recordeth in certain  
Her death nat only/ nor her heaviness  
But parcel eke/ of the unkindness  
Of this jason/ and telleth plainly how  
Medea/ her both sons slow  
For they were like/ their father of visage  
And telleth eke/ that put her most in rage  
How falsely he/ I can him nat excuse  
Loved another/ that called was Ceruse  
Eke in his pysteles/ who so taketh heed  
her deadly sorrow/ he may behold and read  
And how that she/ her truth a bought sore  
Of Medea/ ye get of me no more  
In all this book/ nor of her adventure  
But I will now/ do my busy cure  
holy to turn/ my style to jason  
And of the were/ he made on Lamedon  
Like as in Guydo/ is openly described  
After that he/ in Grece was arrived.   

FI rste when jason/ and Hercules also  
I landed were/ with many another more  
In the land and reign/ of thessaly  
King peleus's/ with all his chivalry  
Cast him plainly/ that he will nat fail  
To meet his nephew/ at his arrival  
And when they met/ in countenance & ●here  
Made it outward/ as hold and as enter  
As he had had/ sovereign gladness  
Of his kynghthode/ and his heyprowesse  
Of his renown/ and his manly heed  
Of his expleyte/ and his good speed  
And that fortune/ to increase his name  
Hath caused him/ with so noble fame  
Out of Colchos/ with honour to repair  
All be his cheer/ was utterly contrary  
To his intent/ that ever he came again  
But for all that/ with face hole and plain  
He welcomed him/ all against heart  
Full sore atoned/ that he ever asterte  
The adventures/ of Colchos/ perilous  
And is returned/ so victorious  
But covertly/ his treason for to hide  
All delay/ he 'gan to set aside  
And to jason/ with cheer full benign  
His heritage first/ he 'gan resign  
sceptre and crown/ and kingdom at the lest  
For to perform/ the sum of his behest  
Like as he was/ assured by his bond  
And jason took/ all into his hand  
And 'gan his uncle/ in full low manner  
first to thank/ with all his heart enter.  
And after that/ full knightly 'gan him pray  
Goodly to here/ what that he would say  
Of a matter/ that fret his heart sore  
From day to day/ increasing ever more  
beseeching him/ to grant him audience  
touching a wrong/ and a violence  
Done unto him/ when he no harm ne mente  
In Torye land/ to Colchos as he went  
This is to say/ the king of Troy town  
Within the bonds/ of his region  
When I and mine/ in great adversity  
With wind & weather/ for to drive in the see  
Us to refresh/ to land died aryue  
Not in purpose/ with him for to strive  
But for to rest us/ after all our woe  
A little while/ and forth anon to go  
For we in sooth/ no manner harm ne thought  
But he unkyngly/ of very malices sought  
Against us first/ occasion  
Bidding in haste/ to void his region  
Nat withstanding/ that we come in pes  
Like as my brother/ knoweth hercules  
Unto no might/ doing no distress  
Wherefore we pray/ to your high noblesse  
To our purpose/ for to condescend  
Of which platly/ this the final end  
That we be set/ in full conclusion  
holy to work/ to his destruction  
Like our avow/ when we thence went  
If it so be/ ye goodly list assent  
And all at ones/ strongly and nat spare  
Maugre his might/ to Troy for to far  
So that we may/ find in you favour  
Us to refresh/ with gold and with creasoure  
And only eke/ of your courtesy  
Us strength also/ with your chivalry.  
And peleus/ without more abode  
Anon as he this matter/ understood  
Assented is of heart/ and will also  
In this viage/ with them for to go  
And all the worthy/ of that regyowne  
Kings/ duke's/ and lords of renown  
Be accorded/ there is nat one saith nay  
To go with them/ and help what they may  
And of this journey/ chyeve solycytour  
Was hercules/ the worthy conqueror.  
And he in haste/ his retinue to make  
Toward sparthos/ hath the way take  
Which is an isle/ to Greeks pertinent  
Fully obeyeng/ to their commandment  
In which Pollux/ and Castor eke also  
The worthy kings/ the mighty brethren two  
whereas I find/ that time governors  
And bare their crown/ like noble werreours  
And brethren were/ also to Eleyne  
And as poets/ liketh for to feign  
That jubiter/ for all his deyte  
Upon diane/ begat them all three  
That in beauty/ all other died excel  
And for Eleyne/ like as books tell  
conceived was/ in Tyndarys the isle  
Unto the land/ joining/ of Cecyle  
Therefore of some/ I find that she is  
After the isle/ called Tyndarys  
Of their birth/ me list no more to indite  
But forth I think/ of hercules to write  
That hath besought/ these noble k●gꝭ twain  
With mighty hand/ to do their busy pain  
only to grant/ with him for to wend  
To Troy ward/ shortly this the end  
And to assent/ they say nat once nay  
With all the power/ that they catch may  
Again what time/ that him list assign  
And hercules/ with cheerful benign  
Thanked them/ of that they him behyght  
And forth he went/ in all the haste he might  
Towarwe Messene/ the strong mighty land  
Within which/ the noble king he fond  
The knightly man/ the worthy Thelamon  
Lord and prince/ of that region  
That in arms was/ one the manliest  
That was a live/ and equal with the best.  
And when he knew/ that hercules was come  
For joy he hath/ him in arms no●e  
And received/ in all manner thing  
Like as it sat/ to a worthy king  
And when he wist/ soothly what he mente  
Without more/ anon he died assent  
With him to gone Trojans for to grieve  
And hercules/ goodly took leave  
And him enhasteth/ to thessaly again  
To peleus/ and telleth him certain  
How he hath sped/ beseeching him also  
In all the haste/ that it may be do  
To send letters/ and his lords call  
And to assemble/ his worthy knights all  
thorough out his land/ both nigh and far  
Such as he knew/ that were expert in were  
And them also/ that were of counsel sage  
For wit of them/ that be run in age  
Is more than force/ without experience  
But when manhood/ is meant with sapience  
Who considereth/ it may double avail  
And they that long/ have used to travail  
Like as it is/ plainly to suppose  
May help most/ our journey to dispose  
For unto age/ experience and wit  
To youth force/ and hardiness sit  
And when that both/ be of one intent  
Fully accorded/ to work by assent  
With a quarrel/ grounded upon right  
thorough help of grace/ that hath triple might  
Them that not dread/ with spear nor with shield  
In knightly wise/ for to hold a field  
For of knighthood/ the fame nor the glory  
Nor in arms/ conquest nor victory  
Be nat assured/ upon multitude  
But on manhood/ so grace list conclude.  
Therefore let us/ for to avenge our wrong  
first with right/ make ourself strong  
And our force/ manly for to show  
Of knights chose/ taken out a few  
And devoid/ encumbrance of number  
And so we shall/ our foe's best encumber  
And of all that/ that hercules hath said  
King peleus's/ was right well apaid  
For him thought/ his counsel was right good  
And hercules without more abode  
Is in great haste/ with his main gone  
To aprovynce/ that called is Phylon  
In which there was/ a duke of noble fame  
And as I find/ Nestor was his name  
Full renowned/ and strong of chivalry  
And he was eke/ full nigh of ally  
To hercules/ and of the same blood  
And when that he/ plainly understood  
The purpose hole/ and cause of his coming  
He granted him/ without more tarrying  
To go himself/ with him in this viage  
With all the worthy/ of his baronage  
And to be ready/ again a certain day  
And hercules as fast/ as ever he may  
Repaired is home/ to thessaly  
Where gathered was/ holy the navy  
Of the lords/ full ready appareled  
Well enarmed/ and richly victualed.  
And peleus/ hath taken first the see  
And every lord/ like to his degree  
I shipped is/ and ready for to gone  
With hercules/ and also with jason  
Their behests/ manly to fulfil  
Towards Troy/ the city for to spill  
And after that/ soothly as I find  
They nat abide/ but upon the wind.    

¶ How jason Hercules/ and all the Princes of Grece took their shiping/ for to go and destroy the city of Troy. Ca viii.  

When that the sote storms/ of Aprylle  
Unto the root/ full low 'gan distylle  
His lusty liquor/ with many wholesome shower  
To raise the virtue/ upon the flower  
And Phoebus'/ was ascending in his spear  
And on the breast/ smote his beams clear  
Of the Ram/ full choleric at all  
Hallowing in veer/ the equynoxiall  
When May kalends/ enter in for sooth  
And zephyrus/ full ageable and smooth  
The tender branches/ inspireth & doth spring  
And every bush/ is lusty blossomynge  
And from the hill/ the water is revolved  
Of snows white/ that Phoebus' hath dissolved  
And the balm/ vapoureth up a loft  
Into the eyre/ of the herbs soft  
The roots virtue/ with cold of winter hid  
Hath hole his might/ and his force kid  
Out of the earth/ in herb and every tree  
Shade in the branches/ his humydytee  
araised only/ with the sons heat  
And with the moisture/ of the rains sweet  
When silver wells/ sheddeth out their streams  
In the rivers guilt/ with the son beams  
And for he had/ with new green again  
Her lyner shed/ upon every plain  
And nyghtyngalies/ that all the wooed rung  
Full amorously/ welcomed in their song  
The lusty season/ fresh and desirous  
Namely to hearts/ that be amorous  
And the see his calour/ and blaundysshing  
From trouble/ of wind/ or wawy bolling  
And from tempest/ is sure to escape  
The same season/ Greeks forth them shape  
Towards Troy/ earls▪ dukes▪ and kings  
Their ships stuffed/ with all manner things  
That to were/ might them moste avail  
And right anon/ they began to sail  
When all was ready/ without more abode  
Each ship by other/ on the water road  
And when the wind/ at their lust 'gan blow  
A joy it was/ to see them go by row  
Which made them fast/ to hast in their way  
That in short time/ they come been to Troy  
And in the haven/ called Symeonte  
When Phoebus'/ fer under their orysonte  
I westred was/ that men ne might him see  
Greeks escaped/ all peril of the see  
Cast their anchors/ and thought for the best  
In their ships/ the same night to rest.   

ANd in the morrow/ when the lark song  
The worthy Grekis/ so manly & so strong  
Began to land/ in all the haste they might  
On Troy ground/ and their tents pyght●  
Afore the town/ with great diligence  
For they ne found/ no manner resistance  
And all this while/ they set good await  
On every side/ lest there were deceit  
Till on the hour/ that the son bright  
Had in the morrow/ shade his rody light  
Amid the field/ upon every tent  
At which time/ all of one assent  
The Greeks were/ assembled everychone  
And by the bidding/ of the king anon  
jason first/ and with him hercules  
With many worthy/ being in that pres  
Been to the ten●e/ of peleus come  
And when the lords/ both all and some  
Were togyder/ in that place met  
And each of them/ in his degree was set  
Than peleus's/ when all was whyste and still  
Began right thus/ to declare his will.  
O noble and worthy/ of high estate and low  
Whose knightly fame/ through the world yknow  
Reported is/ as far as shineth son  
That Greeks yet/ never thing begun  
That they ne had/ victory at the end  
For with the lawrer/ as far a men may wend  
They crowned been/ of what they took on hand  
such is their hap/ both on see and land.  
¶ Wherefore ye lord/ most worthy of renown  
Ye can remember/ of king Lameoow●e  
And of the wrong/ that he upon you ● wrought  
When harm to him/ none of you ne thought  
Which must be quit shortly/ this the end  
For we be come/ to stroy them and to shende  
Wherefore anon/ in all the haste we may  
let us set on/ without more delay  
But first I read/ that we take heed  
To things three/ most helping in this need.  
¶ first by advise/ and good discretion  
For our defence/ and salvation  
So prudently/ our wards for to make  
That none of ours/ be at mischief take  
This ilk day/ for lack of providence.  
The second is/ to do our diligence  
With all our might/ and hold entencion  
For to labour/ to full destruction  
O four foes/ for our own glory.  
And the third/ that we may victory  
Rejoice of them/ platly at the last  
And after this/ ye may afore well cast  
If we of knighthood/ thorough our hardiness  
May venquysshe them/ we shall so hyerychesse  
Conquer of them/ to our possessiowne  
For it is known/ how that Troy town  
Of all plenty/ as it shallbe found  
Of gold and treasure/ is passingly abound  
That our ships/ soothly as I ween  
For to receive/ ne shall nat mow sustain  
The abundance/ that is yonder within  
If it so be/ that we the city win  
As god us grant/ if it be his will  
¶ And also fast/ as the king was still  
The noble knight/ the strong hercules  
In the presence/ of that worthy pres  
Said his counsel/ was highly to commend  
For wise beginning/ is praised by the end  
But to effect/ our purpose for to bring  
My counsel is/ in the morning  
Tofore or we/ discured been by day  
That we us arm/ in all the haste we may  
And on this field/ that we do our pain  
For to divide our main/ into twain  
And of the tone/ shall king Thelamowne  
Be governor/ of his high renown  
And of the other/ king peleus shall have  
The governance/ wisely them to save  
And I myself/ and jason here my brother  
Shall secretly/ go with all the other  
Under the city/ or the sonneshynes  
And in the busshayle/ and the thick wines  
We shall us hide/ and keep us there full koye  
For Lamedon/ that is king of Troy  
Anon as he may/ here and espy  
Of the Greeks/ with his chivalry  
Out of the city/ will Issue out anon  
With you to fight/ & venge him of his fone  
But when he cometh/ to our ships ward  
Nestor the duke/ shall in the first ward  
Meet with him/ and Castor shall also  
When he seeth time/ knightly have ado  
To help Nestor/ if that it be need  
The third ward/ peleus's shall lead  
And whiles/ ye thus him occupy  
jason and I/ shall us fast high  
To the city/ unwist of them eachone  
I doubt nat/ we shall it win anon  
Doth by counsel/ and it will you avail  
And here my truth/ ye may nat fail  
For to conquer/ the city yonder afore  
This all and some/ ye get of me no more.  
And they accord/ with all their strength & might  
And arm them/ in steel that shone full bright  
Again the son/ at morrow when he riseth  
And wrought fully/ as hercules deviseth.    

¶ How the Greeks armed them upon the morrow/ and fought with the Trojans/ & discomfit them/ and took their city and destroyed it. Capitulo ix  
ANd Lamedon/ when he heard tell  
Of their coming/ h● list no longer dwell  
But out he went/ with many a noble knight  
flowering in youth/ and desirous to fight  
And all though that might/ arms bear  
Or could sho●e/ or durst handle a spear.  
And when they were/ assembled in the field  
everich his arms/ depaint upon his shield  
Brouded or beat/ upon his coote armour  
Than Lamedone/ with all his busy cure  
Set them inordre/ and his wards maketh  
And in the field/ forth his way he taketh  
Toward the Greeks/ as any lyneryght  
Fully purposing/ to abide and fight  
He was nat ware/ of them that were behind  
He not adverteth/ nor casteth in his mind  
The great sleyghte/ nor the treachery  
That him was shape/ he could it nat espy  
But forth he went/ with his wards set  
And the Greeks anon/ with him hath met  
With heart bold/ atoned nat at all  
Duke Nestor/ first sturdy as a wall  
In whose manhood/ was never found lack  
Full knightly than/ upon horse back  
To heart his men/ and his knights eke  
'Gan press in with many worthy Greek  
With Lamedon/ sturdily to meet  
At which time/ they felt it full unsweet.  
¶ And in the frountell/ full many manly man  
With sharp spears/ first together ran  
And with swords sharp/ and keen ground  
Was thilk day/ given many a wound  
Where as they met/ upon every side  
Through plate & mail/ their woundꝭ bled wide  
And basenettes/ they rive to the crown  
The noise of strokes/ in the eyre 'gan sown  
And of the blood/ that was shed of new  
The Grene soil/ changed hath his he we  
For it was died/ plainly into reed  
Upon the which/ full many man lay deed  
And many worthy/ lost there his life  
And certainly/ in this mortal strife  
The greeks had discomfited be eachone  
Ne had Castor/ succoured them anon  
They of Troy/ so manly have them bore  
That many a knight/ of greeks was I lore  
But when Castor/ entereth in battle  
With his knights/ so sore he died assail  
The worthy Trojans/ y● with spear and shield  
Greeks again/ recovered have the field  
That many one lieth slain on the green  
Gyrt thorough the body/ with sharp spears keen  
That they of Troy/ in this mortal stoure  
Were drive a back/ till there came succour  
To them in haste/ of worthy Lamedowne  
Which entrede in/ like a wood lyowne  
And made way/ upon every side  
And where as he made/ his sword to glide  
There was but death/ so manly he him bare  
That well uneath/ was there none that dare  
Abide his stroke/ for riding up and down  
He made way about/ him environ  
In the renges/ he hath his foen out sought  
That day i arms marvels hath he wrought  
Than by his manhood/ and his worthiness  
He greeks hath brought/ in such distress  
That they his sword/ fled as the death  
Mercyles/ so many of them he sleeth  
Of which slaughter/ the greeks were confuse  
Till peleus's/ came to their rescuse  
Irous and would/ as he were fall in rage  
He thought he would the great pomp assuage  
Of them of Troy/ and so he died an one  
For he unhorseth/ of them many one  
And felly slough/ all that stood him aforne  
And many harness/ he hath that day to torn  
And made sheldes/ for to rive a sondre  
That to behold/ it was a very wondre  
Till lamedone/ his people saw go back  
For peleus/ brought them so to wrack  
Whereof in heart/ he felt full great pain  
beseeching them/ to repair again  
And kythe their might/ & like as men endure  
And so the field/ he made them to recure.  
Till duke Nestor/ knew that lamedowne  
Amid the field/ was king of Troy town  
And right anon/ without more abode  
Against him/ a full great pace he road  
And when the king/ died him first espy  
Of high despite/ of rancour and envy  
In knightly wise/ 'gan to turn again  
No thing aghast/ but of high disdain  
With Irous heart/ enbolled all with pride  
His hor● fiercely/ 'gan take in the side  
Till there ran out/ the very read blood  
And to Nestor/ like as he were wood  
He road anon/ and his spear broke  
But he full knightly/ kept his horse bake  
And full delyue●ly/ him again to quite  
W●th a spear full sharp/ whet to bite  
thorough shield & breast/ gave him such a wound  
That fro his horse/ he field h● down to ground  
Of which fall/ the king no thing a feared  
But ro●e him up/ and drew out his sword  
So anger fret him/ at his heart rote  
That he unhorsed/ fight must on foot  
Whereof he was/ in party full confuse  
Till one Cedar/ came to his rescuse  
That was made knight/ the self same year  
young fresh and lusty/ and of noble cheer  
sitting that time/ on a noble stead  
And when that he/ 'gan to take heed  
And saw the king/ on foot at mischief fight  
'Gan to prick/ in all the haste he might  
Toward Nestor/ and with a spear hymhytte  
From his saddle/ that he made him flit  
Down to the ground/ afore king lamedon  
But he anon/ like a champion  
Recured up/ and himself diffendeth  
And many a stroke/ each on other spendeth  
With sharp swords/ keen for to bite  
everich at other/ 'gan to foin and smite  
Till lamedone/ with a despitous cheer  
From his face/ razed his viser  
And by force/ all at ones smet  
A rich circle/ from his bassenet  
Of large pearl/ going environ  
With crest/ and all he fiercely beat a down  
That whiles Nestor/ thus afore him stood  
His face was all depaint/ with blood  
That certainly/ the sooth to conclude  
Had nat greeks/ with great multitude  
Rescued him/ he had of lamedowne  
Beslayne as fast/ for he was bore down  
Unto the earth/ among the horse f●te  
But Castor thought/ that he ne would let  
To be his help/ as he beheld a fere  
And Irously/ he took a mighty spear  
And to Cedar/ that I spoke of late  
He 'gan to ride/ and prick in great hate  
But or he came/ and took him doubtless  
A trojan knight/ called Segnerides  
Cousin to Cedar/ when he hath this seen  
On a courser/ road anon between  
And with a spear/ he smote Castor so  
That with the stroke/ it broke even a two  
To whom Castor/ without more areste  
Hath with a spear/ amids of the breast  
Segnerides/ give a mortal wound  
That likely was/ never for to sound  
Wherefore Cedar/ caught such envy  
That he anon of melancholy  
And of despite/ boiling in his heart  
Segnerides/ when he saw so smart  
Maugre who grudgeth/ amids of the field  
Of very might/ from Castor took his shield  
And thorough vyser/ of rancour and of rage  
He wounded him/ amids his visage  
And his horse/ fro him also he caught  
And to his squire/ manfully it raught  
That certainly/ he stood in such disjoint  
This worthy Castor/ that he was in point  
To have be taken/ of them of Troy tho  
For he on foot/ with him must have go  
Ne had Pollux/ with many manly knight  
more than vii hundred/ in steel armed bright  
The rather come/ Castor to rescewe  
Which after them/ so soregan to sew  
That maugre them/ Castor when he fond  
Of force/ he took him fro out of their hand  
And to his horse restored/ him again  
And after that this/ Pollux in certain  
Of very anger/ and of fervent Ire  
Again Trojans/ with rancour set a fire  
That all at ones/ he upon them set  
And in his mode/ by fortune as he met  
A trojan knight/ called Elyatus  
In arms young/ fresh and desirous  
Wonder seemly/ and but tender of age  
The kings son/ also of Cartage  
And nephew eke unto Lamedon  
When Pollux/ hath like a fierce lion  
Without ruth/ pity or mercy  
In the renges/ slain cruelly  
That lamedone/ when he 'gan take heed  
Of inward dole/ felt his heart bleed  
When he him saw/ even upon the death  
Full piteously/ yield up the breath  
Upon the plain/ as he lay him before  
For which anon/ he made sown a horn  
At which time/ there came in full rich array  
Seven. M. knights/ in all the haste they may  
Upon his death avenged for to be  
Which merciless/ of great cruelty  
The Greeks have here/ & there I grounded  
Here lieth one deed/ there another wounded  
So that they might/ with them have no take  
So mortally/ they made them go abake  
That all 'gan turn/ to their confusion  
And finally/ that day with lamedon  
The triumph had/ and the field I gone  
Save that alas/ out of the town anon  
Unto the king/ there came a messangere  
That hath him told/ with a full piteous cheer  
How the Greeks/ have his city take  
¶ Than for to see/ the woe he died make  
It would have made/ a piteous heart as belive  
Of very dole/ a sondre for to rive  
So sore he 'gan/ within himself to morn  
He wist nat what party he may torn  
But in a were/ he abiding long  
Afore him saw/ the mighty greeks strong  
And in the city/ another host behind  
Almost for woe/ he went out of his mind  
And suddenly backward/ as he beheld  
Toward the city/ he saw come in the field  
first hercules/ and with him jason  
That by their sleyghte/ won had the town  
¶ And in all haste/ this cruel hercules  
The mighty giant/ of force peerless  
Like a lion/ would and despitous  
Or a Tiger/ in rage furious  
'Gan of new/ them of Troy assail  
And with his sword/ pierce plate and mail  
Which of labour/ were full mate and faint  
And of long fight/ with weariness attaint  
And he came in lusty/ fresh and green  
That they his force/ might nat abstain  
For as he road/ among them here and yonder  
In cruel wise/ he severed them a sunder  
And put them holy/ in this high mischance  
Out of rule/ and of governance  
So that the king/ oppressed all with dole  
Of his wards/ destitute and sole  
At mischief left/ and all infortunate  
And of comfort/ fully disconsolat  
This Hercules/ with despitous look  
With sharp spurs/ his stead felly took  
And cruelly road/ to lamedowne  
And to the earth fiercely/ bore him down  
And upon him/ in all the haste he might  
Down of his horse/ suddenly a light  
And mightily/ rend of his Basenette  
And with a sword sharp/ ground & whet  
Smote of his heed/ there was none other grace  
And cast it forth/ in the self place  
Among the horse/ by cruel violence  
Without pity/ or any reverence  
And in arage/ raught his horse again  
And like alien/ running on the plain  
Baredowne & sloughe/ what came in his weigh  
And many trojan/ that day made them die  
That like to sheep/ were for skatered wide  
All destitute/ of governor or guide  
Ne can no read/ shortly to conclude  
For the Greeks/ with double multitude  
'Gan them enchase/ to the death full belive  
That well uneath/ there left none a live  
The field they have 〈…〉 victors  
And 〈◊〉 tryumphe● like as conquerors  
To the city/ they took their way after  
And ●ende down/ both spa●ce and rafter  
And all the treasure and richesse of the town  
They took anon to their possessy own  
Who ever grudge/ or be lief or loath  
What they found/ plainly with them goeth  
In the temples/ they died great offence  
To the gods/ doing no reverence  
〈…〉 they spoil/ without dread or fere  
And unto ship/ every thing they bear  
〈…〉 ●●yles/ on crooked old and lame  
〈…〉 swords they made/ cruelly to a tame  
And children souking at their mothers breast  
They murder and slay/ without more areste  
〈◊〉 young maidens/ weeping in distress  
〈◊〉 gentle borne/ and of great fairness  
〈…〉 them they lad/ & may them nat excuse  
〈◊〉 fresh beauty/ falsely to misuse  
They waste and burn/ and consume all  
And without/ they broke a down the wall  
And Exyone/ the kings daughter dear  
That was to him passingly enter  
By his life/ I mean lamedon  
meek and benign/ of condition  
Hercules hath anon her take  
That for dread/ piteously 'gan quake  
〈…〉 delivered/ unto The●am●wne  
〈…〉/ first into the town  
〈◊〉 his gift/ received hath at gree  
Because she was/ surmounting of beauty  
And tretyde her/ after as he would  
Not like as he/ a kings daughter should  
For sith he got her/ that day by victory  
For his worship/ and his own glory  
Having regard/ to her high degree  
He should rather/ of knightly honesty  
And of knighthood/ have wedded her therefore  
With that she was of blood/ so gentle bore  
Wan of false lust/ again all goodlihead  
〈◊〉 her beauty/ and her womanhead  
Dishonestly/ and in sinful wise  
Of royal blood/ nat like the high emprise  
Nor the doctrine/ of nature's right  
Nor like nurture/ of a gentle knight  
considered first/ her birth and her kindred  
Her green youth/ and her maidenhead  
So good so fair/ so womanly thereto  
A kings daughter/ of birth she was also  
〈…〉 had been of name  
Now 〈…〉 thou were to blame  
For thorugh● 〈…〉 of thy governance  
There kynled was/ of full high vengeance  
So hot a spark/ after of envy  
That thorough the world/ the fire 'gan multeply  
Which was nat light/ to quench of his heat  
For ha●●● old/ to bren can nat let  
With new flawme/ who so taketh heed  
If it not smoke/ it is the more to dread  
As in this story/ hereafter shallbe know  
& when this town was brent/ & brought low  
Both tour and wall/ with the soil made plain  
And no thing stood/ of all that might be 〈◊〉  
So utterly the Greeks/ them oppress  
Making all waste/ like a wilderness.  
¶ For good and treasure/ and richesse 〈◊〉  
With many jewel/ full pleasing of delight  
To their ships/ out of the town they lead  
And in short time/ homeward they them speed  
With treasure stuffed/ & abundance of good  
And when they saw/ that the weather stood  
The wind also/ at their lust they had  
They 'gan to sail/ & with them home they lad  
Exyone/ and many a maid moo  
That out of Troy/ into Grece go  
And sailing forth/ within a little space  
They be escaped/ fro the see by grace  
And unto land/ arrived merely  
At whose coming/ the greeks utterly  
So joyful be/ of their good speed  
And specially in Guydo as I read  
Their ships were/ with gold & 〈◊〉 lad  
Whereof in heart/ they wax wonder glade  
And for they had out so well the● 〈◊〉  
To conquer/ and so few lost  
Of their main/ they thank their gods all  
And of the grace/ that to them is fall  
For with the treasure/ that they have home brought  
Full many poor/ was made up of nought  
Through out the land/ there was such habunndance  
So much good/ and so great su●●ysaunce  
That no wight/ had amongs them no need  
And many day/ this blessydfull life they lead  
from year to year/ by revoluciowne  
And for their manhood/ & their high renown  
Their honour ran/ round the world about  
That them to offend/ many land hath doubt  
For their knighthood/ & for they were so wise  
¶ And till the story/ list again devise  
In this manner ferther to proceed  
With the favour/ of your goodlihead  
I will me rest/ for a little space  
And than up borne/ with support of your grace  
For to accomplish/ as I undertook  
And here an end/ of the first book.  
I make now/ with quaking hand for dread  
〈◊〉 only for fere/ of you/ that shall it read  
list ye alas/ of hasty motion  
Ne will nat have/ no compassion  
pity nor ruth/ upon my rudeness  
Lowly beseeching/ to your gentleness  
Of mercy only/ both nigh and far  
Where ye find/ that I fail or err  
For to correct/ are ye ferther flit  
For to your grace/ I holy all commit.    


How Lydgate complaineth him on Fortune/ for the first destruction of the city of Troy/ And how he beginneth his second Book following the matter of the said story. Capitulo ten  

THe envious order/ of fortunate moving  
In worldly thing/ false & flykering  
Ne will nat suffer us/ in this present life  
〈…〉 rest/ without were or strife  
For she is blind/ fykell and unstable  
And of her course/ false and full mutable  
Who sit highest/ she can downe him incline  
〈…〉 he least weeneth/ bring him to ruin  
〈…〉 ●●ay●es/ that gladly been sudden  
And with her face/ that parted is on twain  
Show most hole/ when she is least to trist  
Tha● well were him/ that her deceits wist  
〈…〉 engines/ and her traps knew  
That every day/ in her court be new  
Of which in sooth/ I well affirm dare  
No mortal man/ may in this life beware  
For she uneven/ peysing in balance  
With countrefete/ and feigned countenance  
With looking plain/ & cheer of flattery  
unwarely can blear/ a man's eye  
And him beguile/ this the very sooth  
With a face blandishing/ and smooth  
When she hath him fro high degree/ brought low  
Full falsely smile/ and make him the mow  
And yet somewhile/ most variant of hew  
She unto some/ pretendeth to be true  
For she whilom to some/ is favourable  
And to some/ false and deceivable  
She can raise one/ and bring another down  
This false lady of transmutaciowne  
To some she giveth/ renown and victory  
And doth them flower/ in honour & in glory  
And some she can apayre/ with false fame  
And guiltless/ put a man in blame  
To some she is/ goodly and benign  
And of disdain/ she can also malign  
Again another/ and make him lout low  
And from their sees/ she can kings throw  
And them avail/ for all their high towers  
And she can plunge/ worthy Emperors  
From the hill/ of high prosperity  
Into the vale/ of adversity  
The rich emporysshe/ of rancour & disdain  
And the poor/ she can enhance again  
This false goddess/ with her eyen blind  
Set one afore/ another goeth behind  
And doth one run/ and another halt  
And one she can/ in richesse high exalt  
And another plunge in poverty  
In whom no man/ may have no sykerte  
To some sugar and honey/ she distilleth  
And of some/ she the bottle filleth  
With bitter gall/ myrrh and ales  
And thus this lady/ wilful and reckless  
As she that is froward/ and perverse  
Hath in her cellar/ drinks of divers  
For she to some/ of fraud and of fallas  
ministereth payment/ balm and hippocras  
And suddenly/ when the soot is passed  
She of custom/ can give him a cast  
For to conclude/ falsely in the fine  
Of bitter easel/ and of eager wine  
And corrosynes/ that fret and pierce deep  
And Narcotykes/ that cause men to sleep  
Thus she to them/ that her can approach  
After sweet/ the bitter can a brooch  
In her reign/ this queen of variance  
Whose joy fyneth/ always with mischance  
Who trusteth her/ she will him over cast  
And him deceive/ plainly at the last  
Of what estate/ so ever that he be  
This double lady/ of mut ability  
See here example/ of king lamedon  
Whom she hath brought/ to confusion  
For little cause/ and for athing of nouthe  
Her cruelty/ he hath to dear bought  
Wherefore I read/ every man take heed  
To gynne a quarrel/ where as is no need  
For little fire/ under ashes reek  
So may be kindled/ that it will out break  
Into such flawme/ men may it nat a pease  
Who best can suffer/ most shall have his ease  
Therefore ye kings/ and lords everichone  
Make you a mirror/ of this lamedone  
And be well aware/ to do no violence  
Unto strangers/ when they do none offence  
When they come/ fer into this region  
Ne suffer them nat/ by none oppression  
In your bounds/ for to have no wrong  
For in your own/ though that ye be strong  
And mighty eke/ among your lieges all  
Another day/ peradventure may be fall  
That when that ye/ full little think on it  
Of sudden case/ that ye may be quit  
And I thanked/ in another place  
Of adventure/ if ye hap pace  
Therefore when ye may any such espy  
Do them good cheer/ of your courtesy  
And prudently/ consider in your wit  
That to a lord/ of gentilesse it sit  
To every stranger/ goodly him to have  
There is no thing/ may more his honour save  
Than to refresh them freely/ and disport  
Than may they after/ good of him report  
By whose contrary/ hath much woe be wrought  
Afore this time/ if it be well sought  
The first Troy/ utterly destroyed  
And the people/ in sorrow and woe a cloyed  
Lad into exile/ fer fro their city  
living in thraldom/ and captivity  
And Exyone/ as ye have heard me tell  
Lad into Grece/ with Thelamon to dwell  
For whom there was/ as Guydo can you teach  
After take/ so great vengeance and wretch  
On either part/ that in very truth  
For to here/ it is to much ruth  
As in this book/ ye may after read  
seriously/ if ye list take heed  
For gladly aye/ the revolusion  
Of fatal thing/ by disposition  
Is so envious/ and always meynt with woe  
That in this world/ where so that we go  
We truly may advert in our thought  
That for the value/ of a thing of nought  
Mortal causes/ and wars first begun  
And strife and debate/ here under the son  
Were moved first/ of small occasion  
That caused after/ great confusion  
That noman can/ the harms half indite  
For a cause/ dear Enough a mite  
Each is ready/ to destroy other  
A man for little/ will strive with his brother  
Blood is unkind/ which greatly is to dread  
Alas/ why ne will they take better heed  
For old Troy/ and after the new  
thorough small encheason/ who the truth knew  
Were finally brought/ to destruction  
As old books/ make mention  
And many worthy/ and many noble knight  
Slain in the field/ by dute●●e of that fight  
Kings princes/ at the siege deed  
When Atropos/ to break their lives thread  
That for to tell/ the mischief and the woe  
I want cunning/ and I feel also  
My pen quake/ and tremble in my hand  
list that my lord/ dread on see and land  
Whose worthiness/ through the world doth spread  
My making rude/ shall behold and read  
Which of colour/ full naked is and bare  
That but if he/ of his grace spare  
For to disdain/ and list to have pity  
For fere I tremble/ that he should it see.  
¶ But only mercy/ that doth his heart embrace  
Bid me presume/ fully in his grace  
saying in him/ most virtuous and good  
Mercy annexed/ unto royal blood  
As to a prince longeth/ nigh and far  
Ay tofore right/ pity to prefer  
For thorough the support/ of his high noblesse  
Sowpowayled/ I will my style dress  
To write forth/ the story by and by  
Of new Troy/ in order seriously  
As mine Author/ in latin Guydo wryt  
praying the reder/ where my word myssyt  
Causing the metre/ to be halt or lame  
For to correct/ to save me fro blame  
let him not wait/ after curiosity  
sith that in rhyme/ english hath scarste  
I am so dull/ certain that I ne can  
Follow Guy do that clerk/ that coryous man  
Which in latin/ hath by rhetoric  
Set so his words/ that I can nat be like  
To sew his style/ in my translation  
word by word/ like the construction  
After the manner/ of gramaryens  
Nor like the style/ of rethorycyens  
I took nat on me/ this story to translate  
For me to further/ Clyo came to late  
That in such craft/ hath great experience  
I leave these words/ and follow the sentence  
And truth of metre/ I set also a side  
For of that art/ I had as though no guide  
Me to reduce/ when I went a wrong  
I took none heed nouther of short nor long  
But to the truth/ and left euryosyte  
Both of making/ and of metre be  
Nat purposing/ to moche for to vary  
Nor for to be divers/ nor contrary  
Unto Guydo/ as by discordance  
But me conform/ fully in substance  
only in meaning/ to conclude all one  
All be that I ne can/ the way gone  
To sew the flowers/ of his eloquence  
Nor of peynting/ I have none excellence  
With sundry hews/ noble fresh and gay  
So rich colours/ byggen I ne may  
I must proceed/ with sable and with black  
And in ennewing/ where ye find a lack  
I axe mercy/ or I fro you twin  
And with your favour/ I will anon begin  
And in all haste/ my style forth direct  
And where I err/ I pray you to correct.   

THe same time/ when that Troy town  
Destroyed was/ and king lamedowne  
Was also slain/ thorough the cruelty  
Of hercules/ under his eyte  
He had a son/ the story telleth us  
Which was his heyce/ y called Pryamus  
Wonder manly/ discrete and prudente  
Which that time/ from Troy was absent  
When his father/ lost there his life  
For he that time/ with Ecuba his wife  
And with his sons/ about a castle lay  
And all his knights/ to get it if they may  
That hath on them/ mightily werreyed  
For they his father have falsely disobeyed  
And unto him/ be rebel wonder long  
All be Priam/ with sautes huge and strong  
Them had assailed/ oft and many sith  
His strength on them/ like a knight of kith  
To get in arms/ worship and honour  
And them to daunt/ like a conqueror  
He cast him fully/ or that he depart  
For day by day/ his life he 'gan jeopard  
At their walls for to prove his might  
With many baron/ and many worthy knight  
For he yet had/ his young lusty blood  
And was in age/ flowering in knighthood  
And at assaults/ and such manner strife  
On with the first/ for to auntre his life  
To heart his men/ him list nat be behind  
For dread of death/ soothly as I find  
Afore the castle/ high and thick walled  
And by his wife/ that Ecuba was called  
This Priam's/ had full worthy of degree  
five sons/ and young daughters three.  
Of which the eldest/ Ector called was  
Which also far as Phoebus'/ in compass  
A naturel day/ goth his circle about  
So far of him/ without any doubt  
Reported was/ the renown and the name  
The worthiness/ and the noble fame  
For like as books/ of him specify  
He was the root/ and stock of chivalry  
And of knighthood/ very sovereign flower  
The sours and well/ of worship & honour  
And of manhood/ I dare it well express  
Example and mirror/ and of high prowess  
Gynning and ground/ & with all this yfere  
Wonder benign/ and lowly of his cheer  
Discrete also/ prudent and virtuous  
Of whom the deeds/ and acts marvelous  
Remembered been/ of so long a gone  
For he alone/ excelled everichone  
In old auctors read/ and ye may find  
Of his knighthood/ how yet they make mind  
The next brother/ called was Paris  
To whom nature/ gave to herdevys  
Of shap and form/ beauty and seemliness  
That to remember/ his excellent fairness  
In his time/ without any dread  
He passed all/ that I can of read  
And he was eke/ a full manly knight  
But most he used/ when he should fight  
In his hand/ for to bear abowe  
For such an archer/ no man could know  
For to seek/ both fer and near  
That of shooting/ might be his peer  
As it was found/ when he had a do  
And Alysaundre/ called was also  
The third son/ hight Dephebus  
A worthy knight/ and a chivalrous  
And had in arms/ a full great renown  
And was a man of high discretion  
And wise of counsel/ mine author telleth thus  
¶ The fourth brother/ called Helenus'  
Sad and discrete/ and of high prudence  
And was also a man/ of great scyente  
And renowned therewith/ in special  
In all the arts/ called liberal  
For he in them/ was expert a right  
The fift son/ was a worthy knight  
Fresh and lusty/ and youngest of them all  
And as saith/ Guydo/ Troilus men him call  
A manly man/ found in barayle  
And desirous/ his foemen to assail  
One of the best/ in his time found  
And called was/ Ector the second  
For his manhood/ thorough out Troy book  
Within the were/ full oft upon him took  
Of his knighthood/ many high emprise  
As the story hereafter/ shall devise.  
And in his book/ like as write virgil  
The poet old/ by full soveraynestyle  
How that the king Priam's/ had also  
By Ecuba/ other sons two  
And by record/ of this virgilius  
The one was called/ Pollyodorus  
Whom Pryamus/ in his green youth  
When the coming was/ of greeks couth  
To Troy ward/ in all haste anon  
With gold treasure/ and many rich stone  
Sent him forth/ beside unto a king  
Of full great trust/ to have him in keeping  
Till time he saw/ what conclusiowne  
There should fall after/ of the town  
And eke what fine/ the were would take  
That upon them/ the greeks died make.  
¶ But thilk king/ for false covetise  
Of his treasure/ that ye have herd devise  
When that he saw/ fortunes variance  
Towward Priam/ and his unhappy chance  
Like a tyrant/ and murderer also  
The child's throat/ made cut a two  
And after that he/ full cruelly  
Made his men/ to bury him privily  
That no man might/ his treason understand  
Beside a see deep/ under the strand.  
The other son/ also as Irede  
In virgil/ was called ganymed  
Whom jupiter/ in a forest hente  
Gpon a day/ as he on hunting went  
And bore him up/ above the stars clear  
And made him in heaven/ his botelere  
Eternally with him/ for to won  
In stead of hebes/ his own dear soon.  
The first daughter/ of king Pryamus  
height Creusa/ as saith virgilius  
In his Eneydos/ soothly as it was  
And she was wedded/ unto Aeneas  
As saith this story/ and eke this ilk Enee  
Was wonderful/ in his nativity  
Of whom the father/ I find doubtless  
Was in his time/ called anchises  
That him begat/ on Venus the goddess  
For after her/ he had such fairness  
That never wight/ ne could yet I see  
A man that was more/ passing of beauty  
Of whom this story/ touching his working  
Shall you declare/ many wonder thing  
For it is he/ to whom so great a los  
virgil gave/ in his Eneydos  
For he that book/ in worship of Enee  
Compiled hath/ like as ye may see  
Of his knighthood/ & many strong battle  
By him achieved/ or he won italy  
After full long/ that the royal town  
Of Troy/ was brought to confusiowne  
And his conquest/ if ye list take heed  
In this poet/ ye may by order read  
And in arms wrought/ in all his age  
And his coming/ also to Cartage  
from Troyewarde/ in a little while  
All this ye may/ behold in virgil.  
Another daughter/ also it is found  
King Priam had/ of birth the second  
Called cassandra/ of full great sadness  
And was in manner/ a dyvyneresse  
And in each art/ had experience  
Of things futur/ fully prescience  
To tell afore/ what that shall betide  
Of whom the fame/ sprang in costs wide  
Which kept hirchaste/ in virgynyte  
And aye in prayers/ and in honest  
She lad her life/ and in devotion  
After the rites/ and religion  
Of paganysme/ used in though says  
The observances/ keeping of theyrlayes.  
The third daughter/ height Pollycene  
Youngest of all/ and ever a maydeclene  
She kept herself/ and honest in her law  
Unto the time/ that Pirrus hath her slawe  
Of shap of fortune/ was never by nature  
Wrought nor shap/ a fairer creature  
Eke as I find/ this noble king also  
Had thirty sons/ the book saith and no more  
Hardy in arms/ and noble found at all  
That called were/ his sons natural  
And they were all/ I except none  
Worthy knights/ and manly men eachone  
And their names/ who so list to know  
He shall find them write/ upon arrow  
After this story/ everich after other  
Beginning first/ at the eldest brother.  
And whiles Priam's/ at the siege lay  
Tofore the castle/ to get it if he may  
And thereabout/ hath many way sought  
The woeful tidings/ be unto him brought  
How the greeks/ have take Troy town  
And slain his father/ worthy Lamedowne  
And how the city/ of old foundaciowne  
Full piteously/ was turned up so down  
The worthy lords/ and gentle men eachone  
Taken and slain/ and I left nat one  
Of them a live/ thorough greeks cruelty  
After the ruin/ alas of their city  
And Action/ his own sister dear  
Lad into exile/ with her eyen clear.  
¶ Wherefore the king/ in heart is stoned so  
For very sorrow/ he ne wist what to do  
His sudden woe/ 'gan him so constrain  
He sobbeth weepeth/ that of mortal pain  
He thought his heart/ would a sunder breast  
Of high distress/ for he might have no rest  
And into tears/ he 'gan himself dislylle  
That for to die/ was finally his will.  
¶ And fortune/ that can so falsely vary  
With dreary heart/ he 'gan to wary  
That she to him/ was so deceivable  
So inly cruel/ and unmercyable  
So despitous/ and so stern of face  
So vengeable/ and devoid of grace  
For of envy/ with a rage thought  
She hath her wrest/ of malice on him wrought  
And felly showed/ what she might do  
That in this world/ was never wight so woe  
As I suppose/ of no manner age  
To reckon/ all her harms and damage  
For which anon/ in all that ever he may  
Fast he changeth/ all his rich array  
Tryste and heavy/ with deadly face pale  
So atoned/ with this mortal tale  
That his desire was/ to have be deed  
With countenance inclined/ his heed  
This life he lad/ & clad him all in black  
And suddenly/ he the siege brack  
And would as tho/ no longer there abide  
But with his folk/ anon he 'gan to ride  
That piteously/ 'gan with him to morn  
And toward Troy/ atones they return.  
And when that he/ hath the city found  
Plain with the soil/ & even with the ground  
The high walls/ whilom thick and long  
I vere down/ that were made so strong  
And his towers/ and palace principal  
That was in building/ so excellent royal  
So famous rich/ and of great nobylnesse  
He fond turned into wilderness  
His people slain/ his sister lad away  
For very woe/ he ne wist what to say  
For the constraint/ of his adversity  
And for his harms/ that will not recured be  
For in that time/ he was fully sure  
Upon no side/ there was no recure  
Wherefore he can nat/ but sob and weep  
And from his breast/ with sighs sought full deep  
Broken out/ with a deed visage  
And thus alas/ in this furious rage  
Full piteously/ all his host and he  
Without respite/ continue days three  
Till at the last/ the dark skies black  
'Gan of their woe/ in party for to slack  
And the tempest/ some delegan withdraw  
And of their weeping/ blandysshe 'gan y● wawe  
And when the flood of woe/ is over passed  
The ebb of joy/ follow must in haste  
To sorrow ever/ it would their hearts shende  
And at a term/ every woe must end  
For though for friends/ men ay weep & wail  
After their death/ there may no recure veil  
Wherefore the king/ after all his care  
Hath sought a way/ the city to repair  
And cast him fully/ if it would be  
To make reverture/ of necessity  
And manfully/ after all his tene  
When that the eyre/ 'gan to wax clean  
Of the mists/ of his cloudy sorrow  
And that somedeal adawe/ 'gan the morrow  
Of heaviness/ after the dark night  
Chased away/ with a son bright  
Of new joy/ for ay the fine of woe  
Must be gladness/ when that sorrow is go  
And so Priam's/ after a certain space  
When his sorrow/ 'gan light and light pace  
And of wisdom/ in all his piteous smart  
'Gan prudently/ to pluck up his heart  
And of his eyen/ the wawes 'gan clear  
Anon he wrought/ right as ye shall here.    

¶ How king Priamus son unto king la builded Troy new again. Ca xi.  

THe sorrow assuaged/ & the sighs old  
By long process/ like as I you told  
This worthy king/ called Pryamus  
In his heart now/ so desirous  
Upon the plain/ that was so waste & wild  
So strong a town/ of new for to build  
At his devise/ a city edefye  
That shall the assaults/ utterly defy  
Of all enemies/ and his mortal foone  
With rich towers/ and walls of hard stone  
And all about/ the countries environ  
He made seek/ in every region  
For such workmen/ as were curious  
Of wit inventive/ of casting marvelous  
Or such as could craft/ of gemetrye  
Or were subtle/ in their fantasy  
And for everich/ that was good a devysous  
Mason hewer/ or crafty quarreour  
For every wright/ and passing carpenters  
That may be found far or near  
For such as could/ grave groupe or carve  
Or such as were/ able for to serve  
With lime and stone/ for to raise a wall  
With batayling/ and crests marcyalle  
Or such as had/ cunning in their heed  
Alabastre/ either white or red  
Or marble grey/ for to pullysshe it plain  
To make it smooth/ of veins and of grain  
He sent also/ for every ymagour  
Both in entail/ and every portreyour  
That could draw/ or with colour paint  
With hews fresh/ that the work nat feynte  
And such as could/ with countenance glade  
Make an Image/ that will never fade  
To counterfeit/ in metal tree or stoon  
The subtle work of pygmaleon  
Or of Apollo/ the which as books tell  
In imagery/ all other died excel  
For by his crafty working curious  
The tomb he made/ of king daryous  
Which Alysaundre/ died on height raise  
only for men/ should his fame praise  
In his conquest/ by pierce when he went  
And thus Priam's/ for every master sent  
For each keruere/ and passing ioygnyour  
To make knots/ with many curious flower  
To set on crests/ within and without  
Upon the wall/ the city round about  
Or who that were/ excelling in practic  
Of any art/ called mecanyke  
Or had a name flowering/ or famous  
Was after sent/ to come to pryamus.  
¶ For he purposeth/ this noble worthy king  
To make a city/ most royal in byloing  
Broad large and wide/ & list it were assailed  
For were/ proudly about embattled  
And first the ground/ he made to be sought  
Full deep and low/ that it fail nought  
To make sure/ the foundaciowne  
In the place/ where the old town  
Was first ybylded/ he the walls set  
And he of land/ many mile out met  
About in compass/ for to make it large  
As the master/ that took on them the charge  
devised have/ the setting and the site  
For wholesome eyre/ to be more of delight.  
And when the soil/ defouled with ruin  
Of walls old/ was made plain as a line  
The workmen 'gan/ this city for to found  
Full mightily/ with stones square and round  
That in this world/ was to it none lyche  
Of workmanship/ nor of building rich  
Nor of craft/ of curious masonry  
I can no terms/ to speak of gemetrye  
Wherefore as now/ I must them set aside  
For doubtless/ I read never Enclyde  
That the master/ and foundour was  
Of all that work/ by quare or compass  
Or keep their measure/ by level or by line  
I am to rude/ clearly to define  
Or to describe/ this work in every part  
For lack of terms/ longing to that art  
But I dare well of truth/ affirm here  
In all this world/ ne was there never his peer  
Unto this city/ and write it for a sooth  
As in his book/ my master Guydo doth  
And that it might/ in prosperity  
In high honour/ and felicity  
From all assault/ perpetuelly contune  
It was raised/ in worship of Neptune  
And named Troy/ as it was tofore  
Like the first/ that was thorough greeks lost  
The length was shortly/ to conclude  
Three days journey/ like the latitude  
That never I heard/ make mention  
Of such another/ of foundation  
So huge in compass/ nor of such largesse  
Nor to count/ so passing of fairness  
So edified/ or †iusty† to the sight  
And as I read/ the walls were on hight  
Two hundred cubytes/ all of marble grey  
Magecolled without/ for lautes and assay  
And it to make/ more pleasant of delight  
Among the marble/ was alabastre white  
Meynt in the walls/ & round the town about  
To make it show/ within and without  
So fresh so rich/ and so delectable  
That it alone/ was in comparable  
Of all cities/ that any mortal man  
Saw ever yet/ sith the world began  
And at the corner/ of every wall was set  
A crown of gold/ with rich stones fret  
That shone full bright/ again the son sheen  
And every tour/ bretexed was so clean  
Of chose stone/ that were nat far a sondre  
That to behold/ it was very wondre  
Thereto his city/ compassed environ  
Had gates vi to enter into the town  
The first of all/ and strongest eke with all  
Largest also/ and most principal  
Of mighty building/ alone peerless  
Was by the king called/ Dardanydes  
And in story/ like as it is found  
Tymbria/ was named the second  
And the third/ called helyas  
The fourth gate/ hight also Cetheas  
The fift Troiana/ the sixth Anthonydes  
Strong and mighty/ both in were & pes  
With square towers/ set on every side  
At whose corners/ of very pomp and pride  
The workmen have/ with stern fell visages  
Of rich entail/ set up great images  
Wrought out of stone/ that never are like to fail  
Full curyously/ enarmed for battle  
And thorough the wall/ their foemen for to let  
At every tour/ were great gonnes set  
For assaults/ and sudden adventures  
And on tourettes/ were raised up figures  
Of wild beasts/ as bears and lions  
Of Tigers boars/ of serpents & dragons  
And hearts eke/ with their broad horns  
Olyfauntes/ and large unycornes'  
Bugles bulls/ and many great gryf●on  
Forged of brass/ of copper and laton  
That cruelly by signs/ of their faces  
Upon their soon/ made fell menaces  
Barbycans/ and bull works huge  
Afore the town/ made for high refuge  
If need were/ early and eke late  
And portekoles strong/ at every gate  
That them need nat/ none assailing charge  
And the locks thick/ broad and large  
Of the gates/ all of bright bras  
And within the mighty shutting was  
Of strong Iren bars/ square and round  
And great bars/ pitched in the ground  
With huge chains/ forged for diffence  
Which ne would break/ for no violence  
That hard it was/ thorough them for to win  
And every house/ that was builded within  
Every palace/ and every manstowne  
Of marble were/ throughout all the town  
Of crafty building/ & working most royal  
And the hight was/ of every wall  
Sixty cubytes/ from the ground accounted  
And there was none/ that other hath surmounted  
In the city/ but of one height alyche  
In very sooth/ both of poor and rich  
That it was hard/ of high estate or low  
House or palace/ a sunder for to know  
So equally of timber/ and of stone  
Their houses were/ raised everichone  
And if I should rehearse/ by and by  
The korue knots/ by craste of masonry  
The fresh enbowing/ with verges right as lines  
And the housing/ full of bakewynes  
The rich koyning/ the lusty tablementes  
Vynettes running/ in casementes  
Though the terms/ in english would rhyme  
To reckon them all/ I have as now no time  
Ne no language/ picked for the nonce  
The subtle joining/ to tell of the stones  
Nor how they put/ in stead of mortere  
In the jointures/ copper guilt full clear  
To make them join/ by level and by line  
Among the marble/ freshly for to shine  
Against the son/ when his sheen light  
Smote on the gold/ that was burned bright  
To make the work/ glystre on every side  
And of this town/ the streets large & wide  
Were by craft/ so prudently provided  
And by workmen set so and divided  
That wholesome eyre/ amids might inspire  
early on morrow/ to them that it desire  
And zephyrus/ that is so comfortable  
For to nourish things/ vegetable  
In time of year/ thorough out every street  
With sugared flavour/ so lusty and so sweet  
Most pleasantly/ in the eyre 'gan smite  
The Cytezeynes/ only to delight  
And with his breath/ them to recomfort  
When they list walk/ themself to disport.  
And through the town/ with crafty purveyance  
By great advice/ and discrete ordinance  
By compass cast/ and squared out by squires  
Of polished marble/ upon strong pillars  
devised were/ long large and wide  
In the frontell/ of every streets side  
Fresh allures/ with lusty high pinnacles  
And moustring outward/ rich tabernacles  
Vouted above/ like reclynatoryes  
That called were/ deambulatoryes  
Men to walk togethers/ twain and twain  
To keep them dry/ when it died rain  
Or them to save/ fro tempest wind or thunder  
If that them list/ shroud themselves there under  
And every house covered/ was with lead  
And many gargoyle/ and many hideous heed  
With spouts thorough/ & pipes as they aughte  
From the stone work/ to the canell taught  
Voiding filths/ low into the ground  
thorough grates pierced/ of iron pierced tounde  
The streets paved/ both in length & breed  
In cheker wise/ with stones white and red  
And every craft/ that any manner man  
In any land/ devise or reckon can  
King Pryamus/ of high discretion  
Ordained hath/ to dwell in the town  
And in streets severed/ here and yonder  
everich from other/ to be set a sunder  
That they might/ for more commodity  
Each by himself/ work at liberty.  
goldsmiths first/ and rich jewelleres  
And by themfelfe/ crafty browdereres  
weavers also/ of woollen and of lyn  
Of cloth of gold/ damask and satin  
Of velvet sendell/ and double samyt eke  
And everich cloth/ that men list to seek  
Smiths also/ that could forge weal  
Pole-axes swords/ & spears sharp of steel  
Darts daggers/ for to maim & wound  
And quarethedes/ sharp & square yground  
There were also crafty armerers  
Bowyers/ and fast by fletchers  
And such as could/ make shafts plain  
And other eke/ that died their busy pain  
For the were/ to make also trappures  
beat banners/ and royal cote armours  
And by devise/ Standards and penounse  
And for the field/ fresh and gay getounse  
And every craft/ that may reckoned be  
To tell shortly/ was in this city  
And thorough this town/ soryche & excellent  
In the mids/ a large river went  
Causing to them/ full great commodity  
The which on twain/ hath parted the city  
Ofcours full swift/ with fresh streams clear  
And hyghte xamtus/ as Guydo doth us lere  
And as I read/ that upon this flood  
On each a side/ many a mylle stood  
When need was/ their grain & corn to grind  
Them to sustain/ in story as I find  
This river eke/ of fish full plenteous  
Divided was/ by workmen curious  
So craftily/ thorough casting sovereign  
That in his course/ the streams might attain  
For to areche/ as Guydo doth comecte  
By Archys strong/ his course for to reflect  
thorough conduit/ pipes large & wide withal  
By certain means/ artyficiall  
That it made/ a full purgation  
Of all ordure/ and filths in the town  
washing the streets/ as they stood arrow  
And the gutters/ in the earth low  
That in the city/ was no filth seen  
For the canell/ scoured was so clean  
And devoyded/ in so secret wise  
That no man might espy/ nor devise  
By what engine/ the sylthes fer nor near  
Were borne away/ by course of the river  
So covertly every thing was covered  
Whereby the town/ was utterly assured  
From engendering/ of all corruption  
From wicked eyre/ and from infexion  
That cause oft/ by their violence  
mortality/ and great pestilence  
And by example/ of this flood there was  
Made cybre at Rome/ and wrought by Aeneas  
The which also/ departeth Rome a two  
Mine Author saith/ I note if it be so  
And to inhabit/ this royal chief city  
King Priam's/ hath about in the country  
Made for to search/ with all his hole intent  
And in provinces/ that were adjacent  
In borrows towns/ and in small villages  
Ygadred out/ of all manner ages  
And of thropes/ folks full divers  
And such as were/ vacaunt and dyspers  
About Troy/ in any regiowne  
He made hath/ to enter into town  
Great multitude/ what of young and old  
It to inhabit/ as ye have heard me told  
And them that were afore/ to him foreynes  
He hath in Troy/ made Cyteseynes  
Full discretely/ like as it is found  
And when they 'gan/ with people to abound.  
¶ King Pryamus/ of high affecciowne  
After the building/ of this mighty town  
Hath in his heart/ caught a fantasy  
His new city/ for to magnify  
And it to put/ the more in remembrance  
He cast fully to do/ some observance  
To mighty Mars/ stern and fierce of hew  
And specially/ with certain plays new  
On horse and foot/ in many sundry wise  
To give his men/ in knighthood exercise  
everich to put/ other at assay  
In jousts boards/ and also in tourney  
To prove their force/ when they hap meet  
The which plays were founded/ first in Crete  
And in that land/ of high and low estate  
In martyrs honour/ they were dedicate  
And in paleste/ on wakes on the night  
Were other plays/ men to assay their might  
only on foot/ with many subtle point  
And some of them were/ naked and enjoint  
To win a prise/ they died their full intent  
And there was found/ by clerks full prudent  
Of the chess/ the play most glorious  
Which is so subtle/ and so marvelous  
That it were hard/ the matter to describe  
For though/ a man studied all his live  
He shall aye find/ diverse fantasies  
Of wards making/ and new jupartyes  
There is there in/ so great diversity  
And it was first/ found in this city  
During the siege/ like as saith Guydo  
But jacobus/ de vitriaco  
Is coutrarye/ of opinion  
For like as he/ maketh mention  
And affirmeth/ fully in his advise  
How Philometer/ a philosopher wise  
Unto a king/ to stint his cruelty  
Fond first this play/ and made it in Chaldee  
And into Grece/ from thence it was sent  
Also in Troy/ by great advisement  
The play was found/ first of dice & tables  
And of casting/ the chances deceyvables  
That have be cause oft/ of great debate  
For if that one/ be now found fortunate  
To win a while/ by favour of his chance  
Or he be aware/ with sudden variance  
Unhappily/ he is put a back  
And another/ that stood upon the wrack  
And of loss/ was plunged in distress  
They raised have/ unto the high richesse  
Gladness of one/ is to another rage  
A devant/ hazard and passage  
If one have joy/ another suffereth woe  
Like as the bones/ run to and fro  
An hundred sith/ in a day they vary  
Now blandishing/ & now they be contrary  
No man with them/ assured is in joy  
And first also/ I red that in Troy  
Were song and red/ many fresh comedies  
And other dities/ that called be tragedies  
And to declare/ shortly in sentence  
Of both two/ the final difference.  
¶ A Comedy hath/ in his beginning  
A prime face/ a manner complaining  
And afterward/ endeth in gladness  
And it the deeds/ only doth express  
Of such as be/ in poverty plonged low  
But Tragedy/ who so list to know  
It beginneth/ in prosperity  
And endeth ever/ in adversity  
And it also doth/ the conquest treat  
Of rich kings/ and of lords great  
Of mighty men/ and old conquerors  
Which by fraud/ of fortune's showers  
Be over cast/ and whelmed from their glory  
And whilom thus/ was hallowed the memory  
Of tragedies/ as books make mind  
When they were red/ and song as I find  
¶ In the theatre/ there was a small altar  
amids set/ that was half Circular  
Which into Est/ of custom was direct  
Upon the which/ a pulpit was erect  
And therein stood/ a ancient poet  
For to rehearse/ by rethorykes sweet  
The noble deeds/ that were historical  
Of kings princes/ for a memorial  
And of these old/ worthy emperors  
The great emprise eke/ of conquerors  
And how they gate/ in Martes high honour  
The lawrer green/ for fine of their labour  
The palm of knighthod/ disserued by old date  
Or Parchas/ made them pass into fate.  
¶ And after that/ with cheer and face pale  
With style inclined/ 'gan to turn his tale  
And for to sing/ after all their loos  
Full mortally/ the stroke of Antropos  
And tell also/ for all their worthy heed  
The sudden breaking/ of their lives thread  
How piteously/ they made their mortal end  
Through false fortune/ that all the world will shende  
And how the fine/ of all their worthiness  
Endede in sorrow/ and in high tristesse  
By compassing/ of fraud or false treason  
By sudden murder/ or vengeance of poison  
Or conspiring/ of freting false envy  
How unwarly/ that they died die  
And how their renown/ & their high fame  
Was of hatred/ suddenly made lame  
And how their honour/ drough unto decline  
And the mischief/ of their unhappy fine  
And how fortune/ was to them unsweet  
All this was told/ and red of the poet  
And while that he/ in the pulpit stood  
With deadly face/ all devoid of blood  
Singing his dities/ with muses all to rend  
Amid the theatre/ shrouded in a tent  
There came out men/ gastfull of their cheres  
Diffygured/ their faces with vyseres  
playing by signs/ in the people's sight  
That the poet song/ hath on height  
So that there was/ no manner discordance  
At ween his dities/ and their countenance.  
¶ For like as he/ a loft died express  
Words of joy/ or of heaviness  
Meaning and there/ beneath of them playing  
From point to point/ was always answering  
Now triste now glad/ now heavy & now light  
And face changed/ with a sudden sight  
So craftily/ they could them transfygure  
Conforming them/ to the chance plure  
Now to sing/ and suddenly to weep  
So well they could/ their observances keep  
And this was done/ in april and in May  
When blossoms/ new/ both on bush and hay  
And flowers fresh/ gynne for to spring  
And the birds/ in the wood sing  
With lust supprysed/ of the summer son  
When these plays/ in Troy were begun  
And in the theatre/ hallowed and yholde  
And thus the rite/ of tragedies old  
Pryamus/ the worthy king began.  
Of this matter/ no more tell I can.   

But I will forth/ this story write  
And on my matter/ boistously indite  
How Pryamus/ was passing diligent  
Right desirous/ and inwardly fervent  
If he might/ among his works all  
To build a palace/ and a rich hall  
Which should be his/ chose chief dungyon  
His royal see/ and sovereign mansion  
And when he 'gan/ to his work approach  
He made it build/ high upon a roche  
It for to assure/ in his foundation  
And called it/ the noble Ylion  
The sight of which/ justly circular  
By compass cast round/ as any sper  
And who that would/ the content of the ground  
Truly account/ of this place round  
In the theatre/ first he must entre  
Taking the line/ that kerueth thorough the centre  
By gemetrye/ as longeth to that art  
And trebled it/ with the seventh part  
He find might/ by experience  
The measure hole/ of the circumference  
What land also/ plainly eke with all  
Contained was/ within the strong wall  
The crest of which/ where lowest was  
Had in height/ full six hundred pass  
builded of marble/ full royal and full strong  
And many other/ rich stone among  
Whose towers were/ raised up so high  
That they raught/ almost to the lkye  
The work of which no man might amend  
And who that list/ by greces up ascend  
He might se/ in his inspection  
To the bounds/ of many region  
And provinces that stood round about  
And the walls/ within and without  
endlong with knots graven clean  
depaint with azure/ gold/ cynopre and green  
That verily/ when the son shone  
Upon the gold/ meynt among the stone  
They gave a light/ withouten any were  
As Phoebus doth/ in his midday spear  
The work of window/ and eke fenestrall  
Wrought of beryle/ and of clear crystal.  
¶ And amids/ of this Ylyon  
So fresh/ so rich/ of foundation  
Which clerks yet/ in their books praise  
King Priam's/ made an hall for to raise  
excelling all/ in beauty and in strength  
The latitude according/ with the length  
And of marble/ outward was the wall  
And the timber most/ noble in special  
Was half of calendar/ as I rehearse can  
And the remnant/ of the rich Ebon  
Which moste is able/ as I dare specify  
With stone to join/ by craft of carpentrye  
For they of timber/ have the sovereignty  
And for to tell/ of this Ebon tree  
Like in books/ soothly as I find  
It cometh out/ of ethiop and ynde  
Black as is geete/ and it will wax anon  
When it is korue/ hard as any stone  
And evermore last/ and endure  
And nat corrupt/ with water nor moisture  
And of this hall/ further to define  
With stones/ square/ by level and by line  
It paved was/ with great diligence  
Of masonry/ and passing excellence  
And all above/ raised was a see  
Full curyously/ of stones and perre  
That called was/ as chief and principal  
Of the reign the seat most royal  
To fore which was/ set by great delight  
A board of Ebon/ and of ivory white  
So equally yjoined/ and so clean  
That in the work there was no rift seen  
And sessyouns were made/ on every side  
only the estates/ by order to divide  
Eke in the hall/ as it was covenable  
On each party/ was a dormaunt table  
Of ivory eke/ and this Ebon tree  
And even again/ this kings royal see  
In the party/ that was thereto contrary  
I raised was/ by many crafty stair  
high in the hall/ in the other site  
Right as line/ in the opposite  
Of pured metal/ and of stones clear  
In breed and length/ a full rich autere  
On which there stood/ of figure and visage  
Of massy fe gold/ a wonderful image  
To be honoured/ in that high seat  
only in honour/ of jupiter the great.  
¶ And the statute/ for all his huge height  
fifteen cubits/ complete was of height  
A crown of gold/ high upon his heed  
With heavenly sapphires/ and many ruby red  
Fret environ/ with other stones ind  
And amongs/ were meddled as I find  
white pearls massyfe/ large and round  
And for most chief/ all dirkenesse to confound  
Was a Carbuncle/ king of stones all  
To recomfort/ and glad all the hall  
And it to enlumyne/ in the black night  
With the freshness/ of his rody light  
The value was thereof/ inestimable  
And the richesse/ plainly in comparable  
For this image/ by division  
Was of shap/ and proportion  
From heed to foot/ so maysterly entailed  
That in appoint/ the workman hath nat failed  
It to perform/ by crafty excellence  
Whom Pryamus/ with dread and reverence  
Honoured hath/ above the gods all  
In all mischief/ to him to clepe and call  
For in him was/ his hold affection  
His sovereign trust/ and devotion  
His hope also/ and his affiance  
His health his joy/ and his assurance  
And his welfare/ and prosperity  
He hath committed/ to his deyte  
weening in heart/ wonder sickerly  
To be assured/ from all mischief thereby  
And diffended/ in each adversity  
And hold his reign/ in high felicity  
And in honour continually/ to shine  
While jupiter/ thorough his power divine  
Him and his/ hath in protection  
This was his trust/ and full opinion  
And thus this work/ finally achieved  
Whereof Priam's/ with joy full relieved  
That he his city/ and noble ylyon  
Hath fully brought/ unto perfection  
Like his intent/ when that he began  
And thus Priam this kyge/ this worthy man  
Full many a day/ in this new Troy  
With his lieges/ lad his life in joy  
Where I him leave/ in his royal seat  
Soveraygnely reigning/ in quiet  
proceeding forth/ if ye list to here  
Unto the effect/ anon of my matter    

¶ How king Priamus sent Antenor into Grece for to have his sister Exyone again. Ca xij.  

O Hateful harm/ which most is for to dread  
Kindled solonge/ osparke of old hatred  
Root of debate/ ground of envy and ●re  
With new flawme/ hearts for to fire  
O grain of malices/ causer of all offence  
O francour rusted/ of impatience  
Which hast of new made/ festered sores sinerte  
When thou art ones/ raked in an heart  
Which for disdain/ of mercy mayst not let  
A man no while/ to live in equity  
But deluest up/ malice many fold  
Debates new/ that buried were of old  
And falsely quykest/ strives to restore  
That envious serpent/ that was slain of yore  
Which felly hath/ this ladder envious  
Out of his rest/ awaked Pryamus  
And with his venom/ so piercing & so ill  
Made him weary/ to live in tranquylle  
And moved him/ of his iniquity  
Upon Greeks/ avenged for to be  
For where as he/ in peas held his reign  
With his lieges/ in joy sovereign  
Without annoy/ or any perturbance  
This serpent hath/ with new remembrance  
Without advise/ or discrete areste  
So hoot a flawme/ kindled in his breast  
Of old envy/ with fresh rancour meynte  
That likely is never/ to be quaint  
For Priam now in his entenciowne  
Cast and compasseth/ revolving up & down  
How strong he was/ of richesse and main  
How noble and mighty/ was also his city  
And abundant/ shortly to conclude  
Both of plenty/ and of multitude  
Of men of arms/ and of chivalry  
Which steered him/ to have fantasy  
Alas the while/ to his unhappy chance  
That to be deed/ he take will vengeance  
Upon his soon/ the fire of hoot envy  
So brent him in ward/ by melancholy  
standing in purpose/ that no man change may  
Of his damages/ avenged be some day  
And of miuryes/ that they on him have wrought  
And when that he/ had a time sought  
To his purpose/ most convenient  
Anon he hath/ for all his lords sent  
And his knights called everichone  
To come in haste/ excused was nat one  
Namely of them/ that were of high degree  
And they obeying/ with all humility  
His bidding holy/ and made no delay  
To come eachone/ again a certain day  
And his sons/ were also present  
Ector except/ that was that time absent  
In the strong and mighty region  
Of Panomye/ which in subjection  
King Priam held/ thorough his worthiness  
And to amend things/ and redress  
Ector was gone/ into this Panomye  
Certain causes/ for to justify  
As in his reason/ he thought for the best  
To set them/ in quiet and in rest  
For he was aye so just/ and so prudent  
So well advised/ and so patient  
And so demeaned/ in his governance  
That him was loath/ for to do vengeance  
Where as he might/ in easy wise treat  
For to reform/ things small and great  
For loath he was/ this noble worthy knight  
For any haste/ to execute right  
Or causeless by rigour/ to condemn  
And in this while/ full worthy and solemn  
King Pryamus/ of lords great and small  
Within Troy/ held a court royal  
As he that list/ for no cost to spare  
And seriously/ his meaning to declare  
He in his see/ his lords environ  
'Gan thus to show/ his hearts motion.  
O worthy lords/ that be now here present  
Faithful and true/ of heart & of intent  
It is nat unknown/ to your discretion  
The great damages/ and oppression  
Which that Greeks/ have upon us wrought  
Without cause/ for a thing of nought  
This other day/ as who saith but late  
That as I trow/ so new is yet the date  
That it was fresh/ remembered/ in your mind  
Unto your blood/ if that ye be kind  
For I suppose/ no forgetfulness  
May put away the mortal heaviness  
Of harms old/ which aye renew again  
In my memory/ I say you in certain  
And as I trow/ plainly in your thought  
That ever is green/ and ne dieth nought  
How they have slain/ our progenitors  
That whilom were/ so noble werreours  
Our city brent/ and brought unto ruin  
And rob it/ falsely by ravin  
And turned all/ into wilderness  
And into Grece/ carried our richesse  
My father slain/ that hight lamedon  
Without cause/ or occasion  
And reached from him/ his gold & his treasure  
Which me seemeth/ is a foul error  
We might of right amends well challenge  
And desire us/ justly to revenge  
Afore the gods/ of so high offence  
only of reason/ and of conscience  
And passing all/ their mortal cruelty  
There is one thing/ that most grieveth me  
That they ungodly/ against gentilesse  
No reward having/ to the worthiness  
To the birth/ ne the royal blood  
Of her that is so fair/ and eke so good  
I mean my sister/ called Exyon  
Whom they alas to their confusion  
Difuse/ and keep nat like her degree  
From day to day/ in dishonest  
Where thorough her honour/ & her name lost  
considering/ nat of what stok she was borne  
For they are blind/ for to take heed  
Or to advert/ the root of her kindred  
Of surquyde/ they be so indu rate  
And sith that she of so high estate  
Ytreted● is/ like as ye may see  
I suppose/ other that be of low degree  
Eoverned be/ full dishonestly  
For ye may think/ and demetruely  
How wives maidens/ in that company  
With other eke/ that be of your ally  
Ynaunted be/ and used at their lust  
On the greeks/ I have no better trust  
For they ne spare/ neither blood nor age  
And thus they live in/ turment & servage  
Without tooth mercy/ or pity  
The which toucheth you/ as well as me  
And as me seemeth/ of equity and right  
Ye ought eachone/ with all your full might  
Of the wrongs/ with which ye be offended  
To seek away/ it might be amended  
And that we work/ all by one assent  
And proceed/ like to our intent  
Of their malices/ and cursed cruelty  
All at ones/ avenged for to be  
And that we be/ in heart will and thought  
Of one accord/ and ne vary nought  
For than our force/ is dowbled and pouste  
For right and reason/ and good equity  
Require vengeance/ on him that doth the wrong  
Though it so be/ that it abide long  
I trust also/ on the god's rightwiseness  
That they shall help/ our harms to redress  
And favour us/ in our innocence  
To chastise them/ that wrought this offence.  
Also ye know/ how that our city  
Is strong and mighty/ & of great surety  
With towers high/ and walled for the were  
That also far/ as shineth son or star  
There is none like/ for to reckon all  
That may in force/ be thereto perigal  
Ye know also/ as it shallbe found  
With chivalry/ how that we abound  
Expert in arms/ and of old assayed  
That for dread/ never were dismayed  
And we have plenty also/ of victual  
Of friendship eke/ that ne will us nat fail  
With all their might/ to do to us succour  
Wherefore I read/ without more soiour  
To set upon them/ sith we be able  
And time is now/ me seemeth covenable  
For manhood bid/ make no delay  
To venge a wrong/ hap what that may  
For in differing/ is oft great damage  
To work in time/ is double advantage  
For to our purpose/ lacketh never adele  
And thorough our manhood/ we be assured weal  
But list we be/ nat hold to hasty  
Or to rakell/ to work wilfully  
And were/ also stand in adventure  
For aye of mart/ doutous is the eure  
I read first/ to greeks that we send  
To wit if they/ our harms will amend  
Without strife were/ or more debate  
Than may we say/ that we be fortunate  
And if they be/ contrary to reason  
To condescend/ to this conclusion  
To grant our asking/ of equity & right  
Than have we cause/ for to prove our might  
But are that we proceed/ by rigour  
We shall to them/ offer all measour  
As fer as right/ and reason eke reqire  
And of disdain/ if them list nat here  
Than our quarrel/ devoid of wilfulness  
Yrooted is/ upon sickerness  
And if that we/ of their great offence  
Axe amends/ first in patience  
God and fortune/ I hope will nat assent  
In the end/ we shall us nat repent  
And it is better/ by peas to have redress  
Than gynne a were/ without adviseness  
Therefore/ let us our woeful adventure  
patiently suffer/ and endure  
And in our port/ be but humble & plain  
Upon answer/ what that they will sayn●  
For though so be/ in mine entencion  
Ymeved am/ by just occasion  
To proceed of ire/ to vengeance  
I will all put/ out of remembrance  
And let slide by/ forgetfulness  
The wrongs do/ and void all heaviness  
Toward greeks/ and axe of them no more  
But that they will/ Exyona restore  
To us again/ which is to me most dear  
only to stint/ all debate and were  
For the surplus/ of our mortal eure  
We shall dissimule/ and prudently endure  
Our harms old/ forth in patience  
If ye accord/ unto my sentence  
Say here upon/ as ye be advised  
For if this sonde/ be of them despised  
And that them list/ to reason not obey  
Than we may justly/ seek another weigh  
To have redress/ for now there is no more  
Save I purpose/ to send Anthenore  
Which is a man/ discrete and avysee  
And specially in matter of treat  
For he is both wise/ and eloquent  
As ye well know/ and passingly prudent  
And when the king/ had told his tale anon  
To his counsel/ they consent everichone  
That Antenor this journey/ undertake  
And he in haste/ 'gan him ready make  
Without abode/ and will nat deny  
To take on him/ this embassetrye  
Well advised/ in his discretion  
Took or he went/ information  
From point to point/ of this great charge  
For he him cast/ to stand at his large  
Without error/ as he that could his good  
For he the effect/ full plainly understood  
For every thing/ he printed in his thought  
Or that he went/ and forgot right nought  
For of a word/ he cast him nat to fail  
To ship he goeth/ and began to sail  
And to short time/ he and his company  
arrived be up/ into thessaly  
At a city/ called Mynusyus  
Where by fortune/ was king peleus  
The same time/ and Antenor anon  
Unto the king/ the right way is gone  
Of whom he was/ as Guydo hath conceived  
At prime face/ benignly received  
But when he knew/ the cause of his coming  
He had in haste/ without more tarrying  
To Authenor/ with a fell visage  
Shortly to say/ the effect of his message.   

THis Trojan knight/ atoned never adel  
But full demure/ and advised well  
not to hasty/ nor rakell for to say  
But abiding/ with look and face plain  
To peleus's/ with a manly cheer  
Said in effect/ right thus as ye shall here.  
The worthy king/ called Pryamus  
So wise so noble/ so manly and famous  
And of knighthood/ passing excellent  
Hath first to you/ in goodly wise sent  
Out of Torye/ his royal chief city  
His full intent/ and message here by me  
As I shall say to you/ in words plain  
If it so be/ that ye nat disdain  
patiently/ to give audience  
Remembering/ first in your advertence  
Of the harms/ nat full long ago  
And the wrongs/ that ye wrought also  
Full cruelly/ with other eke of yours  
In Troy land/ on his progenytoures  
What Injuries/ and destruction  
Causeless/ without occasion  
Ye showed have/ of very cruelty  
And merciless/ destroyed his city  
Slain his father/ named lamedowne  
And his city brent/ and beat down  
And neither left palace/ house nor tour  
And lad away/ his richesse and treasure  
And neither spared/ as I rehearse can  
In your slaughter/ woman child nor man  
There might none/ from your sword asterte  
And yet one thing/ that most he hath at heart  
That his sister/ called Exyon  
Is hold and kept/ of king Thelamon  
Dishonestly/ again all gentry  
To great dishonour/ and great villainty  
Of her kindred/ like as ye may see  
Treated nor cherished/ like to her degree  
Wherefore/ sith ye be so wise a knight  
Ye ought advert/ and to have a sight  
To such things/ of just affection  
And consider/ in your discretion  
Of gentilesse/ and of equity  
How such wrongs/ might amended be  
Wherefore Priam's/ of great adviseness  
As he that fully/ with all his business  
Of heart and will/ desireth peas and rest  
Sendeth to you/ beseeching for the best  
That ye will/ do your busy diligence  
To make to him/ this little recompense  
That he may have/ restitution  
thorough your knightly/ medyaryon  
Of his sister/ without longer space  
And the remnant he will let pace  
Strife and were/ only to eschew  
For he desireth/ fully for to sew  
Peas and quiet/ of hold affection  
And to pursue/ measour and reason  
And finally/ like as ye may see  
All occasion of were/ for to i'll  
Consider this/ that hold be so sage  
For this the fine/ fully of my message.  
¶ When peleus's/ him plainly understood  
Of sudden ire/ he wax in heart wood  
Of there and look/ fell and furious  
And of rancour/ right melancholious  
That he ne might/ attempre nor appease  
The hasty fire/ that 'gan his heart seize  
For he anon/ in full despitous wise  
'Gan Priamus threaten/ and despise  
And of malice/ set his sonde at nought  
With all the means/ that Antenor hath sought  
And 'gan also/ this Trojan knight menace  
And bad in haste/ he should void his place  
Upon peril/ that after fall might  
And he anon went/ out of his sight  
And in all haste/ he and his meynee  
Without abode/ taken have the see  
And began to sail/ out of thessaly  
And in their way/ so fast they them high  
That in short time/ they arrived be  
Up at Salempne/ a mighty strong city  
Where by fortune in this royal town  
This Antenor/ fond king Thelamowne  
And to his palace/ he hath the way nome  
And first I find/ when that he was come  
He was accepted/ unto his presence  
Benynguely/ without all offence  
For Exyone was present/ in that tide  
Of adventure/ standing by his side  
And at reverence/ of her woman heed  
Of Antenor/ he took the better heed  
All be of custom/ that king Thelamon  
Had high despite/ and indignation  
Of every Trojan/ that he could espy  
For specially/ to them he had envy  
Of rancour only/ thorough the bitter rag●  
Which in his heart/ might never assuage  
But for all that/ he in patience  
To Antenor/ hath given audience  
The which anon/ in full sober wise  
His tale 'gan/ as I shall devise.  
Sir quod he/ with support of your grace  
So ye me grant/ opportune space  
For to declare/ the cause of my coming  
I will rehearse/ without more tarrying  
My matter hole/ briefly in sentence  
To make it couth/ to your magnificence  
Signefyeng/ without displeasance  
That Pryamus/ which hath the governance  
Of Troy town/ hath unto you sent  
Of faithful meaning/ and of clean intent  
beseeching first/ to your goodlihead  
All other wrongs/ forget and eke deed  
That ye only/ of your high noblesse  
Of equity/ and of gentleness  
Ye will restore/ Exyona again  
Which that ye hold/ to speak in wordis plain  
In very sooth/ nat like to her estate  
Wherefore he prayeth/ to stint all debate  
And every harm/ to put out of memory  
Of knightly honour/ for your own glory  
To send her home/ and make deliverance  
Goodly of her/ without variance  
Whom ye have hold/ so many long days  
Ne tarrieth natnor/ setteth no delays  
Ne let in you/ be found now no sloth  
For sothfastlye/ it is to great a ruth  
To record/ how ye have her used  
It may of truth/ nat goodly be excused  
That we shall let/ lightly/ over slide  
So that ye benignly/ provide  
To send her home/ like as I have said  
Lo here the charge/ that was on me laid  
Without more abiding/ in certain  
What goodly answer/ ye will send again.  
¶ When Thelamon/ herkened had his tale  
To hasty ire/ he 'gan to wax pale  
The fiery coke/ hath him made so wood  
That from his face/ availed is the blood  
Within his heart/ 'gan to frete and bite  
With look askoye/ and turned up the white  
Of high disdain/ with face despitous  
With pale smiling/ and laughter furious  
'Gan rake out/ the feeble mortal fire  
Of freting hate/ that brent in his desire  
And shortly made/ in conclusion  
To Antenor/ this objection  
And said friend what ever that thou be  
I wonder greatly/ and marvel is to me  
What adventure/ or sudden new thing  
Vnprudently/ moveth now thy king  
Unto me/ to make such a sonde  
Thou were a fool/ when thou took on hand  
Oather unhappy/ or infortunate  
To me to bring/ this embassat  
For I with him/ have no thing ado  
Nor he with me/ and look thou say him so  
For we ne be/ aqueynted/ but alyte  
Nor I no thing/ platly me delight  
It short words/ if thou list to here  
To do for him/ nor at his prayer  
For I ne have/ joy neither feste  
To do right nought/ soothly at his request  
This wot I well/ that but a while a go  
I was at Troy/ myself and other more  
For to reform a thing/ that was amiss  
thorough your offence/ shortly thus it is  
For certain thing/ wrought by lamedowne  
And by our manhood/ we won there the town  
And slew the king/ & all that with him held  
In knightly wise/ him meeting in the field  
And for that I/ as everich might see  
Died enter first/ into that city  
It was to me granted/ for memory  
In sign only/ of mine high victory  
Without any contradiction  
By all the greeks/ to have possession  
Of her that is/ to me most enter  
Exyona/ whom thou claymest here  
But be well sicker/ thine asking is in vain  
For trust well siker/ & be right well certain  
Thou getteest her nat/ at one word if I may  
For there shall first/ be made full great affray  
Or I her leave/ during all my live  
Who ever grudge/ or there against strive  
It were nat sitting/ me to leave her so  
For whom I had/ whilom so great ado  
Or I her got/ with spending of my blood  
And who that be wroth/ therewith or wooed  
I will her keep/ as it shallbe found  
For whom I had/ so many mortal wound  
At Troy town/ or that I her wan  
And in good faith/ as farforth as I can  
She shall nat lightly/ fro my hands place  
For she alone/ standeth so in my grace  
For her beauty/ and her semelyhede  
For her bounty/ and her goodlihead  
That if I shall/ my reason shortly fine  
She is in sooth/ the most feminine  
That ever I saw/ and without dread  
Of port and cunning/ and of womanhead  
She hath alone/ in very existence  
The sovereignty/ and the excellence  
That Priamus for ought/ that thou canst say  
While that I live/ gete her nat again  
But he her buy/ with many deadly wound  
With sharp swords/ & square spears ground  
For there shall first/ be raised such a strife  
That it shall cost/ many man's life  
Or that she/ again restored be  
Take this forsooth/ thou gettest no more of me  
When him list/ he may well begin  
But I suppose/ he shall but little win  
None other wise/ but as I the told  
And wottest what/ a great role I the hold  
The to put/ so far in jeopardy  
To execute/ this embassetrye  
The manly greeks/ so boldly to offend  
Beware therefore/ that he no more the send  
Upon thy life/ for rancour nor for pride  
Now go thy way/ for if that thou abide  
Any longer/ soothly in my sight  
Thou wottest the prise/ of that I have the height  
Thou scapest nat/ who that be lief or loath  
Than Antenor anon/ to ship he goeth  
And to sail/ him list nat to delay  
Toward an isle/ that called is Achaye  
And when that he/ taken hath the land  
At his rival/ of adventure he fond  
The worthy kings/ Pollux and Castor  
And right anon/ this Trojan Antenor  
Without abode/ to the court is fare  
Unto them/ his message to declare  
And together/ when they were present  
Right thus/ he said/ as in sentement.  
The noble king/ of Troy the rite  
Hath unto you/ sent his will by me  
beseeching you/ in full low manner  
That ye list unto his prayer  
Of equity/ for to condescend  
And goodly help/ a certain wrong to mend  
touching his sister/ called Exyon  
That he may have/ restitution  
Of her again/ by your discrete advise  
For sith ye be/ so manly and so wise  
It likely is/ in his opinion  
 
That by your good/ mediation  
Shelyghtly may/ again restored be  
For to cherish peas/ and unity  
Wherefore he prayeth/ with all his heart enter  
In goodly wise/ to do your devere  
That hold been/ so knightly and so sage  
And he will plainly/ all the surplusage  
Of wrongs old/ put in suspense  
For he desireth/ of knightly high prudence  
To stint were/ and to noryll he pes  
For he is nouther rakell/ nor rekles  
But advised/ in his works all  
To cast afore/ what that shallbe fall  
And things futur/ adverting from a far  
And seeth what peril/ that there is in were  
Will him conform/ unto peas and rest  
For he conceiveth/ that it is the best  
Every man/ unite to sew  
And prudently/ also to eschew  
Of debates/ each occasion  
Lo here the fine/ of his intention  
Which I commit/ to your judgement  
And Castor than/ of ire inpacyent  
For hastiness/ ne might nat abide  
His cruel heart/ so swolle was with pride  
Broke out anon/ with a despitous face  
And said friend/ I know of no trespass  
That greeks died ever/ unto thy king  
To axe amends/ it is a wonder t●ynge  
Of us that never/ died him no●● offence  
Save that we made/ a manner recompense  
Of a wrong/ wrought by lamedon  
The which first/ sought occasion  
Against greeks/ in ungodly wise  
That caused us/ upon him to rise  
All at ones/ and manly on him set  
Of due right/ for to quyr● our debt  
Like his decrete/ we have him plainly served  
And nothing wrought/ but as he hath disserued  
To are amends/ he gynneth now to late  
For we covet more/ his mortal hate  
His utter malices/ and his enmity  
Than other peace/ accord or unite  
As in effect hereafter he shall feel  
If it hap/ that he with us deal  
The bargeyn shall full dear/ been about  
And we his friendship/ soothly set at nought  
And over more/ I speak now to the  
It likely is/ as seemeth unto me  
That Pryamus/ the loved but alyte  
Nat the value/ I suppose of a mite  
When he the sent/ upon his message  
And thou of folly/ didst great outrage  
To take on thee/ so high a perilous thing  
Unto greeks/ to bring such tiding  
Where thorough thy life/ is put in iupartye  
But I counsel/ fast that thou the high  
Out of my sight/ list that thou repent  
¶ And Antenor/ forth to ship went  
And with the wind/ 'gan to sail anon  
Toward an isle/ called Pyllyon  
And in all haste/ when he died aryue  
He shope him forth/ to the court as belive  
Where duke Nestor/ in all manner thing  
His household held/ royal as a king  
And Antenor full sad/ and avysee  
Tofore Nestor/ sitting on his see  
When that he was amitted/ for to say  
His tale he told/ full openly and plain  
From point to point/ as ye heard afore  
It were but vain/ to rehearse it more  
For he always/ concluded hath in one  
Like as ye heard/ touching Exyone.  
But duke Nestor/ With face no thing read  
But of hew/ as any ashes deed  
Fret with colour/ so inwardly was he  
That his blood/ from each extremity  
With drawn is down/ unto his heart  
Which for ire/ so sore made him smart  
That he 'gan quake/ in every joint and vain  
That he his hand uneath/ may restrain  
For melancholy/ a venged for to be  
Like a lion/ so wood and wroth was he  
Fer from himself/ he was so alienate  
And inwardly/ of rancour passyonat  
With look reversed/ and furious of sight  
That tempre himself/ uneaths he ne might  
He felt of anger/ so great adversity  
And amids/ all his cruelty  
Of sudden haste/ at ones he out broke  
And even thus/ to Antenor he spoke.  
O thou quoth he/ with all thy words white  
As I suppose/ that thou wist full light  
Unto fore whom/ thou haste thy tale told  
For I marvel/ how thou art so bold  
To presume/ mine ears to offend  
And for Priam/ so proudly to pretend  
A manner title/ in thy kings name  
The worthy greeks/ for to put in blame  
And unjustly/ of foul hardiness  
reqire of them/ for to have redress  
Of Injuries/ wrought of ●amedon  
Boldly affirming/ of false presumption  
Upon greeks/ wrongs outrageous  
Which in myneres/ be so odious  
So fretting eke/ so biting and sokene  
For to list/ that I may nat sustain  
In my hearing/ lo hateful is the sown  
That ner the honour/ of my hyerenowne  
Refrained me/ I should in cruel wise  
Execute/ full hastily justice  
thorough the rigour/ of my mortal law  
With beasts wild/ first to do the draw  
And thereupon/ for thy feigned tale  
Dismember thee/ all on pieces small  
In despite/ of Priamus the king  
To teach other/ to bring more tiding  
Presumptuously/ or any talys new  
To any lord/ but the better that him knew  
This should be/ for thy presumption  
Thy last meed/ and final guerdon  
Without mercy/ like as I have behyght  
And in all haste/ bego out of my sight  
For utterly/ it doth to great offence  
Unto mine eye/ to havethe in presence  
For thorough disdain/ it causeth mine unrest  
Than Antenor/ thought for the best  
It was nat wholesome/ longer to abide  
But cast wisely/ for rancour or for pride  
That it was best/ for to bear him fair  
And to his ship/ he 'gan anon repair  
And in all haste/ by possybylytee  
Without abode/ he taken hath the see  
And 'gan to sail/ and homeward fast draw  
But suddenly boil/ 'gan the wawe  
The see to rise/ and the clouds black  
For to appear/ and the wind a wake  
Wonder gastfull/ also was the heaven  
With dreadful fire/ of the bright levene  
The thunder smote/ the tempest 'gan to drive  
That the mast/ 'gan a solder rive  
Now alofre/ now in point to drown  
The fell weder/ 'gan so on them frown  
That they await nat/ but upon death  
Even at the point/ of yielding up of the breathe  
For they ne saw/ none other remedy  
And ever among/ they 'gan clepe and cry  
To their god's/ and avows make  
And devoutly/ for to undertake  
Each of them/ like as he was of age  
If they escape/ to go on pilgrimage  
Like the rites/ of their paynim wise  
To the gods/ to do their sacrifice  
So as they were/ of substance & of might  
And suddenly/ the weather dark as night  
With new light/ by grace 'gan adawe  
The see wax calm/ and smooth 'gan the wawe  
So that of hap/ among everichone  
For all the tempest/ perished was nat one  
But tofore Troy/ within a sytell space  
They be arrived/ everichone by grace  
Escaped safe/ from every jeopardy  
Both Antenor/ and all his company  
And to the temple/ he took the right way  
And in his prayer/ there full long he lay  
With many another/ also for his sake  
Thanking their gods/ that made them so escape  
Every peril/ and tempest of the see  
And after this/ unto the king goeth he  
That with his lords/ about him full royal  
In his palace/ and dongyon principal  
Sat and abode/ full solemnly  
True report/ of this embassatrye  
And this knight/ of all that hath him fall  
Hath told the king/ tofore his lords all.   

THis Antenor/ hath first made mention  
Tofore the king/ by just relation  
Of his expleyt/ by order by and by  
And in what wise/ and how uncourteously  
He was received/ of king peleus  
Of the threats/ and words despitous  
That he suffered/ of king Thelamon  
Being as fierce/ as a wood lion  
And afterward/ he 'gan also complain  
Of the despite/ of the brethren twain  
Of his rebuke/ and his great dread  
And at Nestor/ how he died speed  
That with his life/ he might uneath scape  
All this he told/ and 'gan an end make  
Of his journey/ and eke of his repair  
And than Priam's/ was fully in despair  
either by forte/ or by adventure  
Ever again/ his sister to recure  
For he conceiveth/ in his advertence  
By clear report/ of expert evidence  
That aye the more/ he was to them benign  
The more ungodly/ again him they malign  
And where he most him/ showeth debonair  
There he fond them/ agaynward most contrary  
So frowardly ever/ they them quite  
Showing by signs/ that they set light  
By his friendship/ for aught he could advert  
Whereof he was pure sorym his heart  
That he constrained/ right of very need  
Compelled was/ justly to proceed  
To have redress/ only by rigour  
For proffer of peace/ might have no favour  
To be admitted/ by title of rightwiseness  
thorough high despite/ of hasty wilfulness  
For every mean of measour/ was in vain  
Save only were/ engendered by disdain  
Begun and caused/ all of old hatred  
Which 'gan anon/ such a bronde to breed  
Of new envy/ in the kings breast  
That Pryamus/ without more areste  
Is so july with Ire/ and rancour fret  
And with disdain/ so sore ground and whet  
That where so be/ that he lose or win  
Upon greeks/ he will a were begin  
And jeopard manly as a knight  
His life his death/ because he had right  
And cast him first/ a navee for to send  
Into grece/ his foemen for to fiend  
And like a knight/ his force for to haunt  
In knightly wise/ he cast him for to daunt  
The pomp of greeks/ and the sturdiness  
And finally their pride/ to oppress.  
¶ But say Priam/ what infelycyte  
What new trouble/ what hap what destiny  
Or from above/ what hateful Influence  
Descended is/ by unware violence  
To move thee/ thou canst nat live in pees  
What sudden sort/ what fortune gracelees  
What chance unhappy/ without adviseness  
What wilful lust/ what fonned hardiness  
Have put thy soul/ out of tranquillity  
To make the weary/ of thy prosperity  
Why hast y● favour/ in bitter more than sweet  
That canst nat live/ in peas nor in quiet  
Thou art travailed/ with wilful motions  
Over mastered/ with thy passions  
For lack of reason/ and of high prudence  
darked and blind/ from all providence  
And full barren/ to cast afore and see  
The harms following/ of thine adversity  
Thou were to slow/ wisely to consider  
For want of sight/ made to the slydere  
thorough mist of error/ falsely to forgive  
By paths wrong/ from the right weigh  
To void reason/ of wilful hastiness  
Where was thy guide/ where was thy mistress  
discretion/ so prudent and so lad  
A vyselye/ that should the have lad  
From the traces/ of sensuality  
Though it full seld/ in man's power be  
By sufferance/ himself to refrain  
When sudden Yre/ doth his heart strain  
Thou shouldest afore/ better a cast thy chance  
Wrought by counsel/ & nat put in balance  
Thy sickerness/ alas why didst thou so  
And have symuled/ some deal of thy woe  
And cast thy change/ well afore the prime  
To have forgotten/ wrongs of old time  
And thought afore/ in thine advertence  
That oft falleth/ in experience  
That whiles men/ do most business  
Vengeably/ their wrongs to redress  
With double harm/ or that they are ware  
They fall again/ in a new snare  
And damages/ that were forget clean  
By false report/ of rumour fresh and green  
Renewed be/ thorough the swift fame  
That fleeth so far/ to hinder alordes name  
Namely when they/ to a purpose wend  
only of heed/ and see nat the end  
For of pride/ and of sudden heat  
They void themself/ out of all quiet  
Aduerting not/ to work avyselye  
Nor the proverb/ that teacheth commonly  
He that stand sure/ enhaste him nat to move  
For if he do/ it shall him after grieve  
And he that walketh surely/ on the plain  
If he stumble/ it is but in vain  
But if so be/ helyste of his folly  
Be negligent/ to put him wilfully  
In adventure/ and of himself to reach  
To eschew peril/ I hold he be a wretch  
For soothly Priam's/ thou were to rechelees  
For to commit/ thy quiet and the pees  
So dreadfully during/ by no date  
To cruel fortune/ or to fykell fate  
Whose manner is/ of custom commonly  
That when a man/ trusteth most soveraynely  
Of this goddess/ blind and full unstable  
Than she to him/ is most deceivable  
Him to abate/ from his royal stalle  
And suddenly/ to make him down to fall  
And with a trip/ throw him on the bake  
Who that gain striveth/ shall have little take  
She is so slily/ with her gynne snare  
That she can make a man/ fro his welfare  
With her pantre/ that is with fraud englewed  
When he lest weeneth/ for to be remewed  
Therefore no man/ have none affiance  
In fortune/ nor in her vary ance  
Ne let no wight/ his ease more juparte  
List thou the play/ will afterward depart  
To turn his chance/ either to well or woe  
For seld in one/ she doth the game go  
As ye may see/ by example of Pryamus  
That of folly/ is so desirous  
To work of heed/ and follow his own will  
To trouble alas/ the calm of his tranquylle  
As in this book/ here after shallbe found  
Him and his city/ platly to confound  
And utterly/ to his confusion  
That afterward/ by long succession  
It shallbe red/ in story and in fable  
And remembered/ with dities delightable  
To do pleasance/ to them that shall it here  
That by example/ they may beware and lere  
Of hasty lust/ or of volunte  
To begin a thing/ wherein no surety  
Dependeth ay/ as strife were and debate  
For in such play/ unwarely cometh check mate  
And harm I done/ to late is to amend  
Whose fine is oft/ other than they wend  
In this story/ as ye shall after see  
And let Priam alway your mirror be  
Hasty error/ by times to correct  
For I anon/ my poyntell will direct  
After the manner/ of his traces rude  
Of this story/ the remnant to conclude.   

THis worthy king/ ever of one sentence  
Ay more & more/ fired with fervence  
Hath his brevettes/ and his letters sent  
For his lords/ to hold a parliament  
And them commanded/ in all the hast they may  
To come anon/ at their assigned day  
From every ward/ & party of the town  
For to assemble/ in noble Ilyowne  
Chief of his reign/ & when they were eachone  
With him present/ this noble king anon  
Tofore them all/ as shortly as he can  
His will declareth/ and thus he began.  
Sires quoth he/ because ye be wise  
It needeth nat/ long process to devise  
For to rehearse/ of your coming cause  
But for to tell/ shortly in a clause  
What I mean/ and make no delay  
Ye wots how/ I now this other day  
Sent into Grece/ by counsel of you all  
A knight of mine/ that Antenor men call  
To have recured/ Exyona again  
Whose message/ was nat but in vain  
For of greeks/ full uncourteously  
He was received/ and dispytously  
threat and rebuked/ in point to have be deed  
uneath he might/ escape with his heed  
They put on him/ such offence and blame  
That reboundeth/ to our aldershame  
And day by day/ it must increase more  
But we ordain/ some remedy therefore  
For there as we/ all mesour have them offered  
They have to us/ were and strife yprof●ed  
Of high despite/ of rancour and of heat  
And of malices/ cruelly us threat  
And where as we/ would peas purchase  
For wrongs/ done they fellyus menace  
And for the harms/ that they have us wrought  
They nat purpose/ plainly in their thought  
Other redress/ nor amends make  
But utterly with were/ us to awake  
Whose joy is fully/ increase of our grievance  
So would god they were/ with repentance  
contrite in heart/ to stint all mischief  
That likely is to fall/ and the grief  
On other part/ that it might over slide  
But they alas/ with rancour & with pride  
Are swolle of new/ to threat more and more  
But god defend/ half deal of the sore  
By infortune/ ever should fall  
As they purpose/ on any of us all  
But sith they have shape/ thus for us  
We must resist/ their will malicious  
thorough might of god/ of necessity  
In our diffence/ it will none other be  
And best I hold/ unto our intent  
To work and do/ all by one assent  
So we our purpose/ soonest shall achieve  
Where is discord/ there may no quarrel prove  
For on that part/ where hearts be nat one  
Victory may/ in no wise gone  
Chief of conquest/ is peas and unity  
Right as discord/ is of adversity  
Ovid of hearts/ maketh rheums sure  
division/ causeth discomfiture  
Wherefore I read/ of o will and heart  
Let us set on/ to do the greeks smart  
For soothfastly/ if ye list to see  
I dare affirm/ that we stronger be  
Than the Greeks/ upon every part  
And have of arms/ perfectly the art  
And be a counted of knighthood/ crop and root  
And plente have of men/ on horse and foot  
Arrayed well/ everich in his degree  
And therewith also/ strong is our city  
For to withstand/ our foemen everichone  
You counselling/ to ordain anon  
first to assemble/ holy your navy  
And stuff them strongly/ with our chivalry  
And into grece/ hastily them send  
The proud greeks/ manly to offend  
And of just cause/ and by title of right  
Oa them were/ with all our full might  
Their towns bren/ and their fields waste  
With heart unfeigned/ also us enhaste  
To quite them/ as they deserved have  
For my read/ we shall none of them save  
But cruelly take/ on them vengeance  
Ne hath no fere/ ne let be no grievance  
Though they afore/ by fortune were victoures  
To ●lee our auncetres/ and progenytoures  
For he that was of unhap/ first put down  
Remounteth oft/ to full high renown  
By the change/ and the variance  
Of were and strife/ that ever is in balance  
For he that is/ this day assured weal  
tomorrow he is/ caste down of the wheel  
The victor oft/ put in adventure  
And vanquysshed/ by discomfiture  
Of him that he had/ afore victory  
Nor up now down/ in arms stand the glory  
In martes chance/ no man him assure  
But as it cometh/ let him take his eure  
For gery Mars/ by his influence  
Can give a man/ whilom excellence  
To win a prise/ like a conqueror  
And suddenly/ as a summer flower  
He can his honour/ make for to fade  
For when that he/ his aspectis glade  
For a man/ listeth for to writhe  
His renown old/ goth away as blithe  
After a flood an ebb/ followeth aye  
As men deserve/ praise them for a day  
For though Phoebus'/ this day merry shine  
tomorrow he may/ his beams down decline  
thorough the thickness/ of the mists trouble  
Right so of Mars/ are the chances double  
Now up now down/ now low now aloft  
As fortune which that changeth oft  
List on her wheel/ make a man ascended  
And unwarely/ down again descend  
Stoundemele his honour/ to advance  
And with asweygh/ throw him to mischance  
Now with favour/ set him up full high  
Est avail him/ with twyncling of an eye  
her play unstable/ turneth as a ball  
While one goeth up/ another hath a fall  
She raiseth one/ and doth another lout  
For every man/ when it cometh about  
Must take his turn/ as her play requireth  
Who is expert/ and her frauds lereth  
Shall with her sugar/ find gall meynt  
And her honey/ aye with bitter sprained  
In peace and were/ in honour and fame  
In dignities/ in renown and in shame  
At hi● liking/ as her list to grant  
Therefore no man/ his hap to much avaunt.  
¶ For though greeks/ whilom were aloft  
It may hereafter/ them hap full unsoft  
Wherefore eachone/ show your worthiness  
That so are named/ of strength & hardiness  
And to fortune/ plainly you comytte  
And let no fer/ your manly hearts flit  
But stand hole/ and be in meaning plain  
And thereupon/ let see what ye will say  
And at once/ their voice they 'gan raise  
And his sentence/ highly for to praise  
And of one heart/ manly 'gan express  
They will dispend/ goods and richesse  
And their bodies/ put in jeopardy  
There was nat one/ that would it tho deny  
And of this grant/ he thanketh them eachone  
And gave them leave/ where them list to gone  
For he dissolved hath/ his parliament  
And every man/ on his way is went  
And repaired/ to his mansyowne  
The king alone/ left in Ylyowne  
Sole by himself/ inwardly musing  
How his purpose/ he might about bring  
For he in sooth/ on no thing else thought  
And thereupon/ even thus he wrought.   

king Pryamus/ making thus his moan  
As I you told/ in a chambre alone  
Many ways/ casting up and down  
For to perform/ his conclusyowne  
And to fulfil/ the fine of his intent  
He first of all/ prudently hath sent  
For his sons/ to come to him in haste  
As well for them/ that were borne in baste  
As the t'other/ for to assemble yfere  
For a purpose/ like as ye shall here  
To have a counsel/ for needful purveyance  
Against greeks/ to make ordinance  
first by themself/ alone privily  
And when they were in order/ by and by  
everich of them set/ in his dew see  
Like as they were/ of age and of degree  
And Ector first/ flower of chivalry  
Repaired home/ out of panomye  
Most acceptable/ in every wights grace  
next his father/ taken hath his place.  
¶ And when Priam's/ his leisure died espy  
With sighs sore/ casting up his eye  
To them eachone/ sitting environ  
'Gan to declare/ his hearts motion.  
¶ But first or he might/ his will expone  
Into tears/ he 'gan himself drown  
His heartily woe was/ so outrageous  
That for weeping/ and sobbing furious  
uneath he might/ with any word out break  
Nor unto them/ for distress speak  
Nor openly/ his inward meaning show  
Till at the last/ he in words few  
'Gan to abrade/ in all his piteous fare  
Even thus/ his meaning to declare.  
¶ My dear sons/ so loving and so kind  
As I suppose/ that ye have in mind  
And remember discretely/ and advert  
And emprente full freshly/ in your heart  
How the greeks/ again all right and law  
With cruel sword/ murdered have and slawe  
Our worthy auncetres/ of full high renown  
And destroyed/ brent and beat down  
The first Troy/ with his walls old  
And how ungodly/ also that they hold  
Mine own sister/ called Exyon  
To full great shame/ and confusion  
And high reproof/ to your worthiness  
That me seemeth/ of very kindness  
And of nature/ ye ought be aggrieved  
And inwardly/ in heart sore moved  
To suffer her/ in hindering of her name  
So to be treated/ for your alder shame  
Alas why nil/ ye do your business  
This high despite/ knightly to redress  
You for to avenge/ upon their cruelty  
Recure to find/ of her iniquity  
sith that ye be/ so mighty and so strong  
Certes me seemeth/ ye bide all to long  
Fro day to day/ that ye so differre  
In knightly wise/ to gynne on them a were  
Your force and might/ manly to assay  
I am pure sorry/ that ye list delay  
You to comfort/ unto my desire  
That in their hate/ bren as hot as fire  
Upon them/ like as ye may see  
Of freting ire/ avenged for to be  
Like their decrete/ to quite them their meed  
And ye alas/ take list no heed  
While your renown/ doth so freshly shine  
Unto my lust/ your hearts to decline  
considering like/ as it is couth  
How I have/ for your green youth  
Yfostred you and brought/ you forth eachone  
Frothylke day/ that ye could gone  
As tenderly/ as I could or might  
To which thing/ in your inward sight  
Ye should advert/ always new and new  
And of nature/ on my sores rue  
To remedy/ mine adversity  
Which toucheth you/ also well as me  
sith that ye wot/ how sore it doth me grieve  
Ye should shape/ mine harms to relieve  
And suddenly/ as he thus ganmourne  
Towards Ector/ he 'gan his face turn  
And said Ector/ my trust and all my joy  
Mine heir also/ like to reign in Troy  
After my day/ and be my successor  
And named art/ the very sovereign flower  
Of worthiness/ and of manhood well  
And all thy brethren/ in knighthood dost excel  
And in arms/ like a conqueror  
Called the stock/ of worship and honour  
I heartily pray/ though thou sit still  
Be willing now/ my purpose to fulfil  
To execute/ that I desire so  
For finally/ in the and in nomo  
Is full my faith/ to bring this about  
Now take on thee/ and be no thing in doubt  
To be chief prince/ and also governor  
Of this purpose/ and utterly succour  
Into thine hand/ this journey I commit  
holy of heart/ so that thou ne flit  
The to conform/ by good advisement  
To perform up/ the fine of mine intent  
For of reason/ best to the it sit  
Which art so prudent/ and so full of wit  
Strong and deliver/ flowering eke in youth  
Of whom the fame/ thorough the world is couth  
young of years/ old of discretion  
Eurous to love/ passing of renown  
Unto whose will/ thy brethren shall obey  
And stolde with thee/ both to live and die  
Now condescend/ to accomphysshe my request  
And what thou feelest/ answer at the lest.  
¶ And when the king/ hath showed his sentence  
Demure of cheer/ humble of reverence  
This worthy Ector example of gentry  
With soft speech/ as teacheth cuttesye  
His answer gave/ with sober countenance  
The effect of which/ was this in substance.  
Mine own lord/ and my father dear  
benignly/ if ye list to here  
After the force/ and the great might  
And the s●me/ of nature's right  
Which every thing/ by kind doth constrain  
In the bonds/ of her large chain  
It sitting is/ as the doth inspire  
And according/ that every man desire  
Of wrongs done/ to have amendment  
And to her law/ right convenient  
Namely to such/ that with nobylte  
Kind hath endued/ and set in high degree  
For to such/ great reproof is and shame  
When any wrong/ be do unto their name  
For echetrespasse/ must considered be  
justly measured/ after the quality  
Of him that is offended/ and also  
After the parson/ by whom the wrong is do  
Be it in were/ in contek or debate  
For greater grief/ is to high estate  
To suffer and harm/ of case or adventure  
Or any wrong/ unjustly to endure  
Or Injuries/ compassed of malices  
Is more offence/ by discrete advise  
To whom that be famous/ in manhood  
renowned and borne/ of gentle blood  
Than to such one/ that hold is but a wretch  
Wherefore we must/ greatly charge and retch  
only of knighthood/ our worship for to eke  
Of wrongs done/ amends for to seek  
Our state considered/ and our high noblesse  
And in what plight/ we stoude of worthiness  
When that beasts/ of reason rude and blind  
Desire the same/ by instuyt of kind.  
¶ And for my part/ trust in certain  
Ye have no son/ that would half so fain  
Upon greeks/ avenged be as I  
For here my truth/ I say you faithfully  
For ire of them/ I bren as doth the gleed  
I thirst their blood/ more than other meed  
For right as I eldest/ am of age  
Among your sons/ so am I most with rage  
I fret within/ justly of knighthood  
With my right hand/ to shed the greeks blood  
As they shall find/ paraunter or they ween  
When time cometh/ the sooth shallbe seen.  
¶ But first I read/ wisely in your mind  
To cast afore/ and leave not behind  
Or ye begin/ discreetly to advert  
And prudently/ consider in your heart  
All only nat the beginning/ but the end  
And the mids/ what way they will wend  
And to what fine fortune/ will them lead  
If ye thus do/ amiss ye may not speed  
For that counsel/ in mine opinion  
Is worthy little/ by discretion  
To have a prise/ that cast not by and by  
The course of things/ by order seriously  
What way they trace/ to woe or to delight  
For though a beginning/ have his appetite  
Yet in the end/ plainly this no fable  
There may thing follow/ which is nat commendable  
For what is worth/ agynning fortunate.  
What causeth after/ strife and great debate  
Wherefore in sooth/ principles are to dread  
But men well know/ what fine shall succeed  
For a beginning with grace/ is well fortuned  
When end and mids/ a like be contuned  
But when that it in we'll/ ne may contene  
It is well better/ betimes to abstain  
Than put in doubt/ that standeth insuerte  
For who so doth/ hath adversity  
But humbly/ to your estate royal  
Of heart I pray/ let nat offend at all  
That I am bold/ to say my motion  
For in good faith/ of none entencion  
I no thing move you/ to do offence  
But only this/ that your magnificence  
proceed nat/ of heed wilfully  
Ne that no spirit/ you move foolily  
To begin thing/ that after will you shende  
For lack/ that ye see nat to the end  
Nor take heed/ in your advertence  
To consider/ by good providence  
How greeks/ have in their subjection  
Europe and Aufryk/ with many region  
Full large & wide/ of knighthood most famous  
And of richesse/ wonder plenteous  
Right renowned/ also of worthiness  
With your support/ that I dare well express  
Full perilous/ is to displease them or disturb  
For if that we/ our quiet now parturbe  
Which standeth in peace/ greatly is to dread  
For though all Asye/ help us in our need  
If it be looked/ on every part aright  
They be nat equal/ unto greeks might.  
¶ And though also/ mine Aunt Exyon  
Again all right/ be hold of Thelamon  
It is nat good/ for her redemption  
To put us all/ to destruction  
I read nat to beye her/ half so dear  
For many of us/ in hap that sit here  
And other more/ might for her sake  
Death vnder●onge/ and an end make  
Which were no wisdom/ like as seemeth me  
And it may hap/ also how that she  
In short time/ her fatal course shall fine  
When Antropos/ the thread a two shall twine  
What had we won than/ and she were go  
But enmity/ thought sorrow and woe  
Slaughter of our men/ death and confusion  
Wherefore I read/ without dissymylation  
Without more/ that we our woe endure  
And nat to put/ ourself in adventure  
This hold I best/ and work as the wise  
But doubtless/ for no cowardice  
I say nat this/ in your high presence  
But forcause/ I hold it no prudence  
To fortune/ full of doubleness  
sith we be sure/ to put our sickerness  
Thus all and some/ the effect of my will  
And with that word/ Ector held him still.   

ANd when the Ector/ by full high prudence  
Concluded hath/ the fine of his sentence  
Full demurely/ he kept his lips close  
And therewithal/ Paris/ up arose  
And 'gan his tale/ thus afore the king  
My lord quoth he/ so it be liking  
To your highness/ for to take heed  
As me seemeth/ we should little dread  
In knightly wise/ for to undertake  
Upon Greeks/ a were/ for to make  
All at once/ their pride to confound  
sith that we/ passingly abound  
Of chyua●rye/ here within our town  
And have plenty/ and possessiowne  
Of each thing/ that may to were avail  
stuff in ourself/ and royal apparel  
Of all that longeth/ to assaults martial  
And with all this/ more in special  
Help and succour/ of many region  
With usto work/ to their destruction  
The pomp and pride/ manly to abate  
And of Greeks/ the malice for to mate  
For all that they of heart/ be so stout  
Me seemeth shortly/ that we need nat doubt  
Nor on no part/ for to be dismayed  
Wherefore I read/ let nat be delayed  
Our ships/ first ready for to make  
And I myself/ will fully undertake  
So it to you be liking/ and pleasance  
Of this emprise/ holy the governance  
And you assure/ and put in certain  
Exyona/ to recure again  
And in what form/ that it shallbe wrought  
I have away found/ in my thought  
That likely is here/ after to be done  
Which unto you/ I will declare anon  
first I have cast/ with strong & mighty hand  
For to ravish/ some lady of that land  
Of high estate/ and make no tarrying  
And mightily/ into Troy her bring  
Maugce her might/ for this conclusion  
That ye may have/ testytution  
By exchange of her/ that ye desire so  
And thereupon/ shall nat be long a do  
I you behete/ for all the greeks strong  
And for that/ I shall nat you prolong  
I will you say/ excluding every doubt  
How this advise/ shallbe brought about  
first how that I shall/ this purpose fine  
The gods have thorough/ their power dyuy●e  
showed to me/ by revelation  
For thereupon/ I had avision  
But late a gone/ as I lay a sleep  
Unto which/ if ye take keep  
Ye may nat fail/ nor be in no despair  
To have recure/ of her that is so fair  
For whom ye have/ now so moche care  
¶ And the manner hole/ I will declare  
Of this dream/ to your magnificence  
If it so be/ ye give will credence  
To my tale/ for I shall nat dwell  
seriously in order/ for to tell  
The truth plain/ and no fable fain  
To you that be/ my lord most sovereign.  
¶ first if that ye/ remember in your mind  
This other day/ when I was last in ynde  
By your advise/ and commandment  
For a matter/ which in yourentent  
Was specially/ had in cherte  
As it is known/ between you and me  
Of which I took/ upon me the charge  
In the bonds/ of that land full large.  
¶ The same time/ your desire to speed  
When that Titan/ with his beams read  
From Gemyny/ drove his char of gold  
Toward the crab/ for to take his hold  
Which named is the palace of diane  
The bent moon/ that wax can and wane  
When hallowed is/ the sons station  
Nigh the mids/ of the month of juyn  
At which season/ early on a morrow  
When that Phoebus/ to void nights sorrow  
Doth Pirrous/ his wain again up draw  
And Aurora/ eastward doth adawe  
And with the water/ of her tears round  
The silver dew/ causeth to abound  
Upon herbs/ and on flowers soot  
For kindly nourishing/ both of crop & root.  
Up I rose/ out of my bed anon  
Full desirous/ on hunting for to gone  
Pricked in heart/ with lusty fresh pleasance  
To do to love/ some dew observance  
And lucyna/ that day to magnify  
Which called is/ lady of venery  
And duly/ our rites to observe  
Cythera/ and her for to serve  
I and my feres/ our hearts to relieve  
Cast us fully/ till it drew to eve  
In the forest/ to play us and disport  
And pleasantly/ us to recomfort  
As it longeth to love/ of lustiness  
For thilk day/ to venus' the goddess  
I sacred was/ by full great excellence  
With great honour/ and dew reverence  
Do unto her/ both of one and all  
And on a friday/ this adventure is fall  
When we 'gan hast us/ to the woods green  
In hope that day/ some game for to seen  
With great labour/ riding to and fro  
Till we had/ full many buck and do  
By strength slain/ as we might them find  
The heart I chased/ with hounds and the hind  
thorough the downs/ and the dales low  
Till Phoebus'/ of his days bow  
Amid the ark/ was of meridyens  
When his beams/ full hot were and sheen  
And we most busy/ were upon the chaas  
That me befell/ a wonder diverse case  
For of fortune/ it happened suddenly  
While I was severed/ fro my company  
Sole by myself/ among the holtes door  
To find game/ desirous evermore  
Or I was ware/ thorough thick & thorough thine  
A full great heart/ I saw afore meryn  
Down by the land/ and the vales green  
That I in sooth/ might nat abstain  
He was so swift/ for to nigh him near  
Albe that/ I pricked my courser  
nigh to the death/ thorough many sundry shaw  
Out of my sight/ so fer he 'gan withdraw  
For all that ever/ that I sew might  
That I anon/ lost of him the sight  
In a wood/ that yda bare the name  
And I so faint/ 'gan wax of that game  
And mine horse/ on which I died ride  
Foaming full white/ upon every side  
And his flanks/ all with blood distained  
In my pursuit/ so sore he was constrained  
With my spurs sharp/ and died red  
After the heart/ so pricked I my stead  
Now up now down/ with a full busy thought  
But my labour/ availed me right nought  
Till at the last/ among the bows glade  
Of adventure/ I caught a pleasant shade  
Full smooth and plain/ and lusty for to seen  
And soft as velvet/ was the young green  
Where fro my horse/ I did a light as fast  
And on a bow/ I his rain cast  
So faint and mate/ of weariness I was  
That I me laid down/ upon the grass  
Upon a brink/ shortly for to tell  
Beside aryver/ and a cristalle well  
And the water/ as Ireherse can  
Like quick silver/ in his streams ran  
Of which the gravel/ and the bright stone  
As any gold/ again the son shone.  
¶ Where right anon/ for very weariness  
A sondayne sleep/ 'gan me so oppress  
That fro time/ that I first was borne  
I never was asleped/ so toforne  
And as I lay/ I had a wonder sweven  
For me thought/ high down fro heaven  
The winged god/ wonderful of cheer  
Mercuryous/ to me died appear  
Of whom I was/ somedele first afeard  
For he was gird/ with his crooked sword  
And with him brought/ also in his hand  
His sleepy yard/ pliant as a wonde  
With a serpent/ going environ  
And at his feet/ also low down  
Me seemeth also/ that there stood a cock  
Singing his hours/ true as any clock  
And to the mouth of this/ god Mercury  
Were pipes set/ that long wonder merry  
Of which the sweet/ sugared harmony  
Made in mine ears such/ a melody  
That me seemed though/ in mine advise  
I was ravished/ into paradise  
And thus this god/ diverse of likeness  
More wonderful/ than I can express  
showed himself/ in his appearance  
Like as he is described/ in fulgence  
In the book/ of his methologyes  
Where be rehearsed/ many poesies  
And many likeness/ like as ye may see  
And for to take/ the morality  
His long yard/ right as is a line  
Which on no side/ wrongly may decline  
signifieth/ the prudent governance  
Of discrete folk/ that thorough their purveyance  
Cast a peril/ or that it be fall  
And his pipes loud/ as any shall  
That thorough music/ be entuned true  
Betokeneth eke/ with many lusty hew  
The sugared dities/ by great excellence  
Of rhetoric/ and of eloquence  
Of which this god/ is sovereign & patrowne  
And of this cock/ the sweet lusty sown  
That justly keepeth/ the hours of the night  
Is utterly the advise/ of in ward sight  
Of such as void/ by waker diligence  
Out of their court/ sloth and negligence  
And his sword/ which croketh so again  
That is nat forged/ nor maked in vain  
Is to revoke/ to the right weigh  
Such as wrongly/ for truth do forueye  
And the serpent/ which that I of told  
Which wrinkled is/ as ye may behold  
Upon the yard/ and about goeth  
signifieth that falsehood/ wood and wroth  
lieth in await/ by many sleighty weigh  
With his gins/ truth to werreye  
And this god of eloquence/ king  
Brought with him/ eke in his coming  
Cythera/ whom lovers serve  
juno and Pallas/ that called is minerve  
And this venus/ her lieges to delight  
About her heed/ had doves white  
With look benign/ and eyen debonair  
Ay flykering/ with snowy wings fair  
For to declare/ soothly in sentence  
By the doves/ very Innocence  
Of them in love/ that but truth mean  
And that their ground/ should honest be & clean  
Ytokened is/ clearly by witness  
Without soiling/ of any uncleanness  
And the freshness/ of the roses read  
That in summer/ so lusty do spread  
And in winter/ of their colour fade  
signifieth/ the heartily thoughts glade  
Of young folks/ that be amorous  
Fervent in hope/ and inly desirous  
When love gynneth/ in their hearts flower  
Till long process/ maketh them to louvre  
With the winter/ of unwieldy age  
That lust is palled/ & dulled with the rage  
Of febylnesse/ when summer is a gone  
As folks know/ I trow more than one  
And therefore venus'/ fleeteth in a see  
To show the trouble/ and adversytee  
That is in love/ and in her stormy law  
Which is beset/ with many sturdy wawe  
Now calm now rough/ who so taketh heed  
And hope assailed aye/ with sudden dread.  
And next venus/ Pallas I beheld  
With her spear/ and her crystal shield  
And a rainbow/ round about her heed  
That of colour/ was green blue and red  
And afore her/ as I can describe  
She growing had/ a green fresh olive  
And thereupon/ with his brows fowl  
In the branches/ I saw sit like a noll.  
And first the shield/ of Pallas the goddess  
signified/ as I can express  
In virtue force/ by manly high diffence  
Again vices/ to make resistance  
And her spear/ sharp and keen ground  
By just rigour/ was forged to confound  
Them that be false/ and to put a back  
And for that mercy/ shall meddle with the wrack  
The shaft in sooth/ shaven was full plain  
Lest merciless/ that right ne wrought in vain  
And after were/ to make full release  
There was the olive/ that betokeneth peace  
The owl also/ so odious at all  
That songs singeth/ at festes' funeral  
Declareth plainly/ fine of every glory  
Is only death/ who hath it in memory  
And the rainbow/ green red and pierce  
signifieth the changes/ full diverse  
That oft falleth/ in were and battle  
Now to win/ and suddenly to fail  
Now stable as blewe/ changing now as green  
For Pallas play/ is always meynt with tene.  
And alder last/ as I have in mind  
With her nynphes/ juno came behind  
Which of custom/ as fulgence tells  
Abide in floods/ and in deep wells  
And this juno/ as poets say  
Amayden is/ and of fruit barren  
And the peacock/ to this fresh queen  
Ysacred is/ with his feathers sheen  
Splayed abroad/ as a large sail  
With Argus' eyen/ imprinted in his tail.  
¶ The water running/ in river and in flood  
Is the labour/ that men have for good  
The great trouble/ and the business  
That day and night/ they suffer for richesse  
That who so ever/ in these floods row  
let him beware/ for ay after the flow  
Of nature/ right as it is dew  
Following the moon/ there must an ebbesewe  
The most dread is/ aye upon the full  
list fortune/ the fresh feathers pull  
Of rich folk/ that shine in gold so sheen  
sith she of change/ lady is and queen.  
¶ And Argus eyen/ that are set behind  
In niggards hearts/ be oft scythes blind  
Which not advert/ of goods to the end  
That like an ebb/ suddenly will wend  
Which they nothing/ consider in their sight  
For as the fair lusty/ feathers bright  
Of a peacock/ unwarely fall away  
Right so richesse/ shortly at a day  
Will their master/ suddenly forsake  
saying a dew/ and their leave take  
And as juno/ barren is of fruit  
Right so naked/ bare and distytuyte  
Are these greedy/ hearts covetous  
Which to gather/ be so desirous  
That in no thing/ can have suffisance  
The fret of dread/ them put in such mischance  
imagining/ that the world will fail  
And in their fere/ again the wind they sail  
Till all at once/ they must go there fro  
And thus of good/ aye the fine is woe  
Namely of them/ that so pinch and spare  
For this no dread/ as clerks can declare  
The fruit of good/ is to spend large  
And who is man full/ set but little charge  
To part freely/ his treasure in commune  
When he discretely/ seethe time opportune  
He hath no joy/ to put his good in mewe  
For in heart/ that freedom list to sew  
Of gentleness/ taketh no heed thereto  
¶ And in this wise/ Pallas and juno  
With fresh venus'/ be a down descended  
Like as I have/ shortly comprehended  
Under the guying/ of Mercurius  
Which unto me/ 'gan his tale thus  
Paris quoth he/ lift up thine eyen and se  
Lo these goddesses/ here in number three  
Which fro heaven/ with their eyen clear  
So diversly/ unto the appear  
Were at a feste/ as I the tell shall  
With all the gods/ above celestial  
That jupiter held/ at his own board  
Was none absent/ only save discord  
And for despite/ she was nat there present  
To be avenged/ she set all her intent  
And in her wits many ways sought  
Till at the last/ even thus she wrought  
Of poets/ like as it is told  
She took an apple/ round of pure gold  
With greek letters/ graven up and down  
Which said thus/ in conclusy own  
Without strife/ that it were give anon  
To the fairest of them/ everichone  
And of discord/ this lady and goddess  
As she that is/ of debate mistress  
Hath this appell/ passing of delight  
Brought to this feste/ of malice and despite  
And cast it down/ among them at the board  
With deynous cheer/ speaking nat a word  
But on her way/ fast 'gan her high  
And suddenly/ so a privy great envy  
Into the court/ this appell hath in brought  
So great a were/ and such a contek wrought  
In the hearts/ of these ilk three  
That after long/ may nat staunchedbe  
Among themself/ so they 'gan disdain  
Which in beauty/ was most sovereign  
And which of them/ hath best title of right  
For to conquer/ this burned appell bright  
And first they 'gan thus/ for beauty strive  
That of rancour/ their hearts almost rive  
To wite of right/ who should it first possede  
●o yet envy/ reigneth in womanhead  
That one is fairer/ than a not her hold  
For each woman/ of her kind would  
Have on some part/ pries above another  
In each estate/ in sooth it is none other  
And each of them/ in her own advice  
Hath joy/ in beauty/ for to have a pries  
For none so foul/ doth in a mirror pry  
That she is fair/ in her own eye  
But like a fool/ he himself doth quite  
That aumber yellow/ chooseth for the white  
A goundy eye/ is deceived soon  
That any colour/ chooseth by the moon  
For some colour/ is with fire made fine  
And some increased/ with spices & with wine  
With ointments/ and confections  
And on night/ by false illusions  
Some appear wonder/ fresh and fair  
That look dark by day light/ in the air  
There is no proof/ but early by the morrow  
Of such as need/ no beauty for to borrow  
But as nature hath/ herself disposed  
Therefore fasting/ or boystes be unclosed  
Make thy choice/ as bid Ovid  
When every drug and pot/ is set aside  
List that thou/ be after his sentence  
deceived lightly/ by false appearance  
For now a days/ such craft is full rive  
And in this wise/ thus began the strive  
Betwyxe/ juno/ venus/ and Pallas  
That be descended/ for this sodaynecas  
By one assent/ touching their beauty  
The doom thereof/ committed unto the  
I speak to thee/ that called art Paris  
And hold art/ right prudent & rightwise  
Be advised how/ thy doom shall fine  
For they ne may/ to nor fro decline  
But obey/ all by one assent  
Without strife/ to thy judgement  
But hark first/ or that thou proceed  
Of each of them/ what shallbe thy meed  
consider a right/ and take good heed thereto  
If thou the appell/ grant unto juno  
She shall the give/ plenty of richesse  
high renown of fame/ eke worthiness  
With abundance/ of gold and of treasure  
And do the rise/ to so high honour  
That thou alone/ all other shalt excel  
For thy guerdon/ like as I the tell.  
And if to Pallas/ goddess of prudence  
The list the fine conclude/ of thy sentence  
That she may lady/ of the appell be  
For thy meed/ she shall assure the  
That of wit/ and ofsapyence  
Thou shalt holy/ have the excellence  
And of wisdom/ and of discretion  
To discern/ by clearness of reason  
Also far as Phoebus'/ caste his light  
There shall nat be a more/ prudent knight  
Nor in this world/ sith that it began  
Of just report/ a manlyer man  
Nor to thy name/ none equypollent  
And if to venus'/ of true & clean intent  
The list to grant/ in conclusion  
Of the appel/ to have possession  
The fresh goddess/ that sit so high above  
Shall the ensure/ to have unto thy love  
The fairest lady/ that is or was tofore  
Or in this world/ ever shallbe boar  
And in Grece/ thou shalt her knightly win  
Now be advised/ or that thou begin  
justly to dame/ and for no thing spare  
¶ And I anon/ 'gan look up and stare  
Greatly atoned/ what me was best to do  
Till at the last/ I spoke Mercury to  
And said certain/ that I ne would there  
give no doom/ but they naked were  
So that I mighty/ have fully liberty  
everich of them/ a vyselye to see  
And consider/ every circumstance  
Who fairest were/ unto my pleasance  
And goodliest/ to speak of womanhead  
And after that/ to my doom proceed.  
And they anon/ as ye have heard me say  
To my desire/ meekly 'gan obey  
In all haste to do/ their busy cure  
Them to despoil/ of clothing and vesture  
Lyche as the statute/ of my doom them bond  
In a point they ne would/ it nat withstand  
That I might have/ full inspexion  
Of form and shap/ and each proporsion  
For to discern/ as I can remember  
A vysely by order/ every member  
And than at erst/ to judge after right  
But when that I/ of each had a sight  
I gave to venus'/ the appell right anon  
Because she was/ fairest of eachone  
And most excelling/ soothly of beauty  
Most womanly/ and goodly on to see  
As I dame plainly/ in my sight  
For the streams/ of her eyen bright  
Ilyche glade/ and equal even of light  
Were to the star/ that showeth toward night  
Which called is/ Esperus so sheen  
Venus herself/ the fresh lusty queen  
The which anon/ this heavenly Empress  
After my doom of heartily/ high gladness  
That of the appell she holy hath the glory  
And won it/ justly by victory  
rejoiced her/ more than I can tell  
That she her feres/ in beauty died excel  
And she in haste/ of true affection  
Concluded hath fully/ for my guerdon  
Full demurely/ low/ and nat a loft  
To Mercury/ with sober words soft  
devoid both/ of doubleness and sloth  
Like her behest/ hold will her truth  
And suddenly/ without more Injury  
They disapered/ and the god Mercury  
straight to heaven/ the right way took  
And I anon/ out of my sleep a work.  
¶ Whereof my lord/ whom I most love & dread  
If ye advert/ and wisely take heed  
That this behest/ affirmed in certain  
Was unto me/ assured nat in vain  
Of goodly venus'/ like as I have told  
Wherefore I read/ ye be of heart bold  
Me for to send/ with strong & mighty hand  
Without abode/ into Greeks land  
After the form/ that I have you said  
And I hope/ ye shallbe well apaid  
When I have speed/ as venus hath behyghte  
And home return/ with my lady bright  
So shall ye best/ me list nat speak in vain  
Be echaunge/ of her your sister win again  
Whom Thelamon/ withhold hath of yore  
Lo this is all/ I can say you no more  
touching the effect/ holy of mine advise  
And after that/ still/ sat Paris  
As he that/ fully himself acquit  
But say Priam/ alas where was thy wite  
Of negligence/ for take keep  
Thy trust to set/ on dreams or on sleep  
Full thin/ was thy discretion  
To take a ground/ of false illusion  
For to proceed/ like the fantasy  
Upon a sweven/ meynt with flattery  
Alas reason/ was no thing thy guide  
For Pallas/ was wrongly set aside  
not received/ with dew reverence  
And Iwo eke/ for all her sapience  
For all her good/ and looking debonair  
With her treasure/ and her hests fair  
Refused was/ alas of wilfulness  
And she that is of love/ the goddess  
And eke also/ of vulcanus the wife  
In whose service/ is ever were and strife  
Preferred was/ the appell to proceed  
Again all right/ for Paris took none heed  
Save unto lust/ and set a side truth  
Where thorough alas/ & that was full great ruth  
The mighty rich/ and the noble town  
Of Troy/ was brought to confusyowne  
only for he/ knighthood hath forsake  
Prudence and gold/ and in his choice tale  
only a woman/ and hold him thereto  
That after was/ root of all their woe  
As this story/ seriously shall tell  
But I in dreams/ will no longer dwell  
But write forth/ how that Dephebus  
The third son/ of king Pryamus  
His tale 'gan/ in open audience  
And to the king/ shortly in sentence  
As he that list/ a truth nat to spare  
Even thus/ his conceit to declare.  
My lord quoth he/ if that every wight  
Aduerte should/ and cast in his sight  
Of future thing/ the peril and the doubt  
And cerche it/ within and without  
From point to point/ alway in his reason  
To cast doubts/ and turn up so down  
Than no wight should/ to no purpose wend  
In any matter/ for to make an end  
Other presume/ by manhood in his thought  
Who cast perils/ achieveth little or nought  
For if the ploughman/ always cast aforne  
How many grains/ in his field of corn  
shallbe devoured/ of fowls ravenous  
That he doth sow/ in fields plenteous  
Than should he never/ in vale nor in plain  
For cowardshyp/ throw abroad his grain  
let all such dread/ now be laid aside  
I hold folly/ longer to abide  
But the Paris/ my brother make him strong  
With his ships/ for to venge our wrong  
Upon greeks/ with all his pain and might  
To prove shortly/ that he is a knight  
For of reason/ ye consydre may  
How that no man justly/ may say nay  
But that Paris hath/ counseled we'll  
For by my truth/ as fer as I can feel  
It were error/ his purpose to contrary  
Wherefore/ let him now no longer tarry  
But hold his way/ with a strong navy  
For to avenge/ the great velanye  
That greeks have/ if ye take heed  
Done heretofore to us/ and to our kindred  
And for final execution  
Of the recure/ touching Exyon  
Whom they treat/ in dishonest wise  
Against all right/ and title of justice  
That to think/ it giveth my heart a wound  
The shame of which/ so new doth rebound  
Upon all/ that be of her ally  
Wherefore the best/ that I can espy  
Is that Paris/ take this viage  
With such as be/ of fresh and lusty age  
Manly to wend/ into Greeks land  
And by force/ of their mighty hand  
Maugre the Greeks/ proud and most elate  
Ravysshe there/ some lady of estate  
And than ye may/ by knighthood of my brother  
If ye list change/ her for that other  
This most ready/ and short conclusion  
That I can see/ for restitution  
Of Exyone/ if that Paris wend  
And of my counsel/ shortly thus the end.  
And than as fast/ full discrete and sage  
Helenus the fourth son/ of age  
Rose from his seat/ with great reverence  
praying his father/ grant him audience  
That he may say/ in presence of them all  
Openly/ what that shallbe fall  
As he that most/ of secret things can  
And soberly/ thus his tale began  
With clean intent/ and true affection  
My lord quoth he/ with supportation  
Of your grace/ wherein is most my trust  
Let none offence/ be unto your lust  
Nor you displease/ though I say my conceit  
sith ye know/ I mean no deceit  
For never yet/ failed no sentence  
But that it fill/ in experience  
Like as I told/ in party and in all  
In prive treat/ and in general  
Without meaning/ of any doubleness  
That it followed/ as I died express  
Remember you/ and ye shall find it true  
And if god will/ I shall nat now of new  
Spare for to say/ like as I conceive  
Nor to be deed/ with fraud you deceive  
Declaring first/ of true entencion  
As it shall follow/ in conclusion.  
That if Paris/ into Grece wend  
Trust me well/ it will us all shende  
The gods have/ by revelation  
Made unto me/ demonstration  
And eke I know it/ by astronomy  
For never yet/ in my prophecy  
Ne was I deceived/ of that should fall  
Nor none that list/ me to counsel call  
So am I taught/ of thing that shall betide  
Wherefore I pray/ for rancour nor for pride  
Nor for envy/ of none old hatred  
To take vengeance/ that ye nat proceed  
In your advise/ like as ye purpose  
I say you plainly/ for me list nat gloze  
Ye shall repent/ if ye Paris send  
Into Grece/ the which god defend  
Wit this well for the conclusion  
Shall fully turn/ to our destruction  
And finally/ into our ruin  
Like as to you/ I 'gan afore divine  
For this the fine/ that there follow shall  
Subversion/ both of town and wall  
Of palace/ house/ here in our city  
All goth to nought/ ye get no more of me  
For me seemeth/ it aught enough suffice  
That I have said/ sith that ye be wise  
For if that ye/ advert to my saw  
I doubt nat/ that ye will withdraw  
Your hand be time/ or that more damage  
Assail you/ by constraint of this rage  
For better is/ betimes to abstain  
From this purpose/ which is yet but green  
Than of heed hastily assent  
To thing for which/ we shall eachone repent  
For plenerly there shall/ no thing succour  
That there shall follow/ of you and all your  
despiteful death/ without excepciowne  
Of one and all/ abiding in this town  
first on yourself/ plainly to indite  
Shall the vengeance/ of the greeks bite  
thorough the fury/ of their mortal tene  
And your wife/ cuba the queen  
Shall lead her life/ thorough greeks cruelty  
In sorrow and woe/ and in captivity  
And your lieges/ by the sword shall place  
Of cruel de●h/ without any grace  
And innocentes/ merciless shall bleed  
In your advice/ if that ye proceed  
Of wilfulness/ a were for to make  
And foolily/ for to undertake  
For to parturbe/ your quiet and your rest  
Which shall turn/ no thing for the best  
But to ruin/ of you/ and of us all  
I can no more ● but or that mischief fall  
My counsel is/ afore for to provide  
And wilfulness/ for to set aside  
Specially/ when death as I you told  
Must be the fine/ if ye your purpose hold  
Lo here is all/ without words more  
Into grece/ if that Paris go.  
¶ And in this wise/ when that Helenus  
Had plainly said/ as Guydo telleth us  
Tryste and heavy/ with a pale face  
Again resorteth/ to his sitting place  
Of whose sentence/ atoned everichone  
Sat in silence/ still as any stone  
Powerles their hearts to resume  
To speak a word/ no man dare presume  
Of all the press/ but kept their lips close  
That at the last/ Troylous up arose  
young fresh and lusty/ and courageous also  
And aye desirous/ for to have a do  
In arms manly/ as longeth to a knight  
And when that he of there/ full glad and light  
Saw his father/ and brethren everichone  
So inly troubled/ thus he spoke anon.  
O noble and worthy/ sitting environ  
Of high prudence/ and great discretion  
Manful also/ and of high courage  
What sudden fere/ hath brought you in this rage  
What new trouble/ is cropen in your breast  
For the sentence/ of a coward pressed  
sith they eachone/ as ye shall ever find  
Desire more verily/ of kind  
To live in lust/ and void away travail  
And deadly hate/ to here of battle  
For they their wit/ finally apply  
To sew their lust/ and live in gluttony  
To fill their stomach/ and restore their maw  
To rest and ease/ ever for to draw  
And to sew/ their inward appetite  
Thus their joy/ and thus their delight  
In eating drinking/ and in covetise  
Is their study/ and fully to devise  
How they may follow/ their lust without more  
Of right nought else/ set they no store  
Alas for shame/ why be ye so dismayed  
And sit mate/ atoned and afraid  
For the words/ of this Helenus  
fearful for dread/ as a little mous  
That he quaketh/ to here speak of fight  
And more over/ again all skill and right  
In prejudice/ of the gods all  
He taketh on him/ to say what shall befall  
Of thing futur/ for to specify  
As he had/ a spirit of prophecy  
Granted to him alone/ in special  
As though he were/ in cunning perygall  
To the gods/ having prescience  
To show afore/ thorough his sapience  
What shall betide/ either evil or good  
Let be let be/ for no wight is so wooed  
That hath his wit/ to give thereto credence  
That any man/ by craft or by science  
That mortal is/ hath cunning to divine  
Fortune's course/ or fates to termine  
Such causes hid/ concealed in secree  
Reserved be/ to god's prevytee  
Men may divine/ but all is but folly  
To take heed/ for they do but lie  
Wherefore I read/ as in this matter  
Both one and all/ and you my lord most dear  
To exclude all dread/ and all that may disturb  
Out of your heart/ and let no thing perturb  
Your high courages/ that helenus hath told  
And if that he/ of heart be nat bold  
As manhood would/ to help venge our wrong  
Let him go hide him/ in the temple strong  
And keep him close/ in contemplation  
To wake and pray/ by devotion  
Without succour/ a days and a nights  
And suffer such/ as be lusty knights  
To haunt their youth/ and green lustiness  
Manly in arms/ to prove their hardiness  
That they may have/ the better acquaintance  
In time coming/ for to do vengeance  
On their enemies/ and their cruel ●oon  
And command/ that Paris may forth goon  
To execute/ the fine/ of your intent  
Afore purposed/ in your parliament  
Upon greeks/ for their offension  
To perform up/ the pain of talyon  
For wrongs old/ of which yet the fame  
Rehearsed is/ unto our alder shame  
thorough out the world/ ye wot this is no les  
And therewithal/ Troilus held his pes  
And suddenly all/ that were present  
Began at once/ all by one assent  
Troilus counsel/ greatly for to praise  
And his manhood/ to the heaven raise  
His fresh courage/ and his high prowess  
His fervent zeal/ and his hardiness  
And of one heart/ greatly him commend  
And right anon/ there they made an end  
Than Pryamus/ when that all was done  
Upon the time/ of the hour of noon  
To meet goth/ within Ilyon  
All his sons/ sitting environ  
And after meet/ he called hath Paris  
And Dephebus/ also that was full wis  
And secretly/ bade they should go  
The same day/ with other lords more  
To Panomye/ in all the haste they may  
To make them ready/ again a certain day  
With all the array/ of worthy chivalry  
That they may get/ in their company  
Towards grece/ to sail hastily  
And after that/ the king all suddenly  
The next day made/ his counsel call  
And even thus/ he said afore them all.  
¶ O noble lieges/ being now present  
My purpose is/ to say you mine intent  
Without abode/ to here it if ye list  
As I suppose/ to you is nat unwyste  
How the greeks/ of pride and tyranny  
Of malices old/ compassed by envy  
In many wise/ have again us wrought  
Which is so green/ that I foryete nought  
For day by day/ increasing ever more  
By remembrance/ renewed is my woe  
When I record/ and cast up and down  
Our griefs all/ and how that Exyowne  
In servitude/ among them doth sojourn  
Which oft a day/ causeth me to mourn  
And my heart almost/ asunder rive  
For to consider/ and see it by my live  
Whose cruelty/ we have to dear bought  
notwithstanding/ that I have means sought  
To have be in rest/ without any more  
When into Grece/ I sent Anthenore  
peaceably my sister/ to recure  
And the surplus/ patiently to endure  
But all for nought/ they took of it no heed  
For all that/ I offered of goodlihead  
It was nat heard/ for lack of gentilesse  
Record of which/ doubleth my distress.  
¶ Wherefore we must/ as teacheth Suxgerye  
With sharp irons/ seek remedy  
To cut away/ by the root round  
The proud flesh/ that groweth in the ground  
Which will nat void/ with ointments soft  
Albe that they/ be laid thereto full oft  
Right so by example/ we must by duresse  
Get recure/ when that with fairness  
We may none have/ wherefore by your advise  
My purpose is/ to send forth Paryse  
Into grece/ some lady there to win  
And bring her home/ & we shall here within  
Keep her strong/ maugre who saith nay  
Till that we see/ some agreeable day  
That they be fain/ like mine opinion  
To have eschaunge/ for her of Exyon  
My dear sister/ whom I love so  
We may nat fail/ that it shall be do  
So the gods/ be to us favourable  
And this counsel/ be also acceptable  
To you eachone/ as it is to me  
For when a king/ toucheth a comonte  
Of wise men/ as it is affirmed  
Of all the common/ it ought be confirmed  
Thing touching all/ should be apreved  
Of all eachone/ or it were achieved  
Wherefore I cast/ by advise of you eachone  
Plainly to work/ and with that word anon  
This noble Priam's/ was suddenly in pease  
And after that amongs/ all the press  
When all was whyste/ in their aller sight  
A knight up rose/ and Pentheus he height  
That soon was/ to Euforbyus  
De transformatis/ as saith Ouydius  
Into whom he feigneth/ that there was  
Whilom the soul/ of Pictagoras  
holy transsumed/ so as write Ovid  
As touching that/ I will no longer bide  
But tell forth/ of this Pentheus  
Afore the king/ which 'gan his tale thus.  
My lyege lord/ unto your high noblesse  
Displease it nat/ nor to your worthiness  
In presence of your/ majesty  
That I shall say/ for to acquit me  
Towards you/ of my faith and truth  
For sooth fastly/ in me may be no sloth  
touching your honour/ that without dread  
With zeal of faith/ I bren as doth the gleed  
Of all harms/ to bid you beware  
For doubtless/ affirm well I dare  
If ye stand/ in your first advise  
As ye purpose/ to send forth Paryse  
I doubt it nat/ that it shall you rue  
For god well wore/ of old and nat of new  
I had a father called/ Euforbyus  
Discrete and wise/ and right virtuous  
And knowing had afore/ of every thing  
By prescience/ and before witting  
To tell plainly/ thorough his philosophy  
So heavenly he saw/ with his hearts eye  
That there ●e was/ no thing so secree  
hid from his knowing/ nor no pryvetee  
That he it knew/ he was of wit so sage  
And at the last/ when he was of age  
An hundred year/ with lokkes grey and door  
I can remember/ how he complained sore  
And wept also/ of pity tenderly  
Fully affirming/ if Paris utterly  
Went into grece/ to ravysshe him a wife  
There should follow/ such a mortal strife  
Upon us all/ that soothly this city  
Should into ashes/ and scyndres turned be  
And that there should/ nothing us succour  
That greeks sword/ shall cruelly devour  
Both high and low/ and plainly spare none  
Wherefore I pray/ among you everichone  
Of that I tell/ have no despite  
Your wrong to venge/ put in respite  
And rancour old/ I read that ye let  
And the tranquylle/ now of your quiet  
Of hastiness/ that ye nat submit  
To fortune/ that can so falsely flit  
Perturb nat/ for none old enmity  
With new steering/ your felicity  
For if that ye/ to this journey assent  
Ye everichone full sore/ shall repent  
And if ye will/ algates thither send  
In Paris stead/ let some other wend  
List his viage/ be to you no speed  
This my counsayse/ and this is full my rede  
Said under support/ only of your grace  
And suddenly/ they 'gan eachone to chase  
At Pentheus'/ and loud again him cry  
Repreving him/ and the prophecy  
Of his father/ to their confusion  
¶ But o alas/ the revolution  
Of joy or woe/ or of felicity  
For thing ordained/ needs must be  
The order of things/ with fate is so englewed  
For that shall fall/ may nat be eschewed  
Which caused them/ for to assent in one  
Vndiscretly/ that Paris should gone  
Unhappily with hap/ they were enuolued  
¶ And thus concluding/ their counsel is dissolved  
But casually/ it befell right than  
That this advise/ unto the ears ran  
Of Cassandra/ and she with great afray  
Of sudden woe/ 'gan cry wellaway.  
¶ Alas quoth she alas/ what will ye do  
What shall Paris/ now into grece go  
And with that word/ she burst out to weep  
Full piteously/ with inward sighs deep  
She 'gan to wail/ and swoon for the pain  
And furiously/ with noise to complain  
With woeful rage/ and many piteous sown  
She made/ a mortal lamentaciowne  
For to be deed/ she might her nat withhold  
With here to torn/ and with fists fold  
She said alas/ more than an hundred sith  
A stormy fortune/ why list thou to kythe  
Thy cruel force/ to our adversity  
Upon us all/ and upon this city  
Of mortal ire/ and gery violence  
With sword of vengeance/ worse than pestilence  
¶ O Troy Troy/ what is thy guilt alas  
What hast thou done/ what is thy trespass  
To be eversed/ and turned into nought  
With wild fire/ thy sin is dear about  
A Priam's king/ uncely is thy chance  
What hast thou guilt/ either do grievance  
To thy god's/ or wyrched thorough unryght  
Them to provoke/ to show their cruel might  
Upon thy blood/ alas what hast thou do  
O mother mine/ O Ecuba also  
What manner crime/ or importable offence  
Hast thou wrought/ to have such recompense  
The day to abide/ O noble worthy queen  
Of thy sons such vengeance for to seen  
O woeful death/ cruel and horrible  
Alas why are ye/ no more credible  
To my counsel/ such harms to eschew  
Your mortal purpose/ fully to remove  
That he go nat/ as it is ordained  
For thought of which/ I am so constrained  
That uneath/ I may the woe endure  
And to her father/ this woeful creature  
Held straight her way/ & falleth plat to ground  
And of her weeping/ all in water wound  
By her cheeks/ so the tears rain  
And as she might/ for constraint of her pain  
Upon him/ she 'gan clip and cry  
beseeching him/ to shape a remedy  
With piteous voice/ as she that knew full weal  
In this matter/ plainly every deal  
What shall befaile/ and had it full in mind  
The sudden harms/ that we shall behind  
But all her clamour/ was nat but in vain  
For that shall fall/ as some clerks say  
Ne may nat well/ of men eschewed be  
And eke fortune/ by great adversity  
Of hasty Ire/ furious and wood  
And unkind/ to the Trojan blood  
causeless/ against them aggrieved  
And of rancour/ suddenly moved  
With blind await/ to catch them in atraunce  
By violence/ of her unhappy chance  
Hath with a sweyght turned/ her wheel unstable  
As she that is/ envious and mutable  
To haste Trojans/ to their confusion  
Of wilfulness/ and undiscretion  
Against greeks/ quarrel for to make  
And thereupon/ have their counsel take  
And achieved/ as ye have herd devise  
Without assent/ of the most wise  
For if they had/ the diffynation  
Of Ector heard/ concluded in reason  
In this matter/ and of helenus  
The counsel take/ and to Pentheus  
Adverted wisely/ and to his sentence  
Without feigning/ your full credence  
And of Cassandra/ that never could lie  
Prudently heard/ the prophecy  
from point to point/ for to cast aforne  
In such mischief/ they had nat be lost  
But flowered yet/ in their felicity  
Without damage/ and adversity  
But fortune will/ have her course always  
Whose purpose holdeth/ who saith ye or nay  
For she it was/ that made this viage  
With forehead plain/ and a false visage  
with sugar out shed/ and venom in the root  
Bitter of taste/ and in showing soot  
wrynkled double/ like an horned snail  
Faith in their face/ and fraud aye in the tail  
To haste trojans/ accord into one  
That Paris should/ into Grece gone  
As ye have heard/ there is to more to say  
For here upon/ they cast them to ordain    

¶ How king Priamus sent Paris into grece with Dephebus/ & other men of arms for to take vengeance on the greeks/ & how they took the fair Helen queen unto Menelaus/ and brought her unto Troy. Capitulo. xiij.  

THe time approacheth/ when the son sheen  
His golden wain/ whyrled up at ween  
The clear stars/ of yades so read  
which have their sight/ in the crabs heed  
And Plyades/ the seventh star bright  
Of which six appear to our sight  
For the seventh/ draweth her aside  
And covertly/ doth her beams hide  
Whilom for she died/ a great offence  
That unto us/ causeth her absence  
For she dare/ nat/ show her streams clear  
Nor with her susterne/ openly appear  
Whilom for she/ with a god mortal  
Died a sin/ that was crymynall  
Which noised was/ & kou●he thorough the heaven  
That she alone/ among the susterne seven  
Shroudeth to us/ shamefastly her cheer  
¶ And when Titan/ in the zoudyak spear  
atween these stars/ had take his see  
Of the bull/ in the sixteen degree  
Upon the time/ of the jolly green may  
When that Flora/ with her hews gay  
Hath every plain meadow/ hill and vale  
With her flowers quick/ and no thing pale  
Over spread and clad/ in liver new  
And branches blosme/ with many lusty hew  
And bid us fully/ to be glad and light  
For by assurance/ they have their fruit behyght  
Again autumn/ who that list them shake  
When on wines/ ripeth every grape  
And thus this season/ most lusty of disport  
Embraceth/ hearts with new recomfort  
only of hope/ by kind as it is dew  
That wholesome fruit/ shall the blossoms sew  
When time cometh/ by revolution  
And thus in May/ the lusty fresh season  
When brides sing/ in their harmony  
The same time/ out of Panomye  
Repaired be/ Dephebus and Paris  
And with them brought/ chosen by device  
Three thousand knights/ ready for to gone  
With them to grece/ and ships many one  
Full victualed/ of all that may them need  
And of these ships/ the number as I read  
Was two and twenty/ like as write Guydo  
And after this/ without more ado  
The king commandeth/ unto Aeneas  
To Antenor/ and to Polydamas  
In all haste/ that they them ready make  
With Paris/ knightly for to undertake  
As ye have heard/ this journey to achieve  
And on the time/ when they took their leave  
Pryamus with short conclusion  
showeth the effect/ of his entencion  
And specially/ that they their devoir done  
For to recure/ his sister Exyone  
As ye have heard/ here tofore me tell  
What should I more/ in this matter dwell  
When they were ready/ without more soiour  
This Paris first/ as lord and governor  
Of this viage/ made by Pryamus  
And his brother/ called Dephebus  
Their leave took/ with weeping tenderly  
And after that/ to ship manfully  
Without abode/ they began them dress  
And in the name/ of venus' the goddess  
And mighty jove/ they took their journey  
They hale up anchor/ and by the large see  
They 'gan to sail/ & have the wind at will  
The water calm/ blandishing and still  
Without trouble/ of any boisterous wawe  
And to the costs/ they 'gan fast draw  
Of greeks land/ for no thing them let  
And of fortune/ in their course they met  
A greekish ship/ mine Author telleth thus  
In which there was/ the king Menelaus  
Toward Priam's/ a famous strong city  
For to visit a Duke/ of high degree  
That Nestor hight/ and this Menelaus  
Was brother eke/ unto the king famous  
The wise worthy great/ Agamenon  
Most of name/ and reputation  
amongs greeks/ for his worthiness  
And Menelay/ this story beareth witness  
husband was/ to the queen Eleyne  
That was sister/ to the brethren twain  
Castor and Pollux/ which as I you told  
Were of their hand/ so worthy knight hold  
And in that time/ like to their degree  
In Strynestar/ their most chief city  
They held a household/ solemn and ryall  
The love of whom/ was so special  
Of will and heart/ according with the deed  
atwix them two/ of very bretherhede  
That none from other/ could live alone  
With whom was eke/ the maid Hermyone  
The young daughter/ of the queen Eleyne  
Of fairness/ most inly sovereign  
Most passingly/ excelling in beauty  
¶ And thus Trojans/ sailing by the see  
Toward grece/ among the wawes wet  
Of adventure/ happened for to meet  
King Menelaus/ sailing by their side  
And none of them list/ of very pride  
For to inquire/ what that other was  
But pass forth/ a full huge pas  
For none of them/ other could know  
And aye the wind/ pesybly 'gan blow  
The Trojan fleet/ causing in a while  
For to approach/ to the noble isle  
That called is/ Cythera this day  
And in the haven/ in all the hast they may  
They cast anchor/ & bond their ships strong  
And after that/ them list nat tarry long  
To take the land/ full many lusty man  
Arrayeng them/ as freshly as they can.  
¶ Now in this isle/ of passing excellence  
There was a temple/ of great reverence  
That builded was/ of old foundation  
And most honoured/ in that region  
Thorughout the land/ both fer and near  
The feast day/ aye from year to year  
Like as it fill/ by revolution  
Repeyring thither/ of great devotion  
In honour/ only of venus the goddess  
Whom the greeks/ with all their business  
Honoured most/ of every manner age  
With gifts bringing/ & with pilgrimage  
With great offering/ and with sacrifice  
As used was/ in their paynim wise.  
¶ For in this fane/ as they kneel and wake  
With contrite heart/ and their prayer make  
The statute gave/ of every question  
Plain answer/ and full solution  
With ceremonies/ to venus as they lout  
Of every thing/ that they had doubt  
They had/ full declaration  
And thus the greeks/ upon Cithaeron  
hallow this feste/ with rich and great array  
With rites dew/ as farforth as they may  
In hope fully/ the better for to thrive  
¶ And of fortune/ when he died aryue  
Up to the land/ by adventure or cas  
The same time/ this feast hallowed was  
Of many a greek/ coming to and fro  
From every cost that/ to the temple go  
On pilgrimage/ their vows to acquit  
Of the place/ the relics to visit.  
¶ And when Paris/ died this espy  
He gathered out/ of his company  
The worthiest/ that he cheese may  
And to the temple/ he took the right way  
Full well beseen/ and in knightly wise  
And died his honour/ and his sacrifice  
Full humbly/ to the greeks lyche  
With many an ouche/ and jewel rich  
With gold and silver/ stones and perre  
He spendeth there/ like to his degree  
And quit him manly/ in his oblacionus  
And devoutly/ in his orisons  
He him demeneth/ that joy was to see  
¶ Now was Paris/ of passing great beauty  
amongs all/ that ever were alive  
For there was none/ that might with whym strive  
Trojan nor greek/ to speak of semelyhede  
Wonder fresh/ and lusty/ as I read  
And in his port/ full like a gentle knight  
Of whose person/ for to have a sight  
They 'gan to press/ both nigh and fere  
So rially/ he had him in his gear  
And covet/ of high estate and low  
What he was/ greatly for to know  
And of his men/ they ask busily  
Fro whence he came/ and the cause why  
Of his coming/ enquering one by one  
But prudently/ they kept them everichone  
That no thing was/ openly espied  
In their answer/ so they have them guide  
That every thing/ kept was secree  
everich of them/ was so avysee  
Albe that some/ openly declare  
What that he was/ and ne list nat spare  
But told plainly/ the cause of his coming  
And how Priam/ the strong mighty king  
His father was/ most rial of renown  
And how he came also/ for Exyowne  
Thus each of them/ 'gan with other rowne  
At prime face/ when he came to town  
And thereupon/ were ymagynatyfe  
Sore musing/ and inquysityfe  
Each with other/ by suspection  
deeming thereof/ like their opinion  
And rathest they/ that no thing ne knew  
As folks done/ of things that be new  
And whiles they/ of this matter treat  
In sundry wise/ among their words great  
The saying of them/ 'gan anon attain  
To the ears/ of the queen Eleyne  
Nigh beside/ in that region  
And when she heard/ by revelation  
And by report of them/ that came between  
This fair Eleyne/ this fresh lusty queen  
Anon as she/ the sooth/ understood  
Without tarrying/ or any more abode  
She hasteth her/ to this solemnity  
The fresh folk/ of Frygye/ for to see  
Well more god wot/ in her entencion  
To see Paris/ than for devotion  
Under colour/ of holy pilgrimage  
To the temple/ she taketh her viage  
With a great main/ and rial of parayle  
Paris to see for she will nat fail.  
But alas/ what lusty new fire  
Hath her heart, en●lawmed by desire  
To go to vigiles/ either to spectacles  
None holiness/ to here of miracles  
Hath moved her/ that there shall befall  
But as the manner/ is of women all  
To draw thither/ platly to conclude  
Where as they be sure/ that multitude  
gathered is at liberty to see  
Where they find/ opportunyte  
To their desire/ full narrow they await  
Now covertly/ their eyen for to bait  
In place where as/ set is their pleasance  
Now privily/ to have their dalliance  
By some sign or casting of an eye  
Or tokens showing/ in heart what they dry  
With touch of hands/ stole among the press  
With arm or foot to catch up in their lose  
Whom that them list/ all be he free or bond  
Of nature/ they can him hold an hand  
Again whose sleyghte/ availeth wit nor might  
For what them list/ be it wrong or right  
They aye achieve/ who saith ye or nay  
Again whose lust/ defend him no man may.  
Thus Guydo/ aye of cursed false delight  
To speak them harm/ hath caught an appetite  
Thorughout his book/ of women to say ill  
That to translate/ it is again my will  
He hath aye joy/ their honour to transuerse  
I am sorry/ that I must rehearse  
The fell words/ in his book I found  
To all women/ I am so much bound  
They ●e eachone/ so goodly and so kind  
I dare of them/ nat say as I find  
Of Guydoes write/ throughout Troy book  
For when I red/ for fear my heart quoke  
And verily/ my wits 'gan fail  
When I thereof/ made rehearsal  
Like his decrete/ but Guydo now be quit  
For ye shall here anon/ how that he chyt  
The queen Eleyne/ for cause that she went  
With devout heart/ her offering to present  
To the temple/ of venus' the goddess  
Thus word by word/ he saith to her express  
O mortal harm/ that most is for to dread  
A fraud I ●aste/ by sleyghte of womanhead  
Of every woe/ beginning crop and rote  
Against which/ help may no boat  
When lust hath drive/ in their heart avail  
Ay deadly venom/ seweth at the tail  
Which no man/ hath power to restrain  
Record I take/ of the queen Eleyne  
That ho●e brent/ alas in her desires  
Of new lust/ to deal with straungeres  
Whom she knew nat/ ne never saw aforne  
Where thorough alas/ full many men were lost  
Of cruel death/ embraced in the chain  
Without pity/ now say thou queen Eleyne  
What ghost or spirit/ alas hath moved thee  
Sool fro thy lord/ in such royalty  
Out of thy house/ to go among the press  
Why were thou weary/ to live at home in pease  
And went out/ strangers for to see  
Taking no heed/ unto thine honest  
Thou shouldest have kept/ thy closet secretly  
And nat have passed out/ so foolily  
In the absence/ of thy lord alas  
Thou were to wilful/ and rakell in this ●as  
To see afore/ what should after sew  
For all to soon/ thou were drawn out of mewe  
That could not keep/ at home thy bounds  
Thou goest out/ as hare among the hounds  
For to be caught/ of very wilfulness  
And thy desire/ couldst nat compesse  
For though thy lust/ list nat to refrain  
O many woman/ hath caught in a train  
Their going out/ such hallows for to seek  
It sit them better/ themself for to keep  
Close in their chamber/ and i'll occasiowne  
For never ship should/ in peril drown  
Nor scatre on rock/ nor be with tempestrent  
Nor with carybbes/ devoured or I shent  
Nor go to wreck/ with no weders ill  
If it were kept/ in the haven still  
For who will nat/ occasions eschew  
Nor dread no/ peril for to sew  
He must among/ of necessity  
Or he be aware/ endure adversity  
And who can nat/ her foot fro traps spare  
Let her/ be ware or she fall in the snare  
For harm I done/ to late is to complain  
For if whilom/ the worthy queen Eleyne  
Herself had kept/ at home in close  
Of her there ne had be/ so wick a lose  
Reported ye● green/ free she and new  
Whose chance unhappy/ ethe man ought rue  
That cause was/ of such destruction  
O● many worthy/ and confusion  
Of her worthy husband/ and many other more  
On greeks side/ and on Troy also  
In this story/ as ye shall after read  
And so this queen/ as fast as she may speed  
To the temple/ hath the way nome  
Full rially/ and when that she was come  
Full devoutly/ within Cithaeron  
Made unto venus'/ her oblation  
In presence and sight/ of many one  
With many jewel/ and many rich stone.  
And when Paris had/ this espied  
To the temple/ anon he hath him hied  
Full thryf te/ in all the haste he might  
And when that he had/ first a sight  
Of the goodly/ fair fresh queen  
Cupid's dart/ that is whet so keen  
Or he was ware/ hath him marked so  
That for atoned/ he ne wist what to do  
So he marveleth her great seemliness  
her womanhead/ her port and her fairness  
For never afore/ ne wend he that nature  
Coude have made/ so fair a creature  
So aungellyke/ she was of her beauty  
So femynyne/ so goodly on to see  
That he dempte/ as by likeliness  
For her beauty/ to be some goddess  
For his heart/ died him aye assure  
That she was/ no mortal creature  
So heavenly fair/ and so celestial  
He thought she was/ in party and in all  
And considereth/ for advisedly  
Her future's in order/ by and by  
intentively/ within his reason  
Every thing/ by good inspection  
Her golden here/ like the son streams  
Of fresh Phoebus'/ with his bright beams  
The goodlihead/ of her freshly face  
So replenished/ of beauty and grace  
Even ennewed/ with quickness of colour  
Of the rose/ and the lily flower  
So equally/ that nouther was to wite  
thorough none excess/ of moche nor of light  
Within the cercling/ of her eyen bright  
Was paradies compassed/ in her sight  
That thorough abreste/ the beauty would pierce  
And certainly/ if I shall rehearse  
Her shap her form/ and future's by and by  
As Guydo doth/ by order seriously  
From heed to fo●e/ clearly to devise  
I have none english/ that thereto may suffice  
It will nat be/ our tongue is not like  
I want flowers/ also of rhetoric  
To sew his flourysshing/ or his gay painture  
For to describe/ so fair a creature  
For my colours/ be to feeble and faint  
That neither can ennewe/ well nor paint  
Eke I am nat acquainted/ with no●use  
Of all mine/ therefore I me excuse  
To you eachone/ nat all of negligence  
But for default/ only of eloquence  
And you remit/ to Guydo for to see  
How he descryveth/ by order her beauty  
To take on me/ it were presumpciowne  
¶ But I will tell/ how Paris up and down  
Gothe in the temple/ and his eye cast  
Toward Eleyne/ and 'gan press fast  
As he that brent/ hoot in loves fire  
That was enflawmed/ greatly by desire  
And oft he changeth countenance & cheer  
And ever he neigheth/ to her near and near  
Ydarted thorough/ with her eyen twain  
And again ward/ the fresh queen Eleyne  
As hoot brent/ in heart privily  
Albe no man/ it outward could espy  
For she thought/ she had never afore  
Of all men/ that ever yet were boar  
See none so fair/ nor like her pleasance  
On him to look/ was her suffisance  
For in the temple/ she took heed of right nought  
But to compass/ and cast in her thought  
How she may catch/ opportunyte  
With him to speak/ at good liberty  
This holy was/ all her business  
For him she felt/ so inly great distress  
That oft she changeth/ countenance & hew  
And venus hath/ marked them of new  
With her brands/ fired by fervence  
And enflawmed/ by sudden influence  
That equally they were brought in a rage  
And save the eye/ atwe●e was no message  
Each on other so fix/ hath cast their sight  
That they conceive/ and wist ●one right  
Within themselves/ what their heart mente  
And ne●e to her/ ever Paris went  
To seek fully and get occasion  
That they might by full relation  
Their hearts conceit/ declare secretly  
And so vefell that Paris nigheth nigh  
To the place/ where the queen Eleyne  
Stood in her see/ and there at ween them twain  
They broke out/ the sum of all their heart  
And gave issue/ to their inward smart  
But this was done/ list they were espied  
When the people was/ most occupied  
In the temple● for to stare and gaze  
Now here now there/ as it were on a maze  
They kept them close/ that no word asterte  
There was no man/ the treason might advert  
Of them twain/ ne what they would mean  
But at the last/ Paris and this queen  
Concluded have/ with short advisement  
Fully the fine/ of their both intent  
And set a purpose/ betwixt them in certain  
When they cast/ for to meet again  
But list men had to them suspection  
They made an end/ without more sermon  
And depart/ albe that they were loath  
And soberly anon/ this Paris goeth  
Out of the temple/ his heart in every part  
Wounded thorough out/ with loves fiery dart  
To his ships/ he held the right way  
And than anon/ in all the haste he may  
When assembled was/ his chivalry  
One and other/ of his company  
In few words/ as shortly as I can  
Tofore them all/ his tale thus he 'gan.   

Sy●res quod he/ shortly to express  
The cause is couth/ to your worthiness  
Why my father/ into Grece us scent  
For as ye know/ the chief of his intent  
Was to recure/ his sister Exyon  
Out of the hands/ of king Thelamon  
The which thing/ for aught I can espy  
Is impossible/ shortly in mine eye  
By any way/ as fer as I can see  
He is so great/ and strong in this country  
Of his allies/ about on every side  
And in heart ● so inly full of pride  
To yield her up/ he hath nat but disdain  
Thereof to treat/ it were nat but in vain  
Therefore the best/ that I can devise  
sith our power/ may nat now suffice  
To warray him/ in this region  
We be nat equal/ of might nor of renown  
For lack of men/ with him to hold a field  
We may nat semble/ with spear nor with shield  
To encounter him/ with all his multitude  
Wherefore the best/ that I can conclude  
Is sith fortune/ hath us hither brought  
And the gods/ have eke for us wrought  
So graciously/ to make us for to land  
At venus' temple/ fast by the strand  
Which aboundeth/ with full great richesse  
Of greeks offering/ unto the goddess  
By land and see/ fro many sundry port  
Of men and women/ that have here resort  
To that place/ in worship of venus  
So that the wife/ of king Menelaus  
Is there present/ full rich and well beseyne  
And if that we/ by manhood might attain  
To ravish her/ and the temple spoil  
And of their treasure/ chesen out and coil  
The chief jewels/ and charge our summer's  
With gold and silver/ and take prisoners  
And maugre them/ to our ships bring  
This same night/ without tarrying  
We may nat fail/ who ever that say nay  
If ye assent/ of a rich pray  
Wherefore in haste/ that ye now ready make  
And every man anon/ his harness take  
And arm him well/ in his best array ●  
And they assent/ without more delay  
And in their ships/ they bide till at night  
When Phoebus' chare/ with drawn had his light  
Under wawes/ and stars did appear  
On the heaven/ with their streams clear  
Or the moon/ that time died rise  
They shope them forth/ in full thrifty wise  
The manly Trojans/ in steel armed bright  
To the temple/ holding their way right  
For they cast no longer/ for to tarry  
But proudly enter/ in the sentuarye  
Into the chapel/ called Cithaeron  
Without reverence/ or devotion  
Done to venus'/ in her oratory  
For it was clean/ out of their memory  
Honour and dread/ and all observance  
For finally/ all their attendance  
As mine Auctor/ soothly can define  
Was to right nought/ but only to ravin  
They took all/ that came to their hand  
richesse and treasure/ that was in the land  
Gold and silver/ stones and jewels  
relics sacred/ the holy eke vessels  
Without abode/ out of the sacrarye  
And all yfere/ to their ships carry  
It is a wonder/ to think on the good  
They kill and s●e/ all that them withstood  
It was a pity/ for to see them bleed  
And many greeks/ they to ship lead  
That after lived/ in captivity  
Full many year/ in Troy the city.  
¶ And there whiles goth/ Paris to Eleyne  
And her embraceth/ in his arms twain  
Full humbly/ and with great reverence  
In whom he fond/ no manner resistance  
It sat her nat/ she was so womanly  
For to Paris/ she yold her utterly  
Her heart in hap/ was yold or she came there  
Therefore to yield her/ she had less fere  
She can nat strive/ nor no woman should  
And he anon/ as gentilesse would  
Comforteth her/ as he best can or may  
And lad her with him/ without more delay  
To his ships/ and there full busily  
He set wards/ to keep her honestly  
While he returneth/ to the temple again  
To spoil and rob/ and to make all plain  
thorough the temple/ with walls wide  
¶ Now stood a castle/ fast there beside  
Ystuffed well/ with greekish soldiers  
The which awoke/ with noise of the pylours  
The same night/ and 'gan make a shout  
And therewithal/ anon they issue out  
Armed in steel/ the temple to rescue  
And manfully/ after them they sew  
And so befylle/ when they together met  
With spears sharp/ and swords keen whet.  
¶ They ran together/ as Tiger's unmild  
Like wodelyons/ or these boars wild  
There was no feigning/ found in their fight  
Albe the field/ departed was aright  
For the Trojans/ doubled them in number  
That utterly/ the greeks they encoumbre  
And of mischief/ made them to flee  
And pursue/ after and cruelly them slay  
Without mercy/ to the castle gate  
There was no rescuse/ for they came late  
Of this skarmysshe/ for the fine was death  
Now here now there/ they yold up the breath  
So mightily/ Trojans/ them assail  
That to withstand/ it would nat avail  
For of manhood/ they the field have won  
And after that/ cruelly begun  
In all haste/ to spoil the castle  
And to ship/ they brought everydeal  
treasure & gold/ & what that they may win  
And on the morrow/ to sail they begin  
Stuffed with good/ by the grekysshe see  
Toward the costs/ of Troy the city  
The see was calm/ and fully at their will  
Both of tempest/ and of storms ill  
And clear also/ was the bright heaven  
That in space almost/ of days seven  
At the castle called/ Tenedowne  
They aryue/ six mile fro the town  
And glad and light/ they to land went  
And after that/ I find Paris sent  
His messenger straight/ unto the king  
That him informeth/ of his home coming  
Of their expleyt/ he told him everydeal  
And Pryamus/ liketh wonder weal  
That so manly/ they have borne them out  
And made puplysshe it/ in the town about  
This tidings/ with great solemnity  
To high and low/ thorough out the city  
And that for joy/ the most and the lest  
For remembrance/ hallow and hold a feste  
And thank their god's/ in full humble wise  
With observances/ and with sacrifice  
On their auters/ with great devotion  
And all this while/ he at Tenedon  
Holdeth soiour/ with the queen Eleyne  
The which 'gan reufully/ complain  
Her uncouth life/ to dwell with strangers  
All desolate/ amongs prisoners  
Fer sequestered away/ from her country  
Solytarye/ in captivity  
She weepeth and crieth/ with a piteous cheer  
The burbly wawes/ of her eyen clear  
Like well streams/ by her cheeks rain  
And for constraint/ of her inward pain  
Full oft a day/ her song was wellaway  
With sobbing voice/ that she so far away  
Departed is/ from her Menelaus  
For whose absence/ in rages furious  
Her life she hateth/ and curseth eke fortune  
And in this woe/ she ever doth contune  
Without soiour/ always more and more  
And for her brethren/ Pollux and Castore  
And for the love/ of her daughter dear  
Now pale and green/ she wexyth of her cheer  
That whilom was/ fresher for to seen  
Than the lyllye/ on his stalk gren●  
Alas changed is/ her rosin hew  
And ever on her/ woe increaseth new  
That like no woman/ she was to behold  
For aye she wept/ as she to water would.  
Till at the last/ in all her heaviness  
Paris to her came/ of gentilesse  
her to comfort/ and to appease her rage  
He besyeth him/ her sorrows to assuage  
Saying to her/ what may all this mean  
That ye alas/ o goodly fresh queen  
List thus yourself/ in sorrowing diffygure  
I wonder greatly/ how ye may endure  
So moche water/ causeless to shed  
That with weeping/ have dewed so your weed  
For like a conduit/ the streams ran down  
Like to a penytaunt/ in contryciowne  
Ye you dismay/ alas why do you so  
Let be this fare/ and let it over go  
All your weeping/ thought and heaviness  
And be no more/ my lady in distress  
Make an end/ now of your grievance  
For all the ease comfort/ and pleasance  
That men may do/ trust well ye shall have  
It is but folly/ in sorrow thus to rave  
Let pass over/ all these sharp showers  
And here my truth/ ye and all yours  
Of what your list/ shall have suffisance  
As farforth/ and more abundance  
Than ye had among/ the greeks there  
I you ensure/ and be no thing in fere  
That I shall hold/ all that I have height  
On my truth/ as I am true knight  
In word and deed/ with all my heart enter  
And she anon/ with a doleful cheer  
So as she might/ for sobbing though suffice  
Answered again/ in full lowly wise.  
I wo●e quoth she/ were me loath or lose  
sith I am caught/ & take of this mischief  
Unto your will/ I may nat now with say  
I am so bound/ that I must obey  
Under your danger/ that I may nat flee  
In hold discryved/ and captyvytee.  
¶ Ye wots also/ by nature out of dread  
That it ne longeth/ unto womanhead  
In strange soil/ to strive or rebel  
And namely there/ where as her quarelle  
Shall have no favour/ nor sustained be  
But if you list/ now to have pity  
On me or mine/ of your goodlihead  
Ye may of god/ deserve thank and meed  
That will reward/ justly all though  
That comfort them/ that be in care and wo.  
Now lady mine/ than quod Paris  
What that may like/ or be at your device  
All shallbe do/ trust me right weal  
For by my truth/ as fer as I can feel  
In any thing/ that may you do pleasance  
ye shall it have/ with all abundance  
This I ensure/ of hest nat fallible  
Be nat aghast/ but fully be credible  
To my words/ and hests everichone  
And therewithal/ he lad her right anon  
Into a place/ of royal apparel  
To comfort her/ if it would avail  
And secretly there/ between them two  
This Paris first/ without more a do  
Spoke unto her/ and said lady dear  
I fain nat/ but speak of heart entere  
And that I hope/ ye shall in deed find  
Wherefore I pray/ enprente in your mind  
What I say/ and in your remembrance  
This is to say/ sith ye by purveyance  
Be of the gods/ brought as now thereto  
And fortune eke/ will that it be so  
I dare affirm/ plainly for the first  
That they disposed/ have nat for your wyrste  
But for your good/ and so ye must it take  
Wherefore I read/ to let over shake  
All heaviness/ and look that ye be  
As glad and light/ here in this country  
As though ye were/ in your own land  
For faithfully/ I do you to understand  
ye shall have here/ as moche abundance  
On every part/ with full suffisance  
Of all that may/ be to you pleasant  
For of o thing/ I dare make avaunt  
In this country/ as it shallbe found  
Of all plenty/ we pass and abound  
More richly/ than your greeks yonder  
And though ye be/ fro them now a sunder  
Out of the land/ that called is Achaye  
ye have no cause/ you so to dismay  
sith at worship/ and more reverence  
At more honour/ and greater excellence  
ye shallbe cherished/ more than ye were afore  
And where ye plain/ that ye have forbore  
your own lord/ and be as now left sole  
For whom ye make/ all this woe and dole  
ye shall in haste/ be set better at ease  
For certainly/ so it nat displease  
Nor offend/ unto your womanhead  
In stead of him/ I purpose out of dread  
To wed you/ and be your true man  
To love and serve/ in all that ever I can  
Without feigning/ to my lives end  
And be to you/ as lowly and as kind  
As diligent/ and more laborious  
Than Whilom was/ your Menelaus  
In every thing/ your lusts to obey  
Have here my truth/ till time that I die.  
¶ And though that I/ in wordis be but plain  
For the love of god/ have no disdain  
Of my request/ nor grudge not at all  
For at the lest/ of the stock royal  
I am descended/ and come of as high blood  
As Menelay/ and of birth as good  
And can in love/ to you be more true  
Than he was ever/ and change for no new.  
¶ Wherefore stint thus/ to plain and weep  
And let some comfort/ in your bosom creep  
Your woe appease/ which is nat worth an haw  
And some mirth/ let in your heart adawe  
This I beseech/ and of womanhead  
To my words/ for to take heed.  
¶ Alas quoth she/ how might this befall  
That have left/ my friends one and all  
In a strange land/ and am here alone  
How should I than/ but I made moan  
I have no cause/ god wot for to play  
Nor my cheeks/ for to keep dry  
From salt tears/ alas it will nat be  
That can none end/ of mine adversity  
For in good faith/ it were against kind  
So suddenly to put/ out of mind  
Thilk thing/ that for joy or smart  
In all this world/ sitteth next my heart  
For whom alas/ so sore I am distrained  
But sith god's/ have as now ordained  
No better chance/ of hope unto me  
I can no more/ I must it take at gre  
And humbly accept/ also their sonde  
For I am feeble/ their power to withstand  
Wherefore I shall/ again my will now strive  
Albe for woe/ my heart I feel rive  
For to consent/ and lowly to admit  
Thilk thing/ fro which I may nat flit  
Maugre my will/ of necessity  
Fully to obey/ what ye list do with me  
It will nat help/ though I said nay  
And thus she paineth/ all that ever she may  
little and little/ her sorrow to assuage  
What should she ay/ live in woe and rage  
To lose herself/ so tender a creature  
An heart of steel/ ne might it nat endure  
But aye of women/ the manner and the kind  
That they can nat/ of sorrow make an end  
Till they by leisure/ have wept their full  
But at the last/ when they gynne dull  
To make sorrow/ to hap them as fast  
That by grace/ they soon it over cast  
And lightly catch/ comfort for their smart  
They be so tender/ that men may them convert  
From woe to joy/ & thought from them dissever  
There is no storm/ that may last ever  
As clerks wise/ in books list discern  
Thing violent/ may nat be eterne  
For after storms/ Phoebus' brighter is  
And so by comfort/ and counsel of Paris  
She dawed is/ of her old sorrow  
For even like/ as the glad morrow  
Of kind seweth/ the dark black night  
So by process/ her heart waxeth light  
And of her weeping/ dried is the well  
Like as the story/ shall anon us tell.    

¶ How Paris was received at Troy/ at his home coming/ and how he wedded the fair Eleyne. Capytulo. xiv.  

When the queen/ that called is Eleyne  
Adawed was/ of her dreary pain  
And the wawes/ of her heavy cheer  
On her cheeks/ gone for to clear  
Paris in heart/ fresh and amorous  
In haste hath sent/ to king Pryamus  
For horse and men/ and other apparel  
Clothes of gold/ full noble of entail  
Made for Eleyne/ and wrought for the nonce  
With rich pearl/ and many sundry stones  
Again her coming/ into Troy town  
And after that/ Paris fro Tenedowne  
Shappeth him/ to lead her into Troy  
And Priamus met them/ on the weigh  
Full rially/ as fast as he may high  
With many a lord/ in his company  
Full many lady/ fresh and well beseyne  
And many maid/ that ride them again  
first estates/ and after commoners  
Now had Paris/ all his prisoners  
Set before in order/ twain and twain  
And he road next/ with the queen Eleyne  
And Dephebus/ upon the other side  
And his knights/ enuyrondyde ride  
But next him road/ the worthy Aeneas  
And the Trojan/ called polydamas  
His main suing/ each in his degree  
So gentylmanly/ that joy it was to see  
Eeche from other/ keeping a certain space  
And forth they road/ but a soft pace  
Till that the king/ them met suddenly  
And received them/ solemnly  
As he best could/ and goodly took the rain  
Into his hand/ of the queen Eleyne  
And her conveyed forth/ to his city  
Great was the press/ that abode to see  
Of sundry folk/ that shoved fast and crowd  
The shrill trumpets/ were yreysed loud  
Up to the sky/ goth the blissful sown  
When all this people/ entereth in the town  
And many another/ diverse instrument  
That all tofore/ in at the gates went  
In sundry wise/ that made melody  
That to here/ the heavenly harmony  
By music touched/ upon string and cord  
So even in one/ and justly they accord  
It would an heart/ ravish into joy  
And when they were/ entered into Troy  
amid his palace/ king Priamus alight  
And anon as fast/ as ever he might  
Into a chambre rich/ and well besey  
The queen Eleyne/ in haste he doth convey  
Commanding with heart/ will and thought  
His officers/ that her fail nought  
Of any thing/ that she can bethink  
The spices parted/ anon the wine they drink  
And than the king took leave/ till suppyre  
And she there whiles/ changeth her attire.  
¶ But of the joy/ that was in the town  
In every place/ where men went up & down  
I am to rude/ soothly all to write  
So moche in heart/ the Trojans them delight  
That safe and sound/ returned is Paris  
They wend to have be/ for joy in paradies  
That he so well/ sped/ in his journey  
And hath nat one lost/ of his main  
Whereof they be/ in heart glad and light  
And in all haste/ after the next night  
As write Guydo/ without tarrying long  
early on the morrow/ afore the large song  
In Pallas temple/ as mine author saith  
Assured was/ by o'th'/ and eke by faith  
The bond of wedlock/ of him and of Eleyne  
For ever more to last/ atwene them twain  
The knot is knit/ of this sacrament  
And thus was done/ fully by the assent  
first of the king/ and also by the advise  
Of all the city/ in favour of Paryse  
And so the feste/ and great solemnity  
Continued was/ with moche ryalte  
Of this wedding/ in mirth and solace  
thorough the town/ by eight days space  
What should I write/ the revel or the dances  
The fresh array/ or the countenances  
The school touches/ the looks amorous  
The prive grudging/ of them that were jealous  
The great justes/ boards or tornaye  
amid palestre/ with many sundry play  
The diverse courses/ eke at every feste  
The large plenty/ done unto the lest  
The strange meats/ the manner of service  
I have none english all/ for to devise  
I pass over/ for I was nat there  
¶ But when this wedding/ came to the ere  
Of Cassandra/ and first it died espy  
A thousand sith/ alas she 'gan to cry  
Of piteous woe/ with untrussed hairs  
And said thus/ all be speynte with tears  
O wretched Troy/ erring in this case  
Within thyself/ to suffer this trespass  
For to consent/ unto such folly  
In sustaining/ of foul avowtry  
That Paris should take/ unto wife  
The queen Eleyne/ whose husband is a live  
O woeful Troy/ to cruel is thy fate  
For to beware/ it is almost to late  
The time is come/ thou shalt destroyed be  
For many father/ shall his sone see  
Hole on the morrow/ that shallbe slain or eve  
amids the field/ that will him sore grieve  
And many wife/ sore shall bewep  
To see her husband/ with large wounds deep  
Gryde thorough the body/ pale cold and green  
Alas how shall ye/ the sorrow mow sustain.  
A wretched moders/ how shall ye endure  
To see your children/ by cruel adventure  
Afore you slain/ without remedy  
It will nat help/ though ye clepe and cry.  
A mother mine/ Eccuba the queen  
How shalt thou bide/ the sharp stounds keen  
Thy worthy sons/ to seafore the slawe  
And in the field/ be cruelty Idrawe.  
A blind people/ of death thou takest no heed  
Why ne will thou work/ and do after my rede  
And in this case/ more prudent be and wise  
To take away Eleyne/ fro Paris  
As right requireth/ without any more  
And to her lord/ justly her restore.  
¶ What trow ye his theft/ and cruel deed  
Shall pass thus/ nay nay without dread  
The sword of vengeance/ shall full sharp bite  
For his offence/ and we shall bear the wite  
Paleys and house/ to se within a throw  
And towers high/ laid on the earth low  
Alas alas/ I say to the Eleyne  
Unhappy woman/ causer of our pain  
Hard and unsilly/ and also graceless  
Vnwelfull woman/ distourbler of our pes  
Thou hast us brought/ in mischief & in were  
Kindled a bronde/ to set us all afere  
Alas thou art/ the ground and root of all  
Of many dreary feste/ fymerall  
That shall behold/ among us in this town  
And in this wise/ Cassandra up and down  
About ran/ in subarbe/ and in street  
And crieth ever/ whom that ever she meet  
Full oft sith/ alas/ and wellaway  
Till Pryamus/ because of her affray  
And for the noise/ that she died make  
Without more/ anon he doth her take  
And bind fast/ fettered in prison  
Without mercy/ or remission  
They took no heed/ to her sad truth  
Nor to her words/ it was the more ruth  
But shut her up/ in bonds great and strong  
Without pity/ where she abydde long  
And thus in prison/ a while I leave her morn  
And to the greeks/ I will again return.   

THe unhappy time/ & in the same while  
That fortune falsely/ 'gan to smile  
Upon Trojans/ and bad them to be merry  
For which highly/ they 'gan their gods herye  
weening in joy/ to have be assured weal  
No thing adverting/ the turning of the wheel  
Of her that lasteth stable/ but a throw  
When men most trust her/ she can make amowe  
Turn her forehead/ and her face writhe  
Such joy she hath/ her doubleness to kythe  
And to wrap her clearness/ under cloud  
Against whose might/ no man may him shroud  
When she most flattereth/ than she is l●st to trust  
For in her joy/ the Trojans little wist  
What she mente/ to their confusiowne  
For while that they/ about in all the town  
Wend of greeks/ have gotten full recure  
Of their damages/ and ever to have be sure  
thorough thilk pray/ that Paris had won  
The wicked fame/ and rumour is Yronne  
With swift wyngis/ of all that they have wrought  
To Menelay/ the tidings were Ybrought  
Whiles he abode/ with Nestor at Pyra  
first of the temple/ in Cythera  
How it was spoiled/ and the robbery  
Of gold and treasure/ and the tyranny  
Upon his men/ by Trojans execute  
Both of assailing/ and of all the suit  
That on the greeks/ they made cruelly  
And how that they/ ne spared utterly  
Man nor woman/ that came in their way  
That they ne took/ and lad as for pray  
To their ships/ also of the fight  
Afore the Castle/ that was on the night.  
¶ And alder last/ he heareth of his wife  
Whom he loved/ as moche as his life  
More tenderly god wot/ a thousand fold  
For whom atoned at heart/ he waxed as cold  
As any stone/ and pale of his hew  
His heartily woe/ so inly 'gan renew  
That first when he heard/ her name sown  
Without more/ anon he fell in a swoon  
For he ne might endure/ for to stand  
Till duke Nestor/ took him by the hand  
And him awoke/ of his deadly swowgh  
Alas quod he/ why have I lost and howgh  
My lives lust/ my heartily suffisance  
A come now death/ and make of my grievance  
Fully and end/ with thy cruel dart  
That wounded am/ thorough on every part  
My heart also/ korue in every pain  
For you my wife/ for you mine own Eleyne  
That be divorced/ from wellaway  
Farewell my joy/ farewell mine old play  
Now have strangers/ of you possession  
Which will to me/ be full confusion  
Alas I noot/ how they you cherysshe or treat  
My fair Eleyne/ that were to me so meet  
Now ye are gone/ pensyfenesse me slayeth  
I may nat wait now/ but after death  
And after this● amid in all his woe  
This Menelay/ shope him for to go  
To his reign/ but little there beside  
He asketh horse/ and said he would ride  
Sool to complain/ of that he felt him grieve  
But all this while/ Nestor will nat leave  
To go with him/ for consolation  
Of friendly right/ having compassion  
Him to comfort/ with all his full might  
●edynge with him many a worthy knight  
Into the reign/ of this Menelaus  
Than first of all● the story telleth us  
How they sent/ for Agamenon  
And for Castor/ to come to him anon  
And for Pollux/ if it might be  
And when that they/ were come all three  
And saw their brother/ in such mischief brought  
Almost murdered/ with his own thought  
Without abode/ the wise Agamenon  
To give him comfort/ and consolation  
Died his labour/ and diligence enter  
saying to him/ right as ye shall here.  
O brother mine/ what woe/ what heaviness  
What deadly sorrow/ thus inly may oppress  
Your knightly heart/ or trouble your manhood  
More furiously/ iwis than it is need  
For though that right/ requered utterly  
You for to sorrow/ and had cause why  
Yet me seemeth/ by just providence  
Ye should slily/ dissimule your offence  
sith each wise man/ in his adversity  
Should fain cheer/ and keep in secree  
The inward woe/ that bind him in distress  
By manly force/ rathest there compesse  
The spirit of Ire/ and melancholy  
Where the people/ it soon might espy  
It is a doctrine/ of them that be prudent  
That when a man/ with fury is to rend  
To fain cheer/ till time he see leysere  
That he of vengeance/ kyndele may the fire  
For sorrow out showed/ if I shall nat fain  
Who so taketh heed/ it doth things twain  
It causeth friends/ for to sigh sore  
And his enemies/ to rejoice more  
Thy friend in heart/ is sorry of nature  
Thine enemy glad/ of thy misadventure  
Wherefore in heart/ when woe doth most habounde  
Fain gladness/ thine enemy to confound  
And show in cheer/ as thou roughtest nought  
Of that most is grievous/ in thy thought  
And where thou hast/ most matter to complain  
Make there good face/ & glad in port the fain  
For into tears/ though thou all distylle  
And rend thyself/ as thou wouldest the spill  
It helpeth nat/ to a leg thy grievance  
For nouther honour/ nor pursuit of vengeance  
With sorrow making/ mow be execute  
Though it last ay/ theridamas cometh thereof no fruit  
Men lay how he/ that can dissimule a wrong  
How he is slyghe/ and of heart strong  
And who can/ be peaceable in his smart  
It is a token/ he hath a manly heart  
Nat to weep/ as women in their rage  
Which is contrary/ to an high courage  
With word & weeping/ for to avenge our pain  
By no means/ to worship to attain  
Let us with sword/ & nat with words fight  
Our tongue appease/ by manhood prove our might  
word is but wind/ and water that we weep  
And though the tempest/ and the floods deep  
Of this two/ increase ever moo  
They may nat do/ but augment our woe  
And to our soon/ thereof when they here  
Both of our dole/ and our heavy cheer  
All is to them/ but encrase of joy  
Wherefore brother/ a while do acoye  
The cruel torment/ that bind you so sore  
For in proverb/ it hath be said full yore  
That the prowess/ of a manly knight  
Is proved most in mischief/ and his might  
To be assured/ in adversity  
Strongly sustain/ what woe that it be  
Nat cowardly/ his courage to submit  
In every peril/ nor his honour flit  
thorough no despair/ but hope always weal  
And have a trust/ true as any ste●e  
To achieve/ aye what he take an hand  
For finally/ I do you understand  
That of himself/ who hath good fantasy  
To set upon/ and put in Iupar●ye  
What that befall/ or hap/ what hap may  
Taking what chance/ will turn on his play  
The fine of such/ gladly is victory  
They fail seld/ of the palm of glory  
And time is now/ to speak in words few  
O brother mine/ manhood for to show  
To pluck up heart/ and you to make strong  
And to venge your damages/ & your wrong  
We shall eachone help/ and lay to hand  
Kings/ Duke's/ and lords of this land  
And at once/ do our business  
I you behyghte/ your harms to redress  
And in despite/ of who that ever us let  
We shall us lodge/ and our tents set  
Even in the field/ afore Troy town  
And lay afore it siege/ to their destrucciowne  
Albe thereof/ I set as now no day  
But brother first/ in all the haste we may  
Let make letters/ without more sermon  
To all the lords/ of this region  
Of matter/ touching your villainty  
To come together/ and shape remedy  
This is the effect/ of all that I can say  
¶ And thus relesed/ somewhat of his pain  
Is Menelaus/ thorough comfort of his brother  
For when he saw/ it might be none other  
And of his tale/ the king made an end  
thorough out the land/ he did his letters send  
first to her kin/ and his ally  
To come to help him/ of their courtesy.  
And first of all/ to Menelaus  
Came Achilles/ and with him Patroclus  
And alder next/ strong diomed  
And many another/ to help in this need  
And all eachone/ in open Parliament  
They were accorded/ full by one assent  
To be governed/ as Agamenon  
List to ordain/ in his discretion  
Of this viage/ they made him governor  
And of their ooste/ cheffetayne and Emperor  
Among them all/ there was full unity  
Upon Trojans/ avenged for to be  
And from this purpose/ never to remove  
But first I find/ Paris for to sew  
The viage took/ the worthy brethren twain  
Pollux and Castor/ to recure Eleyne  
Yet nevertheless/ as some books tell  
That these kings/ no longer would dwell  
But taste as Paris/ was agone  
They took a ship/ and followed anon  
With many worthy/ in their company  
And ●outeles/ but if books ●ye  
That or they had/ sailed days three  
To Troyewarde/ in the large see  
The tempest rose/ and winds died awake  
The heaven dark/ with the clouds black  
That have the day/ turned into night  
And bright Phoebus/ was myrked of his light  
The fiery levene/ and stroke of the thunder  
Smote in the mast/ and shyverde it asunder  
It was so dark/ no light might adawe  
The see 'gan sweet/ with many sturdy wawe  
That rose on hight/ large as any mount  
And fell down/ and swapped in the frounte  
Even of the ship/ and plounged it full low  
Now up now down/ forecast and over throw  
Their ships were/ with tempest to and fro  
The famy water/ green white and blue  
Of fervent boiling/ and as pitch eke black  
With storm and wind/ that all goth to wrack  
So hydouslye/ the blasts at them drive  
That every board/ 'gan from other rive  
And all is perished/ there scaped nat a man  
But all at once/ as I rehearse can  
Be deed and drowned/ with tempest suddenly  
There scaped none/ I say certainly  
Except the brother/ such as books tell  
The toon in heaven/ the t'other low in hell  
Were lords made/ to abide eternally  
¶ And some feign/ in their poesy  
How the gods/ have them deified  
Like in heaven/ and ystellyfyed  
After their ships/ were ygo to wreck  
They were made stars/ in the zoudyake  
And to the sign/ transformed utterly  
Which is of clerks/ called gemyny  
The which sign/ and constellation  
Is to Mercury/ house and mansion  
And is of kind/ femynyne and masculine  
In which the Eagle/ and also the dolphin  
Have their arising/ by revolution  
The tail also/ above of the dragon  
Is exaltate/ in the third gree  
Of Gemmy/ which sign hath most pouste●  
In hand a●d armest of man out of doubt  
Like as lucyna/ held her course about  
And in this wise/ were the brother twain  
To heaven rapt/ as poets feign  
After the tempest/ ye get no more of me  
For in this wise/ the greeks in the see  
An end made/ and that full ●ewfully  
This earnest first/ came unhappily  
To them eachone/ as girning of their woe  
And final chance/ to the brother i● wo.    

¶ How the Grekis assembled them together for to go to Troy/ and destroy it again for queen Helaynes sake. Capitulo. xv.  
But for asmuch/ as Dares frigyus  
Was in his book/ whilom coryous  
The form of Trojans/ & Greeks to describe  
Like as he saw/ this Author by his live  
The sha● the form/ and complexiowne  
Both of the party/ of them of Troy town  
And of the greeks by good advisement  
In time of truce/ among them as he went  
saying the manner/ of their governance  
Their port their cheer/ with every circumstance  
Namely of though/ that were of high degree  
〈◊〉 not fogate/ one lose nor quality  
Conditions/ and also their stature  
●ll to ●escryue/ Dares died his cure  
〈◊〉 grekysshe tongue/ beginning at Eleyne  
Like as tofore/ ye have heard me sayn  
〈◊〉 her beauty/ and her seemliness  
〈◊〉 seriously/ Guydo doth express  
〈◊〉 he said/ in a little space  
A stripe there was/ end long her face  
Which as he write/ became her wonder we'll  
Embelysshing/ her beauty everydele  
Like as Dares/ maketh description  
And first he saith/ how king Agamenon  
Was of good shape/ and high of his stature  
And mighty in labour/ at the best endure  
Vnpacyent/ to live in quiet  
He was to arms/ so equal and so meet  
Of colour white/ and good proportion  
And flematyk/ of his complexion  
Discrete and hardy/ and wonder virtuous  
And of speech/ right facundyous  
And could him well/ in every thing demean  
But Menelay/ of stature was but mean  
Proporcyoned/ at wyxte and long  
Worthy in arms/ deliver and also strong  
And of courage/ and heart vigorous  
seemly also/ and ay more desirous  
To live in were/ rather than in pes  
¶ And furthermore/ to speak of Achilles  
He was right fair/ and of great seemliness  
With aborne here/ crisping for thickness  
With eyen glawke/ large ●epe and great  
And broad shuldred/ with breast full square & meet  
To endure in arms/ fel●e and courageous  
And of his look/ wonder amorous  
high of stature/ and large of gifts eke  
And more of strength/ than any other greek  
And to spend/ he let little charge  
He was of heart/ so plenteous and large  
And in the field/ passing chivalrous  
And for to tell/ forth of Tantalus  
Or sanguynehewe/ having moche of reed  
diverse eyed/ aye moving in his heed  
Of huge making/ and also of great strength  
Well answering/ his breed/ to his length  
Ha●ynge to strive/ where he saw no need  
●ight true of word/ also as I read  
And never quarrel/ would he take on hand  
To sight for/ but he might understand  
〈◊〉 were fully/ grounded upon right  
And than he would/ quite him like a knight.  
Cyleus Ajax's/ was right corpulent  
To be well clad/ he set all his intent  
In rich array/ he was full curious  
All though he were/ of body corsyous  
Of arms great/ with shoulders square and broad  
It was of him/ almost an horse load  
high of stature/ and boisterous in a pres  
And of his speech/ rude and reckless  
Full many word/ in idle him asterte  
A●d but a coward/ was he of his heart.  
Another/ Ajax's Thelamonyous  
There was also/ discrete and virtuous  
Wonder fair/ and seemly to behold  
Whose hair was black/ & upward aye 'gan fold  
In compass wise/ round as any spear  
〈◊〉 of music/ was there none his peer  
Having a voice/ full of melody  
Right well entuned/ as by harmony  
And was ●●●dentyfe/ for to counterfeit  
Instruments/ both small and great  
In sturdy wise/ longing to music  
And for all this/ yet had he great practic  
In arms eke/ and was a noble knight  
No man more orped/ nor hardy to fight  
Nor desirous/ for to have victory  
devoid of pomp/ hating all vainglory  
All idle laud spent/ and blow in vain  
Of ulixes/ what shall I also say  
That was so noble/ and worthy in his days  
Full of wiles/ and sleighty at assays  
In meaning double/ and deceivable  
To forge a losing/ also wonder able  
With face plain/ he could make it tough  
Merry worded/ and but seld lowghe  
In counseyling/ discrete and full prudent  
And in his time/ the most eloquent  
And holp to greeks/ often in their need  
And for to speak/ of worthy diomed  
Fullwell compact/ and grow well in length  
Of sturdy port/ and famous eke of strength  
Large breasted/ and fears also of sight  
And deceivable/ of what ever he hight  
Hasty/ testyf/ to smite reckeles  
And meddling aye/ and but seld in pes  
To his servants/ full inpacyent  
And baratous/ where that ever he went  
For little worth/ of disposition  
And lecherous/ of complexion  
And had in love oft/ sith his part  
Brenning at heart/ of Cupydes dart  
And speechless/ full oft felt sore  
¶ What shall I say eke of duke Nestore  
Of long stature/ and well compact withal  
With corbe shoulders/ and of middle small  
In hands strong/ with arms large & round  
In counselling/ prudent and wise yfounde  
Whose words were/ sugared with pleasance  
Upon his friend/ having aye remembrance  
For of his truth/ he ne could fain  
But in anger/ he might him nat refrain  
He was so fret/ with melancholy  
That no man/ might his ire modify  
Albe it last/ but a little space  
Who could him suffer/ anon it would place  
lightly it came/ and lightly went away  
And Protheselaus/ was fresh of array  
Wonder seemly/ and of great beauty  
I trow a fairer/ no man might see  
Of good stature/ and deliver and light  
No man more swift/ and to speak of might  
Of his making/ he was passing strong  
Fers of courage/ and loath to take a wrong.  
And to tell/ of Neptolomous  
He was of making/ wonder corsyous  
Whose here was black/ shining as doth gee●  
With eyen round/ broad and greet  
Large breasted/ with a rising back  
And in speech stamerde/ when he spacke  
But in causes/ he could meddle weal  
And in the law/ full deep he died feel  
For all his lust/ was beset on pleas  
But for to tell of Pallamydees'  
King Naulus ●one/ withouten any ween  
Of face fair/ of body long and leanly  
Of manful heart/ hardy in battle  
And desirous/ his enemy to assail  
familiar courtesy/ and treatable  
In all his deeds and inly worshypable  
In giving large/ and passing of great same  
Of whose bounce/ full wide sprang the name  
In many land/ the story telleth thus  
And heart I find/ of Polydamus  
The worthy greek/ was of great thickness  
Of wom●●wolle/ enbossed with fatness  
That 〈◊〉/ he might himself sustain  
And yet of heart/ he was full proud and keen  
Right surquedrous/ and full of pensyfenesse  
And 〈◊〉 glad so thought died him oppress.  
But Machaon/ like as write Guydo  
Of long and short/ was betwixt two  
Full proud and fierce/ devoid of patience  
And vengeable/ who him died offence  
And yet he was bald/ as a coote  
On whose forehead even by the root  
The here was fallen/ and wasted clean away  
And seld or never/ he would step a day.  
And overmore/ to tell of Cryseyde  
My pen stumbleth/ for long or she died  
My master Chauncer/ died his diligence  
To describe/ the great excellence  
Of her beauty/ and that so maysterlye  
To take on me/ it were but high folly  
In any wise/ to add more thereto  
For well I wot/ anon as I have do  
That I in sooth/ no thank deserve may  
Because that he/ in writing was so gay  
And but I write/ I must the truth leave  
Of Troy book/ and my matter breve  
And over pass/ and nat go by and by  
As Guydo doth in order seriously  
And that I must/ do offention  
thorough negligence/ or presumption  
So am I set even/ amids twain  
Great cause have I/ and matter to complain  
On Antropose/ and upon her envy  
That broke the thread/ and made for to die  
Noble Galfryde/ Poet of britain  
Among our Euglysshe/ that made first to rain  
The golden dew drops/ of rhetoric so fine  
Our rude language/ only to enlumyne  
To god I pray/ that he his soul have  
After whose help of need I must crave  
And seek his book/ that is left behind  
Some goodly word/ therein for to find  
To set among/ the crooked lines rude  
Which I do write/ as by similitude  
The rubyestant/ so royal of renown  
Within a ring of copper or latowne  
So stant the making/ of him doubtless  
Among our books/ of english peerless  
They are esye to know/ they be so excellent  
There is no making/ to his equypollent  
We do but halt/ who so taketh heed  
That meddle of making/ without any dread  
When we would/ his style counterfeit  
We may alday/ our colour grind and beat  
Tempre our asour/ and vermylyon  
But all I hold/ but presumption  
It followeth nat/ therefore I let be  
And first of all/ I will excuse me  
And proceed/ as I have begun  
And thorough his favour/ certain if I konne  
Of Troy book/ for to make an end  
And there I left/ again I will now wend  
Unto Cryseyde/ and though to my succour  
Of rethoryke/ that I have no flower  
Nor hews rich/ stones nor perre  
For I am bare/ of all curyouste  
thorough crafty speech/ to enbroude with her sleeve  
Yet for all that/ now I will nat leave  
But be as bold/ as bayard is the blind  
That cast no peril/ what way that he find  
Right so will I stumble/ forth of heed  
For uncunning/ and take no better heed  
So as I can/ her beauty to describe  
That was in sooth/ of all though a live  
One the fairest/ this Calchas daughter dear  
Thereto of shap/ of face and of cheer  
There might be/ no fairer creature  
Ofhye nor low/ but mean of stature  
Her sonnysshe here/ like Phoebus in his spear  
Bound in a tress/ brighter than gold were  
Down at her back/ low down behind  
Which with a thread of gold/ she would bind  
Full oft sith/ of acustomaunce  
Thereto she had/ so moche fuffysaunce  
Of kinds work/ without any were  
And save her brows/ joined yfere  
No man could/ in her alack espyens  
And furthermore/ to speak of her eyen  
They were so piercing/ heavenly and so clear  
That an heart/ ne might hymsefe steer  
Again her shining/ that they ne would wound  
thorough out a breast/ god wot & be younde  
Also she was/ for all her seemliness  
Full simple and meek/ and full of soberness  
The best nourished eke/ that might be  
Goodly of speech/ fulfilled of pity  
Facunoyous/ and thereto right treatable  
And as saith Guydo/ in love variable  
Of tender heart/ and unsted fastness  
He her accuseth/ and newfongylnesse.  
And after this/ Dares doth rehearse  
amongs other/ how the king of pierce  
Came to greeks/ with many worthy knight  
To help and further/ with all his full might  
The which king/ was of stature long  
And wonder fat/ & as he write right strong  
Whose beard and here/ red as flawme of fire  
With eyen stepe/ and fervent of desire  
To have a do/ and stern of cheer and look  
And oft scythes/ of sudden ire he quoke  
And had wertes/ plenty in his face  
And thus Dares/ shortly for to place  
No more of Greeks/ writeth as I find  
But of Trojans/ for to make mind  
seriously/ he doth his style dress  
Them do describe/ as I shall express.   

¶ Of the description of Priamus and his sons/ and daughters/ and how the Greeks took land before the Temple of Dyame's the goddess. Capitulo. xvi.  

ANd first he saith/ how king Pryamus  
Was of his cheer/ benign & gracious  
Of high stature/ with limbs slander & long  
Delyting moche/ in music and in song  
And specially/ he was most desirous  
To here songs/ that were amorous  
A seemly man/ and of great hardiness  
And spoke but low/ as books us express  
devoid of dread/ hating flattery  
And all that could/ either gloze or lie  
True of his word/ and to every wight  
He died plainly/ equity and right  
For no meed/ him list nat to decline  
And loved early/ on morrow for to dine  
In his time/ one of the worthyeste  
Of all kings/ and he that loved best  
Worthy knights/ and all that he knew  
That manful were/ and of heart true  
He could cherish no man half so we'll  
With gold and gifts/ that they might feel  
His great freedom/ and largesse eke withal  
And of his sons/ for to reckon them all  
The first of birth/ so as books tell  
Was worthy Ector/ of knighthod spring & well  
Flower of manhood/ of strength peerless  
Sad and discrete/ and prudent nevertheless  
Crop and root/ ground of chivalry  
Of cheer demure/ and of courtesy  
He was example/ thereto of soberness  
A very mirror/ and for his gentleness  
In his time/ the most renowned  
To reckon all/ and of goodlyhed  
The most famous/ in peas and were  
Ferthest spoke of/ both nigh and far  
On each part he was/ so virtuous  
And to be loved/ most gracious  
Of brawn and bones/ compact by measure  
So well breathed/ in arms to endure  
So well performed/ by proporciowne  
So qucke so lifely/ and of most renown  
So huge made/ so well grow on length  
So well complete/ for to have great strength  
That in this world/ if I shall nat fain  
Was never none/ that fully might attain  
To the prowess/ of this worthy knight  
To reckon his heart/ as well as his might  
And therewithal/ so wise and avysee  
The lowliest eke/ of his degree  
To rich and poor/ and of words few  
Unto all/ such cheer he could show  
Of his presence/ that glad was every wight  
When they at leisure/ had of him a sight  
He was so benign/ to them of the town  
And to his enemies/ like a fierce lion  
He could him show/ when it was to do  
And in the field/ there might no man so  
To reckon all/ his labour half endure  
For the story/ doth us plain assure  
That he was never/ weary in battle  
Nor faint in heart/ his foemen for to assail  
Of all good I find/ he was the best  
Prowess and virtue/ in him were set at rest  
So passingly/ that never was nor shall  
None bore of mother/ to be perigal  
To him of manhood/ nor of chivalry  
For all he passed/ but of books lie  
In whom nature/ ne was no thing to wite  
Save in his tongue/ he was let alyte  
And as some auctors/ make mention  
He was sanguine/ of complexion.  
And furthermore/ his brother Dephebus  
Like as I find/ and also Helenus  
Were like Priam/ that soothly of them three  
Was hard to espy/ any diversity  
Of shap or form/ or of countenance  
Save of age/ there was no variance  
Their father old/ and they were young & light  
And Dephebus/ was a worthy knight  
And had in arms/ fame and excellence  
And Helenus/ in clergy and science  
Was well expert/ and took but little heed  
Of all the were/ knighthood and manhood.  
But Troilus/ soothly if I shall describe  
There was of heart/ no manlyer a live  
Nor more likely/ in arms to endure  
Well grown on hight/ and of good stature  
young fresh and lusty/ hardy as a lion  
deliver and strong/ as any champion  
And perigal of manhood/ and of deed  
He was to any/ that I can of read  
In derring do/ this noble worthy wight  
For to fulfil/ that longeth to a knight  
The second Ector/ for his worthiness  
He called was/ and for his high prowess  
During the were/ he bore him aye so we'll  
Thereto in love/ true as any steel  
Secret and wise/ steadfast of courage  
The most goodly/ also of visage  
That might be/ and benign of cheer  
Without change/ and of one heart entere  
He was always/ faithful just and stable  
perseverant/ and of will immutable  
Upon what thing/ he one's set his heart  
That doubleness/ might him nat pervert  
In his deeds/ he was so hole and plain  
But of his soon/ the sooth for to sayne  
He was so fierce/ they might him nat withstand  
When that he held/ his bloody sword in hand  
Unto Greeks/ death/ and confusion  
To them of Troy/ shield and protection  
And his kynghthode/ shortly to account  
There might in manhood/ no man him surmount  
thorough the world/ though men would seek  
To reckon all/ Trojan nouther greek  
None so named/ of famous hardiness  
As books old/ of him bear witness  
Except Ector/ there ne was such another  
And after him/ to speak of his brother  
I mean Paris/ most passing of beauty  
That in this world/ no man might see  
In very sooth/ a more seemly knight  
For as I read/ that he by title of right  
Of fairness/ bare away the flower  
With locks yellow/ like gold wire of colour  
And in shooting/ move was his delight  
Having in hunting/ a full great appetite  
And as Dares/ liketh him describe  
The best archer/ one thereof a live  
And of his hand/ was eke a noble knight  
A manly man/ deliver/ and of good might  
And in the were/ proved well he was  
And as I read/ the Trojan Aeneas  
As mine Auctor/ listeth to indite  
Was well breasted/ and of body light  
And bare in Troy/ wonder great estate  
And in his works/ discrete and temperate  
And had a fame/ of passing eloquence  
wise of counsel/ and of great sapience  
Most renowned/ also of lecture  
delighting much/ of books and scripture  
And ever glad/ both of port and cheer  
Stern of his look/ with piercing eyen clear  
And among all/ dwelling in the town  
To speak of goods/ and possessiowne  
Of Castles and towers/ great plenty  
I find soothly/ that none in that city  
Nemyght attain/ unto his richesse  
And had also/ for all his worthiness  
Of gold and mebles/ passing great tresor  
And his fellow/ height dan Antenor  
Was slander and long/ & of great dalliance  
And circumspect/ in all his governance  
Well beloved also/ of Pryamus  
And of words/ wonder copious  
Resowning aye/ into mirth and play  
And he was japing/ all the long day  
amongs his feres/ and in company  
So dryely/ that no man might efpye  
So sober he was/ in his countenaune  
That every wight/ had great pleasance  
To hear him talk/ when that he was glad  
And albe it/ that he of port was sad  
Yet all his speech/ full of bourdes was  
And his son/ called polydamas  
Was like his father/ of stature and of make  
Ythewed well/ that there was no lake  
In his person/ gentle and right true  
Wonder strong/ and pale also of hew  
And to Ire/ stirred suddenly  
Albe in words/ he kept him covertly  
But all his here/ pass would anon  
And to tell/ of king Meryone  
Large breasted/ and of his making all  
The best compact/ and the molle tall  
Of shap and form/ that men could find  
And so well performed/ up by kind  
That none was like/ to him nigh ne fear  
His locks yellow/ and crisping was his here  
Still of his port/ and gentle with to play  
And inly strong/ maystryes' for to assay  
Wonder courtesy/ & to no wight despitous  
And wrought in arms/ deeds marvelous  
As in this book/ hereafter shallbe seen  
Now after him/ to Eccuba the queen  
Like the story/ my style I must incline  
Whose limbs/ all died more decline  
To shape of man/ than to woman heed  
As saith Guydo/ but in work and deed  
She was in sooth/ the most womanly  
The best advised/ and most prudently  
In her deeds/ could herself govern  
That man's wit/ might nat discern  
To find a better/ doubtless than she  
So true example/ of femynyte  
She was in sooth/ and to every wyghte  
benign of prote/ and gracious of sight  
To poor also/ piteous and merciable  
And unto needy/ wonder cheritable.  
The wife of Ector/ her daughter in law  
After her lore/ moche died draw  
Andronomecha/ the faithful true wife  
So good so just/ the which in all her life  
In honest/ died her most delight  
Long of her shap/ with breasts fair & white  
With rody cheeks/ ennewed by measure  
With piercing eyen/ of aungelyke figure  
Like gold her tresses/ and rosin lips red  
Ylyche fresh/ of colour no thing deed  
Thereto she was/ of cheer the goodlyeste  
To rich and poor/ and spoke alway the best  
Of every wight/ aye helping that she might  
That no man triste/ went out of her sight  
And over this/ every gentleman  
She further would/ in all that ever she can  
And gladly ever/ died her diligence  
To get grace/ to them that died offence  
This was her usage/ and condition  
She was so full/ of compassion  
That women all/ might of her lere  
And Cassandra/ her own daughter dear  
Was of stature/ wonder womanly  
Of colour white/ and therewith right seemly  
Save in her face/ in sundry places were  
Many wertes/ growing hear and there  
And all her joy/ and felicity  
Was to keep/ her virginity  
In freelte/ that women have of kind  
thorough virtue moral/ she put out of mind  
Of all folly/ fleeing occasion  
And aye in study/ and contemplation  
Of sundry books/ she would her occupy  
And specially/ of astronomy.  
¶ Of prophecy/ a spirit had she  
And some men say/ she was one of the three  
Of women/ that Cebylebare the name  
Of whom the renown/ flowereth and the fame  
Unto this day/ and is as yet full green  
And for to tell/ of young Polycene  
And describe her beat/ up and down  
It were in sooth/ a presumpciowne  
To take on me/ now so great a thing  
To climb so high/ and pass my cunning  
sith nature/ in forging of this maid  
Her cunning/ all utterly assayed  
To make her fair/ above each creature  
¶ And said proudly/ see how I nature  
When that me list/ enbellysshe can my work  
Like as Phoebus'/ among the clouds dark  
Is passing clear/ so in comparison  
I can my work/ and operation  
Right as me list/ adorn and make fair  
So paint and flourish/ it shall nat appear  
And my colours/ so craftily dispose  
Of the lily/ and of the fresh rose  
And so ennewe/ that they shall nat fade  
But aye be one/ and in this wise I made  
My dear daughter/ ye know whom I mean  
The young fresh/ fair Polycene  
A skance/ that none can this craft but I  
Thus in her work/ boasted utterly  
Nature herself/ when she this may wrought  
As she that fully/ in her heart thought  
Above all other/ to make her excel  
And of the beauty/ to be the very well  
And there withal/ in shap nor in stature  
Ne was no lack/ I dare you well assure  
And god above/ gave her sovereignty  
In all thews/ and woldeshe should be  
Crop and root/ and named of womanhead  
With fulsomeness/ of all goodlihead  
So passingly/ that it were idleness  
Me to presume/ by and by to express  
Her beauty all/ it were a vain travail  
For well I wot/ mine english would fail  
In such matter/ to talk felyngely  
Who ever it can/ certain it am nat I  
Therefore I pass/ and straight now will I go  
To my matter/ for Dares of no more  
In all his book/ maketh menciowne  
Of them of grece/ nor of Troy town  
In special he put/ no more in mind  
Than ye have heard/ save as ye shall find  
In this story/ when it cometh thereto  
Of their knighthood/ & who that best hath do  
Lasting the siege/ the manner everydeal  
And right anon/ to sharp my poyntell  
I will me dress/ this story to entreat  
Of all the were/ to tell you the great.   

THe time nigheth/ after this as yore  
That breme winter/ with his frostꝭ hoar  
'Gan to assuage/ of his bitter cold  
When Apollo passed was the hold  
Of the sign/ that we call Aquarye  
And in the fish/ fer in february  
Yronne was/ toward the Aryete  
And that season/ with his faint heat  
On hills high/ 'gan his beams smite  
Making the snow/ with fair flakes white  
Into water/ kindly relent  
Which from above/ to the valley went  
That never floods/ of the sudden thowe  
The green meed/ 'gan to over flow  
And the y●se/ 'gan stoundemele destylle  
Down fro the hill/ the brooks for to fill  
With foamy streams/ of the wawes small  
By broke banks/ as they died avail  
When lusty vere/ with his young green  
I recomforted/ by the son sheen  
Which little & little/ his hews aye amendeth  
Up in his spear/ as Titan up ascendeth  
When March approacheth/ & branches overall  
'Gan blow out/ and equinoctial  
Of veer is hallowed/ the season Amorous  
When the greeks/ proud and courageous  
With hole the flower/ of the chivalry  
Assembled were/ and holy their navy  
In the haven/ that was most of fame  
And of Athenes/ that time bore the name  
Ygadred was/ by assent eachone  
Toward Troy/ to sail and to gone  
So great a number/ that sith the world began  
Is nat remembered/ of no manner man  
That together/ in one company  
Was mecyfere/ so passing a navy  
Of manly men/ who so list take heed  
In this story/ as ye shall after read  
And by and by/ to make description  
Mine author telleth/ how Agamenon  
The worthy king/ a hundred ships brought  
With worthy knights/ stuffed as them ought  
And Menelaus/ on whom lay most the charge  
Hath with him brought/ sixty ships large.  
Out of his land/ that called is Sperten  
And from boece/ full of manly men  
Came thirty ships/ the story telleth thus  
With Prothenor/ and with Archelaus  
And from the land/ called Sycomenye  
Came sixty ships/ in the company  
Of the Duke/ that height Achalapus  
With whom was eke/ full fresh and desirous  
Helymux/ the earl/ the worthy knight  
And thirty ships/ enarmed for to fight  
With him brought/ the king Epistrophus  
only with help/ of king Cedyus  
And Thelamon/ whom Ajax's some call  
Full renowned/ for to reckon all  
Hath thirty ships/ brought to this journee  
From solemyne/ his royal chief city  
With Earls/ duke's/ and many worthy knight  
everich of them/ in steel armed bright.  
And duke Tenter/ with Amphiacus  
earl Daryon/ and noble Theseus  
This ilk four/ full worthy of renown  
In this voyage/ came with Thelamowne  
And old Nestor/ cruel of heart and thought  
Out of Pylon/ hath thirty ships brought.  
The king of Daymes/ that full worthy was  
And eke the king/ that height also Thoas  
Brought with them/ in their company  
An hundred ships/ knightly forto give.  
And Thelamon/ called Cylleus  
That was in arms/ fell and despitous  
With him brought/ from his land so far  
Six and thirty ships/ for the were.  
Amphymacus/ and king Polybete  
thirty ships/ brought to the fleet  
From Calcedoyne/ and Meryon the king  
With ydinneus'/ had in their leading  
Four score ships/ with them out of Crete  
And ulixes/ with greeks died meet  
With thirty ships/ stuffed out of Trace  
Towards Troy/ proudly for to place.  
¶ Duke Melleus/ full of manly men  
Brought eke with him/ great ships ten.  
And moreover/ the duke Perhotacus  
And the duke named/ Prothesylaus  
To the haven/ that called was Athene  
Brought thirty shyppis/ enarmed bright & sheen  
From Phylyarcha/ the strong mighty Isle  
And Methaon/ as Guydo doth compile  
With his brother/ Polydris also  
From their country/ Trycionyco  
Brought two and twenty ships/ as I find  
And from Phyces/ as it is made mind  
With Achilles/ came thirty full by number  
And from rodon/ Trojans to encumber  
Came twenty ships/ with king Thelapolus  
And with the duke/ that height Antipus  
Out of the land/ that Hesyda men call  
Of which the folk/ be nigh cheerless all  
With sail crossed/ again the bright heaven  
In number came ships/ eke elleven  
And with them was/ of name full famous  
The worthy duke/ called Amphymacus  
And Polybethes/ the strong mighty king  
thirty ships/ brought at his coming  
Out of Richa/ the noble region  
And with this king/ full worthy of renown  
Was Losius the duke/ eke as I read  
And as I find/ the noble diomed  
Of ships great/ I speak of no small barge  
Hath with him brought/ fro Calydonye & Arge  
Four score in number/ soothly this no tale  
And Thelemus/ and mighty Euryale  
Two manly men/ and in arms lage  
With diomed/ came in this viage.  
And Polyphebus/ brought ships seven  
And Phyneus/ the hardy king eleven  
And Prothoylus/ as I can specify  
Brought thirty ships/ unto this navy  
Fro Demenesa/ the mighty region  
And Carpenor/ as made is mention  
Brought thirty eke/ from Capadye his country  
A great province/ of which king was he.  
Trearyus of Beysa/ lord and king  
Brought two and twenty/ also in his coming  
And finally/ if I shall nat lie  
Full many ship/ was in this navy  
more than Guydo/ maketh rehearsal  
Toward Troy/ with greeks for to sail  
For as Omer/ in his description  
Of greeks ships/ maketh mention  
Shortly affirming/ y● man was never borne  
That such a number/ of ships saw toforne  
Counted the ships/ that Palamydes  
Brought with him/ their number to increase  
That when these lords/ aforesaid everichone  
Kings/ duke's/ and earls all in one  
Assembled were/ without any ween  
Afore the haven/ that called is Athene.   

THe famous king/ great Agamenown  
So wise so worthy/ & of so high renown  
As he that was/ Prince and governor  
Of greeks host/ anon died his labour  
His busy cure/ and waker diligence  
By high advise/ and inward providence  
To deliver/ wisely in this need  
What were to do/ or that he proceed  
In this matter/ casting up and down  
And revolving/ of high discretion  
That he may so begin/ that the end  
Conclude well/ that wilfulness ne shende  
holy their purpose/ thorough no rakelnesse  
Ne thorough none haste/ without adviseness  
So that they may/ afore so wisely see  
That finally/ in felicity  
They may accomplish/ their purpose in certain  
And so this king/ upon a large plain  
Out of the city/ but little fro the strand  
With his lords/ will for no thing wonde  
To have a counsel/ this wise Agamenon  
Making anon/ a convocation  
Of such as were/ most great inspecyall  
He sitting first/ in his see royal  
And his lords/ everich in his see  
Like as they were/ of high or low degree  
And all tumult/ stynted and silence  
Was thorough the prees/ to give him audience  
Than he anon/ in full sober wise  
Began his tale/ as I shall devise.   

Sires quoth he/ I pray you take heed  
That be so noble/ and so renowmede  
Both of wisdom/ and of worthiness  
Of manhood eke/ and of high prowess  
That of knighthood/ the report & the fame  
thorough out the world/ reboundeth to yo● name  
For doubtless/ the flower of chivalry  
Men may now find/ in this company  
For whosawe ever/ of manly men yfere  
together met/ as there be now here  
So young so fresh/ so courageous also  
So well beseen/ for to have a do  
Orso likely/ sith the world began  
Without raskayle/ so many knightly man  
Of kings/ duke's/ and many another lord  
As be now here/ of will and one accord  
And of one heart/ assembled in this place  
That if fortune/ and gods of their grace  
Be nat behind/ our journey to reprove  
We may nat fail/ our purpose to achieve.  
¶ For I dame him/ plainly in arage  
Or wer●e than would/ that durst this viage  
In any wise perturb/ or presume  
To take again us/ either to assume  
By might on him/ of malice to excite  
Our worthiness/ were it never so light  
Us to provoke to Ire/ or do offence  
That we ne should/ by mortal recompense  
acquit his meed/ as it lieth in our might  
That have among us/ so many worthy knight  
amongs which/ an hundred and yet more  
I could cheese/ able for to go  
By manly force/ and knightly suffisance  
To take on him/ for to do vengeance  
Upon Trojans/ by himself alone  
For which that we/ be gathered now eachone  
That with his men/ were sufficient  
To execute the sum/ of his intent  
And it accomplish/ in felicity  
The cause I mean/ for which that all we  
Assembled be/ both high and low  
And with all this/ to you is nat vnknowe  
How shamefully/ Trojans have us grieved  
Provoked us/ and wilfully ymeved  
To rise again them/ to have recure of right  
Of wrongs done/ with all our force & might  
Wherefore let us/ by one assent and will  
Set to have/ as it is right and skill  
Redress to find/ of that we now complain  
And of one heart/ do our busy pain  
Upon Trojans/ a were for to make  
And I suppose/ we shall them so awake  
That they shall learn/ or we thence wend  
To remember/ to the worlds end  
How they hereafter/ shall dare take an hand  
For to presume/ in grece more to land  
Or to be bold/ while they have life or space  
Again Greeks/ more to trespass  
For whose offence/ as who saith do but late  
Within our heart/ with so brenning hate  
The fervent heat/ and the greedy Ire  
Fro day to day/ so setteth us a fire  
That it reneweth/ the constraint of our pain  
So inwardly/ if I shall nat fain  
We must of reason/ of so high grievance  
Ourself enforce/ for to do vengeance  
As right requireth/ and our just sorrow  
Compelleth us/ both eve and morrow  
On Trojans/ our harms to bewreke  
And for to stop/ tongues that so speak  
To our reprefe/ and to our vylenye  
We must atones/ shape remedy  
That our soon/ henceforth may dread  
For to do worse to us/ as god forbid  
In time coming/ if thorough our patience  
We likely suffer/ their importable offence  
To pass forth/ and take of it nohede  
sith never yet of Greeks could I read  
That any man/ died reproof to their name  
That justly might/ rebound to their shame  
Withouten this/ that they it quite again  
thorough their manhood/ so openly & plain  
That no man might/ of them say or this  
In any wise/ or report amiss.  
New shall nat/ dissimule in this case  
With cheer oppressed/ nor with dreadful face  
To let slide/ or lightly over go  
The great offences/ that were so late do  
Which would turn/ unto us and ours  
To great reproof/ and to our successors  
In time coming/ and shamefully bespoke  
How that greeks/ vurste not be wroke  
Upon their soon/ the which may nat be  
I you ensure/ sith that all we  
Be of one will/ to reform our wrong  
And therewithal/ so mighty and so strong  
That who is he/ that could in breed & length  
A right rehearse/ our power and our strength  
Or who durst ever/ our worthiness assail  
That he ne should/ without any fail  
Repent in heart/ or at the end rue  
Save Trojans/ this other day of new  
Of wilfulness/ in a folly rage  
Into our land/ made a viage  
Unware of us/ & with their prey home went  
The which they shall/ full hastily repent  
For their trespass/ and great offencyowne  
¶ For all the world knoweth/ up and down  
But late a gone/ how Greeks but a few  
Upon Trojans/ their power died show  
And slew their king/ called Lamedowne  
father to Priam's/ now king of that town  
And fordyde towers/ and city  
And slew up/ all the commonalty  
From Greeks sword/ whom that them list spare  
That among us/ in servitude and care  
Complain their harm/ that may nat be recured  
Than how may they/ stand full assured  
Again us all/ to hold chaumpartye  
That have so worthy/ in our company  
For it is likely/ a thousand to achieve  
That four or five/ so lightly might prove  
And yet one thing/ affirm well I dare  
Of our coming/ Trojans are well aware  
And do their labour/ and their diligence  
Against us/ to make resistance  
With all their might/ I know it out of doubt  
And gather friends/ in countries all about  
To help them & strength them/ in theyrnede  
Us to withstand/ if they might speed.  
But finally/ one thing I counsel  
From this haven/ or we ferther sail  
That we may be/ the more fortunate  
Of one assent/ to make ambassyat  
And prudently/ or we further wend  
Into Delos/ in all haste that we send  
Which is an isle/ a little here beside  
More discreetly/ our journey to provide  
That we may have/ the better hap and grace  
Of Apollo/ Patron of this place  
To have of him/ if that we may speed  
Final answer/ in this great need  
Of our expleyt/ how that it shall fall  
If it so be/ ye will assent all  
To this counsel/ the most and eke the lest  
And they eachone/ thought for the best  
To condescend/ to this conclusion  
Without any/ contradiction  
And all atones/ without any dread  
They praise his counsel/ & his wise rede  
And thereupon/ discreetly as they ought  
As saith this story/ even thus they wrought.    

¶ How the Greeks sent Achilles/ and Pyrrodes into the isle of Delos for to have answer of the god Apollo/ how they should speed in their journey. Capitulo. xvij.  

AFter the time/ that Agamenon  
Concluded hath/ fully his reason  
As ye have heard/ & his sentence fyned  
The Greeks be of heart/ full inclined  
And with one voice/ accorded plainly thus  
That Achilles/ and also Pirrodus  
For common profit/ sith they were sage  
Shall take on them/ the charge of this message  
To Apollo/ for answer for to gone  
And to ship/ they them haste anon  
And sail forth/ by the large see  
Toward Deluos/ and in prosperytee  
They be arrived/ and ycome to land  
The which yle/ as I understand  
And as mine Auctor/ saith without les  
Hath his sight/ amongs Cyclades  
Where men with rocks have so moche ado  
Amid the sec/ called Helespontico  
Of which yle/ to make description  
I must a while/ make disgressyon  
from my matter/ as mine author doth  
For in this isle/ Isydorus in sooth  
rehearseth plainly/ how Latona's the queen  
Apollo first/ and diane the sheen  
I childed hath by jupiter her lord  
When he and juno/ were at discord  
As write Ovid/ for a little while  
And so befylle/ in this little Isle  
There was a Temple/ whilom dedicate  
Unto Apollo/ and also consecrate  
In his worship/ of old foundation  
That was honoured/ by great devotion  
Because Apollo/ with his beams clear  
After the flood/ first there died appear  
To showed his horns/ rather there and soon  
And diane eke/ that called is the moon  
Of which showing/ this isle beareth the name  
Into this day/ that is of so great fame  
only be appearing/ of this ilk twain  
For Delos/ is in greek/ no more to say  
Than a showing/ or an appearance  
And thus began/ the great reverence  
To Apollo first/ and the honour eke  
To him Idone/ of so many greek  
And to his sister/ that called is diane  
The pale moon/ that can so wax and wane  
And called is/ of paynims a goddess  
That whilom was/ in would an hunteresse  
And this lady/ with the son her brother  
Of this isle hath lordship/ and none other  
only for they/ at their nativity  
showed their light/ first in that country  
The which yle/ Greeks also call  
Ortygya/ in their language all  
Because Curlewes/ were there first Iseyne  
For Otygyas/ is no more to say  
Than a Curlewe/ in Grew I understand  
For they were first/ engendered in that land.  
¶ And Apollo/ is called eke Titan  
That in his time/ so moche worship won  
Long afore/ or he was made a star  
With jupiter/ when that he held were  
And he also/ called is Phoebus  
And of some/ ynamed Phycius  
For of Pheton/ he had the victory  
When he him stew/ to his increase of glory  
The great serpent/ here in earth low  
With his arrows/ and his mighty bow  
Of which conquest/ the great god cupid  
Had envy/ and even thorough the side  
He wounded him/ deep to the heart  
With the arrow of gold/ that made him sore smart  
And of Pheton/ that Phoebus made fine  
Came Phetonysses/ that can so divine  
I mean women/ that be devyneresses  
thorough deed men/ these false sorceresses  
As one/ whilom raised Samuel  
For love of Saul/ the bible can you tell  
And in his temple/ large long and old  
There was a stature/ all of pured gold  
Full great and high/ and of huge weight  
And therein was/ thorough the devils sleyghte  
A spirit unclean/ by false illusion  
That gave answer/ to every question  
Nat the Idol/ dumb as stock or stone  
And thus the people/ deceived everichone  
Were by the fiend/ brought in great error  
To do worship/ and such false honour  
With sacrifice/ and cursed mammetry  
And in this wise/ began idolatry  
As in this place/ to tell I me cast  
And how long/ it abode and last  
compendiously/ I purpose to describe  
Gynning and end/ as ye shall here belive  
Without any/ Ambygnyte  
For at the birth/ and nativity  
Of Christ Ihesu/ at the Incarnacy own  
All the idols/ burst and fell a down  
And vanished/ and were brought to nought  
When herod's/ the blissful child sought  
thorough his malices/ and cruelty horrible  
As holy writ recordeth/ and the bible  
For which pursuit/ and persecution  
There died apere/ by avision  
An holy angel/ to joseph as he sleep  
And bade him rise/ and also take keep  
Unto the child/ and also to mary  
And go his way/ or Herod him aspye  
Into Egypt/ the great region  
Like as the Gospel/ maketh mention  
And right anon/ as he came to that land  
There was none Idol/ that upright might stand  
But to shivered/ unto pieces small  
This holy writ/ plainly and no tale  
And was recorded/ friste of isaiah  
How that our lord/ on an esy skaye  
Ascend should/ and hold forth his weigh  
Toward Egypt/ and therewith should die  
All mammetry/ and no longer dwell  
But as the jews/ record of Ysmaelle  
That he was first/ that mammetry fond  
And made of clay/ an Idol with his hand  
And as paynims/ write and tell us  
That alder first/ was Promotheus  
That found idols/ shortly to conclude  
For symulacrum/ cometh of similitude  
That is no thing/ plainly but likeness  
Made after man/ his image to express  
Unto which/ paynims in their guise  
With false honour/ and cursed sacrifice  
Begun first this rite/ for dread of man  
And some say/ how Belus first began  
Such false worship/ and such mawmettye  
In their books/ as clerks specefye.  
That of assirye/ was lord and governor  
After whose death/ his son in his honour.  
That Nynus hight/ an image died make  
To be worshipped/ only for his sake  
All of brent gold/ by false affection  
And set it up/ for consolation  
And for a mind/ and a memorial  
Unto the which/ with heart will and all  
Of ignorance/ and of fleshly love  
He died honour/ as to god above  
In his temples/ most of excellence  
And made his people/ to do reverence  
And said in heaven/ he was deified  
That of no man/ durst be denied  
Till after soon/ but a little while  
A wicked spirit/ folks to beguile  
In this idol/ entrede to abide  
And gave answer/ upon every side  
To the people/ of what them list demand  
And they again/ what he will command  
Obey fully/ the folk of all Assyrye  
Which unto god/ died great injury  
Making the people/ in such error fall  
And some Belus/ and some Bell him call  
And some Balym/ and some Belphegore  
And fell in error/ always more and more  
And Belzebub/ he named was also  
Which name is made/ of words two  
Of bell and zebub/ that thus signify  
For bell is god/ and zebub is a fly  
Than Belzebub/ together specyfyes  
joined in one/ the great god of flies  
And of this feigned/ false idolatry  
'Gan all the world/ worship mammetry  
¶ For some Saturn/ god of gods all  
'Gan in their error/ falsely for to call  
That was whilom/ the myghtyking of Crete  
And gave him name/ after the planet  
That in heaven/ hath so large a spear  
And as poets/ in their fables lere  
That he before/ thorough his sapience  
saw/ in his divine providence  
How a son/ should of him descend  
¶ And of juno/ the god's/ as he wend  
That should him plainly/ fro his reign expelle  
And suffer him/ no longer for to dwell  
In his kingdom/ when he came to age  
Whereof Saturn/ fill in such arage  
That he will shape/ remedy therefore  
Bidding his wife/ when the child were boar  
That she to him/ should it bring anon  
In stead whereof to him she brought a stone  
To save her child/ she died her business  
And this Saturn/ thorough his greediness  
The stone devoureth/ in his melancholy  
And thus Saturn/ but if books lie  
Had sons three/ a daughter and no more  
jupiter Neptunus'/ and Pluto  
But jupiter greatest/ was of the name  
Most renowned/ and worthiest of fame  
Among paynims/ as it is verified  
For they so high/ have him magnified  
That they him call/ god of fire and eyre  
Nert to Saturn/ borne for to be heir  
And nert to him/ in books as I read  
Is god of battle/ mighty Mars the red  
And next Apollo/ so clear/ so sheen & bright  
The days eye/ and voider of the night  
Cheryssher of fruit/ herb/ flower and corn  
The which god/ like as is said toforne  
In Delos/ is worshipped/ and honoured  
And after venus/ that often hath succoured  
Many lover/ the fair lusty queen  
And them allege/ of their wounds green  
That first was hurt with her fiery bronde  
As she that is goddess/ of many land  
And all the world/ hath in her demeyne  
Fast embraced/ in her fiery chain  
I mean the lady that called is venus  
And next in order/ is Mercurius  
That in speech/ hath most excellence  
Of rhetoric/ and sugared eloquence  
Of music/ song and harmony  
He hath lordship/ and hold the regal  
Next the Moon/ that wax can and wane  
Called Lucyna/ and also eke diane  
That in Delos/ hath her mansion  
Like as tofore/ is maked mention  
Now full of might/ now horned pale is she  
Lady of change/ and mutability  
That seld in one/ halt her any time  
And so far they/ that be borne in her clime  
That aye delight/ in things that be new  
Whose heart is clad/ in many sundry hew  
So they be divers/ in their affections  
And in this wise/ in sundry regions  
Of mammetry/ is in the venom run  
Like as clerks/ well devise konne  
For as I find/ the Maurycyens  
Worship julam/ and Egipcyens  
Honour the sis/ after their cunning  
Whilom daughter/ of ynachus the king  
That taught them/ first their land to ere & sow  
And also letters/ for to read and know  
And in lecture/ to set their business  
For which thing/ they call her a goddess  
And jupiter/ honoured is in Crete  
Where he whilom/ held his sovereign seat  
And on them laid/ many diverse charge  
With eagles beaten/ in his banner large  
And he was lord/ of eyre land and see  
His royal kingdom/ dividing into three  
In the highest/ himself doth contune  
And hole in the see/ he gave unto Neptune  
And last the earth/ to hold his see royal  
He gave to Pluto/ that god is infernal  
And alder last/ when he was stellyfyed  
This jupiter/ was most magnified  
Of them of Crete/ about over all  
To whom they made/ for a memorial  
A large tomb/ and a statue a loft  
And him honoured/ in their rites oft  
With encens/ and other sacrifice  
And of this matter/ ferther to devise  
The larynes/ with busy diligence  
In their rites/ died reverence  
To the gods/ if it be credible  
y● called fawny/ that be muysyble  
And have hered welling/ in the woods green  
Albe that men/ their figure may nat seen.  
And of romans/ further to divine  
They moste in honour/ have their god quyryne  
The which whilom/ as books tell us  
amongs them/ was called Romulus  
That bylte first/ the walls of the town  
And from an herd/ he came to such renown  
thorough his manhood/ and his worthiness  
The spear of whom/ as books say express  
As he the heed/ pitched in the ground  
It 'gan anon/ like as it is found  
To flourish and flower/ and bud by miracle  
And of nature/ had none obstacle  
To wax green/ with fresh blomes new  
And for the manhood/ that men in him knew  
For his knighthood/ and his great fame  
¶ The worthy knights/ of Romebare the name  
After him/ and were Quyryte called  
high in heaven/ when that he was stalled  
Among the gods/ and ydeyfyed  
And thus Romeyns'/ have him glorified  
As for their god/ & with gold & great expenses  
And as I read/ the Athenyenses  
Of hole heart/ chosen for to serve  
To the goddess/ that called is minerve  
And Pallas eke/ with her crystal shield  
That with Neptunus'/ even amid the field  
Held champarty/ with women on their side  
And he with men/ full surquedous in pride  
Defendeth him/ for giving of the name  
Of Athenes/ a city most of fame  
This is to say/ whether he or she  
Should of right/ name the city  
Till it befell/ as they 'gan strive  
suddenly there sprang/ a fair olive  
For Pallas/ part/ green & fair blossomynge  
And there again/ a well 'gan to spring  
For him Pluto/ with water large and deep  
Of which thing/ Apollo took good keep  
Which in his doom/ was nat reckeles  
And for the olive/ tokeneth love and pes  
Water trouble/ contek were and stry fe  
He gave sentence/ anon diffynytyfe  
How Pallas/ should/ that called is minerve  
The palm plainly/ of this strive discern.  
And she anon/ gave name to the town  
And called it/ by high discrecyowne  
Athenes/ the which in speeyall  
Is to say/ a city immortal  
For wyldome first there began to flower  
And for this skill/ this city died honour  
Mighty Pallas/ goddess of science  
And her aye moste had/ in reverence.  
And they of Pave/ in all their region  
Whorshyp most/ the queen of Cithaeron  
I mean venus'/ full of doubleness  
Of whom afore/ somewhat I died express  
And in her temple/ full solemnly  
They set her highest/ and most richly  
With gold and azure/ her statue they do paint  
And other colours/ that may never faint  
And set her up/ in the highest see  
Of all the temple/ that all men may see  
And she stant naked/ in a wawy see  
About her/ with goddesses three  
That be assigned/ with busy attendance  
To await on her/ and do her observance  
And flowers fresh/ blewe/ read/ and white  
Be her about/ the more for to delight  
And on her heed/ she hath a chapelet  
Of roses read/ full pleasantly yset  
And from the heed/ down unto her foot  
With sundry gums/ and oyntemerꝭ sore  
She is ennoynte/ swetter for to smell  
And environ/ as poets tell  
By dowues white/ flying/ and eke sparrows  
And beside cupid/ with his arrows  
Her blind son/ for to hurt and dear  
And loseth oft/ and smite/ he wot nat where  
As he must needs/ because he is blind  
And thus honoured/ and most had in mind  
Among this people/ is venus' the goddess  
And Naxyens/ do their business  
To serve Bacchus/ the mighty god of wine  
Whose liquor is/ most precious and fine  
To recomfort hearts/ and to glade  
And to refresh/ hews that be fade  
In faces pale/ and maketh wits sharp  
Loseth tongues/ and make them loud to carp  
And causeth/ them to walk at liberty  
And to discure thing/ that was secree  
Without advise/ or discretion  
For where/ as wine hath domination  
No secretness may/ be kept in mewe  
And some of them/ that Bacchus serve & sew  
Among to him/ have such devotion  
That they some while/ be void of all reason  
Hasty and wood/ and without all dread  
And some also/ so toty in their heed  
That they are void/ of power and of might  
And have no foot/ for to stand up right  
And yet they be/ as jargaunt as a pie  
Pale cheered with a glasy eye  
Full of reason/ till his wind be spent  
For man or woman/ that is violent  
Is verily a be'st/ unreasonable  
And to my doom/ I hold them eke unable  
To be accepted/ in any company  
When that their tongue/ wadeth on the lie  
That they ne may/ bring forth a word  
And thus Bacchus/ the strong mighty lord  
For oft causeth/ folks for to err  
To debate/ and to make were  
Of hastiness/ where as is no need  
Wherefore it is/ wisdom/ that men dread  
His sleighty working/ or they fall in the snare  
And feeble brains/ by measure for to spare  
Or they unwarely/ arrested be and take  
And or Bacchus/ make them for to shake  
In a fever/ worse than tercyens  
If it of custom/ be cotydyen  
Alterat with Bacchus/ mighty jous  
And affered/ of turning of the house  
And fordreynt/ on the dry land  
When he hath lost/ both foot and hand  
And with a straw/ playeth like an ape  
And devoutly/ gynneth for to gape  
And ●oddeth oft/ with his jowsy heed  
As he had on/ a heavy cap of lead  
And who that be of this condition  
He enter may/ the religion  
Of mighty Bacchus/ for ability  
The which lord/ hath the sovereignty  
Both of honey/ and of milk thereto  
And of balm/ that is so rich also  
And lordship hath/ of high power divine  
Both of grapes/ and of every vine  
To give them nourishing/ by his influence  
Of whom the honour/ and the reverence  
Is raised most/ as I understand  
Among vynters/ in every manner land  
Because he is/ to them so gracious  
And they of limb/ worship vulcanus  
The god of fire/ jubyters smythe  
The which forgeth/ on his black slythe  
The great thunder/ hideous and horrible  
And the levenes/ that whilom be visible  
Into the west/ out of the orient  
And gasteth us/ with his dreadful dent  
This smotry smythe/ this swart vulcanus  
That whilom in heart/ was so jealous  
Toward venus'/ that was his wedded wife  
Whereof there rose/ a deadly mortal strife  
When he with Mars/ 'gan her first espy  
Of high malice/ and cruel false envy  
thorough the shining/ of Phoebus' beams bright  
dying a bed/ with Mars her own knight  
For which in heart/ he brent as any gleed  
Making the slander/ all a broad to spread  
And 'gan thereon/ falsely for to muse  
As god forbid/ that any man accuse  
For ●o little/ any woman ever  
Where love is let/ hard is to dissever  
For though they do/ such thing of gentilesse  
Pass over lightly/ and bear none heaviness  
Lest that thou be/ to women odious  
And yet this smith/ this false vulcanus  
All be that he/ had them thus espied  
Among paynims/ yet was he deified  
And for that he/ so falsely them a work  
I have him set/ last of all my book  
Among to goddess/ of false mammetry  
And in this wise/ 'gan idolatry  
As ye have heard/ thorough opinions  
Of people erring/ in their affections  
That all is false/ who the truth cerche  
For by teaching/ of all holy church  
The holy doctrine/ and traditions  
We shall despise/ such oppyons  
Which of the fiend/ were found nat oflate  
For when angels/ in heaven were create  
He that of all/ had prelacy  
Of whom the prophet/ called isaiah  
Writeth right thus/ how the cedars green  
Of paradise were nat/ so fair to seen  
Planies nor fyr/ in height sooth to say  
To his highness/ might nat attain  
Nor all the trees/ so delicious  
Of Paradyse/ were natso precious  
Nouther in sight/ nor in seemliness  
To be equal to him/ in fairness  
But thorough his pride/ and his surquidry  
When he said/ to god that sit so his  
He will be like/ and also set his see  
high in the north/ passing his degree  
He was cast down/ with all his religions  
From the fair/ heavenly mansions  
All suddenly/ into the pit of hell  
Perpetuelly/ there for to dwell  
Of whom was said/ when he fill so far  
How fill thou so/ O thou morrow star  
From the mids/ of the stones bright  
That be so piercing/ and fiery of their light  
That whilom were/ for thy great brightness  
Called Lucyfer/ of whom christ saith express  
In his gospel/ how he saw fro heaven  
Satan descend/ like the fiery levene  
The old serpent/ that is follow fall  
Whom heebre●/ in their tongue call.  
¶ Bemoth/ that doth in latin plain express  
A be'st rude/ full of cursedness  
The vile serpent/ he levyathan  
Whom Isydre/ well describe can  
Which of kind/ is never conversant  
In wells trouble/ & hath most his haunt  
amongs waters/ in the large see  
Of whom saith david/ like as ye may see  
In the Sauter/ making mention  
Of the snake/ the monstrous dragon  
Full of venom/ and of hard grace  
Which in the see/ large and great of space  
With foul adders/ hath his mansion  
Unto mankind/ to do illusion  
Whom whilom saw/ the holy monk Brandan  
As he sailed/ by the occian  
Thorough and de●ecte/ in apytte horrible  
More foul and hideous/ than it is credible  
There to abide/ this tortuous serpent  
Unto the day/ plainly of judgement  
That of malices/ envy so mankind  
Which with his gins/ & sleights as I find  
Came to our faders/ first in paradise  
And to deceive/ the bet at his devise  
More covertly/ this worm in his passage  
Took of a serpent/ the likeness and image  
That is of cheer/ of look and countenance  
Like a maid/ and hath resemblance  
Of a woman/ as recordeth Bede  
In his deceits/ rather for to speed  
I mean the only/ and nat else  
For behind/ so as clerks tells  
Like a serpent/ of womb/ back and tail  
He was/ when he 'gan him to assail  
And toward Eve/ when he 'gan to glide  
He first enquereth/ as he her roke a lied  
Why god forbade them/ eaten of the tree  
Which if they eat/ soothly should be  
Like to gods/ knowing good and ill  
And right forthwith as they 'gan sulfyll  
The fiends hest/ their eyen were unclosed  
And for their guilt/ suddenly deposed  
From Paradyse/ into wretchedness  
To live in labour/ sorrow and distress  
And thus the fiend/ first when that hetoke  
Form of a snake/ and a woman's look  
And made the tongue/ in her heed to move  
By false engine/ mankind for to grieve  
So as he doth in them/ that be travailed  
With wicked spirits/ vaxed and assailed  
To move he tongues/ falsely out to break  
Into blasphemy/ what thing that they speak  
The same serpent/ he levyathan  
Contuning aye/ falsely as he 'gan  
In cursed yools/ dumb▪ v●fe▪ and blind  
Full oft speaketh/ be spirits as I find  
Which are but fiends/ David write certain  
The gods all/ whom folks so in vain  
Honour with rites/ superstitious  
As whilom was/ Apollo Delphicus  
Like as tofore/ ye have herd devise  
Which as for now/ aught Enough suffice  
And as I trow/ the very cause why  
That mine Auctor/ rehearseth by and by  
Ground and beginning/ of idolatry  
This the cause/ for aught I can espy  
For that he saw/ the matter was nat know  
I lyche well/ both to high and low  
peradventure/ you to do pleasance  
He hath the ground/ put in remembrance  
Of false gods/ and of mammetry  
And most for them/ that can no poysye,   

ANd to the story/ resorteth soon again  
How achilles/ as ye have heard me say  
And Pirrodus/ have the way nim  
To the temple and thither be ycome  
To have answer/ of their embassatrye  
Of great Apollo/ which may nat lie  
Of the priests/ they have their counsel take  
In the temple/ to pray and to wake  
Till they may find/ unto their intent  
To have answer/ at hour convenient  
To their purpose/ and leisure opportune  
¶ And of one heart/ so long they contune  
In praying fasting/ and oblations  
With sacrifice and sundry orisons  
Tofore the god/ awaiting always fast  
Till he to them/ answered at last  
With 〈◊〉 voice/ and said Achilles' twelve  
Home to Greeks/ fast that thou the high  
From whom thou were/ hither to me sent  
And say them soothly/ the sum of their intent  
shallbe fulfilled/ without words more  
And how that they shall/ to Troy go  
And there abide/ many strong battle  
But at the last/ without any fail  
At ten year day/ they win shall the town  
And bring it plainly/ to destrucciowne  
Wall and towers/ shall fall to ruin  
And with all this/ their purpose for to fine  
King Pryamus/ and Ecuba his wife  
And their sons/ in this mortal strife  
Shall there be slain/ brother after brother  
This is the fine/ for it may be none other  
For there shall none/ escape in the place  
But such as Greeks/ liketh unto grace  
Of very ruth/ and of mercy take  
This all & some/ and thus an end I make.   

OF which answer/ Achilles glad & light  
Was in his heart/ & with all his might  
Thanketh Apollo/ of this blissful eure  
And suddenly/ of sort or adventure  
The self time/ befell a wonder thing  
For out of Troy/ fro Priamus the king  
Was sent a bishop/ for the same cas  
To have answer/ whose name was Calcas  
And he came in sool/ without pres  
The same hour/ while that Achilles  
Was there present/ a man of great science  
I mean Calcas/ and had experience  
specially/ of calculation  
Of sort also/ and dyvynation  
And learned was/ in astronomy  
And when that he his time died espy  
To have answer/ most convenient  
Of Apollo/ like to his intent  
As tofore/ maked is memory  
He entered is in the oratory  
Doing his rites/ and his observances  
Like the custom/ with the circumstances  
And busily 'gan/ to kneel and pray  
And his things/ devoutly for to say  
And to the god/ cry and call full strong  
And for Apollo/ would nat prolong  
Suddenly his answer/ 'gan attame  
¶ And said Calcas/ twice by his name  
Be right well aware/ thou ne turn again  
To Troy town/ for that were but in vain  
For finally/ learn this of me  
In short time/ it shall destroyed be  
This is in sooth/ which may nat be denied  
Wherefore I will/ that thou be allied  
With the greeks/ and with Achilles go  
To them anon/ my will is it beso  
For they shall have/ as I have disposed  
Victory and honour/ that may be disposed  
For it is fatal/ and ne may nat vary  
And thou to them/ shalt be necessary  
In counseyling/ and in giving rede  
And be right helping/ to their good speed  
And with that word/ rose him up Calcas  
And to Achilles/ he went an easy pas  
And when that he came/ to his presence  
With great honour/ and moche reverence  
He was received/ like to his estate  
And after soon/ they were confederate  
Swore together/ be bond and assurance  
To be all one/ without variance  
And than in haste/ they together gone  
To their ships/ and shope them forth anon  
With Pirrodus/ going by their side  
They hale up the anchor/ and no longer bide  
But sail forth/ Calcas and they twain  
Toward Grece/ them needeth nat complain  
On wind and wawe/ till they arrived be  
At Athenes/ that stood upon the see  
A large city/ of old foundation  
And Achilles/ to king Agamenon  
Hath Calcas brought/ and also Pirrodus  
And when the greeks/ the story telleth us  
Assembled were/ they together went  
Tofore the king/ and Calcas represent  
To all the lords/ and no longer dwell  
And right anon/ Achilles' 'gan to tell  
Without abode/ in Delos how they met  
Tofore Apollo/ where they answer fet  
And how the god/ hath plainly determined  
The greeks purpose/ how it shallbe fyned  
Upon Trojans/ and bad Calcas also  
In no wise/ that he to Troy go  
But with greeks that he abide still  
Till they their purpose/ finally fulfil  
Of which thing/ the greeks glad of cheer  
Calcas accept/ with heart full entere  
For one of them/ confederate be bond  
To be all one/ on water and on land  
Without change/ or any variance  
The oath is made/ and put in remembrance  
And they again/ fully him assure  
To cherish him/ while their life may dure  
For weal or woe/ and so they made an end  
And after part/ and to their lodging wend.   

Till on the morrow/ after the sterry night  
When Aurora/ was gladded with the light  
Of Phoebus vemes/ the greeks up arise  
And to their god's/ with many sacrifice  
They do honour/ in what they can or may  
And devoutly/ holding a feast day  
After their rites/ meynt with love and dread  
In remembrance/ of the good speed  
And of the answer/ that gods have them sent  
So agreeable/ unto their intent  
By Pirrodus/ and by Achilles  
And after this/ amongs all the pres  
Is Calcas come/ tofore Agamenon  
All his lords/ sitting environ  
Like their estates/ each in his place dew  
And humbly/ 'gan them to salue  
Upon his knees/ with sober countenance  
And prayed them/ it be no displeasance  
To stint a while/ and give him audience  
And right anon/ as made was silence  
Among them all/ Calcas 'gan abraid  
And even thus/ full soberly he said.   

OSyres quoth he/ and my lords dear  
Kings/ princes/ & dukes that be here  
Sonoble eachone/ worthy and famous  
And eke so manly/ and so virtuous  
Which in this place/ be now here present  
Is nat the fine/ and chief of your intent  
And cause also/ why that ye eachone  
Assembled be/ to Troy for togone  
With this power/ and this great strength  
Your purpose is/ to long draw a length  
And differred forth/ fro day to day  
To your damage/ platly this no nay  
For to long/ ye sojourn in this isle  
And trow ye nat/ that Priam's in this while  
Hath his espies/ among you privily  
I wot it we'll/ I say you faithfully  
To know the fine/ of our governance  
And he there whiles/ may make purveyance  
Him to defend/ while ye m idle rest  
Me seemeth soothly/ ye do nat for the best  
For in abiding/ and in such delays  
Great harm may fall/ certain this no nay is  
I prove it thus/ for plainly while that ye  
To your enemies/ grant liberty  
Them to purvey/ they may with mighty hand  
Enforce them/ your power to withstand  
With their friends/ and their alliance  
And at leisure/ make their ordinance  
It is folly/ that ye so differ  
sith ye be ready/ for to make a were  
On your enemies/ with every circumstance  
For no thing may/ a quarrel so advance  
As hasty suit/ it will the sharper bite  
The Iren hoot/ time is for to smite  
And nat abide/ till that it be cold  
For nouther than/ it ply will nor fold  
Go set upon/ all of one accord  
And to ship/ anon within board  
Enhaste you/ for time is to remove  
With all your might/ your quarrel to pursue  
Against them/ that have to you trespassed  
How many days/ be of summer passed  
And many months/ run and over slide  
And Titan oft/ with his char hath ride  
From east to west/ and in the wawes deep  
His streams bathed/ while ye have lain asleep  
And spent your time/ in this place thus  
While that the wind/ called zephyrus  
benignly inspired/ hath a loft  
The a temper eyer/ the weather fair & soft  
The calm see/ from wawes still and plain  
Whiles ye waste/ your days here in vain  
That when your soon/ thereto take heed  
They will suppose/ that it be for dread  
And be more bold/ to set of you but light  
Trust forsooth/ for I will me quite  
truly to you/ like as I am bound  
And think how ye/ have the gods found  
There toward/ benign and fortunate  
Your honour saved/ in high and low estate  
And so shall forth/ if your ingratituding  
Provoke them nat/ your purpose to delude  
Wilfully to sloth/ your fortune  
No wonder is/ though they nat contune  
Towards you/ for to show their grace  
Wherefore I read/ hence for to place  
deeming the greeks/ plainly of the see  
For wearied/ and fainted/ had be  
With long sailing/ parbraked and forbroke  
Wherefore they cave/ on them have be wroke  
All suddenly/ and set on the heed  
And put themself/ in adventure and dread  
Of rakelnesse/ un advysely  
Whereof to themself/ unhappily  
It befell/ when they the greeks met  
With spears long/ and swords sharp whet  
Each on other/ manhood for to show  
But for cause/ Trojans were to few  
To issue out/ they died foolily  
The field was/ nat parted equally  
For the greeks were/ innumerable  
That them to meet/ Trojans were nat able  
For that time/ they might nat suffice  
They took on them/ to passing high emprise  
And yet they ne would/ for no thing them wdrawe  
Till that they were/ wounded and yslawe  
And overlay/ of greeks utterly  
Now here/ now there/ bore down cruelly  
Mercyles/ as Guy do doth report  
That them behoveth/ home again resort  
Of very need/ and necessytee  
And all atones/ 'gan for to flee  
I mean such/ as were left a live  
To the castle/ they has●ed them full belive  
For they ne might/ no longer hold field  
Against greeks/ with spear nor with shield  
They were to feeble/ shortly to conclude  
To abide/ so great a multitude  
And as they flee/ the greeks a great pace  
Ne cease nat/ to sew on the chase  
Full hastily to the castle gate  
And enter in/ and by cruel fate  
They kill and slay/ both high and low  
They spare none/ ne list no wight to know  
Of none estate/ but felly him oppress  
And what they fond/ gold and eke richesse  
Unto ship they carried anon  
And of the castle/ they left nat a stone  
Above another/ but turned up so down  
Both wall & tour/ and the chief dung own  
That no thing stood/ so they under mine  
And when all/ was brought unto ruin  
Greeks anon/ to their ships haste  
Of one assent/ and purpose as fast  
Without abode/ of one will and heart  
Fro that haven/ plainly to divert  
And to sail/ Toward Tenedowne  
A strong castle/ which fro Troy town  
In distance/ but six mile stood  
Full of treasure/ of richesse and of good  
replenished/ of all abundance  
And when that they/ with their ordinance  
ysayled have/ both safe and sound  
And fro the see/ taken have the ground  
To their pleasance/ wonder agreeable  
And of sight/ a place delightable  
Wholesome of eyre/ the soil right fair and green  
And lusty plains/ goodly on to seen  
And was also abundant/ of victual  
replenished/ of all that may avail  
To osteing/ and to sowgyoures  
For first the land/ full of fresh flowers  
Was plenteous/ both of corn and grain  
Of wine and fruit/ that no thing lay barren  
Of best and fowls/ passingly plenty  
And fast by/ stood also the see  
Full abundant of fish/ as I find  
After the season/ of every manner kind  
And when that they/ within the castle were  
The grekesse landed/ from a fere  
Without abode/ they arm them & went out  
And upon them/ make an hideous shout  
Stuffing the castle/ with main strong behind  
And took their way/ in Guydo as I find  
Toward their soon/ and knightly set upon  
And right forth/ with greeks eke anon  
Met with them/ upon the other side  
Full surquydous/ and right full of pride  
Cleanly armed/ in harness all ofstele  
Fresh arrayed/ and beseen so weal  
For the field as thick/ as sworme of been  
On each side/ men may behold and seen  
spread all the plain/ down unto that strand  
Till at the last/ they met hand to hand  
And assemble/ with square spears ground  
And hurtle yfere/ with many bloody wound  
There was no good day/ nor no salving  
But strokes fell/ that men heard ring  
On bassenettes/ the strokes round about  
So cruelly/ that the fire sprang out  
Among the tufts/ broad/ bright and sheen  
Of foil of gold/ & feathers white and green  
Eke into breasts/ pierced many shield  
And besagues/ fleed a broad in the field  
And many men/ lay that mortal found  
Full deadly pale/ law by the grunde  
With face gruf/ and bloody streams wide  
And aldermost/ upon the greeks side  
The slaughter was/ and the discomfiture  
So mightily/ the Trojans died endure   

Till at the last/ for they were so sew  
With multitude/ the grekis on them hew  
For more than forty/ were against one  
Of very force/ aback they must gone  
No thing for lack of manhood/ dare I say  
But for so many/ have them over lain  
They may no longer/ in the field sojourn  
But to their Castle/ home again return  
In full great haste/ such as might escape  
Away a live/ and some of them for rape  
And dread of death/ took them to flight  
On horse back/ to Troy town full right  
No wonder was/ though they haste fast  
For to the gates/ the chase of greeks last  
So cruelly/ after they pursue  
And some of them/ that might nat remove  
On Troy side/ forweryed of fight  
The greeks slew/ with all their full might  
Now here now there/ who they might attain  
There may no ransom/ nor no mercy gain  
Of none estate/ without excepcyowne  
And after that/ unto Tenedowne  
The greeks went/ and it be set about  
That Trojan none/ might escape out  
And when they had/ the bulwarks won  
To scale the wall/ after they begun  
And made a saute/ manfully and oft  
And Troyans/ as they stood a loft  
Put them of/ that enter they ne might  
With cast of stone/ and quarrel bright  
With bow turkeys/ and shot of Arbalasteres  
And their gonners/ standing at corneres  
With him also/ and cast of wild fire  
Of irous hate/ full hot in their desire  
Like manly men/ themself/ they defend  
And aye the greeks/ as they up ascend  
Cruelly they put/ to the ground  
Till they without/ a ordinance have found  
What with gins/ devised for the nonce  
And gonnes great/ for to cast stones  
Bend to the towers/ right as any line  
And large sows/ low for to mine  
And some of them/ upon the wall gone  
That were so thick/ made of lime and stone  
And to enter/ they many ways seek  
Set their bastyles/ and their hurdeys eke  
Round about/ to the hard wall  
And scaling ladders/ for saw●es marcyalle  
They 'gan up cast/ with hooks for to hold  
And up ascend/ the sturdy greeks bold  
Till Trojans/ from the crests cast  
The great stones/ while they would last  
And Callyowne/ eke greeks to oppress  
And wonder manly/ died their business  
In their diffence/ and made plunge them low  
With cast of quarrel/ and with shoot of bow  
thorough Olyettes/ that of necessity  
They put them of/ it may none other be  
And broke their necks/ & their coriander boves  
As they fell/ with the square stones  
And lie deed/ piteous pale of hew  
But Greeks aye/ 'gan the saute renew  
With multitude/ Trojans to assail  
To withstand/ that they 'gan to fail  
And wax feeble/ for rescuse came there none  
And so of force/ the greeks be in gone  
thorough the walls/ when they have them broke  
And on Trojans/ so cruelly be wroke  
That finally/ they left none a live  
But slay and kill/ and after that as belive  
On the walls/ their banners they have set  
And young and old/ it might be no bet  
All goth to wrack/ upon Troy side  
And after that/ they ne will no longer bide  
But treasure gold/ and what they may find  
They cast an heap/ and together bind  
And make spoil/ of all that was within  
And than in haste/ the walls they begin  
pinnacle and towers/ and also the dungeowne  
To bren and hew/ and to beat down  
And with the soil/ they made even & plain  
And with great pray/ anon they went again  
To their ships/ glad and light of cheer  
When the fire/ with his flawmes clear  
The castle had/ consumed and ybrent  
And after that/ advise and prudent  
The manly man/ the worthy Agamenon  
Let make anon/ a convocation  
Of the greeks/ and bad they should bring  
Gold and treasure/ without more tarrying  
With all the pray/ they wan at Tenedowne  
To his presence/ for this conclusion  
That he may make/ distribution  
amongs them/ without exception  
Like their desert/ unto poor and rich  
He departeth/ to every man a lyche  
But most to such/ as died best disserue  
For to himself/ him list no thing conserve  
For he hath liefer/ their hearts than the good  
Of such as had/ spent their own blood  
So manfully/ the castle for to win  
For who that can/ with largesse first begin  
Ne faileth nat/ after well to speed  
thorough help of men/ when that hath need  
For love followeth/ freedom commonly.    

¶ How king Agamenon assembled the Barons of Grece afore to keep a counsel/ And how they sent Vlixes and king diomed to king Priamus on message. Ca nineteen.  

ANd after this/ the king let make a cry  
That all the kings/ & lords of his host  
Duke's/ and Earls/ come from every cost  
The next morrow/ tofore him to appear  
The night ypassed/ Phoebus' 'gan to clear  
Her emysperye/ after the lark song  
When that the king/ among the greeks strong  
Upon the plain/ in his see royal  
And fast by/ most chief and principal  
Of his lords/ were set in their degree  
And when the king/ saw opportunity  
That was there made silence/ every where  
His lieges standing/ environ here & there  
The king of cheer sad/ and eke jocund  
As he that was of speech/ full faucounde  
Began his tale/ with sober countenance  
The effect of which/ was this in substance.   

Sires quoth he/ full worthy of degree  
Of very right/ and necessity  
We be compelled/ both high and low  
With all our might/ like as ye well know  
To redress a thing/ that is amiss  
For thorough the world/ as it reported is  
We be of force/ of power and of might  
Of worthiness/ in every wights sight  
Most renowned/ and most worshypable  
And ydempt and judged/ for most able  
Of all people/ and lyklyest to stand  
For to perform/ what we take an hand  
Who that ever grudgeth/ or saith nay  
Yer me seemeth/ if it be to your pay  
Thilk power/ most is acceptable  
Unto god's/ and longest standeth stable  
That is devoid/ of surquedry and pride  
For it is kouth/ upon every side  
In each land/ both of one and all  
How many harms/ and griefs have befall  
thorough rancour/ only pride & wilfulness  
So inportable/ as I could express  
thorough pride/ there is done offence  
The high god's/ make resistance  
To all though/ that be surquydous  
Which is a vice/ so contrarious  
That it may/ in no place abide  
And in good faith/ manhood is no pride  
For who that hath/ any acquaintance  
either by friendship/ or by alliance  
With a proud man/ to be confederate  
With him in heart/ of high or low estate  
He needs must/ what ever that he be  
To many other/ of necessity  
Be loathsome/ first enemy and contrary  
For no thing may/ a man so much appear  
As pride in sooth/ in high or low degree  
Wherefore I read/ plainly how that we  
This foul vice/ out of our heart arrace  
That our quarrel/ may have the more grace  
And specially/ that our deeds all  
Conveyed be/ how ever that it fall  
By rightwiseness/ more than volunte  
For if truth/ our soothfast guide be  
Us to direct/ by his rightful line  
Than our quarrel/ shall aye in honour shine  
And contune/ in full felicity  
And furthermore/ this know all ye  
How we are come/ for to do vengeance  
With our friendship/ and out alliance  
Upon Priam's/ for wrongs done of old  
By him and his/ as I have oft told  
And here upon/ we have his ground tale  
And some of his/ maked to a wake  
With manful hand/ and his castles strong  
Ibetes down/ that stand have so long  
And take there the rychesseꝭ that we found  
And slew his men/ with many bloody wound  
And harms more/ done in his country  
That I wot well/ if their enmity  
Was unto us/ great and much afore  
I dare say now/ it is in double more  
That if that they/ avenged might be  
On us eachone/ anon ye should see  
Their great Ire/ so cruel and so huge  
Be execute/ without more refuge  
And yet in sooth/ I wot they have espied  
Our being here/ though we be nat askyred  
Of them as yet/ I dare say utterly  
They are well aware/ that we are fast by  
And over more/ this wot I well also  
Of the harms/ that we have them do  
The which as yet/ be but fresh and green  
If they were strong/ and mighty to abstain  
A were on us/ anon they would gynne  
And yet the city/ in which they be inn  
Is walled strong/ and toured round about  
That they ween fully/ out of doubt  
With the main/ that they have gathered in  
Of their alyes/ that we shall nat win  
Of them but small/ in were nor in strife  
For he in sooth/ hath a prerogative  
And advantage/ that in his country  
Himself diffendeth/ namely if that he  
Be stuffed strong/ of friends him beside  
And of alyes/ where he doth abide  
Like as the Raven/ with his feathers black  
Within his nest/ will oft time make  
Again the Faukon/ gentle of nature  
Full hard diffence/ whiles he may dure  
Or that he be vanquished/ and outrayed  
And yet some while/ the Faukon is delayed  
Whiles the Raven/ beside his nest doth flee  
Within his court/ at his liberty  
As every foul/ is froward to areste  
For to be daunted/ in his own nest.   

ANd yet these words/ to you I nat say  
In any wise/ to put in a fray  
Your knightly heart/ so manly and so stable  
Nor that to you/ it should be doutabse  
But the Trojans/ that we shall confound  
And their city/ in which they abound  
Plainly destroy/ albe that it be strong  
And they/ and all be them among  
Shall finally/ consumpt/ be with death  
Thorough greeks sword/ yield up the breath.  
¶ But the cause/ without any dread  
Why I say thus/ is that ye take heed  
For any pride/ or presumption  
To advert/ in your discretion  
So prudently/ that reason in this need  
For any haste/ may our bridle lead  
And so ordain/ or we hence wend  
That laud/ and praise/ after the end  
May be reported/ as I have devised  
For many man/ that hath nat be advised  
In his pursuit/ for lack of providence  
To see tofore/ in his advertence  
What should fall/ to death it hath them brought  
Such wilful haste/ were good to be thought  
Of us afore/ by examination  
And well discussed/ by revolution.  
¶ Of thinking oft/ that we nat repent  
And first remember/ how that Priam sent  
To us but late/ only for Exyon  
That yet is hold/ of king Thelamon  
Which was of us/ without advisement  
undiscreetly denied/ by assent  
Which hath to us/ be none advantage  
But ground and rote/ of full great damage  
For if that we/ thorough wise purveyance  
Of her had made/ deliverance  
The harms great/ had be eschewed  
That after were/ of Paris so pursued  
In the temple/ of Cythera  
That build is/ beside Eirrea  
The treasure great/ also that he had  
And jewels/ that he with him lad  
Than to Troy/ and the great richesse  
The slaughter of men/ and the heaviness  
That yet is made/ for the queen Eleyne  
Thorughoute Grece/ and the great pain  
Of Menelay/ all had been unwrought  
If we had seen/ this in our thought  
Wisely afore/ and Exyon restored  
Than had nat/ the harms be so mourned  
On us eachone/ in very sooth fastness  
Nor spent our labour/ so in idleness  
treasure nor good/ wasted so in vain  
Nor come so far/ for to fetch again  
The queen Eleyne/ with costs inportable  
Withouten harms/ now in eschewable.   

ANd for all this/ yet ne wot we  
Whether to joy/ or adversity  
The thing shall turn/ that we be about  
sith oft sith/ dependent and in doubt  
Is fatal thing/ unsyker/ and unstable  
And fro the beginning/ oft variable  
The end is seen/ fortune can transmewe  
Her gery course/ and therefore to eschew  
The harms likely/ possible for to fall  
My counsel is/ here among you all  
Upon travail/ travail to eschew  
In this matter/ be we further sew  
To Pryamus/ without any more  
To send first again/ for to restore  
The queen Eleyne/ as right and reason is  
And other harms/ done eke by Paris  
After his trespass/ and offency on  
justly to make/ restitution  
Than may we all/ in worship and honour  
Return home/ without more labour  
If they assent/ to do as we reqire  
And our axing/ if they list nat here  
But foolily/ of their wilfulness  
Refuse it/ than our worthiness  
Is double assured/ on asyker ground  
By just title/ Trojans to confound  
With things two/ we shallbe under pight  
first our power/ borne up with our right  
Shall for us fight/ our quarrel to dareyne  
In balance to weigh/ atwixe us weyne  
To fine that we/ shallbe more excused  
For they tofore/ have wilfully refused  
Our just proffers/ made to them afore  
And we shallbe/ thorough the world therefore  
Without spot/ of trespass or of blame  
Of mysreport/ in hindering of our name  
Where they of folly shall ynoted be  
Of wilful woodenness/ plainly where that we  
Shall stand free/ our power for to use  
And every man/ shall us well excuse  
Though that we do/ execution  
By taking vengeance/ for their offension  
Of man and child/ of each sect and age  
That shall of death/ hold the passage  
And by the sword/ without mercy pace  
One and other/ there is no better grace.   

But yet tofore/ I counsel take heed  
That ye to them/ all mesoure bede  
This hold I best/ and most sickerness  
And work now/ by good adviseness  
Among yourself/ and no longer tarry  
To which counsel/ some were contrary  
And variant/ to his opinion  
Save they that were/ of most discretion  
Assented be plainly/ to this end  
And chosen have/ to Priam's for to send  
amongs them/ the embassy at to speed  
wise Vlixes/ and worthy diomed  
The which anon/ 'gan them ready make  
And shope them forth/ and their way take  
Toward Troy/ as any line right  
When the son/ shone full sheen and bright  
Holding the course/ of his fiery spear  
In midday ark/ wonder bright and clear  
And guilt each hill/ vale plain & roche  
With his beams/ when they died approach  
To the walls/ and gates of the town  
And in they go/ without noise or sown  
Full well ●esene/ and in their port them had  
Right manfully/ and the way them lad  
To the paleyes/ straight as any line  
Them needeth nat/ aside to decline  
But into a court/ large wide and square  
And they full knightly/ for no wight would spare  
Unto the effect/ manly to proceed  
To do their charge/ without fere or dread  
For the entry/ was to them nat refused  
For though days/ paraunter was nat used  
To have no conduit/ for embassatrye  
The custom was/ to no man to deny  
As I suppose/ enter nor passage  
If it so were/ he come for message  
And in this court/ builded so rially  
When they come/ they marveled full greatly  
The royal sight/ of so huge strength  
So well complete/ both in breed and length  
For they nat had/ in their life tofore  
Seen none so fair/ & yet they wonder more  
Into the Paleyes/ as they together gone  
That paved was/ all of jasper stone  
Of a tree/ that amids stood  
On which to look/ they thought it did them good  
Musing where/ it were Artifycyall  
Erect or set/ by magic natural  
Or by engine/ of workmen coryous  
thorough subtle crafts/ superiticyous  
Or other work/ of necromancy  
Or profound castyuge/ of philosophy  
By appearance/ or illusion  
either by craft/ of Incantation  
Up and down/ they cast in their mind  
Out by reason/ if they could find  
Rote and ground/ of this wonder work  
But the truth/ was to them so dark  
That in their wit/ though they long trace  
The privity/ they can out compass  
To conceive/ how it was possible  
For to the eye/ as it was visible  
In very sooth/ without any fable  
To man's hand/ so it was palpable  
Of which the stock/ of Guydo as I told  
In sooth fastness/ was of pured gold  
Which shone as bright/ as the summer son  
To enlumyne/ things that were done  
And the body/ as a mast was right  
proportioned/ most goodly to the sight  
substantial/ and of huge strength  
And twelve cubytes/ the body was of length  
And the crop/ round/ and large of breed  
And in compass/ 'gan so flourysshe and spread  
That all the plain/ about environ  
With the bows/ was shadowed up and down  
The rich branches/ and the leaves fair  
Twain and twain/ joined as a pair  
One of gold/ another silver sheen  
And meynt among/ with stones white & green  
Some read/ and some sapher hewed  
And every day/ the blomes were renewed  
And the blossoms/ with many sundry fuyte  
For stones ind/ it bare in stead of fruit  
As saith Guydo/ I can no ferther tell  
And the Greeks/ will no longer dwalle  
But hold their way/ by many sundry went  
To perform/ the fine of their intent  
Till they attain/ the chambre principal  
Where Pryamus/ in his see royal  
Like his estate/ in full kingly wise  
Sat/ and about/ full prudent and full wise  
His lords all/ in sets him beside  
When the greeks/ surquedous of pride  
With stern there/ and froward countenance  
As they that had/ little remembrance  
Of gentilesse/ nor of courtesy  
For as Guydo/ doth plainly specify  
entering in/ they taken have their place  
In the opposite/ of the kings face  
And set them down/ without more sermon  
Any obeying/ or salutation  
Worship honour/ or any reverence  
Done of the king/ for all his excellence  
In pretudyce/ of all gentilesse  
And than anon/ Vlixes 'gan express  
Cause of their coming/ to king Pryamus  
Without abode/ saying even thus  
Nat forbearing/ presence of the king.   

OEruayle nat/ nor have no wondering  
Though we to y●/ ne do no honour dew  
In our coming/ the for to salue  
sith it ne longeth in sooth/ as thinketh me  
Where rancour is/ and heartily enmity  
Or deadly hate/ with salutations  
Or with feigned/ false affections  
For to show/ where hearts be a fire  
For naturally/ no man shall desire  
Of his enemy/ the health nor welfare  
And platly now/ me list nat for to spare  
Shortly to show/ the fine of our intent  
Like as we have/ in commandment  
In our message/ from Agamenowne  
The noble king/ most worthy of revowne  
Which us hath sent/ there is no more to say  
Now unto thee/ for the queen Eleyne  
That was ravished/ out of greeks land  
And brought to Troy/ by force of mighty hand  
Against right/ and by violence  
Wherefore shortly/ without more offence  
We justly axe/ without more demand  
That thou anon/ rightfully command  
To Menelay/ that she be sent again  
And with all this/ we axe nat in vain  
That thou make/ restitution  
Of wrongs done/ in that region  
Of pylfres great/ slaughter and robbery  
By Paris done/ of wilful tyranny  
Which is thy son/ and by the sustained  
And in his error/ wrongfully meynteyned  
Wherefore come of/ and fully condescend  
Without grudging/ this wrongs to amend  
For so thou mayst/ best the gods queme  
Like as thou might/ in thy reason dame  
As right requireth/ to work as the wise  
For if so be/ that thou now despise  
To execute/ that I have told the here  
Trust me right well/ a lesson thou shalt lere  
Which thou and thine/ shall after sore rue  
Without feigning/ thou shalt find true  
That but if thou/ a better end make  
Cruel vengeance/ shall on the be take  
And finally/ what should I to the fain  
The force of death/ this quarrel shall darayne  
Upon thee/ and upon all the blood  
Raunsomles/ other of gold and good  
And questyonles/ report this of me  
That merciless/ this rich strong city  
Shall down be beat/ and ylayde full low  
Wall and towers/ also overthrow  
This all and some/ be now well advised  
That our axing/ of the be nat despised  
But wisely work/ and do as I have said   

ANd suddenly/ king Priamus in abraid  
Of hasty Ire/ he might nat abide  
Of the greeks/ when he saw the pride  
The great outrage/ and presumption  
Without abode/ or deliberation  
To ●lixes/ anon he 'gan out break  
And unto him/ even thus to speak.  
I wonder greatly/ in mine advertence  
Beunge atoned/ how ye in my presence  
So ungodly/ dare make this demand  
Like as ye had power/ to command  
And me constrain/ your bidding to obey  
And I for fere/ durst nat with say  
No manner thing/ that ye axe here  
Nor contrary/ what that ye require  
Whereof soothly/ in heart I am moved  
And of your threats/ inwardly aggrieved  
And atoned surely/ nat alyte  
That ye are bold/ so me to excite  
And villainously/ mine honour to provoke  
On your words/ for to be a work  
But for all this/ trust me right we'll!  
I will nat pass my bounds/ never adele  
Nor the rather/ shrotely at the end  
To your axing/ in no thing condescend.  
¶ For to consider/ the fine of your intent  
It were nat sitting/ nor convenient  
Aching to grant/ your axing though that he  
Stood in mischief/ and captivity  
Without recure/ to utterance bought  
It were outrage/ plainly to be thought  
To axe of him/ that ye axe of me  
And soothly yet/ I suppose nat that ye  
accomplishing may/ so moche avail  
As ye have said/ for plately ye shall fail  
Of your purpose/ I say and god toforne  
Mauge your might/ though ye had it sworn  
For your request/ in every wights sight  
Wanteth a ground/ both of truth & right  
That axe of me/ satisfaction  
And were yourself/ first occasion  
When ye slew/ my father Lamedowne  
And his lieges/ and brent eke his town  
And many harms/ if they were out sought  
On him and his/ causeless ye wrought  
That it were long/ all for to rehearse  
Which day by day/ thorough my heart pierce  
My sister/ eke called Exyon  
Ye lad away/ out of this region  
The which is nat/ unto her worthiness  
Ytreted like/ nor after gentleness.  
¶ And for all this/ ye would amends have  
Wrongly of me/ that whilom for to save  
All thing in peace/ and to stint were  
To you sent/ into Grece far  
only to have had/ Exyona again  
Of which sonde/ ye had but disdain  
And cruelly/ in ungodly wise  
My messenger/ ye 'gan to despise  
That he uneath/ might escape away  
Out of grece/ ye know it is no nay  
Of you he had/ so ungodly cheer  
And in good faith/ me list nat now to here  
Your request/ nor give audience  
To your axing/ for your great offence  
For liefer I had/ shortly for to die  
Than condescend/ to aught that ye say  
For I will fully/ for conclusion  
That it be known/ to Agamenon  
That we have liefer/ this is doubtless  
Finally his were/ than his pees  
sith ye to me/ have done so great trespass  
And by my truth/ in this self place  
Cruelly anon/ ye should die  
But for the office/ of embassatrye  
Against death/ is fully your defence  
That be so bold/ without reverence  
In my presence/ so to threat or speak  
Trust me right/ it should an one bewreke  
Wherefore in haste/ without words more  
My counsel is/ that ye be a go  
Out of my sight/ and void this city  
For thus it standeth/ whiles I you see  
In my heart/ may enter no gladness  
The fret of Ire/ put me in such distress  
That in good faith/ I may it nat sustain  
So In portune/ is the rage and tene  
That inwardly/ bindeth me for the while  
ANd Dyomedes/ though began to smile  
And said anon/ thus unto the king  
If it so be/ that thou of our coming  
In thine heart/ haste so moche pain  
Us to behold/ now that be buttwayne  
And art therewith/ so inly set a fire  
Than shalt thou never/ be without ire  
In all thy life/ nor devoid of woe  
sith thou hast/ so many cruel foo  
Of greeks now/ entered in thy land  
An hundred thousand/ almost at thine hand  
Again whose might/ thou mayst y● nat assure  
To resist plainly/ nor endure  
Consider well/ how that they be strong  
As thou shalt wit/ paraunter are aught long  
Somanly men/ and so well arrayed  
Expert in arms/ and of old assayed  
That no diffence/ many again them veil  
And wyteeke well/ that thou mayst nat fail  
By death of sword/ of their hand to die  
And all thine/ there is no more to say  
Though it so be/ proudly that thou speak  
And with thy tongue/ only to be wreak  
Afermest more/ than thou mayst achieve  
Better it were/ such words leave  
And to wise counsel/ take better heed   

BUt than in haste/ again this diomed  
Surquydous/ and most full of pride  
There rose up some/ by the kings side  
With swords draw/ and on him have fall  
And all to hew/ there among them all  
Of hasty Ire/ brenning as the gleed  
Till Pryamus/ 'gan to take heed  
And rose him up/ saying this disease  
And manfully/ this rage 'gan appease  
Them diffending/ upon death and life  
That none of them/ be hardy in this strife  
The embassatoures/ to harm or to grieve  
For though a fool/ his folly will nat leave  
To presume/ to speak unconnyngly  
A wise man/ must suffer patiently  
And though that he/ hap do offence  
thorough folly speech/ for lack of sapience  
To a wise man/ ne iongeth sooth to sayne  
To take heed/ or to speak again  
For as to a fool/ it is perteynent  
To show his folly/ right so convenient  
Is to the wise/ soothly with sufferance  
In all his port/ to have tolerance  
For to fools/ longeth kindly  
Without advise/ to speak foolily  
undiscreetly his meaning/ to fulfil  
Where a wise man/ shall here and bestylle  
Till he see time/ and have patience  
And dissimule/ in his advertence  
The rage of fools/ that last but a throw  
For by his tongue/ a fool is oft know  
And liefer I had/ I do you well assure  
In my person/ damage to endure  
Than to suffer/ any messagere  
In my court/ of you that be here  
To have a wrong/ either great or light  
The sword of rancour/ may nat always bite  
To do vengeance/ for a thing of nought  
For oft it falleth/ a wrong is wrought  
For little excess/ followeth great reproof  
And haste is ayemedled/ with mischief  
Wherefore I bid/ that ye sit down  
And in no wise/ of presumpcyowne  
Attempteth nat/ in no manner wise  
By sign or word/ more for to despise  
The embassatoures/ from the greeks sent  
But let them freely/ declare their intent  
And ye there whiles/ keep your lips close   

ANd suddenly/ than Aeneas' rose  
Which next the king/ have than his see  
So inwardly/ with rancour fret was he  
That he ne might/ himself nat refrain  
And said sir/ so ye nat disdain  
That I shall say/ me seemeth that it is  
Well according/ when one hath said amiss  
And reklesly/ spoken unadvised  
Of his folly/ that he be chastised  
That other may/ example by him take  
To be well aware/ such noise & cry to make  
And specially/ in open audience  
So to offend/ your royal excellence  
And soothly yet/ I wot well that I might  
So me govern/ plainly in your sight  
Of hastiness/ without advisement  
That I should/ by your commandment  
The death deserve/ for my great offence  
And truly yet/ ne were for your presence  
Of this twain/ that have so yspoke  
Without abode/ I should anon be wroke  
For it were worthy/ and right well sitting  
When that a fool/ in presence of king  
Is bold or hardy/ of presumption  
To take on him/ of indiscretion  
Thing to rehearse/ concluding in sentence  
Preiudyce/ of your magnificence  
That he were taught/ better to govern  
His large tongue/ to can bet discern  
When he shall speak/ or when be in pese  
To suffer him/ to run out of lose  
As doth he this/ that spoke hath so large  
Wherefore in hast/ I counsel him and charge  
Without abode or any word more  
Out of your sight/ anon he be a go  
For it is best/ to do as I him read   

TO whom anon/ full proudly diomed  
not atoned/ but a with stern look  
To Aeneas'/ that for ire quoke  
Answered again/ with words but a few  
And said sir/ thy words doth well show  
What so thou be/ that thou art right wise  
Well is that king/ that doth by thine advise  
Or hath the nigh/ of counsel for to be  
For he ne may err/ in no degree  
That art so rightful/ in thy judgement  
Of wilfulness/ without advisement  
To causea lord/ his bonds for to place  
So would god/ in some other place  
That I might/ by favour of fortune  
Meet with thee/ at leisure opportune  
Like my desire/ that canst so well indite  
In old fables/ thy labour for to quite  
And the to thank/ for thy gentle there  
Which so knightly/ thou hast us showed here  
Trust well thereto/ and have thereof no dread   

ANd though Vlixes/ of this diomed  
'Gan interrupt/ his wordis prudently  
And to him/ said/ full advysely  
That it was best/ to stint and be still  
And now we know/ fully all the will.  
Quod ulires/ full manly to the king  
We will go hence/ without more tarrying  
Out of thy sight/ to Agamenon  
And make to him/ plain relation  
Of thy answer/ in order by and by  
And to horse/ they went suddenly  
And in short time/ so hast them in their way  
That they be come/ there is no more to say  
Where the king sat/ in his tentorye  
And word by word/ as came to memory  
They rehearse/ the substraunce every deal  
Whereof the greeks/ like no thing weal  
conceiving full/ there was no remedy  
As by report/ of the embassatrye  
Save only this/ utterly proceed  
How they them shall/ govern/ in this need  
Again Trojans/ of necessity  
For they well wots/ it may none other be  
And assented both/ in will and bede  
To purvey them fast/ they them speed  
In this story/ as I shall after find   

But or that/ I make thereof mind  
I must/ a while/ of Aeneas' indite  
As mine author list/ of him to write  
The which soothly/ as books say he was  
This manly Trojan/ this famous Aeneas'  
Anchisis sone/ of great wortynesse  
Whilom get/ of Venus the goddess  
Conqueror/ of many region  
When Troy/ was brought to destruction  
He went his way/ by the large see  
Called Tyrene/ and sailing forth goth he  
By many cost/ and many narrow passage  
Many danger/ till into Cartage  
He rived is/ and then segan to sail  
To the conquest/ of the great ytale  
And so to Rome/ he hath the way take  
Of whose offspring/ as auctors make  
Came Augustus Cesar/ the Emperor  
That was whilom/ so noble a conqueror  
That his renown/ to this day doth shine  
And of Enee/ the Emperor justyne  
In his book/ called Autentykes  
Full plainly writ/ therein the rubrykes  
That after Cesar/ so as Cesares  
Be named yet/ right so Aeneids  
After Enee/ the name should bear  
Which fro Troy/ comen was so fere  
Unto ytayle/ and of this Aeneas  
As I have told Cesar/ descended was  
Down line right/ full manly and royal  
That first in Rome/ by sceptre imperial  
Mauge their might/ had governance  
And of wisdom/ set in governance  
Common things/ touching the city  
And to proceed/ ferther of Enee  
holy his life/ and knighthood by and by  
If that ye list/ to read seriously  
Ye may see all/ full authentic of style  
In Eneydos/ compiled of virgil  
Albe it so/ that this noble clerk  
Was grave afore/ or complete was his work  
As books old/ make mention.    

¶ How king Agamenon/ sent Achilles and Thelephus into the isle of Messa for victuals/ and how they slew the king/ and made The lephus king after his death. Ca xx.  

But now again/ to Agamenon  
Without more/ my style I will return  
The which king/ will no more sojourn  
In this matter/ delays for to make  
But in all haste/ he hath his counsel take  
Of his lords/ being there present  
And such as were nat/ he hath after sent  
For one and all/ earls/ Dukes/ and kings  
And said sires/ among other things  
To our journey/ that be necessary  
My counsel is/ no longer that we tarry  
But first of all/ to make ordinance  
By one assent/ with prudent purveyance  
That alder first/ we shape for victual  
Without which/ none host may avail  
To perform/ a journey thryftely  
Wherefore I read/ here but fast by  
If it to you/ be liking and pleasance  
Into an isle/ full of abundance  
Called Messa/ that we send anon  
And at one word/ assented everichone  
They chosen have/ worthy Achilles  
And Geleffus/ the son of Hercules  
To execute/ this purpose finally  
With many worthy/ in their company  
I chosen out/ thorough the host anon  
With Achilles/ to Messa for to gone  
In which land/ rich and plenteous  
reigned a king/ worthy and famous  
That Tentran height/ which in tranquyllyté  
Without were/ or adversity  
Had hold his Sceptre/ and his royal seat  
In this isle/ so pleasant and so meet  
Albe that some/ say that this little isle  
To the kingdom/ longeth of Cecyle  
And hath his name/ given of plenty  
After Messane/ a huge great city  
Full plenteous/ both on see and land  
The which kingdom/ as I understand  
Is said Messana/ of Messes in latin  
thorough abundance/ of fruit corn & wine  
At the arrival/ on the plains large  
Where they are wont/ for to stuff and charge  
Merchant ships/ of strange far country  
That thither sail/ by the large see  
To fetch victual/ aye fro year to year  
Fro many cost/ of lands far and near  
only by exchange/ of other march aundyse  
And eke also/ as books can devise.  
And as Guydo/ full plainly telleth us  
That of a king/ called Messanus  
This country first/ of Messa took the name  
That in his time/ was of great fame  
Passing rich/ and wonder plenteous  
But of all this/ Dares Frygyus  
In his book/ maketh no mention  
But shortly telleth/ in concluycon  
how Achilles/ and Thelephus also  
To Messana/ be together go  
With three thousand/ of greeks chosen out  
Most manly men/ amongs all their rout  
The which as fast/ as they 'gan to land  
And the king/ 'gan to understand  
Of their coming/ he is descended down  
With all the worthy/ of his region  
Ou horse and foot/ in steel armed bright  
Against Greeks/ manfully to fight  
Them to devoid/ plainly if ye can  
And suddenly/ thus the skarmysshe 'gan  
At wyxe greeks/ and their mortal fone  
On other part/ that there was many one  
Slain and hurt/ and to the death ywounded  
Ever unlyckely/ thereof/ to be sounded.  
Hor other treat/ was none them atwene  
But swords sharp/ and spears square & keen  
Now here now there/ that they go to ground  
For every man his foo/ for to confound  
His labour died/ and his business  
And though grek/ through their worthiness  
Had on their foo●/ moche land ywonne  
yet to resort after they begun  
And marvel none/ because that their fone  
Had always three/ in number against one  
For the time it may/ none other be  
Till Achilles/ 'gan behold and see  
The mortal slaughter/ upon greeks side  
turning the back/ with wounds large & wide  
Of hasty rancour/ change 'gan his blood  
And for Ire/ furious and wood  
When he beheld/ his men lose their land  
He with the sword/ which he held in his hand  
Made way/ killed and bore down  
And in the field/ like a fierce lyowne  
He fared in sooth/ when his men were slawe  
Making his soon/ backward to withdraw  
And his greeks/ so manly recomfort  
That maugre them/ he made them to resort  
And who that ever/ in his way stood  
Without mercy/ he killeth in his mode  
There gaineth nat/ in his cruelty  
For doubtless/ ne had his manhood be  
His passing renown/ and his worthiness  
His knighthood eke/ and his high prowess  
The greeks had/ that day finally  
vanquished be/ without remedy  
But thorough his help/ they recure all  
For Achilles/ sturdy as a wall  
'Gan search sheltrouns/ & their rangys' brake  
To fore whose face/ his foemen go to wreck  
And alderlaste/ when he 'gan espy  
Tentran the king thorough his chivalry  
defend himself/ like a worthy knight  
And as a lion/ bare him in his fight  
Now here now there/ greeks so oppress  
This Achilles/ of cruel hardiness  
Ne would cease/ in his putsewing  
thorough the ward/ till he came to the king  
Of manly force/ stout and full of pride  
Making away/ round on every side  
Again whose might/ no thing might avail  
And of Tentran/ first the aventail  
He razed hath/ and rent the mail a sunder  
And all to hew/ that it was a wonder  
To consider/ that day his cruelty  
And after that/ all to broke hath he  
His bassenet/ with many cruel wound  
Of very might/ smyt the king to ground  
And in all haste/ he maked hath no let  
Of his heed/ to rend his bassenette  
And merciless/ for to do vengeance  
His harm he 'gan/ on height to advance  
Fully in purpose/ that he shall be deed  
And raunsomles/ 'gan hamyn at his heed  
With bloody sword/ and a despitous heart  
Casting plainly/ he should him nat assert  
In his Ire/ he was so furious  
¶ But of fortune/ it befell right thus  
Thelephus/ the young lusty knight  
casually/ thereof had a sight  
And of Achilles/ the manner full beheld  
The stroke anon/ he bore up with his shield  
And 'gan Achilles/ meekly for to prey  
To have pity/ so to do him die  
sith he lay wounded/ almost to the death  
Brought to the point/ to yield up the breath  
beseeching him/ for his benyngnyte  
Of manly ruth/ and knightly eke pity  
Withdraw his hand/ and to do him grace  
And grant him life/ for a little space  
sith every knight/ should of gentilesse  
His enemy spare/ when he is in distress  
To utterance brought/ & specially when he  
Mercy requireth/ of humble volunte.  
To whom Achilles/ fervent in his ire  
As he that was/ of rancour set a fire  
answered again/ what list the so to prey  
For him/ that nolde of pride our will obey  
'Gan a were/ where as was no need  
Of disdain/ and indignation  
Having a trust/ of presumption  
In his manhood/ which might hy not avail  
Against greeks/ to hold a battle  
As it is proved/ plainly in the end  
All otherwise/ shortly than he wend  
For in the ditch/ justly he is fall  
Which he made/ of malice for us all.  
¶ Where we of will/ nor intention  
Gave unto him/ none occasion  
Upon no side/ platly fer nor near  
Nor ministered/ to him no matter  
Nor to his land/ mente no damage  
But himself/ ground of all this rage  
Without offence/ done to him of us  
And eft again/ young Thelephus  
Humbly required/ of Achylle  
Of knightly ruth/ his axing to fulfil  
And to have mercy on him/ in this cas  
For with my father/ this king whilom was  
Quod Thelephus/ be bond conferate  
Which lieth now here/ all desconsolate  
Expectant only/ with a deadly face  
Upon the hour/ when his ghost shall place  
thorough girt alas/ with many mortal wound  
And for cause/ I have in him found  
Afore this time/ full great kindness  
For of manhood/ and of gentilesse  
In the bounds/ of his region  
He unto me/ thorough his high renown  
Whilom/ as I casually 'gan ride  
showed in sooth/ upon every side  
Full rial cheer/ and great humanity  
That I am bound/ of very duyte  
To remember/ and to have in mind  
And doubtless else/ I were unkind  
Which after would/ my name foul a twyte  
And for that/ I parcel would him quite  
I you beseech/ of respite of his life  
And Achilles/ without any strife  
delivered hath/ the story telleth thus  
Tentran freely/ unto Thelephus  
Whether him list/ to save/ or to spill  
And when that he had him/ at his will  
He considered/ by his wounds green  
That were so mortal/ soothly and so keen  
Of very need/ that he must die  
There was no gain/ nor no remedy  
Nor avail/ may no medicine  
The hour when Phebus/ westward 'gan decline  
And the battle/ brought was to an end  
While the greeks to their ships wend  
The mean while/ Tentran for the pain  
Of his wounds/ 'gan more & more complain  
Without staunch/ so piteously they bleed  
His officers/ fast 'gan them speed  
In a litter/ made full royal  
Toward his palace/ & dung own principal  
To carry him/ softly and easily  
¶ And at his prayer/ full benignly  
Thelephus/ and also Achilles  
Conveyed him/ amongs all the prees  
Till he was brought/ there as them list to be  
And they received/ like to their degree  
Full royally the king/ aye languishing  
As he that drew/ toward his ending  
And might nat longer/ draw a length  
His woeful life/ so week was he of strength  
That his spirit/ must algates wend  
And he in his haste/ made for to send  
For Achilles/ and for Thelephus  
And when they came/ he said unto them thus  
Sires quoth he/ full worthy of degree  
health and honour/ with long prosperity  
Be unto you/ and good adventure  
All the while/ that your life may dure  
And specially of thee/ O Thelephus  
Which haste to me/ be so gracious  
Of gentilesse/ in my pains strong  
only of grace/ my life for to prolong  
But death alas/ I may nat now eichewe  
Nor his sword/ on no part remove  
Without recure knit/ in bitter bonds  
Upon the brink fall/ of fates hands  
Of my life/ all fully in despair  
Which of my body/ never might have heir  
After my day/ by succession  
To govern/ this little region  
Which lyckely is/ to stand desolate  
Of governance/ and disconsolate  
Which that I won/ with full great travail  
And to this day/ with were and battle  
I have it kept/ as ye well know echove  
And defended/ from all manner fone  
Without loss/ years here toforne  
But recurlees of yore/ I had it lost  
Ne had I had/ help and eke succour  
Of Hercules/ the great conqueror  
That whilom was/ father to Thelepus  
So strong so mighty/ and so chivalrous  
By whose manhood/ and whose hardiness  
By his knighthood/ and great worthiness  
Which day by day/ is new of memory  
Of all my soon/ I had the victory  
He daunted them/ and made them so a feared  
only by rigour/ of his sharpeswerde  
That finally/ thorough his manly heed  
He made me/ this reign to possede  
Maugre their might/ in peas and quiet  
With sceptre and crown/ & my royal seat  
That none of them/ till that he was deed  
Hardy was to lift/ up the heed  
Against me/ to speak words few  
Whereby I may/ fully declare and show  
By evidence/ that this little isle  
Is perteynent/ and longeth to Cecyle  
Where Hercules/ for a memorial  
Set pilers/ in his conquest royal  
When he had/ ride and go to fere  
And of Columpna/ yet the name bear  
After him/ called Herculea  
Though some say/ they height Herracula  
The name changing/ by corruption  
The which land/ was whilom mansion  
To the people/ of wild barbarye  
The which kingdom/ for to magnify  
frederic/ soothly the second  
Of gold and good/ passingly abound  
That chosen was/ to be Emperor  
Of Rome town/ and mighty governor  
And whilom eke was/ king of Cecyle  
Which made raise/ in that large isle  
A mighty tour/ high and thick of wall  
As saith Guydo/ for a memorial  
To put his name/ long in remembrance  
And for the soil/ was to his pleasance  
With flowers fresh/ of many sundry hew  
In some books/ the land was named new  
And pealled/ as I understand  
For his fairness/ the lusty new land  
But Tentran/ aye lymge/ in his pain  
As he that fast/ 'gan the hour attain  
Of cruel death/ afore his lords all  
He made in haste/ Thelephus to call  
To his presence/ and with a mortal cheer  
Said openly/ that all might here  
My sone quoth he/ now I shall place  
Out of this world/ for gain may no grace  
My life to save/ thorough no man's might  
But for because/ of equity and right  
I am compelled/ justly in sentence  
To declare elerely/ my conscience  
To fore my death/ hearing all this prees  
This to sage/ thy father Hercules  
The wise worthy/ and that knightly man  
Whilom this land/ thorough his conquest won  
The which only/ of his goodly heed  
As he that was/ the stock of manly heed  
Took unto me/ by commission  
The governance/ of this region  
Of his free will/ with hold the regally  
And nolde himself/ the cowne occupy  
And soothly yet/ his right was nat the lass  
For love of whom/ now that I shall pass  
Withal the intent/ of my last will  
To the I grant/ as it is right and skill  
As very heyer/ justly to succeed  
Long in honour/ therein thy life to lead  
Making there/ a protestation  
That in full token/ of confirmation  
This is the will/ final of mine heart  
Fro the which/ no man may divert  
Upon no side/ nor utterly decline  
Hor first my will/ and dissent of line  
Be together/ combyne now in one  
For which thing/ no mortal man may gone  
For this desire last/ of my languor  
That thou plainly/ be my Successor  
And finally thus/ I conclude and dame  
That unto thee/ sceptre and diadem  
delivered be/ with every circumstance  
But all his will/ for more assurance  
He made write/ in his testament  
The fine concluding/ of his last intent  
And after that/ he full piteously  
Thelephus/ besought heartily  
Of manly ruth/ and knightly gentilesse  
To do his devoir/ and his business  
After his death/ like his estate royal  
To hallow and hold/ the feast funeral  
solemnly/ and the exequyes do  
And suddenly/ without words more  
The king Tentran/ yieldeth up the ghost  
And went his way/ I note to what cost  
I can nat dame/ of such mystyhede  
And when Parca's/ broken have the thrde  
On the rokke/ and he was forth his way  
Than Thelephus/ out of marble grey  
Curyously a tomb/ madekerue  
The deed corpse/ therein to conserve  
Full richly/ and above the grave  
An Epythaphe/ anon he died grave  
In his honour/ plainly to express  
His knighthood both/ and worthiness  
And how his ghost/ and he were divorced  
With letters rich/ of gold above enboced  
Round about/ wonder curious  
On his tomb/ that said plainly thus  
Here lieth Tentran/ the king doubtless  
Whilom slain/ of cruel Achilles  
That his sceptre/ and the regalye  
wholly gave/ which no man may deny  
To Thelephus/ son of Hercules  
Which in his tomb/ resteth now in pees  
When this performed/ was in every thing  
And Thelephus/ was crowned in to king  
And high and low/ all by one assent  
Had openly/ in a Parliament  
Made faith to him/ and ydone homage  
Like their degrees/ as they were of age  
And with hole heart/ in all their best intent  
By oath assured/ and by sacrament  
As true lieges/ received him for king  
Than Achilles/ without more tarrying  
When all was set/ in peas & governance  
Without grudging/ or any variance  
To their ships/ anon he made carry  
Every thing/ that was necessary  
To the greeks/ corn/ fruit/ or victual  
Flesh or fish/ or what that might avail  
To hosteing or help them/ in their need  
Down to the see/ all hedyde lead  
Fully their vessel/ for to stuff and lade  
And Thelephus after/ this he made  
Still in the bounds/ of his region  
For to abide/ for this conclusion  
That thorough his help/ and his diligence  
business/ and discrete providence  
Again all mischief/ and all scarcity  
When they need/ he might their succour be.   

ALL be that/ he like as saith Guydo  
With Achilles/ full feign would have go  
But he abode/ soothly for the best  
By bond assured fully/ and behest  
In every thing/ greeks to relieve  
And than in haste/ Achilles took his leave  
Of Thelephus/ and 'gan anon to sail  
All his ships/ stuffed with victual  
Toward greeks/ as made is mention  
And in short time/ he at Thenedowne  
arrived is/ and taken bathe the ground  
With all his knyghted/ 〈…〉 & round.  
And after this/ to 〈◊〉  
Hemade first/ full relation  
Of his expleyt/ like as it was fall  
In the presence/ of his lords all  
sitting environ/ many worthy knight  
¶ And first in Messa/ he telleth of the fight  
When they entered/ and of their welcoming  
And seriously/ he told eke of the king  
That Tentran hight/ & plainly also how  
Achilles amid the seld/ him slow  
And or his death/ how he of hole intent  
Fully ordained/ in his testament  
Thelephus also/ to be his heir  
All this he told/ and eke of his re●eyre  
Unto the see/ and eke of the victual  
And Thelephus/ how he will nat fail  
To send them/ all that may them please  
Of which thing/ the greeks in great ease  
Were brought of heart/ and like wonder well  
When Achilles'/ had told them everydeal  
And greatly praised/ his high providence  
His manhood both/ and his sapience  
In his out being/ that he bore him so  
And after this/ Achilles is go  
To his lodging/ a little there beside  
Where his knights/ upon him abide  
Myrundones/ full glade of his coming  
And him received/ as longeth to a king  
Where he abode/ and rested him a while  
But for Guydo/ declineth here his style  
From the greeks/ to them of Troy town  
I must also/ make dygressy own  
Of mine Auctor/ the steps for to show  
Like as it is/ convenient and dew  
To my matter/ sith he is my guide  
And for a while/ greeks set aside  
And rehearse/ how Dares Frygyus  
In Troy book/ declareth unto us  
And seriously/ maketh mency own  
Of the lords/ that came to Troy town  
To help them manly/ in their defence  
Against greeks/ to make resistance  
With ordinance/ of many diverse things  
There came to them/ earl's/ Dukes/ & Kings  
As in Dares/ plainly is made mind  
Rede his book/ and there ye may it find  
And alder first/ I read how that he  
specially speaketh/ of kings three  
Full manly 〈◊〉 and also of great ●a●e  
〈…〉  
〈…〉 writeth thus  
〈…〉 of them ● was called Pandanus  
And as I read Thabet the second  
The thu●e Andastrus like as it is found  
And as G●ydo ● list to specysye  
〈…〉 knights/ in their company  
〈◊〉 manly men they were everyone  
And from an I● called colloson  
Like as Dares/ liketh to express  
There came also/ of excellent prowess  
〈…〉 of which the first was  
〈…〉/ ynamed Caryas  
And the second ● hight ymasyus  
〈◊〉 the thirde● the four Amphymacus  
And five thousand/ worthy knights all  
There came with them/ manly for to fall  
Upon greeks/ in helping of the town  
And from an eye/ of full great renown  
Called ly●ye/ came the king Glaucon  
And ●ith him/ brought his sone Spardon  
A noble knight/ in arms full famous  
And was allied/ to king Pryamus  
And three thousand/ if I shall nat fain  
There came of knights/ with these lords twain  
And from laries/ a rich land also  
As I find there/ came kings two  
And them to quite/ manly as they ought  
A thousand knights/ they to Troy brought.  
And from a kingdom/ named lycaowne  
Caphemus/ a king of great renown  
Brought with him/ as dares beareth witness  
A thousand knights/ of great worthiness  
And five hundred/ Dares telleth us  
Came with Hupon/ and with Epedus  
Many knights in plates/ of silver bright  
And with him eke/ a king that Remus height  
Brought three thousand to Troy/ many mile  
From Tabaria/ his large mighty isle  
And Dukes four/ with all their chivalry  
〈◊〉 Eries. viij. came in his company  
Havyngem arms/ great experience  
And all they bore/ without difference  
Theyrmen & they/ when they were in the field  
The chief of gold/ everich in his shield  
Whereby the king/ and booly his navy  
Among them all/ known might be  
All be that other/ bore eke the same  
And fro Trace/ king Pylex by his name  
Fro thy●ke Trace/ that is most excellent  
Which in the plague/ of the Orient  
Haveth his sight/ from which this mighty king  
A thousand knights/ brought at his coming  
As mine Auctor/ recordeth eke also  
An hundred knights/ be to Troy go  
With Alchamus'/ a Duke eke full famous  
That came with Pylex/ Guydo writeth thus  
Troyans to help/ in their great need  
And fro Pavonye/ soothly as I read  
Came Pretemessus/ the noble warrior  
Lord of that land/ king and governor  
And duke Stupex/ with him eke he had  
And of knights/ a thousand that he lad  
Toward Troy/ from his region  
And as this story/ maketh mention  
That isle standeth/ most by wilderness  
And by woods/ of plenteous thickness  
Grow therein/ many full diverse tree  
And most is forest/ that men may there see  
For they there build houses/ but a few  
And in that land/ full diversely themshewe  
Many likeness/ quaint and monstrous  
Bestes uncouth/ to sight marvelous  
Stoundemell/ as by appearance  
By illusion/ false in existence  
Wonder gastefull/ plainly for to seen  
For diverse goods/ of the woods green  
Appear there/ called Satyrye  
By cornis eke/ fawny and incubye  
That cause often/ men to fall in rage  
And of this land/ the people is full savage  
Hardy knights/ furious and wood  
And desirous aye/ to shed blood  
Greatly expert/ specially to sheet  
With dart and spear/ perilous for to meet  
For they cast even/ as any line  
And from an isle/ that named was Botyne  
In great array/ to Troy the city  
Like as I find/ there came Duke's three  
The first of all/ called Auphymyus  
Saume the second/ the third Forcyus  
And as saith Dares/ which list natlye  
Twelve hundred knights/ in their company  
And fro Bytunye/ as made is remembrance  
The rich land/ that hath such abundance  
Of spices gums/ fruits corn and wine  
Wholesome rotes/ rinds rich and fine  
Wonder uncouth/ and precious also  
Out of which I'll/ there came knights two  
Full knightly men/ in arms desirous  
King Bootes'/ and Epysterus  
And with them brought/ to Troy from so far  
A thousand knights/ arrayed for the were  
And fro the land/ called Paffogonye  
Which severed is/ from all company  
As books say/ that be historical  
Under the plague/ that is oriental  
Set so far/ as made is rehearsal  
That few or none/ to that land travail  
For there to come/ is almost impossible  
For which/ that land is called muysyble  
Because only/ of his remotion  
And it is a rich/ region  
Of gold and silver/ and also of stones  
And habundaunte/ of plenty for the nonce  
It is so full of treasure/ and of good  
And hath his sight/ on the rich flood  
I named Tiger/ nat fer from Eufrates  
As saith mine Author/ that called is Dares  
Fro which land/ in steel armed clean  
A thousand knights/ came with Phylymene  
The worthy king/ whose sheldes out of orede  
Were of querboyl/ in Guydo as I read  
With gold depaynte/ & fret with stones rich  
That in this world/ I trow was none lyche  
Out of the floods/ chosen by devise  
Which have their course/ out of Paradyse  
The which king/ a Giant of stature  
And of making is/ passing all measure  
Strong and deliver/ also as I find  
And fro the land/ that marcheth upon India  
King Porses came/ with many knghtly man  
And he also/ that with his hand him won  
So moche honour/ the noble Meryon  
And his brother/ called Sygamon  
Which from the land/ of their subieccyowne  
Of duke's/ earls/ and knights of renown  
Three thousand brought/ all in plates sheen  
With spears round/ whet full quare and keen  
From ethiop/ came this noble rout  
And from the kingdom/ also out of doubt  
That Teremo/ of Dares called is  
Came the king/ full prudent and full wis  
The manly man/ named Theseus  
And eke his son/ that height Archylogus  
A thousand knights/ in their company  
And Theseus/ full nigh was of ally  
To Pryamus/ by descent of blood  
And kings twain/ passing rich of good  
And renowned of knighthood/ as by fame  
All be that Guydo/ rehearseth nat their name  
Yet in this story/ he maketh mention  
That from Agresta/ the little region  
A thousand knights/ they brought unto troy  
Greeks pride/ to daunt and acoye  
For they were chosen/ and picked for the nonce  
And from the land/ beyond amazons  
Lyssyny a the king/ Epystrophus  
So wise so worthy/ and inly virtuous  
Passing of counsel/ and discrecyowne  
And with all this/ full worthy of renown  
He proved was/ also in special  
And in the Arties/ called liberal  
He learned was/ and expert a right  
notwithstanding/ he was a worthy knight  
In were and peas/ manful and right sage  
All be that he was/ run far in age  
And as the story/ maketh rehearsal  
A thousand knights/ clad in plate & mail  
To troy town/ I find that he lad  
And with him/ Guydo saith he had  
A wonder Archer/ of sight marvelous  
Of form and shap/ in manner monstrous  
For like mine Author/ as I rehearse can  
Fro the navel up ward/ he was man  
And lower down/ like a horse yshaped  
And thilk part/ that after man was maked  
Of skin was black/ and rough as any vere  
covered with here/ fro cold him for to were  
Passing foul/ and horrible of sight  
Whose eyen were/ sparkling as bright  
As a furnace/ with his read levene  
Or the lightening/ that cometh down fro heaven  
dreadful of look/ and reed as fire of ●here  
And as I read/ he was a good archere  
And with his bow/ both at even & morrow  
Upon greeks he wrought/ moche sorrow  
And gastyd them/ with many hideous look  
So stern he was/ that many of them quoke  
When they him saw/ so ugly & horribly  
And more loathsome/ than it is credible  
That many one/ hath wounded to the death  
And caused them/ to yield up the breath  
On greeks side/ as ye shall after here  
And in this wise/ assembled be yfere  
Kings dukes/ and Earls of renown  
From sundry lands/ within Troy town  
That be gathered/ and come fro so far  
As saith Dares/ to help them in this were  
That were in number/ as he maketh mind  
Two and thirty thousand/ as I find  
Of worthy knights/ and lords of estate  
That fythe/ the world was formed & create  
Ne was seen/ I trow in one city  
Togydre assembled/ of so high degree  
Nor of knights/ so great a multitude  
And yet this/ Dares soothly to conclude  
In his book maketh/ of them nomind  
That came to Troy/ out of smalller ynde  
Nouther of them/ most famous of renown  
That were with Priam/ yborn of troy town  
That finally/ if it be truly sought  
sith the hour/ that this world was wrought  
I dare affirm/ under Phoebus' spear  
So many worthy/ were nat met yfere  
Of manly men/ flowering in lustiness  
So fresh so young/ and as by likeliness  
In every point of shape/ and of array  
For to do well/ for soothly this is no nay  
Who list consider/ upon either sy●e  
For thorough the world/ where men go or ride  
Th● flower of knighthood/ & of worthiness  
Of chivalry/ and of high prowess  
Assembled was without/ and within  
Fully assented/ a were to begin.  
¶ Wherefore ye lysters/ take now good heed  
That you delight/ in this book to read  
first for how little/ that this were began  
How light the cause/ for which so many a man  
Hath lost his life/ in mischief piteously  
And yet no man/ can beware thereby  
Almost for nought/ was this strife begun  
And who list look/ they have no thing won  
But only death/ alas the hard stound  
So many knight/ caught his deaths wound  
Without recure/ or any remedy  
And for a woman/ if I shall nat lie  
'Gan all this strife/ it was the more pity  
That so great mischief/ or adversity  
Of mortal slaughter/ ever should tied  
Better had be to have set aside  
Such quarrels/ dear enough a mite  
To a let passed/ or the vengeance bite  
For wisdom were/ to cast afore and see  
If such sklaundres/ might eschewed be  
Or the venom/ gone for to ripe  
For though y● men/ with horns blow & pipe  
When the house is fired/ in his heat  
Of the sparkle/ to late it is to treat  
That caused all/ wherefore at the beginning  
The remedy is put/ of every thing  
As every wight/ may dame in his reason  
And while that greeks/ lay at Tenedon  
Them to refresh/ and to rest in pes  
The worthy king/ called Pallamydes  
With thirty ships/ out of greeks land  
Stuffed with knights/ full worthy of their hand  
The best choice/ of all his region  
arrived is up/ at Tenedon  
Whereof greeks/ when they had a sight  
Rejoicing them/ were right glade and light  
Having reward/ unto his worthiness  
Where they afore/ had had heaviness  
For his absence/ that he was so long  
And some of them/ grudged at him strong  
For he nat kept his cloyster/ at Athene  
But for to show/ that he was all clean  
Of any spot/ in his conscience  
Full manfully/ in open audience  
Like a knight/ hegan himself excuse  
Stopping all though/ that thereon list to muse  
Of his absence/ she wing the cause why  
That for sickness/ and sudden malady  
He was constrained/ his presence to withdraw  
And for they saw/ that lykensse hath no law  
They held excused/ fully his absence  
And for he was/ of most reverence  
Among greeks/ to no wight the second  
And was also full wise/ and eke abound  
Of gold and good/ advise and prudent  
That what so ever/ he set on his intent  
knightly & wisely/ he would aye well achieve  
And what he 'gan/ he ne would leave  
Maugre his soon/ in no manner wise  
Till that he saw/ a fine of his emprise  
And for he was/ most of opinion  
Among greeks/ and reputation  
They him besought/ that he would be  
Of their counsel/ advisedly tose  
What were to do/ in every manner thing  
And he assenteth/ unto their asking  
benignly/ of his gentleness  
And greeks than/ died their business  
To proceed/ without more delay  
Them to enhaste/ in all that ever they may  
To gynne a siege/ and differre it nought  
And sundry ways/ they searched have & sought  
In their wits/ how fro Tenedowne  
They may remove/ toward troy town  
From the haven/ where their ships be  
And some thought/ most commodity  
For most expleyt/ by night privily  
Toward troy/ that stood fast by  
Proudly to sail/ with their ships all  
And some said/ great peril might fall  
Toward night/ for take the see  
Lest with darkness/ they ennosed be  
In their passage/ knowing nat the way  
Whereof great harm/ after fall may  
And thus diverse/ of opinion  
proceeding not/ to no conclusion  
For in effect/ their purpose nat ne held  
But still lie aye/ lodged in the field  
Like as they had/ entryked be with dread  
Till on a day/ worthy diomed  
Of the greeks/ saying the cowardice  
Even thus his counsel/ 'gan devise  
Sires quoth he/ that be here now present  
If that ye list/ all by one assent  
Goodly consider/ adverting prudently  
What I shall say/ tofore you openly  
Which of knighthood/ have so noble a name  
soothly me seemeth/ we ought have great shame  
Which hold ourself/ so mighty & so strong  
And in this land/ sojourned have so long  
Nigh all this year/ and durst in no wise  
remove hence/ for very cowardice  
What have we do/ nat else certainly  
But to our soon/ granted foolily  
Even at their lust/ space and liberty  
To make them strong/ and opportunyte  
Us to withstand/ plainly at the hand  
And so they will/ ye may well understand  
¶ For day by day/ to our confusion  
They sought ways/ full wisely up & down  
To get them help/ in the mean space  
And them enforced/ about in every place  
Their large city/ with barreries & with palaces  
Their wall mascued/ and again our skalys  
Trusteth thereon/ made great ordinance  
And with all this/ of our governance  
They have espied/ saying that for dread  
We have no heart/ manly to proceed  
In our purpose/ to hold with them were  
And aye the more/ they se that we defer  
The more they will/ catch hardiness  
Us to resist/ with all their business  
Also I see/ and trust it verily  
That if we had/ afore hand manfully  
As we began/ knightly forth continued  
Our journey had/ better be fortuned  
If suddenly/ with strong and mighty hand  
They vnauysed/ we had into their land  
Without abode/ afore this time arrived  
Of which a while/ we must be deprived  
And delayed/ where first with victory  
To our honour/ with the palm of glory  
We might soothly/ ne had be our sloth  
Our will complysshed/ this the playnetrouthe  
Where maugre us/ or we to land aryue  
With strong defence/ they will again us strive  
And put us of/ or we the strand win  
For aye the more/ we tarry to begin  
The more in sooth/ for me list nat lie  
We put ourself/ eachone in jeopardy  
What should I fain/ or fage/ fro the truth  
For our tariing/ and our coward ●louthe  
Are likely after/ to turn us to great sorrow  
Wherefore early/ by times to morrow  
My counsel is/ our anchors up to pull  
In this matter/ no longer that we dull  
But to enarme/ our ships/ for the were  
And at the up rise/ of the morrow star  
Let us ordain/ with knightly apparel  
Out of this haven/ with the wind to sail  
Of manful heart/ and lusty fresh courage  
Our course holding/ and our right passage  
Toward Troy/ and land oppedlye  
What ever fall/ for trust sykerlye  
Without scarmousshe/ we may nat aryue  
For they fro Troy/ descend will as belive  
Like manly men/ to meet us in the beard  
But for all that/ let us nat be afeard  
But void dread/ and manhood set afore  
That cowardice/ enter at no bore  
For taste the manhood/ of your heart  
And with that word/ greeks 'gan advert  
The manly counsel/ of this diomed  
And in effect/ to proceed in deed  
Unto the point/ and for nothing spare  
And in what wise/ anon I shall declare.  
⸫ ⸫ ⸫    

¶ How the Greeks took land before Troy/ & how they were strongly fought with. Ca xxi.  

THe next morrow/ wonderly be time  
Or Phoebus up rose/ long or it was pmme  
When it began/ full merrily to daw  
The greeks host/ to shypwarde 'gan draw  
With manly heart/ fully devoid of dread  
O only thorough comfort/ of this diomed  
But alder first/ anon as they awoke  
The lords wisely/ their counsel took  
And concluded/ among them everichone  
Which of their ships/ should for most gone  
And on the see/ how they should them guy  
So to aryue/ that no man them aspye  
This was devised/ at a certain mark  
The night passed/ at singing of the lark  
Greeks be shipped/ without more tarrying  
Both high and low/ in the dawning  
And first tofore/ an hundred ships of tour  
Stuffed with many/ worthy warrior  
'Gan proudly sail/ as they had in charge  
And the banners/ broad bright and large  
Were I splayed out/ upon every side  
And they departed/ the foamy wawes wide  
That to sight/ whelmen up so green  
And next to them/ for were well enarmed clean  
Another hundred/ followed fast by  
Which bore their sails/ passingly proudly  
In which there was/ full many worthy knight  
Armed in mail/ and in plates bright  
And after followeth/ wholly their navy  
That as I trow/ such a company  
Of worthy knights/ and lords of degree  
Was never afore/ seen upon the see  
And ●olus/ was to them fortunate  
And eke Neptune/ made none debate  
with wind nor trouble/ among the stern wawes  
The atempre weather/ full merry to them daws  
That in a tide/ as they sailed right  
Of Troy town/ they caught anon a sight  
Whereof in heart/ full glade & light they be  
But when Troyans/ first their ships see  
So proudly sail/ a little fro the strand  
And saw how they cast them/ for to land  
They bode no more/ but arm them hastily  
In plate and mail/ and jacks richly  
With Irous heart/ and that was done anon  
And took their horse/ & forth in haste they gone  
Out at the gates/ and made no tarrying  
For they ne abide/ prince duke nor king  
Nor other lor●e/ to guide them or govern  
But haste them forth/ so many and so yearn  
Torough out the field/ so great a multitude  
amongs whom/ were no folks rude  
But manly men/ thryftely be sayne  
So cleanly armed/ on the large plain.  
That when greeks/ 'gan them first behold  
O● the number/ their hearts 'gan to cold  
For there was none/ so manly them among  
So young so fresh/ so hardy nor so strong  
Of high estate/ nor of low degree  
That he ne was/ a stonyed for to see  
The hardy trojans/ so proudly down descend  
To let Greeks/ that they nat ascend  
That they wist/ and conceive utterly  
There was no mean/ to aryue by  
But only death/ or manly for to fight  
Or cowardly take them/ to the flight  
For other conduit/ plainly none there was  
But sharp sword/ and spears in this cas  
Till suddenly/ the hardy fierce king  
Prothesylaus/ which in his governing  
Formest of all/ a hundred shyppesladde  
'Gan haste him/ for Ire that he had  
To a landed first/ if it would have be  
To have met with them/ so great desire had he  
But such a wind/ 'gan in the sail drive  
Of his ships/ when his hope to aryue  
That he unwarely/ smette upon the loud  
On the getties/ and the dry sand  
That his ships/ shivered all a sunder  
And some dreynt/ to broke here and yonder  
And devoured/ of the wawy see  
That it was ruth/ and pity for to see  
For but of hard/ there might none escape  
And whiles some/ were belly for to take  
The dry land/ with filth and mud ylade  
Trojans of them/ full cruel slaughter made  
Maugre their might/ greeks so constrained  
That with their blood/ the wawes were ystayned  
So mortally/ that soothly to behold  
Among the sonde/ pale deed and cold  
The greeks lie/ with wounds fresh & green  
And all the eyre/ with shot of arrows keen  
I shadowed was/ that Phoebus' beams bright  
Upon the soil/ was darked of his light  
And new always/ Trojans them assail  
That to greeks/ plainly this ●yuayle  
So mortal was/ and so infortunate  
So unwelfull/ and disconsolate  
So undisposed/ thorough infelycytee  
That I trow never/ out of no see  
〈◊〉 none host/ of more hard to land  
But for all that/ greeks ne would wonde  
For life nor death/ manly to aryue  
And so befell/ of adventure as belive  
Three hundred ships/ that next after sew  
Auyfedly/ and in time dew  
Be entrede in/ and haste nat to fast  
And strike sail/ and their anchors cast  
For the were/ strongly embattled  
In their landing/ lest they were assailed  
And wisely first/ they set their A●bala●ters  
And their gonners/ and their best archers  
With pavysers/ for to go aforne  
knightly to land/ though trojans had sworn  
The contrary/ proudly them tolet●e  
Yet for all that/ fyers●y up they set  
The grekysshe shot/ made them to withdraw  
And many of them/ on the land lay slawe  
That maugre them/ the strand they recure  
And such as might/ most manfully endure  
Was set afore/ till they the land have take  
And all atones/ such assault they make  
Upon trojans/ and though began the fight  
When Prothesylaus/ the noble worthy knight  
Wonder lifely/ and right passing strong  
With the greeks/ entrede in among  
The hardy trojans/ & every where then sought  
For he of arms/ marvels on them wrought  
Thilk day/ thorough his worthiness  
That many trojan/ he brought in distress  
Where he went/ they felt full unsoft  
thorough whose manhood/ greeks were a loft  
For thy●ke day/ ne hard his knighthood be  
The Greeks had/ in great adversity  
Be venquysshed/ by fatal puru●yaunce  
And finally/ brought unto utterance  
I put a back/ plainly this no lie  
But what a●uyleth/ all his chivalry  
His worthiness/ or his fierce courage  
What might it help/ or do advantage  
sith vij thousand greeks/ had a do  
With an hundred thousand/ trojans & yet more  
It metuayle was/ how they might endure  
In any wise/ the strand to recure  
Or so few/ for to hold a field  
But in themself/ one thing they beheld  
Full prudently/ which that gave them heart  
That they saw/ they might nat as●erte  
To escape a live/ if they would flee  
For at their back/ was no thing but the see  
And tofore them/ a host so great and huge  
And other way/ was there no refuge  
But die atones/ or fight manfully  
Wherefore they cast/ & shope them full knightly  
Like rather as manly men/ their lives to ieoꝑte  
Than cowardly/ from their soon depart  
To lose their ground/ and drenchen in the see  
And thus as long/ as it would be  
Greeks defend them/ far above their might  
All be that/ many were killed in this fight  
That the streams/ of their red blood  
Ran in the sonde/ large as any flood  
So cruelly/ trojans on him set  
With spear & sword/ full sharp ground & whet  
That ruth was/ and pity for to think  
Till they almost/ drove them to the brink  
Where the greeks/ in mischief and distress  
In great anguish/ and passyngly wer●nesse  
themself defend/ maat and full ●ery  
Where they should have perished utterly  
Recurles/ in sooth for evermore  
Ne had Archelaus/ and worthy P●otenor  
From their ships/ arrived unto land  
Of sudden hap/ with them for to stand  
And yet they had/ full great adversity  
For to aryue/ thorough the cruelty  
Of the trojans/ but yet the land they win  
And greeks than/ cruelly begin  
Again their soon/ to stand a● defence  
With manly force/ and great violence  
And th● increaseth/ the bloody were new  
That all the ●oyle/ depaint was with the dew  
That first was gre●e/ turned into red  
On each side/ so many one lay deed  
Upon the ground/ of his life deprived  
But duke Nestor/ is suddenly arrived  
With his knights fell/ and full Irous  
And of heart/ right melancholious  
With his spears/ archer's out aside  
He entrede in stern/ and full of pride  
With sword and axe/ ground sharp and keen  
They ran ●fere/ and met upon the green  
And hooked ●rowes/ always flew among  
And 〈…〉/ to burst & turn wrong  
And with they●●olys ●teled and well whet  
The long day/ they have together met  
And the slaughter new/ always began  
〈◊〉 every half/ of many worthy man  
Wtih wounds large/ fell and despitous  
〈…〉 Prothenor/ and king Archelaus  
〈…〉 swords stiff/ among the renges carve  
〈◊〉 many many Trojan/ made for to starve  
They were that day/ so passyngely Irous  
And them to avenge/ inly desirous  
Neuce seizing/ in their pursuing  
And to relieve them/ Alagus the king  
●londed is/ and eke king Athalus  
Which on Trojans/ were full envious  
〈◊〉 of Ire/ as the fiery gleed  
And upon them/ of very old hatred  
With their knights/ suddenly be fall  
And in their Ire/ bytterer than gall  
Cruelly/ they their soon oppress  
And of assent/ died their business  
Maugre them/ backward to resort  
Amy●de the field/ as I can report  
There was no choice/ so they were constrained  
〈◊〉 ve●y force/ and of manhood pained  
To withdraw/ to their confusion  
But than in haste/ down from Troy town  
Of worthy knights/ freshly armed new  
With devices/ of many sundry hew  
〈…〉 abode/ shortly to conclude  
There came down/ so great a multitude  
〈◊〉 arms/ depaynte upon the shield  
〈◊〉 in their coming/ glytereth all the field  
Of their armure/ as the son bright  
A●d when that they/ were entrede into fight  
〈◊〉 meeting/ felly by envy  
They set upon/ feet with melancholy  
With such a will/ of heart and courage  
With such fury/ in their mortal rage  
That unto accord/ was none other mean  
But slaughter and death/ them to go between  
thorough stroke of axe/ of dagger and of spear  
That of force/ coacte the greeks were  
To return backward/ to the strand  
To whose rescuse/ anon there come to land  
The king ulyxes/ with his hole navy  
And full knightly/ with his chivalry  
Toward Trojans/ enhasteth him anon  
And of one heart/ the greeks with him gone  
And their courage/ holly they resume  
And 'gan their soon/ felly to consume  
Unto the death/ their damage to revenge  
That no wight may/ justly them challenge  
Of manhood so well/ they have them bor●e  
To quite again/ their harms done before  
At which time/ like a fiercely own  
Among Trojans/ renging up and down  
Vltxes went/ with his sword in hand  
He killeth sleeth/ and knightly 'gan to sonde  
Thilk day/ like a man be found  
And here & there/ with many mortal wound  
Upon Trojans/ he wrought all this wrack  
Them bearing down/ on foot & on horse back  
In his Ire/ his strokes were so keen  
At which time/ worthy Phylomene  
Lord and king/ of Paffogonye  
When he beheld/ with his company  
So many Trojan/ of ulixes slawe  
Tawardes him anon/ he 'gan him draw  
On horse back/ and with a spear round  
Out of his saddle/ bare him to the ground  
But ulixes rose/ up anon right  
Taking his horse/ like a manly knight  
The which anon/ as Phylomene hath sayne  
Took eft aspere/ and road to him again  
So mightily/ and with such violence  
That finally/ there gaineth no diffence  
But that he smote him/ even thorough the shield  
The which flew/ a sondre in the field  
And thorough his plates/ without any fail  
The spear heed ran/ and rested in the mail  
That forged was/ of steel full sheen and bright  
Which to pierce/ the spear heed hath no might  
So truly made/ was the hawberiowne  
But with that stroke/ ulixes was boar down  
Yet eft again/ but he up rose anon  
Which of his stroke/ harm ne felt none  
And raught a spear/ sharp whet & ground  
And Phylomene/ he gave such a wound  
With all the might/ of his arms twain  
Of Irous heart/ with so great a pain  
That thorough his shield/ both place & mail  
He smote him up/ thorough his aventail  
Into the gorge/ that the stock 'gan glide  
That from his horse/ he fell down a side  
Full perryllously pight/ upon his heed  
His knights weening/ soothly he were deed  
Which took him up/ & laid him on a shield  
And bare him home/ in haste out of the field  
With great danger/ or they might him win  
thorough the greeks/ with their lord to twynne  
And for Trojans/ supposed sickerly  
That Phylomene/ without remedy  
Had be deed/ they were atoned all  
That if this case/ that day ne had fall  
Of Physomene/ greeks on the strand  
●●dde be outrayed/ aryving up to land  
Thorughe the knighthood/ this is doubtless  
Of Phylomene/ whom that ulixes  
Unhorsed hath/ with a mortal wound  
In knightly wise/ Trojans to confound  
Whereof they were/ atoned everyone  
¶ But tho as than/ and Agamenon  
Of greeks ooste/ lord and Emperor  
arrived is/ unto their succour  
With all his knights/ and Menelaus  
And eke the worthy/ Thelamonyous  
Called Ajax's/ is to land come  
And they at leisure/ have their horse nome  
While other greeks/ Trojans occupy  
Sor● fighting/ and they 'gan fast high  
Towards them/ making no delay  
All in a frusshe/ in all haste they may  
They ran Yfere/ and their spears brack  
With heart envious/ upon horse back  
There might men/ the worthy knights see  
On their steeds/ each at other flee  
With stiff swords/ shafts great and round  
With hedes square/ the points keen ground  
There might men see/ in their furious tene  
So many knights/ deed upon the green  
But most the slaughter/ and confusyowne  
Fell thilk time/ of them of the town  
The greeks were/ so mighty and so strong  
And in the field/ this continueth long  
Till Protesilaos'/ the strong mighty king  
Which all the day/ in skarmysshe & fighting  
Full like a knight/ had occupied be  
Again Trojans/ in his cruelty  
Of manhood only/ and of worthiness  
Of adventure/ in his weariness  
Him to refresh/ and to take eyre  
And to a breathe him/ maked his repair  
To the strand/ where he died aryue  
¶ Where as he thought/ his heart 'gan toryve  
Of cruel ire/ and alfo of pity  
That he caught/ only for to see  
His men lie slain/ end long the strand  
And some of them/ coming up to the land  
Dreynt in the see/ among the floods deep  
For which thing/ he 'gan anon to weep  
Full pytevosly/ all were it nat espied  
Whose woeful eyen/ might nat be dried  
For the constraint/ which sat sonye his heart  
Till at the last/ among his pains smart  
So cruel Yre/ 'gan his heart embrace  
That suddenly/ with a despitous face  
Without abode/ thought how that he  
Upon their death/ would avenged be  
Or finally atones/ with them die  
And on his stead/ he took the right weigh  
Toward his soon/ full Irous in his rage  
And line right/ he holdeth his passage  
Swift as grayhound/ that runneth out of lees  
And where he saw/ that was greatest prees  
He preceth thorough/ amids of the field  
And with the sword/ which in his hand he held  
That ground was/ to carve and to bite  
Full mortally/ about him he 'gan smite  
That Trojans/ might him nat asterte  
Some he riveth/ even to the heart  
And some he woundeth/ soothly to the death  
And some he made/ yield up the breath  
And he unhorseth/ some cruelly  
And whom he met/ that day utterly  
From his horse/ he made him to alight  
For where he road/ they fled out of his sight  
And his presence/ as the death eschew  
But ever in one/ he 'gan after sew  
In his chase/ like as a wood lion  
This play he playeth/ with them of the town   

Till Perseus'/ of Ethyopye king  
From the city/ came suddenly riding  
With many a knight/ and many lifely man  
At whose coming/ of new there began  
A fresh skarmysshe/ furious and wood  
That many greek/ that day lost his blood  
So fell assault/ Trojans on them make  
Among them/ the Ethyopyes black  
So manly bore them/ fighting here & there  
That where Troyans/ were afore in fere  
〈◊〉 be/ and of new assured  
that thorough their help/ they have the field recured  
And made them lose/ also moche again  
As they tofore/ won on the plain  
For they so hole/ and so mightily  
Kept them together/ and so advisedly  
Governed them/ with pavys spear and shield  
That greeks were/ compelled in the field  
Maugre who so grudge/ of necessity  
To the sironde/ backward for to flee  
Almost despaired/ mate and comforteles  
But in that while/ king Pallamydes  
To their rescous/ come to arryvayle  
And lusty fresh/ entereth in battle  
With his knights/ and his hole maynee  
Taking their horse/ fast by the see  
And full proudly/ enbusshed all atones  
With spear and sword/ ygrounde for the nonce  
By conveying/ of their worthy coming  
Have so oppressed/ at their in coming  
The manly Trojans/ that it was a wonder  
To see them lie slain/ here and yonder  
And this continueth/ till among the prees  
Of adventure/ that Pallamydes  
Brenning ay/ in his furyoushete  
Amid the field/ happeth for to meet  
A worthy knight/ called Sygamon  
Which brother was/ to the king Menon  
〈◊〉 also/ as Guydo doth rehearse  
This manly man/ to the king Perce  
Which greeks had/ that day sore oppressed  
By his knighthood/ as it is expressed  
For he the greeks/ to his worthiness  
Had oft brought/ in full great distress  
The same day/ to his great increases  
●ut of Fortune/ alas Pallamydes  
As I you told/ hath in the field him met  
And with aspere square/ and sharp whet  
When he of knighthood/ was most in his pride  
He road at him/ and smote him thorough the side  
And with that/ last deadly fatal wound  
From his stead/ he bore him to the ground  
And on the plain/ of his blood all red  
〈◊〉 ●●amydes/ left him pale and deed  
amongs them/ that of Troy were  
And forth he road/ & bore down here and there  
All that ever/ in his way stood  
He was on them/ so furious and wood  
Maugre Trojans/ tofore him on the plain  
Made resort/ to the wall again  
His manly knights/ always fast by  
On him awaiting/ full ententyfely  
Ready to hand/ at every great emprise  
But though began/ the noise to arise  
The woeful clamour/ and the piteous cry  
Of them of Troy/ the which utterly  
Again greeks/ might nat abstain  
The mortal sword/ was so sharp and keen  
Of the noble worthy/ famous knight  
Pallamydes/ that with his great might  
The long day/ hath yborn him so  
Again his soon/ and so knightly do  
In his person/ thorough his high renown  
That chased hath/ almost to the town  
Trojans eachone/ manly made to i'll  
The noise of whom/ is entered in the city  
The hideous cry/ and the mortal shout  
¶ Whereof moved Ector/ issueth out  
furiously/ in all the haste he can  
The sone of mars/ this knight this manly man  
Of all worthy/ yet the worthiest  
That ever was/ and the hardyest  
For as Phoebus'/ with his bemysclere  
Among stars/ so died appear  
excelling all/ in steel armed bright  
On whom it was/ a very heavenly sight  
For it was he/ that both nigh and far  
Of worthiness was/ the load star  
The which/ when he entered into field  
Like as I read/ bare that day a shield  
The shield of which/ was of pure gold  
With three lions/ in story as I told  
Of whose colour/ is made no mention  
But as I find/ by description  
They were passant/ if I report a right  
Borne on the breast/ of this Trojan knight  
That was the ground & rote/ of high prowess  
And flower accounted/ of all worthiness  
The which so manly/ without more abode  
Among his knights/ to the greeks road  
So like a man/ that they in his coming  
A stoned were/ as he 'gan in thring  
amongs them/ which killeth down & slayeth  
And whom he met/ there was nat but death  
Afore his sword/ greeks go to wreck  
And their wards/ of knightly force he broke  
And maugre them/ severed them a sunder  
And bore all down/ riding here and yonder  
And casually/ he meeteth in his way  
Prothesylaus/ which all the long day  
Had sore fought/ against them of Troy  
And slew all though/ that come in his way  
This hardy knight/ this worthy fierce king  
Which on Trojans/ was ever pursuing  
He to them had/ so heartily great envy  
The which thing/ when Ector 'gan espy  
And of his knighthood/ 'gan to take heed  
Towards him/ he 'gan to rain his stead  
And line right/ of hasty Ire he road  
And with his sword/ distained all with blood  
He clove his heed/ thorough his bassenet  
With such a might/ that his stroke ne was let  
By force of mail/ nor of thick plate  
But finally/ by full mortal fate  
The sword of Ector/ through nerf bone & vain  
This worthy king/ parted hath on twain  
For utterly/ there gaineth none armour  
Again the stroke of Ector/ to endure  
But that this king/ so full of worthiness  
Strong and mighty/ and of great hardiness  
received hath/ his last fatal wound  
And lieth now deed/ parted on the ground  
And Ector forth among/ the greeks ride  
And who so ever/ that his stroke abide  
Refute was none/ nor diffence but death  
And many greek/ that day he slayeth  
For which of them/ in his way stood  
His sharp sword/ he batheth in his blood  
That also far/ as they might him see  
As the death/ from his sword they i'll  
So mortal vengeafice/ upon them he wrought  
And many greek/ at his fellow sought  
And 'gan inquire/ what he might be  
For all their life/ they could never see  
None so knightly/ behave him in battle  
And plainly dempte/ as be supposayle  
It was Ector/ the noble warrior  
Which of knighthood/ may bear away the flower  
Among all/ that ever yet were borne  
For there was no greek/ that him may stand aforne  
Of all that day/ he 'gan them so enchase  
To the strand/ even afore his face  
For they ne durst/ his mortal stroke abide  
And when he had/ upon every side  
The greeks chased/ to the wawy see  
Wounded and mate/ in great adversity  
Than him to rest/ this Trojan knight anon  
Like Mars himself/ home to Troy is gone   

AT whose parting/ greeks e●t presume  
Manly again/ their hearts to resume  
And of new/ their foemen to assail  
And to jeopard/ if it would avail  
Life and death/ to set at outraunce  
On fortune/ if she would advance  
Their part again/ in recure of the field  
And them enforce/ with might of spear & shield  
Anon forthwith/ and make no delay  
To win again/ on Trojans if they may  
For eight times/ sithen they begun  
The field they have/ that day lost and won  
Like as fortune/ list to do their cure  
Up or down/ for to turn her eure  
For as her wheel/ went about round  
Right so that day/ they wan & lost their ground  
But specially/ they were most desmayde  
When Ector came/ which hath them so outrayde  
Through his knighthood/ made their heart/ tyve  
And to resort/ where they died aryue  
And thus continued/ maugre all their might  
While in the field/ was this Trojan knight.  
Till Phoebus' char/ 'gan to westre down  
That he repeyred is/ into the town  
Which had greeks/ wrought afore full ill  
But now the hardy/ cruel fierce Achylle  
arrived is/ with his knights all  
Myrondones/ whom men are wont to call  
Which from the see/ taken hath the plain  
At whose coming/ greeks have again  
The field recured/ and put themself in prees  
O only thorough help/ of worthy Achilles  
Which is so felly/ Trojans fall upon  
That he of them/ hath slain full many oon  
For three thousand/ in steel armed bright  
With him he brought/ ready for to fight  
Knights eachone/ full worthy of renown  
Which with Achilles/ greeks champion  
Have merciless/ in their cruelty  
Slain many trojan/ out of the city  
They were so fervent/ in their mortal Ire  
So envious/ of hate to desire  
New and new/ for to shed theyrblode  
For Achilles thought/ it died him good  
That his sword/ trojans blood to shed  
And on the soil/ to see them lie and bleed  
Rowteles/ in his melancholy  
For he to them/ hath so hot envy  
Without their death/ that it may nat quench  
And he his sword/ full deep made drench  
The long day/ in Trojans blood  
And batheth it/ as it were in a flood  
Which forged was/ and I whet so keen  
That many river/ for hely on the green  
Ran here and there/ of hurts sore  
And with his knights/ always more & more  
Pursued them/ afore him as they flee  
To the walls of Troy/ the cytee  
Where they made/ a full piteous cry  
And in this while/ I find in the story.  
The greeks host/ wholly is arrived  
Like in Guydo/ as it is described  
Of men of arms/ such a multitude  
And of knights/ shortly to conclude  
That from their ships/ of new landed be  
That trojans/ atoned were to see  
And abashed/ they 'gan wax all  
For suddenly/ they 'gan on them fall  
On every half/ passingly great prees  
And ever in one/ this hardy Achilles  
With his sword/ made their sides read  
For here and there/ lay the bodies deed  
And wounded some/ at entry of the gate  
And knightly there/ with them he 'gan debate  
And furiously/ this fell cruel knight  
The children slew/ in their faders sight  
That to behold/ it was full great pity  
And yet the slaughter/ greater had be  
Without number/ of them of the town  
Perpetuelly/ to their confusion  
Likely for ever/ to have be overcome  
¶ If Troilus/ ne had unto rescuse come  
young fresh and lusty/ and inly desirous  
With whom come eke/ Paris and Dephebus  
And many worthy/ their party to succour  
So that greeks/ though ne might endure  
Against them/ to stand at defence  
For all their pride/ nor make resistance  
Worthy Troilus/ so well that time him quit  
For thus in sooth/ what greek that he hit  
either he maimeth/ or he made die  
Wherefore as death/ they fled out of his weigh  
And Achilles/ with his company  
For it was night/ homeward 'gan him high  
Toward greeks/ with glory & great honour  
And they receive him/ like a Conqueror  
That which he had/ so well Ymet  
And they of troy/ have their gates shut  
And made them strong/ throughout all the town  
And in this time/ king Agamenowne  
Ycherched hath/ a place covenable  
Which him thought was/ most a agreeable  
By lyklyed/ and most convenient  
For every lord/ to set his tent  
And in a field/ of full large space  
Most competent/ as for lodging place  
In dew sight/ set for the city  
Each lord was signed/ where he should be.  
And 'gan anon/ ordain mansions  
pitched their tents/ and pavilions  
And such as might/ no Centoryes have  
From storm and rain/ themself for to save  
They devised/ other habitacles  
Tugurryes/ and small Receptacles  
To shroud them in/ and all the night also  
From their ships/ they had much a do  
Or they might have/ their horse to land  
And to ordain/ where they should stand  
And they also/ busy were to carry  
Other things/ that were necessary  
And needfully/ unto a siege long  
And eke they made/ tey their ships strong  
For in the port/ their ankres cast  
And of assent/ they busied them full fast  
For to confirm/ of one entenciowne  
To set a siege/ to Troy town  
And thereupon/ by bound assured fast  
For to abide/ while their life many last  
Finally/ without repentance  
And prudently/ they made their ordinance  
As they best could/ all the long night  
They beat their fires/ which bren wonder light  
And at a space/ divided fro the fires  
They set up/ in manner of bars  
And round about/ where their lodging was  
They paled them/ all the field compass  
And to achieve/ the fine of their purpose  
They felly wrought/ & kept themself aye close  
¶ And the king/ that no treason fall  
Let make watch/ without his tents all  
Of them that had/ rested them afore  
And his minstrels/ he made overmore  
As saith Guydo/ all the long night  
To keep their tides/ tofore the fires bright  
merrily to sown/ their Instruments  
And them he made/ rest in their tents  
That had afore/ weary be of fight  
And in the see/ were fainted of their might  
And other eke/ he made in their armure  
Await wisely/ again all adventure  
That no disobeyed/ were found on no side  
And thus this king/ knightly can provide  
In his advise/ that nothing him escape  
And all the night/ I find he died wake.  
Till on the morrow/ that the rows read  
Of Phoebus' char/ gone for to spread  
And thus each king/ disposed as it ought  
I will proceed to tell how/ they wrought  
seriously without/ and within  
With your support/ the third book begin.     


Here beginneth the third Book/ That telleth how the Troyans issued out on the morrow and fought with the Greeks/ and how valiantly Ector bore himself that day. Capitulo xxij  

When Aurora/ with her pale light  
Under the mantle/ of the murk night  
And the curtyne/ of her hews fade  
Yshroudyde was/ in the dark shade  
abashed rody/ as I can desire  
only of her/ that is Femynyne  
For ashamed/ durst nat be sayn  
Because she had/ so long a bed lain  
With fresh Phoebus'/ her own chosen knight  
For which she hid her/ soothly out of sight  
Till his stead/ that called is Flegonte  
Enhasted him/ above our Oryzonte  
And Apollo/ with his beams clear  
Hath recomforted her oppressed cheer  
This to say/ after the dawning  
When Titan was/ in east rising  
Of his heat atempre/ and right soft  
Her Emysperye/ for to glade a loft.  
The same hour/ the Trojan champion  
Governor of wars/ of the town  
Worthy Ector/ which in the city  
Next Priam had of all/ the sovereynte  
The town to guide/ by knightly excellence  
For his manhood/ and his sapience  
Of Trojan knights/ lord & eke chevetayne  
Which hath commanded/ in a large plain  
To high and low/ he excepting none  
Kings/ Pryces/ and lords everichone  
The same morrow for to meet Yfere  
In their array/ to muster and apere  
Like as they were/ of name and of estate  
Beside a temple/ whilom consecrate  
To the goods/ that called is diane  
Most honoured in this rich faane  
There to array them/ in all the haste they can  
Like the devise/ of this knightly man  
And this plain passing fair to see  
Was set amid/ of Troy the city  
Smooth & right fair/ & full of fresh flowers  
Where all the worthy/ noble werryoures  
Of troy town together assembled be  
And many other/ to behold and see  
The famous knights/ arm them in the place  
And some of them/ 'gan full strait lace  
Their doublets made/ of linen cloth  
A certain fold/ that about him goeth  
And some also dempte most surest  
To 〈◊〉 them/ for battle of ar●ste  
And died on first/ after their desires  
Sabatous griefs cussues with voydres  
A pair breach/ alder first of mail  
And some there were/ eke that ne would fail  
To have of mail/ a pair bras  
And therewithal/ as the custom was  
A payregussettes/ on a petty cote  
garnished with gold/ up unto the throat  
A paunce of plate/ which of the self behind  
Was shut and close/ and thereon as I find  
environ was/ abordure of small mail  
And some chose/ of the new entail  
For to be surmyd/ of all their foes  
An hole breast plate/ with arere does  
Behind shut/ or else on the side  
And on his arms/ rynged nat to wide  
There were voiders/ fretted in the mail  
With cords round/ and of fresh entail  
Vambras with wings/ and rerebras thereto  
And thereon set/ were besaguys also  
Upon the heed/ a bassenet of steel  
That within/ locked was full weal  
A crafty sight/ wrought in the vizor  
And some would have/ of plate a baver  
That on the breast/ fastened be aforne  
The canell piece/ more esy to be borne  
Gloves of plate/ of steel forged bright  
¶ And some would/ armed be more light  
In thykkes jacks/ covered with satyne  
& some would have/ of mail wrought full fine  
An hawberion/ all of late wrought cassade  
That with weight/ he be nat overlade  
Hymsefe to weld/ like a lively man  
And some will have/ of choce geseran  
On his doublet/ but an hawberion  
And some only/ but a sure gepon  
Over his poleyns/ reaching to thekne  
And that the ●●euys/ eke so long be  
That his vambras/ may be cured ner  
A pricking palet/ of plate the cower  
And some will have/ also no vizor  
To save his face/ but only anaser  
And some will have/ a pair plates light  
To weld him well/ when that he shall fight  
And some will have/ a target or a spear  
And some a pavys/ his body for to were  
And some a targe made/ strong to last  
And some will have/ darts/ for to cast  
Some a pole-axe/ heeded of fine steel  
And picked square/ for to last weal  
And some a sword/ his enemy for to meet  
And some will have/ a bow for to sheet  
Some an arblast/ to stand out aside  
¶ And some on foot/ and some for to tied  
Array themsesfe/ their foemen for to sail  
And many one was/ busy for to nail  
His fellows harness/ for to make it strong  
And to dress/ it sit not wrong  
With points/ tresshes/ & other manner thing  
That in such case/ longeth to arming  
I have no cunning/ every thing to tell  
And unto you/ were to long to dwell  
Where I fail/ ye mote have me excused  
For in such craft/ I am little used  
And ignorance/ doth my pen let  
In their order/ my terms for to set  
And oft changeth/ such harness and devise  
And ye that be therein/ expert and wise  
disdain nat/ that I speak in this place  
Of their arming/ for all is in your grace  
Right at your list/ to correct every dell  
And when Ector saw/ that all was well  
And every armed/ and arrayed  
This worthy knight/ no longer hath delayed  
Aduysely his wards/ for to make  
And prudently/ bad they should take  
Their ground in haste/ to put all in certain  
And stand in order/ endelonge the plain  
So that no man/ were found reckless  
And the gate called/ Dardanydes  
Without abode/ Ector made unshut  
And after bad/ that men should fet  
To his presence/ that it were done in haste  
Cyncynabor/ his brother borne in baste  
And unto him/ first of everyone  
And to a lord/ that named was Glaucon  
The kings son/ of Lycye and his heir  
With many banner/ displayed in the eyre  
To this two/ Ector gave the guard  
And governance/ of the first ward  
In which he hath/ a thousand knights set  
With spears round/ and swords keen whet  
And on their breast/ full many rich shield  
And they werechosen out/ in all the field  
Among the best/ that endure might  
Again greeks/ manly for to fight  
And unto them/ Ector bad anon  
In god's name/ that they should gone  
Out at the gate/ soothly as I read  
And jet they fill/ in mischief or in need  
He assigned/ in the self place  
With manly cheer/ to the king of Trace  
Wisely on him/ to be awaiting  
A thousand knights/ to have at his leading  
In a wenge knightly/ for to abide  
To wait on him/ upon every side  
And with him/ was his sone Archylogus  
Of his age/ a man right virtuous  
To fulfil/ that longeth to a knight  
For both he had heart/ and also might  
And next to them/ Ector 'gan devise  
The next ward/ to the king of Fryse  
That in his time/ called zantipus  
And unto him/ young strong and desirous  
He assigned to wait/ on his vanere  
Three thousand knights/ armed bright & clear  
With which ward/ king Alchomus also  
Of Ector/ was commanded for to go  
And to his bidding/ he meekly died obey  
And full knightly/ they have take their weigh  
Out at the gate/ passingly arrayed  
Toward grekis/ with banners fresh displayed  
And their pennons/ unrolled everichone  
And after Ector assigned/ hath anon  
To the noble/ young lusty free  
His brother Troilus/ so fresh upon to see  
Which in knighthood/ had all suffisance  
The third ward/ to have in governance  
With iii thousand knights/ young of age  
flowering in force/ hardy of courage  
such as he was/ of custom wont to lead  
To whom Ector/ of very bretherhede  
Full goodly spoke & said/ at his departing  
Brother quoth he/ my heart is so loving  
Towards thee/ of very kindness  
That though I have/ in party great gladness  
Of thy manhood/ that so far is couth  
And the knighthood/ of thy green youth  
Yet doubtless/ in my fantasy  
Full oft a day/ I stand in jeopardy  
Of pensyfehede/ and in ward busy dread  
When I remember/ upon thy manhood  
Lest thy courage/ be to violent  
Of thy life/ to be negligent  
Thyself to put/ to far in adventure  
Of surquidry/ so moche to assure  
In thy force/ kynghtly to a start  
Every peril/ in thy manful heart  
Having no reward/ in such mortal strife  
Of wilfulness/ nouther to death nor life  
Nor advertence/ to thy savacyowne  
But as fortune/ turneth up and down  
Her wheel movable/ high and after low  
In Martyrs Ire/ as the wind doth blow  
Which causeth me/ full oft sigh and think  
And to wake/ when I should wink  
Revolving/ aye thy hasty wilfulness  
But gentle brother/ for any hardiness  
Thus ilk day/ upon every side  
I pray the so wisely/ to provide  
For hate or ire/ thy foes pursuing  
not to exceed/ more than is sitting  
But let prudence/ the keep in a mean  
And wisdom eke/ hold again the rain  
Of thy heart/ and thy fierce courage  
That fired have/ thy green tender age  
devoid of dread/ each peril to endure  
That our enemies/ of thy misadventure  
Reioysenat/ mine own brother dear  
And mighty mars/ I pray of heart entere  
Thus every day/ on Trojans ground  
From their hands/ the to keep sound  
Like as I would/ that he died me  
To whom/ anon with all humility  
In manly wise/ this young †iusty† knight  
This worthy Troilus/ of heart fresh & light  
Answered again/ and said with glad cheer  
Mine own lord/ and my brother dear  
And god to fore/ I fully shall obey  
To fulfil/ what you list to say  
Now unto me/ of your gentilesse  
And nat decline/ thorough none reklesnesse  
In any point/ from your commandment  
But with hole heart/ in all my best intent  
I shall take heed/ and plainly do none other  
Than ye have said/ mine own lord & brother  
So loath me were/ offend you or grieve  
And in this wise/ he lowly took his leave  
And forth Herod/ so like a manly knight  
That to behold/ it was a noble sight  
Among his men/ he behaveth him so weal  
Three thousand knights/ armed in bright steel  
environ road/ with Troilus into field  
And that day/ he bare in his shield  
Passant of gold/ iij. lions richly  
The chaumpe of azure/ wrought full craftily  
And by the gate/ he issued out anon  
And with him lad/ his knights everichone  
To the greeks/ holding the next way  
And Ector hasteth/ all that ever he may  
Prudently/ his wards to ordain  
And to the noble/ worthy brethren twain  
To king Hupon/ and to Ardelaus  
He assigned/ the story telleth thus  
The fouthe ward/ to guye and to wysse  
And in the land/ that called was larysse  
The brethren two/ had reigned long  
And king Hupon/ was passingly strong  
And of stature/ like a chaumpyowne  
And save Ector/ in all Troy town  
Was none to him/ equal as of might  
More deliver/ nor a better knight  
And on his soon/ passing despitous  
Which with his brother/ called Ardelaus  
Four thousand knights/ had for to lead  
And seven thousand/ soothly as I read  
And to them like/ as writ Guydo  
Worthy Ector/ assigned hath also  
One of his brethren/ called Brymarchus  
A noble knight/ in arms right famous  
And had in manhood/ passing excellence  
And of Ector/ they taken have licence  
And road their way/ among all the prces  
thorough the gate/ of Dardanydes.  
The fift ward/ to have at his leading  
Was by Ector/ committed to the king  
That of Cesoyne lord/ and prince was  
And to his brother/ called polydamas  
And Cysones/ were of high stature  
And mighty in arms/ passingly endure  
Upon whom/ full many man beheld  
And their king/ bare no thing in his shield  
But a field of Gowlys/ as I find  
Of other sign/ Guydo maketh no mind  
And forth he road/ a full stern pas  
This noble king/ and polydamas  
When they had/ of Ector leave take  
Which ever in one/ full busy was to make  
The sixth ward/ with all his diligence  
And to the king/ called Pretemense  
That was full worthy/ both in were & pees  
And to a Duke/ that height Sterepes  
Which was also/ full worthy of his hand  
He took the folk/ of Pavonye land  
Them to govern/ in the field that day  
The which people/ hath in custom aye  
Without plate/ hawberion or mail  
On swift horse/ their foemen for to assail  
With mighty bows/ & arrows sharp ground  
thorough an harness/ mortally to wound  
And with this folk/ of Ector eke also  
Deyphebus/ assigned was to go  
In the field/ to guide them and to lead  
And on their way/ they fast 'gan them speed  
But or they pass/ by Dardanydes  
Full discrtely/ Ector for them cheese  
Pavyseres/ clad in mail and plate  
Them commanding/ at yssing of the gate  
And with the Archers/ into field to gone  
And many worthy/ well armed everichone  
To await on them/ that they were nat lore  
For this folk/ that I of spoke tofore  
Of Pavonye/ had none armour  
But prudent Ector/ for to make them sure  
Out of Agrest/ the mighty region  
Hath chosen out/ full worthy of renown  
The best knights/ of them everyone  
And with two kings/ Esdras and Phyon  
Assigned them/ for to take heed  
To the footmen/ when that they have need  
The which Phyon/ made full richly  
Road in a char/ all of Ivory  
Of which the wheels/ wrought full curious  
Were of a tree/ called Ebenus  
The which tree/ groweth far in ynde  
Black of hew/ and also as I find  
When it is korue/ this tree will wax anon  
Of his nature/ hard as any stone  
When it is grave/ either round or square  
And of pure gold/ roved was this char  
Fret with pearl/ and many rich stonies  
That such another/ I trow now there none is  
In all this world/ it I shall nat fain  
And it was lad/ of mighty knights twain  
Men of arms/ within and without  
Armed in steel/ riding round about  
This worthy kings/ Esoras' and Phyon  
And Ector hath called/ to him anon  
One of his brethren/ what so that be fall  
To be guide/ and leader of them all.  
The name of whom/ was Pyktagoras  
And to the great/ Trojan Aeneas  
Of whom tofore/ made is mention  
Ector/ by good delyberation  
The vij ward/ assigned hath to keep  
And upon stedys'/ lusty for to leap  
Of such as were/ used moche to ride  
Full manly knights/ to hove by his side  
Which with Emphranye/ unto Troy town  
Come so far/ from their region  
To foster them/ for Ectors' sake  
And when they had/ of him leave take  
They road full proudly/ forth with Aeneas  
Out at the gate/ a wonder knightly pass  
The broad field/ till they have attained  
And in this while/ Ector hath ordained  
Like mine Author/ as I can rehearse  
The eight ward/ of the folk of Perce  
Worthy knights/ manly and right wise  
The which were/ committed to Paryse  
On him that day/ to await busily  
To whom Ector/ full benignly  
Spoke and said/ at his departing  
O brother mine/ in all manner thing  
When thou art passed/ by Dardanydes  
This day to far/ put the not in prees  
Among greeks/ nor in jeopardy  
lest thy soon/ in mischief the espy  
To whom they have/ of old and new date  
In their hearts full fresh/ and mortal hate  
The fire of which/ their breast hath so embraced  
That it were hard/ out to be arraced  
Wherefore brother/ look that thou be  
In all wise/ nat to far fro me  
But keep the nigh/ that no mysaventoure  
Fall upon thee/ so that I may succour  
This day to thee/ mine own brother dear  
To whom Paris/ with full humble cheer  
Answered and said/ that in every thing  
He would obey/ unto his bidding  
And road his way/ anon with his main  
Into the field/ out of the city  
And Ector/ aye died his business  
The ninth ward/ in order for to dress  
Which he thought/ himself for to lead  
In which he put/ soothly as I read  
five thousand knights/ borne of troy town  
The worthiest/ and greatest of renown  
And passingly famous/ in knighthood  
Borne by descent/ of trojans blood.  
¶ And of his brethren/ he took with him ten  
Such as he knew/ for most manly men  
That were foreign/ fro stock of regally  
Out of the line/ borne in bastardy  
Whom Ector had/ in great chyerte  
For the knighthood/ he could in themse  
And when he had/ by knightly purveyance  
All his wards set/ in governance  
Like Mars himself/ fast 'gan him speed  
Without abode/ for to take his stead  
Which was in books/ called Gallathe  
Of all horse/ having the soveraygnete  
As far as men/ ride in any cost  
Of whom Dares/ maketh so great a boast  
Of shape of hight/ and also of fairness  
Of strength of look/ and of great swiftness  
So like an horse/ performed out and out  
And with a wire/ men might him turn about  
Like as Dares/ maketh mention  
Of whom Ector/ road thorough troy town  
Armed at all/ that came him wonder well  
From foot to heed/ full richly everydeal  
That shone as bright/ as son on summer's day  
And to priam/ he held the right way  
And when that he/ was come to the king  
He rehearseth/ in order every thing  
How he hath done/ and all his ordinance  
And lowly said/ so it be pleasance  
To your noble/ royal excellence  
I have chosen/ with busy diligence  
A thousand knights/ full of suffisance  
With five hundred/ to have attendance  
On your person/ always where ye be  
With all footmen/ that be in the city  
That shall await/ on you ever in one  
Wherefore my lord/ as fast as we are gone  
Lowly I pray/ to your worthiness  
To sew us/ by good adviseness  
Out at the town/ alway eke that ye  
together keep/ your knights and main  
This I beseech/ with all my full might  
Within the bounds/ where as we shall fight  
That ye suffer none/ of them pass  
But keep ye hole/ in the self place  
At wyxe us/ and this strong city  
If we have need/ that ye may aye see  
Us to relieve/ keeping you aside  
And specially there/ for to abide  
Where most is lyckely/ our party to sustain  
For ever among/ there shall men go between  
Of our expleyt/ the truth to report  
For which part/ Mars list the field to sort  
Of his power/ this ilk day fatal  
For ye shallbe/ our castle and our wall  
And our refuge/ to save us from all smart  
And specially/ one thing ye advert  
That no disobeyed/ fraud nor treasowne  
compassed be behind/ to the town  
Of our soon/ thorough our reklesnesse  
Whiles that we do/ our business  
Against them/ in the field to fight  
In all wise/ thereto hath a sight  
That no thing turn/ unto our damage  
Though our engine/ but work as the sage  
With victory/ that we may conclude  
So that greeks/ with fraud us nat delude  
By no engine/ of unware violence  
Hoping always/ that it is none offence  
To your highness/ that I have here said  
And with that word/ Pryamus in abraid  
benignly of cheer/ and countenance  
And said Ector/ my soothfast suffisance  
My final trust/ and supportation  
In thy wise/ disposition  
wholly I put/ as thou list ordain  
For next god/ if I shall nat fain  
My faith my hope/ and all my sickerness  
And my welfare/ in very soothfastness  
Committed behole/ into thy hand  
And governance/ plainly of my land  
As thou ordaynest/ it must needs be  
And this prayer/ I make now for the  
To the gods/ above celestial  
The to preserve/ in party and in all  
From each mischief/ and adversity  
That thou mayst home/ to this city  
Repair in honour/ with laud and victory  
So that the praise/ renown and memory  
Of thy name be put/ in remembrance  
Perpetuelly/ thine honour to advance  
And far now well/ mine own sone dear  
And Ector though/ with full humble cheer  
His leave took/ and forth he road anon  
Among his lords/ and knights everichone  
As he that was rote/ of all noblesse  
Of knighthood ground/ of strength & hardiness  
The very stock/ and thereto invincible  
For asmuch/ as it was possible  
That nature might him grant/ or kind  
touching manhood/ in books as I find  
He had in him/ sovereign excellence  
And governance/ meddled with prudence  
That nought a start him/ he was so wise & ware  
And in his shield/ I find that he bore  
Upon his breast/ this Trojan champion  
The chief of gold/ of Gowlys' alien  
depaint therm/ and in his banner beat  
The self same/ and so amid the street  
He took the way/ to Dardanydes  
That to behold/ huge was the prees  
Noise of trumpets/ and of claryons  
Banners unrolled/ and long fresh pennons  
Of red and white/ green blewe and black  
And in this wise/ Ector hath I take  
The field without/ with heart and hold intent  
As Mars himself/ had be present  
And they that he/ as Guydo maketh mind  
Rode with the ward/ that lafte was behind  
Of his manhood/ he would nat abide  
But smote his stead/ sherpely in the side  
Of fell courage/ he hath his horse so pained  
The first ward/ that he hath attained  
By vale and hill/ to fore in the frounteres  
Nat atoned/ of the fell cheres  
Of the greeks/ nor platly not afeard  
But like a knight/ even afore their beard  
He 'gan press in/ as their foo mortal  
And in this while/ upon Troy wall  
In sundry place/ on the high towers  
As fresh beseen as May/ is with his flowers  
The ladies be ascended/ of the town  
So fair so young/ standing environ  
The queen Eleyne/ passing fair to seen  
The kings daughters/ and goodly Polycene  
And many other/ which of womanhead  
In heart were/ full of busy dread  
Inly a gast/ and of fere afraid  
When they beheld/ in the field displayed  
The broad banners/ that some of tenderness  
Some of love/ and some of kindness  
Pale and dreadful/ for their lords were  
And some their faces/ hid eke for fere  
That were nat bold/ to lift up their sight  
To behold the armure/ clear and bright  
So glittering/ again the son sheen  
Their hearts tender/ might nat abstain  
And in their dread/ thus I ●ette them dwell   

ANd of greeks/ forth I shall you tell  
If so be/ ye list/ abyoe a while  
For now must I/ my fordulled style  
Again direct/ to Agamenon  
Well may I make/ a exclamation  
On ignorance/ that standeth so in my light  
Which causeth me/ with a full cloudy sight  
In my making/ to speak of the were  
For lack of terms/ I must needs err  
Connyngely/ my wards for set  
Cruel Allector/ is busy me to let  
The nights daughter/ blinded by darkness  
By craft of arms/ the truth to express  
In order dew/ a field to describe  
And Chauncer now/ alas is nat alive  
Me to reform/ or to be my rede  
For lack of whom/ slower is my speed  
The noble rhetor/ that all died excel  
For in making/ he drank of the well  
Under Pernaso/ that the muses keep  
On which hill/ I might never sleep  
uneath slumber/ for which alas I plain  
But for all this/ there is no more to say  
Though my weed/ be nat Polymyte  
Colours forth/ I will indite  
As it cometh/ even to my thought  
Plainly to write/ how the kynghath wrought  
The manly knight/ great Agamenon  
Like as the Latyn/ maketh mencyou.  
¶ What troweye/ that he in his intent  
Was found slow/ either negligent  
On greeks half/ his wards for to make  
Nay nay not so/ for him list to wake  
That time more/ soothly than to sleep  
For like a king/ that day the field to keep  
No negligence/ might his heart fade  
For in that day/ I find that he made  
Six and twenty wards/ by and by  
So well devised/ and so prudently  
That no man might/ amend his ordinance  
And of the first/ he gave governance.  
To the manful/ noble Patroclus  
That with him lad/ mine Author telleth thus  
Myrundones/ so mighty and so strong  
With all the folk/ that to Achilles long  
Beside thilk/ that were of his main  
Which that he brought/ out of his country  
At his coming/ to the siege of Troy  
And he road forth/ with them on his way  
Into the field/ and made no delay  
Now fill it so/ on the same day  
That Achilles kept him/ in his tent  
And for sickness/ that day out ne went  
For his lechesse/ made him to abstain  
For his wounds/ fresh were and green  
That he caught/ on the day tofore  
Which for to he'll/ of their aching sore  
He by counsel/ kept himself close  
And from his bed/ that day not ne rose  
In hope only/ the better to endure  
When that he was/ restored unto cure  
But all his men/ he took to Patroclus  
Which was marmes/ passyngely famous  
And be descent/ come of great kindred  
And was also/ of him as I read  
abundant of gold/ and of richesse  
And far commended/ for his gentilesse  
And had a name/ of high discresyon  
Now were they ay/ of such affection  
Of entire love/ truth and faithfulness  
So great desire/ and inward kindness  
busy thenking/ and so great fervence  
So moche friendship/ & thoughtful advertence  
So huge brenning/ passing amorous  
Betwyxe Achilles/ and this Patroclus  
That their hearts were/ locked in a chain  
And what so ever/ if I shall nat fain  
The ton hath wrought/ as brother unto brother  
In heart it was/ confirmed of the t'other  
For will and goods/ both were common  
And to the death/ they ever so contune  
Without change/ their love so abode  
¶ And Patroclus/ forth anon him toad  
Into the field/ with Myrundones  
And in his tent/ abyteth Achilles  
The second ward/ to king Meryon  
Assigned was/ by Agamenon.  
And to the worthy king/ Ydumenee  
And to a Duke/ that height Menestee  
Three thousand knights/ in steel armed clean  
With all the folk/ that came from Athene  
Assigned were/ with them for to go  
The third ward/ to king Astalapho  
And to his son/ that height Phylymene  
With the knights that came/ for cumene  
The fourth ward/ without more letting  
To Archelaus/ the noble worthy king  
To Prothenor/ and to Securydan  
Which in his days/ was so strong a man  
Assigned was/ wholly to this three  
And all the knights/ with them for to be  
Of Boece/ the great land famous  
The fift ward/ to king Menelaus  
With all the folk/ of the region  
Called Spertence/ of full high renown  
And of Isles/ that were adjacent  
All these/ with the banner went  
Of Menelay/ fresh and courageous  
The vi ward/ to king Epystrophus  
Was assigned/ and to the king Elyde  
With many worthy/ riding by his side  
Of the province/ and the famous Isle  
That called is/ in Guydo Fordesyle.  
The vii ward/ to Thelamonyus  
Called Ajax's/ the great king famous  
Was assigned/ shortly to termine  
With the tookes/ that fro salamine  
He with him brought/ and many another more  
And four Earls/ with him went also  
Theseus'/ and eke Amphymacus  
And the third/ called Daryus  
And the fourth/ named Polysarye  
The eight ward/ if I shall nat tarry  
By good advise/ that day assigned was  
Unto the king/ that called was Thoas.  
Ayar Cyleus the ix ward lad  
And the ten king/ of Phylyk had  
And to the king/ the xi he died assign  
That soothly was/ both of berthe and line  
So renowned/ and of so great increase  
The mighty king/ called Pallamydes  
King Nawlus son/ highest borne of blood  
And duke Nestor/ full famous in knighthood  
The twelve ward/ lad on Greeks side  
melancolic/ and surquedous of pride.  
And king Honux/ son of one Mabente  
Into the field/ plainly when he went  
In order had/ of wards the thirteen  
Proudly mustering endelonge the green  
Again Trojans/ ready for to fight  
And eke the king/ that Vlyxes' height  
Lad with him/ the fourteen as I ●ede  
And Humerus the king/ eke died lead  
The fy●●eneth/ mine Author writeth thus  
And a Duke/ called Curybulus  
The syxteneth/ lad/ upon that day  
In which the knight/ of king Prothesylaye  
Assigned were/ by great ordinance  
To enforce them/ for to do vengeance  
Upon the death of their worthy king  
By Ector slain/ at greeks arriving.  
And king Roydo/ lad the seventeen  
And he that was king/ of Occymene.  
The xviij ward/ had at his leading  
And zantipus/ that was of lyde king  
Had to keep/ committed to his guard  
On greeks side/ the xix ward.  
And the twenty mine Author/ learneth us  
Had the king/ called Amphymacus  
Like a knight/ to guide them and to wysse  
And Phylocetes/ that was king of larysse  
The one and twenty/ lad eke as I read  
The two and twenty/ had diomed  
And Heneus/ king of Cyparye  
That was whilom/ so noble and so worthy  
The three and twenty/ had in governail  
And the Trojans/ proudly for to assail  
The xxiv. with sword/ spear and shield  
King Prothaylus/ lad into the field  
And Carpenor/ of Carpedye king  
In were expert/ and right wise in working  
The five and twenty/ rich and well besayne  
On greeks side/ brought into the plain  
The six and twenty/ soothly and the last  
As he that coudese afore/ and cast  
Every thing/ by good inspection  
The wise king/ the great Agamenon  
Had with him/ this prudent warrior  
As he that was/ ordained Emperor  
Of greeks host/ as wisest of eachone  
And in this wise/ forth the greeks gone  
In the field/ with pomp full royal  
With the ensigns/ and tokens martial  
Have take their ground/ passyngely arrayed  
And on their standards/ richly displayed  
Broad baneries/ and many fresh penowne  
Again the wind/ that made an hideous sown  
And right dreadful/ plainly for to here  
And theremen saw/ many cresties clear  
And many tuft of gold/ and silver sheen  
Meynt with fetheres/ red white and green  
And devise/ wonder incruaylous  
And of folks/ that were amorous  
The tokens borne/ to show openly  
How they in love/ brent inwardly  
Some high emprise/ that day to fulfil  
And there were heard/ the loud noises shrylle  
Far in the field/ and the dreadful souns  
Both of trumpets/ and of claryouns  
That the kalends/ of shedding out of blood  
And with the noise/ almost for rage wood  
The foamy brydelles/ and the mouths bleed  
And furious neyhing/ of many bastard stead  
Praunsing of horse/ upon either side  
With all the ensigns/ that might be of pride  
On greeks party/ and on troy also  
In knightly wise/ for to have a do  
Every ward/ standing in his place  
The first a sunder/ but a little space  
Began to a reproach/ with all their full intent  
And Ector though/ full unpatient  
Formest of all/ on the side of Torye  
The Ire of whom/ no man might accoye  
But like a Lion/ in his hungry rage  
issued out/ furious of visage  
Toward greeks/ on his mighty stead  
That with his spurs/ made his sides bleed  
His knightly heart/ so inly was to torn  
Of mortal Ire/ and as he road toforne  
Brenning full hot/ in his melancholy  
The which thing/ when greeks 'gan espy.  
Patroclus/ without more abode  
Of surquedy/ afore the wards road  
Out all toforne/ in both hosts sight  
For to encounter/ plainly if he might  
With worthy Ector/ when he him saw a far  
And as right line/ as is Dyameterre  
Road unto him/ in his hateful tene  
And with a spear/ sharp ground and keen  
throughout his shield/ of envious rage  
He smote Ector/ without more damage  
Except only/ that the heed of steel  
That was afore forged/ and whet full weal  
thorough plate & mail/ mightily 'gan glace  
But to the skin/ for no thing might it trace  
Albe it came/ of passing violence  
Yet to Ector/ it died none offence  
Out of his saddle/ ones him to flit  
For though that he/ sturdily him hit  
He might nat backward/ bow his chine  
Nor on no party/ make him to incline  
But fatally/ to his confusion  
This mighty man/ this trojan champion  
In his Ire/ aye brenning more and more  
Upon him/ the hate frat so sore  
Left his spear/ mine author writeth thus  
And with a sword/ road to Patroclus  
Auysed fully/ that he shallbe deed  
And furiously/ 'gan aim at his heed  
And roof him down/ their was no manner let  
Into the breast/ thorough his bassenet  
As saith Guydo/ with so great a pain  
That with his stroke/ he parted him it wain  
His mortal sword/ whetted was so keen  
That Patroclus/ might nat abstain  
Upon his horse/ but fill down to ground  
As he that caught/ his last fatal wound  
Being present/ his knights everichone  
And deliverly/ upon him anon  
Worthy Ector/ from his stead a down  
descended is/ like a wode lion  
Of hateful Ire/ brenning as the fire  
Having in heart/ inly great desire  
To spoil him/ of his armure anon  
In which there was/ full many rich stone  
Both of rubies/ and sapphires ind  
For that days/ plainly as I find  
Kings lords/ and knights this no nay  
To battle went/ in their best array  
And soothly Ector/ when he first 'gan see  
The multitude of stones/ and pe●re  
On Patro●lus/ so orient and sheyne  
Upon his arm/ he hang his horse rain  
The mean while/ while he of hole intent  
To catch his pray/ was so diligent  
Of covetise/ in their alder sights  
Till Meryon/ with three thousand knights  
Armed in steel/ round about him all  
Is suddenly/ upon Ector fall  
The deed corpse/ of Patroclus to save  
That his purpose/ Ector may nat have  
At liberty/ the rich king to spoil  
Which caused him/ in anger for to boil  
To whom the king/ called Meryon  
Irous and wood/ said among echon  
O greedy Lion/ O wolf most tavynous  
O hateful Tiger/ passing envious  
Of Avarice/ O best in saturable  
And of desire/ soothly unstaunchable.  
Upon this pray/ thou shalt y● nat now feed  
Go else where/ to sew for thy meed  
For trust well/ in conclusion  
thirty thousand/ to thy destruction  
Of one intent/ plainly will nat fail  
Thine hateful pry●e/ atones for to assail  
And suddenly with spears/ sharp whet  
On every half/ they 'gan him beset  
Maugre his force/ his might & his manhood  
Enforcing them to a refte him his stead  
That soothe fastly/ of great violence  
He constrained/ for all his strong defence  
As saith Guydo to fall upon his knee  
But thorough his might/ and magnanymyte  
He of manhood/ hath his horse recured  
And maugre greeks/ is so much assured  
In his strength/ and in his great might  
That he recured/ like a worthy knight  
His stead again/ amids of his soon  
And right as sign/ he road to Meryon  
Full desirous/ on him avenged be  
In his fury of hasty cruelty  
For thereupon/ was set all his delight  
That in his mortal/ bloody appety●e  
In very sooth/ he had him slain anon  
Save that the king/ which called was Glacon  
Came to rescue him/ with king Theseus  
And his son that height Archylogus  
As I have told/ Meryon to rescue  
And th●e thousand knights/ 'gan him sew  
Full al●●●ted atones/ in battle  
For life or d●th Ector to assail  
In await/ unware on him to set  
But all this while/ with whom y● ever he met  
With his sword/ he killed and bore down  
That finally/ there gaineth no ransom  
For any greek/ that durst with him meet  
At departing felt full unsweet.  
He made a way/ about him every where  
That they fled him/ as the death for fere  
For where he road/ he made a patthe full plain  
And as I read/ to Patroclus again  
He is repaired/ to spoil him if he might  
Amid the field/ in the greeks sight  
As he would his pray nat lightly let  
Till I dumee the mighty king of Crete  
With two thousand/ clad in plate & mail  
Worthy knights/ Ector to assail  
Whiles that he was/ so desirous  
As I have told/ to spoil Patroclusi  
And new again/ to his confusion  
Like as I find/ came king Meryon  
And or Ector might take heed  
They of force/ refte him his stead  
That soothly he/ there was none other boot  
Compelled was/ for to fight on foot  
And of knyghode/ his heart he resumeth  
And with his sword/ about him he consumeth  
All that withstand/ both horse and man  
And furiously/ this trojan knight began  
Arms legs shoulders/ by the boon  
To hew of amid/ his mortal soon  
That greeks might/ afore him nat sustain  
And as I read/ that he slew fifteen  
Of them that were/ busy him to take  
And such a slaughter/ he 'gan among them make  
That they ne durst/ abide afore his face  
And Meryon/ in the self place  
This mean while/ took up Patroclus  
With heavy cheer/ and face full pyruous  
And on his stead/ he laid it him before  
And to his tent/ anon he hath it borne  
Alway greeks/ in their cruel mode  
About Ector/ furious and wood  
Felly a●ode/ fighting upon foot  
Of which/ some felt unlote  
That presumed/ upon him to press  
But of manhood/ they ne would cease  
To beset him/ on every side  
Having a trust/ in their great pride  
Finally at mischief/ him to take  
For they dempte/ he might nat escape  
Their hands shortly/ by none adventure  
Nor his stead/ by lyklyhede recure  
For of force/ they cast him to let  
And all atones/ 'gan on him to set  
And specially/ among them everichone  
I find in sooth/ how that there was one  
A greekish knight/ of right worthy fame  
And carrion/ plainly was his name  
That him aforced/ Ector to oppress  
When he was most/ in mischief and distress  
Beset with greeks/ him enuyrowning  
Till of fortune/ on him awaiting  
The long day/ in that fell fight  
To his rescuse/ there came atroyan knight  
mid of greeks/ when he was beset  
And took two darts/ sharp and keen whet  
And furiously/ first he shaken the toon  
And thorough the heart/ he smote this carrion  
That the dart/ into the field 'gan glide  
By plate and mail/ throughout either side  
That fatally/ of that deadly wound  
This carrion/ glode anon to ground  
Among an hundred/ knights of his feries  
Afore conspired/ with their fell cheers  
To a slain Ector/ by some manner way  
But eft again/ this young knight of troy  
Full deliverly/ raught another spear  
And cast at one/ that he saw afere  
Advance himself/ on Ector in the field  
And thorough his plates/ plainly & his shield  
line right/ that he ne should asterte  
Of very might/ roof him thorough the heart  
And after that/ in all the haste he coude  
Upon Trojans/ he 'gan to cry loud  
To enhaste them/ knightly to succour  
Whorthy Ector/ that stood in adventoure  
Among Greeks/ having no refute  
Sool he himself/ of help destitute  
At which cry/ on greeks all unware  
first of all/ came worthy Cyncybare  
That brother was/ to Ector in baste borne  
And himself riding/ all toforne  
And the knights/ of which he was guide  
Wonder proudly/ pricking by his side  
Suddenly/ both one and all  
In a frosshe/ be on the greeks fall  
That had Ector/ round beset about  
And thorough manhood/ of this great rout  
That be enbosshed/ on them at the back  
Threhondred knights/ of which that I spacke  
For atoned/ 'gan them to withdraw  
But thirty first/ cruelly were slawe  
And maugre them/ Ector of manhood  
Amid the field/ taken hath his stead  
And entered is/ in among the prees  
And he that day/ of knighthood peerless  
While he held/ his bloody sword in hand  
All though/ that again him stand  
There was no help/ plainly nor no rede  
But that he broke/ and karfe a two the thread  
And the knot/ of cruel Antropos  
Only for he was/ let of his purpose  
At good leisure/ to spoil Patroclus  
Therefore in Ire/ wood and Furious  
Full cruelly greeks/ quit their meed  
Which from his face/ fast 'gan them speed  
Whose sharp sword/ bathed in their blood  
Was died red/ for it died him good  
Upon them/ avenged for to be  
For that day/ a lion played he  
Upon greeks/ his manhood for to haunt  
For he their pride/ so mortally 'gan daunt  
That they him fled/ where that he road  
Making all hot/ the streyntes of their blood  
Endelonge to run/ upon the green  
Till the time/ the Duke of great Athene  
That called was/ whilom Menesteus  
With three thousand/ knights full famous  
Of which he was/ both lord and guide  
The field hath take/ upon the left side  
For a deceit/ in full secret wise  
¶ Where Troilus was/ with the folk of Fryse  
Which hath that day/ who so list to seek  
By his knighthood/ killed many greek  
Like a Tiger/ greedy on his prey  
Troilus bore him/ all the long day  
Sleynge of greeks/ many worthy knight  
And while that he was/ besyest in fight.  
Again his soon/ with king Antipus  
And the king/ that height Alchanus  
Upon greeks Ylyche/ fresh and new  
Making their sides/ all of bloody hew  
By one assent this three/ thorough their manhood  
And specially/ upon his bay stead  
Where so ever/ that this Troilus road  
Every greek/ that his sword abode  
Suddenly/ he made for to starve  
thorough their plates/ so deep he 'gan carve.  
And this continued/ till duke Meneste  
Of Troilus saw/ the great cruelty  
And the slaughtre/ that he of greeks made  
Of hasty Ire/ with face pale and fade  
Hent a spear/ and threw it in the rest  
And Troilus smette/ even amid the breast  
So sternly/ that maugre his renown  
To the earth/ anon he bore him down  
In the mids/ of his mortal soon  
That cruelly/ him beset anon  
And him to train/ laid out oak and lace  
Round about/ in manner of compass  
With spear & dart/ and swords forged bright  
But he himself/ diffendeth like a knight  
With great manhood/ his honour to advance  
Albe his life/ was hanged in balance  
Where he stood/ and felt full unsweet  
In point of death/ among the horse feet  
With great await/ of Duke Meneste  
How this Troilus/ might have take be  
Of mortal hate/ casting in his thought  
At mischief take/ that he escape nought  
On every half/ he was so beset  
With swords round/ keen ground & whet  
Alone alas/ mortally bestadde  
They seized him/ & forth they have him lad  
Till Myseres/ a worthy knight of troy  
'Gan to cry/ as he stood in the way  
Sore abashed/ in right furious wise  
O ye noble/ worthy men of Fryse  
Manly knights/ aye proved in the field  
Most renowned/ both with spear and shield  
Consider now/ unto your high fame  
And advert/ the glory of your name  
How this day/ thorough your negligence  
By the power/ and mighty violence  
Of the greeks/ Troilus is tale  
Sool in the field/ for ye have him forsake  
That shall rebound/ to your alder shame  
For ye in sooth/ greatly are to blame  
If he that is/ of worthiness flower  
Be take of greeks/ for lack of succour  
That but if ye take/ hasty wretch  
Shameful report/ your honour shall apeche  
Perpetuelly/ and said thereof amiss  
In your default/ that Troilus taken is  
Which named be/ so worthy and famous  
And with that word/ the king Alkamous  
Of melancholy/ felt his heart rive  
And in his Ire/ hente a spear belive  
And pricking after/ enhateth what he might  
Till he of them/ plainly had a sight  
That busy were Troilus/ for to ●ede  
And he full knightly/ sitting on his stead  
Ran one thorough/ that he fell down deed  
And eft again/ pale and no thing read  
In his rancour/ no longer would let  
But a greek/ the first that he met  
thorough the body/ smet he with a spear  
That men might see/ the point a fere  
By breast and plate/ thorough the shoulder bone  
That to the ground/ he fell down deed anon  
And therewithal/ the worthy Fryses all  
Came flokmele down/ and on greeks fall  
So mightily/ that maugre their diffence  
They set upon/ with so great violence  
That Troilus/ is from all danger free  
And thorough their knightly/ magnanymyte  
They made him/ to recure his stead  
And specially helping/ in this need  
Was zantipus/ the strong manly king  
Which of disdain/ at his in coming  
Ou Meneste/ 'gan his spear grate  
And thorough his shield/ mail & thick plate  
So sore he smote/ that this Meneste  
Had be deed/ ne had his armour be  
Which for Ire/ 'gan to tremble and shake  
That Troilus was/ from his hands take  
And escaped/ to be prisoner  
Despite his beard/ and maugre his power  
Wherefore he 'gan/ of hasty hot envy  
On his knights/ furiously to cry  
That were so mighty/ renowned and strong  
To pain them/ for to venge his wrong  
Upon Trojans/ to meet them in the face  
And they in hast/ 'gan mightily embrace  
Their sharp spears/ ground for to bite  
And felly foin/ and together smite  
For though began/ the great mortal were  
The fire braced out/ sheen as any star  
On basenertes/ and their plates bright  
That thorough the field/ flaumeth the fearful light  
To life nor death/ they took though no heed  
And down the plain/ both in length & breed  
The wards 'gan/ proudly to avail  
And with looks/ of envy pale  
They approach/ and assemble yfere  
In hate brenning/ that no man may steer  
And 'gan hurt/ with spear sword and dart  
And mortally/ upon every part  
The slaughter 'gan/ greatly for to rue  
And Ylyche alway/ new and new  
Ector greeks/ thorough his worthiness  
Where he road/ manly died oppress  
And merciless/ slow them and bore down  
Now here now there/ without excepcyowne  
So furiously/ that ruth was to see  
And than of new/ the duke Meneste  
Repaired is/ with envious heart  
From his hands/ that Troilus so a start  
And for the slaughter/ eke of his meynee  
That where he road/ he busy was to s●ee  
The trojan people/ when he might them meet  
For to avenge him/ for nothing would he let  
Till casually/ amongs all the prees  
A knight he met/ that height Miserees  
Which in despite/ of this Meneste  
Had at the reskus/ of worthy Troilus be  
And maugre him/ put him from his prey  
And so befell/ on the self day  
As they meet/ again of adventure  
That Meneste/ by his cote armour  
Marked him/ by arms that he bore  
And suddenly/ or that he was ware  
Or that he/ might take any heed  
furiously/ on his stern stead  
And with a spear/ amid the renges all  
Bore him over/ and made him for to fall  
Maugre his might/ to the earth down  
And than I find/ how the king Hupowne  
Descended is/ the story list nat lie  
Two thousand knights/ in his company  
Which on greeks/ felly 'gan to set  
And in the beard/ king Prothenor them met  
And Archelaus/ the noble warrior  
Of Boece/ lord and governor  
With help only/ of this Prothenor  
Like a tiger/ or a wood boor  
'Gan trojans/ assail to the death  
And many one/ that day he sleeth  
But king Hupon/ thorough his chivalry  
That time/ in his melancholy  
Full many greek/ gave his deaths wound  
And thus they 'gan/ each other to confound  
Such mortal hate/ amongs them there was  
Till of Fortune/ a knight polydamas  
On troy side/ son of Antenor  
With his knights/ and himself tofor  
Is on greeks/ of envious pride  
Mid their wards/ fall in a side  
And 'gan break them/ & knightly to dissever  
Again whose sword/ they might nat persever  
He was on them/ so inly furious  
And him to help/ came the king Remus  
With a wing/ on that other part  
Breaking in/ with many spear and dart  
Again greeks/ with three thousand knights  
That to behold/ how felly that he fighteth  
It was in sooth/ unto them of troy  
A very lust/ and a heavenly joy  
To see now greeks/ broke asondre  
That the noise/ loud as any thondre  
In the field/ of strokes 'gan arise  
And while Remus/ as ye have herd devise  
Upon greeks/ was so envious  
Into the field/ came Menelaus  
With his worthy knights/ of Spartense  
Again Remus/ to make resistance  
And full proudly/ making no delay  
This worthy Remus/ and king Menelaye  
On horse back/ with sharp spears whet  
Mid the field/ of envy met  
And thorough/ their manly prowess & renown  
From horse back/ each bare other down  
For none the stroke/ of other might shone  
And in that while/ of Antenor the sone  
polydamas/ lusty fresh and light  
As he that was/ in his deliver might  
And desirous/ to honour to attain  
Met in the field/ the nephew of Eleyne  
The mighty duke/ called Mereus'  
flowering in youth/ and right virtuous  
Fresh armed new/ and lusty of courage  
And was in sooth/ but twenty year of age  
Which of so young/ was a noble knight  
Right renowned/ both of heart and might  
But of Fortune/ it befell alas  
The trojan knight/ daunz polydamas  
With a spear/ thorough shield mail and plate  
Hytte him so/ that by cruel fate  
Among greeks/ that he fell down deed  
Of which thing/ when Menelay took heed  
And saw him lie/ slain on the green  
In his heart/ remembering on the queen  
The queen Eleyne/ whose nephew he was  
For dole of which/ a full deliver pass  
To Remus road/ in his cruelty  
Also far/ as he might him see  
And full knightly/ met him in the beard  
And smette at him/ with his sharp sword  
Upon the heed/ in his hateful tene  
That of his stead/ he might nat abstain  
His wound was/ so passyngely mortal  
That with the stroke/ and the pryllous fall  
His knights wend/ deed he had be  
And hent him up/ and began to i'll  
To troy ward/ with him a great pace  
But it befell/ that polydamas  
The manner of them/ when that he beheld  
Made them repair/ knightly into field  
Except that some/ as they in bidding had  
Worthy Remus/ home to troy lad  
Pale and deed/ with his wounds wide  
And tho came in/ on the greeks side.  
Celydys'/ the lusty fresh king  
Of whom Dares/ saith in his writing  
And for a sooth/ in his book list tell  
How Celydys/ all other died excel  
Both in beauty/ and in semelyhede  
Of shape of port/ and of goodlihead  
Surmounting all/ as Dares list describe  
As in fairness/ all though alive  
All his limbs/ compact were so clean  
And as I read/ the young fresh queen  
Of Fumynye/ which was of beauty flower  
King Celydys/ loved Paramour  
That upon him/ was holy her pleasance  
He was so printed/ in her remembrance  
For chief resort/ soothly of her heart  
Was upon him/ every hour to advert  
For finally/ he departed nought  
Day nor night/ nor hour out of her thought  
For he was fully/ all her own knight  
But of Fortune/ he lusty fresh and light  
Smote his stead/ sharply in the side  
Of surquedy/ and proudly 'gan to ride  
Of mortal hate/ a full Furious pace  
Right as line/ to polydamas  
And with a spear/ made him for to flit  
From his saddle/ in which he died sit  
He marked him/ with so great a might  
But againward/ this manly trojan knight  
polydamas/ with a despitous face  
Or Celydys'/ departed fro the place  
With answered/ so smit him on the heed  
From his stead/ that he fill down deed  
Which to greeks/ was great confusion  
And all this time/ fyerser than lion  
Ector greeks/ knightly 'gan enchase  
And oft made them/ for to lose their place  
Where ever he road/ of necessity  
Afore his sword/ he made them for to i'll  
Such vengeance/ he hath on them take  
That they the field/ were fain to forsake  
And to pursue/ would he never fine  
Till among the people/ of Salomyne  
Ector met/ the worthy king famous  
That was their lord/ and height Thesalus  
That many Trojan/ that day had slawe  
And as Ector/ toward him 'gan draw  
King Tenter/ that was of grece also  
A manly knight/ and prudent both two  
Reached a spear/ in all the haste he can  
And unwarely/ unto Ector ran  
And thorughe his shield/ plate & mail of steel  
The sperehede/ forged was so weal  
So sharp and square/ and so keen ground  
That he gave Ector/ full perilous wound  
But as Ector/ rain 'gan his stead  
Proud Tenter/ to acquit his meed  
He full wisely/ in all the haste he might  
Was right far severed/ from his sight  
Whereof Ector/ melancholious  
And of heart/ would and furious  
For the aching/ of his wound green  
In haste to avenge/ the constreynte of his ten●  
What greek after/ shortly that he met  
That was so bold/ his way to with set  
Without mercy/ he was his death anon  
And as I read/ he encountered one  
Which of pride/ would him divert  
Whom with his sword/ he rose to the heart  
thorough his harness/ of melancholy  
The which struck/ when greeks 'gan espy  
They atoned/ of one intention  
perilously/ beset him environ  
And such assault/ 'gan about him make  
thorough their manhood/ if they might him take  
And of accord/ with great multitude  
Cruelly/ they 'gan him to include  
By lyklyhede/ in that mortal strife  
He might nat escape/ with the life  
On him they were/ so fell and envious  
Till that a king/ which height Theseus  
On greeks side/ only of gentilesse  
Such ruth caughe/ upon his distress  
To see him stand/ so nigh upon the wreck  
Thus unto him/ of manly pytespake.   

O flower of knighthood/ rote of hardiness  
well of manhood/ stok of worthiness  
Why list y● nat/ to have none advertence  
Thy life to save/ of knightly providence  
But wilfully/ where most is to dread  
Thy life jupardest/ and take list no heed  
In mortal peril/ how thou art beset  
Among so many/ closed and yshette  
Alone alas/ devoid of all succour  
And to thyself/ wilt do no favour  
But as Fortune/ liketh to ordain  
That every wight/ aught to complain  
To behold/ that so noble a knight  
Which thorough the world/ cast so clear a light  
In worthiness/ and will him nat withdraw  
Reklesly/ this day to be slawe  
So piteously/ thy person for to lose  
Withdraw thy hand/ yet sith thou mayst cheese  
Thy high prowess/ compelleth me to prey  
At such mischief/ that thou not ne die  
And when Ector/ of him 'gan take heed  
He thanked him/ of his goodlihead  
And maugre soothly/ the power & the might  
Of the greeks/ like a worthy knight  
He scaped is/ mid of all his soon  
And went his way/ thorough them everyone  
His bloody sword/ always in his hand  
And in his way/ polydamas he fond  
Full like a man/ with all his busy pain  
defend himself/ again the kings twain  
Menelay/ and Thelamonyus  
Which upon him/ were full Furious  
And with a spear/ this greek this Thelamowne  
polydamas/ smote to the earth down  
compelling him/ there was none other vote  
Again them two/ for to fight on foot  
assented fully/ on him to be wroke  
And first they have/ he wen and to broke  
The mighty charnelle/ of his bassenet  
And when his vizor/ after was smet  
And his face naked/ was and bore  
They fell on him/ in that mortal snare  
And took him/ the story can devise  
And sent him forth/ in full cruel wise  
Toward greeks/ with many worthy knight  
But when Ector/ thereof had a sight  
And sawethe mischief/ of polydamas  
He cast fully/ to succour in this case  
And pricked after/ wooder than lion  
And where he road/ about him environ  
With his sword/ he made a large space  
Till he came/ to the same place  
amongs greek/ furious and wood  
polydamas/ the self time stood  
succourless/ from all remedy  
Till that he/ on Ector cast his Eye  
That greeks made/ hastily withdraw  
And thirty first of them he hath slawe  
And severed them/ maugre all their pride  
Tofore his sword/ they durst nat abide  
Against him/ nor make none obstacle  
But of knighthood/ by very high miracle  
polydamas/ in mischief first awhaped  
From greeks hand/ freely is escaped  
But freshly though/ the king Epystrophns'  
Menelay/ and Thelamonyus  
With all their knights/ together hole & close  
Again Trojans/ to get them aloos  
Be of new entered/ in battle  
With great strength/ and passing apparel  
That mightily/ trojans they compelle  
In their way/ that they dare nat dwell  
notwithstanding/ their great worthiness  
Nor of Ector/ the knightly high prowess  
That fought so manly/ that time as I read  
But cowardly/ they have slain his stead  
That he constrained was/ to fight on foot  
That many greek/ felt full unsote  
For there was none/ that about him stood  
With his sword/ that he ne shed his blood  
Though he so thick/ about was be lain  
He voided them/ and made aspace plain  
In compass round/ behind and eke afore  
And on his feet/ so well he hath him bore  
That day/ that greek was none certain  
That harby was/ hand on him to lain  
He was so strong/ and sturdy as a wall  
And when his brethren/ called natural  
Saw him a foot/ amid of all his soon  
On a frusshe/ they fell in everyone  
And found him/ the story maketh mind  
defend himself/ like a Tiger in ynde  
And him to help/ thorough their high renown  
They fell first/ on king Thelamowne  
For he on Ector/ was so cruel found  
They gave to him/ many bloody wound  
Till one of them/ named Dyndaron  
Hath so far/ among the rengys' gone  
And bore him so/ only of manhood  
That he hath won/ a passing mighty stead  
And brought to Ector/ soothly there he stood  
Among greeks/ all bathed in their blood  
The which in haste/ full knightly he be strode  
And among them like/ Mars himself he road  
Full many greek/ making for to starve  
And with his sword/ whetted for to carve  
He daunted hath/ their envious pride  
Till Dephebus/ entrede in a side  
Into the field/ with a knightly cheer  
And with him brought/ many good Archere  
Of Poem/ which with their arrows keen  
And with feathers of peacock/ fresh and sheen  
Upon greeks/ have the field recured  
In they shot/ they were so much assured  
That thorough mail/ and thick plate of steel  
They pierced have/ their harness everydeal  
And Dephebus/ full like a manly man  
To king Tentran/ on horse back though ran  
And furiously/ 'gan his sword embrace  
And wounded him/ even amid the face  
Thorughe the vyser/ in his fell tene  
On horse back/ he might nat abstain  
And thus Trojans/ on greeks are yronne  
That they again/ have the field ywonne  
They were on them/ so irous and so wooed  
But Theseus/ full knightly them withstood  
With the knights/ that he with him lad  
And as I read/ Ectora brother had  
The story saith/ that height Quyntylene  
young fresh and lusty/ armed bright & sheen  
Which with the king/ called Modernus  
Is proudly fall/ upon Theseus  
And these twain/ together of assent  
Be fall on him/ with great advisement  
That finally/ to his unhappy chance  
with their knighthood/ brought him to outtraunce  
And cast shortly/ that he shallbe deed  
Of whose purpose/ as Ector 'gan take heed  
He unto them/ of very gentery  
With all his might/ loud 'gan to cry  
beseeching them/ for no thing that he die  
And lowly they/ his bidding died obey  
And them withdrew/ for to do vengeance  
For Ector had/ fully remembrance  
How Theseus/ the same day tofore  
Toward him/ so goodly had him bore  
When he him saw/ in mischief and distress  
And knightly thought/ quite his gentleness  
Like as it logeth/ to every gentleman  
And Theseus/ full lowly though began  
To thank Ector/ that he was escaped  
But king Thoas/ though hath fast raped  
Into the field/ with other knights many  
And specially/ with them of Calydonye  
Came Phyloteas/ the mighty king also  
Again Troyans/ for to have ado  
And first Thoas/ with a spear ran  
furiously/ to Cassybelan  
One of the sons/ of king Pryamus  
And gave him though/ a wound so grievous  
Without recure/ that he fell down deed  
Of which stroke/ when Ector 'gan take heed  
In his heart/ 'gan his death complain  
And in all haste/ died his busy pain  
On his brother/ avenge him if he might  
And many one/ he made to a light  
thorough his knighthood/ from his horse bake  
That sothefastly/ all went unto wreck  
On greeks side/ what came in his way  
So worthily/ he bore him all that day  
Till duke Nestor/ is entrede into fight  
With five thousand/ in steel armed bright  
Again Trojans/ greeks to succour  
And with him met/ of very adventure  
The king Esdras/ so mighty and so bold  
And king Phyon/ in his char of gold  
With all the worthy/ noble chivalry  
That from Argesta/ came with jeconye  
The kings son/ of the same land  
Full renowned/ and worthy of his hand  
And as they semble/ and together ran  
The same time/ many worthy man  
Hath lost his life/ upon either side  
And of slaughtre/ with large wounds wide  
All the soil of bodies/ that lay deed  
Like a river/ ran with streams read  
With their cheers/ grisly pale and fade  
That in the blood/ men might go and wade  
To the ankle/ the slaughter/ was so huge  
And king Phyon/ succour and refuge  
Unto Trojans/ so bore him in that strife  
That many greek/ he made lose his life  
The same day/ so well his sword was whet  
But he unwarely/ so sore was beset  
With multitude/ of greeks round about  
That of his life/ he plainly stood in doubt  
For likely was/ he might nat escape  
And of greeks/ he should anon be take  
Ne had he be holp/ of worthy jeconye  
That to Esdras/ loud 'gan to cry  
Alas quoth he/ of ruth and pity  
¶ Worthy Phyon/ the king shall take be  
Among greeks/ thorough your negligence  
But in all haste/ ye do your diligence  
For to rescue/ this noble worthy king  
And all atones/ without more tarrying  
Maugre all though/ that made resistance  
From greeks sword/ by mighty violence  
They have rescued/ the noble king Phyon  
And at his large/ with them he is goon  
Of his escape/ wonder glad and light  
And Ector than/ with many lusty knight  
Returned is/ and Dephebus also  
polydamas/ and many another to  
Of Trojan knights/ that desire new  
Greeks to make/ sore for to rue  
For of assent/ they fully them purpose  
In such mischief/ greeks to enclose  
That if they might/ few should escape  
And thereupon/ knightly they them shape  
And them began/ freshly/ for to assail  
That in the field/ greeks 'gan to fail  
Of their power/ and to lose their land  
That finally/ thorough the mighty hand  
And the force/ of Troianysshe knights  
The greeks had/ maugre all their mights  
Be brought that day/ to confusyowne  
But Menelay/ and king Thelamowne  
When they them saw/ feebly and apeyre  
They of knighthood/ made them to repair  
And so like men/ they have themselves defended  
Till Aeneas'/ from Troy is descended  
With Ewfremus/ the Duke/ the manly man  
And with their knights/ of new they began  
Eft again/ greeks to oppress  
And Ector aye/ thorough his worthiness  
Like a lion/ with a stern face  
Ever in one/ so 'gan them to enchase  
That compelled/ of necessity  
They were eachone/ afore his sword to i'll  
And constrained/ right of very need  
Of which thing/ when Ajax's 'gan take heed  
Had in heart/ great compassion  
To see the slaughter/ and confusion  
On greeks side/ Guydo maketh mind  
And 'gan to look/ at his back behind  
And saw where many/ ward stood abroad  
And many banner/ and penowne that abode  
Amid the field hole/ and nat for broke  
That ready were/ atones to be wroke  
If need were/ on them of Troy town  
In which wards/ without excepcyowne  
Was hole the flower/ of greeks chyvaltye  
To whom anon/ Ajax's 'gan him high  
As he that was/ sore in heart aggrieved  
And with his cry/ he hath them so commeved  
That they in haste/ them to come to reskuse  
amongs whom/ was there no refuse  
And as fast/ as they 'gan assemble  
Of noise of horse/ the earth 'gan to tremble  
furiously/ as they together fling  
There might men/ the strokys here ring  
Of speries sharp/ thorough the harness borne  
And thorough sheldes/ wrought of steel & horn  
Into the breast/ sturdy square and broad  
And there I find/ how that Ajax's road  
To Aeneas'/ and he to him also  
So great envy/ was atwyxe them two  
That not but death/ might their ire appease  
For in heart/ nouther might have ease  
Till with speries/ sharp/ ground and whet  
On horse back/ they have together met  
And at Couping/ so sore they have hit  
That everich other/ to the earth smytte  
That to behold/ was a knightly sight  
And after/ they both/ on foot fight  
By lyklyhede/ in their wode rage  
either to fall/ in full great damage  
Among the horse/ because that they stood  
Upon the soil/ a lover spared with blood  
But Phyloteas/ is to Ayar come  
And hath him up/ among the horse nim  
That knightly fought/ as made is memory  
For soothly else/ Trojans with victory  
Had had the field/ plainly for to say  
Till Phyloteas/ with his wards twain  
Even in the face/ manly them withstood  
And with a spear/ he first to Ector road  
And upon him/ the shaft I find he broke  
But soothly he/ upon his horse bake  
Kept him so well/ for all that fell stroke  
removing nat/ but sturdy as an oak  
Sat in his saddle/ upright with his chine  
And with a spear/ right as any line  
Into body deep/ thorough the shield  
Phyloteas/ he smote into the field  
That of his life/ his knights were in doubt  
But though came in/ with so great a rout  
King Humerus/ and ulixes eke  
And with them/ brought many worthy greek  
Ten thousand knights/ manly men eachone  
That 'gan Troyans/ for to assoil anon  
And cruelly/ on every half certain  
With multitude/ they have them so be lain  
That despaired/ and disconsolate  
And of long fight/ awaped and a mate  
'Gan withdraw/ fainted in battle  
And eke their horse/ soothly 'gan fail  
That on their side/ all went up so down  
But Paris/ though with them of Troy town  
Is entrede in/ in full manly wise  
And first he met/ with the king of Fryse  
That to Vlixes/ was nigh of ally  
Whom Paris/ smote with so great envy  
That he him slew/ whereof greeks were  
Sore abashed/ and after with a spear  
Vlixes to the to avenge him/ if he might  
And first when he/ of Paris had a sight  
Into the rest/ he 'gan his spear throw  
That finally/ for he bore to low  
Failing of Paris/ soothly as I read  
Under him he slew/ his mighty stead  
That maugre him/ he to ground is gone  
And he on him/ would have fall anon  
But Troilus though/ met him in the beard  
And furiously/ with his sharp sword  
He smote Vlixes/ thorough out his vizor  
That like a conduit/ or a small river  
Down by his face/ of blood the streams ran  
But ulixes/ like a manly man  
Of that stroke/ atoned nat at all  
But on his stead/ stiff as any wall  
With his sword/ so mightily 'gan race  
thorough the umbrer/ into Troilus face  
That he him gave/ a large mortal wound  
Of which stroke/ passingly iocounde  
The greeks were/ supposing in their thought  
How Troyans/ finally were brought  
Unto out trance/ and soothly so they had  
Save that Ector/ with knights which he lad  
And with him eke/ Paris and Dephebus  
And all his brethren/ i knighthood most famous  
Troilus also/ for all his last wound  
That was always/ so noble knight that found  
All atones/ joined into one  
Upon greeks/ suddenly be gone  
And worthy Ector/ alder first began  
Greeks to enchase/ that afore him ran  
Like as beasts/ that fled fro the death  
And ever in one/ with his sword he slayeth  
Whom he met/ or durst his stroke abide  
And on his soon/ with fresh wounds wide  
The slaughter he made/ always to renew  
And thilk day/ in bloody rosin hew  
He hath their plates/ & their harness stained  
And though it had/ blood fro heaven rained  
The soil redder/ might nat a been  
And aye ylyche/ as a swarm of been  
The greeks flockmele/ fled out of his way  
And Guydo saith/ that all that ilk day  
Actor/ had formest on the plain  
In the frounter/ of the greeks lain  
That behind/ the knights of his Guard  
For lack of him/ were all out of ward  
Wherefore when he/ had sought long  
And greeks saw/ of new wax strong  
To his knights/ he is again repaired  
Which in themself/ greatly were despaired  
For his absence/ but though when they him see  
Full inwardly/ recomforted be  
And with glad heart/ have their lord received  
And their gladness/ when he hath perceived  
Spoke unto them/ full affectuously  
And prayed them/ full benignly  
To remember/ knightly in their heart  
And consider wisely and/ advert  
first the wrongs/ that greeks have them do  
Of yore ago/ and overmore also  
If greeks had/ that day victory  
Farewell for aye/ the honour and the glory  
Of Trojan blood/ in conclusiowne  
For finally/ we and eke our town  
Shall mortally/ turn to ruin  
And our honour/ that was wont to shine  
thorough out the world/ and our worthiness  
Eclipse shall/ and turn to darkness  
But ye this day/ like as men you quite  
Wherefore I pray/ that no man atwyte  
Your high renown/ of any cowardice  
To set upon/ in full manly wise  
And not to spare/ for dread of death I pray  
And they eachone/ full lowly 'gan obey  
To his desire/ without longer tale  
And entering in/ by a certain vale  
Upon greeks/ this worthy knights all  
Following Ector/ suddenly be fall  
Full mortally/ or that they were ware  
And Ector though/ no greek would spare  
But every where/ to their confusion  
He killed and slew/ about him environ  
And his knights/ riding by his side  
Made their ●omen/ maugre all their pride  
To lose their land/ & flew out of their sight  
Till that the king/ which Toas' height  
On greeks side/ in ward 'gan him dress  
And of new/ full knightly 'gan oppress  
Them of Troy/ this king this manly man  
That had/ afore slain Cassybelan  
One of the sons/ of king Pryamus  
But as he road/ of fortune it fell thus  
That all the brethren/ on a frusshe he met  
Which of assent/ environ him be set  
And from his saddle/ that many greek beheld  
Among the horse/ smethym into the field  
And of they rent/ first his bassenet  
And cruelly/ they had his heed of smet  
For he unarmed/ all at mischief stood  
Save that the Duke/ furious and wood  
Of athens/ riding a great pace  
Rescued him/ in this mortal case  
With is knights/ that about him road  
And him to help/ without more abode  
With aspere/ sharp whet and keen  
first of all/ he fell on Quyntylene  
That busy was/ Thoas to have slawe  
And the brethren/ he made also withdraw  
When Quyntylene/ of his horse was throw  
But Paris though/ drew up his mighty bow  
And to this duke/ let an arrow glide  
And thorough his plates/ it him in the side  
Upon a rib/ that made him sore bleed  
Of which stroke/ he ne took no heed  
Because only/ that he so fervent was  
Amid his soon/ to help king Thoas  
Among the horse/ that was boar to ground  
In point of death/ with many mortal wound  
only for he/ was naked on the heed  
But this Duke/ fully devoid of dread  
Of his knyghode/ in this pecyllous case  
Amid his soon/ hath holp king Thoas  
And with his life/ made him scape free  
And Ector aye/ of cruel enmytee  
Ilyche fresh/ for no thing would leave  
Upon greeks/ his manhood for to prove  
enforcing him/ to their destruccy won  
And as he road/ among them up & down  
King Humerus/ hath a bow take  
And to shot/ 'gan him ready make  
And hatefully/ therein set an arrow  
And to Ector/ he marked hath so narrow  
That he smote him/ even amid the face  
But or he might/ any fertherpase  
Ector smit him/ with so great a pain  
That with his sword/ he rose his heed at wain  
The death of whom/ when the greeks know  
Mine author saith/ they have an horn yblowe  
That unwarly/ with that dreadful sown  
Seven thousand knights/ came atones down  
About Ector/ without more abode  
But he of force/ thorough them all he road  
Maugre their might/ that him though with set  
And slow all though/ that his way let  
And stint nat/ plainly till he came  
To his father/ the worthy king Priam  
With many worthy/ full famous of renown  
That with his knights/ fast by the town  
Lay all the day/ with men on horse and foot  
As he that was/ of knyghode crop and root  
And kept him close/ of full high prudence  
Till Ector came/ unto his presence  
And him besought/ in this great need  
With three thousand/ that he would him speed  
Upon greeks/ in their fell rage  
To fall on them/ at most advantage.   

ANd than i hast/ this worthy Pryamus  
With his knights/ fresh & desirous  
Toward greeks/ hath the way take  
And such a cheer/ 'gan upon them make  
That many greeks/ lay deed on the plain  
For Pryamus/ so sore hath them be lain  
On every half/ thorough his great might  
That they full fast/ fled out of his sight  
So sore of new/ he upon them set  
And as I find/ they together met  
Actor and Ajax's/ of very adventure  
And on their steeds/ strong and wonder sure  
The story saith/ in all the haste they konne  
Like wood lions/ they together run  
With so great might/ that were they lief or loath  
Upon the plain/ they were unhorsed both  
And in this while/ Menelay the king  
Suddenly/ as he came riding  
He slew of Troy/ a worthy Amyrall  
And thus the slaughtre/ passingly mortal  
Benewed aye/ for Celydonas  
The nephew slew/ of king Thoas  
And Madan met/ mine author writeth thus  
A greekish king/ called Cedyus  
Which with his sword/ such a stroke him set  
That thorughe the umbrer/ out his eye he smette  
And Sardellus/ that was of Troy eke  
The same while/ slew a worthy greek  
A lord of name/ and of high prowess  
All though Guydo/ his name nat express  
And than also/ came Margaryton  
On troy side/ again Thelamon  
And both two/ inly set a fire  
Of high disdain/ and of hateful ire  
And they met/ on horse back yfere  
King Thelamon/ soothly as I lere  
Gave unto him/ a woundefull cruel  
But though came in/ the trojan phanuel  
And Prothenor/ smote down of his stead  
And thus the sons/ plainly as I read  
Of Pryamus/ no thing disamayde  
The greeks have/ on every part outrayed  
And so knightly/ all the day them borne  
That many greek/ fatally hath lost  
His life in sooth/ of hate and enmity  
And king Douglas/ is fall on Meneste  
Of athens Duke/ and governor  
And with aspere/ of Ire and old rancour  
He ran at him/ & smit him amid the shield  
But for all that/ his saddle yet he held.  
And for the duke/ spear had none  
He with a sword/ to Douglas road anon  
And thorough the owmbrer/ roof of nigh his nase  
That he atoned/ stood as in a maze  
When that he saw/ the conduit of his blood  
So stream out/ but for all that he road  
Out aside/ fully devoid of fere  
Unto time/ that he staunched were  
But Deamor/ his own brother dear  
When he beheld/ his mortal bloody cheer  
Of high disdain/ he road to Meneste  
And him unhorseth/ but up anon start he  
And or he might/ fully up arise  
Another brother/ in full cruel wise  
Is fall on him/ so that of them three  
Atones were/ upon Meneste  
Fully in purpose/ he shall lose his life  
But he so knightly/ bore him in that strife  
Against them/ that wonder was to see  
And upon him/ most cruel of them three  
Was one Thoras/ eldest of eachone  
Which him to a slain/ was busy ever in one  
For all to broke/ they have his bassenet  
But when that Tenter/ saw him so beset  
A greekish king/ as made is mention  
Had in his heart/ great compassion  
And thought plainly/ of manhood him relieve  
And if he might/ his foemen for to grieve  
But all for nought/ was his busy pain  
For Ector thee/ e●le on both twain  
Upon Tenter/ and on Meneste  
And had them slain/ ne had Ayaxbe  
Which unto Ector/ fast 'gan him high  
A thousand knights/ in his company  
To withstand him/ and Meneste to save  
From his hands/ if he might him have  
But Paris though/ and the king of Perce  
With five thousand/ as I can rehearse  
Of worthy knights/ and many trojan more  
Be unto Ector/ all atones go  
In thrifty wise/ riding on a row  
For Paris made/ a trumpet to be blow  
At which there came/ knightly enbataylled  
Many Trojan/ full well appareled  
Which in the field/ of Ector were conveyed  
For of one heart/ they fully have obeyed  
Unto the bidding/ of this Trojan knight  
All fresh and new/ tobegynne a fight  
Upon greeks/ as farforth as they can  
Of whom was slain many manly man  
And aye the slaughter/ piteously reneweth  
That many greek/ sore in heart rueth  
Their great loss/ and destruccyowne  
Wrought upon them/ by them of troy town  
And specially/ of Ector as I find  
Which on that day/ as Dares maketh mind  
With his hand/ a thousand knights slow  
That never were/ a dawed of their sow  
For greek dare none/ in his way dwell  
For with his sword/ he could them so compelle  
To lose their ground/ of necessity  
And like as sheep/ afore the wolf to i'll  
And as I read/ amid of this victory  
Ector met/ under a Tentorye.  
Among greeks/ Meryon the king  
To whom he spoke/ without more tarrying  
O thou traitor/ thy hour approacheth fast  
For thou art come/ soothly to thy last  
Thy fatal day/ hath his course yronne  
For trust well/ or westring of the son  
I cast platly/ to quite the thy meed  
And with my sword/ in haste thy blood to shed  
For thou so bold were/ on me to day  
To let me/ of my rich prey  
At the spoiling/ of king Patroclus  
That for cause/ thou were presumptuous  
Me to disturb/ thou shalt anon be deed  
And down he start/ and smote of first his heed  
And him to spoil/ also 'gan him haste  
But Meneste/ came on him as fast  
When he beheld/ traverse at his back  
And with aspere/ in which was no lack  
Smote him in/ with great violence  
Without sight/ or any advertence  
Of worthy Ector/ or any taking heed  
The wound of whom/ sore 'gan to bleed  
But out he went/ and made it fast bind  
And Meneste/ stolen away behind  
not in purpose/ soothly if he may  
To meet Ector/ of all that ilk day.  
But when that he/ was ybound sore  
His womb staunch/ that it bleed no more  
More furious/ than ever he was tofore  
Repaired is/ with anger all to tore  
So aye the ire/ on his heart fret  
That he bore down/ all that ever he met  
Sleeth and killeth/ he was so merciless  
All though/ that put themself in prees  
Of hardy were/ with him for to meet  
For in his book/ like as write Darete  
For very sooth/ and in the story saith  
If it be so/ that men may give faith  
And credence/ of possibility  
As in Guydo/ clearly ye may se  
After that he/ caught his latter wound  
Finally greeks/ to confound  
So as it is/ affirmed in certain  
A thousand knights/ with his hand were slain  
Without them though/ that I spoke of rathe  
And new always/ he 'gan his sword to bathe  
In greeks blood/ that suddenly they be  
So overlay/ thorough his cruelty  
That greek was none/ of high nor low estate  
That he ne was/ awhaped and amate  
Of his knighthood/ and manly excellence  
For there was none/ to make resistance  
Nor utterly/ that durst take on hand  
Of all that day/ Ector to withstand.  
And as it is made/ also mention  
Thilk day/ king Agamenon  
As saith Guydo/ came nat into field  
For causes great/ his presence he with held  
On greeks side/ that all goth up so down  
Ector on them/ so playeth the lion  
That to their tents/ they fled for socours  
And they of troy/ proudly as victors  
Sewed after/ by traces of their blood  
And there they won/ treasure and great good  
And spoiled them/ in full great distress  
Of their armure/ and of their richesse  
And fell on them/ or that they were ware  
And home to troy/ all that good they bore  
For finally/ that day with mischance  
Greeks had be/ brought unto out trance  
Without recure/ in sooth for evermore  
On every part/ they were be laid so sore  
thorough the manhood/ of Ector & the might  
With help/ of many other worthy knight  
That so felly/ again greeks wrought  
For to such mischief/ plainly they them brought  
That ne had be/ their own piteous sloth  
Of pride only/ and of folly ruth  
They had of them/ at their volunte  
That day for ever/ had the soveraygnete  
And recured/ thorough their high renown  
lordship of them/ and domynacy own  
Which should have last/ and be continual  
victoriously/ and perpetual  
Have endured/ save cruel fate  
Is ready aye with fortune/ to debate  
Again things/ that gynne in wilfulness  
To make them fine/ aye in wretchedness  
thorough their envious/ disposition  
Of sudden change/ and revolution  
And unware turning/ of her false wheel  
That will nat bide/ when a thing is weal  
Alas frele/ devoid of sickerness  
The cause was/ dymmed with darkness  
That hath trojans/ thorough false opinion  
Yblynded so/ in their discretion  
And specially/ for dyrked so the sight  
Of worthy Ector/ the prudent manly knight  
To see afore/ what should after sew  
By good advise/ the mischief to eschew  
That followed them/ at the back behind  
Alas they were/ wilfully made blind  
The same day/ when they seat soft  
By victory/ on the hill a loft  
That they nat could/ of negligence see  
The after fall/ of their felicity  
So put a back/ was their advertence  
For lack of reason/ and of high prudence  
For they their hap/ have voided & their grace  
That presently/ were set afore their face.  
For in a man/ is nat commendable  
If Fortune/ be to him favourable  
And blaundysshing/ with a forehead clear  
To smile on him/ with a splesaunte cheer  
only of Famous/ for to help him out  
When he in mischief/ is beset about  
If he refuse/ his hap of wilfulness  
Fortune avoiding/ thorough unkindness  
When she ministereth to him/ of her grace  
Another time/ he shall her nat embrace  
When he hath need/ to her help at all  
To succour him/ or he catch a fall  
But rather than/ for his ingratituding  
Frowardly/ with mows him delude  
When he best weeneth/ stand in sickerness  
Fortune is aye/ so full of brotylnesse  
Removable/ and ready for to flit  
Her welfull hour/ that who list nat amytte  
With her favour/ for to be allied  
Another time/ it shallbe denied  
When he were liefest/ find her savourable  
For in some hour/ soothly this nofable  
Unto some man/ she granteth his desires  
That will nat after/ in a thousand years  
peraventure/ ones condescend  
Unto his will/ nor his lust him send  
As it hath fall/ this day unhappily  
To worthy Ector/ that so wylfully  
Wrought of heed/ greeks for to spare  
Fatally when they/ were in the snare  
For he of them/ like a conqueror  
With victory/ Triumph and honour  
Might have brought/ through his high renown  
The palm of conquest/ into troy town  
Which he hath that day/ refused foolily  
For as he road/ this Ector cruelly  
Among greeks/ slow and bare all down  
Ca●uelly/ he met Thelamowne  
I mean Ajax's/ nigh of his ally  
That of hate/ and cruel hot envy  
To Ector road/ like as he were wood  
Albe to him/ he was full nigh of blood  
Yet for all that/ this young lusty knight  
Died his power/ and his full might  
Without feigning/ to have borne him down  
Whose father height/ also Thelamowne  
That him begat/ the story telleth thus  
Of Exyon sister/ to Pryamus  
And this Ajax's/ flowering in young age  
Fresh and deliver/ and of great courage  
Set on Ector/ of knightly high prowess  
And as they met/ both in their woodness  
On their steeds/ these manly champyownes  
everich on other/ like Tigers or lyownes  
Began to fall/ and proudly to assail  
And furiously/ severe/ plate and mail  
first with spears/ long large and round  
And afterward/ with swords keen ground  
And fighting thus/ long they contune  
Till it befylle of case/ or of Fortune  
Token or sign/ or some appearance  
Or by nature is/ kindly influence  
Which into hearts/ doth full deep mine  
Namely of them/ that borne be of one line  
Which cause was/ paraunter of these twanye  
Naturally/ their rancour to restrain  
And their ire/ for to modify  
Only for they/ so nigh were of ally  
Vnwyst of other/ and thereof unsure  
Till they were taught/ only of nature  
For naturally/ blood will aye of kind  
Draw unto blood/ where he may it find  
Which made Ector/ kindly to advert  
To be moved/ and stirred in his heart  
Both of knighthood/ and of gentilesse  
When he of Ajax's/ saw the worthiness  
¶ Spoke unto him/ full benignly  
And said Cousin/ I say the truly  
If thou list/ greeks here forsake  
And come to troy/ I dare undertake  
To thine allies/ and to thy kindred  
Thou shalt be there/ without any dread  
Full well received/ in party and in all  
Of them that be/ of the blood royal  
soothly descended/ and highest of degree  
That it of right/ shall suffice unto the  
And kyndelye/ be to the pleasance  
For to repair/ to thine alliance  
To gentle heart/ sith no thing is so good  
As be confedered/ with his own blood  
For I conceive/ by the worthiness  
Which nature/ doth in the impress  
Of trojan blood/ that thou art descended  
Which of greeks/ long hath be offended  
Wherefore I read/ to leave them utterly  
And he answered again/ full humbly  
That sithen he/ of berthe was a greek  
And was of youth/ among them fostryde eke  
From the time/ of his nativity  
And taken had/ the order and degree  
Of knighthood eke/ amongs them aforne  
And over this/ bound was and sworn  
To be true/ to their nation  
Making of blood/ none exception  
He swore he would/ conserve his behest  
And to Ector/ he made this request  
That if that he/ of manful gentilesse  
Would of knighthood/ and of worthiness  
Show unto him/ so great affeccyowne  
To make them/ that were of Troy town  
only withdraw/ greeks to pursue  
And for their tents/ make them to remove  
And resort again/ unto the town  
Of knighthood ruth/ and compassy own  
Without assaylling/ or any more affray  
Made on greeks/ for that ilk day  
sith unto them/ ought Enough suffice  
That of the field/ in so knightly wise  
They were of manhood/ fully possessors  
And of their foemen/ finally victors  
Like as tofore/ fully is diffyned  
To whose request/ Ector is inclined  
Alas the while/ of hasty wilfulness  
And made anon/ without adviseness  
mid the field/ a trumpet for to blow  
Whereby Trojans/ fully might know  
That he his will/ they should them withdraw  
After custom/ plainly and the law  
And the usance/ both nigh and far  
amongs them/ that be expert in were  
When they were most/ fervent for to fight  
Upon greeks/ for to prove their might  
And had them chased/ low to the strand  
That they were weyk/ of power to withstand  
For they of Troy/ all of one desire  
'Gan set on/ with shot of wild fire  
To burn their ships/ & of high mischance  
Finally to put them/ at utterance.  
And so they had/ this the very truth  
●e had Ector/ had upon them ruth  
Making Troyans/ repair to the town  
Vngracyously/ to their confusion  
As the story/ shall after specify  
For though he put/ alas in jeopardy  
Life and death/ which might have be sure  
The which again/ they never shall recure.    

¶ How the Greeks sent to king Priamus for to have truce for Eight weeks/ And of their battles after the truce failed. Ca twenty-three.  

THey have matter/ to complain sore  
For fro that day/ farewell for evermore  
Victory and laud/ fro them of the town  
To them denied/ by disposicyowne  
Of mortal fate/ which was contrary  
In this matter/ me list no longer tarry  
For they of Troy/ be entered their city  
And shut their gates/ for more surety  
For of that day/ like as made is mind  
Thus was the end/ in Euydo as I find  
They wend have done/ paraunter for the best  
And when the son/ was ygo to rest  
They took their ease/ all that ilk night  
Till on the morrow/ Titan clear and bright  
shed his beams/ on their Emysperye  
Making the day/ for to show merry  
At which time/ Trojans anon right  
They that were hole/ and lusty for to fight  
'Gan arm them/ in purpose full that day  
Their soon to meet/ platly if they may  
For that was hole/ their will & plain intent  
And eke they had/ in commandment  
Tofore of Ector/ ready them to make  
Out of their sleep/ a morrow when they wake  
Of which thing/ they were nat negligent  
But to Priam's/ the greeks have send  
There messangeres/ the same day or prime  
To take truce/ only for the time  
Of eight weeks/ the which Pryamus  
By assent of Ector/ the story telleth thus  
Hath granted them/ and by authority  
Of the wisest/ that were in that city  
In which time/ while they leisure have  
The greeks 'gan/ for to bury and grave  
The bodies/ that afore were slawe  
Like the rites/ in their paynim law  
With all their might/ and their busy cure  
For some brent/ and by sepulture  
Enclosed were/ like their estate in all  
And thus they held/ the feast funeral  
from day to day/ during aye the pees  
In which space/ I find how Achilles  
Of Patroclus/ the death hath sore plained  
As he that was/ with teries all be rained  
So inwardly/ he loved him in his heart  
That for the anguish/ and the cruel smart  
He long abode/ in lamentation  
And died make/ by great affection  
A large tomb/ for a remembrance  
Mid the field/ as though was the usance  
Among greeks/ with great reverence  
Like the honour/ and the excellence  
Of royal burying/ so this Patroclus  
ygrave was/ and Protheselaus  
In their tombs/ korue of marble grey  
And nigh together/ in a plain they lay  
The work about them/ richly ywrought  
And to the Earth/ they were together brought  
solemnly/ like the observances  
Of their rites/ with the circumstances  
Of greeks used/ soothly in though days  
Fro point to point/ as longeth to their lays  
Of such as were/ of the estate royal  
So holden was/ the feast funeral  
Of these two/ while the truce doth last  
And they of Troy/ busied them full fast  
With all their might/ and their busy eure  
Their green hurts/ and wounds for to cure  
By advise of them/ that were in surgery  
Full well expert/ to shape remedy  
Sheyr swolle sores/ to soft of their pain  
That in the space/ of these months twain  
They were restored/ to health in every thing  
In which time/ Pryamus the king.  
Such sorrow made/ for Cassybellan  
In his heart/ that no wight ne can  
Him recomfort/ of his heaviness  
For day by day/ of inward tenderness  
Full piteously/ he 'gan to sob and weep  
And the body/ he made for to keep  
Above the earth/ for a certain space  
Till he had/ chosen out a place  
To his burying/ and his sepulture  
And as Guydo/ us fully doth assure  
In venus' Temple/ rich as any shrine  
He made his workmen/ a tomb for to mine  
In marble grey/ and metal richly  
In which he put/ full solemnly  
The deed corpse/ of this Cassybellan  
Being present/ full many manly man  
In the Fane/ of Cytherea  
The which thing/ when that Cassandra  
Within herself/ considered and beheld  
And saw up offered/ his helm/ and his shield  
His sword also/ and unto Mars his stead  
Of inward woe/ she felt her heat bleed  
Hearing the noise/ and the piteous cry  
The tender weeping/ and sorrowing utterly  
Of them of Troy/ and lamentacy own  
Which for their frendis/ through out all the town  
They 'gan to make/ that were slawe afore  
With sudden rage/ her heart was to tore  
So inwardly/ she might her nat restrain  
furiously/ to cry and complain  
And said alas/ full oft and wellawaye  
O woeful wretches/ that ye be this day  
Unhappy eke/ and graceless also  
infortunate/ and inly woe bego  
How ye may suffer/ the great harms keen  
Which ye are likely/ hereafter to sustain  
During the siege/ in this town beloke  
saying your soon/ ready to be wroke  
About you beset/ on every side  
To be venged/ on your great pride  
I wot right well/ ye may them nat eschew  
That they ne shall/ unto the death pursue  
You everichone/ besieged in this place  
Without mercy/ pity or any grace  
Alas alas/ why ne will ye busy be  
Ye woeful wretches/ shut in the city  
With the greeks/ for to seek pees  
Or the sword of vengeance/ mercylees  
On high and low/ do execucy own  
And or this noble/ worthy royal town  
Euersyd be/ and ybrought to nought  
Why list ye nat/ consider in your thought  
How the Modres/ with their childresmale  
In streets shall/ with face deed and pale  
Lie murdered there/ thorough greeks cruelty  
And young maidens/ in captivity  
Be weep shall/ in misery and who  
Their seruytute/ and this town also  
So famous rich/ alas it is pity  
With greeks fire/ shall destroyed be  
In short time/ soothly this no were  
●leyne of us/ alas is bought to dear  
sith for her sake/ we shall everichone  
Poor and rich/ I except none  
An end make/ woeful and piteous  
The ire of them/ shallbe so furious  
Upon us all/ there is none other mean  
Save only death/ us to go between  
This was the noise/ and the piteous cry  
Of Cassandra/ that so dreadfully  
She 'gan to make/ about in every street  
thorough the town/ whom ever she might meet  
Like as she had/ be out of her mind  
Till Pryamus/ fast made her bind  
And shit up/ it as the more ruth  
She was nat heard/ albe she said truth  
For neither wisdom/ nor discretion  
Counsel nor wit/ prudence nor reason  
Truth nor read/ without any lie  
Nor the spirit/ of true prophecy  
Availeth nat/ nor all such sapience  
In place where/ there is no audience  
For be a man/ inly never so wise  
In counselling/ or in high devise  
In working other/ or in eloquence  
Each thing to see/ in his advertence  
Or it be fall/ afore in his reason  
Amid the Eye/ of his discretion  
Yet for all this/ it is the more dole  
Without favour/ he holden is but a fool  
For unfavoured/ wisdom 'vaileth nought  
Neither truth/ how dear that it be bought  
Like as Cassandra/ for all her wise rede  
despised was/ and taken of no heed  
Of them of Troy/ to their confusion  
But cruelly/ ythrowen inpryson  
Where a while/ I will leave her dwell  
And of Greeks/ forth I will you tell.   

ANd first of all/ how Pallamydes  
'Gan to grudge/ against them y● ches  
He being absent/ king Agamenon  
To have lordship/ or domination  
On them all/ namely sith that he  
Was nat worthy/ to such dignity  
For to govern so great/ a mighty host  
thorough out the world/ come from every cost  
Of kings/ princes/ so worthy of renown  
For he thereof/ had indignacy own.  
And said himself/ was of more poustee  
Among greeks/ and greater of degree  
Concluding/ that by no manner weigh  
To his power/ he ne would obey  
In peace and were/ as by subjection  
sith he ne was/ at his election  
Platly affirming/ how there were but three  
When he was chose/ kings of degree  
Where as thirty/ were that time absent  
For which he swore/ it was nat his intent  
Nor according/ with his opinion  
In any wise/ that Agamenon  
Of Greeks should/ have such governance  
Lo what mischief/ lieth in variance  
Among lords/ when they nat accord  
For to draw/ fully by one cord  
Envy is cause/ of such division  
And covetise/ of domination  
That everich would/ surmount his fellow  
This cursed vyse/ often hath withdraw  
Hap and grace/ in many region  
For when discord/ and false dissension  
Allied been/ in hearts for to strive  
Among lords/ that kyndh●● may nat thrive  
Till they reform/ be again to pees  
Among themself/ plainly this no lees  
Of which thing/ greeks took heed  
And thought nat/ ferther to proceed  
In the matter/ that Pallamydes  
Ymeved had/ amongs all the prees  
And thorough their wit/ they set all in quiet  
And made him/ his rancour for to let  
And to accord/ fully in his heart  
But now must/ I my style again divert  
Unto the were/ and tell the manner  
After the truce/ how they met yfere.   

Like as the story/ maketh mention  
The worthy king/ great Agamenon  
When the truce/ were passed and gone  
In all haste/ he 'gan ordain anon  
With all might/ and waker diligence  
devoid of sloth/ and negligence  
To set his wards/ full advisedly  
And to Achylle/ he full prudently  
The first ward/ committeth for to lead  
And the second/ unto diomed.  
The third also/ to king Menelay  
And the fourth/ on the same day  
●e had Menestee/ the Duke of Athene  
At his leading/ in steel armed clean  
And other wards/ following by and by  
Agamanon the king/ full manfully  
Ordained hath/ how they shall proceed  
As he that was/ in all his work and deed  
Full circumspect/ both in were and pees  
And worthy Ector/ was nat reckless  
To set his wards/ of them of the town  
In knightly wise/ of discrecy own  
And to Troilus/ so young/ so fresh and light  
The first ward/ with many lusty knight  
He hath assigned/ and other wards set  
So prudently/ they might be no bet  
And forth in haste/ him list no longer bide  
With many worthy/ riding by his side  
Out at the gates/ he went of the town  
Toward greeks/ this Trojan champion  
And first/ when he saw the fierce Achylle  
He ne could/ no longer keep him still  
But sinot his horse/ felly in the side  
And toward him/ cruelly 'gan ride  
The which thing/ with a despitous eye  
When Achilles/ soothly 'gan espy  
Again Ector/ of manful hardiness  
With heart envious/ 'gan his stead dress  
And in the field/ together/ as they met  
With round spears/ the points keen whet  
At the encountering/ of knightly excellence  
everich other/ thorough great violence  
By very force/ bare other unto ground  
As full oft/ it happeth and is found  
When strong/ doth meet with his perigal  
There is no more/ but everich had a fall  
But Ector first/ of strength most assured  
His stead again/ hath anon recured  
And left Achylle/ though of gentilesse  
And in great haste/ forth he 'gan him dress  
Among greeks/ and where so that he road  
He killed and slew/ all that him withstood  
For with his sword/ he made their wounds wide  
And thorough the breast/ & some thorough the side  
He percy● hath/ and waged them forever  
And broke sheltrouns/ & made them to dissever  
For in his heart/ him thought it dydehy good  
To bathe his sword/ in the greeks blood  
And this continued/ till that Achilles  
Caught his stead/ again among the prees  
And entrede in/ amongs them of troy  
And with his sword/ he made large weigh  
Sleeth and bore down/ whom y● ever he met  
For there was none/ hardy him to let  
Till it befell/ in his melancholy  
●ctor he met/ riding suddenly  
And when they saw/ each other come a fere  
Without abode/ everich caught a spear  
And ran together/ there was no more areste  
But Ector first/ smette him in the breast  
That his spear/ plainly this no tale  
All to shivered/ into pieces small  
That Achilles/ of necessity  
To ground goth/ it would none other be  
And unhorsed/ at the earth lay  
And Ector than/ in all the haste he may  
Enforced him/ for to catch his stead  
But many a greek/ in this great need  
Came to reskues/ of this Achilles  
And for his love/ put themself in prees  
Through help of whom/ his horse he doth attame  
Enhasting him/ with all his might & pain  
To be avenged/ of his great miurye  
And suddenly/ in his wood fury  
With a sword/ full sharp ground and whet  
He smote Ector/ upon the bassenet  
That from his saddle/ he made him to remove  
The which struck/ he might nat eschew  
But for all that/ this noble worthy knight  
Of very force/ thorough his great might  
Maugre his soon/ his saddle hath recured  
As he that was/ in manhood most assured  
And suddenly/ in heart/ he waxed so wroth  
That in arage/ to Achilles he goeth  
And with his sword/ so smit him on the heed  
thorough the bassenet/ that the blood all red  
By his face 'gan/ to run down  
Like a river/ his cheeks environ  
But he himself/ diffendeth as a knight  
And though of new/ began the cruel fight  
At ween them two/ to see that it was wonder  
For every struck/ great as dent of thunder  
Range in the eyre/ for none would other spare  
And this the sooth/ in their fight they far  
Like wood Tiger's/ or bores in their rage  
Or stern bulls/ when they be savage  
That it sempte/ in very soothfastness  
If these two/ so full of worthiness  
Contune long/ in fighting and endure  
The tone or both/ of cruel adventure  
Must have be deed/ of necessity  
The which thing/ had be pity  
Because they were/ worthy knights both  
But while that they/ in fighting fell & wroth  
Most busy were/ the greeks to begin  
With their wards/ for to enter inn  
And they of Troy/ the story maketh mind  
On their party/ left nat behind  
But in the field/ enhaste them everichone  
In knightly wise/ to meet with their fone  
That with the press/ here and also yonder  
The knights two/ severed were a sunder  
And tho came in/ stern diomed  
With the knights/ which he died lead  
Full lustily/ in the self place  
With whom hath met/ proudly in the face  
Whorthy Troilus/ on his horse back  
That never had/ yet in manhood lack  
And as they country/ the story doth us lere  
everich unhorsed/ knightly hath his fere  
But first his horse/ recureth diomed  
And in all haste/ 'gan him speed  
To assail Troilus/ standing upon foot  
And when he saw/ there was none other boat  
As knightly yet/ as ever died man  
Against him/ defend him though began  
But diomed/ hot as any fire  
Wonder envious/ and hateful of desire  
With his sword/ of rancour for the nonce  
The rich Cercle/ full of India stones  
That was that time/ on Troilus bassenet  
Full cruelly/ hath raced of and smet  
But Troilus ne would/ for all that him withdraw  
For him diffending/ he hath the stead slawe  
On which sat/ that time diomed  
That maugre him/ he must alight need  
And when they were/ on foot both twain  
They did their might/ and their cruel pain  
everich of them/ other to assail  
With swords sharp/ so that plate and mail  
They 'gan to severe/ and a sunder race  
As wood lions/ with mortal cheer and face  
Till the Greeks/ strong stout and fell  
As mine Author/ in his book can tell  
Have thorough their might/ made diomed  
Suddenly/ to recure a stead  
And Trojan knights/ on the other side  
Have Troilus brought/ a stead for to ride  
And when they were/ horsed both two  
Without more/ again together they go  
With strong foynes/ and yfere ran  
Each at other/ as felly as they can  
Till at the last/ cruel diomed  
Like as ye may/ in mine Author read  
Were it by case/ hap/ or adventure  
In which no man/ fully may assure  
Or by Fortune/ with her false visage  
Had that time/ of Troilus a vantage  
For he on him/ was fall at myschese  
The which thing/ to him was no reproof  
Though he him took/ among so great aroute  
On every half/ with greeks set about  
sith doutous ever/ is the fine of fight  
Now up/ now down/ now derk & after bright  
For no wight may/ be ay victorious  
In peace nor were/ nor ylyche Eurous  
Let every man/ sith hap is set in doubt  
Take his turn/ as it cometh about  
Though troilus now/ was take of dyomede  
Another time/ he shall him quite his meed  
For as the story/ telleth in this place  
This diomed/ but a little space  
Troilus lad/ forth as prisoner  
That to rescues/ in steel armed clear  
Many Trojan/ came pricking in this need  
That maugre all/ the might of diomed  
They Troilus have/ from his hands take  
And though began/ the slaughter for his sake  
On every half/ that wonder is to tell  
Of the Trojans/ and the Greeks fell  
Than into field/ is entrede Menelay  
Which on Trojans/ all that ilk day  
Full busy was/ avenged for to be  
To them he had/ so cruel enmity  
And when Paris/ saw him in the field  
Towards him/ the right way he held  
And of purpose/ they their wards set  
Each on other/ till they together met  
And though the skarmysshe/ & the slaughter 'gan  
On other part/ of many manly man  
And all this while/ Ector ne would cease  
Among greeks/ cruelly to press  
And new and new/ of him as I read  
A like fresh/ the blood of them to shed  
For of his sword/ the traces were yseen  
That the greeks/ might nat abstain  
To resist/ nor stand afore his face  
But where he road/ aye they gave him place  
¶ Till that aknyght/ which Bootes' height  
Young of age/ when he had a sight  
How Ector slew/ the Greeks mortally  
On every side/ having no mercy  
He pressed in/ to increase his name  
Perpetuelly/ to purchase him a fame  
And furiously/ in heart nat afeared  
He cast him platly/ to meet him in the beard  
The which thing/ when Ector 'gan advert  
So high raucour/ embraced hath his heart  
That with his sword/ of indignacyowne  
He roof him/ even to the navel down  
Fro the crown/ with so great a pain  
That in the field/ he parted lay in twain  
And Ector though/ assigned hath his stead  
To a squire/ and bad he should it lead  
To troy town/ without more abode  
And all this while/ furiously he road  
Among Greeks/ and ever mercylees  
He slew all the/ that put themself in prees  
And shed their blood/ of heart despitous  
The which thing/ when king Archylogus  
Riding beside/ saw and 'gan espy  
How Bootes'/ his cousin and ally  
So cruelly was/ of Ector slawe  
Towards him/ in haste he 'gan him draw  
Upon his death/ avenged for to be  
And toad at him/ with great cruelty  
Fully in purpose/ Ector for to quite  
And suddenly/ as he 'gan at him smite  
Ector unwarely/ it him on the heed  
So mightily/ that he fell down deed  
parted on two/ by cruel adventure  
notwithstanding/ his mighty strong armure  
Again his stroke/ it was of no diffence  
For it was given/ with such violence  
That it holp him/ in no manner thing.  
And than anon/ Prochenor the king  
Of hateful ire/ and fool hardiness  
Of surquedy/ and of hastiness  
Of melancholy/ and indignation  
Caught in his heart/ a presumption  
To assail Ector/ of inward folly pride  
And goth to him/ a traverse on the side  
furiously/ with a despitous heart  
That his coming/ he might nat advert  
only for he came at his back behind  
And unwarely/ in Guydo as I find  
And Ector smote/ from his horse to ground  
In whom there was/ so much manhood found  
That he anon/ with a knightly heart  
Without abode/ into his saddle start  
And right fiercely/ Prothen or purseweth  
That finally his hand/ he nat escheweth  
For with his sword/ he marked him so weal  
thorough bassenet/ by his breast of steel  
That into twain/ without any fail  
He roof him down/ into his paunce of mail  
And he fell down/ in full piteous wise  
Of which stroke/ the greeks sore agryse  
And specially/ the hardy fierce Achylle  
When he beheld/ liked full ill  
For Phothenor/ was his nigh cousin  
And descended/ of the same line  
For death of whom/ he hath such heaviness  
So inward thought/ and so great distress  
In all this world/ he ne wist what to do  
For him he had/ so moche pain and woe  
And for the death/ of Archylogus  
To be avenge/ he was full desirous  
And in his heart/ many way he cast  
And in the wards/ 'gan to seek fast  
With many greek/ on Ector to have fall  
Conspired fully in sooth among them all  
Of one intent/ Ector to assail  
But all for nought/ it would nat avail  
He was that day/ so cruel in his rage  
They might of him/ have none advantage  
And Trojan knights/ by favour of Fortune  
Upon Greeks/ so mightily contune  
thorough conveying/ of Ector and his might  
That they anon/ have them put to flight  
And to their tents/ maugre who that strive  
In their pursuit/ for wounded they them drive  
That here and there/ they lay in aswowe  
And many a greek/ merciless they slow  
The long day/ till it drew to night  
And soothly than/ for very lack of light  
These trojan knights/ full worthy of renown  
About Ector/ repair to the town  
And enter in/ with honour and with glory  
That day of greeks/ having the victory  
And thus I leave them/ in their town within  
And forth of Greeks/ tell I will begin.   

When Esperus/ the fair bright star  
Against eve/ caste his streams far  
And in the west/ rathest 'gan appear  
When the twilight/ with a pale cheer  
In manner mourneth/ the absence of the son  
And night approacheth/ with his copies done  
The same time/ when Titan/ took his leave  
That clerks call/ crepusculum at eve  
Which is nat else/ but the mean light  
Of Phoebus' absence/ and the dark night  
And twilight hat/ for it is a mean  
Of day and night/ departing them between  
Fully nouther/ but of both meynt  
Or the heaven/ be clustered and depaint  
With bright stars/ in the evening   

AT which time/ Agamenon the king  
For his lords/ suddenly hath sent  
To come eachone/ anon/ into his tent  
And when they were/ assembled all yfere  
Tryst and heavy/ and with a sorefull cheer  
They 'gan the slaughter/ of Ector to complain  
affirming plainly/ they might never attain  
Unto victory/ while he were a live  
Wherefore they 'gan/ to conspire belive  
The death of him/ in many sundry weigh  
Echone concluding/ while he were in Troy  
It was nat likely/ Greeks for to win  
For he alone/ of them that were within  
Was chief diffence/ and proteccy own  
And soveraynely/ upholder of the town  
Their mighty Castle/ and their strong wall  
And unto greeks/ deadly foo mortal  
For they ne might/ his great force endure  
Nor never a right/ again their foes be sure  
He standing hole/ they said in no degree  
Nor while he flowereth/ in felicity  
Wherefore eachone/ of one intention  
They condescend/ to this conclusion  
That by some sleyghte/ of await lymge  
When he were most busy/ in fighting  
Among them/ in mischief or distress  
That Achilles/ do his business  
With all his might/ unwarely him to assail  
That him to slay/ for no thing that he fail  
And greeks all/ 'gan their prayer make  
To Achilles/ for to undertake  
Of this Empress/ finally the suit  
thorough his manhood/ that it be execute  
The hasty death/ of their mortal foo  
And Achilles/ without words moo  
Their request/ assenteth to perform  
And to their lust/ 'gan holy him conform  
For that time/ let him beware I read  
To be to hasty/ this journey for to speed  
Upon Ector/ his power for to kythe  
list Fortune/ a wrong her face writhe  
To look on him/ with a froward cheer  
Him to bring/ unto his hands near  
thorough sort or hap/ of Ector foolily  
To put his life/ of death in jeopardy  
list unto him/ it hap even lyche  
To fall hymsefe/ in the same dyche  
That he for Ector/ compassed hath and shape  
For it is wonder/ if that he escape  
sith Ector had/ without any dread  
As brenning ire/ and as great hatred  
To Achilles/ his death for to purvey  
If he him found/ or in place say  
convenient/ for execution  
I trow there should/ him gain no ransom  
Nor other meed/ his heart to quiet  
But only death/ when so that they meet  
This the end/ and fine of this matter  
As in this book/ after ye shall here  
And thus Greeks/ made have an end  
Of their counsel/ and an one they wend  
everich of them/ home to their lodging  
And took their rest/ till the morening.    

¶ How the Trojans took king Thoas prisoner/ and led him into Troy. Ca xxiv.  

When Aurora/ with silver drops sheen  
Hitteries shed/ upon the fresh green  
Complaining ay/ in weeping & i sorrow  
Her children's death/ every summer morrow  
This to say/ when the dew so soot  
embalmed hath/ the flower and eke the root  
With lusty liquor/ in april and in May  
When the lark/ messenger of day  
Of custom aye/ Aurora doth salve  
With sundry notes/ her sorrow to transmue  
Or Phoebus rise/ to joy and gladness  
thorough harmony/ to leave her heaviness  
Taking her leave/ with saint Iohn to borrow  
The same time/ Greeks by the morrow  
With lusty heart/ early died arise  
And armed them/ in all their best wise  
For they them cast/ that day for to goon  
Into the field/ to meet with their soon  
And Ector hath/ the same morrow also  
I cast him fully/ with greeks have ado  
And issued is knightly/ out of troy  
In heart he hath/ so great desire and joy  
The same day/ with greeks for to fight  
And with him lad/ many lusty knight  
Of such as were/ of the city borne  
And forth he road/ himself all aforne  
And Aeneas/ with many a worthy  
Followed after/ wonder fast by  
And Paris than/ and next him Dephebus  
And sith Troilus/ that was courageous  
With all the wards/ made of troy town  
In which as Dares/ maketh mention  
Within his book/ there were on troy side  
Of fighting men/ that went and died ride  
An hundred thousand/ armed for to go  
Into the field/ and thirty thousand more  
Which have them cast/ that day or at eve  
Of one intent/ Greeks for to grieve  
And so they met/ strongly on other side  
And 'gan assemble/ and together ride  
Full cruelly/ and with great hatred  
And with them though/ that Paris died lead  
He entrede in/ full mighty strong Archeres  
Of Perce land/ and many Arbalasteres  
that with their arrows/ fyled sharp & round  
And with quarrels/ square whet & ground  
Full many greek/ hath revolved of his life  
And amids/ of this mortal strife  
Agamenon/ into the field is come  
Towards whom/ Ector hath nim  
The right way/ and threw him of his stead  
Among his knights/ that he died lead  
He spared nought/ for all the great prees  
And therewithal/ anon came Achilles  
That in await/ of Ector had lain  
And suddenly/ with all his might and pain  
¶ Ector he smote/ on the heed so sore  
That with the stroke/ mine Author saith no more  
His bassenet/ was bowed and ycrased  
Of which stroke/ Ector nat amazed  
On Achilles/ should anon yfalle  
Ne had Aeneas'/ with his knynghtes all  
And worthy troylous/ come and go between  
The which twain/ with their swords keen  
'Gan Achilles/ felly for to assail  
To hew his plates/ and to pierce his mail  
And though began/ the slaughter/ on every side  
Of men of foot/ and of them that ride  
Like a conduit/ their wounds 'gan bleed  
And in this while/ cruel diomed  
Were it by hap/ adventure or case  
So as he road/ hath met with Aeneas  
And right anon/ as he had him found  
He smit at him/ and gave him such a wound  
That likely was/ he should nat recure  
But if thereto/ be do the better cure  
And thereupon/ full despyteously  
This diomed/ in his melancholy  
reproved hath/ this trojan knight Enee  
And said to him/ all heyle for thou art he  
That whilom gave/ to Priamus the king  
A fell counsel/ hasty and biting  
Me for to a slain/ by sudden violence  
When I was last/ at troy in his presence  
That trust me well/ and have it well in mind  
Amid the field/ if I the eft find  
Thou shalt thy counsel/ mortally repent  
If that Fortune/ here after will assent  
To bring thee/ a right unto my hand  
At good leisure/ here in thine own land  
I am full set/ thy labour for to quite  
& here my troth/ this sword shall carve & bite  
So kenely/ thy trojan blood to shed  
That finally/ death shallbe thy meed  
The which I bear/ atwene my hands twain  
And with that word/ he might him nat restrain  
This diomed/ but road all suddenly  
Upon Enee/ and so furiously  
He smote at him/ this hardy cruel knight  
With such a pain/ and so great a might  
That from his horse/ he made him for to fall  
Maugre the might/ of his knights all  
The which struck/ he liked full ill  
And in this while/ Ector hath Achylle  
Assailed so/ that thorough his bassenet  
He pierced hath/ & with his sword him smet  
And so narrow/ brought him to the point  
Of high mischief/ and in such disjoint  
Constrained him/ that of necessity  
He had him take/ ne had only be  
Sudden reskues/ of his chivalrous  
That called is/ the son of Tydeus  
I mean the fell/ fyerse diomed  
Which Achilles/ hath helped in this need  
For he thorough force/ of his arms twain  
Smote Ector though/ with so great a pain  
That he him gave/ a wound full grievous  
But he no thing/ mine Author writeth thus  
Astoned was/ this knight this manly man  
But with his sword/ in all the haste he can  
Smote diomed/ so furious and wroth  
That from his horse/ to the earth he goeth  
For all his pride/ and his surquidry  
The which anon/ as Troylous died espy  
Without abode/ down of his stead a light  
With diomed/ a foot for to fight  
And each of them/ in soothfastness than  
acquit himself/ like a manly man  
That neither was/ in moche nor light  
In no degree/ of manhood for to wite  
And while they fought/ Ector and Achilles  
Togydre met/ again among the prees  
And ran yfere/ fiercely in their rage  
As wood lions/ when they be ramage  
Right so in sooth/ they fared in their fighting  
And in that time/ Menelay the king  
Full proudly shope him/ trojans for to meet  
Vlixes eke/ and also Polymete  
And after him came/ Neptolonyus  
Pallamydes/ and eke Scelemus  
Duke Menestee/ Nestor and Thoas  
Currynulus/ and Phylotheas'  
And Theseus'/ as it is made mind  
With his knights/ proudly came behind  
And on the party/ of them of the town  
Came all the kings/ without excepcyowne  
That were assembled/ into their diffence  
Again Greeks/ to make resistance  
Except the knights/ which Ector lad  
And the wards/ that he made had  
The same day/ as saith the Latyn book  
In knightly wise/ the field when that he took  
And though began/ the fell mortal fight  
In which that day/ full many worthy knight  
In Fatyshondes/ finally are fall  
And of Fortune/ among the wards all  
Agamenon/ the noble mighty king  
All suddenly/ as he came riding  
Pantysylaus/ in his way met  
Against whom/ anon his horse he set  
And he to him/ full knightly road again  
And as they met/ there is no more to say  
On horseback/ whiles they were wroth  
Of violence/ they were unhorsed both  
And Menelay/ Paris met of new  
The which two/ well together knew  
Full desirous/ each other for to dear  
But Menelay/ caught first a spear  
And hit Paris/ with all his inward cure  
But for sureness/ of his strong armure  
And mighty platꝭ/ his wound was but small  
Which in effect/ grieved nat at all  
But with that stroke/ unto ground he goeth  
Of which fall/ Paris waxed right wroth  
Wonder confuse/ and also read for shame  
Lest the report/ in hindering of his name  
Came to the ears/ of the Queen Eleyne  
How he that day/ might nat attain  
With Menely/ to hold chaumpartye  
Likely to sown/ into his villainy  
The which at heart/ grieved him full sore  
And Adrastus/ the king without more  
So as he road/ the king Vlixes fond  
& knightly both/ they fought hand to hand  
And as they fought/ down to the earth low  
From his horse/ Vlixes hath him throw  
And full proudly/ in sign of this victory  
He sent his horse/ home to his Tentorye  
And in that time/ amongs all the prees  
Full suddenly/ king Pallamydes  
Is fall on Hupon/ with his locks door  
And in his Ire/ wounded him so sore  
That he fell deed/ and grovelling to the ground  
His mortal sword/ was so keen ground  
Beside whom/ Neptolonyus  
Assailed hath/ king Archylogus  
The which himself/ manly 'gan defend  
But as they fought/ and many strokes spend  
In their diffence/ it would be none other  
everich of them/ hath unhorsed other  
And though came in/ riding on his stead  
polydamas/ and 'gan to take heed  
Among the renges/ a little him beside  
Where as the king/ Pallamydes doth ride  
And cruelly/ so like a manly man  
He smote his stead/ and to him he ran  
And maugre his might/ and his worthiness  
As the story plainly/ beareth witness  
only to venge/ the death of king Hupowne  
From his stead/ he proudly bore him down  
And in his rancour/ and his cruel heat  
Of that despite/ 'gan him to rehete  
And though beside/ the king Scelenus  
Of deadly hate/ and heart full Irous  
With king Carras/ by adventure hath met  
And furiously/ from his stead smet  
And than also/ the king Phylymene  
Is on the Duke/ fall of Athene  
That maugre/ both his manhood/ & his might  
He hath his horse/ bereft him in this fight  
And lad with him/ proudly by his side  
Where as him list/ that it should abide  
And Phyloteas/ the worthy king also  
The self time/ with Remus had ado  
And every other/ soothly as I read  
His fellow hath made/ to void his stead  
And Theseus/ the king/ that was so strong  
Amid the field/ so as he road among  
In the great press/ hath met Curyalus  
The worthy king/ of knighthood right famous  
And both two/ in arms wonder strong  
By themself/ fought at leisure long  
Till each other/ with wounds fresh & green  
from horseback/ his fellow threw endlong the green  
And afterward/ I find how they two  
Upon foot/ knightly had ado  
They were in arms/ somly desirous  
And of manhood/ passingly famous  
And all this while/ the sons naturel  
Of Pryamus/ bare them wonder well  
Among greeks/ up and down riding  
And prudently/ together abiding  
Made a slaughter/ of greeks full piteous  
Of kings/ duke's/ and lords right famous  
And as I read/ how worthy Thelamowne  
That time met/ with king Sapedowne  
And with their spears/ squared full sharply  
everich hath other/ wounded mortally  
thorough shield & plate/ & haberion of mail  
That as the story/ maketh rehearsal  
How their harness/ waxed of blood all red  
And how they fill/ almost both deed  
At great mischief/ among the horse feet  
Of whose bleeding/ the soil 'gan wax weet  
thorough their harness/ as it can distylle  
Whiles king Thoas/ and the fierce Achylle  
As they that were/ of kin and allied  
Amid the field/ Ector have espied  
Where as he fought/ beset amid his soon  
And upon him/ of one accord they goon  
And mortally/ if it would avail  
On every half/ they 'gan him new assail  
And of hate/ in heart borne of yore  
They have beset/ this Trojan knight so sore  
That they alas/ from his heed hath smet  
By violence/ his rich bassenet  
And wounded him/ felly on the heed  
But for all that/ he ne took no heed  
This worthy man/ flower of chivalry  
But him diffending/ though so mightily  
King Thoas smit him/ in the face so  
That with a stroke/ he rafte his nose a two  
And shorted it/ by the half deal  
To which stroke/ the brother naturele  
Of manly Ector/ fast 'gan them high  
To succour him/ when they first espy  
His great mischief/ and at their in coming  
They so manly/ bare them in fighting  
Again greeks/ that Thoas they have take  
And The●amon/ so they made awake  
With new assault/ of sharp wounds keen  
That he was take/ and left upon the green  
And of his men/ borne home to his tent  
And king Thoas/ home to troy is went  
Maugre greeks/ which help him may no more  
For Dephebus/ and also Anthenore  
Have sent him/ forth to Troy the city  
And Menelay/ though began to see  
So as he road/ Paris stand a side  
And shope him shortly/ of hate & cruel pride  
If it would fall/ on his chance  
Suddenly/ to ymen him mischance  
But he was ware/ & kept himself so narrow  
That Menelay/ he marked with an arrow  
The heed of which/ with venom was enoint  
Intoxycate/ at the square point  
That the king/ of that dreadful wound  
All despaired/ of his men was found  
Which in great haste/ bare him to his tent  
And he anon/ for Surgyens hath sent  
Which first the heed/ took out of his wound  
Albe it was/ yperced full profound  
thorough his harness/ full deep into the bone  
But cunnyngely/ they died their craft eachone  
To draw it out/ with their Instruments  
And subtilely/ with certain ointments  
They searched have/ the wound environ  
To make it clean/ from corruption  
And prudently/ first they took heed  
That the venom/ further nat proceed  
Round in compass/ cleansed it about  
And after that/ bound it sure without  
And defensyves/ made on every side  
And Menelay/ no longer would abide  
But bad in haste/ bring forth his stead  
In purpose full/ Paris to quite his meed  
If he him find/ the self same day  
Him list no longer/ put it in delay  
What ever fall/ of his green wound  
And forth he road/ till he hath him found  
By adventure/ unarmed in the field  
Without sword/ pollex/ spear or shield  
Or bow in hand/ were it of reklesnesse  
Or to refresh him/ after weariness.  
And Menelay/ anon a spear hath take  
And in his ire/ ●elly 'gan it shake  
Toward Paris/ by great adviseness  
And should have slain him/ as by likeliness  
Ne had Aeneas/ which all this thing beheld  
Boar of the stock/ with his strong shield  
To defend him/ in this adventure  
destitute/ and naked/ of armure.  
Paris that time/ in such peril was  
Wherefore in haste/ hath this Aeneas  
Ordained knights/ armed bright in steel  
About Paris/ for to keep him weal  
From all mischief/ and confusyowne  
Him to convey/ unto Troy town  
Right in despite/ of king Menelay  
Which in await/ so for Paris lay  
¶ Whom Ector/ had ytaken suddenly  
And unto Troy/ lad him utterly  
Ne had Greeks come/ in his diffence  
Against him/ to make resistance.  
Of which Ector/ as they came in his weigh  
Full many Greek/ made for to die  
And the remnant/ put unto the flight  
That thorough his manhood/ the day & his might  
Trojans made/ the greeks for to flee  
Unto their tents/ of necessytee  
And them to sew/ ne would never leave  
But slay and kill/ till it drew to eve  
That Phoebus 'gan/ fast for to west  
To draw them home/ they thought for the best  
For Titan was/ at his going down  
When they 'gan enter/ into troy town  
Their gatis shut/ they to their lodging wend  
And of this day/ thus they made an end  
Till on the morrow/ that the rows read  
Of Phoebus' cart/ gone for to spread  
Afore his uprist/ in the Orient  
At which time/ king Priamus hath sent  
For such as were/ with him most prive  
And of his counsel/ inwardly secre  
And specially/ he sent for by name  
For worthy Ector/ that greatest was of fame  
For Paris eke/ and for Dephebus  
And for Troilus/ fresh and desirous  
For Antenor/ and polydamas  
And for the Trojan/ called Aeneas  
For he that day/ caste him nat to goon  
Into the field/ to meet with his soon  
And when they were/ to his Paleys come  
These lords have/ the right way nome  
Unto the king/ within his closet  
And when the hussher/ hath the door shut  
And everich had/ like to his degree  
His place take/ and his dew see  
This worthy king/ as made is mention  
'Gan to declare/ his hearts motion  
And his meaning/ afore them specify  
And said sires/ in whom I most affy  
To you is known/ how king Thoas is here  
In this city/ taken prisoner  
And is as yet/ belocked in prysowne  
Which ever hath be/ unto Troy town  
An enemy great/ unto his power  
And us offended/ both far and ner  
In many wise/ all be we little retch  
As far as he/ his force/ might stretch  
And now with Grekis/ came to siege our town  
As he that will not/ our destruccyowne  
And thereupon/ hath do his business  
Wherefore of doom/ and of rightwiseness  
Both of reason/ and of equity  
I say plainly/ as seemeth unto me  
So that it be/ to you acceptable  
And that ye think/ my counsel commendable  
Like as he hath/ caste our death and shape  
I hold rightful/ that he nat escape  
But that of death/ he receive his guerdon  
For right requireth/ and also good reason  
that death for death/ is skilful guerdonning  
Unto my wit/ and right well sitting  
Say your advise/ now plainly in this case  
And first of all/ though spoke Aeneas  
And said lord/ so it be none offence  
To your highness/ to give me audience  
thorough support here/ of them that be full wise  
I shall rehearse plainly/ my devise  
What is to work/ as in this matter  
Me seemeth first/ my lyege lord so dear  
That your noble/ royal excellence  
consider should/ with full high prudence  
In every work/ and operasyon  
To cast afore/ in conclusion  
To cast afore/ in conclusion  
The final end/ that may after sew  
For to a wise man/ only is nat dew  
To see the beginning/ and the end nought  
But both atones/ poise in his thought  
And weigh them/ ●o justly in balance  
That of the fine/ follow no repentance  
Why I say this/ and platly why I mean  
Is for that ye/ aught for to seen  
How king Thoas/ is one of the principal  
Among Greeks/ and of the blood royal  
If ye consider/ descended as by line  
Wherefore if he/ have this foul a fine  
To be slain/ while he is in prison  
It might happen/ in conclusion  
That ye and yours/ that thereto assent  
Here afterward/ sore to repent  
I prove it thus/ that if by adventure  
Of Fortune/ that no man may assure  
Some of your lords/ were another day  
Of greeks take/ as it hap may  
Or of your sons/ so worthy of renown  
Or of kings/ that be in this town  
Trust me well/ that such gentilesse  
As ye show to them/ in their distress  
They will you quite/ when in case semblable  
Fortune to them/ they find favourable  
The which no man/ constrain may nor bind  
Wherefore my lord/ have this thing in mind  
For if Thoas/ of short advisement  
Shall now be deed/ thorough hasty judgement  
Another day/ Greeks will us quite  
And for rigour/ make their malices bite  
On some of yours/ who ever that it be  
And neither spare/ high nor low degree  
Though he were/ paraunter of your blood  
The which thing/ for all this worlds good  
It might fall/ that ye ne would see  
Wherefore I read/ let king Thoas be  
honestly keep/ in prysowne  
Like his estate/ still here in this town  
list as I said/ that another day  
Some lord of yours/ as it hap may  
casually/ were take of adventure  
By exchange of him/ ye might best recure  
Without strife/ your own man again  
In this matter/ I can no more say  
But finally/ this my full rede  
To which counsel/ Ector took good heed  
And for it was/ according to reason  
He it commendeth/ in his opinion  
But Priam ever/ of one intention  
Stood always fix/ to this conclusion  
Plainly affirming/ if Greeks may espy  
That we this king/ spare of gentry  
They will arrecte/ it cowardice anon  
That we dare nat/ venge us on our foone  
For very dread/ having no hardiness  
Nor heart nouther/ to do rightwiseness  
Yet nevertheless/ after your assent  
That he shall live/ I will in mine intent  
To your desire/ fully condescend  
And of this counsel/ so they made an end  
Without more/ save Aeneas is go  
And Trylous eke/ and Antenor also  
Into an hall/ excelling of beauty  
The queen Eleyne/ of purpose for to see  
With whom was eke/ Eccuba the queen  
And other ladies/ goodly on to seen  
And many maid/ that young & lusty was  
And worthy Troilus/ with this Aeneas  
Died their labour/ and their busy pain  
For to comfort/ the fair queen Eleyne  
As she that stood/ for the were in dread  
But for all that/ of very womanhead  
Thilk time/ with all her heart enter  
As she well could/ make them good cheer  
Having of cunning/ inly suffisance  
Both of cheer/ and of dalliance.  
And Eccuba being/ in this hall  
Very example/ unto women all  
Of bounty having/ sovereign excellencce  
In wisdom eke/ and in eloquence  
Besought them/ though wonder womanly  
And counseled eke/ full prudently  
For any haste/ both nigh and far  
Auysely/ to keep them in the were  
And nat jeopard/ their bodies foolily  
But to advert/ and cast prudently  
In diffence/ knightly of the town  
Them to govern/ by discrecyowne  
She spoke of faith/ & could no thing feign  
And than of her/ and after of Eleyne  
They took leave and no longer dwell  
But went their way/ & forth I will you tell  
How the Greeks/ on the same morrow  
Among themself/ complain & make sorrow  
Their harms great/ in Murmur and in rage  
The loss/ the costs/ and the great damage  
That they have/ endured foolily  
Lasting the were/ and wist never why  
The death the slaughtre/ of many worthy man  
sith the time/ that the were began  
Hunger and thirst/ watch and cold also  
Full great unrest/ sorrow thought and woe  
And all together/ for a thing of nought  
In soothfastness/ if the ground be sought  
This was the noise/ and rumour eke that ran  
thorough out the host/ that day fro man to man  
And most among/ the poor souldy ours  
Which bore the brunt/ ever of such showers  
And the mischief/ of were comenlye  
And though they plain/ they have no remedy  
Of things which sit/ them full unsoft  
And thus greeks/ complained have full oft  
Of many mischief/ that hath on them fall  
The which they might/ have eschewed all  
If they ne had/ of folly gone a were  
Out of Grece/ nat come half so far  
To their mischief/ and confusion  
This was that day/ their lamentation.  
¶ Which to increase/ the same next night  
So darked was/ without star light  
So cloudy black/ and so thick of air  
dimmed with skies/ foul & no thing fair  
So windy eke/ with tempest all be lain  
Almost fordrenched/ with the smoky rain  
And in the field/ atoned here and yonder  
With sudden stroke/ of the dreadful thunder  
And with opening/ of the hideous levene  
That it sempte/ in the high heaven  
The Cataractys/ had be undo  
For the clouds/ and skies both two  
Suddenly wexen/ were so black  
Like as the gods/ would have taken wreck  
And had of new/ assented be in oon  
The land to drench/ of Deucalyon  
And all this world/ without more refuge  
To overflow/ with a fresh deluge  
The wind also/ so sternly 'gan blow  
That their tents/ standing on a row  
For possyd were/ and ybete down  
And furiously/ to their confusion  
The floodꝭ raught/ then fro their standing place  
And bare them forth/ a full large space  
Whereof in mischief/ and in great distress  
In great labour/ and heartily heaviness  
The greeks bid/ all the same night  
What for the tempest/ and for lack of light  
Till the flood/ 'gan again withdraw  
The wind to appease/ and the day 'gan daw  
And the heaven/ 'gan again to clear  
Without clouds/ freshly to appear  
And Phoebus eke/ with a fervent heat  
Had on the soil/ dried up the wete  
And the moisture/ environ on the plain  
And greeks had/ their tents set again  
And were adawed/ of their nights sorrow  
thorough the apering/ of the galled morrow  
They them arrayed/ nothing for the pees  
And into the field/ first went Achilles  
As ye shall here/ of entencyowne  
That day to fight/ with them of Troy town.   

When dried was/ the lusty large plain  
with phebus beams/ as ye have herd me say  
The trojan knights/ full worthy of renown  
descended be/ and ycome down  
And in the field/ took their fighting place  
But Achilles/ to meet them in the face  
Tofore went out/ like as I you told  
With his lords/ and his knights bold  
And first I find/ without more abode  
Unto Hupon/ furiously he road  
I mean Hupon/ that was of his stature  
Like a giant/ as books us assure  
Whom Achilles/ with his sharp spear  
thorough the body/ pierced him so fere  
That he fill deed/ his wound was so keen  
And after this/ the king Octamene  
As he fiercely/ on Ector would have gone  
Without abode/ Ector him siewe anon  
And cruelly/ quit him his fatal meed  
And suddenly/ against diomed.  
As zantipus/ the worthy king 'gan draw  
Full piteously/ he of him was slawe  
And right anon/ the king Epyscrophus  
And eke the king/ that height Cedyus  
Of one assent/ proudly in battle  
Begun Ector/ mortally to assail  
And with a spear/ first Epyscrophus  
Ran at him/ with heart despitous  
And as Guydo/ also doth devise  
rebuked him/ in ungodly wise  
To him so sore/ in heart he was a moved  
Whereof Ector/ furiously aggrieved  
Hath mortally/ his wound made so large  
That him ne geyneth/ plate/ shield/ nor targe  
For he fill deed/ among his men eachone  
To whom Ector/ bade he should gone  
To the Furies/ deep down in hell  
Such words/ amongs them to tell  
For here quoth he/ men take of them no heed  
And thus when he/ was waged for his meed  
Anon his brother/ called Cedyus  
Such sorrow made/ for Epyscrophus  
So heartily dole/ and so woeful cheer  
That pity was/ for to see and here  
So inwardly/ on his death he thought  
And with a thousand knights/ that he brought  
To be avenged/ by manhood of them all  
Despyteously/ on Ertor/ he is fall  
Where he him found/ fighting with his soon  
That thorough the force/ of them everychoons  
So sore environ/ they have him beset  
That from his stead/ down they have him smet  
¶ Whom Cedyus/ aye in his cruel rage  
When that he saw/ to his advantage  
Ector unhorsed/ and he on his stead  
His sword he left/ of inwardly hatred  
Marking at him/ with so great a pain  
With all the force/ of his arms twain  
Fully in purpose/ without more delay  
To slay Ector/ plainly if he may  
But or his stroke/ descend might down  
Ector of hate/ and indignacyowne  
With his sword/ that was full sharp whet  
From his shuldre/ hath his arm of smet  
And after that/ he revyd him his life  
Than Aeneas'/ amids all this strife  
Came riding in/ wood and furious  
And as he met/ the king/ Amphymacus  
He fell on him/ and slew him in his rage  
And from greeks/ holding their passage  
There came down/ first Menelaus  
And after him/ king Thelamonyus  
The great Duke/ also of Athene  
In whom there was/ so moche manhood seen  
Vlixes eke/ and cruel diomed  
And eke also/ to help them in their need  
There came with them/ the king Machaon  
And alderlaste/ the great Agamenon  
With all their wards/ and fill in suddenly  
Upon Trojans/ and they full manfully  
defend themself/ again the Greeks proud  
And put them of/ full knightly as they coude  
And each on other/ soothly as they met  
With spear and sword/ enviously they set  
So mortal hate/ there was them between  
And when the son/ was in merydyens  
In mid day angel/ passing hot and sheen  
The greeks/ 'gan felly in their tene  
So mightily/ to fall on them of Troy  
That they them made/ for to give weigh  
Of very force/ and necessity  
And Achilles/ so full of cruelty  
Among the renges/ as he 'gan him draw  
The king Phylem/ enviously hath slawe  
And amid of greeks/ the same time Ector  
Maugre them all/ slew king Alphenor  
And eke the king/ called Dorous  
On them he was/ so cruel and irous  
That thorough virtue/ of his knightly hand  
Trojans have won/ again their land  
Upon greeks/ and made them for to flee  
And thilk hour/ from Torye the city  
Epyscrophus/ full of manliness  
The field hath take/ thorough his worthiness  
And on greeks/ proudly for the nonce  
With his knights/ he falleth all atones  
And severed them/ & made them for to twin  
And 'gan the field/ fast upon them win  
Having that time/ in his company  
amongs other/ that he died guye  
ascertain Archer/ the which as I find  
Was monstrous/ and wonderful of kind  
For from the middle/ up unto the crown  
He was a man/ and the remnant down  
Bare of an horse/ likeness and figure  
And horses here/ this monster in nature  
Had on his skin/ growing environ  
Full rough/ and thick/ & of his voice the sown  
Was like the neyhing/ of an horse I read  
And though his face/ both in length & breed  
Of shape were mannysshe/ yet in suthfastnesse  
His colour was/ semblable in likeness  
Unto the Ferry hoot/ breynning gleed  
Whose Eyen eke/ flawming also red  
As the blaze/ of an oven mouth  
And for he was/ in sight so uncouth  
Where so ever/ he was met in the beard  
Both man and horse/ sore were a feared  
His face was/ so hateful and so audible  
And his look/ so hideous/ and horrible  
And aye he had/ in custom and usance  
As in books/ is made remembrance  
For to go/ unarmed into field  
Without sword/ spear/ axe/ or shield  
For he no thing/ could of that mister  
But as I find/ he was a good archer  
And bare a bow/ stiff and wonder strong  
And for he was/ also of tiller long  
His arrows were like/ to his tiller  
In a bushment/ trussed wonder ner  
By his side/ aye ready to his hand  
Where so he were/ either on see or land  
And as I find/ how that none armour  
Again his shot/ plainly might endure  
And there was horse/ stead nor courser  
That durst abide/ nouther fer nor ner  
But fled anon/ with all their full might  
As fast as they/ of him had a sight  
To them he was/ so passing odious  
So like a devil/ and so monstrous  
And there was found/ none so hardy a knight  
On horse back/ that had force or might  
To hold his horse/ when they might him see  
But that anon/ a back he would i'll  
And of this Archer/ I find written eke  
That he that day/ slew full many greek  
And wounded them/ with his arrows keen  
thorough out the plates/ forged bright & sheen  
For there was none/ afore him that abode  
But to their Tents/ fast away they road  
They might nat/ his hideous look endure  
Till there befell/ a wonder adverture  
While they of Troy/ by help of this Archer  
Sew on the chase/ to their lodging ner  
And slew of them/ in mischief and in dread  
Beside a Tent/ met diomed  
With this Archer/ of necessity  
For it stood so/ that he ne might him i'll  
No manner way/ nor a back remewe  
For life nor death/ he might him nat eschew  
So many Trojan/ was though at his back  
In his flying/ he had go to wrack.  
¶ Wherefore anon/ this worthy diomed  
With cruel heart/ fast 'gan him speed  
And toward him/ proudly for to dress  
But this Archer/ by great adviseness  
first with an arrow/ smette diomed  
thorough his harness/ that he made him bleed  
Of which stroke/ he waxed so wood & wroth  
That to this monster/ so hideous and so loath  
He went apace/ and him unarmed fond  
And with the sword/ that he held in his hand  
He gave to him/ his last fatal wound  
That he fill deed/ grovelling unto the ground  
The death of whom/ greeks rejoicing  
and in all haste/ their hearts resuming  
Began themself/ for to recomfort  
And into Field/ proudly they resort  
By conveying/ of Polixenare  
The worthy Duke/ that so well him bare  
Upon Trojans/ that day in the field  
But when Ector/ the slaughter of him beheld  
Upon this Duke/ anon he 'gan to set  
And on their steeds/ fiercely as they met  
Ector him slew/ of full great hatred  
And after that/ on Gallathe his stead  
So as he road/ forth among the prees  
Or he was ware/ he met Achilles  
And with their spears/ long large and round  
In purpose fully/ each other to confound  
They ran yfere/ Irous and right wroth  
That with the stroke/ they were unhorsed both  
But Achilles/ with a despitous heart  
first as I read/ into his saddle start  
And busy was/ with all his inward pain  
Gallathe/ to take by the rain  
Thereof for ever/ Ector to deprive  
And bad his men/ to lead it home as belive  
So that Ector/ there was none other boat  
Full like a man/ fought standing on foot  
Among greeks/ and his foemen all  
And to his knights/ loud he 'gan to call  
For his stead/ that they should sew  
And they in haste/ his horse to rescue  
Ben atones/ fallen on Achylle  
And maugre him/ of force again his will  
They have from him/ bereft it on the plain  
And to Ector/ restored it again  
Which in knighthood/ so much him self assureth  
Despite of them/ his saddle he recureth  
Which afterward/ full dear they aboughte  
For like a lion/ all that day he wrought  
amongs them/ riding here and there  
And as the death/ they fled his sword for fere  
thorough whose manhood/ trojans eft begin  
Upon greeks/ the field again to win  
But it befell/ amid their great fight  
That Antenor/ a certain Trojan knight  
Among the press/ is so far in gone  
That of Greeks/ he was take anon  
And to their tents/ sent in haste he was  
Albe his son/ called polydamas  
To rescue him/ died his diligence  
So manfully/ that no negligence  
Was found in him/ who so list to seek  
And that full dear/ a bought many greek  
The same day/ thorough his worthiness  
But for cause/ only of darkness  
And for that it/ 'gan draw toward night  
They made an end/ only for lack of light  
And greeks went/ home to their lodging  
And eke Trojans/ till on the morning  
That Phoebus'/ 'gan his bright beams show  
And Aurora/ new 'gan to dew  
The Erbys sote/ and the green levys  
Both on hays/ and in fresh grievous  
Silver bright/ with round pearls fine  
That so clearly/ again the son shine  
And show themself/ so Orient and sheen  
On hill and vale/ and on every green  
The rody morrow/ till the hot beams  
Of bright Phoebus'/ with his fiery stemies  
Vapoureth up/ their moisture into air  
The weather clear/ agreeable and fair  
And attempre/ also of his heat  
When the Trojans/ caste them for to meet  
With their foemen/ platly if they may  
And out they went/ in their best array  
With their wards/ into field by row  
Against whom/ greeks were nat slow  
But shope them forth/ Without longer let  
Till they together/ manfully have met  
And with their spears/ and their swords clear  
They ran together/ with a despitous cheer  
Till shivered was/ a sondre many spear  
On sheldes strong/ themself for to were  
And riven was/ on pieces many targe  
And with hexies/ round broad and large  
On basenettes/ as they smite and shred  
Full many knight/ mortally 'gan bleed  
In soothfastness/ and as I tell can  
The same day/ was slain many a man  
On other part/ but most of Troy town  
Albe Guydo/ maketh no mencyowne  
Of no person/ as in special  
On nouther side/ but in general  
Save he concludeth/ plainly that this fight  
last fro morrow/ till that it was night  
The which Trojans/ have full dear bought  
For that day/ Fortune holp them nought  
But turned hole/ to their confusion  
And so they be/ repeyred to the town  
And to their tents/ greeks fast them speed  
Till on the morrow/ they sent diomed  
¶ With Vlixes/ to Troy the city  
For a truce/ only for months three  
If king Priam's/ thereto would assent  
And as they two/ on this message went  
A certain knight/ borne of Troy town  
That height Dolon/ of great discrecyowne  
And also was/ right famous of richesse  
Of curtely/ and of gentilesse  
His devoir died/ and his diligence  
Them to convey/ unto the presence  
Of Pryamus/ in his palace royal  
And in his see/ most chief/ and principal  
Where as he sat/ his lords environ  
With many knight/ full worthy of renown  
They 'gan to him/ first to specify  
wholly the substance/ of their embassatrye  
And of the truce/ their intent they told  
If it so were/ he assent would  
And the king/ benignly them herd  
And by advice/ prudently answered  
That thereupon/ his honour for to save  
At good leisure/ he would a counsel have  
With his lords/ and fully him govern  
In this matter/ like as they discern  
And to conclude/ shortly everichone  
assented be/ except Ector alone  
Unto the truce/ and ne would it nat deny  
But Ector said/ that of treachery  
only of slaughter/ and false Treason  
Their asking was/ under occason  
first to berye Greeks/ that were deed  
And under colour/ thereof out of dread  
afterward/ themself to victual  
For he well knew/ that their stuf 'gan fail  
And enfamyned/ lest they should die  
They sought a space/ themself to purvey  
By outward signs/ that he died espy  
Wherefore quoth he/ me liketh nat to lie  
By appearance/ as I dare presume  
Whiles that we/ waste and consume  
Our stuf within/ as it is to dread  
They will provide/ of what that they have need  
For all that is/ to them advantage  
Might be to us/ hindering and damage  
And whiles/ they increase and amend  
We shall our store/ discrease and dispend  
Yet nevertheless/ how ever that it be  
touching this truce/ as for months three  
sithen ye all/ assent and accord  
Fro your sentence/ I will nat discord  
In no wise/ to be variant  
And thus the truce/ confirmed was by grant  
On other side/ them thought for the best  
Because they should/ in quiet and in rest  
The mean while/ ease them and relieve  
And they that felt/ their wounds sore grieve  
Might have leisure/ themself to recure  
And while the truce/ died thus endure  
They fill in Tretee/ and in communing  
Of Athenor/ and Thoas the king  
That Antenor/ delivered should be  
For king Thoas/ to Troy the city  
And so Thoas should/ to greeks home again  
only by exchange/ as ye have heard me say  
One for another/ as it accorded was  
And in this while/ the bishop hight Calchas  
Remembered him/ upon his daughter dear  
Called Cryseyde/ with her Eyen clear  
Whom in Troy/ he had left behind  
When he went/ as the book maketh mind  
For whom he felt/ passingly great smart  
So tenderly/ she was set at his heart  
And enprented/ both at eve and morrow  
And chief cause/ and ground of all his sorrow  
Was that she left/ behind him in the town  
Without comfort/ or consolacyowne  
As he cast/ soothly in his absence  
And specially/ for his great offence  
That he hath wrought/ against them of troy  
And as him thought/ he should never have joy  
Till he his daughter/ recured hath again  
¶ Wherefore/ Calchas/ the story saith certain  
In his wits/ many ways cast  
How he might/ while the truce doth last  
Recure his daughter/ by some manner way  
And as I find/ upon a certain day  
In his port/ wonder humbly  
With weeping eye/ went piteously  
In complaining/ of teries albe rained  
Whose inward woe/ soothly was nat feigned  
And on his knees/ anon he falleth down  
Tofore/ the great king/ Agamenowne  
beseeching him/ with all humility  
Of very mercy/ and of high pity  
With other kings/ sitting in the place  
To have ruth/ and for to do him grace  
And on his woe/ to have compassion  
That he may have/ restitution  
Of his daughter/ whom he loved so  
praying them all/ their dever for to do  
That thorough their prudent/ mediation  
For Antenor/ that was in their prison  
¶ With king Thoas/ she might eschaunged be  
If that them list/ of their benignity  
To his request/ goodly to assent  
And they him grant/ & forth anon they sent  
To king Pryamus/ for to have Cryseyde  
For Calchas sake/ and therewith all they laid  
The charge for her/ wonder specially  
On them that went/ for this Embassatry  
To Troy town/ and to king Pryamus  
To whom Calchas/ was so odyus  
So hateful eke/ thorough out all the town  
That this report/ was of him up and down  
That he a Traitor/ was and also false  
Worthy to be/ enhonged by the half  
For his Treason/ and his doubleness  
And over more/ they said eke express  
That he disserued hath/ by right of law  
Shamefully/ first for to be draw  
And afterward/ the most horrible death  
That he may have/ to yield up the breath  
Like a Traitor/ in as despitous wise  
As any heart/ can think or devise  
everich affirming/ as by judgement  
That death was none/ fully equypollent  
To his desert/ nor to his falseness  
As young and old/ plainly bare witness  
Concluding eke/ for his iniquity  
That they would assent/ in no degree  
Unto no thing/ that might his heart please  
Nor of Cryseyde/ for to do him ease  
They cast nat/ to make deliverance  
liefer they had/ to give him mischance  
If they him might/ have at good large  
But finally the effect/ of all this charge  
Is so farforth driven/ to an end  
That Pryamus/ hath granted she shall wend  
With king Thoas/ shortly there is no more  
Unto her father/ for daunz Anthenore  
Who ever grudge/ the king in Parliament  
Hath thereupon/ given judgement  
So utterly/ it may nat be repelled  
For with his word/ the sentence was asselyd  
That she must part/ with her eyen glad  
And of the sorrow/ plainly that she made  
At her parting/ hereafter ye shall here  
When it again/ cometh to my matter.    

¶ how during a truce of three Months Ector walked into the Greeks host/ And of the communication of Achilles & him. Ca xxv.  

 
⸫ ⸫ ⸫  
tHe truce affirmed/ as ye have herd devise  
On other side/ of them that were full wise  
And full assented/ of them everichone  
Till three months/ come be and gone  
Like as I read/ on a certain day  
When agreeable was/ the morrow grey  
blandishing/ and pleasant of delight  
Ector in heart/ caught an appetite  
Like as Guydo/ liketh for to write  
The same day/ Greeks to visit  
Full well beseen/ and wonder richly  
With many worthy/ in his company  
Of such as he/ for the nonce ches  
And to the tent/ first of Achilles  
I find in sooth/ this Trojan knight  
Upon his stead/ took the way right  
Full like a man/ as made is mention  
Now had Achilles/ great affection  
In his heart/ both day and night  
Of worthy Ector/ for to have a sight  
For never his life/ by none occasion  
He might of him/ have none inspection  
Nor him behold/ at good liberty  
For unarmed/ he might him never see  
But wonder knightly/ as well in port & cheer  
They had them both/ as they met in fere  
And right manly/ in their countenance  
And at the last/ they fell in Dalliance  
But Achilles/ first began abraid  
And unto him/ even thus he saide  
Ector quoth he/ full pleasing is to me  
That I at leisure/ naked may these  
sith I of thee/ never might have sight  
But when thou were/ armed as a knight  
And now to me/ it shallbe full grievous  
Which am to thee/ so inly envious  
But thou of me/ there is no more to sayne  
Be slain anon/ with my hands twain  
For this in sooth/ were wholly my pleasance  
By cruel death/ to take on the vengeance  
For I full oft/ in were and eke in fight  
Have felt the virtue/ and the great might  
Of thy force/ thorough many wounds keen  
That upon me/ be full fresh and green  
In many place/ bysheding of my blood  
Thou were on me/ so furious and wood  
Ay compassing/ to my destruccyowne  
For many● mail/ of mine haber●owne  
Thy shar●e sword/ raced hath a sunder  
And cruelly severed/ here and yonder  
And mortally as/ I can signs show  
My plates strong/ pierced and yhewe  
And my ha●eys/ forged bright of steel  
Might neu●r/ assured be so weal  
In thine Yr●/ when thou list to smite  
That thy sw●rde/ would carve and bite  
Into my flesh/ full deep and full profound  
As showeth ye●/ by many mortal wound  
On my body large/ long and wide  
That yet appear/ upon every side  
And day by day full sore/ ache and smart  
For which thing/ me seemeth that my heart  
Enbolleth new/ now when I these  
Of high despite/ avenged for to be  
So am I fret/ of envious rage  
That it may never/ in my breast assuage  
Till the vengeance/ and the fatal suit  
Of cruel death/ be on the execute  
And of one thing/ most is my grievance  
When I have/ fully remembrance  
And in my mind/ considered up and down  
How thou madest/ a dyvysyowne  
Of me alas/ and of Patroclus  
So young so manly/ and so virtuous  
Whom I loved/ as it was skill and right  
Right as myself/ with all my full might  
With as hole heart/ and inly kindness  
As an tongue/ may tell or express  
Now haste thou made/ a departysyon  
Of us that were/ by hold affection  
Yknet in one/ of heartily alliance  
Without parting/ or disseverance  
So entirely/ our faithful hearts twain  
Ylaced were/ and locked in a chain  
Which might nat/ for none adversity  
Of life nor death/ a sunder twynned be  
Till cruelly/ thou madest us depart  
Which through my heart/ so inwardly doth dart  
That it will never/ in soothe out of my thought  
And trust well/ full dear shallbe bought  
The death of him/ and be no thing in were  
peraventure/ or ended be this year  
For upon thee/ only for his sake  
Of cruel death/ vengeance shallbe take  
I the ensure/ without other bond  
If I may live/ with mine own hand  
I shall of death/ do execution  
Without abode/ or long delation  
For right requireth/ without any dread  
Death for death/ for his final meed  
For I myself/ thereon shallbe wroke  
That thorough the world/ hereafter shallbe spoke  
How Achilles/ was venged on his foo  
For Patroclus/ that he loved so  
And though that I be/ to the envious  
And of thy death/ inly desirous  
Ne wite me not/ nor put on me no blame  
For well I wot/ thou art to me the same  
And hast my death/ many day desired  
And thereupon/ inwardly conspired  
And thus shortly/ as atween us two  
There is but death/ without words more  
When Fortune hath/ the time shape  
I hope fully/ thou shalt nat escape  
Trust none other/ I say the utterly  
To whom Ector/ nat to hastily  
answered again/ with sober countenance  
Auysed well/ in all his dalliance  
As he that was/ in nothing rekles  
And even thus/ he spoke to Achilles  
Sir Achilles/ without any fail  
Thou oughtest nat/ in heart to marvel  
Though with my power/ and my full might  
With heart and will/ of very dew right  
Day by day/ I thy death conspire  
And ever in one/ compass it and desire  
And do my labour/ early and eke late  
To pursue it/ by full cruel hate  
Thou oughtest nat/ to wonder in no wise  
But fully know/ by sentence of the wise  
In no manner/ who so taketh heed  
Of rightwiseness/ it may nat proceed  
That other I/ or any other wight  
Should him love/ that with all his might  
My death pursueth/ and destruction  
And over this/ to more confusion  
Hath laid a siege/ about this city  
On my kindred/ and also upon me  
And thereupon/ felly doth presume  
With mortal hate/ of were to consume  
Us everichone/ I wysse I can nat find  
In my heart/ as by law of kind  
Such one to love/ of right nor equity  
Nor have him cheer/ soothly in no degree  
For of were/ may no frendlyhede  
Nor of debate/ love/ a right proceed  
For soothly love/ most in special  
Of faithfulness/ hath his Orygenall  
In hearts joined/ by convenience  
Of one accord/ whom no difference  
Of doubleness/ may in no degree  
Nouther in joy/ nor adversity  
For life nor death/ a sondre nor dissever  
For where love is/ it continueth ever.  
But of hate/ all is the contrary  
Of which soothly/ from hearts when they vary  
proceedeth rancour at eye/ as men may see  
Debate/ envy/ strife/ and enmity  
Mortal slaunghtre/ both nigh and far  
Mother of which/ in soothfastness is were  
The fyn whereof/ long or it be do  
Severeth hearts/ and petition cut a two  
And causeth love/ to be laid full low  
But for all this/ I will well that thou know  
Thy proud words/ in heart nor in thought  
In very sooth/ aghast me right nought  
And if I shall/ ferther more out break  
Without avaunt/ the truth for to speak  
I say the plainly/ hence or two year  
If I may live/ in this wars here  
And my sword of knighthood/ forth achieve  
I hope in sooth/ so mortally to green  
The greeks all/ when I with them meet  
That they and thou/ shall feel full unsweet  
If ye continue/ and the wars haunt  
I shall your pride/ and surquedye adaunte  
In such a wise/ with my hands two  
That or the were/ fully be a do  
Full many greek/ sore shall it rue  
For well I wot/ of old and nat of new  
That the Greeks/ gathered here in one  
Of surquedy/ are found everichone  
only for lack/ of discretion  
To undertake/ of presumption  
So high a thing/ a siege for to lain  
And yourself/ to over charge in vain  
With Empryses/ without fable  
Be of weight/ to you importable  
And the peys/ of so great heaviness  
That finally/ will you all oppress  
And your pride/ avail and incline  
The berthone eke/ enbowe back and chine  
And unwarely/ cause you to fall  
Or ye have done/ I say to one and all  
And over more/ be full in surety  
Thou Achilles I speak/ unto the  
That fatal death/ first shall the assays  
Tofore thy sword/ in any thing aviyle  
Against me/ for all thy worthiness  
And if so be/ that so great hardynese  
Courage of will/ vigour force or m●ght  
Meve thy heart/ by manhood as a kiyght  
To take on thee/ as in derring do  
For to deraign/ here between us two  
Thilk quarrel/ how so that befall  
For the which/ that we strive all  
I will assent/ plainly to Iupa●te  
Till that the death/ one of us depart  
There is no more/ that these lords here  
Kings/ princes/ will accord yfere  
That it be do/ fully by one assent  
And hold stable/ of heart and of intent  
Which in a field/ only that we twain  
As I have said/ this quarrel may deraign  
And it fynysshe/ by this condycyowne  
That if it hap/ thorough thy high renown  
Me to venquysshe/ or put at utterance  
I will you make/ fully assurance  
That first my lord/ Pryamus the king  
Shall unto greeks/ in all manner thing  
With sceptre & crown/ wholly him submit  
And in a point/ vary nouther flit  
Fully to yield/ to your subieccyowne  
All his lordship/ within Troy town  
And his lyges/ in captivity  
Shall go their way/ out of this city  
And leave it quite/ in your governance  
Without strife/ or any variance  
And thereupon/ to make surety  
To devoid/ all ambygnyte  
Tofore the gods/ by oath and sacrament  
We shall be sworn/ in full good intent  
And over more/ our faith also to save  
To assure you/ in pledge/ ye shall have  
The mean while/ and keep them on your side  
At your choice/ hostages to abide  
From Troy town/ of the worthyeste  
That ye list cheese/ and also of the best  
So that ye shall/ of no thing be in were  
Of all that ever/ that I say you here  
And Achilles/ without words more  
If that thou list/ accord full thereto  
That I have said/ thy honour to increase  
To make this were/ suddenly to cease  
That likely is/ for to last long  
Between Trojans/ and the Greeks strong  
Thou shalt nat only/ with honour & with fame  
thorough out the world/ get the a name  
But therewith all/ and that is nat a light  
thorough thy knighthood/ to many man perfect  
That fro the death/ shall escape a live  
And to his country/ hole and sound aryue  
That likely are/ by cruel adventure  
For to be deed/ if the were endure  
Come of therefore/ and let nat be prolongued  
But let the day/ at ween us two be joined  
As I have said/ in condycyowne  
If in diffence/ only of this town  
I have victory/ by fortune on the  
I axe nat/ but anon that ye  
Break up siege/ and the were let  
And suffer us/ to live in quiet  
Into Grece/ home when ye are gone  
To which thing/ Achilles anon  
Hot in his Ire/ and furious also  
Brenning full hot/ for anger and for woe  
Assentydis/ with a despitous cheer  
And 'gan anon/ to Ector dress him near  
And said he would/ deliver him utterly  
Fro point to point/ his axing by and by  
And there in made/ none exception  
But of hole heart/ and intention  
His request/ accepted everydeal  
And as it seemed/ liked it right well  
And for his part/ he cast a glove down  
In sign and token/ of confirmacyowne  
For life or death/ that he will hold his day  
Again Ector/ hap/ what hap may  
Unto the which/ Ector lyfly start  
And took it up/ with as glad an heart  
As ever yet died/ man or knight  
That quarrel took/ with his foo to fight  
There can no man/ in sooth a right devise  
How galled he was/ of this high emprise.  
Of which the noise/ and the great sown  
Ran to the ears/ of Agamenowne  
And he anon/ came down to their tent  
With all the lords/ of his parliament  
¶ Where Achilles and Ector/ were yfere  
To wit their will/ as in this matere  
Were they would/ assent finally  
To put the quarrel/ full in jupardy  
Of other part/ atwene these knights twain  
As ye have heard/ it fully to dareyne  
And with one voice/ greeks it deny  
And said they ne would/ of such a company  
Of kings/ duke's/ and lords eke also  
Both life and death/ jeopard atween two  
Nor to the course/ of candlestick them submit  
That can her face/ all day change and flit  
And some of Troy/ in conclusyowne  
juparte ne would/ their lives nor their town  
In the hands/ only of a knight  
To put all/ in adventure of fight  
Priam except/ which soothly in this case  
Within himself/ fully assented was  
Plainly to a put/ and set in jeopardy  
Hoolly the honour/ of his regally  
Supposing aye/ as made is memory  
That Ector should/ have had the victory  
Of this emprise/ if he it took on hand  
But for Priam/ might natwithstonde  
Again so many/ of one intention  
That were contrary/ to his opinion  
Both of Greeks/ and on Troy side  
He held his peace/ and let it over slide  
And so the Greeks/ parted be eachone  
And Ector/ is from Achilles gone  
Home to Troy/ where I him leave a while  
Whiles that I/ direct shall my style  
To tell of Troilus/ the lamentable woe  
Which that he made/ to part his lady fro.   

ALas Fortune/ Gery and unstable  
And ready aye/ for to be changeable  
When folk most trust/ in thy stormy face  
Like their desire/ the fully to embrace  
Than is thy joy/ away to turn and writhe  
Upon wretch's/ thy power for to kith  
Record on Troilus/ that fro the wheel so low  
By false envy/ thou hast over throw  
Out of the joy/ which that he was Inn  
From his lady/ to make him for to twin  
When he best wend/ for to have be suryd  
And of the woe/ that he hath endured  
I must now/ help him to complain  
Which as his heart/ felt so great pain  
So inward woe/ and so great distress  
More than I have/ cunning to express  
When he knew/ the parting of Cryseyde  
Almost for woe/ and for pain/ he deyde  
And fully wist/ she depart shall  
By sentence/ and judgement final  
Of his father/ given in parliament  
For which/ with woe and torment all to rend  
He was in point/ to have fallen in rage  
That no man might/ a pease nor a suage  
The hid pains/ which in his breast 'gan dare  
For like a man/ in fury/ he 'gan fare  
And such sorrow/ day and night to make  
In complaining/ only for her sake  
For when he saw/ that she should away  
He liefer had/ plainly for to die  
Than to live behind/ in her absence  
For him thought/ without her presence  
He was but deed/ there is no more to say  
And intoteries/ he began to rain  
With which his eyen/ 'gan for to bolie  
And in his breast/ the sighs up to swolle  
And the sobbing/ of his sorrows deep  
That he ne can/ but roar and weep  
So sore love/ his heart 'gan constrain  
And she ne felt/ nat a little pain  
But wept also/ and piteously 'gan cry  
desiring aye/ that she might die  
Rather than part fro him out of Troy  
her own knight/ her lust her lives joy  
That by her cheeks/ the teries down distylle  
And fro her eyen/ the round drops trylle  
And all for dewed/ have her black weed  
And eke untrussed/ her here a brodegan spread  
Like to gold wire/ for rend and all to torn  
Yplucked of/ and nat with shears shorn  
And over this/ her fresh rosin hew  
Whilom ymeynt/ with white lilies new  
With woeful weeping/ piteously distained  
And like Erbys/ in april all be rained  
Or flowers fresh/ with the dews sweet  
Right so her cheeks/ moist were and wet  
With crystal water/ up ascending high  
Out of her breast/ into her heavenly eye  
And aye among/ her lamentaeyowne  
Oft sith/ she fill in a swoon down  
deadly pale/ for dimmed in her sight  
And oft said/ alas mine own knight  
Mine own Troylous/ alas why shall we part  
Rather let death/ with his spear dart  
thorough my heart/ and the veins carve  
And with his rage/ do me for to strive  
Rather alas/ than fro my knight to twin  
And of this woe/ O death that I am inn  
Why ne wilt thou come/ & help make an end  
For how should I out of Troy wend  
He abide/ and I to greeks goon  
There to dwell/ among my cruel soon  
Alas alas/ I woeful creature  
How should I there/ in the were endure  
I wretched woman/ but myself alone  
Among the men/ of arms everichone  
Thus 'gan she cry/ all the long day  
This was her complaint/ with full great afray  
Her piteous noise/ till it drew to night  
That unto her/ her own true knight  
Full trist and heavy/ came against eve  
If he might/ her comfort or leave  
But he in sooth/ hath Cryseyde found  
All in a swoon/ lying on the ground  
And piteously/ unto her he went  
With woeful cheer/ and her in arms hent  
And took her up/ and than atween them two  
Began of new/ such a deadly woe  
That it was ruth/ and pity for to seen  
For she of cheer/ pale was and green  
And he of colour/ like to ashes deed  
And fro her face/ was gone all the red  
And in his cheeks/ devoided was the blood  
So woefully/ atwene them two it stood  
For she ne might/ nat a word Yspeke  
And he was ready/ with death to be wreak  
Upon himself/ his naked sword beside  
And she full oft/ 'gan to ground glide  
Out of his arms/ as she fill a swoon  
And he himself/ 'gan in teries drown  
She was as still/ and dumb as any stone  
He had a mouth/ but words had he none  
The weary spirit/ flyckered in her breast  
And of death/ stood under a rest  
Without menpries/ soothly as of life  
And thus there was/ as it seemed a strife  
Which of them two/ should first ypasse  
For death portrayed/ in heart other face  
With such colour/ as men go to their grave  
And thus in woe/ they 'gan together rave  
Disconsolate/ all the long night  
That in good faith/ if I should a right  
The process hole/ of their both sorrow  
That they made/ till the next morrow  
Fro point to point/ it to specify  
It would me/ full long occupy  
Of every thing/ to make mention  
And tarry me/ in my translation  
If I should/ in her woe proceed  
But me seemeth/ that it is no need  
sith my master/ Chaucer hear afore  
In this matter/ hath so well him bore  
In his book/ of Troilus and Cryseyde  
Which he made/ long or that he died  
rehearsing first/ how Troilus was contrary  
For to ascend/ up on loves stair  
And how that he/ for all his surquedy  
After became/ one of the company  
Of loves folk/ for all his old game  
When cupid/ made him full tame  
And brought him low/ to his subieccyowne  
In a temple/ as he walked up and down  
When he his gins/ and his hooks laid  
Amid the Eyen/ circled of Cryseyde  
Which on that day/ he might nat asterte  
For thorough his breast/ pierced and his heart  
He went him home/ pale sick/ and wan  
And in this wise/ Troilus first began  
To be a servant/ my master telleth thus  
Till he was holp/ after of Pandarus  
thorough whose comfort/ and mediation  
As in his book/ is made mention  
With great labour/ first he came to grace  
And so continueth/ by certain years space  
Till fortune 'gan/ upon him frown  
That she fro him/ must go out of town  
All suddenly/ and never him after see  
Lo here the end/ of false felicity  
Lo here the end/ of wordly brotylnesse  
Of fleshly lust/ lo here the unstableness  
Lo here the double/ variation  
Of worldly bliss/ and transmutation  
This day in mirth/ and in woe to morrow  
For aye the fine/ alas of joy is sorrow  
For now Cryseyde/ with the king Thoas  
For Antenor/ shall go forth alas  
Unto Greeks/ and ever with them dwell  
The hole story/ Chauncer can you tell  
If that ye list/ no man better a live  
Nor the process/ half so well descryve  
For he our english/ guilt with his says  
Rude and boisterous/ first by old days  
That was full fer/ from all parfection  
And but of little/ reputation  
Till that he came/ and thorough his poetry  
'Gan our tongue/ first to magnify  
And adorn it/ with his eloquence  
To whom honour/ laud and reverence  
thorough out this land/ given be and song  
So that the laurer/ of our english tongue  
Be to him given/ for his excellence  
Right as whilom/ by full high sentence  
Perpetuelly/ for a memorial  
Of Columpna/ by the cardinal  
To petrarch Fraunceyse/ was given in Ytayle  
That the report/ never after fail  
Nor the honour/ dyrked of his name  
To be registered/ in the house of fame  
Among other/ in the highest seat  
My master Galfryde/ as for chief Poet  
That ever was/ yet in our language  
The name of whom/ shall pallen in none age  
But ever ylyche/ without eclypsing shine  
And for my part/ I will never fine  
So as I can/ him to magnify  
In my writing/ plainly till I die  
And god I pray/ his soul bring in joy  
And where I left/ I will again of troy  
The story tell/ and first how that Guydo  
Within his book/ speaketh Troilus to  
Rebuking him/ full uncourteously  
That he so set/ his heart foolily  
Upon Cryseyde/ full of doubleness  
For in his book/ as Guydolyste express  
That her teries/ and her complaining  
Her words white/ soft and blandishing  
Were meynt with feigning/ & with flattery  
And outward farsed/ with many a false lie  
For underhid was/ all the variance  
cured above/ with feigned countenance  
As women can/ falsely teries borrow  
In their heart/ though there be no sorrow  
Like as they would/ of very truth die  
They can think on/ and another say  
As a serpent/ under flowers fair  
His venom hideth/ where he doth repair  
The sugar afore/ the gall hid behind  
As appropered is/ unto their kind  
To be diverse/ and double of nature  
Rathest deceiving/ when men most assure  
For under colour/ every thing they work  
The fair above/ the foul in the dark  
They hid so/ that no man may espy  
And though so be/ that with a woeful Eye  
They can outward/ weep piteously  
The other eye/ can laugh covertly  
Whose sorrows all/ be tempered with allies  
And their colour/ ever is meynt with rays  
For upon change/ and mutability  
Stand hole their trust/ and their surety  
So that they be/ sure in doubleness  
And always double/ in their sickerness  
Seeming one/ when they best can vary  
Likest to a cord/ when they be contrary  
And thus they be/ variant in accord  
And holest seem/ when there is discord  
And Guydo saith/ how there are few or none  
That in her heart/ apaid is with one  
And yet they can/ be it to one or twain  
To three or four/ in their speech fain  
Like as they were/ to one and to no more  
Hole in their love/ for well and eke for woe  
That everich shall/ of himself dame  
That he be next/ like as it doth seem  
And thus in hope/ standeth each of them all  
The truest aye/ readiest to fall  
Who serveth best/ next to be appaired  
And thus in change/ all their love is fayred  
Let no man trust/ but catch when he may  
Farewell to morrow/ though it be sure to day  
The fair of change/ lasteth over year  
But it is folly/ for to buy to dear  
Thilk treasure/ which hard is to possede  
But flieth away/ when men thereof mostenede  
And if it hap/ that no chapman be  
As saith Guydo/ yet all day men may see  
It showeth out/ at large fenestralles  
On chaumbres/ high and low down in halls  
And in windows/ eke in every street  
And also eke/ men may with them meet  
At pilgrimages/ and oblacyownes  
At spectacles/ in cities and in towns  
As saith Guydo/ and all is for to sell  
But after him/ I can no ferther tell  
And eke he saith/ in his sentement  
There is no fraud/ fully equypolent  
To the fraud/ and sleighty compassing  
Of a woman/ nor like in working  
For who that set/ all his faithfulness  
weening in them/ to find stabylnesse  
He shall them find/ steadfast as the moan  
That is in point/ for to change soon  
If he be young/ they cast him in rage  
If he be old/ he falleth in dotage  
Wherefore my counsel is/ to both two  
Cast of the bridle/ and lightly let them go.  
This teacheth Guydo/ god wots and not I  
That hath delight/ to speak cursedly  
Always of women/ thorough out all his book  
As men may see/ who so list to look  
To them he had/ envy in special  
That in good faith/ I am right wrath with all  
That he with them/ list so to debate  
For Ire of which/ the Latyn to translate  
inwardly/ my heart/ I felt bleed  
Of high despite/ his clauses for to read  
That resowned/ in conclusion  
only of malices/ to accusacyowne  
Of these women/ full evil moat he thrive  
So generally/ their sect/ to describe  
Which made nat/ thorough in discretion  
Of good/ nor bad/ none exception  
He was to blame/ foul moat he fall  
For cause of one/ for to hinder all  
For I dare well/ affirm by the road  
Again one bad/ be an hundred good  
And though some one/ bouble be and new  
It hindereth nat/ to them that be true  
And by example/ also though he show  
That some one/ whilom was a shrew  
They that be good/ take shall no heed  
For it/ no hindering/ is to womanhead  
Though twain or three/ can be double & fain  
For there again/ lothly at Colayne  
Of virgins/ inly full of grace  
A leaven thousand/ in that holy place  
A man may find/ and in our calendar  
Full many maid/ perfit and Enter  
Which to the death/ stable were and true  
For some of them/ with the rosin hew  
Of martyrdom/ the bliss of heaven won  
And some also/ as books tell konne  
With the lily/ of virgynyte  
And vyolettes/ of perfit chastity  
Ascended be/ above the stars clear  
And the sercle/ of the ninth spear  
Wherefore joy is ever/ and gladness eterne  
Wherefore in sooth/ as I can discern  
Though some clerkis/ of shrews have myssayde  
Let no good woman/ thereof be myspayde  
For lack of one/ all are nat to blame  
And eke of men/ may be said the same  
For to the true/ it is no reproof  
Though it so be/ another be a thief  
For what is he/ the worse in his degree  
Though the t'other/ be hanged on a tree  
Nor unto women/ hindering is it none  
Among an hundred/ though that there be one  
Of governance/ that be vicious  
For there again/ a thousand virtuous  
If that ye list/ lightly ye may find  
And though Guydo write/ they have of kind  
To be double/ men should it goodly take  
And there again/ no manner grudging make  
Nature in working/ hath full great power  
And it were hard/ for any that is here  
The course of her/ to hold or restrain  
For she will nat be guided/ by no rain  
To be coarted/ of her dew right  
Therefore each man/ with all his full might  
Should thank god/ and take patiently  
For if women/ be double naturally  
Why should men/ lay on them the blame  
For though mine Auctor/ hinder so their name  
In his writing/ only of Cryseyde  
And upon her/ such a blame laid  
My counsel is/ lightly over pass  
Where he myssayth/ of her in any place  
To hinder women/ either eve or morrow  
Take no heed/ but let them be with sorrow  
And skyppe over/ where ye list nat read  
Till ye come/ where that diomed  
For her was sent/ into Troy town  
Where seriously/ is made mention  
first how that she/ to him delivered was  
For Antenor/ and for the king Thoas  
And how Troilus/ 'gan her to convey  
With many other/ to bring her on the weigh  
And after this/ how that diomed  
By the way/ 'gan her bridle lead  
Till he her brought/ to her faders tent  
And how Calchas/ in fall good intent  
received her/ lodged there he lay  
And of her speech/ during all that day  
And all the manner/ hole and everydeal  
All is rehearsed/ seriously and we'll  
In Troilus book/ as ye have heard me sayne  
To write it oft/ I hold it were but vain  
But Guydo saith/ long or it was night  
How Cryseyde/ forsook her own knight  
And gave her heart/ unto diomed  
Of tenderness/ and of womanhead  
That Troilus/ wax in her heart as cold  
Without fire/ as been these ashes old  
I can none other/ excusation  
But only/ kinds transmutation  
That is appropered/ unto her nature  
seld or never/ stable to endure  
By experience/ as men may oft lere  
But now again/ to my matter  
I must resort/ though that I be far  
As I began/ to write of the were.    

¶ How when the truce was ended they went to battle again/ where as were many a man slain on both parties/ And of the description of the palace of Ylyon/ And also how there died so many greeks of the pestilence/ that they demanded truce for xxx days which they obtained. Capitulo. xxvi.  
THe time passed/ of the truce tale  
the next morrow/ when tytan hath forsake  
The under party/ of our Emysperye  
Where all the night/ he had be full merry  
With Aurora/ lying by his side  
But in his bed/ him list no longer bide  
But shope him up/ & cast his streams sheen  
On Troy wall/ when Ector armed clean  
Into the field/ fast 'gan him high  
fifteen thousand/ in his company  
Of worthy knights/ and of manly men  
And as I find/ Troilus had ten  
Of knights eke/ that his banner sew  
And in haste/ Paris 'gan remove  
Out of the town/ with them of Perce long  
And each of them/ a bow in his hand  
And arrows sharp/ trussed by their side  
And of knights/ that about him ride  
He had also/ three thousand as I find  
And Dephebus/ next him came behind  
With three thousand/ knights armed clean  
On whose plates/ the son shone full sheen  
And next him came/ the Trojan Aeneas  
And as I read/ soothly that there was  
Thesame day/ with them of Troy town  
An hundred thousand/ knights of renown  
Like as recordeth/ Dares Frygius  
And in his book/ Guydo writeth thus  
And with the Greeks/ all tofore that day  
With seven thousand/ went Menelay  
Knights eachone/ which he died lead  
And with as many/ went diomed  
And next them/ followeth the hardy Achilles  
With his main/ called Myrundynes  
And zanptipu●/ the worthy king eke had  
Three thousand knights/ which that he lad  
Into the field/ again them of the town  
And alderlaste/ came Agamenowne  
With such a number/ of the Greeks fell  
That wonder is/ for to here tell  
And when the wards/ in the field abroad  
Had their place/ without more abode  
Agrekysshe king/ which that Phyllys hight  
Anon as he of Ector/ had a sight  
Towards him/ sitting on his stead  
With his spear/ he 'gan him fast speed  
But when Ector/ his coming sayne  
He hent a spear/ and road to him again  
And thorough his shield/ and his plates round  
He gave to him/ his last fat all wound  
Upon whose death/ avenged for to be  
Full many Greek/ 'gan on Ector for to flee  
And first of all/ the worthy king Famous  
That of Greeks/ was called zantipus  
Of high disdain/ only for Phyllys sake  
Toward Ector/ hath his course tale  
And with a spear/ ran at him full right  
But Ector first/ it him with such a might  
thorough his harness/ with his spears heed  
That zantipus/ fill to ground deed  
The death of whom/ Greek sore plain  
And died their might/ and their busy pain  
On every half/ furious and wooed  
To avenge them/ on Trojans blood  
And thorough he passing/ cruel hardiness  
They began Trojans/ so to oppress  
That many one/ that day ne might asterte  
Thoruh the breast/ yperced and the heart  
For to be deed/ and slain among the prees  
amongs which/ cruel Achilles  
Slew Lychaon/ and Eufrobyus'  
Noble knights/ right worthy and famous  
That were ycome/ out of their country  
Again Greeks/ to help the city  
And while trojans/ constrained were so narrow  
Were it with spear/ quarrel/ dart/ or arrow  
Ector was wounded/ thorough out the vizor  
Into the face/ that like a river  
The reed blood/ down began to rail  
But his harness/ thorough his aventail  
Whereof atoned/ when they had a sight  
Full many Trojan/ took him to the flight  
And to the city/ fast 'gan them draw  
And at the chase/ full many one was slawe  
Or they might/ out of the field remewe  
And ever in one/ greeks after sew  
Unto the walls/ almost of the town  
Till that Ector/ the trojan champion  
Of his knighthood/ 'gan to take heed  
Albe his wound/ sore 'gan to bleed  
Yet of manhood/ he 'gan them recomfort  
And maugre them/ into the field resort  
Namely when he/ had inspeccyowne  
On the walls/ and towers of the town  
How that Eleyne/ and Eccuba the queen  
And his sister/ fair Polycene  
With many other lady/ 'gan behold  
Him thought anon/ his heart 'gan to cold  
Of very shame/ his knights should i'll  
And like a Lion/ in his cruelty  
He made them turn/ manly everichone  
And in his way/ he met Meryon  
Agrekysshe king/ that was nigh ally  
To Achilles/ as books specefye  
And with his sword/ Ector smote him so  
That he him roof/ on pieces two  
And when Achilles/ saw him deed  
Parted a two/ even fro the heed  
He hent a spear/ and thought he ne would fail  
Tohyt Ector/ thorough shield plate & mail  
And road to him/ full enviously  
And amid the shield/ he smit him cruelly  
But with the stroke/ Ector never addle  
removeth nat/ he sat so fast and well  
But with his sword anon/ & tarrieth nought  
Ran to Achilles/ with an envious thought  
He knightly ran/ upon his courser  
And on his crest/ that shone so bright & clear  
With such a might/ Ector hath him smet  
That he pierced/ thorough his bassenet  
And raced eke/ from his aventail  
With that stroke/ many piece of mail  
That Achilles/ constrained was of need  
Maugre his might/ to stagre on his stead  
To incline/ and to bow his back  
At which time/ Ector to him spoke.  
And said Achilles/ I do well advert  
The great envy/ of thy cruel heart  
And specially/ that thou haste to me  
But yet beware/ I counsel the  
Thyself to put/ so in adventure  
For of one thing/ I plainly the ensure  
As I desire/ at my last some day  
Here in the field/ if I the meet may  
Trust me right well/ there gaineth no succour  
That I shall so/ acquit thy labour  
So mortally/ I do the understand  
With this sword/ that I hold in hand  
That with thy life/ thou shalt nat escape  
So cruelly/ the vengeance shallbe take  
Eft when we met/ even upon thy heed  
Of which thing/ when Achilles took heed  
Aduerting all/ that he heard him sayne  
Right as he would/ have answer again  
¶ Worthy Troilus/ knightly entrede inn  
And made them/ a sondre for to twin  
And thorough the manhood/ of his company  
Of worthy knights/ that he died guye  
And high prowess/ of his own might  
He hath the greeks/ put again to flight  
And slain of them/ that day out of dread  
Six hundred knights/ soothly as I read  
For loss of which/ the Greeks fast i'll  
To their tents/ of necessity  
Till Menelay/ died his busy cure  
To make them/ the field again recure  
thorough whose manhood/ that day out of doubt  
And worthy knights/ that were him about  
The field of greeks/ recured was anon  
But though fro Troy/ came king Odemon  
And in all haste/ possible/ that he may  
He came enbusshed/ upon Menelay  
And him unhorseth/ in the self place  
And such a wound/ gave him in the face  
That fro the death/ he wend nat escape  
And doubtless anon/ he had him take  
With help of Troilus/ and lad unto the town  
But of Greeks/ such a press came down  
To rescue him/ in this great need  
That Odemon/ no ferther might lead  
King Menelay/ toward the city  
When diomed/ came with his main  
And many worthy/ riding him about  
And Troilus met/ amongs all the rout  
All suddenly/ of hap or adventure  
And him unhorseth/ as it was his eure  
And after that/ anon he hent his stead  
And bad a squire/ that he should it lead  
Unto Cryseyde/ only for his sake  
beseeching her/ that she would it take  
As for a gift/ of her own man  
sith he that day/ for her love it won  
Amid the field/ thorough his great might  
Of him that was/ whilom her own knight  
And he in haste/ on his way is went  
And thereof made/ unto her present  
praying her/ in full humble wise  
This little gift/ that she nat despise  
But it receive/ for a remembrance  
And with all this/ that it be pleasance  
Of very pity/ and of womanhead  
On her servant/ called diomed  
To remember/ that was be come her knight  
And she anon/ with heart glad and light  
Full womanly/ bad him repair again  
Unto his lord/ and plainly to him sayne  
That sheen might/ of very kindness  
Of womanhead/ nor of gentilesse  
Refuse him platly/ from her grace  
That was to her/ there in strange place  
So kind found/ and so comfortable  
In every thing/ and so serviable  
That it may nat/ lightly out of mind  
To think on him/ that was so true & kind.  
¶ With which answer/ the messenger is gone  
Unto his lord/ and told it him anon  
word by word/ like as she hath said  
And he thereof/ was full well apaid  
That him thought/ plainly in his heart  
He was recured/ of his pains smart  
And forth he had him/ in arms as a knight  
But that day/ during the strong fight  
They of Troy/ so manly have them borne  
That greeks might/ nat stand them aforne  
For to their tentis/ they have them chased down  
That ne had be/ king Agamenowne  
Greeks had/ be driven out of the field  
The which thing/ anon as he beheld  
He came upon/ with many worthy man  
And tho of new/ the arbiter again began  
On every half/ upon the large plain  
That Greeks/ have Trojans so be lain  
That eft again/ they have the field ywonne  
So that Trojans/ constrained though begun  
To lose their land/ till polydamas  
Which with his knights/ there beside was  
'Gan fall upon/ endelonge the green  
Them of Troy/ full manly to sustain  
And the Greeks/ he 'gan so to enchase  
When he came in/ that they lost their place  
And to the strand/ even upon the see  
through his knighthood/ he made them for to i'll  
Of their life/ that they were in dread  
The which mischief/ when that diomed  
Beheld/ and saw/ how polydamas  
Mortally/ pursued on the chas  
On horse back/ in the field a fere  
With cruel heart/ hent anon a spear  
And springing out/ road to him full right  
And he again/ to acquit him like a knight  
As he that list/ on no party feign  
Of his stead/ held again the rain  
And raught a spear/ & threw it in the rest  
And diomed/ he smote so on the breast  
That mortally/ like as it is found  
He unhorsed him/ with a grievous wound  
And right anon/ with a knightly heart  
polydamas/ all atones start  
Unto the horse/ of this diomed  
And by the rain/ proudly 'gan it lead  
Unto Troilus/ where he on foot stood  
All for bathed/ in the Greeks blood  
On every half/ which that he shed  
amongs them/ so knightly he him had  
That they ne might/ endure nor abstain  
His sharp sword/ ground was so keen  
And deliverly/ maugre all his soon  
Into the saddle/ up he start anon  
Of very force/ armed as he was  
And unwarely/ by adventure or cas  
With sharp swords/ for the nonce whet  
As Achilles/ and he together met  
Worthy Troilus/ of rancour and of pride  
Achilles smote/ that he fell aside  
Down of his horse/ low to the ground  
And natwtstandynge/ his green mortal wound  
He rose again/ and fast 'gan him speed  
If that he might/ to recure his stead  
But all for nought/ it would nat avail  
For suddenly/ with a fresh battle  
They of Troy/ as made is mention  
In compass wise/ beset him environ  
everich of them/ armed bright and clean  
And Ector though/ in his furious tene  
As Dares telleth/ all the manner how  
The same day/ a thousand knights slow  
Which them withstood/ only in diffence  
For Achilles/ to make resistance  
That time of death/ standing in jeopardy  
That certainly/ but if books lie  
By lyklyhede/ he might nat escape  
In that mischief/ to be deed or take  
Ector on him/ was so furious  
But as I read/ Thelamonyus  
Rescued him/ in this great need  
And caused him/ to recure his stead  
notwithstanding/ all the great prees  
For the Duke/ and lord of Athenes  
Was in this case/ of heart and hold intent  
To help Achilles/ wonder diligent  
That with him lad/ many noble knight  
But for because/ that it drew to night  
As the story/ maketh rehearsal  
They made an end/ as of that battle  
And they of Troy/ entered be the town  
And after that/ as made is mention  
By and by/ having delays  
Mortally they fought/ thirty days  
Without/ any interruption  
On other part/ to great destruction  
But aldermost/ for all their great pride  
They lost most/ on the Greeks side  
Save Pryamus/ lost in special  
Six of his sons/ called natural  
For whom he had/ full great heaviness  
And as the story/ liketh to express  
This mean while/ Ector in certain  
In his face/ wounded was again  
And thus they have/ in this cruel rage  
On every part/ received great damage  
Till king Priam's/ from Troy sent down  
For a truce/ unto Agamenowne  
For six months/ if he assent would  
And thereupon/ he hath a counsel hold  
With his lords/ what were best to do  
And they eachone/ accorded be thereto  
And grant his axing/ in conclusion  
And all this while/ within ylyon  
During the peace/ on either part assured  
Of his wounds/ fully to be cured.  
Lay worthy Ector/ protector of the town  
But of this rich/ royal chief doungeowne  
That Ylyon/ in Troy bore the name  
Which of building/ had such a fame  
If that I should/ commend it up so down  
As Dares doth/ in his descripcyowne  
I want cunning/ my terms to apply  
For in his book/ as he doth specify  
In all this wrolde/ was there none so rich  
Of high devise/ nor of building lyche  
The which stood/ the more to delight  
As he recordeth/ on twelve stones white  
Of Alabastre/ shortly to conclude  
And twenty pace/ was the latitude  
That ground ypaved/ thorough out with crystal  
And up on hight/ performed every wall  
Of all stones/ that any man can find  
Of Dyamountes/ and sapphires ind  
The royal ruby/ so orient and light  
That the darkness/ of the dim night  
enchased was/ with his beams sheen  
And ever among/ were emeralds green  
With stones all/ that any manner man  
In this world/ devise or reckon can  
That were of prise/ value or richesse  
Theridamas were wrought/ of large & great roundenesse  
As saith Dares/ Ivory pillars  
And thereupon/ set at the corners  
Of pured gold/ all above on hight  
There were images/ wonder huge of weight  
With many pearl/ and many rich stone  
And every pillar/ in the hall had one  
Of massyfe gold/ borned clear and bright  
And wonderful/ to any man's sight  
For of this work/ the marvelous fasyon  
Was more like/ by estimation  
A thing ymade/ and founded by fairy  
Than any work/ wrought by fantasy  
thorough wit of man/ as by likeliness  
For in his book/ Dares beareth witness  
That it was like/ to reckon sight and all  
In appearance/ a thing celestial  
sith in this book/ ye get no more of me  
For but in writing/ I might never it see  
Albe all other/ that it died excel  
No more thereof/ I think now to tell  
But return again/ to Pryamus  
Which all this while/ was inly coryous  
With all his might/ and his busy cure  
To ordain/ for the sepulture  
Of his sons/ that afore were deed  
And all that time/ sick lay diomed  
With loves dart/ wounded to the heart  
As he that felt/ inwardly smart  
Of woeful sighs/ which in his breast abreyde  
Full oft a day/ for love of Cryseyde  
For he was shake/ with a fever new  
That caused him/ to be full pale of hew  
And to wax/ both megre and lean  
For piteously/ he 'gan him to abstain  
from meet and drink/ and from all solace  
As it was seen/ in his deadly face  
And oft a day/ to her he would plain  
Of his disease/ and his mortal pain  
praying of grace/ that she would see  
Upon his woe/ for to have pity  
And of mercy/ for to take heed  
Of her servant/ only of womanhead  
Or plainly else/ there is no more to say  
For her sake/ he said he would die.  
But cunningly/ and in full sleighty wise  
To keep him low/ under her service  
With delays/ she held him forth on hand  
And made him/ in a were to stand  
Full unsure/ between hope and despair  
And when that grace/ should have had repair  
To put him out/ of all heaviness  
Danger of new/ brought him in distress  
And with a disdain/ to increase his pain  
Of double were/ she brought him in a train  
As women can hold/ a man full narrow  
When he is hurt/ with Cupydes arrow  
To set on him/ many fell assays  
Day by day/ to put him in delays  
To stand unsure/ betwixt hope and dread  
Right as Cryseyde/ left diomed  
Of intent to set/ him more a fire  
As this women/ kindly desire  
When they a man/ have brought in a trance  
Vnevenly/ to hang him in balance  
Of hope and dread/ to link him in a chain  
And of the fine/ unsure of both twain  
To drive him forth/ years them to serve  
And do no force/ where he live or starve  
This is the fine/ of loves fiery rage  
And for she would/ have him inseruage  
She locked him/ under such a key  
That he wot nat/ where to live or die  
And in doubt thus/ I let him dwell  
And forth I will/ of the story tell  
And to my matter/ eke resort again  
And as mine Author/ recordeth in certain  
After the truce/ were wered out and gone  
Twelve days/ suing all in one  
The greeks fought/ with them of the town  
To great damage/ and confusyowne  
Of other party/ and adversity  
And in this while/ a great mortality  
Both of sword/ and of pestilence  
Among greeks/ by fatal influence  
Of noyous heat/ and of corrupt eyre  
engendered was/ that in great despair  
Of their life/ in the field they leye  
For day by day/ suddenly they die  
And their number/ fast 'gan discrece  
And when they saw/ that it ne would sense  
By their advise/ the king Agamenowne  
For a truce/ sent to the town  
For thirty days/ and Priamus the king  
Without more/ granted his asking.   

¶ How Andronomecha Ectors' wife had a vision in her sleep/ that & her husband fought on the morrow that he should be slain/ the which would not believe her/ nouther father nor mother/ And how Achilles slew him. Ca xxvij.  
When the moreyne/ and the woeful rage  
Of Pestilence/ began for to assuage  
And the truce/ were wered out & goon  
The greeks cast/ to meet with their soon  
Upon a day/ in plates armed clean  
When Phoebus rose/ with his beams sheen  
Full pleasantly/ and 'gan to shed his light  
But as I find/ tofore the self night  
Andronomecha/ the faithful true wife  
Of worthy Ector/ him loving as her life  
By whom he had/ gete children two  
Wonder seemly/ and inly fair also  
And Lamedoute/ called was the tone  
So young the t'other/ that it ne might gone  
And Astronanta/ I read that he hight  
Fetured well/ and passing fair of sight  
And as Guydo/ listeth to indite  
Of his mother/ at the paps white  
For very young/ that time was souking  
And with his arm/ her breasts embracing  
And she that night/ as made is mention  
Had in her sleep/ a wonder vision  
I note in sooth what/ I may it neven  
Other a dream/ or verily a sweven  
Or fro above/ a revelation  
As whilom had/ the king Scipyon  
Or a showing/ either an Oracle  
Or of gods/ a warning by miracle  
For in soothness/ sleeping as she lay  
Her thought plainly/ if the next day.  
Ector went/ his foemen for to assail  
As he was wont/ armed in battle  
That hene should/ escape utterly  
In fates hands/ to fall finally  
And over more/ Antropos shall fine  
For evermore/ his lives thread to twine  
And show the force/ of her fell might  
When the Parodye/ of this worthy knight  
A proche shall/ without words more  
Into the field/ plainly if he go  
Of which astonied/ straight and short of breath  
Where as she lay/ abraid up on the death  
And with a sigh/ stint for to sleep  
And piteously/ burst out for to weep  
For the constraint/ of her heartily sorrow  
And specially/ on the woeful morrow  
When that she saw/ this stock of worthiness  
As he was wont/ manfully him dress  
To arm him/ in steel borned bright  
This trojan wall/ Ector this worthy knight  
She can no more/ but at his feet fell down  
Lowly declaring/ her a vysyowne  
With quaking heart/ of very womanhead  
Whereof god wot/ he took little heed  
But thereof had/ indignation  
Platly affirming/ that no discretion  
Was to trust/ in such fantasies  
In dreams showed/ gladly meynt with lies  
Full of japes/ and illusions  
Of which plainly/ the conclusions  
Benat else/ but folks to delude  
Albe it so/ that these people rude  
Therein some while/ have affection  
To judge and dame/ in their opinion  
diversly/ what they may pretend  
And oft fall/ and happen as they wend  
And followeth like/ in conclusion  
For dread of which/ the lamentation  
Increase 'gan/ of Andronomecha  
And in her swoon/ first she cried A  
Saying alas/ mine own lord so dear  
Your true wife/ alas why ne will ye here  
Which of so faithful/ hole affection  
Desireth aye/ your salvation  
And up she rose/ deadly of visage  
And like a woman/ caught with sudden rage  
To king Priam's/ and Eccuba/ the queen  
In haste she went/ herself to be mean  
And of her wifely heart/ true as steel  
seriously/ declared every deal  
Her piteous dream/ which thorough miracle  
To her only/ by divine oracle  
I showed was/ thorough god's purveyance  
And told them eke/ the final ordinance  
Of Fortune's false/ disposition  
Fully purveyed/ to destruction  
Of her lord/ without more delay  
Into the field/ if he go that day  
¶ Wherefore she prayeth/ with a deadly hew  
Unto the king/ of meccy for to rue  
Upon her woe/ to have compassion  
For to ordain/ by discretion  
Of his lordship/ and of sovereignty  
That her lord/ nat destroyed be  
Of reckeleshede/ nor of wilfulness  
And with that word/ of very kindness  
In whom was aye/ so much love found  
Tofore the queen/ in a swoon fell to ground  
And said alas/ with a full pale cheer  
Help in this case/ mine own mother dear  
Of womanhead and ruth/ do me grace  
That my lord/ into the field ne pace  
And do your devoir/ of motherly pity  
benignly/ and goodly for to see  
To his knighthood/ and his high prowess  
For to restrain/ his renowned noblesse  
Thilk day/ to handle/ spear/ or shield  
Nor that he go/ armed into field  
And both twain/ assent for the best  
And condescend/ unto her request  
Finally according/ into one  
That when the wards/ were ready everichone  
On issuing out/ and Troilus first of all  
And Paris next/ on greeks for to fall  
And after him/ the Trojan Aeneas'  
King Sarpedon/ and polydamas  
King Eroys/ and king Epystrophus  
And eke the king/ called Forcyus  
In plate and mail/ everich armed clean  
And alderlaste/ came king Phylymene  
With all the kings/ and lords of renown  
That in diffence/ come of the town  
With the greeks/ knightly to debate  
And Pryamus/ soothly to the gate  
Conveyed them/ at their out going  
And set their wards/ this noble worthy king  
Full prudently/ thoruhe his sapience  
And after gave them/ congee and licence  
Upon Greek/ for to prove their might  
Against whom/ full ready for to fight  
Their foemen were/ with royal apparel  
Amid the field/ abiding the battle  
But Pryamus/ in this mean while  
Like as Guydo/ remembreth in his style  
For thilk fine/ that ye have heard me sayne  
To worthy Ector/ repaired is again  
Him contermaunding/ that he ne should gone  
Thilk day to fight/ again their soon  
For which thing/ of high despite he brent  
When that he saw/ other lords went  
Out at the gate/ and he alone abode  
For which he waxed/ furious and wooed  
wholly the cause/ aretting to his wife  
That was of cherte/ so tender of his life  
putting on his/ fully the occasyowne  
Of his abiding/ that day in the town  
In prejudice/ of her worthiness  
And disencrease/ of his high prowess  
And lift thorough tongues/ to his high estate  
thorough false report/ it were derogate  
He cast anon/ of a full knightly heart  
For life nor death/ it should him nat asterte  
Within the field/ that day to be found  
Though it so were/ with many mortal wound  
He should on pieces/ he wen be a sondre  
Upon the plain/ dismembered here & yondre  
So hold in manhood/ was his heart set  
That he anon/ without longer let  
Again to arm him/ was full diligent  
Again the precept/ and commandment  
Of his father/ and road forth on his weigh  
For fere of which/ as she would die  
His wife of new/ cry 'gan and shout  
And with her paps/ also hanging out  
Her little child/ in her arms twain  
Afore her lord/ 'gan to weep and plain  
beseeching him/ of ruth and pity  
If he would/ unto her sorowese  
At the lest/ for her wifely truth  
That he of manhood/ have in heart ruth  
Upon her child/ and on her also  
Which that she bore/ in her arms two  
And not might/ him from crying keep  
When he saw/ his woeful mother weep  
And kneeling down/ unto him she said  
In her sobbing/ as she might abraid  
Mine own lord/ have mercy now on me  
And on this little child/ which that ye see  
So piteously/ afore you weep and cry  
Have mercy lord on us/ or we die  
Have mercy eke/ upon this city  
Mine own lord/ have mercy or that we  
By cruel death/ pass shall eachone  
For lack of help/ alas when ye are gone  
This was the cry/ of Andromecha  
With whom was eke/ her sister Cassandra  
Eccuba/ and fair Polycene  
And Eleyne/ the lusty fresh queen  
Which all atones/ fell him before  
With here untressed/ and weeping all to torn  
And loud 'gan to cry/ in the place  
beseeching him/ of mercy and of grace  
For thilk day/ to abide in the town  
And in his heart/ to have compassyowne  
On her complaint/ and her woeful moan  
sith all the trust/ of the twone alone  
In him abode/ and all the resistance  
For again death/ he was there chief diffence  
And in him wholly/ was their affiance  
Their surety/ and their suffisance  
In each thing/ that them might grieve  
And yet all this/ ne might his heart move  
For to abide/ yet of goodlihead  
They him besought/ to their womanhead  
He would incline/ his herded heart of steel  
That they might/ a little drop feel  
only of pity/ on their woto rue  
That likely was/ to morn and renew  
Finally/ to their distruccyowne  
For of the city/ soothly and the town  
His unhap/ were endless ruin  
But yet all this/ might him nat incline  
That he ne would out/ in conclusion  
So indurate/ and hearted as a lion  
He was always/ continuing in his rage  
Whose heart might/ a soft nor a suage  
Nouther prayer/ nor waymentation  
Him to restrain/ from his opinion  
For every peril/ he laid so a side  
And on his way/ 'gan anon to ride  
Where thorough his wife/ none other boat can  
But in her rage/ to the king she ran  
So a mased/ in her mortal woe  
That she uneath/ might speak him to  
So diffaced/ and rewefull of her sight  
That by her hew/ knoweth her no wight  
For lost she had/ both might & strength  
And plat she fill/ to the ground a length  
Tofore the king/ that ruth was to seen  
beseeching him/ of intent full clean  
Of his grace/ to consider her woe  
For but he help/ Ector was a go  
And he saying/ her faithful womanhead  
At her request/ raught anon his stead  
And pricked after/ only for her sake  
In so great haste/ that he hath over take  
Worthy Ector/ within the city  
And hent his rain/ with great difficulty  
And maugre him/ made him turn again  
In such wise/ he durst it nat with sayne  
Albe that he/ was full loath thereto  
So that by force/ and prayer also  
From his stead/ he made him a light  
The a rest of whom/ eschew he ne might  
For he ne would/ again his father strive  
Albe that he/ felt his heart rive  
Of melancholy/ and of heartily Ire  
And of disdain/ new set a fire  
So inwardly/ stirred was his blood  
That like a Tiger/ or a lion wood  
That were deprived/ newly of her pray  
Right so he fared/ all that ilk day  
Or like a bore/ that his tusks whet  
While the Greeks/ and they of Troy met  
furiously walking/ up and down  
And in diffence/ soothly of the town.  
Troilus first/ on his bay stead  
Of adventure/ met diomed  
And each at other/ surquedous of pride  
With sharp spears/ 'gan together ride  
And Guydo saith/ without any dread  
One or both/ had anon be deed.  
Ne had Menelay/ knightly go between  
And after that/ in a furious tene  
He smette his horse/ in full k●yghtly wise  
And Meryem/ the mighty king of Fryse  
Menelaus/ marked hath full weal  
And with his sword/ full sharp ground of steel  
Unhorsed him/ and threw him on the green  
For he the stroke/ might nat abstain  
This Menelay/ was on him so wooed  
That it was likely/ even there he stood  
With the life/ he should nat escape  
For the greeks/ full hastily them shape  
This Meryem/ as ye have heard me sayne  
For to be set/ round upon the plain  
And to sesse him/ by the aventail  
On every part/ and cruelly to assail  
All destitute/ in this dreadful case  
But him to help/ came polydamas  
With his knights/ and 'gan to nigh near  
When he him saw/ taken prisoner  
And maugre all/ upon him set  
From their hands/ polydamas him fet  
At whose reskues/ there was so great a strife  
That many one/ therefore lost his life  
For greeks rather/ than he should escape  
From their hands/ in that hasty rape  
Cast them plainly/ that he shallbe deed  
Fully in purpose/ to have had his heed  
He stood of mischief/ in so great disjoint  
But him to help/ even upon the point  
Came Troilus in/ most knightly of array  
And of his manhood/ made such affray  
amongs them/ in reskues of this king  
That maugre them/ at his in coming  
delivered was/ this mighty lord of Fryse  
From cruel death/ as ye have herd devise  
But thereupon/ came Thelamonyus'  
Proud in arms/ and ever surquedous  
With three thousand/ full worthy everichone  
And he unhorseth/ polydamas anon  
Among his knights/ & proudly bore him down  
But troilus/ hath thorough his high renown  
Mid of his soon/ gete him his horse again  
But they of Troy/ so sore were be lain  
On every half/ thorough the greeks pride  
That they might/ afore them nat abide  
For new and new/ the hardy Achilles  
Assailed them/ with his Myrundones  
That they compelled/ of necessity  
In mischief were/ made for to flee  
Home to the walls/ and gates of the town  
To great damage/ and confusyowne  
Of their party/ that a back so gone  
The which thing/ when Margaryton  
Beheld and saw/ how the game goth  
In his heart/ he 'gan to wax wroth  
And passyngly/ for to have disdain  
And as the story/ recordeth in certain  
That he was/ both hardy and famous  
And soon also/ to king Pryamus  
A noble knight/ and of great worthiness  
And when he saw/ the mischief and distress  
Of them of Troy/ and how they 'gan to i'll  
He cast anon/ avenged for to be  
Upon Achilles/ for all his great might  
And ran to him/ full like a manly knight  
On horse back/ for the towns sake  
And him enforceth/ Achilles to take  
Amid the field/ among his knights all  
But Achilles/ alas it should fall  
That day him slew/ by cruel adventure  
Where thorough Trojans/ might nat endure  
The field to hold/ but homeward 'gan them high  
And mortally/ to make noise and cry  
first for the death/ of Margaryton  
And for the pursuit/ that king Thelamon  
Made on the chase/ thorough his cruelty  
Home to the Gates/ of Troy the city  
That slew and killed/ always as he road  
Albe that Paris/ manly him withstood  
With his brethre/ that in baste were borne  
But for all that/ their ground they have lost  
Left and forsake/ utterly the field  
And home they went/ & brought on a shield  
The deed corpse/ of Margaryron  
And after that/ their gates shut anon  
The which mischief/ as Ector 'gan behold  
Of very Ire/ his heart 'gan to cold  
And said platly/ without more delay  
He would avenge/ his death the same day  
And made in haste/ his stead to be fet  
And up he start/ and on his bassenet  
un wist the king/ or who be lief or loath  
There was no gain/ forth anon he goth  
Till he was passed/ the gates of the town  
More Furious/ than Tiger or lion  
At whose coming/ thick as swarm of been  
Tofore his sword/ Greeks 'gan to fleen  
They thought it was/ time to withdraw  
And first I find/ how that he hath slawe  
Two worthy Dukes/ as he with them met  
That busy were/ his way for to let  
The tone called/ was Eurypalus  
And the t'other/ hight Hascydyus  
And so Trojans/ the field again have won  
And of new/ manfully begun  
Greeks to sew/ and follow on the tras  
And yet at mischief/ daunz polydamas  
The same time/ was of greeks take  
But Ector/ hath so borne him for his sake  
Where as that he/ sorest was be lain  
And thorough his knighthood/ rescued him again  
And put the greeks/ in so great distress  
thorough his manhood/ and his worthiness  
That where so ever/ thilk day he road  
His sharp sword/ he bathed in their blood  
He was so cruel/ and so merciless  
But than a knight/ called Leothydes  
Shaped him anon/ with Ector for to meet  
While he was most/ Irous in his heat  
And set on him/ full presumptuously  
But Ector though/ devoid/ of all mercy  
Anon him slew/ and threw him in the field  
The which thing/ when Achilles beheld  
The great slaughtre/ and the wounds wide  
That Ector made/ upon every side  
He 'gan anon/ compass in his heart  
And up and down/ caste/ and advert  
How the greeks/ never may be sure  
Again their soon/ to fight nor endure  
Nor keep a field/ with them for to strive  
All the while/ that Ector were a live  
Wherefore he cast/ and shope many weigh  
By what engine/ Ector might die  
At advantage/ if he might him find  
And thereto eke/ Polycenes of ynde  
A worthy Duke/ was also of assent  
only for he/ of heart and hold intent  
In hope stood/ his sister wife  
For love of whom/ he felt his heart rive  
And in her grace/ better for to stand  
He cast fully/ for to take on hand  
This high emprise/ as I have you told  
But while that he/ was on him most bold  
Ector him slew/ there was none other gain  
The which anon/ as Achilles hath say  
For Ire he waxed/ in his heart as wood  
As boar or Tiger/ in their cruel mode  
Upon Ector/ avenged for to be  
And furiously/ on him he 'gan i'll  
But Ector caught/ a quarrel sharp ygrounde  
And threw at him/ & gave him such a wound  
thorough out the thigh/ upon either side  
That in the field/ he might nat abide  
But him withdrew/ and anon is went  
With his men home/ unto his tent  
And made anon/ a Surgyen to bind  
His mortal wound/ and after as I find  
When he was staunch/ & ceaseth for to bleed  
In all haste/ again he took his stead  
And lest he were/ of that wound deed  
afterward/ as it was great dread  
He thought first/ avenged for to be  
Upon Ector/ if he might him see  
Of hap or sort/ if it would fall  
For him thought/ to his pains all  
It were to him/ the best remedy  
Of his hand/ if he might die  
For of his life/ he roughte not amity  
Be so that he/ Ector might quite  
Death for death/ in conclusion  
For that was wholly/ his intention  
Of his desire/ fully suffisance  
By death unwarely/ to give him mischance  
But all this time/ Ector up and down  
As he was wont/ playeth the lion  
Among greeks/ in many sundry place  
And with his sword/ 'gan them so to enchase  
That as the death/ where they might him seen  
They fled afore him/ like a swarm of been  
For none so hardy/ was him to with set  
And in this while/ a greekish king he met  
Were it of hap/ or of adventure  
The which in sooth/ on his Coat armour  
Enbrouded had/ full many rich stone  
That gave a light/ when the son shone  
Full bright and clear/ that joy was to seen  
For pearls white/ and Emerawdys' green  
Full many one/ were there in set  
And on the circle/ of his basenette  
And round environ/ of his aventail  
In velvet fret/ all above the mail  
Saffres' ynde/ and other stones read  
Of array/ when Ector taketh heed  
Towards him/ fast 'gan him draw  
And first I find/ how he hath him slawe  
And after that/ by force of his manhood  
He hent him up/ afore him on his stead  
And fast 'gan/ with him for to ride  
From the wards/ a little out a side  
At good leisure/ plainly if he may  
To spoil him/ of his rich array  
Full glad and light/ of his new emprise  
But out alas/ on false covetise  
Whose greedy fret/ the which is great pity  
In hearts may nat/ lightly staunched be  
The Etyk gnaweth/ by so great distress  
That it defaceth/ the high worthiness  
Full oft sith/ of these conquerors  
And of their fame/ rend away the flowers  
Desire of having/ in a greedy thought  
To high noblesse/ soothly longeth nought  
Nor such pylfre/ spoiling nor roborye  
appertain not/ to wrothy chivalry  
For covetise/ and knighthood/ as I lere  
In one chain/ may nat be knet yfere  
For couth it is/ that oft such ravin  
Hath 'cause be/ and rote of the ruin  
Of many worthy/ who so list take heed  
Like as ye may/ now of Ector read  
That suddenly was brought/ to his ending  
only for spoiling/ of this rich king  
For of desire/ to him that he had  
On horse back/ out when he him lad  
Reklesly/ the story maketh mind  
He cast his shield/ at his back behind  
To weld himself/ at more liberty  
And for to have/ opportunyte  
To spoil him/ and for no wight spare  
So that his breast/ disarmed was and bare  
Except his plates/ there was no diffence  
Aagayne the stroke/ to make resistance  
Alas why was he/ though so rekles  
This flower of knighthood/ of manhood peerless  
When that his foo/ all that ilk day  
For him alone/ in await so lay  
If in mischief/ of hate and of envy  
In the field/ he might him ought espy  
This Achilles/ cruel and venomous  
Of heartily hate/ most melancholious  
Which covertly/ houynge him beside  
When that he saw/ Ector disarmed ride  
He hent a spear/ sharp ground and keen  
And of Ire/ in his hateful tene  
All unwarely/ or Ector might advert  
Alas the while/ he smote him to the heart  
thorough out the breast/ that deed he fill down  
Unto the earth/ this Trojan champion  
thorough negligence/ only of his shield  
The death of whom/ when Odemon beheld  
The worthy king/ might him nat refrain  
But to Achilles/ road with all his pain  
And it him so/ amid of all the prees  
Maugre the might/ of his Myrundones  
That for deed/ Guydo saith certain  
Of that wound/ he fill grofelyng on the plain  
But his knights/ on a shield a loft  
They laid him/ and carried him full soft  
Unto his tent/ in all the haste they can  
And there I leave/ this deadly wounded man  
Full sore sick/ till he may relieve  
And after that/ when it drew to eve  
They of Troy/ with great reverence  
Died their labour/ and their diligence  
The deed corpse/ to carry into town  
Of worthy Ector/ when Titan went down  
And to the temple dolefully they wend  
And of that day/ this was the woeful end  
I can no more/ but thus the long night  
In heaviness/ as it is skill and right  
I will them leave/ and again return  
To my matter/ to help them for to mourn.   

¶ Of the complaint that Lydgate maketh for the death of the worthy Ector. Cap. xxviij.  
BUt now alas/ how shall I proceed  
In the story/ that for woe and dread  
Feel my hand/ both tremble and quake  
O worthy Ector/ only for thy sake  
Of thy death/ I am so loath to write  
O who shall now/ help me to indite  
Or unto whom/ shall I clepe or call  
Certies to none/ of the Musys all  
That by accord/ sing ever in oon  
Upon Pernaso/ beside Elycon  
So aungelyke in their harmony  
That tongue is none/ that may specify  
The great sweetness/ of their goodly song  
For no discord is/ found them among  
In their music/ they be intuned so  
It sit them nought/ for to help in woe  
Nor with matters/ that be with mourning shent  
As Tragedies/ all to tore and rend  
In complaining/ piteously in rage  
In the Theatre/ with a deed visage  
To them alas/ I clepe dare nor cry  
My troubled pen/ of grace for to give  
Nouther to Clyo/ nor Callyope  
But to Allecto/ and Thesyphone  
And Megaera/ that ever doth complain  
As they that live/ ever in woe and pain  
Eternally/ and in torment dwell  
With Cerberus/ deep down in hell  
Whom I must pray/ to be gracious  
To my matter/ which is so furious  
For to a wight/ that is complaining  
A dreary fere/ is right well sitting  
And to a matter/ meynt with heaviness  
Acordeth well/ a cheer of drearinesss  
To be allied/ as by unity  
¶ Wherefore help now/ thou woeful niobe  
Some dreary tere/ in all thy peteous pain  
Into my pen/ dolefully to rain  
And help also/ thou cruelly yxione  
And Belydes/ that doth the boget gone  
And with thy stone/ help thou zepherus  
And in thy river/ help eke Tantalus  
That for hunger/ haste so huge pine  
This woeful plaint/ help me for to fine  
Me to further/ do your business  
For now the stock/ and root of worthiness  
Of knighthood ground/ of manhood showers & well  
That tofore all/ bare away the bell  
Of derring do/ this flower of high prowess  
And was example/ also of gentilesse  
That never could/ do amiss nor say  
Alas Ector/ alas why shouldest thou die  
O cruel Parchas/ why took ye no heed  
So cruelly/ to twine his fatal thread  
Ye were to hasty/ alas why were ye so  
And namely/ the thread to break a two  
Thou Antropos/ thorough thy great envy  
O troy alas/ well mayst thou weep and cry  
And make a woeful/ lamentation  
Which haste of new/ to thy confusion  
Lost thy diffence/ and thy strong wall  
Thy beret up/ thy surety royal  
By whom thy honour/ chiefly was begun  
Alas alas/ for now thy bright son  
eclipsed is/ and thou standest desolate  
Of all comfort/ and disconsolate  
Thy light is lost/ and thou in darkness  
I plounged art/ for in sooth fastness  
Of all worthy/ thou haste the worthiest  
This day yloste/ and the knyghtlyest  
That is or was/ are shall/ I the ensure  
Be ever borne/ while the world may dure  
No wonder is/ though thou weep sore  
And day by day/ complain him evermore  
That was thy shield/ both in joy and woe  
Whom thou were wont/ for to love so  
So tenderly/ with all thy hole heart  
That it may nat/ lightly the a start  
To have him ever/ in thy remembrance  
Which was in sooth/ thy full suffisance.  
For as Guydo/ maketh mention  
There was no man/ dwelling in the town  
That he ne had/ of very kindness  
For love of him/ as he write express  
His child more lief/ to a died in this case  
Other his Eyer/ so well beloved he was  
If the god's fate/ or destyne  
disposed had/ that it might have be  
Woman also/ of every manner age  
Be for his death/ fall in such a rage  
thorough the city/ about in every street  
That with sobbing/ and salt teries wet  
And here to rend/ for deadly woe  
furiously/ run to and fro  
So mortal was/ their adversity  
That to behold/ alas it was pity  
Young maidens/ and matrons old  
Sob and sigh/ and their fists fold  
And loud cry/ and said finally  
Alas/ now shall our Faders cruelly  
In our sight/ be slain day by day  
Alas the while/ and no man shall say nay  
Farewell our help/ now Ector is gone  
In the surnesse/ of us everichone  
Was wont to rest/ now is he deed alas  
Of whom the body/ when it carried was  
Into presence/ of Priamus the king  
Anon he lost/ the office of speaking  
And 'gan himself/ in salt teries drown  
And piteously therewith/ fill a swoon  
Upon the corpse/ cold as any stone  
Inly desirous/ for to die anon  
Without tarrying/ on him as he lay  
But that he was/ by force rend away  
His brethren eke/ when they took heed  
Tryste and pale/ for sorrow were nigh deed  
And have themself/ with rage all to torn  
That never was/ I trow seen aforne  
Of brethren yet/ such another care  
For each of them/ with himself 'gan far  
As they would/ have died on the cors  
For of their life/ platly/ they gave no forhis  
But at the ground/ with many sorrows sore  
Like wild bulls/ they 'gan cry and roar  
That ruth was/ their deadly woe to seen  
An heart of steel/ might it nat abstain  
¶ What shall I say/ of Eccuba the queen  
Or his sister/ young Polycene  
Or Cassandra/ the prudent and the wise  
Or of his wife/ the sorrow to devise  
Which rend themself/ in torment and in woe  
As finally/ they would themself for do  
By cruel death/ so they weep and wail  
That if I should/ make rehearsal  
To write their sorrows/ & their complaynges  
Their piteous sobbing/ throws & weepings  
The woeful cries/ and the piteous sowns  
Their dreary plaints/ and Lamentacyowns  
And all their woe/ for to specify  
A large book/ it would occupy  
If each thing/ I should in order tell  
I trow it were/ to long for to dwell  
For any man/ and tedious to here  
For many day/ after as I lere  
The women wept/ afore the corpse lying  
Themself defacing/ in their complaining  
That wonder was/ how they might endure  
But that they have/ it soothly of nature  
And of kind/ for to weep and plain  
To sigh sore/ and into teries rain  
Till the tempest/ of their woeful rage  
May by process/ little and little assuage  
And thus I leave them/ sigh & sorrow make  
This cely women/ in their clothes black  
Shroud their faces/ & wimpled more in vain  
While I turn/ to my matter again  
To tell plainly/ how king Pryamus  
In heart was/ inly desirous  
To cast away/ in his intention  
The corpse to keep/ from corruption  
Which naturally/ but men take heed  
Corrupt must/ right of very need  
For of kindly/ disposition  
There may be made/ none opposition  
Above the ground/ if the body lie  
That of reason/ it must putrify  
But if craft/ be above nature  
Uncorrupt/ it might nat endure  
¶ Wherefore the king/ shope him to ordain  
To preserve it hole/ fro things twain  
From odour/ and abomination  
And therewith eke/ by crafty operation  
That it in slight/ be nat found horrible  
But that it be lively/ and visible  
To the eye/ as by appearance  
Like as it were/ quick in existence  
What it cost/ the king will spare nought  
But made anon/ afore him to be brought  
The craftyest/ masters/ of the town  
such as had/ most discrecyowne  
To perform/ his asking curyously  
And they obey/ his bidding faithfully  
With all their will/ and entire diligence  
In the Temple/ most of reverence  
Of all the cowne/ whilom dedicate  
And of full yore/ also consecrate  
To Apollo/ of old foundacyowne  
Beside a gate/ standing of the town  
called Tymbr●a/ in their Trojan tongue  
As in story/ is botheradde and song  
And in this fane/ that I speak of here  
They made first/ by the high autere  
By great devise/ a little oratory  
Perpetuelly/ to be in memory  
Where was set/ a rich receptacle  
Made in manner/ of a tabernacle  
Equal of sight/ for a large image  
That raised was/ on a rich stage  
That was borne up/ at each of his corners  
Of pured gold/ upon four pillars  
And on everich/ full craftily ydight  
An Angel stood/ of gold borned bright  
seriously the work/ to sustain  
With crafty Archys/ raised wonder clean  
Enbowed over/ all the work to cure  
So marvelous/ was the celature  
That all the roof/ and closure environ  
Was of fine gold/ plated up and down  
With knots grave/ wonder curious  
Fret full of stones/ rich and precious  
Of every kind/ that man can devise  
So rially/ and in so thrifty wise  
That the darkness/ of the black night  
With the beams/ of their clear light  
enchased was/ where they died shine  
And fro the ground/ upright as a line  
There were degrees/ men by to ascend  
Made so well/ that no man could amend  
The workmanship/ & they were everichone  
performed up/ all of crystal stone  
Attaining up/ fro the table bas  
Where the standing/ and the resting was  
Of this rich/ crafty tabernacle  
Having above/ upon each pinnacle  
A rich ruby/ and raised high on hight  
Stood an image/ huge and large of weight  
Of massyfe gold/ having the likeness  
Of worthy Ector/ that 'gan his face dress  
Toward Greeks/ where he died stand  
Ay threating them/ with his sword in hand  
And amids/ all this great richesse  
They have yset/ by good adviseness  
The deed corpse/ of this worthy knight  
To sight of man/ standing as up right  
By subtle craft/ as he were living  
Of face and cheer/ and of quick looking  
And of colour/ soothly and of hew  
Being as fresh/ as any rose new  
And like in all/ as be supposayle  
As he lived/ in his apparel  
For on his stead/ like as it is told  
Through small pipes/ wrought & made of gold  
That by measure/ were enbowed down  
To an entry/ made in his crown  
By great advise/ and subtlety  
To each party/ and extremity  
Of his body/ lyvealy porrect  
thorough nerfe and sinew/ driven and direct  
By secret pories/ craftily to extend  
Whereby the liquor/ might down descend  
To keep him hole/ fro corruption  
Without any/ transmutasyon  
Of hide and hew/ in any part to turn  
And at his heed/ of gold was an ourne  
That was field/ with balm natural  
That ran thorough/ pipes artyfycyall  
thorough neck/ and heed into many place  
Penetrable/ by veins/ of the face  
That thorough virtue/ and force of the liquor  
He was conserved/ lifely of colour  
Fresh of hew/ quick and no thing pale  
So mightily/ the balm died avail  
comparisoned/ as it were semblable  
To a soul/ that were vegetable  
The which/ without sensybylyte  
ministereth life/ in herb/ flower/ and tree  
And semblably/ into every vain  
Of the corpse/ the virtue died attain  
By breast and arm/ spreading environ  
For the moisture/ by dissension  
To hand and foot/ soothly as I read  
thorough bone & joint/ 'gan his virtue shed  
And distylling/ mightily to fleet  
And at his feet/ full of gommys sweet  
A viol stood/ tempered with balm ymeynt  
That by process/ may nat wax faint  
But day by day/ increase and amend  
Of which the vapour/ upward 'gan ascend  
Causing the Eyer/ environ be delyse  
To resemble/ a very paradise  
For the flavour/ more wholesome was and soot  
Than the odour/ of spice gomme or root  
And of pure gold/ were four laumpes light  
Tofore the corpse/ brenning day and night  
With oil in sooth/ if it be credible  
That was by craft/ made in extynguyble  
For it ne might/ mine author saith certain  
Nouther be quaint/ with tempest wind nor rain  
Nor by process/ wasten of no years  
Which in the Eyre/ be bright borned wires  
Full craftily/ raised were a loft  
Of whose sweetness/ men rejoiced oft  
In their courage/ it liked them so well  
And when this work/ was complete everydeal  
Round environ/ full rich and fresh to see  
They made/ a parclose all of Ebon tree  
That so long/ last may and dure  
The which tree/ only of nature  
When it is cut/ smelleth wonder sweet  
And may nat waste/ nor bren with no heat  
Though it be laid/ among the coals read  
mid the flawme/ of many fiery gleed  
It nat consumeth/ though men assay oft  
And in water/ it hoveth eke a loft  
And kindly/ to the ground it goth  
Toswymme on height/ in sooth it is so loath  
And like also/ as teacheth Plwyus  
This tree whilom/ was passingly famous  
Of so high prise/ and reputation  
That in the large/ mighty region  
And worthy land/ of Ethyopye and ynde  
Of yore agone/ the folks as I find  
Had this tree/ in so great honour  
That they gave tribute/ to the Emperor  
As is remembered/ of antiquity  
Of gold and ivor/ and this rich tree  
With these gifts/ famous and royal  
To quite their debt/ to him in special.  
And when Priam's/ in full thrifty wise  
performed hath/ as ye have herd devise  
This rich work/ noble and excellent  
Of heartily love/ in all his best intent  
Ordained eke/ as Guydo can you tell  
A certain number/ of priests for to dwell  
In the Temple/ in their devotions  
continually/ with devout orisons  
For the soul of Ector/ for to prey  
That the gods/ his spirit list convey  
Eternally/ with them to dwell yfere  
In joy and bliss/ above the stars clear  
To which priests/ the king gave mansions  
There to abide/ and possessions  
The which he hath/ to them mortysed  
Perpetuelly/ as ye have heard devised  
And whiles they/ kneel pray and wake  
I cast fully/ an end for to make  
Finally/ of my third book  
On my rude manner/ as I under took  
And whiles they of Troy/ weep and morn  
Unto Greeks/ I will again return  
And with dull style/ on the story trace  
only borne up/ with support of your grace.  
¶ Explicit liber tercius. Incipit Liber quartus.    


Hereafter followeth the Fourth Book/ which speaketh how the Greeks made king Pallamydes chief Captain of their host/ and deposed king Agamenon Capitulo. xxix.  
ECtor thus deed/ as ye have heard said  
And Achilles/ in his Tent ylayde  
with his wounds/ mortal fresh & green  
Upon a morning/ when the son sheen  
Enchased had/ away the dark night  
Agamenon the wise/ worthy knight  
In his works/ passingly prudent  
Hath in all haste/ for his lords sent  
And when they were/ assembled everichone  
Within his Tent/ to them he said anon  
Sirs quoth he/ and lords that be here  
Kings princes/ and Duke's eke yfere  
If ye advert/ by clear inspection  
Ye ought eachone/ with high devotion  
wholly of heart/ our gods for to herye  
And inwardly/ for to be right merry  
If ye consider/ and wisely take heed  
How that our enemy/ Ector is now deed  
That whilom was/ berer up of Troy  
Their full trust/ their honour and their joy  
Their hole diffence/ and protection  
And unto us/ death and confusion  
Vnlykly ever/ us to have had victory  
Whiles that he/ flowered in his glory  
Again whose sword/ we might nat avail  
For slew he nat/ at our arrival  
If ye remember/ on the first day  
The noble king/ called Protheselay  
And after next/ if I shall nat fain  
Patroclus/ he parted even on twain  
In the field/ among us everyone  
Slew he nat eke/ the worthy king Menon  
Archylogus/ and also Prothenor  
And eke the king/ that height Alphynor  
Phyllys also/ and Epistrophus  
And to his end/ he brought zantipus  
And Meryon/ the mighty strong king  
In his way/ as he came riding  
He slain hath/ and other kings two  
Cedyus/ and Drodyus also  
Polycenes/ and strong Polybete  
Letabonia/ and the king Phylete  
The manly knight/ the king Isydyus  
And eke the king/ that height humerus  
For in his Ire/ and his cruel tene  
Of worthy kings/ he slain hath eighteen  
Which hither came/ out of Greeks land  
By the power/ of his mighty hand  
Now laud and honour/ to the gods all  
Which caused have/ that it is be fall  
That he is deed/ to our increase of joy  
And to discrese/ of our soon in Troy  
As they shall find/ in experience  
And laud also/ prise and reverence  
Be to Fortune/ that us hath holp weal  
With the turning/ of her double wheel  
To high comfort/ and consolacyowne  
Of us eachone/ sitting environ  
That stoude now/ in perfit sickerness  
thorough death of him/ that died us so oppress  
And what may they/ now wait on the town  
But after death/ and destruccyowne  
And hastily/ for to end in woe  
Now that their trust/ Ector is a go  
Without whom/ they may nat long endure  
Wherefore we may/ fully us assure  
Our purpose hole/ that we shall achieve  
And finally/ daunt them so and grieve  
That unto them/ it shallbe importable  
Of one assent/ if we stand stable  
For their party/ turneth on the wreck  
And their hope is fully/ put a bake  
And dispeyred/ in nonsuerte  
For utterly/ they and their city  
Shall more and more/ in were of death depend  
And we in sooth/ shall day by day amend  
With help of god/ both on see and land  
For now victory/ is ready to our hand  
Void platly/ of Ambygnyte  
And excluded at Eye/ as ye may see  
Both of wantrust/ and of foreign dread  
But I counsel/ or that we proceed  
Any ferther/ upon our soon to ride  
Prudently/ a while to abide  
And keep us close/ for to pass our bounds  
Till Achilles/ be healed of his wounds  
And than eachone/ by mighty violence  
Oppress them/ when they have no diffence  
As I have said/ thorough help of Achilles  
And let us now/ send for a pees  
For two months/ to king Pryamus  
If it so be/ he list to grant it us  
As it is likely/ plainly that he shall  
And they there while/ with flawme funeral  
Consume may/ the deed bodies pale  
That lie abroad/ on every hill and vale  
Which by report of them/ that have repair  
Fro day to day/ infect so the Eyre  
thorough the field/ engendering pestilence  
Of stink/ there is/ so great a violence  
And we there while/ may in ease and rest  
Our wounds cure/ me seemeth for the best  
And they assent/ thereto everichone  
And unto Troy/ the messageres are gone  
And have the truce/ granted of the king  
And be repaired/ without more tarrying  
And thereof made/ full relation  
To the Greeks/ afore Agamenon  
And after that/ when all was at an end  
Home to his tent/ every lord doth wend  
And while the truce/ endureth and the pees  
Among greeks/ king Pallamydes  
Complaineth sore/ of Agamenon  
That he so had/ domination  
Above them all/ having there at envy  
And on a day/ in his melancholy  
Of high despite/ and indignation  
Full inly fret/ with irous passion  
He 'gan break out/ and his rancour show  
By certain signs/ though he spoke but few  
Till on a day/ wise Agamenon  
conceived hath/ of high discretion  
Hoolly this thing/ though he ne would spare  
Fro point to point/ himself to declare  
When his lords/ together were present  
Tofore them all/ in his own tent  
As he that was/ this noble worthy king  
Full circumspect/ in every manner thing  
Nought to rakell/ nor melancholious  
But by attemperance/ inly virtuous  
Well advised/ and wonder prudent  
When that he knew/ the meaning & the intent  
And the conceit/ of this Pallamydes  
He nat to hasty/ nor to reckless  
But long abiding/ thorough prudence & reason  
Within the bounds/ of discretion  
Whose tongue was only/ of sapience  
So restrained/ that no negligence  
Of hasty speech/ soothly for to rape  
Might make a word/ his lips to escape  
Vnavysed/ for no thing him asterte  
But it were first/ examined in his heart  
For aye his speech/ in so thrifty wise  
Conveyed was/ by doctrine of the wise  
Under the rain/ of wit and high prudence  
And after that/ by form of eloquence  
Always so said/ that reason went aforne  
So that no word/ was in his tale lost  
And in this wise/ showing his sentence  
Tofore all/ in open audience  
Said even thus/ when that all was pees  
Unto the king/ called Pallamydes.  
soothly quoth he/ if ye take heed  
Me seemeth plainly/ that it were no need  
Auysely/ if he list advert  
To muse so/ nor grudging in your heart  
Of all his host/ that I have govenaunce  
Wisely considered/ every circumstance  
How I the estate/ which no man may deny  
Would in no manner/ never occupy  
By other Title/ than free election  
Nat interrupt/ by mediation  
Of brocage/ rooted upon meed  
Ay under meynt/ with favour or falsehood  
Depycte with colour/ of true intention  
To support such/ false ambition  
Of which thing/ here I will me quite  
Tofore you all/ that I am nat to wite  
In any wise/ of so high offence  
But stand clear/ in my conscience  
Without spot/ of any such vain glory  
touching the estate/ which is transitory  
¶ Yet neverchelesse/ I have do my cure  
With all my wit/ to help and procure  
That every thing/ touching the comonte  
Persever might/ in prosperity  
Having the eye/ of my inward sight  
Unto the estate/ of every manner wight  
That were committed/ to my governance  
With great labour/ and busy attendance  
Indifferent/ unto high or low  
To help and foster/ where I could know  
That any stood/ in mischief or in need  
Day and night/ for to take heed  
As I best could/ by adviseness  
Ay diligent/ that nat fell in distress  
For sothfastely/ who so look a right  
My days thinking/ and my watch a night  
And of my heart/ the inly advertence  
Without fraud/ sloth or negligence  
Was faithfully/ with all my full might  
Me to acquit/ to every manner wight  
Like his estate/ without exception  
So that no man/ justly of reason  
Greek nor other/ that is now a live  
Unto my guilt/ may duly ascrive  
Any falsehood/ engine or treachery  
Of love or hate/ favour or flattery  
In any cause/ named in special  
But that I have/ be a like equal  
To one and all/ with all my busy pain  
That no man hath matter/ to complain  
For his party/ of high nor low estate  
And to devoid/ all rancour and debate  
amongs you/ I have do my devoir  
In general/ all thing and particular  
That hither toward/ no thing hath myscheved  
And god wot well/ it should nat aggrieved  
To my heart/ to a set at any prise  
You to a chose/ by your discrete advise  
Some other/ to this domination  
And I to have be/ in subjection  
With ease of heart/ and tranquillity  
Like other lords/ here of my degree  
And in my will/ fully have obeyed  
Like one of you/ utterly to have died  
In the quarrel/ that we have undertake  
If destyne/ had it so I shape  
I say in sooth/ me is full loath to fain  
And over more/ also where ye plain  
That I was chosen/ without your assent  
Marvel nat/ sith ye ne were present  
Nor long after/ if ye remember a right  
Toward Troy/ your way was nat dight  
If ye consider/ is after near  
Or that ye came/ passed full two year  
And so long/ to abide your coming  
It had be to greeks/ great hindering  
Passing harm/ and full great damage  
And huge letting/ unto our viage  
For if we had/ without any ween  
On your coming/ tarried at Athene  
It likely is/ ye can nat well say nay  
To have be there/ yet unto this day  
And where as ye/ thought it be nat credible  
Affirm eke/ for an impossible  
That Greeks should/ in any manner wise  
Dare take on them/ any great emprise  
In your absence/ manly to achieve  
It is but wind/ no thing for to leave  
For so it be/ to you none offence  
The greeks have/ without your presence  
thorough force/ on water and on land  
Full many thing/ performed with their hand  
And achieved/ thorough their worthiness  
And of one thing/ that in me ye guess  
This to say/ that of my degree  
I should in heart/ so rejoice me  
Of this lordship/ and this great estate  
The more to be/ pompos and elate  
In there or port/ that I it occupy  
But me to acquit/ truly and nat lie  
And to devoid/ all suspection  
I will make/ a resignation  
Tofore you all/ for to excuse me  
Now be advised/ discretely for to see  
Whom ye list have/ again to morrow prime  
Without setting/ of any longer time  
Prolonging forth/ or any more delay  
And thus they made/ an end of that day  
And went their way/ only for that night  
Till on the morrow/ the Titan shed his light  
At which time/ a counsel general  
The greeks held/ but most in special  
Of lords/ was there congregation  
As I have told/ for the election  
And when they were/ all met yfere  
Agamenon/ anon as ye shall here  
Said even thus/ with sad countenance  
Lo sires quoth he/ touching governance  
That I have had/ and domination  
I have hereto/ with hold affection  
And clean intent/ do my business  
That every thing/ might in wilfulness  
To your increase/ persever and contune  
Record I take/ of god/ and Fortune  
Which have conserved/ and the cause be  
You for to flower/ in felicity  
That your honour/ & your high noblesse  
Stand hole and sound/ yet in syketnesse  
And while your fame/ is most in flowering  
As seemeth me/ it is right well sitting  
Mine estate fully/ to resign  
specially/ while/ Fortune is benign  
For of so many/ that be now present  
I am alone/ in sufficient  
Without help/ for to bear the charge  
Men with to much/ may overlade a barge  
And namely in tempest/ and in rage  
And sith ye be/ so discrete and sage  
Of my burden/ let me be relieved  
So that no man/ therewith be aggrieved  
But let us all/ of one intention  
Without strife/ or dissension  
Chose such one/ that most be acceptable  
To you eachone/ and most covenable  
You to govern/ by discretion  
And they eachone/ with hold affection  
assented be/ to speak in general  
Here men may see/ how it is natural  
Men to delight/ in things that is new  
The trust of people/ is faint and untrue  
Ay undiscrete/ and full of doubleness  
And variable/ of their sickerness  
Ay awaiting/ in their opinion  
After change/ and transmutation  
seld or never/ standing hole in one  
To day they love/ to morrow it is gone  
In whom full seld/ is any sickerness  
For only now/ of newfangelnesse  
That hath embraced/ their affection  
They have in stead/ of Agamenon  
Of new chose/ only of favour  
Pallamydes/ to be their governor  
And of all Grece/ like as they desire  
To have the Sceptre/ of the hole Empire  
And to be called/ about in every cost  
Emperor/ of the Greeks host  
Right as tofore/ was Agamenon  
And this was fine/ and conclusion  
For that day/ of their parliament  
And after that/ every man is went  
To his lodging/ home the right way  
But in his Tent/ wounded as he lay  
The hardy knight/ the hardy Achilles  
When that he heard/ of Pallamydes  
Fro point to point/ and of the leccyon  
He was displeased/ in his opinion  
And plainly thought/ as to his advise  
Agamenon/ was passingly more wise  
And more discrete/ unto governance  
Than the t'other/ as to his pleasance  
And said it was/ none election  
But a manner/ subrogation  
Because himself/ in the parliament  
At the choosing/ was nat there present  
Aretting it/ passing great offence  
That the choice was made/ in his absence  
Wherewith he was/ of heart inly wroth  
But where so be/ that he be lief or loath  
There is no more/ but in conclusion  
In his strength/ stood the election.   

¶ How king Priamus went unto the battle/ for to avenge the death of Ector/ where as he died marvelous deeds of Arms. Ca thirty.  

THe truce passed/ and yweryd out  
The wounded eke/ recured all about  
The next morrow/ after Pryamus  
In his heart/ was inly desirous  
With the Greeks/ manly for to fight  
Ectors' death/ to avenge if he might  
This old Priam's/ knightly in the field  
That when Trojans/ in themself beheld  
The great will/ and the high courage  
Of him that was/ so far run in age  
They 'gan rejoice/ and pluck up their heart  
And specially/ when they 'gan advert  
His great manhood/ and his worthiness  
His lyflyed/ and his high prowess  
And for his sake/ every manner man  
'Gan arm him/ in all ●he haste they can  
With Pryamus/ that day to live or die  
And into field/ they proudly him convey  
An hundred thousand/ and thirty of the town  
Like as Dares/ maketh mention  
And worthy knights/ they were everichone  
Without other/ that with Priam's gone  
And all afore/ went Dephebus  
And Paris next/ and than Pryamus  
Menon the king/ and worthy Aeneas  
And alderlaste/ came polydamas  
And as I find stern/ and full of Pride  
Pallamydes came/ on the tothersyde  
Into the field/ with many strong battle  
And first/ when each other 'gan assail  
King Pryamus/ knightly his wayches  
thorough the wards/ to Pallamydes  
And him unhorseth/ through his high renown  
And like a knight/ he killeth & beareth down  
The proud Greeks/ where so the road  
Was none so hardy/ that his sword abode  
For so narrow/ he 'gan them to coharte  
That their wards/ he made a sunder part  
On them he was/ so fell and furious  
For he that day/ deeds marvelous  
In arms wrought/ that wonder was to seen  
And a marvel/ how he may abstain  
Of so great age/ in the field to endure  
For in credible/ was/ I you ensure  
To see how he/ thorough his great might  
The Greeks put/ proudly to the flight  
And Dephebus/ was also not behind  
Again his soon/ knightly as I find  
To acquit himself/ & make them to go back  
And Sarpedowne/ in whom eke is no lack  
Yfallen is/ on Neptolonyus  
The proudest greek/ and most surquedous  
And most famous/ as of strength and might  
The which againward/ road full line right  
To Sarped own/ with a spear round  
And deliverly smote/ him to the ground  
But Sarpedowne/ full irous in his heart  
Without abode/ on his feet upsterte  
And Neptolonye/ in his Ire all hot  
Through out the thigh/ with his sword he smote  
And than anon/ the king of Perce land  
That was so worthy/ and famous of his hand  
Of Sarpedowne/ when he took heed  
knightly to him/ restored hath his stead  
notwithstanding/ that Menelaus  
Was upon him/ passing despitous  
And with him eke/ the Duke of Athenes  
enclosed have/ among the great prees  
The king of Perce/ alas it should fall  
And slew him/ as he among them all  
Full knightly fought/ like a champion  
With multitude enclosed/ environ  
And he himself/ but alone alas  
All destitute/ in this mortal cas  
thorough whose mischief/ they of troy town  
'Gan to withdraw/ till that Sarpedowne  
Hath helped them/ to recure their land  
Full many Greek/ killing with his hand  
And king Priam's/ so manly found at all  
With his sons/ called natural  
Which upon him/ where so that he road  
The long day/ manfully abode  
Parting nat plainly/ fro his side  
And the king/ and they together ride  
Full mortally/ the greeks they confound  
For Pryamus/ with many cruel wound  
Hath slain of them/ many worthy man  
On horse back/ among them as he ran  
For there was none/ that day/ young nor old  
Of Troy town/ so hardy nor so bold  
Of none estate/ that hath so well him quit  
Among Greeks/ where so that he ryt  
from point to point/ to reckon every thing  
As hath Priam's/ the noble worthy king  
For he alone/ was confusion  
To the Greeks/ and destruction  
Their outer mischief/ and discomfiture  
Afore whose face/ they might nat endure  
For things two/ in his mortal ire  
Inwardly/ set him a fire  
The heartily hate/ that he bore of old  
Unto Greeks/ doubled many fold  
With the death/ had in remembrance  
Of worthy Ector/ by countenance  
The which platly/ thorough his worthiness  
With his sword/ he shope him to redress  
For fret of hate/ and constraint of his pain  
Were verily/ thilk things twain  
By which that day/ who so look a right  
His force was doubled/ and his might  
Where thorough/ he took cruelly vengeance  
That he the Greeks/ brought to utterance  
And through his knighthood/ put them to the flight  
But Greeks than/ atones died their might  
By assent/ to assemble into one  
And for a sleight/ a side out they gone  
Into a plain/ large/ and fair to see  
Between Priam's/ and Troy the city  
To fine only/ in their entencyowne  
Him to debar/ the entry of the town  
For every way/ the greeks have with set  
That they of Troy/ had though belet  
At their repair/ the story telleth thus  
He had the manhood/ be of Pryamus  
The which/ anon/ as any lion strong  
With his sword/ 'gan ride them among  
And severed them/ with large wounds wide  
And slew all though/ that would his sword abide  
Every where/ endelonge the plain  
And Paris eke/ hath them so belayne  
With mighty shot/ of his strong Archeries  
And with the pursuit/ of his Arbalasteries  
That they ne might/ of the shoot so keen  
The mortal harm/ abide nor sustain  
But 'gan anon/ to i'll out of the place  
And king pryam/ so narrow 'gan them chase  
That of need/ and necessity  
thorough the slaughtre/ and the cruelty  
Of his sword/ sharp whet and ground  
There was no greek/ in the field yfound  
But fled away/ everich to his tent  
And they of Troy/ be to their city went  
Because it drew/ fast toward night  
For Phoebus had/ be reaved them his light  
And so the honour/ of his high victory  
The worship eke/ the laud and memory  
Perpetuelly/ and the palm also  
Priam the king/ hath won and no more  
For that day/ in release of his sorrow  
And as I read/ on the next morrow  
He hath send/ out of Troy town  
For atrewes/ to Agamenowne  
Which granted was/ the self day at prime  
Albe thereof/ rehearsed be no time  
How long it last/ in the book express  
During the which/ they did their business  
heartily labour/ and inward diligence  
For to ordain/ with great reverence  
How that the corpse/ of the worthy king  
Of Perce land/ without more tarrying  
With kingly honour/ out of Troy town  
Shall carried be/ into this region  
To be buried/ with his predecessors  
With other kings/ his progenitors  
The which thing/ was complete by the advice  
Of Alysaunder/ that called was Paris  
And first the corpse/ enbalmed richly  
Conveyed was/ full solemnly  
As write Guydo/ with an huge rout  
Of his knights/ riding him about  
Tryste and heavy/ clad in black eachone  
And with the char/ the right way they gone  
Towards Perce/ leading of this king  
The deed corpse/ toward his burying  
Which hallowed was/ like his estate royal  
And in this while/ the feast funeral  
Was hold also/ with great devocyowne  
Of worthy Ector/ within Troy town  
Like the custom/ used in though days  
And the rites/ of their paynem lays  
The whichefeste/ as made is mention  
Fro year to year/ by revolution  
Yhalowed was the space/ of fortnight  
With many flawme/ and many hideous light  
That brent environ/ in the seyntuarye  
And called was/ the Anyversarye  
For that it came/ about year by year  
A certain day/ in their Kalendere  
In which of custom/ for a remembrance  
The people should/ by continuance  
Plain and weep/ and also pray and read  
For their friends/ that afore were deed  
Full piteously/ with their here to torn  
Morning in black/ and kneeling aye aforne  
The deed corpse/ of this worthy knight  
Which in his time/ passing was of might  
And this was done/ while the truce dure  
So that Greeks/ trustily might assure  
When that them list/ at good liberty  
Without danger/ enter the city  
Day by day/ and Trojans might also  
Unto Greeks/ freely come and go.   

AT which time/ with full great delight  
Hath Achilles/ caught an appetite  
To enter and se/ the manner of the town  
Without wisdom/ or discrecyowne  
For to behold/ plainly and to see  
holy the manner/ of this solemnity  
And forth he went/ on a certain day  
Toward Troy/ in all the haste he may  
Unarmed soothly/ as mine Author saith  
Without assurance/ or any other faith  
Except the truce/ who so be lief or loath  
And first of all/ to the temple he goth  
Of Apollo/ hallowed was the feste  
thorough out the town/ down unto the lest  
That cleped was/ the Anyversarye  
As ye have heard/ what should I longer tarry  
And many worthy/ present was there at  
Amid the temple/ of high and low estate  
Lords/ and ladies/ of affeccyowne  
From every part/ gathered of the town  
Now was the corpse/ of this worthy knight  
As fresh of colour/ kept unto the sight  
As lifely eke/ and as quick of hew  
To behold/ as any rosenewe  
thorough virtue/ only of the gommys sweet  
And the balm/ that 'gan about fleet  
To every joint/ and each extremity  
And at this feste/ and solemnity  
Was Eccuba/ and young Polycene  
So womanly/ and goodly on to seen  
With many other/ of high estate and low  
Tofore the corpse/ sitting on a row  
With here untrussed/ clad in weeds black  
That ever in one/ such a sorrow make  
That routh was/ and pity for to seen  
How they plain/ and the death by mean  
Of worthy Ector/ of knighthood ground & well  
But trow ye/ as Guydo list to tell  
That Polycene/ in all her woeful rage  
Ychaunged hath/ upon her visage  
Her native colour/ as fresh to the sight  
As is the rose/ or the lylyes white  
either the freshness/ of her lips read  
For all the teries/ that she 'gan to shed  
On her cheeks/ as any crystal clear  
Her here also/ resembling/ to gold wyere  
Which lay abroad/ like unto the sight  
Phoebus' beams/ in his spear bright  
When he to us/ doth his light avail  
And aye she rend/ with her fingers small  
Her golden here/ on her black weed  
Of which thing/ Achilles took good heed  
And 'gan marvel/ greatly in his thought  
How god or kind/ ever might have wrought  
In their works/ so fair a creature  
For him thought/ he might nat endure  
To behold/ the brightness of her face  
For he felt/ thorough his heart pace  
The piercing streams/ of her eyen two  
Cupydes bronde/ hath him marked so  
For love of her/ that in his desire  
He brent as hot/ as any fire  
And after soon/ with sudden cold he quoke  
And always fix/ on her he had his look  
So that the arrow/ of the god cupid  
Pierced him/ even thorough the side  
To the heart/ and gave him such a wound  
That never was/ likely for to be sound  
And aye in one/ his look on her he cast  
As he durst/ and 'gan to press fast  
Toward her/ namely with his eye  
That him thought/ he must needs die  
But if that he/ found in her some grace  
There was no gain/ for plainly in the place  
Of new he was/ caught in loves snare  
That of health/ and of all welfare  
He was despaired/ in his heart so  
That he ne knew/ what was best to do  
Each other thing/ I do you well assure  
He set at nought/ and took of it no cure  
His thought was/ hole on her and no more  
The long day/ thus went he to and fro  
Till Phoebus' char/ low 'gan decline  
His golden axtre/ that so clear doth shine  
This to say/ the son went down  
¶ When Eccuba/ queen of Troy town  
And her daughter/ Polycene also  
Out of the Temple/ to the palace go  
And aye Achilles/ on her had a sight  
While he might/ till for lack of light  
He may no more/ have leisure opportune  
To look on her/ cursed be Fortune  
For which in haste/ he maked hath his went  
With his knights/ home to his Tent  
Where he anon/ without more tarrying  
To bed goth/ full tryste in complaining  
Ay in himself/ casting up and down  
In his mind/ and eke in his reasowne  
From heed to foot/ her beauty everydeal  
And in his heart/ he felt and knew full well  
That final cause/ of his languishing  
Was Polycene/ of beauty most passing  
For love of whom/ so moche pain he felt  
That with the heat/ he thought his heart melt  
Ay on his bed/ walowing to and fro  
For the constraint/ of his hid woe  
For which almost/ him thought that he died  
And to himself/ even thus heseyde  
Alas quoth he/ how me is woebegone  
That of my sorrow/ know end none  
For I suppose/ sith the world began  
Ne was there never/ a wofuller man  
For I that whilom/ was of so great might  
So renowned/ of every manner wight  
thorough out the world/ both of high & low  
For there was none/ in sooth that could know  
A man in arms/ that was more famous  
Nor y●holde/ more victorious  
Tofore this time/ remembered by no style  
Unto this day/ alas the hard while  
Nouther Ector plainly/ nor none other  
Of Polycene/ that was the worthy brother  
That power had/ when they with me met  
For all their might/ me to over set  
Nor in the field/ my force for to daunt  
Here privily/ as I me dare avaunt  
But now alas/ a maid of tender age  
Hath suddenly me brought in such arge  
That with the streams/ of her eyen twain  
She pierced hath/ and cloven every vain  
Of my heart/ that I may nat a start  
For to be deed/ thorough constraint of my smart  
For who shall now/ wish me or teach  
Or who alas/ shall now be my leech  
Or who shall now/ help men or save  
There is but death/ and after that my grave  
For other hope/ plainly is there none  
Save in her mercy/ alas and that is gone  
For nouther prayer/ treasure nor richesse  
Force/ nor might/ nouther high prowess  
highness of blood/ birth nor kindred  
May avail/ nor help/ in this need  
To move her/ nor my sad truth  
Upon my woe/ ever to have ruth.  
¶ What new fury/ or inportune rage  
Hath brought my heart/ into such outrage  
Against which/ I can nat debate  
To love her best/ that deadly doth me hate  
And in good faith/ who wisely list adveret  
little wonder/ though she me hate of heart  
sith I am come hither/ fro so far  
On her kindred/ for to make were  
In the which/ to my confusion  
Her knightly brother/ most worthy of renown  
Have fatally/ with mine hands slow  
Which in this world/ had no fellow  
Of worthiness/ nor of manlihood  
Alas alas/ now may I quake and dread  
And of my life/ fall in despair  
For how should/ I be bold to have repair  
Or dare alas/ come in their sight  
I woeful wretch/ I unhappy wight  
Or how shall I be/ hardy to appear  
In the presence/ of her eyen clear  
Certies I see/ none other mean weigh  
But finally/ that I must die  
So despaired/ I stand on every side  
Of other help/ I can me nat provide  
And right anon/ with profound sighs deep  
This Achilles/ burst out for to weep  
With deadly cheer/ pale and funeral  
And with his face/ turned to the wall  
That ruth was/ and pity for to seen  
The heartily fury/ of his pains keen  
For so oppressed/ he was in his thought  
Of life nor death/ that he wrought nought  
And this continued/ till it drew to night  
That Titan hath/ withdraw his clear light  
And ever in one/ like this woeful man  
Ilyche sick of colour/ pale and wan  
Without sleep/ so fretting was his sorrow  
Till Lucyfer/ on the next morrow  
Tofore the son/ with his beams clear  
Full lustily 'gan/ for to appear  
In the orient/ when this Achilles  
Vnpacyent/ without rest or pees  
Quaking aye/ in his fever new  
As it was seen/ plainly in his hew  
Till he abraid/ of anguish suddenly  
And called one/ that was with him privy  
And of counsel/ whom he trusteth well  
And unto him/ he telleth everydeal  
Fro point to point/ with him how it stood  
And sent him forth/ because he could his good  
On his message/ straight to Troy town  
With full advise/ and informacyowne  
Of this matter/ to Eccuba the queen  
thorough his wisdom/ for to be amene  
If he might/ by his discretion  
find any way/ of salvation  
Unto his lord/ that he loved so  
And to the queen/ anon he is go  
And his matter wisely/ 'gan convey  
Tofore or he of grace/ would prey  
That she enjoyeth/ to give him audience  
For in his tale/ there was none offence  
He was no fool/ nor new for to lere  
Wherefore the queen/ goodly 'gan him here  
Of all that ever/ him liketh for to say  
There was no word/ ylost nor spoke in vain  
For his tale/ no man could amend  
And craftily/ he 'gan to descend  
To the substance/ and told clearly out  
With premisses/ full well brought about  
That finally/ in conclusion  
The chief he said/ of his intention  
effectually/ if it would be  
Was for to make/ peas and unity  
atween Greeks/ and the folk of Troy  
To which thing/ he knew no better weigh  
Than of the were/ for their alder ease  
By his wit/ prudently to appease  
The mortal strife/ and the bitter rage  
By alliance/ only of marriage  
If that her list/ this wise worthy queen  
That her daughter/ fair Polycene  
May wedded be/ unto Achilles  
Where thorough their might be/ a final pees  
If Eccuba/ by her discretion  
thorough her wit/ and mediation  
And her prudence/ might about bring  
That Pryamus/ were fully assenting  
That Achilles/ might his daughter wife  
So that it might/ performed be as belive  
Like as I have/ made mention  
By covenant only/ and condition  
That the Greeks/ shall their were let  
And suffer him/ to live in quiet  
If the marriage/ of these ilk twain  
Parformed be/ and knit up in a chain  
And when the queen/ hath known his intent  
Full soberly/ by good advisement  
Tofore or that/ any word asterte  
Full piteously/ she sighed in her heart  
And at the last/ with a sober cheer  
She said thus/ to the messagere  
My friend quoth she/ touching thy request  
I can no more/ make the behest  
But at the lest/ I will condescend  
What lieth in me/ to bring to an end  
Thy lords will/ with all my heart enter  
But here upon/ I must first reqire  
The kings will/ if he will give assent  
To the purpose/ for which thou art sent  
And over more/ I must wit also  
¶ If that Paris/ be willing eke thereto  
Of which thing/ with every circumstance  
I will myself/ make enqueraunce  
Full faithfully/ of Priam's and Paris  
The mean while/ what is their advise  
Without more/ within days three  
At which time/ come again to me  
From Achilles/ if he will the send  
And finally/ thou shalt know an end  
Of this matter/ and an answer plain  
And home he goth/ to Achilles again  
¶ With full glad cheer/ his lord the more to please  
And for to set/ his heart better at ease  
Auysely/ of high discretion  
He hath so made/ his relation  
And told his tale/ in so thrifty wise  
As he that could/ his words so devise  
To bring in hope/ into his lords heart  
With full release/ of his pains smart  
¶ Whereby he made/ his sorrow to withdraw  
And thus while/ hope 'gan for to adawe  
Amid his breast/ Eccuba the queen  
To Priam spoke/ of this Polycene  
touching the sonde/ of this Achilles  
And of his proffer/ for to make a pees  
She told him all/ and forgot no thing  
Whereof atoned/ Pryamus the king  
Spoke nat a word/ half an hours space  
But in himself/ 'gan to compass  
Full prudently/ what it might mean  
That Achilles/ would have Polycene  
Unto his wife/ aye wondering more & more  
And at the last/ sighing wonder sore  
He discloseth/ the conceit of his heart  
And said alas/ how sore it doth me smart  
To remember/ that I may have no pees  
The great offence/ of this Achilles  
Towards me/ plainly when that he  
Slew worthy Ector/ thorough his cruelty  
That wholly was/ upon every side  
The assurance/ governor and guide  
Of me and mine/ platly for to say  
And therewithal/ of mine eyen twain  
He was alone/ the very soothfast light  
Shield & protector/ thorough his great might  
And his manhood/ again the mortal rage  
Of Greeks were/ in my crooked age  
But now alas/ to my confusion  
He slain is/ so worthy of renown  
By Achilles/ which may nat out of mind  
That in my heart/ I can never find  
To be allied/ with my mortal foo  
Rote and ground/ of all my sorrow and woe  
It were full hard/ my heart to appease  
To love him/ that causeth mine unese  
On every half/ where thorough my cruel soon  
The proud Greeks/ hearted be echon  
Against me/ now Fortune is contrary  
Turned of new/ my quarrel to apayre  
That causeth Greeks/ wood and furious  
On me alas/ to be presumptuous  
O only for Ector/ is me bereft a way  
But sithen/ I none other choice may  
Against heart/ though it for anger rive  
In this matter/ assay I shall to strive  
Though me be loath/ and sitteth me full sore  
Yet to eschew/ harms that be more  
Which likely be/ hereafter for to fall  
And for to save/ mine other sons all  
I will consent/ that this Achilles  
So that he make/ a true final pees  
atween Greeks/ and also this city  
Without more/ plainly how that he  
Have unto wife/ my daughter Polycene  
But lest that he/ any treason mean  
My will is first/ how so that it wend  
Of his behest/ that he make end  
Without fraud/ this is mine advise  
To which counsel/ assenteth eke Paris  
And more rather/ in conclusion  
For there was made/ none exception  
In this treat/ of the queen Eleyne  
That Menelay/ never should attain  
her to recure/ again unto his wife  
For which Paris/ without noise or strife  
Or grudging either/ unto this intent  
Within himself/ was fully of assent  
Thereby hoping/ without fere or dread  
Perpetuelly/ Eleyne to possede  
Right at his lust/ and no man shall say nay  
And after this/ upon the third day  
Achilles hath/ to wit of his matter  
To Eccuba/ sent his messenger  
And she told/ him the answer of the king  
seriously/ beginning and ending  
And how that he/ assenteth well thereto  
And Paris eke/ and she herself also  
If it so were/ plainly she him told  
touching the peace/ that the purpose hold  
And first that he/ his hest bring about  
That they be sure/ thereof him need not doubt  
That he shall have/ his purpose everydeal  
If that he work/ prudently and we'll  
And hereupon/ with informacyowne  
This messenger/ out of Troy town  
Without abode/ in all the haste he may  
To Achilles/ held the right way  
And told him hole/ the effect of this matter  
And he always/ fervent and enter  
In heart brent/ hot as any gleed  
And saw there was no way/ for to speed  
But only peas/ as ye have heard me tell  
And aye his breast/ with sighs 'gan to sweet  
For the love/ of this Polycene  
And cast always/ among his pains keen  
To his purpose/ away for to find  
And whiles he was/ busy in his mind  
How he should his purpose/ bring about  
And in himself/ caste many doubt  
Anon despair/ in a rage/ up start  
And cruelly caught/ him by the heart  
Which hath him throw/ into such a were  
That him though/ it was in his power  
His behe●●e/ to fulfil in deed  
Except he had/ well the less dread  
Every thing/ to put in certain  
weening no greek/ would his lust with sayne  
From his desire/ to be variable  
And to himself/ thus was he favourable  
For to perform/ and no thing deny  
All that was lusty/ to his fantasy  
As is the manner/ of lovers everichone  
That they suppose/ to achieve anon  
What thing it be/ that they take on hand  
In what disjoint/ that the matter stand  
All though it be/ a very impossible  
In their folly/ they be aye/ so credible  
And so Achilles/ trusteth finally  
To fulfil/ his hests utterly  
Supposing/ aye for his worthiness  
For his mainhode/ and his high prowess  
In which he died/ himself glorify  
Some what of pride/ and of surquedy  
How the greeks/ should be despaired  
Both of their trust/ and their might appaired  
Upon Trojans/ to win any land  
If it so were he withdrew his hand  
To help them/ and therewithal also  
Home into Grece/ that they would go  
From the siege/ only for his sake  
And their quarrel/ utterly forsake  
But it so were/ this day fierce Achylle  
With them abode/ the city for to spill  
For which thing/ the lords by assent  
Assembled were/ to here the intent  
Among them all/ of this Achilles  
By the bidding/ of Pallamydes  
And when they were/ gathered all yfere  
Tofore them all/ like as ye shall here.   

THis Achilles/ hath his tale ygonne  
And said sires/ that so much can  
Both of wisdom/ & of high prudence  
So renowned eke/ of sapience  
thorough out/ the world/ & of discrecyowne  
And be so worthy/ also of renown  
Kings/ duke's/ of whom the royal name  
From east to west/ flowereth yet the fame  
Both of knighthood/ and of manlihood  
To that I say/ I pray you take heed  
This to say/ if that ye consider  
The plain intent/ of our coming hydre  
By good advice/ and destruction  
Had no ground/ founded on reason  
Nor cause rooted/ on no title of right  
If it so be/ that ye lift up your sight  
And advert clearly/ in your mind  
Full far a back/ wit was set behind  
Prudent looking/ and adviseness  
For first when we/ of folly hastiness  
Took upon us/ to come fro so far  
Again Trojans/ for to gynne a were  
And to jeopard/ our lives everichone  
For the love/ of one man alone  
Ye wot all/ I trow/ whom I mean  
King Menelay/ defaurded of his queen  
To tell troth/ me list nat for to feign  
For ye well wot/ only that Eleyne  
Was ground and beginning/ of all this debate  
For whom/ so many worthy of estate  
Recurlesse/ of any remedy  
Life and good/ have put in jeopardy  
Our lands left/ and our regyownes  
Our cities eke/ and our rich towns  
Which by our absence/ stand desolate  
wives and children/ eke disconsolate  
In woe abide/ mourning and distress  
Whiles that we/ the sooth to express  
from day to day/ beset on every side  
Lie in the fled/ and our death abide  
In sorrow and care/ in labour and in woe  
And wots all this/ ye wite well also  
sith time/ that the were began  
Of our Greeks/ how many worthy man  
Hath lost his life/ thorough deaths fatal wound  
That might hitherto/ have lived & be sound  
At home in Grece/ assured well in joy  
If they ne had/ come unto Troy  
That to remember/ it is full great pity  
And over this/ I say also for me  
Among Trojans/ in their cruel mode  
I have lost/ so moche of my blood  
That hath full oft/ made pale of hew  
This other day/ also green and new  
I had of Ector/ such a mortal wound  
With a quarrel/ sharp whet and ground  
Above the theygh/ so keen was the heed  
The same day/ afore that he was deed  
Of very hap/ as it was I shape  
That fro the death/ uneath I might escape  
Which yet all fresh/ is upon me seen  
Large and wide/ and as yet but green  
The smart of which/ sore yet I plain  
And in good faith/ me seemeth that Eleyne  
If ye advert/ wisely in your thought  
With such a prise/ should nat be bought  
Where thorough/ our life and our good yfere  
And our honour/ are Yput in were  
And dreadfully/ hang in balance  
For if that ye/ in your remembrance  
conceive a right/ and cast up and down  
The sudden change/ and revolucyowne  
That fallen hath/ sith the were began  
The slaughter & death/ of many worthy man  
That for her sake/ hath here lost his life  
Yet the worst/ of this mortal strife  
Doth most rebound/ into our damage  
To disencrease/ and eke disadvantage  
And likely is/ to increase more  
If ordinance/ be nat made therefore  
And remedy shape/ on either side  
By fine only/ that Eleyne abide  
With them of Troy/ still here in the town  
And let us cast/ by good inspeccyowne  
For our ease/ some other mean way  
So that the king/ called Menelay  
These him a wife/ in some other land  
Like his estate/ by surance/ or by bond  
Under wedlock/ confirmed up of new  
That unto him/ will be found true  
sith that we/ without guilt or sin  
May by law/ from Eleyne twynne  
For of diverse causes/ be enough  
thorough out the world/ of every wight yknowe  
Of adultery/ for the foul vice  
For to law/ is no prejudice  
Though Menelay/ justly her forsake  
When so him list/ and another take  
That shall him better/ both queme and please  
And so to us/ it shallbe full great ease  
When the were/ is brought to an end  
Which likely is/ many man to shende  
If it so be/ that it forth contune  
The great labour/ is so importune  
That we ne shall/ no while mow sustain  
For this is sooth/ without any ween  
Troyans yet/ be flouting in their might  
And with them have/ full many worthy knight  
To help them/ of high/ and low degree  
And therewithal/ so strong in their city  
On every part/ without and within  
That we are nat/ likely for to win  
In our purpose/ though we ever abide  
Wherefore by wisdom/ let us void pride  
And wilfulness/ only of prudence  
To have the Eye/ of our advertence  
To our profit/ more than vain glory  
And while our honour/ shineth by victory  
A wisdom is/ to withdraw our hand  
sith we may nat/ constrain by no bond  
Fortunes wheel/ for to abide stable  
Wherefore I read/ or she be mutable  
This gery goddess/ with her double cheer  
Let us give up/ such thing as lieth in were  
Whiles that we may/ our worship save  
For of the were/ the laud yet we have  
Consider well/ how by your manhood  
Our most foo/ Ector is now deed  
And while that we/ in our honour flower  
My counsel is/ or Fortune louvre  
As I saydeere/ to change her bright face  
While that best/ we stand in her grace  
By one assent/ and one opinion  
Without any/ contradiction  
Of heart and will/ both of one and all  
Or our honour/ on any party pall  
Into Grece/ that we home return  
For if that we/ longer here sojourn  
On the quarrel/ that we have long sewed  
doubtless/ it may be showed  
Full great damage/ this without fail  
Or we have done/ shall follow at the tail  
Wherefore best is/ our folly up resygne  
And while our hap/ is welfull and benign  
Most blandishing/ and of face fair  
The time is best/ to make our repair  
While that we stand/ in party and in all  
With our enemies/ in honour perigal  
And far above/ plainly if that we  
Coude have an Eye/ to our felicity  
While that it is/ in his ascension  
But lest some man/ will make objection  
That we may nat/ so our honour save  
To repair plainly/ but we have  
Eleyne again/ that is cause of all  
To which thing/ anon answer I shall  
If any man/ in his fantasy  
To dishonour/ or to villainty  
Arrette would/ in any manner kind  
We to go home/ and leave her behind  
Shortly to say/ I hold/ it be no shame  
sith that we have/ one as great of name  
As is Eleyne/ and of berthe as good  
amongs us/ ycome of kings blood  
Sister to Priam's/ lord of Troy town  
Exyona/ whom that Thelamowne  
In keeping hath/ if I shall nat feign  
In Troy town/ as Paris hath Eleyne  
And sith now/ it may be none other  
Let the tone/ be set again the t'other  
And the surplus/ of old enmity  
Bet wixe us/ and Troy the city  
My counsel is/ for our both ease  
By one assent/ wisely to appease  
This all and some/ and that we hens wend  
I can no more/ my tale is at an end  
To whom anon/ king Menelaus  
For very ire/ wood and Furious  
And king Thoas/ the Duke eke of Athene  
As they that might/ no longer him abstain  
To suffer him/ they were so reckeles  
Spoke all atones/ unto Achilles  
Nat only they/ but thorough impatience  
The court perturbed/ without providence  
With tumult/ gone to reprove  
This Achilles/ and proudly them commeve  
Against him/ and his opinion  
And said shortly/ in conclusion  
Unto his reed/ they ne would never assent  
Nor condescend/ to no thing that he mente  
To be governed/ by him in this case  
For which thing/ anon Achilles was  
So full of Ire/ and rancour in his heart  
That suddenly/ from his see he start  
And went his way/ as he were in a rage  
Tryste and pale/ and a wood visage  
And shortly said/ for him list nat fain  
That he ne would/ longer do his pain  
To help them/ how so that they speed  
Again Troynas'/ for no manner need  
And bad anon/ this hardy Achilles  
To his knights/ called Myrundones  
That they no more/ with spear nor with shield  
To help Greeks/ enter into field  
But keep them close/ at home within their tent  
Thus in this Ire/ he gave commandment  
To all his men/ as ye have herd devise  
Them to withdraw/ at every high emprise  
When so ever/ they go into battle  
And in this while/ scarceness of victual  
Fill in the host of flesh/ of breed/ and win  
That many Greek/ brought unto his fine  
For they ne might/ endure for distress  
constraint of hunger/ died them so oppress  
Till at the last/ king Pallamydes  
As he that was/ in no thing reckeles  
Hath thereupon/ made purveyance  
Remedy/ and ready ordinance  
And by assent/ and counsel of echon  
He hath sent/ wise Agamenon  
The worthy king/ to Messa there beside  
A ●y●ell I'll/ only to provide  
For the Greeks/ if he might speed  
Them to relieve/ in this great need.  
And Telephus/ king of that land  
Of gentilesse/ hath put to his hand  
As he that was/ large/ and wonder free  
And renowned/ of humanity  
To succour them/ commanding anon  
His purueours/ in all haste to gone  
From every party/ about environ  
thorough all the lands/ of his region  
And faithfully/ to search every coost  
To take up victual/ for the greeks host  
And after that/ full hastily he made  
To stuff their ships/ plainly and to lad  
With every thing/ that was necessary  
To the greeks/ and by water carry  
At request/ of Agamenon  
Without tarrying/ or delation  
And so the king/ with plenty of victual  
Fraute and Ylade/ 'gan anon to sail  
Toward the siege/ he and his meynee  
Ay costing/ by the Grekysshe see  
The wind was good/ & the king as belive  
With his navy/ at Troy died aryue  
In few days/ and Greeks anon right  
Of his repair/ were full glad and light  
Of his expleyt/ and his good speed  
That he so well/ hath borne him in this need.  
And after this/ Pallamydes anon  
As saith Guydo/ is to his ships gone  
For to consider/ and look all about  
Where need was/ within and without  
Any of them/ to amend or repair  
As he that list/ for no cost to spare  
In every thing/ without negligence  
touching his charge/ to do his diligence  
Till the truce/ fully were out run  
And the wars/ new again begun  
Which many man/ soothly dear aboughte  
And seriously/ to write how they wrought  
My purpose is/ plainly in sentence  
Under support/ of your patience.   

During in one/ the deadly cruel hate  
That stint may/ nor cease by no date  
atwix Greeks/ and them of the town  
To great damage/ and destruccyowne  
On other part/ feeling full unsweet  
Till on a day/ they cast for to meet  
As they were wont/ proudly with spear & shield  
With their wards/ entering into field  
armed full bright/ upon either side.  
And embattled/ stout and full of pride  
Full knightly have chose/ their ground & take  
Their large banners/ with the wind yshake  
Till they together/ suddenly have met  
And alderfirste/ Dephebus hath set  
Fresh and lusty/ and of heart irous  
Upon a king/ called Creseous  
And of envy/ the story telleth than  
On horse back/ as they together ran  
Dephebus first/ with his spear as belive  
throughout the breast/ even died him rive  
Unto the heart/ that he spoke no more  
The death of whom/ Greeks plain sore  
And for his love/ such a woe they make  
That all atoned/ they have the field forsake  
And 'gan anon/ unto their tents flee  
The which in sooth/ when they of Troy see  
Upon the chase/ fast 'gan them speed  
Unto time/ that worthy diomed  
And with him eke/ the king Pallamydes  
Of high despite/ cruel and merciless  
With twenty thousand/ worthy knights all  
Upon Trojans/ suddenly are fall  
And mortally/ made them lose their weigh  
And to resort/ home again to Troy  
And eke with greeks/ fell and furious  
The same time/ came Thelamonyus  
That height Ajax's/ the strong knightly man  
And like a Lion/ among them as he ran  
Upon Trojans/ and them over set  
casually/ in his way he met  
Cecylyen/ lusty/ fresh and light  
And of his time/ a wonder manly knight  
And soon was/ to Priam's as I read  
Whom Thelamon/ pricking on his stead  
Slow cruelly/ with his sword anon  
Rasing his arm/ from the shuldre bone  
That heallas/ fill deed in the field  
The death of whom/ when Dephebus beheld  
Wodder anon/ than Tiger or lion  
With a spear/ ran to Thelamon  
And smette him so/ thorough his plates bright  
Of very force/ that he made him light  
And lose his saddle/ be seat among the prees  
The which struck/ when Pallamydes  
Beheld and saw/ and clearly 'gan advert  
Irous and would/ with a furious heart  
Cast him anon/ to avenge Thelamowne  
On Dephebus/ full worthy of renown  
And mortally his guerdon/ him to quite  
And with a spear/ ground for to bite  
Sharp and keen/ large round and square  
Full cruelly/ or that he was ware  
thorough his harness/ without more areste  
Dephebus/ he smote so in the breast  
That with the stroke/ he broke the shaft a two  
So that the tronchone/ and the heed also  
Left in his breast/ that there was no weigh  
Finally/ but that he must die  
There was none help/ nor remedy at all  
The wound was/ so cruel and mortal  
That with the life/ he might nat abide  
And in this while/ Paris came beside  
Of adventure/ while this Dephebus  
Was of his wound/ so inly anguishous  
And 'gan in haste/ for to approach near  
With face pale/ and right an heavy cheer  
And for his distress/ wept piteously  
And his knights/ commanded hastily  
His wounded brother/ out aside fere  
In all haste/ that they should bear  
Out of the wards/ fro the great prees  
Unto his pain/ for to do releases  
For to a breathe him/ at leisure or to avente  
In open eyre/ and they unto him went  
Maugre the Greeks/ where he wounded was  
And bore him out/ a full easy pas  
Toward the wall/ fast by the town  
And with great dole/ and lamentacyowne  
Full softly/ on the ground him laid  
Till at the last/ this deadly man abraid  
With mortal look/ and face funeral  
And cheer piteous/ so that each ball  
'Gan turn up/ of his deadly eye  
And even thus/ to Paris he 'gan say  
O brother mine/ whom that I loved so  
Have now pity/ and rue upon my woe  
Of kindness/ and of brotherhood  
And to my words/ of ruth take now heed  
sith we by death/ must a sondre twin  
For Antropose/ shall no longer spin  
My lives thread/ but the knot break  
Wherefore brother/ I pray the be wreak  
Upon my death/ or I hence place  
It that thou list/ to do me such a grace  
Of kindness/ yet or I be deed  
Out of my breast/ or this speries heed  
Be rend away/ that thou avenged be  
Upon my foo/ as I trust in the  
That I may wit/ he be deed or I  
And that his spirit/ it pass finally  
And first descend/ deep down in hell  
Eternally/ with Pluto for to dwell  
Mid his bounds/ that dyrke been and low  
For finally/ so that I may know  
That he be deed/ there is no more to say  
I give no force/ how soon that I die  
To whose request/ Paris took good heed  
And into field/ fast 'gan him speed  
For thought/ and woe/ piteously weeping  
While his brother/ lay there languishing  
Nat awaiting/ but only after death  
Upon the point/ to yield up the breath  
And with his knights/ Paris up & down  
The wards sought/ about environ  
Till at the last/ Pallamydes he fond  
With Sarpedon/ fighting hand of hand  
Now was this king/ this worthy sarpedowne  
Come in diffence/ of them of Troy town  
Which of his hand/ was a noble knight  
And while that he/ with all his full might.  
Most busy was/ Pallamydes to press  
Like a Lion/ whetted with woodness  
Pallamydes/ in heart nat a feared  
Let fly at him/ with his sharp sword  
So mightily/ that it was a wonder  
For his theygh/ parted hath a sunder  
And smote of/ by the hard bone  
That Sarpedon/ fill down deed anon  
So that Trojans/ when that he was slawe  
Were compelled/ of force them to withdraw  
thorough the pursuyt/ of king Pallamydes  
Which upon them/ was so merciless  
And as cruel/ as a wood lion  
After the death/ of Sarpedon  
The which alas/ when Paris died espy  
He marked him/ with a cruel eye  
And hent a bow/ that passingly was strong  
And with an arrow/ to his tiller long  
Entoxycat/ with venom in the heed  
That whom he smote/ therewith was but deed  
And hit him so/ in the aventail  
thorough out the stuff/ and the thykke mail  
Into the throat/ that it 'gan thorough pace  
That he fell deed/ in the self place  
Pallamydes/ this manful worthy knight  
Where thorough Grekis/ took them to the flight  
And made a noise/ and a woeful cry  
The death complaining/ wonder piteously  
Of their lord/ and mighty governor  
But late chose/ to be Emperor  
Their chief succour/ and sovereign refu●  
But now alas/ they stand destytut  
Of governance/ broke and disarrayed  
Without guide/ right as sheep dismayed  
Disconsolat/ and comfortless yshent  
That each of them/ flieth unto his Tent  
And they of Troy/ sued on the chase  
On horse back/ a wonder huge pace  
And merciless slew/ them as they i'll  
On every side/ that ruth was to see  
Without pity/ or any other grace  
For like lions/ they 'gan them enchase  
Till they compelled/ of necessity  
Constrained were/ thorough their cruelty  
To turn again/ and themself defend  
And they of Troy/ down anon descend  
Of horse back/ even upon the plain  
And atones/ there was none other gain  
They 'gan the Greeks/ proudly to outtraye  
And cruelly/ so to disamaye  
That finally/ there gaineth no diffence  
So mortal was/ the mighty violence  
Of Trojans/ that Greeks so diffoyle  
And alderfirste/ at leisure they despoil  
The greeks tents/ of gold and richesse  
At which time/ Troilus 'gan him dress  
And Paris eke/ down to their navy  
With thirty thousand/ in their company  
killing all though/ plainly that they met  
And on their ships/ wild fire they set  
That to the wall/ of Troy the city  
Men might well/ the hideous flawmese  
And all had gone/ to destruction  
Ne had Ajax's/ called Thelamon  
thorough his manhood/ & knightly excellence  
Come anon/ and made resistance  
Of the Greeks/ with many worthy knight  
And though of new/ began the mortal fight  
atween Trojans/ and the Greeks stout  
The red blood/ raylling all about  
Upon the plain/ so hideously they bleed  
And here and there/ both in length and breed  
Deed and maimed/ and full pale of sight  
Upon the soil/ full many noble knight  
Atwexe them/ so cruel was the hate  
For in their fight/ together they debate  
As wild bories/ even so they far  
For none of them/ list other for to spare  
And in the field/ worthy Thelamowne  
thorough his knighthood/ & his high renown  
So manly bore him/ greeks to defend  
That no man might/ in manhood him amend  
thorough all the world/ though men had sought  
For he that day/ in his person hath wrought  
Marvel in arms/ thorough his great might  
That in soothness/ Greeks anon right  
Without him/ had finally be shent  
And their ships/ atones lost and brent  
thorough the pursuyt/ of Paris that day  
And worthy troilus/ that made such affray  
amongs them/ thorough his high prowess  
That thirty ships/ Guydo doth express  
Were lost and brent/ or that Thelamowne  
To reskus came/ with his knights down  
Unto the see/ the remnant for to save  
But for all that/ Trojans that day have  
The higher hand/ of this mortal fight  
thorough the force/ and the great might  
Of troilus only/ which hath so many slain  
Of the greeks/ in sooth that they were fain  
Them to withdraw/ and the field to let  
For in abiding/ they fond full unsweet  
Wherefore they 'gan/ for to lose their place  
Among which/ the kings son of Trace  
That heber height/ wounded to the death  
That he might/ uneath/ draw his breath  
With aspere/ in his breast sticking  
To Achilles/ he came in complaining  
Unto his tent/ even there he lay  
Which in the field/ was nat all that day  
For the sake/ only of Polycene  
The love of whom/ was so sharp and keen  
Ay at his heart/ ylyke green and new  
To whom Heber/ with a mortal hew  
Complaineth sore/ arretting cowardice  
And in manhood/ a very trewandyse  
That he that day/ might so for shame  
Withdraw him/ in hindering of his name  
Out of the field/ to him full great reproof  
Of the Greeks/ saying the mischief  
That they were in/ and confusion  
Upon the brink/ of their destruction  
Abroad the field/ to see them so lie deed  
And list not ones/ for to take heed  
Of his knighthood/ greeks to relieve  
And while Heber/ 'gan him thus reprove  
And the spear/ which in his body was  
All suddenly/ was drawn out alas  
With Eye up cast/ in rancour and in ire  
Full piteously/ Heber died expyre  
In the presence/ of this Achilles  
And therewith came/ in a sudden res  
Into his tent/ a certain knight of his  
Of whom Achilles/ asketh how it is  
Among Greeks/ and clearly how it stood  
And he answered/ full irous in his mode  
Certys quoth he/ full unhappily  
For they of Troy/ have so cruelly  
Our Greeks all/ this day in their fight  
Full shamefully/ put unto the flight  
So many slain/ alas and wela way  
That uneath/ none ne went away  
Vnhurte/ maimed/ or withouten wound  
So fell on us/ Trojans were yfound  
And of them eke/ was such multitude  
That I suppose/ shortly to conclude  
This day there was/ to my oppynyowne  
Nat left a man/ within Troy town  
That able was/ to stand in battle  
With spear/ or sword/ his enemy to assail  
I ween in sooth/ but they come out  
With us to fight/ there was so huge a rout  
That we ne might/ of force take on hand  
In the field/ against them to stand  
But now my lord/ it draweth unto night  
That they be faint/ any more to fight  
If it were pleasing/ to your worthiness  
To your manhood/ and your high noblesse  
To take on you/ to your encrase of fame  
For evermore/ to get you a name  
And there with all/ for your own glory  
Perpetuelly/ to be in memory  
To rise up/ and arm you anon  
And suddenly/ upon them to gone  
Feeble and week/ to make resistance  
Against your manly/ famous excellence  
There were no more/ but we were victors  
For ever more/ and very conquerors  
During the world/ to be in remembrance  
And they for ever/ brought unto utterance  
In sooth fastness/ I have of it no dread  
But Achilles/ took of him no heed  
Nor to Heber/ that lay afore him deed  
Full cold and struck/ of colour like to lead  
Nor ones list/ to give him audience  
Nor unto him/ have his advertence  
There may no word/ in his heart mine  
To that he said/ to make him incline  
For utterly/ even like he feared  
As though he/ no manner word ne herd  
For thorough his ears/ it passed as a sown  
Lo here/ the manner and condycyowne  
The very custom/ and the plain usance  
Of these lovers/ hanging in a trance.  
Honour worship/ manhood and prowess  
strength/ might/ fame and hardiness  
Increase of name/ virtue and victory  
knighthood/ noblesse/ and in arms glory  
All these/ can love lay aside  
Such is the might/ of the god cupid  
Which hearts high/ with his hook can seize  
So loath they are/ plainly to displease  
either in cheer/ or in countenance  
In will or deed/ or disobeisance  
To her that is/ their sovereign lady dear  
For with a look/ of her eyen clear  
She can full well/ daunt all their pride  
For Venus soon/ so felly can provide  
His arrows keen/ to pierce nerfe and vain  
And them enlace/ in his fiery chain  
That only thorough/ his importable charge  
They be restrained/ for to go at large  
Which cause was/ this day doubtless  
That this/ noble hardy Achilles  
Would nat/ withouten any ween  
Come in the field/ for dread of Polycene  
list that she were/ offended in her heart  
If any thing/ escaped or asterte  
This Achilles/ thorough misgovernance  
And whiles he/ hang thus in balance  
The Greeks fought/ with them of the town  
Till bright Phoebus'/ was at going down  
That Trojans/ of necessity  
For lack of light/ enter the city  
And while that they/ homeward be repreyred  
Lay Dephebus/ of his life dispeyred  
Complaining aye/ on his deadly wound  
And when Paris/ & troilus/ have him found  
In that mischief/ they 'gan weep and cry  
As they would/ for very ruth die  
With woeful noise/ and with piteous sown  
The ●alte teries/ 'gan to run down  
On their cheeks/ upon either side  
And whiles they/ upon him abide  
This wounded man/ 'gan draw to his end  
Whose spirit was/ ready for to wend  
Out of his breast/ and his weary ghost  
Full hastily/ into another cost  
With deadly Eyen/ turned up so down  
When that he knew/ by relacyowne  
That Paris hath/ Pallamydes yslawe  
Anon he bade/ that they should out draw  
The large tronchone/ with the steelen heed  
And there with all anon/ he fill down deed  
And with the corpse/ they 'gan them fast speed  
Toward the town/ but for it is no need  
The dole to write/ and lamenciowne  
That made was/ for Sarpedowne  
thorough the city/ and namely of the king  
And of the queen/ ever in one weeping  
Of his brethren/ and his sisters dear  
It were but vain/ to rehearse it here  
But Priam hath/ with great diligence  
Two towmbes made/ of royal excellence  
For Dephebus/ and king Sarpedowne  
With many Ymmage/ graven environ  
And many a knot/ koruen here and yonder  
And buried them/ but a little a sunder  
Like the custom/ of their rites old  
And whiles they/ the feast hallow & hold  
That called is/ the feast funeral  
The Greeks/ have do made in special  
A rich tomb/ to the worthy king  
Pallamydes/ and for his burying  
Sosempnely/ made ordinance  
amongs them/ as it was usance  
And with great dole/ and piteous heaviness  
They have this king/ of great worthiness  
Royally brought/ to his sepulture  
And for they might/ long nat endure  
Without an heed/ and a governor  
They chosen have/ to their Emperor  
By one assent/ and affection  
The worthy king/ wise Agamenon  
And after they made/ no letting  
They of Troy/ the next day suing  
With their wards/ into field to goon  
Fully purposed/ to fight with their soon  
And Greeks manly/ in the face them met  
But worthy Troilus/ so them overset  
That Greek was none/ shortly for to tell  
Thilk day/ afore him might dwell  
So cruelly/ he 'gan them/ for to chase  
For where he came/ or road in any place  
They fled his sword/ of their life in doubt  
His young kynghtes/ riding him about  
Such as he was/ usant for to lead  
And ever in one/ the greeks blood they shed  
Which like a stream/ distained all the plain  
And all this while/ was so huge a rain  
The same day/ and so huge a mist  
That every man/ hath his fellow myste  
specially/ upon the Greeks side  
That for the storm/ and their wounds wide  
And for the manhood/ of this Trojan knight  
¶ Worthy Troilus/ so fresh so young & light  
They were co-acted/ thorough his cruelty  
Maugre their might/ for dread of death to i'll  
To their tents/ succour for to find  
Troyans aye/ pursuing behind  
Full mortally/ with a stern pace  
But for the storm/ they cease of the case  
And home repair/ to their city strong  
Till on the morrow/ that the lark song  
That Troilus eft/ most manly in battle  
The Greeks new/ caste him for to assail  
And Guydo writ/ this young champywne  
Thilk day/ as he road up and down  
Among his soon/ thorough his high renown  
That therne was king/ duke/ erlenor barowne  
With his sword/ where so that he wend  
That of their life/ he made a mortal end  
All the while/ that Phoebus gave his light  
Till at the last/ that it drew to night  
That he to Troy/ repaireth manfully  
And seven days/ suing by and by  
This life he lad/ with his knights fell  
Upon greeks/ as Guydo can you tell  
Ay new and new/ he 'gan them so confound  
His cruel sword/ was so keen ground  
That they ne might/ in his mortal tene  
Afore his sight/ abide nor sustain  
Nor the vengeance/ that he on them took  
For where he road/ the way they forsook  
In his trase/ the renges/ were so read  
Of them in sooth/ that in the field lay deed  
For which slaughter/ and confusyowne  
The greeks new/ sent to the town  
For a truce/ to Priamus the king  
And he anon/ granted their asking  
For two months/ fully by the assent  
Of all the lords/ of his Parliament  
Whereof they made/ full relation  
The ambassadors/ to Agamenon  
And to their lodging/ after forth they went  
But how that he/ unto Achilles sent  
The mean while/ his messengers wise  
So as I can/ I shall anon devise.   

AGamenon/ as Guydo list indite  
His lords sent/ Achilles to visit  
For certaye causes/ lyk as ye shall here  
Which in the story/ be rehearsed here  
And with ulixes/ and worthy diomed  
Duke Nestor went/ plainly as I read  
To fine only/ by their counsaylling  
Into his heart/ that they might bring  
And induce him/ to have a fantasy  
To be willing/ thorough his chivalry  
With them to stand/ as he hath do toforne  
That have so many/ of their men ylorne  
For lack only/ of his high presence  
And Achilles/ with dign reverence  
received them/ & with right knightly cheer  
And after that/ when they were set yfere  
Like their degree/ anon in audience  
¶ While ulixes/ full of eloquence  
'Gan his tale/ prudently devise  
To Achilles/ saying in this wise  
Sir Achilles/ most renowned of glory  
thorough out the world/ to be in memory  
And of knighthood/ very showers and well  
Displaese it not/ now that I shall tell  
To your/ noble famous excellence  
Nor to your ears/ let be none offence  
That I shall say/ but of goodlihead  
patiently/ that ye will take heed  
To my words/ said of heart and thought  
I you ensure/ for I fain nought  
This to say/ if ye remember well  
The first cause/ and purpose everydeal  
Of the greeks/ if ye have mention  
Was fully set/ by one intention  
As well of you/ as of us pard  
When we come first/ to this city  
Kings/ princes/ I except none  
Of which in sooth/ to reckon everichone  
Yourself was/ to speak in special  
One of the first/ and most principal  
assented full/ how Troy the city  
thorough our manhood/ destroyed should be  
Perpetuelly brought/ unto ruin  
But now of new/ I note what doth incline  
Your worthiness/ suddenly to vary  
And to our purpose/ for to be contrary  
Consider first/ of you that be so sage  
The wrongs done/ and the great damage  
In Greeks land/ of them of the town  
Conspiring aye/ to our destruccyowne  
If ye advert/ wisely in your thought  
That slain have/ and to an end brought  
Full many worthy/ sith gone full yore  
And of treasure/ that no man may restore  
Despoiled us/ and brought in great distress  
Our goods raught/ our gold & our richesse  
Our ships brent/ thorough their cruelty  
And to all this/ alas/ ye list nat see  
Now that they be/ which may nat be delayed  
thorough your manhood/ finally outrayed  
sith ye have slay/ their hope/ their suffisance  
Actor in whom/ was all their affiance  
Fully their trust/ and diffence also  
And Dephebus/ also is a go  
And likely are/ more to be apeyred  
from day to day/ and finally despaired  
So frowardly/ Fortune on them loureth  
And now your honour/ & your fame flowereth  
In his worship/ and your high renown  
Attained hath/ the exaltacyowne  
And highest prick/ of Fortunes wheel  
It were great wrong/ and ye look weal  
Of wilfulness/ for to be unkind  
To her that ye/ so friendly to you find  
Or to be froward/ while she is benign  
By influence/ graciously to assign  
Her spokies move/ unto your pleasance  
And hap to turn/ with plenty on your chance  
After whose help/ you needeth nat to call  
¶ Wherefore alas/ why will ye suffer pall  
Your noble fame/ of very wilfulness  
While it is highest/ in his worthiness  
Your knightly/ prudence/ it should natka s●●rte  
Of which thing/ every gentle heart  
Should have ruth/ and compassion  
Wherefore we pray/ of discretion  
That ye you shape/ this purpose to amend  
And that ye would/ of heart condescend  
With us to stand/ knightly in this were  
By your manhood/ that is spoke of so far  
That your renown/ to the worlds end  
Reported be/ where so/ that men wend  
Perpetuelly/ by freshness of hew  
Day be day/ to increase new  
That the triumph/ of this high victory  
Be put in story/ and eke in memory  
And so imprinted/ that forgetfulness  
No power have/ by malice to oppress  
Your fame/ in knighthood/ dyrke or difface  
That shineth yet/ so clear in many place  
Without Eclypsing/ soothly this no less  
Which to concern/ ye be now reckless  
Of wilfulness/ to cloud so the light  
Of your renown/ that whilom shone so bright  
Your mighty hand/ of manhood to with draw  
Consider first/ how Greeks are yslawe  
Tofore your Tent/ with mortal wounds wide  
thorough out the field/ upon every side  
And have disdain/ only for lack of ruth  
Alas the while/ for a little sloth  
To lay to hand/ in their mischief at all  
That whilom were/ their strong mighty wall  
Their chief diffence/ and their champion  
Soveuerayne help/ and proteccyowne  
For whom ye have/ so oft shed your blood  
Again their soon/ with them when he stood  
Full mightily/ their enemies to assail  
Without whom/ they little may avail  
In very sooth/ ne none of us eachone  
But ye of knighthood/ list with us to gone  
Again Trojans/ as ye were wont to do  
As is our trust/ and final hope also  
That ye shall help/ and our succour be  
And here upon/ we pray you that ye  
Say your advise/ and your full will  
And than anon/ the hardy fierce Achylle  
When ulixes/ concluded had his tale  
With a face/ for anger deed and pale  
Said even thus/ all openly and plain  
Sir ulixes/ if so right as ye sayne  
And have declared/ in conclusion  
That our purpose/ and intention  
Was finally/ to bren and destroy  
This royal city/ that is called Troy  
I hold in sooth/ me liketh nat to lie  
That our intent/ was grounded on folly  
To put us all/ thorough in discretion  
Of reckeleshede/ and hasty motion  
Of life and death/ in such jeopardy  
And specially/ in all the chivalry  
Of Greeks land/ for so small a thing  
So many prince/ and many worthy king  
That have juparted/ their body & their good  
Yloste their life/ and yspent their blood  
Which might have be/ full well at home in pees  
And is nat now/ the king Pallamydes  
Yslawe also/ as who saith but of new  
That was so wise/ so manly and so true  
Of whom the life/ was of more prise alone  
Than the cause/ for which that we eachone  
Be gathered here/ who so look a right  
And of Greeks/ many a noble knight  
That have be slain/ both of the worthiest  
The world/ to seek/ and the manliest  
For out of every/ land and region  
On greeks party/ and with them of the town  
Of chyvalry/ & of knighthood the sourayne flower  
To win in arms/ worship and honour  
Assembled be/ and come fro so far  
Of which in sooth/ by duresse of this were  
Full many one/ in the field is deed  
And verily/ without any dread  
There shall well more/ if the were last  
For every day/ the number lasseth fast  
Of worthy knights/ deed without ruth  
That I dare say/ and conclude of truth  
In this rage/ furious and wooed  
Full likely is/ that all the gentle blood  
thorough out this world/ shall destroyed be  
And rural folk/ and that were great pity  
Shall have lordship/ and holy governance  
And Churls eke/ with sorrow & mischance  
In every land/ shall lords be alone  
When gentle men/ slain be eachone  
Is nat Ector/ that was so noble a knight  
That was this worlds/ very son and light  
Of manhood flower/ slain piteously  
In this were/ in sooth and so might I  
peraventure/ which may nat attain  
To his noblesse/ if I shall nat fain  
For by what way/ shall we the death eschew  
With all our might/ if we it pursue  
from day to day/ while that we lie here  
Therefore shortly/ me for to reqire  
touching the were/ either for to pray  
Is but in vain/ and hearken what I say  
I nat purpose/ in this were or strife  
For to jeopard/ any more my life  
For liefer I have/ that palled be my name  
Than to be slain/ and have an idle fame  
For worthiness/ after death yblowe  
Is but a wind/ and lasteth but a throw  
For though renown/ and prise be blow wide  
forgetfulness/ leyth it oft aside  
By length of years/ and oblyvyon  
thorough envy/ and false conclusion  
The laud of knighthood/ and of worthiness  
Of wisdom eke/ and of gentilesse  
Fredam bounty/ virtue and such grace  
forgetfulness/ can dark and difface  
And therewithal/ malice and envy  
Yseryd hath/ the palm of chivalry  
By false report/ wherefore I say for me  
I will of wisdom/ such folly let be  
And in quiet/ forth my life nowelede  
And over this/ to you three I read  
To seek peas/ with Trojans if ye may  
In hasty wise/ without more delay  
This my counsel/ platly to you all  
Or that mischief/ of death upon you fall  
It were well done/ that ye took heed  
Both ulixes/ and thou diomed  
And Nestor eke/ sithen ye be wise  
To work plainly/ like as I devise  
This the sum and fine/ of mine intent  
And so reporteth to him/ that hath you sent  
And they anon/ with short conclusion  
Bepeyred be/ to Agamenon  
With such answer/ as ye have heard me say  
It needeth nat/ to write it new again  
And here upon/ king Agamenon  
Let make anon/ a convocation  
Of his lords/ and in their presence  
Fro point to point/ soothly in sentence  
He hath rehearsed/ how that Achilles  
Was desirous/ for to have a pees  
With them of Troy/ and platly how that he  
For no prayer/ will in no degree  
Again Trojans/ with spear nor with shield  
In help of Greeks/ be armed in the field  
Wherefore the king/ as he that was full wise  
Here upon/ axed their advise  
And what them thought/ was best for to do  
In this matter/ sith it stood so  
And first of all/ speaketh Menelay  
With angry cheer/ and said platly nay  
To have a peace/ it was nat his intent  
Ne that he would/ thereto be of assent  
sithen the Cytee/ in conclusion  
Stood on the prick/ of his destruction.   

NOw that Ector/ & Dephebus were deed  
that whilom were/ their trust in every need  
And their diffence/ but now they are ago  
Farewell their trust/ and their hope also  
Without more/ and all their hole pride  
They may nat now/ but after death abide  
And trust well/ without any les  
Though it so be/ that this Achilles  
Ne help us nat/ toward our emprise  
We thereof not dread/ in no manner wise  
Without him/ for to have victory  
By our manhood/ and our own glory  
I am full sure thereof/ and certain  
But ulixes/ 'gan reply again  
Qestor also/ of sudden motion  
contrary/ was/ to his opinion  
affirming plainly/ that no wonder was  
Though Menelay/ soothly in this cas  
Unto the peace/ would nat assent  
For openly/ they wist what he mente  
For he was ground/ and root of all the were  
And cause also/ they come were so far  
Out of their land/ he and the queen Eleyne  
And for the sake/ only of them twain  
The Greeks all/ which no man may deny  
Their lives put/ in such jeopardy  
For him and her/ if the ground be sought  
For well they wist/ that he wrought nought  
This Menelay/ what woe they endure  
So he his wife/ might again recure  
And where he saith/ that Ector is deed  
He hath an heir/ to speak of manlihood  
And of knighthood/ as it will be found  
And called is/ Ector the second  
¶ Worthy Troilus/ which that is his brother  
In all this world/ is nat such another  
Of worthiness/ for to reckon all  
For he of Troy/ is the mighty wall  
And diffence/ now Ector is agone  
Ye know it well/ yourself everichone  
If it so be/ that ye list take heed  
Whose sharp sword/ sore doth us bleed  
Every day/ in his furious heat  
Amid the field/ when we with him meet  
And in stead/ of worthy Dephebus  
Which in his time/ was wonderly famous  
His brother/ Paris/ is now found at all  
In worthiness/ of knighthood perigal  
So that of them/ we have none advantage  
Unto this hour/ but rather great damage  
To reckon all/ sith we be gone  
This very sooth/ we have but little won  
But we are likely/ always more to lose  
If we continue/ but sith we may cheese  
It were wholesome/ to live in quiet  
To have a peace/ and this were let  
By one assent/ sith ye be wise   

ANd with the word/ Calchas 'gan to rise  
The Trojan traitor/ with a pale cheer  
For very Ire/ and said as ye shall here  
A worthy princes/ what think ye to done  
To change/ so like/ as doth the moon  
Your old purpose/ and your first intent  
Again the will/ and commandment  
Of the gods/ that every thing govern  
By purveyance/ who so can discern  
Alas alas/ why ne will ye at the lest  
Credence and faith/ give to their hest  
Which in no wise/ may nat be fallible  
For in sooth/ it were an impossible  
Utterly/ but Troy the city  
Of ordinance/ and necessity  
Might be destroyed/ hens but alyte  
If your sloth/ be it nat to wite  
So that victory/ worship and honour  
And final palm/ eke of this labour  
To be reported/ on water and on land  
Reserved be/ wholly/ to your hand  
In your purpose/ if ye forth contune  
And hinder nat/ of folly your Fortune  
This in sooth/ I dare it well conclude  
And perilous is/ the gods to yllude  
Of negligence/ or sloth wilfully  
Wherefore I read/ that now manfully  
Of heart and thought/ and of full unity  
Platly devoiding/ all ambygnyte  
To set upon/ and knightly to resume  
Your force again/ fully to consume  
Your cruel soon/ and let be shut without  
Wan hope and dread/ despair & every doubt  
Casting of parryll/ sloth and cowardice  
And let manhood/ utterly despise  
All dread of death/ that causeth hearts faint  
With cowardice/ for to be attaint  
That finally/ as gods have be height  
thorough prescience/ of their eternal might  
To victory/ that ye shall attain  
Like your desire/ there is no more to say  
And when Calchas/ in conclusyowne  
This false traitor/ unto Troy town  
The Greeks had/ thorough his words fair  
touching the were/ put out of despair  
Of heart all one/ they cast them to fulfil  
wholly his counsel/ though so that Achylle  
Be froward aye/ to help them in their need  
They gave no force/ nor took of it no heed  
But everichone/ they them ready make  
As ye shall here/ the field in haste to take.   

THe truce passed/ of the months wain  
Into the field/ the Greeks them ordain  
And they of Troy/ again them issue out  
And worthy Troilus/ with an huge rout  
The Greeks 'gan/ alderfirste assail  
And with his sword/ he made first to rail  
The red blood/ thorough their harness bright  
That as the death/ their fled fro his sight  
For he that day/ thorough his cruelty  
Cast him fully/ avenged for to be  
Upon the death/ of Ector utterly  
And as Dares/ rehearseth specially  
A. M. knights/ this Trojan champion  
That day hath slain/ riding up and down  
As mine Author/ Guydo list indite  
Save after him/ I can no ferther write  
In his book/ he giveth him such a name  
That by his manhood/ and his knightly fame  
The Greeks all/ were put unto flight  
All that day/ till it drew to night  
And on the morrow/ in the dawening  
The greeks have/ at Phoebus' uprising  
Yarmed them/ with great diligence  
Again Trojans/ to stand at diffence  
amongs whom/ that day as I read  
So well him bare/ worthy diomed  
That many Trojan/ thorough his cruelty  
Hath lost his life/ till Troilus 'gan to see  
This diomed/ in the field riding  
To whom anon/ without more letting  
With his spear/ threw into the rest  
This Troilus road/ & smote him on the breast  
So mightily/ that of very need  
Down of his horse/ he smote diomed  
Albe of wound/ he had no damage  
And furiously/ Troilus in his rage  
Ofenuye/ 'gan him to abreyde  
When he was down/ the love of Creseyde  
Of his deceit/ and his Treachery  
And greeks than/ fast 'gan them high  
Among the horse/ in mischief where he lay  
To draw him out/ in all the haste they may  
And on a shield/ brosyd and afraid  
They bore him home/ so he was dismayed  
Of the stroke/ home unto his Tent  
And Menelay/ the same while hath hent  
A mighty spear/ to avenge diomed  
And to Troilus/ fast 'gan him speed  
Fully advised/ to unhorsed him anon  
But Troilus first/ made his stead gone  
So swift a course/ toward Menelay  
That he anon/ at the Earth lay  
So mightily he hit/ him with his spear  
That shield nor plate/ might him not were  
To save him/ from a mortal wound  
But his knights/ anon as they him found  
Out of the press/ when they had him rend  
They bore him home/ to his own tent  
The greeks aye/ standing in distress  
thorough the knighthood/ and the high prowess  
Of this troilus/ which hath them so belayne  
On every part/ where he road on the plain  
Till unto time/ that Agamenowne  
Into the field/ is a valyd down  
With many worthy/ about his banner  
That shone full sheen/ again the son clear  
And with his knights/ him riding environ  
He sore enchased them/ of troy town  
Woundeth & sleeth/ and put them to the flight  
Himself acquyting/ like a manly knight  
But for all that/ without more abode  
Among Trojans/ fiercely as he road  
This worthy king/ great Agamenowne  
With a spear Troilus/ smette him down  
Maugre his Greeks/ there gaineth no succour  
And when they saw/ their lord & governor  
In such mischief/ at the ground lyende  
They hent him up/ and made him to ascend  
thorough their manhood/ on his strong stead  
And he of wit/ 'gan to take heed  
And considered/ wisely in his thought  
In what disjoint/ Troilus had them brought  
And how his Greeks/ for all their great pride  
Tofore his sword/ might nat abide  
He prudently/ of high discretion  
This noble knight/ king Agamenon  
As he that had aye/ his advertence  
On governance/ thorough his providence  
When he saw/ his Greeks 'gan fail  
And wax feeble/ to stand in battle  
For lack of stuff/ that should them recomfort  
Full prudently/ he made them to resort  
everich of them/ to his own tent  
And after that/ he hath to Priam sent  
For atrewes/ to Troy the city  
For six Months/ if it might be  
And by his counsel/ Pryamus the king  
Without abode/ granted his axing  
Albe that some/ as Guydo list indite  
Were evil apaid/ so long to respite  
Their mortal soon/ in any manner wise  
But yet his grant/ as ye have herd devise  
Stood in his strength/ fully as I read  
In which time/ of very womanhead  
Creseyde/ list no longer for to tarry  
Though her father/ were thereto contrary  
For to visit/ and to have a sight  
Of diomed/ that was be come her knight  
¶ Which had of troilus/ late caught a wound  
And in his Tent/ when she hath him found  
benignly/ upon his beds side  
She set her down/ in the self tide  
And platly cast/ in her own thought  
touching Troilus/ that it was for nought  
To live in hope/ of any more recure  
And thought she would/ for no thing be unsure  
Of purveyance/ nor without store  
She gave anon/ without any more  
holy her heart/ upon diomed  
Lo what pity is/ in womanhead  
What mercy eke/ and benign ruth  
That newly can/ all her old truth  
Of nauture/ let slip aside  
Rather than they/ should see abide  
Any man in mischief/ for their sake  
The change is nat/ so ready for to make  
In Lombarde street/ of crown nor doket  
All poised is good/ be so the print be set  
Their letter of change/ doth no man abide  
So that the wind/ be ready and the tide  
Passage is aye/ who so list to place  
No man is lost/ that list seek grace  
Danger is none/ but counterfeit disdain  
The see is calm/ and from rocks plain  
For merciless/ never man ne died  
That sought grace/ record of Creseyde  
Which finally/ hath given/ all her heart  
To diomed/ in release of his smart  
And prayed him/ to be right glad and light  
And calleth him/ her own man/ & her knight  
And him behyghte/ rather than he die  
In every thing/ how she would obey  
That were honest/ him to do pleasance  
For liefer she had/ change and variance  
Were found on her/ than lack of pity  
As sycting is/ to Femynynyte  
Of nature/ nat to be vengeable  
For faith nor oath/ but rather merciable  
Of man's life/ standing in distress  
Here of no more/ for now I will me dress  
To tell forth/ in my translation  
seriously/ how Agamenon  
During the truce/ and the time of pees  
Himself went/ unto Achilles  
beseeching him/ some reward to have  
Of his knighthood/ Greeks for to save  
And his presence/ no more to withdraw  
To suffer them/ so mortally be slawe  
Of their enemies/ pompous and Elate  
But Achilles/ always indurate  
Ilyche new/ both in heart and thought  
From his purpose/ platly changeth nought  
Fully inclined/ for to have a pees  
But for asmuch/ as Achilles  
Of entyernesse/ and affection  
So loving was/ to Agamenon  
He unto him/ granted at the lest  
A great parcel/ touching his request  
This to say/ that this Achilles  
Granteth to him/ his Myrundones  
Full knightly men/ only in his absence  
With the Greeks/ to make resistance  
In the field/ again them of the town  
For which grant/ king Agamenowne  
And duke Nestor/ thanked him of heart  
But he alway/ continuing in his smart  
For the love/ of fair Polycene  
Ne knew no gain/ to his wounds green  
But dispeyred/ languyssheth ever in one  
And when the truce/ passed were and gone  
Upon adaye/ the morrow full benign  
Achilles his knights/ died assign  
The field to take/ with Agamenon  
And as the story/ maketh mention  
He gave to them bends/ fresh of read  
That men may know/ by their manlihood  
With whom they were/ withhold in special  
And like a man/ deadly and mortal.  
In his tent/ Achilles abode  
Into the field/ from him when they road  
only for dole/ they should from him twin  
In his absence/ a were to begin  
Maugre his will/ again them of the town  
But forth they went/ with Agamenowne  
Upon Trojans/ stern and full of pride  
But with them met/ on the other side  
The manly knights/ of Troyanysshe blood  
Which were on them/ so furious and wooed  
That cruelly/ the greeks they oppress  
So that a back/ for fere they 'gan them dress  
They were on them/ so inly fell and keen  
Till that the Duke/ of Athene  
Entrede in/ the Greeks to defend  
But upon him/ unwarely/ or he wend  
Came mighty troilus/ like a wood lyowne  
And from his stead/ anon he bore him down  
And after that/ he put him so in prees  
Till he met/ with Myrundones  
And of them slew/ that day full many one  
And so fet in/ Troilus is Ygone  
That he greeks/ put utterly to flight  
thorough his knighthood/ till it drew to night  
& fro his sword/ no raunsoun might then borrow  
And Guydo write/ that on the next morrow  
Full mortal was/ the slaughter/ on either side  
Amid the field/ as they together ride  
Of manly knights/ that wonder was to seen  
And as they fought/ the king Phylymene  
With help only/ of polydamas  
Taken hath/ the worthy king Thoas  
And 'gan him lead/ toward Troy town  
But Myrundones/ on him come down  
Wonder proudly/ and after 'gan to sew  
And through their might/ Thoas they rescue  
And him deliver/ for they were so strong  
But troilus than/ hurtled them among  
furiously/ like a champion  
Now here now there/ caste & threw them down  
Some he slew/ and some he made bleed  
Till cruelly/ they slew his mighty stead  
Which he sat on/ and yet nevertheless  
He fought on foot/ again Myrundones  
That had cast troilus/ to have take  
But Paris/ though/ 'gan them so a wake  
With his brethren/ that about him road  
That in the place/ where as troilus stood  
Upon his feet/ but himself alone  
Of Myrundones/ they slew many one  
That of knighthod/ thorough their manlihood  
They unto him/ brought another stead  
Amid his soon/ and made him to ascend  
And he full knightly/ 'gan himself defend  
Be set with greeks/ in the self stound  
That never yet/ a better knight was found  
They felt it well/ that were his soon  
But than his brother/ called Emargaron  
So as he fought/ putting himself in prees  
Was slain alas/ among Myrundones  
The death of whom/ in a cruel ire  
Troilus with anger/ new set a fire  
Plainly purposeth/ to avenge if he may  
And with his sword/ began to make way.  
And Paris aye/ fast by riding  
And all his brethren/ upon him awaiting  
Which all yfere/ were so merciless  
As I find/ upon Myrundones  
That of force/ and necessity  
They were compelled/ plainly for to i'll  
Troilus on them/ was so Furious  
So vengeable eke/ and so despitous  
That he them gave/ many mortal wound  
And yet in sooth/ that day they were found  
Noble knights/ and quyt them wonder weal  
For they the craft/ knew everydeal  
Longing to arms/ of them as I read  
But for all that/ he made their sides bleed  
thorough the mail/ and their plates sheen  
That they ne might/ plainly nat sustain  
The sword of troilus/ them chasing overall  
Albe they kept/ them close as any wall  
Hole together/ and went nat a sunder  
But troilus aye/ them chaseth here & yonder  
And severed them maugre all their might  
Till into field/ with many worthy knight  
Came Menelay/ and king Agamenon  
Vlixes eke/ and cruel Thelamon  
And diomed/ which of his wounds green  
recured was/ as saith mine author clean  
And on Trojans/ suddenly they fall  
With their wards/ and their knights all  
And tho began/ the fight to renew  
On every half/ that with bloody hew  
The plates bright/ were of new stained  
And they of troy/ so manly have them pained  
Again their soon/ in this mighty strife  
That many greek/ was bereft his life  
And where they were/ most mighty in battle  
Troilus came in/ and 'gan them to assail  
On every part/ with many bloody wound  
And by his knighthood/ 'gan them to comfounde  
That aye they fled/ so they were afeard  
The mortal strokes/ of his sharp sword  
Their deadly foo/ and destruction  
And this continueth/ till king Thelamon  
By his manhood/ when that he beheld  
The greeks made/ recure again the field  
And 'gan Trojans/ assail wonder sore  
And though began/ the slaughter more and more  
On each side till/ troilus new again  
The greeks hath/ so fiercely overlay  
Myrundones/ and them everichone  
Afore his sword/ that he made them gone  
To their tents/ and the field for sake  
And with his hand/ that day he hath take  
An hundred knights/ that came in his weigh  
thorough his prowess/ & sent them into troy  
And ever in one/ 'gan so to enchase  
Myrundones/ that they lost their place  
And to Achilles/ dying in his tent  
They repair/ forwounde/ and to rend  
Their harness broke/ both plate and mail  
And of number/ I find that they fail  
An hundred knights/ slain and deed alas  
That after were found/ in the Taas  
Amid the field/ thorough girt with many wound  
Of Troilus sword/ Ector the second  
Whereof Achilles/ when he had a sight  
So heavy was/ all the next night  
In his bed/ walo wing to and fro  
devoid of sleep/ for constraint of his woe  
At his heart/ his wound was so keen  
What for his men/ and fair Polycene  
witting well/ if he died his pain  
To be venged/ he should nat attain  
In no wise/ unto his desire  
And thus he brent/ in a double fire  
Of love and Ire/ that made him shyghe sore  
But for cause/ love was the more  
He was afeard/ again them of the town  
In his person/ to do offencyowne  
list Pryamus/ and Eccubathe queen  
Offended were/ and namely Polycene  
And thus he stood/ in a double were  
That his heart/ sat him wonder near  
With many wonder/ divers fantasy  
As have lovers/ that be in point to die  
Right even so fareth/ this woeful man  
For very woe/ that no read ne can  
So entryked/ that wend to die  
Of his recure/ he knew no better weigh  
And while he lay/ this in this throws white  
Like as Guydo/ plainly/ list indite  
And the story/ maketh mention  
That days seven/ they of troy town  
To increase and augment/ of their sorrow  
With the Greeks/ met every morrow  
That thorough the force/ of both their might  
On other part/ was slain many a knight  
And all this while/ lay this Achilles  
Of Greeks death/ ylyke reckeles  
For love only/ and took no manner heed  
Who so were hole/ or mortally doth bleed  
Or who that plaineth/ with his woundis large  
Him thought it was/ no parcel of his charge  
So moche he hath/ on other thing to think  
That oft he waketh/ when he should wink  
Thoughtful aye/ and Ymagynatyfe  
And very weary/ of his own life  
Till on a day/ king Agamenon  
saying the death/ and destruction  
On Greeks half/ without remedy  
To Troy sent/ by enbassatrye  
For a truce/ certain days space  
But he might/ thereof have no grace  
Longer time/ platly to endure  
Than for leisure/ of the Sepulture  
Of worthy knights/ that were deed aforne  
In the field/ on either party lost  
Which in the taas/ full busily they sought  
And after this/ plainly how they wrought  
During the siege/ with great violence  
I shall describe/ with your patience.    

¶ How Achilles slew the worthy Troilus Ectors' brother unknightly/ and trailed him about the field at his horse tail. Ca xxxi.  

THe cruel force/ and mortal ire  
Of Martyrs might/ always set a fire  
With new envy/ gone of old hatred  
Brenning in hertis/ hot as any gleed  
atwix Greeks/ and Troy the city  
Which likely is nat/ staunched for to be  
Till death consume/ with his mortal dart  
Full many worthy/ upon either part  
To execute/ alas/ by final fate  
Each on other/ the envious deadly hate  
Which they ne might/ by destyne remewe  
Nor for Parchas/ at liberty eschew  
For Antropos/ will suffer it be none other  
That is mistress/ & guider of therother  
Of deaths ship/ till all goth unto wreck  
And Fortune 'gan/ turn her face bake  
Of high disdain/ fro Troy the city  
As in this story/ right soon ye shall see.  
For when the truce/ that they had take  
Were wered out/ they 'gan them ready make  
The proud Greeks/ and into field they gone  
Upon a morrow/ when Phoebus' bright shone  
Armed full sheen/ everich at his devise  
And Menelay first/ met with Paris  
That day/ in story as I read  
And each of them/ smet other of his stead  
A● which time/ daunz polydamas  
To Vlixes/ road a stern pace  
And each at other/ of cruel enmity  
With stiff swords/ 'gan together flee  
That neither was/ of manhood for to wite  
And with aspere/ squared for to bite  
The mighty Duke/ called Meneste  
Road line right/ that all might see  
To Antenor/ the Trojan full of pride  
And from his saddle/ caste him down aside  
In his fury/ and his hateful tene  
And tho in all haste/ came king Phylemene  
only in help/ of them of the town  
And 'gan assail/ king Agamenowne  
thorough his knighthood/ and his hardiness  
That he him had/ brought in great distress  
To outer mischief/ and confusion  
Ne had only be/ that king Thelamon  
Full proudly came/ him for to rescue  
And after sore/ 'gan for to pursue  
With a spear/ upon Phylemene  
And for his horse/ he laid him on the green  
Maugre his force/ the story telleth thus  
For he to him/ was mortally Irous  
And after that/ young Archylogus  
A mortal couts/ ran unto Brumus  
One of the sons/ of Priamus the king  
young and deliver/ and best in his liking  
But he him smette/ with so great a might  
That he fell deed/ this fresh lusty knight  
The death of whom/ when they of Troy espy  
They made a shout/ and piteously 'gan cry  
Of woeful ruth/ and his death complain  
Till the noise/ 'gan utterly attain  
To troilus ears/ platly where he road  
And he no longer/ after that abode  
But to the place/ felly 'gan approach  
And with his sword/ for to set abroach  
Without ruth/ the greeks hateful blood  
And merciless/ all that him withstood  
He slew that day/ by cruel adventure  
That greek was none/ the which might endure  
Tofore his sword/ he 'gan them so oppress  
For of knighthood/ and of high prowess  
He had them put/ utterly to flight  
Ne had been/ the manhood/ and the might  
Of Myrundones/ which all that day  
By one assent/ upon Troilus lay  
Whereof he was/ full melancolyus  
And of courage/ and manhood most famous  
He ne list/ no longer for to let  
But all atones/ upon them he set  
And furiously/ 'gan among them ride  
And some he smote/ even thorough the side  
thorough the body/ and some thorough the heart  
And with his sword/ thorough doublet & shirt  
thorough shield & plate/ and thorough haberion  
He pierced hath/ and like a wood lion  
He slew that day/ of them many one  
That maugre them/ they fled everichone  
With the Greeks/ everich to his tent  
And they of Troy/ after them be went  
Swiftly on horse/ till they have them take  
And such a murder/ of greeks there they make  
That finally/ there was no better reskuse  
But only death/ so passingly confuse  
The greeks were/ at mischief desolate  
Troilus so narrow/ brought them to chekmate  
That they could/ no better remedy  
But hideously/ for to wail and cry  
To death forwounded/ with a grisly cheer  
That Achilles/ when he 'gan first here  
The dreadful noise/ and the woeful sown  
That caused was/ by refleccyowne  
Of eyre again/ who so could it know  
In rochies hard/ and kavernies low  
Like as it were/ one word spoke of two  
That men are wont/ to called an Echo  
So confuse was/ the lamentacyowne  
On greeks side/ of which the deadly sown  
So piteously/ to Achilles is run  
Of them that lay/ again the hot son  
With mortal wounds/ yielding up the breath  
With roumble & swowhe/ resowning into death  
Such a noise/ greeks made there  
And what it meant/ Achilles died inquire  
And what the cause/ was of their clamour  
And they told him/ for lack of succour  
The greeks were each/ in his centaury  
Of Troilus slain/ so that the victory  
Goth finally/ with them of Troy town  
For evermore/ in conclusyowne  
So many greek lay/ slain in this tent  
Gaping upward/ that his blood yspent  
thorough the constraint/ of his wounds smart  
And while Achilles/ 'gan advert  
Full suddenly/ there came to him a man  
The which his tale/ even thus began  
Alas quoth he/ how may ye abstain  
To see your men/ hereupon the green  
Afore your face/ slain and lie deed  
And list not ones/ for to take heed  
But stand still/ pensive in your tent  
Upon the point/ yourself to be shent  
In hasty hour/ if ye here abide  
For thirty thousand/ knights here beside  
Ready armed/ in plates and in mail  
Cast them plainly/ atones you to sail  
This no doubt/ unarmed as ye stand  
But ye of knighthood/ manly take on hand  
To resist/ in this self place  
And like a man/ to meet them in the face  
For which anon/ in a cruel mode  
This Achilles/ like as he were wood  
Armed him/ foaming as a bore  
Farewell his love/ he set of it no store  
Of hasty heat/ his ire was so keen  
That he forgot/ fair Polycene  
And her beauty/ that whilom made him smart  
And in a rage/ up anon he start  
And took his stead/ as any Lion wroth  
Again Trojans/ and into field he goth  
Like a wolf/ that is with hunger gnaw  
Right so 'gan he/ again his soon to draw  
And where he road/ without excepcyowne  
He woundeth/ sleeth/ killeth/ and beareth down  
Now here/ now there/ in a little throw  
That they of troy/ 'gan his sword to know  
Which was infect/ of new with their blood  
For there was none/ as yet that him withstood  
So mortally he 'gan/ about him lain  
The deed bodies/ enlonge the plain  
Till casually/ Troilus 'gan espy  
This Achilles/ as he cast an eye  
And 'gan his horse/ with spurs to constrain  
And road at him/ with all his might & pain  
But Achilles/ of him was ware also  
Smette his stead/ and made him for to go  
Toward Troilus/ in the self tide  
And with full course/ as they together ride  
Full line right/ their spears sharp whet  
With such a might/ they have together met  
Of high disdain/ there is no more to say  
That to the ground/ they fell both twain  
But Achilles/ caught such a wound  
In his body/ so deep and profound  
That long he lay/ mine author saith certain  
Or he to health/ restored was again.  
And troilus eke/ thorough plates mail & all  
As write Guydo/ had a wound small  
Which unto him/ died no grievance  
And thus that day/ by continuance  
And days six/ suing by and by  
The proud greeks/ met cruelly  
Amid the field/ them of Troy town  
To great damage/ and confusyowne  
Of other party/ plainly this no nay  
For many worthy/ was slain day by day  
In their rancour/ and heartily hoot envy  
Albe Guydo/ doth nat specify  
None of their names/ plainly in this book  
As ye shall find/ if ye list to look.   

ANd all this while/ for this sudden thing  
pensive & tryste/ was Pryamus the king  
That Achilles/ turned hath so clean  
His heart away/ fro young Polycene  
And for this change/ so sudden and so new  
Thought his behests/ were nat all true  
But on deceit/ and doubleness  
On fraud falsely/ and new fangylnesse  
On sleighty treason/ a uncovert guile  
Or rage's of love/ that lasteth but a while  
Was utterly/ found his behest  
For like a wind/ that no man may areste  
Fareth a word/ discordant fro the deed  
Of which a wise man/ take shall no heed  
But let pass/ as he were reckeles  
For albe it/ that this Achilles  
Was whilom caught/ within loves snare  
Him list nat now/ ones for tospare  
Of high rancour/ his lady to offend  
It was nat like/ as they of troy wend  
Eccuba/ nouther Polycene  
¶ Wherefore Priam/ spoke unto the queen  
In an anger/ and 'gan her to abreyde  
That she her trust/ so entirely laid  
On Achilles/ that can so falsely mean  
Wherefore full tryste/ was this Polycene  
That was inclined/ with her eyen clear  
By the counsel/ of her mother dear  
To have be wedded/ to Achilles  
To fine only/ there should have be a pees  
At ween greeks/ and them of troy town  
But all was false/ in conclusyowne  
In the fine/ was the truth yseen  
For when Achilles/ of his wounds green  
Was fully cured/ by a certain day  
He 'gan compass/ in all that ever he may  
And imagine/ in his envious heart  
To be venged/ of his wounds smart  
Upon troilus/ that stack aye in his mind  
At advantage/ if he might him find  
To him he bore/ so passyngly hatred  
In his heart/ brenning as the gleed  
Which day nor night/ may in no degree  
Fully be quaint/ till he avenged be  
The hoot rancour/ 'gan so on him gnaw  
Auysed platly/ that he shallbe slawe  
Of his hands/ when so that it fall  
And on a day/ to him he 'gan call  
Myrundones/ his knights everichone  
Upon a morrow/ when the greeks gone  
Tofore the town/ in steel armed bright  
Again trojans/ of purpose for to fight  
And they were come/ proudly into field  
In the opposyt/ with many rich shield  
Newly depaint/ with colours fresh & fine  
Upon which/ full bright 'gan to shine  
Fiery Titan/ gold tressed in his spear  
At his uprist/ with his bemysclere  
When this fell/ envious Achilles  
To his knights/ called Myrundones  
Upon Troilus/ 'gan him to complain  
beseeching them/ for to do their pain  
Again this Troilus/ in the field that day  
To catch him/ at mischief/ if they may  
And busily to do/ their dyllygence  
On him to have/ their full advertence  
By one assent/ where so that he ride  
All other thing/ for to set aside  
And of nought else/ for to take heed  
safe finally/ again him to proceed  
If they might/ catch him in a trap  
Within themself/ troylous for to clap  
To enclose/ and set him round about  
In all wise/ that he go nat out  
And when he were/ beset among them all  
not to slay him/ what so ever fall  
But thorough their might/ manly him conserve  
Till he himself come/ and make him starve  
With his sword/ he and none other wight  
Loo/ here a manhood/ for to praise a right  
Vengeance of death/ of rancour and of pride  
compassed treason/ knighthood laid aside  
Worthiness/ by envy slawe  
falsehood a loft/ trauthe a back ydrawe  
Alas in arms/ that he should fall  
Of Treachery/ there the bitter gall  
Should in this world/ many knight befounde  
That be to trauthe/ of they order bound  
Alas/ alas/ for now this Achilles  
Conspired hath/ with his Myrundones  
The death of one/ the worthiest wight  
That ever was/ and the best knight  
Alas for woe/ my heart I feel deed  
For his sake/ this story when I read  
But when Fortune/ hath a thing ordained  
Though it be ever/ wailed and complained  
There is no gain/ nor no remedy  
Though men on it/ galen aye and cry  
I can no more/ touching this matter  
But write forth/ like as ye shall here  
How Myrundones/ have their lord behyght  
With all their power/ and their full might  
To fulfil/ his commandment  
And into field/ with greeks they be went  
But Troilus first/ in the opposite  
Of very knighthood/ hath so great delight  
Without abode/ manly them to meet  
He was ybrent/ with so fervent heat  
Of hardiness/ and of high courage  
Of worthiness/ and of vasselage  
That him ne list/ no longer to abide  
But with his folk/ in began to ride  
Among greeks/ this folk of high renown  
And with his sword/ he woundeth & beareth down  
Sleeth and killeth/ upon every half  
So mortally/ that there may no salve  
Their sores sound/ for there was but death  
Where so he road/ and yielding up the breath  
So furiously/ he 'gan them enchase  
And made them lose/ in a little space  
Their land eachone/ and afore him flee  
In troilus sword/ there was such cruelty  
That maugre them/ he the field hath won  
The same time/ when the bright son  
high in the south/ at midday mark shone  
Even at the hour/ when it drew to noon  
When Myrundones/ gathered all in one  
In compass wise/ round about him gone  
And furiously/ of one entencyowne  
They made a circle/ about him environ  
When they saw him/ of help desolate  
But he of heart/ nat disconsolate  
Upon no side/ thorough his manlihood  
Like a Lion/ took of them no heed  
But thorough his famous/ knightly excellence  
As a Tiger/ standeth at diffence  
And manfully/ 'gan them to encoumbre  
And 'gan to less/ and discrease their number  
And some he maimeth/ & woundeth to the death  
And some he made/ to yield up the breath  
And some he laid/ to the earth low  
And some he made/ for to overthrow  
With his sword/ of their blood all wete  
At great mischief/ under his horse feet  
Upon his stead/ sturdy as a wall  
This worthy knight/ this man most martial  
Playeth his play/ among Myrundones  
Himself god wots/ alone/ all helpless  
But though alas/ what might his force avail  
When three thousand/ knights/ him assail  
On every part/ both in length and breed  
And cowardly/ first they slew his stead  
With their speries/ sharp and quare ground  
For which alas/ he stant now on the ground  
Without reskus/ refute or succour  
That was that day/ of chivalry flower  
But wellaway/ they have him so beset  
That from his heed/ they smote his bassenet  
And broke his harness/ as they him assail  
And severe of steel/ the mighty strong mail  
He was disarmed/ both neck and heed  
Alas the while/ and no wight took none heed  
Of all his knights/ longing to the town  
And yet always/ this Trojan champion  
In knightly wise/ naked as he was  
Himself diffendeth/ till Achilles alas  
Came riding in/ Furious and wood  
And when he saw/ how troilus stood  
Of long fighting/ awaped and amate  
And from his folk/ alone desolate  
Sole by himself/ at mischief piteously  
This Achilles/ wonder cruelly  
Behind unwarely/ or that he took heed  
With his sword/ smiteth of his heed  
And cast it forth/ of cruel cursed heart  
And thought platly/ it should him nat asterte  
To show his malices/ this wolf unmercyable  
Full unknightly/ to be more vengeable  
Upon the body/ that lay deed and cold  
Alas/ that ever/ it should of knight be told  
Write or rehearsed/ to do so foul a deed  
Or in a book/ alas that men shall read  
Of any knight/ a story so horrible  
Unto the ears/ passingly audible  
For this Achilles/ of cruelty alas  
The deed corpse/ took out of the taas  
And vengeably/ bond it as I find  
At the tail/ of his horse behind  
And hatefully/ that every wight beheld  
Drew it himself/ endelonge the field  
thorough the renges/ and the wards all  
But O alas/ that ever it should fall  
A knight to be/ in heart so cruel  
Or of hatred/ so despitous fell  
To draw a man/ after he were deed   

O Thou Omer/ for shame be now read  
And be atoned/ y● holdest thyself so wise  
On Achilles/ to set such a prise  
In thy books/ for his chivalry  
Above eachone/ dost him magnify  
That was so sleighty/ and so full of fraud  
Why givest thou him/ so high a prise & laud  
Certys Omer/ for all thine excellence  
Of rhetoric/ and of Eloquence  
Thy lusty songs/ and thy dities smart  
Thy honey mouth/ that doth with sugar fleet  
Yet in one thing/ thou greatly art to blame  
Causeless/ to give him such a name  
With a title/ of Triumph and glory  
So passingly/ put him in memory  
In thy books/ to say and write so  
through his knighthood/ he slew Ectories two  
first him that was/ like unto none other  
And troilus after/ that was his own brother  
If thou art moved/ of affection  
Which that thou haste/ to greeks nation  
To praise him so/ for thou canst indite  
Thou shouldest aye/ for any favour write  
The truth/ plainly/ and be indifferent  
And say the sooth/ clearly of intent  
For when he slew/ Ector in the field  
He was afore/ disarmed/ of his shield  
And busy eke/ in spoiling of a king  
For if he had/ beware of his coming  
He had him quyt/ thorough his chivalry  
His false deseyt/ and his Treachery  
That he ne had/ so lightly from him gone  
Troilus also/ was naked and alone  
Amid three thousand/ closed and beshet  
¶ When Achilles/ hath his heed of smet  
At his back/ of full cruel heart  
When he nothing/ his treason died advert  
¶ Was that a deed/ of a manly knight  
To slay a man/ forweryed in fight  
Faint of travail/ all the long day  
Among so many/ standing at a bay  
A kings son/ and so high borne  
Naked the heed/ his armure all to torn  
Even at the death/ on the self point  
At disadvantage/ and plainly out of joint  
Of his life/ standing on the wreck  
¶ When Achilles/ came falsely at the bake  
Assailing him/ when he was half deed  
And like a coward/ smote of than his heed  
That was tofore/ hurt/ and wounded sore  
¶ Wherefore Omer/ praise him now no more  
Late not his prise/ thy rial book difface  
 
But in all haste/ his renown out arrace  
For his name/ when I here neven  
verily/ up unto the heaven  
As seemeth me/ infect is the eyre  
The sown thereof/ so foul is and vufayre  
For if that he had had/ his advertence  
either the eye/ of his providence  
Unto knighthood/ or to worthiness  
either to manhood/ or to gentilesse  
Or to the renown/ of his own name  
Or to the report/ of his knightly fame  
In any wise/ to have taken heed  
He had never done/ so foul a deed  
So vengeably/ for to have ydrawe  
A kings son/ after he was slawe  
And namely him/ that was so good a knight  
Which in his time/ who so look a right  
Passed Achilles/ I dare it well express  
Both of manhood/ and of gentilesse  
But for all that/ he is now deed alas  
The death of whom/ when polydamas  
And Paris eke/ died first espy  
They fared in sooth/ as they would die  
And specially/ with face deed and fade  
Paris alas/ such sorrow made  
For the constraint/ of his deadly woe  
When he saw/ that troilus was ago  
And that he shall/ never alive him see  
Such sorrow also/ the trojan daunz Enee  
For him hath made/ and many another more  
And all atones/ they together go  
The deed corpse/ to recure if they may  
But Greeks were/ so fell on them that day  
That their labour/ was utterly in vain  
In any wise/ the corpse to get again  
Till that Menon/ the noble worthy king  
Which loved troilus/ over all thing  
Caught such ruth/ of affection  
That he in haste/ fearser than a lion  
On his death cast/ him to be wreak  
And first for Ire/ thus he 'gan to speak  
To Achilles/ for his high treasowne  
O thou traitor/ O thou Scorpyowne  
O thou Serpent/ full of Treachery  
Which in dishonour/ of all chivalry  
thorough false engine/ haste this day yslawe  
One of the best/ that had no fellow  
When he was/ in this world a live  
Alas alas/ who may a right describe  
Thy venom hid/ thy malice and untruth  
Without pity/ or unknightly ruth  
To draw a knight/ so gentle and so good  
A kings son/ of so worthy blood  
thorough out the field/ at thy hroes tail behind  
That ever after/ it shallbe in mind  
This cruel deed/ and ungentyllesse  
And with that word/ Menon 'gan him dress  
Toward Achilles/ without more areste  
And with a spear/ smet him in the breast  
enviously/ of so great hatred  
That he uneath/ kept him on his stead  
And Menon after/ pulled out answered  
And cast him manly/ to meet him in the beard  
And road to him/ fully devoid of dread  
And such a wound/ he gave him on the heed  
That maugre him/ in many man's sight  
To the earth/ he made him to a light  
For all his pride/ in a mortal trance  
For of that wound/ he felt such grievance  
That at the death/ he lay an huge while  
In a swoon/ the space of half a mile  
Till Myrundones/ assembled into one  
With great labour/ hente him up anon  
Full deadly pale/ so he 'gan to bleed  
But for all that/ they set him on his stead  
And at the last/ his heart he caught again  
And smit his horse/ of hate and high disdain  
And toward Menon/ fast 'gan him high  
But when that he/ his coming 'gan espy  
Full like a knight/ list nat to abide  
But it his horse/ sharply in the side  
And met Achilles/ proudly on the plain  
And with their swords/ they together lain  
And 'gan to hurtle/ on horseback yfere  
With heart envious/ and despitous cheer  
But king Menon/ was at advantage  
Of Achilles/ for all his wode rage  
In point to abrought him/ to confusyowne  
Till the wards/ of new come down  
On other part/ both here and yonder  
Which suddenly/ severed them a sunder  
And as the story/ telleth plainly than  
Began the slaughter/ of many manly man  
For nouther party/ the field ne would leave  
Of very pride/ till it drew to eve  
That Phoebus'/ 'gan assuage of his heat  
And 'gan to bathe/ in the wawes wet  
His bright beams/ of the occian  
That fro the field/ home goth every man  
To their lodging/ and after seven days  
They fought yfere/ and made no delays  
Full mortal/ by cruel adventure  
While Achilles/ busy was to cure  
His wounds green/ and his sores sound  
And than he hath/ a new treason found  
To be venged/ upon king Menon  
For all his wit/ he set thereupon  
And so this cruel/ envious Achilles  
I charged hath/ his Myrundones  
Worthy Menon/ among them to embrace  
If they him found/ in opportune place  
With all their might/ and their busy thought  
From their hands/ that he escape nought  
Till he himself/ avenged on him be  
And so befell/ as they Menon see  
The next morrow/ like a manly knight  
Again the Greeks/ armed for to fight  
On Troy side/ as he was wont to do  
Of adventure/ that day it fill so  
That Achilles/ and this Menon met  
And each of them/ 'gan on other set  
On horse back/ of full great envy  
And so long in their/ melancholy  
Mine author writ/ they together fight  
That each made other/ of force to a light  
And when Menon/ stood upon the ground  
Myrundones/ went abounte him round  
As they were charged/ of the fierce Achylle  
When he alas/ without gods will  
dissevered was/ from his knights all  
And at mischief/ they upon him fall  
destitute alone/ and helpless  
And in such point/ slew him Achilles  
But in the story/ like as it is found  
This Menon/ first gave him such a wound  
Tofore his death/ in all this fell strife  
That he dispeyred/ was plainly of his life  
This Achilles/ for all his false treason  
Take heed Omer/ and dame in thy reason  
The false fraud/ and the sleighty guile  
The treason cast afore/ with many wile  
Of Achilles/ and judge now a right  
If ever he slew/ any worthy knight  
But it were/ by prodition  
Record I take/ of the king Menon  
So that the tytyle/ of his laud alas  
Entryked is with fraud/ and with fallas  
That thou Omer/ mayst with no colour  
Though thou paint/ with gold & with asoure  
In thy writing/ his venom not enclose  
But as the thorn/ hid under the rose  
Whose malices aye/ dareth by the rote  
Though the flower/ above fair and sweet  
That men the fraud/ under may nat see  
Of his treason/ ye get no more of me.   

BUt I will tell/ how greeks do that day  
How Meneste/ and king Menelay  
diomed/ and Thelamonyus  
On Trojans/ were passing despitous  
For cruelly/ with their wards all  
In their mischief/ be upon them fall  
And made them flee/ home unto the town  
For whilom/ troilus/ that was their champyowne  
Is deed alas/ and hath them now forsake  
Of whom they have/ the deed body take  
The same day/ with great difficulty  
And dolefully/ into the city  
They have it brought/ crying oft alas  
And for his death/ such a woe there was  
That I trow/ there is no man a live  
Which could a right/ halfdele describe  
Their piteous woe/ nor lamentacyowne  
Certeyse/ nat Boy's/ that had such renown  
With dreary words/ to be weep and cry  
In complaining/ to philosophy  
thorough his book/ accusing aye Fortune  
That seld or nought/ can in one contune  
She is so full/ of transmutacyowne  
O: stace of Thebes/ make no boast nor sown  
Of drearinesss/ for to write at all  
Nouther of death/ nor festes' funeral  
Of making sorrow/ nor adversity  
Let be thy weeping/ o thou Niobe  
¶ Y●e sister also/ of Mellenger  
That custom have/ for to i'll so far  
from year to year/ your brother to complain  
And thou that weptest/ out thine Eyen twain  
Edippus king/ of Thebes the city  
Thou woeful Myrrh/ and Calixtone  
That so well can/ in rage's you bemene  
And Dydo eke/ of Cartage queen  
Let be your dole/ and contrition  
And Phyllys eke/ for thy Demophon  
And Ecto eke/ that new dost begin  
To cry and wail/ and also thou Corynne  
That whilom were/ in so great affray  
For death only/ of thy Popyngay  
As in his book/ telleth us Duyde  
Let all this woe/ now be laid aside  
And make of it/ no comparysowne  
Unto the woe/ that was in Troy town  
For death only/ of this worthy knight  
For love of whom/ every manner wight  
high and low/ old and young of age  
Are fall of new/ into such a rage  
That they could/ of their woe/ none end  
Whose salt teries/ will their eyen shende  
So piteous was/ the lamentacyowne  
In every street/ thorough out all the town  
Alas who could/ all their sorrows tell  
I trow certeys'/ Pluto deep in hell  
For all his torment/ and his pains keen  
Nouther she/ Proserpyna his queen  
Nouther the weary/ wood Tycyus  
Ixyon/ nor hungry Tantalus  
Ne could not/ for all their bitter pain  
So furiously weep/ and complain  
As do trojans/ Troilus for thy sake  
For who can now/ such a sorrow make  
Or who can weep/ as king Pryamus  
Who weepeth now/ with face full piteous  
Or maketh sorrow/ but Eccuba the queen  
¶ Who weepeth now/ but fair Polycene  
Who weepeth now/ but Paris and Eleyne  
Who can now weep/ or unto teries rain  
As do Trojans/ with deadly swolle cheer  
It needed them/ no wepers'/ for to here  
They had enough/ of their own store  
Alas for now/ they be for evermore  
Of help all sole/ of comfort destitute  
For who shall now/ be to them refute  
Now that Ector/ and also Dephebus  
And troilus eke/ that was so virtuous  
Be deed alas/ who shall their succour be  
Or sustain/ the were of their city  
There is no more/ in conclusion  
But after death/ fully destruction  
Of their towers/ and their walls strong  
In this matter/ what should I plain long  
It 'vaileth nat/ always so to morn  
Wherefore/ I will now again return  
To my matter/ and tell how the king  
To greeks hath/ without more tarrying  
For a truce/ and a peas Ysent  
A certain time/ by great advisement  
Which granted was/ of Agamenowne  
And when they anon were/ repeyred to the town    

¶ How Paris slew Achilles in the Temple of Apollo/ and Anthylogus duke Nestor's son Capitulo. xxxij.  

king Pryamus/ died his busy cure  
For to make/ a rich sepulture  
For Troilus corpse/ full noble and ryall  
As saith Guydo/ of stones and metal  
And him enclosed/ of great affection  
And nigh beside/ was the king Menon  
solemnly/ buried/ and ygrave  
And after that day/ by day/ they have  
Like the custom/ of Festes' funeral  
And other Rytis/ cerymonyall  
For them both/ with dew observance  
service done/ by continuance  
In their Temple/ like as was the guise  
Which were to long/ me for to devise  
And Tedyus/ eke for you to dwell  
But I purpose/ seriously to tell  
How Eccuba/ as I can indite  
her cast fully/ Achilles to quite  
His Tyranny/ soothly if she may  
And unto her/ she calleth on a day  
Alysaunder/ in full secret wise  
And unto him/ as I shall devise  
With weeping eyen/ and full heavy cheer  
Said even thus/ like as ye shall here  
Paris quoth she/ alas safe goddess will  
Thou knowest well/ how the fierce Achylle  
My sons hath slain/ nigh eachone  
There is none left/ but thyself alone  
He hath me made/ alas there is no gain  
Full cowardly/ of children now barren  
Both of Ector/ and Troilus eke thereto  
Which were to me/ in every trouble and woe  
Fully comfort/ pleasance/ and solace  
Wherefore I cast/ plainly to compass  
By some engine/ his death to ordain  
And like as he/ by treason died his pain  
Traitorously/ with his sword to smite  
Right so I think/ with treason him to quite  
As sytring is/ of right and equity  
And sith thou wottest/ platly how that he  
Hath set his heart/ and his love clean  
only on my daughter/ young Polycene  
To fine only/ to have her to wife  
For which I cast/ to him send belive  
For to come/ and treat of that matter  
In the Temple/ of Apollo here  
In the Temple/ most chief of this city  
Which time/ my will is that thou be  
Thyself armed/ there full privily  
With certain knights/ in thy company  
Armed also/ again the same day  
That in no wise/ he scape nat away  
From your hands/ but that he be deed  
As I have said/ and therefore take good heed  
Unto this thing/ with all my heart I prey  
Fro point to point/ bidding to obey  
And he assenteth/ with all his hole heart  
Behoting her/ he should nat asterte  
And with him took/ twenty and no more  
Of manly men/ that well durst do  
And in the Temple/ by full good advice  
They were Yhyd/ by bidding of Paris  
while Eccuba/ covert in her intent  
Her messenger/ to Achilles hath sent  
As ye have heard/ in conclusyowne  
To come in haste/ unto Troy town  
After the effect/ was of her message  
only to treat/ for a marriage  
And he in haste/ cometh at her sonde  
As he that could/ no thing vnders●onde  
Her treason hid/ nor plainly it advert  
He was so hot/ marked in his heart  
With ●oues bronde/ and his fiery gleed  
Oflyfe nor death/ that he took no heed  
But set aside/ wit and all reason  
To cast afore/ by good discretion  
What was to do/ with looking full prudent  
But he in sooth/ was with love blended  
Into Troy/ when he should gone  
Like as it fareth/ of lovers everichone  
When they have caught/ in heart a fantasy  
For no peril/ though they should die  
They have no might/ nor power to be war  
Till they unwarely/ be trapped in the snare  
Their malady/ is so furious  
And thus Achilles/ and Anthylogus  
Nestor's sone/ have the way nome  
Toward the town/ and be together come  
Into Temple/ as ye have heard me tell  
And Paris though/ list no longer dwell  
But all unwarely/ with his knights all  
On Achilles/ is at mischief fall  
everich of them/ with a sword full bright  
And some books say/ it was by night  
When his death/ long afore desired  
By Eccuba and Paris/ was conspired  
But Achilles/ in this mortal case  
Among them all/ naked as he was  
Hent out a sword/ in the self steuen  
And like a knight/ he slew of them seven  
Of very force/ maugre all their might  
But when Paris/ thereof had a sight  
Three darts raught/ that were keen & square  
And suddenly/ are that he was ware  
Full secretly/ hid under the shade  
Marking at him/ and no noise made  
Cast at him/ even as ever he can  
That heed and shaft/ thorough his body ran  
And therewith all/ knights nat a few  
With sharp swords/ 'gan upon him hew  
And left him nat/ till he lay at ground  
Full pale deed/ with many mortal wound  
And rightfully/ of reason as it sit  
Thus was the fraud/ and the falsehood quit  
Of Achilles/ for his high treason  
As death/ for death/ his skilfully guerdon  
And equal meed/ without any fable  
To them that be/ mercyles' vengeable  
For thilk day/ Guydo writeth thus  
That Achilles/ and Anthylogus  
Of Paris were/ in the Temple yslawe  
And afterward/ the body was out draw  
Of Achylle/ fro the holy bounds  
And cruelly/ thrown/ unto hounds  
To be devoured/ in the broad street  
The canell running/ with his wawes wet  
Without pity/ or any manner ruth  
Lo here the end/ of falsehood and untruth  
Lo here the fine/ of such Treachery  
Of false deceit/ compassed by envy  
Lo here the knot/ and conclusion  
How god quit aye/ slaughter by treason  
Lo here the guerdon/ and the final meed  
Of them/ that so delight/ in falsehood  
For every thing/ platly for to say  
Like as it is/ his guerdon doth attain  
As ye may see/ of this Achilles  
Which on a night/ in the Temple les  
His life/ for he was aye customable  
By fraud and treason/ for to be vengeable.  
But it befell/ at request of Eleyne  
That the bodies/ of these ilk twain  
Conserved were/ from the hungry rage  
Of best and foul/ greedy and ramage  
And yet they lay/ amids the city  
Full openly/ that men might them see  
To great gladness/ of them of the town  
Into time/ that Agamenowne  
To king Priam's/ sent his massageries  
To have Lysence/ to fet them home on bears  
By grant of whom/ they have the corsies take  
For whom Greeks/ such a sorrow make  
That pity was/ and ruth for to here  
And everich spoke/ thus unto his fere  
Farewell our trust/ now Achilles is deed  
Farewell our hope/ and holy all our speed  
Farewell our joy/ and our chief diffence  
That had in manhood/ so great excellence  
Farewell alas/ our sovereign assurance  
Farewell in knighthood/ all our suffisance  
For now alas/ unlikely is that we  
Shall ever win/ or get this city  
To us alas/ so froward is Fortune  
But for that they/ might nat contune  
Always in woe/ nor in pain endure  
They made have/ a rich Sepulture  
To Achilles/ of stones precious  
And another/ to Anthylogus  
What should I now/ any longer dwell  
seriously/ the rites for to tell  
Of their buriing/ nor what woe they make  
Their weeping all/ nor of their clothes black  
Nor how that some/ louvre in their hood  
And how some go/ with milk and blood  
With doleful heart/ and into fire it sheet  
And how other/ caste gommys sweet  
Amid the great/ flaumbe funeral  
Nor of the plays/ called pallestrall●  
Nor the wrestling/ that was at the wake  
It were but vain/ me to undertake  
To tell all/ wherefore I let be  
Fully in purpose/ like as ye shall see  
To resort/ in conclusion  
To tell/ how the great Agamenon  
For his Lords/ in all haste hath sent  
And when they were/ assembled in his tent  
Full prudently/ this king this manly man  
With great advise/ thus his tale began.   

Sires quoth he/ Fortune's variance  
Her cheer froward/ & double countenance  
And sudden Turn/ of her false visage  
Your hearts hath/ put in such arage  
For the murder/ to god and man odyble  
Of Achilles cruel/ and the death horrible  
By compassing/ of Eccuba the queen  
Now seemeth me/ that it shallbe seen  
If any manhood/ in your hearts be  
Or knightly force/ in adversity  
For to endure/ by virtue of sufferance  
Till of his death/ ye take may vengeance  
And manly quite/ this outrageous offence  
When time cometh/ to make recompense  
But sith that ye/ be manly and prudent  
I would first/ se the plain intent  
In this matter/ of you that be so wise  
Hereupon/ what is your advise  
By one assent/ and voice in commune  
Where that ye will/ the were forth contune  
And the siege ygonne/ upon this town  
Till they be brought/ to destruccyowne  
Or into Grece/ now resort again  
For cause only/ that Achilles is slain  
That whilom was/ your strong Champyowne  
Your diffence/ and proteccyowne  
But finally/ now that he is deed  
Hereupon/ let see what is your rede  
Say openly/ and no longer tarry  
And some anon/ gone for to vary  
And to grudge/ casting to and fro  
standing in doubt/ what were best to do  
And some said/ on the other side  
For life or death/ they would an end abide  
And some of them/ that of wit were rude  
For their party/ gone to conclude  
That they would home/ again return  
And other said/ that they will sojourn  
Still at the siege/ hap what hap may  
And thus they treat/ all the long day  
Every man/ like his opinion  
Till at the last/ in conclusion  
They be accorded/ fully into one  
Fro the siege/ never for to gone  
Unto the time/ they have of the town  
thorough their knighthood/ full possession  
At their fce will/ to spill and to save  
All be Achilles/ was buried and ygrave  
For the trust/ of every worthy knight  
Was finally/ as gods have behyght  
That they in haste/ shall the town possede  
This was the hope/ fully devoid of dread  
Vndispeyred/ in their opinion  
And than anon/ Ajax's Thelamon  
A worthy knight/ and famous of his hand  
Among all though/ of the Greeks land  
Said even thus/ plainly in sentence  
Sires quoth he/ that be here in presence  
My counsel is/ platly and my rede  
Now it standeth so/ that Achilles is deed  
For his son/ in all haste to send  
Hyder to come/ for to see an end  
Of the siege/ and help us in this need  
¶ Which now abyt/ with king Lycomede  
His bysayel/ and named is Pirrus  
And some him call/ Neptolonyus  
Right lusty fresh/ and by likeliness  
Able to attain/ to great worthiness  
As by report/ and the fame is couth  
If he draw him/ to arms in his youth  
And soothfastly/ but if books lie  
As I have red/ and heard by prophecy  
That finally/ Troy the city  
Without him/ shall never won be  
Thus books say/ that be of old memory  
And how greeks/ shall have no victory  
Till he come/ this son of Achilles  
Wherefore in haste/ and be nat reckeles  
Send for him/ that it be done anon  
And they commend/ his counsel everichone  
And to his rede/ fully them assent  
And by advise/ full prudently they sent  
In all haste/ on this embassyat  
The wise king/ full famous of estate  
I mean the prudent/ noble Menelay  
And forth he goth/ the self same day  
And on his journey/ 'gan him fast speed  
Till that he came/ unto Lycomede  
The old king/ as ye have heard me tell  
Wherefore a time/ I will leave him dwell  
And to Greeks/ in the mean while  
So as I can direct again my style.    

¶ How Paris & Thelamon Ajax's slew each other in the field. Capitulo. xxxiij.  

 
THe time of year/ when the sheen son  
In the Crab/ had his course yronne  
To the highest/ of his ascension  
Which called is/ the summer station  
When the virtue/ out of every root  
Is drawn up/ and the balm soot  
Into the crop/ and the fresh flower  
Most lusty is/ of hew and of colour  
Till Phoebus' char/ in his dissension  
Out of the Crab/ toward the Lion  
Holdeth his course/ in the firmament  
I mean when/ he is retrogradyent  
And drieth up/ the moisture and the wet  
Of herb and flower/ with his fervent heat  
And all that veer/ afore him made green  
To white he turneth/ with his beams sheen  
Both seed and grain/ by decoction  
For naturally/ by digestion  
That first was raw/ in fruits & in flowers  
And watery eke/ by plenty of humours  
He drieth up/ and ripeth at the full  
With his fervence/ that men may them pull  
Each in his kind/ after the season  
from year to year/ by revolution  
On their branches/ freshly as they spread  
When that Cherries/ powbly be and read  
first in june/ that seweth after May  
When the hoot/ merry summer's day  
No dwery is/ but like a giant long  
The same time/ greeks stout and strong  
With rancour brent/ of their envious heat  
Have shapen them/ with their soon to meet  
And bright armed/ into field they go  
And they of Troy/ out of the town also  
And their wards/ ordained everichone  
The field have take/ to meet with their soon  
And 'gan to assemble/ upon either side  
But Thelamon/ of folly and of pride  
The same day/ of him as I read  
As he that had/ of his death no dread  
Disarmed was/ for battle of arrest  
Of mail and plate/ bare upon his breast  
For of folly/ and surquedous outrage  
Bore his heed/ and bare eke his visage  
And bare also/ without bassenet  
And naked eke/ of vyser and palet  
Herode all day/ of no thing afeard  
Having no weepen/ but a naked sword  
For wilfully/ he left at home his shield  
And his spear/ when he took the field  
Full like a knight/ sitting on his stead  
And after him/ followeth diomed  
Like Mars himself/ about him his main  
And fast by/ came duke Meneste  
King ulyxes/ and Agamenon   

ANd Pryamus/ with them of troy town  
Took eke the field/ with a full heavy cheer  
For he was both fearful/ and in were  
In great despair/ and inly full of dread  
To issue out/ now Ector was deed  
¶ Worthy Troilus/ and also Dephebus  
For in himself/ he deemed plainly thus  
That he was feebled/ greatly of his might  
After their death/ with greeks for to fight  
But out he goth/ hap what hap may  
And Paris eke/ full knightly of array  
King Phylymene/ and polydamas  
¶ Worthy Esdre/ and with them Aeneas  
By one assent/ there is no more to say  
The same day/ knightly live or die  
In their diffence/ and utterly jeopard  
As gods list/ the field to depart  
And proudly first/ the grekis they 'gan pierce  
And Paris though/ with them that were of Perce  
Fill in aside/ with the son sheen  
And his archeries/ with arrows square & keen  
The greeks 'gan/ a●ondre to dissever  
For in the field/ they might nat persevere  
only for shot/ of the strong archeries  
Of Perce land/ and the Arbalasteries  
Which made them i'll/ right of very need  
Into time/ that proud diomed  
When he of greeks/ saw this sudden flight  
Them to relieve/ like a manly knight  
Is come upon/ felly in his tene  
And first of all/ he set on Phylyment  
A worthy king/ that came on Troy side  
The which again/ 'gan at him to ride  
That diomed/ hath but little won  
With swords stiff/ as they together run  
That to behold/ it was a noble sight  
How each of them/ quite him like a knight  
As they together/ ran on horse back  
That no man could/ in nouther see no lack  
But ever in one/ Trojans were so fell  
Upon greeks/ that they ne might dwell  
To keep their land/ so they made them bleed  
Maugre the force/ of this diomed  
The slaughter was/ so hideous and so strong  
That thorough the field/ the woeful noise rung  
And mortal cry/ of wounded folk that lay  
Slain on the soyel/ endelonge the way.  
Till Meneste/ sitting on his stead  
The worthy duke/ 'gan to take heed  
In what mischief/ greeks were beset  
And hent anon/ a spear sharp whet  
smiting his horse/ felly in the side  
And thorough to renges/ knightly he 'gan ride  
And stint nat/ so furious he was  
Till that he met/ with polydamas  
A Trojan knight/ and a manly man  
And unwarely/ at him as he ran  
He hit him so/ in many man's sight  
To the earth/ that he made him light  
And with a sword/ at ground when he lay  
He had him slain/ the sylfe same day  
In his rage/ and his cruel tene  
Ne had only be/ that king Phylymene  
Had him rescued/ in this adventure  
Which so friendly/ for him died his cure  
Maugre the might/ of this Menestee  
From his hands/ that he went free  
All for bathed/ and be sprained with blood  
And all this while/ Ajax's proudly road  
Of surquedy/ and of wilfulness  
Of folly rage/ and foul hardiness  
naked his body/ heed and everydeal  
Amid his soon/ armed bright in steel  
And of Trojans/ such a slanghter made  
That they lay deed/ both in son and shade  
thorough out the field/ where this Thelamon  
Among them road/ woodder than a lion  
That trojan none/ might him tho withstand  
While that he held/ his bloody sword in hand  
That wonder was/ naked as he road  
Without wound/ that he so long abode  
And as Guydo/ maketh rehearsal  
And writeth eke/ for a great marvel  
That he unslain/ might so contune  
But when a thing/ is shapen of fortune  
It might befall/ what ever thing it be  
In weal or woe/ joy or adversity  
When one shall die/ or when he shall escape  
But she alas/ can alder first by jape  
And bring a man/ unwarely to mischance  
When he best weeneth/ to have assurance  
In this lady/ of transmutation  
Like as it fill/ of worthy Thelamon  
This same day/ which of folly pride  
Among his soon/ 'gan so far to ride  
Ylyche fresh/ right as he began  
And slew of Perce/ many a manly man  
And of himself/ took no manner heed  
His knightly heart/ so void was of dread  
Till Paris saw/ his great hardiness  
And how that he/ his knights died oppress  
Enchasing them/ so mortally and narrow  
Without abode/ anon he took an arrow  
Entoxycat/ sharp and venomous  
And in this Ire/ fell and despitous  
And shot at him/ in the self tied  
As saith Guydo/ and smit him thorough the side  
That of that hurt/ there is no more to ●eye  
He felt well/ that he must die  
And when he saw/ none other remedy  
Forth he road/ supprysed with envy  
thorough out the prees/ his sword ay in his hand  
Into time/ that he Paris fond  
And unto him/ with a pale cheer  
He said thus anon/ as ye shall here  
Paris quoth he/ as this mortal wound  
Of thine arrow/ sharp and square yground  
Hath finally/ my life put in despair  
Never into Grece/ for to have repair  
Right so shall I/ by short conclusion  
Away shape/ that into Troy town  
With thy life/ thou enter shalt no more  
At my heart/ the venom bit so sore  
That other gain/ is there none but death  
¶ But yet tofore/ or I yield up the breath  
Trust me right well/ there may be no succour  
That thou shalt first/ be my predecessor  
And go afore/ deep down to hell  
There with Pluto/ eternally to dwell  
So as of right/ it is necessary  
The time is set/ which may nat tarry  
And my truth/ for mortgage in depose  
That in all haste/ I shall make a devose  
atwix thee/ and the queen Eleyne  
And twin asunder/ eke the false theyne  
Which linked was/ by colour of wedlock  
And hath so long/ be shut under lock  
only by fraud/ and false engine also  
¶ But now the knot/ shallbe broke a two  
With my right hand/ the truth to darayne  
For thorough the cause/ only of you twain  
In this were/ many worthy knight  
His life hath lost/ and many another wight  
On other side/ for your both sake  
But of all this/ I shall an end make  
Of your love/ and foul avowtry  
For finally/ Paris thou shalt die  
Of my hands/ as it is thy chance  
And with that word/ his sword he 'gan enhance  
Above his heed/ and smote him in the face  
That he fill deed/ in the self place  
For his heed/ he parted hath on twain  
And right forth with/ there is no more to say  
Ajax's alas/ of his mortal wound  
Fill deed also grufling/ unto the ground  
Full piteously/ and than they of Troy  
Have Paris take/ up out of the weigh  
And bore him home/ into their city  
But diomed/ and duke Menestee  
With many greek/ riding environ  
Sewed the chase/ even to the town  
But for cause/ Titan/ 'gan to low  
Down by the ark/ of his days bow  
For into west/ under the rows red  
And Esperus/ 'gan his light to shed  
This to say/ for it drew to night  
The greeks be/ repeyred anon right  
everich of them/ to his lodging place  
To take their rest/ all that nights space  
Save as I read/ that Agamenowne  
The Greeks made/ fast by the town  
To set their tents/ and Papyllyons  
Habitacles/ and new mansions  
Of very pride/ fast by the wall  
And they of Troy/ dispeyred overall  
No refute could/ greeks for to let  
But of assent/ fast their gates shut  
And all the night/ on the walls wake  
And over this/ such a woe they make  
thorough the city/ that Paris was so deed  
For finally/ now they can no read  
But weep and cry/ and sorrow ever in one   

NOw all the sons/ of Pryamus were gone  
Fortune alas/ hath them so appaired  
That of their life/ they be despaired  
Of all hope/ and of good welfare  
Perpetuelly/ for to live in care  
Unto the death/ and that was fast buy  
For now there is/ no manner remedy  
Upon no side/ nor refute none at all  
But them to keep/ close within the wall  
That for to see/ it was a piteous thing  
And such a woe/ maketh now the king  
For Paris death/ that for deadly smart  
Him thought platly/ that his sorrowful heart  
Recurles/ would rive a twain  
And into teries/ he 'gan still and rain  
As he would/ for very sorrow die  
And of the queen/ alas what shall I say  
Eccuba/ his own mother dear  
That crieth/ weepeth/ with a woeful cheer  
Of Polycene/ that was so wo begon  
And of his susterne/ also everichone  
That have their here/ and their clothes torn  
As they had/ their own death ysworne  
For dreary woe/ and for piteous pain  
But forby all/ the fair queen Eleyne  
Waileth/ crieth/ with a deadly there  
That her eyen/ which whilom were so clear  
For dyrked were/ with doleful teries smart  
And to the corpse/ suddenly she start  
And clipped it/ in her arms twain  
And piteously/ embrace it and restrain  
Like as she would/ with him die anon  
For still she lay/ dumb as any stone  
As marble cold/ her limbs Craumpysshing  
Ready at all/ toward her burying  
Till men by force/ from the corpse her hent  
And she her here/ and his cheeks rend  
As she were/ fallen in a rage  
That changed was/ alas in her visage  
Her native colour/ and her rody hew  
Whilom as fresh/ as any rose new  
Now is she like/ unto ashes cold  
And with her hands/ aye together fold  
Herself she smote/ on her pale face  
And ever among/ the corpse she died embrace  
In her swownes/ as she fill to ground  
Twenty times/ and wept full his wound  
With woe she was/ so wapyd and amate  
Of all comfort/ alas disconsolate  
In heart being/ inly desirous  
thorough her rage/ passing Furious  
To die atones/ with her own knight  
For toward death/ enclosed was her sight  
As she that list/ to live now no more  
And I trow/ that never man before  
No woman saw/ fall in such distress  
In such disjoint/ of deadly heaviness  
Nor for no woe/ so piteously yrave  
not Cleopatra/ going to her grave  
Nor woeful Tesbe/ that fro the kave start  
When she herself/ smote unto the heart.  
Nor the faithful/ true Orestylle  
When that she saw/ her lord again her will  
Marcus Prolancus/ unto ship gone  
And for his love/ fill down deed anon  
Nor the sorrow/ of true julia  
Nor the fervence/ of faithful Porcia  
Or which the one/ fill deed suddenly  
For she saw blood/ speynt so cruelly  
On her lords/ dreadful gravement  
And Porcia/ so true in her intent  
When that her lord/ Brutus lost his life  
For because/ she might have no knife  
With coals read/ slew herself alas  
Was nat also/ in the self case  
Arthemysya/ queen of Tarse land  
Of Mansalus/ the grave when she fond  
Her own knight/ of whose bones small  
Full woefully/ and with a cheer right pale  
She powder made/ & drank it every morrow  
But all the woe/ and the furious sorrow  
Of these eachone/ yet may nat attain  
Unto the sorrow/ of the queen Eleyne  
That finally/ will herself for do  
For Paris sake/ whom she loved so  
For after him/ she will nat live a day  
But be a wreak/ plainly if she may  
Upon her life/ rather than dissever  
And thus in woe/ aye she doth persevere  
In her heart/ Paris sat so deep  
Alas who saith/ that women can nat we  
This doubtless/ they have it of nature  
Though it so be/ that they no woe endure  
Yet can they feign/ and salt teries find  
plenty enough/ of their own kind  
And sorowles morn/ and complain  
I say nat this/ for the queen Eleyne  
That was with woe/ wounded to the heart  
That fro the death/ she wend nat asterte  
For deaths dart/ her heart made rive  
And yet she rose/ again fro death to live  
only by grace/ for all her fell rage  
For every woe/ by process must assuage  
And over gone/ and wasted by miracle  
For each venom/ made is treacle  
And every woe/ hath his remedy  
For though Eleyne/ fain would die  
Her kind ne would/ assent yet thereto  
So suddenly/ to slay herself for woe  
She was a woman/ no man should her wite  
Me list no more/ of her woe indite  
list unto you/ that it were tedious  
To here all/ her pains furious  
Her cruel woe/ and lamentation  
Which would move/ to compassion  
In very sooth/ to write everydeal  
Any heart/ though it were made of steel  
For king Priam's/ and the queen also  
Had such couth/ of her piteous woe  
To see her so/ weep and complain  
That of her/ they felt asmuch pain  
As they died/ almost for Paris  
Hereof no more/ for Priam's by device  
After this rage/ and this mortal woe  
Amid the Temple/ sacred to juno  
Ordained hath/ with full busy cure  
For the corpse/ a rich Sepulture  
And in all haste/ therein made it shut  
That in soothness/ if I should let  
Totelle all/ the rites and the guise  
That there were made/ in their paynim wise  
And the costs/ of his burying  
It should be/ to long a tarrying  
seriously/ thereon to abide  
Wherefore as now/ I let overslyde  
Their paynim rites/ superstitious.    

¶ How Pantasyllya/ the Queen of Amazon came for to succour king Priamus of Troy And how Pirrus Achilles son slew hir⸫ Capitulo. xxxiiij.  

ANd tell I will/ how king Pryamus  
Commanded hath/ of mischief & of need  
thorough troy town/ only of very dread  
To shit their gates/ strongly as they may  
And thereupon/ both night and day  
To keep watch/ for shortly they of Troy  
Disconsolate/ of all their old joy  
Can no refute/ but weep and sorrow make  
For they ne durst/ no more undertake  
Again Greeks/ into field to gone  
Till on a day/ king Agamenon  
His messenger/ by good advisement  
To Pryamus/ into Troy hath sent  
Requering him/ of manhood like a knight  
To issue out/ with Greeks for to fight  
As he was wont/ with his Chyual●ye  
But king Priam's/ his axing 'gan deny  
And shortly said/ to him that was sent  
That he ne would/ at his assignemenet  
Nat once pass/ the gates of the town  
But at his own/ free eleccyowne  
When ever him list/ without compelling  
And yet in sooth/ cause of his tariing  
¶ Was for the hardy/ queen of Femynye  
Toward Torye/ fast 'gan her high  
Out of her land/ and little region  
The which as books/ make mention  
After the sight/ of the firmament  
Is in the plague/ of the Orient  
And called is/ the reign of Amazonies  
Of which the custom/ and the use is  
That only women/ therein shall abide  
And they are wont/ armed for to ride  
And have in arms/ great experience  
For their labour/ and their diligence  
Is finally/ to have exercise  
Fro day to day/ in Martes high service  
And over more/ their custom and usance  
As to this day/ is made remembrance  
Is that no man/ shall them nigh near  
But if it be/ three months in the year.  
This to say/ in june/ april and May  
And than the women/ have in custom aye  
Unto an isle/ a little there beside  
Where as the men/ by themself abide  
Fro year to year/ together everichone  
Unto the men/ out of their land to gone  
And there abide/ in that region  
Till time cometh/ of conception  
Without tarrying/ any longer while  
For than anon/ home unto their isle  
They repair/ out of that country  
Unto time/ that they delivered be  
And as fast/ as the child is borne  
For lack of keeping/ that it be nat lost  
He fostered is/ till three year be agone  
Among the women/ and than right anon  
To the isle/ beside adjacent  
Unto the men/ the child in haste is sent  
If that it be/ of kind masculine  
And if it fall/ that it be Femynyne  
With the women/ abide still it shall  
Till that it be/ in acts mercial  
Full well expert/ and that she can eke know  
To handle a spear/ or to draw a bow  
Like the statutes/ of that region  
The which as books/ make mention  
Is set between/ Ewrope and Asya  
And of this land/ was Pantasyllya  
Whilom lady/ and governess  
Full renowned/ of strength and hardiness  
thorough out the world/ both in length & breed  
And yet in sooth/ to speak of womanhead  
For all her might/ she had an huge prise  
For both she was/ virtuous and wise  
Wonder discrete/ and had an honest name  
Nat withstanding/ the excellence of fame  
Of her renown/ in arms and in glory  
For of conquest/ and of high victory  
She was most/ surmunting out of dread  
Of any woman/ that I can of read  
And soothly yet/ books bear witness  
Of womanhead/ and of gentilesse  
She kept her so/ that nothing her asterte  
The which loved/ with all her hole heart  
¶ Worthy Ector/ and with all her might  
only for he was/ so noble a knight  
That her joy/ and worldly pleasance  
Her heartily ease/ and sovereign suffisance  
In very sooth/ where she wake or wink  
Was ever in one/ upon him to think  
Of very faith/ without any sloth  
And unto him/ she was by bond of truth  
Confederate/ of old affeccyowne  
That when she heard/ how that Troy town  
besieged was/ of the Greeks fell  
This hardy queen/ list no longer dwell  
But hasteth her/ as fast as ever she may  
Toward Troy/ in full good array  
With all the wrothy/ women of her land  
Full well expert/ and proved of their hand  
Well horsed eke/ and armed richly  
And as I find/ in her company  
A thousand maidens/ riding by her side  
This worthy queen/ that durst well abide  
She with her brought/ in steel armed bright  
For love of Ector/ her own true knight  
And on her way/ fast she 'gan her speed  
To help him/ if she see need  
For in no thing/ she could her more delight  
Than toward him/ faithfully her quite  
For that was all/ her lust and hearts joy  
But when that she/ come was to Troy  
And herd tell/ by relacyowne  
That he was deed/ most worthy of renown  
To whom she was/ so loving and so true  
Anon she 'gan/ to change cheer and hew  
And piteously/ for to weep and cry  
And fared in sooth/ as she would die  
For very woe/ and heartily heaviness  
And thought she would/ through her worthiness  
Avenge his death/ platly if she may  
On the Greeks/ and so upon a day  
She prayeth Priam's/ with great affeccyowne  
For to open/ the gates of the town  
And to go out/ with Greeks for to fight  
That they may know/ and be expert a right  
Of this women/ the great worthiness  
And of this queen/ the famous hardiness  
And so the king/ hoping for the best  
Without abode/ granted her request  
The next morrow/ when Phebus shone full sheen  
And all tofore/ out goth Phylymene  
The noble king/ with them of Paffagonye  
And after him/ other knights many  
Followed after/ with worthy Aeneas  
The Trojan eke/ daunz polydamas  
And than the queen/ Pantasyllya  
By the gate/ called/ Dardanyca  
Toward Greeks/ proudly issued out  
With her women/ riding her about  
The which anon/ when greeks died espy  
Into the field/ 'gan them fast high.   

ANd first of all/ worthy Meneste  
Pantasyllya/ when he died see  
With his spurs/ made his stead gone  
And with a spear/ road to her anon.  
Of whom the queen/ atoned never adele  
Kaught a spear/ that was squared weal  
Round the shaft/ and the heed well ground  
Which as they coupe/ smet him down to ground  
And maugre him/ revyd him his stead  
But than/ in haste/ in came diomed  
And cruelly/ to the queen ●an ride  
And she as fast/ on the other side  
Road eke to him/ in plates bright and sheen  
And as they met/ with their speries keen  
She hit so/ this fell diomed  
For all his might/ and his manlihood  
That she him made/ his ●adell for to lose  
There is no more/ he might tho nat cheese  
And in despite/ of his men eachone  
She hath his shield/ him bereft anon  
And it delivereth/ proudly as she road  
To a maid/ that upon her abode  
And like a Tiger/ in his greediness  
Or like in sooth/ to a Lioness  
That dayeshe fared/ riding up and down  
Among the greeks/ till that Thelamowne  
'Gan behold the slaughter/ that she made  
Of high despite/ and rancourover lad  
As he that might/ for Ire nat sustain  
'Gan rain his horse/ to fall upon this queen  
But when that she/ his coming did espy  
She fill on him/ in her melancholy  
So mortally/ maugre his knights all  
That to the ground/ she made him for to fall  
And Greeks put/ in so great disray  
Where ever she road/ all that ilk day  
That they might/ afore her not sustain  
And thorough the help/ of king Phylymene  
As mine Auctor/ recordeth in his book  
Amid the field/ Thelamon she took  
And sent him forth/ thorough her high renown  
As prisoner/ toward Troy town  
Till unto reskus/ came cruel diomed  
And cruelly on them/ that 'gan him lead  
He fill vnwarely/ with an huge rout  
Of his knights/ riding him about  
And from their handis/ maugre all their might  
He him delivereth/ like a manly knight  
At which time/ this hardy queen anon  
With her women/ about her everichone  
The greeks hath/ afore her on the plain  
As writ Guydo/ so mortally belayne  
That she them made/ of necessity  
Out of the field/ with her sword to i'll  
That verily/ it was incredible  
And to leave/ a manner impossible  
To see the women/ Greeks so enchase  
Which might nat abide/ afore their face  
Nor in the field/ in any wise stand  
For they them drive/ to the self strand  
Down to the cliff/ of the salt see  
And slew of them/ so huge great plenty  
That finally/ they had be destroyed  
For ever more/ and utterly accloyed.  
Ne had diomed/ stand at diffence  
And of knighthood/ made resistance  
For he that day/ in party and in all  
For Greeks stood/ as a sturdy wall  
And was alone/ their help and chief succour  
But for all that/ with worship and honour  
Pantasyllya/ as made is memory  
repaired is/ with conquest and victory  
With all her women/ into Troy town  
Upon the hour/ of Phoebus' going down  
And by the side/ of this hardy queen  
Armed in steel/ road king Phylymene  
Whom Priam hath/ with great reverence  
knightly received/ and died his diligence  
Them to refresh/ with every manner thing  
That might be/ unto their liking  
As their hearts/ could best devise  
And after this/ in full goodly wise  
He thanked hath/ the noble hardy queen  
Of her goodness/ that her list to seen  
To help him/ in his great need  
And offrede her/ in Guydo as I read  
All that he hath/ treasure and richesse  
Hoping fully/ thorough her worthiness  
Upon Greeks/ avenged for to be  
And for to keep him/ in his city  
Maugre greeks/ which of them say nay  
For as I read/ after day by day  
She stint nat/ proudly them to assail  
Again whose sword/ they might nat avail  
So mortally she made/ their sides bleed  
Till Menelay/ froking Lycomede  
repaired is/ with Neptolonyus  
Which in his books/ called eke Pirrus  
Whilom the son/ of cruel Achilles  
Whom for to see/ full huge was the prees  
Of the Greeks/ going environ  
And for he was/ by succession  
Borne to be heir/ of this Achilles  
He was received/ of Myrundones  
With great honour/ and great solemnity  
So glad were they/ their young lord to see  
To whom/ eachone/ they made affiance  
And were eke sworn/ by bond & assurance  
For life or death/ to him to be true  
As his lieges/ and change for no new  
To obey his lust/ in all manner thing  
And after this/ Agamenon the king  
Made him knight/ and Thelamonyus  
¶ With a sword/ gyrte anon Pirrus  
saying to him/ in the self place  
With the bawdryke/ when he him did embrace  
Take heed quod he/ mine own cousin dear  
To resemble/ in manhood and in cheer  
In knighthood eke/ and in worthiness  
To thy father/ which in soothfastness  
In his time/ was so noble a knight  
And over more/ with all thy full might  
To avenge his death/ that thou do thy pain  
And than of greeks/ worthy Duke's twain  
Full humbly/ began down toknele  
And set a spore/ upon either heel  
As was the manner/ of gold burned bright  
And in this wise/ Pirrus was made knight  
As ye have heard/ in full high presence  
With great honour/ and due reverence  
Like the custom/ of the greeks lays  
And the rights/ used in though days  
And than anon/ hath Agamenon  
With full glad there/ and great affection  
delivered him/ fully by sentence  
The arms hole/ without difference  
Which Achilles/ by his life bore  
His worthy father/ on his shoulders square  
As for next heir/ of line by descent  
And all the treasure/ also and his Tent  
Armure and all/ delivered were anon  
Unto Pirrus/ and greeks everichone  
Eight days/ suing by and by  
thorough out the host/ full solemnly  
They hallow in honour/ of this young knight  
Till on a morrow/ when Phebus shone full bright  
Which with his light/ that shineth fro so far  
Diffaced hath/ the streams of the star  
Lucyfer/ the days messenger  
When greeks 'gan/ in plates bright and clear  
Enarmed them/ that day for sour or sweet  
Fully in purpose/ with their soon to meet  
And manfully/ out of their tents wide  
Against Trojans/ they began to ride  
Ward after ward/ proudly into field  
And Pirrus bare/ that day upon his shield  
His Faders arms/ like as saith Guydo  
And of the same/ he had upon also  
A cote armour/ that became him weal  
And forth he road/ armed bright in steel  
And casually/ formest as he was  
He met first/ with polydamas  
A knight of Troy/ a full manly man  
And furiously/ Pirrus to him ran  
On horse back/ with a mighty sword  
And 'gan to hurtle/ with him in the beard  
So mightily/ that in this hateful strife  
polydamas/ had lost his life  
Ne had reskus been/ without more tarrying  
Of Phylymene/ the noble worthy king  
only of knighthood/ and of worthiness  
To whom Pirrus/ 'gan him dress  
With his sword/ and smet him in the sight  
That from his horse/ he made him to a light  
For he the stroke/ might nat abstain  
And soothfastly/ this worthy Phylymene  
Of Pirrus/ had/ tale be anon  
Save his knights/ assembled into one  
Of Paffagonye/ came him to rekewe  
But Pirrus aye/ so fiercely 'gan pursue  
Upon this king/ with Myrundones  
Beset in mischief/ among the great prees  
That many knight/ of this noble king  
yslain was/ at his reske wing  
He stood of death/ in so strait a case  
Till of Fortune/ came polydamas  
To his reskus/ and died his full might  
Him to deliver/ and quite him like a knight  
But in soothness/ there was such resistance  
Of Pirrus knights/ standing at diffence  
That aye in mischief/ stood king Phylymene  
Till Pantasyllya/ of Femynye the queen  
With her women/ a great company  
'Gan this thing/ of adventure espy  
Which were eachone/ for the more delight  
On their armure/ that day called in white  
That verily/ there was no lily flower  
Nor snow/ that flaketh fro jupyters tour  
Of whiteness/ fresher on to seen  
Than in field/ was this hardy queen  
Which first of all/ among the greeks cheese  
Proudly to fall/ on Myrundones  
amongs whom/ riding up and down  
She them on horseth/ thorough her hyerenowne  
And slew them/ up on every side  
Making their renges/ for to seu●r wide  
Till Thelamon/ in a furious heat  
With a spear/ un warily died her meet  
And in arage/ smote her to the plain  
But she anon/ full lifely rose again  
And with her sword/ so marketh Thelamowne  
That from his horse/ she made him light down  
Plate to the ground/ on his hands twain  
And than her women/ died their busy pain  
To make their queen/ her stead to recure  
And all this while/ stood in adventure  
Of his life/ worthy Phylymene  
Pirrus knights/ were on him so keen  
Maugre his men/ that they have him take  
It geyneth nat/ diffence for to make  
The greeks have/ so strongly him beset  
And forth they lad him/ it might be no bet  
Toward their tentis/ thorough out all the field  
The which thing/ when the queen beheld  
With her women/ that about her road  
Pursued after/ without more abode  
That finally/ they have so after sewed  
thorough their force/ that he was rescued  
Maugre the manhood/ of Myrundones  
And Pantasyllya/ was so merciless  
Upon Greeks/ that of necessity  
thorough her force/ and her cruelty  
Afore her sword/ they durst nat abide  
But when Pirrus/ saw her great pride  
To his knights/ loud he 'gan to cry  
And said it was/ shame and villainty  
For the women/ so to lose their land  
And to be slain/ so felly of her hand  
Wherefore eachone/ your hearts doth resume  
And of assent/ let us now consume  
The ●ryde of them/ that none away escape  
For but if we/ some remedy shape  
This ilk day/ their force to confound  
Shameful report/ to us shall rebound  
Perpetuelly/ where we sleep or wake  
And as Pirrus/ 'gan his sword to take  
furiously/ and with a knightly there  
This hardy queen/ happened to here  
All that Pirrus/ to his knights spoke  
Hirlyste not ones/ for to turn bake  
Nor of his threat/ for to take heed  
For platly she/ had of him no dread  
But right proudly/ 'gan to draw near  
And to him said/ anon as ye shall here  
O thou Pirre/ son of Achilles  
That slew Ector/ in knighthood peerless  
thorough his treynies/ and his treachery  
By malices only/ and by false envy  
Unware when he/ no thing died advert  
The which never/ may out of my heart  
So green it sticketh/ in my remembrance  
Upon his death/ for to do vengeance  
And it sit well/ as seemeth unto me  
That his death/ be venged upon the  
first of all/ and on thy Faders blood  
For love of him/ so gentle and so good  
The death of whom/ should all the world complain  
not only men/ do their busy pain  
To quite his death/ but women eke also  
With all their might/ help eke thereto  
As right requireth/ without exception  
There on to do/ full execution  
And I now stand/ in the same plight  
And for thou haste/ us women in despite  
Of our power/ shortly in sentence  
Thou shalt in haste/ have experience  
And know our force/ soothly everydeal  
Right in short time/ trust me right we'll  
Here in this field/ in shedding of his blood  
¶ Wherefore Pirrus/ waxed 'gan as wooed  
As any Tiger/ bore/ or would lion  
So frat the colour/ in his complexion  
And in his Ire/ fell and despitous  
He took a spear/ pale and Furious  
And ran at her/ with all his might and pain  
And again ward/ as she that list nat fain  
Encountrede him/ all devoid of fere  
But Pirrus/ first brack on her his spear  
All be that/ he might her not remove  
In her saddle/ nor but little grieve  
But she again/ so sore 'gan him hit  
On his stead/ that he may nat sit  
But descendeth/ endelonge the plain  
And up he rose/ with full great disdain  
And took a sword/ in his hand anon  
And made his stead/ line right to gone  
Upon this queen/ of passing wortynesse  
And inwardly/ of hate of woodness  
In heart fret/ smet at her many stroke  
But ever she sat/ still as any oak  
And of force/ in her ire pale  
Eft again/ she made him to avail  
To the earth/ maugre all his pain  
And thus the fight/ lasteth of them twain  
A large while/ till Myrundones  
Have take their lord/ by force out of the prees  
And made him/ his horse recure again  
And in his time/ on the self plain  
With his banner/ is descended down  
The worthy king/ great Agamenowne  
With kings/ duke's/ endelonge the green  
With their wards/ that wonder was to seen  
So prudently/ in the field battled  
That have Trojans mortally assailed  
¶ But tho in haste/ the king Phylymene  
As ye have heard rescued/ by the queen  
When he hath thanked/ to her worthiness  
With his knights/ in he 'gan him dress  
And Pantasyllya/ assembled both in one  
Upon Greeks/ 'gan for to gone  
Where men may see/ with spears sharp ground  
everich other/ bear unto the ground  
There men may see/ proudly without lack  
The manly knights/ run on horse back  
And the women/ mortally oppress  
The fell Greeks/ thorough their hardiness  
only thorough force/ of the mighty queen  
That deed they lay/ covering all the green  
¶ Wherewith came in/ daunz polydamas  
from death rescued/ and with him Aeneas'  
King Esdras eke/ of troy the city  
And though the wards/ 'gan together i'll  
On either party/ fell and furious  
¶ But moste of all/ Neptolonyus  
That Pirrus hight/ the greeks Champyowne  
Irous and would/ on them of troy town  
Made his sword/ in their flesh to bite  
And Pantasyllya/ proudly her to quite  
Ne spareth nat/ with mortal wounds wide  
Greeks to slay/ upon every side  
Now here now there/ to their confusion  
And Pirrus than/ is fall on Glawcon  
The half brother/ to polydamas  
For Antenor/ eke his father was  
And Pirrus/ so in a cruel ire  
With melancholy/ new set a fire  
Smote Glawcon so/ or that he took heed  
Among the prees/ that he fill down deed  
And Pantasyllya/ from her women all  
The same tide/ is on Pirrus fall  
And he of her/ when he had a sight  
Road unto her/ like a manly knight  
And as they hurtle/ on horse back yfere  
Of adventure/ with swords stiff and clear  
everich made/ other to alight  
And hatefully/ on foot so they sight  
Long or either/ might of other win  
Till they were made/ of force for to twin  
By the wards/ that went them atwene  
I mean Pirrus/ and this hardy queen  
And all this time/ daunz polydamas  
So wood for Ire/ in his heart was  
Amid Greeks/ for his brother's death  
That whom he met/ for his love he slayeth  
Without mercy/ in his hateful tene  
That he alone/ and this worthy queen  
Such a slaughter/ on the greeks make  
That they the field/ utterly forsake  
And 'gan toflee/ to their tents down  
Till diomed/ and Ajax's Thelamowne  
And Pirrus eke/ made turn again  
But they in sooth/ were so overlay  
That they ne might/ all that day relieve  
And thus they fought/ till it drew to eve  
To most damage/ of the greeks side  
Till Phoebus 'gan/ his bright char to hide  
Low in the west/ and to shroud his light  
Under courteyne/ of the black night  
That either part/ thought for the best  
To depart/ and draw to their rest  
And took their ease/ that night as they may  
And all the month/ suing day by day  
Without/ any interruption  
They fought yfere/ albe no mention  
Be made thereof/ nor write in special  
Of no person/ but in general  
Who that ever/ died evil or well  
In Troy book/ I find never adele  
Save the queen/ like as writ Guydo  
Of her women/ an hundred hath forego  
That slain were/ thilk moaneth day  
The death of whom plainly if she may  
Shall well be quit/ if so that Fortune  
Be favourable/ friendly to contune  
That her face/ change nat contrary  
But she that can/ every day so vary  
Alas the while/ and seld in one sojourn  
'Gan fro this queen/ her look away to turn  
To enhaste/ thorough her ungoodlyhede  
Antropose/ to break her lives thread  
As the story/ plainly shall you lere  
benignly/ if ye list to here.   

THe fatal hour/ hard for to remove  
Of cruel death/ which noman may eschew  
Nor in this life/ finally escape  
specially/ when Parchas have it shape  
Approach 'gan/ it may none other been  
Alas the while/ of this hardy queen  
¶ Which on a day/ furious and wroth  
Into the field/ out of Troy goth  
And 'gan on greeks/ proudly for to set  
And alder first/ Pirrus with her met  
Of mortal hate/ and indignacyowne  
And she in haste/ by the renges down  
Road unto him/ swiftly on her stead  
Whose spories sharp/ made his sides bleed  
And as they met/ their spears in the rest  
They bore so even/ marking at the breast  
That their shafts/ soothly this no tale  
'Gan to shiver/ all on pieces small  
Without bowing/ either back or chine  
For neither made/ other to incline  
Save the heed/ forged hard of steel  
Of Pantasyllya/ that was ground weal  
In Pirrus breast/ pierced hath so deep  
That plate in sooth/ nor mail might him keep  
But the sharpness/ of the spears heed  
Was of his blood/ in party read  
The which struck/ when greeks 'gan espy  
For atoned/ loud 'gan to cry  
And all atones/ for the noise and sown  
Upon this queen/ in the field came down  
In compass wise/ going environ  
But thorough her prowess/ & her high renown  
She her diffendeth/ that it was marvel  
But they alas/ so sore her 'gan assail  
That all to hew/ they have her bassenet  
Amid Greeks/ so thick she was beset  
That with axes/ and swords square  
Her heed in sooth/ made was all bare  
And her shoulders/ were naked eke alas  
The mail hewn of/ and the rear bras  
And Pirrus than/ like as it is found  
For anguish only/ of his green wound  
In doubt plainly/ where he should escape  
Toward this queen/ fast 'gan him rape  
To be avenged/ what so ever fall  
Amid the field/ among the greeks all  
And when she saw/ that he came so fast  
Of force only/ to meet him yet she cast  
And with her sword/ first 'gan him assail  
But of her stroke/ it happened her to fail  
Among the prees/ so narrow she was beset  
And Pirrus sword/ was so sharp whet  
That suddenly of/ her arm he smette  
Alas there was/ none armour him to let  
But raceth thorough all/ the shuldre bone  
So that this queen/ fill down deed anon  
And of malice/ for ●o venge him more  
At his heart/ the ire/ fret so sore  
That with a cheer/ of very anger pale  
He hath her hewn/ all on pieces small  
The which was/ to foul a cruel deed  
But ever in one/ Pirrus so 'gan bleed  
nigh to the death/ of his mortal wound  
For lack of blood/ that he fill to ground  
In a trance/ full long grufling he lay  
Till knights/ in all the haste they may  
Have take him up/ and laid him on a shield  
And dolefully/ home out of the field  
They have him borne/ wounded as he was  
And the women/ of the queen alas  
For very sorrow/ and inward deadly woe  
When they saw/ their lady was ago  
For to be deed/ they were so desirous  
That in all haste/ wood and furious  
In a rage/ without governail  
Greeks they 'gan/ of new for to assail  
To avenge their queen/ they were so heartily kind  
That they slew/ soothly as I find  
Two thousand grekis/ on them they were so wooed  
But o alas/ in great disjoint they stood  
only for lack/ they have/ no governor  
For she was gone/ that was their chief succour  
Which was also/ to speak of hardiness  
Of women all/ lady and mistress  
As of her hand/ that I can of read   

OYe Trojans/ ye stand in great dread  
Amid the field/ all out of governance  
The day is come/ of your unhappy chance  
For now have ye/ leader none nor guide  
Farewell your trust/ now on every side  
And greeks be/ upon you so strong  
That ye the field/ may nat keep long  
For they cast them/ felly you to quite  
This same day/ as Dares list indite  
For as he writ/ homeward as they draw  
Ten thousand/ trojans/ were of grekis yslawe  
For all their wards/ came atones down  
And mortally/ without excepcyowne  
They kill and slay/ all that them withstood  
And most they were/ upon the women wood  
To be avenged/ plainly as I read  
On every half/ and their blood to shed  
Without mercy/ or remyssyowne  
chasing trojans/ home into the town  
Out of the field/ for there was none abode  
So piteously/ though with them it stood  
That they ne can/ none otherrecur cast  
But keep their town/ & shit their gatis fast  
For all their hope/ clean was agone  
Any more to fight/ with their fone  
For now their trust/ of knighthood was away  
Their worthy men/ slain weylaway  
Refute was none/ but in their city  
To keep them close/ it may none other be  
For them thought/ they might it keep long  
Their walls were/ so mighty & so strong  
If they had/ plenty of victual  
Though all the world/ atones them assay  
They may be sure/ while they keep them in  
For evermore/ that no man shall them win  
¶ Yet nevertheless/ early and eke late  
The Greeks made/ tofore every gate  
Full mighty watch/ and await full strong  
With privy spies/ going in among  
That of their soon/ none escape away  
By none engine/ as farforth as they may  
And in this while/ within Troy town  
More than I can/ make descripcyowne  
For the queen/ there was so great a sorrow  
Of every wight/ both at eve and morrow  
That she alas/ was slain for her meed  
Which came so far/ to help them in their need  
And aldermoste/ for they ne might have  
The deed corpse/ to bury it and to grave  
With reverence/ and with honour dew  
For which they 'gan/ to the greeks sew  
With great prayer/ and great business  
But all in vain/ and in idleness  
Was their request/ the greeks/ were so wroth  
And finally/ with many sundry oath  
only of malices/ and of hot envy  
The deed corpse/ to them they deny  
And shortly said/ of mortal enmity  
That of hounds/ it shall devoured be  
There was no gain/ their rancour to compesce  
But Pirrus than/ of very gentilesse  
Ne would assent/ to so foul a deed  
But wood and wroth/ cruel diomed  
Said openly/ how it was sitting  
That she fail/ of her burying  
That slain had/ so many worthy man  
And thus the strife/ among the greeks 'gan  
With great rumour/ and altercacyowne  
Till at the last/ under Troy town  
Of her they have/ the deed corpse tale  
And cruelly/ in a profound lake  
They have her cast/ where I let her lie  
And unto Troy/ again I will me high  
To tell forth/ how they live in pine   

O Cruel Mars/ that hast made for to fine  
thorough thine ire/ all the worthy blood  
Of Troy alas/ why hast thou be so wood  
Against them/ to slay their knights all  
Why hast thou let/ thy bitter venom fall  
On them alas/ thou star infortunate  
With all the world/ to make them at debate  
O hateful star/ hot combust and dry  
Fiery Irous/ ground of all envy  
Hasty ever/ full of dissension  
And Coleryk/ of thy complexion  
In murder and death/ is ay thy delight  
In taking vengeance/ most thine appetite  
first mever/ of anger and of hate  
Rote of Contek/ causing to debate  
In strife and murmur/ most is thy desire  
fearful of look/ as any wild fire  
And gastfullever/ of thy wood sight  
As any leaven/ so flaming is thy light  
Like in twynkling/ to the spakes read  
In great fires/ that abroad so spread  
Consuming aye/ by melancholy  
hearts that be/ embraced with envy  
Thy wrath is aye/ so fretting and so keen  
And causest men/ to be long and leanly  
Consumpt slender/ brown and cytrenhewed  
Vnmercyable/ and right evil thewed  
Wonder sleighty/ and Engenyous  
Compassing/ and suspicious  
Tryste and solen/ and full of heaviness  
And assenting/ to all cursedness  
To awaiting/ death and robbery  
To murder also/ and to treachery  
Without remorse/ of any conscience  
So venomous/ is thine influence  
And helper art/ unto false Treason  
The house of whom/ is the scorpion  
And crowned art/ in the Caprycorne  
But in the Bole/ is thy kyngome lost  
For therein is/ thy dejection  
Thy power lost/ and domination  
And haste also/ in thy subjection  
Exile were/ chains and prison  
proscription/ and captivity  
That for thy malice/ on troy the city  
So would god/ I could chide a right  
That haste on them/ kid thy fell might  
Of thy rancour/ wholly the utterance  
first on them/ for to do vengeance  
With spears sharp/ and swords keen whet  
And now in prison/ to enclose them & shut  
So vengeably/ that they dare nat out  
The greeks fell/ aye lying them about  
They be nat hold/ in manner wise  
In thy temple/ to do sacrifice  
Neither with Bulls/ nor with bories wild  
Nor with beasts/ that ever be unmild  
As Tigers/ bears/ nor the wode lion  
Of which thou art/ sovereign and patron  
They are nat hold/ to do the brimstone smoke  
On thine Auteries/ which art so felly wroke  
Of them alas/ and now worst of all  
Thou haste shed out/ chief of all thy gall  
Among themself/ to bring in treason  
Feigned truth/ and simulation  
To make hearts/ among themself divide  
Lo how the serpent/ of discordecan glide  
Full slily in/ till he have caught a place  
To void away/ both hap and grace  
With his venom/ of dissension  
When it is sprad/ in any region  
In any Common/ borugh/ town/ or city  
amongs men/ of high or low degree  
For when hearts/ in love be nat one  
Farewell Fortune/ their grace is clean agone  
For where discord/ holdeth residence  
It is well worse/ than sword of Pestilence  
For what is worse/ either fer or near  
Than a foo/ that is famylyere  
For who may more/ harm if him lust  
Than any enemy/ upon whom men trust  
That to describe/ shortly in a clause  
The very rote/ and the true cause  
Of all mischief/ and confusion  
In every land/ is dissension  
And more perilous/ if it be prive  
Record I take/ on Troy the city  
That found Fortune/ friendly aye at need  
Till long bid hate/ 'gan a broad to spread  
For prudence soothly/ hath provided  
That a regne/ in itself divided  
Shall recules/ turn wild and waste  
And the dwellers/ desolate in haste  
For Mars that is/ of envy lord  
Among themself/ sown hath discord  
Again the which/ may no succour be  
For worse than were/ soothly seemeth me  
Treason cured/ under a feigned pees  
And root of all/ was old Anchyses  
¶ With his son/ called Aeneas'  
Daunz Antenor/ and polydamas  
That have contrived/ among them utterly  
And under veil/ concealed secretly  
If it fall/ Greeks Troy to have  
First how they may/ their own lives save  
By some engine/ sleights or treat  
And if so were/ that it may nat be  
As they cast/ by no manner weigh  
They would rather/ traitors be to Troy  
privily/ so it were nat espied  
And covertly/ with Greeks been allied  
Than stand hole/ with the town of truth  
And wilfully/ of negligence and sloth  
Suraunce and oath/ of old made to the town  
Refuse plainly/ in conclusyowne  
And alliance/ let slake and slide  
And their lygaunce/ set also aside  
In their advice/ they thought for the best  
For they them cast/ for to live at rest  
And merrier eke/ for earnest or for game  
To save their life/ and wander forth in shame  
Than wilfully/ die at mischief  
To traysshe their town/ they held it no reproof  
So they might/ escape themself alive  
Them list no thing/ for the town to strive  
They sought in sooth/ for sour or for sweet  
A mean way/ to live in quiet  
And thereupon/ they have their way nome  
Unto the king/ & when that they were come  
To his presence/ in full covert wise  
Vndercoloure/ they began devise  
To tell their tale/ so that finally  
Teyr counsel was/ that Priam's utterly  
In no manner/ be nat reckeles  
To pursue/ to greeks for a pees  
If it so be/ that he it get may  
And yield again/ to king Menelay  
Without strife/ the fresh queen Eleyne  
And over more/ that he nat disdain  
The harms done/ by Paris gone full yore  
In Cithaeron/ justly to restore.   

But o alas/ of false iniquity  
This counsel rose/ for under in secret  
The venom was/ as sugar under gall  
For well they wist/ that the greeks all  
Ne would accord/ in conclusyowne  
To have a peace/ with them of Troy town  
Whiles they were/ to such mischief brought  
To treat thereof/ in sooth it was for nought  
For Priamus than/ and Eccuba the queen  
With his sons/ and with Polycene  
That yet were left/ with him in the town  
Might have reigned/ by long successyowne  
If that greeks full/ and nat repented  
Unto a peace/ holly had assented  
But that counsel/ given was to late  
sithen Greeks/ of well elder date  
Had proffered first/ at Tenedowne  
By the advise/ of king Agamenowne  
A final peas/ shortly for to say  
So he would restore/ again Eleyne  
With amends/ required of reason  
Of damages/ wrought at Cithaeron  
His messengers/ first when that he sent  
To Pryamus/ that would nat assent  
To the request/ justly that they brought  
For of peace/ the means that they sought  
Of very pride/ were to them denied  
By wilfulness/ alas so were they guyed  
For lack only of wit/ and of prudence  
But now they have/ with cost & great dispense  
With slaughter of men/ & many great damage  
The sharp showers/ and the cruel rage  
Abide fully/ of this mortal were  
It is full sure/ that they will not differre  
The time forth/ to treat for a pees  
Them list no thing/ to be so reckeles  
Nor unadvised/ what them aught to do  
Trow ye they will/ so lightly go  
Home into grece/ without recompense  
They would seem/ it were a negligence  
Speke nat thereof/ for it will nat be  
Tpecyally now/ Troy the city  
In mischief stand/ upon his final fate  
This remedy/ shape was to late  
For greeks thought/ right of very trust  
That they of Troy/ stood at their lust  
Holding themself/ verily victors  
And of their soon/ fully conquerors  
Without doubt/ or ambygnytee  
For the counsel/ of this ilk Enee  
Of Antenor/ and of this anchises  
As ye have heard/ to treat for a pees  
Ne rose in sooth/ but of doubleness  
only of treason/ and of high falseness  
As Pryamus/ conceiveth/ by their cheer  
Like in this book/ as ye shall after here  
For on a day/ when that Pryamus  
With his son/ called Amphymacus  
A counsel held/ with other of the town  
This three have made/ a suggestyowne  
Unto the king/ touching the treat  
But he anon/ discrete and advise  
Prudently/ or he would assent  
'Gan undergrope/ plainly what they mente  
only of wit/ and discretion  
Or he it put/ in execution  
Making thereof/ a manner of delay  
But proudly than/ standing at a bay  
This Antenor/ without reverence  
Spoke to the king/ in open audience  
And shortly said/ with a stern cheer  
If thou list/ our counsel for to here  
And do there after/ platly thou mayst cheese  
And but thou wilt/ where thou win or lose  
This is the fine/ thou gettest no more of me  
Work after them/ that of thy counsel be  
To whom the king/ wonder soberly  
Answered again/ full benignly.  
Sire Antenor/ ye ought you nat grieve  
For mine intent/ is nat to reprove  
Your wise counsel/ nor your prudent rede  
If it conclude/ to the common speed  
Of my people/ and salvation  
But wite right well/ justly of reason  
Under sugar/ if there be cured gall  
In prejudice/ of my lieges all  
Causing them/ in mischief for to fine  
I will there from/ utterly decline  
As right requireth/ for our alder ease  
And me seemeth/ this should nat displease  
To thy conceit/ nor do the none offence  
For every man/ is holden of prudence  
The worst to leave/ and the better take  
Wisdom to sew/ and folly to forsake  
And remedy/ to seek for his sore  
And with that word/ the Trojan Antenor  
Of sudden Ire/ 'gan to change his blood  
And abraiding/ on his feet he stood  
And full felly/ said unto the king  
Now sickerly/ this is a wonder thing  
How your wisdom/ and adviseness  
Are blinded so/ of very wilfulness  
That ye may nat/ on nosyde see  
The great mischief/ nor adversity  
That we are in/ upon every side  
For we may nat/ dissimule nor hide  
In what disjoint/ plainly that we stand  
Be nat our soon/ also here at hand  
And have be set/ our wall round about  
And we for fere/ dare nat issue out  
Nor be so bold/ to undo a gate  
With them to fight/ that us deadly hate  
We be so feeble/ and they are so strong  
For soothly yet/ they have them among  
thirty kings/ worthy of renown  
Confederate/ to our destruccyowne  
And thereupon/ platly will abide  
Which vowed have/ in their great pride  
Never part hence/ fro the town  
Till the walls/ be turned up so down  
¶ Your worthy sons/ also now be deed  
That you were wont/ to help in your need  
Your manly knights/ slain everichone  
That us to save/ remedy is none  
It is in vain/ to treaty of diffence  
Wherefore I read/ of reason and prudence  
Or we be slain/ and our city lose  
Of two harms/ the least for to cheese  
This to say/ that in our intent  
As sitting is/ and expedient  
We treat of p●as/ and no longer feign  
And here with all/ restore again Eleyne  
For love of whom/ many worthy man  
Hath lost his life/ sithen the were began  
For now Paris/ is understone ygrave  
The best read/ in sooth that ye may have  
To send her home/ again to Menelay  
And to proffer/ as farforth as ye may  
To restore within/ a little while  
The harms done/ by Paris in the Isle  
Which men are wont/ Cythera to call  
This is my read/ here afore you all  
And with that word/ up rose Amphymacus  
To this counsel/ full contrarious  
And shortly said/ that it shall nat be  
As Antenor/ hath rade in no degree  
And ever thus/ without more respite  
He spoke to him/ of very high despite.  
⸫ ⸫ ⸫   

THou Antenor/ I have espied weal  
We may trust in thee/ never adele  
With us to stand/ in our great need  
For truth and faith/ in the be now deed  
falsehood hath slain/ in the stabylnesse  
And in stead/ of thy sickerness  
We find in thee/ soothly variance  
Where is be come/ the faith of thy legiance  
Thy hests made/ to stand with thy king  
Where be thine oaths/ so double in meaning  
Where is now hid/ thine old assurance  
Where is be come/ thy feigned false constance  
In stead of which/ Mutabylyte  
Hath take his place/ like as we may see  
With new change/ thou art so remewable  
Upon no ground/ thou mayst nat stand stable  
Thy troth is gone/ of old affeccyowne  
That y● shouldest have/ to stand with the town  
Of faith with us/ for to live or die  
For trust and hope/ exiled be away  
In thy person/ shortly for to write  
That busy art/ the king to excite  
In disencrease/ of his estate royal  
Unto Greeks/ now be so thrall  
To seek a peace/ as it were for dread  
Thou shouldest/ rather of thy manlihood  
Have proffered him/ the city to defend  
There on thy life/ at utterance to dispend  
Wherefore in sooth/ here I the assure  
Rather than we/ should this endure  
Twenty thousand/ shall with spear and shield  
Upon a day/ be slain in the field  
Thy word I hold/ for no prophecy  
For it proceedeth/ of very treachery  
Of doubleness/ and of false treason  
Undermining/ with prodition  
Though that thou/ outward show fair  
The venom hid/ thy tale doth repair  
Like a serpent/ stinging under flowers  
There by to feel/ of such counsellors  
And in this wise/ with words despitous  
Full bytyngly/ hath Amphymacus  
All openly/ Antenor reproved  
With his counsel/ so he was aggrieved  
saying the treason/ that he would mean  
Till Aeneas'/ 'gan to go between  
With florysshed speech/ full of flattery  
And 'gan his tale/ so to modify  
Like as he mente/ truth in his intent  
But therein was/ double intendment  
He spoke but one/ and yet he mentetwayne  
Amphymacus/ only to refrain  
To attempre him/ of his melancholy  
only till he might/ a time espy  
Like his purpose/ that he may proceed  
To execute it/ fully up in deed  
And when that he/ found had a space  
Under pretense/ of a true face  
With his tale/ he 'gan to break out  
Many Trojan/ standing him about  
And shortly said/ for conclusyowne  
touching diffence/ plainly of the town  
How that it hinge/ wholly in balance  
For both/ hope/ trust/ and assurance  
Of the city/ taken have their flight  
For finally/ our manhood and our might  
And our knighthood/ together be ago  
With the Greeks/ more to have a do  
And with them/ stoutly for to fight  
The which hath lost/ many a worthy knight   

ANd they be ready/ upon us to set  
And we dare nat/ our gatis more unshut  
We be alas/ supprysed/ so with dread  
Than seemeth me/ how it were great need  
By good advise/ for to seek a mean  
In this mischief/ how we shall us demene  
And for my part/ soothfastly I say  
I know as now/ none so ready way  
As prudently/ for a peace to treat  
But Priam than/ in a sudden heat  
Without abode/ of cheer and face pale  
Of rancour 'gan/ interrupt his tale  
For he attempre/ might nat his heart  
So fretyngly/ the treason made him smart  
And for he might/ himself nat restrain  
Thus he said/ unto both twain  
To Antenor/ and also to Enee  
I wonder greatly/ that ye hardy be  
In your truth/ for shame so to vary  
And that ye be/ so rebel and contrary  
To me only/ of false collusion  
Us to bring/ in desperation  
Me and my lieges/ if I shall nat fain  
Of false intent/ to catch us in a train  
Alas how may ye/ in your heart find  
Again nature/ for to be unkind  
That whilom were/ of my counsel chief  
Of every thing/ or it was brought to prefe  
For ye absent/ I could no thing fine  
And now alas/ ye cast to decline  
Away fro me/ barren left and sooll  
That to remember/ it is to great adooll  
How any wight/ alas so change can  
For who shall more/ trust any man  
When ye be found/ double/ of intent  
Can ye nat think/ how by your assent  
By your counsel/ and by your avys  
Whilom/ how I sent forth Paris  
Into to Grece/ of full yore ago  
And Antenor/ thou wottest thyself also  
How thou were first/ made ambassador  
And thereupon/ chief counsayllour  
touching the sonde/ made for Exyon  
But after that/ cause and motion  
Though were in sooth/ that Paris should go  
Into Grece/ thou wottest well it is so  
For Ine durst/ of presumption  
Have sent Paris/ unto Cithaeron  
Without advise/ and authority  
Of Aeneas plainly/ and of the  
Upon Greeks/ a were to have gone  
I trow in sooth/ that you neither can  
Excuse himself/ and ye be advised  
For every thing/ wrought was and devised  
And execute/ by counsel of you twain  
For when Paris/ went for Eleyne  
Ground and root/ to speak in special  
Were thou Enee/ and cause principal  
Present also/ when every thing was wrought  
Out of Grece/ when she was hither brought  
For this the sooth/ out of that region  
She never had/ come/ to this town  
If thou hadst/ be thereto contrary  
Albe thou wouldest/ with thy words fair  
Thyself excuse/ here in audience  
As thou knew nought/ of that offence  
But fully were/ unwytting of the deed  
And now my sons/ everichone be deed  
And ye mese/ alone destitute  
Your counsel is/ as for chief refute  
Me to pursue/ to Greeks for a pees  
As I were/ foryetell reckeles  
To remember/ the infinite outrages  
The mortal were/ slaughter & damages  
The cruelty/ and destruccyowne  
That they have wrought/ hereupon this town  
That verily/ when I all record  
For to be deed/ I can nat accord  
With them to treat/ like as ye devise  
For I espy/ in many sundry wise  
In your intent/ a right perilous snare  
So covertly/ under falsehood dare  
That it will be/ to my confusion  
If ye achieve/ your intention  
Finally/ as ye have it shape  
For impossible/ it were to escape  
Shamefully/ at mischief me to die  
Without recure/ of any remedy  
For this the fine/ I know it out of doubt  
Of the treat/ that ye be about.  
And right anon/ the Trojan Aeneas  
Of Ire and rancour/ so moved was  
Again the king/ with a swelling heart  
That suddenly/ out at the door he start  
After he had/ for to be a wroke  
Full many word/ again the king yspoke  
He went his way/ and Antenor also  
And Pryamus/ of very Ire and woe  
Suddenly/ burst out/ for to weep  
He might himself/ nat for anguish keep  
The anger frat/ upon him so sore  
Within himself/ conceiving more & more  
By evidence/ of discretion  
The covert guile/ and the false treason  
That they for him/ and for his city  
Ishapen have/ but he advised be  
Dreading aye/ that these ilk twain  
By some engine/ or conspired train  
To the Greeks/ would him betray  
Wherefore the king/ caste and would say  
Shape away/ their malice to withstand  
So the treason/ that they took on hand  
only of right/ in deed or it were found  
Upon themself/ might again rebound  
That the full/ execution  
Of their contrived/ conspiration  
Resort again/ in full dew wise  
only on them/ that 'gan it first devise  
Treason for treason/ is convenient  
For to falsehood/ the guerdon pertinent  
Is shameful death/ and the final meed  
Wherefore to shape/ in this great need  
A remedy/ this old Pryamus  
Calleth his son/ Amphymacus  
And piteously/ alone/ but they twain  
In teries drowned/ 'gan to him complain  
On Antenor/ and on this Aeneas  
And said son/ take heed in this cas  
And think how/ I am thy father dear  
And how there be/ now no more yfere  
O● my sons/ left with me a live  
But thou alone/ and therefore as belive  
touching the treason/ conspired & ysworne  
What ever fall/ let us be toforne  
only of wisdom/ away for to make  
That we may first/ in the trap them take  
And to purvey/ for them even lyche  
That justly/ they may fall in the oyche  
Which they have made/ and for us ytreyned  
And in all hast/ let so be ordained  
That this matter/ close be kept in mewe  
To fine only/ that they nat eschew  
For to be slain/ of equity and right  
In this place/ even toward night  
For I purpose/ plainly for their sake  
Again that hour/ a counsel for to make  
And under colour/ make them both call  
And thou unwarely/ shalt upon them fall  
With knights sworn/ unto the and me  
In this matter/ for to be secre.  
And right anon/ this Amphymacus  
assented is/ unto Pryamus  
To accomplish/ in full secret wise  
Fro point to point/ as ye have herd devise   

But sooth is said/ of full yore agone  
Of old wise/ that counsel is there none  
In all this world/ so privily ycaste  
That it will out/ platly at the last  
For the people/ which that is rural  
Saith that secrets/ which be nat known at all  
The earth will/ as they make mind  
Discure them/ of his own kind  
And of nature/ up caste and disclose  
The thing that men/ be wont in it to close  
Let every man/ beware as it is good  
Or his counsel/ go to far abroad  
And specially lords/ have great need  
Of all men/ they stand most in dread  
So great await/ is upon them laid  
That when it happeth/ that a thing be said  
Or once spoke/ of a lords mouth  
It falleth oft/ that it is full couth  
And reported/ and ysprad full wide  
In many cost/ by them that stand aside  
Or he be aware/ by sudden adventure  
For some in hap/ in whom he doth assure  
Will first of all/ him report amiss  
Therefore in sooth/ best for them is this  
For to beware/ and keep their tongue  
A purpose caste/ should nat be rung  
Nor spoke abroad/ among folks rude  
For gladly aye/ the worst they conclude  
Of every thing/ while that it is new  
In report variant/ and untrue  
For after reason/ no thing they expowne  
But after will/ the folk that be of town  
Like the purpose/ which they desire  
For they far/ as a wyspe of fire  
When it brenneth/ brightest in his blaze  
Suddenly/ it wasteth as a maze  
On such folk/ platly is no tryste  
That fire and water/ hold in their fist  
Being with both/ ilk indifferent  
Now hot now cold/ like as their intent  
Of new changeth/ so in their courage  
After the calm followeth/ sudden rage  
To day they love/ and tomorrow hate  
To trust a common/ lasteth by no date  
Let nat a lord/ make them to secree  
For now the counsel/ is run to Enee  
That Priam wend/ had be full close  
For the rumour/ and the wind arose  
By false report/ and so far is blow  
That Aeneas and Antenor/ well know  
end and beginning/ and every manner thing  
And hole the counsel of Priamus the king  
And both two/ full of one intent  
With other eke/ that were of their assent  
Conspired be/ and together sworn  
And covertly/ caste away aforne  
That finally/ Troy the city  
By their engine/ shall destroyed be  
And of accord/ caste plainly thus  
If it hap/ that king Pryamus  
Send for them/ shortly to conclude  
They would come/ with such multitude  
Of armed men/ if they see need  
That of him/ they should no thing dread  
For Aeneas/ was in that city  
Of great power/ and authority  
Both of blood/ and kindred allied  
And for his gold/ greatly magnified  
thorough the city/ most in special  
That he in might/ and power perigal  
As saith Guydo/ was unto the king  
And Antenor/ almost in every thing  
Was unto him/ Equal of power  
And both twain/ of one heart entere  
Conspired have/ in sooth again the town  
Finally/ to this conclusion  
That they of greeks/ might have surety  
With their treasure/ to go at liberty  
With their allies/ borne of Troy town  
When all were brought/ to destruccyowne  
With life and good/ ●aufe without more  
At which time/ for daunz Antenor  
And Aeneas/ Pryamus hath sent  
To accomplish/ the fine of his intent  
And they in haste/ with so great a rout  
Came of knights/ stuffed them about  
That thereof was/ atoned Pryamus  
And made send/ for Amphymacus  
Commanding him/ to change his purpose  
For well he wist/ his counsel was nat close  
And by signs/ 'gan well understand  
That the matter/ which they had on hand  
Discured was/ to his confusion  
Both the murder/ and conspiration  
Apparceyving/ in his in ward sight  
The great power/ of this Trojan knight  
And the favour/ of this Aeneas  
And of the Common/ how he fostered was  
The which proudly/ in open audience  
Tofore the king/ declareth his sentence  
Fully concluding/ maugre who saith nay  
How that there was/ none other mean way  
Refute nor gain/ nor other remedy  
But only peas/ who so it deny  
Other escaping/ plainly was there none  
And thereupon/ the Commons everichone  
With one voice/ 'gan to gale and cry  
And his counsel/ greatly magnify  
Albe the king/ was thereto contrary  
But Aeneas'/ list no longer tarry  
Nor differre/ the fine of his purpose  
But wonder Irous/ from his see he rose  
And full ungodly/ spoke unto the king  
And shortly said/ without more tarrying  
Where so befall/ thou be lief or loath  
Or with this purpose/ pleased either wroth  
Thou mayst well trust/ it shall none other be  
For finally/ hearken this of me  
Maugre thy will/ and also all thy might  
This same day/ yet or it be night  
For a peace/ with Greeks we shall treat  
And when the king/ saw the fervent heat  
Both of the common/ and of Aeneas  
He 'gan anon/ dissimule in this case  
For of prudence/ he clearly 'gan to see  
For that time/ it may none other be  
Wherefore sith he/ might it nat amend  
He wisely 'gan/ for to condescend  
To the purpose/ platly of Enee  
And said he would/ goodly take at gree  
And accept what/ them list ordain  
And so the king/ learned to fain  
Again the conceit/ platly of his heart  
For otherwise/ he could not asterte  
Coacte of force/ and of violence  
And when he saw/ in his advertence  
That he might/ divert on no side  
From the fraud/ that sown was so wide  
Without grudging/ he falsely gave assent  
That Antenor/ should forth be sent  
By common choice/ to treat for the town  
Which was tofore/ in conclusyowne  
With the Greeks/ accorded finally  
touching the effect/ of his ambassatrye  
from point to point/ where he would stand  
variant/ fro that he took on hand  
And for they had/ afore him full conceived  
With better cheer/ he was of them received  
And in this while/ that Antenor was out  
For to treat/ with the greeks stout  
As ye have heard/ for a peace final  
In the town/ about on every wall  
They of Troy/ 'gan ascend belive  
With the branches/ of many fresh olive  
In token of peace/ and greeks eke again  
Amid the field/ endelonge the plain  
showed them/ that all might seen  
Eke of olive/ lusty bows green.  
And to confirm/ this fro proynt to point  
And that no thing/ stood in no disjoint  
The worthy king/ great Agamenon  
Committed hath/ of high discretion  
Fully power/ and authority  
For the Greeks/ plainly unto three  
first of all/ for a peace to treat  
Unto the wise/ worthy king of Crete  
To ulixes/ and to diomed  
To these more/ them thought it was no need  
For what they do/ they will hold stably  
And finally/ nat be variable  
From the end/ platly that they make  
And thereupon/ was assurance take  
Of either part/ by bond of sacrament  
And so they be/ with Antenor ywent  
Out aside/ this worthy lords three  
And when they were/ at their liberty  
From all tumult/ alone privily  
This Antenor/ full of treachery  
Replete of falsehood/ and of doubleness  
'Gan his purpose/ unto them express  
Behoting them/ to Trasshe the city  
So they would/ make him surety  
That first himself/ and with him Aeneas  
Shall fredam have/ in every manner case  
With their allies/ and goods everichone  
Where them list/ at large for to gone  
At their choice/ or dwelling in the town  
With their richesse/ and possessyowne  
Without harm/ or any more damage  
Like as they see/ it be to advantage  
Of their persons/ to void or abide  
And they were sworn/ on the greeks side  
covenant to hold/ in party and in all  
As was rehearsed/ afore in special  
And as they were/ by their oaths bound  
So that there be/ no variance found  
Of neither party/ platly nor no strife  
And they behyght/ up peril of their life  
And when he had/ assurance of them three  
He charged them/ to keep in secre  
All that was said/ that no thing be di●curyd  
Unto time/ that they were assured  
Of the end/ grosyd up in deed  
For it were good/ that they took heed  
List their purpose/ perturbed were or shent  
By coming/ without advisement  
Of this tongues/ that be long and large  
Wherefore he 'gan/ con●oure them and charge  
In all wise/ for to be prive  
So that no wight/ but he and they three  
Of none estate/ neither high nor low  
Fully the fine/ of their intent ne know  
And covertly/ our purpose for to hide  
Quod Anthen or/ upon every side  
To void away/ all suspeccyowne  
This mine advise/ that to troy town  
The wise king/ called Taltybyus  
Shall go with me/ to king Pryamus  
For he is hore/ and iron in rage  
Coy of his port/ sleighty and right sage  
And therewithal/ sad demure and still  
Of whom trojans/ no thing shall mysylle  
But that he come/ to treat for a pees  
To be assured/ and write doubtless  
Where the Trojans/ agree will thereto  
In every thing/ finally to do  
As Antenor/ greeks hath behyght  
Thus shall they be/ devoided anon right  
thorough his coming/ from all suspection  
Till that we have/ our conclusion  
As ye have heard/ performed everydeal  
Of which thing/ the greeks like weal  
And be appointed/ upon every thing  
What they will do/ and how this old king  
With Antenor/ shall to Troy go  
And after this/ he axed eke also  
Of Pantasylle/ the body for to have  
In the city/ that men might it grave  
With dew honour/ longing to her estate  
To void away/ suspection and debate  
And Antenor/ for it drew to eve  
Of the Greeks/ taken hath his leave  
And with this king/ repeyreth into town  
Whereof was made/ anon relation  
To king Priam's/ without more delay  
And he in haste/ upon the next day  
Made assemble/ all his Cytesens  
Secretly/ devoiding all foreigns  
Where Antenor/ in open audience  
thorough the hall/ when made was silence  
His tale 'gan/ with sugared words sweet  
Making the bawne/ outward for to fleet  
Of rhetoric/ and of eloquence  
Of cheer nor word/ that there was none offence  
In showing out/ so circumspect he was  
That no man could/ in no manner case  
By sign outward/ nor by countenance  
perceive in him/ any variance  
So hard it was/ his treason to espy  
The effect declaring/ of his embassatrye  
With clear report/ of his answer again  
In his meaning/ though he were nat plain  
For underneath/ he was with fraud fraught  
This sleighty wolf/ till he his prey hath caught  
For he was close/ and covert in his speech  
As a serpent/ till he may do wretch  
Hiding his venom/ under flowers long  
And as a be/ that stingeth with the tongue  
When he hath shed/ out his honey sote  
Sugar in the crop/ venom in the rote  
Right so in sooth/ with tongue in Scorpyon  
This Antenor/ root of all treason  
His tale told/ with a face pleyne  
Like the son/ that shineth in the rain  
That fair showeth/ though the weather be  
Wonder divers/ and troubly for to see  
So this tiger/ full of doubleness  
So covertly/ his treason died express  
As he not mente/ but truth to the town  
Fully affirming/ in conclusyowne  
How the greeks/ mighty were and strong  
And likely eke/ to abide long  
Day by day/ ready them to assail  
And also plenty/ of victual  
Concluding aye/ there was no remedy  
Against them/ to hold chaumpartye  
Nor with them/ any more to strive  
For he said/ they had yet a live  
Their worthy knights/ hardy as lions  
Their manly men/ and their champions  
Which their lives/ platly to jeopard  
From the city/ caste them nat depart  
Till their purpose/ acheved be in all  
For finally/ nouther tour nor wall  
Nor your gates/ of iron though ye shut  
The Greeks shall/ on no side let  
But that they will/ us win at the last  
Wherefore it needeth/ a mean way to cast  
sithen of might/ nor favour of Fortune  
We may nat long/ against them contune  
Wherefore quoth he/ so ye condescend  
I can right well/ all this thing amend  
Remedy/ so that ye nat vary  
To that I say/ for to be contrary  
This to mean/ shortly out of doubt  
Embassatoure/ when that I was out  
With the greeks/ last when ye me sent  
They said goodly/ how they would assent  
Unto a peace/ by this condition  
That ye will make/ restitution  
Of the harms/ and the vyolences  
The wrongs done/ and also the offences  
By Paris wrought/ in Grece at Cithaeron  
As it is right/ me seemeth of reason  
For their request/ is meynt with equity  
And we be driven/ of necessity  
Unto their lust/ justly to incline  
Maugre our will/ the were for to fine  
For all is now/ in their election  
We may nat make/ no rebellion  
Now the matter/ is so far ybrought  
To strive again/ in soothe it helpeth nought  
It may apeyre/ but no thing avail  
Therefore the best/ that I can counsel  
As in proverb/ hath be said of yore  
That if a man/ be constrained sore  
And may nat flee/ to fall in a train  
Let him cheese/ the less harm of twain  
And the greater/ prudently/ to eschew  
And let our gold/ that ye kept in mewe  
To save our life/ make redemption  
For better it is/ deemeth of reason  
spoiled to be/ only of richesse  
Than wilfully/ die in distress  
The life is better/ than glode or any good  
Set all at nought/ in saving of your blood  
For folly is/ a man/ for his welfare  
thorough covetise/ any gold to spare  
And now our life/ dependeth in balance  
Let gold farewell/ and go with mischance  
We may hereafter/ by sort of adventure  
Gold by grace/ and good enough recure  
And sithen we/ as I have you told  
May buy a peace/ finally for gold  
And with our treasure/ stint eke the were  
It were folly/ plainly to differre  
With the greeks/ utterly to accord  
For if so be/ I to them record  
That ye assent/ without any variance  
There may of peas/ be no perturbaunce  
It is so light/ now to be recured  
For as soon/ as they be assured  
By just report/ of your intentions  
They will do write/ obligations  
Of covenants/ that nat be by hind  
And that ye shall/ in them no fault find  
When assurance/ from either part is had  
Thereupon/ indentures shallbe made  
So that of faith/ ye may them nat reprove  
And for that/ they fully trust and leave  
Without fraud/ my relation  
I will now make/ no dilation  
To signify/ to them in certain  
wholly the effect/ of that ye will say  
And the people/ loud 'gan to cry  
All with one voice/ and to magnify  
All that ever/ Antenor hath said  
And upon him/ they have the charge laid  
Of their answer/ and intent final  
And by record/ to report all  
That no thing/ be forgotten in this case  
They have assigned/ also Aeneas  
With him to go/ for the same thing  
In the presence/ of the old king  
Taltybyus/ which also of intent  
¶ With Antenor/ was to Troy sent  
The which three/ have plainly undertake  
As ye have heard/ a final peace to make  
Albe that they/ in covert treason mente  
And on their way/ forth anon they went  
With plain power/ committed of the town   

BUt king Priam's/ hath ay suspeccyowne  
To Antenor/ and also to Enee  
How that they/ shall destroy his city  
And to himself/ tryste of heartily woe  
He said alas/ what is best to do  
In this mischief/ that I am in fall  
And yet is this/ to me worst of all  
That I am now/ thorough mine adversity  
Bound and compelled/ of necessity  
Maugre my heed/ in manner of ransom  
For my life/ to make redemption  
Unto my soon/ that I have most at heart  
I see right well/ I may it nat asterte  
For I must pay/ there gaineth no succour  
My good my gold/ riches and treasure  
To my most soon/ and dare it nat deny  
And yet I stand/ of life in jeopardy  
Without refute/ hanging in balance  
Alas constrained/ thorough my woeful chance  
To obey their lust/ that mortally me hate  
driven thereto/ of birth thorough my fate  
So Parchas/ have my destiny yshape  
By no engine/ I may it nat escape.   

ANd while priam/ 'gan thus to complain  
To Antenor/ came the queen Eleyne  
beseeching him/ in his embassatrye  
Of gentilesse/ for to specify  
thorough/ his prudent mediation  
To find away/ in conservation  
Of her estate/ finally that she  
To Menelay/ may reconciled be  
If so fall/ that the treat hold  
So that her lord/ of his grace would  
Restore her/ unto her degree  
only of mercy/ and of high pity  
And Antenor/ unto her request  
Gave audience/ making a behest  
How he would/ with all his heart enter  
Be diligent/ to treat of this matter  
And therewithal/ of him she took her leave  
And thus was done/ on the same eve  
That Antenor/ I pray god give him sorrow  
To Greeks went/ on the next morrow  
only to treat/ for apeas final  
And in this while/ the feast Funeral  
Was hold in troy/ mine author writeth thus  
Of a lord/ that called was Glaucus  
A manly knight/ tofore in his living  
And soon was/ of Priamus the king  
And over this/ like as saith Guydo  
That king Priam's/ busied him also  
Of Pantasyllya/ how the body might  
Be conserved/ freshly to the sight  
And for love/ of this worthy queen  
Of pured gold/ and of stones sheen  
He let make/ a vessel full rial  
And field it full/ with bawne natural  
To keep the corpse/ fro corrupcyowne  
Till the were/ of greeks and of the town  
thorough the treat/ were ystynted clean   

SO that the king/ called Phylymene  
This deed queen/ might of affection  
Carry it home/ into her region  
With the Auncetres/ buried for to be  
Like the manner/ of old antiquity  
And the custom/ used in that time  
It were in vain/ more thereof to rhyme  
I pass over/ unto the Tretee  
atween greeks/ and Troy the city  
And for the party/ of greeks as I read  
first ulixes/ and with him diomed  
Assigned were/ and the king of Crete  
With Antenor/ and Aeneas to meet  
And all yfere/ shortly in sentence  
By conduit first/ and after by licence  
Of the noble wise/ Agamenowne  
They entered be/ into Troy town  
By conveying/ of this Aeneas  
Of whose coming/ such a joy there was  
Of the comunes/ which in things new  
Rejoice aye/ after though they rue  
weening full well/ in their opinion  
That/ by the good mediation  
Of Vlixes/ and the king of Crete  
And diomed/ that came eke to Trete  
That these three/ should make as fast  
A final peas/ ever for to last  
And a full end/ of their alder sorrow  
And thereupon/ early the next morrow  
Priam let make/ a convocacyowne  
Of all the worthy/ within Troy town  
And when they were/ assembled all in one  
The wise Vlixes/ rose up anon  
And his tale/ 'gan in such a wise  
So prudently/ his words to devise  
That to hearken/ every man hath joy  
And specially/ they that were of Troy  
That of his inward/ meaning fraudelent  
Full little wist/ nor of his intent  
To their pleasance/ so he could fain  
And first he asketh/ of them things twain  
The one was this/ that of the city  
He would have gold/ a huge quantity  
In recompense/ of harms that were do  
Another thing/ he axed also  
Without abode/ that Amphymacus  
That soon was/ to king Pryamus  
Perpetuelly/ that he exiled be  
Never to enter/ Troy the city  
For gold prayer/ nor for no ransom  
And this was done/ by suggestion  
Of Antenor/ false and malicious  
only/ for he was contrarious  
That he should/ treaty for to a pees  
And for that/ he was nat reckeles  
To say a truth/ this Amphymacus  
Therefore in sooth/ this serpent envious  
Now he hath found/ a time for to bite  
He thought he would/ cruelly him quite  
For truth only/ that was in his intent  
¶ Therefore it is/ full expedient  
Of prudence/ every man to charge  
That his tongue/ be nat over large  
truths all/ be nat for to say  
For wisdom is/ sometime to fain  
And dissimule/ in adversity  
specially/ when men in trouble be  
And see their speech/ may them nat avyle  
Better is than/ that their tongue fail  
Than foolily/ to their damage speak  
Men must among/ kure and over reek  
The truth of things/ only of prudence  
And humbly/ suffer in patience  
For false report/ of folks envious  
Who can so do/ I hold him virtuous  
For better it is/ a while to abide  
Than say all out/ of rancour and of pride  
Silence in sooth/ hath oft in hasty strife  
Had of victory/ a prserogatyfe  
And the palm/ of debates won  
That well are they/ that so suffer can  
And be of speech/ nat presumptuous  
For as I told/ this Amphymacus  
Nat withstanding/ that he truth mente  
Yet for a word/ he into Exile went.  
Albe that god/ full justly afterward  
Hath Antenor quite/ for his reward  
For with the same/ he was after it  
For his falseness/ duly as it sit  
This to say/ for his iniquity  
He was to exile/ and captivity  
For judged after/ into proscripcy own  
And relegat/ out of Troy town  
Perpetuelly/ by the procuring  
Of Aeneas'/ loo/ how the right full king  
That all may see/ in his providence  
Full justly can make recompense  
Of doubleness/ and simulation  
And of all such/ contrived false treason  
For who avengeth/ with falsehood on his part  
He shall be hit/ with the same dart  
He scapeth nat/ for to have a wound  
For falsehood aye/ will again rebound  
Where it rose first/ to his Orygenall  
Resort again/ right as doth a ball  
For who for fraud/ ever doth him cast  
Trust right well/ it will out at the last  
And who supplanteth/ shall supplanted be  
By good example/ as ye shall after see.   

OF Antenor/ the story if ye read  
And whiles they/ treaty and proceed  
touching the exile/ and proscription  
captivity/ and relegation  
That they cast/ for Amphymacus  
There was herd/ a noise marvelous  
A great tumult/ and a wonder sown  
Like as it were/ a lamentacyowne  
Of sundry folk/ playning in distress  
For heartily woe/ and in ward heaviness  
Out of the treat/ even when they gone  
This confuse cry/ after 'gan anon  
¶ Whereof ulixes/ and eke diomed  
Suddenly/ fill in a dread  
Supposing/ in their oppyowne  
That some rumour/ was fall in the town  
Among the people/ in the como●te  
Of hasty rancour/ avenged for to be  
For the love/ of Amphymacus  
That causeless was/ exiled thus  
Of volunte/ again all truth and right  
Wherefore they dread/ when it drew to night  
To be murdered/ of the commons of the town  
For the fraud/ and conspyracyowne  
Falsely compalsyd/ of old enmytee  
By Antenor/ and by false Enee  
And soothly yet/ there was no manner man  
That could wit/ whereof it began  
Nor espy/ first where it arose  
In all the palace/ nor thorough out the close  
They heard it well/ but they lay nought  
Whereof they were/ atoned in their thought  
And afraid/ of very sudden dread  
Vlixes most/ and also diomed  
list with commons/ they had be by set  
But Antenor/ without longer let  
To make them sure/ from all tumult & cry  
The Greeks hath/ conveyed secretly  
And when they were/ assured of their place  
Vlixes first/ with a changed face  
'Gan pinch sore/ in the self while  
At Antenor/ of treason and of guile  
That with his hests/ so fro day to day  
Of very sleyghte/ put them in delay  
Seeming fully/ for aught he could espy  
There was deceit/ fraud or treachery  
In the covenants/ that he hath behyght  
To whom an one/ this false Trojan knight  
With sad cheer/ and sober countenance  
Well advised/ in his dalliance  
answered again/ and plainly died express  
I wysse quoth he/ I take unto witness  
The high god's/ that every thing may see  
Without feigning/ that I have busy be  
Fro point to point/ your purpose to achieve  
So that I you/ do nat grieve  
And finally/ that ye list to here  
There is one thing/ parturbeth this matter  
Which that I shall/ so it be none offence  
Plainly remember/ here in your presence  
This to say/ of old antiquity  
first at the building/ of Troy the city  
That whilom was/ called Yllyon  
For cause only/ at his foundation  
King Ylyus'/ sith go full long  
The founder was/ of the wall strong  
After whom/ as made is mention  
It called was/ and named Yllyon  
In the which/ with great and busy charge  
In Pallas name/ he made a temple large  
That passingly/ was had in reverence  
And when this Fane/ of most excellence  
Performed was/ by masonry full weal  
And save the roof/ complete everydeal  
Of mighty stone/ the building well assured  
But or it was/ with lead and timber cured  
Again tempest/ for to be obstacle  
There fill a wonder/ only by miracle  
That I dare well/ affirm it in certain  
Such another/ was there never say  
Who so list see/ and consider all  
This marvel was/ so celestial.   

FOr there came down/ from the high heaven  
By Plyades/ and the stars seven  
And thorough the Eyer/ holding his passage  
Like a fair/ and marvelous image  
That in this world/ though men had sought  
Ne was there none/ half so well ywrought  
For as it is/ truly to suppose  
Pygmalyon/ remembered in the rose  
In his time/ had no cunning  
To grave or peynte/ so curious a thing  
For it was wrought/ with diligent labour  
By hand of Angel/ in the heavenly tour  
thorough gods might/ & divine ordyaunce  
And hither sent/ thorough his purveyance  
For a relic only/ of his grace  
And provided/ to the same place  
There to abide/ for a protection  
For a diffence/ and salvation  
Perpetuelly/ while the world may dure  
Again all mischief/ and misadventure  
Every trouble/ and tribulation  
In sustaining/ and relevacyon  
And sovereign help/ eke of this city  
The which/ never may destroyed be  
By none engine/ that men may purchase  
The gods have/ granted such a grace  
And such virtue/ annexed eke thereto  
That troy in sooth/ may never be fordo  
Till this relic/ stole be away  
And yet in sooth/ there is no man that may  
From the place/ steer it/ nor remewe  
But the pressed/ to whom it is dew  
only of office/ to touch it with his hand  
So mightily/ conserved is the bond  
That who attempteth/ in conclusion  
It to remove/ of presumption  
At the fine/ platly he shall fail  
For force none/ may him nat avail  
For it in sooth/ will nat removed be  
Except of him/ to whom of duty  
It appertaineth/ as ye have herd tofore  
And over more/ there is no man yet borne  
That read can/ nor tell in no degree  
verily/ where it be stone or tree  
Nor how it was devised/ nor ywrought  
There is no wight/ so subtle in his thought  
seriously/ to tell the manner  
For Mynerua/ that is so fresh and clear  
The stern goddess/ thorough her great might  
That is so dreadful/ both of look and sight  
Which on her breast/ haveth of crystal  
her shield Egys/ this goddess immortal  
Ygraunted hath/ in books as I learn  
thorough her power/ which that is eterne  
This holy relic/ for a memorial  
To her temple/ of building most royal  
It to conserve/ from all assault of breed  
And to succour/ in every manner need  
Again their soon/ unto Troy town  
While it is kept/ with devociowne  
So that always/ by successyowne  
From king to king/ in the line down  
But just tycle/ lynealy succeed  
There to annexed/ that they take heed  
Prudently/ avoiding negligence  
It to conserve/ with dew reverence  
As they are bound/ and yholde of right  
Than shall no enemy/ power have nor might  
To do damage/ in hindering of the town  
And why it is called/ Palladyowne  
Like as clerks/ write of it and sayne  
Is for Pallas/ to make her town certain  
This relic sent/ fro the heaven down  
And to conclude/ shortly my reasowne  
This the cause/ our purpose is so let  
Than quod ulixes/ sith it may beno bet  
Our labour is/ in idle and in vain  
Without recure/ if it be certain  
As thou haste said/ this town in no degree  
thorough this relic/ may nat destroyed be  
It was folly/ the to undertake  
Unto Greeks/ behest for to make  
Without this/ thou hadst be well sure  
Quod Antenor/ yet there is recure  
As I have height/ ye shall have the town  
All though there be/ a dylacyowne  
And the manner anon/ I shall tell  
If it so be/ ye list a while dwell  
Without noise/ either perturbaunce  
The pressed/ the which the governance  
Of this relic/ shallbe spoke unto  
By good advise/ and treated so  
That he shall be/ full of our assent  
For he with gold/ and treasure shallbe blended  
That he accord shall/ to our purpose  
To bring the relic/ which is kept so close  
To what place/ that ye list assign  
Be still of port/ goodly and benign  
In your works/ till I have brought about  
Fully this thing/ and be nothing in doubt  
I dare myself/ take it well on hand  
And when they had/ his meaning understand  
They took leave/ and went out of the town  
But first/ to void all suspecyowne  
At their going/ Antenor hath height  
How that he would/ go the same night  
To Pryamus/ to make ordinance  
How the bonds/ and the assurance  
Of the peace/ should ymaked be  
And for to know/ eke the quantity  
Of the gold/ that ye shall receive  
Thus shall I best/ the purpose apparceyne  
Of the king/ to know it eueryde●e  
And they consent/ and like wonder weal.  
Every thing/ that Antenor hath said  
And so they part/ glad and well apaid  
And went their way/ and made no tarrying  
And Antenor/ goth unto the king  
Him counsaylling/ he make no delay  
To call his lords/ again the next day  
And his lieges/ to assemble yfere  
Finally/ to engroce/ this matter  
As it was sitting/ and expedient  
And when the king/ in open parliament  
Crowned sat/ in his regal  
This Antenor/ 'gan to specify  
In audience/ that men might know  
To each estate/ both high and low  
The greeks will/ if they agree thereto  
And what the sum/ was of gold also  
Which they axe/ if the peace shall stand  
Twenty thousand Mark/ to have in hand  
Of pured god/ which must anon be paid  
And of silver/ that may nat be delayed  
They must eke have/ the same quantity  
And over this/ as they accorded be  
Certain mesours/ by covenant also  
Of wheat and flower/ their lives for to save  
In their repair/ by the large see  
When they sail/ home to their country  
And that the collect/ made be anon  
By good advise/ of them everichone  
That all be ready/ by acercayne day  
There was no man/ that durst tho say nay  
Nor contrary/ that Anthern or hath said  
Where so they were/ well or evil paid  
But full assent/ in conclusyowne  
And in all haste/ thorough out all the town  
The Collatours/ gathered up the gold  
Like the sum/ that I have you told  
Of poor and rich/ there was spared none  
The which time/ Antenor is gone  
Unto the priest/ that called was Tonaunt  
I she might/ in any wise him daunt  
To make his heart/ fully to incline  
Full craftily/ he laid out hook and line  
With lusty ●eyte/ of false covetise  
Excycing him/ in full secret wise  
That would/ be of his assent  
And condescend/ unto his intent  
To put him/ in possession  
Of the relic/ called Palladyon  
Without abode/ it may delivered be  
And gave him gold/ a huge quantity  
And him to blend/ moche more behyght  
And this was done/ full privily by night  
Shortly concluding/ if he condescend  
That he would/ his estate amend  
So passingly/ that for ever more  
He and his heirs/ should have gold and store  
Plente enough/ that none indigence  
Should have power/ him to do offence  
For unto thee/ this a avow I make  
Quod Antenor/ and platly undertake  
Of gold & good/ thou shalt have suffisance  
And of treasure/ passing abundance  
That thou shalt/ in very sickerness  
All thy kin excel/ in richesse  
If thou deliver/ like to mine asking  
Palladyon/ which is in thy keeping  
And I behote/ thou mayst trust me  
By bond of it/ shallbe secree  
List it were/ hindering to thy name  
For if so be/ that thou dread shame  
To be esclaundred/ of so foul a deed  
I shape shall/ that thou need nat dread  
Nor be aghast/ in no manner wise  
For such away/ in sooth I shall devise  
That no man/ shallbe suspicious  
To thy person/ nor engenyous  
To dame amiss/ how this matter goth  
For be well aware/ that me were as loath  
To be defamed/ of so false a thing  
To know thereof/ or be assenting  
In any manner/ that they of the town  
Should to me/ have suspeccyowne  
Lece be/ let be/ liefer I had die  
We shall therefore/ caste another weigh  
Our honour save/ so that thou and I  
Shall go all quite/ I say the utterly  
That neither/ shall behold ne perceive  
Of this theft/ but stand hole and clear  
What ever fall/ without any shame  
For ulixes/ shall bear all the blame  
Of this deed/ and this thief also  
For men shall say/ when that it is ago  
By his engine/ and his sleighty wile  
thorough his treynes'/ and his false guile  
That he hath stole/ away Palladyowne  
From the temple/ in losing of the twone  
That finally/ during all his live  
Men shall to him/ this falsehood ascrive  
And all the guilt/ aretten his offence  
That thou and I/ only of Innocence  
thorough out the world/ of this iniquity  
shallbe excused/ platly and go free  
It needeth nat/ tarry in this matere  
Come of atones/ lo thy gold is here  
For thou ne shalt/ longer delayed be  
And sith thou seest/ that no difficulty  
Is on no part/ pereyll nor reprefe  
Shame nor dread/ scalundre nor mischief  
Delay nat to take/ this thing on hand  
And first this priest/ 'gan him to withstand  
Full mightily/ and said for nothing  
Nouther for prayer/ nor for manasing  
For gold nor good/ ne no manner meed  
He ne would assent/ to so foul a deed  
Thus he answered/ at the prime face  
But oft sith/ it happeth men purchase  
By gift of good/ to speak in words plain  
That troth in poverty/ might never attain  
For meed more/ by falsehood may conquer  
Than title of right/ that men in troth lere  
And gifts great/ hearts can incline  
And gold they may/ in steel & marble mine  
This priests heart/ hath so deep grave  
That Antenor/ shall his purpose have  
For to possede/ the Palladyon  
thorough false engine/ and conspiration  
Of this priest/ that called was Tonaunte  
Which of falsehood/ might him best avaunt  
That this relic/ fro the temple rent  
And to Vlixes/ Antenor it sent  
Out of the town/ in all the haste he might  
By a servant/ secretly by night  
Whereof Troyans/ mortally dismayed  
And thorough treason/ finally out trayed  
Wrought by this priest/ with covetise blended  
False Antenor/ being of assent.    

¶ How the Grekis made an horse of brass wherein was men of Arms/ & under colour of peace brought it into Troy/ by the which it was utterly destroyed for ever. Cap. xxxv.  

O Troy alas/ well mayest thou morn & weep  
In complaining/ wthertely sighs deep  
Falsely defrauded/ of Palladyon  
And put for ever/ out of possession  
O mighty god's/ that the world govern  
And every thing/ thorough your might conserve  
Right as it is/ of your deyte  
And truth/ and falsehood/ may togydrese  
In every heart/ thorough your purveyance  
Why took ye nat/ on this priest vengeance  
That traitorously/ thorough his iniquity  
For gold and good/ be traysshed the city  
Of troy alas/ without more recure  
Who shall emforth/ and more be sure  
Or any place/ stand in sykerte  
sith holiness/ of so high degree  
May be infect/ and corrupt with meed  
Every heart/ aught quake and dread  
To se alas/ by false hypocrisy  
priests that should/ the world exemplefye  
With good doctrine/ of perfection  
To make so soon/ a transmutation  
Of double intent/ so daynely to vary  
For doubtless/ if the Seyntuarye  
Be pollut found/ in conversation  
Naked and bare/ of devotion  
And that the shining/ of their perfect light  
Yturned be/ by dyrkenesse unto night  
Unto what place/ shall men ferther go  
To take example/ what them aught to do  
Certys the root/ and ground of everydeal  
Is covetise/ who so look weal  
Of which the greyne/ is so far ysowe  
That who so list/ Avarice to know  
Among priests/ he shall it rathest find  
For therewithal/ they be made blind  
To their estate/ that they may nat see  
For in soothness/ there is no degree  
Gredyer/ nor more ravenous  
Of worldly good/ more covetous  
That priests be/ to catch what they may  
For it is gone/ sith many a day  
That in their breast/ fyxhed was the rote  
Of covetise/ which sit so sweet  
That no man may/ arrace him nor remove  
For at their tail/ ever it doth them sew  
This false worm/ mother and nurse  
Of all mischief/ and of every vice  
For gold is now/ so shining and so bright  
So piercing eke/ and so clear of light  
That priests be/ with his stems blended  
For in soothness/ they be in their intent  
Of covetise/ very receptacle  
And to possede/ eke the tabernacle  
Their heart is aye/ so greedy to embrace  
That Avarice/ hath his lodging place  
Mid of their breast/ this vice of vices all  
That causeth virtue/ rather for to fall  
Where he abyt/ so he can supplaunte  
Record I take/ of the priest Tonaunte  
That for treasure/ to Antenor hath sold  
The rich relic/ that he had in hold  
Palladyon/ while they of Troy town  
Have gathered up/ about evyrowne  
Of rich and poor/ thorough out the city  
Gold and silver/ a huge quantity  
Flower and wheat/ to pay their ransom  
The which sum/ of intention  
They made keep/ wisely and conserve  
In the temple/ that longeth to minerve  
Purposing after/ of one affeccyowne  
The Cytesens/ thorough out all the town  
Hoping thereby/ for to far the bet  
Upon a day/ assigned and yset  
To Apollo/ in their paynim wise  
solemnly/ make a sacrifice  
With slaughter of beasts/ with incense and blood  
On which day/ when the priests stood  
In compass round/ about the autere  
And 'gan to kindle/ the coals bright and clear  
Upon the Autere/ plainly as I read  
To offer up/ the beasts that were deed  
In the flawme/ and the great leaven  
To Apollo/ stellefyed in heaven  
When they to offer/ were most laborious  
There befell/ two things marvelous  
The first was/ that the sacryde fire  
Ne would burn/ like to her desire  
Nor the flawme/ up ascend aloft  
Albe that they/ assayed full oft  
More than ten times/ and yet it ne would be  
For aye it quaint/ that they ne might see  
Nought but smoky/ resolutions  
horrible and black/ like exalations  
Of new lime/ when that it is meynt  
With water cold/ and of his heat quaint  
That they might/ in no manner wise  
For lack of fire/ do their sacrifice  
For aye they found/ a wonderful obstacle  
And the next/ was a more miracle  
On their Auter/ when they 'gan to spread  
The entrails/ of beasts/ that were deed  
To queme Apollo/ with flawmes bright & fair  
There came anon/ down out of the air  
A royal Egle/ full piercing of his look  
And in his claws/ the offering up he took  
And the entrails/ dying environ  
In his descence/ making such a sown  
That none so hardy/ of heart nor manhood  
But that he was/ atoned there he stood  
And surprised/ thorough nerfe and every vain  
Of this marvel/ and this case sudden  
But the Eagle/ abiding there no more  
Over the town/ full high 'gan to sore  
Toward greeks/ enhasting what he might  
And on their shypes/ suddenly a light  
And the entrails/ of the beasts all  
This Eagle let/ fro his claws fall  
Whereof Trojans/ when they took heed  
Disamayed/ with a mortal dread  
By signs have/ clearly comprehended  
That their god's/ greatly were offended  
Again the town/ when the fire went out  
And for they would/ be put out of doubt  
To be sure/ what this marvel mente  
To Cassandra/ in all haste they went  
Fully to have/ declaration  
And thereupon/ plain exposition  
And she told them/ platly out of dread  
That the quenching/ of their fires red  
Was unto them/ a demonstration  
Both of ire/ and indignation  
That Apollo/ hath to Troy bore  
For the blood/ that was shed before  
Of Achilles/ in his temple slawe  
Vengeably murdered/ and ydrawe  
Without any manner/ reverence  
Or honour done/ to the excellence  
Of Apollo/ being there present  
That the Fane/ and plates adjacent  
Were defouled/ and pollut with the blood  
Wherefore she said/ shortly it was good  
That they went/ on prosessyon  
With heart contrite/ and devotion  
To the tomb/ of Achilles at night  
only to fet/ on their tapries light  
Sacred fire/ brenning at the wake  
Fully in purpose/ by assent to make  
For his murder/ satisfaction  
The which fire/ by none occasion  
Shall nat quench/ but his flawmes hold  
thorough none assault/ of stormy winds cold  
The sacrifice/ upon the Autere  
Tofore Apollo/ bren shall so clear  
And they of Troy/ wrought by her rede  
But of the Eagle/ she bad them take heed  
That no thing was/ but token oftreason  
Pronostycke/ and declaration  
Finally how Troy/ and Ylyon  
Shall turn in haste/ to destruction  
For the flying/ of this fowl royal  
Over the town/ and the mighty wall  
With his feathers/ mailed bright and she  
And the entrails/ in his claws keen  
To troy was/ a final demonstrance  
Sothfaste showing/ and sygnefyaunce  
That grace and Ewer/ & hap of old Fortune  
By lyklyhede/ might nat contune  
Nor persever/ in their first light  
For all atones/ they have take their flight  
Palladyon/ might them nat withhold  
That stole was/ like as I you told  
For no man may/ his fatal chance refuse  
And Greeks eke/ fast 'gan to muse  
And inwardly/ in theyrwyttes sought  
Of the entrails/ that the Eagle brought  
And thereupon/ 'gan together rowne  
Till that Calchas/ did every thing expone  
And unto them/ full 'gan assure  
That the fine/ of this adventure  
Conclude should/ upon their welfare  
And bad also/ for no cost they spare  
To persevere/ and be of heart stable  
By Fortune/ themself to enable  
Them counsaylling/ to do their busy pain  
solemnly/ in haste to ordain  
A certain offering/ borne out of the field  
To fair Pallas/ with her Crystal shield  
And to her make/ a rich sacrifice  
As the story/ by order shall devise.   

bishop Calchas/ with his locks door  
Traitor forsworn/ sith go full yore  
That falsed hath/ troth & his alliance  
Whom clerks/ have put in remembrance  
In their locks/ with letters old and new  
To exemplefye/ no man to be untrue  
For though years/ pass fast away  
Rust of slander/ lightly will nat die  
The fret thereof/ is so corrosyfe  
That it lasteth/ full many man's life  
And is full hard/ to arrace away  
Of whose venom/ full seld is made allay  
Report thereof/ blown is so wide  
Perpetuelly/ that it will abide  
Remembered new/ and freshly had in mind  
Record of him/ that could away find  
Old Calchas/ evil mut he starve  
Under colour/ of offering to minerve  
To make Greeks/ enter into town  
This sleighty serpent/ father and patrowne  
And fyndre up/ of treason and of guile  
compassed hath/ and I found a wile  
How greeks shall/ the city win and take  
Pretending them/ sacrifice to make  
Unto Pallas/ as I shall express  
For this traitor/ meroure of falseness  
The Greeks bad/ for to do their pain  
To Mynerua/ an offering to fain  
And in all haste/ that they should them speed  
And of assent/ they died make a stead  
Large and wide/ of Coper and of bras  
By craft of sinon/ that contrived was  
That it might receive/ large and weal  
A thousand knights/ armed bright in steel  
thorough the sleight/ and the compassing  
The subtle wit/ and marvelous working  
Of this wise/ and crafty greek Sinon  
Which thorough his casting/ and discretion  
performed hath/ this rich stead of bras  
As ye have heard/ by bidding of Calchas  
And by the advise/ of Appyus the wise  
That holp also/ the stead to devise  
To fine only/ that of devocyowne  
Greeks might/ reqire of the town  
When it were made/ to grant them licence  
It present/ in the reverence  
Of mighty Pallas/ in steel armed bright  
Amid her temple/ large and full of light  
By the offering/ to find occasyowne  
To have entry/ freely into town  
By pilgrimage/ their vows to fulfil  
In which stead/ daren shall full still  
A thousand knights/ as Calchas by devise  
Ordained hath/ that was so sly and wise  
By craft/ of Sinon/ and of Appyus  
This large stead/ of making marvelous  
Under pretence/ of oblation  
Was complete full/ to his perfection  
Of werkemanshype/ as I told afore  
The same year/ that Troy was forlese  
When the siege/ soothly 'gan to fine  
And the city/ was brought to Ruin  
thorough greeks might/ & the wall strong  
Were beat down/ large thick and long  
The which year/ as made is mention  
A little afore/ taking of the town  
Kings eachone/ that came fro so far  
alive left/ after the mortal were  
¶ When they saw/ how Priam's by covenant  
Unto Greeks/ that utterly made grant  
All haste possible/ to pay his ransom  
They took leave/ and went out of the town  
And first I find/ how king Phylymene  
With him lad/ the body of the queen  
‛ Pantasyllia/ home to her country  
Full richly/ there to buried be  
And of two thousand knights/ that this king.  
Brought unto Troy/ first at his coming  
No more than thirty/ home with him he lad  
And of women/ that the queen eke had  
Of a thousand/ the story saith certain  
But four hundred home again  
And thus/ when all were fro Troy gone  
The morrow next/ Pryamus anon  
With his lords/ road out of the town  
As was the accord/ for confirmacyowne  
Of Peas final/ upon either side  
And in the field/ Greeks him abide  
And on relics/ openly yborn  
There they were/ on either party sworn  
On the form/ to you afore recorded  
As Antenor/ with greeks was accorded  
And for greeks/ first swore diomed  
They of Troy/ taking little heed  
How the oath was/ in condition  
cured above/ under false treason  
sith greeks/ though in their swearing  
Ne bound themself/ to no manner thing  
To stand to/ as in special  
But for to hold/ and keep in general  
The points hole/ engrossed and no more  
In thilk treat/ that daunz Anthenore  
With greeks held/ this traitor fraudulent  
In which they were/ full double of intent  
Meynt with treason/ as ye have herd toforne  
Which to observe/ only they were sworn  
By fraud of oath/ and nat by words plain  
Their adver saryes/ to take in a Train  
Excluding them/ from their meaning far  
Peas in the face/ but in the heart were  
All openly confirmed/ with their hand  
Inly to treason/ by assurance of bond  
But though the venom/ was closed with a wall  
It was nat hid/ fro him that knoweth all  
For certainly/ so as clerks teach  
Who that sweareth/ falsely in his speech  
flourishing outward/ by a fair colour  
For to deceive/ his true neighbour  
He is forsworn/ what so ever he be  
The treason hid/ though men may nat see  
How so the word/ be away yborn  
Who sweareth by craft/ is by craft forsworn  
There may be made/ none excusation  
For god that knoweth/ the intention  
deemeth the heart/ and the word right nought  
For he the will/ knoweth and the thought  
Of every man/ nigh and eke a fere  
Therefore beware/ no man him forswear  
As Greeks died/ Trojans to deceive  
That the fraud/ could nat conceive  
Supposing that/ Greeks had be  
Faithful and true/ of their surety  
But no thing on/ they in heart thought  
Which in the end/ they full dear about  
When they found/ fully the reverse  
And to their speech/ the deed so diverse  
It were but vain/ by and by to write  
Their feigned oaths/ nor their words white  
Nor the cheers/ that they could fain  
But to conclude/ with the queen Eleyne  
During the treat/ upon the same day  
delivered was/ to king Menelay  
And after that/ was paid the ransom  
Granted tofore/ and gathered in the town  
Gold and silver/ where also and flower  
And to their ships/ with diligent labour  
In full great/ haste every thing was brought  
Where thorough the city/ after came to nought  
And greeks than/ by simulation  
Making a colour/ of devotion  
thorough holiness/ under Ypocrysye  
Falsely feigned/ by fraud and flattery,  
The king have prayed/ to have liberty  
Freely to enter/ into the city  
To make asseth/ by oblation  
For the theft/ of Palladyon  
And offer up/ the rich stead of bras  
To the gods/ that called is Pallas  
¶ What king Priam's/ liketh to assign  
That she to them/ be wyllnge and benign  
In their repair/ sailing by the see  
Home into Grece/ toward their country  
When she is quemed/ with his large stead  
Of which alas/ Priam took no heed  
The treason hid/ he could not advert  
But granted them/ with all his hole heart  
When that them list/ to bring it into town  
By false enticing/ and suggestyowne  
Of Antenor/ and also of Enee  
Having no dread/ nor ambygnytee  
In his intent/ nor suspection  
Nouther of faynging/ nor of false treason  
But right friendly/ like to his behest  
Condescendeth/ unto their request  
Their avows/ that they might observe  
To offer up/ this horse unto minerve  
And greeks though/ with great diligence  
Full great honour/ and huge reverence  
Have shapen them/ with processyowne  
To bring the stead/ into Troy town  
The men of arms/ being aye them  
By whom they call/ Troy for to win  
In short time/ for it stood on the date  
And when this horse/ brought was to the gate  
It was so narrow/ that there was no space  
For the stead/ into town to pace  
Albe that they/ assayed over all  
Wherefore Priam's/ bet a down the wall  
To make it large/ right at their devise  
In which thing alas/ he was unwise  
For cause che●e/ of his confusion  
Was that this horse/ came into the town  
But humbly/ forth they 'gan proceed  
To the temple/ with this large stead  
And to Pallas/ meekly down kneeling  
All atones/ they made there offering  
With feigned cheer/ and false devocyowne  
Whereof in heart/ glad was all the town  
And special/ they that were of Troy  
But sooth is said/ that aye the fine of joy  
Who occupieth/ as men full oft see  
For unwarely/ cometh adversity  
After gladness/ and misadventure  
When men best ween/ for to stand sure  
In worldly blysshe/ is none affiance  
So divers is/ his unhappy chance  
Full of deceit/ ever meynt with trouble  
And for to trust/ variant and double  
And seld in one/ abiding any throw  
For worldly lust/ though it be now blow  
With pomp and pride/ & with boast & sown  
Anon it passeth/ record of Troy town  
That wend well/ by this rich stead  
To have be sure/ and devoid of dread  
Perpetuelly/ as I have told tofore  
But when greeks/ have this horse ybore  
Tofore Pallas/ as ye have heard me tell  
Them liketh nat/ longer for to dwell  
In the bounds/ of this mighty town  
But of purpose/ to the Greek Synowne  
They have committed/ hole the governail  
Of this stead/ the which will nat fail  
When he seeth best/ opportunyte  
By his engine/ to traysshe the city  
And Greeks have/ in this while found  
A new sleyghte/ them fully to confound  
This to say/ they have made their sonde  
To king Priam's/ they would go fro land  
Unto the see/ toward Tenedowne  
And thither sail/ for this conclusion  
For that Eleyne/ by good a●ysement  
In secret wise/ thither shallbe sent  
For they dread/ if upon the land  
She were delivered/ shortly to their hand  
Greeks would of malices/ do their pain  
The more party/ to slay this Eleyne  
For she was ground/ & beginning of their woe  
The very root/ and the cause also  
Of the slaughter/ of many worthy man  
sithen the rhyme/ the siege first began  
Wherefore they said/ for to stint all strife  
And to be sure/ for to save her life  
The best was/ to lend her out of sight  
Secretly/ to Tenedowne by night  
Thus they feigned/ of full false treason  
Priam to put/ from all suspection  
Alkaunce they would/ after never their live  
Resort again/ with Troy for to strive  
Thus they made/ Priam's for to ween  
But in the hand/ he was deceived clean  
Of their deceit/ knowing never/ adele  
For in his heart/ he thought nat but we'll  
Granting them/ all that might them please  
And when they had/ at leisure and good ease  
from Troyesayled/ unto Tenedowne  
¶ With theyrnavye/ the false greek Synowne  
In Troy/ wakergan to take keep  
The hour when men/ were in their first sleep  
And in all haste/ with his sleighty gynne  
Many vyse/ and many subtle pin  
In the stead/ he made about gone  
The crafty looks/ undoing everichone  
And out he goth/ and 'gan anon to call  
Within the horse/ the worthy knights all  
So secretly/ no man might espy  
And traitorously/ he 'gan him for to high  
Upon the walls/ the self same night  
And toward greeks/ 'gan to show a light  
Where as they lay/ tofore Tenedowne  
Ready armed/ to fall upon the town  
And when they had/ this sudden light espied  
On horse back/ anon they have them hied  
Toward Troy/ armed clean at all  
And in they went/ by the same wall  
Which for the horse/ was but late broke  
And mortally/ for to be a wroke  
The knights eke/ in the stead of bras  
Have with them met/ a full stern pace  
And 'gan anon/ thorough out the city  
On every half/ for to kill and slay  
With bloody sword/ upon every side  
And made their wounds/ broad large & wide  
While they alas/ no thing adverting  
At midnight hour/ a dead lay sleeping  
Full innocent/ and thought nat but good  
All for bathed/ in the yrowne blood  
Both man and child/ without exception  
The Greeks sparing/ no condition  
Of old nor young/ woman wife nor maid  
That with the cry/ Pryamus abraid  
Out of his llepe/ and suddenly a work  
Which lay all night/ and no heed ne took  
Of the daughter/ nor murder in the town  
But though he wist/ that there was treasowne  
Falsely compassed/ unto his city  
By Antenor/ and also by Enee  
Of whose malices/ he was no more in doubt  
For the venom/ was now broken out  
And now the gall/ of conspiration  
That under sugar/ of simulation  
Hath so louge/ closed be and hid  
In deed is now/ execute and kid  
And now the fraud/ fully of treason  
The cast also/ of false collusion  
Be taked out/ and abroad yblowe  
And the authors/ openly yknowe  
Now hath envy/ and contrived hate  
Of their engine/ set abroad the gate  
Now hath deceit/ and old conspiracy  
And feigned oaths/ all of one ally  
Openly showed/ their falseness  
And disclosed/ all their doubleness  
So far abroad/ that now is there no gain  
For now alas/ the wild fire is say  
In towers high/ with the wind yblased  
Whereof Priam's/ atoned and amazed  
All awapyd/ start out of his bed  
And comforteles/ to the temple is fled  
Of Apollo/ to save him if he might  
And aye the flawme/ of the fires bright  
Brent in the town/ and cousumeth all  
The rich building/ whilom so royal  
That the walls/ with their rofes huge  
covered with lead/ for a chief refuge  
Were now alas/ bare and bareyne maked  
The greeks aye/ with their swords naked  
Murdre and slay/ where so that they go  
That twenty thousand/ that night and more  
They killed have/ long or it was day  
And in this slaughter/ and this great affray  
Spoil and rob/ and take what they find  
treasure/ and good/ and left not behind  
By mighty hand/ and sturdy violence  
And the temples/ without reverence  
They have despoiled/ thorough out all the town  
And greedily rend/ and raced down  
Of gold and silver/ the ornaments all  
Totore the gods/ foul moat them fall  
King Priam aye/ with a deadly cheer  
To Appolio/ making his prayer  
furiously/ this heartily woeful man  
As he in sooth/ that no read ne can.   

BUt wait his death/ & his fatal Ewer  
And Cassandra/ that holy creature  
Of in ward woe/ desirous to starve  
Complaining/ ran unto minerve  
Making to her/ a lamentacyowne  
With other gentle women/ of the town  
And there alas/ as they would die  
Full piteously/ they sob weep and cry  
And in their dooll/ there I let them dwell  
For all their sorrows/ if I should tell  
In this story/ and their woe describe  
My pen should/ of very ruth rive  
rehearsing eke/ how in every street  
Their clothes black/ ready/ moist and wet  
As they alas/ both one and all  
On their lords/ down aswowne fall  
With their blood bedewed/ and ysprent  
Where men may see/ the crystal teries meynt  
Of their weeping/ in their wounds green  
That lay and bleed/ again the son sheen  
With deadly eyen/ casting up the white  
It were but vain/ all here to write  
Nor the manner/ of their mortal sorrow  
But Guydo writ/ that the same morrow  
How Antenor/ and with him false Enee  
Conueyved have/ thorough out the city  
The mighty Greeks/ unto Ylyon  
The royal tour/ and rich mansion  
That whilom was/ of most excellence  
In the which/ they found no diffence  
Of high nor low/ nor of none estate  
For it was left/ alone desolate  
With all the gold/ and richesse of the twone  
Shut and enclosed/ in the chief dongeowne  
But for there was/ no man that withstood  
They broke the locks/ & reached away the good  
And the treasure/ that was shut within  
Each for his party/ that he might win  
They gave no force/ who was lief or loath  
And Pyrrus after/ to the temple goth  
Of Apollo/ by great cruelty  
And fill on Priam's/ kneeling on his knee  
And with his sword/ furiously and wooed  
Tofore the altar/ shed there his blood  
So high raught/ both in length and breed  
That the streams/ of his wounds read  
That the statue/ of gold borned bright  
Of this Apollo/ for all his great might  
For all his power/ and his stern face  
Defouled was/ and pollut all the place  
only by death/ of this worthy king  
By Pyrrus slain/ while he lay kneeling  
Of old hatred/ and envious pride  
While Antenor/ and Enee stood beside  
That ruth was/ and pity to behold  
To sehym lie/ on the stones cold  
So piteously/ tofore the altar bleed  
Whereof alas/ when Eccuba took heed  
And her daughter/ fair Polycene  
With here to rend/ as any gold wire sheen  
Inly surprised/ with sorrow to the heart  
When they began/ consider and advert  
This noble king/ with bloody streams read  
All for drowned/ his eyen dyrke and deed  
With Pyrrus sword/ girt thorough other side  
For mortal fere/ they durst nat abide  
But inwardly/ thorough darted with the sight  
All in a rage/ took them to the flight  
And yet in sooth/ thorough out the city  
They wist never/ whytherwarde to flee  
Rescuse was none/ nor no remedy  
Of kin nor friend/ nor of none ally  
With greeks sword/ the town was so be set  
And in her flight/ this woeful queen hath met  
Aeneas'/ causer of all this wreck  
Unto whom/ rebuking thus she spoke  
O thou traitor/ most malicious  
Thou false serpent/ adder envious  
Crope and root/ finder of falseness  
Soures and well/ of unkindness  
How mightest thou/ in thy heart find  
Unto thy king/ to be so unkind  
Gynner and ground/ example of treason  
And final cause/ of our destruction  
How mightest thou/ devoid of all pity  
Behold alas/ thorough thy cruelty  
Of the king/ shed so the blood  
That ever hath been/ so gentle and so good  
So gracious lord/ specially to the  
And over more/ thorough his high bounty  
They honoured/ and ymagnefyed  
All his live/ it may nat be denied  
That lieth now deed/ in the temple alas  
Thou were nat only/ traitor in this case  
But to his death/ conspiring and vukind  
Pyrrus conveying/ where he should him find  
Tofore Apollo/ mydes of this city  
Where thou shouldest/ of very duty  
Rather have been/ his protection  
His mighty shield/ and salvation  
That haste this city/ and this town ylorne  
In which thou were/ fostered and yborn  
On the greatest/ of reputation  
Of all the lords/ dwelling in this town  
In which thou hadst/ whilom most pleasance  
But all is now/ out of remembrance  
¶ Yet in thy heart/ if any drop be  
Of gentilesse/ mercy or pity  
In this deadly rage/ full of tene  
rue on my daughter/ young Polycene  
From greeks sword/ her youth for to save  
If thy heart/ may any ruth have  
Of manly pity/ on her maidenhead  
defend her now/ and keep her out of dread  
If thou canst/ find any weigh  
In any wise/ that she may nat die  
That hereafter/ when men see and read  
The false treason/ and the foul deed  
That thou haste done/ unto troy town  
It may in party/ be proteccyowne  
To thy fame/ the venom to ally  
Of this treason/ when men will assay  
By just report/ thy name to accuse  
This deed may/ the help to excuse  
Against tongues/ that speak of Enee  
Than will they say/ thou hadst yet pity  
On Polycene/ only of gentilesse  
Therewith to sugar/ all the bitterness  
Of thy decert/ blow forth by fame  
By rehearsal/ of the foul blame  
That shall of thee/ thorough the world be borne  
With slander infect/ when thou art all to torn  
That thou ne shalt/ the shame mow sustain  
Than shall my daughter/ fair Polycene  
Be thy diffence/ again such famous strife  
If it so be/ now thou save her life  
Of me no force/ though thou make as belive  
The sword of greeks/ thorough my heart rive  
And so by prayer/ of this woeful queen  
This Aeneas'/ took to him Polycene  
Whose traitor heart/ for all his cruelty  
On her youth/ was moved of pity  
only of ruth/ that in his breast arose  
And secretly/ put her up in close  
list that Greeks/ found occasion  
Against him/ and Ajax's Thelamon  
Took to his ward/ Andronomecha  
Actor's wife/ and wise Cassandra  
Out of the Temple/ longing to minerve  
From Greeks sword/ their lives to conserve  
And Menelay/ took the queen Eleyne  
Into his Guard/ for whom so great a pain  
Bode in his heart/ many day toforne  
By whom alas/ the city is now lost  
And greeks aye/ were busy in their ire  
To slay and kill/ and cruelly to fire  
On every side/ and to beat down  
Paleys and house/ and walls of the town  
They spare nought/ for all goth to the fire  
So fervent hate/ brent in their desire  
Of old envy/ avenged for to be  
That they ne left/ within the city  
No thing unbrent/ and also Ylyowne  
Was in this rage/ turned up so down  
There made were/ none exceptions  
only out take/ the possessions  
Of Antenor/ evil moat he fate  
And Aeneas/ whom the greeks spare  
As they to them/ were vounde by their oath  
And thus the greeks/ furious and wrouthe  
Have all that day/ rob and ybrent  
Till that the king/ Agamenon hath sent  
For his lords/ to assemble yfere  
In Pallas temple/ only for to here  
Their wise advise/ upon things twain  
first if they would/ hold and nat fain  
holy their hope/ without excepcyowne  
To them by whom/ they won first the town  
And over more/ he axed them also  
touching the gods/ what they would do  
With gold treasure/ and possessyowne  
That they have won/ through their high renown  
And they answered/ without more tarrying  
They would their faith/ keep in every thing  
As they were sworn/ and hests hold  
And over this/ they said how they would  
That gold treasure/ and good of the city  
As right requireth/ and also equity  
Be justly parted/ by division  
To every wight/ made distribution  
Like his merit/ of high/ and low degree  
And that the king/ eke of reason see  
Each to reward/ after his labour  
So as it longeth/ to a conqueror  
That no man have/ matter to complain  
And so they fill/ in speaking of Eleyne  
everich after/ his opinion  
And tofore all other/ Ajax's Thelamon.  
Shortly said/ she hath deserved death  
For whom so many/ have yield up the breath  
Plainly affirming/ there in Parliament  
Of rightwiseness/ and true judgement  
She should nat escape/ with the life  
That beginning was/ & cause of all their strife  
Rote and ground/ of all their sorrow & woe  
And so said eke/ many another more  
And for the noise/ and the great affray  
Agamenon/ nor king Menelay  
Ne durst a word/ for her party move  
To save the queen/ list greeks would them grieve  
Against them/ there was so great rumour  
Till Vlixes/ chiefly/ her succour  
thorough his wit/ and his eloquence  
His devoir died/ and his diligence  
To save her life/ and fully to purchase  
Of the greeks/ for to get her grace  
And as Guydo/ also doth us lere  
Agamenon/ Greeks 'gan reqire  
To grant him/ for a chief guerdon  
Of Cassandra/ to have possession  
All her life/ with him to abide  
Eke Aeneas'/ and Antenor beside  
Of Elenus'/ to the Greeks told  
How to the were/ he never assent would  
And how that he/ prudent and virtuous  
In counsaylling/ was contrarious  
To all though/ of high and low estate  
In Troy first/ that began debate  
At wixe greeks/ and this mighty town  
Eke by his help/ and medyacyowne  
Achilles/ was buried and ygrave  
The deed corpse/ from hounds for to save  
When he was slain/ in full cruel wise  
By night time/ as ye have herd devise  
For soothly he/ and Cassandra both  
Of this murder/ in heart were full wroth  
And sorry eke/ of many another thing  
Wrought in the town/ without their witting  
And for they were/ of malice Innocent  
The Greeks have/ fully by assent  
Granted to them/ a prerogative  
By Parliament/ for to have their life  
But Elenus/ first in teers drowned  
Tofore the king/ piteously hath swooned  
And abraiding/ with a deadly face  
In humble wile/ besought him of his grace  
Of knightly pity/ to have his advertence  
To spare his sword/ fro blood of Innocence  
And of mercy/ that he nat disdain  
To grant life/ to the sons twain  
Of worthy Ector/ his brother most enter  
And eke to rue/ on their mother dear  
only of grace/ that she be nat deed  
A widow left alone/ and can no read  
And wot nat whither/ that she may divert  
And so the king/ moved in his heart  
Of his words/ and his woeful cheer  
benignly/ granted his prayer  
And gave eke life/ and fredam for to go  
To the mother/ and her children two  
And to ladies/ and gentle women all  
That for mercy/ to his grace call  
He granted eke/ of compassion  
A safe conduit/ and a free pardon  
Where that them list/ in the town abide  
Or in the country/ adjacent beside  
He put it hole/ in their eleccyowne  
And thanking him/ they fill on knees down  
With many tear/ dewed in the face  
And so the king/ parteth fro the place  
And after that/ greeks right anon  
Fully purpose/ to ship for to gone  
In haste to sail/ toward their country  
But such a tempest/ rose up in the see  
Of wawe and wind/ also of clouds black  
All a month/ that they dare nat take  
The water salt/ for dread of Neptunus  
Of very Ire/ and also Golus  
Was unto them/ in every thing contrary  
That on the land/ made them long tarry  
The see was aye/ so fell and bolyinge  
Till that greeks/ of Clachas' enquering  
By one assent/ what it might be  
That ever in one/ so diverse was the see  
In his rage/ both at eve and morrow  
And he answered/ god give him evil sorrow  
This old shrew/ with all his prophesy  
That can so well/ when him list to lie  
How this tempest/ caused was at all  
By the gods/ and furies infernal  
That never would/ appease nor be still  
Till the murder/ platly/ of Achylle  
Avenged be/ and shedding of his blood  
For which he said/ Apollo was eke wood  
For his temple/ to him consecrate  
Was thorough his death/ in Troy violate  
By blood/ again be made satisfaction  
Wherefore there must/ thorough redemption  
Of her that was root/ in special  
thorough her beauty/ and original  
Cause of his death/ young Polycene  
And beginning first/ of his mortal tene  
Therefore to Apollo/ she might up offered be  
By sacrifice/ to please his deyte  
With death again/ to make recompense  
Right as by death/ first was the offence  
This greeks must/ utterly fulfil  
If they desire/ for to have at will  
The large see/ to sail in quiet  
And Pyrus/ though in a Furious heat  
'Gan inquire/ about of every man  
For Polycene/ but no wight tell can  
Of her a word/ nor shortly where she was  
safe some said/ how that Aeneas  
And Anthornor/ had hid her privily  
Whereof there rose/ among them suddenly  
Such a grudging/ of greeks all about  
Of their life/ that they were in doubt  
So inwardly/ this thing they took at grief  
Till Antenor/ god give him evil proof  
That may of treason/ as warden bear the key  
To show out/ his malys every weigh  
So long hath sought/ till in a chamber old  
He hath her found/ and the greeks told  
And brought her forth/ unto their presence  
By cruel force/ and hateful violence  
Without pity/ or compassion  
And her delivered/ to Agamenon  
And he alas/ by hasty judgement  
Without respite/ or auysement  
Shortly hath dempte/ that she shallbe deed  
That was flowering/ in her maidenhead  
And for to do/ exception  
She was assigned/ by Agamenon  
Unto Pyrrus/ and he of Tyranny  
Lad her forth/ and fast 'gan him high  
To the place/ where she should die  
Great was the press/ that in the weigh  
'Gan Crowd and shove/ to behold and seen  
This young maid/ fair Polycene  
That for her beauty/ and her semlynesse  
her womanhead/ and excellent fairness  
Of all yfere/ when they took heed  
They had ruth/ that she shallbe deed  
Without guilt/ or any more trespass  
Where men may see/ upon many face  
The salt teries/ fast fall down  
Of very pity/ and compas●yowne  
For man nor child/ was none so hard of heart  
But he felt/ for her sake smart  
Her goodly face/ when they behold and see  
And fain would/ if it might have be  
delivered her/ of very force anon  
From Pyrrus hand/ but for they wend eachone  
Without her death/ never to have repair  
Into Grece/ nor the weather fair  
As Calchas had/ made suggestion  
And brought them all/ in opinion  
And at the last/ when this Polycene  
Of deed and will/ a very maid clean  
Was to the grave/ of Achilles brought  
She kneeleth down/ & with an humble thought  
Cast up her Eye/ and 'gan sigh oft  
And to the gods/ humbly and soft  
With dreadful heart/ and devotion  
Made in this wise/ her lamentation.   

OYe almighty/ that in this world govern  
And every thing/ consider & discern  
By whom this world/ so huge large & round  
Both eyer and see/ heaven and eke the ground  
At your devise/ with a word was wrought  
And soothe fastly/ know every thought  
Right as it is/ of every manner wight  
Without letting/ so piercing is your sight  
That no thing is/ counseled nor ywrye  
From the beholding/ of your eternal eye  
And every thing/ may atones see  
Upon my soul/ have mercy and pity  
And of your grace/ and benign cure  
Upon my woe/ and piteous adventure  
Have some ruth/ now that I shall die  
My woeful spirit/ to lead and convey  
Where as you list/ now that I shall place  
For unto you/ in this self place  
I me confess/ with all humility  
That hethertowarde/ I have in chastity  
Lade all my life/ and kept my maidenhead  
In your service/ both in thought and deed  
In port in cheer/ and in countenance  
Or for feature/ of any dalliance  
With one mysloke/ I never yet abraid  
So that in sooth/ I die shall a maid  
As ye well know/ of sin all innocent  
Though I be now/ dempt by judgement  
For to be deed/ without guilt at all  
witness on you/ that be immortal  
clean of intent/ of that I am accused  
And yet alas/ I may nat be excused  
But that the sword/ of vengeance mustebyte  
Routheles/ which am no thing to wite  
But stand clear/ and pure of all offence  
And discharged/ in my conscience  
I dare affirm/ and fully guiltless  
touching/ the murder of worthy Achilles  
Which slew my brother/ and after loved me  
And is now cause/ of mine adversity  
And yet in will/ deed/ word/ nor thought  
Unto his death/ assentaunt was right nought  
But thereof/ was right sorry in my heart  
Albe that/ I may nat now asterte  
For to be deed/ only for his sake  
On me alone/ vengeance shallbe take  
Without mercy/ in full cruel wise  
With my blood/ to make sacryfy●e  
To the gods/ their wrath for to queme  
O people blind/ in sooth amiss ye dame  
Against me/ your heart is so cruel  
To merciless/ to irous and to fell  
Without ruth/ to mickle Indurate  
To slay a maid/ alone desolate  
Out of your heart/ alas pity is gone  
Harder in truth/ than other stock or stone  
And more cruel/ in your opinion  
Forlacke of pity/ than Tiger or Lion  
Certes ye be/ greatly for to blame  
And ought thereof/ for to have great shame  
To assent/ to so foul a deed  
To slay a maid/ quaking in her dread  
And grant her none/ opportunity  
For to be weep/ her virginity  
That of this cruel/ & this piteous wretch  
My blood/ your guilt/ hereafter shall apeche  
And accuse also/ your great envy  
To the gods/ that shall iustefye  
Every unright/ both of high and low  
Full equally/ and make to be know  
The truth plainly/ spare and no degree  
But make open/ that is now secree  
I say nat this/ nor myself complain  
To have readers/ of my fatal pain  
For death is now/ more welcome unto me  
Than is my life/ and more I take at gree  
sithen my brother/ most worthy of renown  
Be slain all/ and buried in this town  
My father deed/ in his unwieldy age  
And I alone/ left in all this rage  
And have abide/ piteously to see  
Final ruin/ now of this city  
Which at my heart/ sitteth now so sore  
That liefer I have/ than to weep more  
die atones/ in reles of my woe  
sith all my kin/ is passed and ago  
Longer to live/ were to me a death  
For better is here/ to yield up the breath  
Than to be lad/ out of this city  
Among strangers/ to live in poverty.   

O Death welcome/ and longer let  
Thy dreadful dart/ to file & to whet  
My tender heart/ therewith all to rive  
Again thy might/ I shall never strive  
Now is time/ to kythe thy power  
On me that am/ of will and heart entere  
A clean maid/ so as I began  
Without touch/ of any manner man  
In all my life/ to this same day  
This little avaunt/ make yet I may  
In mine end/ to the gods all  
After whose help/ now I clip and call  
And to their mercy/ meekly I commend  
My woeful spirit/ & pray them that they send  
To every maid/ better hap and grace  
Than I have now/ and a longer space  
In heartily joy/ and honour to contune  
Without assault/ of any infortune  
To lead their life/ in prosperity  
And all maidens/ remembreth upon me  
To take example/ how ye shall you keep  
And that ye would/ a few teries weep  
When that ye think/ upon Polycene  
That was of age/ and of years green  
When she was slain/ by cruel adventure  
And to the gods/ for to have in cure  
My dreadful ghost/ wholly I betake  
Eternally/ and thus an end I make  
And with that word/ her heed she 'gan incline  
Full humbly/ when she should fine  
And of her eyen/ held the ledes down  
And Pyrrus than/ wodder than lion  
Dismembered hath/ with his sharp sword  
This maid young/ dreadful and a feared  
And over more/ his cruelty to show  
On pieces small/ he hath her all to hew  
Endelonge/ his Faders sepulture  
Alas how might/ his cruel heart endure  
Mercyles to do/ so foul adede  
I am atoned/ soothly when I read  
After her death/ how it died him good  
Like a tyrant/ to cast abroad her blood  
Or a Tiger/ that can no ruth have  
Round environ/ about his Faders grave  
He sprent of hate/ and of cruelty  
O thou Pyrrus/ thou mayst full well ybe  
Achilles sone/ by lineal descent  
For like to him/ of heart and of intent  
Thou were in sooth/ devoid of all pity  
And worse than he/ yet in one degree  
For of thy father/ in all his living  
Ne read I never/ yet so foul a thing  
Though I would/ of hatred him abraid  
For no rancour/ that ever he slew amayde  
I find well/ that he had his part  
Whilom in love/ of Cupydes dart  
That made him sore/ in his live smart  
When that he was/ wounded to the heart  
With the casting/ only of an Eye  
weening thereby/ wystly for to die  
He might nat/ the sudden stroke escape  
And afterward/ as his fate hath shape  
He murdered was/ for the love of Polycene  
Whom thou haste slain/ in thy cruel tene  
furiously/ without ruth or shame  
For which thing/ the foul hateful fame  
thorough all the world/ hereafter shallbe spread  
When this story/ rehearsed is and read  
Than shallbe said/ that Pyrrus routheles  
Slew in his ire/ a maid guiltless  
And woryed shall/ thy name most audible  
Be for this deed/ passingly horrible  
For love only/ of fair Polycene  
The death of whom/ when Eccuba the queen  
Hath seen alas/ as she beside stood  
For very woe/ 'gan to wax wood  
And for sorrow/ out of her wit she went  
And her clothes/ and her hair she rent  
All in a rage/ and wots nat what she doth  
But 'gan anon/ with hands and with tooth  
In her Fury/ crache and eke bite  
Stones cast/ and with fists smite  
Whom she met/ till greeks made her bind  
And sent her forth/ also as I find  
Into an Isle/ to Troy partynent  
Where she was slain/ only by judgement  
Of the Greeks/ and stoned to the death  
And when she had/ yield up the breath  
This woeful queen/ by cruel adventure  
The Greeks died make/ a Sepulture  
seriously/ of metal and of stone  
And took the corpse/ and buried it anon  
With great honour/ and solemnity  
That long after/ men there might see  
The rich tomb/ costfull and royal  
There set and made/ for a memorial  
Of Eccuba/ whilom of great fame  
And after gave/ to that place a name  
And called it/ to be long in mind  
¶ Locus in festus/ in Guydo as I find  
And thus the queen/ only for sorrow wooed  
When her daughter/ had shed her blood  
Of greeks stone/ died her end make  
As ye have heard/ plainly for the sake  
Of Polycene/ whilom by Calchas  
Unto Apollo/ falsely offryde was  
By Pyrrus sword/ Achilles avenging  
To make the see/ calm and blandishing  
That the gods/ take no vengeance  
Upon Greeks/ that an evil chance  
Come to this false/ god's everichone  
And their statues/ of stocks and of stone  
In which the serpent/ and the old snake  
Satan himself/ 'gan his dwelling make  
And fraudently/ folks to illude  
Full subtle/ can himself include  
In images/ for to make his hold  
That forged be/ of silver and of gold  
That by error/ of false illusion  
He hath ybrought/ to confusion  
thorough myscreaunce/ the worthy kind of man  
sith time/ that alder first began  
The false honour/ of idolatry  
And the worship/ unto Maumetrye  
By sacrifice/ of beasts and of blood  
To appease them/ when that they are wood  
And to queme/ both at eve and morrow  
I pray to god/ give them all sorrow  
Where so they be/ within or without  
I none except/ of the false rout  
Saturn/ nor Mars/ Pallas/ nor juno  
jupiter/ Mercurius/ nor Pluto  
Nouther Flora/ that doth the flowers spread  
Nouther Bacchus/ with grapes white & ●ede  
Nor cupido/ with his Eyen blind  
Nouther Daphne/ closed under rind  
thorough Tellus might/ of the laurer tree  
Nor thou diane/ with thy chastity  
Mighty Venus/ nor Cytherea  
With thy darts/ nor Proserpyna  
That lady art/ deep down in hell  
Nor Belydes/ that draweth at the well  
Ixyon/ nor thou zezyphus  
Nor with thine appyll/ thou cruel Tantalus  
Nor the Furies/ that be infernal  
Nor ye that spin/ the lives thread fatal  
Upon the rock/ of every manner man  
Nor the Muses/ that so sing can  
At ween the Coppies/ of Nysus and Cyrra  
Upon the hill/ beside Cyrrea  
Nor the Cybeles/ nor Ceres with thy corn  
Nor Golus/ of whom the dreadful horn  
Is herd so far/ when thou list to blow  
Nor janus/ By frons/ with back corbed low  
Nor Pryapys/ nor Genyus the pressed  
That curseth aye/ with candles in his feste  
Them thoechone/ that froward be to kind  
Nor ymeneus'/ whose power is to bind  
hearts that be knet/ in marriage  
Till the goddess/ of discord and rage  
Disseverth them/ by division  
Nouther Maves/ that have their mansion  
Mid the earth/ in dyrkenesse and in woe  
Nor this Elves/ that are wont to go  
In undyrmeles/ when Phoebus is most sheen  
Nouther Fawny/ in tender griefs green  
Water Nymphs/ nor this Naydes  
Satirye/ nouther Dryads  
That gods be/ of wood and wilderness  
Nor other god's/ nouther more nor less  
As Morpheus/ that is the god of sleep  
I hold him wood/ that taketh any keep  
To do to them/ any observance  
He may nat fail/ for to have mischance  
At the end/ plainly for his meed  
For all such feigned falseness/ out of dread  
Rose of the devil/ and first by his engine  
And of his sleighty/ Treynes' serpentine  
only mankind/ when he made lout  
To false idols/ the which out of doubt  
Are but devils/ david beareth witness  
In the sautre/ where he writ express  
And confirmeth/ there as he endytes  
How the gods/ of Paganysme rites  
One and all/ he excepteth none  
Be made of gold/ of silver and of stone  
Forged of brass/ of metal and of tree  
And eyen have/ and yet they may nat see  
And all at fiends/ so as david saith  
That who in them/ haveth any faith  
Hope credence/ or in them delight  
It is no dread/ that they will him quite  
With such guerdon/ as the soul sleeth  
Perpetuelly/ so that the fine is death  
Of their service/ when men hence pace  
And in their life unhap/ and evil grace  
Mischief and woe/ and confusyowne  
As men may see/ example by this town  
That wend well/ assured for to have be  
And to have stand/ in long prospyryte  
Again their soon/ thorough help of Apollo  
Of Venus eke/ and favour of juno  
thorough Pallas might/ diane & minerve  
Whom they were wont/ to honour & serve  
With ceremonies/ and with sacrifice  
As ye tofore/ have heard me devise  
That them have brought/ now unto ruin  
By cruel death/ in a bed them to fine  
Here may ye see/ how the venom bites  
At the end/ of such old rites  
By evidence/ of this noble town  
What may avail/ now Palladyowne  
What may now help/ their frauded fantasy  
Of all their old/ false idolatry  
Alas alas/ they bought it all to sore  
Now farewell Troy/ farewell for evermore  
Farewell alas/ to cruel was thy fall  
Of the no more/ now I write shall  
For thy sake/ forsooth when I take heed  
Of inward woe/ my heart I feel bleed  
And when that I/ remember in my thought  
By ruin/ how thou art brought to nought  
That whilom were/ so noble and so rich  
That in this world/ I trow none was lyche  
Nor perrygall to speak/ of fairness  
To speak of knighthood/ or of worthiness  
As clerks say/ that thy building knew  
That all the world/ aught for to rue  
On thy piteous/ waste walls wild  
Whilom so royal/ when men 'gan to build  
Thy towers high/ and king Pryamus  
The first began/ most rich and glorious  
And set his see/ in noble Ylyon  
O who can write/ a lamentation  
convenient/ O troy for thy sake  
Thy great mischief/ to complain and cry  
Certes I trow/ nat old jeremy  
That so be wept/ the captivity  
Of thilk noble/ royal chief city  
jerusalem/ and his destruction  
With all the hole/ transmygration  
Of the jews/ nor thou Ezechyell  
That were that time/ when the mischief fell  
Unto the king/ called Sedeclye  
In Babylon/ and for thy prophesy  
With stones were/ cruelly yslawe  
Nor he that was/ departed with a saw  
Ye both two/ that could so complain  
Nor Danyell/ that felt so great pain  
For the kings/ transmutation  
Into a beast/ till thorough the orison  
Of Danyell/ he restored was  
To mind again/ and eat no more grass  
¶ Yet verily/ though ye all three  
With your weeping/ had a live be  
And present eke/ at the destruccyowne  
Of this noble/ worthy royal town  
To have bewailed/ the mischief and the woe  
And the slaughter/ at the siege do  
On other party/ in full cruel wise  
All your teries/ might nat suffice  
To have bewept/ their sorrows everichone  
By treason wrought/ aswell as by their sone  
Hereof no more/ for it may nat avail  
But like as he/ that gynneth for to sail  
Again the wind/ when the mast doth rive  
Right so it were/ but in vain to strive  
Again the face/ bytterer than gall  
By the vengeance/ upon Troy fall  
Nor to presume/ their Furies sharp whet  
seriously/ in this book to set  
So great a thing/ I dare nat under take  
But even here/ a piteous end I make  
Of the siege/ after my simplesse  
And though my style/ be blotted with rudeness  
As of metre/ be rusty and unfyled  
The fourth book/ that I have complied  
With humble hand/ of dread that doth me quake  
Unto your grace/ wholly I betake  
Of your mercy/ no thing in despair  
So as I can/ making my repair  
To the Greeks/ and no longer dwell  
Their adventures/ of the see to tell  
In their resort/ home to their country  
And how that they/ there received be  
only of support/ so ye nat despise  
The fifth Book/ shortly shall devise.    

¶ Here beginneth the fifth Book of Troy the which speaketh how the Greeks returned into Grece after the destruction/ And how they were perished almost all in the see/ And after they that escaped died mischievously. Capitulo. xxxvi.  

When Aeolus/ which doth the winds roar  
appeased was/ that he blewe no more  
Which is of storms/ governor & lord  
And was also/ fully of accord  
Which mighty juno/ lady of the air  
Tomake the sky/ and the weather fair  
That cloud none/ in heaven died appear  
And Neptunus' blaundysshing of cheer  
Was of assent/ the story saith for sooth  
To make the see/ fro tempest calm and smooth  
Without boiling/ or trouble of any wawe  
The mighty grekis/ to shypward 'gan them draw  
For to repair/ home to their country  
After they had/ won the city  
Put their foemen/ fully at the wrose  
But Fortune/ aye froward/ and perverse  
Hath with their merthe/ meynt adversity  
For when they wend/ full assured be  
And have stand/ stedefaste in quiet  
This ulind lady/ falsely made fleet  
Into the yrsugre gall/ of discordance  
Among themself/ to bring in variance  
And their hearts/ of rancour and of pride  
Contagyously/ to severyne and divide  
When they sat/ highest in their glory  
With the palm/ of conquest and victory  
Fully rejoicing/ thorough their high renown  
The crown of laurer/ in possessyowne  
And had also/ at their lust all won  
When brightest shone/ the lusty fresh son  
From east to west/ of their worthiness  
A cloudy sky/ unwarely with darkness  
eclipsed hath/ a party of their light  
And diffaced the wholesome/ beams bright  
Of their welfare/ and prosperity  
By the envious/ false contagyouste  
Of the serpent/ pompous and ellat  
Among themself/ tomake them at debate  
Indusing in/ rancour and discord  
For or they enter/ within ships board  
Again ulixes/ worthy Thelamon  
In presence/ of king Agamenon  
Purposed hath/ plainly his matter  
Tofore Greeks/ anon as ye shall here.   

Sires quoth he/ so it you nat grieve  
Me seemeth justly/ of reason I may move  
Touching the winning/ & getting of this town  
With gold richesse/ and possessyowne  
Fully delivered/ and taken to our hand  
With all the treasure/ found in the land  
The which me thinketh/ in my inward sight  
Ne hath nat been departed/ half a right  
Among us/ by just division  
Nor by equal/ distrybusyon  
considered first/ by title of equity  
Of every wight/ the estate and dignity  
Remembered eke/ in this sharp shower  
The worthiest/ the merit/ and labour  
And decerties/ in this mortal strife  
Granting to everich/ his prerogative  
Like Fortune/ as he hath deserved  
But this order/ hath nat be observed  
amongs us/ without exception  
In deliverance/ of Palladyon  
Which Vlixes/ I say without dread  
Tofore you all/ unjustly doth possede  
On him usurping/ by false opinion  
By meritory/ retribution  
And appearance/ his title for to ground  
Under pretence/ of colour falsely found  
That he this relic/ rejoice should of right  
By sleight won/ rather than of might  
And usurpeth/ by manner of a vaunt  
As it were given/ to him by grant  
Of you eachone/ for a chief guerdon  
But I will make/ a replication  
That this relic/ is nat to him meet  
Which he shall nat/ rejoice in quiet  
If that I may/ disturb him or let  
For I it cleyme/ duly of debt  
As for guerdon/ to me convenient  
So that ye list/ to be indifferent  
Of reason only/ as it doth you seem  
atween us two/ Equally to dame  
justly first/ with every circumstance  
Out other merit/ weighed in balance  
first considered/ forth fro day to day  
All the while/ that the siege lay  
That ye should/ of plenty of victual  
On no side/ fro no mischief fail  
And if I shall/ without avaunt out break  
As of knighthood/ and arms for to speak  
In the field/ by long continuance  
Of manly Force/ and perseverance  
Upon our soon/ that were so fell and keen  
Day by day/ I was armed clean  
It needeth nat/ to make mention  
With my right hand/ I slew Phylemon  
As ye well know/ which had in his keeping  
The young sone/ of Priamus the king  
Fresh and lusty/ and of great fairness  
And with him had/ infinite richesse  
Of treasure/ gold/ passingly plenty  
And everydeal/ was brought to you by me  
If ye remember/ and list take heed  
That ye were quite/ of Indigence and need  
By occasion/ of that great good  
And thorough my manhood/ shed I nat the blood  
Mercyles/ in full cruel wise  
For your sake/ of the king of Fryse  
And the treasure/ in his cofres sought  
And all yfere/ to the siege ybrought  
And by my knighthood/ sith go full yore  
Have I nat eke/ augmented and made more  
The Greeks land/ with possessions  
By conquest only/ of two regions  
thorough my prudence/ and my labour won  
sithen that ye/ the siege first begun  
With provinces/ to Troy adjacent  
To your increase/ I was so diligent  
And with Achilles/ the worthy warrior  
Ye be expert/ full well of my labour  
What we wrought/ to your advantage  
And sithen ye so prudent/ be and sage  
not foryetyll/ but fully remembering  
It needeth nat/ rehearse every thing  
And to dispreve/ manly as a knight  
His title and cleyme/ that he hath no right  
The doom committing/ to your opinions  
By rehearsal/ of his conditions  
He nouther hath/ manhood nor prowess  
Force knyghode/ nouther hardiness  
And at a point/ for to have reward  
In doring do/ proved a coward  
Experience/ hath showed you in deed  
How that he is/ when it cometh to need  
But word and wind/ & sleighty compassing  
And on falsehood/ ever imagining  
For ever yet/ to this day was proved  
That any thing/ was by him achieved  
Which might be/ entitled to his laud  
But the end/ meddled were with fraud  
For under colour/ he can cure all  
Pretend fair/ like a painted wall  
diverse hewed/ that nouther high nor low  
There may no man/ his plain meaning know  
And with such sleyghte/ compassed by treason  
Out of Troy/ he got Palladyon  
Which is great shame/ & slander to us all  
For of our conquest/ it is thus befall  
More of treason/ we have the city won  
Than of knighthood/ as men report can  
And crop and rote/ if I rehearse shall  
Vlixes there/ is ground and cause of all  
And beginning first/ of this unhappy fame  
That reboundeth/ to our alder shame  
And sith the truth/ is platly known & wist  
My tale is endyde/ dame as ye list.   

VLixes than/ in his advertence  
conceived hath/ the great impatience  
Of Thelamon/ and the great envy  
The fervent rancour/ and melancholy.  
Forbore him first/ by full great advise  
As he that was/ full prudent and right wise  
And thought he would/ make thereof no jape  
By no word for haste/ that should escape  
Nouther by none/ unbridled countenance  
Outward conceived/ in his regardaunce  
And abraiding/ with a stable face  
Sires quoth he/ so I may have grace  
Under support/ of your high presence  
That my tale/ may have audience  
I neither am/ in doubt nor in dread  
Of equity/ that I shall possede  
Palladyon/ during my lives day  
Maugre the might/ of who that say nay  
For if ye list/ of reason for to see  
At the siege laid/ first to this city  
I have myself/ in double wise a quit  
As well by knighthood/ soothly as by wit  
And thorough my counsel/ and my busy cure  
Be oft cause/ of their discomfiture  
Ay diligent/ to your advantage  
Worught and compassed/ unto their damage  
That to this day/ in sooth ne had I be  
They had flowered/ in their felicity  
In their force/ contuned and welfare  
And if that I/ the truth shall nat spare  
If it be dempt/ and looked of reason  
I was most cause/ of their confusion  
Who so ever/ against it reply  
How oft went I/ on embassatrye  
With importable costs/ and dispense  
The treat aye/ concluding in sentence  
To the forthring/ of your entencyowne  
And disencrease/ and hindering of the town  
And when I saw/ other mean none  
In mine advise/ and wits everichone  
By our force/ the city for to win  
While they had/ the relic them within  
Thereupon/ so sotelly ywrought  
That unto you/ Palladyon ybrought.  
¶ Which Thelamon/ that of malys striveth  
Of old hatred/ unto my guilt ascryveth  
wholly this thing/ that I have for you worught  
But ye that be/ so prudent in your thought  
Aduerteth wisely/ and an end maketh  
And in your hand/ this quarrel fully taketh  
Palladyon justly/ to provide  
And all favour/ let be laid a side  
sith all this thing/ ye platly understand  
And let us both/ to your deeming stand  
By one assent/ how so the matter wend  
Lo here is all/ my tale is at an end  
Than Thelamon/ in Ire full fervent  
Of hate/ made inpacyent  
And of envy/ inwardly moved  
Vlixes hath/ dispyteously reproved  
only of malices/ and of high disdain  
And Vlixes/ rebuking him again  
Full bitterly/ without abode anon  
And so they twain/ made full mortal fone  
In the presence/ of Agamenon  
But furiously/ Ajax's Thelamon  
Of melancholy/ pale and nothing red  
Thratte Vlixes/ that he shallbe deed  
Of his hands/ he should it nat eschew  
And greeks though/ all rancour to remove  
This quarrel/ put in arbitration  
Of Menelay/ and Agamenon  
That caused after/ a full mortal strife  
For by sentence/ anon diffynytyfe  
They put Vlixes/ in possession  
Perpetuelly/ of Palladyon  
With him conferming/ to abide stable  
And cause why/ they were favourable  
To Vlixes/ like as Guydo/ writ  
Was/ for that he so goodly hath him quit  
Unto Eleyne/ at getting of the town  
Being in cause/ of her salvation  
Dispeyred/ and of her life in dread  
Greeks willing/ to have had her deed  
But thorough his prudent/ mediation  
Maugre the might/ of this Thelamon  
He hath the queen/ fro the death preserved  
Albe that she had/ it well deserved  
As Greeks said/ in their opinion  
And thus defrauded/ of Palladyon  
As ye have heard/ was this worthy knight  
For all his manhood/ and his great might  
Where thorough there 'gan/ in his heart breed  
Passing envy/ and full great hatred  
And thought he would/ avenged be some day  
Upon Vlixes/ and on Menelay  
And eke also/ upon Agamenon  
And out he broke/ like a wood lion  
With his knights/ about him that were strong  
And said plainly/ of this great wrong  
For to be deed/ he would avenged be  
And specially/ on this ilk three  
And therewithal/ Furious and wroth  
turning his back/ out anon he goth  
In heart fret/ with full mortal tene  
With many greek/ his quarrel to sustain  
That in heart sore/ 'gan disdain  
Again Vlixes/ and the other twain  
But they full ware/ what so ever fall  
Their knights/ made about them for to call  
And with great stuff/ where they wake or sleep  
To await on them/ and manly for to keep  
With full good watch/ environ all the close  
But full early/ or the son arose  
This worthy Ajax's/ in his bed upright  
Ymurdred was/ the self same night  
And all be bled/ in the morrow found  
Onpeces hew/ with many mortal wound  
That for this thing/ cruel and horrible  
To god and man/ loathsome and audible  
Full many greek/ that woeful morrow weep  
To see a knight/ so murdered in his sleep  
That the cry/ and the noise ran  
thorough out the host/ an one fro man to man  
And for constraint/ of this foul deed  
everich of them/ felt his heart bleed  
Full desirous/ to make an ordinance  
On this murder/ for to do vengeance  
Having thereof/ great suspicion  
To Menelay/ and Agamenon.  
But to Vlixes/ most in special  
By common voice/ to him arretting all  
The foul fame/ he might nat asterte  
But Pyrrus most/ took this thing at heart  
Making a vow/ Furious and wooed  
To be venged/ plainly on the blood  
Of Thelamon/ upon ulixes heed  
Him manasing/ that he shallbe deed  
So sore on him/ freting was the sorrow  
But ulixes/ early on a morrow  
For dread of Pyrrus/ taken hath the see  
And with his sheppes/ fast 'gan to flee  
But or he went/ platly as I read  
Palladyon/ he took to Dyemede  
Having in heart/ a full great remorse  
And Pyrrus than/ taken hath the cors  
Of Thelamon/ for love in special  
And died make/ a flawme funeral  
Large and great/ of colies hoot and red  
And amids/ the fervent fiery gleed  
Full many a Greek/ standing to behold  
He let it bren/ into ashes cold  
And in the story/ after as is told  
Herlosed them/ in an urn of gold  
Full reverently/ and after hath it shut  
And thereupon/ he hath the print ysette  
Of his arms/ curyously ygrave  
From all mischief/ the ashes for to save  
And sent them home/ by great affection  
To be conserved/ in the region  
Where he was king/ while he was alive  
And every thing/ was performed belive  
After the rites/ in though days used  
And ever in one/ Pyrrus hath ymused  
Upon this murder/ traitorously ywrought  
And cast it should/ be full dear about  
The piteous death/ of this Thelamon  
Having aye heart/ to Agamenon  
And had eke suspect/ old Menelay  
That in a wait/ each for other lay  
Making themself/ with their knights strong  
To try out/ who hath right or wrong  
For Pyrrus ne would/ let it lightly gone  
And thus they were/ made mortal fone  
This ilk three/ platly to the death  
thorough false envy/ which their hearts sleeth  
And while they were/ among themself untrue  
Strife upon strife/ 'gan every day renew  
And debates/ for to multiply  
Till Antenor/ 'gan this thing espy  
And by his wisdom/ to stint all disdain  
Them reconciled/ unto peas again  
And caused them/ to accord in all  
And after made/ a feast full royal  
beseeching them/ full lowly all three  
To grant him/ thereat for to be  
Of gentilesse/ that Greeks might eachone  
Outward conceive/ that they were alone  
And to this feste/ he manly made call  
As writ Guydo/ the worthy greeks all  
Of high ne low/ was none exception  
But if I should/ make description  
How the lords/ and estates seat  
Of sundry courses/ and the gifts great  
That Antenor/ gave on every side  
It were to long/ to you for to abide  
There was of plenty/ so great suffisance  
And I find/ they fill in dalliance  
sitting at met/ to speak of Enee  
Brought in of hate/ and of enmity  
And of disdain/ shortly in sentence  
They put on him/ many great offence  
And specially/ in their hasty tene  
Whilom how/ he concyled Polycene  
And by his sleight/ made her be withdraw  
Which was in cause/ Achilles was slawe  
Shortly concluding/ by one opinion  
His final exile/ out of Troy town  
Nat withstanding/ the grant and liberty  
given to him/ to abide in the city  
Also long/ as him list devise  
But greeks have/ annulled his franchise  
Fro the lowest/ up unto the meste  
That were present/ at this high feste  
But doubtless/ I can nat well espy  
By whom was brought/ this conspiracy  
In Troy book/ I find can no more  
Save that himself/ wit it Anthenore  
Ilyche false/ both in one degree  
As ye have heard/ betraysshing the city  
Like as they had/ sprung out of one root  
And when he knew/ there was none other boot  
This Aeneas'/ his doom to modify  
He prayed them/ of their courtesy  
At the least/ to grant him grace  
Four months/ that he might have space  
To make his stuff/ and his apparel  
And himself/ to purvey of victual  
Eke to grant him/ that they would assent  
Thilk ships/ that with Paris went  
To Cithaeron/ unto that temple old  
That were in number/ two and twenty told  
And with full grant/ of his petycyowne  
He is returned/ home to Troy town  
Tryste and heavy/ to see and behold  
The waste city/ with his walls old  
And for sorrow/ felt his heart bleed  
Within himself/ when he taketh heed  
And remembered/ in his advertence  
The false treason/ and the great offence  
By him compassed/ to the town aforne  
And how that he/ so suddenly hath lost  
The grace of greeks/ and stood disconsolate  
That whilom was/ of so great estate  
Now in his heart/ fully despaired  
That he unwarely/ was so evil apayred  
Unto Greeks/ behind at his back  
Being unguilty/ and without lack  
And by whom/ he could not well dame  
Save by signs/ as it died seem  
That Antenor was/ most for to wite  
And cast plainly/ that he would him quite  
And thorough the town/ he made send belive  
For thilk few/ that were left a live  
Coming anon/ at his commandment  
And when they were/ everichone present.   

Sires quoth he/ ye see how that fortune  
Towards me/ gynneth discontune  
Ay unstable/ with her eyen blind  
As ye expert/ in yourself now find  
Whilom froward/ now turned into wrose  
That of clerks/ called is adverse  
When her list/ her cruelty to show  
Now it standeth so/ ye be here but a few  
And I must part/ and ye still abide  
But it so be/ that ye will provide  
standing alone/ devoid of all succour  
Among yourself/ to make a governor  
I can nat see/ but ye shallbe accloyed  
On every part/ and finally destroyed  
As silly sheep/ that ne can no read  
All dispurpled/ which am with dread  
Wherefore best is/ in this dreadful thing  
By one assent/ to cheese you a king  
And most able/ the estate to occupy  
From all assault/ manly you to give  
Is Antenor/ of knighthood and renown  
If it accord/ with your oppynyowne  
Wherefore in haste/ unto this intent  
Without abode/ let him for be sent  
And at his coming/ plainly into town  
Upon his heed/ let be set a crown  
Granting to him/ sceptre and regalye  
By his wisdom/ that he may you guy  
From all assault/ of any parturbaunce  
By his knighthood/ & prudent governance  
And they assent/ making no delay  
There was never one/ that liketh to say nay  
But were right glad/ in all manner thing  
As ye have heard/ for to make him king.  
But they full little/ soothly in their sonde  
Of Aeneas'/ the meaning understand  
For he ne mente/ but treason and falsehood  
How at his entering/ that he shallbe deed  
Full traitorously/ in await lying  
To slay him falsely/ at his in coming  
But Antenor/ of all this no thing ware  
disarmed came/ and no weepen bare  
And Aeneas/ with an huge rout  
With swords draw/ set him round about  
Till they of Troy/ both young and old  
Ran atween/ and manly him with hold  
And on their knees/ fill meekly down  
beseeching him/ to have compassyowne  
Of worthiness/ and also of manhood  
Like as a knight/ for to take heed  
How they were left/ but of people bare  
beseeching him/ his dreadful sword to spare  
And his rancour/ and his ire leave  
Lest the slaughtre/ would them all grieve  
And on the common/ they besought him rue  
Quod Aeneas/ is he nat untrue  
Is nat he double traitor/ and eke false  
Worthy to be/ enhanged by the half  
Of all deceit/ and of fraud well  
Among no common/ worthy for to dwell  
Hath he nat be/ chief occasion  
Of your undoing/ and destruction  
And of new this serpent/ which there goeth  
Vndisserued/ make the Greeks wroth  
Again me/ by false coll●●yowne  
And mine Exile/ conspired fro the town  
Which may nat be/ repelled nor withdraw  
But with my sword/ first he shallbe slawe  
That his falsehood/ may finally be daunted  
Right as he hath/ me traitorously supplaunted  
The greeks meaning/ fer out of this isle  
By his engine/ me plainly to exile  
Where as I cast/ if it might have be  
Both in joy/ and in adversity  
To have had my part/ what so had fall  
During my life/ here among you all  
But he through whom/ all is wrong & kourbed  
Of my desire/ hath the fine perturbed  
Which in my heart/ abideth always green  
Was he nat cause/ eke that Polycene  
Yslawe was/ at Achilles grave  
And for all this/ yet ye would him save  
But utterly/ there shall no mean gain  
Who so ever/ there against plain  
That he/ whose heart/ all treason hath compiled  
Perpetuelly/ shall now be exiled  
Out of this town/ there shall it no man let  
And by assent/ they his time set  
Which he should/ for no ransom place  
This was the fine/ he get none other grace  
Thus both false/ as brother like to brother  
everich of them/ hath exiled other  
Traitors both/ to Troy the city  
This Antenor/ and with him eke Enee  
But Antenor/ 'gan him ready make  
And in all haste/ hath the see tale  
With many Trojan/ in great apparel  
The wind was good/ and he began to sail  
By many cost/ and many sundry yles  
It needeth nat/ rehearse all the miles  
Nor the perrelles/ plainly which that he  
At great mischief/ escaped in the see  
I have no joy/ thereupon to dwell  
His adventures/ by and by to tell  
But shortly he/ in a little while  
arrived up/ at a noble Isle  
That whilom was/ Gorbodya called  
Where he built a city/ strongly walled  
As writ Guydo/ large wide and long  
Upon a roche/ which passingly was strong  
Which had environ/ as mine Author tells  
Woods/ rivers/ and many lusty wells  
And had plenty/ of all manner thing  
And Tethydes/ called was the king  
That held in peace/ his sceptre and his crown  
On whom Fortune/ list nat for to frown  
But favourable/ fully to his will  
Conserving him/ in peas and in tranquylle  
Without trouble/ many a day afore  
To whom accepted was/ this Anthenore  
And right welcome/ as the story saith  
And unto him/ confederate by faith  
Fully assured/ be came his league man  
When Tethydes/ in all that ever he can  
This worthy king/ died magnify  
And fro Troy/ great number of his ally  
There came in sooth/ to visit him and see  
And to inhabit/ his mighty strong city  
Full curyously bylte/ of lime and stone  
In that days/ called Menelone  
To which he died/ great richesse a croche  
Beside the see/ set upon a roche  
And busy was/ with plenty to astore  
Of this traitor/ what should I write more  
With his name/ my pen is so a cloyed  
By whose falsehood/ troy was destroyed  
As in the story/ ye have red and sayn  
But must I plainly/ resort again  
And to rehearse/ do my busy cure  
How Cassandra/ told every adventure  
That to Greeks/ after should fall  
And how that she/ told among them all  
As she that was prudent/ and virtuous  
That traitorously/ within his own house  
Agamen on/ should murdered be  
That fatal end/ for no thing might he i'll  
Let him beware/ and prudently provide  
For in his life/ he shall nat long abide  
Again his fate/ was none other rede  
Eke Guydo writ/ when Thelamon was deed  
By false murder/ as ye have herd toforne  
Two sons he had/ ofsondry wives borne  
That were committed/ to be in keeping  
With worthy Tentre/ a full manly king  
That nourished/ them the story saith for sooth  
Till they after/ were worthy knights both  
The tone of them/ called Anthenycus  
And the other height/ Antissacus  
Of shape full seemly/ and wonder fair of face  
And shortly here/ Guydo/ doth forth pace  
And list of them/ no longer process make  
But bringeth in/ how Menelay hath take  
His leave of Greeks/ with Agamenon  
everich to sail/ to his region  
With many a greek/ in their company  
And though greeks/ first 'gan them deny  
At the last/ with Instance and pain  
They had leave/ to sail both twain  
And to the see/ they fast 'gan them high  
Mid of autumn/ which is cold & dry  
Melancolyke/ of complexion  
When Phoebus'/ is passed the Lion  
The heavenly be'st/ the be'st most royal  
And half Yronne/ the sign virginal  
Which after summer/ is naked and barren  
When Ceres hath/ full ryped every grain  
The time of year/ strange and full divers  
And sundry flowers/ red white and per  
The which in May/ so lusty were and glade  
Upon their stalk/ 'gan droop and fade  
And incline/ their fresh lusty cheres  
At going out/ of the Canyculeres  
When wicked humours/ inwardly abound  
With sudden Fever/ folks to confound  
To make them/ in an Axes shake  
And of custom/ winds gynne wake  
Both bough and leef/ causing for to fall  
On the time/ when folk do Bacchus call  
Fro storm and rain/ their grapes to conserve  
That hideous tempest/ make them nat to starve  
Nor no duresse/ of freting of no frost  
Where thorough full oft/ moche fruit is lost  
With moisture/ that cometh fro the skies even  
And also eke with thundering/ & with leaven  
Which unwarely/ with such weders keen  
boiling up/ with many wawes green  
Roaring and rough/ and froward to manasse  
And passingly perilous/ by to pass  
Albe/ that it be blandishing a while  
The dreadful calm/ though it be smooth & smile  
There is no trust/ that it will long abide  
Record on greeks/ that such a lusty tide  
The see have take/ and began to sail  
With their stuff/ and their apparel  
Home into Grece/ full many lusty man  
With all the gold/ and treasure/ that they won  
At the siege/ and infinite richesse  
And days three/ devoid of all distress  
The see obeyed/ fully to their will  
devoid of trouble/ and of wedres ill  
For they full lusty/ within ships board  
The four winds/ being of accord  
Them to convey/ to every manner cost  
But gladly ever/ when men trust most  
Unto Fortune/ to stand in her grace  
Shesodaynely/ change can her face  
Smile afore/ and mow at the bake  
For she unwarely/ turned all to wreck  
This chaunteresse/ and this stormy queen   

FOr when Greeks/ effectuously best ween  
In their passage/ fully assured be  
Upon the see/ that called was Egee  
This false gods/ them anon forsook  
And Boreas/ the fell wind awoke  
And with his hideous/ dreadful noise & sown  
He turned/ all their quiet up so down  
And made the wawes/ grisly to arise  
And as the story/ shortly doth devise  
The bright day/ was turned into night  
The heaven dark/ except the dreadful light  
Of the leaven/ which made them sore a gast  
And the thunder/ that severed sail and mast  
Their tops smette/ into pieces small  
And into water/ made them low avail  
And fire of lightening/ suddenly therewith  
That Wolcanus/ forgeth on his stith  
Hath board fro board/ with the flawme rend  
And two and twenty/ of their ships brent  
Without escape/ platly or refuge  
Thorughe the rage/ of this fell deluge  
For all to wreck/ this woeful Navy goth  
Whilom with grekis/ Mynerua was so wroth  
For they died her/ no reverence  
And specially/ for the great offence  
That spitefully/ Cylleus Ajax's wrought  
Which in his tempest/ he full dear about  
For when his ships/ were almost ydrowned  
This goddess/ hath so on him frowned  
And of vengeance/ so felly him awaked  
That he was fain/ for to swim naked  
As saith mine Author/ at mischief to the land  
And there he was/ found on the sonde  
Almost at death/ without remedy  
To him Mynerua/ hath so great envy  
For he so woodly/ to her temple went  
And Cassandra/ tofore her Auter hent  
By cruel force/ and hateful violence  
Lo what peril/ is to do offence  
Of high despite/ to any holy place  
I doubt nat/ he shall fail grace  
Who so ever/ useth it in deed  
At the last/ god will quite his meed  
And reward him/ like as he disserueth  
And for such thing/ many greek now streveth  
Because only/ of such occasion  
To exemplefye/ for no presumption  
foolily to atame/ as I have told  
For again god/ who so be to bold  
Shall repent sooner/ than he weeneth  
And many man/ that no harmene meaneth  
suffereth vengeance/ for trespass of one  
The first Author/ goth nat quite alone  
But many other/ his offence abayth  
For seriously/ Guydo/ writ and saith  
Suing in order/ the woeful adventure  
That every greek/ homeward died endure  
Of high and low/ sparing none estate  
How some welfull/ and some infortunate  
Both of their woe/ and of their welfare  
Right as it fill/ the story shall declare.   

IN grece whilom/ was a worthy king  
Manly & rich/ and prudent oflyving  
And had in sooth/ like as writ Guydo  
In his time/ worthy sons two  
Pallamydes/ was the eldest brother  
And Oetes/ called was the other  
Both twain/ of one mother borne  
And as the story/ rehearseth hath toforne  
Pallamydes/ was a noble knight  
Full famous/ eke of power and of might  
And fer spoke of/ in many sundry coost  
And had also/ of all the Greeks host  
For his wisdom/ whilom governail  
But he alas/ was slain in battle  
thorough unhap/ of Martyrs cruel tene  
When the son shone/ most bright and sheen  
Of his knighthood/ and his worthiness  
Like as tofore/ the story beareth witness  
And of his death/ doth plainly specify  
But now of malices/ hatrede and envy  
Of such as have/ tongues infortunate  
To make only/ king Naulus at debate  
With the Greeks/ contrived have of new  
An high treason/ false and full untrue  
The which in sooth/ was never do nor wrought  
Nor in effect/ imagined nor thought  
But a false thing/ yfeyned of malice  
That this king/ so manly and so wise  
And so prudent/ this Pallamydes  
Should of envy/ god wots causeless  
At the siege of Troy/ the city  
Upon a night/ falsely murdered be  
So that this slaughter/ & this loathsome deed  
●y ulixes/ and by diomed  
Were fully wrought/ as ye have herd devise  
Which every heart/ aught to agryse  
This false also that this tale have feigned  
To king Naulus/ have traitorously complained  
Albe/ in deed/ it was never mente  
That Greeks were/ also of assent  
To this murder/ and conspiration  
Both Menelay/ and Agamenon  
Albe in sooth/ that euery●ele was false  
That hanged be they/ high by the half  
That can tales/ so forge and contrive  
To make friends/ causeless to strive  
For they thorough fraud/ of false collusion  
King Naulus/ put in suspicion  
That greeks had/ conspired doubtless  
Upon the murder/ of Pallamydes  
Making their ground/ which they did feign  
That fro Troy/ were sent letters twain  
To Pallamydes/ inmedyatly direct  
Which concluded/ treason in effect  
How that he was/ for all his high estate  
Falsely allied/ and confederate  
To them of Troy/ for a sum of gold  
All this they have/ feigned and ytolde  
And how he had/ out of the city  
Of good received/ huge quantity  
To fine only/ Greeks/ to betray  
And to prolong them/ platly and delay  
At the siege/ in getting of the town  
By his engine/ and medyacyowne  
And to confirm/ all this in sentence  
To make Naulus/ give full credence  
They said plainly/ in conclusyowne  
The letters which/ that were sent fro the town  
yfound were/ enclosed in a shield  
Upon a knight/ yslain in the field  
Comprehending/ hole/ the treachery  
The treason full/ and confederacy  
atween the town/ and Pallamydes  
verily/ though he were guiltless  
And to give/ more open evidence  
To make a proof/ of this great offence  
They said ulixes/ affirming in certain  
Accorded was/ with a chamberlain  
That was in office/ with Pallamydes  
Wonder secret/ and no thing reckeles  
For to assent/ to this conspiracy  
Wrongly compassed/ of brenning hot envy  
Behoting him/ guerdon and great meed  
Like his devise/ to execute in deed  
To take a treasure/ and a sum of good  
Full secretly/ and knit it in a hood  
And hid it/ when voided was the prees  
Under the bed/ of Pallamydes  
And more to put/ Greeks in surety  
The treasure was/ the same of quantity  
That it ne might/ after be denied  
Like as the letters/ had specified.  
And when all this/ found was and know  
thorough out the host/ noised and yblowe  
Both of the letters/ and the gold also  
Fro point to point/ according both two  
Which that this king/ assenting to treasowne  
received had/ out of Troy town  
To be assented/ as ye have heard me tell  
The greeks though/ no longer would dwell  
But shope them forth/ all of one intent  
And in all haste/ came unto the tent  
Of this king/ full innocent and clean  
That little knew/ what they would mean  
But upon him/ full knightly as he stood  
In their Ire/ furiously/ and wood  
To be venged/ loud 'gan to cry  
There may no man/ their malice modefye  
They were on him/ so merciless at all  
And as I find/ most in special  
King Menelay/ and Agamenon  
only moved/ of indignation  
Would have proceeded/ unto judgement  
Of hasty rancour/ without advisement  
On this treason/ avenged for to a be  
Nat withstanding/ all his high degree  
But in soothness/ when this worthy king  
conceived hath/ this malice in working  
first atoned/ in his inward sight  
All suddenly/ start up like a knight  
This wise worthy/ this Pallamydes  
Hardy as Lion/ amid all the prees  
No thing aghast/ him knightly 'gan express  
And plainly said/ he would nat refuse  
To acquit himself/ of this horrible case  
Nat excepting/ that he so worthy was  
Of birth and blood/ and of high kindred  
All this devoiding/ of knighthood & manhood  
As he that gave/ of life nor death no forhis  
Tofore them all/ to juparde his cors  
Within a field/ where them list ordain  
Like as a knight/ this quarrel to dareyne  
With whom that list/ or durst it undertake  
exception/ him liked none to make  
Of high nor low/ who that were so bold  
To prove the reason/ that I have you told  
beseeching them/ to make no delay  
Nor prolong him/ but the same day  
Manly requering/ it may be do in haste  
But they that had/ falsely this thing compaste  
Of his answer/ stoned were eachone  
In all the host/ that there was nat one  
That hardy was/ if I shall nat feign  
In chaump close/ this quarrel to dareyne  
Nouther Vlixes/ nouther diomed  
Chief workers/ of this foul deed  
¶ But Vlixes/ as he was customable  
In every thing/ to be deceivable  
Double in his work/ and full aye of disobeyed  
Like a serpent/ that lieth in await  
Which under flowers/ can so glide and trace  
Right so ulixes/ with a feigned face  
When that he saw/ the knightly high prowess  
The manly cheer/ and the hardiness  
And high renown/ of this Pallamydes  
Anon of falsehood/ put himself in prees  
And like a friend/ that meant not but weal  
Brotell as glass/ pretending outward steel  
With one the first/ 'gan him to excuse  
Them counsaylling/ no longer for to muse  
On this matter/ for their alder ease  
And by craft/ 'gan them so appease  
touching the rumour/ of this high treason  
That he hath/ voided all suspicion  
Out of their hearts/ concluding in tertayne  
This accusing/ made was in vain  
And conspired/ only of hatred  
Albe himself was root/ of all this deed.  
¶ But when he saw/ he might nat achieve  
As ye have heard/ this worthy king to grieve  
Some spot of treason/ on him for to lay  
Hehath anon found/ another way  
By the assent/ fully of diomed  
Under pretence/ plainly of frendelyhede  
Coming to him/ again a certain night  
Vndersuraunce/ as he was true knight  
Counsel to keep/ either for sote or sour  
Informing him/ of a great treasure  
Of gold and good/ and infinite riches  
To him discured/ under secretness  
The which soothly/ no man died know  
hid and enclosed/ in a well low  
Within a field/ a little there be side  
The which him list/ fro him nat to hide  
But of trust/ unto him discure  
So he would/ do his busy cure  
The same night/ with him for to go  
Unto the well/ they three and no more  
To fet away/ that great sum of good  
And he in sooth/ that no thing understood  
What they mente/ assented was anon  
And so they three/ be together gone  
Unto the well/ like as I have told  
And for that he/ most manly was and bold  
Pallamydes/ like as they him tell  
Descended is low/ into the well  
Supposing to have/ a treasure found  
But they alas/ him falsely to confound  
Have murdered him/ with stones great and huge  
He in the bottom/ having no refuge  
And when they had/ acomplysshed their intent  
They be repaired/ everich to his Tent.   

THis tale/ the story telleth us  
That feigned was/ to the king Naulus  
touching the death/ of Pallamydes  
Them to desclaundre/ that were guiltless  
For ulixes/ and with diomed  
Were innocent/ platly as I read  
And greeks all/ bothenygh and far  
For he was slain/ knightly in the were  
During the siege/ of Paris with an arrow  
But who is false/ fain can full narrow  
To find a tale/ that never yet was thought  
And of the treason/ that should have be wrought  
touching the letters/ sent out of the town  
There was no such/ conspyracyowne  
By greeks wrought/ but a fable unsoth  
Falsely feigned/ to make Naulus wroth  
With Vlixes/ and diomed also  
Agamenon/ and other greeks more  
To let them/ homeward in their way  
And hyndre also/ there is no more to say  
As they repair/ to their regions  
And Naulus than/ by this occasions  
And Oetes his son/ a manly man  
Accorded be/ in what they may or can  
By one assent/ to avenge merciless  
The cruel murder/ of Pallamydes  
And to ordain/ at their home passage  
To work fully/ into their damage  
For Greeks must/ of necessity  
Homeward sail/ foreby his country  
Wherefore this king/ shapen hath a wile  
On hyl●es high/ by a little isle  
In winter season/ every manner night  
To make fires/ and to set up light  
To cause them/ on the see to err  
For as Greeks/ saw the fire a far  
Unware of harm/ caste them for to land  
As they that could/ no peril understand  
But shope them/ with all their full might  
For to aryue/ fast by the light  
Wherewith two hundred/ of their ships broke  
Among rocks/ and fully go to wreck  
That there was drowned/ many worthy man  
And thus the vengeance/ alderfirste began  
That king Naulus/ hath on greeks take  
Of deadly hate/ for his sons sake  
To great mischief/ and confusion  
Of Greeks navy/ but Agamenon  
With great peril/ is the death escaped  
That had almost/ among them be beiaped  
For earls/ duke's/ & worthy kings crowned  
thorough this train/ in the see were drowned  
But Menelay/ and also diomed  
Escaped/ this mischief/ as I read  
And when they were/ from all danger gone  
This Oetes/ would foryre an one  
In his heart/ shope another wile  
And thought/ he would Agamenon beguile  
Compassing/ a full mortal strife  
Let send a letter/ anon to the wife  
Of this mighty/ great Agamenon  
In which/ there was/ included false treason  
For even like/ if I shall nat lie  
Thus in effect/ they died specify.  
first how her lord/ Agamenon the king  
Had at the siege/ wrought a wonder thing  
In prejudice/ and slander of her name  
Albe in her was/ no manner blame  
Like as he wrote/ platly nor trespass  
His knightly honour/ of folly to difface  
This to say/ Guydo telleth thus  
He loved a daughter/ of king Pryamus  
And for beauty/ had her to wife take  
And her in heart/ finally forsake  
This worthy queen/ whilom of great fame  
And Clemestra/ soothly was her name  
Wonder seemly/ and right fair with all  
And by descent/ borne of the stock royal  
Her celly nge eke/ for all her excellence  
Albe/ that she never died offence  
Yet her lord/ of new fangylnesse  
Took another/ the letters died express  
Fully in purpose/ anon at his repair  
Though Clemestra/ were both good & fair  
All suddenly/ her to exile  
Out of his land/ many thousand mile  
Warning her/ that she be prudent  
This was the substance/ as in sentement  
That Oetes/ wrote/ unto this queen  
Albe the king/ was innocent and clean  
And was to her/ in all his fore living  
Loving and true/ in all manner thing  
And her to please/ passing intentive  
In word and deed/ during all his life  
As fer as ought/ of reason be desired  
But the letters/ that falsely was conspired  
They have her put/ parcas of Innocence  
For to give/ to hasty credence  
Thanking first Oetes'/ for his truth  
That so goodly/ him list to have ruth  
Upon her wrong/ of high compassion  
And yet the story/ maketh mention  
Here afterward/ as I shall describe  
That she was/ the falsest one alive  
Unto her lord/ and in his long absence  
And in all haste/ she made strong deffence  
Again this thing/ and 'gan her to purvey  
By such fraud/ that she nat ne die  
But of her work/ in sooth she was to wite  
The which alas/ I must anon indite  
As the story/ platly doth me lere  
Which doleful is/ and mortal for to here.   

OVnsure trust/ of all worldly glory  
with sudden change/ put out of memory  
O joy unstable/ of vain ambition  
With unware turn/ reversed up so down  
O idle fame/ blow up to the sky  
Over whelmyd/ with twyncling of an eye  
O pomp/ o boast/ of triumph and victory  
Like a shadow/ waste and transitory  
O Fortune false/ and vnassured  
That to no man/ was never fully lured  
To high nor low/ of no manner estate  
With bond of faith/ to be conferate  
Again whose might/ no man may hyndiffende  
But at his turn/ that he shall descend  
When he sit highest/ on thine unstable wheel  
Thy brotyll favour/ forged nat of steel  
Meynt and allayed/ with mutability  
For welfulness/ and false felicity  
With sudden sweygh/ froward thou canst avail  
Now fresh of cheer/ now for anger pale  
Of high disdain/ thou sparest no degree  
For princes Duke's/ highest in their see  
Mighty kings/ and worthy Emperors  
That richest reign/ in their royal flowers  
With Sceptre and crown/ thou canst pull down  
I take witness/ of Agamenowne  
That was so noble/ and mighty in his live  
As sundry auctors/ his high renown describe  
But soothfastly/ for all his excellence  
He might nat make/ no diffence  
With all the kings/ that his banner sew  
Conspired murder/ to void and eschew  
Rescuse was none/ that he could make  
For which alas/ my pen I feel quake  
That doth mine ink/ blot on my book  
O mighty god/ y● with thine inward look  
Seest every thing/ through thy eternal might  
Why wilt thou nat/ of equity and right  
punish & chastise/ so horrible a thing  
And specially/ the murder of a king  
Alas the pain/ of Ixyon in hell  
Or of Manes/ that with Satan dwell  
Were nat equal/ nor equypolent  
To venge murder/ nor sufficient  
For it exceedeth/ in comparison  
All felony/ falsehood/ and treason  
Wherefore o lord/ that seest and knowest all  
thorough thy power/ that is eternal  
Suffer no such/ to live upon the ground  
Worse than Tiger/ or Cerberus the hound  
That chained lieth/ bound at hell gate  
Which of malice/ plainly though he hate  
He berketh first/ or he do offence  
But murder gladly/ is wrought in silence  
Or men advert/ or take any keep  
Alas a Prince/ to slay him in his sleep  
On his pillow/ when he sleepeth soft  
That crieth wretch/ to high god a loft  
And asketh vengeance/ to take as fast  
Though it abide/ it will out at the last  
Alas a king/ spoken of so far  
That was so worthy/ outward in the were  
His cruel fate/ passing odious  
Disposed hath/ in his own house  
His mortal end/ to be execute  
Against which/ there was no refute  
For right as he/ his ship to land set  
The queen Clemestra/ on the strand him met  
With humble cheer/ and look full benign  
And showed out/ full many faithful sign  
Of wifely truth/ in her countenance  
Albe in heart/ there was variance  
Nat perceived/ plainly in her face  
Whom the king goodly died embrace  
As he in sooth/ that but truth mente  
And to his palace/ the high way he went  
Nat adverting/ the treason that was shape  
The which alas/ he might nat escape  
Of the falsehood/ he could no thing feel  
But I ne may/ no longer it conceal  
Again her lord/ how Clemestra wrought  
For on her bond/ of wedlock she ne thought  
The true look/ soothly of spousal  
Again her malice/ little might avail  
Unto her lord/ her truth to conserve  
Newfangelnesse/ caused to streve  
Her old faith/ and her assurance  
Her love abode/ on a fykyll chance  
Long absence/ had her heart appalled  
She loved one/ that was Aegisthus called  
Which afore all/ in her grace stood  
That neither was/ of birth nor of blood  
little or nought/ of reputacyowne  
Nor renowned/ of manhood nor renown  
Nor of knighthood/ nor of high prowess  
But for his labour/ and his business  
And good await/ upon her by night  
Therefore he was best/ furthrede in her sight  
Such dread had she/ for to live alone  
Sorowles/ so well/ she could groan  
I can nat say/ what life that they lad  
Except that she by him/ a daughter had  
And Exyona/ Guydo saith she height  
And unto him/ Clemestra behyght  
Assuring him/ upon pain of her heed  
He should reign/ when her lord were deed  
And to enhaste/ this conclusion  
Her worthy lord/ king Agamenon  
The next night/ was murdered & yssayne  
By false Aegisthus/ and the queen full fain  
No longer bode/ the story can you lere  
But in all haste/ they wedded were yfere  
And by her false/ and sleighty compassing  
Of Messene/ she made him crowned king  
And put him full/ in possession  
Alas/ that sin hath domination  
To furthre wrong/ and abate right  
For in this world/ falsehood hath more might  
Full oft sith/ than hath rightwiseness  
And in the estate/ set of worthiness  
Loo how the sin/ of adultery  
Brought in murder/ by conspiracy  
Sin upon sin/ linked both twain  
And embraced/ in the fiends chain  
Perpetuelly/ in hell to endure  
Alas who shall/ himself full assure  
from cruel murder/ his body to withdraw  
When that kings/ in their bed are slawe  
Which bringeth in/ alienation  
By extort title/ false succession  
There may colour/ of pretence seem  
But full straightly/ god shall after dame  
And justly venge/ with dew recompense  
Intrusyon/ brought in by violence  
And felly quite/ such horrible things  
And sudden slaughter/ & specially of kings  
Greatly to dread/ in every region  
And as I find/ that Agamenon  
By Clemestra/ the false double queen  
Had a son/ passing fair to seen  
Right gracious/ in every man's sight  
And Horestes/ the book saith that he height  
Wonder seemly/ and but young of age  
And for great fere/ of this mortal rage  
list he were slain/ as it was to dread  
To anulle his title/ that he nat succeed  
Him to preserve/ that he were nat shent  
King taltybus/ with power hath him sent  
Full secretly/ out of that country  
Unto a king/ called Ydume  
That held his sceptre/ and his royal seat  
Full mightily/ in the land of Crete  
And Carkasys/ named was the queen  
That had a daughter/ called eke Clymene  
Borne to be heir/ of that region  
And as it is made/ eke mention  
This Horestes/ to reckon all thing  
Was with the queen/ and also with the king  
cherished as well/ the story can you lere  
As Clymen a/ their own daughter dear  
And was eke kept/ and had in cherte  
from point to point/ like to his degree  
With attendance/ convenient and dew  
To his estate/ that ever upon him sew  
Of such as were/ most expert and sage  
To govern him/ till he came to age  
To rejoice/ if god gave him might  
His heritage/ to which he had right  
By clear descent/ if happy were his chance  
Thus leave I him/ under governance  
The young lone/ of Agamenon  
For I must make/ a digression.  
¶ Fro this matter/ and tell of diomed  
The adventures/ in Guydo as I read  
His woeful fate/ and his pains smart  
The which alas/ he might nat asterte  
As is remembered/ plainly in writing  
That Oeres/ son of the rich king  
Called Naulus/ as ye have herd toforne  
Such heaviness/ in his heart hath borne  
Unto Greeks/ repeyring home fro Troy  
That his lust/ and his inward joy  
Was them to hinder/ both high and low  
And cause why/ to you is nat vnknowe  
To them he was/ so passing envious  
In will and thought/ ylyke desirous  
If he might/ soothly this no les  
The death to venge/ of Pallamydes  
Like as tofore/ the stroy can devise  
To you that be/ so prudent and so wise  
And how Oetes/ now of malice wrought  
And traitorously/ new means sought  
If he might/ by any manner weigh  
Dyomedes/ unwarely to destroy  
Of all this thing/ I cast nat to fail  
seriously/ to make rehearsal.   

IN Grece was a kingdom/ wide & large  
Conyumpt in one/ Calydonye and Arge  
Full abundant/ of richesse and of rent  
Of which the king/ called was Pollente  
A worthy man/ and of noble fame  
And had a son/ Assandrus was his name  
And a daughter/ passing fair of sight  
And soothly Egra/ I find that she height  
And for her father/ like as writ Guydo  
had nomo/ but these childre two  
For them he hath/ of wisdom so provided  
This mighty reign/ for to be divided  
atween them two/ after his dissees  
Each with his part/ for to live in pees  
To exclude them/ fro indigence or need  
And she was wife/ unto diomed  
Albe tofore/ the story of him said  
That he whilom/ loved well Crysayde  
I can nat say/ where it was doubleness  
But well wots I/ Guydo beareth witness  
And in his book/ soothly saith none other  
And how Assandrus/ his own wives brother  
Full lusty fresh/ and full of manlihood  
To Troy went/ with this diomed  
But in the see/ fordyven up so down  
They rived up/ in the region  
Called Boece/ all disconsolate  
With tempest drive/ weary and full mate  
Them to refresh/ and for none other thing  
In which land/ Thelephus was king  
Of whose rival/ when he heard sayne  
In his heart/ he had high disdain  
That they were bold/ to do so great offence  
To enter his ground/ having no licence  
And yet in sooth/ they died no damage  
To high nor low/ of no manner age  
Nortoke nat/ that might disavayle  
Unto that land/ but it were victual  
For which they paid/ justly at the fine  
For flesh and fish/ and for breed and wine  
Yet for all that/ of indignacyowne  
King Thelephus/ is descended down  
With great array/ to harm them if he might  
And so they 'gan/ to bycker and to fight  
And Assandrus/ full of high prowess  
Like a Lion/ his foemen 'gan oppress  
And wonder knightly/ the field upon them won  
And slew that day/ many worthy man  
Of high courage/ and of manly pride  
And when the king/ which that stood aside  
Saw his men/ slain on every part  
Of high disdain/ hent anon a dart  
And cast at him/ alas the mortal fate  
And pierced hath/ through mails & through plate  
Of Assandrus/ that he fell down deed  
The soil about/ of his blood all red  
His deadly wound/ so began to bleed  
And wood as Tiger/ though came diomed  
And him to avenge/ bare him like a knight  
Sleeth and killeth/ and put them unto flight  
And after that/ such sorrow 'gan to make  
Of knightly ruth/ for his brothres sake  
That he ne wist/ what was best to do  
But as I find/ mid of all his woe  
From best and foul/ the deed corpse to save  
Like his estate/ he let make a grave  
And buried him/ after rites old  
But Oetes/ to his sister told  
That he was slain/ by fraud of diomed  
To fine/ that he might full possede  
The reign of Arge/ hole without strife  
With the purpartye/ annexed to his wife  
For by his death/ he might season take  
And told her eke/ that she was forsake  
This fair Egra/ for all her womenhede  
Of her lord/ called diomed  
All this he told/ in hell be he chained  
And overmore/ he forged hath and feigned  
How of envy/ Assandrus lost his life  
And how her lord/ hath take another wife  
That was to her/ dishonour and shame  
And passingly/ great slander to her name  
In prejudice/ ydone of her estate  
All this he told/ to make them at debate  
Like as he wrote/ in conclusion  
To Clemestra/ of Agamenon  
Which her heart/ made sore grieve  
For he put her/ fully in believe  
Of all the treason/ ye have heard me told  
That for ire/ she pale wax and cold  
Vnkyndenesse/ so her heart sleeth  
And heaviness/ of her brothre● death  
For never yet/ Guydo doth assure  
No woman/ loved better a creature  
Than she loved him/ in no manner age  
For first at nought/ she set her heritage  
In comparison/ of her brothres life  
Loo how Oetes/ made a new strife  
As ye have heard/ in the story read  
That guiltless/ worthy diomed  
When he hath long/ at the siege lain  
And to his kingdom/ would have come again  
By mighty hand/ of this worthy queen  
And her lieges/ that assented been  
He was exiled/ out of that region  
There may be made/ no mediation  
Thus in himself/ mate and despaired  
Disconsolate/ he is again repaired  
To Salerne/ a land of great richesse  
Where that Tenter/ thorough his worthiness  
With crown & sceptre/ had reigned long  
With his lieges/ and his knights strong  
And brother was/ to Apax Thelamon  
Murdered tofore/ as made is mention  
And diomed/ poor and destitute  
May in Salerne/ find no refute  
For when Tenter/ first 'gan him espy  
He sewed him/ by full great envy  
Having to him/ aye suspicion  
touching the death of king Thelamon  
But diomed/ on a certain night  
Full secretly/ hath taken him to flight  
And fro Salerne/ fast 'gan him high  
In hope to find/ better remedy  
help or succour/ in some other place  
If Fortune would/ grant him grace  
For of himself/ ashamed and confuse  
As man forsake/ abject and refuse  
Right so fared he/ wand'ring to and fro  
As he that ne wist/ what was best to do.   

But I find/ the Trojan Aeneas  
That all this while/ still at Troy was  
only of ruth/ and compassyowne  
To support them/ that were left of the town  
Being always/ of their life in doubt  
Of their foemen/ round beset about  
As they that lived/ for lack of an heed  
continually/ in mischief and dread  
Knowing no refute/ nor comfort in this case  
Till by counsel/ of this Aeneas  
To support them/ in this great need  
They sent in haste/ for this diomed  
Knowing full well/ his desolation  
How he was proscrip/ fro his region  
beseeching him/ of manhood and of ruth  
Him to enhaste/ without any sloth  
With all the stuff/ that he get can  
And soldiers also/ manly every man  
Without abode/ and to Troy them lead  
To succour them/ in this great need  
And diomed came/ and tarried nought  
At their request/ as he was besought  
To relieve them/ in this sharp shower  
And with him brought/ many souldeoure  
And Aeneas/ on the way him met  
In friendly wise/ and into town him fet  
And to him made/ passingly great cheer  
And there they 'gan/ to common yfere  
Their adventures/ both of land and see  
intermeddled/ with great adversity  
That no man may/ devoid nor eschew  
But take his part/ as it to him is dew  
As sort or hap/ doth his bridle lead  
And in this story/ shortly to proceed  
Cely Troyans/ that almost were shent  
With their foemen/ of isles adjacent  
That them beset/ about enuyrowne  
But thorough the manhood/ & the high renown  
Of diomed/ and his soldiers  
And other knights/ noble weary ours  
They were rescued/ and helped utterly  
And four days/ they fought by and by  
In knightly wise/ deffending the Cyree  
And thorough prowess/ also of Enee  
They slew and took/ all that them withstood  
And in diffence/ of Troyanysshe blood  
Such as they fond/ to the city false  
They hinge them up/ high by the half  
And punished them/ for their great wrong  
And diomed/ thus 'gan wax strong  
By long process/ as made is mention  
Chief protector/ now of Troy town  
That enemy none/ by a large space  
Durst abide/ but he had grace  
To this lygaunce/ so he made them lout  
And thus his name/ spread 'gan about  
That of his fame/ the great opinion  
dilated is/ unto the region  
By swift report/ to Calydonye and Arg●  
Which the queen/ greatly 'gan to charge  
And atoned/ when she taketh heed  
His power 'gan/ and his might to dread  
list he would/ her land upon her win  
And of knighthood/ a were new begin  
And secretly/ 'gan muse on this thing  
That her lord/ and her mighty king  
Late exiled/ and yput to flight  
Hath grace found/ in Fortune's sight  
And is remounted/ to so high estate  
Whereof she was/ in herself chekmate  
And ways cast/ as she that was prudent  
By hole advise/ of her Parliament  
Without grudging/ or rebellion  
Him to revoke/ to his region  
¶ And thereupon/ to him lowly sent  
And with letters/ the messenger forth went  
The cause annulling/ by which he was exiled  
And how he was/ fully reconciled  
By hole assent/ of his lieges all  
And full lowly/ everichone they call  
For their offence/ and of their trespass  
Without rigour/ for to do them grace  
And he anon/ like a manly knight  
More of mercy/ soothly than of right  
When he hath/ their sonde well conceived  
And their meaning/ fully apparceyved  
To stint all strife/ thought for the best  
In goodly wise/ to grawte their request  
And to his reign/ within a certain day  
He is repaired/ in full rich array  
Of whose coming/ full glad his lieges been  
And reconciled/ both he and the queen  
And all rancour/ of any old offence  
only of wisdom/ they put in suspense  
And of one heart/ a blissful life they lead  
In Troy book/ no more of him I read  
But let him live/ in felycytee  
Again resorting/ to tell of Enee  
After how he hath/ his time spent  
Which is fro Troy/ with many Trojan went  
His ships stuffed/ he and his meynee  
Be sailed forth/ by many strange see  
Many danger/ and many straight passage  
Tofore or he/ arrived in Cartage  
leading with him/ his father anchises  
And by the way/ I find that he les  
His wife Crewsa/ by fatal adventure  
But all the woe/ that he died endure  
Who so list/ seriously to seen  
And how that he/ falsehood the queen  
I mean Dido/ of womanhead flower  
That gave to him/ her richesse and treasure  
jewels and gold/ & all that might him please  
And every thing/ that might do him ease  
But for all that/ how he was unkind  
Rede Eneydos/ and there ye shall it find  
And how that he/ falsely stolen away  
By night time/ while she a bed lay  
And of his conquest/ also in Itaylle  
Where he had/ many strong battle  
His adventures/ and his works all  
And of the fine/ that is to him fall  
Ye may all see/ by full sovereign style  
Fro point to point/ compiled in virgil  
Write and made/ sithen go full yore  
For Troy book/ speaketh of him no more  
But proceedeth/ as I shall indite  
How Horestes/ caste him for to quite  
His fathers death/ plainly/ and nat spare  
If ye list here/ as Guydo shall declare.   

IT is requered/ of equity and right  
Of that judge/ that is most of might  
And Equally/ holdeth his balance  
On death conspired/ for to do vengeance  
The voice of blood/ doth so aye contune  
To cry wretch/ with clamour importune  
On them in sooth/ that it injustly shed  
For murder wrought/ will have his equal meed  
And his guerdon/ as he hath deserved  
They may nat flee/ the judgement reserved  
Of him that sit/ highest in his Throne  
And all beholdeth/ by himself alone  
Full rightfully/ the noble mighty king  
For though he suffer/ he foryet no thing  
But all considereth/ in his inspection  
And for the murder/ of Agamenon  
The mighty lord/ that is most sovereign good  
Made his Mynystre/ of the same blood  
¶ Young Horestes/ full of high prowess  
To execute his doom/ of right wiseness  
And gave to him grace/ power and might  
And he anon/ took the order of a knight  
Of you me●s/ like as it is told  
When he was/ four and twenty winter old  
Fresh and lusty/ and wonderly prudent  
And inwardly/ desirous of intent  
If Fortune would/ him nat withsayne  
His heritage/ to recure again  
¶ Which Aegisthus'/ falsely him denieth  
And the crown/ in justly occupieth  
By false title/ of her that was his wife  
But horestes/ will juparde his life  
And adventure/ while him lasteth breath  
first to be venged/ on his fathers death  
Upon them though/ that the treason wrought  
And alderfirste/ full lowly he besought  
King y●dumee/ of his goodlihead  
To further him/ in this great need  
And the king/ benignly anon  
Assigned hath/ with him for to gone  
A thousand knights/ manly & right strong  
To redress/ the great horrible wrong  
Of Aegisthus/ wrought by violence  
And by his wisdom/ and his diligence  
This Horestes/ 'gan him so purvey  
Within a while/ there is no more to say  
That he him got/ the store will nat lie  
Another thousand/ to his company  
Of worthy knights/ all of one accord  
To go with him/ as with their sovereign lord  
In every thing/ his bidding to obey  
As ye have heard/ Aegisthus to werreye  
And thus Horestes/ in full rich array  
'Gan hoostey/ and made no delay  
And his lodging/ alderfirste 'gan cheese  
In a Cytee/ that called was Troyese  
received there/ with great revernece  
Of the king/ that named was Forence  
A manly knight/ as books specefye  
And bare in heart/ passing great envy  
To Aegisthus/ by double occasion  
first for the death/ of Agamenon  
And eke for he/ had a daughter dear  
That was to him/ inwardly entere  
Both good and fair/ & but young of age  
That whilom/ was given in marriage  
To Aegisthus/ but he of doubleness  
Of false treason/ and new fangylnesse  
The kings daughter/ hath utterly forsake  
And in all haste/ did a libel make  
And forge a wryt/ of repulsyon  
Albe he had/ no true occasion  
This Aegisthus/ that he her forsook  
Save that he falsely/ to wife took  
The queen Clemestra/ again all right & law  
When by assent/ they murdered have & slawe  
A gamenon/ as it tofore is told  
That whilom was/ so mighty and so bold  
And for the hateful/ false conspiracy  
As well of murder/ as adultery  
To venge both/ by dew recompense  
The worthy knight/ the mighty king Forence  
Offrede Horestes/ for to make him strong  
And go with him/ to help venge his wrong  
And with him lad/ armed bright in steel  
Four hundred knights/ horsed wonder weal  
Taking the field/ with a manly cheer  
And so Horestes/ and the king yfere  
Be riden forth/ with many manly man  
¶ But Horestes/ or he this were 'gan  
When bright Phoebus/ in the bull shone  
To the temple/ is full lowly gone  
And to the gods/ in his best wise  
With humble heart/ died sacryfyse  
Fully in hope/ the better for to far  
Where he was bode/ for life nor death to spare  
Without mercy/ or remission  
The death to venge/ of Agamenon  
On Clemestra/ that was most to wite  
And that he make/ first his sword to bite  
On his mother/ with his hands twain  
And over more/ to do his busy pain  
Without pity/ and no mercy show  
On small pieces/ till she be to hew  
And dismembered/ a sunder joint fro joint  
And eke that he/ foryet nat a point  
justly to punish/ by rigour and by right  
Aegisthus eke/ the false untrue knight  
And that he be nat/ slow nor negligent  
To execute/ the commandment  
Of the gods/ list what after fall  
And than Horestes/ with his knights all  
And Forensis/ the mighty king also  
Of one heart/ be to the siege go  
Of the city/ that called was Methene  
Within which/ was the false queen  
Clemestra/ god give her hard grace  
And when Horestes/ seged hath the place  
With his knights/ set it round about  
False Existus/ was Yryden out  
To gather men/ and to be a wreak  
And fall upon/ and the siege break.  
If he might/ on any manner side  
And with great stuff/ thus he 'gan to ride  
Taking up men/ from every coost  
Till he him made/ a full mighty host  
But horeste/ which at the siege lay  
His governance/ espieth day by day  
And sent out men/ as he that was full sage  
To stop ways/ and let his passage  
And made knights/ a full huge rout  
To pursue him/ every cost about  
And of the siege/ man fully begun  
By assault/ he hath the town y won  
And entrede in/ on a night full late  
And set wards/ strong at every gate  
And in a dungeon/ most strong & principal  
That was of building/ mighty and royal  
This horestes first/ his mother fond  
The queen Clemestra/ lady of that land  
Which for dread/ sore 'gan to quake  
But merciless/ anon he made her take  
And put in chains/ till the next morrow  
And Aegisthus/ god give him evil sorrow  
With all the stuff/ that he might accroche  
Toward the town/ fast 'gan approach  
In purpose full/ horestes/ for to grieve  
And them within/ suddenly relieve  
But all in sooth/ might nat avail  
For or that he/ the city might abayle  
Horestes knights/ unwarely have him met  
And all atones/ proudly on him set  
first slew his men/ & put them to the flight  
And taken him/ maugre all his might  
And with chains/ like as they him find  
Mercyles/ full fast they him bind  
And shut him up/ fettered in prysowne  
And all false/ found in the town  
That were assented/ wyning or helping  
To the murder/ of the worthy king  
Great workers/ and conspirators  
Again their lord/ rising as traitors  
An were take/ and bound by rigour  
The same night/ and shut up in a tour  
Till on the morrow/ like as the lot be draw  
everich of them/ under fonge his law  
Like his decerte/ exception was none  
And when the night/ passed was and gone  
And Phoebus/ role esswarde in his spear  
And on the tours/ shone full bright & clear  
¶ When Clemestra/ rote of all falsehood  
Was brought forth/ quaking in her dread  
Before Horestes/ to judgement yfet  
He with a sword/ sharp and keen whet  
Like as the gods/ charged him toforne  
On pieces small/ he hath her all to shorn  
And made her bear/ out of the towns bounds  
To be vouryd/ of beasts and of hounds  
pity was none/ in his breast reserved  
But quit her fully/ as she hath deserved  
Fro point to point/ and forgot right nought  
And than chained/ egistus was forth brought  
And justly dempt/ by rigour of the law  
On an herdell/ naked to be draw  
thorough the town/ that all might see  
And after/ high hanged on a tree  
For to rot and dry/ again the son  
Loo how murder/ hath his guerdon won  
Loo how falsehood/ his master can awake  
And all the traitors/ in the town ytake  
Were on gallows/ enhonged everichone  
Till they were severed/ a sunder bone fro bone  
high on an hill/ again the stars sheen  
Thus was the town/ fro treason purged clean  
And with truth/ augmented and ymoryd  
And to his reign/ Horestes full restored  
As the story sewing/ shall expone  
And of the day/ when he took his crown.   

ANd when the mist/ & every cloudy sky  
Of false treason/ and conspiracy  
Were tried out/ upon every side  
That falsehood had/ no place to abide  
The story saith/ in order rehearsing  
The same time/ Menelay the king  
Out of see/ full of wawes were  
Fro Troyewarde/ arrived was in Crete  
Freely escaped/ many dread and pain  
With his queen/ the goodly fresh Eleyne  
And for cause/ she was so famous fair  
Great was the prees/ and marvelous repair  
from every part/ her beauty to behold  
For whom Troy/ with walls nat full old  
Destroyed was/ the noble royal town  
And many man/ full worthy of renown  
Hath lost his life/ there may no man say nay  
All for Eleyne/ wife to Menelay  
When thing is done/ it may be none other  
But when this king/ knew fully of his brother  
A gamenon/ murder and everydeal  
He was full tryste/ and liked no thing weal  
But inwardly/ felt full great smart  
And his nephew/ he had also at heart  
I mean Horestes/ that so merciless  
Like a tyrant/ that were graceless  
His Modre slew/ and had no pity  
Of moral y●re/ in his cruelty  
And fully cast/ that he would belive  
Of sceptre and crown/ platly him deprive  
Full affirming/ for this hateful case  
By all law/ that he unworthy was  
His faders reign/ as heir to possede  
justly considered/ his horrible deed  
And all atones/ Furious and wroth  
Without abode/ unto ship he goeth  
melancholic/ in his great tene  
Out of Crete/ saylnge to Athene  
And took the land/ out of ships board  
¶ Where duke Nestor/ was governor & lord  
Which them receiveth/ like a gentle knight  
With all his power/ diligence and might  
But Menelaye/ of rancour/ and great heat  
'Gan with the duke/ secretly to treat  
To find a mean/ in his inward sight  
For to deprive/ Horestes of his right  
And thereupon/ to have a judgement  
At Athenes/ was hold a Parliament  
Of all the lords/ of that region  
To give thereon/ a definition  
In which was showed/ openly enough  
How Horestes/ his own mother sloughe  
And the manner/ of his great offence  
Himself though/ being in presence  
And when this thing/ he fully died espy  
For his party/ he 'gan again reply  
As he that felt/ him freely at his large  
For him alleging/ how he had in charge  
Of the gods/ shortly to declare  
His mortal sword/ that he nat ne spare  
Upon Clemestra/ root of false treason  
That slew her lord/ king Agamenon  
And the murder/ thorough her malices wrought  
Wherefore Horestes/ humbly besought  
The lords all/ with a manly heart  
Of equity/ consider and advert  
For no malice/ rancour nor for rage's  
Him to deprive/ of his heritage  
sith he was son/ of Agamenon  
Borne to be heir/ of that region  
As ye have heard/ that called was Methene  
Albe his mother/ Clemestra the queen  
compassed had/ his destruction  
But Duke Nestor/ moved of reason  
In sustaining/ of horestes right  
Rose up anon/ like a manly knight  
Offering himself/ proudly for his sake  
This high quarrel/ for to undertake  
With his body/ to the death dareign  
With whom that list/ his title to withseyne  
But there was none/ in all that company  
That durst a word/ again him reply  
So hole he stood/ in his opinion  
And by his knightly/ mediation  
He bore him so/ feigning in no thing  
That Horestes/ was ycrowned king  
Of Meneste/ all being of assent  
And when dissolved/ was the Parliament  
This Horestes/ of his lieges true  
received was/ with a crown new  
And by treat/ of lords many one  
King Menelay/ and he/ were made atone  
And 'gan their Ire/ and their rancourelete  
And wynchelsee/ the worthy king of Crete  
So prudently/ governeth this matter  
That hermyone/ the young daughter dear  
Of Menelay/ and the queen Eleyne  
So young so fresh/ of beauty sovereign  
Yweddyd was/ without more tarrying  
To Horestes/ the new lusty king  
And because/ of this alliance  
devoided was/ all rancour and distance  
atween the kings/ Menelay the old  
And horestes/ of whom right now I told  
Thus leave I them/ as it was the best  
Each in his reign/ live in peace and rest  
For all strife/ was ceased in this case  
But Erygona/ that the daughter was  
Of Aegisthus/ as ye have heard me tell  
For sorrow and dread/ list no longer dwell  
But took a rope/ and list no thing to spare  
And therewithal/ 'gan herself to gnare  
The story saith/ high upon a tree  
This was her fine/ ye get no more of me  
But I will forth/ seriously entreat  
Of the story/ to tell you the great.   

OVlixes by order/ in my writing  
Thine adventures/ come on the ring  
Full wonderful/ both on land & see  
intermeddled/ with great adversity  
For Guydo first/ descryving thy repair  
Saith how thou found/ weder foul & fair  
Now agreeable/ now the thunder sown  
Now still and smooth/ now with clwdes frown  
And saith also/ that thou didst ordain  
To thy passage/ mighty ships twain  
appareled/ all for merchandise  
That thou mightest/ in most secret wise  
Every mischief/ of the see escape  
¶ But for all that/ thou hadst a fell jape  
For as this Author/ thy resort doth write  
He saith Vlixes/ for all his words white  
Yrobbed was/ of richesse and of good  
contrarious wind/ so again him stood  
That he was drive/ to his confusion  
Into the mighty/ strong region  
Where Thelamon/ reigned by his live  
And there he was/ hent and take belive  
¶ By mighty hand/ seized by the breast  
And merciless/ put under arrest  
For they him had/ suspect in working  
touching the murder/ of the same king  
But he so wrought/ by his sleighty wile  
And his tale/ set in such a style  
That them all/ he plainly hath be iaped  
And fro their hand/ freely is escaped  
Except that he/ for all his quaint fare  
Of his treasure/ was maked full bare  
And for his passage/ was to him uncouth  
He fill again/ into the wolves mouth  
For verily/ as it is specified  
King Naulus men/ have him eft espied  
Take and bound/ and chained merciless  
For the murder/ of king Pallamydes  
But the story rehearseth/ in certain  
By his prudence/ he scaped is again  
For he was both/ expert wise and old  
All though the manner/ be nat fully told  
Of his escape/ thorough his busy pain  
Out of danger/ of these kings twain  
Till through Fortune/ he came fro mischief free  
To the presence/ of king ydume  
In simple array/ and torn apparel  
Whereof the king/ greatly 'gan marvel  
Tose his povert/ in so low manner  
But for all that/ he made him good cheer  
Though that time/ he were infortunate  
He him receiveth/ like to his estate  
And when they were/ both twain alone  
In complaining/ Vlixes made his moan  
Unto the king/ as he that was full sage  
seriously/ the sort of his passage  
With face sad/ and a sober cheer  
Fro point to point/ anon as ye shall here  
My lord quoth he/ shortly to express  
Of trust I have/ in your gentilesse  
I shall to you/ mine adventures all  
Rehearse here/ right as it is fall.   

first when that I/ Troy land forsook  
And the water/ with my ships took  
I was anon/ with wind peaceable blow  
To an y●le/ which was to me vnknowe  
Called Mirma/ of great hab●●daunce  
And all thing/ that was to my pleasance  
That may for silver/ or for gold be bought  
I ready found/ and wanted right nought  
And there abode/ full long while in joy  
With the treasure/ that I got at Troy  
My ships stuffed/ my men hole and sound  
And for commodity/ of that ilk gounde  
We liked so/ the country environ  
That for disport/ and recreation  
Our tarrying there/ we thought nat full long  
For no man died/ unto us no wrong  
Till on a day/ that the eyer was still  
The wind also/ fully at our will  
We sailed forth/ in quiet and in pees  
Unto a port/ called Claustafages  
Wherewith my main/ long and many day  
I found all thing/ according to my pay  
The weather lusly/ agreeable and fair  
But who may trust/ either in wind or air  
For upon faith/ of the smooth sky  
Again to ship/ fast I 'gan me high  
Tarried nought/ but took anon the see  
Smooth and calm/ enduring days three  
That in the weder/ found was no lack  
But suddenly/ the heaven turneth black  
The hideous tempest/ and the wawes green  
Out of hope/ have me despaired clean  
Troubled my spirit/ and made me so pensive  
Without refute/ to escape with the life  
Tossyd and driven/ by many sundry isle  
Till at the last/ caste up at Cecyle  
Recuring land/ with great annoy & pain  
Where that time reigned/ kings twain  
And as I can/ remebre doubtless  
The tone of them/ called Sorygenes  
Which unto me/ full contrarious was  
And the t'other/ named Coclopas'  
brethren of birth/ and in conclusion  
alike cruel/ of condition  
For though my sort/ had shape for the nonce  
Both twain/ fill on me atones  
Oppressing/ in full great distress  
spoiled my ships/ of treasure and richesse  
And for pity/ liked nat to spare  
Till I was left/ destitute and bare  
Of all my good alas/ my mortal chance  
And most of all/ was to me grievance  
When of my gold/ they may no more restrain  
They sent down/ their mighty sons twain  
Alypham/ that was full large and long  
And Polypheme/ the mighty giant strong  
Which on my men/ to avenge them were so fain  
That they of them/ have an hundred slain  
disarrayed/ to stand at diffence  
And of malice/ with sudden violence  
They took me/ for mischief almost lost  
And Alphenor/ mine own brother sworn  
And hatefully/ as they have us found  
In chains cast/ and in stocks bound  
And after that/ ylocked in prison  
And for to make/ platly mention  
This mighty man/ this great Polypheme  
A sister had/ shortly for to dame  
One of the fairest/ that ever yet was borne  
She might in beauty/ so beset aforne  
Nature her gave/ such a prerogative  
A clean maid/ soothly and no wife  
flowering both/ in fairness & bounty  
Whom Alphenor/ when he died see  
Albe he was/ fettered in prison  
For love he lost/ wit and eke reason  
And wax all mad/ so narrow she did him bind  
Save upon her/ always was his mind  
And closed aye/ was his perilous wound  
And six months/ thus we lay bound  
Both he and I/ to say the plat truth  
Till Polypheme/ had upon us ●outhe  
And thorough his grace/ and mediation  
He quit us free/ out of that prison  
And showed us/ of mercy and pity  
After our sorrow/ great humanity  
But Alphenor/ ylyke of one intent  
Was with the bronde/ of cupid brent  
And felt his part/ with many mortal fit  
Till he so wrought/ with his subtle wit  
That on a night/ who was leef or loath  
He stolen this maid/ and his way he goth  
thorough help of men/ with him at that time  
But on the morrow/ at the hour of prime  
Polyphemus/ 'gan us for to sew  
Whose mighty hand/ we might nat eschew  
And such assault/ on us they 'gan make  
That of force/ they have the maid take  
From Alphenor/ mauge all his rage  
And Polypheme/ unto my damage  
With his knights/ so sore upon me lay  
That I might/ uneath scape away  
To save myself/ compassed environ  
To death pursued/ of that champion  
But when I saw/ there was no other gain  
To i'll the death/ shortly for to say  
While this giant/ most freesly on me set  
With my sword/ out his eye I smette  
And unto ship/ with my company  
I fled in haste/ that no man might espy  
¶ Where I be came/ nor Alphenor my fere  
And when the wawes/ 'gan for to clear  
And gracious wind/ 'gan to us a wake  
That country/ we have anon forsake  
It was nat wholesome/ for us to abide  
¶ But of this man/ like as writ Ovid  
Polyphemus/ the giant out of dread  
Had an eye/ amid of his forehead  
Which ulixes/ smote out at a stroke  
And like the brows/ of a branched oak  
Was all his here/ and his long beard  
On whom to look/ children were afeard  
And when that he/ had lost his sight  
Among the hills/ he runneth day and night  
In a rage to find/ him some refuge  
Cast rocks/ and great stones huge  
On every part/ environ the country  
On Vlixes/ avenged for to be  
Thus saith Ovid/ in conclusion  
In his book/ of transformation  
Methamorphoseos'/ there ye may it see  
When so ever/ that your leisure be  
Ce●yously/ the story for to read  
And in writing/ forth I will proceed  
How ulixes/ with face deed and pale  
To ydumee/ told forth his tale  
Reversing thus/ supprysed and awaked  
Fro Polypheme/ when we were escaped  
thorough our unhap/ and infelycyte  
Into an isle/ mids of the see  
We were drive/ when it 'gan to night  
And Elodium/ that little kingdom height  
¶ Where that Circe's/ the great enchaunteresse  
Thilk time/ was Lady and goddess  
Th●● could her craft/ so wonderly perform  
All suddenly/ a man for to transform  
To have the likeness/ and lose his reason  
Of horse/ of bear/ Tiger or lion  
Wolf/ or fox/ or what her list devise  
Her dreadful craft/ was shapen in such wise  
So mighty were/ her strange potions  
Her letuaryes/ and confections  
And she also/ so fair upon to see  
That fro her power/ no man might i'll  
For by the work/ of this sorceress  
I was so founcyd/ upon her fairness  
That finally/ thus with me it stood  
That all a year/ I with her abode  
And plainly had/ power none nor might  
For to depart/ nouther day nor night  
So lusty was/ the life that I lad  
In which time/ by me a child she had  
Right inly fair/ and goodly to the sight  
And Thelagonyus/ in soothness he height  
Which afterward/ I well rehearse can  
By process/ wax a manly man  
And by my sotyle secret/ providence  
Of her craft/ I had experience  
That maugre/ her enchantments old  
I stolen away/ she might me nat hold  
And finally/ my fate to conclude  
With my cunning/ her craft I 'gan delude  
That with my men/ I scaped fro her hand  
And went at large fire/ out of her land  
But all this thing/ me little did avail  
For on my way/ as I 'gan to sail  
For all my sleyghte/ in a little while  
Yblowe was up/ into an isle  
¶ Where Calypha/ sister to Circe's  
Was crowned queen/ & held her sceptre in pees  
Whose crafts were/ so mighty and so strong  
Maugre my will/ she held me there full long  
But she in sooth/ to speak of womanhead  
Of bounty freedom/ and of goodlihead  
Surely had/ so sovereign excellence  
That mine abode/ to me was none offence  
But who so ever/ there at cry or clap  
At the last/ I scaped/ fro her trap  
And came to an Isle/ right as any line  
Which specially/ thorough high power divine  
Ordained is/ of yore by miracle  
As it were/ a spiritual oracle  
A man to have/ in a temple there  
Sudden answer/ of what him list inquire  
Of questions/ and demands all  
And of souls/ what shall eke befall  
When men are deed/ and graven understone  
And I 'gan axe/ in the temple anon  
Mine adventures/ that should after sew  
And where a man/ might his fate eschew  
And of all this/ like to mine intent  
I had answer/ full convenient  
Save what befalleth/ when a soul is gone  
definition/ unto me was none  
Such thing to assoil/ accordeth nat to right  
It is reserved/ unto gods might  
And exceedeth reason/ and wit of man  
And fro thence/ forth to sail I 'gan  
driven with wind/ and no part succoured  
Where I was like/ to have be devoured  
Of Karybdes/ with his profound well  
Where Syrenes'/ Meremaydenes dwell  
That fro the breast/ with scales silver sheen  
Be of their shape/ fishes fresh and clean  
And over more/ kind doth compass  
Them to appear/ Femynyne of face  
Like virgins/ that were of nature  
Without spot/ undefouled pure  
And of custom/ in wawes as they fleet  
The song of them/ is to heavenly sweet  
So Aungelyke/ and full of harmony  
That verily/ the sugared melody  
Ravysshe would/ any man a live  
Of inly joy/ almost his heart rive  
Make a man/ of sudden high pleasance  
Foryet himself/ and lose his remembrance  
devoid him clean/ from his own thought  
Till unwarely/ he be to mischief brought  
And with their song/ or he take keep  
He shall be brought/ in a mortal sleep  
And they anon/ it may nat be withdraw  
Will drench his ship/ low under the wawe  
Thus the sweetness/ of their heavenly sown  
Bringeth a man/ to confusyowne  
Who so ever/ by their bounds pass  
¶ But with the life/ I scaped by grace  
For mine ears/ with wax & gums clear  
Were stopped so/ that I ne might here  
touch nor werble/ of their instrumentis  
Whereby the reason/ of a man blinded is  
And finally/ thorough my sotylte  
I and my men/ be escaped fire  
Sailing forth/ all mate of weariness  
Till we came up/ with full great distress  
At Phenyce/ and took anon the land  
Cast anchor/ and our ships bond  
But soothly there/ it fill us full unfair  
For the people/ cruel and contrary  
only of malice/ fill on me anon  
And slew my men/ almost everichone  
treasure and good/ little that I had  
Was me bereft/ & all with them they lad  
And few of them/ that were left a live  
They took them/ and put in prison belive  
Thus hath Fortune/ lad me an her dance  
With little joy/ and plenty of mischance  
Of whose danger/ learned and expert  
I am fall in mychefe/ and poverty  
And with great dole/ & sorrow full my breast  
On see and land/ by south and not by east  
I am come/ unto your presence  
And have declared/ plainly in sentence  
Mine adventures/ to your worthiness  
Of trust only/ and of faithfulness  
That I have to you/ in special  
And now I have/ rehearsed and told all  
To your highness/ and my best wise  
Without more/ to me it doth suffice  
And though in heart/ he was constrained sore  
Thilk time/ Vlixes/ spoke no more  
But held his peace/ full heavy in looking  
And Ydumeus/ like a gentle king  
Comforted him/ all that ever he might  
And busy was/ his heart for to light  
And him besought/ his heaviness let  
And as long/ as him list in Crete  
With him abide/ he made him surety  
He should far/ also well as he  
And nat want/ of what may do him ease  
And when his sorrow/ some what 'gan appease  
That his cage/ drew unto an end  
Leave he took/ and said he would wend  
Out of tha● land/ home to his country  
But first the king/ of freedom and bounty  
Gave unto him/ great richesse and array  
And what so ever/ was to his pay  
Gold treasure/ and many other things  
And at parting/ of these two kings  
There were/ ships/ when him list to sail  
Ready stuffed/ with main and victual  
And thus ulixes/ 'gan him ready make  
And when he hath/ his leave fully take  
He hasted him/ and took anon the see  
And 'gan sail/ toward his country  
But first he went/ to king Alphenon  
Which passingly/ had affection  
To see ulixes/ at his home coming  
And desirous/ over all thing  
To have of him/ newly aqueyntaunce  
For unto him/ was inly great pleasance  
To hear him talk/ for his eloquence  
For his wisdom/ and his high prudence  
And there he was/ after all his smart  
received plainly/ with as glad an heart  
As ever yet/ was any manner man  
sithen time/ that the world began.  
And to increase/ of his Felycytee  
There heard he first/ of Penolopee  
His true wife/ without spot of blame  
Of whom yet green/ is the noble fame  
Which from her lord/ for all his long absence  
In thought nor deed/ never died offence  
But soothly was/ both in cheer and deed  
thorough out Grece/ example of womanhead  
And yet was she/ as books list express  
thorough out the world/ mirror of fairness  
And among Greeks/ borne of highest blood  
Called of auctors/ both fair and good  
And yet say books/ of her doutlees  
Was never none/ that had so great prees  
But she her kept/ changing for no new  
Unto her lord/ ever ylyke true  
Of heart aye one/ nat parted into twain  
That she is called/ queen and sovereign  
Of wifely truth/ in this books old  
And oft I find/ her heart would cold  
She turn pale/ fro her lord so far  
In her closet/ to here of the were  
Of dread she had/ and fro fere eke quake  
Of fantasies/ for her lords sake  
For his absence/ both eve and morrow  
Was death unto her/ and importable sorrow  
And aye in sooth/ for joy or any game  
When it fill/ she heard Ectors' name  
In any place anon/ she fill a swoon  
And 'gan herself/ in tears drown  
Of womanhead/ so she was a feared  
To here the slaughter/ of his mortal sword  
list her lord/ of knightly surquedy  
Had of Fortune/ fall in jeopardy  
Of hap or sort/ to a met the worthy knight  
That seld or never/ she felt her heart light  
And many dream/ a nights died her gast  
All the while/ that the siege last  
And every play/ was venom in her sight  
When that she was/ from her own knight  
For in this world/ joy had she none  
Of high nor low/ plainly but of one  
For whose sake/ all mirth she refuseth  
And who so be/ that in his heart museth  
Of any woman/ any thing but good  
Of melancholy/ moved in his blood  
Let him advert/ of wisdom and ysee  
And remember/ on Penolopee  
For his decert/ list that he be blamed  
And o Guydo/ thou shouldest be ashamed  
To say of wives/ any thing but we'll  
For in good faith/ as far as I can feel  
Though one or two/ do among offence  
She that is good/ thorough her providence  
Is thereof/ no thing for to wite  
And though Guydo/ in his book indite  
The variance/ of Eleyne/ or Creseyde  
Or Medea/ that for sorrow deyde  
Let the again/ of right and equytee  
The wifely truth/ of Penolopee  
The maidenhead/ of young Polycene  
And the goodness/ of Eccuba the queen  
Of Cassandra eke/ the stedefastnesse  
And with all this/ take the kindness  
Of Pantasylle/ without variance  
And put all this/ together in balance  
And ye shall find/ if ye list account  
Maugre who grudgeth/ troth shall surmount  
I dare affirm/ and bear away the prise  
There will no man/ reply that is wise  
He were to feeble/ in his opinion  
And while ulixes/ was with Alphenon  
It was to him/ made relation  
Of an hateful/ conspiration  
That certain lords/ environ his country  
Bavysshe wold●/ his queen Penolopee  
Maugre all though/ that were there again  
Albe that she was/ ever ylyke plain  
In her truth/ steadfast as a wall  
Yet they have cast/ platly that she shall  
Be take of Force/ it may nat be eschewed  
But if so be/ in haste she be rescued  
For they them cast/ the time nat aiourne  
For day and night/ with her they sojourn  
Inly in heart/ for love disamayde  
But of wisdom/ she hath them so delayed  
That there was none/ so manly nor so sage  
That could of her/ get advantage  
So advise she was/ in her working  
And when ulixes/ conceiveth all this thing  
And fully knew/ by open evidence  
And had also/ in special credence  
Sent unto him/ fro Penolopee  
The matter hole/ declaring in secretee  
His own son/ Thelamonyus  
He wax in heart/ would and Furious  
And would make/ no dilation  
But in all haste/ besought Alphenon  
The mighty king/ of his high bounty  
To relieve him/ in his adversity  
And that he would/ thorough his mighty hand  
Of gentilesse/ convey him to his land  
He granteth him/ and say nat one's nay  
And both two/ in full great array  
Took the see/ when the wind was good  
Well fortuned/ for no thing them withstood  
They be arrived/ and had no letting  
Where ulixes/ as ye have herd was king  
And secretly in a night/ they were conveyed  
To them that have/ his lygaunce disobeyed  
And merciless/ or they might awake  
In their beds/ they have them all take  
Making no prolonging/ till the morrow  
But in all hast/ for no wight durst them borrow  
Smette of their hedes/ by judgement final  
And set them upon/ the castle wall  
everich by other/ endelonge the row  
Upon the tour/ when the kocke 'gan crow  
And thus all night/ they kept themself close  
Till that Phoebus/ merrily arose  
In the Orient/ when the lark song  
And though these kings/ with their main strong  
freshly beseen/ enter the Cytee  
¶ Who was though glad/ but Penolopee  
Who made joy/ but this goodly queen  
Full desirous/ her own lord to seen  
But if I should/ all in order set  
The great mirth/ they made when they met  
Make rehearsal/ of complaints old  
And how they 'gan/ their hearts to unfold  
Each to other/ and list no thing conceal  
And the gladness/ that they inly feel  
If I should/ put all in memory  
The rejoicing/ and the heartily glory  
That his lieges/ made at his coming  
The costs eke/ they had at his meeting  
The gifts great/ and presents rich  
In all this world/ It cow none ylyche  
It were to long tarrying/ for my book  
And how that he/ new assurance took  
Of his lords/ and lieges all  
And how that they/ to his grace fall  
The cheer he made/ eke to Alphenowne  
Of gentilesse/ thorough his high renown  
And how the daughter/ inly debonair  
Of Alphenon/ Nausica the fair  
By ulixes/ mediation  
Yweddyd was/ unto Thelamon  
Borne by descent/ there may no man say nay  
To rejoice his crown/ after his day  
And thus came in/ by his purveyance  
Of two reigns/ the mighty alliance  
And how all this/ brought was to the knot  
Men would dame/ plainly me to sot  
To presume/ of opinion  
For to delate/ a description  
sithen Guydo/ touching but the chief  
In this matter of style/ was but brief  
Shortly rehearsing/ how king Alphenon  
repaired is/ home to his region  
And ulixes/ in his chief Cytee  
Abode still/ with Penolopee  
Where I him leave/ in joy and in solace  
Till Antropos/ liketh to purchase  
For to Fychche/ finally the date  
The thread to untwine/ of his lives fate.    

¶ How the translator writeth the stock of Pyrrus by lyncall dyscent/ and how his father height peleus's/ & his graunmoder called Thetydes. Capitulo xxxvij.  

NOw must I full busy be a while  
To direct/ the traces of my style  
In descryving/ shortly of intent  
The stock of pyrgus/ by lineal descent  
Mine Author follow/ and be compendious  
¶ Whose old father/ height peleus  
His graunmoder/ called Therydes  
Of which two/ came worthy Achilles  
That at Troy/ by treason lost his life  
And Dardanyca/ called was his wife  
Pyrrus mother/ and daughter as I read  
Unto the king/ called linseed  
Having a father that Acastus height  
Which in soothness/ all that ever he might  
Bare heavy heart/ to king peleus  
To Achilles/ and also to Pyrrus  
To all the kin/ plainly on that side  
And of malice/ rancour and of pride  
And of envy in an hateful rage  
¶ When peleus's/ salie was in age  
He bereft him/ both sceptre and crown  
And from his see/ low a light him down  
And into exile/ avail way no strife  
He made him go/ with Thetydes his wife  
Of high disdain/ gain may no grace  
And in his heart/ 'gan day and night compass  
The death of Pyrrus/ keep him if he can  
And thereupon/ maliciously began  
To shape away/ by await lying  
Him for to slay/ at his home coming  
¶ But this Pyrrus/ from his treynes' free  
Many danger/ escaped of the see  
Many wawe/ and many tempest wooed  
With great loss/ both of men and good  
At Malasus/ alder first 'gan land  
A strong city/ a little fro the strand  
Where that he was/ refreshed wonder weal  
And there he knew/ ground and everydeal  
first of Thexyle/ like as men him told  
Of Therydes'/ and peleus the old  
And how Atastus/ bare to him hatred  
Unto the death/ whereof he 'gan dread  
And thought he would/ as he that was right wise  
By some engine/ eschew his malyse  
And thereupon/ do his busy pain  
Nowhadde Atastus/ other sons twain  
Menalyppus/ and Polystenes  
And adoughter/ called Thetydes  
And all this while/ woeful peleus  
In a Castle old/ and ruinous  
With Thetydes/ full of sorrow and care  
For dread of death/ day and night 'gan dare  
Disespeyred/ in his unwieldy age  
Recure to find/ of this mortal rage  
Except that he had/ an hope of yore  
That Pyrrus/ should help him and restore  
At his repair/ when so that it fall  
After whose coming/ often he 'gan call  
The time curse/ that he so long abode  
But when Pyrrus/ all this understood  
At Malasus/ by relacyowne  
Full fast he 'gan/ haste out of the town  
Took the see/ and fast 'gan him high  
Toward the land/ called thessaly  
Ofentent/ to make ordinance  
On Atastus/ for to do vengeance  
But alderfirste/ this Pyrrus full prudent  
Espies twain/ he tofore hath sent  
To thessaly/ forth together gone  
And Crylyppus/ called was the tone  
And Adastrus/ named was his fere  
They were expert/ them needeth nat to lere  
In whose expleyte/ to more advantage  
This Pyrrus hath/ direct his massage  
Of thessaly/ to a Cyteseyne  
Called Assandrus/ a manner chaumberleyne  
With peleus's/ and whilom full secree  
While he was/ flowering in Felycytee  
And when Pyrrus/ in conclusion  
knew all the sooth/ by relation  
On see/ nor land/ him ne list to tarry  
Albe that he/ found the wind contrary  
¶ But he ●●caped/ many dreadful stounds  
Of thessaly/ approacheth to the bounds  
For Aeolus/ that his lust obeyed  
And of Fortune/ wonderly conveyed  
He driven was/ as it were by grace  
To aryue/ in the same place  
Where peleus/ in a doleful cave  
For dread of death/ lay himself to save  
Sool save his wife/ withouten any feries  
All enclosed/ with husshes and with briars  
And Pyrrus/ there went up first to sonde  
Sool by himself/ walking on the strand  
pensive and tryste/ and his way took  
¶ Where peleus/ in the cave quoke  
Having with him/ though none other guide  
Save his sword/ hanging by his side  
And vnwarely/ with a dreadful heart  
peleus/ out of the cave start  
Disamayde/ of his life in doubt  
When he beheld a knight/ there walk about  
And atoned/ abode/ and stood full still  
imagining/ that he saw Achylle  
¶ By this Pyrrus/ standing in the place  
By all the signs/ showed in his face  
For nature/ without variance  
Made them so like/ of cheer and countenance  
Of form/ of shape/ and limbs everichone  
That difference/ in effect was none  
And peleus/ without longer space  
'Gan anon Pyrrus/ to embrace  
And abraid out/ of his deadly thought  
And for joy/ set all his sorrow at nought  
And 'gan to him/ by and by declare  
Both his exile/ and his evil far  
His piteous life/ his poverty and mischance  
And Fortunes/ false variance  
And of Atastus/ the fervent hoot envy  
The cruelty/ and the Tyranny  
seriously/ he told Pyrrus all  
And he full sober/ stood still as a wall  
With face pale/ and in heart wroth  
speechless/ to ship again he goeth  
And there he was/ informed doubtless  
That Menalyppus/ and Polystenes  
And Atastus/ together/ all three  
With huge array/ and a great main  
The same day/ full surquedous of pride  
Hunt in a Forest/ little there beside  
And when Pyrrus/ thereof took good heed  
Without abode/ change 'gan his weed  
Full poorly rend/ and disarrayed  
Like a man/ that were for thought dismayed  
girt with his sword/ made no delay  
But to the forest/ took the right way  
Sool by himself/ without company  
So secretly/ that no man might espy  
And as he drowghe/ many diverse bounds  
He heard horns/ uncoupling of hounds  
And like a man/ that list make his moan  
Fro sight of folk/ he drew him aye alone  
And casually/ dissevered fro the prees  
first he met/ with Polystenes  
Menalyppus/ riding by his side  
And both two/ on Pyrrus 'gan abide  
And boistously/ of him to inquire  
Fro whence he came/ & also what he were  
So feebly clad/ and of so poor estate  
Walking there/ as he were desolate  
And lowly he/ of cheer and countenance  
Still and humble/ in his dalliance  
answered again/ and said how that he  
Fordyven was/ with mischief of the see  
And affirmed pale/ and no thing read  
His fellowship/ drowned was and deed  
five hundred/ the wawes were so rage  
Of old and young/ and of meddle age  
And he escaped/ the tempest was so rife  
As he them told/ uneath with the life  
And over more/ he told them platly eke  
touching his birth/ that he was a greek  
And went there/ destytur of joy  
Late come/ fro the siege of Troy  
And besought them/ toward his living  
To help him/ with some refreshing  
As him that had/ cattles lost and good  
Like as they saw/ naked how he stood  
praying also in hope/ it should avail  
Him to relieve/ with clothing or victual  
To his refute/ somewhat to provide  
And they had him/ that he should abide  
For they will wit/ plainly what he can  
And that while/ beside them there ran  
A full great heart/ down by the river  
And Menalyppus/ pricked his courser  
As it sempte/ it was to him dew  
thorough thin/ and thick only to pursue  
He spareth nat/ but always after road  
And his brother/ with Pyrrus still abode  
Polystenes/ and took of it no heed  
But in all haste/ alight fro his stead  
On the green/ to rest him there beside  
As he that was/ weary for to ride  
Without main/ being himself sool  
Lys●ynge of Pyrrus/ the complaint & the dool  
But suddenly/ or he might advert  
Cruel Pyrrus/ ran him to the heart  
And left him deed/ lying on the plain  
When Menalyppus/ repeyred was again  
saying his brother/ baskyn in his blood  
And Pyrrus eft/ furious and wood  
With a face/ of colour pale and wan  
To Menalyppus/ in his ire ran  
And slew him eke/ or that he took heed  
And thus they lay/ on the ground and bleed  
The brethren two/ with Pyrrus sword yslawe  
And he anon/ aside 'gan him draw  
Meeting aknyght/ were it of sort or case  
As saith the story/ called Cynaras  
Of whom Pyrrus/ 'gan in haste inquire  
Whose man he was/ or what he did there  
And he answered/ and made no tarrying  
He was servant/ with the mighty king  
Called Atastus/ lord of that country  
And Pyrrus though/ of deadly enmity  
With cruel sword/ all fresh & read of blood  
Ran him thorough out/ as any Lion wood  
And after that/ the forest he forsook  
And in all haste/ the right way he took  
To ship again/ pale and black of hew  
And 'gan anon/ to array him new  
All in purple/ which as clerks tells  
Is for kings/ and for no wight else  
And than Pyrrus/ fresh and well deseyne  
To the forest/ repeyred is again  
Where suddenly/ of hap in his walking  
In short while/ he met with the king  
old Atastus/ that asked of Pyrrus  
What man art thou/ that by thyself thus  
Walkyst thus here/ all day to and fro  
Certes quoth Pyrrus/ full of sorrow & woe  
Inly surprised/ of heartily complaining  
One of the sons/ of Priamus the king  
I was whilom/ now put out of memory  
When that Troy/ flowered in his glory  
Now refutles/ into mischief brought  
I walk sool/ full of care and thought  
For in exile/ out of Troy town  
With cruel Pyrrus/ to live in prysowne  
Bound unto him/ though me be full loath  
My hand assured/ with many full great oath  
To obey his lust/ in captivity  
Loo: here is all/ thus it standeth with me  
Atastus though/ of intention  
After many/ other question  
inquired of him/ in his dalliance  
If he knew/ aught of Pyrrus governance  
Or if that he/ could aught understand  
Where he him kept/ sith he came to land  
iwis quoth he/ if ye list him have  
He keepeth him close/ in yonder cave  
Among bruskayle/ with a shrouded face  
Making a sign/ to the same place  
And all was done/ for an idle maze  
For while the king/ thitherward 'gan gaze  
Hasty Pyrrus/ 'gan his sword out draw  
In purpose fully/ Atastus' to have slawe  
But wonderly/ the story can you lere  
Queen Thetydes/ died anon appear  
All be rained/ with tears on her face  
And 'gan the sword/ of Pyrrus to embrace  
praying him/ his deadly hand restrain  
Hast thou nat slain/ my young brethren twain  
And now alas/ my father hoar and grey  
Mercyles/ fro me wilt take away  
Put up the sword/ and no blood ne shed  
And have pity/ upon thy kindred  
And advert clearly/ to the fine  
How thou art come/ of the same line  
And hateful is/ who look a right  
Unkind blood/ in every man's sight  
And Pyrrus though/ as any Tiger wroth  
'Gan affirm/ with many full great oath  
That who so grudge/ or against plain  
He shall him slay/ with his hands twain  
For hath nat he/ by false extorsyon  
Put peleus/ out of his region  
Which is your lord/ and ye his true wife  
That finally/ he shall lose his life  
And here anon/ of mine hands die  
In this matter/ there is no more to say  
But peleus/ daring in the cave  
Of grace only/ list his life to save  
All other help/ platly is for nought  
And peleus's/ was anon forth brought  
Crooked and old/ unwieldy eke to see  
And tofore Pyrrus/ fill down on his kn●  
beseeching him/ with apyteous face  
At his request/ take him to grace  
And that he would/ in his manly heart  
Goodly consider/ the deadly woe and smart  
Of Atastus/ and the mortal pain  
That he had/ for his sons twain  
Which lay deed/ tofore him on the green  
Slain with your sword/ that is so sharp & keen  
Which he ne may/ recure in no wise  
The sorrow of which/ aught enough suffice  
Though ye on him/ do no more vengeance  
All this poised/ justly in balance  
sith he is wholly/ submitted to your might  
Take now him/ to mercy anon right  
And let your sword/ his age nat consume  
This my request/ as I dare presume.   

ANd than Pyrrus/ shortly for to say  
When he had/ put up his sword again  
saying mercy/ might most avail  
Without words/ or any rehearsal  
first of all/ tofore them everichone  
The kings made/ accord into one  
By his wisdom/ concluding up in deed  
That each of them/ should his right possede  
In thessaly/ parted into twain  
That neither had/ matter to complain  
everich to reign/ in his dew see  
And while they were/ together all three  
Out of presence/ of any other man  
Atastus first/ thus his tale began  
Sires quoth he/ to you is nat vnknowe  
How thorough age/ now I am brought low  
And thorough natures/ kindly motion  
Am waxed feeble/ of wit and reason  
Being unwieldy/ of my limbs all  
So many years/ be upon me fall  
And can uneath/ any thing discern  
To feeble in sooth/ a kingdom to govern  
Of life nor death/ taking now no heed  
sith my sons/ slain be and deed  
And sool left/ now without heir  
Of worldly lust/ fully in despair  
The time passed/ of my felicity  
Fortunes turn/ with mutability  
Hath taught me/ plainly I dare it well express  
In worldly joy/ is no sickerness  
Nor very trust/ no while to abide  
But I will now/ for myself provide  
And in all haste/ by prudent purveyance  
Me discharge/ of all governance  
Again my sort/ me list nat malign  
But sceptre/ and crown freely I resign  
Of thessaly/ lordship and eke land  
Of my fire will/ hole into thy hand  
There shall no man/ reclaim nor say nay  
Interupte/ nor make no delay  
touching this thing/ by no collusion  
For I the put/ in possession  
And hereupon/ of all that ever he said  
Making full faith/ his hand in his he laid  
Queen Thetydes/ sitting there present  
And peleus/ of the same intent  
Unto Pyrrus/ for his purpartye  
resigned eke/ his right of thessaly  
Fully affirming/ that of yore ago  
His full desire/ and his joy also  
Was ever in one/ his nephew to succeed  
As rightful heir/ his kingdom to possede  
And utterly/ without repentance  
All that longeth/ unto my legiance  
Sceptre and sword/ crown and diadem  
So as a king/ life and death to dame  
Into thy hand/ without longer date  
This same hour/ holy to translate  
And when the knot/ of this convention  
Was fully brought/ to conclusion  
Performed up/ hole the unity  
For evermore/ atwene these kings three.  
Atastus' knights/ dissevered environ  
Out of the forest/ be descended down  
And by bidding/ platly of their lord  
They were eachone/ sworn to this accord  
And atones/ this lusty company  
To thessaly/ fast 'gan them high  
And Pyrrus/ folk lying on the see  
Be sailed forth/ straight to the city  
And Atastus/ doth set a Parliament  
Where openly/ he gave commandment  
That all his lieges/ of high or low estate  
Without strife/ or any more debate  
specially/ of gentle blood yborn  
The same day/ to Pyrrus to be sworn  
Like their degrees/ in the royal hall  
To persevere/ his true lieges all  
During their life/ for earnest or for game  
And peleus/ commandeth hath the same  
For his party/ without any fraud  
And thus with joy/ and solemn laud  
Pyrrus was/ of every manner age  
Gladly/ accepted/ to his heritage  
And on a day/ fortunate and good  
With glad aspectis/ when the heaven stood  
Well according/ to such manner thing  
Worthy Pyrrus/ was ycrowned king  
Of thessaly/ the rich region  
It were but vain/ to make mention  
Of their revel/ nor their great array  
Nor of the feste/ made the same day  
Eke in the story/ I find it not in sooth  
I will pass over/ as mine Author doth  
Save in his book/ it is specefyed  
That the kingdom/ was fer magnified  
Of thessaly/ by great might  
Of this Pyrrus/ whilom so good a knight  
Where I see him/ in his royal see  
turning again/ to king ydumee  
Which in this while/ was grave under stone  
And after him/ his sone Meryone  
The story saith/ was crowned king of Crete  
But a while/ reigning in equity  
He died also/ it would be none other  
And than in haste/ Leorica his Brother  
As rightful heir/ by succession  
Was crowned king/ of that region  
In which time/ Atastus' out of dread  
By the assent/ of Pyrrus as I read  
Full busy was/ to make in special  
A rich tomb/ passingly royal  
Where buried were/ with full huge prees  
Menalyppus/ and Polystenes  
Both two/ in the forest slawe  
thorough Pyrrus sword/ by full cruel law  
Of them/ can I/ none other process make  
But even there/ fully my tale I take  
Of them both/ and also eke yfere  
Of Atastus'/ their own father dear  
Of whom soothly/ for all his locks door  
In Troy book/ read I can no more  
¶ But now must I/ again to Pyrrus wend  
To write of him/ the sorry woeful end  
Which when he sat/ highest in his see  
Made full blind/ with vain prosperity  
Governing/ the land of thessaly  
He falsely fill/ on a fantasy  
To set his love/ on Hermyon the queen  
Horestes wife/ reigning in Methene  
For whom he brent/ hot as any fire  
And in fulfilling/ of his foul desire  
His purpose hole/ thus he brought about  
Her ravishing/ while her lord was out  
Lad her home/ and held her as his wife  
Seeming to him/ it was a blissful life  
And full release/ of his pains smart  
Of which/ Horestes bore full heavy heart  
And caste him plainly/ avenged for to be  
When he may/ have opportunyte  
For that time/ though he had wrong  
He was to feeble/ and Pyrrus was to strong  
¶ Which held also/ in story it is told  
Andronomecha/ with him in household  
Ectors' wife/ by whom whilom she had  
A lytell child/ which with her she lad  
The siege complete/ and destruccyowne  
When she was brought/ out of Troy town  
Lamedouta/ I find was his name  
Increasing after/ to full worthy fame  
And by Pyrrus/ she had a sone also  
Called Achylleydos/ so as writ Guydo  
And these women/ for all their great estate  
atween themself/ among were at debate  
And Hermyone/ in her ire all hot  
In complaining/ to her father wrote  
That her fere/ for all her high degree  
Andronomecha/ was cherished better than she  
Of king Pyrrus/ beseeching Menelay  
To enhaste him/ in all that ever he may  
Come himself anon/ that it were do  
To slay this woman/ and her child also  
And he abode nat/ but fast 'gan him high  
In an heat/ toward thessaly  
To be venged/ with his sword of steel  
Upon her/ that trespasseth never adele  
But maugre him/ in all his cruelty  
She was rescued/ amid of the city  
It is a thing/ which hath nat be herd  
To a woman/ a king to draw his sword  
I will no more/ in this matter dwell  
In manner shamed/ it to write or tell  
But this was done/ while Pyrrus of courage  
To Delos was gone/ on pilgrimage  
Having with him/ but a little rout  
To Apollo/ to kneel and to lout  
For the soul/ to pray of Achylle  
And his vows/ also to fulfil  
And thank him/ with humble affection  
Of god exploit/ he had at Troy town  
And for wretch/ also that was take  
At the city/ for his Faders sake  
¶ But all this thing/ here yspecefyed  
King Horestes/ warily hath espied  
And to Delos/ 'gan haste him full right  
leading with him/ many lusty knight  
And unwarely/ he with Pyrrus met  
And vengeably/ upon him he set  
That finally/ in that strange land  
Horestes slew him/ with his own hand  
I find in sooth/ he made no defence  
So sudden was/ the mortal violence  
Of his enemy/ he could not asterte  
For or that he might/ his sword advert  
He was on him/ environ all deset  
Thilk time/ it might be no bet  
For there was/ nouther succour nor decline  
Thus was Pyrrus/ brought unto his fine  
Late crowned/ king of thessaly  
Loo: here/ the guerdon/ of anoutrye  
Lo: how the meed/ and reward is full rife  
To miss use/ another man's wife  
It is no dread/ follow shall vengeance  
Sudden death/ or unware mischance  
Which every man/ greatly ought charge  
And in Delos/ in a temple large  
King Pyrrus/ was locked under stone  
And Horestes/ forth his way is gone  
And by force/ got his wife again  
There was no wight/ durst him though withsayne  
And to Methene/ proudly is repaired  
And thessaly/ piteously dispeyred  
destitute/ as they that can no read  
When they wist/ their worthy king was deed  
And heir was none/ by succession  
To govern/ that noble region  
Save Achylleydos/ that but iytell aforne  
In Pyrrus absence/ was in Grece borne  
Fully of age/ nat a quarter clean  
The youth of whom/ soothly was to green  
Who list consider/ and to render of might  
Full many day/ to rejoice his right  
And to govern/ with Sceptre in his hand  
The large bounds/ of so great a land  
And yet this child/ likely and right feyre  
In very sooth/ was borne to be heir  
After Pyrrus/ this the truth plain  
There was no man/ that list it withsayne  
¶ But I find/ when he came to age  
He resigned/ hole his heritage  
To his brother/ freely and his right  
Lamedoute/ a wonder manly knight  
That was descended/ of troy anysshe blood  
Down fro the stock of him that was so good  
Flower of knighthood/ diffence of Frigya  
That him begat/ on Andromecha  
Ordained now/ who so grucche or frown  
Of thessaly/ for to bear the crown  
And when he was/ made lord of that land  
And all was freely/ resigned to his hand  
He hath commanded/ no man dare reply  
thorough the kyngome/ of all thessaly  
That all that were/ in captivity  
Or prisoners/ of Troy the city  
For love or hate/ exception was none  
That all should/ at their large gone  
¶ By full assent/ of Achylleydos  
And such as were eke/ in prison close  
Without ransom/ shall belyvered be  
And rejoice/ the full liberty  
By custom used/ both in borugh and town  
Of the lieges/ of great region  
And thus the folk/ that came thrall fro Troy  
Restored be/ suddenly to joy  
¶ By Lamedoute/ and maked free  
And he eke reigneth/ in his royal see  
Full mightily/ as I have made mind  
In Troy book/ no more of him I find  
Nor of Pyrrus/ nor of his kindred  
Fro henceforth/ I can no process read  
¶ But incydentes/ that bear no substance  
Which were but vain/ to put in remembrance  
Except mine Auctor/ I note to what intent  
Here impeth in me/ a little incident  
Ywrought and done of full yore agone  
touching the death/ of king Menon  
Which by envy/ of cruel Achilles  
Was slain/ in sooth among myrundones  
O only for he/ proudly 'gan pursue  
Upon Achilles/ Troilus to rescue  
¶ Whom king Priam's/ made buried be  
Beside Troilus/ in Troy the city  
In a temple/ ybylte/ of marble old  
And to what fine/ this tale is told  
In this Chapitle/ I shall rehearse anon   

THe noble queen/ of this king Menon  
After the time/ long and many day  
That she was deed/ and graven under clay  
At the tomb/ heavenly 'gan appear  
All beset/ with bright stars clear  
Whose similitude/ for to reckon all  
Was like a thing/ that were immortal  
That no man might/ utterly sustain  
To behold/ of look/ she was so sheen  
Down descending/ fro the firmament  
Full many man/ being there present  
Called in a mantel/ full celestial  
And of her port/ passingly royal  
With sweetness/ fresh as any rose  
Made in all haste/ the tomb to unclose  
Of her lord/ and taketh out the bones  
And in a chest/ made of gold and stones  
She couched them/ as fast as ever she may  
Disapered/ and went anon her way  
And tofore that/ nor after in certain  
In that place/ she was never sayne  
Some affirming/ as by likeliness  
She was either/ angel or goddess  
The soul or fate/ of the same king  
I can nat dame/ in such heavenly thing  
Nor therm hold/ none opinion  
For it transcendeth/ shortly my reason  
And me list nat/ in such matter define  
But resort/ right as any line  
To ulixes/ and a while dwell  
Of his end/ the surplus for to tell  
And how that he/ might nat escape  
The parodye/ that was for him shape  
For parchas have/ his last term set  
And Antropose/ measured out and met  
His lives thread/ on the rock spun  
defend thyself/ Vlixes if thou can  
Show thy manhood/ and be nat afeard  
And be welfare/ of thy sons sword.  
For I shall now/ like as I am wont  
Sha●pe my pen/ both rude and blonte  
To describe/ the fine of thy soioure  
Upon the bounds/ set of my labour  
For almost weary/ faint/ and weak enough  
Be the vestes/ and ox's of my plough  
The long day/ again the hill to wend  
But almost/ now at the lands end  
Of Troy book/ fychche I will a stake  
Save I must spend/ a few lines black  
The last chapiter/ shortly to translate  
Of all this work/ and Ympen in the date  
Of that day/ death set on him arrest  
Full execute/ by him he loved best.   

Low on my knees/ now I must lout  
To this god/ that maketh men to rout  
And causeth folk/ to have glad swevens  
Both at morrow/ and on lusty Euenes  
When Mortheus/ with sleepy wonde  
Which that he holdeth/ always in his hand  
Hath marked them/ again the dark night  
To make men/ both merry and light  
And some while/ for to have gladness  
And suddenly/ to fall in heaviness  
Like as to them/ he giveth evidence  
By sundry signs/ in his appearance  
Unto that lord/ now must I meekly prey  
At this time/ my style to convey  
Of ulixes/ the dream to describe  
The last of all/ he had by his live  
Declaring him/ by tokens full notable  
And by signs/ very demonstrable  
As he slept/ again the pale moon  
His fatal day/ that should follow soon  
For it fill thus/ as he a bed lay  
After my onyght/ tofore the morrow grey  
Him thought he saw/ appear a creature  
To his sight/ celestial of figure  
None earthly thing/ but verily divine  
Of port and cheer/ wonder Femynyne  
And as him sempte/ in his fantasy  
Like a thing/ sent out of Fairy  
For the beauty/ of her goodly face  
Recomforted/ plainly all the place  
Most surmounting/ and most sovereign  
And the clearness/ of her eyen twain  
All suddenly/ or men might advert  
Perce would/ even to the heart  
Diffence none/ might be devised  
And Vlixes/ with her look surprised  
'Gan her behold/ always more and more  
And in his sleep/ for to sigh sore  
Piercing aye/ with full busy pain  
her to embrace/ in his arms twain  
But aye the more/ that he 'gan pursue  
She againward/ 'gan him to eschew  
And aye the more/ he pressed her to see  
Ay the more/ from him she 'gan to flee  
So contrary/ to him was Fortune  
And when she saw/ he was importune  
She axed him/ shortly what he would  
And he to her/ the plat truth told  
Certys quoth he/ my lives Empress  
Where that ye be/ woman or goddess  
I can nat dame/ nor judge half a right  
I am so darked/ and blinded in my sight  
But I dare well affirm/ in this place  
My life my death/ stand wholly in your grace  
More of mercy requering/ than of right  
To rue on me/ which am your own knight  
And of pity/ and of compassion  
Goodly to see/ to my salvation  
For my desire/ but I may fulfil  
This same night/ to have of you my will  
To my recure/ I can no remedy  
For lack of rouche/ but I must die  
Now have I all/ atwyxe hope and dread  
Myself declared/ to your womanhead  
And after that/ she kept her close a while  
And full sadly/ 'gan on him to smile  
And as it is/ put in remembrance  
Said unto him/ with sober countenance  
soothly quoth she/ thine affection  
Would fully/ turn to confusion  
Of us both/ it is so perilous  
So inly mortal/ and courageous  
That utterly/ there gain may no rede  
But one of us/ must an one be deed  
This is the fine/ of the hateful chance  
That should follow/ after our pleasance  
And as ulixes/ 'gan to nigh near  
Beholding aye/ on her heavenly cheer  
Where as she stood/ upright on the ground  
He saw her hold/ a spear long and round  
The heed thereof/ all of borned steel  
Forged new/ and ground wonder weal  
And thereupon/ in his a vysyowne  
He saw a banner/ blazing up and down  
The field thereof/ all of colour ind  
Full of fishes/ beaten as I find  
And in some books/ like as it is told  
In the mids/ a large crown of gold  
And or that she/ turn 'gan her face  
Likely anon/ to part out of the place  
She spoke to him/ & said in words plain  
This full token/ of parting of us twain  
For evermore/ nouther for sour nor sweet  
After this day/ never again to meet  
And disapering/ anon her leave she took  
And after that/ he suddenly a work  
And 'gan to muse/ in his fantalye  
What thing this dream/ might signify  
But where it mente/ either evil or good  
The secretness/ he nat understood  
For it surmounted/ soothly his reason  
Therefore he sent/ thorough his region  
For such as were/ sotell expositors  
Of fate or sort/ or crafty diviners  
For all the clerks/ soget to his crown  
To assemble in one/ his sweven to expone  
And when they knew/ by information  
The manner hole/ of his a vision  
They concluded/ according into one  
The time approacheth/ and shall come anon  
That one/ that is next/ of his kindred  
With a spear/ should make him bleed  
Let see/ where he/ his fate can remove  
sith it is hard/ destynero eschew  
As say though folk/ in their opinion  
That work and trust/ on constellation.  
And ulixes/ musing on this tale  
Changeth colour/ and 'gan wax pale  
Wonder dreadful/ and full of fantasies  
'Gan in himself/ seek remedies  
To void away/ thing that will nat be  
He stareth broad/ but he may nat see  
His in ward look/ was with a cloud shent  
But weening he/ for to be prudent  
Made call/ his sone Thelamon  
And to be take/ and shut up in prison  
He supposing/ fully in his wit  
For all mischief/ thereby to go quite  
He not adverteth/ nor ne took none heed  
To the sharpness/ of the spears heed  
Nor to the fishes/ in the banner beat  
Nor of the see/ where they swim and fleet  
Nor of the queen/ that called is Circe's  
That signs brought/ of were and nat of pees  
Nor of the crown/ token of dignity  
Of one/ that shall hold his royal see  
Mid the wawes/ both fell and wood  
Among the fishes/ in the large flood  
And he shall make/ the division  
Tofore remembered/ in the avision  
Again his will/ of very ignorance  
And execute the fatal purveyance  
Up of the dream/ with his spear of steel  
Which ulixes/ considereth never adele  
Nor to no wight/ hath suspicion  
But to his son/ called Thelamon  
That is closed/ and shut up in a tour  
And ulixes/ with cost and great labour  
Fro day to day/ doth his business  
For himself/ to make a fortress  
Bylte on a rock/ of lime and square stones  
Deep dyched about/ for the nonce  
That no man may/ enter on no side  
Where he casteth/ all his life to abide  
〈◊〉 certain men/ chosen in special  
Night and day/ to watch upon the wall  
That no wight should/ have none entry  
But it so fall/ that he be secree  
Known of old/ and to counsel sworn   

NOw as the story/ rehearsed hath tofore  
The old fool/ this dotard ulixes  
A sone had/ begotten on Cyrces'  
Fresh and lusty/ young and courageous  
And he was called/ Thelagonyus  
Borne in the see among the floddes' rage  
That was also/ for to reckon his age  
five and twenty year/ or there about  
But of his father/ he was aye in doubt  
What man he was/ or who it might be  
Being thereof/ in not seurte  
Till on a day/ he desirous to know  
In his Mother/ fill on knees low  
beseeching her/ goodly and nat spare  
Of his father/ the truth to declare  
What he was or where he should dwell  
He besought that she would tell  
But soothly she/ long and many days  
Of prudence put him in delays  
Till that she saw/ she might have no rest  
So importune/ he was in his request  
And when she knew/ there was none other boat  
Fro point to point/ she told crop and rote  
Of ulixes and where that he was king  
And he anon/ made no letting  
But took leave/ it may none other be  
And said plainly/ he would his father see  
¶ Whereof the queen/ 'gan in heart cold  
But when she said/ she might him nat withhold  
She him besought/ with cheer debonair  
That he would soon/ again repair  
And forth he saileth/ onward on his way  
Without abode the self same day  
By many port/ and many fer country  
Till he was brought/ there he would be  
To achaia/ a land of great renown  
And he 'gan search/ thorough the region  
After the place/ and palace principal  
Where as the king/ held his see royal  
And he so long/ in the country road  
Till he was taught/ where the king abode  
There ulixes/ was shit up in mewe  
To which place/ in haste he 'gan pursue  
A great party/ relieved of his sorrow  
And on a monday/ early by the morrow  
Unto the bridge/ the right way he took  
And found a porter/ deynous of his look  
And lowly first/ he 'gan him to pray  
That he would/ goodly him convey  
Into the court/ and make no tarrying  
For a message/ he had to the king  
But proudly/ he denied him the gate  
And shortly said/ that he came to late  
To enter there/ in any manner wise  
And ungodly/ 'gan him to despise  
froward of speech/ and malicious  
But in all haste/ Thelagonyus  
As he that was/ in heart nat afeard  
The proud porter/ hente by the beard  
And with his fist/ roof his chaw bone  
That he fill deed/ mute as a stone  
And other eke/ that him though withstood  
He made proudly/ leap into the flood  
And when more came/ to make resistance  
He hent a sword/ by manly violence  
And furiously/ in his Irous tene  
The story saith/ he slew of them fifteen  
Himself almost/ wounded to the death  
And 'gan for weary/ soothly fail breath  
And ulixes/ what for noise and sown  
To the bridge/ is descended down  
Finding his men/ at entry of the gate  
Deed and slain/ by full mortal hate  
And he full Irous/ hente anon a dart  
Of adventure/ standing though a part  
And cruelly cast/ at Thelagon  
But the stroke/ as in conclusion  
Damageth nat/ for it glode aside  
And he for haste/ no longer would abide.  
Hent up the dart/ without more a rest  
And smote the king/ low under the breast  
thorough the rib/ shortly for to say  
Of the wound/ that he must die  
Having though/ none opinion  
That he was king/ nor suspicion  
Nor that he had/ his own father slawe  
Which fast 'gan/ to his end draw  
His wound was/ so deadly and so keen  
That he might/ himself nat sustain  
But pale and wan/ to the ground 'gan glide  
His men about/ upon every side  
That busy were/ to help him and relieve  
But his sore/ 'gan so ache and grieve  
That he well felt/ that he must be deed  
But abraiding/ as he lift up his heed  
Having as yet/ mind and good reason  
Remember 'gan/ of his avision  
And how it was/ told him out of dread  
That one/ that was next of his kindred  
descended down/ from his own line  
His sweven shall/ perform to the fine  
accomplish it/ with a dart of steel  
And for he could/ nat conceive weal  
What that he was/ nor who it should be  
He bad anon/ unto his main  
Without harm/ or any violence  
Fet anon/ unto his presence  
The young man/ which at the gate stood  
That hath that day/ shed so moche blood  
And when he was/ afore ulixes brought  
Of him he hath inquired/ out and sought  
first of his kin/ and next of his country  
Certes quoth he/ I was borne in the see  
Among fishes/ mid the wawes green  
And said also/ his Mother was a queen  
Called Circe's/ of whom the name is couth  
Both Est and west/ and right fer by south  
And told also/ his father was a king  
That him begat/ at his home coming  
Fro Troy town/ toward his country  
And as my Mother/ Cyrces'/ told me  
Secretly/ that he ulixes hight  
Of whom desirous/ for to have a sight  
I entered am/ this mighty region  
And have pursued/ unto this dungeon  
only in hope/ my father to have sayn  
But I see well/ my labour is in vain  
And sith in sooth/ lost is my travail  
And that it may/ in no side avail  
It were folly longer/ here to dwell  
Lo: here is all/ that I can you tell  
Of my kindred/ axe me no more  
¶ With that ulixes/ 'gan to sigh sore  
For lack of blood/ as he that was full pale  
And said anon/ when he heard his tale  
Now wots I well/ my woeful destiny  
fulfilled is/ it may none other be  
Now wots I well/ that it is to late  
To grudge or strive/ again my piteous fate  
For my son/ as clerks whilom told  
Hath made an end/ of my days old  
thereon expectant/ with pains full grievous  
And with that word/ Thelagonyus  
When he wist/ again nature's law  
That he alas/ had his father slawe  
Which in that land/ long bore his crown  
Without abode/ he fill anon a swoon  
His clothes rend/ his yellow here to torn  
Alas quod he/ that ever was I borne  
For cursed is/ my woeful destiny  
And my Fortune/ which I may nat i'll  
Cursed my sort/ cursed mine adventure  
And I refuse/ of every creature  
Forwaryed eke/ my disposition  
And cursed is/ my constellation  
Cursed also/ and infortunate  
The hour/ in which/ my father me begat  
So would god/ without longer rede  
To acquit him/ anon that I were deed  
To lay my life/ for his death to borrow  
And when the king/ saw his great sorrow  
And wist he was his son/ of Cyrces' borne  
By many signs/ rehearsed here toforne  
He unto him/ anon forgave his death  
As he might/ for lack and want of breath  
So importable/ was his passion  
And his son/ called Thelagon  
Which hath in prison/ so many day be shut  
To his presence/ in all haste was fet  
Which when he saw/ his father in such point  
Upon his death/ standing in disjoint  
And knew also/ and the troth hath found  
By whom he had/ his last deadly wound  
A sword he hent/ and mortally Irous  
And would have run/ on Thelagonyus  
Of high despite/ avenged for to be  
But ulixes/ of fatherly pity  
Made his men/ hold him and restrain  
And amid/ of all his grievous pain  
By his prudence/ and that was done anon  
He made his sons/ for to be all one  
And gave in charge/ unto Thelamon  
Of enteernesse/ and affection  
And of hole heart/ feigned never adele  
All his life/ to love his brother weal  
To part with him/ treasure gold and good  
As to the next/ borne of all his blood  
And though in sooth/ was no longer tarried  
That ulixes/ royally was carried  
Of achaia/ to the chief city  
And after that/ lived days three  
Without more/ and though gave up the ghost  
I can nat say plainly to what cost  
After this life/ that his soul is gone  
But in atoumbe/ of metal and of stone  
The body was/ closed and yshet  
And after that/ made was no let  
That Thelamon/ with great solemnity  
Ycrowned was/ in his Fadres see  
Sword and sceptre/ delivered to his hand  
Of achaia/ a full worthy land  
Right abundant/ of treasure and of good  
And Thelagon/ with him there abode  
A year complete/ well cherished in his sight  
And of his brother/ took the order of knight  
And for him list/ no longer there abide  
The king for him/ wisely 'gan provide  
That he with gold/ great treasure and plenty  
repaired is home/ to his country  
And his mother/ of age wax sad  
Of his repair/ passingly was glad  
As she that saw/ by her sorcery  
He scaped was/ many jeopardy  
Many pereyll/ and many great distress●  
And after that/ she fill into sickness  
And her debt/ yield unto nature  
Which escape/ may no creature  
In all this would/ that is here living  
After whose death/ her son was made king  
Of Anlydos/ the marvelous country  
As I have told/ enclosed with a see  
Among rocks/ where many ships drown  
And sixty year/ there he bore his crown  
This manly man/ Thelagonyus  
And his brother/ Thelamonyus  
reigned also/ in his region  
Seventy winter/ as made is mention  
And after that/ they made a royal end  
And both two/ to jupiter they wend  
To reign there/ among the stars bright   

But now the lantern/ & the clear light  
Is wasted out/ of Frygyus Darete  
Whilom of Troy/ writer & Poyete  
Guide have I none/ ferther for to pass  
For even here/ in this self place  
He fychched hath/ the bounds of his style  
At the siege/ he present all the while  
And aye in one/ with them died abide  
Dytes the Greek/ on the other side  
And both two/ as in their writing  
Ne vary nat/ but in a little thing  
touching/ matter as in special  
That is notable/ or historical  
I do no force/ of incydentis small  
Of which in sooth/ it is but little tale  
Save this Dytes/ maketh mention  
Of the number slain/ at the town  
Lasting the siege/ affirming out of dread  
Eight hundred thousand/ & six were there deed  
On Greeks side/ up right in the field  
And as Dares/ also there beheld  
On Troy party/ in the were keen  
Syxe hundred thousand/ seventy and sixteen  
Were slain there/ in Guydo ye may see  
With them that came/ to help the city  
from many cost/ and many region  
In diffence/ and reskus of the town  
And full ten year/ so as I can cast  
And six months/ the mighty siege last  
Or it was get/ Dares write himself  
And over more/ complete days twelve  
Or Greeks had/ full possession  
By false engine/ of the Greek Sinon  
Like as tofore/ rehearsed was but late  
I have no more/ of latin to translate  
After Dytes/ Dares/ nor Guydo  
And me to add/ any more thereto  
Than mine auctors/ specify and seyn●  
The occupation/ soothly were in vain  
Like a manner/ of presumption  
And time complete/ of this translation  
By just reckoning/ and a counts clear  
Was a thousand/ and four hundred year  
And twenty near/ I know it out of dread  
After that christ/ received our manhood  
Of her that was/ Empress and queen  
Of heaven and hell/ and a maid clean  
The eight year/ by computation  
Suing after/ the coronation  
Of him that is most/ gracious in working  
Herry the fifth/ the noble worthy king  
And protector/ of Bruties Albyowne  
And called is/ thorough his hyerenowne  
thorough his prowess/ and his chivalry  
Also far/ as passeth cloud or sky  
Of Normadye/ the mighty conqueror  
For thorough his knighthood/ & diligent labour  
Maugre all though/ that list him to withseyne  
He hath conquered/ his heritage again  
And by his mighty/ prudent governance  
Recuryd eke/ true title of France  
That who so list/ look and unfold  
The pedigres/ of chronicles old  
And searcheth books/ ywryt long aforne  
He shall find/ that he is justly borne  
To reign in France/ by lineal descent  
And onward now/ he is made regent  
Of thilk land/ during his Faders life  
Of his goodness/ to void were and strife  
He to rejoice/ without more delay  
Sceptre and crown/ after the kings day  
As it is clearly/ in conclusion  
Enrolled up/ in the convention:  
And than I hope/ the time Fortunate  
Of the old world/ called Aureat  
Resort shall/ by influence of grace  
That cruel Mars/ shall no more menace  
With his looks/ furious and wood  
By false Aspects/ for to shed blood  
atween the folks/ of these Realms twain  
Which every wight/ aught to complain  
But as I trust/ in mine opinion  
This worthy king/ of wisdom and reason  
And of knighthood/ shall so do his pain  
To make one/ that long hath be twain  
I mean thus/ that England and France  
May be all one/ without variance  
Out of hearts/ old rancour to enchase  
By influence/ of his mighty grace  
That called is/ of clerks doubtless  
The sovereign/ lord and the prince of pees  
And I hope/ his grace shall now reign  
To set rest/ atwene these Realms twain  
For in his power/ soothly standeth all  
And alliance/ of the blood royal  
That is knet up/ by bond of marriage  
Of were shall void/ away the rage  
To make peas/ with bright beams shine  
And one that is called/ Katherine  
And named is/ right good and fair also  
Shallbe mean/ atwyxe both two  
Of grace imprinted/ in her womanhead  
That to complain/ we shall have no need  
And I hope/ her gracious aryvaylle  
Into this land/ shall so much avail  
That joy honour/ and prosperity  
Without trouble/ of all adversity  
Repeyre shall/ and all heartily pleasance  
Plente welfare/ and fulsome abundance  
Peas and quiet/ both nigh and far  
Without strife/ debate or any were  
Mischief povert/ need or indigence  
With full ceasing/ of death and pestilence  
soothly all this/ I hope ye shall seen  
Come into land/ with this noble queen  
That we shall say/ of heart and feign nought  
blessed be she/ that all this hath us brought  
And he that hath/ thorough might of his werking  
Of his knighthood/ concluded all this thing  
And such marvels/ in arms done & wrought  
And his purpose/ fully about brought  
Of high wisdom/ set in his inward sight  
Rejoicing all/ that longeth to his right  
And highest sit/ of worthiness in glory  
With the Sceptre/ of conquest and victory  
I pray god/ only for his best  
¶ When he hath all/ set in peace and rest  
And is full put/ in clear possession  
Of all that longeth/ to his subjection  
To send him home/ with as great honour  
As ever yet had/ any conqueror  
Long after/ in joy and in quiet  
For to reign/ in his royal seat  
Thus shall I ay/ there is no more to say  
day and night/ for his expleyt I pray  
Of faithful heart/ and of hole intent  
That whilom/ gave me in commandment  
Nat yore ago/ in his faders time  
The siege of Troy/ on my manner to rhyme  
Most for his sake/ to speak in special  
All though that I/ be boisterous and rural  
He gave me charge/ this story to translate  
Rude of cunning/ called Iohn Lydgate  
●onke of bury/ by profession  
Using/ an habit/ of perfection  
Albe my life/ accord nat thereto  
I feign nat/ I wots well it is so  
It needeth nat/ witness for to call  
Record I take/ of my brethren all  
That will nat fail/ at so great a need  
And all that shall/ this noble story read  
I beseech of support/ and of grace  
Where I offend/ in any manner place  
Or where so ever/ that they find error  
Of gentilesse/ to show his favour  
benignly/ for to do their pain  
To correct/ rather/ than disdain  
For well wots I/ moche thing is wrong  
Falsely metred/ both of short and long  
And if they should/ have of all disdain  
It is no dread/ my labour were in vain  
Let ignorance/ and rudeness me excuse  
For if that ye/ platly all refuse  
For certain Faults/ which ye shall find  
I doubt nat/ my thank is set behind  
For in metring/ though/ there be ignorance  
Yet in the story/ ye find may pleasance  
touching substance/ of that mine Author writ  
And though so be/ that any word miss sit  
amend it/ with cheer debonair  
For an Error/ to hinder and appear  
That is nat said/ of purpose nor malice  
It is no worship/ to him that is wise  
And no wight gladly/ so soon deemeth a lack  
specially/ behind at the back  
As he in sooth/ that can no skill at all  
He goeth full hole/ that never had fall  
And I nat find/ of new nor of old  
For to dame/ there is none so bold  
As he that is yblent/ with uncunning  
For blind bayard/ caste pereyll of no thing  
Till he stumble/ mids of the lake  
And none so ready/ for to undertake  
Than he in sooth/ nor bolder to say wrose  
That can no skill/ on prose nor on verse  
Of all such/ that can nat be still  
little force/ where they say good or ill  
For unto them/ my book is nat direct  
But to such/ as have in effect  
On simple folk/ full compassion  
That goodly can/ by correction  
amend a thing/ that hinder never adele  
Of custom aye/ ready to say weal.   

FOr he that was ground/ of well saying  
In all his life/ hindered no making  
My master Chaucer/ that found full many spot  
Him list nat pinch/ nor grudge at every blot  
Nor move himself/ to parturbe his rest  
I have herd told/ but said always the best  
Suffering goodly/ of his gentilesse  
Full many thing/ embraced with rudeness  
And if I shall/ shortly him describe  
Was never/ none/ to this day alive  
To reckon all/ both young and old  
That worthy was/ his inkhorn for to hold  
And in this land/ if there any be  
In borugh or town/ village or city  
That cunning hath/ his traces for to sew  
Where he go broad/ or be shut in mewe  
To him/ I make a direction  
Of this book/ to have inspection  
beseeching them/ with their prudent look  
To race and scrape/ thorough out all my book  
Void and add/ where them seemeth need  
And though so be/ that they not ne read  
In all this book/ no rethorykes new  
¶ y●et I hope/ they shall find true  
The story plain/ clefly in substance  
And who so list/ to see variance  
Of worldly thing/ wrought by days old  
In this book/ he may full well behold  
Change of Fortune/ in her course mutable  
seld or nat/ faithful other stable  
Lords/ princes/ sfrom her royalty  
Suddenly brought/ in adversity  
And kings eke/ plounged in poverty  
And for dread/ daring in desert  
Unware slaunghtre/ compassed of envy  
Murdre execute/ by conspiracy  
await leyinge/ falsehood and treason  
And of kingdom/ sudden eversyon  
Bavysshing of women/ for delight  
Rote of the were/ and mortal despite  
False maintenance/ of adultery  
Many worthy/ causing for to die  
Sin aye concluding/ who so taketh heed  
Vengeance unware/ for his final meed.   

VO declare/ that in all worldly lust  
Who look a right/ is but little trust  
As in this book/ example ye shall find  
If that ye list/ enprente it in your mind  
How all passeth/ and halt there no soiour  
Wasting away/ as doth a summer flower  
Rich and poor/ of every manner age  
For our life here/ is but a pilgrimage  
Meynt with labour/ and with moche woe  
That if men would/ take heed thereto  
And tofore/ prudently advert  
little joy/ they should have in their heart  
To set their trust/ in any worldly thing  
For there is nouther Prince/ lord/ nor king  
By example of Troy/ like as ye may see  
That in this life/ may have full seurte  
Therefore to him/ that starfe upon the road  
Suffering death/ for our aller good  
lift up your hertis/ & think on him among  
For be ye never/ so mighty/ nor so strong  
Without him/ all may nat avail  
For he can give/ victory in battle  
And hold a field/ shortly to conclude  
With a few/ again great multitude  
And by grace/ he maketh princes strong  
And worthy kings/ for to reign long  
And tyrants/ suddenly oppress  
Thorwe them down/ for all their great richesse  
And in his hand/ power he reserveth  
Each to acquit/ like as he disserueth  
To whom I pray/ with devotion  
With all mine heart/ and hold affection  
That he list grant/ long countenance  
prosperity/ and good perseverance  
health welfare/ victory/ and honour  
Unto that noble/ mighty conqueror  
Herry the fyfther/ tofore yspecefyed  
So that his name/ may be magnified  
Herein this life/ up to the sterrys clear  
And afterward/ above the ninth spear  
When he is deed/ for to have a place  
This pray I god/ for to send him grace  
At whose bidding/ as I told late  
first I began/ the siege to translate  
And now I have/ wholly in his honour  
Executed the fine/ of my labour  
Unto all that/ shall this story see  
With humble heart/ and all humility  
This little book/ lowly I betake  
It to support/ and thus an end I make.  
¶ Laus deo.    

¶ Of the most noble excellent Prince king Henry the fifth.  

most worthy/ Prince of knighthood sours and well  
Whose high renown/ thorough the world doth shine  
And all other/ in manhood dost excel  
Equal of merit/ to the worthies nine  
And borne also/ by descent of line  
As rightful heir/ by title to attain  
To bear the crown/ of worthy Realm twain   

And also fer/ as Phoebus in his spear  
From east to west/ shedyth his beams bright  
And Lucyna/ with ashrouded cheer  
Gothe compass round/ with her pale light  
Thou art yrekened/ for the best knight  
To be registered/ worthy as of name  
In the highest place/ of the house of fame   

To hold a palm/ of knighthood in thy hand  
For worthiness/ and for high victory  
As thou that art drade/ on see and land  
And evermore/ with laud honour and glory  
For just conquest/ to be put in memory  
With a crown/ made of laurer green  
Upon thy heed/ tofore that famous queen   

Whilom ordained/ only for conquerors  
Stable of heart/ with long perseverance  
And gave nat up/ till they were victors  
Empryses take/ for no sudden chance  
Whose name/ ay flowereth with new remembrance  
And fadeth nat/ of years yore agone  
amongs which/ thou mayst be set for one   

For thorough the world/ in many region  
Reported is/ with fame that flieth wide  
That naturally/ thy condition  
On thing begun/ is knightly to abide  
And for the time/ manly set aside  
Rest and ease/ what cost thereon be spent  
Till thou have chewed/ the fine of thine intent   

Most circumspect/ and passing avysee  
All thy works/ conveyed with prudence  
Sad and demure/ like to josuee  
Again whose sword/ is no resistance  
And hast also/ heavenly influence  
With Solomon/ wisely to discern  
only by grace/ thy people to govern   

Mercy eke meynt/ with thy magnificence  
On all oppressed/ for to have pity  
And of rebels/ by manly violence  
Abate canst/ the great cruelty  
And so with david/ thou haste kingly pyt●  
And high prowess/ with Sesar julyus  
In his time/ most victorious   

And manly holdest/ in thy hands two  
Who can behold/ by clear inspection  
The sword of knighthood/ thy sceptre also  
The tone to bring/ to subjection  
hearts made proud/ by false rebellion  
And with the Sceptre/ to rule at the best  
Thy true people/ that can live in rest   

Now thou y● haste/ manhood/ virtue & grace  
attemperance/ freedom and bounty  
Lowly I pray/ with dreadful face  
Disdain nat/ benyngely to see  
Upon this book/ rudely made by me  
To fine only/ to agrene thine highness  
And rue of mercy/ upon my simplesse   

And in thy noble/ kingly advertence  
consider & se/ my sovereign lord most dear  
Of thine invat/ famous sapience  
That Christ Ihesu/ received with good cheer  
The fifty Munytys/ you of heart enter  
By the widow/ which of will and of thought  
Gave all her good/ & kept herself right nought   

By which ensample/ so that it nat offend  
thorough mine uncunning/ to thy high noblesse  
Let good will/ my little gift amend  
And of thy mercy/ and renowned goodness  
Have no disdain/ of my barren rudeness  
And in making/ though I have no muse  
Let true meaning/ the surplus all excuse   

More than good heart/ hath no manner wight  
To present/ nouther to god nor man  
And for my part/ to the as it is right  
That give I hole/ as farforth as I can  
Ay to persevere/ fro time that I 'gan  
With will & thought/ for thine estate to pray  
Which to conserve/ thus finally I say   

first of all/ almighty god to queme  
With all that may/ be to his pleasance  
And to thy crown/ and thy diadem  
Grace and good Ewer/ with long continuance  
Of thy lieges/ faithful obeisance  
And each virtue/ that man may specify  
I pray god/ grant unto thy regal.    
¶ Explicit Liber quintus & ultimus.   

¶ Lenuoye.  
●Oo little book/ and put the in the grace  
Of him that is/ most of excellence  
And be nat hardy/ to appear in no place  
Without support/ of his magnificence  
And who so ever/ in the find offence  
Be nat to bold/ for no presumption  
Thyself enarme/ aye in patience  
And the submit/ to their correction.   

¶ Verba translatoris ad librum suum.  
And for thou art/ enlymned with no flowers  
Of Retoryke/ but with white and black  
Therefore thou must/ abide all showers  
Of them that list/ set on the alack  
And when thou art/ most likely go to wrack  
Against them/ thine Error nat defend  
But humbly/ with draw and go a back  
Requering them/ all that is amiss to amend.   

Here endeth the Troy book otherwise called the Siege of Troy/ translated by Iohn Lydgate monk of the Monastery of Bery/ And imprinted the year of our Lord a. M. CCCCC. &. xiij. by Richard Pynson/ printer unto the kings noble grace.