VICTORIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
This book is purchased from
The Schofield Fund
given in memory of
William Henry Schofield
Victoria College, B.A. 1889
Harvard University, Ph. D. 1895
Professor of Comparative Literature
Harvard University, 1906-20.
Harvard Exchange Professor at
University of Berlin, 1907
Lecturer at the Sorbonne and
University of Copenhagen, 1910.
Harvard Exchange Professor at
Western Colleges, 1918.
gdpt^'s ®4[<rj|
(Barlg iuglisb
<£*tra Series, xcvu.
1906.
BERLIN : ASHER & CO., 13, UNTER DEN LINDEN.
NEW YORK: C. SCRIBNER & CO.; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.
PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
A.D. 1412-20.
EDITED FROM THE BEST MANUSCRIPTS
WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY
BY
HENRY BEEGEN
PH.B. (YALE), PH.D. (MUNICH).
PART I.
PROLOGUE, BOOK I., AND BOOK II.
(WITH SIDE-NOTES BY DR. FURNIVALL.)
LONDON :
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LIMITED,
DRYDEN HOUSE, 43, GERRARD STREET, SOHO, W.
1906.
PR
V\\3
ES '
no. 37,
UOZI
€xtra Scries, xcvu.
RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY.
DEDICATED TO
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTORY NOTE >0< ^
THE PROLOGUE ......... -•
BOOK I. 12
ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.
Page 16, ,, 149, insert comma before and after platly
,, 16, ,, 160, insert comma before God and after wot
,, 21, ,, 328, insert comma after fate
., 25, ;, 452, surqued[r]ye should be surquedye
,, 25, ,, 467, insert comma before and after pleynly
30, ,, 630, for halowed read halved*. (Add note: 630. halved]
halowed C.)
,, 41, ,, 1012, insert comma after hede
51, note 1, for leaf 13 d read leaf 1 4 d
,, 53, note 1, for leaf 14 a read leaf 15 a
78, ,, 2247, for in read in
,, 185, ,, 1422 (side-note), for paiently read patiently
IX
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
THE Troy Book was begun in the late autumn of 1412,1 and
finished in the summer, or early fall, of 1420.2 It is a very much
amplified version in decasyllabic couplets of the prose Latin Historia
Destt-uctionis Troiae of Guido delle Colonne3 (about 1287), and was
undertaken, the author tells us, at the desire of Prince Henry, after-
wards Henry V.4 The work consists of a Prologue of 384 lines, of
five Boolcs, containing respectively 4436, 8706, 5764, 7108, and 3612
lines, an Envoy of 91 lines, addressed to Henry V., and the Verba
translatoris ad librum suum of 16 lines, — a total of 30,117 lines.
The last 307 lines of Book V., although an integral part of the text,
may be said roughly to form an Epilogue, also addressed to Henry V.
The Prologue and five Books are written in Chaucer's heroic verse ;
the Envoy is of thirteen stanzas of seven five-beat lines, rhyming
ababbcc (Chaucer's rhyme royal), and the Verba translatoris of two
stanzas of eight lines, rhyming ababcdcd.
The text of this edition is based on the Brit. Mus. MS. Cottont
Augustus A. iv. (C), collated with the Brit. Mus. MS. Arundel 99
(A) and the Bodleian MSS. Digby 232 (D 2) and Digby 230 (D 1).
The two British Museum MSS. and Digby 232 are the oldest and
best that have been preserved to us, and date approximately from the
end of the first quarter of the fifteenth century. Digby 230 is some-
what inferior to the others, and considerably later (about 1470).
1 As Professor Skeat has pointed out in a letter to The Academy of May 7,
1892, Lydgate tells us that it was "about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of Monday,
October 31, 1412." See Prologue, 121-148.
a Comp. the above letter to The Academy and the foot-note on the second
page of my Description and Genealogy of the Manuscripts and Prints of Lydgate 's
Troy Book (dissertation), Bungay, 1906. A revised edition of the latter will
appear in Part III. of the present work.
3 Guido's book was in turn a condensed version of the Roman de Troie of
Benoit de Sainte More (about 1160), ed. Joly, Paris, 1870. Comp. H. Dunger,
Die Sage vom trojani^chen Kriege in den Bearbcitungen des Mittelalters und ihrcn
antiken Quellen, Leipzig, 1869 ; Gtistav Koerting, Dictys und Dares, Halle,
1874 ; Wilhelm Greif, Die mittelalterlichen Bearbeitungen der Trojanersage,
Marburg, 1886 ; also Dr. Sommer's introduction to his edition of Caxton's
Lefevre. A detailed study of the sources of Lydgate's Troy Book by Herr Ernst
Gaerth is in preparation. It will probably be printed in Part III. of this
edition. * Comp. Prologue, 69-118.
x The Editor's treatment of the Text.
All deviations from the text of the Cotton MS. are either marked
with asterisks and noted at the bottom of the page, or enclosed in
brackets. In each case, whatever coincidences C may share with
other MSS. (excepting of course the added silent e's and a few
graphical variations, whose presence or absence in any particular MS.
signifies nothing) are also given. Thus, if the reading of no other
MS. than C occurs in a foot-note explanatory of an asterisk, and if a
word enclosed in brackets is accompanied by no foot-note at all, it is
to be understood that the variant or omission in question occurs in C
alone. I have silently omitted the dots which are sometimes written
over the ?/'s, all ornamental hooks and nourishes, and all marks of
punctuation. Although proper names and words beginning sentences
are uniformly1 printed with capital letters, such capital letters as
occur in the MS. have been allowed to stand. The punctuation has
been a matter of considerable difficulty. Sudden changes of con-
struction or lapses of grammatical sequence are generally indicated by
dashes. As my chief endeavour has been to bring out the author's
meaning, the stopping has been done according to expediency rather
than to rule.
In collating the text with the other MSS., I have noted all
variations except those of a purely graphical nature and a few
others, such as gentillesse : yentilnesse, euery : euerich, her : their,
a : o, an : on (one), seyen : sawe, sythe : sythes : sythens, a$en : a$ens,
which, although constantly occurring, are of small importance to the
student of Lydgate's language, and involve no doubtful questions of
metre. Of the orthographical variants I have preserved all that are
of exceptional interest or explanatory use.
The chapter-headings have been transcribed from the British
Museum MS. Royal 18. D. ii. (about 1460) by Dr. Furnivall, to
whom I am also greatly indebted for the side-notes and head-lines.
The text is being collated in type with the Cotton MS. with most
painstaking care by Miss Violet Furnivall ; and to the invaluable
and unremitting assistance which Professor Schick has given me in
reading the proofs is due the elimination of more than one editorial
faux pas and the clearing up of many an ambiguous or otherwise
difficult passage.
Although this is not the place for a discussion, philological or
* For certain inconsistencies in the matter of capital letters and hyphens
in J3ook L, and for the retention in the side-notes of various unnecessary
apostrophes (Dr. Furnivall's em's and tho's are quite able to take care of them-
selves without apostrophizing), I must beg the reader's indulgence.
The Varieties of Structure in Lydgate's lines. Types A and B. xi
otherwise, of the Troy Book, I shall, nevertheless, take advantage of
the present opportunity to insert a few words of explanation in regard
to the structure of the verse: for unless forewarned of Lydgate's
peculiar methods of treating the decasyllabic rhymed couplet, it is
possible that the reader may meet with some difficulty in scanning
the lines (ahem) correctly.
Starting out from Professor Schick's examination of the metre of
the Temple of Glas as a basis, we find the following distinct varieties
of line in the Troy Book :
1. The regular decasyllabic line, with or without an extra
syllable at the end (Schick's type A) :
Pro. 1. 6 inyghty Mars | that wyth thy sterng lyght
„ 18. Of werre and stryf | in many sondry rewmys
„ 23. Wyth whom whylom | )>ou wer at meschef take
Further examples are Prologue 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, etc. The
great majority of lines in the Troy Book are of this type.
That Lydgate (like Chaucer) did not take his caesuras very
seriously is evident ; for there are many regular lines in which there
is no distinct pause after the fourth syllable. Thus :
Prologue 11. 5f colour schewyng 1/che thg fyry gledS
„ 20. But in the Bole is thy power lorn
„ 22. Now for the loue of Wlcanus wyf
„ 25. And for the loue of thy Bellona
,, 26. That wyth the dwellyth by-^ownd Cirrea
„ 33. For to conveye it wyth thyn influence
„ 37. And hast of manhod the magnificence
„ 40. But maketh Clyo for to ben my muse
„ 47. That were moder vn-to Orpheus
Also Pro. 53, 55, 64, 66, 69, 74, 75, 76, 78, 89, 93, 94, 95, 97, etc.
2. Like the above, but with an extra syllable before the caesura
(Schick's type B) :
Prologue 98. Thg rotys vertfi | J>us can the frute rene*we
35. Whyche me comaunded | the drery pitus fate
133. Hlr cold Srysyng | In OctSbre gan t6 dftt
140. Our emysperle | to put out of affraye
149. Wher was remembrid | of auctours vs be-forn
,, 31. For vertu only | eschewe to don amys
„ 236. And how Edippiis | with teris ful pytous
Book I. 568. MethamSrphoseos | his famus dedis twelue1
1 See also I. 3701.
xii The Varieties of Structure in Lydgates lines. Types B and C.
Other examples are, Prologue 198, 241, 272, 276, 294; Book I.
8, 47, 70, 80, 104, 243, 275, 298, etc. Inasmuch as type B may
often be made regular — according to our notions of Middle English
prosody — by slurring over the syllable before the caesura (especially
the es and is of the plural of nouns and the ed's, eth's, etc. of verbs)
its identification is not always certain. Thus :
Prologue 84. SS he e'nioye'th | in vertuSus besynessS
„ 85. In al that longeth | to manhood dare I seyn
,, 141. Wyth bri$t kalendis | of Phebus vpryst schene
„ 142. Out of the boundis | PrSserpIna the quene
209. By lenthe of ^eris | ]>e noble worthi fame
218. And enlumyngd
230. On Stace loketh
with many corious flour
and per 30 may it rede
„ 264. They han contreved | by false transumpcioun
Book I. 87. But in this mater | I holde no sermoun
To my mind, the extra syllable ought to be sounded in all the
above lines with the possible exception of Pro. 209, 264, and I. 87.
The identity of others — and the same difficulty is to be encountered
in reading any type of line — is dependent upon the sounding of final
e's and the like elsewhere than directly before the caesura ; and in
order to classify these with any degree of certainty, one must be on
very familiar terms indeed with Lydgate's language and methods of
versification. The following are a few simple examples :
Prologue 156. The whiche serpent | 5f agg by prScessg
„ 116. That of the story | )>e trouth[e] we nat mys
„ 143. Wher Pluto dwelleth | J>e dirkje] regioun
,, 186. Nor of a tyraunt | the trouthe to expresse
263. Throu} veyn[e] fables | whiche of entencioun
j •>
3. Lines in which a syllable is missing directly after the caesura
(Schick's type C) :
Prologue 9. Irows and wood | and malencolyk
„ 16. To loke vp-on | inly furious
„ 17. And causer art | wyth thy fery bemys
„ 24. So helpe me now | only for hyr sake
,, 58. And maistresse art | to musicyens
,, 81. To fyn only | vertu for to swe
,, 123. It was the $ere | sothly for to seyne (also 125)
„ 130. Tressed lyche gold | as men my3t[e] se
„ 139. Is callyd than | messanger of day
Thus Prologue 151, 157, 184, 192, 214, 220, 233, 242, 250, 251,
255, 270, 285, etc.
Varieties of Structure in Lydgate's lines. Types C, D,&BD. xiii
As type C may sometimes be altered into type A by the insertion
of a syllable at the caesura, there is also a possibility that such
syllables, originally written by Lydgate, have occasionally disap-
peared in the process of transcription. Thus, in Pro. 233 : Til
Thebes was | brou^t vn-to ruyne, Lydgate may have written y-brou^t
instead of broiqt, and Pro. 16 : To loke vp-on inly furious, may
have had so before inly. Unfortunately neither the y- nor the so
occurs in the best MSS., and I have made it a rule not to meddle
with the caesura : for one thing, we are never certain whether or not
the interference is justified, and if once begun and systematically
carried out there would be no end to it; and for another, some of
the most effective and powerful lines in the Troy Book are of
this type.
4. Lines in which the first syllable is omitted (Schick's type D) :
Prologue 150. Of thg dede | the verrle tre"wg c<5rn
„ 158. Of the trouth | to make vs for to faille
,, 221. Besied hem | and feythfully travaylled
„ 229. Crop and rote | ri3t as it was in dede
„ 239. At the fest | of fires funeral
Additional examples are, Pro. 266, 279, 335, 345; Book I. 1, 7,
20, 30, 66, 86, 94, 147, 180, 181, 196, 206. Here too it often
happens that there is no distinct pause where we generally look for
the caesura :
Prologue 5. That wyth schynyng <5f thy stremes rede"
„ 13. As the levene that aly^teth lowe
,, 135. In the myddes of the Scorpion
,, 144. And the furies haue her mansioun
,, 173. And y-dymmed with his sodeyn schoures
,, 179. In her daies whan thei wer alyue
Thus, Prologue 197, 201, 223, 284, 295, 311, Book I. 6, 12, 16, 33,
49, 58, 73, 77, 86, 97, 106, 127, 132, 136, 141, 150, 210, 211, etc.
5. A combination of B and D— the first syllable omitted and an
extra beat added before the caesura :
Prologue 41. Wyth hir sustren | that on Pernas5 dwelle
,, 65. That in makyng | more sky lie can than I
„ 326. Of the story | as men in bokys fynde
Book I. 21. For thispeple | distroied were serteyn
„ 23. Eul unwarly | as Guydo list discryve
„ 70. Where the apostel I so mochel hadde a-doo
xiv The Varieties of Structure in Lydgates lines. Types B D,C D.
Book I. 89. Nor in fables | no more as now soiourne
„ 118. Crovne and septre | with all the regalye
,, 176. To his vncle | ne was he nat grucchyng
Other examples are, Book I. 300, 404, 499, 559, 620, 672, 854,
1202, 1328, 1679, 1700, 1946, 2607, 2619, 2905, 2916, 3298, 3326,
3352, 3368, 3449, 3710, 4323, 4329; Book II. 9, 292, etc. Just
as B may sometimes be transformed into A by slurring, syncope,
elision, and the like, so may the above type of line apparently be
transformed into D :
Prologue 57. Sugrest tongis of rethoricyens
„ 100. Lyche his fader of maneris and of name
,, 212. And diffaced the palme laureat
,, 326. Of the story as men in bokys fynde
Book I. 42. To the goddes with humble sacrifyse
„ 75. That this fable of amptis was contreved
„ 610. And fe boundes fei named ben of alle
„ 612. As for markys alle other for to lette
„ 785. And of sparky s fat ben of sy3t[e] smale
6. A combination of C and D — the first syllable missing together
with the one directly following the caesura :
Book I. 31. Wher this kyng | rooming to and fro
„ 308. And his breth | wers than pestilence
,, 314. Was the fyn | of this hi^e emprise
„ 833. After whom | $if I schal nat feyne
„ 1358. Chargyng hem | in al maner way
„ 1468. fat saue dethe | fer is no passage
„ 1546. Of fe king | and his renoun reysed
Further examples are Book I. 1828, 2026, 2499, 2937, 2965,
3250, 3832, 3872, 4347, Book II. 1140, 1535, 1587, 1710, 1711,
1845, 2011, 2127, 2358, 2518, 2519, 2610, 2725, 2904, 2966, 3950,
5686, 6229, 6261, 6297, 6428, 6445, 6543, 6759, 6993, 7026, 7109,
7226, 7526, 7864, etc.
Lines with a trisyllabic first measure (Schick's type E), or with
a double thesis after the caesura, are very rarely to be met with in the
Troy Book l ; in fact, I have only come across one example of each,
although it is quite possible that one or two more may be revealed
by a more thorough examination of the text. They are as follows :
1 The fact that such lines are so rare in the earlier works — there are no
certain examples in the Temple of Glas—smd. that they are comparatively
frequent in the late Falls of Princes, ought to be of some value in establishing
the chronology of Lydgate's writings.
The Varieties of Structure in Lydgate's lines. Weak lines, xv
Book II. 8156. With an hundrld fousand Troyens & jit mo
„ I. 3437. Of his forts | t5 J)S presence 6f the kyng (D 1
omits J>e)
Instances of weak words and unaccented syllables having to
support the arsis are on the whole not very frequent, certainly less
so than would appear at first sight. Among others we have :
Book I. 848. Gan enhablte J>e I5nd of Cecyle
4323. TS ]?e cite J?Si take her weyS dftSr (: rafter)
I should prefer, however, to read :
T6 J?S citS | J)Si take her weyg af tSr
Book II. 2732. 5f iust report | a manlfgr man
It is also possible to read :
6f iust[e] report | a manlier man
But the line is not a good one, twist and turn it as we will.
Book II. 4431. And of his talg j?e kyng made an ende
„ 5645. A largg tombe and a statue a-16fte
6547. With a prSwde man t6 be cSnfedgrat
(Comp. also 7009 and 7018.)
Book II. 6648. Of hlr hdd | maked dSlyuSrdunce
„ 7030. F5r oftS it fSlleth a wrong Is wroi^t
7925. T5r most Sxpleit | be nl^t priuSly
„ IV. 4750. feat be" si arte | >e kyng to gxcite
Lines are also occasionally to be found which may apparently be
read either as C or D merely by shifting the accent from the first to
the second syllable and vice versa. Examples are :
Prologue 19. Who's lordschype is | most In Caprycorn (C)
Whos I5rdschype Is most In Caprycorn (D)
281. Ther-f5r he was to hem fauSurable (D)
Th6r-for hg was | to hgm fauSurdble (D)
Book I. 165. But fSr pat hS was but 3onge Snd sklender (D)
But for J)S,t he | wds but ^onge and sklenclSr (C)
193. That no mSn my^t | as by sygne gspie (C)
That n5 man my3t as by sygne gspie (D)
By adding a silent e to my$t we have type A :
Th&t no man my3tg as by sygne gspie
Book I. 1501. Of hir ]jat is | to me most Sntere (C)
Of hlr fat Is to me most gntere (D)
2353. First h5w j)at 1 schal ]?Is purpSs fyn (D)
First how f§,t 1 | schal J?Is purp5s fyn (C)
xvi The Varieties of Structure in Lydgate's lines in late MSS.
Although in each instance I prefer the form first given, the question
is not an easy one for us to decide, obvious as it may have been to
the early fifteenth century reader.
Hopelessly bad lines, by which I mean such as have more than
twelve syllables, do not occur in the Troy Book. On the other hand,
Prologue 101 :
In sothfastnesse this no tale is
would appear to have but four beats ; for tale is is dissyllabic and
rhymes with Walys. In I. 719 :
For-weried after [her] trauaille,
the omission of her may safely be put down to the carelessness of
the scribes ; for a little farther on (727) the identical line is repeated
with her. Other four-beat lines there are none, so far as I have been
able to discover.
That thirteen, or, for that matter, sixteen syllable lines are to be
found in greater or lesser profusion in late manuscripts,1 is no more
than is to be expected ; and had we no other evidence than texts that
fairly bristle with corruptions, there would indeed be some reason for
our doubting — in spite of the unanimous testimony of Lydgate's
contemporaries, who were far better judges of Middle English verse
than we are — the ability of the author of the Troy Book to handle
his five-beat couplets with the skill of a Lancastrian schoolboy.
Fortunately, in the case of the Troy Book we are not thrown back
upon the ignorance and bumptiousness of late fifteenth, or early
sixteenth, century copyists and editors. The violent prejudice which
has occasionally been exhibited against Lydgate's metre seems to
have had its origin in poor texts or editions printed from only one
text,2 which, even when good, is no more than human — every copyist
like every editor has his personal equation — and Lydgate's own
words to the effect that he " took no heed neither of short nor long."3
On editions printed from only one text, when other texts are to be
had, no words need be wasted ; and as for Lydgate's heedlessness of
quantity and unaccented syllables, considering that he was neither a
Latin nor a French poet, but an Englishman, writing in his own
tongue, it matters little, so long as he paid due regard to the swing
1 For further details, see the account of MS. Digby 230 and of the 1555
print in my Description, etc. of the Manuscripts and Prints.
2 The
MSS. of
knowledge
whatever omissions, gratuitous emendations, carelessnesses and other" unedifying
performances it suited the scribes' fancy to indulge in. 3 Book II. 181 If.
Brief Sketch of the Contents of this Troy Book. Bks. /, II. xvii
of his dominant five beats. Indeed, his somewhat arbitrary inclu-
sion or omission of unaccented syllables shows plainly enough that
the tendency he followed (quite aside from his merits or demerits as a
metrist) was to return from Chaucer's and Gower's syllabic purism
to the rougher and readier traditional usage of his countrymen.
Although an elaborate analysis of the poem is given in the side-
notes to this and the succeeding volume, the following general survey
of the contents of the Troy Book may nevertheless prove of some use
as an aid to the reader in getting his bearings. Practically the whole
of Book I. is taken up with the expedition of the Argonauts, begin-
ning with Jason's parentage and ending with the destruction of Old
Troy, the death of King Laomedon, and the carrying off of his
daughter Hesione to Greece by Telamon Ajax. Worthy of note are
the entertaining and original account of the Labours of Hercules
(573 ff.), the love-story of Jason and Medea, which begins about
line 1564, Guide's animadversions on women, apropos of Medea,
Lydgate's amusing reproof of Guido (2072 if.), the description of the
magic charms given to Jason by Medea as a means of avoiding the
dangers of the conquest of the Golden Fleece (2988 ff.), of Jason's
battle with the Brazen Bulls (3260 ff.), and of the virtues of the
stone " Achates " (3320 ff.).
After some introductory remarks on the vicissitudes of the
goddess Fortuna, Book II. begins with a description of Priam and
his family, and a highly interesting account of the rebuilding of
Troy (479 ff.). Antenor is sent on a peaceful but unsuccessful mission
to Greece for the recovery of Hesione (1295ff.), and on his return
Priam decides (1745 ff.) — against the better judgment of Hector,
Helenas, and Pentheus, who tells of his father's having prophesied
the fall of Troy (3161 ff.), and to the horror of Cassandra, who
foretells disaster — to send Paris to make reprisals. After burning
a castle and sacking the Temple of Venus, Paris returns with
Helen and marries her (3755 ff.), at which Cassandra makes such
a violent uproar that she has to be bound fast and locked up
in prison (4190 ff.). The sorrow of the forsaken Menelaus
(4255 ff.) is somewhat relieved by the decision of the Greeks to
assist him to take vengeance and recover his wife. A detailed
description of the personal appearance and manners of the Greek and
Trojan leaders follows (4509). It is here that the famous eulogy cf
Chaucer occurs (4677-4735). The Greek ships and forces are
xviii Brief Sketch of the Contents of this Troy Book. Bks. II, III.
conscientiously enumerated (5067 ff.), and Achilles is dispatched to
Delos to consult the oracle, where he is joined by the Trojan priest
Calchas (5391 ff. 5936). A long and entertaining digression on
idolatry is inserted here. Finally the Greeks set out for Troy;
Achilles defeats and mortally wounds Teuthras, king of Mysia,
whither he has been sent by Agamemnon for provisions, and the
book ends with the Greek army encamped on the Plain of Troy.
Passages of special interest (in addition to the elaborate description
of the rebuilding of Troy) are the amusing account of Antenor's
reception by the princes of Greece (1295-1700), the Vision of Paris
(2369-2809), a fresh outburst on Guide's part against women, apropos
of Helen (3536 £f.), and Lydgate's unfailing reply, Paris's wedding
feast (4179 ff.), and Cassandra's didoes when she heard of it (4190-
4252). The fine lines spoken by Agamemnon to comfort Menelaus
(4337-4427) are among the best in the Troy Book, especially 4379 ff.
The digression on false gods (5404-5940) is also of unusual interest,
in particular the account of Bacchus and of Lucifer.
Book III. has mainly to do with the battles fought by the two
armies before the walls of Troy, and is consequently rather less
varied in contents than either Book I. or II. The Trojan and Greek
commanders and the force assigned to each are first enumerated and
described (119-715), and Chaucer is praised (550 ff.). Patroclus is
slain by Hector (781), and the first battle ends (1950). Cassandra
is again heard from (2238), and shut up in gaol for the second time
because of her disagreeable noise. The wondrous archer, half horse,
half man, whose eyes blazed like a furnace-mouth, is described
(3433 ff.), and slain by Diomedes (3506), and Cressida is to be
restored to her father (3672). Hector visits Achilles (3755), and it
is agreed to by them to pay off all scores in single combat — the
Greeks to break the siege and depart to their homes if Hector wins.
Although Priam is willing, neither army will hear of it. The story
of Troilus and Cressida is carried on intermittently for several
hundred lines (4077 ff.). Chaucer and his book of Troilus and
Cressida are mentioned at 4197 ff., and Petrarch at 4251. A fresh
outburst of Guide's against women (4270) causes Lydgate's heart
to bleed for ire (4350). At 4770 Ilion is described. Andromache's
dream (4889) and the death of Hector (5335 ff.) are followed by an
interesting lament (5423 ff.). The book ends with the embalming
of Hector's body and his peculiar burial (5579 ff.).
Book IV. is also largely made up of more or less monotonous
Brief Sketch of the Contents of this Troy Book. Book IV. xix
descriptions of battles, and by reason of its in part extreme prolixity
is perhaps the least interesting of all. It begins with a congratulatory
address by Agamemnon on the death of Hector. Palamedes objects
to Agamemnon's leadership, and is elected " emperor" of the Greek
forces in his stead (312). Achilles disapproves because his advice
was not consulted. The Trojans arm themselves, and Priam excels
all in valour. Achilles visits Troy (546) and falls in love at first
sight with Polyxena. Priam is willing to agree to the marriage on
condition that it lead to a permanent peace (869), but the Greeks
won't consent (1135 ff.), and Achilles sulks. Palamedes mortally
wounds Deiphobus with a spear, and Paris pierces Palamedes's
throat with an arrow (1286ff.). Agamemnon is re-elected general
(1616). Troilus unhorses Diomedes (2060) and upbraids him for his
love of Cressida. Achilles lends the Greeks his Myrmidons (2198),
but refuses to accompany them to battle. Troilus twice puts the
Greeks to flight, and cuts up the Myrmidons so badly that Achilles
in wrath throws over Polyxena and sallies forth against the Trojans
(2539 if.). He treacherously puts Troilus to death (2760) and ties
him to the tail of his horse. Lydgate remonstrates with Homer for
having praised Achilles (2784 if.), and the death of Troilus is
lamented. Achilles is assassinated in the Temple of Apollo at Troy
by Paris (3168 ff.), and Paris and Ajax Telamoii slay one another in
battle (3520 ff.). The Queen of the Amazons, who loved Hector,
comes to help the Trojans (3759 ff.) with 1000 maidens armed in
bright steel, and performs marvels of strength. Achilles' son Pyrrus
joins the Greeks (3974), is knighted by Agamemnon, and fights with
Penthesilea (4133). Ajax Telamon,1 already slain by Paris (3520),
turns up again, apparently none the worse for it (4248) ; Pyrrus
gives Penthesilea her death wound (4336), and the author scolds the
god Mars for his delight in murder and death (4440). Anchyses,
Eneas, Antenor, and Polydamas plot to betray Troy to the Greeks
that their own lives and possessions may be saved (4538 ff.). In
spite of Priam's suspicions and attempt to have them assassinated by
Amphimacus, they carry through their scheme. Thonante is bribed
to hand the Palladium over to the Greeks (5735 ff.), which gives
Lydgate a welcome opportunity for a digression on the avariciousness
of priests (5867 ff.). Calchas suggests the expedient of the Horse
of Brass (6023 ff.), the Greeks enter Troy (6296 ff.), and general
1 It may have been Young Ajax Telainon, son of Old Ajax and Hesione
(see Book III. 2038 ff.), whom Paris slew. But Lydgate is not very explicit.
xx Brief Sketch of the Contents of this Troy Boole. Book V.
destruction follows. The book closes with a fresh lament and an
interesting digression on idolatry (6931 ff.).
In Book V. is told the fate of the surviving Greeks and Trojans.
Ajax Telamon and Ulysses quarrel over the Palladium, and Ajax is
found murdered in his tent (276). Pyrrus vows to avenge his death
on Ulysses, who takes to his ships, after handing over the Palladium
to Diomedes. The Greeks are reconciled to Antenor (340), but
threaten Eneas for having concealed Polyxena (359 ff.). Eneas
returns to Troy, falls out with Antenor, and both are exiled (508).
The Greeks are shipwrecked (618 ff.). King ISTaulus is made to
believe that his son Palamedes was murdered by Ulysses and
Diomedes with the knowledge and approval of Agamemnon and
Menelaus (697 ff.), and in his desire for vengeance sets up false
lights on the hills to lure the homeward-bound Greek ships to
his rocky coasts ; 200 of them are destroyed. Agamemnon is
murdered (1011 ff.), the adventures of Diomedes and of Eneas are
described (1434 ff.), and the vengeance of Orestes (1467 ff.). Ulysses
relates the story of his wanderings to king Idomeneus (1781 ff.),
and the history of his life is continued (2110, 2314). The story of
Pyrrus, son of Achilles, is next told, and his vengeance on Adrastus.
Pyrrus is slain by Orestes (2795). The book closes with the final
adventures and death of Ulysses, the statistics of the Trojan war, and
an informal epilogue.
's Croj
. Augustus A. iv.]
PROLOGUE.
OMYGHTY Mars, that wyth thy sterne lyght
In armys hast the power & fie my^t,
And named art fro??i est til Occident
The myglity lorde, the god armypotent, 4
That, wyth schynyng of thy stremes rede,
By influence dost the brydel lede
Of cheualry, as souereyn and patrown,
Ful hoot and drye of complexions, 8
Irows and wood and malencolyk,
And of nature brent and coleryk,
Of colour schewyng lyche the fyry* glede,
Whos feerce lokes ben as ful of drede 12
As the levene that aly3teth lowe
Down by the skye from lubiteris bowe !
Thy stremes ben so passyng despitous,
To loke vp-on, inly furious, 16
And causer art wyth thy fery bemys
Of werre and stryf in many sondry rewmys ;
Whos lordschype is most in Caprycorn,
But in the bole is thy power lorn ; 20
And causer art of contek and of strif,
Now, for the loue of Wlcanus wyf,
Wyth whom whylom j>ou wer at meschef take,
So helpe me now, only for hyr sake, 24
And for the loue of thy Bellona,
That wyth the dwellyth by^ownd Cirrea
In Lebye-londe vp-on the sondes rede ;
So be niyn helpe in this grete nede 28
1-163 are missing in D 1. 11. fyry] fyre C.
28. So be myn helpe] So helpe A.
TROY BOOK. B
Lydgate
appeals to
Mars,
to help him
in his work,-
Mars, who is
patron of
Chivalry,
the causer of
war
and strife.
He is to help
for Venus'
sake
and Bellona'a
love.
Lydgate
appeals for
help, to Mars,
lord of
knighthood,
to Othea,
goddess of
prudence,
to Calliope,
the Mother of
Orpheus,
32
[leaf 1 6]
and mistress
of musicians
Lydgates Appeal to the Muses for help. [PROLOG.
To do socour my stile to directe,
And of my penne the tracys to correcte,
Whyche bareyn is of aureat lycour,
But in thi grace I fynde som fauour
For to conveye it \vyth thyn influence,
That stumbleth ay for faute of eloquence
For to reherse or writen any word ;
Now help, o Mars, ))at art of kny^thod lord,
And hast of manhod the magnificence !
And Othea, goddesse of prudence,
This wirke texsplyte that 36 nat refuse,
But maketh Clyo for to ben my muse,
Wyth hir sustren that 011 Pernaso* dwelle
In Cirrea by Elicon the welle,
Kennyng ful clere wyth st[r]emys cristallyn,
And callyd is the welle Caballyn
That sprang by touche of the Pegasee.
And helpe also, 0 thou Calliope,
That were moder vn-to Orpheus,
Whos dites wern so mellodyus,
That the werbles of his resownyng harpe
Appese dyde the bitter wyrdys scharpe,
Bothe of parchas and furies infernal,
And Cerberus so cruel fouwde at al ;
He coyede also best[e], foule, and tree.
Now of thy grace be helpyng vn-to me,
And of thy golde dewe lat the lycour wete
My dulled brest, that wyth thyn hony swete
Sugrest tongis of rethoricyens,
And maistresse art to Musicyens :
Now be myn help tenlumyne with )>is wirk,
Whyche am beset with cloudis dym and dirk
Of ygnoraiwce, in makyng to procede,
To be lusty to hem that schal it rede.
Also in hert I am so ful of drede,
Whan prudent lysters her-to schal take hede,
That in makyng more skylle can than I,
To whom I preie, ful benignely
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
64
41. Pernaso] Pernasa C.
53. coyede] cowde A.
50. wyrdys] \vyndes A.
58. to] of D 2.
PROLOG.] This Englishing is done to please Prince Henry. 3
Of her goodnesse to haue compassioim
Wlier as I erre in my translations
For God I take hy^ly to wyttenesse
That I this wirk of hertly lowe huwblesse
Toke vp-on me of entenciou?*,
Devoyde of pride and presumption?*,
For to obeie with-oute variaunce
My ]ordes byddyng fully and plesaunce,
Whiche hath desire, sothly for to seyn,
Of verray kny^thod to remembre ageyn
The worthynes, jif I schal nat lye,
And the prowesse of olde chiualrie,
By-cause he hath loye and gret deynte
To rede in bokys of antiquite,
To fyn* only, vertu for to s\ve
Be example of hem, and also for to eschewe
The cursyd vice of sl-uthe and ydelnesse.
So he enioyeth in vertuous besynesse,
In al that longeth to manhood, dar I seyn,
He besyeth euere, and ther-to is so fayn
To hawnte his body in pleies marcyal,
Thorny excersice texclude slouthe at al,
After the doctrine of Vygecius.
Tims is he bothe manful and vertuous,
More passyngly jran I can of hym write :
I wante connyng his hi^e renou?^ tendite,
So moche of manhood men may in hym sen.
And for to witen whom I wolde mene,
The eldest sone of the noble kvn^
«/ O*
Henri the firj>e, of kuy^thood welle & spryng,
In whom is schewed of what stok he grewe ;
The rotys vertu Jnis can the frute renewe
In euery part the tarage is the same,
Lyche his fader of maueris and of name,
In sothefastnesse, this no tale is,
Callid Henry ek, the worthy prynce of Walys,
81. fyn] fynde C. 93. men] mon D 2.
97. stok] >at D 2.
98 frute] sent A, fent D 2 -renewe] reme\v D 2.
101. sothefastnesse] sothnesse A.
68
Lydzate
undertakes
liis work
7 2 only to obey
Prince
Henry,
76
[leaf 1 c]
80
84
who is fond
of old books,
and desires
to imitate
valiant men.
This Prince
is manly and
virtuous,
the eldest
A_ son of King
96 Henry IV,
100
whom he is
like.
Lydgate began this Englishing, A.D. 1412. [PROLOG.
Prince Henry To whom schal longe by successions
For to gouerne Brutys Albyowi —
bade me Whyche me comaunded the drery pitus fate
the siege and Of hem of Trove in englysche to translate,
Destruction
of Troy,
as told by
Guide,
and I under-
took to do it
in his honour,
in 14 Henry
IV,
A.D. 1412,
when the
moon rose ii
October.
The sege also and the destrucciouw,
Lyche as the latyn maketh menciouw,
For to compyle, and after Guydo make,
So as I coude, and write it for his sake,
By-cause he wolde that to hy^e and lowe
The noble story openly \ver knowe
In oure tonge, aboute in euery age,
And y-writen as wel in oure langage
As in latyn and in frensche it is ;
That of the story £e trouthfe] we nat mys
No more than doth eche other naeiouw :
This was the fyn of his entencioura.
The whyche emprise anoon I gynne schal
In his worschip for a memorial.
And of the tyme to make menciouw,
Whan I be-gan of this translaciouw,
It was the ^ere, sothely for to seyne,
Fourtene complete of his fadris regne,
The tyrne of 3ere, schortly to conclude,
Whan twenty grees was Phebws altitude,
The hour whan he made his stedis drawe
His rosen chariet lowe vnder the wawe
To bathe his bemys in the wawy see,
Tressed lyche gold, as men my^tfe] see,
Passyng the bordure of oure occian ;
And Lucyna, of colour pale and wan,
Hir cold* arysyng in Octobre gan to dy^t,
Tenchace the dirknesse of the frosty ny^t,
In the myddes of the scorpion ;
And Esperus gan to wester dovn,
To haste hir cours ageyn fe morwe graye ;
And Lucifer, the ny^t to voyde a-waye,
Is callyd than, messanger of day,
Our emysperye to put out of affraye
104
108
112
116
120
124
128
[leaf Id] 132
136
140
107. 2nd the] om. A, D 2, 133. cold] coldyug C, D 2.
PROLOG.] The Troy Book. The Worth of Writer
Wyth bri^t kalendis of Pliebus vpryst* schene
Out of the bouttdis Proserpina the quene,
Wher Pluto dwelleth, the dirk[e] regioun,
And the furies haue her mansions ;
Til after sone Appollo lyst nat tarie
To take soiour in the Sagittarie.
Whyche tyme I gan the prolog to beholde
Of Troye Boke, I-made be dayes olde,
Wher was remeinbrid, of auctours* vs be-forn,
Of the dede the* verreie trewe corn,
So as it fil seuerid from the chaf ;
For in her honde they hilde for a staf
The trouthe only, whyche thei han compyled
Vn-to this fyn, that we wer nat begyled
Of necligence thoru^ for^etilnesse.
The which e serpent of age by processe
Engendered is fersly vs tassaille,
Of the trouth to make vs for to faille ;
For ner[e] writers, al wer out of mynde,
Nat story only, but of nature and kynde
The trewe knowyng schulde haue gon to wrak,
And from science oure wittes put a-bak,
Ne hadde oure elderis cerched out and sou3t
The sothefast pyth, to ympe it in oure thou^t,
Of thinges passed, for-dirked of her hewe,
But thoru^ writyng j?ei be refresched newe,
Of oure auncetrys left to vs by-hynde ;
To make a merour only to oure mynde,
To seen eche thing trewly as it was,
More bry3t and clere fan in any glas.
For ner her writyng nowe memorial,
Dethe \\ith his swerde schulde haue slay[e]n al,
And y-dymmed wat/i his sodeyn schoures
The gret[e] prowes of thise conquerouris,
And dirk[ed] eke the bn^tnesse of her fame,
That schyneth ^et by report of her name ;
144
Then, in 1412,
, . _ I lookt at the
148 Prolog of the
Troy Book,
152 written by
truthful men.
156
160
164
168
172
176
Without
writers,
knowledge
would have
died:
they enable
us
to see things
as they really
were,
and stop
Death dim-
ming the
brightness of
heroes' fame.
141. vpryst] vprijt C. 144. furies] fuyres D 2.
149. auctours] auntowrs C. 150. 2nd the] of the C.
152. hilde] holde A. 157. fersly] fresshly A.
169. trewly] nowe trewly D 1.
How Writers were clurisht cf old, & sang of nolle deeds. [PROLOG.
Books tell
the truth
about men
after their
deaths.
So every one
should live
for Virtue.
Of old,
writers were
honourd.
They told the
truth about
lords' noble
deeds.
But for them,
Time would
have dimd
the golden
letters
For vn-to vs her bokes represent
With-out[e] feynynge J>e weie pat bei went
In her dales, whan thei wer alyue.
Ageyn the trouthe who so euere stryue, 180
Or coiwterplete or make any debate, [ieaf-2 a]
The sothe is rad of hi^e or lowe estate,
With-oute fauour, who so list take hede ;
For after deth clerkis lityl drede 184
After desert for to bere witnesse,
Nor of a tyrauwt the trouthe to expresse,
As men disserue, with-oute excepciotw ;
With lak or prys J?ei grauwt hem her guerdons. 188
Wherfore me semeth eue?y maner man
Schulde be his live in al that euer he can
For vertu only eschewe to don amys ;
For after dethe, pleynly as it is, 192
Clerkis wil write, and excepte noon,
The pleynfe] trouthe whan a man is goon.
And by olde tyme for her writing trewe
Thei cherisched werne of lordes pat hem knewe, 196
And honoured gretly in tho dawes ;
For they enacted and gilte with her sawes
Her hy^e renoun, her manhood and prowes,
Her kny^thood eke and her worthynes, 200
Her tryvmphes also and victories,
Her famous conquest and her songe glories,
From poynt to poynt rehersyng al fe trouthe,
With-out[e] fraude, necligence, or slowthe 204
Thei dide her labour and her besynesse.
For elles certeyn the grete worthynesse
Of her dedis hadde ben in veyn ;
For-dirked age elles wolde haue slayn 208
By lenthe of ^eris J>e noble worthi fame
Of conquerours, and pleynly of her name
For-dymmed eke the lettris aureat,
And diffaced the palme laureat, 212
182. hi^e or lowe] lowe or hi$e D 1. 190. be] in A.
196. Thei] The D 1. 199. 2nd her] om. D 1.
201. victories] victorious D 1. 202. glories] glorius D 1.
208. For-dirked] For derke D 1.
PROLOG.] Statins tells the Siege of Thebes, & Guido that of Troy. 7
Whiche fat f ei wan by kny^thod in her dayes,
Whos fretyng rust newe and nevve assay es
For to eclipse the honour and the glorie
Of In3e prowes, whiche clerkis in memorie
Han trewly set thoruj diligent labour,
And enlumyned with many corious flour
Of rethorik, to make vs comprehende
The trouthe of al, as it was in kende ;
Besied hem and feythfully travaylled
Agayn al that fat age wolde assay lied,
In her bokes euery thyng I-set,
And vrith the keye of remembrauwce it schet,
Whiche lasteth ^et, and duretli euer in oon.
Eecorde of Thebes, fat was so long a-goon,
Of whiche the rueyne and* distruccioura
^e may beholde by gode inspeccioiw,
Crop and rote, ri$t as it was in dede,
On Stace loketh, and fer $e may it rede :
How Polynece and Ethiocles,
The brether two, ne kowde nat lyue in pees
Til Thebes was brou^t vn-to ruyne,
And al the maner how thei dide fyne ;
The deth also of worth! Tydeus,
And how Edippus, with teris ful pytous,
Wepte oute his eyne, and al his drery peyen,
And how the smokys departid wer in tweyen,
At the fest of fires funeral —
In gret[e] Stace 36 may reden al —
The fyre engendered by brotherly hatrede,
Wher-thoru} fat deth was f e cruel mede,
In verray sothe, of many worth! man,
Lyche as myn auctor wel reherse can.
Of Troye also, fat was of latter $eres,
By dillygence of cronyc[u]leris
3e may beholde in her wrytyng wel
The stryfe, the werre, fe sege and euerydel,
216
220
224
of their
knightly acts,
which now
clerks
[leaf 2 6]
232
236
240
244
have pre-
servd.
The ruin of
Thebes
228 you may read
in stall us,
who tells
the deaths of
the brothers
Polynices
and Eteocles,
and Tideus.
So also old
authors tell
the story of
Troy,
248 and its siege.
218. many] many a D 1. 220. in] om. D 1.
222. assaylled] have failed D 1. 227. and] of C, & >e D 1.
233. vn-to] in to A. 238. in] oon A, on D 2.
215. dillygence of] dilligence grete of wyse D 1.
8 The Tale of Troy shall never die. Homer lied about it. [PROLOG
This Troy
story is still
fresh and
living.
Neither
Death nor
Age can kill
it.
And tho'
Homer lied
about it,
Guido has
set it right.
For Homer
pretended
that the Gods
helpt the
Greeks ;
whose ally
he was.
This was
wrong of
Homer.
Love blinded
him.
as it was, so many ^eres passyd.
Whos story $it age hath nou$t dift'aced,
]STor cruel deth, with his mortal strokys;
For maugre deth, 36 may beholde in bokys
The story fully rehersed new and newe,
And freschely floure of colour and of hewe
From day to day, quyk & no thyng feynt.
For clerkys han this story so depeynt,
That deth nor age, by no maner weye,
The trouthe may not maken for to deye ;
Al-be that so???me han the trouth[e] spared
In her writyng, and pleynly not declared
So as it was, nor tolde out feithfully,
But it transformed in her poysy
Thoru} veyn[e] fables, whiche of entenciouw
They han contreved by false transumpciou?!
To hyde trouthe falsely vnder cloude,
And the sothe of malys for to schroude,
As Omer dide, the whiche in his writyng
I-feyned hathe ful many diuers thyng
That neuer was, as Guydo lyst deuise,
And thingys done in a-nother wyse
He hathe transformed than pe troupe was,
And feyned falsly that goddis in pis caas
The worthi Grekis holpen to werreye
Ageyn Troyens, and howe pat pei wer seye
Lyche lyfly men arnonge hem day by day.
And in his dites, pat wer so fresche & gay
With sugred wordes vnder hony soote,
His galle is hidde lowe by the rote,
That it may nou^t outewarde ben espied.
And al for he with Grekis was allied,
Ther-for he was to hem fauourable
In rnyche thing, whiche is nou}t co??imendable
Of hem pat lyst to demen after ry$t ;
For in makyng, loue hath lost his sy$t,
To 3eue a pris wher noon is disserued,
Cupide [is] blynde, whos domys ben obseruyd
252
256
260
264
268
272
276
[leaf 2 c]
280
284
254. And] Of D.'l.
267. the] om. B 1.
256. this] >e D 1.
268. ful many] many a D l,
PROLOG.] Ovid and Vergil are not to be trusted. £
More after lust than after equite,
Or after resoim how the trouthfe] be. 288
For singulerte and false affeeefOUM Many a man
Reyseth * ful ofte by veyn[e] lausiouw 512 prai8e*
A man to worschip pat disserueth noon, Mm,
By false reporte, and jws ful many oon 292
With-oute merit hath his fame blowe —
Wher of another j>e renoiw is vnknowe, while better
That in armys hath meruelles wrou^t, neglected.
Of whom par-aunter speketh no man nou3t — 296
For fauour only is fostered more than ry^t,
That hyndered hath many [a] worjn kny^t.
Ovide also poetycally hath closyd Ovid has
Falshede with trouthe, fat make]? men ennosed 300 S with"
To whiche parte j?at j?ei schal hem holde —
His my sty speche so hard is to vnfolde,
That it* entriketh rederis that it se.
Virgile also, for loue of Enee, 304 and Vergil
In Eneydos rehersyth moche thyng, pmofThe
And was in party trewe of his writyng,
Exsepte only that hym lyst som whyle because he
The tracys folwe of Omeris stile ; 308 HO™?.
And of pis sege wrot eke Lollius,
But to-forn alle, Dares Frigius But Dares
Wrot rnoste trewly after fat he f onde, Suf."" and
And Dytes eke of the Grekys lond. 312
They were p?-esent and seyen euerydel, who were
And as it fel they write trewe and wel, KT at the
Eche in his tonge, by swyche consonaunce, troth.
That in her bokys was no variaunce, 316
Whiche after wern vn-to Athenes brou$t,
And by processe serched oute and sou^t
By dillygence of oon Cornelius, Cornelius
Whyche was nevewe vn-to Salustius, 320
Of Rome y-born, whiche dide his dever dewe
288. how] how bat D 1. 290. Reyseth] Rysed C.
293. blowe] y-blowe D 1. 295. hath] ha> many D 1.
296. speketh] wirkeb D 1. 298. hyndered] hindrib D 1.
299. poetycally] Poete ytally A. 301. schal] shulde D 1.
303. it] he C. 306. of] in D 1. 309. bis] the D 1.
313. They] For they A.
10 Cornelius gave no proper Details of the Siege of Troy. [PROLOG.
translated Hem to translate, and the tracys sewe
Of thise auctours by good avisement.
But by-cause he sette [al] his entent 324
but was too For to be brefe, he lefte moche be-hynde
brief, and . J
doesn't tell Of the story, as men in bokys f ynde,
the origin of J ' . i
the strife, The nrste mevyng and cause original,
What was the gynnyng and rote in special, [leaf 2 d.] 328
Ne how thei come by lond or by navie,
How firste the sparke was kyndeled of^envie
A-twyxe Grekis and hern of Troye town,
Of whiche Cornelye maketh no mentions, 332
Of her schippes nor of her vitaille,
Nor how fat Grece is called Gret Ytaille,
And the lasse, as bokys verrefye,
Is named now the londe of Romany e, 336
or how many What noumbre of kynges and of dukes went
kings and
rulers saw lowarde the sege. al of oon assent,
the overthrow
of Troy, To wynne worschip & for excersise
Of armys only, in ful kny^tly wyse, 340
Abydyng there to sen the versiou?i
Of the cite and noble Yllyourc,
Nor what the maner was of her armure,
Nor at the sege who lengest dide * endure, 344
In what wyse eche other dide assaile,
Nor how often thei metten in bataille,
or died there. How mony worthi loste ther his lyf
Thorou^ olde hatrede wrou^t vp with newe st[r]if, 348
Nor of her dethe he dateth nat the ^ere,
For his writyng was particuler ;
With-oute frute he was compendious,
This forseyde Romeyne, this Cornelius. 352
Wherfore but late in comparisons,
So another Ther was an auctour of ful hi^e renouft
author of '
high renown, That besied hym the tracys for to swe
Of Dite and Dares, & cast hym nat transmwe 356
328. What was the gynnyng] That was bigynnynge D 1.
329. 2nd by] om. D 2. 341. versioim] euersioiw D 1.
344. lengest dide] dide lengest C.
347. loste ther his] there loste here D 1.
348. Thorouj] pogh D 2.— with] om. A— strif] om. D 2.
353. in] as in D 1.
PROLOG.] Guidoisthe real Authority on Troy, and I follow him. 11
In al the story a worcle as in sentence,
But folweth hem by swyche convenience,
That in effecte the substaiwce is the same ;
And of Columpna Guydo was his name, 360 Guide of
Whiche had in writyng passyng excellence.
For lie enlvmyneth by crafte & cadence niumind the
This noble story with many fresche colour by MB* °'
Of rethorik, and many riche flour 364
Of eloquence to make it sownde bet
He in the story hath ymped in and set,
That in good feythe I trowe he hath no pere, and i>as no
To rekne alle pat write of this matere, 368
As in his boke }e may beholde and se.
To whom I seie, knelyng on my knee :
Laude and honour & excellence of fame, AH honour to
0 Guydo maister, be vn-to thi name, 372
That excellest * by souereinte of stile
Alle that writen this mater to compile.
Whom I schal folwe as ny^e as euer I may, Him, i shall
That God me grau?it it be vn-to the pay 376
Of hym for whom I haue vndertake [leaf 2* a.]
So as I can this story for to make,
Preynge to alle j?at schal it rede or se, begging my
Wher as I erre for to amendera me, 380 correct me
Of humble herte and lowe entenciou?i is.
Commyttyng al to her correcciouw,
And ther-of thanke ; my wille is J?at fei wyraie,
For thorny her support jms I wil begynne. 384
[IF Explicit prologus]1
365. bet] >e bette D 1. 367. hath] had D 1.
368. of] in A, on D 2. 369-162 of Book I. are missing in A.
371. &] with D 1. 373. excellest] excellent C.
375. ny3e] moche D 1. 378. this] be D 1.
380. for] om. D 2, D 1.
1 The above rubric occurs in both D 2 and D 1.
12 Of Peleus, King of Thessaly, and his Myrmidons. [BK. I
In Thessaly,
Peleus was
King,
and his folk
were Myrmi-
dons,
as Ovid tells.
They were all
destroyd by
lightning,
sword and
pestilence,
except the
King,
who went
BOOK I.
Here bigynneth J>e first boke of Troy: howe Esone
resygned ]?e Crowne of Thesaly to Pellee.1
IN J?e regne & lond of Thesalye,
The whiche is now y-named Salonye,
Ther was a kyng callyd Pelleus,
Wys & discrete & also vertuous. 4
The whiche, as Gnydo lyst to specefie,
Helde the lordschipe and the regallye
Of this yle, as gouernour and kyng,
Of whiche [}>e] pepil, by record of writyng, 8
Myrundones were called in tho dawes,
Of whom Ovyde feyneth in his sawes,
Methamorphoseos, where as 36 may rede
How jns peple sothfastly in dede, 12
So as myn auctor maketh menciovw,
Were brou^t echon to destructions
With sodeyn tempest and vrith fery levene
By the goddys sent down from J?e heuene ; 16
For they of Ire, wtt/i-oute more offence,
With the swerde & stroke of pestilence
On this yle whylom toke vengaunce,
Lyche as it is putfce in remembraunce. 20
For this peple distroied were serteyn
With thonder dent and wit/j haiel and reyn,
Ful imwarly, as Guydo list discryve ;
For ther was noon of hem lefte a-lyue 24
In al the lond, that the violence
Escape my^te of this pestilence
Excepte the kyng, J>e whiche went allone
I. &] of the D 1. 2. y-named] named D 2, enamed D 1.
II. where] here D 1. 16. >e] om. D 2, D 1.
19. whylom toke] toke somme tyme D 1. 21. this] J>e D 1.
27. ]>e] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 8 a.
BK. i] For King Peleus, Jupiter turns Ants into Men.
13
[leaf 2* 6] 28 into a wood,
In-to a wode for to make his mone,
Sool by hym silfe, al disconsolate,
In a place that stood al discolat,
Wher this kyng, rooming to and fro,
Compleynynge ay of his fatal woo 32
And the harmys J)at he dide endure —
Til at the laste, of caas or aventure,
Besyde an holt he sawe wher stode a tre
Of ful gret he$t and large of quantite, 36
Holwe by the rote, as he kowde knowe,
Wher as he sawe, by the erthe lowe,
Of amptis crepe passyng gret plente,
With whiche sy$te he felle dovn on his kne
And made his preyer in his paynym wyse
To the goddes with humble sacrifyse,
Vp-on his wo and gret aduersite
Only of mercy for to haue pyte,
To turne thise amptis in-to forme of man.
Thus gan he praye, wit/i colour pale and wan,
His lond tenhabite whiche stondeth disolat,
And he alone, awaped and amaat,
Comfortles of any creature,
Hym to releue of that he dide endure.
And, as Ovide maketh menciouw,
That lubiter herde his orisouw,
And hath swiche rowth on hym at J?e laste,
That he anoon fulfilled his requeste,
And of his my3te, whiche )>at is devine,
His grace he made from heuene for * to schyne
Benyngnely vn-to the erthe dovn,
That a sodeyn transmutaciouw
Was made of amptis to forme of men anon,
Whiche on her feet gorane street to goon
To Thesalye and salue ther the kyng,
And lyche his liges token her dwellynge
With-Inne a cite called tho Egee,
As in Ovide 30 may beholde and see. 64
The whiche people for her worthines,
31. this] >e D 1. 55. is] om. D 2.
56. for] so for C, so D 1. 57. dovn] a doun D 1.
wliere he saw
a tree
with an ants'
. _ nest in its
40 root.
He prayd
his Gods to
turn these
ants
into men.
44
48
5 2 Jupiter heard
his prayer,
56
changed the
ants into
men,
60 who went
to Tliessaly,
and dwelt in
14 Of the Myrmidons and K. Peleus, ancestor of Achilles. [BK.
and were
cald Myrmi-
dons,
as St.
Matthew's
life says.
On account
of their work
and foresight,
this fable of
the ants was
invented.
They were
always
provident,
like the ants.
King Peleus
had a wife
Tedite,
and from
them
Achilles was
descended,
the best of
the Greeks,
For her strenthe and gret[e] hardynes
Myrundones so longe haue boor the name —
As in the lyfe ^e reden may the same 68
Of seynt Ma the we, how thei be called soo,
Where the apostel so mochel hadde a-doo —
Whiche for wisdam & prudent adue?'tence,
Besy labour and wilful dilligence, 72
By for-seynge and discreciouw,
As I suppose* in myn opiniouw,
That this fable of amptis was contreved,
Whiche by her wysdani han so myche achevid 76
Thoru^ her kny^thod, who so list to loke [leaf 2* <•]
Her manly dedis thoru^-out Troie boke.
In al meschef so wel thei hau hem born
That j?ei ful wysly ppouided wern to-forn 80
Or that it fil, bothe in werre and pees ;
For of no slouthe J>ei wer nat rek[e]les,
But as the arnpte teschewen ydelnesse
In somer is so ful of besynesse — 84
Or wynter com, to sauen hir fro colde
Sche to-forne astored hath hir holde.
But in this mater I holde no sermouw,
I wil no longer make digression?^ 88
Nor in fables no more as now soiourne,
But there I lefte I wyl agayn retourne,
Of Pelleus ferther to precede :
Wiche kyng, forsothe, in story as I rede, 92
And as myn auctor lysteth to endyte,
Had a wyf that called was Tedite ;
Of which e two, platly this no les,
The manly man, the hardy Achilles,* 96
So as Guydo lesteth to termyne,
Descended was, sothly as by lyne,
Most renomed of manhood and of my^t
Amonges Grekis, and the beste kny^t 100
70. a-doo] to do D 1. 72. Besy] By besy D 1.
74. suppose] schal suppose C. 80. to-forn] beforn D 1.
88. wil] iiyl D 2, uel D 1. 92. I] we D 1.
94. called] clepid D 1— Tedite] Thedite D 1.
95. this] >is is D 1.
96. misplaced in C at top of column and 'marked b ; 95 is
7narked a.
BK. l] Of King Peieus s mad brother Eson. 15
I-holde in sothe, thoru3-oute al her lond,
In worthines preued of his hond.
Whos cruelte Troiens sore abou^t,
So passynge Merueilles in armys ber he wrou[$]t 104 who wrought
Duryng the sege, as $e schal after lere,* anus.
Paciently $if 36 liste to here.*
But Pelleus, that I spak of a-forne, King Peieus
A brother hadde of o moder born, 108
That hy3te Eson, so fer y-ronne in $eris, Eson,
That he of luste hath lost al his desyris,
So fer he was y-cropen in-to age,
]3at al his witte was turned to dotage ; 112 who lost his
For bothe mynde and memorial
For-dulled wern and dirked so at al,
That verrailly his discrecioiw
Was hym birafte, in conclusions. 116
Wherfor the regne and lond of Thesalye, and therefore
Crovne and septre with al the regalye, crown of 'e
He hath resygned his brother for to queme, Peieus,
Estate royal and also diademe : 120
By-cause he was croked, lame, & blynde,
And to gouerne loste bobe wit & nrymle,
So febled was his celle retentif
And fordirked his ymaginatif, 124
That lost were bothe memorie and resouw ;
For whiche he made a resygnac^'on
To his brother, next heyr by degre, [leaf 2* <q
And next allye of his affinite. 1 28
But as so??zme auctours in her bokys seyn, But some say
™ . . that Eson
lo aoutne he was restored new aseyn was cured
bv Medea's
By crafte of Medee, the gret sorceresse, potions,
And renewed to his lusty nesse ; 132
For with hyr herbes and hir pocioiws,*
Sotyl wyrchyng[es] of confecc^ouws,
By que[i]ntyse eke of hir instrumentys,
101. I-holde] Holden D 1. 105. lere] here 0.
106. here] lere C.
107. spak of] of spak D 2, of speke D 1— a-forne] by-forne D 2,
beforn D 1. Ill y-cropen] cropen D 2, D 1.
122. bo>e] hath D 1. 123. febled] feble D 1.
133. pocioiws] porciouws C. 135. of] and D 2.
16 Of Eson s son Jason, and the Love all folk bore him. [BK. I
as she made
a drink which
caused a dry
rod at once to
blossom,
and restored
Eson's body
and wits.
Eson's son
was Jason,
the goodliest
man living,
and belovd
of all.
He servd his
uncle Peleus
loyally,
With hir charmys and enchauntementys,* 136
Sche made a drynke, in bokys as is * tolde,
In whiche a ^erde that was drye and olde
"Withoute abod anoon as she it * caste
To blosme and budde it be-gan as faste, 140
Turne grene and f resell e for to beholde.
And pom} bis drinke sche hath fro ^eris olde
Eson restored vn-to lusty age,
And was of witte & resoiw eke as sage 144
As euer he had his lyve ben a-forn.
The whiche Eson, of his wyfe y-born,
Hadde a son, and lason was his name,
In wirk of whom Nature nas to blame; 148
For sche hir crafte platly and konnyng
Spent vp-on hyin hooly in wirkyng,
Whan sche hym made, with hert[e], wil, & pou^t,
That of hir crafte behynde was ry^t nou^t. 152
To rekne his schap and also his fayrnes,
His strenthe, his bewte, and his lyflynes,
His gentilles and wyse gou^rnaimce,
How large he was, and of dalliaunce 156
The mostfe] goodly J)at men koude knowe,
In al his port bothe to hy^e and lowe ;
And with al pis avise and tret able —
That of konnyng God wot I am nat able 160
For to discry ve * his vertues by and by.
For as myn auctor telleth feithefully,
He was beloued so of old and ^onge,
That thoru^ fe londe is his * honour spronge ; 164
But for pat he was but 3onge and sklender,
Of age also inly grene and tender,
He was committed to the gouernaille
Of Pelleus, to whom with-oute faille 168
In euery thyng he was as servisable,
As diligent in chambre and at table,
136. enchauntementys] hir enchauntementys C, D 1.
137. is] it is C, D 1. 139. she it] it is 0.
141. for] on D 1. 149. and] & here D 1.
150. hooly] only D 1. 153. also] om. I > 1.
161. discry ve] discreye C. 164. >e] >is D 1— his] >e C.
170. and] as D 1.
BK. l] How King Peleus was a Hypocrite, and hated Jason. 17
As euere was any childe or man
Vn-to his lorde, in al J>at euer he can 172
Devise in herte of feithf ul obeyschaunce ;
So Jjat in chere nor in cowntenaunce,
Inwarde in herte nor outwarde in schewyng,
To his vncle ne was he nat grucchyng ; [leafs a] 176
Al-be he had holly in his hande tho' Peieus
The worthi kyngdam and J?e riche lande land.
Of this lason, and the eritage,
Only for he was to 3oiige of age. 180
Vn-to whom Pelleus dide his peyne But Peleus
Ageyn[es] herte falsely for to feyne, "ite,
To schewen other J?an he mente in herte,
And kepte hym cloos, ]?at no fing hyra asterte, 184
Lyche an addre vnder flouris fayre,
For to his herte his tonge was contrarie :
Benyngne of speche, of menyng a serpente,
For vnder colour was the tresoiw blente, 188
To schewe hym goodly vn-to his allye ;
But inwarde brent of hate and of envie and tho' civil
The hoote fyre, & }it ther was no smeke, hate* him»
So couertly the malys was y-reke, 192
That no man my^t as by sygne espie
Toward lason in herte he bare envie.
And merveil noon, for hit was canseles,
Saue he dradde J?at he for his encres 196 fearing that
And for * his manhood likly was tateyne realm.
For to succede in his faders reigne,
Whiche Pelleus uniustly ocupieth ;
And day be day cast and fantasieth 200
How his venym may be som pursute
Vppon lason be fully execute.
Her-on he museth euery hour and tyme,
As he fat dradde to sen an hasty pryme 204
Folowen a chaurcge, as it is wont to done,
173. Devise] Demvre A.
176. To] om. A, Toward D 2. 177. holly] oonly D 1.
182. falsely] fully D 1. 184. asterte] of sterte A.
190. 2nd of] om. D 1. 191-194 are omitted in D 1.
195. hit] >i D 2. 196. 2nd he] om. D 1.
197. for] for for C. 200. cast] castith D 1.
TROY BOOK. C
18
How King Peleus pland Jason's destruction. [BK. I
So Peleus
plotted,
with gall in
his heart,
and sugar in
his face,
Jason's
death.
Jason had no
idea of this.
The cause
was covetous-
ness,
Sodeynly after a newe moone ;
He caste weyes and compasseth sore,
And vnder colour alwey more and more
His felle malys lie gan to close and hide,
Lyche a snake that is wont to glyde
With his venym vnder f resche floures ;
And as the sonne is hoot a-fore {)ise schoures,
So of envie hattere bran the glede.
Vp-on a tyme he Jjoi^te * to precede
To execute his menynge euery del,
In porte a lambe, in herte a lyoun fel,
Dowble as a tygre sli^ly to compasse,
Galle in his breste and sugre in his face,
That no man hath to hym suspecioutt,
Howe he purveieth the destrucciourc
Of his nevewe, and fat wtt/i-Inne a whyle,
Pretendyng loue, al-be the fyn was gyle.
His malys was I-schette so vnder keye,
ftat his entent [ther] can no man be-vvreye ;
It was conceled & closed in secre,*
Ynder the lok of pryve Enmyte,
And that in soth greued hym J?e more :
Vp-on hym silf f>e anger frat so sore,
Abydyng ay til [vn-to] his entent
He fynde may leyser conuenient
Vp-on his purpos platly to precede
For to parforme it fully vp in dede.
Wher-of lason hath ful lytel rou^t —
His vncle and he [ne] wer not in o thou^t —
Of whos menyng was no conuenience,
For malys was coupled with Innocence ;
And grownde of al, [so] as I can diuise,
Was the Ethik of false couetise,
[leaf 3 6]
208
212
216
220
224
228
232
236
207. caste] castith D 1, caste J> D 2.
212. a-fore] aftir A— a-fore >ise] a^ena his D 1.
213. bran] brermyth D 1. 214. a] om. A— Jxmjte] soujt C.
219. to hym] om. D 1.
222. al-be] al Jxm? D 1— was] were D 1.
223. I-schette] shitte D 1. 225. secre] secrete C.
231. platly] pleinly D 1.
234. ne wer not] were not bo)>e D 1.
236. coupled] encoupled D 1.
BK. l] Of the Earn with the Fleece of Gold in Colchos. 19
Whiche fret so sore, falsly for to wynne,
As crop and rote of euery sorowe and synne, . 240
And cause hath ben, syth[en] goo ful ^ore,
That many a rewme hath a-bou^t ful sore
The dredful venym of couetyse, alias !
Lat hem be war, fat stonden in this caas, 244
To thinke a-forne & for to haue in mynde
That al falshed draweth to an ende :
For thou3e it bide and last a $er or two,
The ende in soth schal be sorwe and wo 248
Of alle fat ben false and envious.
Here-of no more, but forthe of Pelleus
I wil }ow telle, J?at hath so longfe] sou^t
Vp-on Jus thing, til j>er wer to hym brou^t 252
Tidynges newe, & fat so merveillous,
That he astonyed was and alle his hous,
Of a mervaille that new[e]ly was fal
Besyde Troye, the plage oriental : 256
How in Colchos, as the tydyng cam,
With-Inne an He enclosed was a Earn
Whiche bare his flees ful richely of golde ;
And for the richesse, it was kepte in holde 260
With gret avis and gretfe] diligence,
That no man my^t ther-to doon offence.
And in this He ther was a gouernour,
A noble kynge, a worthi weriour, 264
That Cethes hi^t : wis, discret, and sage,
Whiche was also [y-]ronne fer in age,
That in his* tyme, as bokys can deuise,
Had vnder-fonged many gret emprise 268
In pes and werre, & moche worschip wonne ;
And he was sone also to the sonne,
That $af hym eure to honowr to atteyne,
So as poetis lusteth for to feyne. 272
Touching his line, I leue as now j>e grete ;
And of this Ram my purpos is tentrete, [leafs e]
242. a-boujt] boujt D 1. 252. J>er] it D 1. 256. the] in >e D 1.
257. tydyng] tidinges D 1. 258. enclosed] closed D 1.
262. doon] doon noon A. 266. y-ronne fer] ferre I-ronne D 1.
267. That] And A— his] this C. 269. inoche] moste D 1.
274. tentrete] to trete D 1.
which is the
worst of all
sins,
and has
ruind many
lands.
To Peleus
was brought
tidings of a
Bam in
Colchos,
which had a
fleece of gold.
The king of
Colchos was
Cethes
(JEetes),
son of the
Sun.
This gold-
tteeced Ram
20 Mars guarded the Fleece ~by Bulls and a Serpent. [BK. r
was under
the charge
of Mars,
who set as
guards to it.
wild Bulls
with brass
hoofs
and fiery
breaths to
burn all who
heard them.
So whoever
would get
the Ram
must first
conquer the
Bulls,
and then a
Serpent
like a fiend
of Hell,
with poison-
ous breath,
That was ccwimytted, I dar $ow wel assure,
To the kepyng and the besy cure 276-
Of cruel Mars, the my^ty god of werre,
Whiche with f e stremes of his rede sterre
And influence of his deite,
Ordeyned hath, by ful gret cruelte, 280'
This Ram to kepe, bolys ful vnmylde,
With brasen feet, ramegous and wylde,
And ther-w^t/i-al ful fel and dispitous,
And of nature wood and furious, 284
To hurte and sleen euere of o desyre.
Out of whos mouthe leuene & wylde fire,
Lyche a flawme euere blasid oute
To brenne al hem fat stode* ny$ aboute; 288'
Eke of her eyen f e lokys moste orible
To [a] furneis the stremys wer visible.
And who that* wolde, [to] encrese his glorie,
This Earn of golde wynnen by victorie, 292.
Firste he moste of verray force and my^t
Vn-to outraunce with thise bolys fi~3t,
And hem venquysche, aldirfirst of alle,
And make hem humble as any oxe in stalle 29ft
Yn-to the ^oke, and do hem ere f e londe ;
Of verray manhood, fis most he take on ho?*d.
And after fat he moste also endure
With a serpent of huge and gret stature, 300-
With-out[e] fauour, pleynly haue a-do,
To outraunce eke, witft-oute wordis mo.
)3e wiche serpent, schortly for to telle,
Was lyche a fende comen out of helle, 304
Ful of venym and of cruel hate ;
And wiih skalys hard as any plate
He armyd was, to sto[n]den at drffence ;
And his breth wers than pestilence 308
Infecten wolde environ al J>e eyre
In iche place wher was his repeire.
275. assure] ensure D 1.
278. his] >e D 1. 280. ful] am. D 1.
288. stode] stonde C, stondew D 1. 289. be] om. D 1.
291. that] so C. 294. Vn-to] Vn to be D 1.
306. skalys] his scales D 1.
BK. i] The Serpent's Teeth had to be sown, & turn to Knights. 21
He was so ful of corrupcioiw,
And so dredful of infecciouw, 312
That deth in sothe, schortly to deuise, sothataii
. trier« will
Was the fyn of this hi^e emprise meet their
To swyche as wolde fis querel take on hond,
I-lyche in oon, bothe to fre and bonde, 316
But if he koude fe bet hym silf diffende.
And of his conquest Jns was eke the ende :
]3at whan he had J>e my^ty serpent slawe, Then, when
He most anoon, by custom and by lawe, 320 was sSff"
Out of his hed his tethe echon arace,
And thane sowe hem in the silf[e] place u« teeth
Where the oxes herid hadde aforn ; [leaf 3 d] Bown,
Of whiche sede ther sprang a wonder corn : 324
Kny^tes armyd, passyng of gret my3te, and armed
Eueryche with other redy for to fyjte woSd sprin<?
up and fight
Til eche his brother hadde brou^t to grouwde one another.
By mortail fate & 30110 his dejns wounde. 328
This was the ende of hem euerychon ;
For in sothnesse of al j>er was noon
That lyue my^t by that fatal lawe
Any lenger in soth than his felawe. 332
And by Jris weye, dredful and perillous,
Who desyreth to be victorious,
He moste passe and manly it endure,
And how so falle take his auenture. 336
Of noon estat was noon excepciouw,
Chese who so wele ; for this conclusions
He may not skape for fauour ne for mede,
Who euer gynne, avise hym wel I rede : 340 AH triers
For by the statute of the kyng he may, S^SS?
Who so that wele, entren and assay ; J" on tm
But after fat he onys hath by-gonne won. °*
He may nat chese til he haue lost or wonne. 344
3et, as somme of j>is Earn expresse,
312. infeccioim] foule inspeccioim D 1. 318. of] om. D 1.
320. 2nd by] the A. 321. tethe] teche D 1.
323. oxes] oxen D 1— aforn] to forn D 1.
330. was] nas D 1.
334. Who] Who >at D 1. 339. ne] or D 1.
342. so] om. D 1. 345. somme] somme clerkis D 1.
22 The Golden Fleece was Sorcerer's work. Peleus's plot. [BK. I
This Golden
Fleece was
made by
sorcery,
and many
men
riskt and
lost their
lives to win
it.
Peleus knew
all this,
and schemed
how he might
make Jason
undertake the
adventure.
And of J>is flees also here witnesse,
It was no thyng but golde & gret tresour,
That Cethes kyng, with ful hyje labour, 348
Made kepe it by incantacioiws,
By sorserye and false illucions,
))at was spoke of in rewmys fer aboute ;
For whyche many put her lyf * in doute, 352
Of hy^e desyr thei hadde for to wynne
\)Q gret[e] tresour fat was shette we't/i-Inne
Colchos lond, as $e haue herde deuise ;
"Whos pursute roos oute of couetise, 356
Grouwde & rote of wo and al meschauwce,
By veyn reporte hem silf [e] to avaunce ;
For whiche bei put hem silf * in lupartye,
With-out[e] reskuse likly for to dye. 360
)5er was noon helpe, ne noon sley^t of armys
Jpat vaille my^t ageyn be cursed charmys ;
)3ei wer so strong and supersticious,
|3at many worthi, in kny^thood ful famous, 364
Enhasted werne vn-to her dethe, alias,
feat list euparten her lyues in bis cas.
And bis lasteth til afterwarde be-fel
J)at Pelleus platly herde tel 368
}2e gret[e] meschefes and destrucciouws
In Colchos wroujt on sondry naciouws,
J)at pursued* be au[n]tres to conquere—
Til Pelleus so ferforthe gan enquere, [i«af*a| 372
J^at he knewe holly how be treuthe was ;
And in his herte anoon he gan compas,
How he my^t by any sley^tfe] make
His nevewe lason for to vndirtake 376
Jjis hi^e emprise in Colchos for to wende,
By whiche weye best he my^t hym schende ;
And [gan] pretend a colour fresche of hewe,
346. J>is] his A. 348. kyng] >e kyng D 1— hy^e] greet D 1.
352. lyf] lyues C— her lyf] hem self D 1.
359. silf] siluen C— in] in gret D 1. 362. vaille] auaille D 1.
366. euparten] to iuparte D 1— lyues] lif D 1.
367. lasteth] lasted D 1. 369. meschefes] mescheef D 1.
371. pursued] pursute C.
374. And] As D 1 — anoon he gan] he gan anoon D 1.
379. gan] bigan D 1.
He first
cald his
nobles
together,
to a council ;
BK. i] King Peleuss plot to tempt Jason into Danger. 23
I-gilt outward so lusty and so newe, 380
As f er wer no tresourc hydde with-Inne ;
And sawe it was tyme to begynne
On his purpos, f ei first he made it queynte,
And gan with asour & with golde to peynte 384
His gay wordys in sownynge glorious,
Knowyng lason was 3onge and desyrous
Vn-to swyche thing, and ly^tly wolde enclyne.
Therfor he thou^t fat he nolde fyne 388
Pleynly to wirke to his confusioun,
And made anoon a conuocacioura
Of his lordys and his baronye,
Aboute envirouw the londe of Thesalye, 392
For tassemble estates of degre
Of al his rewme wit/i-In f e chefe cite.
For to holde a counseil outterly he caste,
J)er-by tacheve his desire as faste ; 396
And so his court contwneth daies thre ;
Til at f e laste his hidde iniquyte
He gan out rake, f «t hath ben hid so longe,
For he ne my3te no lenger forthe prolonge 400
))& venym hid, fat frat so at his herte,
In so sly^e wyse fat no man my^t aduerte
Vp-on no syde but fat he mente wel.
For f e tresowi was cured eue?ydel 404
And curteyned vnder trecherye ;
For he this thing so sly^ly gan to guye
At pr[i]me face fat no man my^tfe] deme
By any worde, as it wolde seme, 408
Tn cher, in port, by signe or* daliaunce,
But fat he cast kny^tly for tavaunce
His $onge nevewe, as by lyklynesse,
To hi^e honour of manhood and prowesse. 412
For of f e entent, of whiche he gan pwrpose,
383. >ei] >ou$ D 1. 384. to] it A.
392. londe] londes D 1. 394. his] >ia D 2— Jw] om. D 1.
395. he] am. A. 397. contwneth] contuned A.
399. hath ben] he haj> D 1.
403. }>at] al D 1— mente] myght D 2.
405. curteyned] contrened D 1. 406. slyjly] hi^ly D 1
409. 2nd in] or D 1— or] of C. 410. for] om. D 1.
412. and] & of D 1.
and then he
]y hid
treachery
slyly hid
his trea '
by pretending
to further
Jason in
honour.
24 King Peleus praises and flatters Jason. [BK. I
)?e tixte was hyd, but no thing j>e glose,
Whiche was ccwueied so with flaterye,
Jpat the peple cowde not espye 416
Lytel or nou^t of his entent with-Inne.
Peieus starts For whiche anoon to preyse hvm bei be-gynne.
by praising
Jason, Jjat he suche honour to his nevewe wolde ;
For vrith swyche cher he be-gan vnfolde 420
To-forn hem al his entencioun, [leaf 46]
Jpat he hath voided al suspecioiw
From al fat wern assemblid in fe place ;
And toward lason he torne gan his face 424
Ful lovyngly in countenance and chere,
And to hym seide, J?at alle rny^ten here
Thoru^-out fe courte, wharc maked was silence,
Jpus word by worde platly in sentence : 428
syn lason, take hed what I schal seyn,
For J?e I am so inly glad and feyn
And supprised with myrthfe] foru} myn herte,
That it enchaseth & voideth al my smerte, 432
For to considere in myn inspecciou?z
Of pi ^owthe J?e disposiciourc,
J)e whiche, schortly for to comprehende,
flatters him Saue to* vertu to no thyng doth entende, 436
for his virtue -, . . . ..
andmanii- vn-to worschip and to gentilnesse,
To manly fredam and to hy^e largesse,
J?at verraily, wher I wake or wynke,
My loye is only ther-on for to thinke. 440
My silf I holde so passynge fortunat,
And al my londe, of hi^e and lowe estat,
J5at lykly arn in honour for to flete,
and keeping And to lyuen in reste and in quiete 444
in peace. Thoru$ thi support and )>i sowpoaille,
Whos manhod may so mochel vs availle,
By lyklyhed, and so moche amende,
In verray sothe to saue vs and diffende 448
Agayn al tho, as I can descry ue,
421. his] this A. 425. lovyngly] benignely D 1.
431. J>oru3] |>oru3 out D 1.
432. smerte] hert D 2. 436. to] vn to C.
445. sowpoaille] supposaylle A.
446. may so mochel vs] vs may so moche D 1.
BK. i] Peleus suggests to Jason the Quest of the Golden Fleece. 25
Jpat of malys wolde ageyn vs stryue
Or rebelle in any maner weye,
Of surqued[r]ye or pride to werreye 452
Our worthines, assured in tranquille,
From al assaut of hem pat wolde vs ille,
For to perturbe oure noble estat rial,
Ageynfels whom, whan pou art oure wal, 456 Peieussays
Jason is their
Our myjty schelde, and protecciourc : Bhwid against
)3us deme I fully in myii oppiniouw,
For of fin age, pi witte, pi prouidence,
])\ kny^tly hert, pi manly excellence, 460
Reported ben, and pin hy^e renou?z,
In many londe and many regiouw
J2is rouTzde worlde aboute in circuyt ;
How my^t I [panne] stonde in better ply^t, 464
For pin honowr, lyche as it is fourcde,
To my worschip so hi^ly doth rebouwde,
)5at I wolde plcynly and uat cesse,
3iffe I koude, helpe to encresse 468 and he wants
' •. . . to heighten
pm hi^e renoutt y-wis in euery hour,
And ther-vppon spendyn my tresour. [leaf 4 c]
J?is hi^e desyre, with-outen any faille,
Of enteer lone me doth so sore assaille, 472
Jpat ny^t nor day I may haue no reste ;
And al schal turne I hope for the beste,
For to enhaunce pin honour to pe heuene,
Aboue pe pole and pe sterres seuene. 476
To whiche ping I haue a weye espied,
As I my witte per-to haue applied,
})is is to mene, what schulde I lenge?1 dwelle,
My dere cosyn, as I schal the telle : 480
3if it so wer by manhood souereyne,
Of pi kny^thood pat [pou] durst atteyne
]5e flees of gold to conquere be pi strenthe,
Whiche is spoke of so fer in brede and lenthe, 484
456. whan] om. D 2. 459. prouidence] evydence D 2.
462. and] in D 1. 466. my] myche D 2— hijly] hi$e D 1.
467. wolde] wolde fayne D 1. 468. to] for to soone D 1.
471. faille] fable D 2. 472. enteer] hertly D 2.
473. I] om. A. 479. dwelle] seyn D 1.
480. the telle] be ful feyn D 1. 484. of] om. D 2.
26 Jason undertakes the Quest of the Golden Fleece. [BK. I
Peleus will
rejoice,
and all folk
will dread
him.
Peleus will
give Jason
his outfit,
and Thessaly
after his
death.
He begs
Jason to
undertake the
adventure.
Jason gladly
does so,
not suspect*
ing his uncle's
deceit.
And retourne hom in body safe and sounde ;
3if pis conquest my^t in the* be founde,
)3at pou durstest acheuen pis emprise,
More hertes loye koude I nat deuise 488
In al pis worlde ; for sothly at the best,
My rewme and I set wer pan in rest :
For, For pi manhod alle wolde vs drede.
Wherfore, cosyn, of kny^thood and manhed 492
Take vp-on pe my prayer and requeste,
And here my trouthe, & take it for beheste.
What euer nedeth in meyne or costage,
I wil my silf toward pis viage 496
Ordeyne I-now^ in harneys and array,
}5at nou^t schal faylen pat is to pi pay ;
And, more-ouer, I pleynly the ensure,
Jjat jif I se pou do pi besy cure, 500
J)is hi^e emprise for to bringe aboute,
j)ou schalt nat fere nor [I-]be in doute,
After my day, by succession?*,
For to be kyng of this regiourc, 504
And holy han septre and regalie.
Wherfor, lason, lyfte vp pin hertis eye,
Thenke pi name schal longe be recorded
Thoru^-oute pe worlde ; wherfor be accorfded] 508
With-in pi silf, and pleynly nat ne spare
Of pin entent pe somme to declare."
Whan lason had his vncle vndirstonde,
He reioyseth for to take on honde 512
J)is dredf ul labour, wit/i-out avisement ;
He nou^t aduerteth pe menyng fraudelent,
\)Q prevy poysourc vnder sugre cured,
Nor how to galle with hony he was lured, 516
J)e dirke deceyt, pe cloudy fals engyn,
485. in] om. D 1. 486. my^t in the] in the may C.
490. set] om. A— in] at D 1. 491. 2nd For] om. D 1.
494. beheste] the best A, be beste D 1.
496. >is] J>at D 1.
497. I-now$] yow A — harneys] armes A.
498. is] shal D 1. 502. nor I-be] nouber be D 1.
507. longe be] be longe D 1— be] be of D 2.
508. Thoru3-oute] Thorn? D 1. 510. to] for to D 1.
511. new IF A, D 1. 512. for] him for D 1.
BK. i] King Peleus has the ship Argon fitted out for Jason. 27
I-gilt -mt/t-oute, but vnder was venym,
Wher-to lason hath noon aduertence ; [leaf 4 d] Jaton thinks
Peleus true,
])e kyng, he wende, of clene conscience, 520
With-out[e] fraude, had al pis ping I-ment ;
Wher-for anoon he ^eveth f ul assent
At wordis fewe, and pleynly gan to seie »nd sayg he'll
His vncles wyl pat he wolde obeye ; 524
He was accorded, in conclusions,
With humble herte and hool intenciou?*.
Wher-of pe kyng resseyueth swyche gladnesse, Peleus is
ftat he vnnethe my^t it out expresse ; 528
But ryat as fast dide his besy peyne and prepare*
for Jason's
For pis lorney in hast for to ordeyne. voyage.
And for as moche as Colchos, pe cuntre,
Enclosed was aboute with a see, 532
And pat no man, how longe pat he striue,
With-out[e] schip theder may ariue,
To his presence anoon he dide calle He gets
Argus, the
Famous Argus, pat koude most of alle 536
To make a schip, & first pat art y-foiwde
To seille with by see* fro lond to londe,
fee whiche hath wroi^t a schip by sotil craft,
Which was pe first pat eue?' wawe raujt, 540
To haue entre ; and Argon bar pe name. to build the
Gramariens recorde }it the same, and fit it out.
])at eche gret schip, firste for pat mervail,
Is called so, whiche proudly bare hir seil, 544
As pis boke doth vs specifye,
How it be-fel forth of pis navie.
Whan al was redi, meyne and vitaille,
))ei bide nou^t but wynde for to saille ; 548
And many worthi was in pat companye, Many
Of noble byrth, and of gret allye, join Jaaon,
In pat viage redy for to goon,
Bothe for loue and worschip of lason. 552
518. I-gilt] Engilte D 1. 521. I-ment] mente D 1.
524. vncles] vncle D 1. 527. Wher-of] Wherfore D 1.
530. 2nd for] om. D 1. 537. y-fowide] fonde D 1.
538. see] \>e see C. 539. wroujt] made D 1.
543. firste] £t D 1. 545. vs] vs here D 1.
545-548 are repeated after 548 in D 1 ; the word vacat is written
in the margin.
28-
including
Hercules,
the most
renowned
hero,
who per-
formed his
Twelve
Labours :
1. he slew
Antheon,
2. and the
Hydra,
3. bound
Cerberus,
4. drove
away the
Harpies,
5. kild the
Centaurs,
6. and the
Nemean
Lion,
7. got the
Hercules joins Jason : his first six Labours. [BK. I
Amonges whiche fe grete Hercules,
Of force, of my^t, of strenthe pereles ;
And he begete was vppon Almene,
So inly fayr and wommanly to sene, 556
Of lubiter, and J>at fill long a-gon,
Takyng lyknesse of Amphytrion ;
Down fro heuene, for al his deyete,
He was ravisched Jjoru^ lust of hir bewte ; 560
For he hir loued with hert and hool entent.
And of hem two, sothly by discent,
Cam Hercules, fe worthi famus kny^te,
Most renomed of manhood and of my3te, 564
"Whiche in his tyme was so merveillous,
So excellent, and so victoryous,
)3at Ouyde lyst recorde hym silue,
Methamorphoseos, his famws dedis twelue, [leaf 5 a] 568
Whiche ben remembrid ther in special,
In his honour for a memorial.
And to reherse hem in order by and by,
3if 36 list here, I purpose outterly : 572
He slou^e Antheon in )>e eyr on hey^t,
And many geant, what with my$t & slei^te,
He outraide, for al her lymes rude ;
)3e serpent Ydre he slou$ eke in Palude, 576
And Cerberus J>e hownde he bond so sore,
At helle ^atis fat he barke no more,
And made hym voide his venym in fat strif ,
And vpwarde $af hym suche a laxatyf, 580
ftat al fe worlde his brethe contagyous
Infected hath ; it was so venymous.
And with o wynde he wolde rewne a stadye ;
He fledde arpies, briddes of Archadye, 584
And slou$ centauris, j>e bestis monstruous ;
)3e feerse lyon he byrafte his hous ;
#is [is] to seyen, whan pat he was slawe,
Out of his skyn he hath hym stripte & flawe, 588
With cruel herte, foru3 his hi^e renoura ;
558. of] of the D 1. 567. recorde] recorde it D 1.
572. here] to here D 1. 578. barke] brak A.
584. fledde] kacchyd A, chasid D 1 — arpies] Aripes D 1.
BK. i] The other Labours of Hercules. Jason proposes to sail. • 29
\)Q goldene apply s he bare fro J>e dragouw ;
J9e fyry cat he slou^ with-out[e] more ;
And of Archadye, fe cruel tuschy boor ;
And at the last, on his schulders square,
Of verray niy^t pe firmament he bare.
But for J?at I may not rekne[n] al
His passyng dedis, whiche ben historial,
Redeth Ovide, and J>er ^e schal hem fynde ;
Of his trivmphes how he maketh mynde,
J5oru^-out j>e worlde how he hyra honour fette,
And of \>Q pelers at Gades* bat he sette,
Whiche Alysaundre of Macedonye kyng,
]3at was so worthi her in his lyvyng,
Rood in his conqueste, as Guydo lyst to write,
With al his hooste proudly to visite ;
Ee-^ownde whiche no land is* habitable,
Nor see to saille sothly couenable :
So fer it is by-^onde be occian,
Jpat schipman noon ferber [no] sky][le] can;
Sibellys streytes Maryners it calle,
And be bourcdes, })ei named ben of alle,
Of Hercules, for he hym silf hem sette,
As for markys alle other for to lette
Ferther to passe, as Guydo maketh mynde ;
And be place is callyd, as I fynde,
Syracenyca, as fyn of his labour,
Or Longa Saphi, recorde of myn auctour.
Of bis mater more what schulde I seyn; [leafs*]
For vnto lason I wil retourne a-geyn,
J3at in al haste dothe hym redy make,
Of his vncle whan he hath leue take,
Toward be see, and Hercules y-fere,
With alle his men, anoon as 36 schal here.
The tyme of 3er, whan b e schene sowne
In his spere was so fer vp ronne,
591. cat] Chat D 2, D 1.
599. f>oru3-out] Thoru} D I— hym honour] >e honour hym
600. Gades] Gates C. 605. no land is] is no land C.
608. no] am. D 1. 609. it] hem D 1.
610. ]>ei named ben] be they namyd ek A.
614. callyd] clepid D 1. 620. take] I-take D 1.
621. y-fere] in fere D I.
592
596
Golden
Apples of the
Hesperides,
8. slew the
fierv Cat,
and 9. the
Erymanthian
Boar,
10. carried
the Firma-
ment on his
shoulders.
600 He set up the
Pillars at
Gades,
604
608
612
616
in the Sibyls'
Straits.
But I'll
return to
Jason.
620
624 When the
Dl.
30
Jason and Hercules set sail for Colchos. [BK. I
sun has past
Gemini
and grass is
wont to be
mowd
in June,
Jason,
Hercules, and
their friends
set sail for
Colchos,
Philoctetes
being captain.
pat he was passid pe sygne of Gemeny,
And had his chare whirled vp so hy$,
Thoru$ pe drai^t of Pirous so rede,
pat he had made in pe crabbis hede
His mansioiw, and his see ryal,
Wher halowed is pe standyng estyval
Of f resche Appollo with his golden wayn ;
Whan heerdemen in hert[e] ben so fayn
For [pe] hete to shroude hem in pe schade,
Vnder pis braunchis and pise bowis glade ;
Whan Phebus bemys, pat so bry$t[e] schyne,
Descended ben ry$t as any lyne,
And cause pe eyre be refleccioiw
To ben ful hoot, pat lusty fresche sesouw,
Whan cornys gynne in pe felde to sede ;
And pe grasys in the grene niede
From $er to $er ben of custom mowe,
And on pe pleyn cast and leide ful lowe,
Til pe moystour consumed be a-way,
On holt and heth pe mery somerys day —
At whiche tyme pis ^ong[e] kny^t lason
With Hercules is to schip[pe] goon ;
And with hem eke, as I reherse can,
Of Grekys eke [ful] many a lusty man,
Schiped echon with ryal apparaille.
And whan pei wer crossed vnder saille,
With-Inne pe schip, whiche pat Argus made,
Whiche was so stawnche it my$t no water lade,
pei gan to seille and had[de] wynd at wille ;
pe schip gan breke pe sturdy wawys ille
Vppon pe see, and so bothe day and ny3te
To Colchos-ward pei helde pe weye ry^t,
Guying her cours by the lode sterre,
Wher pei seille by costys ne$e or ferre.
For Philotetes was her alder guyde,
pat koude a-forn so prudently prouide,
628
636
640
644
648
652
656
660
625. sygne of] om. A. 628. had] hath A.
632. herte] her to A. 637. be] by hir D 1.
640. grasys] graces D 1. 641. ben] by D 1. 645. )>is] the A.
646. goon] so goon D 1. 647. hem] hym D 1.
648. a] om. A, D 2. 657. Guying] Begynnyng D 1.
BK. i.] How Philoctetes pilots Jason's ship to Colchos. 31
Of verray insist to cast a-forn and se
Tempest or wynd, bothe on lond and* see,
Or whan ther schulde trouble of stormys fal ;
For he was mayster pleynly of hem alle
In schipman crafte, and chose her gouernour,
And koude hem warne aforn of euery shour [leaf 5 c]
That schulde falle, whan sterrys dide apere.
And specialy, as Guy do doth vs lere,
JMs Philotetes, whiche was no fool,
Hadde moste his sy$t erect vn-to fe pool,
His aduertence and clere inspections,
To j>e sterrys and constellaciourc,
Which fe axtre rounde aboute goon,
Jpat clerkis calle fe Septemtryon.
For as fe pool y-called Arthicus
Euere in on appereth vn-to vs,
Jvy^t so in sothe, who can loke ary^t,
Antharticus is schrouded from our sy^t.
But to schipmen fat ben discrete and wyse,
Jpat list her cours prudently deuise
Vp-on fe see, haue suffisaunce y-nowe
To guye her passage by Arthouris Plowe ;
For it to hem is direcciouw
Vn-to fe costis of euery regiouw,
With help only of nedle and of stoon,
J)ei may nat erre what costys fat fei gon.
For maryners fat ben discrete and sage,
And expert ben of her lood manage
By straunge costys for to seille ferre,
Guyen her cours only by f e sterre
Whiche fat Arthour compasseth environs ;
jpe whiche cercle and constellaciouw
I-called is the cercle Artofilax :
662. or] & D 1 — and] or C. — This line is misplaced at bottom of
column in D 2, and marked b ; 661 is marked a.
663. of stormys] or tempest D 1.
673. Which] With A, D 2— axtre] axil tree D 1.
675. y-called] called D 1. 677. can] >at can D 1.
683. is] is trewe D 1. 685. 2nd of] om. A.
686. >at] om. D 2.
692. misplaced at bottom of column in D 2.
693. I-called is] The whiche D 2.
664
668
672
676
680
684
688
Philoctetes
attended to
the North
Pole,
and piloted
the ship by
Arthur's
Plough.
32 Of Ursa Major and Minor. Jason lands near Troy. [BK. I
Poets say of
the poles that
Calixtone and
her son
Archadius
were turned
to stars :
she was cald
Ursa Major,
and her son
Ursa Minor.
They reach
the coast of
Troy.
Who knoweth it nedeth no more to axe.
For it to schipmen on ]?e sterry nyjt
lis suffisaimt, whan J?ei sen his lyjt.
And as poetis of Jns poolis tweyne
In her bokys lyketh for to feyne,
And in her dytees declaren vn-to vs :
Calixtone and Archadius,
Hir oune sone, wern y-stellefied
In J>e heuene and y-deified ;
For that luno to hir hadde envie,
With lubiter whan sche dide hir espie.
For whiche sche was in-to a here turned,
And for hir gilt sche hath in erthe morned,
Til in-to heuene, Naso can jow telle,
Sche was translated, etmially to dwelle
Amongis sterrys, wher as sche is stallyd,
And Vrsa Maior is of clerkys callyd ;
So as hir sone, for his* worthi fame,
Of Vrsa Mynor bereth jet be name.
Of whiche be course myjtfe] nat asterte
Philotetes, bat was be niooste experte
Of alle schipmen bat euer I herde telle ;
For of konyng he myjt bere be belle.
And whan be Grekys had[de] long[e] be
Fordryue and cast, seilyng in be se,
For-weried after [her] trauaille,
J)ei cast [tjarive, 3 if it wolde availle,
Hem to refresche and disporte in loye,
Vp-on be bouwdys of be lond of Troye.
[leaf 5 d]
696
700
704
708
712
716
720
Howe lason arryved bysyde Troy withe Hercules for
to refresshe him and his menye.1
"\~WThan Hercules and lasoura on his hond,
Out of her schip taken han be lond,
701, 702. D 1 omits the y in the participle.
703. luno to hir hadde] love had to hir D 1.
704. With] Whiche D 1.
709. as] J>at D 1— stallyd] estalled D 1. 711. his] hir C.
714. mooste] more D 1. 717. be] y be D 1.
719. after] moche after here D 1 — her] om. A, D 2.
720. tarive] arive D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 11 c.
724
BK. i] The Greeks land near Troy. The Trojans suspect them. 33
And with hem eke her kny^tes euerychon,
]5at fro f e see ben to lond[e] goon,
For-weried after her trauaille ;
And f ei in sothe come to arivaille
At Symeonte, an hauene of gret renoim,
ftat was a lyte* by-syde Troye town —
And f ei wer glad to ben in sikirnesse
From storm and tempest after werynesse ;
For f ei ne ment tresouw, harm, nor gyle,
But on f e stronde to resten hem a while ;
To hynder no wy$t, of no maner age,
Nor in fat He for to do damage
To man [n]or beste, wher-euere fat j)ei goo,
But for to abyde f er a day or two
Hem to refresche, and repeire a-noon
Whan fat f e rage of f e see wer goon.
And whiles fei [vp-]on fe stronde leye,
)}ei no thyng dide but disporte and playe,
And bathe & wasche hem in f e fresche ryuer,
And drank watrys fat were swote & clere,
)3at sprange lyche cristal in f e colde welle,
And toke ri^t nou^t, but it were to selle.
It was no f ing in her entenciourc
Vn-to no wy}te to done offencioura,
For to moleste or greuen ony wj^t ;
But fe ordre of Fortunys my3t
Hath eue?*e envy fat men lyue in ese,
Whos cours enhasteth vnwarly to dissese.
For sche was cause, God wotte, causeles,
))is gery Fortune, f is lady reccheles,
)3e blynde goddesse of transmutaciou?*,
To turne her whele by reuoluciou?i
To make Troyens vniustly for to wene
J3at Grekys werne arived hem to tene.
So fat f e cause of f is suspeciourc
Hath many brou^t vn-to destrucciou;?.
727. her] here grete D 1.
728. in] for D 2— to arivaille] to J>« ryuaille D 1.
730. a lyte] alyte C.
736. damage] outrage D 1. 741. vp-on] on D 1.
743. bathe & wasche] ba>ed he?n & freisshid D 1. 757.
TROY BOOK.
728 TheGreekg
land at Syme-
onte, a port
near Troy.
732
736
740
They bathe,
and drink
744 freshwater,
748 and do
offence to no
tho' Fortune
752
756
760
makes the
Trojans think
they mean
harm.
for] dm. D 1.
D
34 Why Troy was destroyd ly Fortune : for Revenge. [BK. I
Unjust sus-
picion
was the
cause of the
destruction
of Troy,
merely that
Fortune
should take
vengeance
on it.
Slight
quarrels grow
into war.
Ful many worth! of kynges and of princes
J3oru$-oute pe worlde, rekned in provinces,
Werne by pis sclawnder vn-to myschief * brou^t,
For thing, alias, fat was neuer thou^t. [leaf 6aj 764
For it was cause and occasions
J?at ))is cite and pis royal town
Distroied was, as it is pleynly fownde,
Whos walles hi^e were bete down to groumle. 768
And many [a] man and many [a] worpi kny^te
Were slawe per, and many lady bry^te
Was wydowe made by duresse of pis werre,
As it is kouthe and reported ferre ; 772
And many mayde in grene & tender age
Be-lefte wer sool, in pat grete rage,
Behynd her fadris, alias, it falle sclmlde !
And for no ping but pat Fortune wolde 776
Schewen her my^t and her cruelte,
In vengauwce takyng vp-on pis cite.
Alias, pat euere so worpi of estate
Schulde for lytel fallen at debate ! 780
Whan it is gonwe it is not ly^t to staunche :
For of griffyng of a lytel braunche,
Ful sturdy trees growe[n] vp ful of te ;
Who clymbeth hy^e may not falle softe ; 784
And of sparky s pat ben of sy$t[e] smale,
Is fire engendered pat devoureth al ;
And a quarel, first of lytel hate,
Encauseth flawme of contek and debate, 788
And of envie to sprede a-brod ful ferre.
And pus, alias, in rewmys mortal werre
[Is] First be-gonne, as men may rede and see,
Of a sparke of lytel enmyte, 792
)3at was not staurcchid first whan it was* gorane.
For whan pe fyre is so fer y-ronne,
761. 2nd of] om. D 1. 763. myschief] deth C.
765. and] of D 1. 770, 773. many] many a D 1.
772. As] And D 1. 776. >at] for"D 1. '
778. >is] bat D 1. 735. sparkys] sparkles D 1.
787. And a quarel] Also of wrath D 1— quarel] gnast A, D 2.
790. alias in rewmys] in rewmes alias D 1.
792. sparke] sparkle D 1. 793. first] om. D 1—2
794. y-ronne] ronne D 1.
-2nd was] is C.
BK. l] The rise of Rome was due to the destruction of Troy. 35
J)at it enbraseth hertis by hatrede
To make hem brenne, hoot as any glede,
On ouper party foru} his cruel tene,
})er is no stauwche but scharpfe] swerdys kene,
£e whiche, alias, consumeth al and sleth ;
And pus pe fyne of enmyte is deth.
J3ou} J>e gynnyng be but casuel,
#e fret abydyng is passyngfly] cruel
To voide rewmys of reste, pees, and loye,
As it fil whilom of pis worthi Troye.
It doth me wepe of pis case sodeyne ;
For euery wy3t ou3te to compleyne,
J)at lytel gylte schulde haue swyche vercgauwce,
Except parcas poru3 goddys puruyaunce,
J)at pis mescheffe schulde after be
Folwyng per-chaunse of gret felicite.
For Troyfe] brou^t vn-to destrucciouw.
Was pe gynnyng and occasions —
In myn auctor as it is specified — [leaf 66]
|?at worthi Rome was after edefied
By pe of-spryng of worpi Eneas,
Whilom fro Troye whan he exiled was.
Jpe whiche Rome, rede and 36 may se,
Of al pe worlde was hed and chef cite,
For pe passyng famous worthinesse.
And eke whan Troye was brou^t in distresse,
And pe wallis cast and broke down,
It was in cause pat many regioun
Be-gonne was, and many gret cite :
For pis Troyan, pis manly man Enee,
By sondri sees gan so longe saille,
Til of fortune he com in-to Ytaille,
And wan pat lond, as bookes tellen vs.
With whom was eke his sone Askanius,
The end of
dispute is
the sword
and death,
800
804 aa in the (;asc
of Troy. .
808
But happi-
ness followd,
for Troy's
ruin was
2 Rome's start,
816
820
824
828
and the rise
of many
cities.
For Eneas
saild to
Italy, and
won it,
conquer d it.
801. gynnyng] begynnywg D 1.
802. fret abydyng] abidinge hete D 1.
804. whilom] so/ratine D 1. 811. vn-to] to D 1.
812. gynnyng and] begynnynge & J>e D 1.
814. after] aftwarde D 1. 816. Whilom] Somroe tyme D 1.
819. passyng famous] famous passnge A, farmw? passinge D 1.
820. was brou3t] brought was A. 822 many] many a D 1.
827. wan] whan D 2, D 1.
36 How
His succes-
sors were
Ascanius,
Silvius, and
Brute, who
won Britain
from the
Giants.
His mate
Francus built
the town of
France, while
Anthenor
founded
Venice,
and Sycanus
Sicily.
Eneas
started
Naples,
and
Diomedes,
France, Venice, Sicily & Naples were founded. [BK. i
pat after Enee next be-gan succede
The lond of Ytaille iustly to possede ;
And after hym his sone Silvius,
Of whom cam Brute, so passyngly famws.
After whom, $if I schal nat feyne,
Whilom pis lond called was Breteyne ;
For he of geauwtys poru3 his manhood wan
pis noble yle, and it first be-gan.
From Troye also, with pis ilke Enee,
Cam worthi Francus, a lord of hi3e degre,
Whiche vp-on Kone, tencressen his renouw,
Bilt in his tyme a ful royal tovn,
pe whiche sothly, his honour to avaunce,
After his name he made calle Fraunce ;
And pus be-gan, as I vnderstond,
pe name first of pat worthi lond.
And Anthenor, departyng from Troyens,
Gan first pe cite of Yenycyens ;
And Sycanus, witMnne a lytel while,
Gan enhabite pe lond of Cecyle.
And after partyng of ]?is Sycanus,
His worthi brother, called Syculus,
So as I fynde, regned in pat yle ;
And after hym it called was Cecille.
But Eneas is to Tuscy goon,
It tenhabite with peple ri$t anoon ;
And in Cecille he Naplis first be-gan,
To whiche ful many Neopolitan
Longeth pis day, ful riche & of gret my3t.
And Diomedes, pe noble worpi kny3t,
Whan Troye was falle with his toures faire,
As to his regne he cast[e] to repaire,
His leges gan to feynen a querele
A-geyn[e]s hym, and schop hem to rebelle ; [leaf 6 c]
And of malys and conspiraciou?z,
829. next be-gan] dooth by lyne A, doth the lyne D 1.
834. Whilom] Sommetyme D 1.
839. Rone] Rome A, Seyne D 1. 842. calle] calle it D 1.
846. Gan] Bigan D 1. 848. Gan] Bygan D 1.
849. partyng] >e departinge D 1. 853. to] vn to D 1.
857. of gret] moche of D 1. 861. to feynen] for to feyne A.
832:
836
840
844
848
852
856
860
BK. i] How some Greeks were changed into Birds by Circe. 37
)3ei hym with-hilde bothe septer & crovn, 864
Her duete and her olde lygaiwce,
And hym denye troupe and obeissance.
Wher-for a-noon, so as bokes telle,
With al his folke he went[e] for to dwelle 868
Yn-to Callabre, and gan it to possede.
And [per] pe kny^tes of pis Dyomede,
#at fro Troye han him* pider swed,
To forme of briddes wern anon transmwed 872
By Cyrces crafte, doubter of pe sonne,
And in pe eyr to fleen anoon pei go?me,
And called ben, in Ysidre as I rede,
Amonges Grekys briddes of Dyomede. 876
But as som bokys of hem her witnesse,
J)is chaurcge was made be Venus pe goddesse,
Of wrath sche had to pis worthi kny^te ;
Only for sche sawe hym onys fy^te 880
With Eneas, hir owne sone dere.
At whiche tyme, as pei fau^t I-fere,
And Diomede with a darte I-grouwde
Gan hame at hyrn a dedly mortal wouwde, 884
His moder Venws gan anoon hym schroude
Vnder a skye and a mysty cloude,
To sauen hym fat tyme fro meschaurcce.
And for pis skyl Venws took vengauwce : 888
In-to briddes to turne his meyne.
And in pat forme fro 3er to 3er pei fle
Vn-to his towmbe, wher as* he is graue.
"So vp-on hym a mynde* $it pei haue, 892
ftat of custom for a remembrauwce,
A rite pei holde and an observauttce
At his exequies, pise briddes euerychon,
A dayes space, and pe?mys nou3t ne gon. 896
And ouer-more, as it to hem is dwe,
]5ei loue Grekis, and platly pei eschewe
Latyns alle, for ou3t pat may be-tyde :
871. him] hem C. 880. Only] Sothly D 1.
882. I-fere] in fere D 1, D 2. 889. his] al his D 1.
890. >at] the A. 891. as] pot C. 892. a mynde] amynde C.
897. ouer-more] over that D 1 — it to hem is] it is to hem D 1.
S98. 1st >ei] To A.
refused by his
own subjects,
obtaind
Calabria.
There, his
Greek
followers
were changed
into birds by
Circe.
But some
books say
this change
was made by
Venus,
because
Diomedes
aimd a
mortal dart
at her son
Eneas.
And yearly
these birds
fly to Diome-
dea's tomb,
and stay
there for a
day.
These Greek-
birds avoid
Latins.
(This was
due to
sorcery and
false enchant-
ment.)
When Troy
wasde-
stroyd,
many cities
were built.
38 The Greek-changed Birds. Lamedon hears of the Greeks. [BK.I
For pei present, a-noon pei flen aside ; 900
And eche from other, as bokys vs assure,
Jjis briddes knowe, only of nature,
Grekys and Latyns kyndely assonder,
Whan pei hem seen : pe whiche is swiche a worader* 904
Yn-to my witte, pat I can nou^t espie
Jje causys hid of swiche sorcerye —
But wel I wot, pou$ my wit be blent,
}pat rote of al was fals enchauTitement. 908
But of our feithe we ou^te to defye
Swiche apparencis schewed to pe eye,
Whiche of pe fende is but illusiouw — [leafed]
Her-of no more. & pus whan Troie tovn 912
Euersed was, and I-brou^t to nou^t,
Ful many cite was I-bilt and wrou^t,
And many lond and many riche tovn
Was edified by thocasiourc 916
Of pis werre, as $e han herde me telle.
Whiche to declare now I may not dwelle
From point to point, lyche as bokis seyn,
For to lason I wil resorte ageyn, 920
feat londed is with worthi Hercules
At Symeonte, pe hauene pat he* ches,
As I haue tolde, to reste hem & couwforte,
And for not elles but only to disporte. 924
But to pe kyng, regnyng in Troye town,
J)at was pat tyrne called Lamedown,
was toid that Of fals envy reported was and tolde,
h°ad landed in How certeyn Grekis wern of herte bolde 928
his territory, »
To entre his lond, pe whiche pei nat knewe,
Wel arrayed in a vessel newe.
Whiche to arryve had[de] no lycence,
And hem purpose [for] to doon offence, 932
Be liklyhed, and his lond to greue :
For pei of pryde, with-outerc any leue
904. a wonder] awowder C. 906. causys] cause is D 1.
909. But] And D 1. 913. I-broujt] brou^te D 1.
915. many] many a (twice) D 1.
919. bokis] my bookes D 1. 920. resorte] retorne D 1.
922. he] bei C. 925. regnyng in] bat tyme of D 1.
931. arryve] arrive tyre D 1.
I now go
back to Jason,
who landed
at Symeonte
with
Hercules
(p. 38).
Its king,
Lamedon,
BK. l] King Lamedon sends an Ambassador to Jason,
Or safcondyte, ban J?e stronde y-take ;
And swiche maistries on j?e lond fei make,
As in her power wer alle mane?' thyng,
Havyng no rewarde pleynly to }>e kyng ;
Of his estat take J?ei noon hede.
Of swyche straungeris gretly is to drede,
3iffe men be laches outlier necligent
Fully to wit what is her entent,
But furthe prolong, & no pereil caste :
Swiche sodeyn J>mg wolde be wist as faste,
And nat differrid til fe harme be do ;
It wer wisdam fat it were seie to :
Men may to long suffryn and abyde
Of necligence for to lete slyde
For to enqueren of her gouernaunce.
J)is was ]>e speche and J?e dalyaunce,
Eueryche to other by relacioiw,
In euery strete thoru^-oute Troye tovn.
Sowme rovnyng & so??zme spak a-brood ;
And J?is speche so longe fer a-bood
From on to a-nother, sothly, J>at j?e sovn
Reported was to kyng Lamed ovn,
As 36 ban herde, J?e whiche of wilfulnesse,
With-out[e] couMsail or avisenesse,
To hast[i]ly maked hath his sonde,
To wit how pei wern hardy for to londe
Be-syde his leue, of presumpciourc.
Wher-fore he bad, in conclusions,
With-oute abood sone to remwe,
Or finally J>ei schulde nat eschewe
To be compellid, mavgre who seith nay.
And so J>e kyng, vp-on a certeyn day,
In haste hath sent his embassatour
Vn-to lason, of Grekys gouernour,
Jjat novther thou^t harme nor vylonye,
936
940
944
without
regard to
him.
So folk in
Troy said
this must be
seen to.
948
952
956 Accordingly
King
Lamedon
[leaf 7 a] 960
964
sent his
Ambassador
968 to Jason,
940. gretly] greet A. 941. outher] or be D 1.
943. furthe] for to D 1. 944. wolde] shulde D 1
945. be] were D 1. 950. and] of A.
952. thoru^-oute] thorugh A. 953. rovnyng] rowned D 1
955. a-nother] othir D 1. 957. J>e] om. D 1.
960. for] om. D 1. 962. in] as in D 1.
40 K. Lamedon lids Jason and his men learn Troy -land. [BK. I
and told him
he was Bur-
prised at bis
(Jason's)
coming,
and bade him
leave the
land at once
or the lives of
him and his
folk would be
in danger.
But Innocent, with his companye,
Disported hym endelong f e stronde,
And euer hath do sethen he cam to londe. 972
And of fe charge fat he on hym leyde,
And word by word to lason how he seide,
As in effecte with euery circumstaurcce,
j)is was fe somme pleiiily in substauwce : 976
Howe Kenge Lamedon, by vndiscret cou?zcele, sent
his messenger to lason to go owt of his lande.1
" rflhe wise, worthi, moste fanms of renourc,
JL fte my3ty kyng, f e noble Lamedourc,
Hath vn-to 3ow his message sent,
Of whiche theffect, as in sentement, 980
Is f is in sothe : fat he hath mervaille
In-to his* londe of 3 our ariuaille,
Bryngyng ^iih 3ow Grekys nat a fewe,
And haue no condyte with* 3ow [for] to schewe, 984
Protecciouw, pleynly, nor lycence,
In preiudise of his magnificence.
Wherfore he hath on me f e charge leyde,
And wil to 3ow fat it be platly seyde, 988
))at 36 anoon, with-oute more delay,
With-out[e] noyse, or any more affray,
Of Troye lond f e bowndis fat 36 leve ;
Or 30 w and 3oures he casteth for to greve. 992
And bet it is with ese to departe,
}3an of foly 3our lyues to luparte,
In any wyse, for lak of prouidence,
Ageyns his wille to make resistence, 996
Outher of pride or of wilfulnesse,
For to be bolde wM-oute avisenesse
To interrupte his felicite ;
For he desyreth in tranquillite 1000
To holde his regne, w£'t/*-oute parturbauwce.
972. sethen] sith D 2, D 1.
974. to lason how he] howe he to lason D 1.
975. in effecte] infecte D 1. 981. hath] hab moche D 1.
982. his] bis C. 984. with] for C.
985. nor] or D 2, ne no D 1.
986. his] his hi^e D 1. 997. or] oubir D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 12 d.
BK. i] Jason consults his Folk as to obeying King Lamedon. 41
In whos persone is made swyche aliaunce
Atwen his manhood & royal mageste,
ftat Jjei nyl suffre noon of no degre 1004
Tenpugne his quiete in any maner wyse,
Wherfore I consaille, ag 36 seme wyse,
To taken hede vn-to )>at I seye, fon?Lame"
And his byddyng no3t to disobeie, 1008 fJJjJJJjJJJn
Liste 36 offende his kyngly excellence. [leaf 7 6] to go at once.
For 36 schal fynde in experience,
With-oute feynyng, sothe al j>at I telle ;
Take hede perfor, I may no lenger dwelle 1012
From poynt to poynt, syth 30 be wis and sage,
For ])is is hool jjeffecte of my massage."
Whan lason herd of )>e massanger Jason
J)ise wordes alle, he gan chaunge cher, 1016
And kepte hym cloos, we't/i sobre contenauwce,
And was nat hasty for Ire nor greuauwce ;
For no rancour he cai^te of his tale,
Saue in his face he gan to wexe pale, 1020
Long abydyng or ou3t he wolde seyn.
And or he spak any worde ageyn
Vn-to hym J?at from J)e kyng was sent,
He gan disclose be sorame of his entent 1024 consults his
folk, telling
Vn-to his foolke stondyng ronde aboute ;
For vn-to hem he discurede oute
Jpe message hool, firste whan he abreide,
And worde by worde jms to hem he seyde : 1028 them how
Off the Answer of lason to the messenger of
Lamedown.1
" Sirs," he seyth, " to 3ow be it knowe —
Taketh hede, I praye, both hy3 and lowe —
How Lamedoiw, fat is kyng of Troye, King
Hath sent to vs a wonderful envoye, 1032
Chargynge in haste to hy^e oute of his lond : has bidden
them quit his
1003. Atwen] Bitwene D 1. 1004. nyl] wil D 1. land>
1012. berfor] her of D 1. 1015. new 1F A, D 1.
1020. pale] al pale D 1. 1026. oute] it oute D 1.
1028. hem he] him D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 13 b (misplaced after line 1084).
42 Jason comments on Lamedons want of Hospitality. [BK. I
tho they
came only to
refresh them-
selves.
Surely a king
of honour
should have
told his
people to
comfort
strangers.
Had Lame-
don come to
Greece
And axeth how we vp-on f e stronde
For to arive hadden hardinesse,
With-oute leue : seth here * his gentillesse,
And his fredam, f e whiche is nat a lite !
How lyche a kyng fat he can hym, quite
Vn-to strauwgerys fat entren in his He
For nou$t, God wot, but for a litel while
Hem to refresche, and departe anoon,
Lyche as $e can recorder euerychon,
And here witnes, bothe alle and sorame.
Alias, fredam, wher is it now be-com 1
Where is manhood, and gentilnesse also,
Whiche in a kyng to-gidre bothe two
Schulde of custom han her restyng place ?
And wher is honour, fat schulde also enbrace
A lordis hert, whiche of kny^tly ry$t,
Of manly fredam, with alle his fulle my$t,
Schulde straurageris refresche and reconforte,
})at aftir-ward f ei my^t of hym reporte
Largesse expert, manhood, and gentillesse,
J)at f ei han fourcden in his worthinesse.
For ^iffe noblesse wer of his allye,
And fredam eke knyt with his regalye,
So as longeth to honour of a kyng,
He schulde haue chargid, first of al[le] thing, [leaf 7 <o
His worthi liges, with al fat my^tfe] plese,
To haue schewed f e comfort and f e ese,
With al hir my$t and her besy cure,
Vn-to strauwgeris fat of aventure
Wern in fe see dryuen and dismaied,
And of our comfort nat ben euel [a] payed.
For 3if fat he in any cas semblable,
Outher. by fortune fat is variable,
By sort or happe, fat may not be wif-stonde,
Arived had in-to Grekys londe,
1036. here] hir C. 1037. J?e] om. D 1.
1038. can] gan D 1. 1041. and] and to A.
1043. here] om. A — bothe] om. A.
1047. of custom han] haue of custome D 1.
1053. manhood] fredom D 1. 1058. alle] any D 1.
1060. 2nd be] om.. A.
1036
1040
1044
104$
1052
105ft
1060
1064
1068
BK. i] Jason will pay Lamedon out for his Discourtesy. 43
More honestly,* lyche to his degre,
He schulde of vs haue resseived be, he'd have
been well
Lyche as it longeth vn-to gentene. receivd.
But syth fat he, for ou^t I can espie, 1072
Hath fredam, honour, and humanite
Atonys made oute of his courte to fle,
Chose dishonour and late worschip goon — But as Lame-
don has
ber is no more, but we schal euerychon, 1076 chosen dis-
honour,
ftat he hath chosen help[e] to fulfille,
Whan power schal nat be lyke his wille ;
jjis [is] to seyne, and sothe it schal be founde,
jpat his dede schal on hym silfe* rebounde — 1080 "shall
rebound
Sith of malys he hath f is werke be-gonrce — on him»
Para venture or f e somer sonne
))e sodiak hath thnes gon aboute.
For late hym trust, & no fing bera in doute, 1084
We schal hym serue with swyche as he hath sou^t ;
For $if I lyue it schal be dere abou^t,
Al-be f er-of I sette as now no tyde.
And in his* lond I nyl no lenger byde 1088
Til I haue leiser better to soiorne." andhe'iiget
. .. , , punishment.
And with fat worde he gan anoon to turne
With manly face and a sterne chere
Sodeynly vn-to fe massangere, 1092
J)at fro f e kyng was vn-to hym * sent ;
And in bis wyse he scheweth his entent : so Jason
ironically
tells Lame-
HoW lason and Hercules toke displeasure with Kyng Ambassador
Lamedowne of Troye, gyuyng his messanger know-
lege of their next cowmynge to gyue hym batayle
For his vndiscreet co?»maundeme?it.1
" My frende," qwod he, " I haue wel vnderstande
)3e massage hool, fat fou toke on honde, 1096
Of f i kyng to bryng[en] vn-to vs
1069. honestly] honestlyche C.
1076. per] That D 1. 1078. Whan] Tharaie D 1.
1080. schal on hym silfe] on hym silfe schal C.
1085. he] om. D 2. 1088. his] Jns C, D 2— byde] abide D 2.
1092. Sodeynly] Al sodeinly D 1.
1093. was vn-to hym] vn-to hym was C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 13 c.
44
that he
remembers
Lamedon's
gifts
Jason's ironical answer to Zing Lamedon. [BK. I
and goodness,
and his
welcome.
Jason never
meant him
any harm,
but was
driven by
storm to
land,
and meant
soon to leave.
now vnwarly ; & syth it standeth f us,
I haue his menyng euerydel
From point to point, & vnderstonde it wel —
For word by worde I haue it plein cowseived,
And f e siftes fat we han resseived
On his by-halue in our gret[e] nede,
I wil remembre, and take ri$t gode hede
To euery f ing fat f ou hast vs bro^t.
For trust[e] wel fat I for^ete it nou^t,
But enprente it surly in my mynde ; [leaf 7 d]
And with al f is, how goodly fat we fynde
fee gret[e] bourcte in al maner thing,
With-in fis lond of Lamedourc fi* kyng :
His wolcomyng and his gret[e] cher,
And goodly* sond fat j>ou bryngist her,
Nat accordyng [vn-]to oure entent ;
For God wel wot, fat we neuer ment
Harine vn-to hym, nor pleinly no damage
To noon of his of no maner age.
And her-vppon f e goddis inmortal,
ftat of kynde ben celestial,
Vn-to recorde vfith al myn hert I take ;
And touchyng pis my borwys I hem make,
In witnessyng we ment[e] noon offence,
Ne toke nat? as by violence,
With-in his rewme of wommarc, child, nor man ;
And so f ou maist reporte $if f ou can —
But for fat we, fordriuen in f e se,
Compellid wern of necessite
For to ariue, as f ou haste herd me seyn,
Only to reste vs her vp-on f e pleyn,
With-oute more, vn-to a certeyn day,
And after-ward to holde furf e our way
Vp-on our lorneye, & make no tariyng,
1100
1104
1108
1112
1116
1120
1124
1128
1100. it] om. D 2. 1101. plein] ora. D 2, plemly D 1.
1106. truste] truste me D 2— truste wel >at] truste> D 1.
1107. surly] sothly D 1. 1110. >i] >e C, D 1.
1112. And] om. D 1— goodly] >e goodly C.
1118. ben] bene ay D 1. 1122. nat] no >ing D 1.
1123. his] J>is D 1. 1125. fordriuen] dryven A— in] were in D 1.
1131. make] to make D 2.
BK. i] Hercules threatens a Greek Invasion of Troy. 45
Liche as fou maist recorde to \>\ kyng — 1132
And seye hym eke he schal fe tyme se
}3at he par-avnter schal mow Ranked be,
Whan tyme corny th, by vs or by som other :
Go furthe J>i waye, & seie hym \us, my brother." 1136
And J?an anoon, as lason was in pes,
J3e manly kny^t, fe worfi Hercules, Hercules
Whan he had herd Jris ]?ing fro poynt to point, Lamedon's
TT T- L • i T • • ^ jr. Ambassador.
He was anoon brou^t in swyche disiomt 1140
Of hasty rancour and of sodeyn Ire,
Jpe whiche his hert almost set afire,
J3at sodeynly, as he abreyde abak,
Of hi} disdeyn euen jms he spak, 1144
With cher askoyn vn-to fe messanger,
And seide, " felaw, be no fing in wer
Of our abidyng, but be ri^t wel certeyn,
)}at or Tytan his bemys reise ageyn, 1148
We schal depart and to schipfpel goon ; The Greeks
will set sail
pat of oure men fer schal nat leuen oon next day,
WitA-Inne f>is lond, &, God to-forn, to-morwe.
And her-vp-on haue her my feith to borwe ; 1 152
For we no lenger schal holden her soiour,
For elles-wher we schal make our retour
To-morwe erly in fe daw[e]nyng,
Yp peyne of repref ; and so go seie J>i* kyng. [leaf s a] 1156
And or thre ^ere, }if God vs graunt[e] lyf, but before s
Maugre who grucche]) or make)) any strif, return,
Vn-to Jns lond we schal a-geyn retourne,
And caste anker a while to soiourne : 1160
Take hede, ]>erfore, and note wel pe tyme ;
A newe chaimge schal folwen of j>is pryme —
And fawne his power schal not so large strecche ;
Of his saufconduit lytel schal we recche. 1164
I seie be platly, as is oure entent, and not ask
J' leave to land.
We wil not haue [vn-]to his maundement
1132. recorde] reporte D 1. 1134. mow] om. V 1.
1144. euen] anoon D 1. 1153. soiour] soiowrne D 1.
1154. retour] retourne D 1. 1156. >i] be C, D 1.
1159. retourne] tetowrne D 1.
1161. >erfore] therof A.
1166. haue vn-to] haste fyanne for D 1.
46 King Lamedon's Ambassador answers Hercules.
Hercules's
threats to
King Lame-
don.
Lamedon's
Ambassador
deprecates
Hercules's
menaces,
and says he
doesn't want
the Greeks
killd.
[BK. i
But lytel reward, and we fat day abide ;
For takyng leue schal be set a-syde, 1168
Be-cause he hath now be-gowne a play
Which we schal quite — be God, }if [fat] I may ! —
J?at torne schal in-to his owne schame ;
And spare nou3t to seie J>i * kyng J>e same." 1172
]9is massanger fan gan ageyn reply e,
And seide, * ' syr, 36 may me not denye
Of honeste my massage to declare ;
A- vise 50 w, for I wil not spare 1176
Jpe kynges sonde pleynly for to telle.
And wher-so be 36* lyst to goon or dwelle,
3e may ^it chese, who so be lefe or lothe ;
$e haue no cause with me to be wroth; 1180
For it sit not vn-to 3 our worthines,
Y,ffe 36 take hede be weye of gentilnes,
Of manassyng swiche arwes for to schete ;
For more honest it were ^oure fretyng lete, 1184
And kepe secrete til 36 ben at ^our large.
For certeinly no parcel of my charge
Is to * striue with $ow or debate.
But bet it is by-tymes fan to late, 1188
ftat 36 be war for harme fat my^tfe] fale.
And for my parte, I saie vn-to 3ow alle,
It were pite fat 36 distroied were,
Or any man hyndre schulde or dere 1192
So worf i persones, in any maner wise,
Whiche ben so likly to be discret & wise ;
And list with wordis as now I do 3ou greue,
I saye no more, I take of 30 w my leue." 1196
1167. reward] rewarde $eve ]>er of D 1.
1169. Be-cause] For cause D 1 — now] om. D 1 — play] newe
play D 1.
1171. in-to] vnto D 2, to D 1.
1172. >i] >e C, D 1. 1173. pis] The D 1.
1178. be 3e] }e be C— wher-so be }e lyst to goon] webir it so be 3e
liste goo D 1.
1179. 3it]itD 1.
1184. For] om. D 1— lete] for to lete D 1.
1185. secrete] secre D 2, D 1. 1187. to] for to C, D 1.
1189. fale] befalle D 1.
1192. hyndre schulde] shulde hyndir A.
BK. i] Jason and his Greeks make ready to leave Troy-land. 47
Howe lason arcd Hercules departede from the
bowndes of Troy towarde Calcos londe.1
The ny$t ypassed, at springyng of fe day, Atdayupring,
Whan frtt fe larke with a blissed* lay
Oan to salue the lusty rowes rede
Of Phebus char, fat so freschely sprede 1200
Vp-on fe bordure of fe orient ;
And Aurora, of hert and hool entent,
With fe swetnes of hir siluer schoures
Bedewed had fe fresche somer floures, 1204
And made fe rose with new[e] bawme flete, [leaf 86]
))e sote lillye and f e margarete
For to vnclose her tender leuys white, wh«" the niy
and daisy
Oppressed hertes vrith gladnes to delyte 1208 °Pen»
J?at drery wern aforn of ny^tes tene ;
And hony-souklis amonge fe buschis grene
Enbamed hadde envirouw al f e Eyr ;
Longe or Titan gan maken his repeire, 1212
With f e bri3tnes of his bemys merye
For to reioische al oure Emysperye :
For longe a-forn, or he dide arise,
J)is worthi lason in ful hasty wyse, 1216
And his felawe Hercules also, Jason and
Hercules
I-charged nan hir scnipmen naue a-do wd their
To hale vp anker and hem redy make ;
And bad in haste euery man to take 1220
))e ri^t[e] weye vn-to schippe a-iioon.
For in sothnes, j?is manly man lason go aboard,
Jpou^t he was not stuffid of meyne
To gynne a werre on Troye J>e cite ; 1224
For he was not, schortly to conclude, as they've
not men
Esral in nouwbre nor in multitude, enough to
0 make war on
As for fat tyme, a werre to be-gynne. Tr°y'
It was not likly fat he schulde wynne 1228
1197. ypassed] passid D 1. 1198. a blissed] a blisful D 1,
ablissed C.
1205. newe] )>e newe D 1. -1207. to vnclose] vnto cloose A.
1218. I-charged] Charged D 1— hir] for D 2.
1224. gynne] begynne D 1 — on Troye )>e cite] vn to Troye cite
Dl.
1 Royal MS. 18 D. ii. leaf 14 a.
The Greeks
set sail,
and reach
Colchos.
48 Jason sails to Colchos, where King Cethes reigns. [BK.
Victorie as tho, for f ei wer but a fewe ;
And it is not holsom a man to hewe
Abouen his bed, whan it is ouere hije,
List f e chippis wil fallen in his eye.
Wherfore of Frygye fei leue fe costis blyue;
fei lifte vp sail ; f e schip be-gan to driue ;
J)e wynde was good ; f e goddys f auowable ;
Fortune her frende, f ouj sche be variable.
And J)us to Colchos safe J>ei ben y-come,
And vn-to londe, bof en al and some,
jjei ben arived in a lytel space;
For in f e see fei haue fou?iden grace
Of Neptunws, fat caused hem as blive,
As I seide her, at Colchos for tarive.
Now in f is He, and f is * litel londe,
}3at Colchos hi^t, $e schal vnderstonde,
How fat f er was a rial * chef cite,
In al fat reigne moste of dignyte,
Of worthines, of ryches, and of fame,
And lachonytos fat tyme bar f e name —
Chevest of alle, to spekyn of bildyng,
And stretes large and corious howsyng,
And f er-wzt/i-al dyched wel with-oute,
Strongfe] wallid & toured rourade aboute,
Of huge hei3te and aboue * batailled,
Maskued also, lyst j>ei wer assailed, [leaf 8 c]
With many palys, staatly and royal,
For [per] ]>e sete was most principal,
fte kyng to abide bet fan elles-wher ;
And fat tyme it happed hym be fere.
And he was callyd Cethes, as I rede,
Ful renomed of kny^thood and manhede,
And had aboute hym a wel beseyn meyne,
Lyche as was sytting vn-to his degre ;
On this isle
the chief
city is
Jachonitos,
and in it
King
Cethes
dwells.
1232
1236
1240
1244
1248
1252
1256
1260
1234. lifte vp] make good D 1.
1243. new H D 2, D 1— bis] in >is C. 1245. a rial] arial C.
1246. >at] be A— moste] chefe D 1.
1249. 2nd of] of in D 1. 1250. 2nd and] wij? D 1.
1253. aboue] aboute C— batailled] enbatailled D 1.
1254. Maskued] Magecold A, Maskewed D 2, D 1.
1261. aboute hym] om. D 2.
BK. i] Description of the glorious City Jachonitos in Colchos. 49
Round
•Jaclionitos
are rivers,
plains,
hills,
wells,
parks,
woods,
and flowers.
There's
fowling,
And euery-wher, londys eiiviroim,
jpe fame spradde of his hi^e renou?*. 1264
And al aboute J?is my^ti chefe cite,
Wher as Cethes helde his royal se,
Wer fresche ryuers, of whiche fe water clene
Liche cristal schon ageyn j>e sonne schene, 1268
Fair[e] playnes, as Guydo bereth witnes,
And holsom hylles ful of lustines,
And many laye and many lusty welle.
And j>er wer eke, my awctor can 3011 telle, 1272
Ful many a parke, ful feir and fresche to sene,
And many wode & many medowe grene,
With sondri floures amonge j?e herbes meynt,
Whiche on her stalke nature hath depeynt 1276
With sondri hewes, wz't/i-Innen and w^t/i-oute,
After J>e sesowa of * somer cam aboute.
For fyschyng, foulyng, & haukyng eke also,
For venerie and huntyng bothe two, 1280
))e place was inly delittable ;
Of corn and greyne passyngly greable,
And plenteuous in al maner thing.
For ]?er men herde fe briddes freschely syng
In tyme of ^ere in her armonye,
))at J?e noyse and soote melodye
On fresche braunches, ful delicious,
Eeioische wolde J>ise folkis amerous, 1288
Whom louys brond hath fired to fe hert,
And adawen of her peynes smert,
)5at certeinly whan fat * grene ver
I-passed were, ay fro $er to ^er, 1292
And May was com, J>e monyth of gladnes, *« May,
And fresche Flora, of flouris emperes,
Hadde clad J?e soile new at her devise,
1263. londys] in londes D 1.
1267. Wer] Where D 1. 1271. many] many a (twice) D 1.
1272. wer] wher D 2. 1273. a] om. A.
1274. many] many a (twice) D 1.
1275. amonge )>e] & wi]> D 1. 1278. of] as C.
1280. two] &m. D 2. 1282. passyngly] so passi?igly D 1.
1283. in] of D 1. 1286. noyse] voyse D 1.
1287. On] Of D 1. 1291. f>at] ]>e D 1, J>at pei C.
1292. I-passed] Epassid D 1.
TROY BOOK. E
grains,
1284 and birds-
song.
50 Jason and Us men march to King Cethes's Palace. [BK. I
jacbonitosis Jjis noble place was like a paradyse.
1296
«nough.
To it come
Jason and
Hercules ;
like Paradise. ^d ^^ goddegse of iargesse and foysoiw,
Swyche plente ^ vn-to fat regioun,
Of flesche, fische, vyn, vitaille, and come,
£at J?e licour of her ful[le] home
Vp-on fat lond so gan reine and snowe,
AII folk have jpat alle estatis, bothe hi^e and lowe,
Ladden her lyf in souereyn suffisaunce,* [leaf 8 d]
With al bat Nature coude or my3t avaunce
Jpis litel He with her giftes grete,
Lyche as to-forn 36 haue herde me trete.
For ber was plente, & ber was aburcdaunce,
And ber was al fat my3t[e] do plesaunce
To any herte, and al cowmodite.
And so bifel, that to bis cite
lason is come, and with hym Hercules,
And after hem * foloweth al be pres,
Ful wel arraied and rially beseyn,
and their fine Armys enclosed to-gydre tweyn & tweyn —
men march * -
two and two A peple chose as it wer ior be nonys ;
And ber-with-al of brawnys & of bonys,
Eueryche of hem of makyng and fasiouw
Ful wel complete by proporciourt,
3ong of age and of good stature,
Of couwtenaurcce sad and ful demwre,
j)at euery wy3t had[de] gret plesaunce
To sen )>e maner of her gouernaunce :
So 3ong, so fresche, hardy [and] meke also.
And al attonys Jjei to J>e paleys goo
With swiche a cher, Ipai eue?*yche hath disport
To sen ]>e maner of her noble port.
So gentilmanly J?ei demened were,
J)at f>e peple gan presen euery-vvhere
To sen pis * strauwgeris, lyche Ipe Grekis gyse,
Demene hem silfe in so thrifty wyse ;
to King
Cethes's
palace,
gazed at by
his folk.
1300
1304
1308
1312
1316
1320
1324
1328
1299. fische] of fisshe D 2, & fisshe D 1.
1301. gan] coude D 1. 1303. suffisaunce] sufficiauuce C.
1310. cite] faire citee D 1.
1312. hem] him C, hem two D 1. 1319. age] her age D 1.
1320. Of] And of D 2. 1321. gret] ful gret D 1.
1329. >is] >e C.
BK. i] Jason and Hercules are well receivd ly K. Cethes. 51
And of desyre pe peple nolde cesse
Abouten hem to gadren and empresse, 1332
And to enquere what pei nmtfe] be, The coichi-
ans ask who
toat of newe with swiche nalte the strange
Greeks are,
Ben sodeynly entred in-to towne.
J3us eueryche wolde vfith his felawe* rowne; 1336
bei wern so rude to staren and to ease, and stare at
them, as
To gape & loke,* as it wer on a mase ; townish folk
}}is townysche folk do so comownly
On euery ping pat falleth sodeinly. 1 340
But how fat Cethes, liche a worthi kyng,
Whawne fat he herde first of her comyng,
Keceyveth hem and hooly fie maner,
3iffe pat 36 liste, anoon $e schal [it] here. 1344
Howe Kenge Cethes of Calcos wirshipffully ressavith
lason and Hercules into his Cytee Called lacony-
thes, wher pe Flees of golde was.1
Wharc pat pe kyng hath sothly vnderstonde King Cethes
How pe Grekis comen wer to* londe,
And how lason was also per-with-al,
Borne by discent of pe blood roial 1348
Of Thessalye, and likly to ben eyr,
If he by grace haue ageyn repeyr,
fee aventures acheved of Colchos,
J)e kyng anoon out of his se a-roos [leaf 9 c] 1352 rises and goes
Of gentilnes, in al pe haste he may,
In godely wyse to mete hem on pe way, to meet them.
And hem receyveth with chere ful benyngne ;
And vn-to hem anoon he doth assigne 1356
His offyceris tawayte hem ny$t and day,
Chargyng hem in al maner way,
1331. nolde] nolde not D 1.
1335. towne] the tourc D 1. 1336. felawe] felawes C.
1338. loke] to loke C— a] he D 1.
1345. kyng hath sothly] kiwg Cethes ha> D 1.
1346. to] on C. 1347. also] eke D 1.
1351. aventures] auenture D 1. 1354. hem] hym D 1.
1357. tawayte] to wayte D 2, to waite D 1.
1358. maner way] >«t euere he may D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 13 d.
52 King Cethes hospitably entertains Jason in Jachonitos. [BK.
K. Cethes
orders that
Jason and his
men are to
have all they
want.
He receives
them in his
chamber,
gives them
wine,
takes his
royal seat,
and bids
Jason
J)at what-so-euer may to hem don ese,
Or any fircg fat may hem queme or plese, 1360
]5at f ei it haue in foysoiw and plente,
Eueryche of hem, lyche to his degre.
))us he comaiwdeth in al maner f ing.
And fan anoon fis noble worthi kyng, 1364
As he fat was of fredam a * merour,
Thoru} many halle and many riche tour,
By many tourn and many diuerse way,
By many gre made of marbil grey, 1368.
Hath hem conveied a ful esy pas,
Til he hem brou^t f er his chambre was,
Wher he vriih hem helde his daliauwce.
And fer anoon wzt/i Query circumstaunce 1372.
Of manly fredam, he made to hem chere ;
And in his chambre, englasid bri3t and clere,
))at schon ful schene w*t7i golde & with asure
Of many ymage fat was fer in picture, 137S
He hath commauraled to his officeris,
Only in honour of hem fat were * strauwgeris,
Spicys and wyn, and after fat anoon,
]3e ^onge fresche, )?e lusty man lason, 1380
As faste gan be lycens of J>e kyng
For to declare J>e cause of his comyng.
But first \>e kyng, with gret rialte,
Ascendid is in-to his royal se, 1384
Cloth is of gold hanged environs
After J?e custom of fat regiouw,
J)at to be-holde it was a noble sy^te,
Stondyng aboute many [a] worthi kny^te 1388
And many squier and many gentil man
Ful wel be-seyn ; and j> e kyng ri$t than,
Yn-to lason, stondyng in presence,
ComauTzded hath of his magnificence, 1392
1359. may to hem] to hem may D 1. 1365. a] and C.
1366. 1st many] many an D 1.
1367. many] many a (twice) D 1. 1368. many] many a D 1
1372. ber] Jwrone D 1. 1375. schene] clene A.
1376. many] many an D 1. 1378. were] ben C.
1385. Clothisj Wi> clo>es D 1.
1389. many] many a (twice) D 1. 1391. in] in his D 1.
BK. l] Jason begins his speech to King Cethes of Colchos. 53
'"With Hercules to sitte dovn by-syde, and Hercules
j - . sit beside
And lason pan no lenger liste abyde h!S'ihd teU
Of his comyn£ be cause for to scbewe, they've
J o i come to
)3effecte of whiche was pis in wordis fewe — 1396 hisland-
Saue lason, or he his tale gan,
Ful wel avised, and cherid lyche a man,
Conceyved hath and noted wonder wel
From point to point his mater euerydel, 1400
And nat for-gat a word in al his speche ; [leaf 9 &]
But evene lik as rethorik doth teche,
He gan his tale so by crafte conveie
To make pe kyng, to pat he wolde seie, 1404
Condescende, and rather to encline
For tassent fat he my^tfe] fyne
Of his comyng pe kny^tly hi$e emprise,
jjus worde by worde as I schal her deuise : 1408
Howe lason purposede his instance in pe presence of
Kenge Cethes of Colcos to gra?zte him licence to
darreyn batel for pe flees of golde.1
y^t worthi prince, present in pis place, So Jason
Only with support of ^our hi^e grace,
And $our goodnes, most excellent and digne,
With pacience of $our fauour benigne, 1412
Disple[se] it not pat I may seyn and schewe,
And declare with wordys but a fewe
jpe fynal grouwde and cause of my comyng ;
So pat $e list, whiche ben so noble* a kyng, 1416 ceti.es win
T . . , tt, but listen to
In goodly wyse, with-oute more onence,
Benygnely to ^even audience
To my request, and [pat] 36 nat disdeyne his request,
1393. dovn] dou?i there D 1.
1397. gan] bigan D 1. 1399. wonder wel] eucry dele D 1.
1400. euerydel] wonder wele D 1.
After 1402, D 1 inserts two lines :
fful benignely & in humble wise
As men may leren writen of the wise.
1403. He gan] Bigan D 1.
1405. Condescende] To coudessende D 1. 1408. her] am. D 1.
1409. Ry^t worthi] Myjty D 1. 1416. noble] wor}>i C.
1418. $even] ^eue me D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 14 «.
54 Jason asks K. Cethes leave to try for the Fleece of Gold. [BK. I
he wants
leave to get
the Fleece
of Gold.
Win or lose,
he'll try for
it,
if Cethes '11
fix a day for
his start.
Goodly to grauwte pat I may atteyne 1420
In pis He, }if it may availe,
|)e flees of gold frely for tassaile,
As )>e goddys in pis auenture
List to ordeyne for my fatal ewere.
In whom lyth al, pleynly, and fortune,
For to gouerne thinges in comowne,
In werre and pees, conquest and victorie,
And of armys pe renoura and pe glorie,
Discomfeture & bringyng to outrauwce —
Al lyth in hem to hyndren or avaunce —
Ageynes whos my^t no mortal man may chese.
But for al pis, wheper I wynne or lese,
Or life or dethe be fyn * of my labour,
3iffe pat $e list to done me pis fauour,
To geve me leue and no more delaie,
I am acorded fully for to assaye,
Liche as pe statut maketh menciouw.
Me liste to make noon excepciourc,
Vp-on no syde fauour for to fynde ;
But as pe Eytys pleynly make mynde,
What euer falle, I schal hem vnderfonge,
Lawly besechyng pat $e nat prolonge
My purpos now, and maketh no delay,
But of 3our grace setteth me a day
Myn emprise pat I may acheve ;
For myn abood stant vp-on $our leue —
Seith but a worde of grauwtyng at pe leste,
And pan I haue pe fyn of my requeste."
And whan pe kyng had herd * ceryously
Jjentent of lason, seide* so manfully, [leaf 9 c]
He atynt a litel, and kepte hym clos a while ;
1420. bat] & bat D 1. 1421. jif ] #f >at D 1.
1422. for] ora. D 1. 1423. in] leste in D 1.
1424. List] For me D 1— for] and for D 1.
1425, 26 are omitted in D 2.
1430. Al] As D 1 — avaunce] tavaunce A.
1431. Ageynes] Ageyn D 2.
1432. wheber] where A, wher D 2. 1433. fyn] myn C.
1434. 3e] 3ou D 1. 1436. for] om. D 1.
1441. vnderfonge] vnderstoimde D 2.
1447. Seith] Set A— of ] or A— of grauwtyng] and graimteb D 1.
1449. herd] hcrkned C. 1450. seide] >at seide C.
1424
142&
1432
1436
1440
1444
1448
BK. i] King Cethes warns Jason of the danger of his Quest. 55
Til at be laste he goodly gan to smyle 1452
°
tells Jason
Toward lason, and seydf e 1 to hym bus : of the danger
of hia quest.
"lason," quod he, "pou$ pou be desyrous
To vnderfonge pis passyng hi3e emprise,
Mi counsail is, liche as I schal deuise, 1456
Ful pruden[t]ly for to caste a-forne
J3e mortal pereyl, or pat pou be lorne ;
For in pis ping per is a lawe set
Be enchauwtement, pat may nat be let 1 460
Nor remedied, for fauour nor for mede.
For deth in soth. who so taketh hede, His death
will be
Is J>e guerdouw platly or pei twynne,
Of all pat caste hem pe flees of gold to wyrme. 1464
For help is noon in manhod nor fortune ;
)5e streyte weye is so importune,
So dredful eke, and so ful of rage,
j)at saue dethe, per is no passage, 1468 the end of it.
Of victorie j>e palme to conquere.
For sothly, lason, as I schal pe lere,
FouTided of old by merueillous wyrkyng
Ben pe statutes of pis mortal ping ; 1472
So sore bouwde vnder my regalye
ftat pe rigour I may nat modefye.
Wherfore, lason, or pou * pis ping attame, TO prevent
Liste afterward on me wer laide pe blame 1476 blaming him,
Of pi lesyng or destructions,
Of feythful hert and trewe entenciouw
I warne pe, my siluen for to quite ;
So pat no man iustly schal me wyte, 1480
J^ou^e pou of $oupe & of wilfulnes
)3i silfe distroye, with-out avisenes,
Syth I aforne, of pis perillous cas, of his perilou
J adventure.
From point to point haue tolde pe al pe cas. 1484
Be now a vised, and put no faute in me,
For pe surplus frely lyth * in pe,
Of al pis ping, sipen pou maist cliese ;
1453. Toward] Towardes D 2, D 1— to] vn to D 2.
1460. >at] wiche D 1. 1461. nor] or D 1.
1464. hem] om. A. 1475. J>ou] hat >ou C.
1483. I aforne] lason A. 1485. in] on D 2.
1486. frely lyth] lyth frely C.
56 Cethes leaves Jason to choose if hell try for the Fleece. [BK. I
No man can
do more than
the Gods
ordain.
Jason has
been warnd.
He must
beware of
Fortune;
but he may
do as he likes.
And wher-so [be], pat pou wymie or lese,
No man to me it iustly * may arrette :
For pe lawe p«t Mars liym silfe sette,
No mortal man of due ri$t may passe ;
For hi^e nor lowe get noon other grace,
}?an * pe goddys list for hym ordeyne,
What euere he be fat cast hym to darreyne
j)is diuerse ping, moste furious of drede.
Wherfore, lason, how-euer pat pou spede,
I haue to pe openly declared
Holly pe pereil, and for no fauour spared,
As fer in sothe as resou?«, wil, and ri^t ;
For pou wost wel, it lyth nat in my my$t
For to debarre, or any man to lette,
J)at of manhood kny^tly cast to sette
Vp-on pis ping, as pou hast herde me telle.
What schulde I lenger in pis mater dwelle,
lit wer but vayn, for now pou knowest al.
Be war of hir pat turneth as a bal ;
For at pis tyme pou gest no more of me —
Do as pou list, I putte pe choyse in the."
And \\ith pat word the kyng ros vp anoon,
Vp-on pe tyme whan he schulde goon
Vn-to his mete, and lason by his syde,
As $e schal here, ^if ^e liste abide.*
[leaf 9 d]
1488
1492
1496
1500
1504
1508
1512
K. Cethes's
officials
prepare a
meal.
Howe Kenge Cethes sent for his doughtire Medea to
chere his strawngers, to his owne damage,1
The tyme aprochep, & gan to nei^erc faste,
))at officeris ful besely hem caste
To make redy, with al her fulle cure,
And in pe halle pe bordis for to cure ; 1516
1488. wher-so] whe>er D 1. 1489. it iustly] iustly it C, D 1.
1493. pan] f>at C. 1500. nat] om. D 1.
1501. 2nd to] om. D 1. 1502. of] om. D 2.
1512. 2nd $e] 3011 D 1— abide] to abide C, D 1.
After 1512, D 1 inserts two lines:
I shal reherse >ori\3 my sirnplenesse
Howe lason dide his knyjtly besinesse.
1513. No neio H in D 2 — aproche>] aproched D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 15 c.
BK. i] King Cethes feasts Jason and Hercules in his Palace. 57
K. Cethes,
1524 with Her-
cules and
Jason,
sit at meat.
1528
1532
Music is
playd on a
For by fe clyal fe hour f ei gan to marke,
])nt Phebwa southward was reised in his arke
So hii,e alofte fat it drowe to noon,
)3at it was tyme for fe kyng to goon 1520
Yn-to his mete and entren in-to halle.
And Cethes fanne, \viih his lordis alle,
And wit/i his kny^tes aboute hym eue?'ecchon,
With Hercules, and also with lason,
Is set to mete in his roial se,
And euerych lord, lyche to his degre.
But firste of alle, f is worf i man lason
Assigned was, by f e kynge anoon,
For to sitten at his owne borde ;
And Hercules, fat was so gret a lorde,
Was set also faste by his syde.
And f e marchal no lenger list abide
Tassigne estatis wher f ei schulde be,
Liche as f ei wern of hi 30 or * low degre ;
And after bat, on scafold hiae a-lofte,
playd or
Jpe noyse gan, lowde & no (ring soi'te, 1536 scaffold.
Both of trompetis and of clariotmeris.
And f er-wit/i-alle f e noble officeris
Ful friftely serued han fe halle,
Liche as fe sesouw fat tyme dide falle, 1540
With alle deintes fat may rekned be ;
Jjat sothfastly f e foysouw and plente
Of knyjtly fredam vn-to hi3e and lowe,
So fulsomly gan to reyne and snowe, 1544
Jjjit f oru^ f e halle was fe manhod preised
Of fe k[i]ng, and his renouw reysed,
£at can his gestis, sothly for to seye,
Whan fat hym liste, cheren and festeye [leaf 10 a] 1548
So liche a kyng, and in so frifty wyse,
1517. gan] bigan A.. 1518. southward] out ward D 2.
1524. also with] worthi D 1. 1 528 follows 1526 MI D 1.
1527] tfor to wasshen & si]>en for to #0011 D 1.
1528. was] eke weren D 1. 1529. For to sitteu] To sitte D 1.
1532. no lenger list abide] list no lenger bide D 1.
1533. Tassigne] To signe D 1.
1534. hije or low] lowe or hill A — or] and C, D 1.
1535. a-lofte] on lofte D 1. 1536. gan] be ga>i D 1.
1544. fulsomly] foisounly D 1.
Dainties are
servd.
The King 'i
praisd.
58 K. Cethes s Feast. He sends fw his daughter Medea. [BK. I
The feast is
so fine that
I can't de-
scribe all its
courses.
King Cethes
sends for his
beautiful
daughter,
rosy Medea,
in whom
white and red
With al deinte )>at man can deuise.
For at ]?is feste and solempnite,
fee Grekis my^t J>e grete nobley se
Of kyng Cethes, and j>e worthines,
And by reporte fer-of here witnes
Wher-so j>ei com, after al her lyue.
I \vant[e] cownynge, by ordre to discrive
Of euery cours J?e diue?-sytes,
fee straunge sewes and fe sotiltes
feat wer fat day seruid in fat place.
Hath me excused, pou^ I li^tly passe,
feou$ I can not al in ordre seyn ;
Myn englische is to rude and eke to pleyn
For to enditen of so hi^e a ping.
But forthe I wil reherse how Jje kyng
To schewe his gestis his nobley oue?* al,
Hath for his dorter sent in special,
And bad sche schulde forth anon be brou^t.
fee whiche in soth, pou} men had[de] sou^t
feis world foru^-out, I do $ou plein assure,*
Men my^t haue fouwde no fairer creature,
More wowmanly of port nor of mane re,
NOT more demwr, nor sadder of hir chere,
Whos bewte was not likly for to fade.
And whan sche cam j?e Grekis for to glade,
fee halle in soth sche walkyth vp and down,
Of wommanhed and pure affecciourc
To make chere vn-to J)e[se] gestis newe.
And Jras Medea wit/t hir rosene he we,
And vrith freschenes of pe lyle white,
So entermedled of kynde be delite,
feat Nature made in hir face sprede
So egally pe whyte with J?e rede,
1552
1556
1560
1564
1568-
1572
1576
1580
1550. deinte] deintees D 1— man] men D 1.
1562. 1st to] so D 1— eke] al D 1.
1565. nobley] nobles D 2, nobilte D 1.
1566. secial Especial A.
.
1569. plein] pleynly A, om. D 1— assure] ensure C, D 1.
liche D 1.
1573. likly]
1578. hir] om. A.
1580. be] with D 1.
1577. }>ese] his A.
1579. with] with >e D 1.
1581. sprede] spede D 2.
BK. l] Of the, Beauty and Learning of Medea.
)3at f e medelyng, in conclusions,
So was ennewed by proporciou?*,
feat finally excesse was f er noon,
Of neuer * nouf er ; for bothe two in oon
So loyned wer, longe to endure,
By thempres fat callyd is Nature.
For sche hir made lyke to hir deuise,
]5at to biholde it was a paradys,
In verray soth, bothe to oon and alle,*
Of olde and $ong syttyng in the halle.
J)er-to sche was, as by successions,
Born to be eyr of fat regions,
After hir fader, by discent of lyne,
3if sche abide and dure after his fyne ;
Syth he ne hadde by ri$t[e] to succede
Non eyr male fat I can of rede.
Sche was also, f e bok maketh menciou??,
"Wexe vn-to ^eris of discrecious,
Able for age inaried for to be ;
And not-wM-standyng also ek fat sche
Was of bewte and of wo??imanhede,
On f e faireste fat I can of rede,
3it [n]oon of bothe han * hir ^outhe let,
Jjat to clergye hir desire was set
So passyngly, fat in special,
In alle f e artis called liberal
Sche was expert & knowyng at f e beste ;
It was hir ewre to konse what hir liste.
Of swyche a woraman herde I neuer telle.
At Elicon sche drank so of fe welle,
feat in hir tyme was f er noon semblable
I-fousde in soth, ne noon fat was so able
To conceyve by studie and doctrine.
And of naturis disputen and temiyne
Sche koude also, and fe causis fynde
Of alle f inges formed as by kynde ;
Sche hadde in lernyng so hir tyme spent,
1583. in] as in D 1. 1586. neuer] nor C, A.
1591. alle] to alle C. 1605. han] han not C.
1614. I-founde] Founden D 1.
1584
arejoind
1588 by Nature.
1592
Medea is
Cethes's heir.
1596
[leaf 10 6]
1600
1604
She is fit
for marriage,
lovely,
1608 learned in
liberal arts,
1612
1616
and can
find the
cause of
all created
things.
60
Medea's wondrous powers over Nature. [BK.
Medea is
expert in
Astronomy,
Necromancy,
Illusion-
making,
and Heavenly
Influences.
She can make
storms,
thunder and
lightning,
rain and
earthquakes,
and can
turn day into
night.
})at sche knewe of J?e firmament
])Q trewe cours, and of j>e stems alle,
And by her mevyng what fat schulde fa lie,
So expert sche was in astrouomye.
But most sche wroi^t by nygromauwcye,
With exorjismes and comurisons ;
And vsed also to make illusions'
With hir charmys seide in sondri wyse ;
And with rytis of diuerse sacrifice,
Encens and rikelis cast in-to J>e fire,
To schewe Binges liche to hir desyre —
Wtt/i gotis hornys and wit/i mylke and blod,
Whan J>e mone was equat and stood
In J>e fifjje or pe * seuenfe hous,
And was fortuned with lokyng gracious,
To chese an hour )>at were comienient
And fortunat, by enchauntement,
To make and werke sondry apparences :
So wel sche knewe )>e heuenly influences
And aspectis, bothe wroj>e and glade ;
For sche by hem alle her Jringis made
Jjat appartene to swyche experiments.
For whan hir list, by hir enchauntementis,
Sche koude make ]>e wyndes for to blowe,
To thondre and lijte & to hayle and snowe,
And f rese also, to greue men with peyne ;
And sodeinly sche coude make it reyne, peaf 10 <?]
Schewe what wedir pat hir liste to haue,
And gasten men wM sodein erthe-quave,*
And turne pe day vnwarly vn-to ny^t ;
And fanne anoon make J?e sonue bri^t
Schewe his bemys, ful persyng and ful schene,
1620
1624
1628
1632
1636
1640
1644
1648
1620. of] eke of D 1. 1628. diuerse] sundry D 1.
1633. 2nd J>e] in )>e C— seuenj>e] sixthe A, D 1.
1634. lokyng] lookes D 1.
1637. and werke] a werke of D 1 — apparences] apparens A.
1638. influences] influens A.
1645. frese] to frese D 1.
1647. Schewe] And shewe D 1.
1648. gasten] castyn A — erthe-quave] erthe quake C.
1649. vn-to] to be D 1— nyrt] the nyght A.
1651. Schewe] To shewe D 1.
BK. l]
Medea s wondrous powers over Nature.
61
With goldene hornys, to voyde ny^tes tene ; 1652
And reyse floodis, with many dredf ul wowe ;
And whan hir list sche koude hem eft wit/i-drawe.
Eke 3onge trees to sere, rote and rinde,
And afterward make hem, agein[es] kynde, 1656
With lusty brauwchis blosnie and budde newe ;
Also in wynte?' with flouris fresche of hewe
Araye be erbe and tapite hym * in grene,
)5at to beholde a loye it was to sene ; 1660
With many colour schewyng ful diuerse,
Of white and rede, grene, ynde, and pers,
)?e day[e]s[y]e with hir riche croune,
And ober floures, bat wynter made froune, 1664
Vp-on her stalke freschely for tapere.
And sodeinly, with a dedly chere,
Sche koude sorner in-to wynte?' torne,
Causyng be day with mystes [for] to morne * ;
And olde men sche koude make ^ong,
And eft ageyn, or any her * was sprong,
Sche koude hem schew bobe in hed & herd
Ful hor and grey, in craft sche was so lered. 1672
And trees with frute sche koude make bare
Of rynde and lef, to do men on hem stare ;
Clipse be mone and be bri$t[e] sonne,
Or naturally bei hadde her cours y-roraie
To hem approprid, whiche bei may not passe ;
For }if bat Titan his cours by kynde trace,
Whan he meveth vnder be cliptik lyne,
fee clips mote folowe, as auctours list diffyne : 1680
So bat ber be, by hir discripciourc,
Of bothe tweyne ful ccmiunccioun,
And bat be sonne with his bemys rede
1652. to] and D 1. 1659. hym] hem C, D 1.
1660. a loye it was] it was a loie D 1. 1665. for] om. D 1.
1668. morne] morme C.
1670. her] hor C — was] wer A, were D 1.
1671. hed] here D 1. 1673. koude] koude eke D 1, D 2.
1674. Of] On D 1— to do men] for men shulde D 1.
1676. y-rowne] romie D 1.
1678. his] by D 1— by] his D 1.
1679. cliptik] ecliptik D 1. 1680. clips] eclips D 1.
1681. be] om, D 1. 1682. tweyne] twoo D 1.
Medea can
raise and sink
floods,
make plants
bear flowers
in winter.
and turn
summer
1668 wiuter-
She can
eclipse the-
1676 moou an<*
sun*
62
Ood forbid that we lelieve Ovid's fables about Medea.
and alter
their sites in
the sky.
(Really,
Eclipses
are causd
[BK. i
1684
by forces
above that we
can't see.)
But tho Ovid
tells all these
tables about
Medea,
God forbid
that we
should believe
*em!
Haue his dwellyng in pe dragoim hede,
And pe mone be * set eke in pe tail,
As by nature, fan it may nat feil
J)at per mote falle Eclips of verray nede,
In sondri bokys liche as 36 may rede,
Be-cause of certein intersecaciourcs
Of diuerse cercles, and reuolucioims,*
Jjat maked ben in pe heuene alofte,
Which e causen vs for to faylen ofte
Of pe fresche comfortable stremys
Jjat ben to vs yschad fro Phebus bemys.
For ]?e mone hath made deuisioiw
By hir sodeyn interposiciowi,
))at of oure si3t pe stremys visual
May nat be-holde, nor I-sen at al,
Nor to oure lust fully comp?*ehende,
How Appollo is in his chare schynende,
As we wer wont a-fornhand for to se.
But of al J>is pe grete Tholome,
Kyng of Egypte, telleth pe cause why,
With-Inne his boke ful compendyously,
Bothe of Eclips and coiiiuraccioura,
And whi pei falle by natural mocioim.
But of Medee, pou$ pis clerke Ouide,
Tencrese hir name vp-on euery syde,
List in his fables swyche pinges telle,
£0113 he of poetis was pe spring & welle :
Yit God forbede we schulde }if credence
To swyche feynyng, or do so hi^e offence j
Syth of nature muste be denyed
Al swyche affermyng, and also loen diffied
Of euery cristen * stedefast in bileue.
For certeinly it wolde hi^ly greue
1685. be] by C.
1690. reuolucioiws] reuelaciouws D 1 — This line is misplaced in
C after 1692 ; 1689 is marked a and 1690 b in the margin.
1696. hir] his A. 1702. grete] wise grete D 1.
1703 is omitted in D 2 — cause] causes D 1.
1705. and] and of >e D 1. 1709. >inges] ping to D 1.
1710. be] bo>e D 1— &] om. D 2. 1712. do] to do D 2.
1713. muste] it moste D 1 — denyed] devided A.
1715. cristen] cristen maw C. 1716. wolde] wele D 1.
1688
1692
1696
1700
1704
1708
1712
1716
BK. i] Only one Eclipse of Sun and Moon at Christ's Death. 63
Our conscience, in any wise wene,
Ageyn[e]s kynd, whiche is so hi$e a quene,
Jjat any wy$t or lyvyng creature
Scholde haue power, I do $ow pleyn assure,
So cursede finges supersticious
To do or worche, to kynde contrarious.
For God almy^ti, luge of luges alle,
Hath sette a lawe, [|>e] whiche may nat falle,
Amonge planetis perpetuelly tendure,
A-forn ordeyned in his eternal cure,
£e whiche may nat, as clerkys list termyne,
Yp-on no syde bowe nor decline ;
But as J>ei wern from discord or debat
Eternally yformed and creat,
Thoru^ J?e fynger of his sapience,
Alwey to meve in her intelligence
Lyche as J>ei ben to his lordschip bovnde.
For neuer $it ne was eclips y-fovnde,
|5e mone not beynge in coniuTicciourc,
As I haue tolde, saue in J?e passiouw ;
J)e whiche eclips was ageyn[e]s kynde;
Nature her knot bat tyme dide vnbynde,
"VVhan Goddis sone starfe vp-on }>e rode.
fte sowne of life was dirked for oure goode,
Whan heuene and erfe wit/i hi^e compiwcciourc
Han signes schewed of lamentaciou?z,
By erjjequaves li$t turned to * dyrknes,
And dede bodies vpward gan hem dresse [leafiic] 1744
From her tombis ageyn fro deth to lyue ;
Stoon and roche a-sonder gonne * riue ;
In j>e temple )?e veil was kut oa two ;
And signes many wern I-schewed tho —
Jpat for wonder and tokenes merveilous,
No creature
can control
1720 Nature.
God has set
a Law which
planets must
1728
1732
Sun and
Moon were
never
i»o/» darkend,
1736 save at
Christ's
Passion,
1740
when He died
on the Cross,
and the dead
rose from
their graves.
1748
1717. wene] to wene D 1. 1720. pleyn] pleywly D 1.
1722. To do] That done D 1. 1724. whiche] whiche hat D 1.
1728. nor] nouther (one stroke of the u missing) D 1.
1729. debat] bate D 1. 1730. yformed and] formed or D 1.
1733. to] vn to D 1.
1734. ne] om. D 1— y-fovnde] founde D 1.
1738. knot] kinde D 1. 1743. to] in to C, D 1.
1746. gonne] gan C, D 1— riue] to rive D 1.
1747. on] a D 1.
64 Dionisius on Christ's Death. G-od' s power over Elements. [BK.
When Dioni-
sius the
Areopagite
saw the day
darkt,
lie said,
« Either the
God of
Nature dies,
or this round
world shall
be dissolvd.'
God can
restrain the
elements,
as when He
made the Sun
stand still
for Joshua
at Gibeon.
])e grete worf i Dionisius,
Whiche at Athens, as clerkis of hym wryte,
Was called in scolis Arfyjopagite, 1752
j?at whan he sawe — f is noble famws clerke —
J)e bri^tfe] day sodeynly so derke —
Al-f ei he were a paynym in f o dawes,
And was infecte wilh rytys of her lawes, 1756
As * he fat was most chef and principal
Of philisophres, for to rekne al —
Yet * fat tyme, astonyed in his mynde,
Seide platly : " oufer [fe] god of kynde 1760
Suffreth f e dethe, ou]?er — out of doute —
jjis rouwde worlde whiche is so large aboute
Schal be dissoluid and y-brou^t to nou^t
By sodeyn chawnge, hasty as a thoujt." 1764
By his clergie he knewe no better skylle.
For God fat may al chauragen at his wille,
And hath power of swiche coacciou^,*
Ynder whos my$t and disposiciouw * 1768
Is lawe of kynde corcstreyned, soth to seie,
From point to point lowly to obeye
In euery fing fat hym list ordeyne —
Of elementis he may fe cours restreyne, 1772
As holy writ witnessef : ^e may se
How at f e requests of worf i losue,
])Q bri^t[e] sorane stood at Gabaon
A dayes space in 0 degre, and schoon, 1776
Schewyng fis tokne to his trewe kny^t,
Fynally for to ^eue hym ly^t,
]5at he my$t by his hi$e prowes
His cruel foon manfully oppresse, 1780
1750. Dionisius] daun Dionisius D 1.
1752. Aryopagite] the Ariapogite D 1.
1755. Al-J>ei] Al be D 1— were] om. D 2.
1757. As] And C. 1759. Yet] pet C.
1760. ou>er] J>at ouj>er D 1.
1761. ou>er out of] with oute any D 1.
1762. ]3is] Or ellis bis D 1— rounde] om. D 1.
1763. and] ou>er D 1— y-brou^t] broujt D 1.
1766. may al] al may D 1. 1767. coacciowi] coacciouns 0
1768. disposicioun] disposicioims C.
1772. restreyne] co?isti-eine D 1. 1774. >e] om. A.
1777. Hf] his A. 1779. myjt] may D 1— hi^e] om. D 1.
BK. i] Ovid tells lies about Medea. She comes to K. Cethes's Feast. 65
Whan fat he fau^t, f is kny$t, fis losue,
With kingges fyve, reignyng in Amorre :
So longe laste f e pursute and f e chas,
Til fei were take, and for her trespas
Dempft] to be ded, f e bible can 3011 telle.
Now syth fat God fus hi^ly list fulfille
Of his kny^t requeste and orisoim,
What wonder wast f OU3 in f e * passion?;
Of Criste lesu, incarnat for onre sake,
}5e sowne bemys f ou3 fei wexe blake ;
Sith he hath lordscliipe of planetis alle,
And as hym list nedis it mote falle.
For of Medea tho^e Ovidius [leaf 116]
In his fables rehersyth and writ fus,
As he fat liste hir name to exalte,
3et from f e trouf e somwhile he doth halte,
Al-be sche were a passyng sorceresse,
And ferf est named of any chanteresse —
I wil passe ouer ageyn to my matere,
And how sche cam to mete 30 schal here.
Whan hir fader hadde * for hir sent,
Sche cam anoon at his comaundement ;
But or sche cam, I fynde fat to-fore,
For to make hir bewte semyn more,
In hir closet sche toke hir beste array,
For to encrese al fat [euer] sche may
Natures wirke with royal apparaille.
For f is wommen gladly wil nat fey lie,
Whan f ei of bewte haue plewtevous largesse,
To make it more f ei don her besynesse,
With richB attire vppon eue?y syde ;
1784
As God
wrought thus
for Joshua,
1788 what wonder
was it tluit
He did more
for Christ ?
1792
1796
1800
1804
Ovid, in hia
fables of
Medea, lies,
tho' she was.
a noted
Sorceress.
She came to.
K. Cethes's
feast,
drest in her
best, in
1808 woman's
way.
1781. 2nd >is] om. D 1.
1786. syth] sithen D 1— bus hi3ly] om. D 1— fulfille] to fulfelle
D 1. 1788. wast] was A, D 1, was it D 2— be] his C.
1789. oure] his D 1.
1796. somwhile] somtyme D 2, som tynie D 1.
After 1800, D 1 inserts:
If bat 3011 liste a while $eue aduertence
Haue me excused I can noon elloquewce.
1801. hir fader] be kyng D 1— hadde] hath C— 2nd hir] Medea
D 1. 1804. semyn] seme be D 1.
1810. To make it more] It to embelisshe A.
TROY BOOK. F
66 Cethes imprudently lids Medea sit next to Jason, [BK. I
Medea is so
tine that her
coming
gladdens the
hall.
Cethes seats
her next to
Jason, to
cheer him.
3 if oii3t be mysse, fei can it close and hide, 1812
For al J>e foule schal couertly be wried,
ftat no defaute outward be espied.
But sche was bothe fayre & wel beseyn,
And in hir port [so] wommanly certeyn, 1816
}pat hir comynge gladeth al be halle ;
For it was loye vn-to oon and alle
To sen be maner tho of hir entre.
To whom hir fader bad to take hir see 1820
Be-syde lason, hym for to disporte
Of wommanhede, and to recomforte.
Alas for his
imprudence!
It results in
his dishon-
Why didn't
.he take heed
Howe Medea first lovede lason, and of be insaciate
change and mutabilite of women.1
But o, alias, ber lakked hi^ prudence,
Discret avis of inward prouidence, 1824
Wisdam also, wz't/i pereil caste a-fore,
To trust a maide of tendre 3eris bore,
Of vnhappy fonned wilfulnes !
For bis kyng, of his gentelnes, 1828
Comaunded hath to his confusiouw,
To his dishonour and destruccioiw,
His owne dorter, born to be his eyr,
J?at was also so wommanly and fair, 1832
So sodeynly doune to descende —
Considered nat be meschef of be ende.
Alias, why durst he in hir ^outhe affie,
To make hir sytten of his cortesie, 1836
Wher sche my3t by casuel mociou?^
Ful 113% cacche or han occasiouw
To don amys ; alias, whi dide he so !
Why list hym nat taken hede ber-to, 1840
Nor to aduerte in his discresiouw,
1816. port] part D 1. 1818. loye] om. D 2.
1819. To] Tharcne to D 1-tho] om. D 1.
1820. take] om. D 2. 1821. for] om. D 1.
1825. with pereil caste a-fore] >at he shulde haue cast a forn D 1.
1826. bore] born D 1. 1828. his] his hi3e D 1.
1832. and] & so D 2, D 1. 1833. to] for to A, D 2, D 1.
1840. taken] to take D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 17 b.
BK. i] Women are unstable, ever changing \ never constant. 67
Wysly to caste a-forn in his resoim [leafiic]
)?e viiwar chaunge fat is in wcwimonhed, of woman's
"VVhiche euery [wise] man 0113 t[e] for to drede ! 1844 ness;
For who was euer * }it so mad or wood,
Jpat ou$t of resoura co?me ari^t his good,
To }eue* feith or hastily credence
To any womman, wit/t-oute experience, 1848 NO woman is
J to be trusted :
In whom is nouther trust ne sikernesse.
Jpei ben so double & fill * of brotilnesse,
ftat it is harde in hem to assure ;
For vn-to hem it longeth of nature, 1852
From her birth to hauen alliaunce
With doubilnes and with variaunce.
Her hertes ben so freel and vnstable, they are so
unstable :
Nanily in ^outhe, so mevynge and mutable, 1856
J)at so as clerkis of hem liste endite
{Al-be fat I am sori it to write)
J)ei seyn bat chawng and mutabilite mutability
J * belongs to
Appropred ben to femyn[yn]yte — 1860 them;
ftis is affermed of hem J?at were ful sage.
And speciali while f ei be tender of age,
In her wexyng, and whan fat f ei be ^onge ;
Whos herte acordeth ful selde vrith her tonge. 1864
For if J?e trouthe inwardly be sou3te,
With J>e surpluse and re«mau?ite of her fou^te,
Men may J?er fe trewe patron fynde
Of Inconstauwce, whos naskisable kynde 1868 inconstancy
Is to and fro mevyng as a wynde,
j?at Hercules wer nat strong to bynde,
Nouther Sampson, so as I bileue,
Wowmannes herte to make it nat remeve. 1872 They are like
For as J?e blase whirleth of a fire, abouTby 01
So to and fro J?ei fleen in her desire,
Til j?ei acomplische fulli her delite.
1845. euer] euery C — or] or so D 1. 1846. conne] to kunne D 1.
1847. 3eue] ^if C, A— hastily] hasty D 1.
1850. double] dulle D 1— ful] so ful C.
1857. of hem liste] list of hem D 1.
1860. ben] is D 1— femynynite] femynite D 1.
1861. ful] om D 1. 1864. her] )>e D 1.
1869. a] >e D 1. 1871. so as 1] as I on D 1.
1872. nat] to D 1. 1873. of] as D 2.
68 Women can't be content with one Man. Their Hypocrisy. [BK. I
Women
follow their
lust, from
man to man.
They won't
be content,
with one
man,
For as matere by naturel appetit, 1876-
Kynd[e]ly desyreth after forme,
Til he his course by p?'0cesse may parforme,
So Jns wommen restreyn[en] hem ne can
To sue her lust ay fro man to man. 1 880
Howe women be nevere content in lustes Abitite til
j>ai han assaiede J?e abitite of fere Eye. And
J?at is, fro man to man.1
ftei wil not cesse til al be assaied ;
But wolde God, as mater is apaied
With o forme, and holdeth him * content,
Whan of his bouwdys he hath J?e tenne went, 1884
And not desyreth ferther to precede,
But stille abitte and wil it nat excede,
j?at by ensa[m]ple alle wowme[n] wolde
Resten in on, as duelly thei schulde, 1888
And holde hem peyde and stille ber abide.
But vnsure fotyng doth hem ofte slide ;
For bei be nat content with vnite : [leaf 11 a]
])ei pursue ay for pluralite, 18921
So of nature to mevyng fei be thewed ;
Al-bou^ amonge, by signes outward schewed,
xiiey pretend J)ei pretende a maner stabilnes ;
But vnder bat is hid be dowbilnes 1896>
So secretly, fat outward at be eye
Ful harde it is be tresoim to espie.
Vnder curteyn and veil of honeste,
Is closed chauwge and mutabilite ; 1900
For her desyr is kepte ful cloos in mewe ;
And bing bei hadde leuest for to so we,
Only outward for to haue a laude,
))ei can decline with feynyng and -with fraude. 1904
1876. matere] nature D 1. 1877. forme] his fowrme D 1.
1882. mater] nature D 1. 1883. him] hem C.
1884. bowidys] bonde D 1— }>e] his D 1. 1886. it] om D 1
18*7. pat by] By >at D 1— ensample] example D 2.
1888. on] o place D 1— duelly thei] thei dwely D 1
1893. to] of Dl.
1897. secretly] secrely D 1. 1902. >ing] thynk A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 17 c.
but want
many.
but always
change.
BK. i] The folly of Cethes in malting Medea known to Jason. 69
Wherfore, Cethes, bi wit was to bareyne, why was
Kins Cethes
Jjat pou aforne by prudence naddist seyne so foolish
What schulde folwe of )>is vnhappy caas.
Whi wer J>ou bolde for to suffre, alias, 1908
Jpin owne doubter, so fair and fresche of he we,
With straiwge gestis entred but of newe, as to let
So folily for to lete hir dele ! with Ja80n>
Wher-poru} )>in honour, J>i worschip, & pin hele 1912 toi.er
Was lost in haste, and sche to meschef brouat, disgrace,
and her own
In strauttge londe, wttfc sorwe and myche pou^t. ruin?
Wher as sche to grete sclaunder of p^
In gret miserie and aduersite 1916
An ende made ; and j>ou wer lefte al sool.
J9ou my^test wel compleyne and make dool.
Alias J?e while, 31!' in pi prudent sy^t
J?ou haddest grace to remembre ari^t, 1920
And to haue cast by discret p?*rvyaunce,
And weied wysely by mesour in balaunce
])Q fraude of wommon, and pe fre[e]lte ;
In whom ful selde is any sikerte, 1924
As in [his] latyn Guydo dothe expresse.
Wherfor, pou Cethes, of verray reklesnesse He lost \\\%
J5ou hast attonys, in augment of )>i woo,
With-out recure bothe two for-goo : 1928
Firste bi tresour, and bi douater dere, treasure, his
daughter and
#at was to J>e so passyngly entere, )»s heir.
And eke j)in ayre ; for whan pat sche was goon,
As seithe myn auctor, other was J?er noon, 1932
After J)i day for to occupie
])\ royal septre, nor J>i lond to guye.
But what was worj> * )>e gret[e] prouidence,
J?e wakir kepyng, or besy diligence 1936
Of myjti Mars, bat sod is of bataile — Even Mars
was no use
What my^t it help, diffende, or availe against a
Ageyn J>e wit of wo?«man, or pe slei^te ; woman's
Whos fraudes arn of so huge a wei^te, [leaf 12 a] 1940
1916. and] and grete D 1. 1918. wel] wepe D 1.
1919. while] whiche D 2. 1921. discret] prudent D 1.
1925. his] myn A. 1935. \vor>] worbi C.
1940. avn] ben D 1.
For Medea
stole her
Father's
treasure.
As she sat
by Jason,
her colour
went and
came:
she changed
from pale
to red ;
70 HMD Medea, sitting next Jason, fell in Lorn with him. [BK. I
fcat as hem list ay }>e game gotlie,
Her purpos halt, who so be lefe or lothe —
Jpei ben so sli$e, so prudent, and so wyse !
For as pis story plainly doth devise,
J)is Medea by hir engyne and crafte,
From hir fader his tresour hath berafte
)3oru3 Jje werchyng of hir sleety gyle,
As 36 schal her with-Inne a lityl while.
For as sche sat at mete in fat tyde,
Next hir fader, and lason by hir syde,
Al sodeinly hir fresche rosen hewe
Ful ofte tyme gan chaurcge and renewe,
An hondrid sythe in a litel space.
For now pe blood from hir goodly face
Vn-to hir hert vnwaiiy gan avale,
And pere-with-al sche wexe ded and pale ;
And efte anoon, who pat can take lied,
Hir hewe chaungeth in-to a goodly red.
But euere amonge tennwen hir colour,
J)e rose was meynt with the lillie flour ;
And pou3 pe rose stouwdemele gan pase,
3 it pe lillie abideth in his place
Til nature made hem efte to mete.
And pus with colde and with sodein hete
"Was Medea in hir silfe assailled,
And passyngly vexed and trauailed.
For now sche brent, and now sche gan to colde,
And ay pe more pat sche gan * beholde
ftis 3ong lason, pe more sche gan desyre
To loke on hym, so was sche sette a-fire
With his bewte and his semlynesse ;
And euery ping sche inly gan enpresse,
What pat sche sawe, bothe in mynde & pou3t,
Sche al enp?*ente[t]h, and for-gat ri3t nou3t ;
For sche considereth eue?y circu??zstaunce
Bothe of his port, and his gouernaunce :
she grew cold
and hot ;
and the more
she lookt at
Jason, the
more taken
she was with
him.
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1942. halt] holde> D 1.
1956. wexe] wexeb D 2.
1963. efte] efte sone D 1.
1968. gan] be gan C.
1944. >is] he D 1.
1957. can] gan D 1.
BK. i] Medea is Jason's, body and soul, but daren't show it. 71
His sonnysshe * here, crisped liche gold wyre,
His kny^tly loke and his manly chere,
His contenaunce vritli many noble signe,
His face also, most gracious and benigne,
Most acceptable vn-to hir plesaunce ;
For, as sche pou^t, it was suffisaunce,*
With-outew more, vn-to hir allone,
To considre and loke on his persone.
For in pat tyme, w^-outen any drede,
Of mete or drink e sche toke but litel hede ;
For sche of food hath loste hir appetit,
To loke on hym sche hath -so gret delite,
He was so prented in hir remembraunce. [leaf 12 &]
Loue hath hir cau$t so newli in a traunce,
And y-marked vrilli his firy brond,
feat sche may nou^t eskapen fro his hond,
Nor eschewe his strok in special ;
For sche was ^olde body, herte, and al,
Vn-to lason, platly for to seye,
And euere among on hym sche cast hir eye,
Whan pat sche fonde a leyser oportune.
But of wisdam sche wolde nat contvne
Hir loke to longe, list men dempte amys ;
But as pe maner of pis wommen is,
Sche kepte hir cloos and wonderly secree,
feat by hir chere no man my^t[e] see
What pat sche ment, by noon occasiouw.
Sche put hem out of al suspecciou/i ;
For openly per was no tokne sene.
Sche cast[e] rather fat men schulde wene
feat penchesourc of hir abstinence,
And why pat sche satte so in silence —
How pat it was only of wo?mnanhede,
Of honest schame, and of chaste drede,
feat to-gidre in hir hert[e] mette ;
fee whiche tweyn so pis maide lette
Jason had
sunny curly
liair;
1980 l.isfacewa
1984
Medea
couldn't eat
or drink for
looking at
1988 him-
1992
She was his,
body and
soul.
But she kept
this secret,
1996
2000
2004
wanting men
to think her
silence was
due to
2008 Modesty.
2012
1977. sonnysshe] sonnelyche C — wyre] wher D 2, where D 1.
1982. suffisaimce] sufficiaunce C.
1986. or] and D 1— but] om. D 1. 1992. hond] bond D 2.
2009. ]>at] o?n. D 1— of] for D 2, of pure D 1.
Medea
coutrold her
countenance.
And as girls
c'an hide
their feelings,
72 How Medea longs for the fair well-limbd Jason. [BK. I
Fro mete and drink, as it wolde seme.
)3us of wisdam sclie made hem for to deme,
And so to cast in hir opinioiw ;
And pus sche blent hem by discreciouw ; 2016
For hir chere koude Query ping excuse.
Sche $af no * mater folis for to muse,
No * cher vnbridled fat tyme hir asterte ;
For per was oon enclosed in hir herte, 2020
And another in her chere declared.
For maidenes hau ofte sythes spared
To schewen* oute pat pei desyre in dede,
As it falleth, who so can take hede ; 2024
J)at whil pei flouren in virginite,
And for ^outhe haue no liberte
To specific pat her hert[e] wolde,
))ei kepe hem cloos, for pei be nat bolde 2028
To schewen* out pe so??? me of her sentence.
And pus Medea, kepyng ay silence,
Ne lete no worde by hir lippis passe,
But couertly with sobre chere and face, 2032
What sche ment schewep with hir Eye
So secretly pat no man koude espie
])Q hoote fire in hir breste y-reke ;
And in hir self ri^t pus sche gan to speke, 2036
As sche in sothe pat so moche can :
* So wolde God, pis ^onge lusty man, [leaf 12 c]
Which e is so faire and semly in my 513 te,
Assured were to be myri owne kny^te. 2040
Whiche is to me most plesaunt and entere,
With berd y-sprong, schy[n]ing liche gold were,
So wel I-lemed, and compact by mesure,
Wei growe on hei^te, and of gode stature ; 2044
And lyketh me in euery part so wel,
))at by assent of Fortune and hir whele,
I ewred were to stonden in his grace.
2014. f>us] And )ms D 1. 2015. so to] bus eke D 1.
2016. And >us sche blent] For to blende D 1— by] by hir D 1.
2018. no] to C— folis] fooly D 1. 2019. No] Nor C.
2026. haue] hath D 1. "2029. schewen] schewem C.
2033. What] What bat D 1.
2044. on] of D 2, D 1. 2047. in] at. D 1.
so MeJe;i,
keeping
silent,
didn't show
the hot fire
of love within
her, but still
longd for the
handsome
Jason.
BK. i] Medea wants to wed Jason. Men mustn't trust Women. 73
For as me semeth, on his kny^tly face 2048
It is to me an heuene to by-holde, :y «•;}«» thinks
it Heaven to
Al-be j)er-\vith myn hert I fele colde ; ^nat
And $it in soth it may noon other be.
Alias ! whi nadde he vp-on my wo pite, 2052
Or, at f e leste, he knewe in his entente,
How moche trowth to hym fat I mente !
Of whiche, alias, he taketh no nianer hede,
Al-be for hym I brewne as doth be glede, 2056 she bums
for him, and
And to be ded I dar me not * discure.
Alas ! my pitous and woful aventure
Is to rewful, and my mortal pcyne,
So to be mordred, and dar me not cowpleyne 2060 yet dare not
speak.
To frende nor foo of my chaurace, alias !
To finden help or socour in )>i.s caas.
And trew[e]ly, 3it as I schal denise,
1 no f ing merie but in honest wise, 2064
Liche as it schal openly be fownde ;
For I desire to be knet and bounde
hym in wedlok, & neue>- fro hym twy?me ; she wants to
For my menyng is with-owten synne, 2068 Heriove'for
, , j him is pure.
Grounded and set vp-on al clennes,
With-oute fraude or any doubilnes —
So clene and pure is myn entenciouw ! "
Loo, ay fe maner and condiciourc 2072
Of fis wowimen, fat so wel can feyne, But women
And schewen on, fou$ fe[i] finkfe] tweyne ;
And couertly, fat no f ing be seyn,
With humble chere and Avith face pleyn, 2076 They look
Enclose her lustis by swyche sotilte, crafty.
Vnder [f e] bowndis of al honeste
Of hir entent, f ou$ * f e trecherie
With al f e surplus vnder be y-wrye. 2080
And f 0113 fat f ei feith a-forn p?*etende,*
2048. on] vpon A, D 2.
2050. I fele] om. D 2.
2051. 3it] om. D 2. 2052. vp-on] on D 1.
2057. me not] not me C.
2061. nor] or D 2— chaiwce] chaunge A.
2067. fro hym] for to D 1.
2079. Jwraj] bony C. 2081. pretende] p?'<?tente C.
74 Guide's blame of Women, and Lydgate's Praise of 'em. [BK. I
women And can her fraude with florissyng wel diffewde,
en r And flaterie, only pe worlde to blende,
With dowbilnes * enclosed in the ende,
3 it ay deceyt is * benethe ment,
Vndre pe sugre of feyned clene entent,
As it were soth, in verray existence ; [leaf 12
But, trust me wel, al is but apparence.
})&( can schewe on, and another mene,
Whos blewe is ^tly died in-to grene ;
For vnder floures depeint of st-abilnes,
)3e serpent dareth of newfongilnes.
So pleyne pei seme with wordis fair[e] glosed,
But vnder-nethe her couert wil is closed ;
For what ping be most vn-to per pay,
j)ei wil denye and rathest per swere nay.
ftus liketh Guydo of wommen for tendite.
Alias, whi wolde he so cursedly write
Ageyn[e]s hem, or with hem debate !
I am ri^t sory in englische to translate
Eeprefe of hem, or any euel to seye ;
Leuer me wer for her loue deye.
Where-fore I preye hem to take in pacience ;
My purpos is nat hem to done offence ;
)3ei ben so gode and parfyte * euerechon,
To rekne alle, I trowe per be nat on,
But pat pei ben in wille and hertfe] trewe.
For pou^ amonge pei chese hem lovis newe,
Who considreth, pei be no ping to blame ;
For ofte tyrne pei se men do pe same,
jpei most hem purveie wha?z men hem refuse ;
And }if I koude I wolde hem * excuse.
It sitteth nat a wo??iman lyue alone ;
They show
one thin?,
but menu
another:
they're
serpents
under
flowers.
So says
Guido.
But I, John
Lydgate, say
women are
perfect.
If they take
new lovers,
it's because
men teach
'em to.
2084
2088.
2092
2096
2100
2104
2108
2112
2082. wel] om. D 1. 2084. dowbilnes] dowmbilnes C.
2085. is] it C— ment] y ment D 1. 2093. seme] seyn D 1.
2094. wil] wel D 2, D 1. 2095. >er] Mr D 2, D 1.
2096. rathest her] ]>ere ra>est D 1— >er] they A.
2097. liketh] lusteth D 1— for] om. D 1.
2098. write] I wryte A. 2100. to] om. D 2.
2102. deye] to deie D 1. 2103. to] om. D 1.
2104. hem to done] to do hem D 1.
2105. parfyte] so parfyte C. 2108. hem] om. D 2.
2112. hem] heie C. 2113. lyue] to lyve D 1.
BK. i] Lydgate denounces Guido. Medea goes to her chamber. 75
It is no stor but fei haue more J?an oon.
Preying to hem for to do me grace,
For as I hope, to hem is no trespas 2116
Jpou} my * makyng be fe same in al,
As Guydo wryt in his original —
Where he mysseyth, late hym bere fe wyte ;
For it sit wel, fat fe vengaunce byte 2120
On hym fat so f is wo??mien haf offendid ;
And 3if I my^t it schul[de] ben amendid.
He schulde reseyue duely his penaunce ;
For }if he died with-oute repentaimce, 2124
I am dispeired of his sauacioun,
Howe he schulde euer haue remissions,
But he were contrite his synne to redresse ;
It may not ben, as clerkys bere wytnesse. 2128
And be my trouthe, and he were alyue —
I mene Guydo — and I schulde hym shryue,
So bitter penauwce pleynly he schulde haue,
£at to fe tyme fat he were I-graue, 2132
He schulde reme??ibre, and platly not asterte
For to repente hym with al his hol[e] herte,
]5at he so spake to his confusiouw.
I wil no lenger make cligressiou?^ [leaf is a] 2136
Fro my matere, but let Guydo be,
And telle forfe fe worching of Medee,
J3at hath licence of hir fader nome,
And to hir chaumbre is allone y-come, 2140
Whan oute of halle * wat7i-drawen was J?e pres,
And whan lason, and also Hercules,
Liche as fe kyng after mete bad,
To her chaurabres conveied wern and lad, 2144
Fill rially arrayed and beseyn ;
For eue?y wal was cured in certeyn
With clothe of golde, in ful statly wyse.
And in fis while, as 30 han herde deuise, 2148
Was Medea to hir chaumbre goon,
So let Guido
be blamed,
and not me,
Lydgate.
If he were
alive, and I
shrove him,
I'd give him
bitter
penance.
But to return
to Medea.
She goes to
her chamber.
2117. my] >e C. 2126. he] om. D 2.
2132. I-graue] in his graue D 1.
2141. halle] >e halle C, D 1. 2144. chaimbres] chaumbre D 1.
2147. clothe! clothis A.
76 How lurningly Medea is in love with Jason. [BK. i
Love has
wounded
Medea's
heart,
and 1t in died
such a fire in
her as '11 not
be quench t.
Love and
Shame strive
in her.
But Love is
as fierce as a
lion, while
Shame is a
coward.
Wher by hir silf, cowpleynyng euer in oon,
Sche $af issu to hir peynis smerte,
})at hir so sore ban wounded to Jje herte :
For Loue hap brou^t hir in a sodeyn rage,
J)at was not likly sone for taswage ;
For in sothenes, pe furious god Cupide
Hath swiche a fir kyndeled in her side,
Jjat it was neuer likly hir to lete,
So violent and fervent was pe hete,
Jjat mor an[d] mor encresen gan hir peyne.
For in hir breste per was atwixe tweyne
A gret debate, and a stronge bataille,
So feruently eche other dide assaile ;
And pis contek, in ernes and no game,
luparted was betwixe Loue and Schame,
Metyng to-gidre per at vn-set stevene,
Al-be pe felde was nat parted evene.
For Loue in* soth, ful of hi^e renouw,
Was bolde and hardy, liche a fers lyoiw,
And was nat ferful of spere, swerde, nor knyf,
But hoot and hasty for to awnter his lif,
Eke surquedous, stout, and ful of pride,
Chefe champiourc of pe god Cupide,
)pat causeth ofte, bothe fre and bonde,
Ful many pereil for to take on honde.
And caused hath ful many maranes dethe,
And many on to ^elden vp pe brethe,
And made her wouwdes largely to blede ;
For of pereil Loue taketh noon hede,
To gete hym honour by excellence of fame.
But in contraire * his enmy called * Schame,
Liche a coward, feynt and hert[e]les,
As he pat neuer dar put hym self in pres,
For lak of manhod drawip hym euer a-bak ;
2152
2156
2160
2164
2168
2172
2176
2180
2150. euer] ay D 1. 2151. liir] his D 1. 2152. >e] om. D 2.
2154. not] om. A— for] om. D 1.
2157. neuer likly] likly iieuere D 1.
2163. misplaced at, bottom of column and marked a in C ; 2164 1's
marked b. 2163. ernes] eriiest A, D 2, D 1 — no] not in D 1.
2164. luparted] In partyd A. 2167. in] for C.
2180. in contraire] >e contrarie C — called] is called C.
BK. i] Sow Shame checks the Ardour of Lovers.
77
lovers from
He is so dredful and ferful of ]?e wrak, 2184 shame stops
Lyche a childe, ^ong and tender of age ;
For he hath nouthur herte nor corage [leaf la &]
For to assaille, he is so feble of my^te ;
And $it ful ofte he hath stonde in j?e si^te 2188
Of many louer, to let hym for to specie,
Jjoru^ fals conspiring of his broker Drede.
For Drede and Schame, whaw j>ei ben allied,
Of on assent haue pitously denyed 2192
Vn-to Loue, herte and hardines,
)3at he ne durst out a worde expres ;
For whan J?at Loue of manhod wolde speke,
)5e wode fire out of his brest to vnreke, 2196
Vp-on j>e point whan he schulde assey,
Cometh Schame anoon, & outterly seith nay,
And causeth Loue hornys for to schrynke,
To [a]baische his chere & pitously to * wynke, 2200
Cowardly his cause to appeire.
And ]ms is Schame froward and contrayre,
)5oru3 help of Drede, Lovis folk to fere.
For dowt[e]les 3if * Schame nou^t ne were — 2204
As it is kouj>e, bofe ni3 and ferre —
Love in his lawes often schulde erre,
And wynden out of honeste[e]s cheyne,
Of his bou?zdis bridel breke a reyne, 2208
Ry^t as an hors out of J>e traise at large ;
For lite or nou}t louers wolde charge
To folwe her wille, and her lust to sewe ;
But al J>e while [fat] Schame is kept in me we, 2212
Outward in porte Loue bereth hym lowe :
Recorde of wo?miien, for ]?ei )?e sothe knowe.
For ne were Schame, as clerkys han compiled,
Out of her hertis dauuger were exiled, 2216
Al straungenes and feyned fals disdeyne.
For ne were Schame pleinly j?e wardeyne
Of )>is wo»»men, by writyng of fis olde,
speaking out..
When they
should
venture,
Shame
hinders
them,
checks Love's
outburst, and
makes them
humble.
If Shame
didn't guard
women,
2199. Loue] louis A. 2200. to] for to C.
2204. 3if ] ne C. 2207. wynden] wenden A, wende D 1.
2208. Of] And of D 1— a] & D 2, A. 2212. >at] om. D 1.
2214. of] on D 2.
78 HMO Medea hesitates between Love and Shame. [BK.
they'd yield
at once.
AVith-out assaut pe castel were y-jolde ;
It were no nede a sege for to leyn :
For in swyche case longe trete were in veyne ;
Tor of nature pei lone no processe.*
But now, alias, Drede & Schamefastnesse
Han daunted Lone, in ful lowe manere,
And maked hym ful humble of port & chere ;
And pei han eke by her violence,
Tor al his nianhod, put hym in silence,
And ben gret cause of moring of his peyne.
And amyddes of pis ilke tweyne,
so between Of Loue and Schame even vp-on pe point,
simme"?ai,ds Stood Medea in ful gret disioynt,
Jjat sche ne may pe peyne nat endure,
So hoot sche brent, pis woful creature,
By-twyxe bothe — I rnene Loue and Schame. [leaf is c]
For whan pat Loue wolde eny ping attarne
Of his desires to declare hem oute,
Cam Schame anoon, and put him * in [a] doute ;
And Drede was redy his lust for to denye.
And pus sche stood in a lupardye
Of Loue and Schame, in maner of a traunce,
Vn-euenly hanged * in balaunce ;
For Schame was gret, & Loue $it was more,
As sche wel knewe, by hir si^es sore,
And by hir stormy cruel aventure.
For Drede and Schame durstfe] not discure
j)e fire pat Loue had in hir brest enclosed,
Whiche was ful harde for to be deposed.
And pus sche henge euen atwixe two,
))at sche ne wist what was best to do ;
Til pat Fortune with hir double face
Vnhappily hath wrou$t to gete hir grace,
With pe whirlyng of hir whele aboute,
2223. J>ei] J>e D 2 — processe] longe processe C.
2227. han] kan A.
2229. gret] om. D 1 — moring] mornyng A, morning D 1.
2235. By-twyxe] Betwene D 1. 2236. }>at] om. D 1.
2238. him] hem C— in a] om. D 1.
2242. hanged] hanget C— in] in flesshly D 1.
2243. 3it was] was yit A, was }it D 1.
2245. by] for D 1. 2252. to] for to D 1.
2220
in a trance.
She knows
not what to
do, till
Fortune tells
her.
2224
2228
2232
2236
2240
2244
2248
2252
BK. i] Fortune tricks mortals. Medea is bidden to amuse Jason. 79
Fortune is
the Lady of
Change.
She leads
fcob
J?at causeth * wrecches ful lowe dou?i to loute,
"NY han fei best wene to sitter hi^e alofte —
Be experience, as men may sen ful ofte, 2256
By hir gery reuolucioun.
For f is lady of transmvtacioun,
Ful ofte tyme fals and ful vnstable,
Enhasteth f inges to foolis ful greable, 2260
Whiche in f e ende, to her confusioun,
Can vnder sugre schrowden her poysou?*.
For ay Fortune, as hir maner is,
To wrechis scheweth* ofir fan it is; 2264
For with fayr chere and face of flaterie —
As sche fat can with a benigne eye
Fully of folis par-forme the entent,
Wher-foru^ fei be in gret meschef schent 2268 into mischief.
At f e ende, and can no * crafte [tjeschewe
jje vnwar harme fat at hir * tail dof sewe —
Ryjt as it fel, whilom of Medee,
Gynnyng and grounde of hir aduersite — 2272
For Jns lady, fat called is Fortune,
I-graunted hath a leiser opportune
To schewe lason hooly al hir herte,
Whiche made hir after ful sore wepe and smerte. 2276
For on a day, after meridien,
Whan Appollo with his bemys schene
Frow f e southe plage gan to wester faste,
Cethes, hir fader, hath y-sent in haste 2280
To Medea to com to hym anoon,
And bad to hir fat sche schulde goon
Vn-to lason and [to] Hercules,
To make hem chere amongis al fe pres. [leaf is <q 2284
And whan sche cau^te opportune space
To hir desire, and sawe eke in f e place,
J?at hir fader was most occupied,
She gave
Jason oppor-
tunity to
discover
Medea's love
tor him.
King Cetbes
bids Medea
go and amuse
Jason and
Hercules.
2254. causeth] caused C. 2261. to] of A.
2264. scheweth] schewen C.
2269. no] by no C.
2270. at hir tail doj>] do>e at hir tail D 1— hir] )>e C.
2271. whilom] somtyrae D 1.
2272. Gynnyng] Begynimige D 1. 2280. y-sent] sent D 1.
2284. amongis] aniOHge D 1.
80
Medea visits Jason, and warns him.
[BK. I
As sche fat f oi^te * not to ben espied,
Apparseyuynge his grete besynesse,
Medea goes Toward lason anoori sche gan hir dresse ;
.Kn, Lid he And he in haste with a ful kiiylYltly chere,
to her. ,
In curteys wyse gan to drawe nere
Towardis hir, & sawe f er was no lette.
And whan fat f ei were to-gidre sette,
J5is Medea with sy^ing first abreyde,
And to lason even f us sche seide :
2292
2296
Howe Medea exorted lason not to take vpon him f is
iopardy to preve his marchode. And howe she
delyverde him thre f enges for to distroy Martis
ordynaunce.1
she begs him " lason," qttod. sche, " of fin hi^e noblesse,
Of f i manhood and f i * gentillesse,
Bothe assembled in f i persone y-fere,
And of kny^thod, first I the requere 2300
In f i conceyte and oppiniouwe
Nat to arette to presumpcioiw,
To doubilnesse nor to inconstauwce
Of wo??^manhed, nor to variaimce, 2304
)3at I am bold & can for no fing spare
My menyng clerly to ^ow to declare,
With-oute feynyng, in wordis plat & pleyn,
Beseching firste, to fat fat I schal seyn, 2308
With-out[e] more, of 3oure goodlyhede
to take heed Benyng[e]ly for to taken hede,
And paciently to my wordes leste,
to hw advice. And what I seye, to take it for fe beste 2312
In ^our entent, and no fing 3011 to greue.
For finges two myn hert[e] sore meve,
2288. >ou3te] ^ou^t C.
2289. Apparseyuynge] And parceyuynge D 1.
2292. drawe] drawe him D 1.
2294. And] But D 1— sette] met A.
2298. 2nd >i] of ]>i C. 2299. y-fere] in fere D 1.
2305. no] om. D 2. 2307. in] with D 1.
2308. 1st ]>at] it D 1.
2311. paciently to my wordes leste] to my wordes paciently
liste D 1. 2313. to] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 19 c.
BK. i] Medea warns Jason of danger in his Gold-Fleece Quest. 81
jjis to seyne, loue and gentillesse, Medea teiis
What pat I mene clerly to expresse 2316
To 3our persone, and no ping to concele
Or we parte, liche as 30 schal fele.
For me serneth, first of curtesye,
In sothefastnes, and of gent[e]rye, 2320
bat to straungeris euery maner wyat she is bound
0 " . to aid
Is bou?ide and holde of verray due ri3t strangers;
To make chere, and trewly as for me,
Be-cause, lason, pat I in 3ow se 2324 andasheisso
So moche manhod, & so gret worpinesse,
I wil not feyne \\iih al my besynesse
To helpe and forther in al pat may 3ou like." win help
him,
And \\ith pat word of herte sche gan to sykc, 2328
For his sake, and seide hym ouermore :
" For aou I fele ful gret anoy and sore, But he is m
advisd to try
frat meved am with-oute avisenesse, tor the
Only of 3outhe and wilful hardinesse 2332
J}e flees of gold to geten 3if 36 may ; [leafuo] Fleece of
}3e whiche emprise, who-so-euer assay,
More perillous is pleynly to acheue,
In verray soth, pan 30 koude leue : 2336
For dout[e]les, I do 3ow wel assure,
be final mede of bis auenture The end oi
r his Quest is
Is nat but deth, saue report of schame ; but Death.
For per 36 wene to gete 3ow a name, 2340
fte ende pleinly schal turnen in contrarie,
Fro pe gynnyng so pe fyn schal varie.
For wit of man, nouper engyn nor myat, NO wit of
man
J3ou3 he be neuer so wel expert in fy3t, 2344
Or haue in armys passynge excercise,
With alle pe sle3tes of olde or newe emprise,
Or pou3 he be best breped * to endure,
Or what deuis per be of his armvre, 2348
Or what wepne also pat he brynge, or \\eapo.i
Harded vtith stele, trenchaunde or persynge,
2315. J>is] This is D 2, That is D 1. 2316. to] I wele D 1.
2323. as] om. D 1. 2325. gret] moche D 1.
2330. ful] om. D 1. 2342. so] of D 2.
2346. or] & D 1. 2347. bre>ed] brevet C.
2350. trenchauude] trenchauiit A, D 2, D 1.
TROY BOOK. G
82 Medea promises to help Jason ; and he wws to oley her. [BK. I
can save him, $it at J?e last, whan he hath al * soi^t,
WM-out[e] me it vaille may ri3t nou^t. 2352
Wherefore, lason, I haue compassioiw
On* 3our southe, of* pure affecciouw:
Of wilfulnes 30 schuld[e] pus be lorn,
j)at ben of blood and * lyne so hi3e born ; 2356
For certeynly it may noon other be,
she alone can Eut sif bat 20 sour conseil take of me,
help him. , ,
For noon but I may do 3ow help or ese.
Alias, lason, whi wil 30 not appese 2360
^our manly corage, in pis caas I-blent,
if he'ii obey And to my (^mseil ben obedient !
her, lie'll win , , T . - , , . , .
pan durst 1 swerne 36 scnulde naue victone,
Ben remembred and put in memorie 2364
Perpetuelly, and pouru3 3oz^r kny3thod wy?me
the Fleece. J5e flees of gold, pe whiche is 3ond wtt/i-Inne,
In fe He fat stant here be-syde,
Of whiche pat Mars is gouernour & guyde. 2368
Wherfore attonis in 3 our silfe assent,
To my conseil fully to consent,
At fewe wordis, 3if 36 list to spede,
And leue $our lust and wirke after my rede." 2372
Jason thanks To whom lason vfitfi [full humble chere,
Medea, and
Answered and seide, "myn owne lady dere,
I thanke 3ow in al my best[e] wise,
Ri3t as ferforth as I may suffise, 2376
And as my power platly may atteyne,
Myn hertis quene and lady soue?*eyne ;
Whom pat 36 may hooly, I ensure,
declares he'ii Al be while bat my life may dure, 2380
obey her all T
his life. Trustej) n'3t wel, me list not for to feyne,
To Hue or dye, at 3our lust restreyne, [leaf u &]
As hym fat is 3our owne trewe man,
for tobeye in al pat euer I can, 2384
2351. hath al] al hath C.
2352. vaille may] may a vaille D 1.
2354. On] Of C, In D 1— of] and C. 2355. Of] That of A.
2356. and] of C— born] I born D 2, y born A.
2364. Ben] And be D 1. 2373. new IT D 1.
2377. my] om. A. 2379. I] I 3ow D 1.
2382. restreyne] to restreyne A. 2384. for] om. D 1
\
BK. i] Jason pledges his word to be true to Medea till Death. 83
With-oute change or any doubilnes,
While fat I lyve, in verray sothfastnes.
J9at 30 w list of trewe affecciou/i,
Vp-on my life to haue compassiouw,
Of gentilnes, and [f«t] 36 list to haue
Swiche cherte my body for to saue,
ftat in good feith, of verray due 113 1,
I am y-bou7*de to be $our owne kny^t*
Vn-to myn ende ; and fat more specially
Jpat of $our grace so benygnely
3e liste $our silfe of my conseil be,
Jjat neuer aforn to ^ow in no degre
N"e dide seruise to ^oure wowmanhed ;
And -with 3oure wordis ful of goodlyhed,
lour owne man listeth recomforte.
J2e whiche in soth, so as I can reporte,
A f ousand folde be f e more plesaurit,
ftat neuer a-forn no merit gat him * graunt,
Ne no decert, requeste, nor prayere ;
But more frely, with hert[e] ful entere,
Liste vnrequered on my wo to rewe,
And vndeserued ben to me so trewe,
)5at I ensure vp-on my feith as faste,
In 3our seruise I schal vn-to my laste
Perseuere, sothly, fat }>er schal be no slouthe,
Nor variaunce, and pe[r]-to here my troufe :
For finally with-outen [any] wene,
At fewe-wordes, I seie ri3t as I mene,
Me list not feyne, flatre, nor delude,
For my behest with deth I schal conclude,
Whan fat parchas my lyves thred to-rende ;
)}is al and som, and jms I make an ende."
"jfcmne," quod sche, {<ful wysly in 3our herte
3e moste a-forn consideren and aduerte
2388
If Medea will
save Jason,
he will he her
Knight till
2392 death,
2396
2400
2404 and, with
whole heart,
2408 serve
her to the
last.
2412 He says what
lie means,
unfeignedly.
2416
2392. Y-bounde] bounde D 1— kny^t] trew kny}t C.
2397. Ne dide seruise] No seruice dide D 1.
2399. recomforte] to recomforte D 1. 2401. >e] tho D 2.
2402. no] of D 1— him] hem C, D 2, A.
2403. no] of no D 1.
2411. any] om. A, D 2, more to D 1.
2412. seie] seye as A. 2414. with deth] which A.
2417. newH D 1.
84 Medea dissuades Jason from his Quest. [BK. i
Your Quest ])& * auenture, fat 36 take on honde,
And prudently f e pereil vnderstonde, 2420
And ful warly caste and haue in mynde
Jje mortal harme at f e taiel be-hynde,
J)at is wel more fan it is credible ;
is impossible, For leue me wel, it is an impossible 2424
To gynne [iu] honour, & also for to fyne.
for the Fleece For f ilke flees be hi^e power devyne
Dow"re b Preseruyd is, and eke with Martis myjt,
bSi7'breathy ^ vv^°'so entre]> J>ere ^or to n3te> 2428
ing flame. ft wer fui }iar(je [to] hym to eskape
]5e firy flame, whan f e bolis gape,
ftat ben of bras, trapped al in leuene, [leaf uc]
More for to drede fan li^tnyng of fe heuene 2432
To-fore f e dent of f e grete thonder,
#at seuered hath many tour assondre ;
For to assches fei moste * a man consume.
DO not* Wherfor I rede bat 2e nat presume 2436
attempt it.
\)Q Earn tassaile, lest 36 3our labour lese ;
"WVtA-drawe * 3our foot 3it sithe?i 36 * may chese,
By good avise and discrecciouw,
3our honour saue, and 3our hi3e renou?z. 2440
Wher-so 30 list of 3our wilfullnes,
Only of foly and of hastines
To fis emprise of heed to precede,
Or wher 30 list, liche as I 3ow rede, 2444
save yourself Sauen lour silfe from wo & al meschaunce,
from woe. T • i_
Licne as 36 schal, 3 if te myn ordynaunce
3e 3ow co??imitte, and lowly list obeye
With-oute fraude — fer is no more to seie." 2448
And lason fan, sittyng at f e borde,
2419. J)e] t>is C. 2420. vnderstonde] to vnderstonde A.
2425. gynne] begynne D 1. 2430. flame] flawraes D 1.
2431. of] in D 1. 2432. >an] >anne >e D 1— of ]>e] in D 1.
2434. many] many a D 2, D 1.
2435. moste] al moste C.
2438. WitA-drawe] WitA drawi> C— 30] >at 3e C— #t sitheu
may chese] for the more ese D 1.
2441. Wher-so 30] Or whej>«r 3ou D 1.
2444. wher] whe>er D 1.
2448. With together with the initial A of 2449 cut out in D 1.
2449. ne
BK. i] Jason declares he'd sooner die than give up his Quest. 85
Of Medea enprentyng euery worde,
Wexe for Ire almost inpacient,
And seide, "alias, [and] is pis $our entent,
Me to cownseile to leue pis emprise ?
Certis it were to fowle a cowardyse,
To gynne a thing I my^tfe] nou^t acheue ;
For euery man wolde me repreue,
And report to my confusioiw,
})at I of pride and presumpcioim
Toke on me, whan I was at my large,
So hi^e a ping, and so gret a charge,
)3at I ne durst for drede of meschef
Acomplisch it, whan it cam to [j>e] pref.
Leuere me were, myn owne lady dere,
For to luparte and to putte in were
My life attonys, and, at wordes few,
On smale peces to ben al to-hewe,
ftan I schulde cowardely for-sake
jjilke emprise pat I haue vnder-take,
As 36 wel knowe, and leue it pus, alias !
Let be $oure couwseile pleynly in pis cas ;
For what-so-euer happe or falle of me,
Trustep ri^t wel, it schal noon other be.
For }if pat I, of my covvarde herte,
Fro my purpos schulde nowe diuerte,
With-oute laude my life I schulde lede,
And schame eternal schulde be my mede
ftoru^-oute pe worlde noted oueral,
In euery lond spoke of in special,
ftat lason hath so In^ly vndirtake,
ftat he for fere dar noon ende make.
Jjinketh ri^t wel, it schal not betide,
For life nor dethe what meschef I abide ;
And per-vpon my trouthe : I $ow ensure,
J)at as ferforthe as my life may dure,
2452. >is] >is nowe D 1. 2453. leue] om. D 1.
2455. gynne] begynne D 1 — a] om. A, D 2, D 1.
2458. of] haue D 2. 2461. drede] doute D 2, D 1.
2462. }>e] om. D 1. 2463. Leuere] Nowe leuere D 1.
2480. he] om. D 2. 2481. it] >at D 1, }>at it D 2.
2484. dure] Endure A.
This angers
Jaaon, who
says it would
be cowardice
and shame
to give up
what he'd
undertaken.
He'd rather
be cut to bits
than forsake
his enter-
2452
2456
2460
2464
2468
2472
2476 Eternal
shame would
be on him
2480 ifhe
abandond it
for fear.
2484
86 Medea again warns Jason of his need of Advice. [BK. I
Jason would
rather die
than live
shamed.
Medea says
that if be will
attack such
monsters
without
advice,
he must be
kild.
I schal parforme fat I haue begcwne ;
And f ou} so be, it may not be woraie,
But fat I moste v?ith my clethe it bye,
I wil not leue, for leuer I haue to dye 2488
fran lyue aschamed of cowardyse & slouthe.
For me semeth, it is to lii^e a routhe
A man to apere or dore schewe his hede
After tyme whan his worschip is ded, 2492
Or to lyue whan his name is slayn ;
For eue?*y man schulde be rather * fayn
To dye in honowr, fan lyuen as a wreche ;
And fou} fis fing to my deth now streche, 2496
It is welcom, I schal it wel abide :
J^is al and som, what so of me betide."
" J}an," quod sche, " sythen it is so,
))at 30 algatis desyre to haue a-do, 2500
]5er is no more by ou$t I can espie,
But 36 haue leuer schortly for to dye,
Rather fan lyue and to haue a schame ;
And 3it it is an ernes and no game, 2504
With suche monstres vnwarly for to dele,
Lyche as in dede her-after 36 schal fele.
Wherfor I am meved of pite,
And gretly stered, fat 36 of volunte, 2508
With-out avis or discreciourc,
Counseil or good deliberations,
List take on 3ow f is merveillous viage ;
For $our 3outhe and also 3our corage 2512
Gouerned ben, as in fis matere,
Al after luste ; for bothe two I-fere
luparted ben, $if 30 3our purpos swe ;
For impossible is * to 3ow teschewe 2516
A sodeyn deth, for nouf er fre nor bonde
2486. it] >at it D 1.
2488. leuer I haue to] I hadde leuere D 1.
2490. hi^e] greet D 1. 2492. tyme] om. D 1.
2494. be rather] rather be 0. 2495. lyuen] lyue D 1.
2499. new IF D 1— sythen] se]>e that D 1.
2500. algatis desyre] desire algates D 1.
2504. an] om. A— ernes] ernest A, D 2, D 1.
2506. Lyche] Rijt D 1. 2510. Counseil] Or counceil D 1.
2514. Al] om. D 1. 2516. is] it is C— to] for D 1.
BK. i] Medea at last promises to help Jason in his Quest. 87
By craft of man hath power to wz't/i-stonde.
Wherfor I f inke of herte and good entent
To cast a weye, }it or 30 be schent,
And to $our lorney schape a remedie,
Swiche rauthe I haue fat 30 shulde * dye ;
For my fader, whom I loue moste,
Rather fan 36 schulde f us be loste,
I schal ofFende, and outerly displese
My frendes alle, so it may do 30 w * ese.
For I schal fynde svvyche a mene weye,
At f e leste fat 30 schal nat deye ;
For in fis cas, I thinke be 30111' giiyde, [leaf is
So fat for 3ow I schal sette a-syde
My birthfe] first, of f e stoke royal,
And ouermore myn heritage with-al,
And myn honour schal be putte a-bak
3ow for to helpe, fat f er schal be no lak
Fourcden in me, so * 30 wil be kynde,
And fat 30 liste for to haue in mynde
As I disserue goodly me to quite,
Consyderyng firste fat it is not a lite
To saue 3our life, fat stant in iupartye
More perlously fan 36 can espie.
But for al f is, I schal it so ordeyne,
)3oru3 my crafte, only atwixe vs tweyn,
j)at or we parte I hope al schal be wel :
Yp-on f is point so fat I may fele,
Feithfully for loye, wo, or snierte,
With ful acorde of body, wille, and herte,
To my desire fat 30 condiscende,
I vndirtake to maken a good ende."
" 3is, sothly, lady," seide lason tho,
" I am assented, with-oute wordes moo,
For to fulfille vfiih euery circumstaunce
What fat euer may be to 30 w plesaunce." 2552
" ftaraie," quod sche, " f er is no more to seyn —
But first of al, with feith & herte pleyn,
Medea will
help him, tho'
she'll offend
her lathc-i-
and her
friends.
She will put
aside her
royal birth
and honour
2520
2524
2528
2532
2536
2540
. 2544
But he must
do what she
2548 wishes.
Jason agrees.
to save his
life.
2522. shulde] schal C.
2529. be] to be D 1.
2549. new IT D 1.
2526. do $ow] }ow do C.
2535. so] so >at C.
88 Medea asks Jason to pledge his faith to her. [BK. I
Medea says
Jason must
promise to
wed her,
and take her
home with
him,
and cherish
her all his
life.
For no one
can attack
the Dragon
and Bull,
save by her
help.
Jason pledges
his faith to
Medea.
With al 3our myjt, and 30111- besy cure,
And menynge hool, fat 30 me assure
Jjat 30 her-after schal take me to wyve,
To holde and kepen after al 3our lyve,
So fat 3our dede acorde with 3our heste ;
Jtis is f e fyn and sorame of my requeste :
Excepte only fat 36 shal * ordeyne,
In 3our repeire to 3our fadres reigne,
feat feithfully 36 schal me with ^ow lede ;
And after fat, whan fat 36 succede
After his day in-to 3our heretage,
With herte ay oon, and with o corage,
3e schal to me ben y-lyche trewe,
And cherische me for chau??ge of any newe,
Liche myn estate, wit/i-oute variaunce,
And while 30 liue han in remembraunce
My kyndenes in 3our grete nede.
For f er is noon alyue fat may spede,
Creature fat is here mortal,
For to assaille f e forcys marcial
Of f e dragoune and bolis, bothe I-fere ;
But it so be of me fat he lere
Hooly f e maner how he schal hym guye,
Liche as to 3ow I thenke specific,*
"Whan it happeth fat we mete ageyn ;
For noon but I may helpen, in certeyn,
In fis cas, as platly 30 schal fynde,
And I not aske but fat 30 be kynde."
" Sothly," quod lason, " al fis schal be do
As 30 deuise, I wil fat it be so ;
And here my faith, fer-on I 3ow assure,
0 goodlieste of any creature
J)at euere 3et I saie vn-to my paye,
And fairest eke, in soth it is no nay —
And of bou?ite 30 ben incomperable ;
For of my deth 30 ben so merciable,
2560. fyn and s<mme] sowme & fyn D 1.
2561 shal] schulde C. 2570. 33] I D 1.
2576. he] 3e D 1. 2578. specifie] to specific 0.
2589. boimte] beaute D 1.
[leaf 15 6]
2556
2560
2564
2568
2572
2576
2580
2584
2588
BK. i] Jason will be true to Medea, the Fairest of the Fair. 89
bat while I live, I seie :ow be my feith, Jason de-
• clares he'll be
Myn hert[e] menyth as my tong[e] seitn, 2592 true to Medea
I wil be founde 3 our owne tre\v[e] man
For life or deth, in al pat cue?- I can ; death. and
So fat of grace it be $ow plesaunt
For to parforme $our hestis and jour graunt, 2596
And werche fully to my sauaciourc,
As ^e han seide, in ful concluciouw.
For trewly 30, of alle fat bere life, mo^beaJe-6
In bewte han a prerogatyfe, 2600 OU8 woman«
Passyng echon, me liste not for to glose,
Amongis flouris as doth f e rede rose, aboveai™86
Which in somer amyd fe herbes swote, other flowers,
After fat ver hath made oute of f e rote 2604
Jje humydyte kyndely tascende,
)3e bareyn soyl to clothen and amende,
And f e braunchis, fat wynter made bare,
With soote blosmys freschly to repare, 2608
And f e medwes, of many sondri he we, meads* are
Tapited * ben with diuerse flouris newe, SJSmf wlth
Of sondry motles, most lusti for to sene,
And holsonm bawme is schad among fe grene — 2612
as f e rose is fairest of echon,
so Nature sette 3ow allon, lether flSt •
Whan sche 3ow made, first at hir deuys,
Above alle other for to haue a pris, 2616
As 36 fat be of bewte spring and welle.
]3er-to in bownte sothly 36 excelle
Alle bat lyven, for no comparysown none other
i •> K j ma com
N"e may be made ; and of discrecioun 2620
3e passen alle, as euery man may se.
And vfith al fis I fynde 3ow [vn-]to me
jpe most goodly fat euer 3'it was born,
With-out whom I were as now but lorn, 2624
Of helpe and socour fully destitut,
2595. it be $ow plesaunt] wi> al )>e remenawnt D 1 — be] be not
to D 2, be to A.
2610. Tapited] Tappid C, Depeinted D 1— diuerse] many D 1.
2615. first at hir] at hir owne D 1.
2618. bownte] bewtee A.
2624. but lorn] forlorn D 1.
may compare
ay
ith
withher-
90 Jason again pledges his Troth to Medea. She rejoices. [BK. I
Jason says
lie is bound
to Medea for
life.
He puts his
heart, his life
and death
in her hands,
and will be
true to her
till liia end-
ing day.
Medea is
overcome
with joy,
and says
she'll soon
meet him
again.
]N"e were fat I fou/zde in 30 w refute.
Fro whom al fredam to-me-ward do]? abounde, [leaf 15 c]
In so moche fat I am euer bounde 2628
As ferforthe as my lyfe jnay streche,
)3at for 3our sake of deth I ne reeche,
3if fer-with-al I my3t[e] ^ow agreen,
J}at to my helpe so goodly list to seen. 2632
For 3if fat I of necligence schulde
Any f ing refusen fat 36 wolde,
I rny^t of rescue ful wel marked be,
And noted eke, of wilful nycete 2636
So folily to voyde away my grace.
It were a rage a man from hym to chase
Welful Fortune, whan sche is benigne ;
Wherfor as now hooly I * resigne 2640
Herte, body, my life, and eke my deth
In-to 3our hond, while me lasteth brethe,
With alle f e othes fat I afferme may,
For to perseuere to myn endyng day 2644
3our trewfe] spouse, as I haue said and sworne,
And 3ou behested pleynly her-to-forne ;
And her-vppon, euery f ing obeie
J?at may 3ou plese, til tyme fat I deye. 2648
£is al and som ; what schulde I lenger tarie 1
From f is byheste I schal neuer varie."
And whan sche sawe his grete stedfastnes,
Sche was supprised with so hi3e gladnes, 2652
With so gret loye, pleynly in hir herte,
]5at sche was voide of euery wo and snierte ;
For he so lowly to hir luste obeyde.
And or sche went fus to hym sche seyde : 2656
" lason," quod sche, "fan I schal ordeyne
A mene weye fat we bothe tweyne
May efte ageyn at leyser mete sone,
2631. >er-with-al I] I ther with al D 1.
2634. wolde] haue done wolde D 1. 2635. full right A
2639. Welful] Wylful A-is] om. D 2.
2640. hooly I] I hooly C. 2644. For] om. D 1.
2651. new f D 1. 2655. luste obeyde] list obeye D 1.
2656. jms to hym sche seyde] to hym Jras gan. she seye D 1.
2657. I schal] shal I D 1.
BK. i] Medea arranges for Jason to visit her at Night. 91
For to parforme al fat is to done 2660
In pis mater, liche to oure entent, Jason and
Wher schal be made a f ynal sacrament to make ,!
binding vow.
Of oure desire, pat no man schal vnbynde,
ftou$ now per-to we may * no leyser fynde. 2664
Toward euen, It schal me not eskape,
Trust me ry$t wel, a tyme for to schape,
Secrely pat we [may] mete y-fere ;
For I schal sende a privy chaumberere 2668 she'll send -A
, . . , servant to
To aou of myn, whyche schal sou conveye bring him to
__ , , , , . her room at
Vn-to my chambre by a privy weye, night ;
A certeyn hour, with-outen any fable,
To oure entent pat be moste greable : 2672
Vp-on pe point whan Phebws with his li^t
I-westrid is, and pe dirke ny$t
Hath with pe dy??mes of his schadowes blake
Our Emysperie fully ouertake, [leaf 15 d] 2676
]5at ofte ^eueth by fauow of fortune
Vn-to louers a leyser oportune
For to parforme her lustis * and acheve.
And ri^t anoon, as it draweth to eve, 2680
I schal for sow to my closet sende, and in her
, , closet
Ut euery ping ior to make an ende ; they'll open
Wher as we schal at good leyser speke
Eueryche with oper, and our hertis breke, 2684
And declare pe sownie of al oure wille.
And whan we han spoken al our fille,
By good leyser, I fully $ou behete,
We schal ordeyn whan so vs list to mete, 2688 and settle
„ , other nightly
To sette a tyme, who-euer pat seye nay, meetings.
Alweye be ni^t, whan passed is pe day.
For my^ti love as wysly me socoure,
As hens-forthe I wil ben hoolly 2oure, 2692 she is Jason's
-ITTT -T i T T -i 11 while she
While pat I live, wakyng and a-slepe, lives.
3if it so be pat 36 }our hestis kepe."
To whom lason lowly gan tencline,
2664.' may] schal C. 2665. me not] not me D 1.
2667. y-fere] in fere D 1. 2679. lustis] lustus C.
2688. so] hat D 2. 2689. >at] am. A, D 1.
2692. hoolly] hole D 1. 2694. hestis] heste D 1.
2695. new II D 1— tencline] encline D 1.
92 Medea considers the Difficulties of her purpose. [BK. I
Jason de-
clares he'll be
true
to Medea till
he dies.
They part.
Medea goes
to her
chamber,
and thinks
what
obstacles
may thwart
her.
Midday is
past.
And seide, " as fer as man may ymagyne, 2696
Or any wit may clerly comprehende,
I wil to ^ou, to my lyves ende,
As a seruaurct feithfully me quyte ;
And pou$ pat I can nat seyn but lite, 2700
My trew[e] herte wilnep neuer-pe-lesse ;
And pou^ I can not paynt[e] nor compasse
No gay prosses, my souereyn hertis quene,
Til I be ded, trewly I schal mene ; 2704
Hath her my troupe whil I haue life & mywde,
As in pe ende trewly 36 schal fynde."
And of her speche an ende pus pei make.
And Medea schope hir for to take 2708
Hir leue anoon amonges al pe pres,
First of hir fader and pan of Hercules,
And bod no lenger, but furpe-wM anoon
Vn-to hir chambre in hast[e] sche is goon, 2712
Where vp and down sche made many went,
Noon of hir meyne wetyng what sche ment,
Castynge weyes hir purpos to acheve,
And in hir wittes gan besely to meve, 2716
As sche rometh in hir habitacle,
On any syde $if per were obstacle
Or any lettyng, whiche wolde hir sore greue.
J)is was hir studie til it drowe to cue, 2720
Where I hir leue compleynyng in her wo,
With many a thou^t, walkynge to and fro.
Jpe mydday hour is goon and ouerslide,
Titan so fast hath * in his chare I-ride, 2724
\)e dayes arke from est to west compassid, [leaf 16 a]
His fery stedis han almost I-passed
Our ori^onte, and drawe dou?^ ful lowe
His golden wayn, pat no man my^tfe] knowe 2728
Where as he hidde his fyry * bemys bri^t,
In his discence ful fer out of oure * si^t ;
2697. wit] wyght A, wi$t D 1. 2704. I schal] shal I D 1.
2713. many] many a D 1. 2718. any] many A.
2i( 2io, yt&iu il D 1.
2724. so fast hath] hath so fast C— in] om. D 2— I-ride] rede D 1.
2729. fyry] fyre C.
2730. discence] diffence D 1— oure] her C, om. A.
BK. i] Of Medea s feelings vihile waiting for Jason. 93
And Herynes, with hir copis inyrke,
jpe heueuyng be-gonne for to dirke, 2732
In f e twyli$t whan j?e day gan fade j in the twi.
And Esperus, with hir stremes glade,
)?at bene so fresch^ so lusty, and so mery,
Gan recou?rforte al our emesperie : 2736
Whan Medea by hir silf allone, Medea is
Of hi3e der.e gan to make hir mone,
Jjat sche so longe abood after hir kny$t,
Alweye acourctyng fe houres of j>e nyjt, 2740
So ful of trouble and so ful of Jjou^t, ISS?.? and
Which hath ful streytly cerched out & sou^t
A redy weye vn-to hir purpos,
Al-be pat sche kept it in ful cloos 2744
Amyd hir herte, quappyng as a wawe now 8ad>
For drede and fere, til hope gan a-dawe,
And bad sche schulde be ri$t mery and glad, '-ow Rlaa»
Til drede a-geyn-warde made hir sober & sad 2748
Liste hir desire troubled were or let.
And Jms sche was at a-bay I-set
Amyd of hope and of drede also, Jffif ?nd
J5at sche ne wyste what was best to do : 2752
For hi^e desire and affeccioiw
So sore brent in hir oppiniouw,
Of lust sche hadde to meten vritft lason, SeetdjSoi,to
And per ageyn[e]s drede cam in anoon, 2756
And made hir ferful list sche were espied.
But al hir sorowe was holp and remedyed
Only by Fortune and pe dirke ny3t, comforter
By whiche sche was made ful glad & lijt. 2760 with hope.
For recou/zforted only with pise two,
And with good hope fat made hir glad also,
Sche gan anoon to casten and deuise,
Whawne pat j>e mone on heuen wolde aryse, 2764
2731. Herynes] lieryvs A.
2732. be-gonne] ha}> bigwine D 1. 2737. Whan] And D 1.
2738. hije] Mr D 1— to] Jms D 1. 2746. a-dawe] dawe A.
2749. or] and D 1. 2753. and] and hih A.
2754. So sore] Of sorwe D 1.
2756. fer ageynes] ther with al D 1. 2760. was] om. D 2.
2764. on] of D 1.
94 Medea watches & waits, & at Midnight sends for Jason. [BK. I
Medea sees
the 7-day old
moon shine,
and peers
about
to see if any
one is
moving.
At midnight
she calls an
old dame,
And wha?me fat sche, with hir hornys pale,
Wolde schede hir li^t vp-on hil and vale,
Sche gan acounte and castfe] wel f e tyme,
And fonde a quarter was passid after pryme, 2768
As sche fat was wel knowyng in fat arte,
And sawe in soth fat f e ferf e parte
Of f e mone was schad with new[e] li^t,
And passed was in hir cours ful ri^t, 2772
After f e tyme of conkmcciouw,
Thre signes ful by computaciouw, [leaf 16 &]
And complete was seuen daies of hir age.
At whiche tyme sche, bryrcnyng in hir rage, 2776
And f oru^-darted with Cupides arowe,
Gan to loke and beholde narwe
At eue?*y dore, and listen besily
3if any wy3t fat sche myjt espie 2780
Of al f e courte ouf er walke or goo,
Or any man romyng to and froo,
So sore sche dradde, goyng vp and dovn,
Whan sche herde oufer noyse or sown, 2784
Or whan sche heryth wispring eny-where ;
It was venym sothly in hir ere :
Sche wisched al hadde ben a-bedde.
j?is pitous life fe longe ny3t sche ledde, 2788
With-out respit, f ou$ no wy$t koude it knowe,
Til hi3e mydny3t fat f e cokkes crowe ;
At whiche tyme, w[h]an al was hust and stille,
For to [ajcomplische fe remnau?*t of hir wille, 2792
And euery-where maked was silence,
Sche cleped anoon vn-to hir presence
An aged vekke, fer in 3eris ronne,
2767. tyme] mone D 1. 2768. pryme] soone D 1.
2767 and 2768 are repeated after 2768, as follows, in D 1 :
And fonde a quarter was passed after prime,
She gan rekene & knewe wel J?e tyme.
2772. hir] his D 1. 2774. ful] fully D 1.
2775. complete] countyd D 1. 2776. hir] a D 2.
2778. narwe] ful narwe D 1. 2779. listen] listneth D 1.
2781. Of] Or D 1. 2782. romyng] to romen D 1.
2784. herde ou>er noyse] eny noise herde D 1— ou>er] ony A.
2787. al] J>at alle D 1— a-bedde] in bed D 1.
2789. koude] om. D 1 .
BK. i] Jason is brought to Medea's room ~by her Messenger. 95
)5at in swyche crafte mochel help[e] kowne, 2796
Thriftely to bring a ping a-boute.
For pei a-forne can casten euery doute ;
Of 3eris passed olde experience
Hath 30110 to hem so passyng hi^e prudence, 2800
bat pei in loue alle be sleiates knowe ; who knows
all Love's
And sche was made as dogge for pe bowe. tricks,
To whom Medea discureth al hir poi^t
From point to point, & for-gat ri^t nou^t, 2804
And charged hir, in reles of hir smert, »"<* bids her
And recomfort of hir troubled hert,
To hasten hir anoon vp-on hir weye
Vn-to hir chambre lason to conveye. 2808 brin* Jason
to Medea's
And sche anon, not rekles in pis cas, chamber.
Is goon for hym a ful softe pas,
As sche pat was of nesve nat to lere,
And brou3t hym forth anoo?a as 36 schal here. 2812
Howe Medea sent for lason to com to Here in pe night,
And howe he was sworn to wed here, aftire pe
la we of his panym rite.1
Whan pat pe cok, comoiw astrologer,
])Q mydny^t hour with his vois ful clere
Be-gan to sowne, and dide his besy peyne At mldnigbt
To bete his brest with his wyngys tweyne, 2816
And of pe tyme a mynute wil not passe
To warnen hem pat weren * in pe place
Of pe tydes and sesou?* of pe ny3t,
Medea to awayte * vp-on hir kny3t 2820
Ful redy was pe entre for to kepe,
As sche pat list ful litel for to slepe, jason u
For pat ne was no parcel of hir pou^t. [leaf 10 c] Medea's
And whan lason was to hir cha??zbre bro^t, 2824
2796. crafte] helpe D 1— helpe] crafte D 1.
2797. Thriftely] Trustely D 1— a] al A.
2806. troubled] trouble D 2. 2813. comourc] comen D 1.
2818. weren] ben C— >e] that A.
2820. Medea] And Medea D 1— awayte] wayten C.
2822. ful] om. A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 22 b.
96 Medea makes Jason sivear to take her to Wife. [BK. I
Medea takes
Jason to her
closet, and
seats him
beside her.
The leash
turns to a
brace, as the
old dame
goes.
Me.lea lights
up her room,
takes Jason
to a go'den
image
consecrated
to Jupiter,
and makes
him swear on
it that he'll
wed and
cherish her.
With-out espying of eny maner
)?an sche anoon conveyeth hym ful ri^t
In-to hir closet, in al pe hast sche may,
Ful wel beseyn with gret and riche araye, 2828
Where by hir side sche made hym take his se.
And first of alle, pis ilke lees of thre,
By hir pat was moste expert in pis cas,
Was sodeynly turned to a bras ; 2832
For pe vekke to stare vp-on pe mone
Is walked out, and [hap] hem lefte allone.
And whan Medea pe dores hadde schet,
Down by lason anoon sche hath hir set. 2836
But first I fynde, with al hir besy my^t,
Aboute pe chamber pat sche sette vp li^t
Of grete torches and cyrges ful royal,
Aboute on pilers and on euery wal, 2840
Whiche }af a li^t, liche pe soime schene.
And to a cheste, wrou^t of cristal clene,
First of al, sche taketh hir passage,
Out of pe wiche sche toke a rich * ymage 2844
Of pured gold, ful lusty to beholde,
Jpat by custom of pis rytes olde
To my3ti love, eterne and increat,
I-halwed was, and also consecrat. 2848
)5e whiche ymage, deuoutly as sche ou^te,
With humble herte to lason first sche brou^te,
And made hym lowly per-on take * his othe
Vn-to his laste, ouper for lefe or lothe,* 2852
ftat he hir schulde take vn-to his wife
Fro pat day forth duryng al his life,
With hert vnfeyned and feith inviolat,
And cherischen hir liche to hir estat. 2856
For to pat tyme, I fynde how pat sche
Hadde euer floured in virginite ;
And as myn auctor wel reherse can,
2830. ilke] firste D 1. 2832. to] in to D 2, D 1.
2844. rich] rial C. 2845. pured] pure A.
2851. take] to take C. 2852. lothe] for lothe C.
2854. >at day] day to day D 1. 2855. inviolat] vnviolat D 2
2857. to] om. A.
BK. i] Alas! how Jason deceivd Medea, ivho gave up all for him. 97
Ay kepte hir clene from touche of any man, 2860
In poi^te and dede, and neuer dide amys :
For sche of herte so hoolfy] ^ouen is
Vn-to lason, and pat for euer-mo.
And he anoon hath put his honde per-to, 2864 Jason swears
i ITT to >narry
And sworne fully, as 36 han herde me say, Medea.
Al hir requestes, wit/i-oute more delay,
To kepen hem whil his life may laste.
But, o alias ! how sone he ouer-caste 2868 But aiasi
His heste, his feith, wtt/i whiche he was assured, ttnwkM 'e
ovor!
And hadde his frauds wit/i flaterie y-cured
So couertly pat hir Innocence,
Hir trewe menyng and hir diligence, [leaned] 2872
And al pat euer sche deuise can,
Desey ved was by falshed of pis man ! His faise-
. , , , . hood deceives
And pou} pat trouthe was apparent above, her.
Doubilnes so slijly was in schoue, 2876
As pou} he hadde sothly ben allied
With trewe menyng, & so no ping espied
Vnder faire chore was feynyng & fallas.
For what my3t sche ha wrou^t more in pis cas, 2880 what more
u. /? , • i i -I could she do
pan for pi sake, septre and regalye, for him ?
And alle pe lordis eke of hir allye
For-soke attonys, and toke of hem noon hede ;
And of pite and verray goodlyhede 2884
Loste hir f rondos and hir good[e] fame, she gave up
Only, lason, to sane pe fro schame ! Scu'and
And $it, more-ouere, forsoke hir heritage —
Sche pat was born of so hi^e parage, 2888 she, so high-
. , , , , , . , horn, and the
And schiilue haue ben by successiou?a heir of the
Eyre by dissent of pat regipun.
But wommanly for sche wolde hir quite,
Of al y-fere sche sette nou^t a myte, 2892
But at oon hour al sche hath forsake,
And vn-to pe sche hath hir hooly take ;
Only for truste pou schuldefst] haue be kynde,
2864. per- to] vn to A, D 2, to D 1.
2870. y-cured] cured D 1. 2871. >at] with D 1.
2875. was apparent] apparent was D 1.
2876. Doubilnes] }it doubilnes D 1. 2880. more] om. D 1.
2892. sche sette] I sette D 1.
TROY BOOK. H
98 How Medea gave up all for Jason, and lie letrayd her. [BK. I
For Jason,
Meclea left
riches and
chose exile,
kept him
from death,
and won him
the Fleece.
She was his
refuge ;
she sold her
father for
him.
Alas! why
didn't she,
by the stars,
foreknow her
destiny?
Kiclies and honour sche hath y-left by-hynde, 2896
And ches in exil with pe for to goon,
From al hir kyn, pis cely maide allone.
Alias, I wepe for fin vnkyndenes !
What, hath sche nat fro deth and fro distresse 2900
Preserued pe, and jit pou takest noon hede,
jjat schust a deyed, nadde sche ben pin rede !
Of pi conqueste sche was pe verray cause !
Jpat I may nat, schortly in a clause, 2904
Writen hir boiwte nor brefly comprehend*,
Effectuelly parformed to the ende,
At wordes fewe it may nat be tolde.
}?oruj whom pou hast pe riche flees of golde 2908
Manly conquered, whiche wtt^-oute doute
Vnlikly was the to haue broujt aboute ;
For whan pou were of helpe destitut,
Sche was pi couwfort and singuler refut. 2912
And wit/i al pis, pou maist it nat deneye,
Al erthly honour how sche gan defye
])& to conserue out of heuenes ;
And hir fader sche hath of his riches 2916
So emporisched, pat pite is to here :
Be exavmple of whiche, wommen myjt[e] lere
How pei schulde truste on any man.
Alias ! Medea, pat so moche can 2920
Bothe of sterris and of astronomy e ! [leaf 17 a]
3et sawe sche nat aforn hir destenye :
Loue hadde hir put out of gouernaille,
J5at al hir crafte ne mijt her not availle. 2924
Sche was to slowe by calculaciou'M
To cast a-forn the constellaciouw
Of hir birthe, and hir woful fate ;
For rekleshed sche sawe it al to late. 2928
But I suppose hir konraynge was fallible :
For dout[e]les, me semeth nat credible,
J)at jif sche hadde wist of it to-fore,
2896. hath] ora. D 2— y-left] left D 1. 2901. jit] om. I) 1.
2884-2901 are repeated after 2901 in D 1.
2905. brefly] shortly D 1. 2910. the] that A.
2931. to-fore] a forn A.
BK. i] Jason robs Medea of her Maidenhood, alas !
99
So pitously sche hadde nat be lore —
As 30 schal seen here-after hastely,
So as f e story reherseth by and by,
Howe it be-fel of lason and Medee.
But first $e schul f e ordre & mane?- * se
How sche wrou^t after he was swore :
Jpe same ny^t, alias, sche hathe forbore
Hir maidenhed, and fat was grete pite.
And }et sche ment nat but honeste ;
As I suppose, sche wende haue be?a his wyfe ;
But touching frtt, I holde as now no strife.
And }it o f ing I dar afferme and seyne,
J2at f e menyng of f is ilke tweyne
Ne was nat on, but wonder fer atwene ;
For ,il fat sche trew[e]ly gan mene,
Of honeste f inkyng noon outerage,
Liche a maide Innocent of age,
He to a-complische his fleschely fals delite
And to parforme .his foule appetite,
Wrou^t every f ing to hir entent contra?*ie.
Alias, fat sche was so debonaire
For to trust vppon his curtesye,
Or to quite hir of hir genterie,
So hastely to rewe vp-on his smerte :
But woHimen ben of so tender hert,
Jjat f ei wil gladly of routhe * and pite,
Whan fat a man is in aduersite,
Sauen his life, rather fan he deye.
And so Medea, schortly for to seye,
Castyng no pereil after fat schal falle,
His desyris and his lustis alle
Hooly obeyeth, with al hir f ul[le] niy^t ;
And fat so longe almost fat f e ny^t
Hath his cours rourcde aboute goon.
At which e tyme to hir spake lason,
2932. lore] lorn A. 2936. maner] J>e maner C.
2938. forbore] forlore D 1. 2940. $et] if D 1.
2941. haue] to have D 1. 2946. j>at] om. D 1.
2947. Of] On D 1. 2951. to] so to D 1.
2952. was] euere was D 1.
2957. wil] wolde D 1— routhe] rou^te C.
2932
2936
2940
2944
After Jason
had sworn to
Medea, he
took her
maidenhead,
she being
innocent of
wrong.
Alas, that she
trusted him !
2952
2956
2960 But, foresee-
ing no
danger, she
yielded to his
lust.
2964
100 Jason asks Medea s help. She gives him a Silver Image. [BK. I
Jason asks
Medea to
rise and
tell him how
to work
so as to get
the Golden
Fleece.
He promises
to take him
with her to
Greece.
And lowly seide, " my lady, it is tyme
)5at we arise, for sone it wil be pryme : 2968
3e may se wel }>e day begyraieth springe,
For we may here how fe briddes singe. [leaf 17 6]
Preying to $ow in al my bestfe] wyse,
How I schal wirke fat 36 list deuise, 2972
And ceryously euery fing dispose,
I 30 w beseche, 0 goodly fresche rose,
Myu emprise to bringen to an ende ;
And farcne at erst, hen[ne]s wil I wende — 2976
Sane fat I f hike first vrith 3011 to trete
In what wyse f is contre 36 schal lete,
And in-to Grece repeire ageyn vrith me,
Whiche is a londe of gret felicite. 2980
For trusteth wel, & beth no fing in drede,
In-to fat regne \\ith me I schal 3 on lede,
After my conquest, 3if so be fat I wyraie.
Wherfore, I praye 3011 goodly to begywne, 2984
How I schal werke, in al f e hast 30 may,
For in good feith anoon it wil be day."
To whom sche spake, seying as 36 schal here :
Medea gets
up,
goes to her
coffer, and
hands Jason
a Silver
Image,
Howe Medea declarede to lason the vertue of here
relikis, and deliuerde fern to lasone.1
" Myn owne lason, vn-to me more dere 2988
}5an is my silfe, as in conclusion,
I am assented, with ful affeccwmn
Of my wittes, and [al] myn hool[e] herte,
3ou to enforme how 36 schal asterte 2992
Euery dauwger of f e litel He,
3if it so be 30 list abide a while." *
And vp sche ros, in al f e hast sche may,
And to a cofre where hir tresour ley 2996
Sche went anoon, & bro^t him in her honde
A riche ymage of siluer fat sche fonde,
2970. here] see D 1. 2975. 2nd to] at D 1.
2987. schal] om. D 1. 2989. as] om. A, D 1.
2993. >e] this D 1. 2994. while] litel while C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 23 a.
BK. i] Medea also gives Jason an Ointment, & an Agate Ring. 101
Whiche sothly was of merueillous entaille,
Whos power was and vertu to availle, 3000
Effectually to her bothe entent, which is good
Ageyn magyk and al enchaiwt[e]ment, magic and
And to with-sitte f e force of sorcerye.
For it was made be astronomye, 3004
In houre chose * & equat for f e nonys,
By clerkis olde ; for ful longe a-goon is,
Whilom whan f ei were flouryng in her ages,
feat f ei vsede to make suche ymages, 3008
As dide f e kyng called Tholome.
And so to lason cowmauwded hath Medee she bids him
carry this on
To here fis ymage on hym pryuely, MS body.
As $e han herd, to werche effectuelly 3012
In euery f ing, as sche dide assygne.
And ban sche toke to hym * a medecyne she also
. . . gives him a
Made in maner of an oyntement, fireproof
To enoynte hym vriilt, fat he be nat brent, 3016
feat was more riche & p?-ecious fan bame
Ageyn fe malis of euery fire and flame.
And after fat sche toke to hym anoon [leaf n<?]
A riche ring, where-in was sette a stoon 3020 and an Agate
feat vertu hadde al venym to distroye,
feat on no syde it my$t hym nat anoye.
fee whiche stoon hadde also fis my^t,
feat 3 if a man coude it bere a-ri^t, 3024
WftA-Inne his honde next J?e skyn enclosed,
fee strengfe of si^t schulde be deposed
Of hem fat wolde gasen or biholde ;
For who-so-eue?- in his hond hit holde, 3028 whose stone
By fe vertu fat was infallible, wearer in-
fee story seith, he schulde be invisible.
fee whiche stoon wyse clerkis calle
Achates, moost vertuous of alle ; 3032
And it is fouwde sothly in Cecile.
3001. to] in D 1. 3005. chose] chose outo C, A.
3006. for] om. D 1— is] it is D 1.
3007. Whilom] Somme tyme D 1. 3012. lian] om. D 1.
3014. toke to hym] to hym toke C.
3024. it here] bere it D 1. 3026. deposed] disposyd A.
102 Medea gives Jason a Glue to stick the Bulls' jaws. [BK. I
Medea also
gives Jason
1. written
directions
to pray the
Gods
to grant his
request and
protect him ;
2. a Final of
Liquor,
which he is
to throw
down the
Bulls'
throats;
and it will
glue their
jaws together
and make
them obey
him.
Of whiche stoon whilom wrot Virgile,
How pat Venus to Eneas it sent
First whan [pat] he in-to Cartage went. 3036
And after pis, sche to lason toke
A certeyn bille, writen liche a boke,
J^at to his lornay my$t[e] moche availle ;
And bad hym wisly pat he nat ne faille, 3040
3if he cast hym graciously to spede,
Firste of alle, pe scripture pat he rede,
Or he pe Earn touche in any wyse ;
Hym chargyng eke, a-fore pis hi3e emprise, 3044
With humble herte and deuociou?2,
)?at he knelyng seye pat orisouw,
ftat vp and dowi was writen on f>e bille,
Preying pe goddys lowly to fulfille 3048
His request, and mercy for to haue,
Of verray pite from meschef hym to sane.
And after pat, for his chefe socour,
Sche toke to hym a viol with licour, 3052
And bad hym manly w/t/i-oute fere or drede,
Whan he come vn-to pe boles rede,
3if he hym schape kny3tely to eskape,
)?at as faste as he seth hem gape, 3056
In-to her goles }>at he pe licour caste.
))an dar hym not but litel of hem gaste ;
For her lowes to-gidre it schal glewe,
)?at on no syde pei schal not eschewe 3060
Tobeye his luste in what hym list constreyne.
For, dout[e]les, maugre al her peyne,
He schal hem so dauwte & make * tame,
ftat wher hym liste, in ernest or in game, 3064
He my^t hem make tauten and encline,
And don hem bowe hope bak and chyne :
)3e licour schal her chawlys so coharte,
3034. whilom wrot] wrote som tyme D 1.
3035] To Eneas howe >at Verms it sente D 1.
3036. >at] om. D 1. 3039. my^te moche] moche myjte D 1.
3044. a-fore ]>is] of his D 2. 3046. >at] this D 1.
3047. on] in A. 3054. vn-to] to D 2, D 1.
3055. to] for to D 1. 3057. caste] gaste D 1.
3063. make] make hem C. 3064. wher] whe>er D 1-
BK. i] Jason takes leave of 'Medea •, & prepares for his Quest. 103
]?at asonder J?ei schal nat departe, rieafmi] 3068
For to offende or noyen any wy^t.
And whan sche hadde bus vn-to hir knyat when Medea
. ; had Riven
In euery Jnng 30110 instruccioim, Jason full
Pleyn doctrine, and inforrnacioiw 3072
How he schal skape ])& daiwgeris by & by,
3 if he tak hede and werke avisely,
And panne acorded, J?ei ]?ou^t[e] for j?e beste
For to parte, or men out of hir reste 3076
A-waked werne, for it drow to day,
As Jiei wel seie by ]?e morwe graye.
Arid list men hadde to hem suspeciourc,
Of hyje prudence and discrecioiw, 3080
Atwen j>e tvveyli^t and \ e rody morwe
Jpe[i] toke her leue, with seynt[e] lohfi to borwe, "ittcd1" and
With ofte kyssyng, as louers whan fei twywne ;
And so he went, and sche [is] lefte with-Inne, 3084
Beyng in hope to mete ageyn som day.
And lason bamie, as faste as euer he may, and Jason
' ' _ began to
Gan ordeyn hym his lorney to acheue,
And fou3t he wolde anon go take his leue. 3088
And in what wyse, wit/A-in a litel while,
After fe maner of my rude stile,
Mi purpos is, sothly, and nat spare,
With ^our support pleinly to declare. 3092
Howe lason requirede Jje Kenge Cethes withoute delay
to g/-aunt hym to do his Armes in vinqwesshinge,
if he myght, ]?e Flees of golde wrought by Martis
ordynaunce.1
Whan fat J>e rowes and J>e raies rede
Estward to vs ful erly go?zne sprede,
Evene at J?e tweyli^t in J?e daw[e]nyng,
Whan fe larke of custom gynneth syng, 3096 sang
For to salue in hir heuenly lay
Jpe lusty goddesse of J>e morwe gray :
3070. >us vn-to hir kny^t] vrith al hir my3t D 1.
3073. skape] escape D 1. 3075. for] it for A, D 1.
3091. nat] not to D 1. 3094. gomie] gan D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 23 c.
] 04 Jason legs King Cethes to let him start on his Quest. [BK. i
I mene Aurora, pe whiche a-for pe sonne
Is wont tenchase pe blake skies donne, 3100
And pe dirknes of pe dymme ny^t ;
and the sun And fresche Phebz^s, with comfort of his lijt,
And the bri^tnes of his bemys schene,
gut the hills, Hadde ouer-gilt pe hi^e hilles grene ; 3104
And floures eke ageyn pe morwe-tyde
Vp-on her stalke gaw splaie her levis wyde,
Jason went to Whan pat lason with al his companye
Toward pe kyng ful fast[e] gan hym hy^e. 3108
Whom fat he fonde, liche to his estate,
With septer in hond, ful pompus and elate,
Hi^e in [pe] se of his regallie,
Sittyng ful kyngly amyd his chiualrie, 3112
And his lordys abouten environ??.
At whiche tyme pis ^ong[e] champiouw,
Vnder a vowe stondyng of pe Earn,
With sterne face to-fore pe kyng in cam, 3116
BeS6Cnino nym of LlS magnificence [leaflSa]
Jpe same day to graunten hym licence
To don his armys, and make no delaies,
Concludyng playnly, pat at al assaies 3120
He wil pat day in pe felde be fouwde
- ^OT to acneue> ^JG^Q as ne was bouwde
Of olde beheste, and nat a poynt declyne,
For lif nor deth, til he parforme and fyne 3124
Hooly pe auwtres, vn-to pe fles pat longe,
j)e kyng requeryng no lenger hym prolonge,
But goodly grauwt pe fyn of his emprise.
cethes, And pawne pe kyng, in ful sobre wyse, 3128
Consideryng pe somwe of his demauwde,
To lason spak and seide * he schal commauwde
^at nis re(llleste parformed be in haste—
" Al-be,'vquod he, " I am ful sore a-gaste, 3132
Of wilfulnes pou schust distroied be,
List men pi deth arretten vn-to me,
3112' nyy .
3122. acheue] ache D 2. 3123. poynt] foot D 1.
130. spak and seide] seide and telleth C
3134. arretten] arrettyd A.
BK. i] K. Cethes dissuades Jason, but he resolves to persevere. 105
And per-vppon wolde a blame sette,
Of royal power pat I nat no lette 3136
])\ manly ^outhe from swiche iupartie ;
Whiche were in soth a gret vilonye
And preiudise to myn estat and name,
JOat afterwarde men putte me in blame 3140
JX>ru} false reporte & wrong oppinioim,
)3at I withstod not pi destrnccioiw.
Wherefore, I rede }it pou be avised,
And my coimseil lat nat be dispised; 3144
For bet it is, with honour in certeyn
In-to pi centre to repeire ageyn,
fean wilfully for to take on honde
A mortal ping pat no man may wM-stonde. 3148
\)is is my rede, and fully myn avis,
Take hede per- to, sith [pat] pou art wys,
List pou repente whan it is to late ;
And $if so be pat pou wilt algate 3152
Jpi purpos holde, and nat don as I rede,
Almy3ti Mars I prayfe] pe to spede,
fie for to guye, what-so-eue?-e falle ;
And eke I pray to pe goddis alle, 3156
Saffe and soiwde pi body to restore —
)3is al and som, of me pou gest no more."
And whan lason had[de] herde pe kyng,
Nat dismaied nor stonyed in no ping, 3160
In kny^tly wise dide hym reuerence,
Jjankyng hy^ly his royal excellence,
J?at of his grace and benignite
Vp-on his deth hym list to haue pite; 3164
Fully co?£cludyng, touching his bataille,
})at nouper red nor couwseil may auayle, [leaf is 6]
In no wyse his purpos to withdraw ;
But liche pe statute, pleynly, & pe lawe, 3168
Ri^t as ferforth as Fortune wil hyra Ewre,
What so be-tide of his a venture,
Settyng a-side euery fere and drede,
Seide platly pat he wil procede 3172
3144. lat] let it D 1. 3150. sith >at] si>en D 1.
3158. new 11 D 1. 3160. no >ing] om. A.
and that folk
would blame
him for it,
first advised
Jason to go
back home ;
but if he
wouldn't,
Cethes prayd
the Gods to
keep him
safe and
sound.
Jason thank t
the King,
but said he'd
go on with
106 Jason is alone responsible, & will go on with his Quest. [BK. i
the task he'd
undertaken.
Jason also
says,
that if lie's
kild, Cethes
'11 not be to
blame.
Jason
commits
his fate to
the Gads,
and takes
eave of
Cethes and
his court.
For to parforme pat lie hath vndertake —
It wer in ydel mo skeles for to make,
Or to allege more per ageyn.
And lason fan, ful opunly and pleyn, 3176
Touching pe surplus of pis dredful ping,
At his departyng seid[e] to pe kyng,
In audience of his lordis alle :
" What-so-euer of me now be-falle, 3180
Or who-so-euer of malis per-on mvse,
To alle pe worlde, first, I $ow excuse,
And to pe goddis platly }ow to quite,
Thou^ I deye, 36 be no ping to wyte, 3184
Ne no man schal [ajrette it ^ow of skele ;
For pat I wirke is frely at my wille,
Ageyn pe avise of jour hy^e prudence,
And lif and deth, here in ^our presence, 3188
Holy of herte, and neuer for to flitte,
To pe goddys and Fortune I committe,
So as hem list for me to ordeyne,
Ageyns whos wille I schal neuer pleyne, 3192
Noi hem nor 3ou putten in no blame
What so betide, honour, loy, or schame,
And of pis ping pus an ende I make,
And for pis tyme of 3011 my leue I take, 3196
And of all tho pat aboute ^ou stonde."
And on by on he toke hem by pe honde.
And [in] what wise forthe he gan hym dresse,
To ^ou anoon I pinke to expresse. 3200
Howe lason, aftire his leve take of pe Kenge, enterde
pe Ille of pe golden Flees.1
w
han Titaw had, vfith his feruent hete,
Draw up pe dewe from pe levis wete,
3174. for] om. D 2.
3178. to] vn to D 1. 3180. of me now] nowe of me D 1.
3181. who-so-euer] who ever A. 3185. it] om. D 1.
3196. of 3011 my leue] my leue of $ow D 2.
3197. aboute }ou] yow a bowte A. 3ow a boute D 2.
3201. Whan] Whan that A.
3202. levis wete] om. excepting two letters, " ve" A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 24 6.
BK. l] Jason approaches the Brazen Bulls. Medea sols. 107
Toward mydmorwe, as I can ditfyne,
Vpon pe hour whau pe cloke is nyne, 3204
lason fnl manly and fill lyke a kny^t,
Armed in steel, of chere ful glad & lyjt,
Gan dresse him forth, what hap pat euer falle,
And seide adieu vn-to his feris alle, 3208
He in pe bot and pei vp-on pe stronde.
And al allone, whan he cam to londe,
And in pe water had his vessel lafte,
He first of al remembring on j)e crafte 3212
Of Medea, \n't/t al pe circumstaunces,
And how he schulde kepe his ohseruauracos
In euery ping, and had it wel in mynde — [leaf is c]
And pa?me anoon ful manly, as I fynde, 3216
He schope him forpe & wente a knyjtly pas
Toward pe bolis, pat forged * wer of bras.
But at pe point wha« he his lorne gan,
For hym Medea wexe ful pale & wan, 3220
So sore agast pat no ping my^t hir glade —
A routh it was to se wat wo sche made :
For pe teris on hir chekis tweyne,
Ful pitously douw distille and reyne, 3224
Jjat al for-dewed wern hir wedis blake.
And ay pis sorwe sche made for his sake,
Liche a womman ferful and in doute,
While he his armys ful manly brou^t aboute. 3228
To sobbe & sy^e * sche can not ben in pees,
List he for hast were ou$t rek[e]les,
From point to point to don liche as sche bad.-*
ftis was pe life pat sche for hym hath lad. 3232
And for to seen how he schulde hym defende,
Sche gan anoon by greces to ascende,
Of a tour in-to a hi3e pynacle,
3203. can] om. A— difFyne] devyne D 1.
3209. vp-on] on D 1. 3211. his] om. A.
3217. kny^tly] lusty D 1. 3218. forged] forget C.
3219] But wbanne >at he his lorne first bi gan D 1.
3224. distille] gan stille D 1.
3225. pat] For D 1— for-dewed] be dewed D 1.
3229. sy$e] to sy$e 0, 3231. liche] om. D 1— bad] liim bad C.
3232. hath] om. D 1. 3233. he] he she D 2.
3235. Of] On D 1.
Next day,
at (J a.in'.,
Jason, uniul
in steel,
takes boat,
lands,
and goes
towards the
Brazen Bulls.
But Medea
weeps pite-
ously,
and sighs,
and goes up
to a pinnacle,
108 Medea prays for Jason. The Ointment saves him. [BK. I
where she
can see
Jason.
She prays
God to keep
him safe and
sound.
If he mis-
haps, her
bliss will
The Brazen
Bulls belch
fire and
flame;
but Medea's
Ointment
protects
Jason
Wher * as sche my^t haue noon obstacle, 3236
Nor lettyng nouther, for to ban a sijte
Of bym fat was hir owne cbose kny3te.
And euer among with wordis out sche brak,
And stouttdemel fus to hir silf sche spake : 3240
" 0 fou lason, my souereyn hertis hele,
3if f ou knewe what wo for f e I fele,
Sothly, I trowe, it schulfd] ])e nat asterte
For to be trewe with al fin hoolfe] herte, 3244
And God, I praye, fis lourne at f e leste
May fis tyme tornen for f e * beste,
And kepe f e sauf & soimde in euery membre,
And 3if f e my3t ffulli to remembre, 3248
As I f e tau^t, and in f e same forme,
Euery fing fully to parforme,
Only fis day fin honour to avauwce,
Whiche for to sen wer al myn hool plesance : 3252
For certis,* lason, }if fe fil ou^t amys,
Fare-wel myn helf e & al my worldly blis,
And fare-wel f awne my myrthe & my solace,*
And my welfare, my fortune, and my grace,* 3256
And al attonys, myn hertly sufficiance ! "
Lo, fis for him was hir gouernaunce,
From f e tyme fat he f e lond hath nome.
And first of al, whan fat he was come 3260
Where as f e bolis, fel and dispitous,
Out caste her fire & flawme furious
At her mowf es, wonder large and huge,
Ageyn [fe] whiche, for his chefe refuge, [leaf is dj 3264
Hym to saue fat he wer nat brent,
He was enoynt with an oignement
On his body, fat kepte hym fro damage
Of filke fire, fat was so fill of rage, 3268
3236. Wher] f>er C.
3240. bus to hir silf] to hir silf bus D 1.
3242. for be I] I for be D 1.
3243. be nat asterte] not fro >e sterte D 1.
3246. be] bi C. 3253. certis] certeyn C.
3255, 56 are transposed in C.
3255. lare-wel] fare D 2— 2nd my] al D 1.
3258. for him was] was for hym A. 3264. his] be D 1.
3268. Of] And D 1.
BK. i] Medea's Image, & Liquor protect Jason from the Bulls. 109
And fe smokys, dirke and ful horrible,
Whiche to eskape was almost impossible
For any man, of what estat he be,
With-oute comfort and conseil of Medco —
By whos doctrine lason can so wirke,
|3at he is skapid horn f e mystis dirke
Of fe fire with his biases blake,
J2at al f e eyre so cloudy dide make.
Sche had hym made so discrete & sage,
Only by vertu of filke ymage,
Which }>at he aboute his nek[ke] bare,
Wher-by he was so prudent & so war,
)}at whan fe bolis han most fersly gaped,
He hath her malis avisely eskapid.
For thenfecciouw of hir troubled eyr
He hath venquesched & was in no dispeire ;
For in effecte, ageyn fe foule fvme,
j}at wolde a man vn-to f>e deth co?zsvme,
\)Q ymage was a preseruatif,
Hym to defende and to saue his life.
And more surly to kepe hym oute of drede,
Ful ofte sythe j?e writ he dide rede ;
For fe vertu of fat orisons
Was vn-to hym ful protecciourc,
J)at he nat fil in-to no distresse.
And after fat, for more sikernesse,
Hym to preserue in f is mortal caas,
He toke f e licour fat in fe viol was,
And f er-wit^-al, ful like a manly man,
Al attonis, he to f e bolys ran,
And for-gat nat so warly it to caste ;
And f er-wit/i-al her chaules wer made faste,
And by fe vertu so my3tely englewed,
)5at lie fer-foru^ hath outte?-ly eschewed
Jpenfecciou?^ of fe smoky leuene.
3273. can] ga?i D 1.
3274. skapid] escaped D 1— >e] his D 2.
3278. Jjilke] ]>at riche D 1. 3281. most] so D 1.
3287. ymage] faire Image D 1.
3288. and] and so A — to saue his life] om. A.
3299. so] ful D 1. 3301. englewed] glewed D 1.
from the
Bulls' smoke
3272
3276
3280
3284
3288
3292
3296
and fire.
Also her
linage
preservd
him from the
infection of
the Bulls'
poisonous
breath.
He then cast
Medea's
Phial of
Liquor at the
Bulls, so that
3300 their jaws
were glued
together.
Jason then
took the
Hulls by the
horns,
yokt 'em to a
plough, and
ploughd the
land in
furrows.
110 Jason ploughs land with the Bulls, & goes to the Dragon. [BK. I
And whan fe eyr gan cleryn, £ fe heuene, 3304
And f e mystis wern waftid hym to-forn,
With manly hert he rau^tfe] by f e horn
J3e sterne bolis, and by violence
He drowe hew forfe, in whom was no diffence, 3308
And joketh hem, so as f e maner was,
And with fe plowe he made hem gon a pas,
No we vp, now doiua, and to ere f e lond.
And at his lust so buxvm he hem fonde, 3312
}3at f e soil, smof e, bare, and pleyn, [leaf 19 a]
ftei maked han redy to here greyn,
And on rengis it torned vp-so-dovn :
For fo in hem was no rebellioim, 3316
But humble and meke & redy at his wille,
Alle his desires pleynly to fulfille.
And lason f aime, liche a champiouw,
Gan hym enhaste* towarde fe dragouw, 3320
Jjat was a beste gret and monstruous,
Foule and horrible & ri^t venymous,
And was enarmed in skalis large and f ikke,
Of whom fe brethe more perillous and wikke 3324
"Was fan f e eyr of any pestelence ;
For his venym was of swiche violence,
J5at it was ful dedly and mortal.
And at his frote fer issed o-ute wft/z-al 3328
A flawme of fire, as of a fournes mouthe,
Or liche fe leuene fat dovn by j>e southe
Out of fe est is wont in tempest smyte :
Ei^t so fe dragouw, sothly for to write, 3332
Out of his mouthe had a flawme blasid.
Wher-of lason first a litel masid *
Was in his hert of fat dredful fing,
But whan fat he rernembrid on his ring, 3336
Al fer and drede was leide a-syde & goon ;
For in fat ring fe[r] was sette a stoon,
He then
went to the
Dragon,
whose breath
was deadly.
It spit flame,
but Jason
rememberd
Medea's
King.
3307. bolis] loue D 2. 3312. at] to D 1.
314. maked han redy to bere] haue made redy for to her D 1.
3315. on] on the A. . 3318. Alle] And A— pleynly] redy D 1.
3320. enhaste] in hast C. 3331, 32 are omitted in A.
332. Pe] f is D 2, this D 1. 3333. of] at D 2.
3334. masid] amasid C. 3336. on] of D 1— his] this A.
BK. i] The wonderful working of Medea s Agate Ring. Ill
Ful riche and noble and ri$t vertuous, The Agate
J?e whiche, as techith* gret Ysydorus, , 33-10
And * myn auctor also, as I fynde,
Most comovnly cometh out of Ynde,
And mot be kepte chast & wonder clene,
And of colour surmou?*teth euery grene. 3344
Whos vertu is al venyin to distroye, destroys the
J ' poison of
And to \w't/?stonde fat it may nat [a]noye,
Of dragons, serpent, adder & of snake.
And specialy, $if fat it be take 3348
And yholdeu in be opposyt if held
opposite to
Of any werm, even ageyn pe syjt, them;
With-oute abood, in sothe, he may not chese,
Of his venym pe force he mostfe] lese, 3352
How strong it be or violent of rage.
But to be stoon it doth ful gret damage : but the stone
itself is
For whan he hath his vertu don, as blyue damaged,
and at once
On pecis smale it gynnyth al to rive, 3356 emm
And in it silf hool a-bit no while.
For in pe londe pat called is Cecyle,
Jjer is a worme pat Bufo bereth pe name ; J^Jj® worm
And whan men wil of mails make him tame, 3360
And his venym outerly represse,
})ei take a squille, myn auctor bereth witnes, [leaf 19 6]
Whan pel wil wirke, or a large canne,
And in pe ende pis * ston pei sette panne, 3364
And lyne rht a-geyn be wormes hod and km it if
J o J r held against
bei holden it, til pat he be ded. its head.
bursting it
For pat is sothly his vertu of nature,
Jjat no venym may lasten nor endure 3368
In pe presence of pis rich[e] stoon.
And as I fynde, pis Bufo ri^t a-noon,
3340. f>e] Of A— techith] teched C— gret] the gret D 2, he
gret D 1.
3341. And] And in C, A— also] om. A, seith also D 1.
3347. adder] of adder A, D 2, D 1.
3349. opposyt] opene sijt D 1. 3352. force] fore D 1.
3355. his vertu don] done his vertue D 1.
3357. it] hym D 2— hool] hool it A— a-bit] it bit D 1.
3358. >e] this D 1. 3360. tame] take D 2.
3364. >is] he C, D 1. 3365. a-geyn] a^ens D 1.
3366. he] it D 1. 3367. of] and D 1.
112 Jason cuts off the Dragon's head, and sows his Teeth. [BK. I
The Goddess
Nature has
given this
power to the
Agate.
And by it,
Jason con-
quers the
Dragon,
cuts off its
plucks out its
teeth, sows
them,
and up
spring
armed
knights,
who fight,
and all slay
one another.
j^oru} my^t f er-of bresteth even on tweyne,
Only by kynde, whiche 110 maw may restreyne. 3372
For f e goddesse fat called is Nature,
Whiche nexte Mr lord hath al f ing in cure,
Hath vertu $oue to herbe, gras, and stoon,
Whiche no man knoweth but hir silf allon ; 3376
\)Q causis hid ben closed in hir honde,
J?at wit of man can not vnderstonde
Openly f e my3t of hir wirkynge.
And so lason, by vertu of f is ring, 3380
And f oru} his ston, fat my3t him most avaunce,
Hath fe dragouw brou^t vn-to vttraunce.
In whom he fonde no maner insistence *
Hym to wit[h]stonde, force nor diffence, 3384
Nouther be venym nor noon of er strif ;
Wherfor he hath berefte hym of hys life
In manly wise, & in fe felde outraied.
And lason fan, ful glad & wel apaied, 3388
Hath with his swerd spent on him many [a] stroke,
And leied on him as men hewe on an oke —
His bri^tfe] squamys wern so harde & dure,
J3at wel onethe he ne my^t endure 3392
Hym to dismembre & smyten of his bed.
And fan anoon, in f e stede of sed,
He gan his teth out of his hed arrace,
And ri3t forfe-wM, in fe silfe place, 3396
He gan hem sowe, liche as men do corn,
Vp-on f e lond fat ered was a^forn.
Of whiche sede f er sprang a wonder greyn,
Bri^t armed kny^tes stondyng on f e pleyn, 3400
Jpe whiche anon, wtt/i scharp[e] swerdis grou?ide,
Eueryche gan of er for to hurte and wouwde,
Til eche his felawe hath cruelly y-slawe :
ftis of hir fate was fe fynal lawe, 3404
3371. on tweyne] a tweyne A, atweyne D 2, atweiwe D 1.
3375. herbe gras] gras herbe D 1. ' 3379. hir] his A.
3383. resistence] ot resistence C, D 1.
3389. swerd] stroke D 1 — on hiw] om. D 1.
3395. arrace] race D 1. 3398. ered was] was ered D 1.
3402. for] o?». D 1— woimde] to wowide D 1.
3403. y-slawe] slawe D 1,
BK. i] Jason slays the Earn, and shears its Golden Fleece. 113
}3at noon of hem schulde be victorie
fie deth reioische of other by memorie ;
For alle y-fere f us f ei made an ende.
And after fis, lason gan to wende 3408 jasontheu
Vn-to f e Earn viith al his dilligence, Ram,
In whiche he fonde no power nor diffence,
No maner strife nor rebellioun, [leaf 19 c]
And my^tely fe Ram he dra \veth dovn, 3412
And sette on hond [vp-]on euery horn,
And slowe it first, and fan he hath it scliorn kills it,
Out of his flees of gold so passyng riche, Fleece of
Goldj
)}at in fis world fer was no tresour liche. 3416
And after fat he made no delay
To take his bote in al fe hast* he may,
And r owe th forthe in-to be tother vie, rows to
J where
Wher Hercules, al fe mene while, 3420 "if^n8d*nd
Vp-on f e brinke, wiih many another mo, await him*
Abod lason til he hadde do.
And euerychon I fynde fat as blive,
Only for loye whan he dide aryve, 3424
)2ei gan to fanke to her goddes alle, and then they
So graciously fat it hath y-falle, their Gods.
And fat f e flees he hath so kny^tly wo?ine,
feat schon as clere as fe somer sonne, 3428
Whiche fat he brou^t with hym vn-to londe,
His feris alle abyding on f e stronde.
Howe, aftire his conqueste, lason was ressauide of
Kenge Cethes with feynide chere into his Cyte.1
And whan Appollo of his daies arke Near sunset
Had in the west almost ronwe his marke, 3432
And fast[e] gan downward to declyne,
And on f e wawes ful watery gan to schyne ;
3et or he was passed the Occian,
3411. nor] ne no D 1. 3418. in al >e hast] as faste as C.
3422. Abod] Boode D 1— til] til >at D 2, D 1.
3429. vn-to] in to A. 3433. faste gan] g&n faste D 1.
3435. he] she D 2— was] om. D 1— the] >e grete D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 25 &.
TROY BOOK. I
114 King Cethes, tho' sorry for Jason's success, pretends joy. [BK. I
Jason comes
to King
Cethes,
rho is sorry
that Jason
has won the
Fleece,
but out-
wardly
pretends
friendship
and joy,
and feasts
Jason at his
palace,
tho' he
doesn't really
mean it.
lason is cowine with many a manly man 3436
Of his feris to f e presence of f e kyng,
As he fat had acheved euery f ing
Whiche fat longeth to conquest of f e Ram.
And Cethes fan, as sone as euer he cam, 3440
To make hym chere outward haf him payned,
Al-be in herte fat it was but feyned ;
For he was sori, wat/t-outen any drede,
Of fe expleyt and fe goodfe] spede 3444
Of f is lason, J?at he fe flees hath wowne.
But liche in soth as fees feyners conne,
Whan fat hem list craftely compace
To schewe outward a feithful trewe face, 3448
And f e venym enclosen * hool wtt/i-Inne,
As in menyng fere wer no maner synne,
Ri$t so f e kyng with looke & forhed clere
Made vn-to lason outward ri^t good chere, 3452
And gan to hym speke in wordis fewe,
Of frendlyhed many signefs] schewe,
As f ei he had his conqueste euerydel
From point to point liked wonder wel, 3456
And ben ful glad fat he was so fortuned,
Vn-to f e ende fat he hath contuned,
And reioiseth in speche and countenauwce,
J)at Fortune list hym so avaunce, [leaf 19 d] 3460
And to his paleis gan goodly hym cowveye,
And day be day ful richely f esteye —
Al-be fat it was no fing do of* herte.
For f is no lees, he felt[e] ful gret smerte, 3464
ftat of his tresour he was dispoiled so,
And fat he hath f e riche flees for-go
To his damage and confusions.
And fus fer was a gret diuisiouw 3468
A-twexe his chere and menyng of his f ou^t,
As it fareth ofte }if it be wel soi^t,
))at many man, in menyng fals and double,
3437. 1st KI om. D 1. 3440. cam] can A.
3447. hem] hym A. 3449. enclosen] enclosed C.
3460. so] so to D 1. 3461. goodly hym] him goodly to D 1.
3463. of] in C. 3464. ]>is] >is is D 1.
3469. A-twexe] Betwene D 1. 3471. many] many a D 1.
BK. i] Jason is well treated by Cethes. Folk gaze at the Earn. 115
Can wit/i fe calme curen so fe trouble 3472
Of hi3e malis hid in his desire,
And rake falsly f e wikked couert fire,
Ful hoot[e] brennyng inward of envye.
So wel wer him fat coude hem oute espie, 3476
And knewe her menyng false & fraudelent,
Wher-foru}, alias, ful many an Innocent
Deseyved is, fat wote not what f ei mene ;
And namly swiche fat nat but trouf e wene ; 3480
And euery chere fat men to hem make,
Of Innocence for f e beste take,
And in no wise f enke nou3t but wel :
Ri3t so certeyn f is lason euerydel
Hath take in gre what f e kyng hath wroi^t,
Not aduertyng f e grucching of his f ou3t ;
For dout[e]les it sat f e kyng ful sore,
ftat he f e Ram hath lost for euere-more.
But whan fat he hath outterly yseyn,
))ou3 he gruche, fat f er was no geyn,
But finally, of necessite,
At fat tyme it my3t noon other be, 3492
And pleynly sawe fat he may* not chese,
But fat algate f e flees he mot[e] lese,
Whef er it were fat he were lefe or lothe,
He feyneth chere, as he wer not wrothe ; 3496
For only he, of his gentilnes,
No signe outward of gruchiwg dide expresse,
But day be day of verray curtesye
He cherith lason and his companye. 3500
At whiche tyme, abouten environ
From euery party of his regioun,
])Q peple cam to staren and to gase
Vp-on f e Ram, as it were a mase ; 3504
|)ei loke & wondre & deme what hem liste,
Many folk
cover their
malice with
pretence,
and deceive
the innocent.
3484 But Jason
takes
Cethes's
kindness
as genuine ;
3488
and since
Cethes can't
help the loss
of the Fleece,
he treats
Jason
and his
friends
cheerily.
People come
to look at the
Ram.
3474. couert] couered D 1. 3475. hoote] ofte D 1.
3476. him] hem D 1. 3477. knewe] knowh A.
3480. nat] om. D 1— wene] mene D 1. 3481. to] do D 1.
3482. take] it take D 1. 3485. in] at D 1— wroujt] do D 1.
3486. )>ou3t] woo D 1. 3487. ful] ri?t D 1.
3489. hath outterly yseyn] outterly haj> seyn D 1.
3493. may] my^t C, D 1.
116 Folk's unstableness. Medea tells Jason to come to her. [BK. I
Common
people change
like a
weather-
vane, and are
unstable.
Some
wonderd
how Jason
could over-
come the
Bulls and
the Dragon.
Others said it
was by
sorcery.
Medea left
her room,
and came
secretly to
Jason, and
told him to
come to her
at night.
On whos domys is but litel triste :
Jpey ofte varie and torne to and fro,
feat, who fat wisly taketh hede f er-to, 3508
fee comouw peple chauwgeth as a phane, [leaf 20 a]
To-day f ei wexe and to-morwe wane,
As doth f e mone, f ei be so flaskysable,
Who trusteth hem schal fynd he??i ful vnstable. 3512
For sorame wer glad fat lason hath sped wel,
And some sory, and like it neuer a del,
And sowrne seide f ei wonder how he my3t
Ageyn fe dragouw or fe bolis fi^t, 3516
Or how fat he ageyn f e force of Marte
Out of f e yle alyue my3t[e] parte.
A-nother seide fat parauenture
By crafte was wrou^t fis discoinfeture, 3520
Outher by charme or som sorserye :
feus eche of hem after her fantasie
Gran deme of hym al f e longe day.
But at fe last, makyng no delay, 3524
Ful glad and li^t Medea dou?* descendeth
From hir chambre, & outwarde pretendeth
Sadnes of chere, as sche no f ing ne knewe.
Men koude nat conseyve* by hir hewe 3528
Hir secre menyng, for sche so wo??imanly
Demened hir, and so prudently,
feat sche avoyded by discrecioun
Al fantasye and suspecioun, 3532
feat no man koude of hir wirkyng deme
No f ing but wel ; for as it dide seme,
By port & chere f er was no cause why.
And so by processe sche drowe hir priuely 3536
Toward lason, for sche was not to lere,
And secrely bad hym in hys ere,
In al wyse fat he not ne leue
To hir chambre for to come at cue ; 3540
For maters f ei hadde for to trete,
3508. fat] so D 2.
3510. wane] >ei wane D 1. 3512. ful] &m. A.
3521. or] or by D 1. 3522. her] his D 1.
3528. conseyve] perseyne C. 3532. and] and al D 1.
BK. i] Jason and Medea spend the night together. 117
Whiche he schal know at leiser wharc pei mete.
And so anoon, whan entred was pe ni^t,
Sool by hym silfe, wit/i-oute torche or li^t,
To Medea he hath pe weye take,
And sche abood sleples for his sake,
Wonder deuoutly desyryng, as I gesse,
With hym to trete of som holynes,
Touching maters of contemplacioura ;
For sche was smete with a deuociouw
Of fresche Venus to holden a memorie
With hym allone in hir oratorie —
Not openly as ypocrites preye
In diuers angles loynyng on pe weye,
Of pe peple [for] to be comendid ;
But pei not so han pe ny^t dispendid .
For veynglorie nor noon ydel laude,
But by hem silfe, pinkyng on no f raude, [leaf 20 &]
Secrely pis ilke tweyne allone,
Wit/i-oute li$t ouper of sonne or mone,
])Q long[e] ny3t han lad w^t/j-oute reste :
For as hem pou3t it was not for pe beste
To speke of slepe til pat it was prime,
For pei hem cast to lose as po* no tyme.
And pus pe ny^t to-gidre pei dispende,
]3at I am dul for to comprehende
J)Q obseruauwce of swiche religious,
Prolix in werkyng & not compendious —
Demeth }our silfe, 30 gete no more of me,
For wel 36 wote, in euery faculte
Who hath knowyng and experience,
Men wil to hym rapest }if credence.
Wherfore I seie, 39 pat be wyse and can,
Axeth not me, whiche am so rude a man,
To deme a ping, & namly whan pat it
At night
Jason goes
3544 to Medea,
3548
3552
3556
3560
who wisht to
worship
Venus with
him.
They didn't
lie still, but
3564 spent their
time in
Love's rites,
3568
3572
about which
I know
nothing.
3544. or] am. D 1. 3545. take] y take D 2, D 1.
3546. abood] aloone D 1. 3554. loynyng] goyng A.
3557. nor] or D 2, ne for D 1— ydel] othir A.
3563. was] were D 1. 3564. to lose as bo] as bo to lose C.
3567. obseruan?ice] obseruaunces D 2, observaunces A.
3570. wote] wite D 2, wete D 1. 3571. knowyng] knowlache A
3572. rabest] rather A, ful rathe D 2.
118 Jason is to carry off Medea, the Golden Fleece, etc. [BK. I
Passyth my knowyng also and my witte ;
For-dullid is myn ymagynatif,
To deme in practik or in speculatif,
Where-fore I passe and late it ouer slyde,
And forf e I fink, 3if 36 list abide,
Pleynly tellen of lason and Medee.
Jje whiche acorded and assented be,
Medea agrees pat sche with hyni schal in-to Grece wende
Whan fat he goth, schortly f is f e ende,
Vnwist hir fader & euery other wy3t
Sane he allone, fat hath his trouf e plijt
For to be trewe, bof e in wele and wo,
Yn-to his laste, to hir and to no mo.
to go to
Greece with
Jason.
3576
3580
3584
3588
After a
month's
pleasure in
Colchos,
Jason re-
solves to steal
away with
Medea and
her father's
treasure.
But, Medea,
why didn't
you foresee
Jason's false-
ness to you r
Howe lason stalle away by nyght withe Medea and
here Faderes tresure & Richees.1
And whan lason after his lourne,
Ful richely, liche to his degre,
Kefresched was in Colchos of f e kyng
With al fat my$t[e] ben to his likyng,*
And a moneth passed was and goon,
He with his Grekys assented in-to oon,
Purposed hath, schortly $if he my^t,
With Medea to stele a-weye be ny3t,
With moche tresour and f e riche flees,
And ful acorde also of Hercules.
But o Medea ! f ou hastest al to faste,
ftou wer to slowe wysly for to caste
What schulde falle, whan f ou f i lowme toke !
For how fat he in meschefe f e forsoke,
And how fat he was false and eke vnkynde,
For alle his othes to f e, as I fynde,
3592
3596
3600
3604
3577. For-dullid] For dulle it D 1.
3581. tellen] to telle D 1.
3590. liche to] aftir D 1. 8592. likyng] plesyng C.
3598. acorde] accorded D 1.
3603. was false and eke vnkynde] in meschef >e forsoke D 1 (the
correct reading apparently erased).
3604. marked b D 1— his] >e D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 26 a.
BK. i] Medea 's misery came from Tier making a false start. 119
And how fat f ou, bothe at eve and morwe,
)3i fatal chaunce * and f i pitous sorowe
By-weptisfc after, & gan f i silf to rende,
Til deth of al made a woful ende —
It wer but veyn to makyn rehersaille ;
I wote no }>ing fat it my^t availle,
NOT how lason vnkynde for f e nonys,
Eesseived hath penam tallionis
Of f e goddis for his disnaturesse ;
For he in meschef and in wrechednesse
Made eke an ende f oru} f e cruel hate
Of fel[le] Mars : lo here f e mortal fate
Of f is tweyn fat made her ende so !
But as I trowe, liche as write Guydo,
For her gynnyng was nat vertuous,
An ende folweth ful contagious.
Alias ! f ei hadde take hedde a-forne,
ftan had f ei nat in meschef ben so lorne.
But who wil not a-forn his meschef se,
May not eschewe to haue aduersite
In f e ende, platly to devyne ;
For euene liche as a medicine
Availeth nat, whan f e seke is ded :
For what may helpen J>e stomak or f e hed
Letuarie, emplastre, or pociouw,
Or any receyt or confecciouw,
Herbe or stoon, or al fat leches knowe,
Whan fat f e * cors is leied in erf e lowe,
Or whan a beest is torned to carein ! *
Myn auctor seif, fat it is but veyn,
For his recure, vp-on any halve,
To his ere for to leyn a salve :
For verraily, after his fantasye,
It helpeth nat, nor doth no remedie ;
[leaf 20 c]
3608
Why didn't
Medea
forecast
her death,
3612 and the Gods'
revenge on
Jason ?
3616
3620
3624
3628
3632
3636
It was, as
Guido says,
because she
began badly.
What's the
good of medi-
cine to a
corpse?
It's no use
putting a
salve on
carrion.
3606. chaunce] chaunge C. 3608. marked a D 1.
3613. disnaturesse] disanentcresse D 1. 3615. eke] om. D 1.
3622. ben so] so be D 1. 3625. he] eche D 1.
3626. as] right as A, ri$t as D 2. 3628. or] & D 1.
3632. be] a C.
3633. is torned] tourned is D 1 — carein] carien C, bareyn D 2.
3634. it] om. D 1. 3635. any] euery D 1.
120 Medea sails from Colchos with Jason and his men. [BK. i
Those who
won't look
out for
danger,
and disregard
the future,
like Medea
and Jason,
tho' she was
most harmd.
She acted
wilfully,
and chose a
luckless time.
She takes ship
with Jason.
For ping parformed in his due date
More vertu ha]) pan wharc it commep late.
Ki$t so in cas, verraily semblable,
Of worldly trust, fals & ful mutable,
Who cast no pereil til pat it be-falle,
In-stede of sugre ofte * tasteth galle :
Blendid with lust, whiche pat is present,
Of pe future slouth and necligent
J)at hem ne liste a-forn no * meschef caste,
Til in pe snare pei ben englued faste ;
For to provide pei ben graceles,
Ful vnprudent and wilful rek[e]les,
To caste pereil or pat it be-tyde :
J?ei swe her luste, her reson goth a-syde,
As it be-fil whilom of pis two,
Of Medea and [of] lason also.
But how-so-euere of lason pat it be,
I fynde pleynly pe * harme allone had sche, Deaf 20 d]
$Q grete damage and pe final smerte,
For lak of wisdam pat sche nolde aduerte
What schul[de] falle, wharc sche her lowne toke,
And hir f adir folily forsoke ;
But sith sche wrou^t only of wilfulnes,
With-outQ conseil or avysenes,
Me list no more hir harmes to be-wayle,
For lite or nou$t it my^tfe] now avayle.
Late hir allone complayne hir damage :
For wel I wote touching hir passage,
It was not take in good plite of pe mone,
Of hastines sche began to sone,
Chesyng an hour pat was nat fortunat ;
For sche allone of frendys desolat
Colchos forsoke, and is to schypfpe] goon ;
And in al haste be byddyng of lason,
Hercules and al his companye,
3644. ofte] he C. 3647. no] ]>e C.
3653. whilom] somme tyme D 1.
3655. how-so-euere] how sorn euer D 1.
3656. pleynly] oonly D I—be] bat C, that the A.
3660. And] And eke D 1.
3665. complayne] compleinynge D 1.
3640
3644
3648
3652
3656
3660
3664
3668
3672
BK. l] Jason soon forsakes Medea. She slays her Sons, & dies. 121
ftat with him com oute of Thesalye,
Wit/i-oute tariynge, at onys at a worde,
I-entred ben wz'tA-Inne [f e] schippes borde,
Only for cause fat f e wynd was good
And euery f ing at her lust tho stood.
And so be assent, f ei stele a-wey be ny^t
WM al f e tresour fat f ei cache my^t,
And with hem had plente of vitaille ;
And forthe anoon f ei be-go?me to seile
By many coste & many sondry He,
To ward [es] Grece; and al fis mene while
Was Medea glad and of good chere,
Sche and lason sittyng bothe I-fere.
And Hercules, of verray gentilnes,
Hir to comfort dide his besynes,
Al feyni[n]gly, for fe maner sake,
As fis louerys ful queynt can it make,
Til f ei han had hooly her plesauwce ;
Her lust fulfilled, fan entref variaurace,
As it was preved by lason outerly,
)3at hathe for-sake ful vnkyndely
)3is Medea, in peyne, sorwe, and wo.
Of hir Guydo writ no wordis mo,
N"e maketh of hir now other menciouw,
By-cause, I trow in myn opiniouw,
J)at hir sorwes, ende and euerydel,
Rehersed ben ful openly and wel
Methamorphoseos, & wryte f er ful pleyn :
Wher as Naso recordeth in certeyn
Hir deth nat only, nor hir heuynes,
But parcel eke of f e vnkyndenes
Of f is lason, and telleth pleynli how
Medea hir bothe sonys slowe,
For fei wer like her fader of visage ;
And telleth eke, fat put hir moste in rage,
With a fair
wind Medea
and Jason
sail off
3676
3680
3684 towards
Greece.
3688
3692
Hercules
comforts her.
But when
Jason has
had his mi
of her,
he forsakes
her,
3696 andGuido
3700
3704
says no more
of her.
But Ovid,
in his
Metamor-
phoses,
tells her
death
[leaf 2 la]
and her
killing of her
3708 2 sons by
Jason.
3676. I-entred] Entred D 1. 3678. tho] so D 2.
3681. had] ladde A, D 2. 3684. al] in D 2.
3686. I-fere] in fere D 1. 3691. her] al hir D 1.
3692. >an] >at D 2. 3696. writ] ne writ A, D 2, D 1.
3701. Methamorphoseos] In Methamorphoseos D 1.
122
How King Peleus receivd Jason deceitfully. [BK. I
Jason, forsak- How falsely he, I can hym not excuse,
ing Medea,
loves creusa. Loued another pat called was Ceruse ;
Eke in his pistles, who so taketh hede,
Hir dedly sorwe he may beholde & rede,
And how fat sche hir troup abou^tfe] sore.
Of Medea $e gete of me no more
In al pis boke, nor of hir auenture.
But I wil now do my besy cure
Hooly to turne my stile to lason,
And of pe werre he made on Lamedouw,
Liche as in Guydo is openly discrived,
After pat he in Grece was arived.
So no more
of Medea.
I'll go on
with Jason.
3712
3716
3720
Jason and
Hercules
land in
Thessaly
and are met
with outward
but inward
regret.
Howe Kenge Pellee ressavide lason 'with faire visage,
bot inwardly he was full woo of his gode spede
in Calchos, And howe lason requires his vnkele
for a navye to destroy pe Cyte of Troy.1
First whan lason & Hercules also
I-londed werne, with many anoper mo,
In pe regne and lond of Thesalye,
Kyng Pelleus, with al his cheualr[i]e, 3724
Caste hym pleynly pat he wil nat faille
To mete his nevew at his arivaille.
And whan pei mette, in corctenauwce & chere,
Made it outward as hool & as entere 3728
As he had hadde souereynpy] gladnes
Of his kny^thood & his hy^e prowes,
Of his renouw and his manlyhede,
Of his exspleyt and his good[e] spede, 3732
And pat Fortune to encrese his name
Hap causid hym, with so noble a fame,
Out of Colchos with honour to repaire —
Al-be his chere was outerly contrary e 3736
To his entent, pat euer he cam ageyn.
3709. hym not] nat hym A.
3722. I-londed] Londed D 1.
3723. regne and lond] londe and regne D 1.
3719. is openly] openly is D 1,
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 26 d.
King Peleus,
to hide his
treachery,
gives up his
kingdom to
Jason,
as he was
bound to do.
BK. I] Jason is made King of Thessaly. His Grievance. 123
But for al pat, with face hool and pleyn,
He welcomed hym, al ageynes herte,
Ful sore astonyed pat he euer a-sterte
])Q auentures of Colchos perillous,
And is retourned so victorious.
But couertly his tresowi for to hyde,
Al delay he gan to sette a-syde,
And to lason with chere ful benigne,
His heritage first he gan resigne,
Septre & crovne & kengdam at pe leste,
For to parforme pe sorwme of his beheste, '
Liche as he was assured by his bonde.
And lason toke al in-to his honde,
And gan his vncle in ful lowe maner
First to panke, with al his herte entere,
And after pat ful kny^tly gan hym preye
Goodly to here what pat he wil seie [leaf 215]
Of a mater pat fret his herte sore,
From day to day encresyng euer more —
Besechyng hym to grauwte hym audience
Touching a wrong and a violence
Don vn-to hym, whan he now harm [ne] mercte,
In Troy[e] lond to Colchos as he went :
" ftis [is] to seyn, pe kyng of Troy[e] tovn,
With-in pe bourcdis of his regiouw,
Whan I and myne in gret aduersite,
With wynd and wedir fordrivew in pe see,
Vs to refresche to londe dide arive,
STot in purpos with hym for to strive,
But for to reste vs after al oure wo
A litel while, and forthe anoon to go ;
For we in sope no maner harm ne pou$t :
But he vnkyngly of verray malys sou^t
Ageyn[e]s vs firste occasioun,
Byddyng in haste to voyde his regioutt,
Kot-withstondynge pat we com in pes,
3740
3744
3748
3752
3756
3760
Then Jason
complains
that, when he
landed at
Troy,
the Trojan
3764 kin*
3768 wouldn't let
them stay
there,
3772 but bade
them sail
away.
3754. wil] wolde A.
3759. vn-to] to D 1.
3760. to] In to A. 3770. vnkyngly] vnkindly D 1.
3771. firste] first greet D 1.
124 Jason, Hercules, & Thessalian lords are to invade Troy. [BK. I
Jason and
Hercules
want to ruin
the King of
Troy, and
ask Peleus
for money
and men.
King Peleus
is willing,
and all his
lords agree to
go with
Hercules and
Jason.
Hercules
first goes for
help to
Sparthos, an
isle ruled by
Castor and
Pollux,
the brothers
of Helen.
Liche as my broper knoweth, Hercules,
Vn-to no wy^t doyng no distresse.
Wherfore, we praye to $oure hy^e noblesse, 3776
To oure purpos for to condescende,
Of whiche platly pis pe fynal ende :
J)at we be sette, in ful conclusioun,
Holy to werke to his distruccioiw, 3780
Liche owre avov, whan we pen[ne]s went —
3if so be ^e goodly list assent —
And al attonys, strongly and not spare,
Maugrey his * rny^t to Troye for to fare, 3784
So pat we may fynde in $ow fauour
Ys to refresche with golde and with tresour,
And only eke, of ^our curtesye,
Ys strenthe also with $our cheualrie." 3788
And Pelleus, with-oute more abode,
Anoon as he pis mater vnderstode,
Assented is of herte and wil al-so,
In pis viage with hem for to goo. 3792
And alle pe worpi of pat regioun,
Kynges, dukes, and lordes of renoun,
Ben acorded, per is not on seyth nay,
To gon with hem and helpen what pei may. 3796
And of pis lourne chefe solicytour
Was Hercules, pe worthi conquerour,
And he in haste, his retenu to make,
Toward Sparthos hath pe weye take, 3800
Whiche is an He to Grekys pertinent,
Fully obeying to her coramaundement.
In which Pollux and Castor eke also, [leaf 21 c]
)3e worpi kynges, pe my3ti breper two, 3804
Wern, as I fynde, pat tyme gouernours,
And bare her crowne liche noble werryours ;
And brepern wern also to El[e]yne,
3778. >is] >is is D 1.
3782. assent] to assent D 1. 3784. his] her C
3789. new IT D 1. 3793. alle] also D 1.
3797. chefe solicytour] >e cheef solitour D 1.
3800. >e] his D 1.
3803. Pollux and Castor eke] Castor and Pollux D 1.
3804. 2nd ]>e] & D 1. 3806. her] the A— noble] open D 2.
BK. i] Castor, Pollux, and Telamon will help to invade Troy. 125
Castor and
Pollux on
Danae.
Hercules gets
Castor and
Pollux to
agree to help
in the
invasion
of Troy.
And as poetis liketh for to feyne, 3808 Jupiter begat
Helen and
£at lubiter, for al his deite,
Vp-on Dane bygat hem alle thre,
]5at in bewte alle other dide excelle.
And for Eleyne, liche as bokys telle, 3812
Conseyved was in Tyndaris f e yle,
Vn-to f e lond loinyng of Cecyle,
J^erfor of somme I fynde * fat sche is
After fe yle callid Tyndarys. 3816
Of hir birth me list no more endite,
But furthe I f hike of Hercules to write,
)pat haf besou^t f is worfi kynges tveyne,
Wit/i my^ty hond to don her besy peyne, 3820
Only to graunte wz't/i him * for to wende
To-Troye-ward, schortly Jris f e ende.
And to assenten f>ei sei not onys nay,
With al f e power fat f ei cache may, 3824
Ageyn what tyme fat hym list assigne.
And Hercules, with chere ful benygne,
Ranked he?7i of fat f ei hym behy^t ;
And forthe he went in al f e hast he niy^t 3828
To- ward Messene, fe strong [e] my^ti londe,
Wzt/i-Inne whiche f e noble kyng he fonde,
)3e kny}tly man, f e worf i Thelamouw,
Lorde and prince of fat regioun, 3832
J?at in armys was on f e * manlyest
J)at was alive, and egal with f e best.
And whaw he knewe fat Hercules was come,
For loie he hath hym in his armys nome, 3836
An[d] reseived in alle maner f ing,
Liche as it sat to a worfi kyng.
And whan he wist sothly what he ment,
With-oute more anoon he dide assent 3840
With hym to goon, Troyans for to greue ;
And Hercules goodly toke his leue,
3808. liketh] liken D 1. 3810. Dane] Diane A, D 2.
3815. of somme I fynde] I fynde of somme C.
3817. endite] to endite D 1. 3821. him] hem C, D 1.
3822. >is] >is is D 1. 3823. sei] seide D 1.
3833. >e] of >e C. 3836. his] om. D 2.
3837. in] hi»i in D 1. 3842. his] om. A.
He then goes
to Messene,
and gets King
Telamon also
to join in in-
vading Troy.
126 Hercules asks Peleus to assemble his knights & advisers. [BK. i
Hercules And hym enhasteth to Thesalye ageyn,
King'peieus To Pelleus, and telleth hym certeyn, 3844
and asks him How he hath sped, besechyng hym also,
In al f e haste fat it may be do,
To send[e] lettris and hys lordes calle,
to assemble And tassemble his worbi knystes alle, 3848
his knights, , .
Thoni3-oute his londe, bofe ne$e and ferre,
Suche as he knewe fat wer experte in werre,
and his wise And hem also fat werne of courcseyl sage —
" For wit of hem fat be ronwe in age, [leaf aid] 3852
Is more fan force witft-oute experience,
But whan monhod is meynt with sapience,
Who considereth, it may double avayle ;
And fay fat longe han vsed [to] trauayle, 3856
Lyche as it is pleynly to suppose,
May help[e] moste oure lowrne to dispose ;
for age and For vn-to age experience and witte,
To southe force and hardinesfsel sitte. 3860
•
and strength,
And whan fat bothe ben of on entent,*
Fully acorded to werke by assent,*
and a good With [a] quarel grounded vppon ry^te,
threefold au> Thoru^ help of grace fat hath treble my^te, 3864
Hem dare nat drede, with spere nor with schelde
In kny^tly wyse for to holde a felde ;
For of knysthood fe fame nor* fe glorie,
Nor in armys conquest nor victorie, 3868
Ben not assured vp-on multitude,
But on manhod, so grace list conclude.
fter-fore lat vs, for tavenge oure wrong,
First with ri^t make oure self[e] strong ; 3872
And oure force manly for to schewe,
A few pickt Of knystis chose piken out a fewe,
knights are to , -,
be chosen. And devoide encombrauwce of nombre ;
3844. hym] him in D 1. 3846. ]>e] om. D 1.
3850. >at] om. D 1— in] to D 1.
3855. Who] Who so D 1.
3856. vsed] vsed in werre D 1— to] om. D 1.
3860. To] And vn to D 1. 3861. entent] assent C.
3862. by assent] to oon entent C.
3864. Thorn?] With D 1.
3865. Hem] Hym D 1— dare] J>ar D 2, thar A.
3867. nor] and C. 3875. devoide] to voide A.
BK. l] Peleus, Hercules, and Jason start on their Expedition. 127
And so we schal oure foos best encombre."
And of al bat, bat Hercules hath seide,
Kyng Pelleus was ri$t wel apaide,
For hym bou^t his conseil was ri^t good.
And Hercules, with-oute more abode,
Is in gret haste with his meyne goon
To a province bat callid is Pinion,
In whiche ber was a duke of noble fame,
And as I fynde, Nestor was his name,
Ful renomed and strong of chiualrie ;
And he was eke ful ny^e of allye
To Hercules, and of be same blood.
And whan fat he pleynly vnderstood
The purpos hool & cause of his commyng,
He grawitid hym, wit/i-oute more tariyng,
To goon hym silfe wit/* him in this* viage,
With alle be worbi of his baronage,
And to be redy a-^eyn a certen day.
And Hercules, as fast as [euere] he may,
Repay red [is] home to Thesalye,
Wher gadred was holy be nauye
Of be lordis, ful redy appara[i]led,
Wel enarmed and richelly vitailled.
And Pelleus hath takyn fyrste be see,
And euery lorde, liche to his degree,
I-schiped is and redi for to goon
With Hercules and also with lason,
Her behestes manly to f ulfille,
Towardis Troye, be cite for to spille.
And after pat,* sothly as I fynde,
J?ei nat abyde but vp-on be wynde.
3876
3880 Hercules and
bis men go
to Philon,
which is ruled
by Duke
3884 Nestor,
3888
who agrees
to join in in-
vading Troy.
3892
[leaf 22 u]
Hercules goes
, back to
3896 Thessaly.
K. Peleus is
orv^/\ the first to
3900 take ship.
3904
3876. oure foos best] best oure foos D 1.
3879. rijt] om. D 1.
3886. eke] also D 1— ny^e] strorcge D 1.
3880-86 are repeated after 3885 in D 1.
3891. hym silfe vrith him] with hym hym silf D 1— this] his C.
3893. a-3eyn] ajeyns D 1.
3895. to] vn to D 1.
3896. was] is A. 3901. I-schiped] Shiped D 1— and] om. D 1.
3905. after J?at] afterwarde C.
3906. abyde] aboode D 1.
128 Description of later April and the Kalends of May. [BK. I
The Greeks
start for
Troy in
April,
when every
bush
blossoms,
and silver
springs gush
to rivers,
and the sea is
calm from
wavy boiling.
Howe Kynge Pelleus with f e myghtti puyssaimce of
Grece landyde at Byrne onte afor fe Cite of Troye.1
Whan fat f e soote stormis of Aprille,
Vn-to fe rote ful lawe gan distille
His lusty licowr, with many holsom schour,
To reise f e vertu vp in-to f e flour ;
And Phebus was ascendyng in his spere,
And on f e brest smote his bemys clere
Of f e Earn, ful colerik at al,
Halvynge in ver f e equinnoccial ;
Whan May kalendis entre in for-sothe,
And Zephirus, ful agreable and smof e,
))Q tendre brauwchis enspiref & dof e springe,
And euery busche is lusty blossumynge,
And from f e hil f e water is revolvid
Of snowys white, fat Phebws hath dissoluyd,
And f e bawme vapoureth vp a-lofte
In-to f e eyre of f e erbes softe,
Jpe Eotis vertu, with colde of wynter hid,
Hath hool his my^t and his force kyd,
Oute of f e erf e in erbe and euery tree
Schad in f e brauwchis his humydite,
Areised only with j? e sonnys hete,
And with J>e moysture of fe reynes swete ;
Whan siluer welles schederc oute her stremys
In fe ryuers, gilt with fe sonne bcmys,
And Flora had with newe grene ageyne
Hir lyuere schad vp-on euery playn,
And ny3tyngales, fat al f e wode rong,
Ful amorously welcomed in hir song
)3e lusty sesouw, fresche and desyrous,
Namly to hertis fat ben amerous,
And fe* see is calme and blauwdisching
From trouble of wynde or wawy boilyng,
3908
3912
3916
3920
3924
3928
3932
3936
3910. vp] om. A— in-to] on to A, in D 1.
3911. ascendyng] ascendid A.
3912. his] the A— bemys clere] om. A.
3922. In-to] In A— 1st >e] om. D 2.
3937. >e] in >e C. 3938. or] & from D 1— wawy] wawyng A
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 27 d.
BK. i] The invaders land on Trojan soil, & pitch their Tents. 12U
And from tempest is smofe to eskape —
The same sesoiw Grekys furth hem schape 3940 in April the
17 . Greeks set
Towardis Troye : erlys, dukys, kyngis, sail,
Her schippis stoffid with al maner fingis,
)3at to werre my^t hem* moste avayle.
And ri3t anoon ])ei be-gan to saile, 3944
Whan al was redy, wit/t-oute more abode,
Eche schip by ofer on j?e water rood ;
And whan j>e wynde at her lust gaw blowe,
A loie it was to sen hem go by rowe, 3948
Whiche made hem faste to hastew in her woye,
j)at in schorte tyme J?ei com[e] be to Troye, [leaf 226]
And in )>e hauene callid Symeonte. ana soon
Whan Phebws fer vnder her orizonte 3952 theT.aven of
Symeont,
I-westrid was, j>at men ne my^t hym see,
Grekys, eschapid alle pereils of be see,
Caste her ankres and J>ou$t[e] for be beste, and cast
In her schippes be same ny^te to reste. 3956
The noble kynge Pelle in his Tente declarede j>e fyne
of his landynge, for be sege to be layde.1
And in be morwe, whan be larke song, Next mom-
J3e worbi Grekys, so manly & so strong,
Be-gan to lond, in al J)e haste bei my;te,
On Troye groiiTzde, and her tentis py3te ' 3960
A-fore J?e toune, with gret diligence ;
For fei ne fouwde no maner resistence.* nt8'
And al J>is while fei sette good awaite
On euery syde, list fer wer disceite, 3964
Til on j>e hour fat j>e sonne bri^te
Had in j)e morwe schad his rody li^te
3939. And] Lynge D 2— tempest] tempestys A— is smo>e] smo>e
is D 1— to] and A.
3941. Towardis] Toward D 1 — kyngis] and kywges D 2.
3943. to werre myjt hem] to hem my^t C — my^t hem moste]
moste myjt hem D 1.
3948. go] seille D 1.
3953. I-westrid] Westred D 1— hym] hem D 1.
3954. Grekys eschapid] And grekes passed D 1 — pereils] perill D 2.
3957. iw] on D 1. 3962. resistence] of resistence C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 28 a.
TROY BOOK.
130 King Peleus's Address to his Grecian army. [BK. I
The Greeks
gather at
King
Peleus's tent.
He reminds
them that
their folk
never began
anything
without
winning it.
Now they've
come to
destroy King
Lamedon,
and they are
1. so to put
guard
that no Greek
shall be
hannd;
Amyd be felde, vppoii euery tent,
At whiche tyme, alle of oon assent,
fte Grekis wern assemblid euerychon,
And by be byddyng of be kyng anon,
Tason firste, and with hym Hercules,
With many worjn being in bat pres,
Ben to ]>e tent of Pelleus come.
And whan be lordis, bobe alle & some,
Wern to-gedre in bat place mette,
And eche of hem in his degre was sette,
))an Pelleus, whan al [was] huscht & stille,
Be-gan ri$t bus to declare his wille :
" 0 noble & worbi, of hi$e estate & lowe,
Whos kny^tly fame boru^ be worlde Is knowe,
Reported is as fer as schineth sonne,
]?at Grekis $it neuer* bing be-gonne
jpat bei ne had victori at f e ende :
For with fe laurer, as fer as man may wende,
J)ei haue be crowned of what * bei toke on honde —
Suche is her hap, bofe on se and londe —
Wherfore, ^e lordis, moste worbi of renouw,
3e can remembre of kyng Latnedoun,
And of be wrong fat he vp-on $ow wrou^te,
Whan harme to hym noon of 30 w ne thou^te,
Whiche mot be quytte, schortly bis be ende,
For we be come to stroye hym * and to schende ;
Wherfor anon, in al J?e haste we may,
Late vs sette on w^t/i-oute more delay.
But firste I rede bat we taken hede,
To binges bre, most helping in bis nede :
First, be avis and gode discrescioura,
For oure diifence and sauacioun,
So prudently oure wardis for to make, [leaf 22 c
Jjat non of ours be at meschefe take,
jjis ilke day, for lak of prouidence ;
3968
3972
3976
3980
3984
3988
3992
3996
4000
3973. come] y come D 1. 3979. new IT D 1.
3980. boruj >e worlde Is] wich is not D 1.
3982. 3it neuer] neuer 3it C. 3984. laurer] laures D 2.
3985. what] bat C, D 1. 3987. $e] }>e D 2.
3992. be] om. A— stroye] distroie D 1— hym] hem C—2nd to]
om. D 1.
BK. i] King Peleus & Hercules plan their Fight against Troy. 131
\)e seciwde is, to do oure diligence 2. to work
With al oure my$t and hool entenciouw, of their foes;
For to labour to ful distruccioun 4004
Of oure foon, for oure owne glorie ;
And be bridde, f «t we may victorie 3. to win the
victory
Reioische of hem, platly at f e laste.
And after fis, 30 may afore wel caste, 4008
3iffe we of kny^thood, foru$ our hardines,
May venquische he??i, we schal so hi^e riches and get
Conquere of hem to oure pocessioun —
For it is knovve how bat Trove town, 4012 for Troy hat
much gold
Of al plente, as it schal be founde, and treasurer
Of gold and tresowr is passyngly habourcde —
J2at oure schippis, sothly as I wene,
For to reseiue schal nat mow sustene 4016
\)Q habundaurcce fat is $onde wzt/z-Inne,
3if it so be fat we f e cite wynne,
As * God vs graurcte, }if it be his wille."
And also faste as fe kyng was stille, 4020
Jje noble kny^te, fe strongfe] Hercules, Then
Hercules
In f e presence of fat worfi pres, advises tin
Seide his couwseil was he^ly to commende,
For wis becjywiyng is preysed be fe ende — 4024
"But to effecte our pwpos for to bryng,
My coimseil is, in fe morwenyng,
To-forne or we discured ben be day,
)3at we vs arme in al haste we may, 4028
And on fis felde fat we do oure peyne
For to deuyde oure meyne in-to tweyne ; division of
And of f e ton, schal kyng Thelamouw Into twof
Be goue?'nowr, for his hi^e renoun, 4032 Teiamon and
And of f e tof er, kyng Pelleus schal haue 2. under K.
|)e gouernau/zce, wysly hem to * saue ;
4006. may] may ha A. 4008. afore] om. D 1.
4014. tresowr] siluer D 2, D 1.
4016. schal] ne shal A, D 2.
4018. it] >at D 2. 4019. As] And C.
4020. also] as D 1. 4021. kny3te] kyng D 2.
4023. his] pis D 2.
4026. in >e] in this A, in J>is D 2, Jns mery D 1.
4028. arme] enarme D 1. 4030. deuyde] deuoicle D 1.
4034. to] for to C.
132 Hercules 's plan for lying in Ambush & seizing Troy. [BK. I
With the rest
Hercules and
Jason will
lie in
ambush,
and will,
when the
Trojans are
fighting with
the Greeks,
rush to Troy
and seize it.
All arm in
the morning.
4036
4040
4044
And I my silfe, & lason here my brother,
Schal secrely go vfith alle J?e to]>er
Vnder ]?e cite, or J)e sonne schynes,
And in )>e bruschail and J?e pikke vynes
We schal vs hyde, & kepe vs }>er ful koye ;
For Lamedouw, fat is kyng of Troye,
Anon as he may heren and espie
Of J?e Grekis, with his cheualrye
Out of J?e cite wele issen oute anoon
With 3ow to fi^te, & venge him on * his foon ;
But whan he cometh to-our-schippis-ward,
Nestor j>e duke schal in J?e firste ward
Metyn with hym, and Castor schal also,
Whan he seth tyme, kny3tly haue ado [leaf 22 a] 4048
To help[e] Nestor, ^if ]>at it be nede.
J5e fridde warde Pelleus schal lede ;
And whiles 36 Jms hym occupie,
lason and I schal vs faste hye
To J>e cite, vnwiste of hem echon,
I dout[e] nat we schal it wy/me anoon.
Doth be couwseil, and it wil ^ow availe ;
And her my troufe, 30 ne may not fayle
For to conquere J?e cite $onde a-f ore ;
))is al and some — 30 gete of me no more."
And Jjei acorde wit/i al her strenthe &
And armen hem in stele J?at schon ful bri3te
Ageyn fe son?ie amorwe whan he riseth,"^
And wrou3t fully as Hercules deuiseth.
4052
4056
4060
Howe Lamedon }>e kenge of Troye, sodeynly wernede,
with his Chivalry gave the Grekys batayle, &
]>ere was sclayn.1
And Lamedouw, whan he herd[e] telle
Of her comyng, hym lyst no lenger dwelle, 4064
4042. his] >is D 1. 4043. oute] sone D 1.
4044. on] of A, C. 4049. ?if ] whan D 1.
4051. And] om. D 1— je] >at }e D 1.
4053. vnwiste] vnwetiwg D 1. 4059. acorde] acordid A.
4060. armen] enarmen D 1. 4061. lie riseth] it ariseth C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 28 c.
BK. i] The Trojans attack the Greek Invaders.
133
K. Lamedon
and liis forces
inarch out of
Troy
to fight
Greeks,
ht the
not knowing
of their am-
bush behind
him.
But out he went with many a [noble] kny^te,
Fkmrryng in ^outhe & desirous to fy$te,
And alle j>o j?at my}t armes bere,
Or koude schete or durste handle a spere. 4068
And whan J?ei were assemblid in J>e felde,
Eueryche his armes depeynt vppon his scheld,
Brouded or bete vpon his cote armvre,
)3an Lamedoura with al his besy cure 4072
Set hem in ordre, & his wardes maketh,
And in j?e felde furthe his weye he taketh
Towardis j?e Grekis, as eny lyue ri^te,
Fully pwrposyng to abide and fi^te. 4076
He was nat war of hem fat were behynde,
He nat adue?*teth nor caste]) in his mynde
)5e grete slei^te nor J>e trechery,
]5at hym was schape, he koude it nat espie ; 4080
But fur]?e he went with his wardis set.
And f>e Grekis anoon with hym han met,
With herte bolde, astonyed nat at al —
Duke Nestor firste, sturdy as a wal, 4084
In whos manhod was neuer founde lake,
Ful kny3% fan vppon hors[e] bake,
To hert his men & his kny^tes eke,
Gaw presen in with many worjri Greke, 4088
With Lamedouw sturdely to mete.
At whiche tyme ]?ei felt[e] ful vnswete,
And in Jje frouwtel, ful many manly man
"With scharpe speris first to-gidre ran ; 4092 They charge
And with swerdis, scharpe & kene grounde,
Was filke day }ouen many [a] wounde,
Wher * as J?ei mette, vp-on euery syde,
)3oru^ plate & mayle her wouwdis bledde wyde. 4096
And basenettis )>ei riuen to J?e crowne ; [leaf 23 a]
])e noise of strokis in fe eyr gan sowne ;
And of j>e blood ]>at was schad of newe,
4069. new IF D 1. 4073. his] here D 1.
4075. Towardis] Toward A, D 2.
4086. vppon] vppon his A. 4087. hert] hurte D 1.
4088. many] many a D 1. 4091. frountel] firste front D 1.
4094. bilke] >at D 1. 4095. Wher] f>er C.
4097. to] on D 1.
Nestor meets
the first
attack.
many men
aru wounded.
134 Castor slays many Trojans: Lamedon kills more Greeks. [BK. I
The Greeks
are helpt by
Castor,
who drives
back the
Trojans, till
King Lame-
don enters
the field
and slays
many Greeks.
fte grene soile chaunged hath his he we : 4100
For it was died playnly in-to red,
Vp-on J?e whiche ful many man lay ded,
And many worjn loste f er his lif.
And certeynly, in fis mortal strif, 4104
J?e Grekis had discomfeted ben echon,
Nadfde] Castor socored hem anoon ;
J?ei of Troye so manly han hem bore,
)}at many kny$t of Grekis were I-lore : 4108
But whan Castor entrej? in batail
With his kny^tes, so sore he dide assayl
jje worfi Troyans, fat with spere and scheld
Grekis ageyn recured han fe felde, 4112
ftat many oon lyf slay[e]n on f e grene,
Girt f oru^ f e body with scharp speris kene,
)5at * f ai of Troye, in f is mortal stour,
Were driue a-bak, til fer cam socour 4116
To hem in hast of worfi Lamedoura,
Whiche entred [in] liche a wood ]you?^,
And made weye vp-on euery syde.
And where as he made his swerde to glide, 4120
J)er was but deth, so manly * he hym bare,
J)at wel vnnef e was fer [n]on fat dar
Abide his stroke ; for, ridyng vp and dov?z,
He made weye aboute hym envirouw. 4124
In f e rengis he hath his foon oute sou^t ;
j?at day in armys merveiles he haf wrou^t,
J)at by his manhod and his worfmes
He Grekis hath brou^t in swiche distres, 4128
ftat fei his swerde fledden as fe deth,
Merciles so many of hem he sleth.
Of whiche slau^ter fe Grekis wer confus,
4102. ful many] many a D 1.
4103. many] many a D 1— loste] lefte D 1.
D 1—
. f>e] These D 1— discomfeted ben] be discomfited D 1.
. hem] hym D 1.
4105
4106
4107. so manly han hem] han hem so mawly D 1.
4108. many] many a A, D 1— were] was A, D 2— I-lore] lore D 1.
4109. in] on D 1. 4110. he] mn. D 2.
4115. f>at] f>an C. 4119. weye] a weye A.
4121. manly] manfully C. 4122. non] any D 1.
4128. Grekis] >e grekes D 1— in] in to D 1.
4129. f>at] om. D 1
BK. i] Nestor wounds and unhorses King Lamedon. 135
Til Pelleus cam to her rescue, 4132
T . P 11 • succours the
Iros and wood, as he wer talle in rage, Greeks,
He thou^t he wolde pe grete pompe aswage
Of hem of Troye, and so he dide anoon ;
For he vnhorseth of hem many oon, 4136
And felly slowe al J)at stood hym aforne, and kills
And many harnes he hath J)at day to-torne, Trojans.
And made scheldes for to rive a-souwdre,
)?at to be-holde it was a verray wonder, 4140
Til Lamedou??, his peple sawe goo bake, Lamedon
17 -n n i. A * rallies them.
For Pelleus brou^t hem so to wrake.
Wher-of in hert he felte * ful gret peyne,
Besechyng hem to repeyre ageyne, 4144
And kybe her my^t & lyche as men endure ;
And so J>e felde he made hem to recure, [leaf 23 6]
Til duke Nestor knewe j>at Lamedourc, Nestor
Amyd J>e felde, was kyng of Troye town. 4148
And ri$t anoon, wat/i-oute more abood,
A-geyn[e]s hym a ful gret pas he rood ; rides at him,
And whan j>e kyng dide hym first espie,
Of hi^e dispit, of ranco?^r and envie, 4152
In kny^tly wyse gan to tome ageyn,
No J)ing agast, but of hi^e disdeyn,
With Irons hert embollid al with pride,
His hors fersly gan takyn in ]>e syde, 4156
Til J?er ran out be verray redfe] blood ;
And to Nestor, liche as he were wood,
He rood anoon, and his spere brake ;
But he ful kny^tly kepte his hors[e] bak, 4160
And ful delhwly, hym ageyn to quyte,
With a spere, ful scharp[e] [whet] to byte,
J?oru^ schelde & breste $af hy??i swiche a wouwde, woun<i»
bat from his hors he felde him dovn to grovnde 4164 and fells him
. , to the
Of which e fal, J>e kyng no Jnng a-ferde, ground.
But ros hym vp & pulled out a swerde,
4134. aswage] swage D 1. 4137. stood hym] hyw stood D 2.
4139, 40 are transposed in D 2.
4143. in hert he felte] he felt in hert C— ful] om. D 1.
4148. Amyd] pat amid D 1.
4163. schelde & breste] brest and shelde D 1.
4166. a] his D 1.
Cedar conies
to help
Lamedon,
136 Cedar wounds, and unhorses Nestor, who is in danger. [BK. I
So anger fret hym at his bert[e] rote,
)5at he vnhorsed fe^te muste ou fote ; 4168
Wher-of he was in parti ful confus,
Til oon Cedar cam to his reskus,
)3at was made kny^te )>e silfe same $ere,
$ong, fresche, and lusty, and of noble chere, 4172
Sitting J?at tyme on a noble stede.
And whan fat he gan to taken hede,
And sawe J>e kyng on fote at meschef fi^te,
Gan to prike, in al J>e hast he my3te, 4176
Toward Nestor, & with a spere hym hitte.
From his sadel )>at he made hym flitte
Down to J3e grovnde a-fore kyng Lamedourc.
But he anon, liche a champioun, 41 80
Secured vp, and hym silfe diffendeth ;
And many strok eche on other spendeth,
With scharp[e] swerdis, kene for to bite,
Eueryche at other gan to foyne & smyte,* 4184
Til Lamedoura, with a despitous chere,
From his face raced his visere,
And by force, al at onys smet
A riche cercle from his basenet, 4188
Of large perle goyng enviroun —
With creste and al, he fersly bette adovn :
j)at whiles Nestor ]>us aforn him stood,
His face was al depeynt with blood, 4192
J5at certeynly, pe sothe to conclude,
Had nat Grekis with gret multitude
Eeskewed hym, he hadde of Lamedouw [leaf 23 cj
Be slaye as faste ; for he was bore dowi 4196
Vn-to ]?e erpe a-mong J?e hors[e] feet.
But Castor Jjo^te ]?at he nolde leet
To be his helpe, as he behelde a-feer ;
And Irously he toke a my^ty speer, 4200
And to Cedar, J>at I spak of late,
He gan to ride and priken in gret hate :
4170. to] at D 2. 4182. many] many a A, D 1.
4184. smyte] to smyte C. 4187. by force] bifore D 1.
4190. creste] breste D 2— bette] fel D 2.
4194. Had] Ne had D 1.
4202. ride and priken] prike & ride D 1.
and unhorses
Nestor.
Lamedon
and Nestor
fight together
on foot.
Lamedon
pulls Nestor's
vizor off
his face,
and would
have slain
him if the
Greeks hadn't
come to his
rescue.
BK. i] Castw* kills Segnerides, and is rescued by Pulhwc. 137
But or he cam to hym, dout[e]les,
A Troyan kny^t, callid Segnerides,
Cosyn to Cedar, whan he ha)) fis seen,
On a courser rood anoon be-tvveen ;
And with a spere he smete Castor so,
}?at with fe stroke he brake evene at wo.
To whom Castor, w?t/*-oute more areste,
Hath with a spere, amyddes of J>e breste,
Segnerides $oue a mortal wounde,
)pat likly was neuer for to sounde.
Wher-of Cedar cau^te swiche envie,
Jpat he anoon, of malencolye
And of dispit boilyng in his herte,
Segnerides whan he sawe so smerte,
Maugre who grucchef, amyddes of J>e feld,
Of verray my^t from Castor toke his scheld,
And foru} viser, of rancour & of rage,
He wounded hym amyddes the* visage,
And his hors from hym also he cau^te,
And to his squier manfully it rau^te :
)3at certeynly he stood in swiche disioynt,
jjis worfi Castor, fat he was in poynt
To haue ben take of hem of Troye tho ;
For he on fote with hem moste [haue] go,
Nadde Pollux, with many manly kny^t,
Mo fan seuene huwdrid in stele armyd bri^t,
])Q raf er com Castor to reskewe ;
Whiche after hem so sore gan to sewe,
j?at maugre hem, Castor whan he fond,
Of force he toke hym fre out of her bond,
And to his hors restorid hym ageyn.
And after [fat], fis Pollux in certeyn,
Of verray angre and of fervent Ire,
Agein Troyens with rancour set a-fire,
feat al attonis he vppon hem set ;
4204 The Trojan
Segnerides
charges
Castor,
4208
4212
who wounds
him mortally,
4216 but Cedar
4220 wounda
Castor too ;
4224
4228
4232
4236
and he would
have been
taken, had
not Pollux
rescued him.
4205. J>is] om. A. 4206. rood anoon] anoon rode hem D 1.
4207-12 are omitted in D 2. 4208. he] he it A.
4213. Wher-of] Wherfore A. 4220. the] of his C, his D 2.
4221. from hywi also] also fro hym D 1.
4226. haue go] agoo A. 4227. many] many a D 1.
4228. armyd] armes D 2.
138 The Trojans win, but Troy is taken by the Greeks. [BK.
The Trojan
Eliatiis, K.
Lamedon's
nephew, is
slain by
Pollux.
Lamedon
blows liis
born, and
7000 knights
advance
and drive
back the
Greeks.
The Trojans
win,
but are told
that the
ambusht
Greeks have
taken Troy.
4240
And in his mood, by fortune as he met
A Troyan kny}t, called Eliatus,
In armys ^ong, fresche, and desirous,
Wonder sernly and but tender of age,
jpe kynges sone, also, of Cartage,
And neve we eke vn-to Lamedoim,
Whom Pollux hath, lyche a ferse lyoura, [leaf 23d] 4244
WM-oute routhe, pite, or mercy,
In J>e rengis slawen cruelly —
feat Lamedou^, whan he gan take hede,
Of inward dool felte his herte blede,
Whan he hyrn sawe, euene vppon J?e deth,
Ful pitously $elden vp be brethe,
Vp-on be playn, as he lay hym be-forn.
For whiche anoon he made sowne an horn,
At whiche ber cam, in* ful riche array,
Seuene thowsand kny^tes, in al [be] hast bei may,
Vp-on his deth avenged* for to be.
Whiche mercyles, of gret[e] cruelte,
fee Grekis han here & J>er I-grouwded :
Here litb on ded, ber a-nober wouwded,
So fat fei nry^t vtiih hem haue * no tak.
So mortally bei made hem gon abak,
feat al gan turne to her confusiou?^ ;
And finaly bat day* with Lamedoura
fee tryvmphe had & be felde y-goon,
Saue )>at, alias, oute of be touw anoon
Vn-to be kyng ber cam a messager,
feat hath hym tolde with a ful pitous chere,
How J)e Grekis han be cite take.
fean for to se J?e wo he* dide make,
It wolde haue made a pitws hert as blyue
Of verray dool asondre for to rive,
4248
4252
4256
4260
4264
4268
4239. Eliatus] Eliacus D 1.
4243. vn-to] to D 1. 4245. routhe pite] pite routhe D 1.
4247. pat] Than D 1. 4253. whiche] which tyme A— in] a C.
4255. his] the A— avenged] avenget C. 4256. of] & of D 1.
4258. >er] & >ere D 1.
4259. with hem haue] haue with hem C.
4262. finaly ]>at day] )>at day finaly C. 4263. y-goon] goon D 1.
4266. hath] had D 1— ful pitous] dispitw* D 1.
4267. 2nd >e] his A, D 2. 4268. he] >ei C, >at he D 1.
BK. i] The Trojans are beaten in front and rear. 139
So sore he gan with-in. hym silfe to morne.
He wiste nat what party he my^t turne ; 4272
But in a were* he abydynge longe, JL^omT10"
Aforn hym- sawe j>e my$ty Grekis stronge, h,'froutrofy
And in J?e cyte anoj>er host behynde : hlm»
Almost for wo he went out of his mynde ; 4276
And sodenly, bacward as he behilde SinS™
Toward J>e cite, he sawe com in jje felde
First Hercules and with hym lason,
])'dt by her sley^t wonen ban )>e tourc. 4280
And in al hast, J>is cruel Hercules,
\)e niy^ty geau?jt of force per[e]les,
Liche a lyouw, wood and dispitous,
Or a tigre in rage furious, 4284
Gan of newe hem of Troye assaile, Trojans)1*
And with [his] swerde perce plate and mail,
Whiche of labour wer ful mate and feynt,
And of long fi^te with werynes atteynt. 4288
And he cam in,* lusty, fresche, and grene,
ftat fei his force my^t[e] nat sustene ;
For as he rod among hew here & Bonder,
In cruel wyse he s[e]uered hem asonder, 4292
And put he/71 holy in J?is hi^e meschaunce, [leaf 24 a]
Oute of rewle and of gouernauwce ;
So fat ]?e kyng, oppressed al with dool,
Of his wardis destitute and sool, 4296
At meschef lefte, and al infortunat,
And of comfort fully disconsolat —
))is Hercules, with a dispitous look,
With scharp[e] spors his stede felly toke, 4300
And cruelly rod to* Lamedouw,
And to fe erthe fersly bare hym douw,
And vp-on hym, in al fe haste he my^te,
Downe of his hors sodeinly alyjte,* 4304
And my^tely rent of his basenet,
4272. He wiste] panne wist he D 1— my$t] may A, D 2.
4273. a were] awere C— longe] allone D 1. 4281. new IT D 1.
4284. in] in his A. 4289. cam in] in cam C.
4294. 2nd of] al goode D 1.
4300. spors] speris D 2— felly] fully A, D 2. 4301. to] til C.
4304. aly^te] he Iy3te C.
140
Hercules kills
K. Lamedon,
and many
Trojans.
The Greeks
slay nearly
all the rest,
take all the
treasure in
Troy,
and kill the
old folk and
the babies.
King Lamedon is slain. Troy is plunderd. [BK. I
And with a swerde, scharp[e] groiwde & whet,
Smot of his hede, per was noon oper g?*ace,
And caste it furthe in pe silue place 4308
Among pe hors, by cruel violence,
With-oute pite or any reuerence.
And in a rage ra^te his hors a^eyn,
And lyche a lyowi rengyng on pe playn 4312
Bar downe & slowe what cam in his weye ;
And many Troyan pat day made he deye,
)3at liche to schepe wer* forskatered wyde,
Al destitute of gouernour or guyde, 4316
Ne can no* rede, schortly to conclude;
For pe Grekis \vidh double multitude
Gan hem enchace to pe deth ful blyve,
j?at wel vnnepe per left noon alyue. 4320
Jpe feld pei han, and ben pat day victours ;
And with tryvmphe, liche as conquerours,
To pe cite pei take her weye after,
And rende dovn hope sparre & rafter ; 4324
And al pe tresour & riches of pe tovn,
j)ei toke anoon to* her pocessiou?z,
Who euer gmcche or be lef or lothe,
What pei fouwde, pleynly with hem gothe. 4328
In pe temples pei dide gret offence,
To pe goddis doyng no reuerence ;
For al pei spoyle, with-oute drede or fere,
And vn-to schip euery ping pei here ; 4332
And merciles on croked, olde, and lame,
Her swerde pei made cruelly atame ;
And children soukyng at her* moder brest,
))ei mordre & sle wM-oute more arest ; 4336
4311. a] om. D 1. 4312. rengyng] rennyng A.
4314. many] many a D 1.
4315. wer] }>at wer C. 4316. or] and D 1.
4317. no] nat C. 4318. with'] om. D 1.
4320. >er left] left >ere D 1.
4321. }>at day] om. D 1 — victours] victorious A, D 1.
4324. rende] rente D 1— sparre] spere D 1. 4326. to] in to C.
4327. grucche or] grucched who D 2.
4328. >ei] the A— pleynly] platly D 1— gothe] it gothe A.
4334. swerde] swerdes D 1— atame] to atame A, to tame D 2.
4335. her] be C.
BK. I]
The sad Fate of the Trojan Maidens.
141
And ^ongfe] maydenes, wepyng in distresse,
Ful gentil born, and of gret fayrnesse,
With hem pel ladde, & may hem nat excuse,
Hir fresche bewte falsly to mysvse.
)3ei waste & brercne and consumen al ;
And wz't/i-oute j>ei brake a-dovn fe wal. [leaf 21 6]
And Exione, )?e kynges doubter dere,
Jpat was to hym passyngly entere
By his lyve — I mene Lamedourc —
Meke and benyng of condicioim,
Hercules hath anoon hir take,
Jpat for drede pitously gan quake,
And hir deliuered vn-to Thelamou?*,
For he entrede first in-to J?e touw.
And he his }ifte reseyued hath at gre,
Be-cause sche was surmoimtyng of bewte,
And tretid hir after as he wolde,
Nat lyche as he a kynges doubter schulde.
For syth he gat hir J>at day be victorie,
For his worschip and his owne glorie,
Havyng rewarde to hir hi3e degre,
He schulde rather of kyngly honeste,
And of kny^thood, haue weddid hir Jjerfore,
Syth pat sche was of blood so gentil bore,
)5an of fals lust, ageyn al godlyhede,
Vsed hir bewte and hir womanhede
Dishonestly, and in synful wyse —
Of royal blood nat liche fe hi$e emprise,
Nor J?e doctrine of naturis ri$t,
Nor liche J>e norture of [a] gentil kny^t :
Considered first hir [bir)?e] and hir kynrede,
Hir grene ^oujje, and hir maydenhed,
So gode, so fayre, so womanly J>er-to.
A kynges dou}ter of birth sche was also ;
To haue wedded hir, it had[de] be no schame.
Now, Thelamoura, in soth ]?ou wer to blame ;
4342. a-dovn] doun D 1. 4351. hath] first D 1.
4367. Considered] Considrynge D 2 — hir birj>e and] om.
2nd hir] om. A, D 1.
4370. of birth sche was] she was of birjre D 1.
4371. To haue] That A.
The Trojan
girls are
carried off by
the Greeks.
4340
K. Lame-
don's daugh-
4344 ter, Esione,
is handed by
Hercules to
4348 Telaraon,
4352
4356
4360
4364
4368
who treats
her as a
concubine,
and doesn't
wed her,
as a. gentle
knight should
have done.
4372 He was to
blame.
D2—
142 Troy is leveld with the ground, and the Greeks return. [BK. I
Thru Tela-
mon'a mis-
behaviour,
the fire of war
spread later.
When Troy
was leveld
with the
ground,
the Greeks
fild their
ships with
treasures,
set sail,
and reacht
land joy-
ously.
For Jjoru^ J)e errour of Jn gouernaunce,
}per kyndled was, of ful hy$e vengaunce,
So hoot a sparke after of envye,
)5at J>om3 J>e worlde fe fyr gan multiplie, 4376
Whiche was nat li$t * to quenchyra of his hete.
For hatred olde to brenwe can nat lete
With newfe] flawme, who so taketh hede ;
3if it nat smeke, it is J>e more [to] drede, 4380
As in J>is * story her after schal be knowe.
And whan J>is tonn was brent & brou^t[e] lowe,
BoJ>e tour & wal with J?e soil made pleyn,
And no Jring stood, alias, J>at may be seyn, 4384
So outterly J?e Grekis hem oppresse,
Makyng al waste liche a wyldernesse —
For good & tresour & riches infinyt,
With many lowel, ful pleysyng of delyt, 4388
To her schippis out of j?e toun fei lede,
And in schort tyme homward fei hem spede,
With tresour stuffid, & habou?idance of good. [leaf 2*0]
And whan }>ei seye fat j)e wedir stood, 4392
])Q wynde also, at her lust fei hadde,
]3ei gan to saille, & with hem horn J>ei ladde
Exyona and many a mayde mo,
]3at out of Troye in-to Grece goo. 4396
And seyling forj>e, with-in a lytel space,
ftei ben eskapid [fro] ]?e se by grace,
And vn-to lond aryued merily.
At whos co?ttrnyng J>e Grekis outerly 4400
So loyful ben of her good[e] spede ;
And specialy, in Guydo as I rede,
Her schippes wern with golde & tresour lade ;
Wher-of in herte Jiei wexe wonder glade. 4404
And for fei hadde out so wel hem born,
To conquere Troye, and so fewe lorne
4374. vengaunce] meschaunce D 2. 4377. li^t] liche C.
4380. nat] may A— J>e] om. D 1. 4381. >is] >e C.
4382. lowe] so lowe A, D 2. 4383. wit*] to D 2.
4387. & tresour] om. D 2 — & riches] om. D 1.
4392. j>ei seye )>at] Jxxt >ei sye D 1.
4395. a mayde] maiden D 1. 4401. loyful] loy fully D 2.
4404. wexe] were A.
4405. out] hem oute D 1— hem born] I born D 1.
BK. i] Prosperity and Fame of the Greeks. End of Book I. 143
Of her meine, J>ei jjanke her goddes alle,
And of J>e grace j)at to hem is falle. 4408
For vfilh J>e tresour bat bei ban horn brou^t,
Ful many pore was made vp of nou^t ;
Jjoru^-out be loud J>ere was swiche aboiwdawce, Greece
So moche good and so gret sufficauwce, 4412 the plunder
J?at no wi$t had amo?zg[es] hem no nede.
And many day bis blisful lyfe bei lede,
From $er to }er by reuoluciouw ;
And for her manhood & her Ime renoiw, 4416 and the
fighters win
Her honour ran roiwde be worlde aboute, high renown.
)3at hem toffende euery londe hath doute,
For her kny^thod, & for bei wer so wyse.
And til be story liste ageyn deuyse, 4420
In bis mater ferjjer to precede,
With be fauour of 2oure ^oodlvhed, i'U now, by
your favour,
I wil me reste for a litel space ; takeareat
And J>an vp-born with support of $our grace, 4424
Forfe a-complische, as I vndertook.
And here an ende of ]>e first[e] book
I make now, with quakyng hond * for drede,
Only for fer of $ow ]>at schal it rede, 4428
Liste ^e, alias, of hasty mocyoiw,
Ne wil not haue no compassioim,
Pyte nor roufe vp-on my rud[e]nesse ;
Lowly beseching to ^our gentilnes, 4432
Of mercy only, boj>e ne^e and ferre, P°°r Ver8e»
Where ^e fynde fat I fayle or erre,
For to correcte, or 30 fer)>er flitte,
For to }our grace I holy al commytte. 4436
[Explicit liber Primus
INcipit liber Secundus.1]
4409. horn] hem D 2. 4414. many] many a D 1.
4418. euery] om. D 2, eche D 1— hath] had D 1.
4424. 3ow] his D 2. 4426. )>e] )>is D 2.
4427. now with quakyng hond] witA quakyng hond now C.
following
were apparently included by the scribe in Book I. , for, beyond an
illuminated initial, there is no break between the last line of
Book I. and the first line of Book II.
144 How fickle Fortune deals with Men, and mocks them. [BK. II
BOOK II.
Fortune
won't let us
live in peace.
She casts
down the
highest.
She blears
men's eyes,
and mocks
them.
Ihe envious ordre of Fortunas* meving,
In worldly f iwg, fals and flekeryng,
Ne will not suffre vs in fis present lyf
To lyue in reste wft/i-oute werre or striffe; [leaf 24 d]
T
For sche is blinde, fikel, and vnstable,
And of her cours, fals & ful mutable.
Who sit hi3est, sche can douw hyra enclyne
Whan he leest wenef bring hym to ruyne,
With awaites fat gladly ben sodeyne,
And w*U hir face fat partid is on tweyne
Schewen most hool, whan sche is leste to triste ;
feat wel wer hym fat hir deceytes wiste,
And hir engynes & hir trappis knewe,
feat euery day in liir courte be newe.
Of whiche, in soth, I wel afferme dar,
No mortal man may in f is lyf be war :
For sche vn-evene peisyng in balaimce,
With conterfet and feyned contenauwce,
With lokyng pleyn & chere of flaterye,
Vnwarly can blere a xnawnys eye,
And hym be-gyle — f is f e verray soth—
With a face blaiwdissching and smof e,
Whan sche hath hym fro??i hije degre brou^t lowe,
Ful falsly smyle & make hym f e mowe.
And 3it som while, most varriant of hewe,'
Sche vn-to somme pretendeth to be trewe ;
For sche whilom to somme is fauourable,
And to somme fals and deceyvable.
Sche can reise * on, & bryng another doura,
L Fortunas] fortunat C, A. 6. fals & ful] ful fals & D 1.
7. doutt hym] hym douw A. 10. with] whiche D 2.
21. J>is] this is D 1. 24 Ful] And D 1— >e] to A.
25. most] om. D 1. 27. to sowme] om. D 1.
29. reise] reisen C.
12
16
20
24
28
Fortune
gives some
men renown.
BK. n] Caprices of Fortune: favouring some, degrading others. 145
J?is fals[e] lady of transmutacioim ;
To somme sche ^eueth renouw and victorie,
And doth hem floure in honour & glorie ; 32
And so?wne sche can apeiren with fals fame,
And gilt[e]les put a man in blame.
To somme sche is goodly and benyngne ;
And of disdeyn sche can also maligne
Ageyn anojjer, & make hyw loute lowe ;
And from her sees sche can kynges J>rowe,
And hem avale, for al her 11130 toures.
And sclie can plonge worjn emperoures
From J>e hille of hi^e prospmte
In-to J>e vale of aduersite ;
])& riche emporische, of rancour & disdeyn,
And J>e pore sche can enhau?*ce ageyn,
]3is fals[e] goddes * vrith hir eyen blynde,
Set on aforn, a-noper goth be-hynde ;
And doth on re?me, and another halte ;
And on sche can in rychesse * hi3e exalte,
And anoj?er plonge in pouerte,
In whom no man may haue no sikerte.
To somme sugre and hony sche distilleth ;
And of so?rcme sche J>e botel filleth
With bitter galle, myrre, and aloes. [leaf 25 «]
And Jms J>is lady, wilful recheles,
As sche fat is froward and peruers,
Hath in hir* celer drinkes ful diuers ;
For sche to so?rcme, of f raude and of fallas,
Mynystreth pyment, bawme, & ypocras :
And sodeynly, whan )>e sote is past,
Sche of custom can ^euen hem a tast, 60
For to conclude falsely in )>e fyn,
Of bitter eysel and of egre wyn,
And corosyues fat fret and perce depe,
32. &] and in A, D 2. 33. fals] her fals D 2
37. &] to D 2-hym] hem D 2 41. of] of the A.
4d. emporische] Emperesse D 2, enpresse D 1
45. goddes] goodes C. 48. in rychesse] richely C.
52. of] to D 1. 54. recheles] & recheles D 1.
56. hir] his 0. 57. 2nd of] om. D 1.
62. eysel] eyser D 1.
TROY BOOK.
36 Others she
humbles.
40 She plunges
Emperors
into
adversity.
44
48
She gives
honey to
52 some;
gall to others j
56
balm to some ;
vinegar to
others.
146 K. Lamedon ruind by Fortune. The Moral of his Fall. [BK. n
Fortune
throws over
all who trust
her:
as she did
K. Lamedon,
for little
cause.
Let kings
and lords
take warning
by him,
and not let
strangers be
ill-treated,
or they'll
be paid out.
And narkotykes pat cause men to slepe.
))us sche to hem, pat hir tonne aproche,
After soote,* pe bitter can * abroche —
In her regne, pis quene of variaurcce,
Whos loye fyneth alwey with meschauwce.
Who trustep hir, sche wil hym ouercaste,
And hym deseyue pleynly at pe laste,
Of what estat euer pat he be,
))is double lady of mutabilite.
Sethe here example of kyng Lamedourc,
Whom sche hap brou^t to confusioura
For litel cause, and for a ping of noi^t ;
Hir cruel te he hape to dere a-bou^t.
Wherfore, I rede, eue?'y man take hede
To gynne a quarel where as is no nede :
For litel fire vnder asches reke
So may be kyndled pat it wil oute breke
Iri-to swyche flawme, mew may it nat apese ;
Who best can suffre most schal haue his ese.
j)erfor, 36 kynges and lordis euerychon,
Make $ow a merour of pis Lamedoun,
And bep wel war to do no violence
Yn-to strawngers, whaw pei do noon offence,
Whan pei com fer in-to 3oure regions :
Ne suffre hem nat, by noon oppressions,
In ^oure bouwdis for to haue no wrong ;
For in $oure owne, pou^e pat 30 be strong,
And my$ty eke among ^oure legys alle,
A-noper day paniunter may be-falle,
)3at whan pat 30 ful litel penke on hit,
Of sodeyn cas pat 36 * may be quyte
And I-thanked in a-noper place,
Of auenture 3if 30 happe passe,
feerfore, whan 36 may eny swyche espie,
65. pat] can D 1 — aproche] abroche D 1.
66. soote] soter C — can] gan C— abroche] approche D 1.
75. and] or D 1— a] om. D 1.
76. a-bou*t] bought A, bou^t D 1.
78. gynne] begynne D 1.
81. apese] aceese D 1. 83. 3e] >e D 1, D 2.
94. 30] it C, D 1. T6. happe] hap there D 1.
64
68
72
76
80
84
88
92
96
BK. n] The Duty of Kindness to Strangers.
Doth hem good chere of ^our curtesye,
And prudently cowsydereth in 30111- wit,
)3at to a lorde of gentilnes hit sit, 100
To euery strauwger goodly hym to haue :
frer is no Jnng may more his honour saue, [leaf 25 6]
Jjjin to refresche hem frely & disport.
£an may pei after good of hym reporte ; 104
Be whos contrarie haj> moche wo be wroti^t
A-fore )>is tyme, ^if it be wel sou^t :
})G first[e] Troye vtterly distroyed,
And J>e peple in sorwe & wo acloied, 108
Lad in-to exil, fer from her cite,
Ly vyng in J>raldom and captiuite ;
And Exyone, as 36 haue herde me telle,
Lad in-to Grece with Thelamoiw to dwelle. 112
For whom []?er was], as Guydo can $ow teche,
After take * so gret vengauwce & wreche
On ou]?er parte, J?at in verray trouthe
For to here it is to moche routhe, 116
As in J>is boke 36 may after rede,
Ceryously ^if 36 liste take hede.
For gladly ay J>e reuolucioim
Of fatal ping, by disposiciou?^, 1 20
Is so envious, and alwey meynt with wo,
Jpat in }>is world, wher-so fat we go,
We trewly may aduerten in oure ]?ou3t,
))at for ]>e valu of a J>ing of nou^t, 124
Mortal causes and werris first by-gonne ;
Strif and debate, here vnder )?e sonne,
Wer meved first of smal occasions,
\)a,t caused after gret confusioim ; 128
J3at no man can )>e harmys half endite.
For, for a cause dere y-now3e a myte,
Eche is redy to distroien other ;
A man for litel wil strive with his brofer ; 132
Blood is vnkynde, whiche gretly is to drede.
98. Doth] Do 36 D 1— of] for D 1. 103. &] and to D 1
108. peple] temple D 1. 111. haue herde] hard D 2.
114. take] was take C. 116. moche] my D 2.
130] one For A, D 1.
147
Always be
kind to
strangers.
Unkindness
to them
destroyd
Troy,
exiled its
folk,
and sent
Hesiono to
Greece,
for whom
great
vengeance
was taken.
Deadly wars
spring from
slight causes.
148 Troy, new and old, was ruind. I'll tell how. [BK. II
Old Troy
and new were
both ruind,
and many
worthies
slain.
To tell these
woes, I lack
skill;
and I fear
Prince
Henry's
criticism ;
but he is
merciful,
and I'll relate
the story of
New Troy,
after Guide's
Latin.
Alias ! win nyl J>ei * taken better hede 1
For olde Troye & afterward pe newe,
)3oru3e smal enchesourc, who pe troupe knewe,
Wer finally broi^t to distruccioim,
As olde bokes maken mencioiw ;
And many worpi and many noble kny^t
Slayn in pe feld by dures of }>at fi^t—
Kynges, pn'nces at pe * sege ded,
Whan Antropos to-brak hir lyves thred,
£at for to telle }>e meschef and J>e wo,
I want[e] cownynge, and I fele also
My penne quake & tremble in my bond,
List pat my lord, dredde on see and lond,
Whos worpines poru3 pe world dop sprede,
My makyng rude schal beholde & rede,
Whiche of colour f ul nakyd is and bare :
Jpat but 3if he of his grace spare
For to disdeyne, and list to haue pite, [leaf 25 c]
For fere I tremble fat he schuld it se.
But only mercy, fat dope his hert embrace,
Byt me pi-eswrne fully in his grace ;
Seynge in hym, most vertuous and good,
Mercy anexid vn-to royal blood,
As to a prince longep ny$e and ferre,
Ay to-fore ry3t, pite to preferre.
For pon^e pe support of his 11136 noblesse
Sowpowailled, I wil my stile dresse
To write forj>e pe story by and by
Of newe Troye in ordre Ceriously,
As myn auctor in latyn, Guydo, writ.
Preying pe reder, wher any word myssit,
Causyng )>e metre to be halte or lame,
For to correcte, to saue me fro blame :
Late hym nat wayte after coryouste,
Syth pat in ryme ynglysch hath skarsete.
134. nyl] nyllen D 1— >ei] 30 C. 141. >e] >at C.
142. to-brak] brak D 1. 146. lond] solid A.
150. but 3if] yif but A.
151. to haue] to "him take D 1.
155. in] om. D 2. 156. royal] his Roial A.
157. longe>] bilongith D 1. 165. or] & D 1.
136
140'
144
148
152
156.
160
164
168
BK. n] I'm so sorry I cant englisli Guide's Latin rightly in ry me. 149
I am so dulle, certeyn, J>at I ne can
Folwen Guydo, pat clerke, pat coryous man,
Whiche in latyn hath be rethorik
Set so his wordis, pat I can nat be lyke. 172
To sewe* his stile in my translacioun,*
Word by word, lyche pe construcciouw,
After pe maner of gramariens,
Nor lyke )>e stile of rethoricyens, 176
I toke nat on me pis story to translate ;
For me to forther Clyo com to late,
)}at in swyche craft hath gret experience ;
I leue pe wordis and folwe pe sentence.
And troup of metre I sette also a-syde,
For of fat arte I hadde as po no guyde
Me to reducyn, whan I went a-wrong ;
I toke non hede nouper of schort nor long,
But to ]>e troupe, and lefte coryouste
Bope of makyng and of metre be,
Nat purposyng to moche for to varie,
Nor for to be dyuerse nor contrarie
Vn-to Guydo, as by discordauwce ;
But me conforme fully in substauwce,
Only in menyng, to conclude al on ;
Al-bepat I ne can j>e wey[e] goon 192
To swe pe floures of his eloquence ;
Nor of peyntyng I haue noon excellence
Wi'tft sondry hewes noble, iresche, and gay ;
So riche colours biggen I ne may ; 196
I mote procede with sable and with blake.
And [in] enewyng wher 30 fynde a lak,
I axe mercy or I fro $ow twynne ;
And with ^our fauowr I wil a-non* begyraie, [leaf 25 d] 200
And in al haste my style furthe directe ;
And where I erre, I praye $ow to correcte.
188
But I'm so
dull that I
can't write in
Guide's style.
I began
ryming too
late,
and I had
no guide,
184 and dis-
regarded
shorts and
longs.
But I'll give
the substance
of Guido,
and ask
mercy for
my short-
comings.
169. >at] om. D 2.
173. sewe] schewe C— translacioun] transmutaciouTi C.
174. lyche] aftir D 1.
180. 1st >e] >ese D 1.
183. a- wrong] wrcwge D 1.
192. Al-be] Al be it D 1— ne can] can not D 1.
198. a] om. D 1. 200. I wil a-non] a non I wil C.
150 Of Lamedoris son Priam, and his Siege of a Castle. [BK. n
When Lame-
don was slain
by Hercules,
his son
Priam was,
with Hecuba
and his sons,
besieging
a castle,
in attacking
which he
daily riskt
his life.
Of Priamus, j?e sonne of Lamedozm which, at j>e
destruceyown of Troye, was at the obsydey of A
Castel. And howe mony sonnes and doughters
that Priamus had.1
The same tyme whan fat Troye touw
Destroyed was, and kyiig Lamedoiw
Was also slayn, foru} fe cruelte
Of Hercules, vnder his * cyte,
He hadde a sone, fe story tellef vs,
Whiche was his eyr, I-called Priamus,
Wonder manly, discret, and ful prudent,
Whiche fat tyme from Troye was absent, *
Whan his fader loste f us his lyf ;
For he fat tyme with Eccuba his wyfe,
And with his sonys, aboute a .castel lay,
And alle his kny^tes, to gete it ^if he may,
Jpat hath on hem my^tely werreyed :
For fei his fader han* falsely disobeyed,
And vn-to hym be rebel wonder long ;
Al-be Priam, with savvtis huge and strong,
Hem hadde assay led ofte & many sythe ;
His strengfe on hem liche a kny^t to kythe,
To gete in arrays worschip and honowr,
And hem to dauwte liche a conquerour,
He caste hym fully or fat he departe.
For day by* day his lyf he gan iuparte,
At her wallis for to preve his my^t,
With many barouw and many worf i kny$t ;
For he $it had his $ong[e] lusty blood,
And was of age flouryng in kny3thod,
And at assautis & swiche maner strife,
204
208
212
216
220
224
228
203. The miniature to Book II. is inserted above this line in C
and D 2— >at] om. D 2.
205. also slayn] slayn also D 1. 206. his] the C.
208. I-called] called D 1. 209. ful] om. A, D 1.
209. 10 are transposed in D 2.
210. absent] went C, sent D 1.
214. 3ifj & D 1— he] they A.
216. his fader han] ban his fader C. 217. be] bene D 1.
223. hym] hem D 2. 224. by] to C.
227. 3onge lusty] lusty }ong D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 31 c.
BK. ii] Of Priam s sons, the hero Hector, & the handsome Paris. 151
On with be first [for] to auntre his lyf.
To hert Ms men, hym list nat be behynde
For drede of deth, sothly as I fynde,
A-fore be castel hi^e and )>ikke wallyd. [leaf 26 a]
And be his wyfe bat Eccuba was callyd,
)5is Priam had, ful worj>i of degre,
Fyve sonys and $ong[e] doi^tres thre,
Of whiche be eldest Hector callid was.
Whiche also fer as Phebz<& in corapas
A natural day goth his cercle aboute,
So fer of hym, with-outen any doute,
Reported was be renourc and be name,
)pe worbines, and be noble fame.
For liche as bokis of hym specefye,
He was be Rote and stok of cheualrie,
And of kny^thod verray souereyn flour,
]3e sowrs and welle of worschip & honour ;
And of manhod, I dar it wel expresse,
Example and merour ; & of hi^e prowesse,
Gynyng & ground e ; & with al bis * I-fere,
Wonder benigne & lavvly of his chere,
Discret also, prudent and vertuous.
Of whom be dedis & actis merveillous
Remembrid ben of so long a-goon ;
For he allone excelled euerychon,
In olde auctours rede & 30 may fynde,
Of his kny^thood how }it bei make mynde.
l)e> nexte brober callid was Paris,
To whom Nature $af at hir deuyse
Of schap & forme, bewte, and semlynes,
J)at to remembre his excellent fairnes,
In his tyme, wit/i-outen any drede,
He passed alle }>at I can of rede ;
And he was eke a ful manly kny^te ;
But most he vsed, whan he schulde fi^t,
In his bond for to bere * a bo we :
230. for to auntre] to auenture D 1. 231. To] Tho D 2.
233. A-fore] After D 2. 234. wyfe] om. D 2.
239. cercle] cercles D 1. 242. wor>ines] worthieste D 2.
248. &] om. A. 249. al >is] Jns al C.
256. J>ei] >e D 1. 265. bere] beren C.
Priam's
eldest son
was Hector,
232
236
240
244 the root of
Chivalry
and flower of
Knighthood,
248
252
who excel d
every one.
256
His next
brother was
Paris,
the hand-
somest man
260 then living.
264
152 Of Priam s sons, Deiphobus, Helenus, Troilus. [BK. n
Paris was a
fine archer.
Deiphobus
was Priam's
3rd son,
and Helenus,
his 4th,
was renownd
in liberal
arts.
Troilus was
the 5th son,
a manly man,
cald Hector
the Second.
Polidorus
was Priam's
6th son.
For swiche an archer no man koude knowe,
For to seken* bothe fer and nere,
ftat of schetyng my^tfe] ben his pere, 268
As it was foiwde, whan he had ado ;
And Alisauwdre he callyd was also.
)De pridde sone hi$t[e] Dephebus,
A worj>i kny^t and a chiualrous, 272
And had in armys a ful gret renoun,
And was a man of hi^e discreciouw,
And wyse of cowiseil, myw auctow tellej? Jms.
])Q firthe brother, called Elenus, 276
Sadde and discret, and of hi^e prudence,
And was also a man of greet science,
And renomed, Jjer-wet/i in special,
In alle J?e artis called liberal, 280
For he in hem was expert ari^t. [leaf 26 ft]
J)e fyfte sone was a worjji kny^te,
Fresche and lusty, and Congest of hem alle,
And, as seith Guy do, Troylus men hym calle : 284
A manly man fouwden in bataille,
And desyrous his fomen for tassaille ;
Oon }>e best in his tyme founde ;
And called was Hector J>e secourcde 288
For his manhood, poru^-oute Troye bok ;
Whiche in be werre ful ofte vp-on hy??i tok
Of his kny^thod many hi^e emprise,
As J?e story here after schal deuyse. 292
And in his bok liche as writ Virgile,
]5e poete olde, by ful souereyn stile,
How J>at )>e kyng Priam had also
By Eccuba other sonys two ; 296
And by record of jns Virgilius,
\)e ton was called Pollyodorus,
Whom Priamws, in his grene* ^outhe,
Whan ])e comynge was of Grekis kouthe 300
267. seken] scheten C, sheten D 1.
276. Elenus] heleus D 2, helenus D 1.
278. also a man] a man also A. 290. Whiche] With Inne A.
291. his] om. D 1. 291, 92 are transposed in D 1.
292. be] this A. 293. his] this A. 295. be] om. D 1.
299. grene] tender C.
BK.II] Of Priam's sons, Polidomis&Ganymede,& his Daughter. 153
To-Troye-ward, in alle haste anoon,
With gold, tresour, and many riche stoon,
Sent hym forth besyde vn-to a kyng,
Of ful gret trust, to haue hy?ft in kepyng 304
Til tyme he seye what conclusion??
]?er schulde falle, after of j>e toun,
And eke what fyn J>e werre wolde take,
jpat vp-on hem )>e Grekis dide make. 308
But j>ilke kyng for fals[e] couetyse
Of f>is tresour, J>at $e ban herde deuyse,
Whan J>at he sawe Fortunys variawjce
Toward Priam, & his vnhappy clmwce, 312
Like a tirauwt and murderere* also,
\)& childes throte made kutte a-two.
And after ]?at, he ful cruelly
Made his men to hurye hym priuely, 316
)2at no man my^t his tresoun vnderstonde,
Be-syde a see depe vnder }>e* stronde.
]?e tober sone, also as I rede
In Virgile, was callyd Ganymede,
Whom lubiter in a forest hent
Vp-on a day as he on huntyng went,
And bare hym vp aboue }>e sterres clere,
And maked hym in heuene his botelere,
Eternaly with luno for to wone,
In stede of Hebes, hir owne dere sone.
Jje first[e] doubter of kyng Priamus
Hi^te Creusa, as seith Virgilius
In his Eneydos, sothly as it was ;
And sche was weddid vn-to Eneas, [leaf 26 c]
As seith )>is story ; and eke fis ilke Enee
Was wonderful in his natiuite : 332
Of whom J>e fader, I fynde dout[e]les,
Was in his tyme callid Anchyses,
)3at hym begat on Yenus J?e goddes ;
309. >ilke] fat D 1. 310. >at] as D 1. 312. &] as D 1.
313. murderere] a murderere C. 318. ]>e] a C.
324. maked] made A, D 1.
325. luno] Inne A, hym D 2, hym D 1.
327. of] )>at, with of urritten above it, neither crossed out.
328. as] &D 2. 331. pis] >e D 2. 335. hym] he D 1.
Polidorus
was sent a way
from Troy
by Priam
to a false
king,
who cut the
boy's throat.
Priam's
7th son was
320 Ganymede,
whom Jupiter
324 made his
butler.
Priam's
. eldest
328 daughter
was Creusa,
who wedded
Eneas,
the son of
Ancliises
and Venus.
154 Of Eneas, & Virgil's Eneid. Of Cassandra & Polyxena. [BK. n
Eneas was
the most
beautiful
of men.
Virgil told
his story in
the Eneid.
Priam's 2nd
daughter was
Cassandra,
who foresaw
things to
come.
His 3rd
daughter was
Polyxena.
For after hir he hadde such fairnes, 336
)3at neuere wyht* ne kowde $et yse
A man }>at was more passyng of* bewte,
Of whom fis story, touchyng his werchiwg,
Schal $ow declare many wonder J)ing. 340
For it is he to whom so greet a loos
Virgil e $af in his Eneydos ;
For he fat boke in worschip of Enee
Compiled hath, liche as $e may se, 344
Of his kny^thod & many strong batail
Be hym achevid or he wan Ytaille,
After ful long fat f e royal touro
Of Troye was bro^t to confusioim. 348
And his conquest, $if $e list take hede,
In fis poete $e may be ordre rede,
And f e armys wrou^t in al his age,
And his commyng also to Cartage 352
Fro Troye-ward, in a litel while —
Al fis 36 may beholde[n] in Virgile.
A-nother doubter also, it is fouwde,
Kyng Priam had, of birthe fe secunde, 356
Callid Cassandra, of ful gret sadnes,
And was in maner a diuyneresse,
And in eche art had experience,
Of fingis future fully prescience 360
To telle a-forn what [fat] schal betyde ;
Of whom f e fame sprang in costys wyde ;
Whiche kepte hir chaste in virginite,
And ay in prayer* and in honeste 364
Sche ladde hir lyf, and in deuociowz,
After f e ritys and religious *
Of paganysme vsed in f o dawes,
)3e obseruauwcys kepyng of her lawes. 368
£e fridde doubter hy^t[e] Polycene,
Congest of al ; and euer a maide clene
337. wyht] whyt C— yse] see D 1. 338. of] in C.
339. >is] he D 1. 340. many] many a D 1.
348. confusioiw] conclusyoun A.
355. it] as it A, D 1.
363. kepte] kepeth D 1. 364. prayer] prayers C, A.
365. and] ay D 1, 366. religioim] >e religioim C.
BK. n] Priam's bastard Sons. He hears Troy is taken. ]55
Sche kepte hir silf, and honest in hir lawe,
In-to be hour fat Pirrus ha]> hir slawe : 372
Of schap, of forme was neuer be Nature
Wroujt nor schape a fairer creature.
Eke as I fynde, bis noble kyng also Priam had
. , also 510 other
Haclde britty sonys, be boke seith, & no moo, 3/6 sons,
Hardy in armys and noble fourade at al,
Jjat caliyd wern his sonys natural. CasuwS °r
And bei wern alle, I excepte noon, [ieaf26</] ail worthy
knights.
Worjji kny^tes and manly men echon; 380
And her names who so list to knowe,
He sclial fynde hem * write vp-on a rowe
After bis story, eueryche after other,
Begymiygne first at the eldest brother. 384
Howe tydengys kame to kynge Priamws howe his Cite
was distroyede, and his Fadire sclayn.1
And whiles Priam at be sege laye while be-
sieging the
To-fore be castel, to gete it ^if he may, castle,
And ber aboute hab many way[e] sou^t,
J3e woful tydyngys ben vn-to hyin brou^t, 388
How be Grekis han take Troye toun. Priam i8 told
J of the taking
And slawe his fader, worbi Lamedou?z : ofTroyana
Ins fatlier's
And how be cite, of olde f undaciou?*, death-
Ful pitously was turned vp so douw ; 392
)3e worbi lordys and gentil-men echon
Take and slawe, and I-left nat on
Of hem alyve, borage Grekis cruelte,
After be ruyne, alias, of her cyte ; 396
And Exyouw, his owne suster dere,
Lad in-to exile with hir eyne clere.
Wher-of be kyng in hert is stonyed so,
For verray sorwe he nyste what to do, 400 He knows not
—r. ' " what to do.
His sodeyn wo gan hym so constreyne.
371. and] om. D 1. 372. hour] tyme A.
373. 2?id of] and A. 379. )>ei] om. D 1.
382. fynde hem] hem fynde C. 383. >is] in this D 1 .
384. Begy?mygne] Begynne D 1, Be gynne A.
387. many] many a D 1. 398. in-to] to A.
399. Wher-of] Wherfore A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 32 c.
156 Priam laments the Fall of Troy, & goes lack to its site. [BK. II
Priam weeps,
curses
Fortune,
puts off his
rich gar-
ments,
dresses in
black,
raises the
siege of the
castle he is
attacking,
and goes back
to Troy,
which is
leveld with
the ground.
He sobbeth, wepeth,* fat of mortal peyne
He f ou}t his hert wolde a-sondre breste,
Of hi3e distres, for he my$t haue no reste.
And in[-to] tens he gaii hym silf distille,
)}at for to dye was fynally his wille ;
And Fortune, fat can so falsly varie,
With dreri hert he be-gan to warie,
Jpat sche to hym was so deseyuable,
So inly cruel and * vnmerciable,
So dispitous, and so sterne of face,
So vengable and deuoyde of grace :
For of envye, with a rage thou^t,
Sche haf Mr werst of malis on hym wroujt,
And felly schewed what sche my^tfe] do ;
)3at in fis world was neuer wi$t so wo,
As I suppose, of no maner age,
To rekne al his harmes and damage.
For whiche anon, in al fat euer he may,
First he chau??gef all his riche array,
Trist and hevy, with dedly face pale,*
So astoned with fis mortal tale,
Jpat his desyre was to haue ben ded ;
With countenance enclyned and his hed,
J)is lyf he ladde, & clad hym al in blak.
And sodeynly he f e sege brak,
And wolde as f o no lenger f er abyde ;
But with his folke anon he gan to ride,
ftat pytously gan with hym* to morne,
And toward Troye attonys ]> ei returne.
And whan fat he haf f e cite fouwde,
Pleyn with f e soil & evene with f e grouwde,
}3e hi^e wallys, whilom fik and longe,
I-bete douw, fat wer made so strong,
And his towres and paleys principal,
J?at was in byldyng * so excellent royal,
[leaf 27 a]
404
408
412
416
420
424
428
432
436
402. wepeth] and wepeth C, D 1, slepeth D 2.
403. a-sondre] in suwdre D 1. 410. and] and so C.
412. and] and so D 1. 418. harmes] arnies D 2.
421. pale] & pale C. 428. anon he gan] he gan anoon D 1.
429. gan with hym] with hym gan C. 432. 2nd >e] om. A.
436. byldyng] biggyng C.
BK. li] Priam laments the Fall of Troy. He'll rebuild it. 157
So famows riche, and of gret noblesse,
He fynt al turned in-to wildernesse : Priam finds
TT- i i i • 11 Troy a
His peple slayn, his suster lad a-way — wilderness.
For verray wo he nyst[e] what to say, 440
For pe constreynt of his aduersite,
And for his harmys pat nyl recured be.
For in fat tyme he was fully sure,
Vp-on no syde per was no recure; 444
Wherf ore he can not but sobbe & wepe, He weep
And from his brest, with si^es sou^t ful depe,
Breken oute, with a ded visage.
And pus, alias, in pis furious rage, 448
Ful pitously al his hoste and he
We't/i-oute respite contwne dayes thre. for s days.
Til at pe last pe myrke skyes blake
Gan of her wo in party for to slake, 452
And pe tempest somdel gan with-drawe,
And of her wepyng blaimdische gaw pe waw ;
As whan pe flood of wo is ouerpassed,
\)Q ebbe of loye folwen most in haste. 456
To sorwen euer, it wolde her hertis schewde : But folk
can't sorrow
And at a terme Query wo mote ende : forever.
For pou$ for f rend is men ay wepe & weyle,
After her deth per may no recure vaile. 460
Wherfore }>e kyng, after al [t]his care, Priam plan*
Hath sou^t a weye pe cite to repare ; Troy,
And cast hym fully, $if it wolde be,
To make vertu of necessite; 464 and make a
i p 11 i> 11- Virtue of
And manfully, alter al his tene, Necessity.
Whan pat f>e eyr gan to wexe clene
Of j?e mystis of his cloudy sorwe,
And ]>at somdel adawe gan pe morwe, 468
Of heuynes after J)e dirke ny$t,
Chased aweye vfith a sonne bry^t
Of new[e] loye : for ay )>e fyn of wo
Mote be * gladnes whan pat sorwe is go — 472
437. of] ora. A, of so D 1. 449. pitously] drerily D 2.
454. ]>e waw] to wawe A. 459. >ou3] >ou^t D 1— ay] may D 1.
460. After] But aftir D 1. 462. to] to to D 2.
463. cast] Jxm^te D 1. 472. be] by C.
158 Priam sends for Workmen to build a new Troy. [BK. II
Priam
plucks up
his lieart,
and sets to
work.
He means to
build a new
Troy.
He sends
for skild
workmen,
masons,
quarriers,
and carvers.
And so Priam after a certeyn space,
Whan his sorwe gan lite & lite pace,
And of wysdam in al his pitous smerte
Gan prudently to plukkyn vp his herte,
And of his eyne J?e wawes gon[ne] clere,
A-noon he wro^t, ri^t * as 36 schal here.
[leaf 27 6] 476
Howe Kynge Priamus, aftire his sorowe was asswagede,
Edefyede nowe Troye, and it set in J>e same place
where J?e olde stode, so large & so wyde that
tofore ne siche was nevere none it lyke.1
The sorwe aswaged, & ]>e sy^es olde,
By longe processe/liche as I $ow tolde, 480
ftis \vor)>i kyng, callyd Priaravs,
Is in his herte nowe so desyrous,
Vp-on ]>e pleyn, ]>ai was so waste & wylde,
So strong a toim of newe for to bilde, 484
At his devyse a cite edefye,
£at schal thassautys outterly defye
Of alle enmyes, and his mortal foon,
With riche tourys & wallys of hard stoon. 488
And al aboute fe centres envirouw,
He made seke in euery regioiw
For swiche werkemen as were corious,
Of wyt inventyf, of castyng merveilous ; 492
Or * swyche as coude crafte of gemetrye,
Or wer sotyle in her fantasye ;
And for eueryche fat was good devysour,
Mason, hewer, or crafty quareour; 496
For euery wri^t and passyng carpenter,
ftat may be fourade, ow)>er f er or nere ;
For swyche as koude graue, grope, or kerue,
Or swiche as werne able for to serue 500
With lym or stoon, for to reise a wal,
475. his] this A, om. D 1. 478. rijt] lyche C.
481. callyd] I called D 2, y called D 1.
486. misplaced at bottom of column A. 489. al] om. D 1.
493. Or] Of C. 494. her] his D 1.
501. reise] areise D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 33 a.
BK.II] Priam's preparations for building the City of New Troy. 159
With bataillyng and crestis marcial ;
Or swiche as had konyng in her lied,
Alabastre, owf er white or reddc,
Or marbil graye for to pulsche it pleyn,
To make it smofe of veynes & of greyn.
He sent also for euery ymagour,
Bofe in entaille, & euery purtreyour
}3at coude drawe, or with colour peynt
With hewes f resche, fat fe werke nat feynt ;
And swiche as coude with couwlenauttces glade
Make an ymage fat wil neuere fade :
To couttterfet in metal, tre, or stoon
j)e sotil werke of Pigmaleoura,
Or of Appollo, fe whiche as bokis telle,
In ymagerye alle of er dide excelle ;
For by his crafty werkyng corious,
}?e townibe he made of kyng Daryus,
Whiche Alysaumlre dide on hey^tfe] reise,
Only for men schuld his fame preise,
In his conquest by Perce wha?^ he went.
And f us Priam for euery maister sent,
For eche keruer & passynge loignour,
To make knottis with many corious flour,
To sette on crestis with-Inne and with-ovte [leaf 27 c]
Vp-on f e wal f e cite roivrade aboute ;
Or who fat wer excellyng in practik
Of* any art callyd mekanyk,
Or hadde a name flouryng or famws,
Was after sent to come to Prianms.
For he pwrposeth, f is noble worf i kyng,
To make a cite most royal in byldyng, 532 city.
Brod, large, & wyde, & lest it were assailled,
For werre proudly about[en] enbatailled.
And first f e grouwde he made to be sou^t,
Ful depe and lowe, fat it faille nou^t 536
To make sure f e f undaciou/j ;
508. purtreyour] portratoure D 1.
511. eomttenaun-ces] couw-tenamice D 1. 518. of] for D 1.
519. heyjte] hye D 1. 523. eche] euery D 1.
525. crestis with-Inne] brestes wib many D 2.
528. Of] Or 0. 530. new IF D 1.
Priam sends
for marble-
polishers,
i imgers,
designers,
imitators of
Pygmalion
and Apollo,
504
508
512
516
520
joiners,
sculptors,
524 etc.,
all men skild
in mechanic
528 art,
to build a
160 The plotting out of Priam's City of New Troy. [BK. n
New Troy is
to be on the
site of Old
Troy.
When the
soil is leveld,
building is
started,
with non-
pareil stones.
I can't go
into details
for I never
read Euclid,
and I don't
know the
trade terms.
The new
City's length
and breadth
are each
8 days'
journey.
In J>e place where fe olde tow*
Was first ybilt, he J>e vvallis sette ;
And he of lond many myle out mette, 540
Aboute in compas, for to make it large,
As J>e maysters [j?at] toke on hem J?e charge
Devysed han J>e settyng and )>e syyt,
for holsom eyr to be more of delyt. 544
And whan J>e soille, def ouled * with ruyne
Of walles old, was made pleyn as lyne,
)?e werkmen gan J>is cite for to founde,
Ful my^tely with stonys square & rouwde, 548
)3at in J)is world was to it noon lyche
Of werkmanschip, nor of bildyng riche,
Nor of crafte of coryous masoimry.
I can no termys to speke of gemetrye, 552
Wherfore as now I muste hem sette a-syde ;
For dout[e]les I radde neuer Euclide,
)5at fe maister and J?e fourcdour was
Of alle ]>at werkyn by squyre or compas, 556
Or kepe her mesour by leuel or by lyne ;
I am to rude clerly to difiyne
Or to discrive J)is werk in* euery parte,
For lak of termys longyng to ]>at arte. 560
But* I dar wel of troufe affermyn here,
In al Jjis world ne was fer neuer pere
Vn-to jris cite, and write it for a sofe,
As in his* boke my mayster Guydo doth. 564
And fat it my3t in prosperite,
In hy^e honour and felicite,
From al assaut perpetuelly contune,
It reysed was in worschip of Neptune, 568
And namyd Troye, as it was to-forn,*
Lyche j>e firste fat was foru} Grekis lorn.
)3e lenthe was, schortly to conclude,
Thre day[es] lourne, lyche fe latitude, 572
)?at neuer I herd make menciou?^
539. he] & D 1. 545. defouled] defoulit C.
546. walles] wal D 2, ]>e walles D 1. 555. 2nd >e] om. A.
559. in] on C. 561. But] For C.
562. pere] his pere A. 564. his] >is C.
568. reysed was] was Reysed A. 569. to-forn] a forn C.
BK. ii] The Walls and Gates of New Troy described. 161
Of swiche another of fundacioura, [leaf 27 <i]
So huge in compas nor of swiche larges,
Nor to courate so passyng of fayrnes, 576
So edyfied or lusty to pe sy$t.
And, as I rede, pe walles wern on hi3te
Two huwdrid cubites, al of marbil gray,
Maskowed w*t/j-oute for sautis and assay ; 580
And it to make more plesau^t of delyt,
A-mong pe marbil was alabaster white
Meynt in pe walles, roimde pe tou?i aboute,
To make it schewe wM-Iniie and with-outo 584
So fresche, so riche, and so delitable,
}?at it alone was incomperable
Of alle cites pat any mortal man
Sawe euer $it, sithe pe world began. 588
And at the corner of euery wal was set
A crowne of golde with riche stonys fret,
jpat schone f ul b^t ageyn pe son^e schene ;
And euery tour bretexed was so clene 592
Of chose stoon, pat wer nat fer a-sondre,
]5at to beholde it was a verray wonder.
frer-to pis cite compassed enviroiui,
Hadde sexe gatis to entre in-to pe touw :
l)& first of al & strongest eke with al,
Largest also and most principal,
Of my3ty bildynge allone peer[e]les,
Was by pe kyng callyd Dardanydes ;
And in story, lyche as it is fownde,
Tymbria was named pe secounde ;
And pe pridde callyd Helyas ;
)3e fourte gate hi3t also Cethas ;
J?e fyfte Troiana ; pe syxte Anthonydes,
Strong and my3ty bope in werre & pes,
With square toures set on euery syde.
At whos corners, of verray pompe & pride, 608
)}e workmen han, with sterne & fel visages,
Of riche entaille, set vp gi-et yniages,
580. MaskowedJ Magecollede A. 583. walles] wal D 2.
595. >is] his A. 596. J>e] om, A, D 1.
604. gate hi3t] om. D 1. 609. &] om. D 2.
TROY BOOK. M
The walls are
200 cubits
high.
At every
corner is a
jewehi crown
of gold.
596 There are six
gates (the
largest cald
600 Dardanides^
604
with square
towers on
Great guns
are set in
every tower.
Barbicans
and port-
cullises are
made.
162 The Guns)BulwarksfLoc7estJBars>& Houses of New Troy. [BK.II
Wrou^t out of ston, j?at neuer ar like to fayle,
Ful coriously enarmed for batayle. 612
And foru} J?e wal, her fomen for to lette,
At euery tour* wer grete gu?mys sette,
For assaut and sodeyn aventurys ;
And on* tourettis wer reysed vp figurys 616
Of wylde bestis, as beris and lyou??s,
Of tigers, bores, of serpentis and dragoufts
And hertis eke, with her brode homes,
Olyfautttes and large vnicornes, 620
Buglis, bolys, and many grete grifouw,
Forged of brasse, of copur and latouw,
J)at cruelly by sygnes of her facys [leaf 28 a]
Vp-on her foon made fel manacys. 624
Barbykans and bolewerkys huge,
A-fore J>e tou7^ made for hi 36 refuge,
^iffe nede were, erly and eke late ;
A[nd] portecolys stronge at euery gate, 628
])at liem par nat noon assailyng charge ;
And J?e lowkis fikke, brode, and large,
Of fe gatys al of $oten bras.
And with-Inne f e my^ty schittywg was 632
Of strong yrne barres square and rourade,
And gret barre[r]ys picched in }>e grou^de,
With huge cheynes forged for diffence,
Whiche nolde breke for no violence, 636
))at hard it was forii} hem for to wy?ine.
And euery hous, fat was bilt w^t/i-Inne,
'Euery paleys* & euery manciou^,
Of marbil werne jjoru^f-out] al fe touri, 640
Of crafty bildyng & werkyng most roial.
And ]?e he$t was of euery wal
Sixty cubites from fe grou?fcde acou?ztid ;
And }>er was non fat ofer haj? surmou?2tid 644
In J>e cite, but of on he3t alyche,
611. to] om. D 2. 613. her] >e D 1.
614. tour] tourn C, D 2. 616. on] vp on C.
617. as] of D 1. 621. grete] om. D 1.
628, And] And a A. 629. >ar] >at D 2, dar D 1.
639. paleys] hous C. 644. lia>] om. D 1.
645. on] om. D 1.
All the houses
are of marble.
BK. ll] New Troy's Sculptured Ornaments, and ivide Streets. 163
In verray sofe, hope of pore and riche,
J3at it was harde of hi$e estat or lowe
Hous or palys asoiwder for to knowe, 648
So egaly of tymbre and of stoon
Her housis wern reysed euerychon.
And if I sclmlde reherseu by and by
£e korvo knottes by crafte of masou^ry, 652
)5e frescUe enbowyng, \ri\Ji vergis ri^t as linys,
And J>e vowsyng ful of babewynes,*
]5e riche koynyng,* J>e lusty tablemewtis,
Yynnettis rewnywge in j>e caseraentis — 656
#0113 J>e termys in englisch wolde ryme,
To rekne hem alle I haue as now no tyme,
Ne no langage pyked for |>e nonys,
J5e sotil loynyng to teller of J>e stonys, 660
Nor how fei putten in stede of morter,
In J)e loynturys copur gilt ful clere,
To make hem loyne by leuel & by lyne,
Among )>e marbil freschely for to schyne 664
Agein J?e sowne, whan his schene ly$t
Smote in ])e gold, ]>at was bornyd bri^t,
To make J>e werke gletere on euery syde.
And of J>is* toim )?e stretis large & wyde 668
Wer by crafte so prudently prouided,
And by werkemen sette so and deuided,
}3at holsom eyr amyddis my^t enspire
Erly on* morwe to hem fat it desyre; [leaf 286] 672
And ^ephirus, )?at is so comfortable
For to norysche Jnnges vegetable,
In tyme of ^ere, foru^-oute euery slrete,
With sugred flavour, so lusty & so swete, 676
Most plesantly in J?e eyr gan smyte,
))e Cyte^eyns only to delyte ;
And \vith his brethe hem to recomfort,
Whan J?ei list walke he?/i siluew to disport. 680
And Jx>ru$ )>e touw, by crafty purviau/zce,
654. vowsyng] liousyng A — babewynes] bakewynes C, A, bake
vynys D 1.
655. koynyng] kaxenyng C, kopwrnynge D 2, cop?tniynges D 1.
657. ^0113] Thoruj D 1. 660. loyuyng] loynyn^es D 1.
668. >is] >e C. 672. on] on >e C.
All the houses
are adornd
with sculp-
tures.
Instead of
mortar,
copper gilt is
used to join
the stones.
The streets
are broad,
so that every
one can
breathe
fresh air.
164 New Troy's coverd Side-walks, and lead-tiled Houses. [BK. 11
ways are in
every street,
against rain.
All houses
are coverd
with lead,
and spouted.
By gret avys and discret ordynauwce,
By compas cast, & squared out by squires,
Of pulsched marbil vp-on strong pilleris, 684
Deuised wern, longfe], large, and wyde,
Coverd path- In J>e f rowjtel of eue?y stretis syde,
Fresche alures \vitJi lusty hi^e pynacles,
And moustryng outward riche tabernacles, 688
Yowted a-boue like reclinatories,
J)at called werne deambulatories,
Men to walke to-gydre tweine & tweyne,
To kepe hem drie whan it dide reyne, 692
Or hem to sane horn tempest, wynde, or fonder,
3if \at hem list schrowde hem silue ]?e?'-vnder.
And euery hous cured was with led ;
And many gargoyl & many hidous hed 696
With spoutis foru}, & pipes as pei ou^t,
From }>e ston-werke to }>e canel rau^t,
Voyding filjjes low in-to J>e grouraie,
jjoru^ gratis percid of yre?i percid rou?*de ; 700
]5e stretis paued bo)?e in lengjje & brede,
In cheker wyse with stonys white & rede.
And euery craft, J>at any maner man
In any lond deuise or rekene can, 704
Kyng Priamus, of hi3e discreciouw,
Ordeyned hath to dwellyn in Jje tou7^,
And in stretis, seueryd her and Bonder,
Eueryche from ofer to be sette a-sonder, 708
)3at ))ei my^t, for more comodite,
Eche be hym* silfe werke at liberte :
Howe the goldesmythes, and aftire, every crafft ware
disposyde in strete by strete by hem selff.1
goldsmiths, Gold-smythes first, & riche lowellers,
embroider- And by hem silf crafty browdereris, 712
and weavers. Wevers also of wolne & of lyne,
Of cloth of gold, damaske, and satyn,
683. by] with D 1. 688. riche] lich D 1.
693. or] & D 1. 700. 1st percid] perchid D 1.
709. for] for the A. 710. hym] hem C.
1 Koyal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 34 a.
Each trade
dwells in a
separate
street :
BK. II] The separate-dwelling Trades, and river Xanthns. 165
Of welwet, cendel, & double samyt eke,
And euery clothe pat men list to seke ; 716
Smypes also, fat koude forge wele smiths,
Swerdis, pollex, and speris scharp of stele,
Dartis, daggeris, for to mayme & wowide,
And quarel hedis scharp and square [y-]grou?ide. 720
Jper \ver also crafty armoureris, [leaf 28 c]
Bow[y]ers, and fast[e] by fleccheris, ISefs'
And swyche as koude make schaftes pleyn,
And other eke pat dide her besy peyn 724
For pe werre to make [also] trappuris,
Bete baners and royal cote armvris,
And by devise, stondardis & penowns, pennon-
makers, etc.,
And for pe felde fresche & gay gytowzs. 728
And euery crafte pat may rekiied be, separate
To telle schortly, was in pis cite. New Troy.
Howe by grete crafft ther was a E-yvere called Zanctus
convey ede thorough pe Cyte.1
And poru^ pis tonn, so riche & excellent,
In pe myddes a large riuer went, 732 The fine river
Causyng to hem ful gret co?nmodite ;
])Q whiche on tweyne hap partid pe cite,
Of cours ful swyft, wit/i fresche stremys clere,
And hi^t[e] Xanctus, as Guydo dop vs lere. 736
And as I rede, pat vp-on pis* flood,
On eche-asyde many mylle stood,
Whan nede was her grayn & corn to grinde, to grind com
Hem to sustene, in story as I fynde. 740
ftis riuer eke, of fysche ful plenteuous,
Devided was by werkmen corious
So craftely, poru$ castyng souereyne,
716. euery] euerich A.
718. Swerdis pollex] Pollexes swerdis A — pollex] pollaxes D 1.
720. y-grou?ide] growide D 1. 724. her] mil. D 2.
725. to make also] also to make D 1.
727. devise] diucrse D ]. 735. cours] stremes D 1.
736. Xanctus] Xanitus A. 737. >is] J>at C.
738. many] many a D 2, D 1.
742. Devided] Diuysed D 1 — werkmen corious] om. A, except the
first four letters.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 34 b.
166 The Supply of Water to New Troy. Its Citizens. [BK. n
The water
from the river
Xanthus
is taken by
Slpes thru
ew Troy,
to wash the
streets,
and carry off
all filth,
so that no
pestilence
may breed
there.
(The Tiber
was treated
like this in
Rome.)
Jjat in his course pe stremys my3t atteyn
For to areche, as Guydo doth comecte,
By archis strong his cours for to reflecte
)5oru3 condut pipis, large & wyde wzt/i-al,
By certeyn meatis artificial,
Jpat it made a f ul purgaciouw
Of al ordure & fylpes in pe tourc,
Waschyng pe stretys as pei stod a rowe,
And pe goteris in pe erpe lowe,
Jpat in pe cite was no filpe sene ;
For the can el skoured was so clene,
And deuoyded in so secre wyse,
ftat no man my^t espien nor deuyse
By what engyn pe filpes, fer nor ner,
Wern born a-wey by cours of pe ryuer —
So couertly euery ping was cured.
Wher-by pe toun was outterly assured
From engenderyng of al corrupciouw,
From wikked eyr & from infecciourc,
)5at causyn ofte by her violence
Mortalite and gret pestilence.
And by example of Jris node ]?er was
Made Tibre at Eome, and wrou^t by Eneas,
)3e which also departeth Eome on two,
Myn auctor seith, I not wher it be so.
For inhabit-
ants K. Priam
gets lolks
from all
districts near.
744
748
752
'56
760
764
768
Howe kynge Pryam made Cite3ens of foreyns, And
[gaf] everich of hem certeyne grounde to belde
vpone.1
And to enhabite pis royal chef cite,
Kyng Priam hap aboute in pe centre [leaf 28 a]
Made for to serche, vritJi al his hool entent,
And in provinces pat werne adiacent, 772
In borwys, townys, and in smale villages,
I-gadred out of al maner ages,
And of thropis folkys ful diuers,
And swiche as wern vacaimt & dispers, 776
746. D 1 om. r in for. 758. >e] >at D 2.
759. cured] keveryd A. 767. on two] atwo D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 34 c.
BK. n] The Inhalitants,& manly Sports & Games in New Tray. 167
Aboute Troye in any * region??,
He maked hath to entre iw-to f e tou«
Gret multitude, what of 3<>ng & olde,
It to enhabite, as $e han herde me tolde.
And hem fat wern afore to hym foreyns,
He hath in Troye maked citfej^eyns,
Ful discretly, liche as it is fou^de.
And whan f ei gan wit/i peple [to] abouftde,
Kyng PriamMS, of hi^e affecciou??,
After fe bildyng of f is myjty toiw,
Haf in his hert cau^t a fantasye
His newe cite for to magnyfye.
And it to put fe more in remembrau??ce,
He cast fully to do some obseruau/zce*
To my3ty Mars, sterne & ferse of he we ;
And specialy wit/i certeyn plei[e]s newe,
On horse and fote, in many sondry wyse,
To ^eiie his men in kny^thod excersyse,
Eueryche to putten ofer at assaye
In iustis, bordis, and also in tornay,
To p?'eve her force whan fei happe mete.
})e whiche pleies wer fondid first in Crete ;
And in fat lond, of hi^e & lowe estat,
In Marty s honour fei wer dedicate.
And in palestre, at wakys on f e ny^t,
Wern [o]j?er pleies men tassay her my^t,
Only on fote wit/i many sotil poynt ;
And some of hem wer nakyd & anoynt ;
To wywne a prys* fei dide her ful entent.
And fer was fou?zde, by clerkys ful prudent,
Of fe dies fe pleye most glorious,
Whiche is so sotil and so meruelous,
}5at it wer harde f e mater to discryue ;
For fou^e a man stodied al his lyve,
He schal ay fynde dyvers fantasyes
Of wardys makyng, & newe iuparties,*
780
784
788
792
796
800
804
808
812
He maile
these
strangers
citizens of
New Troy.
And in
honour of
Mars,
he instituted
knightly
jousts and
tourneys,
itlingn,
games at
chess,
and other
devices.
777. any] many C. 778. J>e] om. D 2. 781. hyw] hem D 1.
785. new IT D 1. 790. obseruauwce] obseruau?<ces C.
798. J>e] om. D 1. 801. palestre] paleste A.
805. a prys] aprys C. 808. 1st so] om. A.
812. iuparties] imparties C.
But Guido
and Jacques
differ about
the origin of
chess.
De vitry
says it came
from chaidea
to Greece.
168 Of Dice and other play in New Troy. Of Comedies. [BK. n
))er is ber-in so gret diuersite.
And it was first fouwde in bis cite,
Duryng be sege, liche as seyth Guydo \
But lacobus de Vitnaco ol 6
Jg contrarie of oppvniowi :
For, like as he makyth mencioufj,
And affermeth fully in his avys, [leaf 29 a]
How Philometer, a philysofre wys, 820
Vn-to a kyng, to stynte his cruel te,
Fond first bis pleie & made it in Calde ;
And in_to Grece frow& bense it was sent.
Also in Troye, by gret avysement, 824
j?e pleye was first fou?ide of dees & tables,
And of castyng be chauraces deceyvables,
)5at han be cause ofte of gret debat :
For }if bat on be no we fortunat 828
To wy?zne a while be favour of his chance,
Or he be war, with* sodeyn variaimce,
Vnhappely he is putte abak,
And anober, bat stood vp-on be wrak, 832
And of losse was ploimged* in distresse,
}5ei reysed han vn-to hy^e ryches ;
Gladnes of on is to another rage —
Adevauwte, hasard, and passage ; 836
3if on haue loye, anober suffereb wo,
Liche as be bonys rewne to and fro ;
An hu?zdrid sythe in a day }>ei varie,
Now blauwdisschyng, & now fei be contrarie ; 840
No man with hem assured is in loye.
And first also, I rede, "bat in Troye
J
Wer song & rad lusty fresche comedies,
J
^n(^ °fer ^^tes5 ]^at called be tragedies. 844
And to declare, schortly in sentence,
Of bofe two J>e final difference :
A cornedie hath in his srvnnvn"1
. OJ J GJ
At prime face, a maner compleynyng, 848
Gambling
in Troy,
Comedies
were first
real and
A Comedy
begins in
discontent
825. first founde] founde first A. 830. with] be C.
833. ploiwged] plaunged C.
834. han] hem D 1—
-hy3e] >e hihe D 2, om. D 1.
836. Adevaimte] Ademau?it A.
BK. n] Of Tragedy. How Tragedies were said or sung of old. 169
And afterward endeth in gladnes ; ami ends in
gladness.
And it pe dedis only doth expres
Of swiche as ben in pouert ploiwged lowe ;
But trasndie. who so list to knowe. 852 Tragedy
begins in
It begynneth in prosperite, prosperity,
And endeth euer in aduersite ; and ends in
adversity.
And it also doth pe conquest trete
Of riche kynges and of lordys grete, 856
Of my^ty men and olde conquerou[ri]s,
Whiche by fraude of Fortunys schowris
Ben ouercast & whelmed from her glorie.
Of a Theatyre stondynge in pe p?-incypale paleys of
Troye, declarenge the falle of Pryncys & othere.1
And whilom pus was halwed pe memorie 860
Of tragedies, as bokis make mynde, i« Tragedies
which usd to
Whan fei wer rad or songyn, as I fynde,
In pe theatre per was a smal auter Theatre
Amyddes set, pat was half circuler, 864
Whiche in-to pe Est of custom was directe ;
Vp-on pe whiche a pulpet was erecte,
And per-in stod an aw[n]cien poete, wastoid
For to reherse by rethorikes swete [leaf 29 6] 868 roe"1 the
)5e noble dedis, pat wer historial, noble deeds of
Of kynges, princes for a memorial,
And of pes olde, worpi Emperours,
])Q grete emprises eke of conquerours, 872 conquerors,
And how pei gat in Martis hi^e honour
])Q laurer greue for fyn of her labour,
fie palme of kny^thod disservid by [old] date,
Or Parchas made hem passyn in-to fate. 876
And after pat, irith chere and face pale,
With stile enclyned gan to twne his tale,
And for to synge, after al her loos,
Ful mortally pe stroke of Antropos, 880 and then
And telle also, for al her worpihede,
850. dedis] wordes D 2. 857. and] of D 2.
863. >e] om. D 2. 865. >e] om. D 2.
870. kynges] kynges & D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 35 a (misplaced after line 868).
170 How Plays ivere sung and acted in Troy of old. [BK. n
and how
thru false
Fortune they
ended their
lives in
sorrow,
and their
honour
declind.
While the old
Poet sang
his ditties,
men with
ghastly
vizards acted
what he sang,
always, like
his words,
changing
from joy to
tears.
})e sodeyn brekyng of her lives threde :
How pitously fei made her mortal ende
Jjoruj fals Fortune, J>at al ]>e world wil schende, 884
And howe }>e fyn of al her worjrines
En did in sorwe and [in] l^e tristesse,*
By compassyng of fraude or* fals tresouw,
By sodeyn mordre or vengaimce of poysou??,
Or cowspiringe of fretyng fals envye,
How vnwarly [jjat] fei dide dye ;
And how her renouw and her 11136 fame
Was of hatrede sodeynly made lame ; 892
And how her honour duo we vn-to decline ;
And fe meschef of her vn happy fyne ;
And how Fortune was to hem vnswete —
Al fis was tolde and rad of J>e poete. 896
And whil fat he in fe pulpit stood,
With dedly face al devoide of blood,
Singinge his dites, with muses al to-rent,
Amydde ]>e theatre schrowdid in a tent, 900
J)er cam out men gastful of her cheris,
Disfigurid her facis with viseris,
Pleying by signes in f>e peples si^t,
jpat fe poete songon hath on hi^t ; 904
So fat f er was no maner discordauwce
Atwen his dites and her contenau?ice :
For lik as he aloft[e] dide expresse
Wordes of loye or* of heuynes, 908
Meving & cher, bynef e of hem pleying,
Fro??z point to point was alwey answering —
Now trist, now glad, now hevy, & [now] li^t,
And face chauwged with a sodeyn si^t, 9 1 2
So craftily fei koude hem t?*ansfigure,
Conformyng hem to fe chau7^t[e]plure,
Now to synge & sodeinly to wepe,
So wel fei koude her observances kepe ; 016
And fis was doon in April & in May, [leaf 29 c]
886. in] cm. vD 1— tristesse] distresse C, D 2.
887. or] & C.\ 888. of] or D 1. 889. Or] Of D 2.
894. of] & D 2\ 908. or] and C. 911. &] om. D 1.
917. was] om.
BK. n] King Priam plans his Palace of Ilion in New Troy. 171
Whan blosmys new, bobe on busche & hay.* These plays
. , . r ' . were acted
And nouns fresche gy^ne ior to springe ; in spring
And pe briddis in pe wode synge 920
With lust supprised of pe somer sonne,
Whan pe[se] pleies in Troye wer begonne, in u* theatre
And in theatre halowed and y-holde.
And pus pe ryyt [of] tragedies olde, 924
Prianms pe worpi kyng began.
Of pis mater no more telle I can.
Howe kenge Priam, aftire his Cite was parformede,
ordeynede his paleys princypal, callyd Yllyown.1
But I wil furthe of ))is story wryte,
And on my maner boistusly endyte, 928
How Prianitttf was passyng dilligent, King Priam
Ri^t desyrous, and inwardly fervent,
3if he my^t, among his werkes* alle, to build a
To bilde a paleys and a riche halle, 932
Whiche schuldfe] ben his chose chef dongon,
His royal se and souereyn mansiou?i.
Aad whan he gan to pis werke aproche,
He made it bilde hi^e vp-on a roche, 936 on a rock,
It for tassure in his fundacioim,
And callyd it ]?e noble Ylyovn. ai]d call it
})e si^t of whiche, iustly circuler,
By compas cast, rou?zde as any spere — 940 it i» to be
And who )>#t wold J?e cowtent of pe grou»de
Trewly acouTiten of pis place rouwde,
In pe theatre first he moste* entre,
Takyng pe lyne pat keruep poru^ pe centre, 944
By gemetrie, as longeth to pat art,
And treblid it, with pe sevenpe part,
He fynde niy^t, by experience,
]?e mesour hool of pe circu??iference, 948
918. blosmys] blomys D 2— hay] bay C. 922. wer] was D 2.
923. in] in the A. 927. new IF A. 931. werkes] werkmcn C.
935. to] om. A— >is] his D 1. 939. si3t] Citee D 1.
942. >is] his D 1. 943. first he moste] he most first C.
945. as] ]>at D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 35 b.
Priam's
Palace is to
be of marble,
with high
towers,
and walls
carvd and
painted,
172 King Priam's Palace and Hall in New Troy. [BK. II
What lond also, pleynly eke with al,*
Contened was wft/i-Inne fe strong[e] wal* —
])Q creste of whiche, wher it lowest was,
Hadde in hi3t ful sixe hundred pas, 952
Bilt of marbil, ful royal & ful strong,
And many other riche stoon a-mong ;
Whos touris wern reysed* vp so hi^e,
Jpat f ei ra^t almost to * f e skye ; 956
])Q werk of whiche no man rny^t ame?zde.
And who fat list by grecis vp ascende,
He my^tfe] seen in his inspecciouw
To fe bou?idis of many regions 960
And provincys fat stoode rouwde* aboute.
And f e wallys, with-Inne and \vith-oute,
Endelong with knottis graue clene,
Depeynt with a^our, gold, ^inopre, & grene, 964
])at verraily, whan f e son?ze schon,
Vp-on fe gold meynt among fe stoon, [leaf 29 d]
jpei ^af a li^t, with-outen any were,
As Phebws dof in his mydday spere — 968
J?e werke of wyndowe, and [eche] fenestral,
Wrou3t of berel and of clere cristal.
And amyddys of f is Ylyouw,
So fresche, so riche of fundaciourc, 972
Whiche clerkys jit in her bokis preyse,
Kyng Pryam made an halle for to reyse,
Excellyng alle in bewte & in strenthe
)?e latitude acordyng with fe lengthe. 976
And of marbil outeward was f e wal ;
And f e tymbre, most nobil in special,
Was halfe of cedre, as I reherse can,
And fe remenant of fe riche eban, 980
Whiche most is able, as I dar specefye,
With stoon to loyne by craft of carpentrie ;
For f ei of tymbre haue f e souereynte.
949, 950. pleynly eke with al transposed with witft-Inne >e stronge
walC.
954. many other] many a nojnr D 1. 955. reysed] reysen C.
956. rajt] arau^te D 1— to] vn to C. 959. in his] by cler D 2.
961. stoode rouwle] stond roiwde roimde C. 962. And] At D 1.
969. eche] of iche A, eke D 1. 972. 2nd so] and A.
and windows
of beryl and
•crystal.
He was to
have a grand
hall,
timberd with
cedar and
ebony.
BK. li] Of the Paving, Seating and Altar of Priam's Hall. 173
And for to telle of j>is Eban tre,
Liche in bokys sothly as I fynde,
It cometh out of Ethiope and Ynde,
Blak as is get ; and it \vil wexe anoon,
Whan it is korve, harde as any stoon,
And euermore last[en] and endure,
And nat corrupte wz't/i water nor moysture.
And of [t]his halle_fer]>er to difFyne,
Wiih stonys square by leuel and by lyne
It pavid was, with gret diligence
Of masownry and passyng excellence.
And al aboue, reysed was a se,
Eul coriously of stonys and perre,
)3at callid was, as chefe and principal,
Of ]?e regne }>e sete moste royal.
To fore whiche was set by gret delyt
A borde of Eban and of yvor whyt,
So egaly loyned and so clene,
)3at in Jje werk per was no rifte sene ;
And sessions wer made on euery syde,
Only ]?e statis by ordre to deuyde.
Eke in £e halle, as it was couenable,
On eche party was a dormant * table
Of evor eke, and J)is eban tre ;
And euen ageyn ]?e kynges royal see,
In j>e party J>«t was J)er-to contrarie,
I-reised was by many crafty stayre,
in j>e halle, in )>e tother syyt,
as* lyne in )>e opposyt,*
Of pured metal and of stonys clere
In brede & lengthe, a fill rich auter.
On whiche J?er stood, of figure & visage [leaf so a]
Of masse gold, a wonderful ymage,
To ben honoured in j>at hi^e sete,
984 Ebony comes
from
Ktlii(>i)i;i and
India.
988 When it's
carvd it
turns as
hard as stone.
992
996
Priam's Hall
is pavd with
stones,
and lias a
raisd seat ;
before it a
table of ebony
1000 and ivory,
1004
with side-
seats for
"obles
according to
their rank.
100S Opposite the
King's seat
1012
is a metal
altar,
with a golden
image of
1016 Jupiter on it.
987. wil wexe] wexeth D 1. 995. al] om. D 1.
996. and] and of A. 997. as] om. D 1.
1001. loyned] I ioyned D 2. 1002. rifte] clifte D 1.
1006. was a dormant] was set a dormont C.
1007. bis] of >is A. 1008. >e] this A, D 2.
1009. j>er-to] ]>ere D 2. 1012. as] as any C — opposyt] apposyt C.
1015. On] Of D 1. 1016. masse] massyf A, massif D 1.
174 The Golden Statue of Jupiter in King Priam's Hall. [BK. n
This statue of
Jupiter had
a golden
crown on its
head,
set with
pearls and a
carbuncle of
incalculable
value.
King Priam
honourd
Jupiter,
whom he
trusted to
keep him
from all
harm.
Only in honour of lubiter J>e grete.
And Jje statue, for al his huge wejgte,
Fiftene cubites complet was of hei^gte, 1020
A crowne of gold hi$e vp-on his hed,
With* heuenly saphirs & many rube red
Fret enviroim, with other stonys of Ynde ;
And among wer medled, as I fynde, 1024
Whyte perils massyf, large, & rounde ;
And for most chefe al dirkenes to cowfoimde,
Was a charbocle, kyng of stonys alle,
To recoimfort & gladyn al f>e halle, 1028
And it tenlumyn in fe blake ny$t
With J>e freschenes of his rody lijt.
J?e valu was fer-of in-estimable,
And J>e riches pleynly incomparable ; 1032
For jris ymage, by diuisiouw,
Was of schap and* proporciouw
From hed to foot so maisterly entayled,
))at, in a point, pe werkemarc ha]? nat failed 1036
It to parforme by crafty excellence.*
Whom Priamws, wzt7i drede and reuerence,
Honoured hath aboue )>e goddys alle,
In al meschef to hym to clepe & calle ; 1040
For in hym was his hool affecciouw,
His souereyn trust and deuocioim,
His hope also, and his affyaimce,
His heile, his loye, and his assurau?ice; 1044
And his welfare and prosperite
He hath commytted to his deite,
Wenyng in hert wonder sekerly,
To ben assured from al meschef Jjer-by, 1048
And diffended in eche adue?fsite,
And hold his regne in hi^e Felicite,
And in honowr continuelly to schyne,
Whil lubiter, poru^ his power diuyne, 1052
Hym and his hath in proteccioiw —
1022. With] With oute C. 1023. of] om A, D 2.
1026. for] om. D 1. 1034. and] and of C.
1037. excellence] excellence C.
1044. heile] helthe A, hel>e D 2, D 1. 1052. his] the A.
8K.il] Priam lives quietly in New Troy till Malice infects him. 175
])is was his trust and ful oppinioim.
And pus pis werke finally acbeved,
Wher-of Priam, vrith loye ful releued, 1056 ThenPriam,
J3at he his cite and noble Ylyoiw
Hath fully brou:t vn-to nerfecciotm. having
. •* perfected
Liche his entent, whan pat he began. New Troy,
And pus Priam, pis kyng, pis worjri man, 1060
Fnl many day in [t]his newe Troye, reigned ti>pre
With his liges lad his lyf in loye, a tiine-
Wher I hym leue in his royal sete
Souereynly regnynge in quiete, [leaf so &j 1064
Procedyng forpe, }if ^e liste to here,
Vn-to pe effect anoon of my matere.
Howe kynge Priamus, aftire that he had parfytlye
parformede and ymade his Cyte, by pe serpente Of
Envye was stirede and Inwardly mevede to by-
gyne A newe werre vpone the Grekes.1
O hatful harm, whiche most is for to drede !
Kyrcdled so long, o spark of old hatred, 1068
Rote of debate, grouwde of envie and Ire,
With* new[e] flawme hertis for to fyre ! But Malice
PI p , ,„ and Rancour,
0 grayn of malys, causer of al offence !
0 rancour rustid of inpacience, 1072
Whiche hast of new made festrid soris smerte !
Whan pou art onys rakid in a herte,
Whiche for disdeyn of mercy maist nat lete which won't
A man no while to lyuen in quiete, 1076 Set,™'
But delvist vp by malis many-fold
Debatis new, pat biried wern of olde,
And falsely quikest strives to restore —
Jpenvious serpent pat was slaw of 30^, 1080
Whiche felly hath, pis addre envyous,
Out of his rest awakyd Priam us, broke
. -, ., 7 i . Priam's rest.
And w^t7i his venym, so persyng & so ille,
1054. his] the A. 1055. >us] om. A.
1061. many] many a A.
1067. most is] is most D 2 — for] om. D 1.
1070. With] Wiht C. 1074. rakid] ranclid D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 36 a.
176
Priam summons his Men to fight the Greeks. [BK. II
Malice stirs !
Priam to
take venge-
ance on the
Greeks.
He thinks he
is strong,
and has
plenty of
soldiers.
So he sends
for his lords
and knights.
Made him* wery to lyuen in tranquille, 1084
And mevid hym, of his iniquite,
Vp-on Grekis avenged for to be.
For wher-as he in pes held his reigne,
With his legis in loye souereigne, 1088
Wit/i-oute* anoy or any perturbauwce,
)}is serpent hath with ne\v[e] remembraurace,
With-out avis, or discret arest,
So hoot a flawme kyndeled in his brest 1092
Of old envie with fresche rancowr nieynt,
]?at likly is netie?- to be queynte.
For Priam now in his entencioim
Cast & compaseth, revolvyng vp & dovw, 1096-
How strong he was of riches & meyne,
How noble & myjty was also his cite,
And abundaumte, schortly to conclude,
Bo])e of plente and of multitude, 1100
Of men of arrays and of chevalrye.
Whiche sterid hym to han a fantasye,
Alias f e while, to his vnhappy chaimce,
Jpat to be ded he take wil vengaunce 1104
Vp-on his foon ; ]>e fire of hot envie
So brent hym inward by mallencolye,
Stondyrcg in purpos, Ipat no man chaurcge may,
Of his damages avenged be som day,* 1108
And of Iniuries Ipat )>ei on hym han wrou^t.
And whan J?«t he had a tyme sou^t
To his pwrpos moste conuenient,
A-noon he hath for alle his lordis sent, 1112.
And his kny^tes callyd euerychon [leaf so c]
To com in hast, excused was nat on,
Namly, of hem bat wern of hi^e degre.
And Jjei obeying, with alle humilite, 1116-
His biddyng holly, & made no delay e,
To com echon ageyn a certeyn day ;
1084. him] hem C. 1089. Wit/i-oute] With outen C.
1096. Cast] Casteth D 2.
1099. abundaunte] habondance D 1.
1108. day] weye C.
1114. in hast is repeated and underscored in C.
1117. holly] hoole D 1. 1118. ageyn] a^ens D 1.
BK. li] Of Hector and his Gentleness. Priam's Council in Troy. 177
And his sones wern also* present,
Ector except, fat was fat tyrae absent
In J)e strong and my^ty regions
Of Panonye,* whiche in subieccioiw
Kyng Priam holde, f oru^ his worf ines ;
And to amende f inges and redres,
Ector was goon in-to f is Panonye,
Certeyn causys for to iustefye,
As in his resoim he f ou$t[e] for fe best,
To setten hem in quiete and in rest.
For he was ay so iust and so prudent,
So wel avised and so pacient,
And so demenyd in his gouernauwce,
}5at hym was loth for to do vengance,
Wher-as he my^t in esy wyse trete
For to reforme f inges smale & grete ;
For lothe he was, f is noble worfi kny^t,*
For any haste to execute ry^t,*
Or causeles by rigour to condempne.
And in f is while, ful worfi and solempne,
Kyng Priamws, of lordis grete and smale,
"With-Inne Troye helde a courte royal,
As* he fat list for no cost to spare ;
And ceryously his menyng to declare,
He in his see, his lordis envirourc,
Gan f us to schewe his hertis mociouw :
1120 Hector is
away in
Panonia.
1124
1128
1132
1136
Priam holds-
i -, t n & Council in
1140 Troy.
1144
He wouldn't
punish folk
when he
could re*foriu
abuses.
Howe kynge Priam?/s in opyne declarethe fe harmes
done to his progenye & hym by the Grekes.1
" 0 worfi lordis, fat ben [now] here present,
Feithful and trew of hert & of entent,
Is nat vnknowe to ^our discreciouw
])Q grete damagis and oppressions
Whiche fat Grekis han vp-on vs wrou^t,
Wtt/i-oute cause, for a f ing of nou^t,
1119. also] }>er also C. 1122. Panonye] Pananye C.
1132. for] om. A, D 1— do] om. D 2. 1135. kny3t] kyn<r C.
1136. ry3t] any >ing C. 1141. As] And as C.
1144. to] om. D 1. 1145. now here] here no we D 1.
1147. Is] It is D 1. 1149. >at] ]>e D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 36 b
TROY BOOK. N
He says his
lords know
1 1 48 the damage
the Greeks
have done
178 Priam recites the Wrongs done ly Greeks to Troy. [BK. II
Priam says
they must
remember
the injuries
the Greeks
did them :
slew their
fathers,
burnt their
city,
carried off
their
treasure,
and, against
gentlehood,
used his
•sister He-
sione
as a con-
•cubine.
J?is other day, as who seith but late,
]2at, as I trowe, so new is $it J?e date, 1152
)3at it is fresche remembrid in 30111* mynde,
Vn-to ^our blood $if fat $e be kynde.
For I suppose, no for^etilnes
May put a-way fe mortal he vines 1156
Of harmys olde, whiche ay renew e ageyn
In my memorie, I seie $ow in certeyn ;
And as I trow, pleynly in $oure ])ou^t,
)3at euer is grene, and ne dieth noi^t, 1160
How pei haue slayn oure progenytours
)?at whilom wern so noble werreours, [leaf so d]
Oure cite brent and brou^t vn-to ruyne,
And robbid it, falsely by ravyne, 1164
And turned al in-to wyldernes,
And in-to Grece caried oure riches,
My fader slayn, J?at hi$t[e] Lamedoiw,
With-out[e] cause or occasions, 1168
And rau^t from hym his gold & his tresour,
Whiche me semeth is a foul* errour.
We my3t of ri^t amendis wel chalenge,*
And desyren vs iustly to revenge 1172
A-fors pe goddis of so hi^e offence,
Only of resou?i and of conscience.
And passyng alle her mortal cruelte,
fter is o fing most inly greveth me, 1176
feat pei vngodly, ageyn [e]s gentilnes,
No rewarde havyng to ])e worfines,
To ]?e birth, nor J>e royal blood
Of hir pat is so fayr and eke so gode — 1180
I mene my suster, callyd Exyoura —
Whom jjei, alias, to her confusiourc,
Disuse and kepe nat lik hir degre,
From day to day in dishoneste; 1184
Wher-Jjoru} hir honowr & hir name is lorn,
Considryng nat of what stook sche was born.
1158. in] om. A. 1159. as] om. A.
1160. grene] newe D 1— ne dieth] nedith A. 1164. it] is D 1.
1170. foul] ful gret C. 1171. chalenge] chalange C.
1177. pat] And D 1. 1179. nor] nor to D 1.
BK. li] The duty of Trojans to avenge the Wrongs done them. 179
For fei ar blynde for to taken hede,
Or to aduerte fe rote of hir kynred, 1188
Of surquidye fei be so indurat.
And sith fat sche, of* so hi^e estat, she, so noble,
I-tretid is, liche as 30 may se,
I suppose other, fat ben of low degre, 1192
Gouerned ben ful dishonestly ;
For ^e may f inke and deme trew[e]ly
How wyvis, maidenes, in fat companye, and other
With ofer eke fat ben of 30111- alye, 1196 gj^y8
I-haunted ben and vsed at her lust ; shamefully.
On be Grekis I haue no better trust, T»e Gl'ee.k?
spare neither
For fei ne spare nouther blood nor age. blood nor
And fus fei lyue in torment & seruage, 1200
With-out routhe, mercy, or pite,
])e whiche touchef ^ou as wel as me ;
And as me semeth, of equite and ri^t,
3e ou3t echon with al $our ful[le] my^t, 1204 AH Trojans
Of f e wronges with whiche 30 ben offendid, redress.
To seke a weye it my^tfe] ben amendid :
And fat we werke, alle be on assent,
And procede, liche to oure entent, 1208
On her malis and cursed cruelte,
Alle attonys avengid for to be ;
And fat we be in hert[e], wille, and foi^t [leaf si a]
Of on acorde, and ne varie nou^t, 1212
For fan our force is doublid & pouste.
For ri^t and resou?* & good equite Reason and
Require vengauwce on hym fat dof f e wro?ig, require
it so be* fat it abyde longe. 1216
I trust also on goddis ri^twisnes, and the Gods
)5at fei schal help oure harmes to redres,
And fauour us in oure Innocence,
To chastyse hem fat wrou3t[e] fis offence. 1220 win chastise
Also 30 knowe howe fat oure cite
Is strong and my3ty,* & of gret surte,
1190. of] is of C. 1195. wyvis] wifes & D 1.
1205. with] }>e D 1. 1211. in] of D 1.
1215. hym] hem D 1.
1216. 1st it] oui. A— so be] be so C— liwl it] he D 1.
1221. Also] As D 1. 1222. myjty] ray3te C.
180 Priam advises asking the Greeks for Redress. [BK. n
No city is so
strong as
Troy.
Trojans
have brave
knights,
much store,
and many
friends.
Now is the
time
for venge-
ance.
Delay is
dangerous.
But they
must not be
too hasty.
They'd better
ask the
Greeks to
give em
redress
before resort-
ing to force.
With touris hi$e and walles for f e werre,
])at also fer as schynep soime or sterre, 1224
])er is noon lyk, for to rekne al,
Jpat may in force ben per-to perigal.
$e knowe also, as it schal be fouwde,
With cheualrie how fat we abowzde, 1228
Expert in armys and of olde assaied,
)3at for drede neuer wer dismayed ;
And we haue plente also of vitaille,
Of frendschip eke, pat ne wol not faile 1232
With al her my^t to don to vs socour.
Wherfore I rede, vrith-out& more soiour,
To sette vp-on, sithen we be able,
And tyme is now, me semeth, couenable ; 1236
For manhod bit make no delaye
To venge a wrong, hap what hapfpe] may.
For in differryng is ofte gret damage,
To werke in tyme is double avauwtage; 1240
For to oure purpos lakketh neuer adel,
And poru^ oure manhod we ben assured wel.
But list we ben [not] h olden to hasty,
Or to rakil to werke wilfully — 1244
And werre also stant in aventure,
For ay of Marte dotous is pe Ewre —
I rede, first to Grekis pat we sende
To wit }if pei our harmys wil* amende, 124&
With-out[e] strif, werre, or more debat :
))an may we sayn pat we ben f ortunat ;
And $if pei be contrarie to resourc,
To condiscende to pis conclusions, 1252
To graunte oure askyng of equite & ri$t,
]pan haue we cause for to preve our my^t.
But or pat we procede by rigour,
We schal to hem offeren al mesour, 1256-
As fer as ri^t and rescue eke require ;
And of disdeyn ^if hem list nat here,
1237. bit] ne D 1. 1243. not] om. D 1.
1246. Marte] Mars D 1.
1248. our harmys wil] wil our harmys C.
1251. contrarie] contrarious D 2. 1255. ]>at] om. D 1.
1257. eke] wele D 1. 1258. nat] to D 1.
BK. n] Priam suggests sending Antenor to demand Hesione. 181
)pan oure qwarel, devoide of wilfullenes,
I-roted is vp-on sik ernes. [leaf 31 6] 1260
And }if pat we of her gret offence
Axe amendis first in pacience,
God and Fortune, I hope, wilne assent,
In pe ende we schal vs nat repente ; 1264
And it is bet by pes to han redresse,
J)an gyraie a werre w^t/i-out avisenesse.
fter-fore, lat vs our woful aventure
Paciently suffren and endure, 1268
And in our port be but humble & pleyn,
Vp-on answer what pat pei wil seyn.
For pou} so be, in myn entenciou?&,
I meved am by iust occasions 1272
To precede of ire to vengance,
I wil al put out of remembrance,
And lete slyde be for^etilnes
Jpe wrongis don, & voide al hevines 1276
To- ward Grekis, and of hem axe no more,
But pat pei wil Exyona restore
To vs ageyn, whiche is to me most derre,
Only to stint al debat and werre. 1280
For pe surpluse of our mortal Ewre
We schal dissymvle, & prudently endure
Our harmys olde forpe in pacience,
3if ^e acorde [vn-]to my sentence : 1284
Seythe her- vp-on, as $e ben avised ;
For $if pis sond be of hem despised,*
And pat hem list to resourc nat obeye,
)3an we may iustly seke anoper weye 1288
To han redres, for now per is no more,
•Sane I purpose to sendyn Anthenor,
Whiche is a man* discrete and avisee,
And specialy in mater of trete, 1292
For he is bothe wyse and eloquent,
As $e wel knowe, & passyngly prudent."
1265. bet] better D 1. 1270. answer] an answer© D 1.
1276. voide] a voide A.
1277. of hem axe] aske of he??i D 2, axe of hem D 1.
1286. despised] refused C. 1291. a man] aman C.
Priam says
it's better to
get redress
peacefully
than rush
into war.
He will
forget the
wrongs done
by the
Greeks,
and ask only
for the resti-
tution of his
sister
Hesione.
He advises
them to send
Antenor on
embassy to
Greece.
Antenor
undertakes
the task,
182 Antenor sails to Thessaly, and is receivd ly Peleus. [BK. II
Howe kynge P?iam, by the advyce of his lordes, sente
Anthenore into Grece for restitucyown of Exiown.1
And whan pe kyng had told his tale anon
To his couwseyl pei consent euerychon, 1296
#at* Anthenor pis lourne vndirtake.
And he in hast gan hym redy make,
WM-oute abode, and nolde nat denye
To take on hym pis embassetrye, 1300
Wei avysed in his discresiouw,
Toke or he went informacioim
From poynt to poynt of pis gret[e] charge ;
For he hym cast to stondyn at his large, 1304
Wit/i-oute emwr, as he pat koude his gode ;
For he pe effect ful pleynly vndirstode ;
For euery ping he prented in his pou$t
Or pat he went, and forgat ri^t nou^t; 1308
For of a word he cast hyra nat to faile. [leaf sic]
To schip he goth and began to sayle,
And in schort tyme, he & his companye,
Arived ben vp in Thesalye, 1312
At a cite callyd Mynusyus,
Wher by fortune was kyng Pelleus
)5e same tyme ; & Anthenor anoon
Vn-to pe kyng pe ri^tfe] weye is goon. 1316
Of whom he was, as Guydo hap cowseived,
At prime face benignely recey ved ; •
But whaw he knew pe cause of his * commyng,
He bad in hast, wit/i-oute mor tariyng, 1320
To Anthenor, with a fel visage,
Schortly to seyn pe effecte of his message.
This Troy an kny^t, astonyed neuer-adel,
But ful demvr and avised wel, 1324
Nat to hasty nor rakel for to seyn,
But abidynge with loke and face pleyn,
To Pelleus, with a manly chere,
understands
it fully,
sails,
reaches
Thessaly,
where K.
Peleus is,
goes to him,
and is kindly
receivd by
him.
Antenor is
discreet.
1297. f>at] And C. 1299. and nolde] nyl A.
1312. ben] ben in A.
1319. his] her C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 37 b (misplaced after line 1322).
BK. li] Antenor demands the restitution of Hesione. 183
Seide in effect ri^t pus as 30 schal here :
1 ' )2e worpi kyng, callid Priamws,
So wyse, so noble, so manly, and fanms,*
And of kny3thod passyng excellent,
Hath first to 3011 in goodly wyse sent,
Out of Troye, his royal chefe cite,
His f ul entent & message her by me,
As I schal seyn to $ou in wordis pleyn,
3if it so be pat 36 nat disdeyne
Paciently to ^even audience.
Remeinbryng first in ^our aduertence
Of pe harmys nat ful longe a-go,
And pe wrongis pat 36 wrou^t also,
Ful cruelly, w^tft oper eke of ^ours,
In Troye lond on his progenitours,
What Iniuries and distrucciouw,
Causeles, with-oute occasyouw,
3e schewed haue of verray cruelte,
And merciles distroyed his cite,
Slayn his fader, named Lamedoura,
And his cite brent and bete doim,
And nouper left paleis, hous, nor tour,
And lad a-wey his riches and tresour,
And nouper spared, as I reherse can,
In 30 w slau^ter wo?mnan, child, nor man,
))er my^tfe] non from 3our swerd astert.
And 3it o ping pat most he hap* at hert,
}3at his suster, called Exyoura,
Is hold and kepte of kyng Thelamoura,
Dishonestly, ageyn al genterye,
To gret dishonour & gret velenye
Of her kynred, liche as 36 may se,
Tretid nor cheresschid lyk to hir degre !
Wherfor, sith* 30 be so wyse a kny3t,
3e ou3t adue?-te and to haue a sy3t
To swyche pinges, of iust afFecciou?z,
1328 Antenor
says King
Priam
1332
1336
1340
1344
lias sent him
from Troy.
He asks the
Greeks to
remember
the wrongs
they've done
the Trojans ;
how tlioy
slew K.
Lamedon,
1348 burnt Troy,
1352 kild women
and children,
[leaf 3 Id]
1356
1360
and let K.
Telamon
keep Priam's
sister
Hesione
as his
concubine.
1330. manly and] worj)i D 1 — famws] so fanms C.
1347. Slayn] Slaye D 2.
1354. most he haj>] he ha]> most C.
1361. sith] sy3th C. 1362. 01131] ou3te to D 1.
184- Antenor demands Hesione. K. Peleus orders him off. [BK. II
So K. Priam,
who deserves
praise,
asks only this
little matter,
that you
Greeks
restore him
his sister
Hesione.
K. Peleus
angrily
threatens
and despises
Priam,
and orders
Antenor
to go at once.
And considre in 30111' discrecciouw,
Of geiitilnes and of equite,
How swiche wrongis my^t* amendid be.
Wherfor Priam, of gret avisenes,
As he pat fully wet/i al his besynes
Of hert and wille desire)? pes & rest,
Sendeth to 3011, besechyng for pe best,
J)at 36 wil don jour besy diligence,
To make to hym pis litel recompense,
jpat he may haue restituciou?*,
Jjoruj jour knyj[t]ly medyaciouw,
Of his s uster, with-oute lenger space ;
And pe remenau?zt he wil lete pace,
Strif and werre only to eschewe.
For he desyreth fully for to sewe
Pees and quiete, of hool affeccioim,
And to pursew mesour and resouw,
And finally, liche as 36 may se,
Al occasions of* werre for to fle;
Consydereth pis, pat hold[e] ben so sage,
For pis pe fyn fully of my massage."
Whan Pelleus hym pleynly * vnderstod,
Of sodeyn Ire he wexe in hert[e] wood,
Of cher and loke fel and furious,
And of rancour ri3t melencolyous,
J)at he ne my3t [a]tempre nor apese
J)e hasty fir pat gan his hert[e] sese ;
For he anoon, in fill dispitous wyse,
Gan Priamws threten and dispise,
And of malis sette* his sond at nou3t,
With all pe menys pat Anthenor hap sou3t,
And gan also pis Troyan kny3t manace,
And bad in hast he schuld[e] voide his place,
Yp-on peril pat after falle
1364
1368
1372
1376
1380
1384
1388
1392
1396
1366. my$t] may C. 1367. Wherfor] Wher of D 1.
1372. 2nd to] om. A— hym] hem D 2.
1374. kny^tly] kyngly D 1. 1382. of] and C.
1383. so] of D 2. 1384. >is] J>is is D 1.
1385. new IT D 1 — hym pleynly] pleynly hym C.
1393. sette] setten C— sond] hond A. 1394. ha]>] om. D 1.
1396. schulde voide] voide shulde D 1.
BK. n] Antenor leaves Thessaly and addresses K. Tclamon. 185
And he anoon went out of his sy^t ;
And in al hast, he and his meyne, Antenor and
Wz't/i-oute abood, taken han |>e se, 1400 from
' Thessaly
And gan to sailen oute of Thesalye,
And in her weye so fast[e] f ei hem hy^e,
J)at in schort* tyme fei arived be
Vp at Salempne, a my^ty strong cite, 1404
Wher be fortune in pis royal tourc,
))is Anthenor fond kyng Thelamoiro, to K. Teia-
And to his palys he hap pe wey[e] nome. [leaf 32 a]
And first, I fynde, whan pat* he was come, 1408
He was accepte[d] vn-to liis presence,
Benyng[e]ly with-oute[n] al offence ;
For Exion was present in bat tvde, by whose side
, Hesione
Of auenture stondyng by his syde. 1412 stands.
And at reuerence of hir womanhede,
Of Antenor he toke pe better hede,
Al-be of custom pat kyng Thelamoura Teiamon
Had hi^e dispit and indignacioim 1416 Trojans,
Of euery Troyan fat he coude espie ;
For specialy to hem he had en vie,
Of* rancour only, foru$ fe bitter rage,
Whiche in his hert my3t[e] neuer ass wage. 1420
But for al pat, he in pacience but hears
<n Antenor
lo Anthenor nap ^even audience; paientiy.
j?e whiche anoon, in ful sobre wyse
His tale gan, as I schal deuyse : 1424
*l Sir," quod, he, " with support of ^our grace, Antenor
So 30 me graunt opportune space,
For to declare pe cause of my co?7imyng,
I wil reherse with-out more tarying 1428
My mater hool, brefly in sentence,
To make it kouf e to $our magnificence,
Signefying, with-out[e] displesauwce,
J)at Priamws, whiche* hap [fe] gouemau^ce 1432
Of * Troye tou», hath vn-to 30 w sent Tr°y
1403. schort] schrot C.
1408. whan j>at] bat whan C— bat] om. A. 1413. at] at be D 1.
1419. Of] And C. 1425. Sir] My lord D 2.
1431, 32 are transposed in A. 1432. whiche] whiche >at C.
1433. Of] To C.
186 Antenor begs King Telamon to restore Hesione. [BK. n
Of feipful menyng and of clene entent,
beseeches Besechyng first to 30111- goodlyhed,
Alle other wronges for^etyn & eke ded, 1436
Jpat 36 only, of 3our hi3e nobles,
Of equite, and of gentilnes,
to restore his }e \vil restore Exyona ageyn,
SlSone, Whiche pat 36 hold, to speke in wordis pleyn, 1440
In verray soth, noi^t like to hir estat.
Wherfore, he preyeth to stynten al debat,
And euery harme to put out of memorie,
Of kyngly honour for $our owne glorie, 1444
and send her To send hir horn and make deliuerauwce
home.
Goodly of hir with-outen variauwce,
Whom 30 han holde * so many long[e] daies.
Ne tarieth nat, ne setteth no delayes, 1448
Ne lete in 3ow be fouwde now no slowpe ;
it is pitiful For sothfastly it is to gret a routhe *
that Telamon
h»s u»edher To recorde how 36 haue hir vsed,
It may of trouth nat goodly be?* excused. 1452
But we schal lete Ii3tly ouerslyde,
So J>at 36 beniwg[e]ly prouide
To sende hir horn, lik as I haue seyd.
Loo, her pe charge pat was on me leide, [leaf 32 6] 1456
With-oute more abydyng in certeyn,
What godly answer 30 wil send ageyn."
Whan Thelamoun herkned had his tale,
Telamon gets Of hasty Ire he gan to wexe pale — 1460
pale with J
\vrath, jje fyry colre hath hym made so wode,
J?at from his face a valid was pe blood,
Whiche in his hert gan to frete & bite —
With lok askoyn, & tornyd vp pe white, 1464
Of hi3e disdeyn, with face dispitous,
With pale smylyng & lau^tre furious,
Gan rakyn oute pe felle mortal fire
Of fretyng hate, pat brent in his desire, 1468
And schortly made, in conclusions,
1444. kyngly] knyghtly A.
1447. holde] holden C. 1450. a routhe] arouthe C.
1456. was on me] on me was D 1.
1462. face] om. D 1— was] is D 2, D 1.
1463. Whiche in] With Inne A, Wi> in D 2.
BK. n] King Telamon refuses to restore Hesione. 187
To Anthenor pis obiecciou?^,
And seide, " frend, what-euer pat pou be,
I wondre gretly, & mervail is to me, 1472
What auenture or sodeyn newe ping
Vnprudently meveth now pi kyng lent to win.
Vn-to me to make swiche a sonde ;
fcou wer a fole, whan pou toke on honde, 1476 AJ^2wa8
Outher vnhappy or infortunat,
To me to bryng pis embassiat ;
For I \viih hym haue no ping a-do,
Nor he wit[h] me, and loke pou seye hy?n so ; 1480
For we ne ben aqueynted but a lyte,
Nor* I no ping platly me delite,
At schorte wordis, $if pou list to here,
To don for hym, [n]or at his prayere ; 1484
For I ne haue loye nouper feste
To do ri}t nou3t, sothly, at his request.
))is wote I wel, pat but a while ago
I was at Troye, my silfe and other mo, 1488 were at Troy.
For to reforme [a] ping pat was amys,
jporuj jour offence, schortly, pus it is ;
For certeyn ping wrou^t by Lamedouw.
And by our manhood we wan per pe tou», 1492 JJjjy,JJn *'•
And slow pe kyng & alle pat vrith hym hilde,
In kny^tly wyse hym metyng in pe felde ;
And for pat I, as eueryche myjtfe] se,
Dide entre first in-to )?at cite, 1496
It was to me grau?ited for memorie,
In signe only of myw hi^e victorie,
With-outew any contradiccioun,
By alle pe Grekis to haue pocessioura 1500 jjgfjgjj^
Of hir pat is to me most entere,
Exiona, whom pou cleymest here.
But be wel siker, pin askyng is in veyn ;
For trust[e] wel, & be rijt wel certeyn, 1504
)5ou gest hir nat, at o word, jif I may ; [leaf »2 c]
1473. or] or so A. 1478. 1st To] om. A.
1482. Nor] For C. 1486. at] in D 2.
1496. Dide entre first] First dide entren D 1.
1503. be] om. A. 1504. wel] wel syker A
188 King Telamon will yield Hesione only if conquer d. [BK. n
Telamon won
Hesione with
his blood,
and will keep
her.
She is
beautiful,
most
womanly,
the prize of
the world,
and nought
but sharp
swords '11
rescue her.
Antenor is a
great fool to
ask for her.
For f er schal first be made ful gret affray
Or I hir leue duryng al my lyve,-
Who euer grucche or fer ageynfes] striue 1508
It wer nat sittyng me to leue hir so,
For whom I had whilom so* gret ado
Or I hir gat with spendyng of my blood ;
And who fat be wrof fer-wzt/i or wood, 1512
I wil hir kepe, as it schal be foimde ;
For whom I had so many mortal woimde
At Troye touw, or fat I hir wan.
And in good feith, as ferforfe as I can, 1516
Sche schal nat lijtly from myn hondis passe ;
For sche allone stant so in my grace
For hir bewte and hir semylyhed,
For hir boiwte and hir goodly hed, 1520
Jjat $if I schal my resou?^ schortly fyne,
Sche is in sothe f e moste femy[ny]ne
)5at euer I sawe, and with-outen drede,
Of port, of konwyng, & of womanhede, 1524
Sche haf alone, in verray existence,
])Q souereynte and f e excellence ;
J)at Priamws, for ou^t fat f ou canst seyn,
Whil fat I lyue get her not ageyn, 1528
But he hir bye with many dedly wouwde,
With scharp[e] swerdis and square speris grounde.
For fer schal first be reysed soche a strif,
)?at it schal cost many a man his* lif, 1532
Or [fat] sche ageyn restored be ;
Take Jris for sof, fou gest no more of me.
Whan hym list lie may wel be-gynne ;
But I suppose he schal but litel vvynne, 1536
Noon ofer wyse but as I fe tolde.
And wost [f ou] what a gret fool I f e holde,
The to putte so* fer in iupartye,
To execute fis* embassatrye, 1540
)3e manly Grekis so boldly to offende ;
1510. so] ful C. 1524. 2nd of] and A, D 2.
1532. a] om. A — man his] niawnys C, man is A.
1534. gest] getist D 1. 1538. JMJU] om. A, D 2.
1539. so] to C. 1540. bis] >is in C.
BK. li] Antenor leaves King Telamon-, and legs help. 189
Be war fer-for, fat he no more f e sende,
Yp-on f i lyf , for rancour nor for pride.
Now go fi weye ; for yi fat foil abyde
Any lenger, sothly, in my si^t,
ftou wost f e pris of fat I haue f e hi$t ;
}5oii skapest nat, who fat be lef or lothe."
fitinnQ Anthenor anoon to schip[pe] goth,
And to saille hym list nat to delaye,
Toward an yle fat callyd is Achaye ;
And whan fat he taken hath fe lond,
At his ryuail* of auenture he fonde
fte worf i kynges, Pollux and Castor ;
And ri^t anoon fis Troyan Anthenor [leaf 32
Wit/i-oute abood to f e court is fare,
Vnto* hem his message to declare ;
And to-gydre whan fei were present,
Ry^t f us he seide, as in sentament :
" fre nobil kyng of Troye f e cite
Hath vn-to $ou sent his wille by me,
Besechyng ^ou in ful lowe maner
])at 30 list vn-to his prayer
Of equite for to condescende,
And goodly helpyw a certeyn wrong to amende,
Touchyng his suster, callid Exyon,
J}at he may haue restituciouw
Of hir ageyn, by $our discrete avyse.
For sith 30 ben so manly and so wyse,
It likly is, in his oppinioura,
)jat by 3our good[e] mediaciourz,
Sche Ii3tly may ageyn restored be,
For to cherische pes and vnite.
Wherfor he prayef with al his hert enter,
In goodly wyse to doon 3our deuer,
Jpat hold[e] ben so kny3tly and so sage,
And lie wil pleynly al fe surplusage 1570
Of wrongis olde puttyn in suspence ;
1542. no more >e] the no more A.
1548. goth] he goth A, D 2.
1552. ryuail] aryuail C. 1556. Vnto] To C
1558. he] >ey D 2. 1559. new 1 D 1.
1544 Telamonbids
Antenor go,
under pain
of death.
So Antenor
sails to
Achaia,
finds Castor
and Pollux,
1548
1552
1556
and tells em
that Priam
1560 prays them
1564 to help him
in rescuing
Hesione
1568
1572
with all their
might.
190 Anterior s appeal for Redress is rejected by Castor. [BK. n
Priam desires
peace,
and knows
the peril
of war.
Castor
angrily
flays the
•Greeks
only took
vengeance
for the wrong
thatLamedou
did them,
and it's now
too late to
ask amends
for this.
For he desyreth, of kyngly hije prudence,
To stint[e] werre & to norische pes ;
For he is nouther rakle nor rekles,
But avisee*, in his werkis alle,
To cast aforn what [fat] schal [be-]falle,
And finges future aduertyng from a-ferre,
And seth what perel fat f er is in werre,
Wil hym conforme* vn-to pes & rest ;
For he conseyueth fat it is f e best,
Euery man vnite to* sewe,
And prudently also to eschewe
Of debatis ecche occasiouw.
Lo, here f e fyn of his entenciouw,
Whiche I coramytte to $our lugement."
And Castor fan, of ire impacient,
For hastynes ne my3t[e] nat abide,
His cruel hert so swolle was with pride,
Brak out anon with a dispitous face,
And seide : " frende, I knowe of no trespas
ftat Grekis dide euer vn-to f i kyng ;
To axe amendis, it is a wonder f ing,
Of vs fat neuer dide hym noon offence,
Saue fat we made a maner * recompense
Of a wrong wrou^t by Larnedou?&,
J?e whiche first sou^t occasioun
Ageyn[es] Grekis, in vngoodly wyse ; [leaf 33 a]
)3at caused vs vp-on hym to ryse,
Al attonys, and manly on hym sette,
Of due ri^t for to quite oure dette.
Liche his decert we han hym [pleinly] serued,
And no f ing wrou^t, but as he haf disseruyd.
To axe amendis he gyranef now to late,
For we couet more his mortal hate,
His outter malis, and his enmyte,
J)an ouf er pes, acord, or vnite ;
1578. kyngly] knyghtly A. 1579. 2nd to] do D 1.
1581. avisee] avised C. 1585. conforme] comforme C.
1586. is] is for D 1. 1587. to] for to C.
1593. ne] he D 1. 1599. noon] om. D 1.
1600. maner] maner of C. 1608. as] fat D 2.
1609. he gyraie>] begynneth D 1.
1580
1584
1588
1592
1596
1600
1604
1608
1612
EK. n] Castor orders Antenor to go. He sails to Pylos. 191
As in effect her-after he schal fele,
3if it hap[pe] fat he with vs dele ;
])Q bargan schal ful dere ben abou^t ;
And we his frenschip, soj)ly, set at nou^t.
And ouer-more, I speke now to J?e,
It likly is, as semeth vn-to me,
jpat Priamws j>e louyd but a lite,
Nat fe valu, I suppose, of a myte,
Whan he fe sent vp-on J>is message ;
And Jjou of foly dedist gret outrage,
To take on fe so hi3e a perlous J>ing,
Yn-to Grekis to bryng[e] swiche tydyng,
Wher-Jjoru^ j?i lif is putte in iupartie.
But I counsel fast[e] )>at pou hi^e
Out of my si3t, list J>at fou repente."
And Anthenor furthe to schippe went,
And vfith J>e wynde gan to seyle anoon
Toward an yle callid Pillyon ;
And in al hast, whan he dide ariue,
He schope hym forfe to fe court as blyue,
Wher duk Nestor, in al maner J)ing,
His housholde held, royal as a kyng.
And Anthenor, ful sadde and avisee,
To-for Nestor sittyng in his see,
Whan J>at he was amytted* for to seyn,
His tale he tolde ful opinly and pleyn,
From point to point, as 30 herd a-fore ;
It wer but weyn to reherse it more,
For he alwey concluded hath in oon,
Liche as 30 herde, touching Exyon.
But duk Nestor, with face no Jnng red,
But of he we as any asche deed,
Fret with col[e]re so inwardly was he,
)3at his blood from eche extremyte
Withdrawen is, douw vn-to his hert,
Whiche for Ire so sore made hym smert,
ftat he gan quake in eue?-y loint & veyne,
Castor cares
nothing for
1616
1620
1624
1628
1632
1636 where he
tells Nestor
his message.
1640
tells Antenor
he was a fool
to come on
embassy,
and then
bids him
be off.
So Antenor
sails to
Pylos,
Nestor gets
1644
1648
very angry.
1615. ben abou^t] be bou}t D 1. 1635. 2nd and] and ful A.
1636. in] on A, D 2. 1637. was amytted] amytted was C.
1639. ?e] 30 haue D 1. 1642. je] I D 1.
192 Nestor is full of Wrath against Antenor and Priam. [BK. II
Nestor is
furious with
Antenor,
wonders at
his insolence
in repeating
Priam's
blame of the
Greeks,
and demand-
ing redress
for the
injuries they
did Lamedon.
But for his
honour's
sake,
he'd have
Antenor
chopt into
little bits.
|5at he his hond vnnejje may refreyne,
For malenkolye avenged for to be ;
Lik a lyon, so wood & wrojje was he, [leaf 336] 1652
Fer from hym silf he was so alienat,
And inwardly of rancour passionat,
With loke reuersed, furious of sijt,
jpat tempre hym 'silf onnejns he ne my3t; 1656
He felt of anger so greet aduersite.
And amyddes al his cruelte,
Of sodeyn hast attonys he out brak,
And even Jms to Anthenor he spak : 1660
" 0 ]?ou," quod, he, " with alle j?i wordis white,
As I suppose, [fat] J>ou wost ful lyte
Vn-to fore whom |?ou hast Jn tale tolde ;
For I merueile how ]?ou art so bolde 1664
To presume myn eris to offende ;
And for Priam so proudly to pretende
A maner title in ]>i kynges name,
fie worfi Grekis for to putte in blame, 1668-
And vniustly, of foule hardynes,
Requere of hem [for] to han redres
Of Iniuries wrou^t on Lamedoura,
Boldly affermyng, of fals presu??^pciou7^, 1672
Vp-on Grekis wrongis outragious,
Whiche in myn eris ben so odious,
So fretyng eke, so byting and so kene,
For to list fat I may nat* sustene, 167fr
In myn heryng so hateful is J>e aoun •
J)at, nere pe honour of myn hi^e renouw
Refreyned me, I schulde in cruel wyse
Execute ful hastely iustyse,* 1680-
Jjoru^ )?e rigour of my mortal lawe,
With bestys wilde first to do pe drawe,
And fer-vp-on, for J>i fayned tale,
Dismembre J?e al on pecis smale, 1684
1650. hond] hondes D 2.
1655. furious] & furyous D 2, and furious D 1.
1656. ne] om. D 2, D 1. 1658. al] of D 1.
1661. new IF D 1. 1662. >at] om. D 1.
1671. on] of A. 1676. nat] it nat C.
1680. hastely] hastily as D 1— iustyse] iustece C.
BK.II] Nestor bids Antenor go. He sails. A Tempest comes on. 193
In dispite of Priamus )>i kyng,
To techen o]?er to bringe* more tydyng,
Presumptuously, or any talis newe,
To any lord, but J?ei j>e bet hym knewe. 1688
ftis schulde be for J>i presumpcioura Antenor is
\)\ last[e] mede and final guerdouw, sumptuous
With-out mercy, lik as I haue behi^t.
And in al hast, be* go out of my si^t ! 1692 and must be
For outerly it dojj to gret offence with. °r
Vn-to myn ey to haue J?e in presence,
For foru disdeyn it causeth myn vnrest."
)3an Anthenor fou3t[e] for J?e best, 1696 He at once
It was not holsom lenger to abide,
But cast wysly, for rancour or for pride,
j)at it was best for to bern hym feyre,
And to his schippe he gan anoon repeyre, 1700 goes tout*
And in al hast by possibilite, peafsse]
With-oute abood he taken haj) J>e see,
And gan to seyle & homward fast[e] drawe. and sails
But sodeynly boilen gan pe wawe, 1704
j)e see to ryse, and fe clowdes blake A storm
For tappere, and fie wynde a-wake ;
Wonder gastful also was fe heuene
Wii/i dredful fire of* be bmt(~e] leuene : 1708 and lightning
and thunder
pe Bonder smot, j?e tempest gan to dryue, come;
}3at f>e mast gan a-sonder riue.
Now aloft, nowe in poynt to drowne,
Jpe fel[le] wedir gan so on hem frowne,* 1712
Jjat ])ei awaite not but vp-on deth, the crew
Euene at ]?e point of ^eldyng vp J?e breth,
For J?ei ne sawe noon ofer remedye.
And euer-among, bei gan clepe and crye 1716 and pray to
m , ,, , , the Gods.
To her goddes, and avowes make,
And devoutly for to vndertake,
Eche of hem, liche as he was* of age,
3if J>ei eskape, to gon on pilgrymage, 1720
1686. bringe] bringen C, here D 1. 1688. hym] hew D 2.
1690. final] fynally A, D 2. 1692. be] J>ou C.
1705. ryse] a ryse A. 1708. of] and C.
1712. frowne] to frowne C. 1719. he was] J>ei wer C.
TKOY BOOK. O
194 Antenor lands in Troy, & reports his remits to Priam. [BK. n
Lyche J?e ritys of her* paynym wyse,
To j>e goddis to doon her sacrifise,
So as pel werne of substaurcce & of my$t.
And sodeynly ]>e wedir, dirke as ny$t, 1724
With new[e] ly$t by grace gan adawe ;
jpe se wexe calme, & smojje gan J>e wawe,
So J?at of hap, among hem euerychon,
For al J?e tempest, persschid was not on ; 1728
But to-fore Troye, with-Inne a litel space,
J}ei ben aryved euerychon by grace,
Eskapid safe from euery lupartye,
Bope Anthenor and al his companye. 1732
And to fe temple he toke Jje ri^te* waye,
And in his prayer J>er ful long* he lay,
"With many another also for his sake,
fcankyng her goddis, J?at made hew so eskape 1736
Euery perel and tempest of f e see.
And aftir Jris, vn-to J>e kyng goth he,
J?at with his lordis aboute hym ful royal,
In his palys and dongouw principal 1740
Sat and abod, ful solempnely,
Trewe report of jris embas[sa]trye ;
And Jris kny^t, of al fat hath hym falle,*
Hath tolde j?e kyng to-forne his lordis alle. 1744
The storm
suddenly
stops ;
they land
at Troy,
go to the
Temple,
and thank
their Gods.
Then Antenor
reports the
result of his
embassy to
Priam.
He tells
Priam
how dis-
courteously
Peleus
receivd him.
Howe Kynge Prianms, aftire that Athenore had de-
clarede to-fore hym and Ms lordes the contraryous
answere of the Grekes, lete set his parlament, to
wit what was to be done.1
T I Ihis Anthenor hap first made mewcioura,
JL To-fore f>e kyng by iust relaciou??,
Of his expleyt, by ordre by and by,
And in what wyse & how vncurtesly, 1748
He was receyued of kyng Pelleus,
Of J?e thretis and wordis dispitous, [leaf 33 cz]
1721. her] hem C, hir D 1. 1731. Eskapid] And escaped D 1.
1733. toke >e rijte] take)? ri^t C.
1734. ]>er ful long] ful long >er C. 1742. >is] >e D 1.
1743. hath hym falle] has hym befalle C— hym falle] befalle D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 39 c.
BK. u] Antenor reports to Priam, who sees he must fight. 195
Jpat he suffred of kyng Thelamouw, Antenor also
Beying as fers as a* wood lyoiw; 1752 Teiamon,
And afterward, he gan also compleyne
Of [j>e] dispit of J>e brethre tweyne, castor and
Of his rebuke and his gret[e] drede,
And at Nestor howe he dide spede, 1756 and Nestor
servd him.
)3at with his lif he my^t vnnefes skape :
Al Jns he told, & gan an ende make
Of his lourne and eke of his repaire.
And ban Priam was fully in despayre, 1760 Priam
r, , J despairs of
Outher by sorte or by auenture, recovering
. Hesione by
Euere ageyn his suster to recure ; fair means,
For he conseyueth in his aduertence,
By clere report of expert evidence, 1764
))at ay J?e more he was to hem benigne,
])Q more vngoodly agey^ hym Jjei malygne ;
And wher he most him schewith debonaire,
])er he fynt hem ageyn ward most corctraire, 1768
So frowardly euer pei hem quyte,
Schewyng by signes J>at fei sette lyte
By his frendschip, for au^t he coude aduerte.
Wherof * he was pure sory in his hert, 1772
bat he constreyned, Frist] of verray nede, and feels
~ „ , . ,. compeldto
Compelled was mstly to procede win W back
•^ i j -i -u by force-
lo han redres only by rigour;
For profre of pes my$t haue no fauour 1776
To be admytted, be title of ri^twisnes,
)?orii3 hi^e dispit of hasty wilfulnes ;
For euery mene of mesour was in veyn,
Saue only werre engendred by disdeyn, 1780
Be-gomie & caused al of old hatrede.
Whiche gan anon swiche a brond to brede
Of new envie in fe kynges breste,
Jpat PriamM*, wM-oute more areste, 1784
1752. a] any C. 1756. dide] doth D 1.
1757. skape] escape D 1. 1761. or] ouber D 1.
1765. ay] euere D 1— hem] him D 1.
1767. him schewith] he shewej) hym D 2, he shewi} hi7;i D 1.
1768. ageynward] om. D ].
1772. Wherof] "Wherefor C— his] om. D 1. 1778. of] so D 1.
1779. of] in D 1. 1784. areste] rest D 1.
196 Priam makes up his mind to fight the Greeks. [BK. n
Priam
resolves on a
naval war
against the
Greeks.
0 Priam !
what un-
happy chance
put this idea
into you ?
You are over-
masterd by
your i
passions,
and can't see
the harms
that '11 fall
on you.
Is so inly with Ire and rancour fret,
And with disdeyn so sore groimde & whet,
]3at wher so be, fat he lese or wynne,
Vp-on Grekis he wil a werre* be-gynne, 1788
And lupart, manly as a kny^t,
His lyf, his deth, by-cause he had[de] ri^t.
And cast hym first a naue for to sende
In-to Grece his fomen for toffende ; 1792
And liche a kny^t his force for to hante,
In kny3% wyse he cast hym for to dauwte
J5e pompe of Grekis and j?e sturdines,
And finaly her pride to oppres. 1796
But seye, Priam, what infelicite,
What new[e] trouble, what hap, what destyne,
Or from a-boue what hateful influence [leaf 34 o]
Descendid is, by vnwar violence, 1800
To nieue the, J?ou canst not lyue in pes !
What sodeyn sort, what fortune graceles,
What chauTZce vnhappy, with-oute avisenes,
What wilful lust, what fonwyd hardynes, 1804
Han putte pi soule out of tranquillite,
To make ]>e wery of Tpi prosperite !
Whi hast J>ou sauour* in bitter more fan swete,
)3at canst nat lyue in pes nor in quyete? 1808
)3ou art travailed with wilful mocions,
Ouermaystred with J?i passiouras,
For lak of resou?i and of l^e prudence,
Dirked & blind from al prouidence, 1812
And ful bareyn to cast a-forne and see
J)e harmys foloyng of J?in aduersite !
)5ou wer to slow, wisely to consydre ;
For want of si$t made )>e [to] slydre, 1816
)5oru3 myst of errour falsely to forveye
By pathis wrong from J?e ri^tfe] weye,
1787. wher] whe>er D 1.
1788. Grekis] J>e grekes D 1 — he wil a werre] a werre he wil C —
be-gynne] gynne A, D 2. 1791. naue] meene A.
1792. toffende] to defende D 1.
1794. knyjtly] kyngly C— hym] hem D 1. 1797. new IT D 1.
1798. what hap] or what D 1— 3rd what] om. D 1.
1807. sauour] more sauour C. 1812. blind] blinded D 1.
1815. to] so A.
BK. li] Lydgate's Remonstrances with Priam on his rashEesolve. 197
To voyde resouw of wilful hastynes !
Wher was ]>i guyde, wher was jji maistres,
Discreciourc, so prudent and so sad,
Avisely fat schulde J)e haue lad
From f e tracis of sensualite ;
Jpou3 it ful selde in marcnys power be,
By suifrauwce hym siluen to restreyne,
Whan sodeyn Ire doth his hert[e] streyne.
]?ou schust a-forn bet ha cast fi chaurcce,
Wrou^t by courcseil & nat put in balau?ice
])i sikernes — alias ! whi distow so ? —
And haue symuled somdel of fi wo,
And cast J>i chaunce wel a-fore J?e prime,
To haue forgoten wrongis of old tyme,
And f ou^t a-forn in fin aduertence,
ftat ofte falleth in experience,
)3at whyles men do most besynes
Vengably her wrongis to redres,
With double harme, or ]>ai f ei ar ware,
])oi falle ageyn in a new[e] snare ;
And damages fat wer fo^ete clene,
By fals report of rumour fresche & grene
Renewed ben, f oru$ f e swifte fame,
J)at fleth so f er to hindre a lordis name ;
]S"amly, whan Jjei to a pwrpos wende
Only of hed, and se nat to J>e ende :
For of pride and of sodeyn hete,
)?ei voide hem silf out of al quiete,
Aduerting* nat to wirke avisely,
Nor )>e prouerbe fat techeth commouwly, [leaf s* 6]
" He ]?at stant sure, enhast hym not to meve" ;
For $if he do, it schal hym after greue •
And he fat walkyth surly* on J>e pleyn,
3if he stumble, his wit is but in veyn ;
But if* so be, he list of his foly
Be necligent to putte hym wilfully
1820 Priam!
where was
your
discretion ?
1824
Ton should
1828
1832 have for-
gotten old
wrongs, and
1836 that redress
often ends
in double
harm.
1840
1844
1848
1852
You should
have minded
the proverb,
' let him who
stands, be in
no haste to
move.'
1824. in] om. D 2.
1835. pat] The D 1.
1851. surly] only G
1853. if] it C.
1831. chauuce] chaunge D 2, D 1.
1847. Aduerting] Aduerte C.
1852. but in veyn] ful bareyn D 2.
198 Lydgates Remonstrances with Priam. His coming ruin. [BK. ir
In aventure, and. of hym silf ne reche,
Teschewen perel, I hold he he a wreche. 1856
For sothly, Priam, j>ou wer to rek[e]les,
For to corny tte pi quiete and pi pes,
So dredfully, duryng hy no date,
To cruel Fortune or to fikel fate ; , 1860
Whos maner is, of costom comouraly,
feat whan a man trusteth most souereynly
On pis goddesse, hlind & f ul vnstahle, ;
fean sche to hym is most deceyueahle, 1864
Hym to ahate from his royal * stalle,
And sodeynly to make hym doura to falle,
And -with a trip, pro we hym on pe bake,
Who pat geynstryueth schal haue litel tak. 1868
Sche is so sletyy with hir gyrcny snare,
feat sche can make a man from his welfare,
With hir panter, fat is with fraude englued,
Whan he lest weneth for to he remewed. 1872
feerfor, no man haue noon affyance
In Fortune, nor in hir variance ;
N"e late no wi^t his ese more lupart —
List fat pe pleye wil afterward departe — 1876
To turne his chauwce ouper to wel or wo :
For selde in oon sche doth pe garner go,
As 36 may se be example of Priamws,
feat of foly is so desyrous 1880
To wirke of hede & folwe his oune wille,
To trouble, alias, pe calm of his tranquille —
As in [t]his boke here-after schal be fouwde —
Hym and his cite platly to confounde, 1884
And outterly to his confusiouw ;
feat afterward, by long successions,
It schal be rad in story and in fable,
And remembrid, with dites delytable, 1888
To do plesauwce to hem pat schal it here :
feat be example pei may be war & lere,
1855. ne] to A, no D 2. 1859. dredfully] dredly D 2.
1863. On >is goddesse] Of >ese goddes D 1.
1865. abate] bate D 1— royal] rayal C. 1866. 2nd to] om. D 1.
1873. no] a D 1. 1874. hir] Ms D 1.
1876. >at] though A— >at >e] how D 2, howe >e D 1.
Priam ! you
were too
reckless.
You should
not have
trusted
Fortune,
who delights
to trip a
man up.
She is full of
sleights.
Let no man
put faith
in her.
For Priam
and his city
are to be
ruin'd,
as you'll see
in this Book.
T
BK. n] Be warnd ly Priam's fate! His Speech to his Lords. 199
Of hasty lust or of volunte,
To gy?me a (ring which in* noun-sur[e]te 1892
Dependeth ay, as strif, werre, and debate ; when you
For in swiche pley vnwarly comeb chek-mate : you unexpect-
edly get
And harme y-done to late is to amende, check-mate.
Whos fyn is ofte other fan J?ei wende — 1896
In jris story as $e schal after seen. [leaf sic]
And late Priam alwey 30?^' merour ben,
Hasty errour be tymes to correcte.
For I anoon my poyntel wil directe, 1900
After J>e maner of his tracis rude,
Of jris story J?e remnauwte to conclude.
Howe Kenge Priam, in opyne parlement toforne his
lordes, schewede the answers that Anthenor
brought.1
Ihis worjri kyng, euer of * o sentence, Priam sum-
Ay more & more fired wit/i feruence, 1904
Hath his breues and his letters sent
For his lordis to holde a parlement, Lords to a
AIT i- 1 • -i r -i i • Parliament.
And hem co??miauwdid, in al [pej hast pel may,
To com anon at her assigned day 1908
From euery ward and party of J?e toura,
For to assemble in noble Ilyouw,
Chef of his regne ; & whaw J>ei were echon They come;
With hym present, Jris noble kyng anon, 1912
To-forn hem alle, as schortly as he can,
His wille declare)), & )>us he be-gan : and he says
" Sirs," quod, he, "be-cause $e ben wyse,
It nedeth not long proces to deuyse, 1916
For to reherse of $our comyng cause ;
But for to telle, schortly in a clause
"What I mene, and make no delay,
3e wote* how I, now Jris o)>er day, 1920 "You know
Sent in-to * Grece, by conseil of ^ow alle,
1892. which in] with C, with in A.
1894. chek-mate] chef mat D 2, hate D 1.
1901. his] >ese D 1. 1902. >is] his D 1. 1903. of] in C.
1905 breues] brevettis A. 1920. wote] wote wel C.
1921. in-to] vn to C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 40 b (' Anthenor ' corrected from ' he ').
200 Priam relates his Grievances against the Greeks. [BK. n
" Antenor to
Greece to
recover
Hesione.
The Greeks
rebuked him.
We offerd em
moderate
terms,
and they
threaten us,
and refuse
to redress
the harm
they did us.
We must
resist them.
A kny}t of myn pat Anthenor men calle,
To haue recured Exyona ageyn.
Whos message was [nat] but in veyn ; 1924
For of Grekis ful vncurteisly
He was resseyued, and dispitously
}3rat & rebuked, in poynt to haue ben ded :
Vnnepe he rny^t eskapyn with his hed, 1928
)}ei put on hym swiche offence & blame,
J?at rebouwdep to oure alder schame.
And day be day it mot encresen more,
But we ordeyn sum remedie per-fore ; 1932
For per as we al mesour han hem offend,
j?ei haue to vs werre & strif [I-]proferid,
Of hey$ dispit, of rancour, & of hete,
And of malis cruelly vs threte. 1936
And, wher-as we wold[e] pes purchace,
For wrongis don, pei felly * vs manace ;
And for pe harmys pat pei han vs wrou^t,
)}ei nat pwrpos, pleynly in her pou^t, 1940
Other redres nor amendis make,
But outerly with werre vs to awake,
Whos loye is fully encres of our greuaurace.
So wold[e] God, pei wer with repentauwce 1944
Contrit in hert to styntera al meschef ,
feat lykly is to fallyn, & pe* gref [leaf u <q
On outher part, pat it my3t ouer-slide ;
But pei, alias, with rancour & with pride 1948
Ar swolle of newe to preytyn more & more.
But God diffende, haluendel fe sore
By infortune euere scholde falle
As )>ei purpose on eny of vs alle. 1952
But syth J>ei han schapin pus for vs,
We mote resisten her wille malicious,
ftoru} my^t of God, of necessite,
In oure defence — it wil noon oper* be • 1956
And best I holde vn-to oure entent
1927. prat &] om. D 1— in] and in D 1.
1928. Vnne>e] pat vnne]>e D 1. 1934. Iproferid] profred D 1.
1938. felly] felle C. 1946. >e] to C, D 1. 1952. on] by D 1.
1953. schapin >us] Jms shapes D 1.
1956. noon oj>er] no better C.
BK,
n] Priam urges his Trojan Lords to invade Greece. 201
To wirche and don, alle by on assent,
So we oure pwrpos sonest schal acheue.
Wher is discorde, per may no querel preue ;
For on J?at part wher hertis be nat oon,
Victorie may in no wyse goon ;
Chef of conquest is pes and vnite,
Ri$t as discorde is of aduersite ;
On hed of hertis makef rewmys sure,
Diuisiouw causeth discourafeture.
Wherfore, I rede, of o wille and hert
Lete vs set on to do J> e Grekis smerte ;
For sothfastly, $if $e list to se,
I dar afferme pat we stronger be
)3an j>e Grekis vp-on euery part,
And han of arrays parfitly pe art,
And ben acouwted of kny^thod crop & rote,
And plente han of men on hors & fote,
Arrayed wel, eueryche in his degre ;
And per-wM-al, so strong is oure syte,
For to with-stond our fomen euerychon —
3ow couwseilyng to ordeyn anon,
First tassemble holy oure navye,
And stuf hem strongly with oure chevalrie,
And in-to Grece hastily hem sende,
J3e proude Grekis manly to offende ;
And of iust cause & be title of ri^t,
Hem werreyn with al oure ful[le] my^t,
Her townes breraie, & her feldes waste —
With herte vnfeyned also vs enhast
To quiterc hem as pei deserued haue.
For be my red, we schal noon of hem saue,
But cruely take on hem vengau/ice.
Ne hath no fer, ne lat be no grevance,
frouj fei a-forn by fortune wer victours,
To sleen our aurccetris and progenitours ;
For he J?at was of vnhap first put douw,
" We must all
act together.
1960
1964
Let us set to
work to make
1968 the Greeks
1972 We're the
stronger,
and we've
plenty of
men.
1976
Let us fill our
navy with
1980 knights,
1984 invade
Greece,
and burn
their towns,
1988
and take
vengeance
for their
1000 8layin&ou
1992 ancestors.
1965. hed] ed A.
1976. >er-wit#-al] ther with D 1— so] om. D 1.
1983. be] om. D 1. 1984. Hem] On hem D 1.
1990. hath] haue D 1. 1993. first put] put first A.
202
The chances of War are ever uncertain. [BK. n
" War is
always on
the balance.
No man can
make sure
of winning.
Ebb always
follows the
flowing tide.
The chances
of battle are
now up,
now down,
like Fortune's
wheel.
Kemoutttef ofte to ful hi^e renoun,
By fe chauwge and fe variance [leaf 35 «]
Of werre & strif, fat euer is in balance. 1996
For he fat is f is day assurid wel,
To-morwe he is caste dourc of f e whe[l] ;
]3e victor ofte putte in auenture,
And venquysched by discomfeture 2000
Of hym fat he hadde aforne victorie.
Now vp, now douw, in armys stant f e glorie ;
In Martys chau?zce no man hym assure,
But as it cometh lat hym take his vre ; 2004
For gery Mars, by his influence,
Can 3eue a man whilom excellence
To wyraie a pris, liche a conquerour,
And sodeynly, as a somer flour, 2008
He can his honour maken for to fade.
For, whan fat he his * aspectis glade
Fro a man listeth for to writhe,
His renouw old goth a-weye as blyve ; 2012
After a flowe, an ebbe* folweth ay ;
As men disserue, preise hem for a day.
For f 0113 Phebus f is day merie schyne,
To-morwe he may his bemys douw decline 2016
f e f iknes of f e mystis trouble ;
so of Mars* arne fe chances double —
Now vp, now douw, now lowe, now olofte —
As Fortune, whiche fat cha^geth ofte, 2020
List on hir whele make a man ascend e,
And vnwarly douw ageyn descende,
Stouwdemel his honour to avawice,
And with a swy^e f row hym to mesclwmce ; 2024
Now with favour sette hym vp ful hi^e,
Efte avale hym, with twynklyng of an eye.
Hir pley vnstable turnef as a bal,
While on goth vp, an-other hath a fal ; 2028
2000. by] is by D 1. 2010. his] with his C, D 1.
2013. a flowe an ebbe] an ebbe a flowe C— flowe] floode D 1.
2017. mystis] mysty D 1.
2018. Mars] Maris C— eWces] clauses D 1.
2019. olofte] alofte A, D 2, D 1.
2024. swy$e] swewge D 2.
BK. n] The Trojan Lords agree to invade Ghvece. 203
Sche reiseth on, & doth anober loute, "Fortune
raises one
For euerv man, whan it cometh aboute, and abases
J another.
Mote take his turne, as hir pleye requeref.
Who is expert and hir fraudes lereth, 2032
Schal with hir sugre finde galle meynt, Gail is mixt
with sugar.
And hir hony ay with bitter spreynt —
In pes and werre, in honour & in fame,
In dignetes, in resouw, and in schame, 2036
At hir likyng, as hir list to graiwte ;
Jjerfor no man his hap to moche avaunte.
For £0113 Grekis whilom wern a-lofte, The Greeks
It may her-afte?* hem hap ful vnsofte. 2040 above us;
they may
Wherfore, echon schewe pure worjnnes, get below.
ftat so ar named of strenfe & hardynes,
And to Fortune pleinly $ow co?>miitte, SoU8rhw^rth!
And late no fere pure manly hertis flitte, [leaf 35 &] 2044 Fear not!"
But stondeth hool & beth in menyng pleyn,
And here-vp-on, lat se what 30 wil seyn."
And attonys her voys J?ei gowne reise,
And his sentence hhly for to preyse, 2048 Priam's iord»
A , - , agree to fight.
And of on hert, manly gon expresse,
))ei wil dispende goodys & richesse,
And her bodies put in iupardye —
Jper was nat on J?at wolde it ]>o denye. 2052
And of ]?is grauwt he J?anketh * hem echon, He thanks
And $af hem leue wher hem list to gon ;
For he dissolued hath his parlement. dissolves the
And eue?y man on his weye is went, 2056
And repeired to his mansiouw,
The kyng alloiie lefte in Ylyouw, and stays
Sool by hym silf inwardly mvsyng, musing'how
How his pwrpos he my^t aboute bryng ; 2060 oa*th»*
For he in soth on no j)ing ellys pou^t, Greece.
And fer-vppon euene J?us he wrou^t.
i. D 2. 2040. ful] falle D 2.
i rpu««f*-«* T\ T
2031. pleye] om. D 2. 2040. ful
2041. Wherfore] Therfore D 1.
2049. gon] gan A, D 2, D 1.
2051. iupardye] iupartye D 2, D 1.
2053. )>anketh] Ranked C, make> D
2.
204 Priam calls his Sons to advise about his Greek Attack. [BK. n
Howe Kynge Prianms callede his sonnes to his pres-
ence, and in secrete wyse lamentabyly opynyd and
declarede his intollerabyle sorowes, askenge ]>er
avyce in avengeinge his cause.1
Priam sends
for his sons
and bastards
Kyng Priamwtf, makyng J?us his mone,
As I 3011 told, in a chambre alone, 2064
Many weyes castyng vp and doun,
For to parforme his conclusions,
And to fulfills f e fyn of his entent ;
He first of alle prudently hath sent 2068
For his sonys to com to hym in hast,
As wel for hem bat wer borne in bast,
As f e toper, for tassemble y-fere
For a pwrpos, liche as $e schal here, 2072
To haue a couwseil for nedful pwruyau?zce,
Ageyn[e]s Grekis to maken ordynauwce,
First by hem * silf alloue priuely.
And whan fei were in ordre by & by, 2076
Eueryche of hem sette in his due see,
Liche as j>ei werne of age & of degre,
And Hector first, flour of cheualrie,
Repeired horn oute of Panonye, 2080
Moste acceptable in euery wy^tes grace,
Nexst his fader taken hath his place ;
And whan Priam his leiser dide espie,
With sy^es sore, castyng vp his eye, 2084
To hem echon sittyng envirourc,
Gan to declare his hertis mociouw.
Priam weeps, But first, or he my^t his wil expowne,
In- to teris he gan hym silf[e] drowne ; 2088
His hertly wo was so outragous,
frat for wepyng & sobbyng furious,
Vnnejje he my^t -with any word out-breke,
Nor vn-to hem, for distresse, speke, 2092
Nor openly his inward menyrcg schewe, [leaf 35 c]
Til at j>e laste he in wordis fewe
Hector
comes from
Panonia.
and can
hardly speak.
2064. a] jour D 2. 2071. y-fere] in fere D 1.
2075. hem] hym C— allone] al alone D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 41 a.
BK. n] Priam reproaches his Sons for not fighting the Greeks. 205
2096 Priam says
to his sons,
" You re-
o i A A member how
2100 the Greeks
slew our fore-
fathers,
burnt Troy,
and misused
Hesione.
You ought to
_ , - rt be aggrievd
2112 at this,
Gan to abreyde, in al his pitous fare,
Euene f us his menyng to declare :
" My dere sonys, so lovyng & so kynde,
As I suppose, fat 36 haue in mynde,
And remembre discretly, and aduerte,
And enprente ful freschely in 3owr hert,
How f e Grekis, ageyn al ri3t and lawe,
With cruel swerde mordrid han & slawe
Our worf i awzcetris, of ful l^e renou?^,
And distroyed, brent, & bete doun 2104
\)Q nrst[e] Troye, with his wallis olde ;
And how vngodly also fat f ei holde
Myn oune suster, callid Exyouw,
To ful gret schame and confusiouw, 2108
And hi3e repref to 3our worf ines,
jpat, me semeth, of verray kyndenes,
And of nature 36 ou3t to ben agreued,
And inwardly in hert[e] sore ameved,
To suffren hir, in hyndring of hir name,
So to be tretid, for $our alder schame.
Alias ! why nyl 30 do ^our besynes,
j)is hi3e dispit kny3tly to redresse, 2116
3ow for to avenge vp-on her cruelte, and avenge it.
Eecure to fynde of her iniquite,
Sith fat 30 be so my3ty and so strong !
Certis, me semeth, 30 byden al to long,
Fro daye to day fat 36 so differre,
In kny3tly wyse to gywne on he??i a werre,
3our force & my3t manly to assaye.
I am pure sory fat 30 list delaye 2124
3ow to conferme vn-to my desyre —
]3at in her hate brernie as hoot as * fyr —
Vp-on hem, lyche as 36 may se,
Of fretyng Ire avenged for to be,
Liche her desert to quiten hem her mede.*
2097. kynde] kynge D 2. 2101. ageyn] a3ens A.
2104. bete doun] bore a dou??^ D 1. 2109. 3our] oure D 1.
2111. ou3t to ben] oughte ben A, D 2 — to] }e D 1.
2117. avenge] venge D 1— her] ^oure D 1. 2122. a] om. A.
2124. pure] ful A. 2125. conferme] confonne A, D 2.
2126. hoot as] any C. 2129. mede] mete C.
2120 You put off
war on them
too long.
You should
takevenge-
ance.
206 Priam appeals to Hector and his other Sons for help. [BK. n
"You don't
back me,
tho I brought
you up
tenderly.
You should
remedy my
distress."
" Hector,
first of iny
sons,
I pray you to
carry out my
purpose.
I put the
matter in
your hands.
And 36, alias, take list non hede,
Whil $our renozm doth so freschly schyne,
Vn-to my lust 30 wr hertis to encline ; 2132
Consyderyng, liche as it is kouthe,
How I haue fro 30111 grene jouthe
I-fostred ^ow & bro^t 3011 forth echon,
Fro filke day fat 36 koude goon, 2136
As tenderly as I koude or my3te.
To whiche fing, in 3our inward sijt,
3e schulde aduerte alweye new & new,
And of nature on my scores* rewe, 2140
To remedien myn aduersite,
Whiche touch ef 3ou al so* wel as me, [leafssdj
Sith [fat] 36 wot how sore it doth me greue,
3e schuld[e] schap myn harmys to releue." 2144
And sodeynly, as he f us gan morne,
Toward Hector he gan his face torne,
And seid, " Hector, my trust & al my loye,
Myn eyr also, likly to regne in Troye 2148
After my day, and be my successour,
And named art f e verray souereyn flour
Of worf ines, and of manhod welle,
And alle fi brethre in kny^thod dost excelle, 2152
And in armys, liche a conquerour,
Callid f e stok of worschip and honour,
I hertly praye, fou3 fou* sitte stille,
Be willy now my purpos to fulfille, 2156
To execute fat I desyre so ;
For fynally, in f e and in no mo
Is ful my feith to bryngfe] f is aboute.
Now take on fe, & be no fing in doute, 2160
To be chef prince & also gouernour
Of J»is purpos, and outerly socour ;
In-to fin hond f is lourne I committe,
Hooly of hert, so fat fou ne flitte, 2164
)3e to conferme, by good avisement,
2136. Fro] ffor D 1. 2137. I] ?e D 1.
2140. scores] sorwes C. 2142. al so] as C.
2145. ]>us gan] gan thus A, gan >us D 1.
2155. Jxra] 3e C. 2159. ful] fully A.
2162. purpos] vyage D 2. 2165. conferme] conforme A, D 2.
BK.II] Priam makes his Appeal to Hector, & Hector answers it. 207
2172
2176
To parforme vp pe fyn of myn entent.
For of resou?*, best to pe it sitte,
Whiche art so prudent & so ful of witte,
Strong & delyuer, flouryng eke in ^outhe,
Of whom pe fame f 01-113 fie worlde is kouth,
3ong of ^eris, old of discrecioutt,
Ewrous to love, passyng of renoura,
Vn-to whos wille pi brepre schal obeie,
And stond with pe, bope to lyue & deye !
Now condescende tacomplische my request,
And what pou felist, answere at the best."
And whan pe kyng hap schewed his sentence,
Demvre of chere, humble of renerence,
J)is worpi Hector, example of gent[e]rie,
With softe speche, as techep curtesye,
His answere $af, 'with sobre coimtenans,
Jjeffect of whiche was pis in substauws :
[T]he answere of Ector [t]o his faders demannde.1
" Myn owne lord, and my fader dere,
Benignely $if $e list [to] here, 2184
After pe force and pe grete my^t.
And pe somme of naturis ri3t,
Whiche eue?-y ping by kynde doth cowstreyne
In pe bouwdis of hir large cheyne, 2188
It fittyng is, as sche doth enspire,
And acordyng pat Query man desyre
Of wrongis don to han amendement, [leaf se a]
And to hir law ri}t conuenient ; 2192
Namly to swiche pat with nobilite
Kynd hath endewed, & set in hi^e degre ;
For to swiche, gret repref is and schame,
Whan any wrong be do vn-to her name ; 2196
For eche trespas mote consydered be,
lustly mesurid after pe qualite
2169. delyuer] om. D 1.
2176. what] whanne D 1— best] leste D 1.
2184, 85 arc repeated in D 2. 2185. and] of D 2.
2186. somme] sonne A. 2189. doth] J?at do>e D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 41 c, in margin (edge pared off by
binder).
2168 "You are so
famous ;
your brethren
will obey
you.
Do what I
ask you."
Hector
answers
his father
gently:
" My dear
Father,
it is right for
every one to
seek amends
for wrongs
done to him.
208 Tho Hector ivants revenge on the Greeks, how will it end? [BK.II
"It is grief
to noble men
to endure
wrong.
And we,
for Knight-
hood's sake,
should seek
redress.
I want
vengeance on
the Greeks.
I thirst for
their blood.
But before
you begin,
you must
think of
the end.
Of hym pat is offendid, and also,
After pe persone by whom pe wrong is do ; 2200
Be it in werre, in contek, or debate :
For gretter gref is to hi^e estate
To suffre an harine, of cas or auenture,
Or any wrong vniustly to endure, 2204
Or Iniuries compassed of malys,
Is more offence, by discret avys,
To hem pat ben famous in manhod,
Renomed, & born of gentyl blood, 2208
J3an to swiche on pat holde is but a wreche.
Wherfore, we most [gretly] charge and reche,
Only of kny3thod oure worschip for to eke,
Of wrongis don amendis for to seke, 2212
Oure staat consydered & oure hi^e noblesse,
And in what plyte we stonde of worpines,
Whan pat bestis, of resourc rude and blinde,
Desire pe same by instynt* of kynde. 2216
And for my part, trustep in certeyri,
3e haue no sone pat wolde halfe so feyn
Vp-on Grekis avenged ben as I :
For here my trouth, I seye $ow feithfully, 2220
For Ire of hem I brewne as do]? pe glede ;
I thurst her blood more pan other mede ;
For ri^t as I eldest am of age
Among 3our sonys, so am I most with rage 2224
I-fret wit/i-Inne, iustly of kny3thood,
With my ri^t hond to schede pe Grekys blod,
As pei schal fynd, iparaunter or pei wene,
Whan tyme cometh, pe sope schal be sene. 2228
But first I rede, wysely in $our mynde
To cast aforn and leue nat be-hynde,
Or ^e be-gynne, discretly to aduerte
And prudently consyderen in ^our herte 2232
Al, only nat pe gynnyng but pe ende,
2201. or] or in D 1. 2205. of] by D 1.
2214. in] om. A.
2216. instynt] instymt C, instnyt A, instynat D 2, instaunce D 1.
2222. thurst] thraste A, thrust D 2, D 1.
2224. with] in D 2. 2225. I-fret] In effects D 1.
2229. 3our] oure D 1.
BK. li] Hector warns Priam that War may end disastrously. 209
And be myddes, what weie bei wil we?ide,
And to what fyn Fortune wil hem lede — "Where win
J Fortune
3if $e bus don, amys $e may nat spede. 2236 lend you?
For pat couwseil, in myn oppiniouw,
Is worpi litel, by discreciouw,
To haue a pris, pat cast nat by and by
])Q course of ]>inges by ordre ceryously, [leaf 366] 2240
What weye pei trace to wo or to delite ;
For pou} a gyiinyng haue his appetite,
3et in pe ende, pleynly Jris no fable,
]5er may ping folwe, whiche is nat commendable. 2244
For what is worpe a gynnyng fortunat, A lucky start
))at causeth* after strif and gret debaU
Wherfor, in sope, principles are to drede,
But men wel knowe what fyn schal succede ; 2248
For a gynnyng wz't/i grace is wel fortunyd,
Whan ende and myddes aliche ben coiitunyd.
But whan bat it in wele ne may contene, may not
continue.
It is wel bet by-tymes to abstene 2252
J}an put in doute pat stant in surete ;
For who-so doth hath ofte aduersite.
But huinblely to $our estat royal, King Pnam,
Of hert I praye, lat nat offende at al, 2256
))at I am bolde to seie my mociouw ;
For in good feith, of noon entenciou?*,
I no J>ing mene 3ow to don offence ; i mean no
But only }>is, J>at $our magnificence 2260
Precede nat of hede wilfully,
Ne J>at no spirit $ou meue folyly
To gyrcne J)ing pat af her wil ^ou schende, but don't
For lak* pat ae se nat to be ende, 2264
the end of.
JN or taken hede in 3oure aduertence,
To consydere by good prouidence,
How Grekis han in her subiecciouw
Europ <fe Aufrik, with many* region?*, 2268
Ful large & wyde, of kny^thod most famws,
2238. by] by my D 1. 2240. by ordre] bordre D 2.
2243. ))is] J)is is D 1. 2246. causeth] caused C.
2252. bet] bettir D 1. 2257. my] in D 1.
2264. lak] lat C— to] om. A. 2268. many] many o}>cr C.
TROY BOOK. P
210 Hector advises that they shall not fight the Greeks. [BK. n
-'The Greeks
are valorous:
it's dangerous
to disturb em.
We're not
equal to em.
Hesione is
not worth
our lives.
She might
soon die after
we'd won her.
We'd better
put up with
our loss,
and not
risk war."
And of riches wonder plentevous,
Ri$t renomed also of worpines.
With $our support pat I dar wel expresse, 2272
Ful perlous is displese hem or disturbe ;
For $if pat we oure quiete now pertourbe,
Whiche stant in pes, gretly is to drede ;
For pou$ al Asye help vs in* our nede, 2276
3if it be lokid on Query part ari$t,
£ei be nat egal vn-to Grekis my^t ;
And pou} also myn aunte Exiouri
Ageyn al ri$t be holde of Thelamourc, 2280
It is nat good for hir redempeiourc,
To putte vs alle to destrucciou/i.
I rede nat to bien hir half so dere ;
For many of vs, in hap }>at sitten here, 2284
And oper mo, my^ten for hir sake
Deth vnderfonge, & an ende make ;
Whiche were no wisdam, liche as seme]? me.
And it may happen also how pat sche 2288
In schort tyme hir fatal cours schal fyne, [leaf 36 a]
Whan Antropos pe prede a-two schal twyne.
What had we wornie parme & sche wer go,
But enmyte, pou^t, sorow,* & wo, 2292
Sla^ter of oure men, deth & confusions !
Wherfore I rede, by dissymulaciouw,
Witft-oute more pat we oure wo endure —
And nat to putte oure silf in auenture — 2296
jpis hold* I best — & wirkyn as J>e wyse.
But dout[e]les, for no cowardyse
I seie nat pis in ^oure hi^e presence,
But for cause I hold it no prudence, 2300
To Fortune, ful of doubilnes —
Sith we be sure — to putte oure sikernes :
)3is al & som, peffect of al my wille."
And with pat worde Hector held hym stille. 2304
2276. in] at C. 2283. bien] bye D 1, beyen A, D 2.
2287. liche] om. D ].
2292. enmyte] Enmy D 2— sorow] & sorow C, D 2.
2297. hold] held C. 2304. hym] hem D 2.
BK. n] Paris s Speech favouring a Trojan Attack on Greece. 211
Aftire that Ector had shewede his entente, Paris
declaryde his dreme of f e golden Appyle.1
And whan Hector, by ful hi^e pmde?ice,
Concluded haj) f e fyn of his sentence,
Ful demurly he kepte his lippis cloos.
And per-w/t/i-al Parys vp a-roos,
And gan his tale f us a-fore f e kyng :
" My lord," quod he, " so it be lykyng
To $onre hisnes for to taken hede,
As me semeth, we schuld litel drede
In kny3tly wyse for to vndirtake
Vp-on Grekis a werre for to make,
Al attonys her pride to confou?ide ;
Sith fat we passyngly habou?ide
Of chiualrie, here with-Inne our tou;*,
And haue plente and pocessioura
Of eche f ing fat may to werre a-veile,
Stuf in our silf and ryal appareile 2320
Of* al fat longeth to assautis marcial,
And with al f is, more in special,
Help & socour of many regiouw,
With vs to werke to her destrucciouw, 2324
])e pompe & pride manly to abate,
And of Grekis f e malis for to mate ;
For al fat f ei of hert[e] ben so stoute,
Me semeth schortly fat we dar nat doute, 2328
Nor on no part for to be dismaied.
Wherfor I rede, lat nat be delaied
Our schippes first redy for to make,
And I my silf wil fully vndirtake,
So it to 3ou be lykyng arid plesance,
Of f is emprise hoolly f e gouernawzce,
And $ow assuren & putte in certeyn
Exyona to recure ageyn.
And in what forme fat it schal be wrou^t,
I haue a weye foiwden in my fou^t, [ieafs6<j]
2306. hab] om. D 1. 2312. schuld] shal D 1.
2321. Of] To C— to] to be D 1. 2324. werke] helpe D 2.
2328. dar] that A, >ar D 2. 2331. first] faste D 1.
2333. be] om. D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 42 5.
When Hector
finisht,
2308 Paris began.
2312 "We
shouldn't
hesitate to
make war on
the Greeks.
2316 We've many
knights,
much war
material,
and outside
help.
I advise that
we get our
ships ready.
2332 I'll undertake
to manage
the whole
business and
recover
2336 Hesione.
212 Paris' s plan to get & exchange a Greek Lady forhis Aunt. [BK. n
"My plan ia
to carry off a
noble Greek
lady to Troy,
and exchange
her for
Hesione.
The Gods
have shown
me how to
doit,
and I'll tell
you all
about it.
)5at likly is here-after to be don,
Whiche vn-to ^ow I wil declare anoon : 2340
First, I haue cast, wM strong & my3ty bond
For to rauysche som lady of fat lond,
Of hey^e estat, and make no tarying,
And my^ttyly in-to Troye hir bring, 2344
Maugre her my3t, for f is conclusions,
Jjat 30 may haue restitueioim . ,
Be eschange of hir fat 36 desyre so.
And here-vp-on schal be no long a-do, 2348
I 3011 behete, for al f e Grekis strong.
And for pat I schal £ow nat prolonge,
I wil 3ow seyn, excludyiig euery dout,
How fis avis schal be broi^t aboute : 2352
First, how fat I schal fis purpos fyn,
J)e goddis ban f oru3 her power devyne
Schewed to* me be reuelaciouw ;
For fer-vppon I had a visiouw 2356
But late agoon, as I ley and slepe,
Yn-to whiche* 3if 36 takew kepe,
3e may not faile nor be in no dispeire
To ban recur of hir fat is so faire, 2360
For whom 36 haue now so moche care.
And f e maner hoi I wil declare
Of f is drem to 3our magnificence,
3if it so be 36 3eue* wil credence 2364
To my tale, for I schal not dwelle
Ceriously in ordre for to telle
))e trouf [e] pleyn, & no fable feyn,
To 3ow fat ben my lord most souereyn. 2368
Howe the god Marcurye brought with hyw the thre
ladys, luno, Venus, and Pallas, to-for Paris lyenge
in the wod aslepe ; and of the thre gyfftis that
they promysed hym for fe apple.1
2347\of]for D 2, D 1. 2348. no] nat A.
2350.\jow nat] nat yow A. 2352. ]>is] >at >is D 1.
2355. t»] vn to C — reuelacioim] relacioun D 1.
2358. Ttfbiche] >e whiche C— 3if] and D 1. 2361. Je] I D 1.
2362. I \\il] repeated in D 2. 2364. }eue] ^if C, wele ^eue D 1.
2367. ple\n] pleynly D 1. 2368. my] cm. A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 42 c.
BK. ll] Paris' s Speech. In India he prepared to hunt. 213
First, $if fat 36 remembryn in $our mynde,
j?is of er day, whan I was last in Ynde,
By $our avis & co??zmaimdement,
For a mater whiche in $our entent
Was specialy had in cher[i]te,
As it is koufe atwixe $ou and me,
Of whiche I toke [vp-]on me f e charge
In f e boundis of fat lond ful large,
)5e same tyme ^our desyre to spede —
Whan fat Tytan, with his bemys rede,
From Geramyny drof his chare of gold
Toward f e Crabbe for to take his holde,
Whiche named is f e paleys of Dyane,
Jpe bente mone fat wexe can & wane ;
Whawne halwed is f e sownys staciouw,
Ni$e f e myddes of f e monef of Ivn —
At whiche sesouw, erly on a morwe,
Whan fat Phebws, to voide ny^tes sorwe,
Doth Pirrous hys wayn ageyn vp drawe, [leaf 37 «]
And Aurora estward doth a-dawe,
And with f e water of hir teris rourcde
fee sillier dewe causeth to abowzde
Vp-on herbis and on floures soote,
For kyndely norissyng boj>e of crop & rote,
Vp * I roos [out] of my bedde anoon,
Ful desyrous on huntyng for to goon,
Priked in hert with lusty fresche plesance
To do to Loue some due observauwce,
And Lucyna fat day to magnifie,
Which callid is lady of venarye,
And duety oure rytis to obserue,
Cithera and hir[e] for to serue,
I and my feris, oure hertis to releue,
Cast vs fully til it drowe to eve,
In f e forest to pley vs and disport,
And pleasaurctly vs to recomfort,
" When I
was in India
on your
service,
2372
2376
2380
2384 near the
middle of
Jane,
2388
2392
2396
2400
2404
I got up one
morning to
hunt in
the forest.
2370. was last] laste was D 1.
2373. cherte] cheritee A. 2375. vp-on] on D 1.
2384. Ivn] Iuyou?t A. 2392. of] om. D 2.
2393. Vp] Out C. 2400] Bo>e vn to Venus and to Minerve D 1.
14 It was on
a Friday.
We kild
many deer.
I got separ-
ated from
my folks,
214 Paris 's Speech. He lost a Hg Stag in the wood Ida. [BK. n
As it longef to loue of lustines.
For filke day to Venus fe goddes
I-sacrid was, by ful gret excellence,
With gret honour & due reuerence 2408
Doon vn-to hir, bof e of on and alle ;
And on a Fryday f is auenture is falle,
Whan we gan hast vs to f e wodis grene
In hope fat day som gam[e] for to sene, 2412
With gret labour rydyng to and fro,
Til we hadde ful many buk & do
By strengfe slaw, as we my^t hem fynde,
])& hert I-chasid wet/i hou?^dis & fe hynde 2416
J?oru^ f e downys & f e dalys lowe,
Til bri$t[e] Phebus of his daies bowe
Amyd fe arke was of meridyen,
Whan his bemys ful hote wern & schene, 2420
And we most besy wern vp-on fe chas,
£an me byfil a wonder diuers cas.
For of fortune it happed sodeynly,
Whil I was seue7*y[d] fro my company, 2424
Sool be my silf among f e holtis hore,
To fynde game desyrous, euermore,
Or I was war, f oru$ fikke & [f oru^] f inne,
A ful gret hert I sawe a-fore me rewne, 2428
Dovn by fe lauwde and fe walys grene,
Jjat I in soth my3t[e] nat sustene,
He was so swyft, for to ni^e hym ner,
Al-be fat I priked my courser 2432
Ni$e to J?e dej?, ]?oru^ many sondri schaw,
Out of my si$t so fer he gan w?'t/i-drawe,
For al J>at euer [pat] I sewen my^t,
)3at I anoon lost of hym )>e si^te [leaf 37 &] 2436
In a wode fat Ida bare J>e name.
And I so feynt gan wexen of fat game,
And myn hors on whiche I dide ryde,
Fomyng ful whit [vp-]on euery syde, 2440
And his flankis al with blood disteyned,
2407. gret] om. D 1. 2423. it] I D 1.
2434. wtt/i-drawe] to drawe D 1. 2438. I] om. A.
. 2439. dide] dode D 1.
and saw a
big stag,
so swift that
ray horse
couldn't
catch him up.
This was in
the wood Ida,
BK. li] Paris' s Speech. Mercury appears to him in a Dream. 215
In my pursute so sore he was constreyned
With my spoils, scharp and dyed rede,
After fe hert so priked I my stede,
Now vp, now doiw, with a ful besy J>ou$t ;
But my labour availed me ri3t nou^t,
Til at J>e last, among J?e bowes glade,
Of auenture I* cau^t a plesauwt slade,
Ful smoj>e & pleyn, & lusty for to sene,
And soft as velwet was J>e $onge* grene —
Wher fro mjn hors I [a]li3t as faste,
And on a bowe I his reyne cast,
So feynt & maat of werynes I was,
J5at I me laide dourc vp-on J>e gras,
Vp-on a brink, schortly for to telle,
Be-syde a riuer and a cristal welle.
And fe water, as I reherse can,
Like quik-siluer in his stremys ran,
Of whiche j>e grauel & fe bri^tfe] stoon
As any gold ageyn pe sonwe schon.
Wher ri$t anon, for verray werynes,
A sodeyn slep gan me so oppresse,
j?at fro tyme ]>at I first was born,
I neuer was a-slepe[d] so to-forn ;
And as I ley I hadde a wonder sweuene :
For me-jjou^t hi^e dourc fro heuene,
J3e wynged god, wonderful of cher,
Mercuryus, to me dide appere,
Of whom I was somdel first* a-ferde ;
For he was girt with his crokyd swerde,
And with hym brou^t, also in his honde,
His slepy ^erde, plyauwt as a wonde,
With a serpent goyng envirouw.
And at his fete, also lowe a-dou??,
Me sempte also J>at fer stood a cok,
2444
" When I got
to a pleasant
2448 dell.
2452
2456
2460
2464
Idis-
mounted,
and lay down
by a stream,
went to
sleep,
and bad a
wondrous
dream.
2468 Mercury
appeard to
2472
2442. he] I D 1. 2448. I] he C, A— slade] shade A, D 2, D 1.
2450. jonge] soft C. 2455. brink] banke D 1.
2460. ageyn] a }ens D 1. 2461. Wher] There A.
2463. fro] from >e D 1. 2466. fro] fro the A.
2469. somdel first] first somdel C.
2474. also lowe] lowe also D 1 — a-doim] doun A, D 2.
2475. sempte] semyth A, semed D 1.
216 Paris s Speech. He describes the God Mercury. [BK. II
"Mercury
bad hiB
musical pipes
in bis mouth,
and lookt as
Fulgentius
describes
him.
His Rod
betokens
prudent man*
agement ;
bis Pipes,
ditties of
eloquence 3
his Cock,
watchful-
ness;
bis Sword,
the keeping
of the right
way.
Singyng his houris trewe as any clok. 2476
And to f e mouthe of f is god Mercuric,
Wer pipes sette, fat songe wonder merye ;
Of whiche f e soote sugred armonye
Made in myn eris swiche a melodye, 2480
ftat me sempte f o in myn avis,
I was ravisched * in-to paradys.
And f us f is god, diuers of liknes,
More wonderful fan I can expresse, 2484
Schewed hym silf in his apparence, [leaf s? <o
Liche as he is discriued in Fulgence,
In f e book of his methologies,
Wher be rehersed many poysyes 2488
And many liknes, liche as $e may se.
And for to take }>e moralite : —
His longe 3erde, ri$t as is a lyne,
Whiche on no syde wrongly may decline, 2492
Signefieth f e prudent gouernauwce
Of discret folke, fat f oru} her purm&unce
Cast a perel or fat it be-falle ;
And his pipes, loude as any schalle, 2496
£at f oru} musik ben entvned trewe,
Betokenef eke, with many lusty hewe,
)3e sugred dites, by gret excellence,
Of rethorik and of eloquence, 2500
Of whiche f is god is souereyn & patrouw ;
And of f is cok f e soote lusty sovn,
))at iustly kepef fe houris of f e ni^t,
Is outerly pavise inward si}t 2504
Of swiche as voide by waker dilligence
Oute of her court, sloufe & necligence ;
And his swerd, whiche crokef so ageyw,
))at is nat forged* nor [y-]made in weyn, 2508
Is to reuoke to fe ri$t[e] weye
Swiche as wrongly fro trouf e do forveye ;
2477. J>e] >is D 1— >is] >e D 1.
2481. sempte J>o in] semed to D 1.
2482. ravisched] ravasched C. 2483. of] in D 1.
2494. Of] Of ]>ese D 1. 2497. trewe] newe D 2.
2502. >e] >is D 1. 2504. inward] in worldly D 1.
2507. so] om. A. 2508. forged] forget C.
BK. n] Paris s Speech and Dream. The 3 Goddesses. 217
And pe serpent, whiche pat I of tolde,
Whiche wrinkled is, as 30 may beholde,
Vp-on pe 3erde and aboute goth,
Signefieth bat falshede wood & wroth
T ... . , , ...
Lith in a-weyt by many sleety weye,
With his gynnes troupe to werreye.
And pis god, of elloquence kyng,
Brou;t vriih hym, eke in his coramyng,
nfixt i, r i
Cithera, whom louer[e]s seme,
luno, and Pallas, pat callid is Minerue.
A j t_- j*. TT i i • j i TJ
And pis* Venftt, her legis to delite,
Aboute hir lied hadde dowes white,
Wit/z, loke benigne and eyen deboneyre,
Ay flikeryng wtt/t snowy wyngys fayre,
For to declare, sothly* in sentence,
By pe dowes verray Innocence
Of hem in loue pat but troupe mene,
And pat her grouwde schulde honest be & clene,
I-tokenyd is, clerly be witnes,
Wit/i-out soillyng or any vnclennes ;
And pe fresshnesse * of pe roses rede,
Jjat in somer so lustyly do sprede,
And in wynter of her colour fade,
Signyfieth pe hertly pou^tis glade [leaf 37 d]
Of 3onge folkis pat ben amerous,
Feruent in hope, & inly desyrous,
Whan loue gynnep in her hertis flour,
Til longe proces makep hem to lour
With pe wynter of vnweldy age,
ftat lust is pallid & dullid vritfi pe rage
Of febilnes whan somer is a-goon,
As folkys knowe, I trowe mo pan on ;
And berf or Venws fleteth in a se,
To schewe pe trowble and aduersite
j?at is in Loue, and his stormy lawe,
"The serpent
2512 cury* wlmd
shows that
Falsehood
tries to
2516 Truth-
with Mer-
curywerc
2520 Juno,
Minerva and
Venus.
mean that
Lovers
Her Roses,
which fade
in winter,
2524
2528
2532
2536 the fervour of
young lovers,
2540
which Age
Her floating
in the sea
2544 8»ow? L°ve'§
troubles.
2517. kyng] a kyng D 1.
2519. Cithera] I Cithera A, Citherea D 1.
2521. Jns] Jms C— >is Venus her legis] ]>is liegis Venus D 1.
2525. sothly] schortly C, sootly A.
2531. fresshnesse] fairnes C. 2537. her] om. D 2, D 1.
2543. in a] on the D 2.
218 Paris 's Speech and Dream. He describes Minerva. [BK. n
"Minerva
had spear and
shield,
with her Owl
on an olive.
Her Shield
betokens
resistance
against vice.
Her Spear,
her strict
justice.
Her Olive,
peace;
her Owl,
death.
Her Rainbow,
the changes
in war.
Her nymphs
"Wliiche is beset with many sturdy wawe,
Now calm, now rowe, who-so take)) hede,
And hope assailled ay with * sodeyn drede. 2548
And next Venus, Pallas I be-helde,
With hir spere and hir cristal schelde,
And a raynbowe immde aboute hir hed,
]3at of colour was grene, blew, and red ; 2552
And a-forn hir, as I can discryue,
Sche growyng had a grene fresche olyue ;
And j>er-vppon, with his * browes fowle,
In fe brawnchis I sawe sitte an owle. 2556
And first f e scheld of Pallas, f e goddes,
Signified, as I can expresse,
In vertu force, by manly hi^e diffence
Ageyns vices to maken insistence ; 2560
And hir spere, scharp & kene grouwde,
By iust rygour was forged to confourade
Hem fat be false, and to putte a-bake ;
And for fat mercy schal medle with fe wrak, 2564
)3e schaft, in soth, schaue was ful pleyn,
List merciles fat ri$t ne wrou^fc in veyn ;
And after werre to make a ful reles,
)per was fe olyve fat betokneth pes • 2568
))e owle also, so odyous at al,
))at songis singeth at festis funeral,
Declareth pleynly, f e fyn of euery glorie
Is only deth, who hath it in memorie ; 2572
And f e raynbow grene, red, and pers,
Signifieth f e changis ful diuers
]3at ofte falle in werre and bataille,
.Now to wynne and sodeynly to faille, 2576
Now stable as blew, chauwging * now as grene,
For Pallas play is alwey meynt with tene.
And alderlast, as I haue in mynde,
With hir nymphes, luno cam be-hynde, 2580
Whiche of custom, as Fulgens[e] tellis,
2548. ay with] with many C. 2550. 1st hir] a D 1.
2555. his] hir C. 2561. groimde] y grouwde D 1.
2566. List] Last D 1— nejora. A. 2571. be] om. A, D 2.
2577. as] in D 1— chaimging] chaii7rgi> C.
BK.ll] Paris s Speech and Vision. He describes the Goddess Juno. 219
"dwell in
floods.
Juno is a
virgin.
Her sacred
bird is the
Peacock.
Water be-
tokens
labour.
After the
flowoftlie
tide must
Fortune will
pull out rich
folks'
feathers.
Abide in flodis and in depe wellis.
And pis luno, as poetis seyn, [leaf as a] .
A raayden is, and of friite bareyn ; 2584
And J>e pecok to pis fresche quene
I-sacrid is, with his feperis schene,
Splayed a-hrod as a large sail,
With Argus eyen enp?-ented in his tail. 2588
fte water rercnyng in riuer and in flood,
Is pe labour fat men haue for good,
fte gret[e] trouble and pe besynes
feat day & nyjt pei suffre for ryches ; 2592
)?at who pat euer in pis flodis rowe,
Lat hym be war, for ay after pe flowe,
Of nature, ri$t as it is dewe,
Folwyng pe mone pe[r] mote an ebbe sewe ; 2596 come the ebb.
)3e most[e] drede is ay vppon pe fulle,
List Fortune pe fresche feperis pulle
Of riche folke pat schyne in gold so schene,
Sith sche of chau?ige lady is and quene. 2600
And Argus eyen, pat ar sette be-hynde,
In nygard hertis be oft[e] sythes blynde,
Whiche nat aduerte of goodis to pe ende,
)3at liche an ebbe sodeynly wil wende, 2604
Whyche pei no ping consydren in her si$t ;
For as pe faire lusty fetheris bi^t
Of a pecok vnwarly falle a-wey,
Ri^t so riches, schortly at a day, 2608
Wiln her maister sodeynly forsake,
Seyn a-dieu, and her leue take.
And as luno bareyn is of frute,
Ri^t so nakid, bare, and destitute 2612
Ar pes gredy hertis couetous,
Whiche to gadre ben so desyrous,
ftat in no ping can haue sufficiauwce,
fee fret of drede he??i putte in swiche meschawnce, 2616
Ymagenyng pat pe world wil faille ;
2584. and of frute] of frutes D 1. 2585. >is] his A, D 1.
2590. haue] ha)> D 1. 2591. besynes] heuynesse D 1.
2593. 2nd fat] so D 1. 2600. chauwge] chaungyng A.
2602. nygard] nygardes A, negardes D 1 — sythes] sithe D 2.
2608. riches] Ryehesses D 2, richesses D 1.
Their riclies
will forsake
them.
AH Juno is
childless, so
are greedy
hearts desti-
tute.
220 Paris's Vision of the 3 Goddesses. Jupiter s Banquet. [BK. II
"Misers'
wealth ends
in woe.
The purpose
of money is
to be given
away freely.
And in her fere ageyn J?e wynd J>ei saille,
Til [al] attonys pei mote go fer-fro.
And fus of good ay fe fyn is wo, 2620
Namly of hem fat so pynche & spare :
For fis no drede, as clerkis can declare,
J3e frute of good is to spende large ;
And who is manful, set but litel charge 2624
To parte frely his tresour in comovne,
Whan he discretly seth tyme oportune.
He hath no loye to put his good in mwe ;
For an* hert fat fredam list to sewe, 2628
Of gentilnes takef noon hed fer-to.
And in fis wyse, Pallas and luno,
With fresche Ven?^s, ben a-douw descended,
Liche as I haue schortly comprehended, [leaf 386] 2632
Vnder f e guying of Mercurivs,
Whiche vn-to me gan his tale fus :
Howe Parys yaf fe golden appele to Venus, and howe
sche promysed hym to rekyvere Heleyne.1
' Parys,' qwod he, ' lifte vp fin eye and se !
Loo, fis goddesses here in nouwbre thre, 2636
Whiche fro heuene with her eyen clere
So diuersly vn-to the appere,
were at a feast Wern at a fest, as I foe telly n schal,
with Jupiter. J
With alle fe goddis aboue celestial, 2640
]}at lubiter held at his owne borde.
Was non absent only saue Discord ;
And for dispit sche was not f er present,
To be avenged sche sette al hir entent, 2644
And in hir wittes many weyes sou^t,
Til at f e last, euene fus sche wrou^t,
Of poetis liche as it is tolde :
To^jt, Discord Sche toke an appil rouwde of purid gold, 2648
Apple With greke lettris grauen vp & dourc,
Junoi8>
Venus™ and
2618. >e] om. D 1.
2628. an] in
2622. >is] )>is is D 1— as] pat D 2.
C, A. 2631. a-doim] doim D 1.
2635. eye] ei$en D 1. 2636. goddesses] goddes D 1.
2638. the] >e here D 1. 2639. a] >is D 1.
2649. greke] grete D 2, D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 44 a.
BK. n] Paris's Vision. The Dispute at Jupiter's Banquet. 221
Whiche seide pus, in conclusions,
W^-oute strife bat it were aove auon "'inscribed:
To the
To the fairest of hem euerychon. 2652 Fairest,
And of Discord pis lady & goddes,
As sche fat is of debat maistres,
Hath pis appil, passyng of delit,
Brou^t to pis fest, of malis and despit, 2656
And cast it dou?a among he?ft at be bord and threw it
on the table.
Wiih deynious chere, spekyng not a word ;
But on hir weye fast[e] gaa hir hi^e.
And sodeynly so prive gret en vie 2660
In-to be court bis appil hath in brou^t, Thisstird
great strife
So gret a werre & swiche a contek wroust a"1?"* the :*
Goddesses,
In pe hertis of pis ilke tbre,
frat after long may not staunched be ; 2664
Among hem silf so J>ei gan disdeyn
Whiche in bewte was most souereyn,
And whiche of hem hab best title of riat as to who
had the best
For to corcquere pis bornyd appil bri^t. 2668 title to the
And first pei gan pus for bewte striue,
jpat of * rancour her hertis almost ryue,
To wit of rijt who schuld it first possede —
Loo, $it envye regneth in womanhede, 2672
)3at on is fayrer pan anoper holde ;
For eche woman of hir kynde wolde
Haue on som part pris a-boue anoper,
In eche estat, in soth it is noon other. 2676
And eche of hem, in her owne avis, Each thought
Hath loye in bewte for to han a pris ; most beauti-
For non so foule doth in a myrow prye,
Jjat sche is feir in hir owne eye. 2680
But liche a fool he hym silf doth quite, [leafssc]
jjat awmber ^elwe chesep for pe white.
A gowndy eye is deceyued sone,
)3at any colour chesep by pe mone ; 2684
For som colour is with fir made fyn,
2660. so] so a A, D 1 — prive gret] gret priue D 1.
2667. 2nd of] and D 2. 2668. bri^t] om. A.
2670. of] for C. 2675. on] in A, of D 2.
2676. soth] soche D 1. 2679. a] om. D 1.
2683. gowndy] gownd A.
222 Paris s Vision. He is to give an Apple tola/3 Goddesses. [BK. n
" ' Some wo-
men, made
up with con-
fections, look
well at night,
Therefore it
is best to
make one's
choice before
breakfast, as
Ovid bids,—
before the
drug-boxes
are opend.
Paris, be
well advisd
in your
judgment.
If you grant
the Apple to
Juno, you'll
get wealth,
renown
and honour.
If to Minerva,
And som encresicl with spicis & with wyn,
With oynementis* and confeccions ;
And on ny3t, by false illusions, 2 6 88
Somme appere wonder fresche and faire,
Jpat loke dirke a day-li^t in ]>e eyre.
fter is no pref but erly by }>e morwe,
Of swiche as nede no bewte [for] to borwe, 2692
But as Nature hath hir silf disposed.
}3erfore fastyng, or boystis ben vnclosyd,
Make Ipi choyse, liche as bit Ovide,
Whan euery drogge & pot is set a-syde, 2696
List ]>at pou be, after his sentence,
Deceyvid li^tly by fals apparence,
For now-a-dayes swiche craft is ful rife.
And in ]>is wyse Jms be-gan }>e stryf 2700
Be-twixe luno, Yenus, and Pallas,
}5at be descendid for J>is sodeyn caas,
By on assent, towching her bewte,
Jje dom J>er-of comitted vn-to ]>e. 2704
I speke to J?e, ]?at callid art Parys,
And holdyn art ri$t prudent & ri$t wys,
Be avysed how }>i dom schal fyne ;
For )>ei ne may to nor fro* declyne, 2708
But obeie, alle, by oon assent,
With-oute strif to J?i lugement.
But herk[e], frist, or fat )>ou procede,
Of eche of hem what schal be )>i mede, 2712
Considere ari3t, & take good hede fer-to :
3if }>ou Ipe appil graunte vn-to luno,
Sche schal )>e $ef plente of riches,
Hi3e renou/?,, of fame eke worfines, 2716
With habundauwce of gold & of tresour,
And do J>e reise to so hi^e honour,
})at )?ou allone alle oper schalt excelle,
For fi guerdourc, liche as I pe telle. 2720
And 3if to Pallas, goddesse of prudence,
2586. 2nd with] om. D 1.
2687. oynementis] onymentis C.
2694. vnclosyd] enclosed D 1. 2700. be] this A
2708. fro] ther fro C. 2711. new IF D 1.
2716. eke] & eke D 1. 2717. 2nd of] eke D 1.
BK. n] Paris s Vision. The Rewards that he will get. 223
)9e liste be fyn conclude of bi sentence,
feat sche may lady of be appil be,
For bi mede sche schal assure be, 2724
J)at of witte and of sapience
feou schalt hooly han be excellence, '"you'iibe
And of wisdam and discreciouw, BM
To discerne by clernes of resoiw ; 2728
Also fer as Phebus cast his li^t,
)?er schal nat be a more prudent kny^t, [leaf 38 d]
Nor in bis world, sith bat it be^an, and the
r\f • •• ««o^ manliest that
Ui mst report a manlier man, 27o2 everiivd.
Nor to bi name noon equipolente.
And aif to Venw^, of trew & clene entent, if you give
the Apple to
pe list to graunt, in conclusions, Venus,
Of be appil to haue pocessiouw, 2736
\)& fresche goddes, bat sit so hi^e aboue,
Schal be ensure to haue [vn-lto bi loue she'll secure
-..,,, , . . you the love
be fairest lady bat is or was to-fore, of the most
beautiful
Or in bis world euer schal be bore ; 2740 woman in the
And in Grece bou schalt hir knyjtly wywne.
Now be avised or bat bou be-gynne,
Justly to deme, and for no bing spare.'
And I anoon gan loken vp and stare,* 2744
Gretly astoned what me was best to do,
Til at be last I spake Mercurye to,
And seide, certeyn, bat I ne wolde there i said i
, wouldn't
$euen no dom, but bei naked were, 2748 judge the
So bat I myat haue fuiriy] liberte unless they
striptnak.-d.
Eueryche of hem avisely to se,
And consyderen Query circu?rastau?zce
Who fairest wer vn-to my plesauwce, 2752
And goodliest, to speke of womonhede,
And after bat to my doom precede.
And bei anoon, as 30 haue herde me seie,
To my desyre mekely gan obeie, 2756
In al hast to don her besy cure
2722. 1st £e] And D 1. 2725. J>at] What D 1.
2727. 2nd and] and of A, D 1. 2731. pis] >e D 1.
2734. 3if] om. A— trew] trou>e D 1. 2744. stare] to stare C.
2755. haue] om. D 2.
224 Paris s Visionof his Judgment. He givesVenus the Apple. [BK n
"So they took
off all their
clothes.
When I
saw the
Goddesses
naked,
I gave Venus
the Apple,
for she was
the loveliest.
She was de-
lighted.
The 3 God.
desses dis-
appeard.
Mercury went
up to heaven,
and I woke.
Hem to dispoille of eloping & vesture,
Liche as pe statut of my dom hem bonde :
In a poynt, pei nolde it not withstonde, 2760
)3at I my^t haue ful inspeccioim
Of forme & schap & eche proporciourc,
For to discerne, as I can remembre,
Avisely by ordre euery membre, 2764
And paraie at erst to iugen* after ri$t.
But whawne pat I of eche had a s^t,
I $af to Venus pe appil ri3t anoon,
Be-cause sche was fairest of echon, 2768
And most excellyng, sothly, of* bewte,
Most womanly & goodly on to se,
As I dempte pleynly in my si$t.
For pe stremys of hir eyen brist, 2772
I-liche glade and egal euene of li$t
Wern to pat sterre pat schewzt/i toward ny^t,
Whiche callid is Esperus so schene,
Venus hir silf, pe fresche lusty quene. 2776
fee whiche anon, pis heuenly Emperesse,
After my doom, of hertly hi^e gladnesse,
J3at of pe appil sche hooly hap pe glorie, [leaf 39 a]
And wonyn hit iustly by victorie, 2780
Eeioysched hir more pan I can telle,
jpat sche hir feris in bewte dide excelle.
And sche in hast, of trewe affecciouw,
Concluded hap, fully for my guerdouw, 2784
Ful demurly, lowe and nat a-lofte,
To Mercurye wa't/i sobre wordis softe,
Devoide hope of doubilnes & slouthe,
Liche hir behest holde wil hir trouth. 2788
And sodeynly, w£t/*-out[e] more Iniurye,
j)ei disapered, and pe god Mercurie
Street to heuene pe ri3t[e] weye toke ;
And I anon out of my slepe awoke. 2792
2760. nolde] wolde D 1.
2763. discerne] discrive D 1, descerne D 2.
2765. iugen] jiuen C.
2769. excellyng] excellent D 2, D 1— of] in C.
2770. goodly] good D 1— on to] vnto A.
2771. dempte] deme A. 2791. pe] and the A.
BK. n] Paris says he should le sent to Greece. Priam reproacht. 225
Wher-of, my lord, whom I most lone & drede,
3if 30 aduerte and wysly taken hede,
feat pis behest, affermyd in certeyn,
Was vn-to me assured nat in veyn 2796
Of goodly Ven?«s, liche as I haue tolde.
Wherfore, I rede :e ben of hertfel bolde, "So you'd
., better send
Me for to sende -with strong & my^ty hond, me to Greece;
With-oute abood,* in-to Grekis lond, 2800
After pe forme pat I haue 3ow seyde.
And, I hope, 30 schal be wel apayde, and when
Whan I haue sped, as Venws hap be-hi3t,
And hom retourned with my lady b^t : 2804
So schal 30 best, me list nat speke in veyn,
Beschauwge of hir 3our suste?* wy/me ageyn, you can
Whom ThelamouM wat/i-holden haj> so 3ore. for* Hesione.
Lo, pis is al ; I can seye 3ou no more 2808
Towching theffect hooly of myn avis."
And after pat, stille sat Parys,
As he prtt hap fully hym silf * aquyt.
But seye, Priam, alias ! where was pi witte, 2812 o Priam,
_. .. „ ,11 wlierewere
Of nechgence for to take kepe, your wits
]){ trust to sette on dremys or on slepe ! to trust in a
dream ?
Ful pinne was pi discreciouw,
To take a grouwde of fals illusiouw, 2816
For to precede liche pi fantasye
Vp-on a sweuene meynt with flaterye !
Alias ! resouw was no ping pi guyde ! Reason wa»
For Pallas was wrongly sette a-syde, 2820 g™«*>
Nat receyued with dew reuerence \
And luno eke, with al hir sapience, Minerva ana
For al hir good & lokyng debonayre, disregarded,
With hir* tresour & hir hestis faire, 2824
Refusid was, alias, of wilfulnes.
And sche pat is of loue pe* goddes,
And eke also of Wlcanus pe wyf,
2800. abood] abote C. 2803. be-hi^t] me higlit A.
2804. retourned] retourne D 2, returne D 1.
2807. so] of D 2, A. 2811. fully hym silf] hym silf fully C.
2812. seye] kyng A. 2818. meyiit] ofte meywt D 1.
2820. in place, of this line, D 1 repeats 2819, omitting guyde.
2824. hir] al hir C. 2826. pe] pat C.
TROY BOOK. Q
226 Paris the cause of Troy s fall Deiphobus says 'Act at once! [BK. n
mischief- In whoS SCIulse IS 61167*6 W61T6 and Stiff, [leaf 39 6] 2828
breeding wife
foiiowd. Prefernd was pe appil to possede,
Paris set Ageyn fall rist, for Paris toke noon hede
Pleasure ° J L J 7 '
before Truth, Saue vn-to lust, & sette a-syde troupe.
Wher-poru$, alias, — & pat was ful gret routhe— 2832
wherby be my^ty, riche, And pe noble toun
Troy fell. Of Troye was brou^t to confusion :
Only for he kny3thod hath forsake,
Prudence and gold, & in his choyse y-take 2836
Only a womman, and holden hym per-to,
bat after was rote of al her wo,
As pis* story ceryously schal telle.
But I in dremys wil no lenger dwelle, 2840
Deiphobus, But write furth how pat Dephebus,
Priam's ., , .^ .
third son, be bridde so?me 01 kyng Jrriamws,
then spoke: ' r . °
His tale gan in opyn audience,
And to pe kyng, schortly in sentence, 2844
As he pat list a troupe nat to spare,
Euene pus his conceyt to declare :
«if every one " My lord," quod, he, " }if pat euery wijt
to the pern of Aduerten schuld & castvn in his siat 2848
his under- .
taking, Of future ping pe pereil & pe doute,
And cerchyn it w&'t/i-Inne?i & with-oute,
From poynt to poynt, alwey in his rescue
To cast[e] doutes & turnen vp-so-dou7^, 2852
he'd never bawne no wy^t schulde to no pwrpos wende
bring it to an ' >
end. in any mater tor to make an ende,
Or dar presvme by manhod in his pou^t.
Who cast perilles achevep litel or nou^t : 2856
Eor ^if pe plowman alwey cast a-forne,
How many graynes in his feld of corne
Schal be devourid of foulis rauynous,
bat he doth sowe in feldys plenteuous, 2860
bawne schulde he neuer, in vale nor in pleyn,
For cowardyse prowe abrod his greyne.
set fear aside. Lat al swyche drede now be leyde a-syde ;
2828. werre] woo D 1. 2829. possede] procede A.
2832. >at] om. D 1. 2836. y-take] take D 1.
2839. >is] be C. 2840. in] om. D 2. 2845. a] om. A.
2856. cast] caste> D 2, casteth D 1. 2861, vale] valey A.
2862. cowardyse] cowardshippe A.
BK. n] Deiphobus advises the Trojans to send Paris to Greece. 227
I holde foly lengere to abyde, 2864
But fat Parys, my brother, make* hi??i strong, "Let Pans
With his schippis for to venge our wrong avenge us on
the Greeks.
Vp-on Grekis, \\itk al his peyne & my^t,
To preue schortly fat he is a kny^t. 2868
For of resouw }e consydere may,
How fat no man iustly may sey[e] nay,
But bat Paris hath coimsailled wele : He's given us
good advice.
For be my troufe, as fer as I can fele, 2872
It wer errour his pwrpos to coiitrarie. 'Two ad be
-iTTi /. 1,1 a mistake to
Wherfor, lat hym now no lenger tarie, thwart mm
But holde his wey with a strong navie,
For to avenge fe grete villenye, 2876
ftat Grekis han, ^if 30 takera hede, [leaf 39 c]
Don her-to-forn to vs and oure kynred ;
And, for fynal execuciourc
Of f e recure touchyng Exyourc, 2880 in recovering
Whom f ei trete in dishonest wyse,
Ageyn al ri$t and title of Justice,
)3ut to fink, it jQwith myn hert a wouTzde, the shame of
fee schame of whiche so new[e] doth rebourade 2884 menTwo'unds
Yp-on alle fat ben of hir allye.
Wherfor, f e best fat I can espie,
Is fat Parys take fis viage,
With swiche as ben of fresche & lusti age, 2888
Many to wende in-to Grekes * lond ;
And by force of her my^ti honde,
Maugre f e Grekis, proude & most ellat, Enabl? Pari8
Ravische fer som lady of estat ; 2892 sotn^bie
And f a?me 36 may, be kny^thod of my brofer,
3if 36 list, chauwge hir for f e tof er.
jpis most redy & schort conclusiou?i it-8 the
))at I can sen for restituciourc 2896
Of Exyou«, jif [fat] Parys wende ; "act"6
And of my conseii schortly fis f e ende."
And farme as fast, ful discrete & sage,
2865. make] go make C. 2866. venge] avenge D 2.
2868. a] a worj>i D 1. 2876. avenge] venge D 1.
2878. oure] to oure A. 2889. Grekes] grece C.
2894. chaunge hir] to chauuge it D 1.
2895. f>is] pis is D 1— schort] shortest D 1.
228 Helenus warns them that Paris' s Expedition means Ruin. [BK.II
2900
Then
Helen us,
Priam's
fourth son,
speaks
" You know
that whatever
I've foretold
has always
happen d.
So now I
warn you
that,
if P.i ris goes
to Greece, we
shall all be
ruiud.
The Gods
have reveald
it to me.
Elenus, f e ferf e sone of age,
Eos from his cete with gret reuerence,
Praying his fader graiwte hym audience,
}3at he may seyn in presens of hem alle,
Openly what fat schal be-falle,
As he fat most of secre f inges can.
And soburly f us his tale he gan,
With clene entent and trew
2904
Howe Elenus, J>e fourte sone of Priame, tolde & seid
}>at Troye shuld be subuerted, and Parys went into
Grece.1
" My lord," quod, he, " with supportaciou?z
Of $our grace, wher-in is most my trust,
Lat non offence ben vn-to 30111* lust,
Nor $ou displese, f ou$ I sey my conceyt,
Sith ^e knowe I mene no disceyt ;
For neuer $et failed no sentence,
But fat it fil in experience,
Liche as I tolde, in party and in al,
In pryue trete & in general,
With-out menyng of any doubilnes,
jjat it folwede as I dide expresse ;
Eemembre ^ou, and $e schal fynd it trewe.
And ^if God wil, I schal not now of newe
Spare for to seyn, liche as I conceyue,
Nor, to be ded, with fraude $ou deceyue,*
Declaryng first of trewe entenciouw,
As it schal folwe in conclusio?i,
)}at ^if Paris in-to Grece wende,
Trustejj me wel, it wil vs alle schende.
]5e goddis han, by reuelaciou?*,
Made vn-to me dernonstraciouw ;
And eke I knowe it by astronomye ;
For neuer $et in my prophesye
Nas I deceyued of fat schuldfe] falle,
Nor noon fat list me to courzseil calle,
[leaf 39 d]
2908-
2912
2916
2920
2924
292S
2932
2906. he gan] by gan A. 2915. and] or D 1.
2916. &] nor D 1. 2922. deceyue] to deceyue C.
2929-42 are omitted in~D2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 45 c (misplaced after line 2926).
BK. n] Helenus's Warning of the Ruin Paris s going will work. 229
So am I tau^t of f ing }>at schal be-tyde.
Wherfor, I praye, for rancoztr nor for pride,
Nor for en vie of [noon] old hatered,
To take vengau^ce fat 36 nat procede 2936
In jour avis, liche as 30 pwrpose ;
I seye 3011 pleynly, for me list nat glose,
3& schal repente 3if 36 Parys sende
In-to Grece, fe whiche God defende ! 2940
Wyteth fis wel, for f e conclusion?*
Schal fully turne to oure destrucciouw,
And fynally in- to oure ruyne,
Liche as to 3ow I can a-forn devyne. 2944
For fis f e fyn fat f er folwe schal :
Subuersiouw, bothe of tour and wal,
Of paleys, house, here in oure cite,
Al goth to nou3t ; 36 gete no more of me ; 2948
For me semeth, it ou3te I-now suffyse,
Jpat I haue seid, sith fat 30 be wyse :
For 3 if fat 36 aduerte to my sawe,
I doute not, fat 36 wil withdrawe 2952
}oure hand be-tyme, or f at more damage
Assaile 3ou by constreynt of fis rage.
For bet it is be-tymes to abstene
From fis* pwrpos, whiche is jet but grene, 2956
Jjan of hede hastily assente
To f ing for whiche we schal echon repe?ite ;
For plenerly f er schal no f ing socoure,
J5at fer schal folwe of jou & alle 3oure 2960
Despitful deth, wit/i-oute exceptions,
Of on and alle abydyng in fis tou??.
First on 3our silf, pleynly to endyte,
Schal fe vengauwce of fe Grekis byte, 2964
#01-113 f e furie of her mortal tene ;
And 3oure wyfe, Eccuba f e quene,
Schal lede hir lyf, foru3 Grekis cruelte,
In sorwe & wo and in captiuite ; 2968
2944. to $ow I can a-forn] to forn I can to $ow D 1— can] gan A.
2945. )>is] Jris is D 1. 2946. tour] toiw A.
2947. house] houses D 1. 2950. 1st f>at] What A.
2956. >is] >e C— jet] om. A. 2957. assente] to assente D 1.
2964. 1st >e] be A— 2nd J>e] this A. 2968. 2nd in] om. A.
"I tell yon
plainly that
you'll be
sorry it you
send Paris
to Greece.
It'll end in
our ruin.
Give up the
proposal
at once,
for Death
to you all
will be its
result.
You, Priam,
shall die.
Hecuba, your
Queen,
shall be &
captive ;
230 Helenus and his Speech against Paris s going. [BK. II
"your folk
and their
young shall
be slain.
Death must
be your end,
if Paris goes J
to Greece."
All sit sad
and silent till
Troilus
speaks :
"0 noble
Trojans !
What fear
has crept into
your breasts ?
And }oure leges by )>e swerde schal pace
Of cruel deth, with-oMten any grace ;
And Innocentis mercy les schal blede,
In 3our avis $if fat 36 precede 2972
Of wilfulnes a werre for to make,
And folily for to vndirtake
For to perturbe $our quiete and $our reste, [leaf 40 a]
Whiche schal turne no ping for pe best, 29 7 &
But to ruyne of 3ow & of vs alle.
I can no more ; but or pat meschef falle,
Mi conseil is a-forn for to prouyde,
And wilfulnes for to sette a-syde ; 2980
Specialy, whan deth, as I $ow tolde,
Mote be pe fyn, }if 36 $our pwpos holde.
Loo, here is al, with-oute wordis ino,
In-to Grece jif pat Parys goo !" 2984
And in pis wyse, whan pat Elenus
Had pleinly seid, as Guydo telleth vs,
Trist and hevy, with a pale face,
Ageyn resorteth to his sittyng place, 2988
Of whos sentence astonyd euerychon
Sat in silence, stille as any stoon,
Powerles her hertis to reswme.
To speke a word no man dar p?*eswme 2992
Of alle pe pres, but kept her lippes clos,
Til at pe laste, Troylus up a-ros,
3oug, fresche, and lusty, & coraious also,
And ay desyrous for to haue a-do 299(>
In armys manly, as longeth to a kny3t.
And when pat he, of chere ful glad & Ii3t,
Sawe his fader and breperen euerychon
So inly trowblid, pus he spak anon : 3000
" 0 noble & worpi, sittyng envirouw,
Of hi3e prudence & gret discreciouw,
Manful also, and of hi3e corage,
What sodeyn fere hap brou3t 3011 in pis rage 1 3004
"What new[e] trouble is cropen in 3our brest,
2975. 2?wZ ^owr] om. A. 2977. Vnd of] om. D 1.
2979. for] om. D 1. 2985. in >is wyse] bus wisely D 1.
2988. his] her D 2. 2989. Of] om. D 1.
Troilus ridicules Helenuss Fears about Paris s Expedition. 231
For be sentence of a cowarde prest 1 —
alwnyswant
Sith }>ei echon, as 30 schal euer fynde,
Desyre more, verrayly, of kynde, 3008
To lyue in lust & voide awey traueyle, workand
And dedly hate to heren of bataille ; war.
For )>ei her wit fynally applye
To swe her lust & lyue in glotonye, 3012 They mi their
To fille her stomak & restore her ma we,
To rest & ese eue?- for to drawe,
And to swe her inward appetite,
ftis her loye and J>is is her delyte, 3016
In etyng, drinkyng, and in couetyse StUd carekoni
Is her studie, and fully to deuyse for pleasure.
How J)ei may folwe her lust, wzt/i-out[e] more,
Of ri$t nou^t ellis sette * )>ei no store. 3020
Alias, for schame ! whi be se so dismaied, why are you
friffhtend at
And sitte mwet, astonyed & affrayed So!Siu?8'8
For J?e wordis of pis Elenus,
Ferful for drede as a litel mows, [leaf *o&] 3024
ftat he quaketh to here speke of fi^t ;
And, more-our, ageyn al skil & ri3t, without any
In p?-eiudise of J>e goddis alle,
He take]) on hyra to seyn what schal be-falle, 3028
Of t>ing f Utur for to SpeCVfie, he claims the
r J spirit of
As he had a spirit of profecye prophecy,
Grauwtid to hym allone in special,
As pau3e he were in konyng perigal 3032 ns if^he
man can
To )?e goddis, hauyng prescience uiuch as the
To schew a-forn, poru^ his sapience,
What schal be-tide, ou)>er euel or good.
Lat be, lat be ! for no wi^t is so wood, 3036
ftat hap his witte, to 3eue ber-to * credence, what sensible
)3at any man by crafte or by science,
)3at mortal is, hap konyng to devine
Fortunys cours, or fatys to termyne. 3040
Swyche causis hid, conselid in secre,
Reserued ben to goddis priuete ;
3011. her wit] herwith A.
3016. 1st f>is] f>is is D 1— is] om. A. 3020. sette] stet C.
3037. ber-to] to J>e C. 3042. to] vn to D 1.
" Don't let
what
Helenas has
s;iid trouble
you.
232 Troilus urges the Trojans to disregard Helenus. [BK. II
Men may devine, but al is but folye
To taken hede ; for pei don but lye. 3044
"Wherfor, I rede, as in pis mater,
Bope on and alle, & 3ou my lord so dere,
Texclude al drede & al pat may disturbe
Out of ^our hert, and tot no ping perturbe 3048
^our hi^e corages, pat Eleims hap tolde ;
And }if pat lie of hert[e] be nat bolde,
As marihod wold, to lielpfe] venge our wronge,
Lat hym go hyde hym in pe te??iple strong, 3052
And kepe hym clos in contemplaeiouft,
To wake and praye by deuocioim
"WYt/i-oute socour, a-dayes and a-ny^tes,
And suffrep swiche as be lusty kny^tes 3056
To haute her ^oupe & grene lustyues,
Manly in armys to preue her hardynes,
)?at pei may haue )>e better acquaintance
In tyme comyng, for to do vengance 3060
On her enmyes and her cruel foon.
And commauftdeth pat Parys may forpe gon
To execute pe fyn of 3our entent,
Aforn purposed in jour parlament, 3064
Vp-on Grekis for her offenciouw,
To parforme vp pe peyne of talioiift
For wrongis old, of whiche $it pe fame
Eehersid is vn-to our alder schame 3068
ftoru^-oute pe world, $e wot pis is no les."
And per-wit/i-al Troylus held his pes.
And sodeynly alle pat were present
Be-gan attonys, al be on assent, 3072
Troilus cou?iseil gretly for to preyse, [leaf 40 c]
And his manhod to pe heuene areyse,
His fresche corage and his hi^e prowes,
His feruent }el and his hardines, 3076
And of on hert gretly hym comende ;
And ri^t anoon per pei made an ende.
Let him go
and hide in
the temple,
and let bold
knights
do vengeance
on their foes.
Bid Paris
exact redress
for pur
ancient
wrongs."
All present
praise
Troilus's
advice,
and the
Parliament
ends.
3046. so] most A, D 2. 3050. nat] not so D 1.
3055. socour] soionr D 2, D 1. 3067. whiche] su'fhe D 1.
3068. vn-to] to D 1. 3074. areyse] Reyse D 2, reise D 1.
3067-78 are repeated in D 2.
BK. 11] Priam tells Paris to get ready ta sail. His Speech. 233
]?an Priam us, whan fat al was don,
Vp-on fe tyme of fe hour of noon,
To mete goth with-Inne Illyou?^,
Alle his sonys sittyng environs.
And after mete he called ha)? Parys
And Dephebws also, pat was ful wyse,
And seerely bad fei schuld[e] go
fte same day with ofer lord is mo
To Panonye, in al f e hast fei may,
To make hem redy, a3ens a certeyn day,
With al }»e array of worf i chyualry
}5at fei may gete in her company,
To ward [es] Grece to seylen hastyly.
And after fat, fe kyng al sodeynly
J?e next[e] day made his coiuiseil calle ;
And euene f us he seyde a-forn hem alle :
" 0 noble liges, beyng now present,
My purpos is to sey $ow myn entent,
With-oute abood, to here it $ef 36 list.
As I suppose, to ^ow is nat vn-wist
How fe Grekis, of pride and tyra??nye,
Of malis old compasid by envie,
In many wyse han ageyn vs wrou^t,
Whiche is so grene * fat I for-^ete nou^t.
For day by day, encresyng euer mo
By remembrau?ice, renewed is my wo,
Whan I record & castfe] vp and dourc
Oure greuys alle, & how fat Exyoiw
In seruitute among hem doth soiourne.
Whiche oft a day causeth me to mourne,
And myn hert almost asondre ryne,
For to considre & seen it be my lyue ;
Whos cmelte we han to dere abou^t,
f«t I haue menys sou^t
3080
Priam dines
in Troy at
and bids
Paris and
3084 Ueiphobus go
to Panonia,
3088 and make
3092
3096
3100
3104
3108
ready to sail
to Greece.
Next day he
say a to his
Council :
"Nobles,
you know how
the Greeks
have wrongd
us
and have
kept my
sister Hesione
in servitude,
3112 tholsent
3083. ha>] aftir D 1. 3084. ful] so D 2.
3088. a^ens] ageyn D 2. 3092. al] om. D 1.
3094. a-forn] amonge D 1.
3095. neiv IT D 1— now] here now D 1.
3102. grene] gret C — for-^ete] forgete it D 1.
3103. by] to D 1. 3109. asondre] in swidre D 1.
3110. seen] sent A.
234 Priam tells his Council he will send Paris to Greece. [BK. n
To ben in rest, w^t/^-outen any more,
"Anterior to Whan in-to Greco I sent Anthenor,
Greece to
bring her Peysibly my suster to recure,
And )>e surplus paciently tendure. 3116
But al for non^t ; )>ei toke of it non hede,
For al pat I offered of goodlyhede ;
It was nat herd, for lak of gentilnes,
Eecord of whiche doubleth my distres. 3120
we must cure Wherfor, we most, as techeth sorgerye,
iron*1 With scharp yrens sechyn remedye, [leaf 40 dj
and cut away To kut aweyr by fe rote rourcde,
proud flesh, jpe prowde flesche pat grow^'t/i in ])e grouwde, 3124
Whiche wil not voide with oynemeratis softe,
Al-be pat pei be leid per-to f ul ofte.
Bi$t so be ensaraple, we most be duresse
Getyn recur, whan pat with* fairnesse 3128
We may noon haue : wherfor, be 30^?* avys,
soi mean to My vurpos is to send[e] forpe Parys
send Paris to _ . n
Greece to In-to Grece, som lady per to wynne,
lady to And bring hir horn; & we schal her w^tA-Inne 3132
Kepe hir strong, maugre who seyth nay,
Til we sen som agreable day,
J?at pei be fayn, liche myn oppiniou/z,
exchange for To haue exchauTiore for hir of Exyoutt, 3136
Hesione.
My dere suster, whom I loue so.
we shan't We may nat faile bat it schal be do,
fail if the , ,
Gods and you So JJ6 goddis be to vs fauourable,
plan, And pis couwseil be also acceptable 3140
To ^ou echon, as it is to me ;
For whan a J>ing touchej? a co??imvnte —
Of wyse men as it is affermed —
for the com- Of alle ]>e comou?i it ouate be * cowfermed ; 3144
mons must '
ping touchyng al schuld[ej ben ap?*evid
Of alle echon, or it wer a-cheuyd :
Wherfor, I cast, be avis of $ou echon,
Pleinly to werke." & we't/i fat word anoon 3148
))is noble Priam was sodeynly in pes.
3122. sechyn] shapen D 1. 3126. >er-to] ]>ere D 2.
3128. with] be C. 3129. avys] devys D 2 (partly erased}.
3144. be] to be C.
BK. n] Pentheus s Speech against Paris s Expedition. 235
And after pat, amongfes] al pe pres,
Whan al was hust, in her alder si$t,
A kimt vp ros, and Pentheus he hiat, 3152 Pentheus
»J *• (the son of
)5at son[e] was of * Euforbius — Euphorbma,
De transformatis, as seith Ovidius — •
In-to whom he feyneth ]>at per was Smlt tile
Whilom be sowle of Pyctagoras 3156 souiof
Pythagoras,)
Holy t?-ansmewed, so as writ Ovide :
As touchy ng pat, I wil no lenger byde,
But telle forpe of Jus Pentheus,
A-fore pe kyng whiche gan his tale pus : 3160 *l»en speaks:
" My lige lord, vn-to 3our hi^e noblesse
Displese it nat, nor to jour worpines,
In presence of ^our maieste
)3at I schal seyn, for taquite me 3164
Towardis $ow of my feith & troupe ;
For sothfastly in me may be no sloupe Jea?Vorllou
Touchyng youre honow?*. pat wi't/i-oute drede, honour;
With 30! of feith I brewne as doth pe glede, 3168
Of alle harmys to bidden ^ow be war.
For dout[e]les afferme wel I dar,
}if 36 stond in 3our first avis, [leaf « a]
As 36 purpos, to sende forpe Parys, 3172 Jut if you
I dout[e] nat pat it schal 3ou rewe ; you'll rue it.
For God wel wot, of old & nat of newe.
I had a fader callid Euforbius,
Discret & wis, and rut vertuous, 3176 My Father
had fore-
And knowyng had a-forn of euery ping knowledge
By prescience and by for-wetyng,
To telle pleinly poru3 his philosophic,
So clere he saw -with his hertis eye, 3180
}3at per ne was no ping so secre of secret
Hid from his knowyng, nor no p?*euite
J)at he hit knewe ; he was of witte so sage.
And at pe last, wan he was of age 3184
An hundrid 3ere, with lokkis grey & hore,
3150. amonges] amorage D 1. 3153. of] to C.
3161. new IT D 1. 3172. }e] I D 2.
3178. by for-wetyng] byfore writyng D 2, bifore writyng D 1.
3181. ne] om. D 1.
236
Pentheus's Speech against Paris's Expedition. [BK. II
"and he said
tliat if Paris
went to
Greece,
Troy would
be burnt,
and all
Trojans
slain.
Pray, then,
give up
vengeance;
don't tempt
Fortune,
or you'll
repent it.
If you will
send, don't
send Paris."
His hearers
scold
Pentheus.
Alus! what
is ordaind
must happen.
I can remembre how he compleyned sore
And wepe also of pite tenderly,
Fully affermyng, jif Paris outterly 3188
Went in-to Grece to ravische hym a wyf,
]3er schuldfe] folwe swiche a mortal stryf
Vp-on vs alle, fat sothly fis cite
Schuld in-to asches & cyndres turned be ; 3192
And fat f er schuld no fing vs socour ;
]2at Grekis swerd schal cruelly deuour
Bofe luje & lowe, & pleynly spare noon.
Wherfor, I praye, among 3011 euerychon, 3196
Of ]>at I telle hauef no dispit ;
3our wrong to venge putteth in resplt ;
And rancour old, I rede fat 36 lete ;
And f e tranquille now of 30111' quiete, 3200
Of hastynes, fat 36 [nat] submitte
To Fortune fat can so falsly flitte ;
Perturheth nat, for now olde enmyte,
With new[e] steryng $oure felicite : 3204
For 3if fat 36 to fis iourne assent,
3e eue?-ychon f ill sore schal repente ;
And 3if 36 wiln algatis f edir sende,
In Paris stede lat som o]>er wende, 3208
List his viage be to 3011 no spede ;
)pis * my couwceil, & f is is [f ul] my rede,
Seide vnder support only of 30^7* grace."
And sodeinly fei gan echon to chace 3212
At Pentheus, & lowde ageyn hym crie,
Keprevyng hym and f e prophesye
Of his fader to her confusiouw.
But, o alias ! fe reuoluciourc 3216
Of loye or wo, [or] of felicite !
For fing* ordeyned nedes moste* be :
fee ordre of finges with* fate is so englued,
For fat schal f alle may nat be eschewed ; [leaf 41 6] 3220
Whiche caused hem for to assent in on,
3193. >at] bowne D 1. 3196. among] om. D 1.
3210. f>is] pis is C, D 1. 3215. her] his D 1.
3218. >ing] >inges C— nedes moste] most nedes C.
3219. with] by C— fate] face D 1.
BK. n] Cassandra 's Lamentations over the coming Fall of Troy. 237
Vndiscretly, J?at Parys schulde gon —
Vnhappyly with hap bei were envoluyd ;
And bus cowcludyng, her coimseil is dissoluyd.
But casuely, it by-fil ii$t ban,
feat bis avis vn-to be eris ran
Of Cassandra, and sche with gret affray
Of sodeyn wo gan crye " weyllaway : "
" Alias ! " quod sche, " alias ! what wil 30 don ]
What ! schal Parys now in-to Grece gon 1 "
And with bat word, sche barst oute to* wepe
Ful pitously wit/? inward sy^es depe ;
Sche gan to waile & swone for be peyne,
And furiously vrith noyse to compleyne ;
With woful rage & many pitous sown
Sche made a mortal lamentaciouw :
For to be ded, sche my^t hir nat wit/t-holde ;
With here to-torn, and vrith fistes folde,
Sche seyde " alias " more fan an huwdrid sythe —
" 0 stormy Fortune, why listow to kythe
])\ cruel force to cure aduersite,
Vp-on vs alle & vp-on bis cite,
Of mortal Ire and gery violence,
With swerde of vengau?ice wers ban pestilewce ?
0 Troye, Troye, what is bi gilt, alias !
What hastow don, what is bi trespas,
To ben euersed & turned in-to nou^t
With wilde fyre 1 bi synne is dere [ajbou^t !
A ! Priam kyng ! vncely is J>i chance !
What hastow gilt, oufer do greuau?zce
To Ipi goddis, or wrafjnd j?oru^ vnry^t
Hem to prouoke to schewe her cruel my$t
Yp-on J>i blod ? alias, what hastow do !
0 moder myn ! o Eccuba also !
What maner cry me or importable offence
Hastow wrou^t to han swiche recompense
])Q day to abyde, o noble, worfi quene,
Paris is to go
to Greece.
Cassandra
hears this.
She weeps
and wails,
3224
3228
3232
3236
and tears her
hair.
She says :
3240 "Fortune!
why will you
wreck our
city?
3244
Troy! what
have you
done that you
3248 should be
burnt?
Priam !
what Gods
have you
offended that
3252
3256
Hecuba !
what crime
have you
wrought
3225. by-fil] bibelle D 1— rijt] om. D 1.
3231. barst] brast A, D 2, D 1— to] & C.
3242. 2nd vp-on] on D 1. 3248. wilde] filde D 1.
3249. A] Ha A, D 2— Priam kyng] kyng Priam D 1.
238 Cassandra in vain legs Priam to give up his Scheme. [BK. n
"that you
ate to see
your sous
slain ? "
Cassandra
goes to
Priam,
and beseeches
him to give
up his plan ;
but in vain.
Fortune was
wroth with
Troy,
and turnd her
wheel, to the
confounding
of the
Trojans.
Of }>i sonys swiche vengauwce for to sen !
0 woful deth, cruel and horrible !
Alias ! whi ar $e now no more credible 3260
To my conseil swiche harmys to eschewe,
3our mortal pwrpos fully to remewe,
£at he go nat, as it is ordeyned ;
For f ou3t of whiche I am so constreyned, 3264
Jjat vnnef e I may f e wo endure ! "
And to hir fader f is woful creature
Halt strey3t hir way, & fallij) plat to grou?zde,
And of hir wepyng al in water wourade — 3268
By hir chekis so f e teris reyne — [leaf 41 c]
And as sche my^t, for constreint of hir peyne,
Vp-on hym sche gan to clepe & crye,
Besechyng hym to schape remedye, 3272
With pitous vois, as sche fat knew fill wel
In f is mater pleynly euerydel,
"What schal [be-]falle, & had it ful in mynde,
])Q sodeyn harmys fat swe schal be-hynde. 3276
But al hir clamour was [nat] but in veyn ;
For fat schal falle, as sorame clerkis seyn,
Ne may nat wel of men eschewed be ;
And eke Fortune, by gret aduersite, 3280
Of hasty Ire furious and wood,
And vnkynde to fe Troyan blood,
Causeles ageyn[e]s hem a-grevid,
And of rancour sodeynly amevid 3284
With blynde a-waites to cache hem in a traurcce,
Be violence of hir vnhappy chauwce,
Hath with a swy^e turned hir whele vnstable,
As sche fat is envious aud mutable, 3288
To haste Troyans to her confusions,
Of wilfulnes and vndiscresiouw
Ageyns Grekis a quarel for to make.
And fer-vppon han her conseil take, 3292
And acheuyd, as 30 han herd deuyse,
3260. now] om. A, D 1. 3270. as] om. D 1.
3276. swe] we A, folwe D 1. 3282. to >e] vn to D 1.
3285. hem] him D 1. 3291. a] om. A.
3292. >er-vppon] here vppon D 1.
BK. n] The Trojans Folly in rejecting wise Counsel.
239
Wtt/i-oute assent of pe most[e] wyse.
For 3if }>ei had pe dissuasioura
Of Hector herde, concluded in resou?z,
In pis mater, and of Elenus
The couwseil take, and to Pentheus
AdueHid wysely, and to his sentence
Wzt/i-oute feynyng 3oue ful credence,
And of Cassandra, pat neuer koude lye,
Prudently herde fie prophesye,
Fro point to point for to cast a-forn,
In swiche meschef Jjei had nat be lorn,
But floured }it in her felicite,
With-oute damage and aduersite.
But Fortune wil haue hir cours alwey,
Whos purpos holt, who sey th 36 or nay ;
For sche it was pat made pis viage,
With forhed pleyn and [a] false visage,
With sugre out-schad, and venym in pe rote,
Bitter of tast, and in schewyng soote,
Wrinkled double, like an hornyd snail,
Feyth in hir face & fraude ay in pe tail,
To hast Troyans acorden in-to oon,
)5at Paris schuld in-to Grece goon,
As 30 han herde : per is no more to seyn ;
For her-vppon pei cast hem & ordeyn. [l
If they had
but listerid
3296 to Hector,
Helenus,
Pentheus and
3300
Cassandra,
3304 the Trojans
would never
have come to
grief.
But Fortune
oo AQ will have her
OOUo way,
3312
faith in her
face, and
fraud in her
tail.
3316
Howe Parys toke pe See with a grete navye towarde
pe londe of Grece; and howe of chance he met
with Kenge Menelay, Heleyns husbonde, not
knowynge what he was.1
The tyme aprochep wharc pe somze schene
His golde?z wayw whirlid vp a-twene 3320
\)Q clere stems of lades so red,
Whiche han her si3t in pe Crabbis hed,
And Pliades, pe seuene stems bri^t,
Of whiche sixe apperen to oure si3t ; 3324
For pe seue?ipe draw/t/i hir asyde,
3295. dissuasiou?i] diffynaciou?i A.
3303. a-forn] to forn D 2, D 1. 3306. and] or D 1.
3308. Whos] What D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 47 b.
When Spring
came,
240 In May time Paris colkctsmany Ships and 3000 Knights. [BK. ir
And couertly doth hir bemys hide,
Whilom for sche dide a gret offence,
ftat vn-to vs causeth* hir absence. 3328-
For sche dar nat sche we hir stremys clere,
No? with hir sustren openly apere,
Whilom for sche with a god mortal
Dide a synne J?at was erimynal, 3332
Whiche noised was & kouj>e poru^ j>e heuene,
Jjat sche allone among J?e susters seuene
Schroudeth to vs schamfastly hir chere.
And whan Tytan in J?e $odyak spere 3336
Atwen J>is sterns had[de] take his se,
Of J)e Bole in f e sixtene degre,
in the sweet Yp-on Jje tyme of loly grene May,
ime> Whan fat Flora with hir hewes gay 3340
Hath euery playn, medwe, hil, & vale
of flowers and With hir flouris, quik and no Jring pale,
Over-sprad & cladde in lyuere newe,
blossom, ; And braiwchis blosme with many lusty he we, 3344
And bit vs* fully to be glad & li^t —
For by assurauwce j?ei haue her frute be-hi^t
Ageyn autu?npne, who so list hem shake,*
Whan on vynes ripeth eue?*y grape — 3348
And Jms pis sesouw, most lusty of disport,
Enbrasip hertis with new recouwfort,
Only of hope by kynde as it is dew,
ftat holsom frute schal j>e blosmys swe, 3352
Whan tyme cometh by reuoluciouw.
And Jms in May, )>e lusty fresche sesou?i,
and song of Whan briddes syngen in her armonye,
The same tyme out of Panonye 3356
Deiphobus Eepeyred ben Dephebus and Paris,
and Paris get »,..-, , , , -, .
together 3000 And with hem brou2t, chosen by devis,
knights and J
many ships. J)re |)ousand kny^tes redy for to goon
With hem to Grece, & schippis many on, 3360'
Ful vitailled of al pat may hem nede.
3328. causeth] caused 0.
3338. sixtene] sixtenthe A, sixtene]) D 1.
3340. hir] his D 1— gay] gray D 2.
3344. blosme] blosmed D 1— lusty] om. D 1.
3345. vs] is C. 3347. shake] schape C.
BK. li] Paris and Deiphobns set sail for Greece.
241
3364
3368
3372
3376
Paris had
22 ships.
Eneas,
Antenor and
Polydamas
go with him.
They are to
rescue
Hesione.
Paris and
And of pese schippis pe nou??ibre, as I rede,
Was two & twenty, liclie as writ Guydo.
And after pis, with-oute more a-do,
]3e kyng coramawideth vn-to Eneas,
To Anthenor and to Polydamas,
In al hast pat pei hem redy make [leaf 42 a]
With Parys kny^tly for to vndirtake,
As 30 han herde, pis lourne for tacheue.
And on pe tyme whan pei toke her leue,
Priamus, \vith schort conclusion?*,
Schewep peffect of his entenciou?*,
And specialy pat pei her clever don
For to recure his suster Exioim,
As 30 han herd her-to-fore me telle :
What schulde I more in pis mater dvvelle 1
Whan pei wer redy,* wzt/i-oute more soiour,
)3is Parys first, as lord and gouernour
Of pis viage made by Priamus,
And his broper, callid Dephebus,
Her leue toke vfith wepyng tenderly ;
And after pat to schippe manfully,
With-oute abode pei be-gan hem dresse,
And in pe name of Venws, pe goddes,
And my^ty love, pei token her lourne.
ftei hale vp ankir, and by pe large se
ftei gan to seile, and haue pe wynde at willc,
Jpe water calme, blaurcdischyng, and stille, 3388
With-oute trouble of any boystous wawe.
And to pe costis pei gan fast[e] draw
Of Grekis lond, for no ping hem lette ; near Greece.
And of fortune in her cours pei mette 3392 They meet a
A Grekysche schip, myn auctor tellep vs, is'Seneiaut'
In whiche per was pe kyng Menelaus,
Toward Pyram, a* fanm* strong cite,
For to visite a duke of hi^e degre 3396
3380 Deiphobus go
aboard,
3384
weigh
anchor,
and sail to
ing to visit
going t
Nestor.
for] om. D 1.
3375. her-to-fore] her a fore D 1.
3377. wer redy] redy wer C. 3382. to] om. D 2.
3387. haue >e] ha> D 1.
3393. vs] thus D 1.
3395. Pyram] Pryam A, D 2— a] ^e C.
TROY BOOK.
Menelaus's
wife was
Helen.1
the sister of
Castor and
Pollux,
242 OfMenelaus & Helen. Paris & his Fleet reach Cythera. [BK. n
Jjat Nestor 1113! ; and pis Menelaus
Was broker eke vn-to pe kyng farnws,
}5e wyse, worpi, grete Agamenotm,
Most of name and reputacioim 3400
Amongis Grekis for his worpines.
And Menelay, pis * story berip witnes,
Husbond was to pe quene Eleyne,
)2at was suster to fie breper tweyne, 340-1
Castor & Pollux, whiche, as I $ou tolde,
Wer of her hond so worpi kny^tes holde.
And in pat tyme, liche to her degre,
In Strynestar, her most chef cite, 3408
)3ei held an housholde solempne & ryal.
])e lone of whom was so special,*
Of wille & hert acordyng -with pe dede,
Atwixe hem two, of verray breperhede, 3412
)?at noon from other koude lyue alone.
With [w]hom was eke pe maiden Hermyone,
)}e 3ong[e] dou}ter of pe quene Eleyne,
Of fairnes most inly souereyne, [leaf 42 6] 3416
Most passyngly excellyng in bewte.
And pus Troyans, sailyng by pe se
Toward Grece, among pe wawis wete,
Of auenture happed[e] to mete 3420
Kyng Menelay, seilyng by her syde ;
And non of [hem] list, of verray pride,
For to enquere what pat oper was,
But passe furpe a ful huge pas, 3424
For non of hem oper koude knowe.
And ey pe wynde pesybly gara blowe,
])e Troyan flete causyng in a while
For taproche to the noble He 3428
)3at callid is Cithera pis day ;
And in pe hauene, in al hast pei may,
})ei cast hanker, & bond her schippis strong ;
3401. Amongis] Amonge D 1.
3402. >is] >e C.
3410. special] in special C.
3417. excellyng] excellent D 2, D 1.
3425. koude] kouthe A.
3429. Cithera] Citherea D 1.
and mother of
Herraione.
Tho the
Trojans
saild past
Menelaus,
neither would
ask who the
other was.
The Trojans
cast anchor
in the haven
of Cythera,
BK. n] The Temple of Venus in Cythera, & the Festival at it. 243
And after fat, hem list nat tarye long
To take fe lond, ful many lusty man,
Arraying hem as freschely as f ei can.
Now, in fis He of passyng excellence,
)2er was a temple of gret reuerence,
ftat bilded was of olde fundaciouw,
And most honoured in fat regiourc,
ftoru^-oute f e lond, bofe fer & ner —
The fest[e] day, ay from ^er to ^er,
Liche as it fil by reuoluciouw,
Repeyryng f eder of gret deuociou/z,
In honour only of Venws, f e goddes,
Whom f e Grekis with al her besynes
Honoured most of every maner age,
"With ^iftes bringyng and with pilgrimage,
With gret offeryng and with sacrifyse,
And vsid was in her paynym wyse.
For in fis phane, as fei knele & wake
With contrit hert, & her prayer make,
J?e statue $af of euery questyouw
Pleyn answer and ful soluciouw,
With cerymonyes to Yenws as fei loute ;
Of Query ]>ing fat fei hadde doute,
])QI hadde ful declaraciou??.
And fus f e Grekis vp-on Cytherouw
Halwyn fis fest with riche & gret array,
With rytis due, as ferforfe as fei may,
In hope fully fe better for to f rive.
And of fortune, whan he dide aryue
Yp-on )>e lond, by auenture or cas,
J)e sametyme fis fest[e] halwed was
Of many Greke, commyng to and fro
From euery cost, fat to f e temple go
On pilgrimage her vowes to acquyte,
Of fe place f e reliques to vesyte.
3432 and go
ashore.
In this isle
[leaf 42 c]
3441. it fil] I fele D 1.
3451. statue] statute A — eucry] here D 1.
3454. hadde] had in D 1.
3462. halwed] holden D 1.
3463. many] many a A.
3465. vowes] vowe A — to acquyte] for to quite D 1.
w:is a noble
Temple
3440
3444
3448
3452
3456
3460
3464
of Venus,
whose statue
answerd all
love ques-
tions.
The usual
Festival was
being held
there
by the
Gr
reeks
244
Paris at the Temple of Venus in Cythera. [BK. n
when Paris
landed.
Paris and his
friends went
to Venus's
Temple,
and sacrificed
and made
offerings
there.
Now Paris
was the
handsomest
of men,
and the
Greeks
askt why
and whence
he came.
Howe Parys enterde pe Ille of Citherea, wher lie met
with the fayre Quene Heleyne.1
And whan Paris dide pis espie,
He gadred out of his companye 3468
Jpe worpiest pat he chesen may ;
And to pe temple he took * ]>Q ii$t[e] waye,
Ful wel be-seyn, & in kny3tly wyse,
And dide his honour & his sacrifyse 3472
Ful humblely to pe Grekis liche,
With many nowche & many louwel riche,
With gold & siluer, stonys and perre
He spendep per, liche to his degre, 3476
And quit hym manly in his oblaciouw[s] ;
And deuoutly in his orisouws
He hym demeuep, fat Ioy[e] was to se.
Now was Parys of passyng gret bewte 3480
Among[es] alle pat euer werue alyve :
For per was now pat my^t with hym striue,
Troyan nor Greke, to speke of semlyhede,
Wonder fresche and lusty, as I rede, 3484
And in his port ful lik a gentil kny^t.
Of whos persone for to han a sijt,
ftei gan to prese, bope ny^e and fere,
So ryally he had hym in his gere, 3488
And coueyte, of hi^e estat and lowe,
What he was, gretly for to knowe ;
And of his men pei aske besely,
Fro when he cam, & pe cause why, 3492
Of his corny ng enqueryng on by on.
But prudently pei kepte hem euerychon,
feat no ping was openly espyed
In her answere, so pei han hem guyed, 3496
J)at euery ping kepid was secre,
Eueryche of hem was so avisee ;
Al-be pat sowme oppenly declare
3470. took] takeh C. 3474. nowche] an owche D 1.
3476. spende>] spendid A.
3482. my3t vrith hym] with him myjte D 1.
3489. coueyte] coueited D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 48 a (misplaced after line 3470).
BK. n] Helen resolves to yo to the Temple of Venus, to see Paris. 245
What bat he was, & ne list not spare, 3500 some of
-r» 1111 e i • Paris's men
±mt tolde pleynly be cause 01 his commyng, ten the
J J J J Greeks that
And how Priam, pe strongfe] my^ty kyng, per£metnt by
His fader was, most royal of renouw, JfJSone
And how he cam also for Exyou??. 3504
ftus eche of hem gan witA other rowne,
At pryme face, whan he cam to towne,
And per-vp-on wer ymagynatyf,
Sore mvsyng and inquisytif, 3508
Eche with other be suspeciou?i
Demyng per-of liche her oppinioiw,
And rapest pei pat no ping ne knewe,
As folkis don of pinges pat be newe. 3512
And whiles pei of pis mater trete
In sondry wyse amonge her wordes grete, [leaf 42 d]
])Q fame of hem gan anoon atteyne This comes
rr* , • p -r«l o r i /» to Helen's
To J?e ens of ]>e quene Eleyne, 3516 ears,
besyde in J?at regiouw.
And whan sche herd be relaciouw,
And by report of hem pat cam by-twene,
)3is faire Eleyne, )>is fresche, lusty quene, 3520
Anon as sche J>e sope vndirstood,
WM-oute tarying or any more abood,
Sche haste]) hir to pis solempnite, and she
])Q fresche folke of Frigye for to se — 3524 Festival,
Wei mor, God wot, in hir entencioura really to look
To se Parys, pan for deuociouTZ.
Vnder colour of holy pilgrymage,
To pe temple sche takep hir viage, 3528
With gret rneyne & ryal apparaille,
Parys to sen for sche wil nat faille.
But, o alias \ what lusty new[e] fyre Alas! what
Hap hir hert enflawmyd be desyre, 3532
To go to vigiles ouper to spectaclis I
Noon holynes to heryn of myraclis
Hath mevid hir, pat per schal be-falle ;
But as pe maner is of women alle 3536
3500. not] ne A. 3501. tolde] telde D 1.
3515. of hem gan anooc] anoon of hem gaw D 1.
3516. To] Vn to D 1. 3523. >is] J>e D 1, his D 2.
246 Women s tricks with Men. G-uido abuses Women. [BK. n
But all
women will
go where
men are,
to make eyes
at em,
touch em,
and entrap
em.
What women
like, they will
do, tho men
say No.
That naughty
Guido speaks
ill of women.
and I'm sorry
to have to
repeat it, for
I love em.
But I must
tell you how
he blames
Helen for
going to the
Temple.
To drawe }>edir, platly to conclude,
Where as pei be sure pat multitude
Gadrid is, at liberte to se,
Wher pei may finde opportunyte 3540
To her desyre, ful narwe }>ei awaite,
Now couertly her eyne for to baite
In place wher as set is her plesau?ice,
Now priuely to haue her daliauwce 3544
Be som sygne or * castyng of an eye,
Or toknes schewyng in hert[e] what pei drye,
With touche of hondis [stole] among pe pres,
With arm or foot to cache vp in her les 3548
Whom pat hem list, al-be he fre or bonde,
Of nature pei can hyni holde on honde —
Ageyn whos slei$t availep wit nor my^t :
For what hem list, be it wrong or ri^t, 3552
])ei ay acheue, who seyth ^e or nay,
Ageyn whos lust diffende him no man may.
J?us Guydo ay, of cursid fals delit,
To speke hem harme hap kau^t an appetit, 3556
Jjoru^-oute his boke of vrommen to seyn ilie,
J)at to translate it is ageyn my wille.
He hap ay loye her honour to transuerse ;
I am sory pat I mote reherse 3560
\)e felle wordis in his boke y-fouwde.
To alle women I am so moche bourade :
jpei ben echon so goodly and so kynde, [leaf 43 «]
I dar of hem nat sey[e]n pat I fynde 3564
Of Guydo write poru^-out Troye book ;
For whaw I radde it, for fer myn hert[e] quoke,
And verrailly my wittis gowne faille,
Whan I per-of made rehersaille. 3568
Liche his decert lat Guydo now be quit ;
For ^e schal here anon how pat he chit
])Q quene Eleyne, for cause pat sche went
With deuoute hert hir off ring to p?*esent, 3572
3538. as] om. D 1. 3545. or] of C. 3550. on] in D 1.
3554. Ageyn] A^ens D 1, Ageyn s A — him] hem A.
3555. cursid fals] fals cursid D 1.
3564. |>at] as D 1. 3567. gomie] gan D 2, D 1.
BK. n] Guide's reproach of Helen for going out to see Strangers. 247
To pe temple of Venus, pe goddes ;
ftus, word by word, he seip to hir Expres :
Howe Quene Heleyne, aftire that she herd of
hasted here to pe Temple.1
0 mortal harme, pat most is for to drede !
A, fraude y-cast be slei^t of wo?«ma«hede,
Of eue?y wo, gyunyng, crop, and rote !
Ageyn[e]s whiche helpe may no bote.
Whan lust hap dryue in her hert a nail,
Ay dedly venym sueth at pe tail,
Whiche no man hap power to restreyue ;
Recorde I take of pe quene Eleyne,
Jpat hoot[e] brent, alias ! in hir desires,
Of newe lust to dele with strauwgeris
Whom sche knewe nat, ne neuer saw a-forn,
Wher-poru}, alias, ful many ma?& was lorn,
Of cruel deth embracid in pe cheyne
W^t/i-oute pite ! now, sey, pou quene Eleyne,
What gost or spirit, alias, hap mevid pe,
Sool fro pi lord in swiche ryalte
Oute of pin house to gon among pe pres 1
Whi were pou wery to liue at home in ,pes,
And wentist out straurcgeris for to se,
Takyng noon hed [vn-]to pin honeste 1
J)ou schust a kepte pi closet secrely,
And not haue passed out so folily
In pe abscence of pi lorde, alias !
J)ou wer to wilful & rakil in pis cas
To sen aforn what schuld after swe ;
For al to sone pou wer drawe out of mwe,
)}at koudist nat kepe at home pi boiuzdis.
ftou wentist out as hare among [pe] houwdis,
For to be cau3t, of verray wilfulnes,
And pi desyre koudist not compesse ;
For pou pi lust list nat to refreyne.
0 many woman hap kaiv^t in a treyne
3575. new IT D 2—0] Of D 1. 3582. >e] om. D 1.
3595. schust a] sholdest haue D 2— secrely] sekerly D 1.
1 Eoyal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 48 c.
Woman's
guile ia the
Parys,
3576
Her lust
breeds
3530 poison.
3584
Helen desird
intercourse
with
strangers.
3588 Helen, what
evil spirit
moved you to
go from your
3592
home to see
strangers ?
3596 You should
have stayd
in your room,
3600
3604
but you went
out like a
hare among
hounds.
248 Women should stay at Home. Helen is seen ly Paris. [BK. II
Her goyng oute swiche halwes for to seke ;
A woman It sit hem bet hem siluew for to kepe 3608
should keep
in her (jlos in her chsiWiibie, and neen occasions :
chamber.
NO ship For neuer schip schulde in pereil drown,
wrecktifit Nor skatre on rok, nor be wiih tempest rent,
Nor wzth Karibdis deuourid nor y-schent, [leaf 43 &] 3612
Nor gon to wrak vrilh no wedris ille,
atayd in its }if it wer kepte in be hauene stille.
harbour.
For who wil not occasiou/is eschewe,
Nor dredijj not pereil for to swe, 3616
He most among, of necessite,
Or he be war, endure aduersite ;
And who can nat hir fot fro trappis spare,
Lat hir be war or sche falle in J?e snare : 3620
For harme y-don to late is to compleine.
if Helen had For sif whilom be worbi quene Eleyne
keptathome, > . /
Hir siluen had kepte at home in clos,
she'd not Of hir ber nadde * ben so wikke * a loos 3624
have lost her
good name, Reported }it, grene, fresche, and newe ;
Whos chauwce vnhappi eche maw ou$t[e] rewe,
hat cause was of swiche destrucciouw
•
many worthy
folk. Of many worfi, and confusiou?z 3628
Of hir husbonde & many other mo
On Grekis syde, and [on] Troye also,
In )?is story as 36 schal after rede.
But she went And so bis quene, as fast as sche may spede, 3632
to the Temple _ r n
of Venus, lo fe temple hath ))e wey[ej nome
Ful rially ; and whan Jwit sche was come
Ful deuoutly wit/i-Inne Cytherou7^,
and made her Made vn-to Venus hir oblacioim 3636
oblation.
In presence and sijt of many on,
With many lowel and many riche stoon.
And whan Parys had[de] J>is espied,
To J>e temple anon he hap hym hyed, 3640
Ful priftely in al fe liast he
At first sight And whan fat he had[de] first a si^t
ber. Of )?e goodly, faire, fresche quene,
Cupidis dart, J?at is whet so kene, 3644
3611. be] om. D 1. 3615. wil] nyl D 1.
3624. nadde] nat C— wikke] wikked C. 3641. al J>e] om. A.
BK. u] The wondrous Beauty of Helen, heavenly fair. 249
Or he was war, hajje hym markid so,
£at for a-stonyed he nist[e] what to do,
So he merveilej) hir gret semlynes,
Hir womanhed, hir port, & hir fairnes : 3648
For neuer a-forne [ne] wende he J>at Nature
Koude haue made so faire a creature ;
So auwgillyk sche was of hir bewte,
So ferny nyn, so goodly on to se, 3652
J5at he deinpte, as by liklynes,
For hir bewte to be* som goddes.
For his hert dide hyrn ay assure
)3at sche was no mortal creature — 3656
So heuenly faire and so celestial
He Jjou^t sche was in party & in al.
And considereth ful a-visely
Hir feturis in ordre by and by 3660
Ententifly with-Inne in his resou??, [leafwc]
Euery j>ing by good inspecciouw :
Hir golden her, lik fe schene stremys
Of fresche Phebws wttfi his bri3t[e] bemys, 3664
jje goodlyhed of hir fresche face,
So replenished of bewte & of grace,
Euene ennwed w/t/t quiknes of colour
Of j>e rose and J>e lyllie flour, 3668
So egaly, fat noujjer was to wyte
jjom^ noon excesse of moche nor to lite.
Wttft-Inne pe cerclyng of hir eyen bry$t
"Was paradys compassid in hir si$t, 3672
J3at foru} a brest }>e bewte wolde perce.
And certeynly, 3 if I schal reherse
Hir schap, hir forme, and feturis by & by,
As Guydo doth by ordre ceryously, 3676
From hed to foot, clerly to devise,
I haw nott englysche pat Jjer-to may suffyse ;
It wil nat be, oure tonge is not lyke.
3649. ne] om. D 1. 3651-56 are omitted in D 1.
3654. be] haue ben C.
3661. in] om. D 1. 3663. schene] sonne A.
3665. fresche] fresshly A, D 1, fresshely D 2.
3668. and] and of A. 3669. wyte] white A.
3670. nor] nor of A.
Paris
wonders at
Helen's
angelic
beauty,
and thinks
her some
•he is to
heavenly fair.
Her hair is
golden,
her hue, row
and lily,
her eyes
bright.
I can't de-
scribe all her
features like
GuMo does.
English it
not up to it.
250 Paris and Helen burn with Love for one another. [BK, II
I've no
flowers of
rhetoric,
and know
none of the
Nine Muses,
so I refer you
to Guide's
description of
Helen.
Paris walks
up and down,
and gets
nearer to
Helen,
who, full of
hot love,
thinks she's
never
seen such a
handsome
man as Paris.
Venus has
fired them
both.
I want[e] flouris also of rethorik, 3680
To sue his florischyng or his gey peyntwre,
For to discriue so fayre a creature ;
For my colours ben to feble and feynt,
ftat nouf er can ennwe wel nor peint ; 3684
Eke I am nat a-queintid with no mwse
Of alle nyne : f er-fore I me excuse
To ^ou echon, nat al of necligence,
But for defaut only of eloquence, 3688
And $ou remitte to Guydo for to se
How he discriveth bi ordre hir bewte ;
To take on me it were prdsumpcioun.
But I wil telle how Parys vp & douw 3692
Goth in f e temple, and his eye cast
Toward Eleyne, & gan presen fast,
As he fat brent hote in Louys fyre,
Jjat was enflawmed gretly be desyre. 3696
And oft he chaurcgef couwtenau?*ce & chere,
And euer he neieth to hir ner and nere,
I-darted f oruj vtiih hir eyen tweyne.
And ageynward f e fresche quene Eleyne 3700
As hote brent in herte pryuely,
Al-be no* man it outward koude espie ;
For sche fou}t sche had neuer aforn,
Of alle men fat euer ^et wer born 3704
Sey non so fair, nor like to hir plesaunce ;
On hym to loke was hir sufficiauwce.
For in the temple sche toke hede of ri^t noujt,
But to compasse & castyn in hir fou^t 3708
How sche may cachen opportunyte
With hym to speke at good liberte : [leaf M <z]
ftis holly was al hir besynes.
For hym sche felt so iuly gret distres, 3712
Jpat ofte sche chauftgef coimtenaimce & he we.
And Venus haf marked hem of newe
With hir brondes fired by feruence,
And inflawmed be sodeyn influence, 3716
3684. nor] or D 1. 3686. alle nyne] noon of alle & D 1.
3693. eye] eien D 1. 3702. no] >at no C— koude] gunne D 1.
3716. sodeyn] sodeynly D 2.
BK. Il]
Paris and Helen disclose their Love.
251
Jpat egaly pei wer brou^t in a rage.
And saue pe eye * atwen was no message :
Eche on oper so fixe hap cast his si^t,
ftat pei conseiue & wist[en] a-non ri$t
"WWi-Inne hem silfe wat her hertfe] ment.
And nere to hir euer Parys went
To seke fully and gete occasion?*,
J)at pei my$t, by ful relaciouw,
Her hertis conceit declare secrely.
And so bi-felj pat Paris nei^ep ny3e
To pe place wher pe quene Eleyne
Stood in her se ; & per atwen hem tweyne,
Jpei broken out pe sorame of al her hert.
And ^af Issu to her inward smerte.
But pis was don, list pei werne espied,
Whan pe peple was most occupied
In pe temple for to stare & gase,
Now her, now per, as it wer a mase.
ftei kepte hem clos, pat no worde a-sterte ;
)3er was no man pe tresou?i rny^t adue?*te
Of hem tweyn, ne what J?ei wolde mene ;
But at J?e last, Paris and ]>is quene
Concluded ban, wz't/i schort avisement,
Tully }>e fyn of her bo])e entent,
And sette a pwrpos atwix hem in certeyn,
Whan )>ei cast for to mete ageyn.
But list men had to hem suspeciouw,
)5ei made an ende, wzt/i-oute more sermou?*,
And depart, al-be pat pei wer lope.
And sobirly a-noon pis Paris goth
Out of pe temple, his hert in euery part
Wounded poru3-out with Louys fyry* dart ;
To his schippis he halt pe ri^tfe] way.
And pan anoon, in al pe hast he may,
Whan assemblid was his chiualrie,
On and oper of his companye,
3717. a] o?n. D 1. 3718. eye] eyen C.
3720. pat] And D 1. 3724. ]>ei] the D 2.
3727. KI om. D 1. 3734. a] on a A, D 1.
3744. wi'tA-oute] with A — more] om. D 1.
3748. fyry] fyre C.
Looks are
their only
messengers,
3720
3724
3728
3732
But they
kept quiet,
3736
till Paris
draws near
Helen's seat,
and their
secret is out.
3740
3744
3748
3752
tho they
arranged
to meet again.
Paris leaves
the Temple,
and goes to
his ship.
Paris says to
his mates :
" You know
that Priam
sent us here
to rescue
Hesione from
Telamon,
252 Paris tells his Comrades that they can't fight K. Telamon. [BK. II
In few[e] wordis, as schortly as he can,
To-forn hem alle his tale jms he gan.
Howe Parys exortede his pepele for fe spoylynge of )?e
Tempyle of Venus within f e seid Ille of Citherea,
fro whenes he karede to Troye al the lewellys
that he founde perin.1
rs," quod he, "schortly to expresse,
J5e cause is koujje to $our worjnnes, 3756
Whi my fader in-to Grece vs sent ;
For, as $e knowe, J?e chef of his entent
Was to recuren his suster Exyourc [leaf iia]
Out of J>e hondis of kyng Thelamouw. 3760
)}e whiche jjing, for ou^t I can espie,
Is impossible sothly in myn eye,
Be any weye, as fer as I can se,
He is so gret & strong in J>is centre 3764
Of his alyes about on euery syde,
And in hert so inly fill of pride,
To $eld hir vp he haj> nat but disdeyn,
J3er-of to trete it wer [nat] but in veyn. 3768
Wherfore, J?e best ])at I can devise,
Sith our power may nat now suffise
To werreye hym* in fis regiouw —
We be nat egal of my^t nor of renoura, 3772
For lak of men with hym to holde a felde ;
We may not semble \fiih spere nor with schelde
Tencoutttrera hym -with al his multitude —
Wherfor, fe best J?at I can conclude, 3776
Is, sithe Fortune haj? vs hider brou^t,
And J?e goddes han eke for vs wroujt
So graciously to make vs for to londe
At Venus temple, fast[e] by fe stronde, 3780
Whiche habourade)) with ful gret riches
Of Grekis offeryng vnto pe goddes,
Be lond & se, fro many sondry port,
3761. >ing] kyng D 2. 3769. Wherfore] Therfore A.
3771. werreye] werre D 1— hym] on hym C, D 1.
3772. 2nd of] om. D 1.
^. 18. D. ii. leaf 49 b.
who is too
proud to give
her up.
We're too few
to fight him.
But as the
Gods
have let us
land at this
rich Temple
of Venus,
BK. n] By Paris s advice, the arind Trojans get into the Temple. 253
Of men and women pat ban her resort
To J?at place in worschip of Venus,
So bat be wif of kyng Menelaus
Is ber present, ful riche & wel be-seyn —
And }if pat \ve by manhod my^t atteyn
To rauisoh hir, and j>e temple spoyle,
And of her tresour chesen* oute & coyle
jpe chef lowellis, & chargen our somers
With gold & siluer, and take prisoneris,
And maugrey hem to our schippis bring
\)is same ny^t with-oute tariyng,
We may nat faille, who-euer fat sey nay,
3if 30 assent, of a riche pray.
Wherfore, in hast bat ae sou redy make,
, , . . , ,
And Query man anon his harnes take,
And arme hym wel in liis best array."
And J>ei assent, with-oute more delay,
And in hir schippis ]?ei bid[e] til at ny^t,
Whan Phebi^s chare wzt/idrawen had his
Vnder wawes, & sterris dide appere
On j?e heuene with her stremys clere,
Or be mone bat tyme dide rise,
)?ei schop hew forfe in ful )?rifty wyse,
The manly Troyans in steel armyd bri^t,
To pe temple holdyng her wey[e] ri^t.
For fei cast no longer for to tarie,
But prowdely entre [in] J?e seintuarie,
In-to fe chapel callid Cytherouw,
W^t//-oute reuerence or deuociou?*
Don to Venus in hir oratorio ;
For it was clene oute of her memorie,
Honour and drede & alle obseruau^ce :
For fynally al her attendaurcce,
As myn auctor sothly can diffyne,
Was to ri$t nou^t but only to ravyne.
3784
3788
3792
3796
laus's
queen, Helen,
is here, I
tiS Temple's
so, get ready,
and arm
yourselves."
3800 They do so,
3804
[leaf 41 6] 3808
3812
3816
and before
moonrise
get into the
sanctuary,
not to
worship,
but to rob.
3790. her] the D 1 — chesen] to chesen C, chosent D 2 — coyle]
toylle D 2.
3791. lowellis] lowell D 2. 3797. make] om. D 2.
3804. On] Of A. 3805. rise] aryse A, arise D 1.
3806. J>rifty] trusty D 1. 3809. bei] the D 2.
3810. prowdely] prudently A — in] in to D 1.
254
The Trojans
seize all the
treasure,
jewels and
relics in the
Temple,
carry em to
their ships,
and kill all
who oppose
them.
Meanwhile
Paris goes to
Helen,
who gives
herself to
him.
He takes her
to his ship,
and then
returns to
finish plun-
dering the
Temple.
But Greek
soldiers from
a castle near
pursue the
Trojans.
The Trojans plunder the Temple of Venus. [BK. n
ftei token al fat cam to her honcle,
Kiches & tresour Ipat was in j>e londe, 3820
Gold & siluer, stonys and lowellis,
Beliques sacrid, fe holy eke vessels,
With-out abood oute of fe sacrarie,
And al y-fere to her schippis carye — 3824
It is a wonder, to fenkew on ]>e good !
Jjei kille & sle al pat hem withstood —
It was a pite for to seen hem blede.
And many Greke J>ei to schipfpe] lede, 3828
J}at after liveden in captiuite
Ful many 3er in Troye J?e cite.
And }>er-whyles goth Paris to Eleyne,
And hir enbrasij) in his armys tweyn, 3832
Fill humblely & with gret reuerence,
In whom he fonde no maner insistence ;
It sat hir nat, sche was so womanly,
For to Paris sche ^alde hir outterly; 3836
Hir hert in hap was ^olde or sche cam fere,
Jperfor to $elde hir sche had lasse fere ;
Sche can nat stryue, nor no womarc scholde.
And he anon, as gentilnes[se] wolde, 3840
CouwforteJ) hir as he best can or may,
And lad hir with hym, witA-oute more delay,
To his schippes ; and fer fill bysely
He sette wardis to kepe hir honestly, 3844
Whil he returnef to J?e temple ageyn
To spoyle and robbe & to make al pleyn
)2oru3 ]>B temple with his wallis wyde.
Now stood a castel faste J?er be-syde, 3848
I-stuffid wel with Grekysche sowdyours,
])Q whiche a-woke with noise of fe pilours
J}e same ny^t, & gan make a schout ;
And J?er-w*'t#-al anoon fei issen out, 3852
Armyd in stel, ]?e temple to reskewe,
And manfully after hem f»ei sewe.
3824. y-fere] in fere D 1.
3830. many] many a D 1.
3843. schippes] shippe A.
3850. 1st pe] om. D 1.
3828. schippe] >e shipe J)ei D 1.
3838. lasse] >e lasse D 1.
3849. Grekysche] grekis D 1.
3852. anoon] om. D 1.
BK. n] The Trojans leat the Greeks, spoil the Castle, & get home. 255
3856
3860
3864
3868
And so be-fil whan fei to-gydre mette
With speris scharp & swerdis kene whet,
pei ran I-fere as tigres al vnmylde, [leaf «c]
Liche wode liou?zs or Jns boris wylde ;
per was no feynyng ionnden in her fi^t,
Al-be j>e felde departed nas a-ri3t,
For ]?e Troyans doubled hem in nou??ibre,
pat outterly pe Grekis j>ei encombre,
And at meschef maden hem to fle,
Purswe after and cruelly hem sle
Wet/i-oute mercy to }>e castel gate.
Ther* was [no] reskvs, for j>ei com[e] late,
Of Jns skarmysche, for J>e fyn was deth ;
Now her, now J>er, J?ei 3eldew vp fe breth,
So my3tely Troyans hem assaille,
pat to wMstond it wold[e] not availle :
For of manhod )>ei J>e felde han worme,
And after fat, cruelly be-gonne
In al hast to spoillen fe castel ;
And to schip J>ei brou3ten euery-del,
Tresour & gold, & what ]>at fei may wy?ine,
And on fe morwe to seille J?ei be-gymie,
Stuffid with good, be pe Grekische se,
Toward )>e costis of Troye fe cite.
pe se was calm and fully at her wille,
Bofe of tempest and of stormys ille,
And clere also was ]>e bri3t[e] heuene,
pat in space almost of dayes seuene
At a castel callid Tenedoim
pei aryve vj myle fro J?e toim ; 3884
And glad and ^t j)ei to lond[e] went.
And after J>«t, I fynde, Parys sent
His messanger strei3t vn-to J)e kyng,
pat hym enformej? of his horn cowtmyng; 3888
Of her expleit he tokle hym euery-del.
3857. ran I-fere] goon to gidre A — I-fere] in fere D 1 — al] om. A.
3864. Purswe] And purswe A.
3866. Ther] Wher C— late] to late D 1.
3868. 3elden] yolden A, 3olden D 2, 3ilden D 1.
3869. Troyans] }>e Troyans D 1. 3874. to] to be D 1.
3885. 1st And] om. A. 3888. horn] om. D 1.
There is a
fierce fight,
but the
Trojans win,
and drive
the Greeks
back to their
castle,
slaying many
of em.
3872 The Trojans
spoil the,
castle,
ship their
booty,
3876 and sail a way
for Troy.
3880
In a week
they reach
Tenedos,
land and send
news of their
256 The Joy of Priam & the Trojans. The Sorrow of Helen. [BK. u
Priam
rejoices.
The Trojans
hold a Feast
to celebrate
Paris's feat.
But Helen,
away from
horn*,
weeps and
cries
that she is
away from
Menelaus.
She curses
Fortune,
and laments
the loss of her
brothers and
daughter.
She loses her
rosy hue.
And Prianms like)) wonder wel,
ftat so manly J>ei han born hem oute,
And made puplisched* in J>e tovm aboute 3892
J)is tydynges vrith gret sollempnite,
To hi^e & lowe, foru^-oute fe cite,
))at for loye Tpe most[e] and j>e leste
For remembrauwce halwe [and holde] a* feste, 3896
And jjanke her goddes in fill hu??ible wyse,
"With obseruaunces and 'with sacrifyse
On her auteris, with gret deuocioun.
And al J?is* while, he at Tenedoum 3900
Holdeth soiour vfith fe quene Eleyne,
)2e whiclie gan ful rewfully compleyne
Hir vnkoujje lyf, to dwelle with straurcgers,
Al dissolat among[es] prisoners, 3904
Fer seqnestrid a-weye from hir contre,*
Solitarie in captiuite. [leaf u <•?]
Sche wepif & criej) with a pitous chere ;
\)Q burbly wawes of hir eyen clere 3908
Liche welle stremys by hir chekis reyne ;
And for constreint of hir inward peyne
Ful ofte a day hir song was weylaway,
"With sobbyng vois, ]?at sclie so fer a- way 3912
Departid is from hir Menelaus.
For whos absence in rage furious,
Hir lif sche' hate]? & curse J? eke fortune ;
And in fis wo sche eue?*e doth centime 3916
WVt/2-oute soiour, alwey more and more ;
And for hir brewer Pollux & Castor,
And for }>e loue of hir doubter dere,
Now pale and grene sche wexej? of hir cher, 3920
)3at whilom was frescher for to sene
ftan jje lillye on his stalke grene.
Alias ! chauraged is hir rosen hewe !
And euere in on hir wo encreseth newe, 3924
3890. likeb] liked D 1. 3S92. puplisched] puplische it C.
3895. pat] And that A.
3896. For] Of D 1— holde] halwe D 2— a] an C.
3900. Jris] be C. 3905. centre] comtre C.
3906. in] and in D 1. 3907. &] om. A, D 2.
3913. hir] om. D 1. 3915. cursej>] causeth D 2.
Paris comes
to comfort
Helen.
"My Queen,
wliy do you
weep so ?
BK. n] Paris pleads with Helen to stop her Weeping. 257
feat like no woman sche was to beholde ;
For ay sche wept as sche to water wolde.
Til at pe last, in al hir heuynes,
Paris to hir com of gentilnes, 3928
Hir to comforte and tapese hir rage —
He besyeth hym hir sorwes to aswage,
Seiyng to hir : " what may al pis mene,
feat 30, alias, o goodly fresche queue, 3932
List ]>iis your silfe in sorvvyng disfigure 1
I wonder gretly how 30 may endure
So moche water causeies to schede,
feat with wepyng han dewed so $our wede ; 3936
For liche a condut pe stremys renne dourc,
Lik to a penaurat in contriciouw
3e 3ou disraye, alias, whi do 30 so 1
Lat be pis fare and lateth ouer go 3940 Give up your
Al jour wepyng, pou^t, and heuynes,
And beth no more, my lady, in distres.
Make)? an ende nowe of $our greuawnce,
For al pe ese, comfort, and plesance 3944
feat men may do, trustep 30 schul haue.
It is but foly in sorwe pus to raue !
Let passe oner alle pis scharp[e] schowres,
And here my troupe : }e and alle ^oures, 3948
Of what 3011 list schal haue suffisauwce,
As ferforpe, and more habundaurcce
fean 30 had among ]>e Grekis pere,
I 3011 ensure, and beth no ping in fere, 3952
feat I schal hold al pat I haue hi3t,
On my troupe, as I am trewe kny3t,
In worde and dede with al myn hert entere." [ieaf45a]
And sche anon, wz'tft a woful chere, 3956
So as sche my3t for sobbyng po suffice,
Answerde ageyn in fill lawly wyse :
" I wot," qiiod sche, " wher me be loth or lef ,
Sith I am kau^t & take at pis meschef, 3960 caught
grief, for you
shall have
every thing
you wish,
more than
you had with
the Greeks."
Helen feels
that she is
3929. tapese] appese D 1. 3936. dewed so] so dewed D 1.
3937. stremys] streme D 1 — renne] ran A, renyj> D 1.
3938. to] om. A. 3957. Jx>] to A.
3959. wot] not A— wher] whe)>ir D 1.
TROY BOOK. 8
258 Paris pleads with Helen to stop Tier Weeping. [BK. u
and can't
resist.
Helen says
that she won't
rebel,
but she begs
Paris to pity
her,
and God
will reward
him.
Paris assures
her that she
shall have all
she wants.
He leads her
to a royal
palace,
and says
that as
Vn-to 3our wil I may nat now wit/i-seie ;
I am so bouttde, fat I most obeie,
Vnder 30111 dauwger, pat I may nat fle,
In hold distreyned and captiuite.
$e wote also, be nature, oute of drede,
ftat it ne longeth vn-to womanhede
In strauwge soille to stryueii or rebelle ;
An[d] namly per, wher as hir querelle
Schal haue no fauour nor sustened be.
But 3ef 36 list now to lian pite
On me or myne, of 3our goodlyhede,*
$e may of God disserue pank & mede,
j)at wil rewarde iustly alle po
Jpat comfort hem pat ben in care & wo."
" Now lady myn," pa?me ipod Parys,
" What pat may like or ben at* $our clevys,
Al schal be do, trusteth me ri$t wele ;
For be my troupe, as fer as I can fele,
In any ping pat may $ou do * plesaurcce,
3e schal it haue with al habundauwce :
ftis I ensure of heste not fallible ;
Beth nat a-gaste, but fully beth credyble
To my wordis & hestis euerychon."
And per-with-al he lad hir ri^t anon
In-to a place of royal apparaille,
To comfort her, $if it wolde availle,
And secrely per atwen hem two,
))is Paris first, wM-outen more a-do,
Spake vn-to hir & seyde : "lady dere,
I feyne nat, but speke of hert entere,
And pat I hope 36 schal in dede fynde ;
Wherfor, I pray, enprenteth in 3our mynde
What I seie, and in 3our remembraurcce —
))is is to seien, sith 36 be puruyauwce
3964
3968
3972
3976
3980
3984
3988
3992
3966. ne] om. A. 3967. In] I D 1.
3968. her] om. D 1. 3970. }e] >ou D 1.
3971. goodlyhede] gentilhede C.
3975. bawne q*«od] quod tho D 1. 3976. at] to C.
3979. 3011 do] do 3011 C.
3988. f>is] Thy D 2.
3989. Spake vn-to hir] Vn to hir spake D 1.
BK. n] Paris tells Helen to cheer up, & take him as her Hmband. 259
Ben of pe goddis broi^t as now per- to,
And Fortune eke wil pat it be so, 3996
I dar afferme, pleinly for * pe firste,
)3at pel disposed haue nat for $our wirst,
But for $Qur good, & so 30 most it take.
Wherfor, I rede, to letyn oucr-shakc* 4000
Al heuynes, and loke pat 30 be
As glad and li$t liere in pis centre,
As pei 30 werne in 30111- ovvne lond.
For feytbfully I do $ou to vndirstonde, [leaf 45 &] 4004
3e schal haue here as moclie liabundance,
On euery part, with ful sufficiaiiMce
Of al pat may be to 3011 plesairot :
For of o ping I dar make avaiwt, 4008
In pis centre, as it schal be foiwde,
Of al plente we passyu and habourade
More richely pan 30111-6 Grekis Bonder ;
And pei 30 ben from hem now assondre, 4012
Out of pe lond pat callid is Achaye,
3e haue no cause 3ow so to dismay,
Sith at worschip and more reuerence,
At more honour and gretter excellence 4016
3e schal be cherisched pan 30 were a-fore.
And where 30 pleine pat 30 haue forbore
3our ovvne lord and ben as now left sool,
For whom 36 makyn al pis wo & dool, 4020
3e schal in haste be sette better at ese —
For certeynly, so it nat displese
j^or offende vn-to 3our womanhede,
In stede of hym, I pt^rpose, out of drede, 4024
To wedde 3ou and ben your trewfe] man,
To loue & serue in al pat euer I can,
"WWi-oute feynyng, to my lyues ende,
And be to 3ou as lowly & as kynde, 4028
As diligent and more laborious
ftan whilom was 3oure Menelaus,
3995. ]>er-to] her to A, \\er to D 2. 3996. eke wil] wil eke D 1.
3997. for] as for C. 4000. shake] slake C.
4002. and] & as D 1. 4003. J>ei] om. D 2, >ou$ D 1.
4004. to] om. D 2. 4008. of] om. D 1. 4012. J>ei] J>ou3 D 1.
4014. so] om. D 1. 4030. ^oure] om. D 1.
"the Gods
have brought
you to Troy
and Fortune
lias arranged
this
for your good,
be joyful,
for you shall
have as many
pleasant
things here
as you had
in Greece,
and you shall
be more
honourd and
cherisht.
And as to
your hus-
band,
why, I'll wed
you myself,
;ii hi be more
diligent to
please you
than Mene-
laus was.
260 Paris UdsHelenle of goodclieer. She cantresistthe Gods. [BK.II
"I'm of
Royal stock,
and Ml be
truer to you
than Menc-
laus was.
So, stop your
woe."
Helen urges
that she is
alone in a
strange land
she must
weep:
but as the
Gods have
ordaind her
fate,
she can't
resist them.
In euery ping ^oure lustis to obeie — •
Hath here my trouth til tyme fat I deye. 4032
And pau$ pat I in wordis be but pleyn,
For loue of God, hauep no disdeyn
Of my request, nor gruchip nat at al ;
For, at pe lest, of pe stok royal 4036
I am discendid & co??^me of as hi^e blood
As Menelay, and of birpe as good ;
And can in loue to 3011 be more trewe
#an he was euer, and chavwge for no iiewe. 4040
Wherfor, styntep pus to pleyn & wepe,
And late som comforft] in* ymv bosom crepe,
3our wo apeseth, whiche is not worpe an hawe,
And som myrpe late in 30 ur hert adawe : 4044
J)is I beseche, and of womanhede
To my wordis for to takyn hede."
" Alias," qiiod. sche, " how my$t pis be-falle,
ftat haue left my frendis on & alle 4048
In strauwge lond, and am here but allone ?
How schuld I pan but I made mone 1
I haue no cause, God wot, for to pleye,
Nor my chekis for to kepe dreye 4052
From salt[e] teris, alias ! it wil nat be, [leaf 45 c]
))at can noon end of myn aduersite.
For in good feyth, it were a^enfejs kynde
So sodeynly to putten out of mynde 4056
ftilke piug pat, for loye or smert,
In al pis world sittep nexte myn hert — •
For whom, alias, so sore I am* distreyned.
But, sith goddis han as now ordeyned 4060*
No bettre chau?*ce of hope vn-to me,
I can no more — I mote it take at gre
And huwblely accepte also her sonde ;
For I am feble her power to withstonde. 4064
Wherfor, I schal ageyn my wil [now] stryue,
4031. to] om. D 1. 4032. Hath] Haue> D 1.
4034. haue>] repeated in D 2, haue D 1.
4035. at] om. D 1. 4042. in] in to C.
4059. so sore I am] I am so C. 4060. sith] sith >e A.
4062. it take at] take it at A.
4065. my] her D 1— now] not D 1.
BK.II] Tender women carftahvaysweep. Helen gives up Sorrow. 261
Al-be for wo myn hert I f ele * ryue, in spite of
For to concente and lowly to admitte Helen must
obey the
Jjilke fing [fro] whiche I may not flitte, 4068 Q<*k
Maugre my wil, of necessite,
Fully to obeye what $e list do vritJi me —
It wil nat helpe fau$ I seide nay."
And Jws sche peyneth al fat [euere] sche may, 4072
Lite and lite hir sorwe to aswage.
What schuld sche ay lyue* in wo & rage, \viiy should
... we live ever
lo lese nil sine, so tender a creature — in woe?
An hert of stel ne my^t it not endure. 4076
But ay of women fe maner & f e kynde,
J?at f ei can nat of sorwe make an ende But women
Til f ei be leiser han y-wept her fulle ; tiieir mi.
But at f e last, whan f ei gymae dulle 4080
To make sorwe, it happef hem as faste
)3at by grace f ei sone it ouer caste
And liitly cache counfort of her smerte- — Then they
feel comfort
J}ei be so tendre fat men may hem cortuerte 4084 if**™ be
From wo to loye, & f on^t from hem disseuere.
fter is no storm e fat may lasten euere,
As clerkis wyse in bokis liste discerne ;
)5ing violent may nat be eterne ; 4088
For after stormys Phehus briber is. The sun is
And so be comfort & couwseil of Parys, storms. a
Sche da wed is of hir olde sorwe :
For euene liche. as be "lade morwe, 4092 oiad morning
follows dark
Of kynde swef fe dirke, blake ny^t, »>gnt.
So be processe hir hertfe] wexef li^t,
And of her wepyng dried is fe welle, so Helen
Liche as fe story schal anon 3011 telle. 4096 weeping.
Howe Paris and Heleyne were ressavyde into Troye,
of Pryamus and his lordys ; and of f e soroweful
lame?itacyozm that Cassandra made when she
sawe fe weddynge.1
4066. I fele] fele I C. 4071. wil] wolde D 1— seide] seie D 1.
4074. ay lyue] lyue ay C.
4079. y-wept] wept D 1— fulle] fille D 1.
4080. dulle] stille D 1. 4096. Jou] vs A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 50 b.
262 Paris & Helen are met ly Priam, who leads her into Troy. [BK. n
When
Helen's
cheeks
freshen,
Paris sends
to Priam
for horses,
men,
and jeweld
dresses,
and brings
Helen to-
wards Troy.
Priam meets
them,
with his
ladies and
nobles,
Paris riding
next to Helen.
Priam takes
the rein of
Helen's pal-
frey,
and leads her
into Troy.
Whan f e quene fat call id is Eleyne
A-dawed was of hir drery peyne,
And f e wawes of hir heuy chere
On hir chekis gonne for to clere,
Paris, in herte fresche and amerous,
In haste haf sent to kyng Priamus
For hors & men and ofer apparaille,
Clothes of gold f ill noble of entaille,
Made for Eleyne & wrou$t[e] for J?e nonys
With riche perle & many sondri stonys,
A-geyn hir comyng in-to Troye touw.
And after fat, Parys fro* Tenedoiw
Schapef hym to lede hir in-to Troye ;
And Priamws mette hem on f e weye
Ful ryally, as faste as he may hye,
With many a lord in his companye,
Ful many lady fresche & wel be-seyn,
And many mayde fat riden hem ageyn — •
First estatis and after comwneris.
Now had Parys alle his prisoneris
Set be-forn in ordre tweyn & tweyne,
And he rood next with f e quene Eleyne,
And Dephebws vp-on fe tofer syde,
And his kny^tes envirou?i dide ride ;
But nexte hym rood f e worf i Eneas
And f e Troyan, callid Pollidamas,
His meyne swyng eche in his degre
So gentilmanly, fat loye it was to se —
Eche from of er kepyng a certeyu space.
And furf e f ei ride but a soft[e] pace,
Til fat fe kyng hem mette sodeynly,
And hem receyvef ful solempnely,
As he best coude, & goodly toke f e reyne
In-to his hond of f e quene Eleyne,
And hir cowueyef f urf e to his cite.
Gret was f e pres fat abood to se,
[leaf 45 d]
4100
4104
4108
4112
4116
4120
4124
4128
4132
4102. sent] y sent D 1. 4108. J>at Parys fro] Parys fro J>at C.
4110. weye] woye D 1. 4113. many] many a A, D 1.
4118. he] om. A. 4126. ride] rode D 1.
4128. ful] om. A.
BK. n] Priam brings Helen, with great Pomp, into Troy. 26:*
Of soud ri folke, fat schove fast and croude ;
\)Q schrille trumpettis wern y-reised loude —
Vp to fe skye goth fe blisful sown
Whan al fis peple entrej) iu fe touw—
And many a-nof er diners instrument,
)5at al to-forn in at f e gatis went,
In sondry wyse fat made melodic,
)pat to heren fe heueuly armonye
Be musik touchid vp-on string & corde,
So euen in on & iustly f ei acorde,
It wold an hert rauische in-to loye.
And whan f ei wern entred in-to Troye,
Amyd his paleys kyng Priam us a-li^t ;
And anoon, as fast as euere he my^t,
In-to a chambre, riche & wel be-seye,
)}e quene Eleyne in hast lie doth corcueye,
Comauwlyng vrith hert[e], wil, and fou^t
His officers fat hir faile nou^t
Of any fing fat sche can be-finke. [leaf 4«a]
)3e spicis partid, anoon fe wyn fei drink,
And fan fe kyng toke leue til* soper,
And sche fer-whiles chauwgef hir attir.
But of fe loye fat was in fe touw,
In eche place wher men went vp & dou?z,
I am to rude, sothly, al to wryte,
So moche in hert fe Troyans hem delitc,
feat sanfe & sou?zde retourned is Parys —
]3ei weude haue be for loye in paradis,
feat he so wel spedde in his lourne,
And hath nat on loste of his meyne,
Wher-of fei ben in hert[e] glad & li$t.
And in al haste after fe nexte ny^t,
As writ Guydo, with-oute tariyng long,
Erly on morwe, a-for f e larke songe,
In Pallas temple, as myn auctor seife,
Assured was be ofe & eke be feife
With trum-
pets' blast
harmony
they enter
Troy,
alight at the
Palace,
4136
4140
4144
4148
4152 and Priam
takes leave
of them.
4156
4160
4164
4168
The Trojans
delight at
Paris's
return.
Next morn-
ing in
Minerva's
Temple,
4133. schove] showyd A. 4134. y-reised] areised D 1.
4136. >is] ]>e D 1, his D 2— entrej>] entren D 1— in] in to D 1.
4138. to-forn] biforen D 1. 4143. wold] wele D 1.
4153. til] to C. 4162. on] om. D 1. 4166. on] a D 1.
264
Paris weds Helen. The Feasting.
[BK. ii
Paris and
Helen are
wedded.
There is 8
days' feast-
ing,
with jousts,
tourneys,
and fine
meals.
But Cas-
sandra,
weeping,
foretells woe
to Troy for
this adulter-
ous marriage.
The city will
be destroyd.
]5e bond of wedlok of hym & Eleyne,
For euer-more to last a-twen hem tweyne,
])Q knot is knyt of J?is sacrament.
And J?is was don fully be thassent, 4172
First of pe kyng, and also be thavis
Of al J)e cite in fauour of Parys.
And so j?e feste and gret solempnyte
Contwnyd was witli moclie ryalte, 4176
Of ]?is weddyng in myrthe <fe solace,
Jporou^-oute fe toiw be viii dayes space.
What sclmld I write J>e reuel or* J?e dawices,
Jje fresche array or pe countenaiwces, 4180
])Q stole touchis, ]?e lokis amerous,
Jpe prevy gruchyng of hem J>at wer lelons,
£e grete iustis, bordis, or tornay,
Amyd palastre with many sondry play, 4184
}3e diuers coursis eke at enery feste,
fee large plente don vn-to fe leste,
fee straiwge metis, J>e manere of seruyse* —
I haue noon englische al for to deuyse — 4188
I passe ouer, for I was not fere.
But whan J?is weddyng cam vn-to fe ere
Of Cassandra, and first it dide espie,
A fousand sithe "alias ! " sche gan to crye 4192
Of pitous wo with vntressid heris,
And seide Jms al be-spreint with teris :
" 0 wrechid Troye, erryng in J>is cas,
With-Inne fi silfe to snffre fis trespas, 4196
For to concent vn-to swyche folye,
In sustenyng of foule auoutr[y]e,
}?at Paris schulde takyn vn-to wyve
]3e quene Eleyne whos husbond is alyve ! [leaf 466] 4200
0 woful Troye, to cruel is J>i fate !
For to be war it is almost to late !
The tyme is come, Jjou schal[t] distroyed be !
For many fader schal his sone se 4204
4176. moche] mychel A, D 2, D 1.
4179. reuel] rule D 1— or] & C, D 1— daimces] daurcce D 1.
4180. countenaimces] coutermmce D 1.
4187. seruyse] ]>e seruyse C. 4190. vn-to] to D 1.
BK. u] Cassandra s Prophecy of the Slaughter of the Trojans. 265
Hoi in be morwe, bat schal be slawe or eve
be slain.
Amyd ]>e feld, ]>a\, wil him sore greue,
And many wif sore schal be-wepe wives shall
lose llUS*
To se hir husbonde we't/^ large wouwdis depe 4208 bands.
Girt Jjoru} Ipe body, pale, cold, & grene !
Alias, howe schal ^e J?e sorwe mow sustene !
A, wrecchid modris ! how schal 2e endure Mothers shall
see children
lo se 3oure childre be cruel auenture 4212 8lni".
A-fore 3ou slayn with-oute remedie ! —
It wil nat help, {50113 * 36 clepe £ crie.
A, moder myn, Eccuba, jje queue, and Hecuba
How schalt j?ou bide ]>e scharpfe] stouradis kene, 4216
J)i worfi sones to sen a-for )>e slawe,
And in J?e feld by cruelte y-drawe* !
A, blinde peple, of deth ]>ou taxt no?t hede, The Trojans
Why nylt j>ou werche* [and] don afte/' my rede, 4220
And in Jus cas more prudent be« & wys,
To take awey Eleyne from Parys, should take
Helen from
As ri3t requireth, w»t&-onteft any more, i^ris.
And to hir lord iustly hir restore ? 4224
What ! trow[e] 30 his fefte and cruel dede
Schal passe Jjus? — Xay* ! w*tA-Oute» drede,
fee swerd of vengau?ice schal f ul scharp[e] bite The Sword of
For his offence, & we schal bere be wvte — 4228 shall bite
keenly.
Paleis & hous to seen, wit/t-Iune a pro we,
And touris hi^e leide on pe er]?e lowe !
Alias, alias ! I seie to }>e, Eleyne, Helen is the
Vnhappy woman, causere of cure peyue, 4232 tiie Trojan
Hard & vn^ely, and also graceles,
Vnwelful woman, disturber of owre pes,
}5ou haste vs brou^t in meschef & in were,
Kyndled a brond to sette vs alle a-fere ! 4236
Alias, ]?oii art [J)e] rote & grou^de of al,
Of many drery fest[e] funeral
)3at schal be holde amonge vs in pis toiua ! "
4211. A] om. D 1, Ha A, D 2. 4213. A-fore] A fora D 1.
4214. bou}] 30113 C. 4215. A] Ha A, D 2.
4218. y-drawe] be drawe C. 4219. A] Ha A, D 2.
4220. nylt] nolt D 1— werche] wreche C. 4225. his] >is D 1.
4226. Nay] nay nay C. 4233. vilely] vnsely A.
4237. rote & grounde] ground and Roote A.
266 Cassandra is put in Prison. Woe for the Trojans. [BK. n
Thus Cassaii-
dra cries her
Prophecies
of Ruin about
Troy,
and makes
such a horrid
noise that
Priam puts
her in prison,
where I'll
leave her.
While For-
tune smiles
on the Tro-
jans,
they forget
that her
Wheel will
turn,
and bring
them to con-
fusion.
And in Jris wyse Cassandra vp & doiw 4240
Aboute ran in subbarbe and in strete,
And crieth Quer, whom J?at euer sche mete,
Ful ofte sy]?e : "alias and weillawey ! "
Til Priarrws, be-cause of hir affray, 4244
And for })e noyse fat sche dide make,
With-oute more, anon he doth* hir take
And bynd[e] fast, fetrid in presou^,
With-oute mercy or remyssiouw. 4248
ftei take noon hede to hir sadde troupe, [leaf 46 e]
Nor to hir wordis — it was j>e more rouj?e —
But schet hir vp in bondis gret & strong,
With-oiite pite, where sche abidij) longe. 4252
And Jms in prisoun a while I leue hir mowme,
And to [J?e] Grekis I wil ageyn returne.
Of the sorowe that Kynge Menelay made when he herd
that Parys had ravisshede his wyff; and of J?e
manly comforde and couwcele J?at Agamenon gave
hym for to revenge hym.1
The vnhappy tyme & fe same while
#at Fortune falsly gan to smyle
Vp-on Troyans & bad hem [to] be nierye,
For whiche hi^ly )?ei gan her goddis herie,
Wenyng in loye to haue hew assured wele,
No f ing aduertircg j>e tz^rnyng of J>e whele
Of hir pat lastif stable but a thro we —
Whan mew most trust, sche can make a mowe,
Turne hir forhed, & hir face writhe,
(Suche loye sche haj?e hir doubilnes to kij?e,
And to wrappe hir denies vnder cloude),
Ageyn whos rny^t no man may hy?^ schrowde —
Whan sche most flatmf, f an sche is lest to trist :
For in her loye |)e Troyans litel wist 4268
What sche ment to her confusiouw.
4256
4260
4264
4246. doth] dide C. 4249. take] took A, D 2.
4255. &] & in D 1.
4259. haue ben} abyden A— haue] om. D 2.
4261. hir] o]>er D 1. 4266. Ageyn] Ajeus D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 51 a.
BK. n] Menclaus hears of the Wrongs the Trojans have done him. 267
For while bat bei aboute in al be toiw
Wenden of Grekis haue gete?i f ul recur chuckle over
tlieir success
Of her damages, & euere to haue be sure 4272
bilke pray j>«t Parys liad[de] worane,
}3e wykke* fame <fc rumor is y-ro?me
With swyfte wynges, of al bat bei hara wroust.
To Menelay be tydyngges wern [y-]brou}t, 4276 Meneiaus
Whils he abood with Nestor at Pyra,
First of be te??iple in Cyther[e]a. of their
How it was spoilled, & be robberye his Temple,
Of gold & tresour, & be tyranye 4280
Vp-on his men be Troyans execute,
Bobe of assaillyng <fc of al be sute
bat on Grekis bei made cruel ly, their
. . . Jt slaughter of
And how pat bei ne spared outterly 4284 hi8 folk»
Man nor woman bat com in her weye,
ftat bei ne toke, <fe ladden as for praye*
To her sch[i]ppes, and also of be fy^t
A-for be castel, bat was on be nyjt. 4288
And aldirlast he hereth of his wif. and their
carrying off
Whom he louede as mykel as his lif — ins wife.
More tendirly, God wot, a bousand folde.
For whom, astonyed, at hert he wexe as colde 4292
As any ston, and paleth of his hewe.
His hertly wo so inly gan renewe,
|3at first whan he herde hir name sovne,
Wz't/i-out[e] more anoon he fel a-swovne ; 4296 He swoons.
For he ne myjt endure for to stoncle,
Til duke Nestor toke hym by be honde [leaf 46 d] Nestor wakes
And hym awoke of his dedly swowe.
" Alias," cmod he, " why haue I lost, & howe, 4300
71 * laments his
Mi lives lust, myn hertly suffisaimce !
A, com now deth and make of my greua?zce
Fully an ende vrikh bi cruel dart,
j)at Wounded am boru^ on euery parte — 4304
Myn hert, also, korve in euery veyne
4272. en«re] om. A — haue] om. D 1.
4274. wykke] whiche C, A, wicker! D 1.
4276. y-broujt] brou3t D 1. 4286. praye] a praye C.
4290. mykel] mochel D 1. 4292. as] al D 1.
4294. renewe] remwe A. 4301. lives] lovis A.
268 Menelaus's Lament. Agamemnon comforts him. [BK. n
Menelaus
laments the
loss of his
wife Helen.
Nestor con-
soles him.
They send for
Agamemnon,
who comforts
Menelaus.
For 3ow, my wif, for }ow, iny» owne Eleyne,
J5at be deuorcid fro me, weillawey !
Far-wel my loye, farwel myn olde pley !
Now ban strangeris of ^ou pocessiou^,
Wliiche wil to me be ful confusiouw.
Alias, I not how pei 3011 cherisclie or trete,
My faire Eleyne, pat wer to me so mete !
Now 36 ar gon, pensifhed me slethe —
I may nat waite now but after dethe."
And aftir pis, amyd of al his wo,
}?is Menelay schope hym for to go
To his regne, but litel per be-syde ;
He axeth hors & seide he wolde ride
Sool to compleyne of pat he felt hyw greue.
But al pis while Nestor wil nat leue
To go vrik/i hym for consolaciou??,
Of frendly ri^t hauyng compassiouw,
Hym to comforte vriHi al his ful[le] my^t,
Ledyng witfi hym many worpi kny^t
In-to pe regne of pis Menelaus.
)3an, first of al, pe story tellep vs,
How pei sent for Agamenoiw,
And for Castor to com to hym anoon,
And for Pollux, $if it my3t[e] be ;
And whan pei wer coiner alle pre,
And saie her broper in swiche mesclief brou^t,
Almost mordred wip* his owne pou^t,
With-oute abood pe wyse Agamenoim
To $if hym couwforte & consolaciourc
Dide his labour & diligence entere,
Seiyng to hym, ri$t as 30 schal here :
" 0 broper mjm, what wo, what heuynes,
What dedly sorwe pus inly may oppres
3our kny3tly hert or trouble $oure mawhede,
More furiously y-wis pan it is nede;
4308
4312
4316
4320
4324
4328
4332
4336
4340
4306. 2nd ^ow] >ou$ D 1.
4307. deuorcid] devoced D 2, deuoced D 1.
4311. or] & D 1. 4315. of al] in al A, D 1, al in D 2.
4324. with] to D 1— many] many a A.
4326. vs] bus D 2, D 1. 4331. her] his D 1— in] to D 1.
4332. wih] in C. 4338. may] my^t D 1.
BK. n] Agamemnon advises Menclaus to feign Cheerfulness. 269
For foil} fat ri^t requered outeiiy
3ow for to sorwe and had cause why,
3et, me semeth, by iuste prouidence,
3e schuldo slhly dissymble* sowe offence — 4344 Agamemnon
o-ii i • . i . i . tells Mene-
bith echo Wiseman in his aduersite laus to con-
Sclmlde feyne cher & kepen in secre distress,
J?e inward wo fat bynt hyra in distresse — [leaf 47 a]
Be manly force rathest fer compesse 4348
)3e sperit of Ire and malencolie,
Where fe peple it sonest my^t espic.
It is a doctrine of hem fat be prudent,
J}at whan a man \\iili furie is to-rent, 4352
To feyne chore til tyme he ?e leyser and feign
clieeriness
J)at [he] of vengaiwce kyndle* may fe fer; take resell e
For sorwe oute-schewid, ^if I shal nat feine,
Who-so take hede, it doth f inges tweyne : 4356
It causeth frendis for to si^e sore,
And his enymyes to reioische more —
])\ frende in hert is sory of nature,
ftin enemy glad of f i mysaventure. 4360
Wherfore, in hert, whan wo doth most aboiwde,
Feyne gladnes fin enmy to confou?ide, xius'iicon-
And schewe in cher as f ou rou^tist nou^t
Of f ing fat is most greuous in f i f ou^t. 4364
And wher f ou hast most mater to cowpleyne,
Make ber good* face & glad* in port be* feine ; He must put
a good face
For in-to teris f 0113 f ou al distille,
And rende fi silfe, as fou woldest* }>e spille, 4368
It helpith nat to aleggen f i greuawce :
For nouf er honour nor pwrsut of vengau?ice,
With sorwe niakyng mow ben execut —
J^ou} it last ay, fer cometh fere-of no frut. 4372
Men seyn how he fat can dissymble a wrong,
4344. sli3ly dissymble] lijtlydissymvble C— dissymble] dissymle A.
4347- hym] he?;t D 1. 4349. and] & of D 2.
4354. kyndle] he kyndly C.
4356. take] toke D 1, takej> A.
4359. is sory of nature] whan woo doth most habunde A.
4360, 61 arc omitted in A. 4363. rou3tist] Jx>u}tist D !.•
4365. most] moost is A, most is D 2.
4366. good] glad C— glad] good C— J>e] J>ou C.
4368. rende] rude D 1 — woldest] wost C, wolde D 1.
Tliis '11 show
be has a
manly heart.
They must
flght with
swords,
not words.
270 Agamemnon urges Menelaus to Fight, and not Mourn. [BK. n
How he is sli^e and of herte stronge ;
And who can ben peisible in his smerte,
It is a tokene he hath a manly herte, 4376
Nat to wepen as wowmen in her rage,
Whiche is contrarie to an hije corage.
With word & wepyng for to venge oure peyne,
Be no menys to worschip to attayne ; 4380
Lat vs with swerde & nat with wordis fi^t,
Oure tonge apese, he manhod preve OWQ rny^t :
Word is but wynde, & water pat we wepe,
And pou$ pe tempest and pe flodis depe 4384
Of pis two encresen euere-mo,
J?ei may nat do but augmente oure wo —
And to oure foon, per-of whan pei here,
Bope of oure dool & oure* heuy chere, 4388
Al is to hem but encres of loye.
Wherfore, broj>ir, a while dope a-coye
])Q cruel torment pat byndep }ow so sore ;
For in prouerbe it hap ben said ful ^ore, 4392
]2at pe prowes of a manly knyjt
Is preued most in mesclief, and his my^t :
To ben assured in aduersite,
Strongly sustene what wo pat it be, [leaf 47 &] 4396
Nat cowardly his corage to submitte
In euery pereil, nor his honour flitte
J^oru} no dispeire, but hopera al-wey wel,
And haue a trust, trewe as any stel, 4400
Tacheven ay what he take on honde.
For finally I do ^ou vndirstonde,*
J)at of hym silfe who hap good fantasie
To sette vp-on and putte in lupartie, 4404
What pat be-falle, [or] hap what hap[pe] may,
Takyng what chauttce wil tumen on his play,
The fyn of whiche gladly is victorie,
4374. How] And howe D 1.
4375. ben peisible] peysible ben A.
4377. wommen] a woman D 1.
4386. f>ei] The A— oure'] of oure D 1. 4388. oure] of oure C.
4391. byndep] byden A.
4402. vndirstonde] to vndirstonde C, D 1.
4407. whiche] soche D 1— whiche gladly is] suche is gladly D 2.
Menelirtls
must bear
his woe,
have a trust,
true as steel,
that he'll
work on
and win.
BK. n] The Greek lords assemble, and appoint their Leader. 271
J3ei feile sclde of fe palmr of glorie. 4408
And tyme is now, to spckc in wordis fcwe,
0 brofir myn, manhod for to sclnw,
To pluk vp herte & 3011 to make strong ;
And to venge ^our damages & joure wronge, 4412
We schal echon help & leye to honde —
Kynges, dukes, and lordis of fis londe —
And attonys done oure besynes,
1 $ou behete, }our harmys to redresse. 4416
And in dispit of whom fat euere vs lette,
We schal vs loge & oure tentis sette
Euene in fe felde a-fore Troye toim,
And leyne a sege to her distruccioim, 4420
Al-be her-of I sette as now no day.
But, brofir, first, in al j?e haste we may,
Lete make lettris, wat/i-oute more sermon??,
To alle f e lordis of jns regioiw, 4424
Of J?is mater touching yonre villenye,
To come to-gidre & schape remedie —
J?is is theffect* of al fat I can seyn."
And fus relessid so??zwhat of his peyne 4428
Is Menelaus foru^ comfort of his brofer;
For whan he sawe it my^t[e] be?i noon ofer,
And of his tale J> e kyng made an ende,
Jjoru^-oute fe londe he dide his letteris sende,
First to his kyn and to his allye
To come to helpe hym of her curtesye.
And first of alle to Menelaus
Cam Achilles, and vrith hym Patroclus, 4436
And alder-nexte stronge* Diomede
And many an ofer to helperj in fis nede.
And alle echon, in open parlement,
Jjei wer acordid ful by on assent 4440
To be goue?ned as Agamenouw
List to ordeyne in his discretions —
Of fis viage fei made hym gouernour,
4408. }>e] om. D 1— 2nd of] >e D 1.
4411. 3011 to make] maTilv make 3011 D 1.
4417. whom] whoo A, who D 2, D 1.
4427. theffect] J>e theffect C. 4437. stronge] worbi C.
4442. in] by D 1.
.Mt-nelaus
must pluck
up courage,
says Aga-
memnon,
ami they'll
soon besiege
Troy and
destroy it.
All the Greek
Lords must
be summond.
Menelaus
accordingly
4432 sends em
letters,
and Achilles,
Patroclus,
Diomede
and others
come,
and agree on
Agamemnon
as their
Leader.
272 The thwarted Expedition of Castor & Pollux after Paris. [BK. n
Before this,
Pollux and
Castor
set sail to
rescue Helen
from Paris.
A storm rises,
lightning
shivers their
mast,
the ship's
planks part,
And of her ost chefteyn and emperour. 4444
Among hem alle fer was ful vnite [leaf 470]
Yp-on Troy aii s avengid for to be,
And from fis * purpos neuer to remewe.
But first, I fynde, Paris for to swe, 4448
]5e viage toke ]?e worjn brefer tweyne,
Pollux and Castor, to recure Eleyiie.
$et neue?'-)>e-les, as somme bokis telle,
jjat j^ese kynges no lenger wolde dwelle, 4452
But as fast as Paris was a-goon
jpei toke a schip and folweden* a-noon,
With many worjn in her companye ;
And dout[e]les, but ^if bokis lye, 4456
jjat or j>ei hadde sailed daies fre
To-Troye-ward in J>e large se,
J)e te??zpest roos & wyndes dide awake,
J3e heuene dirke with ]>e cloudis blake, 4460
j)at han j>e day turned in-to ny^t,
And bri3t[e] Phebus was myrked of his li^t —
)3e fery leuene and stroke of J?e bondre
Smote in f e mast & schiverid it a-sondre. 4464
It was so dirke no Ii3t my^t adawe ;
J)e see gan swelle with many sturdy wawe
Jjat ryse on hi^te, large as any mount,
And fille douw & swappid in |?e frourct 4468
Evene of }»e schip, & ploimgid it ful lowe —
Now vp, now douw, for-cast & ouer-prowe
Her schippes werne with tempest to & fro :
J3e fomy water grene, white, and bio 4472
Of feruent boilyng, & as piche eke blak
With storrne & wynde, J?at al goth to wrake ;
So hidously J>e blastis at hem dryve,
J?at euery bord gan from o)?er ryve, 4476
And al is perschid, fer skapef nat a man,
But al attonys, as I reherse can,
Be dede & dreynt with tempest sodeynly —
4444. chefteyn] kapteyn A. 4447. >is] >e C.
4454. folweden] folwyn C. 4455. many] many a A.
4462. his] om. D 1. 4464. schiverid] seuered D 1.
4473. eke] om. D 1. 4477. skapeb] scapid D 1.
BK. ii] Castor & Pollux are Lords in Heaven or Hell, or Stars. 273
]3er skaped noon, I sey 3011 certeynly, 4480 and all the
, , . , . men on board
Excepte be brebre, whiche, as bokis telle, are drownd
except Castor
J)e ton in heuene, be tober lowe in helle andPoiiux.
1 who are made
Wer lordis made to abide eternaly. lords, one in
Heaven,
And some feynyn in her poysy, 4484 HSi°therin
How )>e goddis ban hem deified
Hi^e in heuene and y-stellyfied-
After her schippes wern y-go to wrake — and «iulac'
J5ei were made sterris in J>e $odyak, 4488 °
And to fe signe transformed outterly,
Whiche of clerkis is callid Gemyny.
]3e whiclie signe and constellaciouw
Is to Mercuric hous and mansiouw, 4492
And is of kynde mene & masculyn,
In whiche j>e Egle and also fe Dolphyn [leafed]
Han her arisyng be reuoluciourc ;
J?p, tail also aboue of )>e Dragoiua 4496
Is exaltat in J? e J>ridde gre
Of Gemyny, whiche signe haj> most pouste a 9>gn that
In hond & armys of man — out of doute — p°wegr over
Liche as Lucyna halt hir course aboute. 4500
And in J>is wyse wer J?e brejjre tweyne
To heuene rapt, as poetis feyne,
After fe tempest — $e gete no more of me —
For in }>is wyse pe Grekis in J?e see 4504
An ende made, and bat f ul rewfully : This was the
first unhappy
J3is ernest first cam vnhappily fruit of the
To* hem echon, as gynnyng of her wo
And final chauwce to ]?e bre]?er two. 4508
The descripcion of )>e moste part of princes pat kame
with ])e Grekis for }>e destruccyown of Troye.1
But for-as-moche as Dares Frigius
Was in his boke whilom corious
])e forme of Troyens <fe Grekis to discryve,
4480. skaped] escaped Dl. 4482. lowe] om. A.
4484. feynyn] seyn D 1. 4487. her] his D 1.
4494. whiche] >e whiche— Egle] Ele D 1.
4497. gre] degree D 2, degre D 1.
4502. To] In D 1. 4507. To] Of C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 51 d.
TROY BOOK. T
274 Dares 's Description of Helen, Agamemnon, Menelaus. [BK. n
Dares
describes
both Trojans
and Greeks
as he saw
them:
Helen
(who had a
stripe along
her face),
Agamemnon
bold and
eloquent),
and Menelaus
(courageous,
and wanting
war more
than peace).
Liche as he saw — jns auctor by his lyve — 4512
)pe schap, f e forme, and complexions,
Bojje of ]>e party of hem of Troye toun,
And of be Grekis, be good avisement,
In tyme of trewe among hem as he went, 4516
Seyng be maner of her goue?*nau??ce,
Her port, her chere, with euery circumstance,
ISTanily of boo bat wer of hi3e degre —
He nat for-gat color nor qualite, 4520
Condicioiws, and* also her stature —
Al to discrive Dares dide his cure,
In Grekysche tong, be-gynnyng at Eleyrie,
Liche as to-forn $e han herde me seyne, 4524
Of hi i1 beute and hir semlynes
How ceryously Guydo doth expresse
(Saue he seide, in a litel space,
A strype ]>er was endelonge hir face, 4528
Whiche, as he writ, be-cam hir wonder wel,
Embelyssching hir beute [ejuerydel,
Like as Dares make]) discripciou?^).
And first he seib how kyng Agamenouw 4532
Was of good schap & hi^e of his stature,
And my^te in labour at be best endure —
Vnpacient to lyuen in quiete,
He was to armys so egal and so mete — 4536
Of colour white, & good proporciouw,
And flewmatik of his complexiouw,
Discret and hardy, & wonder vertuous,
And of speche ri^t facundious, 4540
And kowde him wel in euery bing demene.
But Menelay of stature was but rnene,
Proporc^oned atwixe schort and longe, [leaf 43 a]
Worjn in armys, deliuere, & also strong, 4544
And of corage and hertfe] vigerous,
Semly also, and ay more desyrous
To lyue in werre, rather fan in pees.
4516. trewe] trewes D 1. 4520. nor] no D 1.
4521. and] nor C. 4523. Grekysche] Grekes D 1.
4524. herde me] om. D 1.
4527. he] a D 1. 4533. his] om. A.
4534. my^te] niyghty A, D 2.
BK. n] Dares 's Account of Achilles, Tantalus, & the 2 Ajaxes. 275
Aiid, ferthermore, to speke of Achilles,
Ho was ri^t fair and of gret semlynes,
With hawborne her, crispyng for jnkries,
WitJt eyen glawke, large, stepe, and grete,
And brod schuldrid, with brest fui square [and]
Tendure in armys fel and coragous,
And of his loke wonder amerous,
Hi$e of stature, and large of ^iftes eke,
And more of strengjje )?an any oj>er Greke.
And to spende he sette litel charge,
He was of herte so plenteuous & large,
And in the feld passyng chiualrous.
And for to telle for)?e of Tantalus,
Of sangwyn hewe, havyng moche of red,
Diuers eyed, ay mevyng in his hed,
Of huge makyng & also of gret strengjje,
Wei answeryng his brede to his lengj?e,
Hatyng to stryve where he saw no nede,
Ri^t trewe of worde also, as I rede ;
And neuere quarel wolde he take on honde
To fi"3t[e] fore, but he my$t vndirstonde
Jjat it were fully gronded vp-on ri^t,
And )>a?ine he wolde quite him lik a knyjt.
Oyleus Aiax was li^t corpulent ;
To be wel clad he sette al his entent ;
In riche array he was ful corious,
Al-Jrai^e he were of body corsyous,
Of armys gret, w/t/i schuldris square & brode,
It was on hym al-most an hors[e] lode,
Hi$e of stature & boistous in a prees,
And of his speche rude and rekkeles —
Ful many worde in ydel hym asterte,
And but a coward was [he] of his herte.
A-noJ>or Aiax, Thelamonivs,
})er was also, discret & vertuous,
Wonder fair and semly to beholde,
4548 Dares
describes
Ac-hill.-
(with auburn
[Mir,
blue-green
eyes,
mete,
4553
amorous,
4556 and strong),
4560 Tantalus
4564
4568
4572
4576
(big, tall
and true),
Ajax, son of
Oileus
(square-
•hovldtrd,
rude in
speech,
4580 a coward at
heart),
and Ajax.
son of Tela-
4550. hawborne] awburne D 2, awborne D 1.
4551. glawke] glaunc D 1 — grete] greke D 2.
4560. for>e] for A. 4564. to] vn to D 1.
4565. no] noon A. 4571. Oyleus] Cyleus D 2, Cileus D 1.
4574. Al->ei3e] Al fan} D 1.
276 Dares s Description of Ajax, Ulysses, and Diomede. [BK. n
Dares
describes
Ajax the Tela-
inonian
(a fine singer,
contriver of
musical
instruments,
a noble
knight,
hating vain
glory),
and Ulysses
(crafty,
deceitful,
a prudent
counsellor,
and most
eloquent),
and Diomede
(fierce,
testy,
disputatious,
Whos her was blak, & vpvvard ay gaw folde 4584
In compas wyse, roimde as any spere ;
And of mvsik was J?er noon his pere,
Hauyng a vois ful of melodie,
Ri^t wel entvned as by armonye, 4588
And was inventif for to coiuiterfete
Instrumentis, bope smale and grete,
In sondry wyse longyng to mvsik.
And for al ]?is, $et had he gret practik [leaf 486] 4592
In armys eke, & was a noble kny^t —
No man more orpid nor hardier to fi^t*
Nor desyrous for to han victorie,
Devoide of pompe, hatyng al veyn glorie, 4596
Al ydel laude, spent & blow in veyn.
Of Vlixes what schal I also seyn ? —
))at was so noble & worjji* in his daies,
Ful of wyles and slei}ty at assayes, 4600
In menyng double and ri^t deceyueable,
To forge a lesyng also wonder able ;
^With face pleyn he coude make it towe,
Merie wordid, and but selde lowe, 4604
In conseillynge discret & ful prudent,
And in his tyme fe moste elloquent,
And halpe to Grekis often* in her nede.
And for to spekew of worjn Diomede, 4608
Ful wel compact & growe wel on lenfe,
Of sturdy port and fanms eke of strenjje,
Large brestid, & fers also of fi^t,
And deseyueable of what fat euer he hi^t — 4612
Hasty, testif, to smyte rek[e]les,
And medlif ay, and but selde in pes,
To his seruantis ful impacient,
And baratous wher ]?at euer he went, 4616
For litel wrofe of dispocisiourc,
4594. fi^t] fir^t C. 4599. noble & wor])i] wor>i & noble C.
4600. at] of D 1.
4603. face] facece D 1 — towe] tough D 2, tou}e D 1.
4607. to] be D 1— often] ful often C.
4609. on] a D 1.
4609, 10. len>e and stren}>e are spelt with a g in A, D 2, D 1.
4611. fijt] sijt D 2, D 1. 4613. testif] testy D 1.
BK. n] Dares on Nestor, Protesilaus, Neoptolemus, Palamedes. 277
And lecherous of complexion,
And had in loue oft[e] sythes his part,
Breranynge at hert wi)> Cupides dart,
And specheles ful oft felt[e] soor.
What schal I seyn [eke] of duko Nestor 1 —
Of longe stature & wel compact w«t/i-al,
With kurbe schuldris & of myddel sinal ,
In hondis strong, with armys large & roimde,
In couwseillyng prudent & wys y-foiwde ;
Wlios wordis werne sugrid with plesaimce,
Yp-on his frende hauyng ay remembraunce :
For of his troujje he ne koude feyne,
But in anger he rny^t hym nat refreyne ;
He was so fret wij? malencolye,
feat no man my3t his Ire modefie,
Al-be it laste but a litel space —
Who coude hym suffre, anon it wolde pace,
Li3tly it cam and li^tly went a-way.
And Protheselavs was fresche of array,
Wonder semly & of gret bewte —
I trowe a fairer no man my^t[e] se —
Of good stature and deliuere & li$t,
No man more swyfte ; & to speke of iny^t,
Of his makyng he was passyng strong, [leaf 43
Fers of corage & loth to take a wrong.
And to telle of Neptolonius,
He was of makyng wonder corsious,
Whos her was blak, schynyng as do]? get,
With eyen rouwde, brood[e], stepe, and gret,
Large brestid, wij> a risyng bak,
And in speche stamered whan he spak ;
But in causes he coude medle wele,
And in J?e lawe ful depe he dide fele,
For al his lust was be-set on plees.
But for to telle of rallamydes,
Kyng Naulus sone, wit/*-outen any wene,
and lustful}.
4620
I>ares
describes
Nestor
(toll, round-
4624- "liouldenl,
wise,
pleasant-
spoken,
black-
blooded,
4628
4632
but soon
calm),
4636 Protesilaus
(handsome,
4640 swift, strong),
4644
4648
Neoptolemus
(black-halrd,
expert in
law),
4652 and Pala-
medes.
4620. wi>] of A. 4626. wys] wyl A.
4630. refreyne] restreiue D 1.
4635. went] it went D 1. 4633. fairer] fairerere D 1.
4640. man more] more man A. 4650. ]>e] om. D 1.
278 Dares describes Palamedes, Poly damas, Machaon, Cressid. [BK. n
Dares
describes
Palamedes
(courteous
and gener-
ous),
Polydamas
(big-bellied,
proud,
and dull),
Machaon
•(impatient,
revengeful,
bald),
and Cressid,
of whom
my Master,
Chaucer,
described the
beauty :
he was so
gay in his
writing.
But I can't
skip her,
as I must lol
low Guido.
Of face faire, of body longe and lene,
Of manful hert, hardy in bataille,
And desirous his enmy to assaille — 4656
Famylier, curteis, and tretable
In alle his dedis, & inli worschipable,
In $ifyng large, & passyng of gret fame,
Of whos bougie ful wyde sprange j?e name 4660
In many londe, pe story tellej? Jms.
And nexte, I fynde how Polydamvs,
])Q worjri Greke, was of gret fiknes,
Of wombe swolle, enbosid with fatnes, 4664
)}at onnefe he my3t him silfe sustene ;
And $et of hert he was ful proude & kene,
Bi^t surquedous & ful of pensifnes,
And seld[e] glad, so fou^t dide hym oppres. 4668
But Machaon, lik as writ Guy do,
Of longe & schort was atwixe two,
Fel, proude, & fers, deuoyde of pacience,
And vengable, who hym dide* offeree; 4672
And $it he was ballid as a cote,
On whos forhede, euene by ]>& rote,
J)e here was falle & wasted cleue awey,
And selde or neuer he wolde slope a-day. 4676
And ouermore, to telle?a of Cryseyde,
Mi percne stumble]), for longe or he deyde
My maister Chaucer dide his dilligence
To discryve fe gret excellence 4680
Of hir bewte, and fat so maisterly,
To take on me it were but hi^e foly,
In any wyse to adde more fer-to ;
For wel I wot, anoon as I haue do, 4684
)3at I in soth no fanke disserue may,
Be-cause }>at he in writyng was so gay —
And but I write, I mote J?e troupe leue
Of Troye boke, and my mater breue 4688
And ouer-passe and nat go by and by
As Guy do do]) in ordre ceryously. [leaf 48 d]
4660. Of] In D 1— bouwte] beaute D 1.
4670. atwixe] be twixe A, D 2, D 1.
4672. hym dide] dide hym any C. 4687. but] om. A.
BK. n] Lydgalc s glowing praise of his Master, Geoffrey Chaucer. 279
And pus I most don offencioiw
J3oru$e necligence or presumpcioiw : . 4692
So am I sette euene amyddes tweyne !
Gret cause haue I & mater to compleyne I've reason
to complain
On Antropos & vp-on hir envie, of Fate,
Jpat brak pe J>rede & made for to dye 4696
Noble Galfride, poete of Breteyne,
Amowge oure englisch pat made first to reyne
#e gold dewe-dropis of rethorik so fyne,
Oure rude langage only tenlwmyne. 4700
To God I pray, pat he his soule haue, iouid')havehi*
After whos help of nede I most[e] crave,
And seke his boke pat is left be-hynde SareV/his
Som goodly worde per-iu for to fynde, 4704 JJJ^oSIe apt
To sette amonge pe crokid lynys rude among^'
Whiche I do write j as, by similitude, poor ones.
Jje ruby stant, so royal of renou«,
Wit/i-Inne a ryng of copur or latouw, 4708
So stant pe makyng of hym, dout[e]les, HW p™»
Among oure bokis of englische per[e]les :
)3ei arn ethe knowe,* pei ben so excellent ;
Jjer is no makyng to his equipolent ; 4712
We do but halt, who-so take)) hede, of h
J3at medle of makyng, wi't/i-oute?i any drede.
Whan we wolde his stile courcterfet,
We may al day oure colour grynde & bete, 4716
Tempre our a^our and vermyloim :
But al I holde but presumpciouw —
It folwej)* nat, ferfore I lette be.
And first of al I wil excuse me 4720 SoTn tnm
And precede as I haue be-gonne,
And pom} his fauour certeyn, 3if I kowne,
Of Troye boke for to make an ende ;
And J>er I lefte ageyn I wil now wende, 4724
Vn-to Cryseyde, and pou^ to my socour
Of rethorik pat I haue no flour
Nor hewes riche, stonys nor perre —
4899. gold dewe-dropis] golden dropes D 1.
4711. ethe knowe] ethe to knowe C, esy to knowe D 1.
4719. folwep] forwe> C.
280 Cressid described ; her sunny Hair and heavenly Eyes. [BK. n
But I must
do like blind
Bayard,
and stumble
along.
Cressid was
small,
with sunny
hair in a tress
down her
back.
and heavenly
eyes.
She was
simple and
meek,
but unstable
in love.
For I am bare of alle coriouste, 4728
J^oru} crafty speche to enbrovde with her sieve —
3et for al fat, now I wil not leue,
But ben as bolde as Baiard is, f e blynde,
feat cast no peril what wey[e] fat he fynde ; 4732
Ri^t so wil I stu?ftble forfe of* hede
For vnkoraiyng, & take no better hede,
So as I can, hir bewte to discriue.
feat was in soth of alle f o on-lyue 4736
On f e fayrest, f is Calchas doubter dere,
fter-to of schap, of face, and of chere,
)3er my^tfe] [be] no fairer creature : [leaf 49 a]
To hise nor lowe,* but mene of stature — 4740
Hir sormysche her, liche Phebns in his spere,
Bouwde in a tresse, brijter f a?me golde were,
Douw at hir bak, lowe doura be-hynde,
Whiche with a f rede of golde sche wolde bynde 4744
Ful of te syf e of a-custuwmauwce ;
Jjer-to sche hadde so moche suffisaiwce
Of kyndes wirke, wat^-outen any were* —
[And] Saue hir browes Ioyn[e]den y-fere, 4748
No man koude in hir a lake espien.
And, ferf ermore, to speken of hir eyen,
))ei wer so persyng, heuenly, & so clere,
feat an herte [ne] my$t hym silffe] stere 4752
Ageyn hir schynyng, fat f ei nolde wouwde
J}oru$-out a brest, God wot, & blonde.
Also sche was, for al hir semlynes,
Ful symple & nieke, & ful of sobirnes, 4756
Jje best norissched eke fat my^t[e] be,
Goodly of speche, fulfilde of pite,
Facundious, and f er-to ri^t tretable,
And, as seif Guydo, in loue variable — 4760
Of tendre herte & vnste[d]fastnes
4729. enbrovde] enbroyde A. 4733. of] on C.
4736. on-lyue] a lyve A, D 2, a live D 1. 4739. no] sno A.
4740. lowe] to lowe C.
4745. of] for D 1 — D 2 omits the prefix a in a-custummaunce.
4747. were] where C. 4748. y-fere] in feere D 1.
4749. a] o???. A.
4752. ne] om. A, D 1— silfe] silven A, D 2. seluen D 1 .
4758. fulfilde] fulfilled A, D 1.
BK. n] Dares describes the King of Persia and Kiny Priam. 281
He hir accuseth, and newfongilnes.
And aftir bis, Dares dobe reherse Dares teii»
• _ how the King
Amongis ofer, how be kyng of Perce 4764 ^^"hei
Cam to Grekis vrith many worbi knyjt
To helpe & furfere vrith al his ful[le] my^t.
)5e whiche kyng was of stature longe, H« *»« t*u.
And wonder fat and, as he writ,* ri$t stronge ; 4768 fat,
Whos herd and her, reed as flawme of fire, red-haird,
With eyen stepe, and feruent of desyre
To haue a-do, and sterne of chore & loke,
And ofte syj>es* of sodeyn Ire he quoke — 4772
And had wertis plente in his face. and had warts
» on his lace.
And fus Dares, schortly for to pace,
No more of Grekis write)?, as I fynde,
But of Troyans for to make mynde, 4776
Ceriously he dojje his stile dresse
Hem to discryue, as I schal expresse.
And first he seith how kyn£ Priamws D&™*
J ° describes
Was of his chere benigne and gracious, 4780 ^ijjllpriara
Of hi^e stature, with lymys sklender & longe,
Delityng moche in musik & in songe ; fondofmusic,
And specialy he was most desyrous
To heren songis ]pat wern amerous — 4784
A semly man, and of gret hardynes, bold.
And spake but lowe, as bokis vs* expresse : low of speed.,
Devoide of drede, hatyng flaterye,
And alle J>at koude ouper glose or lye, [leaf « 6] 4788 bating iia.s,
Trewe of his worde, & to euery
He dide pleinly equite and ri$t
For no mede hym list nat to decline,
And loued erly on morwe for to dyne. 4792 Jnn*Jrly
In his tyme on fe worfiest
Of alle kynges, and he fat loued best kingrtl!y
Worjri kny3tes ; <fe alle p«t he knewe
)3at manful were and of hertfe] trewe, 4796
He koude cherische, no man half so wele,
4768. as he writ] J>er with C— rijt] wonder A.
4772. sy]>es] syj>er C. 4779. new 1T A, D 1.
4786. vs] do vs C. 4795. alle] om. D 1.
4797. koude cherische] cherysshe koude D 2— no man half] & no
man D 2.
282 Dares' s description of the worthy, knightly Hector. [BK. n
Priam's
eldest son
Hector was
the flower of
manhood,
courteous,
gentle,
famed in
peace and
war,
compact of
brawn and
bones,
wise,
lowly te rich
and poor,
benign to his
friends,
a lion to his
foes.
With gold & jiftes, fab j>ei my$t[e] fele
His grete f redam & largesse eke wtt/i al.
And of his sones, for to rekne hem alle,
fee first of birfe, so as bokis telle,
Was worfi Ector, of kuyjthod spring & welle,
Flour of manhod, of strengf e per[e]les,
Sadde & discret & prudent neuere-fe-les,
Crop & rote, groiwde of chiualrie,
Of cher demvre, and of curtesye
He was example — Jjer-to of sobirnes
A verray merour, & for his gentilnes
In his tyme J>e mostfe] renomed,
To reknen al, and of goodlyhed
J3e most[e] fanras, [and] in pes &* werre
Ferfest spoke of, bofe ny$e & ferre.
On eche part he was so vertuous,
And to be loued f e most gracious,
Of brawn & bonys compact be mesure,
So wel brej>id in arrays to endure,
So wel parformed be proporciouw,
So quik, so liny, and of most* renouw,
So huge made, so wel growe on lengfe,
So wel complet for to haue gret strengf e,
J3at in fis worlde, jif I schal nat feyne,
Was neuer noon fat fully myjt attayne
To ]?e prowes of ))is worfi kny^t,
To rekne his hert as wel as his my$t.
And J>er-wijj-al so wys and avysee,
fie low[l]iest eke of his degre
To riche & pore, and of wordis fewe.
Vn-to alle suche chere he koude schewe,*
Of his presence fat glad was eue?*y wy$t,
Whan J>ei at leyser hadde of him a si$t ;
He was so benygne to hem of )?e toun,
And to his enmtyes lyk a fers lyouw
He koude hym schewe, whan it was to do ;
4800. hem] om. D 2. 4811. and] om. A — &] & in 0.
4818. lifly and of most] lusty and most of C.
4819. on] o D 2.
4826. lowliest] lowiest D 1.
4828. alle] alle peple Dl — schewe] hem schewe C.
4800
4804
4808
4812
4816
4820
4824
4828
4832
BK. n] Dares 's account of Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus & Troilus. 283
And in J>e felde fcr my3t[e] no man so,
To rekene al his labour, half endure :
For )>e story doth vs pleyn assure
J)at he was neuer wery in bataille, [leaf 49
Nor feint in hert his fomen to assaille.
Of alle good I fynde he was j>e heste ;
Prowes & vertu in hiw wer sette at reste
So passyngly, fat neuer was no schal
Noon bore of modir to be perigal
To hym of manhod nor of chiualrie :
For alle he passed, but }if bokis lye, 4844
In whom Nature was no J>ing to wyte,
Saue in his tonge he was let a lite ;
And, as som auctours make menciouw,
He was sangwyn of complexiou?^. 4848
And, ferfermore, his broker Dephebus,
Lik as I fynde, and also Eleuus,
Were liche Priam, ]>at sothly of hew ]>re
Was hard tespien any diuersyte 4852
Of schap, of forme, or of coiwtenau^ce,
Saue of age, ber was no variauwce :
Her fader olde and bei wer 3ong &
And Dephebws was a worjn kny^t,
And had in armys fame & excellence ;
And Elenus in clergie and science
Was wel expert, & toke but litel hede
Of alle be werre, kny^thod, nor manhede. 4860
But Troylus schortly $if I schal discryve,
J)er was of hert now manlier on lyue,
Nor more likly in armys to* endure :
Wel woxe on* heijte and of good stature, 480 4
}ong, fresche, & lusty, hardy as a lyoutt,
Deliuere and strong as any champioim,
And perigal of manhod and of dede
He was to any )>at I can of rede 4868
4836. pleyn] pleynly A.
4838. to] for to A— to assaille] for tasayle D 1.
4852. any] a A. 4859. but] om. D 1.
4860. nor] or D 2, D 1. 4861. schortly] sothly A.
4863. to] for to C. 4864. on] of C.
4865. a] om. D 2, Dl.
4836 Hector was
never tired of
fighting,
4840
no one
equald him
in manhood.
Deiphobus
and Helenus
were like
their father
Priam.
4856 Deiphobus
was fame 1 in
arms,
Helenus in
learning.
Troilus was
as bold as a
lion.
284 Dares s description of Troilus and of Paris. [BK. n
Troilus was
a second
Hector,
and true in
love,
firm-willd,
and death to
the Greeks,
but a shield
to the
Trojans.
Paris was the
handsomest
of men.
Iii doring do, pis noble worpi kny^t,
For to fulfille pat longep to a kny^t.
)De secunde Ector for his worpines
He callid was, and for his l^e prowes 4872
Duryng pe werre, he bare hym ay so wel ;
fter-to in loue as trewe as any stele,
Secre and wys, stedefast of corage,
)5e most[e] goodly also of visage 4876
)?at my^tfe] be, and benigne of cher,
Wit/i-oute chauwge, & of on hert entere.
He was alwey feithful, iust, & stable,
Perseuerauwt, and of wil inmvtable 4880
Vp-on what ping he onys set his herte,
)3at doubilnes rny^t hym nat pe?*uerte —
In his dedis he was so hool and pieyn ;
But on his foon, pe sothe for to seyn, 4884
He was so fers pei my$t him nat wlt/istonde
Whaw pat he hilde his bloodly swerde on hond : [leaf 49 d]
Vn-to [pe] Grekis deth and confusioim,
To hem of Troye shelde * and proteccioim ; 4888
And his kny^thod schortly to acounte,
fter my$t in manhod no man him surmouwte,
Jjoru^ pe worlde pou$ men wolde seke,
To reknen al, Troyan nouper Greke, 4892
Noon so namyd of famus hardynes,
As bolus olde of hym bere witnes,
Excepte Ector, per was nat swiche anoper.
And aftir hym, to speken of his broper, 4896
I mene Paris, most passyng of bewte,
|3at in pis worlde no man myjtfe] se,
In verray sope, a more semly kny^t ;
For as I rede, pat he, be title of ri3t, 4900
Of fairnes bare awey pe flour —
"With lokkis $elwe lik gold were of colour.
4869. kny^t] wyght D 2.
4871. misplaced at bottom of column in D 2.
4872. He callid was and] f>e secounde Ector D 2— callid was]
was callid A.
4874. 1st as] om. D 2, D 1. 4876. f>e] And J>e D 1.
4878. on] mn. D 1. 4887. >e] wi. D 2.
4888. shelde] help C. 4900. as] om. D 1.
4902. were] wire D 1.
BK. n] Dares s account of Paris, Eneas, and Antenor. 285
And in schetyng most was his delite,
Hauyng in hunting a [f ul] gret appetite ;
And as Dares likith hym discryue,
]pe best archer on fer-of a-lyve ;
And of his hond was eke a noble kny^t,
A manly [man], deliuere and of good
And in ]>e werre preued wel he was.
And, as I rede, j>e Troyan Eneas,
As myn auctor listeth to endite,
Was wel brested and of body lite,
And bare in Troye wonder gret estat ;
In his werkis discret and temperat,
And hadde a fame of passyng elloquence,
Wys of counseil and of gret sapience,
Most renomed also of lettrure,
Delytyng moche in bokis & scripture,
And euere glad, boj>e of port & chere,*
Sterne of his loke, \vith pe/'syng eyen clere.
And amonge alle dwellyng in ]>e tow*,
To speke of goodys and pocessiouw,
Of castels and towres gret plente,
I fynde, sopely, fat noon in fat cite
Ne my$t atteyne vn-to his reches ;
And hadde also, for al his worjnnes,
Of gold and mebles passing gret tresour.
And his felawe, he, dawn Anthenor,
Was sclendre & longe, & of gret dalyati^ce,
And circumspect in al his goue?-nau?ice,
Wel be-louyd also of Priamws,
And of wordis wonder copious,
Eesownyng ay in-to myrfe and pley.
And he was lapyng al )>e longe day
Among his feris and in companye, [leaf 50 a]
So driely ]>at no man my^t espie,
So sobir he was in his contenauwce,
Paris de-
lighted in
4904 hunting,
and was the
best archer
alive.
4908
Eneas was
4912 small,
discreet and
eloquent,
4916
fond of books,
4920 stern of look,
4924 and richer
than any one
in Troy.
4928 Antenor was
slender and
tall,
4932 and full of
mirth and
jokes.
4936
4913. Troye] storie D 1. 4914. In] And in D 1.
4915. a] of D 1. 4919. chere] of cbere C.
4920. persyng] passage D 1. 4924. 2nd >at] tins D 1.
4926. al] om. D 2. 4927. mebles] iowellis A.
4931 is omitted in D 1.
After 4932, D 1 inserts : And in his werkis passmge mcrveillous.
286 Dares describes Polydamas, Merionas, and Hecuba. [BK. n
Dares
describes
Polydamas
(who was like
his father,
quickly
angry),
King Meri-
oues
(with yellow
curly hair),
and Queen
Hecuba
(who Guido
says was like
a man,
but she was
a model of
womanhood).
J)at euery wy$t hadde gret plesaurcce
To here hym talke, wha?i fat he was glad ;
And, al-be-it fat he of port was sad, 4940
3it al his speche ful of bourdis was.
And his sone, callid Polly damas,
Was lik his fader of stature <fe of inak,
I-thewed wel, fat fer was no lak 4944
In his persone, gentil and rr$t trewe,
Wonder strong and pale also of he we,
And to Ire sterid sodeynly,
Al-be in wordis he kept hym couertly — 4948
But al his hete passe wolde anoon.
And to telle of kyng Meryon,
Large brestid, & of his makyng al
Jpe best[e] compact and fe most[e] tal 4952
Of schap and forme fat men* koude fynde,
And so wel parformed vp by kynde,
]5at non was lik to hym, ny^e nor fer :
His lokkis $elwe, & crispy ng was his her — 4956
Stille of his port, and gentil with to play,
And inly strong maystries for to assay ;
Wonder curteis, to no wi^t dispitous,
And wrou^t in armys dedis meruelous, 4960
As in f is boke her-after schal be sene.
No we after hym, to Eccuba fe quene,
Lik f e story, my style y mote encline —
Whos lymys alle dide more decline 4964
To schap of man fan to womanhede,
As seith Guy do ; but in werke and dede
Sche was in soth fe most[e] womanly,
)3e best avised, and most prudently 4968
In hir dedis koude hir silfe gouerne,
feat maraiys wit my^tfe] nat discerne
To fynde a bet, dout[e]les, fan sche—
So trewe example of ferny nyte 4972
Sche was in sofe, and to euery
4941. bourdis was] horde was (partly erased) D 2.
4953. men] non C. 4955. nor] ne A.
4967. misplaced at bottom of column D 2.
4970. myjte] ne my3t D 1.
4972. femyuyte] femynynyte A, D 2.
BK. n] Dares 's account of Andromache and Cassandra. 287
Benigne of port and gracious of si$t :
To pore also pitous and merciable,
And vn-to nedy wonder charitable.
Jpo wif of Ector, hir doubter in lawe,
After hir lore mochel dide drawe,
Andronomecha, J>e feijjful trewe wyf,
So good, so iust, ]?e whiche in al hir lyf
In honeste dide hir moste delite —
Longe of hir schap, with brestis faire & whyte,
With rody chekis, eunewed by mesure,
With persyng eyen, of angelik figure* — [leaf so 6]
Lik gold hir tressts, & rosyn lippis rede
I-liche fresche, of colour no J)ing dede.
)5er-to sche was of chere J?e goodlieste
To riche & pore, and spake alwey J>e beste
Of euery wi^t, ay helping what sche my^t,
ftat no man trist went out of hir si^t ;
And oue?* J>is, euery gentil-man
Sche forfre wolde in al J>«t euer sche can,
And gladly euer dide* hir dilligence
To gete grace to hem J?at dide offence : —
jois was hir vsage and condiciourc,
Sche was so ful of compassiouw
Jpat women alle my^ten of hir lere.
And Cassandra, hir ovne doubter dere,
Was of stature wonder wo?wmanly,
Of colour white, and fer-wzt/i ri^t semly
(Saue in her face in soumlri places were
Many wertys growyng here & j>ere) ;
And al hir loy and felicite
Was to kepe hir v'irginite ;
And freelte J>at wo?ttinen ban of kynde,
J^oru} vertu moral sche put out of mynde,
Of alle foly fleyng occasiouw ;
And ay in studie & contemplaciomi*
4978. lore] lord A. 4980. >e] om. D 1.
4981. hir moste] moost hire A. 4983. rody] rede D 1.
4984. figure] fugure C. 4987. f>er-to] Wher to D 1.
4988. riche] ripe D 1. 4993. euer dide] dide tner C.
5005. And] In A. 5007-10 are omitted in D 1.
5008. contemplaciouft] comtemplacioun C.
4976
4980
4984
4988
4992
4996
5000
Dales
describes
Hector's wife
Andromache
(white-
breasted,
ro.-y-cheakt,
helpful to
every one),.
;uid Cassiiii-
dra
(with waits
on her face,
5004 a virgin,
5008 and studi-
ous).
288 Dares' s description of Cassandra &, the lovely Polyxena. [BK. II
Dares
describes
Cassandra
(who has a
spirit of
prophecy),
and Polyx-
«na,
the fairest of
all Nature's
creations,
hued like the
lily and the
rose,
the choicest
living beauty,
and the most
moral.
Of sondry bokis sche wolde [hir] occupie,
And specially of astronomye ;
Of prophesye a spirit had[de] sche ;
And somme men seyn sche was on of pe pre, 5012
Of pe women pat Cebile bare pe name,
Of whom pe renouw floureth & pe fame
Vn-to pis day, and is as $et but grene.
And for to telle of ^ong[e] Pollicene, 5016
And discriue hir bewte vp and dourc,
It were in sope a presumpciou?i
To take on me now so gret a ping,
To clymbe so hi^e & passe my koranyng, 5020
Sipen Nature in forgyng of pis mayde,
Hir ko/myng al outterly assaied
To make hir fair aboue eche creature,
And seide proudly : "se how I, Nature, 5024
Whan [pat] me list, enbelissche can my wirke :
Liche as Phebus among pe cloudis dirke
Is passyng clere, so in comparisons,
I can my wirke and operaciouw 5028
Ei^t as me list adourne & make fair,
So peint & florische, it schal nat apeire ;
And my colours so craftily dispose,
Of pe lillie and pe fresche rose, 5032
And so ennew pat pei schal nat fade, [leaf 50 c]
But ay ben on ; and in pis wyse I made
My dere doubter, $e wite whom I mene,
])Q ^onge, fresche, faire* Policene, 5036
A-skans pat non can pis craf te but I ! "
ftus in hir wirke bosted outerly
Nature hir silf, whaw sche pis maide wrou^t,
As sche pat fully in hir hert[e] pou^t 5040
Abouen alle oper to maken hir excelle,
And of bewte to be pe verray welle.
And per-wM-al in schap nor [in] stature
Ne was no lak, I dar $ou wel assure ; 5044
And God aboue $af hir souereynte
In alle thewes, and wolde sche scholde be
5013. 1st >e] om. A. 5035. wite] woote D 2, wete D 1.
5036. fresche faire] fair fresche C. 5038. wirke] silf D 1.
BK. n] The lovely Polyxena. Nature in February. 289
Crop & rote namyd of womanhede,
With folsomnes of al goodly hede,
So passyngly, fat it wer ydelnes
Me to preswme by and by texpresse
Hir beute al, it wer a vayn travail ;
For wel I wote myn englische wolde faile,
In whiche mater to talke felyn[g]ly,
Who-euere it can, certeyn it am nat I.
frerfore I passe, & street now wil I go
To my mater ; for Dares of no mo
In al his boke maketh mencioim
Of hem of Grece nor of Troye tourc :
In special he putte no mo in mynde
)?an 30 haue herde, saue, as 36 schal fynde
In f is story, whan it cometh fer-to,
Of hir kny3thod & who fat best hath do,
Lastyng fe sege, f e manor euerydel.
And ri3t anon to scharp[e] my poyntel
I wil me dresse, f is story to entrete,
Of al ]>e werre to telle 3011 f e grete.
5048 Polyxena
was ao lovely
that my
5052 English can't
describe her.
5056 So I'll go on
with my
story of the
War,
5060
5064 and sharpen
to
Here folowynge is declarede the grete nowmbre of
shippes that the Grekys assamblede in the havene
of Athenes, bysidis a grete navye that kame to
them whene ]>ay wer at Troye.1
The tyme nei3ef aftir f is nat 3ore,
ftat breme wynter with his frostis hore
Gan taswagen of his bitter colde \
Whan Appollo passid was pe holde
Of f e signe fat we calle Aquarie,
And in fe Fissche, fer in Februarie
I-ronne was to-ward J>e Ariete ;
And fat sesoiw, -with his feynt[e] hete,
On hillis hi3e gan his bemys smyte,
Makyng f e snow vrith faire flakis whyte
In-to water kyndely relente,
Whiche from aboue to fe valey went,
5060. haue] om. D 2. 5073. I-ronne] Ronne A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 52 d.
TROY BOOK.
5068
5072 For in
February,
5076 when the
snow had
thawd,
290 The Greeks muster at Athens. .The Ships of Agamemnon. [BK.II
J)at newe flodis of pe sodeyn powe
J)e grene mede gan to ouernowe, 5080
And pe yis gan stouwdemele distille
Douw fro pe Ml pe brokis for to fille [leaf 50 d]
With fomy stremys of pe wawes smale,
By broke bankis as pei dide avale • 5084
and the Whan lusty ver, with his 3onge grene,
of spring had Is recou^forted by pe sonne schene,
Whiche lite and lite his hewes ay amewdep ,
Vp in his spere as Titan vp ascendeth ; 5088
Whan Marche aprochep, & branchis oueral
its buds, Gynne buddyn out, & pe equinoccial
Of wer is halwed, pe sesoura amerous,
the Greeks Whan pe Grekis, proude & coraious, 5092
Sen and With hool pe flour of her chiualrie
Assemblid werne, & holly her navie
In pe hauene pat was most of fame,*
Athens, And of Atthenes pat tyme bare the name, 5096
Y-gaddred was, by assent echon
to sail Towardis Troye to seilen & to gon —
r°y* So gret [a] noumbre, pat syth pe world began,
Is nat remembrid of no maner man, 5100
ftat to-gidre in a companye
Was met y-fere so passyng a navye
Of manly men, who so liste take hede,
In pis story as 36 schal after rede. 5104
And by and by to make discripciouw,
Agamemnon Myn auctor telleth howe Agamenouw,
ship?;1 \)Q worpi kyng, an huwdrid schippis brou^t
With worpi kny^tis stuffid as hem ou^t ; 5108
Meneiaus50 And Menelaus, on whom* lay most [pe] charge,
Hath with him brou^t sixti schipes large
Out of his londe pat callid is Sparten ;
And from Boece, ful of manly men, 5112
while 50 Cam fifty schipes, pe story tellep pus,
Prothoenor Wfc'tfr Prothenor and with Archelaus ;
And from pe lond, callid Sycomenye,
5084. broke] brode D 2. 5094. her] lie D 1.
5095. fame] name C. 5101. a] Oo A, 0 D 2, D 1.
5102. y-fere] in fere D 1. 5109. whom] whon C, which D 1.
BK. n] The Grecian Navy at Athens for the Expedition. 291
Cam xxx1.1 schipes in pe companye 5116
Of pe duke pat hi^te Achalapus,
With whom was eke, ful fresche & desirous,
Helymux* pe erle, pe worpi kny^t ;
And fifty schipes, ena[r]med for to fy^t, 5120
With him brou^t pe kyng Epistrofus,
Only with helpe of kyng Cedyus ;
And Thelamoura, whom Aiax sora men calle,
Ful renomed, for to reknen alle, 5124
Hath fifty schipes brou^t to pis lourne
From Solemyne, his royal chef cyte,
With erlis, dukis, & many worpi kny^t,
Eueryche of hem in stele armyd bri3t. 5128
And duke Teuter, with Amphiacus,
Erl Darion, and noble Theseus —
)}is ilke foure, ful worpi of renouw, [leaf 51 a]
In pis viage cam with Thelamouw. 5132
And olde Nestor, cruel of hert & pou^t,
Oute of Pilon hap fifty schipes brou^t.
\)Q kyng of Daymes, pat ful worpi was,
And eke fe kyng pat hi^t also Thoas 5136 Thoasioo;
Broii3ten with hem in her companye
An C schipes kny^tly for to guye ;
And Thelamouw, y-callid Cilleus,
|3at was in armys fel & dispitous, 5140
With him brou3t from his londe so ferre
Sixe & pritty schipes for pe werre.
Amphimacus & kyng Polibete
j)ritti schipes brou$t[e] to pe flete 5144
From Calcedoyne ; and Meryouw, pe kyng,
Wip Ydumeus hadde in her ledyng
Foure score schipes with hem oute of Crete ;
And Vlixes wip Grekys dide mete 5148
With fifti schipes stuffid oute of Trace,
Towardis Troye proudly for to pace.
Duke Mellyus, ful of manly men,
Ascalaphua
and I aim en ua
brought .'JO
ships tVi.1 11
Sycomenye
(Orchome-
Epistrophus
and Schedius
50;
Telamonian
Ajax
50 ships from
Salamis
and many
knights,
Amphiacus
(Amphima-
cus), Teucer,
Diores, The-
seus (Thai-
pills' ail'l
other heroes.
Nestor
brought 50
ships out of
Pylos ;
Telamon
Oileus 36;
another
Amphimacus
and Poli-
betes (?)
SO from
Chalcedon ;
Meriones
and 1 1 h i-
meneus 80
from Crete ;
Ulysses 50 ;
5116. xxx«] sixty A, thritty D 1.
5119. Helymux] Elymny 0. 5123. men] om. D 1.
5136. also] am. A. 5138. 0] hundrid A, D 1.
5142. Sixe & gritty] xxxvi« D 2.
5145. Calcedoyne] Calcedonye A. 5150. proudly] stilly D 2.
Eumelus 10
from Thrace.
292 The Grecian Navy at Athens for the Expedition. [BK. n
Perotacus
(Podarces)
and Pro
tesilaus
brought 50
ships from
Phylace ;
Machaon
and Poll-
dris (Poda-
lirius)
brought 22
from Tricca j
Achilles 50
from Phthia;
Thelapolus
(Tlepolemus)
20 from
Rhodes ;
Antiphus
and a 3rd
Amphimacus
11 from
Hesida (?>;
Polybetes
(Polypoetes)
and Losius
(Leonteus)
50 from
Argissa(P);
Diomedes 80
from Calydon
and Argos,
with Sthene-
lus and
Euryalus ;
Polyphebus
(Philoctetes)
Brou^t eke [wip] hym grete scliipes ten; 5152
And, ouennore, pe duke Perotacus
And pe duke namyd Prothisalus,
To IpQ hauene fat callid was Athene,
Brou^t fifty schipes, enarmid b^t & schene, 5156
From Philiarcha, pe strong my^ty He.
And Methaon, as Guydo doth compile,
Wip his broper Polidris also,
From her centre Trycianyco, 5160
Brou^t xxii11 schipes, as I fynde ;
And from Phices, as it is made mynde,
With Achilles cam fifti ful by noumbre ;
And from Rodon, Troy ens to encombre, 5164
Cam xxti schippis "with kyng Thelap[ol]us ;
And with pe duke pat hi$t Antipus,
Oute of pe londe pat Hesida men calle,
Of whiche pe folke be ny$e cherlis alle, 5168
With sail crossyd ageyn pe bri3t[e] heuene,
In noumbre cam schipes eke eleuene ;
And with hem was, of name ful famws,
fee worpi duke, callid Amphymacus. 5172
And Polibethes, pe strong my3ti kyng,
Fifty schipis brou^t at his comyng,
Oute of Richa, pe noble regions ;
And w^t^ pis kyng, ful worpi of renou/i, 5176
Was Losius pe duke, eke as I rede ;
And, as I fynde, pe noble Diomede,
Of schipis grete (I speke of no smal barge)
Hath vfiih hy?ft brou^t fro??i Calidoyn & Arge [leaf 51 6]
Foure score in noimbre, sothely pis no tale ; 5181
And Thelemws and my^ti Euryale,
Two manly men & in armys sage,
Wip Diomede cam in pis viage. 5184
And Polyphebus brou$t[e] schipis seuene,
5153. Perotacus] Perhotacus A, D2, Prothetacacus D 1.
5154. Prothisalus] Prothesylaus A, D 2, Protheselaus D 1.
5158. Methaon] Metham D 1.
5161. xxiitt] two and twenty A. 5164. Rodon] redoim D 1.
5165. xxti] twenty A.
5180. Calidoyn] Calydonye A, D 2, D 1.
5181, >is] bat is D \.
BK. n] The Greek Navy at Athens. Homer's words on it. 293
And Phyneus, pe hardy kyng, enleuene ;
And Prothoylus, as I can specefie, brought n
Broust fifty schipis vn-to ftlhis navie 5188 Prothoyius
7 * (Patroclus)
From Demenesa, pe my^ti regiouw ;
And Carpenor, as made is menciouw, Agapenor
Brou^t fifti eke from Capadie his centre, Aiwdtej
A gret provynce, of whiche kyng was he. 5192
Trearyus, of Beysa lord and kyng. Treonu« of
•n 1 ••« 1-1.1 Bey8a(?)22;
Brou^t xxutl also in his comyng ;
And finally, $if I schal nat lye,
Ful many schip was in bis navie — 5196 and there
were many
Mo fan Guydo maketh rehersaile, more-
Toward Troye with Grekis for to saile.
For as Omer in his discripcioiw For Homer
Of Grekysche schipis make]) mencioiw, 5200
Schortly affermyng, ]>ai man was neuer borne say* that no
J}at swych a noumbre of schippis saw to-forne — jay 80 many
Cou?^ttd fe schipis fat Palamydes
Brou^t w/t/i hym her noumbre to encrese — 5204
}3at whan bese lordis a-forn-seid euerychon, Wlien ll'e
1 muster was
Kynges, dukes, and erlis alle in on complete,
Assemblid wern, wif-outen any wene,
Afore pe hauene pat callid is Athene, 5208
])e famous kyng, grete Agamenou?z, n™mem'
So wys, so worpi, & of so hi^e renouw,
As he pat was prince and goue?*nour tile^Iost0 °f
Of Grekis hoste, anon dide his labour, 5212
His besy cure and wakir dilligence,
By hi^e avis and inward prouidence
To delibre wysly in pis nede w?«>dunl of
What were to do or pat he precede 5216 action-
In pis mater, castyng vp and douw
And reuoluyng of hi$e discreciouw,
)5at he may so begynnerc pat pe ende
5189. Demenesa] Demcnsa A. 5191. Brou3t] Brevity D 1.
5194. xxii"] two and twenty A. 5196. schip] schippes D 1.
5197. maketh] make)) of D 2, D 1.
5200. Grekysche] Grekis D 1.
5205. a-forn-seid] a forseid A, aforseyd D 2.
5206. alle in] many D 2. 5209. New IT A.
5214. hi3e] his D 2.
294 King Agamemnon's Speech to the Greeks in Council. [BK. n
Agamem-
mon,
so as to
bring their
purpose to a
happy end,
and silence
being got,
Conclude wel, pat wilfulnes ne schende 5220
Holly her purpos poru3 no rakilnes,
Ne poru^ noon hast, w^t/i-oute avisenes,
So pat pel may a-forn so wysely se,
feat finally in felicite 5224
feei may acomplische her purpos in certeyn.
And so pis kyng, vp-on a large pleyn,
Out of pe cite but litel* fro pe stronde,
With his lordis wil for no ping wonde 5228
To haue a conseil, pis wyse Agamenouw, [leaf sic]
caid a Council Makyng a-noon a convocaciouw
Of swyche as wern most gret in special,
He sittyng first in his se royal, 5232
of his Lords; And his lordis eueryche in his se,
Like as pei wern of hi^e or* low degre;
And al tumulte stinted, and silence
Was poru^ pe pres, to ^if hy??i audyence, 5236
fearcne he anon, in ful sobre wyse,
Began his tale, as I schal deuyse.
Howe prudently Agamenon coragyde his lordys
ageyns the Troyans.1
" Sirs," quod he, " I praye $ou takep hede,
feat be so noble and so renomed 5240
Bope of wisdam and of worpines,
Of manhode eke and of hi^e prowes,
feat of kny^thod pe report & pe fame
feoru^-oute pe world rebouwdep to $our name : 5244
For dout[e]les pe flour of chiualrie
Men may now fynde in pis companye ;
For who sawe euer of manly men y-fere,
To-gidre met, as per* ben now here — 5248
So 3onge, so fresche, so coraious also,
said, " Sirs,
renownd
throuout
the world,
5223. 2nd so] to A.
5224. felicite] felice D 1. 5226. vp-on] on D 1.
5227. litel] a litel C. 5228. wonde] fonde D 1.
5234. hi^e or low] lowe or hi^e D 1— or] and C.
5237. he] om. A. 5238. sclial] gan D 1.
5239. new HA, D 1. 5242. eke] om. D 1.
5244. lour] om. D 1. 5247. y-fere] in fere D 1.
5248. >er] bei C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 53 c.
BK. n] King Agamemnon's Speech to the Greeks in Council. 295
So wel be-seyn for to haue a-do,
Or so likly, sith pe worlde began,
Wit/i-oute raskaile so many kny^tly man, 5252 "with no
Of kynges, dukes, and many anoper lorde, among you,
As be now here of wil & on accorde,
And of on hert assemblid in pis place,
J3at sif Fortune & goddis, of her grace 5256 ifFortune
favours us,
.be nat be-hmde oure lourne to apreve,
We may nat faille oure pwrpos to acheve : we cannot
For, I deme hym pleynly in a rage,
Or wers pan wod, pat durste pis viage 5260
In any wyse perturben, or preswme
To take ageyn vs, ouper to asswme
Be my^t on hym of malys to excite
Our worpines — wer it neuer so lyte — 5264
Vs to prouoke to Ire, or doon offence,
J2at we ne schulde, be mortal recompense,
Aquyte his mede, as it lipe in oure my3t,
J?at han among vs so many a worpi kny^t — 5268
Amongis whiche an huwdrid & sit mo Among you
T 1 J Cftn P'Ck
1 koude cnese able for to go, 100 who
Be manly force & kny^tly suffysance, could singly
J? J J revenge us
To take on hym for to do vengaurcce 5272 on Troy.
Vp-on Troyans be hym silf allone —
For whiche pat we be gadrid now echone —
ftat with his meyne were sufficient
To execute pe sorame of his entent 5276
And it acomplische in felicite —
])Q cause, I mene, for whiche pat alle we [leaf 51 <i]
Assemblid ben, bope hi^e and lowe.
And -with al pis, to sou is nat vnknowe 5280 YOU know
TT i /. 11 m how shame-
Howe schamefully Troyens han vs grevid, fully the
Trojans have
Prouokid vs & wilfully y-mevid treated us.
5251. likly] lifly D 1.
5253. anofer lorde] partly erased in D 2.
5257. lourne] purpos D 1— apreve] acheve D 1.
5258. pwrpos] lourne D 1 — acheve] apreve D 1.
5260. Or] om. D 1. 5262. asswme] presume D 2.
5274. gadrid now echone] now gadred euerychon D 2.
5277. it] it to D 1. 5278. for] \>Q D 2.
5281. Troyens] )?e Troyens D 2.
5282. Prouokid] And proukid D.I.
" Let us then,
with one
accord,
make war on
the Trojans,
and teach
em not to
land again
in Greece.
Their offence
against us
sets us on
fire
296 Agamemnon urges the Greeks to revenge against Troy. [BK. n
To rise ageyii hem to han recur of ri^t
Of wrongis don, with al oure force & my^t. 5284
Wherfore, lete vs be on assent & wille,
Settyn to han, as it is ri^t and skylle,
Redres to fynde of fat we now compleyne,
And of oon herte done oure besy peyne 5288
Yp-on Troyens a werre for to make.
And I suppose, we schul hem so a-wake,
pat fei schal lerne, or we f en[ne]s wende,
To remembre to fe worldes ende 5292
How fei her-after schal dur take on honde
For to p?'eswme in Grece more to londe,
Or to be bolde while fei haue lif or space
Ageyn[es] Grekis more for to trespace : 5296
For whos offence, as -who seyf e do but late,
W&t7*-Inne oure herte, with so brercnyng hate,
pe feruent hete and f e gredy Ire
Fro day to day so settif vs a-fire, 5300
pat it renewef fe constreynt of owe peyne
So inwardly, $if I schal nat feyne,
We mote of rescue of so hi^e greuawzce
Our silf enforce for to do vengauwce, 5304
As ri^t require th, and oure iustfe] sorwe
Cornpelleth vs, bofe eve and morwe,
On Troyans oure harmes to be-wreke.
And for to stop tonges fat so speke 5308
To oure repref and to oure vilenye,
We most attonys schape remedie,
pat oure foon hen[ne]s-forf e may drede
For to do wers to vs, as God forbede,* 5312
In tyme commyng, $if f oru$ oure pacience
We Ii3tly suffre her importable offence
To passe forf e, and take of it noon hede.
Sith neuer $it of Grekis koude I rede, 5316
pat any man dide repref to her name,
pat iustly my^t rebourcde to her schame,
WM-oute f is, fat fei it quitte ageyn
5290. we] I D 1. 5293. dur] om. D 1, dor D 2.
5296. for] om. A. 5311. heimes] Enys A, enys D 2.
5312. forbede] forbete C. 5314. importable] mortal D 1.
to avenge it,
and wreak
our injuries
on them,
and make
them fear to
repeat it.
BK. n] Agamemnon urges the Greeks to revenge against Troy. 297
her manhod, so openly & pleyn,
feat no man my$t of hem seyn or pis
In any wyse or report a-mys.
NQ wo schal nat dissymulera in |>is cas,
With cher oppressed,* nor w/t/t dredful face
To lete slyde or li$tly ouer-go
)5e grete offencis pat were so late do,
Whiche wolde twrne vn-to vs and ours [leaf 52 a]
To gret reprefe, & to oure successoures
In tyme comyng, & schamefully be spoke,
How pat Grekis durste nat be wroke
Vp-on her foon — pe whiche may nat be,
I 3011 ensure, sith pat alle we
Ben of oon wil to reforme oure wrong,
And per-wat/i-al so myjty & so strong,
J)at who is he pat koude in brede & lengpe
A-ri^t reherse our power & our strengpe,
Or who durste euer oure worpines assaile
feat he ne schulde, wz't/i-oute any faile,
Repente in hert, or at pe ende rewe —
Saue Troyans, pis oper day of newe,
Of wilfulnes, in a foly rage
In-to oure londe maden a viage,
Vnwar of vs, & \viih her praye honi went ;
fee whiche pei schal ful hastily repent,
For her trespas and gret offenciouw :
For al pe worlde knowep vp and douw,
But late agon how Grekis* but a fewe
Vp-on Troyens her power dide schewe
And slowe her kyng, callid Lamedou/^ ,
Fadir to Priam, now kyng of pat torn?,
And fordide touris and cite,
And wz't/i hem ladde in captiuite,
From Grekis swerde swiche as hem list spare,
feat among vs in seruitude and care
Compleyne her harme whiche may nat be recurid.
5324
" We'll not
diMMBl !••,
or let their
offences
against us
slide.
5332 We are all
one to re-
dress our
wrongs.
5336
5340 These
Trojans
made a sur-
prise raid
on us,
and took off
5344 their prey.
Yet a few
5348 formerly slew
their king,
Lamedon,
destroyd his
5352 anJ'carried
his folk into
captivity.
5321. myrtj repeated in D 1.
5327. wolde] shulde D 1.
5347. Grekis] |>at Grekis C, l>e Grekes D 1.
5350. >at] >e D 1.
5324. oppressed] oppressyng C.
298 Agamemnon says they must consult the Oracle. [BK. n
jpan how may pei stonde full assured 5356
Ageyn vs alle to holden chaumpartye,
)2at han* so worpi in oure companye ;
For it is likly a pousand to acheue
Jpat four or five so li^tly my^tfe] preue. 5360
And $it o ping aferme wel I dar,
Of oure coniyng Troyens ar wel war
And don her labour & her dilligence
Ageyn[e]s vs to* make resistence 5364
"With al her my$t — I knowe it oute of doute —
And gadre frendis in contres al aboute
To helpen hem & strengpe hem in her nede,
Vs to wipstonde, $if pei my^tfe] spede. 5368
But finally, o* ping I consaille,
From pis hauene or we ferper saille,
Jpat we may be pe more fortunat,
Of oon assent to make ambassiat, 5372
And prudently, or we ferper wende,
In-to -Delos in al hast pat we sende —
Whiche is an yle a litel here be-syde —
More discretly our lourne to provide, [leaf 52 6] 5376
ftat we may han pe better hap & grace
Of Appollo, patrons of pat place —
To haue of hym, $if pat we may spede,
Fynal answer in pis grete nede 5380
Of oure expleyt how pat it schal falle,
3if it so be $e wil assenten alle
To pis conseil, pe meste and eke pe leste."
And pei echon pou^ten for pe beste 5384
To condiscende to pis conclusion
With-outen any contradicc^ouw ;
And alle attonys, wit/i-outen any drede,
))ei prayse his cou?iseil & his wyse rede ; 5388
And per-vp-on, discretly, as pei ou^te,
As seipe pe stori, euene pus pei wrou^t.
5357] A3ens oure force or oure chiualrie D 1.
5358. han] ben C, haue D 1. 5362. wel] we A, ful D 1.
5364. to] for to C. 5366. And] pei D 1.
5367. 2nd hem] om. A, D 1. 5369. o] of o C
5384. for] it for D 1. 5385. >is] his D 1.
5390. >e] this A.
"The Trojans
are preparing
to resist us,
and to get
friends to
help them.
Lastly, I
advise that
we send to
Delos,
and obtain
an answer
from Apollo,
how our
undertak-
ing shall
prosper."
The Greeks
agree to this.
BK. n] Achilles and PiritJwus are sent to the Oracle at Delos. 299
Howe Agamenon, by be avyce of al be princes of Grece,
sent Achilles and Pirodus into Delphos, to haue
answer e of Apollo, whidere thay shulde haue J?e
victory of be Troyens or no. And here-aftire is
declarid, howe ydolatrye and fals gode* had ther
bygynnenge ; And h^w Calchas kam to be same
Ille.1
After fe tyme pat Agamenoim
Concludid haf fully his resourc, 5392
As 30 han herde, & his sentence fyned,
foe Grekis ben of herte ful enclined, The Greeks
resolve to
And with o vois acordid pleynly Jms,
ftat Achilles and also Pirrodus, 5396
thousto
For comouw profit, sithfen] ]>ei wer sage, Apollo.
Schal take on hem fie charge of pis message,
To Appollo for answere for to goon ;
And to schip J>ei hem haste anoon 5400
And seile furbe* be be larsje se They sail,
and land
Toward Delphos, and in prosperite
)3ei ben aryued & I-com to londe.
\)e whiche lie, as I vndirstonde, 5404 aniieintbe
And as myn auctor seith, wM-oute les,
Haueth his syyt amonge[s] Cyclades,
Wher men with rokkis haue so moche a-do,
Amyd ]>e see callid Elespontico. 5408 Hellespont,
Of whiche He to make discripciourc,
I mote a while make digressions
Fro my mater, as myn auctor doth ;
For in bis He, Ysidorus in soth 5412 in which
Latona bore
Eeherse}) pleynly how Latona, J?e quene, Apoiio and
Appollo firste, and Diane fe schene
I-childid hafe, by lubiter her lord, by Jupiter,
Whan he and luno wer[e]n at discord — 5416
As writ Ovide — for a litel while. as Ovid says.
And so by-fil, in j?is litel He
)3er was a temple whilom dedicat
5392. Concludid] Concludith A. 5400. hem haste] wente A.
5401. fur>e] burbe C. 5406. Cyclades] Cillades D 1.
5418. so] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 54 b.
300 Of Apollo the Sun, & Diana the Moon, & the He Delos. [BK. II
To Apollo a
Temple was
dedicated,
because the
Sun first
showd there
after the
Flood,
as did Diana
the Moon,
who was a
Pagan God-
dess and
huntress.
The Greeks
call Delos
•Ortigia/
from its
curlews.
Apollo is
cald Titan
and Phebus.
Vn-to Appollo, and also consecrat 5420
In his worschipe, of olde fundaciouw,
Jpat was honoured vrith grete deuocioiw,
Be-cause Appollo with his bemys clere,
After pe flood, firste fere dide appere 5424
To schewe his hornys, raper pere & soue, [leaf 52 c]
And Diane eke, pat callid is pe moue.
Of whiche schewyng pis He berep pe name
In-to pis day, pat is of so grete fame — 5428
Only be aperyng of pis ilke tweyne :
For Delos is in Greke no more to seyne
J?an a schewyng or an apparence.
And pus be-gan pe grete reuerence 5432
To Appollo first, and pe honour eke
To hym y-do of so many Greke,
And to his suster fat callid is Dyane,
Jpe pale mone, pat can so wexe and wane, 5436
And callid is of paynymys a goddesse,
Jjat whilom was in wode an hunteresse.
And pis lady, with pe sonne her broper,
Of pis He haue lordschip & non oper, 5440
Only for pei at her natiuite
Schewid her li^t firste in pat centre.
])Q whiche He Grekis also calle
Ortigia, in her language alle, 5444
Be-cause curlews wer per first I-seyn :
For Ortigias is no more to seyn
J?an a curlew, in grew, I vndirstonde ;
For pei were firste engendrid in p«t londe. 5448
And Appollo is callid eke Tytan,
jpat in his tyme so moche worschip wan,
Longe to-forne or he was made a sterre,
With lubiter whan pat he hilde werre. 5452
And he also y-callyd is Phebus,
5426. eke] om. D 1.
5434. many] many a A.
5422. with] be A, by D 2.
5428. In-to] And in to A.
5442. )>at] the A.
5443. He] om. D 1— Grekis also] also Grekes D 1.
5445. I-seyn] seyn D 1. • • 5446. Ortigias] Ortagios D 1.
5448. were] cm. A.
5451. to-forne] a forn D2, Dl— made] om. D 1.
5452. >at]om. Dl.
BK. n] OfPhaethon &, the Pythonesses. The origin of Idolatry. 301
And of sowme y-namyd Phicius :
For of Pheton he hadde f e victorie
Whaw he him slow}, to his encres of glorie —
fee grete serpent here in erf e lowe —
Wif his arwis and his my^ti bowe.
Of whiche conquest fe gret[e] god Cupide
Had envie, and euene f oru} f e syde
He wouwdid hym, depe to f e herte
With f e arwe of golde, fat made him sore smerte.
And of Pheton, fat Phebus made fyne,
Com Phetonysses, fat korane so devine —
I mene women fat ben devyneresses
)}oru3 dede men, fis false sorceresses,
As oon whilom reisede Samuel
For loue of Saule, f e Byble can }ou telle.
And in his temple large, louge, and olde,
Jper was a statue al of purid golde,
Ful gret and hi^e, & of huge wei3te,
And f er-in was, foru3 f e deuels slei3te,
A spirit vnclene, be false illusion??.,
)3at 3af answere* to euery questiouw — [leaf 52 a]
Xat f e ydole, dovmbe as stok or stoon.
And fus fe peple, deceyued euerychon,
Were* by fe fend brou3t in gret errour,
To done worschip & swyche false honour,
With sacrifise & cursed mawmentrie.
And in fis wyse began ydolatrie,
As in fis place to tellen I me caste,
And how longe it abode and laste,
Compendiously I pwpose to discryve —
Gynnyng & ende, as 30 schal here blyve,
Wif-outcn any ambyguite.
For at f e birf e and natiuite
Of Crist lesu, at f e incarnacioun,
Alle f e ydoles brast and fel[le] dou?^,
And vanisched, & wer brou3t to nou3t,
5456. his] om. D 1. 5459. grete] om. D 1.
5469. his] this A. 5471. of] of an D 1.
5474. ^af answere] answere $af C. 5477. Were] Wher
5484. here] here as D 2. 5486. at be] in bat D 1.
5488. doun] a dou?i A,
The Sun was
also named
Phaethon
5456 when he
slew the
great serpent,
Python ;
5460
and from
him came the
5464 Pythonesses,
sorceresses,
of whom one
_ . . raisd Samuel
5468 for Saul.
In a statue
of gold in
Apollo's
Temple
5472
5476
was an un-
clean spirit
which
answerd
questions,
and was
worshipt.
5480 And thus
began
Idolatry.
5484
At Christ's
birth,
5488 all idols fell
down.
An Angel
appeard to
Joseph,
and bade
him take the
Child and
Mary into
Egypt.
Then all the
idols were
broken to
shivers.
302 Joseph's flight into Egypt. Who wasthe first Idol-maker? [BK.II
Whan Herodes pe blisful* childe hap sou^t
J^oru^ his malis & cruelte horrible,
As holy writ recordep & pe Bible. 5492
For whiche pursut and persecuciou??,
J)er dide apere, be a visiou?*,*
An holy angel to Joseph as he slep,
And bad hym ryse & also taken kep 5496
Vn-to pe childe, and also to Marie,
And goon his way, or Herode him espye,
In-to Egypt, pe grete regiouw,
Lik as pe gospel makep menciouw. 5500
And ri^t anoon, as he cam to* londe,
J}er was non ydole vp-ri^t my^t[e] stonde,
But to-schiuerede vn-to pecis smale —
J?is holy writ, pleinly, and no tale, 5504
As was recorded first of Isaie,
How pat oure lorde on an esy skye
Ascende schulde & holde furpe his weye
Toward Egypt, & per-wip schulde deye 5508
Al mawmetrie, and no lenger duelle.
But as pe lewes recorde of Ysinael,
)3at he was first pat mawmetrie fonde,
And made of clay an ydole vrith his honde, 5512
And as peynymys write & tellen vs
J3at aldirfirst was Promotheus
)?at fond ydolis, schortly to conclude ;
For simulacru??^ cometh of similitude — 5516
Jpat is no ping pleynly but liknes
Made afte?* man, his ymage to expresse,
Vn-to whiche paynymys in her guyse,
With false honour & cursyd sacrifise, 5520
Be-goraie first pis ryt for drede of man.
And somme seyn, how Belus first began
Swiche fals[e] worschip & suche mawmetrie, [leaf 53 a]
In her bokis as clerkis specefie, 5524
Jpat of Assirie was lord & goue?*nour,
5490. blisful] blissed C. 5494. a visioim] avisioiw C.
5501. to] in to C, D 1. 5502. ydole] ydol that A.
5504. pis] This is D 1. 5505. As was] And A.
5511. was] was be D 1. 5515. fond] om. D 1.
5518. after] repeated in D 1. 5522. how] >at D 1.
Ishmael was
the first idol-
maker.
But some
pagans say
Prom
rometheus
Others assert
that Belus,
lord of As-
syria, was.
BK. ll] The originator of Idolatry. Ninus, Beelzebub, Saturn. 303
After whos deth his sone in his honour,
}5at Nynus hi^t, an ymage dide make
To be worschipte only for his sake —
Al of brent gold, be fals affeccioiuz,
And sette it vp for consolaciouw,
And for a mynde and a memorial,
Vn-to fe whiche, -with hert[e], wil, and al,
Of ygnorauwce and of fleschly love
He dido honour, as to God above,
In his templis, most of excellence,
And made his peple to do reuerence,
And seide in heuene he was deified,
))at of no man durst[e] be denyed.
Til after sone but a lytel whyle,
A wickid spirit, folk is to be-gyle,
In f is ydole entrid to abyde,
And 3af answer vp-on eue?y side
To f e peple of what him list demauwde ;
And f ei ageyn, what he wil cowmaiuzde
Obeye fully — f e folke of al Assirie —
Whiche vn-to God dide gret Iniurie,
Makyng f e peple in suche errowr falle.
And sorame Belus & somme Bel hym calle,
And sowme Balym & sowme Belphegor,
And fil in errcwr alwey more & more —
And Be^ebub he named was also,
Whiche name is made of wordis two :
Of Bel & 3ebub, fat f us signefie —
For Bel is god, and ^ebub is a flye —
J}an Bel^ebub to-gidre specefies,
loyned in on, fe grete god of flyes.
And of J)is fcyned fals ydolatrie
Gan al fe worlde worschip mawmetrie ;
For somme Satorn " god of goddis alle "
Gan in her errowr falsly for to calle,
J?at was whilom fe my^ti kyng of Crete,
Ninus, the
son of Belus,
set up a
golden image
of his father,
and honourd
it above God.
5528
5532
5536
But an evil
spirit soon
5540 entcrdit,
and answerd
folk's ques-
tions.
5544
5548 Soinecald
him Belus ;
5552
some Beelze-
bub,
which means
5556 the God of
Flies.
Then some
, made Saturn
5560 the chief God.
5526. in] & D 2. 5533. Of] And of D 1.
5534. as] ther to as D 1.
5544. >ei] her D 1. 5550. fil] ]>us filler D 1
5558. be] bis D 1.
304 Of Saturn & his Sons ; & of the Gods Mars & Apollo. [BK. n
Saturn fore-
saw
that his son
by Juno
would banish
him;
so he told
his wife to
bring him
the baby ;
but she savd
it.
Saturn had
3 sons —
Jupiter,
the greatest,
Neptune,
and Pluto,—
and a girl.
Mars was
next him ;
then Apollo,
who is
worshipt in
Delos ;
and then
'Venus.
And ^af hym name after ]?e planete
])sii in heuene ha)> so large a spere.
And as poetis in her fablis lere, 5564
})at he be-forn, foru^ his sapience,
Sawe in his dyvyne providence
Howe a sone schulde of hym discende,
And of luno f e goddesse, as he wende, 5568
Jjat schulde hym pleinly from his regne expelle
And suffren hi?» no lenger for to duelle
In his kyngdam, whan he com to age —
Wher-of Satorn fil in swiche a rage, [leaf 5351 5572
J3at he wil schape remedie fer-fore,
Byddyng his wyf, fat wha^ J>e childe wer bore
J5at sche to hym schulde it bring a-noon,
In stede wher-of to \ijrn sche brou^t a ston — 5576
To saue hir chylde sche dide hir besynes —
And f is Satorn, foru} his gredynes,
])e ston deuourej) in his malencolye.
And fus Satorn, but $if bokis lye, 5580
Hadde sonys f re, a dorter, & no mo :
lubiter, Neptunws, and Pluto.
But lubiter grattest was of name,
Most renomed & worf iest of fame 5584
Among paynyms, as it is verefied ;
For f ei so hi^e han hym magnyfied,
)?at f ei hym calle " god of fire & eyr,"
Nexte to Satorne borne for to be heyr. 5588
And nexte to hym, in bokis as I rede,
Is god of bataille, my^ti Mars J?e rede ;
And nexte Appollo, so cler, so schene & brijt,
fie daies eye & voider of pe ny^t, 5592
Cherischer of frut, of herbe, flour, & corne —
fie whiche god, liche as is seid a-forne,
In Delos is worschipte and honoured.
And after, 'Venus, fat often hap socoured 5596
Many louere, pe faire, lusty quene,
And hem alleggid of hir wouwdis grene,
5571. kyngdam] kyndham D 2. 5574. Tpaf] om. D 1.
5594. a-forne] to forn A, D 2, D 1.
BK. n] Of Venus, Mercury, the Moon or Diana. Idolatry. 305
}5at first were hurt \vikh hir fyry* brond,
As sche bat is goddes of many lond, 5600 Venus binds
. | , , . . , . , all the world
And al pe worlde hape in hir demeyne in her chain.
Fast enbracid in hir firy cheyne —
I mene pe lady pat callid is Venus.
And nexte in ordre is Mercury us, 5604 Nextcnme
J)at in speche hath most excellence
Of rethorik and sugrid elloquence ; lord of speech
r\£ -i j £ and song.
Oi musik, songe, and 01 armonye
He hath lordschipe and hool pe regalye. 5608
Nexte pe mone, pat wexe can & wane, Then the
Callid Lucyna and also eke Dyane, Ladm or
)3at in Delos hath hir mansiou?z,
Lik as to-forn is maked* menciouw — 5612
Now ful of Ii3t, now hornyd pale is sche,
Lady of chauwge and mutabilite, lady of
jjat selde in on halt hir any tyme ;
And so fare pei pat ben born in hir clyme, 5616 AH her folk
Jjat ay delite in pingis pat ben newe, MW thfaf*
Whos hert is clad in many sondry hewe,
So pei be diuers in her affecciouws.
And in pis wyse, in sondri* regiouras, 5620 idolatry rules
Of mawnietrie is pe venym ronne, [leaf 53 c]
Lik as clerkis wel deuyse konne :
For, as I fynde. be Mawricyens The Maun-
J J , tians worship
Worscmp lulam, and Lf?ypciens 5624 Julam
(Juba?); the
Honouren Ysis, after her konnyng, Sf8yptian8
Whilom doubter of Ynachus be kynsf, daughter of
7 . r J °7 Inachusj
)5at tau^t hem first hir lond to ere & so we,
And also lettris for to rede and knowe, 5628
And in lettrure to sette her besynes —
For whiche ping pei calle hir a goddes.
And lubiter honoured is in Crete, the Cretans,
Where he whilom hilde his souereyn sete, 5632
And on hem leyde many diuers charge,
5599. hir] om. A— fyry] fyre C. 5607. 2nd of] om. A.
5608. He] om. D 1. 5612. maked] made C, D 1.
5615. )>at] And D 1.
5616. ben born] to fore D 1— clyme] cheyne D 1.
5617. newe] ay newe D 1. 5619. diuers] denise D 1.
5620. sondri] many sondri C. 5624. lulam] Inkam D 1.
TROY BOOK. X
306 Jupiter 's Division of the World. Of Fauns, & Romans. [BK. u
Jupiter was
lord of
Creation.
He gave the
sea to
Neptune ;
the earth to
Pluto.
He was most
honourd in
Crete.
The Latins
did reverence
to Fauns.
The Romans'
God was
Quirinus.
Romulus first
built Rome.
His spear,
when
planted,
budded
and bloomd.
After him,
Roman
knights were
cald ' Quiri-
tes.'
With egles betyn in his baner large ;
And he was lord of eyr, of lond, & see,
His royal kyngdam deuidyng in-to pre : 5636
In pe hiest hym silfe doth contune,
And hool pe se he $af vn-to Neptune,
And laste pe erpe, to holde his se royal,
He $af to Pluto, fat god is infernal ; 5640
And alderlast, whan he was stellified,
])is lubiter was moste magnified
Of hem of Crete, a-bouten ouer al,
To whom pei made for a memorial 5644
A large tombe and a statue a-lofte,
And hym honoured in her ritis ofte
With encens and oper sacrifice.
And of pis mater ferper to deuise, 5648
\)Q Latynys wip besy dilligence
In her rytis dide reuerence
To pe goddis — 3if it be credible —
I-callid fawny, pat ben Invisible, 5652
And han her duellyng in pe wodis grene,
Al-be pat men her figure may nat sene.
And of Eomeyns ferper to devine,
ftei most in honowr han hir god Quyryne, 5656
J)e whiche whilom, as bokis tellen vs,
Amongis hem was callid Romulus,
Jpat biltfe] first pe wallis of pe touw ;
And from an hirde he cam to swiche renoiw 5660
)2oru3 his manhod & his worpines.
J)e spere of whom, as bokis seyn expresse,
As he pe hed picched in pe grouwde,
It gan anon, lik as it is fouwde, 5664
To norische & floure & buddyn by myracle,
And of nature had[de] noon obstacle
To wexe grene vrikh fresche blomys newe.
And for pe manhod pat men in hym knewe, 5668
Tor his kny^thod and his grete fame,
J)e worpi kny^tes of Borne bare pe name [leaf 53 d]
After hym,* & were querytes callid,
5636. kyngdam] kyndam D 2. 5640. to] om. D 2, D 1.
5645. a-lofte] of loffite A. 5671. hym] hem C.
BK. n] Of Minerva and the naming of Athens : and of Venus. 307
Hije in heuene whan pat he was stallid
Amonge pe goddis, and y-deifyed.
And pus liomeyns han hym glorified,
As for her god, with gold & gret expends.
And, as I rede, pe Athenyenses
Of hool[e] herte chosen for to serue
To pe goddes pat callid is Mynerue,
And Pallas eke, wip hir cristal schelde,
)}at vrith Neptuims evene amyd pe felde
Helde chaurapartye, with wowimen on hir syde ;
And he with men, ful sirquedous in* pride,
Defendip hym for ^eving of pe name
Of Athenes, a cite most of fame —
Jtis to seyn, wheper he or sche
Schulde of ri^t name pe cite —
Til it be-fil, as pei gonne stryue,
Sodeynly per sprang a fair olyue
For Pallas part, grene & fair blosmyng,
And per ageyn, a welle gan to springe
For hym Pluto, vrith water, large & depe,
Of whiche ping Appollo toke good kepe,
Whiche in his dom was nat rek[e]les;
And for pe olyve tokeuep loue & pes,
Wate?* trouble, contek, werre, and strif,
He ^af sentence anon diffynytif,
How Pallas schulde, pat callid is Mynerve,
J3e palme pleynly of pis strif disserue.
And sche anon $af name to pe toiw,
And callid it, be hi^e discreciouw,
Athenes, pe whiche in special
Is to seyn, a cite in-mortal :
For wisdam first per be-gan to floure.
And for pis skille, pis cite dide honour
Mijty Pallas, goddesse of science,
And had hir ay moste* in reue?>ence.
And pei of Pave, in al her regiou?*,
Worschip moste pe quene of Cytherowi —
5677. herte chosen] hertis chesen D 1. 5682. in] of C.
5685. pis] This is A. 5694. tokene>] betokne)> D 1.
5704. ]>is] |>e D 1. 5706. ay moste] moste ay C.
5672
5676 The Atheni-
ans worshipt
Minerva
or Pallas.
5680 She disputed
with Neptune
5684
whether she
or he should
name Athens.
5688 Up sprang
an Olive-tree
in blossom;
and by it a
Well.
5692 So Apollo
5696
(as the Olive
meant peace,
and water
strife)
decided that
Slinerva
should name
5700 and she'cald
it 'Athens,'
5704
an immortal
city;
where she
waa most
revered.
The Paphians
-.___ worshipt
5708 Venus.
308 The Worship of Venus inPaphos, & of Bacchus inNaxos. [BK. n
At Paphos
the statue of
Venus is
painted with
gold and
She stands
naked in a
wavy sea,
and 3 God-
desses wait
on her.
Round her
fly doves,
and her blind
son Cupid
is beside her.
The folk of
Naxos
worship
Bacchus,
whose liquor
makes wits
sharp.
I mene Venws, ful of doubilnes,
Of whom aforne somwhat I dicle expresse —
And in hir temple, ful solempnely,
)3ei sette hir hiest; & moste richely 5712
With gold and a^ure hir statue J>ei do peint,
And o]?er colours fat may neuer feynt,
And set hir vp in fe hi3est se
Of all* fe temple fat al men may se ;* 5716
And sche stant nakid in a wawy se,*
Abouten hir with goddesse f re,
Jjat be assygned with besy attendauwce [leaf 54 a]
To a-waite on hir & don hir obseraawace. 5720
And floures fresche, blewe, rede, and white
Ben hir aboute, f e more for to delyte ;
And on hir lied sche ha]> a chap[e]let
Of rosys rede, ful plesaujitly y-set, 5724
And from J>e hed douw vn-to hir* foot
With sondry gommys & oynemewtis soot
Sche is enoynt, swetter for to smelle ;
And enviroura, as poetis telle, 5728
Ben douvys whyte fleyng, & eke sparwis,
And be-syde Cupide with his arwys —
Hir blinde sone — for to hurte and dere,
And loseth ofte & smyt he wot not where, 5732
As he mote nede, be-cause he is blynde.
And f us honouryd & most had in mynde
Amonge f is peple is Venws pe goddesse.
And Naxyens don her besynesse 5736
To serue Bachus, Jje my^ti god of wyn,
Whos licour is moste precious and fyn
To recomfort hertis and to glade,
And to refresche hewes fat ben fade 5740
In facis pale, and makif wittis scharp,
Losnyth* tongis, & doth hem loude carp,
And causeth hem to walke at liberte,
And to discure ping J?at was secre 5744
5713. do] om. D 1. 5716. Of all] In C.
5716, 17 are transposed in C. 5720. a-waite] wayte D 1.
5724. y-set] set D 1. 5725. vn-to hir] to >e C.
5735. >is] om. D 1.
5742. Losnyth] Lothneth 0, Lowseneth A, Louseth D 1.
BK. n] The evils of Drink. A Drunkard is a Beast.
309
Wif-oute avys or discrecioim :
For w[h]er as wyn hath domynaciou?*,
No secrenesse may be kepte in mewe.
And sorame of hem fat Bachus seme & sewe, 5748
Amonge to hym haue swiche deuociou?a
Jpat fei som while ar voide of al resou?*,
Hasty and wood, & wif-oute al drede ;
And somme also so toty in her hede 5752
ftat fei are voide of power & of myjt,
And haue no foot for to stonde vp-ri^t.
And ^it fei ben as chargauwt as a pye,
Pale cherid, wif a glasy eye, 5756
Ful of resoiw til his wynde be spent :
For man or woman fat is vinolent
Is verreyly a beste vnresonable,
And, to my dom, I holde hym eke vnable 5760
To ben acceptid in any companye,
Whan fat her tonge wadeth on f e lye,
feat fei ne may brynge forth* a worde.
And fus Bachus, fe stronge my^ty lorde, 5764
Ful ofte causeth folkis for to erre,
To debate, & to* make werre
Of hastynes, wher as is no nede.
Wherfore it is wisdam fat men drede [leaf 545] 5768
His sli^ty werkyng, or fei falle in f e snare ;
And feble braynys be mesour for to spare
Or fei vnwarly arestid ben & take,
And or Bachus make hem for to schake 5772
In a fevere wers fan tercyen* —
3iffe it of custom be quotidien,
Alterat with Bachus my^ty lows —
And afferde of tornyng of fe hous, 5776
And for-dreynt on f e drye lond,
Whan he hath lost bofe foot & hond,
And with a strawe pleyeth like an ape,
And deuoutly gynneth for to gape, 5780
5750. som while] somtyme D 2. 5755. chargaimt] largaunt A.
5763. bryiige forth] bryng oute C.
5766. to] for to C. 5767. as] om. D 1.
5769. slijty] slijly D 1. 5771. vnwarly] om. D 1— &] or D 1.
5773. tercyen] a tercyen C. 5776. 1st of] of the A.
Where wine
rules, no
secrets are
kept;
men get void
of reason,
others be-
come toty,
and can't
stand up-
right.
A winer is
an unreason-
able beast.
Bacchus
breeds strife
and war.
His fever is
worse than
the tertian.
He makes
folk play
with straws
like an ape.
310 Of Bacchus, God of Wine. Of Vulcan, Mars & Venus. [BK. n
And noddeth ofte with his lowsy lied,
As he had on an hevy cappe of led.
And who pat be of pis condiciorw,
He entre may pe religioim
Of my^ti Bachus, for abilite.
J)e which [e] lord hath pe souereynte
Bope of hony and of niylke per-to,
And of bawme, pat is so riche also,
And lordschip hape of hi^e power devyne
Bope of grapis and of Query vyne,*
To ^if hem norissching by his influence.
Of whom pe honour and pe reuerence
Is reysed most, as I vndirstond,
Among wynteris in Query mane?* lond,
Be-cause he is to hem so gracious.
And pei of Lewne worschip Wlcanws,
)3e god of fyre, Iubiter[i]s smyth;
])Q whiche forgip on his blak[e] stith
J?e gret[e] ponder, hidous & horrible,
And pe levenys, pat whilom be visible*
In-to pe west, oute of pe orient,
And gasteth vs with his dredeful dent —
ftis smotry smyth, pis swart [e] Vlcanws,
)}at whylom was in herte so lalous
Toward Venws, pat was his weddid wyf,
Wher-of per roos a dedly mortal stryfe
Whan he with Mars gan hir first espie,
Of hi^e malis & cruel fals envie,
ftoru3 pe schynyng of Phebws bemys bri^t,
Liggyng a-bedde with Mars her owne kny3t.
For whiche in hert he brent as any glede,
Makyng pe sklaurcdre al abrood to sprede,
And gan per-on * falsly for to mwse —
As God forbede pat any man accuse
For so litel any woman euere :
Where loue is set, hard is to disseuere ;
For pou3 pei don swyche ping of gewtilles, [leaf 54
Bacchus wa»
lord of honey,
milk
and wine.
He's honord
most by
vintners.
At Lemnos
they
worshipt
Vulcan,
the God of
Fire,
who forgd
thunder and
lightning,
and was
jealous of
his wife
Venus,
•whom he
found in bed
with Mars,
and made a
scandal of it.
God forbid
that any
man should
make a fuss
about such
a trifle!
5784
5788
5792
5796
5800
5804
5808
5812
5816
5782. he] om. D 2. 5790. vyne] wyn C.
5796. Lewne] lune D 1. 5800. visible] viseble C.
5804. was in herte] in herte was A. 5813. ber-on J>er of C.
BK. n] Vulcan s absurdity. How Lucifer was cast into Hell. 311
Passe ouere lijtly and here uoon heviues Men
Liste bat pou be to woramen odyous — bother about
their wives'
And 3it pis smy3t, pis false Wlcanws, 5820 adultery.
Al-be fat he hadde hem pus espied,
Among peynyms }it was he deified ;
And for pat he so falsely hem a-woke, And because
I haue hym set laste of al* my boke 5824
Amonge pe goddis of fals mawmetrie. book-
And in pis wyse gan ydolatrie,
As 30 han herde, £01113 oppinioims
Of peple erryng in her aff ecciourcs *— 5828
)3at al is fals, who pe trouthe cerche : Bat ail
For by techyng of al holy chirche, fafse. ^
J3e holy doctryne and tradicioiws,
We schal dispise swiche oppinioiws, 5832
Whiche of po fende wer fou?zde nat of late.
For whan angelis in hevene wer create, when Angels
were created,
He pat of alle hadde prelacye —
Of whom pe prophete callid Ysaie 5836 a8 18aiah
Writep mt pus : how pe cedris grene no trees in
,-.» , P • , Paradise
Of paradys wer nat so fair to sene,
Planys nor fir in hei^te, sope to seyn,
To his hi^nesse my^tfe] nat atteyne, 5840
Nor al* pe tres, so delicious,
Of paradys were nat so precious,
Uoul>er in sht nor in semlynes were so fair
J as the rebel
To ben egal to hym in fairnes ; 5844 Lucifer,
But po[r]u^ his pride & his surquedie,
Whan he seide to God, pat sit so hi3e,
He wil be like, and also set his se
in pe northe, passyng his degre, 5848
He was cast dou/i wit/i alle his legiouws who was cast
into Hell
From be faire hevenly mansiouns,
• legions.
Al sodeynly in-to pe pitte of helle,
Perpetuely per for to duelle. 5852
Of whom was seide, whan he fil so ferre :
5820. smy}t] smyth A, D 2. 5822. Among] Amonges D 1.
5824. of al] in C. 5828. affecciouras] afflicciouws C.
5829. pat] Til D 1. 5839. in] om. A— hei^te] herte D 2.
5841. al] of C.
312 Of Satan, Behemoth or Leviathan, David ,&, St.Brandan. [BK.II
Christ says
he saw Satan
descend like
lightning.
He is cald
Behemoth
and Levia-
than,
who lives in
the sea.
David speaks
of him in the
Psalter.
And St.
Brandan saw
in a pit this
tortuous
serpent,
which came
to Adam in
Paradise.
" How fil pou so, o fou morwe sterre,
From pe myddis of pe stonys bri^t,
ftat ben so percynge & fyry of her li^t, 5856
Jpat whilom wer for pi gret bri3tnes
Callid Lucyfer," — of whom Crist seip expresse
In his gospel, how he sawe fro hevene
Sathan discende, lik pe fyry* leuene — 5860
J?e olde serpent, fat is so lowe falle,
"Whom Hebrei in her tonge [c]alle
Be-mowpe, pat doth in latyn plein expresse
A beste rude, ful of cursednesse — 5864
)3e vile serpent, he, Leuyathan,
Whom Ysidre wel discriue can, [leaf 54 d]
Whiche of kynde is euere conuersauwt
In wellis trouble, & hauep most his hauwt 5868
Amongis watris in pe large see ;
Of whom seip Dauid, lik as $e may se,
In pe sauter makyng menciouw
Of pe snake, pe monstruous dragoura, 5872
Ful of venym, and of harde grace,
Whiche in pe se, large & gret of space,
'Wiih foule addris hape his mansion,
Vn-to mankynde to doon illusions — 5876
Whom whilo?^ sawe pe holy monke Bra?idan,
As he seiled by pe occian,
ftrowe* & deiect, in a pet horrible,
More foule and hidous parc it is credible, 5880
J}er to abide, pis tortuose serpent,
Vn-to pe day pleinly of lugement,
ftat of malis envied so mankynde.
Whiche wM his gynnes* & slei^tes, as I finde, 5884
Cam to oure fadir first in paradys ;
And to deceyve pe bet at his devys,
More couertly, pis werme in his passage
Toke of a serpent pe liknes & ymage — 5888
5855. stonys] stremes D 1. 5860. fyry] fyre C.
5863. Be-mow>e] Bemotli A, D 2, D 1.
5864. rude] |>at is D 1. 5869. Amongis] Amonge D 1.
5874. Whiche in] With Inne A. 5875. addris] shuldres D 1.
5879. prowe] poruj C, £orgh D 1. 5881. abide] bide D 1.
5884. gynnes] gywnyng C. 5885. fadir] Fadris A, fadrys D 2.
BK. n] The Sei-pent tempted Eve in Paradise, & spoke l>y Spirits. 313
})at is, of chere, of loke, and coimtenaiuice
Like a mayde, & hath pe resemblauwce
Of a wowman, as recordeth Bede,
In his deceytis raber for to spede — 5892
I niene pe hed only, and nat ellis :
For be-hynde, so as clerkis tellis,
Like a serpent of wombe, bak, & taile
He was whan he gan hem to assaile ;
And towarde Eue wha?* he gan to glide,
He first enquerip, as he hir toke* a-side,
Why God for-bad hem etyn of pe tree,
Whiche $if pei ete, sothly schulde be
Like to goddis, knowyng good & ille.
And ri$t furpe-w/t/i, as pei gan fullfille
)3e fendis heste, her eyen were vnclosid,
And for her gilt sodeynly deposid
From paradys in-to wrechidnes,
To liuen in labour, sorwe??, & distres.
And pus pe fend, first whaw pat he toke
Forme of a snake & a woman loke, 5908
And made pe tonge in hir hed to meve,
By fals engyn mankynde for to greve,
So as he doth in hem pat be travailled,
With wicked spirites vexid & assailled, 5912
To meve her tongis falsly oute to breke
In-to blasfemye, what ping pat bei speke —
\)e same serpent, he Levyathan, [leaf 55 a]
Contynvyng ay falsly as he gan 5916
In cursid ydoles dovmbe, defe, & blynde,
Ful ofte spekith* be spirites, as I fynde,
Whiche ar but fendis, Dauid writ certeyn,*
)3e goddis alle, whom folkis so in veyn 5920
Honour with ritis superstycious,
As whilom was Appollo Delphicus,
Liche as to-forn $e han herde deuise,
5890. be] om. A. 5896. hem] hym A.
5898. hir toke] toke hir C. 5899. hem] om. D 2.
5900. Whiche] And D 1. 5907. pat] om. A.
5908. a] om. D 1 — woman] wommanis A.
5914. In-to] And to D 1. 5916. gan] bi gan D 1.
5918. spekith] spekis C. 5919. certeyn] in certeyn C.
Satan ill
Paradise
had a maid's
face,
as Uede says,
but a ser-
pent's belly
5896 and tail.
He askt Eve
why God
forbade them
to eat of the
5900 Tree of
'™V Knowledge.
5904 She and
Adam were
driven out
of Paradise.
Ever since,
Satan has
workt by
Spirits
to make men
blaspheme.
By these
Spirits idols
spoke,
like Apollo
did.
314 End of the Idolatry talk. Achilles in Apollo's Temple. [BK. n
Why Guido
has said all
this about
Idolatry is,
because it
wasn't
known.
Now he re-
turns to how
Achilles and
Pirithous
went to
Apollo's
temple in
Delos.
They pray,
fast, and
make offer-
ings to the
God,
who answers :
"Achilles!
go home to
the Greeks,
and tell em
to go to Troy.
Whiche as for now ou^te I-now^ suffise.
And, as I trowe, pe verray cause why,
ftat myn auctor rehersith * by and by
GrouMe & gynnynge of ydolatrie —
jpis pe cause, for ou^t I can espie,
For pat he sawe pe mater was nat knowe
I-liche wel, hope to hi^e and lowe ;
Par aventure ^ou to do plesaurcce,
He hath pe grourade put in remembrauwce
Of false goddis & of mawmetrie,
And nioste for hem pat can no poisye,
And to pe story resortep sone ageyn,
How Achilles, as $e han herde me seyn,
And Pirrodus han pe weye y-nome
To pe temple, and pider ben I-come
To han answere of her embassatrie,
Of gret* Appollo, whiche may nat lye.
5924
5928
5932
5936
5940
Of the answere that Appollo gave, as welle to fals
Bisshope Calchas, as to Achylles.1
Of pe prestis pei han her couwseil take,
In pe temple to prey en and to wake
Til pei may fynde, vn-to pere entent
To haue answere at hour conuenient 5944
To her purpos and leiser opportune.
And of on herte so longe pei contune
In praying,* fastynge, and oblacions,
Wip sacrifyse and sondry orisons, 5948
To-fore pe god awayting alwey faste,
Til he to hem answerid at pe laste
Wip softe vois and seide : " Achilles," twye,
" Home to Grekis fast[e] pat pou hye, 5952
Fro whom pou were hidir to me sent,
And seye hem sothly pe somme of her entent
Schal be fulfilled, m'tft-oute wordis mo,
And how pat pei schal to Troye go, 5956
5926. rehersith] rehersicl C. 5935. new IT A.
5940. gret] >e gret C. 5944. at] & D 1.
5947. praying] prayer C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 55 a.
BK. n] Apollo foretells the Greeks' success over Troy. 315
And per abide many stronge bataille,
But at pe last, vrith-outeii any faille,
At ten $ere day, pei wy?me schal pe tou?i
And bringe it pleynly to distrucciovm — 5960
Wai and touris schal falle to ruyne;
And -with al pis, her purpos for to fyne,
Kyng Priamws and Eccuba his wyf
And her sonys, in pis mortal stryf [leaf 556] 5964
Schal per be slayn, broper after broper :
]5is is pe fyn, for it may be now oper ;
For per schal non eskapeu in pe place,
But swiche as Grekis likep vn-to grace
Of verray roupe and of mercy take —
Jpis al and som, & pus an ende I make."
Of whiche answere Achilles glad & Ii3t
Was in his herte, & \viih al his niyjt
ftankip Appollo of pis blisf ul ewer ;
And soudeynly, of sort or aventure,
jpe silfe tyme be-fil a wonder ping :
For out of Troye, fro Prianms pe kyng,
Was sent a bischop for pe same caas
To haue answere, whos name was Calchas.
And he cam in, sool wip-outew prees,
)3e same hour while pat Achilles
Was per present, a man of gret science —
I mene Calchas — & had experience
Specyally of calculaciouw,
Of sort also and divinaciouw,
And lernyd was in astronomye.
And whan pat he his tyme dide espie
To haue answere most conuenyent
Of Appollo, like to his entent,
As to-fore makid is memorie,
He entrid is in pe oratorio,
Doyng his ritys & his obseruaiwces,
Like pe custom w/t/i pe circumstauwces,
And besely gan to knele and praye,
5957. many] many a D 1. 5970. pis] pis is D 1.
5971. new H A. 5978. answere] an answere D 1.
5981. J>er] om. D 1. 5993. gan] bi gan D 1.
"Thev shall
have hard
fights, but
in 10 years'
time they
shall destroy
and Priam
and all his
family shall
be slam.
Achilles
thanks
5968
5972
Then at once
appears a
Bishop sent
by Priam
5976 from Troy,
Calchas,
:>980
5984 a diviner,
learned in
astronomy,
to get an
answer from
5988 AP°110-
5992
316 Calchas, bidden ly Apollo, sails with Achilles to Athens. [BK. u
The Oracle
bids Calchas
not return
to Troy,
but go to the
Greeks with
Achilles.
This he does.
They go on
board,
and sail
to Athens.
And his pinges deuoutly for to saye,
And to pe god crie & calle stronge ;
And for Appollo wolde hi??^ nat prolongs, 5996
Sodeynly his answere gan atame,
And seide : " Calchas," twies be his name,
" Be ri^t wel war pat pou ne turne ageyn*
To Troye touw, for pat wer but in veyn ; 6000
For finally, lerne pis of me,
In schort tyme it schal distroyed be —
J^is is in soth, whiche may nat be denyed,
Wherfor I wil pat pou be allyed 6004
Wip pe Grekis, and with Achilles go
To hem anon ; my wil is it be so :
For pei schal han, as I haue disposid,
Victorie & honour, pat may nat be deposid ; 6008
For it is fatal and ne may nat varie,
And pou to hem schalt be necessarie
In conseillyng and in ^evinge red,
And be ri^t helpyng to her good[e] sped." 6012
And with pat worde roos him vp Calchas, [leaf 55 <?]
And to Achilles he went an esy pace,
And whan pat he cam to his presence,
With gret honour & moche reuerence 6016
He was reseyuyd, like to his estat ;
And after sone pei [were] confederat,
Swor to-gidre be bonde & assurauwce
To ben al on, wip-oute variaurace ; 6020-
And paraie in hast pei to-gidre goon
To her schipes, & schope hem furpe anon,
With Pirrodus goyng by her syde.
Jpei hale vp anker and 110 leiiger bide, 6024
But seile furpe, Calchas & pei tweyne,
Toward Grece — hem nedeth nat co??zpleine
On wynde nor wawe — til pei arived be
At Athenes, pat stood vp-on pe se, 6028
A large cite of olde fundaciouw ;
And Achilles to kyng Aganienoiw
Hath Calchas brou3t and also Pirrodus.
5999] Be bou ri$t wel war ne twrne nat ageyn C— ]>at] om. D 2, D 1.
BK. n] Achilles reports Apollo's Answer to the Greeks. 317
And whan pe Grekis, pe story tellip vs,
Assemblid wern, pei to-gidre wente
To-fore pe kyng, & Calchas represente
To alle pe lordis, and no lenger dwelle.
And ri^t anoon Achilles gan to telle
WM-oute abood, in Delos how pei mette
To-fore Appollo, where pei answer fette,
And how pe god hath pleinly determyned
})e Grekis pwrpos, how it schal be fyned
Vp-on Troyens, and bad Calchas also
In no wyse fat he to Troye go,
But wip Grekis pat he abide stille,
Til pei her purpos fynally fulfille.
Of whiche ping pe Grekis, glad of chere,
Calchas accepte with herte ful entere
For on of hem, confederat be bonde,
To ben al on on water & on londe,
Wip-outen chaimge or any variance —
])Q ope is made & put in reme?ttbrau?zce ;
And pei ageyn fully hym* assure
To cherisschen hym whil her lif may dure,
For wel or wo, and so pei made an ende,
And after parte & to her loggyng wende.
Til on pe morwe, after pe sterry ny3t,
Whan Aurora was gladid vrith pe li^t
Of Phebus bemys, pe Grekis vp aryse,
And to her goddis with many sacrifice
ftei don honowr in what pei can or may,
And deuoutly holdyng a feste day,
After her ritis, meynt vfith love & drede,
In remembrau?ice of pe good[e] spede, [leaf 55 d]
And of pe answer pat gooddis haw hew sent,
So agreable vn-to her entent,
By Pirrodus and by Achilles.
And af tir pis, amongis alle pe prees,
Is Calchas come to-fore Agamenouw,
6032 To the as-
gambled
Greeks
6036 Achilles
tells
Apollo's
answer
6040
6044
6048
6052
6056
6060
6064
of Troy's
end.
The Greeks
are glad,
and accept
Calchas as
one of
themselves.
Next morn-
ing
they hold a
Feast.
6051. fully hym] hym fully C ; but each word is marked to show
that the order should be inverted.
6055. new IF A. 6059. don] elide D 1.
6065. 2nd by] om. D 1.
318 Calchas warns them against delaying their Expedition. [BK. n
Calchas begs Alle his lordis sittyng environs
the Greek
lords Lik her estatis, eche in his place dewe,
And hu??iblely gan hem to salue
Vp-on his knees with sobre contenaimce,
And p?*ayde hem, it be no displesance
To stynt a while and $if hym audience.
And rijt anoon, as makid was silence
Amonge hem alle, Calchas* gan abreide,
And euene pus ful sobirly he seide :
to give him
a hearing.
6068
6072
6076
He warns
them
not to delay
their expedi-
tion against
Troy,
as Priam's
spies are
among them,
and he is
preparing
his defence.
How fals Calchas of Troy was conveyede to pe
presences of pe priwses of Grece, and howe he
innaturelly exortyde them to make mortal were
vpon his kynge and kynrede, as folowith.1
" 0 sirs," quod, he, " and my lordis dere,
Kynges, princes, & dukis fat ben here,
So noble echon, worpi, and fanms,
And eke so manly and so vertuws, 6080
Which in* pis place be now here* p?*esent,
Is nat pe fyn & chef of [j]oure entent,
And cause, also, why pat ^e echon
Assernblid ben to Troye for to goon 6084
Wip pis power and pis grete strengpe —
Your pwrpos is to longe drawe a lengpe
And differrid furthe* fro day to day
To ^our damage, platly pis no nay ; 6088
For to longe $e soiowre in pis He.
And trowe 30 nat pat Priam in pis while
Hath his espies among $ou preuily —
I wote it wel, I saie $ou feithfully — 6092
To knowe pe fyn of $oure gouernance,
And he per- whiles may make pwruyauwce
Hym to diffende, while $e in ydel reste !
Me semeth, sothly, ^e do nat for pe beste : 6096
6075. Calchas] Chalcas C. 6077. new IT A— 0] om. A.
6078. princes & dukis] Dukes and Pri?ices D 1.
6081, Which in] With Inne C— now here] here now C.
6082. 3oure] our D 1. 6087. furthe] it furthe C.
6088. pis] >is is D 1. 6091. among] monge D 1.
6096. nat] nuii^t D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 55 c.
BK. n] Calchas urges the Greeks to sail for Troy at once. 319
For in abydyng & in swiche delaies
Gret harme may falle, certeyn pis no nay is.
I preue it pus : for pleynly while pat 36
To 3oure enmyes graimt[e] liberte
Hem to pwrueye, pei may with niy3ti honde
Enforcen hem $our power to wip-stonde
Wip her frendis and her alliance,
And at leiser make her ordynaimce.
It is foly pat 36 so differre,
Sith 30 be redy, for to make a werre
On 3oure enmyes, with eue?y circimstance ;
For no ping may a quarel so avaiwce
As hasty swt, it wil pe scharper bite —
\)e Iren hoot, tyme is for to sniyte ;
And nat abide til pat it be colde : [leaf 56 a]
For nouper pawne it plie wil nor folde.
Goth, set vp-on, alle of oon acorde,
And to schip anoon w&t/i-Inne horde
Enhastep 3011, for tyme is to remewe,
Wip al 3our my3t your quarel to pwsewe
Ageyn[e]s hem, pat han to 3ow trespassid.
How many daies ben of somer passid,
And many moneth ro?me & ouer-slide !
And Titan ofte with his chare hath ryde
From est to west, and in pe wawes depe
His stremys baped, whil 36 haw leyn a-slepe
And spent 3our tyme in pis place pus,
Whil pat pe wynde, callid 3ephirus,
Benignely enspired hath on* lofte
Thatempre eyr, pe wedir fair & softe,
J3e calme see horn wawis stille and pleyn,
Whil 30 waste 302^-6 daies here in veyn —
J?at whan 3024?* foon her-to* taken hede,
J2ei wil suppose pat it be for drede,
And be more bolde to sette of 3ow but lite.
Trustep for sope, for I wil me quite
Calchas tells
the Greeks
they must
strike while
the iron's
hot,
and not stay
till it's cold.
G100
G104
G108
6112
6116
6120
They've
,,AJ dawdled
6124 while the
Zephyrs blew,
They must
embark at
once for
Troy.
6128
6132
and their foea
'11 think
they're
afraid.
6108. so] so moche D 1.
6119. many] om. D 2 — ronne] & ronne D 2.
6125. on] oon C, a A, D 2, D 1.
6126. Thatewpre] To atempre D 1. 6129. her-to] J*r to C.
320 Calchas lids the Greeks sail at once, and they do so. [BK. n
The Gods
have been
kind to the
Greeks,
and should
not be pro-
voked.
While the
weather is
fair,
the Greeks
must start.
They agree,
go on board,
and sail
away,
a great navy.
Trewly to $ow, like as I am bouwde,
And pinke how 36 ban pe goddis fou^de
Her-toward benigne and fortunat,
loure honowr savid in bi^e and lowe estaat, 6136
And so scbal forpe, $if 3ou[r] ingratitude
Prouoke bem nat $oure purpos to delude,
Wilfully to sloupen ^oure fortune :
No wondir is, pou3 pei nat contune 6140
Towardis 3ow for to schewe bir grace.
"VVberfore I rede, hen[ne]s pat 36 passe,
And schapep ^ou no lenger to lyn bere,
But whil pe wedir is so fair & clere, 6144
And lusty somer abidep in bis bete
Or wynter com with his reynys wete,
And whil pe sesoura is so fresche & grene
(I speke of hert, platly as I mene) 6148
For 3our expleit and $our alder ese
(Wher it so be, I anger ^ou or plese)
J}at forpe in haste to schipfpe] pat 36 wende —
I can no more, my tale is at an ende." 6152
And alle attonys pei ben condescendid
To bis avis, & ban it wel comrnendid ;
And in al hast, Agamenou?* pe grete —
}3e lusty tyme and fe sesou?^ swete 6156
Hastyng J)e Grekis, bojjen hi3e & lowe —
Made a trompet to schipward to bio we ;
And ]>ei echon his biddyng dide obeie,
And to her schippes pel goon pe ri3t[e] weye [leaf 566] 6160
WM-oute abood — )>ei wil no lenger dwelle.
What scbulde I more of J>e noumbre telle
Of her scbippis, sitb 36 ban berde a-fore 1 —
It nedeth nat reherse it any more; 6164
I can nat se what it my3t availe.
But furpe pei dresse hem & be-gan to saile ;
And pis is soth, pleynly & no wene,
So gret a navie was neuer 3it y-sene 61 6£
6134. han >e goddis] >e goddes haue D 1. 6147. &] om. A.
6150. be] om. A. 6153. new If A. 6154. his] jns D 1.
6158. 2nd to] om. D 1. 6161. wil] om. D 1.
6168. y-sene] sene D 1.
BK. n] A Storm rises. The Greeks land at an Hand. 321
In al f is worlde, ne to-gider met. At first the
. , . j 1 . weather is
J3e wynde was good, fat fei wer nat let fair;
On her weye first whan fei be-gowne ;
But after sone gan fe schene somie 61 7 2
])Q clerenes chauMge of liis bri$t[e] face ;
And dymme cloudis gan his li^t embrace ;
And sodeynly, in ful owgly wyse,
)pe heuera dirke & fe wynde gan ryse; 6176 then comes
])Q hidous fonder & f e leuene clere with thunder
Smet in f e mast, brijt as any fere ; ning.
And f e blaknes of f e smoky rayn
Blindeth f e eyr, fat no fing may be seyn ; 6180
And f e wawes gan to ryse a-lofte,
And in her schippes falle no fing sof te, The ships are
But plou?zge a-dou/i and in her toppis smyte,
feat hem foi^t fei want[e] but a lite 6184
To haue be ded, in f e silfe stouwde :
Til Calchas hath by his craf te y-fou?zde tin Caichaa
»,r ,T ..-it- • charms the
fee cause of al, [and] with his onsourcs, tempest to
Wif his charmys and incantac[i]ouws 6188
Made sodeynly f e tempest to apese,
And with his crafte don hew ri^t gret ese.
For he fonde oute fe cause of euerydel,
How Diane liked no fing wel 6192 Diana wa«
}jat f e Grekis durst[e] take on honde SiSsVart-
To be [so] bolde to parte fro f e stronde
In-to f e se, in any maner wyse,
And do to hir no maner sacrifise, 6196 ing without
Confer oifre to-forn or fat fei goth : 0 "8
For whiche fing f e goddes is so wroth
Toward Grekis, seyling in J>e se,
)}at fei echon wend haue drownyd be. 6200
Til at fe last, kyng Agamenou?i
Hath be couwseil and informaciouw
Of wyse Calchas made sette vp to* londe, They land at
In-to an He, and fast his* schippes bonde. 6204
6169. ne] nor D 1. 6175. owgly] ougle D 1.
6186. y-foimde] foimde D 1.
6188. his] om. A— and] and his A.
6196. do to hir] to hyre do D 1. 6200. >at] Than D 1. .
6203. vp to] vp on J>e C. 6204. his] her C.
TROY BOOK. y
322 The Greeks make an Offering of Ipliigenia to Diana. [BK. n
Iu Aulis is
a temple of
Diana.
To it Aga-
memnon
goes,
and, as Ovid
says, offers up
his daughter
Iphigenia ;
but Diana
by miracle
removed her,
and put a
stag in her
place, .
which was
kild,
and the
Goddess
And Aulides pat litel He hi^te,
In whiche he fonde vnwarly in his si$te
A litel temple and an oratorie,
Founded of olde & made in memorie
Of Diane, to whiche anoon he wente
Ful deuoutly his offeryng to presente,
And quernyd hir with his oblaciouws,
And lay per long in his orisouws,
After pe rytis vsid in his la we,
Til pat he sawe pe te??zpest gan a-dawe.
But some bokis make mencioim
Touching pis ping, pat Agamenou??,
As Ovide reherseth in his boke, —
How pis kyng his owne donate?* toke,
Effigenya, benigne of face and chere,
And endelong vppon pe autere
jjis rnaide he laide, dispoiled of her wede,
To-fore Dyane to make^ hir to blede,
To fyn only pat he pe heuenly quene
"With blood pat was Innocent & clene
Apese my3t, and quemew of hir rage.
And pe goddes gracius of visage
Hath mercy meint with hir magnificence,
To suffre a maide ful of Innocence
Gilt[e]les in her temple slawe,
Hath be miracle a-waye hir body drawe,
And conservid fro??i al anoye & smerte,
And in hir stede vnwarly cast an herte,
By deth of whom, as bokys make mynde,
Agamenouw first gan grace fynde
In pe goddes for to modyfye
Hir* cruel Ire : and clere gan pe skye,
J)e se wexe calme, and pe wedir fair ;
And Phebws eke, to glade with pe eyr,
Gan schewe newe, & his bemys cast
In-to pe se ; and pe kyng as fast
Yn-to schip repeired is a-geyn,
[leaf 56 c]
6208
6212
6216
6220
6224
6228
6232
6236
6240
6223. he] cm. Dl.
6236. Hir] His 0.
6231. anoye] noye D 1.
6237. wedir] water D 1.
BK. li] The Greeks sail to the Castle Sarolona, near Troy. 323
Diana
tli.- Queen
6256 The Greek
ships
boruj help of hir which* is, as clerkis seyn,
J
Lady & quene of wayes and passage ;
And goddes is callid of viage, 6244
After sentence and oppiuioiiH
Of hem pat werke be calculaciou?*,
And $eue her domys by astronomye.
And most of al pei hir magnifye 6248
lu pe tenpe and pe twelpe house ;
For per sche is, pei sei, most gracious,
Best fortuned, cler or in hir schade,
3if sche haue cou?*fort of aspectis glade 6252
Of planetis stondywg in good state —
I mene swiche as be fortunat
To viage or lourno for to make.
Howe the Grekis destroyede the Castel callede Sara-
bona as fey saylede towarde Troye, and it
dispoylede.1
And swiche tyme Agamenou?* hath take
His happy weye schipped for to be ;
And in good* hour he take??, hape pe se [leaf 56 d]
'With pe Grekis, pe wedir agreable ;
And Eolus hath maked acceptable 6260
Wynde and eyr, hoolly at her wylle,
Noufer to loude, pleynly, nor to stille,
But in a mene so merie made blowe,
pat fei atteyn, in a litel prowe, 6264 and reach a
To certeyn bou^dis of Troye J>e cite,
Vn-to a castel, pat stood vp-on pe se,
Ki$t wonder strong, pou^ it wer but lite,
])e name of whiche, pou^ Dares not ne write — 6268
I mene Dares callyd Frigyus —
jet oper auctours rehersen sothly pus,
Sarobona pat it was y-callid,
Kourade aboute diched* & wel wallid, 6272
hi3e touris rou?zde, square, and wyde ;
Q se went vnder, and faste per be-side on the sea.
6242. which] J*rt C. 6251. schade] sage D 2.
6258. good] a good C. 6272. diched] dykyd C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 56 c (misplaced after line 6266).
have good
weather,
Castle near
Troy,
cald Saro-
bona,
324 The Trojans sally out from Sarobona, lut are beaten. [BK. n
The Trojans
see the
Greeks,
and sally out
to stop them
landing,
supposing
them to be
weary
and done-up.
But the
Greeks
outnumber
the Trojans
and slay
them.
Was an hauene able for ryvaille.
At whiche, pleinly, pe Grekis wil nat faile 6276
With her power rny^tely to aryve,
Maugre alle po pat per ageyn[es] stryue —
)?ei my^t[e] wel, for it was nat denyed,
Only excepte fat pei wer espied 6280
Of hem alloiie fat in pe castel dwelle.
])Q whiche anoon, as pei herde telle
Of her cowmyng, proudly in pe berde
"With hem to mete were no ping a-ferde, 6284
But issen oute, douw vn-to pe stronde,
In pwrpos only to letten hem for to londe
With al her my^t, jif it wolde availle.
But pe Grekis so proudly hem assaille 6288
Jjat pei ne my^t in her diffence endure :
For wher-as pei wendyw haue be sure,
Demyng pe Grekis pleinly of pe se
Forweried and feynted hadde be, 6292
Wip longe seilyng parbraked & forbroke —
Wherfor pe[i] cast on hem to haue be wroke
Al sodeinly, and settyn on of hede,
And putte hem silf in auenture & drede 6296
Of rakilnes, vn-avisely.
Wher-of to hem ful vnhappily
It be-fil whan fei-pe Grekis mette
With speris longe & swerdis scharpe whette, 6300
Eche on oper manhod for to schewe.
But, for cause Troyans were so fewe,
To issen oute pei dide folily ;
])Q felde was nat partid egally : 6304
For pe Grekis wern Innumerable,
)3at hem to mete pe Troyans werw nat able —
For pat tyme pei my^tfe] nat suffice : [leaf 57 a]
)2ei toke on hem so passyng hi^e emprise — 6308
Arid 3it pei nolde for no ping hem witftdrawe
Til pei were wouwded and y-slawe,
6286. letten] lette D 2, D 1.
6290. sure] assure A, D 2. 6292. hadde be] had I be D 1.
6294. to] om. A, D 2, D 1. 6302. so] to A.
6310. J>ei] J>at }>ey D 2, >«t >ei D 1.
BK. n] The Greeks slay all the Trojans in Sarobona. 325
And oue?'leyn of* Grekis outterly—
Now here, now fere, bor doim cruelly, 6312 Jjj^jw
Merciles, as Guydo doth reporte,
J*it hem behoveth horn ageyn resorte
Of verray nede and necessite.
And alle attonys gonne for to fle — 6316
I mene swiche as were lefte alyve —
To fe castel ]>ei hasten hem ful blive ;
For J?ei ne my^t no lenger holde felde
Ageyns Grekis, with spere nor w/t/t schelde : 6320
)?ei were to feble, schortly to conclude,
To abide so gret a multitude.
And as fei fle, j?e Grekis a gret pas
Xe cesse cat to swen on ]>e chas,
Ful hastely to fe castel gate, SSSewlth
And entren in, and by cruel fate
ftei kille & sle bofen hi^e & lowe ; ™d kil1 th<>m
)?ei spare noon, ne list no wi^t to * knowe 6328
Of non estat, but felly hem oppresse ;
And what pei fond, gold & eke richesse, the spo?' °ff
Vn-to schip pei cariden * anoon ;
And of J?e castel pei left nat a stoon 6332
Aboue a-noper, but turne?i vp so dou?i
Bofe wal & tour & pe chefe dongoun,
|3at no ping stood, so pei vnder-myne,
Howe Agamenon layde his Oste byfore Thenedcmn, a
stronge Castele yj myle fro Troye, the which he
wan, and it bet to pe grounde; and aftire pat,
agally made distribucyoem of the godys.1
And whan al was brou^t vn-to ruyne, 6336 ^^J^J*
Grekis anoon to her schippes haste lhelr 8hip8t
Of on assent, and pwpos as faste,
Wt't/i-oute abood, of o wille and herte,
Fro pat hauene pleynly to diuerte, 6340
6311. of] vfith C. 6318. ful] om. D 1.
6320. Ageyns] A geyn D 1.
6328. no wi^t to] wete ne C— no wijt] with D 1.
6330. what J>ei] whawno D 1.
6331. cariden] carien C, paryeden D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 57 a (misplaced after line 6340).
326 The Greeks sail to Castle Tenedos. Trojans attack them. [BK. II
The Greeks
sail to
Tenedos,
6 miles from
Troy,
and land
there.
The place is
full of food,
flowers,
corn
and cattle,
and fish.
The Trojans
in the Castle
march
against the
Greeks,
who meet
them well
armd.
And to saille towarde Tenedoiw,
A strong castel, whiche fro Troye toiw
In distauTzce but sixe myle stood,
Ful of tresour, of riches, and of good, 6344
Repleuysched of alle habundaiwee.
And whan fat f ei with her ordinance
I-seiled han, bof e sauf and sourade,
And fro fe se taken han fe grouwde, 6348
To her pleaaunce wonder agreable,
And of sy$t a* place delitaWe,
Holsom of eyr, f e soil ri^t fair & grene,
And lusty playnes goodly on to seue, 6352
And was also habundauwt of vitaille,
Repleuesched of al fat may availle
To hosteiyng and to soudyours —
For firste fe lond, ful of fresche flours, [leaf 576] 6356
Was plenteuous bof e of corn & greyne,
Of wyn & frute, fat no f ing ley bareyn,
Of best and foules passingly plente —
And fast[e] by stood also f e se, 6360
Ful habundawit of fysches, as I fynde,
After f e sesouw of euery inaner kynde.
And whan fat fei which Inne* fe castel were
])e Grekis seie londen from a-fere, 6364
WM-oute abood pel arme he?w & wente oute,
And vppon hem make an hydous schout,
Stuffyng fe castel vrith meine strong be-hynde,
And toke her wey, in Guydo as I fynde, 6368
Toward her foon, & kny^tly set vp-on.
And ri^t furfe-wit/i Grekis eke anoon
Mette vrith hem vp-on f e tof er syde,
Ful surquedous and ri^t ful of pride, 6372
Clenly armyd in harneis al of stel,
Fresche arayed and be-seye so* wel
For fe felde, as fikke as swarme of ben—
On eche syde men may beholde & sen, 6376
6350. a] and C. 6358. &] of D 1. 6359. and] of D 1.
6363. >at J>ei which Inne] >ei >at with Inne C.
6365. arme] armed D 1. 6370. furj>e-witfc] forwith A.
6374. so] ful C.
BK. Ii] The Greeks, leiny 40 to 1, drive them lack to Tcnedos. 327
Sprad al pe pleyn douw vn-to pe stronde,
Til at pe last pei mette^ bond of honde,
And assemble vtikli square speris grouftde,
And hurtle* I-fere, wM many blody wourale.
)per was 110 " gooday," nor no saluyug,
But strokis felle, pat men berde rynge
On basenettis pe strokis rou^de aboute
So cruelly fat pe fire sprange oute
Among pe tuftis brode, bri^t, & scliene
Of foil of gold & fepres wliite & greiie.
Eke in-to brestes percid many scbelde,
And besagus flen a-brood pe felde,
And many a man lyn pat mortal stoiuide
Ful dedly pale, lowe be pe grou»de,
With face gruf & blody stremys wyde.
And aldermost vp-on pe Grekis syde
])Q slau^tre was and pe discomfiture,
So my^tely Troyens dide endure.
Til at J)e last, for pel were so fewe,
With multitude pe Grekis on hem hewe :
For mo pan fourty wer ageyn[e]s on,
Of verray force abak pei most[e] gon,
No ping for lak of maiihod, I dar seyn,
But for so many han hem ouerleyn,
]3ei may no lenger in pe felde soiourne,
But to her castel horn ageyn retourne
In ful gret haste, swiche as my^t eskape
Away a-live ; and sowime of hem for rape
And drede of deth taken hem to fli^t [leaf 57 c]
On horse bak to Troye toun ful ri^t —
No wonder was pou} pei* hast[e] fast ;
For to pe gatis pe chas of Grekis last,
So cruelly after pei purswe.
And sowme of hem pat my^t[e] nat remewe
On Troye side, for-weried of fi$t,
6380. hurtle] hurcle C— I-fere] in fere D 1.
6381. 2nd no] om. D 2. 6387. percid] pershed D 1.
6388. >e] in >e D 1. 6389. a] am. A, D 2— man] men A.
6391. face gruf] grufe face D 1. 6392. J>e] om. D 1.
6395. new TT A. 6397. ageynes] a 3enst D 1.
6399. I dar] dar I D 1. 6407. J>ou$ J>ei] >ei the C.
Greeks and
Trojans fight
hand to
hand.
6380
6384
6388
6392
6396 But as the
Greeks are
10 to 1,
Many are
slain.
6400
6404
6408
they drive
the Trojans
back to
Tenedos,
and some flee
to Troy.
328 The Greeks besiege and assault Castle Tenedos. [BK. n
The Greeks
lay siege to .
Tenedos.
They scale
the wall.
The Trojans
defend them-
selves,
and throw
the Greeks
down.
Some Greeks
mine the
towers.
and set up
scaling
ladders.
Jpe Grekis slen with al her ful[le] 11173 1 — ^412
Now here, now fere, whom pei my^t atteyne,
])er may no raimsorw nor no mercy geyne
Of noon estat, wip-oute excepcioim.
And after pat, vn-to Tenedouw 6416
Jje Grekis went, and it be-set aboute,
)pat Troyan noon my3t* eskapen oute.
And whan pei had pe bolewerkis wo?ine,
To skale pe wal after pei be-gonne, 6420
And made assaut manfully and ofte.
And Troy ens, as pei stood a-lofte,
Putte hem of, pat entre pei ne my^t,
With cast of stoon and quarel[e]s bri^t, 6424
With bowe turkeys & schot of arblasteris,
And her gowners* stondynge at corners,
Wip lym also, and cast of wylde fyre,
Of Irous hate ful hot in her desire, 6428
Lik manly men hem silffe] pei diffende.
And ay pe Grekis, as pei vp ascende,
Cruelly pei putte to pe groiwde ;
Til pei with-oute an ordinance han* fourcde, 6432
What with gywnys deuised for |>e nonys,
And goTznys grete, for to castfe] stonys,
Bent to pe touris, ri^t as any lyne,
And large sowis lowe for to myne — 6436
And somme of hem vp-on pe wallis gon,
|)at were so pikke made of lyme & ston ;
And to entre pei many wayes seke,
Sette her bastiles and her hurdois eke 6440
Rouwde aboute to pe harde wal,
And skalyng ladderis for sautis marcial
ftei gan vp cast, wip hokis for to holde.
And vp ascende pe sturdy Grekis bolde, 6444
Til Troyens from pe crestis caste
fee grete stonys, whil pei wolde laste,
6414. f>er] They D 1. 6418. noon my^t] my^t noon C.
6424. quareles] quarel A, D 2, qwarelles D 1.
8425. turkeys] of turkeis D 1. 6426. goraiers] goftnys C.
6427. lym] hym A. 6429. diffende] diffence A.
6430. asceude] aasence A. 6432. han] ha> C.
6437. wallis] wal A, D 2, D 1.
BK. n] The Greeks take, plunder and burn Tenedos, and sail off. 329
And Callyoiw eke Grekis to oppresse,
And wonder manly dide her besynes 6 448
In her diffence, and made \\ern plou??ge lowe
With caste of quarel, & vrit/i sclioot of bowe
ftoru^ olietis, that of necessite
}3ei put hem of, it may noon oper be,
And broke her neckis & he?' schulder bonys,
As pei falle, vrith pe square stonys, [leaf 5
And leyen ded, pitous pale of hew.
But Grekis ay gan her saut renewe,
Wip multitude Troyens to assaille,
To Wttftstonde pat pei gan [to] faille
And wexe feble, for reskus cam per non ;
And so of force pe Grekis ben y-gon 6460
ftoru} ]>Q wallys whan pei han hem broke,
And on Troyens so cruelly be wroke,
ftat fynally pei lefte noon alyue,
But sle and kylle ; and after pat as blive,
On pe wallis her baners pei han set,
And 3onge & olde — it my3t[e] be no bet —
Al goth to wrak vp-on Troye side.
And after pat, pei nyl* no lenger byde, 6468
But tresowr, gold, & what p«t pei may fynde
J3ei cast on hepe, & to-gydre bynde,
And made spoile of al pat was wft/i-Inne ;
And parcne in haste pe wallis pei be-gywne — 6472
Pynacle & tour, and also pe dongoun
To bre?zne & hewe, and to bete dou?* ;
And vfith pe soil pei made al euene & pleyn.
And with gret pray anoon pei went a-geyn 6476
To her schippes, glad & ^t of chere,
Whan pat pe fuyr vrith his iiawmes clere
)3e castel had conswmyd <fe y-brent.
And after pat, avise and prudent, 6480
The Trojans
shoot thru
eyelets.
6452 The Greeks
fall and break
their necks
and shoulder*
bones ;
6456 but are too
many for the
Trojans,
and enter the
Castle
6464 and slay all
whom they
meet.
They gather
up the
plunder,
set fire to the
Castle,
and return to
their ships.
6451. that of] >at olyetes Jwrt of D2.
6456. renewe] rernwe A.
6460. y-gon] in goon A, in gon D 2, a goon D 1.
6462. on] ora, A. 6465. her] f>e D 1. 6468. nyl] wil C.
6469. >«t] om. D 1— may] myjt D 1. 6470. on] an D 2.
6472. wallis] wal D 2, walle D 1. 6474. douw] a doim D 2.
6478. J>at] om. A.
330 Agamemnon distributes the spoil of Tenedos. [BK. n
Agamemnon
bids his
Greeks bring
their plunder
of Tenedos,
and he dis-
tributes it
to them
according to
their deserts.
He then calls
all his lords
together,
and makes a
speech to
them.
])e manly man, worpi Agamenoiw,
Lete make anon a convocacioim
Of pe Grekis, & bad pel schuld[e] bringe
Gold and tresour, wat/i-oute more tariyng,
With al pe pray pel wan at Tenedoiw,
To his presence, for pis conclusions :
J)at he may make destribucioim
Amongis hem, wzt/i-oute excepciouw,
Like her deceit — vn-to pore & riche
He departip* to euery man y-liche,
But moste to swiche as dide best disserue,
For to hym silf hym list no ping conserue ;
For he hath leuer hertis pan pe good,
Of swiche as had spent her owne blood
So manfully pe castel for to wynne :
For who pat can with larges first be-gynne,
Ne faillep nat after wel to spede
Jporu^ help of men, whan pat he hap nede :
For loue folwep fiedam comoiwly.
And after pis, pe kyng lete make a crye,
J3at alle pe kynges & lordis of his hoste,
Dukis, erlys com from euery coste,
The nexte moiwe to-f orn hym to apere. [leaf 58 a]
})e ny^t y-passed, Phebus gan to clere
Her emyspyrie, aftir pe larke song,
Wha?a pat pe kyng, among pe Grekis strong,
Vp-on pe pleyn, in his se royal,
And fast[e] by, most chef & principal
Of his lordis were set in her degie —
And whan pe kyng sawe oportunyte,
J)at per was made silence euerywhere,
His liges stondyng envirou% here & pere,
)3e kyng of chere sadde & eke locouwde,
As he pat was of speche ful facou?ide,*
Be-gan his tale with sobre contenauwce,
^effect of whiche was pis in substaurcce :
6484
6488
6492
6496
6500
6504
6508
6512
6516
6481. \vor])i] the worthy A — Agamenoim] latnecloim D 2.
6490. departi>] departed C.
6500. J>is] >at D 1— lete] dide D 1.
6514. facoimde] locoimde 0.
BK. n] Agamemnon's Speech to the Greek Lords.
331
6520
6524
Howe Agamenon rememberde al his princes of the
vngodely answeres that Anthenor had of them
when he desyerd to haue had restitucyown of
Exiona, wherupon they sent Vlixes and Dyomede
to Priamws, to haue restituciown of quene Heleyne,1
s," quod he, "ful worfi of degre,
Of verray ri^t and neccssito
We be compelled, bof e 11130 & lowe,
Wit/4 al oure my3t, liche as 30 wel knowe,
To redresse a fing fat is amys :
For f orii3 f e world, as it reportid is,
We ben of force, of power, & of iny^t,
Of worfines in euery wi^ttes sy3t
Most renomed & most worschipable,
And I-dempte & luged for most able
Of alle peples, & likliest to stonde
For to parforme what we take on honde,
Who ]?at euere grucche[f] or sey[f] nay.
Jit, me semeth, 3!! it be to 30111 pay,
Jjilke power most is acceptable
Yn-to goddis, & longest stonde)) stable,
j)at is deuoide of surquidie & pride ;
For it is kouf e vppon euery syde,
In eche lond, bo]>e of oon and alle,
How many harmys & grevis han be-falle
J?oni3 rancour only, pride, & wilfulnes,
So importable, as I coude expresse,
jpat foru3 p?-ide per is^ don offence ;
j)e hi3e goddis make resistence
To alle po fat be surquedous,
Whiche is a vice so contrarius
)3at it may in no place abide.
And in good feith, manhood is no p?ide :
For who fat hath any acqueintaunce,
Ouf er by frenschip or by alyauwce,
a prowde man, to be confederat
Agamemnon
says:
" We are
compeld to
redress
wrong.
All the world
knows how
strong we
are,
and likely to
carry out
6528 whatever we
undertake.
6532
It knows too
what harm
has hapt
thru Pride,
6536
6540
6544
a vice
intolerable.
6526. I-dempte] dempte D 1. 6539. }>er is] is >er C.
6543. no] om, D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 57 d.
332 Agamemnon's Speech to his Greeks against the Trojans. [BK. II
"Nothing
injures a man
like Pride
does.
We must
cast it out of
our hearts,
and be
guided by
Truth.
We are come
to take
vengeance on
Priam.
We've leveld
his Castles
and slain his
men,
and so the
Trojans will,
if they can,
wreak their
ire on us.
Wip hym in herte, of hi^e or Icwe estat, 6548
He nedis muste, what-euer pat he be,
To many oper of necessite
Be lothsom first, enmy & contraire ;
For no ping may a man so moche apaire [leaf 5S&] 6552
As pride, in soth, in 11130 or* lowe degre.
Wherfore, I rede pleinly how fat we
jjis foule vice oute of our hert arrace,
Jpat our quarel may haue pe more grace ;
And specially pat oure declis alle
Conveied ben, how-euer pat it falle,
Be ri^twesnesse more pan volunte :
For 3if troupe oure sothfast guyde be,
Vs to directe by his ri^tful lyne,
))an oure qwarel schal ay in honowr schine
And contvne in * f ul f elicite.
And, ferpermore, pis knowen alle 36,
How we ar come for to do vengauwce,
'With oure freiidschip and oure alliance,
Vp-on Priam for wrongis don of olde
By hym and hyse, as I haue ofte tolde ;
And here-vp-on we haw his grourale I-take,
And some of his maked to a- wake
With manful honde, & his castellis strong
I-bete dowi, pat stonden haue so longe,
And take pere pe riches pat we foiwde,
And slawe his men with many blody wouwde,
And harmys mo don in his contre,
J}at I wot wel, 3if her enmyte
"Was vn-to vs gret & moche a-fore,
I dar seie now it is in double more ;
]5at 3if pat pei avenged my3t[e] be
On vs echon, anon 36 schulde se 6580
Her gret Ire, so cruel & so huge,
Ben execute w^t/i-oute more refuge.
And 3it, in soth, I wote pei han espied
6556
6560
6564
6568
6572
6576
6553. or] & C. 6559. Be] Of D 1.
6562. ay] om. D 1. 6563. in] eke in C— in ful] ful in D 1.
6570. to] for to D 1. 6571. castellis] castel D 1, castels D 2.
6577. vn-to] to D 1. 6578. now it is] it is nowe D 1.
BK. il] Agamemnon's Speech. The Greeks are sure to win. 333
Oure beyng here — pou$ we be nat askried
Of hem as $it, I dar seyn outterly,
J3ei are wel war fat we ar fastfe] by ;
And ouer-more, pis wote I wel also,
Of pe harmys pat we lian hem do,
J3e whiche as $it ben but fresche & grene,
$if pei wer strong & my^ti to sustene,
A werre on vs anon pel wolde gy?me.
And }it pe cite whiche pei ben Inne
Is wallid strong & tourid rou^de aboute,
))at pei wene fully, oute of doute,
We't/i pe meyne pat pei haue gadrid Inne
Of her alies, pat we schal nat wynne
Of hem but smal in werre nor in strif :
For he in sothe hath a prerogatyi
And a-vau?itage, pat in his centre
Hyw silfe diffendith ; namly,* 3if pat he
Be stuffid strong of frendis hym be-side, [leaf 58
And of allies, where he doth abyde ;
Like as pe rauen, wzt/i his feperes blake,
\VWi-Inne his nest wil ofte tyme make
Ageyn pe faukon — gentil of nature —
Ful harde diffence whil[e]s he may dure,
Or pat he be venquissched & outtraied.
And }it som while pe faukon is delaied,
Whils pe raven be-syde his nest dop fle,
Wt'tA-Inne his couert at his liberte ;
As eue?y foule is fro ward to arest,
For to be dauwted in his owne nest.
And ^it pis wordis to 3011 1 nat sey
In any wyse to putten in affray
3oure kny}tly hertis, so manly & so stable,
Nor pat to 3ou it schulde be doutable,
But pe Troiens pat we schal confouwde,
And her cite, in whiche pei habouwde,
6589. as }it ben] is $it D 1.
6591. gyrcne] begyrane D 1.
6592. whiche] in which A, D 2, J>e wiche D 1.
6600. namly] manly C, D 1.
6606. dure] endure A.
6610. at] and D 1. 6613. new IT A.
6584 "Thothe
men in Troy
haven't seen
us,
they know
we are close
6588
G592 Their city's
walls are
strong,
6596
and defenders
of their own
country
always have
6600
like the raven
against the
6604 falcon-
6608
6612
6616 But don't
doubt that we
shall beat the
Trojans.
834 Agamemnon s Speech. The Greeks are sure to win. [BK. n
" We shall
kill all the
Trojans.
But don't let
Pride stop
your follow-
ing Reason.
Recollect how
we indis-
creetly re-
fused to give
up Hesione.
If we'd
handed her
over,
Paris's
plunder of
the Temple
in Cytherea
would have
been saved,
Pleinly distroie, al-pou^ pat it be strong,
And pei & alle pat ben hem among 6620
Schal finally consumpt[e] be with deth,
)?oru3 Grekis swerde jelden vp pe breth.
But pe cause, we't/i-outeii any drede,
Why I seye pus, is pat 36 take hede, 6624
For any pride or pres'umpcioiw,
To aduerte in joure discrecioun
So prudently, pat rescue in pis n'ede
For any hast may oure bridel lede, 6628
And so ordeyn, or we heii[ne]s wende,
)3at laude & pris aftir in pe ende
May be reported, as I haue deuised :
For many man pat hath nat ben avised, 6632
In his pursut, for lak of prouidence
To sen to-forn in his aduertence
What schulde falie, to deth it hap him brou^t :
Swiche wilful hast wer good to be po^t 6636
Of vs a-forn be examynacioiw,
And wel deduct* by reuoluciou?^
Of pingkyng ofte, pat we nat repente.
And first remembrip how pat Priam sente 6640
To vs but late only for Exyou?^,
Jpat is }it holde of kyng Thelamou?z,
Whiche was of vs, w^t/i-oute avisement,
Yndiscretly denyed by assent ; 6644
Whiche hath to vs be non avauwtage,
But grouwde & rote of ful gret damage.
For ^if pat we, poru^ wys purviatmce,
Of hir had maked delyuerau^ce, 6648
])Q harmys grete had[de] ben eschewed,
}3at aftir wern of Parys so p?/rsewed [leaf 58 d]
In the temple of Cytherea,
jpat bilded is be-side Cirrea — 6652
)3e tresour gret, also, pat he hadde,
And lowellis pat he wip hym ladde
6619. al->ou3] al be A, D 2, D 1— bat] om. A.
6622. ^elden] golden D 1. 6624. is] om. A.
6631. I] 30 D 1. 6635. him] hem A, D 2, hew D 1.
6638. deduct] decut C, decute D 1, deceit D 2.
6643, 44 are omitted in D 2. 6645. non] vn D 1.
BK. n] Agamemnon advises that Paris be askt to return Helen. 335
pene to Troie, and pe gret riches,
pe slau^tre of men, and pe heuynes
pat jit is made for pe quene Eleync
Jjoruj-oute Grece, & pe gretfe] peyne
Of Menelay — al had ben vnwroujt
3if we had[de] seyn pis in oure Jxnijt
Wisely aforn, and Exyou??. restored,
pan had nat pe harmys be so morid
On vs echon, in verray sothfastnes,
Nor spent oure labour so in ydelnes,
Tresour nor good wasted so in veyn,
Nor come so fer for to fecche ageyn
pe quene Eleyne, with costis importable,
Wit/i-oute harmys, now in-eschuable :
And for al pis, }it ne wite we,
Wheper to loye or aduersite
pe ping schal turne pat we be aboute,
Sith ofte sithe dependent & in doute
Is fatal ping, vnsiker & viistable,
And fro pe gywnyng ofte variable
pe ende is seyn : Fortune can transmewe
Hir gery cours ; & perfore, to eschewe
pe harmys likly possible [for] to falle,
My conseil is, here among ^ow alle,
Yp-on trauail traueil to eschewe,
In pis mater or we ferper swe,
To Priamws, with-outeii any more,
To sende first ageyw [for] to restore
pe quene Eleyne, as rijt & resou?z is,
And oper harmys don eke be Parys,
Aftir his trespas & offenciourc
lustly to make restituciouw.
pan may we alle in worschip & honour
Retournera ho??i, wip-oute more labour,
3if pei assent to don as we require ;
And oure axyng }if hem list nat here,
But folily, of her wilf nines
ami the
GG56
6660
6664
6668
6672
6676
6680
ut (Jivek.s
would not
have taken
place ;
and we
shouldn't
have wasted
treasure
and goods
for Helen.
And as
Fortune is
uncertain,
I think we
should first
send to
Priam to
return us
Helen,
6684 and make
restitution
for the
wrongs done
us by Paris.
6688
6655. pene] Thens D 2. 6669. ncio IT A.
6682. for] om. D 1. 6687. we] om. D 1.
336 On Agamemnon's advice, Ulysses & Diomede are to go to Troy.
«' If Priam
refuses us,
out' right will
fight for us,
and we shall
be held free
from blame,
and excused
if we slay all
Trojans,
man and
child.
But first let
us send our
messengers."
This is
agreed to;
and Ulysses
and Diomede
are chosen to
go to Troy.
Refusen it, )>an oure worbines
Is double assured on a siker grouwde,
By iust[e] title Troyens to confourcde.
Wi)> Jmiges two we sclial be^ vnder-pijt :
First oure power, borne vp with our ri^t,
Schal for vs fi^t our qwarel to dareyne,
In balauwce to weye atwixe vs tweyne
To fyn J>at we schal be more excusid ;
For }>ei to-forn han wilfully refusid
Oure iust proferes made to hem a-fore ;
And we schal be poru} f>e world, ber-fore,
With-oute spot of trespace or of blame,
Of mysreport in hyndring of our name,
Wher bei of foly schal y-noted be,
Of wilful wodnes, pleinly, wher bat we
Schal stond[e] f re oure power for to vse ;
And euery man schal vs wel excuse,
)?ou3 bat we doon execuciou^
Be takyng vengauwce for her offenciou^
Of man and childe, of eche sect and age,
ftat schal of deth holde be passage,
And be be swerd, 'with-oute?i mercy, pace,
Oon and ober, — per is no better grace.
But ^it to-forn, I conseil takeb hede
)?at 36 to hem al[le] mesour bede :
|?is hold I best and most sikirnes ;
And werketh now be good avisenes
Among ^our silf, and no lenger tarie."
To whiche conseil some wern contrarie
And variaiwt to Jjis oppiniouw,
Saue pei pat wer of moste discreciouw
Assentid ben pleinly to Jris ende,
And chosen han to Priam for to sende
Amongis hem thenbassiat to spede,
Wyse Vlixes & worj)i Dyamede.
J)e whiche anon gan hem redy make,
[leaf 59 a]
6692
6696
6700
6704
6708
6712
6716
6720
6724
6696. ri3t] mi3t D 1. 6698. atwixe] be twixe D 1.
6704. Of] Or A— mysreport] my report D 1. 6715. new IT A.
6720. To] Of D 1. 6721. his] his A, D 1.
6723. >is] his A. 6725. Amongis] Amonge-D 1.
BK. ll] Ulysses and Diomede reach Troy, and admire it. 337
In bnj?lit
sunahine
Ulysses
anil Dionmle
enter Troy
And schop hem furfe and her weie take 6728
Toward Troye, as any lync ri^t,
Whan J>e sone schon ful schene & bri$t,
Holdyng j?e cours of his fyry spere
In mydday arke, wonder bri^t & clere, 6732
And gilt eche hil, vale, pleyn, & rochc
With his bemys, whan J>ei did aproclu;
To Jje wallis & gatis of Jje towi.
And in J?ei goon wit/t-oute noyse or sown, 6736
Ful wel be-seyn, & in her port hem had do
Ri^t manfully; and J>e wey hem laddr
To J?e paleis, street as any lyne —
Hem nedeth nat a-side to decline, 6740
But in-to a courte large, wyde, & sqware.
And J>ei ful knyjtly for no wy$t wolde spare
Vn-to theffect manly to procede
To don her charge, with-oute fere or drede ; 6744
For fe entre was to hem not refusid : unhinderd,
For J?o dayes parauwter was nat vsid
To* haue [no] conduit for embassatrie ;
\)Q custom was to no man to denye, [leaf 59 &] 6748
As I suppose, entre nor passage,
3if it so wer he come for massage.
Howe wyse Vlixes and Dyomede enter de Ryale Ylion,
of the which they marvelde whe?* the byhelde ]>e
beldynge.1
And in )>is court, bilt so rially,
Whan fei come, })ei merveil ful
)5e rial si^t of so huge strengjje,
So wel co[m]plete hope in brede
For j?ei nat had in her lif to-fore
Seyn noon so fayr ; and ^it ]>ei wondre more — 6756
In-to J?e paleis as ]?ei to-gidre goon, The
Jpat pauyd was al of lasper stoon —
6741. in-to] to A -a] om. D 2, t>e D 1.
6746. misplaced at bottom of column A — payau?iter] om. D 2.
6747. To] Noon to C.
6752. ful] om. D 1. 6754. lengpe] in leng)>e C.
6757. >e] om. A, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 59 a.
TROY BOOK. Z
6752 and wonder
at its
•trength.
the
338 Ulysses and Diomede see a wondrous Tree in Troy. [BK. n
and see a
Tree,
as to which
they can't
decide
whether it
was made by
magic or
man;
for its trunk
was pure
gold,
12 cubits
high,
and its leaves
in pairs,
one gold, the
other silver.
Of a tree pat amyddes stood,
On whiche to loke he?ft po$t it dide hem good, 6760
Musing wher it wer artificial,
Erect or set by magik natural,
Or by engyne of werkmen corious,
]?oru3 sotil craftis supersticious, 6764
Or oper werke of nygromaiwcye,
Or profond castyng of philosophic
Be apparence or illusions,
Ouper by craft of incantacioutt : 6768
Vp & douw pei casten in her mynde,
Out by* resouw $if pei koude fynde
Kote & gronde of pis wondir wirke ;
But pe troupe was to hem so dirke, 6772
J)at in her wit, pou$ pei longe trace,
}3e pryvite pei can nat oute compasse,
To conseyue how it was possible.
For to pe eye as it was visible, 6776
In verray soth, w^t/i-outerc any fable,
To mawnys hond so it was palpable ;
Of whiche pe stok, of Guydo as is* tolde,
In sothfastnes was of purid gold, 6780
Whiche schon as bri^t as pe sonier sonne
To enlumyne pinges pat wer donne ;
And pe body as a mast was ri^t,
Proporcioned most goodly to pe si}t, 6784
Substancial, & of huge* strengpe ;
And xii cubites pe body was of lengpe ;
And pe crop, imwde & large of brede ;
And in compas gan so florische & sprede, 6788
J?at al pe pleyn aboute envirou?*,
With pe bowis was schadowed vp & dou«.
J3e riche braunchis and pe levis faire,
Tweyne & tweyne loyned as a payre — 6792
Oon of gold, anoper of siluer schene,
6768. of] Or A. 6770. by] of C.
6778. maraiys] man hys D 2.
6779. is] it is C, A.
6785. huge] an huge C. 6786. xii] twelve A.
6788. so] to D 1. 6790. was] were D 1.
6793. 2nd of] om. A, D 2.
BK. n] Ulysses and Diomede ruddy go into Priam's presence. 339
And meynt among w/t7* stonys whit & g?'ene,
Some rede and some saphirhewed.
And euery day fe blomys wer renewed ; 6796
And )>e blosmys, -with many sondri swt; [leaf 59 c]
For stonys ynde it bare in stede of frut,
As seith Guydo — I can no fer]>er telle.
Howe Vlixes and Diomede, withoute dewe reverence
pwposed fere Embassayte in pe presence of
Priamw*. And here ye shule se J>e birthe of
Eneas, and howe Agameno?m sent Achyle, and
Thelefus to the Ille of Messay for an eyede of
vitaile.1
And J?e Grekis \vil no lenger dwelle, 6800
But hilde her wey be many sondri went
To parforme J>e fyne of her entent,
Til )>ei atteyne )>e chambowr principal,
Wher Priamws in his se royal, 6804
Like his estat, in ful kny^tly wyse
Saat, [and] aboute, ful prudent & ful wyse,
His lordis alle in setis hym be-syde —
Whan pe Grekis, surquedous of pride, 6808
Wit/i sterne chere & fro ward couwtenauwce,
As J>ei fat hadde litel remembraunce
Of gentilles nor of curtesye —
For, as Guydo dotli pleynly specefye, 6812
Entryng in J?ei taken ban her place
In thoposyt of J>e kynges face,
And sette hem doim, wit/j-oute more sermoutt,
Any obeiyng or salutaciouw, 6816
Worschip, honour, or any reuerence
Done to fe kyng, for al his excellence,
In preiudyce of al gentilles.
And fan anon Vlixes gan expres 6820
Cause of her comyng to kyng PrianiMS,
"W7t//i-oute abood seiyng euene fus,
Not* forberyng presence of }>e kyng :
6795. Some] And sowrae D 1. 6801. hilde] holde A.
6809. chere] om. D 1. 6813. her] the A, 6823. Not] Nor C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 59 c (misplaced after line 6823).
This tree
bore precious
stonea iiiste.nl
ol fruit.
Diomede
find Priam
and his lords,
and proudly
sit down
opposite
him,
without any
reverence
to him.
They then
tell him why
they've come.
340 Ulysses demands Helen, and compensation for wrongs. [BK. II
" Don't be
surprizd
at our dis-
courtesy :
it is due to
our hate of
you.
Agamemnon
has sent us
for Helen,
to be restored
to Menelaus,
and for com-
pensation for
Paris's pilfer-
ing and
murders.
" Merueille nat nor haue no wondring, 6824
J3ou$ we to pe do non honour dew,
In oure coinyng pe for to salue,
Sith it ne longeth, in so]), as pinkep me,
Wher rancour is & hertly enmyte 6828
Of dedly hate, with* salutaciou??s,
Or wip feyned fals affecciouws
For to schewe, wher hertis ben a-fire :
For naturelly no man schal desyre 6832
Of his enmye pe helthe nor welfare.
And platly now me list nat for to spare
Schortly to schewe pe fyn of our entent,
Liche as we haue in co?mnau?idement 6836
III oure message from Agauienourc,
])Q noble kyng, most worpi of renourc,
Whiche vs hath sent, per is no more to seyn,
Now vn-to pe for pe quene Eleyne, 6840
])at was rauissched oute of Grekis* lond,
And brout to Troye be force of my^ti hond,
Ageynes* ri3t, and by violence.
Wherfore, schortly, w/t/i-out more offence, 6844
"We iustly axe, wit/i-out mere demau?ide,
jpat pou anon ri^tfully comaurade peaf59rf]
To Menelay $ai sche be sent ageyn ;
And wz't/i al pis, we axe nat in veyn 6848
]3at pou make restituciou^
Of wrongis don in pat regioura,
Of pilfres grete, slau^tre, & robbery e,
By Paris don of wilful tyrannye, 6852
Whiche is pi sone, and by pe sustenyd,
And in his errour wrongfully mayntenyd.
Wherfore, come of and fully condescende,
WM-oute grucching, pese wrongis to amende : 6856
For so pou maist best pe goddis queine,
Liche as pou my^t* in pi resouw deme,
6824. new 11 A. 6825. do] ne do D 2, D 1, doon A.
6826. comyng] honour D 2. 6829. with] swiche C, wych D 2.
6839. to] om. D2.
6841. was rauissched] Rauysshed is A — Grekis] Grece C.
6843. Ageynes] Ageyng C. 6845. witA-out] with D 1.
6858. myjt] maist C.
BK. n] Ulysses threatens Priam withruin. He answers angrily. 341
6864
As ri^t requeref , to werchen as f e wyse.
For 3if so be, fat foil now dispise
To execute fat I haue tolde fe here, •
Trust me ri$t wel, a lessouw fou schalt lere,
Whiche fou and fine schal aftir sore rewo,
Wzth-outc feynyng fou schalt fynde trewe,
)3at, "but 3if foil a better ende make,
Cruel vengauwce schal on f e be take ;
And finally, what schulde I to fe feyne,
J3e force of deth f is qwarel schal dareyne
Vp-on fe and vp-on al f i blod,
Rauwsomles outlier of gold or good.
And questionles, reporte f is of me,
)5at mercyles f is riche strong cite
Schal doiui be bete and y-layd ful lowe,
"Wai & toures also ouerthrowe.
jjis al and som ; be now wel avised
)?at oure axyng of f e be nat dispised,
But wisly werke & do as I haue seid."
And sodeinly kyng Priam^s abreide,
Of hasty Ire he my$t[e] nat abide,
Of f e Grekis whan he sawe f e pride,
Jje grete outrage and p?*esumpciou?i —
Wif-oute abode or deliberacioufi,
To Ylixes anon he gan out breke,
And [vn-]to hym euene f us to speke :
" I wondre gretly in myn aduertence,
Beyng astonyed how 36 in my presence
So vngoodly dar make f is demauttde,
Like as 30 had power to comau??,de
And me constreyne $our biddyng to obeye,
And I for fere durste nat wif-seye
No maner fing fat 33 axe?i here,
Nor* contrarie what fat 30 requere ;
Wher-of sothly in hert I am amevid,
And of 30111' f retis iuwardely a-grevid,
6860. now] not D 1.
6865. make] take D 2 (marked with a little cross to indicate the
blunder).
6877. I] om. D 2— haue] yow A. 6878. new IT A.
6892. Nor] Ne C.
6860 "If you
refuse,
you'll be
taught a
lesson you
will rue.
6868 Death will
result;
6872 your city will
be laid low.
You'd better
do what I
6876 bid you."
Priam
angrily
0880
0^84
(.888
"I'm
astonisht
that you dare
make such
demands,
M if I dared
not refuse
you.
6892
342 Priam reproaches Ulysses for his demands. [BK. II
" You pro-
voke me to
vengeance.
But I will be
temperate.
You can't
do what you
threaten.
You actually
ask satisfac-
tion of me—
you who slew
my Father,
and carried
off my Sister
to disgrace !
And when,
for peace
sake, I sent
for Hesione,
And astonid, surly nat a lite, ['ear GO a]
)5at 30 ar bold so me to excite, 6896
And vilenly myn honour to prouoke
On 3oure wordis for to ben awroke.
But for al pis, trustep me ri^t wel,
I wil nat passe my bouwdis neuer-a-del, 6900
ISTor pe raper, schortly at pe ende,
To 3our axynge in no ping condescende ;
For considerid pe fyn of 3our entent,
It wer nat syttyng nor comienient 6904
A kyng to granite jour axyng, pou3 pat he
Stood in meschef and captiuite,
W^t/i-oute recure to outtraiwce brou^te.
It were outrage, pleinly, to be poi^te, 6908
To axe of hym pat 36 axe of me !
And sothly, 3it, I suppose nat ]>at 36
Acornplissching may so moche availle
As 36 han seid ; for platly 36 schal faille 6912
Of 3our purpos, I seie, & God to-forne,
Maugre $oure my3t, pou3 36 had it sworne :
For $ourQ request, in euery wy3tis si3t,
Wanteth a grond, bope of troupe & ri3t — 6916
]?at axe of me satisfacciou?z ! —
And were $ourQ silfe first occasiou?^
Whan 36 slowe my fader Lamedouw
And his liges, & brenten eke his tou?z, 6920
And many harmys, 3if fei wern [out] sou3t,
On hym and hyse causeles 30 wrou3t,
)pat it were longe al for to reherse —
Which day be day }?oru3 myn hert[e] pe?*se — 6924
My suster eke, callid Exyouw,
3e ladde a-weye oute of pis region?*,
]3e whiche is nat vn-to hir worpines
I-tretid like, nor aftir gentillesse. 6928
And for al J>is 36 wolde a-mendis haue
Wrongly of me, pat whilom for to sane
Al ping in pees & to stynte werre,
To 3ou sente in-to Grece ferre 6932
But] And D 1. 6920. his] >e D 2— brenten] broke D 1.
BK. n] Priam refuses Ulysses's demands, & bids him be gone. 343
Only to han had Exyou/i ageyn,
Of whiche sond 30 had but disdevn, "youscomd
A -i ii i • jii and despised
And cruelly and in vngoodly wyse ">y mes-
My massanger 30 gonne to dispise, 6936
}3at he vnnefe my3t eskape away
Out of Grece — 30 knowe it is no nay —
Of 3ou he had so vngoodly chere.
And in good feith, me list nat now to here 6940
3oure request, nor 3even audience
To 3our axyng, for 3our gret offence ;
For leuer I hadde, schortly, for to deye, I'd rather die
. , /.«jj than Kraut
Ban condesceude to oust pat 20 seye : [leafeoft] 0944 your de-
mands.
For I wil fully, for conclusiouw,
}3at it be knowe to Agamenouw, Ten ARII-
9 ^ memnon I d
bat we bane leuer — bis is doutfelles — rathe^ ft*1;1
' L -I him tliau be
Fynally his werre fan his pees, 6948 *"**&*>
Sith 30 to me haw don so gre[t] trespace.
And, by my troufe, in fis silf[e] place And you,
Cruelly anon ;e schulde deye, I'dkui.'if
you weren't
But for JHJ offis of embassatrie 6952 ™dArmbas'
Ageyn[e]s deth is fully ysur diffence,
feat be so bolde, wzt/i-oute reuerence,
In my presence so to f rete or speke —
Trust me ri3t [wel], it schuld anon be wreke ! 6956
Wherfore, in hast, wM-out wordis mo,
My conseil is, fat 30 ben a-go Get oat of
Out of my si3t, and voidef fis cite ;
For fus it stant : whiles I 3ou se, 6960
In myn herte may entre no gladnes,
)3e fret of Ire put me in swiche distres,
J?at, in good feith, I may it nat sustene, tohave^ou
So importune is fe rage and tene 6964 '»««•"
j?at inwardely bynt me for f e while."
And Dyamedes f o be-gan to smyle, Diomede
And seid anon fus vn-to fe kyng : toPriam:
" 3if it so be bat fou of cure comyug 6968 "if you're so
angry to see
In fin hert hast so moche peyne two of us,
6935. 2nd and] o-m. A— in] in ful D 1— vngoodly] goodly D 2.
6955. Jwete] trete A. 6956. wel] om. D 2-it] I D 1.
6963. it nat] not it D 1. 6966. new 7 A.
344 Diomede tells Priam the Greeks will slay him and his. [BK. n
you'll be
angry all
your lite,
for 100,000
Greeks are
here,
whom you
can't resist.
You and
yours '11 all
die by our
swords.
You'd better
alter your
tone."
Some Trojans
attack
Diomede,
but Priam
forbids them.
Vs to beholde now pat be but tweyne,
And art perwitA- so inly set a-fyre,
J)an schaltow neuere ben wa't/j-oute Ire 6972
In al pi lif , nor deuoide of wo,
Sipen pou hast so many cruel fo
Of Grekis now entrid in pi lond —
An himdrid pousand almost at ]>in bond, 6976
Ageyn wbos my^t pou maist pe nat assure
To resiste, pleynly, nor endure,
Consydred wel how pat pei be strong,
As pou schalt wit, parauwter, or ou}t longe, 6980
So manly men & so wel arrayed,
Expert in armys, and of old assaied,
£at no diffence may ageyn hem vaille.*
And wite eke wel, pat pou maist nat faille 6984
Be deth of swerde of her bond to deye,
And alle pine — per is no more to seye —
)3ou3 it so be, proudly pat pou speke,
And with pi tonge, only to be wreke, 6988
Affermyst more pan pou maist acheue :
Bettre it were swiche wordes leue,
And to wys courcseil take bettre hede."
But pan in haste age}'n pis Dyamede, 6992
Surquedous and most ful of pride, [leafeoc]
fter rose vp some be pe kynges syde
"With swerdis drawe, & on hym han falle
And al to-hew, per amonge hem alle, 6996
Of hasty Ire brercnyng as pe* glede;
Til Prianms gan to taken hede,
And roos hym vp, seyng pis dissese,
And manfully pis rage gan appese, 7000
Hem diffendyng vp-on deth & life,
ftat non of hem be hardy in pis strife
J?enbassatours to harme?i or to greue :-—
" For pou^ a fool his foly wil nat leue 7004
To presume to speke vnkownyngly,
6974. many] many a D 1. 6982. of old] outterly D 1.
6983. vaille] availle C. 6985. deth] cruel debe D 1.
6992. new 11 A. 6994. vp] om. D 2,
6995. han] wolde haw D 1. 6996. >er] him fore D 1.
6997. be] any C.
BK. li] Priam rebukes his Lords for attacking Diomcde. 345
A wys man moste suffre paciently ;
And [^0113] pat he happe doon offence
J?oru3 foly speche, for lak of sapience,
To a wysrnan lie longep, soth to seyn,
To take hede or to speke a-geyn :
For as to a fole it is* pertynent
To schewe his foly, ri^t so convenient
Is to ])e wyse, softly, vritfi suffrau/ice,
In al his port to haue tolleraufice.
For to folis longeth kyndely,
Wit/i-oute a-vis to speke folily,
Vndiscretly his menyng to fulfille,
Where a wysman schal heryii & be stylle
Til he se tyme, and haue pacience,
And dyssymule in his aduertence
£e rage of folis pat last but a prowe :
For be his tonge* a fole is ofte knowe ;
And leuer I hadde, I do $ou wel assure,
In my persone damage to endure,
Jeanne to suffre any messanger
In my court, of 90 w pat ben here,
To han a wronge, ouper grete or lite —
])Q swerde of rancour may nat alwey bite,
To do vengaiwce for a ping of nou^t.
For ofte it falleth a wrong is \vrou3t :
For litel excesse fohvep gret reprefe ;
And hast is ay medlid with meschefe.
"VVherfore, I bidde pat 30 sitte douw,
And in no wyse, of presumpciou/?,
Attemptep nat, in no maner wyse,
Be signe or worde more for to dispise
Jpembassatours from pe Grekis sent,
But late hem frely declare?^ her entent,
And 36 per-whiles kepe 3our lippes clos "
And sodeinly panne Eneas aros,
Whiche nexte pe kyng hadde pa?i his se,
So inwardly \vith rancour fret was he,
7011. is] was C. 7012. rijt] om. D 1.
7018. &] or D 2. 7021. rage] large D 2.
7022. tonge] speche C. 7040. aros] Roos A.
Priam says
7008
that a fool
cr/M rk ITlUSt SllOW
7012 his folly
7016 ami speak
sillily :
7020
but a wise
man must
put up with
it.
7024 He'd sooner
be hurt him-
self than let
a mesnenfrer
to him suffer
wrong ;
7028
7032
7036 8oUlys.es
mid Diomede
must be let
speak freely.
7040
[leaf 60 cl]
346 Eneas thinks Diomede should bepunisht : he miist be off. [BK. II
Kneas says
that
a fool ought
to be chastise!
for his folly,
as a warning
to others,
and if it was
not for Priam
he'd be
avengd on
Ulysses and
Diomede,
who want a
lesson.
Diomede had
better go
away.
)?at he ne my^t hym siluen nat restreyn,
And seid[e] : "sir, so 30 nat disdeyne 7044
Jpat I schal seyn, me semeth fat it is
Wei a-cordyng, whan oon haf seid amys
And reklesly spoken vn-avised,
Of his foly fat he be chastysed, 7048
)pat of er may exaimple by hym take,
To be wel war swiche noise & cry* to make,
And specially in open audience
So toffende 30111 royal excellence ! 7052
And sothly 3 it, I wot wel fat I rny^t
So me gouerne, pleynly, in 3oure sijt,
Of hastynes with-oute avisement,
J)at I schulde by 3our co?7zmau7idement 7056
\)e deth disserue for my gret offence.
And trewly 3it, ne wer [for] 3oure presence,
On f is tweyne fat han so I-spoke,
W/t/i-oute abood I schuld anoon* be wroke : 7060
For it wer worf i & ri3t wel sittyng,
Whan fat a fool in presence of a kyng
Is bolde or hardy of presumpcioiw
To take on hym of indiserecioim 7064
fring to reherse, concludyng in sentence
Preiudice of 30111-6 magnificence,
]5at he were taii3t bettre to gouerne
His large tonge, to konne bet discerne 7068
Whan he schal speke or whan ben in pes,
To suffren hym to reraie out of les,
As doth he f is fat spoken haf so large.
Wherfor, in hast, I conseil hym & charge, 7072
With-oute abood, or any wordis mo,
Out of 3oure si3t anon he* be ago,
For it is best to don as I hym rede."
To whom anon ful proudly, Dyomede, 7076
7043. ne my3t hym siluen nat restreyn] hym silfe ne myjt not
refrei?ie D 1.
7050, noise & cry] cry & noise C.
7052. toffende] to feiide D 1.
7056. commauftdement] rijtful iugement D 1.
7060. I schuld anoon] anoon I schuld C. 7064. on] of D 1.
7072. in] I D 1. 7074. he] >«t he C— ago] goo D 1.
7076. new IT A— proudly] prudently A.
BK. n] Diomcde chaffs Eneas. He and Ulysses leave Troy. 347
Wat astonyd, but wit/i a sterne loke,
To Eneas, fat for Ire quoke,
Answerde ageyn vritU wordis but a fewe,
And seide : "sir, fi speclie dofe \vel schewe, 7080
What so fou be, fat foil art ri$t wys.
Wei is fat kyng, fat dof e be fin avys,
Or hath f e uy$e of conseil for to be ;
For he ne may erre in no degre — 7084
)5at art so ri^tful in f i lugement,
Of wilfulnes, wif-oute avisement,
To cause a lord his bouwdis for to pace.
So wolde God, in som ofer place 7088
jpat I my^t, be fauour of Fortune,
Metyn wi]> f e at leiser oportune,
Like my desire, fat canst so wel endite — [leaf ci «]
I nolde faile f i labour for to quyte,
And fe to fanke for f i gentil chere,
Whiche sokny^tly fou hast vs schewed* here —
Trust wel f er-to : I haue f er-of no drede ! "
And |>o Vlixes of fis Dyomede
Gan interrupte his wordis prudently,
And to hym seide ful avisely
Jjut it was best to stynten & be stille.
"And now we know fully al fi* wille," 7100
Qztod Vlixes ful manly to fe kyng,
" We wil gon hens, wit/i-oute [more] tariyng,
Out of fi si3t to Agamenourc,
And make to hym pleyn relacioura 7104
Of fin answere, in ordre by and by."
And to hors f ei went sodeynly,
And in schort tyme so hast hew on her weye,
)5at fei be come, fer is no more to seie, 7108
Wher f e kyng sat in his tentorie ;
And worde by worde, as* cam to inemorie,
J3ei reherse ]>e substance eue?y-del,
Wher-of* fe Grekis like no fing wel, 7112
7080. speche] woordis A. 7089. of] or D 1.
7094. vs schewed] schewed vs C, shewed vs A — vs] om. D 1.
7096. new IF A. 7100. J>i] J» C, D2, D 1, the A.
7104. make] made A. 7110. as] as it C.
7112. Wher-of] per of C, Wherfore D 1.
Eneas,
and only
hopes lie may
meet him
elsewhere
pay
for hi«
civility.
/096 Ulysses bids
Diomede be
still,
and tells
Priam they'll
report hU
answer to
Agamerniiun.
They start
at once.
348 The history of Eneas, son of Anchises and Venus. [BK. n
The (ireeks
see that they
must scheme
how to beat
the Trojans.
But I have to
tell you about
Eneas.
He was the
son of
Anchises
by the God-
dess Venus.
After Troy's
ruin
he went to
Carthage,
then to Italy
and Rome;
and Cesar
was his
descendant.
Conceyving ful per was no remedie,
As be report of pe embassatrye,
Saf only pis : outerly precede,
Howe pei hem schal* goueraen \n pis nede 7116
Ageyn[es] Troyen[s], of necessite ;
For pel wel wot it may noon oper be,
And assentid, bope in wille and dede :
To purveye hem fast[e] pei hem spede, 7120
In pis story as $e schal aftir fynde.
But or pat I make per-of mynde,
I most a while of Eneas endyte,
As myn auctor list of hym to write : 7124
)2e whiche, sopely, as bokis seyn, he was,
J)is manly Troy an, pis famztg Eneas,
Anchises sone, of gret worp[i]nes,
Whilom gete of Venus pe goddes, 7128
Conquerour of many regiouw.
Whan Troye was brou}t to destrucciouw,
He went his weye by pe large se,
Callid Tirene, & sailyng forpe gope he 7132
Be many cost & many narow passage,
Many dauwger, til in-to Cartage
He rivid is, and pus gan to saille
To pe conquest of pe gret Ytaille ; 7136
And so to Rome he hath pe wey[e] take.
Of whos of-spryng, as auctour[e]s make,
Cam Augustus Cesar, pe* Emperour,
]3at was whilom so noble a conquerour, [leaf 6i&] 7140
}3at his renou??, to pis day doth schyne.
And of Enee, themperour lustyne,
In his boke, callid Autentikes,
Ful pleynly writ per in pe rubrikes : 7144
J?at aftir Cesar, so as Sesares
Be named ^it, ri^t so Eneades,
7114. misplaced at bottom of column and marked b D 2 ; 7113 -is
marked a.
711 5. precede] to precede D 1.
7116. hem schal] schal hem C. 7119. 2nd and] and in D 1.
7122. new IT A. 7127. sone] om. D 1.
7129. many] many a A. 7131. large] longe D 1.
7139. J>e] >e gret C. 7142. of] om. A.
7144. >er] om. D 1.
BK. n] The history of Eneas, son of Anchiscs and Venus. 340
After Enee f e name schulde berc,
Whiche fro Troye comen was so fere -7148
Yn-to Ytaille. And of fis Eneas,
As I haue tolde, Cesar discendid was Cesar wns the
fin»t Emperor
Doim lyne ri^t, iul manly «fc royal, of Rome.
|3at first in Rome be septer impmal, 7152
Maugre her my^t,* had[de] goueniauwce,
And of wisdani sette in gouernawjce
Comouft Binges touch yng f e cite.
And to procede ferber of Enee, 715G if you want
mure about
Holly his lyf & knyjthod by & by
3if fat 30 list to rede Ceriously,
}e may se al, ful awtentik of style,
In Eneydos compiled of Virgile : 7160
Al-be it so, fat fis noble clerke
Was g?*aue a-forn or complet was his werk,
As bokes olde make mencioim.
But now acjeyn to Agamenom?, 7164 Now again of
Agamemnon.
W/t/i-oute more, my stile I wil retourne.
Howe Achilles enter de the Ille of Messay, where
Teutram was kynge, whom Achilles gave his
dethes woimde. And howe Teutram resyngnede
his kingdam to Thelaphus, for the affeccyon that
he had to Archules, which was his Fadere, and
of olde tyme made him kynge of ]wt Ille.1
jje whiche kyng wil no more soiourne
In jns mater delay es for to make,
But in al hast he hath his coiwseil take 7168 Hecaiu aii
^ . . . . . . , liis lords to
Of his lordis, beyng ]>o p?*esent, Council.
And swyche as wer nat, he haf afte?* sent
For oon & alle : erlis, dukis, kynges,
And seid[e], "sirs, amongis ofer finges 7172
To our lourne fat be necessarie,
My coimseil is, no longer fat we taiie,
7149. >is] the A. 7153. my^t] myijt C.
7154. misplaced at bottom of column A— in] >e D 1.
7169. J>o] ther A, there D 1. 7171. kynges] & kynges D 1.
7173. our] joure D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 62 a (misplaced after line 7394).
350 Agamemnon advises the Greeks to send to Messina for provisions.
Agamemnon
says the
Greeks must
first get
provisions
from Mysia.
So they chose
Achilles
and Telephus
to go there.
Teutliras is
king of it.
It's :i pleas-
ant He, be-
longing,
some say,
to Sicily,
and has a big
«ity Messana
(Messina)
named from
L. messes,
lots of fruit,
which victual
ships.
But first of al to rnaken ordinauwee,
By oon assent, with prudent purvyaunce,*
}3at aldirfirste we schape for vitaille,
Wat/i-oute whiche noon host may availle
To parforme a lourne priftely.
Wherfor I rede, here but fast[e] by,
3if it to jow be likyng and plesaiwce,
In-to an lie ful of habondaurcce,
Callid Messa, J>at we sende anoon."
And, at a worde, assentid euerychon.
]2ei chosen han worjn Achilles
And Thelefus, f e sone of Hercules,
To execute pis purpos fynally,
Wij> many worjri in her company
I-chosen oute poru^ ]>Q hoste anoon
Wij? Achilles to Messa for to gon.
In whiche loud, riche and plenteuous,
Regned a kyng, worjri and famous,
)3at Teutran hi^t ; whiche in tranquillite,
With-oute werre or aduersite,
Had holde his septer & his royal sete
In fis He, so plesaurct and so mete —
Al-be j>at some sein* ]>is litel He
To J?e kyngdam longeth of Cecile,
And hath his name ^ouen of plente,
After Messane, an huge gret cite,
Ful plenteuous, bofe on se and lond.
}?e whiche kyngdam, as I vndirstonde,
Is seide Messana, of Messes in latyn,
Jjoru^ habondau?^ce of frut, corn, & wyn,
At tharyuaille on her pleyn[e]s large,
Wher pei ar wont [for] to stuf and charge
Marchauwt schippes of strauwge fer centre,
ftat J)ider saile by pe large se
To fecche vitaille, ay fro $er to ^er,
Fro many cost of londis fer and ner,
[leaf 61 c]
7176
7180
7184
7188
7192
7196
7200
7204
7208
7176. purvyaunce] goumiamice C.
7184. a] Oo A, 0 D 2, oo D 1.
7197. sein] seis C. 7202. as] was A.
7203. Is seide] I seyd A.
7178. host] haste D 2.
BK. li] The Greeks land in Messina, & are fought ly Teuthras. 351
Only beschauwge of oper marcliamzdyse.
And eke also, as bokis can deuise, 7212
And as Guydo [ful] pleinly telleth vs,
}5at of a kyng, call id Messanus,
)}is centre first of Messa toke pe name,
j?at in his tyme was of ful gret fame, 7216
Passyng riche and wonder plenteuous.
But of al pis, Dares Frigius
In his boke makep no menciou??,
But schortly telleth, in conclusions, 7220
How Achilles, and Thelefus also,
To Messana ben to-gidre go
With pre pousand of Grekis chosen oute,
Most manly men amongis al her route. 7224
]5e whiche as fast as pei gan to londe,
And pe kyng gan to vndirstonde
Of her comyng, [he] is descendid dou?&
With alle pe worpi of his region?*, 7228
On hors and fote, in stel armyd bri}!,
Ageyn[e]s Grekis manfully to fi^t,
Hem to deuoide, pleinly, }if he can.
And sodeinly pus pe skarmus gan 7232
Atwixe Grekis and her mortal foon,
On ouper pa?-t pat per was many oon
Slayn and hurt, & to pe dep y-wourcdid,
Euere vnlikly per-of to be souwdid ; 7236
For oper trete was noon hem betwene,
But swerdis scharp & speris sqzme & kene : [leafoid]
Now here, now pere, pat pei go to grorade ;
For euery man his fo for to confounde 7240
His labour dide & his besynes.
And pou$ Grekis, poru^ her worpines,
Had on her foon moche londe I-wowne,
3it to resort after pei begonne ; 7244
And merveil noon, be-cause prtt her foon
7213. And] om. D 1 — vs] Jms D 1. 7224. amongis] amonge D 1.
7227. he is] and is D 1. 7230. Ageynes] A geyn D 2, D 1.
7235. y--wouwdid] wounded D 1.
7237. noon hem] hem noon D 1 — betwene] atwene A, D 2, D 1.
7240. his fo for to] is so sore D 1.
7243. foon moche londe] londe \>at lay D 1.
Quido tells us
that Messina
took its name
from King
Messanuf.
Dares doesn't
mention it.
Achilles
and 8000
Greeks go to
Mysia.
King Teu-
thras and his
men come to
fight them.
Many are
slain and
wounded :
the struggle
is severe.
352
Achilles comes to the rescue of the Greeks. [BK. II
When
Achilles sees
the Greeks
losing
ground,
he forces the
Trojans back,
and kills all
in his way.
But for him
they'd have
been van-
quisht.
He gets up
to King
Teuthras.
Hadde alwey pre in noimbre ageyn[e]s on —
For pe tyme it may noon oper be —
Til Achilles gan be-holde and se 7248
j?e mortal sla^ter vp-on Grekis side,
Turnyng pe bak, \vitfi wou?zdis large & wyde ;
Of hasty rancour chaimge gan his blood,
And for Ire furious and wood, 7252
Whan he be-hilde his men lese her lond,
He vritfi pe swerde pat he hilde in his hond
Made \veie, killeth, and bare dourc ;
And in pe felde like a ferse lyourc 7256
He ferde* in soth, whan his men wer slaw,
Makyng his foon bakward to witMraw,
And his Grekis so manly recouwforte,
Jpat maugre hern he made hew to resorte. 7260
And who pat euere in his weye stood,
Wet/i-oute mercy he kyllep in his mood,
Jpat geynep nat in his cruelte ;
For dout[e]les, nadde his manhod be, 7264
His passyng renouw and his worpines,
His kny^thod eke, and his hi^e prowes,
J5e Grekis had pat clay finally
Venquissched be, wi't/i-oute remedie ; 7268
But poru^ his helpe pei rccuren al :
For Achilles, sturdy as a wal,
Gan cerche scheltrowis & her reragis brake,
To-fore whos face his fomen go to wrake. 7272
And aldirlast, whan he gan espie
Teutran pe kyiig, poru$ his chiualrie
Diffende hym silf lik a worpi kny^t,
And as a lioura bern hym in his fi3t, 7276
Now her, now per, Grekis so oppresse —
ftis Achilles, of cruel hardynesse,
Nolde cesse in his pursewyng
J)oru3 pe wardis, til he cam to pe kyng, 7280
Of manly force, stout, & ful of pride,
7248. gan be-holde] began to holde D 1. 7250. &] oni. D 1.
7254. ]>at] which A, whiche D 2, wiche D 1— his] om. t) 1.
7257. ferde] firde C. 7263. nat] nou3t D 1.
7271. her] om. D 1.
BK.II] Achilles is aloiitto slay K.Teuthras. Telephusbcgshislifc. 353
Makyng a weye rouwde on eue?y syde,
Ageyn whos my^t no J>ing nry^t availe. Achilles
And of Teutran first fe aventaile 7284
He raced haj>e, & rent J>e mail a-sonder,
And al to-hewe — fat it was a wonder
To considre fat day his cruelte. [leaf 62 o]
And after ]?at, al to-broke hath he 7288 Teutons'*
His basenet, with many cruel wounde,
Of verray my^t smet j>e kyng to groiwde ;
And in al haste he maked hath no let,
Of his hed to rende his basenet, 7292 tears it off,
And merciles for to do vengaunce,
His arme he gan on heiste* to avaiuzce, and raises his
, , arm l*> »'ay
Fully in pwpos pat he schal be ded, Wm,
And rauwsomles gan amyn at his hed 7296
With blody swerde, & dispitous herte,
Castyng pleinly he schal hyra nat asterte —
In his Ire he was so furious.
But of fortune it be-fil ri$t pus, 7300
J3at Thelephus, be aongfe], lusty kny^t,
Telephus
Casuely per-of had a sy^t,
And of Achille fe maner ful* behilde :
Jje stroke anoon he bare vp witfi his schelde, 7304 stroke on his
shield,
And gan Achilles mekely for to preye
To han pite so to done hym deye,
Sith he lay wonded almost to pe deth,
Brou^t to J>e point to ^eldera vp pe breth, 7308
Beseching hym, for his benignite, and prays
hjin
Of manly roupe & kny^tly eke pite,
Wtt^-drawe his bond & to don hym grace,
And graurct hym lyf for a litel space : 7312 to spare Teu-
" Sith euery kny^t schulde of gentilles
His enmy spare, whan he is in distres,
To outtrauTice brou3t, & specialy whan he
7287. J>at] is that A.
7294. he gan on hei3te] on heijt he gan C — hei^te] high D 1.
7295. schal] shuld A. 7297. &] & a D 2, D 1.
7298. schal] sholde D 1.
7301. >e 3onge lusty kny$t] of hap as he bihelde D 1.
7302. 3 are omitted in D 1.
7303. Achille] }>at D 2— ful] fully C.
TROY BOOK. A A
354 Achilles at first refuses to spare King Teuthras. [BK. II
Achilles says
Teuthras
made need-
less war on
the Greeks,
and is fallen
into the ditch
he dug for
them
who never
harmd him.
Telephus
A<jain begs
Achilles to]
have mercy
on Teuthras,
who is at
the point of
death.
Mercy requirip of himble volunte." 7316
To whom Achille, feruent in his Ire,
As he pat was of rancour set a-fyre,
Answerde ageyn : "what list pe so to praye
For hym fat nolde of pride our wyl obeye,* 7320
But folily, of vngoodlyhede,
Gan a werre, where as was no nede,
Of disdeyn and indignaciouw,
Havynge a trust of presumpcwn 7324
In his manhod, whiche my^t him nat avaylle
Ageyn [e]s Grekis to hold en a bataille,
As it is preuid pleynly in pe ende,
Al oper-wyse schortly pan he wende. 7328
For in pe dyche iustly* he is falle,
Whiche he made of malis for* vs alle,
Wher we of wil nor entencioura
}af vn-to hym noon occasions, 7332
Vp-on no syde, platly, fer nor ner,
Nor mynystrede to hym no mater,
Nor to his londe mente no damage —
But hym silfe, ground e of al pis rage — [leaf 62 6] 7336
W^tft-oute offence don to hym of vs."
And ef te ageyn ^onge Thelephus
Humblely requerid of Achille,
Of kny^tly rou^pe his axyng to fulfille, 7340
And to han mercy on hym in pis caas.
" For with my fader pis kyng whilom was,"
Quod Thelefus, " be bond confederat,
Whiche lithe now here al disconsolat, 7344
Exspectauwt only, vritft a dedly face,
Vp-on pe hour whan his gost schal pace,
J5oru$-girt, alias ! vrith many mortal wouwde ;
And for cause I haue in hym fourade 7348
A-fore pis tyme ful gret kyndenes — -
For of rnanhod and of gentilles,
In pe bouwdis of his regiou?&
7320. of pride our wyl obeye] oure pride to daye C.
7329. iustly] schortly C. 7330. of mails for] for malis
7336. >is] his D 2.
7342. ]>is kyng whilom] whilom )>is kyng D 1.
7347. alias] oonly D 1.
ofC.
BK. II] Achilles gives up the dying K. Teuthras to Telephus. 355
He vn-to me, poru^ his hi^e renoura, 7352
Whilom as I casuely gan ride, King Ten-
thras was »o
Schewed in sope, vp-on eue?y side, kindtoTeie-
Ful ryal chere aud gret humanyte,
ftat I am boumle of verray du[e]te 7356 that he was
To remembre & to han in mynde ; lead for
And dout[e]les, ellis I were vnkynde,
Which after wolde my name foule atwite,
And for fat I parcel wolde hym quyte, 7360
I 3011 beseche of respit of his lif."
And Achilles, wit/i-outen any stryf, Aciiiiies
Delyuered hath, pe story telleth pus, Teuthras to
Teutran frely vn-to Thelefus, 7364
Wheper hym list to sauera or to spille.
And whan fat he hadde hym at his wille,
He considrede by hys wouwdis grene,
Jpat were so mortal, sothly, & so kene, 7368
Of verray nede pat he muste dye —
J)er was no geyn nor no remedye,
Nor availle may no medycyne.
})e hour whan Phebws westward garc declyne, 7372
And pe bataille brou^t was to an ende,
While pe Grekis to her schippes wende,
fee mene whyle,* Teutran for pe peyne and Teuthras,
Of his wouwdis gan more & more compleyne, 7376 wounded,
Wit/i-oute stau?zche so pitously pei blede :
His officeris fast[e] gan hem spede,
In a liter, inaked f ul ryal, is borne in
a litter to
Toward his paleis & dongouw principal 7380
To carien hym sof te and esely ;
And at his prayer, ful benignely,
Thelefus and also Achilles
Conveied hym amongis al pe pres, 7384
Til he was broujt per as hi??i list to be ; [leaf 62 c]
And pei reseyuid, like to his degre,
[Ful] Ryally pe kyng, ay languysschinge,
7360. I parcel] in parcel I D 1.
7375. mene] owi. D 1— whyle] tyme C. 7378. gan] han D 1.
7385. as] om. D 1. 7386. his] her A, D 2, D 1.
7387. Ryally] pitously D 1 — ay] om. A.
356 The Death-led speech ofK. Teuthras. Hercules helpt him. [BK. n
The dying
King Teu-
thras
sends for
Achilles and
Telephus,
and tells
them he
must die
without an
heir,
leaving king-
less his land
which he
won by
the help of
Hercules.
As he fat drowe toward his endynge, 7388
And my3t[e] nat lenger drawe alengfe
His woful lif, so weyk was [he] of strengpe,
Jjat his spirit muste algatis wende.
And he in haste made for to sende 7392
For Achilles and for Thelefus ;
And whan J>ei cam, lie seide [vn-]to hem pus :
"Sirs," quod he, "ful worpi of degre,
Helpe and honour wit/i longe prospe?*ite 7396
Be vn-to 3ow, and good auenture
Al pe while [pat] 3 our lif may dure * ;
And specially to pe, o Thelephus,
Whiche hast to me ben so gracious, 7400
Of gentilles, in my peynes stronge,
Only of grace my lif for to prolonge —
But deth, alias ! I may nat no we eschewe,
Nor his swerde on no parte remewe, 7404
Wzt/i-oute recur knyt in bitter bondis,
Yp-on pe brinke falle of Fatis hondis,
Of my lif al fully in dispeir,
Whiche of my body neuer my3t haue eyr 7408
After my day, by successions,
To gouerne pis litel region?^
Whiche likepy] is to stonde dissolat
Of gouernaunce, and disconsolat, 7412
Whiche pat I wan vriih f ul gret trauaille ;
And to pis day, Mvikh werre and bataille,
I haue it kept, as 30 wel knowe echon,
And defendid from alle maner foon, 7416
Wt't/i-oute loos, 3eris her-to-forne.
But recurles of 3ore I hadde it lorne,
Ne had I had helpe and eke socour
Of Hercules, Ipe* grete conquerour, 7420
ftat whilom was fader of Thelephus —
So strong, so my3ti, and so chiualrous —
Be whos manhod & whos hardynes,
7389. nat] no A, D 1. 7395. ful] om. D 1.
7398. dure] endure C. 7399. o] mn. D 1.
7404. on] in D 1. 7406. Fatis] faty A.
7407. al] and D 1. 7420. >e] hat C.
BK. II]
Of the Pillars of Hercules.
357
Be his kny^thod and gret worf hies,
Whiche day be day is newe of memorie,
Of al my foon I liadde f e victorie :
He daimted hem and made hem so a-ferde,
Only by rigour of his scharp[e] swerde,
J?at finally, f oru^ his manlihede
He made me f is regne to possede,
Maugre her my^t, in pes and in quiete,
With septre and crowne in my royal sete,
feat noon of hem, til fat he was ded,
Hardy was to lyften vp f e hed
Ageyn[e]s me, to speke in wordis fewe."
Wher-by I may fully declare and schewe
By euydence, fat f is litel He
Is pertynent and longeth to Secile,
"Wher Hercules for a memorial
Sette pilers in his conquest royal,
Whan he had ride and go so fere,
And of Columpna $it f e name bere,
After hym callid Herculea —
)3ou3 so?ttme seyn f ei hote Herracula,
Jje name chauwgyng by corrupciouw.
j?e whiche londe was whilom mansions
To fe peple of wilde Barbarie ;
)3e whiche kyngdam for to magnifie,
Frederik, sothly, f e secimde,
Of gold and good passyngly habourade,
Jjat chose was to ben Emperour
Of Rome ioun, and my3ti gouernour,
And whilom eke was kyng of Secile —
Whiche made reise in fat large He
A my^ti tour, hi3e and f ikke of wal,
As seyth Guydo, for a memorial •
To putte his name longe in remembrauwce ;
And for f e soil was to his plesau?ice,
With floures fresche of many sondry hewe,
In somme bokis fe lond was namyd newe
7426. >e] om. D 1. 7442. of] om. A.
7454. large] litel D 1. 7458. for] was D 1.
7459. of] with D 1.
7424 Hercules
belpt
Teutbras
7428
to win bis
Island,
[leaf 62 cf)
7432
7436
which
belongs to
Sicily,
where Her-
^ cules set up
7440 bis Pillars,
7444 cald Hereulit
OWN
7448
Sicily was
once occupied
by the people
of Barbary,
and Frede-
rick II.
who became
-.-o Emperor of
7452 Rome,
and was also
King of this
land,
once built a
high tower
there to be
7456 rememberd
7460
King Teu-
thras, on his
tells Telephus
358 King Teuthras, dying, appoints Telephus his Heir. [BK. n
And I-called, as I vndirstonde,
For his fairnes, "fe lusty newe lond."
But Teutran ay lyggyng in his peyne,
As he fat fast[e] gan f e hour atteyne
Of cruel deth, a-forn his lordis alle
He made in haste Thelefus to calle
To his presence, and wit/4 a mortal chere
Seide openly, fat alle my3ten here :
" My sone," quod, he, " now fat I schal passe
Out of f is worlde— for geyn[e] may no g?-ace
My lif to saue, f oru3 no ma?mys myjt—
But for be-cause of equite and ri3t
I am compelled, iustly in sentence,
To declare clerly my conscience
To-fore my deth, heryng al f is pres —
Jjis to seyn, f i fader Hercules,
J)e wyse worf i, and fat kny3tly man,
Whilom f is lond f oru3 his conquest wan ;
J)e whiche only of his goodlyhede,
As he fat was fe stok of manly hede,
Toke vn-to me, by co?7?myssiou?i,
Jpe gouernauttce of f is regiou?z,
Of his fre wille, with hool f e regally e,
And nolde hym silf f e crowne occupie ;
And sothly, 3it his ri3t was nat f e lasse.
For loue of whom, now fat I schal passe,
With al thentent of my laste wil,
To f e I grauwte, as it is rijt and skil,
As verray eyer iustly to succede,
Longe in honour f er f i lif to lede,
Makynge here a protestaciouw,
J3at in ful tokene of confirmaciouw
J3is is f e wil, finally, of myn herte,
Fro f e whiche no man may diuerte
Vp-on no side, nor outterly declyne.
For first my wil and discent of lyne
that as his
father
Hercules
gave him the
land he rules.
[leaf 63 a]
he, Teuthras,
appoints
Telephus
his heir,
to succeed
him.
7464
7468
7472
7476
7480
7484
7488
7492
7496
7475. his] be D 1.
7484] To me $af wiche no ma?i may denye D 1.
7490. >er] ther in A, ber in D 2.
7493. finally] fynal A, D2. .
BK. n] King Teuthras dies, and is royally buried. 359
Ben to-gidro combyned now in oon,
Fro which e Jung no mortal marc may gon :
For J>is desire, last of my laugour,
|3at foil playnly be my successour ; 7500
And finally, Jms* I conclude and deme, Teuthrw
)3at vn-to J>e septre and dyademe
Deliuered be, wij> eue/y circu?rastau?ice."
But al his wil, for more assurauwce, 7504
He made write in his testament, makes iiia
Will con-
\)Q fyn cottcludyng of his last entent.
And after ]>at, he ful pitously
Telephus besoujtfe] hertely, 7508
Of manly roupe & kny^tly gentilles
To done his deuer and his besynes,
After his deth, liche his estat royal,
To halwe and holde J>e feste funeral 7512
Solempnely, and J?e exequies do.
And sodeynly, wit/i-oute wordis mo,
\)e kyng Teutran ^eldef vp fe gost, and then dies.
And went his wey, I not* in-to what cost — 7516
I can nat deme of swiche mystyhede.
And whan Parchas broken han J?e fred
On pe rokke, and he was forfe his way,
ban Telefus, out of marbil gray 7520 Telephus ha«
a grey marble
Coriously a tombe made kerue, tomb made
for him,
\)Q dede cors per-in to conserue
Ful richely ; and a-boue )>e graue
An Epithaphie anoon he dide graue, 7524
In his honour pleinly to expresse
His kny3thod bope, and [his] worfines,
And how his gost & he wer deuocid —
Wij> lettris riche of gold aboue enbocid 7528
Rounde aboute wonder corious,
On his tombe, fat seide pleinly pus :
7497. last half illegible VI.
7501. bus] Ms C. 7516. not] nat C— in-to] to D 2, D 1.
7518. han] hath A, ha}> D 2. 7519. On] Of D 1.
7521. Coriously] Ceriously D 2.
7524. misplaced at bottom of column and marked b D 2 ; 7523 is.
marked a.
7526. his] om. A, D 2.
360 Telephus is crownd King. Achilles sails with supplies. [BK. II
Howe Kenge Teutram was buryede in A riche Epetha-
phye graven with sotele vers.1
The Epitaph
on Teuthras's
tomb.
Telephus is
crownd King.
Achilles
stores his
ships
with pro-
visions,
and leaves
Telephus as
a help to the
Greeks.
" Here lyth Teutran pe kyng, dout[e]les,
Whilom slawe of cruel Achilles, [leaf 63 6] 7532
)3at his septre and pe regalie
Holy $af , whiche no man may denye,
To Thelefus, sone of Hercules,
Whiche in his tombe restep now in pes." 7536
Whan pis parformyd was in euery ping,
And Thelefus was crowned in-to kyng,
And hi3e and low, al be on assent,
Hadde openly in a parlement 7540
Made feith to hym and y-don homage
Lik to her degrees, as pei wern of age,
And with hool hert, in al per best entent,
Be othe assurid and be sacrament, 7544
As trew[e] liges reseived hym for kyng,
Jpan Achilles, wit^-oute more tariyng,
Whan al was sette in pes & gouernau?ace,
Wtt/i-oute gruchyng or any variaurcce, 7548
To her schippes anoon he made carie
Euery ping pat was necessarie
To pe Grekis, corn, frute, and vitaille,
Flesche or fysche, or what pat my$t availle 7552
To hosteyng, or helpe hem in her nede—
Douw to pe see al he dide lede,
Fully her vessel for to stuf & lade.
And Thelefus after pis he made 7556
Stille in pe bouwdis of his regioura
For to abide, for pis conclusions :
feat poruj his helpe & his dilligence,
Besynes and discret prouidence, 7560
Ageyn al meschef and al skarscite,
Whan pei nede, he my^t her socow be —
Al-be pat he, liche as seith Guydo,
7536. his] bis D 2. 7543. hool] om. D 1.
7546. w£t&-oute] with A.
7551. and] or A, D 2. 7553. hosteyng] susteynynge D 1.
7555, 56 are transposed in D 1. 7559. 2nd his] om. A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 62 c.
BK. n] Achilles sails to Tenedos, and reports to Agamemnon. 361
With Achilles f ul fayn wolde haue go ;
But he ahod, sothly for fe beste,
Be bond assured fully and beheste
In euery f iug Grekis to releue.
And fan in haste Achilles toke his leue
Of Thelefus, and gan anon to saille,
Alle his schippes stuffid wif vitaille,
Toward Grekis, as made is menciouw ;
And in schort tyme he at Tenedoura
Aryued is, and taken hath f e grou/zde
With alle his kny^tis, bofe heil & sowzde.
And aftir f is, to Agamenouri
He made first ful relaciou?*
Of his expleyt, lik as it was falle,
In f e presence of his lordis alle,
Sitting envirou?i many worjri kny^t.
And first, in Messa, he tellej) of f e fi$t,
Whan f ei entre, & of her wolcowmyng ;
And ceriously, he tolde eke of f e kyng
feat Teutran hi^t, & pleinly also how
Achilles amyd f e fclde hym slowe,
And or his deth, how he of hool enteut
Fully ordeyned in his testament
Thelefus also to ben his heyr.
Al f is he tolde, & eke of his repeire
Vn-to f e se, and eke of Jje vitaille,
And Thelefus, how he wil nat faille
To senden hem al fat may hem plese —
Of whiche f ing f e Grekis in gret ese
Were brou^t of hert, & lyke wonder wel,
Whan Achilles had tolde hem eue?ydel,
And gretly preise his \ii$Q prouidence,
His manhod bofe, & his sapience,
In his oute-beyng fat he bare hym so.
And aftir f is Achilles is go
To his loggyng, a litel f er be-syde,
Where his kny3tes vp-on hym abyde,
[leaf 63 c]
7564
7568 Achilles soils
7572 to Tenedos,
and tells
, Agamemnon
7o76 all he has
done,
7580
and how lie
. slew King
7584 Teuthras,
7588
7592
7596
7600
who left '
Telephus
his heir,
and he will
help the
Greeks.
SffiK
praise
7575. new 1T A. 7581. of] om. D 1. 7593. brou^t] wroujt D 2.
7595. preise] preysed bothe A. 7596. bo]>e] om. A.
7600] Were a while I leue hym to abide D 1.
Now we go
back to the
Trojans.
the lords who
came to help
Troy against
the Greeks.
362 The Forces of the Kings who came to help the Trojans. [BK. II
Myrundones, fill glad of his commyng,
And hym reseyue as longep to a kyng,
"Where he a-bood & restid hym a while.
But for Guydo decline]) here his stile 7604
From f>e Grekis to hem of Troye tou??,
I muste also make digressions,
Of myn anctor pe steppis for to sewe,
Like as it is conuenient & dewe 7608
To my mater, sith he is my guyde,
And for a while Grekis sette a-side,
And reherse how Dares Frigius
Dares names In Troye boke declareth vn-to vs, 7612
And ceriously maketh mensioim
Of pe lordis fat cam to Troye toim
To helpe hem manly in her diffence,
Ageyn Grekis to make resistence 7616
With ordinaimce of many diuerce pinges —
jper cam to hem erlis, dukis, kynges,
As in Dares pleinly is made mynde,
Eedeth his boke & per $e may it fynde. 7620
Here folowyngly be rehersed the namys of ]>e kyngis
that kame to help the Cite of Troye.1
And aldirfirst, I rede how fat he
Specially speketh of kynges pre,
Ful manly men, & also of gret fame —
Al-be pat he reherseth nat f>e name 7624
Of her kyndawmys — ^it he write)? fus :
])Q first of hem was callid .Pandarus,
And as I rede, Thabor pe secourade,
fte pridde Andastrus, liche as it is foiwde ; 7628
And as Guydo liste to specific,
Jpre pousand kny^tes in her companye, [leaf 63 a]
And manly men pei were euerychon.*
And from an He, callid Coloson, 7632
Liche as Dares liketh to expresse,
1. Three
kings,
Pandarus,
Thabor,
Andastrus,
with 3000
knights.
2. From the
He of Colo-
phon
7618. kynges] & kynges D 1. 7620. boke] bokes D 1.
7628. Andastrus] Adrastus D ] .
7631. euerychon] echon C, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 63 a (misplaced after line 7618).
BK. li] The Forces of the Kings who came to help the Trojans. 363
jjer cam also, of excellent prowes,
Kyngesfoure; of whiche pe first[e] was,
As he writ, I-named Carias, 7636
And pe secou?zde hi^t Ymasyus,
Nestor pe pride, pe fourpe Amphimacug ;
And fine p ousand worpi kny^tes alle
Jper cam with hem manly for to falle 7640
Vp-on pe Grekis in helping of pe toun.
And from an He of ful gret renouw,
Callid Lycye, cam pe kyng Glaucoura,
And wip hym broi^t his sone Sparedouw, 7644
A noble kny^t, in armys ful famous,
And was allyed to kyng Priamws ;
And pre pousand, }if I schal nat feyne,
fter ca??i of kny^tes with pese lordis tweyne. 7648
And from Larisse, a riche lond also,
As I fynde, per cam kynges two ;
And hem to quite manly, as pei ou3te,
A pousand kny^tes pei to Troye brou3te. 7652
And from a kyngdam named Lycaouw,
Caphem?^, a kyng of grete renou?i,
Brou^t vrith hym, as Dares berep witnes,
A pousand kny^tes of gret worpines.
And flue hundrid, Dares tellep vs,
Cam with Hupon and wip Epedus,
Manly kny3tes, in platis siluer bri3t.
And with hym eke a kyng pat Remws
Brou3t pre pousand to Troye many mile
From Tabaria his large my3ti He ;
And dukis foure, with al her chiualry,
And erlis ey3te cam in his companye, 7664
Hauyng in armys gret experience ;
And alle pei bare, with-oute difference,
Her men & pei, whan pei wer in pe felde,
])Q chef of gold eueryche in his scheld, 7668
Wherby pe kyng, & holy his meyne,
Among hem alle knowe my3t[e] be,
7641. 1st ]>e] om. A, D 2, D 1.
7642. of ful gret renoura] a ful gret Regions A.
7646. kyng] >e kyng D 1. 7651. hem] om. A.
four kings,
Nestor,
Amphima-
chus, with
5000 knights.
8. King Glau-
con and his
son Sarpe-
don, from
Lycia,
with 3000
knights.
4. Two kings
with 1000
knights from
Larissa.
5. Euphemus
of Lyca-
ouia (?),
7656 with 1000
knights.
6. Hupon
(Hippo-
thous ?)
and Epedus
(Cupesusf),
with 500.
7660 7. Remus of
Tabaria (?)
with 3000,
accompanied
by four
Dukes and
eight Earls.
364 The Forces of the Kings who came to help the Trojans. [BK. n
8. King Pilex
of Thrace,
with 1000
knights,
and Duke
Alcamus,
with 100.
9. Prete-
missus of
Panonia (?),
and Stupex,
with 1000
knights.
(This ile is
mostly forest,
with mon-
strous beasts,
wood-gods
cald Satyrs,
Bicorna,
Fauns and
Incubi.)
Al-be fat of er boren eke f e same.
And from Trace kyng Pilex, by his name — 7672
Fro f ilke Trace fat is most excellent,
Whiche in f e plage of f e oriente
Haueth his syyt — from whiche pis * my3ti king
A fousand kny^tes brou^t at his comyng; 7676
And as myn auctor recordeth eke also,
An hundrid kny^tes ben to Troye go
Wif Alcamws, a duke eke ful famus, [leaf eta]
J?at cam with Pilex, Guydo writeth fus, 7680
Troyans to helpe in her grete nede.
And fro Panonye, soth[ly] as I rede,
Cam Pretemissus, f e noble werriour,
Lord of fat lond, kyng and gouernour, 7684
And duke Stupex with "him eke he* hadde,
And of kny^tes a f ousand fat he ladde
Toward[es] Troye from his regiouw.
And as fe stori makef mencioura, 7688
feat lie stant moste be wyldernes,
And be wodis of plenteuous fiknes,
Growyng f er-in ful many diuerse tre,
And moste is forest fat men fere may se ; 7692
For f ei f er bilde howses but a fewe ;
And in fat lond ful diuersly he?tt schewe
Many liknes, queint and monstruous,
Bestis vnkoufe, to si3t[e] meruelous, 7696
Stoundemele, as bi apparence,
By illusions fals in existence,
Wonder gastful, pleynly, for to sene :
For diuerse goddis of fe wodis grene 7700
Appere fere, called Satiry,
Bycornys eke, fawny and incuby,
)3at causen ofte men* to falle in rage ;
And of fis lond fe peple is ful sauage, 7704
Hardy kny^tes, furious & wood,
And desyrous ay to scheden blood,
7675. syyt] si^t D 1— >is] >e C. 7685. he] bei C.
7688. be] bis D 2, om. A. 7692. bere may] may ]>erQ D 1.
7695. liknes] lyknesses D 2.
7703. ofte] offten A— ofte men] men ofte C.
BK. n] The Forces of the Kings who came to help the Trojaiis. 365
Gretly expert, specialy to schete
Wip dart & spere, perellous to mete,
For pel cast euen as any lyne.
And from an He fat named* was Botyne,
In gret array to Troye pe cite,
Like as I fynde, per cam* dukis pre :
.,.,, ., ii-ii -I •
pe first of hem callid Anphimvs,
bamvs pe secoume. be bridde Forcvnus,
r
And as seith Dares, whiche list uat lye,*
Twelue hiwdrid kny^tes in her co?wpanye.
And fro Bitvnye,* as made is reme??ibrau?zce,
\)Q riche lond, pat hath swiche habiwdaiwce
Of spicis, goramys, frutis, corn, & wyn,
Holsom rotis, ryndis, riche and fyn,
Wonder vnkoupe and p?*ecious also,
Out of whiche He per caw kynges two,
Ful kny$tly men, in armes desyrous —
Kyng Boetes and Episterus,*
And wit/i hem brou^t to Troye fro??i so ferre
A pousand kny^tes arrayed for pe werre.
And fro pe lond callid Pafogonye,
Whiche seuerid is from al companye,
As bokis seyn pat ben historial,
Vnder pe plage pat is oriental
Set so fer, as made is rehersaille,
]3at fewe or noon to pat lond trauaille,
For per to come is almost impossible,
For whiche bat lond is callid Invisible,
.
Be-cause only of* his remocioiw;
And lit it is a riche regioiw,
Of gold & siluer also, and of stonys,
And habondaiwt of plente for pe nonys,
It is so f ul of tresour and of good,
And hath his syyt on pe riche flood
I-namyd Tygre, nat fer horn Eufrates,
[leaf 646] 7728
7732
'7708
7712 10. Three
Dukes from
Boetine(?),
AinphiinuH,
sanius,
Fortinius,
7716 with 1200
And from
7720
7724 n. Boeti.es
trus (?),
with 1000
And from
Paphl1
the invisible
Land,
7736 rich in
gold tind
«uver,
7740
<>n the Tigris,
7708. to] for to D 2. 7710. named] callid C.
7712. cam] cam ]>er C. 7713. Anphimvs] Amphynyus D 2.
7715. as] om. A— lye] to lye C.
7717. Bitvnye] Litvnye C, Betanye D 1.
7724. Episterus] Epistrophus C, Epistorus D 2.
7733. is] it is D 1. 7735. of] bat C. 7736. $it] om. A.
366 The Forces of the Kings who came to help the Trojans. [BK. II
12. Phili-
mene, with
1000 knights,
with jeweld
shields.
And from
Ethiopia,
the land that
borders on
India,
13. King Por-
ses (Perses ?),
Meryon
(Memnon?),
and Sigamon,
with 3000
knights.
14. Theseus
of Teremo
with his son
Archilogus
and 1000
knights.
15. Two kings
from Agresta,
not named
by Guido,
with 1000
knights.
As seith myn auctor, pat callicl is Dares —
Fro whiche lond, in stel armyd clene,
A pousand knyjtes cam with Philymene, 7744
fee worpi kyng, whos scheldis, out of drede,
Wern of querboyl, in Guydo as I rede,
With gold depeint & fret with stonys riche,
feat in pis world I trowe wer norc liclie, 7748
Out of }>e flodis chose be devis,
Whiche han her cours out of paradys —
fee whiche kyng, a geauwte of stature,
And of makyng passyng al mesure, 7752
Strong and deliuere also, as I fynde.
And fro pe lond pat rnarchip vp-on Ynde,
Kyng Porses * cam with many kny^tly man ;
And he also, pat with his hond hym wan 7756
So moche honour, pe noble Meryon,
And his brother callid Sygamon,
Whiche from pe lond of her subiecciouTZ,
Of dukis, erlis, & kny^tes of renoura, 7760
fere pousand brou^t, alle in platis schene,
With speris rouwde, whet ful square & kene —
From Ethiopie cam pis noble route.
And fro pe kyngdam also, out of doute, 7764
feat Teremo of Dares callid is,
Cam pe kyng, ful prudent & ful wis,
fee manly man namyd Theseus,
And eke his sone pat hi$t Archilagus, 7768
A pousand kny^tes in her companye ;
And Theseus ful ny$e was of alye
To Priamws, by discent of blood.
And kynges tweyne, passynge riche of good, 7772
And renomyd of knyjthod as be fame —
Al-be pat Guydo rehersip nat hir name —
Jet in pis story he makip menciourc,
feat from Agresta, pe litel Eegiouw, 7776
A pousand kny3tes pei brou3t vn-to Troye, [leaf 64 c]
Grekis pride to daurcten and acoye ;
7748. wer] was A. 7753. also] al D 1.
7755. Porses] Proses C. 7766. 2nd ful] om. A.
7772. of] & D 1. 7775. J>is] Ms A.
BK. u] The Forces of the Kings who came to help the Trojans. 367
For pei wer chose & piked for )>e nonys.
And from pe lond be-^onde Ama^onys, 7780
Lissynya, pe kyng Epistrophus, ie.
So wys, so worpi, and inly vertuous,
Passynge of couwseil and discreccioura,
And with al pis, ful worpi of renou/i 7784
He preved was also, in special,
And in pe artis callid liberal
He lernyd was, and expert a-ri3t, learned and
Nat-w^t/istondyng he was a worpi kny^t, 7788
In werre & pes manful & ri^t sage,
Al-be pat he was romie fer in age —
And as pe stori makep rehersaille,
A pousand kny^tes clad in plate & mail, 7792 withiooo
To Troye toim, I f ynde, pat he ladde ;
And with hym, Guydo seith, he hadde
A wonder archer, of si3t merueilous, and a Centaur
Of forme & schap in maner monstruous : 7796 a her*
For lik myn auctor as I * reherse can,
Fro pe nauele vpward he was man, man at top>
And lower doim lik an hors y-schapid ; borse ^\OWt
And pilke parte pat after man was makid, 7800
Of skyn was blak & rowe as eny bere,
Couerid with here fro??i colde hym for to were, foui and
Passynge foul and horrible of si3t, uSTJf *°
Whos eyen were spark[e]ling as bri^t 7804
As a fourneis vfith his rede leuene,
Or pe li^tnyng pat comep* clou?^ fro heuene,
Dredful of loke, and red as fire of chere.
And, as I rede, he was a good archere; 7808 who shot
And with his bo we, bope at eue & morwe,
Vp-on Grekis he wrou^t moche sorvve,
And gasted hem with many hidous loke,
So sterne he was pat many of hem quoke 7812
Whan pei hym saw, so ogly & horrible,
And more lothsom pan it is credible,
))at many on hath wonded to pe deth,
7781. Lissynya] Cam D 1. 7794. hym] hym eke D 1.
7797. I] he C. 7806. come])] cam C, come D 1.
368 Priam's 32,000 Helpers. The Flower of Chivalry. [BK. n
Thus in Troy
were
32,000 '
knights'
and lords,
beside folk
from lesser
India.
Since the
world was
made,
were none
so many
worthies
together;
the flower of
chivalry was
there.
And caused hem to ^elden vp pe breth 7816
On Grekis side, as 30 schal after here.
And in pis wyse assemblid ben y-fere
Kynges, dukis, and erlis of renoura,
From sondri londis w^t/^-Inne Troye touw, 7820
£at be gadred & come fro so ferre,
As seith Dares, to helpe he??i in pis werre —
)3at wer in noimbre, as he maketh mynde,
Two and pritty pousand, as I fynde, 7824
Of worpi kny^tes and lordis of estate,
)?at sith pe worlde was formyd & creat, [leaf 64 #\
Ne was nat seyn, I trowe, in o cite
To-gidre assemblid of so hi3e degre, 7828
Nor of kny^tes so gret a multitude.
And 3it pis Dares, sothly to conclude,
In his boke maketh of hem no mynde,
#at cam to Troye out of smaller Ynde, 7832
Nouper of hem, most fanrns of renoun,
]3at wer w*t//. Priam born of Troye toura —
)3at finally, 3if it be trewly soi^t,
Sipen pe hour pat pis world was wrou3t, 7836
I dar afferme, vndir Phebus spere
So many worpi wer nat met I-fere
Of manly men, flouryng in lustines,
So fresche, so 3onge, and as by liklynes, 7840
In euery point, of schap and of array
For to do wel, sothly* pis no nay,
Who list considere vp-on ouper side.
For poru3 pe world, wher men go or ride, 7844
]?e flour of kny3thod & of worpines,
Of chiualrie, and of hi3e prowes
Assemblid was wat/i-outen & wit/i-Inne,
Fully assentid a werre to be-gynne. 7848
Wherfore, 30 listers, taketh now good hede,
]5at 3ow delite in pis boke to rede :
First for how litel [pat] pis werre gan,
7820. wiU-Inne] in to D 1. 7825. kny^tes] kynges D 1.
7834. born] y bom A— of] in D 1.
7838. I-fere] in fere D 1. 7841. 2nd of] om. A.
7842. sothly] for sothly C— >is] this is D 1.
7849. new IT A. 7851. gan] be ga?& D 1.
BK. n] The cause of all the Deaths to come was but a Woman. 369
How list be cause, for whiclie so many marc 7852 And the
cause of the
Hath lost his lif in meschef pitously : deaths of so
many men
And ^it no man can be war ber-by —
Almost for 110113 1 was bis strif be-soiwe : «•»» almost
nothing,
And who* list loke, bei haw no Jung wontoe 7856
But only deth, alias, be harde stowide !
So many kny3t cau$t his debes* wou?ide
Wib-oute recure or any remedie.
And for a woman, sif I schal nat lye, 7860 just a
woman !
Gan al Jus strif, it was be more pite,
Jpat so gret meschef or aduersite
Of mortal slau^ter euer schulde tyde !
Bet had ben to haue set a-side 7864 They should
. havedropt
Swiche quarelhs, dere I-now amyte, their quarrel.
To haue lete passid or be vengauTZce bite :
For wisdam wer to cast a-forn and se
3if swiche sclau?idris my^t eschewed be 7868
Or J>e venym gonne for to ripe ;
For bow[}] fat men wit/A hornys blowe & pipe
Whan an hous is fired in his hete, But when
Of be sparkle to late is to trete, 7872 catches fire,
it's no good
)3at causid al : wherfore, at be gynnyng
\)Q remedie is put of euery Jring, first spark.
As euery wi^t may deme in his resoiw. [leaf 65 a]
Howe the worthy kynge Pallamydes, the secunde
parsone of )>e Grekes, kame with thirtye shippes
to Thenedone, in helpynge of the Grekes. And
ho we J>e famous manful knyght, Dyomede, pro-
vokede them to departe fro Thenadon, and to
f Arryve in pe playne afore Troye.1
And whil J>e* Grekis lay at Tenedoiui, 7876
Hem to refresche & to reste in pes,
7852. whiche so many maw] she D 2— many] many a A.
7856. who] who so C. 7857. But only] Onely but D 1.
7858. many] many a A— knyjt] knyjtes D 1— his] her D 1—
dejjes] dedis C.
7865. quarellis] quarell D 2.
7866. To haue lete passid] To lete passen D 1, Ta letyn passycl
D2. 7871. an] the A.
7876. j>e] J>at >e C, om. D 2, D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 64 a (misplaced after line 7848).
TROY BOOK. B B
370 Of King Palamedes, who joins the Greeks witli 30 Ships. [BK.II
At Tenedos
King Pala-
medes joins
the Greeks
with 30 ships
well mand
and vitalld.
He couldn't
master with
them at
Athens
because he
was ill.
His reputa-
tion was high,
and the
Greeks askt
him to be
on their
Council.
J?e worpi kyng, callid Palamydes,
Wip pritti schipes out* of Grekis lond,
Stuffid with kny3tes, ful worpi of her hond, 7880
J)e beste chose of al his regioim,
Arived is vp at Tenedourc.
Wher-of Grekis whan pei hadde a si3t,
Reioyschyng hem, wer ri3t glad & Ii3t, 7884
Havyng rewarde [vn-]to his worpines,
Where pei a-forn hadde had heuynes
For his ahsence pat he was so longe ;
And some of hem grucchid at him strong, 7888
For he nat kepte his moustre at Athene.
But for to schewe pat he was al clene
Of any spot in his conscience,
Ful manfully, in open audience, 7892
Liche a kny3t he gan hym silf excuse,
Stoppyng alle po pat per-on list* to muse,
Of his ahsence schewyng pe cause whi,
Jjat for siknes and sodeyn maladie 7896
He was cowstreyned his presence to w^t/idrawe.
And for pei sawe pat siknes hap no lawe,
Jpei hilde excused fully his absence ;
And for he was of most reuerence, 7900
Among Grekis to no wi3t pe secou?ide,
And was also ful wys & eke habourcde
Of gold and good, avise & prudent,
)}at what-so-euere he set on his entent, 7904
Kny3tly & wysly he wolde it wel acheue,
And what he gan he ne wolde leue,
Maugre his foon, in no maner wyse,
Til pat he sawe a* fyn of his emprise, 7908
And for he was most of oppiniou?^
Amongis Grekis, and reputaciouw,
Jjei hym besou3t pat he wold[e] be
Of her conseil, avisely to se 7912
What wer to do in euery maner ping.
7879. out] cam out C. 7886. hadde] om. D 1.
7890. al] om. D 1.
7894. >er-on list] list her on C— to] om. D 1.
7908. a] be C.
7910. Amongis] Among D 2, D 1— and] of D 2.
BK. n] The Greeks don't move towards Troy. 371
And he assenteth vn-to her axyng,
Benygnely of his gentilles.
And Grekis ban dide her besynes 7916 The Greeks
want to start
To precede, wit/t-oute more delay, their siege.
Hem to enhaste, m al pat euer pei may,
To gywne a sege and differre it nou^t.
And sondri weies pei cerched han & soi^t 7920
In her wittes, how fro Tenedoiw
})Q\ may remevve towarde Troye toun,
From pe hauene wher her* schippes be.
And somme pou^t most comodite, [leaf 65 6] 7924
For most expleit, be nht priuelv They Pr°p°»«
J to sail to
Toward Troye, pat stod fast[e] by, Troy by
Proudly to saille with her schipes alle.
And somme seide, gret peril my3t[e] falle, 7928
Toward ni3t for to take pe se,
List wit/i dirknes pei ennoysed be
In her passage, knowyng not pe way,
Wher-of gret harme after falle may — 7932
And pus diuers of oppiniouw,
Procedyng nat to no conclusions :
For in effect her pwrpos nat ne held,
But stille lyn, ay loggid in J?e felde, 7936 butstnutay
Like as ]>ei had entriked be wet/i drede,
Til on a day, worj>i * Dyomede,
Of J?e Grekis seyng }>e cowardyse,
Euene pus his conseil gan deuyse : 7940
" Sirs," qwod he, " J>at be now here present,
3if pat 30 list, alle be oon assent,
Goodly considre, aduertyng prudently
What I schal seyn to-fore 3ow openly, 7944
Whiche of kny3thod han so noble a name,
Sothly me semeth, we ou3tew ha??- gret schame, reproaches
Whiche holde oure silfe so my3ti & so strong,
And in pis lond soiourned han so longe — 7948
Nije al pis 3ere — and dursten \n no wyse
Remewen hens, for verray cowardyse —
7920. weies] wise D 1. 7923. her] >e C.
7930. ennoysed] envosed D2, Ennosed A, enn'osed Dl.
7938. wor>i] >is wor>i C.
372 Diomede reproaches the Greeks for not attacking Troy. [BK. n
Diomede's
speech :
" We've
given the
Trojana
time to get
help and
strengthen
their city.
They see
we're afraid
to attack
them.
If we had but
gone at once,
we should
have had our
will of them.
What haue we do 1 — nat ellis certeynly,
But to oure foon gravmted folily, 7952
Euene at her lust, space & liberte
To make hem strong, and oportunyte
Vs to we't//stond, pleinly, at pe hond —
And so pei wiln, 36 may wel vndirstond. 7956
For day be day, to oure confusiouw,
)?ay haue sou^t wayes, ful wisly vp & douw,
To gete hem help in pe mene space,
And hem enforced aboute in euery place, 7960
Her roivwd cite with barreis & with palis,
Her wallis maskued, and agey'n oure skalis —
Trustep per-on — made gret ordinauwce.
And with al pis, of oure gouernau7^ce 7964
)3ei han espied, seyng fat for drede
We han noon hert manly to procede
In oure purpous to hold with hem werre ;
And ay pe more pei se p«t we differre, 7968-
])Q more pei wiln cacchen hardynes
Ys to resiste with al her besines.
Also I se, and trust it verrailly,
J)at 3if we had afore-hand manfully, 7972
As we began, kny^tly furpe contunyd, [leaf 65 c]
Oure lourne hadde better be fortunyd :
3 if sodeynly with strong & my^ti honde,
))ei vna vised, we had in-to her londe 7976-
With-outQ abood afore pis tyme ariued,
Of whiche [a] while we must be depriued
And delaied, where first with victorie,
To oure honour, with pe palme of glorie 7980
We my^t sothly, nad[de] ben oure sloupe,
Our wil complisched, pis pe pley?i[e] troupe :
Wher maugre vs, or we to lond aryue,
With strong diffence pei wil ageyn vs striue, 7984
And put vs of or we pe stronde *
7957. For] Fro D 1— be] to D 1.
7961. round] large A, D 2— barreis] barrerys D 1.
7962. wallis] wall D 2, walle D 1.
7966. hert] hertis D 1.
7982. >is] >is is D 1. 7984. vs] om. D 1.
7985. of] om. D 1— stronde] lond C. •
BK. n] Diomede urges the Greeks to attack Troy at once. 373
For ay fe more we tarie to be-gywne,
#e more, in soth, for me list nat lye,
"We put oure silfe echon in iupartye — 7988
What schulde I feyn or fage fro fe troupe 1
For oure tariyng & oure coward sloufe
Ar likly after to tourne vs to gret sorwe :
Wherfor, erly to-morwe* by j>e morwe, 7992
My conseil is, oure ankres vp to pulle,
In pis mater no lenger fat we dulle,
But to enarme oure schipes for J>o werre ;
And at f e vprist of pe morwe sterre,
Late vs ordeyn, with kny^tly apparaille
Out of pis hauene with, pe wynde to saile,
Of manful hert & lusti f resell e corage,
Our cours holdyng & our ri^t passage
Toward Troye, & louden horpidly,
What-euere falle : for trustep sikerly,
"With-ovit skarmusche we may nat ariue ;
For pei fro Troye descende wil as blyue,
Lik manly men, to mete vs in pe berde.
But for al J)at, lat vs nat ben a-ferde,
But voide drede, & manhod set a-fore,
jjat cowardyse entre at no bore
For to astone pe manhod of oure herte."
And with fat word, pe Grekis gan aduerte
J3e manly conseil of pis Diamede,
And in effect to precede in dede 8012
Vn-to pe point, & for no ping spare,
And in what wyse, anoon I schal declare.
Howe the Grekes londede in the playne afor [Troye],
and howe the Troyans gave theme batayle at the
stronde : in whos meteynge were slayne mony A
worthy knygh[t] and others.1
7989. feyn] seyn D 1— fage] fade D 1 .
7992. erly to-morwe] to morwe erly C.
7994. dulle] dwelle D 1.
8004. descende] descendid A.
8009. to astone] tasten A— oure] your A, ?our D 2.
8010. >e]om. A, D2, Dl.
S014. anoon I schal] I shal anon D2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 64 d.
" The longer
we delay,
the more
danger we're
So let's weigh
anchor
7996 at the rise of
tin- morning
star,
and sail
to Troy,
8000 and fight
the Trojans
who oppose
our landing."
8004
8008
The Greeks
agree.
374
The Greeks set sail for Troy.
[BK. ii
At dawn
next day
the Greeks
go aboard,
and sail.
1. 100 tovverd
ships with
warmen
and banners.
2. Another
hundred with
armd
knights.
3. The rest of
the navy*
The next[e] morwe, wonderly be-tyme,
Or Phebws vprist, lorcge or it was prime, 8016
Whan it be-gan ful merily to dawe,
))e Grekis host to schipward gonne* drawe
With manly hert, fully deuoyde of drede,
Only foru$* comfort of fis Diomede. 8020
But* aldirfirst, anoon as fei a-wake,
})e lordis wysely han her courcseil take [leaf 65 a}
And concludid among hem euerychon,
Whiche of her schipes schuld[e] formest gon, 8024
And on f e se howe fei schulde hem guye,
So to ariue fat no man hem espie :
J?is was deuised at a certeyn marke.
Jje ny$t passid, at singyng of f e larke, 8028
Grekis be schippid wzt/i-out more tariyng,
Bofe hi3e and low, in [f e] daw[e]nyng ;
And first a-forne, an huwdrid schipes of tow?-,
Stuffid wz't/i many worfi werriour, 8032
Gan proudly saille, as f ei had in charge ;
And f e baners, brode, bri^t, and large,
Were splaied out vp-on euery side :
And fei departe f e fomy wawes wyde, 8036
J?at to si$t whelmen vp so grene.
And next [to] hem, for werre enarmyd clene,
A-nof er hundrid folwe fast[e] by,
Whiche bare her sailles passiwgly proudly, 8040
In whiche fer was ful many worfi kny^t,
Armyd in mail & in platis bri^t.
And after folwef hoolly her nauye,
)?at as I trowe, swiche a companye 8044
Of worfi kny^tes & lordis of degre
Was neuer a-forne seyn vp-on f e se.
And Eolus was to hem fortunat ;
And eke Neptune made no debat 8048
8016. was] wer D 1. 8018. gonne] gan C, A.
8020. >oru$] with C. 8021. But] pat C.
8024. her] om. A. 8031. a-forne] to forn A, D 2, D 1
8035. splaied] I splayed A.
8038. enarmyd] armed D 1.
8040. her] om. D 2 — passi?^ly] passing D 2.
8042. 27id in] om. A. 8043. And] om. D 2.
BK. n] The Greeks near Troy. The Trojans sally out. 375
With wynde nor trouble among pe [sterne] wawis ;
Jjatempre wcdir ful mery to hew dawes,
)?at in a tyde, as pei seille ri$t,
Of Troye toiw pei cau^t anoon a si^t, 8052
Wher-of in hert ful glad & li^t pei ben.
But whan Troyans first her schippes sen when the
So proudly saille a litel fro pe stronde, toJSnw?6
And sawe how pei cast hem for to lond, 8056
Jjei bood no more, but arme hem hastily they arm,
In plate and mail & lakkis richely,
With Irous hert — and pat was don anon —
And toke her hors, & forpe in hast pei goon 8060 take horse,
Out at pe ^atis & made no tariyng : and ride out,
For pei nabide p?*ince, duke, nor kyng, but without
Nor oper lord to guye hem or* gouerne,
But hast hem forpe, so many and so 3erne, 8064
Jporu^-oute pe felde so gret a multitude.
Amongis whom were no folkis rude,
But manly men, & priftily beseyn,
So clenly armyd on pe large pleyn, 8068
jpat whan Grekis gaw he?ra first beholde, Jrhee Oreek»
Of pe noumbre her hert[e] gan to colde :
For per was noon so manly hem amonge, [leaf 66 a]
So 3ong, so fresche, so hardy, nor so strong, 8072
Of hi^e estat nor of lowe degre,
j)at he ne was astonied for to se , astonisht,
\)e hardy Troyans so proudly doura descewde
To lette Grekis pat pei nat ascende, 8076
ftat pei wist and conceive outterly and feel they
Jper was no mene to arive by,
But only deth, or manly for to f^t,
Or cowardly take hem to pe fli^t — 8080
For oper conduit pleinly noon per was
But scharpfe] swerdis & speris in pis cas.
Til sodeinly pe hardy ferse kyng,
8049. sterne] om. Dl.
8051] And hem aparaile redy to fi$te D 1.
8054. whan] than A. 8056. how] om. Dl.
8057. hastily] lustily D 1. 8063. or] nor C.
8070. herte] hertes A, D 1— gan to] gonne D 1.
8081. conduit] condite D 1.
376 The Greeks' try at landing is at first disastrous. [BK. n
Prothesi-
laus's 100
ships are
driven ashore
and wreckt.
Some of his
men are
drownd,
others slain
by the
Trojans.
The arrows
cloud the
sun.
Bat the
Greeks press
Protheselaus, whiche in his gouernyng, 8084
Formest of alle, an huwdrid schipes ladde,
Gan hasten hym for Ire fat he hadde,
Talondid first, $if it wold haue be,
Ta met* with hem so gret desire had he. 8088
But swyche a wynde ga?^ in pe seil[e] driue
Of his schipis, whan he schope tariue,
J}at he vnwarly smet vp-on pe londe,
On pe gettis and pe drye sonde, 8092
)5at his schippes schyuered al a-sondre,
And some dreint, to-broken here & ^ondre,
And deuourid of pe wawy * se,
J?at it was roupe and pite for to se— 8096
For but of harde per my^te noon* eskape.
And whiles some wer besy for to take
Jje drie lond, with mvd and filpe y-lade,
Troyens of hem ful cruel slau^ter made ; 8100
Maugre her rny^t, Grekis so constreyned,
J?at with her blood pe wawis wer [y-]steyned,
So mortally, fat sothly to be-holde,
Amonge pe sonde, pale, ded, and colde 8104
fee Grekis lyn, with wouradis fresche & grene ;
And al pe eyr with schot of arowis kene
I-schadwed was, pat Phebws beniys bri^t
Vp-on pe soille was dirked of his Ii3t. 8108
And new alwey Troyens hem assaille,
pat to Grekis pleinly pis ryvaille
So mortal was & so infortunat,
So vnwelful and disconsolat, 8112
So vndisposid poru$ infelicite,
)3at, I trowe, neuere out of no se
Ne cam noon host of mor harde to londe.
But for al pat, Grekis nolde wonde, 8116
For lyf nor deth, manly to arive.
And so befil, of auenture as blyue,
)5e huwdrid schipes pat next aftir sew,,
8088. Ta met] To mete C. 8089. in] on D 1.
8090. tariue] to ryve D 1. 8095. wawy] wawe C.
8097. >er my^te noon] >ei myjt nat C.
8100. made] om. D 2.
BK. li] The Greeks effect a Landing. Prothesilaus fights well. 377
[leaf 66 6]
Avisely, and in tyme dew
Ben entrid in, and hastfe] nat to faste,
And strike sail and her ankris caste,
For J>e werre strongly enbatailled,
In her londyng list J>ei wern assailled.
And wisly h'rst fei sette her arblasteris
And her gowners & her best archeris,
With pauiseris for to goon aforn,
Kny^tly to londe, pou^ Troyens had sworn
Jpe contrarie, proudly hem to lette ;
3et for al pat, fersly vp J>ei sette.
The Grekysshe* suhot made hem to wit/&-drawe,
And many of hem on ]?e lond ley slawe,
J)at maugre hem J>e stronde fei recure ;
And swiche as myjt most ma/ifully endure
Wer set aforn, til j?ei J>e lond han take.
And al attonys swiche assaut J>ei make
Vp-on Troyens ; and fo be-gan ]?e h'^t,
Whan Prothesilaus, )>e noble worjn kny^t,
Wonder lifly & ri^t passyng strong,
With J?e Grekis entrid in among
j)e hardy Troyens, & euer[y]-wher hem sou^t ;
For he of armes merueilles on hem wrou^t
#ilke day foru^ his worj>ines,
Jpat many Troyan he brou^t in distresse —
Wlier he went J?ei felt[e] ful vnsofte,
jjoruj whos manhod Grekis wern a-lofte.
For J)ilke day, ne hadde* his kny3thood be,
J3e Grekis hadde in gret aduersite
Be venquisched by fatal puruyauwce,
And fynally brou^t vn-to vttrau?zce,
I-putte a-bak, pleinly )>is no lye.
But what availle]) al his chiualrie,
His worjnnes, or his fers corage —
What my^t it helpe or do avauwtage,
Sith seuene fousand Grekis had a-do
8120 Tlie Zndl.uu-
dred ships
anchor,
8124
8128
8132
and land
their gunners
and archers
first,
who make
the Trojans
retire.
8136 The Greeks
attack.
Prothesilaus
8140
8144 kills many
Trojans,
8148 and save,
the Greeks.
8152
But they ai
only 7000
to ioO.IMM).
8126. gowners] guwnes D 1. 8128. had] had it D 1.
8131. Grekysshe] Grekis C. 8134. most] &m. Dl.
8147. ne hadde] nat C, nadde D 2.
8151. >is] >is is D 1. 8154. do] to do D 1.
378 The Greeks suffer greatly, but are helpt ly Archelaustetc. [BK.II
The few
Greeks see
the sea
behind them,
so that
they must
die or fight.
They defend
themselves
valiantly,
tho driven
near the
brink of the
sea,
and would
have perisht,
but that
Archelaus
and Pro-
thofinor came
to their aid.
an hurcdrid pousand Troyercs & 3it mo ! 8156
It merueil was how pei my^t endure
In any wyse pe stronde to recure,
Or so fewe [for] to holde a felde.
But in hem silf o ping pei behelde, 8160
Ful prudently, whiche pat ^aue hem hert ;
])at pei saw pei my^tfe] nat asterte
To eskape alyue }if pei wolde fle :
For at her bak was no ping but pe se, 8164
And to-forn hem an host so gret & huge
Jpat opir way was per no refuge,
But deye attonys or fi^t manfully.
Wherfor pei caste & schope hem ful kny^tly, 8168
Lik manly men, her lyues to iuparte [leaf eec]
j^an cowardly from her foon departe,
To lese her grou?zde & drenchyn in pe se.
And pus as long as it wolde be, 8172
Grekis diffende hem fer aboue her my^t,
Al-be pat many wer kylled in pis n$t,
)3at pe stremys of pe rede blood
Ran on pe sonde, large as any flood, 8176
So cruelly Troyens on hem sette
With spere and swerde, [ful] scharpfe] grounds & whet,
J)at roupe was and pite for to pinke,
Til pei almost drof hem to* pe brinke, 8180
Wher pe Grekis, in meschef & distresse,
In gret anguysch & passyng werines
Hem silfe diffende, rnaat & ful wery,
Wher pei schulde haue perschid outerly, 8184
Recurles, in soth, for euermore,
Nadde Archelaus and worpi Prothenor
From her schipes aryued vn-to londe,
Of sodeyn hap with hem for to stonde. 8188
And 3it pei had ful gret aduersite
For to ariue, poru^ pe cruelte
Of pe Troyens ; but 3it pe lond pei wywne.
8159. Or] And D 1— fewe] om. D 1.
8166. pat] And A, D 2, D 1. 8167. fi?t] dye D 1.
8168. ful] 0m. D 1. 8169. Lik] Lyke rather as A.
8170. pan] pat D 1. 8180. to] til C.
BK. u] The Greeks are reinforst by Nestor, Agalus, & Athalus. 379
And Grekis fan cruelly be-gynne .8192 The Greeks
Ageyn her foon to stonden at diffence
With manly force and gret violence ;
And J>o encreseth f e blody werre newe,
J3«t al fe soil depeynt was vrith ]?e hewe, 8196
jjat first was grene, turned in- to red,
On eche side so many on lay ded
Vp-on ]?e grouttde, of his lif depriued.
But duke ISTestor is sodeynly aryued 8200 Nestor joins
With his knyates, felle and ful Irous, with his
• * knights
And of hert rijt malencolyous,
With his speris, archeris oute a-syde,* and archers.
He entrid in, sterne & ful of pride. 8204
With swerd and axe, groiwde scharpe & kene,
pei ran y-fere & mette vp-on }>e grene ;
And hokid arowis alwey flen among,
And schaf tis schiuere, to-braste, & to?-ne wrong ; 8208
And with her tolys, stelyd & wel whet,
\)e long[e] day f ei han to-gidre met.
And pe sla^ter new alwey* began, Fresh
On eue?y half, of many worjn man, 8212 follows.
With wouwdys large, fel, & dispitous :
For Prothenor and kyng Archelaus
With swerdis stif among J>e re?zgis kerue,
Whiche many Troyan made for to stmie — 8216
J)ei were ]?at day so passyngfly] Irous,
And hem to aueuge inly desyrous, [leafeed]
Neuer cessyng in her pursewyng.
And to releue hem, Alagus )>e kyng 8220 ThenAgaius
and Athalua
I-londid is, and eke kyug Athalus, reinforce the
Whiche on Troyens werne ful envious,
Breraiyng of* Ire as fe fyry* glede,
And vp-on hem, of verray olde hattrede, 8224
With her kny3tes sodeinly be falle ;
And in her Ire, bitterer fan galle,
8196. hewe] newe A.
8203. archeris] & archeris D 1 — a-syde] o syde C.
8211. new alwey] alwey new C.
8214. Archelaus] Archilogus D 1.
8217. passyngly] passinge D 1. 8223. of] in C— fyry] fyre C.
8226. [on] Jwwme >e D 1.
380 Fresh Trojans attack the Greeks, whom Ulysses helps. [BK. n
The Trojans
are driven
back.
Then fresh
knights pour
out of Troy,
and attack
the Greeks,
who are forst
to retire.
Ulysses then
comes to the
rescue.
Cruelly pel her foon oppresse,
And of assent dide her besines 8228
Maugre hem bakward to resort
Amyd ]>e feld, as I can report —
fter was no choys, so J>ei wer constreyned
Of verray force, & of manhod peyned 8232
To witMrawe, to her confusiouw.
Here were faste devyces foimde in Armes.1
But fanne in hast, douw fro Trove touw,
Of worpi kny^tes freschely armyd new,
Viith diuises of many sondri he we, 8236
With-out abood, schortly to conclude,
J)er cam dourc so gret a multitude,
Eche his armys depeint vp-on his schelde,
]3at in her coniyng gletereth al J?e felde 8240
Of her armwre and )>e sonne bri^t;
And whan J>at J?ei wer entrid in-to fi^t,
Grekis metyng, felly be envie,
ftei set vp-on, fret wij? malencolie, 8244
With swiche a wille, of hert[e] an[d] corage,
Wij) swiche furie in her mortal rage,
ftat vntacord was noon ofer mene,
But slau^tre and deth hem to go betwene, 8248
J)oru3 strok of axe, of dagger, & of spere,
jjat of force coact J>e Grekis were
To retourne bakward to j?e stronde.
To whos rescus anoon per cam to londe 8252
J}e kyng Ylixes with his hool navie,
And ful kny^tly, with his chiualrie,
Towardis Troyens enhastej? "him anoon ;
And of on herte ]?e Grekis with him goon, 8256
And her corage hooly ]?ei reswme,
And gan her foon felly to conswme
Vn-to J>e deth, her damage to revenge,
8239. 2nd his] om. D 1.
8247. vntacord] vnto a corde A, vnto acord D 2, vn to accorde
D 1. 8248. and] of D 1. 8249. 2nd of] om. A.
8250. coact] eout D 2, chek mate D 1.
8255. him] hem A, hem D 1. 8256. him] hem D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 66 c (misplaced after line 8240).
BK. u] Ulysses fights, lut is twice unhorst by K. Philomenc. 381
}3at no wi^t may iustly hem* chalenge
Of vnmanhod, so wel )>ei ban hem born,
To quite ageyn her harmys do bc-forn.
At whiche tyme, lik a ferse lyoura
Among[es] Troyens renging vp and douw,
Vlixes went with his swerde in honde :
He kylleth, sleth, & kny}tly gan to* fonde,
|)ilk[e] day lyk a man be foiwde ; [leaf 07 «]
And her & per, with many mortal wouwde,
Vp-on Troyens he wroujt al pis wrak,
Hem beryng dowi on fote and hors[e]-bak,
In his Ire his strokis wer so kene.
At whiche tyme worpi Philomene,
Lord & kyng of Pafogonye,
Whan he behild, wip his companye,
So many Troyan of Ylixes slawe,
Towardis hym anon he gan him drawe
On hors[e]-bak, with a spere roimde,
Out of his sadil bar hyw to pe grouwde ;
But Ylixes ros vp anon ri^t,
Takyng his hors, lik a manly * kny^t ;
J3e whiche anon as Philomene hap seyn,
Toke eft a spere and rod to hym ageyn
So my^tely, and with swiche violence,
Jpat finally per geyneth no diffence,
But pat he sinet him evene porii} pe scheld,
pe whiche fley a-sondre in J>e feld ;
And jjoru^ his platis, with-onten any fail,
\)Q sperehed ran, & rested in j>e mail,
Jjat forged was of steel ful schene & bri^t,
Whiche to perce J?e sperehed had no my$t,
So trewly made was }>e haberiouri ;
But with pat strok Vlixes was bore douw
Jet eft ageyn ; but he vp ros anon,
Whiche of his stroke harme ne feltfe] non,
8260
8264
t'lysses
slays many
Trojans.
8272 KingPhilo-
nione of
Paphlagonia
8276
unhorses
Ulysses,
8280 who mounts
again,
8284
82.^8
8292
unhorst.
8260. iustly hem] hem iustly C. 8261. vnmanhod] manhood A.
8264. vp and domi] come a douw D 1.
8266. to] him C. 8267. be] to be C.
8280. a manly] amanly C. 8283. with] om.. A.
8290. had] ha]> D 2, hath D 1.
8291. haberiouTi] habergoiw D 1. 8294. ne] he A.
382 Philomene is mortally wounded. Ajax^c.Join thefiglit. [BK.II
Ulysses
wounds
and unhorses
Philomene,
who is borne
off the field.
This stops
the Greek
defeat.
Thoas,
Agamemnon,
Menelaus
and Ajax ride
to help the
Greeks.
And rau^t a spere, scharp[e] whet & growzde,
And Philomene he ^af swiche a wowzde, 8296
With al pe iny^t of his armys tweyne,
Of Irous herte, \ritli so gret a peyne,
Jpat J>oru3 his schelde, bo}>e plate & mail,
He smet hym vp poru} his aventail, 8300
In-to pe gorge fat pe strok gan glide,
J?at from his hors he fil dou?i a-side,
Ful perlously pi^te vp-on his hed,
His kny^tes wenyng sothly he were* ded. 8304
Whiche toke hym vp & leyde him on a scheld,
And bar him horn in hast out of pe feld,
With gret dauwger or pei my^t hym wynne,
ftoru} pe Grekis vrith her lord to twynne. 8308
And for Troyens supposid sykerly
J)at Philomene, wM-oute remedye,
Had be ded, pei wer astonyed alle :
Jpat $if pis cas pat day nad[de] falle 8312
Of Philomene, Grekis on pe stronde
Hadde be outtraied, ariving vp to londe,
J3oni3 pe kny^thod — pis is dout[e]les —
Of Philomene, whom pat Vlixes [leaf 6? 6] 8316
Vnhorsed hath with a mortal wourade,
In kny^tly wyse Troyens to confoiwde —
Wher-of pei wer astonyd eue?'ychon.
But Thoas pawne and Agamenou?^, 8320
Of Grekis host lord & Emperour,
Ariued is vn-to her socour
"Wip al his knyjtes, and Menelaus,
And eke pe worpi Thelamonyus, 8324
Callid Aiax, is to lond[e] come ;
And pei at leyser han her hors [y-]nome,
While oper Grekis Troyens occupie,
So[re] fijtyng, and pei gan fastfe] hye 8328
Towardfes] hem, makyng no delay ;
Al on a frussche, in al pe hast pei may,
8301. 1st >e] mn. D 2.
8307. hym] hem D 1.
8321. Of] Of the D 1.
8326. y-nome] nome A.
8304. were] had be C, wede D 1.
8312. nadde] had D 2.
8325. come] y come D 1.
8328. and] as D 1.
BK. n] The Battle goes on. Protesilaus resolves to fight again. 383
)5ei ran y-fere and her speris brak,
With herte envious, vp-on hors[e]-bak. 8332
J?er my3t[e] men f e worf i kny3tes se
On her stedis eche at of er flee The batu«
With stif swerdis, schaftis gret & rouwde,
With hedis square, f e pointis kene grouwde — 8336
Jjer my3t[e] men, in her furious tene,
Se many kny3tes ded vp-on f e grene !
But most f e slau^ter and confusioura
Fil ]>ilk[e] tyme of* hem of J>e ioun : 8340
])Q Grekis wern so my^ti & so strong.
And in fe feld J)is contvneth* long,
Til Prothesilaus, f e strowg my^ti kyng, Protesiiaus
Whiche al fe day in skarmusche & fi^tyng 8344
Ful lik a kny^t had occupied be
Ageyn[e]s Troyens, in his cruelte,
Of manhod only and of wo[r] fines,
Of auenture, in his werynes 8348 retires to the
seashore to
Hym to refresche & to taken eyr, refresh him-
And to abreth hym, makyd his repeir
To fe stronde, where he dide ariue :
Wher as him* fou^t, his hert[e] gan to ryue 8352
•Of cruel Ire and also of pite,
j)at he kau3t, only for to se
His men lyn slayn endelong fe stronde, 8lahl«
And some of hem cornywge vp to londe, 8356
Dreint in fe se among f e flodis depe.
For whiche f ing he gan anoon to wepe
Ful pitously, al wer it nat espied,
Whos woful eyne my3t[e] nat be dreyed 8360
For fe constreynt which sat so ny3e his hert.
Til at f e last, among his peynys smert,
So cruel Ire gan his hert enbrace,
jjat sodeynly vrith a dispitous face, 8364
With-out abood. bou^tfe! how bat he [leaf e?c] revives to
avenge them.
8331. y-fere] in fere D 1— brak] blak D 1.
8338. knyjtes] knyght D 2. 8340. of] on C.
8342. contvneth] contvned C.
8346. Ageynes] Ageyn D 2, D 1. 8350. abreth] brethe D 1.
8352. him] he C. 8356. to] the A.
•8362 is omitted in D 1.
384 ProtesilausslaysTrojans. Perseus & his Blacks kill Grreeks.[KK.u
Protesilaus
rushes into
the thick of
the fight.
He wounds
and slays,
and unhorses
the Trojans,
till Perseus
Ethiopia,
comes to
their help
with his
blacks.
Vp-on her deth wolde avengid be,
Or finally attonis with hem deye.
And on his stede he toke pe ri^tfe] weye 8368-
Toward his foon, f ul Irous in his rage ;
And lyne rijt he holdip his passage,
Swift as grehond pat reraiep oute of lees ;
And where he saw p#t per was grettest pres, 8372
He presej) poru^, amiddis of pe f eld •
And wet/A pe swerd whiche in his hond he held,
ftat grouwd[e] was to keruen and to bite,
Ful mortally a-boute hym he gan smyte, 837$
ftat Troyens my^t hym not asterte.
Some he riveth evene to pe herte,
And some he woimdeth, sothly, to pe deth,
And some he made to 3elden vp pe breth, 8380
And he vnhorsep so??ime cruelly ;
And whom he mette pat day, outterly,
From his hors he made hym to aly^te :
For where he rood pei fled out of his si^t, 8384
And his presence as pe deth eschewe * ;
But euere in on, he gan aftir sewe
In his chaas, as* a wood lyouw.
fris pley he pleyeth* with hem of pe tourc, 8388
Til Perseus, of Ethiope kyng,
From pe cite com sodeinly ridyng
Wip many kny^t & many lifly * man ;
At* whos comyng of new[e] per be-gan 8392
A fresche skarmusch, furious & wood,
feat many Greke pat day lost his blood,
So fel assaut Troyens on hem make.
And among hem pe Ethiopes blake 8396
So manly bar hem, fi^tyng here & pere,
))at wher Troyens wern a-forn in fere,
Remouwted ben and of new assurid ;
8367. Or] Of D 1. 8380. to] om. D 2, D 1.
8385. eschewe] >ei eschewe C.
8387. as] lik C— a] be D 1. 8388. pleyeth] pleyed C.
8389. new IT A. 8390. sodeinly] ryally D 2.
8391. 1st many] many a A, D 1— 2tid many] many a D 1 — lifly]
likly C.
8392. At] Of C. 8394. many] many a D 1.
8396. And] mn. A.
BK. 11] Palamedes helps the Greeks, and spears Sigamon. 385
J)at J?oru3 her help )>ei han J?e feld recurid, , 8400
And made hem lese also moche ageyn
As )>ei to-forn wonnen on ])e pleyn :
For Jjei so hool & so myjtily
Kept hem to-gidre, and so avisely 8404
Gouemed hem, wit/t pa vis, spere, and schelde,
}5at Grekis werne compelled in J?e felde,
Maugre who grucche]?, of necessite,
To j?e stronde bakward for to flee, 8408
Almost dispeired, maat and confortles.
But in fat while, kyng Palamydes
To her rescus cam to a-ryvaille,
And lusty fresche entrif in bataille 8412
Wip his kny3tes & his hool meyne,
Takyng her hors fast[e] by fe se ; [leuf 67 rfj
And ful proudly enbusched al attonys,
With spere & swerd grou?ide for pe nonys, 8416
By conveying of her worfi kyng,*
Han so oppressid at her in-comyng
fee manly Troyens, pat it was a wondre
To sen hem lyn, slay[e]n here and ^ondre. 8420
And pis contunep til among j>e pres
Of auenture pat Pallamydes,
Brewnyng ay in his furious hete,
Amid j?e feld happej) for to mete
A worjri kny^t callyd SygamouTi,
Whiche brofer was to []>e] kyng Menou?^,
Nevew also, as Guy do doth reherse,
Jpis manly man, to J?e kyng of Perse, 8428
Whiche Grekis had pat day sore oppresed
By his kny^thod, as it is expresid :
For he Grekis by his worpines
Had ofte broi^t in ful gret distres 8432
)3e same day, to his grete encres.
lUit of fortune, alias, Pallamydes,
As I ^ow told, hath in pe feld hym met,
And with a spere, square & scharp[e] whette, 8436
8402. on] vpon D 2. 8406. compelled] om. D 1.
8412. lusty] lusty & D 1. 8416. growide] y grou?ide A.
8417. kyng] comyng C, A, D 2. 8431. he] )>e D 1.
TROY BOOK. C C
The Trojans
drive the
Greeks back
to the sea-
shore.
But Pala-
medes come*
to their
rescue,
slays many
Trojans,
8424 meets
Sigamon
who has kild
many Greeks,
386
and spears
him,
and drives
the Trojans
back to Troy.
Their cries
are heard by
Hector,
the worthiest
and boldest
of men.
The Trojans are driven lack to Troy. [BK. n
Whan he of kny^thod was most in his pride,
He rood at hym & smet him £01113 pe syde.
And wz't/i pat last dedly fatal wourade,
From his stede he bare hym to pe groimde ; 8440
And on pe pleyn, of his blood al red,
Pallamydes lefte hym pale and ded,
Amongis hem fat of Troye were ;
And furpe he rood, & bare doiw here & pere 8444
Al pat euere in his weye stood —
lie was on hem so furious & wood* —
Maugre Troy ens to-forn him on pe pleyn,
Made resorte to pe wal ageyn, 8448
His manly kny^tes, alwey fast[e] by,
On his awaytyng ful eu[ten]tifly
Redy to* hond at euery gret emprise.
But po began pe noise to arise, 8452
]3e woful clamour and pe pitus crie
Of hem of Troye, pe whiche outterly
Ageyn[es] Grekis my^tfe] nat sustene ;
fee mortal swerd was so scharp & kene 8456
Of pe noble worpi famous knyjt,
Pallamydes, pat with his gret myjt
})Q long[e] day hath y-born hym so
Ageyn his foon, and so kny3tly do, 8460
In his persone, poru^ his hie renouw,
[]?at] Chased hath almost to pe towi
Troyens echon, manly made to fle. [leaf csa
))e noise of whom is entrid pe cite, 8464
jpe hidous crie and pe mortal schout,
Wher-of amevid, Hector isseth out
Furiously, in al pe hast he can,
Jpe sone of Mars, pis kny^t, pis manly man, 8468
Of alle worpi 3it pe worpiest
ftat euere was, and pe hardiest.
For as Phebus with his bemys clere
8439. fatal] om. D 1. 8446. wood] so wood C.
8450. his] hym A— ententifly] entenfully A, D 2, entifly D 1.
8451. to] at C.
8455. my3te jiat sustene] sAverde was so sharpe & kene D 1.
8456] bat shoon ful bri3t a geyn te sonne shene D 1.
8464. 2nd pe] in the A.
BK. u] Hector's worth. He helps the Trojans &kills Protesilaus. 387
Amonge sterris, so dide he appere,
Excellyng all in stel armyd bri^t,
On whom it was a verray heuenly si^t :
For it was he, pat, bope ny$e & ferre,
Of worpiries was pe lode-sterre.
])Q whiche whan he entrid in-to feld,
Liche as I rede, bare fat day a schelde,
\)Q feld of whiche was of purid gold
With pre lyoiws, in story as is told,
Of \\fhos colour is made no mencioiw ;
But, as I fynde by discripciouw,
ftei wer passauwt, $if I report ari$t,
Born on pe brest* of pis Troyan kni3t,
J?at was pe ground & rote of hi^e prowes
And flour acouwted of al worpiues.
])Q whiche so manly, wzt/t-out more abood,
Amongis his kny^tes to J>e Grekis rood,
So like a man, pat pei in his comyng
Astonyd wern, as he gan in pring
Amorcges hem, whiche killeth dourc & sleth,
And whom he mette per was nat but deth.
A-forn his swerd Grekis go to wrak ;
And her wardis of kuy^tly force he brak,
And maugre hem seuered hem assondre,
And bare al douw, ridyng here and ^ondre.
And casuelly he meteth* in his way
Prothesilaus, whiche al pe longe day
Had sore fou3te ageynes* hem of Troy
And slaw alle [po] pat come in his woye,
)?is* hardy kny^t, pis worpi, ferse kyng,
Whiche on Troyens was eue?' purswyng —
He to hem had so hertly gret envye.
])Q whiche ping whan Hector gan espie,
And of his knj^thod gan to taken lied,
To wardis liym he gan to reyne his stede ;
And lyne ri3t of hasty Ire he rood,
8472
Hector is the
fi.j7/. lodestar of
o 4 1 O valour,
8480
8484
and flower
of worth.
8488 He ride*
against the
Greeks,
8492 and bears nil
down before
him.
8496
Protesilaus
is seen by
Hector,
8500
8504
who attacks
him,
8472. he] om. A. 8477. in-to] in to the A.
8484. brest] krest C. 8488. Amongis] Among A, D 2.
8492. nat] om. D 1. 8497. meteth] mette C.
8499. ageynes] ageyng C, a geyn D 1. 8501. pis] f>at C.
388 Hector splits Protesilaus and drives the Greeks to the Sea. [BK. ir
and cuts him
in half,
and slays
many Greeks.
He drives
them to the
wavy sea,
and then
rests.
And with his swerd, disteyned al with blod, 8508
He rof his hed, poru3 his bas[e]net,
With swiche a my3t pat his strok nas* let
By force of maille nor of fikke plate :
But finally, by ful mortal fate, [leaf es &] 8512
]3e swerd of Hector, poru^ nerf , bon, & veyne,
]?is worpi kyng parted hap on tueyne;
For outterly, per geyneth noon armvre
Ageyn pe strok of Hector to endure — 85 IS
But pat f is kyng, so ful of worpines,
Strong & my^ty, and of gret hardines,
Eeceyved hath his last[e] fatal wourcde,
And lith now ded, parted on pe gimwde. 8520
And Hector furthe among f e Grekis ryt ;
And who-so-euer pat his strok abit,
Eef ute was non nor diffence but deth ;
And many Greke filke day he slethe : 8524
For whiche of hem in his wey[e] stood,
His scharp[e] swerd he bapid in his blood,
)3at also fer as pei my^t hym se,
As pe deth, from his swerd pei fle — 8528
So mortal vengauwce up-on \\ern he wro3t.
And many Greke at his felaw soi^t,
And gan enquere what he my^tfe] be ;
For al her lyue pei koude neuer se 8532
Non so kny3% haue hym in bataile,
And pleynly dempte, as be supposaile,
It was Hector, pe noble werriour,
Whiche of kny^thod may bere aweye pe flow?- 8536
Among alle fat euer $it were born :
For per nas Greke pat hywi may stond a-forn;
Of alle pat day he gan he?« so enchase
To pe strond, euene a-forn his face — 8540
For pei ne durst his mortal st[r]ook abide.
And whan he had vppon euery syde
J)e Grekis chacid to pe wawy se,
Wounded & maat, in gret aduersite, 8544
8510. nas] nat C.
8515. noon] nor A.
8531. gan] to D 2.
8514. pis] pe D 1.
8526. he] ha D 2.
8540. a-forn] a fore Dl.
BK. n] Hector goes lack to Troy. Achilles helps the Greeks. 389
J2an liym to rest, pis Troy an knyjt anon,
Lik Mars him silf, horn to Troy is goon. Hector «<*»
. , -i x-v , . .. back to Troy.
At wnos partyng, Urekis elt preswme
Manly a-geyn her hertis to reswme, 8548
And of newe her fomen for to assaille,
And to iupart, $if it wolde availle,
Lif & deth to setten at outtraurace
On Fortune, }if sche wolde avaiujce 8552
Her part ageyn in recure of pe felde,
And hem enforce, vritii inyat of spere & scheld, The Greeks
m m • <• resolve to
lo wywne ageyn on Iroyens, 311 pel may, renew their
Anon forpe-wit/i, and make no delay. 8556 Trojans.
For hei^tfe] tyme sithen pei be-gonne
J3e feld pei han pat day lost & wonne,
Lyke as Fortune list to don hir cure,
Yp or down for to turne hir ewre : 8560
For as hir whele went aboute rou?«le, [leaf es <?]
Ei^t so pat day pei wan & lost her grou/?de.
But specialy fei wer most dismaied
Whan Hector cam, whiche hap hem so outrapjed 8564
Jjoru^ his kny^thocl, whiche made her hertis riue,
And to resorte where J>ei dide aryue.
And pis contuneth, maugre al her my^t,
While in pe feld was pis Troyan kny^t, 8568
Til Pheb*/s chare gan to westre dourc,
]?at he repeyred is in-to ]>e touw,
Whiche hadde Grekis wroujt aforn ful ille.
But nowe pe hardy, cruel, ferse Achille 8572 Achiiie*
comes to
Ariued is with his kny^tes alle, help the
Minwdones whom men are wont to calle, f'th *w*
Myrmidons.
Whiche from pe se takyn han pe pleyn.
At whos cowmyng Grekis han a-geyn 8576
j)e feld recured, & put hem silf in pres,
Only poru} helpe of hardy Achilles,
Whiche is so felly Troy ens falle vppon,
8547. new IF A. 8549. for] om. D 1. 8550. $if] jit D 2.
8555. ageyn] om. D 1— }if ] if >at D 1.
8557. hei^te tyme] heyhte tymes I) 1.
8561. hir] om. D 2. 8565. \\er hertis] om. D 1.
8566] Here hertes & to resorte blyve D 1.
8570. in-to] in D 2, vn to D 1. 8577. hem] hym A.
390 Achilles and Ms Myrmidons drive the Trojans lack. [BK. n
The Myrmi-
dons slay
many
Trojans.
It does
Achilles good
to shed
Trojan blood.
The Trojans
are driven
back to Troy.
The whole
Greek army
lands.
ftat he of hem hath slayn many on : 8580
For J?re J>owsand in stel armyd bri$t
With hym he bro^t, redy for to fi^t,
Kny^tes echon, ful worjn of renouw,
Whiche vrith Achille, Grekis champions, 8584
Han merciles in her cruelte
Slayn many Troyan out of J>e cite.
J)ei wer so feruent in her mortal Ire,
So envious of hate to desyre 8588-
Newe & newe for to schede her blood ;
For Achilles Jxni^t it dide hym good
With his swerde Troyan blood to schede,
And on ]>e soil to sen hem lyn & blede, 8592
Eouth[e]les in his malencolye.
For he to hem hath so hoot envie,
Wit7i-oute her deth j>at it may nat quenche ;
And he his swerd ful depe made drenche 859 &
]3e long[e] day in Troyanysche blood,
And ba])id it as it were in a flood,
Whiche forgid was & I-whet so * kene,
feat many ryuer, sothly, on ]>Q grene 8600
Ran her and ]>er of her hortis sore,
And -with his kny^tes, alwey more & more
Pursewed hem, a-forn him * as ]?ei fle
To J?e wallis of Troye J>e cite, 8604
Wher J>ei made a ful pitous cry.
And in pis while, I finde in ]?e story,
Jje Grekis host holy is arived,
Like in Guydo as it is descrived, 8608
Of men of armys swyche a multitude,
And of kny^tes, schortly to conclude, [leaf es rz]
)?at from her schipes of newe londed be,
feat Troyens astonyd wer to se ; 8612
And abaisched J?ei gan wexen alle.
For sodeynly pei gan on hem falle,
On euery halfe, passyngly gret pres ;
8582. he] mn. A. 8590. hym] hem D 1.
8597. Troyanysche] Troyans A. 8599. so] ful C.
8601. hortis] hurtes A, hurtis D 1, hurtys D 2.
8603. him] hem C3 D 1. 8615. passyngly] passyng A.
BK. n] Troilus.Paris^tc., conie to theEescue. The first fight ends. 30 1
And euer in on pis hardy Achilles
With his swerd made her sydes rede :
For her & per lay pe bodyes dede,
And wouwdid some at entre of pe gate,
And kny^tly pere with hem [he] gan debate,
And furiously pis fel cruel kny^t
\)Q children slowe in her * fadris si$t,
feat to be-holde it was f ul gret pite.
And $it pe slau3ter gretter had[de] be,
With-out nou?ttbre of hem of pe touw,
Perpetuelly to her conf usiou?z,
Likly for euer to haue be ouer-come,
3if Troylus nadde vn-to reskus come,
3ong, fresche, & lusty, & inly desyrous,
With whom cam eke Paris & Dephebus
And many worpi her party to secure ;
So pat Grekis po ne my}t endure
Ageynes* hem to stonden at diffence,
For al her pride, no[r] make resistence,
Worpi Troylus so wel pat tyme hym quitte.
For pis * in soth, what Greke pat he hitte,
Ouper he maymeth or he made deye :
Wherfor, as deth, pei fledde out of his weye.
And Achilles with his company —
For it was ny^t — homward gan him hi^e
Toward Grekis, with glorie & gret* honour;
And pei reseyve hym like a conquerour,
pat he vfith hem hath so wel I-met ;
And pei of Troye han her gatis schet,
And made hem strong poruj-out al pe touw.
8616
8620 Achilles slays
Trojan
youths in
their fathers*
sight.
8624
8628 Troilus conies
as the rescuer
with Paris
and Deipho-
bus.
8632
8636
Achilles and
his Myrmi-
8640 do™ retire to
the Greeks.
8644 The Trojans
shut their
gates.
Of the pichenge of the Grekes felde ; and howe Aga-
menon reysid his tentes, pavelons, & mawsyons.1
8622. her] pe C. 8624. hadde be] had y be D 1.
8625. WitA-out] AVith A.
8627. to] for to D 1— be] been A.
8633. Ageynes] Ageyng C.
8636. pis] his is C— Greke] Greet D 2.
8637. OuJ>er] Or D 1. 8641. gret] with C.
8643. pat he with hem hath] The which he hadde A, pat wych
he ha> D 2 — he with hem] with hem he D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 67 o.
392 Agamemnon camps his Army. The Siege is to last long. [BK.II
Agamemnon
appoints a
site,
and every
Greek tent
is pitcht.
They land
their horses
and siege-
and anchor
their ships.
They light
their fires,
And in ]>is tyme, king Agamenoim
I-cerched hath a place couenable,
Whiche hym poi^t was most agreable, 8648
Be liklihede, and most conuenient
For euery lord for to sette his tent.
And in a feld of ful large space,
Most competent as for* logging place, 8652
In due siyt sette fro pe cite,
Eche lord was signed wher he schuld[e] be ;
And gan anon ordeyne mansioims,
Pycche her tentis and papilliourcs ; 8656
And swyche as my^t no tentori[e]s haue
From storm & reyn hem silf [e] for to saue,
ftei deuised oj>er habitacles, [leaf 69 a]
Tugurries & smale receptacles 8660
To schroude hem in ; & al J?e ny^t also,
From her schipes )>ei had moche ado,
Or pei my^t han her hors to londe,
And to ordeyn wher J>ei schuld[e] stonde. 8664
And )>ei also besy were to carve
Other }>inges fat wer necessarie
And nedef ully vn-to a sege longe \
And eke pei made teye her schipes strowg 8668
Fer in j?e depes, and her ankris caste.
And of assent, Jjei besied he??z ful fast
For to conferme of on entenciouw
To sette a sege vn-to Troye tou?z, 8672
And per-vppon, by bond assured faste,
For to abide while her lyf may laste,
Fynally with-oute repentauwce.
And prudently j>ei made her ordinaurcce, 8676
As fiei best coude : al fe longfe] ny$t
)3ei bet her fyres, which brent wonder li^t ;
And at a space deuided fro }>e fyres,
8646. his] >at D 1— king] hath kyng D 1.
8652. for] for a C.
8656. Pycche] Picchid A — papillioiws] pavillyou?is A, pauiloims
8667. nedefully] nedefulle D 1. 8669. depes] depenes D 1.
8676. made] make D 1. 8678. bet] brenne A.
8679. deuided] devoyded D 2.
END OF BK. n] Agamemnon's care fvr his Men and Camp. 393
8684
]5ei setten vp, in maner of barrens,
And rouwde aboute wher her loggywg was,
])QI palyd hem al pe feld compas.
And to acheue pe fyn of her purpos,
J3ei felly wroujt, & kept he??i silf ay clos.
And pe kyng, pat no tresoiw falle,
Lete make wache wit/i-oute his tentis alle,
Of hem pat had rested hem a-fore ;
And his mynstrales he made oner-more,
As seith Guy do, al pe longe ny3t
To kepe her tides to-fore pe fyres bri^t,
Myrely to sowne her instrumentis.
And hem he made restyn in her tentis,
]3at had a-forn wery ben of fy^t,
And in pe se wer feinted of her my^t ;
And oper eke he made in her armvre
Awaite wisly ageyn al aventure,
)3at no deceit wer founde on no syde.
And pus pis kyng knyjtly gan prouide
In his avis pat no ping hym eskape ;
And al pe ny$t I finde he dide wake,
Til on pe morwe, pat pe rowes rede
Of Phebws chare gonne for to sprede.
And pus eche ping disposid as it on^t,
I wil procede to telle how pei wroujt,
Ceriously m't/i-outyn and with-Inne,
With $oure support pe pridde [boke] be-gynne.
[Explicit liber Secundus
Incipit liber Tercius1]
8688. ouer-more] euermore D 1.
8698. )>is kyng] om. D 1 — gan] can A, kan D 2.
1 The above rubric occurs in A. Dl has, "here endith the
secuwde booke of >e Sege," in red.
and set pules
round their
encampment.
Agamemnon
watches all
night,
8688 and makes
his minstrels
8692 and his tired
warriors rest.
869G
8700
and others
keep guard
till the dawn
comes.
8704 Now I'll go
on with my
Third Book.
8706
PRATT
5
EB 14
m PRATT
1988
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