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 P rofessor at
University of Berlin, 1907
Lecturer at the Sorbonne and
University of Copenhagen, 1910.
Harvard Exchange Professor at
Western Colleges, 1918.
a
<Sftra S«rws, No. cm.
1908.
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 BERGEN
PH.B. (YALE), PH.D. (MUNICH).
PART II. Lok W ^
BOOK III.
(WITH SIDE-NOTES BY DR. FURNIVALL.)
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD.,
DRYDEN HOUSE, 43 GERRARD STREET SOHO, W.
AND BY HENRY FROWDE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS,
AMEN CORNER, E.G.
1908
Series, cm.
RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY.
A.D. 1412-20.
EDITED FROM THE BEST MANUSCRIPTS
WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY
BY
HENRY BERGEN
PH.B. (YALE), PH.D. (MUNICH).
PART III.
BOOKS IV AND V,
COMPLETING THE TEXT.
(WITH SIDE-NOTES BY DR. FURNIVALL.)
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,
BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD.,
DRYDEN HOUSE, 43 GEERARD STREET, SOHO, W. '
AND BY HENRY FROWDE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS,
AMEN CORNER, E.G., AND IN NEW YORK.
1910
PR
\\v'a
ES
, 37
&tnts, No. cvi.
RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNOAV.
BK. Ill] Sunrise in Troy. Hector rules, under Priam. 395
BOOK III.
Here bygynnethe the thirde boke of Troye.
Howe worthy Ector devyded his batayls vpon A large
playne within the Cite, and howe he put the
wardis doscretly to be vnder J?e ledynge of his
brethere and other worthy kynges.1
Whan Aurora, with hir pale
Vnder J?e mantel of J)e mirke ny^t
And j>e curtyw of her hewes fade
I-schroudid was in Jje dirk[e] schade,
Abasched rody, as I can diffyne,
Only of fer )>at is femynyne,
For a-schamyd durstfe] nat be seyn
Be-cause sche had so longe a-bedde leyn
With fresche Febus, hir owne chose kny^t,
For whiche sche hidde hir sothly out
Til his stede fat callid is Flegonte
Enhasted hynl aboue oure* ori^onte;
And Appollo with his bemys clere
Hath reconverted hir oppressid chere —
)?is to seyne, aftir }>Q dawenyng
Whan Titan was in )>e est rysyng,
Of his hete atempre and ri$t softe
Her emyspery for to glade a-lofte, —
Jje same hour, ]>e Troyan champiouw,
Gouernour of werris of J>e touw,
Worjri Ector, whiche in ]>e cite
Next Priam had of alle souereinte
\)Q towi to guye be kny^tly excellence,
6. of] for D 1. 10. hidde] dide D 1. 12. oure] her C.
15. pis] f»is is D 2, D 1. 16. est] om. D 1.
18 is omitted in D 2. 22. alle] alle the A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 67 c.
TROY BOOK. D D
When Aurora
had lain long
in bed with
Phebus,
12
16 ,
after dawn,
at sunrise
20
the Trojan
champion
Hector
396
The Arming of the Trojan Lords describd. [BK. ill
bids all his
Lords and
Chiefs
to muster by
Diana's
Temple
on a plain
in Troy.
Some lace
their linen
doublets,
others put on
breeches of
mail.
For his manhod * and his sapience
Of Troyan kny^tes lord & eke chefteyn,
Whiche hath co??imaiwded, in a large pleyn,
To hi3e and low, he exceptyng noon,
Kynges, princes, and lordis euerychon,
Ipe same morwe for to mete I-fere,
In hir array to moustre and appere,
Like as J>ei were of name & of estate,
Besyde a temple whilom consecrate
To )>e goddes pat callid is Dyane,
Moste honoured in pat riche fane —
))er to arraye hem, in al pe haste pei can,
Lik pe devis of pis kny^tly man.
And pis playn, passyng fair to se,
Was sette amyd Troye pe cite,
Smope and ri^t fair, & ful of fresche floures,
W[h]ere alle pe worpi noble werriours
Of Troye toun to-gydre assemblid be,
And many oper to be-holde and se
})Q famws kny^tes arme hem in pat place.
And some of hem gan ful streite lace
Her doublettis made of lyne cloth,
A certeyn fold pat a-boute hem goth ;
And some also dempte most surest
To armen hem for bataille of arest,
And dide on firste, aftir her desires,
Sabatouws, grevis, cusschewis, & voideris —
A peire breke, aldirfirst, of maille ;
And some per wer eke pat nolde faille
To haii of maille eke a peir[e] bras,
And per-w^t/i -al, as pe custom was,
A peir Gussetis on a petycote,
Garnyssched wz't/i gold vp on-to the }>rote,
A pau?zce of plate, whiche of J>e silf be-hinde
[leaf 69 c]
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
24. manhod] hie manhod C.
25. eke] om. D 2. 36. kny3tly] worthy D 2.
38. Troye] of Troye A, D 2.
40. werriours] conqueroMrs D 1.
46. hem] hym A. 49. dide] dire D 1.
52. >er] om. A. 53. bras] of bras D 1.
56. on-to] vnto D 2, to D 1.
BK. in] The Arming of the Trajan Lords describd. 397
•
Was schet and clos, and Jjer-on, as I finde,
Enviroiw was a bordure of smal maille.
And some chose, of ]>e newe entaille, 60 others have
For to be sure myd of al her foos,
An hoi brest-plate with a rere-doos a breastplate,
Be-hynde schet, or ellis on ]?e side.
And on his armys, rynged nat to wyde, 64
ber wer woiders frettid in be maille, with voiders
in the mail.
With cordis roimde, & of fresche entaille,
Vauratbras with wynges, & rerebras Jjer-to,
And j)er-on set wer* besagus also ; 68
Yp-on ]?e heed a basenet of stele,
})at with-Inne lokked was ful wele,
A crafty si$t wrou^t in £e viser.
And some wolde haue of plate a bavier, 72 others have
J?at on J)e brest fastnyd be a-forn,
J?e canel-pece more esy to be born —
Gloues of plate of stele forgid bri^t. steei-piate
And some wold armyd be more li$t 76
In ])ikke lackys curid with satyn ;
And some wele haue, of maille, wrou^t ful* fyn, [ieaf69cz]
An haberiouw, al of but cassade,
ftat with wei^te he be nat ouer-lade, 80
Hym silfe to welde lik a lifly man.
And some wil haue, of chose geseran,
On his dublet but an haberioura,
And some only but a sure gepouw 84
Oner his poleyns, rechyng to j)e kne,
And fat ]>e* slevis eke so longe be
J3at his vauwbras may be curid ner —
A prikyng palet, of plate J?e cower. 88
And some wil haue also no viser others have
m i • j! t i no vizor,
lo saue his face, but only a naser : but only a
. r .. nose-piece.
And some wil haue a peirfe] platis li^t
61. her] his D 1. 64. to] om. A.
68 is misplaced at bottom of column in D 2, and marked a ; 67 is
marked b — set wer] wer set C. 72. bavier] baver A.
73. be a-forn] was be forn D 1. 77. lackys] om. D 2.
78. wroujt ful] ri3t C. 79. but] but of D 1.
85. be] his D 1. 86. be] his C. 87, 88 are omitted in D 2.
88. cower] kever D 1.
398
Some have
a shield,
some darts,
or a pole-ax :
some a bow.
Many nail
their mates'
armour.
Excuse me if
I make mis-
takes about
their arms.
When all
are armd,
Hector bids
them itand
in order.
Trajan arms describd. Hector's orders. [BK. ill
To welde hy?7i wel, whan pat he schal n^t. 92
And some wiln han a target or a spere,
And some a pavis, his body for to were,
And some a targe, makyd strong to laste ;
And some wil haue dartes for to caste, 96
Some a pollex, heueded of fyn stele,
And piked square, for to laste wel ;
And some a swerd his enemy for to mete.
And some wil haue a bow[e] for to schete, 100
Somrae an arblast, to stonden out a-syde ;
And some on fote and some for to ride
Arraie hem silf, her fomen for to assaile ;
And many on was besy for to naille 104
His felawis harneis, for to make it strong,
And to dresse it, pat it sete nou^t wrong,
With pointes, tresses, and oper maner ping,
J)at in swyche cas longyth to armyng. 108
I haue no konnyng euery ping to telle,
And vn-to $ow it were to long to dwelle —
AVhere I faile, ^e mote haue me excusid ;
For in swiche crafte I am litel vsid, 112
And ignoraimce dope my penne lette,
In her ordre my termys for to sette.
And oft chaurcgeth swiche harneis & devis ;
And $e pat ben per-in experte & wys, 116
Disdeyneth nat pat I speke in pis place
Of her armyng : for al is in $our grace,
Ri}t at $our luste to correcte euerydel.
And whan Ector sawe pat al was wel, 120
And euery man armed and a/rayed,
J)is worpi kny^t no lenger hath delaied
Avisely his wardis for to make,
And prudently bad pei schuldfe] take 124
Her grouTzde in haste, to put al in certeyn,
And stonde in ordere endelong pe pleyn
So pat no man were fourcde reccheles. [leaf 70 a]
97. heueded] heedid A, hedded D 1.
106. >at] om. D 1— ]»t it] om. A, D 2— sete noujt wrong] sitt nat
a wrong A, sete nat a wrong D 2, sit not a wrong D 1.
119. at 3our luste] as $ou liste D 1.
BK. in] The Commanders of the first 2 Trojan Battalions. 399
Ector devydede his feld in-to xj wardys.1
And J?e gate, callid Dardanydes, 128
With-outQ abood Ector made vnschette,
And after bad [)>at] men schuld[e] fette
To his presence, ]>ai it were don in haste,
Cyncynabor, his broker born in baste, 132
And to hym, firste of euerychon,
And to a lord fat namyd was Glaucous,
]pe kynges sone of Licye and his eyr,
With many baner displeyed in }>e eir — 136
To Jns two Hector gaf J>e guarde
And gouernaiwce of fe firste warde,
In whiche he hath a pousand kny^tes set,
With speris rouwde & swerdis kene whet, 140
And on her brest ful many riche scheld ;
And |?ei wer chose oute in * al J?e feld
Among fe best J>at endure my^t
Ageyn[es] Grekis manly for to fi^t. 144
And vn-to hem Hector bad anoon,
In Goddis name, ]?at fei schuld[e] gon
Oute at fe gate, sothly, as I rede.
And list J?ei fel in meschef or in nede, 148
He assigned,* in ]>e silve place,
With manly chere, to ]?e kyng of Trace,
Wysly on hem to ben awaytyng,
A Jjousand kny^tes to han at his ledyng, 152
In a wyng kny^tly for to a-bide,
To awaite on hem vp-on euery side.
And with hym was his sone Achilogus,*
Of his age a man ri^t vertuous 156
To fulfille ]mt longeth to a kny^t ;
For bope he had, hert & also my^t.
And next to hem, Hector gan devise
)5e nexte warde to J)e kyng of Fryse, 160
130. after] aftir Jwrt D 1. 133. to] vn to A, D 2, D 1.
136. many baner] manere D 1. 137. j>is] hem D 1.
139. kny^tes] om. D 1. 142. in] of C.
148. nede] drede D 1.
149. assigned] assignet C — silve] same D 1.
154. hem] hym D 1. 155. Achilogus] Achilagus C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 68 b (red, in margin, opposite lines
131, 132).
Hector
appoints his
bastard
Brother
Cyncynabor,
and Prince
Glaucon
chiefs of the
1st Battalion
of 1000
knights,
with a reserve
of 1000 more
under the
King of
Thrace.
The 2nd
Battalion
Hector gives
400 Troilus has the 3rd Battalion. Hector cautions him. [BK.III
to King
Zantipus,
with 3000
men
and Kin?
Althomus.
The 3rd
Battalion
Hector gives
to his brother
Troilus,
with 3000
knights,
and advises
him
not to be
foolhardy
or too
adventurous.
In his tyme callid 3antipus ;
And vn-to hym, $ong, strong, & desyrous,
He assigned, to [ajwaite on his baner,
Jpre Jxmsand kny^tes armyd bri^t and cler. 164
With wliiche warde kyng Althomu* also
Of Hector was cowmauralid for to go,
And to his byddyng he mekely dide obeie.
And ful kny^tly ]>ei han take her* weye 168
Oute at ]?e 3ate, passyngly arrayed,
Toward Grekis with baneris fresche displaied,
And her penourcs vnrollid euerychon.
And after, Hector assigned hath anon 172
To }>e noble, $ong[e], lusty, fre,
His broker Troylus, so fresche vp-on to se,
Whiche in kny^thod had al suffisauwce,
)?e Jridde warde to haue in gouernauwce [leaf 70 6] 176
With j>re J>ousand kny^tes, ^ong of age,
Flourynge in force, hardy of corage,
Swiche as he was of custom wont to lede.
To whom Hector of verray broferhede 180
Ful goodly seide at his departyng :
" Broker," quod he, " myn herte is so lovyng
Tovvardis j)e of verray kyndenes,
)5at ]>ou3e I haue in party gret gladnes 184
Of ]?i manhod, fat so fer is kouth,
And J?e kny3thod of j)i grene jouthe,
3it dout[e]les, in my fantasie,
Ful oft a-day I stonde in iuparte, 188
Of pensifhed and inward besy drede,
Whan I remembre vppon }>i manhede,
Liste J>i corage be to violent,
Of J>i lif to be to necligent, 192
])\ silfe to put to fer in auenture,
Of surquidie so moche for tassure,
In j)i force kny^tly to asterte
Euery pereil in J>i manful herte, 196
163. awaite] waite D 1. 168. her] be C, D 2.
169. at] of D 1. 177. >re] britty D 1.
81. seide] spak and seyde A. 182. is] om. D 1.
193. 2nd to] in to D 1— in] om. D 1.
194. for tassure] to assure A, D 1.
BK. in] Hector cautions Troilus, who promises Prudence. 401
Hauyng no reward, in swiche mortal strife, Hector warns
J ° Troilus not to
Of wilfulnes, noufer to deth nor life,
Nor aduertence to fi sauaciouw.
But as Fortune tnrneth vp & doun 200
Her whel mevable, hi^e and aftir lowe,
In Martis Ire as fe wynde dofe blowe,
Whiche causeth me ful ofte si$e and finke,
And to wake whan I schuld[e] wynke, 204
Eeuoluyng ay fin hasty wilfulnes :
But, gentil broker, for any hardynes,
)3is ilke day, vppon euery side,
I praie fe so wysly to prouide, 208
For hate or Ire, bi foos purswyng, pursue his
foes too far,
Nat to excede more fanne is sittyng ;
But late prudence kepe fe in a mene,
And wisdam eke holden a^en J>e rene 212
Of j>in hert & fi ferce corage,
J^at fired han J>i grene tendre age,
Deuoide of drede eche peril to endure,
]3at oure enmys of fi mysauenture 216
Keioysshe nat, myn ovne broker dere.
And my^ty Mars I pray, of hert entere, and prays
Jjilke day on Troyanysche grourcde, hiS8sound?p
From her hondys J?e to kepe sourcde, 220
Like as I wolde fat he dide me."
To whom anon, wit/t al humilite,
In manly wyse fis $onge, lusty kny^t,
]5is worfi Troylus, of hertfe] fresche & Ii3t, 224 Troilus
Answerd ageyn, & seide w/t/i glad chere : [leaf 70 c]
" Myn owne lord, and my brofer dere, .. promises
And God to-forn, I fully schal obeie and not to
To fulfille what $e liste to seye 228
Now vn-to me of ^oure gentilnes,
And nat declyne forti} no reklesnes
In any point from ^oure comau?idement ;
But with hool herte, in al my best entent, 232
198. nor] or D 2. 201. and] om. A. 209. hate] hast A.
211. kepe J>e] >e kepew D 1. 214. grene] grete D 1.
219. f>ilke] pis ilke D 2, D 1, This ilke A— Troyanysche] Troyans
A, Dl.
Troilus rides
out of Troy
with his aoOO
knights.
402 Troilus leads his Troops. The 4th Battalion Leaders. [BK. Ill
I schal take hede, and pleinly do non ofer
ftan 30 ban seide, myn owne lord & brofer,
So loth me were offende $ow or greue."
And in fis wyse he lowly toke his leue ;
And forfe he rod, so like a manly kny^t,
£at to be-holde it was a noble si3t,
Amonge his men he haueth hym so wele —
]3re fousand kny^tes armyd in bri^t stele
Envirou?^ rod vrith Troylus in )>e feld.
And f ilke day he bare in his schelde,
Passauwt of gold, )>re lyouws richely,
J)e chaump of a^our wrou^t ful craftely.
And be f e gate he issed oute anon,
And vriih hym ladde his kny^tes euerychon,
To ]>e Grekis holdyng f e nexte weye.
And Hector hasteth, al fat euer he may,
Prudently his wardis to ordeyne ;
And to J>e noble worfi brefre tueyne,
To kyng Hupon and to Ardelaus,
He assigned, J?e stori telleth [f]vs,
Jpe fourfe warde to guyen & to wysse.
And in J?e lond fat callid was Larisse,
J)e brefer two had[de] regnyd longe \
And kyng Hupon passyngly was strong,
And of stature like a charnpioiw ;
And, saue Hector, in al Troye toura,
Was noon to hym egal as of my^t,
More deliuere, nor a better kny^t,
And on his fon passyng dispitous —
Whiche, with his broker, callid Ardelaus,
Foure fousand kny^tes had[de] for to lede,
And seuene hundrid, sothly, as I rede.
And to hem eke, lyke as writ Guydo,
Worfi Hector assygned hath also
Oon of his brether, callid Brymarchus,
A noble kny^t, in armys ri}t famws,
And had in manhod passyng excellence.
And of Hector fei taken han licence,
241. in J>e] in to A, D 2, in to >e D 1.
256. passyngly wa.s was passyngly A.
Hector gives
K. Hupon
and Ardelaus
the 4th
Battalion,
with 4700
knights
and his
own brother
Brimarchus.
236
240
244
248
252
256
260
264
268
BK. in] The Leaders of the '5th and 6th Trojan Battalions. 403
And rood her way amonges al j?e pres
J3oru$ )>e gate of Dardanydes. 272
]3e fyfpe warde to han at his ledyng,
Was by Hector corny tted to })e kyng [leaf 70 d]
)pat of Cesoyne lord and prince was,
And to his broker, callid Polly damas. 276
And Cysones wern of hi^e stature,
And my^t in armys passyngly endure
— Vp-on whom many man behilde —
And her kyng bare no ]>ing in his scheld 280
But a feld of goulis, as I fynde,
Of o]?er sygne Guydo make}? no mynde.
And forjje J?ei rood a ful sterne pas,
)5is noble kyng and Pollydamas, 284
Whan J?ei had of Hector leve take,
Whiche euer in on besy was to make
J)e sixte warde, with al his dilligence.
And to )?e kyng, callid Pretemense, 288
J}at was ful worjji, bojje in wer & pes,
And to a duke J>at hi^te Sterepes,
Whiche was also* ful worjn of his hond,
He toke fe folke of Panonye lond, 292
Hem to gouerne in J?e feld J>at day —
J)e whiche peple hath in custom ay
W^t/i-oute plate, haberiouw, or maile,
On swifte hors her fomen [for] to assaile, 296
"With my^ty bowes & arowes scharp[e] grouwde
)5oru3 an harneis mortally to wouwde.
And with ]?is folke, of Hector eke also
Dephebus assygned was to go, 300
In ]>e feld to guye hem an[d] to lede,
And on her wey )>ei fast[e] gaw hem spede.
But or J)ei passe be Dardanydes,
Ful discretly Hector for hem ches 304
Paviseris, clad in mail and plate,
271. amonges] amonge D 1.
278. my3t] myghty A, my3ty D 1— endure] to endure A, D 1.
279. many] many a D 1, ful many A, D 2, D 1.
283. J>ei] he A. 286. besy] ful besy A, D 2, D 1.
The 5th
Battalion
Hector gives
to the King
of Cesoyne,
and Poly-
damas.
The 6th, to
King Pre-
temense,
Duke
Sterepes,
with Panno-
nian archers
on swift
horses,
and Deipho-
bus
with armd
shield-bearers
290. hat hijte] called D 1.
303. be] by D 2, D 1.
291. was also] also was C, D 1.
404 Men to protect the armourless Archers. The Ebony-Tree. [BK.III
to go with
the armour-
less archers,
and with the
best knights
of Agreste
and Kings
Esdras and
Phion,
Phion having
an ivory
chariot
with ebony
wheels,
and deckt
with gold,
pearls and
Jewels.
Of all these,
Hector made
his brother
Pictagoras
leader.
Hew comauwdyng, at issyng of pe sate,
"With )>e archeris in* ]>e feld to gon,
And many worpi, wel armyd euerychon,
To awaite on hem pat pei wer nat lore :
For pis folke, pat I of spake to-fore,
Of Panonye, had[de] non armure.
But prudent Hector, for to make hem sure,
Oute of Agreste, ]>e my$ty regiouw,
Hath chosen out, ful worpi of renouw,
)5e beste kny^tes of hem euerychon,
And vritfi two kynges, Esdras* & Phion,
Assygned hem for to taken hede
To pe foot-men, whan pat pei haue nede.
)5e whiche Phion, made ful rychely,
Eood in a chaar al of yvory,
Of whiche pe whelles, wron^t ful corious,
Wern of a tre y-callid Ebanus,
])e whiche tre groweth fer in Ynde,
Blak of hewe ; and also, as I fynde,
Whan it is corve, pis tre wil wexe anon,
Of his nature, hard as any stoon—
Whan it is graue ouper rouwde or* square.
And of pure* gold roued was pis* chare,
Fret vfith perle and many riche stonis,
J)at swiche a-noper [I trowe] nowher noon is
In al pis world, if I schal iiat feyne.
And it was lad of mj^ti knystes tweyne,
Men of armys, wzt/i-Inne and wit/i-oute
Armyd in stele, ridyng rou^de aboute
))is worpi kynges, Esdras & Phion.
And Hector hath callyd to hym anon
On of his brepre, what-so pat be-falle,
To be guyde and leder of hem alle —
J)e name of whom was Pictagoras.
[leaf 71 a]
308
312
316
320
324
328
332
336
307. With] And with A— in] in to C.
309. awaite] wayte D 2. 310. of spake] spake of D 1.
316. Esdras] Esdrac C, Esdas D 1. 318. haue] had D 1.
325. is] was D 1— wil] wolde D 1.
327. ouj>er rouTwle or] rounde ouber C.
328. pure] pured C— bis] be C, D 1.
335. kynges] kyng D 1.
BK. in] The 1th Battalion is led by Eneas. The 8th by Paris. 405
And to f e grete Troyan, Eneas,
Of whom to-forn made is menciim,
Hector by good deliberaciiw
fte seuen]>e ward assigned hath to kepe,
And vp-on stedis lusty for to lepe,
Of swiche as wern vsauwt most to ride,
Ful man[l]y kny^tes to haue be his syde,
Whiche with Ewphronye vn-to Troye towi
Comen so fer from her regiouw,
To fosteren hem for Hectoris sake.
And whan }>ei had of hym leve take,
]5ei rood ful proudly forf e vfiih Eneas,
Out at fe gate a wonder kny3tly paas,
]pe brode feld til f ei haue atteyned.
And in f is while Hector ha)>e ordeyned,
Like myn auctor as I can reherse,
J)e ei3te warde of f e folke of Perce,
Worfi kny^tes, manly and ri^t wys,
fie whiche wern comitted to Parys,
On hym fat day to awaite besyly ;
To whom Hector ful benygnely
Spak and seide at his departyng :
" 0 broker myn, in al maner f ing,
Whan f ou arte passed be Dardanydes,
))is day to fer put f e nat in pres
Amongfes] Grekis, nor in iupartie,
Liste fat f i foon in meschef f e espie,
To whom f ei haue, of old & newe date,
In her hertis ful fresche & mortal hate,
J?e furie of whiche her brest haf so enbracid,
)2at it were hard out to ben arracid j
"Wherfor, broker, loke fat fou be
In al wyse nat to fer fro me,
But kepe fe ne3e, fat no mysauenture
Falle vp-on f e, so fat I may socure
}5is day to fe, myn owne brofer dere."
340. grete Troyan] Troyan greete A.
341. made] as made D 1. 358. wern] we D 1.
359. awaite] wayte D 1. 369. so] om. D 1.
370. arracid] y raced D 1.
340 Eneas has
the 7th
Battalion
344 of cavalry.
348
352
The 8th
Battalion,
of Persian
knights, is
led by Paris,
whom
Hector warns
[leaf 71 6]
360
364
368
to keep near
him,
372 for security'
sake.
406 The 9th Battalion is led by Hector on his steed Galathe. [BK. in
Hector leads
the 9th
Battalion
of 5000 of
Troy's best
knights,
and 10 of his
bastard
Brothers.
Then he
mounts his
steed
Oalathe,
an out-and-
out good
horse,
and rides
thru Troy.
To whom Paris, with ful humble chere,
Answer-id and seide, J>at in euery J>ing
He wolde obeie vn-to his biddyng,
And rood his weye anon with his meyne
In-to j>e felde oute at J>e cite.
And Hector ay dide his besynes
Jpe nyn)>e warde in ordre for to dres,
Whiche he ]>ou^ hym silf[e] for to lede,
In whiche he put, sothly, as I rede,
Five ]>ousand knystes bom of Troye toun,
J5e wordiest and grettest of renouw,
And passyngly famous in kny3thod,
Born be discent of Troyanysche blod.
And of his brewer he toke with hym ten,
Swiche as he knew for most manly men,
)3at wer foreyn fro stok of regalye,
Oute of J>e lyne born in bastardrie,
Whom Hector hadde in gret cher[i]te
For ]>e kny^thod he koude in hem se.
And whanne he Had, be kny^tly pwruyaurace,
Alle his wardis* sette in gouernauwce,
Liche Mars hym silf fastfe] gan him spede
Wit/i-oute abood for to take his stede,
Whiche was in bokis callid Gallathe,
Of alle hors havyng ]?e souereynte,
As fer as men ride in any coost —
Of whom Dares maketh so gret a boost,
Of schap, of hi^te, and also of fayrnes,
Of strengj>e, of loke, and of gret swiftnes,
So lik an hors parformed oute & oute —
And with a wyre men my^t hym twrne aboute,
Lik as Dares maketh mencioim.
On whom Hector rood poru} Troye ioun,
Armed at al, ]>at cam hym wonder wel,
From foot til hed, ful richely & wel,
)3at schon as bri^t as sonrie on someres day ;
376
380
384
388
392
396
400
404
408
380. at] of A. 392. born] y born A.
396. wardis] lordia C. 403. 2nd of] & D 1.
404. and] om. D 1. 406. wyre] wher D 2.
410. til] to D 1— richely & wel] rich in maile & stel D 1.
BK. in] Hector assigns 1500 Knights to guard Priam. 407
And to Priam he helde J?e ri3t[e] way. 412
And whan J>at he was comyn to pe kyng,
He reherseth in ordre euery Jnng
How he hath done, and al his ordinauwce,
And lowly seide, " so* it be plesaurace
To 3oure noble royal excellence,
I haue chosen vtith besy dilligence
A fousand kny3tes, ful of suffisaimce,
With fyve hundrid, to han attendance
On 3our persone alweye where 36 be, [leaf 71 c]
With alle foot-men J>at ben in J>e cite,
J?at schal await on 3ou euere in on.
Wherfore, my lord, as fast as we ar goon,
Lowly I praye to 3oure worj>ines
To sewen vs, be good avisenes,
Out at J?e touw, and alwey eke J>at 30
To-gidre kepe 3our kny3tes and meyne : 428
J?is I beseche with al my f ulle my3t,
WM-Inne J>e bou?idis where as* we schal fijt
ftat 36 suffre noon of hem to pace,
But kepe 2ow hool in he silfFe] place
L • j ,.- * -I '
Atwixe vs and pis* stronge cite,
3if we haue nede, bat ae may ay se,
;T A -L J
Ys to releue kepyng 3ow a-side,
And specially ]>er for to abide 436
Where most is likly oure party to sustene ;
For euer among J>er schal men go be-twene
Of our expleit J?e trouj>e to reporte,
[For] Whiche part Mars list J>e feld to sorte, 440
Of his power, )>is ilke day fatal :
For 30 schal ben oure castel & oure wal,
And oure refuge to saue vs from al smert.
And specialy o ting 2e aduerte, 444
bat no deceit, fraude, nor tresouw
Compassyd be behynde to fe toun
Of oure foon J>oru3 oure reklesnes,
"Whiles fat we don oure besynes 448
416. so] to C. 430. as] Jxit C. 433. his] >e C.
440. to] cm. D 1 — to sorte] resorte D 2.
442. 2nd oure] om. A.
Hector teiis
has done :
416
he has orderd
1500 knights
p°naCm>a88
420 bodyguard,
424
who are to
432 the fighters
and Troy,
to relieve
them when
need is.
Priam is to
stop the
Greeks' at-
tempting to
get mtotiM
d by
408
while the
Trojans are
Bghting in
front.
Priam trusts
Hector
wholly,
and prays the
Gods
that he may
return
victorious.
Hector takes
his leave of
452
456
Priam approves all that Hector has done. [BK. in
Ageyn[e]s hem in pe feld to fijte:
In al wyse her-to hath a sy$t,
J)at no ping turne [vn-]to oure damage
Jporu^ her engyn, but werkyth as )>e sage,
With victorie fat we may conclude,
So pat Grekis with fraude vs nat delude
By non engyn of vnvvar violence, —
Hopyng alwey pat it is non offence
To $oure hisnes fat I haue here saide."
And with fat word, Priamws abraide,
Benygnely of chere and contenaurcce,
And seide : " Hector, my sothfaste suffisance, 460
My final trust and supportaciourc,
In pi wyse disposiciourc
Hoolly I putte, as fou* liste ordeyne :
For nexte goddis— 3if I schal nat feyne—
My feith, my hope, & al my sikernes,
And my welfare, in verray sothfastnes,
Comytted ben hool in-to fin honde,
And gouemaujice, playnly, of* my londe :
As fou ordeynest, it most nedis be ;
And pis praier I make now for f e
To pe goddis a-boue celestial,
)3e to p?*eserue, in party and in al,
From eche meschef and aduersite,
Jjat pou maiste horn to f is cite
Eepeire in* honour with laude & victorie,
So fat pe pris, renoim, and memorie
Of pi name be putte in remembrauwce,
Perpetuelly pin honour to avauwce ! —
And fare now wel, myn owne sone dere."
And Hector po, wip ful humble chere,
His leue toke, and forpe he rood anoon
Among* his lordis & kny^tes euerychon,
As he pat was rote of al noblesse,
451. vn-to] onto A. 457. here] ere D 1.
463. pou] j>e C. 464. goddis] god A.
466. And] Al D 1. 467. in-to] in D 2.
468. of] of al C. 475. in] with C.
482. Among] Amongis C. 483, 484 arc transposed in D 1.
483. he] om. D 1.
[leaf 71 d]
464
468
472
476
480
BK. ill] Hector & his Shield & Banner. He spurs to the front. 409
Of kny^thod groiwde, of strengjje & hardines 484
j)e verray stok, and j)er-to invincible.
For-as-moche as it was possible
Jpat Nature my^t hym grawit or* kynde, Hector has
Touching manhod, in bokis as I fynde, 488 Nature.
He had in hym souereine excellence,
And gouernauwce medlid with prudence,
J)at nou}t asterte hi??i, he was so wis & war.
And in his scheld, I fynde, bat he bar 492 On his shield
. and banner
Yp-on his brest, bis Troyan champioutt, is a red Hon
x ' on a pold
])Q chefe of gold, of goulys a lyouw ground.
Depeint fer-in, and in his baner bete
\)Q silfe same ; and so amyd J>e strete 496
He toke J?e weye to Dardanydes,
)5at to beholde huge was ]?e pres,
Noise of trompetis and of clariourcs,
Baners vnrollid, & longe fresche penouws 500
Of rede and whyte, grene, blew, & blake.
And in ])is wyse Hector hath y-take He takes the
be feld with-oute, with hert & hool entent, in the rear
at first,
As Mars hym silf had[de] be present. 504
And pei J>at he, as Guydo maketh mynde,
Rood with — J>e warde )?at last[e] was be-hynde —
Of his manhod he nolde nat abide,
But smet his stede scharply in be side — 508 but then
spurs t" f
Of fel corage he hath his hors so peyned, front.
J?e first[e] warde ]>ai he hath atteyned,
Be vale & hil to-forn in J?e froimters,
Not astonyd of j?e felle cheris 512
Of j?e Grekis, nor platly nat aferd ;
But liche a kny^t, euene a-forn her herd,
He gan prese in, as her fo mortal.
And in bis while, vp-on Trove wal, 516 onthewaiu
j . . . of Troy stand
In sondry place on J>e hi^e touris, fair young
As fresche be-seyn as May is with his flouris,
J?e ladies fen ascendid of j>e touw — [leaf 72 a]
So fair, so ^onge, stondyng envirou?i 520
484. &] om. D 2. 486. was] is D 2. 487. or] of C.
508. But] He D 1.
jurs to the
fear for their
husbands
and lovers.
410 Trojan Ladies. Lydgate laments Chaucer's death. [BK. Ill
Helen, ])& quene Eloyiie, passyng fair to sene,
Jniyoti!S ])& kynges doubters, & goodly Polly cene,
TrdoTwaiis And many o)>er, whiche of wommanhede
In hertfe] wern ful of besy drede, 524
Inly a-gast, and of fere affrayed
Whan J>ei behilde in J)e feld displaied
)5e brode baners, — J>at some of tendernes,
So?rane of loue, and sorame of kyndenes, 528
Pale and dredful for her lordis were ;
And somme her facis hydden [eke] for fere,
})at were nat bold to liften vp her si$t
To be-hold J>e armure clere and bri3t, 532
So gliteryng ageyn )?e son[n]e schene —
Her hertis tendre my3t[e] nat sustene;
And in her drede Jms I lete hem, dwelle.
And of Grekis furjje I wil 3ow telle, 536
3if so be 36 list abide a whyle ;
For now most I my for-dullid stile
Ageyn directe to Agamenoim.
Wei may I make an exclamacioiw 540
On ignorauwce, ]?at stant so in my Ii3t,
Whiche causeth me with a ful cloudy si3t
In my makynge to speken of j?e werre —
For lak of termys I mote nedis erre, 544
Cownyngly my wordis* for to sette ;
Cruel Allecto is besy me to lette,
])Q ny3tes dou3ter, blindid by dirknes,
Be craft of armys ]>e troupe to expresse, 548
In ordre due a feld to discryue :
And Chaucer now, alias ! is nat alyue
Me to reforme, or to be my rede,
For lak of whom slower is my spede — 552
fee noble Rethor J>at alle dide excelle ;
For in makyng he drank of J?e welle
Vndir Pernaso, Jjat j)e Musis kepe,
On whiche hil I my3t[e] neuer slepe — 556
Onnejje slombre — for whiche, alias, I pleyne ;
522. doujters] doubter D 1. 535. new IT A.
541. ray] om. D 1. 545. wordis] wardis A, C.
554. in] of D 1.
Now I turn
to the Greeks.
But my
ignorance
hinders me.
Chaucer,
alas, IB not
alive to
correct me.
BK. in] Agamemnon arranges the Greeks in 26 Battalions. 411
But for al f is, f er is no more to seyne.
J9ou^ my wede be nat polymyte,
Colourles, forfe I wil endyte 560
As it cometh euene to my f ou^t,
Pleinly to write how f e ky^g ha]) wrou^t,
]3e manly kny^t, gret Agamenoiuz, Agamemnon
Lyk as fe latyn maketh menciouw. 564
Howe Agamenon ordeynyde syx and twenty warddys,
and assygnede theme tyle kyngis, princes, and
lordys of his Oste; and howe worthi Ector, at
fe first encozmterynge, departede Patroclus
atwyne.1
What ! trowe 36, fat he in his entent
Was fovmde sloiue, ouber necligent is not negli-
gent;
On Grekis half his wardis for to make ?
Nay, nay, nat so; for hym list to wake [leaf 72 &] 568
J?at tyme more, sothly,* fan to slepe,
Ful lik a kyng fat day fe feld to kepe.
No* necligence my$t his hert[e] fade* :
For [in] fat day, I fynde, fat he made 572 he puts the
Six and twenty wardis by and by, M battalions:
So wel deuised, and so prudently
)3at no man my^t amende his ordinau?zce.
And of fe first he $af goue?'nau?ice 576 i. under
To ]>e manful noble Patroclus,
J?at with hym ladde (myn auctowr telleb bus) with the
-_. , • Myrmidons
Miruftdones, so my3ti and so stronge, of Achuies,
With alle f e folke fat to Achilles longe, 580
Besyde filke fat wern of his meyne
Whiche fat he brou^t out of his centre
At his * comyng to * f e sege of Troye ;
And he rood furf e vriih hem on his woye 584
In- to f e feld, and made no delay e.
Now, fille it so on f e same day
J)at Achilles kepte hym in his tente, who stays in
his tent.
560. Colourles] Colours A. 569. more sothly] sothly more C.
571. No] Nor C— fade] sade C. 583. his] >e C— to] of C.
584. on] in D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 70 b (misplaced after line 562).
TROY BOOK. B B
Love of Achilles & Patroclus. The Greek 2nd Battalion. [BK.III
Achilles was
wounded the
day before.
So he gives
his men to
Patroclus,
whom he
greatly lovd,
for their
hearts were
lockt to-
.gether.
2. nnder
K in JH Merion
and Idu-
mene
And for seknes J?at day oute ne wente ;
For his lechis made hym to abstene,
For his wou^des fresche wern & grene
jpat he kau^t on )>e day to-fore ;
Whiche for to hele of her akyng sore,
He be coimseil kepte hym silf [e] cloos,
And from his bed J?at day nat ne roos,
In hope only ]?e bettre to endure
Whan ]?«t he was restored vn-to cure.
But aile his men he toke to Patroclus,
Whiche was in armys passyngly fam?/s,
And be discent come of gret kynrede,
And was also — of hym as I rede —
Habuwdauwt of gold and of riches,
And fer comendid for his gentilles,
And hadde a name of hi^e discreciou?i.
Now was ]>er eue?'e swiche affecciou?z
Of entere lone, troujje, & feithfulnes,
So gret desyre and inward kyndenes,
Besy ]>inkyng, & so gret feruence,
So moche frendeschip & Jjou^tful aduertence,
So huge brewnyng, passyng amerous,
Betwixe Achilles & )?is Patroclus,
J5at her hertis were lokkid in o cheyne ;
And what-so-euer, if I schal nat feyne,
)5e ton hath wroujt, as broker vn-to broker,
In hert it was confermyd of J?e tojjer :
For wil and godys, boj>e were cowimvne,
And to ])e deth ]?ei euere so contvne, —
W/t/i-oute chau?ige her lone so abood.
And Patroclus furpe anoon hym* rood
In-to J>e feld w/t/t Myrundones,
And in his tent abideth Achilles.
J)e secounde warde to kynge Meryouw
Assigned was by Agamenou?i;
And to )>e wor>i kyng Ydwme[n]e,
593. He be] Be his D 1. 60
[leaf 72 c]
588
592
596
600
604
608
612
616
620
. anoon hym] amonge hem C. 623. to] om. D 1.
BK. in] Leaders of the G-reek Battalions, Nos. 3 to 7.
413
And to a duke j?at hi^t[e] Meneste,
fere J>ousand kny^tes in stele armyd clene,
With alle ]>e folke J?at cam fro Athene,
Assygned werne with hem for to go.
fee )>rid[de] ward to kyng Astalapho,*
And to his sone, J>at hi^tfe] Philomene,
WiJ) J?e kny^tes fat cam fro Kwmene ;
fee four]?e warde, \vith-oute more lettyng,
To Archelaus, Ipe noble wor)>i kyng,
To Prothenor, and to Securidan,
Whiche in his daies was so strong a maw,
Assigned was holy to J>ese ]>re,
And alle ]>e kny^tes with hem for to be
Of Boece, pe grete lond famous.
fee fytye warde to kyng Menelaus,
With alle )>e folke of )>e regions
Callid Spartence, of ful hi^e renou?i,
And of ]>e lies jjat wern adiacent —
Alle j>ese with ]?e baner went
Of Menelay, fresche and coraious.
])e sixte warde to kyng Epistrofus
"Was assigned, and to J>e kyng Elyde,
With many worjn ridyng be his side
Of ]>e prouynce and J>e famous He
jjat callid is in Guydo Fordesyle.
J?e seuenfe warde to Thelamonyus,
Callid Aiax, ]>e grete kyng famous,
Was assigned, scliortly to termyne,
WiJ) fe folkis ])at fro Salomyne
He with hym brou^t, & many anofer mo j
And foure erlis with him went also :
Theseus and eke Amphimacus,
And ]>e )>ridde I-callid Darius,
And pe four]?e namyd Polysarie.
fee ei3te ward, }if I schal nat tarie,
628. Astalapho] Astralapho C.
630. |>at] tham A— Kwmene] Cumene D 1.
635. >ese] this A, >is D 2. 641. >e] om. D 2.
647. and] of D 2. 649. seuen^e] sixte D 1.
652 Salomyne] Salamyne A. 653. anobeH ober D 1.
656. I-callid] called. A, D 1.
624 and Duke
Menestheus,
with 8000
knights and
all the
Athenians.
628 8- K. Astala-
pho.
632
636
640
648
652
656
4. K. Arche-
laus.
5. K. Mene-
laus.
644 6. K. Epis-
trophus and
K. Elyde.
7. K. Ajax
Telamonius,
with 4 Earls.
414 Leaders of the Greek Battalions, Nos. 8 to 20. [BK. in
8. K. Thoas.
9. Ajax
Cileus.
10. K. Pbi-
lete.
11. K. Pala-
medes.
12. Duke
Nestor.
13. King
Houux.
14. K. Ulys-
ses.
15. K.
Humerus.
16. Duke
Curibulus.
17. King
Royda.
18. King of
Octymene.
19. K. Zanti-
piu.
20. King
AinplniiKi-
CUi.
Be good avis J>«t day assigned was
Vn-to ]>e kyng fat callid was Thoas. 660
Aiax Cileus j?e ny[n]j>e warde ladde,
And J>e ten]>e J>e kyng of Philete hadde ;
And to )>e kyng j?e xi [he] dide assigne,
Jjat sothly was, bope of birjje & lyne, 664
So renomed, & of so gret encres,
)3e my^ty kyng callid Pallaraydes, [leaf 72 d]
Kyng Naulus sone, Invest born of blood.
And duke Nestor, ful famws in kn[y]$thood, 668
])e twelve warde ladde on Grekis side,
Malencolik and surquedous of pride.
And kyng Honux, sone of on Mabente,
In-to )>e feld, pleinly, whan he wente, 672
In ordre hadde of wardis J>e ])rittene,
Proudly mowsteryng endelong ]>e grene,
Ageyn[e]s Troyens redy i'or to fi^t.
And eke ]>e kyng ]>at Vilixes hijt 676
Ladde vritfi hym fe fourten]?e, as I rede ;
And Humerus ]>e kyng eke dide lede
))e fiftenfe, myri auctor writeth jms ;
And a duke, callid Curibulus, 680
J?e xvi. ladde vp-on that day,
In whiche }>e kiiy^tes of kyng Prothesylay
Assigned wern by gret ordinauwce,
Tenforsen hem for to do vengau^ce 684
Vp-on fe deth of her worjji kyng,
By Hector slawe at Grekis arivyng.
And kyng Royda ladde J)e seuentene ;
And he Jmt was kyng of Octymene, 688
]3e xviii warde had at his ledyng ;
And 3antipus, J)at was of Lyde kyng,
Hadde to kepe, committed to his garde,
On Grekis side ))e nynten])e warde. 692
And J?e twenty, myn auctor lerej) vs,
661. Cileus] Oyleus D 2— nyn>e] ix A
662. ten)>e]xe warde D 1-Philete] Phisyk A, Phisik D 1, Philik
ODD. X1J Xe D 1.
**9 i^ge3InieS2 A?yiJ D 2> 682' In^ fe D 1-kyng] om. D 1.
687. Koyda] Roydo A. 688. Octymene] Occymene A, D 2.
689. had] om. D 1. 693. lere>] lerneth D 1
BK. in] Leaders of the Greek Battalions, Nos. 21 to 26. 415
Hackle ]?e kyng callid Amphimacus,
Lik a kny$t to guye hem & to wisse ;
And Philocetes, Jjat was kyng of Larisse,
})Q oon & twenty had eke, as I rede.
)3e two & twenty had[de] Dyomede ;
And Heneus, kyng of Cypary,
j?at was whilom so noble & so worjn,
Jpe ]>re & twenty had in gouernaille.
And Ipe Troyens proudly for to assaille
))e xxiiii*1, with swerd, spere, and schelde,
Kyng Prothaylus ladde in-to ]?e felde ;
And Carpenor, of Carpadie kyng,
In werre expert & ri^t wys in wirchyng,
))e five & twenty, riche & wel be-seyn,
On Grekis syde brou^t in-to J?e pleyn.
])Q sixe & twenti, sothly, and ])e laste,
As he J?at coude sen a-forn an[d] caste
Euery ]?ing be good inspecciouw,
)?e wyse kyng, J?e grete Agamenouw,
Had \vith hym, Jns prudent werriour,
As he ]?at was ordeyned emperour
Of Grekis host, as wysest of echon.
696
700
704
708
21. K. Philo-
cetes.
22. Diomede.
23. K. Hen-
eus.
24. K. Pro-
thaylus.
25. K. Car-
penor.
26. Aga-
memnon
712 the Great.
[leaf 73 a]
Howe bothe the wardys of }>e Troyans and of J>e
Grekys fyrst ioynede in the felde.1
And in )?is wise forjje J>e Grekis goon 716
In-to ]?e feld, with pompe ful royal,
With thensygnes and tokenes marcial,
Han take her ground, passingly arrayed ;
And on her stondardis, richely displaied, 720
Erode baners an[d] many fresche penou?? —
Ageyn j>e wynde ]?at made a hidous soiw,
And ri$t dredful, pleinly, for to here —
696. Philocetes] TMlotetes D 1.
700. "2nd so] om. D 1.
704. Kyng Prothaylus] Prothaylus kyng D 1.
707. five & twenty] xxv*1 warde D 1.
717. In-to] In A, D 2, D 1. 720. displaied] spailed D 1.
722. a] an A, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 123 a (leaf 123 (according to present
state of MS., 119) is misplaced with leaf 71 (70); the chapter-
heading also is misplaced after line 742).
Thus arrayd,
the Greeks
take the field,
with banners
and pennons
flying.
416 The Pomp & Noise of the Greek Host. Hector &Patroclus.[EK.m
The Greeks'
feathers,
devices
and love-
tokens.
The bray of
trumpets.
The neighing
of liorseu.
The Greeks
and Trojans
in face of one
another.
Hector rides
towards the
Greeks,
Patroclus
towards him.
And fer men seie many crestis clere,
And many tuft of gold & siluer schene,
Meynt with fef ris rede, white, & grene,
And deuyses wonder merueillous,
And of folkis fat wern amerous
J)e tokenes born to schewen openly
How f ei in loue brenten inwardly
Soni hi^e emprise fat day to f ulfille.
And fer wer herd fe loude noyses schrille
Per in f e feld, and f e dredful sownes
Bof e of trompettis and of clarioiws,
feat be kalendys of schedyng oute of blood.
And vritfi fe noyse al-most for rage wood,
fee* fomy bridelis & fe moufes blede,
And furious neying of many [bastard] stede
Prauwsynge of hors vp-on ouf er side,
"With alle fensygnes fat my3t ben of pride
On Grekis part[y], and on Troye also :
In kny^tly wyse for to haue a-do,
Eueryche warde stondynge in his place.
fee first, a-sondre but a litel space,
Be-gan to approche wz't/A al her f ul entent,*
And Hector f o, ful inpacient,*
Formest of alle on f e side of Troye,
fee Ire of whom no man myjt acoye :
But lik a lyoiw in his hungri rage
Issed oute, furious of visage,
Toward Grekis on his my3ti stede,
feat wit/t his spoils made his sides blede —
His kny^tly hert so inly was to-torn
Of mortal Ire, — and as he rood to-forn,
Breraiynge ful hote in his malencolye :
fee whiche fing whaw Grekis gan espie,
Patroclus, wz't/i-oute more abood,
Of surquedie a-fore fe wardis rood,
724
728
732
736
740
744
748
752
756
< 732- 11°yses] noise
737. f»e] With C. 738. bastard] om. D 1
745. approche] proche D 1— entent] myjt C.
7« Sfl^SSwS1 ^ d°U3ty kny3t C-inpae
752. pat with] Of wiche D 1— sides] side D 1
754. and] om. D 1.
t] vnpacient A.
BK. Ill] Hector fights Patrocius, and kills him. 417
Oute al to-forn, in bo]>e hostis sijt,
For to encontre, pleinly, 3if he myjt, 760
With worjn Hector whatt he him saw a-fer ; Patrocius
And as ri^t lyne as is diameter,
Rood vn-to hyrn in his hatful tene, charges
J Hector,
And with a spere, scharpfe] grouwde & kene, [leaf 736] 764 jygdJjJ3J*
feoru^-oute his schelde, of envious rage,
He smote Hector, \wt7i-oute more damage,
Except only fat ]>e hed of stele
feat was to-forn, forged & whet ful wele, 768
feoru^ plate & maile my^tely gan glace, and armour.
But to J?e skyn for no Jring my^t hit trace —
Al-be it cam of passyng violence —
3 it to Hector it dide noon offence, 772
Out of his sadel onys hym to fiitte :
For Jjou} pat he sturdely hym hitte,
He myjt[e] nat bakward bow his chyne,
Nor on no parti make hym to enclyne ; 776
But fatally to his confusion w,
feis my^ti man, J?is Troy an champioiro, Hector bares
In his Ire ay breraiynge more and more,
Vp-on hym )>e hate frat so sore, 780
Lefte his spere, myn auctor writeth J>us,
And vrith a swerd rood to Patrocius, bis sword,
A vised fully fat he schal be ded ;
And furiously gan hamen at his hed, 784
And rof hym doura, )>er was no maner lette, "SalntS?"
In-to fe brest foru^ his basenet,
As seith Guydo, with so gret a peyne,
feat with Ipe stroke he partid hym on tweyne. 788
His mortal swerde whettid was so kene,
feat Patrocius my^tfe] nat sustene
Yp-on his hors, but fil doim to gromide,
As he J>at kau^t his last[e] fatal wou^^de, 792
Beyng present his kny^tes euerychon.
And delyuerly vp-on hym anon,
WorJ?i Hector from his stede a-doura mounts".
768. to-forn] a forn A. 772. to] of A.
788. on tweyne] a tweyne A. 792. kau$t] rau^t D 1.
418 Hector surrounded ly Greeks, and abusd ly Merion. [BK. in
Discendid is lik a wode lyoiw,
Of hatful Ire bre?mynge as J>e fire,
Hector wants Havinge in hert inly gret desire
to strip off
Patrocius's TO spoilen liym of his armvttre anoon,
jeweld
armour,
but Merion,
with 3000
knights, sur-
rounds him,
and abuses
Hector
violently.
In whiche J>er was [ful] many riche stoon,
BoJ?e of rubies and saphiris ynde —
For Jrilke daies, pleinly, as I fynde,
Kynges, lordis, & kny^tes (J?is no nay)
To bataille went in her best array.
And, sothly, Hector, whan he first gan se
Jpe multitude of stonys and perre
On Patroclus, so orient and schene,
Vp-on his arme he hynge his hors[e] rene,
\)e mene while, whil he of hool entent
To cacche his praye was so dilligeiit,
Of couetyse, in J>er alder si^tes.
Til Meriouw, vfith J?re )>ousand kny^tes,
Armed in stele, rouwde a-boute hym alle,
Is sodeynly v)>-on Hector falle,
)5e dede cors of Patroclus to sane,
|3at his purpos Hector may nat haue,
At liberte J>e riche kyng to spoille,
Whiche caused hym in anger for to boille.
[leaf 73 c]
796
800
804
808
812
816
Howe Kynge Meryon salutede worthy Ectore as he
was aboute for to dyspoyle Kynge Patroclus.1
To whom J>e kyng, callid Merion,
Irous & wood, seide among echon : 820
"0 gredy lyoutt, o wolfe most rauenous,
0 hatful tygre, passyng envious,
Of avarice, o beste in-saturable,
And of desire, sothly vnstaurachable, 824
Vp-on ]?is pray Jjou schalt J>e nat now fede,
Go ellis- where to swe for J)i mede :
For trust[e] well, in conclusions,
Fifti )?ousaiid, to }>i distructiouw, 828
821. Ind o] om. D2. 825. now] om. D 1.
] Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 123 c (leaf 123 (119) is misplaced with
leaf 71 (70) ; the chapter-heading also is misplaced after line 820).
BK. in] The Greeks attack Hector, but he cuts himself free. 419
Of oon entent, pleinly, wil nat faille
J)in hatful pride attonys for to assaille ! "
And sodeinly, with speris scharpfe] whette,
On eue/y half pei gowne hym be-sette,
Maugre his force, his my3t, & his manhede
Enforcyng hem* tarevid him his stede,
ftat, sothfastly, of gret violence,
He constreyned, for al his strong diffence,
As seith Guydo, to falle vp-on his kne ;
But Jjoni} his my^t & magnanymyte,
He of manhood hath his hors recurid,
And maugre* Grekis is so moche assurid
In his strengfe and his gret[e] my$t,
Jjat he recurid lik a worjri kny^t
His stede ageyn amiddes of* his foon.
And ri^t as lyne he rood to Meiion,
Ful desyrous on hym avengid* to be,
In his furye of hasty cruelte :
For Jjer-vppon was sette al his delit,
J)at in his mortal blody appetit,
In verray soth, he hadde hym slaw anon,
Saue jjat j?e kyng, which called was Glacon,
Cam to rescue hym with kyng Theseus,
And his sone, pat hi^t Archilagus,
As I haue tolde, Merion to rescue.
And )>re pousaiid kny^tes gan hym swe,
Ful assentid, attonis, in bataille,
For lyf or deth Hector to assaille,
In a-wait vnwar on hym to sette.
But al J)is whyle, with whom ])at euer he mette,
With his swerde he kylleth & bare dourc,
)3at finally fer gayneth no rauwsouft :
For any Greke ]>at durst wyth hym mete,
832 Merion
836 forces Hector
on to his
knee.
But he
mounts
840 again,
844 rides at
Merion,
848
856
and would
have kild
him if Glacon
852 and others
hadn't
rescued him.
860
Hector slays
Greeks.
830. for] om. D 1. 832. goraie] gan A, D 2.
834. hem] hym C. 835. sothfastly] sothly D 2.
840. maugre] among C. 841. and] and in A.
843. of] alle C.
845. on hym avengid] avengid on hym C — to] om. A, D 2.
850. which] ]>at D 1— was] is A— Glacon] Clacon D 2, D 1,
Glaucoon A.
852. Archilagus] Astrylogus A. 857. vnwar] on ware D 1.
858. with] om. D 1.
420 Hector has to fight on foot. Merion rescues Patroclus's corpse.
Hector rides
to spoil
Patroclus's
corpse.
King Idu-
mene with
2000 men
attacks him.
They take
his horse,
and he fights
on foot.
He hews off
Grecian
limbs,
and slays 15
men.
But Merion
carries off
Pntroclus'8
dead body.
At clepartyng f elte f ul vnswete ; [leaf 73 d]
He made a weye aboute hym euery-where,
J?at }>ei fledde hym as J>e dej? for fere,
For where he rod he made a path f ul pleyn.
And, as I rede, to Patroclus ageyn
He is repeired to spoille hym $if he my$t,
Amyd J>e feld in J?e Grekis sijt,
As he J>at wolde his praye nat ^tly lete.
Til Ydwme, ]>e myjty* kyng of Crete,
With two Jjousand clad in plate & maille,
"VVorfi kny^tes, Hector to assaille
Whylcs )>at he was so desirous,
As I haue tolde, to spoille Patroclus —
And new ageyn, to his confusioim,
Lyk as I fyncle, cam kyng Merioiw ;
And or Hector my$t[e] taken hede,
J)ei of force reften hym his stede,
j?at sothly he, J?er was noon o]?er bote,
Compellid was [for] to fi^t on fote.
And of kny^thod his hert[e] he reswmeth ;
And -with his swerde aboute hym he cowswmeth
Al )?at wij>-stood, bo]?en hors & man ;
And furiously )>is Troyan kny^t be-gan
Armys, leggis, schuldris, by )>e boon,
To hewen of, amyd his mortal foon,
)5at Grekis my^t a-forn hi??i nat sustene.
And, as I rede, pat he slowe fif tene
Of hem )>at were besy hym to take ;
And swiche a slaw^ter he garc a-mo?zg hem make,
)5at J>ei ne durste abide a-forn his face.
And Merion, in ])e silfe place,
J?is mene while, toke vp Patroclus,
With hevy chere and face ful pitous,
And on his stede he leide it hym be-forn ;
And to his tent [anon] he hath it bom —
Alwey Grekis, in her cruel mood,
Aboute Hector, furious and wood,
864
868
872
876
880
884
888
892
896
870. myjty] worjn C. 879. sothly he] he sothly D 2.
883. wi]>-stood] with stoml D 2. 894. hevy] om. D 1.
A Trojan knight helps Hector, & kills his chief foe, Carion. 421
Felly abood, f^tynge vp-oii fote.
Of whiche sowme felt[e] ful vnswote, 900
J?at preswrned vp-on hym to p?*ese ;
But of manhod fei ne wolde sese SwuSt661™
To be-sette hym vppon e\iery syde, Hector,
Havinge a truste, in her grete pride, 904
Finally at meschef hym to take :
For pei dempte he my3t[e] nat eskape
Her hondis, schortly, be non aventure,
Nor his stede be lyklyhede recure ; 908
For of force pei casten hym to lette,
And al attonys gan on hym to sette.
And specialy, amonge hem euerychon, [leaf 74 a] tiTknMit
I finde, in soth, how pat per was oon, 912 canon.
A Grekysche kny3t of ri3t worpi fame,
And Carion, pleinly, was his name,
))at him afforcede Hector to oppresse,
Whan he was most in meschef & distresse, 916
Be-set \\ith Grekys hym envirownynge :
Til of fortune, on hym awaitynge
J)e longe day in fat felle fi3t,
To his rescus per cam a Troyan kny3t, 920 But a Trojan
Myd of Grekis whan he was be-set,
And toke two dartes, scliarp & kene whet,
And furiously first he schot f e toon,
And f oru3 f e hert he smote f is Carion, 924 kills Carion,
jpat f e darte into f e felde gan glide,
By plate & maille, poru3-out of er syde,
)5at fatally of fat dedly wourade
))is Carious glood anoon to grouwde, 928
Amonge an huradrid kny3tes of his feris,
A-fore conspired wzt/i her felle cheris
To haue slayn Hector be some maner woye.
But eft ageyn pis 3onge kny3t of Troye 932
Ful deliuerly rau3t anoper spere, and takes
And cast at on fat he sawe a-fere 8Pear»
901. prcswmed] presume D 1.
906. dempte] doute D 2.
909, 910. hym] hem A. 921. Myd] Amyd D 1.
923. schot] shok D 2.
422
Hector is rescued, and remounts his Steed. [BK. Ill
and slays
a man trying
to kill
Hector,
and calls on
the Trojans
to help'
Hector.
His brother
Cyncybar,
with some
knights,
charges the
Greeks,
who retreat.
Hector re-
mounts his
steed
and kills
his foes.
Avaimce hym silfe on Hector in f e felde,
And foru} his platis, pleinly, & his schelde, 936
Lyne ri^t, fat he ne schuld asterte,
Of verray my^t rofe hym f oru^ fe hcrte ;
And after fat, in al f e haste he coude,
Vp-on Troy ens he gan to crie loude 940
Ten hasten hem kny^tly to secure
Worf i Hector, fat stood in auenture
Amonge Grekis, havynge no refute,
Sool by hym silfe, of helpe destitute. 944
At whiche cry, on Grekis al vnwar,
First of alle cam worf i Cyncybar,
}3at brof er was to Hector in bast born ;
And hym silfe rydynge al to-forn, 948
And f e kny^tes of whiche he was guyde,
Wonder proudly prikynge by his syde,
Sodeinly, bothe oon and alle,
In a frosche be on* fe Grekis falle, 952
J^at hadde Hector rouwde be-sette aboute ;
And f oru} manhod of f is grete route
jpat be# enbosched on hern at fe bak,
fte hundrid kny^tes, of whiche J?at I spak, 956
For-a-stonyd gan hem to wit/idrawe :
But fritti firste cruelly were slawe ;
And maugre hem, Hector of manhede
Amydde fe felde taken hath his stede, [leaf 71 6] 960
And entrid [is] in amonge f e prees.
And he fat day, of kny^thood pereles,
While he hilde his blody swerde on hond,
Alle fo fat ageyn hym stonde 964
— ])er was noon help, pleinly, nor no red —
But fat he brak & carfe a-two f e f rede
And f e knot of cruel Antropos :
Only for he was lette of his purpos, 968
At good leyser to spoile Patroclus.
jjerfore, in Ire wood and furious,
935. Avaimce] A vavwte D 2, Avaunte Dl.
937. ne schuld] nolde D 1. 938. rofe] he rofe D 1.
940. crie] grye A. 951. bothe] be thanne D 1.
952. on] oon 0.
BK. ill] Troilus's 'valour. Menestheus is to attack him. 423
Ful cruelly Grekis quitte her mede,
Whiche from his face faste gan hem spede,
Whos scharp[e] swerde, bafed in her blood,
Was dyed rede : for it dide hym good
Yp-on hem avenged for to be.
For filke day [f e] lyouw pleyed he,
Yp-on Grekis his manhod for to haimte ;
For he her pride so mortally gan dauwte,
Jpat fei hym fled, where-so fat he rood,
Makyng al hoot f e stremys of her blood
Endelonge to rewne vp-on f e grene,
Til ]>e tyme f e duke of grete Athene,
))at callid was whilom Menesteus,
With fre fousand kny^tes ful famous,
Of whiche he was bof e lord & guyde,
})Q feld hath taken vp-on fe left[e] side,
For a deceyt, in ful secre wyse,
Where Troylus was with f e folke of Fryse,
Wliiche [haf] fat day, who-so liste to seke,
By his kny^thod kylled many Greke : —
Liche a tigre, gredy on his pray,
Troylus bar hym al f e longe day,
Sleynge of Grekis many worf i kny^t.
And while fat he was besiest in fi^t
Ageyn his foon, with kyng Antipus
And fe kyng fat hi^tfe] Alcanus,
Yp-on Grekis elyche fresche and newe,
Makynge her sydes al of blody hewe,
By oon assent, fis fre f oru} her manhede —
And specially, vppon his baye stede,
Wher-so-euer fat fis Troylus rood,
Euery Greke fat his swerd abood
Sodeinly he made for to sterve,
Jporu^ her platis so depe he dide kerue.
And fis contvneth til duke Meneste
Of Troylus saw f e grete cruelte,
971. her] hem her A. 978. he] om. D 2.
98'2. grete] om. D 1.
988. Troylus was] folkes were D 1 — folke] men D 1.
990. many] many a D 1. 1004. dide] gan A gaft D 1.
972
976 Hector slay s
many
Greeks.
980
Duke Mene-
stheus of
Athens tnkes
the field with
984 300° men»
988
to attack
Troilus,
992 who has been
slaying 3
Greeks all
996
1000
1004
Menestheus
sees this.
424
Menestheua
charges
Troilus
and beats
him down:
Troilus is seizd ly Menestheuss men. [BK. in
he fights
bravely,
but is seizd.
Miseres calle
-on Troilus's
.men
to rescue
him.
And ]>e slawjtre J>at he on Grekis made—
Of hasty Ire, wij> face pale and fade,
Hent a spere & J>rewe it in J:e reste [leaf 74 c]
And Troylus smet euene amyd J?e breste
So sternely, ]>at maugre his renou?*,
To )>e erj>e anon he bare hyrn dou?i,
In [j>e] myddis of his mortal foon,
)3at cruelly hym be-sette anoon,
And him to treyne leide out hoke & laas
Rou?ide aboute in maner of compas —
Wi|> spere and darte & swerdis forgid bri^t.
P>ut he hym silf diffendij) like a kny^t,
With gret mauliod his honour to avauwce,
Al-be liis lif was honged in balauTice,
Where he stood, & felte fill vnswete,
In poynt of deth amonge ])e horsfe] fete,
With gret await of duke Meneste,
How ]>is Troylus my^t haue take be,
Of mortal hate castyng in his pou^t,
At meschef take Ipat he eskape 110113 1 ; —
On euery half he was so be-sette
With swerdis rou^de, kene gronde & whette,
Allone, alias ! mortally be-stadde —
))ei sesid hym, & fur)>e )>ei han hym ladde,
Til Miseres, a worjn kny^t of Troye,
Gan to crye, as he stood in }>e woye,
For-a-bassched, in ri^t furious wyse :
" 0 36 noble wor])i men of Fryse !
Manly kny^tes, ay pretied in fe feld,
Most renomed bofe vfith spere & scheld,
Considereth now vn-to ^our hi^e fame,
And aduerteth fe* glorie of ^oure name,
How }>is day, J)oru^ ^oure necligence,
By ))e power and my^ti violence
Of |)e Grekis Troylus is I-take
Sool in )>e feld ; for $e han hym forsake —
))at schal rebouwde to ^oure alder schame :
1007. on] of D 1. 1018. like] as D 2.
1028. rouwde] om. D 1. 1030. han] mn. D 1
1038.. J>e] jour C. 1043. to] vn to D 1.
1008
1012
1016
1020
1024
1028
1032
1036
1040
BK. in] The Trojan allies charge the Greeks, and free Troilus. 425
For 30, in soth, gretly are to blame,
3if lie, fat is of worf ines[se] flour,
Be take of Grekis for lak of socour —
))at, but }if 36 taken hasty wreche,
Schamful report $our honour schal apeche
Perpetuelly, and seide f er-of amys,
In ^oure defaute fat Troylus taken is,
Whiche named be so worfi & famws."
And with fat word, f e kyng Alcamws
Of malencolye felt his hert[e] ryue,
And in his Ire hent a spere blyve,
And prikynge after, enhastef * w[h]at he mi^t,
Til he of hem pleinly had a 513 1,
)}at besy wern Troylus for to lede.
And he, ful kny^tly, sittyng on his stede, [leaf n <q
Ran oon foru3, fat he fil dou?z ded;
And eft ageyn, pale & no f ing red,
In his rancour no lenger woldfe] lette,
But a Greke, fe firstfe] fat he mette,
)?oru3 fe body smette he with a spere,
))at men my3t[e] se fe poynt a-fere,
By brest and plate f 01*113 f6 scholder-bon,
J?at to fe grouwde he fil dou?^ ded anoon.
And f er-wit/i-al, f e worfi Freses alle
Cam flokmel doun, and on Grekis falle
So my3tely, fat, maugre her diffence,
jpei sette vp-on with so gret violence
])at Troylus is from al dau^ger fre ;
And foru3 her kny3tly magnanymyte
}?ei maden hym to recure his stede.
And specially helpyng in f is nede
Was ^antipus, fe strong[e] manly kyng,
Whiche of disdeyn, at his in-comyng,
On Meneste gan his spere grate,
And foru3 his scheld, mail, & f ikke plate,
So sore he smot, fat f is Menestee
1044 "If he be
taken, your
honour is
gone ! "
1048
1052 King
Aleamus
1056
1060
1064
charges,
and slays
first, one
Greek,
and then
another.
Ou this, his
fellows fall
1068 on the
Greeks,
1072
and free
Troilus.
Zantipus
charges
1076 Menestheus.
1045. flour] the floure D 1. 1049. seide] seie D 1.
1055. enhastej>] enhaste> hym C— what] wh«mi D 2.
1063. he] am. D 1. 1065. By] om. D 1.
1075. manly] myghty A. 1077. grate] gate D 1.
426 A fierce Hattle between Greeks & Trojans. Hector's valour.
Menestheus
calls on his
knights to
avenge him
on the
Trojans.
The battle
becomes
general,
and rages
fiercely.
Hector slays
many Greeks
Had be cled, nadde his armour be ;
Whiche for Ire gan to tremble & schake,
feat Troylus was from his hondis take,
And eskaped to be prisoner,
Dispit his berd, & maugre his power.
Wherfor he gan of hasti hoot envie
On his kny^tes furiously to crye,
feat wer so my^ti, renomed, & stronge,*
To peynen hem for to venge his wronge
Vp-on Troyens, to mete hem in J)e face.
And j>ei in hast gan my^tely enbrace
Her scharp[e] speris, ground e for to bite,
And felly foyne, & to-gidre smyte ;
For }>o be-gan }>e grete mortal werre :
fee fire brast out, schene as any sterre,
On basenettis and her platis bri^t,
feat ]>oru3 J?e feld flawmej? ]>Q [ferful] li$t :
[To lyf nor deth J>ei toke ]>o non hede ;]
[And] Domi ]>Q playn, bo}>e in lengbe & brede,
fee wardis gan proudly to avale ;
And \tiili lokis of envie pale,
feei aproche, and assemble I-fere,
In hate bre?mynge, J>at no man may stere,
And gan hurtle* wit/i spere, swerd, & darte,
And mortally, vp-on euery parte,
fee slau^ter gan gretly for to rewe.
And Iliche, alwey newe and newe,
Hector Grekis, jjoru^ his worthies,
Where he rood manly dide oppresse,
And merciles slowe hem & bar doim —
Now here, nowe J)ere, w^t/i-oute excepciou??,
So furiously, ])at rowthe was to se.
And )>awne of new Jje duke Meneste
Repeired is, with envious hert,
From his hondis fat Troylus so* asterte,
And for J?e slaw^ter eke of his meyne,
feat wher he rood he besy was to sle
1080
1084
1088
1092
1096
1100
1104
[leaf 75 a] 1108
1112
1116
1087. stronge] so stronge C, D 1. 1090. in hast] enhaste D 1.
1095. On] Of D 1. 1097. >o] om. A, D 2.
1103. hurtle] hurkle C. 1114. so] was so C.
BK. in] Miseres is unhorst. The Trojans and Greeks fight on. 427
\)& Troyan peple, whan he my$t hem mete ;
For tavenge hym, for no Jring wold he let.
Til casuelly amonge[s] al )>e pres,
A kny^t he mette, fat hi^tfe] Miseres,
Whiche, in dispit of )>is Meneste,
Had at J?e rescus of wor])i Troylus be,
And maugre hym put him fro his pray.
And so be-fil [on] fe selue* day,
As J?ei mette ageyn of aventure,
]3at Meneste, by his cote armvre
Marked hym, be armys j)at he bar,
And sodeinly, or J>at he was war,
Or jjat he my^t taken any hede,
Furiously on his sterne stede,
And with a spere, among* J>e rengis alle,
Ear him ouer, & made hym for to falle,
Maugre his my^t, to J>e erthe douw.
And J>araie, I finde, liow J>e kyng Hupou?i
Discendid is, ]?e story list nat lye,
Two fousand kny^tes in his co??^panye,
Whiche on Grekis felly gan to sette,
And in ]>e berd king Prothenor hem mette,
And Archelaus, )>e noble werriour,
Of Boece lord and goumiour —
WiJ> helpe only of J>is Prothenor,
Lik a tigre or a wylde bore,
Gan Troyens assaille to pe deth,
And many on )>ilke day he sleth.
Eut kyng Hupouw, Jjoru^ his chiualrie,
]3ilk[e] tyme in his malencolye
Ful many Greke ^af his de]>is wou?zde :
And ]ws ]?ei gan eche o]?er to cowfouwde,
Swiche mortal hate amonges he?^ \er was.
Til of fortune a kny^t, Polydamas,
On Troye side, sone of Anthenor,
With his kny^tes, and hym silf to-for,
1122. J>e] om. D 1. 1124. selue] same C.
131. among] amyd C. 1136. Two] And D 1.
11 38. Prothenor] Prother A. 1148. >us] om. D 1.
1149. amonges] amonge D 1.
TROY BOOK.
Menestheus
charges the
Trojan
Miseres,
1120
1124
1128
1132 and unhorsea
him.
King
Hupon,
with 2000
knights,
1136 attacks the
Greeks.
Prothenor
and Arche-
laus oppose
them,
1140
1H4
and great
slaughter
follows.
1148
1152
p P
K. Remus
helps.
It's a joy to
the Trojans to
see how the
Greeks break
up.
428 The Greeks break. Menelaus fights Remus. [BK. ill
Is on Grekis of envious pride
Mid her wardis fallyn in a-syde,
And gan breke hem, & kny^tly to disseuere,
Ageyn whos swerd* )>ei myjtfe] nat persevere —
He was on hem so inly furious. [leaf 75 6]
And hym to helpe cam fe kyng Remvs,
With a wynge on J>e tofer parte,
Brekyng in vrith many spere & darte
Ageyn[es] Grekis -with fre f ousand knyjtes,
J?at to beholde how felly fat he fi^tes,
It was, in sothe, vn-to hem of Troy
A verray lust and an heuenly loye —
To sen how he Grekis brak asoudre,
Jjat ]?e noyse, loude as any f ondre,
In f e feld of strokis gan a-ryse.
And while Remws, as 36 ban herd deuise,
Vp-on Grekis was so envious,
In-to f e feld cam Menelaus,
With his worf i kny^tes of Spartense,
Ageyn Remws to make resistence ;
And ful proudly, makyng no delay,
ftis worfi Remws & kyng Menelay,
On hors[e]-bak, vrith scbarp[e] speris whette,
Mid f e felde of envie mette,
And poru} her manly prowesse & renouw,
From bors[e]-bak eche bare of er doura :
For noon ]?e strok of ofer my^t[e] schoone.
And in fat while, of Anthenor f e sone,
Polydamas, lusti, frescbe, and ly^t,
As he fat was in his deliue?* rnyjt,
And desirous to honour to atteyne,
Mette in f e felde fe nevewe of Eleyne,
J3e my^ti duk called Mereus,
Flouring in ^outhe and ri^t vertuous,
Fresche armed, new and lusti of corage,
And was, in soth, but twenti ^ere of age —
Whiche of so ^onge was a noble kny3t,
But Menelaus
charges
Remus,
and both are
unhorst.
Polydamas
meets
Helen's
nephew,
Mereus.
1156
1160
1164
1168
1172
1176
1180
1184
1188
1153. Is on] His owne A.
1176. Mid] AmydDl.
1156. swerd] my^t C.
BK. in] Noted Warriors on each side are slain. King C elides. 429
renomed bope of herb and my$t.
But of fortune it be-fil, alias !
]5e Troyan kny^t, dau?^ Polydamas,
With a spere, poru^ scheld, maille, & plate
Hitte hym so, fat, by cruel faate,
Amonge Grekis fat lie fil douw ded.
Of whiche f ing, whan Menelay toke hede,
And sawe hym ly, slay[e]n on f e grene,
In his hert remembringe on f e quene
— I)Q quene Eleyne, whos nevew he was : —
For dool of whiche, a ful deliuer paas
To Remvs rood, in his cruelte,
Also fer as he my$t hym se,
And ful kny^tly mette hym in ]>e berd,
And smette at him vriih his scharpe swerde
Vp-on f e hede, in his hatful tene,
Jpat on his stede he my^t[e] nat sustene :
His wourcde was so passyngly mortal,
)3at Vfith f e stroke and f e perlous fal,
His kny^tes wende ded he* had[de] be,
And hent hym vp, and be-gan to fle
To-Troye-ward with hym a gret pas.
But it be-fil fat Pollydamas,
))e maner of hem wha?i fat he be-held,
Made hem repeire kny^tly in-to f>e feld —
Excepte ]>at somme, as ]>ei in biddyng had,
WorJ?i Remvs horn to Troye ladde,
Pale and ded, wt't/i his wou?idis wide.
And fo cam in on ]?e Grekis side
Celides,* fe lusty fresche kyng,
Of whom Dares seith in his writyng,
And for a soth in his boke list telle,
How Celides alle ofer elide excelle
BoJ>e in bewte and in semlyhede,
Of schap, of port, and of goodlyhede,
[leaf 75 c]
1192 Polydamas of
Troy spears
Mereus.
1196
1200
1204 Menelaus
slays Remus,
1208
whose corpse
is taken to
Troy.
1212
1216
1220
1224
K. Celides
succours the
Greeks.
1192. dau%3] dan D 2. 1197. on] vp on D 2.
1207. woimde] om. A.
1208. 1st J>e] his A— 2nd J>e] om. A— perlous] perylous A, peril-
Ions D 2, D 1. 1209. he] J>at he C. 1214. >e] om. A, D 2.
1216. horn to] vn to D I— The o in to is erased in A.
1219. Celides] Celidis C.
King Celides
was lovd by
the young
Queen of
Femenye.
430 Potydamas kills King Celides. Hector routs the Greeks.
Surmowitynge alle, as Dares list discrive,
As in fairnes alle J)o a-lyue —
Alle his lymys compact were so clene.
And, as I rede, ]>e ^onge fresche queue
Of Femenye,* whiche was of bewte flour,
Kyng Celides louede paramour,
J?at vp-on hym was hooly hir plesau^ce,
He was so prnited in hir remembimmce ;
For chef resort, sothly, of hir herte,
Was vp-on hym euery houre to aduerte :
For, finally, he departe}* nou^t,
Day nor ny^t nor hour out of hir Jjou^t ;
For he was ffully al hir owne kny^t. 4
Eut, of fortune, he, lusty, fresche, and li^t,
Smot his stede scharply in J>e syde
Of surquedie, and proudly gaii to ride
Of mortal hate a f ul furious paas
Ki}t as lyne to Pollydamas,
And with a spere made hym for to flytte
and unhorses From his sadel, in whiche he dide* sitte —
He markyd hym with so gret a my3t.*
But ageynward, ]>is manly Troyan knfyj^t,
Pollydamas, with a dispitous face,
Or Celydes departeth fro ]>Q place,
"With a swerd so smet hym on pe hede,
From his stede ]>at he fil dourc ded,
Whiche to Grekis was gret confusiouw.
And al J>is tyme, ferser J>anne lyoun,
Hector Grekis kny^tly gan enchase,
And ofte made hem for to lese her place ;
Where-eue?-e he rood, of necessite,
A-forn his swerd he made he??i for to fle,
Swiche vengauwce he hath on hem take,
J)at J?ei ])e feld were fayn to for-sake,
And to purswe wolde he neuer fyne ;
Til a-monge }>e peple of Salomyne,
He charges
Polydamas,
but Poly-
damas slays
Celides.
Hector
makes the
Greeks flee.
[leaf 75 tf]
1228
1232
1236
1240
1244
1248
1252
1256
1260
1229. Femenye] Fvmenye C.
1244. in whiche he dide] whiche he dide in C
1245. a nmt] amyjt C. 1249. so] he D 1.
1253. Grekis] the Grekis A— enchase] hem chace A
BK. in] Hectw is wounded, and surrounded ly Greeks. 431
Hector mette J>e worjri kyng famous
feat was hir lord, and 1113 t[e] Thesalus,
J?at many Troyan fat day liadfde] slawe.
And, as Hector toward hym gan drawe,
Kyng Teuter, j?at was of Grece also,
A manly kny^t and prudent, bope two,
Rau^t a spere, in al j?e haste he can,
And vnwarly vn-to Hector ran,
And Jjoru^ his scheld, [plate], and mail of stele
— ])s spere-hed forged was so wele,
So scharpe & square, & so kene grourade —
jjat he $af Hector a ful perillous wounde.
But as Hector rene gan his stede,
Proude Teuter to aquite his mede,
He ful wysly, in al )>e hast he my^t,
Was ri^t fer seuery[d] from his si$t ;
Wher-of Hector malencolins,
And of hert wod and furious
For J)e akyng of his wouwde grene,
In haste to avenge pe constreint of his tene,
What Greke after schortly pat he mette,
J)at was so bold his wey[e] to witA-sette,
We't/i-oute mercy, he was his deth anoon.
And, as I rede, he encouwtrid on,
Whiche of pride wold[e] hym diuerte,
Whom wif his swerd he rof to J>e hert,
)5oru^ his harneis, of malencolye.
)3e whiche stroke whan Grekis gan espie,
ftei astonyd, of oon entenciouw,
Perilously besette hym environs,
And swiche assaut gan aboute him make,
ftoru} her manhod ^if pei my^t \\irn take ;
And of acorde, with gret multitude,
Cruelly J>ei gan hym to include,
Be liklyhede, in pat mortal strife
He my^tfe] nat eskape with ]>e lyf,
On hym pei wern so fel & envious.
1264 As Hector
nears
Thcsalus,
King Teucer
1268
1272 wounds him,
1276 and flees.
1280
1284 Hector splits
a Greek to
the heart,
1288
1292
1296
but is sur-
rounded by
them.
1263. many] many a A.
1280. avenge] venge D 1.
1296. eskape] scape D 1.
1265. Teuter] Teutor A.
1290. Perilously] Perillusly D 1,
The Greek
King Theseus
warns Hector
that he is
risking his
life by
432 Hector is warndty Theseus of his Danger, & avoids it. [BK.III
Howe A kynge callyde Theseus, of affeccyon warnede
Ector to be ware of A iopartdy that he stode In,
notwithstondynge this Thesyus was a Greke ; and
howe Ector raskewyde Polly damas J>e kynge.1
Til J>at a kyiig J?at hi$t[e] Theseus,*
On Grekis side, only of gentillesse,
Swiche rou)>e kau^t * vp-on his distresse, 1300
To se hym stonde so ni$e vp-on ]?e wrak,
J5us vn-to hym of manly pite spake :
"0 flour of kny^thod, rote of hardynesse,
Welle of manhood, stok of worfines ! [leaf 76 a] 1304
Whi list J?e nat to haue noon adue?-tence,
pi lif to saue, of kny^tly prouidence,
But wilfully, where most is to drede,
)pi lif iupartist, and take list* noon hede, 1308
In mortal pereil how ])ou arte be-set,
Amonge so many closed and I-schet,
Allone, alias ! deuoide of al socour,
And to J>i silfe wilt do no fauour, 1312
But as fortune liketh to ordeyne 1 —
pat euery wyjt owjt[e] to compleyne
To beholde J?at so noble a kny^t,
Whiche poruj ])e worlde cast so clere a li^t, 1316
In worthies, & wil hyra nat with-drawe,
Reklesly }>is day to be slawe,
So pitously ]>i persone for to lese !
W^'t/i-drawe fin hond, }it sith pou maist chese, 1320
Jjin hi^e prowes compelleth me to praye,
At swiche meschef fat ]?ou nat ne deye."
And whan Hector of hym gan take hede,
He pankid hym of his goodlyhed, 1324
And maugre, sothly, J)e power & ]>e myjt
Of ]>e Grekis, lik a worpi knyjt
He skapid is, myd of alle his foon,
Hector
thanks him,
and cuts his
way thru his
foes.
1298. 2nd >at] whiche D2, wiche D 1— Theseus] Teseus C.
1299. of] for D 1. 1300. kaujt] he kaujt C.
1305. noon] om. D 1. 1307. most] as most D 1.
1308. take list] list take C.
1311. Allone alias] Alias allone D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 74 a (misplaced after line 1302).
Hector rides to the rescue of Polydamas, & kills 30 Greeks. 433
And went his weye Jjoru^ hem euerychon, 1328
His blody swerd alweie in his hond.
And in his weie Pollydamas he f onde, Hector sees
Polydamas
Ful lik a man, with al his besy peyne fighting with
Diffende hym silfe ageyn )?e kynges tweyne, 1332
Menelay and Thelamonyus, SdiSK
Whiche vp-on hym were f ul furious ; monius,
And, with a spere, J?is Greke, }?is Thelamou?i
Pollydamas smot to the erthe douw, 1336
Compellyng hym — J?er was non oj>er bote —
Ageyn hem two for to fi^t on fote,
Assentid fully on hym to ben a-wroke.
And first J)ei han hewen and to-broke 1340
)}e my^ti charnellis of his basenet,
And whan his viser after was of smette,
And his face nakid was and bare,
J?ei fil on hym in pat mortal snare, 1344
And token hyrn, J>e stori can deuise,
And sent hym forj>e, in ful cruel wise,
Toward Grekis, with many wor]?i kny^t.
But whan Hector }>er-of had a si$t, 1348
And sawe )>e rneschef of Pollydamas,
He cast fully to socur in ]?is caas, hJfrScue8 to
And priked after, woder ]>anne lyo^ ;
And, where he rood, aboute hym enviroiw 1352
With his swerd he made a large space, [leaf 766]
Til he cam to Jje same place
Amonge Grekis, furious and wood,
Pollidamas ]>Q silfe tyme stood, 1356
Socourles from al remedie,
Til J?at he on Hector cast his eye,
))at Grekis made hastily w^t/i-drawe.
And britti, first, of hem he hath slaw, 1360 Hector siaya
A A A t -j 80 Greeks.
And seuered hem, maugre al her pride : —
To-forne his swerd ]>e[i] durst[e] riat abide
Ageyn[e]s hym, nor make noon obstacle ;
But of kny^thod, be verray hi^e myracle, 1364
1339. a-wroke] wroke D 2, D 1. 1341. charnellis] charnelle A.
1342. of] so D 2. 1354. to] in D 1.
1360. first of hem] of hem first D 1.
434 Hector's horse is kild. He is helpt ly his bastard Brothers. [BK. Ill
Poiydamas
But Hector's
and he has to
fight on foot.
He clears a
space round
brothers,
Pollydamas, in meschef first awapid,
From Grekis bond frely is eskapid.
But freschely J>o, fe kyng Epistrophus,
Menelay, and Thelamonyus, 1368
With alle her kny^tes to-gidre hoi & clos,
Ageyn Troyens to geten hem a loos,
Been of newe entrid in bataille
"With gret strengfe & passyng apparaille, 1372
jjat merely Troyens fei compelle,
In her weye fat f ei dar nat dwelle,
]XTat-we't/2-stondynge her gret worf ines,
Nor of Hector fe kny^tly hi^e prowes, 1376
J)at fau^t so manly fat tyme, as I rede, —
But cowardly f ei han slawe his stede,
hat he constreined was to fiat on fote,
Jjat many Greke felt[e] ful vnswote. 1380
For f er was noon fat aboute him stood,
With his swerd fat he ne schad his blood;
bou} he so J>ikke aboute was be-leyn,
He voided hem & made a spase pleyn, 1384
* J '
In compas rou??de, be-hind & eke to-forn ;
And on his feet so wel he hath him born
bilk[e] day, fat Greke was noon, certeyn,
bat hardy was hond on hym to leyn, 1388
He was so strong, & sturdy as a wal.
And wha7me his brefer, callid natural,
Sawe hym on fote, myd of alle his foon,
On a frusche fei fel in euerychon, 1392
And fouwden hym, f e stori makef mynde,
Diffen.de hym silfe lik a tigre in Ynde ;
And hym to help, f oru$ her hi^e renouw,
^ei feltle] firste on kyng Thelamouw, 1396
For he on Hector was so cruel fou«de :
)5ei jaf to hym many blody wouwde,
Til on of hem, namyd Dyndaron,
Hath so fer amonge fe rengis goon, 1400
1366. eskapid] a skapyd A. 1378. slawe] slayn D 2.
1383. he om. A. 1385. to-forn] a forn A, D 2, D 1.
1391. on] a A, D2. 1395. her] om. D 2
1399. of] om. D 2. 1400. goon] romie D 1
BK. ill] Hector gets afresh Horse. His brother attacks Theseus. 435
And born hym so, only of manhede,
J)at he hath wowne a passynge mi^ti stede, [leaf 76
And brou^t to* Hector, sothly, J?er he stood,
Amonge Grekis al baj>ed in her blood.
fie whiche in hast, ful kny^tly he be-strood,
And amonge hem, lik Mars \iyrn silf he rood,
Ful many Greke makynge for to sterue ;
And with his swerd, whetted for to kerue,
He dauwted hath her envious pride :
Til Dephebws entrid in a-syde
In-to j)e feld, wij? a kny^tly chere,
And with hym brou^t many good archer
Of Poeme, [which] with her arowis kene,
And with feferis of pecok, fresche & schene,
Vp-on Grekis han pe feld recured ; —
In her schot fei wer so moche assured,
)5at Jjoru} mail and Jrikke plate of stele
})ei percyd han her harneis euerydel.
And Dephobus, ful like a manly man,
To kyng Teutran on hors[e]-bak J?o ran,
And furiously gan his swerd enbrace,
And wou?zded hym euene amyd pe face
J3oru$ fe viser — in his felle tene —
On hors[e]-bak he my^t[e] nat sustene.
And J>us Troyens on Grekis arn y-rorcne,
))at )>ei ageyn han }>e feld I-wo^ne —
]3ei wern on hem so Irous and so wood :
But Theseus ful kny^tly hem with-stood.
With Ipo kny^tes J»at he with hym ladde.
And, as I rede, Hector a bro]>er hadde,
)5e stori seith, ]?at hi^t[e] Quyntylene,
3onge, fresche, & lusty, armyd bri^t & schene,
Whiche with ]?e kyng callid Modernus
Is proudly falle vp-on Theseus ;
Dindaron
brings Hector
a fresh horse,
which he
mounts.
Deiphobus
helps with
archers,
1404
1408
1412
1416
1420
1424
1428 Theseus is
and wounds
K. Teutran.
1432
attackt by
Hector's
brother
Quintilene.
1401. only] inly A. 1403. to] it to C.
1406. misplaced at top of column in C and marked b ;
marked a.
1406. And] om. A. 1407. many] manly D 2.
1410. Dephebws] Deiphebns A. 1425. bus] bis D 2.
1426. f>at] om. D 1. 1427. hem] him D 1.
1429. bo] two A. 1433. Modernus] Modems A.
1405 is
436 Hector saves Theseus. He iirihorses other Greeks. [BK. in
Hector asks
the Trojans
to spare
Theseus,
and they
do so.
King Thoas
charges
Hector's
brother
Cassibellan.
Hector
unhorses
Greeks.
And J?ese tweyne, to-gidre of assent,
Be falle on hym with gret avisement, 1436
jjat, finally, to his vnhappy chaurace,
Jx>ru£ her kny^thod J>ei brou^t hi??i to onttrauwce,
And cast[e] schortly j>at he schal be ded :
Of whos purpos, as Hector gan take hed, 1440
He vn-to hem, of verray genterye,
Viith al his my^t loude gan to crye,
Besechyng hem for no Jnng J>«t he deye ;
And louly J)ei his biddyng dide obeye, 1444
And hem w^tA-drawe for to do vengance ;
For Hector had fully remembraimce
How Theseus, f>e same day to-forn,
Toward hym so goodly had hym born, 1448
Whan he hym sawe in meschef & distresse,
And kny^tly J>ou}t quite his gentillesse,
Lik as it longeth to euery gentil-xnan.
And Theseus ful lowly tho be-gan [leaf 76 d] 1452
To j)ank[e] Hector, pat he was eskapid.
But kyng Thoas ]>o hath fastfe] rapid
In-to ])e feld, wz't/i oj»er kny^tes manye,
And specialy with hem of Calydonye 1456
Cam Philotheas, pe my^ty kyng also,
A-geyn[es] Troyens for to haue a-do.
And, first, Thoas vritJi a spere ran
Furiously to Cassybellan, 1460
Oon of )>e sonys of kyng Priamws,
And ^af hym }>o a wou?^de so grevous,
WM-oute recure ]>at he fil dou?i dede ;
Of whiche strok, whan Hector gan take hede, 1464
In his herte gan his deth compleyne,
And in al hast dide his besy peyne
On his broker avenge hm ^if he my^t ;
And many oon he made to a-lijt, 1468
Jporu} his kny^thood, fro??i his hors[e]-bak,
1444. >ei] bat D 2.
1448] Of knyjtly rou>e for drede he sholde be lorn D 1.
1449] Towarde hym sawe in meschef & distresse D 1
1450. quite] to quite D 1.
1454. faste] first A.
BK. in] Nestor conies to help the Greeks. K. Phion is in danger. 437
jpat, sothfastly, al went vn-to wrak
On Grekis side, what cam in his way,
So worpily he bar hym al pat* day.
Til duk Nestor is entrid in-to 63 1
With five pousand in stele arm yd bii^t,
Ageinfes] Troyens Grekis to socure;
And with hym mette, of verray aventure,
])Q kyng Esdras, so my^ti and so bold,
And kyng Phyon in his char of gold,
With al pe worpi nobl^ * chiualrye
)3at from Agresta cam with leconye,
)}e kynges sone, of pe same lond,
Ful renomed & worpi of his honde.
And as pei semble, & to-gidre ran,
])Q same tyme, many worpi man
Hath lost his lyf vp-on ouper syde ;
And of slau^ter, with large wourcdis wide,
Al pe soil, of bodyes pat lay dede,
Lyk a ryuer ran with stremys rede,
With her cheris grisly, pale, and fade,
)?at in pe blod men my^t goon & wade
To pe ancle : pe slau^ter was so huge.
And kyng Phion, socure and refuge
Yn-to Troyens, so bare hym in pat strife,
J)at many Greke he made lese his life
)5e same day, so wel his swerd was whet ;
But he, vnwarly, so sore was be-set
With multitude of Grekis rourale aboute,
)3at of his lyf he pleynly stood i?? doute :
For lykly was he myjtfe] nat eskape,
And of Grekis he schuld anoon be take,
Nadde he ben holp of worpi leconye, [leaf 77 a]
J)at to Esdras loude gan to crye :
"Alias ! " quod he, of routhe and pite,
" Worpi Phion pe kyng schal take be
Amonge Grekis, poru^ ^oure necligence,
1470. sothfastly] sothly D 1. 1472. hat] >e C.
1479. worbi noble] noble worjn C.
1485. vp-on] vp D 2. 1503. cmod] quoth A.
1504. take] I take D 1.
H72
Nestor
arrives with
5000 Greeks.
1476
1480
1484 There is
great
slaughter on
both sides.
1488
1492
King Phion,
helper of the
Trojans,
1496 is encircled
by Greeks.
1500
1504
Jecony
urges Esdras
to help him.
438 King Phion is rescued. Hectw renews Ms Attack. [BK. in
But in al hast ^e* do $oure dilligence
For to reskue pis noble worpi kyng ! "
The Trojans And alle attonys, with-outQ more tariyng, 1508
rescue King ..
Pbion. Maugre alle ]>o pat made resistence,
From Grekis swerd, be my^ti violence
))ei ban reskued }>e noble kyng Phion ;
And at his large with hem he is goon, . 1512
Of his eskape wonder glad and li^t.
Hector and And Hector pawne with many lusti kny^t
Eetourned is, and Dephebus also, •
Pollydamas, & many anoper mo 1516
[Of] Troyan* kny^tes, pat desyre newe
Grekis to make sore for to rewe :
For, of assent, pel fully hem purpose
In swiche meschef Grekis to enclose, 1520
ftat, ^if pei my^t, fewe schulde eskape.
And per-vp-on, knyjtly pei hem schape,
assail the And hem be-gan freschely for to assaille,
'* J)at in pe feld Grekis gan to faille 1524
Of her power, and to lese her londe,
J)at, finally, poru^ pe iny^ti honde,
And pe force of Troyanysche* kny^tes,
and make \)Q Grekis had, mau^re al her myates, 1528
them give
way; Be brou^t pat day to confusiou?^.
but Meneiaus But Menelay and kyno- Thelamou??,
and Telamon ,TTI
fight boldly. Whan pei hem sawe feblyn and apeire,
)3ei of kny^thod made hem to repeire ; 1532
And so lik men pei ban hem silf diffendid,
Then Eneas Til Eneas from Trove is discendid
romcs from .
Troy, With Ewfremws pe duk, pe manly man ;
And with her kny^tes of newe pei be-gan 1536
Efte ageyn Grekis to* oppresse.
«ndew8ehi°8r And *Jector a7> foru3 his worpinesse,
attack. Lyk: a lyoim, with a sterne face,
Euere in oon so gan hem to enchase, 1540
)?at compellid of necessite
1506. in al hast je] 3e in al hast C. 1516. mo] to A, D 2.
1517. Troyan] Troyans C. 1523. for] om. D 1.
1525. and] for D 2. 1527. Troyanysche] Troyanysches C.
1537. to] for to C
BK. in] Ajax joins the fight. He & Eneas unhorse each other. 439
))ei wern echon a-forn his swerd to fle,
And constreyued, ri^t of verray nede.
Of whiche Mnf' wha?^ Aiax can take hede, 1544 Ajax, seeing
the slaughter
Hadde in herte grete compassiou?^ of the Greeks,
To sen )?e slau^ter and confusions
On Grekis side, Guydo maketh mynde,
And gan to loke at his bak be-hynde, 1548
And sawe wher many warde stood a-brod,
And many baner & penourc J?at a-bood [leaf 77 6]
Amyd ]?e feld, hole and nat forbroke,
}?at redy wern attonis to be wroke, 1552
3if nede were, on hem of Troye toun ;
In whiche wardis, wzt/z-oute excepciouw,
Was hool J?e flour of Grekis chiualrie.
To whom, anoon, Aiax gan hym hi^e, 1556 advances,
As he J>at was sore in herte agrevid ;
And with his crye he hath hem so commevid, rallies the
Greeks,
pat J>ei enhast hem to com to rescus,
Amongis whom was ]?ere no refus. 1560
And as faste as ]?ei gan assemble,
Of noyse of hors }>e er)>e ga?i to tremble,
Furiously as )>ei to-gidre Hinge :
J?ere my^t men ]?e strokis here ryng 1564
Of speris scharp, foru^ J>e harneis born,
And ]>oru3 scheldis, wrou^t of stele & horn,
In-to }>e brest, sturdy, squar, & brood ;
And J>er, I finde, how ]?at Aiax rood 1568 and charges
To Eneas, and he to hym also,
So gret envie was a-twixe hem two,
))at [nat] but deth my^t her Ire apese :
For in hert nouper my^t han ese, 1572
Til with speris scharp[e] grou?ide & whet,
On hors[e]-bak fei han to-gidre met.
And at coupyng so sore l>ei han hit,^ Each un-
/J , horses the
pat eueryche oper to J>e er]?e smyt, 1576 other.
1542. echon] om. D 2. 1543. nede] om. D 2.
1553. on] of D 2, D 1.
1557. sore in herte] in herte sore D 2.
1559. enhast] in haste A. 1570. a-twixe] be twixe D 1.
1575. coupyng] metinge D 1 — hit] hym hit C.
440 Sector wwnds Philoteas. Ulysses drives Tryans lack, [BK. in
Ajax and
Eneas fight
ou foot.
Philoteas
helps Ajax,
and breaks
his spear on
Hector,
who wounds
him badly.
Then Ulysses
and Hume-
rus,
with 10,000
men,
drive the
Trojans back.
feat to beholde was a kny3tly si}!;.
And after [fat] f ei bo)>e on fote r^t,
Be liklyhede, in her wood[e] rage,
Ouf er to falle in ful grete damage
Amonge J>e hors, be-cause fat fei stood
Vp-on f e soil, al ouersprad wtU blood ;
But Philoteas is to Aiax come, .
And hath hym vp amorage f e hors I-nome,
And kny^tly faujt, as makid is memorie.
And, sothly, ellis Troyens with victorie
Hadde had fe feld, pleinly for to seyne,
Til Philoteas w/t/i his wardis tweyne,
Euene in }>e face, manly hem wit/i-stood ;
And wit/i a spere he first to Hector rood,
And vp-on hym f e schafte, I finde, he brak :
But, sothly, he vp-on his hors[e]-bak
Kepte hym so wel, for al fat fel[le] stroke
Eemevinge nat, but sturdy as an oke
Sat in his sadel vp-rijt mt/i his chyne;
And with a spere, rijt as any lyne,
In-to body, depe f 01113 fe schelde,
Philoteas he smote in-to be felde,
feat of his lyf his kny3tes wern in doute.
But fo cam in, witfc so gret a route,
Kyng Humerus, and Ylixes eke,
And vrith hem broi^t many worf i Greke —
Ten ]?ousand kny3tes, manly men echon,
)3at gan Troyens [for] to assaille anoon ;
And cruelly, on euery halfe certeyn,
With multitude fei han hem so* be-leyn,
J)at dispeired and disconsolat,
And of longe n^t awaped and amat,
Gan wM-drawe, faynted in bataille ;
And eke her* hors, sothly, gonne* faille,
}5at on her syde al went vp-so-douw.
1578. ]>at] om. D 2, D 1. 1580. ful] om. D 1.
1583-86 are omitted in D 2.
1587. misplaced at bottom of column in D 2 and marked a ; 1588
is marked b.
1588. Til] But D 2. 1597. body] >e body D 1.
1606. so] sore C. 1610. her] his C— gonne] gan C.
[leaf 77 c]
1580
1584
1588
1592
1596
1600
1604
1608
BK. in] Ulysses and Troilus wound one another.
441
But Paris ]x>, -with hem of Troye touw
Is entrid in, in ful manly wyse ;
And first he met with J>e kyng of Fryse,
}3at to Ylixes was ny$e of allye,
Whom Paris smot with so gret envie,
)?at he hym slowe ; wher-of Grekis were
Sore abavid ; and aftir, with a spere,
Vlixes rood to avenge hym $if he my$t.
And, first, whan he of Paris had a si^t,
In-to )>e reste he gan his spere prowe,
))at, finally (for he bare to lowe),
Failyng of Paris, sothly, as I rede,
Vnder hym he slowe his my^ti stede,
jpat maugre hym he to groimde is goon.
And he on hym wolde haue falle anoon,
But Troylus ]?o mette hym in }>e berde,
And furiously with his scharpe swerde
He smote Vlixes jjoru^-out his viser,
))at lyk a condut or a smal river,
Doura by his face, of blood }>e stremys ran.
But Vlixes, lik a manly man,
Of )>at strok astonyd nat at al,
But on his stede, stif as any wal,
"With his swerde so my^tely gan race
J3oru$ ]>e vmbrere in-to Troylus face,
)3at he hym ^af a large mortal woiwde :
Of whiche strok, passyngly Iocou?*de
)3e Grekis \\rern, supposyng, in her Jxw^t,
How J>at Troyens finally were brou^t
Vn-to outtrau^ce. And sothly so J?ei hadde,
Sane Jjat Hector, with kny^tes which* he ladde,
And vrith hym eke Paris and Dephebus,
And alle his brewer, in kny^thod most famws,
Troylus also, for al his last[e] wou?zde,
)3at was alweie so noble a kny^t I-fou?zde,
Alle attonys, loyned in-to oon,
1612 Paris slays
the King of
Fryse.
1616
Ulysses kills
1620
1624 Paris's steed.
1628
1632
Troilus
wounds
Ulysses,
and he cuts
Troilus's
face.
1640
1644
Then Hector,
Paris, Dei-
phobus and
others join,
1617. Grekis] the Grekis A. 1622. for] for that A— to] so A.
1628. his] a A. 1636 vmbrere] vmbrel D 1.
1638 is transposed with 1646 D 1. 1640. Troyens] Troylus A.
1642. which] J>at C. 1646. a] om. D 2.
442 Hector slays many Greeks, & recites the Wrongs they've
and charge
the Greeks.
Hector
slays all he
meets.
The Greeks
flee like a
swarm of
bees.
Hector, who
has always
been in front,
falls back on
his troops,
and reminds
of the wrongi
the Greeks
did their
forefathers.
Vp-on Grekis sodeinly be goon.
And worf i Hector aldir-first be-gan
Grekis to enchase, J>at a-forn hym ran,
Lik as bestis fat fled fro f e deth ;
And euere in on, with his * swerde he sleth
Whom he mette, or durst his strok abide ;
And on his foon, with fresclie wouwdis wide,
])Q slander he made alweie to renewe.
And filk[e] day, in blody rosen hewe
He hath her platis & her harneis steyned ;
And feu} it hadde blood fro heuene reined,
jpe soil reddere my^tfe] nou3t a ben :
And ay I-liche, as a swarme of been,
Jje Grekis flokmel fled out of his* way.
And Guydo seith, al fat like day
Hector hadde, formest on )>e plein,
In fe frovmter of ]?e Grekis leyn,
)2at be-hynde, ]>& kny^tes of his garde
For lak of hym wern alle out of warde.
Wherfore, whan he hadde foi^tfe] longe,
And Grekis sawe of newe wexe strong,
To his kny^tes he is a^en repeired,
Whiche in hem silf gretly wer dispeired
For his absence ; but J>o whan ]?ei \\\m sen,
Ful inwardly recomforted ben,
And wt/z glad hert han her lord received.
And her gladnes whan he hath perceiwed,
Spak vn-to hem ful effectuously,
And praied hem ful benygnely,
To remembre kny^tly in her herte,
And considre wysly, and aduerte,
i First, fe wrongis fat Grekis haii hem do
Of $ore ago, and ouermore also
3if Grekis had filke day victorie,
Far-wel for ay J>e honour and fe glorie
[leaf 77 d]
done.
1648
1652
1656
1660
1664
1668
1672
1676
1680
1648. sodehily be] bene sodeinly D 1. 1652. his] >e C.
1661. his] her C. 1662. al] that al A, J»t al D 2.
1670. Whiche in] With Inne D 1— hem] hym D 2.
1675. effectuously] affectuously D 2.
1679. Grekis] he grekys D 2. 1680. ago] a«e D 2.
1681. >ilke] bat D 1. 1682. 2nd >e] om. D 2.
BK. in] Hector exhorts his Troops. Greeks are slain. 443
Of Troy an blod, in conclusioiw : —
" For, finally, we and eke oure toun
Schal mortally tourne to ruyne ;
And oure honour, pat was wont to scliine
Jjoru^-oute ]>e world, & oure worpines,
Eclipse schal, and tourne to dirknes,
But $e J)is day like as men $ow quite.
Wherefore I pray, fat no man atwite
3oure hi^e reiiou?i of any covvardyse,
To sette vp-on in ful manly wyse,
And nat to spare for drede of deth, I pray."
And pei echon ful lowly gan* obeie
To his desire, w/tft-oute lenger tale ;
And entringe in by a certeyn vale,
Vp-on Grekis, pese worpi kny^tes alle, [leaf ?s a]
Folwyng Hector, sodeyiily ben falle,
Ful mortally, or pat pei wer ware.
And Hector po no Greke wolde spare,
But euery-where, to her confusioura,
He killed & slow^e aboute hym envirouw ;
And his kny^tes, ridyng be his syde,
Made her fomen, maugre al her pride,
To lese her lond, & flen out of her si^te :
Til pat pe kyng whiche Thoas hi^t,
On Grekis side, inward gan hym dresse,
And of newe ful kny^tly gan oppresse
Hem of Troye, )>is kyng, pis manly man,
))at had a-forn slawe Cassibelan,
Oon of J>e sonys of kyng Priam vs.
But as he rood, of fortune it fel pus :
Jpat alle }>e bre]>er on a frusche he mette,
Whiche of assent envirou?^ hym be-sette,
And from his sadil — pat many [Greke] be-hilde —
Amonge pe hors smet hym in-to pe feld ;
And of pei rent first his basenet,
And cruelly pei had his hede of smet —
For he vnarmyd al at meschef stood —
1690. atwite] twyte A. 1694. gan] dide C.
1699. Ful] For A. 1712. it fel] om. A.
1716. in-to] in A— 2nd >e] om. D 2.
TROY BOOK. G G
1684 Hector urgee
his troops
to quit them-
selves like
men.
1688
1692
1696
1700
1704
1708
1712
Thoas is
unhorst,
1716 and his
helmet torn
off.
They fall on
the Greeks,
who flee
before Hector
and his
knights
till Kin?
Thoas aids
them.
The Duke
of Athens
rescues
Tlioas.
Paris wounds
the Duke
with an
arrow,
444 King Thoas is rescued. Hector-Mis King Humerus. [BK. in
Saue pat pe duke, furious and wood, 1720
Of Athenys, rydyng a gret paas,
Reskued hym in pis mortal cas
With his knyjtes pat aboute him rood.
And hym to helpe, wit/i-oute more abood, 1724
With a spere, scharpe whet and kene,
First of al he fil on Quyntylene,
))at besy was Thoas to haue slawe ;
And J>e brepre he made also w/t/i-drawe, 1728
Whan Quyntylene of his hors was prow.
But Paris po dro\v vp his my^ti bowe,
And to pis duke lete an harowe glide,
And poru^ his platis hit hym in pe side 1732
Vp-on a rib, pat made hym sore blede ;
Of whiche strok he ne toke noon hede
Be-cause only pat he so fervent was
Amyd his foon to helpe kyng Thoas, 1736
Amonge pe horse pat was bore to growzde,
In point of deth, vrith many mortal wouwde,
Only for he was naked on pe hede :
But pis duke, ful[ly] deuoide of drede, 1740
Of his kny^thood in pis perlous cas,
Amyd his foon hath holpfe] kyng Thoas,
And with his lyf made him skape fre.
And Hector ay, of cruel enmyte 1744
I-lyche fresche, for no ping wolde leue
Vp-on Grekis his manhood for to preue, [leaf 78 &]
Enforcyng hym to her distrucciouw :
And, as he rood amonge hem vp & doiw, 1748
Kyng Humerus hath a bowe take,
And to schete gan hym redy make,
And hatfully per-in set* an arwe;
And to Hector he marked hap so narwe, 1752
Jpat he smote hym euene amyd pe face :
But or he my^t any ferther pace,
Hector smet hym with so gret a peyne,
J5at with his swerd he rof his hed atweyne. 1756
J)e deth of whom wharc pe Grekis knowe,
1728. >e] om. D 2. 1751. J>er-in set] set >er in C.
but he sav<
K. Thoas.
Humerus
wounds
Hector,
but Hector
kills him.
BK. in] Hector cuts his way thru 7000 Greeks. 445
Myw auctor seith, )>ei hail an horn I-blowe,
bat vnwarly. vrith ]>at dredf ul sowne, TOGO Greeks
surround
Seuene j>ousand kny^tes ca??i attonys dourc 1760 Hector,
Aboute Hector, wM-oute more abood ;
But he of force borus hem alle he rood. j>ut h& cuts
his way
Maugre her my^t, ]>at hym }?o ws't/i-sette, thru em»
And slowe alle J?o fat his weie lette, 17G4
And styntfe] nat, pleynly, til he cam Prfam68 to
To his fader, )?e wor]ri k}rng Priam,
"Wzt/i many worjri, f ul faravs of renoun,
J)at wz't/i his kny^tes fast[e] by )>e toiw 1768
Lay al )>e day, w^t/i men on liors & fote,
As he fat was of kny^thod crop & rote,
And kepte hym cloos, of [ful] hi^e prudence —
Til Hector cam vn-to* his presence 1772
And hym besou^t, in >is grete nede, and \»g» him
to attack the
With )>re fousand )?«t he wold hym spede §JSfJsSth
Vp-on Grekis in her felle rage, men-
To falle on hem at most avaimtage. 1776
Howe the Kenge Pryamus of Troye kynghtly enterde
in-to ]?e felde at the requeste of Ectore.1
And >a?zne in haste, iris worbi Priamvs, pnamatonce
advances,
With his kny^tes fresche and desyrous,
Towarde Grekis hath )>e weye take,
And swyche a mordre gan vp-on he??i make, 1780 and slays
D many Greeks.
})at many Greke lay ded on ]>e pleyn :
For Priamws so sore hath hem be-leyn,
On euery half, poruj his grete my^t,
)5at Ipei ful fast fled out of his s^t, 1784
So sore of newe he vp-on hem sette.
And, as I finde, "ber to-sridre mette Hector and
Ajax meet.
Hector and Aiax, of verray auenture ;
And on her stedis, strong & wonder sure, 1788
1762. 2nd he] om. D 1. 1770. As] And D 1.
1772. vn-to] in to C. 1777. new IT A.
1779. take] ytake D 1. 1781. pat] And D 1.
1782. so sore hath hem] hath hem so sore D 1.
1786. her] ]>ei D 1.
1 Royal MS. 13. D. ii. leaf 128 b (leaf 128 (124) is misplaced with
leaf 76 (75) ; the chapter-heading also is misplaced after line 1778).
446 Single combats of Trojan and Greek leaders. [BK. ill
Hector and
Ajax fight.
Both are
unburst.
Margnriton
of Troy
attacks
Telamon,
and is cruelly
wounded.
The Greeks
are harast.
King Dnglas
charged
Menestheus,
Duke of
Athens.
])Q story seith, in al pe hast pei koraie,
Lyke wode lyouras pei to-gidre rcmne
With so gret my$t, pat, wer pei lefe or lope,
Vp-on pe pleyn pei wer vnhorsed bope.
And in )>is while, Menelay pe kyng,
Sodeinly, as he cam rydyng,
He slowe of Troye a worpi anieral. [leaf 78 c]
And pus pe shunter, passyngly mortal,
Eenewed ay : for Celydonas
J)e nevew slow of pe kyng Thoas ;
And Madan mette, mjn auctor write)) pws,
A Grekysche kyng callid Cedyus,
Whiche wit/t his swerd swiche a strok 1^ set,
)3at J>oru3 }>e vmbrere out his eye he smet ;
And Sardellus, pat was of Troye eke,
])Q same while slowe a worpi Greke,
A lord of name, and of hye prowes,
Al-pei Gnydo his name nat expres.
And pawne also cam Margaritouw,
On Troye side, ageyn Thelaniouw;
And bope two, inly set a-fire
Of hije disdeyn and of hatful Ire, —
As pei mette on horse-bak y-fere,
Kyng ThelamouTi, sothly, as I lere,
3af vn-to hym a wou^de ful cruel.
But ]>o cam in f>e Troyan Phanuel,
And Prothenor smot dowi of his stede :
And jms pe sonys, pleynly, as I rede,
Of Priamws, no ping disamaied,
J)e Grekis han on eue/y part outtraied,
And so kny^tly al pe day hem born,
J)at many Greke fatally* hap lorn
His lif, in soth, of hate and enmyte.
And kyng Duglas is falle on Meneste,
Of Attenys duke and gouernour;
And wz't/i a spere, of Ire and old rancour,
He ran at hym, & smet hym myd pe schelde :
But for al pat, his sadil $it he hilde ;
1798. 2nd J>e] om. D 1. 1820. fatally] pat day fatally
1822. Duglas] Duclas D 2. 1825. at] on D 1.
1792
1796
1800
1804
1808
1812
1816
1820
1824
BK. in] Struggle over Duke Menestheus of Athens. 447
And for be duk spere hadde noon,
He with a swerd to Duglas rood anoon, 1828 Athw!
Ait. T <• r- nearly cuts
And poruj be vmbrere rot of nvae his nase, King Dug-
las's nose off.
pat he astonyd stood as in a mase,
Whan bat he sawe be conduit of his blood
So stremyn out; but, for al bat, he rood 1832
Out a-side, fully deuoide of fere,
In-to tyme bat he stauwched were.
But Deamor, his ovvne brober dere, Deamor,
Whan he behild his mortal blody chere, 1836 Dugfas's bro-
Of hi3e disdeyn he rood to Meneste,
And hym vnhorseth ; but vp anow sterte he, unhorses
Menestheus,
And or he my^t fully vp arise,
A-nober brober in ful cruel wyse 1840
Is falle on hym, so bat of hem bre
Attonys wern vp-on Meneste,
Fully in pwpos he schal lese his lyf.
But he so kny^tly bar hym in pat strife [leaf 78 d] 18-14 who fights
Ageyn[e]s hem, bat wonder was to se ;
And vp-on hym most cruel of hem bre
Was on Thoras, eldest of echon,
Whiche him to haue slaw was besi euer in on : 1848
For al to-broke bei han his basenet.
But whan bat Teuter saw hym so* be-set K. Teucer
. ~ , . ' , wants to
— A Urekiscn kyng, as made is mencioiw, — help mm,
Hadde in his herte grete compassiouw, 1852
And bou3t[e], pleinly, of manhod him releve,
And, 3if he my^t, his fomen for to greve.
But al for nou^t was his besy peyne :
For Hector bo fil on bobe tweyne, 1856 but Hector
,T „ J falls on both
Vp-on leuter and on Meneste, of em.
And had hem slayn, nad[de] Aiax be, Ajnx, with
Whiche vn-to Hector ffaste gan hym hi^e, charges
J Hector.
A bousand kny3tes in his companye, 1860
To w^t/i-stonde hym,* and Meneste to sane
From his hondis, 3 if he my3t Irim haue.
But Paris bo, and be kyng of Perse,
1828. Duglas] Douglas D 1. 1829. vmbrere] vmbrel D 1.
1832. So] To D 1. 1850. hym so] hew bo>e C.
1861. To witA-stonde] The which stonde A— hym] hem C.
448 Paris succours Hector, who denounces King Merion. [BK. m
Paris and "With five pousand, as I can reherse,
Of worpi kny^tes, & many Troyan mo,
Be vn-to Hector alle attonys go,
In J>rifty wyse ridyng on a rowe :
For Paris made a trompet to be blowe,*
At whiche per cam, knyjtly enbatailled,
Many Troyan, ful wel apparailled,
Whiche in pe feld of Hector wer co?meied ;
For of oon herte pei fully han obeied
Yn-to pe biddynge of pis Troyan kny^t,
Al fresche and newe to begynne a fijt
and slay Vp-on Grekis, as ferforpe as pei can,
''Of whom was slayn many manly man.
Arid ay pe slau^tre pitously reueweth,
j)at many Greke sore in herte reweth
Her gret[e] los and distruccioiw,
Wrouj t vp-on hew by hem of Troye touw,
Hector kins And specially of Hector, as I finde,
Whiche on pat day, as Dares make]) mynde,
1000 knights, Wit/i his hond a pousand kny^tes slowe,
)?at neuer wern adawed of her swowe :
For Greke dar noon in his weye dwelle ;
For with his swerd he koude* hem so compelle
To lese her grou??,de, of necessite,
And like as schepe a-fore pe wolf [to] fle.
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
and warns
King Merion
that his end
is at hand.
Of the Irouse langage that Ectore had to Meryon the
Kynge, and howe he sclewe hym,1
And, as I rede, amyd of his victorie,
Hector mette vnder a tentorie
Amonge Grekis Meriou?^ J>e kyng,
To whom he spake, wtt/t-oute more tariyng : 1892
" 0 J)ow traytowr, ]>e hour aproche)) faste, [leaf 79 a]
For J)ow arte come, sothly, to pi laste,
1868] For with an horn >at Paris made blowe 0, For Parys maad
a Trompet to be blowe A, With an horn >at parys made a trompet
to blowe D 2, For a truwipet ]>at Parys made to blowe D 1.
1878. many] many a D 2. 1882. >at] a D 1.
1886. koude] wold C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 77 a (misplaced after line 1894).
BK. in] Hector kills K. Merion, & is wounded ly Duke Meneste. 449
])\ fatal day hath his cours I-romie ! Hector
For trust[e] wel, or westring of fe sorcne 1896
I cast[e], platly,* to quite fe fi mede, venting
And wi(h my swerd [in haste] fi blood to schede :
For f ou so bolde were on me to-day
To lettyn me of my riche praye 1900
At f e spoilynge of kyng Patroclus —
jpat for cause f ou were presumptuous
Me to distourbe,* fou schalt anon be ded."
And douw he stirte, & smote of first his hed, 1904 and then cuts
his head off.
And hyni to spoille also gan hym haste ;
But Meneste cam on hym as faste, £uke tl
J ' Menestheus
Whan he be-hilde trauerse at his bake,
And with* a spere, [in] whiche was no lake, 1908
Smot hym in with grete violence,
Wfc't^-oute si^t, or any aduertence
Of worf i Hector, or any takynge hede,
)3e wounde of whom sore gan to blede. 1912
But out he went, and made it faste bynde ;
And Meneste stale a-weye be-hynde, bound UP>
Nat in purpos, sothly, }if he may,
To mete Hector of al J>at ilke day. 1916
But whan jj«t he was [y-]bonde sore,
His wou^de stauwche, fat it bled no more,
More furious fan euere he was to-forn,
Eepeired is, with anger al to-torne 1920
(So ay fe Ire on his hert[e] fret), before-
Jpat he bar dourc al fat euere he met —
Sleth & kylleth, he was so mercyles,
Alle fo fat put hem silf in pres, 1924
Or hardy wern with hym for to mete.
For in his boke lik as writ Darete,
For verray soth, and in fe stori seith
(3if it be so fat men may $eue feyth 1928
And credence of possibilite,
1895. I-rcmne] Ronne A. 1897. platly] pleinly C.
1903. distourbe] distonrble C. 1907. trauerse] >e trailers D 1.
1908. with] in C. 1917. >at] om. A.
1918. stamiche] staunched A, staunched D 1.
1921. ay] as D 1. 1927. For] Of D 1.
450 The Trojans put the Greeks to flight, and plunder them. [BK. in
Hector kills
another
thousand
Greeks.
Agamemnon
doesn't fight
that day.
The Greeks
flee to their
tents,
and are
spoild by the
Trojans,
who take
their loot to
Troy.
As in Guydo clerly $e may se),
Aftir pat lie cau^t his lattre woiwde,
Finally Grekis to confouwde 1932
— So as it is affermed in certeyn —
A )>ousand knyjtes with his hond wer slayn,
"WYt7*-oute hem f o, }>at I spak of rath !
And newe alweye he ga?i his swerd to bafe 1936
In Grekis blod, fat sodeinly fei be
So ouer-layn foru} his cruelte,
J)«t Greke was noon, of hi^e nor lowe estat,
J5at he ne was a-whaped and amaat, 1940
Of his kny^thod and manly excellence :
For J?er was IKW to make resistence, [leaf 796]
Nor outterly, fat durst[e] take on honde
Of al fat day Hector to with-stonde. 1944
And as it is also made* mencioim,
JMlke day kyng Agamenouw,
As seith Guydo, cam nat in[-to] f e felde,
For causes gret his presence he wM-helde, 1948
On Grekis side J?at al goth vp-so-dou?i :
Hector on hem so pleyeth J)e lyon,
J)at to her tentes ]?ei fled for socours.
And Ipei of Troye, proudly as victours, 1952
Sued aftir, by tracis of her blood ;
And }>er ]?ei wan tresour & gret good,
And spoiled hem, in ful gret distresse,
Of her armour and of her richesse, 1956
And felle on hem, or fat fei were ware,
And home to Troye al ]>e good J>ei bare.
For, finally, fat day wif meschaurcce
Grekis had be brou^t vn-to outtraurcce, 1960
Wtt/i-oute recure, in soth, for euere-more,
On euery parte J>ei were be-leyn so sore
ftoru} fe manhod of Hector, & f e my^t,
With helpe of many ofer* worfi kny^t, 1964
frat so felly ageyn Grekis wrou^t :
1934. kny^tes] om. D2. 1935. >o] om. D 1.
1945. also made] made also C— also] om. D 1.
1958. J>e] that A, >at D 2.
1964. many oj>er] ober many C— worbi] om. A.
BK.ni] The Trojans would have beaten the Greeks, but for Fate. 451
would have
beaten the
Greeks for
ever,
if cruel Fate
and Fortune
hadn't ruiud
em,
For to swiche meschef, pleinly, )>ei hem brou^t, The Trojans
)3at nad[de] ben her owne pitous slouthe,
Of pride only, and of foly routhe, 1968
.)?ei had of hem, at her volunte,
])at day for euere hadde J>e souereynte,
And recured, foru} her hi^e renouw,
Lordschip of hem and domynaciouw, 1972
Which e schuld haue laste, & be cowtjnuel,
Victoriously and perpetuel
Haue endurid ; saue cruel Fate
Is redy ay \\ith Fortune, to debate 1976
Ageyn Jnnges ]>at gynne in wilfulnes,
To make hem fyne ay in wrechidnes,
)3oru3 her envious disposiciouw
Of sodeyn chaurcge and reuoluciouw, 1980
And vnwar tournyng of hir false whele,
J)at wil nat bide whan a Jmig is wele —
Alias, freel, deuoide of sikernesse.
})e cause was dymmed wij? dirknesse, 1984
))at hath Troyens Jjoru^ false oppiniou?*
I-blended so in her discresioura,
And specially fordirked so J>e si^t
Of wor]>i Hector, )?e p?*udent manly kny3t, 1988
To sen a-forn what schuld after swe,
Be good avis pe meschef to eschewe
)5at fol\vid hem at pe bak be-hynde. [leaf 79 c]
Alias! pei wern wilfully made blynde, 1992
The same day, whan pei set[e]* softe
Be victorie on J?e hille a-lofte,
}5at ]?ei nat koude of necligance se
)3e aftir-fal of her felicite — 1996
So put a-bak was her aduertence
For lak of resouw and of hi^e prudence :
For }>ei her hap ban voided, & her grace,
)?at presently were sette a-fore her face. 2000
For, in a man is nat co??zmendable,
3if Fortune be to hym fauourable
1966. swiche] om. D 2. 1975. Fate] hate D 1.
1977. in] of D 1. 1985. hath] at A. 1990. to] for to D 2.
1993. sete] wer set C. 1995. nat] ne A, D 1.
and clouded
Hector's eyes
to stop his
seeing future
disaster.
The Trojans
lackt reason
and prudence.
If a man
refuses the
chance which
Fortune
gives him,
452 The changealleness of Fortune. Hectors ill chance. [BK. in
And blaiwdischinge, with a forhede clere,
To smyle on hym with a plesaiwt chere, 2004
Only of fauour for to help hym oute,
Whan he in meschef is be-set aboute —
}if he refuse his hap of wilfulnes,
Fortune avoidynge poru^ vnkynd[e]nea 2008
Whan sche mynystrep to hym of hir grace :
Anoper tyme he schal hir nat embrace,
Whan he hath nede to hir helpe at al,
To socour hym or he cacche a fal; 2012
But raper pan, for his ingratitude,
Frowardly, with mowes hym delude,
Whan he best wenep stond in sikernes.
Fortune is ay so ful of brotulnes, 2016
Remewable, and redy for to flitte
Hir welf ul how?-, pat who list nat amytte
With hir fauour for to ben allied,
Anoper tyme it schal be denyed, 2020
Whan he wer leuest finde hir fauourable :
For in some hour, sothly, pis no fable,
Vn-to som man sche grau^tep his desires,
J3at wil nat after* in a pousand $eres, 2024
Parauenture, onys condiscende
Vn-to his wil, nor his lust hym sende,
As it hath falle pis day vnhappily
To worpi Hector, pat so wilfully 2028
Wrou^t of hede Grekis for to spare,
Fatally whan pei were in pe snare.
For he of hem, like a conqueroure,
With victorie, trivmphe, and honour 2032
Mi^t haue brou^t, poru$ his hi^e renou?^,*
fee palme of conquest in-to Troye toura,*
Whiche he pat day reffusid folily.
2009. sche] he D 1. 2010. hir nat] not hir D 1.
2011. hir] om. D 2.
2018. welful] wilfulle D 1— amytte] admitte A.
2020. tyme] om. D 1. 2024. after] asterte C.
2027. day] day ful A.
2033, 34 are transposed in C.
slie is so
fickle
tliat she'll
desert him
when he
most needs
her.
So, this day,
Hector might
have enterd
Troy
victorious,
but lie re-
futed the
chance.
BK. in] Hector fights with his cousin, Ajax Telamonius. 453
Howe worthy Ector infortunately lefte the felde
requeste of his Cosyne, Thelamonus Aiax.1
For, as he rood, pis Hector, cruelly
Amonge Grekis slowe and bar al douft, —
Casuely he mette Thelamou/i,
I mene Aiax, ny^e of his allye,
J^at of hate and cruel hoot en vie [leaf 79 d]
To Hector rood, like as he were wood,
Al-be to hym he* was [ful] ny$e of blod ;
3it, for al pat, pis $ong[e] lusty kny$t
Dide his power & his fulle my^t,
W^t/j-oute feynyng, to haue born hym dou?i
(Whos fader hi^t also Thelamouw,
)pat hym be-gat, pe stori telleth pus,
Of Exiouw, suster to Priam vs).
And pis Aiax, flourynge in 3onge age,
Fresche and delyue/*, and of gret corage,
Sette on Hector, of kny^tly hi^e prowes ;
And, as pei mette, bope in her wodnes,
On her stedis, pis manly champiowzs,
Eueryche on oper lik tigers or lyons
Be-gan to falle, and proudly to assaille,
And furiously seuere plate and maille, —
First wit/z. speris, longe, large, & rou?ide,
And aftirwarde with swerdis kene groimde :
And fi^tyng pus, longe pei contune.
Til it be-fil of cas or [of] fortune,
Tokne or signe, or sorn apparence,
Or by Naturis kyndly influence,
Whiche in-to hertis dope ful depe myne,
Namly of hem pat born ben of o lyne,
Which cause was, parauwter, of pis tweyne,
Naturelly her rancour to restreyne,
And her Ire for to modefie —
Only for pei so ny^e were of allye,
at pe
2036 Hector meets
2040
2044
2048
2052
2056
2060
2064
Ajax Tela-
monius,
who charges
at him :
he is Hector's
cousin.
They fight
like tigers,
first with
spears,
and then
witli swords.
2068
2042. he] bat he C. 2056. seuere] seuered D 1.
2060. 2nd of] om. D 2, D 1. 2063. in-to] in D 1.
2064. o] om. A.
2068. so ny^e were] were so nyh A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 77 d (misplaced after line 2060).
As they are
cousins,
Hector
speaks kindly
to Ajax,
and says that
if he'll leave
the Greeks
and come
to Troy,
he'll be well
receivd there.
454 Hector argues with his cousin Ajax, a Greek ly birth.
Vnwist of ouper, and per-of vnsure,
Til pei wer tau^te, only of Nature :
For naturelly blod wil ay of kynde
Draw vn-to blod, wher he may it fynde, 2072
Whiche made Hector kyndly to aduerte,
To be mevid and sterid in his herte,
Bothe of kny^thod and of gentilnes,
Whan he of Aiax sawe pe worpines — 2076
Spak vn-to hym ful benygnely,
And seide : " cosyn, I seye pe trew[e]ly,
3 if pou list Grekis here forsake,
And come to Troye, I dare vndirtake, 2080
To pin allyes and to pi kynrede
)X>u schalt be pere, w/t/i-outeu any drede,
Ful wel receyved, in party & in al,
Of hem pat ben of pe blood royal 2084
Sothly discendid, and hyest of degre,
)2at it of ri^t schal suffise vn-to pe,
And kynd[e]ly be to pe plesauwce
For to repeire to pin allyaiwce— 2088
To gentil herte sith no ping is so good [leaf so a]
As be confederid -with his owne blood ;
For I conceyue be pe worpines,
Whiche Nature doth in pe expresse, 2092
Of Troyan blood pat pou arte descendid,
Whiche of Grekis long hath be offendid :
Wherfore, I rede to leue hem outterly."
And he answered ageyn ful hu?«ble]y, 2096
feat sithen he of berthe* was a Greke,
And was of $oupe amo?ige he??i fostered eke
From pe tyme of his natiuite,
And taken had pe ordre and degre 2100
Of kny^thood eke amongis hem a-forn,
And, ouer pis, bourade was and sworn
To be trewe to her naciourc,
Makyng of blood noon excepciourc, 2104
Ajax says
he is a Greek
by birth,
and bound
by oath to
the Greeks.
2070. >ei] om. A.
2079. >ou] >e D 1. 2081. 2nd to] om. D 1.
2092. expresse] impresso D 1, Einpresse A.
2097. he of berthe] of berth he C.
At Ajaxs request, Hector makes the Trojans lose their victory. 455
He swore he wold conserven his beheste ;
And to Hector he made Jris requeste :
)pat ^if ]>at he of manful gentilnes,
Wolde of kny^thood and of worpines 2108
She we vn-to hym so gret affecciouw,
To make hem )>at wer of Troye toun
Only wit^-drawe Grekis to pursewe,
And fro her tentis make hem to remewe, 2112
And resorte ageyn vn-to J>e tou?z,
Of kny^tly routhe and compassions,
Wz't/t-oute assailyng, or any more affray
Made on Grekis for ]?at ilke day, 2116
Sith vn-to hem ou^t I-now^ suffice
)?at of J>e felde, in so kny^tly wyse,
J?ei were of manhood fully possessours,
And of her fomen finally victours, 2120
Lyk as to-forn fully is diffinyd.
To whos requeste Hector is enclyned
(Alias J?e while !) of hasty wilfulnes,
And made amxw, w^'t/i-oute avysenes, 2124
Mid )>e felde a trompet for to blowe,
Wher-by Troyens fully my^te knowe
J)at be his wil J?ei schulde hem wttfc-draw —
Aftir j?e custom, pl[e]ynly, and ]>e lawe, 2128
And J?e vsaurace, bo]?e ny^ and ferre,
Amongis hem ]?at ben expert in werre —
Whan ]?ei were moste fervent for to fi}t,
Yp-on Grekis for to preue her my^t, 2132
And had hem chacid lowe to j^e stronde,
J)at J>ei wer weyke of power to wet/i-stonde :
For pei of Troye, alle of o desire,
Gan settyn on vrith schot of wyld[e] fire 2136
To breraie her schippis, & of hi^e meschau?zce
Finally to putte hem at outtrawzce. [leaf so 6]
And so )>ei had, Jns ]?e verray trouthe,
Nadde Hector had vppon hem routh, 2140
Makynge Troyens repeire to J?e touw,
Yngraciously, to her confusiourc,
Ajax begs
Hector to
make the
Trojans give
up pursuing
the Greeks.
Hector, alas,
does so,
just as the
Trojans were
ready to burn
the Greek
ships.
2127. hem] home D 1. 2130. Amongis] Amonge D 1.
456 Hector's fatal mistake. An 8-weeks' Truce is made. [BK. in
As )>e story schal aftir specefie.
For po he putto, alias, in iuparte 2144
This was a Life and deth, whiche myst haue be sure,
fatal blunder.
]5e whiche ageyn pei neue?-e schal recure.
]5ei han mater to compleyne sore :
Henceforth For fro bat day, fare-wel for euere-inore 2148
wa* no more n i i <• i c-
triumph for Victone & laude fro hem of be toun,
Troy.
To hem denyed by disposiciouw
Of mortal fate, whiche was contrarie
— In pis mater me liste no lenger tarie — 2152
The Trojans For "bei of Trove ben entrid her cy te,
enter their
city, And schet her gatis for more surete :
and shut °
their gates. For of pat day, [lyk] as made is mynde,
]5is was pe ende, in Guydo as I fynde — 2156
J)ei wende haue do, powaimter, for J>e beste.
And whan pe so?zne was I-go to reste,
)3ei toke her esc al pat like ny^t,
Next day Til on pe morwe Tytan, clere & bri^t, 2160
Schadde his bemys on her Emysperye,
Makynge pe day for to schewe myrie,
At whiche tyme Troyens anoon ri^t
— J)ei ]?at wer hool and lusty for to fi$t — 2164
nrm to renew Gan armen hem in pwrpos ful"^ bat day
the fight. J
Her foon to mete, platly, ^if )?ei may :
For )?at was hool her wil & pleyn entent.
And eke ]>ei hadden in co?»mau7zdement 2168
To-forn of Hector redy hem to make,
Oute of her slepe amorwe whan pei wake,
Of whiche ping pei were nat necligent ;
GreVk^ask But to Pryam VQ Griekis haue I-sent 2172
8°week8Uce °f ^er messageris ]>e same day or prime,
To take trewe, only for ]>Q tyme
Of ei^tfe] wekes ; )>e whiche Priamtw,
Be assent of Hector, pe story telleth pus, 2176
2164. f>ei] For D 2— wer] was D 2
2165. ful] fully C— >at day] thay A.
2163-66 are repeated after 2166 in D 2. The repeated 2163 is
misplaced at bottom of column and marked a ; 2164 is marked b
2167. pleyn] plat D 2.
2170. slepe amorwe] ship aredy D 2.
2172. I-sent] sent D 1. 2174. trew]
trews A.
BK. ill] The Tcrnibs of Patrodus and Protesilaus.
457
Hatli graiwted hem, and by auctorite
Of )>e wysest j>at wern in fat cite.
In whiche tyme, while pei leiser haue,
fee Grekis gan [for] to burye and graue
]5e bodyes pat a-forn were slawe,
Lyke )>e rytes in her paynym lawe,
With al her my^t and her besy cure ;
For some brent, and by sepulture
Enclosed wern, liche her estat in al :
And Jms )>ei hilde pe feste funeral
Fro day to day duryng ay J>e pes, [leaf so c]
In whiche space, I fynde, how Achilles
Of Patroclus fe deth hath sore pleined,
As he fat was with teris al be-reined,
So inwardly he loued hym in his herte,
)?at for fe anguysche & )>e cruel smerte
He longe abood in lamentaciouw,
And dide make, by grete affecciou?*,
A large touwbe for a remembrau?^ce,
Mid fe feld, as )>o was }>e vsaiwce
Among Grekis, with grete reuerence,
Liche J>e honour and fe excellence
Of royal buriyng : so )>is Patroclus
I-graue was, and Protheselaus,
In her tou?ftbes corve of marbil gray ;
And ny^e to-gidre in a plein J?ei lay,
)?e werke aboute hem richely I-wrou^t ;
And to ]>e erthe fei wer to-gider brou^t
Solempnely, liche ]>e obseruaiu^ces
Of her rytis, with fe circu??istauwces
Of Grekis vsid, sothly, in fo dawes,
Fro poynt to point as longe]? to her lawes,
Of swiche as wern of fe estat royal :
So holden was ]>e feste funeral
Of fis two, whil fe trewe doth laste.
And fei of Troy besied hem ful faste,
With al her my^t and her besy cure,
2187. ay] al A, D 2. 2196. Mid] Amyd D 1.
2203. I-wrou^t] wrou^t D 1. 2208. *to] iu D 1.
2209. estat] staat A, state D 1. 2211. trewe] trews A.
In the Truce,
2180 the Greeks
bury their
dead.
2184
2188 Achilles
laments the
death of
his friend
Patroclus,
2192
and builds a
large tomb
for him.
2196
2200 Protesilaus
has one too.
2204 Both are
solemnly
interd.
2208
2212
458 Priam's grand burial of Cassibellan. Of Cassandra. [BK. Ill
The Trojan
wounded are
made whole.
Priam
sorrows for
Cassibellan's
death,
and buries
in a marble
tomb in the
Temple of
Venus.
Her grene hurtis & wouwdes for to cure,
Be avis of hem pat worn in surgerie
Ful \vel expert to schape remedie, 2216
Her swolfle] soris to soften of her peyne,
)pat in pe space of J>is mon]>is tweyne
))ei wer restored to helpe in euery ping.
In whiche tyme, Priamws pe kyng 2220
Swiche sorwe made for Cassibellan
In his hert, pat no wi^t ne can
Hym recouftforte of his hevynesse :
For day by day, of inward tendirnesse, 2224
Ful pitously he gan to sobbe & wepe ;
And pe body he made for to kepe
Aboue ]>e erthe for a certeyn space,
Til he had chosen oute a place 2228
To his buriynge and his sepulture.
And, as Guydo vs fully doth assure,
In Venus temple, ryche as any shryne,
He made his werkmen a tou??^be for to myne, 2232
In marbil gray and metal rycliely,
In whiche he putte ful solempnely
)pe dede cors of pis Cassibellan,
Beynge present ful many manly man, [leaf so <q 2236
In pe phane of Cytherea.
Cassandra
sees all this,
of the
Trojans.
Howe Cassandra the prophitesse lamawtably tolde pe
Troyans pere deststruxiow, for pe which pay
emprisonde her.1
In whiche ping, whan pat Cassandra
Wt't/^-Inne hir silfe considered & beheld,
And saw vp offrid his helm & his sheld, 2240
His swerd also, and vn-to Mars his stede,
Of inward wo sche felt hir herte blede,
Herynge pe noise and pe pitous crye,
)?e tendre weping & sorwynge outterly 2244
Of hem of Troye, and* lamentacioun
2223. recoiwforte] recomfovte A. 2230. assure] ensure D 1.
2245. and] and >e C.
1 Koyal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 78 c (misplaced after line 2250).
Cassandra urges the Trojans to make Peace with the Greeks. 459
Whiche for her frendis, poru^-oute al pe tourc,
]5ei gan to make, pat wer slawe a-fore : —
With sodeyn rage her herte was* to-tore, 2248
So inwardly, sche niy^t hir nat restreyne
Furiously to cryen and compleine,
And seide, " alias ! " ful ofte, & " wellawey ! "
" 0 woful wrecchis pat $e be pis day,
Vnhappy eke, and graceles also,
Infortunat and inly wo-be-go ! —
How may ^e sufFre pe grete harniys kene
Whiche 36 ar likly her-after to sustene
Durynge pe sege, in pis toura be-loke,
Seynge ^our foon, redy to be wroke,
Aboute ^ou, beset on euery side,
To be vengid on ^oure grete pride 1
I wot ri^t wel $e may he??i nat eschewe,
Jpat pei ne schal vn-to pe deth pw?*sewe
3ou euerychon, be-segid in pis place,
Wz't/i-oute mercy, pite,* or any grace ! 2264
Alias ! alias ! whi nil ^e besy be,
3e woful wrechis, schet in pis cite,
WM pe Grelds for to aeken pes,
Or pe swerd of vengance merciles 2268
On hi^e and lowe do execucioim 1—
And or pis noble, worpi, royal tou^
Euersid be, and y-brou^t to nou^t?
Why list ^e nat considere?i in $om pou^t
How pe modres, with her childre smale,
In stretis schal, with face ded and pale,
Lyn mordred here poru$ Grekis cruelte,
And ^onge maydenes in captiuite
Be-wepen schal, in niyserie and in wo,
Her seruytude *; and pis toun also,
So famous ryche, — alias, it is pite ! —
With Grekis fire schal distroied be 2280
2247. gan to make] make be gan D 1.
2248. herte was] hertes were C. 2249. hir] it D 2.
2255. kene] tene A. 2257. >is] >e D 1. 2261. I] And D 1.
2263. be-segid] besechyd A. 2264. mercy pite] pity mercy C.
2277. Be-wepen] Be wepinge D 1— 2nd in] I D 2.
2278. seruytude] seruytute C.
TROY BOOK. H H
Cassandra
2252 warns the
Trojans of
2256
2260
their coming
death.
Why don't
they try to
make peace
with the
Greeks ?
2272 They should
think of their
slaughterd
mothers and
children,
2276 their girls in
captivity,
and their city
burnt.
460
Cassandra's learning. She is imprisond. [BK. in
Helen was
bought too
tlenr.
For her sake
every Trojan
will be pat to
death.
Priam con-
fines her.
Neither
reason,
prophecy,
nor wisdom
avails.
Cassandra's
counsel is
despised,
to the ruin
of Troy.
In schort tyme, sothly pis no were.
Eleyne of vs, alias ! is bou^t to dere,
Sith for hir sake we schul euerychon,
Pore & riche, I excepte noon, 2284
An ende make, woful and pitous : [leaf si a]
J}e Ire of hem schal be so furious
Vp-on vs alle, per is noon oper mene
Sauf only deth vs to go betwene ! " 2288
)}is was pe noise and pe pitous cry
Of Cassandra, fat so dredfully
Sche gan to make aboute in Query strete
fcoruj pe touw, whom-euer sche my^t mete, 2292
Lyk as sche had ben oute of hir mynde,
Til Priamus fast[e] made hir bynde,
And schettyn vp — it was pe more rou^th —
Sche was nat herde, al-be sche seide trou^ftjh : 2296
For nouper wisdam nor discreciou^,
Cou?iseil nor wit, prudence nor resoim,
Trouth nor rede — \\ith-outen. any lye, —
Nor pe spirite of trewe proficye, 2300
Availeth nat, — nor al swiche sapience,
In place wher per is noon audience.
For, be a man inly neiwe so wys
In couwseillynge, or in hy^e devys 2304
In werkynge, ouper in elloquence,
Eche ping to sen in his aduertence
Or it be falle, a-forn in his resou^,
Amyd pe eye of his discrecciou??,, — 2308
3et for al pis (it is pe more dool),
Wit/i-oute fauour, he holde is but a fool :
For vnfavored, wysdam vailep* nou3t,
Nouper trouth, how dere pat it be bou^t, 2312
Liche as Cassandra, for al hir wyse rede,
Dispised was, & taken of noon hede
Of hem of Troye, to her confusiouw,
2282. is boujt] y bou^t D 1.
2292. f>oru3] J^oru^ out D 1— whom] whoo A.
2294. made] gan D 2. 2305. 2nd in] or in A.
2307. be] om. D 1. 2309. dool] the dole D 1.
2311. vaileb] availe> C. 2312. Nou>er] Nor D 1.
BK. in] Palamedes objects to Agamemnon being Commander. 461
But cruelly y-prowen in prisouw,
Where a whyle I wele leue hir dwelle,
And of Grekis furth I wil $ou telle.
2316
I now turn
to the Greeks.
Pallamydes gruchede agayns them that choyes Kynge
Agamenon to haue domynacyoft of pe Grekis.1
And, first of al, how Pallamydes
Gan to gruche ageyn[e]s hem J)at dies —
He beynge absent — kyng Agamenoim
To haue lordschip or dominaciouw
On hem alle ; namly, sith fat he
Was nat worpi to suche dygnyte,
For to gouerne so gret a my^ty host,
)3oru3-out pe world come from euery cost,
Of kynges, princes, so worjri. of renouw :
For he fer-of had indignaciouw,
And seide him silf was of more pouste
Amonge Grekis, and gretter of degre —
Concludynge J>at, be no maner weye,
To his power he nolde nat obeye
In pes nor werre, as be subiecciouw,
Sith he ne was at his elecciou?^ — [leaf si 6]
Flatly affermynge how ]>er wer but j?re,
Whan he was chose, kynges of degre,
Where-as pritty wer fat tyme absent ;
For whiche he swore, it was nat his ente?zt,
Nor acordynge with his oppiniou/?,
In any wyse J?at Agamenoura
Of Grekis schulde haue swiche gouemau?zce.
Lo, what meschef lyth in variauwce
Amonge lordis, whan pei nat accorde
For to drawe fully by o corde :
Envie is cause of swiche diuisiou^,
And couetyse of dominaciouft,
)?at euery che wolde surmouwte his felaw.
Palamedes
grumbles at
Agamem-
non's being
chosen Chief
of the Grecian
host,
2320
2324
2328
and says he
won't obey
2332 Mm.
2336
2340
2344
Only 3 kings
elected him,
while 30 were
absent.
What mis-
chief
envy does !
2319. new H A. 2323. On] Of D 1.
2325] For to gouerne be worlde come from eu^ry cost D 1
2326] And namely of so worthy an oost D 1.
1 Koyal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 79 a.
Discord
among lords
ruins a
kingdom.
The Greeks
pacify Pala-
medes.
462 Palamedes is pacified. Chiefs of the first 3 Greek Battalions.
J3is cursid vise ofte hath w/t/>-drawe 2348
Hap & grace, in many regiou?^ :
For whan discord & false discenciorw
Allied ben in hertis for to strive
Among lordis, p«t kyngda??i may nat pryve 2352
Til pei reformed ben ageyn to pes
Amonge hem silf — pleinly pis no les.
Of whiche ping Grekis token hede,
And pou^tfe] nat ferper to precede 2356
In pe matere pat Pallamydes
I-nievid had amonge[s] alle pe pres,
And poru^ her wit pei set al in quiete,
And maden hym his rancour for to lete, 2360
And to accorde fully in his herte.
But now must I my style agein diuerte
Vn-to pe werre, and telle pe man ere
After pe trewe how pei mette I-fere. 2364
Howe Agamenon comyttede his wardys to Dyomede
and othere. And Ectore prudently, of ]?e todire
syde, was not rekelysse, them to reco?ztyre.1
Like as ]>is stori make]? menciouw,
])Q worpi kyng, grete Ag•anlenou?^J
Whan pe trewes wer passid & I-goon,
In al hast he gan ordeyne anon 2368
With al his myjt & waker dilligence,
Devoide of sloupe & of necligence,
To sette his wardis f ul a-visely ;
And to Achille he ful prudently 2372
J)e first[e] ward cowmittej) for to lede,
Battalion,
l8°5 to kyng Menelay,
And pe fourpe, on }>e same day,
Hadde Meneste, pe duk of Athene,
At his ledyng, in stele armyd clene. .
2348. ofte] often D 1. 2349. many] many a A.
2353. to] >e D 2, D 1. 2361. to] om. D 1.
2365. >is] the A, >e D 1. 2369. waker] his D 1
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 79 b.
2376
BK. in] Hector and Achilles unhorse one another. 463
And oper wardes, folwyng by & by, . .
Agamenourc ]?e kyng ful manfully* 2380
Ordeyned* [hath] how }>ei schal precede,.
As he ]>at was in al his werke & dede
Ful circumspect, bo]?e in werre and pes. [leaf sic]
And worbi Hector was nat rekfelles 2384 Hector gives
L J his
To sette his wardis of hem of ]>e tou?^
In kny^tly wyse, of hi^e discrecioim ;
And to Troylus — so ^ong, so fresche, .& ly^t— lst Battalion
fie firste warde, with many lusty kny^t, . 2388
He hath assigned, and oper wardes sette :.:.;
So prudently, |>ei my3t[e] be no bette. .^v.
And for]?e in haste, hym list no lenger bide, Aiisaiiyout
With many worfi ridyng by his side, 2392
Oute at* )>e ^atis he went of j?e toun
Towarde Grekis, )>is troyan champiouw.
And, firste, whan he sawe "be ferse Achille. r • Hector fides
' Y at Achilles.
He ne koude no lenger kepe hym stille, ] 2396
But smot his hors felly in ,J?e syde, .t;,w:;-
And toward hym cruelly gan ryde ;
J?e whiche fing, wa't/i a dispitous eye, ;
Whan Achilles, sothly, gan aspye, 2400
Ageyn Hector, of manful hardynes,
With hert envious gan his stede dresse :
And in ]?e felde to-gydere as J?ei mete,.
With rou?*de speris, ]?e pointis kene whette — 2404
At ]?e encourctrynge, of kny^tly excellence, Each un-
Eueryche o]>er, poru^ gret violence, . ' other-
Be verray force bar o]>er vn-to grou??de,
As ful ofte it happep, and is fouwde 2408
Whan stronge do]? mete wz't/i his parigal :
})er is no more,* but euery[ch] had a fal.
But Hector first, of strengpe most assurid, Hector re-
His stede ageyn ha)> anoon recurid, 2412 steed.
And lefte Achilles J>o of gentilnes ;
And in gret hast, for]?e he gan* him dres
2380. manfully] manly C. 2381. Ordeyned] Ordeyneth C.
2385. of hem] om. D 1. 2386. of] & D 1.
2387. 2nd so] & D 2— &] so D 1. 2393. at] of C.
2410. no more] non oj>er C. 2414. he gan] be gan C.
464 Hector slays Greeks. He and Achilles fight again. [BK. in
Hector
attacks other
Greeks,
and kills
many.
Achilles
catches his
steed,
and slays
Trojans.
He meets
Hector.
They charge.
Achilles
is again
unhorst,
but some
Greeks
remount him,
He smites
Hector on
the helmet.
Amonge Grekis, & wher-so ]>at he rood,
He killed & slou$ al ]>at hym withstood : 2416
For with his swerd he made her wouradis wide,
And J>oru} ]>e brest, & some poru^ J?e side
He percid ha]>, and waged hem for eue?*e,
And brak scheltrons, & made hem to disseuere; 2420
For in his hert he J>oii3t it dide hym good
To ba]?e his swerd in J>e Grekis blood.
And pis contuneth til pat Achilles
Cau^t his stede ageyn amonge pe pres, 2424
And entrid in amongis hem of Troye ;
And with his swerd he made large woye,
Slethe and bar doiw whom pat euere he inette :
For per was noon hardy hym to lette, 2428
Til it be-fil, in his malencolye,
Hector he mette ridynge, sodeinly ;
And whan pei saw eche oper come a-fer,
With-oute a-bood eueryche cau^t a spere, [leaf si dj 2432
And ran to-gider, per was 110 more arest.
But Hector first smet him in pe brest,
})at his spere, pleinly (pis* no tale),
Al to-schyuered in-to pecis smale, 2436
jpat Achilles of necessite
To grouwde goth, it wold nou o]?er be,
And vn-horsed at J?e er]?e lay.
And Hector fan, in al )>e hast he may, 2440
Enforced hym for to cache his stede,
But many [a] Greke, in pis grete nede,
Cam to reskus of pis Achilles,
And, for his loue, putte hem silfe in pres, 2444
feorou} help of whom his hors he dop ateyne,
Enhastynge hy?^ with al his my$t and peyne
To be avenged of his grete Iniurie.
And sodeinly in his wode furie, 2448
With a swerd f ul scharp[e] groiwde & whet
He smot Hector vp-on pe basenet,
2421. he] hym D 2, hi/M D 1. 2429. it! v D 2
2S1' l'-f(?lin- f*n D l- 2434- in] on In L
2435. >is] J)is is C, D 1. 2442. bis] his D 1
2444. hew] hym A. 2450. vp-on] on D 1. '
BK. in] The fight between Hector and Achilles keeps on. 465
bat from his sadel he made him to remewe, Achilles dis-
mounts
)5e whiche stroke he my^t[e] nat eschewe. 2452 Hector; '
But, for al pat, J>is noble worpi kny^t,
Of verray force, poru^ his grete iny^t,
Manure his foon his sadel hap recurid, but here-
1 mounts,
As he pat was in manhood most assurid ; 2456
And sodeinly in hert he wex so* wrope
Jpat in a rage to Achilles he gope,
And with his swerd so smet hym on l>e hede and cuts thru
Achilles' s
pe basenet, pat pe blood al rede 2460
Be his face gan to renne dou/a, ?i?,blo?d
Like a ryuer, his chekis envirouw :
But he hym silfe diffendip as a kny3t.
And po of newe be-gan pe cruel fi^t 2464
Atwen hem two, to sen pat it was wonder;
For euery stroke, grete as dent of ponder,
Range in pe eyre, for no?^ wold oper spare ;
And pis pe* soth : in her fyt pei fare 2468 JJ^j*}11
Like wode tigres, or bores in her rage, boars.
Or sterne bolis, whan pei ben sauage,
Jjat it sempte, in verray sothfastnes,
3if pes two, so ful of worpines, 2472
Contune longe in fi^tynge, & endure,
J)e ton or bope, of cruel auenture,
Most haue be dede, of necessite :
J5e whiche ping had[de] be pite, 2476
Be-cause pei were worpi kny^tes bope.
But while pat pei in fijtyng, fel & wrope,
Most besy wern, pe Grekis po begynne The Greeks
J and Trojan
With her wardes for to entre Inne ; 2480 battalions ,
fight.
And pei of Troy e, pe story makep mynde, [leaf 32 a]
On her party lefte nou^t be-hynde,
But in pe feld enhaste* hem euerychon
In kny^tly wyse to mete with her foon, 2484
f.J)at with pe prese, here & also Bonder,
2457. wex so] wexeb C, wixe A, wax D 1 — so] om. A.
2459. so] he D 1. 2460. 1st >e] om. D 2.
2465. was] a D 1. 2467. Range] Ran D 1.
2468. bis be] }>us in C. 2478. in] om. D 1.
2479. >o] to A. 2482. On] Or D 2.
2483. in] in to D 1— enhaste] inhaste C. 2485. be] om. D 2,
466 Diomede and Troilus fight, first on horse, then on foot. [BK. ill
Diomede
and Troilus
unhorse each
other.
Diomede
catches his
steed,
and cuts off
the jeweld
crest of
Troilus's
helmet.
Troilus kills
Diomede's
steed.
The Greeks
mount
Diomede,
and the
Trojans do
the like to
Troilus.
j)e knyjtes two seuered wern assonder.
And ]>o cam in sterne Dyomede
With pe knyjtes whiche he dide lede, 2488
Ful lustile, in ]>e silfe place,
With whom ha]) mette proudly in pe face
Worpi Troylus on his hors[e]-bake,
J?at neuer had jet in manhod lak ; 2492
And as pei coiwtre, pe story doth vs lere,
Eueryche vnhorsid knyjtly hath* his fere :
But first his hors recureth Dyomede,
And in al haste faste gan hym spede 2496
Tasaille Troylus, stondynge vpon fote ;
And whan he saw ]>er was i\on oper bote,
As knyjtly jet as euere dide man,
Ageyn[e]s hym diffende hym po be-gan. 2500
But Dyomede, hoot as any fire,
Wonder envious, & hatful of desyre,
With his swerde, of rancour for pe nonis,
])Q riche cercle, ful of ynde* stonys, 2504
)3at was ]>at tyme on Troylus basenet,
Ful cruelly hath racid of and smet ;
But Troilus nolde, for al ]>at, Inm wit/i-drawe :
For hym diffendynge, he hath ]?e stede slawe 2508
On whiche sat pat tyme Dyomede,
J}at maugre hym he muste a-lijtfe] nede.
And whan ])ei wern on fote bo))e tweine,
)}ei dide her my^t & her cruel peyne 2512
Eueryche of hem o)>er to assaille
With swerdis scharp ; so pat plate & maille
J)ei gan to seuere and assonder race,
As wode lyouws, with mortal chere & face, 2516
Til pe Grekis stronge, stoute, & felle,
(As myn auctor in his boke can telle)
Han poruj her myjt maked Dyomede
Sodeinly to recure a stede ; 2520
And Troyan knyjtes, on pe toper side,
Han Troilus broujt a stede for to ride.
2494. kny^tly hath] hath kny^tly C. 2496. spede] lede D 2.
2497. Tasaille] To assoile D 1. 2504. ynde] riche C.
BK. in] Troilus is capturcd-ly Diomede. but is then rescued. 467
And whan pel wern horsid bo)>e two, Troiius and
With-oute more, to-gidre ageyn pei go 2524 fight again,
Wikji stronge foynes, and I-fere ronne
Eche at o)>er, as felly as ]?ei konne,
Til at )>e laste, cruel Byomede
(Liche as 36 may in myn auctor rede), 2528
Wer it be cas, happe, or auenture, and, by
chance or
In whiche no man i ully may assure,* [leaf 82 6] bad luck,
Or by Fortune, with hir false visage,
Hadde )>at tyme of Troilus avauratage : 2532
For he on hym was falle at meschef.
J5e whiche ping to him was no repref,
bou2 he hym toke, amorc^e so gret a rout, . Diomede
J takes Troilus
On euery halfe with Grekis set a-boute; 2536
J3ith dotous euer is pe fyn of fy^t —
Now vp, now douft, now dirke, & after bri$t* :
For no wy^t may ben ay * victorious
In pes nor werre, nor ylyche eurotis. ' 2540
Late euery man, sith happe is -set in doute,
Taken his torne as it cometh a-boute ;
}3ou3 Troilus now was take of Dyomede,
Anofer tyme he schal him quyte his mede : 2544
For as pe story tellej? in ]?is place,
)?is Dyomede but a litel space
Troilus lad forpe as prisonere, prisoner;
jpat to reskus, in stele armyd clere, 2548
Many Troyan cam prikynge in fis nede, ^ hedish
)3at maugre al fe my3t of Dyomede Trojan*.
Jpei Troilus han from his hondis take ;
And }>o be-gan pe slau^te?' for his sake 2552
On euery halfe, pat wonder is to telle,
Of fe Troyans and pe Grekis felle.
ban in-to "be felde is entrid* Menelay, Meneians
enters the
Whiche on Troyens al fat like day' 2556 field-
Ful besy was avengid for to be,
2530. fully may assure] may fully ensure C.
2538. brijt] li# C. 2539. ay] ener C.
2540. nor] nor in D 1. 2544. him quyte] quyte him C.
2553. to] for to D 2.
2555. be] om. D 2 — is entrid] entrid is C— is] om. D 1.
468 Paris and Menelaus fight. Hector kills Bodes. [BK, in
Paris and
Menelaus
figiit.
Hector slays
more Greeks.
The young
Boetes
charges
Hector,
who splits
him to the
navel,
and sends
his steed to
Troy.
To hem he had so cruel enmyte ;
And whaii Paris saw hi??i in pe felde,
Towardis hym pe ri$t[e] weye he helde, 2560
And of purpos pei her wardis sette
Eche on oper, til pei to-gidre mette :
And po [pe] skarmusche & ]>e slau^ter gan,
On ouper part, of many manly man. 2564
And al pis while Hector nolde cese
Amongis Grekis cruelly to prese,
And new & new, of hym as I rede,
Iliche fresche pe blood of hew to schede : 2568
For of his svverde pe traces wern [y-]sene,
)pat pe Grekis my^tfe] nat sustene
To resiste nor stonde a-forn his face ;
But where he rood ay .pei $af hi?» place, 2572
Til pat a kny^t, whiche Boetes hi^t,
3onge of age, whan he hadde a sijt
How Hector slou} pe Grekis mortally,
On euery side hauynge no mercy, 2576
He presed in to encrese his name,
Perpetuelly to purchase hym a fame,
And furiously, in herte nat a-ferde, [leaf 82 c]
He cast hym, platly, to mete him in pe berd. 2580
])B whiche ping whan Hector gan aduerte,
So hi3e rancour enbrasid hath his hert,
Jpat, wz't/i his swerde, of indignaciouw
He rofe hym euene to pe nouele douw — 2584
Fro pe crowne — wip so gret a peyne,
jpat in pe feld he parted lay in* tweyne :
And Hector po assigned hap his stede
To a squyer, & bad he schuld it lede 2588
To Troye toun, wa't/i-oute more a-bood.
And al pis* while furiously he rood
Amonge Grekis, and euer mercyles
He slowe al po pat putte hem* silf in pres, 2592
And schad her blood, of hert[e] dispitous.
)5e whiche ping whan kyng Arcliilagzw,
Rydynge be-side, sawe & gan espie,
2586. in] on C. 2590. J»is] J>e C. 2592. hem] him C.
BK. in] Hector splits both Archilagus and Prothenor in two. 469
How Boetes, his cosyn and allye, 2596
So cruelly was of Hector slawe, Hector,
Towardis hym m hast he gan him drawe
Vp-on his deth avengid for to he,
And rood at hym with grete cruelte, 2600
Fully in purpos Hector for to quyte.*
And sodeynly, as he gan at hym smyte,* StwoUt8him
Hector vnwarly hit hym on )?e hed
So my3tely, ]>at he fil dourc ded, 2604
Partid on two hy cruel auenture,
Nat-w^t/^-stondynge his my^ti strowge arnm?*e —
Ageyn his stroke it was of* no difEence :
For it was 30110 with swiche violence, 2608
}3at it halp hym in no maner Jnnge.
And fan anoon, Prothenor )>e kyrig Prothenor
Of hatful Ire and foule hardynes,
Of surquidie and of hastynes, 2612
Of malencolye and indignaciouw
Kau$t in his hert a presumpcioura
Tassaillen Hector, of inward foly pride, attacks
And goth to hym, a-trauers on )>e side, . 2616
Furiously, with a dispitous herte,
))at his comynge he my3t nat aduerte —
Only for he cam at his bak he-hynde, in rear,
Al vnwarly, in Guydo as I fynde — 2620
And Hector smot horn his hors to grouwle, and unhorses
In whom )>er was so moche marchod fourade,
J)at he anon, with a kny3tly herte, but Hector
WM-oute a-hood in-to his sadel sterte, 2624
And ri3t fersely Prothenor pwrsueth,
)5at finally his hond he nat eschewe]) :
For with his swerd he marked him so wel
}X>ru3 basenet, by his breste of stele, [leaf 82 d] 2628 splits Pro-
feat in-to tweyn, with-outen any faile, tton°ri
2597. slawe] y slawe D 1.
2598. he] om. D 1— him] om. D 1.
2601. quyte] smyte C.
2602. as he gan at hym smyte] ]>ou3t hym for to quite C.
2607. of] at C, om. D 2. 2611. foule] fool A.
2616. to] at D 1.
2629. tweyn] >e breste D 1.
470 Achilles is thwarted of his Revenge. The Trojans win. [BK. m
When
Achilles sees
his cousin
Prothenor
kild,
he wants
revenge lor
him and
Archilngu*,
and tries to
get Hector
attack t.
But the
Trojans
and Hector
put the
Greeks to
flight,
and return
victorious
to Troy.
He rofe him doim in-to Ins* paurcce of maile ;
And he fil doun, in f ul pitous wyse,
Of whiche stroke pe Grekis sore a-grise.
And specialy )>e hardy ferse Achille,
Whan he behelde likeclfe] ful ille—
For Prothenor was his ny^e cosyn,
And discendid of ]>e same lyne —
For deth of whom he hath swiche heuynes,
So inward pou^t, and so grete distres,
In al pis worlde he nyste what to do —
For hym he hadde so moche peyne & wo.
And for pe deth of Archilagus
To ben avengid he was ful desirous,
And in his herte many weye he caste,
And in pe wardis gan to seke faste,
With many Greke, on Hector to haue falle,
Conspired fully, in soth, amonge hem alle,
Of oon entent Hector to assaille ;
But al for nou^t, — it wolde * nat availle —
He was pat day so cruel in his rage,
])&[ my^t of hym haue now avauwtage.
And Troy an kny^tes by fauowr of fortune
Vp-on Grekis so my^tely centime,
Jjoru^ conueiywge of Hector, & his my^t,
J)at J»ei anon han hem putte to fli^t,
And to her tentis, maugre who Ipat strive,
In her pwrsut for-wouwdid ]>ei hem dryve,
Jjat here & fere ]>ei leien in a swouj ;
^Vnd many Greke mercyles pei slou^
J)e longe day, til it drowe to ny^t.
And sothly, panne, for verray lak of li^t
ftis Troyan kny3tes, ful worpi of renouw,
Abouten Hector repeire to pe toun,
And entren in with honowr and with glorie,
ftat day of Grekis havynge )>e victorie :
And Jms I leue hem in her towi wzt/i-Inne,
And forpe of Grekis telle I wil be-gynne.
2632
2636
2640
2644
2648
2652
2656
2660
2664
2630. his] j?e C. 2648. wolde] nolde C.
2658. many] many a A. 2663. 2nd with] om. A.
BK. in] The Greek Leaders resolve that Hector must be kild. 471
Howe Kynge Agamenon, with alle the princysse of
Grece, compassyd and contryvede the dethe and
destruction of worthy Eetor, the which Achilles
vnmanly toke on honde.1
Whan Esperus, J>e faire bri^tfe] sterre,
Ageyn[e]s eve, caste his stremys ferre,
And in )>e weste rarest gan appere,
Whan ]>e twyly^t, wij? a pale chere,
In maner morneth ]?e absence of J>e sorcne,
And ny3t aprochej? with his copis donne —
)5e same tyme, whara Titan toke Ms leue,
Jpat clerkis calle Crepusculura at eve, —
Whiche is nafc ellis but j?e mene li^t
Of Phebws absence, and J»e dirk[e] ny^t,
And twyli^t hatte : for it is a mene
Of day and ny^t, departinge hem betwene, [
Fully nouper, but of bo}>e meynt,
Or* ]>e heuene be clustryd and depeynt
With bri$t[e] sterris in J»e Euenynge ; —
At whiche tyme Agamenou^ "be kyng
_, , .
Jb or his lordis sodemly hath sent
.
To come echon anon* in-to his tent.
And whan )>ei wern assemblid alle y-fere,
Triste & hevy, with a sorftil chere,
J)e[i] gan ]>Q slau^ter of Hector to compleine,
Affermynge playnly pei my^t neuer ateyne
Vn-to victorie while he were a-lyue * :
Wherefore pel gan to conspire blive
u. j xi. • -t «
pe detn 01 nym, in many sondry woye,
Echon concludynge, while he wer in Troy
It was nat likly Grekis for to wynne ;
For he alone of hem fat were w*tA-Inne
Was chef diffence and protections,
And souereynly vp-holder of pe touw,
Her my^ty castel and her strong[e] wal,
2672. copis] copye D 2.
2680. Or] Of C. 2684. echon anon] anon echon C.
2689. a-lyue] on lyue C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 80 d.
At twilight
2668
2672
2676
2680
Agamemnon
summons
the Greek
leaders to
2684 his tent.
2688
, ..' They agree
L that Hector
must die.
2692
2696
472 Achilles agrees to the Greeks scheme for killing Hector. [BK. in
The Greeks
say some plot
must be laid
against
Hector.
Achilles must
attack him
unawares.
Achilles
agrees.
But he must
not be too
hasty,
lest Fortune
may let him
fall into the
ditch he digs
for Hector.
And vn-to Grekis dedly fo mortal :
For pei ne my^t his grete force endure,
NOT neuer a-ri^t ageyu her foos be sure,
He stondyng hool (pei seide), i?^ no degre,
Nor whil he floureth in felicite.
Wherfor, echon, of oon entenciou7^,
)3ei condiscende to pis conclusions :
Jpat be som slei^t of a-wait lying,
Whan he were most besy in fi^tynge,
Amongis hem in meschef or distresse,
Jpat Achilles do his besynes,
With al his my^t vnwarly him to assaille,
]3at hyin to slen for no ping pat he faille.
And Grekis alle gan her p?-ayer make
To Achilles for to vndirtake
Of pis emprise fynally pe swt,
}3oru3 his manhod pat it be execut —
J2e hasty deth of her mortal foo.
And Achilles, w^'t/j-oute wordis moo,
Her requeste assenteth to parforme,
And to her lust gan holly hym conforme.
Fro * pat tyme late hym be war, I rede,
To be to hasty pis lourne for to spede,
Vp-on Hector his power for to kythe,
List Fortune a-wronge hir face wripe,
To loke on hym with a froward chere,
Hym to bringe vn-to pe hondis nere,
J3oru$ sort or hap, of Hector, folily
To put his lif* of deth in iuparty,
List vn-to hym it happe euene lyche
To falle hym silfe in pe same dyche
J3at he for Hector compassid hap & shape :
For it is wonder $if pat he eskape,
Sith Hector hadde, Av^-oute^ any d rede,
As brewnyng Ire and as grete hatrede
To Achilles his deth for to purvey,
2701-2746 are omitted in D 2. 2701. He] Here D 1.
2704. >is] his A. 2718. to] om. D 1— hym] to him D 1.
2719. Fro] For C. 2726. lif] silfe C.
2727. vn-to] to D 1. 2733. To] om. D 1— his] om. D 1.
2700
2704
2708
2712
2716
2720
2724
2728
2732
BK. in] The 6h*eek Council ends. Next day they arm. 473
}if he hym fourcde or in place sey
Convenient for execucioiw —
I trow per schuld hym gayn[e] no rauwsoim, 2736
NOT oper mede his herte to quyete,
But only deth, whan so pat pei mete :
)?is pe ende & fyn of pis mater, I
As in pis boke after 30 schal here. 2740
And pus Grekis maked han* an ende The Greeks
end their
Of her couwseil, and anoon pei wende, council
and go to
Eueryche of hem, horn to her loggynge, bed-
And toke her reste til pe morw[e]nynge. 2744 •• •
Howe Ector, inly desyrous to have ado with the
Grekis, entyrde the felde him selff, with C and
fyffty thousande of pe best chosyn of the Cite of
Troye ; and the Grekys of pa same wies.1
Whan Aurora, with siluer dropes schene,
Hir teris shadde vp-on pe freshe grene,
Compleynynge ay in wepinge & in sorwe
Hir childis deth, euery somer morwe 2748 Next mom-
— )pis to seyne, whan pe dew so sole
Enbawmed hath pe flour & eke pe rote
With lusty lycour, in April and in May,
Whan pe larke, messa?iger of day, 2752
Of custom ay Aurora doth salue
With sondry notis, hir sorwe to t?-ansmve
Or Phebus ryse to loye and* gladnes,
J)oru3 armonye to leue hir heuynes, 2756
Takyng hir leue, \vith seint[e] lohn to borwe: —
])e same tyrne, Grekis by pe morwe,
With lusty herte, erly dide a-ryse they rise
And armed hem in al her best[e] wyse : 2760
For pei hem caste pat day for to goon
In-to pe felde to metyn vrith her foon.
And Hector hap, pe same morwe also,
2737. Nor] Now A. 2741. maked han] maken C.
2748. childis] children A. 2749. f>is] pis is D 1.
2755. and] or to C. 2763. haj>] om. A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 81 a.
474 Hector and 150,000- Men attack the Greeks. [BK..II!
Hector rides
out of Troy
with Eneas,
Paris,
Deiphobus,
Troilus, &c.,
and 100,000
men, with
50,000 in
reserve.
They charge
the Greeks.
Paris's
Persian
archers
kill many
Greeks.
Hector
unhorses
Agamemnon.
I-caste hym fully with Grekis haue* a-do, 2764
And issed is kny^tly* oute of Troye,
In herte he hath so gret desire & loye
J5e same day with Grekis for to 113 1, »
And wet// hym ladde many lusty kny^t 2768
Of swiche as wem of fe cite born ;
And forf e lie rood, hym silfe al to-fom,
And Eneas with many a worfi
Folwede after, wonder fastfe] by, 2772
And Paris f awne, and iiexte hym Dephebws,
And sith Troylus, fat was so cor[a]ious,
With 'alle f e wardis made of Troye touw, [leaf 83 c]
In whiche, as Dares makef menciouw 2776
Wat/i-Inne his boke, f er wer 011 Troye syde
Of fy^tyng men f «t wente and dide ride
An hundrid f ousand, armyd for to go
In-to fe felde, and fifty fousand mo 2780
Whiche han hem cast fat day or at Eue
Of oon entent Grekis for to greue : —
And so fei mette, stronge on oufer side,
And gan assemble and to-gedir ride 2784
Eul cruelly, and with gret hatrede.
And with hem ])o fat Paris dide lede,
He entrid in ful* my^ti stronge archeris
Of Perce londe, & many arblasteris, 2788
}3at \vith her arwes, filed scharp & rou?^de,
And with quarelles, square whet & grouwde,
Ful many Greke han reued of his lyf.
And [a-]myddes of pis mortal strif 2792
Agamenouw in-to fe felde is come,
Towardis whom Hector haf I-nome
})Q ri^tfe] weye, & frewe lli??^ :of his stede
Amongis his knyjtes fat he dide lede — 2796
He spared nou3t, for al fe grete pres.
2764. I-caste] Caste D 1— haue] to haue C.
2765. is knyjtly] his knyjtes C.
2770. to-forn] a torn D 2, be forn D 1.
2781. >at day or at] or >at it be D 1.
2787. ful] vfit/i ful C, om. D 1.
2790. quarelles] quarell D 2.
2796. Amongis] Among D 2,
Amonge D 1.
BK. in] Achilles attacks Hector. Diomede reproaches Eneas. 475
And yer-with-al, anoon cam Achilles,
feat in await of Hector hadde leyn ;
And sodeinly, with al his my^t & peyne, 2800
Hector he smote on }>e hed [so] sore,
feat with pe stroke: (myn auctor seip no more)
His basenet was bowed and y-crasid, —
Of whiche strok, Hector nat amasid, 2804
On Achilles schuld anoon y-falle,
Nadde Eneas, with his knyjtes alle,
And worpi Troy his come & go by-twene —
fee whiche tweyne with her swerdis kene
Gan Achilles felly for to assaille,
To hewe his platis & to perce his maille :
And Ipo be-gan pe slau^ter on euery* side
Of men of fote & of hem pat ride —
Liche a condut her wourades go/me blede.
And in pis while cruel * Diomede,
Were it be hap, auenture, or caas,
So as he rood hath met with Eneas; ':! &U 2816
And ri}t anoon, as he hath him fou^de,
He smet at hym, and $af him suche a wou^de,
feat likly was he schulde nat recure,
But ^if per-to be do pe bettre cure. 2820
Achilles
,
smites
Hector,
and smashes
his helmet.
Eneas and
Troilus
;,:r assail
Achilles.
280S
2812
Slaughter
is rife.
Diomede
wounds
Eneas,
Howe Dyomede reprevyde Eneas as they met in the
Felde, for ]>e answere pat he had afor in Troye.1
And ]?er-vppon, ful dispitously
feis Diomede in his nialencolye
Eepreued hath pis* Troyan kny^t Enee,
And seide to hym : " al heil, for pou art he [leaf ssd] 2824
feat whilom ^af to Prianms J)i kyng
A fel conseil, hasty and bityng,
Me for to haue slaw be sodein violence
Whan I was last at Troye in his presence, 2828
feat trust me wel, & haue it wel in mynde,
2805. y-falle] han falle D 1. 2809. for] om. D 1.
2811. euery] ou>er C. 2814. cruel] worbi C.
2815. be] of D 1.
2821. >er-vppon] here vppon D 1. 2823. bis] >e C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 81 c (misplaced after line 2822).
TROY BOOK. I I
and re-
proaches him
for haying
advised
Priam to
kill him,
Diomede.
476 Diomede unhorses Eneas,, and wounds Hector. [BK..III
Diomede
threatens
Eneas,
rides at him,
and unhorses
him.
Hector cuts
through
Achilles's
helmet.
Diomede
wounds
Hector.
Arnyd pis* feld if I pe efte fynde,
j?ou schalt pi conseil mortally repente,
$if fat Fortune her-after wil assent 2832
To bringe pe a-ri^t vn-to myn honde
At good leyser, here in pin owne londe :
I am ful sette pi labowr for to quyte—
And, here my troupe, pis s \v<?rd schal kerue~& bite 2836
So kenely pi Troyan blood to schede,
ftat finally cleth shal be pi mode,
}5e wliiche I bere atwene mjn hondis tweyne."
And with pat word, he my3t him nat restreyne, 2840
)pis Diomede, but rood al sodeiuly
Vp-on Enee, and so furiously
He smote at hym, pis hardy cruel kny3t,
With swyche a peyne & so gret a my3t, 2844
)}at horn his hors he made hym for to falle,
Maugre pe my^t of his kny^tes alle : —
])e whiche stroke he lyked[e] ful ille.
And in pis while, Hector hath Achille 2848
Assailled so, pat poru^ his basenet
He perced hath, & with his swerde hym smet,
And so narowe brou^t hym to pe point .
Of hi^e meschef, & in swyche disioynt 2852
Constreyned hym, pat of necessite
He had hym take, nadde only be
Sodeyn reskus of hym, chyualrous,*
)3at callid is pe sone of Tideus — 2856
I mene pe felle ferse Diomede,
Whiche Achilles hap holpen in pis nede :
For he poru$ force of his armys tweyne
Smot Hector tho, with so gret a peyne, 2860
))at he hym $af a wourcde ful greuous ;
But he no ping (myn auctour w?*itep pus)
Astonyd was, pis kny3t, pis manly man,
But with his swerde, in al pe hast he .can, 2864
Smot Diomede so furious * & wroth,
2830. t>is] >e C, D 1. 2837. kenely] kene D 1.
2842. so] om. A. 2844. 2nd a] om. D 1. '2848. in] om. A.
2851. narowe] narwe A. 2855. chyualrous] chyualrours C, D 1.
2865. furious] furiously C.
Hector and Achilles fight. The Greeks and Trojans join battle. 477
)?at from his hors to pe er]?e he goth,
For al his pride and his surquedie.
J5e whiche anon, as Troylus dide espie, 2868
WVt/i-oute abood, doura of his stede ali$t
With Diomede on fote for to fi^t,
And eche of hem, in sothfastnes[se], Jjanne
Aquyt hym silf lik a manly man, 2872
)}at nouper was, in moche nor in lite, [leaf si a]
In no degre of manhod for to wite.
And while fei fau^t, Hector & Achilles
To-gider mette ageyn a-monge ]?e pres,
And ran I-fere fersely in her rage
As vvode lyons whan J?ei be ramage —
Ri^t so, in soth, Jjei ferde in her fi^tyng.
And in ]>at tyme Menelay J>e kyng
Ful proudly schope hym Troyefts for to mete,
Ylixes eke, and also Polimete,
And aftir hym cam Neptalonius,
Pallamydes, and eke Scelenivs,
Duke Meneste, Nestor, and Thoas,
Currunulus, and Philotheas,
And Theseus, as [it] is made mynde,
With his kny^tes proudly cam be-hynde. 2888
And on J)e party of hem of ]?e toim
Cam alle ]>G kynges,* witA-oute excepciouw,
)5at were assemblid in-to her diffence,
Ageyn [e]s Grekis to make resistence, 2892
— Excepte ]?e kny^tes whiche Hector ladde,
And }>e wardis fat he makid hadde
\)Q same day, as seith )?e latyn boke,
In knyrjtly wyse fe feld whan ]>at he toke. 2896
And )>o be-gan fe felle mortal n^t,
In whiche ]>at day ful many worfi kny3t
In Fatis hondis, finally, are falle.
And of fortune, a-monge fe wardis alle, 2900
Hector
unhorses
Diomede,
who fights
Troilus.
Hector and
Achilles
2876 charge one
another.
2880 Menelaus,
Ulysses, etc.
prepare to
fight.
2884
The Trojans
and their
allies
join in battle.
to J>e er>e lie] he to J>e erthe D 1. 2869. his] om. D 2.
2870. for] om. D 1. 2873. 2nd in] om. A, to D 1.
2882. Polimete] Polybete D 1.
2886. Currunulus] Currynvlus D 1— Philotheas] Phioletheas D 1.
2890. kynges] kny^tes C. 2894. J>e] the same D 1.
478 Menelaus unhorses Paris, and Ulysses throws Adrastus. [BK.III
Agamemnon
and Pantisy-
laus un-
horse each
other.
Menelaus
wounds
Paris,
who blushes,
lest Helen
should hear
of it.
Adrastus is
unhorst by
Ulysses.
Agamenoim, fe noble my3ty kyng,
Al sodeinly as he cam ridyng,
Pantisylaus in his weye mette,
Ageyn[e]s whom anoon his hors he sette ; 2904
And he to hym ful kny^tly rood ageyn,
And as f ei mette — }>er is no more to seyn —
On hors[e]-bak, whiles f ei were wrothe,
Of violence fei were vnhorsid bothe. 2908
And Menelay Parys mette of newe,
J)e vvhiche two wel to-gidre knewe,
Ful desyrous eche of er for to dere ;
But Menelay cau^te firste a spere, 2912
And hitte Paris \vit/i al his inward cure,
But for surnes of his strong armvre
And my^ty platis, his wourade was but smal,
Whiche, in effecte, greued nat at al : 2916
But we't/i fat stroke vn-to f e grou^de he gof e.
Of whiche falle Paris wex ri$t wrof e,
Wonder confus, & also red for shame,
List fe report, in hindringe of his name, 2920
Cam to f e eris of f e quene Eleyne,
How he fat day my^tfe] nat attayne [leaf 846]
With Menelay to hold en champartie,
Lykly to sowne in-to his vileynye — 2924
J)e whiche at hert greuid hy??z ful sore.
And Adrastus fe kyng, with-oute more,
So as he rood, fe kyng Vlixes fond,
And kny^tly bofe f ei fou^te?^ ho?^d of hond ; 2928
And as fe[i] fau3t, doun to f e erfe lowe
From his hors Vlixes haf hym f rowe,
And ful proudly, in signe of fis victorie,
He sent his hors home to his tentorie. 2932
And in fat tyme, a-monges al f e pres,
Ful sodeinly kyng Pallamydes
Is falle on Hupon, with his lokkis hore,
And in his Ire wouwdid hym so sore 2936
2909. Menelay Parys} Parys Menelay D 1.
2910. knewe] mewe A. 2917. be] om. A, D 2, D 1.
2924. his] om. D 1. 2929. be] om. D 2
2931. proudly] prudently A— bis] his A, D 1.
BK. in] Various Kings and Dukes, are unhorst by their Foes. 479
Palamedes
kills Hupon.
Neoptolemus
and Archila-
J5at he fil ded* & gruf vn-to )>e grou??de,
His mortal swerd was so kene groimde : —
Besyde whom Neptoloriyus
Assailled hath kyng Archilagus, 2940
Jpe whiche hym silf manly gan diffende ;
But as )>ei fau^t, & many strokes spende
In her diffence — it wolde be noon o]>er —
Eueryche of hem hath vnhorsid o]?er. 2944 are unhorst.
And ]>o cam in, ridyng on his stede,
Pollydamas, and gan to taken hede Poiydamas
Amonge J>e rengis litel hym he-side,
Where as )>e kyng Pallamydes doth ride ; 2948
And cruelly, so lik a manly man,
He smet his stede, and to hym he ran,
And maugre his my^t & his worjrines
— As )?e story pleinly bereth witnes — 2952
Only to venge J>e deth of kyng Hupouw,
From his stede he proudly bar him douw, pafamedes
And in his rancour & his cruel hete
Of ]?at dispite gan hym to rehete. 2956
And fo he-side J>e kyng Scelenus,
Of dedly hate & herte ful Irous,
With kyng Can-as be auenture hath mette,
And furiously from his stede smet; 2960
And ]>awne also )>e kyng Philemene Philemene
Is on J>e duke fallen of Athene,
J3at maugre bo)>e his manhod & his my$t,
He hath his hors berafte him in }>is fijt,
And lad with hym proudly by his side,
Where as hym liste ]>at it schulde abyde.
And Philotheas, )?e worj>i kyng also,
])Q silfe tyme with Remus had a-do, 2968
And eueryche oper, sothly, as I rede,
His felawe hath made to voide* his stede;
And Theseus ]?e kyng, Ipat was so sfcronge, [leaf 84 c]
Ainyd )>e feld so as he rood a-monge 2972
2937. ded] douw ded C, 2943. be] been A.
2950. to hym he] vii to hym D 1. 2958. Irous] desyrous D 2.
2962. on] to D 1.
2970. voide] leue C.
2964 takes the
Duke of
. Athens's
steed.
Philotheas
and Remus
unhorse
each other
480 Priam's Sons slay Greeks. Achilles assails Hector. [BK. in
Theseus
and Curyalus
fight ou
horseback
and then on
foot.
Priam's sons
slay many
Greeks.
Thoas and
Achilles
assail
Hector.
|3e grete pres, hath mette Curyalus,
J)e worfi kyng, of kiv^thod ri^t fanms,
And bope two, in armys wonder stronge,
By hem silf fai^t at leiser longe, 2976
Til eche o)>er, with wouwdes fresche & grene,
His felawe prewe endelonge ])e grene ;
And afterwarde, I finde, how bei two
Yp-on fote kny^tly hadde a-do— 2980
Jpei wern in armys so inly desyrous,
And of manhood passyngly famous.
And al Jns whyle ]>e sonys naturel
Of Priamws bar hem wonder wel, 2984
Amonge Grekis vp and clouw ridyng,
And prudently to-gidre abidyng,
Made [a] slau^ter of Grekis ful pitous,
Of kynges, dukes, & lordis ri^t famous. 2988
And, as I rede, how wor])i Thelamoiw
Jpat tyme rnette w^'t/i kyng Sarpedouw ;
And wit/* her speres, squared ful sharply,
Euerych haf ober wou?zded mortally* 2992
Jjoru^ schilde & plate & haberiou^ of maille,
}3at, as }>e story make]? rehersaille,
How her harneis wex of blod al red,
And how bei fil al-most bo])e ded, 2996
At gret meschef amonge pe horse fet,
Of whos bledyng pe soiel ga,w wexe wet,
]3oru^ her harneis as it gan distille.
Whiles kyng Thoas and J>e ferse Achille, 3000
As )>ei )>at wern of kyn and allyed,
Amyd pe feld Hector han espied
Where as he fau^t, be-set amyd his foon ;
And vp-on hym of on accorde )>ei goon, 3004
And mortally, $if it wolde availle,
On euery halfe )>ei gan hym new assaille,
2973. A little hook over the p in pres (blunder of copyist) C.
2978] From his hors bak caste vp on >e grene D 1— A prefixes
From horse bak to the same line.
2987. a] om. A. 2992. mortally] ful mortally C.
2993. haberioiw] habergouw D 1.
2998] And the soille of here bloode ri3t wete D 1. ^ t .
3006. new] to A.
BK. in] Hector slices Thoas s nose. Paris shoots at Menelaus. 481
And of hate, in herte bom of 3016,
])Q\ han be-set pis Troyan kny^t [so] sore, 3008 They wound
J)at pei, alias ! from his hed han smet head.°r "
By violence his riche basenet,
And wouwded hyni felly on pe hed :
But for al pat, he ne toke noon hed, 3012
JMs worpi man, flour of chiualrye,
But hym diffendynge po so my^tely,
Kyng Thoas smot in pe face so, Hector cuts
jpat with a stroke he rofe his nose a-two, 3016 Ihotrt nose.
And shortid it by ]> e haluendel.
At whiche stroke, pe brewer naturel His bastard
Of manly Hector fast[e] gan hem hy^e
To socour hym, whan pei first espie [leaf si a] 3020
His grete meschef ; and at her in, commyng
]3ei so manly bare hem in f^tynge
Ageyn Grekis, fat Thoas J>ei han take ; take Thoas
And Thelamowa so pei made* a-wake, 3024 and wound
With new assaut of sharpe wou/zdis kene,
J?at he was take & left vp-on pe grene,
And of his men born home to his tent.
And kyng Thoas home to Troye is went, 3028 Thoas is seat
Maugre Grekis, whiche helpe him may no more ;
For Dephebws and also Anthenor
Han sent hym forf* to Troye ]?e cite.
And Menelay ]>o be-gan to se, 3032 Paris
So as he rood, Paris stonde a-side,
And shope him shortly of hate & cruel pride,
3if it wolde fallen on his chauwee,
Socleinly to 3euen hym meschauwce ; 3036
But he was war, & kepte him silf so narwe
)3at Menelay he marked witfi an arwe,*
|3e hed of whiche with venym was enoint, with a
Intoxicat at fe square pointe, 3040
]5at J>e kyng, of pat dredful wouwde
3014. diffendynge] defended D 1.
3024. so |>ei made] ]>ei made so C. 3026. vp-on] hym on A.
3028. went] sent D 1. 3031. for>] home C.
3036] Hym of manhoode so moche to auamice D 1.
3038. an arwe] a narwe C.
482 Menelaus is eured, and attacks Paris wheriunarmd. [BK..III
Al dispeired of his men was fowde,
Whiche in gret haste bar hyin to his tent.
Meneiau? And he anoon for surgiens ha]> sent,
surgeoS, Whiche first )>e hede toke out of his woiiwde
— Al-be it was [y-]perpid ful profouwde
J?oru3 his harneis ful depe in-to J>e bon—
But koraiyngly )>ei dide her craft echon 3048
To drawe it oute wz't/i.her instruments,
And sotilly, with serteyn oynementis
j?ei cerched han fe wouwde eimroiwz
To make it clene fro[m] coiriipcioiw!; 3052
who clean And prudently firste ]>ei token 'hede,
the poison _ ,
out of his hat fce venym ferber nat procede,
wound. n
Eouwde in compas clensid it a-boute,.
And after fat, bonde it sure . wi't/i-oute, 305"6.
And defensives made on euery syde.
And Menelay no lenger wolde bide,
But bad in haste bringe for)>e his stede,
In p?^rpos ful Paris to quite his mede, 3060
3if he hym finde, be silfe same, day— ;
Hym list no lenger put it in delay, " ::;-.
What-euere falle of his grene Wou?^de.
He then rides And f orbe he rood, til he ha)> him fou?zde, ; ,'.:.':;:•:' 3064.
after Paris,
whom he By auenture vn-armyd in pe ielcle,
finds unarrad,
Wz't/i-oute swerde, polex, spere, or shelde.^ :
Or bowe in hond — were it of reclisnesj
Or to refresche hym after werynes. eil 3068
And Menelay anooTi a spere ha]> take, Eieaf85;a3:;;^
And in his Ire felly gan* it shake ;.-• ^0 jrollf/i €.
Toward Paris, by gret avisenes, i *"d
and would And schuld haue slawe him, as bi liklin^s,^:; / :o\; ,3072..
mm, but Nadde Eneas, whiche al ]?is }>ing behiide, : .
Born of fe stroke with his* strongfe] schelde,
To diffende hym in [t]his auenture— -
Destitute and naked of armvre,,. ;i7
3050. sotilly] sothly A, D 1.
3054. ferfer nat] no ferther D 1.
3058. bide] abide D 1. 3060. ful] fully A.
3062. put] to put D 1.
3070. gan] ha]>e C. 3074. his] J>e C.
Hector nearly captures Menelaus. The first day's Fight ends. 483
Paris bat tvme in swiche -peril was. Eneas has
J r Paris
Wh erf ore, in hast, hath pis Eneas
Ordeyned kny^tes, armyd bn^t in stele,
Aboute Paris for to kepe hym wele 3080
From al meschef and. confusiouw,
Hym to conveie vn-to Troye touw,
in dispite of kyng Menelay,
Whiche in a- wait so for Paris lay — 3084 Hector would
Whom Hector had I-take sodeinly, Meneiaus if
J | the Greeks
And vn-to Troye ladde hym o utterly, hadn't stopt
Grekis come in his diffence,
Ageyn[e]s hyni to make insistence. 3088
Of whiche Hector, as pei cam in his weye,
Ful many Greke made for to deie,
And pe remenauwt put vn-to pe fl^t,
J)at porti} his* manhod pat day, & his my^t, 3092
Troyens made "be Grekis for to He The Trojans
drive the
Vn-to her teutis, of necessite, , Greeks to
' their tents,
And hem to sue nolde neuere leue,
But slen & kille til it drowe to eve, 3096
£at Phebus gan fast[e] for to weste,
To draw he??^ horn pei pou}t[e] for J»e beste :
For Titan was at his groynsje dou?& and then go
back to Troy.
Whan pei gan entre in-to Troye touw, — 3100
Her gatis schette, fei to her loggy»g wende ;
And of }>is day pus pei made an ende.
Howe kynge Pryam?;^ the next day kam to ]>e felde,
& howe he wolde have had kynge Thoas dede,
pat was prysonere in Troye.1
Til on pe morwe, pat pe rowes rede Nextmom-
Of Phebus carte go one for to sprede . 3104
A-forn his vp-riste in the orient,
At whiche tyme, kyng Priamzw hape sent Priam calls
For swiche as werne with \\iin moste preve,
3078. in] in al A. 3085. I-take] taken D 1.
3091. 2nd >e] om. A, D 1.
3092. J>at jjoru^ his] And >oru^ >e C. 3094. of] of pure D 1.
3102. made] make D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 82 d.
484 K. Priam asks Us Council what is to le done with K. Thoas.
3108
On Priam's
Council are
Hector,
Paris,
Troilus,
Eneas, etc.
When all are
seated,
Priam says,
" We have
taken King
Thoas,
who has tried
to destroy
us;
and I think
And of his cou?*seille inwardly* secre ;
And specialy he sent[e] for be name,
For worpi Hector, pat grettest was of fame,*
For Paris eke, & for Dephebus,
And for Troylus, freshe and desirous,
For Anthenor and [for] Pollydamas, ,
And for the Troyan called Eneas :
For he pat clay cast him nat to goon
In-to pe felde to mete with, his foon.
And whan pei wer?t to his paleis come,
J)is* lordis han Jje 113 t[e] weye nome Deaf 85 6]
Yn-to pe kyng, wit/i-Inne his closet ;
And whan pe hussher ha)) pe dore shet,
And eueryche hadde, liche to his degre,
His place take, and his dewe see,
J3is wor))i kyng, as made is mencioiw,
Gan to declare his hertis mociou?*,
And his menynge a-forn hem specific,
And seide : " sirs, in whom I moste affie, '
To :$ow is knowe how kyng Thoas is here
In pis cite taken prisoner,
And is as $et be-loken in prison?*,
AVhiche eue?-e hap be vn-to Troye tourc
An enmy gret, vii-to,his power,
And vs offendid, bope fer and nere,
In many wyse (al-be. we litel reche)
As fer as he his force my^tfe] streche ;
And now vrith Grekis cam to sege our touw,
As he pat wilneth oure distrucciouw,
And [t]here-vppon hath done his besynes :
Wherfore, of doom & of ri^twysnes,
Bope of rescue and of equyte,
I seie pleynly, as semeth vn-to me,
So pat it be to 3ow acceptable,
And pat 36 pink my cou?zseil comercdable,
Liche as he hatli cast oure deth & shape,
3112
3116
3120
3124
3128
3132
3136
3140
3108. inwardly] inly C. 3109. be] by his D 1.
3110. fame] name C, D 2. • 3113. 2nd for] om. D 1.
3118. f>is] {>e C. 3120. hussher] vssher D 1.
3136. wilneth oure] welneth oure wilnej) D 1.
BK. Ill]
Priam advises that they kill Thoas.
485
I holde ri^tful pat he nat eskape,
But pat of deth he resseyue his guerdous :
For ri$t requereth, and also good resoim,
J?at deth for deth is skilful guerdonynge,
Vn-to my wit, and ri^t wel sittynge —
Seth 3our avis [now] pleinly in pis cas."
And first of alle po spake Eneas,
And seide : "lord, so it be noon offence
To 3oure hi^nes to ^eue me audience,
ftoru3 supporte here of hem pat be ful wys,
I shal reherse pleynly my devys,
What is to werken [as] in pis matere :
Me semeth first, my lege lorde so dere,
J)at 3oure noble, royal excellence
Consydre shulde, with ful hi^e prudence,
In Query werke and operacioim
To caste a-forn, in conclusions,
}3e final ende pat may after, swe ;
For to a wysman, only is nat dewe
To se pe gywnynge and pe ende* no3t,
But bope attonis peisen in his pou^t,
And weien hem so iustly in balance
J?at of pe fyn folwe no repentau^ce.
Whi I seie pis, &, platly, whi I mene, [leaf 85 e]
Is [for] pat 36 ou^ten for to sene
How kyng Thoas is oon pe principal
Amonge Grekis, & of pe blood royal —
3if 36 considre, descendid as be lyn :
Wherfore, 3if he haue pus foule a fyn,
To be slawe while he is in presouw,
It my3t happen, in conclusiouw,
j)at 36 and 3ours, pat per-to assente,
Here-afterwarde sore to repente :
I preue it pus, pat 3if by auenture,
Or fortune, pat no man may assure,
Some of 3oure lordis were a-noper day
3144. I] And D 1. 3147. 1st deth] om. D.I.
3159. In] om. A. 3162. to] vnto D 2.
3163. ende] endynge C. 3167. 2nd whi] what. A..
3175. and] or A— J>er-to] her to A.
3144 that death
should be
his fate.
Death for
death is fair
What say
you ? "
Eneas says
3148
3152
3156
3160 they must
think what
•- .1 the end '11 be.
3164
3168
3172
3176
King Thoas
is one of the
Greeks'
chiefs,
and if they
kill him in
their prison,
what '11
happen
486 Eneas advises that K. Thoas le kept in prison, not Jcild. [BK. in
if any of
Priam's sons
or Trojans'
allied Kings
are taken by
the Greeks -1
Surely the
Greeks '11
not spare
them.
K. Thoas
ought to be
kept in
prison,
ready to be
exchanged for
any captured
Trojan lord.
Hector
agrees,
Priam
doesn't.
Of Grekis take, as it happe may, 3180
Or of ^oure sonys, so worpi of renouw,
Or of kynges pat ben in }>is toim, —
Trustep me wel, pat swiche gentilnes
As $e schew to hem in her distres, 3184
ftei wil 3ou quyte whan, in cas semblable, ' i
Fortune to hem pei finde fauerable,
})Q whiche no man cowstreyne may nor bircde, -
"Wherf ore, my lorde, haue pis ping in mymle : 3188
For 3if Thoas, of short avisement,
Shal nowe be ded poru3 hasty lugement,
A-noper day Grekis wil vs quyte,
And of rigour make her malis byte 3192
Oft some of ^ouris, who-euere pat it be,
And nouper spare hi^e nor lowe degre,
)3ou3 he were pa?*au^ter of ^oure blood ;
})e whiche ping, for al pis worldis good 3196
It my^tfe] falle, pat 36 nolde se.
Wherfore I rede, lete kyng Thoas be
Honestly keped in prisouw,
Lyche his estate, stille here in pis totiw, 3200.
List, as I seide, pat anoper day
Somme lorde of ^ouris, as it happe may,
Casuelly were take of auenture :
Be eschau??.ge of hym 30 my3t[e] best recure, 3204
With-outQ strif, ^oure owne man ageyn.
In J)is mater I can no more seyn,
But finally pis is my ful[le] rede."
To whiche couwseil Hector toke good hede, 3208
And for it was accord ynge to resou?if
He hit co??imendith in his oppirioiw..
But Priam, euere of oo entenciou?i,
S^ode alweie fix to pis conclusions, 3212 .
Pleinly affermynge : '^if Grekis may espie
)?at we pis kyng spare of gent[e]rye,
3186. finde] founde D 1.
3188. haue] hath A, ha> D2, haue> D 1.
3204. eschauTige] chauwge D 1 — hym] hern D 1.
3207. is] om. A, D 2, D 1. 3212. >is] his D 1.
3213. Grekis may] j>e grekis D 1.
BK. in] Thoas s fate is not decided. They comfort Helen. 487
J3ei wil arrette it cowardyse anoon,
£at we dar nat venge vs on* cure foon, [leaf ss <?]
For verray drede havyng noon hardines,
Nor herte nouper to do ri^twisnes ;
3et, neue?*]>eles, after 3010-6 assent,
}3at he shal leue, I wele in myn entent
To $oure desire fully condescende."
And of ]>is couwseil so pei made an ende,
Wtt/i-oute more, saue Eneas is go,
And Troylus eke, and Anthenor also,
In-to an halle, excellynge of bewte,
J)e quene Eleyne of .pwpos for to se,
WitJi whom was eke Eccuba pe quene,
And oper ladyes goodly on to sene,
And many mayde pat $onge & lusti was.
And worpi Troilus with pis Eneas
Dide her labour and her besy peyne
Eor to coimforte J?e faire quene Eleyne,
As sche pat stood for pe werre in drede ;
But for all pat, of verray womrnanhede,
))ilk[e] tyme, with al hir herte entere,
As she wel koude, maked hem good chere,
Havynge of ko?znynge inly suffisau?«ce
Bope of chere and of dalyauwce.
And Eccuba, beyng in pis halle,
Verray exaumple vn-to wommen alle,
Of bouwte havynge souereyn excellence,
In wisdam eke, and in elloquence,
Besou3te hem po, wonder wommanly,
And couwsaillede eke ful prudently,
For any haste, bope ny^e and- f erre,
Avisely to kepe hem in pe werre,
And nat iuparte her bodies folily ;
But to aduerte and caste prudently
In diffence kny^tly of ]?e tou?z,
Hem to gouerne by discrecioiw : —
She spake of feith, & koude no pinge feyne.
Priam still
., n urges tliat
3216 Thoas be
slain,
but will give-
in to his
3220 Council.
Eneas,
Troilus, etc.,
3224 goto
3228
3232 comfort
Helen.
3236
Hecuba
3240
3244 advises them
3248
not to be
foolhardy
but discreet.
3216. venge] avenge D 2— on] of C.
3251. &] bat D 1.
3228. on to] vn to A*
488 The Lament of the Greek Soldiers over their Losses. [BK. in
The Greeks
lament their
losses
and suffer-
ings in the
war;
but have no
remedy
And f awne of hir, & after of Eleyne
pei toke leue, and no longer dwelle,
But went her wey. & forfe I wil 3ou telle
How fe Grekis on f e same morwe
Amonge hem silfe co??zpleyne & make sorwe,
Her harmys grete, in murmwr & in rage,
pe losse, fe costis, and f e grete damage
pat fei han endured folily,
Lastynge f e werre, & wiste neuer why —
pe deth, fe slau^ter of many worfi man
Sifen tyme fat f e werre be-gan,
Hunger & f urste, wacche & colde also,
Ful gret vnreste, sorwe, f ou^t, & wo —
And al to-gidre for a fing of no^t, [leaf 86 «]
In sothfastnes, $if f e groiwde be sou^t :
pis was f e noyse & rumwr eke fat ran
poru^-oute fe hoste J>at day fro m^ to ma?z,
And moste a-monge fe pore sodyours,
Whiche bere fe bront euere of suche shoures,
And fe meschef of werre, comou?zly ;
And fou^ fei pleyne, fei haue no remedie
Of Binges whiche sitte?z hem f ul vnsofte.
for their foiiy
war.
All night,
thick dark-
ness comes
on,
3252
3256
3260
3264
3268
3272
Of the orryble and hydouse tempest, thondre, levene
that roos sodeynly vpon the Grekys.1
And ]ms Grekis compleyned han ful ofte
Of many meschef f «t haf on hem falle,
pe whiche fei my^t has eschewed alle, 3276
3 if fei ne had of foly gonne a werre,
Oute of Grece nat comen halfe so ferre,
To her meschef and* confusions :
pis was fat day her lamentations, 3280
Whiche to encrese, fe same nexte ny^t
So dirked was, with-oute sterre Ii3t,
§o cloudy blak, and so fikke of eyr,
Dyramed with skies foule & no fing fair, 3284
3257. harmys] armys D 2. 3262. be-gan] gan D 2.
3269. >e] >ese D 2. 3270. bere] bar A— of] in D 2.
3279. and] and her C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 83 c (misplaced after line 3264).
BK. in] A terrible Storm Uows down the Grecian Tents. 489
So wyndy eke, with tempest al be-leyn , with a storm
Almoste for-drenchid \vith }>e smoky reyn,
And in ]>e felde astonyed here & Bonder
With sodeyn stroke of ]>e dredful ponder, 3288 thunder and
And with openyng of }>e hydous levene,
ftat it sempte in ]>e hi^e hevene
)3e cataractis hadde bene vn-do;
For )?e cloudis and skyes, bo]>e two, 3292
Sodeynly wexen were so blake,
Liche as J>e goddis wolde haue take wrak, as if the
And had of newe assentid ben in oon drown the
J3e londe to drenche of Deucalyon, 3296
And al pis world, we't/z-oute more refuge,
To ouerflowe with a fresche deluge.
The Grekys tentys and pavelones, with stroke of
thundure sodeynly wer cast oute of fe felde.1
be wynde also so sternely gan bio we, The wind
beats down
)3at her tentis, stondyng on a rowe, 3300 the Greeks'
Forpossid werne, and y-bete doun ;
And furiously, to here confusions,
}5e flodis rau^t he?ft from her stondy?zge place,
And bare he?^ for]?e a* ful large space, 3304
Wher-of in meschef and in gret distresse, ' and the men
T .L i i o i , i n are in great
In gret labour & hertly hevynes distress.
jpe Grekis biden al pe same ny^t,
What for pe tempest & for lak of li^t, — 3308
Til pe flood gan ageyn withdrawe,
)5e wynde tapese, and ]?e day gan dawe, But at dawn
And pe heuene gan ageyn to clere,
WM-oute cloudis, & freschely to appere ; 3312
And Phebws eke with a f eruent hete the sun
Hadde on pe soille dried vp pe wete [leaf so 6]
And pe moysture environs on )>e pleyn.
And Grekis had her tentis set ageyn, 3316 and the tents
are set up
And wern a-dawed of her ny^tes sorwe again.
3285. al] also D 1. 3293. so] al A. 3304. a] in 0.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 83 d (misplaced after line 3278, and
accompanied by a miniature : ' ' How the Grekes had* recouerede
their pauilions ").
490 A fresh Battle. Achilles, Hector and Diomede slay foes. [BK.III
Achilles
takes the
field,
to fight
the Trojans.
J5orii3 Jmperyng of pe glade morwe :
Jpei hem array, no }>ing for }>e pes,
And in-to )>e felde first went Achilles,
As 36 shal here, of entencioiw
Jpat day to fi^te with hem of Troye touw.
Tlie Trojans
sully out.
Achilles
charges the
gigantic
Hupon,
and kills
him.
Hector slays
Octamene,
and Diomede
kills Zanti-
pus.
3320
Howe kynge Hupon, of stature lich a geante, was
sclayn of Ms Enn[em]y Achilles; for whoos
dethe, worthy Ector that day, with his swerde
wrough[t] maryeylis, and kylde mony kynges.1
Whawne dried was pe lusty large pleyn
With Phebws bemys, as 36 haw herd rue seyn,
fte Troyan knyjtes, ful wor]>i of renouw,
Descendid ben and y-come doun,
And in ])e feld toke* her fi3tynge place ;
But* Achilles, to mete hem in ]?e face,
To-forne went oute, lik as I 3011 tolde,
With his lordis & his kny3tes bolde.
And firste, I fincle, w/t/i-oute more abood,
Vn-to Hupoiw furiously he rood
(I mene Hupou?z pat was of his* stature
Lik a geante, as bookis vs assure),
Whom Achilles with his scharp[e] spere
J5oru3 )?e body percid hym so fere
)5at he fil ded, his wou?ide was so kene.
And after ])is, ]?e kyng Octamene,
As he fersely* on Hector wolde haue gon,
WM-onte a-bood Hector hym slowe anon, •
And cruelly quitte hym his fatal mede.
And sodeynly ageyri[e]s Dyomede,
As 3antipus, ]>& worpi kyng, gan drawe,
Ful pitously he of hym was slawe.
And ri3t anon pe kyng Epistrophus
[And ek )>e kyng )>at hi3te Cedius
3325
3328
3332
3336
3340
3344
3318. >aperyng] appeeryng A.
3323. dried] I dried D 1— large] om. D l'
3320. >e] om. D 2.
3324] f>at was a fora of be smoky reyn D 1.
3327. And in] In to D 2-^toke] take C. 3228. But] And C.
3333. his] hi3e C, D 1.
3339. fersely] furiously C— haue] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 84 a.-
BK. in] Hector slays flpistrophus, but is in danger of death. 491
Of oon assent, proudly in bataille,
Begonnen Hector mortally tassayle ; 3348 Hector slays
And wip a spere first Epistrophus]
Ran at* hym, -with herte dispitous,
And, as Guydo also doth deuyse,
Eebuked hym in vngoodly wyse — 3352
To hym so sore in herte* he was amevid.
Where-of Hector, furiously a-grevid,
Hap mortally his wourcde made so large, Epistrophus,
Jpat hym ne geynep plate, shelde, nor targe ; 3356
For he fil ded amonge his men echon,
To whom Hector had he shulde goon and bids him
To be furies, depe dourc in helle. Furies in
Hell
Swiche wordis amongis hem to telle : — 3360
" For here," qwod he, " men take of hew noon hede."
And pus wha?^ he was wagid for his mede,
Anon his broker, callid Cedius, cedius,
Swiche sorwe made for Epistrophus, 3364
So hertly dool, and so woful chere,
J3at pite was for to sen and here,
So inwardly on his deth he pou^t : [leaf sec]
And with a pousand kny^tes ]>at he brou^t, 3368 withiooo
To ben avengid by manhod of hem alle,
Dispitously on Hector he is falle,
Wher he hym fonde fi^tinge with his foon,1
J)at poru} pe force of hem euerychon, 3372
So sore envirou?^ pei han hym be-set, surrounds
, . ,, -, • , -i -, • i -i and unhorses
pat from his stede dour* pei han hyw smet; Hector,
Whom Cedius, ay in his cruel rage,
Whan pat he sawe to his avauntage 3376
Hector vnhorsid, and he on his stede,
His swerd he lifte of inwardfly] hatrede, and lifts his
sword to
Markynge at hym with so gret a peyne, 8lay him-
With al pe force of his armys tweyne, 3380
Fully in purpos, with-onte more delay,
To slen Hector, pleynly, $if he may.
3347. proudly in bataille] }if it wold avayle D 1.
3350. at] on C. 3353. so sore in herte] in herte so sore C.
3356. geyne>] greve> D 2. 3367. So] And D 1.
3372. pat] And D 1. 3373. han] gan D 1.
TROT BOOK. K K
492 Agamemnon and the Greeks make the Trojans give way. [BK. m
But or his stroke descende my3t[e] dourc,
Hector, of hate and indignaciouw,
With his swerde, ]>at was ful sharp[e] whet,
From his sholdre haj? his arme of smet;
And after fat, he reued hym his lyf.
Jjawne Eneas amyddes al pis strif
Cam ridynge in, wood and furious ;
And as he mette ]>e kyng Amphymacus,
He fel on hym & slow hym in his* rage.
And from Grekis holdyng her passage,
J)er cam douw, frist Menelaus,
And after hym kyng Thelamonyvs,
)pe grete duke also of Athene,
In whom }>er was so moche manhod sene,
Ylixes eke, and cruel Dyomede,
And eke also, to helpe hem in her nede,
J?er cam with hem J>e kyng Machaouw,
And alderlaste )>e grete Agamenourc,
With alle her wardis, & fel in sodeynly
Vp-on Troyens ; & ]>ei ful manfully
Defende hem silf ageyn )>e Grekis proude,
And put he?w of ful kny^tly, as )>ei koude :
And eche on ofer, sothly, as )?ei mette,
With spere & swerde enviously )>ei sette —
So mortal hate per was hem betwene.
And whan )>e sowne was in Meridene,
In mydday angel, passynge hote & shene,
J?e Grekis gonne felly in her tene
So my3tely to falle on hem of Troye,
J)at pei hem made for to $eue woye,
Of verray force and uecessite.
And Achilles, so ful of cruelte,
Achilles kills Amonge )>e rengis as he ga?z him drawe,
J)e kyng Philem enviously ha]? slawe ;
Hector slays And myd of Grekis J)e same tyme Hector,
Maugre hem alle, slowe kyng Alphenor,
And eke )>e kyng callid Dorovs :
Hector cuts
off Cedius's
arm,
and kills
him.
Eneas slays
Anopbima-
cus.
Menelaus,
Ulysses,
Agamemnon
and others
fall on the
Trojans,
and make
em give way.
3384
3388
3392
3396
3400
3404
3408
3412
[leaf 86 d] 3416
two Greek
kings.
3383. doim] a douw D 1. 3391. his] >is C.
3408. in] om. D 2. 3419. Dorovs] Derous D 1.
Of the Centaur archer, \ man, \ horse, who helpt the Trojans. 493
On hem he was so cruel and Irons, 3420
Jpat, poru$ vertu of his kny^tly hond,
Troyens han wowne a-geyn her londe TJtethr°jans
Vp-on Grekis, and made hem for to fle. Gr
Of the monstrouvse Archere that was half man half
hors, and was with kynge Epistrophus.1
And pilke hour, from Trove pe cite, 3424 The Trojan
,-, . / , , . ' allyEpistro-
Epistroius, ful oi manlynes, phua
)}e felde hap take poru^ his worpines ;
And on Grekis proudly, for pe nonys,
With his kny^tes [he] fallep al attonys, 3428
And seuered hem & made hem for to twywne, scatters the
And gan pe felde faste vp-on hem wywne,
Havynge pat tyme in his companye,
Amongis oper pat he dide guye, 3432
A certeyn archer, pe whiche, as I fynde, being heipt
Was monstruous & wonderful of kynde : drous archer,
For from J?e myddel vp vn-to pe crowne
He was a man ; & pe rernenaurcte douwe 3436 man above,
Bar of an hors liknes and figure ; horse below,
And horsis her, pis monstre in nature
Hadde on his skyn growyng environs,
Ful rowe & pikke ; & of his vois pe sowi 3440
Was liche pe neiynge of an hors, I rede ;
And pou3 his face, bope in lengpe & brede,
Of shap were maraiyshe, ^et, in sothfa[s]tnes,
His colour was semblable in liknes 3444 with a fiery
face
Vn-to pe fery, hote, brewnynge glede,
Whos even eke, flawmynge also rede and flaming
breath.
As pe blase of an oven mouthe —
And for he was in si^te so vnkouthe, 3448
Wher-so-euere he was mette in pe berde,
Bope man & hors sore werne a-ferde,
His face was so hatful and odyble,
And his loke so hydous and orible. 3452
3423. made] om. D 1. 3439. growyng] growyn A.
3440. his] >e D 1. 3443. marmyshe] manliche D 1.
3447-3506 are omitted in D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 84 c (misplaced after line 3410).
494 The Centaur is a grand Archer, & kills many Greeks. [BK. in
The Centaur
had no arms
or armour,
bat was a
good archer,
and his
arrows could
go thru any
armour.
All horses
fled from
him,
he was so
like a Devil.
He slew
many Greeks.
And ay he had in custom & vsawice,
As in bokis is made remembraufice,
For to goon vn-armyd in-to pe felde,
With-oute swerde, spere, axe, or shelde ; 3456
For he no ping koude of pat myster :
But, as I finde, he was a good archer,
And bare a bowe, stif & wonder stronge ;
And for he was also of tiler longe, 3460
His arwes wern liche to his tiler, —
In a quyuer trussed wonder ner
By his side, ay redy to his honde,
Where-so he* were, ouper on se or londe. 3464
And, as I finde, how pat noon armvre [leaf 87 a]
Ageyn his schot pleinly my^t endure ;
And per nas hors, stede, nor courser
Jpat durste abide, nouper fer nor nere, 3468
But fled anoon with al her ful my3t
As faste as pei of hym had a si$t,
To hern he was so passyng odyous,
So like a deuele, and so monstruous : 3472
And per was fouwde noon so hardi kny^t
On hors[e]-bak pat hadfde] force or my^t
To holde his hors whan pei rny^t hym se,
But pat anoon abak he wolde fle. 3476
And of pis archer I finde writen eke,
J)at he J>at day slowe [ful] many Greke,
And wounded hem with his arwes keue
Jjoru^-oute pe platis, forgid brijt & shene ; 3480
For per was norc a-forn hym pat abood,
But to her tentis fast awey * pei rood,
ftei my$t[e] nat his hidous loke endure.
Howe Dyomede slewe the Sagittarye bysydes his tent,
with a darte intoxicayte with venyme.1
Til per be-fil a wonder auenture :
While pei of Troye by help of pis archer
3484
3454. made] maked A, D 1. 3455. in-to] in D 1.
3456. spere] dagger D 1. 3460. tiler] teloure D 1.
3464. he] >ei C. 3471. so] om. D 1.
3478. many] many a A. 3482. fast awey] awey fast C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 84 d (misplaced after line 3484).
BK. in] Diomede slays the Centaur. Hector meets Achilles. 495
Sewe on pe chaas to her loggynge ner,
And slowe of hem, in meschef & in drede,
Be-syde a tent met[te] Dyomede 3488 But the
With )>is archer, of necessite ; Diomede
For it stood so, pat he ne my^t hym fle
No maner weye, nor a-bak remwe —
For lyf nor deth, he my^t him nat eschwe, 3492
So many Troyan was po at his bake,
In his fleyng he had go to wrak :
Wherfor, anon, pis hardy Dyomede, centaur6
"With cruel herte fast[e] gan hym spede, 3496
And toward hym proudly for to dresse.
But )>is archer, by gret avysenes,
First with an arwe smet[te] Dyomede jjjj wounds
ftoru} his harneis, \a\> he made him blede, 3500
Of whiche stroke he wexe so wood & wrope,
)5at to pis monstre, so hidous & so lope,
He went a pas, & hym vn-armyd fond ;
And vrith fte swerde Ipat he hilde in his hond, 3504 ThenDio-
* mede kills
He $af to hym his last[e] fatal wourade, the Centaur.
J}at he fil ded, — gruf vn-to [pe] grourcde.
Jpe deth of whom Grekis reioisshinge, Greeks |the
And, in al haste, her hertis resumynge, 3508
Be-gan hem silf for to recouwf orte ;
And in-to pe f elde proudly ]>ei resorte Jenhetw the
By cowveiynge of Polixenar,
])Q worpi duke, pat so wel him bar 3512
Vp-on Troyens pat day in pe felde.
But whan Hector pe sla^ter of him* behilde, [leaf s? 6] Hector 8lay9
Yp-on pis duke anon he gan to sette ;
And on her stedis fersly as J?ei mette, 3516
Hector hym slou^e, of ful grete hatrede. Polixenar,
And after pat, on Galathe his stede,
So as he rood forpe amonge pe pres,
Or he was war he meteth Achilles ; 3520
3492. nat] om. A. 3504. with] om. A.
3507. Grekis] >e grekes D 1.
3509. Be-gan hem silf] Hym selfe bigan D 1.
3510. >e] om. D 2. 3514. him] hem C.
3519] So as he rode he mete> Achilles D 1.
3520] Of fortune ther \i$t amid J>e pres D 1.
Hector and
Achilles
unhorse
one another
496 Hector slays Greeks. Other Greeks capture Anterior. [BK. in
And with her speris, longe, large, & rouwde,
In pwrpos fully eche o)>er to confoimde,
feei ran I-fere, Irous & ri3t wrothe,
feat with ]>e stroke pe[i] wer vnhorsid bope :
But Achilles, with a dispitous herte,
First, as I rede, in-to his sadel sterte,
And besy was, with al his inward peyne,
Gallathe to taken by pe reyne,
feer-of for euere Hector to deprive,
And bad his men to lede it horn as bliue,
So ]>at Hector— per was noon oper bote —
Ful* like a man fau3t stondyng on fote
Amonge Grekis and his fomen alle ;
And to his kny3tes loude he gan to calle,
For his stede J?at )>ei shulde swe ;
And )>ei in haste his hors to reskewe,
Bene attonys fallen on Achille,
And maugre hym, of force, ageyn his wille,
feei han from him berafte it on ]>& pleyn,
And to Hector restorid it* ageyn,
Whiche in kny3thod so moche hi?ft-silf assureth,
Dispit of hem his sadel he recureth,
Whiche afterwarde ful dere )>ei abou3t.
For liche a lyourc al )>at day he wrou3t,
Amongefs] hem ridynge here & pere,
And as ]>e deth pei fled his swerd for fere,
feoru3 whos manhod Troyens efte be-gymie
Vp-on Grekis pe felde ageyn to wywne.
But it be-fil amyd her* grete fi3t,
feat Anthenor, a certyn Troyan kny3t,
Amonge )>e pres is so fer in goon,
feat of Grekis he was take a-non,
And to her tentis sent in haste he was ;
Al-be his sone, callid Pollydamas,
To reskewe hym dide his dilligence
Hector calls
on his
knights
to rescue
his steed,
which they
do.
Hector slays
Greeks.
Other Greeks
capture
Antenor.
3524
3528
3532
3536
3540
3544
3548
3552
3522. fully] am. D 1. 3530. as] om. D 1.
3532. Ful] But C. 3538. hym] hem D 1— his] here D 1.
3539. him] hem D 1. 3540. it] is C.
3541. in kny^thod] afterward D 2— hiw-silf] hew D 1.
3549. her] >e C.
BK. in] Darkness sends loth Armies home. They fight again. 497
So manfully, J>at no necligence 3556
Was fourade in hym, who-so liste to seke ;
And )>at ful dere abou^tfe] many Greke,
])Q same day, poni} his wor]>ines :
But for cause only of dirknes, 3560
And for J?at it gaw drawe towarde ny^t,
)3ei made an ende only for lake of li^t.
[And G-rekis wente horn to her loggyng,]
And eke Troyens ; til on ]>e morw[e]nynge, [leaf 87 c] 3564
j?at Phebus gan his b^tfe] bemys shewe,
And Aurora newe gan a-dewe
Jpe herbis sote and J>e grene levis,
Bothe in haies and in freshe greuys, 3568
Siluer bri^t, with rouwde perlys fyne,
}5at so clerly ageyn pe sorane shyne,
And shewe hem silf, so orient & shene,
On hil & vale, and on Query grene, 3572
fte rody morwe, til ]>e hote bemys
Of bri3t[e] Phebws with his firy stremys
Yapoureth vp her* moysture in-to ]>e eyr,
\)Q wedir clere, agreable, and feir, 3576
And attempre also of his hete,
Whan pe Troyens [cast] hem for to mete
With her fomen, platly, $if J)ei may.
And oute fei wente in her beste array, 3580
With her wardis in-to feld by rowe,
Ageyn[e]s whom Grekis wer nat slowe,
But shope hem for]>e, with-oute lenger let,
Til fei to-gidir manfully han met • 3584
And with her speris & her swerdis clere,
j)ei ran to-gedir, with a dispitous chere,
Til shyuerid was a-sondre many spere
On shildis stronge, hem siluerc for to were, 3588
Polydamas
fails to rescue
him.
Both sides
go home.
Next morn-
ing,
when the
sun is hot,
the Trojans
march out ;
the Greeks
meet em,
and the fight
begins.
3556. manfully] manly D 1. 3560. But] om. D 1.
3561. J»t] om. D 1— towarde] to A.
3569. perlys] perly A. 3575. her] be C— be] om. D 2.
3477. attempre also] also atempre D 1.
After 3584, D 1 inserts :
with here fomen platly bis no les
And In bei goon amo?ige al be pres.
3587. many] many a D 1.
Many are
slain on both
sides,
498 The Trojans lose the Day. The Greeks send to Priam. [BE. in
And ryuen was on pecis many targe ;
And, wM exis, roimde, brode, and large,
On basenettis as )>ei smyte and shrede,
Ful many kny3t mortally gan blede,
In sothfastnes* ; and, as I telle can,
))e same day was slayn many [a] man
On ou)>er part, but most of Troye touw,
Al-be Guy do maketh no menciourc
Of no persone, as in special,
On nouper syde, but in general —
Saue he concludi]), pleynly, ]>at J>is %t
Laste fro morwe til pat it was ny3t,
))e whiche Troyans han ful dere a-bou3t :
For ]>ilk[e] day fortune halp hem nou3t,
But turned hool to her confusiouw,
And so )>ei bene repeired to pe ioun.
but the
Trojans get
the worst
of it,
and retire
to Troy.
3592
3596
3600
3604
Next day the
Greeks send
Diomede
and Ulysses
to ask for a
Truce of
3 months.
Dolon takes
them to
Priam
and his lords.
Howe the Grekes sent Dyomede and Vlixes to kynge
Pryamus for a trewes of thre monethes.1
And to her tentis Grekis faste hem spede,
Til on ]>e morwe )>ei sent Dyomede
With Vlixes to Troye J>e cite
For a trewe, only for monypes pre, 3608
3if kyng Priam * per-to wolde assent.
And as )>ei two on )>is message went,
A certeyn kny^t, born of Troye tourc,
))at hi^t Dolon, of grete discreciouw, 3612
And was also ri3t famous of riches, [leaf s? a]
Of curtesye, and of gentilnes,
His deuer dide, and his dilligence
Hem to cowieye vn-to ]>Q presence 3616
Of Priamws in his paleis royal ;
And in his se, most chefe and principal,
Where as he sat, his lordis envirouw,
3589. many] many a D 1.
3590. And] om. D 1— exis] hexis D 2.
3593. sothfastnes] sothnes C. 3594. a] om. D 1.
3598. nou)>er] ou>er D 1.
3608. trewe.] trews A. 3609. Priam] Priamws C.
3612. Dolon] Daloiw D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 85 b (misplaced after line 3564).
BK. in] The Greeks ask for a Truce. Hector objects to it. 499
With many kny^t ful worpi of renourc, 3620
ftei gan to hym first to specefie Sd'ufsses
Holy pe substaurcce of her embassatrie, Xace°r a
And of ]>e trewe per entent pel tolde,
3if it so were he assenten wolde. 3624
Howe Kynge Priamus graunt to the Grekzs ther
askynge; bot worth! Ector was ther-to contrarye.1
And pe kyng benygnely hem herde,
And by avys prudently answerde, Priam 8ays
Jpat per-vppon, his honour for to saue,
At good leiser he wold a couwseil haue 3628 he'iiasknis
Council,
With his lordis, and fully hym gouerne
In pis mater like as pei discerne :
And. to conclude shortly, euerychon wh° ail agree
•; ' J to the truce,
Assentid ben, excepte Hector allone, 3632 jgjgj.
Yn-to ]>e trewe, & nolde it nat denye :
But Hector seide, pat of trecherie,
Only of sleijt and of false tresou?^
Her axynge was, vnder occasions, 3636
First to burie Grekis pat wer dede,
And vnder colour ber-of — oute of drede — who says
the Greeks
Afterwarde hem siluen to vitaille ; tolyetwaro-
For he wel knewe pat her stuf gan faille, 3640 Vision9«
And enfamyned, liste pei shulde dye,
}3ei sou^te* a space hem siluen to pwrueye,
By outewarde signes pat he dide espie.
" Wherfore," quod he, " me lykep nat to lye, 3644
By apparence, as I dar preswme,
Whyles bat we wasten & conswme while the
Trojans are
Oure stuf wM-Inne, as it is to drede,
))ei wil prouide of w[h]at pat pei [haue] nede ; 3648
For al pat is to hem a-vauntage,
Mut ben to vs hynderynge & damage ;
And whiles pei encres[en] and amende,
We shal oure store discresen and dispewde : 3652
3623. trewe] trews A. 3625. >e] >is D 1.
3636 was] be D 1. 3642. senate] soujten C, D 2.
3648. >at]asDl.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 85 c (misplaced after line 3608).
500 A ^-months' Truce is agreed on. Exchange of Prisoners. [BK.III
But Hector
will not
oppose the
8-months'
Truce,
if all others
agree to it.
So it is con-
cluded.
3it neuerpeles, how-euere pat it be,
Towchyng pis trew as for mowpes pre,
Sethen 36 alle assenten and accorde,
Fro 3oure sentence I wil nat discorde,
In no wyse to be variaurct."
And pus pe trewe cowfermed was be grauwt,
On ouper syde hem pou$t[e] for pe beste,
By-cause pei shulde in quiete & in reste
j)e mene while ese hem and releue ;
And pei pat felte her wouwdis sore greue [
haue leiser hem silfe to recnre.
Then they
agree to
exchange
Trojan
Antenor for
the Greek
Thoas.
But Bishop
Calchas
recollects
his daughter
Cressid,
whom he left
in Troy.
3656
3660
Howe durenge the trewes Anthenore was delywerde
fro pe Grekis, for kynge Thoas and Cresseyde.1
And while pe trewe dide pus endure,
Jjei fil in trete and in coniwnynge
Of Anthenor and [of] Thoas pe kyng :
J)at Anthenor shulde delyuered* be
For kyng Thoas, to Troye pe cite;
And Thoas shulde to Grekis home ageyn,
Only be eschauwge, as 36 haw herde me seyn,
Oon* for a-noper, as it accorded was.
And in pis while pe byshope, he, Calchas,
Eemembrid hym on his dorter dere,
Callid Cryseide, -with hir eyen clere,
Whom in Troye he had lefte be-hynde
Whawne he wente, as pe boke makip mywde :
For whom he felte passingly gret smert,
So tendhiy she was set at his herte,
And enprentid, bope at eue and morwe.
And chefe cause & grou?zde of al his sorwe
Was pat she lefte behynde [hym] in pe toiw
We't/j-oute comforte or consolaciouw,
As he caste, sothly, in his absence,
3664
3668
3672
3676
3680
3654. trew] trews A.
After 3660, D 1 repeats 3593, 94 ; in 3594, man] a man.
3666. of] om. C, D 1.
3666 is repeated in D 2 ; but Of] pat in the repeated line.
3667. shulde delyuered] delyuered shulde C, D 1.
3670. eschauttge] chaunge D 1. 3671. Oon] And C.
3672. he] of A. 3677. passingly] passyng A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 85 d (misplaced after line 3664).
Galchas beseeches Agamemnon to exchange Cressidfor Antenor. 501
And specially for his grete offence
J)at he haj) wrou^t a^ens hem of Troye ;
And, as hyw poi^t, he neuer shulde han loye
Til he his doubter recurid hath ageyn.
Wherfore Calchas, f e story seith certeyn,
In his wittes many weies caste
Howe he* my^t, while fe trew dof laste,
Recure his dorter by som maner way ;
And, as I fynde, vp-on a certeyn day,
In his porte wonder humblely,
Wiih wepyoge eye, wente pitously,
In compleynynge, of teris al be-reyned,
Whos inwarde wo, sofly, was nat feined,
And on his knees anoow he fallef douw
To-fore f e grete kyng Agamenoiw,
Besechynge hym, with al humilite,
Of verray mercy & of hi^e pite,
With ofer kynges sittinge in fe place,
To haue routhe, & for to don hyw grace,
And on his wo to haue compassions,
J3at he may haue restituciouw
Of his dorter whom he loued so, —
Preyinge hem alle her deuer for to do,
J}at f oru$ her prudent medyaciouw,
For Antenor, fat was in her prisourc,
With kyng Thoas she my^t eschauwged be,
3if fat hem liste of her benignyte
To his requeste goodly to assente. [leaf 886]
And fei him grauwte ; & forfe anoow fei sente*
To kyng Priam for to haue Cryseide
For Calchas sake, & fer-w^-al fei leide
))e charge for hir wonder specially
On hem fat wente for fis enbassatrie
To Troye toun and to kyng Priamz^, —
To whom Calchas was so odyous,
So hateful* eke, foru^-oute al fe toura,
3686. neuer shulde han] shulde nevir haue A.
3690. he] J>at he 0— trew] trews A— do)>] om. D 2.
3694. eye] he D 1. 3712. sente] wente C.
3715. for] of D 1. 3717. 2nd to] om. D 1.
3719. hateful] hathful C.
3684
3688 Calchas plans
how to regain
Cressid.
3692
3696
3700
He kneels to
Agamemnon,
and begs him
3704 to get back
Cressid as
3708 well as Thoas
for Antenor.
3712 The Greeks
ask Priam
for Cressid.
3716
The Trojans
hate Calchas
as a traitor
who
deserves
death,
and say
they'll never
grant
Calchas's
request ;
502 Unwillingly the Trojans agree to give up Cressid. [BK. ill
]3at pis reporte was of him vp and dcnm : 3720
)3at he a tray tour was, & also false,
Worpi to ben enhonged be }>e halse
For his tresoim and his doublenes.
And, ouermore, pei seiden eke expresse, 3724
Jjat he disserued ha)?, be ri3t of lawe,
Shamfully firste for to be drawe,
And afterward, pe most orrible deth
jjat he may haue, to 3elden vp pe breth 3728
Liche a treytour in a[s] dispitous wyse
As any herte can ]>enke or deuyse —
Eueryche affermynge, as by lugement,
Jpat deth was noon ffully equipolent 3732
To his deserte, nor to his falsenes,
As 3onge & olde pleinly bar witnes ;
Concludynge eke, for his iniquite,
)3at pei wolde assent in no degre 3736
Vn-to no pinge pat my^t his hert[e] plese,
Nor of Cryseide, for to don hym ese,
)?ei caste nat to make delyueraimce —
Leuer pei hadden to 3eue hym meschauwce, 3740
3if pei hym my3t haue at good[e] large.
But finally peffecte of al pis charge
Is so ferforpe dry u en to an* ende,
]?at Priamws hath graiwted sche shal wende 3744
With kyng Thoas, shortly, per is no more,
Vn-to hir fader for dau^ Anthenor —
Who-euere gruche, pe kyng in pa?iament
Hath per-vppon 3oue iugement 3748
So outterly, it may nat be repeled*:
For, with his worde pe sentence was asselid,
Jpat she mot parte, with hir eyen glade.
And of pe sorwe, pleinly, pat she made 3752
At hir departynge, her-afh> 36 shai here
Whan it ageyn cometh to my matere.
3736. J>ei] >e D 1. 3737. his herte] om. A.
3741. haue] haved D2. 3743. an] >e C.
3744. sche] he D 2. 3746. hir] his D 2.
3748. J>er-vppon] her vppon D 2, here vppon D 1 — joue] 1 3oue D 2.
3749. repeled] repellid C. 3750. asselid] ewseled D 1.
3753. departynge] partyng A.
but at last,
Priam
agrees to it,
and Cressid
must go.
BK. ill] Hector visits the Greeks, and chats with Achilles. 503
During the
Truce,
Hector visits
the Greeks.
Howe worthy Ector, durenge the trewes, kame to the
Tent of Achilles, where they were condescendyde
that the quarells, as wele of the Troiayns parte
as of }>e Grekes, shulde be deraynede by the
handys of theme two, yif J?e Troians and Grekis
wolde ther-to consente.1
The trew affermyd, as $e ha% herd deuise,
On ou]?er side, of he??i ]>ai wer ful wyse, 3756
And ful assentid of hem euef'ychon,
Til ]>re monies come be and goon,
Liclie as I rede, on a certeyn day,
Whan agreable was J)e mor we gray, [leafssc] 3760
Blauwdiss[h]inge and plesant of delit,
Hector in herte cau^te an appetite
(Like as Guydo liketh for to write)
))e same day Grekis to* vesite,
Ful wel be-seyn, and wouwder richely,
With many worjri in his company,
Of swiche as lie for }>e nonys ches.
And to Ipe tent first of Achilles,
I fynde, in soth, pis worpi Troyan kny$t
Vp-on his stede toke pe weie ri^t,
Ful liche a man, as made is mencioun.
Now badde Achilles gret affeccioura 3772
In his herte, bope day and ny^t,
Of worpi Hector for to ban a si^t :
For neuer his lyue, by non occasions
He my^t of hym ban non inspecciou?i, 3776
Nor hym be-holde at good liberte ;
For vnarmyd he my^t him neuer se.
But wonder kny^tly, bope in port & chere,
)5ei had hem bo)>e as fei mette in fere, 3780
And ri^t manly in her couwtenauwce ;
And at the laste f>ei fille in dalyau?^ce. They chat.
But Achilles firste began abreide,
And vn-to hym euene pus he seide : 3784
3755. trew] trews A. 3762. Hector] And Hector D 2.
3764. to] for to C. 3771. is menciowi] om. D 2.
3778. For] om. D 1. 3779. bo>e] as wel D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 86 b.
3764
3768 He rides first
to the tent of
Achilles,
who longs to
see him.
504 Achilles tells Hector that he wants to kill him. [BK. ill
Achilles
says;
" Hector,
I'm glad to
see you,
but I want
to kill you.
I've often
felt the force
of your
blows.
You've cut
thru my
armour into
my flesh,
and I shall
never be
satisfied till I
slay you.
" Hector," qwod he, " ful plesyng is to me
ftat I at leiser nakid may pe se,
Sith I of ]?e neuere my^t haue si$t
But w[h]an ]?ou were armyd as a kny$t ; 3788
And now to me it schal be ful greuous,
Whiche am to J>e so inly envious,
But pou of me — )>er is no more to seyne —
Be slaie anon with myn hondis tweyne : 3792
For pis, in soth, wer hoolly my plesau/zce,
By cruel deth to take* on pe vengaurcce ;
For I ful ofte, in werre & eke in fi^t,
Haue felt pe vertu & pe grete my^t 3796
Of pi force, poru^ many wouradis kene,
J3at vp-on me be ful fresche & grene
In many place, be sheclynge of my blood —
J)ou were on me so furious and wood, 3800
Ay compassynge to my distrucciou?^ ;
For many a mail of myn haberion
])i sharpe swerd racid hape a-sonder,
And cruelly seue?-ed here and Bonder, 3804
And mortally, as I can signes shewe,
My platis stronge percid & I-hewe,
And myn harneis, forgid bri^t of stele,
Mi;t neuere assured bew so wele, 3808
In pin Ire whan pou liste to smyte, [leaf 88 d]
)3at ]>i swerd wolde* kerue & bite
In-to my fleshe, ful depe & ful profotwde,
As shewif ^it be many mortal wou^de 3812
On my body, large, longe, and wyde,
J?at ^it appere vppon euery syde,
And day be day ful sore ake and smerte.
For whiche ping, me seme]), pat myrc herte 3816
Enbolleth newe, now whan I )>e se,
Of hi^e dispit avengid for to be —
So am I fret of envious rage,
))at it may neuer in my brest aswage 3820
Til J)e vengaurcce and )>e fatal sut
Of cruel deth be on pe execut.
3794. take] taken C. 3810. wolde] wele C, wil D 1.
3811. fleshe] fresshe D 1. 3819. am I] I am A.
BK. in] Achilles reminds Hector how he slew Patroclus. 505
And of o J>ing moste is my greuaiwce,
Whan I haue fully remembraurcce, 3824 "i recollect
And in my mynde considre vp & dourc,
How )?ou madist a diuisiou?^
Of me, alias ! and of Patroclus, how you
So ^onge, so manly, and so vertuous ! 3828 Patroclus,
Whom I loued, as it was skyl & rut, whom i lovd
with my
as my silf ,* with al my ful my3t, whole heart-
With as hoi herte and inly kyndenes
As any tonge may tellen or expres. 3832
Now hast )>ou made a departisiouw
Of vs ]>at werne by hool affecciouw
I-knet in oon, of hertly allyauwce,
With-oute partynge or disseueraurcce — 3836
So enteerly* oure feithful hertis tweyen
I-lacid werne, and lokkid in o cheyne,
Whiche my^tfe] nat for noon aduersite
Of lyf nor deth assorider twyraied be, 3840
Til cruelly ]?ou madest vs departe,
Whiche poru^ n^ hert so inwardly [doth] darte,
|3at it wil neuer, in soth, out of* my fou^t. J can never
And, trust wel, ful dere shal* be bou^t 3844
])e deth of hym, &, be no ]?ing in were,
Parauenture or endid be Jris 3ere :
For vp-on pe, only for his sake, and for his
Of cruel deth vengauwce shal be take, 3848
I ]>e ensure, w^tft-outen o]>er bond ;
3if I may lyue, with myn owne hond
I shal of deth don execuciouw, i win km
With-oute abood or [long] dylaciouw. 3852
For ri^t requereth, with-outen any drede,
Deth for deth, for his final mede ;
For I my silfe )>er-on shal be wroke,
J)at foru^ }>e world her-after shal be spoke, 3856
How Achilles was vengid on* his foo,
3824. haue] hadde D 1. 3829. Whom] Whom >at D 1.
3830. silf] lif C. 3837. enteerly] outterly C.
3838. o] a A, D 2, D 1. 3843. out of] in C.
3844. shal] it shal C. 3845. hym] whom D I.
3857. on] of C.
506 Achilles & Hector agree that one must kill the other. [BK. in
Hector has
wanted to
kill him.
Death must
come to one
of them by
the other.
For Patroclus pat he loued so.
Achilles says And J>om fat I be to "be envious,
he knows r ? r f
And of pi deth inly desirous,
N~e wyte me nat, ne put on me no blame,
For wel I wote pou arte to me pe same,
And haste my deth many day desyred,
And per-vp-on inwardly conspired :
And pus, shortly, as a-twen vs two
j)er is but deth, wM-oute wordis mo,
Whan fortune hath pe tyme shape,
I hope fully pou shalt nat eskape —
Truste noon oper, I seie pe outterly ! "
To whom Hector nat to hastely
Answerid ageyn, -with sobre countenance
Avised wel in al his daliaunce,
As he fat was in no ping rek[e]les ;
And euene pus he spake to Achilles :
" Sir Achilles, wz't/^-outen any faille,
|3ou au^test nat in herte to mervaille
J^ou} with my power & my ful[le] my^t,
With herte & wylle, of verray due ri^t,
Day be day I pi deth conspire,
And euer in oon compasse it & desire,
And do my labour erly and eke late
To pwrsue it by ful cruel hate : —
j?ou ou3teste nat to wondrew in no wyse,
But fully knowe, by sentence of pe wise,
In no maner, who-so taketh hede,
Of ri3twysnes it may nat procede,
J)at o[u])>er I or any o]>er wi^t
Shulde hym loue, fat with al his my^t
My deth pwrsuwetfh] and destrucciourc ;
And ouer pis, to more confusioura,
Hath leide a sege aboute fis cite,
On my kynrede and also vppon me,
And, J> er-vp-on, felly doth preswme
With mortal hate of werre to co?zswme
Vs euerychon — I-wis, I can nat fynde
[leaf 89 a]
Hector says
"Achilles,
you can't
wonder that
I plot your
death,
for you plot
mine,
and have
besiegd Troy,
to destroy
us all.
3860
3864
3868
3872
3876
3880
3884
3888
3892
Truste] Truste me A.
3889. pwrsuweth] purswed D 1.
BK. in] Hector tells Achilles that he hopes to tame the Greeks. 507
In myn herte, as by lawe of kynde, 3896
Swiche on to lone, of ri^t nor eqnite, " of course i
Nor haue hym chere, sothly, in no degre : you.
For of werre may no frendlyhede, war doesn't
NOT of debate lone a-ri^t precede ; 3900 ship.
For, sothly, lone, moste in special,
Of feithf ulnes hath his original, From Faith
. springs Love.
In hertis loyned by convenience
Of oon accorde, whom no difference 3904
Of doubilnes may in no degre,
Noufer in loye nor aduersite,
For lyf nor deth assouwder nor disseuere ; [leaf 896]
For where loue is, it contuneth euere, 3908
But of hate al is pe contrarie. From Hate,
Of whiche, sothly, from hertis whaw pei varie,
Precede)) rancowr, at eye, as men may se, Rancour,
Debat, envye, strife, and enmyte, 3912
Mortal slau^ter, bofe ny^e and ferre, slaughter,
Moder of whiche, in sothfastnes, is werre, war.
))Q fyn wher-of, longe or it be do,
Seuerith hertis & frendship kut a-two, 3916
And causeth loue to be leide ful lowe.
But, for al Jris, I wil wel pat ]>ou knowe But know
fii proude wordis, in hertfe] nor in pou^t,
In verray soth, a-gaste me ri^t no^t; 3920
And 3if I schal, ferpermore, oute-breke,
With-oute avaurcte j>e troupe for to speke,
I seie be, pleinly, henfnels or two sere, thatifiiive
two years,
3if I may live in pis werris here, 3924
And my swerde of kny^thod forpe acheve,
I hope, in soth, so mortally to greue
)3e Grekis alle, whan I with hem mete,
J)at |?ei & J>ou shul* fele ful vnswete, . 3928
3if ^e contynewe and ]>e werris hauwt ; —
I shal sour pride & surquedie adauwte i'ii lower
you Greeks'
pride.
3897. Swiche on to loue] Wiclie on >e londe D 1— nor] & D 2.
3898. hym chere] in Cheer A — hym] om. D 2.
3900. a-ri3t] and rijt D 1. 3907. nor] to D 1.
3914, Moder] Mordir A. 3921. And] But D 1.
3923. pleinly] platly A.
3928. shul] shulen C— shul fele] shal felen A, D 2, D 1.
TROY BOOK. L L
" The Pre-
sumption of
you Greeks
comes from
want of
discretion,
508 Hector challenges Achilles to a Duel, to end the War. [BK. in
In swiche a wyse with myn hondis two,
)3at or fe werre fully be a-do*, 3932
Ful many Greke sore shal it rewe.
For wel I wote, of olde & nat of newe,
)pat $e Grekis, gadred here in on,
Of surquedie are fonned euerychon, 3936
Only for want of discresiouw,
To vndirtaken of presumpciouTz.
So hi^e a fing, a sege for to leyn,
And $oure silfe to ouercharge \n veyn 3940
With emprises whiche, vtith-outen fable,
Bene of wei^t to $ou inportable,
And fe peis of so gret heuynes,
]3at, finally, it wil $ou alle oppres, 3944
And $oure pride avalen and encline,
))e berf en eke enbowe bak & chyne,
And vnwarly cause ^ou to falle
Or $e haue done, I seie to oon and alle ! 3948
And, ouermore, be ful in surete,
Jpou Achilles — I speke vn-to f e, —
}pat fatal deth first schal f e assaille,
To-forn fi swerde i?^ any fing availle 3952
Ageyn[e]s me, for al f i worf ines ;
And $if so be, fat so gret hardines,
Corage of wil, vigour, force, or my^t
Meven fin herte, be manhod as a kny^t [leaf 89 c] 3956
To take on fe, as in dorynge do,
For to darreyne here betwene vs two
Jpilke quarel, how-so fat be-falle,
For fe whiche fat we striuen alle, 3960
I wil assent, pleinly, to luparte,
Til fat f e deth oon of vs departe —
Jper is no more, but fat f es lordis here,
Kynges, princes wil accorde I-fere 3964
}3at it be do, fully be oon assent,
And holdfe] stable, of herte & of entent,
and will
bring you
to grief.
And you,
Achilles,
will be the
first to die.
If you've the
pluck,
let me and
you fight it
out,
and settle
this war.
3932. a-do] al do C. 3935. $e] the D 1.
3948. I seie] om. D 1— alle] to alle D 1. 3954. bat] om. D
3957. on >e] on honde D 2. 3959. >at] fat it D 1.
3962. oon] of oone D 1.
If Achilles leats Hector, the Trojans 'II give-in to the Greeks. 509
With-in. a felde only pat we tweyne,
As I haue seide, pis quarel may dareyne,
And it finyshe, be pis condicioura :
]3at 3if it hap poru3 pin hi^e renouft
Me to venquyshe or putten at outrauwce,
I wil 3011 maken fully assurauwce,
ftat firste my lord, Prianms pe kyng,
Shal vn-to Grekis in al maner ping,
With septre & crowne, holly him submitte,
And in a point varie nouper nitte,
Fully to 3elde to $oure subiectiouw
Al his lordshipe with-Iuue Troye touw ;
And his legis in captiuite
Shal goon her weye oute of pis cite,
And leue it quit in 3 oure* gouernauwce,
With-oute strif or any variauwce.
And here-vp-on, to maken surete,
To deuoyde al ambiguyte,
To-fore pe goddis be ope & sacramente
We shal be swore, in ful good entent ;
And, ouermore, oure feith also to saue,
To assure 3ou, in plegge 36 shal haue,
J?e mene while to kepe hem on $our syde,
At 3 oure chois hostagis to abide,
From Troye touw, of pe worpieste
J)at 36 liste chese, & also of pe beste,
So pat 36 shal of no ping be in were
Of al pat euere pat I seie * 3ou here.
And, Achilles, with-oute wordes mo,
3if pat pou liste accorde ful per-to
))at I haue seide, pin honowr to encrese,
To make pis werre sodeinly to sese,
£at likly is for to laste longe
Be-twene Troy ens & pe Grekis stronge,
)}ou shalt nat only with honowr & with fame
ftoru3-oute pe world getyn pe a name,
"If you best
me,
Priam shall
submit to
the Greeks,
3968
3972
3976
and his folk
shall quit
3980 Troy,
and leave it
to the Greeks.
3984
3988
3992
Let us swear
to this before
the Gods,
and you shall
take such
Trojan
hostages as
you choose.
3996
4000
you'll win
honour for
ending this
war.
3971. at] to A. 3978. lordshipe] lordis D 1.
3981. it quit in $oure] in quiete and in C— it] om. A.
3983. maken] take D 1. 3985. &] of D 1.
3994. seie] seide C. 3996. ful] wel A.
510 Achilles accepts Hectors Challenge to end the War by a Duel.
"You'll also
save many
men's lives.
So let the
day of our
Duel be fixt.
If I beat you,
you'll give
up the siege,
and go
home."
Achilles at
once agrees
to Hector's
proposal,
and casts
down his
Glove as a
Challenge.
Hector gladly
picks it up.
But jjer-wit^-al — & }>at is nat a lyte —
feoru^ }>i kny^thod to many man profite,
feat fro )>e deth shal eskape a-lyue,
And to his contre hoi and sorwde aryve,
feat likly am, by cruel auenture,
For to be ded, }if )>e werre endure.
Come of, perfor, & late nat * be proloigned,
But lat ]?e day atwen vs two be loyned,
As I haue seide, in condiciouw,
3if in diffence only of J>is toun
I haue victorie by fortune on pe,
I axe nat, but anoon pat $e
Breke vp sege, and jje werre lete,
And suffreth vs to lyuen in quiete,
In-to Grece horn whan ^e ar goon."
To* whiche ping Achilles anon,
Hoot in his Ire and furious also,
Brermynge ful hote for anger & for wo,
Assentid is, with a dispitous chere,
And gan anoon to Hector dresse him nere,
And seide he wolde delyuere hi??i outterly,
Fro poynt to point, his axyng by & by,
And per-in made noon excepciou??,
But of hool herte and entenciouft
His requeste accepted euerydel,
And, as it sempte, liked it ri^t wel.
And, for his parte, he caste a gloue dourc,
In signe & tokene of confirmaciourc,
For lyfe or deth pat he wil holde his day
Ageyn Hector, hap what hap[pe] may,
Yn-to pe whiche Hector liny sterte,
And toke it vp, with as glad an herte
As euere $it dide* man or kny^t,
feat quarel toke with his foo to fi3t :
[leaf 89 d]
4004
4008
4012
4016
4020
4024
4028
4032
4036
4009. nat] it nat C, D 1.
4011, 12 are transposed inDI and marked respectively a and b.
4012] f>ou wilt assente to this conclusions D 1.
4018. To] To >e C, om. D 1. 4022. dresse liiw] dressen D 2
4031. wil] wolde D 1. 4033. be] om. D 1.
4034. an] om. D 2.
4035. 3it dide] dide $it C— man or] ony manere D 1.
BK. in] The Greek & Trojan Chiefs refuse Settlement ly Duel. 511
Jper can no man, in soth, a-ri^t deuyse
How glad he was of J?is hi^e emprise,
Of whiche pe noise & pe grete souw
Ran to J?e eris of Agamenouw ; 4040
And he anoon cam doim to her tent Agamemnon
With alle J>e lordis of his parlement, Greek lords
Where Achilles & Hector wern I-fere,
To wit her wille as in )>is matere : 4044
Wher )>ei wolden assented finally
To putte )>e quarel ful in iuparty,
Of ouper part, atwene Ipese kny^tes tweyne,
As ^e han herde, it fully to darayne. 4048
And with o vois Grekis it denye, and refuse to
And seide J>ei nolde of 'swiche a companie, enterprise on
Of kynges, dukis, and lordis eke also,
Bo]?e life & deth luparterc atwene two, 4052
Nor to []>e] course of Fortune hem submitte,
ftat can hir face alday chauwge & flitte. [leaf 90 a]
And some of Troye, in conclusions, so do some
luparte nolde her lyues nor her touw, 4056
In }>e hondis only of a kny}t
To putten al in auenture of fi^t,
Priam except, whiche, sothly, in pis caas, tho Priam
With-in hym silf fully assentid was, 4060 chance™*
Pleinly to haue put & set in iuparte
Holy )>e honour of his regalye, —
Supposynge ay, as maked is memorie, reiyin^ on
J?at Hector shuld haue had )>e victorie 4064 winning.
Of J>is emprise, 3if it he toke on honde.
But for Priam nmtrel nat w^U-stonde But he can't
withstand
Ageyn so many of oon entenciouw the objectors.
J)at were contrarie to his oppiniouw, 4068
Bope of Grekis and on Troye side,
[He] helde his pes, and lete it ouere-slyde.
And so jje Grekis parted ben echon ;
4044. wit] wete A, D 1, wyte D 2.
4047. Of] On D 1— tweyne] oni. A.
4052. atwene is erased inDl. 4053. to] of D 1.
4061. haue] a A, om. D 2, D 1. 4062. >e] to D 1.
4063. maked] makyng D 2. 4067. so] om. D 1.
4071. ben] hem A.
512 The Treachery of Fortune, and the Distress ofTroilus. [BK. Ill
Hector goes
home to
Troy.
I'll now turn
to Troilus.
And Hector is from Achilles goon
Home to Troye, where I him leue a while,
Whiles fat I directe shal my stile
To telle of Troylus f e lamentable wo,
Whiche fat he made to parts his lady fro.
4072
4076
0 Fortune !
when folk
most long
for you,
you turn
against them.
See how
you've
thrown over
Troilus!
I must help
him to
complain.
He almost
died when
he knew
Cressid must
leave him.
Of the sorowe that Troilus made whew Cressaide shulde
depart.1
Alias ! Fortune, gery and vnstable,
And redy ay [for] to be chauwgable ;
Whan folk* most triste in }>i stormy face,
Liche her desire f e fully to embrace : 4080
Jjanwe is f i loye aweye to turne & wryf e,
Yp-on wrechis }>i power for to kif e —
Record on Troylus, Ipai fro ]?i whele so lowe
By fals en vie f ou hast ouer-frowe, 4084
Oute of fe loye which [fat] he was Inne,
From his lady to make him for to twy^ne
Whan he best wewde for to haue be surid.
And of f e wo fat he hath endured, 4088
I rnuste now helpe hym to compleyne,
Whiche at his herte felt[e] so gret peyne,*
So inward wo, and so gret distresse,
More fan I haue konwynge to expresse, 4092
Wharc he knew f e partynge of Cryseide —
Almoste for wo & for peyue he deyde,
And fully wiste she departe shal
By sentence and lugement fynal 4096
Of his fader, ^oue in parlement.
For whiche, with wo & torment al to-rent,
He was in point to haue falle in rage,
}?at no man my^t apese nor a-swage 4100
J)e hidfde] peynes which in* his breste gan dare :
For lik a man in furie he gan fare,
4073. him leue] leve hym A.
4076. to] for to A. 4078. redy] likly D 1.
4079. folk] men C— triste] trust A, truste D 2.
4083. on] of D 1— J>i] >e D 1. 4090. peyne] a peyne C
4101. hid] hije D 1— which in] >at with in C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 88 a.
BK. in] The sorrow ofTroilus and Cressid when they must part. 513
And swiche sorwe day & ny$t to make,
In compleyninge* only for hir sake.
For whan he sawe Ipat she schulde a-weie,
He leuer had, pleinly, for to deye
)2an to lyve be-hynde* in hir absence :
For hym pou^t, with-outen hir presence
He nas but ded — ]>er is no more to seine.
And in-to terys he be-gan to reyne,
With whiche his eyen gon[ne] for to bolle,
And in his breste ]>e si^es vp to swolle,
And )>e sobbyng of his sorwes depe,
J)at he ne can nat but rore and wepe,
So sore loue his herte gan constreyne.
And she ne felt nat a litel peyne,
But wepte also, and pitously gaw crye,
Desyring ay pat she my^te dye
Ka)>er pan parte from hym oute of Troye,
Hir owne kny3t, hir lust, hir Hues loye,
J3at be hir chekis pe teris douw distille,
And fro hir eyen Jje rouwde dropis t[r]ille,
And al for-dewed han hir blake wede ;
And eke vntressid hir her abrod garc sprede,
Like to gold wyr, for-rent & al to-torn,
I-plukked of, & nat with sheris shorn.
And ouer Jris, hir freshe rosen he we,
Whilom y-meint with white lilies newe,
With woful wepyng pitously disteyned,
And like herbis in April al be-reyned,
Or floures freshe, with pe dewes swete,
Ri$t so hir chekis moiste wern & wete
With cristal water, vp ascendyn[g] hi^e
Out of her breste in-to hir heuenly eye ;
And ay amonge hir lamentaciourc,
Ofte si]?e she fil aswone dourc,
Dedly pale, for-dymmed in hir si$t,
[leaf 90 6]
4104
4108
Troilus
would rather
die than
leave Cressid.
4112 He sighs and
sobs;
can only roar
and weep.
Cressid
weeps too,
4116
4120
4124 tears out her
golden locks,
stains her
^ rosy cheeks
4128 with tears,
4132
4136 and swoons,
and falls
down.
4104. compleyninge] compleynigne C. 4105. she] he D 1.
4107. be-hynde] beside C. 4109. is] nys Dl.
4114. rore] to rore D 1. 4115. gan] can D 1, to D 2.
4118. Desyring ay] Euere desirynge D 1.
4133. ascendyng] ascenden D 2, ascendid D 1.
4134. her] he D 1.
514 Cressid's Sorrow. Her last night with Troilus. [BK. in
Cressid
laments,
and appeals
to Death to
take her.
Troihi8 comes
to comfort
her;
but they
both renew
their grief.
She cannot
speak.
4140
4144
4148
And ofte seide : " alias ! myn owne kny^t,
Myn owne Troylus, alias ! whi shal we* parte ! —
Kaper late Deth. with his spere darte
)3oru3 myn hert, & ]>e veynes kerue,
And with his rage do me for to sterue —
Kafer, alias ! fan fro my kny^t to twyrcne !
And of fis wo, o Deth, Ipat I am Inne,
Whi nyl )>ou come & help[e] make an ende 1
For how shulde I oute of Troye wende,
He abide, and I to Grekis goon,
)3er to dwelle amonge my cruel foon 1
Alias ! alias ! I, woful creature,
Howe shulde I fer, in f e werre endure —
I, wreche woman, but my silf allone,
Amonge ]>e men of arrays euerychon ! " [leaf 90 c] 4152
Jpus gan she cryen al f e longe day ;
))is was hir cowpleint, with ful gret affray,
Hir pitous noyse, til it drowe to ny^t,
)pat vn-to hir hir owne trewe kny$t,
Ful triste & heuy, cam ageyn[e]s eve,
3if he my^t hir couwforte or releue.
But he, in soth, hath Cryseide fouwde
Al in a swowe, lyggynge on }>e groimde ;
And pitously vn-to hir he wente,
With woful chere, & hir in armys hent,
And toke hir vp : & fan atwen hem two
Be-gan of new swiche a dedly wo,
J?at it was rou]>e & pite for to sene ;
For she of cher pale was and grene,
And he of colour liche to ashes dede ;
And fro hir face was goon al fe rede,
And in his chekis deuoided was f e blod,
So wofully atwene hem two it stood.
For she ne my^t nat a worde speke,
And he was redy with deth to be wreke 4172
4139. whi shal we] we shal C.
4140. darte] and darte A. 4147. He] Here to D 1.
4149, 50 are transposed in D 1 and marked respectively a and b
4156. pat] Til she D 1. 4157. eve] heve D 2.
4167. to] the A. 4171. speke] y speke A, D 2.
4172. And] But D 1— he] cm. D 2.
4156
4160
4164
4168
The Sorrow of Troiius and Cressid. Lydgate praises Chaucer. 515
Yp-on hym silfe, his nakid swerd be-side ;
And she ful of te gan to grourade glide
Out of his armys, as she fel a-swowne ;
And he hym silf gan in teris drowne : 4176
She was as stille & dowmb * as any ston ;
He had a moufe, but wordis had he non ; — Troiius too
fee weri spirit flikered* in hir breste,
And of deth stood vnder arreste, 4180
WYt/t-oute meinpris, sothly, as of lyf.
And Jms fe[r] was, as it sempte, a strif, it seems
Whiche of hem two shuldfel firste pace : whether he
_, , or Cressid
.tor deth portreied in her ouper face 4184 win die first.
With swiche colour as men go to her graue.
Of the worshipful recowmendacyone that the monke of
Bury, fat translate fis boke, gave Chaucere fe
chef poete off Breteyne.1
And fus in wo f ei gan to-gidre raue, Thus passes
T-.. 1,1 i their last
Disconsolat, al f e longe ny^t, nigiit
J?at, in gode feith, $if I shulde ari^t 4188
fee processe hool of here bof e * sorwe
feat fei made til f e nexte morwe, —
Fro point to point it to specefie, it would
T , , , ,, . - take me too
It wolde me ful longe occupie 4192 longtoteii
^. £ . , . you all about
>t euery finge to make menciourc, it;
And tarie me in my translaciouw
3if I shulde in her wo precede ;
But, me semeth, fat it is no nede, 4196 and there's
Sith my maister Chaucer her-a-forn for 'my '
Master,
In J>is mater hath so wel* hym born,
In his boke of Troylus and Cryseyde
Whiche he made longe or fat he deyde, 4200
Rehersinge firste, how Troiius was cowtrarie [leaf 90 d]
[For] To assendyn vp on Lovis steire,
4177. dowmb] dowme C. 4179. flikered] flikerit C.
4181. meinpris] mainpris A, menprys D 2, manprise Dl.
4183. pace] y passe A, I passe D 2. 4184. her] hert A.
4189. bohe] bo>er C. 4198. hath so wel] so wel hath C.
4200. Jxrt] om. D 1. 4201. was] cm. D 1.
4202. For] WasDl.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 88 c (misplaced after line 4196).
516 Chaucer tells the whole Story of Troilusand Cressid. [BK. Ill
CHAUCER
tells us how
Troilus
first fell in
love with
Cressid,
and was then
helpt by
Pandarus,
and all went
well till For-
tune frownd
on him.
Alas, the
change !
Mirth to-day,
Woe to-
morrow.
CHAUCHB
tells the
whole story.
He gilded
our rude
English.
And how ]>at he, for al his surquedie,
After be-cam oon of pe companye
Of Lovis folke, for al his olde game,
Whan Cupide maked hym fill tame,
And brou^t him lowe to his subieccioiw,
In a temple as he walked vp & douw,
"Whan he his gwnes and his hokis leide
Amyd pe eyen cerclid of Oyseyde,
Whiche on fat day he my^tfe] nat asterte :
For poru} his brest percid & his herte,
He wente hym home, pale, sike, & wan.
And in J>is wise* Troy his first be-gan
To be a seruaimt, my maister telleth pus,
Til he was holpe aftir* of Pandarus,
})oru3 whos comforte & mediacioim
(As in his boke is maked* mencioun)
With gret labour firste he cam to grace,
And so contuneth by certeyn ^eris space,
Til Fortune gan vp-on hym frowne,
J3at she fro?7^ hym mvst goon oute of towne
Al sodeynly, and neiw hym after se.
Lo ! here }>e fyn of false felicite,
Lo ! here ]>e ende of worldly brotilnes,
Of fleshy lust, lo ! here thuwstabilnes,
Lo ! here fe double variacioun*
Of wor[l]dly blisse and transmvtacioiw :
ftis day in myrthe & in wo to-morwe !
For ay fe fyn, alias ! of loie is sorwe.
For now Cryseide, vtith pe kyng Thoas,
For Anthenor shal go forpe, alias ! —
Vn-to Grekis. and euer* with hem dwelle !
\)Q hoolfe] story Chaucer kan $ow telle
3if pat ^e liste — no man bet alyue —
Nor pe processe halfe so wel discryue :
For he owre englishe giltfe] w^'t^ his sawes,
Eude and boistous firste be olde dawes,
4204
4208
4212
4216
4220
4224
4228
4232
4236
4203. al] om. D 2. 4208. walked] walk A, D 2.
4211. Jmt] a D 1. 4214. wise] while C.
4216. aftir] first C. 4218. his] this D 1— maked] made C.
4227. variacioun] variauwce C. 4233. euer] neuer C.
BK. ill] Lydgate's Praise of Chaucer. Guide's Rebuke ofTroilus. 517
)3at was f ul fer from al peri eccioiw, English was
And but of litel reputacioiw, 4240
Til pat he cam, &, foru} his poetrie,
Gan oure tonge firste to magnifie,
And adourne it "with his elloquence — tin CHAUCER
To whom honour, laude, & reuerence, 4244
J)orm-oute pis londe aoue be & songe, Let ail the
Land honour
bo ]?at pe laurer oi oure enghshe tonge Mm!
Be to hym $oue for his excellence,
— Tvljt a[s] whilom by ful 11136 sentence, 4248
Perpetuelly for a memorial, Like as was
done to
Of Colurapna by pe cardynal [leaf 91 a]
To Petrak Fraurcceis was ^ouen in Ytaille — Petrarch.
}?at J>e report neuere after faille, 4252
Nor pe honour dirked of his name,
To be registred in )>e house of fame
Amonge oj^er in pe hi^este sete,
My maister Galfride, as for chefe poete 4256 CHAUCER
is the chief
pat euere was $it in oure langage ; PoftUsh
])Q name of whom shal passes in noo?^ age,
But euer ylyche, wit/i-oufce eclipsinge, shyne.
And, for my part, I wil neuer fyne, 4260
So as I can, hym to magnifie m magnify
° him till I die.
In my writynge, pleinly, til I dye ;
And God, I praye, his soule bring in loy.
Howe Guydo rebukethe Troylus. And of the mutabi-
lite and varyant chaunge of womenne.1
And where I lefte, I wil ageyn of Troie 4264
J?e story telle, — & first how ]>at Guydo JeffhoT I>U
WM-in his boke speketh Troylus to, Guido
Eebukyng hym ful vncurtesly,
)3at he so sette his herte folili 4268
Vp-on Cryseide, ful of doubilnes : false Cr
For in his boke as Guydo list expresse,
4246. >e] om. D 2. 4250. cardynal] ordynal D 2.
4251. Petrak] Petrark A.
4256. for] for a A. 4259. wM-oute] with D 2.
4264. of] to D 1. 4267. ful] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 89 a (misplaced after line 4262).
518 Gfuido likens Women to Serpents, and shows-wp their Tricks.
Women's
words, says
Guido,
are stuft
with lies.
They weep
false tears.
They are like
a serpent.
They weep
with one eye
and laugh
with the
other.
They're
always
double.
They're never
satisfied with
I man,
but want 4.
feat hir teris & hir conipleynynge,
Hir wordis white, softe, & blaurcdyshynge, 4272
Wer rneynt with feynyng & with flaterie,
And outward farsed with many a fals[e] lye ;
For vnder hid was al )>e variaurcce,
Cured a-boue with feyned contenaurcce, 4276
As wommen kan falsly teris borwe —
In her herte pou^ per be no sorwe —
Lik as pei wolde of verray troupe deie.
J)ei can pink oon, and a-noper seie, 4280
As a serpent vnder floures faire
His venym hydeth, where he dop repaire —
fie sugre a-forn, pe galle hid be-hynde,
As approprid is vn-to hir kynde 4284
To be dyuers & double of nature,
Kapest deceyvynge whaw mew most assure :
For vnder colour euery ping pei wirke,
PQ faire aboue, pe foule in pe dirke 42 8&
J?ei hide so, pat no man may espie ;
And pou$ so be, pat with a woful eye
J?ei can outward wepyn pitously,
Jpe toper eye can lau$[e] couertly, — 4292
Whos sorwes alle are temprid with allaies.
And her colour euer is meynt* with raies :
For vp-on chauwge and mutabilite
Stant hool her trust and [her] surete, 4296
So pat pei ben sure in doubilnes,
And alwey double in her sikernes,
Semynge oon whan pei best caw varie, [leaf 91 6]
Likest to acorde whan pei be contrarie ; 4300
And pus pei ben variauwte in a-corde,
And holest seme whan per is discord.
And Guydo seith, how per are fewe or noon
])at in her herte apaied is with oon ; 4304
And 3 it pei can, be it to oon or tweyne,
To pre or foure, in her speche feyne,
4271. 1st hir] his A.
4991. can]ow. Dl.
4302. And] They D 1.
4304. her] om. D 1.
4273. meynt] queynt D 1.
4294. euer is meynt] is meynt euer C.
4303. or] om. D 1.
BK.III] Guidos abuse of Women: hovjfraudful& fickle they are. 5
Like as )>ei wern to oon & to no moo
Hool in her loue, for wele & eke for wo, 4308 » woman's
7 lovers thinks
)5at eueryche shal of hym silfe deme
bat he be next, lik as it doth seme. he's her
favourite;
And pus in hope stant eche of hem alle,
fee trewest ay redyest to falle ; 4312
Who serueth best, nexte to ben appaired :
And fcus in chaiwge al her loue is f eired. but let no
man trust
Lat no man trust, but cache wha?z he may* ; em.
Far-wel to-morwe, J>ou$ it be sure to-day* ! — 4316
})e faire of chaimge lasteth ouer 3 ere,
But it is foly for to byen to dere
Jpilke tresour, whiche harde is to possede,
But fleeth aweye whaw men per-of most nede. 4320
And $if it hap pat no chapman be if one hasn't
(As seith Guydo), $it al day men may se
It* shewed oute at large fenestrallis, she shows
On chaumbres hi^e, & lowe douw in hallis, 4324 windows
And in wyndowes eke in euery strete ;
And also eke men may vrith hem mete
At pilgry mages and oblaciouw[e]s, and in
At spectacles in cytes and in townys 4328
(As seit[h] Guydo), and al is for to selle : — and is on
But after hym I can no ferfer telle.
And eke he seith, in his sentament,
ber is no fraude fully equipollent 4332 there is no
' fraud equal to
lo pe fraude and sleety compassyng a woman's.
Of a womman, nor like in worchynge :
For who pat set al his feithfulnes,
Wenynge in hem to fynde stabilnes, 4336
He shal hem fynde stedefaste as J?e mone, ukeythhanse
J)at is in point for to chauwge sone. moon-
3if he be 3onge, pei cast hym in a rage ;
$if he be olde, he falleth in dotage ; 4340
" Wherfore, my couwseil is to bo]?e two :
4310. he] om. D 2— next] neest A, nest D 2, neste D 1.
4311. alle] tweyne D 2. 4315, 16 are transposed in C.
4315. trust] om. D 1. 4318. But] For D 1.
4319. harde is] is hard A — possede] precede D 2.
4321. chapman] man D 1. 4323. It] It is C.
4339. a] om. A.
520 Lydgate reproaches Guido for his Abuse of Women. [BK. in
Guido
delights in
speaking
cursedly of
women.
111 may he
thrive!
I, John
Lydgate, say
that, for 1 bad
woman there
are 100 good
ones.
Look at the
11,000
martyrd
Virgins at
Cologne,
who won the
bliss of
Heaven.
Cast of }>e bridel, and ^tly^lete hem go."-
)3us teche}> Guydo, God wot, & not I ! —
Jjat haj? delyt to speke cursidly 4344
Alwey of \vo??imen Jjoru^-out al his bok,
As men may se, who-so list to loke.
To hem he had envie in special,
)3at, in good feith, I am ri$t wroj>e with al, [leaf 91 c] 4348
)3at he with hem list so to debate ;
For Ire of whiche, J?e latyn to translate,
Inwardly myn herte I felte blede,
Of hi^e dispit, his clausis for to rede, 4352
])at resownede, in conclusion?!,
Only of malys to accusaciovw
Of pis women — ful euel mote he priue ! —
So generally her sect[e] to discryve, 4356
— Whiche made nat, poru^ indiscreciouft,
Of good nor badde noon excepciouw.
He was to blame — foule mote he* falle ! —
For cause of oon for to hindren alle : 4360
For I dar wel affermen by pe rode,
Ageyn oon badde loen an hundrid gode ;
And J>on^ som oon double be & newe,
It hindreth nat to hem )>at be trewe. 4364
And be exaumple, also, pou^ he shewe
J?at som oon whilom was a shrewe,
)3ei pat be gode take shal noon hede,
For it noon hindrynge is to wommanhede, 4368
)3ou3 two or pre can be double & feyne :
For )>er ageyn, sothly, at Coleyne,
Of virgines, inly ful of grace,
Ellevene )>ousand in )>at holy place 4372
A man may fynde ; and in oure kalendere
Ful many maide parfit and entere,
Whiche to )>e deth stable wern and trewe.
For so??zme of hem with ]>e rosen hew 4376
Of martirdom )>e blisse of heuene wo?me ;
4342. hem] hym D 1. 4343. teche>] tellith A.
4349. to] om. D 1. 4355. bis] be D 1.
4359. he] hym C. 4363. newe] trewe D 1.
4364. trewe] newe D 1. 4369. two] tweyne A.
Lydgate defends Women, <& says we should thank God for em. 521
And sowzme also, as bokis telle konne,
With pe lillye of virginite
And violettis of parfit chastite,
Ascendid ben a-boue pe stems clere
And pe cercle of pe nynthe spere,
Where loie is euere, and gladnes eterne.
Wherefor, in soth, as I can discerne,
))ou3 som clerkis of shrewis haue myssaid,
Lat no good wo?wman per-of be myspaid :
For lak of oon, alle are nou^t to blame,
And eke of men may be seide pe same.
For to pe trewe it is no reprefe,
)5ou3 it so be anoper be a ]>efe ;
For what is he pe werse in his degre,
J90U3 pe toper be honged on a tre ? —
Nor vn-to wowmen hindring is it noon,
Among an hiwdrid pou3 pat per be oon
Of gouernaimce pat be vicious !
For per ageyn a fousand vertuous,
3if pat 30 liste, Ii3tly 36 may fynde.
And pou} Guydo writ, pei han of kynde
To be double, men shulde it goodly take,
And per ageyn no maner grucching make :
Nature in werkynge hath ful gret power,
And it wer harde for any pat is here
)3e cours of hir to holden or restreyne ;
For she wil nat be guyed be no reyne,
To be coarted of hir due ri^t.
Jjerfore, eche man vrith al his ful[le] my3t
Shulde panke God, and take paciently :
For 3if wommen be double naturelly,
Why shulde men leyn on hew pe blame 1
For pou3 myn auctor hindre so her name
In his writinge, only of Cryseide,
And vp-on hir swiche a blame leide,
My couTiseil is, Ii3tly ouer passe
Wher he mysseith of hir in any place,
Some women
with the lily
of Virginity
and the
4380 violets of
Chastity
have risen
to the 9th
Sphere of
eternal joy.
4384
All women
are not to
be blamed
for one's
fault.
4392
Against 1
vicious
4o96 woman are
1000 virtuous
[leaf 91 d] ones.
Men
i t f\r\ shouldn't
4400 mind Guide's
abuse of em.
4404
4408
They should
bear with em.
And, tho
Guido does
blame
Cressid,
4412
you'd better
4386. be] om. A.
4389. to] om. D 2.
4387. nou^t] nat A, D 2, D 1.
4391. is he] he is D 1.
522
Cressid forsakes Troilus, and loves Diomede. [BK. in
skip his talk
till you get
to Diomede,
to whom she
was given for
Antenor
and Thoas.
He guides
her to her
father's tent;
and as
CHAUCER
tells the
whole story,
I needn't.
But Guido
says Cressid
forsook
Troilus that
night,
and lord
Diomede.
I can excuse
her only
by Nature,
who made
her unstable.
— To hindre woramen, ouper eve or morwe —
Taketh noon hede, but late him be with sorwe, 4416
And skippeth ouer wher 30 list nat rede,
Til 36 come where pat Dyomede
For hir was sent in-to Troye toura,
Where ceriously is maked mencioim, 4420
First, how pat she to hym delyuered was
For Anthenor and for* kyng Thoas,
And how Troilus gan hir to conveie,
With many oper, to bringe hir on pe weie ; 4424
And after ))is, how pat Dyomede,
By pe weie gan hir bridel lede
Til he hir brou^t to hir fadres tent ;
And how* Calchas, in ful good entent, 4428
Received hir, logged per he lay,
And of hir speche duryng al pat day,
And al pe maner hool and euerydel —
Al is rehersid ceriously and wel 4432
In Troylus boke, as $e han herd me seyn —
To write it efte, I holde it wer but veyn.
But Guydo seith, longe or it was* ny$t,
How Cryseyde for-soke hir owne kny3t, 4436
And 3af hir herte vn-to Dyomede
Of tendirnes and of wommanhede,
J)at Troilus wexe in hir herte as colde,
Wet/i-oute fire as ben pese asshes olde. 4440
I can noon oper excusacioura,
But only kyndes transmutaciowi,
ftat is appropred vn-to hir nature,
Selde or neuer stable to endure, 4444
Be experience as men may ofte lere.
But now ageyn [vn-]to my matere [leaf 92 a]
I mvt resort, pou$ pat I be ferre,
As I be-gan to writen of pe werre. 4448
4422. for] )>e C.
4425. And] om. D 1. 4428. now] how fat C.
4430. pat] he D 1.
4434. efte I holde] ofte I hilde D 1— wer] was A.
4435. was] wer C. 4439. hir] his D 1.
4440. >ese] the A. 4447. pat] om. D 1.
The muster of the Trojan Forces under Hector. The Greeks. 523
Howe worthy Ector, lyche Mars hym silf, toke the
felde with mony worthy in his company, and
scleughe sondrey kynges, and, amonge alle other,
with his swerde departede Merion atweyne.1
FTlhe tyme passed of fe trew y-take,
I j?e next[e] morwe, whaw Titan haf forsake
J)e vnder party of oure Emysperye,
Where al fe ny^t he hadde* be ful merye
With Aurora liggyng by his side, —
But in his bedde hym list no lenger bide,
But shope hym vp, & cast his stremys shene
On Troye wall,* whan Hector, armyd clene,
In-to fe felde faste gan hym b^e,
Fiftene f ousand in his companye
Of wor))i knytes and of manly men.
And, as I fynde, Troylus had[de] ten
Of kny^tes eke, fat his baner swe ;
And, in al haste, Paris gan remewe
Oute of f e touft, with hem of Perce londe ;
And eche of hem a bowe had in his honde,
And arwis sharpe trussid by her side ;
And of kny^tes fat aboute hym ride
He had also fre fousand, as I fynde.
And Dephebws next hym cam be-hynde
With fre fousand kny^tes, armyd clene,
On whos platis f e so/me shone ful shene ;
And next hym cam f e Troyan Eneas.
And, as I rede, sothly, fat f er was
)pe same day with hem of Troye toun
An huftdrid fousand kny^tes of renouw,
Lik as recordeth Dares Frigyus,
And in his boke Guydo writeth Jms.
And with fe Grekis, al to-forn fat day,
With seuene f ousand went[e] Menelay,
Kny3tes echon, whiche he dide lede ;
The morning
after the end
of the Truce,
4452
4456 Hector takes
the field with
15.000
knights,
4460 Troiluswith
10,000,
Paris
4464
4468
with Persian
archers,
and 3000
knights,
Deiphobus
with 3000
knights,
Eneas of
Troy, and
4472 others.
4476
100,000
Trojan
knights were
there.
The Greeks
have Mene-
laus with
7000 knights.
4449. trew] trews A.
4452. al >e ny^t he hadde] he hadde al >e ny3t 0— be] om. A.
4456. wall] wallis C. 4464. his] om. A.
4472. as] om. A. 4479. he] om. A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 90 a.
TROT BOOK. M M
524 The Greek Forces. Hector kills Phillis and Zantipus. [BK. in
Diomede
has 7000
knights ;
Achilles, his
Myrmidons ;
Zantipus,
3000;
Agamemnon,
a huge num-
ber.
Phillis rides
at Hector,
who spears
and slays
him.
Zantipus
charges
Hector,
who kills
him.
The Greeks
slay many
Trojans.
And with as many wentfe] Dyomede. 4480
And next hem* folwith pe hardy Achilles,
With his meyne callid Myrundones ;
And 3antipus, fe worjji kyng, eke had
Jjre pousand kny^tes, whiche fat he lad 4484
In-to f e felde ageyn hem of fe to\in ;
And alderlaste cam Agamenourc
With swiche a noimbre of pe Grekis felle,
))at wonder is for to here telle. 4488
And whan ])e wardis in pe feld abrod
Had take her place, wM-oute more abood,
A Grekishe kyng, whiche ]>at Phillis hijt,
Anon as he of Hector had a si^t, 4492
Towardis hym, sitting on his stede,
With his spere he gan hym fastfe] spede ;
But whan Hector ha]) his co??^mynge seyn, [leaf 926]
He hent a spere, & rod to hym ageyn ; 4496
And foru} his shelde £ his platis rouwde
He $af to hym his last[e] fatal wotwde.
Vp-on whos deth avengid for to be,
Ful many Greke gan on Hector fle. 4500
And, first of al, fe* wor)>i kyng famws,
J3at of Grekis was callid ^antipus,
Of hi^e disdeyn only for Phillis sake,
Toward Hector hath his cours I-take, 4504
And with a spere ran at hym ful ri$t ;
But Hector first hit him with swiche a myjt,
)3oru3 his harneis with his speris hed,
feat 3antipus fil to grouwde ded, — 4508
|)e deth of whom ]?e Grekis sore pleyne,
And dide her my^t & her besi peyne,
On euery halfe, furious and wood,
Tavenge hem on Troyanysshe blood. 4512
And Jjoru^ her passage cruel hardinesse
#ei be-gan Troyens so to oppresse,
£at many oon fat day ne my^t a-sterte,
4481. hem] hym C. 4489. abrod] aboode D 1.
4493 is repeated in D 2. 4501. >e] >o C.
4506. a] om. D2. 4509. 2nd >e] om. A, D 2, Dl.
4514. oppresse] presse D 2. . 4515. 2nd >at] om. D 2.
BK. in] Hector is wounded, but rallies his fleeing Trojans. 525
)>e breste y-perced and* J?e herte, 4516
For to be ded & slayn amonge J)e pres, —
Amongis whiche, cruel Achilles
Slowe Lychaon and Euforbius,
Noble kny3tes, ri^t worpi and fanms, 4520
)}at wern y-come oute of her centre
Ageyn Grekis to helpe Tpe cyte.
And while Troyens cowstreyned [wer] so narwe,
Were it vfiili spere, qwarel, darte, or arwe, 4524
Hector was wouwded jwru^-oute J>e viser
In-to ]?e face, J>at, like a ryver,
])Q rede blood douw be-gan to raille,
By his harneis Jjoru^ his aventaille ; 4528
Wher-of astonyd whan )>ei had a si^t,
Ful many Troyan toke hym to )>e fli^t,
And to ]>e cite fast[e] gan hem drawe ;
And at J>e chas [ful] many oon was slawe, 4532
Or )>ei my$t out of J?e felde remewe.
And euer in oon J>e Grekis after swe,
Yn-to pe wallis almost of pe toun,
Til pat Hector, )>e Troyan champiourc, 4536
Of his kny^thod gan to taken hede,
Al-be his wouwde sore gan [to] blede, —
[3it] Of manhod he gan hem recomforte,
And maugre hem in-to ]?e felde resorte ; 4540
Namly, whan he had inspecciouw,
On fe wallis and touris of J?e tou^,
Howe fat Eleyne, and Eccuba pe quene,
And his suster, faire Pollicene, [ieaf92c]
With many ofer lady gan beholde —
Hym jjou^t anoon his herte gaw to colde
Of verray shame his kny^tes shold[e] fle ;
And, lik a Ijoun in his cruelte,
He made hem tourne, manly euerychon.
And in his wey he mette Merion,
4516. and] to C. 4522. Grekis] >e grekis D 1.
4523. so] om. D 1. 4524. with] om. D 1.
4525. >oru3-oute] Jxmi? D 1. 4530. ]>e] his D 1.
4534. |>e] om. D 2, D 1— after] for to D 1.
4535. almost] om. A. 4536-42 are repeated inDl.
4439. 3it] And D 1. 4547. his] >ese D 1.
Achilles kills
Lychaon and
Euphorbius.
Hector
is wounded
in the face,
and his blood
flows.
Many Trojans
The Greeks
pursue em
to near Troy.
Hector rallies
them.
He sees
. K . . Helen,
4544 Hecuba
and Polyxena
on the walls.
4548
526 Achilles and Hector fight, and Hector warns Achilles. [BK. in
Hector splits
Merion in
two.
Achilles
charges
Hector,
who cuts
thru his
helmet,
and makes
him stagger
on his horse,
and warns
him not to
risk a fight.
A Grekishe kyng, fat was ny^e allie
To Achilles, as bokis specefie ; 4552
And with his swerd Hector smot hym so,
ftat he hym rof vp-on pecis two.
And Achilles, whan he sawe hym ded,
Partid on two, euene fro f e hed, 4556
He hent a spere, & fou^t he nold[e] faille
To hitte Hector f oru^ sheld, plate, & niaille,
And rood to hym ful enviously ;
And myd fe sheld he smet hym cruelly. 4560
But with J>e strok Hector neuer-a-del
Remeveth nat, he sat so fast and wel ;
But with his swerd anoon, & tarie]? nou^t,
Yn-to Achille, with an envious f o^t, 4564
He kny^tly ran vp-on his courser ;
And on his creste, fat shon so bri^t & cler,
With swiche a my^t Hector ha]) hym smet,
Jpat he percid f oru3 his basenet, 4568
And raced eke from his aventaille
With fat stroke many pece of maille,
Jpat Achilles constreyned was of nede,
Maugre his my3t, to stakrera on his stede, 4572
To enclyne, and to bow his bak.
Of the wordys of worthy Ector to Achile ; & howe
Dyomede sent Troylus hors to Cresseyde.1
At whiche tyme Hector to hym spak,
And seide : " Achille, I do ful wel aduerte
j)e grete en vie of fi cruel herte, 4576
And specially fat f ou haste to me ;
But 3it be war, I courcseilpe] f e,
}?i-silfe to put so in auenture :
For [of] o fing I pleynly ]>e ensure, 4580
As I desire at my lust sorn day
Here in fe felde $if I pe mete may,
Trust me ri$t wel, fer geynef no socour,
4560. And myd] Amyd D 1. 4575. full 3ow D 1
4577 And] And seide Dl.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 90 c (misplaced after line 4574).
Troilus parts Hector & Achilles. Feats of Troilus & Menelaus. 527
£at I shal* so aquite fi labour,
So mortally, I do f e to vndirstonde,
With pis swerd fat I holde on honde,
ftat vfiih pe lif J>ou shalt nat eskape,
So cruelly )>e vengauwce shal be take,
Eft whan we mete, evene vp-on fiw hede."
Of whiche f ircg whan Achilles toke hede,
Aduertinge al fat he herde hym seyn, —
Bi^t as he wold haue 30116 answer a^eyn,
Worfi Troylus kny^tly entrid Inne, [leaf 92 d]
[And] Maked hem asourcdre for to twynne ;
And f oru3 f e manhod of his companye
Of worpi kny^tes, fat he dide guye,
And hi3e prowes of his owne my^t,
He haf f e Grekis put ageyn to fi^t,
And slayn of hem fat day — out of drede —
Sixe hundrid kny3tes, sothly, as I rede.
For los of whiche pe Grekis fast[e] fle
To hir tentis, of necessite ;
Til Menelay dide his besy cure
To maken hem f e feld ageyn recure,
J)oru3 whos manhod pat day — out of doute —
And worf i kny3tes fat wern him aboute,
j?e feld of Grekis recured was anoon.
But fo from Troye cam kyng Odemon,
And in al haste possible fat he may,
He cam enbusshed vppon Menelay,
And hym vnhorseth in f e silfe place,
And swiche a wouwde 3af him in f e face,
)}at fro f e deth he wende nat eskape ;
And, dout[e]les, anoon he had hym take
Wiit/fc helpe of Troylus, & lad vn-to f e touw,
But of Grekis swiche a pres cam dourc
To reskue hym in f is grete nede,
)5at Odemon no ferfer my3t[e] lede*
4584. shal] ne shal 0. 4585. to] om. A, D 2.
4587. J>e] >i DL 4591. Aduertinge] Avertyng A.
4592. ^oue answer] answeryd A.
4597. And] And J>oru3 D 1— owne] om. D 1.
4604. >e feld ageyn] a geyn ]>e felde D 1.
4618. lede] him lede C.
4584 For Hector
will certainly
kUl Achilles.
Troilus parts
them,
4588
4592
4596
and slays 600
ift Grecian
4600 knights.
The Greeks
4604
4608
Menelaus
recovers the
field,
bat is un-
horst by
Odemon, and
. almost cap*
4612 tared.
4616 The Greeks
rescue him.
528 Diomede sends Troilus's horse as a present to Cressid. [BK. in
Diomede
unhorses
Troilus,
and sends his
steed to
Cressid,
begging her
to accept it
from
her knight
and servant,
Diomede.
Kyng* Menelay toward fe cite,
Whan Dyomede cam with his meyne,
And many worf i, ridyng hym aboute,
And Troylus met, among[es] al f e route,
Al sodeynly, of hap or auenture,
And hym vnhorsith,* as it was his evre ;
And after fat, anoon he hent his stede,
And bad a squier fat he shuld it lede
Vn-to Cryseyde, only for hir sake,
Beseching hir fat she wolde it take
As for a gyfte of hir owne man,
Sith he fat day for hir lone it wan
Amyd f e feld, f oru3 his grete my3t,
Of hym fat was whilom hir owne kny^t.
And he in haste on his weie is went,
And f er-of made vn-to hir p?*esent,
Preying hir, in ful humble wyse,
Jpis litel gifte fat she nat dispise,
But it receive for a remembraurcce,
And wiih al f is, fat it be plesau^ce,
Of verray pite and of wo?rananhede
On* hir seruaurct, callid Diomede,
To remembre, fat was be-come her kny^t.
4620
4624
4628
4632
4636
4640
Of the comfortable answere that double Cresseyde gave
to f e Messenge?- that kame frome Dyomede.1
Cressid says And she anoon, wiih hertfe] glad and li^t, [leaf 93 a]
Ful wommanly bad hym repeire ageyn
Vn-to his lord, & pleynly to hym seyn 4644
J?at she ne my^t, of verray kynd[e]nesse,
Of womanhede, nor of gentilnes,
Refusen hym, platly, from hir grace,
she cannot
refuse him .
who has been pat was to hir, fere in straurcge place,
her. So kynde fo[u]nde, and so courcfortable
In euery f ing, and so seruisable,
4622. amonges] om. D 1.
4648
4619. Kyng] f>e kyng 0.
4623. Al] And D 1.
4624. vnhorsith] vnhorsid C. 4627. hir] his A, D 2, D 1.
4628. she wolde] he shulde Dl. 4633. weie] om. D 1.
4636. she] he D 1. 4640. On] Of C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 91 a (misplaced after line 4644).
BK.III] Cressid's acceptance pleases Diomede. The Battle wavers. 5 29
J3at it may nat Ii3tly oute of mynde
To pinke on hyra pat was so trewe & kynde.
With whiche answere pe messa/iger is goon
Vn-to his lord, and told it hyra anoon,
Word by word, like as she hath seide ;
And he per-of was ful wel apayde,
)?at hym pou^t, pleinly, in his herte,
He was recured of his peynes smerte ;
And forpe he had hym in armys as a kny^t.
But pilke day, durynge pe stronge fi^t
)5ei of Troye so manly han hem born,
ftat Grekis rny^t nat stondew hem a-forn ;
For to her tentis pei han hera chacid dourc,
jpat, nadde ben kyng Agamenoiw,
Grekis had be dryue oute of J>e feld.
])Q whiche ping anoon as he beheld,
He cam vp-on \\ith many worpi man ;
And po of newe pe sla^ter ageyn began
On euery half vp-on pe large pleyn,
jpat Grekis han Troyens so be-leyn,
}5at efte a-^eyn )?ei haue pe feld [y-]wowne,
So pat Troyens, constreyned, po be-gowne
To lese her lond, til Pollydamas,*
Whiche with his kny^tes per be-side was,
Gan falle vppon, endelonge pe grene,
Hem of Troye [ful] manly to sustene.
And pe Grekis he gan so to enchase,*
Whan he cam in, pat pei loste her place,
And to pe strond, evene vppon pe se,
j^oru} his kny^thod he made hem for to fle,
Of her lif pat pei wern in drede.
)?e whiche meschef whan pat Dyomede
Be-held & sawe howe Pollydamas *
Mortally pursued on pe chas
On hors[e]-bak, in pe feld a-fere,
4652
4656
4660
Cressid's
words are
told to
Diomede,
and they
please him.
The Trojans
gain on the
Greeks till
4664 Agamemnon
helps them.
4668
Then the
Trojans give
way till
Polydamas
succours
them,
4672
4676
and they
drive the
4680 Greeks nearly
to the sea.
4684
4659. as a] like D 1. 4662. hem] him D 1.
4673. Pollydamas] Pallymadas C.
4675. vppon endelonge] endelonge vppon D 1.
4677. enchase] enchose C. 4683. Pollydamas] Pollymadas C.
4685. On] And on Dl.
530 Diomede' s steed is taken; and on it Troilus unhorses Achilles.
Polydamas
unhorses
Diomede,
and takes
his horse
to Troilus,
who mounts
charges
Achilles,
and knocks
him off his
steed.
With cruel herte hent anoon a spere,
And, springing out, rod to him ful ri$t ;
And he ageyn, to quite hyra lik a kny^t, 4688
And he pat list on no party feyne,
Of his stede held ageyn pe reyn,
And rau^t a spere, & prewe [it] in pe reste, [leaf 936]
And Diomede he smet so on pe brest, 4692
J?at mortally, liche as it is fouwde,
He vnhorsid hyrn vfith a greuous wouwde.
And ri^t anoon, -with a kny^tly herte,
Pollydamas* al attonys sterte 4696
Vn-to pe horse of pis Diomede,
And by pe reyne proudly gan it lede
Vn-to* Troylus, wher he on fote stood,
Al for-baj>ed in }>e Grekis blod, 4700
On euery halfe whiche pat he shadde
— Amongis hem so kny^tly he hi??^ hadde,
}5at pei ne my^t endure nor sustene,
His sharpe swerde grouwde was so kene, — 4704
And deliuerly, maugre al his foon,
In-to pe sadel [vp] he sterte anoon,
Of verray force, armyd as he was ;
And vnwarly, by auenture or cas, 4708
With sharpe swerdis, for pe nonys whet,
As Achilles and he to-gidre mette,
Worpi Troylus, of rancour & of pride,
Achilles smot pat he fil a-side 4712
Doura of his hors, lowe to pe grou^de.
And nat-w£'t/i-stondi7ige his grene mortal wouwde,
He ros ageyn, & faste gan hym spede,
3if pat he my3t to recure his stede : 4716
But al for nou3t, it woldfe] nat availle,
For sodenly, wM a fresshe bataille,*
}3ei of Troye, as made is mencioutt,
In compas wyse beset hym enviroun, 4720
4686. hent] he hent A. 4688. quite] aquite D 1.
4696. PoUydamas] Pollymadas C.
4699. Vn-to] On to 0. 4705. al] amyd al D 1.
4706. In-to] Vn-to D 1. 4714. his grene] be gret D 1,
4718. bataille] abataille 0.
Telamon rescues Achilles. 3Q-days' Fight. The Greeks worsted. 531
Eueryche of hem armyd bri^t & clene.
And Hector ]>o, in his furious tene,
As Dares tellej) al ])e maner how,
J5e same day a pousand kny^tes slow,*
Whiche him withstode only in diffence,
For Achilles to make resistence,
J)at tyme of deth stondynge in iupartie :
Jpat certeinly, but }if bokis lye,
Be liklyhed he my^tfe] nat eskape
In J>at meschef to be ded or take,
Hector on hym was so furious.
But, as I rede, Thelamonius
Reskued hym in )>is grete nede,
And causid hym to recure his stede,
Nat-w&tA-stondynge al }>e grete pres :
For fe duke and lord of Athenes
Was in ]>is cas, of hert & hool entent,
To helpe Achille wonder dilligent,
Jjat with hym ladde many noble kny^t.
But for be-cause ]>at it drowe to ny^t,
As }>e story maketh rehersaille,
)3ei made an ende as of pat bataille,
And pei of Troye entrid be ]>B toun.
And after pat, as made is menciouw,
By and by, havyng* no delaies,
Mortally pei fau$t[e] fritty dayes
With-outen eny Interrupciouw,
Of ouper parte to gret destrucciou7^.
But aldermost, for al her gret[e] pride,
)5ei lost most on )>e Grekis side ;
Save Prianws loste in special
8ixe of his sonys called naturel,
For whom he had ful gret hevines.
And as fe stori recordef eke* expresse,
J)is mene while Hector, in certeyn,
In his face wounded was a-geyn.
Hector, who
lias slain 1000
Greeks,
nearly takes
Achilles,
4724
4728
4732 but Telamon
rescues him
with the help
of Menes-
theus.
4736
c] 4740 Night ends
the battle,
4744
which then
goes on for
30 days,
4748
the Greeks
losing most
men,
and Priam
^ 6 of his
4752 bastards.
4756
Hector is
wounded.
4723. As] And A. 4724. slow] he slow C, D 1.
4745. By] pat by D 1 — havyng] makynge C — no] om. A.
4752. his] om. D 2. 4754. recorded eke] like]) to C.
532 A Q-months' Truce. JMon, the Citadel of Troy. [BK. Ill
Howe Kynge Priamus sent to pe Grekis for a trewe of
vj monethes ; & of pe discripcyon of Yllyon,1
And pus pei han, in pis cruel rage,
On euery part receiued gret damage,
Til [kyng] Priain from Troye sent[e] dourc
For a trewe vn-to Agamenoim, 4760
For sixe monies, }if lie assentfe] wolde.
And per-vppoii he ha]? a conseil holde
With his lordis, what were beste to do ;
And pei echon accorded 'be pe?*e-to, 4764
And grauwt his axynge, in conclusiowz.
And al pis while, wM-Innen Ylyourc,
Duringe pe pes, on ouper part assurid,
Of his wouwdis fully to be cured 4768
Lay wor))i Hector, protectour of pe tourc.
But of pis riche, royal, chefe dongouw,
feat Ylyouw in Troye bare pe name,
Whiche of billedyiig had[de] swiche a fame — 4772
3if pat I shulde comende it vp-so-douw,
As Dares doth in his discripciouw —
I wante konnynge my termys to aplie ;
For in his boke as he doth specefie, 4776
In al pis world was per noon so riche,
Of hi^e devis, nor of bildynge liche,
))e whiche stood, pe more to delyte,
As he recordeth, on twelfe stony s white 4780
Of alabastre, shortly to conclude ;
And twenty pas was pe latitude,
fee grou?id y-pauyd poru^-out with cristal,
And vp-oii hei^t p$?-formyd eue?y wal 4784
Of alle stonys pat any man can fynde,
Of diamauntis and saphir[i]s ynde,
pe royal ruby, so orient and li^t,
feat pe dirknes of pe dymrne ny^t 4788
Enchacid was with his bemys shene ; Deaf osd]
And euere amonge wern emeraudis grene,
Priam asks
for a 6-
months*
truce.
The Greeks
agree to it.
Hector is
cured of his
wounds.
Ilion, I'm
not able to
describe.
It stood on
12 stones of
alabaster,
and its walls
were gemd
with
diamonds
and rubies.
4759. Til] The D 1. 4760. trewe] trews A.
4768. his] whoos A. 4770. chefe] om. A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 91 c (misplaced after line 4762).
The Description of Ilion. The burial of Priam's 6 Bastards. 533
With stonys alle, fat any maner man
In fis world deuyse or rekne can, 4792
]5at wern of pris, valu, or richesse.
And ber were* wrought, of large and gret rourcdnes, nionhad
r c ivory pillars,
(As seith Dares) of yvory pylers,
And fer-vp-on set at ]>e corners, 4796 crowned by
Of purid gold, al aboue on hei^t, ftaf6"
J)er wer ymages wonder huge of wei}t,
"With many perle and many riche stoon ;
And euery piler in f e halle had oon, 4800
Of massif gold, burned clere and bri^t,
.And wonderful to any mawnys si^t :
For of bis werke fe merveillous faciouw ™hose mak-
* J . ing was more
Was more lik, by estymaciourc, 4804
A }>inge y-made & founded be fairye, workman8'
J)an any werke wrou^t be fantasie, men's,
)2oru3 wit of man, as be liklynes.
For in his boke Dares bereth witnes, 4808
))at it was like to rekne, siyt and al,
In apparence a f ing celestial : — heavenly1
Seth in his boke — 36 gete no more of me,
For but in writinge I my^t neuere it* se, 4812 ^Jftnever
Al-be alle o|?er fat it dide excelle ;
No more fer^of I Jrinke now to telle.
How Kenge Priamus worschipfully burede Ms sonnes
natnrel; & howe Dyomede was wondide with
loves darte.1
But retourne ageyn to Priamvs, Priam
Whiche al fis while was inly corious, 4816
Witft Tall his myat and his besy cure, arranges
L J J:> J the burial
To ordeyne for fe sepulture of hi8 J ng
Of his sonys fat afore* were dede.
And al ]>at tyme sike laie Diomede, 4820
4794. >er were] >er with, C. 4795. of] om. A, D 1.
4796. at] in D 1. 4801. burned] burneisshid D 1.
4802. any] many D 2. 4811. Seth] Sith D 1.
4812. in] om. A — neuere it] it neuere C, D 1.
4813. Al-be] Al Jxmj be D 1. 4814. now] ?ou D 1.
4819. afore] after C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 91 d.
534 How Diomede longs for Cressid's love, & she toys with him.
Diomede
sighs
and grows
pale and lean
for love of
Cressid,
and prays
her to have
pity on his
woe,
as he would
die for her.
Bat she keeps
him in doubt,
as women
will, when
they've
caught
a man,
to set him
more on fire.
With Louys dart woundid to |>e herte,
As he pat felt inwardly gret smerte,
Of woful si^es, wiche in his "brest abraide
Ful ofte a day for loue of Cryseyde ; 4824
For he was shake with a feuere newe,
]9at causid him to be ful pale of he we,
And to wexe bo)>e megre and lene ;
For pitously he gan hym to abstene 4828
Fro mete & drinke, and from [al] solace,
As it was sene in his dedly face ;
And ofte a day to hir he wolde pleyne
Of his dissese and his mortal peyne, 4832
Preiynge, of grace pat she wolde se,
Vpon his wo for to han pite,
And of mercy for to taken hede
Of hir seruauwt, only of womrnanhede, 4836
Or pleinly elles — per is no more to seie, —
For hir sake he seide he wolde deye. [leaf 94 a]
But konnywgly, & in ful slei^ty wyse,
To kepe hym lowe vnder hir seruyse, 4840
With delaies she hilde hym forpe on honde,
And maked hym in a were to stonde,
Ful vnsur betwene hope & dispeire.
And whan pat grace shulde haue had repeire 4844
To putte hym oute of al henynes,
Daurager of newe brou^t hym in distresse ;
And with disdeyn to encrese his peine,
Of double were she bro^t hym in a treyne, 4848
As wommen kan holde a man ful narwe,
Whan he is hurt with Cupides arwe,
To sette on hym many fel assaies,
Day be day to putte hym in delaies, 4852
To stonde vnsur betwixe hope & drede,
Ki$t as Cryseyde lefte Diomede,
Of entent to sette hym more a-fire,
4831-36 are misplaced after 4823, but subsequently occur in their
proper order inD2; 4823 is marked a, and 4824 is marked b.
4827. to] om. D 1. 4840. hir] his D 2.
4842. a were] J>e werre D 1. 4848. were] wher D 2.
4852. to] and D 1.
Cressid keeps Diomede in doubt. Fresh fighting. SQ-days' Truce. 535
As pis wowmen kyndely desyre,
Whan pei a man haue brou^t in a trauwce,
Vn-euenly to hange him in balaurcce,
Of hope & drede to lynke hy??i in a cheyne,
Ay of pe fyn vnsure of hope tweyne,
To dryue him* forpe 3eres hem to serue,
And do no force wher he lyue or sterue :
ftis is pe fyn of Lovis fyri rage.
And for she wolde haue hym in seruage,
She lokkid hym vnder swiche a keye,
Jjat he wot nat wher to lyue or deye ;
And in doute pus I lete hym dwelle,
And forpe I wil of pe story telle,
And to my mater eke resorte ageyn.
And as myn auctor recorde)) in certeyn,
After pe trewe were wered out & goon,
Twelve daies, swyng al in oon,
pe Grekis fau3t with hem of pe toun,
To gret damage and confusiouw
Of ouper party, and aduersite.
And in pis while a gret rnortalite,
Bope of swerd & of pestylence,
Amonge Grekis, by fatal influence
Of noyous hete and of corrupt eyr
Engendrid was ; pat in gret dispeir
Of her lyf in pe f eld J?ei * leye :
For day be day sodeynly bei deye,
And her noumbre fast[e] gan discresse.
And whan pai sawe pat it nolde cesse,
By her avys, pe kyng Agamenouw
For a trewe sente to pe touw,
For pritty dayes; & Prianms pe kyng, [leaf 94 6]
"WVtA-onte more, grauwted his* axyng.
4856 Women will
keep men on
the balance,
4860
not caring
whether they
live or die.
4864 Cressid keeps
Diomede
under lock
and key,
uncertain of
his fate.
4868
But, to get
back to the
War.
4872 12 days after
the 6-
months'
Truce ends,
fighting
begins again.
4876
4880
4884
4888
Plague
breaks out
among the
Greeks.
They get 30
days' Truce
from the
Trojans.
4858. Vn-euenly] On evenly A. 4861. him] hem C.
4862. force] fors D 2 — wher] wether D 1.
4866. wher] whebir D 1. 4868. >e] my D 1.
4871. trewe] trews A, trewes D 2, trewse D 1.
4881. bei] as >ei C.
4886. trewe] trews A, D 2, D 1.
4887] And >ei anoon with-oute lettyng D 1.
4888. "WM-oute more] For xxxu daies D 1— his] her C.
536 The Dream or Revelation that Andromache had. [BK. in
When the
Greeks'
plague stops,
they plan a
fresh fight.
The night
before,
Andromache,
Hector's wife,
who hns a
baby at her
white breasts,
has a won-
drous Dream
or revelation
from above.
Of A wondirful dreme that Andromacha, Ectors wiff,
had, which in effect was, that yif here husbonde,
the next day ensewynge, went armede to f e felde,
that he shulde dy. Where-for she toke here
yongeste sowkynge sonne Astromanta, and pit-
ously, on here knees, bysought Ectore to absteyne
hym fro1 }>e felde that day.2
Whan fe Moreyn & fe woful rage
Of pestilence be-gan for to swage,
And f e trews were wered oute & goon,
J?e Grekis cast to mete wat/i her foon, 4892
Vp-on a day, in platis armyd clene,
Whan Phebws roos,* with his bemys shene,
Ful plesaiwtly, & gan to shede his ly^t.
But, as I fynd, to-forne f e silfe ny^t, 4896
Andronomecha, fe feithful trewe wyf
Of worjji Hector, hym lovynge as hir lyf,
Be whom he had gete childre two,
Wonder semly, and inly fair also — 4900
And Lamedonte callyd was f e ton,
So 3onge fe tofer, ]>at hit ne my^t[e] goon,
And Astronanta, I rede, fat he hy^t,
Fetured wel & passynge fair of si$t ; 4904
And, as Guydo listeth to endite,
Of his rnoder at )>e pappis white,
For verray ^ong fat tyme was soukynge,
And vfith his armys hir brestis embrasynge.3 4908
And she fat ny}t, as made is mencioiw,
Hadde in hir slepe a wonder visions,
I not, in soth, what I may it nevene,
Oufer a dreme or verraily a sweuene, 4912
Or fro a-boue a reuelaciourc,
— As whilom had f e kyng Scipiouw —
Or a shewynge, ouf er an oracle,
4902. hit ne] he D 1.
4908. armys] arm D2, arme D 1.
4894. roos] shon C.
4907. $ong] 3oube D 1.
4909. And] As D 1.
4915. Or] Outhir A — ou>er an oracle] or warnyng by miracle D 1.
1 The Royal MS. has for. 2 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 92 b.
3 The Royal MS. inserts here the heading : " Of a dreme wonder-
ful that Kynge Sapyon had " (leaf 92 &).
Andromache's Dream of Hector's Death. She tells him of it. 537
Or of goddis a warnyng be myracle : 4916
For, in sothnes, slepynge as she lay, Andromache
Hir pou$t[e] pleynly, }if pe nextfe] day thltTf8Hector
Hector went his fomen for to assaille, day,
As he was wont, armyd in bataille, 4920
)?at he ne shulde eskapen outterly,
In f atis hondis to f alle finally ; he'ii be kiid.
And, ouermore, Antropos shal fyne
For euer-more his lyues prede to twyne, 4924
And shewe pe force of hir fel[le] my3t,
Whan pe parodie of pis worpi kny^t
Aprochen shal, wz't/i-outen wordis mo,
In-to pe feld, pleynly, $if he go. 4928
Of whiche astonyd, streit & short of brep,
Wher as she lay, abreid vp-on pe dep,
And with a si^e stinte for to slepe, she sighs
And pitously braste oute for to wepe 4932
For pe constreint of hir hertly sorwe ;
And specially on pe woful morwe, Next mom-
Whan pat she sawe pis stok of worpines, him8arm?es
As he was wont, manfully him dresse [leaf 94 c] 4936
To armyn hym in stele bornyd bri^t,
})is Troyan wal, Hector, pis worpi kny^t,
She can no more, but at his fete fil doura, she fails at
T his feet,
Lowly declarynge hir avisiouw, 4940 aadteuahtm
•w^ i i her Vision.
\\ttfi quakynge herte of verray wo??mianhede.
Where-of, God wote, he toke litil hede,
But J)er-of hadde indignaciourc, He is angry,
Flatly affermyng, pat no discreciourc 4944
Was to trest in swiche fantasies, and pooh-
In dremys shewid, gladly meynt with lyes,
Ful of lapis and illusioUttS, Dreams are
Of whiche, pleynly, pe conclusions 4948 bu?.
Be nat ellis but folkis to delude,
Al-be it so pat [pis] peples rude
Jper-in som while han affeccioura
4916] Or a demonstracioim by oracle D 1.
4930. abreid] abreidmge D 1. 4932. for] om. D 1.
4933. hir] om. A. 4935. bis] be D 1.
4945. trest] trist D 2.
538 Andromache legs Priam to forbid Hector to fight. [BK. ill
Andromache
weeps,
faints,
goes to
Priam
and Hecut
tells em her
dream,
and prays
Priam
to save
Hector from
death.
She swoons.
To luge and deme in her oppinioim 4952
Diuersly what pel may pretende,
And ofte falle & happen as pel wende,
And folweth like, in conclusions.
For drede of whiche, ]>& lamentaciourc 4956
Encrese gan of Andronomecha ;
And in hir swowe first she cried, " a ! "
Seying, " alias ! niyn owne lord so dere,
3our trewe wif, alias ! whi nyl ^ou here, 4960
Whiche of so feithful hool affeccious
Desireth ay ^oure sauacious ! "
And vp she roos, deedly of visage,
And like a womnian cau^t with sodein rage, 4964
To kyng Priam & Eccuba pe quene
In haste she wente, hir silfe to be-mene,
And of hir wyfly hert[e], trewe as stele,
Ceriously declarid euerydele, 4968
Hir pitous dreme, whiche poru} rnyracle*
To hir only, be devyne oracle,*
I-shewed was poru3 Goddes pwruyausce ;
And tolde hem* eke ]>Q final ordinauwce 4972
Of Fortunes fals disposicious,
Fully pwrueied to destruccious
Of hir lord, with-oute more delay,
In-to }>e felde jif he go ]>at day. 4976
Wherfore, she preietli with a dedly hewe
Yn-to )>e kyng, of mercy for to re we,
Vp-on hir wo to haue compassions,
Eor to ordeyne by discreciou^ 4980
Of his lordship and [of] souereinte,
)5at hir lord nat distroyed be
Of rekleshede, nor of wilfulnes.
And, with ]>at worde, of verray kyndenes, 4984
In whom was ay so moche loue fousde, [leaf 94 d]
To-fore )>e quene aswowne fil to grousde,
4959. Seying alias] Alias seynge D 1.
4960. 3011] 3e D 1. 4969. myracle] oracle C.
4970. oracle] myracle C. 4972. hem] hym C, D 1.
4973. disposiciouw] disposiciowis D 1.
4974. destriicciouTi] destruccowis D 1.
4982. nat distroyed] distroied nat D 1. 4985. moche] my D 2.
Andromache appeals to Hecuba. Priam marshals his Host. 539
And seide, " alias ! " with a ful pale cliere,
"Helpe in )>is cas, myw owne moder dere,
Of wo??imanhed and routhfe] dof me grace,
JOat my lord in-to ])e feld ne pace ;
And doth 30111' deuer, of moderly pite
Benignely and goodly for to se
To his kny3thod and his hi^e prowes,
For to restreyne his renomed noblesse,
Jpilke day to handle spere nor shelde,
NOT fat he go armyd in-to ]?e felde."
And boj>e tweyne assent[e] for ]>e beste,
And condescende vn-to hir requeste,
Finally accordynge in-to oon. —
J)at whan ]>e wardis wer redi euerychon,
On issinge oute, & Troy 1 us, first of alle,
And Paris next, on Grekis for to falle,
And after hym ])e Troyan Eneas,
Kyng Sarpedou?2, and Polly damas,
Kyng Eroys, and kyng Epistrophus,
And eke J?e kyng y-called Forcins,
In plate & mail eueryche armed clene ; —
And alderlaste cam kyng Philomene,
"With alle pe kynges & lordes of renoim,
J5at in diffence comen of )?e toiw,
With pe Grekis kny^tly to debate.
And Priam^s, sothly, to ]>e gate
Conveied hem, at her oute goyng,
And sette her wardes, pis noble worjji kyng,
Ful prudently J>oruj his sapience,
And after ^af hem conge and licence
Yp-on Grekis for to kyj?e her my^t,
Ageyn[e]s whom ful redy for to fi^t
Her fomen wern, with royal apparaille,
Amycl ]>Q feld abidynge J?e bataille.
Andromache
^on Prays Hecuba
4988 to stop
Hector.
4992
She and
Priam agree
to do it.
The Trojans
get ready for
a sally,
Troilus first,
then Paris,
etc.
4996
5000
5004
5008
5012 Priam
arranges
their
battalions.
5016
The Greeks
are ready.
5020
4989. Of] And of D 1. 4995. nor] orD.
4996. in-to] in D 1— J>e] om. A, D 2.
5005. Ind kyng] om. D 1.
5006. y-called] called D 1— Forcius] Epistrophus D 2.
5012. And] And kyng D 2.
5016. after] after )*t Dl.
TROY BOOK.
N N
540 Priam Mds Hector not to fight ; but he
[BK. in
Priam goes to
Hector,
and forbids
him to fight
this day.
Hector is
puts the
blame on his
wife,
arms,
and rides
forth.
Andromache
cries.
Howe kynge Priamus chargede worthy Ectore that he
shulde not go armede to ]>e felde ]>«t daye.1
But Priamus, [in] ]?is mene while,
Lyk as Guydo remembrij? in his stile,
For pilke fyn, }>at $e han herd me seyn,
To wor]>i Hector repeired is ageyn, 5024
Hyra contermaiwdynge fat he lie shold gon
j^ilke day to fi^t ageyn her foon.
For whiche ping, of hi^e dispit he brent,
Whan fat he saw of er lordis went 5028
Oute at f e gate, and he allone abood ;
For whiche he wexe furious & wood,
Hooly f e cause arrettynge to his wif,
)}at was of cherte so tendir ouer his lyf, 5032
Puttinge on hir fully f e occasions
Of his abidynge fat day in fe toiw, [leaf 95 a]
In preiudise of his worfines
And disencresse of his hi$e prowes. 5036
And list f oru$ tongis to his hi^e estat,
J^oru^ fals report it were derogat,
He caste anoon, of a ful kny3tly herte,
For lyf nor deth it shuld him nat asterte 5040
With-Inne fe feld fat day to be fourcde,
J}ou} it so wer, with many mortal wouwde
He shulde on pecis he we be a-sourcdre,
Yp-on fe pleyn dismembrid here & Bonder — 5044
So hool in manhod was his hert[e] sette,
J?at he anoon, w^'t/i-oute lenger lette,
Ageyn to arme hym was ful dilligent,
A-gein ]?e precepte and commandement 5048
Of his fader, & rood forfe [on] his weie.
For fer of whiche, as she wolde deie,
His wif of newe crie gan & shoute,
And with hir pappis also hanging oute, 5052
5021. his] he D 1. 5028. oher] bat obir D 1.
5031. to] on D 1.
5032. of cherte so tendir ouer] so cheris & tendre of D 1
5037. to] in D 1. 5040. nor] or D 1.
5046. lenger] more D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 93 a (misplaced after line 5026).
Andromache, Hecuba & Helen pray Hector to stay in Troy. 541
Hir litel childe in hir armys tweyne,
A-forn hir lord gan to wepe & pleyne,
Besechinge hym, of routhe and pite,
3if he nolde [vn-]to hir sorwe se, 5056
At pe leste, for hir wifly troupe,
J?at he of manhod haue in herte roupe
Yp-on hir child and on hir also,
Whiche J?at she bar in hir armys two, 5060
And nat my$t him fro criynge kepe,
Whan he sawe his woful moder wepe.
And, knelyng doim, vn-to hym she seide,
In hir sobbynge as she my^t abreide : 5064
"Myn owne lorde haue mercy now on me,
And on pis litel child whiche pat 36 se
So pitously a-fore ^bu wepe & crye !
Haue mercy lord on vs or we deye !
Haue me?'cy eke vp-on pis cyte,
Myn owne lorde ! haue mercy or pat we
By cruel deth passe shal echon,
For lak of helpe, alias, whan 30 ar goon ! "
j)is was pe crie of Andronomecha,*
With whom was eke hir suster Cassandra,
Eccuba, and faire Polycene,
And Eleyne, pe lusty freshe quene,
Whiche alle attonys fellen hym beforn,
With heer vntressid, & wepinge al to-torn,
And loude gan to crien in pe place,
Besechinge hym, of mercy and of grace,
For pilke day to abiden in pe touw,
And in his herte to haue compassiou^
On her compleint & her woful mone, [leaf 95 &]
Sith al pe trust of pe toiw allone
In hym abode, and al pe resistence :
For ageyn deth he was her chef diffence ;
And in hym hooly was her affiauwce,
Her sur[e]te, and her suffisaurace,
Andromache,
with her
babe in her
arms,
prays Hector,
for their
sakes,
5068 not to bring
Death on
them and
Troy,
5072 after he dies.
Cassandra,
Hecuba
5076 and Helen
5080 beseech
Hector to
stop at home,
5084
as he is their
great defence.
5088
5053. Hir] And wi> her D 2, And here D 1.
5061. nat] he nat A. 5068. lord on vs] on vs lorde D 1.
5073. Andronomecha] Andronemaca C. 5079. be] that A.
5080. Besechinge] And besechinge D 1. 5088. surete] suerte A.
Andromache
prays Hector
to pity her,
and not ruin
Troy.
But he is
obdurate,
542 Andromache cannot stop Hector. She appeals to Priam. [BK. in
In eche ping pat hem my^tfe] greue.
And }if al pis ne my^t his herte meve
For to abide, ^it, of goodly hede,
j?ei hym besou^t, to her wommanhede 5092
He wolde enclyne his harde* herte of stele,
Jjat pei my^t a litel drope fele
Only of pite on her wo to rewe,
)}at likly was to moren and renewe* 5096
Finally to her distrucciouw ;
For of pe cite, sothly, and pe ton??,
His vnhap were endeles ruyne.
But }it al pis my^t hym nat encline 5100
))at he nold oute, in conclusions,
So indurat, and hertid as lyouw
He was alweie, cowtunynge in his rage ;
Whos herte my^t asofte nor aswage 5104
IsTouper praier nor wayme^taciou^,
Hym to restreyne from his oppinioim :
For euery pereil he leide po a-side,
And on his weie gan anoon to ryde ; 5108
Wher-poru} his wif noo^ oper bote can,
But in hir rage to pe kyng she ran,
So amased in hir mortal wo
})at she vnepe my^t[e] speke hym to, 5112
So diffacid and ruful of hir si^t,
J3at by hir hewe knowep hir no wi^t :
For lost she had bope my^t & strengpe ;
And plat she fil to [pe] grou?zde a-lengpe 5116
To-fore pe kyng, pat roupe was to sene,
Besechynge hym, of entent ful clene,
Of his grace to consider hir wo :
For but he help, Hector was* a-go. 5120
And he seinge hir faithful wommanhede,
At hir requeste rau^t anoon his stede,
And priked after, only for hir sake,
5089. hem] hym D 1. 5092. to] of D 1.
5093. harde] harded C.
5096. moren and renewe] morne and remewe 0.
5098. sothly] om. A. 5100. al] of A. 5102. as] as a A.
5104. nor] & D 2. 5110. hir] a D 1. 5113. hir] his D h
5120. For] om. A— was] is C, D 1.
and rides on.
Andromache
rushes to
Priam,
and begs his
aid.
Priam rides
after Hector.
BK. in] Priam stops Hector. Troilus and Diomede fight. 543
In so gret haste, pat he hap ouertake
Worpi Hector w^-Inne pe cyte,
And hent his reyne -with gret difficulte,
And maugre hym made him tourne ageyn,
In swiche wyse, he durst it nat wz'tftseyn,
Al-be pat he* was ful lope per-to ;
So pat by force & praier also,
From his stede he made hym a-li$t,
J?e areste of whom eschewen he ne my^t, [leaf 95
For he ne wolde ageyn his fader striue,
Al-be pat he felte his herte rive
Of malencolie and of hertly Ire,
And of disdeyn newe sette a-fire —
So inwardly sterid was his blod,
}?at like a tigre or a lyoim wood,
jpat wer deprived newly of hir* praye,
Ri^t so firde he al pat ilke day, —
Or liche a bore pat his tusshes whette,
While pe Grekis and pei of Troye mette,
Furiously walkynge vp and douw.
And in diffence, sothly, of pe toun,
Troylus first, on his baye stede,
Of auenture mette Diomede,
And eche at oper, surquedous of pride,
With sharpe speris gan to-gidre ryde ;
And Guydo seith, wzt/i-outen any dred,
Oon or bope had anoon* be ded,
Nadde Menelay kny^tly go be-twene.
And after pat, in a furious tene,
He smet his hors, in ful kny^tly wyse,
And Meryem, pe my3ty kyng of Frise,
Menelaus inarkid hath ful wel,
And with his swerd, ful sharpe grouwd of stel,
Ynhorsid him, and prewe him on pe grene ;
For he pe strok my^te* nat sustene,
5124 Priam over-
takes Hector,
5128
5132
5136
5140
5144
5148
5152
turns bis
horse,
and makes
him dis-
Hector is like
a tiger reft
of its prey.
Troilus and
Diomede
fight.
Menelaus
parts them,
5156 and unhorses
Meryem.
5129. he] hym C. 5139. Mr] Ms C.
5146. mette] mette with D 1.
5147. at] and D 1. 5150. had anoon] anoon had 0.
5154. Meryem] Merien A, Meryon D 1.
5158. myjte] ne myjt C.
The Greeks
surround
Meryem.
544 King Meryem is rescued ly Polydamas and Troilus. [BK. in
j)is Menelay was on him so wood,
J)at it was likly, euene per he stood, 5160
With pe lif he shulde nat eskape.
For pe Grekis ful hastily hem shape,
fiis Meriem, as 36 hau herde me seyn,
For to be-sette rou?^de vpon* pe pleyn, 5164
And to sese* hywz by pe aventaille,
On euery part, and cruelly to assaille,
Al destitut in pis dredful cas.
But hym to helpe cam Pollydamas 5168
With his kny^tes, & gan to nei3en ner
Whan he hym sawe take prisoner ;
And maugre alle p«t vppon hym sette,
From her hondis Pollydamas him fette, 5172
At whos reskus per was so gret a strif
))at many on per-fore lost his lyf :
For Grekis raper J>an he shulde eskape
From her hondis in fat hasti rape, 5176
Caste hem pleynly ]>at he shal be ded,
Fully in purpos to haue hadde his hed —
He stood of meschef in so gret disioynt.
But hym to helpe, euene vppon pe point, 5180
Cam Troylus in, most kny^tly of aray, [leaf 95 d]
And of his manhod made swiche affray
Amongis hem [in] reskus of pis kyng,
J)at maugre hem, at his in-comyng 5184
Delyuered was pis my3ty * lord of Frise
From cruel deth, as 36 han herd deuyse.
But per-vppon cam Thelamonivs,
Proude in armys, and euere surquedous, 5188
With pre pousand, ful worpi euery chon ;
And he vnhorseth Pollydamas anoon,
Among his kny3tes, & proudly bar him dourc ;
But Troylus hath, poru3 his 11136 renourc, 5192
Mid of his foon get hym his hors ageyn.
But pei of Troye so sore were be-leyn
Polydamas
rescues him.
The Greeks
want to kill
him.
Troilus
comes to
the rescue.
Telamon
unhorses
Polydamas,
whom Troilus
helps.
5161. >e] his D 1. 5163. Meriem] Merien A, Meriomt D 1.
5164. vpon] aboute C. 5165. sese] sesse C.
5179. He stood] His stede D 2. 5183. bis] be D 1.
5185. myjty] worbi C.
BK. in] The Trojans are routed. Achilles slays Margariton. 545~
On euery half, poru^ fe Grekis pride,
Jpat pel [ne] my^t a-forn hein nat abide : 5196
For newe and newe ]>e hardy Achilles Achilles
and his
Assailled hem with his Mirundones, Myrmidons
Jpat ]?ei compelled of necessite, put the
In meschef wern maked for to fle 5200 flight.
Home to ]?e walles & gates of J>e tourc,
To gret damage and confusions
Of her party ]>at abak so goon.
Of the sorowfule dethe of Margarytone, one of the
Basterde sonnes of kenge Priamus.1
)?e whiche ping, whan Margariton 5204 Margariton,
Behilde & sawe how )>e game goth,
In his herte he gan to wexe wroth,
And passingly for to haue disdeyn ;
And as fe story recordej) in certeyn, 5208
)?at he was bo]?e hardy & famws,
And sone also vn-to kyng Priamws, one of
A noble kny^t, & of gret wor}>ines. bastard sons,
And whan he saw )?e meschef and distresse 5212
Of hem of Troye, & how ]?ei gan to fle,
He caste anoon avengid for to be
Vp-on Achille,* for al his grete my^t, charges
And ran to hym, ful like a manly kny^t, 5216
On horse-bak, for ]>e townys sake,
And hym enforseth Achilles to take
Amyd )?e feld amonge his kny^tes alle.
But Achilles— alias, it shulde falle ! — 5220 who kills
J?at day hym slowe, by cruel auenture,
Wher-J>oru3 Troyens my^tfe] not endure The Trojans
}2e felde to hold, but home[-ward] ga^ hew hi^e,
And mortally to make noise & crie : 5224
Firste, for )>e deth of Margariton,
And for ]>e pursut pat^ kyng Thelamon
Made on }>e chaas, pom3 his cruelte,
5196. ne my3t] myght nat A — ne] om. D 1.
5197. >e] this D 1. 5204. Margariton] Mariton D 1.
5215. Achille] Achilles C. 5226. bat] of C, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 93 d.
546 The Trojans are beaten lack to Troy. Hector sallies forth.
Tho Paris
and his
bastard
brothers
fight well,
they are
beaten to
Troy with
Margariton's
corpse.
Hector
arms and
sallies out.
The Greeks
and lose 2
dukes.
The Trojans
take the field
again.
Hector
rescues
Polydamas.
Home to pe gatis of Troye pe cite,
ftat slow & kylled alweie as he rood,
Al-be pat Paris manly hym wip-stood,
With his brepre pat in baste wer* born.
But, for al pat, her ground pel haue lorn,
Lefte & forsake putterly pe felde ;
And home pei went, & bron^tfen] on a shelde
)}e dede cors of Margariton ;
And after pat her gatis shette anon.
])e whiche meschef, as Hector gaw be-hold,
Of verray Ire his herte gan to colde,
And seide, platly, wa't/i-oute more delay,
He wolde avenge his deth pe same day,
And made in haste his stede to be fet,
And vp he stirte, & on. his basenet —
Vnwist pe kyng, or who be lefe or loth —
))er was no geyn — forpe anon he goth,
Til he was passid )?e gatis of pe touw,
More furious pan tigre or lyouw ;
At whos corny nge, pikke as swarm of bew,
To-forn his swerd Grekis gomie flen —
J?ei pou^t it was tyme to w^tfo-drawe.
And first, I fynde, how pat he hath slawe
Two worpi dukes, as he with hem mette,
)3at besy wern his weie for to lette : —
Jpe ton y-called was Eurypalus,
And pe toper hi^te Hascydyus.
And so Troyens pe feld ageyn haw wowne,
And of newe manfully be-go?me
Grekis to sue, & folwen on pe chaas.
And }it at meschef dau72^ Pollydamas
J?e same tyme was of Grekis take ;
But Hector hath so born him for his sake,
Where as he sorest was be-leyn,
And Jjoru} his kny^thod reskued him ageyn,
And put pe Grekis in so gret distresse,
his manhod and his worpines,
[leaf 96 a]
5228
5232
5236
5240
5244
5248
5252
5256
5260
5264
5231. in baste wer] wer in baste C. 5234. home] whoom A.
5245. was] om. A. 5247. >ikke as] like a D 1.
5255. haw] haue A. 5261. he] that he A, J»t he D 1.
Hector kills Greeks. Achilles wants to slay him, & charges him. 547
J}at wher-so-euere Jrilke day he rood,
His sharp [e] swerd he ba)>ed in her blood,
He was so cruel and so mercyles.
But Jjan a kny^t called Leothydes
Shope him anon with Hector for to mete,
While he was moste Irons in his hete,
And sette on hym ful presumptuously ;
But Hector ]>o, deuoyde of al mercy,
Anoon hym slow, & J?rew hym in ]?e feld :
})e whiche )>ing whan Achilles behelde,
)2e gret[e] slau^ter and J?e wouMis wyde
)?at Hector made vppon euery syde,
He gan anon compassen* in his herte,
And vp and doun casten and aduerte,
How J)e Grekis neuer may* be sure
Ageyn her foon to fi^ten [n]or endure,
Nor kepe a felde vfilh hem for to stryve,
Al )>e while [j>at] Hector were a-lyue.
Wherfore, he shope & castfe] many weie,
Be what engyne Hector my^tfe] deye,
At avaufttage $if he my^t hym fynde ;
And ])er-to eke Polycenes of Ynde,
A worjri duke, was also of assent —
Only for he of herte & hool entent
In hope stood his suster for to wyve,
For loue of whom he felt his herte ryve.
And in hir grace better for to stonde,
He caste fully for to take on honde
J?is hi^e emprise, as I haue $ow tolde.
But while }>at he was on him most bold,
Hector hym slow, per was no^i oper geyn ;
)2e whiche anoo?i as Achilles hath seyn,
For Ire he wexe in his herte as wood
As boor or tigre in her cruel mood,
Vp-on Hector avenged for to be ;
And furiously on hym he gan He.
Hector slays
Greeks,
5268
5272 and kills
Leothydes.
Achilles sees
[leaf 96 6]
5276
that the
Greeks can't
5280 win while
Hector is
alive.
5284
5288
5292
5296 He rides
5300
furiously
at Hector.
5265. pat] And D 1. 5276 is omitted in D 2.
5277. compassen] compassed C. 5279. may] mow C.
5280. nor] or D 1. 5282. J>at] om. D 1.
5297. as wood] om. D 2.
548 Hector wounds Achilles, and puts the Greeks to flight. [BK. in
Hector
wounds
Achilles in
the thigh.
Achilles gets
the blood
stopt,
and is ready
to die if he
can kill
Hector,
who makes
the Greeks
flee like a
swarm of
bees.
But Hector kau$t a quarel* sharpe [y-]grouwde,
And brew at hyw, & $af him swiche a wou?*de
feoru^-oute [be] bei^e, vp-on ouber side,
feat in be feld he myjtfe] nat abide,
But hym withdraw, and anoon is went
With his men home vn-to his tent,
And made anoon a surgeyn to bynde
His mortal woimde ; & after, as I fynde,
Whan he was stauwche, & cesseb for to blede,
In al haste ageyn he toke his stede :
And liste he were of bat wouwde ded
Afterward, as it was gret drede,
He boii3t[e] first avengid for to be
Vp-on Hector, $if he my^t hym se,
Of hap or sort, $if it wolde falle :
For hym bou^t, to his peynes alle
It were [to] hym be bestfe] remedye,
Of his honde ^if he my^tfe] dye —
For of his lyf he rou3t[e] nat a myte,
Be so bat he Hector my^tfe] quyte,
Deth for deth, in collclusiou?^ ;
For bat was hooly his entencioim,
Of his desire fully suffisauwce,
By deth vnwarly to ^even* hym meschaivwce.
But al bis tyme, Hector, vp & dorm,
As he was wont, pleieb be lyourc
Amonge Grekis in many sondri place,
And with his swerd gan hem so to enchase, [leaf 96 c]
feat as be deth, where bei my^t hym sen,
feei fledde a-forn hym like a swarm of ben :
For noon so hardy was hym to with-sette.
And, in bis while, a Grekysh kyng he* mette,
Were it of hap or of auenture,
fee whiche, in soth, on his cotearmvre
Enbroudid* had ful many riche stoon,
5301. quarel] darte C. 5309. stauwche] staunchyd A, D 1.
5312. was] were D 1. 5317. J>e] om. D 1.
5319] For of his honde jif he myjte him slee D 1.
5320] He hou^te verraily ]>at it shulde be D 1 — quyte] a quyte A.
5324. jeven] jif C, D 1. 5328. so to] om. D 1.
5332. he] him C. 5335. Eubroudid] Enbroudrid C.
5304
5308
5312
5316
5320
5324
5328
5332
Hector seeks to strip a slain King of rich armour, & is to die. 549
J)at 3af a li^t, whan pe sonne shoon, 5336
Ful brht and clere, "bat loie was to sene : A Greek king
' f has such
For perils white and emeraudis cjrene, splendid
armour,
Ful many oon, were pere-Inne set,
And on J>e cercle of his basenet, 5340
And rouwde enviroim of his aventaille,
In velwet fret, al aboue pe maille,
Safirs ynde and oper stonys rede,
Of whos array, whan Hector take]? hede, 5344
Towardis hym faste gaii hym drawe.
And firste, I fynd, how he hap him slawe ; that Hector
And after pat, by force of his rnanhede,
He rent hym vp a-forn him on his stede, 5348
And faste gan wip hym for to ride and rides
From pe wardis a litel oute a-side,
At good leiser, pleynly, 3 if he may,
To spoillen hym of his riche array, 5352 to strip the
-r< i i o T • • corpse of
Jbul glad & li^t oi ms newe emprise. its armour.
But out ! alias ! on fals couetyse !
Whos gredy fret, — ]>e whiche is gret pite, — But such
In hertis may nat 113% staurcchid be ; 5356
))e etyk gnawep be so gret distresse,
pat it difFaceth pe h'^e worpines,
Ful ofte sythe, of pies conquerours,
And of her fame rent aweie pe flours. 5360
Desyre of hauynge, in a gredy pou^t, is not worthy
To hi^e noblesse sothly longeth nou3t, soul"0
No[r] swiche pelf re, spoillynge, nor robberie
Apartene to* worpi chiualrye : 5364 orknightu-
For couetyse and kny^thod, as I lere,
In o cheyne may nat be knet y-fere ;
For koupe it is, pat ofte swiche ravyne
Hath cause ben and rote of pe ruyne 5368 ithasrumd
r\£ • i T , , i 11 many non*
Of many worpi — who-so liste take hede — curable folk;
Like as 30 may now of Hector rede,
)3at sodeinly was brou3t to his endynge
Only for spoillynge of pis riche kyng. 5372 and it works
For of desire to hym pat he hadde,
5354. on] of D 1. 5358. hije] grete D 1.
5364. to] not to C, nat to D 1. 5368. ruyne] Ravyne D 2.
550 Hector slings his Shield "behind him, and Achilles kills him.
Hector casts
his shield
behind his
back,
so as to spoil
the Greek
king's corpse.
When
Achilles
sees Hector
thusdisarmd,
he thrusts a
spear thru
him,
and kills him.
Odemon hits
Achilles so
hard that he
is thought
dead,
and is carried
to his tent.
On horse-bake oute whan he hym ladde,
Keklesly, ]>& story maketh mynde,
He cast his shelde at his bak be-hynde,
To welde hym silf at more liberte,
And for to han opportunyte
To spoillen hym, and for no wy^t spare,
So Jmt his brest disarmyd was & bare :
Except his platis per was no diffence
Ageyn pe strok to make resistence.
Alias,* why was he po so rek[e]les [
J;is flour of knyjthod, of manhod per[e]les,
Whan pat his fo, al pat ilke day,
For hym allone in a-wayt[e] lay,
3if in meschef, of hate and of envie,
In pe feld he my^t hym oute espie,
J?is Achilles, cruel and venomous,
Of hertly hate most malencolyous, —
Whiche couertly havynge hym be-side,
Whan pat he saw Hector disarmyd ride,
He hent a spere, sharpe grou^de & kene,
And of Ire in his hateful tene,
Al vnwarly, or Hector my$t aduerte,
(Alias pe whyle !) he smote hym to pe herte,
jporu^-oute pe brest, pat ded he fil douw
Vn-to pe erpe, pis Troyan champiouw,
Jjoru^ necligence only of his shelde !
J}e deth of whom, whan Odemon behelde,
])Q worpi kyng my^t hym nat restreyne,
But [to] Achilles rood wiih -al his peyne,
And hit hym so, myd of al pe pres,
Maugre pe rny^t of his Mirundones,
J)at for ded, Guydo seith certeyn,
Of pat wou?zde he nl gruf on pe pleyn.
But his kny^tes on a sheld a-lofte
J?ei leiden hym, & caried hym ful softe
Vn-to his tent, in al pe haste pel can ;
[leaf 96 d]
5376
5380
5384
5388
5392
5396
5400
5404
5408
5383. Alias] Alias be while C. 5386. lay] so lay A, D 1.
5388. oute] ouht D 2, oujte D 1. 5392. bat] om. D 2, D 1.
5402. Achilles] Achille A, D 2, D 1.
Hectors corpse is taken to Troy. Who will help me lament him ? 551
And pere I leue pis dedly wovmded man,
Ful sore seke, til he may releue.
And after tat, whan it drowe to eve, 5412 At evening
the Trojans
bei of Trove, with gret reuerence carry tiie
J ' dead body of
Dide her labour and her dilligence
\)e dede cors to carien in-to toim
Of worbi Hector, wlian Titan weutfe] dourc. 5416 Hector to the
Temple in
And to pe temple dolfully pei wende ; Troy.
And of pat day pis was pe woful ende —
I can no more — but pus pe longe ny^t
In heuynes, as it was skil and ri^t, 5420
I wil hem leue, and ageyn returne
To my rnater to help hem [for] to morne.
The lamentacyon of kynge Priamus for the dethe of
Ector,1
B
ut now, alias ! how shal I precede HOW can i
In pe story, pat for wo and drede 5424 mySory,°f
Fele myn hond bope tremble and quake, when my
0 worpi Hector, only for pi sake, [leaf 97 a] Sbies for
.rm . •• .1 T i ,1 A -j Hector's
Of pi detn 1 am so loth to write. sake ?
0 who shal now help me to endyte, 5428
Or vn-to whom shal I clepe or calle 1 —
Certis to noon of pe mvsis alle, NO Muse win
. , , „ . help me.
J3at by accorde smgen euer* in on,
Vp-on Pernaso, besiden Ely con, 5432
So angelik in her armonye,
J?at tonge is noon pat may specefie Their angelic
)3e grete swetnes of her goodly song ;
For no discorde is fouwden hem among, 5436
In her mvsik pei bene entvnyd so —
It syt hem nou^t for to help in wo, not a
Nor w^t/z- maters pat be with mournynge shent,
As tragedies, al to-tore and rent, 5440
In compleynynge pitously in rage
5415. toim] the touw D 1. 5417. And] In D 1.
5419. >us J>e] >is D 1. 5420. was] is A.
5428. now] om. D 1. 5430. to] om. D 1.
5431. euer] alle C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 95 a (leaf 94 is missing).
552 Lydgate appeals to the Furies to help him mourn Hector. [BK. in
I dare not
appeal to my
I turn to the
dire Furies,
who dwell in
Hell.
Help me,
Niobe,
Ixion,
Sisyphus
and Tantalus,
to pen my
plaint for the
Source ot
Manhood,
Hector !
In f>e theatre, with a ded visage —
To hem, alias ! I clepe dar nor crye,
My troubled peraie of grace for to guye —
Nou)>er to* Clyo nor Callyope,
But to Allecto and Thesyphone,
And Megera, )>at euere doth compleine,
As J>ei ]>at lyve euere in wo and peyne
Eternally, and in turment dwelle
With Cerberus, depe dourc in helle,
Whom I mote praie to be gracious
To my mater, whiche is so furious.
For to a whi^t ]>at is compleynynge,
A drery fere is ri^t wel 'sittynge ;
And to a mater, meynt with hevynes,
Acordeth wel a chere of drerynes
To ben allyed, as by vnyte.
Wherefore, helpe now, ]?ou woful Nyobe,
Som drery ter, in al )>i pitous peyne,
In-to my penne dolfully to reyne ;
And helpe also, pou cruel Yxiou?z,
And Belydes, |>at doth ]>e boket* gon ;
Why did
Fate cut his
thread of
life?
And with )>i stoon helpe ]?ou,
And in ]?i riuer, helpe eke Tantalus,
)pat for hunger haste so huge pyne,
Jpis woful pleint helpe me for to fyne,
Me to fortlire doth ^oure besynes.
For now )>e stok and rote of worpines,
Of kny^thod grou^de, of manhod sours & wel,
J)at to-forn alle bare a-weie }>e belle
Of dorynge do, )>is flour of hi^e prowes —
And was exaumple also of gentilnes,
}3at neuere koude don amys nor seie,
Alias, Hector, alias ! why shuldestou deie !
0 cruel Parchas, why toke ^e noon hede, [leaf 97 6]
So cruelly to twyne his fatal threde —
3e were to hasty, alias ! why were ^e so !
5444
5448
5452
5456
5460
5464
5468
5472
5476
5445. to] for C. 5457. allyed] allaide D 1.
5462. boket] boget 0, D 2, D 1. 5463. ^iphas] ^epherus A.
5466. fyne] feywe D 1.
5474. shuldestou] shuldyst A.
BK. in] Troy has lost its Hero, its Light. All lament Hector. 553
And, nam[e]ly, pe prede to breke a-two,
ftou Antropoe, poru$ pi grete envie !
0 Troye, alias ! wel maist pou wepe & crie,
And make a woful lamentaciouw,
Whiche hast of newe, to pi confusions,
Loste pi diffence and pi stronge wal,
])i berer vp, pi surete royal,
Be whom pin honour chefly was begoraie !
Alias, alias ! for now pi bri^t[e] sonne
Eclipsed is, and pou stanst desolat
Of al comfort, and discouwsolat ; —
J)i li}t is lost, and pou in dirkenes
I-plouwgid art : for, in sothfastnes,
Of alle worpi, pou hast pe wordiest
ftis day y-loste, and pe kny^tlyest
))at is, or was, or shal, I }>e ensure,
Bene euere born, while pe world may dure !
No wonder is pau^ ]>ou wepe sore,
And day be day compleyne hym euermore,
J)at was Ipi shelcl, bo]?e in loie and wo,
Whom ]?ou were wont for to loue so,
So tendirly with al ]>in hole herte,
ftat it may nat Iy3tly ]?e asterte
To haue hym euere in pi remembrauwce,
Whiche was in soth pi ful suffisauwce.
For, as Guydo maketh mencioun,
)?er was no man dwellyng in jje touw,
]?at he ne had, of verray kyndenes,
For loue of hym, as he writ expresse,
His child more lef to haue died in pis cas,
Ouper his eyr — so wel be-loued he was —
3 if pe goddis, fate, or destyne
Disposid had pat it my^t haue be.
Wo??imen also, of euery maner age,
Bene for his deth falle in swiche a rage,
Jporu^ pe cyte, aboute in euery strete,
J?at with sobbyng and salt teris wete,
And here to-rent for her dedly wo,
5480 Well may
Troy weep,
that has lost
its strong
5484 defender!
Its sun is
eclipst;
5488
5492 itsknight-
liest man is
No wonder
that it
5496 weeps!
5500
5504 Everyone
would soon
have lost his
own child
5508 than Hector.
5512
Women sob
for him too.
5478. And] A A, D 2. 5494. born] om. A.
Maidens and
matrons sigh
and cry.
554 The Lament of Trojan Maids, of Priam and his Sons. [BK. in
Furiously ro?me to and fro — 5516
So mortal* was her aduersite,
)?at to beholde, alias, it was pite !
3onge maydenes & matrones olde
Sobbe and 5136, and her festis folde, 5520
And loude crie, and seide fynally :
" Alias ! now shal oure fadris cruelly
In oure si^t be slay[e]n day be day !
Alias ]>& whyle ! & no man shal seie nay ! — [leaf 97 c] 5524
Far-wel oure helpe, now Hector is goon,
In [whom] ]?e surnes of vs euerychon
Was wont to reste : now is he ded, alias ! "
Of whom }>e body whan it caried was 5528
In-to presence of Priamus ]>e kyng,
Anoon he lost J>e offys of spekyng,
And gan hym silfe in salt[e] teris drowne,
And pitously per-w^t/? fil a-swowne 5532
Vp-on pe cors, cold as any stoon,
Inly desyrous for to deie anoon
Wij>-oute tariynge, on hym as he lay,
But )>at he was by force rent awey. 5536
His breberen eke, whan pei toke^* hed,
Trist and pale, for sorwe wer ny^e ded,
And ban hem silfe with rage al to-torn,
J)at neuer was, I trowe, seyn a-forn 5540
Of bre])ere ^it swiche ano]?er care :
For eche of hem with hym silf gan fare
As }>ei wolde haue died on }>e cors ;
For of peir lif, platly, pei $af no fors, 5544
But at ]>e grou^de with many swo^es sore,
Liche wylde bolis* J?ei gan crye and rore,
jpat rouj>e was her dedly wo to sene —
An herte of stele my^t it not sustene. 5548
What schal I seyn of Eccuba }>e quene,
Hector, their
help, is dead !
His corpse
is taken to
Priam,
who swoons.
His brothers
tear them-
selves with
rage,
and roar like
wild bulls.
5516. rcmne] ranne Dl. 5517. mortal] mortally C.
5518. it] om. D 1. 5524. shal] wele D 1.
5526. whom] om. A, D 2 — surnes] suyrnesse A.
5529. In-to] In to the A.
5537. token] take?i C.
5540. neuer] of no maw D 1. 5545. swo3es] sishes D 1.
5546. bolis] boris C.
BK. ill] The sorrow of Hecuba, Polyxena, and Cassandra. 555
Or his suster, jonge Pollycene, Hector's
mother,
Or Cassandra, J>e prudent and )?e wyse, sister and
Or of his wyf, ]>e sorwe to devise ? 5552
Whiche rent hem silf, in torment & in wo,
As finally ]>ei wolde hem silfe for-do
By cruel deth, so )>ei wepe and waille.
)3at 3if I shulde make rehersaille, 5556
To wryte her sorwes & her compleynynges,
Her pitous sobbynge,* prowes, and wepynges, sob, weep,
}3e woful cries,* & ]>e pitous sowns,
Her drery pleyntis & lamentaciouws, 5560 lament,
And al her wo for to specifie,
A large boke it wolde occupie,
3iffe eche pinge I shulde in order telle —
I trowe it were to longe for to dwelle, 5564
For any man, and tedius to here.
For many day after, as I lere,
)5e wowmen wepte a-fore )>e cors liynge,
Hem silfe diffacynge in her compleynynge, 5568 deface
. , c , . . themselves,
pat wonder was now pei my^t endure,
But pat ]>ei han it, sothly, of nature
And of kynde for to wepe and pleyne,
To* si^e sore and in-to teris reyne, 5572
Til Jje tempeste of her woful rage [ieat9?rf]
May be processe lyte & lyte aswage.
And }ms I leue hem si^e and sorwe make,
))is cely wommen, in her clones blake, 5576 and shroud
Shroude her facis, & wympled mowrne in veyn, bS.ace
While I turne to my mater ageyn,
Howe kynge Priamus made to be wrought an oratory
and A College of prestes, in the which was
fabricate a Tabernacle, wherin the body of Ector
was, in mannys syght, reservide intigrate and
5554. for-do] slo D 2.
5558. and] or D 2.
5558, 59 are transposed in A and D 1. Her pitous sobbynge and
)3e woful cries are transposed in C.
5572. To] pei C. 5577. wympled] wrympled A.
5578. turne] morne D 2.
TROY BOOK. O O
556 Priam sends for Embalmers & Craftsmen for Hectors Shrine.
hole, with his swerde in his honde, manasshinge
the Grekys.1
Priam wants
to keep
Hector's
corpse from
putrefying,
and to
preserve
it as if it
were alive.
So be sends
for embalm-
ers,
and crafts-
who work in
the Temple
of Apollo.
To telle pleynly how kyng Priamws
In herte was inly desyrous
To caste a weie, in his entencioiw,
J?e cors to kepe from corrupcioura,
Whiche naturelly, but men take hede,
Corrupte muste, ri^t of verray nede :
For, of kyndely disposiciouw,
J?er may be made noon opposiciouw,
Aboue pe grourcde $if J>e body lie,
J?at of resoim it mvt putrefie,
But }if crafte be a-boue nature,
Vncorrupte it my^t[e] nat endure.
Wherefore, ]>& kyng shope him to ordeyne
To preserue it hool fro pinges tweyne :
From odour and abomynaciouw,
And ]>Qi-with eke, by crafty operaciow?,
))at it in si^t* be not fouwde horrible,
But J>at it be liny and visible
To pe eye, as be apparence,
Like as it were quyk in existence —
What it cost )>e kyng wil spare nou^t,
But made anoon a-forn hym to be brou}t
)5e craftiest maisteres of ]>e touw,
Swiche as hadde moste discreciouTi
To parforme his axynge coriously.
And J?ei obeie his byddynge feithfully,
With al her wille and enter dillygence,
In J?e temple, moste of reuerence
Of al )>e touw, whilom dedicat,
And of ful ^ore also consecrat
To Appollo, of olde fundaciou?i,
5580
5584
5588
5592
5596
5600
5604
5608
5582. cors] corps D 1. 5587. $if] thiff A.
5590. Vncorrupte] But corript D 1.
5595. it in sijt] in si$t it C. 5596. liny] likly C.
5603. coriously] Ceriously D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 96 a. The following rubric occurs
in the Royal MS., leaf 95d, at line 5574 : "ynglisshmen owe of
nature to wepe }>e dethe of worthy Ectore " ; and on leaf 96 a :
"Of the sotele proporcyon wrought by Astronomeres. "
BK. in] The Oratory and Tabernacle for the Statue of Hector. 557
Beside a gate stondynge of J?e toiw,
Callyd Tymbria in her Troyan tonge,
As in* story is hope red and songe.
And in pis phane, fat I spake* of here,
)3ei made firste be J?e hi^e auter,
By gret devis, a litel oratorie,
Perpetuelly to be in memorie,
Where was set a riche receptacle
Made in maner of a tabernacle,
Egal of si^t, for a large ymage,
Jpat reised was on a riche stage,
ftat was born vp at eche of his corneris
Of purid golde vp-on foure pilers ;
And on euerych, ful craftily y-di^t,
An angel stood of golde burned bri^t,
Coriously ]>e werke to sustene,
With crafty archis, reised wonder clene,
Enbowed ouer [al] }>e werke to cure —
So merueilous was J>e celature,
ftat al fe rofe and closure envirouw
Was of fyn gold, platid vp & douw,
Wi]> knottis graue, wonder corious,
Fret ful of stonys, riche and precious,1
Of euery kynde fat man can deuyse,
So rially, & in so frifty wyse,
Jjat ]>Q dirknes of }>e blake ny^t
With fe bemys of her clere li^t
Enchacid was, where ]>ei dide shyne.
And from f e grouwde, vp-ri^t as a lyne,
))er wer degres, men by to ascende,
Made so wel fat no man koude amende
J3e werkemanship ; & ]?ei were euerychon
Parformyd vp al of cristal stoon,
Attenyng* vp fro pe table bas
Where fe stondyng and fe resting was
[leaf 98 a]
5612
In this
KCif} fane they
OblO make an
Oratory
with a
Tabernacle
5620 on a stage,
5624
5628
and arches.
The roof was
all gold,
5632 gemdwith
precious
stones
5636
that glearad
at night.
Steps of
crystal led
5640 up to it.
5644
5612. in] >e 0. 5613. spake] speke C— here] Ere D 1.
5625. Coriously] Ceryously D 2. 5634. &] om. D 2.
5643. Attenyng] Attendyng C.
1 The following rubric occurs here in the Royal MS., leaf 965 :
"Howe the worthy body of Ector was set in >e opposite of \>e
Grekes."
558 The wondrous Statue of Hector, & his Body as if alive. [BK. in
Within it
stood a golden
statue of
Hector,
facing the
Greeks,
and threaten-
ing era.
His corpse
was set up
as alive,
fresh in
colour and
hue.
Small gold
pipes ran
from his
head all over
his body,
thru which
preserving
liquor flowd.
Of ]>is riche crafty tabernacle,
Havynge a-boue, vp-on eche pynacle,
A riche ruby ; and reised 11136 on
Stood an ymage, huge & large of wei3te, 5648
Of massyf gold, havynge J?e liknes
Of wor])i Hector, ]>at gan his face dresse
Toward Grekis, where he dide stonde,
Ay Jjretynge hem with his swerd on honde. 5652
And amyddes al ]>is* grete richesse,
Jpei han y-set, by good* avisenesse,
J)e dede cors of pis worpi kny^t,
To si$t of man stondynge as vp-ri^t, 5656
By sotil crafte, as he were lyvynge,
Of face & chere, & of quyk lokynge,
And of colour, sothly, and of hewe,
Beinge as freshe as any rose newe, 5660
And like in al, as be supposaille,
As he lyuede in his apparaille :
For on his hede, like as it is tolde,
pom} smale pipes wrou^t & made of gold, 5664
)3at be mesoz^r wern enbowed dourc
To an entre makyd in his crown,
Be grete avys and sub ty lite,
To eche party and extremyte 5668
Of his body lyneally porrect,
J^oru} nerfe & synwe driven & direct,
By secre poris craftely to extende, [leaf 98 &]
Wherby J>e licour my^tfe] dourc discende 5672
To kepe hym hool fro corrupciou?^,
Wetft-outen any transmutaciouw
Of hyde or hewe, in any part to tourne.
And at his hede of gold was an ourne, 5676
feat was filde with bawme natural
j)at ran J>oru} pipes artificial,
ftoru} nekke & hed in-to many place,*
Penytrable by veynes of J>e face, 5680
5652. on] in D 1. 5653. >is] ]>e C.
5654. y-set] sette D 1— good] gret C.
5657. were] was Dl. 5661. as] vs D 1.
5670, 71 are transposed in D 1. 5675. in] or D 1.
5678. pipes] >e pypes D 2. 5679. place] a place C.
The embalming Fluid keeps Hectors Body the colour of Life. 559
Jpat pom} vertu & force of }>e lycour
He was conserued lifly of colour,
Fresche of hewe, quyke, & no ]>inge pale,
So my3tely fe bawme dide avale —
Comparysownyd, as it were semblable,
To a sowle )>at were vegetable,
fee whiche, with-oute sensibilite,
Mynystreth lyf in herbe, flour, and tre,
And, sembla[b]ly, in-to euery veyne
Of )?e cors )>e vertu dide atteyne,
By brest and arme spredynge enviroutt :
For J?e moisture by descenciouw
To hand and foot, sothly, as I rede,
)3oru3 bon and loynt gan his vertu shede,
And distillynge my^tely to flete.
And at his feet, ful of gommys swete,
A viol stood, temprid with bawme & meynt,
)3at be processe may nat wexe feynt,
But day be day encresen and amende,
Of whiche J>e vapour vpward gaw ascewde,
Causynge J?e eyr envirou?i be delys
To resemble a verray paradys :
For Ipe flavour more holsom was & soote
))an )?e odour of spice, go?mne, or rote.
And of pure gold were* foure lampis li^t,
To-fore ]?e cors brewnynge day and ny3t,
With oyle, in soth, 3if it be credible,
J?at was be crafte made inextinguyble ;
For it ne my^t, myn auctor seyth certeyn,
Noujjer be queint with tempest, wiwde, nor reyn,
Nor be processe wasten of no ^eris —
Whiche in ]>e eyr be bri^t borned weris
Ful craftely reised werne a-lofte,
Of whos svvetnes men reioyssed* ofte,
In her corage it likede hem so wel.
And whan jns werke was complete euerydel,
By this
liquor
Hector's
body was
kept fresli,
5684
5688
for it spread
to his hands
5692 and feet.
5696
At his feet
was a phial,
5700 from which
scented
vapour
exhaled.
5704
5708
5712
5716
4 golden
lamps burnt
night and
day before
him.
5697. & meynt] y meynt A. 5700. Of] Of the D 2.
5705 were] was C. 5710] tempest wiwde] wmde tempest D 1.
5712. weris] wyrys A, wheres D 2.
5714. reioyssed] reioysseden C.
560 The Ebony Eails round Hector 's Oratory. Priests pray for him.
Bound
Hector's
Oratory is set
a railing of
Ebony.
Ebony lasts
for ever,
won't burn,
won't swim
in water,
and was so
valued
that
Ethiopians
and Indicins
paid in it
•their tribute
to the
Emperour.
Priam puts
priests in the
Temple
who pray
soul.
Koiwde enviroiw, ful riche & freshe to se,
]5ei made a parclos al of Eban tre,
J)at so longe laste may and dure •
J)e whiche tre, only of nature, [leaf 98 <o 5720
Whan it is kut smellej? wonder swete,
And may nat waste ne brercfne] with noon hete,
j?ou3 it be leide amonge J>e colis rede,
Mid J>e flawme of many firy glede — 5724
It nat consvmeth, pou^ mew assaien of te ;
And in water it houeth eke alofte,
And kyndely to }>e grourcde it goth,
To swywme on hei^te* in soth it is so loth. 5728
And like also as techeth Pluvius,
Jpis tre whilom was passingly famws,
Of so hy^e pris and reputations,
jjat in J>e large my^ti regions 5732
And worbi lond* of Ethiope & Ynde.
Of 3ore a-gon, fe folkis, as I fynde,
Haclden ]?is tre in so gret honour,
))at fei 3af tribut to )>e emperour, 5736
As is* remembrid of antyquyte,
Of gold and yuor and ]?is riche tre, —
With pese giftes, famous and royal,
To quyte her dette to hym in special. 5740
And whan Priam, in ful J>rifty wyse,
Parformed hath, as 36 han hercle deuyse,
)5is riche werke, noble & excellent,
Of hertly loue, in al his beste entent, 5744
Ordeyned eke, as Guy do can ^ow telle,
A certeyn nouwbre of prestis for to dwelle
In ]>e temple, in her deuociouws,
Contynuelly, with deuout orisourcs, 5748
For }>e soule of Hector for to preie,
Jpat )>e goddis his spirit list conveie '
5718. al] & al D 1. 5719. and dure] endure D 2.
5726. houeth] haueth D 2.
5728. on hei3te] o loft C — so] om. D 2.
5729. like] eke D 1— Pluvius] Plonyvs D 2, Plevius D 1.
5733. lond] londes C. 5737. is] it is C.
5744. Of] In D 2. 5745. eke] hath D 1— }ow] vs A.
5750. list] to D 2.
BK. in] Priam endows the Priests ivho pray for Hectors soul. 561
Eternally with hem to chvelle y-fere,
In loie and blisse, a-boue ]?e sterris clere. 5752
To whiche prestis pe kyng $af mansiouras, These priests
, i • i i • arc richly
per to abide, and possessions, endowd by
J?e whiche he hath to hem amortised
Perpetuelly, as 36 han herd deuysed. 5756
And whiles pei knele, preie, & wake, And while
thev*r6
I caste fully an ende for to make, prayin?,
. , , , . I'll end my
Finally of my fndde boke, 3rd book,
On my rude maner as I vndirtoke ; 5760
'And whiles T>ei of Trove wepe & mowrne, and get
back to the
vn-to ]?e Grekis I wil ageyn retowrne, Greeks.
And with dul stile on fe story trace,
Only born vp with support of ^our grace. 5764
[Explicit liber Tercius
Incipit liber Quartus].1
5751. y-fere] in fere D 1. 5762. be] om. A, D 2. D 1 .
5763. dul] my dulle D 1.
1 The above rubric occurs in A.
BK. iv] Agamemnon lids the Greeks rejoice at Hector's death. 563
BOOK IV.
Her bygynneth the fourte boke of Troyee.
Howe Kynge Agamenou^ and alle the princes of
Grece reioyssede the dethe of worthy Ectore,
and howe thay sent to Kenge Priamus for to
have a trews of two monethes, whil Achilles
were made hole of his woundys, and other
p?lnces.1
HEctor )ms ded, as 30 han herd me seid,
And Achilles in his tent I-leied,
With his wourcdis mortal, freshe, & grene,
Yp-on a morwe, whan }>e sowno shene 4
Enchasid had a-way J>e dirke ny^t,
Agamenouw, J>e wyse worj?i kny^t,
In his werkis passingly prudent.
Hath in al haste for his lordis sent ; 8
And whan J>ei wern assemblid euerychon
With-Iime his tent, to hem he seid anoon :
" Sirs," qwod he, ' * and lordis bat ben here,
Kynges, princes, and dukis eke yfere, 12
3if ^e aduerte by clere inspectiou?z,
3e owe echon with hi^e deuociouw,
Hooly of herte oure goddis for to herye,
And inwardly for to be ri3t merye, 16
3if 36 considre and wysly taken lied
ftat oure enmy Hector is now ded,
))at whilom was berer-vp of Troye,
Her ful[le] trust, her honour and her loye, 20
2. I-leied] leid D 1. 4. a] >e D 1.
10. to hem he seid] he seide to hem D 1.
13. inspections] aspectiovw D 2. 14. owe] oujten D 1.
18. is now] nowe is D 1. 19. whilom] svmtyme D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 97 a (miniature).
TROY BOOK. P p
Hector being
dead,
and Achilles
wounded
in his tent,
Agamemnon
tells his
Lords
to bless their
Gods
that Hector
is dead.
For Hector
slew
Prothesilaus,
Alphenor,
and other
Greek kings,
18 in all.
"For his
let us thank .
Fortune.
[leaf 99 a]
564 The eighteen Grecian kings whom Hector slew. [BK. iv
Her hool diffence and protections,
And vn-to vs deth and confusiouw —
Vnlikly euere vs to han had victorie
Whiles pat he floured in his glorie, 24
Ageyn whos swerd we my$t[e] not availe.
For slowe he not at oure aryvaile,
3if 36 remembre, on be firste day
})& noble kyng callyd Protheselay ?
And after next, ^if I shal nat feyne,
Patroclus he parted euene on tweyne
In pe felde amonge vs euerychon :
Slowe he nat [eke] pe worpi kyng Meiiou?i,
Archilagus, and also Protheuor,
And eke pe kyng pat hi^tfe] Alphinor,
Phillis also, and Epistrophus ?
And to his encle he brou}t[e] 3antipus ;
And Meryon, pe my$ti stronge kyng,
In his weie as he cam ridynge
He slay[e]n hath, and oper kynges two,
Cedius and Drodius, — also
Polycenes and stronge Polybete,
Letaboma, and pe kyng Philete,
jpe manly kny^t, pe kyng Isydius,
And eke pe kyng pat hi^tfe] Hvmerus :
For in his Ire and his cruel tene,
Of worpi kynges he slayn hath ei^tene,
Whiche hider cam oute of Grekes * lond,
By pe power of his my^ti hond.
Now laude and honowr to pe goddis alle,
Whiche causid han pat it is be-falle
J?at he is ded, to oure encres of loie,
And to discres of oure foon in Troye,
As pei shal fynde in experience,
And laude also, pris, and reuerence
Be to Fortune pat vs hath holp[e] wele
With pe turnynge of hir double whele, 56
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
24. Whiles] While D 1— his] his lusty D 1.
30. on tweyne] atweyne D 2, a tweine D 1. 32. eke] om. D 1.
42. Letaboma] Letabona A. 47. Grekes] grece C.
49. new IT D 1. 53. in] by D 2. 54. pris] pryde D 2.
BK. iv] Victory is now assured to the Greeks.
To hi^e comfort and consolaciou?i
Of vs echon sittynge inviroim,
)5at stande now in par fit, sik ernes
)3oru3 deth of liym }>at dide vs so oppr<?sse.
And what may ]>ei now waite?i of ]?e toun
But after deth and destructions,
And hastily for to ende in wo,
Now J?at her trust, Hector, is a-go,
With-oute whom )>ei may not long ewdure.
Wherfore we may fully vs * assure
Oure purpos hool ]>at we shal acheve,
And finally daimte hem so and greve
J)at vn-to hem it shal be importable,
Of oon assent ^if we stonde stable :
For her party turneth on J)e wrak,
And her hope is fully put a-bak
And dispeired in noon-surete.
For outterly J>ei and her cyte
Shal mor & mor in were of deth depende ;
And we, in soth, shal day be day amende,
With helpe of God, bofe on se and lond :
For now victorie is redy to oure hond,
Voide platly of ambiguyte,
And excludid, at eye as $e may se,
Bojje of wantrust & of foreyn drede.
But I couwsaille, or fat we precede
Any feij>er vp-on oure foon to ryde, [leaf 99 &]
Prudently a while to abide
And kepe vs clos for to passe oure bourcdis
Til Achilles be helid of his wouwdis,
And J?an echon, be my^ty violence,
Oppresse hem, whaw ]>ei haue no diffence,
As I haue seide, poru^ helpe of Achilles.
And lat [vs] now sendyn for a pes
565
60
64 "Now Hector
is gone,
68
72 the Trojans
are in
despair,
76
80
84
88
and victory
is ready for
us.
But let us
wait till
Achilles's
wounds are
heald,
and let us
send
59. sikernes] sobernesse D 2.
66. fully vs] vs fully C— assure] ensure D 1. 67. hool] al D 2.
73. noon-surete] noimsuretee A, nomisurete D 2.
74. For] So D 1. 75. were] wher D 2, werre D 1.
78. now] om. A. 79. of] of al A, D 1.
80. at] of at D 2, at >e D 1. 85. for to passe] & passe not D 1.
86. helid] hoole D 1.
566 The Greeks get 2 months' Truce. Palamides's grievance. [BK. iv
"to Priam For two monies to kvn^
for 2 months' J °
truce, 3if it so be he list to grawzte it vs, 92
As it is Hkly, pleinly, fat lie shal.
And fei fer-while with flawme funeral
Consvme may J?e dede bodies pale
Jpat lyen a-brod on euery hil and, vale,* 96
Whiche by report of hem fat han repeire,
Fro day to day infecten so f e eyre,
Jjorii} J?e feld engendringe pestilence,
Of stinke f er is so gret a violence ; 100
and cure our And we foer-wliile may in ese and reste
wounds." '
Oure wou??dis cure, me semef for f e. beste."
And J>ei assent her-to euery chon.
And vn-to Troye fe message?'es ar goon, 104
Priam grants And han 1)6 trewe ffrau?zted of "be kyno:,
tlietruce. J o>
And be repeired, \vitfi-oui0 more tariyng,
And J>er-of made ful relaciou?z
To Ipe Grekis a-fore Agamenou?z. 108
And after fat, whan al was at an ende,
Home to his tent euery lord doth wende.
Howe Kynge Palamydes of newe laborde to haue
Agamenou?^ deposyde of fe governance of fe
Grekys.1
• And while fe trewe endureth & fe pes,
SnMafns8 f ^-monSe Grekis kyng Pallamydes 112
Atramem- Compleineth sore of A^ameno^,
nan's domin-
alion- J}at he so hadde * domynaciou?i
Aboue hem alle, havyng fer-at 'envie.
And on a day in his malencolie, 116
Of hi^e despit and indignaciou?^,^
Ful inly fret vtiih Irous passiowz,*
He gan breke oute, & his rancour shewe
By certeyn signes, fou^ he spak but fewe. 120
96. vale] dale C. 101. we fer-while] in >is while D 1.
103. her-to] >er to D 1. 105. trewej trewes A.
108. To] Of D 1— a-fore] to fore] D 1. 109. an] mn. D 2.
111. new IT D 1. 112. Grekis] >e grekis D 1.
114. so hadde] hath so C. 117, 118 are transposed in C.
120. but] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 97 c (misplaced after line 92).
BK. iv] Agamemnon resolves to answer Palamides. 567
Til on a day wyse Agamenoim
Conceyued hath of hi^e discrecioiw
Hooly pis ping, pou^t he nold[e] spare
From point to point him silve to declare, 124
Whan his lordis to-gidre were present, when the
. ° . Greek lords
lo-iorn hem alle in his owne tent, wereto-
As he pat was (pis noble worpi kynge)
Ful circumspect in every maner pinge — 128-
Nou^t to racul nor malencolius,
But be atemperance inly vertuous,
Wei avised & wonderly prudent.
Whan fat he knewe pe menynge & fentent [leaf 99 e] 132 Agamemnon,
And f e conceit of pis Pallamydes, knowing the
r _ objections of
He nat to hasti nor to reklelles, Palamides
, o toliisgovern-
JBUt longe abiding, poru^ prudence & resowi, ance»
With-Iime pe boimdis of discrecioim — 136
Whos tonge was only of sapience
So restreyned pat no necligence
Of hasti speche, sothly, for no rape
Mi^t make a word his lippes to eskape, 140
Vn-avised for no fing hym asterte,
But it were first examynd in his herte ;
For ay his speche in so prifty wyse spoke thus
J J thriftily and
Conveied was, by doctrine of fe wyse, 144
Ynder pe rene of wit and hi^e prudence.
And after pat, by forme of elloquence
Alweye so seide pat resouw went a-forn,
So fat no word was in his tale lorn. 148
And in pis wyse shewynge his sentence
To-forn alle in open audience,
Seide euewe pus, whan pat al was pes,
Vn-to pe kyng callid Pallamydes : 152 to him.
How Agamenon ful worshipfully replyede agaynste
the obieccyons of Palamydes, notwithstondynge
he resyngned the Empire of fe Grekes to ther
owne eleccyoim, as folowthe.1
123. >is] al D 1— >ou3t] though A.
125. to-gidre were] weren to gidere D 1. 137. of] to D 1.
141. Vn-avised] On avised A. 146. >at] om. D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 97 d.
568
Agamemnon 's Answer to Palamides.
[BK. iv
"You need
not grudge
me the rule
of this host,
given me by
free election,
for I have
done my best.
without
favour,
to help all
wanting it.
" Sothly," quod, lie, " $if 36 taken hede,
Me semeth, pleinly, [j>at] it were no nede
— Avisely }if ^e list aduerte —
To mvse so nor gracchew in ^oure herte, 156
Of al )>is hoste fat I haue gouemance —
Wisly considered euery circumstance,
How I J>e-stat (whiche no marz- may denye)
Wolde in no maner never occupie 160
By o]?er title fan fre elleccioim,
Nat interrupt by mediacioim
Of brocage,* roted vp-on mede,
Ay vnder-meynt wit//, fauour or falshede, 164
Depict Mvith colour of trewe entencioun
To support swiche false ambicioiw : —
Of wliiche fing here I wil me quyte
To-fore }ow alle, )>at I am not to wyte 168
In any wyse of so hi$e offence,
But stonde clere in my conscience,
With-oute spot of any swiche veyn-glorie
Touchinge J?estat whiche is t?*ansitorie ; 172
3et neuer-feles, I haue do my cure,
With al my wit to helpen & procure
)3at euery ping touching }>e cownnovnte
Perseuere my^t in prosperite, 176
Havyng ))e eye of myn inward si^t
Yn-to pe estat of Query maner wy^t
)5at were co7?^mitted to my gouernance,
With gret labour and besy attendance, 180
Indifferent vn-to hi^e and lowe, [leaf 99 rf]
To helpe and fostre, whe?' I coude knowe
})at any stood in meschef or in nede —
Day and ny3t for to taken hede, 184
As I best koude, by avisenease,
Ay dillygent ]?at nat felle in distresse.
-For, sothfastly, who-so loke a-ri^t,
153. new 1 D 1. 156. nor] or D 1.
163. brocage] procage C, brocage A, procurage D 1.
164. or] of A, & D 1. 168. not] om. D 1.
175. commovnte] comunalte D 1.
181. and] or D 2, D 1. 182. whcr] where Jxrt D 1.
186. nat] nought A, noon D 1.
BK. iv] Agamemnon's Defence of his Governance.
Mi daies pinkyug & my wache a-ni^t,
And of my 11 hert pinly aduertence,
With-outQ frauds, slouth, or necligence,
Was feithfully, with al my fulfle] my$t,
Me to aquyte to euery maner wi^t
Liche his estat, w^t/i-oute excepcioim ;
So pat no man iustly of resouw,
Greke nor oper pat is now a-lyvo,
Vn-to my gilt may dew[e]ly * ascrive
Any falsehed, engyn, or trecherie
Of loue or hate, favour or flaterie,
In any cause named in special,
But pat I haue ben cliche egal
To oon and alle, with al my besy peyne,
jpat no man hath mater to compleyne
For his party, of hi^e nor lowe estat.
And to deuoide al rancour and debat
Amongis ^ow, I haue do my dever
In genial ping and particuler,
jOat her-toward no ping hath mescheued.
And, God wot wel, it shuld[e] nat agrevid
To my lierte taset at any prys,
3ow tachose by ^oure discret avis
Som oper to pis domynacioim,
And I to haue ben in subiecciou^
With ese of herte and tranquillite
Liche oper lord is here of my degre,
And in my wil fully han obeied * —
Like on of $ow outteiiy to haue deyed
In pe quarel pat we han vndirtake,
3if destine liad it so y-shape,
I seie, in soth, me is ful loth to feyne.
And ouermore, also, wher $e pleyne*
))at I was chose w/t/<-oute ^our assent,
188
192
196
200
204
208
212
216
220
569
" I have
acted fairly to
every one.
No man can
accuse me of
partiality.
195. is now] is nowe is D 1.
196. my] om. D 2 — may devvely] dewly may C.
197. engyn] fraude D 1. 201. besy] om. D 1.
207. her-toward] her D 2, Lidre to D 1. 208. wel] om. D 1.
209. taset] to aset A, to asse?ite D 1— any] my D 2.
212. And I to haue ben] & I taken D 2. 213. ese] om. D 2.
215. obeied] ben obeied C.
220. ougrmore] ferpermore D 1— pleyne] compleyne C, D 1.
I have done
my duty to
all,
and nothing
lias gone
wrong.
I shouldn't
have grievd
if you'd set
another man
over me,
and left me
free of care.
That I was
elected with
out your
consent,
Pahimides,
570 Agamemnon justifies himself, but will resign. [BK. iv
MerueileJ) nat, sith $e ne were present ;
ISTor longe after, }if ^e remembre a-ri^t,
"was because Toward Trove lour weie was nat dht — 22-4
you didn't .
join us other ^if 26 considre, it was after ner,
Greeks for
2 years; Or pat 30 cam, passed ful two $er :
and waiting And so longe tabide soure commvnge,
for you would ° 3. J '
have idnderd It hadde ben to Grekis gret hyndrynge,
Passynge liarme, and ful gret damage,
And huge lettynge vn-to oure viage. [leaf iooa]
For }if we had, with-outen any wene,
On $our comynge taried at Athene, 232
It likly is — :$e can nat wel seie nay —
To haue be pere ^it in-to pis day.
But as to our And where as ae. boua it be nat credible,
not being ' ' J
Affermen eke for an impossible, 236
}2at Grekis shuld in any maner wyse
abietoficht Dor take on hem any cret emprise
Troy without J ^
y°». In 3oure abscence manly to achewe,
that is mere It is but wynde, no J>inge for to leue : 240
humbug. For so it be to 3ou noon offence,
)2e Grekis han, wit'/i-onte ^oure presence,
)5oru3 her force on water and on lond
Ful many fing parformed with her hond, 244
And acheved Jjoruj her worj)ines.
And of o ping jjat in me 30 gesse,
of my rule, I ghulde in herte so reioisshe me 248
Of )>is lordshipe and pis grete estat,
])e more to be pompos and elat
In chere or port ]?at I it occupie —
But me to aquite trewly, & nat lye, 252
I wil make a resignacioura
To-fore ^ow alle, for to excuse me,
225. ner] fere D 1.
229. Passynge] And passinge D 1— harme] hem D 2.
230. vn-to] to D 1. 234. To] Not to D 1— >ere] here D 1.
235. Jwmfl foujte D 1. 240. to] om. A. 243. her] om. A.
246. of] om. D 1. 247. £is] pis is D 1— to] }e D 2.
248. so] om. D 1. 249. and] and of A.
252. aquite] quite D 1— lye] to Jye D 1.
BK. iv] Agamemnon justifies himself, but will resign. 571
Now beth avised discretly for to se 256 "Do you
_„, . appoint an-
Whom 2e list han ageyn to-morwe p?-ime, other chief
7 to-morrow."
We'tTi-oute settynge of any lenger tyme,
Prolonging forpe, or any more delay."
And pus pei made an ende of pat day, 260
And went her weye only for fiat nyjt,
Til on pe morwe, pat Titan shadde his lijt,
At whiche tyme a conseil general Next day the
Greeks hold
])Q Grekis hilde ; but moste in special 264 a Council.
Of lordis was per congregaciouw,
As I haue tolde, for pe elecciourc.
And whan pei were al[le] met I-fere,
Affameooim anoon, as ae shal here, 268 Agamemnon
7 aays that
Seide evene pus, vrith sadde coiwtenauwce :
11 Lo, sirs," quod he, " touchynge gouemaimce
)3at I haue had, and domynaciou/z,
I haue her-to wit/t hool affeccioim 272
And clene entent do my besynes he's done ins
utmost to
pat euery ping mijt in welfulnes
To joure encres perseueren and contvne,
Eecorde I take of God and Fortune, 276
"Whiche han conservid, & J?e cause be
3ou for to floure in felicite, make them
prosper.
J?at joure honour and [jour] hije noblesse [ieafioo&] Their honour
Stant hool and soimde jit in sikirnes. 280
And while jowr fame is most in nouringe,
As semeth me, it is rijt wel sittinge
Myne estat fully to resygne. and iie'iinow
resign his
Specially while fortune is benygne ; 284 Chiefship.
For of so many pat be now present,
I am allone insufficient
W/t/i-oute helpe for to bere pe* charge —
Men wz't/z to moche may oue?'-lade a barge, 288
And nam[e]ly in tempest and in rage —
And sith je bene so discret and sage,
258. settynge] lettyng D 2.
259. or any] with oute D 1. 263. new 1 D 1.
270. sirs] sire D 2— quod he] he seide D 1.
276. and] and of D 1. 278. Jou for] Jour worshipe D 1.
282. me] wele D 1, 287. J>e] a C. 290. and] and so D 1.
572
Palamides is elected Emperor of the Greeks. [BK. iv
Agamemnon
bids the
Greeks
choose his
successor.
And as men
always like
a new thing,
the Greeks
elect Pala-
Emperor of
the Grecian
iiost.
Of my ber)>ene late me be releued,
So J?at no man ]?er-\vz't^ be a-grevid ; 292
But late vs alle of oon enteneioim,
With-oute strife or dissenciouw,
Chesen swiche oon ]>ai be most acceptable
To $ow echon, and most couenable, 296
3ow to gouerneby discressiouw."
And pei eclion \vith hool affecciou?^
Assentid ben. To speke in general,
Here men may se how it is natural 300
Men to delite in j)ing[e] pat is newe :
Jpe trust of peple is feint and vntrewe,
Ay vndiscrete & ful of doubilnes,
And variable of liir sikernesse ; 304
Ay awaitynge in her oppiniouw
After chaurage and transmutaciouw,
Selde or neuer stondyng hool in oon
— To-day pei loue, to-morwe it is gon — 308
In whom ful selde is any sikernes.
For only now of newfongilnes
}}at hath enbracid her affecciouw,
J)ei haue in stede of Agamenorw 312
Of newe chose, only of i'auour,
Pallamydes to ben lier gouernour,
And of Grece, liche as pei desyre,
To haue ]>e septre of Jje hool empire, 316
And to be called, [aboute] in euery cost,
Empe?-our of J?e Grekis host,
Ri^t as to-forn was Agamenouw.
And J>is was fyn and conclusiou?^ 320
For filke day of her parlernent.
And after ]>at, euery man is went
To his loggynge, home }>e ri3t[e] wey.
How Achylles grochyde Agayne the eleccyourc Of
Pallamydes, concydred )>e wysdam of Agamenou?^1
295. be most] moost be A, most be D 2, moste be D 1.
302. of] of >e D 1. 308. gon] agoon D 2.
315. Grece] al Grece A, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 98 b (misplaced after line 282).
BK. iv] Achilles grumbles. Priam resolves on attack. 573
But in his tent, wou?zded as he lay, 324
fte hardy kny^t, ]?e cruel Achilles,
Whan ]>at he herd of Pallamydes
Fro point to point, & of }>e elleccioiw,
He was displesed in his oppinioun, [leafiooc] 328
And pleinly pou^t, as to his avys,*
Agamenowz was passingly more wys
And more discret vn-to goue?'naimce
J3an }>e to))er, as to his plesau^ce, 332
And seide it was noon elecciouw,
But a maner subrogaciouw,
Be-cause hym silfe in )>e parlement
At ))e chesyng was nat ]?ere present ; 336
Arrettinge it passing gret offence
J)at ]>& choys was made in his absence,
Wher-wit/i he was of herte inly wroth.
But wher* so be ]>ai he be lef or loth, 340
Jper is no more ; but in conclusion n,
In his strangle stood ]>Q elecciou?i.
Howe Kynge Pryamus, with al the worthy of Troyans
partye, kame to the felde in his owne parsone to
revenge the dethe of worthy Ector, And that
same day wrought mervaylis with his swerde.1
The trews passid and y-werid oute,
})e wounded eke recurid al a-boute, 344
J)e nexte morwe after, Priamus
In his herte was inly desirous
With ]>Q Grekis manly for to fi$t,
Hectoris deth tavengen ^if he my^t —
J?is olde Priam, kny^tly in }>e felde.
)?at whan Troyens in hem silf behilde
Jpe grete wille and ]?e hi^e corage
327. elleccioim] lecciou?i A.
329. to] at D 1— avys] devis C, D 1.
330. passingly] >e D 1. 335. >e]om. D 1.
337. passing] a fill D 1.
340. wher] whefer C, D 1 — so] it D 1 — he] it D 1.
-342. eleccioiw stuck in scribes pen, excepting the first two letters,
Ee" A.
546, his] oni, D 1. 347. >e] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 98 d.
Achilles
doesn't like
the election
of Palamides.
Agamemnon
was a wise
man;
and Achilles
wasn't at the
election.
Priam wants
348 to avenge
Hector's
death.
574
All the Tro-
jans arm.
150,000 take
the field,
led by Dei-
phobus,
Paris, Priam,
&c.
Priam un-
horses Pala-
mides
and slays
Greeks,
tho he is so
old.
The War is renewd. Priam slays Greeks, [BK. IV
Of hym pat was so fer rorane in age, 352
)?ei gan reioysshe & pluk vp her herte,
And specially whan pei gan aduerte
His grete manhod and his worpines,
His linyhed* and his hie prowes. 356
And for his sake eue?y maner man
Gan armyn hym in al pe hast pei can,
With Priamws pat day to lyve or deye.
And in-to pe felde pei proudly hym cowveie 360
— An hundrid pousand & fyfty of pe touw,
Like as Dares maketh mencioim,
And wor})i kny^tes pei wern ou^ychon,
Wit/i-oute oper J)at with Priam goon — 364
And al to-forn went[e] Dephebus,
And Parys next, and panne Prianms,
Menon pe kyng, and worpi Eneas,
And alderlast cam Pollydaraas. 368>
And, as I fynde, sterne & ful of pride,
Pallamydes cam en pe toper side
In-to fe felde -with many stronge bataille.
And first whan eche o]?er gan assaille, 372
Kyng Prianras kny^tly his weye ches
Jporu^ pe ward is to Pallamydes,
And hym vnhorseth poru^ his hi^e renown ;
And lyke a kny^t he kyllep & berep dou?i 376
])Q proude Grekis, where-so pat he rood — [leafioorf]
"Was noon so hardi pat his swerd abod :
For so narwe he gan hem to coharte,
]2at her ward is he made a-sondre pa?-te, 380
On hem he was so fel and furious ;
For he pat day dedis meruelous
In armys wrou3t, pat wonder was to sene,
And a merueille how he may sustene, 384
Of so gret age. in pe felde tendure ;
For incredible was, I 3011 ensure,
358. hym] hem D 1— >ei] he D 2.
356. liflyhed] liklyhed C.
360. J>e] mn. A, D 2.
363. }>ei wern euerychon] weren ]>ei echoone D 1.
365. to-forn] a forn A, D 2, aforneD 1.
379. to] so D 1. 382. For] And A.
was] it was D
BK. iv] Sarpedon fights well, and rallies the retiring Trojans. 575
To sen how he, poru} his grete my^t,
fre Grekis put proudly to J?e flijt.
And Dephebw^ was also * nat behynde
Ageyn his foon kny^tly, as I fynde,
Taquite hym silfe, & make he?7i to go bak.
And Sarpedourc, in whom eke was no lak,
I-fallyn is on Neptolonius,
Jje proudest Greke, & most surquedous,
Arid most famus as of strengjje & my^t ;
J)e whiche ageynward rod ful lynfe] ri$t
To Sarpedoun, vritk a spere roimde,
And deliuerly smot hym to pe grourade.
But Sarpedouft, ful Irons in his herte,
Wztft-oute abode on his fet vp-sterte,
And Neptalonye, in bis Ire al hoot,
Jporu^-out pe jri^e wit/i his swerd he smot.
And panne anon pe kyng of Perce lond,
))at was so wor]?i & famus of his bond,
Of Sarpedonn whan he taketh hede,
Kny^tly to hym restorid * hath his stede,
Nat-wttft-stondynge fat Menelaus
Was vp-on hym passinge dispitous,
And vfith hym eke ]>& duke of Athenes
Enclosid ban amonge fe grete pres
J)e kyng of Perce — alias ! it shulde falle ! —
And slay [e] n hym, as he amonge he??^ alle
Ful knyjtly fau^t, like a champiouw,
*With multitude enclosid enviromi —
And he hym sjlf but allone, alias !
Al destitut in pis mortal cas.
])oru3 whos meschef pel of Troye toun
Gan to wttA-drawo ; til pat Sarpedouw
Hath holpen hem to recure her lond,
Ful many Greke kyllyng \vi\h his bond.
And kyng Priam, so manly founde at al,
With his sonys called natural,
388
392 Sarpedon is
unhorse by
Neptolouius,
396
400
404
408
412
who wounds
him.
The King
of Persia,
fighting
alone, is
slain.
416 The Trojans
give way.
Sarpedon
rallies them.
420
389. was also] also was C.
392. in whom eke] eke in whom D 1. 394. Greke] om. D 1.
400. on] vp on D 1 — vp-sterte] he sterte D 1.
406. restorid] recurid C, D 1. 408. vp-on] on D 1.
420] For he hem sleeth with his owne hond A.
576 Priam s Slaughter and Hatred of the Greeks. [BK. iv
Priam slays
many Greeks,
stird by Ins
old hate of
them,
and by th
death of
Hector,
which
doubled his
might.
The Greeks
gather
Which vp-on hyy/i, wher-so fat he rood,
])e longe day manfully abood, 424
Party 11 g nat, pleynly, fro his syde —
And as pe kyng and pei to-gidre ryde, [leaf ioia]
Ful mortally }>e Grekis pei confou?ide ;
For Priamws, vfiih many cruel woiiwde, 428
Hath slayn of hem many worf i man,
On hors[e]-bak amonge hem as he ran :
For J>er was noon fat day, ^onge nor olde,
Of Troye toim so hardy nor so bolde, 432
Of noon estat, fat ha]? so wel him quitte,
Amongis Grekis wher-so pat he ritte,
Fro point to point to rekne euery finge,
As hath Priam, )>e noble worfi kyng. 436
For he allone was confusioim
To f e Grekis, and destruccioim,
Her outter meschef and discounfeture,
A-fore whos face fei my^t[e] not endure ; 440
For f inges two, in his mortal Ire,
Inwardly setten hym a-fyre :
)pe hertly hate fat he bare of old
Vn-to Grekis, doublid many fold, 444
WitJi fe deth, had in remembimmce,
Of worfi Hector, by contynuaunce,
]5e whiche, platly, foru^ his worfines,
With his swerd he shope hym to redresse. 448
For fret of hate & cowstreint of his peyne
Wer verraily f ilke f inges tweyne
By whiche fat day, who-so loke a-ri^t,
His force was doublid, and his my^t. 452
Where-foru} he toke so cruel hi^e vewgawzce,
)5at he f e Grekis brou^te to outtrauwce,
And poru} his knyjthod put hem to fe fli3t.
But Grekis fan attonys dide her my^t, 456
By assent to assemblen in-to on ;
And for a slei3te a-syden oute f ei gon
In-to a plein, large & fair to se,
429. many] many a D 1. 433. Of] On D 1.
434. >at] euere D 1. 436. As] And A.
445. With] Wiche D 1. 452. myjt] moche my}t D 1.
BK. iv] The Greeks are put to flight. The Trojans retire to Troy. 577
Betwene Priam and Troye J>e cite, 460 tostopPmm
To fyn only in her entencioim
Hym to debarre be entre of be toun : entering
Troy ;
For euery weie be Grekis han wttA-set,
Jpat bei of Troye hadde bo be let * 464
At her repeire, be stori telle}> pus,
Nadde pe manhod ben of Priam MS,
)5e whiche anon, as eny lyou?^ stronge,
With his swerd gan riden hem amonge, 468 Jjjj^[edj5^8
And seuered hem, with large wouwdis wyde,
And slowe al ]>o bat wold his swerd abide,
Euery-where, endelonge )>e pleyn.
And Paris eke hath hem so be-leyn 472 and Paris'*
archers put
With my^ti shot of his stronge archeris,
And with j>e pursut of his arblasteris,
Jjat bei ne myjt of te shot so kene [ieafioi&]
})Q mortal harme abide nor sustene, 476
But gan anoon [to] flen oute of be place. them to
And kyng Priam so narwe ga?i he??z chace,
)5at of nede and necessite,
poru^ fe slau^ter and ]?e cruelte 480
Of his swerd, sharpe whet & grouwde,
)2er was no Greke in J>e feld y-fotmde
But fled aweye, eue?-yche to his tent ;
And bei of Troye be to her cite went 484 The Trojan*
go home.
Be-cause it drowe fastfe] toward ny^t,
For Phebus had be-reved hem his Ii3t.
And so be honour of J?is hi^e victorie,
))e worship eke, J?e laude & memorie, 488
Perpetuelly, and be palme also
Priam be kyng hath wownen & no mo Priam being^
f * victorious.
For bilke day, in reles of his sorwe.
Howe Priamus sent to be Grekes for a trewe, & in be
mene tyme ordeynd be Cors of be Kenge of Perce
to be burede.1
460. Betwene] Be twix A. 463. weie] day D 1.
464. hadde >o be let] ne hadd ]>o be bet C. 465. bus] vs D 1.
474. his] ]>ese D 1. 479. and] and verre D 1.
483. tent] entent D 2. 488. 2nd be] om. D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 99 c.
578 The King of Persia emlalmd. Hectors Funeral Feast. [BK. IV
Priam gets
a truce from
tlie Greeks,
and prepares
the funeral
of the King
of Persia.
His corpse is
embalmd,
and his
knights,
in black,
ride with it
to Persia.
Hector's
funeral feast
is held in
Troy.
And, as I rede, on J>e next[e] morwe 492
He hath y-sent oute of Troye toim
For a trew to Agamenorm,
Whiche granted was ]?e silve day at prime,
— Al-be per-of rehersid be no tyme 496
How longe it last, in ]>e boke expresse—
Duryng }>e whiche pei dide her besynes,
Hertly labour, and inward dilligence
For to ordeyne with gret[e] reuerence 500
How J>at ]?e cors of J?e wor))i kyng
Of Perce lond, with-oute more tariyng,
"\Vit7i kyngly honour oute of Troye toiw
Shal caried ben in-to his regions , 504
To be buried with his predessessours,*
'WitJi oper kynges, his progenitours.
J)e whiche ping was complet be pavis
Of Alysau?ider, ]?at called was Parys. 508
And first J>e cors, enbawmed richely, *
Conveied was ful sollempnely,
As writ Guydo/* with an huge route
Of his kny^tes rydyng him * aboute, 512
Trist and hevy, clad in blak echon.
And with J?e char pe ri^tfe] weie )>ei gon
Toward Perce, ledyng of ]>is kyng
])& dede cors toward his buriyng, 516
Whiche halwed was, lyche his estat royal.
And in pis while J>e fest[e] funeral
Was holde also with gret deuociouw
Of worpi Hector we't/i-Inne Troye toun, 520
Liche pe custom vsed in j>o dawes
And ]>Q ritys of her paynym lawes.
)3e whiche fest, as made is menciouw,
Fro 36!' to ^er by reuolucioim [leafioic] 524
I-halwed was pe space of fourte-ny^t,
~With many flawme and many hydous li^t
493. y-sent] sent D 1. 494. trew] trews A— to] vn to D 1.
505. predessessours] prodessessours C.
509. richely] was richely C.
511. writ Guydo] Guydo writ C, D 1. 512. him] rouwde C.
515. of Jns] for)>e >e D 1. 517. was] om. D 2.
525. I-halwed] Halwed D 1.
K. iv] Anniversary of 'Hector's death. Achilles goes to Troy. 579
Jpat brent enviroim in f e seintuarye,
And called was be Anyuersarye, 528 The Anni-
versary of
For fat it cam aboute 361 by $er aSS?**8
A certeyn day in her kalender.
In whiche of custom for a remembrauwce
J3e peple shulde by contunvance 532
Pleyne and wepe, & also preie and rede is kept by the
For her frendis fat a-forn were dede,
Ful pitously vfith her heer [to-]torn,
Mornyng in blak & knelynge ay a-forn 536
\)e dede cors of fis worf i kny^t,
Whiche in his tyme passing was of niy^t.
And Ms was doon while be trewfels dure, During the
truce,
So fat Grekis trastly my^t assure 540 Greeks
Whan fat hem list, at good liberte,
Wzt/z-oute daurager entre f e cyte
Day be day ; and Troyens my^t also SriS*"*
Vn-to f e Grekis frely come and go. 544 another-
At whiche tyme, with ful gret delyt,
Hath Achilles cau$t an appetit
To entre and se f e maner of f e touw,
With-ouke wisdarn or discreciou/i, 548
For to behold, pleinly, and to se
Hooly f e maner of f is sole??ipnyte.
How Achilles first, in the Tempele of Apollo, was
smyte with Cupidys darte, in lovynge of
Polycyne.1
And forbe he went on a certein day Achuies goes
1 to Troy,
Toward Troye, in al f e hast he may, 552
Vnarmyd, soth[ly], as myn auctor seith,
Wttft-oate assurau/jce or any of er feith
Excepte f e trew, who-so be lefe or loth.
And first of al to* fe temple he goth 556 to the Temple
Of Appollo : halwed was f e feste
528. And] That D 1. 531. of] a D 1.
536. a-forn] to-forne D 1.
539. dure] dide dure D 1. 544. JHJ] am. A, D 2, D 1.
545. new IT A, D 1. 553. sothly] sothe D 1.
555. trew] trews A. 556. to] vn to C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 99 d. .
TROY BOOK. Q Q
580
Polyxena in the Temple of Apollo.
[BK. iv
Many wor-
thies are in
the Temple.
Hector's
corpse
looks like
life.
Hecuba and
Polyxena
are there,
and lament-
ing Hector's
death.
Polyxena is
and her hair
is disheveld.
Jporu^-oute J>e toura, doun vn-to J>e lest,
J?at clepid was J>e Anyuersarie,
As 36 han herde, — what shuld I lenger tarie 2 —
And many worjn present was * J>er-at,
Amyd J?e temple, of hi^e and lowe estat —
Lordis and ladyes, of affecciouw,
From euery part gadred of J?e toim.
Now was the cors of pis wor)>i kny^t
As freshe of colour kepte vn-to pe si^t,
As lifly eke, and as quik of hewe
To be-holde as any rose newe,
J?oru3 vertu only of pe goramys swete
And pe bawme pat gan aboute flete
To eue?*y loynt and eche extremyte.
And at pis feste and solempnyte
Was Eccuba and ^onge Polyeene,
So wommanly and goodly on to sene,
With many oper of hi^e estat and lowe,*
To-fore }>e cors sittynge on a rowe
With heer vntressid, clad in wedis blake,
J?at euere in on svvich a sorwe make
)?at routh[e] was and pite for to sene
How ]>ei pleyne & ])e deth be-mene
Of worjji Hector, of kny^thod grou?z,de & welle
But trowe 36 (as Guydo list to telle)
)3at Polyeene, in al hir woful rage
I-chau^gid hath vp-on hir visage
Hir natif colow, as fresche to J?e si^t
As is ]>e rose or j?e lillye whi^t ?
Oufer )>e freshenes of hir lippes rede,
For al ]?e terys pat she gan to shede
On hir chekis, as any cristal clere 1 —
Hir heer also, resemblyng to * gold wyre,
Whiche lay abrood like vn-to J?e si^t
[Of] Phebus bemys in his spere bri^t,
560
564
568
572
576
580
584
588
592
560. herde] om. D 1 — what] wher to D 1 — lenger] om. D 1.
561. was] wer 0. 563. and] om. D 2, D 1.
575. lowe] lawe C. 578. make] >ei make D 1.
584. I-chaimgid hath] Chaunged hadde nou^t D 1 — D 2 repeats
hir.
590. to] vn to C. 591. >e] om. A.
BK. iv] Achilles falls desperately in Love with Polyxena. 581
When he to vs doth his li^t avale.
And ay she rent with hir fyngeris smale
Hir golden here on hir blake wede,
Of whiche Jring Achilles toke good hede,
And gan merueille gretly in his pou^t
How God or Kynde ever my^t haue wrou^t
In her werkis so fair a creature :
For he pou^t he my^tfe] nat endure
To beholde be bri3tnes of hir face ;
For he felt Jjoru^ his herte pace
])Q percyng stremys of hir eyen two,
Cupides brond hath hym markid so,
For loue of hir, fat in his desire
He brent as hoote, in soth, as any fire,
And after sone \tiili sodeyn colde he quoke,
And ahveye fix on hir he hadde his loke,
So fat be arwe of fe god Cupide
Percid hym evene boru^ be syde
To be herte, & ^af hym swiche a wou?ide
feat neuere was lykly * for to soimde.
And ay in oon his loke on hir he caste,
As he durste, and gan to presse faste
Toward hir, namly, with his eye,
j)at hym fou^t he most nedis deye,
But 3 if fat he fou^de in hir some grace —
J)er was no geyn : for pleinly in fat place
Of newe he was kau^t in lovis snare,
J?at of helth and of al welfare
He was dispeired in his herte so,
j)at he ne knew what was best to do. [leaf 102 «]
Eche of er f ing, I do $ow wel assure,
He set at nou^t. and toke of hit no cure ;
His Jjou^t was hool on hir & on no mo ;
fee longe day Jms went he to and fro,
Til Phebw* char lowe gan declyne
600. 1st he] hym A, D 2, D 1. 602. his] hir D 1.
612. lykly] lyke C— for] efte D 1.
613. in oon] on hir D 1 — on hir] om. D 1.
615. namly] & namly D 1.
620. 2nd of] om. D 1— al] om. A. 622. what] }>at D 2.
627. lowe] douw D 1.
Polyxena
tears her hair.
596 Achilles
600
feels his heart
pierst by her
glances ;
604
608
612
616 and he thinks
lie must die
unless she
favours him.
620
624
582
Achilles, love-struck, goes to bed, and moans. [BK. IV
Hecuba and
Polyxena
go home to
Troy.
His golden axtre, )>at so cler doth shine,
— j)is to seyne, ]>e sonne went[e] doiw —
Whan Eccuba, quene of Troye tou?z,
And hir dau^ter Pollycene, also,
Oute of j?e temple to J>e paleis go ;
And ay Achilles on hir hadde a si$t
While he my^t, til for lak of li}t
He may no more haue leyser oportune
To loke on hir, cursed be fortune.
628
632
636
to bed,
and lan-
guishes for
Polyxena.
Achilles, in the syght of Polycene, kaght his dethe,
and so went oute of ]>e Tempyle to his Tente.1
AcMiies goes For whiche in haste he makid ha]?e his went
With his kny3tes home vn-to his tent,
Wher he anon, with-outs more tariyng,
To bedde goth, ful trist in compleyniwg, 640
Ay in hym silf casting vp and doura,
In his mynde, and eke in his resouw,
From hed to foot hir bewte euerydel.
And in his hert he felt & knewe ful wel 644
))at final cause of his languysshinge
Was Polycene, of bewte most passinge :
For loue of whom so moche peine he felte,
))at with J>e hete he pou^t his hert[e] melte — 648
Ay on his bedde walwyng to & fro
For )>e constreint of his hidde wo,
For whiche almost him pou^tfe] ]>at he deide,
And to him silfe even fus he seide : 652
"Alias," quod, he, " how me is wo be-goon,
|?at of my sorwe know[e] ende noon ;
For I suppose, sith ]>e world be-gan
N"e was per neue?*e a wofuller man : 656
For I pat whilom was of so gret my^t,
So renomed of euery maner
He is woe-
begone,
the saddest
man that ever
629. J>is] f>is is D 1. 640. ful trist] wooful D 1.
644. ful] om. D 1. 646. Was] Wh D 2.
647. so moche] suche D 1. 653. new 1T D 1.
654. knowe] knowe I D 1.
657. whilom] somme tyme D 1 — my3t] a my^t D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 100 b (misplaced after line 640).
BK.IV] Achilles laments that a young Maiden has overcomehim. 583
Jjoru^-oute pe world, bope of 11136 & lowe —
For per was noon, in sope, pat koude knowe 660
A man in armys pat was more famws, Tin now,
Nor I-holde more victorius,
To-fore )>is tyme reme?;ibrid be no stile
In-to pis day — alias, pe harde while ! — 664
Nouper Hector, pleinly, nor noon oper,
Of Polycene pat was pe worpi broker,
ftat power had whan pei wM me mette, overcome*8
For al her myjt, me to ouer-sette, 668 him»
Nor in pe felde my force for to daiwte,
Here priuely as I me dar avaimte !
But now, alias, a mayde of tender age [leaf 102 z>] but now a
Hath sodeinly me brou$t in swiche a rage, 672 jjj'jjj, uerd
))at with pe stremys of hir eyen tweyne him-
She percid hath and corve[n] euery veyne
Of myn hert, pat I may nat asterte
For to be ded, poru} constreint of my smerte ! 676
For who shal now wissen me or teche,
Or who, alias, shal now be my leche,
Or who shal now helpe me or saue ? —
j?er is but deth, and after bat my graue, 680 peath alone
is left him.
For oper hope, pleinly, is per noon
Saue in hir mercy, alias, & pat is goon ! —
For nouper prayer, tresour, nor richesse,
Force nor my^t, nouper hi^e provvesse, 684
Hi^nes of blood, birpe nor kynrede
May availle * [n]or helpen in pis nede hertm6"1
To meven hir, nor my sadde troupe,
Vp-on my wo euere to haue roupe ! 688
What newe furie or importune rage
Hath brought myn herte in-to swyche outrage,*
Ageyn[e]s whiche I can not debate —
To loue hir best bat dedly doth me hate ! — 692 as he loves
J her who must
And, in good f eith, who wisly list aduerte, hate nim^
663. To- fore] Bifore D 1. 668. to] not D 1.
669. my force] me D 1.
670. me dar] dar me A, dare make D 1.
676. For] om. D 1— smerte] herte D 2, D 1.
686. availle] availlen C. 690. outrage] autrage C.
692. best] breste D 1. 693. And] For A.
Achilles despairs of gaining Polyxena's love. [BK. iv
Achilles says
Polyxena
must hate
him,
as he slew
her brother
Hector.
He is in
despair,
and must die.
He weeps,
and is reck-
less.
Litel wonder ]>ou$ she me hate of herte,
Sith I am come hyder fro so ferre
On hir kynrede for to make werre,
In J>e whiche, to my confusions,
Hir kny^tly broker, most worjri of renouw,
Haue fatally with myn hondis slawe,
Whiche in pis worlde had[de] no felawe
Of wor}?inesse nor of manlyhede !
Alias ! alias ! now may I quake and drede,
And of niy lyf fallen in dispeire :
For how shuld I be bold to haue repeire,
Or dorn, alias, comen in hir si^t ? —
I woful wreche ! I vnhappy wy^t !
Or how shal I ben hardy to appere
In J>e presence of hir eyen clere ?
Certys, I se non oj>er mene weye
But finally pat I must[e] deye —
So dispeired I stonde on euery syde,
Of ojjer helpe I can me nat prouyde."
And ri^t anoon, with profouwde si^es depe,
}5is Achilles brast oute for to wepe,
With dedly chere, pale and funeral,
And with his face turned to ]>e wal,
)3at roufe was and pite for to sene
])Q hertly f urie of his peynes kene.
For so oppressed he was in his pou^t,
Of lyf nor deth ]>at he rou3t[e] nou^t ;
And fis contvneth til it drow to ny^t,
))at Titan ha)> wz't/idrawe his clere li^t.
[leaf 102
696
700
704
708
712
716
720
Howe Achilles sent his messanger to 'qtlene Eccuba for
to have Polycene : wherfor he wolde set )>e Troyans
and j>e Grekes at finale pece.1
And eue?*e in oon lith fis woful man
I-liche sike, of colour pale and wan, 724
With-oute slepe, so fretyng was his sorwe,
699. Haue] I haue D 1. 700. Whiche in] WiJ> ynne D 2.
702. and] for D 1. 709. Certys] Nowe certes D 1.
710. I] I here D 1. 720. he] he ne A, D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 100 d (misplaced after line 738).
BK. IV] Achilles sends a Friend to Hecuba with Proposals. 585
Til Lucifer, on fce nexte morwe, But next
morning
To-fore pe sonne, with his bemys clere,
Ful lustely gan for to appere 728
In pe orient, whan pis Achilles,
Vnpacient, with-oute reste or * pes,
Quakynge euere in his feuere newe,
As it was sene, pleinly, in his he we — 732
Til he abreide of anguysshe sodeyrcly,
And called oon pat was with hym prevy,
And of couwseil whom he triste p wel ; frierid to
And vn-to hym he tellep euerydel 736
From point to point with hi??i how it stood,
And sent him forpe, be-cause he koude his god,
On his message street to Troye toim
"With ful avis and informaciourc 740
Of pis mater to Eccuba pe quene, Hecuba
))oru3 his wisdam for to ben a mene,
3if he my^t, by his discrecioiw,
Fynde any waye of sauaciouw 744
Vn-to his lord, pat he louyd so.
And to pe quene anon he is go,
And his mater wysly gan corweie
To-forn or he of grace wolde preie 748
}3at she enioieth to $eue hym audience :
For in his tale per was noon offence —
He was no fool, nor newe for to lere.
Wherfore, J>e quene goodly gan hym here 752 gjjjhears
Of al pat euere hym likep for to seyn —
)3er was no worde y-lost nor spoke in veyn,
For his tale no man koude amende.
[And] Craftely he gan to discende 756
To pe substauwce, and tolde clerly out,
With premisses ful wel brou^t about,
)3at finally, in conclusions,
J)e chefe, he seide, of his entenciouw, 760
Effectuelly,* }if it wolde be,
728. for] om. D 1. 730. or] and C.
731. euere] ay A, D 2, D 1.
732. sene pleinly] pleinly seen D 1. 738. his] om. D 1.
754. y-lost nor spoke] spoke ne lost D 1.
761. Effectuelly] Effectuously C.
586 Achilles proposes to iced Polyxena, and stop the War. [BK. iv
Achilles's
friend says
lie wants to
make peace
between the
Greeks and
Trojans
by wedding
Polyxena to
Achilles,
if Hecuba
can persuade
Priam to
consent ;
but on con-
dition that
the Greeks
stop the war.
Hecuba
sighs,
and answers
Achilles's
friend.
Was for to make pes and vnite
Atwene Grekis & pe folke of Troye,
To whiche ping he knew no better woye
J^an of pe werre, for her alder ese,
By his wit prudently tapese
}5e mortal strife and pe bitter rage
By allyauwce only of mariage,
3if pat hir liste, pis wyse, wor]>i quene,
)?at hir doubter, faire Pollycene,
May weddid be vn-to Achilles,
Wher-poru^ per my^t be a final pes —
3if Eccuba, by* hir discresioim,
j)oru3 hir wit and mediacioim,
And hir prudence my^t aboute brynge
J)at Priamws were fully assentynge,
]3at Achilles my^t his doubter wyve,
So pat it my^t parformyd ben as blyue
(Lyke as I haue made mencioiw),
By couenauwt only, and condiciouw
J)at pe Grekis shal her werre lete,
And suffire him * to lyuen in quyete —
3if pe mariage of pis ilke tweyne
Parformed be, and knyt up in a cheyne.
[leaf 102 d]
764
768
772
776
780
784
Of the answere of Eccuba, and howe she exortede
Kynge Pryamus to pe same entent.1
And whan pe quene hath knowera his extent,
Ful sobirly, by good avysement,
To-forn or pat * any word asterte,
Ful pitously she sy^ed in hir herte ; 788
And, at pe laste, with a sobir chere,
She seide pus to pe messager :
" My frend," qwod she, " touching pi request,
I can no more make pe beheste, 792
762. Was] And D 1. 763. Atwene] Betwene D 1.
766. tapese] to peese D 1.
769. pis] the D 1 — wyse worpi] worthy wyse A.
773. by] >oru$ C. 777. his] hir D 1. 778. my^t] om. D 1.
779. I haue] is D 1. 782. him] hem C. 785. his] om. D 1.
787. or bat] hat or C. 790. She] He D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 101 a (misplaced after line 790).
BK. iv] Hecuba favours Achilles. She pleads with Priam. 587
But at be leste I wil condiscende Hecuba
•\TTI i i ii • -I • i promises to
What lyth in me to bringe to an ende do her best
£i lordis wil, with al myn herte entere. jJSHi;
But here-vp-on, I muste firste requere 796
)5e kynges wil, }if he wil ^eue assent
To * pe pwrpos [for] whiche pou art sent ;
And, ouermore, I muste wyte also but she must
3if pat Parys be willyng eke per-to — 800
Of whiche ping, with euery circumstauwce,
I wil my silfe maken enquerauwce
Ful f eithfully of Priam and Parys, Priam and
J?e mene whyle, what is her avys, 804
W£t/i-oute more, wz't/^-Inne dayes bre, in s days
Achilles's
At whiche tyme come ageyn to me friend is to
come again
From Achilles, }if he wil pe sende, to her-
And finally pou shalt knowe an ende 808
Of pis mate?*, and an answere pleyn."
And home he goth to Achilles ageyn He returns to
With f ul glad chere, his lord pe mor to plese ;
And for to sette his hertfe] bet at ese, 812
Avisely, of hi^e discrecioim,
He hath so made his relacioiw,
And told his tale in so prifti wyse,
As he pat koude his wordis so deuyse 816
To bringe in hope [in-]to his lordis herte,
With ful reles of his peynes smert, [leafiosa]
Wher-by he made his sorwe to wit^drawe.
And jms while hope gan [for] to a-dawe 820
Amyd his brest, Eccuba J?e queue Hecuba talks
To Priam spak of pis Polycene,
Touchinge pe sonde of pis Achilles,
And of his profre for to make a pes — 824
She tolde hym al, & for-gat no pinge.
Howe Priamus disclosyde the privite of Ms conseyte
and gruchinge to be allyed with Achilles.1
798. To] For C. 799. oumnore] ferthermore D 1.
820. while] a while D 1— a-dawe] dawe D 1.
821. his brest] be brest of D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 101 b (misplaced after line 832).
588 Priam at first revolts at Achilles as his Son-in-law. [BK. iv
Priam is'
astonisht
at Achilles
wanting
Polyxena.
He slew
Hector,
the light of
Troy.
Priam won't
be allied with
him.
Wher-of astonyd, Priamws ]>e kyng
Spak nat a word half an oures space,
But in hym silfe gan for to cornpasse 828
Ful prudently what it my$t[e] mene,
ftat Achilles wolde haue Polycene
Vn-to his wyf, ay wondrmg mor & more ;
And at }?e last, si^ynge wonder sore, 832
He discloseth J>e conceit of his herte,
And seide, " alias ! how sore it doth me snwte
To remembre J>at * I may haue no pes —
J?e grete offence of ]?is Achilles 836
Towardis me, pleinly, whan ]?at he
Slowe worpi Hector, J>oru his cruelte,
)3at hooly was vp-on euery side
J^assurauwce, gouernour, and guyde 840
Of me and myn, platly, for to seyne,
And, f er-wit/j-al, of myn eyen tweyne
He was allone £e verray sothfast ly^t,
Shelde & protectour foruj his gret[e] my^t 844
And his manhod ageyn ]?e mortal rage
Of Grekis werre in my croked age !
But now, alias, to my confusions
He slawen is, so wor]?i of renouw, 848
Be Achilles, whiche may not out of myrcde —
J)at in myn hert I can neuere fynde
To hen allyed vriiJi my mortal foo,
Rote & grouwde of al my sorwe & wo ! 852
It were ful harde myn hertfe] to apese
To loven hym J)at cause]? myn vnese
On euery half, wher-Jwru^ my cruel foon,
)3e proude Grekis, hertid ben echon 856
Ageyn[e]s me, now fortune is contrarie,
Torned of newe my quarel to apaire —
J)at causeth Grekis, wood and furious,
On me, alias, to be presumptuous, 860
Only for Hector is me berafte away.
826. astonyd] stonied was D 1 827. a] oone D 1.
829. myjte] wolde D 1. 833. conceit] constreint D 1.
835. >at] how C. 845. And] And in D 1.
861. for] of A.
BK. iv] But Priam at last consents to give Polyxena to Achilles. 580
But as he
can't help
himself,
and must
save his other
sons,
Priam will
consent to
Achilles
wedding
Polyxena,
if he'll make
peace between
Q7£ the Greeks
0/0 and Trojans.
But sithen I noon ofer chese may,
Ageyn[e]s herte, fou$ it for anger ryve,
In fis mater assay I shal to strive, 864
JX>u} me be loth, & sitteth me ful sore —
3it to eschewe harmys fat ben more,'
Whiche likly ben here-after for to falle, [leaf 1035]
And for to saue myn ofer sonys alle, 868
I wil concent fat fis Achilles,
So fat he make a trewe final pes
Atwene Grekis and also fis cite,
With-oute more, pleinly, how fat he 872
Haue vn-to wyfe my doubter Polycene.
But list fat he any tresous mene,
My wil is, first, how-so fat it wende,
Of his beheste fat he make an ende,
Wif-oute fraude : fis is myn avis."
To whiche conseil assenteth eke Parys, Paris agrees,
And more rathe, in conclusions,
For f er was made noon excepcious 880
In fis * trete of f e quene Eleyne,
)?at Menelaye euere shulde atteyne
Hir to recure ageyn vn-to his wyf —
For whiche Paris, wz'M-oute noise or strife, 884
Or grucchinge ouf er, vn-to fis entent
Witih-InnQ hym silf was fully of assent,
)3er-by hopynge, with -oute fere or drede,
Perpetuelly Eleyn[e] to possede 888
Ei3t at his lust, & no man shal seie nay.
And after fis, vppon f e fridfde] day
Achilles hath, to wyte of fis mater,
To Eccuba sent his Messa?2ger ; 892
And she tolde hym f e answere of fe kyng,
Ceriously gynnynge and endynge,
And how fat he assenteth wel fer-to,
And Paris eke, & she hir silfe also, 896
3 if it so were, pleynly, she hym tolde,
hoping to
keep Helen.
Hecuba
tells this to
Achilles's
friend.
867. likly] om. D 1. 871. Jris] the A.
879. rathe] rather A— in] in ful D 1.
881. J>is] be C. 883. Hir] For D 1.
889. at] as D 2, D 1— lust] wyf D 2.
877. fis] bat D 2.
885. J>is] his D 1.
590 Achilles thinks he can persuade the Greeks to peace. [BK. iv
Achilles must
first get peace
assured.
His friend
reports all
to him,
and he sees
that he must
procure
peace.
Then he
despairs,
but fancies
no Greek will
deny him,
deluding
himself,
aa all lovers
do.
Touchinge pe pes pat pe pz^-pos holde,
And firste pat he his heste bring aboute
J?at pei be sure : pawne him dar not doute 900
J?at he shal haue his pwrpos euerydel,
3if pat he wirke prudently and wel.
And here-vp-on, with informaciouw
))is messanger, oute of Troye touw, 904
"WWi-oute abood, in al pe haste he may,
To Achilles helde pe ri^tfe] way,
And tolde him hool peffect of pis mater.
And he alweie feruent and entere, 908
In herte brent hoot as any glede,
And saw per was no waye for to spede
But only pes, as 36 han herd me telle ;
And ay his brest with si^es gan to swelle 912
For pe loue of pis Polycene,
And cast a[l]way, a-monge his peines kene,
To his purpos a weie for to fynde.
And whiles he was besy in his mynde [leafiosc] 916
How he shuld his purpos bringe a-boute,
And in hym silf cast[e] many a doute,
Anoon Dispeir in a rage vp-sterte
And cruelly* cau^te hym by pe herte, 920
Whiche hath hym prowe in-to swiche a were,
)}at hym pou^te it nas in his power
His beheste to fulfille in dede,
Excepte he hadde wel pe lasse drede 924
Euery ping to puttefn] in certeyn,
Wenyng no Greke wolde his lust w^seyn,
From his desire to be variable.
And to hym silf pus was he fauourable 928
For to parforme, and no ping denye —
Al pat was lusty to his fantasye —
As is pe maner of loners euerychon,
Jpat pei suppose to acheue anon 932
898. hat] J>at he D 1.
900. dar] thai- A, D 2— not] no D 1.
907. him] om. D 1— bis] his A. 912. with'] his D 2.
914. alway] a weie D 1. 918. a] om. D 2.
920. cruelly] cruelle C. 927. to] for to D 1.
932. suppose] purpose D 1.
Achilles
thinks
BK. iv] Achilles thinks the Greeks cant win Troy without him. 591
What ping it be }>at fei take * on honde,
In what disioint fat )>e mater stonde,
Al-pei} it be a verray impossible —
In her foly J?ei bew [ay] so credible.
And so Achilles trusteth finally
To fulfille his hestes outterly,
Supposyng ay, for his worpines,
For his manhod and his hi^e prowes,
In whiche he dide hym silfe glorifie
Somwhat of pride and of surquedie,
How ]>e Grekis shulde be dispeired
Bobe of her trust & her my3t apeired,
Vp-on Troyens to wynnen any londe,
3if it so were he with-diowQ his honde
To helpen hem, and )>er-wM-al also
Home in-to Grece ]>at bei wolde go
From }>e sege, only for his sake,
And her quarel outterly forsake, —
But it so were pis hardy ferse Achille
With hem abood )>e cite for to spille.
For whiche ping fe lordis by assent
Assemblid wern to heren be entent
Amonge hem alle of bis Achilles,
By pe biddynge of Pallamydes.
936
940
944
the Greeks
will despair
of winning
Troy if he
doesn't help
em,
948 and that
they'll go
home for his
sake.
952
956
Howe Achilles, for the love of Polycene, exortede in-
stantly the Grekis for to take A parpetuale pece
with the Troyans, be which pece he mevyde by
many a sotele mene.1
And whan bei wern gadrid alle I-fere,
To-forn hem alle, like as 36 shal here,
j)is Achilles hath his tale gowne,
And seide : " sirs, pat so moche komie 960
Bo]>e of wisdam and of hi^e prudence,
So renomed eke of sapience
933. >at] mn. D 1— take] toke C.
944] Howe ]>e grekes my^te be apeired D 1.
947. J>er-witfc-al] ther with D 1. 948. >ei] J>e D 1.
952. hem] hym D 1. 959. new IT A.
961. prudence] prowesse D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 101 d (misplaced after line 958).
Achilles
makes his
speech.
592 Achilles reminds the Greeks of their sacrifices for Menelavx.
" Renowned
lords!
Think how
you came
here,
risking your
lives for only
one man,
Menelaus,
who was robd
of Helen ;
think how
you left your
homes,
and wives
and children.
J?oru3-oute J)e worlde, and of discreciourc,
And ben so worjn also of renoiw, 964
Kynges, dukis, of whom j?e rial name [leaf 103 d]
From est to west flourej? $it pe * fame,
Bo])e of kny^thod and of manlihede,
To J)at I seie, I praye 3011 take]) hede : 968
))is to seyne, ^if fat 36 considere
))Q pleyn entent of oure comynge hider,
By good avis and discrecioim,
Had no grouwde founded on resourc 972
Nor cause roted on no titel of ri^t,
3if it so be, )>at je lifte * vp ^oure si^t
And adue?'ten clerly in ^oure mynde :
Fnl fer abak wit was sette be-hynde, 976
Prudent lokynge, and avisenesse ;
For first whan we, of foly hastynesse,
Toke vp-oii vs to come fro so ferre
Ageyn[e]s Troy ens for to gynne a werre, 980
And to iuparde oure lyves eue?ychon
For )>e lone of o man allone —
3e weten alle, I trow[e], whom I mene :
Kynge Menelay, defrauded of his quene — 984
To telle troupe, me list nat for to feyne ;
For 36 wel wite, only fat Eleyne
Was * growide & gy^nynge of al pis debate,
£or whom so many wor])i of estate, 988
Recurles of any remedy e,
Life and good han putte in iupartie —
Oure londis left and oure regiouras,
Oure cites eke & oure riche tonnes, 992
Whiche by oure absence stondfe] desolat —
Wives and childer eke disconsolat,
In wo abide, mournynge, & distresse,
Whiles ]?at we, J>e sothe to expresse, 996
Fro day to day, be-set on eue?*y syde,
963. ]5oru3-oute] pom} D 2.
966. floure> $it >e] flouring jit in C — fame] same D 2.
969. seyne] mene D 1. 972. on] in D 2.
974. lifte] liften C. 980. a] om. D 1.
987. Was] As C. 995. abide] abydynge D 2, abidynge D 1.
BK. iv] Achilles says Helen is not worth the Men slain for her. 593
Lyn in J>e felde, and oure deth abide
In sorwe & care, in labour and in wo.
And, -wiih al pis, 36 wete wel also, 1000 "Think, too,
Sipen tyme pat pe werre be-gan,
Of oure Grekis how many worbi man how many
worthy folk
Hath loste his lyf poru^ defis fatal wouwde,
feat my^t her-to haue lyued & be souwde 1004
At home in Grece assured wel in loye,
3if fei ne hadde comen vn-to Troye —
feat to remembre it is f ul gret pite.
And, ouer pis, I seie also for me, 1008
Amonge Troy ens in her cruel mood,
I haue y-lost so moche of my blood, have lost1
feat hath ful ofte made me pale of hewe ;— much blood»
feis o]?er day, also, grene and newe, 1012
I hadde of Hector swiche a mortal wou?ide,
With a quarel sharpe whet & grouwde, [leaf 104 a] me»
Aboue pe Jji^e, so kene was j>e hed 80 that
—fee same day a-forn fat he was ded, 1016
Of verray hap as it was y-shape, —
feat fro J>e deth vnnebe I my3te eskape. i nearly died.
Whiche [$it] al freshe is vppon me sene,
Large and wyde, and as $it but grene, 1020
fee smert of whiche sore $it I pleyne.
And, in good feith, me semeth fat Eleyne, K^worth"
3if 30 aduerte wysly in ^our foujt, wee'vPeriplid.
With swiche a pris shuld[e] nat be bou^t, 1024
Wher-foru^ oure lyf and oure good y-fere,
And oure honour arn y-put in were,
And dredfully hangen in ballauwce.
For ^if fat 36 in ^oure remembrauwce 1028
Conceyve a-ri^t and castfen] vp & doun
fee sodeyn chau/zge and reuolucioll?^
feat fallen hath sith ]>e werre gan,
fee slau^ter & deth of many worfi man 1032
999. &] in D 1. 1001. tyme] }>e tyme D 1— be-gan] gan D 2.
1004. her-to] til nowe D 1.
*1010. y-lost] lost D 2, D 1— moche] mychyl A, mochyl D 2.
1016. a-forn bat] to forn or D 1. 1026. arn] ben D 1.
1031. gan] bigan D 1.
" Let her
stay in Troy,
and let us
try to get
Menelaus to
find another
wife,
594 Achilles urges the Greeks to give up Helen and the war. [BK. iv
])at for hir sake hath here lost his lyf, —
3et }>e werst of )>is mortal strif
Doth most rebourcde [in-]to oure damage,
To disencres and eke disavaiwtage, 1036
And likly is to encrese more
3if ordynaurcce be nat made f er-fore,
And remedie shape on ou)>er side,
By fyn only fat Eleyne abide 1040
With hem of Troye, stille here in f e tou^^.
And late vs cast, by good inspections,
For oure ese som of er mene way,
So fat fe kyng called Menelay 1044
Chese hym a wyf in som of er lond,
Lyk his estat be surarwce or be bonde,
Vnder wedlok confermed vp of newe,
))at vn-to hym wole be fouwde trewe, 1048
Sif en fat he, wit/^-oute gilte or sy?^Ile,
May be fe law from Eleyn[e] twymie :
For of dyvos causis ben y-nowe,
)3oru^-oiite fe worlde of euery wi^t [I-]knowe, t 1052
Of avoutri for f e foule vice.
For to lawe is no preiudice,
Jjouj Menelay iustly hir for-sake,
Whan so hym list, and anofer take 1056
)}at shal hi??z bet bof e queme & plese.
And so to vs it shal be ful gret ese,
Whan f e werre is brou^t to an ende,
Whiche likly is many man to shende, 1060
3if it so be fat it forf e contvne.
J)e grete labour is so inportune,
}3at we ne shal no while mowe sustene : [leaf 104 6]
For fis is soth, wit7i-outen any wene, 1064
Troy ens }it ben flourynge in her my^t,
And with hem han ful many worf i kny^t
To helpen hem, of hi^e & lowe degre ; ,
1035. Doth] Deth D 2— in-to] vn to D 1.
1040. By] And by D 1. 1041. stille here] here stille D 1.
1050. >e] om. A, D 2, D 1.
1052. of euery wijt] & bew ful wel D 1.
1055. £0113] J>orgh D 2. 1057. £at] om. D 1.
1062. inportune] oportune D 1.
since he can
be divorst
from Helen
for her
adultery.
Then we can
end the war.
The Trojans
are still
vigorous.
BK. iv] Achilles appeals to the Greeks to end the War. 595
And ber-wzt/£-al, so stronge is her cyte
On euery parte, wztft-outen & wz't/i-Inne,
J3at we ar nat likly for to wynne
In oure purpos, fou^ we eue?*e abide.
Wherfore, be wisdam lete vs voide pride
And wilfulnes, only of prudence
To ban J?e eye of oure aduertence
To oure profyt more ban to veyn-glorie,
And while oure honowr shynef by victorie,
A wysdam is to wztMrawe oure hond,
Sith we may nat constreyne by no bond
Fortunys whele for to abide stable.
Wherfor, I rede, or she be mutable,
j)is gery goddes with hir double cher,
Lat vs $eve vp swiche ping as li]>e in wer
Whiles bat we mow oure worship saue :
For of be werre }>e laude }it we haue,
Considered wel how by oure manlyhede
Oure most[e] fo, Hector, is now dede ;
And while bat we in oure honowr floure,
My couwseil is, or Fortune loure,
As I seide er, to chau?ige hir bri^tfe] face,
While fat best we stonde in hir grace,
By on assent and oon oppiniouw,
With-outen any contradicciouw,
Of hert & wil, bofe of on and alle,
Or oure honowr on any party palle,
In-to Grece bat we home * retourne.
For }if bat we lenger here soiounie
On be quarel fat we haue longe swed,
Dout[e]les — it may nat bene eschewed —
Ful gret damage — jns w^t/i-oute faile —
Or we haue don, shal folwen at fe taile,
Wherfore, best is oure foly vp resigne.
And while oure hap is welful & benygne,
1068 "Troy is still
strong.
We're not
likely to win
it.
1072
1076
1080
1084
We'd better
withdraw.
Fortune is
unstable.
Our chief foe,
Hector, is
dead.
1088 Before For-
tune changes,
1092
let us go
home.
1096 If we stay
here,
1100
we shall be
damaged.
1068. is] in A, as D 1. 1070. for] it for D 1.
1078. Sith] Sith >at D 1. 1081. hir] his D 1.
1082. libe] lych D 2. 1083. mow] may A, D 2.
1085. oure] om. D 2 — manlyhede] manhood A.
1088. or] or bat D 1. 1090. best we] we best D 1.
1095. bat we home] home bat we C. 1100. at >e] a D 1.
TROY BOOK. R R
596 Achilles ends his Appeal to the Greeks for Peace. [BK. IV
"If any one
objects that
we can't,
with honour,
leave without
Helen,
I say that 1
we've as good
as she is
among us,
Hesione,
Priam's
sister,
whom Tela-
mon keeps.
Set her 1
?ainst
against
Helen,
and let us
have peace."
Most blauwlisshinge, and of face faire,
Jpe tyme is best to maken oure repeire, 1104
While fat we stonde, in party & in al,
With oure enemyes in honour perigal
And fer aboue, pleinly, 3if fat we
Koude han an eye to * oure felicite, 1108
While * fat is in his ascenceouw.
But list som man wil make obiecciou?i
))at we may nat [so] oure honour saue,
To repeire, pleynly, but we haue [leaf 104 c] 1112
Eleyne ageyn, fat is cause of al : —
To whiche ])ing anoon answer I shal,
3if any man in his fantasie,
To dishonour or to vyllenye 1116
Arrette wolde, in any maner kynde,
We to gon horn & leven hir be-hyude,
Shortly to seyn, I holde it be no shame,
Sith fat we han on as gret of name 1120
As is Eleyne, and of berthe as good,
Amongis vs y-come of kynges blood,
Suster to Priam, lord of Troye tou?i,
Exyona, whom J>at Thelamou^- 1124
In kepyng haf , $if I shal nat feyne,
In Troye towi as Paris haf Eleyne.
And sithe now it may bene noon of er,
Lete J)e ton be sette ageyn fe tofer ; 1128
And J>e surplus of olde enmyte
Betwyxen vs and Troye J>e cite,
My conseil is, for oure bof en ese,
By on assent wysly to appese — 1132
)?is al and som — & fat we hen[ne]s wende.
I can no more ; my tale is at an ende."
Howe Kynge Menelaus, Heleyn-is husbonde, replyede
agayns the exortacyons of Achilles.1
1106. oure] oute D 1. 1108. to] in C.
1109. While] Whiche C— is] he is D 1.
1020. as] as of A— of] a A. 1121. berthe] hir birthe A.
1124. whom] sommetyme D 1.
1130. Betwyxen] Bitwene D 1. 1133. pis] f»«t is D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 102 d.
BK. iv] Menelaus answers Achilles, who goes away angry. 597
To whom anoon kyng Menelaus,
For verray Ire wood and furious, 1136
And kyng Thoas, pe duke eke of Athene,
As pei pat my^t no lenger hym sustene,
— To suffren hym pei were so rek[e]les —
Spak alle attonis vn-to Achilles, 1140
Nat only pei, but, poru} inpacience,
J?e court parturbid, with-oute prouidence
With tumult go/me to repreue
ftis Achilles, and proudly hem commeve 1144
Ageyn[e]s hym and hys oppiniouw.
And seide shortly, in conclusions,
Yn-to his reed pei nold[e] neuere assent
Nor condescende to no ping pat he ment, 1148
To be gouerned by hym in pis cas !
For whiche ping anoon Achilles was
So full of Ire and rancour in his hert,
Jpat sodeinly from his se he sterte, 1152
And went his way, as he were \n a rage,
Triste and pale, and a wood visage,
And shortly seide, for hym list nat feyne,
J)at he ne wolde lenger don his peyne
To helpen hem, how-so pat pei spede,
Ageyn[e]s Troyens, for no maner nede ;
And bad anon, pis hardy Achilles,
To his kny^tes, called Mirundones, 1160
)?at pei no more with spere nor with shelde [leaf 104 d]
To helpe Grekis entren in-to felde,*
But kepe \\zin clos at home wzt/i-Inne her tent.
j)us in his Ire he }af * commauwdement 1164
To alle his men, as $e han herd deuise,
Hem to we'tMrawe at euery hy^e emprise,
Whan-so-euere pei goon in-to bataille.
And in pis while skarsenes of vitaille 1168
1135. new U D 1. 1142. parturbid] parturbled D 1.
1143. tumult] al >e multitude & D 1.
1144. hem cowmeve] gan hem meve D 1. 1146. seide] om. D 1.
1153. were] was D 2— a] om. D 2.
1154. a wood] with a D 1.
1155. for] om. D 2. 1159. And] Thamie D 1.
1162. entren in-to] whanne pei bene in D 1— felde] he felde C, D 1.
1164. *af] 3af in 0.
Menelaus
and Thoas
reproach
Achilles.
They'll never
give-in to
He starts up
in a rage,
says he'll no
longer help
1156 the Greeks,
and bids his
Myrmidons
stay in their
tents.
598 Famine in the Greek host. Then, food is provided. [BK. iv
The Greeks
want food.
Many die.
Palaraides
sends to
Mysia,
whose king
bids
his purveyors
to get victuals
for the
Greeks,
who sail off
with them.
Fil in pe hoste of fleshe, bred, & wyn,
Jpat many Greke brou^t vn-to his * fyn ;
For ]>ei ne my^t endure for distresse,
Constreint of hunger dide hem so oppresse, 1172
Til at the last kyng Pallamydes,
As lie pat was in no ping rek[e]les,
Hath )>er-vp-on maked purviauwce,
Eemedie, and redy ordinauwce. 1176
And by assent & coimseil of echon,
He ha)? y-sent wyse Agamenoura,
)3e wor])i kyng, to Messa pere beside,
A litel He, only to prouide 1180
For pe Grekis, }if he my^tfe] spede
Hem to releue in pis grete nede.
And Theleplms, kyng of pilke lond,
Of gentilnes hath put to his hond, 1184
As he fat was large & wonder fre,
And renomyd of humanite,
To socour hem, cowmauftdinge anoon
His puruyours in al haste to goon 1188
From euery party abouten environs
Jporu} alle pe bouwdis of his regioiw,
Arid feithfully to cerchyn euery coste
To take up vitaille for pe Grekis host. 1192
And after pat, ful hastely he made
To stuffe her shippes, pleinly, & to lade
With euery ping pat was necessarie
To pe Grekis, and be water carie, 1196
At request * of Agamenouw,
W^t^-oute tariynge or dilacioura.
And so pe kyng, wit/i plente of vitaille
Frau3t and y-lade, gan anon to saille 1200
Toward pe sege, he & his meyne,
Ay costeiynge by pe Grekysshe se.
fte wynde was good, & pe kyng as bly ve
1169. bred] of bred D 2.
1170. brou^t] it brou3te D 1— his] J>e C.
1172. hem] hym D 2. 1175. J>er-vp-on] here vpponD 1.
1178. y-sent] sent D 1.
1195. >ing] thyngis A — was] is D 1.
1197. request] >e request C. 1200. y-lade] D 1.
BK. iv] The Greek ships are repaird. The war is renewd. 599
With his navie at Troye dide aryve
In fewe dayes ; and Grekis anon ri^t
Of his repeire were ful glad & ly^t,
Of his expleit and his gode speed,
))at he so wel hath born hym in ])is nede.
And after )>is, Pallamydes anoon,
As seith Guydo, is to his shippes goon
For to considre and loken al aboute
Wher nede was, w&t/i-Inne & with-oute,
Any of hem to [a]mendyn or repare,*
As he )>at list for no cost to spare,
In euery ping, with-oute necligence,
Touching his charge to don his dilligercce,
Til ]?e trews fully wern oute ronne,
And J)e werris new ageyn be-gonne,
Which e many man, sothly, dere abou^t.
And ceriously to write how J?ei wroujt,
My purpose is, pleinly, in sentence,
Vnder support of ^oure pacience.
[leaf 105 a]
1204
1208
1212
1216
1220
Palamides
sees to his
ships' repairs.
Of the dethe of Dephebus, sclayne by the hondys of
Kynge Pallamydes with a spere.1
Dvring in oon )>e dedly cruel hate,
\)ai stynte may nor cesse by no date
Atwyxe Grekis and hem of j)e toun,
To grete damage and destrucciouw
On ou)?er part, felyng ful vnswete, —
Til on a day J?ei caste for to inete,
As }>ei wer wont, proudly with spere & sheld,
With her wardis entryng in-to felde,*
Armyd ful bri^t vp-on ouper syde,
And embatailled stoute, & ful of pride,
Ful kny^tly han chose her grouwde, & take
Her large baners, with ]>e wynde y-shake,
1210. seith Guydo] Guydo seith D 1.
1213. repare] repeire C. 1219. many] many a D 2, D 1.
1225. Atwyxe] Betwene D 1.
1227. On] And on D 1. 1228. caste] caste hem D 1.
1230. felde] }>e felde C, D 1. 1231. ouj>er] euery D 1.
1234. y-shake] dope shake D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 103 a.
1224
1228 The war
begins again.
1232
600
Deiphobus
Slaughter ly Deiphobus t Diomede t and Ajax. [BK. iv
kills the
Greek Cre-
seus.
The Greeks
flee.
Diomede and
Palamides,
with 20,000
knights,
fall on the
Trojans.
Ajax Tela-
raonius
slays Ceci-
lian,
a son of
Priam.
Til fei to-gidre sodeinly ban met.
And alderfirst, Dephebws hath set,
Freshe & lusty, and of herte Irous,
Yp-on a kyng called Cresevs ;
And of envie, fe story tellef fan,
On hors[e]-bake as f ei to-gidre ran,
Dephebus first with his spere as bliue
Jjora^-oute )>e brest euene dide liim ryve
Yn-to fe herte, fat lie spake no more.
J)e deth of whom Grekis pleine sore,
And for his lone swiche a wo f ei make,
))at al astonied* fei han fe feld forsake,
And gan anon vn-to her tentis fle.
)pe whiche, in soth, whan fei of Troye se,
Yp-on f e chas fast[e] gan hem spede,
Yn-to f e tyme fat worf i Dyomede,
And wif him eke f e kyng Pallamydes,
Of hi^e dispit, cruel and merciles,
"With twenty fousand worfi kny3tes alle,
Yp-on Troy ens sodeynly arn falle,
And mortally made hem lese her woye,
And to resorte horn ageyn to Troye.
And eke with Grekis, fel & furious,
})Q same tyme cam Thelamonyvs,
)5at hi^t Aiax, f e stronge kny^tly man ;
And like a lyowi amonge hem as he ran
Yp-on Troyens and hem ouer-sette,
Casuelly in his weye he mette
Cecylyen, lusty, freshe, and li^t,
And of his tyme a wonder manly kny^t,
And sone was to Priam, as I rede,
Whom Thelamoim, prikyng on his stede,
Slowe cruelly witJi his swerde anoon,
Racynge his arme fro fe sholder bon,
J)at he, alias ! fil ded in fe feld.
J5e deth of whom whan Dephebws behelde,
[leaf 105 b]
1236
1240
1244
1248
1252
1256
1260
1264
1268
\
1235. han] ha> D 1.
1246. astonied] attonis C. 1250. ]>e] om. D 2.
1254. arn] bene D 1. 1259. knyitly] myjty D 1.
1268. his] be D 1.
BK. iv] Ajax is unhorst. Deiphobus is mortally wounded. 601
Woder anon fan tigre or lyouw,
With a spere ran to Thelamouw,
And smet hym so f oru^ his platis bri^t,
Of verray force fat he made hym li$t,
And lese his sadel, be-set amonge f e pres.
pe whiche strok, whan Pallamydes
Behelde & sawe, & clerly gan aduerte,
Irous & wood, with a furious lierte
Caste hym anoon tavenge Thelamouw
On Dephebws, ful worf i of renouw,
And mortally his guerdouw hym to quyte ;
And with a spere, grourale for to byte,
Sharpe & kene, large, rouwde, & square,
Ful cruelly, or fat he was ware,
Jporu^ his harneis, wit/wrote more arest,
Dephebws he smote so in * f e brest,
Jpat with f e strok he brake f e shafte a-two,
So fat fe tronchouw & f e hed also
Left in his brest, fat f er was no weye,
Finally, but fat he muste deye —
J)er was noon helpe nor reniedie at al ;
J2e wouTide was so cruel and mortal,
)pat with fe lyf he my^t[e] nat abyde.
And in f is while, Parys cam be-side,
Of auenture, while f is Dephebus
Was of his wouwde so inly anguysshous,
And gan in hast for taprochen ner,
With face pale and [ri3t] an heuy cher,
And for distresse wepte pitously,
And his kny^tes commandid hastily,
His wouwded brof er oute a-syde fere
In al haste fat f ei shulde bere,
Oute of f e wardis fro f e grete pres,
Vn-to his peyne for to do reles,
For tabref e hym at leyser, or tavente
In open eyr. & f ei vn-to hym wente,
Deiphobus
1272
unhorses
Ajax.
1276 Palamides
1280
1284
breaks his
spear in
Deiphobus's
chest,
1288
1292 and wounds
him mortally.
Paris tells
1296
1300 his knights
to carry
Deiphobus
from the
field.
1304
1274. lijt] to lijt D 1. 1279. tavenge] to venge D 1.
1281. quyte] a quite A. 1284. was] were D 1.
1286. so] >o D 1— in] on C.
1287. brake] braste D 1— be] his A. 1303. fro] for A.
602 Deiphobus begs Paris to revenge him on Palamidcs. [BK. IV
laid on the
ground,
and appeals
to Paris,
as Death
will soon part
them,
to avenge
him on Pa-
lamides,
and slay him
before he,
Deiphobus,
dies.
Maugre pe Grekis, wher he woimded was,
And bare hym oute a ful esy pace [leaf 105 e] 1308
Toward pe wallis, fast[e] by pe toiw,
And witfi gret dool and lamentacioim
Ful soft[e]ly on pe ground e hym layde,
Til at the laste pis dedly man abreyde, 1312
With mortal loke and face funeral,
And chere pitous, so pat eche bal
Gan turnen vp of his dedly eye,
And euene pus to Paris he gan seie : 1316
Dephebus requirede his brother Parys to revenge his
deth vpone Kynge Pallamydes.1
" 0 broper myn, whom pat I louede so,
Haue now pite & re we vp-on my wo
Of kyndenes and of broperhede,
And to my wordis of roupe take now hede, 1320
Sith we be deth muste asonder twynne ;
For Antropos shal no lenger spy line
My lyues prede, but pe knotfte] breke.
Wherfor, broper, I praye pe be wreke 1324
Vp-on my deth, or I hen[ne]s pace,
3if J?at pou list [to] do me swiche a grace
Of kyndenes, ^et or I be ded, —
Out of my brest or pis speris lied 1328
Be rent a-wey, pat pou avenged be
Vp-on my fo, as I trust in pe,
J)at I may wyte he be ded or I,
And pat his spirit passe finally, 1332
And first descende depe douft in helle,
Eternally with Pluto for to dwelle,
Mid his bouwdis, pat dirke ben & lowe.
For, finally, so pat I may knowe 1336
)5at he be ded — per is no more to seie,
I gif no fors how sone pat I deie."
1309. wallis] wall D 2. 1317. new H D 1.
1320. take now] now take D 2, to take D 1.
1326. bat] om. D 1— a] om. D 2, D 1. 1327. I] om. D 2.
1328. pis] pe D 1. 1335. Mid] Amyd D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 103 c.
BK. iv] Palamides kills Sarpcdon. Paris shoots at him. 603
To whos requeste Paris toke good hede,
And in pe feld fast[e] gan hym spede,
For poi^t & wo pitously wepynge,
While his broper lay per languysshinge,
Nat awayting but only * after deth,
Vp-on pe point to 3elden vp pe breth. 1344
And with his kny3tes Paris vp & dowi
pe wardis sou3t aboutefn] envirouw,
Til at pe last Pallamydes he fond
With Sarpedouft fi3tynge hond of hond. 1348
JSfow was pis kyng, pis worpi Sarpedourc,
Come in diffence of hem of Troye toiw,
Whiche of his hond was a noble * kny^t.
And while pat he with al his ful[le] my3t 1352
Most besy was Pallamydes topresse,
Liche a lyowi whetted wip woodnes,
Pallamydes, in hert[e] nat aferd,
Lete fleen at hym with his sharpe swerd 1356
So my3tely, pat it was a wonder; [leaf 105 d]
For he his pi3e partid hath a-sonder,
And smote it of by pe harde boon,
pat Sarpedouw fil doun ded anoon —
So pat Troyens, whan pat he was slawe,
Were compelled of force hem to wztft-drawe,
poru3 pe pursut of kyng Pallamydes
Whiche vp-on hem was so mercyles, 1364
And as cruel as a wood lyouw,
After pe deth of worpi Sarpedouw.
pe whiche, alias, whan Paris did espie,
He markid hym with a cruel eye, 1368
And hent a bo we pat passingly was stronge,
And with an arwe to his tiler longe,
Entoxycat with venym in pe hed,
pat whom he smot per-w/t/t was but ded, 1372
And hitte hym so in pe aventaille,
1340. in] in to A, D 1— be] om. A, D 2.
1343. Nat] Noujt D 1— but only] only but C.
1345. kny^tes] kny3te D 1. 1351. noble] worjri C.
1353. topresse] to presse D 2. 1354. wi>] in D 2.
1350. his] a A. 1357. a] om. A. 1364. vp-on] on D 1.
1365. 1st as] as a D 1— 2nd as] or D 1.
Paris and
his knights
1340 seek
and find Pa-
lamides,
who cuts off
the thigh of
Sarpedon,
a Trojan ally,
1360 and kills
him.
Paris shoots
at Palamides
with a poi-
sond arrow.
604 Paris kills Palamides. Trojans plunder the Greek tents.
Paris's poi-
aond arrow
kills Palam-
ides.
The Greeks
flee.
Their new
Einperor
is dead.
The Trojans
pursue em.
They turn
and fight ;
but it's no
use.
The Trojans
plunder the
Greek tents.
jjoru^-oute J>e stuf and be bikke maylle
In-to his * brote fat it gan foru^ pace,
j)at he fil ded in fe silve place, 1376
Pallamydes, fis manful worfi kny^t.
Wher-foru^ Grekis toke hem to fe fli^t,
And made a noyse and a woful crye,
))e deth compleynyng wonder pitously 1380
Of her lord and my}ty gouernour,
But late chose to ben Emperour,
Her chefe socour and soue?-eyn refut.
But now, alias ! fei stonde destitut 1384
Of gouernauTCce, broke & disaraied,
With-oute guyde, ri^t as shepe dismayed,
Disconsolat & confortles y-shent,
}?at eche of hem fleth vn-to his tent. 1388
And f ei of Troye suede on fe chas
On hors[e]-bak a wonder huge pas,
And mercyles slowe )>em as bei fle,
On euery side, ]?at rou]?e was to se, 1392
With-oute pite or any o)>er grace :
For lyke lyou^s ])ei gan hem enchase
Til pei, compelled of necessite,
Constreyned wern J>oruj her cruelte 1396
To turne ageyn & hem silfe defende.
And J>ei of Troye doim anoon descende
Of hors[e]-bak, euene vp-on pe pleyn ;
And alle attonya — ]?er was 110?^ oj)er geyn — 1400
})ei gan ]>Q Grekis proudly to outraye,
And cruelly so to dis[a]maye,
)5at finally fer geyneth no diffence,
So mortal was J?e my^ti violence 1404
Of Troyens, fat Grekis so diffoille ;
And aldirlast at leiser fei dispoille [leaf io6«]
}5e Grekis tentis of gold and richesse.
At whiche tyme Troylus gan hyra dresse, 1 408
And Parys eke dourc to her navie
With Jjritty ]> ousand in her companye,
1375. his] >e C, om. D 2.
1400. alle] cm. A, D 1.
1405. OfJ Of >e D 2.
1382. ben] bene her D 1.
1404. mortal] mortally A.
BK. iv] Ajax Telamonius, ly his valour, saves the Greeks. 605
Kyllynge alle J?o, pleynly,* pat }>ei mette,
And on her schippes wylde fire ]>ei sette,
feat to J>e wallis of Troye }>Q cyte
Men my^tfe] [wel] }>e hydous flawme se.
And all hadde gon to destruccioim,
Nadde Aiax, y-called Thelamouw,
pom} his manhod and * kny^tly excellence
Come anon and maked resistence
Of J>e Grekis, with many worj>i kny^t.
And po * of newe be-gan J?e mortal fi$t
A-twen Troyens and )?e Grekis stoute,
])& rede blood raylyng al aboute
Vp-on ]?e pleyn, so hydous[ly] pei blede ;
And here & J?ere, bo)>e in lengpe & brede,
Ded & maymed, and ful pale of sijt,
Vp-on ]>e soyle lay many noble * kny^t,
Atwixen hem so cruel was ]?e hate :
For in her fi^t * to-gidre )>ei debate
As wylde boris, evene so )>ei fare,
For non of hem list o)>er for to spare.
And in Ipe felde worpi Thelamou?i
J^oru^ his kny^thod & his hi^e renou/i
So manly bare hym Grekis to diffende,
})at no man my^t in * manhod him amende,
]?oru3 al ]?e worlde Jjou^ men had [de] sou^t ;
For he ]?at day in his pe?*son hath wrou^t
Merueille in armys, J?oru3 his gret[e] my^t,
))at, in sothnes, Grekis anoon ri^t
Wit/i-outen hym hadde finally be shent,
And her shippes attonys lost & brent,
Jjoru^ ]?e pw?*sut of Paris ])ilke day,
And worpi Troylus, ]>at made swiche affray
Amonge[s] hem foruj his hi^e prowes,
1411. alle po pleynly] pleynly alle )x> C — pleynly] om. D 1.
1413. wallis] walle A, wal D 2. 1416. y-called] called D 1.
1417. and] and his C. 1418. Come] Home D 2.
1420. >o] so C. 1421. A-twen] Bitwene D 1.
1422. raylyng] re?mynge D 1.
1426. many] many a D 1 — noble] worj>i C.
1427. Atwixen] Bitwene D 1. 1428. fijt] sijt C.
1430. for to] om. A. 1434. in] in his C. 1435. men] me D 2.
1439. hadde finally] finally had D 1. 1441. jrarsut] swte D 1.
1412 The Greek
ships would
have been
fired,
and all de-
stroyd,
1416 but tor Ajax
3 Telamonius,
who rallies
tlie Greeks,
1420
1424
1428
1432
defends them,
1436 and does
wonders in
arms.
1440
606 The Trojans triumph. Prince Heber reproaches Achilles. [BK.IV
The Trojans
win the day.
50 Greek j^at fifty shippes, Guydo doth expresse, 1444
ships are lost.
Wer lost & brent or pat Thelamoura
To reskuse cam with his kny^tes dou?^
Vn-to pe se, pe remenaurct for to save.
But for al pat, Troyens fat day haue 1448
]5e hi^er hond of ])is mortal fi$t,
pom} pe force and pe grete my^t
Of Troylws only, whiche hath so many slayn
Of pe Grekis, in sop, pat J>ei were fayn 1452
Hem to withdraw, and pe felde to lete,
For in abidyng pei fond ful vnswete.
Howe pe Kynge of Trace kam to pe tente of Achile,
and exortyd hym to take the felde.1
Wherfore,* pel gan for to lese her place, [leaf loca]
Amonge whiche pe kynges sone of T?'ace, 1456
j)at Heber hi^te, wouwded to ]>e deth,
}5at he my^t vnnepe drawe liis breth,
"With a spere in his brest stikynge,
To Acliilles he cam in compleynyng 1460
Vn-to his tent, euene pere he lay,
Whiche in pe feld was nat al ]?at day
For the sake only of Polycene,
})e love of whom was so sharpe & kene, 1464
Ay at his hert, y-liche grene and newe.
To whom Heber, with a mortal hewe,
Compleyneth sore, arettynge cowardyse,
And in rnanhod a verray trowandyse, 1468
])B,t he pat day my^tfe] so — for shame ! —
W^t/idrawen him, in hyndering of his name,
Out of J>e feld, to hy??^ ful gret repref,
Of }>e Grekys seyng pe meschef 1472
pat pei wern In, and confusiourc,
Y])-on pe brinke of her perdicioutt —
Heber, the
wounded son
of the King
of Thrace,
comes to
Achilles's
tent,
and re-
proaches him
with
cowardice
for not help-
ing the
Greeks,
who are on
the brink of
perdition.
1451. only] om. D 1. 1455. Wherfore] perfore C.
1459. his] om. D 1. 1462. nat] nas A.
1464. was so sharpe] so sharpe was D 1.
1468. trowandyse] trewandyse A, truandise D 2.
1471. ful]omt)l.
1474. perdiciovm] confusiou?i A, D 2, distrucciovw D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 104 6 (misplaced after line 1460).
BK. iv] Heber dies. Achilles is told of the Defeat of the G-reeks. 607
Abrod pe feld to sen hem so lye dede,
And list not onys for to taken hede
Of his kny^thod Grekis to releue.
And while Heber gan hym pus repreve,
And ]>e spere whiche in his body was
Al sodeynly was drawen oute ; alias !
With eye * vp-cast in rancour and in Ire,
Ful pitously Heber dide expire
In pe presence of pis Achilles.
And per-wztA cam in a sodeyn res
In-to his tent a certeyn kny^t of his,
Of whom Achilles axep how it is
Amonge Grekis, & clerly how it stood.
And he answered, ful Irous in his mood :
" Certis," quod he, " ful vnhappily ;
For pei of Troye han so cruelly
Oure Grekis alle pis day in her fi^t
Ful shamefully put vn-to pe fli^t,
So many slayn — alias & wellawaye ! —
J)at vnnepe noon ne went away
Vn-hurt-maymed, or w it/? -oute wouwde,
So fel on vs Troyens were y-fouwde.
And of hem eke was swiche a multitude,
))at I suppose, shortly to conclude,
})is day per nas, to myn oppiniouw,
Nat left a man w/t/i-Inne Troye tourc
))at able was to stonden in bataille,
With spere or swerd his enmy to assaille,
I wene, in soth, but pei comen oute
With vs to ti^t, — per was so huge a route
)5at we ne my^t of force take on honde
In pe feld ageyn[e]s hem to stoude.
But now, my lord, it drawep vn-to nyjt,
}pat pei be feynt any more to fi^t, —
3 if it were plesyng to $our worpines,
To 30111 manhod & $oure hi^e noblesse
1476
1480
1484
1488
The spear
paid from
Heber's
breast,
and he dies
in Achilles's
tent.
Achilles is
told
how the
Trojans put
1492 the Greeks
to flight.
1496
1500
[leaf 105 c] 1504
1508
They were so
many
that the
Greeks
couldn't
stand against
them.
1475. so] om. A. 1481. eye] eyen C. 1494. ne] cm. D 2.
1499. nas] was A, D 1— to] in A.
1506. to] om. D 2 — stoude] with stonde A, wi> stonde D 2.
1509. to] vnto D 2.
608 Achilles is unmovd "by Entreaty. He is in love. [BK. iv
Achilles is
appeald to,
for Glory's
sake,
to arm and
conquer the
Trojans.
But he takes
no heed of it;
it goes thru
his ears like
a sound.
Honour and
manhood,
Love can lay
aside.
To take on ^ou to ^oure encres of fame,
For euere-more to $ete 3011 a name, 1512
And J>er-wz't/z-al for 300 re owne glorie,
Perpetuelly to ben in memorie,
To rysen vp and arme $ow anoon,
And sodeinly [vp-]on hem to goon, 1516
Feble and weyke to make resistence
Ageyn ^QUTQ manly famous excellence, —
Jper wer no more, but we wer victours
For euere-more, and verray conquerours, 1520
Durynge ]?e world to ben in remembrance,
And )>ei for euere brou^t vn-to outra[u]nce —
In sothfastnes, I haue of hit no drede."
But Achilles toke of hym noon hede, 1524
Nor to Heber J>at lay aforn hym ded,
Ful colde and starke, of colow like to led,
NOT onys list to $eve hym audience,
Nor vn-to hym han his aduertence — 1528
fter may no word in his hert[e] myne
To )>at he seide to maken him enclyne :
For, outerly, evene like he ferde,
As Jjou^e he no maner worde ne herde ; 1532
For )>oru3 his eris it passed as a soiw.
Lo, here be maner and condiciouw,
\)e verray custom & be pleyn vsau^ce
Of ])is loveris, hangyng in a trance : — 1536
Honour, worship, manhod, & prowes,
Strengbe, myjt, fame, and hardines,
Encres of name, vertu, and victorie,*
Kny^thod, noblesse,* and in armys glorie * — 1540
Alle bese can Lone leyn a-syde :
Swiche is be my^t of ]je god Cupide,
Whiche hertis hi^e vfith his hok * can sese —
1511. of] & D 2. 1513. >er-witfc-al] ther with D 1.
1514. ben] be put A. 1518. famous] and fanms D 1.
1519. victoura] victoryous A.
1529. herte] breste A— myne] fyne D 1.
1532 is omitted in D 1. 1533. For >oru$] As >ou3 D 1.
1539. victorie] glorie C.
1540. noblesse] noblesses C — glorie] victorie C.
1541. Loue] loue in sothe D 1.
1543. hertis] om. D 2— hok] hokis C, look D 1.
Achilles fears to offend Polyxena. Deiphobus is near Death. 609
So loth j>ei arne, pleynly, to displese
Ouper in cher or in contenauwce,
In wil or dede or disobeisaunce
To hir J>at is her souereyn lady dere.
For, with a loke of hir eyen clere,
She can ful wel daiwte[n] al her pride :
For Venus sone so felly can * prouyde
His arvvys kene to perce nerf & veyne,
And hem enlacen in his firy cheyne,
J3at only jjoru^ his importable charge [leaf ioed]
)3ei ben restreyned for to gon at large ;
Whiche cause was j)is day, dout[e]les,
ftat }>is noble hardy Achilles
Wolde nat, w^tA-outen any wene,
Come in fe feld, for drede of Polycene,
List J)at she were offendid in hir herte
3if any ping eskaped or asterte
Jpis Achilles, poru} mysgoue?'naii7ice.
And whiles he henge Jws in balauwce,
])Q Grekis fau^t with hem of J>e toiw
Til bri^t Phebws was at goynge dou7^,
)}at Troyens, of necessite,
For lak of Iy3t entre )>e cyte.
And while ]>at )?ei homward be repeired,
Lay Dephebw^1, of his lyf dispeired,
Compleynynge ay on his dedly wouwde.
And whan Paris & Troyl?^ han hym foimde
In ]?at meschef) J)ei gan wepe & crye,
As Jjei wolde for verray roupe dye,
"With woful noyse and with pitous soun :
}?e saltfe] teris gan to renne doun
On her chekis vp-on ouj>er syde ;
And whiles pei vppon hym abide,
J)is * wounded man gan drawe to his ende,
1544 Lovers are
loth to dis-
please their
lady-loves.
1548
1552
Achilles
won't take
1556 the field for
fear of
offending
Polyxena.
1560
1564
1568
Paris and
Troilus weep
for the
wounded
1572 Deiphobus.
1576
1547] In wille or speche to his souereyn lady dere D 1.
1549. her] ]>e D 2.
1550. so felly can] can so felly C — can] gan D 1.
1551. arwys] arwe A. 1558. feld] feerde D 1.
1562. henge Jras] bus henge D 1. 1564. Phebws] beemes D 1.
1571. >at] the A. 1573. 2nd vriih'] om. D 1.
1574. douTi] a doun D 1. 1575. On] Vppon D 1.
1577. pis] pe C.
610 Deiphdbus dies. Royal funerals for him and Sarpedon. [BK. IV
When Dei-
phobus
knows that
Paris has
slain Palam-
ides,
lie has his
spearhead
pluckt out,
and dies.
All Trojans
weep for him.
Priam gives
royal funerals
to Deiphobus
and Sarpe-
don;
and the
Greeks make
a rich tomb
for Palam-
ides.
Whos spirit was redy for to wende
Out of his brest, & his wery gost,
Ful hastely in-to an o]?er coste, 1580
With dedly eyen turned vp-so-doiw.
Whan J>at he knewe by relacioiw
))at Paris hath Pallamydes y-slawe,
Anoon he bad ])at J>ei shulde out drawe 1584
jpe large tronchoim with * j?e stelen hed ;
And per-w/t/fc-al anoon he fil douw ded.
And with j>e cors J?ei gan hem fastfe] spede
Toward J>e toun : but for it is no nede 1588
])e dool to write and lamentaciouw
Jjat maked was for hym and Sarpedoun
Jtorii^ J>e cite, &, namly, of J)e king
And of £e quene, euere in on wepynge, 1592
Of his brepren and his sustres dere,
It were but veyne to rehersen here.
How Prianvws burede Dephebws and Sarpedone, and
howe the Grekes choyes Agamenow Emperowre.1
But Priam hath with gret[e] dilligence
Twey tombes made, of royal excellence, 1596
For Dephebus and kyng Sarpedouri,
With many ymage graven invirouw,
And many knotte korven here & Bonder,
And buried hem but a litel assouwder, 1600
Lyke J>e custom of her rites olde.
And whiles Jjei j>e f este halwe & holde [leaf 107 o]
)?at called is )>e feste funeral,
J3e Grekis han do made in special 1604
A riche tombe to J>e wor)>i kyng
Pallamydes, and for his buriyng
Solempnely maked ordynau^ce
Amonges hem, as it was vsauwce ; 1608
And with gret dool & pitous heuynes
1585. large] longe D 2— with] & C.
1594. here] it here D 1. 1595. new IT D 1.
1598. many] many an D 1. 1599. many] many a D 1.
1600. litel] lite A, lyte D 2. 1608. Amonges] Amonge D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 105 a.
Agamemnon re-elected Emperor. Troilus routs the Greeks. 611
Jpei han fis kyng of gret worj>ines
Bially brou^t to his sepulture.
And for J?ei my^t longe nat endure 1612
With-oute an lied and a gouernour,
ftei chosen han to her Emperour, The Greeks
-r> i «. choose Aga-
By on assent and affecciourc, memnon as
. Emperor.
J3e worjn kyng, wyse Agamenoura. 1616
And after [fat] fei made no lettynge,
— J?ei of Troye — ]?e nexte day suynge,
With her wardis in-to ]>e feld to goon,
Fully purposed to fijtfe] with her foon ; . 1620
And Grekis manly in J>e face hem mette.
But worjji Troylus so hem ouersette, TroUus
)3at Greke was noon, shortly for to telle,
ftilke day a-forn hym myjtfe] dwelle, 1624
So cruelly he gan hem for to chase :
For where he cam or rode in any place,
Jpei fled his swerd, of her lif in doute,
His ^onge kny^tes rydynge hym aboute, 1628
Swyche as he was vsant for to lede ;
And euere in oon ]>e Grekis blod )>ei shede, siay Greeks
Whiche lyke a streme disteyned al fe pleyn.
And al pis while was so huge a reyne, 1632 amidst rain
and mist,
pe same day, and so huge a myst,
ftat euery man hath his felawe myst,
Specially vp-on }>e Grekis syde :
Jjat for Jje storme and her wotmdes wide, 1636
And for J>e manhod of J>is Troyan kny^t,
Wor])i Troylus, so ^ong, so fresh e & ly$t,
})ei were coact, poru^ his cruelte,
Maugre her my^t, for drede of deth to fle 1640 and pursue
To her tentis socour for to fynde, their tents.
Troyens * ay pursuyng be-hynde
Ful mortally, with a sterne pas ;
But for ]>e storme fei cessen of )>e chas, 1644
1617. new IF D 1— >at] om. D 2, D 1— ncl om. D 2.
1619. ]>e] om. A, D 2— to] om. D 1.
1622. hem ouersette] fersly on hem sette D I.
1635. ]>e] om. D 1. 1638. &] so D 2.
1642. Troyens] Troylus C — ay pursuyng] pwrswyng ay faste D 1.
TROY BOOK. S 8
612 Troilus slays Greeks. They get a Z-montlis Truce. [BK. IV
Troilus slays
Greeks till
nightfall.
For 7 days be
takes venge-
ance on them,
•so that they
get a 2-
months' truce
from Priam.
Agamemnon
sends mes-
sengers to
Achilles.
And home repeire to her cyte strong.
Til on f e morwe, fat f e larke songe,
j?at Troylus eft, most manly in bataille,
Jpe Grekis new cast hyni for tassaille; 1648
And Guydo writ, f is 3onge champiourc,
J^ilke day as he rod vp and doim
Amonge his foon, foru his hi^e renoun — [leaf 107 6]
Jtat fere nas kyng, duke, erle nor barons, 1652
With his swerd, where-so fat he wende,
))at of her lyf he made a mortal ende,
Al f e while fat Phebws gaf his ly^t ;
Til at fe laste fat it drowe to ny^t, 1656
])at he to Troye repeireth manfully.
And sevene dayes, suynge by and by,
jjis lif he ladde, with his kny}tes felle,
Vp-on Grekis, as Guydo can $ow telle; 1660
Ay newe & newe he gan hem so confouwde,
His cruel swerd was so kene grouwde,
))at f ei ne my3t in his mortal tene
Aforn his si$t abide nor sustene, 1664
Nor f e vengauftce fat he on hem toke :
For where he rod f e weye f ei forsoke,
In his traas f e reugis were so rede
Of hem, in soth, fat in fe feld lay dede. 1668
For whiche slai^ter and confusioim,
J)e Grekis newe sent[e] to f e tovw
For a trew to Priamws f e kyng ;
And he anoon graunted her axyng 1672
For two monf es, fully be thassent
Of alle f e lordis of his parlement.
Wher-of f ei made ful relaciouft —
Thenbassatours — to Agamenoiw ; 1676
And to her loggyng after furf e f ei went.
But how fat he vn-to Achilles sent
)3e mene while his messageris wyse,
So as I can, I shal anoon deuyse. 1680
1646. larke] large D 1. 1647. manly] ma?iful D 1.
1648. for] om. D 2. 1664. his] om. D 1.
1667. traas] traces D 1. 1670. to] vn to D 1.
1671. trew] trews A. 1676. to] of A.
1680. I shal anoon] anoon I shall D 1.
BK. iv] Agamemnon sends to Achilles. Ulysses s speech to Mm. 61 3
Achilles kept his Tent, and in no wyes wolde fight
agayns pe Troians, for pe love of Polycene ; for
the which, Agamenora, with pe princes of Grece,
kam to viset hym in his tent.1
AGamenouw, as Guydo list endyte,
His lordis sent Achilles to visite
For certeyn causes, like as ^e shal here,
Whiche in }>e story be rehersid here.
And with Vlixes and worpi Diomede,
Duke Nestor went, pleynly, as I rede,
To fyn only, by her conseillynge
In-to his hert pat pei my^t[e] bringe
And induce hym to han a fantasie
To be willy,* poru$ his chiualrie,
"With hem to stonde as he hap do to-forn,
)3at han so many of her men y-lorn
For lake only of his [hi^e] presence.
And Achilles with digne reuerence
Reseyved hem, & with ri^t kny^tly chere.
And after pat, whan pei wer set y-fere
Like her degre anoon in audience,
Wyse Ylixes, ful of elloquence,
Gan his tale prudently deuyse,
To Achilles seyinge in pis wyse :
1684
1688
1692
1696
Agamemnon
sends
Ulysses, Dio-
mede and
Nestor to
Achilles,
who receives
them with
reverence.
[leaf 107 e] 1700 Ulysses says
Vlixes taile to Achile.2
" Sir Achilles, most renomed of glorie,
Jporu^-oute pe world to ben in memorie,
And of kny^thod verray sours & welle,
Displese it nat, now pat I shal telle 1 704
To ^oure noble famous excellence,
Nor to $QW eris late be * noon offence
ftat I shal seyn, but of goodlyhede,
1687. fyn] hym D 1. 1690. willy] wille C.
1691. he hab do] J>ei have don D 1 — to-forn] a forn D 2.
1692. her] his A— y-lorn] lorn D 2, D 1.
1695. &] om. D 1— rijt] om. D 2. 1698. Wyse] With D 1.
1701. new IT D 1. 1704. now] om. D 1— shal] shal to 3ow D 1.
1705. noble] noble & D 1. 1706. be] it be C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 105 b.
2 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 105 c, in red (margin).
•Achilles,
let not my
words offend
you.
614 Ulysses s appeal to Achilles to help the Grreeks* [BK. IV
"Take heed
to what I say.
At first, you
agreed with
us all that
Troy must be
mind.
But you now
turn against
us,
and let us be
slain,
despoild,
and see our
ships burnt,
tho you slew
Hector.
Paciently J>at 30 wil take hede 1708.
To my wordes, seide of hert and fou^t,
I $ow ensure, for I feyne nou^t ;
j}is to seyn, $if $e remembre wel,
}3e first[e] cause and pwrpos euerydel 1712
Of )>e Grekis — }if $e haue mencioim —
Was fully set by oon entenciouw,
As wel of 30 w as of vs, parde,
Whan we cam firste to )>is cite, 1716
Kynges, princes, I excepte noon,
— Of whiche, in soth, to rekne euerychon,
3oure-silf[e] was, to speke in special,
On of )>e first & most principal — . 1720
Assentid ful how Troye pe cite
)3oru3 oure manhod distroied shuldfe] be —
Perpetuelly brou^t vn-to ruyne.
But now of new, I not what doth enclyne 1724
3oure worpines sodeinly to varie,
An[d] to oure purpos for to be contrarie :
Considerid first of ^ow ]>at ben so sage
\)e wronges done & )>e gret damage 1728
In Grekis lond of hem of fe touw,
Conspirynge ay to oure distrucciouw
— 3if 3^ aduerte wysly in ^oure fou^t —
)}at slay[e]n han and to an ende brou^t 1732
Ful many worpi, sifen go ful ^ore,
And ©f tresour, J>at no man may restore,
Dispoiled vs, & brou^t in gret distresse,
Oure goodes rau3t, oure gold & oure richesse, 1736
Oure shippes brent, pom} her cruelte !
And to al J?is, alias, ^e list nat se,
Now fat ]>ei ben (whiche may not be delaied)
)5oru3 jour manhod finally outtraied, 1740
Sith ^e han slayn her hope, her sufnsance,
Hector, in whom was al her afiiauwce,
Fully her trust and diffence also,
1710. for] >at D 2. 1716. cam] come A, D 2, D 1.
1721. ful] fully A. 1727. so] om. D 2, D 1.
1732. ende] hende A. 1739. be] om. D 1.
1741. 2nd her] and her A. 1743. and] and her D 1.
BK. iv] Ulysseslegs Achilles Jbrkis Fame's sake, tohelp the Greeks. 615
And Dephe'bus also is ago, 1744 "Deiphobus
A 3 vi 1 i - -, tooiskild,
And likly arn more to ben appaired
Fro day to day, and finally dispeired,
So frowardly Fortune on hem lowreth : a«d Fortune
frowns on the
And now ^owre honour & $our fame floureth 1748 Tr°Jans-
In his worship, and $oure hi^e renoim [leaf 107 d]
Atteyned hath the exaltacioiw But you are
.,,...,„_, on the top of
And nicest pnkke of Fortunys whele, Fortune's
It were gret wronge, and 36 loke wele, 1752
Of wilfullnes for to ben vnkynde
To hir ]>at 36 so frendly to 3011 fynde,
Or to be froward while she is benygne,
By influence graciously tassygne 1756
Hir spokes meue vn-to ^oure plesauwce, and can turn
And hap to -tourne with plente on* $our chauwce, please.011
After whos help $ou nedeb nat to calle.
Wherfore, alias, whi wil 30 suffer passe 1760 why win you
* i i ,, r suffer the loss
5oure noble lame, of verray wilfulnes, of your fame?
While it is hiest in his wor bines 1
3oure kny3% prudence it shold not asteHe !
Of whiche bing euery gentil herte 1764
Sholde haue roupe and compassiouw. We pray you
Wherfore we praie, of discreciourc, ou?wwj8 "
J?at 36 3ou shape J?is purpos to amende,
And ]>at 36 wolde of hertfe] condescende 1768
With vs to stonde kny3tly in ))is werre,
By 3owre manhod, ]>at is spoke of so ferre,
feat 3our renouw to ]>e worldis ende so that your
, , renown may
Reported be, wher-so ]>at men wende, 1772
Perpetuelly, by freshnes of hewe
Day by day to encrese newe, and daily
))at )>e triumphe of ))is hi3e victorie
Be put in story and eke in memorie, 1776
And so enprented, fat fo^etilnes
]STo power haue by malis to oppresse
1744. ago] y goo D 1. 1745. arn] bene D 1.
1746. finally] finally be D 1. 1747. lowreth] frowne}> D 1.
1748. jour] om. A. 1750. the] J>e vprest D 1.
1754. so] nowe so D 1 — to 3011] om. D 1. 1758. on] of C.
1760. passe] to passe D 1. 1763. not] om. D 1.
1775. hije] om. A, D 2.
616
Ulysses ends his Appeal to Achilles for help. [BK. iv
" You are
recklessly
clouding your
fame by not
aiding us.
You see
Greeks slain
before your
tent,
and heed
them not ;
you, who
once were
their cham-
pion;
you, without
whom we can
do little.
We pray you
help us ! "
3oure fame in kny^thod, dirken or difface, •',,-
)3at shyneth $it so clere in many place 1780
With-oute eclipsynge, sothly, pis no les —
Whiche to conserve * 36 be now rek[e]les,
Of wilfulnes to cloude so J?e Iy3t
Of $oure renoiw J?at whilom shon so bri^t, 1784
3oure my^ty hond of ma?ihood to watMrawe.
Considred first how Grekis arn y-slawe
To-fore ^oure tent, with mortal woimdis wide,
Jjoru^-oute }>e feld vp-on Query side, 1788
And haue disdeyn, only for lak of rouj>e,
— Alias J>e while ! — for a litel sloujje
To leie to hond in her meschef at al,
Jtat. whilom wern her stronge my^ty wal, 1792
Her chef diffence and her champioim,
Souereyn helpe and protecciou.%,
For whom 36 han so ofte shad 30 we blood,
Ageyn her foon with hem whan 36 stood, 1796
Ful my3tely her enmyes to assaille,
WitTi-oute whom pei litel may availle, [leaf ios a]
In verray soth, — ne noon of vs echon,
But 36 of kny3thod list with vs to goon 1800
Ageyn Troy ens as * 36 wer wont to do,
As is oure trust and final hope also,
J)at 36 shal helpe and oure socoure be.
And her-vppon, we praie now* J?at 30 1804
Seye 3 oure avis and 3oure fulle wille."
The answer of feres Achile to the mocyown of wies
Vlixes and othere princes of Grece.1
And fan anon, ]?e hardy ferse Achille,
1782. conserve] considers C — now] now to A.
1783. cloude] conclude A. 1784. whilom] somtyme D 1.
1786. arn y-slawe] ben slawe D 1. 1791. in] at D 1.
1792. whilom] somme tyme D 1.
1794. and] and eke D 1.
1798. litel] lightly D 2. 1801. as] lik as C— to] om. D 2.
1802. final] oure D 1. 1804. now] how C.
1806 is expanded into three lines in D 1, as follows :
Whe]>er }e liste vs to save or spille
And )>a7ine anoon Achilles ]>e hardy
Hem answered sterne & boldely.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 106 a (misplaced after line 1808).
Achilles answers Ulysses. The War was founded on Folly. 617
Whanwe Vlixes concludid hadde his tale,
With a face for anger ded and pale 1808 Achilles, pale
with anger,
Seide euene Jms, al openly and pleyn : says;
" Sir Ylixes, $if so be as * $e seyn, "uiysses!
And ban declared, in conclusion,
feat oure pwpos and entenciouw 1812
Was finally to brennen and distroye if we meant
to burn Troy,
feis royal cite )?at is called Troye,
I holde, in soth, (me liketh nat to lye)
feat oure entent was grounded on folye — 1816
To putte vs alle Jjoru^ indiscreciouw,
Of rekleshed and basty mocyourc,
Of lyfe and deth in swyche lupartye.
And specially alle l>e cheualrye 1820 chivalry of
Greece for a
Of Grekis lond, for so smal a )>ing — Paltry thins-
So many prince & many worjri kyng,
feat ban iupartid ber body & her good,
I-lost her lyf, and I-spent her blood, 1824
Whiche my$t haue be?^ ful wel at home in pes.
And is nat now ]>e kyng Pallamydes Sainmide8 is
I-slawe also, as who seij) * but of newe,
feat was so wis, so manly and so trewe, — 1828
Of whom }>e lyf was of more pris allone 5h08e,Jife
fean ]>e cause for whiche fat we echone SSJour0**
Be gadred here, who-so loke a-ri^t. cause;
And of Grekis many a noble knyst 1832 and many
noble Greeks
feat baue be slayn, bo)>e of j?e wordiest, are wu.
fee world to seke, and ]?e manly est :
For oute of euery lond and region,
On Grekis * party, & with hem of )>e tourc, 1836
Of chiualrie and of kny^thod floure,
To wywne in arrays worship & honour,
1807. hadde] ha> D 1.
1810. be] om. D 2— as] rijt as C, D 2, A.
1813. finally] fully D 1— and] and to D 1.
1816. on] vpoTi D 1. 1822. prince] Princes D 1.
1823. good] bloode D 1. 1824. blood] goode D 1.
1825. ful wel at home] at horn ful wel D 1.
1827. sei>] seie C. 1830. Jxrt] om. D 1.
1836. Grekis] >e grekis C— with] om. D 1.
1837. and of kny^thod] )>e verray souerayn D 2, D 1, & of
knyghthood the verray souereyn A.
618 Achilles refuses to risk his Life again in the War. [BK. IV
" More must
die if the war
lasts.
Perhaps all
gentle blood
will perish,
and churls
alone be
lords.
Hector has
gone,
and I might
have gone
too.
But I will
not risk my
life further.
Assemblid ben, and come fro so ferre, —
Of whiche, in soth, by dures of }>is werre
Ful many oon in pe felde is ded ;
And, verraily, wip-outen any dred,
}2er * shal wel more $if J>e werre last :
For every day J>e noumbre lasseth fast
Of worjri kny^tes, ded w^t/i-oute roupe,
)}at I dar seyn & conclude of troupe,
In Jns rage, furious and wood,
Ful likly is j>at al pe gentil blood
Jporu^-out }>e world shal distroied be ;
And rual folke — and pat wer gret pite —
Shal han lordshipe & holy goumiauwce,
And cherles eke, with sorwe & meschauwce,
In euery lond shal lordis ben allone,
When gentil-men slay[e]n bene echone.
Is nat Hector, J>at was so noble a kny^t,
J2at was pis worldis verray so?zne & li^t,
Of manhood flour, slay[e]n pitously
In ])is werre? — in soth, and so my^t I,
Par auenture, whiche may nat atteyne
To his noblesse, }if I shal nat feyne.
For be what way shal we ]>e deth eschewe,
With al oure my^t }if Ave it purswe
Fro day to day while fat we lyn here 1
frerfore, shortly, me for to requere,
Touching )>e werre, ouj>er for to praye,
Is but [in] veyn. & herkeue what I seye :
I nat purpose in pis werre or strif
For to iuparte any more my lif,
For leuer I haue bat palled be my name
j)an to be slayn, & han an Idel fame ;
For worpines, after deth I-blowe,
[leaf 108 6]
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1840. dures] diuersite D 1. 1843. per] f>ei C.
1846. of] for a D 1. 1847. furious] so furious D 1.
1849. f>oru$-out] Thoru} Jns D 1— shal distroied] distroied shal
1851. holy] hooly be D 1. 1852. cherles] clerkes D 1.
1856. &] om. D 1. 1858. in soth and so] and sothly so D 1.
1862. it] be deth D 1. 1864. for] om. D 1.
1867. or] of D 2.
BK.IV] Achilles urges the Greeks to make Peace with the Trojans. 619
Is but a wynde, & lasteth but a prowe ;
For pou3 renoiw & pris be blowe wyde,
For^etilnes leith it ofte a-syde
By lengpe of ^eris and obliuiouw,
J?oru3 en vie and fals colluciouw. 1876
)pe laude of kny^thod & of worpines,
Of wysdam eke, & of gentilnes,
Fredam, bouwte, vertu, & swiche grace,
For^etilnes can dirken and difface ;
And, J>er-wit/i-al, malys and envie
I-serid hath pe palme of chiualrie
By fals report. Wherfore, I seie, for me,
I wil of wisdam swiche foly lete be,
And in quiete forpe my lyf now lede ;
And ouer pis, to 3011 }>re I rede
To seke pes with Troyens ^if $e may,
In hasty wyse, wi)>-oute more delay. 1888
}?is is my conseil, platly, to ^ow alle,
Or pat meschef of deth vp-on $ow falle ;
It were wel don pat 30 token liede,
Bope Vlixes and pou Dyomede, 1892
And Nestor eke, sipen 36 be wyse,
To werke, pleynly, lyke as I deuyse.
j?is is pe somme & fyn of myn entent,
And so reportep to hym pat hap 3011 sent." [leafiosc] 1896
And pei anoon, with short conclusions,
Repeired ben to Agamenouw
With swiche answer as 36 han herd me seyw,
It nedeth nat to write it new ageyn. 1900
And her-vppon kyng Agamenou?z
Lete make anoon a convocaciouw
Of his lordis ; &, in her presence,
Fro point to point, sothly, in sentence 1904
He hath reheresed how pat Achilles
Was desirous for to han a pes
1872 "Fame is but
a wind,
and is soon
forgotten.
1880 Oblivion
darkens it:
malice sears
it.
For me, I
will lead my
1884 life in peace;
and I advise
you to make
peace with
the Trojans.
That is my
decision."
Ulysses and
his fellows
report this
to Agamem-
non,
who calls a
Council of the
Greek lords.
1876. envie] emnyte D 1.
1881. J>er-wtU-al] other with all D 2. 1884. lete] lat D 2.
1890. of] or D 1. 1892. >ou] ?e D 1.
^893. And] om. D 1— be] be so D 1. 1896. hym] $ow D 1.
1897. new IF D 1. 1898. to] vn to D 1.
620 Menelaus declares the Greeks can win without Achilles. [BK. iv
As Achilles
won't fi^rht
against Troy,
what is to be
done ?
Menelaus
says:
"I'll never
consent to
make peace.
Hector and
Deiphobus,
the best Tro-
jans, are
slain;
and tho
Achilles
won't help
we can win
without
him."
Ulysses and
Nestor deny
this.
They say :
Of course
Menelaus
won't consent
to peace,
With hem of Troye, and platly how ]>at he
For no praier \vil in no degre 1908
Ageyn Troyens, with spere no[r] with shelde,
In helpe of Grekis ben arm yd in )>e feld.
Wherfore, J?e kyng, as he ]>at was ful wys,
Her-vppon axed her avys, 1912
And what hem Jjou^te was best for to do
In }>is mater, sij?en it stood so.
And first of alle speke]) Menelay,
With angry chere, & seyde, platly, nay, 1916
To han a pes it was nat his entent,
Ne fat he wolde per-to be of assent,
SiJ>en ]>e cite, in conclusion,
Stood on ]?e prikke of his distruccioiw, 1920
Now fat Hector & Dephebws were dede
)5at whilom wern her trust \n euery nede
And her diffence ; but now f ei arn a-goo — •
Fare wel her trust & her hope also, 1924
With-oute more, and al her olde pride,
J3ei may nat now but after def abide :
" And trustej? wel, wzt/i-oute[n] any les,
)>ou3 it so be fat fis Achilles 1928
Ne helpe vs nat toward oure emprise,
We dar nat drede, in no maner wyse,
With-outen hym [for] to han victorie
By oure manhood & oure owne glorie, — 1932
I am ful sure her-of and certeyn."
But Ylixes gan replie ageyn ;
Nestor also, of sodeyn mociouw,
Contrarie was to his oppiniourc, 1936
Affermynge, platly, J?at no wonder was
\)ou$ Menelay, sothly, in }>is cas
Vn-to [)?e] pes wolde nat assent ;
For* openly pei wiste what he ment, 1940
1908. wil] wolde D 1. 1912. axed] axed openly D 1.
1913. And] In D 1. 1920. on] of D 1.
1921. new IF A— were] bene D 1.
1923. arn] ben D 1.
1930. dar] thar A, D 2. 1934. gan] gan to D 1.
1937. bat] >ou3 D 1. 1938. £0113] That D 1.
1940. For] Ful C.
BK. iv] Ulysses & Nestor oppose Menelaus. who causd the War. 621
For he was grouwde & rote of al J>e werre •
And cause also pel comen were * so ferre
Oute of her lond, — he & }>e quene Eleyne.
And for J?e sake only of hem tweyne,
j)e Grekis alle, whiche no man may denye,
Her lyves putte in swiche lupartye,
For hym & hir, y.i )?e groiwde he sou3t ;
For wel J?ei wiste Jjat he rou3t[e] nou^t,
J)is Menelay, what wo )>ei endure,
So he his wyf my^t ageyn recure.
And wher he sei)> jjat Hector is ded,
He hath an eyr, to speke of manlihed *
And of kny^thod, as it wil be fonde,
And called is Hector }>e secouwde, —
Worjji Troylus, whiche pat is his broker ;
In al this world is not swiche. anojjer
Of worjjines, for to reknen al :
For he of Troye is J>e my^ti wal
And diffence, now Hector is [a-]goon ; —
3e knowen it wel $oure silven euerychon,
3if it so be Jjat 36 list take hede, —
Whos sharp [e] swerde sore doth vs blede
Euery day in his furious hete,
Amyd Jje feld whan we with him * mete.
And in stede of worpi Dephebus,
Whiche in his tyme was wonderly famw-s,
His broker Paris is now foiwde at al
In worjnnes of kny^thod perigal,
So J>at of hem we han non avanwtage
In-to )>is hour, but raper gret damage,
To reknen al, sipen we be-gonne :
)5is verray soth, we haue but litel wowne,
But we ar lykly alwey more to lese
3if we contune ; but si]>e we may chese,
1944
for he, Mene-
laus, and his
wife Helen
were the sole
cause of the
war,
[leaf 108 rt]
1948 the source of
all the Greek
woe;
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
and tho Hec-
tor is dead,
a 2nd Hector,
Troilus,
slays Greeks
daily,
and instead
of Deiphobus,
Paris fights.
1972 The Greeks
have won
little,
and are likely
to win less.
1941. grounde & rote] Rote & ground D 2, roote & groiwde
D 1— be] bis D 1.
1942. were] was C. 1952. manlihed] manhed C, A.
1953. wil be] is wel D 1.
1960. knowen] knewew D 2 — it] om. D 2.
1964. we wit/i him] he witfc vs C. 1965. in] in be D 1.
1973. we] om. A— ar] bene D 1.
622 The Trojan traitor Calchas urges the Greeks to persevere. [BK. iv
Calchas,
the Trojan
traitor,
urges the
Greeks not to
change their
purpose,
against the
will of the
Gods.
Troy must be
destroyd.
Victory is
certain
if the Greeks
persevere.
It wer holsom to lyven in quiete,
To ban a pes, and pis werre lete,
By oon assent, sijjen 30 be wyse."
1976
Howe the Grekes had broke ther sege, ne had J)e
exortacyon ybe of ]>e Troy an traytcwr Calchas.1
And with J>at word, Calcbas gan to rise,
fie Troyan traytar, with a pale chere
For verray Ire, & seide as 36 sbal here :
"A, worjn princes, what finke 36 to done,
To cliaimge so, lyk as doth ]?e mone,
^oure olde purpos & 3 our first en tent,
Ageyn J?e wil and comaurcdement
Of )>e goddis, J>at euery Jring gouerne
By purviauwce, who-so can discerne.
Alias, alias, whi nyl $e'at J)e leste
Credence and feitb ^even to her heste,
Whiche in no wyse may nat be fallible :
For, in soth, it wer an impossible,
0 utterly, but Troye }>e cite
Of ordinance and necessite,
Mut be distroied hen[ne]s but a lyte,
3if ^oure sloujje be it nat to wyte,
So }>at victorie, worship,* and honour,
And final palme eke of J?is labour,
To be reported on water & on lond,
Reserued ben hooly to ^oure bond,
In ^oure purpos $if $e forjje con tune,
And hindre nat of foly ^oure fortune.
)3is is in soth, I dar it wel conclude,
And perilous is ]>e goddis to illude
Of necligence or slouj?e wilfully.
Wherfore, I rede )>at now manfully,
Of herte & Jjou^t, & of ful vnite,
[leaf 109 a]
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
1979. new IT A. 1981. new H D 1— A] 0 D 1.
1983. olde] firste D 1— first] olde D 1. 1987. leste] lette D 1.
1995. victorie worship] worship victorie C.
1996. eke] oon. D 2. 1998. 3oure] oure D 1.
1999. contune] fortune D 1. 2001. is] om. A, D 2.
2004 is omitted in A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 106 A (misplaced after line 1978).
BK. iv] Calchas persuadesthe Greeks to fight. Troilus attacks em. 623
Flatly deuoidynge al ambyguyte,
To sette vppon, & kny^tly to reswnie
3oure force ageyn, fully to conswme
3oure cruel foon ; & late be shet with-oute
Wanhope & drede, dispeir & euery doute,
Castynge of peril, sloujje & cowardyse ;
And lete manhod outterly dispise
Al drede of deth, pat cause]) hertis feinte
With cowardyse for to bew atteynte,
feat finally, as goddis han be-hi^t
feoru^ prescience of her eternal my^t,
To victorie J>at $e shal atteyne
Lyke $oure desyre, — per is no more to seyne."
And whan Calchas, in conclusiou/z,
feis fals[e] tray tour vn-to Troye tou?z,
fee Grekis had poru^ his wordis faire,
Touching }>e werre, put out of dispaire,
Of hert al oon [J^ei] caste hem to fulfille
Hooly his couwseil, pou^ so be fat Achille
Be froward [ay] to helpe hem in her nede —
feei yd no force, & toke of it now hede ;
But euerychon pei hem redy make,
As $e shal here, pe feld in hast to take.
2008 Calchas urges
the Greeks
to give up
despairing
and dread of
death ;
victory is
certain for
them.
2012
2016
2020
They resolve
to fight on,
2024 and pay no
heed to
Achilles.
2028
Aftir the trewes, the Troyans and pe Grekes resumede
the felde, in pe which the Grekis might not
susteyne against pe swerde of Troylus; for ]>e
which Agamenon sent for a trewe of vj monethes.1
The trew[e]s passid of j?e mo7i)>es tweyne,
In-to J?e feld fe Grekis hem ordeyne ;
And J>ei of Troye ageyn he??^ issen oute.
And worfi Troylus with an huge route 2032
fee Grekis gan alderfirst assaille ;
And with his swerd he made first to raile
fee rede blod Jjoruj her harnes bri^t,
feat as j>e deth )>ei fled[de] fro his si$t : 2036
2016. my3t] si3t D 1. 2017. 30] he D 2.
2024. so be J«t] ]>at so D 1— be] om. A, D 2.
2027, 28 are omitted in D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 107 a.
They take the
field,
Troilus at-
tacks em,
and they flee.
624 Troilus slays 1000 Greek knights, & unhorses Diomede. [BK. iv
To avenge
Hector's
death,
Troilus slays
1000 Greek
knights,
and puts the
rest to flight.
Next day
Diomede
kills Trojans
till Troilus
unhorses
him,
and he is
borne,
bruisd,
off the field.
For he J>at day Jjoru^ his cruelte
Cast hym fully avenged for to be
Vp-on J?e deth of Hector, outterly.
And as Dares reherseth specially, 2040
A pousand kny^tes J>is Troyarc champiouw
J?at day hath slayn, ridyng vp & dovw,
As myn auctor, Guy do, list endite — [leaf 109 &]
Saue after hym I can no ferfer write, 2044
In his boke he ^eveth him swiche a name —
j?at by his manhod & his kuy^tly fame
\>Q Grekis alle wer put vn-to J?e fi^t
Al Jnlke day, til it drowe to ny^t. 2048
And on the morwe in fe daw[en]ynge,
})Q Grekis han, at Phebws vp-rysynge,
I-armed hem with gret dilligence,
Ageyn Troyens to stonden at diffence. 2052
Amonges •whom )>at day, as I rede,
So wel hym bar worjri Diomede,
J)at many Troyan Jjoru^ his cruelte
Hath loste his lyf, til Troilus gan to se 2056
J}is Diomede in )>e feld ridyng,
To whom anoon, wet/t-oute more lettyng,*
With his spere jjrowe * in-to J)e reste,
J^is Troilus rod, & hit hym oon the breste 2060
So my^tely, fat of verray nede
Dou??, of his hors he smet Dyomede,
Al-be of wouwde he had[de] no damage.
And furiously Troilus in his rage, 2064
Of envie gan hym to abreide,
Whan he was douw, J>e love of Cryseide,
Of his deceit and his trecherie.
And Grekis pan fast[e] gan hem hye, 2068
Amonge the hors in meschef where he lay,
To drawe him oute in al ]?e hast pel may ;
And on a sheld, brosed & affraied,
)5ei bare hiw horn, so he was dismaied 2072
2047. 2nd >e] om. D 2, D 1. 2058. lettyng] tariyng C.
2059. >rowe] >rewe C— in-to] in D 1.
2060. rod] om. D 1.
2070. To drawe] And drowe D 1— oute] om. D 1— J>ei] he D 1.
BK. iv] Troilus unhorses loth Menelaus and Agamemnon. 625
Of fe stroke, home vn-to his tent.
And Menelay )>e same while haj? hent
A my3ty * spere tavenge Dyomede,
And to Troilus fast[e] gan hym spede,
Fully avysed to vnhorsen hym anon.
But Troylus first made his stede goon
So swyfte a course toward Menelay,
J)at he anoon at ]>e erpe lay, —
So my^tely he hit hyw with his spere,
ftat shelde & plate my^tfe] hym nat were,
To sauen hym from a mortal wouwde.
But his kny^tes, anon as pei him fouwde,
Oute of )>e pres whaw pei had* hym rent,
)5ei bar hym horn to his owne tent,
£e Grekis ay stondyng in distresse
)>e* kny^thod & J>e* hi3e prowes
Menelaus
charges
Troilus,
2076
2080 butisun-
horst by him,
2084 and carried
away by
Greeks.
2088
Of J)is Troylus, whiche ha}> hem so beleyn,
On Query part, where he rod on )>e pleyn,
Til vn-to tyme ]>at Agamenou?i
In-to fe felde is avaled douw [leaf 109 c]
With many wor)>i abouten his baner,
ftat shon ful shene ageyn Jje sowne cler.
And vrith his kny^tes [hym] ridyng environs
He sore enchased hem of Troye touw,
Wouwdeth & sleth & put hem to pe fli3t,
Hym silfe aquytynge lik a manly kny^t ;
But for al J>at, wit^-oute more abood,
Amongis Troy ens fersely as he rood,
jtis worfi kyng, grete Agamenou7^,
With a spere Troylus smet hym doun
Maugre his Grekis — J)er* geine)? no socour.
And whan pei sawe her lord, her gouernour
2073. vri -to] to D 1.
2075. my^ty] my^te C— tavenge] to venge D 1.
2080. be] om. D 1. 2081, 82 are transposed in D 2.
2081. his] a D 2.
2082. &] nor D 2, ne D 1. 2085. had] han C.
2087. t>e] And so be D 1— ay] om. D 1 2088 >e] his C.
2039. whiche] bat D 1. 2090. rod] lyth D 2.
2091. vn-to] vn D 2— tyme] be tyme D 1.
2095. hym]om. D 1.
2098. aquytynge] quityrcge D 1— manly] manful D 1.
2103. ber] bei C, bo D 1. 2104. 2nd her] and A.
Agamemnon
2092
2096
2100
2104
slays Trojans
till Troilus
smites him
down.
626 The Greeks get Q-months Truce. Cressid to visit Diomede.
Seeing the
injury Troilns
does the
Greeks,
In swyche meschef at pe grourcde lyende,
}5ei hent hym vp, & made hym to ascende,
ftoru} her manhod, on his stronge stede.
And he of wyt gan to taken hede, 2108
And consider wysly in his pou^t
In what disioynt Troylus had hem* brou^t,
And how his* Grekis, for al her gretfe] pride,
To-forn his swerde my^tfe] nat abide — 2112
He prudently, of hi^e discreciouw,
Agamemnon J}is noble kny^t, kyng Agamenoim,
As he pat hadde ay his aduertence
On gouernauwce, poru^ his prouidence, 2116
Whan?ie he sawe his Grekis go?zne faille
And wexe feble to stonden in bataille
For lak of stuf pat shulde hem recouwforte,
Ful prudently he made hem to resorte, 2120
Eueryche of hem, to his owne tent.
And after pat he hath to Priam sent
For a trew, to Troye pe cite,
For sixe monpes, 3 if it my^tfe] be. 2124
And by his conseil, Priamws pe kyng,
With-oute abood granted his axyng,
Al-be pat so??zme, as Guyclo list endite,
Were euel apaied so longe to respite 2128
Her mortal fon, in any maner wyse ;
But 3it his grauftt, as $e han herd deuise,
Stood in his strengpe fully, as I rede.
sends his men
to their tents,
and asks
Priam for a
6-months'
truce,
which he
grants.
Howe doubyle Cresseyd, agayns the wylle of here
Fader, went to vyset Dyomede in his Tente.1
In which e tyme, of verray womanhede, 2132
Cryseyde list no lenger for to tarie,
hir fader wer per-to contrarie,
2136
Cressid re-
solves to visit For to visite, and to han a sbt
Diomede. ,
Of Diomede, pat was be-come hir kny^t
2108. he] om. D 1. 2109. consider] considrid D 1.
2110. hem] hym C, D 1. 2111. his] he C. .
2116. prouidence] prudence D 1. 2120. Ful] And D 2.
2123. trew] trews A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 107 c (misplaced after line 2134).
BK. iv] As Cressid pities wounded Diomede, she gives up Troilus. 627
Whiche had of Troylus late koi^t a wourcde.
And in his tent wharcne she ha]? hym foimde,
Benignely, vp-on his beddis syde
She set hir douw, in j>e silve tyde,
And platly cast in hir owne pou^t, [leaf 109 d]
Touchinge Troylus, bat it was for iiou^t
To lyue in hope of any more recure,
And Jxn^t she wolde for no J>ing be vnsure
Of puruyaurcce, nor watft-oute stoor : —
She $af anoon, w^'tA-outen any mor,
Hooly hir herte vn-to Diomede.
Loo ! what pite is in wommanhede,
What mercy eke & benygne routhe —
pat newly can al her olde* trouthe,
Of nature, late slyppe a-syde
KaJ>er J>a?me )>ei shulde se abide
Any man in meschef for hir sake !
])& change is nat so redy for to make
In Lombard Strete of crowne nor doket —
Al paie is good, be so be prente be set :
Her lettre of change doth no man abide !
So Jmt be wynde be redy and be tyde,
Passage is ay, who-so list to passe !
No man is lost pat list to seke grace —
Daunger is noon but couwterfet disdeyn ;
)}e se is calme and fro rokkis pleyn :
For mercyles neuer man ne deide
£at sou$t[e] grace ! — recorde of Cryseyde,
Whiche finally hath ^oven al hir herte
To Diomede in reles of his smerte,
And praide hym to be ri^t glad & li^t,
And called hym hir owne maw, hir kny^t,
And hym behi^t, ra]>er J>an he deie,
In euery fing how she wolde obeye,
)}at were honest, hym to do plesauftee :
2140
2144
Cressid sits
on Diomede's
bed, and,
throwing over
Troilus,
gives him her
heart,
2148 for pity's
sake,
2152 ashe'ssufferd
for her.
Not in Lom-
bard St.
could you
change a
2156 ^ucat 80 soon •
2160
2164 Cressid love*
Diomede,
2168
and promises
to obey him.
2150. olde] newe C.
2153. man] om. D 1.
2144. wolde] nolde D 1.
2152. se] so D 2, se and A.
2160. to] om. A, D 2.
2168. called] callith A, D 1, calleb D 2— 2nd hir] and A, & D 1.
2171. hym] to hym D 2.
TROY BOOK. T T
628 Achilles agrees to let his Myrmidons help the Cheeks. [BK. IV
Cressid would
rather change
her love than
not pity
Diomede.
Now I'll tell
you how Aga-
memnon
goes to
Achilles,
and prays
him to save
the Greeks.
Achilles still
wants peace,
but, for love
•of Agamem-
non,
agrees that
his Myrmi-
dons shall
r fight with
the Greeks,
tho he still
loves
.Polyxena.
For leuere she had chaurage & variance 2172
Were foimde in hir jmwne lak of pite,
As sittyng is to femynyte,
Of nature nat [to] be vengable,
For feith nor o])e, but raper mercyable 2176
Of marmys lyf stondyng in distresse.
Her-of no more ; for now I wil me dresse
To telle forjje in my translaciouw
Ceriously how Agamenouw 2180
Duryng J?e trewe & J?e tyme of pes
Hym siluen went vn-to Achilles,
Besechynge hym som rewarde to haue,
Of his kny^thod Grekis for to saue, 2184
And his presence no more to wz't/fdraw,
To suffren hem so mortally be slawe
Of her enmyes, pompos and elat.
But Achilles, alweye indurat, 2188
I-liche newe, bojje in herte & J»ou^t,
From his purpos platly chau?ige}> nou^t, [leaf no a]
Fully enclyned for to han a pes.
But for-as-moche as Jns Achilles 2192
Of enternes and affecciou^
So lovynge was to Agamenouw,
He vn-to hym grauwted at ]je leste
A gret parcel touchinge his request : 2196
J)is to seyn, J?at Jns Achilles
Granteth to hym hys Mirundones,
Ful kny^tly men, only in his absence
"With [J?e] Grekis to make resistence 2200
In ]>e felde ageyn hem of ]pe towi.
For whiche grant, kyng Agamenourc
And duke Nestor )>ankyd hym of herte.
But he, alweye contunyng in his smerte 2204
For J>e loue of feire Polycene,
Ne knewe no geyn to his wourcdis grene,
2173. of] or D 1. 2174. femynyte] femynynyte A, D 2.
2176. o>e] deth D 1.
2181. trewe] trews A — trewe & >e tyme] tyme & ]>e trewe D 1.
2185. his presence no more] no more his presence D 1.
2193-97 are omitted inD 1.
2198. Granteth] Graiwtid D 1.
. iv] Achillas Myrmidons are routed by Troilus.
629
But dispeired, languysshef euer in oon.
And whan )>e trews passed wern & gon, 2208
Vp-on a day, fe morwe, ful benygne,
Achilles his kny^tes dide assigne
])Q feld to take with Agamenou^ ;
And, as fe story make)) mencioura, 2212
He $af to hem bendys fresche of red,
)3at men may knowe by her manlyhed
With whom fei wern wM-holde in special.
And lyke a man dedly and mortal, 2216
In his tent Achilles abood,
In-to f e feld from hym whan fei rood,
Only for dool fei shuldfe] from him twyraie,
In his absence a werre to be-gynne 2220
Maugre his wille ageyn hem of f e toun ;
But forf e fei went with Agamenourc
Vp-on Troy ens, stern e and ful of pride.
But with hem mette on fe to])er syde 2224
fre manly kny^tes of Troyanyshe * blod,
Whiche wern on hem so furious and wod,
J3at cruelly f e Grekis fei oppresse,
So J?at abak for fere fei gan hem dresse —
))ei wern on hem so inly fel & kene —
Til j)at fe duke fat lord was of Atthene
Entrid in f e * Grekis to diffende.
But vp-on hym, vnwarly, or he wende, 2232
€am my^ty Troylus lyk a wod lyouw,
And from his stede anoon he bar him doura ;
And, after fat, he put hym so in pres,
Til he mette with Mirundones,
And of hem slowe Ipat day ful many on.
And so fer in Troylus is y-goon,
J3at he Grekis putte outterly to fli^t [leaf no 6]
J)oru3 his kny^thod, til hit drow to ny$t : 2240
For from his swerd no ransourc rny^t hem borwe.
And Guydo writ, fat on f e nexte morwe
Ful mortal was f e slau^ter on owfer syde,
2213. of] & D 1. 2225. Troyanyshe] >e Troyanyshe C.
2226. so] om, D 1. 2227. >e] om. D. 1. 2231. >e] with C.
2238. y-goon] goon A, D 1. 2239. he] he J?e D 1.
Achilles bids
his men join
the other
Greeks,
and gives em
red bands.
With Aga-
memnon
they attack
the Trojans,
2228 who drive
them back.
Troilus un-
horses the
Duke of
Athens,
2236 slays many
Myrmidons,
and puts the
Greeks to
630 Troiluss steed is Tcild, lut another is brought him. [BK. iv
Tlioas is
captured by
tbe Trojans,
but rescued
by the
Myrmidons,
who kill
Troilus's
horse.
Paris helps
him
to another
steed.
Emergaron
is slain by the
Myrmidons.
Amyd pe feld as pei to-gyder ryde, 2244
Of manly kny^tes, pat wonder was to sene.
And, as pei fau^t, pe kyng Philymene
With helpe only of Pallydamas
Taken hath pe worpi kyng Tlioas, 2248
And gan hym lede toward Troye toiw ;
But Mirundones on hym come doim
"Wonder proudly, & after gan to swe,
And poru} her my^t Thoas pei'reskwe, 2252
And hym delyuere, for pel wer so stronge.
But Troylus pan hurtled * hem amonge
Furiously, lyke a champioim, —
Now her, now per, cast & prewe hem douw : 2256
Sowme he slowe, & so??ime he made blede,
Til cruelly pei slow his my^ty stede
Whiche he sat on ; and ^it, neue?'peles,
He fau^t on fote ageyn Mirundones, 2260
J}at had caste Troylus to haue take.
But Parys tho gan hem so awake,
With his breper pat a-boute hym rood,
jpat in pe place where as * Troylus stood 2264
Vp-on his fet, but hym silfe allone,
Of Mirundones ]>ei * slow many one, —
])&t of kny^thod, poru^ her manlyhede
))ei vn-to hym brou^t anoj>er stede, 2268
Amyd his foon, and made hym to ascende.
And he ful kny3tly gan hym silfe diffende,
Beset with Grekis in Jje silfe stouwde,
)5at neuere ^it a better kny^t was fonde : 2272
J)ei felt it wel, J>ei pat wer his foon.
But panne * his broper, called Emergaron,
So as he fau^t, putty nge him silfe in pres,
Was slayn, alias ! amonge Mirundones. 2276
}3e deth of whom, in a cruel ire,
2246. >e] om. D 1. 2250. domt] a doim D 1.
2254. hurtled] hurkled 0. 2256. hem] om. D 1.
2260. ageyn] a3ens D 1. 2263. brewer] bro])ir D 1.
2264. as] >at C, D 1— stood] rood D 1.
2265] He hym silf as who seij> but allone D 1.
2266. >ei] he C. 2270. silfe] to D 1— diffende] to diffende A.
2272. fonde] wouwde D 2. 2274. >anne] J>at C.
BK. iv] The Myrmidons are put to flight ~by Troilus <& Paris. 631
Troylus with anger newe set a-fire,
Pleynly pwrposeth tavenge $if he may ;
And with his swerd he gan to make way,
And Parys ay fast[e] by rydynge,
And alle his brejjer vp-on him awaitynge, —
Whiche alle I-fere wer so mercy les,
As I fynde, vp-on Mirundones,
))at of force and necessite
J5ei wer compelled pleynly for to fle,
Troylus on hem was so furious,
So vengable eke and so dispitous,
Jpat he hem $af many mortal wouwde.
And }it, in soth, fat day J>ei wer fouwde
Noble kny^tes, & quit hem wonder wel :
For )>ei ]>e crafte knewe[n] euerydel
Longynge to armys, of hem as I rede.
But for al J?at, he made her sydes blede
J?oru} J>e maille & her plates shene,
}2at fei ne my^t, pleynly, nat sustene
])e swerd of Troylus, hem chasyng oueral,
Al-be fei kepte hem clos as any wal —
Hool to-gidre, and went nat asouwder.
But Troylus ay hem chaseth* her & Bonder,
And seuered hem maugre al her my^t.
Til in-to feld with many worjri kny^t
Cam Menelay and kyng Agarnenouw,
Vlixes eke, and cruel Thelamouw,
And Diomede, whiche of his wouwdis grene
Eecured was, as sei]> myn auctor clene ; —
And on Troyens sodeinly ]?ei falle
With her wardis and her kny^tes alle :
And ]>o began J?e fi^tfe] to renewe
On euery half, ]>at with blody hewe
Jje platis bri^t wern of newe steyned ;
And J)ei of Troye /so manly haw hem peyned
2280. he gan] be gan D 2, bi gaw D 1 — way] a way A.
2281. ay] alweie D I—by] by him D 1.
2282. alle] om. D 1— vp-on] on D 1.
2288. so] om. D 1. 2296. nat] hem D 2.
2300. ay] om. A — hem chaseth] chaseth hem C.
2302. feld] >e feelde D 1.
2280
Troilus
and Paris
put the
2284 Myrmidons
to flight,
[leaf llOc] 2288
2292
2296
2300
tho they stick
together.
Menelaus,
Agamemnon,
2304 Ulysses, Ajax,
and Diomede
join in the
fray.
2308
2312
632 Ajax attacks the Trojans ; but Troilus routs the Myrmidons.
Troilus routs
the Greeks
till Ajax
conies to their
help.
fiut again
Troilus
drives off
the Greeks,
captures 100
knights,
and sends the
Myrmidons,
with 100
dead,
to Achilles,
who mourns
them.
Ageyn her foon in pis my^ty stryf,
)2at many Greke was beraf te his lyf ;
And where pei wern most my^ti in batail,
Troy his cam in, & gan hem to assail 2316
On euery parte, with many blody wouwle,
And by his kny^thod gan hem so cowfouwde
J?at ay pei fled, so pei wern aferd
J)e mortal strokis of his sharpe swerd, 2320
Her dedly foo and destruccioun,
And ]ns contuneth til kyng Thelamouw,
By his manhod, whan pat he beheld,
])Q Grekis made recure ageyn pe felde, 2324
And gan Troyens assaille wonder sore.
And Ipo be-gan pe slau^ter more & more
On eche-a-side, til Troylus newe ageyn
])& Grekis hath so fersly ouerleyn, 2328
Mirundones and hem euerychon,
Aforn his swerd pat he made hem goon
To her tentis, and pe feld forsake.
And with his hond pat day he ha)? take 2332
An hundrid kny^tes pat cam in his woye,
Jporu^ his prowesse, & sent hem m-to Troye.
And euere in on gan so to enchase
Mirundones, pat pei lost her place, 2336
And to Achille, liggynge in his tent, [leaf no d]
}3ei repeire, for-wouwded & to-rent,
Her harneis broke, hope plate & maille.
And of noumbre, I fynde, pat pei faille 2340
An hundrid kny^tes, slayn & ded, alias,
))at after wer y-fou/zde in pe taas
Amyd pe feld, poru^ girt with many wou^de
Of Troylus swerd, — Hector pe secouwde. 2344
Wher-of Achille, whan he had a si3t,
So hevy was al pe next[e] ny$t,
2315. where] whawne D 1. 2323. By] With D 1.
2324. made recure ageyn] he made a gein recure D 1.
2327. a-side] side D 2. 2334. m-to] to A, D 1.
2337, 45. Achille] Achilles A.
2339. broke] to broke A.
2342. after] aftirwarde D 1— y-fouwde] founder D 2, D 1— taas]
chas D 2.
BK. iv] Achilles is torn ~by Love & Anger. He thinks of Death. 63S
In his bed walwynge to and fro,
Deuoide of slepe for cowstreint of his wo, — 2348 Achilles can't
sleep, for the
At his hert his wouwde was so kene, loss of his
men, and for
What for his men & faire Polycene, Poiyxena.
Wetyng wel, $if he dide his peyne
To be vengid, he shulde nat atteyne 2352
In no wyse vn-to his desire.
And pus he brent in a double fyre
Of loue and Ire, pat made him si$e sore ;
But for cause loue was pe more, 2356
He was a-ferd ageyn hem of pe toun
In his persone to done offenciouw,
List Prianms and Eccuba ]>e queue
Offendid wern, & namly Polly cene. 2360
And }ms he stood in a double wer,
j)at at his hert sat hy?n wonder ner,
With many wonder * diuerse fantasie,
As haue louers pat be in point to dye : 2364
Bi$t euene-so fareth pis woful man,
For verray wo pat no red ne can, and thinks of
death.
So entriked pat he wende dye,
Of his recure he knewe no better weye. 2368
And while he laie pus \n his prowes white
(Liche as Guydo pleinly list * endite,
And pe story makep menciouw),
ftat dayes seuene pei of Troye tourc, 2372 For 7 days
To encres & awgment of her sorwe,
With pe Grekis metten every morwe : the fighting
goes on ;
ftat poru^ pe force of her boper my^t,
On ouper part was slay[e]n many kny3t. 2376
And al pis while lay pis Achilles,
Of Grekis deth y-liche rec[e]les,
For loue only, & toke no maner hede
Who- so were hool or mortally doth blede, 2380
2349. his woimde was] was his wourade D 1. 2361. a] cm. A.
2362. sat] it sat D 1. 2363. wonder] wor>i 0.
2365. euene-so fareth] so farith enene D 1 — so] om. D 2.
2367. dye] to dye D 1. 2369. his] om. D 1.
2370. pleinly list] list pleinly C.
2375. bo>er] bothe A, D 2, bothers D 1.
2376. many] many a A.
634 Agamemnon gets a Truce, to lury his Dead. [BK. iv
Achilles is
anxious,
and weary
of life.
Or who )>at pleyneth with his woiwdis large —
Hym Jjou^t it was no parcel of his charge,
So moche he ha]? on oj?er Jnng to )>enke,
))at ofte he waketh whaw he sholde winke, 2384
J)ou3tful ay and ymagynatyf,
And verray wery of his owne lyf. [leaf in a]
Agamemnon Til on a day, kyng Agamenouft,
Seynge ]>& deth and destruccioiw 2388
On Grekis halfe, with-outQ remedie,
To Troye sent by enbassatrye
For a trewe certeyn dayes space,
Eut he my3t )?er-of haue no grace 2392
Lenger tyme, platly, to endure,
jjan for leyser of ]>Q sepulture
Of worpi kny^tes fat wer ded * to-forn,
In J>e feld on ouj>er part y-lorn, 2396
Which * in J)e taas ful besely )>ei sou^t.
And after J>is, pleynly, how )>ei wrou^t
Duryng j)e sege with * gret violence.
I shal discrive with $oure pacience. 2400
asks for a
truce
dead Greeks.
Mars kindles
anew the fire
of hate
between
Greeks and
Trojans.
Howe the Troyans, the trewes endede, made so mortale
were vpone the Grekes that, thorght the manhode
and the blody swerde of Troylus, the Grekes wer
brought ful nygh to outterance.1
The cruel force & J)e mortal Ire
Of Martis my^t, alweie set a-fire
With newe en vie, gowne of old hatrede,
Bre?inynge in hertis hoot as any glede, 2404
Atwixe Grekis and Troye ]?e cyte,
Whiche likly is nat staunched for to be
Til deth consume with his mortal darte
Ful many worj>i vp-on ouj>er parte, . 2408
Texecute, alias ! by fynal fate
2385. f)oujtful] Ful }>ou3tful D 1. 2391. trewe] trews A.
2395. wer ded] ded wern C— to-forn] a forn A, D 2, D 1.
2396. part y-lorn] party lorn A, D 2, partie lorn D 1.
2397. Which] WftA C— taas] chaas A. 2399. with] by C.
2403. newe] om. D 1. 2405. Atwixe] Betwene D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 108 d.
BK. iv] War is renewd. 6rreek and Trojan chiefs fight. 635
Eche on oj>er penvious dedly hate,
Whiche j?ei ne my3t by destyne remewe
Nor for parchas at liberte eschewe : 2412
For Antropos wil suffre it be noon oper,
j)at is maistresse & guyer of )>e rother
Of Dethis ship, til al go vn-to wrak !
And Fortune gan turne hir face bake
Of hi^e disdeyn fro Troye )>e cite,
As in J)is story ri^t sone 30 shal se.
For whan Jje trews ]>at J?ei had[de] take
Wer werid oute, J>ei gan [hem] redy make 2420
— #e proude Grekis, — & in-to felde ]>ei gon
Vp-on a morwe, whan Phebws bri}t[e] shon,
Armyd ful shene, eueryche at his devis.
And Menelay first mette with Parys,
J)ilke day, in story as I rede,
And eche of hem smet ofer of his stede ;
At whyche tyme, dau?^ Pally damas
To Vlixes rod a sterne pas, 2428
And eche at oj?er, of cruel enmyte,
With stiffe swerdis gan to-gidre fle,
))at nouper was of manhod for to wyte.
And with a spere, squared for to byte, 2432
)3e my^ty duke, called Meneste,
Eood lyne ri^t, pat alle my^tfe] se,
To Anthenor, J?e Troyan ful of pride, [leaf 111 6]
And from his sadel cast hym dourc a-side,
In his furie & his hatful tene.
And J)o in al haste ca?ft kyng Phylymene,
Only in helpe of hem of ]>e touw,
And gan assaille kyng Agamenouw
)3oru3 his kny^thod & his hardynes,
J?at he him * had brou3t in gret distresse,
To outter meschef and confusioiui,
Nadde only be ]>at kyng Thelamou^
Fate, the
steerer of
Death's ship,
will ruin
Troy.
2416 Fortune
turns her
back on it.
When the
truce ends,
the Greeks
take the field.
2424 Menelausand
Paris
unhorse one
another.
Meneste
unhorses
Antenorof
Troy.
Philoraen*
2440 charges
Agamemnon.
2444
2411. remewe] rewnewe D 1. 2413. it] for to D 1.
2415. vn-to] to D 1. 2417. fro] om. D 2.
2418. ?e shal] shal 30 D 2. 2424. mette] om. D 1.
2429. at] of A. 2434. se] it see D 1. 2438. al] om. A.
2442. him] hem 0.
636 Troilus slays Greeks, lut is attackt ly Myrmidons. [BK. IV
Philomene is
unhorst.
Archilogus
slays Bru-
mus, a son
of Priam.
Troilus slays
many Greeks.
The Myrmi-
dons beset
Troilus.
Ful proudly cam hym [for] to reskewe,
And after sore gan for to purswe
With a spere vp-on Philomene,
And from his horse he leide hym on ]?e grene, 2448
Maugre his force, J>e story tellej) Jms,
For he to hym was mortally Irous.
And after fat, ^onge Archilogus *
A mortal cours ran vn-to Brumvs, 2452
Oon of J>e sonys of Priamws )>e kyng,
3onge and delyuer, & best in his lykyng ;
But * he hym smet with so gret a my^t
}5at he fil ded, Jns freshe lusty kny^t : 2456
])Q deth of whom, whan )>ei of Troye espie,
))ei made a shou^t, & pitously gan crye
Of woful routh, & his deth compleyne,
Til )>e noise gan outterly atteyne 2460
To Troylus eris, platly, where he rood.
And he no lenger after J>at abood,
But to pe place felly gan aproche,
And -with his swerd for to sette a-broche, 2464
WM-oute rouj>e, }>e Grekis hatful blood,
And, mercyles, al pat hym w/t/d-stood
He slowe J>at day, by cruel auenture,
j?at Greke was noon, J?e whiche my^t endure 2468
To-forn his swerd — he gan hem so oppresse :
For of kny^thod and [of] hi^e prowesse
He hadde hem putte outterly to fly^t,
]STad[de] ben J>e manhod & fe my^t 2472
Of Miruudones, whiche al )?at day
By oon assent vp-on Troylus lay,
Wher-of he was ful malencolius ;
And of corage & manhod most famws, 2476
He ne list no lenger for to lette,
B[ut] al attonys vp-on hem he sette,
2445. for] om. D 1.
2446. after] aftir hym D 1— gan for to] he gan D 1.
2448. hym] om. D 1. 2450. For] And D 1.
2451. Archilogus] Archilagus C. 2452. Brumvs] Brvnus A.
2455. But] pat C. 2460. ]>e] on >e D 2.
2461. To] Til D 1. 2469. hem] hym D 1.
2471. to] to >e D 1.
2476. corage & manhod] manhode & corage D 1.
BK. iv] Troihis drives the Greeks to their tents, 637
And furiously gan amonge hem ryde.
And sorame he smet euene Jjoru} J>e syde, 2480 ^gua8ttf^;
})oru$ the body, & some J?oru$ )>e herte ; don^yrmi"
And with his swerd }>om$ doublet & sherte,
Jjoru^ sheld and plate, & poru} haberioun
He percid hath, and like a wood lyourc [leafiiic] 2484
He slow J>at day of hem many oon,
feat maugre hem fei fledden euerychon, and they flee,
With be Grekis, eueryche to his tent. Greeks, to
their tents,
And J>ei of Troye after hem be went 2488
Swyf tly on horse, til jjei han hem take ;
And swiche a morder of Grekis ]?er J>ei make,
))at finally J?er was no bet reskus
But only deth, so passyngly confus 2492
Jje Grekis wern at meschef desolat, —
Troilus so narwe brou^t hem to chek-maat,
))at J>ei koude no better remedie
But hidously * for to wayle and crye, 2496
To deth forwouwded, with a grisly chere.
Howe Achilles for-gat the love of Polycene when lie
sawe the Grekis at |>e poynt of cowfusyow.1
)5at Achilles, whan he gan first here Achilles bears
\)Q dredful noise and )>e woful SOUTI,
)?at caused was by reflecciou/i 2500
Of eir a-^en — who-so koude it knowe —
In rochis harde and kauernys lowe,
Lyke as it wer o* word spoke of two,
ftat men ar wont to callen an Ecko — 2504
So confus was j^e lamentacioun
On Grekis side ; — of whiche J?e dedly soun
So pitously to Achilles is ronne,
Of hem J>at laye ageyn )?e hote sonne, 2508
With mortal wouwdes ^eldinge vp J>e brefe,
2485. >at day of hem] of he??i >at day D 1.
2488. went] y wente D 1. 2489. take] a take D 2, D 1.
2496. hidously] pitously C. 2497. forwotmded] wounded D 1.
2498. fat] But D 1. 2499. woful] dredful D 1.
2501. eir] herte D 1. 2503. o] a C.
2504. ar] ben D 1 — to] om. D 1. 2507. ronne] y ronne D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 109 6.
told of the
slain Greeks
and the Tro-
jan victory.
638 Achilles, threatend with a Trojan charge, arms. [BK. iv
With rowmble & swowe resownyrag in-to de)>e —
Svviche a noise Grekis made pere.
Achilles is And what it mente Achilles dide enquere, 2512
And what J?e cause was of her clamour ;
And J>ei tolde hym, for lak of socour
]2e Grekis wern eche in his tentorie
Of Troylus slayn, so J>at ]?e victorie 2516
Goth finally wit/z hem of Troye toun
For euere-more, in conclusions :
So many Greke lay slay[e]n in his tent,
Gaping vpward, pat ha]? his blood y-spent, 2520
Jjoru} pe constreynt of his wouwdes smerte.
And while Achilles J)is meschef g&n aduerte,
Ful sodeinly per cam to hym a man,
))e whiche his tale euene pus be-gan : 2524
" Alias," quod he, "how may $e sustene
To sen 3 our men her vp-on pe grene
A-fore ^oure face slayn & ly[e]n dede,
And liste nat onys for to taken hede, 2528
But stonde stille, pensif in ^oure tent,
Vp-on pe point ^oure silfe to be shent
In hasty hour, 3 if $e here abide :
For fifty pousand kny^tes here be-side, 2532
Redy armyd in platis and in maille, [leaf in a]
Cast hem pleinly attonys }ou tassaille —
}?is no doute — vn-armyd as }e stonde,
Eut ^e of kny^thod manly take on honde 2536
To resiste in )?is silfe place,
And like a man to mete hem in ]?e face."
For whiche anon, in a cruel mood,
J)is Achilles, like as he were wood, 2540
Armed hym, fomyrige as a boor ; —
Fare-wel his loue ! he set of it no stoor ;
Of hasty hete his Ire was so kene
])at he forgat faire Polycene 2544
And hir bewte, pat whilom made him smerte.
A man comes,
and re-
proaches him
for doing
nothing
when 50,000
armd Trojans
are about to
attack him
unarmd.
On this,
Achilles,
foaming like
a boar, arms,
and forgets
Polyxena.
2519. many] many a D 1. 2520. y-spent] spent D 1.
2521. new IT D 1. 2533. 1st in] om. D 2.
2534. tassaille] to saylle A. 2535. £is] £is is D 1.
2539. a] his D 1. 2545. whilom] somtyme D 1.
BK. iv] Achilles and Troilus unhorse and wound one another. 639
And in a rage vp anoon. lie sterte,
And toke his stede, as any lyoura wro]?e
Ageyns Troyens, & in-to feld he goth :
Lyche a wolfe }>at is with hunger gnawe,
Ei^t so gan he ageyn his foon to drawe ;
And where he rood, wfct/i-oute excepciouw,
He woiwdej?, sle)>, kyllej>, & bereth douw —
Now here, now ]?ere — in a lytel jjrowe,
))at J>ei of Troye gan his swerd [to] knowe, '
Whiche was infect of newe * with her blood :
For per was noon as 3it pat hym wM-stood,
So mortally he gan aboute hym leyn
)3e dede bodies endelong j)e pleyn.
Til casuelly Troylus gan espie
)?is Achilles, as he caste an* eye,
And gan his hors with spores to constreyne,
And rood at hym with al his my3t & peyne ;
But Achilles, of hym war also,
Smette eke his stede & made hym for to go
Toward Troylus in fe silfe tyde.
And with ful cours as pei to-gider ride
Ful lyne ri^t, her speres* sharpe whet,
With swiche a my3t j?ei han to-gider met,
Of hi^e disdeyu — per is no more to seyn, —
)5at to pe grouwde J)ei fel bojje tweyne ;
But Achilles kau3te swiche a wou?zde
In his body, so depe and so profouwde,
J^at long he lay (myn auctowr seij? certeyn)
Or he to hel))e restored was ageyn.
And Troilus eke, Jjoru^ platis, mail, and al
(As writ Guydo) had a wouwde smal,
Whiche vn-to hym dide no greuauwce.
And pus J?at day by contynuau^ce,
And dayes sixe, swynge by and by,
Achilles
^ charges the
2548 Trojans like
a hungry
wolf,
2552 and kills
many of em.
2556
2560
2564
2568
Troilus sees
him.
Achilles rides
at Troilus.
Each un-
horses the
other.
Achilles is
^ badly
2572 wounded:
2576
Troilus
slightly.
The fight
goes on for
6 days.
2546. he sterte] asterte D 1.
2548. &] om. A, D 1— feld] he felcle D 1. 2549. a] as a D 1.
2555. infect of newe] of newe infect C, infecte newe D 1.
2559. Troylus] f>is Troylus D 2. 2560. an] his C.
2563. of hym war] ware of hym D 1.
2563-70 are omitted in D 2. 2567. speres] spores C.
2576. writ Guydo] Guydo writ D 1.
640 How Achilles soon gave up his love for Polyxena. [BK. iv
Both sides
suffer greatly.
Priam is
sorry that
Achilles
has forgotten
Polyxena.
Tho Achilles
was once in
love,
he doesn't
hesitate to
offend his
sweetheart.
Priam re-
proaches
Hecuba for
trusting
Achilles.
fte proude Grekis mette cruelly 2580
Amyd J?e feld hem of Troye tourc,
To gret damage and confusioim [leaf 112 «]
Of ou]>er party, pleinly, jris no nay :
For many worjri was slayn day by day 2584
In her rancour & hertly hoot envie,
— Al-be Guydo doth nat specefye
Noon of her names, pleinly, in his boke,
As ^e shal fynde ^if $e list to loke. 2588
And al Jris while, for Jris sodeyn Jring
Pensyf & trist was Prianms J?e kyng,
}3at Achilles torned hath so clene
His hert away fro ^onge Polycene, 2592
And for Jris chau?ige, so sodeyn & so newe,
jpou^t his behestis wer[e] nat al trewe,
But on deceit and on doubilnes,
On fraude falsly, & newfongilnes, 2596
On sle3ty tresoiw and on couert gile,
Or rage of loue, fat lasteth but a while,
Was outterly founded his beheste :
For like a wynde, J>at no marc may areste, 2600
Fareth a word, discordaurct to fe dede,
Of whiche a wysman take shal noon hede,
But lete passe, as he were rek[e]les.
For, al-be-it fat Jris Achilles 2604
Was whilom cau^t with-in Louys snare,
Hym lyst nat now onys for to spare
Of hy^e rancour his lady to offende — •
It was nat lyche as J)ei of Troye wende, 2608
Eccuba noufer Pollycene.
Wher-of Priam spak vn-to fe quene
In an anger, and gan hir to abreide
J)at she hir trust so enterely leyde 2612
On Achilles, J>at can so falsly mene ;
Wherof * ful trist was Jris Polycene,
2583. party] part A. 2584. was] werew D 1.
2589. new IF A. 2593. for] so D 1.
2599. foimded his] founde in his false D 1.
2601. to] fro A, D 1, for D 2. 2604. al-be-it] al be D 1.
2605. whilom] somtyme D 1. 2608. nat] om. D 2.
2614. Wherof] Wherfore C.
BK. iv] Achilles resolves to take Vengeance on Troilus. 641
)?at was inclined, vtiih hir eyen clere, Poiyxena
By be couwseil of hir moder dere 2616
To haue be wedded to bis Achilles, hoped to wed
Achilles
To fyn only J>er shuld haue ben a pes and win peace
Atwen Grekis and hem of Troye toim.
Howe the next morowe Achilles resumede the sprete
of rankoure and envye, and there-vpon, agayns
the ordure of knyghthode, proditoriously com-
passede be dethe of worthy Troylus.1
But al was fals, in conclusions ; 2620
In f e fyn was be troupe sene :
For wharcne Achilles of his wou^des grene when
,TT _ ., ... . Achilles' s
Was fully curid, by a certeyn day, wound is
He gan compasse, in al fat euere he may, 2624
And ymagyne in his envious herte he plans
To be venged of his wouwdis smerte
Vp-on Troylus, fat stak ay in his mynde, Troilus.
At avaurctage ^if he my^t hym fynde 2628
— To hym he bar so passyngly hatrede,
In his herte brewnynge as the * glede,
"Whiche day nor ny$t may in no degre [leaf 112 6]
Fully be queynt til he avenged be, 2632
J)e hote rancour gan so on hym gnawe —
A vised platly fat he shal be si a we
Of his hondis, whan-so fat it falle.
And on a day to hym he gan calle 2636 Hecaiishis
_ ... ... Myrmidons
Mirundones, his kny^tes euerychon, together.
Vp-on a morwe whan f e Grekis gon
To-fore f e touw, in stel armyd bri^t,
Ageyns Troyens in pwrpos for to fi^t ; 2640
And f ei wer come proudly in-to felde
In thoposit, -with many riche shelde,
Newly depeynt vritfi colours freshe & fyne,
Vp-on whiche ful bri$t[e] gan to shyne 2644
2616. hir] his D 1. 2617. haue] om. D 1.
2618. haue] om. D 1. 2621. sene] ysene A, D 2.
2630. the] any C. 2631. nor] arid A, or D 1.
2640. in] of A, D 2. 2642. shelde] shed D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 110 a (misplaced after line 2626).
Achilles begs
liis Myrmi-
dons
642 Achilles lids his men trap Troilus, and hell kill him. [BK. iv
Firy Titan, gold-tressed in his spere,
At his vprist with his bemys clere,
— Whan Jris felle envious Achilles
To his kny^tes, called Mirundones, 2648
Yp-on Troylus gan hym to compleyne,
Besechynge hem for to done her peyne
Ageyn pis Troylus in J>e feld J>at day,
To cachen hym at meschef }if pei may, 2652
And besely to done her dilligence
On hym to han her ful aduertence,
By oon assent, wher-so pat he ride —
Al oj>er ping for to sette a-syde, 2656
And of nou3t ellis for to taken hede,
Sauf finally ageyn hym to precede
3if pei my^t cacche hym in a trappe —
Wit/i-Inne * hem silf Troilus for to clap, 2660
To enclose and sette hym rouwle aboute
In al wyse pat he go nat oute.
And whan he were be-set amowge hew alle,
Nat to slen hym, what-so-euere falle, 2664
But poru$ her rny^t manly hym conserue
Til he hyw silfe come & make hym sterve,
With his swerd, he & noon oper wy^t.
Lo ! here a manhod for to preise a-ri^t ! 2668
Vengauwce of deth, of rancour, & of pride,
Compassid tresou?*, kny^thod leyde a-side !
Worpines be envie slawe,
Falshed alofte, troupe a-bak y-drawe ! 2672
Alias ! in armys pat it shulde falle,
Of trecherie pat pe bitter galle
Shuld in pis world in any kny^t be fouwde,
Jpat be to troupe of her order bouwde ! 2676
Alias, alias ! for now pis Achilles
Conspired hap vfith his Mirundones
}3e deth of oon pe worpiest[e] wy^t
j)at euere was, and pe beste kny^t ! [leaf 112 c] 2680
to attend to
nothing but
taking
Troilus in a
trap;
to surround
him,
and keep him
till Achilles
can come and
slay him.
Snob that he
was.
Alas that any
knight could
be such a
traitor!
2655. he] hei D 1. 2657. of] on D 1.
2660. Witfc-Inne] And with Inne C. 2664. falle] be falle D 1.
2671. slawe] is y slawe D 1. 2672. y-drawe] is drawe D 1.
2677. now >is] Jris nowe D 1.
BK. iv] The Myrmidons promise to obey Achilles' orders. 643
Alias ! for wo myn herte I fele* blede
heart bleeds
ior his sake, pis story whan I rede. for Troilus!
But whan Fortune ha}) a ]ring ordeyned,
)3ou3 it be euere wailled and compleined, 2684
J?er is no geyn nor no reraedie
Jpou^ men on it galen ay & crye
— I can no more touchinge pis matere,
But write for]>e, lik as 36 shal here, 2688
How Mirundones han her lord be-hi^t, Achilles'
With al her power & her fulflel my;t promise to
,„ . lcn , . ^ do as he bids
lo lulnllen his comauradement ; em.
And in- to feld with Grekis jjei be went. 2692
Howe Mirmidones grauntede Achilles to vmbilap
Troilus, wherthorgh he myght the esylyer scle
hym.1
But Troylus first, in pe opposit, Troilus rides
Of verray kny^thood haj? so grete delit
With-oute abood manly hem to mete
— He was y-brent with so feruent hete • 2696
Of hardines and [of] hi^e corage,
Of worpines and of vasselage,
)5at hym ne list no lenger to abide,
But with his folk in be-gan to ride 2700
Amonge Grekis, bis stok of hi3e renouw. against the
And with his swerd he wowzdej? & berep dowi,
SleJ) and kylle}>, vp-on Query halfe and slays
So mortally, fat )>er may no salue 2704
Her sores souwde ; for per was but deth,
Wher-so he rood, and gelding vp ]>e breth,
So furiously he gan hem enchase ;
And made hem lese in a litel space 2708
Her lond echon, and a-forn hym fle : He puts em
to flight.
In Troylus swerd ]?er was swiche craelte,
))at maugre hem he )>e feld ha]? woraie.
2681. myn herte I fele] I fele myn herte C.
2686. on it] am. D 1— galen] gasen D 1.
2692. feld] >e feelde D 1. 2696. y-brent] bre?it D 1.
2700. be-gan] he gan A. 2706. and] om. D 2.
2707. hem] he?ft to D 1. 2708. lese] to lese D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 110 b (misplaced after line 2688).
TROY BOOK. U U
644 Troilus is attackt by 3000 Myrmidonstwho killhis horse. [BK.IV
At midday
the Myrmi-
dons
form a circle
round
Troilus ;
but he fights
like a tiger,
kills many,
and makes
play among
them.
j)e same tyme whan J?e bri^t[e] somie 2712
Hi3e in fe south at mydday-marke shon,
Euene at }>e hour whan it drowe to noon,
Whan Mirundones, gadred alle in oon,
In compasse wyse roimde aboute hym gon, 2716
And furiously, of oon entenciou^,
])Q\ made a cercle aboute hym envirouw,
Whan ]?ei sawe him of help[e] desolaat.
But he of hert nat disconsolat, 2720
Vp-on no side, )>oru$ his manlyhede
Lik a lyoura toke of hem noon hede,
But J?oru^ his famws kny^tly excellence
As a tigre stondeth at diffence, 2724
And manfully gan hem to encombre,
And [gan] to lasse & discres * her noumbre.
And somme he may me]? & wou^dej? to ]?e dej?,
And somme he made to ^elden vp ]?e brej>, 2728
And somme he laide to pe erthe lowe, [leaf 112 d]
And so??zme he made for to ouer-prowe,
With his swerd of her blood al wet,
At gret meschef under* his horse fet ; — 2732
Vp-on his stede sturdy as a wal,
}5is worthy * kny^t, ]>is man most marcial,
Pleyeth his pley anionge Mirundones,
Hy??z silf, God wote, allone al help[e]les. 2736
How worthfy] Troylus was besett with iij. thousands
Knyghtes ; and how knyghtly he defendid him.1
But what can But fco, alias ! what myst his force avail
he, alone, do J ?
fo?s?8t 3°°° Whan J>re pousand kny^tes hym. assail,
On euery part, bo)>e in leng))e and brede !
They slay his And cowardly first Jjei slow his stede
With her speris, sharpe & square [y-]grou?zde :
For whiche, alias ! he stont now on pe grouwde
W^-oute reskus, refut, or socour,
J?at was J>at day of chiualrie flour.
2716 follows 2718 in D 1. 2726. discres] to discres C.
2732. under] at C, D 1. 2734. worthy] manly C.
2738. hym] hem D 1. 2744. flour] ]>e flour D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 110 c (miniature).
2740
2744
BK. iv] Achilles gets behind Troilus and cuts his head off. 645
But, weillawey, fei ban hym so be-set,
Jjat from his bed fei smet his basenet,
And brak his harneis, as fei hym assaille,
And seuere * of stele fe my$ti strong[e] maille. 2748
He was disarmyd, bofe nekke and hed,
Alias fe whyle ! & no wi^t* toke noon hede
Of alle his kny^tes longynge to f e toim ;
And $it alweye fis Troyan champioiw 2752
In kny^tly wyse, naked as he was,
Hym silfe diffendeth, til Achilles, alias !
Cam ridynge in, furious and wood.
The Myrmi-
dons hack off
Troilus's
helmet and
leaving his
1 lead and neck
bare.
Hut lie still
fights on,
How worthy Troylus was cowardly slayn by Achilles.1
And whan he sawe how Troilus nakid stod, 2756
Of longe fi^tyng awaped and amaat,
And from his folke allone disolat,
Sool by hym silf at meschef pitously,
J3is Achilles wonder cruelly, 2760
Be-hynde vnwarly, or fat he toke hed,
With his swerd smytef of his hed,
And cast it ibrfe of cursed cruel* herte, —
And f ou3t[e] platly,* it shuld him nat asterte 2764
To shewe his malys, fis wolfe vnmerciable !
Ful vnkny3tly to be more vengable
Yp-on f e body fat lay ded and colde
— Alias, fat euer it shuld of kny3t be tolde, 2768
Wryte, or rehersed, to do so foule a dede,
Or in a boke, alias, fat men shuld rede
Of any kny3t a story so horrible,
Yn-to fe eris passingly odible :— 2772
For fis Achille of cruelte, alias !
J?e dede cors toke oute of f e taas,
And vengably bond it, as I fynde,
2747. hym] hem D 2. 2748. seuere] seuered C.
2750. wijt] man C— noon] om. D 1. 2756. how] >at D 1.
2761. >at] om. D 1. 2763. cursed cruel] cruel cursed C, D 2.
2764. platly] pleynly C.
2768. it shuld of kny}t] of kimt it shulde D 1.
2770. shuld] shal A, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 110 d (misplaced after line 2762;
miniature).
till Achilles
comes una-
wares behind
him,
cuts off his
head,
binds the
dead body
646 Lydgate reproaches Homer, and laments Troilus. [BK. IV
2776
to the tail of
his horse,
and drags it
thru the field.
At j?e taille of his hors be-hynde,
And hatfully, Jjat euery wy$t behilde,
Drowe it hym silf eu[de]longe pe feld
j?e rengis and fe wardis alle.
[leaf 113 a]
Alas that any
knight^ could
be so cruel !
Shame to
you, Homer,
for jnakiiis:
so much of
Achilles !
For all your
honey moutli,
you' re greatly
to blame for
glorifying
Achilles,
who slew
2 Hectors.
How the translate! compleyneth of Achilles for his
treson, and deth of worthy Troylus.1
But, o alias ! ]?at euere it shulde falle 2780
A kny^t to bene in herte so cruel,
Or of hatred so dispitous fel
To drawe a man after he* were ded !
0 J>ou, Oraer, for shame be now red, 2784
And be astonyd, ]>at haldest ]?i silfe so wyse,
On Achilles to setten swiche a pris !
In bi bokes for his chiualrie
Above echon dost hym magnyfye, 2788
J?at was so slei^ty & so ful of i'raude !
Whi ^evest ])ou hym so hi^e a pris & laude ?
Certis, Omer, for al )>m excellence
Of rethoryk and of eloquence, 2792
\)\ lusty songes and bi dites swete,
jrin hony moupe )>at doth with sugre flete —
3et in o bing pou gretly art to blame :
Causeles to }eue hym swiche a name, 2796
"WWi a title of triumphe and glorie
So passingly putte hym in memoiie,
In bi bokes to seyn and write so,
Jporu^ his kny^thod he slowe Hectoris two : 2800
First hym ]>at was lik [vn-]to noon oj)er,
And Troilus after, Ipat was his owne broker !
3if )>ou arte meved of affecciourc,
Whiche |)at ]?ou hast to Grekis naciouw, 2804
To preise hym so, for J>ou canst endite,
))ou shuldest ay, for any favour, write
2783. he] hat he C. 2784. new f A.
2795. ]>ou gretly art] thou art gretly A, gretly bou art D 1.
2797. of] & of D 1. 2798 putte] to putte D i.
2802. owne] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 111 c (at the head of the column,
misplaced after line 2877).
BK. iv] Lydgate abuses Achilles for Cowardliness. Homer. 647
be troupe pleinly, & ben indifferent,
And seie )>e sobe clerly of entent.
For whan he slowe Hector in )>e felde,
He was a-forn disarm yd of his shelde
Arid besy eke in spoylyng of a kyng :
For }if he had be war of his comyng,
He had hym quytte, boru^ his chiualrie,
His fals deceit and his trecherie,
})at he ne had so li^tly from \\jin gon.
Troilus also was naked & allone,
Amyd foure bousand closed & be-shet
Whan Achilles hab his hed of smet,
At his bak of f ul cruel herte,
Whan he no ping his tresouw dide aduirte.
Was bat a dede of a manly kny^t 1 —
To slen a man forweried in fi^t,
Fey nt of travail, al be longe day
Amonge so many stondyng at abay,
A kynges sone, and so hi^e born,
Naked J?e hed, his arrnure al to- torn,
Euene at ]>e deth on be silfe point,
At disavauwtage, & pleinly oute of loynt,
Of his lyf stondyng on be wrak —
Whan Achilles cam falsly at be bak,
Assaillynge hym whan he was half ded,
And lyk a coward smot of paraie his hed,
}?at was to-forn hurte & woiwded sore !
Wherfor, Omer, preise hym now no more.
Lat nat his pris )>i rial boke difface,
But in al haste his renoura oute [ajrace :
For his name whan I here nevene,
Verrailly vp vn-to be heuene
(As semeth me) infect is be Eyr,
}3e sown )>er-of so foule is * & vnfair !
2808
2812
Achilles slew
Hector by
treachery ;
2816 and Troilus,
when un-
arm d,
2820
weary,
[leaf 113 6]
2824
2828
he crept up
to behind,
2832 andkild.
So, Homer,
take the
praises of
Achilles out
2836 of your royal
book !
His name
2840
infects the
air.
2817. be-shet] beset D 1.
2826. }>e] his D 1— al to-torn] also torn A.
2830. J>e] his A. 2834. hym now] hou hym D 1 .
2836. oute a race] out ]jou race D 1.
2837. here] here it D 1.
2838. vp vn-to >e] hi3e vp in to D 1.
2840. so foule is] is so foule C.
648 Achilles still abused. Menon and Troiluss Corpse. [BK. IV
If Achilles
had cared for
knight- or
manhood,
he'd never
have done so
foul a deed.
Polydamas,
Paris and
Eneas try to
recover
Troilus's
corpse,
but in vain.
Menon re-
solves
on vengeance.
.For $if fat he had hadde his aduertence,
Ouf er f e eye of his prouidence
Yn-to kny^thod or to worf ines,
Ouf er to manhod or to gentilnes, 2844
Or to £e renourc of his owne name,
Or to fe report of his kny^tly fame,
In any wyse to haue taken hede,
He hadde neuer don so foule a dede : 2848
So vengably [for] to haue y-drawe
A kynges sone after he was slawe !
And namly hym, fat was so gode a kny^t,
Whiche in his tyme, who-so loke a-ri^t, 2852
Passed Achille, I dar it wel expresse,
Bo}>e of manhod and of gentilnes.
But for al fat, he is now ded, alias !
J)e deth of whom whan Pallydamas 2856
And Paris eke dide first espie,
J)ei ferde, in soth, as f ei wolde deye.
And specially, with face ded and fade,
Paris, alias, swiche a sorwe made 2860
For f e constreint of his dedly wo,
Whan he sawe [fat] Troylus was a-go,
And fat he shal neuer a-lyue hym se.
Swiche sorwe also fe Troyan daim^ Enee 2864
For hym hath made, & many a-nofer mo.
And alle attonys f ei to-gidre go,
])Q dede cors to recure ^if f ei maye ;
But Grekis wern so fel on hem fat day 2868
))at her labour was outterly in veyn,
In any wyse fe cors to gete ageyfn],
Til fat Menouw, fe noble worf i kyng,
Whiche loued Troilus ouer al[le] fing, 2872
Cau^t swiche routhe of affeccioim,
Jjat he in haste, ferser f awne lyou/z,
On his deth caste hym to be wreke.
And first for Ire f us he gan to speke [leaf us c] 2876
2845. Or to J>e] OuJ>er to D 1. 2846. >e] om. D 1.
2849. y-drawe] drawe D 1. 2864. sorwe] a sorwe D 2.
2868. so fel on hem] on hem so fel D 1.
2873. routhe] a routhe A. 2876. Jras he gan] gan he for D ].
BK. iv] Menon upbraids Achilles, & wounds & unhorses him. 649
To Achilles for his hue tresoim : Menon abuses
Achilles
11 O foil traitour ! o f ou scorpioim !
0 fou serpent, ful of trecherie !
Whiche in dishonour of al chiualrie, 2880
)3oru$ fals engyn hast fis day [y-]slawe
Oon of f e best, fat hadde no felaw
Whan he deide, in fis world a-lyve !
Alias, alias ! who may ari^t discrive 2884
])\ venym hid, ))i malis & vntroufe,
Watft-oute pite or, vnkny^tly, roufe —
To drawe a knyst, so gentil & so good, for dragging
Troilus. at his
A kynges sone of so worjn blood, 2888 horse's tail.
jporu^-oute fe feld fin horse tail behinde,
j)at after euer [it] schal ben in mynde,
]5is cruel dede and vngentilnes ! "
And with fat word, Menouw gan him dresse 2892 Recharges
Toward Achille, with-outG more arest ;
And with a spere smet hym in * f e brest,
Enviously of so grete hatrede,
}pat he vnnefe kepte hym on his stede. 2896
And Menouw after pulled oute a swerde,
And cast hym manly to [mete] hym in f e berde,
And rood to hym, fully deuoide of drede,
And swiche a wourale $af him on fe hede, 2900 wounds him
jpat maugre hy??i, in many manwys si^t,
To f e erthe he made hym to ali$t, jjj unhorses
For al his pride, in a mortal trauwce :
For of fat wourcde he felt[e] swiche greuauwce, 2904
J)at at f e deth he lay an huge whyle,
In a swowe f e space of halfe a myle,
Til Mirundones, assemblid in- to oon, The Myrmi-
dons rescue
With gret labour hent hym vp a-noon,
Ful dedly pale, so he gan to blede.
But for al fat, fei sette him on his stede,
And at f e last his hert he kau^t ageyn,
And smet his horse, of hate & hi^e disdeyn, 2912
2881. y-slawe] slawe D 1. 2883. deide] dide D 1.
2885. &] & bin D 1. 2888. of] and D 1.
2891. f»is] The D 1. 2894. smet hym in] hit hym on C.
2898. 1st hym] om. A. 2900. $af] he jaf D 2, he yaf A.
650 Achilles & Menon fight again. Myrmidons are to kill Menon.
Menon
and Achilles
fight on
horseback,
but are
separated.
At sundown
the Greeks
and Trojans
leave the
field.
Achilles bids
his Myrmi-
dons en-
circle Menon.
And toward Menoiw faste gan liym hi^e.
But whan Jjat he his comynge dide espie,
Ful lyke a kny^t list nat to a-bide,
But hit his horse sharply in J?e side
Arid mette Achilles proudly on ])e plein ;
And vrith her swerdis J>ei to-gidre leyn,
And gan to hurtle* on horse-bak I-fere,
With hert envious and dispitous chere.
But kyng Menourc was at avauratage
Of Achilles, for* al his wode rage,
In poynt tabrou^t hym to confusiouw,
Til j>e wardis of newe come dou^
On oujjer part, bo)>e here & Bonder,
Whiche sodeinly seue?-ed hem a-sonder.
And as )>e story telleth pleinly, Jjaraie
Be-gan ]>e slau^ter of many manly man :
For nouj>er party pe felde nolde* leue
Of verray pride, til it drow to eve,
)}at Phebus gan aswagen of his hete,
And gan to baj?en, in )>e wawes wete,
His bri^tfe] bemys, of )>e occian,
}pat fro )>e feld horn goth euery man
To her loggyng ; & after, seuene daies
Jpei fau^t y-fere, & made no delaies,
Ful mortally, by cruel auenture,
While Achilles besy was* to cure
His wou^des grene, & his soris souwde.
And }>awne he hath a newe tresou?* fouwde,
To be venged vp-on kyng Menon :
For al his wit he sette ]>er-vppon.
And so Jris cruel envious Achilles
I-charged hath his Mirundones
Worthy* Menon amonge hem to embrace,
$if ]>ei hym fourcde in oportune place,
[leaf 1 IS d]
2916
2920
2924
2928
2932
2936
2940
2944
2914. dide] gan D 2. 2919. hurtle] hurcle C.
2922. for] in C. 2924. douw] a doiw D 1.
2925. ouber] euery D 1. 2929. nolde] wolde C.
2931. gan] bi gan D 1. 2932. be] here D 1.
2933. of] in D 1. 2938. besy was] was besy for C.
2939. soimde] to soimde D 2.
2944. I-charged] Chargid D 1. 2945. Worthy] f>e kyng C.
BK. iv] Achilles slays Menon when encircled by Myrmidons. 651
With al her my^t and her besy
From her hondis J?at he eskape nou^t
Til he hym silfe avenged on hym be.
And so bifel, as J>ei Menon se,
\)e nexte morwe like a manly kny^t
Ageyn ]?e Grekis arm yd for to fi^t
On Troye side as he was wont to do —
Of auenture J>at day it fil so,
)3at Achilles and ]>is Meuon mette :
And eche of hem gan on oj?er sette
On horse-bak, of ful gret en vie ;
And so longe in her malencolye,
Myn auctor writ, J?ei to-gidre fi$t,
})at eche made ojjer of force to ali^t.
And whan Menon stood vpon fe ground e,
Mirundones went aboute hym rovwde,
As pel wer charged of pe fei'se Achille —
Whan he, alias ! wztft-oute Goddes wille,
Disseuered was from his kny^tes alle.
And at meschef ]?ei vp-on hym falle,
Destitut, allone, and help[e]les,
And in swiche point slowe hym Achilles.
But in J>e story like as it is fouwde,
J?is Menon first $af hym swiche a wouwde,
To-forn his deth in al J>is felle strif,
jpat he dispeired was, pleinly, of his lyf —
pis Achilles, for al his false tresoiw.
Take hede, Omer, & deme in J)i resou?^
Jpe false fraude and |?e slei^ti gyle,
|pe tresouw caste to-forn \\iQi many wyle
Of Achilles ; and luge now a-ri^t,
3if euere he slowe any wor)>i kny^t,
But it were by prodiciouw —
Record I take of )>e kyng Menou?* :
So J?at )?e title of his laude, alias,
2948
2952
2956
Next day
Achilles and
Menon fight
ngaiii,
[leaf 114 a]
2960 and unhorse
one another.
The Myrmi-
dons sur-
round Menon,
2964
2968 and Achilles
slays him,
tliolie
wounds
Achilles
badly.
2972
Homer! see
2976
2980
how Achilles
kild knights
only by
treachery !
2954. bat day it fil] til it bifelle D 1.
2959] Myn auctor telli> eche with obir dide fijt D 1.
2972. was pleinly] pleinly was D 1.
2976. to-forn] a torn A, D 2, D 1.
2980. be] am. D 2.
652 Homer reproacht. Greeks drive Trojans into Troy. [BK. IV
Entriked is with fraude & with f alias,
Homer, tho bat bou, Omer, maist with no colour,
you'paint
withgoM bou$ bou peinte with gold & with a^our,
you can't hide In bi writvnsr his venvm nat enclose ;
the venom of
Achilles! But as ])& born hid vnder be rose,
Whos malys ay dareth by be rote,
bou$ ]>e flour a-boue be fayr & sote,
bat men be fraude vnder may nat se —
Of his * tresouw 30 gete no more of me.
2984
2988
The Greeks
drive the
Trojans
into Troy,
their cham-
pion Troilus
being dead.
Their woe
evenBoethius
could not
describe.
The missauenture and discomforde that came amonges
the Trogians after the deth of Troylus.1
But I wil telle how Grekis do bat day,
— How Meneste and kyng Menelay, 2992
Dyomede and Thelamonyus
On Troyens wern passyng dispitous :
For cruelly with her wardis alle,
In her meschef ben vp-on hem falle, 2996
And made hem fle horn vn-to be toun.
For whilom Troylus, bat was her champioun,
Is ded, alias ! & hath hem now forsake.
Of whom bei haue J>e ded[e] body take 3000
be same day, wife gret diffyculte,
And dolfully in-to )>e cyte
bei han it brou^t, criyng ofte " alias ! "
And for his deth swiche a wo per was, 3004
bat I trowe ber is no man a-lyue
Whiche koude ari}t haluendel discryue
Her pitous wo nor lamentaciourc :
Certis not Boys, bat had[de] swiche renouw, 3008
With drery wordis to be-wepe and crye
In compleynynge to philosophie,
boru} his boke accusynge ay Fortune,
bat seld or nou3t can in oon contune — 3012
She is so ful of transmutaciowz.
2982. 2nd with] om. D 1. 2985. In] With D 1.
2990. his] his C. 2991. new H A.
2996. ben vp-on hem] vppon hem bene D 1.
2998. whilom] somme tyme D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 112 a.
BK. iv] The woe of the Trojans is the greatest ever known. 653
0 Stace of Thebes, make no host nor soiw
Of drerinesse for to write at al,
NouJ>er of deth nor festis funeral,
Of makyng sorwe nor aduersite ;
Late be ])i wepynge, o j)ou Nyobe,
3e suster also of Melleager,
ftat custom han for to fle so fer,
From $er to ^ere ^oure brofer to compleyrie ;
And J>ou ]>at weptist oute Jrin eyen tweyne,
Edippus, kyng of Thebes jje cyte, [leaf 11*6]
))ou wol'ul Mirre, and Calixtone,
)?at so wel can in rage * 3011 be-mene,
And Dido eke, of Cartage quene, —
Lat be ^oure dool and contricioun !
And Philis eke, for J?i Demephouw,
And Echcho eke, j>at now dost be-gyraie
To crie & waille, & also J>ou Corrynne,
)5at whilom were in so gret affray
For deth only of )>i popyngay,
As in his boke tellej? vs Ouyde,—
Late al J>is wo now be leide a-side,
And make of hit no comparisons
Vn-to )>e wo )?at was in Troye tou?^
For deth only of }>is worj)i kny^t !
For loue of whom, euery maner wi^t,
Hi^e & lowe, olde & ^onge of age,
Are falle of newe * in-to swiche a rage
)3at pei c'oude of her wo noon ende ;
Whos salt[e] teris wil her eyen shende,
So pitous was J>e lamentaciouw
In euery strete Jioru^-oute al ]?e toun.
Alias ! who koude al her sorwes telle1? —
1 trowe, certis, Pluto depe in helle,
For al his torment & his peynes kene —
3016
3020
3024
3028
3032
3036
3040
Let Statins,
Niobe,
(Edipus,
Dido,
and Corinna,
not compare
their woe
with that of
the Trojans,
whose salt
tears fall in
3044 every street.
Neither Pluto
3016. nor] nor of D 1. 3019. also] alle D 1.
3022. weptist] wepest D2, wepist D 1.
3025. so wel can] can so wele D 1 — rage] a rage C.
3029. Echcho] Ecco A, Eccho D 1— now] newe A.
3031. whilom] somme tyme Dl.
3040. newe] now C.
3042. wil] shal D 1. 3045. sorwes] sorwe D 1.
654 The Lament of the Trojans for Troilus. A Truce made. [BK. iv
nor Proser-
pina,
Ixion nor
Tantalus,
could weep as
the Trojans
do for
Troilus,
as Priam,
Hecuba,
Paris and
Helen weep.
Who shall
now be their
refuge P
Death and
Troy's ruin
are at hand.
Priam asks
the Greeks
for a truce,
which is
granted.
ISToufer she, Proserpina his * queue, 3048
Nouper J>e wery wode Tycyus,
Ixioim, nor hungri Tantalus
Ne coude nat, for al her bitter peyne,
So furiously wepen & compleyne 3052
As don Troyens, Troylus, for Jn sake.
For who can now swiche a sorwe make,
Or who can wepe as kyng Priamws 1
Who wepeth now, with face ful pitous, 3056
Or maketh sorwe but Eccuba ]?e quene 1
Who wepeth now but faire Polycene ?
Who wepeth now but Paris & Eleyne 1
Who can now wepe or in-to teris reyne 3060
As do Troyens, with dedly swolle chere1?
It neded hem no wepers for to here, —
)}ei hadde I-nowe of her owne stoor,
Alias, for now )>ei ben for euermor 3064
Of helpe al sool, of courcfort destitut.
For who shal now ben to hem refut,
Now fat Hector and also Dephebus
And Troylus eke, J?at was so vertuous, 3068
Be dede, alias ! — who shal her socour be,
Or sustene J?e werre of her cyte^
)}er is no more, in conclusion/!,
But after deth fully destrucciouw [leafiuc] 3072
Of her touris and her wallis stronge.
In ))is mater what shulde I pleyne longe 1 —
It vailleth nat alweye so to mourne,
Wherfore, I wil new ageyn retoume 3076
To my mater, and telle how ]?e kynge
To Grekis ha)), with-onte more tariynge,
For a trewe and a pes y-sent,
A certeyn tyme, by gret avisement, 3080
Which e graunted was of* Agamenouw.
And whan pei were repeired to J>e toun,
3048. his] >e C. 3052. &] nor D 1.
3054. For who] Or D 1. 3056. ful pitous] dispitous D 1.
3057. Or] And D 1. 3060. or] & D 2— in-to] in D 1.
3072. fully] ful D 1. 3080. A] For D 1.
3081. of] by C.
Priam's rich Tomb for Troilus. Hecuba's plan to kill Achilles. 655
Kvnjr Priamvs dide his besy cure Priam ims
J ' a rich tomb
For to make a riche sepulture 3084
For Troylus cors, ful noble and rial, Trolius*
As seith Guydo, of stonys & metal,
And hym enclosed, of gret affectiourc.
And ny^e beside was be kyng Menoim 3088 and Menou,
Solemnely buried and y-graue.
And after bat, day by day )>ei haue,
Lvke be custom, of festis funeral and holds
J funeral feasts
And ofer ritys Ceremonyal, 3092 for them.
For hem bobe, vfith due obseruauwce,
Seruyse doon by contynuaunce
In her temple, lyk as was be gyse,
Whiche were to longe me [for] to deuyse, 3096
And tedius eke for 3011 to dwelle.
How Achilles was slayne by Paris in the Temple of
Apollo, by the deuice [of] Eccuba pe quene.1
But I purpose ceriously to telle I'll now tell
you how
How Eccuba, as I can endyte. Hecuba plans
the murder of
Hir caste fully Achilles to quyte 3100 Achiiies.
His tyraraiy, sothly, 3 it' she may.
And vn-to hir she calleth on a day
Alysauradre, in ful secre wyse,
And vn-to hym, as I shal deuyse, 3104
With wepynge eyen & ful * heuy chere
Seide euene bus, lyk as $e shal here : she reminds
" Parys," quod she, " alias, sauf Goddis wille, Pans how
bou knowest wel how be ferse Achille 3108 siain nearly
r all her sons,
My sonys hath slay[ejn ny$e echon —
]5er is non lefte but )>i silf allone :
He hath me made (alias, ber is no geyn)
Ful cowardly, of children now bareyn — 3112
Bofre of Hector & Trovlus * eke fcer-to, including
Hector and
Whiche were to me in euery trouble & wo Troiius.
3083. new IF A. 3089. Solemnely] Solemply A.
3096. for] om. D 1. 3097. 3011] om. D 1.
3102. vn-to] on to D 1. 3105. ful] vrith C, D 1.
3107. new IT D 1— alias] om. A. 3113. Troylus] of Troylus C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 112 c (misplaced after line 3106).
656 How Hecuba plans the treacherous Murder of Achilles. [BK.IV
And as
Achilles slew
her sons by
treachery,
so Hecuba
will treach-
erously slay
him.
He wants
to wed
Polyxena ;
so Hecuba
will get him
into Apollo's
temple,
and there
Paris and his
knights
must kill
him.
Paris agrees,
and hides in
the Temple
with 20
knights.
Hecuba sends
for Achilles.
Fully couwfort, plesauwce, and solace.
Wherfore, I caste pleynly to compasse, 3116
By som engyn his deth to ordeyne ;
And lyke as he by tresoim dide his peyne,
Traytourly with his swerd to smyte,
Ri^t so, I fink, with tresotm hym to quyte, 3120
As sittyng is of ri^t and equyte. [leafiud]
And sith pou wost pleynly how pat he
Hath sette his herte & his lone clene
On my doubter, $onge Polycene, 3124
To fyn only to hauen hir to wyve —
For whiche I caste to hym sende blyve
For to come and trete of pat mater
In pe temple of Ap polio here — 3128
In pe temple, most chef of pis cite.
Whiche tyme, my wil is. pat pou be
j?i siluen armyd per ful priuely,
With certeyn kny^tes in pi company, 3132
Armyd also ageyn pe same day,
Jpat in no wyse he skape nat a-way
From ^our hoiidis, but pat he be ded,
As I haue seid; and perfor take good hed 3136
Vn-to pis ping, with al myn herte, I praie,
Fro point to point my biddyng to abeie."
And he assentep with al his hool[e] herte,
Behotyng hir he shulde nat asterte. 3140
And with hym toke twenty & no mo
Of manly men, pat wel durste do ;
And in pe temple, by ful good avys,
J)ei wern y-hyd by byddyng of Paris, 3144
While Eccuba, couert in hir entent,
Hir Messager to Achilles hathe sent,
As ^e han herde, in conclusions,
To come in haste vn-to Troye toun 3148
After peffect was of hir message,
3122. pleynly] platly D 2, D 1. 3124. ^onge] fuire D 1.
3126. to hym] for hym to D 1.
3129. In pe temple] pe whiche is D 1.
3136. perfor] \>er of D 1. 3140. Behotyng] Beholdynge D 2.
3141. And] am. D 1— toke] he toke D 1.
3144. y-hyd] hyd D 2, hid D 1.
BK.iv] Achilles comes to wed Polyxena. Paris attacks him. 657
Only to trete for a mariage.
And he in haste cometh at hir sonde,
As he pat koude no ping vndirstonde
Hir tresouw hid, nor pleinly it aduerte :
He was so hote marked in his herte
With Louys hrond & his firy * glede,
Of lyf nor deth pat he toke noon hede,
But sette a-side wit and al resoiw,
To caste a-forn by gode discrecioiw
What was to do, with lokyng ful prudent.
But he, in soth, was with love blent,
In-to Troye w[h]an he shulde goon,
Lyke as it fareth of lovers euerychon :
Whawne pei haue kau^t in herte a fantasie,
For no pereil, pou$ pei shuldfe] deye,
)pei haue no xny^t nor power to be ware,
Til pei vnwarly be trapped in pe snare,
Her maladie is so furious.
And pus Achilles and Anthilogus,
Uestoris sone, han pe weye nome
Toward pe touw, & ben to-gidre come [leat ii5«]
In-to [pe] temple, as ^e han herd me tellc.
And Paris po list no lenger duelle,
But, vnwarly, with his kny^tes alle
On Achilles is at meschef falle,
Eueryche of hem with a swerd ful bri^t.
And sonrwe bokis seyn it was by ny$t,
Wlian his deth, longe a-forn desired,
By Eccuba & Paris was conspired.
But Achilles in pis mortal caas,
Arnonge hem alle, naked as he was,
Kent onte a swerde in pe silve steuene,
And like a kny$t he slow of hem seuene
Of verray force, maugre al her my^t.
But whan Paris per-of hadde a si^t,
j)re dartes rau^t pat were kene & square,
And sodeinly, or pat he was ware,
3155. firy] fire C. 3160. blent] y blent D 1.
3180. hem alle] all hem D 2. 3182. knyjt] kny D 2.
3185. rau$t] cau^te D 1.
Achilles
comes at
3152 once,
3156
3160 being blind
with love.
3164
3168 Nestor's son,
Antiloclius,
goes with
him.
3172 Paris and his
knights fall
on them.
3176
3180
Achilles slays
7 of them.
3184 Paris takes
8 darts,
658 Achilles is murderd. Thus God punishes him. [BK. iv
and runs
Achilles thru
the body;
the knights
hew him to
death,
and thus quit
him for his
treachery.
The body of
Achilles is
thrown to
dogs,
to be eaten in
the street.
See how God
repays
slaughter by
treachery !
At Helen's
request,
Ful secrely hid vnder )>e shade,
Markyng at hym, & no noyse made, 3188
Caste at hym euene as euere he can,
)2at lied & shafte Jwru} his * body ran ;
And J>er-wetA[-al] knyjtes nat a fewe
With sharp[e] swerdis gan vp-on Inim hewe, 3192
And left hym nat til he lay at grourade
Ful pale ded, with many mortal woimde.
And rijtfully, of resoim as it sit,
Jpus was ]?e fraude & }>e falshede quit 3196
Of Achilles, for his hi^e tresou?^ :
As deth for deth is skilfully guerdons
And egal mede, wat/i-outen any fable,
To hem )>at be merciles vengable. 3200
For jnlke day, Guydo write)) Jms,
)?at Achilles and Anthilogus
Of Paris wern in )>e temple slawe ;
And afte?*ward pe body was * out drawe 3204
Of Achille fro fe holy boimdis,
And cruelly prowen vn-to hou?zdis
To be deuourid in )>e brode strete,
pe canel reraiynge \vtth his wawes wete — 3208
With-oute pite or any maner routhe.
Loo ! here )>e ende of falshed & vntroujje,
Loo ! here J?e fyn of swiche trecherie,
Of fals deceit compassid by envie ! 3212
Loo ! here )>e knot and conclusions,
How God quyt ay slangier by tresouw !
Loo ! here pe guerdourz & )?e final mede
Of hem )>at so deliten in falsehede : 3216
For euery )>ing, platly for to seyne,
Like as it is, his guerdons doth atteyne,
As 36 may se of )>is Achilles, [leaf 115 6]
Whiche on a ny^t in ]>Q temple les 3220
His lyf ; for he was ay customable
By fraude & tresouw for to be vengable.
But it befel, at request of Eleyne,
)pat ]>Q bodies of Jris ilke tweyne 3224
3189. euene] as euene D 1. 3190. his] be C.
3203. slawe] yslawe A. 3204. body was] bodies wern C.
BK. iv] The Greeks lament Achilles and Antilochus.
Conservid wern from )>e hungri rage
Of best and foule, gredy & ramage.
And }it ]>e[i] laie amyddes ]>e cite
Ful openly, jjat men my$t [hem] se,
To gret[e] gladnes to hem of jje tou?<,
In-to tyme )>at Agamenou^
To kyng Priam sent his massageris
To haue licence to fet hem horn on beris ;
By graurct of who?^ J?ei haw ]>e corsis take.
For whom Grekis swiche a sorwe make,
J3at pite was and routhe for to here.
And eue?*yche spake pus vn-to his fere :
" Fare wel oure trust, now Achilles is dede !
Fare wel oure hope, & holly al our spede !
Fare wel oure loye, & oure chef diffence,
feat had in manhod so gret excellence !
Fare wel, alias ! oure souereyn assurauwce !
Fare wel in kny^thod al oure suffisaurcce,
For now, alias ! vnlikly is )>at we
Shal euere wy?ine or geten pis cite —
To vs, alias,* so frowarde is fortune ! "
But for pat pei my^tfe] nat contune
Alweye in wo, nor in peyne endure,
jpei maked han a riche sepulture
To Achilles of stonys precious,
And a-noper to Anthilogus.
What shuld I now any lenger dwelle
Ceriously pe rytis for to telle
Of her buriyng? — nor what wo }>ei make'? —
Her wepyng al, nor of her elopes blake,
Nor how somme louren in her hood,
And how so??ime go with mylke & blood,
With doolful * herte, & in-to fire it shede ? —
And how oj>er caste gommys swete
the corpses
of Achilles
and Antilo-
chus are pre-
served from
beast and-
fowl. Yet
they lie
openly in
Troy
till Agamem-
non sends for
em.
The Greeks
lament their
loss of
Achilles,
3228
3232
3236
3240
3244
3248 They raise
rich tombs
over Achilles
and Antilo-
chns.
3252
3256
3229. 2nd to] of D 2, D 1. 3230. In-to] Vn to >e D 1.
3233. corsis] cors A, D 1.
3236] And eche of hem )nis spake to his fere D 1.
3241. alias] oure hope D 2.
3245. alias] alle C.
3254. of] am. D 2. 3256. how] oni. A.
3257. doolful] woful C— shede] shete A, D 2, D 1.
TROY BOOK. X X
66,0 Funereal rites of Achilles. Agamemnon's Speech to the Greeks.
The games Amyd be grete flawme funeral,
and .wrestling. '
at the funeral ]S"or of be pleies called palestral, 3260
of Achilles
cimsAntil°~ ^Or J*6 wras^elyno pa* was a^ J>e wake 1 —
It were but vein me to vndirtake
To tellen al ; wher-fore I lete be,
Fully in purpos, like as $e shal se, i 3264
To resorte, in conclusion??,
Agamemnon To telle how j?e grete Agamenouft
For his lordis in al hast ha)) sent.*
And whan J?ei wern* assemblid in his tent, [leaf 115 <?] 3268
Ful prudently J>is kyng, pis manly man
WiJ> gret avis Jms his tale began :
addresses the
Greek lords :
; Fortune has
enraged you
by the
murder of
Achilles.
If you're
you'll revenge
it when time
serves.
How the Grekes, after that Achilles was slayne, toke
their councell to fecche Firms his son.1
"Sirs," quod he, "Fortunys variaimce,
Hir cher fraward & dowble.couwtenauwce,
And sodeyn torn of hir false visage
3oure hertis hath putte in swich a rage
For J?e mordre, to God & man odible,
Of Achilles, cruel and orible,
By compassyng of Eccuba J>e queue.
Now semeth me ]?at it shal be sene
3if any manhod in joure hertis be,
Or kny^tly force, in aduersite
For tendure by vertu of suffe/'auwce,
Til of his deth $e take may vengauwce,
And manly quyte J)is outragous offence,
Whan tyme cometh to make recompence.
But sith ]>at $e be manly and prudent,
I wolde first se J;e pleyn entent
In J>is mater of ^ow J>at be so wyse,
Here-vppon what is $oure a-vyse,
By oon assent & voys in comwne :
3272
3276
3280
3284
3288
3259. flawme] fire & flawme D 1. 3261. 1st >e] of >e D 1.
3263. be] it be D 1.
3267. in al hast ha> sent] ha]> in al hast y sent C — haj>] om. D 1.
3268. J>ei wern] >ern C.
3270. his] >is D 2— began] gan A, D 2. 3271. new IT A, D 1.
3276. and] and the deeth A. 3289. &] a A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 113 b (misplaced after line 3248).
BK. iv] Tho Achilles is dead, the Greeks will continue the Siege. 661
Wher pat 30 wil ]?e werre forpe contune,
And ]>e sege [y-]go?me vppon J>is toura,
Til ]?ei be brou^t to confusiou?*, —
Or in-to Grece now resorte ageyn
For cause only [J>at] Achilles is slayn,
pat whilom was ^oure stronge champiouw,
3oure diffence and proteccioim, —
But finally now fat he is dede :
Here-vppon, late se what is ^oure rede —
Seith openly, and no lenger tarie."
And so?ftme anon gowne for to varie
And to grucche, castynge to and fro,
Stondynge in doute what \\er best to do.
And some seide, on )>e tofer syde,
For lyf or deth )>ei wolde an ende abide.
And somme of hem J?at of wit were rude,
For her party goraie to conclude,
pat pei wold home ageyn retourne.
And o)>er seide fat fei wil soiorne
Stille at j>e sege, hap what hap[pe] may.
And fus J?ei treten al fe longe day,
Euery man like his oppiniouw,
Til at ]>Q laste, in conclusiourc,
)?ei ben accorded fully in-to oon,
Fro ]?e sege neuer for to goon
Vn-to J>e tyme ]?ei haue of J>e toiw
j?oru^ her kny^thod ful possessiomz-,
At her fre wil to spillen and to saue,
Al-be Achilles was buried & y-graue.
For ]5e trust of euery worfi kny^t
Was finally, as goddes han be-hi3t,
pat fei in hast shal fe toun possede :
pis was hir hope, fully deuoide of drede,
Vndispeired in ther oppinioun.
And fanne anoon Aiax Thelamoura,
A wor])i kny3t, & inmus of his bond
Among alle fo of fe Grekis lond,
" Will you go
on with the
War,
or go home
because
Achilles is
dead ? " .
3292
3296
3300 Some Greeks
doubt:
3304
3308
some say
' fight on ' :
some want to
go home.
3312 At last they
resolve to
carry on the
siege
3316
till they win
Troy.
[leaf 1 15 d]
3320
3324 AjaxTela-
in on speaks.
3290. Wher] Wheber D 1. 3291. y-goraie] be gonne D 1.
3295. whilom] somme tyme D 1. 3297. now] howe D 1.
3306. go/me] be guraie D 1. 3308. wil] wolde D 2, D 1.
662 By Ajax's advice, Achilles s son Pyrrhus is sent for. [BK. i\r
" As Achilles
is dead, I
advise you
to send for
his son
Pyrrhus or
Neoptole-
mus,
without
whom, pro-
phets say
Troy '11 never
be taken.
So, send for
him at once."
They send
Menelaus for
Pyrrhus.
Seide euene J>us, pleinly in sentence :
" Sirs," quod he, " fat ben here in presence, 3328
My coiwseille is, platly, & my red,
Now it stant so fat Achilles is ded,
For his sone in al haste to sende
Heder to come for to sen an ende 3332"
Of ]>Q sege, and helpe vs in f is nede,
Whiche now abit vrith kyng Lycomede,
His bisaiel, and named is Pirrus.
And some hym calle ISTeptolonyus, 3336
Ri$t lusty, fresshe, &, by liklynes,
Able to atteyne to gret worfines,
As ]>e report & f e fame is kouthe,
3if he hi??i drawe to armys in his $ouf e. 3340
And sothfastly, but if bokes lye,
As I have red & herd by prophesye,
J?at finally Troye f e cyte
Wit/i-outen hym shal neuere womie be — 3344
j)us bokes seyn, fat ben of olde memorie — •
And how Grekis shal haue 110 victorie
Til he come, f is soiie of Achilles :
Wherfore, in haste, & beth nat rek[e]les, 3348
Sendeth for hym, fat it be don anon."
And f ei commende his conseil euerychon,
And to his* red fully hem assent.
And by avys ful prudently f ei sent 3352
In al haste on f is embassiat
])Q wyse kyng, ful fixmus of estat, —
I mene [fe] prudent noble Menelay.
And forjje he goth ]?e silfe same day, 3356
And on his lourne gan hi??z fast[e] spede
Til fat he cam vn-to Lycomede,
J)e olde kyng, as $e han herd me telle,
Wher for* a tyme I wil leue him dwelle, 3360
And to Grekis in J?e mene whyle,
So as I can, directe ageyn my stile.
3335. bisaiel] bysayl A.
3340. him drawe] drawe hym A, drawe hym D 2, D 1.
3342. red & herd] herde and red D 1. 3347. >is] the D 1.
3350. cowmende] eomended D 1. 3351. his] his C.
3352. ful] om. D 1. 3360. Wher for] Wherfore C.
BK. iv] Tile effect of Summer Heat on Green things and Fruit. 663
-How the Grekes held a great batayle agay[n]st the
Troyans ; and how duke Meneste slew Polidamas,
a troyen knyght; and how Paris slew kynge
Thelamon with an arowe,1
The tyme of 361 whan pe shene sorane
In )>e Crabbe had his cours I-ro/me 3364
To J>e hi^est of his ascencioim,
Whiche called is J)e somer staciouw, [ieafii6a] in summer,
Whan pe vertu oute of Query rote
Is drawen vp, and ]>e bawme soote 3368
In-to )>e croppe ; & )>e freshe floure
Moste lusty is of hewe & of coloure,
Til Phebus chare, in his discencioim,
Oute of pe Crabbe toward pe Lyouw 3372
Holdeth his course in )>e firmament —
I mene whan he is retrogradient,
And drie)> vp pe moysture & )>e weete when the
Of herbe & floure with his feruent hete ; 3376 wMt«Mtb«
spring
And al pat ver a-forn }\\m made grene, greenery
To whyte he turneth with his bemys shene —
Bope seed and greyn be decoccioura* :
For naturelly by digestioun, 3380
)?at first was raw in fruitis & in flouris,
And watrie eke be plente of humowrs,
He drieth vp and ripeth at J>e fulle frnu1tripen8
With his feruence, pat men may hem pulle, 3384
Eche in his kynde, after pe sesou7^,
Fro $er to ^er by reuolueiourz,,
On her brauwchis freshely as pei sprede :
Whan fat cheries plowbly ben & rede, 3388
First in lune, fat sweth after May, in June,
Whan pe hote mery somers day
No dwery is, but like a geant longe —
)pe same tyme, }>e Grekis, stoute & stronge, 3392 the Greeks
With rancour brent of her envious hete,
3379. decoccioim] decoccoccoim C, decoacoicyouw A, decoctioiw
D 2, decocciouw D 1.
3381. tirst was] was fyrst D 2, 3388. plowbly] powbly A.
3392. 2nd \>e]om. D 2, D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 113d
664 Thf6 Greeks and Trojans muster again for Battle. [BK. IV
The Trojans
do so too.
Ajax Tela
mon
foolhardily
rides with
no armour
but his
sword.
Hath shapen hem vrith her foon to mete;
take the field. And bri^t armed in-to J>e f eld pel go.
And }?ei of Troye oute of ]>e toun also, 3396
With her wardis ordeyned euerychon,
Jpe feld haue take to mete with her foon,
And gan tassemble vp-on ou)>er syde.
But Thelamoiw, of foly and of pride, 3400
fie same day (of hym as I rede),
As he fat had of his deth no drede,
Disarmed was for batail of a-reste,
Of mail and plate bare vp-on be brest: 3404
For of foly and surquedous outrage,
Bare his hed, and bare eke liis visage, ,
And bare also, wM-oute basenet,
And naked eke of viser and palet 3408
He rood alday, of no Jung afferd,
Havyng no wepene * but a naked swerd.
For wilfully he left at home his shelde
And his spere whan he toke J?e feld, 3412
Ful lyk a knyjt sittynge on his stede.
And after hym folweth Dyomede,
Like Mars hym silfe, aboute him his meyne, [leaf 1166]
And faste by cam duke Meneste, 3416
Kyng Ylixes, and Agamenouw.
And Prianms with hem of Troye toun
Toke eke be feld, with a ful hevy chere :
For he was bope ferful & in were, 3420
In gret dispeire and inly ful of drede
To issen out, now Hector was dede —
Worjri Troylus and also Dephebus —
For in hym silfe he dempte pleynly )ms : 3424
Jjat he was febled gretly of his my^t
Wtt/i-onte hem with Grekis for to fi^t ;
But oute he goth, hap what hap[pe] may,
And Parys eke, ful kny^tly of array, 342S
3394. foon] enemyes D 1. 3395. >e] om. A, D 2.
3404. J>e] his D 2, D 1. 3407. also] anoon D 1.
3410. wepene] spere C. 3418. new IT A. ,
3419. eke] om. D 2— a] om. D 2.
3424. he dempte pleynly] plemly he dempte D 1.
3426. Witfc-oute hem] After her deth A.
Priam feels
his forces are
weak, with-
out Hector,
&c.
BK. iv] TJie Greeks are worsted by Paris and the Trojans. 665
Kyng Philymene and Pollydamas,
Wor]>i Esdre, and with hym Eneas—
By oon assent, J>er is no more to seie,
Jpe same day, kny^tly to lyue or deye
In her diffence, and outerly iuparte,
As goddes list, J>e felde to departe.*
And proudly first )>e Grekes bei gan peree ;
And Paris bo, with hem pat wern of Perce,
Fil in a-side wij> ]>e sonne shene ;
And his archeris vrith arowes square & kene
}3e Grekis gan assondre to disseuere :
For in be feld bei my^lfe] not perseuere,
Only for shot of be strong archeris
Of Perce lond, and be arblasteris,
"VVhiche made hem fle, ri3t of verray nede,
In-to be tyme J>at proude Diomede,
Whan he of Grekis saw be sodeyn fli^t,
Hem to releue, lyk a manly kny^t
Is come vppon felly in his tfene.
And first of al he sette on Phylymene,
A worjri kyng, )?at cam on Troye syde ;
Jpe whiche ageyn gan at hym [to] ride,
]5at Diomede hath but litel wonhe,-
With swerdis stif as ]?ei to-geder rorine —
]3at to behold it was a noble si^t,
How eche of hem quyt hym like a kriy^t,
As )>ei to-gider ran on horse-bak,
)?at no man koude in nou)>er se no lak.
But euere in on Troyens were so felle
Vp-on Grekis, pat fei ne my^tfe] dwelle
To kepe her lond, so )>ei made he?ft blede,
Maugre }>e force of pis Diomede.
}3e slau^ter was so hidous & so strong,
})at poru^ )>e feld J?e woful noyse rong,
3432
3436 Paris and
his Persian
archers
3440
put the
_, . . i Greeks to
3444 flight.
Diomede
3448 attacks King.
' Philomene,
3452
3456
3460
3430. hym] hem D 2, D 1. 3432. to] om. D 2.
3434] What fyn folwe as goddes list departe C, What fyn folwe
to felde to departe D 1.
3435. proudly] prudently D 2— >e Grekes }?ei gan] J>ei gan be
grekes D 1.
3444. he] om. A, D 2. 3445. he] om. D 2— >e] bis D2, D 1.
3450. at hym to] to hym D 1. 3456. nou>er] o>ir D 1.
3457. euere in on Troyens] Troyens euere in On D 24
but the
Greeks lose-
ground.
-666 Menestheus unhorses Polydamas. Ajax slays Trojans. [BK. IV
Menestheus,
fleeing the
Greeks in
trouble,
charges
Polydama
and unhorses
He is rescued
by Philo-
meiie.
Ajax, armd
only with
his sword,
slays many
Trojans.
And mortal cry of wouwded folke pat lay
Slayn on pe soyl, endelong pe way, — [leaf lie c] 3464
Til Meneste, sittynge on his stede,
))e worpi duke, gan to taken hede
In what meschef Grekis^were be-set,
And hent anoon a spere sharpfe] whet, 3468
Smytynge hys hors felly in pe side ;
And poru$ pe rercgis kny^tly he gan ride,
And stint[e] nat, so furious he was,
Til pat he mette with Polly damas, 3472
A Troyan kny^t and a manly man ;
And vnwarly, at hym as he ran,
He hitte hym so, in many mannes si^t,
To pe erpe pat he made hym a-li^t ; 3476
And with a swirde, at grouwle whan he lay,
He hadde him * slawe }>e silfe same day
In his rage and his cruel tene,
Nadde only be )>at kyng Phylymene 3480
Had hym reskwed in }>is auenture,
Which so frendly for hym dide his cure,
Maugre pe my^t of pis Meneste,
From his hondis pat he went[e] fre, 3484
Al forbaped & be-spreint with blood.
And al pis while Aiax proudly rood,
Of surquedie and of wilfulnes,
Of foly rage and foule hardynes, 3488
Naked his body, bed, and euerydel,
Amyd his foon armed bri^t in stele,
And of Troyens swiche a slau^ter made
Jpat pei lay dede, bo]>e in soraie & shade, 3492
Jjoro^-oute pe feld, where pis Thelamouw
Amonge hem rod woder pan lyou?& —
)}at Troyen noon my^tfe] hym wet/istonde
While pat he held his blodi swerd in * hond, 3496
3463. lay] day A. 3468. whet] y whet D 1.
3470. rengis]\enge D 1. 3473. and] om. A.
3475. many] euery D 1.
3476. he] om. D 2— a-li}t] to lighte D 2, li^t D 1.
3477. at] at >e D 1. 3478. him] be C. 3480. be j»t] the A.
3486. al] in A. 3493. poroj-oute] J3oru$ D 1.
3495. hym] hym ]>o D 2, D 1. 3496. in] on C, D 1.
Ajax slays Persians. Paris shoots him with a venomd Arrow. 667
Jpat wonder was, naked as he rood,
WM-oute wouwde* ]>at he so longe a-bood.
And, as Guydo make]) rehersaille,
And write)) eke for a gret mervaille, 3500
j)at he vnslayn my^tfe] so contune : 8lain-
But whan a bing is shapen of Fortune, But Fortune
It mote be-falle, what-euere J>ing it be,
In wele or wo, loye or aduersite — 3504
Whan oon shal deye or whan he shal eskape. and his death.
But she, alias ! can alder-best be-iape,
And bring a man vnwarly to meschauwce
Whan he best weneth to han assuraunce 3508
In }>is lady of transmutacioun,
Lik as it fil of worj)i Thelamouw
bis same day, whiche of foly pride He foolishly
rides among
Amonge his foon gan so fer to ride, 3512 his foes,
I-liche freshe, ri^t as he be-gan,
And slowe of Perce many manly man,
And of hym silfe toke no maner hede,
His kny^tly hert so voyde was of drede. 3516
Til Paris sawe his gret[e] hardines, and Paris
And how fat he his kny^tes dide opp?fesse,
Enchasyng hem so mortally & narwe * :
Wz't/i-oute abood anon he toke an arwe, 3520
Eutoxicat, sharpe, & venemous, shoots him,
And in his Ire fel and despite us, Wo£)!d
And shet at hym in be silfe tyde, arrow.
As seith Guydo, and* smet hym boru} pe side, 3524
J)at of pat hurte — )>er is no more to seie —
He felte wel hat he muste deye. Feeling he
must die,
And whan he sawe noon oper remedie,
Forpe he rood, supprised vrith enyie, 3528
J3oru^-oute J>e pres, his* swerd ay in his hond,
In-to tyme ]>at he Paris fonde,
And vn-to hym, m't/i a pale chere,
He seide bus, anon as 30 shal here : 3532 and says:
3498. woimde] a woimde C.
3503. what-euere fing] what )>ing e\\ere D 1.
3514. many] many a D 1. 3519. narwe] norwe C.
3522. his] this A. 3524. and] he C. 3529. his] >e C.
3530. tyme] >e tyme D 1.
668 Ajass tells Paris that hell send him to. Hell first. [BK. iv
"As you've
mortally
wounded me,
I'll stop your
going back to
Troy.
You shall go
to Hell before
and I'll di-
vorce you
from Helen.
For, thru
the adultery
of you two,
have many
worthy folk
lost their
lives."
How Kyng Thelamon, after that he had his dethes
wounde of Paris, Slew Paris after, with a
sworde.1
" Parys," quod he, " as Jjis mortal wounde
Of J>in arwe, sharpe & square y-grou?ide,*
Hath finally my lyf put in dispeire,
ISTeuere in-to Grece for to han repeire, 3536
Ki^t so shal I, be short conclusions,
A weye shape, fat in-to Troye tou^
With J>i lyf pou entre shalt no more,
At myn hert fe venyin bit so sore, 3540
)5at ofer geyn is ]?er iioon but detli.
But $it to-forn or I ^elde vp fe breth,
Trust me ri^t wel, ]>er may be no socour,
J2at J>ou slialt first be my predecessour 354£
And gon a-forn, depe donn in* helle,
J)er 'with Pluto eternally to dwelle,
So as of ri^t it is necessarie :
)5e tyme is set, whiche may nat tarie, 3548
And my troujje for morgage in depos,
)pat in al haste I shal make a dyvos
Atwixe ]?e and fe queue Eleyne,
And twynne assonder eke fe' false cheyne, '' . 355£
Whiche lynked was by colour of wedlok', '
And hath so longe be shet vnder loke
Only by fraude & false engyn also.
But now ]>e knot shal be broke a-two, 3556-
With my ri^t hond, fe troufe to darreyne ;
For poru^ cause only of ^ow tweyne,
In Jjis werre many worj>i khy^t
His lyf hath lost, & many an-ojw wy^t, , 356(>
On ou]>er side, for ^oure bojje sake.
But of al )>is I shal an ende make — [leaf ma]
Of ^oure loue & foule avoutr[i]e :
For, finally, Paris, J>ou shalt dye 3564
3534. y-grouwde] graimde 0. 3539. J>i] J>e D 2.
3543. wel] om. D 1. 3545. in] in to C, to A.
3551. Atwixe] Atwene D 1. 3557. With] And wij> D 1.
3558. cause] the cause A, >e cause D 1.
1 Koyal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 114 c.
BK. iv] Ajax kills Paris. The Greeks encamp under Troy's walls. 669
Of myn hondis, as it is jji chauwce ! "
And with pat word his swerd he gaw
A-boue his lied, & smet hym in J>e face,
J)at he fil ded in pe silve place ;
For his hed he parted hath on tweyne.
And ri}t fiirpe-w?'tA, )>er is no more to seyne,
Aiax, alias, of his mortal wouwde
Fil ded also, gruf vn-to pe grou??de
Ful pitously ; & panne pei of Troye
Han Paris take vp oute of pe woye,
And bare hym horn in-to her cite.
But Diomede & duke Meneste,
With many Greke ridynge environs,
Swen pe chaas euene to pe toun ;
But for cause Titan gan to * lowe,
Doun by pe arche of his daies bowe
Fer in-to weste, vnder pe rowes rede,
And Espirus gan his Ii3t to shede
— ))is to seyn, for it drowe' to ny^t, —
)?e Grekis ben repeired anoon ri^t,
Eueryche of hem to his loggynge place
To take her reste al fat ny^tes space —
Saue, as I rede, J?at Agamenoim
]5e Grekis made fast[e] by )>e toun
To sette her* tentis and papillyouws,
Habitacles, and newe mansiouws,
Of verray pride faste by J>e wal.
And )>ei of Troye, dispeiyed- oueral,
Ko refut koude Grekis for to lette,
But of assent fast her gates shette,
And al J?e ny3t on ]?e wallis wake,
And ouere pis, swiche a wo pei make
Jjoru^ ]?e cite, pat Paris was so ded ;
For, finally, now pei can no red,
But wepe & crye & sorwen eue?'e in oon,
Ajax splits
Paris's skull
in two.
The Trojans
bear him into
Troy.
The Greeks
pursue,
3568
3572
3576
3580
but night
falls,
3584 and they go
home,
3588 tho they pitch
their tents
3592
close to the
walls ofTroy.
3596 The Trojans
weep for
Paris.
3569. his hed he] he his hede D 1. 3572. vn-to] to D 2.
3575. hym] hem D 1— her] Troye A. 3579. to] go C, goo D 1.
3580. arche] arke A, D 2, D 1— bowe] rowe D 1.
3581. in-to] in he Dl. 3583. to] is to D 1.
3587. as] J>at D 1. 3589. her] his C.
670 The sorrow of Priam, Helen, &c.,for Paris' s death. [BK. iv
The Trojans
are in
There's no-
thing for
them but to
keep close
inside their
walls.
Priam sheds
tears.
Hecuba
weeps and
cries.
Polyxena
tears her hair
and clothes.
Helen
clasps Paris's
corpse in her
arms.
Now alle )>e sonys of Priam us wer goon ! 3600
Fortune, alias ! hath hem so appeired,
))at of her lyf bei ben dis[es]peired,
Of al hope and of good welfare —
Perpetuelly for to lyue in care 3604
Yn-to her deth ; and )>at was fast[e] by :
For now ber is no maner remedie
Vp-on no syde, nor refut noon at al,
But hem to kepe clos wtt7*-Inne wal, 3608
))at for to sen it was a pitous bing.
And swiche a wo make)? now be kyng
For Paris deth, bat for dedly smerte [leaf 1175]
Hym bou^tfe] platly J>at his sorfnl herte 3612
Eecurles wold[e] riue a-tw[e]yne ;
And in-to terys he gan stille and reyne,
As he wolde for verray sorwe deye.
And of be quene, alias ! what shal I seye, 3616
Eccuba his owne moder dere,
J3at crieth, wepeth 'with a woful chere —
Of Polycene, bat was so wo-be-goon,
And of his sustren also euerychoon, 3620
J3at han her heer & her clones torn,
As bei had* her owne deth [y-]sworiij
For drery wo, and for pitous peyne.
But for-by alle, be faire quene Eleyne 3624
"Wailleth, crieth wi)> a dedly chere,
J)at her eyen, whiche whilom wer so clere,
For-dirked wern vrith doolful teris smerte.
And to be cors sodeynly she sterte, 3628
And clippid * it in hir armys tweyne,
And pitously enbrace it and restreyne,
Like as she wolde vrith hym dye anoon ;
3600. new IT A.
3602. ben] ben so D 1 — dysespeyred A, disespeyred D 2:
3608. wal] be wal D 1.
3609. sen] seyn A. 3610. now] eke D 1.
3612. sorful] wooiulle D 1. 3618. crieth] crieth & D 1.
3619. Of] And of D 1. 3622. had] hat C.
3623. drery] verrey D 1. 3624. for-by] Jit to fore D 1.
3625. Wailleth] f>at weileth & D 1.
3626. whiche whilom] bat some tyme D 1.
3629. clippid] clappid C, D 2.
3631. vrith hym dye] die with hym D 1.
Helen is
taken by force
from Paris's
corpse.
Her rosy hue
is changed to
ashy pallor.
She swoons
and wants to
die with her
knight.
BK. iv] The great Grief of Helen for the Death of Paris. 671
JFor stille she lay, dowmbe as any stoon, 3632
As marbil cold, hir lymys cravmpisshing,
Eedy at al toward hir buriynge,
Til men by force fro?^ ]?e cors hir hente ;
And she hir heer & hir cliekes rente, 3636
As she wer fallen in a rage,
}3at changed was, alias ! in hir visage
Hir natif colour and hir rody hewe,
Whilom as fresche as any rose newe : 3640
Now is she like vn-to asshes colde ;
And with hir hondis, ay to-gider folde,
Hir silfe she smot on hir pale face ;
And eue?-e amonge j>e cors she dide enbrace, 3644
In hir swowes as she nl to grourade,
Twenty tyme, and wepte ful his wou-wde.
With wo she was so waped and amaat,
Of al couwfort, alias ! disconsolat, t 3648
In herte beyng inly desirous,
ftoru^ hir rage passyng furious,
To deye attonys with hir owne kny^t ;
And* toward deth enclosid was hir sijt, 3652
As she fat lyst to lyve now 110 more.
I trow[e] fat neuer man be-fore
No woman sawe falle in swiche distresse,
In swiche disioint of dedly hevynes, 3656
Nor for no wo so pitously raue :
Nat Cleopatre goynge to hir graue,
Nor woful Tesbe, pat fro J>e kave sterte,
Whan she hir silfe smote vn-to J>e herte, [leaf 117 c] 3660
Nor J?e feithful trewe Orestille,
Whan J>at she sawe hir lord ageyn hir wille,
Marcus Plancus, vn-to shipe goon,
And for his love fil doim ded anon, 3664
Nor J?e sorwe of trewe lulya,
Nor j>e feruence of feithful Porcia,
3632. dowmbe] stille D 1. 3636. chekes] clones D 1.
3638. in] om. D 1. 3640. Whilom] Somme tyme D 1.
3651. attonys] allone D 1. 3652. And] For C.
3655. woman] man D 1. 3657. raue] y Rave A, D 2.
3661. feithful trewe] trewe feithfulle D 1— Orestille] Orystylle A.
3662. }>at] om. D 1.
Her distress
is greater
than that of
Cleopatra,
of Thisbe,
ofOrestilla,
of Julia,
or of Portia, .
672 Helen's Grief for Paris was the, greatest ever known. [BK. iv
Of whiche pe ton fil ded sodeynly,
For she sawe blood spreint so cruelly 3668
On hir lordis dredful garnement,
And Porcia, so trewe in hir entent,
Brutus'swife, Whan pat hir lord Brutus lost his lyf,
who burnt For be-cause she mvit haue no knvfe, 3672
herself to
death, Wip colys rede slovve hir silfe, alias !
Was nat also in be silfe caas
oro/Arte- Arthemysya, queue of Tarse lond? —
who raixt the Of Mausolus pe graue whan she fond, 3676
ashes of her
M^Ss ^r owne knJT3t» °f wh°s bonis smale,
Ful wofully, & vfith a cher 113 1 pale,
Sink daily ^ie Powc^er made, & drank it euery morwe.
But al fie wo and pe furious sorwe 3680
Beater than Qf j>ese echon jet may nat atteyne
WriefHelen'8' ^n'to fe sorwe of be quene Eleyne,
])at finally wil hir silfe for-do
for Paris. For Paris sake, whom she loued so : 3684
For after hym she wil nat lyve a day,
But ben awreke, pleynly, }if she may,
Vp-on hir lyf rather panne disseuere.
And pus in wo ay she doth perseuere, . 3688
In hir hert Paris sat so depe.
! some Alias ! who seith wo??imen can nat wepe ! —
dout[e]les pei haue it of nature,
it so be* pat pei no wo endure, 3692
•ham and $it can pei feyne and saltfe] teris fynde.
weep without J
real sorrow. Plente y-nowe, of her owne kynde,
And sorweles monies and compleyne.
But Helen I seie nat pis for be quene Eleyne, - 3696
was wounded *
to the heart, j^at was with wo wouwded to pe herte,
J?at fro pe deth she wendfe] nat a-sterte-
For depis darte hir herte made ryve,
And ^it she roos ageyn fro deth to lyve, 3700
3674. also] so D 1. 3676. Mausolus] Mausalus A, D 2, D 1.
3677. kny^t] om-. D 1. 3681. may] may it D 1.
3682. quene] faire quene D 1. 3683. finally] wilfully D 2.
3687. rather hanne] ]>anne to D 1.
3690. seith] seith that A.
3691. Jet] $es C. 3692. so be] be so C.
3698. a-sterte] haue sterte D 1.
women can
Every woe
has its
remedy.
Helen
^ - ^ n couldn't
3708 slay herself.
But I'll not
write more
about her
sufferings.
3712
BK. iv] Helen cannot kill herself. Paris is grandly buried. 673
-Only by grace, for al hir fel[le] rage :
For euery wo by processe muste aswage,
And oue?'gon and wasten by myracle ;
For eche venym maked is triacle, 3704
And euery wo hath his remedie.
For pou^ Eleyne faynfe] wolde die,
Hir kynde nolde assent[e] jet )>er-to,
So sodeinly to slen hir silfe for wo :
She was a wowman, no man shuld her wyte ! [leaf 1170}
Me liste no more of hir wo endite,
List vn-to $ou J>at it were tedious
To heren alle hir peynes furious,
Hir cruel wo and lamentaciouw,
Whiche wold[e] meve to compassions,
In verray soth — to writen eue/ydel —
Any herte j?ou^ it were made of stel. 3716
For kyng Priarn and )>e quene also
Hadden svviche routh of her pitous wo,
To sene hir so wepen * and compleyne,
]?at for hir )>ei felt as moche peyne 3720
As Ipei dide al-most for Paris.
Her-of no more : for Priam by devys,
After pis rage and ]ris mortal wo,
Amyd )>e temple sacrid to luno 3724
Ordeyned hath, wi]> ful besy cure,
For pe cors a riche sepulture,
And in al haste }>er-m made it shette,
J?at in sothnes jiffe I shulde * lette 3728
To tellen al pe ritis and pe guyse
)?at f>er wer made \n her peynym wyse,
And Ipe costis of his buriynge,
It shuld[e] be to longe a tariynge, 3732
Ceriously per-on to abyde,
Wherfore, as now I lete ouerslyde
Her peynym ritys supersticious.
3707. assente Jet] jit assente D 1. 3710; endite] to endite D 1.
3713. cruel] mortal D 2. 3716. Any] An D 1.
3719. so wepen] wepen so C.
3728. shulde] shuld not (the word not partly erased) C, shuld
not D 1.
3734. lete] lete it D 1.
Priam and
Hecuba
grieve almost
as much for
Helen
as they did
for Paris,
who is richly
buried in the
Temple of
Juno.
But I can't
delay to
describe bis
Pagan rites.
674 Priam won t fight in the open. The Queen of the Amazons.
Priam orders
the gates of
Troy to be
kept shut
as Ms men
daren't take
the field.
Agamemnon
challenges
him to come
out and
fight;
but he says
he'll only do
that when lie
pleases.
For the Queen
of the Ama-
zons is com-
ing to help
him.
How Kyng Pryam kepte the Citee of Troye, And
durste no lengere holde Batayle agaynst the
Grekes; and how the quene of Ama^onis came,
with other of her ladies, to helpe the Troyans.1
And telle I wil how kyng Priamws 3736
Ccwzmaiwded ha]?, of meschef & of nede,
]3oru$ Troye touw, only of verray drede,
To shette her gatis strongly as )?ei may,
And per-vppon, bo)>e ny$t and day 3740
To kepe wache : for, shortly, }>ei of Troye,
Disconsolat of al her olde loye,
Can no refut, but wepe and sorwe make ;
For )>ei ne durst no more vndirtake 3744
Ageyn Grekis in-to feld to goon.
Til on a day kyng Agamenoim
His messager by good avisement
To Priamws in-to Troye hath sent, 3748
Bequeryng hym, of manhod like a kny^t,
To issen oute with Grekis for to fi$t,
As he was wont, with his chiualrie.
But kyng Priam his axyng gan* denye, 3752
And shortly seide to hym pat was sent,
]3at lie ne wolde at his assygnement
Nat onys passe J>e gatis of ]>e toun,
But at his owne fre elecciotm, 3756
Whan-euere hym list, with oute?i co??ipellyng.
And $it, in soth, cause of his tariynge [leaf us a]
Was for J?e hardy quene of Femyiiye
Toward Troye faste gan hir hi^e 3760
Oute of hir lond, a litel region??,
jpe whiche, as bokis make meuciou?*,
After )>e syyt of )>e firmament
Is in )?e plage of fe orient, 3764
And called is }>e regne of Ama^onys,
3736. new IT A— how] of D 2.
3745. in-to] in >ey D2— feld] the feelde D 1.
3751 is misplaced at bottom of column in D 2.
3752. his axyng gan] gan his axyng C.
3760. Toward] pat towards D 1 .
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 115 d (misplaced after line 3748).
Of the Amazons. How they learn to fight, & to breed Children. 675
Of whiche f e custom[e] & f e wone ys,
))at only wommen f er-in shal abide :
And f ei ar wont armyd for to ryde,
And han in armys gret experience ;
For her labour & her dilligence
Is finally to hauen excersyce
Fro day to day in Martis hi^e seruyse.
And ouer-more, her custom and vsavwce,
As to f is day is maked remembrauwce,
Is fat no man shal hem ny^e ner,
But }if it be f re monies in f e ^er :
)3is to seyn, In lune, April, & May ;
And fan f e wommen han in custom ay
Vn-to an yle a litel f er be-syde,
Wher as ]>e men by hem silfe abide
Fro $ere to $ere to-gidre euerychon,
Vn-to fe men oute of her lond to gon,
And fere abide in fat regiouw
Til tyme cometh of concepciouw,
Wz't^-oute tariynge any lenger while ;
For f awne anoon home vn-to her He
Jpei repeire oute of fat centre
Vn-to tyme fat f ei delynered be.
And as faste as fe childe is born,
For lak of kepynge f at it be nat lorn,
He fostrid is, til f re ^ere be a-goon,
Amonge fe wommen; & fa?zne ri^t anon
To f e He besiden adiacent,
Vn-to fe men fe childe in haste is sent,
3if fat it be of kynde masculyn.
And $if it falle fat it be femynyn,
With f e wommen abide stille it shal
Til fat it be in actis marcial
Ful wel experte, & fat she can eke knowe
To handle a spere or to drawe a bowe,
Lyke f e statutis of fat regiourc,
3768
In the He of
the Amazons,
only women
live.
who daily
do warlike
3772 exercises,
3776
3780
and go with
men only in
April, May,
and June,
in the Men'
Island.
3784 When they've
conceivd chil-
dren,
they go home,
3788
and bring the
children up
till they're
3 years old.
3792
Then the
Boys are sent
to the Men,
3796 but the Girls
are kept by
the Women,
3800
and taught
how to fight.
3766. wone] vsage D 1. 3768. ar] be D 1.
3775. hem nyje] ny3e hem D 1. 3777. to] is to A, D 1.
3779. a] om. A, D 2. 3788. tyme] >e tyme D 2, D 1.
3791. a-goon] goon D 1. 3799. eke] it D 2.
TROY BOOK. Y Y
676 Of the Amazon Queen, Penthesilea, &her love for Hector. [BK. IV
Of this Ama-
zonian He
between
Europe and
Asia,
the Queen is
Penthesilea,
virtuous,
wise,
renownd in
arms,
womanly and
gentle.
She loves
Hector for his
nobleness ;
and when she
hears of the
Greek siege
of Troy,
she aqd her
1000 armd
women
hasten
thither.
)5e whiche, as bokes make mencioim,
Is set be-twene Ewrope & Asya.
And of ))is lond was Pantysyllya 3804
Whilom lady and gouerneresse,
Ful renomed of strengpe & hardynes
J)oru^-oute pe world, bope in lengpe & brede; [leaf us 6]
And ^it, in soth, to speke of woramanhede, 3808
For al her my^t she had an huge pris,
For bope she was vertuous and wys,
Wonder discret, & had an honest name,
Nat-w^tAstondynge }>e excelle of fame 3812
Of hir renoim in armys and pe glorie :
For of conquest and of hi^e victorie
She was most surmovntyng, out of drede,
Of any woraman pat I can of rede ; 3816
And, sothly, }it bokes bere witnesse,
Of wommanhede and of gentilnesse
She kepte hir so pat no pmge hir a-sterte.
])Q whiche loued w^tft al hir hool[e] herte 3820
Worpi Hector, and with al her my^t,
Only for he was so noble a kny^t,
}?at hir loye & worldly plesauwce,
Hir hertly ese & souereyne soffisaurcce, 3824
In verray soth, where she wake or winke,
Was euere in oon vp-on hym to pinke,
Of verray feith, with-outen any sloupe.
And vn-to hym she was be bond of troupe, 3828
Confederat of olde affecciou?^
j)at whan she herd how pat Troye toun
Besegid was of pe Grekis felle,
ftis hardy quene liste no lenger dwelle, 3832
But hasteth hir, as fast as euere she may,
Toward Troye in ful good array
With alle pe * worpi wommen of hir londe,
Ful wel expert & preved of her honde, 3836
Wei horsed eke, and armed richely.
3805. Whilom] Somtyme D 1. 3814. 2nd of] om. D 1.
3823 is omitted in D 2 and replaced by 3821.
3825. where] whe>er D 1. 3826. to] om. D 2.
3828. be] om. D 1. 3835. >e] hir C.
3837. eke and] & eek D 2.
BK. iv] Penthesilea persuades Priam to fight the Greeks. 677
And, as I fynde, in her company, Penthesiiea
A pousand maidenes ridinge by her side, armd Ama-
jjis worpi quene, )>at durst[e] wel abide, 3840 her.
She with hir brou^t, in steel armyd bri^t,
For loue of Hector, hir owne trewe kny^t.
And on hir weie fast she gan hir * spede
To helpen hym $if she seie nede : 3844 to help
For in no pinge she koude hir more delite
jjarcne towarde hym feithfully hir quyte,
For fat was al hir lust & hertis loye.
But whan J?at she corner was to Troye, 3848 whenshe
And herde telle by relaciouw «na hears
J Hector is
]5at he was ded, most wor}>i of renou?i, dead»
To whom she was so lovinge & so trewe,
Anoon she gan to chaungen cher and hewe, 3852
And pitously for to wepe & crye, she weeps,
And ferd in soth as she wold[e] deye
For verray wo and hertly hevynes,
And Jjou^t she wold pom} hir wor pines [leafiisc] 3856 and resolves
Avenge his deth, platly, ^if sh« may, h«m.
On J?e Grekis ; and so vppon a day
She preieth Priam, with gret affeccioiw, she beg?
Priam to
For to oppene )>e gatis of ]?e toura, 3860 °P^8the
And to gon oute with Grekis for to 63 1 Greek!ht the
))at fei may knowe & be expert ari^t
Of J>is womman J)e grete worjnnes,
And of ]>is quene ]>e famous * hardines. 3864
And so ]?e kyng,* hopynge for )JG beste,
"Wtt/i-oute abood g-rauwted hir requeste He agrees,
be nexte morwe, whaw Phebws shon ful shene : and next day
out they go,
And al to-forn out goth Phylymene, 3868
])& noble kyng, w^t7i hem of Paffaganye ;
And after hym oj>er kny^tes manye
Folwed after with worj)i Eneas, with Eneas,
Jje Troyan eke, daiw$ Pallydamas. 3872
3840. durste wel] wel durste D 1. 3843. hir] to C.
3844. 3if] if that D 1. 3845. in] om. D 2, D 1.
3846. f)a?ine] pat D 1. 3848. J>at] om. D 1.
3856. worbines] hai-dinesse D 1. 3857. platly] pleinly D 1.
3864. famous] grete 0. 3865. kyng] quene C.
3867. ful] om. D 1.
678 Pentliesilea unhorses Menestheus and Diomede. [BK. iv
Pentnesiiea And paraie ])& quene Pantasyllya
Amazons By J?e gate called Dardanyca
Toward Grekis proudly Issed oute,
With hir woramen ridyng hir aboute. 3876
})e whiche anoon whan Grekis dide espie,
are met by In-to }>& f elde gan hem faste
And first of alle wor))i Meneste,
Pantasillia wharaie he dide se, 3880
With his sporis made his stede gon ;
And with a spere rood to hir anoon,
Of whom }>e quene astonyd neuer-adel,
Cau$t eke a spere pat was squarid wel, 3884
Ro[u]nde pe shafte, and pe hed wel groiwde,
she unhorses Whiche as l>ei coupe smet him doim to groimde.
Menestheus
And inaugre hym reved him his stede.
But* panne in haste in cam Diomede, 3888
And cruelly to J>e quene gan ride ;
And she as faste on pe toper side
Rood eke to hyni, in platis bri$t & shene ;
And as J>ei mette -with her aperis kene, 3892
She hitte so J»is feile Diomede,
For al his rny^t and his manlyhede,
and Diomede, Jjat she hyui made his sadel for to lese
— Jper is no more, he my^tfe] po nat chese. 3896
And in dispite of his men echon,
She hath his sheld hym beraft anoon,
And it delyuereth, proudly as she rood,
To a maide J?at vppon hir abood. 3900
How Pantasilia toke Thelamon prisoner.
and fights And like a tigre in his gredinesse,
or a lioness. Or like, in soth, to a lyouwesse,
}5at day she ferde, ridynge vp &
Amonge )>e Grekis, til fat Thelamou?i 3904
Gan beholde ]?e slau^ter [pat] she made, [leaf us d]
— Of hi^e dispit and rancour ouerlade,
3879. new IT A— wor>i] >e worbi D 1. 3881. gon] to goon D 1.
3888. But] And C. 3892. her] his D 2.
3895. hym made] made him D 1. 3896. bo nat] not J>o D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 1166 (misplaced after line 3898).
Ajax is taken prisoner ~by PenthesUea, but rescued by Diomede. 679
As he fat my^t for Ire not sustene,
Gan ren his hors to falle vppon bis* quene.
But whan J)at she his comynge dide espie,
She fil on hym in hir malencolye
So mortally, maugre his kny^tes alle,
]5at to ]?e grouwde she made hi?ft for to falle,
And Grekis put in so grete dis[a]ray,
Wher-euere she rood al bat ilke day ;
For J>ei my^t a-forn hir nat sustene.
And boru^ )?e helpe of kyng Philymene,
As myn auctor recordeth in his boke,
Amyd be feld ThelamouTi she toke,
And sent hym forbe boru} her hi^e renou^
As prisoner toward Troye touw.
Til vn-to rescus cam cruel Diomede,
And cruelly on hem bat gan him lede
He fil vnwarly, with an huge route
Of his kny^tes ridynge hym ahoute,
And from her hondis, maugre al her my^t,
He hym deliuereth like a manly kny$t.
At whiche tyme, j)is hardy quene anon,
With hir wommen aboute hir eue?'ychon,
)3e Grekis hath a-forn hir on ]>e pleyn
(As writ Guydo) so mortally be-leyn,
}3at she hem made of necessite
Oute of ]>e feld with her swerd to fle,
J)at verrayly it was incredible,
And to leve a maner impossible,
To sene J>e wo??zmen Grekis so enchase,
Whiche my^tfe] nat abide a-forn her face,
Nor in ]?e feld in any wyse stonde :
For pei hem dryve to pe silfe stronde,
DOUTI to J>e clyf of )?e salt[e] se,
And slowe of hem so huge gret plente,
J)at finally fei had[de] be distroyed
For euere-more, and outterly accloied,
3908
Ajax charges
Penthesilea,
3912 butisunhorst
by her,
3916
3920
and made
prisoner,
but is rescued
by Diomede
3924 and his
knights.
However,
she and her
3928 Amazons
3932
3936
drive the
Greeks
to the sea-
cliff,
3940 and slay lots
of em.
3908. >is] be C, D 1. 3911. maugre] amcwge D 1.
3912. for] om. D 1.
3915. For] pat D 2, D 1— my3t] ne my3te D 1— nat] om. D 2, D 1.
3929. hir] hym D 1. 3936. a-forn j forne D 1.
680 The Amazons & their Queen retire victorious to Troy. [BK. iv
Diomede is
the stay of
the Greeks,
their sturdy
wall;
but Penthe-
silea and her
Amazons
go back
victorious
to Troy,
where Priam
thanks her,
and offers her
riches.
She daily
attacks the
Greeks,
Nadde Diomede stonde[n] at diffence,
And of kny^thod maked insistence :
For he fat day, in parti and in al,
For Grekis stood as a sturdy wal,
And was allone her helpe & chef socour.
But for al fat, with worship & honour,
Pantasillya, as made is memorie,
Repeired is wif conquest and victorie,
With alle hir wommen in-to Troye touTfc
Vp-on f e hour of Phetws goynge doun.
And by f e side of f is hardy quene,
Armyd in stel, rood kyng Phylymene,
Whom Priamws hath with gret reuerence
Kny^tly reseved, & dide his dilligence
Hem to refreshe with euery maner fing
)?at my^tfe] be vn-to her likyng,
As her hertis koude best deuyse.
And after fis, in ful goodly wyse,
He Ranked hath f e noble hardy quene,
Of hir goodries fat hir lyste to sene
To helpyn hym in his grete nede,
And offrid hir (in Guy do as I rede)
Al fat he hath, tresour and richesse,
Hopynge fully jwru^ hir worf ines
Yp-on Grekis avengid for to be,
And for to kepe hym and his cite
Maugre Grekis, whiche of hem seye nay.
For, as I rede, after day be day
She stint[e] nat proudly hem tassaile,
Ageyn whos swerd fei my^t[e] nat availe,
So mortally she made her sides blede.
[leaf 119 a]
3944
3948
3952
3956
3960
3964
3968
3972
How Firms, the son of Achilles, was Keceyuyd
Kyng myrundones.1
tm Pyrrims Til Menelay fro kyng Lycomede
of
arrives.
Repeired is wif Neptolonyus,
3957. Hem] Hym D 1. 3959. her] om. D 2.
3961. >e noble hardy] >is hardy noble D 1.
3966. Hopynge] Kepynge D 2— worjnnes] hardinesse D 1.
3971. proudly hem] hew proudly D 1. 3974. fro] fro the D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 116 d (misplaced after line 3980).
BK.IV] Pyrrhus is welcomd ~by the Myrmidons & the Greeks. 681
Whiche is in bokes called eke Pirrus, 3976
-r-i-r, ., Achilles' s
Whilom J>e sone of cruel Achilles, son,
Whom for to sen ful huge was )>e pres
Of j^e Grekis goynge envirouw.
And for he was by successions 3980
Born to ben eyer of fis Achilles,
He was resseyued of Mirundones is received
"With grete honour & gret solempnite, midons,
So glad were )>ei her ^ong[e] lord to se, 3984
To whom echon J>ei maden affiaurace,
And wern eke sworn by bo?ide & assurance who swear
faith to him.
For lyf or deth to hym to be trewe,
As his liges, and chaunge for no newe — 3988
To obeie his lust in al maner )>ing.
And after J>is, Agamenouw )>e kyng He is
Made hym kny^t ; and Thelamonivs Agamemnon,
With a swerde girte a-noon Pirrus, 3992 and girt with
. a sword by
Seiynge to hym in }>e silve place, Ajax,
With ]?e baudrik whaw he him dide embrace :
" Take hede," qiwd he, " myn owne cosyw dere,
To resemble in manhod & in chere, 3996 Wh5> bids. Mm
be like his
In kny^thod eke, and in worjrinesse father,
To Jn fader, whiche in sothfastnesse
In his tyme was so noble a kny^t ;
And ouermore, with * al ])i f ul[le] myjt 4000
Tavensje his deth Ipat tou do l)i peyne." and avenge
his death.
And )>a?me of Grekis worjri dukes tweyne
Ful humblely gonne douw to knele, [leaf 119 6] Gold spurs
And sette a spore vp-on ou)>er hele, 4004 his f"*18-
As was )>e maner, of gold bornid bri^t.
And in pis wyse Pirrus was made kny^t,
As $e han herde, in ful hi^e presence,
With gret honour and due reuerence, 4008
Like ]>e custom of pe Grekis lawes
And fe rytis vsede in )>o dawes.
And panne anoon hath Agamenouw, Agamemnon
With ful glad chere and gret aifecciouw, 4012
3976. eke] om. A. 3983. honour] renerence D 1.
3988. As] And D 1. 3994. him dide] dobe him D 1.
4000. with] by C. 4004. ouber] enery D 1.
682 The Greeks honour Pyrrhus. He fights for them. [BK. iv
gives Pyrrhus
his father
Achillas'*
the Greeks
devote 8 days
4016
4020
Delyuered hym fully by sentence
])e armys hool, with-onten difference,
Whiche Achilles be his lyve bar —
His worf i fader — on his sholdris squar,
As for next eyr of lynfe] by discent ;
and treasure; And al f e tresour also & his tent,
Armvre & al, deliuered wern anoon
Vn-to Pirrus; and Grekis euerychon
Ey^te dayes, swyng by and by,
Jjoru^-oute fe oste, ful solempnely
to his honour, jjei halwe in honour of fis $ong[e] kny^t.
How Fantasillia the quene and her wemen and the
Troyens obtaynede a great felde agaynst the
Grekys, and putt them to flyght: wich felde
endured the space of iiij wekes & more.1
Til on [a] morwe [whan] Phebws shoon ful bri}!, 4024
Whiche with his li^t fat shynef fro so ferre
Diffacid haf f e stremys of f e sterre
Lucifer, f e daies Messarcger,
Whan Grekis gan in platis bri^t & cler
Enarmen he?n fat day, for sour or swete,
Fully in purpos with her foon to mete ;
And manfully oute of her tentis wyde
Ageyn Troyens fei be-gan to ryde,
Warde after warde, proudly in-to feld.
and Pyrrhus And Pirrus bar fat day vp-on his shelde
His fadris armys, like as seit[h] Guydo ;
And of f e same he hadde vp-on also
A cote armvre fat by-cam hym wel ;
And forfe he rood, armed bri^t in stel,
And casuelly, formest as he was,
He mette first with Polly damas,
A kny$t of Troye, a ful manly man :
charges Poly- And furiously Pirrus to hym ran
damas.
Then they
take the field
against the
Trojans,
4028
4032
4036
4040
On horse-bak, wa'tTi a my^ti swerde,
4017. As for] And D 1. 4019. wern] was D 1.
4024. whan] bat D 1. 4029. or] & D 1.
4033. feld] |w felde D 1. 4042. to] vnto D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 117 c (misplaced after line 4132.)
Philomene and PyrrJius fight. The Queen of the Amazons. 683
And gan to hurtle* with him in J>e berde 4044
So my^tely, in Jjis hatful strif,
Pollydamas had[de] loste his lyf
Nad reskus be, with-outs more tariynge,
Of Phylymene, ]>e noble worjn kyng, 4048
Only of kny3thod & of worthies.
To whom Pirrus faste gan him dresse
With his swerd, & smet hym in pe siy^t,
ftat from his horse he made him to a-li^t; [leaf 119 c] 4052
For he ]?e strok my3t[e] nat sustene.
And sothfastly ]?is worfi Philymene
Of Pirrus had y-take be * anoon,
Save his kny^tes, assemblid in-to on,
Of Pafagonye, cam hym to reskwe :
But Pirrus ay so fersly gan purswe
Vp-on ]>is kyng with Mirundones,
Beset in meschef amonge ]>e grete pres,
J)at many kny^t of ]>is noble kyng
I-slay[e]n was at his reskwyng —
He stood of deth in so streit a caas.
Til of fortune cam Pollydamas
To his reskus, and dide his fulfle] my$t
Hym to deliuere, & quyt hym lyke a kny$t ;
But, in sotbnes, ]>er& was swiche resistence
Of Pirrus kny^tes, stondynge at diffence,
}3at ay in meschef stood kyng Philymene,
Til Pantasillya, of Femenye* [J^e] quene,
Wi}? hir wo??zmen a gret companye,
Gan )?is finge of auenture espie, —
Whiche wern echon, for }>e more delyt,
On her armvre J>at day clad in whyt,
]3at verrayly )>er was no lylye flour
Nor snowe pat flake)) fro lubiteris tour
Of whitnes fressher on to sene,
J?anwe in pe feld was )>is hardy quene,
Whiche first of alle amonge []?e] Grekes ches
Polydamas is
rescued by
Philomene,
whom
Pyrrhus
unhorses,
and would
4056
4060
4064 but for
Polydamas
4068
4072
4076
and Penthe-
silea,
Queen of the
Amazons,
who is
clad in
snow-white
armour,
and falls on
the Myrmi-
dons.
4044. hurtle] hnrcle C. 4055. y-take be] be take C.
4057. hym] in A. 4062. I-slayen] Slayn D 1.
4070. Feinenye] Femenyne C.
4077. Of] On D 1— on to] vnto A.
684 Penthesilea slays Myrmidons, and rescues Philomene. [BK. iv
Penthesilea
slays many
Myrmidons.
Ajax and si
unhorse one
another.
She and her
Amazons
free Philo-
mene from
the Myrmi-
dons.
Pyrrhus
says it's a
shame to see
men so driven
back and slain
by women.
Proudly to falle on Mirundones. 4080
Amonges whom ridyng vp & doiw,
She hem vnhorseth poru} her hi^e renoim,
And slowe of hem vp-on euery syde,
Makynge her rengis for to seuere wyde, 4084
Til Thelamoiw in a furious hete
With a spere vnwarly dide hir mete,
And in a rage smot hir to pe pleyn.
But she anoon ful lyfly roos ageyn, 4088
And with hir swerd so marked Thelamouw,
))at from his hors she made hym Iy3t[e] dourc,
Plat to pe grourcde on his hondis tvveyne.
And paraie hir wommen dide her besy peyne 4092
To make her quene hir stede to recure.
And al pis while stood in auenture
Of his lyf worpi Philymene,
Pirrus kny^tes wern on hym so kene, 4096
Maugre his men pat pei han hym take
— It geyneth nat diffense for to make,
J5e Grekis han so strongly hym be-set ; —
And forpe pei lad him,* it my$t[e] be no bet, 4100
Toward her tentis, poru3-oute al pe feld. [leaf 119 d]
\)e whiche ping whan pe quene behyld,
With hir wommen pat a-boute hir rood
Pursued after, vtith-outQ more abood, 4104
)}at finally J?ei han so after swed,
)2oru3 her force pat he was reskwed,
Maugre pe manhood of Mirundones.
And Pantasillia was so mercy les 4108
Yp-on Grekis, pat of necessite,
j^oru} hir force and hir cruelte,
Aforn hir swerd pei durst[e] nat abide.
But whan Pirrus* sawe hir gretfe] pride, 4112
To his kny^tes lowde he gan to crye,
And seide it was shame & villenye,
For pe wommen so* to lese her lond
4082. hem] him D 1. 4089. marked] markith A, marki> D 1.
4090. hors] stede D 1— doim] a doun D 1.
4100. lad him] hi?M lad C.
4112. Pirrus] bat Pirrus C. 4115. so] for C.
BK. iv] The Queen of the Amazons upbraids Achilles's son. 685
And to be sleyn so felly of her hond :
" Wherfore echon $oure hertis* doth resvme,
And of assent late vs now conswme
j?e pride of hem, )>a^ noon awey eskape ;
For, but $if we som remedie shape
))is like day her force to confouwde,
Shamful report to vs shal rebouwle
Perpetuelly, wher we slepe or wake ! "
And as Firms gan his swerde to take,
Furiously and wiih a kny^tly chere,
)}is hardy quene happed for to here
Al ]?at Pirrus to his kny^tes spak —
Hir liste nat onys for to tourne bake,
Nor of his thret for to taken hede ;
For platly she hade of hym no drede,
But ri$t proudly gan to nei^en nere,
And to hym seide anoo?z, as 36 shal here :
" 0 J>ou Pirre, sone of Achilles,
jpat slowe Hector, in kny^thod per[e]les,
jporu^ his treynes & his trecherie,
By malys only and by fals en vie,
Vnwar, whan he no J>inge dide aduerte !
J)e whiche neuere may oute of myn herte,
So grene it stikej) in my remembrauwce,
Vp-on his deth for to do vengauwce !
And it sit wel, as senieth vn-to me,
j)at his deth be venged vppon the
First of al, and on }>i fadres blod,
For lone of hym, so gentil & so good —
])Q deth of whom shuld al ]>e worlde co??ipleyne.
Nat only men done her besy peyne
To quyte his deth, but woramew eke also
Wiih al her my^t helpen eke per-to,
As ri}t requereth, wit/i-oute excepciou?z,
J5er-on to done ful execuciouTi ;
Pyrrhus
exhorts his
Myrmidons
to rout the
Amazons.
Penthesilea
4116
4120
4124
4128
4132 reproaches
him tor his
Father's
cowardly
murder of
Hector.
4136
4140 She will
avenge this
on him,
4144
4148
for all the
world
lamented
Hector.
[leaf 120 a]
4117. echon 3oure hertis] 3oure hertis echon C.
4122. vs] vs al D 1. 4123. wher] wheher D 1.
4124. to] om. D 2. 4126. for] om. D 2, D 1.
4128. bake] a bak A, abak D 2 ; here bak D 1. 4131. rijt] ful D 1.
4133. new ^ D 1—0] S D 1— Pirre] Pirrus A.
4140. for] om. A. 4148. helpen] to helpe D 1.
686
Penthesilea
tells Pyrrhus
that women
will shed his
blood.
He charges
her furiously,
but she un-
horses him.
Then lie
fights her
on foot ;
but she bents
him down,
and the
Myrmidons
rescue him.
Penthesilea unhorses and fights Pyrrhus. [BK. iv
''• And I now stonde in pe same plite.
And for pou hast vs woramen in dispit, 4152
Of oure power, shortly in sentence,
Jpow shalt in haste haue experience
And knowe oure force, sothly, euerydel,
Ri^t in short tyme, truste me ri^t wel, 4156
Here in pis feld, in shedynge of pi blood ! "
Wher-of Pirrus wexen gan as wood
As any tigre, boor, or wood lyoim —
So frat pe colre in his complexiovm. 4160
And in his Ire fel and dispitous,
He hent a spere, pale and furious,
And ran at hir with al his my^t & peyne ;
And a-geynward, as she pat list nat feyne, 4164
Encontrid hym al deuoide of fere.
But Pirrus firste brak on hir his spere,
Al-be pat he my^t hir nat remeve
In hir sadel, nor but litel greue. 4168
But she ageyn so sore gan him hitte,
On his stede pat he may nat sitte,
But descendeth endelonge pe pleyn ;
And vp he ros \viih ful gret disdeyn, 4172
And hent a* swerd in his hond anoon,
And made his stede lyne ri^t to goon
Vp-on pis quene of passyng worpines,
And mwardly of hate & of wodnes 4176
In herte y-fret, smet at hir many stroke.
But euere she sat stille as any oke ;
And of force in hir Ire pale,
Efte ageyn she made hym to a vale 4180
To pe erpe, maugre al his peyne.
And pus pe fi$t lastep of hem tweyne
A large whyle, til Mirundones
Han take her lord by force oute of pe pres, 4184
4151. I now] now I A, D 1. 4156. truste] trusteb D 2.
4158. wexen gan] gan wexe D 1. 4159. tigre] boole D 1.
4160. be] with I) 1. 4161. his] bis D 2.
4168. nor] ne hir D 1. 4173. a] his C.
4175. bis] be D 1. 4176. 2nd of] ora. D 1.
4177. y-fret] frette D 1— many] many a D 1.
4178. oke] hook D 2. 4184. by force] om. D 1.
The Battle rages. Slaughter ~by Pyrrhus & Penthesilea. 687
And maked hyra his hors recure ageyn.
And in Jns tyme on J?e silve pleyn
With his baner is descendid dowi
}?e wor)>i kyng, grete Agamenouw, 4188
With kynges, dukes, endelonge ]>e grene, Greeks
With her* wardis, pat wonder was to sene,
So prudently in ]?e feld batailled,
bat han Troyens mortally assailled. 4192
Trojans.
But po in hast )>e kyng Phylymene,
As $e han herde, reskwed by }>e quene,
Whan he hath pankyd to hir worjrines,
With his kny3tes in he gan him dresse, 4196
And Pantasillya, assembled bofce in oon,
silea attack
Vp-on Grekis gonne for to goon, tiie Greeks,.
Where men may se, w^t^ speris sharpe grouwde [leaf 1206]
Eueryche o]>er beren vn-to J>e grou/zde. 4200
\)GY men may sen, proudly, with-oute lak,
])Q manly kny^tes ren on horse-bake ;
And j)e wo??^men mortally oppresse and oppress
\)Q felle Grekis jjoru^ her hardyines, 4204
Only foru^ force of J>e my3ty quene,
JOat ded }?ei lay, curynge al )>e grene.
WheT-with cam in dau?i3 Pollydamas,
Fro deth reskued, & with hym Eneas, 4208 J518ed™enter
Kyng Esdras eke, of Troye j?e cite.
And ]>o Ipe wardis gan to-gidre fle
On ou)>er party, fel and furious ;
But moste of alle Neptolonivs, 4212 Pyrrhus
ftat Pirrus hi^te, ))e Grekis champiourc,
Irous & wood on hem of Troye toun,
Made his swerde in her fleshe to byte.
And Pantasillya, proudly hir to quyte, 4216 Pentiiesiiea
Ne spareth nat with mortal wouradis wyde
Grekis to sleen vp-on euery side — kMs Greek«,
Now here, now ]?er, to her confusioun.
And Pirrus paraie is fallen on Glaucous, 4220
])Q halfe broker to Pollydamas,
4190. her] his C. 4191. prudently] rially D 1.
4193. new IF D 1. 4199. groimde] y grovmde D 1.
4208. Fro] Fro >e D 1. 4211. ou>er] ei>er D 1.
688 Grlaueon is slain. His Death is avenged on the Greeks. [BK. iv
Pyrrhus
slays
Glaucon.
Penthesilea
attacks
Pyrrhus.
They unhorse
each other,
and fight on
foot.
Polydamas
revenges his
brother
Glaucon's
deatli on the
Greeks,
who flee,
till turnd by
Diomede,
Ajax and
Pyrrhus.
The Greeks
are worsted.
Night falls.
— For Anthenor eke his fader was —
And Pirrus so, in a cruel Ire,
"With malencolye newe sette a-fyre, 4224
Smot Glaucouw so, or pat he toke hede,
Amonge pe pres fat he fil dour* ded.
And Pantasillya from hir wommen alle
)?e same tyme is on Pirrus falle ; 4228
And he, of hir whan he hadde a si^t,
Rood vn-to hir lyke a manly kny^t :
And as pei hurtle on hors[e]-bak I-fere,
Of auenture with swerdis stif & clere, 4232
Eue?'yche made oper to a-ly^t ;
And hatfully on fote so pei fi^t
Longe or ouper nry^t of oper wynne,
Til pei were niade of force for to twymie 4236
By pe wardys pat went hem a-twene —
I mene Pirrus & pis hardy quene.
And al pis tyme dau^ Pollydamas
So wood for Ire in his herte was, 4240
Amyd Grekis, for his broker deth,
Jpat whom he mette for his loue he sleth,
With-ouie mercy, in his hatful tene,
})at he allone and pis hardy quene 4244
Swyche [a] slau^ter on pe Grekis make,
))at pei pe feld outterly for-sake,
And gan to flen to her tentis dourc,
Til* Diomede & Aiax ThelamouTz [leaf 1200] 4248
And Pirrus eke made hem turue a-geyn ;
But pei, in soth, wer so ouer-leyn
J)at )>ei ne my^te al pat* day releve.
And pus pei fau^t til it drowe to eve 4252
— J)e moste damage on pe Grekis syde, —
Til Phebus gan his bri^tfe] chare to hide
Lowe in pe west & to sh[r]oude his ly$t
Vnder cou[r]tyn of pe blake ny^t, 4256
J?at ouper parte pou^t[e] for pe beste
4225. so] om. D 1.
4228. tyme] tyde D 2, tide D 1 — on] vp on D 1.
4237. a-twene] bitwene D 1. 4243. hatful] fatal D 1.
4244. hardy] my^ty D 1. 4248. Til] Til pat C.
4251. pat] >e C. 4253. on] of D 1.
BK. iv] Fighting goes on. Penthesileas death draws nigh. 689
To departe and drawe * to [her] reste,
And toke her ese Jiat ny^t as }>ei may.
And al J>e mon)>e, swynge day by day, 4260 DaHy battles
any interupciouw month.
I-fere, al-be no mencioiw
Be made ]>er-of nor wryte in special
Of no persone, but in general : 4264
Who J>at euere dide evele or wel,
In Troye boke I fynde neuere-a-del,
Saue ]?e quene, like as writ Guydo,
Of hir wowmen an hundrid hath for-go, 4268 A hundred
Amazons
ftat slay[e]n wern filke moneth day. are slain.
J)e deth of whom, pleynly, $if she may,
Shal wel be quyt, $if so * J>at Fortune
Be fauourable frendly to contune 4272
)?at hir face chauwge nat contrarie.
But she J>at can euery day so varie,
Alias ]>e while ! & selde in oon soiourne, Fortune
Gan fro )>is quene hir loke* aweie to twrne, 4276 against their
To enhaste J>oru$ hir vngoodlyhede
Antropos to breke hir lyves threde,
As }>e story pleynly shal $ou lere,
Benygnely ^if ^e list to here. 4280
[How Penthesilea, the Queen of the Amazons, was
cruelly slain by Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles ; and
how the Greeks slew ten thousand of the Trojans,
and pursued them to the gates of their city.1]
•e fatal how, harde for to remewe, Death draws
Of cruel dejj, which no ma?i may eschewe
Nor in ]>is lyfe finally eskape,
Specially whan parchas han it shape, 4284
Aproche gan — it may noon o)>er bene,
Alias J)e while ! — of )>is hardy quene,
Whiche on a day, furious and wroth,
4258. drawe] to drawe C. 4263. Be made] I made D 1.
4267. like] om. D 1. 4271. so] so be C, D 1.
4274. euery day so] so eche day D 1. 4276. loke] face C.
1 Two leaves missing in the Royal MS. Heading supplied by
editor.
rph
690
Penthesilea wounds Pyrrhus. She is injured. [BK. iv
Penthesilea
attacks the
Greeks,
and charges
Pyrrhus,
whose chest
her spear-
head pierces.
The Greeks
surround her,
and shiver
her helmet,
shoulder-
mail and
rerebrace.
In-to pe feld oute of Troye goth, 4288
And gan on Grekis proudly for to sette.
And alderfirst Pirrus -with hir mette
Of mortal hate and indignaciouw ;
And she in haste by J>e rengis dorm 4292
Rood vn-to hym swiftly on hir stede,
Whos sporis sharpe made his sides blede.
And as pei mette, her speris in )>e rest,
jpei bare so evene, markyng at pe brest, 4296
ftat her shaftis, sothly pis no tale, [leaf 120 d]
Gan to shyuere alle on pecis smale,
Wflt/i-oute bowynge ouper bak or chyne :
For nouper made oper to enclyne — 4300
Saue pe hed, forged harde of steel,
Of Pantasillya, pat was groimde wel,
In Pirrus brest percid hath so depe
}3at plate, in soth, nor mailpe] my3t hym kepe, 4304
But pe sharpnes of pe speris hede
Was of his blod in party died rede.
J?e whiche strok whan Grekis dide* espie,
For-astonyd loude gan to crye, 4308
And alle attonys for J>e noise & souw
Vp-on pis quene in pe feld cam doiw,
In compas wyse goynge envirouw.
But poru^ hir prowesse & hir hi^e renown 4312
She hir diffendeth, pat it was mervaille ;
But pei, alias ! so sore hir gan assaille,
Jpat al to-hewe pei han hir basenet,
Amyd Grekis so pikke she was beset — 4316
Jpat vfith axes and her swerdis square
Hir hed in soth maked* was al bare,
And hir shuldris were nakid eke, alias ! —
Jpe maille hewe of and pe rerebras. 4320
And Pirrus pan, lyke as it is fouwde,
For anguyshe only of his grene wouwde,
4294. his] hir D 2, here D 1. 4299. bak] of bak D 1.
4301. harde of] of bri^t I) 1. 4307. dide] gan C.
4311. goynge envirouw] in the feelde cam doim D 1.
4312. But] And D 1. 4313. was] is D 1.
4314. hir gan] gan hir A. 4318. maked] maketh 0, made D 1.
4320. hewe] ]>ei hewe D 1.
BK. iv] The Queen of the Amazons is hewn to pieces by Pyrrhus. 691
In doute pleynly wher he slmlde eskape, Pyrrhus
Toward )>is quene faste gan hym rape 4324 Penthesiiea,
To be avengid, what-so-euere falle,
Amyd )>e feld amonge [)>e] Grekis alle.
And whan she sawe ]>at he cam so faste,
Of force only to mete him $it she cast, 4328
And with hir swerd first gan hym assaille ;
But of hir strok it happed hir to faille,
Amonge J>e pres so narwe she was beset.
And Firms swerd was so sharpfe] whet, 4332
bat sodeinly of hir arme he smette — cuts off her
right arm,
Alias ! J?er was now armour hym to lette,
But raceth poru^ al ]>e shulder bon,
So pat Jris quene fil douw ded anon. 4336
And of malys for to venge hym more,
At his hert ]?e Ire frat so sore,
jpat wz't/i a chere of verray angir pale
He hath hir hewe al on pecis smale, 4340 and hacks her
fie whiche was to * f oule a cruel dede !
But euere in on Pirrus so gan blede, He then
nearly bleeds
Ni$e to J)e detb, of his mortal wou?ide, to death,
For lak of blod pat he fil to groimde — 4344
In a trawnce ful longe gruf he lay,
Til his kny3tes, in al ]>e haste J?ei may, [leaf 121 a]
Han take hym vp & leide him on a sheld ;
And doolf ully home oute of J?e feld 4348 but is carried
))ei ban hym born, wouwded as he was.
And ]>Q wo?ttmen of )>e queue, alias ! The Amazons
For verray sorwe & imvard dedly wo,
Whan pei sawe her lady was a-go, 4352
For to be ded pei were so desirous,
bat in al haste, wood and furious, furiously
attack the
In a rage, wit/t-oute goue?'naile, Greeks,
Grekis J>ei gan of newe for to assaille 4356
— Tavenge her quene }>ei wer so hertly kynde — to av enge
])at J?ei si owe, sothly, as I fynde, death'
4323. wher] whe>er D 1.
4325. what-so-euere falle] what som euere bifalle D 1.
4327. so] om. D 1. 4330. But] And D 1. 4341. to] so C.
4342. so gan] gan so P 1. 4351. mward] verre D 1.
4356. for] om. D 1. 4357. Tavenge] To venge. D 1.
TROY BOOK. Z Z
692 Two thousand Greeks are slain, and 10,000 Trojans. [BK. iv
The Amazons
Greeks.
The Trojans
have lost
their leader,
and 10,000
of em are
slain.
They are
chased to
Troy,
and are f'orst
to stay there,
Two Jxmsand Grekes — on hem }>ei wer so wod.
But, o alias ! in gret disioint )>ei stood, 4360
Only for lak )>ei haue no gouernour ;
For she was goon ]>at was her chef socour,
Whiche was also, to speke of hardynes,
Of wommen alle lady and maistresse, 4364
As of Mr hond — )>at I can of rede.
0 36 Troyens ! 36 stonden in gret drede,
Am yd )>e feld al oute of gouenmmce !
])Q day is come of ^oure vnhappi chaiwce : 4368
For now haue 36 leder noon nor gyde —
Far wel 3oure trust now on euery side !
And Grekes ben vp-on ^ou so stronge
)5at 36 TpQ feld may nat kepe longe ; 4372
For ]>ei cast hem fully 3ou to quyte
j?is same day, as Dares list endite :
For, as he writ, homward as pel drawe,
Ten jjousand Troiens wern of Grekis slawe. 4376
For alle her wardis cam attonys douw,
And mortally, with-onie excepciou?*,
]?ei kille and sle al ]>ai hem w^stood ;
And moste j?ei wern on J?e wommen wood 4380
To be avenged, pleinly, as I rede.
On euery halfe, & her blood to shede
WitA-oute mercy or remyssiouw,
Chasyng Troiens home in- to ]?e touw 4384
Oute of j?e f elde ; for J>er was noon abod, —
So pitously )>o vfith hem it stood
)?at J>ei ne can noon ojjer recure caste,
But kepe her toun & shet her gatis faste, 4388
For al her hope clene was agoon
Any more to fi3te wij> her foon.
For now her trust of kny^thod was a-way,
Her worj>i men slay[e]n, well la way ! 4392
Eefut was noon, but in her cyte
To kepe hem clos — it may noon o)>er be :
4366. neto IT A. 4373. fully] felly D 2.
4376. of] of Jie D 1. 4380. on] vpon A, D 2— >e] J>ese D 1.
4386. >o Vfith hem] wi> hem tho D 1.
4388. shet her gatis] here $atis shit D 1.
4389. clene was] was tho D 1. 4392. slayen] slayn nowe D 1.
BK. iv] The Greeks refuse to give the Trojans Penthesilea's corpse. 693
For hem J>ou3t pei my^t it kepe longe, [leafiaid] The Trojan8
Her walles wern so nrnti & so stronge, 4396 can stand
the longest
}if j>ei had plente of vitaille ; 8jege.
jpou^ all )>e world attonis hem assaille,
)5ei may be sure while ]?ei kepe hem In,
For euere-more pat no man shall hem wywne. 4400
3et neue?--Jjeles, erly arid eke late
be Grekes made to-forn euery gate The Greeks
watch every
Ful my^ti wache & a- wait ml stronge, gate.
Wi]> pryvy spies goynge in amonge, 4404
ftat of her foon noon eskape away
By noon ewgyn, as ferforthe as j?ei may.
[The sorrow of the Trojans for the death of Penthe-
silea; and how the Greeks cast her dead corse
in a lake.1]
And, in Jris while, vfith-Irme Troie toura, The Trojans
More pan I can make descripcioiw, 4408
For J?e quene }?er was so gret a sorwe sorrow for
Of euery whi^t, bojje at eve & morwe, ally,
))at she, alias ! was slay[e]n for her mede, tho Queen of
Whiche cam so fer to helpe hew in her nede ; 4412
And aldermost for pei ne my^tfe] haue
)?e dede cors, to burie [it] and to graue
Wiih reuerence and wi]> honour dwe,
For whiche J>ei gan to J)e Grekis sWe 4416 The Greeks
With gret praier and gret[el besynes. em her corpse
D , , . , . , L,J to bury with
But al in veyn and in ydelnesse honour.
Was her requeste — J)e Grekis wer so wrope.
And finally, with many sondry ope, 4420
Only of malys and of hoot envie,
)2e dede cors to hem J>ei denye,
And shortly seide, of mortal enmyte,
]3at of hourcdis it shal deuoured be — 4424
]3er was no geyn — her rancowr to compesse.
4397. 3if ] For if D 1.
4411. alias was slayen] was slayn alias A.
4414. 2nd to] om. D 1. 4415. wib] eke D 1.
4417. grete] om. D 1. 4420. many] manye a D 1.
1 Supplied by editor.
694 Penthesilea is thrown into a Lake. Lydgate scolds Mars. [BK. iv
Pyrrhus
would grunt
ft,
but Diomede
remses it.
The Greeks
cast Pentlie-
silea's
corpse into
a lake close
to Troy.
But Pirrus fa?me of verray gentilnesse
Nolde assent to so foule a dede ;
But, wood and wrofe, cruel Diomede 4428
Seide openly, how * it Was fittynge
Jjat she faile of hir buriynge,
frat slay[e]n hadde so many worjn man.
And Jms J>e strif amonge ]>e Grekis gan, 4432
With grete rumour and altercaciouw,
Til at f e laste vnder Troye ioun
Of hir f ei han fe dede cors y-take,
And cruelly in a profowide lake 4436
}3ei han it cast, where I lete hir lye,
And vn-to Troie ageyn I wil me hye
To telle forfe ho we fei lyve in pyne.
[How the translator complaineth of Mars for his
cruelty to the Trojans; and of the treason of
Anchises, -ffineas, and Anthenor.1]
0 cruel Mars, fat hast made for to fyne 4440
Jjora} fin Ire al f e worf i blood
for his cruelty Of Troie, alias ! why hastow ben so wood
Ageyn[e]s hem, to slen her kny^tes alle 1
Why hastow lete fi bitter venym falle [leaf 121 c] 4444
On hem, alias, f ou sterre infortunat ! —
With al f e world to make hem at debat,
0 hatful sterre, hoot, co??ibust, and drye,
Fyry, Irous, grou^de of al envie, 4448
Hasty euere, ful of discenciouw,
And col[e]rik of }>i complexiou7^ !
and his love In inordrc and deth ay is ]>i delit,
In takyng vengaurace most fin appetit, 4452
First meuer of auger and of hate,
Rote of contek, causynge to debate !
and strife. In strif and murmwr most is fi desyre,
Lydgate up-
braids Mars
4429. how] fat C. 4432. 2nd be] om. D 1.
4435. hir] Ire D 1— y-take] take D 1.
4437. it] here D 1— hir] it D 2. 4439. lyre] haue lyved A.
4440. new H A.
4451. and] of D 1 — ay is] is ay D 1 — is] om. A.
4452. most] is moste D 1. 4454. to] of D 1.
1 Supplied by editor.
BK. iv] Lydgate continues his Reproaches of Mars.
695
Ferful of loke as any wylde fyre,
And gastful euere of ]>i wode si^t !
As any levene so flawmynge is J>i li^t,
Liche in twynklynge to ]>e sparkis rede
In grete fyres J?at abrod so sprede,
Consvvmynge ay be malencolye
Hertis j?at ben enbracid wij? envie,
])\ wrath is ay so fretynge & so kene !
And causest men to be longe & lene,
Consumpt, sklendre, browz, & citryn* hewed,
Vnmerciable & ri^t evele thewed,
Wouwder slei^ty and Engynyous,
Compassynge and suspecious,
Trist and soleyn, & ful of hevines,
And assentynge to al cursidnes —
To awaitynge, deth, and robberie,
To mordre also, and to trecherie,
Wijj-oute remors of any conscience,
So venymous is ))in influence ! —
'And helper art vn-to fals tresoiw, —
Jje hous of whom is ]?e Scorpion??,
.And crowned art in J>e Capricorn,
But in J>e Bole is ]>i kyngdam lorn ;
For fer-in is J?i deieccioura,
J)i power lost and domynacioura.
^And hast also in )>i subiecciouw
Exile, werre, cheynes, and presouw,
Proscripciou^ and captiuite, —
)?at for y\ malys on Troye J>e cite,
So wolde God, I koude chide a-ri^t,
J?at hast on hem kyd ]>i felle my^t,
Of }>i rancour hooly ]?e outtrau?zce :
First on hem [for] to do vengauwce
With speris sharp & swerdes kene whet,
An[d] now in prisoiw tenclose?z hem & shet,
So vengably jjat Tpei dar nat oute,
4456
4460
The wrath of
Mars is
4464 ruin to men,
4468
leading to
. ._ . murder and
4472 treachery,
treason,
4476
4480
war,
and captivity.
4484 Lydgate
wishes he
could rightly
chide Mars
for his ran-
cour to Troy.
4488
4459. sparkis] spavcles D 1. 4460. lyres] fire D 1.
4465. citryn] ceferyn C.
4468. Compassynge] Ferre compassinge D 1,
4474. ]>in] |>e foule D 1. 4487. outtramice] variaimce D 1.
696 The Harm that Mars has done to Troy. He's sown Treason there.
J?e Grekis felle ay liggynge hem aboute. 4492
The Trojans hei be nat holde in no maner wyse [leaf 121 d]
owe no
toCMare ^n ^ temple to do sacrifyse,
Nouper with boles nor with bores wylde,
NOT with bestis pat euere ben vnmylde, 4496
As tigres, beris, nor ]>e wood lyouw,
Of whiche pou art souereyn and patrouw.
))ei ar nat holde to do ]?e bryrcston smoke
On J>in auteris, whiche art so felly wroke 4500
On hem, alias ! & now ^it, werst of alle,
And now J)ou hast shad out chef of al J>i galle,
brought trea- Amonge hem silfe to bringe in tresouw,
son among °
them, Feyned trou]?e and symulaciouw, 4504
To maken hertis amonge hem silfe devide !
Lo, how )>e serpent of discord can glyde
Ful sly^ly in til he haue cau^t a place
To voide away boj>e hap and grace 4508
j^made With his* venym of dissenciourc,
Whan it is sprad in any regioiw,
In any comovw, borwe, [toun], or cite,
Amongis men of hi^e or lowe degre ! 4512
For whan hertis in loue ben nat oon,
Fare wel Fortune, her grace is clene a-goon :
at discord, For wher Discord holdeth residence,
wiSthan ** *s we^ wers fan swer(i or pestilence ! 4516
pestilence. ]?or wnat is worse, ou}?er fer or nere,
J)an a foo fat is famylyer ] — •
For who may more harme^, 3 if hym liste,
pan an enmye vp-on who??* men triste1? 4520
pat to discryve, shortly in a clause,
pe verray rote and fe trewe cause
Of al meschef and confusions
In euery lond is dissenciou?i, 4524
And more perlous $if it be preve.
Recorde I take on Troye fe cyte,
4499. ar] bene D 1.
4501. On] Of D 1— now $it] Jit nowe D 1.
4506. serpent] serperpent C. 4507. slyjly in] sleijtly D 1.
4509. With his] Whiche is C— of] and his D 1.
4511. borugh toiw A, borgh toun D 2, burwe tonn D 1.
4512. or] & D 2. 4516. or] of A, D 2. 4525. $if] and D 1.
BK. iv] The 4 treacherous Trojan Leaders who will letray Troy. 697
)pat fond Fortune frendly ay at nede,
Til longe hid hate gan a-brood to sprede.
For prudence, sothly, hath prouyded
frat a regne in hit silfe deuided
Shal recurles tourne wilde and wast,
And )>e dwellers desolat in hast :
For Mars )>at is of envie lord
Amonge hem silfe sowen hath discord,
Ageyn )>e whiche may no socour be —
For wers fan werre, sothly, semeth me
Tresou/i cured vnder a feyned pes.
And rote of al was olde Anchyses,
With his sone called Eneas,
Da^} Anthenor, and Pollydamas,
)?at han contreued amonge hem outterly,
And vnder veil concelyd secrely,
3iffe it falle pat Grekis Troye haue,
First how pei may her owne lyves save
By som e[n]gyn, slei^tis or trete.
And $if so* wer ]>at it,may nat be
As ]>ei caste, by no maner wove,
jjei wold[e] raj>er traitowrs be to Troye,
Priuely, so it wer nat espied,
And couertly with Grekis ben allyed,
J3an stondew hool w^ ]>e touw of troujje,
And wilfully, of necligence & slou}>e,
Suraimce & o|)e of old made to ]?e touw
Refuse pleinly, in conclusions,
And allyau?ice lete slake and slyde,
And her lygauwce sette also a-syde,
In her avys ]>ei pou^tfe] for ]>e beste.
For J>ei hem caste [for] to lyve at reste,
And meryer eke, for ernest or for game,
To saue her lyf & wander forpe in shame
]5an wilfully dyen at meschef.
4527. frendly ay at] redy at hir D 1.
4542. concelyd] counselid D 1.
4543. J>at] om. A, D 2 — haue] to haue A.
4546. so] it so C. 4553. &] of D 1.
4558. for] om. D 1— at] so at D 1.
4561. dyen] to die D 1.
4528
4532
[leaf 122 o]
A realm
divided in
itself ia lost.
And Mars
has sown dis
cord in Troy,
4536 which is
worse than
war.
Anchisea,
Eneas,
4540 Antenorand
Polydamas
are the
traitors,
who've
schemed to
give Troy
to the Greeks
if they can
save their
own lives.
4548
4552
4556
They want
only to live
at ease,
4560 tho in shame.
698 The 4 Trojan Traitors' absurd Request to Priam. [BK. iv
The*
Traitors,
Anchises,
Eneas, An-
tenor and
Polydamas,
advise Priam
to beg the
Greeks for
peace,
to give up
to give
Helen,
and repair
the harm
done by
Paris,
tho they
know the
Greeks will
never consent
to this,
which would
have secured
the reign of
Priam and
his sons.
To traisshe her towi pei hild it no repref,
So pei my^t eskape hem silfe a-lyve,
Hem list no pinge for pe toura to stryue ; 4564
)5ei sou^te, in soth, for sour or for swete,
A mene weie to lyven in quiete.
And here-vp-on pei han her weie nome
Vn-to }>e kyng ; & whan pat pei wer come 4568
To his presence, in ful couert wyse,
Vnder colour pei be-gan deuyse
To telle her tale, so fat finally
Her couftseil was, pat Priam outterly 4572
In no maner be nat rekkeles
To purs we to Grekis for a pes,
— 3if it so be pat he it geten may —
And ^elde ageyn to kyng Menelay, 4576
With-outQ strife, pe freshe quene Eleyne,
And, ouermore, pat he nat disdeyne
)3e harmys don by Paris gon ful ^ore
In Citherouw iustly to restore. 4580
But, o alias ! of fals iniquite
}?is couwseil roos ; for vndre in secre
)5e venym was, as sugre vnder gallc :
For'wel pei wist pat pe Grekis alle 4584
Isolde acorde, in conclusions,
To haue * a pes with hem of Troye toun
Whiles pei wern to swiche meschef broujt —
To trete per-of, in soth, it was for nou^t. 4588
For Priam pawne, and Eccuba pe quene,
With his sones, and wij> Polycene,
J?at }it were lefte with hym in pe tou?*, [leaf 1226]
Mi$t haue regned by longe succession, 4592
}if pat Grekis ful (and nat repented)
Vn-to a pes hooly hadde assentid.
But pat conseil $oue was to late,
Sypen Grekes of wel elder date 4596
Hadde profrid first at Thenedourc
4562. hild] holde A, hold D 2. 4563. So] So >at D 1.
4567. new IF D 1. 4581. new IT A. 4586. haue] holde C.
4587. to] in D 2, D 1. 4594. asseutid] consentid D 1.
4597. Thenedoiw] Thevedomi A.
BK. iv] Why the Greeks are not likely to grant the Trojans peace. 699
By thavys of kyng Acamenoutt For, at first,
Jf J J ' the Greeks
A fynal pes, shortly for to seyn, offerd peace
So he wolde restore ageyn Eleyn 4600 [)e)te^ndto
Wip amendis, requerid of resou?a, and compen-
sation made
Oi damages wrou:t at Cytherouw, for the
' J damage done
His messageris first whan J?at he sent by Paris-
To Priam? w, pat woldfe] nat assent 4604 But the
Trojans re-
lo pe requeste instly p«t pei brou^t : fused it.
For of pes pe menes pat pei sou^t
Of verray pride wern to hem denyed,
By wylfulnes, alias, so wer pei guyed, 4608
For lak only of wyt & of prudence.
But now pei han -with cost & sjret dispence, And now that
the Greeks
With slau^ter of men and many grete damage,
be sharpe shoures & pe cruel rage 4612 have stood
this deadly
Abiden fully of pis mortal werre ; war>
It is ful sure pat pei wil nat differre
J)e tyme forpe to trete for a pes,
Hem list no l>ing to be so rekkeles, 4616 isitiikeiy
' & that they'll
Kor vn-avysed what hew ou^t to do.
Trowe ^e pei wil so ly^tly go
Home in-to Grece wit/i-outen recompense ? —
bei woldfe] seme it were a necligence. 4620 go home
without re-
Speke nat per-of, for it wil nat be, ward
Specialy now Troye pe cite when Troy is
near its end?
In meschef stant vp-on pe final fate.
J)is remedie shape was to late ! 4624
For Grekis poi^t [ri3t] of verray trust,
)3at pei of Troye stoden at her lust,
Holdynge hem silfe verrayly^ victours,
And of her foon fully conquerours, 4628
Wip-oute doute or ambiguyte.
For pe couwseil of pis ilfce Enee,
Of Anthenor and pis Anchises,
As 36 han herd, to trete for a pes, 4632
Ne roos in soth but of doubilnes,
4598. Agamenoim] lamedoiw D 2.
4604. wolde] nolde D 1. 4606. pes >e] JHJ pes D 1.
4616. >ing] lenger D 1— so] om. D 1. 4617. to] 0771. D 2.
4623. >e] his A, D 2, hir D 1.
4627. verray ly] verray C, hooly D 1.
700 The Trojan Council held on the Traitors' proposal. [BK. iv
Priam and
his sou
Ampbi-
machus liold
a Council on
the
Traitors'
proposal.
Anteuor says,
if they won't
do what his
friends ad-
vise,
they'll get
no more help
from him.
Priam
answers :
Only of tresoim & of hi^e falsenes,
As Priamws conceyue)? by her chere,
Lyke in fis boke as $e shal after here.
4636
How Kynge Priamus and his son Amphimacus helde
a great councell amonges the Troyens, as con-
cernyng the pece betwene them and the Grekes,
att the concell of Anthenowr, wherof he made
delay.1
For on a day whan )>at Prianms
With his sone called Amphymacus
A conseil helde, with oper of J>e touw,
)5is }>re ban made a suggestions [leaf 122 c] 4640
Vn-to J>e kyng toUchynge )>e trete ;
But he anon, discret and avisee,
Prudently, or he wolde assent,
Gan vndergrope, pleinly, what ]?ei ment, 4644
Only of witte and discreciou.%,
Or he it putte in execuciowi,
Makynge j?er-of a maner of delay.
But proudly paraie, stondynge at a-bay, 4648
Jpis Anthenor wijj-oute reuerence
Spak to pe kyng in open audience,
And shortly seide with a sterne chere :
" 3if fou liste oure cou?iseil for to here 4652
And do J>er-after, platly, J>ou maist chese,
And but pou wilt, wher Jjou wywne or lese,
\)(s is J?e fyn, pou gest no more of me,
Werke after hem fat of )>i coimseil be." 4656
The wise and discrete answere that Kyng Priamus
made vnto Anthanor.2
To whom J>e kyng wonder soberly
Answered ageyn ful benygnely :
" Sir Anthenor, ^e ou^te ^ou nat to greue,
4635. her] his D 1. 4636. J>is] his D 2— after] om. A.
4637. new If D 1 . 4640. a] a grete D 1.
4647. >er-of] cher of D 2. 4654. wher] whejwr D 1.
4659. ^ou nat] not 3ou D 1— to] om. A, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 120 b.
2 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 120 c (misplaced after line 4728).
BK. iv] Priam s Speech to Antenor, and Ms Answer to Priam. 701
For myn entent is nat to repreue 4660 "Antenor, i
won't blame
3oure wyse conseil nor $our prudent rede, your advice
3if it conclude to be comouw spede »f it's for the
help of my
Of my peple and sauaciouw ; Pe°Ple;
But wete rist wel, iustly of resoiw. 4664 but if it's
' ' craftily
Vnder sugre $if J>er be cured galle, against that,
In preiudice of my liges alle,
Causyng hem in meschef for to fyne,
I wil fcer-from outterly declyne, 4668 riihave
J J nothing to do
As ri^t requereth, for oure alder ese. with it."
And, me semeth, J)is sholdfe] not displese
To J)i conceit, nor do ]?e noon offence :
For eue?*y man is holden of prudence 4672
jpe wers to leue and )>e better take,
Wysdam to swe and foly to forsake,
And remedie to seke for his sore."
The Replication of Anthenor and Enee to the ansswere
of Kyng Priam us.1
And with )>at word, }>e Troyan Anthenor 4676 Antenor
Of sodeyn Ire gan to chaurage his blod,
And, abreidynge, on his feet he stood,
And ful felly seide vn-to )>e kyng :
" Now, sekerly, ]>is is a wonder ping, 4680 " you are
TT . , p „ wilfully blind
How ^our wisdam &* avisenesse not to see
Ar blinded so of verray wilfulnesse,
J)at ^e may nat on no side se
be grete meschef nor aduersite 4684 the mischief
we are in,
))at we are In, vp-on euery side ;
For we may nat dyssymvle nor hide
In what disioint, pleinly, )?at we stonde.
Be nat oure foon also here at honde, 4688 with our foes
all round us,
And han be-set oure walles rouwde aboute? — [leaf 122 d]
And we for fer dar nat issen oute, so that we
dare not go
Nor be so bolde to* vndone a gate,
Wi]> hem to fi$t fat vs dedly hate,— 4692
4681. &] & lour C. 4685. are] beue D 1.
4689. walles] wall D 2.
4691. be] we be D 1 — to] for to C— vndone] vn to do D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 121 a (misplaced after line 4788).
702 Antenor's reasons why the Trojans should seek Peace. [BK. IV
" We are so
weak, and
they so
strong.
50 kings hav
vowd our
ruin.
Your sons
are dead ;
your knights
are slain.
And before
we are too,
we ought to
ask for peace,
to give back
Helen
to Menelaus,
and repair
the damage
Paris did in
Cythera."
We be so feble, & )>ei are so stronge.
For, sothly 3 it, pel han hem amongo
Fifty kynges worjri of renoiw,
Confederat to oure destrucciouw, 4696
And fer-vp-on, platly, wil abide,
Whiche vowed han in her grete pride,
Xeuere to parte hen[ne]s fro ]>e towi
Til J>e walles be twrned vp-so-douw. 4700
3oure worfi sonys also be now dede,
jpat 3ow were wont to helper \n $our nede ;
3oure manly kny^tes slay[e]n euerychon,
Jjat vs to saue remedie is noon ! 4704
It is in veyn to treten of diffence.
Wherfor, I rede, of resoiw & prudence,
Or we be slayn and oure cite lese,
Of tweyne harmys ]?e lasse for* to chese : 4708
ftis to seyn, )>at in onre entent,
As fittynge is and expedient,
We trete of pes and no lenger feyne,
And her-wi]?-al restore ageyn Eleyne, 4712
For loue of whom many worpi man
Hath lost his lif sithen }>e werre gan —
For now Paris is vnder stoon y-grave —
Jpe beste rede, in sotb, J>at 36 may have, 4716
To sende hir home ageyn to Menelay,
And to profre, as ierforthe as ^e may,
To restore wit/i-Inne a litel while
])Q harmys done by Parys in )>e He 4720
Whiche men are wont Citliera to calle.
}pis is my rede here a-fore 3011 alle."
And vfiih pat word vp roos Amphymacws,
To pis* couwseil ful contrarius, 4724
And shortly seide [fat] it shal nat be
4693. are] bene D 1.
4699. to] 07/1. A, D 2, D 1— parte] departe D 1.
4701. be now] nowe bene D 1.
4703. slay en] slayn bene D 1. 4704. is] is ther D 1.
4708. tweyne] two D 1— for] is for C.
4709. pis] This is D 1. 4711. trete] to trete A.
4714. gan] be gan D 1. 4715. y-grave] graue D 1.
4721. are] be D 1. 4722. afore] byfore D 2.
4723. new IF D 1. 4724. J>is] be C. 4725. shal] myjte D 1.
BK. iv] Amphimachus upbraids Antenorfor his Treachery. 703
As Anthenor hap raad, in no degre ;
And evene pus, witA-oute more respit, Amphi-
He spak to hym of verray hi^e dispit : 4728 reproaches
Anteuor :
" bou Anthenor, I haue espied wel,
' "We can't
We may truste in pe neueradel trust you.
Wip vs to stonde in oure gret[e] nede :
For troupe & faipe in pe be now dede, 4732 Your truth
Falshed hath slayn in pe stabilnes ;
And in stede of pi sikernea
We fynde in pe, sothly, varyauwce.
Wher is be-come pe feith of * pi lygau?ace, 4736 where is your
fnith to your
jpin hestis made to stonde with pi kyng? King?
Where ben pin opes, so double in inenynge 1 [leaf 123 a\
Wher is now hid pin olde assurawice ?
Where is be-come pi feyned fals Constance ? — 4740
In stede of whiche, mvtabilite
Hath take his place, like as we may se,
With new[e] cbaurcge. J;ou art so rem[e]vable,
Vp-on no gimwde pou maist nat stonde stable ; 4744
fti troupe is goon, of old affeccioiw,
J)at pou shuldist han to stonde with pe touw, YOU ought
S\P P • i to live or die
Oi ieith with vs for to lyve or deye : with us;
For trust & hope exiled bene a-weye 4748
In pi persone, shortly for to wryte,
J)at besi arte pe kyng to excite, but you try
T J • f 1 • I t0 make
In disencres of his estat royal, Priama
J thrall to the
Vn-to Grekis now to be so thral 4752 Greeks,
To seke a pes, as it were for drede !
J9ou shuldest rather of pi manlyhede instead of
Haue profrid hym pe cite to diffende, fend him.
))er-on pi life at outtrauwce to dispende ! 4756
Wherfore, in sothe, here I pe assure,
Raper ban we shulde pis endure. Rather let
rr. • 1 • 1 •«.! Ti! 2°.000 <>f us
Twenty pousand shal \\ith spere & sheld hesiamthan
^T T -i , r T suffer this.
Vp-on a day be slay[e]n in pe feld. 4760
)5i worde I holde for no prophesie,
For it precede th of verray trecherie,
4726. in] at D 2. 4729. new IF A. 4736. f?e feith of] )>i feith & C.
4737. >i] ]>e D 1. 4740. Constance] continaunce D 1.
4757. Wherfore] Wherof D 1. 4761. for] om. D 1.
704 Eneas lacks Antenor in urging the Trojans to seek peace.
" Treachery
is under your
advice,
like a serpent
under
flowers."
Then Eneas
craftily
speaks,
pretending
to be true :
"All hope
has left us.
We daren't
open our
gates.
Of doubilnes & of false tresoim,
Vndirmynynge with prodiciouw — 4764
#0113 pat j)ou outward shewe faire,
J?e venym hid pi tale doth empaire,
Liche a serpent stinginge vndir floures —
)3er be to fele of swiche conseillours ! " 4768
And in pis wyse with wordis dispitous
Ful bytyngly * hath Amphymacus
Al openly Anthenor repreved,
With his coimseil so he was agreved, 4772
Seynge pe tresoim pat he wolde mene,
Til Eneas gan to goon be-twene
With florisshed speche fill of flaterie,
And gan his tale so to modifie 4776
Like as he ment troupe in his entent ;
But per-in was double intendement :
He spak but oon, & $it he ment[e] tweyne,
Amphymacus only to refreyne, 4780
Tatempren hym of his malencolye,
Only til he my^t a tyme espie,
Liche his purpos pat he may precede
To execute it fully vp in dede. 4784
And whan pat he fouraden had a space,
Vnder pretens of a trewe face
With his tale he gan to breken oute, [leaf 123 &j
Many Troy an stondynge him aboute, 4788
And shortly seide, for* conclusions,
Touching diffence, pleinly, of pe toun,
How pat it hinge hooly in ballaunce, —
" For bopen hope, truste, and assuraurcce 4792
Of pe cite taken han her * fli^t ;
For finally oure manhod & oure my^t
And oure kny^thod to-gidre ben a-goo,
With pe Grekis more to haue a-do. 4796
And pei ben redy vppon vs to sette ;
And we dar nat oure gatis more vnshet,
4768. be] by D 2. 4770. bytyngly] bytynge C.
4784. fully vp] vp fully D 1. 4789. for] for a C.
4792. bo>en hope] hope & D 1. 4793. her] >e C.
4796. a-do] to do D 1.
BK.ivJPrmm reproaches Antenorand Eneas for their Falseness.705
We ben, alias ! supprised so wij> drede.
)2an, semeth me, how it wer gret necle
By good avys for to seke a mene
In |)is meschef how we shal vs demeno.
And, for my parte, sothfastly I seie,
I know as now noon so redy \veie
As prudently for a pes to trete."
But Priam panwe, in a sodeyn hete,
Wi)>-oute abood, of chere and face pale,
Of rancour gan intemipte his tale ;
For he attempre my^t[e] nat his herte,
So fretingly ]>e tresou?*, made hym smerte.
And for he my$t hi??i silfe nat restreyne,
Jjus he seide vn-to bope tweyne,
To Anthenor and also to Enee :
" I wonder gretly J>at 36 hardy be
In 3oure troupe, for shame ! so to varie,
And fat 36 ben so rebel & contrarie
To me, only of false collusioiw
Vs to bringe in dispmicioim —
Me and my liges, }if I shal nat feyne,
Of false en tent to cacche vs in a trayne !
Alias ! how may 36 in ^our hert[e] fynde
Ageyn Nature for to ben vnkynde,
)?at whylom wern of my cou?iseil chef
Of euery )>ing or it was brou^t to pref ;
For ^e absent, I koude no ping fyne.
And now, alias ! 30 castfe] to declyne
Away fro me, bareyne lefte and sool,
)2at to remembre it is to gret a dool, —
How any wy^t, alias ! so chaurcge can !
For who shal more trusten any man,
Whan ^e be fouwde double of entent 1
Can 36 nat pinke, how by $our assent,
By 30111*6 conseil and by 3oure avys,
Whilom how I sent[e] for]?e Paris
4800
" Let us treat
with the
4804 Greek* for
peace."
4808
Priam hotly
upbraids
Antenor and
Eneas.
He wonders
they are so
false to him,
4812
4816
4820
of whose
Council they
4824 were chief.
4828
4832
Who can be
trusted, when
they have
deceivd him ?
4800. how] >at D 1— wer] was D 2.
4808. gan] gan to D 1. 4821. herte] hertis D 1.
4823. whylom] somtyme D 1. 4824. was] were D 1.
4834. Whilom] So?nmetyme D 1.
706 Priam's reproachful Speech to Antenor and Eneas. [BK. iv
"You, An -
tenor, were
the chief :id-
viser in my
demand for
Hesione.
And I should
never have
sent Paris to
Cytheron
if Eneas had
notadvisdit.
He and you
were the chief
cause that
Paris
brought
Helen here.
And now my
sons are dead,
you advise
me to sue to
the Greeks
for peace,
and forget
their infinite
outrages !
In-to Grece, of ful ^ore a-goo ?
And, Anthenor, J>ou wost )>i silfe also, [leaf 123 ci 4836
How )>ou were first made embassatour,
And fer-vppon chevest conseillour
Toucliinge J>e sonde made for Exioiw ;
And, after pat, cause and mocioiw 4840
J)ou were in soth J>at Paris sliuld[e] go
In-to Grece, — }>ou wost wel it is so !
For I ne durst, of presumpcioiw,
Haue sent Paris vn-to Cytherouw 4844
Wip-oute avis and auctorite
Of Eneas, pleinly, and of ]>e —
Vp-on Grekis a werre to haue gonne.
I trowe in sotli ]>at 30 nou]>er konne 4848
Excuse hym silfe, and 36 ben avised ;
For eue?y Jmig wroujt was & deuised
And execut by conseil of 3011 tweyne :
For whan Paris wente for Eleyne, 4852
Grouwde & rote, to speke in special,
Were pou, Enee, and cause principal,
Present also whan euery J>inge was wro^t,
Oute of Grece whaw she was hede?* brou3t. 4856
For J)is ]>e sofe, oute of )>at regioim
She neuere hadde comen to )>is toim
3if )?ou haddest be per-to contrayre,
Al-be fou woldest with J)i wordes faire 4860
))[ silfe excuse here in audience,
As J>ou knewe nou3t of fat offence,
But fully were vnwytmge of )>e* dede.
And now my sones euery chon be dede, 4864
And 36 me sen allone, destitut,
3oure conseil is, as"5*" for chef refut,
Me to pw/'swe to Grekis for a pes,
As I were for^etel, rekkeles* 4868
To remembre J?e infinit outtrages,
})e mortal werre, slau3ter, & damages,
4839. for] of A. 4848. je] 3our D 2. 4857. >is] >is is D 1.
4858. to] in to D 1. 4862. nonjt] nat D 2, not D 1.
4863. of }>e] to >at C. 4866. as] al 0.
4863. rekkeles] and rekles C.
" I'd rather
die than
sue for peace,.
for I see the
falseness of
you both."
Priam refuses to sue for Peace. He weeps, fearing Treachery. 707
J3e cruelte and distruccioim
})at j>ei ban wrou^t here vp-on J)is toiw, 4872
Jpat, verraily, whan I al recorde,
For to be ded, I can nat acorde
With hem to trete, like as $e deuise.
For I espie in many sondri wyse 4876
In ^oure en tent a ri$t pe?*lous snare,
So coue?*tly vnder falshed dare,
Jjat it wil be to my conf usioim
3if $e acheve ^oure entenciou?^ 4880
Finally as 36 haue it shape.
For impossible it were to eskape
Shamefully at meschef. me to dye,
"WYt/i-oute recure of any remedie : 4884
For ]>is ]>e fyn, I knowe it oute of doute, Deaf 123 <*]
Of Jje trete jmt }e ben a-boute ! "
And ri$t anoon J>e Troyan Eneas
Of Ire & rancour so [a]meved was 4888
Ageyn ]>e kyng, with a swollen herte,
J)at sodeynly oute at ])Q dore he sterte,
After he hadde, for to ben a-wroke,
Ful many worde ageyn )>e kyng y-spoke — 4892
He went his way and Anthenor also.
And Priamws of verray Ire and wo
Sodeinly braste oute for to wepe,
—He my$t hym silf nat for anguysh kepe, 4896
j)e anger frat vp-on hym so sore —
WM-Inne hym silfe co??ceivynge more & more,
By evidence of discreciouTi,
Jje cou'ert gyle and )>e false tresoiw 4900
)pat jjei for hym and [for] his cite
I-shapen Imn, but he avised be —
Dredynge ay fat J>ese ilke tweyne
Be som engyn or conspired treyne 4904
To ]>e Grekes wolden hym be-tray.
Eneas angrily
rashes away,
and Antenor
too.
Priam weeps,
dreading that
they'll betray
him to the
Greeks.
4877. a ri}t] ri3t a D 1. 4885. bis] J>is is D 1.
4889. swollen] swollyng A. D 2.
4890. at]ofDl.
4897. vp-on] on D 1. 4903. jjese] this A, Jns D 2.
TROY BOOK.
708
Priam wants
to repay
reason by
reason,
So he tells
Amphimachus
that as An-
tenor and
Eneas have
conspired
against him,
they must
be trapt,
and put in
the ditch
they've dug
lor Priam.
Priam's plan to kill Antenor and Eneas. [BK. iv
How Kyng Priamus, with his son Amphimacws, deuysed
to bryng Eneas and Anthanowr to deth.1
Wherfore, pe kyng cast & wolde sale
Shape a wei her mails to wit^-stonde,
So pe tresoura pat pei toke on honde, 4908
Only of ri^t, in dede, or it were foiwde,
Yp-on hem silfe my^t ageyn rebouwde,
J?at pe f ulle execusioiw
Of her contrived conspiracioiw 4912
Resorte ageyn, in ful due wyse,
Only on hem pat gan it first deuyse.
Tresoim for tresovw is conuenient :
For to falshede pe guerdoiw pertyn'ent 4916
Is shameful deth, and )>e final mede.
Wherfore, to shape in pis grete nede
A remedie, pis olde Priam vs
Calleth to hym his sone Amphimacns, 4920
And pitously, allone but pei tweyne,
In teris drownid gan to hym compleyne
On Anthenor and on pis Eneas,
And seide : " sone, take hede in pis caas, 4924
And pinke how I am |)i fader dere,
And how per be now no more* in fere
Of my sonys lef te with me a-lyve
But pou allone ; & perfore as blyve, 4928
Touchynge pe tresoim conspired & y-sworn,
What-euere falle, lat vs be to-forn
Only of wysdam a weie for to make,
Jpat we may first in pe trappe hem take, 4932
And to purveie for hem evenelyche,
jpat iustly pei may fallen in pe diche [leaf 124 a]
Whiche pei han made & for vs y-treyned.
And in al hast late so* be ordeyned 4936
\
4916. J>e] om. D 1.
4929. y-sworn] sworn D 1.
4906. sale] faye A, D 2, assay D 1.
4926. now no more] no mo now C.
4930. falle] be falle D 1.
4931. a] & a D 1 — A sign of contraction occurs over the y in
wysdam C.
4933. to] for to D 1. 4934. in] euene in D 1.
4935. y-treyned] contrived D 1. 4936. so] it C, it so D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 121 c (misplaced after line 4920).
BK. iv] Amphimackus is to kill Antenor and Eneas. 709
feat bis mater cloos he kepte in inewe. Antenor and
Eneas must
To fyn only pat pei nat eschewe
For to be slayn, of equyte and ri^t, bekiidat
In pis place evene toward ny^t. 4940
For I purpose, pleinly, for her sake,
A-geyn tat hour a courcseil for to make,
fo J call em to a
And, vnder coloure, make hew& bope calle, council,
And bou vnwarly shalt vp-on hem falle 4944 and Ampin-
* machus will
With* kuy^tes sworne [vn-]to pe and me, murder em.
In pis mater for to ben secre."
And ri3t anoon pis Amphymacus
Assentid is vn-to Priamus, 4948 He agrees
to do so.
To acomplishe in f ul secre wyse
Fro point to point, as $e han herde deuise.
But soth is seid of ful ^ore a-goon But secrets
Of olde wyse, pat courcseil is per noon 4952
In al pis wor[l]d so priuely y-cast
§)at it wil oute, platly,* at pe last. wil1 out.
For pe peple which pat is* rual
:Seith pat secres, whiche be nat koupe at al, 4956
j})e erthe wil, as pei make mynde, The earth
Discuren hem of his owne kynde,
And of nature vp casten & disclose win discover
things hidden
Jpe ping J)«t men ar wont in it to close. 4960 in il-
Late eutfry man be war, as it is good,
Or his council go to fer a-brood ;
And specialy lordes han grete nede :
Of alle men pei stonde most in drede, 4964
So gret a-wait is vp-on hem laide,
bat whan it happeb [bat] a bing be seide And when a
i r \.r j r lord 81,ea]<8)
Or onys spoke of a lordis moupe,
It falleth ofte pat it is ful koupe, 4968
And reported & y-sprad* ful wyde his words get
J L . reported.
In many cost by hem pat stonde a-side,
Or he be ware, by sodeyn auenture.
4945. With] And C. 4947. new IT D 1.
4954. platly] pleinly C. 4955. which >at is] j>at is called C—
rual] Rural A. 4957. as] ]>at Dl.
4958. his] hir D 1. 45)66. 2nd J>at] om. Dl— be] to be D 1.
4969. y-sprad] y spoke 0.
4970. by] of Dl— a-side] be side D 1. 4971. he] om. D 1.
710 Priam s plot against Eneas and Antenor gets known to em.
Folk should
hold tlxeir
tongues.
You can't
trust common
people.
Priam's plot
is told to
Eneas ;
and he
and Antenor
and others
swear
For so?ftme, in hap, in whom he doth assure, 4972
Wil first of al hym report amys ;
fterfore, in soth, best for hem is this : *
For to be war and to kepe her tonge.
A purpose cast shuld[e] nat be ronge 4976
Nor spoke a-brood amonges f olkes rude ;
For gladly ay ]?e werstfe] }>ei conclude
Of euery }>ing, while )>at it is newe,
In report variawit and vntrewe. 4980
For after resou?^ no j>ing ]>ei expowne,
But after wil, ]?e folke ]?at bew of tovne,
Like fe purpos whiche ]>ei desire ; [leaf 124 &]
For J>ei faren as a wisp a-fire :* 4984
Whawne it brenne|> bri^test in his blase,
Sodeinly it waste]? as a niase.
On swiche folke, platly, is no trist,
})at fire & water holden in her fist, 498&
Beinge with bo)>e y-liche indifferent,
Now hoot, now colde ; — liche as }>ere entent
Of newe change]), so, in her corage,
After J?e calm folweth sodeyn rage : 4992
To-day ]>ei loue [&] to-morwe hate,
To trust a comovn lastej) by no date —
Late nat a lord make hem to secre !
For now ]>e conseil is ro?zne to Enee, 499(>
J3at Priam wend had[de] ben ful cloos r
For )>e rumour & pe wynde a-roos
By false report, and so fer is blowe,
Jpat Eneas & Anthenor well knowe 5000
Ende & gynnynge, & euery maner ])ing,
And hool ]?e conseil of Priam^s ]>Q kyng.
And bo]>e two, ful of oon entent,
Wij> o)?er [eke] ]?at wern of her assent 5004
Conspired ben and to-gidre sworne,
And couertly caste a weie a-forne,
4973. hym] of hym D 1. 4974. is this] it is C.
4984. a-fire] of fire C, D 1. 4987. Ou] Of D 1.
4988. fist] first D 1. 4992. sodeyn] ]>e sodeyn D 1.
4993. hate] >ei hate D 1. 4994. by no] but a D 1.
4996. is ronne] rimne is D 1.
5001. 2nd &] of D 1. 5006. a-forne] to forn D 1.
Eneas' & Antenorsplan to thwart Priam'splot, &give up Troy. 711
J5at finally Troye )>e cite
By her engyn shal distroied be,
And of accorde caste pleinly Jras :
3if it hap fat kyng Priamus
Sende for hem, shortly to conclude,
J)ei wolde com with swiche a multitude
Of armed men, $if }>ei seie nede,
Jjat of hym J»ei shulde no J>ing drede.
For Eneas was in J>at cite
Of gret power and auctorite,
Bo)>e of blood & of kynrede allied,
And for his gold gretly magnyfied
Jporu} ])e cite most in special,
J5at he in my$t & power perigal
(As seith Guy do) was vn-to J?e kyng.
And Anthenor almoste in euery * J>ing
Was vn-to hym egal of power.
And bo)>e tweyne of oon herte entere
Conspired han in soth ageyn J?e touw,
Finally to Jris conclusiou?z,
)pat }>ei of Grekis myjt haue surete,
"With her tresour to goon at liberte,
With her allies borne of Troye touw,
Whanne al wer brou3t to distrucciouw —
With lif & good, sauf, wz't/i-oute mor.
How Eneas & A[n]thanowr Vnderstode how the Kyng
had conspired their deth, came to J>e kyng with a
grete multitude, & seide : l
At whiche tyrne for dau/&3 Anthenor [leaf 121 c] 5032
And Eneas Priam^s hath sent,
To a-complishe pe fyn of hys entent.
And pei in haste vrith so gret a route
Cam of kny^tes stuffed hem aboute, 5036
pat ]?er-of was astonyd Priamws,
And made sende for Amphymacus,
5011. for] aftir D 1. 5012. a] am. A, D 2.
5022. euery] al mancr C.
5030. brou3t] born D 2. 5037. f>at] And D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 122 a (misplaced after line 5064).
5008
5012
5016
5020 For he,
Eneas,
that tliey'll
ruin Troy,
and that if
Priam sends
for em,
they'll go
with such a
lot of nrmd
men that
they can defy
him.
5024
5028
and Antenor
are both as
powerful as
Priam.
And they'll
sacrifice Troy
if the Greeks
'11 save them
and their
friends
and treasure.
and they go
to liim with
712 Eneas, defying Priam, says lull ask the Greeks for Peace. [BK. iv
Priam sees
that his plot
is discoverd,
and that
Eneas is
favourd by
the Trojans.
Eneas then,
tho he knows
Priam is
against it,
says that,
whether
Priam likes
it or not,
they'll at
once treat
with the
Greeks for
peace.
Co??imau?2dmge hi??i to chaurage his purpos •;
For wel he wist his coiwseil was nat clos, 5040
And be signes gan wel vndirstonde
Jpat pe mater whiche pei had on honde
Discured was, to his confuskH^ :
Bope pe mordre and conspiracioim, 5044
A-parceivynge in his inward si^t
)}e grete power of pis Troian kny$t,
And pe fauour of pis Eneas,
And of pe comou?^ how he fostred was. 504&
])Q whiche prowdly in open audience
To-fore pe kyng declareth his sentence,
Fully concludinge, maugre who seith nay,
How pat per was noon oper mene way, 5052
Refut nor geyn, nor oper remedie
But only pes, who-so it denye —
Oper eskapynge, pleinly, was per noon.
And per-vppon pe comou??,s euerychon 5056
With o vois gan to gale and crye,
And his conseil gretly magnefie,
Al-be pe kyng was per-to contrarie.
But Eneas list no lenger tarie 5060
Nor differre pe fyn of his purpos,
But wonder Irons from his se he ros,
And ful vngoodly spak vn-to pe kyng,
And shortly seide, w/t/^-oute more tariyng : 5064
" Wher-so be-falle pou be lefe or lothe,
Or wip pis purpos plesid ouper wrope,
J)ou maiste wel truste it shal noon oper be :
For finally, herkene pis of me ! 5068
Maugre pi wille & also [al] pi my^t,
Jpis same day, }it or it be ny^t,
For a pes wip Grekis we shal trete ! "
And whanwe pe kyng sawe pe ferue?it hete 5072
Bope of pe comow^ and of Eneas, '
He gan anoon dissymulen in pis cas ;
For of prudence he clerly gan to se,
5045. A-parceivynge] And parceivynge D 1.
5053. Refut] Refuse. 5057. gale] calle D 1.
5062. he ros] a ros D 2, aroos D 1. 5065. Wher] Whejnr D 1.
BK. iv] Anterior goes to the Greeks to sue for Peace.
713
For pat tyme it may non oper be.
Wherfore, sitli he my^t it not a-mende,
He wysly gan for to condecende
To pe purpos, platly, of Enee,
And seide he wolde goodly take at gre
And accepte what hyrn list ordeyne.
And so ]>e kyng lerned for to feyne
Ageyn pe conceit, platly, of his herte ;
For oper wyse he koude nat asterte,
Coact of force and of violence.
And whan he sawe in his adue?-tence
J)at he my^t diuerten on no side
From pe fraude, pat sowe was so wide,
With-oute grucching he fully $af assent,
]2at Anthenor shulde forpe he sent
By comouw choys to trete for pe toiin —
Whiche was to-forn, in conclusion??,
With [pe] Grekis acorded finally,
Toucbinge theffect of his embassatry,
Fro point to point, wher he wolde stonde
Variaimt fro pat he toke on honde.
And for pei had a-forn hy??^ ful conceived,
With better chere he was of hem received.
And in pis while pat Anthenor was oute
For to trete -with )>e Grekis stoute,
As ^e han herde, for a pes final,
In pe tou?^ aboute on euery wal
}5ei of Troie gan ascend e blyve
With pe braunchis of many i'reshe olive,
In tokne of pes ; & Grekes eke ageyn
Amyd ]>e feld, endelonge pe pleyn,
Shewed hem, pat alle my3t[e] sene,
Eke of olyue lusti bowes grene.
And to coftferme pis fro point to point,
And pat no ping stood in no disioint,
])& worpi kyng, grete Agamenouw,
[leaf 124 d]
5076 Priam has to
give in,
5080
5084
5088
5092
5096
5100
and agree
that Antenor
shall be sent
to treat with
the Greeks.
While he is
with them,
the Trojnns
on the walls
•how
hrunches of
5104 olive,
and the
Greeks on
the plain
show them,
too.
5108
5077. sith] om. D ]. 5082. for] om. A, D 2.
5089. fully] falsly A. 5097. bad] om. D 1.
5107. sene] it sene D 1. 5109. >is] is D 2.
5111. grete] >e grete D 1.
714 Antenor's treacherous Agreement ivith the Greeks. [BK. iv
Committed hath of hi^e discrecioiw 5112
The King of Fully power and auctorite
and For ]>& Grekis, pleinly, vn-to )>re,
«re appointed First of al for a pes to trete :
on the Greek
side. Vn-to ]?e wyse wor])i kyng of Crete, 5116
To Vlixes and to Diomede —
To chese mo hem Jxm^t it was no nede ;
For what )>ei do ]>ei wil holde stable,
And finally nat be variable 5120
From )>e ende, platly, fat pei * make.
And here-vppon was assurance take
Of ou)>er part by bonde of sacrament.
They go with And so bei be -with Anthenor y-went 5124
Antenor,
Oute a-side, )>ese wor]>i lordes Jn*e.
And wharane )?ei wern at her liberte,
From al tvmulte allone prively,
who, fun of his Anthenor, ful of trecchery, 5128
treachery, '
Replet of falsehod & of doubilnesse,
Gan his purpos vn-to hem expresse, [leaf 125 a]
agrees to Byhotynge hem to traisshe ]>& cite,
to them if go tei wolde make hym snrete, 5132
they will f7
guarantee hat first hym silfe & with hym Eneas
freedom to ' J J
E^nea*™1 ®^a^ fre^am han in euery maner caas,
aiifes.heh Wij) her allies and goodis euerychon,
Wher ]>at hem list at large for to goon, 5136
At her chois, or dwellen in )>e tou?i,
With her richesse and posessioim,
WttAroaten harme or any more damage,
Liche as pei se it be to avauratage 5140
Of her personys, to voiden or abide.
And ]?ei wer sworn on )?e Grekis side
Both parties Couenaimt to holde in parti and in al,
swear to this. .
As was rehersid a-forn in special, 5144
And as J>ei werne by her o)?es bounde,
So fat ]?er be no variaiuzce fou^de
5119. wil] wi]> D 2. 5121. >ei] Je C.
5122. here-vppon] ther vppon D 1.
5127. al tvmulte] al )>e multitude D 1. 5132. hym] hem A.
5137 is repeated in D 1. At] With in the repeated line.
5139. or] of D 1. 5141. or] or to A.
5142. on] in D 1.
BK. iv] Antenor insists on the Greeks keeping the Treaty secret. 715
On ouper parti, platly, nor no strif,
And pei be-hi^te vp pereil of her lyf.
And whan he had assuramice of he?# pre,
He charged hem to kepen in secre
Al pat was seid, fat no ping be discured
Vn-to tyme pat pei were * assured
Of pe ende, grocid vp in dede :
For it were good pat pei toke hede
List her purpos perturbed were or shent
By cowmvnynge, wip-oute avisement,
Of pis tongis, pat be so longe & large.
Wherfore he gan coraiuren hem & charge,
In al[le] wyse for to bene preue,
So pat no wy$t but he and pei pre,
Of noon estat, nowper hi^e nor lowe,
Fully pe fyn of her entent ne knowe.
" And couertly oure purpos for to hide,"
Quod Anthenor, "vp-on euery side
To voide a-weie al suspeciourc,
fris myn avys : pat * to Trove toun
fie wyse kyng called Taltibyvs
Shal go with me to kyng Priamw0,
For he is hoor and y-ronne in age,
Coy of his port, slei^ti & ri^t sage,
And per-wfc't/i-al sadde, demwr, & stille.
Of whom Troy ens no ping shal mysille,
But pat he come to tretyn for a pes,
To ben assured and witen dont[e]les
Wher pe Troiens agreen wil per-to,
In every ping finally to do
As Anthenor pe Grekis hath be-hi^t.
)?us shal pei ben devoided anoon ri^t
poru^ his comynge from al suspeciouw,
Til pat we han oure conclusions,
Antenor
charges the
3 Greeks to
keep their
treaty secret,
5148
5152
5156
5160 so that he
and they
alone may
know it,
5164
and advises
that they
shall send
witli him to
Priam,
old King
Talthybius,
[leaf 1256]
5172
to see that
the Trojans
will agree
5176 to all that
Antenor has
promist.
5180
5147. ou>er] neyther A, nou>er D 2. 5148. vp] in D 1.
5152. tyme] he tyme D 1 — were] ben C.
5156. cowmvnynge] commyng A. 5157. so] om. A, D 2, D 1.
5163. oure] her A. 5166. myn] is myn D 1 — bat] bat $e C.
5167. Taltibyvs] Taltibus A, D 2.
5172. no bing shal] shulle no Jriwg D 1.
5175. Wher] Whe>ir D 1. 5177. be] om. A, D 2, D 1.
716 Antenor tells the Trqfans the Greek terms of Peace. [BK. iv
The Greeks
agree to
Antenor's
proposal ;
and lie asks
for the corpse
of the Ama-
zon Queen,
to bury it in
Troy.
Next day he
cleverly
reports the
result of his
going: to the
Greeks.
As 30 han herde, parformed euerydel."
Of whiche ping pe Grekis like we],
And ben apointed vp-on euery ping
What pei wil do, & how pis olde kyng 5184
Wip Anthenor shal to Troye goo.
And after pis, he axede eke also
Of Pantasile pe body for to liaue,
In pe cite pat men mj^t it graue 518&
With due honour longynge to hir estat,
To voide aweie suspeciou?/ and debat.
And Anthenor (for it drowe to eve)
Of pe Grekis taken hath his leue, 5192
And wit/j. pis* kyng repeirep in-to towz.
Where-of was made anoon relacioim
To kyng Priam, wit/j-oute more delay.
And he in hast vp-on pe nexte day 5196-
Made assemble alle his Cite^eyns,
Secrely deuoidyng alle foreyns,*
Where Anthenor in open audience,
jporu^ pe halle whan maked was silence, 5200
His tale gan with sugred wordis swete,
Makyng pe bawrae outward for to flete
Of rethorik and of elloquence,
Of clier nor word pat per was noon offence, 5204
In shewynge oute so circu??ispect he was,
Jpat no man koude, in no maner cas,
Be signe outward nor by cou?ztenau??ce
Parceive in hym any variance 520S
— So harde it was his tresoura to espie —
Th effect declaringe of his embassatrie,
With cler report of his answer ageyn,
In his menyng pou} lie wer nat pleyn : 5212
For vnder-nepe he was with f raude frau^t,
})is slei^ti wolfe, til he his pray hap kau^t :
For he was clos and couert in his speche
5186. eke] for D 1. 5193. pis] J>e C—toun] J>e toun D 1.
5195. wit/i-oute] with A.
5198 is misplaced at bottom, of page, in C, and marked b ; 5197 i&
marked a.
5198. foreyns] forereyns C, foreyeyns A. 5212. nat] but D 2.
5213. vnder-nehe] vnder D 1.
BK. iv] Antenors Reasons why the Trojans should make Peace. 717
As a serpent, til he may do wreche,
Hydinge his venym vnder floures longe ;
And as a be, pat stingep wip pe tonge
Whan he hap shad oute his hony sote,
— Sugre in pe crop, venym in pe rote —
Ri^t so, in soth, with tonge of* scorpiouw
})is Anthenor, rote of al tresou??,
His tale tolde wip a face pleyn,
Liche pe sonne pat shynep in pe reyn,
J)at fair[e] shewep pou^ pe weder be
Wonder diuers & troubly for to se.
So pis tigre, ful of doubilnesse,
So couertly his tresoim dide expresse,
As he nat inent but troupe to pe toim, [leaf 125 c]
Fully affermyng, in conclusiomi,
How pe Grekis my^ti were and stronge,
And likly eke to abide longe,
Day be day redy hem tassaille,
And hadde also plente of vitaille —
Concludynge ay per was no remedie
Ageyn[e]s hem to holde champartie
Nor with hem any more to stryue.
For (he seide) pei had 3et a-lyve
Her worpi kny3tes, hardy as lyowzs,
Her manly men and her champioiws,
Whiche, here lyves, platly, to iuparte,
From pe cite caste hem nat departe
Til her purpos acheued be in al :
" For finally nouper tour nor wal,
Nor 3oure gatis of Iren poii3 * 30 shette,
\)e Grekis shal on no side lotte,
But pat pei wiln vs wywne at pe laste !
Wherfor, it nedeth a mene weie to caste,
Sipen of my3t nor fauour of fortune
We may nat longe ageynfes] hem contwne.
Wherfore," quod he, "so 30 condescende,
I can n'3t wel al pis ping amende,
Remedien, so pat 30 nat varie
5221. of] of a C. 5234. also plente] plente also D 1.
5245. I>ou3] 30113 C. 5253. Remedien] And remedie D 1.
5216 Like a ser-
pent
5220
5224
5228
5232
Antenor
hides his
treason,
and tells the
Trojans
how strong
the Greeks
and that it
was no good
5236 to fight more
with em.
5240
5244 They can't
possibly be
kept out of
Troy.
5248
"So you'd
_ better do as
5252 I advise.
718 Antenor urges Acceptance of the Greeks' terms for Peace. [BK. iv
"The Greeks
will agree to
peace
if you com-
pensate em
for the harm
Paris did em
at Cytliera.
It's no good
fighting
against
necessity.
Of 2 evils,
choose the
least.
Life is better
than gold.
To fat I seie for to be contrarie—
J?is to mene, shortly out of doute,
Embassatour whan [fat] I was oute 5256
Wif J)e Grekis last whan $e me sent,
ftei seide goodly, how fei wold assent
Vn-to a pes by * )>is condicioim :
)2at 30 wil make restitucioim 5260
Of fe harmys and fe violencis,
)3e wrongis done, and also * )>e offencis
By Paris wroujt in Grece at Citheroim,
As it is ri^t, me semeth, of rescue. 5264
For her request is meint vfith equite,
And we be driven of necessite
Vn-to her lust iustly to enclyne,
Maugre oure wil fe werre for to fyn • 5268
For al is now in her elleccioun,
We may nat make no rebelliou?i,
Now fe mater is so fer y-brou^t,
To strive a^eyn, in soth, it helpith nou^t, 5272
It may apeire but no ping availle !
Therfore * pe beste fat I can consaille,
As in prouerbe it hath be seied of }ore,
)3at ^if a man be constreyned sore, 5276
And may nat fle, to fallen in a treyne,
Lete hymchese fe lasse harme of tweyne, [leaf 125 a]
And f e gretter prudently eschewe.
And lete oure gold, ]>at is kepte in mewe, 5280
To saue oure lif make redempcioun :
For better it is, demeth of resoun,
Spoiled to ben only of richesse,
})an wilfully deyen in distresse : 5284
pe lyf is bet J>an gold or any good —
Set all at nou^t in saving of ^our blood !
For foly is a man for his welfare
couetyse any gold to spare ! 5288
5255. pis] This is D 1. 5257. whan] whan Jxit D 1.
5259. by] wi> C. 5262. and also] also of C.
5271. fer y-broujt] ferre broujt D 1. 5273. but] & D 1.
5274. Therfore] Wherfore C. 5275. in] in a A.
5279. eschewe] to eschewe A, teschewe D 2.
5280. oure] your A — is kepte] ye kepe A.
Antenors Arguments for Peace are accepted by the Trojans. 719,*
And now oure lyf dependej? in balaurace,
Late gold fare wel & goon with meschaunce,
We may here-after, by sort or auenture,
Gold by grace and good ynow^ recure ! 5292
And sithen we, as I haue $ow tolde, "We can now
May byen [a] pes finally for * golde,
And wit/i oure tresour stinten eke pe werre, and stop the
It were foly, pleinly, to differre 5296
With j>e Grekis outterly tacorde :
For $if so be I to hem recorde
J?at ^e assent, wttft-outen variauwce,
))er may of pes be no pa?'turbau«ce— - 5300
It is so ly^t now to be recured !
For as sone as bei ben assured, AS soon as
. . you
By lust report, of ^oure entenciouns, their terms,
)5ei wil do write obligacioiws 5304 the Greeks
Of couenautttis, pat nat be byhynde ; , securities to
And ]>at 30 shal in hem no faute fynde, Peace."
Whan assuraimce from ouper parte is hadde,
)per-vppon endenturis shal be made, 5308
So pat of feith 36 mow he??i nat repreue.
And for pat J>ei fully trust and leue,
W/t/i-oute fraude, my relaciourc,
I wil now make no dilaciou?& 5312
To signefie to hem, in certeyn,
Hooly ^effect of fat ^e wil seien."
How that A[n]thanor, Enee, and Taltibus were made
Imbassators to the Grekes, to trete for A pece;
and of the Answer of Kynge Vlixes, Diomede, and
the King of Crete, and of theire demawnd.1
And >e peple loude gan to crye The Troj!ins
Alle wM o vois, and to magnyfie 5316
Al pat euere Anthenor hath seide ;
And vp-on hym pei han pe charge leide
5293. I] we D 1. 5294. for] wi> C.
5303. report] recorde D 2. 5314. fat] bat Jwt D 1.
5318. leide] y leide D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D ii. leaf 71 c (70), transposed with leaf 123
720 Peace-negotiators appointed. Priam laments his fate. [BK. iv
Tbe Trojans
appoint
Eneas,
Antenor,
and K. Tal-
thybius
to make a
final Peace
with the
Greeks.
But Priam
suspects their
treachery,
and laments
-his fate.
He can't help
himself.
He must pay
his treasure
to his foes.
Fate is
against him.
Of her answere and entent final,
And by record to reporten al, 5320
)5at no ping be forjeten in pis cas.
J3ei han assigned also Eneas
"Wip liym to goon for pe same ping,
In pe presence of pe olde kyng 5324
Taltibivs, wliiche also of entent
With Anthenor was to Troye sent :
])Q whiche pre han pleinly vndirtakej . [leaf 126 a]
As ^e han herde, a final pes to make, 5328
Al-be pat pei in couert tresoiw ment.
And on her weie forpe anoo?z pei went,
With pleyn power committed of pe toun..
But kyng Priam hath ay suspeciorm 5332
To Anthenor and also to Enee,
How pat pei shal distroyen his cite ;
And to hym silfe, trist of hertly wo,
He seide : " alias ! what is* best to do 5336
In pis meschef pat I am in falle ! —
And jit is pis to me werst of alle,
Jjat I am now porn} myn aduersite
Boimde & compelled of necessite, 5340
Maugre myn hed, in maner of ran sou 7*
For my lyf , to make redempcioim
Vn-to my foon pat I haue most at herte.
I se rijt wel I may it nat asterte : 5344
For I mote paye— per geyneth no socour —
My good, my gold, richesse & tresour
To my most foon, and dar it nat denye !
And jit I stonde of lif in iupartie, 5348
With-oute refut hangircge in ballau?^ce,
Alias ! constreyned poruj my woful chaunce
Tobeie her lust, pat mortally me hate,
Driven per-to of birpe Jjoruj my fate, 5352
So parchas han my destine y-shape,
5325. Taltibivs] Taltibus A, D 2, Taltilius D 1. 5326. to] for D 1.
5334. >at] om. D 1. 5335. trist] ful D 1. 5336. is] is me C.
5349. ballaimce] bataylle (marked with a little cross to indicate
blunder] D 2.
5351. Tobeie] To abeye A, To bye D 1.
5353. y-shape] >us shape D 1.
Helen wants Menelaus again. Pentkesilea's funeral Rites. 721
By noon engyn I may it nat eskape ! "
And while Priam gau Jms [to] compleyne,
To Anthenor cam ]>& quene Eleyne, 5356 Helen comes
Ti i • i • i • i t° Antenor.
JbJeseching hym in his embassatne and begs him
Of gentilnesse for to specefie,
)?oru3 his prudent mediaciou^,
To fynd a wale in conseruacioim 5360
Of hir estat, finally J>at she
To Menelay may reconcyled be, to reconcile
J „ J J Menelans
— 5if so falle * J)at \>e trete holde — with iier.
So ]>at hir lord of his grace wolcle 5364
Kestoren hir vn-to hir degre,
Only of mercy and of hi^e pite.
And Anthenor vn-to hir requeste He promises
3af audience, makynge a beheste 5368
How he wolde, with al his herte entere,
Be dilligent to trete of* )>is matere ;
And fer-wit/a-al of hym she toke hir leve.
And ]>is was done on J>e same Eue 5372
)3at Anthenor (I pray God }if him sorwe !)
To Grekis went on ]?e nexte inorwe, Next day be
-. , ,, „ . tfoes to the
Only to trete ior a pes nnal. ureeks.
And in ))is while ]>e feste funeral [leaf 126 &] 5376 Funeral rites
_T_ , , , . rn are 'ie'd in
Was holde m Iroye, myn auctor write]) ]>us, Troy for
Of a lorde fat called was Glaucus,
A manly kny^t to-forn in his lyvinge,
And sone was to Priamtt* J>e kyng. 5380
And ouer fis, liche as seith Guydo,
)5at kyng Priam* besi[e]de hym also,
Of Pantasillya ho\v J)e body my^t Penthesiiea.
Be conseruid freshely to ])e si^t ; 5384
And, for loue of ))is worfi quene,
Of purid golde & of stonys shene
He lete make a vessel ful royal,
And filde it ful of bawme natural 5388
5355. new HA — gan Jms to] Jnis gan D 1.
5358. for] om. A.
5363. falle}be C— >e trete] cure tretes D 1.
5370. Be] By D 1— of] in C. 5372. was] om. A.
5379. to-forn] mn. D 1. 5380. to] of D 2.
5382. pat] The D 1— Priam] Priamus 0.
72 2 Penthesilea is embalmd. The Greek Envoys enter Troy. [BK. i\r
The Amazon
Queen's
corpse is em-
balmd
so as to be
taken home
:iud buried
with her
ancestors.
For the treaty
of peace,
Ulysses,
Diomede
and the King
of Crete
come to
Troy with
Eneas.
The Trojans
think it
will end
their sorrow.
Priam con-
vokes them.
To kepe J>e cors fro corrupciovw
Til ])e werre of Grekis & J>e* toura
Jtoru; J>e trete wer y-stynted clene :
So Jjat ]>Q kyng callid Philymene
j)is dede quene my^t of affeccioim
Carye it home in-to hir region?!,
With hir auwcetris buried for to be,
Liche J>e maner of old antiquite,
And J?e custom vsid in j?at tyme —
It wer in veyn mor per-of to ryme ;
I passe oue?*e vn-to J>e trete
A-twene Grekis and Troye }>e cite.
And for ]?e parti of Grekis, as I rede,
First Vlixes, and wiiJi hym Diomede,
Assigned wern, and ]>e kyng of Crete,
With Anthenor and Eneas to mete.
And alle y-fere, shortly in sentence,
By conduit first, and after by licence
Of )>e noble wyse Agamenoim,
)}ei entred ben in-to Troye tou?i
By conveiynge of J>is Eneas.
Of whos commynge s \viche a loye Iper was
Of )>e comowns, whiche in jnnges newe
Reioyshen ay, after pou^ )>ei rewe,
Wenynge ful wel in her oppinioim,
J)at by pe good[e] mediaciou??
Of Ylixes and ]>e kyng of Crete,
And Diomede, pat cam eke to trete, —
]3at )>ese pro shuldc make as fast
A final pes, euere for to last,
And a ful ende of her alder sorvve.
And ]?er-vppon, erly )>e nexte morwe
Priam lete make a convocaciouft
Of alle )>e worpi w/t/^-Inne Troye tourc.
And whan ]?ei were assemblid alle in oon,
))e wyse Vlixes roos hym vp anoon,
5392
5396
5400
5404
5408
5412
5416
5420
\
5424
5390. of] of }>e D 1— >e] of >e C, D 1.
5391. y-stynted] stynted A, stinted D 1. 5392. now IT A.
5402. vrith] after 1)1. 5414. ]>e] om. D 2.
5416. to] for to D 1. 5423. in oon] in fere D 1.
5424. roos hym vp anoon] seide as 36 shulle here D 1.
BK. iv] Ulysses declares the Greek Conditions of Peace. 723
And his tale gan in swiche a wyse, [leaf 126 c] uiysses
So prudently his wordis to deuyse,
J3at to herkene eue/y man hath loye,
And specially }>ei fat werne of Troye, 5428
]3at of his inward menynge fraudelent
Ful litel wiste, nor of his entent,
To her plesauwce so he koude feyne.
And first he axeb of hem binges tweyne. 5432 asks theTro-
. .Jans
]3e ton was f is : fat of fe cite
He wolde haue gold an huge quantite mt0hpayid-
In recompense of harmys fat wer do ;
A-no)>er f ing he axede eke also : 5436
WVt/t-oute abood bat Amphymacus, 2. to banish
• 5 Araphima-
}pat sone was to kyng Priamvs, chus-
Perpetuelly fat he exiled be, .
Neuere to entre Troye fe cite, 5440
For gold, praier, nor for no ransou?*.
How A[n]thenor is confederate with the Grekes, and
of his grete dissimulacion agaynst his prince,
kynge Priamus. And of the suspectiou^ of a
great noyse of Armure herd in Troy by nyght.1
And bis was doon by swestioiw This wa£
' . . Antenor's
Of Anthenor, fals and malicious, suggestion,
Only for he was contrarious 5444
)5at he shold[e] trete?i for a pes,
And for fat he was nat rek[e]les
To seyn a troufe — fis Amphymacus. because
)?erfore, in soth, f is serpent envious, 5448 cims
Now he hath foiwde a tyme for to byte,
He fou^t he wold cruelly hym quyte
For troube only bat was in his entent. boldly spoke
/ J r the truth.
J}erfore it is fill expedient, 5452
Of prudence eue?y man to charge,
bat his tonge be nat ouer-large : But truth
isn't always
Iroufes alle be nat for to seyn ; to be told,
5441. no] om. D 2. 5448. envious] venymous D 1.
5450. cruelly hym] hym ciu^lly D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 72 c, d (71), transposed with leaf 124
(120) ; the heading is misplaced after line 5558.
TROY BOOK. 3 B
724 The Advantage of Silence. Ampliimachmis'banisht. [BK.IV
specially
when you're
in trouble.
Better then
be silent
and suffer.
•Silence often
wins.
For Amphi-
maclms
was banislit,
tho God paid
back Anterior
for his lies,
as he was
turnd out of
Troy by
Eneas's
means.
For wisdam is, som tyme for to feyne
And dissymule in aduersite,
Specially whan men in trouble be,
And sene her speche may he?tt nat availle :
Better is panne jjat her tonge faille,
Jjan folily to her damage speke.
Men most amonge cure and oue?Teke
])Q troufe of pinges, only of prudence,
And humblely suffre in pacience
For fals report of folkes envious.
Who can so done, I holde hym vertuous :
For bet it is a whyle to abide
j}an seyn al oute of rancour & of pride.
Silence, in soth, hath ofte in hasty strif
Hadde of victorie a prerogatyf,
And J)e palme of debatis wonne,
Jjat wel are pei pat so suffre konne,
And bene of speche nat presumptuous.
For, as I tolde, pis Amphymacils,
Not-wiJ>stondynge fat he troupe ment,
3it for a worde he [in-]to exile went,
Al-be fat God fill iustly after warde
Hath Anthenor quyt for his rewarde ;
For wit/i fe same he was after hit
For his falshede, duely as it sit :
])is to seyn, for his iniquite
He was to exile and captiuite
For-iuged after, in-to proscripcioun,
And relegat oute of Troye toun
Perpetuelly by pe procuringe
Of Eneas. Lo ! how pe ri^tful kynge,
]?at al may sene in his prouidence,
Ful iustly can maken recompence
Of doubilues and simulaciouw,
And of al swiche contrived fals tresoura :
For who avenge)? with falshed for his part,
He shal ben hit wip pe same dart ;
He skapep nat for to haue a wonde.
[leaf 126 d]
5456
5460
5464
5468
5472
5476
5480
5484
5488
5492
5466. can so] so can D 1.
5481. to] is to D 1.
5480. duely as it] as it duely D 1.
BK. iv] Ulysses and Diomede fear the Trojans will murder em. 725
For falshede ay wil ageyn reboumle
Where it roos first, to his original
llesorte ageyn, ri^t as doth a bal.
For, who for fraude euere doth him caste,
Truste ri$t wel, it wil out at ]?e laste ;
And who supplau/ite)) shal supplau?^ted be,
By good example, as }e shal after se,
Of Antlienor )?e story 3 if $e rede.
And whiles J)ei treten and precede
Touchinge J?e exile and proscrlpcioiw,
Captiuite and relygacioiw
J)at J>ei caste for Amphymacus,
J?er was herde a noyse merveilous,
A gret tumulte and a wourcder soiw,
Like as it were a lamentacioutt
Of sondri folke pleynyng* in distresse
For hetly wo and inward heuynesse.
Oute of £e trete eveiie whan £ei gon,
pis confus cry after gan anoon,
Where-of Vlixes and eke Diomede
Sodeinly fillen in a drede,
Supposynge in her oppinioiw
J5at som rumowr was fallen in J?e toun,
Amongo ]>e peple and fe co??imovnte
Of hasty rancour avenged for to be
For }>e loue of Amphymacus,
i|3at causeles was exiled Jms
Of volunte, ageyn al troupe & ri^t.
Wherfor )>ei drad, whan it drow to ny3t
To be mordrid of comou?zs of ])e touw
For }?e fraude and conspiracioiw
Falsly compassid of old enmyte
By Anthenor and by fals Enee.
And, sothly ^it, J>er was no maner man
J)at koude wyte where-of it be-gan,
Nor espie first where it aroos,
In al J?e paleis nor Joruj-otite ]?e cloos :
[leaf 127 a]
5496
5500
5504
5508
5512
5516
5520
5524
5528
While the
Envoys are
discussing
Amphi-
inachua's
banishment,
they hear a
strange
sound of
tumult and
lamentation
in Troy.
Ulysses and
Diomede fear
the people
are going to
take venge-
ance for the
banishment
of Amphi-
machus,
and murder
them,
for the fraud
of Antenor
and Eneas.
5501, 2 arc, transposed in D 2.
5517. and J>e] in D 1, in he U 2.
5530. nor] om. D 2— 2nd pe] al
5509. pleynyng] pleynly C.
e D 1.
Dioraede are
afraid,
but Antenor
secretes
them ;
and when
Ulysses com«
plains of his
treachery,
726 Antenor explains why the Trojans lament. [BK. rv
jpei herde it wel, but pei seie nou^t.
Wher-of pei werne astonyd in her pou$t, 5532
And affraied of verray sodein drede,
*
Vlixes moste, and also Diomede,
Liste wip co??^movns pei had be byset.
But Anthenor, w/t/i-oute longer let, 553fr
To make hem sure, fro??? al tvmulte & cry
]3e Grekes hath conveied secrely.
And whan pei wern assured of her place,
Vlixes first, with a chauwged face, 5540
Gan pynche sore in pe selfe while
At Anthenor of tresoun and of gyle,
|3at \vith his hestis so fro day to day,
Of verray sleijte, putte hem in delay, 5544
Semynge fully, for ou[j]te he koude espie,
Jjer was deceit, fraude, or trecherie
In pe covenants pat he hath be-hijt.
To whom anoon, pis fals[e] Troyan kuyjt, 5548
With sadde chere & sobre contenau??,ce,
Wel avised in his dalyau?^ce,
Answered ageyn, & pleinly dide expresse :
"I-wys," q?^od he, "I take vn4o witnesse 5552
]?e hi^e goddes,"^ j?at euery ]?ing may se,
Wit//-oute feynynge J>#t I haue besy be
Fro point to point jour pz/rpos to acheue ;
But finally, so it ^ow nat greve, 5556;
And paciently pat ^e list to here,
)3er is o ])ing perturbeth )>is mater,
Whiche fat I shal, so it be noon offence,
Pleinly remembre here in ^oure presence : 5560'
J2is to seyn, of bide antiquite,
First at pe bildyng of Troye pe cite,
)5at whilom was y-called Yllyou/i,
— For cause only at his fundaeioun, 5564
Kyng Ylyvs, sith[en] go ful longe,
he says he has
been true to
-them,
and he'll
explain the
trouble in
the city.
"When Troy
— oncellion —
was built,
5531. seie] seye it D 1.
5535. >ei had be byset] bat bei had be sette D 1.
5537. al tvmulte] multitude D 1.
5540. Vlixes first] Firste Vlixes D 1.
5553. goddes] goodes C. 5562. 1st be] &m. D 1.
5563. whilom] somtyme D 1 — y-called] called D 1.
How a marvellous Image ivas sent from Heaven into Troy. 727
J?e founder was of }>e walles stronge,
After whom, as made is mencioim,
It called was and named Ylyoim, —
In )>e which e, with grete & besy charge,
In Pallas name he made a temple large,
jpat passyngly was hadde in reuerence.
And whan j>is phane of most excellence [leaf 1276]
Parformed was by masoiwri ful wel,
And, sane pe rofe, complet euerydel,
Of my^ti stoon ]?e bildynge wel assured —
But or it was with led & tymber cured,
Ageyn[es] tempest for to bene obstacle,
))er fil a wou^der only by myracle,
j)at I dar wel afferme in * certeyn,
Swiche a-nofier was Ipere neuere seyn
— Who-so list se and considren al —
}5is merveil was so celestial :
Former cam doun horn )>e hi3e heuene,
By Pliades and }>e sterris seuene,
And pom} ]>e eyr holdyng his passage,
Like a fairy a merueillous ymage,
J5at in pis world pou^ men had[de] so^t,
Ne was per noon halfe so wel [y-Jwrou^t.
For, as it is trewly to suppose,
Pigmalyon, remembrid in ]>e Rose,
In his tyme hadde no konnyng
To graue or peint so corious a ping :
For it was wrou^t wip dilligent labowr
By hond of auwgil in J>e heuenly tour,
Jjoru^ Goddes my^t & devyn ordinau?ice,
And hider sent * J>orii} his puruyaiwce,
For a relik, only of his grace,
And prouided to pe same place,
j?er tabide for a protecciouw,
For a diffence and saluaciouw,
5568
"the founder
of it
built Pallas
a grand
Temple.
5572 And when it
was all done
but the roof,
5576
5580
5584
5588
5592
there came
from Heaven
a wondrous
image,
better than
Pygmalion
could have
made,
5596 which was
sent by God
5600
as a protec-
tion to Troy.
5566. walles] \valle A, wall D 2.
5568. It called] I named D 1— named] called D 1.
5572. of most] nioste of D 1. 5573. by] with D 1.
5579. in] it in C, D 1. 5583. new IT A.
5587. in] Jxm? D 1. 5591. no] oin. A.
5593. was] is D 1. 5596. sent] it sent C.
728
Antenor describes the Palladium of Troy. [BK. IV
" So that
Troy can
never be de-
stroy d till
this relic is
stolen.
No one can
move it
except the
priest in
charge of it ;
and no one
knows
whether it's
stone or
wood.
Minerva
Perpetuelly whil pe world may dure,
Ageyn al meschef and inysauenture,
Euery trouble and tribulacioiw,
In sustenynge and reuelacioiw,
And souereyn helpe eke of pis cite.
\)e whiche newr may distroyed be,
By noon engyn pat men may pwrchase :
])Q goddes han grawited swicbe a grace,
And swicbe vertu annexed eke per-to,
)pat Troye in sotb may neuer be for-do
Til pis relik stole be a- way.
And ^it, in soth, per is no man pat may
From pe place stere it nor remewe,
But pe prest to whom it is dwe
Only of offys to touche it vfiih his bond.
So my^tely conseruyd is pe bond,
})at who attempteth, in conclusioim,
It to remewe of presumpciou??,
At pe fyn, platly, he shal fayle :
For force noon may \\iin nat availle ;
For it in soth wil nat renieved be
Excepte of hym to whom of duete
It aparteneth, as $e han herde to-forn.
And, ouermore, per is no man ^it born,
J)at rede can, nor telle in no degre,
Yerraily, wher it be stoon or tre,
Nor how it was deuysed nor y-wrou^t —
))er is no wy^t so sotil in his pou^t
Ceriously to tellen pe manere.
For Minerua, pat is so freshe & clere,
)5e sterne goddesse, poru$ hir gretfe] my^t,
)3at is so dredful bope of loke & si^t,
Whiche on hir brest haueth of cristal
[Ieafl27<?]
5604
5608
5612
5616
5620
5624
5628
5632:
5601. world] life D 1. 5606. neuer may] may neuere D 1.
5607. D 1 repeats engyn. 5609. vertu] a vertu D 2.
5616. myjtely] iustly D 1.
5617. who] who so D 1. 5618. of] by D 2.
5620. force] om\ D 1 — may] did D 2 — may him nat] but pat hym
may D 1.
5621. it in soth] in sooth it A — wil] may D 1 — removed] renewed
Dl.
5623. aparteneth] perteyneth D 1. 5626. wher] wheper D 1.
BK. iv] Still of the Palladium. It is named after Pallas. 729
Hir shilde Egys — pis goddesse mraortal —
I-graiwted hath, in bokes as I lerne,
poru^ hir power whiche [pat] is eterne, 5636
bis holy relik for a memorial
To hir temple of * bildyng most royal,
It to conserue from al assaut of * drede,
And to socour in euery maner nede
Ageyn her foon vn-to Troye toiw,
While it is kept with deuocioim :
So pat alweye by successioim,
From kyng to kyng in pe lyne dou?i, 5644
By iust title lyneally succede,
Here-to annexed pat )>ei taken liede,
Prudently avoidynge necligence,
It to conserue we't/i due reuerence, 5648
As pei are boimde & y-holde of ri^t.
pa?me shal noon enmy power haue nor my3t
To do damage in hyndrynge of pe tourc.
And whi it is called Palladyoura, 5652
Like as clerkis write of it and seyn,
Is, for Pallas, to make hir knm certeyn,
pis relyke sent fro pe heuene doiw.
And to conclude shortly my resouw, 5656
pis is pe cause oure purpos is so let."
" pan," quod Vlixes, " sith it may be no bet,
Oure labour is in ydel and in veyn,
Wit/i-oute recure, ^if it be certeyn, 5660
As ]>ou hast seyd, pis touw in no degre
poru} pis relyk may not distroied be :
It was foly pe to vndirtake
Vn-to Grekis beheste for to make. 5664
Wtt/<-oute pis, Jjoii haddest* be ful sure."
Qwod Anthenor, " ^it per is recure :
As I haue hi$t, 36 shal haue pe toura,
"granted tins
reiictpher
lemple,
5640 to help Troy
against its
foes;
Palladium,
. Egys ]>is goddesse inmortal] wiche is verre celestial D 1.
. of] in C. 5639. of] & C, D 1. 5642. with] in D
5634
5638
5649. are] bene D 1. 5651. do] do no D 1.
5657. is J>e] om. A — 1st is] om. D 2.
5658. J?an] Sethe D 1— sith] om. D 1.
5663. ]>e] to the D 1. 5664. Vn-to] And vii to D 1.
5665. haddest] hast C— ful] \vel A, D 2.
730 Antenor will bribe the Priest of the Palladium. [BK. iv
" Wait," says
Antenor.
"I'll bribe
the priest
to bring the
relic where
you appoint."
Ulysses and
Diomede go.
Antenor says
he'll arrange
the sureties
for Peace
with Priam,
and the
money he's
to pay.
He goes to
Priam.
Al-pei$ per be a dilaciorw ; 5668
And pe maner anoon I shal telle,
3if it so be $e list a whyle dwelle [leaf 127 d]
Wit/i-oute noyse oupe[r] perturbaiwce.
jpe prest, pe whiche hath pe gouernaimce 5672
Of pis relyk, shal be spoke vn-to,
By good avys, and y-treted so,
jDat he shal be f ul of oure assent ;
For he with gold & tresour shal be blent, 5676
jpat he accorde shal to oure purpos,
To bringe ]>e relike, whiche is kept so clos,
To what place pat $e list assigne.
Beth stille of port, goodly, & benigne 5680
In 3011 re werkis til I haue brou^t aboute
Fully J>is ping, and beth no ping in doute,
I dar my silfe take it wel on honde."
And whan pei had his menyng vndirskwde, 5684
J)ei toke leue & wente oute of pe touw.
But first to voide al suspeciou^,
At her goynge Anthenor hath hi^t
How pat he wold goon )>e same ny^t 5688
To Priam us, " to maken ordinau?^ce
How ]>e bondis and )>e assurau7^ce
Of ))e pes shulde y-maked be,
And for to knowe eke J?e quantite 5692
Of J>e gold ]?at ^e shal recey ve :
J9us shal I best J>e purpos aparceyve
Of fe kyng to* knowe it euerydel."
And )?ei concent, & like wonder wel 5696
Euery ping pat Anthenor hath seide ;
And so pei parte, glad & wel apaide,
And wente her way & made no tariyng.
And Anthenor goth vn-to pe kyng, 5700
Hym couraseillynge, he make no delay
To calle his lordis ageyn pe next[e] day,
And his liges to assemble y-fere,
5670. so] om. D 1— dwelle] to dwelle D 1.
5671. ouber] ober D 2, or D 1. 5672. 3rd >e] om. D 1.
5673. spoke vn-to] spoken to D 1. 5681. hroujt] be D 1.
5694. aparceyve] perceyve D 1. 5695. to] and 0.
5701. make] made D 1.
BK. iv] The Greek Price, in Money and Wheat, for Peace. 731
Finally tengrosse pis matere, 5704
As it was sittinge and expedient.
And wha?me pe kyng m open parlement
Crowned sat in his regalie,
)?is Anthenor gan to specefte 5708 Antenor says
In audience, pat men my$t[e] knowe,
To eche estat, bo)>e hi$e and lowe,
J?e Grekis wille, $if pei agre per-to,
And what )>e some was of gold also
Whiche pei axe, $if pe pes shal stonde :
Twenti pousand marke to haue in honde
Of pured gold, whiche most anow be paid,
And of siluer, pat may nat be delaied,
Jjei most eke han pe same qnantite ;
And ouer J)is, as bei accorded be,
Certeyn mesours be couenaiu?t also haue [ieafi28a]
Of whete & flour, her lyues for to saue
In her repeire by pe large se,
Whan J>ei saille home to her contre, —
And pat pe collect maked be anoon,
By good avis of hem euerychoon, 5724
J3at al be redy be a certeyn day.
J)er was no man pat durst po seie nay
Nor contrarie pat Anthenor hap seide,
Wher-so pei wer wel or evele apaide, 5728
But fill assent, in conclusions.
And in al haste, poru3-oute al pe tous,
\)e colytours gadrid vp pe gold,
Like pe sowme pat* I haue 3011 told, — 5732
Of pore and riche per wer spared noon.
J5e whiche tyme Anthenor is goon
Yn-to pe prest pat called was Thonauwte,
3if he my^t in any wyse hym daimte : 5736
To make his herte fully to enclyne,
Ful craftely he leyde oute hoke & lyne,
5704. tengrosse] to grose vp D 1. 5710. bo>e] bothe to D 1.
5712. was of gold] of golde was D 1. 5715. pured] pure D 1.
5719. also] to D 2. 5719, 20 are transposed in D 2.
5725. 2nd be] om. D 1. 5728. Wher-so] Whe]>er D 1.
5729. assent] assentid] D 1. 5731. colytours] colectours D 1.
5732. >at] as C. 5733. wer] was A, D*2.
To Priam
and his Par-
liament
the Greeks
want
5712
20,000 marks
in gold,
5716 and 20,000
in silver,
5720 with lots of
wheat and
flour.
by a fixt day.
No one dares
say nay.
The money is
collected.
Antenor goes
to the Palla-
dium priest
Thonant.
732 Antenors Bribe to the Priest of the Palladium. [BK. iv
Antenor
promi
Thon
ses
honant,
for the Pal-
ladium,
much gold,
enough to
make him
and liis kin
very rich ;
and no sus-
picion shall
attach to
him.
With lusty bait of fals[e] couetyse,
Excitynge hym in fill secre wyse, 5740
))at he woldfe] ben of his assent,
And* condescende vn-to his entent,
To putten hym in pocessioiw
Of J>e relik called Pall&dioutt, 5744
Wzt/i-oute abood it may delyuered be ;
And ^af hym gold an huge qua?£tite,
And hjm to blende moclie more him [be-Jhy^
— And ]?is was don fid pmicly by ny^t, — 5748
Shortly concludynge, }if he condescende,
}pat he \volde his estat amende
So passyngly, J>at for eue?'more
He and his heires shulde haue gold in* store, 5752
Plente y-nowe, )?at noon indigence
Shulde haue power him to done offence.
" For vn-to ]?e, )>is a-vow I make,"
Q?/od Anthenor, " and platly* vndirtake, 575ft
Of gold & good ]?ou shalt haue suffisa?zce,
And of tresour passinge habimdaiwce,
))at pou shalt, in verray sikernesse,
Al jn kyn excellen in richesse, 5760
3if ]>ou de]yue?-e, like to myn axynge,
Palladiou7^, which e is in Jn kepynge.
And I be-hote — J>ou maist trestfe] me —
By bond of fei)) it shal be secre, 5764
List it were hindringe to )>i name :
For ^if so be, pat ])ou drede shame,
To be esclauwdrid* of so foule a dede,
I shape shal* j}«t }>e thar nat drede [ieafi-286j 5768-
Nor ben agast in 110 maner wyse ;
For swiche a way, in soth, I shal deuise,
}5at no man shal be suspecious
To }>i persone, nor engynyous 5772
5739. bait] herte D 1. 5741. ben] iustly D 1.
5742. And] And to C. 5747. be-hy3t] hyjt D 1.
5752. in] & C. 5755. >e] om. D 1. 5756. platly] plainly C^
5758 is repeated and partly erased in D 1— of] om. A.
5762. is] om. D 1. 5764. fei>] it A, om. D 2— feij>] troufe D 1.
5767. esclau?uhid] ensclauwdrid C, sclau?idred D 1.
5768. shape shal] shal shape C — pe thar] J>ou shalt D 1.
BK. iv] Antenor 'II blame Ulysses for stealing the Palladium. 733
To deme amys, how pis mater goth.
For be wel ware, p«t me were as loth
To be diffamed of* so false a ping,
To knowe per-of, or be assentynge 5776
In any manor, pat pel of )>e toun
Sholde to me haue suspeciouw, —
Lat be, lat be, — leuere I hadde deie !
We shal per-for cast a-noper weie, 5780
Oure honour saue, so }>at pou & I
Shal goon al quyte — I seie pe outterly,
)5at nouper shal be hold[e] partener*
Of pis thefte, but stond[e] hool & cler 5784
What-euere falle, witfi-outen any shame :
For Vlixes shal beren al pe blame
Of pis dede and pis pefte also ;
For men shall sein, whan [pat] it is go, 5788
By his engyn & his slei^ti wyle,
JX>ru3 his treynes & his false gyle,
]5at he hath stole aweie Palladiouw
From pe temple, in lesyng of pe toun— 5792
Jpat, finally, duringe al his lyve
Men shal to hym pis falshed ascryve,
And al pe gilt arretten his * offence !
)3at pou and I, only of Innocence, 579G
jjoru^-oute pe world of pis iniquite
Shal be excused, platly, & go fre.
It nedeth not tarie in pis matere,
Come of attonys ! lo, pi gold is here ! 5800
For pou ne shalt lenger delaied be.
And sith pou seste pat no difficulte
Is on no part, pereil nor repref,
Shame nor drede, sclauwder nor meschef, 5804
Delaie nat to take pis ping on honde ! "
And first pis prest gan hym to wit/i-stonde
Antenor will
manage so
that no one
will suspect
him or
Thonant of
the theft of
the Palla-
dium.
All the blame
shall be laid
on Ulysses ;
and Thonant
and Antenor
will be held
guiltless.
5774. be wel ware] trnste me welle D 1. 5775. of] with C.
5779. deie] to deie D 1. 5783. partener] parcener C, D 2.
5784. thefte] >ing D 1— but] to D 2.
5786. blame] name A. 5788. go] a goo D 2.
5789. &] and in D 1— wyle] wyse A. 5791. f>at] om. D 1.
5795. his] to his 0. 5798. excused] excluded D 1.
5802. sith] se])en D 1 — seste Jxrt] ne seeat D 1.
734 Antenor sends the Palladium of Troy to Ulysses. [BK. iv
Thonant at Ful iny^tely, and seide, for no pinge,
first de(*hu*6s
Xouper for praier nor for manacmge, 5808
^01 8°^ uor o°0(lj lie no maner mede
jje noide assent to so foule a dede !
(jpus he answered at pe prime face.)
But ofte sithe it happeth men purchase 5812
^ 3^te °^ S00(^> ^° sPeke in wordis pleyn,
him give in: j^t troupe in pouert my^t neuer atteyne :
For mede more by falshede may co?iquere
}5an title of ri^t, pat men in troupe lere ; 5816
And $iftes grete hertis can encline ; [leaf 128 c]
And gold, pat may in * stele & marbil myne,
JMs prestis hert hath so depe graue,
}3at Anthenor shal his purpos * haue, 5820
For to possede pe Palladiouw,
jporu^ false engyn and conspiraciouw
Of pis prest, pat called was Tonauwt,
ISte from the Wllicne of falshede my^t hym best avau?^te, 5824
Temple, j^t yls Ieife fro yQ temple rent.
And to Ylixes Anthenor it sent,
Qute of pe tonw, in al pe haste he my^t,
By a seruau?zt secrely by ny^t : 5828
of th! Tro"ay ^ner-°f Troyens mortally dismaied,
jans. And poru^ tresou?^ finally outtraied,
Wrou^t by pis prest wM couetise blent,
False Anthenor beynge of assent. 5832
How the translator compleyneth hym of the trans-
mutaciou?i and couetousnes of prieste^.1
Weil may 0 Troye, alias ! wel maistow mowne & wepe,
at being In compleyny?ige with hertly si^es depe,
its paiia- Falsly def raudid of Palladioim,
dium !
And pntte for eue?'e oute of pocessiou7^. 5836
0 my^ti goddes, pat pe world gouerne,
5808. 2nd for] for no D 1. 5809. good ne] siluer for D 1.
5811. be] mn. D 1. 5813. good] golde D 1.
5818. in] no C. 5820. shal his purpos] his purpos shal C.
. >is] >e D 1. 5833. new IT A.
5834. In] With D 1—
5831. bis] be D 1. 5833. new
h D 1 — with] of D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 126 a.
BK. iv] The evil of Priests corrupted by Covetousness. T35
And euery J)ing Jx>ruj ^our my^t concerne,
Ri^t as it is,* of ^oure deite,
And troupe & falshed may to-gedre se*
In euery herte porti} pure puruyau?zce,
Whi toke $e nat on ]>is prest vengaiwce ? —
))at traitourly, foru^ his iniquite,
For gold and good be-traisshed pe cite
Of Troye, alias ! wz'tA-oute more recure.
Who shal emforfe any more be sure,
Or any place stonde in sikerte,
Sith holynesse of so hi3e degre
May bene infect & corrupt wij> mede ?
Euery hert ou^te quake and drede
To sene, alias ! by false ypocrisye,
Prestis, ]>at shulde )>e worlde exernplifie
With good[e] doctrine of perfeccioiw,
To make so sone a transmutaciouw,
Of double entent sodeinly to varie !
For dout[e]les, ^if J>e seintuarie
Be pollut fowide in conuersacioim,
Naked and bare of deuociou??,
And ]>at ]>e shynyng of her parfit li$t
I-turned be by derknes vn-to ny^t,
Yn-to what place shal men fer)>er go
To take ensaw/zple what hem ou}t[e] do ?
Certis, pe rote & grounde* of euery del
Is couetise — who-so loke wel, —
Of whiche }>e greyne is so fer y-sowe,
])&t who-so list auarice knowe, [leaf 128 rf]
Amonge prestis he shal it rathest fynde ;
For )>er-\vzt7<-al ]>ei be maked blynde
To her estat, fat }>ei may nat se.
For, in sothnes, fer is no degre
5838. euery fing Jjoru^ ^our my3t] Jjoruj 3oure my^te euery jnng
D 1 — concerne] conserve A.
5839. it is] 3011 liste D 1— is] is due C. 5840. se] be C.
5842. prest] thing D 1. 5846. emfor)>e] hensforthe A, D 1.
5850. quake] to quake D 1.
5853. of] and D 1. 5856. ^if] }if pat D 1.
5859. >at] cm. D 1. 5862. do] to do D 1.
5863. rote & ground*] grou?ide & rote C.
5864. loke] lokith hit D 1. 5866. knowe] to knowe D 1.
5840
Why didn't
the Trojans
take venge-
ance on this
5844 priest Tho-
b nantforhis,
treachery ?
5848
5852
5856 If the light
of the sanc-
tuary
is turnd into
night,
5860
where can
men go for
guidance ?
5864 Covetousness
is the root
of all evil,
and is soonest
found among,
priests.
5868
736 The Avarice of Priests, like this Thoncmt of Troy. [BK. iv
No men are
more covet-
ous than
priests.
The bright
.gold blinds
their eyes.
Avarice is in
them,
the vice of all
vices.
Witness
this priest
Thonant,
who sold
the Palla-
dium while
the Trojans
collected
their l.uge
ransom lor
the Greeks.
Gredier nor more ravynous
Of worldly good, nor more coueitous
pan prestis ben to cacche what pel may :
For it is goon sithen many day,
pat in her brest ficched was J>e rote
Of couetise, whiche sit so sote
pat no man may arrace him nor remewe ;
For at her* tail euere it doth hern swe,
pis false werme, moder & norice
Of al meschef and of euery vice.
For gold is now so shynyng & so brijt,
So percinge eke, & so clere of ly^t,
pat prestis ben \vitfi his stremys blent :
For, in sothnes, ]>ei ben in her entent
Of couetise verray receptacle,
And to possede eke )>e tabernacle.
Her hert is ay so gredy to embrace,
pat auarice ha]) his loggyng place
Mid of her breste, j>is vice of vices alle !
pat cause]) vertu rarest for to falle,
Wher he abit, so he can supplaimte.
Recorde I take of pe * preste Tonauwte,
pat for tresour to Anthenor ha}) sold
pe ricbe relik ])at he had in hold,
Palladioun, while }>ei of Troye tou?i
Han gadrid vp abouten enviroiw,
Of riche and pore ])oru$[-out] )?e cite,
Gold and sillier an huge quantite,
Flour & whete to paien her rauwsouw.
pe whiche so??mie of entencioiw
pei made kepe wysly and conserve
In ]>Q temple pat longej) to Minerve,
Purposynge after, of oon affecciouft,
• — pe cite^ens ))oru3-oute al ])e tou?i,
Hopynge ])er-by for to fare ]?e bet —
Vp-on a day, assigned and y-set,
5872
5876
5880
5884
5888
5892
5896
5900
5904
5874. many] many a D 1. 5878. her] J>e C.
5880. Of a!] In euery D 1.
5889. Mid] And D 1. 5891. so he can] he can so D 1.
5892. be] >is C. 5903. oon] om. D 1.
BK. iv] The Trojan Sacrifices to Apollo fail. 737
To Appollo in her paynym wyse
Solempnely make a sacrifise, 5908 sacrifice to
With slau^ter of bestis, with enceuce & blood.
Off the Meruelous obstacle and wondre perceyued in
makyng of their sacrifice to Appollo ; and how an
Egle dyd bere away their sacrifice.1
On whiche clay, whau be prestis stood and when the
priests
In compas routtde abouten f e autere,
And gan to kyndle }>e coles brijt & clere 5912 }jgjtthe
Vp-on fe are, pleinly, as I rede,
To offren vp ))e bestis ]>at were dede,
In fe flawme and fe grete levene, [leaf 129 a]
To Appollo stellefied in lieuene, — 5916
Whan fei to offre wer most laborious,
Jjer be-fil two Binges menieilous :
Jje first[e] was, fat f e sacrid fire
Ne wolde brenne like to her desire, 5920 it won't
Nor J>e flawme vp ascende alofte,
Al-be fat fei assai[e]den ful ofte,
More fawne ten tyme, & jit it nolde be ;
For ay i t queinte, fat fei ne my jt[e] se 5924 but goes ont
NoU^t but Smoky resolliciouras, and smokes.
Horrible and blak, like exalac[i]ouws
Of newe tyme whan fat it is meint
Wif water colde & of his hete queynt, — 5928
Jjat fei myjte* in no maner wyse,
For lak of fir, don her sacrifise ;
For ay ]?ei fonde a wonderful obstacle !
And be nexte was a mor miracle : 5932 Next, when
they spread
On her auter whan bei can to sprede out the en-
trails of Hie
J?e entrailles of bestis fat were dede, kild bea8t"»
To queme Appollo with flawmys [brijt and] faire,
)?er cam anon douw oute of f e ayre 5936
A royal egle, ful percinge of his loke, aneagie
5908. make a] to make D 1, make thy D 2.
5913.' are] auteer A, D 1. 5922. ful] om. D 1.
5923. ten] om. D 2.
5926. exalacioims] exaltacioims D 2.
5929, my3te] ne myjt C. 5935. brijt and] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 126 c (misplaced after line 5918).
73.8 An Eagle carries the Trojan sacrifice to the Greek ships. [BK.IV
carries them
off in bis '
ClilWS,
and lets era
fall on tlie
Greek ships.
The Trojans
ask Cas-
sandra what
this means.
she says
Apollo is
angry be-
And in his clees be offringe vp he toke
And be entreylles liggynge environ?*,
In his discence makynge swiche a souw,
]5at noon so hardy of herte nor manhod,
But J>at he was astonied ber he stood,
And supprised fcorti^ nerf and euery veyne
Of bis nierueile and ]>is cas sodeyne.
But be egle, abidinge ber no more,
Ouer be toun ful hi^e gan to sore,
Toward Grekis enhastinge what he my$t,
And on her shipes sodeynly a-li$t,*
And be entrnilles of be bestis alle
pis egle lete from his clees falle :
Wher-of Troyens, whan bei token hede,
Dis[a]maied wi]? a mortal drede,
By signes han clerly comprehendid
)5at her goddcs gretly wer offendid
Ageyn )>e toun, whan be fire went oute ;
And for bei wold be putte oute of doute,
To be sure what ]>is merveile ment,
To Cassandra in al haste bei went,
Fully to han deelaracioun,
And ber-vp-on plein exposiciourc.
5940
5944
5948
5952
5956
5960
was murderd
How Appollo, their god, by many signes and tokynges
shewing vn[to] them, perceyuid he was sore dis-
plesid for the polucioim of his temple with the blode
of Achilles, wich by treason was slayne in the
temple.1
And she tolde hem, platly, oute of drede,
)5at ]?e quenchinge of her* fires rede
Was vn-to hem a demonstraciol^?^
Bojje of Ire and indignaciouTz [leaf 129 1] 5964
)pat Appollo hath to Troye bore,
For te blood bat was shad be-fore
Of Achilles, in his temple slawe,
in his temple. Yengably mordrid and y-drawe,
• 5968
5948. a-li^t] he li^t C. 5953. han clerly] oonly han D 1.
5962. her] )>e C. 5968. y-drawe] with hors drawe D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 126 d (misplaced after line 5968).
Cassandra's interpretation of the failing Fire & the Eagle' s flight. 739
Watft-outen any maner reuerence
Or honour done to ]?e excellence
Of Appollo, beynge per present,
]?at }>e phane and placis adiacent 5972
Wern defouled and pollut with [}>e] blood.
Wherfore, she seid[e] shortly, it was good
)Pat j?ei went on processions,
With herte contrit and deuociouw, 5976
To pe toumbe of Achilles at ny^t,
Only to fette on her tapris li^t
Sacrid fire, brewnynge at }>e wake,
Fully in purpos by assent to make 5980
For his mordre satisfacciouw, —
" ])Q whiche fire be noon occasions
Shal uat quenche, but his flawmys holde,
)3oru3 noon assaut of stormy wyrcdes colde ;
J?e sacrifise vp-on )>e autere
To-forn Appollo brerme shal so clere."
And* )>ei of Troye wrou^tfe] by her rede. •
But of J>e egle she bad hem taken hede,
[ftat] No finge was but tokne of tresouw,
Pronostik and declaraciouw,
Finally how Troye and Yllyou?i
Shal turne in haste to destrucciouw :
For pe fleynge of )?is foule royal
Ouer ]>e toun and )?e my3ti wal,
With his fethres mailed, bri3t, & shene,
And ]>e entreylles in his clees kene,* 5996
To Troye was a final demonstrauwce,
Sothfast shewynge & signeficaurace,
£at grace and ewre [and hap] of olde fortune
Be lyklyhed my^tfe] nat contvne
Nor perseuere in her first[e] ly^t ;
For alle attonys ]>ei haue take her fli^t, —
PalladiouTi my3t hem nat wif-holde,
5970. Or] Of D 1. 5971. Of] To D 1. 5975. on] on a D 2.
5987. And] f>at C. 5988. taken] take good D 1.
5990. Pronostik] Prenostynge D 1. 5996. kene] clene C.
5997. demonstraimce] demonstracioiw D 2.
5998. signeficauwce] signeficaciomi D 2.
6003. wi>-holde] holde D 1.
TROY BOOK. 3 C
And so the
Trojans must
go to Achil-
les's tomb
and burn
tapers on it,
whose flame
shall last for
5984 ever.
They do this.
5988 The Eagle
5992 foretells the
destruction
of Troy,
from which,
Fortune
6000 has fled.
740
Calchas, the Trojan traitor, aids the G-reeks. [BK. iv
The Greeks
wonder what
the entrails
brought by
the eagle
mean.
Calchas tells
em it's for
their good,
and bids em
make an
offering to
Minerva.
This Bishop
Calchas is a
forsworn
traitor to
Troy.
feat stole was, like as I $ow tolde ;
For no man may his fatal chaurcce refuse.
And Grekis eke faste gan to mvse,
And inwardly in her wittes sou^te
Of pe entrailles }>at J>e egle brou^te,
And Jjer-vp-on gan to-gider rowne,
Til fat Calchas dide euery )>mg expowne,
And vn-to hem fully gan assure
feat ]?e fyn of )>is aveiiture
Conclude shulde vppon her welfare,
And bad also, for no cost fei spare
To perseuere and ben of herte stable,
By fortune hem silfe to enable,
Hem couwseillynge to do her besy peyne,
Solempnely in haste to ordeyne
A certeyn offringe, born oute of fe felde,
To faire Pallas with hir cristal shelde,
And to hir make a riche sacrifise,
As )>e story by ordre shal deuyse.
[leaf 129 c]
6004
6008
6012
6016
6020
How the Traytor Bysshop Calcas ymagined a large horse
of brasse, wherin was a M1. knyghtes, fainyng a
sacrifice to be done to Paullas.1
Bysshop Calchas, with his lokkes hore,
Traitour forsworn sifen go ful $ore,
feat falsid haf troupe & his lygauwce,
Whom clerkis han putte in remembrauwce
In her bokis, wij? lettris, olde and newe,
To* exemplifie no man be vntrewe :
For J?au3 3eris passe faste a-weye,
Ruste of sclauftdir li^tly wil nat deye ;
fee fret per-of is so corosif ,
feat it laste)) many mawnys lyf,
6024
6028
6032
6004. stole] sotle A— I Jow] I haue D 1.
6006. eke] om. D 2.
6007. inwardly in her wittes] in her wittis inwardly D 1.
6010. dide euery fing] eche ]>\ng dide D 1.
6025. troupe & his] his troufe & D 1.
6028. To] Te C. 6030. Ii3tly wil nat] wil not li^tly D 1.
6032. many] ful many A, D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 75 a (74), transposed with leaf 127
(123).
Calchas s plan of the Horse of Copper & Brass to win Troy. 741
And is ful hard to arrace away ;
Of whos venym ful selde is made alay —
Eeporte per-of blowen is so wyde,
Pe/'petuelly )?at it wil abide,
Remembrid new & freshly had in mynde.
Recorde of hym ]>at koude a weye fynde :
Olde Calchas, evele mote he sterue ! —
Vnder colour of offringe to Mynerue,
To make Grekes eutren in-to town,
}){$ slei^ti serpent, fader & patrons
And fynder-vp of tresouw and of gyle,
Compassid hath and y-fouwde a wyle,
How* Grekis shal ]?e cite wywne & take,
Pretendynge hem sacrifise to make
Yn-to Pallas, as I shal * expresse :
For )>is traitour, meiour of falsnesse,
}5e Grekis ^bad for to do her peyne
To Minerva an off[e]ringe to feyne,
And in al haste J>at J>ei shuld he?ft spede.
And of assent ]?ei dide make a stede,
Large and wyde, of coper & of bras,
By crafte of Synoim, fat contrived was
)3at it my^t resseive large and wel
A fousand kny^tes armed bri$t in stel, —
ftoru} fe slei^te and fe compassynge,
\)Q sotil wit & merveillous werchinge
Of )>is wyse and crafty Greke Synoiw, —
Whiche, poru} his castynge and discreciouw,
Parformed haf pis riche stede of bras,
As 36 han herd, be biddinge of Calchas, [leaf 129^3
And by thavys of Appivs ]>e wyse,
J)at halpe also J>e stede to deuyse,
To fyn only Jjat of deuocioiw
Grekis my3t requeren of ])e toura —
6036
Calchas—
curse him!—
6040 under pre-
tenceoftlus
offering to
Minerva,
6044
6048
6052
6056
6060
6064
invents a
dodge to
make the
Greeks take
Troy.
They get a
horse of cop-
per and brass
to hold
1000 urnul
knights,
made by
Sinon
and Appius.
6041. tovw] be toim D 1. 6043. fynder] findith D 1.
6045. How] How be C, D 2.
6047. shal] shal }ow 0.
6051. & in al haste ffor to do her peyne D 2.
6052. And] om. D 1— bei dide make a] to make a large D 1.
6054. By crafte of Synoim bat] And by Synoim it D 1.
6062. biddinge] bildynge D 1.
742 The Brazen Horse to ruin Troy. Priam's Allies leave Troy.
This Horse
the Greeks
will ask leav<
to bring into
Troy,
with 1000
knights
inside it,
under pre-
tence of an
offering to
Minerva.
Before the
taking of
Troy,
Priam's allies
leave him.
Philomene
takes home
the body of
Penthesilea,
Queen of the
Amazons.
Whan it were made — to grauwt[e] hem licence
It to present in pe reuerence 6068
Of my^ti Pallas, in stele armyd bri^t,
Amyd hir temple, large & ful of Ii3t, —
By pe offringe to fynde occasioiw
To haue entre frely in- to toiw, 6072
By pilgrimage her vowes to fulfille :
In whiche stede daren shal ful stille
A pousand kny^tes, as Calchas be devis
Ordeyned ha)?, pat was so sli^e & wys. 6076
By crafte of Syno^ and of Appivs,
j?is large stede, of makynge merveillous,
Ynder pretence of oblaciouw,
Was complet ful to his perfecciouw 6080
Of werkemanshipe, as I tolde a-fore,
j?e same ^ere pat Troye was for-lore,
Whan pe sege, sothly, gan to fyne,
And ]>e cite was brou^t to ruyne 6084
ftoru^ Grekis my^t ; & pe walles stronge
Were bete dou^, large, pikke, and longe ; —
})G whiche ^ere, as made is menciouw,
A lite a-forn takynge of pe touw, 6088
Kynges echon J>at come fro so ferre,
A-lyve lefte after pe mortal werre,
Whan pei saw how Priam be couenauwte
Vn-to Grekis ha]) outterly made granite 6092
Al hast possible to paien his ransouw,
\)ei toke leve, and went oute of )>e toun.
And first, I fynde, how kyng Philymene
With hym ladde )>e body of ]>e quene 6096
Pantasillya home to hir centre,
Ful richely per to buried be ;
And of two pousand kny^tes pat pis kyng
Brou^t vn-to Troye first at his comy^g, 6100
6068. to] om. A. 6069. stele] story D 2.
6072. toim] >e toun D 1.
6079. oblacioim] obligacioun D 1.
6081. a-fore] to fore D 1. 6084. to] vn to D 2.
6088. a-forn] to-fore the D 1. 6089. come] cam A, D 2.
6092. Vn-to] Vnto \>e. D 2— graunte] a grauwt D 2.
6100. vn-to] to D 1— first] om. D 1.
BK. iv] The Greeks make a fraudulent Peace with the Trojans. 743
No mo pan fifty home with hym he ladde.
And of* woramen pat pe quene eke hadde,
Of a pousand, pe story seith certeyn,
But foure hundrid repeired horn ageyn.
And pus whan alle were fro Troie gon,
J)e morwe next Priamws anon
With his lordis rood oute of pe toura,
As was pacord for confirmacioiw
Of pes final vp-on ouper syde.
And in pe feld Grekis hym abide ;
And, on relikes openly y-born, [leaf iso a]
Jper pei wern on ouper parti sworn,
On pe forme to ^ow a-fore recorded,
As Anthenor \vith Grekis was accorded.
And for Grekis firste swore Diomede,
ftei of Troie takynge lytel hede
How pe ope was in eondicioiw,
Cured a-bove vnder false tresoiw,
Sipen Grekis po in her sweryng
Ne bouwde hem silfe to no manere ping
To stonde to, as in special,
But for to holde & kepe in general
J)e poyntes hool engrosid, and no mor,
In pilke trete pat daiiTi} Anthenor
With Grekis helde, pis traytowr fraudelent !
In whiche pei werne ful double of extent
— Meint wa'tft tresoiw, as 30 han herd to-forn, —
"Whiche to obserue only pei wer sworn,
By fraude of ope, & nat by wordis pleyne,
Her aduersaries to taken in a treyne,
Excludyng hem fro her menyng ferre,
Pes in pe face, but in pe herte werre,
Al openly confermyd w^'t/*, her hond,
Inly to tresouw, by assurance of bond.
6104
6108
Only 50 of
Philoraene's
2000 men are
left him,
and only 400
of 1000
Amazons.
Priam and
his lords ride
out to settle
a final Peace.
6112 It is sworn
to by both
sides.
6116
6120
6124 But the
scamp An-
tenor has
arranged the
6128
Greek oath
fraudulently
6132 peace in the
face, war iu
the heart.
6102. of] of )>e C— bat] om. D 1.
6109. Of] For D 1.
6111. y-born] borne D 1. 6113. On] Vn A.
6114. was] was ful D 1.
6114 is inserted at head of column in C, and marked b ; 6113 is
marked a.
6127. to-forn] by forn D 2. 6134. to] of D 1.
744 God knows the Greeks' deceit. Helen is handed to Menelaus.
But God
knows the
truth.
He judges
the heart,
not the word.
The Greeks
deceive the
Trojans,
as the latter
find.
Helen is
given up to
Menelaus.
But pou^ pe venym was* closid with a wal,
It was nat hid from him pat knowep al : 6136
For, certeynly, so as clerkes teche,
Who pat swereth falsly in his speche,
Florisshinge outward by a fair colour
For to desseive his trewe ne^fejbour, 6140
He is forsworn, what-so-euere he be !
fte tresourc hid pou$ men may nat se,
How-so pe word be a-way [y-]born :
Who swerep by craft is by craft for-sworn; 6144
J?er may be made noon excusacioiw.
For God pat knowep pe entenciourc,
Demeth-pe herte, & pe word ri^t nou^t ;
For he pe wil knowep and pe pou^t 6148
Of euery man, ny^e and eke a-fere :
})erfore be war, no man hi?^ for-swere,
As Grekis dide Troiens to deceyve,
J}at pe fraude koude nat conceyve, 6152
Supposinge fat pe Grekis hadde be
Feithful and trewe of her surete —
But no ping oon J>ei in herte J>ou$t, —
Whiche in )?e ende ]?ei ful dere abou^t, 6156
Whan )>ei founds fully )?e reuers,
And to her speche J>e dede so diuers.
It were but veyn by & by to write
Her feyned o]?es, nor her wordis whyte, 6160
Nor J>e cheris pat J?ei koude feyne. [leaf iso 6]
But, to conclude m't/i, pe quene Eleyne,
Duri[n]ge pe trete, vp-on ]>e same day
Delyuered was to kyng Menelay ; 6164
And after pat, was payed pe rauftsouw,
Grau?ztid to-forn and gadrid in pe towi :
Gold & siluer, whete & also flour ;
And to her shippes wM dilligent labour, 6168
6135. was] be C, om. D 1.
6143. word] world A — y-born] born D 1.
6148. and] & eke D 1. 6149. Of] For D 1.
6152. conceyve] parceyve D 1. 6153. >e] om. A, D2, D 1.
6157. Whan] And whawne D 1.
6158. >e dede] they did A, >ei dide D 1. 6162. with] of A.
6165. was payed] waide D 1. 6167. & also] also and A.
The Greeks get Priam's leave to bring the Horse of Brass into Troy. 745
In ful gret hast euery }>ing was broujt,
Wher-poru^ fe cite after cam to nou^t.
And Grekis fanrce, by symulaciouw,
Makyng a colour of deuociouw, 6172
feoru^ holynes, vnder ypocrosye,
Falsly feyned by fraude & flaterie,
fee kyng ban preied to ban liberte
Frely to entre in-to J>e cite, 6176 Tr°y»
To make a-seth by oblaciourc
For fe fefte of Palladiouw,
And offren vp fe ricbe stede of bras Hoi2o?e
To J?e goddes fat called is Pallas, 6180 gST to
— Whan kyng Priam like)) to assigne —
feat she to hem be willy & benygne ££££"
In her repeire seilynge be fe se 8allin* home-
Home in-to Grece toward her contre, 6184
Whan she is quemed with ]ris * large stede.
Of whiche, alias ! Priam toke noon hede j
fee tresouw hidde he koude nat aduerte,
But graurated hem with al his hole herte, 6188
Whan fat hem list to bringe it in-to touw, —
By false entising and suggestion/^
Of Anthenor and also of Enee,
Havynge no drede nor ambyguyte 6192
In his entent, nor suspecioura
Noufer of feynyng nor of fals tresouw, treachery.
But, ri^t frendly, liche to his beheste,
Condescendeth vn-to her requeste, 6196
Her avowes fat fei my^t obserue,
To offren vp )>is hors vn-to Minerue.
And Grekis J>o, with gret[e] dilligence, The Greeks
Ful gret honour and huge reuerence 6200
Han shapen hem with processioim SSSiET
To bringe J? e stede in-to * Troie touw, H<SStato
fee men of armys being ay fer-Inne,
By whom fei cast Troie for to wynne 6204
In short tyme, for it stood on j>e date.
6175. han] hem D 1. 6177. a-seth] asseth A. 6185. >is] >e C.
6189. touw] >e toun D 1. 6195. rijt] jit D 1.
6198. >is] fe D 1. 6202. in-to] vn to 0, in D 1.
746
As the Troy
Gate is too
narrow for
the Horse of
Brass,
Priam has
the wall pulld
down.
The Greeks
make offer-
ings to
Pallas.
The Trojans
rejoice.
But worldly
bliss
soon passes
away.
The Horse of Brass is brought into Troy. [BK. IV
How the Grekes had licens to breke the walle of
Troy, to brynge in their large stede of brasse, to
Offer vnto Pallas in sacrifice ; & how the knyghtes
came oute in the nyght, & betray de fe citie.1
And whan f is hors brou^t was to f e gate,
It was so narwe fat ber was no space
For f e stede in-to f e tou^ to passe, 6208
Al-be fat f ei assaied oueral.
Wherfore Priam bete adoura J>e wal [leafisoc]
To make it large, ri^t at her devys,
In whiche* )>ing, alias ! he was vnwis : 6212
For cause chef of his confusioim
Was fat fis hors cam in-to fe toiw.
But humblely forf e bei gan procede
To be temple wif bis large stede ; 6216
And to Pallas mekely dou?i knelynge,
Alle attonis bei made her off[e]ringe,
With feyned chere and fals deuociouw.
Wherof * in herte glad was al fe touw, 6220
And specially f ei fat wern of Troye.
But soth is seid, fat ay f e fyn of loye
Wo occupieth, as men ful ofte se :
For vnwarly cometh aduersite 6224
After gladnes, and mysaventure,
Whan men best wene for to stonde sure.
In worldly blis is noon affiauwce,
So diuers is his vnhappi chau^ce — 6228
Ful of deceit, euere meint with trouble,
And for to triste variauwt and double,
And selde in oon abidinge eny f rowe.
For worldly lust, fou$ it be now bio we 6232
With pompe and pride, & with bost & souw,
Anon it passeth : record of Troie touw,
))at wende wel, by fis riche stede
6208. 2nd J>e] om. D 2. 6210. adoiw] doim D 1.
6212. whiche] ]>e whiche C. 6214. >is] >e D 1.
6220. Wherofj Wherfore C. 6222. >at] om. D 1.
6228. his] om. D 2. 6232. blowe] y blowe D 1.
6233. pompe] boost D 1— bost] pompe D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 76 a (75), transposed with leaf 128
(124). The heading is misplaced after line 6214 (miniature).
BK. iv] The Greeks pretend that they 'II sail away from Troy. 747
To haue be sure & deuoide of drede 6236
Perpetuelly, as I haue told to-fore.
But whan Grekis han ]?is hors y-bore The Greeks
To-fore Pallas, as $e haue herde me telle,
Hem liketh nat lenger for to dwelle 6240
In }>e bourcdis of pis my^ti toura ;
But of purpos to be Greke Syuouw g^e the
* management
J?ei haue co?rcmitted hool J>e gouernaille tos£5oria
Of bis stede, []>e] whiche wil nat faile, 6244
Whan he seth.best oportunyte,
By his engyn to traisshe ]>e cite.
And Grekis han in ]>is while fouwde
A newe slei^te hem fully to confouwde : 6248
]3is to seyn, )>ei haue made her sonde Mam that
To kyng Priam, J>ei wold[e] go fro londe iaW111'0
Vn-to )>e see toward Tenedouw, Tenedos,
And pedir seille, for J?is conclusiourc : 6252
For }>at Eleyne, by good avysement, HeiSTthere
In secre wyse ]?edir shal be sent ;
'For )>ei dradde ^if vppon )>e londe
She were delyuered, shortly, to her honde, 6256
Grekis wold of malys done her peyne,
])Q more parti to sleen }>e quene Eleyne :
For she was grouTzde & gyrcnynge of her wo, [leaf isod]
J3e verray rote and )>e cause also 6260
Of )>e slau^tre of many * worj>i man,
Sifen J?e tyme ]?e sege first be-gan.
Wherfore, (j>ei seide) for to stinte al strif,
And to be sure for to saue hir lyf, 6264
)3e beste was to send hir oute of si^t, at ni&ht»
Secrely to Tenedouw be ny^t.
Jjus }>ei feyned of ful false tresourc,
Priam to putte from al suspeciouw, 6268
Askauws ]?ei wolde neuere after her lyve come"blck
Eesorte ageyn with Troye for to strive to Tr°y-
6237. told] tolde the D 1. 6244. J>e] om. D 1.
6247. fouwde] y founde D 1. 6248. hem fully] fully hem D 1.
6249. pis] pis is D 1. 6250. fro] fro J>e D 1.
6251. Tenedouw] Tevedouu A. 6255. 3if] J>at if D 1.
6258. 2nd J>e] this A, >is D 2. 6261. many] manly C.
6263. to] om. D 1. 6269. neuere after] aftir neuere A.
748 The Greeks enter Troy, and join those from the Horse. [BK. iv
The Greeks
deceive
Priam.
— )3us J?ei made Priam for to wene ; —
But in )?e hond he was deceived clene,
Of her deceit knowynge neuere-a-del ;
For in his herte he pou^tfe] nat but wel,
Grauwtinge hem al pat my^t hem plese.
6272
They sail to
Tenedos.
Sinon un-
locks the
Horse,
and shows a
light to the
Greeks at
Tenedos.
They ride to
Troy,
and enter it
thru the
broken wall.
How the Grekes spoyled and burned the citie of Troy,
and after toke shipping ; and of their misauenture
on )>e see.1
And wharcne pel had at leiser & good ese 6276
Fro Troye seiled vn-to Tenedoura
With her navie, J>e false Greke Synoura
In Troie waker gan to take kepe
)3e hour whan men wern in her first slepe ; 6280
And, in al haste, wij> his slei^ty gyn,
Many vys and many sotyl pyn
In }>e stede he made aboute goon,
Jje crafty lokkes vndoynge euerychon; 6284
And oute [he] goth, & gan anoon to calle
Wfc'tft-Inne Jje hors ]?e worjn kny^tes alle,
So secrely no man my^t espie ;
And traitourly he gan hym for to hi^e 6288
Yp-on j>e walles, ])e silfe same ny^t,
And toward Grekis gan [to] shewe a ly^t,
Where as J>ei leye to-fore Tenedouw,
Redy armyd to falle vppon J>e tourc. 6292
And whan )>ei hadde ]>e sodein li^t espied,
On* hors[e]-bak anoon )>ei han hem hy^ed
Toward Troy, armed clene at al ;
And in pei went by ]?e same wal 6296
Which e for J>e hors was but late broke ;
And mortally, for to ben a-wroke,
J)e kny^tes eke in ]?e stede of bras
Han "with hem mette, a ful sterne pas, 6300
And gan anoon J>oru3-oute )>e cite
6276. wharaie )>ei had] whadde D 2.
6279. In Troie] I trowe A. 6282. Many a (twice] D 1.
6286. 2nd )>e] om. D 1. 6292. armyd] y armed D 1.
6294. On] An 0.
1 Royal MS. 18, D. ii, leaf 129 a (misplaced after line 6440).
BK. iv] The Greeks slay Trojans. Their Treachery is disclosed. 749
The Greeks
slay
the sleeping
Trojans.
On euery half for to kylle & slee,
With blody swerd vp-on euery side,
And made her wondes brode, large, & wyde 6304
— While pei, alias ! no ping aduertinge,
At mydny^t hour a-bedde laie slepynge,
Ful Innocent and pou$t[e] nou^t but good —
Al for-baped in her owne blood, [leafisia] 6308
Bope man & childe, vfith-ouie exceptions,
fie Grekis sparinge no conditions
Of old nor ^ong, woramas, wif, nor maide —
J}at with pe cry Priam us abraide 6312 Priam wakes.
Oute of his slepe, & sodeynly a-woke,
Whiche laye al ny$t & noon hede [ne] toke
Of pe sla^ter and mordre in pe tons ;
But po he wist pat per was tresous
Falsly compassid vn-to his cite
By Anthenor and also by Enee,
Of whos malis he was no mor in doute :
For pe venym was now broken oute,
And now pe galle of conspirac[i]ouw,
Jpat vnder sugre of symulacious
Hath so longe closid ben and hidde,
In dede is now execut and kyd.
And now pe fraude fully of tresous,
\)e cast also of false collusions
Be raked oute, and abrood y-blowe,
And pe autours openly y-knowe.
Now hath envie and contrived hate
Of her engyn set a-brood pe gate ;
Now * hath deceit & olde conspiracie
And feyned opes, alle of oon allie, 6332
Openly shewed her falsnesse,
And disclosid al Mr doubilnesse
So fer a-brod, pat now is per no geyn !
For now, alias ! pe wilde fire is seyn 6336
6307. nou3t] nat A, D 2, not D 1.
6311. woramaw. wif] wife childe D 1.
6315. and] nor D 2, D 1.
6315 is inserted in the lower margin in D 2, and marked a ;
6316 is marked b.
6326. f>e] They A. 6331. Now] And now C— olde] om. D 1.
6333. Openly] Al opinly D 1.
6316 The treachery
of Antenor
and Eneas
6320
6324 is made clear.
6328
The sham of
the Greeks'
false oaths
is shown.
750 Troy is sackt, and 20,000 Trojans are slain. [BK. IV
In touris hi^e with pe wynde y-blasid,
Priam flees Wherof* Priam, astonyd & amasid,
Al awaped sterte oute of his bedde,
to the Temple And couwfortles to pe temple is fledde 6340
of Apollo. '
Of Appollo, to saue hym ^if he my^t.
And ay pe flawme of pe fires bri^t
Brent in pe toiw, & conswmeth al
\)e riche bildinge, whilom so royal, 6344
))at be walles with her* roves huge,
Couered with leed for a chef refuge,
Were now, alias ! bare & bareyne maked.*
The Greeks Jje Grekis ay wip her swerdes naked 6348
Mordre and sle where-so pat pei go,
murder 20,000 J)at twenti bousand, pilke ny^t, & mo
Jpei kylled han, longe or it was day ;
And in pis slau^ter & pis grete affray 6352
and plunder Spoile & robbe, & take what pei fynde,
Tresour & good, and left[e] nat bi-hinde,
Be my3ti hond & sturdi violence.
And ])Q temples, wip-oute reue?*ence 6356
)pei han dispoilled poru^-oute al )>e touw, [leaf isi6]
And gredely rent and racid doun
Of golde & siluer ]je ornementes alle
To-fore ]?e goddes — foule mote hem falle ! — 6360
Priam awaits Kyng Priam ay with a dedly chere
To Appollo makyng his praiere
Furiously, pis hertly woful man,
As he, in soth, pat no red ne can 6364
But waite his deth &* his fatal ewre.
Cassandra And* Cassandra, pat* holy creature,
Of inward wo desirous to sterve,
runs to the Compleynynge ran vn-to Minerve, 6368
Paiias. Makynge to hir a lamentacioutt
With oper gentil-wommen of pe touw.
6337. y-blasid] biased D 1. 6338. Wherof ] Wherfore 0.
6344. whilom] somme tyme D 1. 6345. her] be C.
6347. bare & bareyne maked] bareyn & bare y maked C.
6354. nat] nou^t D 1. 6360. falle] befalle D 1.
6361. Kyng] And kyng D 1— dedly] gastly D 2.
6362. makyng] makith D 1. 6365. new IT A— &] in C.
6366. And] And of C— hat] >e C. 6368. vn-to] to D 1.
6370. o>er gentil-wommen] many gentils & womnew D 1.
BK. iv] The Trojan Ladies woe. The Greeks plunder Him. 751
And per, alias ! as pei wolde dye,
Ful pitously pei sobbe, wepe, arid crie.
And in her dool per y lete hem dwelle ;
For alle her sorwes 3if I shulde telle
In ]>is story, and her wo descrive,
Mi percne shuld of verray routhe rive, —
Rehersinge eke how in euery strete,
Her elopes blake, rodi, moiste, and wete,
As pei, alias ! bothen oon and alle,
On her lordes douw a-swone f alle,
With her blod be-dewed & y-spreint, —
Wher men may seen pe cristal teris meynt
Of her wepinge in per wouwdes grene,
)3at lay and bledde ageyn pe sowne shene,
With dedly eyen castinge vp pe whyte :
It were but veyne al her wo to write,
Nor pe maner of her mortal sorwe.
But Guydo writ, pat pe* same morwe,
How Anthenor, and with hym [fals] Enee,
Conveied han poru^-oute pe cite
J)e my3ti Grekis vn-to Ylyouw,
J?e royal tour and riche mancioun
)}at whilom was of most excellence ;
In pe whiche pei fourcde no diffense
Of hi^e nor lowe, nor of noon estat,
For it was left allone dissolat,
With al pe gold and richesse of pe toura
Shet & closed in pe chefe dongoun.
But for per was no man pat wztft-stood,
J}ei brake pe lokkes & rau^t [away] pe good
And pe tresour pat was shet wa't/i-Inne,
Eche for his partfy] pat he my^t[e] wynne :
j)ei $af no fors who was lef or* loth.
And Pirrus after to pe temple goth
6374. telle] hem telle D 1.
6378. rodi] redy A. 6380. falle] J>ei falle D 1.
6387. her] >e D 1. 6388. >e] on )>e 0.
6390. foruj-oute] >oru3 D 1. 6392. and] and the A.
6393. whilom] somme tyme D 1.
6396. dissolat] al desolate D 1. 6397. gold] goode D 1.
6398. closed] enclosyd A, D 2.
6402. party] parte D 1. 6403. or] nor C.
The Trojan
gentlewomen
weep.
6376 My
would split
if I described
their woe.
6380
6384
6388
6392
6396
Antenor and
Eneas lead
the Greeks
to Ilion,
where all the
treasure of
Troy is ;
6400 and they
carry it off.
6404
752 Priam is murderd. Hecuba and Polyxena flee. [BK. iv
Pyrrhus
kills Priam
kneeling at
the statue of
Apollo.
Hecuba and
Polyxena
flee thru
Troy,
but find no
help.
Of Appollo by gret cruelte,
And fil on Priam knelynge on his kne,
And wi)> his swerd, furious and wood,
To-fore pe autere shadfde] J?ere his blood,
J3at J>e stremys of his wouwdys rede
So hi^e rau}t, bo]?e in lengpe and brede,
))at ]?e statue of gold bornyd bri^t
Of J)is Appollo, for al his grete my^t,
For al his power and his sterne face,
Defouled was, and pollut al j?e place —
Only by deth of J>is worbi kynge
By Pirrus slayn while he lay knelynge,
Of olde hatrede & envious pride,
While Anthenor and Enee stod be-side* —
Jpat routhe was and pite to beholde,
To sen hym lyn on be stonys colde,
So pitously to-forn be auter blede.
Where-of , alias ! whan Eccuba toke hede,
And hir doubter, faire Polycene,
With here to-rent, as any gold wyr shene,
Inly supprised wib sorwe to pe* herte,
Whan ]>ei began considren and aduerte
Jpe noble kyng, [with] blody stremys rede
Al fordrowned, his* eyen dirke & dede,
Wib Pirrus swerd girt boru^ ouber side, —
For mortal fere bei durst[e] nat abide ;
But inwardly J>oru}-darted with ]>e si$t,
Al in a rage toke hem to ]?e fi^t.
And $it, in soth, j^oru^-oute ])e cite
}pei wist[e] neuer whiderward to fle,
Eeskus was noon nor no remedie
Of kyn nor frend, nor of noon allie ;
With Grekis swerd J>e touw was so be-set.
[leaf 131 c]
6408
6412
6416
6420
6424
6428
6432
6436
6408. shadde }>ere] >ere he shad D 1.
6409, 10 are transposed in A. 6418. be-side] a side C.
6419. routhe was and pite] roube and pite was D 1.
6420. lyn] ligge D 1. 6421. to-forn] before D 1.
6425. ]>e] her G.
6428. fordrowned] for wounded D 1— his] with his C, with D 1.
6429. ouj)er] bo)>e D 2, >e D 1.
6434. wiste] niste D 2 — wiste neuer] ne wiste D 1.
6436. 2nd of] om. D 1.
BK. iv] Hecuba reproaches Eneas fiercely for his Treachery. 753
And, in her fli^t, Jris woful quen hab met Hecuba meets
Eneas, causer of al Jris wrak,
Vn-to whom, rebukynge, bus she spak : 6440
" 0 bou traitour, most malicious ! and upbraids
him as a
J)ou false serpent, adder envious ! traitor,
Crop and rote, fynder of falsnesse,
Sours and welle of vnkyndenesse, 6444
How my^testow in Jrin herte fynde
Vn-to bi kyng to be so vnkynde ? —
Gynner and ground, exauraple of tresouw,
And final cause of oure destruccioura ! 6448 and the cause
,r -i , i • i /• i ., of their ruin;
How my^tLejstow, devoide of al pite,
Be hold, alias ! boru^ Jri cruelte
Of Jri kyng to shede so J?e blood, the shedder
})at euere haj> ben so gentil & so good, 6452 of Priam,
So gracious lord, specialy to the !
And, ouermore, boru^ his hi^e bouwte
The honoured and y-magnified [leafisirf] who honourd
lii in
Al his lyve — it may nat be denyed — 6456
}?at lib now ded in be temple, alias !
J?ou wer nat only traitour * in Jris cas,
But to his deth conspiryng & vnkynde,
Pirrus conveiyng where he shuld h[i]ra finde, 6460
To-forn Appollo myd of Jris cite,
Where bou sholdest of verray duete and whom he
* t * was bound to
RaJ>er haue ben his protections, protect.
His my^ti sheld and sauaciouw — 6464
J5at hast bis cite & Jris town y-lorn
In whiche J?ou were fostrid & y-born,
On be gretest of reputaciouw
Of alle J)e lordis dwellyng in bis touw, 6468
In whiche JJQU haddest whilom most plesauwce !
6441. new IT D 1—0] om. D 1. 6445-48 are omitted in D 2.
6446. to be so] for to be D 1. 6447. Gynner] Begynner D 1.
6451. to] om. D 2, D 1. 6452. 2nd so] om. D 2.
645 B. lord specialy] a lorde & specially vn to D 1.
6454. ouermore] ouere ]>is D 1.
6455. y-magnified] so magnified D 1.
6457. li> now] nowe lieth D 1.
6458. only traitour] traitowr oonly D 1 — traitour] troitour C.
6461. To-forn] Aforae D 1. 6462. duete] deitee A.
6465. y-lorn] lorn D 1. 6466. In] I D 2— fostrid] y fostrid D 1.
6467. On] And oone D 1. 6469. whilom most] sowityme D 1.
754
Hecuba appeals to Eneas to save Polyxena. [BK. iv
If any pity
ia left in
Eneas's
heart,
Hecuba ap-
peals to him
to save her
young daugh-
ter Polyxena,
and so shield
himself from
blame
and shame.
For herself,
Hecuba is
willing to die.
Eneas takes
Polyxena
But al is now oute of remembraiwce !
3it in pin herte $if any drope be
Of gentilnesse, merci, or pite, 6472
In pis dedly rage ful of tene,
Rewe on my doubter, $ong[e] Polycene,
From Grekis swerd hir ^oupe for to save,
— 3if pin herte may eny roupe haue, — 6476
Of manly pite on hir maydenhede
Diffende hir now & kepe hir oute of drede,
3if pou canst fynde any weye,
In any wyse pat she may nat deye, 6480
£at her-after, whan men sen and rede
j)e false tresourc and pe foule dede
JOat pou hast don vn-to Troye touw,
It may in parti be protecciourc 6484
To pi fame, pe venym to allaye
Of J>is tresouw ; — whan men wiln assaie
By iust report pi name to accuse,
J?is dede may [pe] helpen to excuse 6488
Ageyns tonges pat speken of Enee :
)?an wiln pei seyn, pou haddist $it pite
On Polycene, only of gentilnes, —
J^er-wztft to sugre al }>e bitternesse 6492
Of pi decert, blowe forpe by fame,
By rehersaille of pe foule blame
)3at shal of )>e poru^ )>e world be born,
With sclauTider infect whaw ]>ou art al to-torn, 6496
})at ]?ou ne shalt jje shame mowe sustene ! —
Jpan shal my doubter faire Polycene
Be pi defence ageyns swiche farnws strif ,
3if it so be* now pou saue hir lyf — 6500
Of me no fors — pou$ pou make as blive
])Q swerde of Grekis poru3 myra hert[e] rive."
And so by praier of pis woful quene,
J)is Eneas toke to hym Polycene, [leafisaa] 6504
6480. may nat] not ne D 1. 6486. >is] his D 2.
6488. j>e] om. D 1— to] the to D 1.
6490. >ou] >at fou D 1. 6491. On] Of D 1.
6492. >e] thy A. 6500. so be] be so C.
6504. f>is] om. D 1— toke to hym] to hym toke faire D 1.
BK. iv] The Trojan Ladies: Troy is burnt ; Hion cast down. 755
Whos traitour hert, for al his cruelte,
On hir ^oupe was mevid of pite,
Only of roujje J>at in his brest aros,
And secrely putte hir vp in clos,
List J?at Grekis fouwde occasions
Ageyn[e]s hym. & Aiax Thelamouw
Toke to his warde Andronemecha,
Ectoris wyf, and wyse Cassandra
Oute of ]?e temple longinge to Minerue,
From Grekis swerd her lyves to conserue.
And Menelay toke Jje quene Eleyne
In-to his garde, for whom so grete a peyne
Bood in his hert many day to-forn,
By whom, alias ! )>e cite is now lorn.
And Grekes ay were besy in her Ire
To sleen and kylle, & cruelly to fire
On euery side and to bete doim
Palais & house & walles of }>e touw :
J)ei spare nou^t, for al goth to ]>e fire,
So feruent hate brent in her desire
Of olde envie avenged for to be,
}3at )?ei ne lefte witA-Inne J>e cite
No |)ing vnbrent ; and also Ylyouw
Was in J>is rage turned vp-so-douw.
)3er maked wern noon excepciouras,
Only outake )>e possessions
Of Anthenor (evele mote he fare)
And Eneas, whom pe Grekis spare,
As )>ei to hem were bourcde by her ope.
And Jms J>e Grekis, furious & wro))e,
Han al J>at day robbed and y-brent,
Til }>at ]>e kyng Agamenouw haj) sent
For his lordis to assemble I-fere
In Pallas temple, only for to here
Her wyse avis vppon Jnnges tweyne :
6508
6512
6516
6520
6524
6528
and hides
her.
Ajax takes
Andromache
and Cas-
sandra.
Menelaus
takes Helen.
The Greeks
slay, burn,
and spare
nothing.
llion is over-
thrown.
But the goods
of A n tenor
and their
friends are
6532 Presenrd.
6536 Agamemnon
summons
liis lords.
6507. brest] herte D 1. 6513. po] om. D 2.
6517. many] many a A, so many D 1.
6520. to fire] to sette a fire D 1.' 6521. and] om. D 2.
6523. )>e]0m. D 2, Dl.
6531. evele] rijt yuele D 1. 6532. And] And Also D 1.
TROY BOOK. 3
756 The Trojan plunder is to le shared rateaUy. [BK. iv
The Greeks
decide to
keep faith
with the Tro-
jan traitors,
and to share
their plunder
rateably.
As to Helen,
Ajax says
she deserves
death;
and so say
many more.
First, $if |>ei wolde holde, & nat feyne, 6540
Holy her feith, witft-oute excepciouw,
To hem by whom J>ei wan first £e tou?^ 1
And, ouermore, he axed hem also,
Touching pe goodis, what ]>ei wold[e] do 6544
With gold, tresour, and possessions
J)at J>ei haue wo?^ne poru^ her hi^e renouw1?
And J?ei answerid, wz't/i-oute more tariyng,
J)ei wolde her feith kepe in euery Jring 6548
As ]?ei wer sworn, & her hestis holde ;
And, ouer J)is, pei seide [how] fei wold
J)at gold, tresour, and good of pe cite,
As ri^t requereth and also equyte, 6552
Be iustly partid by diuisiourc, [leaf 1325]
To euery wy^t made distribuciourc
Liche his merit, of hi3e & lowe degre ;
And ]>at pe kyng eke of resou?z se 6556
Eche to rewarde after his labour,
So as it longeth to a conqueronr,
})at no man haue mater to compleyne.
And so ]?ei fil in spekynge of Eleyne, 6560
Euery che after his oppiniouw ;
And to-forne alle Aiax Thelamou?*
Shortly seide she ha|) deserued deth,
For whom so many haj? ^olde?^ vp ]?e breth, 6564
Pleinly affermynge per in parlament,
Of ri^twisnesse and trewe iugement
She shulde nat eskape with fe lyf,
J?at gymiyng was & cause* of al her strif, 6568
Rote and grouwde of al her sorwe & wo ;
And so seide eke many a-noj)er mo.
And for J)e uoyse and Jje grete affraye,
Agamenourz nor kyng Menelay 6572
Ne durste a worde for her parti meve
To saue )>e quene, list Grekis wold hem greve,
6540. 3if) om. D 2. 6542. wan] haue D 1.
6543. oumnore] ouer >is D 1— hem] hem eke D 1.
6551. tresour and good] good & tresour D 1.
6553. partid hy] departed withoute D 1. 6556. ]>at] om. D 1.
6568. gymiyng] gynner D 1 — cause] causer C, D 1 — al her] J»e D 1.
6572. nor] and D 1.
BK. iv] Agamemnon gets Cassandra. Helenus is allowd to live. 757
Ageyn[e]s hem J>er was so gret rumour. .
Til Vlixes, chefly hir socour, 6576 uiysses
J m strives
his wit and his elloquence,
His deuer dide and his dilligence
To saue hir lyf, and fully to purchace to save^
Of J)e Grekis for to gete hir grace. 6580
And, as Guy do also doth vs lere,
Agamenouw gan Grekis to [rjequere Agamemnon
To grauwten hym, for a chef guerdon??, aandra.
Of Cassandra to han possessions, 6584
Al her lyve wij) hym to abide.
Eke Eneas & Anthenor beside Elieas and
Antenor
Of Elenus to ]>e Grekis tolde,
How to J>e werre he neuere assentfe] wolde, 6588
And how ]>at he, prudent & vertuous,
In cousseillyng was contrarius
To alle fo, of hi^e and lowe estat,
In Troye first jmt be-gan debate 6592
A-twixe Grekis and J>is* my^ti toivi ;
Eke by his helpe and mediaciou?*
Achilles was buried and y-graue, W1UJ buried«
J)e dede cors from houndes for to saue, 6596
Whan he was slayn in f ul cruel wyse
By ny^ter tyme, as ^e han herd deuise :
For, sothly, he and Cassandra bojje
Of J>is* mordre in herte were ful wrojje 6600
And sory eke of many anojjer Jnng
Wrou^t in fe tou?^ wit//.-oute her wy tinge, [leaf 132 c]
And for J?ei wer of malys Innocent,
\)Q Grekis lian fully by assent 6604 and he is let
Grau?ited to hem a prerogatif
By parlement for to han her lyf.
But Elenus, first in teris drowned,
To-fore ]?e kyng pitously liaj? swowned, 6608
6582. gan Grekis] Grekys gan A, D 2, D 1.
6587. Elenus] Eleine D 1. 6589. he] she D 1.
6593. A-twixe] Betwene D 1— >is] |>e C— my^ti] worthy D 2.
6594. his helpe] here hope D 1. 6598. ny^ter] ny^tes D 1.
6599. he] she D 1. 6600. >is] his 0.
6602. wiU-oute] a3ein D 1. 6603. for] forn D 1.
6607. Elenus] Eleyne D 1— drowned] al y drowned D 1.
6608. kyng] Grekys A.
758 Hecuba, & her Ladies arepardond. A storm stops the Greeks.
And abraidinge, vfith a dedly face,
In humble wyse besou^t him of his grace,
Heienus Of kny^tly pite to haue his aduertence
memnon To spare his swerde fro blood of Innocence, 6612
And of merci fat he nat disdeyne
To grauwt[e] lyf to fe sones tweyne
Of worf i Hector, his brof ei1 moste entere,
to spare And eke to re we on her moder dere, 6616
Hecuba.
Only of grace, fat she be nat ded, —
A wido lefte, allone, and can no red,
And wot not winder fat she may diuerte.
And so fe kyng, ameved in his herte 6620
Of his wordis and his woful chere,
He does so, Benignely grannted his praiere,
and frees her, And ^af eke lyf & fredani for to go
and her To f c moder and hir childer two ; 6624
women. And to f e ladies & gentil-wommen alle
Jpat for mercy to his grace calle,
He graunted eke of compassions
A saufconduit and a fre pardoim, 6628
Where j?at hem list in f e totm abide,
Or in f e contre adiacent beside —
He put it hool in her elecciouw.
And, fankyng hym, fei fel on knees dou^ 6632
With many tere dewed in f e face ;
And so f e kyng parteth fro f e place.
The Greeks And after fat, Grekis ri3t a-noon
home!08' Fully purpos to schipfpe] for to goon, 6636
In haste to seile toward her contre.
but a storm But swiche a tempest roos vp in* fe see,
Of wawe & wynde & of cloudes blake,
delays em for Al a moneth fat fei dar nat take 6640
j?e water salt, for drede fat Neptunws
Of verray Ire, and also Eolus
6610. his] om. D 1. 6612. blood] >e bloode D 1.
6616. to] om. D 1. 6619. wot] wete D 1.
6624. hir] >e D 1— childer] children A, D 1.
6625. to] tho A— J>e] om. A, D 2.
6626. calle] wolde calle D 1. 6629. Where] WheJ>ir D 1.
6633. many] many a D 1.
6638. in] on C, vppon D 1. 6641. >at] of D 1.
BK. iv] Calchas lyingly demands the Death of Polyxena. 759
Was vn-to hem in euery Jnng contrarie,
)3at on J>e lond made hem longe tarie — 6644
])e se was ay so fel and boilynge :
Til J>at Grekis of Calchas enqueringe The Greeks
By on assent, what it iny^t[e] be, «£2o™.°f
))at euere in oon so diuers was ]?e se 6648
In his rage boj>e at eve and morwe 1 —
And he answered (God seve hym evele sorwe, And he— „
J curse the old
))is olde shrewe, with al his prophesie, [leaf 132 d] liar!—
))at can so wel whan him list to lye !) 6652
How jjis tempest caused was at al tKiieGods6
By ]>e goddes and furies infernal,
ftat neuere wolde apese nor be stille aVh°eaId tiiibe
Til pe mordre, platly, of Achille 6656 $eA^,5;Jegr
Avenged be, & shedynge of his blood. is avensed
For whiche (he seide) AppolJo was eke wood,
For his temple to hym consecrat
Was Jjoru} his deth in Troye violat : 6660
Wherfore Jjer muste boru$ redempciouw *
By blood ageyn be made satisfacciou?^
Of hir fat was rote in special,
J^oru} hir bewte, and original, 6664
Cause of his deth— 3onge Polyceue— jjj^f 8acri'
And gywnynge first of his mortal tene ;
Jjerfore to Appollo she mut [vp] off rid be,
By sacrifice to queme his deiete, 6668
With deth ageyn to make recompense,
Bi$t as by deth first was thoffense :
))is * Grekis muste outterly fulfille,
3 if ]?ei desire for to han at wille 6672
))e large se to seillen in quiete.
And Pirrus }>o, in a furious hete, ?(ik/S?U8
Gan enquere aboute of euery man
For Polycene ; but no wy;t telle can 6676
Of hir a word, nor, shortly, wher she was,
6644. made hem longe] longe made hem D 1.
6661, 62 are transposed in C, A, D 2.
6661. Wherfore] Wher-J>oru3 — redempcioun] satisfaccioiw D 1.
6662. satisfacciowi] redempcioun D 1.
6668. queme] plese A, D 1. 6671. £is] f>e C.
6675. enquere aboute] aboute enquere D 1.
760
Polyxena is to be put to Death ly Pyrrhus. [BK. IV
Antenor (God
damn him!)
finds Polyx-
ena,
and drags
her out.
She is doomd
to be slain by
Pyrrhus.
The fair
maiden is
pitied by
Greeks,
who weep for
her.
Sauf some seide how )>at Eneas
And Anthenor hadde hid hir preuely,
Wher-of J?er ros amonge hem sodeynly 6680
Swiche a grucchinge of Grekis al aboute,
Of her lyf fat pei wern in doute,
So inwardly ]>is ping )?ei toke at gref.
Til Anthenor (God ^eue him euele pref ! 6684
))at may of tresoim as wardeiw her ]>e keie),
To she wen oute his malis euery weie,
So longe hath sou^t, til in a chaumbre olde
He hath hir foimde, and pe Grekis tolde, 6688
And brou^t hir forpe vn-to her presence,
By cruel force & hatful violence,
WitA-oute pite or compassiouw,
And hir deliue?*ed to Agamenouw. 6692
And he, alias ! by hasti lugement,
With-oute respit or avisement,
Shortly hath dempte ]>ai, she shal be ded,
Jjat was flouringe in hir maideiihed. 6696
And for to don execusiouw,
She was assigned by Agamenoim
Vn-to Pirrus ; & he of tyranye
Ladde hir forfe, & fast[e] gan hym * hije [leaf 133 a] 6700
To )>e place where she shulde deye.
Gret was pe pres, fat in al ]?e weye
Gan crowde & shone * to beholde & sene
])is $onge maide, faire Polycene, 6704
)?at for hir bewte & hir semlynesse,
Hir woramanhed and excellent fairnesse —
Of al y-fere whan fei token hed — -
))ei hadden roufe ]>at she shnlde be ded, 6708
W^t/z-oute gilt or any more trespas, —
Where men may sen vppon many face
)}e salt[e] teris faste falle doim,
Of verray pite and compassiou;^ 6712
6684. God] crist D 1— pref] mischef D 1.
6685. her] be D 1. 6700. Ladde] Had D 1— hym] hir C.
6703. shoue] showe C. 6705. f>at] om. D 1.
6708. rouj>e] gret rou>e D 1— shulde] shal A, D 2.
6710. many] many a D 1.
6711. falle] fel D 2— doim] a doun D 1.
At the Grave of Achilles, Polyxena prays to the Almighty Gods. 761
For man nor child was noon so harde of herte, The Greeks
But he felt for hir sake smerte,
Hir goodly lace whan )>ei beholde & se,
And fayn[e] wolde, }if it my$t haue be, 6716
Delyuered hir of verray force anoon
From Firms hond, but for pei wende echora
With-outs hir deth neuer to han repeir
In-to Grece, nor J?e wedir fair, 6720
As Calchas had made suggestions
And brou^t hem alle in oppiniourc.
And at ]>e last, whan Jris Polycene,
Of dede & wil a verray maide clene, 6724
"Was to be graue of Achilles broust. But she is
brought to
She kneleth donn. & with an humble boust the grave of
Achilles,
Caste vp hir eye & gan si^en ofte,
And to J>e goddes, hwnblely & softe, 6728
With dredful herte and deuociourc, and there
Made in J»is wyse hir lamentaciouw.
How Cruele Firms, tavenge fe dethe of his fadire,
dismembred yonge Pollycene, and threwe here
blode abowt his fadirs grave. And of J>e sorwful
]>at she made to the goddys.1
0
almy^ti, Ipat fis world gouerne, prays to the
And eue?y j)ing co^sidren & discerne, 6732 Gods»
By whom J)is world, so huge, large, & rousde,
Bo)>e eyr & see, heuene & eke )>e grouwde
At $oure devis with a word was wrou^t, wi«o rule this
And sothfastly knowen euery J>ou^t, 6736
Bi3t as it is, of euery maner wy^t,
With-oute lettinge, so percyuge is ^owre si^t,
)5at no ))ing is conseled* nor y-wrye
From pe beholdyng of ^oi^re eternal eye, 6740
And euery ping may attonis se, —
Vp-on my soule hatli merci and pite !
6714. hir sake] his woo D 1. 6723. >e] om. D 1.
6730. Made] And made D 1. 6738. lettinge] lette D 1.
6739. conseled] conselit C. 6741. And] pat D 1.
6742. hath] haue D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 130 c.
762
Polyxena's Prayer to the Almighties for Pity. [BK. iv
"Have pity
on my woe !
I've led my
life in chas-
cent ofn8ii"no"
Yet now i am
condemnd to
death,
of Achiiies,
for which i
And of $oure grace & benigne cure,
Vp-on my wo and pitous auenture 6744
J
Haueth som roupe, now })at I shal dye,
My woful spirit to leden & conveye
Where as $ow list, now ]>at I * shal pace !
For vn-to 3011, in Jris * silfe place, 6748
I me confesse with al humylyte, [leaf 133 6]
hat heder-towarde I haue in chastite
;
Lad al my lyf, & kept my maydenhede
In }oure seruyse, bof e in fou^t & dede, 6752
— In port and chere, and in couwtenauwce,
Or forfeture of any dalyaimce,
With o mysloke I neuer $it a-breide,
So fat in soth I deye shal a mayde, 6756
As ^e wel knowe, of symie al Innocent,
^OU3 ^- ^e now dempte by lugement
For to be ded, with-ouie gilt at al
°
— Witnesse of }ou fat ben inmortal, — 6760
Clene of entent of fat I am accused !
And ^it, alias ! I may nat be excused,
But fat fe swerd of vengau/ice mote byte,
Routheles, whiche am no Jring to wyte, 6764
But stonde clere & pure of al offence,
And dischargid in my conscience,
* dar afferme» and fully gilt[e]les
Touchinge fe mordre of worfi Achilles, 6768
Whiche slowe my brofer, & after loued me,
And is now cause of myn aduersite :
And $it, in wil, dede, word, nor fou^t,
Vn-to his deth assentid was ri^t nou^t, 6772
But J)er-of was ri^t sory in myn herte,
Al-be j)at I may nat now asterte
For to be ded, only for his sake.
On me allone vengauwce shal be take, 6776
6743. benigne cure] benignite D 1.
6744. pitous auenture] aduersite D 1. 6745. Haueth] Haue D 1.
6747. as 3ow] )>at 30 D 1 — now >at I] J>at I now C.
6748. >is] >e 0. 6750. heder-towarde] hertoward A, D 2.
6751. al] om. A. 6753. 1st and] in D 1.
6758. by] with D 1. 6760. of] on A, D 2.
6772. assentid] assentant D 2, assentinge D 1.
6774. nat] >at D 1.
Polyxenas Prayer. She denounces the Cruelty of the Greeks. 763
merci, in fill cruel wyse
With my blood to make sacrifice
To pe goddis, her wrathe* for to queme !
0 peple blinde ! in soth amys 36 deme,
Ageyn[e]s me joure herte is to cruel,
To merciles, to Irous, and to fel,
Wit/i-oute rou]>e, to mykel indurat,
To sleen a maide, all one disolat !
Oute of 3oure herte, alias, pite is gon !
Harder, in troupe, ))an ouper stok or stoon,
And more cruel in ^oure oppiniourc,
For lak of pite, fan tigre or lyouw.
Certis, 30 ben gretly for to blame,
And ou3te her-of for to haue gret shame
To assent to so foule a dede,
To slen a maide, quakyng in her drede,
And grau?zte hir noon oportunyte
For to be-wepe hir virginite :
ftat of )>is cruel and [pis] pitous wreche
My blood 3oure gilt her-after shal apeche,
And accuse also }oure grete envie
To pe goddes, fat shal iustefie
Euery vnri3t, bope of hi3e and lowe,
Ful egally, and make to be knowe
})e troupe plein, & spare no degre,
But maken open pat is nowe secre.
1 seie nat pis, nor my silfe compleyne
To haue redres of my fatal peyne,
For deth is now more welcom [vn-]to me
])an is my lyf, and more I-take at gre,
Sipen my brej>ere, most worpi of renoura,
Be slay[e]n alle and buried in pis toim :
My fader ded in his vnweldy age,
And I allone lefte in al pis rage,
And haue abide pitously to se
Fynal ruyne now of pis cite,
[leaf 133 c]
6780
6784
6788
6792
6796
6800
6804
6808
" My blood is
to be offerd
as a sacrifice
to the Gods.
O blind Greek
folk,
you're cruel-
ler than the
My blood
shall here-
after accuse
you to the
Gods.
I do not com-
plain for my-
self,
since my
brothers are
slain,
my father
dead,
6812 and Troy
ruind.
6779. wrathe] wroth C. 6783. mykel] moche D 1.
6790. her-of] ther of D 1.
6795. cruel] de>e D 1 — pitous] cruel D 1.
6797. And] And eke D 1. 6805. vn-to] to D 1.
764
" I'd rather
end my woe
than live.
Then wel-
come, Death !
Show thy '
might 011 me,
a pure
maiden !
I commend
my spirit to
the mercy of
the Gods'.
And, Maid-
ens,
weep for me,
slain in my
youth • "
Polyxencis Prayer. She welcomes Death. [BK. iv
Whiche at myn herte sittef now so sore,
})at leuere I haue fa?ine to wepe more
Deye attonis in reles of my wo,
Sif al my kyn is passed & a-go, — 6816
Lenger to lyve were to me a deth.
For bet is here* to ^elden vp fe breth
)?an to be ladde oute of fis cite,
Amonge straimgeris to live in pouerte ! 6820
0 deth, welcome ! & no lenger lette
)pi dredful dart to filen and to whette,
My tendre hert f er-wif-al to ryve ;
Ageyn fi my^t I shal neuer striue. 6824
Now is tyme to kyfe ]>i power
On me fat am of wil & herte entere
A clene maide, so as I be-gan,
Wiih-oute touche of eny maner man 6828
In al my lyf to J>is same day —
J?is lite avauftte make }it I may,
In myn ende, to [fe] goddes alle,
After whos helpe now I clepe & calle. 6832
And to her merci mekely I co???mende
My woful spirit, & praie hem J>at fei sende
To euery maide better happe and grace
)5an I haue now, and a lenger space 6836
In hertly loie and honour to contvne,
Wit/i-oute assaut of any infortwne
To lede her lyf in prosperite !
And alle maidenes, remewibref vp-on me 6840
To take exaumple how ^e shal ^ow kepe,
And ]?at ^e wolde a fewe teris wepe
Whan fat 36 jnnke vppon Polycene,
})at was of age and of ^eris grene 6844
Whan she was slayn by cruel auenture.
And to ]?e goddes, for to han in cure,
My dredful goost hooly I betake, [leafissd]
Eternally ; and Jnis an ende I make." 6848
And wz't/i fat word hir hed she gan enclyne
Ful humblely, whan she shulde fyne,
6814. haue] hadde D 1. 6818. here] me C— to] om. D 1.
68.44. 2nd of] om. A. 6846. for to] >at D 1.
6852 Pyrrhus
6856 hews Polyx-
ena to bits
with bis
sword,
6860
and casts her
blood round
6864 his father's
grave.
6868
BK. iv] Polyxena is hackt to pieces savagely ly Pyrrhus. 765
And of hir eyen lielde )?e lydes down.
And Pirrus paraie, woder pan lyou^,
Disniembrid haj? vtith his sharpe swerde
Jpis maide ^onge, dredf ul & a-ferd ;
And, ouermore, his cruelte to shewe,
On pecis smale he hap hir al to-hewe
End[e]long his fadris sepulture.
Alias ! how my^t his cruel herte endure,
Merciles to done so foule a dede !
I am astonid, sothly, whan I rede,
After hir deth, how it dide hym good,
Like a tiraurcte to cast abrood hir blood,
Or a tig re, J>at can no routhe haue,
Roumie environs aboute his fadris graue
He spreint of hate and of cruelte.
0 £ou Pirrus ! pou maist [f ul] wel [y-]be
Achilles sone by lyneal discent ;
For like to hym of lierte & of entent
)2ou wer, in soth, deuoide of al pite,
And wers J>an he ^it in o degre :
For of pi fader in al his ly vynge
Ne redde I neuere }it so foule a ping
— j)ou} I wold of hatrede hym abraide —
For no rancour pat euere he slow a maide !
1 fynd[e] wel pat he hadde his part
Whilom in lone of Cupides dart,
jpat made hym sore in his lyue smerte,
Whan pat lie was wounded to pe hert
Wit/i )>e castyrig only of an eye,
Wenynge fer-by wistly* for to deye —
He my^tfe] nat ]>e sodeyn stroke eskape ;
And afterward, as his fate hath shape,
He mordrid was for loue of Polycene,
Whom fou hast sleyn in ]>i cruel tene,
Furiously, w^t/f-oute routhe or shame :
For whiche ])ing ))e foule hatful fame
6861. Mr] his D 1. 6865. spreint] serpente D 1.
6866. y-be] be D 1. 6876. Whilom] So?rcme tyme D 1,
6S77. smerte] to smevte D 1.
6880. wistly] wisly C— wistly for] vtterly D 1.
6883. was] is D 1 . 6885. or] & D 2.
He is like
that father,
Achilles,
but worse
than he,
6872 who never
slew a maid,
6876 tho Cupid's
dart
pierst his
heart,
6880
id he was
mui-ilerd for
his love of
6884 Polyxena.
766 Hecuba goes mad, is stoned to death, and 'buried. [BK. iv
Whenever
this story is
told,
Pyrrhus
Ml be curst
for slaying
an innocent
maiden.
It drives
Hecuba mad.
She bites
and fights.
She is sent
to an ile,
and stoned
to death.
The Greeks
bury her in a
rich tomb.
al pe world her-after shal be sprad,
Whan pis* story rehersid is and rad ;
fran shal be seide, how Pirrus roupeles
Slowe in his Ire a maide gilt[e]les,
And warie shal pi name most odible
For pis dede passingly horrible,
For loue only of faire Polycene.
))e deth of whom wha^ Eccuba pe quene
Hath seyn, alias ! as she be-side stood,
For verray wo gan to wexe wood,
And for sorwe oute of hir wit she went,
And hir elopes & hir heer she rent
Al in [a] rage, and wot nat what she doth,
But gan anoon wz't/z. hondis & vfith tope
In her furie cracchen and eke byte,
Stonys caste, and wi\h fistes smyte
Whom she mette ; til Grekis made her binde,
And sent hir forpe, also, as I fynde,
In-to an Ile to Troye pertenent,
Wher she was slayn only by lugement
Of pe Grekis, and stonyd to pe deth.
And whan she had golden vp pe breth,
)?is woful quene, by cruel auenture,
]5e Grekis dide make a sepulture
Coriously of metal and of stoon,
And toke pe cors and buried it anoon
With gret honour and solempnite,
J)at longe after men per* rny^t[e] se
Jpe riche tourabe, costful and royal,
]5ere set and made for a memorial
Of Eccuba, whilom of gret[e] fame ;
And after }af to pat place a name,
And called it, to be long in mynde,
Locus infestus, in Guydo as I fynde.
And pus pe quene, only for sorwe wood,
6888. pis] >e C. 6891. most] mood A.
6899. doth] deethe D 1. 6900. to>e] tethe D 1.
6911. Coriously] Ceriously D 2.
6914. men >er] J>er men C, D 1.
6917. whilom] so?mne tyme D 1.
6918. after] aftir >at D 1— >at] >e D 1.
6888
6892
[leaf 134 a] 6896
6900
6904
6908
6912
6916
6920
Lydgate curses the false, Gods for not punishing the greeks. 767
Whan Mr doubter hadfdel shad hir blood, Forti.emm-
' L ^ der of Hecuba
Of Grekis stonyd dide hir ende make,
As ^e han herde, pleinly, for ]>e sake 6924
Of Polvcene, whilom by Calchas »»d Poiyxena
J * ^ J by tlie Greeks
Vn-to Appollo falsly oti'rid was,
By Pirrus swerd Achilles avengynge,
To make J>e se calm & blawndisshinge, 6928
)?at ]?e goddes take* no vengaimce the Gods take
Vp-on Grekis. J?at an evele chaw/zee j» ^
Come [to] }>eis false goddes euerychoon ! JJ1^6 false
And her statues of stokkes & of stoon, 6932
In whiche t>e serpent & be olde snake, >» winch the
' old snake
Sathan hym silf, gan his dwellirage make ; Sat«» dwells!
And fraud en tly folkes to illude,
Ful sotilly kan hym silfe include 6936
In ymagis, for to make his hold,
j)at forged* bene of siluer & of gold, —
Jpat by errour of false illusioim,
He hath y-brou^t to confusions, * 6940
jjoru^ myscreauwce, Ipe worj?i kynde of man,
Sifen tyme J)at aldirfirst be-gan
\)Q false honour of ydolatrie
And J>e* worship [vn-]to mawmetrie, 6944
By sacrifice of bestis and of blood, [leaf 134 6]
Tapesen hem whan )>at J>ei are wood,
And to queme, bo)>e at eve and morwe.
I praie to God, $eue hem alle sorwe, 6948 May God
Wher-so )>ei ben, wit^-Iime or w/t/i-oute ! to grief!" &
I noon excepte of J)e false route, —
Satorn nor Mars, Pallas* nor luno, Saturn, Mars,
lubiter, Mercurius, nor Pluto, 6952 Jupiter, Me?'
Kouper Flora, fat doth )>e floures sprede, Flora,
6922. hadde shad] shad had D 1.
6925. whilom] somme tyme D 1.
6926 is misplaced at foot of column in D 2— Vn-to] Falsly vn to
Dl.
6927. avengynge] venging D 1. 6929. take] toke C.
6938. f>at forged] I forged D 1— forged] forget C.
6940. confusiowi] conclusioim C.
6942. tyme] >e tyme D 1. 6944. J>e] to do C.
6946. bat] om. D 1— are] were D 1. 6949. or] & D 2.
6951. Mars Pallas] Pallas Mars C.
768 Lydgates List of the False Gods whom he curses. [BK. iv
Bacchus,
Cupid,
Daphne,
Diana,
Venus,
Cytherea,
Proserpine,
the DanaTds,
Ixion,
Sisyphus,
Tantalus,
the Furies,
the Fates,
the Muses,
Cybele, Ceres,
Janus,
Priapus,
Genius the
Priest,
Hymen,
Manes,
Elves,
Fauns,
Water-
nymphs,
Naiads,
Nouper Bachus, with grapis whyte & rede,
Nor Cupido, with his eyen blinde,
Nouper* Daphne, closed vnder rinde, 6956
Jjoru^ Tellus myjt, of pe laurer tre,
Nor pou Diane, with pi chastite,
Mi}ti Venus, nor Cytherea,
With pi dartis, nor Proserpyna, 6960
})at lady art depe dou» in belle,
Nor Belides pat drawej) at pe welle,
Ixyouw, nor pou ^iphus,
Nor with pin appil, pou cruel Tantalus, 6964
Nor pe furies pat bene infernal,
Nor 30 pat spyraie pe lives prede fatal
Vp-on pe rokke of Query maner man,
Nor pe mvses pat so singen can 6968
Atwen pe coppis of Nysus & Cirra,*
Vp-on pe hil be-side Cirrea,
Nor pe, Cibeles, nor Ceres with pi corn,
Nor Eolus, of whom pe dredful horn 6972
Is herde so for, whan pou list to blowe,
Nor lanus Bi Irons, with bak cor bed lowe,
Nor Priapis, nor Genyvs pe prest,
pat curseth ay, with candel in his fist, 6976
Hem po echon pat fro ward be to Kynde,
Nor Imenevs, whos power is to bynde
Hertis pat ben cowiunct in mariage,
Til pe goddesse of discorde and rage 6980
Disceuereth hem by diuisiourc,
Nouper Manes, pat ban her mansions
Mid pe erpe in derknesse and in wo,
Nor peis elves, pat are wont to go 6984
In vndermeles, whan Phebws is most shene,
Nouper fauni,* in tender grevis grene,
Water-nymph es, nor pis nay[a]des,
6956. Nou>er] Nor C, D 1. . 6969, 70 are transposed in C.
6969. Atwen] Betwene D 1— Nysus] ysus D 2.
6975. Genyvs] Genus D 1— pe] om. D 1.
6976. candel] Candels A. 6978. to bynde] ton bynde C.
6979. comunct] knett A.
6982. Nou>er] Nor D 1. 6983. Mid] Amid D 1.
6986. Nouper] Nor D 1— fauni] fawner C.
6987. nayades] Nardes D 1.
Pagan G-ods are the Devil's Friends, & bring their trusters Woe. 769
Satiiy, nou]?er driades,
feat goddesse bene of wode & wildernes,
Nor oj>er goddes, — nouj>er more ne lesse, —
As Morpheus )>at is [J?e] god of slepe, —
I holde hym wood J?at take]) any kepe
To done to hem any obseruauwce :
He may nat faille for to haue meschawzce [leaf 134 c]
At pe ende, pleinly, for his mede !
For al swiche feined falsnes, oute of drede,
Eoos of ]?e deuel, and first by his engyn,
And of his slei^ti treynes serpentyn,
Only mankynde whane he made loute
To false ydoles ; J>e whiche, oute of doute,
Are but deuelis, Dauid berej? witnesse
In J?e Sauter, where he writ expresse,
And confermeth J)er as he endites,
How J>e goddes of paganysme rytes,
On & alle — he excepteth noon —
Be made of gold, of siluer, and of stoon,
Forged of bras, of metal and of tre,
And eyen han, and $it J?ei maye nat se, —
And alle are fendes, so as Dauid seith.
feat who in hem haueth any feith,
Hope, credence, or in hem delite,
It is no drede, J?at Jjei wil hym quyte
With swiche guerdouw as )>e soule sleth
Perpetuelly, so )>at ]>e fyn is deth
Of her seruise, whan men hen[ne]s passe,
And in her lyf vnhap and evele grace,
Meschef and wo, and confusiouw,
As men may sene example* be J?is toun,
feat wende wel assured for ta be,
And to haue stonde in longe prosperite
Ageyn her fon pom} helpe of Appollo,
Of Venus eke, and favour of luno,
feoru} Pallas my^t, Diane and Minerue,
6990. goddes] om. D 1. 6991. ]?e] om. D 1.
6998. And] om. D 1.
7001. Are] Bene D 1— Dauid] as Dauid D2.
7008. >ei] ne D 2. 7009. are] her A, bene D 1.
7018. example] exanple C. 7023. myjt] myghty A.
6988 Satyr.,
Dryads, and
other gods,
such as
Morpheus !
6992
6996 All these
sprang from
the Devil,
and,
7000
7004
7008
7012
7016
as David
says,
they are
fiends.
Those who
trust em
shall end in
death and
woe,
as Troy did,
which ex-
pected to
7020 Prosper by
its false Gods'
help.
770 Lydgate grieves for the sad fate of ruind Troy. [BK. iv
Whom ]?ei wer wont to honour & to seme 7024
With Cerymonyes & with sacrifise,
As 36 to-forn ban herde me deuise,
J3at hem han brou^t now vn-to ruyne,
By cruel deth maked hem to fyne. 7028
Here may $e sen how ]>e venym bites,
At J>e ende, of swiche olde rytes,
By evidence of )>is noble toun.
What may availle now Palladiouw] 7032
What may now * helpe her frauded fantasie
Of al her olde false ydolatrie 1
Alias, [alias !] )>ei bou^t it al to sore.
Now fare wel Troye, farwel for euere-more ! 7036
Farwel, alias ! to cruel was pi fal !
Of pe no more now I write shal.
For jri sake, in sojje, whan I take hede,
Of inward wo myn herte I fele blede ; 7040
And whan pat I remembre \n my pou^t,
By ruyne how pou art brou^t to nou^t,
)?at whilom were so noble & so riche, [leaf 134 d]
))at in pis world I trowe noon was liche 7044
Nor perigal, to speken of fairnesse,
To speke of kny^thod and of worpinesse,
As clerkis seien pat pi bildyng knewe,
J?at al pe world ou}t[e] for to rewe 7048
On pi pitous waste walles wylde,
Whilom so rial wha?i men gan to bilde
)3in touris hi^e, & kyng Priamus
J)e first be-gan, most riche & glorious, 7052
And sette his se in noble Ylyou?z.
0, who can write a lamentaciouw
Conuenient, o Troye, for pi sake !
Or who can now wepe or sorwe make, 7056
])\ gret[e] meschef to compleyne & crie ]
7024. 2nd to] om. D 2, D 1. 7027. han] haue A.
7028. maked] in a bed A. 7029. new IT D 1.
7033. What may now] May now ou^t C— now] om. A.
7043. whilom] somme tyme D 1.
7044. noon was] was noon A — liche] >e liche D 1.
7050. Whilom] Somme tyme D 1. 7051. &] )>at D 1.
7052. pe] om. D 1.
Here you
may see the
result of
Pagan faith.
What can the
Palladium
and idolatry
avail ?
Troy, fare-
well!
My heart
bleeds for
you,
ruind,
that were
so rich, and
unequald.
All the world
should pity
you.
Who can
write a fit
Lament for
Troy ?
No Hebrew Prophet could have rightly mournd Troy 's fate. 771
Certis, I trowe nat olde leremye, Neither
, . . Jeremiah,
pat so be-wepte pe captmite
Of ]>ilke noble rial chefe cite 7060
Jerusalem, and his destmccioiw,
With al pe hole transmygraciowa *
Of pe lewes ; nor )>ou E^echiel, Kzekiei,
ftat were pat tyme pat pe meschef fel 7064
Vn-to )>e kyng y-called Sedechie,
In Ba[b]ilon, & for pi prophesie
With stonys were cruelly y-slawe ;
Nor he pat was departed with a sawe, — 7068
$e bo]>e two, pat koude so compleyne, —
Nor Danyel pat felt so gret[e] peyne norD.miei,
For pe kynges transmutaciouw
In-to a beste, til poru$ pe orisourc 7072
Of Daniel he restored was
To mynde ageyn, & ete no more no gras : —
3et verrailly, pou$ $e alle pre
With soure wepincr had alive be 7076 had they
been alive,
And present eke at pe destrucciouw
Of pis noble worpi royal toiw,
To haue beweiled pe meschef & pe wo,
And pe slaujter at pe sege do 7080
On ouper party in ful cruel wyse, —
Alle 2oure teris myatfel nat suffise could have
J? L J mournd
To haue be-wepte her sorwes euerychon, Sfrrowa'of
Be tresou?z wrou^t, as wel as be her foon ! 7084 Tr°y-
Here-of no more ; for it may nat availle.
But like as he pat gy/meth for to saille
Ageyn pe wynde, whan pe mast dop rive,
Ri}t so it were but in veyn to strive 7088
Ageyn pe fate, bitterer panrce galle,
By hi}e vengauwce vp-on Troye falle,
Nor to presvme her furies, sharpe whette,
Ceriously in pis boke to sette : [leaf 135 a] 7092
So gret a ping I dar nat vndirtake, I can't do it.
7062. hole] noble A — transmygracioiw] transmutacioun C.
7064. 3rd J>at] wha?ine D 1. 7074. 2nd no] om. A, D 1.
7086. bat] om. D 1. 7088. but in veyn] in veyne for D 1.
7089. galle] )>e galle D 1.
TROY BOOK. 3 E
772 Lydgate ends his Bk IV. Bk V 'II be on the Greeks at sea. [BK. iv
so here i end But evene here a pitous entle I make
the Siege of
Troy, Of pe sege, after my symplesse * ;
And £0113 my stile, blottid* with rudenes, 7096
As of metre, be rusty and vnfiled,
Jjis ferpe boke, pat I haue compiled
With humble hond, of fer pat doth me quake,
and commit Vn-to soure grace holy I betake, 7100
ittoyour &. . J . !
mercy. Of ^oure merci no pmg in dispeir,
rn now tell So as I can, makyng my repeir
adventures of To "be Grekis, & no lender dwelle,
the Greeks in *
Her aventures of J>e se to telle, 7104
their journey In ber resort home to her centre ;
borne,
And how [pat] pel pere received be, —
Only of support, so 36 not dispise, —
in my 5th Jpe fi[f]the boke shortly shal deuise. 7108
[Explicit liber Quartus
Incipit liber qumtus & vltimus]1
7095. symplesse] sympelnesse C.
7096. blottid] be blotted A, blottid be C.
7099. hond of fer] herte ofte D 1. 7101. in] }e D 2.
1 The above rubric occurs in A.
Tho there's outward calm, Fortune makes the Greeks quarrel. 773
BOOK V.
Her bigynneth be fifft boke, & be laste, of Troye.1
'haw Eolus, which dob be wisdes rore,
Apesid was, bat he blewe no more,
—Which is of stormys gouemowr & lord —
And was also fully of accord
Wib my^ti Iimo, lady of be eyr,
To make be skye and be wedir fair,
j)at cloude noon in heuene dide appere,
And Neptunws, blauwdisshing of chere,
Was of assent, be stori seith forsobe,
To make be se fro tempest calm & smobe,
Wttft-oute boilyng or trouble of [any] wawe, —
J?e my^ti Grekis to ship ward gan he?7i drawe
For to repeire home to her centre,
After bei had wo?znen be cite,
Put her fomen fully at be worse.
But Fortune, ay f reward and peru^rse,
Hath vfith her myrthe meynt aduersite :
For whan bei wende ful assurid be,
And haue stonde stedefast in quiete,
))is blinde lady falsly made flete
In-to her sugre galle of discordance,
Amonge hem silf to bring in variauwce,
And her hertis, of rancour & of pride,
Contagiously to seueryn & deuyde,
Whan bei sat hiest in her glorie,
With be palme of conquest <fe * victorie,
Fully reioyssinge, boru^ her h^e renoura,
)}e crowne of laurer in possessions,
when Eoius,
Juno and
8 Neptune
united to
make the
12 the Greeks
get ready to
16 But Fortune
20
puts discord
among em,
24 to divide em.
28
2. blewe] blowth A.
1. Illuminated initial cut out in D 1.
12. hem] om. D 1. 26. &] & of C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 132 b (128), below miniature.
774
Ajax Telamon accuses Ulysses of Injustice. [BK. v
Tho the
Greeks have
tnumft,
Envy has
strd up
rancor,
as to the
of Tro°U
He says,
And had also at her lust al worwe, —
Whan bri^test shon J)e lusti freshe so/me
From Est to west of her worthies,
A cloudy sky vnwarly vrith dirknesse
Eclipsed hath a parti of her li$t,
And diffacid j>e holsom bernys bri^t
Of her welfare and prosperite,
By ^envious fals contagiouste
Of ])& serpent, pompos and elat,
Anionge hem silfe to make hem at debat,
Inducing in rancour and discord :
For or pei entre watArlnne shippes bord,
^Seyn Vlixes wor]?i Thelamourc,
In presence of kyng Agamenou?j,
Purposed hath, pleinly, his matere
To-fore Grekis, a-noon as $e shal here.
32
36
40
44
How Thelamon, in p?-esence of Kyng Agamenon, vttred
his grugge agayn Kyng Vlixes.1
" Sirs," qwod he, " so it $ow nat greue,
Me seme)? iustly of resou?* I may meve,
Touching Jje wyrmyng & getmg of Jns toun,
With gold, richesse, and possessiouw, 48
Fully deliuered and taken to oure hond,
With al J)e tresour fou?iden in fe lond, —
)}e whiche, me finkef in myn inward si^t,
Ne hath nat bene departed halfe a-ri^t 52
Amonges vs, by iust diuisiou?^,
N"or be egal distribusiouw —
" considering Considred first, by title of equite,
Of euery wy^t Jjestat -and dignite, 56
Eemembrid eke, in ])is sharp[e] shour,
jje wor]>ines, [|)e] merite, &* labour,
And decertis in }>is mortal strif,
Graunting to euery che his prerogatif 60
deserving, Lik fortune as he hath disseruyd.
81. her worj)ines] the worjneste D 1.
45. new 1 A— 3ow nat] nat 3ow D 2. 47. J)is] J>e D 1.
50. )>e] fis D 2. 53. diuisioim] avisyou?i D 2.
56. and] of A. 58. &] & ]>e C. 59. And] And the D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 132 c.
our labour
Ajax claims to have done more for the Greeks than Ulysses has. 775
But ]>is ordre hath nat ben obserned,
Amonges vs, vfith-oute excepcioim,
In delyuerance of Palladioim,
Whiche Ylixes, I seie wM-oute drede,
To-fore ^ou alle vniustly doth possede,
On hym vsurpinge by fals oppimouw,
By meritorie retribucioiw
And apparence his title for to gronde,
Vnder pretense of colour, falsly fotwde,
Jjat he )>is relik reioisshe shulde of ri^t,*
Be slei3te woraie raper J>an of myjt,
And vsurpeth, be maner of avaiwt,
As it were 30116 to hym by graimt
Of 3011 echon for a chef guerdoun.
But I wil make a replicaciouw,
)5at pis relik is nat to hym mete,
Whiche he shal nat reioisshe in quiete,
3if )>at I may disturben hym or lette :
For I it cleyme duely of dette
As for guerdoun to me conuenient ;
So ]>at 36 list to bene indifferent,
Of resouw only, as it doth $ou seme,
Atwen vs two egally to deme,
Justly, first, vfiih euery circumstaimce,
Oure ou])er merit weied in haiku/ice,
First considered — 3 if it may availle —
Mi dilligence & my gret travaille
)pat I endured forpe fro day to day
Al )>e while J>at ]>e sege lay,
|3at 36 shulde of plente of vitaille
On no side for no meschef faille.
And 3if I shal, wz't/i-oute avaimt, oute breke,
As of kny3thod and * armys for to speke :
In ]?e feld by longe contynuauwce
Of manly force and perseueraimce,
Vp-on oure foon, |?at wer so fel & kene,
Day by day I was armyd clene —
64 "the delivery
of the
Palladium
to Ulysses
is unjust.
[leaf 135 <•] 68
72
76
84
92
He has no
right to it.
80 I claim it as
due to me.
Compare
our merits.
88 I daily workt
to get food
for our host,
and fought
against our
96 foes.
63. Amonges] Araonge D 1. 71. of ri$t] arijt C.
74. 3oue] om. D 1. 81. for] for a A.
84. Atwen] Betwene D 1. 94. and] in C.
776 Ajax praises his own Valour, and runs down Ulysses. [BK. v
" I slew
Philemon
and brought
you his
treasure.
I kild the
king of
Phrygia,
and won two
regions for
you:
I workt with
Achilles.
But Ulysses
has neither
manhood nor
prowess.
It nedeth nat to make mencioim,
With my ri^t hond how I slovve Philemoiw, 100
As $e wel know, which had in his keping
)5e 3ong[e] sone of Priamus pe kyng,
Freshe and lusti, and of gret fairnesse,
And with hym had infinit ricbesse, 104
Of tresour, gold passingly plente,
And euerydel was brou^t to ^ou by me,
3if 36 remembre & list take hede,
j)at ^e were quyte of indigence & nede 108
By occasions of pat gret[e] good.
And poru} my manhod shad I nat pe blood,
Merciles, in ful cruel wyse,
For 3oure sake of pe kyng of Fryse, 112
And pe tresour in his cofres sou^t,
And al y-fere to pe sege y-brou^t 1
And be my kny^thod, sithfen] go ful $ore,
Haue I nat eke awmentid & made more 116
)pe Grekis lond with possessions, [leaf 135 d]
By conquest only of two regiouns,
)3oru3 my prudence & my labour wonne,
Sipen pat 36 pe sege first bego?ine, 120
With provinces to Troye adiacent1? —
To $oure encres I was so dillygent !
And with Achilles, pe worpi werrioure,
3e bene expert ful wel of my labour, 124
J3at we wrou^t to ^oure avau/itage !
And sipen 36 so prudent ben & sage,
Nat for^etil, but fully remembring,
It nedeth nat rehersen * euery ping. 128
And to dispreve, manly as a kny^t,
His title and * cleime pat he hath no ri^t,
— ])G doom co??imittyng to ^oure oppiniotms —
Be rehersaille of his condic[i]ouns : 132
He nouper hap manhod nor prowes,
101. know] knewe D 1. 107. take] to take noon D 1.
127. for^etil] forjetinge D 1.
128. rehersen] rehersyng D 2, to rehersen C, D 1.
130. and] I C. 132. rehersaille] rehersyng D 2.
133. nouper ha)>] hath nouther A. The second halves of lines
132-139 are missing inD 1.
Ajax accuses Ulysses of Cowardice & Craft, & asks for Judgment. 777
Force, kny^thod, noujjer hardines,
And, at a point for to haue rewarde,
In doring do preved a coward !
Experience hath shewed 3ow, in dede,
How )>at he is, whan it cowmeth to nede,
But word & wynd & slei^ti compassyng,
And on falshede euere ymagynyng :
For neuere $it to J>is day was preved,
)3at eny ))ing was by hym acheved
Whiche my3t be entitled to his laude,
But }>e ende medlid were wz't/i fraude.
For vnder colour he can curen al,
Preteride fair, liche a peinted wal,
Diners hewed, J>at noujjer hi$e nor low,
]3er may no man his pleyn[e] menyng know !
And with swiche slei^t cowpassid be tresouw.,
Oute of Troye he gat Palladyouw,
Whiche is gret shame & sklauwde?* to us alle :
For of oure conquest it is Jms be-falle,
More of tresouu we haue ]>e cite wonne
\)anne of kny^thod, [as] men report[e] kone.
And crop & rote, $if I reherse shal,
Vlixes here is ground e & cause of al,
And gyraiynge first of pis vnhappi fame
}3at reboundeth to oure alder shame !
And sip * )>e troupe is platly knowe & wist,
Mi tale is ended, — demeth as $ou list."
: Ulysses
136 is a mere
coward.
He is crafty
and false.
Fraud is in
all be does,
140
144
148
152
156
Judge you
between him
160 and me!"
and by that
he got the
Palladium
out of Troy;
not by
How Kyng Vlixes vnderstode the maleys of Thelamon,
and of J>e great stryff, and [how] Aiax was slayn.1
Vlixes }>awne, in his aduertence
Conceived hath J>e grete inpacience
Of Thelaniouft, and J>e grete en vie,
|5e fervent rancour & malencolie, 164
140. falshede] falshood A. 143. Whiche] The wiche D 1.
152. of] am. D 1. 155. And] om. A.
156. here] he A— cause] rote D 2. 157. J>is] >e D 1.
159. si}>] sihen C. 161. new H A, D 1.
164. rancour] hate D 2.
1 Koyal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 1336.
778 Ulysses defends himself. His skill ruind Troy. [BK. v
answers
For-bar hym first, be f ul erret avis,
deliberately: As he pat Was fill* prudent & f ul * WyS, [leaf 136 a]
And pou^t he wolde make per-of no Tape,
By no word for haste pat shuld eskape, 168
2<[ouper by noon vnbridled contenanrace
Outward conceived in his dalyaunce,1*
And abraiding, wip a stable face,
" Sirs," qwod he, " so I may haue grace, 172
Vnder support of ^oure hi^e presence,
})at my tale may haue audience,
I nouper am in doute nor in drede,
"i am justly Of equite pat I shal possede 176
entitled to ±
Palladium Palladiouw duringe my lives day,
Maugre pe my^t of who[-so] pat seie nay.
For $if 36 list of resoura for to se,
At f6 S6ore leide first to >is cite 180
I haue my silfe in double wyse aquit,
by fighting As wel by knv^thod, sothly, as by wit,
and by ad vice. J
And poru^ my counseil & my besy cure
Ben oft cause of her discourcfeture, 184
Ay dilligent to ^oure avauntage,
Wrou^t & compassid [vn-]to her damage,
Tro fw '""' ^a^ *° ^s ^a^' ^n so^n' ne ^^d6 I be,
SU1IH- fcei had floured in her felicite, 188
nourishing.
In her force contuned and welfare.
And $if pat I pe troupe shal nat spare,
3if it be dempt & loked of rescue,
I was most cause of her confusiou^, 192
Who-so-euere ageyn[e]s it replie !
How ofte went I on embassatrie,
With importable costis & dispense,
)3e trete ay concludinge in sentence 196
i furtherd To "be forpering of soure entencioun,
your ends and Y o •
injured Troy. And disencrese & hindnnge of pe toim !
And whan I sawe oper mene noon,
In myn avis and wittis eue?ychon, 200
By oure force pe cite for to wymie
166. ful (both)] ri$t C. 167. J>ou#] J>ou3 D 1.
170. dalyaunce] contenau?tce C. 187. I] om. D 2.
190. 3if] I D 2. 191. dempt] demed D 1.
BK. v] Arbitrators judge Ulysses entitled to the Palladium. 779
While pei hadde pe relik hem wit/i-Inne,
)3er-vp-on so sotilly y wrou^t,
ftat vn-to ^ow Palladyouw I brou^t, —
Whiche Thelamouw, fat of mails stryveth,
Of olde hatrede vn-to my gilt ascrivep
Hooly pis ping pat I haue for $ow wrou^t.
But ^e, pat ben so prudent in $owre pou^t,
Aduerteth wisly and an ende maketh,
And in $oure hond pis qz^arel fully takep,
PalladyouM iustly to prouyde,
And al favour late be leide a-side
Sith al pis ping }e platly vnderstonde,
And lete vs bope to ^oure demy/age sto?ide
By oon assent, how-so pe mater wende —
Lo, here is al — my tale is at an ende."
jpanne Thelamou?i, in Ire ful feruent,
Of [inward] hate made inpacient,
And of envie inwardly amevid,
Vlixes hath [dejspitously reprevid,
Only of malis and of hi^e disdeyn ;
And Vlixes rebukyng him ageyn
Ful bitterly, \\iih-oute abood anoon, —
And so pei tweyne made ful mortal foon
In pe presence of Agamenouw.
But furiously Aiax Thelamouw,
Of malencolie pale & no ping red,
)5ratte Vlixes pat he shal be ded
Of his hondis — he slmld it nat eschewe !
And Grekes po, al rancour to remewe,
fcis quarel putte in arbitraciouw
Of Menelay and Agamenouw,
£at caused after a ful mortal strif :
For, be sentence anoon diffinitif,
))ei putte Vlixes in possessions
Perpetuelly of Palladyouw,
With hym confermyng to abide stable.
And cause why pei were favourable
[leaf 136 bl
204
208
212
216
220
224
228
" By my
skill 1 got
you the
Palladium.
Ajax's attack
on me is mere
malice.
Do you
settle our
quarrel ! "
Ajax scolds
Ulysses,
who rebukes
him.
The Greeks
refer the case
232 toMenelaus
and
Agamemnon,
who adjudge
the Palla-
236 diumto
Ulysses,
202. ]>e] >«t D 2, D 1. 212. leide] sette D 1.
215. K| )>is D 1. 217. new II D 1.
218. inward] om. A. 230. >o] om. D 1.
780 Ajax swears vengeance on Ulysses and the Arbitrators. [BK. v
To Ylixes, lyche as Guydo writ,
because he Was for bat he so goodly hath. hi??i quit 240
saved Helen
en they Vn-to Eleyne at getyng of be
Beynge in cause of hir saluacioun,
tho the Dispeired and of hir lyf in drede,
kui'herto Grekis willinge to haue had hir dede. 244
But boru^ his prudent mediaciou?*,
Maugre be my^t of bis Thelamouw,
He hath be quene fro [be] deth preservid,
Al-be bat she hadde it wel deseruyd, 248
As Grekis seide in beir oppiniouw.
And bus diffrauded of Palladyoura,
As $e haue herde, was bis worbi kny^t,
For al his manhod & his grete my^t ; 252
Ajax hates Wher-boru^ ber gan in his hert[e] brede
Passinge envie & f ul gret hatrede,
And bou^t he wolde avengid be som day
uiysses, Vp-on Ylixes and on Menelay, 256
Menelaus and J '
Agamemnon, And eke also vp-on Agamenourc ;
And oute he brak like a wode lyouw,
With his kny^tes aboute hi??^ bat wer stronge,
^^ Se^6' P^6^^) °f ft8 grete WIOHge, 260
For to be ded, he wolde avenged be,
And specially on bis ilke bre.
And ber-wa't/i-al, furious and wroth,
Tornynge his * bak oute anon he goth, [leaf we c] 264
In herte fret vtiih ful mortal tene,
With many Greke his quarel to sustene,
})at in herte sore gan disdeyne
Ageyn Vlixes and be tober tweyne. 268
But bei ful war, what-so-euere falle,
Her kny$tes made aboute hem for to calle,
And with gret stuf, wher bei wake or slepe,
To waite on hem & manly for to kepe 272
With ful good wache enviroim al be cloos.
But ful erly or be sonne aroos,
242. in] om. A.
243. Dispeired] Disespeired D 2, Disepeired D 1.
262. ilke] eche D 1. 264. his] be C.
268. tober] ober D 2, D 1. 271. wher] whe>«r D 1.
272. waite] a wayte A, D 1.
BK. v] Ajax is murderd. Ulysses flees from Pyrrhus's threats. 781
}5is worpi Aiax in his bed vp-ri^t
I-mordrid was, ]>e silue same ny^t,
And al be-bled in ]>e morwe fourade,
On pecis he we vrith many mortal wo mule, —
)3at for ))is J?ing, cruel and horrible,
To God & man lothsom & odyble,
Ful many Greke J>at woful morwe wep
To sen a kny^t so mordrid in his slep,
)5at ]>G cri and ]>e noise ran
J3oru$-oute ]>0 hoste anon fro man to man.
And for constreint of )>is foule dede,
Eue?yche of hem felt his herte blede,
Ful desirous to make an ordinance
On Jns mordre for to do vengaunce,
Havinge per-of gret suspeciourc
To Menelay and Agamenou?i,
But to Vlixes moste in special,
By comou-ft vois to him arettinge al, —
Jje foule fame he my^tfe] nat asterte.
But Pirrus moste toke Jns ping at herte,
Makynge a vowe, furious and wood,
To be veugid, pleynly, on fe blood
Of Thelamou?*, vp-on Vlixes hed,
Hym manascinge fat he shal be ded,
So sore on hym freting was jje sorwe.
But Vlixes erly on a * morwe,
For drede of Pirrus taken hath )>e se,
And with his shippes fast[e] gan to fle.
But or he went, platly, as I rede,
Palladyoim he toke to Dyomede,
Hauynge in herte a f ul gret remors.
And Pirrus }>anne taken hath ]>e cors
Of Thelamouw, for loue in special,
And dide make a flawme funeral,
Large & gret, of colis hoot & rede j
And amyddes ]?e feruent firy glede,
Ful many Greke stondynge to biholdo,
277. al] om. A— in] om. D 1. 287. an] om. D 1.
291. But] And D 1. 294. at] to D 1. 297. vp-on] and on D 1.
300. a] fyc C. 311. many] many a A.
Ajax is tnur-
„ derd in his
276 bed tlie same
night.
280
284
Suspicion
fastens on
Menelaus and
Agamemnon,
but specially
on Ulysses,
288
292
296
300 who, to
avoid the
vengeance
of Pyrrhus,
sails off,
leaving the
Palladium
304 with
Dtomede.
Pyrrhus
makes a
308 funeral pyre
for Ajax.
782 Antenor reconciles Pyrrhus with Agamemnon, etc. [BK. v
Pyrrhus puts
the ashes of
Ajax in a
golden urn,
and sends em
to the land
of which he
was king.
Pyrrhus
wants to
avenge Aj ax's
murder on
Agamemnon
and Mene-
laus.
They are
deadly foes.
But Antenor
at-ones em,
and invites
them
He let hit brenne in- to asslies colde. 312
And, in pe story after as Is tolde, [leaf ise*]
He closed hem in an vine of golde
Ful reuerently, & after hath it shet ;
And per-vp-on he hath pe prent [y-]set 316
Of his arrays, coriously y-graue,
From al meschef pe asslies for to saue,
And sent hem home by grefc affeccioim
To be conserued in )>e regioim 320
Where he was kyng while he was a-lyue ;
And euery ping was parformed blive,
After pe rytes in J?o* daies vsid.
And euere in oon Pirrus hath y-mvsid 324
Vp-on pe mordre traitourly y-wrou^t,
And caste it shulde be fnl dere abou^t,
)3e* pitous deth of pis Thelamoiw,
Hauynge ay herte to Agamenowz, 328
And hadde eke suspect olde Menelay, —
ftat in a-wait eche for oper lay,
Makynge hem silfe Vfith her kny^tes strong,
To trien oute who hath ri^t or wrong : 332
For Firms nolde lete it li^tly goon.
And pus pei wern maked mortal foon,
ftis ilke pre, platly, to pe deth,
Jjoru^ false envie whiche her hertes sleth. 336
And while ]?ei wern among \\vni silfe vntrewe,
Strif vp-on strif gan eue?-y day renewe,
And debatis for to mvltiplie,
Til Anthenor gan pis ping espie, 340
And, by his wisdam, to stinten al clisdeyn
Hem recoimciled vn-to pes ageyn,
And caused hem to accorde in al,
And after made a feste ful royal, 344
Beseching hem ful lowly, alle pre,
To grauwten hym per-at for to be,
Of gentilnesse, pat Grekis myjt eclion
317. coriously] ceriously D 2, D 1. 321. a-lyue] on lyue D 2.
323. in] and C, D 1— >o] >e C, D 1, A.
325. )>ej this D 2, J>is D 1. 327. }>e] f>at C, D 1.
338. renewe] growe newd D 1.
BK. v] Anterior s Feast. Eneas is to be banishtfrom Troy. 783
Outward conceive ]>at )>ei were al oon. 348
And to J)is feste lie manly made calle,
As writ Guydo, pe worjri Grekis alle —
Of hi^e nor lo\ve was noon excepcioim.
But $if I shulde make descripcioun,* 352
How J?e lordes and estates sete,
Of sondry coursis, & }>e ^iftes grete
}5at Anthenor $af on eue?-y side,
It were to longe to $ou for to abide, 356
}3er was of plente so gret suffisau?ice.
And, I finde, )>ei fil in daliauwce,
Sittinge at mete, to speken of Enee,
Brou^te In of hate & of enmyte, 360
And of disdeyn, shortly in sentence, —
)3ei putte on him many grete offence, [leaf m o]
And specially, in her hasti tene,
Whilom how he conceiled Policene, 364
And by his slei3te made hir be withdraw,
Which was in cause Achilles was slawe —
Shortly concluding, by oon oppinioun,
His final exile oute of Troie toiw, 368 .
Not-witft-stondinge Jje grauwt & liberte
3oven to hym tabide in )>e cyte,
Al-so longe as hym list deuise.
But Grekis han annullid his fraunchiso, 372
Fro )>e lowest vp on-to J>e meste,
|)at wern p?'esent at j?is hi^e feste ;
But dout[e]les I can nat wel espie
By whom was wrou^t pis conspiracie, 376
In Troie boke I finde can no more,
Saue J>at hym silfe witte it Anthenor —
I-liche false bo)je in o degre,
As 30 haue herd, betraisshinge Jje cite, 380
Liche as J?ei hadde spronge out of o rote !
And whan he knewe per was mxw olper bote,
\)is Eneas his dome to modifie,
351. nor] & D 2. 352. descripcioun] distribucioim C.
353. and] and )>e D 1— sete] bene sete D 1.
364. Whilom] Sowtyme D 1. 371. so] om. D 1.
373. vp on-to] vpon to A — on-to] vn to D 2, D 1.
376. wroujt] brought A— >is] >e D 1.
and all the
Greeks t» a
Feast.
They talk
of Eneas,
who, they
had hid
from them
Polyxeua,
who causd
Achilles's
death.
They resolve
to banish
Eneas Irora
Troy.
He blames
Antenor
for this
treachery.
784 Eneas returns to Troy, lamenting his Treachery. [BK. V
Eneas begs
for 4 months'
delay,
and the 22
ships that
Paris took to
Cytheron.
He goes back
to Troy,
sad for his
betrayal of it,
and his loss
of the favour
of the Greeks.
For this,
lie blames
An ten or.
He preied hem of her curtesie, 384
At f e lest for to graiwte him grace
Foure monies, fat he my^t haue space
To make his stuf & his apparaille,
And hym silf to punieie of vitaille, — 388
Eke to graimte hym fat f ei wold assent
]?ilke shippes fat vfith Paris went
To Cytheroiw, vn-to fat temple olde,
Jpat wern in noumbre two & twenti tolde. 392
And with ful graimt of his peticiourc,
He is retonrned home to Troye toiw,
Triste and heuy to sen & beholde
Jpe waste cite wz't/< his wall is olde, 396
And for sorwe* felt his herte blede,
W^t/i-Inne hym silfe whanwe he takef hede
And remembrid in his aduertence
fie false tresoiw and f e grete offence 400
By hym compassid to ]> e toun a-forn,
And how fat he so sodeinly hath lorn
)5e grace of Grekes, & stood discoiwsolat,
J}at whilom was of so gret estate, 404
Now in his herte fully dissepeired,
)5at he vnwarly was .so euele appaired
Vn-to Grekis behinden at his bak,
Beinge vngilti and wttfc-outen lak ; 408
And be whom he koude nat wel deme,
Saue be signes, as it dide seme,
)?at Anthenor was most for to wyte, [leaf is? 6]
And caste pleinly fat he wolde hyrn quyte. 412
How Eneas, beyng still in Troy, councelled the Troyans
to sende for A[n]thenor, and to make hym their
kyng.1
And foru^ f e toiw he made sende blive
For filke fewe fat were lefte a-lyve,
391. olde] holde A. 393. his peticiowi] here proteccioiw D 1.
397-924 are omitted in D 2. 397. sorwe] >e sorwe C.
404. whilom] some tyme D 1.
405. dissepeired] disespeired A, D 1.
407. behinden at] so bihinde D 1. 413. sende] to sende Dl.
1 RovalMS. 18. D. ii. leaf 134 b.
Eneas tells the few Trojans left, to make Antenor their King. 785
Comynge anoon at* his cowmaimclement ; Eneas gets
/ ' the Trojans
And whan )>ei wern euerychon present : 416 together,
" Sirs," quod he, " 30 sen how pat Fortune
Towardis me gynneth discontune,
Ay vnstable vtith hir eyen blynde,
As ^e expert in 3oure silfe now fynde, 420
Whilom froward, now twrned in-.to werse,
J3at of clerkis called is aduerse,
Whan hir list hir cruelte to shewe.
Now it stant so : 36 be her but a fewe, 424
And I mvt parte, and 30 stille abide ;
But it so be )>at 36 wil prouide,
Stondynge allone deuoide of al socour, and advises
them to
Amonge ymr silt to make a gouernour, 428
I can nat se but 36 shal be acloied
On euery parte, & finally distroied,
A[s] sely shepe, pat ne can no rede,*
Al disparpiled, whiche stond in grete drede.* 432
Wherfore, best is, in pis dredful ping,
By oon assent to chese jow a kyng ; choose as
And most able pestat to occupie,
From al assaut manly 3ow to gnye 436
Is Authenor, of kny^thod & renoun, — Antenor,
3if it accorde with 3oure oppiniourc.
Wherfore in haste, vn-to }>is entent,
With-oute abood late hym fore be sent ; 440
And, at his comynge, pleinly, in-to towne,
Vp-on his hed lat be set a crowne, ™& crown
Grawjtynge to hym scepter and regally,
By his wysdam pat he may 3ou guy 444
From al assaut of any perturbauwce,
By his kny3thod and prudent goue?'nauwce."
And pel assent, makynge no delay ; xiiey agree.
)5er was neuer oon pat like)) to seie nay, 448
But wer rijt glad in al manere pinge,
415. at] to C. 417. new IT A, D 1.
421. Whilom] Somme tyme D 1. 431. rede] qued C.
432. whiche stond in grete drede] whiche can no red C, with oute
herde or hede D 1.
435. )>estat] the state D 1.
437. Is] This D 1— renoun] resoim A. 445. of] or D 1.
786 Eneas tries to kill Antenor, and tells his evil deeds. [BK. v
The Trojans
don't know
Eneas's
falsness.
He means to
kill Antenor,
whom his
armd men
surround ;
but the
Trojans pray
him to have
compassion.
Eneas says:
"He's a
traitor
and ought to
be hangd.
Heruindyou,
and got the
Greeks to'
banish me,
As ^e han herde, for to make \\\m kyng.
But ]>ei ful litel, sothly, in her sonde,
Of Eneas }>e menynge vndirstonde, 452
For lie ne ment but tresou?? & falsehede,
How at his ent[e]ringe he shal be dede —
Ful traitourly in a- wait liggynge
To slen hym falsly at his [in-]comynge. 456
But Anthenor, of al Jns no )>ing war,
Disarmyd cam & no wepne bar ;
And Eneas wz't/i an huge route
With swerdis drawe set hy??z rouwde aboute, [leaf 137 c] 460
Til j?ei of Troie, bo)>e $onge & olde,
Ran a-twen & manly hym wit/i-holde,
And on her knees iil[le] mekely dourc,
Besechinge hym to haue compassioura, 464
Of worfines & also of manhede,
Liche as a kny^t for to taken hede
How j)ei were lefte but of peple bare,
Besechinge him his dredful swerd to spare, 468
And his rancour & his Ire leve,
List ]>e slau^ter wolde hem alle greve,
And on ]?e comourc J>ei besou3t him rewe.
Qwod Eriea*, " is he nat vntrewe1? 472
Is he nat double, traitour, & eke fals,
Worjji to bene honged by j>e hals,
Of al deceit & of fraude welle,
Amonge no comouw wor)>i for to dwelle? 476
Hath he nat be chef occasion?*
Of ^oure vndoynge & destrucciouw 1
And of newe, J>is serpent which her goth,
Vndisservid made J?e Grekis wroth 480
Ageyn[e]s me, by false collusioura,
And myn exile conspired fro )?e touw,
Whiche may nat be repellid* nor wz'tMrawe !
But with my swerd first he shal be slawe, 484
Jjat his falshede may finally be daiuztid,
453. For] But D 1. 456. slen] om. D 1.
462. a-twen] bitwene D 1 — hym witA-holde] gan biholde D 1.
466. as] om. D 1. 471. comovm] comouws D 1.
474. honged] Enhongid A. 483. repellid] replied C.
BK. v] Antenor's ill deeds. He is banisht, and sails away. 787
as he ha|> me traitourly supplau/ztid,
|3e Grekis mevyng, fer oute of pis He,
By his engyn me, pleinly, to exile, 488
"Where-as I caste, aif it myat haue be, "when i
_. J * wanted to
IJope in loie and in aduersite live among
you*
To haue had my part, what[-so] had[de] falle,
Duringe my lyf, her amonge $ou alle. 492
But he, poru$ whom al is wrowge & kourbid,
Of my desire hath pe fyn perturbid,
Whiche in myn herte abide)) alwey grene.
Was he nat cause eke pat Pollicene 496 He was the
cause of the
1-slawe was at Achilles graue i — murder of
Polyxena ;
And for al pis, $it $e wolde hym save ! . and tho you'd
But outterly per shal no mene geyne,
Who-so-euere per ageyn[e]s pleyne, 500
J)at he, whos hert al tresouw hap compiled,
Perpetuelly shal now ben exiled he must be
baimht."
Oute of pis tourc — per shal hit no mm* lette ! "
And by assent pei his tyme sette, 504
Whiche he shold for no rauwsom passe :
Jjis was pe fyn, he get noon oper grace.
J?us bope fals, as broker like to broper, Tims each
Eueryche of hem hap exiled oper, 508 traitors,
Traitours bobe to Trove l>e cite, [leaf 137 a] Antenor and
Eneas, con*
}5is Anthenor & with hym eke Enee. SiiTof'tiie
But Anthenor gan hym redy make, other-
And in al haste hath pe see y-take 512
With many Troian in gret apparaille.
))e wynde was good, & he gan to saille Antenor at
once sails off
By many cost & many sondry yles — wilh his
It nedeth nat rehersen alle pe myles, 516
Nor pe perelles, pleinly, whiche J?at he
At gret meschef eskaped in pe se, —
I haue no loie per-vppon to dwelle,
His auentures by & by to telle. 520
But, shortly, he in a litel while ""<* *°°n
comes to a
Arived vp at a noble lie noble IIe-
489. it] I D 1. 497. I-slawe] I slayn D 1.
503. hit no marc] no man hit C. 512. y-take] take D 1.
513. in] and Dl.
TROY BOOK. 3 F
788 Antenor settles in the He Corbodya, & builds a Qity there. [BK. v
In this ile,
Corbodya,
Antenor
builds a fine
city.
The kinp,
Thetides,
welcomes
Antenor,
and many
Trojans
settle in his
city Menelon.
Now I'll drop
this traitor,
and tell you
how Cassan-
dra foretold
what should
befall the
Greeks.
J)at whilom was Corbodya y-called,
Where he bilt a cite strongly walled, 524
As writ Guy do, large, wide, & longe,
Vp-on a roche, which * passingly [was] stronge,
Whiche had envirouw, as myn auctowr tellis,
Wodis, rivers, and many lusty welles, 528
And had plente of al maner Jnng.
And Thetides called was }>e kyng
)?at helde in pes his scepter & his crowne,
On whom Fortune list nat for to frowne, 532
But fauourable fully to his wille,
Conseruynge hym in pes & [in] tranquille,
W^'t/^-oute trouble many [a] day a-for, —
To whom accepted was })is Anthenor, 536
And ri^t welcome, as J>e story seith,
And vn-to hym confederat by feith,
Fully assured, be-cam * his lige man,
Whom Thetides in al }>at euere he can, 540
ftis worfi kyng, dide magnefie.
And from Troye gret now^bre of his allie
J?er cam in soth to visite hym and se,
And tenhabite )>is my^ti stronge cite, 544
Ful coriously bilt of lym and stoon,
In Julke daies called Menelou, —
To whiche he dide gret riches acroche
— Be-side J>e se set vp-on a roche — 548
And besi was wt't/i plente it tastore.
Of J)is traitour what shuld I write more ?
With his name my penne is so accloyed,
By whos falshed Troye was distroied, 552
As in pe story 30 haue rad & seyn.
But now most I pleinly resort ageyn,
And to reherse do my besi cure,
How Cassandra told ei\ery auenture 556
Jjat to J>e Grekis after shuld [e] falle ;
And how ]>at she told amonge hem alle, [W 138 a]
523 whilom] so?/tme tyme D 1.
524. walled] y walled D 1. 526. which] of stoon C.
533. to] at D 1. 539. be-cam] he cam C.
544. >is] his A. 547. acroche] approche Dl.
549. tastore] to store D 1. 557. >e] om. A, D 1.
Ajax leaves '2 Sons. Menelaus & Agamemnon sail for home. 789
As she J?at was prudent & vertuous, ,
)5at traitourly wet/i-Inne his owne hous
Agamenoura shulde mordrid be :
j?at fatal ende for no Jjing my^t he fle.
Lat hym be war, & prudently prouide ;
For in ])is lyf he shal nat longe abide,
Ageyn his fate was noon o]>er red.
Eke Guydo writ, whan Thelamoura was ded
By fals mordre (as 30 han herd to-forn),
Two sonis he had of sondri wyves born,
J5at wer comitted to be [in] kepynge
With worjri Theutre, a ful manly kyng,
feat norisshed hem, Jje stori seith for so}>e,
Til J?ei after were worpi kny^tes bo}>e :
fie ton of hem called Anthenicus,
And fe tofer hi^t Antyssacus,
Of shap ful semly & wonder fair of face.
And shortly here Guydo doth for)>e pase,
And list of hem no lenge?* processe make,
But bringe}) in, how Menelay ha)> take
His leue of Grekis, with Agamenourc,
Eueryche to saille to his regiouw,
With many a Greke in her companye.
And jjou} Grekis first gan hern denye,
At J?e last with instaurcce and peyne
)pei had leue to seille boj?e tweyne.
And to J>e se pel faste gan hem hi^e,
Mid of autu??zpne,* whiche is cold & drye,
Melencolyk of complecciourc, —
Whan Phebus is passed pe Lyouw,
)5e heuenly beste, fe beste moste royal,
And half y-rowne pe signe virginal,
Whiche after somer is naked & bareyn,
Whan Ceres hath ful riped euery greyne,
)?e tyme of 3ere ful strauwge & [ful] diuers, —
And sondri floures, rede, white,* & pers,
Cassandra
K£t\
ObU the murder of
Agamemnon.
564
Ajax leaves
568 two sons,
whom
Theutre
brings up,
572
576
580
Anthenicu»
and Antis-
acus.
Menelaus and
Agamemnon
584 sail off,
each to hi
home, in
melancholy
autumn,
588
592 at harvest-
time,
561. shulde mordrid] mordred shulde Dl.
573. called] was called D 1. 576. here] as D 1— for be] for A.
580. 2nd to] in D 1. 586. autwnpne] autumpnus C.
594. rede white] white red C.
790 A Tempest brings Disaster to the Greek Ships. [BK. v
when flowers
fade,
when fevers
prevail,
when winds
arise,
and folk pray
to Bacchus
that no
storms and
frost may
come and
spoil their
grapes.
Then the sea
is rough
and perilous.
fie whiche in May so lusti wern & glade,
Vp-on her stalk e gynne droupe & fade, 596
And enclyne her freshe lusty cheris
At goynge oute of )>e caniculeris, —
Whan wykked humowrs inwardly habouwde,
With sodeyn fevere folkis to confouwde, 6'00
To maken hem in an accesse shake ;
And of custom wyndes gynne wake,
BoJ?e bowe & leef causing for to falle,
On )>e tyme whan folk to Bachus calle 604
From storme & reyn her grapis to cowserue,
))at hidous tempest make hem nat to sterue,
Nor no duresse of freiinge of no frost, [leaf iss&j
Where-poru} ful ofte moche fruit is lost, 608
And also eke with J?ondriuge & with levene,
Whiche vnwarly sniyte fro J>e heuene, —
fie se ful ofte with swiche wedris kene
Boilyng vp with many wawes grene, 612
Koringe & row^e, & froward to manace,
And passingly perlous by to passe,
Al-be ]>at it be blandyssinge a while,
fie dredful calm, Jjou} it be smojje & smile, 616
J)er is no trust ]?at it will long abide.
The Greeks
have 3 days
fine weather.
Off A grete tempest of thonder & lytenynge that
came to the nauye of Greeke-s, that brente and
drowned .ccxxij. of their Shippes.1
Eecorde of Grekis, ]>at swiche a lusty tide
fie se ban take & be-gan to saille
With al her stuf and her apparaille 620
Home in-to Grece, ful many lusti man,
With al J>e gold & tresour pat ]>ei wan
At J>e sege, and infinit richesse.
And daies )>re, devoide of al distresse, 624
fie se obeyed* fully to her wille,
598. goynge] >e goinge D 1. 607. duresse] during D 1.
612. Boilyng] Is boilinge D 1.
614. perlous] perillous A, D 1. 616. smile] file D 1.
618. of] on D 1. 625. obeyed] obreide C.
1 Royal MS. 18 D. ii. leaf 135 b (misplaced after line 620).
BK. v] Disaster to the Greek Ships. Minerva's Vengeance. 791
Devoid e of trouble and of wedris ille :
For )>ei [ful] lusti wit/i-Inne shippes bord,
j)e foure wyndes beinge of accord
Hem to conveie to euery mane?- cost.
Bnt gladly euere whan men trustfe] most
Vn-to Fortune to stonden in her grace,
She sodeinly change can her face,
Smyle a-forn & mowen at J?e bak ;
For she vnwarly turned al to wrak,
J)is chauwteresse & pis stormy quene :
For whan Grekis effectuously best wene
In her passage fully assured be
Vp-on j>e se J>at called was Egee,
)5is false goddesse he[m] anoon forsoke ;
And Boreas, ]?e felle wynde, a-woke,
And vfith his hidous dredful noise & soun
He turned al her quiete vp-so-douw,
And made J?e wowes grisly to arise.
And, as }>e story shortly doth deuyse,
]?e bri^t[e] day was turned in-to ny^t,
})e heuene dirk, except J?e dredful li$t
Of IpQ leuene, whiche made hem sore agast ;
And ]>Q pondre, fat seuerede sell & mast,
Her toppes smet in-to peces smale,
And in-to water made hem lowe a vale ;
And fir of li^tnynge sodeinly fere-wij?,
)?at Wolcanus forgeth* on his stith,
Hath bord fro bord with ]>e flawme rent,
And two & twenti of her shipes brent,
Wi]>-oute eschape, platly, or refuge,
))oru3 )>e rage of Jus fel deluge.
For al to wrak pis woful navie goth,
Whilom with Grekes Minerva was so wroth,
For J?ei dide hir no reuerence ;
And specially for )>e grete offence
j?at spitfully Cylleus Aiax wrou^t,
The Greeks
on shipboard
628 think they're
all right;
but Fortune
changes her
632 face-
636
640 The wind
rages j
644
the day turns
tonight;
648
lightning
fires the
652 8hiPs;
[leaflSSc] 656
22 are burnt.
Minerva is
wroth at
Oileus Ajax's
offending
660 her-
636. new II A. 637. passage] passyng A.
646. dirk] dirked D 1. 652. forgeth] forged C.
658. Whilom] Somme D 1.
659. hir] to hir D 1.
792 Minerva's Vengeance for Oileus Ajax's despite of her. [BK. v
Ajax ha« to
swim ashore,
and is near
death :
Minerva is so
angry with
him for
seizing
Cassandra
at her altar.
For his pre-
sumption
many Greeks
die,
and others
suffer,
both high
and low.
Whiche in pis tempest he ful dere abou^t :
For whan [h]is shippes wer almost [y-]drowned,
Jjis goddesse hap so on him* frowned, 664
And of vengauttce so felly hym awaked,
)3at he was fayn for to swyrame naked,
As seith myn auctowr, at meschef to pe loud.
And per he was fonden on )>e sonde, 668
Al-most at deth, wet/i-oute remedie,
To hym Minerva hath so gret envie ;
For he so woodly to hir temple went,
And Cassandra to-fore hir auter hent 672
By cruel force & hatful violence.
Lo, what pereil is to don offence
Of hi^e dispit to any hooly place !
I doute nat, he shal faile grace, — 676
Who-so-euere vseth * hit in dede,
At pe last God wil quyte his mede
[And] Rewarde hym lyk as he disserveth.
And for swiche ping many Greke now* stervep, 680
Be-cause only of swiche occasions, —
Texemplefie, for no presm^pciourc
Folily tatame, as I haue tolde :
For ageyn God who-so be to bolde 684
Shal repent sonner pan he weneth ;
And many man pat noon harme [ne] meneth
Suffrep vengance for trespas of oon ; —
})e first auctor goth not quite allone, 688
But many oper his offence abeith.
For ceriously Guydo writ & seith,
Suynge in ordre }>e woful auenture
Jjat euery Greke homward did endure, 692
Of hi3e and lowe sparinge noon estat :
How some welful & some infortunat,
Bojje of her wo & [of] her welfare,
as it fil pe stori shal declare. 696
\
662. abou^t] bou$t D 1. 663. shippes wer] ship was D 1.
664. him] hem C— frowned] y frowned D 1.
677. vseth] vsed C, vse A. 680. now] ]>er C, om, D 1.
682. Texemplefie] The exemplifie D 1— for] of D 1.
684. to] so D 1. 686. meneth] wenyth A.
694. 1st some] sowme werew D 1.
695. the 2nd of is repeated in D 1.
BK. v] Of Palamedes, & the Trouble that, rose from his Murder. 793
How Kyng Naulus by treason was caused to sett
vpon the Grekes nauye, & draue pern vppon
Kokkes.1
In Grece whilom was a wor])i kyng,
Manly & riche, & prudent of living,
And had, in soth, lik as writ Guydo,
In his tyme worpi sonys two :
Pallamydes was pe eldest broker,
And Oetes called was pe toper,
Bope tweyne of o moder borne.
And as pe stori rehersed hath to-forne,
Pallamydes was a noble kny^t,
Ful famous eke of power & of myjt,
And fer spoke of in many sondri cost,
And hadde also of al pe Grekis host
For his wisdam whilom goue?'naille ;
But he, alias ! was slay[e]n in bataille,
J3oru$ vnhap of Martis cruel tene,
Whawne pe sonne shon most bri$t & shene
Of his kny^thod & his worpines,
Lik as to-forn pe stori bereth witnes,
And of his deth doth pleinly specefie.
But now, of malys, hatrede, & en vie,
J '
Of swiche as haue tonges infortunat,
To make [only] kyng Naulus at debat
With* )>e Grekes, contrived was* of newe
An hi^e tresou?z, fals & ful vntrewe,
))e whiche, in soth, was neuer don ne wrou^t,
Nor, in effect,* ymagined nor j>ou$t,
But a fals ping [y-]feyned of malis : —
)5at pis kyng, so manly & so wys,
And so prudent, pis Pallamydes,
Shuld of envie, God wot, causeles,
At pe sege of Troye pe cite,
700
704
708 once chief ot
host,
712
716 Mischief-
makers, who
wish to set
720
724
that hi8 8on»
697. whilo?tt] som tyme D 1. 704. rehersed J rehersith A.
709. whilom] sowityme D 1. 710. was slayen] slayne was D 1.
714. to-forn he stori] J>e storie to forne D 1.
719. With] Whiche C— was] ha?t C. 720. ful] om. D 1.
722. effect] enfect C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 135 d.
794 K. Naulus is told a false Story of the Murder of Palamedes.
was murderd
by Ulysses
and Diomede,
and that
the Greeks
consented
to it,
(although, in
truth, it was
all a lie)
and that
Palamedes
was bribed by
the Trojans
to destroy
tlie Greeks.
To make
their story
appear more
plausible,
Vp-on a ny^t falsly mordred be, — 728
So pat pis slau^ter & pis lothsom dede
By Vlixes & by Dyomede
Wer fully wrou^t, as 30 han herd deuise,
Whiche euery hert ou$t[e] to a-grise. 732
j^is fals also, pat pis tale han feyned,
To kyng Naulus han traitourly compleined
— Al-be in dede it was neuere ment —
J)at Grekis wern also of* assent 736
To pis mordre and conspiraciou/z,
Bope Menelay and Agamenouft —
Al-be, in soth, pat euerydel was false !
— )?at hanged be pei hi^e be pe halse, 740
)}at can talis so forgen & contrive,
To make frendes causeles to strive ! —
For pei poru$ fraude of fals collusiou?*
Kyng Naulus putte in suspeciouw, 744
}5at Grekis had conspired, dout[e]les,
Vp-on pe mordre of Pallamydes,
Making her grouwd, whiche pei dide feyne,
)3at fro Troye wer sent lettris tweyne 748
To Pallamydes, in-mediately direct,
Whiche concluded tresou^ in effect :
How pat he was, for al his hi^e estat,
Falsly allied and confederat 752
To hem of Troye for a somme of gold,
(Al pis pei* han feyned and y-told) [leaf is9a]
And how he had oute of pe cite
Of gold resseyved huge quantite, 756
To fyn only Grekes to be-traye,
And to prolongs hem, platly, and delay
At pe sege in getynge of pe touw,
By his engyn and mediacioura. 760
And to conferme al pis in sentence,
To make Naulus $eue* ful credence,
)?ei seide pleinly, in conclusion?^
733. his fals] hese false tonges D 1.
736. also of] alle of oon 0. After 744 D 1 repeats 738, 39.
1 50. concluded] concludyng A.
754. Al his hei] As hei hat C. 756. gold] good A.
762. jeue] to $eue C.
BK.,V] The Liars say that Palamedes was bribed by Trojans. 795
Jpe lettres which* wer sent fro )>e toun
I-fonde wern enclosed in a sheld
Vp-on a kny^t y-slawen in )>e feld,
Comprehendynge hool )>e trecherie,
fee tresourc ful, and confederacie
Atwene j?e toun and Pallamydes, —
Verraily, pou^ he were gilt[e]les.
And to 3euen more open euydence,
To make a pref of pis grete offence,
)5ei seide Ylixes — affermynge in certeyn, —
Accorded was with a chaumberleyn
)3at was in offis with Pallamydes,
Wondre secre & no Jnng rekkeles,
For to assent to ]>is conspiracie,
Wrongly compassid of bre?myrag hot envie,
Behotynge hym guerdoiw & gret mede,
Like his devis texecute in dede :
To take a tresour & a so?rame of good,
Ful secrely, & knyt it in an hood,
And hyden it, whan voided was J>e pres,
Vnder }>e bedde of Pallamydes.
And more to putte Grekis in surete,
)?e tresour was }>e same of quantite,
— jjat it ne my^t after be denyed, —
Liche as J>e lettris hadfde] specified.
And whan al Jns fourade was & knowe,
J3oru$-oute j?e hoste noised & y-blowe,
Bo)>e of ]>Q lettris & J?e gold also,
Fro point to point according bojje two,
Whiche Jjat J)is kyng, assentyng to tresouw,
Receyved hadde oute of Troye toun,
To be assentid (as 30 han herd me telle),
)5e Grekes ]>o no lenger wold[e] dwelle,
But shop hem forpe, alle of on entent,
And in al haste cam in-to pe tent
Of pis kyng, ful Innocent & clene,
put litel knewe what }>ei wolde mene,
764. which] with fat C.
765. I-fonde] Enclosed D 1— enclosed] & closed D 1.
766. y-slawen] slaweit D 1. 777. )ns] his D 1.
790. y-blowe] blowe D 1. 798. in-to] vnto A, D 1.
764
768
772
776
780
the liars tell
Naulus that
letters from
the Trojans
to Palamedes
were dis-
covered in
the shield of
a dead
knight,
and that
Ulysses
bribed a man
to hide
treasure
under the bed
of Pala-
medes,
of the same
value as the
Trojan letiers
specified.
This report
getting
known,
784
788
792
796 the Greeks
rusht to
Palamedes's
tent.
800
7 96 Naulus is told that Palamedes offered to fight his Accusers. [BK. v
to take
vengeance
on him,
Menelaus and
Agamemnon
being eager
for it.
But Pala-
medes, bold
as a lion,
said he'd
fight
his accuser
who brought
the false
charge
against him.
But vp-on hyni, fill kny^tly as he stood,
In her Ire furious and wood,
To be vengid loude gan to crie —
))er may no man her malys modefie,
))ei wern on hym so merciles at al.
And, as I fynde, most in special,
Kyng Menelay and Agamenovw,
Only meved of indignaciouw,
Wolde haue preceded vn-to lugement,
Of hasty rancour w?'t7i-oute auysement
On pis tresourc avenged for to be,
Nat-w£tft-stondynge al his hi^e degre ;
But, in sothnes, whan pis worpi kyng
Conceyued hath pis malis in werkyng,
First astonid in his inward si^t,
Al sodeynly stirt vp lik a kny$t,
))is wyse worpi, pis Pallamydes,
Hardy as lyourc amyd al )>e pres,
No ping agast, him kny^tly gan excuse,
And pleinly seide he wolde nat refuse
Taquite hym silf of pis orrible cas,
N"at excepting pat he so worpi was
Of birpe & blood & of hi$e kynrede,
Al pis devoidinge, of kny^thod & manhede,
As he pat gaf of lif nor deth no fors,
To-forn hem alle to iuparte his cors
WWi-Inne a feld, wher hem list ordeyne,
Lyk as a kny^t his quarel to darreyne
With who J?at list or durst it vndirtake,
Excepciouw hym liked* noon to make
Of hi^e nor lowe, who pat were so bolde
To preue )>e tresouw, pat I haue $ow tolde,
Besechinge hem to make no delay
Nor prolonge hym, but pe same day
Manly requeringe it may be don in hast.
But pei pat had falsly pis ping* compast,
[leaf 139 6]
804
808
812
816
820
824
828
832
836
802. furious] furyously A, fill furious Dl.
811. to] to haue A. 818. as] as a A. 821. of] in A.
828. his] >is D 1. 830. liked] liketh C.
836. falsly pis Jnng] >is bing falsly C.
BK. v] The false Tale to Naulus ahoid the Murder of Palamedes. 797
Of his answer astonyd wern eclion
In al )>e host pat per was nat oon
J)at hardy was, $if I shal nat feyiie,
In chaumclos pis quarel to darreyne — 840
Nouper Vlixes, nouper Dyomede,
Chef werkers of J)is foule dede.
But Vlixes, as he was customable,
In euery jring to be deceyuable, 844
Double in his werk & ful ay of deceit,
Liche a serpent pat lyth in a-wait,
Whiche vnder floures can * so glide & trace, —
Ri$t so Vlixes, with a feyned face, 848
Whan fat he sawe j>e kny^tly hi;e prowesse,
J)e manly cher, and pe hardynesse
And hi3e renoura of pis Pallamydes,
Anoon of falshede put hym silf in pres, [leaf 139 c] 852
And liche a frende pat ment[e] nat but wel,
Brotel as glas, p?'etendinge outward stel,
With oon pe first gan [him] to excuse,
Hem conseillinge no lenger for to muse 856
On pis mater, for her alder ese,
And by craft gan hem so appese,
Touching pe rumow?' of pis hi$e tresouw,
)5at he hath voided al suspeciowa 860
Oute of her hertis, — co?icludynge, in certeyn,
)3is accusynge made was in veyn,
And conspired only of hatrede —
Al-be hym silf was rote of al |>is dede. 864
But whawne he saw he my$t[e] nat acheve,
As 30 han herd, pis worj>i kyng to greue,
Som spot of tresourc on hym for to leye,
He hath anon fouwde ano)>er weye 868
By thassent fully of Diomede :
Vnder pretence, pleinly, of frendlyhede
Comynge to hym ageyn a certeyn ny$t,
Vnder surance, as he was trewe kny^t, 872
Couraseil to kepe, oujjer for sote or sour,
Enformyng hym of a grete tresour
No one would
take up
Palamedes's
challenge.
So Ulysses,
deceiver ever
persuaded
the Greeks
that the
accusation
of Palamedes
was false.
But, with
Diomede,
he went to
Palamedes,
845. ful ay] ay ful D 1.
858. hem] oni. D 1.
847. can] ga?i C.
798 The false Tale to Naulus about the Murder of Palamedes. [BK. V
and told liim
that a lot of
treasure was
hid in a well
near.
The three
went to the
well.
Palamedes
got into it,
and Ulysses
and Diomede
cast stones
on him,
and murderd
him.
This is the'
lying story
told to King
Naulus.
Palamedes
was really
slain by Paris
(p. 604,
above).
Of gold & good and iufinit richesse
To hem discured vnder secrenesso,
)2e whiche, sothly, no man dide knowe,
Hid & enclosid in a welle lowe
Witft-Inne a feld a litel f er be-side,
fte whiche hem list fro hym nat * to hyde,
But of trust vn-to hym discure,
So he wolde done his besy cure
)3e same ny^t with hem for to go
Vn-to fe welle — fei fre & no mo —
To fet a- way fat grete some of good.
And he, in soth, fat no fing vndirstood
What fei ment, assentid was anoon ;
And so fei fre be to-gidre goon
Vn-to f e welle, lik as I haue told,
And for fat he most manly was & bold,
Pallamydes, liche as fei hym telle,
Descended is lowe in-to fe welle,
Supposinge to haue a tresour fouwde.
But fei, alias ! hym falsly to confouwde,
Han mordrid hym with stonys gret & huge,
He in f e botme havynge no refuge ;
And whan fei had acomplished fer entent,
ftei be repeired eueryche to his tent.
)}is f e tale, f e stori telleth vs,
jpat feyned was to fe kyng Naulus,
Tochinge f e deth of Pallamydes,
Hem to disclaundre fat were gilt[e]les !
For Vlixes, & with hym Diomede
Were Innocent, platly, as I rede,
And Grekis alle, bof e ny^e & ferre :
For he was slayn kny^tly in fe werre,
Duringe f e sege, of Paris with an arwe.
But who is fals, feyne can ful narwe
To fynde a tale fat neuere $it was f oi^t !
And of f e tresoura fat shuld haue be wroi^t
[leaf 139 d]
876
880
884
888
892
896
900
904
908
880. f>e whiche] Though A— fro hym nat] nat fro hym C.
885. >at] >e D 1. 898. eueryche] eche D 1.
899. new IT A. 903. with hym] also D 1.
910. ]>e] om. D 1.
BK. v] How King Naulus wrecks 200 of the Greek Ships. 799
Touchynge J?e lettris sent oute of }>e touw,
Ji?er was no swiche conspiracioura
By Grekis vvrou^t, but a fable vnsoth,
Falsly feyned to make Naulus wroth
With Vlixes and Diomede also,
Agamenoun, and o)>er Grekis mo,
To letten hem homward in her weye,
And hyndre also — per is no more to seie —
As J?ei repeire to her regiou?zs.
And Naulus Jjarme by ]ns occasiouws,
And Oetes his sone, a manly man,
Accorded ben, in what J?ei may or can,
Be oon assent tavenge merciles
)3e cruel mordre of Pallamydes,
And to ordeyne at her horn passage
To werke fully in-to her damage,
For Grekes moste of necessite
Homward saille for-by his contre.
Wherfore * pis kyng shapen hath a wyle :
On hilles hi$e, by a lytel yle,
In wynter sesoura euery maner ny$t
To make fires and to sette vp ly^t,
To causen hem on J>e se to erre.
For, as Grekis savve pe fire a-ferre,
Vnwar of harrne, cast hem for to londe,
As pei pat coude no pereil vndirstonde,
But shopen hem -with al her ful[le] my^t
For to arive fast[e] by pe li^t,
Wher-wit/i two hundrid of her shippes brak
Amonge rokkes, and fully go to wrak,
J^at per was drowned many worpi man.
And pus pe vengauwce alderfirst be-gan
)?at kyng Naulus hath on Grekis take
Of dedly hate for his sonis sake,
To gret mischef and confusioun
Of Grekis navie ; but Agamenoun
917. letten] settyn A. 920. Jns] the A.
923. tavenge] to venge D 1. 927. Grekes] Greky D 2.
929. Wherfore] f»erfore C.
935. Vnwar of harme] Vnharme vnware D 1.
937. shopeii] shopem for>e D 1. 938. >e] that A.
912 This false
story was
told to make
Naulus
916 hinder the
Greeks.
920 "So he and
his younger
son Oetes
924
have fires
lighted on an
{land's hills,
which the
Greeks muke
928
932
936
and 200 of
their ships
940 getwreckt.
944
800 Oetes writes a lying Letter to Agamemnon's wife. [BK. v
Many Greek
nobles are
drownd.
Then Oetes,
to annoy
Agamemnon
more,
writes to his
ywife, Cly-
temnestra,
that her
husband,
Agamemnon,
has wedded
a daughter
of Priam,
and means
With gret pereil is }>e deth eskaped,
)3at had almost among hem be beiapid : 948
For erlys, dukis, & worjn kynges crowned,
feoru^ ]?is treyne in }>e se wer drowned. [leaf no «]
But Menelay and also Diomede
Eskapeden pis meschef, as I rede. 9j52
And when )>ei wern from al dauwger goon,
feis Oetes, wood for Ire, anoon
In his herte shope anofer wyle,
And ]>ou$t he wold Agamenoiw be-gyle, 956
Compassinge a ful mortal strif,
Leet send a lettre anon to J?e wyf
Of pis my^ti grete Agamenouw,
In whiche J>er was included fals tresoim ; 960
For evene lik, }if I shal nat lye,
feus in effect pei dide specefie :
First, how hir lord Agamenouw J?e kyng
Hadde at pe sege wrou^t a wonder J>ing 964
In preiudyse and sclauwder of hir name,
Al-be in hir was no maner blame,
(Liche as he wrot) platly, nor trespace
His kyngly honour of foly to difface ; — 968
ftis to seyn, Guy do telleth ]ms,
He loued a doubter of kyng Priamws,
And for bewte had hir to wyve take,
And hir in herte finally for-sake, 972
J?is worj>i quene, whilom of so gret fame ; —
And Clemestra sothly was hir name,
Wonder semly and ri$t fair wM-al,
And be descent borne of J>e stook royal, — 976
Hir tellynge eke, for al hir excellence,
Al-be J?at she neuere dide offence, —
3et hir lord of newfangilnesse
Toke ano)>er, ))e lettres dide expresse, 980
Fully in purpos anoon at his repeire,
Clemestra wer bo]?e good & fayre,
950. bis] his D 2. 952. Eskapeden] Escapen D 1.
961. I] it D 1. 962. >ei] it D 1. 965. hir] his D
969. pis] >is is D 1— >us] vs D 1.
973. whilo?/i] somtyme D 1 — so] om. D 1 .
976. stook] bloode D 1.
BK. v] Agamemnon s wife believes the false Accusal of him. 801
Al sodeynly hir[e] to exile
Oute of his lond many pousand rnyle,
Warnyng hir pat she be prudent.
Jpis was pe substauwce, as in sentament,
)?at Oetes wrote vn-to pis quene,
Al-be pe kyng was Innocent & clene,
And was to hir in al his forn lyvynge
Lovynge and trewe in al maner ping,
And hir to plese passinge ententif
In word and dede duryng al his lyf,
As fer as ou^t of resourc be desyred.
But pe letteris, pat falsly were conspired,
)3ei han hir put, par cas of Innocence,
For to ^even to hastily credence,
j?ankynge first Oetes for his troupe,
)3at so goodly hym list to haue roupe
Vp-on hir wronge of hi$e compassiou?z.
(And $et pe story makep menciowe
Here-after ward, as I shal descrive,
])at she was pe falsest oon alyve
Vn-to hir lord in his longe absence.)
And in al hast she made strong diffence
Ageyn pis kyng, & gan hir to purueie
Be swiche fraude pat she shal nat deie ;
But of hir werk, in soth, she was to wyte,
]5e whiche, alias ! I must anoon endite,
As pe story, platly, doth me lere,
Whiche doolf ul is & mortal for to here !
[leaf 140 6]
984
988
992
996
1000
to banish his
first wife.
This letter,
Agamem-
non's wife
believes
(tho she was
false to him),
1004 and plans to
thwart him.
1008
It is a dolefu
story.
How kynge Agamenon, by treason of Oetes afore-
saide, by his owne quene Clemestra was slayne
in his bedde; and how she marled Egistus.1
Ovnsur trust of al worldly glorie,
With sodeyn chauwge put oute of memorie ! 1012
0 loie vnstable of veyn ambiciourc,
984. his] this A — many] many a D 1. 989. forn] for A.
994. >e] >is — letteris] lettre— were] was D 1.
996. hastily] hasty A. 1003. in] and in A.
1004. strong] a strong A.
1006. shal] om. D 1 — nat] nat ne D 2, not ne D 1.
1010, doolful] wooful D 1.
i Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 1376. Clemestra] Chemestra.
802 The Unstdbleness of Fortune instanst by Agamemnon. [BK. v
Fame is over-
whelmd in a
twinkling.
Fortune is
false.
When a man
is highest,
he shall be
cast down.
Witness
the mighty
Agamemnon
who was
murderd !
God, why
wilt Thou
not punish
the Murder
of a King?
With vnwar torn reuersed vp-so-douw !
0 ydel fame, bio we up to )>e skye,
Ouer-whelmyd with twyncliwg of an eye ! 1016
0 pompe, o bost of tryuraphe & victorie,
Liche a shadewe wast & transitorie !
0 Fortune, fals and vnassured,
|3at [to] no man was neuer fully lured, 1020
To hi^e nor lowe of no maner estat,
With bond of f eith to be confederat ;
Ageyn whos my^t no man may him diffende,
But at his torne fat he shal descende 1024
Whan he sit hi^est on fin vnstable whele, —
)}i brotel fauour, forgid not of stele,
Meynt and allaied with mutabilite :
For welfulnesse and fals felicite 1028
With sodeyn swi$ froward f ou canst avale !
Now freshe of chere, now for anger pale,
Of hi^e disdeyn J>ou sparest no degre ;
For princes, dukes, nicest in her se, 1032
Mi^ti kynges & worpi Emperours
J)«at richest regne in her royal floures,
With sceptre & crowne fou canst pulle dourc !
1 take witnesse of Agamenourc, 1036
})at was so noble & my^ti in his lyve,
As sondry auctowrs his hi^e renou?i discrive ;
But, sothfastly, for al his excellence,
He my^tfe] nat make no diffence, 1040
With alle }>e kynges )?at his baner swe,
Conspired mordre to voiden & eschewe.
Reskus was noon pat he koude make !
For whiche, alias ! my penne I fele quake, 1044
j)at doth myn ynke blotten on my boke.
0 my3ti God, fat with fin inward loke
Sest eue?*y f ing f oru$ fin eternal iny^t,
Whi wiltow nat of equite and ri^t [leaf HO c] 1048
Punishe & chastise so horrible a ping,
And specialy fe mordre of a kyng 1
1019. fals and] alias and euere D 1. 1020. to] om. A.
1025. hi^est] first D 1. 1040. nat] om. D 1.
1046. inward] ei^en D 1.
The Sin of murdering a King. Agamemnon lands at Home. 803
Alias ! pe peyne of Yxyouw in helle,
Or of Manes pat with Sathan dwelle,
Were nat egal nor equipolent
To venge mordre, nor sufficient :
For it excedeth in comparisons
Al felonye, falshede, and tresoiw.
Wherfor, o Lord, pat sest & knowest al
J^oru} )>i power pat is eternal,
Suffre now swiche to live vp-on }>e grouwde-
Wers pan tigre or Cerberus pe houwde,
)3at cheyned lyth, bouwde at helle gate ;
Whiche, of malis pleinly pou$ he hate,
He berkep first or he do offence :
But mordre gladly is wrou^t in silence
Or men aduerte or taken any kepe.
Alias ! a prince to slen hym in his slepe,
On his pilwe whawne he slepeth softe,
))at crieth wreche to 11136 God alofte
And axe]? vengaurcce to be take as faste :
J)ou$ it abide it wil oute at pe laste !
Alias ! a kyng, spoken of so ferre,
})at was so worpi outeward in pe werre !
His cruel fate, passinge odious,
Disposed hath in his owne hous
His mortal ende to ben execute,
Ageyn[e]s whiche per was no refute.
For ri$t as he his ship to lond[e] sette,
j)e quene Clemestra on pe strond [him] met
With humble chere & loke f ul benigne,
And shewed oute many feithful signe
Of winy troupe in hir couratenauwce,
Al-be in herte per was variauwce,
Nat parceived pleinly in her face.
Whom pe kyng goodly dide embrace,
As he in soth pat but troupe ment ;
And to his paleis pe hi^e weie he went,
No punish-
ment is great
1052 enuffor
Murder.
God,
suffer not
Murderers
1056
1060
1064
To slay a
King asleep
1068 cries to God
for venge-
.,.._-.
1072
1076
1080
1084
Yet renowned
Agamemnon
is to be done
to death in
his own
house !
When he
lands,
his queen
greets him,
and they go to
their palace.
1059. >e] this A. 1060. Wers] For wers D 1.
1076. whiche] be wiche D 1.
1080. many] ful many A, many a D 1.
1082 is misplaced at bottom of column A.
TROY BOOK.
Agamem-
non's wife,
Clytem-
nestra,
804 EgistTius murders Agamemnon, and weds his Widow. [BK. v
Nat aduerting Ipe tresouw ]>at was shape, j
)?e whiche, alias ! he my^tfe] nat eskape —
Of J>e falshede he koude no J>ing fele.
But I ne may no lenger it concele,
Ageyn hir lord how Clemestra wrou^t ;
For on hir bond of wedlok she ne Jjou^t ;
J?e trewe lok, sothly, of spousaille
Ageyn hir malis lite my3t availle
Yn-to hir lord hir troujje to conserue.
Newfangilnesse causede to sterve
Hir olde feith and hir assurauwce. [leaf i40d]
Hir loue abood on a fikel chaurcce ;
Longe absence had hir hert appalled.
She loued oon fat was Egistus called,
Whiche a-f orn alle in hir grace stood,
)2at noufer was of birjie nor of blood
Litel or nou^t of reputaciouw,
Nor renomed of manhod nor renouw,
Nor of kny^thod nor of hi^e prowesse,
But for his labour & his besynesse
And good await [vp-]on hir be ny^t.
fterfor he was best forfered in hir si3t,
Suche drede hadde she for to lyn allone,
Sorweles so wel she koude grone.
I can nat seyn what lif Jjat ]?ei ladde,
Except ))at she by hym a dorter hadde ;
And Erigona Guydo seith she hy3t.
And vn-to hym Clemestra behi3t,
Assurynge hym vp peyne of hir hed,
He sholde regne whan hir lorde wer ded ;
And to enhaste J)is conclusions,
Hir wor|)i lord, kyng Agamenourc,
Hemurderd be nextfel ny3t was* mordred & I-slayn
Agamemnon, ^ . /.IP
By fals Egistus : & fe quene ful fayn
No lenger bood, J>e story can 3ou lere,
and wedded But in al hast bei wedded wern I-f ere.
bis widow.
has, during
his absence,
lovd Egis-
thus,
a man of no
renown,
because be
slept witli
ber —
sbe disliked
lying alone,—
and bad a
daughter,
Erignna,
by him.
1092
1096
1100
1104
1108
1112
1116
1120
1092. of] on D 1.
1102. pat nou>er].Nouthir that A— Itid of] om. A.
1107. vp-on] on D 1. 1109. lyn] leve D 1.
1119. was] after was C.
BK. v] Egisthus is King of Messina. Agamemnon's son Orestes. 805
And by hir false & slei^ti compassyng Egisthus u
Of Messene she made hym crowned kyng, 1124 of Messina?
And putte hym ful in possessions.
Alias ! pat synne hath domynacious
To former wronge and abate ri^t !
For in }>is worlde falshed hath more my^t 1128
Ful ofte sithe pan hap ri^twisnesse,
And in pestat set of worpinesse.
Lo, how pe synne of avouterye see how
Brou$t in mordre by conspiracie ! 1 1 32 bring8 in
Synne vp-on synne lynked bope tweyne,*
And, enbracid in pe fendis cheyne,
Perpetuelly in helle to endure !
Alias ! who shal hym silfe ful assure 1136 whocanfeei
Fro cruel inordre his body to w^tMrawe, Kings are
Whan pat kynges in her bed are slawe ? —
Whiche bringeth in alyenacious,
By extort title fals successions ; — 1140
Jper may colour of pretense seme,
But ful streitly God shal after deme But God .
. , . ,, .,, , will take
And lastly venge with due recompense vengeance.
Intrusions brou^t in by violence, 1144
And felly quite swiche horrible pinges
As sodeyn slau^ter,* specially of kynges, [leaf HI a]
Gretly to drede in euery regions.
And, as I finde, bat Asramenouw 1148 Agamem-
1 non's son by
By Clemestra, pe false double quene, ciytem-
nestra,
Hadde a sone passing fair to sene,
gracous n euery masnys s3t ;
And Horestes pe bok seith pat he hi^t, 1152 Orestes,
Wonder semly & but 3ong of age.
And for gret fer in J?is mortal rage
List he wer slayn, as it was to drede,
Tanulle his title Jjat he nat succede, 1156
Hym to preserue pat he wer nat shent,
Kyng Taltibus* vrith power hap hym sent* is sent
1124. crowned] crowne D 2, D 1.
1133. lynked] kyndled D 1— tweyne] in tweyne C.
1146. slau^ter] mordre C, slaughtre and A.
1154. in] of D 2, D 1. 1156. his] the A.
1158. Taltibus] Tartibws C— sent] hent C.
806 Agamemnon s son Orestes is safe in Crete. Diomede' s fate. [BK. v
to King
Idomeneus
of Crete,
and is
broi
with"
daughter,
till he can
recover his
heritage.
But I must
leave Aga-
memnon's
son Orestes,
and tell you
the adven-
tures of
Diomede.
You've heard
how Naulus
tried to
hinder the
Greeks going
home from
Troy (pp.
793-800).
Ful secrely oute of )>at cuntre
Vn-to a kyng called Ydumee, 1160
Jpat held his sceptre & his royal sete
Ful my^tely in J>e lond of Crete.
And Carkasis named was ]>e quene,
j)at hadde a doubter called [eke] Clymene, 1164
Born to ben eir of J>at regioiw.
And, as it is made eke mencioiw,
))is Horestes, to reknen al[le] J>ing,
Was with ]?e quene and also with ]>e kyng 1168
Cherisshed as wel, })e story can }ou lere,
As Clymena hir owne doubter dere,
And was eke kept and hadde in cherte
Fro point to point, liche to his degre, 1172
With attendauwce convenient & due
To his estat, }>at euere vp-on hym sue,
Of swiche as wern most expe?*t & sage
To gouerne hym til he com to age, 1173
To reioishe, $if God $af hym my^t,
His heritage to* whiche he hadde ri^t
By clere discent, $if happi were his chauwce.
)}us leue I hym vnder gouernau?zce, 1180
\)Q ^onge sone of Agamenouw.
For I mvt make a digressions
Fro jjis mater, and telle of* Diomede
J)e auentures, in Guy do as I rede, — 1184
His woful fate & his peynes smerte,
]3e whiche, alias ! he my3t[e] nat asterte,
As is remembrid pleinly in writing,
))at Oetes, sone of J>e rich6 kyng 1188
Called Naulus, as 36 han herd to-forn,
Swiche he vines in his herte haj> born
Vn-to Grekis repeiring home fro Troye,
Jjat his lust & his inwarde loie 1192
Was hem to hindre, boj>e hi3e & lowe ;
And cause whi to $ou is nat vnknowe :
To hem he was so passing envious, [leaf HI 6]
1166. And] om. D 1. 117(5. com] cam D2.
1178. to] J>e 0. 1183. of] how C.
1187. in] in his D 1.
BK. v] OfDiomede & his wife Egra, & Oetes's ill mil to him. 807
In wil and pou^t yliche desirous 1196
3if he my^t, sothly pis no lees,
\)e deth tavenge of Pallamydes,
Liche as to-forn J>e story can deuise
To 3011 pat ben so prudent & so wyse. 1 200
And how Oetes now of malis wroust, Nauius's son
. , .. , Oetes seeks
And traitourly newe menys soust to destroy
, , Diomede.
3it he my^t be any maner weye
Diomedes vnwarly distroye, — 1204
Of al pis ping I castfe] nat to faile
Ceriously to make rehersaille.
How quene Egra, the wyff of Dyomede, exilede hym
when he wolde have reparyde to his owne
kyngdam fro Troye, by the fals ymaginacyoim
of Oetes, Palamydes brothere.1
In Grece was a kyngdam wyde & large, of a wide
. J realm in
Comunct in oon, Calydonye & Arge, 1208 Greece»
Ful abundaurat of riches and of rent,
Of whiche pe kyng called was Pollent, Poiient is
A worpi man & of a noble fame,
And had a son — Assandrus was his name — 1212 He has a son
Assandrus,
And a doubter passing fair of * si^te, a"d a
And, sothly, Egra I fynde pat she l^te. Esra»
And for hir fader, lik as writ Guydo,
Had no mo but pese children two, 1216
For hem he haj> of wisdam so prouyded,
j)is my^ti regne for to be deuided
Atwene hem two after his disses,
Eche vfith his part for to liven in pes, 1220
Texcluden hem fro indigence or* nede.
And she was wyf vn-to Diomede, — who i8 the
wife of
Al-be to-forn )>e story of hym saide
1198. tavenge] to venge A, D 1.
1202. newe menys] a newe mene A.
1204. distroye] to distroye A. D 2. 1207. new IT A, D 1.
1211. 2nd a] om. D 2, D 1. ' 1212. was his] by D 1.
1213. of] to C. 1219. Atwene] Bytwene D 1.
1221. or] and C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii leaf 138 b.
808 Of Assandrus, the Brother-in-law of Diomede. [BK. v
Aasandrus
starts for
Troy with
his brother-
in-law
Diomede.
A storm
drives em
to King
Telephus's
land.
He attack s
em,
and Assan-
drus
slays many
of his men.
)3at he whilom loued wel* Cressaide — 1224
I can nat seine wher it was doubilnesse,
But wel wot I, Guydo bereth witnesse
And in his book, sothly, seith non oper, —
And how Assandrus, his owne wyves broker, 1228
Ful lusti, fresshe, & f ul of manlihede
To Troie went wip Jris Diomede ;
But in )>e se for-driven vp-so-doim,*
))ei ryved vp in pe region?* 1232
Called Boece, al discourcsolat,
With tempest drive, wery & ful maat,
Hem to refresshe & for non oper ping ;
In whiche lond Thelephus was kyng. 1236
Of whos rivaille whan he herd[e] seyn,
In his herte he hadde hi^e disdeyn
)3at pei wer bold to don so gret offence,
Tentre his grourcde havinge no licence ; 1240
And $it, in soth, pei dide no damage
To hi^e nor lowe of no maner age,
Nor toke nat pat rny^t disavaille
. Vn-to pat lond, but it were vitaille, [leaf HI <?] 1244
For whiche pei paied iustly at J>e fyn,
For flesshe & fysshe & for bred & wyn.
3it for al pat, of indignaciouw
Kyng Thelephus is descended douw 1248
With gret array, to harme hem }if he my^t ;
And so pei gan to bikeren & to fi^t.
And Assandrus, ful of hi^e prowesse,
Liche a lioim his fomen gan oppresse, 1252
And wonder kny^tly pe feld vp-on hem wan,
And slow pat day many worpi man,
Of hi^e corage and of manly pride.
And whan pe kyng, whiche pat stod a-side, 1256
Sawe his men slawe on euery part,
Of hi^e disdeyn hent anon a dart
1224. whilom loued wel] loued wel whilom C — whilom] sometyme
Dl.
1225. wher] whe}>er D 1 — was] were D 1.
1231. vp-so-douw] vp and domt C.
1232. f>ei] The A. 1249. he] >ei D 2.
1253. vp-on] on A. 1257. slawe] slayn D 1.
BK. v] Assandrus is slain. Oetes tells Lies to Diomede s wife. 809
And cast at hym, alias, ]>e * mortal fate !
And percid hath foru^ mailles & plate 1260
Of Assandrus, fat he fil doun ded,
)5e soil aboute of his blood al red,
His dedly wouwde so be-gan to blede.
And wod as tigre fo cam Diomede,
And hym to avenge bar hym lik a kny^t,
Sle]> and kyllef , & putte hem to f e fli^t,
And after fat swiche sorwe gan to* make
Of kny^tly rouf e for his broker sake,
))at he ne wist what was best to do.
But, as I fynde, myd of al his wo,
Fro best & foule f e dede cors to save,
Liche his estat he lete make a graue 1272
And buried hym after rytes olde.
But Oetes to his sister tolde
J)at he was slayn by fraude of Diomede,
To fyn fat* he my^tfe] [ful] possede
Jpe regne of Arge hool, wit/i-oute strif,
With ]>e purpa[r]ti annexid to his wif ;
For by his deth he my^tfe] sesouw take :
And told [hir] eke fat she was for-sake,
)pis faire Egra, for al hir wommanhede,
Of hir lord called Diomede.
All f is he told (in helle be he cheyned !).
And, ouermore, he forged haf & feyned 1284
How of envie Assandrus lost his lyf ;
And how hir lord haj> take a-nof er wif,
j)at was to hir dishonour & shame,
And passingly gret sclauwder to hir name 1288
In p?*eiudise doon to* hir estat.
Al f is he tolde to make hem at debate,
Liche as he wrot, in conclusions,
To Clemestra of Agamenouw, 1292
1259. fe] }>at C. 1260. mailles] maylle A— &] & J>orgh D 2.
1265. avenge] venge D 1. 1266. to )>e] vnto D 2.
1267. sorwe gan to] a sorwe gan C.
1272. he lete] lete do D 1.
1276. >at] only >at C— myjte ful] my^te fully D 1.
1277-3212 are missing in D 2.
1284. ouermore] ferj>«rmore D 1.
1289. doon] y doon A— to] of C.
King Tele-
phus slay a
Assandrus.
1264 Diomede
avenges him
by killing
many foes.
1268
He buries
Assandrus.
Oetes lies
about this,
and tells
,-_. Egra that
1276 Diomede
slew Assau-
drus by
fraud,
1280 and that he
has forgotten
her,
and taken
another wife.
810 Diomede is banishtfrom his land, & flees from Salerne. [BK. V
Thru Oetes's
lies,
Diomede's
wife, Egra,
to avenge
her brother's
dentil,
banisht
Diomede
from his
kingdom.
Diomede
goes to
Salerne,
where
Teucer, the
brother of
Ajax Tela-
mon, is king.
But Teucer
pursued him,
and he had
to flee.
Whiche hir herte made sore greve :
For he putte hir fully in byleve
Of al J>e tresous, $e haue herde me told,
)?at for Ire she wexe pale* and cold, 1296
Vnkyndenesse so hir herte sleth,
And hevinesse of hir broj>er deth.
For neuer ^it, Guydo doth assure,
No womman louede bet a creature 1300
j}an she louede hym, in* no manere age :
[For] First at nou^t she sette hir heritage
In comparisons of hir broker lyf —
Lo, how Oetes made a newe strif, 1304
As 36 han herde in fe story rede ! —
j)at gilt[e]les worfi Diomede,
Whan he haf long at )>e sege leyn,
And to his kyngdam wolde has corame ageyn, 1308
By my^ti hond of bis worbi queue,
And hir liges fat assented bene,
He was exiled oute of fat regions, —
j)er may be made no mediacious. 1312
})us, in hym silfe maat & dis[es]peired,
Discoussolat he is ageyn repeired
To Salerne, a lond of gret richesse,
Wher fat Teuter foru^ his worfinesse 1316
With crowne and scepter had[de] regned longe
With his liges and his kny^tes stronge,
And brof er was to Aiax Thelamous,
Mordred to-forn, as made is menciouw. 1320
And Diomede, pore and destitut,
May in Salerne fynde no refut :
For whan Teuter first gan hym espie,
He suede after by ful gret envie, 1324
Havynge to hym ay suspeciouw
Touching f e deth of kyng Thelamous.
But Diomede on a certeyn ny$t
Ful secrely hath taken hym to flijt, 1328
1293. sore] so A— grevej to greve D 1.
1296. wexe pale] pale wexe C, D 1.
1298. broker] brotheris A, brokers D 1. 1301. in] of C.
1305. herde] herde me D 1. 1324. after] hym A, D 1.
BK. v] Askt by Eneas, Diomede goes to Troy to help the Trojans. 811
And fro Salerne fast[e] gan hym hi3e
In hope to fynde better remedie,
Helpe or socour in som ofer place,
}if fortune wolde graurat hym grace. 1332
For of hym silf ashamed & confus, Diomede
wanders
As man forsake, abiect, and refus, about,
Ri}t so ferde he, wandring to & fro,
As he bat nist what was best to do. 1336 not knowing
* what to do.
But, I fynde, J>e Troyan Eneas, Eneas is stm
J)at al }>is while stille at Troye was,
Only of roufe and compassions
To supporte hem fat wer left of fe toura, 1340
Beynge alweye of her lyf in doute,
Of her fomen rourcde be-set aboute, [leaf 142 a]
As f ei fat lyvede for lak of an hed
Continuelly in meschef and in dred, 1344
Knowynge no refut nor courafort in f is cas, —
Til by couwseil of }>is Eneas,
To support hem in f is gret[e] nede
)pei sent in haste for f is Diomede, 1348 and sends' for
Diomede, I j(
Knowynge ful wel his desolaciouw,
How he was prescript fro his regiouw —
Besechinge hym, of marched & of rouf e, begging him
Hym to enhaste, watA-outen any sloufe, 1352
With al )>e stuf fat he gete can,
And sowden vp euery manly man
W^-oute abood & to Troie hem lede, to come to
To socour hem in ]?is grete nede. 1356
And Diomede cam, & tarieth nou^t,
At her request, as he was be-sou^t,
To releue hem in fis sharp[e] shour,
And with hym brouit many soudiour. 1360 with many
J J soldiers.
And Eneas on J> e weie hym mette
In frendely wyse, & in-to toun hym fette,
And to hym made passingly gret chere.
And J>er fei gan to comwne y-fere 1364
1337. new IF A. 1340. wer left] lefte wercw D 1.
1347. grete] om. D 1. 1354. sowden] sowde A.
1360. many] many a D 1. 1362. in-to] in to >e D 1.
1364. to] om. D 1.
812 Diomede fights well for Troy. His Queen hears his Fame. [BK. v
The poor
Trojans
are belpt by
Diomede
and other
warriors.
Diomede
becomes chief
Protector of
Troy.
His fame
spreads.
His queen,
Egra, hears
of him,
and fears lie
may make
war on her.
Her auentures bo]?e on lond and se,
Entermedlyd wijj gret aduersite, ' ,
})at no man may deuoide nor eschewe,
But take his part, as it to hym is dwe,
As sort or hap doth his bridel lede.
And in pis story shortly to procede,
Cely Troiens, ]>at almost were shent
With her fomen of lies adiacent
J3at hem be-set abouten enviroiw, —
[But] Jporu} pe manhod and pe hi^e renourc
Of Diomede and his sowdiours
And oper kny^tes, noble werriours,
Jpei wer reskued & holpen outterly ;
And foure daies pei fau^t by and by,
In kny^tly wyse deffendinge pe cite ;
And poru^ pe prowesse also of Enee
ftei slen and take al pat hem w^t/i-stood,
And in diffense of Troianyshe blood,
Swiche as ]>ei fouwde to pe cite fals,
])&i henge hem vp hi^e by ))e hals,
And puny she [d] hem for her gret[e] wrong.
And Diomede )ms gan wexe stronge
By longe processe, as made is mencioun,
Chef protector now of Troie toun,
ftat enmy noon by a large space
Durst abide, but he hadde grace,
To his ligaurace so he made hem loute.
And }>us his name sprede gan aboute,
})at of his fame }>e gret oppiniou?^
Dilated is vn-to ]>& Eegiouw,
By swift report, of Calydonye & Arge,
Whiche fe quene gretly gan to charge ;
And astonyd, whan she take)) hede,
His power gan & his my^t to drede,
List he wolde hir lond vp-on hir wyrme,
And of kny^thod a werre newe be-gyraie.
And secrely gan mvsen on pis ping,
J)at hir lord & hir my^ti kyng,
[leaf 142 6]
1368
1372
1376
1380
1384
1388
1392
1396
1400
1368. to hym is] is to hym A.
1389. enmy] en vie D 1.
1371. Cely] £e sely D 1.
BK. v] Diomede is happily restord to his Kingdom and Queen. 813
Late exiled & [y-]putte to* fli^t,
Hath grace fouwde in Fortunys si$t, 1404
And is remounted to so hi^e estat.
Wherof * she was in hir self chek-maat, So she
And weyes cast, as she )>at was prudent,
By hool avis of hir parlement, 1408 and her
TO..,, parliament
W*t&-oute grucchmge or rebellious,
Hym to reuoke to his Begioun ;
And per-vppon to hym louly sent. send to him
And with lettres ]?e messager forjje went, 1412
))e cause anullynge for whiche he was exiled, annulling his
. . . ... ... banishment,
And how he was fully reconsiled
By hool assent of his liges alle,
And ful louly, euerychon, ]>ei calle, 1416 and asking
For her offence & [for] her trespace,
Wiih-OMte rigour for to don hem grace.
And he anoon, liche a manly kny^t, He forgives
Mor of mercy, sothly, jwme of ri^t, 1420
Whan he hath her sond[e] wel conceived
And her menynge fully apparceived,
To stint al strif jjou^tfe] for Jje beste
In goodly wyse to grauwte her requeste ; 1424
And to his regne w/t/i-Inne a certeyn day and goes
J J back to his
He is repeired in ful riche array. kingdom,
Of whos cowmyng ful glad his liges ben ;
And recouwcyled bo be he & J>e quene, 1428 is reconciled
A , , * 1,1 i to his queen,
And al rancour of any old ottence
Only of wysdam pei put in suspence ;
And of oon hert a blisful lyf fei lede — and leads a
In Troie boke no more of him* I rede, 1432
But late him* lyve in felicite !
Ageyn resortynge to tellen of Enee, ru now
After how he hath his tyme spent, Eneas.
Whiche is fro Troie m'tA many Troyan went. 1436
His shippes stuffed, he & his meyne
Be seiled forfe by many straunge* se,
1403. to] vn to C. 1406. Wherof] Wherfore C.
After 1410 D 1 repeats 1395-98. 1414. he] she D 1.
1417. 2nd for] of A. 1422. apparceived] eke parceyved D 1.
1425. wtU-Inne] with D 1. 1432. him] hem C.
1433. him] hem C. 1438. straunge] stronge C, large D 1.
814 For the Adventures of Eneas, see Virgil. Orestes s Vengeance.
Eneas
readies
Carthage
with his
father
Anchises.
All about his
wife Creusa's
death,
and about
Dido,
you can read
in the Eneid
of Virgil.
I'll go on
with Guide's
Troy Book,
and tell you
how Orestes
avenges his
father's
murder.
Many daiwger & many streit passage,
To-forn or he arived in Cartage, [leaf 1*2 c] 1440
Ledyng wip hym his fader Anchises, —
ftat, be )>e waye, I fynde pat he les
His wyf Crewsa by fatal auenture ; —
But al pe wo pat he dide endure, 1444
Who-so list ceriously to sene, —
And how pat he falsede* pe quene,
I mene Dido, of wommanhede flour,
j?at gaf to hym [hir] richesse & tresour,* 1448
lowelys & gold, & al pat my^t hym plese,
And euery ping pat my^tfe] do hym ese,
But for al pat, how he was vnkynde, —
Rede Eneydos, & per 36 shal it fynde : — 1452
And how pat he falsly stale away
By ny^ter tyme while she a-bedde lay,
And of his conquest also in Yta[i]lle,
Where he had many stronge bataille, 1456
His auentures and his werkes alle,
And of pe fyn pat is to hym falle, —
3e may al seen, by ful souereyn style
From point to point compiled in Yirgile, 1460
Written & made sipen go ful 3 ore ;
For Troie boke spekep of hym no more,
But procedeth, as I shal endite,
How Horrestes cast hym for to quyte 1464
His fadres deth, pleinly, & nat spare,
3if ^e list here as Guydo shal declare.
Howe Horrestes was commawnded by the goddis,
that he shulde repayre to Ms kyngdam, and
Cruelly, without pite, scle Ms moder Clemestra,
for the mordere of his Fader, Agamenourc.1
It is requerid of equite & 1-13 1,
Of Jrilke luge pat is most of myjt 1468
And egally holdeth his balauwce,
On deth conspired for to do vengauwce :
1446. falsede] falshede C.
1456. many] many a D 1.
1467. &]andofDl.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 1396.
1448. tresour] hir tresour C.
1458. is to hym] to hym is D 1.
BK. v] God ordains Orestes to avenge his Father s murder. 815
be vois of blood doth so ay contune The voice of
blood cries
To crye wreche with clamowe importune 1472 for vengeance
On hem, in soth, fat it iniustly shede ;
For mordre wrou$t wil han his egal mede SUST"
And his guerdouw, as he hath disservid.
J)ei may nat fle fe lugenient reservid 1476
Of hym fat sitte nicest in his throne,
And al beholdeth by hym silf allone,
Ful ri3tfully, }>e noble my^ti Kyng ;
For fou$ he suffre, he forget no ping, 1480
But al considereth in his inspecciouw.*
And for be mordre of Agamenouw. For the
murder of
fee my3ti Lord, whiche is most souereyn God, Agmeumon,
Made his mynystre of )>e same blood, 1 484 hi8
3onse Horrestes, ful of hiae prowesse. son Orestes
the executor
Texecute his dome of riatwisnesse, of avenge-
' ment.
And gaf to hym power, grace, & my^t.
And he anoon toke fe ordre of kny^t 1488
Of Ydumeus, liche as it is tolde, [leaf u-2 <t] Orestes,
Whan he was foure & twenti wynter olde, is knighted,
Fresshe and lusty, & wonderly prudent,
And inwardly desirous of entent, 1492
3if fortune wolde hym nat wyth-seyn, and resolves
His heritage to recure ageyn hi8 heritage,
Whiche Egistus falsly hym denyeth, of which
Egisthus has
And J>e crowne iniustly occupieth 1496 deprivedhim.
By fals title of hir fat was his wyf.
But Horrestes wil iupart his lif,
And aventure, while him lasteth breth :
First to be venged on his fadris deth 1500
Vp-on hem fo fat j)e tresourc wrou^t.
And alderfirst ful louly he be-sou^t He begs King
^•r-, f i • ' -n i j Idomeueusto
Kyng Ydumee of his goodlyhede
To forferen hym in fis gret[e] nede; 1504 help him.
And J>e kyng benignely anoon
Assigned hath wa't/i hym for to goon
1479. my3ti] worj>i D 1. 1481. inspecciouw] aspecciouw 0.
1483. most] om. D 1. 1487. power grace] grace power A.\
1499. And] And in A— him] he D 1. 1501. bo] om. D 1.
1504. >is] his A. 1505. And] And J>o D 1.
816 Orestes prepares his ^Expedition against Egisthus. [BK. v
Jdomeneus
gives Orestes
1000 knights.
He gets
another
1000.
and goes
to King
Forentius,
whose
daughter
Egisthus
threw over
for Clytem-
nestra.
A pousand kny^tes, manly & ri$t etronge,
To redresse pe grete horrible wronge 1508
Of Egistus wrou}t by violence.
,And by his wysdam & his dilligence,
fris Horrestes gan hym so purueie,
W^-Inne a while, per is no more to seie, 1512
J?at he hym gat (J>e story wil nat lye)
A-noper pousand in his companye
Of worpi kny^tes, alle of oon accorde
To go with hym, as with her souereyn lord, 1516
In euery ping his biddyng to obeie,
As $e han herde, Egistus to werreye.
And pus Horrestes, in ful riche array,
Gan hosteye & made no delay, 1520
And his loggynge aldirfirst gan chese
In a cite J>at called was Troe^e,
Received fere with grete reuerence
Of pe kyng, pat named was Forence, 1524
A manly kny^t, as bokes specefie,
And bare in herte passing gret envie
To Egistus, by double occasiouw :
First, for pe deth of Agamenouw, 1528
And eke for he hadde a doubter dere
pat was to hym inwardly entere,
Bope good & fair, & but ^onge of age,
)pat whilom was $oven in mariage 1532
To Egistus ; but he of doubilnesse,
Of fals tresouft & newfongilnesse
)}e kynges doubter hap outterly for-sake,
And in al haste dide a lybel make, 1536
And forge a writ of repulsiouw,
Al-be he hadde no trewe occasiouw, [leaf 143 a]
)?is Egistus, pat he hir for-soke,
Saue pat he falsly to wyve toke 1540
J)e quene Clemestra, a-geyn al [ri^t and] lawe,
1510. &] & by D 1, 1514. in] to D 1.
1520. made] make D 1. 1522. Troe^e] Troyese A, Troyeje D 1.
1523. Received] And resceyued D 1.
1524. Forence] Florence D 1. 1532. whilom] somme tyme D 1.
1535. hat outterly] outtirly hath A. 1537. forge] forged D 1.
1540. to] vnto >e D 1.
BK. v] Orestes' s ally Forentius. His resolve to kill his Mother first. 81 7
Whanwe by assent J>ei mordred han & slawe
Agamenouft, as it to-forn is tolde,
Jjat whilom was so my^ti & so boold.
And for J>e hatful fals conspiracie,
As wel of mordre as [of] avoutrie,
To venge boj?e by due recompense,
Jpe worpi kny^t, J>e my^ti kyng Forrense*
Offred Horestes for to make hym stronge
And go with hym to helpe venge his wrowg,
And with hym ladde, armed bri^t in steel,
Foure hundrid kny^tes, horsed wowder wel,
Takynge J>e feld with a manly chere.
And so Horestes and )>e kyng y-fere
Be riden forpe with many manly man.
But Horestes, or [he] pis werre gan,
Whan bri^tfe] Pheb^s in be Bole shoon,
To ]>e temple is ful lowly goon,
And to be goddis in his best[e] wyse
With humble herte dide sacrifice,
Fully in hope J>e better for to fare :
Wher he was bode, for lif nor deth to spare,
With-oute merci or remissions,
J)e deth to venge of Agamenouw
On Clemestra, Jwt was most to wyte,
And bat he make first his swerd to bite
On his moder, with his hondis tweyne,
And ouermore to done his besy peyne,
"Wit^-oute pite, & no merci shewe,
On smale pecis til she be to-hewe
And dismembrid assondre loint fro loint,
And eke fat he for^ete nau^t a point,
lustly to punyshe by rigour & by ri^t
Egistus eke, J?e fals vntrewe kny3t,
And fat he be nat slowe nor necligent
To execute fe commauwdement
Of fe goddes, list what after falle.
1544
1548 KingForen-
tins joins
Orestes with
1552 400 knights.
1556 Orestes sac-
1560
1564
1568
1572
1576
rifices to the
Gods,
resolving to
kill first Ins
mother Cly-
temnestra.
and then
Egistlius.
1544. whilom] sowime tyme D 1. 1546. 2nd of] om. A.
1547. by] wi> D 1. 1548. Forrense] Horrense C, Florence D 1.
1550. to] om. D 1. 1555. many] many a D 1.
1556. he] om. D 1— gan] bigan D 1. 1557. Bole] somer D 1.
1562. bode] beden D 1. 1570. be] be al D 1.
818 Orestes puts his mother Clytemnestra in chains. [BK. v
Orestes and
Forentius
besiege
Methene,
in which Cly-
temnestra is.
They stop
Egisthus
from aiding
it,
and carry
the town by
assault.
Orestes puts
Clytemnestra
in chains.
And panne Horestes with his kny^tes alle,
And Forense* pe my^ti kyng also,
Of oon herte be to pe sege go
Of J>e cite pat called was Methene,
With-InnQ whiche was pe fals[e] quene
Clemestra, — God }if hir harde grace !
And whanne Horestes seged haj) pe place,
With his kny^tes set it rouwde aboute,
False Egistus was y-riden oute
To gadre men and to ben awreke, [lea
And falle vppon & pe sege breke
3if he my^t, on eny maner side ;
And with gret stuf pus he gan to ride,
Takyng vp men fro eue?*y cost,
Til he hym made a ful my^ti host.
But Horestes, whiche at pe sege lay,
His gouernauwce espieth day be day,
And sent oute men, as he pat was ful sage,
To stoppe weies & lettyn his passage,
And made kny^tes, a ful huge* route,
To pursewe hym eue?y cost aboute.
And of pe sege, manfully be-gonne,
By assaute he hath pe to^ y-wonne,
And entrid in on a ny^t ful late,
And set[te] wardis stronge at euery gate.
And in [a] dongouw, moste stronge & principal,
J3at was of bildynge my^ti and royal,
))is Horestes first his moder fond,
))e quene Clemestra, lady of pat lond,
Whiche for drede sore gan to quake ;
But merciles anoon he made hir take
And putte in cheynes til pe next[e] morwe.
And Egistus, — God $if hym euele sorwe ! —
With al pe stuf pat he my^t acroche,
Toward pe touw fast[e] gan a-proche
In purpos ful Horestes for to greve,
And hem wit^-Inne sodeynly releve.*
1580
1584
1588
1592
1596
1600
1604
1608
1612
1579. Forense] Forensis C, Florence D 1.
1586. False] And fals D 1. 1588. vppon] vp on hem D 1.
1597. huge] hoge C. 1614. releve] to releve C.
BK. v] Egisthus is put in chains. Clytemnestra is cut in bits. 819
But al, in soth, my^tfe] nat availle ;
For or pat he )>e cite my$t availle, 1616
Horestes kny^tes vnwarly han hy??i met,
And alle attonis proudly on liym set :
First slayn his men & putte he??i to ]>e flijt,
And taken hym, maugre al his my^t, 1620
And with cheynes, lik as J>ei hym finde,
Merciles ful fast[e] )>ei hym binde,
And shet hym vp, fetrid in prisouw.
And alle fals immden in ]>e touw, 1624
)3at wer assentid, willy, or helpynge
To ]>e mordre of )>e worpi kyng,
Grete werkers and conspira tours,
Ageyn her lord rysing as traitours, — 1628
Alle were take and bouwde be rigour
})& same ny3t, & shet vp in a tour,
Til on pe morwe, lik as fe lot be drawe,
Eueryche of hem vndirfonge his la we 1632
Liche his decert, — excepciourc was noon.
And whawne }>e ny^t passed was & goon,
And Phebws ros estwarde in his spere
And on J>e toures shon ful bri^t & clere, [leaf use] 1636
Wharaie Clemestra, rote of al falshede,
Was brou^t for]?e, quaky ng in her drede,
Beforn Horestes to lugement I-fet,
He, wiih a swerde, sharpe and kene whet,
Liche as }>e goddes chargid hym to-forn,
On pecis smale he hath hir al to-shorn,
And made hir bern oute of ]?e tovnis bouwdis
To be vowrid of bestis & of hourcdis : —
Pite was noon in his brest reseruyd,
But quitte hir fully as she ha)) disservid
Fro point to point, & forgat ri^t nou^t.
And J>awne cheyned Egistus was for)>e brou^t, 1648
And iustly dempt by rigour of )>e lawe
1621. lik] anoon D 1. 1622. >ei] J>ei gan D 1.
1624. alle] alle >e D 1. 1627. werkers] werkerys A.
1641. to-forn] be forn A.
1643. bern] to be bore D 1 — tovnis boundis] toim D 1.
1644. vowrid] devourid D 1 — hoiwdis] lyoun D 1.
1648. cheyned] gyued D 1.
TROY BOOK. 3 H
Orestes's
men slay
Egisthus,
and put him,
chaind,
in prison,
with all the
murderers of
Agamemnon.
Next
morning
Orestes cuts
Clytemnestra
to pieces,
1644 and gives
them to dogs.
1640
820 Agamemnon's murderers are hangd. Menelausin Crete. [BK. v
Egisthus
is hangd ;
and so are
all traitors.
On an hirdel naked to be drawe
))oru3-oute )?e touw, pat alle my$t[e] se,
And after hi^e [enjhangid on a tre,
For to rote & drye ageyn fe sonne.
Lo, how mordre ha]? his guerdoim womie !
Lo, how falshede his maister can* awake !
And alle )>e traitours in ]?e toim y-take
Wern on galwes enhonged euerychon,
Til pel were seuered asonder bon fro bon,
Hi^e on an hil ageyn )>e sterres shene.
)5us was ])Q toun fro tresourc purged clene,
And with troupe awmentid & y-morid ;
Orestes is And to his regne Horestes ful restorid,
restored to
bis kingship. As ]>e story suynge shal expowne,
And of ]>e day whan he toke his crown e.
1652
1656
1660
1664
Menelaus
returns to
Crete
with Helen,
his Queen,
for whom
Troy was
destroyd.
Howe kynge Menelay, brother to Agamenon, set a
parlement at Athenes, wher he entendyde to haue
deprivede Horrestes of his kyngdam, for )>e dethe
of his moder ; bot Horrestes was crownyde.1
And whaw J?e myst & eue?^y cloudy skye
Of fals tresouw and conspiracie
Were tried oute, vp-on euery side,
Jjat falshed had no place to abide,
£e story seith, in ordre rehersynge,
)5e same tyme Menelay pe kyng,
Oute of ]>e se ful of wawys wete,
Fro Troie-ward arived was in Crete,
Frely eskapid many drede and peyne,
'With his quene, }>e goodly freshe Eleyne.
And for cause she was so famous* fair,
Gret was J>e pres & merveilous repaire
Fro euery part hir bewte to beholde,
For whom Troie, with wallis not ful olde,
Destroied was, pe noble royal touw ;
1652. hi3e] ful hije D 1. 1655. can] gan C.
1656. y-take] take D 1. 1658. were] om. D 1.
1660. fro] of D 1. 1662. ful] fully D 1.
1673. many] in many A. 1675. famous] famour C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 140 b.
1668
1672
1676
BK. v] Menelaus wishes to dethrone his nephew Orestes 821
And many man, ful worpi of renoim, 1680
Hap lost his lyf — per may no man seie nay —
Al for Eleyne, wyf to Menelay :
Whan ping is doon, it may be noon oper.
But whan pis kyng knewe fully of his broker 1684 when
Agamenoim mordre and euerydel, [leaf 143 d]
He was ful trist, & liked no ping wel,
But inwardly felt[e] ful grete smerte ;
And his nevew he hadde also at herte — 1688 finds that
T TT his nephew
1 mene Horestes — )>at so merciles, Orestes has
Liche a tyraurcte fat were graceles,*
His moder slowe, and had[de] no pite, Mia MB own
Of mortal Ire in his cruelte, — 1692
And fully cast pat he wolde blive Meneiaua
Of scepter & crowne, platly, hym deprive, dethrone
Fully affermynge, for pis hatful cas
By al lawe pat he vnworpi was 1696
His fadris regne as eyr to possede,
lustly considrid his horrible dede.
And al attonis, furious and wroth,
W^-oute abood vn-to ship he goth, 1700
Malencolyk in his grete tene, soMeneiaus
Oute of Crete selling to Athene, Athens,
And toke pe lond oute of shipes bord
Where duke Nestor was gouernour & lord, 1704
Whiche hym receiveth, like a gentil kny^t, is wen
With al his power, dilligence, and my^t. by Nestor,
But Menelay, of rancour and gret hete
Gan with pe duke secrely to trete 1708
To fynde a mene in his inwarde si^t
For to deprive Horestes of his ri^t.
And per-vp-on to haue a iugement,
At Athenes was holde a parlement 1712 and holds a
Of pe lordis of pat regiou?^, there,ng
To $eve per-on a diffinicioim,
In whiche was shewed, openly y-nowe, to winch
How Horestes his owne modir slowe, 1716
1680. many] many a D 1. 1685. mordre] mordred D 1.
1690. graceles] graciles C. 1695. hatful] fatal A.
1705. hym] hem D 1. 1711. a] om. D 1.
crime.
822 Orestes justifies his Murder of his Mother & is made King. [BK. v
And pe maner of his grete offence,
Hym silf[e] po beyng* in presence.
And whan pis ping he fully dide espie,
For his party he gan ageyn replie,
As he pat felte hym frely at his large,
For hym alleggynge pat he had in charge
Of pe goddis, shortly to declare,
His mortal swerde pat he nat ne spare
Yp-on Clemestra, rote of false tresoim,
J)at slowe hir lord, kyng Agamenouw,
And pe niordre poru} hir malis wroujt.
Wherfore Horestes humblely beso^t
Joe lordes alle, with a manly herte,
Of equite considren and aduerte,
For no malis, rancour, nor for* rage
Hym to deprive of his heritage,
Sipen he was sone of Agamenouw,
Borne to ben eyr of pe Regiouw, [leaf 144 «]
As $e han herd, pat called was Methene,
Al-be his moder, Clemestra pe quene,
Compassid had his destructiouw.
But duke Nestor, ymeved of resourc,
In sustenyng of Horestes ri^t,
Roos vp anoon lyk a manly knyjt,
Offringe him silf proudly for his sake
J^is hi^e quarel for to vndirtake,
With his body to pe deth darreyne
Wip whom pat list his title to wM-seyne.
But per was noon in al pat companye
J}at durste a word a-geyn[e]s him replye,
So hool he stood in his oppiniouw.
And by his kny^tly mediaciouw
He bar hym so, feynyng in no ping,
Jjat Horestes was [y-] crowned kyng
Of Methene, alle beyng of assent.
And whan dissoluyd was pe parlement,
)5is Horestes of his liges trewe
1718. >o beyng] beyng \>o C. 1731. for] for no C, D 1
1734. >e] }>at D 1. 1746. a-geynes] a geyn A, D 1.
1750. y-orowned] crowned D 1.
Orestes
urges that
the gods
bade him slay
Clytemnestra
for murder-
ing her
husband;
and he asks
the Greek
lords not to
disinherit
him,
for he is Aga-
memnon's
son.
Nestor backs
Orestes,
and offers to
fight for him.
No one
opposes;
so Orestes is
crownd king,
1720
1724
1728
1732
1736
1740
1744
1748
1752
BK. v] Orestes weds Hermione. Erigona hangs herself. Ulysses. 823
Resseyved was \\iih a crown e newe,
And by trete of lordis many oon
Kyng Menelay & he wer made at oon,
And gan her Ire & her rancour lete.
And Ydumee, pe my^ty kyng of Crete,
So prudently gouerneth J>is matere,
)3at Hermyone, f>e ^ongfe] doubter dere
Of Menelay and ])e quene Eleyne,
So 3ong, so freshe, of bewte souereyn,
I-wedded was wzt7i-oute more tariyng
To Horestes, j)e newe lusty kyng.
And by cause of J?is allyau^ce
Devoided was al rancowr and distaunce
Atwene )>e kynges, Menelay )>e olde
And Horestes, of whom ri^t now I tolde.
)}us leue I hem, as it was J?e beste,
Eche in his regne ly ve in pes & reste ;
For al strif was cessid in Jns cas.
But Erygona, fat J>e doubter was
Of Egistus, as $e han herd me telle,
For sorwe & drede list no lenger dwelle,
But toke a rope, & liste no Jriiig to spare,
And per-wM-al gan hir silf to gnare,
j)e story seith, hi^e vp-on a tre :
)?is was hir fyn, — 30 gete no more of me —
But I wil forj?e ceriously entrete
Of J>e story to tellen ^ow }>e grete.
1756 Menelaus ami
Orestes are
at-oned,
1760 and Orestes
weds Her-
mione, the
daughter of
Menelaus and
Helen.
1764
1768
1772 Erigona, the
daughter of
Egisthus,
1776 hangs herself.
1780
The wonderfule eskaipis of Vlixes aftire fat he
departede fro Troy; and howe he made a
soroweful compleynte against fortune to the
worshipful kynge, called Ydumye.1
0 Vlixes, by ordre in my writyng,
)pin aventures commerc on ]>e ring,
Ful wonderful bo))e on lond and se, peaf wi6]
Entermedlid with grete aduersite ! 1784
I'll now tell
you of
Ulysses
and his
adventures.
1763. I-wedded] Wedded D 1.
1770. lyve] to lyue D 1.
1757. gan] om. D 1.
1769. }>ejfor >e D 1.
1781. my] om. D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 141 a.
824 The Adventures of Ulysses. He is twice captured. [BK. v
Ulysses fits
out 2 ships,
hoping to
escape all
troubles,
but he is
plunderd,
and driven to
Ajax's land,
where he is
arrested for
the murder-
ing of Ajax,
but gets free,
tho left
moneyless.
Then he is
chaind for
the murder
ofPalamedes,
but escapes
again.
For Guydo, first discrivinge Jn repeire,
Seith how fou fouwde weder foule & faire,
Now agreable, now J>e thoimder sowne,
Now stille and* smothe, now with clowdis frowne, 1788
And seith also, pat foil dedist ordeyne
To pi passage my^ty shippes tweyne,
Apparailled al for marchauwdise,
J3at fou my^test in most secre wyse 1792
Euery meschef of J)e se eskape.
But for al fat pou haddist a fel iape :
For as pis auctor pi resort do]? wryte,
He seith Vlixes, for al his wordis white, 1796
I-robbed was of riches and of good,
Contrarious wynde so a-geyn him stood
J3at he was drive, to his confusioim,
In-to }>e my^ty stronge regiouw 1800
Where Thelamourc regned by his ly ve ;
And fere he was hent & take bly ve,
Be my^ti hond sesid by pe brest,
And merciles put vnder arest; 1804
For pei laim had suspect in werkyng,
Touching pe niordre of pe same kyng.
But he so wrou^t by his slei$ti wyle,
And his tale sette in swiche a stile, 1808
))at hem alle he [pleinly] hath be-iaped,
And fro her hond frely is eskaped —
Except pat he, for al his queyntfe] fare,
Of his tresour was [y-]made ful bare ; 1812
And for his passage was to hi??^ vnkouj? e,
He fil a-geyn in-to fe wolves mouf e :
For, verraily, as it is specified,
Kyng Naulus men han hym eft espied, 1816
Take & bou/ide & cheyned mercyles,
For ]>e mordre of kyng Pallamydes.
But fe story reherseth in certeyn,
By his prudence he eskaped is a-geyn, 1820
—For he was hope expert, wys, & olde —
1785. disci! vinge] descryveth A. 1788. and] now C.
1795. resort] resourc D 1. 1797. I-robbed] Robbed D 1.
1820. eskaped] scaped D 1.
BK. v] Ulysses tells his Adventures to King Idomeneus. 825
Al-pei J>e maner be not fully tolde
Of his eskape, poru^ his besy peyne,
Out of dauwger of )>ese kynges tweyne — 1824
Til Jjoru} fortune he cam fro meschef fre
To ]>e presence of kyng Ydumee
In symple array and torne apparaile.
Wher-of pe kyng gretly gan mervaile 1828
To sen his pouert in so lowe nianer ;
But for al pat he maked him good cher, —
J^ou} jjilke tyme he were Infortunat,
He hyin resseiveth liche to his estat. [leaf 144 <?] 1832
And whan })ei wern bope tweyne allone,
In compleynyng Ylixes made his mone
Vn-to pe kyng, as he pat was ful sage,
Ceriously pe sort of his passage,
With face sad and a sobre chere,
Fro point to point, anon as $e shal here.
" My lord," quod, he, " shortly to expresse,
Of trust I haue in $oure gentilnes,
I shal to $ow myn aventures alle
Eehersyn her, ri^t as it is falle :
First, whan pat I Troye lond forsook
And pe water with my shippes took,
I was a-noon with wynde pesible blowe
To an yle whiche was to me vnknowe,
Callid Mirma, of gret habourcdance ;
And al[le] }>ing pat was to my plesauwce,
J)at may for siluer or for gold be bou^t,
I redy fonde, & wantid ri$t noi^t,
And per abood ful longfe] while in loie
With pe tresour ]>at I gat at Troye, —
My shippes stuffed, my men hool & sourcde,
And for commodite of J?at ilk[e] grounde,
We lyked so ]?e contre enviroiro,
})at, for disport and recreacioun,
Oure tariyng per we pou^t not longe,
1822. >ei] [>ou3 D 1. 1824. 1st of] of ]>e D 1.
1839. new IF D 1. 1843. new IT A.
1847. Mirma] Mynerva A. 1851. while] tyme D 1,
1857. longe] ful long A.
Ulysses gets
to King Ido-
meneus,
and says that
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856 where he
stayd some
after he saild
from Troy
lie came to
the Hand
Mirma,
826 Ulysses's Adventures. He is plunderd in Sicily. [BK. v
Thence
Ulysses
saild to Clan-
stafages ;
and then took
ship again.
After 3 day's
calm,
a tempest
drove him
to Sicily,
where the
2 kings,
Sorigenes
and Coclopas
reignd,
and both
derd
ships,
plunderd
his shi
and left him
bare of goods.
For no man dide vn-to vs no wronge.
Til on a day }>at £e eyr was stille,
)3e wynde also fully at oure wille, 1860
We seyled forpe in quiete and in pes
Vn-to a port called Clanstafages,
Wher with my meyne long & many day
I fond al ping according to my pay, 1864
— J?e wedir lusty, agreable, and feir —
But who may trust ouper in wynde or eyr ! —
For vp-on feith of ]?e smofe skye
Ageyn to ship fast I gan me hye, 1868
Taried nou^t, but tok anoon pe see,
Smojje & calm enduring daies pre,
|5at in pe wedir fourcde was no lak.
But sodeynly ]?e heuene twmed blak, 1872
Jpe hydous te??ipest & ])e wawes grene
Oute of hope han me dispeired clene,
Troublid my spirit & made me [so] pensif,
WM-oute refut teskape vrith >e lyf, 1876
Possid & drive by many sondri yle,
Til at }>e last, cast vp at Cecyle,
Eecuryng lond with gret annoy & peyne,
Wher pilke tyme regned kynges tweyne. 1880
And as I can reme?wbre douteles, [leaf i«d]
J}e ton of hem called Sorigenes,
Whiche vn-to me ful contrarious was,
And }>e toper named Coclopas, — 1884
Brepren of birj>e, and, in conclusions,
I-lyche cruel of condiciou?t :
For pou^ my sort had shape for }>e nonys,
Bope tweyne fil on me attonys, 1888
Oppressing me in ful gret distresse,
Spoiled my shipes of tresowr & richesse,
And for no pite liked not to spare,
Til I was left destitut and bare 1892
Of al my good, alias, my mortal chauwce !
1863. many] many a A. 1868. gan me] ganne A.
1869. anoon] a3ein D 1. 1872. turned'] tourneth A.
1874. han me dispeired] gan me dispeire D 1.
1883. was] om. A-. 1884. named] y-namyd A.
BK. v] Ulysses s Adventures. He and Alphenor are imprisond. 827
And most of al was to me grevaimce,
Whan of my gold ]>ei* my^t no more restreyne,
J)ei sent doun her my^ti sonys tweyne : 1896
Alipham, ]>at was f ul large & long, Aiipham
A T -r> T T and tne K>a«t
And .rolipneme ]?e my^ti geawit strong, Polyphemus
Whiche on my men tavenge hew wer so fayn,
J3at }>ei of hem han an hundred slayn, 1900 knnooof
Disaraied to stonden at diffence. men,868
And of malys, with sodeyn violence
}3ei token me, for meschef almost lorn, and put him
And Alphenor, myn owne broker sworn, 1904 friend
And hatfully, as )>ei han vs fou^de,
In cheynes cast and in stokkys boimde,
And after J?at ylokked in presoim. in prison.
And for to make platly menciouw, 1908
}}is my3ti man, j>is gret[e] Polyplieme, Polyphemus
A suster had, shortly for to demc, fai sister,
Oon )>e fairest J?at &uer $it was born —
She my^t in bewte so be set a-forn, 1912
Nature hir gaf swiche a prerogatyf —
A clene niayde, sothly, & no wyf,
Flouryng bojie in fairnes & boimte,
Whom Alphenor whan he dide se, 1916 with whom
A l "U -u f i. 'T • • Alphenor
Al-be he was fetrid in prisons,
For loue he lost wit & eke resoiw,
And wex al mad, so na[r]we she dide hi??z binde, fails madly
— Saue [vp-]on hir alwey was his mynde, 1920
And closid ay* was his perlous wouwde.
And sixe monies bus we leie bofulnde, After e
months,
Bofe he & I, to seyn fe plat[tej troupe, uiysses
Til Polypheme had vp-on vs rou]>e ; 1924
And Jjoru^ his grace and mediaciouw
lie quyt vs fre out of fat prisoim, aredsttPfree°r
And shewed vs, of mercy and pite,
After oure sorwe gret humanite. 1928
But Alphenor, yliche of oon entent,
1895. >ei] }>er C — my^t] may A — no more] not D 1.
1899. tavenge] to vewge D 1.
1921. ay] alwey C— perlous] perillous D 1.
1923. sevn] set D 1. 1924. Til] This A.
828 Ulysses 's Adventures. He puts out Polyphemus' s one eye. [BK.V
Alphenor
steals the
sister of
Polyphemus,
who pursues
him and
takes her
back.
Polyphemus
attacks
Ulysses,
who cuts out
his one eye,
and sails
away. .
(Ovid tells
us about
Polyphemus
and his eye,
and his vain ]
search for
Ulysses.
Was with )>e brond of Cupide brent,
And felt his part with many mortal fyt,
Til he so wrou^t by his sotil wyt,
£at on a ny$t, who was lef or lo)>e,
He stale pis mayde, & his weye he gope,
J^oru} help of men with him at pat tyme.
But on ]?e morwe at pe hour of pryme
Poliphenms gan vs for to sewe,
Whos my^ti hond we my^t[e] nat eschewe
And swiche a-saut on vs pei gan make,
J)at of force pei han pe mayde take
From Alphenor, niaugre al his rage.
And Polypheme vn-to my damage
With his kny^tes so sore vp-on me lay,
feat I my^t vnnepe eskape a-way
To saue my* lyf, compassid envirouw,
To deth purswyd of fat champioura.
But whan I sawe per was now oper geyn,
To fle pe deth, shortly for to seyn,
"While }>is geaurat most fersly on me sette
With my swerd oute his eye I smette ;
And vn-to ship witJi my companye
I fledde in haste, ]>at no man my$t espie
Where I be-cam, nor Alphenor my fere.
And whan ]>e wawes gon[ne] for to clere,
And gracious wynd gan to vs awake,
))ilk centre we han anoon forsake —
It was nat holsom for vs to abide."
— But of pis man like as writ Ovide,
Poliphemws pe geau?it, out of drede,
Had an eye mydde of his forhede,
Whiche Vlixes smot out at a stroke ;
And like ]?e bowes of a brau?ichid oke
Was al his heer & his longe berde, —
On whom to loke childer were a-ferd.
And whan Ipat he had[de] lost his si^t,
A-mouge ]?e hilles he renneth day & ny^t,
[leaf 145 a]
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1945. my] me C. 1950. my] >is D 1.
1951. vn-to] to A. 1955. And A D 1.
1956. }>ilk] And >ilke D 1— han] gan D 1.
BK. v] Ulysses's Adventures. The enchantress Circe. 829
In a rage, to fynde liym som refuge,
Castfe] roches and grete stones huge 1968
On euery part enviroim ]?e centre,
On Vlixes avenged for to be.
J)US Seith Ovide, in COnclusioUW, You can read
In his boke of trans formaciouw — 1972 ovid'sMeta-
morphoses.)
Methamorphoseos — per 36 may it se,
Whan-so-eue?-e fat 3our leyser be
Ceriously }>e story for to rede.
And in writinge for)>e I wil precede, 1976
How Vlixes, wit//, face ded and pale, when
Ulysses
To Ydumee toldfel forte his tale, escaped from
Polyphemus,
Kenersyng pus, supprised & a-wapid : [leaf 145 6]
" Fro Polipheme whan we wern eskaped, 1980
oure vnhap and infelicyte
In-to an vie myddes of be see he was driven
/ totheiland
We were dryve, whan it gan to ny^te ; Eiodium,
And Eiodium fat litel kyngdam hy^te, 1984
Wher bat Circes, be gret enchawiteresse, where the
enchantress
pilke tyme was lady and goddesse, circe could
)pat koude hir craft so wonderly* performe,
Al sodeynly a man for to transforme 1988 change men
into any
To haue be liknes (& lesen his resouw) beasts she
liked.
Of hors or bere, tigre or lyowi,
Wolf or fox, or what hir list deuise —
Hir dredful craft was shapes in swiche wise, 1992
So my^ti wern hir straunge pociou?is,
Her letuarye[s] and confecciou/is.
And she also so fair vp-on to se, she was «o
lovely that
Jjat fro hir power no man my^tfe] fle. 1996 uiysses
For be J>e werke of Jns sorceresse,
I was so fonned vppon hir fairnesse,
J)at finally Jms with me it stood :
bat al a jere I vfith hir [albood, 2000 stayda year
with her.
And pleynly had power noon ne my$t
For to depart, noufer day ne ny^t,
1968. Caste] Castinge D 1.
1985. enchauwteresse] chauntcresse D 1.
1987. wonderly] wondirfully C. 1989. resou^i] rennoun D 1.
1998. I]HeDl.
830 Ulysses's Adventures. Circe's son ly him. Her sister. [BK. v
On Circe,
Ulysses begot
a son,
Telegonus,
and then
stole away.
His ship was
blown to
an ile,
where Caly-
pha, Circe's
sister, was
queen ;
and he was
kept there
for a time,
but escaped
to another ile
whither folk
came to
consult an
Oracle.
So lusti was j>e lyf pat I ladde, —
In whiche tyme by me a child she hadde, 2004
Bi^t inly fair & goodly to J?e si^t."
— And Thelagonivs in sothnes he hi^t,
Whiche afterward, I [wel] reherse can,
By processe wex a manly man. — 2008
" And be my sotil secre* prouidence,
Of hir craft I hadde experience,
)?at maugre hir enchaiwtementes olde,
I stale a-way — she my^tfe] me nat holde. 2012
And finally my fate to conclude,
With my konnyng hir craft I gan delude,
J?at vtiih my men I skaped fro her hond
And went at large fre out of hir lond. 2016
But al )>is J)ing me litel dide availe ;
For on my way as I gan to saile,
For al my slei3t, in a litel while
I bio we was vp in-to an yle 2020
Wher Calypha, suster to Circes,
Was crowned quene, & held her scepter in pes ;
Whos craftis wern so my^ty & so strong,
Maugre my wil she held me J?er ful long. 2024
But she, in soj)e, to speke of wo?ftmanhed,
Of bounte, fredam, and of goodlyhed,
Surly had so souereyn excellence,
ftat myn abood to me was noon offence. [leaf 145 c] 2028
But who-so-euere J?er-at crye or clappe,
At J>e last I skaped fro hir trappe
And cam to an yle, ri^t as any lyne,
Whiche specialy Jjoru^ hi^ power devyne 2032
Ordeyned is of 3ore be myracle,
As it were, a spiritual oracle —
A man to haue in a temple J?ere
Sodeyn answere of what him list enquere, 2036
Of questions and demaundes alle,
And of soule[s] what shal eke be-falle
2006. Thelagonivs] Thelagemws D 1. 2009. secre] socre C.
2011. J>at] }>at moche D 1 — hir] alle hir D 1 — enchaimtementes]
chaimtementes D 1.
2032. hi3] his D 1.
BK.V] Ulysses s Adventures. Charyldis: its Sirens & Mermaids. 831
Whan men ar dede & graven vnder stoon.
And I gan axe in pe temple anoon
Myn aventures pat shuld after swe,
And wher a man my^t his fate eschewe ;
And of al pis, lyk to myn entent,
I had answere ful conuenient —
Saue what befalleth whaw a soule is goon,
DiffynyciouTi vn-to me was noon,
Swiche ping tasoile acordep nat to ri}t :
It is reserued vn-to Goddes my^t,
And excedeth resouw & wit of man.
And fro pens forpe to seile I gan,
Dreven with wynde, & no part socoured,
Wher I was ]yk to haue be deuourid
Of Caribdis, with his profoiwde welle,
Where Sirenes, Meremaydnes, dwelle,
)3at fro pe brest, vrith skalis siluer shene,
Ben of her shap fysches freshe & clene,
And vpper-more, Kynde doth compasse
Hem to apere femynyn of face,
Lyk virgines pat were of nature
With-oute spot, vndefouled pure.
And of custom, in wawis as pei flete,
\)Q song of hem is so heuenly swete,
So angelik and ful of armonye,
}3at verrailly pe sugred melodie
Kavisshe wolde any man a-lyve,
Of inly loie almost his hert[e] ryue — :
Make a man, of sodeyn hi^e plesauwce,
For^ete hym silf & lese his remembraimce,
Devoide hym clene from his owne pou^t,
Til vnwarly he be to meschef broujt.
And with her song, or he* take kepe,
He shal be broujt in a mortal slepe ;
And pei anoon — it may not be wtt/tdrawe —
Wil drenche his ship lowe vnder pe wawe !
2040 Ulysses
consults
the Oracle,
2044
2048
2052
but can't
learn wliat
befalls the
soul after
death.
He sets sail,
and is driven
to Charybdis,
where Mer-
maids are,
2056 with fishes'
scales below,
2060
but girls'
faces ;
whose sing-
ing is so
heavenly,
2064
that it makes
a man forget
2068 everything,
till he comes
to grief,
2072
and his ship
is drownd.
2039. ar] bene D 1. 2042. wher] ]>ere D 1.
2045. a soule] soules D 1. 2051. no part] vnne>e D 1.
2057. vpper-more] vpher more A, D 1.
2066. ryue] to ryve A. 2071. he] >ei C.
832 Ulysses's Adventures. He escapes the Sirens. His ill plight.
By stopping
their ears
with wax,
Ulysses and
his men
escape from
the Sirens,
and anchor at
Phseacia,
where his
men are
slain,
and lie
plunderd.
So lie is in
evil plight,
and has told
King Ido-
meneus his
mishaps,
because lie
trusts him.
)3us J?e swetnes of her heuenly sou/?,
Bringeth a man to confusioim — 2076
Who-so-eue?'e by her boimdis pace. [leaf 145^3
But with )>e lif I eskaped by grace :
For myn erys with wex & gommys clere
Were stoppid so, ]>at I ne my^tfe] here 2080
Touche nor werble of her instrumentis,
Wher-by }>e resou?^ of [a] man y-blent* is.
And, finally, poru^ my sotilte,
I and my men ben eskapid fre, 2084
Selling forpe, al mat of werynesse,
Til we cam vp, -with ful gret distresse,
At Phenyce, & toke a-noon fe lond,
Cast anker, and oure shippes bond. 2088
But, sothly, )>er it fil vs ful vnfaire ;
For ]>Q peple, cruel and contraire,
Only of malis fil on me anoon,
And slowe my men almost euerychon ; 2092
Tresour & good,litel }>at I hadde,
Was me by-raft ; and al with hem ]>ei ladde ;
And fewe of hem pat wer left alive,
feei token hem & put in prisou?^ blyve. 2096
)3us ha]> Fortune lad me on her dauwce
With litel loie and plente of meschau?zce,
Of whos dauTzger lerned and expert,
I am falle in meschef and pouert ; 2100
And with gret dool & sorwe ful my brest,
On se and londe, by soupe & nat by est
I am com vn-to 3 oure presence,
And haue declared pleinly in sentence 2104
Myn auentures to ^oure worfinesse,
Of trust only and of feithfulnesse
Jpat I haue to jow in special.
And now I haue rehersid & told al 2108
To 3oure hi3nesse in my best[e] wyse,
Wit/i-oute more — to me it doth* suffise."
2078. eskaped] skapid A, scaped D 1.
2082. y-blent] blent C, A, D 1.
2102. est] west D 1.
2110. to me it doth] it doth to me C.
BK. v] Ulysses is helpt ~by K. Idomeneus, & sails to K.Alphenon. 833
Of ]?e grete comforte that kynge Ydumew^ shewed
to Vlyxes; and howe kynge Alpheon, for his
grete wysdam, ressavyd hym worshipfully, and
conveyed hym to his kyngda?^,1
And pan} in hert he was constreyned sore,
frilk[e] tyme Vlixes spak no more, 2112
But held his pes, ful hevy in lokyng.
And Ydumeus lik a gentil kyng King
. Idomeneus
Couftforted hym al )>at euere he my^t, comforts
And besy was his hert[e] for to li^t, 2116
And hym besoust his heuynesrse] lete, and asks him
7 . to stay in
And as long as hym list in Crete Crete.
With hym abide, — he made hym surete
He shuld[e] faren also* wel as he, 2120
And nat want of what may do him ese.
And whan his sorwe som-what gan apese,
))at his rage drow vn-to an ende,
Leue he toke, & seide he wolde wende 2124 But when
Oute of pat londe home to his contre. go home/
But first ]?e kyng, of fredam & boimte, [leaf noa]
3af vn-to hym gret riches and array, idomeneus
And what-so-euere was vn-to his pay, 2128
Gold, tresour, & many o]>er pinges ; money
And at J>e partynge of J>ese tweyne kynges
Jpere wer shippes whan hi??^ list to saile, and ships,
Eedy stuifid with meyne* and vitaile. 2132
And Jms Vlixes gan hym redy make ; and uiysses
And whan he baj>e his leue fully take,
He hasted hym & toke anoon ]>e se,
And gan saile toward his contre. 2136 sails home-
But first he went to kyng Alphenouw, but nVst
Whiche passingly hadde affecciouw
To sen Vlixes at his home-comyng,
And desirous ouer al[le] thing 2140
To han of hym newly aqueyntaimce :
2111. new H D 1. 2120. also] as C.
2130. >e] om. A, D 1 — tweyne] twoo D 1.
2131. him] hem D 1. 2132. meyne] money C.
2140. oner] of ovir A.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 142 c (misplaced after line 2108).
834
Ulysses hears news of his true wife Penelope. [BK. v
Ulysses is
well receivd,
and hears of
his wife
Penelope,
the crown of
womanhood.
She ever kept
true to her
lord,
tho she often
feard for
him at the
For vn-to hym was inly gret plesaiwce
To here hym talke, for his elloquence,
For his wysdam & his hije prudence. 2144
And )>er he was, after al his smert,
Receyved pleinly with a[s] glad [an] hert
As euere $it was any maner man
SiJ?en tyme fat )>e world be-gan; 2148
And to encres of his Felicite,
J3er herd he first of Penolope,
His trewe wyf, mt/j-oute spot or blame,
Of whom $it grene* is }?e noble fame, 2152
Whiche from hir lord, for al his long absence,
In jjou^t nor dede nevir dide offence,
But sothly was, boj?e in chere & dede,
J^crtij-oute Grece example of wommanhede. 2156
And jit was she, as bokes list expresse,
J^oruj-oute ]>e world merow of fairnes,
And among Grekis born of hijest blood,
Called of auctows bo)>e fair and good; 2160
And $it seyn bokes of hir, douteles,
Was neuer noon J>at had so gret pres,
But she hir kepte, chaiuigmg for no newe,
Vn-to hir lord eue?'e I-liche trewe, 2164
Of hert [ay] oon, nat partid in-to tweyne,
);at she is called queue & souereyne
Of wyfly troupe in pis bokis olde.
And oft, I fynde, hir hert[e] wold[e] colde, 2168
She turne pale for hir lord so ferre,
In hir closet to heren of pe werre,
Of drede she had, & for fere eke quake,
Of fantasies for hir lordes sake ; 2172
For his absence, bofe eve & morwe,
2148. tyme] >e tyme D 1. 2151. or] of A.
2152. 3it grene] grene 3it C.
After 2157 Dl inserts:
Thoraj Grece exaumple of wommanhede
And jit was she with outew ony drede.
2159. of] of >e D 1. 2161. And jit] As D 1.
2169. She turne] And wexe D 1— so] was so D 1.
2170. heren of] >enke on D 1.
2171. Of] And of D 1— & for fere eke] ofte she dide D 1.
2173. eve] on euen D 1.
BK. v] The wifely worth of Penelope. Bad wives and good. 835
Was deth to hir & importable sorwe.
And ay, in sothe, for loie or any game, [leaf H6&]
Whan it fel she herd Hectoris name, 2176 whenever
T i i r.i Penelope
in any place anoon she ill a-swowne, »eard of
Hector, she
And gan hir silf al in teris drowne, 8W°°»d
Of wowmanhed so she was a-ferde for fear that
To here pe slau^ter of his mortal swerde, 2180 meetuiysses.
List hir lord, of kny^tly surquedie,
Hadde of fortune falle in iupartye,
Of hap or sort tamet pat worpi kny^t,
))at selde or neuer she felt hir hert[e] li$t. 2184
And many a dreme * a-ny}tes dide hir gaste,
Al pe while pat pe sege laste ;
And euery play was venym in hir si^t, Absence from
Whan pat she was from hir owne kny^t : 2188
For in pis world she had loie noon away ail
Of hi^e nor lowe, pleinly, but of oon,
For whos sake al myrpe she refuseth.
And who-so be* pat in his hert[e] museth 2192
Of any womman any ping but good,
Of malencolye mevid in his blood,
Lat hym aduerte of wisdam and [y-]se,
And remembre on Penolope, 2196
For his decert list pat he be blamyd !
And. o Guydo, bou shuldest ben * ashamed Guido, you
. . ought to be
To seyn of wy ves any bing but wele : ashamed to
abuso wives !
For, in good feith, as fer as I can fele, 2200
oon or two do among offence,
She pat is good poru$ hir prouidence
Is per-of no ping for to wyte.
And poui Guydo in his boke endite 2204 Against
Helen, Cres-
)3e variauttce of Eleyne or Cryseyde, 8><i, and
Or Medea, pat for sorwe deyde, Medea, set
Lete per ageyn, of ri^t and equite,
)?e wyfly trowpe of Penolope, 2208 Penelope and
j)e maydenhed of $ong[e] Policene, Poiyxena.
2174. &] an D 1. 2185. a dreme] dremes C.
2189. >is] >e D 1— had loie] ioye hadde A.
2192. be] he be C.
2198. And] am. D 1— ben] bem C.
TROY BOOK. 3 I
836 The Conspiracy of certain lords to ravish Penelope. [BK. v
See too the
goodness of
Hecuba,
Cassandra,
Penthesilea.
Ulysses is
told of a con-
spiracy of
lords to
ravish
Penelope
by force;
and tho she
cleverly frus-
trates it,
it enrages
him.
And J?e goodnes of Eccuba pe quene,
Of Cassandra eke pe stedfastnes, —
And vfiih al pis, take pe kyndenes 2212
Of Pantasile, witft-oute variaiwce,
And put al pis to-gidre in balauwce,
And 36 shal fynde, 3if 36 list acouwte,
Maugre who grucchip, trouth[e] shal surmouTite, — 2216
I dar aferme — & here a-weye pe pris :
J)er wil no man replie pat is wys, —
He were to feble in his oppinioura !
And while Vlixes was with Alphenouw, 2220
It was to hym made relaciourc
Of an hatful conspiracies,
}?at certeyn lordis envirouw his contre
Ravisshe wolde his quene Penolope, [leaf nee] 2224
Maugre alle po pat were per ageyn,
Al-be pat she was euere I-like pleyn,
In hir troupe stidefast as a wal.
$et J>ei haue cast, pleynly, pat she shal 2228
Be take of force, it may nat be eschewed,
But it so be in haste she be reskewed :
For pei hem cast pe tyme nat aiourne ;
For day and ny^t vriih hir [pei] soiourne, 2232
Inly in herte for loue disamaied.
But of wisdam she hape hem so delaied,
)}at per was noon so manly nor so sage,
J?at koude of * hir geten avauntage, 2236
So avise she was in hir wirkyng.
And whan Ylixes conceyved al pis ping,
And fully knewe by open evidence,
And also [had] in special credence 224.0
Sent vn-to hym fro Penolope,
]5e mater hool declaringe in secre,
His owne sone Thelamonevs,
He wexe in herte wood and furious, 2244
2210. And] om. D 1. 2225. were] wil be D 1.
2236. of] on C.
2237. avise] avised D 1.
2238. whan] om. D 1 — conceyved] conceyvith A, conceyueth D 1.
2244 is misplaced at the top of the column in C, and marked b ;
2243 is marked a.
BK. v] Ulysses reaches home, and cuts off his Enemies' heads. 837
And wolde make no delacioim,
But in al haste besouste Alphenoun, uiysses begs
. . /. i . i . i Alphenon to
fee my3ti kyng, of his hi3 boiwte
To releue hym in his aduersite, 2248
And pat he wold poru3 his my^ti hond
Of gentilnes conveye hym to his lond.* send him
He grauwtep hym & seip nat onys nay ;
And hope two in ful gret array 2252 Both sail to
Taken pe se whan pe wynd was good ;
Wei fortuned, for no J?ing hem wz't/i-stood,
jpei be arived & hadde no lettyng, ithaca,
Wher Vlixes, as ae han herd, was kyng. 2256
. , , , . . , at night has
And secrely a-ny^t pei wer conveied
To hem pat han his ligaurace disobeied ;
And merciles, or pei my3t a-wake,
In her beddes pei han hem alle take, 2260
Makyng noon prolongyng til pe* morwe,
But in al hast, for no wy^t durst hem borwe,
Smet of her hedes by iugement final ail his foes
And set hem vp on pe castel wal, 2264
Eueryche by oper endelong J>e rowe,
Vp-on pe howr whan J>e cok gan crowe.
And )>us al ny^t pei kept hem silf[e] cloos,
Til pat Phebus meryly aroos 2268 and next
T . , , , morning,
In pe orient, whan J>e larke song ;
And po pis kynges with her meyne strong,
Freshely beseyn, entre pe cite. enters his
Who was po glad but Penolope ! 2272 ™|c'j»mdb
Who made loie but pis goodly Iquene, Penelope.
Ful desirous hir owne lorde to sene ! [leaf i*ad]
But $if I shulde al in ordre sette,
)3e grete myrpe pei made whan pei^mette, — 2276
Make rehersaile of compleintes olde, They ten each
' other their
And how pei gan her hertes to vnfolde troubles.
Eche to oper, and list no ping concele,
2250. lond] hond C. 2253. Taken] Token D 1.
2255. arived] armed D 1.
2257. a-ny^t] by ny}t D 1.
2261. >e] on >e C. 2262. durst] sholde D 1.
2277. Make] And make D 1.
2278. her] om. D 1.
838 Ulysses marries his Son to Alphenoris Daughter. [BK. V
Ulysses's
folk rejoice
at his return.
He makes
much of
Alphenon,
to whose
daughter he
weds his son
Telaraon.
Guido is brief
about all this,
saying that
Alphenon
went home,
and Ulysses
and Penelope
livd happily
till they died.
And J?e gladnes )>at )>ei inly fele, — 2280
3if I shulde put al in memorie,
Jje reioisshinge and ]>e hertly glorie
)?at his liges made at his comynge,
fee costis eke ]>ei hadde at his metynge, 2284
Jpe ^iftes grete and presentis riche,
— In al j)is world, I trow[e], noon I-liche—
It were to long tariyng for my boke ! —
And how ]?at he newe assuraurcce toke 2288
Of his lordis and his liges alle,
And how J>at j)ei to his grace falle,
)pe chere he made eke to Alphenoim
Of gentilnes Jjoru} his hi^e renouw, 2292
And how ])e doubter, inly debonaire,
Of Alphenouw, Nausia J>e faire,
By Ylixes mediacioun*
I- wedded was vn-to Thelamouft, 2296
Born by discent — J?er may no man say nay —
To reioisshe his crowne after his day :
And Jms cam in by his purviaiwce
Of two regnes ]>e my^ti alliaunce, — 2300
And how al J)is brou^t was to J?e knotte,
Men wolde deme me pleinly to sotte,
To presume of oppiniouw
For to delate a descripcioun, 2304
SiJ>en Guydo, touching but J>e chef
In ])is mater, of stile was but bref ,
Shortly rehersing how kyng Alphenouw
Eepeired is horn to his regioun, 2308
And Ylixes in his chefe cite
Abood stille with Penolope,
Where I hym leue in loie and in solace
Til Antropos likej> to purchace 2312
For to ficche finally ]?e date,
j)e thred [to] vntwyne of his lyues fate.
2290. to] vn to A. 2294. Nausia] and Nausia D 1.
2295. mediacioun] meditacioun C.
2302. me pleinly] pleinly me D 1.
2311. 2nd in] om. A.
2313. ficche] tfynyche A.
I mast now
tell you about
Pyrrhus.
His grand-
father was
Peleus,
his grand*
mother
Thetides ;
his father
Achilles,
his mother
Dardania,
and her
grandfather
Atastus,
BK. v] Ancestry of Pyrrhus (Neoptolemus), the son of Achilles. 839
Howe Firms, the sonn of Achilles, scleughe Mena-
lippus and Folistines, sonnes to Atastus, which
kept kenge Pelle out of his kyngdam, to ]>e
which Firms restoryd him ageyne.1
Now mvste I ful besy ben a whyle,
To directe J?e tracis of my stile 2316
In discryving, shortly of entent,
j)e stok of Pirrus by lyneal discent,
Myn auctor folwe & be compendious —
Whos olde fader hi^te Pelleus, 2320
His granmoder called Thetides,
Of whiche two cam wor)>i Achilles,
Jjat at Troye by tresoiw lost his lyf ; [leaf 147 a]
And Dardanya called was his wyf, 2324
Pirrus moder, & doi^ter, as I rede,
Vn-to J?e kyng called Lycomede,
Havyng a fader J>at Atastus hi^te,
Whiche, in sothnes, al J?at euere he my^t 2328
Bare heuy herte to kyng Pelleus,
To Achilles and also to Pirrus, —
To al ]?e* kyn, pleinly, on J>at side.
And of nialis, rancour,* & of pride, 2332
And of envie in an hatful rage,
Whan Pelleus falle was in age
He beraft hym boj>e septer and crowne,
And from his se lowe ali^te him downe ; 2336
And in-to exile, availle may no stryf,
He made hym go with Thetides his wif,
Of hi^e disdeyn, — geyne may no grace, —
And in his hert gan day & ny^t compasse 2340
}3e deth of Pirrus, — kepe him $if he can ! —
And J>er-vp-on maliciously began
To shape a way, by await liggynge
Hym for to slen at his home comynge. 2344
But )>is Pirrus, from his treynes fre,
Many daunger eskaped of )>e se,
2320. olde] bele D 1. 2331. )>e] J>at C.
2332. rancour] of rancour C. 2335. hym] om. A.
2337. in-to exile] in thexyl A.
1 Roval MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 143 c.
who took
Peleus's
realm,
and banisht
him and his
wife,
and tried to
kill Pyrrhus
but he
escaped.
840
Pyrrhus at Malasus. He sails for Thessaly. [BK. v
Pyrrhus first
landed at
Malasus
(Molossis).
His foe
Atastus
has 2 sons
and one
daughter.
Peleus and
his wife are
imprisond in
an old castle.
Pyrrhus sails
for Thessaly,
but sends 2
spies before
him.
Many wawe and many tempest wood,
With gret[e] los boj>e of men and good, 2348
At Malasus aldirfirst gan londe,
A strong* cite a litel fro fe stronde,
Wher J?at he was refreshed wonder wel.
And ]>er he knewe groiwde & euerydel, 2352
First of j?e exile, like as men hym tolde,
Of Thetides and Pelleus Jje olde,
And how Atastus bar to hym hatrede
Vn-to J>e deth; wher-of he gan drede, 2356
And pou^t he wolde, as he fat was ri^t wys,
Be som engyn eschewen his malys,
And Jjer-vp-on don his besy peyne.
Now hadde Atastus ofer sonys tweyne, 2360
Menalippus and Polistenes,
And a doubter called Thetides.
And al j>is while woful Pelleus,
In a castel olde and ruynous, 2364
With Thetides, ful of sorwe and care,
For drede of deth day & ny$t gan dare,
Dis[es]peired in his vnweldy age
Recur to finde of J>is mortal rage, 2368
Except J?at he had an hope of 3ore
)2at Pirrus shuld help him and restore
At his repeir, whan-so J>at it falle —
After whos comyng often he gan calle, [leaf U7&] 2372
])Q tyme curse J?at he so long abood.
But whan Pirrus* al J>is vndirstood
At Malasus by relaciouw,
Ful faste he gan haste oute of J>e touw, 2376
Toke ]?e se and faste gan hym hy$e
Toward J>e lond called Thesalye,
Of entent to maken ordinauwce
On Atastus for to do vengauwce. 2380
But aldirfirst, ])is Pirrus ful prudent,
Espies tweyne he to-forn hath sent
2347. Many (both)] many a D 1.
2350. strong] straimge C — 2nd a] om. A.
2362. called] y callid A, y called D 1.
2372. calle] falle D 1. 2374. Pirrus] >at Pirrus C.
2375. by] by trewe D 1. 2377. Toke] And tooke D 1.
BK. v] PyrrJius lands in Thessaly, and meets Peleus.
841
To Thesalye forj>e to-gidre goon ;
And Crilippus called was jje ton,
And Adrastus named was his fere —
}3ei wern expert, hem nedeth nat to lere.
In whos expleit, to more avaiwtage,
J)is Pirrus haj?e direct his message 2388
Of Thesalye to a cite^eyn
Called Assandrus, a maner chamberleyn
With Pelleus, and whilom ful secre
While he was flouringe in felicite.
And whan Pirrus, in conclusioun,
Knewe al J>e sothe by relacioim,
On se nor lond hym ne list to * tarie,
Al-be )?at he fond J?e wynde contrarie ; 2396
But he, eskaped many dredful stourcdis,
Of Thesalye aproche)> to J>e bouwdis :
For Eolus hath his lust obeied,
And, of fortune wonderly conveied, 2400
He driven was, as it wer, by grace
To ariven in ]>e same place
Wher Pelleus in a doolful cave
For drede of deth lay hym silf to saue, 2404
Soule saue his wyf, with-o\iten any feris,
Al enclosed with busshes and with breris.
And Pirrus per went vp first to londe,
Sool by hym silf walkyng on ]?e stronde, 2408
Pensif and trist, and his weye toke
Where Pelleus in J>e caue quoke,
Hauyng with hym jjo noon o]>er guyde
Saue his swerd hangynge by his syde. 2412
And vnwarly, with a dredful hert,
Pelleus oute of J>e caue sterte
Disamayed, of his lyf in doute,
Whan he behelde a kny^t Jjere walke aboute, 2416
And astonyd abood & stood ful stille,
Imaginynge j>at he sawe Achille,
By )>is Pirrus stondyng in ]>e place,
2385. Adrastus] Adastrus A. 2391. whilom] so?ntyme D 1.
2395. to] nat C. 2398. Of] And of D 1.
2415. of] and of D 1.
2384 Pyrrhus's
spies
go to a citizen
of Thessaly
to get
information.
2392 WhenPyr-
rhus knows
all is safe,
he sails to
where
Peleus is,
in a cave;
and when
he lands,
Peleus
thinks
he, Pyrrhus,
is Achilles,
842 Peleus tells Pyrrhus his story. Atastus & his Sons hunt. [BK. v
for Pyrrhus
is so like his
father.
His grand-
father Peleus
embraces
him,
and tells him
his mis-
fortunes,
and how
Atastus
hates him.
Pyrrhus goes
back to his
ship,
and hears
that Atastus
and his 2 sons
are hunting
near.
He dresses as
a poor man,
takes his
sword,
and goes to
the forest.
By alle J>e signes shewid in his face : 2420
For nature, with-oute variaimce, [leaf 147 c]
Made hem so lik of chere & contenauwce,
Of forme, of shap, and lymys euerychon,
ftat difference in effect was noon. 2424
And Pelleus, with-oute lenger space,
Gan anoon Pirrus to enbrace,
And abraide oute of his dedly Jjou^t,
And for loie sette al his sorwe at noi^t ; 2428
And gan to hym by & by declare
Bo])e his exile and his euele fare,
His pitous lyf, his pouert & meschauwce,
And Fortunys fals[e] variaimce, 2432
And of Adastus be feruent hoot envie,
I)Q cruelte and be tyranye —
Ceriously he told Pirrus al.
And he, ful sobre, stood stille as a wal. 2436
With face pale and in hert[e] wroth,
Specheles to ship a-geyn he gooth ;
And ber [he] was informed, dout[e]les,
J?at Menalippus and Polistenes 2440
And Adastus, to-gidre alle bre,
With huge array and a gret nieyne
J5e same day, ful snrquedous of pride,
Hunte a forest, a litel bere beside. 2444
And whan Pirrns ber-of toke good hede,
With-oute a-bood chauwge gan his wede,*
Ful porely, rent, and disarayed,
— Liche a man pat were for bou^t dismaied — 2448
Girt with his swerde, made no delay,
But to be forest toke be ry$t[e] way,
Sool by hym silf, with-oute companye,
So secrely bat no man my^t espie. 2452
And as he drewe many diuers bouwdis,
He herdfe] homes & vncouplyng of houradis ;
2422. hem] hym A. 2423. and] of D 1.
2432. And] And also D 1. 2433, 2441. Adastus] Atastus A.
2444. 2nd a] om. A. 2445. toke good] had take D 1.
2446. wede] wete C.
2453. And as he] As he hat D 1— many] to many D 1.
2454. &] om. A, D 1.
BK. v] Pyrrhus tells a lying Story to Atastus's two Sons. 843
And, like a man J?at list make his mone
Fro si$t of folke, he drewe him ay allone.
And, casuely disseuered fro J>e pres,
First he mette with Polistenes,
Menalippus ridyng by his side ;
And bo)>e two on Pirrus gan abide,
And boistously of hym to enquere
Fro whens he cam & also what he were,
So febly clad and of so pore estate,
Walkyng pere as he were disolat.
And lowly he of chere & contenaiwce,
Stille and humble in his dalliaiwce,
Answerid ageyn, & seyde how J>at he
Fordriven was with meschef of* j>e se,
And affermyd, pale & no jring red,
His felaship drowned was and ded —
Fyve hurcdrid — J?e wawes were so rage —
Of olde & ^onge and of mydel age —
And he eskaped — J>e tempest was so rif,
As he hem tolde, — vnnepe with ]>e lyf.
And, ouer-more, he tolde hem platly eke,
Towching his birpe, J?at he was a Greke,
And went[e] per, destitut of loie,
Late comen fro ]?e sege of Troye,
And besoust hem toward his lyving
To helpen hym with som refreshing,
As hym )>at had catel loste and good,
Like as pei sawe naked how he stood,
Praiyng also, in hope it shulde availe,
Hym to releue with eloping or vitaile,
To his refut sumwat to prouide.
And pei bad hym pat he shuld abide ;
For pei wil wit, pleynly, what he can.
And pilk[e] whyle be-sides he??^ per ran
A ful gret hert doun by pe riuer ;
And Menalippus priked his courser,
2456
2460
2464
2468
Pyrrhus
meets Atas-
tus's 2 sons,
Polisthenea
and Mena-
He tells em
[leaf 147 d]
how 500 of
liis men were
2472 drowndat
sea,
but he
escaped,
2476 and is a
Greek
come from
the siege of
Troy.
2480
He begs food
and goods of
2484 them.
2488
2459. Menalippus] And Menalippus D 1.
2461. of] to A— to] gan D 1. 2468. of] on C.
2481. hym] he D 1. 2485. refut] refuyt D 1.
2487. wit] wete A, D 1.
844 Pyrrhus kills Atastus's two Sons, and a Knight of his. [BK. V
Menalippus
follows a stag.
Polisthenes
dismounts
and lies
down.
Pyrrhus
kills him,
and Mena-
lippus too,
when he
returns ;
as well as
Cynaras,
a knight of
Atastus's.
Pyrrhus goes
back to his
ship,
As hym sempte it was to hym dewe,
)3oru3 J>inne & pikke only to pwrswe 2492
He spareth nat, but alweye after rood ;
And his broker with Firms stille abood —
Polistenes — and toke of it noon hede,
But in al haste a-^te fro his stede, 2496
On Jje grene to reste hym )>er beside,
As he pat was wery for to ryde,
With-oute meyne beyng hym silffe] sool,
Lestyuge of Pirrus J?e compleint & j?e dool. 2500
But sodeynly, or he nry^t aduerte,
Cruel Pirrus ran hym to f>e herte,
And left hym ded, lyggynge on )>e plein.
"Whan Menalippus repeired was ageyn, 2504
Seynge his broker baskyng in his blood,
And Pirrus eft, furious and wood,
With a face of colour pale and wan,
To Menalippus in his ire ran,* 2508
And slowe hym eke, or J>at he toke hede.
And Jms j?ei laie on J>e grouwde & blede,
))e brewer two, with Pirrus swerd I-slawe.
And he anon aside gan hym drawe, 2512
Metyng a kny^t, wer it of sort or cas,
As seith J>e story, called Cynaras,
Of whom Pirrus gan in hast enquere,
Whos man he was or what he dide [tjhere ; 2516
And he answered, & made no tariynge,
He was servauwte with J?e my^ti kyng
Called Atastus, lord of ]?at centre. [leaf us a]
And Pirrus ]?o, of dedly enmyte, 2520
With cruel swerde, al freshe & red of blod,
Ran hym poru^-oute, as any lyouw wood.
And after J>at )>e forest he forsoke,
And in al hast ]>e ri$t[e] weye he toke 2524
To ship ageyn, pale & blak of hewe,
2491. hym] it A.
2497, 98 are transposed in D 1, and marked b and a.
2500. Lestynge] Listnynge D 1— 2nd he] om. A.
2502. Cruel] Cruelly D 1. 2504. Whan] And whamie D 1.
2508. ran] he ran C. 2511. I-slawe] slawe D 1.
2519. Atastus] Adrastus D 1.
BK. v] Pyrrhus meets Atastus, and says he is Priam's son. 845
And gan anon to araie hym newe, dresses in
A, . ., , . , , . ._. royal purple,
Al in purpil, wmche, as clerkes telles,
Is for kynges & for no wy$t elles. 2528
And Jjarane Pirrus, freshe & wel be-seyn,
To J>e forest repeired is ageyn,
Wher sodeynly of hap in his walkyng
In short while he mette with ]>e kyng, 2532 meets King
Old Atastus, pat asked of Pirrus,
"What man art J>ou, [fat] be J>i silf[e] Jms
Walkest )ws [here] al day to and fro ? "
" Certes," quod Pirrus, " ful of sorwe & wo, 2536
Inly supprisid of hertly compleynyng,
Oon of Jje sonys of Prianms )>e kyng and says he
I was whilom, put oute of memorie, Priam's sons,
Whan J>at Troye floured in his glorie, 2540
Now refutles, in-to meschef bro^t,
I walke sool, ful of care & J>ou$t,
Per in exile oute of Troie touw,
With cruel Pirrus to lyven in presouw, 2544 imprisond by
Bourcde vn-to hym, J?ou3 me be ful loth,
Myn hond assured with many ful gret oth
Tobeye his lust in captiuite —
Lo, here is al, — Jms it stant with me ! " 2548
Howe Atastus enquyred of Pirrus if he knewe ought
of Pirrus governance, and Pirrus made him a
synge to J>e Cave wher Pelle was, to thentent
to scley hym in lokenge thidere.1
Atastus )>o, of entenciouw, Atastus asks
After many o]?er questiouw,
Enquered of hym in his daliauwce,
3if he knewe ou$t of Pirrus gouernauwce, 2552
Or 2if bat he koude ouat vnderstonde him where
Pyrrhus i*.
Wher he hym kepte sith he cam to londe.
"I-wis," quod he, "jif 36 list hym haue,
2527. Al] As D 1. 2533. Atastus] Adastus D 1.
2535. >us] om. D 1— al day] a day D 1.
2539. whilom] som tyme now D 1. 2541. in-to] nowe to D 1.
2549. Atastus] Adastus D 1. 2550. oj>er] anothir D 1.
2551. Enquered] Conqueryd A, Enqueringe D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 144 c.
846 Thetides pray sPyrrhus to spare Atastus. Peleus appears. [BK. V
Pyrrhus
•ays,
in yon cave,
and draws
his sword to
slay Atastns.
But Queen
Thetides
prays him to
spare her
father.
Pyrrhus,
raging,
says he'll kill
Atastus for
banishing
Peleus.
On which,
Peleus is
brought out
of the cave.
He kepij) hym cloos in ]>e 3onder cave 2556
Amonge bruskaile with a shrouded face," —
Makyng a signe to J?e same place.
And al was doon for an ydel ma^e :
For while ]>e kyng J>edirward gan ga$e, 2560
Hasti Pirrus gan his swerd oute drawe
In purpos f ul Atastus to haue slawe ;
But wonderly, J>e story can $ow lere,
Queue Thetides dide anoon appere, 2564
Al be-reyned with terys on hir face,
And gan J>e swerd of Pirrus to embrace,
Preiyng hi?ft his dedly hond restreyne. 2567
" Hastow * nat slayn my ^ong[e] breper tweyne? — [leaf us &]
And now, alias ! my fader, hoor and gray,
Merciles fro me wilt take a-way 1
Put vp ]ji swerde ! & no blood ne shede !
And haue pite vp-on Jri kynrede, 2572
And aduerte clerly to ]?e fyn,
How ]?ou art come of ])e same lyne,
And hatful is, who-so loke a-ri3t,
Vnkynde blood in euery mamiys sijt." 2576
And Pirrus Jx>, as any tigre wro]?e,
Gan afferme, with many ful gret ofe,
))at who-so grucche or a-geyn[e]s pleyne,
He shal hym sleen with his hondis tweyne : 2580
" For hath nat he be fals extorcioim
Put Pelleus oute of his regiouw,
Whiche is ^our lord, & 36 his trewe wif ? —
Jjat finally he shal lese his lyf, 2584
And here anoon of myn hondis deye ; —
In Jns mater J?er is no more to seye."
But Pelleus, darynge in Jje cave,
Of grace only list his* lif to saue — 2588
Al o)>er help platly is for nou^t.
And Pelleus was anoon for]?e brou^t,
Croked & olde, vnweldy eke to se,
And to-fore Pirrus fil douw on his kne, 2592
2556. >e] om. D 1. 2562. Atastns] Adastus D 1.
2568. Hastow] And hastow C. 2578. many] many a D 1.
2588. his] hir C.
Pyrrhus spares Atastus. They are to share the Rule ofThessaly. 847
Beseching hvm vriih a pitous face Peieus begs
, , . . , . Pyrrhus not
At nis request taken hym to grace,
And J?at he wold in his manly herte
Goodly considre J>e dedly wo & smerte 2596
Of Atastus. and be mortal pevne to kin
r Atastus,
J)at he hadde for his sonys tweyne,
Whiche laie ded to-forn hym on J>e grene, whose 2 sons
" Slayn viiih $our swerde J>at is so sharp & kene, 2600
Whiche he ne may recuren in no wyse,
J)e sorwe of whiche* ou^t I-now sufFyse,
ftou} $e on hym do no more vengaurcce :
Al J>is peised iustly in balauwce ; 2604
Sith he is hooly submitted to $our my$t,
Take]) now hym to merci anoon ri$t,
And late $oure swerd his age not consume —
J3is my request, as I dar presume." 2608
And }>araie Pirrus, shortly for to seyn, Pyrrhus
Whan he hadde put vp his swerd ageyn,
Seynge merci my^tje] most availe,
With-onie wordis or any rehersaile, 2612
First of al, to-forn hem euerychon,
be kynges made accorden in-to oon, Then he and
J J ° Atastus agree
By his wisdam, concluding vp in dede,
}5at eche of hem shulde his ri3t possede 2616
In Thesalye, parted in-to tweyne, [leaf use] to divide
)3at noufer hadde mater to compleyne,
Eueryche to regne in his dewe se.
And while ]>ei were to-gidre alle jjre, 2620
Oute of presence of any o)>er man,
Atastus first Jms his tale gan :
Howe Atastus resygnede his parte of the kyngdam
of Thesalye to his cosyne Pirrus.1
" Sirs," quod he, " to ^ow is nat vnknowe
How J>oru3 age now I am hrou^t lowe, 2624 proposal
2602. whiche] swiche C. 2603. Je] thou A.
2608. }?is] This is D 1. 2609. new 1 A.
2614. made] he made D 1. 2617. in-to] in A.
2622. gan] bigan D 1. 2623. new 1 D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 145 a.
848
Atastus gives up Thessaly to Pyrrhus. [BK. v
feeble,
and hie eons
dead,
resigns the
crown of
Thessaly
ng And j)oru3 naturis kyndly mocyouw
Am wexe feble of wyt and [of] resouw,
Beyng vnweldy of my lymes alle
— So many ^eris am vp-on me falle — 2628
And can vnejje any )>ing discerne,
To feble, in soth, a kyngdam to gouerne,
Of lyf nor deth takyng now noon hede,
Sith my sonys slay[e]n ben and dede, 2632
And sool am left now wet/i-oute eyr,
Of worldly lust fully in dispeir,
j?e tyme passed of my felicite.
Fortunys turne with mvtabilite 2636
Hath tau^t me, plewly, I dar it wel expresse,
In worldly loie is no sikernesse,
Nor verray trust no while to abide ;
But I wil now for my silf prouide, 2640
And in al hast, by prudent puruyauwce,
Me discharge * of al gouernauwce —
Ageyn my sort me list not maligne ;
But septer & crowne frely I resigne, 2644
Of Thesalye lordshipe & eke lond
Of my fre wil hool in-to ]>in hond, —
)per schal no man reclayme nor* seye nay,
Interupte nor make no delay 2648
Touching j>is J?ing, by no collusiouw,
For I J>e putte in* pocessioura."
And, here-vp-on, of al fat euere he seide
Makyng ful feith, his hond in his he leide, 2652
Quene Thetides sittyng J?ere present.
And Pelleus, of J>e same en tent,
Yn-to Pirrus for his purpa[r]tye
Eesigned eke J>e ri3t of Thesalye, 2656
Fully affermyng J?at of $ore a-go
His ful desire and his loie also
Was euere in oon his nevew to succede,
As ri3tful eyr his kyngdam to possede, 2660
2626. Am] I am D 1. 2628. arn] bene D 1.
2632. Sith] Sithen D 1. 2637. tau^t] caujte D 1.
2642. discharge] dischange C. 2646. hool] hoolly A.
2647. nor] & C, ne D 1. 2650. in] in >e C.
2651. here-vp-on] ther upon A.
BK. v] Pyrrhus is crownd King of Thessaly.
" And outerly, wM-oute repentaurcce,
Al pat longe]) [vn-]to my lig[e]auwce,
Septer & swerd, crowne* & diademe,
So as a kyng lyf and* deth to deme,
In-to )>in bond, w/tft-oute lenger date,
)?is same lioure hooly I translate." [leaned]
And whan J>e knotte of fis co?menciou?i
Was fully brou^t to conclusions,
Parformyd vp hool J>e vnite
For euermore, atwen J>ese kynges J)re,
Atastus kny3tes, disseuered envirouw,
Oute of }>e forest be descended douw,
And be bidding, platly, of her lord
Jpei were echon sworn to J)is acord.
And attonis ]>is lusti companye
To Thesalye fast[e] gan hem hi^e ;
And Pirrus folke, ligginge on j>e se,
Be seiled for)>e, streit to J)e cite.
And Atastus doth sette a parlement,
Where openly he gaf coramauwdement
jpat alle his liges, of hi^e or* lowe estat,
WM-oute strif or any more debate,
Specially of gentil blod y-born,
J?e same day to Pirrus to be sworn
Like her degres in J>e royal halle,
To perseuere his trew[e] liges alle
Durynge her lyf, for ernest or for game.
And Pelleus coramauwded hafe ]?e same
For his parti, wz't^-outen any fraude.
And fus "with loie & solemne laude,
Pirrus was of euery maner age
Gladly accepted to his heritage.
And on a day fortunat and good,
With glad aspectus whan )>e heuene stood,
Wei according to swiche maner J>ing,
Worjri Pirrus was y-crowned kyng
849
2664
2668
2672
When this
is settled,
Atastus's
knights
2676 and
Pyrrhua's
men sail to
Thessaly.
2680
All the folk
2684 swear alle-
giance to
Pyrrhus,"
2688
2692
and he is
crownd King
2696 of Thessaly.
2662. to] vnto A. 2663. swerd crowne] crowne swerd C.
2664. and] or C. 2675. And] Alle D 1.
2679. Atastus] Adastus D 1. 2681. or] & C.
2689. For] On D 1. 2696. y-crowned] crowned D 1.
850 Menalippus and Polisthenes are buried royally. [BK. v
I'll not say
anything of
the Corona-
tion revels,
but turn to
Meriones,
King of
Crete,
who was suc-
ceeded by his
brother.
Atastus
buries royally
Menalippus
and Poll-
sthenes.
I'll now tell
you the end
of Pyrrhus.
Of Thesalye, ]>e riche regiourc —
It were but veyn to make mencioiw
Of her reuel ne her gret array,
NOT of Jje fest made Jje same day, 2700
Eke in J?e story I fynde it nat, in soth.
I wyl passe ouer as myn auctor doth —
Saue in his boke it is specefied
J?at J>e kyngdam was fer magnified 2704
Of Thesalye by J>e grete rny^t
Of ]?is Pirrus, whilom so good a kny^t,
Where I leue hym in his royal se,
Tournyug agayn to kyng Ydumee, 2708
Whiche in jris while was graue vnder stoon.
And after hym, his sone Mereoiw,
j)e story seith, was crownyd ki/zg of Crete ;
But a while regnyng in quyete, 2712
He deide also — it wold[e] be noon oj)er.
And ]>awne anon Leorica, his broker,
As ri^tful eyr be successions [icafiwa]
Was crowned kyng of fat regiouw, 2716
In whiclie tyme Atastus, out of drede,
By ]?assent of Pirrus, as I rede,
Ful besi was to make in special
A riche toumbe, passyngly royal, 2720
Where buried wern \viih ful huge pres
Menalippus and Polistenes,
Bo]?e two in ]>e forest slawe
jporu^ Pirrus swerde, be ful cruel la we — 2724
Of hem can I noon o)>er processe make,
But euene her fully my leve * I take
Of hem boj>e, and also eke yfere
Of Atastus, her owne fader dere, 2728
Of whom, sothly, for al his lokkes hore,
In Troye boke rede I can no more.
But now mvst I ageyn to Pirrus* wende,
To write of hym pe sory woful* ende, 2732
2706. whilom] somtyme D 1.
2714. And >awne] Thanne in haste D 1.
2717. Atastus] Adastus D 1. 2719. Ful] But D 1.
2724. be] with D 1— cruel] gret D 1. 2726. leve] tale 0^
2731. Pirrus] pwrpos C. 2732. sory woful] woful sory C.
Pyrrhus
falls, madly
in love with
Hermione,
the wife of
Orestes ;
ravishes her,
and takes her
home as his
BK. v] Pyrrhus ravishes Hermione, the wife of Orestes. 851
Whiche, whati he sat hi;est in his se,
Made ful blind wit/?, veyn prosperite,
Gouernyng ]>e lond of Thesalye,
He falsly fil in-to a fantasie
To sette his loue on Hermyon ]>e quene,
Horestes wyf, regnynge in Methene,
For whom he brent hoot as any fyre.
And in fulfillyng of his foule desire,
His pwrpos hool )>us he brou^t aboute :
Hir rauyssynge whil hir lord was oute,
Lad hir hoom & hilde hir as his wyf,
Semyng to hym it was a blisful lyf
And ful reles of his peynes smerte.
Of whiche Horestes bar ful hevy herte,
And cast hym pleynly avengid for to be
Whan he may haue opportunyte ;
For )>ilk[e] tyme, pou^ he had[de] wrong,
He was to feble & Pirrus was to strong.
Whiche held also, in stori it* is tolde,
Andronomeca with hym in housholde,
Hectoris wyf, by whom whylom she Ijad
A litel child, whiche with hir she lad —
)3e sege complet and destrucciouw —
Whan she was brou^t out of Troye tourc :
Lamedonta, I fynde, was his name,
Encresyng after to ful worjn fame.
And by Pirrus she had a sone also
Called Achilleydos, so as writ Guydo ;
And J>is wommen, for al hir gret estate,
Atwen hem silf amonge wern at debate :
And Hermonye, in hir Ire al hoot,
In compleynyng to hir fader wrot
ftat hir fere, for al hir hi$e degre,
Andronomeca was cherisshed bet J?an she
Of kyng Pirrus, besechyng Menelay
Tenhasten hym, in al ]>at euere he may,
Come hym silf anoon fat it were do,
2736
2740
2 744
2748
2752
2756
by whom he
has a son,
2760 Achilleidos.
tlio he baa
there
Andromache,
Hector's
wife,
[leaf u»&] 2764
2768
Hermione
writes in
wrath to her
father, Mene-
laus.
that Pyrrhun
prefers
Andromache
to her.
2736. falsly] fully D 1. 2751. it] as C.
2753. whylom] somtyme D 1. 2756. out of] vn to D 1.
2762. Atwen] Betwene D 1.
TROY BOOK. 3 K
852
Orestes kills Pyrrhus in the He of Delos. [BK. v
To sle )>is woman & hir* childe also.
And he bood nat, "but faste gan hi??z
In an hete, towarde Thesalye
tries to kiii To be vened with his swerde of stele
AHdromstche;
but she is
rescued from
him.
Vp-on hir pat trespasse]?* neuer-a-dele.
But maugre hym, in al his cruelte,
She was reskewed myd of pe cite.
It is a )>ing whiche ha]>* nat ben herd :
To a wo?wman a kyng to drawe his swerd-
I wil no more in ]>is mater dwelle,
In maner shamed it to write or telle.
2772
2776
2780
This was
while
Pyrrhus was
in Delos,
to pray to
Apollo for
the soul of
Achilles.
Orestes goes
to Delos with
his knights,
ami slave
Pyrrhus.
How Cruelly kynge Horrestes, in the Tempylle of
Appollo within the Ille of Delos, scleugh Pirrus,
for that he had ravisshede quene Hermone, his
wyff, and here kept in avoutreye.1
But }>is was doon while Pirrus of corage
To Delos was goon on pilgrymage,
Havyng with hym but a litel rout,
To Appollo to knelen & to loute, 2784
For ]?e soule to preyen of Achille,
And his avowes also to fulfille,
And ]>anken hym with hu??zble affecciourc
Of good expleit he had at Troye tourc, 2788
And for wreche, also, })at was take
At pe cite for his faderis sake.
But al ]?is )>ing here y-specified
Kyng Horestes warly hath espied, 2792
And to Delos gan hasten him ful ri^t,
Ledyng with hym many lusty kny^t ;
And vnwaiiy he with Pirrus mette,
And vengably vp-on hym he sette, 2796
feat finally in )>at strauwge londe
Horestes slow hym with his owne hond.
2770. hir] >is C. 2774. trespasse>] trespassed C.
2776. myd of] amid D 1. 2777. ha>] has C.
2781. of] om. D 1.
2791. al] for al D 1— y-specified] specified D 1.
2794. many] many a D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 145 d.
BK. v] Pyrrhus is buried. Orestes recovers his wife Andromache. 853
I fynde, in soth, he made no diffence,
So sodeyn was J?e mortal violence 2800
Of his enmy, he koude nat asterte : mn'tdetad
„ himself,
.bor or fat he my^t his^werd aduerte,
He was on hym enviroim al be-set,
ftilke tyme it my^tfe] be no bet ; 2804
For J?er was nouper socour nor declyn.
ftus was Firms brou^t vn-to his fyn, and is wid.
Late crowned kyng of Thesalye.
Lo, here be guerdouw of avoutfelrie ! 2808 see the
T ., reward of
JLo, now pe mede and reward is fill rif, adultery:
To mysuse anoper ma?inys wyf !
It is no drede, folowe shal vengaimce,
Sodeyn deth, or vnwar meschaimce, 2812
Whiche euery man gretly ou^te charge. [leaf iwcj
And in Delos in a temple large
Kyng Firms was lokked vnder stoon ; Pyrrhus is
And Horestes forthe his weie is goon, 2816 Orestes takes
111. i • f his wife
And by torce gat his wyi ageyn — home.
)per was no wy^t durste hym J>o wet^-seyn —
And to Methene proudly is repeired.
And Thesalye, pitously dispeired,* 2820 Theswiy i«
Destitut, as fei fat can no red,
Whan )>ei wist her wor]?i kyng was ded —
And eyr was noon, by successions an heir to
To gouerne ]?at noble regiou?z 2824
Sane Achilleydos, bat but litel a-forn except
T ,* . AchilleiUos,
In rirrus abscence was in Grece born,
Fully of age nat a quarter clene :
)5e 3ou)>e of whom, sothly, was to grene, 2828 who is too
Who liste considre, & to tendre of my^t,
Ful many day, to reieishe his ri$t,
And to goue?*ne with septer in his hond
J?e large bou^dis of so gret a lond. 2832
And }it )>is child, likly and ri^t faire,
In verray soth was born to ben eyre
2805. nouj>er socour] socoure noon D 1.
2808. here] howe D 1. 2809. fnl rif] ful of strif D 1.
2813. gretly oujte] ou3te gretly for to D 1.
2820. dispeired] disepeired C, disespeyred A.
2827. of age] om. D 1. 2830. many] many a D 1.
854? The Trojan captives in Thessaly are set free. [BK. v
After Pirrus : pis is pe trouthfe] pleyn —
J3er was no man J>at list it wM-seyu. 2836
when But, I fvnde, whan he cam to age
Acl.illeidos . J
comes of age, He resigned hool his hery tage
he resigns
Thessaly to ^0 h{s broper frely and his ri$t —
Hecto?'- son Lamedonte, a wonder manly kny^t, 2840
)pat was discendid of Troianysshe blood,
Doun fro pe stook of hym J)at was so good,
Flour of kny3thod, diffence of Frigia,
j)at hym begat on Andronomeca — 2844
Ordeyned now, who-so gruche or frowne,
Of Thesalye for to here pe crowne.
And whan he was made lord of pat lond,
And al was frely resigned to his hond, 2848
who orders He hath comauwded, no man dar replie,
all the Trojan , <• i mi i
captives Jjoru^ pe kyngdam 01 al Inesalye,
)3at alle pat wern in captiuite
Or prisoners of Troye pe cite, 2852
For loue or hate, excepciou?^ was noon,
to be set free, Jjat alle shulde at her large goon,
By ful assent of Achilleydos ;
And swiche as wern eke in presoim cloos, 2856
"WWi-oute raunsou?^ shal deliue?'ed be,
And reioisshe pe fulle liberte
By custom vsid, bo]>e in borwe & toun,
Of J>e liges of J?at regioura. 2860
And jjus )je folke \>ai cam pral fra Troye
to their great Restored ben sodeinly to loie [leaf U9d]
By Lamedonte, and I-maked fre.
And he eke regned in his royal se 2864
Ful my^tely, as I haue made mynde ; —
In Troye boke no more of hym I finde,
Nor of Pirrus, nor of his kynred.
Fro hens forj>e I can no processe rede, 2868
But incidentes pat here no substaurace,
Whiche were but veyn to put in remembrance,
2835. is] om. A. 2841. Troianysshe] Troyans D 1.
2848. to] in to D 1. 2859. borwe] burgh A.
2864. regned] regneth A, D 1.
2868. processe rede] more precede D 1.
BK. v] Miraculous appearance of King Menon' s dead Queen. 855
— Except myn auctor, I not to what entent, Guide here
Here Impeth in a litel incident 2872 Sen?"
I-wrou^t & doon of ful $ore a-goon,
Touching )>e deth of ]>e kyng Menon, about King
Whiche be envie of cruel Achilles
Was slawe, in soth, among Mirundones, 2876
Only for he proudly gan purswe
Vp-on Achilles Troylus to reskwe.
Whom kyng Priam made buried be
Beside Troylus in Troye J?e cite, 2880
In a temple y-bilt of marbil olde.
Howe quene Menone, longe aftire that she dyed,
kam to ]?e towmbe of here husbonde, & karide
away his bones.1
And to what fyn [|>at] Jris tale is tolde,
In J>is chapitle I shal reherse anoon :
fte noble quene of J>is kyng Menon, 2884 His dead
After J?e tyme long & many day
)3at she was ded & grauerc vnder clay,
At hys toumbe heuenly gan appere deckt with
Al be-set with bri^t[e] stems clere, 2888 appears at
Whos similitude, for to rekne al,
Was lyke a }>ing ]>at were immortal,
)3at no man my^t outterly sustene
To beholde, — of lok she was so shene, — 2892
DOUTI discendyng fro ]>e firmament,
Ful many man being J>ere present,
Clad in a mantel ful celestial,
And of hir port passingly royal, 2896
With swet[e]nes freshe as any rose, —
Made in al haste )?e toumbe to vnclose * opens it,
Of hir lord, & take]? oute J>e bonys, bones,
And in a cheste made of gold & stonys 2900 them in a
2874. 2nd )>e] om. D 1. 2878. Troylus] to Troylus D 1.
2881. y-bilt] bilte D 1. 2883. new IT A.
2885. many] many a D 1. 2894. many] many a D 1.
2898. vnclose] enclose C.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 1466 (misplaced after line 2882).
856 . Lydgate is weary ; l>ut will tell Ulysses's end. [BK. v
Menon's
Queen then
disappears ;
and as this is
beyond my
reason,
I'll tell you
the end of
Ulysses,
and sharpen
my pen to
do it,
for I'm tired,
and near the
end of my
Troy Book.
She couched hem, as fast as euer she may,
Disapered, & wente anoon hir way.
And to-for J?at nor after, in certeyn,
In Jjilke place she was neuer seyn. 2904
So??mie affermyng, as by liklynes,
She was oujjer auwgel or goddes,
J3e soule or fate of j?e same kyng —
I can not deme in swiche heuenly ping, 2908
Nor fer-in holde noon oppinioiw,
For it transcendeth, shortly, my resouw.
And me list nat in swiche mater diffyne, [leaf isoo]
But resort ri$t as any lyne 2912
To Ylixes, & a while dwelle,
Of his ende }>e surplus for to telle,
And how J?at he my$t[e] nat eskape
])e parodye,* J>at was for hym shap ; 2916
For Parchas han his laste terme set,
And Antropos mesured oute & met
His lyues jjrede, on ]>e rokke sponne.
Defende ]?i silf, Vlixes, $if J>ou konwe ! 2920
Shewe )>i manhod, & be nat afferde,
And be wel war of ])i sonys swerde !
For I shal now, lyk as I am wont,
Sharpen my penne, boj>e rude & blont, 2924
To descryue J>e fyn of J>i soiour,
Yp-on J?e bouwdis set of my labour :
For almost wery, feint & waike I-now
Be )>e bestes & oxes of my plow, 2928
J)e longe day ageyn ]?e hil to wende.
But almost now at ]>e londes ende
Of Troye boke, ficche I wil a stake,
Saue I mote spende a fewe lines blake 2932
))e laste chapitle shortly to translate
Of al J>is werke, and ympen in ]>Q date
Of * }>ilke day deth sette on hym arest,
Ful execute by hym he louede best. 2936
2916. parodye] parodoye C. 2919. sponne] y sponne D 1
2931. ficche] pycche A.
2933. chapitle] chapitre A, D 1.
2935. Of] On C.
2940
2944
2948
BK. v] Ulysses's Dream. A lovely Lady appears to
Of A wonderful dreme that kynge Vlyxes had, and
J>e last in his days, which was a[ss]ingede by his
clerkes, that one next of his blode shulde gyve
hym his dethes wownde.1
LOwe on my knees now I muste loute
To J>ilk[e] god fat make]) men to route,
And causeth folke to haue glad[e] swevenes,
Boj?e at morwe & on lusti evenes,
Whan Morpheus, with his slepi wond,
Whiche ]>at he holdeth alweie in his bond,
Hath marked hem a-geyn J)e dirke nyjt,
To makew men bo)>e mery and ly$t,
And som while for to han gladnes,
And sodeynly to falle in hevynes,
Lik as to hem he 3eveth euydence
By sondry signes in his apparence.
Vn-to Jjat lord now moste I mekely preie,
At jns tyme my stile to conveye
Of Vlixes J)'e dreme to discrive,
J)e laste of alle he hadde be his lyue,
Declaryng hym be tokenes ful notable
And by signes verray demonstrable,
As he slepte ageyn ]>e pale mone,
His fatal day Jjat shulde folwe sone.
For it fel )ms : as he a-bedde lay,
After mydny^t, to-fore J>e morwe gray,
Hym Jjou^t he sawe appere a creature
To his sijt celestial of figure —
Noon erthely Jing, but verraily devyne,
Of port, of chere wonder femynyne,
And, as hym sempte in his fantasye,
Like a ping sent oute of fair[i]e ;
For Jje bewte of hir goodly face
Recouwforted, pleynly, al J>e place,
Moste surmouwtynge & most souereyne ;
And j>e clernes of hir eyne tweyno,
2945. somwhile] somtyme D 1.
2949. Vn-to] Nowe vn-to D 1— now] om. D 1.
2958. to-fore J>e] to D 1. 2962. 2nd of] and D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 146 c.
him. 857
I must now
kneel to the
God of
Sleep,
and pray him
to help me
describe
2952 Ulysses's last
dream.
2956
[leaf 1506] 2960
As he lies
in bed,
after mid-
night appears
to him a
lovely lady
2964 from fairy-
land.
2968
858 Ulysses's Dream. He wants his will of the Lady. [BK. v
Al sodeynli, or men my$t aduerte,
Perce wolde euene to J>e herte —
Diffence noon my^tfe] be devysed.
And Vlixes, with hir loke supprysed, 2972
Gan hir beholde al-weie more & more,
And in his slep for to si^e sore,
Presyng ay with ful besy peyne
Hir tenbracen in his armys tweyne ; 2976
But* ay J?e more he presed hir to se,*
Ay J)e more from hym [she] gan to fle ;
And* ay J>e more [j>at] he gan purswe,*
She ageynwarde gan hym to eschwe, 2980
So contrarie to hym was fortune !
And whan she sawe he was importune,
She axed hym, shortly, what he wolde ;
And he to hir J?e platfte] troujje tolde : 2984
" Certis," quod he, " my lyues emperesse,
Wher jmt }e ben woman or goddes
I can not deme nor lugen half ari^t,
I am'so dirked and blendid in my sijt; 2988
But I dar wel affermyn in J>is place,
My lyf, my deth stant hooly in $our grace,
More of merci requiryng J>araie of ri^t
To rewe on me, whiche am jour owne kny^t, 2992
And of pite and compassiou^
Goodly to sen to myn sauaciouw :
For my desire but I may fulfille,
ftis silf[e] ny$t to haue of $ow my wille, 2996
To my recure I can no remedie,
For lak of rouj>e but I most[e] dye.
Now haue I al, a-twexe hope & drede,
My silf declared to $oure wowmanhede." 3000
And after J?at she kepte hir clos a while,
Ulysses tries
tt> embrace
this dream-
fairy,
but she flees
from him.
She asks
him what
he wants.
He says,
his will of
her,
or he'll die.
2969. Al] And D 1.
2975. Presyng] Percyng A, Parceyuynge D 1.
2976. Hir] Hym D 1.
2977. 78 are misplaced with 2979, 80 in C.
2977. But] And C, D 1.
2979. And] But C— purswe] to pursue C.
2986. Wher] Whe>er D 1. 2988. sijt] myght D 1 .
2993. of] haue D 1. 2998. but] but )>at D 1.
2999. a-twexe] bitwene D 1.
The Dream-
lady says
Ulysses's
love for her
means the
death of one
of them.
BK. v] Ulysses's Dream. The Lady disappears. Ulysses wakes. 850
And ful sadly gan on hym to smyle,
And, as it is put in remembraimce,
Seyde vn-to hym, wM sobre courctenauwce : 3004
" Sothly," quod she, " fin affecciouw
Wolde fully turne to confusiouw
Of vs bofe, it is so perillous,
So inly mortal and contagious, 3008
ftat outterly, ]>er geynfe] may no red, [leaf 150 cj
But oon of vs moste anoon be ded —
Jjis is fe fyn of fe hatful chauwce
J}at shulde folwe after oure plesauwce," 3012
And as Vlixes gan to ney^e nere,
Beholdyng ay on hir heuenly cher,
Where-as she stood vpri^t on fe grouwde,
He sawe hir holde a spere longe & rouwde, 3016
)2e hed f er-of al of burned stele,
Forged new & grou^de wonder wele ;
And f er-vppon in his avisiou^
He sawe a baner biased vp & doura, 3020
])Q felde f er-of al [of] colour ynde,
Ful of fysshes betyn, as I fynde,
And in som bokys like as it is tolde,
In fe myddes a large crowne of golde. 3024
And or fat she turne gan hir face,
Likly anoon to parte* oute of )>e place,
She spak to hym, & seyde \n wordes pleyn :
" J5is ful tokene of partyng of vs tweyn 3028 sheteiis him
For euere-more, nowfer for sour nor swete,
After fis day neuer ageyn to mete ! "
And, disapering, anoorc hir leue she toke.
And after fat he sodeynly* a-woke, 3032
And gan to mvse in his fantasie
What f ing J>is dreme my^tfe] sygnyfie ;
But wher it ment owfer euel or good,
])e secrenes he nat vndirstood, 3036
For it surmouwtid, sothly, his resouw.
3003. put] y-put A. 3007 to end of Troy Book, missing in A.
3015. she] om. D 1. 3016. longc] large D 1.
3020. biased] blasinge D 1. 3026. parte] parten C.
3028. pis] f>is is D 1. 3032. he sodeynly] sodeynly he a
3035. wher] whe>er D 1— ow>er] om. D 1.
He sees that
she hits a
spear with
a head of
burnisht
steel,
and a dark-
blue banner,
with fish
and a golden
crown em-
broiderd
on it.
they'll never
meet again.
She vanishes;
and Ulysses
wakes.
860 Ulysses s Dream interpreted. He imprisons his Son. [BK. v
Ulysses sends
for men to
expound his
dream.
They say he
will soon be
speard by
his next of
kin.
Ulysses tries
to avoid this,
and puts liis
son Telamon
in prison,
so that no ill
chance may
befall him.
}0er-fore he sent poru^ his regiouw
For swiche as wern sotil expositours
Of fate or sort, or crafti devinours, 3040
For alle pe clerkis soget to his crowne,
Tassemble in oon his sweuene to expowne.
And whan pei knewe be informacioim
)?e maner hool of his avisioiw, 3044
J3ei conclude, accordynge in-to oon,
})e tyme aprochep & shal come anoon
}3at oon pat is nexte of his kynrede
With a spere shuldfe] make hym blede. 3048
— Lat se wher he his fate can remewe !
Sip it is hard destyne to eschewe,
As seyn po folke in per oppiniourc,
)5at werke & truste on* constellaciourc. — 3052
And Ylixes, mvsyng on pis tale,
Chauwgeth colour & gan wexe pale,
Wonder dredful & ful of fantasies,
Gan in hym-silf seke remedyes 3056
To voide a-weie ping pat wil nat be —
He stareth brode, but he may nat se, [leaf iso d]
His inward loke was vrilh a cloude shewt ;
But wenyng he to haue be prudent, 3060
Made calle his sone Thelamourc,
And to be take & shette vp in presouw,
He supposyng fully in his wit
Fro alle meschef per-by to go quyte — 3064
He nat aduerteth nor ne toke noon hede
To pe sharpnes of [pe] speris hed,
Nor to pe fysshes in pe baner bete,
Nor to pe se, wher pei swymme & flete, 3068
Nor of pe quene pat called is Circes,
))at signes brou^t of werre & nat of pes,
Nor of pe crowne, tokene of dignite
Of oon pat shal holde his royal se, 3072
Mid pe wawes, bope fel & wood,
3042. sweuene] dreme D 1. 3045. conclude] concluded D 1.
3048. blede] to blede D 1. 3052. on] oon C.
3053. pis] his D 1. 3060. to haue] for to D 1.
3062. And] om. D 1. 3065. ne] om. D 1.
3068. to] of D 1— &] or D 1. 3073. Mid] Amid D 1.
3076
3080 Ulysses
suspect*
only his son
Telamon,
3084
BK. v] Ulysses forgets he has had a Son, Telegonus, ly Circe. 861
Amonge J>e fysshes in )>e large flood ; —
And he shal make J>e devisioiw,
To-forne remembrid in thavisiouw,
Ageyn his wil, of verray ignorauwce,
And execute J?e fatal purueiaurcce
Vp of )>e dreme wz't/i his spere of stele,
Whiche Vlixes ccmsidereth neue?-e-a-dele,
Nor to no wy^t hath suspeciouw
But to his sone called Thelamouw,
JOat is closed & shet vp in a tour.
And Vlixes, with coste & gret labour,
Fro day to day doth his besynes
For hym-silf to make a forterresse,
Bilt on a roche, of lym & square stonys,
Depe diched aboute for ]?e nonys,
Jpat no man may entre on no side,
Where he caste}) al his lyue tabide
With certeyn men chose in special,
Nijt & day to wache on J>e wal
J?at no wy$t shulde haue [noon] entre,
But it so falle pat he be secre,
Knowe of olde, and to couwceil sworne.
Now, as J>e story rehersed hath to-forne,
])e olde fool, pis dotard Vlixes,
A sone hadde be-geten on Circes —
Freshe & lusti, ^onge and coraious ;
And he was called Thelagonyus,
Born in pe se amonge pe flodis rage,
))at was also, [for] to rekne his age,
Fyue & twenti $ere or pere a-boute ;
But of his fader he was ay in doute
What man he was or who it myjtfe] be,
Beinge pere-of in noon-surete.
Til on a day he, desirous to kuowe, [leaf 151 a]
To his moder fil on knees lowe, 3108
Beseching hir, goodly (& nat spare)
Of his fader ]>e troupe to declare ;
and builds a
fortress
to live in,
with
watchers
to stop any
one entering
it.
But this old
fool forgets
that he has a
uon by Circe,
3100 eald Tele-
gonus,
aged 25;
3104 and he
doesn't know
who his
father is.
3088
3092
3096
He begs his
mother to
tell him.
3079. Vp of] Vp on D 1. 3088. Depe] And depe D 1.
3090. al] om. D 1. 3092. on] vppon D 1.
3101. >e se] an He D 1. 3105. who it] what he D 1.
862 Circe tells Telegomis that Ulysses is his father. [BK. v
Circe puts
her son
Telegonua
off at first,
but at last
tells him his
fattier is
Ulysses.
He resolves
to see
Ulysses,
and sails to
Achaia,
learns where
Ulysses is,
goes there,
and asks for
Ulysses.
What he was, & where he shulde dwelle,
He besou^t pat she wolde telle. 3112
But, sothly, she long and many dales
Of prudence put hym in del ayes,
Til J?at she sawe she my^t haue no reste,
So inportune he was in his requeste ; 3116
And whawne she knewe ]>er was non o]>er bote,
Fro point to point she tolde hym crop & rote
Of Vlixes, & where fat he was kyng.
And he anoon made no lettyng, 3120
But toke leve — it may no better be —
And seide pleinly he wolde his fader se ;
Wher-of j>e quene gan in herte colde.
But whan she sawe she my$t him nat witft-holde, 3124
She hym besou^t, with chere debonaire,
)?at he wolde sone ageyri repeire.
And forthe he seileth onward on his wey,
WM-oute abood, )>e silf[e] same day, 3128
By many port and many fer contre,
Til he was brou^t ]>ere he wolde be —
To Achaia, a lond of gret renouw.
And he gan cerche Jjoru^ }>e regiouw 3132
After j>e place and paleis principal
Where-as ]>e kyng helde his se royal ;
And he so long in ]>e contre rood,
Til he was tau$t where )>e kyng abood, 3136
])er Vlixes was shet vp in mewe,
To whiche place in haste he gan pwrswe,
A gret party releued of his sorwe.
And on a Monday, erly be pe morwe, 3140
Vn-to ]>e brigge J>e ri^t[e] weie he toke,
And fond a porter deynous of his loke ;
And lowly first he gan hym to preie
)5at he wold goodly hym conveie 3144
In-to J)e courte, & make no tariyncr,
For a message he hadde to J>e kyng.
But proudly he denyed hym J>e gate,
3111. was &] is or D 1. 3118. hym] om. D 1.
3121. no better] noon o>ir D 1.
3140. Monday] day Dl.
BK. v] Ulysses is mortally wounded ~by his son Telegonus. 863
And shortly seide )>at he cam to late 3148 uiysses's
m . . porter says
lo entre ]>ere in any maner wyse, he can't
And vngoodly gan hym to dispise,
Frowarde of speche and malicious.
But in al haste Thelagonyus, 3152 on which
As he ]?at was in herte nat afferde,
fee proude porter hent[e] be be berde, breaks ins
And with his fyste brast * his chawle boon,
feat he fil ded, mvet as a stoon ; [leaf isi&j 3156 andkuuium.
And o)>er eke j>at hym bo with-stood
He made proudly to lepe * in-to [be] flood ;
And whan mo cam to make resistence,
He hent a swerde, be manly violence, 3160 Then he
And furiously in his Irous tene swoerd,a
(fee story seith) he slowe of hem fiftene, and sfoys
Hym-silfe al-moste wounded to be deth,
And gan, for-wery, sothly, faile bretli. 3164
And Vlixes, what for noise & soun, uiysses
m , -i • , TIT comes down,
lo pe brigge is descendid douw,
Findinge his men at entre of J>e gate
Ded & slayn be ful mortal hate ; 3168
And he ful Irous hent anoon a darte, and hurls
a dart at
Of auenture stonding }>o a-parte, Tdegonus.
And cruelly caste at Thelagoura.
But J)e stroke, as in conclusions, 3172
Damageth nat, for it glood a-side ; it slips aside;
And he for haste no lenger wolde abide,
Hent* vp be darte, wzt/i-oute more areste, and with it
And smot be kyng lowe vnder be breste 3176
feoru} be ribbes, shortly for to seie, wounds
[feat] Of ]?e woiwde lie * moste [nedis] deie, — mortally.
Having J?o noon oppinioun
feat he was kyng, nor suspeciouw, 3180
Nor ]?at he had his owne fader slawe.
Whiche faste gan to his ende drawe ;
His wouwde was so dedly & so kene
3155. brast] roof C. 3158. lepe] lepen C.
3170. stondyng )>o a-parte] & >ou3te he shulde haue parte D 1.
3173. Damageth] Damaged D 1.
3175. Hent] Kent C— vp >e darte] it vp D 1.
3178. he] bat he C.
"864
Ulysses falls
down,
and, recollect-
ing his
dream,
tells liis men
to fetch Tele-
eonus to
him.
Telegonus
says he is the
son of Circe
by a king c:tld
Ulysses,
whom lie is
seeking.
Telegonus tells Ulysses that he is Circes son. [BK. v
3184
3188
3192
3196
3200
)?at he my^t hi?ft silve nat sustene,
But pale & wan to J>e grouwde gan glide,
His men aboute vp-on euery side,
)5at besy wern to help hym and releue.
But his sore gan so ake and greve
}2at he wel felte )?at he mvste be ded ;
But abrayding, as he lifte vp his heel,
Havyng as 3it mynde & good rescue,
Eemembre gan on his avisioun,
And how it was tolde him, oute of drede,
jpat oon ]>at was nexte of hys kynrede,
Descendid dou?z from his owne lyne,
His sweuene shal parforme to ]?e fyne
And a-complisshe with* a dart of stele.
And for he coude nat conceyve wele
What ]>at he was, nor who it shulde be,
He bad anoon vn-to his meyne,
With-oute harme or any violence
Fette anoon vn-to his presence
])e $onge man whiche at J)e gate stood,
Jpat hath )?at day shad so moche blood.
And whan he was a-forn Vlixes * brou3t,
Of hym he hath enquered oute & sou^t,
Firste of his kyn and nexte of his contre :
" Certis," quod he, " I was born in J>e se,
Amonge fysshes myd pe wawes grene," —
And seide also his moder was a queue
Called Circes, of whom £e name is kouj^e
Bo)>e Est & west, and ri^t fer be soupe,
And tolde also his fader was a kyng,
)pat hym begat at his home-comyng
Fro Troye touw, toward his contre ; —
" And as my moder Circes tolde me
Secrely, J?at he Vlixes hi^te,
Of wham desirous for to han a si^te,
I entred am J)is my3ti regiouw,
And haue pursuyd vn-to Jris dongoun
[leaf 151 <?]
3204
3208
3212
3216
3220
3192. on] of D 1. 3197. And] om. D 1— with] it \vith C, D 1.
3205. Vlixes] hym C. 3209. myd] amid D 1.
3213. D 2 begins again. 3220. And] I D 1.
BK. v] Ulysses tells Telegonus that he has kild his own Father. 865
Only in hope my fader to haue seyn ;
But I se wel my labour is in veyn.
And sith, in soth, loste is my traueyl,
And fat it may on no side aveyle,
It were foly lenger here to dwelle :
Lo, here is al fat I can $ou telle
Of my kynred ; axeth me no more."
With fat Ylixes gan to sy$e sore,
For lak of blood, as he fat was ful pale,
And seide anoon, whan he herde his tale :
" Now wote I wel my woful destine
Fulfilled is — it may noon of er be ! —
Now wote I wel fat it is to late
To grucche or strive ageyn my pitous fate ;
For my sone, as clerkes whylom tolde,
Hath made an ende of my daies olde,
)5er-on expectant, with peynes ful greuous ! "
And, with fat word, Thelagonyus,
Whan he wist ageyn natures lawe
)?at he, alias ! hadde his fader slawe,
Whiche in fat lond longfe] bar his crowne,
W/tft-oute abood he fil anoon a-swo[w]ne,
His clofes rent, his ^olwe here to-torn :
" Alias ! " quod he, " fat euere was I born !
For cursid is my woful destine
And my fortune, whiche I may nat fle !
Cursid my sort, cursid myn auenture !
And T, refus of euery creature,
Forwaried eke my disposicioura,
And cursid is my constellaciourc —
Cursed also and infortunat
]3e hour in whiche my fader me [bejgat !
So wolde God, wetft-oute lenger red,
— Taquiten hym anoon — fat I were ded, [leaf 151 d]
To leie my lif for his deth to borwe ! "
And whan f e kyng sawe his gretfe] sorwe,
3234. ageyn] a3ens D 1. 3235. whylom] somtyme D 1.
3242. a-swowne] in swowne D2, in swoun^D 1.
3244. was I] I was D 2.
3247. Cursed (both)] Cursid be D 1.
3252. in] of D 2.
He fears his
labour is in
vain.
3224
3228 Ulysses
sighs,
and says his
fate is seald,
for his slayer
is his son.
Telegonus
swoons,
and curses
his destiny,
3232
3236
3240
3244
3248
3252 and the hour
in which
Ulysses begat
him.
3256
866 Ulysses at-ones Telegonus & Telamon ; & then dies. [BK. vr
Ulysses for-
gives Tele-
gonus for
killing him,
and sends
for his son
Telamon,
whom li
charges
to love
Telegonus,
and share his
goods with
him.
Ulysses dies.
And wist he was his sone of Circes* bom,
By many signe rehersed here-to-forn,
He vn-to hym anoon for-gaf his deth;
As he my^t for want & lak of breth, 3260
So importable was his passioiw.
And his sone ycalled Thelamoiw,
Whiche haj> in presoim so many day be shet,
To his presence in al haste was fet ; 3264
Whiche, whan he saw his fader in swiche point,
Vp-on J>e deth stondyng in disioint,
And knewe also, & be troupe [ha)>] fouwde
By whom he had his laste dedly woiwde, 3268
A swerd he hent, &, mortally Irous,
And wol.de haue roraie on Thelagonivs,
Of hi$e dispit avenged for to be.
But Ylixes of faderly pite 3272
Made his men hold hym & restreyne ;
And amyd of al his greuous peyne,
By his prudence — & J?at was don anoon —
He made his sones for to be al oon ; 3276
And gaf in charge vn-to Thelamouw,
Of enternes and affecciourc,
And of hool herte, feyned neuer-adel,
Al his lyue to loue his broker wel, 3280
To parte wiih hym tresour, gold, & good,
As to J>e nexte born of al his blood.
And ]?o, in soth, was no lenger taried,
Jjtit Vlixes rially was caried 3284
Of Achaya to J?e chefe cite ;
And after bat lyued daies bre,
Wfct/i-oute more, & bo gaf vp be gost.
I can nat seyn, pleynly, to what cost, 3288
After ))is lyf bat his soule is goon,
3257. Circes] Cures C.
3258. signe] signes D 2, D 1— here] om. D 1.
3263. many] many a D 1.
3263, 64 are omitted in D 2.
3266. >e] his D2, D 1. 3270. Thelagonivs] Thelamonivs D 1.
3278. and] and of D 1. 3282. ]>e] om. D 2.
3285. Of] To D 1— to] J»t was Dl.
3289. Jns] his D 1.
BK. v] Ulysses is buried. His Sons are Kings ofAchaia &Aulis. 867
But in a towmbe of metal & of stoon uiysse* is
J)e body was closed and yshet ;
And after pat maked was no let, 3292
frat Thelamouw, with gret sollennite, Hit son Tei*-
I-crowned was in his fadres see, crownd king
Swerd & septe?* deliuered to his hond
Of Acliaya, a ful worpi lond, 3296 ofAchaia,
Ri$t abundaurct of tresonr & of good.
And Thelagouw with hym per abood
A aere complet, wel cherisshed in his sht, and knights
liis brother
And of his broker toke ]?e ordre of kny3t ; 3300 Teiegomw,
And for hym list no lenger per abide,
fte kyng for hym wysly gan prouide,
ftat he with gold, gret tresour, & plente [leaf 152 a]
Repeired is home to his contre : 3304 wh» «»•«»
' goes home
And his moder, of age wex[e] sad, 15™ molher
Of [his] repeire passingly was glad,
As she pat sawe be hir sorserie
He skaped was many iupartie, 3308
Many pereil, & many gret distresse.
And after pat, she fil in-to seknesse,
And hir dette ^alde vn-to nature,
Whiche eskape may no creature 3312
In al pis world pat is here lyuyng.
After whos deth hir sorie was made kyng deathls'mad.
Of Aulydos, pe merueillous contre, Auiu,°f
As I haue tolde, enclosed with a see, 3316
Amonge rokkes, wher many shippes drowne ;
And sixti 3ere per he bar his crowne,
Jpis manly man, [pis] Thelagonyus. >ear8»
And his brother, Thelamonyus, 3320
Regned also in his regiourc for 7oreif?"9
Seuenti wynter, as made is menciouw.
And after pat, pei made a royal ende,
And bope two to lubiter pei wende, 3324
3293. sollennite] solewpnyte D2.
3295. Swerd & septerj Sceptre & swerde D 1.
3303. he] om. D 1— gret] & D 1. After 3322, D 1 inserts the
following line : And aftir J>at ]>ei made is mencioun.
TROY BOOK. 3 L
868 Of Dares & Dictys, Trojan & Greek Writers, onthe Siege of Troy
To regne fere among pe sterris bri^t.
Here Dares,
the poet ot
Troy, stops.
He was at
the Siege;
and Dictys
tlie Greek was
also there.
They don't
differ in
essentials,
save that
Dictys
says 800,006
Greeks were
slain,
and Dares
fays 600,086
Trojans
were too.
The Siege
lasted 10
years,
6 months,
and 12 days,
ere the Greeks
had lull
possession
of Troy.
But now )>e lanter and )>e clere li
Is wastid oute of Frigius Darete,
Whilom of Troye wryter & poete, 3328
Guyde haue I noon, forpe for to passe :
For euene here in J>e silf[e] place
He ficched hath )>e boiwdis of his stile,
At J)e sege he present al ]>e while, 3332
And ay in oon vrith hem dide abide —
Dites Jje Greke on pe toper side.
And hope two as in her writyng
Ne varie nat but in litel Jnng 3336
Touching mater, as in special,
)?at is notable or historial :
I do no fors of incidentes smale,
Of whiche, in soth, it is but litel tale. 3340
Saue )>is Dites maketh mencioun
Of pe noumbre slay[e]n at J>e ioun
Lastinge ]>e sege, affermyng, out of drede,
Ey^te hundrid pousand & sixe wer \er dede 3344
On Grekis side, vpri^t in J>e felde ;
And as Dares also jjere behelde,
On Troye party in J>e werre kene
Six huwdrid fousand seuenti & sixtene 3348
Were slay[e]n j>ere — in Gtiydo $e may se —
With hem pat cam to help[e] pe cite
Fro many coost & many regiouw,
In diffence & reskus of )>e toun. [leaf 152 6] 3352
And ful ten $ere, so as I can caste,
And sixe monies ]?e my3ti sege laste,
Or it was gete, — Dares writ hym silve —
And, ouermore, coinplet dayes twelve 3356
Or Grekis hadde ful pocessiowi,
By fals engyn of J?e Greke Synouw,
3326. lanter] lanterne D 2, D 1.
3328. Whilom] Somtyrae D 1.
3329. Guyde] Of Guydo D 1— I noon for>e] not fer>er D 1.
3336. in] in a D 2.
1 There is no space between lines 3325 and 3326 in the MSS.
Large capital supplied by editor.
BK. v] Lydgate finisht this Troy Book, A.u. 1420.
869
Like as to-forn rehersid was but late.
I haue no more [of] latyn to translate
After Dites. Dares, nor Guy do,
J
And me to adden any more ber-to
»
fean myn auctours specefie & seyn,
fee occupaciourc, sothly, wer but veyn,
Lik a maner of presumpciouw.
And tyme complet of J>is translaciouw,
By iust[e] rekenyng & accouwtis clere,
Was a pousand & foure hundrid 3ere,
And twenti ner, — I knowe it out of drede —
After Jwt Crist ressey ved oure manhede *
Of hir fat was Emperesse and quene
Of heuene & helle, and [a] maide clene —
fee ey3te ^ere, by computacioun,
Suynge after ]>e coronaciouw
Of hym pat is most gracious in werkyng,
Kerry )>e Fytye, J>e noble worjn kyng
And protector of Brutis Albyoun —
And called is, foru^ his hi^e renouw,
feoru^ his prowes & his chiualrie,
Also fer as passe)) * clowde or skye,
Of Normauwdie ])& my^ti conquerour :
For poru^ his kny3thod & diligent labowr,
Maugre alle fo )>at list hym [to] wzt//-seyn,
He hath conquered his herytage ageyn,
And by his my3ti prudent gouernau^ce
Recured eke his trewe title of Frauwce :
feat who-so liste loken and vnfolde
fee pe-de-Grew of cronycles olde,
And cerchen bokes y-write longe a-forn,
He shal f ynde bat he is iustly born
* "
To regne in Frauwce by lyneal discent.
And onward now he is made regent
Of )>ilke lond durynge his fader lyf,
3364. but] in D 2, D 1. 3365. Lik] And like D 1.
3369. ner] Jeere D 1. 3370. manhede] maidenhede C.
3380. Also fer] As ferforthe U 1— passejj] passed C.
3387. so] om. D 2— loken] and loke D 1.
3389. cerchen] cerchej> D 2, cerchetli D 1.
3392. made] y mad D 2. 3393. fader] faders D 1.
3360 I've no more
engiish,
of Dictys
Dares or
Guido.
3364
This trans-
fini8llt
3368 A-D. 1*20,
3372
3376 of Henry v,
3380
3384
3388
the Con-
Normandy,
who has
Kingship or
France,
to which he
is lineally
entitled.
3392 He is Regent
870 Henry Vto be King ofFrance,& wed Princess Katherine. [BK. v,
After Charles
VI's death,
Hy. V '11 be
King of
France.
Then I hope
the Golden
Age '11 come
and war
between ua
and France
cease,
the two
countries
becoming
one,
for Henry V
is the Prince
of Peace.
He is to wed
Princess
Katherine
of France.
Of his goodnes to voide werre & stryf, —
He to reioisshe, wfc't/i-oute more delay,
Septer & crowne after j>e kynges day,
As it is clerly, in conclusions,
Enrolled vp in be coymencioim.
And bawne I hope be tyme fortunat,
Of be olde worlde called aureat,
Kesorte shal, by influence of grace,
))at cruel Mars shal no more manace
With his lokis furious and wood,
By false aspectus for to shede blood
A-twene be folkes of bis rewmys tweyne,
Whiche eue?y wy^t ou$t[e] to compleyne.
But, as I trust in myn oppiniou?*,
J?is worbi kyng of wisdam & resou^
And of kny^thod shal so doon his peyne
To makcn oon bat longe hath be tweyne :
I mene )>us, J>at Yngelond and Frau^ce
May be al oon, with-oute variaunce,
Oute of hertis old rancour to enchase
By influence of his my^ti grace,
)pat called is of clerkis, dout[e]les,
))e souereyn lord and be p?*ince of pes.
And I hope his grace shal now reyne,
To sette reste atwene bis rewmys tweyne :
For in his power, sothly, stondeth al ;
And alliaiwce of be blod royal,
J3at is knet vp by bonde of mariage,
Of werre shal voide aweie }>e rage,
To make pes with bri^t[e] bemys shyne.
And on J>at is called Kateryne,
And namyd is ri^t good & faire also,
Shal be mene a-twixe boj>e two,
Of grace enprentid in hir wommanhede,
jDat to compleyne we shal haue no nede.
And I hope hir gracious arryvaille
[leaf 152 o]
3396
3400
3404
3408
3412
3416
3420
3424
3428
3404. aspectus] aspectis D 2, D 1.
3405. A-twene] Betwene D 1.
3409. so doon his] do his besy D 1. 3410. longe] nowe D 1.
3413. Oute] And oute D 1. 3422. J>e] al J>e D 1.
3426. a-twixe] bitwene D 1.
BK. v] Lydyate prays Blessings on Princess Kathcrine & Hy. V. 871
In-to fis lond shal so moche availle, with
)pat loie, honour, and prospmte, lUthcriM,
With-oute trouble of al aduersite, 3432 wSpiw-
Repeire shal, & al hertly plesau?jce, peace,
Plente, welfare, & fulsom abundaurace,
Pes & quiete, bo))e ny^e and ferre,
With-oute strife, debat, or any werre, 3436
Meschef, pouert, nede, or indygence,
With ful ceessyng of deth & pestilence — and an end
Sothly, al pis I hope $e shal sen
Come in-to lond vriih pis noble quene, 3440
bat we shal seyn of liert, & feyne nomt : so that we
may bless
Blessed be she fat al fis hath vs brou^t ! i»«r.
— And he fat haf f 01113 my^t of his werkyng,
Of his kny^thod concluded al pis ping, 3444
And swiche mervailles in armis don & wrou^t,
And his pwrpos fully aboute brou^t
Of hi^e wisdam set in his inward si^t,
Reioisshynge al fat longeth to his ri^t, 3448
And nicest sit of worfinesse in glorie
With fe scepter of conquest and victorie — [leaf 152 d]
I praie to God only for his beste,
Whan he hath al set in pes and reste, 3452
And is ful put in clere pocessioura
Of al fat longeth to his subiecciouw,
To sende hym home vriih as gret honour home with
honour,
As euere $it hadde any conquerour, 3456
Longe after, in loie and in quyete Jo r«[?» IO»K
For to regnen in his royal sete !
£us shal I ay — f er is no more to seye —
Day & ny^t for his expleit y-preye 3460
Of feythful herte & of hool entent,
Jjat whylom gaf me in cowmaiwdement, He bade me.
Nat ^ore a-go, in his faderes tyme, Jjjjj. gie
\>Q sege of Troye on my maner to ryme, 3464 siege of Troy.
3438. &] & of D 2. 3440. lond] >is loml D 1.
.'3442. t>is] J>is >mg D 1— vs] mn. D 1. 3443. And] As U 1.
3445. in armis] mn. D 1. 3447. hi$e] his D 1.
3456. Jit] om. D 1. 3457. Longe] And longe D 1.
3460. y-preye] to preie D 1.
3462. whylom gaf me] to me }af I) ] . 3464. on] in D 1.
872 Lydgate legs his Headers to forgive his poor Verse. [BK. v
For Hy. Vs Moste for his sake, to speke in special.
Al-pou} pat I be boistous and rual,
He gaf me charge )>is story to translate,
i, John Rude of koranynge, called lohn Lydgate, 3468
MonW' Monke of Burie be profession/?,
Vsynge an habite of perfecciouw,
Al-be my lyf acorde nat per- to —
I feyne nat ; I wote wel it is so — 3472
It nedeth nat witnesse for to calle,
i.ave engiisht Eecord I take of my brethren alle,
this Poein.
pat wil nat faille at so gret a nede.
And al fat shal Jris noble story rede 3476
i beseech my I be-seche of support and of grace,
readers .
per 1 onende in any maner place,
Or wher-so-euere pat pei fynde errour,
Of gentilnesse to shewe pis fauour : 3480
Benygnely for to done her* peyne
to correct, To correcte, raber ban disdeyne.
and not * V T J
disdain, For wel wot I moche ping is wrong,
my faults, Falsly metrid, bope of short & long ; 3484
And, $if pei shuld han of al disdeyn,
It is no drede, my labour wer in veyn.
and let Late ignoraiuzce & rudnesse me excuse :
my ignorance
excuse me. For ^if pat ^e, platly, al refuse,
For certeyn fautes whiche ^e shal fynde,
I doute nat, my pank is set be-hynde ;
Thomy For in metring pou} per be ignorauwce,
poor, 2et in te story ae may fynde plesauwce 3492
my author s J J l
Touching substauwce of [pat] myn auctoz/?* wryt.
And pou3e so be pat any word myssit,
Amendeth it, \\ith chere debonaire ;
For an errour to hyndren & appaire, 3496
feat is nat seide of purpos nor malys,
It is no worshippe to hym pat is wys ;
And no wy$t gladly so sone ^evep [a] lak [leaf is»a]
(Specialy be-hynden at pe bake), 3500
3479. so] J>at D 1. 3481. her] his 0.
3483. moche] >at moche D 1.
3493. substaiwce] J>e substaiwce D 1. 3494. And] om. D 1.
3496. &] or D 1. 3498. It] f»at D 1.
3500. Specialy] And specialy U 1.
BK. v] Lydgate asksfw kindly judgment, in Chaucer's temper. 873
As he, in sothe, fat can no skyl at al —
He goth ful hool fat neuer hadfde] fal!
And I nat fynde, of newe nor of olde,
For to deme f er is noon so bolde, 3504 NO one is so
. . . bold to blame
As he fat is blent with vnkonwyng : as the
For blind Baiard cast pereil of no f ing,
Til he stumble myddes of f e lake !
And noon so redy for to vndir-take 3508
ban he. in soth, nor bolder to seie wers, and the man
who can't
pat can no skyl on prose nor on vers ; write-
Of alle swiche fat can nat be stille,
Litel forse, wher J)ei seie good or ille ! 3512
For vn-to hem my boke is nat direct, My book is
. not meant
But to swiche as hauen, in effect, for him,
On symple folke ful compassiouw, but is for
simple folk
Jpat goodly can by correccioura 3516 whoc«n
Amende a f ing, & hind re neuere-adel,
Of custom ay redy to seie wel : and take it in
good part.
For he fat was gronde of wel-seying,
In al hys lyf hyndred no makyng, 3520
My niaiste?- Chance?*, fat fouwde ful many spot —
Hym liste nat pinche nor gruche at euery blot,
~Noi meue hym silf to parturbe his reste
(I haue herde telle), but seide alweie fe best, 3524 WM aiway»
Suffring goodly of his gentilnes
Ful many fing enbracid with rudnes.
And }if I shal shortly hym discryve,
Was neue?' noon to bis day alvue, 3528 NO living
man is
To rekne alle, bofe $onge & olde, hoi!!ni!sto
J)at worfi was his ynkhorn for to holde. inkhorn.
And in fis lond $if ber any be, But if he hn»
In borwe or touw, village or cite, 3532
J)at konnyng haf his tracis for to swe, a competent
Wher he go brood or be shet in mwe —
To hym I make a direccioun
Of fis boke to ban inspeccioiw, 3536
3507. myddes] amiddes D 1. 3512. wher] whe]>er D 1.
3520. no] his D 1. 3524. telle] told D 2, tolde D 1.
3532. borwe] borgli D 2— 1st or] om. D 1.
3534. Wher] Whe>er D 1— go] so I) 2.
874 Lydgates Lesson of his Troy Book. All here is worthless. [BK. v
I ask him to
alter my verse
as he likes.
Tho I've not
written
rhetoric,
I've told my
story plainly;
and in it you
can see how
changeable
Fortune is,
plunging
kings into
poverty,
and upsetting
kingdoms,
ravishing
women,
and then
taking ven-
geance,
so that every-
thing here
wastes like
a fitnvpr.
Our life is
but a pilgrim*
age.
Besechyng hem, vfith her prudent loke,
To race & skrape poru^-oute al my boke,
Voide & adde wher hem semeth nede ;
And J>ou3 so be ]>at )>ei nat ne rede 3540
In al Jris boke no rethorikes newe,
3it I hope )>ei shal fynde trewe
fie story pleyn, chefly in substauwce.
And who-so liste to se variance, 3544
Or worldly ]>ing wrou^t be dales olde,
In )>is boke he may ful wel beholde
Chauwge of Fortune, in hir cours mutable,
Selde or nat feithful ouj?er stable, [icafiss&j 3548
Lordes, princes from her royalte
Sodeinly brou^t in aduersite,
And kynges eke plouwged* in pouert,
And for drede darynge in desert,— 3552
Vnwar slau^ter compassed of envie,
Mordre execut by conspirasie,
Awaitfe] liggyng falshede and tresouw,
And of kyngda?mnys sodeyn euersiowi, — 3556
Rauysshyng of wommen for delyt,
Rote of J>e werre & of mortal despit,
Fals mayntenaurace of avout[e]rye,
Many worjn causyiig for to dye, 3560
Syraie ay ccwcludynge, who-so take]? hede,
Vengauwce vnwar for his final mede —
To declare, pat in al worldly lust,
Who loke ari^t, is but litel trust, 3564
As in J>is boke exaumple $e shal fynde,
3if j)at ^e list enp?*ente it in ^our mynde —
How al passeth & halt here no soiour,
Wastyng a-way as doth a somer flour, 3568
Riche & pore, of euery maner age :
For oure lyf here is but a pilgrymage,
Meynt with labowr & with moche wo,
)?at $if men wolde taken hede J?er-to 3572
And to-forn prudently aduerte,
3551. ploiwged] ploimget C. 3552. desert] couert D 1.
3563. fat] om. D 1. 3564. Who] Who so D 1.
3565. As] And D 1.
BK. v] Lydgate prays God to prosper Henry V. 875
Litel loie )>ei shuld ban in ber berte
To sette ber trust in any worldly ping ; Trust not in
For )>er is nouper prince, lord, nor kyng, 3576 ff&J?1
Be exauwple of Troye, like as $e may se,
)5at in ])is lif may haue ful surete.
Jterfore, to bym j)at starf vppon }>e rode,
Suffringe deth for cure alder goode, 3580
Lyfte vp $oure hertis & Jnwke on him among : Lift up your
TI ! • hearts to
Jb or be ^e neuere so my^ti nor so strong, chri>t.
"WYt/i-oute hym al may nat availle ;
For be can }if victorie in bataille 3584 He alone can
And bolde a felde, sbortly to conclude,
With a fewe ageyn gret multitude.
And be grace he make]) princes stronge, make Princes
And worpi kynges for to regne longe, 3588
And tirautttis sodeynly oppresse, and throw
))rowe hem dourc, for al her gret richesse ; Tyrants.
And in his bond power he reserueth
Eche man taquite liche as he disserueth — 3592
To whom I preie with deuociouw, Him i pray
With al myn herte & hool affeccioura,
)?at he list graunt longe contenuaurcce, to grant
Prosperite, and good perseueraurace, 3596 P
Helte, welfare, victorie, and honour [leaf 153*] and victory
* to the noble
Vn-to pat noble my^ti conquerour,
Kerry )>e FyfJ>e, to-forn y-specefied, Henry v,
So J?at his name may be magnified 3600
Here in Jris lyf vp to J>e sterres clere,
And afterward,* aboue J?e nyn]?e spere, and hereafter
Whan he is ded, for to ban a place ! Heaven.
))is praie I God* for to send hym grace, 3604
At whos biddy nge, as I tolde late, At his
First I be-gan J?e sege to translate. began tin*
And now I haue hooly in his honour
Executed )>e fyn of my labour. 3608
Vn-to alle bat sbal bis story se, and to ail
who see it
3576. lord] om. D 1. 3584. victorie] victor D2.
3590. JJrowe] And >rowe D 1 . 3592. taquite] to quite D 1.
3599. y-specefied] specefied D 1.
3602. afterward] after bat C. 3604. Cod] good C.
876 Lydgates Envoy to Henry Vt praising him. [BK. v
I humbly
commit it.
With humble herte and al humylite
ftis litel boke lowly I be-take,
It to supporte — and )ms an ende I make.
Explicit liber quintus et Yltimus.
3612
Most worthy
Henry,
born to rule
two realms,
known o'er all
the world as
the best
knight,
and worthy
to be highest
in the House
of Fame,
crownd with
laurel,
LENVOYE.1
Most worjn prince, of kny^thod sours * & welle,
Whos hi^e renoun }joru$ J>e world doj? shwe,
And alle oper in manhood dost excelle,
Of merit egal to ]?e worjn nyne, 4
And born also by discent of lyne
As ri^tful eyr by title to atteyne,
To bere a crowne of worjji rewmys tweyne !
And also fer as Phebus in his spere 8
From est to west shedej? his bemys bri^t,
And Lucyna, with a shrowdid chere,
Goth compas rou??de with hir pale li^t,
))ou art [y-]rekned for ]>e best[e] kny^t, 12
To be registred wor)>i as of name
In J>e hi3est place of J?e hous of fame,
To holde a palme of kny3thod in J?in hond,
For worjrines and for hi^e victorie, 16
As J?ou J>at art drad on se & lond,
And euermore* with laude, honour, & glorie,
For iust conquest to be put in memorie,
With a crowne made of laurer grene 20
Vp-on pin hed, to-fore J?at fanms quene 2 —
Whilom ordeyned only for cowquerours,
Stable of herte, with longe perseuerauwce,
And gaf nat vp til fei wer victours, 24
Emprises take for no sodeyn chaunce,
1. sours] flcwr 0. 8. also] as D 1. 12. f>ou] For )>ou D 1.
18. euermore] oumnore C. 22. Whilom] Somtyme D 1.
24. nat vp] it vp not D 1. 25. sodeyn] sedeyn D 2.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 149 d, and D 2.
2 Tliere is no space between this and the following stanza in C.
BK. v] Lydgates Envoy to Htnry V, singing his Praise. 877
Whos name ay flouref with newe remewbrauwce
And fadeth nat of $eris $ore a-goon,
Amonge whiche fou maist be set for oon :
For foru} J>e world in Query regioun [leaf 153 a]
Eeportid is with fame pat fleth wyde,
ftat naturelly Jri condiciourc
On jring be-goraie is kny^tly to abide,
And for j>e tyme manly sette a-side
Reste and ese, what cost fer-on be spent,
Til jjou haue cheved f e fyn of Jrin entent.
Most circu??ispect and passinge avysee,
Al Jri werkes conveied with prudence,
Saad & demvre, like to losue,
Ageyn whos swerd is no resistence,
And hast also heuenly influence,
With Salomon, wysly to discerne,
Only be grace Jri peple to gouerne —
Mercy eke meynt with Jri magnificence,
On alle oppressed for to haue pite,
And of rebelles be manly violence
Abate canst )>e grete cruelte •
And so with Damd fou hast kyngly pite,
And hi^e prowes with Sesar lulius,
In his tyme most victorius.
And manly boldest in Jrin hondes two
— Who can beholde by clere inspeccioim —
})e swerd of kny^thod & J>e scepter * also :
The ton to bring to subiecciou?*
Hertes made proude by fals rebellious,
And wiih J>e scepte?' to rewle at J>e beste
J)i pore liges, J?at wolde live at reste.
Now, foil fat haste manhod, vertu, & grace,
Attemperauwce, fredam, & bounte,
Lowly I praie, with a dredful face,
Disdcyne nat benyng[e]ly to se 60
39. Ageyn] Ageins D 1. 43. Jn] om. D 1.
45. violence] influence D 1.
50. manly] nanily D 2. 52. scepter] swerde C.
illustrious,
28
32
36
40
44
despising
ease,
firm as
Joshua,
wise as
Solomon,
merciful,
pitiful like
David,
48 « conqueror
like Caesar,
52 holder of
sword and
sceptre,
56
I pray you
look benignly
878 Lydgate begs Henry V to accept his Poem kindly. [BK. v
on nay book, Vp-on Jris- boke rudly made by me,
To fyn only to agreen J>in hi^nesse —
And rewe of merci vp-on my symplesse,*
And [eke] in ]>\ kny^tly aduertence
Considre & se, my souereyn lord most dere,
Of y\ Innat famous sapience,
and .as Christ }}at Crist lesus received * with good chere
^e *wey Mynutes joue of herte entere
j>y j,e \yydowe, \vhiche of wille & J)ou3t
Gaf al liir good, & kepte hir silf ri^t nou^t.
widow"16
2 mites,
64
68
accept my
little gift,
and don't
disdain it.
rn ever pray
that you may
please God,
that your
rule may con-
tinue long,
and that ("od
may grant
you every
virtue.
By whiche ensample, so J)«t it nat offende
ftoru} myn vnkoraiynge to pin hi^e noblesse, [>af 1540] 72
Late good wil my litel gift * amende,
And of ))i mercy & renomed goodnesse
Haue no disdeyn of my bareyn rudnesse,
And, in makyng Jjou^ I haue no mvse, 76
Late trewe menyng j>e surplus [al] excuse.
80
84
88
Mo*re fan good hert hath no mauer
To presente noufer to God nor man,
And for my part to f e, as it is ri^t,
])at gyf I hool as ferforf e as I can,
Ay to perseuere, fro tyme fat I gan,
With wil & f ou^t for pin estate to preie,
Whiche to conserue, f us finally I seie :
First of al, Almy^ti God to queme
With al fat may be to his plesauwce,
And to fi crowne and fi diademe
Grace & good eure with long corctinuauwce,
Of f i liges feithful obeisauwce,
And eche vertu f«t man may specefie,
I praye God grauwte vn-to fi regal ye !
62. agreen] gree D 1. 63. symplesse] sympilnesse C.
67. received] received C — good] gret D 2.
68. 3oue of herte] of herte 30 ve D 1— of] \\ith D 2.
72. hi$e] om. D 2. 73. gift] gilt C. 75. no] noon D 2.
79. nor] no D 1. 80. be] jou D 1— is] is to D 2.
81- gyf] 3eue D 1. 82. gan] by gan D 1.
83. bin] ^owre D 1.
84] Which to consydre for thyn estat I preye D 2.
86. to] vn-to D 1. 89. Of] And of I> 1. 91. bi] ^oure D 1.
BK. v] Lydgates Address to his Troy Book.
879
Verba translatoris ad librum suum.1
Go, litel bok, & put j>e in ]>e grace 92
Of hym )>at is most of excellence ;
And be nat hardy to apperen in no place
With-oute support of his magnificence :
And who-so-eue?*e in j>e fynde offence, 96
Be nat to bold for no presumpciouw —
J)i silfe enarme ay in pacience,
And )?e submitte to her correcciow*.2
And for JJQU art enlumined with no fioures 1 00
Of rethorik, but with white & blak,
Jperfore Jjou most abide alle showres
Of hem fat list sette on )?e a lak ;
And whan jjou art most likly go to wrak, 104
Ageyn[e]s hem J>in errour nat diffende,
But humblely wtt^-drawe & go a-bak,
Eequerynge hem al J)«t is mys to amende.
Amen •: Amen -:3
Little book,
get the favour
of your King,
and patiently
submit to
correction.
As you're not
eloquent,
take blame
humbly,
and ask
complainers
to amend
your faults.
94. apperew] appere D 1. 96. in J>e fynde] finde in the D 1.
103. a] no D 2. 105. hem] him D 1.
1 Royal MS. 18. D. ii. leaf 150 b, and D 2.
2 There is no space between this line and the next, in C.
3 Occurs in D 2.
\
€EB
MAR 14
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