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JN the tyme of the full worthi Josue, erceth by þe writing of þe noble clerke Boas, that King Alphioun founded and first bigan the famous Cite of Thebes, of whom descended lynyally King Layus, And had to wife Jocasta, and leueden togidre longe withoute issue.—Layus ful hevy, and alwey pensif in hert, thenking ever on his reme and dignite to fal into strange hondes, made ful grete rightes and sacrafices to his goddis for to sende him issue, whos praiers was admitted and herd in suche wise, that Jocasta hadde conceyued ery party of his reme, for the moost famost and wisest clerkes þat might be founde, for to devyne and calke of þat childe, þat, Jocasta hadde so conceyued. The which in suche wise so labored, serching oute euery constellacioun and influens of þe heuenes, founde bi iuste inspexioun, þat hit shuld be a son, And in þe tyme of his begeting, þe heuenes weren eueryche so contrarius to oþer, and of suche nature, þat þei fonde redely, hit shuld sle þe fader; þe which infortunat destony þei oponli declared vnto þe king, as þei ouȝt to do of right. Of which, þe king right hevy and sory in hert, yaf in charge and commaundement to Jocasta his wife, that assone, as hit were borne, mmaundement of hir lorde, not with stonding that hit was right greuous to sle hir owne childe; Assone as hit was borne, made calle a servaunt of heris, charging him to bere hit ferre into þe fforest, and þere to sle it; Which was anone redy to obey þe commaundement of the quene; toke and bare þe childe and sey hit so faire and wel shapen, hadde pite in hert to sle hit and to late hit ben deuoured with bestes and wormes, but he made es of king Pollibon on honting, and herd crying of a childe & come ny, and fonde where hit hing on a tre, whereof they hadde grete pite, And anone, toke it downe fro þe tre, and brought hit to king Pollibon, which anone, with glad hert and chere, receyued it. And in all hast sent for norses and leches to hele his fete, purposing fulli, n age hit grewe ful of wicked and cursed condicions, so þat no man with him myȝt dele ne accord.—Fortuned vppon a day, þat one of his felawes, that he debated with repreued and seid. Whi art þou so wicked and cursed, thou trouest that þou art þe kinges son, And þou art so, ne noȝt of his kynrede; thou were founde in þe forest as a thing forsake and cast a wey, honging by þe fete on a tre. The childe þenking gretly vppon his wordes, wox full hevy and sory in hert, and come to þe king, rehercing what his felawe had seid; beseching þe king to tel him, wheþer he were his son or no. The king told and declared to him, how þat he was founde; whereof þe childe was gretly disamayed and asstonyed, And went sodenly into þe temple, rafices to þe goddis, to þat entent, to haue knowlache and relacioun of whens that he come; whos praiers was herd, and had answhere & verry knowlage, þat he come of þe verry blode of Thebes, wheþer in ful grete hast and yre, he toke þe wey, And at a Castel beside called Pilotes, urnay toward Thebes, where, in his wey vppon a montayne as he rode, he met with an horrible beest a monstre, called a Spinx, ernour; the lordes of þe londe and Cite hadden a grete counsell And by hole assent, maden a trety with þe quene Jocasta, for to take þis worthi knyȝt to husbond, And seiden with one voice, þat he was þe moste worthi able man for to gouerne þe londe, and for to be theire protectour and shelde; To whom she answered and seid. That for asmoch as ye, that ben lordis, and gouernours in þis londe, if ye se in youre wisdomes that hit may be to þe moost profite, avayle, & worshipp of this londe, if ye se in your wisdomes þat hit be best, I woll enclyne and obey to your desire. The day of spousell anone were sette and done, þe sollempnite of þe coronacioun also; After certen dayes ended, þe lordes token hir leve, And eueryche departed to his contre. This worthi Edippes and Jocasta his wife and moder leueden togidre in lustes and likinges by yeris, so þat þey hadden to issue eres, And not with stonding’ that þey weren innocent, and noȝt knowing’ of theire myscheues leving, yit was he punyshed and brought ful lowe, or that he deied. Whereby A man may se, that suche an errour and syn knowen, ought to be gretely eschued. Of which ij sones, þat one hight Ethiocle, And that oþer Pollymytes. Of the ij doughteres, that one hight Antigon, and that oþer Ismyne; ffortuned vppon a nyȝt, this mighty king sitting by his moder and wife barefote, going to his bedde, she biholding vppon his fete, aspied þe carectes and olde woundes in theym, ful sodenly
aunce asked of hir, whi she was of suche chere, she atte þe last, yaf answhere in this wise, and seid, Truly ser I had a son by king Layus, that was honged by þe fete in a fforest, vnto þe tyme that he was dede, by commaundement and charge of his ffader þe king. Wherefor the woundes in your fete putteth me nowe in remembraunce, þe which, causeth me nowe to be þe more hevy. The king conceyving well hir wordes, And anone by verri evidence, he knewe well that hit was him self; whereof, he, al so∣denly, fell into a grete affray of him self; sytting into so greuous thought, that anone Jocasta merveyled what hit myȝt be, praying him for to tel hir his grete pensifnes, To whom, he anone answhered and seid. Truly, hit was my self, þat so was founde honging in þe fforest. Of which infortunat chaunce, they fil bothe into grete hevynesse and sorowe, which myschef, was anone knowe þorgh þe Cite and londe.—The king falling alwey more and more in dispaire, vnto þe tyme, that as my Auctor writeth for sorowe, he wept oute bothe his eighen, And euer of al pepłe, his sones, had him most in dispite, putting him onder fote so, þat he died in grete myschef; After whos dethe, the seid ij breþeren maden ful grete strif for þe londe and reme.—Ethiocles seying n and regne as king. Pollymytes seid ayen that þough it were so, þat he were elder, yit shuld he not haue all, and he right noȝt.—The lordes of þe londe and Cite, seyng þe grete variaunce & discorde bitwen þeym, considering þe grete myschef that myȝt fall, maden grete ordenaunce, and ful diligent laboure, to put þeym in accorde and rest. Whereto þey condecenden as ye shal here. For asmoche as þey were hole bretheren of ffader and moder, and neuer list to obey oþer; þat one shall occupie þe crowne and dignite with hole pos∣sessioun one yere, And þat oþer in þe same wise anoþer yere. And so while þe one occupieth, þat oþer for to voyde þe londe, So þat none shuld regne vppon oþer. And for as moche as Ethiocles was þe elder he shuld regne þe first yere. The which accorde bothe condecended and was in þe moost strengest wise regestred and enrolled with þe surest bondes and oþes vppon þeire goddis þat myght be done. Ethiocles assigned and set in his estate ful rially; The oþer taking his horse and armour, and rode vppon his Auen∣ture oute of þe londe.—Fortuned so as he rode in a strange londe, þe nyȝt come, where he no thing knewe þe contrey and in grete tempest of weder abought mydnyȝt atteyned to þe Cite of Arge; where that tyme, king Adrastus lay. And hit was so late, and þe tempest so grete, þat he myȝt no herborgh gete, but he fonde a porche er er; And as he come to þe porche for to haue had succour for þe grete wheder, Pollymet sodenly stept vp, And drewe oute his swerde, as he þat was full cursed and coragious, and asked, who was so hardy for to disloge him of his herborgh which he had take. Tedeus answhered ayen in ful gentil and sobre wise, urpos for to dislogge you, but ser as me semeth, this porche is large ynogh, for to ese us bothe as for þe tyme if hit like you. Pollymet as he þat was of berth and blode contagious and contrarious, seid playnely, but if þou voide, I shal sle þe.—Tedeus answhered ayen and seid. Truly ser for asmoche as þis porche is large ynogh for vs bothe, if ye list not þat I shal haue part with you, hit shall be tryed betwen vs two
es and leyden togidir so strongly, þat þorgh þe noyse, þe worthi king Adrastus lying in his bed within his palis, sodenly awoke of his slepe, And called vppon hem þat were of his chambre, charging hem to wite in hast what was al þat noyse that he herd in þe strete, his seruauntes ran oute in al hast, finding thes ij knyȝtes fighting togidre with ful grete ire, and fers corage. Whereof þe seid seruauntes had fulle grete mervaille, returnyng to the king & tolden, þat þey seyn two men fighting togidre as hit were in bataile assigned. The king anone lete calle his peple abought him withoute eny tarying And went into þe strete where he fonde hem fighting mmaundement, And Pollymet also in like wise. The king asked of þeym of wens þei were, and of what lynage es, seying to hem in þis wise Truly seres, I am right sory to se yow in þis disese, þenking on your noble and worthi blode, wherefor y am in ful purpose if hit plese you for to gif you my ij doughteres to wifes, þe which after my decese, shulle enherite al my reme, with al my oþer possessions and richesse. Thes ij knightes right glad in hert of þat worthi profre, þonked þe king in þeire best wise. The day of spousell sette with grete sollempnite and array full rially was done; Tedeus wedded þe elder called Deyphille, and Pollymet þe yonger called Argyve.—Thes two knightes by alliaunce, loued so truly togidre mmyng for to receyve his dignite of Thebes, wold by strength exclude and disherite him for euermore. Wherefor he toke fully to purpose, & conclude within him self, that while he stode in ful myȝt & power and possessed within þe myȝti Cite, for to kepe it with strengthe And to holde oute his broþer for euer. Not withstonding, þe grete suertees and oþes made bifor tyme, afore al his lordes in playn parlement. Where vppon, he in al hast, sent for all his lordes, where he oponly declared to þeym his ful entent and wyl, saying to hem in þis wise.—
ernaunce of þis reme stonde in þis wise transitory, and euery yere to change newe, there may neuer be tranquyllyte vnite ne rest in þe reme amonge you. Wherefor in eschuyng of al myscheues and perelles þat myȝt folowe, I am fully pur∣posed and avised to occupie and contynue in my domnacioun And to holde oute and exclude for euer my broþer, And to kepe that he shal neuer regne vppon you. To which purpose grete party of his lordes assented and accorded. And in affermyng of þe kinges entent, seiden playnely, þat þere as þe soueraynte shulde regne in suche wise by course vppon hem, hit shulde within short tyme pele and destroy hem. For eyþer souerayne for his tyme wold for his owne lucre and avayle take what that he myȝt. Oþer party of þe seid lordes answhering in this wise, seiden playnely. The hiest thing partaynyng to a king’ erue and kepe his feith and trouth above all oþer þinges, considering þe strong bondes and oþes made in so hie places of recorde to his broþer breking; of which shulde turne to grete displesaunce to oure goddis. Whereby grete venge∣aunce myght folowe vnto you and your reme. Wherefor, oure ful consel is and avise that ye kepe and afferme þe bondes and covenauntes made vnto youre broþer.—The seid Ethiocles hering and wel conceyving þe ententes of his lordes, toke fulli to purpos to withholde al þat he might gete according to his purpos, And al, þat held þe contrary opyneoun, were anone exiled and banshed oute of his reme; which in short tyme after, he founde most cruel ayenst him. Ethiocles þenking also, þat if his broþer come for to clayme or to chalange eny dignite þere, þat he wold sle him, so þat he might hold it still in pesable possessioun.—Within short tyme after þe terme of Ethiocles was termyned and ended as fore that yere. Pollymet enformyng Adrastus and Tedeus holy his cause, right, and title, which he had to þe crowne of Thebes, as for þe next yere, Praying þe seid king of counsell & succour in þat mater, wheþer he shuld go him self to Thebes for to receyve crowne and septre, or ellis to sende his messenger to haue redy knowlage of þe entent and wil of his broþer Ethiocles. To which, Adrastus yaf ful counsell, þat he shuld not go him self ne put him in aventure, but þat he shuld send thider his broþer Tedeus, for þe ful knowlage of his entent. Tedeus with ful good hert and will toke þe iournay vppon him, to þat entent, that þei þe better might procede to þeire purpos. Tedeus arraied in the best wise, rode forthe on his iournay to Thebes, where he fonde Ethiocles, holding ful proudely his estate; To whom Tedeus spak in þis wise.—Right worthi Lorde, as yit regning in youre see, ur worthi broþer Pollymet bade, that ye shuld haue in remembraunce þe grete and strong bondes, suerteis, oþes, and couen∣auntes, made by a vice of al þe lordes of Thebes, with your consent, which is of so hie recorde, that hit may in no wise be repeled. Considering þat the tyme is come, that ye of right most nedis resigne bothe crowne & septre with al þe hole possessioun and dignite to your said broþer as for þis next yere. Remembring also, that by þe same suertees and statutes, ye may not bothe, be in Thebes at onys. Wherefor he wold that ye voide þis reme, as for this yere; So þat he may come, his crowne and septre of Thebes for to receyve as þe poyntement is, ffor he hath truly leved in exile, during his terme; Ethiocles hering this message, was sore chaufed in his corrupt blode, axing him, howe he durst be so hardy for to entre into his reme withoute his licence or protexioun with eny suche message. Tedeus answhering ayen and seid. Myn Auctorite is of him, þat of riȝt hath moost power, ffor your power is ceded as ye wel knowe; Ethiocles having grete dispite at his wordes, yaf in commaundement to his seruauntes for to put him into strong prisoun, And anone he made his othe, that he shuld dye in ensaumple of all oþer to be ware of eny suche mesage; And
eruauntes were sone redy and on horse, toke nere pathes, And so at a streite encowntred him ery chone, saue one, which he preserued a life, for to make relacioun to Ethiocles, howe his felawes weren slayne. But Tedeus is gone on his iournay sore wounded touarđ Arge, where he fonde Adrastus and Pollymet, which were right sory for his woundes and hurtes. Tedeus there making ful report of þe answhere and purpose taken ayenst him by Ethiocles. This mighti king Adrastus, having redy knowlage of þe grete wronge and dispite don to Tedeus, And also of þe grete wronge purposed ayenst þe title and right, þat Pollymet onght to haue in Thebes, take fully to purpos to ben avenged in þe vttemost wise if fortune wold assent, and that in al hast possible, sending oute his sompnes into euery partie of his reme, for to make al his lordes fore to appere bifore him vppon assigned. Which ful redy, kept hir day of apparence, where Adrastus, by avice of his said lordes, toke þere purpos fore to ride to Tebes with all þe might and power that he might reyse, fore to depose Ethiocles of his dignite, or ellis for to ley sege thereto vnto þe tyme hit were destroied for euer. Where vppon he sent oute his messengers to euery coost to make his retenue, þe which was don within short tyme And as Boas writeth, þe moost worthiest retenue that euer was made bifor that day; In þe which, þere were of estates as ye shall here right ferre geten in diuerse regiones. First there come to him Protholome, us man as clerkes writeth with full grete and myghti power at his retenue. There was also þe king Ypamedon ur. There was also þe worþi king Mebeagar, whos name of knighthode is nowe ful wyde, bringing with him a ful grete ooste in his retenue. There come also þe worthi famous king Cauor with ful moche multitude at his gouernaunce; Thider come also þe mighty king Ladres and þe king Purreus that weren right victorious and of grete might, hawing at theire gouernaunce a ful grete ooste and many a worthi werreour. There was also Palameon a ful grete renowned werreour with an houge multitude of peple in his retenue, And also þe worthi knight Tedeus sending into Calidoyne, where of he was right heire, ur that I write not of; And as I fynde writen, thider come many of þe lordes of Thebes to Pollymet, þe which were preued right worthy and ful cruell ayenst Ethiocles, by cause he exiled þeym for þeyre record of trouthe, And ful violently proued her malis vppon him.
ur ynogh for many a herode for to distreve and blase þe Cates and baners of lordes, þe brightnesse of which shone vp to heven. This worthi king Adrastus ordeynyng ful worþely for þe said peple and principally for hem þat come thider at theire owne cost and charge, And gouerned him in suche wise þat euery man of þe said retenue, held him wel content and plesed. Ethiocles having knowlacche of this mighty purpose taken a yenst him; In al soden hast stuffed his ntre∣munyng his depe diches, machecollyng his hie toures, Enbrayng his wacches abought the Cite, fortefying his bruges and barreris with many a mighty cheyne, purveying ful wisely his ordenaunce for his defence with bowes and balesteres, springaltes and tegrettes And many a mighty bowe of brake and wyndeles, and many oþer cast of stone and of fire, sparing for no cost. Assignyng euery man fore the werre to his warde, where vppon, þeire lyves most be plegge. Which grete and mighty ordenaunce on bothe sides turned afterward to grete myschef on bothe parties, ffore hit preued well þere of þeym two, that weren so horribly goten ayenst all nature & orden∣aunce, for as clerkes seyn, blode to touche blode, bringeth forthe corrupt frute. Resorting nowe ayen to king Adrastus, having his houge peple in assemble redy to take theire iournay, send forth a notable and a ffamous man a bisshopp called Amphiorax, rophet. For what by calculacioun, what by þe answere of his goddis, m to be his counseler in al his iourney; Amphiorax having suche experience in calculacioun, founde redely by þe influence of heuen that if he went with Adrastus in þat iourney, that he shuld be quyk deuoured of þe erthe; urposed him fully to eschue þat iourney; praying and charging his wife, that if eny man come to seche him, þat she shuld not discouer him, for he wold go and hide him in savyng of his life. Anone messengers constreyned hir by othe to tele wher he was; To whom she said in saving of hir trouth. Goeth and secheth him in þe toure, where ye may finde him; urnay and purpose to Thebes ward. Amphiorax making his calculacioun serching oute euery constellacioun and influence of þe heuenes of þe tyme, that purpose taken; Abiding also þe answhere of his goddis, fonde verely and truly, that if Adrastus held forthe his iornay to Thebes, þat al þe chef blode of Grece shuld be destroied & lost And him self deuoured of þe erthe, And come ayen to þe kyng and seid.
er if ye hold forth your iournay, þat ye haue purposed to Thebes, al þe blode rial of Grece shal be destroied and lost; ffor in taking of your purpos, al þe heuenesse aboue were so disposed; wherefor my counsel is þat ye be right wel avised; And as for þis iournay, sendeth to Thebes, assaying by oþer weyes and menes to haue your wronges amended and reformed. To whom Adrastus, Tedeus, Pollymet and many oþer estates answhered and seiden; Amphiorax thou toke not thi tyme of calculacioun a right, ne vnderstode, noȝt well thy goddis; ffor suche a peple as we haue, may not be overcome for al þe world after. Amphorax seid truly, that hit shuld turne to grete myschef and vengeaunce to al þe noble blode of Grece as he said bifore; Notwithstonding his saying and counselyng; Adrastus ordeynyng forth al his peple, ledyng with him Amphiorax yn a chare to geve him counsaile; So holding forth theire iournay, spreding al þe contrey abought with bright baners and harneys, that hit was mervelouse to se, making þeyre wey by þe worthi king Ligurgius the which receyued Adrastus and al his ooste ful worthely, In whos lond, Adrastus and al his houge ooste were wel refresshed holding forth þat iourney til þey come bifore þat worthi Cite of Thebes; where þey ful proudely lighten downe, settyng vp full ery side þe Cite, closing þe Cite all abought, making þeire logges, ery side; So þat þere might no man yssue oute of þe Cite vnslayne or taken, A rering vp many a big bulwerk’ on euery side, setting mynours to þe walles in full ferse wise. Ethiocles seing al þis mortal ordenaunce, purposed ayenst him, was gretly abasshed, and purveyed strong resistence ayenst theym and defence for him self. Ordeined ful many a siker warde and wacche on þe walles, making redy al þeire Artelery and cast of stone. And of many anoþer defence with ful siker serchercherours of wardes, pur∣posing fully, that er he wold eny þing obey for to haue a ful sufficiant and profitable enpoyntement.—Jocasta the quene and moder to Etheocles, and to Pollymet, seing þe grete myschef folowing, set hir self on horse, eruaunteȝ. And by licence of Adrastus come riding to his pavilioun. To whom he did ful grete reuerence. Hir son Pollymet going a yenst hir, did to hir lowly obeysaunce, and to his susteres also.—Jocasta praying Adrastus, þat þere might some trety of pes taken and behad bitwen þe two breþeren, so that þere were no blode lost fo theire cause. Praying Adrastus and al þe lordes that were þere, þat she myȝt sey for þe part of Etheocles, þe which Adrastus graunted with right gode will. Jocasta desiryng þat hir son Ethiocles myȝt regne in Thebes durying his lyf with oute interrupcioun of eny man. His Brother Pollymet taking a part suffisaunt for to leve vppon, And to be vnder þe obeciens of Etheocle by cause he is þe elder brother. The Grekes sodenly maden answhere þere, and namely Tedeus, seying playnly, þey wold in no wise entrete with him, but if he wold resigne crowne, septre, and all þe dignite aftre þe covenaunt and statutes made bifor tyme, of which þey had þe copies redy to shewe. To which Jocasta coude in no wise es, At þe which, full many a doughti man was slayn on bothe par∣ties, And full many wounden and take on bothe partyes. Aftre which scarmyssh so moche feruent yre and envy rose on bothe sides þat for þe deth none spared daiely to mete oþer in þe berde. And Tedeus alwey bare him so manly, that he was dred as þe deth. Fortuned vppon a day as þe story telleth, that Amphiorax in his chare beyng yn the felde amonge þe
mnacioun of him. Adrastus with all his oþer lordes, seing þis vengeaunce, mervailed gretly, having grete drede, purposing to returne home ayen. The yonge lordes ful douȝti and auentures to þe werre, seiden playnely, that hit were a grete cowardise and shame infinite, for to leve so grete a purpos for þe myschef of one mysviled wrecche. Considering also that þe Grekes neuer into þis day was neuer in no repreue of no nacioun, ne shamed in no wise, seying proudely, þat þey wold neuer go thens while þere were one left on lyve within þe towne, or stone, ston∣dyng on þe wallis, but if hit were yolden at þeire wil. Adrastus with all oþer lordes seing and conceyving þe coragious desires of þe yonge lordis, token ful purpos to abide þe vtmost ende, howe that euer fortune wold gouerne þeim. Charging al maner of men to be redi in aray, ordeynyng ladders, picos, and many oþer wepon, full ery side with skaling, mynyng þe wallys foynyng and sheting, hewyng downe of bruges and barreris. They of within, in right manly wise, made þeire defence in casting of stone & wilde fire with brem stone, lede, picche molton, casting on þeir hedes, beting of bassenettis with axes, with ful many a mighty shotte outeward, foyned hem fro þe walles, filling ful her diches with slayn men. At þe which tyme, the worthiest werreours of Grece that preced ny þe walles were slayn, þe towne ful wel defended as fore that day. Adrastus thus disconfite, and beten fro þe walles, was gretly meved in hert, purposed fulli to mete better; with hem of within, ordeynyng of þe newe al maner of ordenaunce and aray; he charged euery man for to come in here best wise eft [?] sones to assaile þe Cite. Ethiocles having knowlage of theire purpose and commyng touard þe Cite, awaited ful redely and ful proudely, issed oute, and met with theim in þeire commyng in the felde. At which tyme, as hit fortuned, Pollymet asspying his broþer Ethiocles, ariued on horse, And with spere in honde metyng him ful manly, And with his spere bare Ethiocles þorgh þe body, of which stroke Ethiocles fel to þe erth, þe tron∣choun of þe spere abiding in his body. Pollymet sodenly having pite of his broþer so myscheued, light downe anone, and toke him in his armes And leid honde on þe tronchoun arties, And as Boas writeth al þe chef blode of Grece was slayne there and best in þe felde, saving only Adrastus and Campaneus, urney was ful grete heuynesse and sorowe on bothe parties. Thei of þe Cite stonding withoute hede or gouernour assembled hem togidre, and chosen theim a newe king to rule & gouerne theym in that nede, þe which king was called Creon a ful cruel tyrant and a ful manly man. Adrastus ful hevy and sory of hert, send into Grece, lating þeim wite and knowe of þe grete infortune and myschef don at his sege. Of which tidinges, hit were to grete hevinesse to tel of þe sorowe þat was made of ful many a worthi quene eryche enquered of other of þeire lordes, purposing þeym eueryche fore to go togidre to Thebes, fore to seche þeire lordes, Arraying þeim al in mantelles of blak barbed and all barfote with þe grettest sorowe and hevynesse that euer was sayne of one company. urnay til þei come to þe Cite of Thebes where þei pur∣poseden to fetche þe bodyes of hir lordes home for to bury. Adrastus and
eryche sech∣ing oute hir lorde martred in þe feld; The cruel king Creon alwey keping þe bodies, not sufring one to be remeued, but þat þey shuld be þere deuoured of wilde bestes, and wormes, which encresed gretly þe sorowe of al þe said ladyes, where they dwelled still in þe felde abought þe said bodies in suche dedely sorowe xv dayes vnto þe tyme þat of fortune, þe worthi Duke Teseus of Athenes repayring home oute of þe Ile of Femyne fro his worthi conquest, bringing with him his newe wife Ypolita þe quene wt hir urnay to Thebes with ful grete chevalry ful like a con∣queroure. Al þes ladies seing him come, went al togidre ayenst him, falling al on knees bifore him; Praying and besechyng him to haue pite vppon þeym, And to help, þat þey might haue awey þe bodies of þeire lordes, lying slayn bifore þe Cite. Enformyng him howe cruelli þe king Creon wold not suffre þeym to cary þe bodyes awey. Teseus having pite of þe ladies, ful knightly light fro his horse, taking theym vp in his armes euery chone, es, enformyng him holy of al theire myschaunce. Teseus seing þe grete myschef and sorowe as wel of al þe ladies, as of Adrastus and Campaneus, went streyt to þe bodies lying in þe felde, And lete gader þeym togidre for to cary theym þens. Creon seing þat, come proudely with his peple issing oute fore to lette þeym; Teseus with his manly company brakyn amonge þeym, and won þe yates of þe Cite, sleing in þe felde, al þat he might sette honde on. Campaneus won vp to the walles, where he faught ful manly, beting theym downe fro the walles, where at þe last Campaneus was slayn of infortune. Teseus with al his peple toke Creon and slewe al that was with oute, entring þe Cite, and slewe all that he founde within; Then he late smyte of þe hede of Creon, taking oute Jocasta and hir two doughteres lete cast downe euery house of þe Cite, And last no stone stond on the walles, but made hit playne, and euen with the soyle, urney to Athenes. Taking with him þe ij yong knyȝtes of Thebes, Arcet and Palamon breþeren of Armes, þat were of þe blode rial, but þei were sore wounded, deliuering to the ladies all þe bodies of þeire lordes, þe which weren ful rially brent there wt many arte of þeym caried home into Grece with many a rial obseqims and sacrafice don abought þeym, which shul be þere in remembraunce vnto þe worldisende. Adrastus also dressing him into Arge where he leued but short tyme aftre, the which myscheues iournay and sege was iiijc yere bifore Remus and Remulus bigan the fundacioun
As the noble and worthi clerke Guydo writeth in his boke and declareth, and so doeth þe famous clerk Dares also; How that some tyme in Thesaile, there was a king called Eson, which list not in his yonge and lusty daies to take no wife, But at þe last, was so ferre growen in age, that his wittes weren not moost profite ne right resonable, for toe rule and gouerne his reme ne his peple. But he was fall in a maner of dotage fore age, ffor which
es seyn, ommitted to þe rule and gouernaunce of his vncle Pelleus, the which, bi prosses of yeris, was holden so noble and worthi of honde, þat his name spronge so wide & ferre that euery man had grete ioye to here speke of his worthinesse & of his persone.—Pelleus aduerting and casting in his mynde, howe him self and his yssue might possede and enyoyse þe crowne and dignite perpetualli and to exclude, his nevowe Jason fore euer; compassed ful many a diuerse wey in his mynde, to þe confusioun and destruxioun of his seid cosyn, holding him vpp alwey with faire flatery, and shewed hole love outeward, where there was ful dedely hate inward; ery contrey causeth me verry heuen and erthly ioy. But Jason for to haue thi worthinesse sprongen so wider and more largely and oponly to ben knowe, And as a conquerour for euer to ben dredde in euery contrey m haue knowlage thereof, So þat by his supportacioun and labour, he might be þere at, in crece and forthering of his name. Pelleus conceyving well his corage and manhode, seid to him in this wise.—Cosyn hit is oponly knowen in many a londe, that within þe Ile of Calcos there is a Ramm that bereth a flece of golde, which is more worth then eny man can telle, And if thou; by thi myȝt and manhode mightest wyn and conquere that Ramm, thi renowne and name, shal spring, vp to heuen, And as þe worthiest for euer to ben put in remembraunce. Jason fulfilled with knightly corage and innocent of his fayre and false, compassed tresoun ayenst him by þe flatery of his vncle, withoute a vice of eny man, hath vndertake þis perlious emprise, was fully ymagened & purposed fully for his destruxioun and ende. Praying his vncle to ordeyne for him in al hast men and aray after his estate. Pelleus full ioyfull in hert, trusting fully hit shuld be his confusioun & ende lete do make in haste possible a shipp redy for him, as Guydo seith, hit was the fairest shipp that euer sailed vppon þe water fro lond to londe; Gouernour þereof was þe wise and redy Pilotes that hadde n of euery storme or tempest appering on þe sky, and also of sterre, ston, and nedle. Jason also havyng wt him in his vessell as his felawe, þe stronge and mighti Ercules with many anoþer lusty and manly man of Grece with ful leve take of his vncle, was vnder saile, ful worthely taking his iournay sailing an þe salt see touard þe Ile of Calcoys, where a tempest sodenly arose, And so hurled and labored þe ship til he was dryven into þe Ile of Troye, whereof Jason and his felaship weren right ur of the londe, for to haue some ese and rest after þeire perilous laboure on the see. King La∣medon being in his Cite of Troy, was enformed of malis, þat þere was a shipp stuffed with men of werre arryved in his londe, and come oute of Grece, supposing for some malis ayenst him or his peple, And anone sent messengers to Jason and seid to him in this wise.—For asmoche as ye that ben strangers ben arryved here, in gise or werre, withoute licence or saue condite, þe king chargeth you that in al hast ye remeve his grownde. For if ye disobey, and kepe not his commaundement, ye be of to feble power, for to resist and to with stonde his wil of you.—Wherefor we counsel you
e dele aggreued in hert, answhering in this wise. Sirres, sith hit is þe kinges lust, þat we so sodenly shull departe, we shul not longe soiourne here. But if infortune, we ben dryven hider magre oure lust; but we had supposed that þe king of his goodnesse, wold rather haue send fore us strangers for to haue some dele refresshed vs, then in this wise to bannesh vs hens, thenking him, ne none of his harme in goode feithe, Praying you to sey to him on oure part; that sith we finde his kindenesse so strange to vs at þis tyme, And wol not suffre vs in no wise to rest on his londe, onys or this day iij yere if fortune wol suffre, we shall aryve somewhat nere him, wthoute licence, save condite, or protexioun of him, or eny of his; ȝe and in suche wise, that hit shal not be in his might, ne power to resist ne lette oure aryvaile ne tarying, while vs best lust. Thus token þei here leve and streite to shipp, and winde at wil tyl þei come to þe hauen of Calcos ersone, as of konnyng, norture, and knowing of al the sciences, nigromancy, magyk’ sortery, and oþer enchauntementes, that nowe ben forbode, that she shuld do al þe disporte and chere to Jason and his felashipp that she coude or might in performyng of hir fader wil. Avi∣sing alwey þe persone of Jason; Considering his worthi berthe of blode rial and his grete renowne and name of worthinesse, preised in many a londe, hath take to ful purpos to finde þe menys & weyes, if fortune wol, fore to be his wife. Taking no reward to fader herifage, ne none oþer worldely richesse. But within short tyme hath founde a tyme, place, and leysoure to þe execucioun of hir entent; First enquering of him of his blode and berthe. Afterward of his causes and iourneyes into þat contrey, where∣to, he alwey made his answhere, and told hir þe trouthe of al þat she axed him, And of the emprise that he had take on honde. To whom she yaf answhere in maner as she þat had lost hir fraunchise, and in maner, stode vnder his power, And he innocent, and not knowing thereof, seying to him in þis wise.—Hit is goode, þat so noble and worthi as ye be, to be right wele avised, while ye stonde at large, to take vppon you so importable a charge, which is vnlikely and impossible for eny erthly man for to acheue, For truly in þat case, there may no manhode avayle And armour and we∣pon seruen for noȝt. For er that ye come to þe Ramm, ye most fight with ij bolis of brasse, either casting oute at þe mouthe fire and flawme, that wol bren and consume eny erthly mater, which bolys, ye most in suche wise ouercome, that ye shal take hem by the hornes, and so lede hem to þe yok; and ere þe londe with here laboure; that don and ouercome in suche wise, ye shal mete and fight with a dragon, maner of a serpent, whos venym is so contagius, þat þer erish the skales. This ouercome and don, ye shal come to the Ramm, which is withoute defence or resistens; but for to atteyne so ferre, hit is impossible fore eny erthly man. Jason remembring well euery worde and perell, stode some dele asstonyed of him self, answhering ayen and seid. Truly my lady Medea of your gentil warnyng and counsell, y thonke you as your owne man in al þat I can or may; But truly sith that I haue so ferreforth take on this enprice, I shall do my full besynesse and power to
ery man sey, þat Jason had vndertake emprise, which fore couardise durst not holde ne complete; Medea seing his manful corage, reioysed gretly within her hert, seying to him in this wise.—Right worthi Jason, sith ye list in no wise to leve your yournay, for the grete worthinesse and manhode that I haue herd of you, so that ye wol be ensured to me to be ruled and gouerned after me, I trust verely to shewe you suche menys and weyes, that ye shall acheue youre purpos; And truly withoute me, ye may neuer haue your entent in that mater; To whom Jason answered and seid, that truly with hert and wil, he wold be ruled as she list to gouerne him. Whereof she right fayne and glad, founde a place and tyme at more leysoure to enforme him. The night next folowing, she having a woman of hir assent, sent priueli vnware of eny man after Jason, which was right glad and fayne, to obey hir wil, come to þe chambre of Medea þat also was fayne of his com∣myng, setting him downe on hir beddes side, urpos, folowed hir wil and lust in al thing. This othe & ensurans made, she seid to him. Jason ye knowe wele that I am doughter and heire to þe king my ffader, and I desire none oþer thing for my labour in saving of your life and worship, but þat ye wold take me, before al other. Jason thenking on hir noble berthe, grete beute, and worthi estate, graunted thereto with ful glad chere and hert; And were there vppon ensured on þe newe. Then she toke him A litul ymage of golde, þat he shuld bere priuely nst eny spirit. Also she annoynted his body over al with a precious oyment, þat was a noble defence ayenst al maner of venym. She toke him also a viol nt for to cast in þe þrotes of þe bolys, whan þei gape vppon him which shal englewe þeire chaulys togidre, and bireve, theym here might. Also she toke him a ringe with a stone called Achenes, which shall cause him to be invisible, so neþer bolle, ne dragoun shuld haue no sight of him. She toke to him also a charme writen that first whan he come to þe sight of þe fendis, kneling with good deuocioun, shuld sey it. All þes thinges receyued and tauȝt toke his leve of Medea, and went to hir ffader for his licens to go touard his iournay. The king seing his manly corage seid to hym; Jason beth right wele avised, er that ye procede eny ferther in yournay consider wel þat hit is impossible for eny man for to acheue that purpos, And therefor my counsel is, that ye cese þerof ffor I take al þe goddis to recorde and witnesse, that hit is not my wil, þat ye shuld so put your body in aventure to be spilt of which, truly, I am right sory, not with stonding all the sermonyng, Jason, Ercules with all þeire lusty company taken theire leve, and went streite to bote rowing forthe into a litul m with þe ffles of gold was in keping. Jason entring into þe lond alone, leving Ercules with al his peple within the bote, charging theym to abide there stil vnto þe tyme þat he come ayen; Taking his passage ful manly vnto þe tyme that he come to the sight of the dredeful bolys, where anone kneling on his knees, seid this charme as he was taught, and arose vp, taking his paas touard þe bolis, which with horrible and grisfull gaping, cast oute fire and flawme. Jason ful wisely and manly toke his viol with his licour, and boldely cast it into þeire þrotes, wherewith; all sodenly theire chaulys englewed togidre. So þat al theire might & power failed and cesed. Jason ful boldely toke þeim by þe hornes, þey enclined and obeied his lust to þe yok and plogh, with whom he ered þe londe, as
rise don, toke his wey streite to þe dragoun, which anone cast oute suche an eire with venym, that wold enfecte al a contrey. Jason holdyng his ring on his honde, went streite to him, And anone þe dragoun lost sight, power, and might, where Jason toke his swerd, And be good leysour smote of his hede, And anone rased oute al þe tethe oute of his hede, and cast hem on þe londe that he had plowed wt þe bolys. Of which cursed sede spronge vp anone þorgh might of þe deuell men armed, which eueryche slewe oþer anone in þt tyde. That so don, he went streite to þe Ramm, which made no defence ayenst him, which he toke by þe hornes, and with a knyfe kutte his throte, And so at his owne, leysour, flowe of his riche skyn taking hit with him, and went to his bote, where Ercules with his meyne was abiding vppon his commyng, þe which were right glad and ioyful of his commyng, seying him save of body, during al which tyme, Medea being in an hie toure, sawe him fro pointe to poynte, howe he performed his emprise; Alwey praying urned ayen to king Sithes, þe which was right sory þt Jason hadde won so þe flees, but alwey, made him faire chere outeward. But some clerkes seyn, þat king Sithes lete make þat bolles & dragoun in so horrible wise, by craft of nigromancy, to kepe his grete tresour. But for that worthi conquest, Jason was renowned and named as for þe worthiest conquerour in eny londe, by cause thereof specially: vppon which gilden flece, al þe courte and peple come reunyng fore to mervaile and wonder there vppon, euery man seying his avice þere vppon; the night folowing after his com∣myng ayen; Medea being in hir chambre alone, sent priuely after Jason, which with ful hert and will, come to hir vnware of eny persone, telling hir euery dele of his iourney. Of which, she was right glad and ioyfull, so þat he last with in hir chambre al þat night, where, bitwen hem two, they founde a tyme and leysour, fore to stele awey be night into Grece with the flece of golde and al þe tresour of þe king hir ffader, which was to þe confusioun of Medea, ffor afterward, he left hir in grete myschef, And toke anoþer lady; And he hadde by Medea ij sones, And by cause they were so like Jason, Medea slewe hem bothe. But of hir I speke no more at this tyme. And whan Jason and Ercules were come to Grece, Pelleus, to al mennys sight made hem þe grettest cheere that euer man might, but in hert, hat was þe contrary. Jason telling Pelleus his oncle of al his aventures whereof, he made him full ioyfull, and told him also, howe he was in a tempest dreven into Troy where Lamedon king, sent anone, charging vs to voide his londe on peyn of deth, which was to vs a ful grete disconfort after oure grete labour in þe see. Where vppon we made oure grete othes, And by his messengers sent him worde, þat er thre yere were passed, we wold aryve a litul nere him to his disese and harme if that we might; wherefor ur goode help and succour in this mater. Pelleus anone with good hert graunted theire desire, saying þat he wold go him self with þem in þat iournay; sending Ercules to his Cosyne Thalamon king of Messene with certen lettres and tokenes, that he shuld come, with al þat he might gete, sending him also to the two worthi kingges and bretheren Castor and Pollux, king of Sparrus and breþeren to Elyne quene of Tyndarus; And also to Duke Philon that was lorde of the grete prouince of Grece, And al, with goode will graunted euery chone at Pelleus desire, to go with him to Troy. Pelleus in al hast possible made his retenue, And with al þes worthi lordes moustred in a faire grene playne, which was an houge multitude of peple taking theire shippes, and had wedur and winde at will, til þey come to þe riall haven called Symeont or Tenadoune right nygh þe noble Cite of Troy which haven þey toke within þe nyght. Pelleus anone assembled his lordes togidre, and seid to theym in this wise: Sirres
mmyng hidre, and for what purpos, And þenk well, þt Lamedon is right manly, and wise and cruel of honde, wherefor but we preve wel oure manhode, oure name is lost fore euer. Ercules answhering ayen seid; yif ye wol be ruled be myn avice and counsel, I trust fully to acheue oure purpos. To whom þei graunted euery chone to ben ruled. Then my counsell is that king Castor take with him a suffisant felaship and be putte oute bifore, shewing him oponly bifore þe Cite wt baners displaied; king Thalamon with anoþer felashipp priuely as hit were in a busshement, if nede be to soccour. Pelleus with al his peple abiding here still, And if hit nede to be succour and rescue to theym bothe; Jason and I, with anoþer meyne all priuely, er the day spring, ley vs all priuely vnder the vynes vnder þe wallis of þe Cite; So that whan Lamedon skarmeshith with you, we shal fal bitwen theym and þe towne, And so bitwen you and vs, for to take and sle hem, And arauenture, wyn the towne also that is so richely stuffed with al maner of tresour, where with, we may freight al oure shippes and lede into Grece; Al þe lordes thenking his counsell goode, folowed his entent.—Castor in þe mornyng, shewing him oponly bifore þe Cite with baners displaied in the felde in the sight of Lamedon and al þe Cite, Anone Lamedon assembled his peple, and with manly corage yssed oute at þe yates, meting with Castor, And in suche wise skarmeshed wt him that he slewe grete parte of of his peple; And had not Thalamon come the rather with succour, hadde slayne Castor. But Thalamon brak so sodenly vppon Lamedon, þat he slewe grete peple of Troy; but alwey; þei of þe Cite yssed oute, And at þe last, put Thalamon & Castor to disconfite. Then Pel∣leus brak oute with a fers company skarmeshing ful longe tyme with þe Troians, sleying ful moche peple on bothe parties. Then brak oute Jason and Ercules and were sodenly in þe bak of þe Troians, that so, bitwen Ercules and þe Grekes, þe Troians weren slayn and disconfite. Jason keping still the yatis of þe Cite, where þey smeten of the hede of Lamedon and cast hit vnder horse fete, sleing al þe remenaunt, and so passeden into þe Cite, where they left on lyve noþer man, woman, ne childe, dispoyling al þe Cite of theire richesse and tresoure stuffing ful here shippes therwith, preseruyng Exeona doughter of king Lamedon on lyve, by cause of hir beute, but they casten downe þe Cite, and last no stone stonding vppon other, but made hit playne euen with the soyle. This vengeaunce so cruelli don, token theire shippes, ledyng Exeona with al oþer tresoure with theym into Grece. At which tyme, was Priamus son and eire to king Lamedon lying at þe sege bifor A Castell, whether tydinges come to him of al þis strong vengeance; he al distroubled and mased of al thes sorowful tydingges, sodenly last þe sege and come home, where he fonde no stone stondyng urpose to reedefy and bilde þe Cite of newe, And in suche wise, that hit shuld not so lightly ben lost. And in al hast sende into many a contrey and diuerse londe, for þe moost prudent and wisest men of craft, that might be founde and gete, sparing for no cost ne expense, purposing fully to make suche a Cite and so strong, that he wold neuer drede fore none enemy, noþer for werre ne pees. To which, there came ful many a crafty masoun, n, that hadden ful redy knowlache and konnyng as wel in gemetry as in oþer sotel insight of werkes, where they toke here markes and mesures of lengthe and compasse of the Cite, the which was made so
es. Where on was sette many a mylle, and stuff of fissh ynogh within þe same. Al maner of cornes and frutes growing within þe Cite, pastures, wede, and medewe, so that þey shuld neuer nede of no thing with oute. For as Guydo seith, hit was iij daies iourney abought the wallis which wallis were reysed of iiiixx cubites of heȝt And toured so thik’ that euery toure might succour other; And euery toure lx cubites hier þen þe wallis; And bothe wallis and toures ful bigely mascolde with depe diche and double ful mighty contre∣mured; so that if eny man were within, he might neuer oute wtoute help. ery of thes, was set a strong bulwerk as mighti as eny castell with barres and heps for a sure defence. There were also many smale posternes with planchettes if nede were to issue oute as wel in tyme of pes, as of werre.—He lete make also bi the one side of the towne an houge and a miȝti dongeoun aunce shuld hurt him, diched and countremured strongely; within which, Priamus held his palis, and was called Ilyon. He lete make also his worþi temple of his goddis ful richely arraied, where he made his rightes and sacrafices. This cite fully made and performed; Pria∣mus sending into many a londe and towne for the moost subtile men of all maner of craftes that might be gete and founde, yeving theym bothe house and londe fre, as fore þeire owne lyves, setting euery craft by þeym self; Stuffing the Cite also with laborers And comeners, for to labour and plogh; Sending also into many a contrey for the manlyest men of werre þat might be goten, stuffing euery toure abought þe Cite with theym, to defende the Cite if nede were, Assignyng to euery toure a certen of lyvelode for theire wages eternaly to endure, within which cite, there was al maner of commoditees so that theym nede no thing to seche withoute, while þe worlde may endure, neþer for man ne beest. This Cite so worthely made and stuffed, Priamus ful rialli dwelling in his walis wt Ecuba his quene, having abought theym here childeren, Ector, Parys, Deyphebus, Elacyus, that was a noble clerk’, Troylus, Palliodorus eres Granthia that was maried to Eneas; Cassandra a ful grete dyueneras and Pollixene, and also of oþer sones goten on purchas xxxti ful worthi knightes. Priamus thus being in his grete ese and welthe, remem∣bring him vppon a day on þe grete cruelte don to him, his lordis euery chone, saying to þeim in this wise.—Sirres ye knowen well of þe grete vengeaunce and cruelte don to oure Auncetors and destruxioun of oure Cite and tresoure by þe Grekes, And of þe taking and ravesshing of my suster Exeona þat is yit holden and vsed of king Talamon to hir opon and grete disclaundre and shame, and oures also, the which greueth me more then al þe oþer harmes. Wherefor be your goode avise and counsell I am fully purposed for to sende vnto þe Grekes to wite, whether they woll reforme and amende eny of þes grete wronges other no; To which purpose, al the lordes consented and saiden, hit were wel don to assay there wil therein.—Then for asmoche as Antenor was named and knowen for the moost prudent and wisest man of al þat contrey and in many anoþer londe also; Priamus sent him vppon his message, ad enbasset into Grece vnto Pilleus. saying in this wise.—Priamus king of Troy, wold þat ye remembre on þe grete wronge & vengeable cruelte don to king Lamedon his ffader, and to his Cite of Troy, And praied some dele to amende and reforme his grete wrong and distruxioun, And taking awey of al þeire tresoure, And in especyall þe withholding so longe of his suster Exeona to his grete shame
riamus hold him greued or displesed of eny thing don by vs bifor this tyme, sey to him that he take amendis therefor where that he may, ffor truly of vs gete he nouȝt. Antenor seing that hit was no bote to tary there no lenger, he went streite to king Thalamon and on Priamus bihalf, praied him to restore ayen, his suster Exeona riamus bihalf, some what for to make restitutioun of the grete wronges and harmes don to theym, to his fader and oþer of Troy, which yauen answhere and seiden, that if Priamus held him mysplesed for oure dedis don at Troy bifor this tyme, byd him hold him wel there to, lest he take more hereaftre if he noyse it to moche. Antenor having thes finel answheres, toke his shipp, and returned to Troy, and made ful report of al þeire answhere. Priamus right gretly meued of þes answheres, called bifor him Ector, and al his sones with all his oþer lordes, making Antenor declare to hem al þe croked answheres, whereof they were al graued sore. Priamus calling his son Ector, seying to him: That for asmoche as þe Grekes haue don vs þes grete wronges and harmes and also eternal shame, And taking and yit with holding of thi Aunte Exeona, And for all this, haue y but short answhere. I am avised to ordeyne a retenue of manly and worthli men, and to send the thider with theym as hir Capten, for to be avenged vppon the Grekes, and bring fro thens Exeona thyne Aunte; Ector answhering his ffader seid: Hit is well don to be well avised or ye sende in suche thidre, and to take so grete a purpos and emprise into suche a londe as grece is, hit were gode to thenk on the ende, ffor þe shame of my Aunte is moche lesse, þen þe losse of many a thousand lyves. His brother Paris hering him sey þes wordes seid vnto his fader: If hit lust you to lete me haue a retenue, I wol vndertake to fecche home my Aunte, oþer I wol do theym as grete shame or that I departe fro thens; Ector answhering his brother seid: n to Grece and many anoþer mighti regioun, And to vs, is noþer help nor succour longing, saue only þe province of Assie, which is right simple ayenst al oure enemyes. Paris taking no reward to þe wordes of Ector, ne to no thing þat foloweth, but hath fully taken his purpos þe iournay vppon him, praying his fader, that peple and shipping might be redy in hast with suche stuff that nedeth there for parteyning and longing for his estate. Of which enprise and coragious wil, his ffader þe king was right glad and fayne, And in al hast, sent into al þe parties of his londe for þe best and manliest men that he might finde, And made vpp his retenue, ordeynyng shippes and al oþer stuff, that shuld long to him, so þat hit was al redy, as wel stuff of vitaile as oþer orden∣aunce for þe werre bothe for water and for lond. Paris mostring his peple, toke leve and blessing of ffader and moder, and went to shipp, and hadde weder and winde at wyll, arryved in an Ile of Grece called Citheron, of which þe worthi king Menelaus was lord of; And of fortune at that tyme, was from home, for a title that he claymed in Tesaile. Paris with his felashipp being in this Ile in which, there was a temple of Diane the grete goddes, At þe which tyme, þe grete sollempnite and vigil of þe seid goddes was holden, To which sacrafices and offering, Al þe peple of þe contrey abought was come thider fore to do þeire olde costumes and dewtees. To which temple, Paris, with a certen of his felashipp, come for to se þe vsages of þat contrey. Fayre Elyne quene and wife to kyng Menelay, hering of þe
mmyng of Paris into þe temple, come with a certen of hir maidones pryveli to haue a sight of that yonge lusty Paris, Taking hir place on þe one side of the temple, where Paris, with one suche as him lust of his felaship, made his walke and stacions, casting alwey his eye and sight priuely touard the fayre e, which sodenly was so planted in his hert, þat al oþer besynesse was for yete, and leide a side. Elyne being in here closet, seing this fressh lusty Paris, so wel demenyng in his array, walking alwey beside to and fro, sodenly was so sette in hir hert, þat al oþer thinges she foryete; stryving with hir self, how to finde a mene for to be in speche with him. Parys in like wise turmentyng in his mynde, howe to finde a wey to come to hir presence, Amonge which brennyng thoughtes, sodenly hi last his felawe, and went streite into þe closet of Elyne; whereof she þe gladdest woman an live, having him in hir presence, They two holding þeym so longe togider in the temple, þat either hadde ful knowlache of oþeris hert; where there was no ioy to seche. Alle which tyme, hit was fully appoynted and accorded bitwen þeim two, þt she shuld go with Parys to Troy. They sette hir tyme and houre of þeire going; Parys taking his leve of hir, went streyte vnto his shipp, charging al his peple in her best array, to wayte vppon him, and also his shipmen, that his ship were vnder saile, in þe poynte, of þe day; Paris with his felashipp taking his wey ayen to þe temple, taking Elyne by the honde dispoiling þe temple of all þe Jewelles & relikes founden there in, holdyng his wey streite vnto þe palis of king Melany, robbing, dispoiling, and taking awey with him all þe richesse and tresoure founden there within, caryng hit to shippes with all hole oþer richesse and goodes founde within þe Ile. Elyne and he, with all þeire felashipp entring theire vesselles, drowen vp saile with winde at wyll went þeire wey, holding þe hie see, til they come to þe lordes of Troye, into an Ile, called Tededon, where they londed and rested theym, sending to his ffader king Priamus, certefying him holy as hit was fortuned. Priamus ful glad in hert fore þe taking of Elyne, trusting by hir, to haue hadde ayen his suster, but hit turned afterward to moche more myschef on bothe parties. Priamus taking with him Ector, Troylus; & all his oþer childeren and lordes, and come to þe Ile of Teledon, where Paris e and al here oþer felashipp was abiding þe wil of Priamus. The which anone lete array and ordeine þe mariage bitwen Paris and Elyn. After which, they anone conveied hir ful rially into Troy where they begon hir ful lusty lyfe. After which ravesshing of Elyne, þe grete noyse arose sodenly thorgh oute þe Ile of Sitheren, and so thorgh al þe londe of Grece vnto þe tyme that hit come to þe eris of king Menelay where he was in strange contrey. For sorowe of which, he fell in suche a soden rage, that he had ny destroied him self, but assoue as he myȝt apese his mortal sorowe, he returned home into Sitheron, where be fonde his palis, the themple, and al þe Ile abought clene dispoyled of al þe richesse, tresour, and oþer goodis that was within. Þe which in suche wise, renewed his sorowes, that he was ny fal into dispaire; But by prosses of tyme with grete confort and labour of frendes, he was repaired to his wisdom and sadnesse. Sending in all hast vnto Castor and Pollux bretheren of quene Elyne, þat must be chef fore the pursute of Elyne; Sending also vnto al þe frendes that they might gete in eny contre to ben venged on þe Troians.—The Grekes holding hem self so rial and worthi, had ful grete despite, þt eny Troiane shuld be so hardy to do eny so grete outerage and shame wt in theire londes. Where vppon, they holy, toke fully to purpose euery lorde at his owne cost and charge to be avenged of that grete despite in al þe hast possible, commyng to king Menelay in this wise.—First þe worthi Achilles Dyomede; king Tendalus; The worthi king Agamenon, that was made gouernour of þe grekes oost; king Patroclus, king Cylyus; king
artheselaus, Neptolomys; king Palla∣mydes; king Pollydamus; Makary þe king of Perce; þe king of Daymes; Amphmacus; king Pollibete; Mathaon and Pollidrus; Duke Antiphis of Esida and of Eriale; Polliphebus, Carpenor, king of Capady, Trearius king of Beysa; þe king of Barbary us of þe Ile of Bosy; king Philanyme of Tigre; king Porces, king Sygamon with his two bretheren of Ethiope; Teneres king of Dares; Archiligus: king Epistrophus. All which kinges euerych brouȝt a grete nombre of shippes stuffed sufficiently in þe moost mighti wise as wel of man as of vitayle; beside many a noþer lorde that come at þe desire of þes said lordes to ben avenged vppon þe Troians.—The king Priamus having knowlage of þis grete purpos taken ayenst him in so feruent wise, ordeined full manly and wisely by þe counsell of Ector to resist þeire malis in stuffing þe Cite with vitaile; þen ordeynyng so grete a nombre of men of werre; so that he hadde of kingges, Dukes and oþer grete lordes of name iiic and xiij bringing with theym vc þousand and xxiiij thousand beside al oþer stuff of þe Cite. Repayring ful strongly al þe defence of þe Cite—The Grekes assembling and mostring al þeire miȝti & houge power; in A day vppon a faire playne, which was ful mervelouse to be holde; when anone was ordeined euery man to bere harneys to shipp, And euery capten their vasselles assigned; drawing vp Ancre and sayle, having weder and winde at will, on an hole flete sayling togidre vnto þe tyme that they come within þe londis of Troy into the haven of Symeont. Of which arryvale Anone king Priamus having ful knowlage, purposed fully to lette þeire arryvale, ordeynyng Ector, Paris, and Troilus, with grete nombre of peple to lette þeire aryvale if they moght.—The Grekes having knowlage of þeir purpos ayenst theym, purveied theire londing in ful wise aray and gode ordenaunce in saluacioun of theym self. Not with stonding, which Ector with his felashipp yaf þem suche batayle at þeire londing, that there was slayne on þe Grekes part xxiijM & iiijc men, And Ector himself there slewe king Protheselay and mo þen a thousand men with urned ayen to Troy. The Grekes al þat niȝt commyng to londe; and in þe poynte of þe day, come in hole batail bifore the Cite with so grete multitude of peple, that they made xvij grete wardes with ful mighti ordenaunce in euery warde, And chef capten and cheften of al þe Grekes part, during þe sege, was king Agamenon, And on þe Troians part, was Ector chosen, having ful grete aspies of theire commyng that mornyng befor Troy; ordeynyng a certen of peple with him, met þeim in þe felde, scarmeshing togider til derk nyȝt, where Ector himself slewe ij kinges And grete parte slayne on bothe parties, but þe more part on þe Grekes side. After which day, þere was daiely sharmeshing during viij month and grete slaughter on bothe parties, and nameli on þe grekes part; Aftre which feruent werre was taken a trete during xl dayes for to releve men hurt on bothe sides. . . .
m his bretheren, Paris, Troilus And Deyphebus with a grete nombre of peple to fight with hem, Atte which skarmyssh was slayn xxxM and vijc on bothe parties, And there was Deyphebus slayn, And on þe Grekes part, king Ar∣chiligus, Potroclus, and king Amphimacus. But alwey the Grekes turned home at nyght with the worse; which skarmeshing engendred so grete hate & envy on bothe parties, that þey skarmeshed and fought dayely togidre with oute eny speche of trety ij yere and iij monthe. Within which terme was grete multitude slayn on bothe sides, and principally on þe Grekes side. King Agamenon seing þe grete myschef and losse of peple, sending into Troy to Priamus for a trety that endured vj monthe, within þe which either party had her disporte with other, aswell þe Grekes into þe Cite as þe
es. Vnder which trete, Calcas of Troy a Bisshopp a grete clerk, a devinour, founde by his calculacioun, and by þe answhere of his goddis, that Troy shuld be destroied within short tyme. Taking fulli to purpos to leve þe Troians, and to go to þe Grekes, which was ful wortheli and nobely receyued of þe Grekes for his gret name and fame. The Grekes purposing to gif him a rule and gouernaunce among theym; Trusting within short tyme by his wisdom to acheue here purpose ayenst Troy ffor what by his hie wisdom and answhere of his goddis, And also by cause, he knewe al þe counsell of Troy, he wold the rather bring hit to confusioun, And so by his false sleghtes and vntrue wyles did and performed; After which trety ended, þere bigan a newe feruent werre, skarmeshing daiely togider, þat peple was slayn on both parties ful grete and houge nombre.—Fortuned vppon a day, Ector come proudely skarmeshing with theim fro morow til derk nyght At which day, the Troians had þe worse, ffor there was slayn king Epistrophis and king Eros And Antenor a ful famous lorde and chef counseloure of Troy taken with many anoþer worthi lorde; by cause of which þei resort daily to so feruent and mortall werre, that hit endured arties were gretely amenesed and lost; but on þe Grekes part, þey weren oft refresshed, And on Troy part, no succour but euer wasted. Fortuned that at þe Grekes request, there was anoþer trety taken, þat endured iij monthe, during which, either partie come to and fro to oþer, disporting and pleying with oþer, vnder which trety, þe false trai∣tour, Calcas that was made chef counselour on þe Grekes part, come into þeire counsell amonge þe lordes praying þeym that for asmoche, that he was of his owne volunte come to theym leving behinde him al þe goodis and namely his childe and doughter Criseide, þat þey wold geve him some prisoner of Troy, by þe which, he might haue oute his doughter fro þe Troians. To whom þe Grekes graunted anone, and yaf him þe famous man Antenor, that was one of þe chef counselours of Troy bifore, by whom afterward, was the Cite destroied and lost. For where that Priamus sende oute Cresside to fecche home Antenor, he was after Traitour to him and to þe Cite. The tyme of trety ended, Ector purposing him to made a proude iourney vppon the Grekes, ordeined him v wardes, eueryche to succour other. The nyght bifor, the wife of Ector lying in hir bedde, hadde a visioun in hir slepe by þe which, she vnderstode wel, that if Ector held his purpos the morowe in þe feld, that he shuld be slayn; where, she come rennyng to him, praying him as þat day to absteyn him fro þe felde, telling him hir avisioun; whereof, he seid, hit was but false bileue & Idolatri and set noȝt thereby, bidding hir to speke no more thereof, ffor he wold not breke his purpos for no thing. She rennyng to Priamus, praying him to restrayne his purpos, enformyng him what shuld folowe if he went oute that day, And to lete Paris and Troilus hold his purpos, which with grete peyne, obeyed his charge. Paris and Troilus skarmeshing in þe felde, which in short tyme were dryven a bakke touard þe Cite, but right grete nombre slayn on bothe partie. Ector in a maner seing theym disconfite, armed him in hast, taking his horse urnyng the Troians ayen into þe feld encowntering king Philex, whom he slewe with his spere. Then come king Pallamydes with a grete multitude of peple, and fil vppon Ector To whom he returned and put at disconfiture, And smote him downe fro his horse, lighting downe for to rase fro him his cote, as hit was his vsage whan he had slayn eny lorde And as at that tyme, having none of his peple aboȝt him, vnware behinde him, come Achilles, and bare him thorgh with a spere, where þe floure of knighthode fel downe dede to þe grownde. Of whom anon þe noyse sprong thorgh the feld that Ector was slayn, ffor sorowe of which, þe Troians ful of sorowe
urned ayen to þe Cite, carying þe body of Ector with theym. For whom, Priamus, Ecuba, Pollicene, Paris, Troilus, and al þe Cite after maden þe grettest lamentacioun and dedely sorowe, that with the lyves might be made ffalling fulli in dispaire, trusting none oþer, but in short tyme to lese the Cite, And all; for Ector was so noble of gouern∣aunce and so doughti of honde, that he had slaine with his owne honde xv kinges beside many a noþer lorde; And neuer feld, put disconfit; where he hadde þe gouernaunce vnto that tyme, which, he might not escape, eschue, ne voide, not wt stonding that he was warned bifore. Where vppon, the Troyans sent oute for a trety of vj monthe, during which, Priamus ordeynyng for þe sepulture, of Ector, full rially held þe obseqims and vigiles, brannyng therein the riche Jewellis, cloþes of golde encense, bawmes, milke, with many a nother riche thing; so that þe sauour was made swete vp to heuen; Alwey conseruyng þe body hole by craft of man for to endure bodely right as he did bifor, saving that he was withoute life, ffor whom there was made a towmbe the moost rial and riche that might be ordeined. Ector stonding, there vppon flesshly, holding his swerd drawen in his honde, And by craft, there were ordeined smale pipes of golde put thorgh his hede strecching þorgh euery veyne and lym of his body; þorgh ur into euery part of his body, þat alwey kept þe body like fressh and grene and wel colored. Setting also vnder his fete a basoun with a certen of bawme, which made his breth as swete as euer hit was, And a winde by craft fro vnder his fete blowing thorgh him as he had ben quyk and brething, so that none stranger shuld well knowe, but þat he were on life. And of hys array hit were to longe to tell. But vnder þis trety taken bitwen þe Troians And þe Grekes After this rial tombe made and don eyther parte come entre, disporting with oþer. Amonge which vppon a day Achilles entred the Cite with oþer Grekes in A poer sowdiours array vnknowe of the Troians, for to se the gise and vsage of theym, holding his wey streite into þe temple, where þe obseqims and vigilis were in doing. Priamus, Ecuba, Paris, Troilus, with many A noþer lorde and lady, doing theire sacrafices and obseruaunce, as þeire gise was for Ector; Ector alwey biholding fresshly and sternely on þeym, And namely as him semed on Achilles, with swerd drawe in honde; whereof Achilles was asstonyed and abasshed, stonding in doute wheþer he was quik or dede. Saving he conforted him self with þe mortall hevinesse, that he sey there made for him, Amonge which prece, Achilles cast his sight a side, And sey þe faire Pollicene suster of Ector and Troilus, whos love anone pershed his hard cursed hert in so strong a wise, that he might not wele endure his hard peines returnyng ayen to þe Grekes with the grettest peyne that might be suffred, praying a seruaunt of his a well avised knight for to go vnto Ecuba vppon his behalf, desiring hir doughter Pollicene in mariage Ecuba anone remembring on his worthinesse, and also of þe myschef that was like to folowe if she denyed his desire, she seid that she wold speke there of vnto Priamus. Whereto Priamus answhered and seid: If that Achilles woll take vppon him to make the Grekes cese theire werre aunce axeth, he wold graunte his wil therein. Of which answhere, Achilles was þe ioyfullest on lyve, promising fully to performe his desire; Taking his wey streite vnto þe king Agamenon, where he was in counsell amonge his lordes, yeving theym his avice and counsell, that for asmoche, as grete part of þe peple is destroied, and howe that their goddis weren displesed for þe dethe of so houge a nombre that were slayn on bothe parties, and þe quarel of þe Grekes noȝt goode, but of pride don, he coude not sey, but yaf hem his counsell, to returne ayen to Grece er fortune turned fully ayenst theym, To whom they yaue answhere and seiden; Sithen
es rennyng bifore the Cite; Troilus, & Paris encountring hem in þe felde, slewe on þe Grekes part grete nombre and drove þeym home into þeire tenteȝ dispoiling and brennyng their logges, Achilles holding him still and wold in no wise fight ayenst þe Troians for þe loue of faire Pollicene. On þe next day folowing Troiles with his company come oute proudely skarmeshing with theym and slogh grete nombre of theym, so that they flowen into þe Tent of Achilles, which stode at defence ayenst Troilus. The Grekes so releued on Troilus that of fortune, Troilus slowe king Polli∣bete and kingg’ Mathaon, and wounded Diomede thorgh þe body, folowing theym so, þt his horse was slayn, his peple returned ayen, where Achilles with A grete peple fel on him and smote of his hede, And drewe the body after him at his horse taile, in þe moost shamefull wise, that euer eny worþi man had with oute cause. Wherefor Achilles, was gretely repreued as wel of þe Grekes as of þe Troians, ffor sorowe of which, Priamus, Ecuba, And al þe Troians were gretly in dispaire, ffor after Ector he was þeir protec∣tour. Ecuba thonking on this grete cruelte & fals tresoun urposed fully be some tresoun to bring him to his ende, where∣vppon she send to hir son Paris, and bade ordeine him a felashipp redy for to sle Achilles, for she wold send for him as for þe trety of þe mariage and to mete with hir in þe temple, where she shuld kepe him in secret wise vnto þe tyme þat he sey best tyme to fall on him and to sle him. Achilles the gladdest man on þe erthe whan he was sent fore, trusting to haue a ful ende of his mariage, he toke with him but one knight or two, come yn to þe temple, And as he kneled, one smote him vnder the fote, whereof he died anone, And then they lete smyte of his hede, And cast the body into the canel, where dogges and crowes shuld deuoure him. Aftre which tresoun so don to Achilles, the Grekes so feruently werred vppon þe Troians dayly, that grete party was destroied on bothe sides, and namely on the Troians party.—Vppon a day Paris making him redy for to make a iournay on þe Grekes, which in like wise, made þeym redy to ren bifor þe Cite, where, at þe yatis, they melle so feruently, that þere was grete slaȝt but þe Troians had þe worse, ffor Paris was þere slayn and grete parte of his peple, which renued þe sorowe of Priamus, ffore þen had he no cheften last on life to gouerne his peple. Where Priamus toke to purpos to kepe the Cite, and no more to issue oute, ne to skarmyssh with theym; Antenor and Eneas pur∣posing fully to haue the Cite destroied come to Priamus seying in this wise: hit were nedeful fore to make a trety for a pes, and to restore ayen Elyne to hir lorde with tresoure for his damage, suche as might be accorded fore; Priamus hering þeire desirours, denied hir axing, they seing this, wenten to al þe comons of þe Cite And with þeire speche so deceyued þeym, þat they made al þeym come byfor the king saying, but if ye wol consent to þeire desires, þey wold depose him, and chese þem suche a king as shuld make a finell pes for al þeir profit. Priamus seying howe they had bent þe comyns with false flateryng that he might not be of might to with stond al þeir malis, consented to a trety for vi auntes shuld be engrosed and enrolled, and Elyne deliuered, and Exeona brought ayen with deliueraunce of al þe prisoners of eiþer party, And so to haue eternal pees, bitwen þe Grekes and Troians; In þe mene tyme, Antenor and Eneas with the consent of þe false traitour Calcas lete meke an horse of Bras so large and moche, þat hit was mervaile to speke thereof, which horse the Grekes desired to offre to the goddes Mynerva within þe temple of Troy, like as þey had made here avowes bifore tyme. Priamus graunting as fore their offering
rafice þeir entent; which horse whan he was by craft brought vnto the yate, he was so houge, þat vnto þe tyme, þat þe walles weren broke to make þe yate larger, hit myȝt not entre; within which horse was hidde a þousand men armed; The Grekes also euery man redy in hir best aray, so þat whan þe horse were past þorgh þe brosten yate, þen men to lepe oute of his bely, And þere þei slewe al þat þey fonde aboute þe Cite, as porters and kepers thereof. The Grekes awayting wel vppon þeym, ren yn at onys, and so won þe Cite; Priamus seing this myschef, fled into þe temple, where þei fonde him and slowe him, dispoiling þe temple of all þe richesse and tresoure saving that was þe two traitours, Taking oute Elyne and þe son of Achilles, sleing Pollicene, leving no pece with oþer of hir body, leding Ecuba into Grece for to stone hir there to dethe, breking downe þe wallis of þe Cite And slewe al þe peple found þerin And brent euery house, but for to tell of þe debate & discord of þe Grekes for þe tresour in þeire going homward, And howe euery lord slewe oþer, And some exiled for euer oute of Grece, as Dares & Guydo writen hit wold make alonge prosses; but fro þe lying of þe sege into þ ende, were slayn on þe Grekes party viijcM vijcxvj men, And on þe Troians party were slayn vjcM & ixc men, And so as I suppose neþer party won gretly at the ende n and falsenes to sorowe and myschef at the last.