The "Gest hystoriale" of the destruction of Troy: an alliterative romance tr. from Guido de Colonna's "Hystoria troiana." Now first ed. from the unique ms. in the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow, with introduction, notes, and a glossary, by ... Geo. A. Panton, and David Donaldson, esq.

xv Boke. Of the Ordinaunce of the Croiens to the Secund Batell.

Ector the Honerable, erly at Morne, When the sun vp soght with his softe beames, Ledar of the ledis, þat longit to Troy, He purpost his pepull with his pure wit, [folio 94b] Line 6068 ffor to fare to the fight, & the fild take. He somond all the Cité vppon sere haluys, Euery buerne to be boun on hor best wise, Armyt at all peses abill to fight; Line 6072 And assemblit in sad hast hym seluyn before, On a place, þat was playn, plesaund with all, There a temple was tild of tide Diana, ffull worthely wroght weghis to beholde. Line 6076 Thidur comyn the kynges with knightes enarmyt, And were pertid full pristly, put into batell, By deuyse of the duke, þat doghtie was aye, As for the fight at the full on the first day. Line 6080 ffor to ȝarpe vp the ȝate, he ȝepely comaund, Þat hight Dardan by-dene duly to nome. Of his cosyns he cald kyde men two: On Glaucon, a gome þat graithe was in armys, Line 6084 (He was a knight full kant, the kynges son of Lice, And a wight mon in wer, wild of his dedis) And Synabor, forsothe, the secund was he, Ector owne brother, abill to fight. Line 6088

Line 6088 To hom assignet the souerain, all of sure knightes, A thowsaund full þro, þriuaund in wer, Strong men in stoure, sturnest of will, Witty and wild, waled men all Line 6092 Of the ledis of Lice & of leue troy. In Neptune nome & nobill goddis other, Bad hom wend for hor worship tho worthy to|gedur; And þai glode furth gladly at the grete yate, Line 6096 Tawardes the grekes on the ground in a grym ost. Þen ordant Ector, of honerable knightes, Of wise men in wer, wightly a thowsaund; Betaght to Teseus, of trasy was kyng, Line 6100 With archilacus a choise knight in his chere som; [folio 95a] Gaf loue to þo lordys, let hom pas on, Bed hom fare to þe frekys, þat before were, And bothe in a batell as hom best lyket. Line 6104 The secund batell, sothely, þe soueran araiet, Of thre thowsond þro knyghtis, þryuond to|gedur, And assignet hom, for soueran, Xantipus þe kyng, And Ascane also, abill of dedys, Line 6108 Þat of frigie þe faire, þai were fre kynges. Þen be leue of þe lord, þo ledys in fere Bowet to þe brode ȝate, hor burnys hom with, And gon tooward þe grekis with a grete chere. Line 6112 The þrid batell in þe burgh, þat þe buerne made, Was as mony abill knyghtes, auntrus of hond, Of þe tulkys of troy, tidé men all, With Troilus to turne furthé, truest of knyghtes. Line 6116 And ector full onestli his aune brother taght, With fayre wordis in faythfull of hys fre will:— "Dere brother and derfe, I dout me full sore, Lest þi friknes so furse, in þi fell hert, Line 6120

Line 6120 Brynge þe to bale for þi bold dedys; Þat þou couet be-curse to caire into woche, And ouer fer on þi fose fare by þi seluyn! I pray þe full prestli, with all my pure saule, Line 6124 Þat þou kepe þi corse, for case þat may fall, And fare not with foli oure fos for to glade, Ne wirk not vnwysly in þi wilde dedis, Þat þi manhod be marte thurgh þi mysrewle; Line 6128 But bere þe in batell as a buerne wyse, Þat þi fose thurgh þi foli þe faynen not worthe, Ne be cheryst with chere thurgh our chaunse febyll! Go furthe now with fortune, þat þe fayre happyn! Line 6132 Our goddis the gouerne, & soche grace lene, [folio 95b] Þat þou the victorie wyn, thi worship to saue, And to þis Citie in sound þi seluyn may come." Than Troilus tomly talket agayne:— Line 6136 "Dere sir, of my dedis doute no thing! With grase of our goddes, in our gate furthe, Your comaundement to kepe, as my kynd brother, And my lord, þat is lell, my lust shalbe ay!" Line 6140 Than he past with his pepull to the playn fild, Thre thowsaund thromen, without þrepe more. This the bold knight bare for his bright armys; All his shelde was to shew shynyng of gold, Line 6144 With þre lions lyuely launchound þerin, Ouer-gilt full gay, gomys to behold: And so he fore to his fos with a fyne wille! The furthe batell in the burghe the bold knight arayet, Line 6148 Of fell fightyng men full þre thowsaund, All of knightes full kene, kyddest in armys, And seven hundreth besyde, all of sure knightes, Vnder ledyng of a lord in Larrys was kyng,— Line 6152

Line 6152 Hupon the hoge, a hegh mon of stature, And in batell full big, bold of his hondes; Dissyrus was the Duke in dedes of armys, Of all the Troiens, to tell, torest in fight, Line 6156 Saue Ector the honerable, oddist of knightes. And in his company come a kyd mon in armys, On Ardelaus full auntrus, abill of person, Þat come with the same kyng fro his kythe riche, Line 6160 And was doughty of his dedis, derf on a stede. Þes laughten þere leue at þe lefe prince, And gone to þe grekes with a grym chere, Soghten the same yate softly to gedur; [folio 96a] Line 6164 And on Damake, by-dene, þat was dere brother, To Ector hym owne selfe, auntrid hom with, As for doghty of dede & for dere holdyn. The ffyfte batell of bold men, þat the buerne made, Line 6168 He ordant on Oyscm, the honerable kyng, Of the ledis of the lond the ledyng to haue, With Polidamus of prise, the prinses owne brother. Þes Oysoms all were od men of strenght, Line 6172 Massily made, mykell as giaunttes, And all þere colouris to ken was of clene yalow, With-outen difference to deme dubbit þerin: All luttyn the lord & þere leue toke, Line 6176 And foren onon to þe fild þaire fos to assaile. The Sexte Batell, þat was sent fro þe Cité þen, Ordant by Ector [of] odmen & noble,— The pepull of Poyem, with þere pure kynges, Line 6180 And Seripes, a sad Duke of the same lond, Þat were fond to the fight, fell of hor dedis. Vnarmyt were þai all, aunter was the more,— No helmys, ne hawberghes, ne no hard shildes,— Line 6184 Bowmen of the best, þo buernes were all, Well enfourmet of þe fete, & hade fyne takell:

Mony woundis þai wroght, wete ye for sothe, Bothe on horse & on here harmyt full mekull. Line 6188 By ordinaunce of Ector, þes odmen to lede, Was Deffibus demyt of his dere brother: Þen þai lacchen þere leue at the lord euyn, fforen to the fild with a fyn will. Line 6192 To þes bowmen bold, þat of burgh went, Ector did ordan od men of armys, A gret nowmber for the nonest, noble knightes all, Vnder care of two kynges, þat þai come with: [folio 96b] Line 6196 Philon the fuerse, faithly was on, And Esdras þat other, eddist in wer, With all the gomes of Agresta, gode men & abill. This Philon the fre kyng, þat I first nemyt, Line 6200 Hade a chariot full choise, as þe chalke wyte, All of yuer full onest, ordant for hym; And the whelis full wheme, all of white aumber. Couert with a cloth all of clene gold, Line 6204 Dubbit full of diamondis, & oþer dere stones, fframet ouer fresshly with frettes of perle. Two dromoudarys drowe hit, dressit þerfore, And led it furth lyuely with light men of armys, Line 6208 Vne full for the fight, & fuerse men & nobill. With the kynges in company comaund the prinse, His aune brother full bold, barly to wend, Þat hym fell on his fader side a fighter full nobill. Line 6212 Nowther lut he þe lord, ne no leue toke, But kaires fourthe with the kyng & his course held. The Seuynt, þat assignet was the souerain before, Was auntrus Eneas, abill of person; Line 6216 In his company clene, the knightes of the lond, Þat heldyn in hede of þat high Cité,

With fele fightyng folke of the fuerse comyns, Þat were gouernet by a gome, þat was graith holdyn,— Line 6220 A fyne squier & a fuerse,—Eufemius he hight; At Ector þai asket leue, & yssuit furth somyn. The Eghtid Batell in the burgh, þat the buerne set, Vnder Serces for-sothe, the souerain of Percé, Line 6224 With all the pepull of his prouynce, prise men & nobill, And his brother of blud, þat he best loued. Paris he put to þere pure hede, And said hym full soberly, all in soft wordes, [folio 97a] Line 6228 Þof he bownet fro the burgh to the batell euyn, Þat he fell not to fight with no felle grekes, Till hym selfe were beside for socour at nede. And Paris to the prinse pertly aunsward;— Line 6232 "Sir, your comaundement to kepe, I cast me for|sothe, With all the might, þat I may, at þis mene tyme." He lut hym full lelly, & his leue toke, And past furth with his pepull to þe playn fild. Line 6236 Then Ector, hym owne selfe ordant belyue, The last batell to lede of his lege pepull. Of the truemen of Troy & his triet brether, He toke with hym ten, most tristy in wer, Line 6240 And fyue thowsaund fuerse, all of fyn knightes, Wise men of were, & of wit nobill, ffor to fare to þe fight with þaire fre prinse. Hym selfe on a sad horse surely enarmyt, Line 6244 Þat Galathe, with gomys gyuen was to nome, Of whose mykill, & might, & mayn strenght, Dares, in his dytyng, duly me tellus. When the lede was o lofte, as hym list be, Line 6248 Armyt well at [all] peces, as I er said,

He caires furth to þe kyng & his kynd fader, Lowtis euyn to þe lord, & on lowde saide:— "Dere fader, full faire, & my fre kyng! Line 6252 Ye shall haue in a here of hend men a thous|aund, All of knightes full kene, & kid men of armys, With all the fotemen in fere, þat are to fight abill. Abidis here at the border, buske ye no fer! Line 6256 Lokis well to þe listis, þat no lede passe! If any stert vpon stray, strike hym to dethe, Oure Cité to saue fro our sad fos! I haue messangers with me, made for þe nonest, [folio 97b] Line 6260 Þat ffor perell or purpos shall pas vs betwene, Bodword for to bryng, as we best lykys;— All tythondys to tell, as tydis vs in fight, How vs happys to haue, in hast shall ye wete. Line 6264 And wysly bes ware waytys to þe towne, On yche half forto hede, þat no harme fall, Þat our fos with no faulshed in þe fyght tyme, Sese not our Cité, our seluyn to pyne, Line 6268 Ne rob not our ryches, ne our ryf godys. Be ye wayt for þe wallis, warden of all, And a post for all perellis youre pepull to saue, As stuf of our strenkyth, yf we stond hard!" Line 6272 Þen Priam to þe prinse prestly onswart:— "Dere son, all be don, as þou demyt has! I haue no hope of no halp, after hegh goddys, But in stuf of þi strenkyght, & þi stythe arme; Line 6276 In þi wyt, and þi warnes, & þi wyght dedys, With þi gouernanse graythe, & þi gode rewle! Þerfore, prestly I pray to oure pure sanctys, Þat þai saue þe in sound, sent to þi hele; Line 6280 Kepe þe fro cumbranse, & fro cold dethe; And leue me þi lyf in lykyng to se!" So þe lede toke leue, lut to hys fader,

Past furthe to hys pepull, & hys pas held. Line 6284 He was wyght and wylfull, wysyst in batell, Strongest in stour, sturnest of other; Euer frike to þe fyght, fayntid he neuer. Leder of þe ledys, þat longyt to Troy, Line 6288 Hys armys were auenond, abill to fyght; Hys feld was of fyn gold, freche to behold, With þre lyons launchond, all of lyght goulys. Þus he glod on hys gate, and hys gomys all, Line 6292 With hys baners o brode, and þe burght past, Penons & penselles, proud men of armys; [folio 98a] ffore euyn to þe feld, and hys ferys leuyt, Prykyd furthe prestly, past on hys way! Line 6296 Þof he lengyt to þe last, er he leue toke, He was foundyn þe fyrst, þat in feld stroke, And þe sonest in assembly in þe sad fyght. All þe worshypfull wemen of þe wale toune Line 6300 Wentyn to þe wallys, þe weghys to behold. Þe kyngys doughter, bedene, droghin hom alofte, With honerable Elan, þat arghit in hert; Myche fere had þat fre, & full was of þoght, Line 6304 All droupond in drede and in dol lengyt, Þof Ector þe honerable had ordant hys folke, And bateld hom bygly, on hys best wyse; Vnder gouernanse graythe, all hys grym ost Line 6308 In rewle and aray redy to fyght.

Agamynon hys grekys graythyt to feld: Twenty batels full bold of byg men of armys, And sex other besyde, all of sure knyghtys. Line 6312 Patroclus, þe proud kyng, put to þe first, With all þe folke, þat hym folowet, and fele other moo. Achylles choise men cheuyt hym with; Hym-selfe fore to no fyght for hys fel wondys, Line 6316 But lay in hys loge, lechit hys sores.

Þis patroclus, þe proud kyng, was full pure ryche, Of aunsetre olde, abyll of kyn, Wel manert & meke, myghti of pupull. Line 6320 Achylles, þe choise kyng, cherist hym mekill, And louyt hym no lesse þen hym lefe seluyn. Þay were so festenyt with faythe, & wythfyn loue, Þat bothe þaire saulis & þaire self were set on a wyll Line 6324 And qwat so tendit to þe totheris was all. The secund batell, forsothe, assignet was þen To Merion, a mody kyng, þat mekull couth of were, With þre thousond þro knyghtis, þrepond in Armys, Line 6328 And Menestaus the mighty, with his men of Attens. [folio 98b] To Atholapo, a tore kyng, takyn was the þrid, And Philmene, his faire son, fre in his hond, With all the company clene of comaynes pepull,— Line 6332 Wise men in wer, wight of hor dedes. The ffourthe batell in feld, he fourmet to leng With Archelaus, a lede lyuely in armys, And Prothenor, a prise kyng, with his pepull holl: Line 6336 In the same was Segurda, with sad men & noble. The fyfte, þat was fourmit of þo fuerse batell, Was Menelay the mighty, with his men all, With the pepull of his prouynse, & his pert knightes. Line 6340 The Sext of þat sort, þat soght to þe fild, Was kyng bysshop the bold, with his buernes felle; And Selidis, for sothe, soght in his honde, With all the here, þat he hade, highet hym with. Line 6344

Line 6344 The Seuent of the soum, þat I said ere, Was Telamon þe tidé, with mony tried knightes, Þat suett hym from salerne, sad men & noble, With foure Erles in fere, fell men of wer,— Line 6348 Theseus the tru, & tide Amphimake, And on Domys, the doghty, doutid in fild, With Polisarius the pert, of person full abill: Thes comyn with the kyng in his clene batell. Line 6352 The viij ffreke, þat to feld fore with his batell, Was Toax, a tore kyng, & tidé of hond. The ix of the nowmber, to nem þom full euyn, Was Aiax Oelius, with od men to wale. Line 6356 And Philoc, the fell kyng, fore with the tenth. Nestor, the noble Duke, an old man with all, The xi with odmen auntrid to fild. The xij vnthwyuond, þat twyet not in fight, Line 6360 Was Maumbert mayn son, mightfull Henex. [folio 99a] The xiij thro batell þrong with Vlixes, That past to the playn with proud men of armys. The xiiij to þe fight fore with Arestes. Line 6364 Humelius, the hasty, highit with the fyftene. Protessalous proud son presit with the sextene, ffor to dere for the dethe of his dere fader. Polidarius, the porknell, and his pere Machaon, Line 6368 Suet with the xvij, sad men & noble. The riche kyng of the Rodes raiked with the xviij, With fell men in fight to the fild past. The xix of the nowmbur a nobill mon toke, Line 6372 One Gumplius a gome, þat mony grekes led. And Philoc the freke fore with the twenti, Þat of Larris was lord & a lege kyng. With xxj auntrid abill men two,— Line 6376 Amphimas, a fre kyng, and his fere Cepton. With xxij vnthwyuond twyet to filde,

Dyomede, the derfe kyng, and doughty Celernis. Eneus, the nobill kyng, þat neghit fro Sypris, Line 6380 With xxiij þriuond, þronge to the playne. Procholus, a prise kyng, presit with another. Now xxiiij fully are faren to þe batell. Cupenor, a cant man, come with the next,— Line 6384 The xxv fully, all of fyn knightes. The xxvj of the soume, þat I said first, Of bold batels & bigge, þat to bent come, Led Agamynon the grete, with grekes full mony, Line 6388 And fore euyn to þe fight, & the fild toke.

When the batell on bothe haluys were to bent comyn, ffor to fight in the fild, all þo fuerse pepull, [folio 99b] Ector the auntrus, ablist of knightes, Line 6392 Was the first in the fild, þat to fight entrid, Toke his horse with his helis, hastid before, Gird euon to þe grekes with a grete yre, ffrusshet to the forward, felly anon. Line 6396

THE DETH OF PATROCLUS, BY ECTOR SLAYN.

Patroclus persayuit, þat the pepull led, Þat was formast in fight with a felle speire. He auntrid vpon Ector, atlit hym a dynt, With all the forse of his fole & his fuerse arme; Line 6400 He shot þrough the shild & the shene maile, To þe ynmast of his armur, angardly fast; Hit neghit to þe nakid, but no noy did. Ector for þat od dynt, ournyt in hert, Line 6404 Wode for the wap, as a wild lyon; His speire into sprottes sprongyn was before, But he braid out a brond with a bill felle, Carve euyn at the kyng & þe crest hit, Line 6408 Slit hym full slighly to þe slote euyn, Þat he dusshet, of þe dynt, dede to þe ground.

THE FFOLY DESYRE OF ECTOR.

When the kyng was kyld, cast to þe grene, His shene armys to shew shone in the filde. Line 6412 Ector to þe erth egurly light, The gay armur to get of the gode hew, That he duly dessirit in his depe hert; And to spoile that spilt kyng he sped ferr. Line 6416 His horse in his hond held by the reyne, And come to þe kyng, þere the corse lay, Wold haue Robbit the Renke of his riche wede. With the ton hond in the toile tyrnyt it offe: [folio 100a] Line 6420 But Merion the mighty with a mayn pepull, With þre thousaund þro men þrong hym vnto. In defence of the freike, þat on fild lay, To Ector in ernyst full angurdly said: Line 6424 "Nay, warloghe wolfe, in þi wode hongur, Þat neuer of forray art full, with þi foule vse, The tydis not to taste of þis triet meite! ffor-bode the firke þi fode forto wyn! Line 6428 Sone shall þou se in a sad hast, A C thousaund on horse highand þe to, Thyn hede forto haue, & hew þe to dethe, And put þe fro purpos, þi payn to encres!" Line 6432 Sone, by the same kyng & his sad helpis, He was borne fro þe body, backward agayn. His horse for to haue, þai hasted by-dene, And mony strokes, in þat stoure, þo stithe men hym gefe, Line 6436 Till þe knight, vndur knappis, vppon knes fell. Then he stert vp full stithly, with his store might, Was on hys wight horse, for wepyn or other. ffor all the grefe of þo grekes, & þe grete þronge, Line 6440 Was no led might hym let, þof hom lothe were. He meuit taward Merion his malis to venge, Wode of his wit, in his wan yre;

But Glaucon the grete, with a grym batell, Line 6444 Theseus, þe tore kyng, turnyt hym agayn, With iij. M. þro men þronge hym aboute, And socurd the same kyng with hor sad helpis. But the first of þo frekes þat he fell to, Line 6448 Was Archilacus, a choise kyng, hym cheuit full ille: The buerne, with his bare sword, bere hym to dethe, Þat he felle of his fole flat to þe ground! Mony on he martrid at the meane tyme! Line 6452 The pruddist, þat hym preset, plainly he slogh. [folio 100b] Breme was the batell on the bent þan! Mony stithe, in the stoure, stale fro þere lyues. Yet Ector, eftsones, ettillit to assay, Line 6456 And Patroclus proud geere preset to haue. He light doune full lyuely, lettid he noght, And bounet to þe body, þere the buerne lay. Þen come þere a kyng with kene men of armys, Line 6460 Idymynus, full dernly, & dressit hym to, With two thowsaund þro knightes, & þronge hym aboute: And Myrion, þat I mynt, with his men all. Thay preset so the prince with power of knightes, Line 6464 Þat þai warnit hym his wille, & away put: But fele dynttes he delt, & to dethe cast, And other weghis hym with woundet the grekes. When he segh þat hym-selfe was set vppon fote, Line 6468 And so fele of his fos fuerse hym aboute, All horset but he, & on hegh set, He aforset hym felly with his fyn strenght; Gird to the grekes in his grete yre. Line 6472 Mony woundis he wroght, weghis to dethe; Hondes of hew heturly fast; Mony foteles freike of his fell dinttes; ffele horses with his hond hew he to dethe, Line 6476

Line 6476 Till all shent fro þat shene, & þe shalke leuyt! So he rid hym a rowme in a rad hast, Of þo tulkes, with tene, þat hym take wold. Than Merion, þe mody kyng, þat I mynt first, Line 6480 Presit to Patroclus in place þere he lay, Braid vp the body on his big horse, And so the freike hym before ferkit to his tent. Now the grekes with grem gedrit vnto Ector, Line 6484 His horse for to haue, & hym away lede. Thay caupit at the knight, kene men of armys, Þat the wegh on no wise might wyn on his horse. In þat company kene was a knight noble, Line 6488 That Carion was cald by his kynd nome, ffull ernestly with Ector auntrid to fight; Gaf hym dinttes full dedly, & derit hym mekill. But a souerain seruand of þe same prinse [folio 101a] Line 6492 Segh his maistur at mischefe amonges his fos; Two speirus full dispitus he sparet to cast, Þat fuerse were before & of fell bite. At the knight Carion cast he þat one, Line 6496 As he mellit with his maistur, merkit hym euyn, Hit hym so hitturly with a hard dynt, Þat he gird to þe ground, & þe gost yalde. Þen anoþer, þat was next, noyet hym alse, Line 6500 Mellit with his maistur at þe mene tyme, The tother speire, þat he sparit, spent vpon hym: Brochit hym þrough þe body þat þe buerne swalt. Then criet he full cantly þe knightes vpon, Line 6504 And the tyde men of Troy, with a tore steuyn, In hast for to hye to þere hed prinse, Þat in perell was put in plite to be slayn. Þen Synabor, forsothe, with a sad pepull, Line 6508 Neghit to þe note,—his naturall brother; He come to þe crye with a cant will, And gird to the grekes mony grym dynt, ffelled mony fuerse men with his fyne strenght, Line 6512

Line 6512 Made wais full wide, wan to his lord, Halpe hym full hertely, hurt of his fos; Gird hom to ground, & to grym dethe. Thretty of þe þroest he þronge out of lyue: Line 6516 Mony weghis he woundit & warpit to erthe! Þen the troiens full tyt tokyn þere hertes, ffell of hor fos with a frike wille, Getyn þere ground with a gret strenght, Line 6520 And frusshet þere fos fer vppo backe. ffuerse Ector was fayn of his fyn helpe, And as wode as a wild bore wan on his horse. [folio 101b] He shouuyt þurgh his sheltrum, shent mony grekes, Line 6524 And mard of þo men, out of mynd fele; Gird hom to ground with mony grym hurt. All þat met hym with malis in þe mene tyme, Auther dyet of his dynttes, or were ded wondit. Line 6528 The grekes, for þe greuaunce, gyuen hym þe way, ffled all in fere, ferd of hor dethe. Mony batell he broke, myche bale wroght, All his wedis wex wete of hor wan blode: Line 6532 Þen found he no frekes to fraist on his strenght, Ne non so derfe to endure a dynt of his hond. Then Menestaus, þe mighty, with his men hole, The Duke of Athens full derf, drogh into batell, Line 6536 With þre thowsaund þro men, þriuond in armys, And other folke full fuerse, þat the freike hade. He launchit in o þe left side with his ledis all, There Troilus the tried, turnyd to fight Line 6540 With the frigies fell, þat þe freike lad, Þat myche greuaunce & grem to þe grekes did; With Alcanus, a kyng, a kid man of strenght, And Machaon, the mighty, with his men all: Line 6544 Xantipus the same batell sothely was þen. There mynget þai þere men, machit hom to-gedur; Mony dedly dint delt hom amonge!

Big was the batell vpon bothe haluys, Line 6548 And myche slaghtur in slade, & slyngyng to ground! Troilus, in the toile, turnyt was of hors, ffaght vppon fote felly agayne: Mony woundit the wegh of his wale fos. Line 6552 Menestaus, the mighty, mainly beheld, Segh Troiell in toile, & tynt had his horse, ffoght vppon fote in þe fuerse batell, And myche harme with his hond happit to do. Line 6556 Then aforsit hym the freike with his fuerse knightes, Troilus to take and to tent lede. [folio 102a] Presit hym full prudly with his prise folke, Halit hym fro horse fete, & in hond toke. Line 6560 Then he led hym furthe lyuely, and his wille hade. But a mon of þat mighty, þat Myseres was cald, To the frigies in fere felly he saide;— "Alas! ledis of þis lond, þat ye lyfe haue! Line 6564 Wherto bounet ye to batell in your bright geire, Whethur worship to wyn, or willfully shame? Se ye not the sun of youre sure kyng, With torfer be takon, & turnyt away? Line 6568 If ye let hym be led furthe, your lefe haue ye tynt, And of sham, þat be shapyn you, shent be ye neuer. Mellis you with monhod & might of your seluyn, To Restore the rynke in a rad hast, Line 6572 Er he be led out of lenght, & lost of your sight, And past fro your pouer thurgh the prese hoge!" Then Alcanus, the kyng, kyndlit in yre, Gird after the Grekes, with a grete speire, Line 6576 Þat Troilus hade takon, hym tenyt full ylle.

So he frusshet to a freike, þat the fre led, Þat sodenly he seit doun, soght out of lyue; And anoþer, anon, he nolpit to ground, Line 6580 Shent of þo shalkes, shudrit hom Itwyn. So fuersly he fore, and freikes þat hym halpe, Þat Troilus was takyn, & turnyt furth louse, And don out of daunger for the due tyme. Line 6584 The freke þen in fuerse hast ferkid on horse, Grippit to a grym sword, gird on his fos, ffor to comford the kyng, þat hym caght hade. Þis Xantipus soght forth with a sad dynt Line 6588 To Mynestaus with might, & þe mon hit, That þe freike hade ben fay but for his fyn armur. Then Menestaus mournyt, & mykell sorow hade, That Troilus, þe triet, was takyn of his hond, [folio 102b] Line 6592 And afforsit hys frekys to þe fight harde: He gedrit all hys gomys in a grete hate. Þe fyght was fel þo frekis betwene; Mony derf, to þe deth, vndur dyntes yode; Line 6596 Mony buerne on the bent bytturly wondyt; Mony knyghtys were kyld to þe cold deth! Ector was euermore Eger with-all; Mony weghys in hys wrath welt to þe ground; Line 6600 Mony Slogh in þe slade þurgh sleght of hys hond; And sore greuyt þe Grekys with his grete dyntys. Menestaus þe mighty, þat mekill was in yre, ffor he faylit of þe freke, þat he first toke, Line 6604 As he rod þurgh þe rout with his roid fare, Þe troiens to tene with his tore strenkyth, He met with þis Myseres at þe mene tyme, By qwom he lost þe lord, þat he laght hade. Line 6608 He knew hym full lyuely by colore of his armys, And frunt euyn to þe freke with a fell spere, Hurlet hym to hard vrthe vndur horse fete; But þe lede vppon lyue leuyt he þen, Line 6612

Line 6612 And nolpit to another, þat hym noiet at, Gird hym vne to þe ground in hys gret yre. Þen Hupon, þe hoge kyng, highet to batell. With mony tulkys of troy, tryet in were; Line 6616 And Eripa also auntrid hym with, With all þe ledys of Larris led hom betwene. And fro þe grekys com gyrdond agaynes þo two, Prothenor, a prise kyng, & pert Archelaus, Line 6620 With all þe buernes of Boyes, bold men of hond. Þen þe fyght wex fell, & mony freke deghyt! Sone after, forsothe, o þe Cité halue, Polidamas aprochit with a proud ost,— Line 6624 Antenor aune son abill of dedys. He segh þe troiens so tore, & turnyt so þik, All pyght in a place on a playn feld. Anon to anothir side naitli he dryuys, Line 6628 With all þe here, þat he hade, highit aboute, [folio 103a] And fell to þe fyght with his folke hole. Þen yssit furth also, yrfull in dedys, Remys, þe Ryche kyng, with a rught batell, Line 6632 And presit in prudly with a proud wyll, And fell to þe fyght with þe freke alse. Þere was kyllyng of knyghtis, crusshyng of helmys, Bold men bakward borne of hor horses: Line 6636 Þat assembly was sorer of þo sad knyghtis. Mony hurlit doun hedstoupis to þe hard vrthe! Polidamus, þe pert, presit vnto Merion, Þat was auntrus in armys, Elan aune cosyn;— Line 6640 He was a duke in hys day, & for dere holdyn, A ȝop knyght & a ȝonge, of ȝeris but lite;— So he gird to þat greke with a grym spere, Þat he seyt to þe soile, & soght out of lyue. Line 6644 When Menelay, þe myghty, þat myschef beheld, Myche sorow for þe syght sank in his hert; He turnyt to þe troiens his tene for to venge,

With all þe bir in hys brest, for hys bale angur. Line 6648 He raght vnto Remys with a roid dynt, Alto hurlit his helme, harmyt hym euyll, Wondyt hym wykkydly, walt hym to ground. Half ded of þe dynt, þer þe duk lay! Line 6652 Hys weghys all wend, for þe wale stroke, Þat þe kyng hade ben kyld, & myche care had: Non soght hvm to socore with no sad holp, But all purpost hom playnly to pas of þe fyld. Line 6656 Polidamas, prestly, þe pupull gert lenge, And warnet vppon all wyse his weghis to go, ffond with hor forse þe freke for to wyn, Hurle hym fro horse fete, haue hym away, Line 6660 Ber hym out fro þe batell to þe burgh euyn. With myche wepyng & wo, weghis of his aune Luggit hym out to þe laund, lefte hym for ded; And fore agayne to þe fyght þaire feris to help. Line 6664

THE DETHE OF CELIDIS THE KYNG BY POLIDAMUS. [folio 103b]

Kyng Celidis, forsothe, semliest of knightes, All folke in þat filde, of fairhed he past, Of whom Daries, in his dytyng, duly me tellus All the shap of þat shene, in his shire boke: Line 6668 The qwene of femyné þat freike so faithfully louyt, More he sat in hir soule þen hir-selfe ay. This Celidis, forsothe, fought with a speire, Polidamas to put doun, & his pride felle; Line 6672 And he, wode of his wit for þe wale dynt, Corve euyn at the kyng with a kene sword, Hurlit þurghe the helme & the hed bothe, That he braid ouer backward & on bent light. Line 6676 Honerable Ector, euer vppon-one ffell of þo fuerse men, & þurgh the fild rode: Mony batels he broke, buernes he slough, And made wayes full wide þurgh the wale ost. Line 6680

Line 6680 Þen he soght to a syde, þere salamé folke Were fightyng full fell with the fuerse troiens, With Thessall the tried kyng, & hor true hede, That was lord of þe lond, & the ledes aght. Line 6684 This Thessall, in the toile myche tene wroght, Tyrnit doun Troiens with mony toure dynttes: Mony woundit the wegh, & warpit to ground, Myche dere he hom did with dynttes of hond. Line 6688 Þen Teuser, with tene turnyt to Ector, Sparrit to hym with a speire spitusly fast; Woundit hym full wickedly in his wild yre; Hurt hym full hidiously, hastid away. Line 6692 Ector richit his reyne, the Renke for to mete, ffor to wreike of his wound, & the wegh harme; But the freike for ferd fled of his gate, ffrusshet þurgh the folke forth of his sight. Line 6696 Then for wrath of his wound, & for wild shame, He gird to a greke, þat was a grym syre, With a swyng of his sword swappit hym of lyue, And mony other martrid at the mene tyme. [folio 104a] Line 6700 A gret nowmber of grekes gedrit hym vmbe, Hym tyte for to take, or tyrne vnto dethe. Among all the meny was mighty Teseus, Þat onestly to Ector þus esely said:— Line 6704 "Sir, buske fro the batell er you bale worthe, Lest you happyn with hond here to be slayne: Of soche a mon were a mysse þurgh the mekyll world." Ector full onestly þat onerable þanket: Line 6708 And yet the batell on bent was breme to behold! The Troiens with tene turnyt to the grekes. Polidamas, with prise, prestly can fight, With his Enmeis full egurly, euer vpon-one. Line 6712 Menelay the mighty, in the mene tyme, And Telamon, the tore kyng, tally to-gedur: To Polidamas þai preset all in pure angur,

The freike for to felle, & ferke out of lyue. Line 6716 Telamon hym tacchit on with a tore speire, Bare hym downe backward with a bir hoge, Preset hym with payne, & with proude strokes, Tokyn hym full tyte, þof hym tene thoght. Line 6720 Brokon was the blade of his big sword, His helme of hurlit, & his hed bare. Þai led hym furth lightly, þof hym loth thught, To the tentes full tomly, þaire entent was. Line 6724 But Ector, as aunter fell, euyn was beside, Segh the grekes with þat gome gedrit full þicke; The prise knight put doun the pepull among, Takon with torfer, hym tenyt full euyll. Line 6728 He hurlet forth vnhyndly, harmyt full mony, Of þe ledis, þat hym led, luskit to ground; Made waies full wide, wan to the knight, And xxx in the throng thrucchit to dethe; Line 6732 The remnond full radly rid hym the gate, fflagh all in fere, and the freike leuyt. He highit of þere hondes, and his horse toke, [folio 104b] Wan on hym wightly, & of woche past. Line 6736 The kyng Bisshop the bold, byg Menelaus, And Thelamon the tore kyng, with theire tite batels, All assemblit on a sop in a sad hast, And fell to the frigies in a fuerse wille. Line 6740 Þai foghton so felly with the freikes þen, Derit hom with dynttes, delt mony woundes, Hurlet hom on hepis, hurt of hor knightes, fferket hom to flight fuersly by-dene. Line 6744 All-þof Ector was on, þat odmony slogh, And wonderfully wroght with wepyn at the tyme, Hym-selfe might not suffise to þat soume hoge. His horse, in þat hete, was hurlit to dethe, Line 6748 And he foght vpon fote with þo felle grekes,

Wore hym full wightly, & myche wo did: Was non so bold in þat batell, of þo buernes all, fforto deire hym with dynt, ne þe Duke touche, Line 6752 Ne negh hym with noy, for nolpis of his hond. His nobill brether naturile nemly persayuit, Þat þe troiens in the toile had turnyt þe backe, And segh not þere souerain, þaire sorow was þe more, Line 6756 Wend þere lord hade ben lost, or of lyue broght. Þai assemblit on a sop sone vpon-one, ffrusshet to þe fight, þe freike for to laite. ffull bremly þurgh the batels þe buernes can pas, Line 6760 And wan to þat worthy, þat in woche stode; Telamon, the tore kyng, þai tenfully woundit, Gird mony to þe ground of the grekes felle. Dynadron, a derf knight of his dere brother, Line 6764 Preset to Polexuma, þat hade a proude stede, Gird hym euyn to þe ground, grippit his horse, Raght to þe Reynes, ricchit hom belyue, Broght hym his brother, þe best vpon erthe, Line 6768 And he launchit o lofte with a light wille. All the nobill anon,—þo naturill brether,— [folio 105a] Wonderfully wroght with wepyn in hond, Gird doun of the grekes vnto grym dethe, Line 6772 And stird hom in the stoure stightly vnfaire. Then Deffibus drogh negh with a derfe pepull, Þat by ordynaunse of Ector was etlit to hym; The prise folke of Poyeme presit hym after, Line 6776 Bowmen of þe best, big in hor armys, Myche greuaunce & grem to þe grekes did. Mony woundit þo weghis & warpit to ground, Mony shalke þurgh shot with þere sharpe gere, Line 6780 And myche hyndrit the hepe with þere hard shot. Deffibus the doughty, with a derfe wepyn, Tachit vpon Teutro, a full tore dynt, Vne fourme in the face foule to behold. Line 6784

Line 6784 Þen the troiens, full tite, tokyn þere hertes ffelly vnto fight, þat were fled er. ffull stithe was þe stoure for þe striffe new; Mony bold on the bent brytont to dethe; Line 6788 Mony lyue of lept with lasshyng of swerdis! As Theseus, the tore duke, the troiens anoyet, And mony fell of þe folke, with his fuerse wepon, On of Ector owne brether, þat I erst neuenyt, Line 6792 And Modernus, the mayn kyng, on þe mon set. Theseus þai toke, þof hym tene þoght, And wold haue slayn hym in þe slade sleghly anon; But Ector aurthwart þis auntrid to se, Line 6796 Bade hom leue of lightly, let hym pas forth, Withouten hurt owþer harme, hast hym agayn: And so he kyd hym counsell of kyndnes before. At biddyng of þe bold, þe buerne was rescewet, Line 6800 He launchit furth lightly, & þe lede þonket, Gird furth to þe grekes with a glad chere, And Ector euer more egerly þonket. [folio 105b] Then þe kyng of Calsidon com into batell, Line 6804 Toax, a tide mon of þat oþer side, And Philote, a fuerse kyng, with a fell power, A grete nowmber of grekes with a grym fare. Toax, in his tene, with a tore speire, Line 6808 Caupit to Cassibilan, þe kynges son of Troy,— On of Ector aun brether, þat I er said; And þe lede on lokond, hym launchit to dethe: ffor whose dethe the Duke moche dole þolit. Line 6812 As wode in his wit as a wild bore, Gird euyn to the grekes in his gret yre, And mony knight doun kyld in his kene hate. Sum wondit full wide, walt to þe ground; Line 6816 Sum hurlit to þe hard yerth, & on hede light; Sum þe lymes of lop, sum þe lyf tynt; And myche wo in his wodenes wroght at þe tyme.

So fuersly he fore in his fight þen, Line 6820 With other helpe þat he hade, his harmys to venge, Þat þe grekes gyuen bake, & the ground leuyn, And were forsit to þe fight or þai fay worthit. Þen gird in on þe grekes half with a grym fare, Line 6824 Nestor, the noble duke, with a new batell Of v thousaund fuerse men, & felle to þe stour, Þat mony warchand wound wroght on hor fos. ffull tyte fro þe toun turnyt hym agayne, Line 6828 Philon, a felle kyng, & his fere Esdras, Þat shot þurgh þere sheltruns & shent mony knightes. This Philon, in fight, mony freike slogh. Þen the grekes with grym gedirt hym vmbe, Line 6832 Wold haue kyld the kyng with a kant wille; But on Iacomas, a Ioly mon, as the gest tellis, To Esdras, in ernyst, egirly saide:— "Se Philon, the fre kyng, is with his fos takon: Line 6836 High we vs hastely, help hym away! [folio 106a] Let vs reskew the Renke, refe hym his fos!" Þen the Troiens, with tene, tidely þai faght; Sore greuit the grekes, gird hom abacke; Line 6840 Wonen to þe wale kyng, & away toke, Withouten hurt, other harme, in a hond while. Þen Ector Eftersones entrid agayne, With the noble men, þat I neuenyt, his naturill brether, Line 6844 And Deffebus the Duke, dughty of hond; Polidamus, the pert knight, preset in als. Thes wonderfully wroght in hor wale strenght, With þere company clene of kyd men of Troy, Line 6848 Þat the grekes, of þe ground, gird were anon, fflagh fro the frekes, & the fild leuyt; But Menelay the mighty, & the mayn Telamon, So sturnly withstod with þaire strenkyth holl, Line 6852

Line 6852 Þat þe troiens tite tynt of hor purpos, And were foghtyn with felly, folut no lengur. Þen entrid Eneas, egur to fight, With the comyns full clene in a close batell, Line 6856 Þat were led by the lede, þat I lefe saide,— Euformus the fuerse, þat was a fyn sqwier. With þes, Ector & other, so odly þai foght, That the grekes gaf bake, & þaire ground leuyt. Line 6860 Þat Aiax the auntrus, þat angardly wroght, With mekill sorow þis segh in his sad yre. He lokit back on þe bent, þere þe buernes were, Segh soppes of sad men in a soum hoge, Line 6864 Þat neghit no note, ne no noy feld, With baners on brede, & bold men of armys, Þere all þe grete of þe grekys, & þe grym knyghtys, And þe chose of hor chyualry, was chargit to lenge. Line 6868 Þen he said to þo souerans, þat þe saut lefte;— "Abide, buernys, on þis bent, buskys vs ferre; Here seches vs socoure in a sad haste!" Þen gird in þe grekys with a grete wyll, Line 6872 Restoret þe stithe fight stalwertly þen. [folio 106b] Eneas to Aiax angarely rode, And he keppit hym cantly with a kene spere, Þat bothe were þai bakeword borne to þe grene. Line 6876 Þen gyrd in þe grekys syde with a grym pupull, Philothetes, a freke, with a freshe batell, Þat kyng was of Calsidon,—a kid mon of were,— With iij M. þro knyghtis þronge into prese. Line 6880 Þe troiens to þis tyme tyd ay þe bettur, And þe fairer of þe fyght in þe feld had; But þes batels so big, þat þe buerne led,— Philoc þe freke, þat I first saide,— Line 6884 Tenyt the troiens with mony tore dintes, And to put hom fro purpos, pynyt hym sore.

Þe freke, with a felle spere frunt vnto Ector, Þat hit shok alto schyuers, & þe schalk holl: Line 6888 But Ector Aurthewert hym Auntrid to hyt, Þat he frunt of hys fol flat to þe ground, Half ded of þe dynt, derit no mo. Þen Henex, with hese men, happit to come, Line 6892 Gird in with grekys, as a grym syre; Vlixes also, with angarely mony Of tulkis of Traci, tor men of strenkyth; Humelius with hast highit hom after, Line 6896 And all þe kyngis clene, þat comyn out of grice, With X. M. þro knyghtis, þristiest of all: Þes bounyt vnto batell & to bent droghyn. Wat schall tyde of þes troiens to þes tore pupull, Line 6900 Þat so were wroght of weghis before, And so bysy in batell er þo bold come? Þen Paris aprochyt, þe Percians hym with; Radli on þe right syde Rakit he furth, Line 6904 And bounet into batell with a brym will. Vnto Frigie, þe fell kyng, he frusshit anon, With þe strenkyth of his stroke & his store arme, [folio 107a] Þat þe kyng, to þe cold erthe, cayrs out of lyue. Line 6908 Þen þe grekys, for greme of þe gay kyng, Miche dyn & dol for þat deth made. Vlixes, his aune cosyn, angrit full sore, To venge of þat vilany vili dissirit: Line 6912 He put hym to Paris with a proude will, Sparrit at hym with a spere spitusly fast. He myst of þe mon with his mayn dynt, But he hit on his horse, hurt hym full sore, Line 6916 Þat he deghit of þe dynt, dusshit to ground, And Paris, in þe plit, pight vppon fote. Troiell, þat tyme, was truly besyde, Segh þe bold at his brother boun for to strike; Line 6920 He swapt at hym swyth with a sword fell. Hit brake thurgh þe basnet to þe bare hed,

And frunt hym in þe fase a full fel wond, Þat þe blod out brast, & on his brest lyght. Line 6924 Þe lede, for þat laith dynt, leuyt not hys horse, But sound in his sadill, he his sete held, Turnyt vnto Troilus, þat hym tenyt had, And wondyt hym wickydly in hys wale fase. Line 6928 Þen þe troiens full tite had, turnyt þe bak, Had not honerable Ector, & his aune brethir, Deffibus þe doughti, & þe derf Troilus, And þe nobill brethir naturill, þat naitli withstod. Line 6932 All þe day, with outyn doute, to þis du tyme, Ector was Euermore Eger in fyght: His aune batell full breme vppon bent leuyt, Hym selfe liuely o þe launde launchit aboute. Line 6936 Þen he segh þat þe soume of þe saide grekys, Were þe stithir in þe stoure, & strongur of pupull: He bounet to his batell, bode he no lengur, Þat fayn were in fere of þaire fre prinse, Line 6940 Þat þai had hym at hond & in holl qwert. Then the lord to his ledis vpon lond said:— [folio 107b] "Now, bold men in batell, buske ye to fight, Haue mynd of þe malis, & the mykell harme, Line 6944 Þat vs wold happon to haue in a hond while, And the grekes may vs gripe, & to ground bryng! Therfore, feris, bes fell, fraistes your strenght, Let your hertes be hoole, hold you to-gedur! Line 6948 Bes frike on your fos, fell of your dynttes, Settes hom full sadly, sekir for to hit With all þe might & þe mayn of your mekill strenght!" Þen he led hom forth lyuely by a law vale, Line 6952 Raiked in full radly on þe right side, There deghit mony derfe of þe due grekes; Miche slaght in þat slade of þo slegh knightes. Hit is wonder to wete of þe wode stoure, Line 6956 What knightes were kild vnto cold dethe!

Toax þat tyme þurght the toile rode, Þat Cassibilan had kyld, the kyngis son of Troy: He fell of þe frigies with his fuerse dynttes, Line 6960 And myche wo with his weppon wroght at þe tyme. Cassibilan kynd brether þen þe kyng segh, Wonyn to þe wegh in hor wode hate, Vmset hym full sone in a sop hole, Line 6964 And gird hym euyn to þe ground in a gret Ire. Brokyn was the blade of his bright swerd, Hade no wepyn hym to weire fro þere wild harmys; The haspes of his helme were hurlit in sonder; Line 6968 All bare was the buerne aboue on his hed. He hade lelly ben lost & of lyue done, Ne hade þe derfe Duke of Athens drawen hym to With fuerse men in fight, & fell to þe stoure. Line 6972 To Qwintilion the quem he qwithit a dynt, Woundit hym wickidly, warpit hym to ground, Dressit hym with dere to dele with another. [folio 108a] Þen Paris, þe prise knight, with a pile sharp, Line 6976 Rut hym in thurgh þe rybbis with a roid wond, Þat þe duk for þe dynt derit hym but a littell. Toax in þe toile out of tene broght, Wan hym wightly away wondit full sore. Line 6980

THE DETH OF HUMERIUS BY ECTOR SLAYN.

As Ector rod thurgh þe rout with his roid dyntes, Miche greuanse and grem to þe grekys dyd, Humerius þe mighty, with a mayn bow, ffrunt hym euyn in þe fase with a fyn arow. Line 6984 Þe worthi at þe wond wrathit hym sore, ffore euyn to þe freke with a fyn sworde; Hit þe hathill o þe hede in his hote angur, And rent hym doun roidly ryght to þe sadill: Line 6988 He bend neuer bow more, ne no buerne hurt,

But was ded of þe dynt er he doun lyght. Þen hastid on heterly, & a horne blew. vij .M. said grekys semblit hym vmbe. Line 6992 To Ector full egerly with enuy þai drogh, fforto lache þe led, or of lyue brynge, And he were hym full wightly, wondit full mony. Mony derf to þe deth of his dyntis ȝode! Line 6996 Þen he bounet fro batell, & þe bent leuyt, Issit out of þe ost angarely fast; ffore euyn to his fader in a furse hast, Bad hym socore hom sone with his sure knightes; Line 7000 And he fore to þe fyght with a fryke wyll, With þre þousond þro knyghtis þrong into batell,— ffurse men, & fel, & of fyn strenkyth. Þai gyrd to þe grekys & myche grem wroght, Line 7004 Slogh hom doun sleghly in þe slade moue. Ector and Aiax auntrid to mete: With fyn spers in þe frount frochit togedur, Þat aythir bakward was borne to þe bare erthe. [folio 108b] Line 7008 Menelaus, a myghti out of mayn Troi, With his wepyn he wondit, & warpit to deth. Selidonas, a son of þe self Priam, Slogh Moles þe myghty, a mon out of Oreb, Line 7012 Þat to Toax, þe tore kyng, was a tru cosyn. Madon, a myghty kyng,—þe Medion was cald Of þe grekys full gret, he gaf soche a dynt, Þat bothe his Ene out brast & on bent light. Line 7016 Serdill, anoþer son of the same kyngis, Slogh a grete of þe grekes, þat was a grym syre. Margariton, a mighty of þo mayn brether, Tachet vpon Thelamon, & tenfully woundit. Line 7020 Famen, a fuerse of þo fell children, Presit to Protheus & put hym to grond. So all þe noble brether naturyll of þe naite kynge, Priam sons, þe prise kynges prestly þai foghten, Line 7024

Line 7024 And mony buerne in þe batell broght vnto ground. Anglas, the able kyng, antrus of dede, To Menestaus mightyly, þe maistur of Attens, He gird with a gret speire, greuit hym sore; Line 7028 And the duke with a dynt derit hym agayn, Þat the viser & the ventaile voidet hym fro: The noble kyng in the nase hade an euyll wound. Then Dianior the doughty, þat þe dede segh, Line 7032 How his brother on the bent was blody beronyn, He merkit to Menestaus with a mayn dynt, Þat he hurlit fro his horse to þe hard erthe; But the Renke vp rose with a rad wille, Line 7036 And foght vpo fote as a freke noble. Anoþer brother of þo bold to þe buerne rode, And foght with hym felly as he on fote was: Throly the þre men thronght hym aboute, Line 7040 The bold for to britton or to burghe lede; But manly he macchit hom with his mayn strokes,— [Fol. 109 is awanting in MS. See Note.]

[—and anon he was succoured by the king Theuter. But Hector then assayled them both, and without fault they had not escaped, had not Ajax the strong and valiant knight haue come to the reskue with a thousand knights, that he had in his company. Then came on the King of Perse with fiue thousand knights, that Paris lead; and so did all the other Troyans, and made the Greeks recule, and goe back by force. Dares writeth in his Boke, how that Hector slew a thousand knights, onely in this assault.

Among all other things, Hector encountred the King Menon before a Tent, and said to him: "ha, euill traitour, that thou lettest me to take the armes of Patroclus:" and then he smote him so great a stroke that he fell downe to the ground. And after Hector alighted downe, and smote off his head, and would haue taken his armes from him: but Menesteus letted him, and smote upon Hector ouerthwart, by such force that he gaue him a great wound, and went then his way without more tarrying, doubting the fury of Hector. Then Hector went out of the throng and bound up his wound, that it bled no more; and after went in againe into the prease, and slew in his comming many Greekes. And Dares sayth, that after he had bound up his wound, he slew the same day a thousand Knights, and there was none had courage to auenge him

against him, or defend himselfe, but he put them all to flight; and the Troyans entred into their Tents, and pilled and robbed them, and tooke all the best that they could finde.]

Guido di Colonna: (from The Ancient Historie of The Destruction of Troy. Sixth Ed. London, 1636.)

Garmentes full gay all of grete furris, [ [folio 110a] Marked 109 in MS.] Bright beidis & Brasse broght þai with-all, Line 7044 And voidet all as victors avauntage to haue; And euyn laiked as hom list, lettid hom noght. Þat was duly the day & desteny wold, Þat for euer hade ben ende Angur to voide; Line 7048 And þai wonen þaire wille neuer the werre aftur, Ne neuer greke hom haue greuyt ne to grem broght; But wirdis, þat is wicked, waitis hir avauntage, With ffortune so felle, þat is of fer cast. Line 7052 All þat desteny with dole has demyt to falle, Ay puttes of þe purpos, þat it enpaire shuld, And ay ertes to þe end ordant before.

OFF HYM ÞAT NOTES NOT HIS TYME WHEN GOD HASE GRAUNTID: BY ECTOR.

And Ector of all men euyll hit dissayuet, Line 7056 Þat his pepull, and his prouyns, & his pure hele, Might soundly haue sauit with his sad strenght; And all his fos in the fight felly distroyet, Doutles þat day, withouten deire aftur, Line 7060 And all perels ouer put plainly for euer. Hit is lelly not louable in no lede oute, Of no wise mon to wale, when wirdes has grauntid, ffor to tary on his tyme, when hym tydes faire, Line 7064 And put of a purpos, þat empaires after, Or þat draghes to dethe, and deres at þe ende. He þat tas not his tyme, when þe tyde askes, But lettes it deuly ouerdryve with delling to noght, Line 7068

Line 7068 Wite not his wirdis, þof hym woo happyn! And he þat kepis not kyndly the course of his heale, But sodanly forsakes þat sent is of god, Hit shalbe gricchit hym þat grace in his grete nede. Line 7072 So happit hit here to þis hed prinse, Honerable Ector, oddist of knightes, That holly the herhond hade at his wille, [folio 110b] And haue vttred his Enmyes angur þat tyme; Line 7076 His worship haue wonyn, & his wille hade; And all his fos in the filde fuersly ouer-comyn. Then it cheuyt þus by chaunse of þat choise knight, Þat the sun of Exiona, þat was his sib mon, Line 7080 And Telamon, þe triet kyng, þat was his true fader, Þat cald was be course of the kynges syde, Telamonius Aiax truly to nome, That a mon was of might & of mayn strenght, Line 7084 He auntrid hym to Ector ernystly with fight. The stoure was full stithe of þo stuerne knightes! As þai fughtyn in fere with þere felle swerdis, Hit auntrid þat Ector, be ame of his speche, Line 7088 Knew hym for his cousyn comyn of his Aunt, And syb to hym-selfe, sewyng of blode. He was glad of the gome, & o goode chere Voidet his viser, auentid hym seluyn, Line 7092 And said to þat semly all in sad wordis, Prayond hym prestly, as his pure frynd, Turne vnto Troy & talke with his cosyns, His honerable Em, & other of his ffryndes. Line 7096 He denyet hym anon with a nait wille; His ledis for to leue hym list not as þen. But he prayet the prinse with his pure hert, Iff he louyt hym, as he let to leue for þe tyme, Line 7100

Line 7100 Þat þe troiens in hor tenttes shuld tene hom no more, Ne dere hom with dinttes whille þat day last, Ne folow hom no furre, ne felle of hor pepull. Þen vnhappely hys hest he hastid to do, Line 7104 Þat angart hym after angardly sore, Turnyt hym to tene & all the tit Rewme. With the tuk of a trump, all his tore knightes He assemblit full sone, & sad men of armys, Line 7108 And comaundit hom kyndly, kynges & all, To go bake fro þe batell, & buske vnto troy, And mene hym no more, ne hor men kylle. [folio 111a] The Troiens þaire tore shippis hade turnyt on ffyre, Line 7112 Wold haue brent hom barly, botis & other; Haue grippit the goodis, & the gomes qwellet, And no lede vpon lyue left in þe fild. But at the biddyng of þe bold, þat þe buernes led, Line 7116 Þai were assemblit full sone, & myche sorow hade, Wentton to þe wale toun wailyng in hert, Entrid with angur, and to þere Innes ȝode. Thus curstly þat knighthode for a cause light, Line 7120 Voidet þere victory for vanité of speche, Þat neuer auntrid hom aftur so ably to wyn; But þurgh domys of destany dreuyt to noght, And ay worth vnto werre, as ye shall wete aftur. Line 7124