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.

The xxviij Boke: of the Counsell of Eneas and Antenor. Of the treason of the Cite.

Now þe troyens, with tene, all þe toun ȝatys Keppit full cloyse, with care at hor hertes; Line 11152 Withouten hope of any helpe holdyn hom with-in, Or any socour to be send out of sere londys. All the burgh is full bigge, ouer the brode wallis, [folio 170b] Wacchemen for to wale, wacches to kepe, Line 11156 Of trewmen in towres, for treason of other, The Cité to saue fro saute of hor fos. ffor the heght is so hoge of the hegh touris, With dykes so depe drâghen a-boute, Line 11160 Þat no werriour hit wyn may to þe worldes end, But þurgh failyng of fode, þat fainttes þe pepull. ffor Pantasilia the pert pytie was made, Þat offendit þere fos with hir fyne strenght. Line 11164 Mony doghty þat derfe vnto dethe broght, And britnet on the bent with hir bale maidnes. Myche tene hade the troiens for þe tryet lady, ffor þai the corse might not cacche, as þe kynd wold, Line 11168 ffor to bery in the burgh, hor bale was the more, Ne to forther þat fre with fynerall seruys. The grekes gedrit full grymly to þe gret yates,

Of sure men in soppes sadly enarmyt, Line 11172 The close for to kepe, when care was on hand, Þat no freike vpon fote forther shuld pas. The corse þan þai comaund of þe clene qwene, To be cast vnto curres and to kene fowles. Line 11176 But Pirrus þat purpos pertly with-stode, Bade bery the burd on hir best wise, As was due to the dede, to delue in þe erthe. Dyamede the derfe demyt non othir. Line 11180 "Hit is vnsytting," he said, "þat hit so be, ffor the worthy, þat wicche hase wastid to dethe, Of our grekes on ground, & to grem broght; Let hir bones with baret abide in this aire, Line 11184 As a caren vncleane, for hir curst dedis." Þan the gret of the grekes agreit hom all, The corse for to cast in a clere terne, Vndur a syde of the Cité, & synke hit þerin,— Line 11188 A stanke full of stynke standyng besyde.

When the troiens in þe toune were tyrnet þerin, With myche wandreth & wo in wer of hor hele, Antenor & Eneas, with þaire avne sons, Line 11192 Serchid by hom-seluyn in sauyng hor lyues, ffor deiryng with dethe of the derfe grekes: And yf þo weghes on no wise might of wo pas, [folio 171a] The toune to be-tray, truly, þai thoght. Line 11196 And the gome to be-gyle, þat the ground aght, Þai purpost with Priam preuely to speike, The kyng for to counsell in the case so, ffor to proffer hom pes or he payne þolet; Line 11200 And to Restore þem stithly all the store harmes, With the deire þat was done by the Duke Paris, In Sytheria, for-sothe, at Sesyng of the qwene; And the lady to hir lord delyuer agayne. Line 11204 If þo gret wold agre for þat grym dede!

But happy were þat hede kyng, & he haue might This acord in the case with-outen care more. ffor all the deth and the dere of his dere sons, Line 11208 Ȝet the lord in his lond might lyue in his age, With his worthy wiff, & his wale doghtur, And his noble sonnes naturell, þat hym next were, With souerains of the Cité & other sad pepull! Line 11212 This accord might the kyng haue cacchit before, When the grekes, hym to grefe, were on his ground euyn, And tenydon hade takon, as I told haue! Hit is said oft-sithes, and for sothe holdyn, Line 11216 He is happy, þat a harme hastely amendes, Or any perties haue pyne, or put vnto dethe, Or be trauailed with tene, or tyne of þere goodes. Who hertely might hope, or hold in his mynd, Line 11220 Þat the grekes wold agre, or graunt to þis end, ffor the losse and the lure of hor lege kynges; And the harmys full hoge of hor hed knightes? And namly now, when noght may hom let, Line 11224 All the worship to wyn, & hor will haue; The toune for to take, & tirne to þe ground; All the bildynges to bren, & the buernes qwell. Therfore cast is hit cointly by thies kene tray|tours, Line 11228 Vnder proffer of pes, pryam to lose; Hor Cité to dissaiue in sauyng hor lyuis, And all Troy to be-tray, and the triet londis. [folio 171b]

Than the kyng into counsell þay cacchyn onone, Line 11232 And his son was besyde at the same tyme, Amphimake, a freike of the fre brether, And other bold of the burgh, þat aboute were. Þan the traytours vntrew told to þe kyng, Line 11236 How the best was fro bale his burgh for to kepe,

ffor to trete for a trew, or we tene þole, And to proffer hom pes, or we payn dregh. Whan Priam persayuit in his pure hert, Line 11240 The fare of þo faitours with þere fals cast, Euer hit meuyt hym in mynd þe malis þai þoght, Þat the cast of þo cointt men come for no loue. He onswart full esely efter his entent:— Line 11244 "I will haue counsell in this case, & comyn with other, Sertan days for doute, er I do more, On all wise in this world, & wirke to þe best." Kantly, to þe kyng, þen carpis Antenor:— Line 11248 "If þou will mel of this mater, mene hit till vs; Of oure talis take tent, trist þat we say; And if þou hold hom not holsom, herkyn an|other." Þen þe kyng full of care carpyt agayne:— Line 11252 "I repreue not ȝour purpos, ne ȝour prise counsell; Hit is lelly me lef to lyston ȝour wordis: And, as ȝe demyn, to do, if hit be one best. And if hit be not þe best, but to bale worth, Line 11256 Wrath ȝow not wheghis, þof I wale other." Þen þe traytur Antenor titly con ryse, fferkyt on fote, & to þe fre sayde:— "Sothly, Syr kyng, hit sittis not now, Line 11260 Ȝour discresion to dem with no du reason. Ȝour self and ȝour cité is set all aboute, With ȝour fomen fuerse, foldyn with in. Þai kepyn the cloyse of this clene burgh, Line 11264 With ȝep men at þe yatis ȝarkit full þik: In qwose cumpany kide are kyngis full nobill, ffifté full fell & of furse dukis [folio 172a] Þat noght wilnen in word, ne waytyn to haue, Line 11268 But þi seté to sese, and þi selfe alse. And we, no folke of defense, ne no fyn stuf

Haue in this holde fro harmys to were; Ne so derfe of oure dedis on dayes fro now, Line 11272 Any port fforto pas, or to put opyn; Ne ȝow sechis no socour, ne no sad helpe Of no lede vppon lyue fro no lond straunge; Ne no conford to cache of no kyngis once. Line 11276 Syn ȝour sones ar slayn, & ȝour sure helpes, And ȝour pupull all perichit vnto pale deth; Syn vs cheuys this chaunse of a choise febill, Þe les euyll forto laite, and leng þer-vppon; Line 11280 Er we degh in this daunger, & to dol passe, Let vs proffer hom pes & hor prise qwene; Þat myld vnto menelay, as make to restore, Þat myche dere has vs done for hir dede one, Line 11284 Syn Paris, hire pure loue, is pertid of lyue, Þat hir walt as his wyf, qwil wirdis hym demyt." Þen Amphimacus fursly vppon fote rose, A nobill sone naturyll of þe nayt brether, Line 11288 Wrathit at his wordis, & wightly he sayde To þe traytur full tit, all in tru wyse:— "Qwat hope may we haue of þi helpe now, Þat þi kyng and his cumpany castyn to dissayue; Line 11292 Þi cité and þi sib-men settis by-hynd, Þat þou loue schuld with lewté, and þi lyf spend? Now we se þe be set on a sliper ground, Of þi fotyng to faile, and þi faith breke, Line 11296 And þi nome, þat was nobill, noiet for euer. ffull hard is þe heryng of þi high wordis, And the tale, þat þou tellis, of þi trist feble. [folio 172b] xx^ti M. full thro shall in threpe end, Line 11300 Er hit pas to the plyt þi purpos is in. ffor no luff hit is, lelly, þou lappis thies tales, But for treason & trayn, trust we non other." Eneas efter þis egurly said, Line 11304 Refraynit Amphimacus of his frike wille:—

"Agaynes the grekes to go, vs gaynes no more, To no fight in the feld, ne oure fos mete, Ne to pas of þis place, ne no port opun. Line 11308 Hit nedis vs another way now for to laite, And proffer hom pes oure pepull to saue." The kyng at his karping cast was in Ire, To Eneas & Antenor Egurly said:— Line 11312 "How may ye þus meane you with malis, for shame! Youre dedis me dullis, & dos out of hope; And all coldes my comford, by cause of your willes. Syn I did neuer dede, duly to tell, Line 11316 Ne plainly no purpos put vnto ende; Ne neuer comynd in þis case vnknowing to you; And ay wroght by your wittes, witnes your|seluyn. Truly, Antenor, þes tales you knowes: Line 11320 When þi-selfe for Exiona soght into grese, Made on a message in mene fro vs all, And come fro þat countre vnto court home, Thy councell was kenely kyddest of other, Line 11324 That Paris by purpos shuld pas ouer the se The grekes to greue, and get if he might Sum lady of the londe, & lede into troye. The cast, ne the couytise, come not of me, Line 11328 In pes & prosperitie to put me to wer, But of falsyng & flatery with þi fer cast, And þi curset counsell, þat comburt vs ofte. And þou, Eneas also, angardly fast, Line 11332 Of all buernes in þis burgh byset þerfore, When þou passit with Paris tho parties vnto, And ertyd hym egurly Elan to bryng, Hade þou counceld the contrary, & comynd hit þan, [folio 173a] Line 11336

Line 11336 Shuld neuer lady of þat lede vnto þis lond comyn. And now, after the dethe & deire of my dere sones, Thou rises as a rebell to my ranke harmys! Syche counsell, as þou kythes, kepe I none of, Line 11340 Þat will lede me to losse, & my lond hoole: Neuer of shame to be shunt when shalke is on lyue." Eneas with envy egurly Rose, And kantly to þe kyng karpis agayne; Line 11344 Mony wordis in wrathe warpes full loude: And so parted the prise all in pale angur.

HERE THE KYNG COUNSELD HIS SON TO SLE ENEAS AND ANTENOR.

The prise kyng Priam was prickit with sorow, And myche water he weppit of his wale ene; Line 11348 ffor he se hit him-seluyn, the sorow was the more, The trayn of þo traytours, þat truly were fals. He purpost hym plainly, for perell to come, Tho faitours with falsyng to fonge yf he might. Line 11352 He said to his son, on a sad wise, Amphymake, the fre þat hym faith aght:— "Dere sun, I haue doute þat dethe vs depart, Þat of lyue & of loue are lappit to-gedur! Line 11356 Syn I am fourmyt þi fader, & þou my fre child, Let us suffer our-self with sufferaunce of goddes. I wotte hit full wele, thies wicked men bothe Haue purpost hom plainly to perisshe our londes, Line 11360 Our cité to sell, & our-selfe alse. Hit is nedefull for noy, þat neghis on hond, Þat þai droppe in the dike þai deghit have for vs. I haue takon intent þo traytours to sle, Line 11364 Er þai begyle vs with gawdis, & ger vs to degh. To morn when þo men are meuyt to counsell,

I will þou be wise, & wirke as I bid: Kepe ye in couert with knightes a few, [folio 173b] Line 11368 Of ledis, þat vs loues, of lewté to forther; Kacche hom þan kenly, & bryng hom to ground." He assentid full sone the sagh to perfourme, And to kepe hit as in councell kenely assurit. Line 11372 But oftsythes hit is sene, & sum men hath feld, Þat spokyn is in speciall, spredes o fer. In yche company is comynly a claterer of mowthe, Þat no councell can kepe, ne no close talis. Line 11376 To þes traytours was told the entent of þe kyng, On what wise in this world, no writ me declaris. Þai assemblit full sone of assent other, Þat knew of hor cast, & comynt to-gedur. Line 11380 All sweire þai, full swiftly, vpon swete haloues, Neuer to councell to come, but in cleane armes, With a pouer of pepull purpos þerfore, If euer the souerain hym-self sent for hom efte. Line 11384 This Eneas, of abell men was angardly grete, Of kyn and of cosyns, & kydmen of strenght: He hade fryndes full fele, fild of all goodis, And as plentuus of pepull as Priam hym-seluyn. Line 11388 Antenor also was abill of fryndes, Large of aliaunce, louet within: A Riche mon of Renttes, Relikes ynow, And fele of affynité, þat folowet hym after. Line 11392 Thies curset of þe case hade comynt with the grekes, Hom-seluyn to saue & hor sad fryndes, Hor renttes, hor Riches, hor relikes also, ffor daunger, or deire, depely assurit. Line 11396

Þan the kyng vnto councell comaund hom bothe, To appere in his presens þat purpos to end, ffor to trete of a trew qwill the tyme hade,

And to dere hom with dethe, yf destany wold. Line 11400 Þan þai comyn to þe kyng with company grete, Of armyt men all somen, abill to fight. This Priam persayuet of the prise hoge, [folio 174a] And sent to his son to ses at þat tyme. Line 11404 The next day anone, the noble kyng Priam Somond all the cité somyn to appere, To carpe of a councell, & kyth hym hor wit, And to mell in the mater with his men all. Line 11408 When thei comyn were to courtte, this curset Eneas fferkit vppon fote and to þe folke said:— "Now, sirs, hit is sothely, me semes, for þe best ffor to proffer hom pes, and purvey þerfore." Line 11412 All his citizens, sothely, assentid þerwith, ffor þai knew not the caste of the curset chefe. The kyng to the komyns carpit agayne; To put of þat purpos he paynet hym sore. Line 11416 Eneas with Envy egurly saide:— "Sir kyng, of this case carpe þou no ferre! We wull treate of a trew, I tell the for sothe, Whether þou will, or þou wilnot, wit þou for|sothe!" Line 11420 Than Priam persayuit all the pepull hertis, And feld well hit fortherit not the freike to with-stond: Hym was leuer to the ledis lelly assent, Than grucche þere agayne, & greue hym þe farre. Line 11424 He said hom full soberly with a sore hert, "Dos of þis dede as you dere thinke, I assent for my-selfe, and sadly afferme." Þan þai comynd in the cas, castyn hor wittes, Line 11428 And with charge of þat choise erend chosyn Antenor, As grettist by agrement, with the grekes to trete, And pursew for pes: this purpos þai tokyn.

Þan þe troiens, full tyte, turnyt to þe walles, Line 11432 With braunches full brode all of bright Olyue, As in proffer of pes puttyn O lofte, All the ledis on to loke, þat lay in þe feld. Than the grekes, by agrement, gyffen hom a signe, Line 11436 By cundeth to come, & carpe what hom liste. Than went fro the walles worthy Antenor, [folio 174b] Past at a port to the pale tenttes. The grekes on the grene greidly hym met: Line 11440 To Agamynon gay tent gone all in fere, And present hym prestly to þe prise kyng, Agamynon the grete, & the grekes all. To Dyamed the Duke, & doghty Vlixes, Line 11444 Assentid full sone all the sad pepull, To trete with Antenor trustid hom þan. This forward to fulfill faithly thai swere, Vppon solempne sacrifice, soche as þai vset. Line 11448 Þan the kynges into counsell caghton Antenor, And menyt of þaire mater more at þe tyme, There he hight hom to haue, holly at þere wille, All the toun þurgh his trayne, & the true kyng, Line 11452 ffor to bete doun & bren vnto the bare erth. Hym-seluyn to saue and his sib fryndes, And Eneas al o and all his sute hoole, With Renttes, & Riches, & all his Ranke godes. Line 11456 This in counsell to kepe fro knowing of other, Lest hit put of hor purpos, & paire at þe end, All affermyt in faith of þo faire soueryn, And knit vp þere couenaunte in couert to hold. Line 11460 Kyng Taltill þai toke as tristy to seme, Þat was greuit on ground, gronond in age, ffor he shuld lightly be leuyt with ledis of troy. Be-cause of his corage was kelit with age, Line 11464 He shuld turne to the toun, þo traytours with all, To spir at hom specially of hor spede fer;

If þai hade wille to þe werke, wete hom to say, With-outyn gawdyn or gyle, glose hit not lengur, Line 11468 And what godes þai wold gyffe to the gret harmes, To affirme hit as fast, fynally for euer. Antenor also angardly desyret The body of the bold qwene, þat in the burne lay, [folio 175a] Line 11472 Pantasilia, with pyne to put into graue: With myche labur, at the last, þo lordes hit grauntid. Þan the traytor vntrew, trust me for sothe, Toke leue at the lordes, & lowted hom all, Line 11476 With Taltillus, þat other þat I told first, And soghtyn to þe Cité somyn belyue, Past vnto Priam, present hor wille, All the case of hor come, cantly with mowthe. Line 11480

The secund day suyng, sayes me the lettur, Priam, the prise kyng, prestly comaundit All the buernes of the burghe, bacheler & other, To appere in his presens the profer to make, Line 11484 And the tale of Antenor vntristy to here, Of his message by mouthe, what he mene wold. When þai comyn were to court, comyns & other, Antenor his tale tombly began. Line 11488 He thoght his falshed to feyne, vndur faire wordes, And his cautels to colour vnder coynt speche. He said in his sermond, þat sothely the grekes Were of pepull & pouer plaintius mony; Line 11492 And how þai depely desyret with a due hert, To haue suertie full sad of a syker pes. Thus sotelly with sothyn he set hom a cas, What fortune might falle vndur fals colour. Line 11496 Þan nemmyt he what noy, the noble men of troy Enduret on dayes, dole for to se:

With weping & waile, wo to be hold, And myche sykyng & sorow on our sad knightes. Line 11500 "To abstene of þis stoure & our stithe harmes, Soche langour to let, & lotis vnfaire, Hit is wit, as I wene, wayes to seche, Soche dole & deire to dryue to an end." Line 11504 Þan he said in his saw, þat sothely the grekes Wold not agre to þat graunt, but for a gretesowme Of gold, & of godis, & of gay Iuellis, With stuff to restore for hor stith harmys. [folio 175b] Line 11508 Wherfore, to qwheme & to white vs of skaithe, Euery buerne in þis burgh, þat is best storit Of meblys, & money, & of main syluer, Helpis now hertely þis harme to redresse: Line 11512 ffor bettur is a buerne by hym sum pes, Þan in wandreth & woo to wepe all his lyue. And for he kowth not by course come to an end, All þere wille for to wete at þe wale tyme, Line 11516 He couet at the kyng, & all the kyd pepull, Eneas eftsones þat erend for to wend With hym-seluyn, for-sothe, on þe same nedis, All þere wille for to wete & wayne at þe last, Line 11520 And for þe grete of þo grekes shuld no gawde wene, But leue hit more lelly & listyn the bettur. All the pepull in þat presse, þat the prose herd, Afermyt hit as fyn þat þe freike said. Line 11524 Eneas after this, euyn with þat other, And Taltilus, tombly to þe tenttes yode.

All the councell fro kourtt was clenely depertid. Priam with pite þan past to his halle, Line 11528 Myche water he weppit wringyng his handes. Hit was dole to the dethe þe Duke to behold, Euer hedyng in hert of the hegh treason, Þat was cast for þe kyng, of his kyde fryndes; Line 11532

Line 11532 And for the losse and the lure of his leue sons, Þat so dawly were ded, and drepit for ay, So worthy in wer, & so wale knightes. Þat he left was o lyue his lure was so hoge! Line 11536 "And now is nedfull for noye, þat neghis at hond, All my gold for to geue, þat I getyn haue, Kepid in hurd, holdyn full long; And I vnsure of my-self, my sorow is the more. Line 11540 Þus in pouert am I pyght, put vnder fote, Þat makes me full mad, & mournes in my hert; And yet this lure were but litle, & our lord wold Þat I might leng in my laund, & my lyf haue." Line 11544 Thus Priam with pité playnet hys doole, On what wise for to wirke wist not hym-seluyn. He was forset vnfaire to folow þere wille, [folio 176a] Þat purpost hom plainly to put hym to dethe. Line 11548 Elan þat euermore was egur of sorow, Herd tell of the trety was takyn with the grekes. Þat noble on a night, þat no man persayuit, To talke with Antenor toke ho the gate. Line 11552 Sho prayet hym pourly with hir pure hert, Of Menelay, hir maistur, to make hir a frynde; And proker hir pes with his prise wordes, Þat she might at þat myschefe to mercy be takyn. Line 11556 All grauntid the gome to þe gay qwene, ffor to proker hir pes, & pyne hym þerfore: Þan ho lowtid the lede, & hir leue toke, And past to the palis of the prise kyng. Line 11560

With-in the tyme þat I tell, þe tru sun of Priam,— Glaucon, was grauyn in a gay towmbe; And the body of þe bold qwene broght vnto toune,

Pantasilia, with petie of hir prise maidons. Line 11564 Hit was ordant of all men by oppon assent, Þat Philmen the fre kyng shuld ferk hit hym with, And bryng on a bere to hir burgh home, To be enterit in a towmbe, as a triet qwene, Line 11568 And laid by hir legis, þat the lond aght. Eneas eftir þis Egur of will, Antenor, also, angardly fast To the grekes on þe grene girdyn on swith, Line 11572 ffor to trete of hor trayne as traytouris vnlell. There met þai þo men, þat I mynt first, Þat were grauntid by the grete of the grekes all, ffor to mell in þe mater, & meue to an end. Line 11576 The towne to betray truly þai þoght: And of Elan, euermore, egerly fast Þai meuit vnto Menelay at the mene tyme; And had graunt of þat grete with a good wille, Line 11580 All hir gilt to forgiff, and to grace take. Than Agamynon, as grettist, þo grete for to wend,— [folio 176b] Dyamede he demyt, & doughty Vlixes,— With tho worthy to wend to the wale towne, Line 11584 As in maner of message fro the mayn grekes. When þai comyn into courtte the comyns were fayne, ffor þai wise were of wit, & worthy men bothe. Þai hopit well the heldur to here of an end, Line 11588 And the traitur þai trist of a tru pes. The next day onone, as the night past, By comaundement clenly the councell was gedurt, All the pepull to the palis of the prise kyng Line 11592 Were assemblit full sone, set all aboute. Vlixes full lyvely vp olofte said:— "The grekes for hor greme vnto gre asken Gret sommes, for-sothe, to hor sad harmes, Line 11596

Line 11596 Bothe of gold & of goodes, er þei go wille, ffor the losse & the lure of hor lef pepull; And Amphimakus, the fre sun of the fyn kyng, To be exiled for euermore, as Enmy of toune, Line 11600 Neuer in plit to Repaire to his pure fryndis, Ne the Cité to se, while hym-selfe lyues." This prokert full prestly with prayer before, The traytor Antenor to the tru kynges; Line 11604 ffor þat noble hym denyet naitly or þan, When he proffert to priam pes for to make. Lo! how fortheris a freike with a fyne wit, ffor to kepe hit in close, & carp hit no fer; Line 11608 To speike in despite & Spedis no more, But hyndres full heghly & harmys hym-seluyn. Lo! Amphimac the fre, for his fell wordes, Was dampnet in-dede, þof þai du were; Line 11612 Ellis the traytor Antenor hade truly no cause ffor to procur his payne, and his pale harme. But god, þat all giltis godely beholdis, And wrangis in his wrathe writhis to ground, [folio 177a] Line 11616 Oft-sithes in the same settis to fall A man with þat mesure he metis till another! To Antenor hit tide, tellis the story, An exile for euermore efter a while, Line 11620 Thurgh Eneas, þat egurly exit þerto, As I shall tell full tite, when the tyme askes.

While thies kynges were in councell, þat comyn fro þe grekes, Within the palis of prise, as the prose tellus, Line 11624 There was an orible noise, þat noyet hom full sore, As a clamour or a crye of a cant pepull, As þai satyn all somyn sodainly come, Vne playne in the place þere þe prise met. Line 11628 ffor doute of hor dethes, tho doghty men bothe Were a-ferd of the fare and the fell noise,

Lest the troiens for tene hade takon hom sone, And dungen to dethe for dole of the knight, Line 11632 Amphymacus the fre, þat the freikes louet, ffor ertyng his exile in ernest before. Hit was aspiet full Specially, & spird all abowte, The cause of the crie and the cant noise: Line 11636 There was no wegh in this world, þat hit wete kowth, Ne to meue in hor mynd what hit mene shuld. The kyng & the councell cantly can rise; Depertid the pepull, past to þe toune Line 11640 Bothe knightes & comyns, and the court voidet. THE TRAYTOR ANTENOR toke into counsell, Dyamede he drogh furth, & dughty Vlixes, In a place þat was priuey & no prese in, Line 11644 To forther his foule wille, þat no freike herd. Vlixes to this other vtterly said:— "Why draghes þou on dregh þes dedis so ferr? Þat þou vs heghly hase het, hold hit onone!" Line 11648 Þan talkes the traytour truly agayne:— "Ourgoddis knowen full kyndly þe cast of my hert, That no dede I desyre so depely in thoght, [folio 177b] As your hestes to hold with helpe of Eneas. Line 11652 Lelly, the lett, þat vs long taries, Is a statur full strong of a stith god: Þat ye shall lelly me leue, & yow list herkon," Diamede said duly;—"þou do vs to wete, Line 11656 Vs likes full lelly to listyn þi wordis." Antenor þan talkis, & told on þis wise:— "Hit is lelly no lesyng, leue if ye will! There was a kyng in this cost, þat the kith aght, Line 11660 Honerable, auenaund, & Vlus was callit. Here foundit he first the faire place Ylion; After the nome of þat noble, nemyt hit is. Here he tild vp a temple of a trew godde, Line 11664 Of Palades the pure, as prouit is of old.

Whan the walles were wroght to þe wale rofe, All clanly by course vncouert aboue, A selly þere sene was with seremen aboute, Line 11668 Gird to þe ground fro the grete heuyn, A ffygur full fyne, festnyt in the wall, Wondurfully wroght by wit of a god. At the end of the auter etlit to stond, Line 11672 Euer sithen, for-sothe, to this selfe tyme. Neuer buerne was so big to beire hit away, Saue kepers of the kirke, for craft vppon erthe. The mater hit is made of is most of a tre, Line 11676 But no clerke is so corious to ken vs the nome; Ne on what wise hit is wroght can wit shew, But þurgh Palades the pure god, apperit þer þurgh. Seche trust haue the troiens truly þerin, Line 11680 While hit keppit is in kirke, or in clos walle, With-in the cercle of þe Cité, as said is of old, Neuer the toune shalbe takon with tene of hor fos, Ne care fro the corone, ne the kynd aire. Line 11684 Thus lelly beleuyn the ledis of þe toune, And neuer dowtyn no dethe to dere hom with-in. The nome of þis noble, þat naitly is keppit, Paladian the pure, with pepull is callid." Line 11688 Than Diamede the Duke duly can say:— [folio 178a] "Iff thy saghes be sothe, & sad to beleue, All our labur is lost, & our long sege, If Paladian with purpos may put vs away." Line 11692 Antenor alstite amet to speike:— "If ye meruell so mekyll we make you non end, And high not with hast our hestes to kepe, This is truly the entent we tary so longe. Line 11696 I haue comynt with the keper, & cumpast aboute, The stature to steile stithly by night, ffor a certain somme of syluer & of gold: And full prestly þe prest hase puruayet þerfore. Line 11700 When hit laght is lelly, leue me for sothe,

Hit shalbe sentto your-selfe, seche hit no ferther: Þan hope may ye hertely, to haue in a while The Cité and the soueran, sese as you likes. Line 11704 But kepis this in councell, for cas þat may falle, Þat no wegh in þis world wete of our cast; And I will kaire to the kyng for a cause yet, And feyne me with fare to forther our werkis. Line 11708 I will telle hym with trayne, þe trist of our ernde Is holly in his hond hengand aboue. I haue knawlache in þe case & comyng with yow, What sommys in certayn þe sent you to take." Line 11712 Thus with lowtyng & leue the ledis depertid; The grekes agayne ar gon to þere tenttes; The traytur full tomly turnyt to þe kyng, His falshed to forther: the fend hym distroy! Line 11716

THE ORDINAUNCE OF THE TRYBUTE.

Than carpis to the kyng curset Antenor, All the Cité to assemble hym-seluyn before. When comyn were the knightes, comyns, & all, Thes wordes he warpit þo worthy vnto:— Line 11720 "I haue comynt in this case, knowith hit your|selfe; To the grekes bus vs gyffe, to graunt vs for pes, Twenty thowsaund thristy, þrungyn to-gedur, Markes full mighty, all of mayn gold, [folio 178b] Line 11724 And of Syluer, for-sothe, the same þai dessyre: To whyte vs, of whete, qwarters þai aske X. M. þroly, to thring in hor shippes." This oponly is ordant þo odmen betwene, Line 11728 And specially spokyn to spede hom away, Be a tyme for to take, & turne to þe sea. Gedrit was the goode, & gon for to kepe To Sure men & certen þat sowme to deliuer, Line 11732 And take sikernes sad the Cité to leue, Of the grekes agayne for the grete somme.

While this gode was in gederyng the grettes among, Antenor to the temple trayturly yode; Line 11736 Preuely the prest puld into councell, (Thoantes, me tellys the text, þat he heght, Þat was geeter of the god, þat the gome yernyt.) With a gobet of gold, a full gret somme, Line 11740 And Thoantes betaght, tarit no lengur. Thies wordes to the wegh warpit onone, In a place out of prese, priuely there:— "Lo, of gold, & of good here a gret nowmber, Line 11744 The to lyue with in lykyng, & thy leue ayris. The god, þat þou geetis, gyf me þer-ffore, Þat I may beire fro the burgh, shall no buerne wete. Thou art no farder, in faith, thy fame for to lose, Line 11748 Þan I my lyffe were leuer leue in þe plase, Er any troiens with truthe might telle suche a fawte, Or soche a point on me put in perlament her|aftur. Therfore, priuely, by purpos Paladian þou send Line 11752 To honerable Vlixes, vtwith the toune. If any fawte þer funden be, we faithly may say, The pure kyng Paladian priuely stale: And we excusit of skathe, yf sclaunder shall Rise." Line 11756 Prestly the prest his purpos with-stode All the night with noy, till negh at þe day, Till he caght was in couetouse, & cumbrit hym seluen. Than grauntid he the god to the grym traytor, [folio 179a] Line 11760 And toke hit fro the temple, tariet no lengur, Sent hit furth sodainly by a sad frend, To Vlixes vtwith, egerly þan. Hit was noiset onon in the nowble toune, Line 11764

Line 11764 Þat the kyng, þurgh his comyng, by craft hade hit goten, Paladian, the pure god, pertly away; And the troiens betrautid with his triet wit. A! God of þis ground, who graidly may trist Line 11768 Any lede on to leng, as for lele true, Syn this prest þus priset the pepull to dissayue, As a kaytiff, for couetoise to cumber his land? This poynt is not prynted in proces þat are now: Line 11772 Hit lenges not so long tho ledis within, To be cumbrid with couetous, by custome of old, That rote is & rankist of all the rif syns. There is no greuaunce so grete vndur god one, Line 11776 As the glemyng of gold, þat glottes þere hertis: Hit puttes the pouer of pristhode abake, And forges to the fend a forslet with-in. Couetous men comynly are cald aftur right, Line 11780 A temple to the tyrand, þat tises to syn.

WHEN THE GOLDE was all gotyn, & the grete sommes Of qwhete, & of qwhite syluer, qwemly to-gedur, Into Myner mykell temple maynly was broght, Line 11784 And put vnto pure men till payment were made; Hit plesit to Appollo, the pure god aboue, With Sacrifise solemne, besoght at þat tyme, With bestis, & briddis, britnet full mony, Line 11788 And the carcas full clanly kowchit on þe auter. When ffyre shuld be festnet in þat fyne offrond, Two meruellis on mold maynly were shewid. The first was to fele, no fyre wold be light, Line 11792 Þat assait was full sothely of sere men full ofte: Ten tymes be-tyde, tellis me the lyne, Þat hit fest was on fyre, & flappit out onone Vnto smorther & smoke, and no smethe low, [folio 179b] Line 11796

Line 11796 ffor all the craft þat þai kowthe, & the coynt sleght. The secund, for-sothe, I said you before, When the bestis were britnet & broght to þe auter, With the entrell euermore euyn vppo lofte, Line 11800 Come an Erne, þat was Eger, euer on a crye, Light downe lyuely fro the low ayre, Braid vp the bowels, & bere hom away, And showvet to the shippes of the shene grekes. Line 11804 The troiens merueld full mekyll of þe mayne foghle, All stonyed þai stode, starond aboute. Thai wist þere goddes were greuit with a gret yre, And wrothe at the werkes, but wist þai no cause. Line 11808 Cassandra to councell, þen call þai belyue, To haue a dom of þat dede, if the dere kowthe. The first signe, ho hom sayd, sothely was this: Þat Appollo, the pure god, was put into wrathe, Line 11812 ffor tene of his temple was trasit with blode Of Achilles the choise, þat chaunsit to be slayne: "Þat mys to amend, is maistur ye go To the corse of þat kyng in his cleane towmbe, Line 11816 Light þere a lowe lyuely with honde, ffecche þere your ffyre, & festyn on þe auter, And þat bren wull full bright in the brode temple." Than passid the pepull to the pure þrugh: Line 11820 As kend hom Cassandra þai kyndlit a fire. Of the secund, for sothe, ho saide o this wise:— "This towne is betrayed, trist ye non other, And grauntid to the grekes by gomys of your owne." Line 11824 Calcas the curset, þat comynt with the grekes, Bisshop of the burgh, as I aboue told,

When he wist of thies wondres, thies wordes he said:— "Yonder towne wilbe takon in a tyme short." Line 11828 Þan the grekes hom graithet to a gret Sacrifice, Thurgh biddyng of the bisshop & a bold prist, In honour of Appolyne angardly thicke. [Fol. 180 is awanting in MS. See Note.]

[Amongst these things, Calcas and Crisis the Priest, counselled the Greeks that they should make a great Horse of Brasse, and that must be so great as might hold within it a thousand knights armed: and they said unto him that it was the pleasure of the godes. This horse was made by a passing wise Master, as Apius was, whose name was Sinon, and he made it so sub|tilly, that no man could perceive any entry or issue, but within it was easie for them that were inclosed within for to issue out when they would.

When the great horse was fully made, and the thousand knights therein, by the counsell of Crisis, they prayed the King Pryamus, that he would suffer this horse to enter into the city, and that it might be set in the Temple of Pallas, forasmuch as they said, that they had made it in the honour of Pallas, for a Vowe that they made for restitution of the Palladium, which they had caused to be taken out of the same Temple.

Among these things, the Princes that were yet within Troy, when they saw that the King had so shamefully treated with the Greekes, they went away out of Troy, and tooke their men with them, and the King Phylomenus led no more but two hundred and fifty men, and threescore maydens of Amazones, that were left of a thousand that came thither with the Queen Penthasilia, and carryed the body of her with them, and trauelled so long till they came to their owne Country.