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.

Liber Secundus. De Grecis applicantibus in pertinencias Trojæ, et de Laomedonta rege licentiante Iasonem et Herculem de locis illis.

Greci autem maris fatigatione lassati ut pervenerunt in terram in ipsam descendere quietis causa sitienti animo moliuntur et descendentes ibidem recentes aquas a fontibus hauriunt et ibidem pro majoris refrigerationis gratia moram per dies aliquos statuerunt non ut incolis molestiam inferre disponerent nec nociuis dispendiis eos ledere aliquatenus at|temptarent. Sed invida fatorum series quæ semper quiete viventibus est molesta ab inopinatis insidiis sine causa inimi|citiarum et scandali causas traxit propter quas tante cladis diffusa lues orbem terrarum infecerit ut tot reges et principes bellicosa nece succumberent et tanta et talis civitas qualis extitit magna Troja versa fuisset in cinerem tot viduatis muli|eribus viris suis orbatis parentibus et tot pueris et tot puellis et demum jugo servitutis addictis.

Subsequenter describit historia quod Iasone et Hercule cum suis in portu quiescentibus Simoente de eis ad Laomedontam regem Trojanum fama pervenit, quod gens quædam Trojanis incognita scilicet gens græcorum novo remigi Frigias partes intravit exploratura forte archana regni Trojani vel potius Trojæ provinciam vastatura. Erat autem diebus illis Troja

non tantæ magnitudinis qualis fuit postmodum de novo firmata, et in ea regnabit tunc rex predictus Laomedon nomine qui sumpto damnoso consilio quod utinam non fuisset legatum suum in comitia multorum ad Iasonem destinavit; quo ad Iasonem veniente legationem suum explicat in hæc verba. Rex Laomedon hujus regni dominus de adventu vestro valde miratur quare terram suam intravistis ab eo licentia non obtenta cujus est intentio sub tranquilla pace eam tenere; hoc instantissime mandat vobis ut incontinente debeatis terram ejus exire ita quod adveniente die sequenti sciat vos ab omnibus terræ suæ finibus recessisse; quod si mandatorum suorum sentiet vos con|temptores pro certo noveritis ipsum jubere suis in offensionem vestram irruere et depopulationem rerum et vestrarum finale dispendium personarum. Postquam Iason totam seriem lega|tionis audivit totus in ira et dolore cordis exacerbatus intrin|secus antequam ad legationis dicta verba mutuata retorqueret, conversus ad suos sic locutus est eis. Laomedon rex hujus regni dominus mirabilis dedecoris injuriam nobis infert cum absque alicujus offensionis causa nos ejici a sua terra man|davit. Itaque si eum regia nobilitas animasset nos mandare debuisset honorari. Nam si casus similis illum in Græciam adduxisset scivisset sibi illatum a Græcis non dedecus sed ho|norem. Sed ex quo magis sibi dedecus quam honor applausit, nos etiam applaudimus ut illi et ab ejus regni finibus recedamus cum posset contingere et leve sit quod ejus enormæ consilium sit carissimo pretio redempturus. Deinde continuatis verbis conversus ad nuntium dixit, Amice! legationis tuæ verba diligenter audivimus et dona quæ per regem tuum nobis more nobilium sunt transmissa recepimus sicut decet, deos nostros in dei veritate testamur non ex proposito terram tui regis intrasse ut offensam ingereremus in aliquem more predonio violentiam illaturi. Sed cum ad remotiores partes conferre nos nuperrime intendamus necessitas in hunc locum divertere necessario nos coegit. Dic ergo regi tuo nos de sua terra sine mora postposita recessuros scituro pro certo quod etsi non per nos poterit forte per alios qui presentem injuriam nobis illatam audierint non lucra sed pressuras et dampna infallibiliter obtinere. Hercules vero verbis Iasonis non contentus regis nuncio refudit hæc verba. Amice quisquis es secure referas regi tuo quod ad plus die crastina de terræ suæ statione penitus discedemus, sed sequentis tertii anni dies non erit exitura dic illi quam nos videbit si vivet in terram suam velit nolit anchoras injecisse et de danda nobis tunc recedendi licentia non erit sibi plena libertas cum talis litis ad presens inchoaverit questionem quod priusquam de eo possit superare victoriam ignominiosi dede|coris pondere depremetur. Cujus regis nuncius respondendo sic dixit. Turpe satis est et nobili et precipue strenuo minarum sagittas immittere nec mihi qui sum missus, est commissum a rege ut erga vos litigiosis verbis insistam. Dixi vobis quæ mihi commissa fuerunt, si sapienter agere placet vobis do con|silium bonum ut ab hac terra recedere non sit grave priusquam possitis incurrere graviora, cum leve non sit personas perdere quæ se possunt consilio salubri tueri. Et post hæc a Græcis petita licentia suum remeavit ad regem.

Iason vero et Hercules nulla mora protracta Philotete vocato jubet anchoram a mari subtrahi et omnia colligere quæ in terram adduxerant causa quietis. Sciebant enim si voluissent in Phrigios insultare non esse eis in congressu pares vel equales in viribus nec in potentia fortiores. Ergo Argon ascendunt et elevatis velis diis ducibus Frigia deserunt littora et sulcantes maria ventis afflantibus prosperis non post multos dies in Colcos insulam salvi perveniunt et desideratum feliciter portum intrant. In insula igitur Colcos erat tunc temporis quædam civitas nomine Iaconites caput regni pro sua magnitudine con|stituta.

That was Jocund and Joly and Jacomede [Probably for Æa, the capital of Colchis.] hight, [folio 7a] Line 316 Hit was þe souerayne Citie of the Soyle euer, Of lenght & largenes louely to see, Well wallit for werre, watrit aboute. Grete toures full toure all þe toune vmbe, Line 320 Well bilde all aboute, & mony buernes In, With proude pals of prise & palys full noble. There was the souerayne Cytie of Shetes þe kyng, With his baronage bolde & buernes full noble; Line 324 Mony Knightes in his courtte & company grete. Ther were fyldes full faire fast þere besyde, With grete medoes & grene, goodly to showe, With all odour of herbis þat on vrthe springes; Line 328 The bourderis about abasshet with leuys, With shotes of shire wode shene to beholde: Grete greues full grene, grecfull of dere, Wilde bestes to wale was þere enow: Line 332 Herdes at þe hond ay by holte sydes, Vppon laundes þai lay likyng to see. Vmbe the sercle of the Citie was sothely A playne, ffull of floures fresshe fret on þe grounde, Line 336 With lefs-ales vppon lofte lustie and faire, [or lef-sales.] ffolke to refresshe for faintyng of hete, With voiders vnder vines for violent sonnes. There was wellit to wale water full nobill, Line 340 In yche place of the playne with plentius stremes,

With a swoughe and a swetnes sweppit on þe grounde, And all fowles in ffether fell þere vppon, ffor to reckon by right þat to ryuer haunttes. Line 344 Small briddes aboue in þe bright leuys With shrikes full shrille in the shire bowes; The noise was full noble of notes to here, Thurgh myrth & melody made vppon lofte. [folio 7b] Line 348 To this souerayne Citie þat yet was olofte, Jason [a]ioynid and his iust fferis, Steppit vp to a streite streght on his gate. As þai past on the payment þe pepull beheld, Line 352 Haden wonder of the weghes, & wilfulde desyre To know of þere comyng and the cause wete, Þat were so rially arait & a rowte gay. So faire freikes vppon fote was ferly to se, Line 356 So ȝonge and so yepe, ȝyuerus of wille, ffolke fraynide fast at tho fre buernes, Of what cuntre þai come & the cause why. Was no wegh þat A word warpid hom too, Line 360 But sewid furthe to the sale of Chethes the kyng: þai bowet to the brode yate or þai bide wold. The Kyng of his curtessy Kayres hom vnto, Silet furthe of his Citie seriaunttes hym with, Line 364 Mony stalworth in stoure as his astate wold; Than he fongid þo freikes with a fine chere, With hailsyng of hed bare, haspyng in armys, And led hom furthe lyuely into a large halle, Line 368 Gaid vp by a grese all of gray marbill, Into a chamber full choise (chefe) on þere way, [MS. has "chese."] Þat proudly was painted with pure gold ouer, And þan sylen to sitte vppon silke wedis, Line 372 Hadyn wyn for to wale & wordes ynow.

JASON

Then Jason to þe Just King (Joyuely) can say [MS. has "Joyntly."]

All the cause of his come to Calcos was þan: ffor the flammond fles þat fele had desyrid, Line 376 He hade wille for to wyn & away lede, [folio 8a] By leue of the lord þat þe lond aght. After custome to kepe as the Kyng set, Chethes full soberly & with sad wordes, Line 380 Has grauntid godely þat he go shuld, Soiorne þere a season, assay when hym lyke. Be þan burdes were bred in the brade halle, And þo mighty to meite meuit belyue, Line 384 With all deintes on dese þat were dere holden; Walid wyne for to wete wantid þai none, In grete goblettes of gold yche gome hade. The Kyng was full curtais, calt on a maiden, Line 388 Bede his doughter come downe & his dere heire, To sit by þat semely, and solas to make. This maiden full mylde, Medea was callid, Whan she sought into sale salute hom all, Line 392 With loutyng full low to hir lefe fadir. She was eldist & heire etlit to his londes, Hym chefet thurghe chaunse childer no mo; And she at hond for to haue husband for age, Line 396 Byg ynoghe vnto bed with a bold knight. She was luffly of lere & of lore wise, And kyndly hade conyng in the clene artis: Þere was no filisofers so fyn found in þat lond, Line 400 Might approche to þat precious apoint of her wit.

THE CRAFTE OF MEDEA.

Of nygramansi ynogh to note when she liket, And all the fetes full faire in a few yeres. Wyndis at hir wille to wakyn in the aire, Line 404 Gret showres to shede & shynyng agayne, Haile from the heuyn in a hond while, And the light make les as hir lefe thought; [folio 8b] Merke at the mydday & the mone chaunge, Line 408

Line 408 To clere Sune into Clippis & the cloudes dym; The Elementes ouerturne & the erthe qwake, fflodes with forse flow agayne the hilles; Bowes for to beire in the bare winttur, Line 412 ffor to florisshe faire & þe frute bryng; Yong men yepely yarke into Elde, And the course agayne calle into clere youthe. All thies Japes ho enioynit as Gentils beleued, Line 416 All thies maistres & mo she made in hir tyme, Als put is in poisé and prikkit be Ouyd, Þat feynit in his fablis & other fele stories. Hit ys lelly not like, ne oure belefe askys, Line 420 Þat suche ferlies shuld fall in a frale woman; But only gouernaunse of God þat þe ground wroght, And ilke a planet hase put in a plaine course, Þat turnys as þere tyme comys, trist ye non other. Line 424 As he formed hom first flitton þai neuer; Ne the clere Sune neuer clippit out of course yet, But whan Criste on the crosse for our care deghit; Than it lost hade the light as our lord wold, Line 428 Erthe dymmed by dene, ded men Roose, The gret tempull top terned to ground. This Medea the maiden, þat I mynt first, Þat gay was in garmentes & of good chere, Line 432 And als wemen haue wille in þere wilde youthe, To fret hom with fyn perle, & þaire face paint, With pelur and pall & mony proude rynges, Euyn set to þe sight and to seme faire: Line 436 This gentill by Jason ioinet was to sit, [folio 9a] As be comaundement in courtte of hir kynd fader. Hit is wonder of the wit of this wise kyng, Wold assent to þat sytting þat hym sewet after, Line 440 And his doughter to dresse in daunger of loue, To sit with þat semely in solas at þe meite. Syn wemen are wilfull & þere wit chaunges,

And so likrus of loue in likyng of yowthe, Line 444 Þis vnwarnes of wit wrixlis hys mynd. What forthers þi fare and þi false goddes, And Mars the mighty þat þu mykill trist? Agayne þe wyles of wemen to wer is no bote. Line 448

THE SODEN HOTE LOUE OF MEDEA.

When this mylde in hir maner was at þe meite set Betwene hir fader and þe freke, þat I first ment, Hir shire fface all for shame shot into rede, And a likyng of loue light in her hert; Line 452 Hir Ene as a trendull turned full rounde, ffirst on hir fader, for feare þat she hade, And sethyn on þat semely with a sad wille; Smale likyng of loue lurkit in hir mynde, Line 456 And she light on þat lede with a loue egh; ffirst on his face fresshe to beholde, And his lookes full louely lemond as gold, And all ffeturs to ffynd fourmed o right. Line 460 The sight of þat semely sanke in hir herte, And rauysshed hir radly þe rest of hir sawle, Sho hade no deintithe to dele with no deire meite, And hir talent was taken for tastyng of wyne. Line 464 Soche likyng of loue lappit hir with in, That euyn full was þat fre and no fode touchet And þat keppit she close in hir clene hert, [folio 9b] That no wegh þat hir waited wist of hir thought; Line 468 But hir semblaund so sad was semond to hom. Mony thoughtes full thro thrange in hir brest, And þus sho spake in hir sprete if ho spede myght: "I wold yonder worthy weddit me hade, Line 472 Bothe to burde & to bede blessid were I: So comly, so cleane to clippe vpon nightes,

So hardy, so hynd in hall for to se, So luffly, so lykyng with lapping in armys; Line 476 Well were that woman might weld hym for euer." Dissyring full depely in her derne hert, As maner is of maydons þat maynot for shame, ffor to languysshe in loue till þere lere chaunge: Line 480 Shentyng for shame to shew furth þere ernd, As þai wylne to be woghit þere worship to saue. Mony burdys bene broght to þaire bare dethe, Þat wondyn for wonderfful þaire wille for to shewe. Line 484 Whan þe fest and þe fare was faren to the ende, And burdes borne downe, burnes on fote, Medea myldly mevet to chaumber Be leue of þe lordes and þe ledys all. Line 488 The Knightes at the Kyng cachyn þere leue, Intill a chaumber full choise chosen þere way Be comaundement of þe Kyng, & þe courtte voidet. Medea the mylde, þat I ment first, Line 492 Wox pale for pyne in hir priuy chamber, In a longyng of loue as the lowe hote, With a Sykyng vnsounde, þat souet to hir hert; She compast kenly in hir clene wit Line 496 ffor to bring it aboute & hir bale voide. Thus sho drof forth hir dayes in hir depe thoght, [folio 10a] With weping and wo all the woke ouer, Till it fell hir by fortune, as I fynd here, Line 500 On a day, as the Dukes were ouer des set, And comynd with the Kyng of Knighthode in Armys, Chethes for þat semly sent into chamber, Bade his doughter come doune to hir dere fader: Line 504 And sho obeit his bone, & of boure come In clothes as be-come for a kynges doughter, And obeit the bolde, and bowet hir fader;

And he assignet hir a seite, þat hir-selfe liket, Line 508 With chere for cherys the chiualrus Knightes, As maner was of Maidones, with hir myld chere. His comaundment to kepe sho hir course held, And Joynet by Jason iustly to sit; Line 512 And he welcomed þat worthy as he well kouthe: A litill set hym on syde, & a seet leuet, ffor to mele with þat maidyn & hir mode here. The Kyng with other knightes hade comford to speike Line 516 Ercules of armes, & auntres to telle Of chiualry & chaunce, þat cheuyt hym before, Þat no lede was lelly þo louers betwene, But þai might say by hom-self all þere sad wille. Line 520

MEDEA.

The woman was war þat no wegh herd, And vnder shadow of shame shewid forth hir ernd, With a compas of clennes to colour hir speche. In sauyng hir-seluen and serche of his wille, Line 524 "Now frynd," quod þat faire, "as ye bene fre holden, Will ye suffer me to say, and the sothe telle? Voidis me noght of vitius, [ne] vilaus of tunge; Ne deme no dishonesty in your derfe hert, Line 528 Þof I put me þus pertly my purpos to shewe. Hit sittes, me semeth, to a sure knyghte, [folio 10b] Þat ayres into vnkoth lond auntres to seche, To be counseld in case to comfford hym-seluyn, Line 532 Of sum fre þat hym faith awe, & þe fete knoweth; This curtysy he claymes as for clere det, And be chaunce may chere hym & cheue to þe bettur. I wot ssir, ye are wight & a wegh nobill, Line 536 Auntrus in armes, & able of person;

A storre man of strenght & of stuerne will, That wilnes for to wyn this wethur of gold, And puttes you to perell in pointis of armes, Line 540 And likly for litle your lyffe for to tyne. I haue pittye of your person & your pert face, And ȝeuernes of ȝowthe, þat ȝomers in my hert, Þat causes me with counsell to caste for your helpe, Line 544 And put you in plite your purpos to wyn, In sound for to saile home & your sute all, Both the whethir & þe wolle a-way for to lede, On a forward before, þat ȝe me faith make, Line 548 In dede for to do as I desyre wille, And my wille for to wirke, if I wele serue."

TH[E] ONSUARE OF JASON TO MEDEA.

Jason was full ioly of hir iuste wordys, And þat comly can clip in his close armes. Line 552 He onswared hir onest[l]y opynond his hert,— "Now louely and leell, for your lefe speche I thanke you a thowsaund tymes in my thro hert, Þat ye kythe me suche kyndnes withouten cause why; Line 556 And here I put me full plainly in your pure wille, To do with me, damsell, as your desyre thynke, ffor this gloriose graunt glades me mekyll."

MEDEA. [folio 11a]

Than saide þat semely to þe sure knyght,— Line 560 "Sir, wete ye not the wochis þat this wethir ȝemes, The keping in case is vnknowen to yowe, And the truthe of the tale vntold to your ere? The perlouse pointtes þat passe you behoues, Line 564

Line 564 Hit is vnlike any lede with his liffe pas, Syn it is gate with a gode & no gome ellis, And ye may strive with no stuerne but of your strenght nobill. Wo shuld pas out of perell fro þo proude exin, Line 568 Þat with flamys of fyre han so furse hete? Woso bydis þere bir is brent into askys. Or þat dragon so derfe, as þe deuyll felle? There is no gome vnder gode, þat hym greue may. Line 572 And if ye highly haue het in your hote yowthe, And folily be ffaryn out of fer londes, Ȝet turne your entent, & betyme leue; Wirkes as a wise man, & your wille chaunge, Line 576 ffor þere is doutles no dede but þe dethe thole."

TH[E] ONSUARE OF JASON TO MEDEA.

The wegh at hir wordes wrathit a litill, And Swiftly to þat swete swagit his yre. "A! damsell full dere, with your derffe wordys, Line 580 What lure is of my lyfe & I lyffe here: I hope ye found me to fere & my faith breike; And if destyny me demys, hit is dere welcum Or it were knowen in my contry & costis aboute, Line 584 That I faintly shuld fle and þe fight leue; Among knightes accounted coward for euer, Me were leuer here lefe & my life tyne, Þan as a lurker to lyue in (ylka) lond after. [MS. has "ylke a"] Line 588 I wole put me to perell and my payne thole, Do my deuer yf I dar, & for no dethe wonde. [folio 11b] ffor yche wise man of wit, þat wilfully hetis Any dede for to do, and dernly avowes, Line 592 Shuld chose hym by chaunce to chaunge out of lyue, Ere he fayne any faintes & be fals holdyn."

MEDEA.

Medea full myldly vnto þe mon said:—

"It is playnly your purpos to put you to dethe, Line 596 With suche fyndes to fight till ye fay worthe: I haue pitie full playn of your proude wille, And I shall fonge you to forther, & my faith holde. I will shunt for no shame of my shene fader, Line 600 Ne no hede to my heale, þat I thee helpe shall; But this forward to fille, first ye me sweire, And with no gaudys me begyle, ne to grem brynge; But in dede for to do, as I desyre wille." Line 604

JASON.

"Moste worshipfull woman, wisest on erthe, What-euer ye deme me to do, & my days laste, I hete you full highly with hert to fulfille, And your wille for to wirke: wittenes our goddes." Line 608

MEDEA.

Þen Medea with mowthe motys þus agayne:— "And ye wede me with worship & to wiffe holde, Lede me with likyng into your lond home; No gatis me begyle, ne to grem brynge, Line 612 I hete you full hertely, þat I you helpe shall The flese for to fecche, and ferke it away; And withstond all the stoure þat it strait yemys; Ouercome hom by crafte, and no care thole. Line 616 I haue only þat aunter of all þat are quycke, The mightes of Mars make to distroy, [folio 12a] And hir keping by crafte out of cours bryng."

JASON.

"Ah! this glorius gyste & this grete mede, Line 620 That ye hete me so hyndly to haue at my wille! (Your-selfe, þat is sothely the semliest on lyue, And þe fresshist and fairest fed vpon erthe; As the Roose in his Radness is Richest of floures, Line 624

Line 624 In the moneth of May when medowes are grene, So passis þi propurty perte wemen all) And help me to haue þat I hidur seche; Out of daunger & drede deliuer me too: Line 628 I wot me vnworthy þis wirdis to ffall. He þat sadly for-soke soche a sure proffer, And so gracius a gyste, þat me is graunt here, He might faithly for-fonnet be a fole holdyn. Line 632 Wherfore I beqwethe me to your qweme spouse, To lyue with in lykyng to my lyfes ende; As wyfe for to wede in worship and Joye: And þis forward, in faith, I festyn with hond." Line 636

MEDEA.

Medea was mery at this mene graunt, And to þat souerayn full soberly said o this wise:— "ffrynd, I am ffayne of þis faire heste, And wele I hoope þu will holde þat þu here said: Line 640 More suerty, for sothe, yet I sue fore;— Yow swiftly shall sweire vppon swete goddes, This couenaunt to kepe & for no case chaunge. But this tyme is so tore & we no tome haue, Line 644 We will seasse till, now sone, the sun be at rest, All buernes into bede on hor best wise, And yche lede, as hym list, lullit on slepe. [folio 12b] I wull send to you sone by a sure maydon: Line 648 Bes wakond and warly; wyn to my chamber, Þere swiftly to sweire vpon swete (haloghes), [MS. has "haroghes"] All this forward to fulfill ye fest with your hond: So may ye surely & sounde to my-selfe come, Line 652 With daliaunce to dele as your dere wyffe. I will you faithfully enforme how ye fare shall, Your worship to wyn and þe wethur haue: All your gate and your gouernaunse graidly to telle." Line 656

Line 656

JASON.

The Knight was curtas, & kendly he saide:— "Most louesom lady, your lykyng be done! As ye wilne for to wirke & your wille folowe, In dede be it done, as ye deuysede haue." Line 660 The lady with loutyng þen hir leue tase, ffirst at hir fadir and other fre buernes, Past to hir priue chamber: & here a pas endis.