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Here begynneth þe ffourth boke. Of þe dystrucion of þe fyrst Troy by Ercules and Iason.
All charge of þis chaunse, chefe how it will,
Ercules vppon hond hertely has tane;
He sped hym vnto spart, sparit he noght,
Þat a cuntre is cald of þe coste of Rome.
Line 1012
Tow brether full bold abidyng þer-in,
Bothe kynges of þe kythe, Caster was one,
And Pollux, þe proude, pristly þat other.
As poyetis han put, plainly þo two
Line 1016
Were getyn by a gode on a grete lady,
Þe fairest of ffeturs þat euer on fote yode:
And a suster to þe same, sothly, was Elyn,
Getyn of þe same god in a goode tyme.
Line 1020
To these kynges he come & his cause tolde,
And to haue of hor helpe hertely dissyred,
And þai graunted hym full goodly with a glad chere.
Þen he lacches his leue and þai lordes þonkit,
Line 1024
Suet forth to (Salame) in a sad haste, [MS. has "Salerne."]
Þat gouernet was in gryse by a gome noble,—
One Telamon trewly, as þe text sayse,
Þat was kyng in the coste & þe coron hade,—
Line 1028
A bold man in batell & byg in his Rewme.
Ercules of helpe hym hertely besoght,
And he grauntid to goo with a good wille,