VLIXES.
Then answard Vlixes, & vtterit his speche,
Wrothe at the wegh, in his wille feble,
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Said the Citie was sesit, & the sad pepull,
Thurgh hardines of hym, & the hegh wit.
But thurgh his wiles of wer, & his wight dedis,
With his gouernaunce graithe, & his gret helpe,
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All the Cité, for-sothe, & the sure knightes
Hade sitton here full sound, & hor selfe keppit.
"Therefore, Telamon, truly with þi tried strenght
Was neuer Paladian, the pure god, puld fro þe temple;
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Ne the grekes had hit getten for gode vpon erth.
I hade knowlache, by crafte, of his clene vertue,
While the stature was stithly stokyn with-in.
We were vnsiker of oure-selfe the Cité to wyn,
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Or to deire hit in dede the dayes of oure lyue;
And I comynd in the case with my clene wit,
With the troiens to treate for takyng þerof;
And so wan vs oure worship, & oure will bothe."
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THELAMON.
Than Thelamon, þe tore kyng, tenfully spake
Grete wordes & (greme), all in grym yre: [folio 187a] [MS. has "grene"]
And he þroly with þrong wil þreppit agayn,
Till þai hatid in hert, as any hed fos.
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Þen Thelamon truly told hym on hight,
Þat other duly schuld degh for his derf wordis.
Hit was tretid þat tyme, þo tore kynges bothe
Schuld lynge in hor leuté, & light on a dome
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Of Agamynon þe grete, & his gay brothir—
Menelay þe mighty, as a mene frend.
Þes duly schuld dem þo dukis by ryght,
Qwiche wegh þe wale god is worthi to haue.
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Þen spekyn þai specially for sped of þo two,
